2: 168 [al-Baqarah, Medina 87 ]

Asad O mankind! Partake of what is lawful and good on earth, and follow not Satan’s footsteps: for, verily, he is your open foe,

Yusuf Ali O ye people! eat of what is on earth lawful and good; and do not follow the footsteps of the evil one for he is to you an avowed enemy.

Pickthall O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and wholesome in the earth, and follow not the footsteps of the devil. Lo! he is an open enemy for you.

Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhan na_su kulu_ mimma_ fil ardi hala_lan tayyiba_(n), wa la_ tattabi'u_ khutuwa_tisy syaita_n(i), innahu_ lakum 'aduwwum mubin(un).

2: 169

Asad and bids you only to do evil, and to commit deeds of abomination, and to attribute unto God something of which you have no knowledge. [note 137]

Yusuf Ali For he commands you what is evil and shameful and that ye should say of Allah that of which ye have no knowledge.

Pickthall He enjoineth upon you only the evil and the foul, and that ye should tell concerning Allah that which ye know not.

Transliteration Innama_ ya'murukum bis su_'i wal fahsya_'i wa an taqu_lu_ 'alalla_hi ma_ la_ ta'lamu_n(a).

[Ruby’s note – The Quran is propounding to have a fulfilled life by following the broad parameters and laws set by the Quran and understood by the faculty of “fitra” God has implanted in humans. These understandings and specific applications can be subjective and relative to individuals, time, place and culture. However, if one is sincere and diligent to comply, one would come up with the right idea of what is good and what is lawful in any given circumstances. The one who are inclined to follow evil impulses even arrogance and egocentric feelings to be authority and setting the agenda for others in a way that distorts or violate the spirit, the principles and the guidelines of the Quran, they are transgressing. The Quran is warning against these wrong, erroneous ideas that may mislead believers for generations. No one is a keeper of others except God. The Quran here is warning against such evil impulses because they may contribute to distorting the faith itself. The idea of “Trinity” perhaps emerged from such feelings of undue protectionism of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Muslims should not do that. ]

[ Asad’s note 137: This refers to an arbitrary attribution to God of commandments or prohibitions in excess of what has been clerly ordained by Him………………..Tradition, have been obtained by individual Muslim scholars through subjective methods of deduction and then put forward as “God’s ordinances”………]

[Ali’s note: 169 We now come to the regulations about food. First (ii. 168-71) we have an appeal to all people, Muslims, Pagans, as well as the People of the Book; then (ii. 172-73) to the Muslims specially; then (ii 174-76) to the sort of men who then (as some do now) either believe in too much formalism or believe in no restrictions at all. Islam follows the Golden Mean. All well-regulated societies lay down reasonable limitations. These become incumbent on all loyal members of any given society, and show what is "lawful" in that society. But if the limitations are reasonable, as they should be, the "lawful" will also coincide more and more with what is "good." (2.168) ]

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5: 4 [al-Maidah, Medina 112 Contains last revelations]

Asad They will ask thee as to what is lawful to them. Say: “Lawful to you are all the good things of life [note 12]. ”………….

Yusuf Ali They ask thee what is lawful to them (as food): say: Lawful unto you are (all) things good and pure: and what ye have taught your trained hunting animals (to catch) in the manner directed to you by Allah; eat what they catch for you but pronounce the name of Allah over it: and fear Allah; for Allah is swift in taking account.

Pickthall They ask thee (O Muhammad) what is made lawful for them. Say: ( all ) good things are made lawful for you. And those beasts and birds of prey which ye have trained as hounds are trained, ye teach them that which Allah taught you; so eat of that which they catch for you and mention Allah's name upon it, and observe your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is swift to take account.

Transliteration Yas'alu_naka ma_za_ uhilla lahum, qul uhilla lakumuttayyiba_t(u), wa ma_ 'allamtum minal jawa_rihi mukallibina tu'allima_nahunna mimma_ 'allamakumulla_hu fa kulu_ mimma_ amsakna 'alaikum wazkurusmalla_hi 'alaih(i), wattaqulla_h(a), innalla_ha sari'ul hisa_b(i).

5: 5

Yusuf Ali This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers but chaste women among the People of the Book revealed before your time when ye give them their due dowers and desire chastity not lewdness nor secret intrigues. If anyone rejects faith fruitless is his work and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).

Pickthall This day are (all) good things made lawful for you. The food of those who have received the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them. And so are the virtuous women of the believers and the virtuous women of those who received the Scripture before you (lawful for you) when ye give them their marriage portions and live with them in honor, not in fornication, nor taking them as secret concubines. Whoso denieth the faith, his work is vain and he will be among the losers in the Hereafter.

Transliteration Al yauma uhilla lakumut tayyiba_t(u), wa ta'a_mul lazina u_tul kita_ba hillul lakum, wa ta'a_mukum hillul lahum, wal muhsana_tu minal mu'mina_ti wal muhsana_tu minal lazina a_tul kita_ba min qablikum iza_a a_taitumuhunna uju_rahunna muhsinina gaira musa_fihina wa la_ muttakhizi akhda_n(in), wa may yakfur bil ima_ni fa qad habita 'amaluh(u_), wa huwa fil a _khirati minal kha_sirin(a).

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8: 67 [al-Anfal, Medina 88, after Badr 2H]

Asad It does not behove a prophet to keep captives unless he has battled strenuously on earth [note 72]. You may desire the fleeting gains of this world – but God desires [for you the good of ] the live to come and God is almighty, wise.

Yusuf Ali It is not fitting for an apostle that he should have prisoners of war until he hath thoroughly subdued the land. Ye look for the temporal goods of this world; but Allah looketh to the hereafter; and Allah is Exalted in might Wise.

Pickthall It is not for any Prophet to have captives until he hath made slaughter in the land. Ye desire the lure of this world and Allah desireth (for you) the Hereafter, and Allah is Mighty, Wise.

Transliteration Ma_ ka_na linabiyyin ay yaku_na lahu_ asra_ hatta_ yuskhina fil ard(i), turidu_na 'aradad dunya_, walla_hu yuridul a_khirah(ta), walla_hu 'azizun hakim(un).

8: 68

Asad Had it not been for a decree from God that had already gone forth, there would indeed have befallen you a tremendous chastisement on account of all [the captives] that you took [note 73]

Yusuf Ali Had it not been for a previous ordainment from Allah a severe penalty would have reached you for the (ransom) that ye took.

Pickthall Had it not been for an ordinance of Allah which had gone before, an awful doom had come upon you on account of what ye took.

Transliteration Lau la_ kita_bum minalla_hi sabaqa lamassakum fima_ akhaztum 'aza_bun 'azim(un).

8: 69

Asad Enjoy, then, all that is lawful and good among the things which you have gained in war, and remain conscious of God: verily, God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.

Yusuf Ali But (now) enjoy what ye took in war lawful and good: but fear Allah: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

Pickthall Now enjoy what ye have won, as lawful and good, and keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Transliteration Fa kulu_ mimma_ ganimtum hala_lan tayyiba_(w), wattaqulla_h(a), innalla_ha gafu_rur rahim(un).

1236 Enjoy: literally, eat. See vii. 19. n. 1004, and v. 66, n. 776. (8.69)]]

8:70

Asad [Hence,] O Prophet, say unto the captives who are in your hands: “If God finds any good in your hearts, He will give you something better than all that has been taken away from you, and will forgive you your sins: for God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.” [note 74]

Yusuf Ali O apostle! say to those who are captives in your hands: "If Allah findeth any good in your hearts He will give you something better than what has been taken from you and He will forgive you: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful."

Pickthall O Prophet, Say unto those captives who are in your hands: If Allah knoweth any good in your hearts He will give you better than that which hath been taken from you, and will forgive you. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhan nabiyyu qul liman fi aidikum minal asra_, iy ya'lamilla_hu fi qulu_bikum khairay yu'tikum khairam mimma_ ukhiza minkum wa yagfir lakum, walla_hu gafu_rur rahim(un).

8: 71

Yusuf Ali But if they have treacherous designs against thee (o apostle!) they have already been in treason against Allah and so hath He given (thee) power over them and Allah is He who hath (full) knowledge and wisdom.

Pickthall And if they would betray thee, they betrayed Allah before, and He gave (thee) power over them. Allah is knower, Wise.

Transliteration Wa iy yuridu_ khiya_nataka faqad kha_nulla_ha min qablu fa amkana minhum walla_hu 'alimun hakim(un).

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