10. Surah Yunus
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
10: 88. Moses prayed:
رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ آتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلأهُ زِينَةً وَأَمْوَالاً فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا...
"Our Lord! Thou hast indeed bestowed on Pharaoh and his Chiefs splendor and wealth in the life of the Present,
C1469. Moses' prayer, in which Aaron joined, for he was always with him, may be paraphrased thus:
"O Allah!
we understand that the glitter and the wealth of the Egyptians are not to be envied. They are but the ephemeral goods of this life. They are a disadvantage, in that in their pride of possessions the Egyptians mislead themselves and others. Let their pride be their undoing! Turn their wealth into bitterness and their hearts into hardness, for they reject Thee, and they will not believe until they actually see the Punishment of their sins!"
...رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِكَ...
and so, our Lord, they mislead (men) from Thy Path.
...رَبَّنَا اطْمِسْ عَلَى أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَاشْدُدْ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلاَ يُؤْمِنُواْ...
Deface, our Lord, the features of their wealth, and send hardness to their hearts, so they will not believe
C1470. A terrible curse! Let their wealth and splendour become so defaced in their features, that instead of being objects of desire, they become objects of loathing!
The heart is the seat of affections and joy: let it be so hardened by their unbelief that it becomes the seat of hatred and grief! It is when they see the Penalty that they will believe!
...حَتَّى يَرَوُاْ الْعَذَابَ الأَلِيمَ ﴿٨٨﴾
until they see the grievous Penalty."
Pickthall’s Version:
10: 88
Pickthall And Moses said: Our Lord! Lo! Thou hast given Pharaoh and his chiefs splendor and riches in the life of the world, Our Lord! that they may lead men astray from Thy way. Our Lord! Destroy their riches and harden their hearts so that they believe not till they see the painful doom.
Transliteration Wa qa_la mu_sa_ rabbana_ innaka a_taita fir'auna wa mala'ahu_ zinataw wa amwa_lan fil haya_tid dunya_, rabbana_ liyudillu_ 'an sabilik(a), rabbana-tmis 'ala_ amwa_lihim wa-sydud 'ala_ qulu_bihim fala_ yu'minu_ hatta_ yarawul 'aza_bal alim(a).
[[010:088 Those who are subjected to injustice are excused if they ask for divine punishment or use bad words. See 4:148.]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 1469 Moses's prayer, in which Aaron joined, for he was always with him, may be paraphrased thus: "O Allah! we understand that the glitter and the wealth of the Egyptians are not to be envied. They are but the ephemeral goods of this life. They are a disadvantage, in that in their pride of possessions the Egyptians mislead themselves and others. Let their pride be their undoing! Turn their wealth into bitterness and their hearts into hardness, for they reject Thee, and they will not believe until they actually see the Punishment of their sins!" (10.88)
1470 A terrible curse! Let their wealth and splendour become so defaced in their features, that instead of being objects of desire, they become objects of loathing! The heart is the seat of affections and joy: let it be so hardened by their unbelief that it becomes the seat of hatred and grief! It is when they see the Penalty that they will believe! (10.88) ]]