14. Surah Ibrahim
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قَالَتْ
رُسُلُهُمْ
أَفِي اللّهِ
شَكٌّ فَاطِرِ
السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَالأَرْضِ...
14: 10. Their Messengers said:
"Is there a doubt about Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth?
...يَدْعُوكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرَكُمْ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَـمًّى...
It is He Who invites you, in order that He may forgive you your sins and give you respite for a term appointed!"
C1885. The Prophets (generally) clear both kinds of doubt.
"You cannot doubt the existence of Allah! Behold His works! We are not speaking for ourselves or deceiving you. We speak according to the Message of inspiration from Allah."
Notice that the doubters had said to the Prophets, -Ye invite us.- The Prophets say: "It is Allah Who invites you, and He does it to save you by His grace, and give you plenty of time (but not indefinite time) for penitence and amendment."
...قَالُواْ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا...
They said:
"Ah! ye are no more than human, like ourselves!
...تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ آبَآؤُنَا... ...
Ye wish to turn us away from the (gods) our fathers used to worship:
...فَأْتُونَا بِسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿١٠﴾
then bring us some clear authority."
C1886. Infidelity is illogical and argues in a circle.
If the Prophet speaks of Allah, the Unbeliever says, "You are only a man!"
"But I speak from Allah!"
"Oh well! our ancestral ways of worship are good enough for us!"
"What if they are wrong?"
"What authority have you for saying so?"
"The highest authority, that from Allah!"
And so we come back full circle! Then the wicked rely on violence, but it recoils on them, and they perish.
قَالَتْ
لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ
إِن نَّحْنُ
إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ
مِّثْلُكُمْ...
14: 11. Their Messengers said to them:
"True, we are human like yourselves,
...وَلَـكِنَّ اللّهَ يَمُنُّ عَلَى مَن يَشَاء مِنْ عِبَادِهِ...
but Allah doth grant His grace to such of His servants as He pleases.
...وَمَا كَانَ لَنَا أَن نَّأْتِيَكُم بِسُلْطَانٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللّهِ...
It is not for us to bring you an authority except as Allah permits.
...وَعلَى اللّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١١﴾
And on Allah let all men of faith put their trust.
وَمَا لَنَا
أَلاَّ نَتَوَكَّلَ
عَلَى اللّهِ
وَقَدْ هَدَانَا
سُبُلَنَا...
14: 12. "No reason have we why we should not put our trust on Allah. Indeed He has guided us to the Ways we (follow).
...وَلَنَصْبِرَنَّ عَلَى مَا آذَيْتُمُونَا...
We shall certainly bear with patience all the hurt you may cause us:
...وَعَلَى اللّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ ﴿١٢﴾
for those who put their trust should put their trust on Allah."
وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُواْ
لِرُسُلِهِمْ
لَنُخْرِجَنَّـكُم
مِّنْ أَرْضِنَآ
أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ
فِي مِلَّتِنَا...
14: 13. And the Unbelievers said to their Messengers:
"Be sure we shall drive you out of our land, or ye shall return to our religion."
C1887. The arguments in a circle were explained in the last note. But Infidelity looks upon argument merely as an amusement. Its chief weapon is physical force.
As its only belief is in materialism, it thinks that threats of force will put down the righteous. It offers the choice between exile and violence against conformity to its own standards of evil, which it thinks to be good.
But Faith is not to be cowed down by Force. Its source of strength is Allah, and it receives the assurance that violence will perish ultimately by violence, and that Faith and Good must stand and be established. In fact the good must inherit the earth and the evil ones be blotted out.
...فَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿١٣﴾
But their Lord inspired (this Message) to them:
"Verily We shall cause the wrongdoers to perish!
وَلَنُسْكِنَنَّـكُمُ
الأَرْضَ مِن
بَعْدِهِمْ...
14: 14. "And verily We shall cause you to abide in the land, and succeed them.
...ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامِي ...
This for such as fear the time when they shall stand before My tribunal --
C1888. "Fear" means here "have present before their minds something which should cause fear, so that they should shape their conduct in order to avoid the ill consequences of wickedness."
... وَخَافَ وَعِيدِ ﴿١٤﴾
such as fear the punishment denounced."
14: 15. But they sought victory and decision (there and then),
C1889. Cf. 8:19.
1 have assumed that "they" in this verse is the same as "them" in the preceding verse, i.e., the ungodly.
Hoping for victory they forced a decision, and they got it-against themselves.
Or they challenged a punishment, and it came in good time.
Some Commentators construe "they" here to mean "the Prophets": in that case the verse would mean:
"The Prophets prayed for a victory and decision, and the ungodly were frustrated in their efforts to suppress the Truth."
... وَخَابَ كُلُّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ ﴿١٥﴾
and frustration was the lot of every powerful obstinate transgressor.
C1890. Cf. 11:59.
Other versions:
14: 10
Pickthall Their messengers said: Can there be doubt concerning Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? He calleth you that He may forgive you your sins and reprieve you unto an appointed term. They said: Ye are but mortals like us, who would fain turn us away from what our fathers used to worship. Then bring some clear warrant.
Yuksel Their messengers said, "Is there doubt regarding God, the initiator of the heavens and the earth? He invites you so that He may forgive some of your sins, and grant you until a predetermined time." They said, "You are but humans like us, you wish to turn us away from what our fathers used to serve. So come to us with clear authority."
Transliteration Qa_lat rusuluhum afailla_hi syakkun fa_tiris sama_wa_ti wal ard(i), yad'u_kum liyagfira lakum min zunu_bikum wa yu'akhkhirakum ila_ ajalim musamma_(n), qa_lu_ in antum illa_ basyarum misluna_, turidu_na an tasuddu_na_ 'amma_ ka_na yanbudu a_ba_'una_ fa'tu_na_ bi sulta_nim mubin(in).
[[ Ali’s notes -
1885 The Prophets (generally) clear both kinds of doubt. "You cannot doubt the existence of Allah! Behold His works! We are not speaking for ourselves or deceiving you. We speak according to the Message of inspiration from Allah.- Notice that the doubters had said to the Prophets, "Ye invite us." The Prophets say: "It is Allah Who invites you, and He does it to save you by His grace, and give you plenty of time (but not indefinite time) for penitence and amendment." (14.10)
1886 Infidelity is illogical and argues in a circle. If the Prophet speaks of Allah, the Unbeliever says, "You are only a man!" "But I speak from Allah!" "Oh well! our ancestral ways of worship are good enough for us!" "What if they are wrong?" "What authority have you for saying so?" "The highest authority, that from Allah!" And so we come back full circle! Then the wicked rely on violence, but it recoils on them, and they perish. (14.10) ]]
14: 11
Pickthall Their messengers said unto them: We are but mortals like you, but Allah giveth grace unto whom He will of His slaves. It is not ours to bring you a warrant unless by the permission of Allah. In Allah let believers put their trust!
Yuksel Their messengers said, "We are but humans like you, but God will bestow His grace upon whom He pleases from His servants. It is not up to us to bring you an authorization except by God's leave. In God those who acknowledge should place their trust"
Transliteration Qa_lat lahum rusuluhum in nahnu illa_ basyarum mislukum wa la_kinnalla_ha yamunnu 'ala_ may yasya_'u min 'iba_dih(i), wa ma_ ka_na lana_ an na'tiyakum bi sulta_nin illa_ bi iznilla_h(i), wa 'alalla_hi falyatawakkalil mu'minu_n(a).
14: 12
Pickthall How should we not put our trust in Allah when He hath shown us our ways? We surely will endure that hurt ye do us. In Allah let the trusting put their trust!
Yuksel "Why should we not place our trust in God, when He has guided us to our paths. We will be resolute against the harm you inflict upon us. In God those who trust should put their trust."
Transliteration Wa ma_ lana_ alla_ natawakkala 'alalla_hi wa qad hada_na_ subulana_, wa lanasbiranna 'ala_ ma_ a_zaitumu_na_, wa 'alalla_hi fal yatawakkalil mutawakkilu_n(a).
14: 13
Pickthall And those who disbelieved said unto their messengers: Verily we will drive you out from our land, unless ye return to our religion. Then their Lord inspired them, (saying): Verily We shall destroy the wrong-doers,
Yuksel Those who rejected said to their messengers: "We will drive you out of our land, or you will return to our creed." It was then that their Lord inspired to them: "We will destroy the wicked."
Transliteration Wa qa_lal lazina kafaru_ li rusulihim lanukhrijannakum min ardina_ au lata'u_dunna fi millatina_, fa auha_ ilaihim rabbuhum lanuhlikannaz za_limin(a).
14: 14
Pickthall And verily We shall make you to dwell in the land after them. This is for him who feareth My Majesty and feareth My threats.
Yuksel "We will let you reside in the land after them. That is for those who fear My majesty and fear My threat."
Transliteration Wa lanuskinannakumul arda mim ba'dihim, za_lika liman kha_fa maqa_mi wa kha_fa wa'id(i).
14: 15
Pickthall And they sought help (from their Lord) and every froward potentate was brought to naught;
Yuksel They sought victory, and every arrogant tyrant was then failed.
Transliteration Wa-staftahu_ wa kha_ba kullu jabba_rin 'anid(im),