Sacrifice

4. Sura an-Nisa

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

فَلاَ وَرَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىَ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ...  

65.  But no, by thy Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make thee judge in all disputes between them,

... ثُمَّ لاَ يَجِدُواْ فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيمًا ﴿٦٥﴾

and find in their souls no resistance against thy decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction.

C583. The test of true Faith is not mere lip profession, but bringing all our doubts and disputes to the one in whom we profess faith.

Further, when a decision is given we are not only to accept it. but find in our inmost souls no difficulty and no resistance, but on the contrary a joyful acceptance springing from the conviction of our own faith.

Asad’s Version:

4: 65 But nay, by thy Sustainer! They do not believe unless they make thee [O Prophet] a judge of all on which they disagree among themselves, and then find in their hearts no bar to an acceptance of thy decision and give themselves up [to it] in utter self-surrender. Asad, see note 84.

5. Surah Al-Ma'idah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ابْنَيْ آدَمَ بِالْحَقِّ...

5: 27. Recite to them the truth of the story of the two sons of Adam. Behold!

C730. Literally; "recite to them in truth the story", etc.

The point is that the story in Gen. 4:1-15 is a bare narrative, not including the lessons now to be enforced.

The Prophet is told now to supply the truth of the matter, the details that will enforce the lessons.

C731. The two sons of Adam were Habil (in the English Bible, Abel) and Qabil (in English, Cain). Cain was the elder, and Abel the younger, -the righteous and innocent one.

Presuming on the right of the elder, Cain was puffed up with arrogance and jealousy, which led him to commit the crime of murder.

Among the Christians, Cain was the type of the Jew as against Abel the Christian. The Jew tried to kill Jesus and exterminate the Christian. In the same way, as against Muhammad, the younger brother of the Semitic family. Cain was the type of the Old Testament and New Testament people, who tried to resist and kill Muhammad and put down his people.

... إِذْ قَرَّبَا قُرْبَانًا ...

they each presented a sacrifice (to Allah):

... فَتُقُبِّلَ مِن أَحَدِهِمَا وَلَمْ يُتَقَبَّلْ مِنَ الآخَرِ ...

it was accepted from one, but not from the other.

... قَالَ لَأَقْتُلَنَّكَ...

Said the latter: "Be sure I will slay thee."

... قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢٧﴾

"Surely," said the former, "Allah doth accept of the sacrifice of those who are righteous.

Asad’s Version:

5: 27 And convey unto them, setting froth the truth, the story of the two sons of Adam – how each offered a sacrifice, and it was accepted from one of them whereas it was not accepted from the other.

[and Cain] said : “I will surely slay thee!

[Abel ] replied: “Behold, God accepts only from those who are conscious of Him