God Guides Who Wills to be Guided


22. Sura al-Hajj


The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:



وَكَذَلِكَ أَنزَلْنَاهُ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ...  

22: 16.  Thus have We sent down Clear Signs;

C2787. Instead of plotting against Allah's Messenger, the unbelievers should observe the Clear Signs which he has brought, and obey and follow the Guidance which comes from Allah according to the Laws which He has fixed by His holy Will and Plan.

...وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يُرِيدُ ﴿١٦﴾

and verily Allah doth guide whom He will!

Other Versions:


22: 16

Arabic Source and Roman Transliteration

Arabic

 

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَنزَلْنَاهُ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يُرِيدُ

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Transliteration

 

Wakathalika anzalnahu ayatin bayyinatin waanna Allaha yahdee man yureedu

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Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning

Muhammad Asad

 

And thus have We bestowed from on high this [divine writ] in the shape of clear messages: for [thus it is] that God guides him who wills [to be guided].

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M. M. Pickthall

 

Thus We reveal it as plain revelations, and verily Allah guideth whom He will.

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Shakir

 

And thus have We revealed it, being clear arguments, and because Allah guides whom He intends.

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Yusuf Ali

 

Thus have We sent down Clear Signs; and verily Allah doth guide whom He will!

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Wahiduddin Khan

 

We have sent down the Quran as clear evidence, and surely God guides whom He will.

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[Al-Muntakhab]

 

Thus did We reveal it -the Quran- embodying clear and plain revelations guiding out of darkness and superstition of later times and out of want of spiritual and intellectual sight into illumination and enlightenment; Allah does indeed guide whom He will.

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[Progressive Muslims]

 

And as such, We have sent down clear revelations, and God guides whomever He wishes.





[[Asad’s note - 17 Or: "God guides aright whomever He wills". For an explanation of the rendering adopted by me, see note 4 on 14:4.


18 See surah 2, note 49. ]]


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24. Sura an-Nur


The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:




وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَ كُلَّ دَابَّةٍ مِن مَّاء...

24: 45. And Allah has created every animal from water:

C3021. Cf. 21:30, n. 2691.

Protoplasm is the basis of all living matter, and "the vital power of protoplasm seems to depend on the constant presence of water".

...فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِي عَلَى بَطْنِهِ...

of them there are some that creep on their bellies;

...وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِي عَلَى رِجْلَيْنِ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِي عَلَى أَرْبَعٍ...

some that walk on two legs; and some that walk on four.

C3022. The creeping things include worms and lowly forms of animal life as well as reptiles (like snakes), centipedes, spiders, and insects. Where these have legs they are small, and the description of creeping or crawling is more applicable to them than that of walking.

Fishes and sea-animals generally cannot be said to walk: their swimming is like "creeping on their bellies".

Two-legged animals include birds and man.

Most of the mammals walk on four legs. This includes the whole of the animal world.

...يَخْلُقُ اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاء...

Allah creates what He wills:

C3023. In Allah's Will and Plan, the variety of forms and habits among animals is adapted to their various modes of life and stages of biological evolution.

...إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٤٥﴾

for verily Allah has power over all things.



لَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَا آيَاتٍ مُّبَيِّنَاتٍ...

24: 46. We have indeed sent down Signs that make things manifest:

...وَاللَّهُ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿٤٦﴾

and Allah guides whom He wills to a way that is straight.


Other Versions:


24:45


Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning

Muhammad Asad


And it is God who has created all animals out of water; and [He has willed that] among them are such as crawl on their bellies, and such as walk on two legs, and such as walk on four. God creates what He will: for, verily, God has the power to will anything.

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M. M. Pickthall


Allah hath created every animal of water. Of them is (a kind) that goeth upon its belly and (a kind) that goeth upon two legs and (a kind) that goeth upon four. Allah createth what He will. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.

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Shakir


And Allah has created from water every living creature: so of them is that which walks upon its belly, and of them is that which walks upon two feet, and of them is that which walks upon four; Allah creates what He pleases; surely Allah has power over all things.

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Yusuf Ali


And Allah has created every animal from water: of them there are some that creep on their bellies; some that walk on two legs; and some that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills for verily Allah has power over all things.

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Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar


God created every moving creature from water. Among them there is what walks on its belly and of them there is what walks on two feet and of them there is what walks on four. God creates what He wills. Truly, God is Powerful over everything.

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Wahiduddin Khan


God created every creature from water. Some crawl upon their bellies, others walk on two legs, and others walk on four. God creates what He pleases. He has power over all things.

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T.B.Irving


God has created every animal out of water; some of them walk on their belly, while others walk on two legs and still others walk on four. God creates anything He wishes; God is Able [to do) everything!

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[Al-Muntakhab]


And Allah created every animate being from water*. Some walk, moving or crawling with their bellies touching the ground -worms, reptiles- others are biped who walk on two feet -man and some animals- and others are quadruped which walk on four feet –mammals- Allah creates what He will, Allah is indeed Qadirun (Omnipotent) over all things.

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[Progressive Muslims]


And God created every moving creature from water. So some of them move on their bellies, and some walk on two legs, and some walk on four. God creates whatever He wills. God is capable of all things.