2.Surah Al Baqarah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُلْ مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّجِبْرِيلَ فَإِنَّهُ نَزَّلَهُ عَلَى قَلْبِكَ بِإِذْنِ اللّهِ...

2:97. Say: Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel, for he brings down the (revelation) to thy heart by Allah's will,

C101. A party of the Jews in the time of Muhammad ridiculed the Muslim believe that Gabriel brought down revelations to Muhammad Mustafa.

Michael was called in their books "the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people": (Daniel 12:1). The vision of Gabriel inspired fear (Daniel, 8:16-17).

But this pretence - that Michael was their friend and Gabriel their enemy - was merely a manifestation of their unbelief in angels, apostles, and Allah Himself; and such unbelief could not win the love of Allah.

In any case it was disingenuous to say that they believed in one angel and not in another.

Muhammad's inspiration was through visions of Gabriel. Muhammad had been helped to the highest spiritual light, and the message which he delivered and his spotless integrity and exemplary life were manifest Signs which every one could understand except those who were obstinate and perverse. Besides, the verses of the Quran were in themselves reasonable and clear.

... مُصَدِّقاً لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٩٧﴾

a confirmation of what went before, and guidance and glad tidings for those who believe.

مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّلّهِ وَمَلآئِكَتِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَجِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَالَ ...

2:98. Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and apostles, to Gabriel and Michael,

... فَإِنَّ اللّهَ عَدُوٌّ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٩٨﴾

Lo! Allah is an enemy to those who reject faith.

Other versions:

2: 97

Asad Say [ O Prophet]: “Whatever is an enemy of Gabriel” – wo, verily, by God’s leave, has brought down upon they heart this [divine writ] which confirms the truth of whatever there still remains [of earlier revelations], and is a guidance and a glad tiding for the believers -:

Pickthall Say (O Muhammad, to mankind): Who is an enemy to Gabriel! For he it is who hath revealed (this Scripture) to thy heart by Allah's leave, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, and a guidance and glad tidings to believers;

Transliteration Qul man ka_na 'aduwwal li jibrila fa innahu_ nazzalahu_ 'ala_ qalbika bi iznilla_hi musaddiqal lima_ baina yadaihi wa hudaw wa busyra_ lil mu'minin(a).

2: 98

Pickthall Who is an enemy to Allah, and His angels and His messengers, and Gabriel and Michael! Then, lo! Allah (Himself) is an enemy to the disbelievers.

Transliteration Man ka_na 'aduwwal lilla_hi wa mala_'ikatihi wa rusulihi wa jibrila wa mika_la fa innalla_ha 'aduwwul lil ka_firin(a).

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12. Yusuf (Joseph)

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:  

ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَنبَاء الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ...   

12:102. Such is one of the stories of what happened unseen, which We reveal by inspiration unto thee:

C1784. The story is finished.

But is it a story?

It is rather a recital of forces and motives, thoughts and feelings, complications and results, ordinarily not seen by men. However much they concert their plans and unite their forces, whatever dark plots they back with all their resources, -the plan of Allah works irresistibly, and sweeps away all their machinations.

The good win through in the end, but not always as they planned: the evil are foiled, and often their very plots help the good.

What did the brothers desire in trying to get rid of Joseph, and what actually happened?

How the Courtier's wife, encouraged by the corrupt women of her acquaintance, tried and failed to seduce Joseph and how Allah listened to his prayer and saved him from her vile designs?

How wrong was it of the cup-bearer to forget Joseph, and yet how his very forgetfulness kept Joseph safe and undisturbed in prison until the day came when he should tackle the great problems of Pharaoh's kingdom?

With every character in the story there are problems, and the whole is a beautifully balanced picture of the working of Allah's providence in man's chequered destiny. (R).

...وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ أَجْمَعُواْ أَمْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَمْكُرُونَ ﴿١٠٢﴾

nor wast thou (present) with them when they concerted their plans together in the process of weaving their plots.

C1785. The holy Prophet was no actor in those scenes; yet by inspiration he was able to expound them in the divine light, as they had never been expounded before, whether in the Pentateuch or by any Seer before him. And allegorically they figured his own story, -how his own brethren sought to betray and kill him how by Allah's providence he was not only saved but he won through. (R).

Pickthall’s Version:

12: 102

Transliteration Za_lika min amba_'il gaibi nu_hihi ilaik(a), wa ma_ kunta ladaihim iz ajma'u_ amrahum wa hum yamkuru_n(a).

Pickthall This is of the tidings of the Unseen which We inspire in thee (Muhammad). Thou wast not present with them when they fixed their plan and they were scheming.

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13. Ar-R’ad, Medina 96

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

كَذَلِكَ أَرْسَلْنَاكَ فِي أُمَّةٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهَا أُمَمٌ...

13:30.  Thus have We sent thee amongst a People before whom (long since) have (other) Peoples (gone and) passed away;

C1845. Our Prophet came later in time than other Prophets, to complete their Message and universalize Religion. And certainly it is after his age that the process of the unification of the world began. That process is not complete yet, but is proceeding apace.

...لِّتَتْلُوَ عَلَيْهِمُ الَّذِيَ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَهُمْ يَكْفُرُونَ بِالرَّحْمَـنِ...

in order that thou mightest rehearse unto them what We send down unto thee by inspiration;

yet do they reject (Him), the Most Gracious!

...قُلْ هُوَ رَبِّي لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ...

Say:

"He is my Lord!

There is no god but He!

...عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ مَتَابِ ﴿٣٠﴾

On Him is my trust,

and to Him do I turn!"

C1846. Faith tells us that no amount of opposition from Unbelievers can ever stop Allah's Plan.

وَلَوْ أَنَّ قُرْآنًا سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ الْجِبَالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ الأَرْضُ...

13:31.  If there were a Qur'án with which mountains were moved,

or the earth were cloven asunder,

...أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ الْمَوْتَى...

or the dead were made to speak, (this would be the one!)

...بَل لِّلّهِ الأَمْرُ جَمِيعًا...

But, truly, the Command is with Allah in things!

C1847. Everything is possible and in Allah's power. His Plan is beneficent and all-embracing. But it is not for His creatures to dictate to Him, or demand what He should do, or how He should do it.

The Command is with Allah in all things. The Believers know His omnipotence, and they also know that He will order His world for the best.

...أَفَلَمْ يَيْأَسِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَن لَّوْ يَشَاء اللّهُ لَهَدَى النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا...

Do not the Believers know, that, had Allah (so) willed, He could have guided all mankind (to the Right)?

...وَلاَ يَزَالُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ تُصِيبُهُم بِمَا صَنَعُواْ قَارِعَةٌ...

But the Unbelievers -- never will disaster cease to seize them for their (ill) deeds,

...أَوْ تَحُلُّ قَرِيبًا مِّن دَارِهِمْ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ وَعْدُ اللّهِ...

or to settle close to their homes, until the Promise of Allah come to pass,

...إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ ﴿٣١﴾

for, verily, Allah will not fail in His promise.

C1848. Let not the Unbelievers think that if they seem to prosper for a time, that is the end of the matter. They are warned about three things.

1.     Their ill deeds must carry evil consequences for them all the time, though they may not perceive them for a certain time.

2.     Their homes, their places of resort, the circles in which they move, will also be haunted by their ill deeds and their consequences. For evil makes a complex of its environment. The walls of Jericho, when they fall, must bring down all Jericho in its ruins.

3.     The ultimate Disaster, the final Reckoning, must come, for Allah never fails in His promise. True values must eventually be restored: the good to the good, and the evil to the evil.

The Commentators draw illustrations from the life of the Prophet, his exile from Makkah, and his restoration. A similar miracle works in all history. But the Command is with Allah.

C.116 (The running Commentary, in Rhythmic Prose)

(17:32-43)

The mockery of Allah's Messengers is an old game

Of the world. But Allah's Truth will come

To its own in good time. The End

Of the righteous is their Home of Bliss,

And they rejoice in the revelations

They receive. The Messengers of Allah

Take their due share in the life

Of the world; they win through by Allah's grace

Against all the plots of the world.

Their witness is from Allah, through His revelation.

Other versions:

13: 30 [ar-R’ad, Medina 96]

Pickthall Thus We send thee (O Muhammad) unto a nation, before whom other nations have passed away, that thou mayst recite unto them that which We have inspired in thee, while they are disbelievers in the Beneficent. Say: He is my Lord; there is no God save Him. In Him do I put my trust and unto Him is my recourse.

Yuksel As such, We have sent you to a nation as other nations that have come before, so that you may recite for them what has been inspired to you; while they are still rejecting the Gracious. Say, "He is my Lord, there is no god but He, in Him I place my trust and to Him is my repentance."

Transliteration Kaza_lika arsalna_ka fi ummatin qad khalat min qabliha_ umamul litatluwa 'alaihimul lazi auhaina_ ilaika wa hum yakfuru_na bir rahma_n(i), qul huwa rabbi la_ ila_ha illa_ huw(a), 'alaihi tawakkaltu wa ilaihi mata_b(i).

13: 31

Pickthall Had it been possible for a Lecture to cause the mountains to move, or the earth to be torn asunder, or the dead to speak, (this Quran would have done so). Nay, but Allah's is the whole command. Do not those who believe know that, had Allah willed, He could have guided all mankind? As for those who disbelieve, disaster ceaseth not to strike them because of what they do, or it dwelleth near their home until the threat of Allah come to pass. Lo! Allah faileth not to keep the tryst.

Yuksel If there were a Quran/recitation with which mountains were moved, the earth were sliced, or the dead were made to speak… No, to God is all matters. Did not those who acknowledge know that if God wished He would have guided all the people? As for those who reject, until God's promise comes true, a disaster will continue to strike them

Transliteration Wa lau anna qur'a_nan suyyirat bihil jiba_lu au qutti'at bihil ardu au kullima bihil mauta_, bal lilla_hil amru jami'a_(n), afalam yay'asil lazina a_manu_ allau yasya_'ulla_hu lahadan na_sa jami'a_(n), wa la_ yaza_lul lazina kafaru_ tusibuhum bima_ sana'u_ qa_ri'atun au tahullu qaribam min da_rihim hatta_ ya'tiya wa'dulla_h(i), innalla_ha la_ yukhliful mi'a_d(a).

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16. Sura al-Nahl

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُلْ نَزَّلَهُ رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ مِن رَّبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ...   

16:102. Say,

the Holy Spirit has brought the revelation from thy Lord in truth,

C2141. The title of the Angel Gabriel, through whom the revelations came down.

... لِيُثَبِّتَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ ...

in order to strengthen those who believe,

C2142. The People of the Book, if they had true faith, were themselves strengthened in their faith and cleared of their doubts and difficulties by the revelations brought by Al-Mustafa; and all whether People of the Book or not -who came within the fold of Islam, found the Quran a Guide and a Gospel, i.e., a substitute for the Mosaic Law and for the Christian Gospel, which had both been corrupted.

... وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿١٠٢﴾ 

and as a guide and Glad Tidings to Muslims.

Other versions:

16: 102

Asad Say: “Holy Inspiration has brought it down from your Sustainer by stages, setting forth the truth, so that it might give firmness unto those who have attained to faith, and provide guidance and a glad tiding unto all who have surrendered themselves to God.”

Pickthall Say: The holy Spirit hath revealed it from thy Lord with truth, that it may confirm (the faith of) those who believe, and as guidance and good tidings for those who have surrendered (to Allah).

Transliteration Qul nazzalahu_ ru_hul qudusi mir rabbika bil haqqi liyusabbital lazina a_manu_ wa hudaw wa busyra_ lil muslimin(a).

[Asad note 128: As in the three other places in which the expression “ruh al-qudus” occurs…………….]

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18. Surah Al Kahf

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:  

وَاتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِن كِتَابِ رَبِّكَ...   

18:27.  And recite (and teach) what has been revealed to thee of the Book of thy Lord:

... لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَدًا ﴿٢٧﴾

none can change His Words,

C2368. His Words: His Commands, Decrees, Orders.

and none wilt thou find as a refuge other than Him.

Other versions:

18:27 Recite what has been inspired to you from your Lord's book, there is no changing His words, and you will not find besides Him any refuge.