28.Al-Qasas, (The Story)

Mecca Period 49

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَقَدْ وَصَّلْنَا لَهُمُ الْقَوْلَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٥١﴾

28: 51. Now have We caused the word to reach them themselves, in order that they may receive admonition.

C3384. Before this the Quraish might have said that the Word of Allah had come to the Hebrews in their tongue or in Greek, which was used by the Hebrews in the time of Jesus. Now that Word is brought to their own doors, in their own Arabic tongue, by a man of their own race and family. Surely they have no excuse now for remaining strangers to the higher moral and spiritual law.

الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِهِ هُم بِهِ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٥٢﴾

28: 52. Those to whom We sent the Book before this -- they do believe in this (Revelation);

وَإِذَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِهِ...

28: 53. And when it is recited to them, they say:

"We believe therein,

...إِنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّنَا... ...

for it is the Truth from our Lord:

...إِنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبْلِهِ مُسْلِمِينَ ﴿٥٣﴾

indeed we have been Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will) from before this."

C3385. There were Christians and Jews who recognised that Islam was a logical and natural development of Allah's revelations as given in earlier ages, and they not only welcomed and accepted Islam, but claimed, and rightly, that they had always been Muslims.

In that sense Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus had all been Muslims. (R).

أُوْلَئِكَ يُؤْتَوْنَ أَجْرَهُم مَّرَّتَيْنِ...

28: 54. Twice will they be given their reward,

C3386. Their credit is twofold,

- in that before they knew Islam, they followed the earlier Law in truth and sincerity, and

- when they were offered Islam, they readily recognised and accepted it, suffered in patient perseverance for its sake, and brought forth the fruits of righteousness.

...بِمَا صَبَرُوا وَيَدْرَؤُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ... ...

for that they have persevered,

that they avert Evil with Good,

...وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٥٤﴾

and that they spend (in charity) out of what We have given them.

وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا اللَّغْوَ أَعْرَضُوا عَنْهُ...

28: 55. And when they hear vain talk, they turn away therefrom

...وَقَالُوا لَنَا أَعْمَالُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَالُكُمْ ...

and say:

"To us our deeds, and to you yours;

C3387. The righteous do not encourage idle talk or foolish arguments about things sacred. If they find themselves in some company in which such things are fashionable, they leave politely. Their only rejoinder is:

"We are responsible for our deeds, and you for yours; we have no ill-will against you; we wish you well, and that is why we wish you to know of the knowledge we have received; after that knowledge you cannot expect us to go back to the Ignorance which we have left."

... سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ...

peace be to you:

...لَا نَبْتَغِي الْجَاهِلِينَ ﴿٥٥﴾

we seek not the ignorant."

إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء...

28: 56. It is true thou wilt not be able to guide everyone whom thou lovest: but Allah guides those whom He will

C3388. The immediate occasion for this was the death of Abu Talib, an uncle whom the holy Prophet loved dearly and who had befriended and protected him.

The Prophet was naturally anxious that he should die in the profession of the true Faith, but the pagan Quraish leaders persuaded him to remain true to the faith of his fathers. This was an occasion of disappointment and grief to the Prophet.

We are told that in such circumstances we should not grieve. All whom we love do not necessarily share our views or beliefs. We must not judge.

Allah will guide whom He pleases and as He pleases. He alone knows the true inwardness of things.

...وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ ﴿٥٦﴾

and He knows best those who receive guidance.

Asad’s Version:

28:51 NOW, INDEED, We have caused this word [of Ours] to reach mankind step by step, 51 so that they might [learn to] keep it in mind.

(28:52) As for those unto whom We have vouchsafed revelation aforetime - they [are bound to] believe in this one [as well]; 52

(28:53) and whenever it is [clearly] conveyed unto them, they [are bound to] profess, "We have come to believe in it, for, behold, it is the truth from our Sustainer - and, verily, even before this have we surrendered ourselves unto Him!"

[[ Asad’s notes -

49 I.e., the Torah and the Qur'an. The Gospel is not mentioned in this context because, as Jesus himself had stressed, his message was based on the Law of Moses, and was not meant to displace the latter.

50 Lit., "if they do not respond to thee", implying that they are unable to accept the above challenge.

51 Lit., "We have caused this word to reach them gradually" : this meaning is implied in the verbal form wassalna; which - like the grammatically identical form nazzalna - points to the gradual, step-by-step revelation of the Qur'an during the twenty-three years of Muhammad's prophetic ministry.

52 This is both a statement of historical fact - alluding to conversions of Jews and Christians in Muhammad's lifetime - and a prophecy. It must, however, be understood that, in the above context, God's "vouchsafing" revelation implies a conscious, sincere acceptance of its teachings by those to whom it has been conveyed: for it is this sincerity that has enabled them - or will enable them to realize that the Qur'an preaches the same ethical truths as those forthcoming from earlier revelations. (Cf. 26:196-197 and the corresponding notes 83-85.) ]]

28:54 These it is that shall receive a twofold reward for having been patient in adversity, and having repelled evil with good, 55 and having spent on others out of what We provided for them as sustenance,

(28:55) and, whenever they heard frivolous talk, 54 having turned away from it and said: "Unto us shall be accounted our deeds, and unto you, your deeds Peace be upon you - [but] we do not seek out such as are ignorant [of the meaning of right and wrong]."

28:56 VERILY, thou canst not guide aright everyone whom thou lovest: but it is God who guides him that wills [to be guided]; 55 and He is fully aware of all who would let themselves be guided. 56

(28:57) Now some say, "If we were to follow the guidance to which thou invitest us, we would be torn away from our very soil!" 57 Why - have We not established for them a sanctuary secure, to which, as a provision from Us, shall be gathered the fruits of all [good] things? 58 But most of them are unaware [of this truth].