3. Sura al-Imran
Medina 89 [200 verses]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قُلْ
أَؤُنَبِّئُكُم
بِخَيْرٍ مِّن
ذَلِكُمْ ...
3: 15. Say: shall I give you glad tidings of things far better than those?
...لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا...
For the righteous are gardens in nearness to their Lord, with rivers flowing beneath; therein is their eternal home;
...وَأَزْوَاجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ وَرِضْوَانٌ مِّنَ اللّهِ...
with companions pure (and holy), and the good pleasure of Allah.
...وَاللّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَاد ِ﴿١٥﴾
For in Allah's sight are (all) His servants.
فَإنْ
حَآجُّوكَ
فَقُلْ أَسْلَمْتُ
وَجْهِيَ لِلّهِ
وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ
...
3: 20. So if they dispute with thee, say:
"I have submitted my whole self to Allah and so have those who follow me." .
C360. Wajh: whole self.
See n. 114 to 2:112.
...وَقُل لِّلَّذِينَ أُوْتُواْ الْكِتَابَ وَالأُمِّيِّينَ أَأَسْلَمْتُمْ ...
And say to the People of the Book and to those who are unlearned: "Do ye (also) submit yourselves?"
C361. The People of the Book may be supposed to know something about the previous religious history of mankind. To them the appeal should be easy and intelligible, as all Religion is one, and it is only being renewed in Islam.
But the appeal is also made to the Pagan Arabs, who are unlearned, and who can well be expected to follow the example of one of their own, who received divine enlightenment, and was able to bring new knowledge to them.
A great many of both these classes did so. But the few who resisted Allah's grace, and actually threatened and persecuted those who believed, are told that Allah will look after His own.
...فَإِنْ أَسْلَمُواْ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَواْ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلاَغُ ...
If they do, they are in right guidance, but if they turn back, thy duty is to convey the Message;
...وَاللّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ ﴿٢٠﴾
and in Allah's sight are (all) His servants.
C362. Note the literary skill in the argument as it proceeds.
The mystery of birth faintly suggests that we are coming to the story of Jesus.
The exposition of the Book suggests that Islam is the same religion as that of the People of the Book.
Next we are told that the People of the Book made their religion one-sided, and through the priesthood of the family of Imran, we are brought to the story of Jesus, who was rejected by a body of the Jews as Muhammad was rejected by a body of both Jews and Christians.
Pickthall’s Version:
3: 15
Pickthall Say: Shall I inform you of something better than that? For those who keep from evil, with their Lord, are Gardens underneath which rivers flow, and pure companions, and contentment from Allah. Allah is Seer of His bondmen.
Transliteration Qul a'unabbi'ukum bi khairim min za_likum, lillazinat taqau 'inda rabbihim janna_tun tajri min tahtihal anha_ru kha_lidina fiha_ wa azwa_jum mutahharatuw wa ridwa_num minalla_h(i), walla_hu basirum bil'iba_d(i).
3: 20
Pickthall And if they argue with thee, (O Muhammad), say: I have surrendered my purpose to Allah and (so have) those who follow me. And say unto those who have received the Scripture and those who read not: Have ye (too) surrendered? If they surrender, then truly they are rightly guided, and if they turn away, then it is thy duty only to convey the message (unto them). Allah is Seer of (His) bondmen.
Transliteration Fa in ha_jju_ka fa qul aslamtu wajhiya lilla_hi wa manittaba'an(i), wa qul lillazina u_tul kita_ba wal ummiyyina a'aslamtum, fa in aslamu_ fa qadihtadau, wa in tawallau fa innama_ 'alaikal bala_g(u), walla_hu basirum bil'iba_d(i).