2. Surah Al Baqarah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ ...

2: 170. When it is said to them: "Follow what Allah hath revealed,"

... قَالُواْ بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءنَا...

they say: "Nay! we shall follow the ways of our fathers."

... أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئاً وَلاَ يَهْتَدُونَ ﴿١٧٠﴾

What! even though their fathers were void of wisdom and guidance?

وَمَثَلُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي يَنْعِقُ بِمَا لاَ يَسْمَعُ إِلاَّ دُعَاء وَنِدَاء...

2: 171. The parable of those who reject faith is as if one were to shout like a goat-herd, to things that listen to nothing but calls and cries;

C170. If you reject all faith, the highest wisdom and the most salutary regulations are lost on you. You are like "dumb driven cattle" who can merely hear calls, but cannot distinguish intelligently between shades of meaning or subtle differences of values.

... صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿١٧١﴾

deaf, dumb, and blind, they are void of wisdom.

C171. Cf. 2:18, where we are told that the rejecters of faith are "deaf, dumb and blind: they will not return to the path."

Here the consequence of their not using their senses is that they have no wisdom. In each context there is just the appropriate deduction.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُلُواْ مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ ...

2: 172. O ye who believe! eat of the good things that We have provided for you,

... وَاشْكُرُواْ لِلّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ ﴿١٧٢﴾

and be grateful to Allah, if it is Him ye worship.

C172. Gratitude for Allah's gifts is one form of worship.

Others version:

2: 170

Asad But when they are told, “Follow what God has bestowed from on high,” some answer, “Nay, we shall follow [only] that which we found our forefathers believing in and doing.” Why, even if their forefathers did not use their reason at all, and were devoid of all guidance?

Pickthall And when it is said unto them: Follow that which Allah hath revealed, they say: We follow that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even though their fathers were wholly unintelligent and had no guidance?

Transliteration Wa iza_ qila lahumut tabi'u_ ma_ anzalalla_hu qa_lu_ bal nattabi'u ma_ alfaina_'alaihi a_ba_'ana_, awalau ka_na a_ba_'uhum la_ ya'qilu_na syai'aw wa la_ yahtadu_n(a).

2: 171

Asad And so, the parable of those who are bent on denying the truth is that of the beast which hears the shepherd’s cry, and hears in it nothing but the sound of a voice and a call [note 138]. Deaf are they, and dumb, and blind: for they do no use their reason.

Pickthall The likeness of those who disbelieve (in relation to the messenger) is as the likeness of one who calleth unto that which heareth naught except a shout and cry. Deaf, dumb, blind, therefore they have no sense.

Transliteration Wa masalul lazina kafaru_ ka masalil lazi yan'iqu bima_ la_ yasma'u illa_ du'a_'aw wa nida_'a(n), summum bukmun'umyun fahum la_ ya'qilu_n(a).

[Asad’s note 138: This is a very free rendering of the elliptical sentence which, literally, reads thus: “The parable of those who are bent on denying the truth is as that of him who cries unto what hears nothing but a cry and a call.” The verb “na’qa” is mostly used to describe the inarticulate cry with which the shepherd drives his flock. ]

2: 172

Asad O you who attained to faith! Partake of the good things which We have provided for you as sustenance, and render thanks unto God, if it is [truly] Him that you worship.

Pickthall O ye who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you, and render thanks to Allah if it is (indeed) He whom ye worship.

Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ kulu_ min tayyiba_ti ma_ razaqna_kum wasykuru_ lilla_hi in kuntum iyya_hu ta'budu_n(a).

[Ruby’s note – This is to say that important part of worship of God is to be aware and grateful to Him for all the good things He provides for us in this life. This awareness and attitude is part and parcel of God’s true worship.]