7. Sura al-Araf, Mecca 39
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَأَوْحَيْنَا
إِلَى مُوسَى
أَنْ أَلْقِ
عَصَاكَ...
7: 117. We put it into Moses' mind by inspiration: "Throw (now) thy rod":
...فَإِذَا هِيَ تَلْقَفُ مَا يَأْفِكُونَ ﴿١١٧﴾
and behold! it swallows up straightway all the falsehoods which they fake!
7: 117
Asad ……and lo! it swallowed up all their deceptions [note 89]:
Pickthall And We inspired Moses (saying): Throw thy staff! And lo! it swallowed up their lying show.
Transliteration Wa auhaina_ ila_ mu_sa_ an alqi'asa_k(a), fa iza_ hiya talqafu ma_ ya'fiku_n(a).
[[ Asad’s note 89 – Implying that the act of Moses was a genuine miracle, whereas that of the sorcerers was a feat of make-believe (cf. 20:66).]]
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2. Surah al-Baqara, Medina 87
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَاتَّبَعُواْ
مَا تَتْلُواْ
الشَّيَاطِينُ
عَلَى مُلْكِ
سُلَيْمَانَ...
2: 102. They followed what the evil ones gave out (falsely) against the power of Solomon;
C103. This is a continuation of the argument in 2:101.
The People of the Book, instead of sticking to the plain Books of Revelations, and seeking to do the will of Allah ran after all sorts of occult knowledge, most of which was false and evil.
Many wonderful tales of occult power attributed the power of Solomon to magic. But Solomon dealt in not arts of evil. It was the powers of evil that pretended to force the laws of nature and the will of Allah; such a pretense is plainly blasphemy.
... وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَانُ وَلَـكِنَّ الشَّيْاطِينَ كَفَرُواْ يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ...
the blasphemers were, not Solomon, but the evil ones, teaching men magic,
... وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَارُوتَ وَمَارُوتَ...
and such things as came down at Babylon to the angels Harut and Marut.
C104. Harut and Marut lived in Babylon, a very ancient seat of science, especially the science of astronomy. The period may be supposed to anywhere about the time when the ancient Eastern Monarchies were strong and enlightened: probably even earlier, as Ma-ru-tu or Mandruk was a deified hero afterwards worshipped as a god of magic in Babylon.
Being good men, Harut and Marut of course dabbled in nothing evil, and their evil hands were certainly clean of fraud. But knowledge and the arts, if learned by evil men, can be applied to evil uses. The evil ones, besides their fraudulent magic, also learnt a little of this true science and applied it to evil uses.
Harut and Marut did not withhold knowledge, yet never taught anyone without plainly warning them of the trial and temptation of knowledge in the hands of evil men. Being men of insight, they also saw the blasphemy that might rise to the lips of the evil ones puffed up with science and warned them against it.
Knowledge is indeed a trial or temptation: if we are warned, we know its dangers: if Allah has endowed us with free will, we must be free to choose between the benefit and the danger.
Among the Jewish traditions in the Midrash (Jewish Tafsir) was a story of two angels who asked Allah's permission to come down to earth but succumbed to temptation, and were hung up by their feet at Babylon for punishment.
Such stories about sinning angels who were cast down to punishment were believed in by the early Christians also. (See the Second Epistle of Peter, 2:4, and the Epistle of Jude, verse 6). (R).
... وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولاَ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلاَ تَكْفُرْ ...
But neither of these taught anyone (such things) without saying: "We are only for trial, so do not blaspheme."
... فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ...
They learned from them the means to sow discord between man and wife.
C105. What the evil ones learnt from Harut and Marut (see last note) they turned to evil. When mixed with fraud and deception, it appeared as charms and spells of love potions. They did nothing but cause discord between the sexes. But of course their power was limited to the extent to which Allah permitted the evil to work, for His grace protected all who sought His guidance and repented and returned to Him.
But apart from the harm that these false pretenders might do to others, the chief harm which they did was to their own souls. They sold themselves into slavery to the Evil One, as is shown in the allegory of Goethe's Faust.
That allegory dealt with the individual soul. Here the tragedy is shown to occur not only to individuals but to whole groups of people, for example, the People of the Book.
Indeed the story might be extended indefinitely.
... وَمَا هُم بِضَآرِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللّهِ...
But they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah's permission.
... وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلاَ يَنفَعُهُمْ ...
And they learned what harmed them, not what profited them.
... وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُواْ لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلاَقٍ ...
And they knew that the buyers of (magic) would have no share in the happiness of the Hereafter.
... وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْاْ بِهِ أَنفُسَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُواْ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١٠٢﴾
And vile was the price for which they did sell their souls, if they but knew!
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُواْ واتَّقَوْا لَمَثُوبَةٌ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّه خَيْرٌ لَّوْ كَانُواْ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١٠٣﴾
2: 103. If they had kept their faith and guarded themselves from evil, far better had been the reward from their Lord, if they but knew!
Other Versions:
2: 102
Asad And follow [instead] that which the evil ones used to practice during Solomon’s reign – for it was not Solomon who denied the truth, but those evil ones denied it by teaching people sorcery -; and [they follow] that which has come down through the two angels in Babylon, Harut and Marut – although these two never taught it to anyone without first declaring, “We are but a temptation to evil: do not, then, deny [God’s] truth!” [note 83] And they learn from these two how create discord between a man and his wife; but whereas they can harm none thereby save by God’s leave, they acquire a knowledge that only harms themselves and does not benefit them – although they know, indeed, that he who acquire this [knowledge] shall have no share in the good of the life to come [note 84]. For vile indeed is that [art] for which they have sold their own selves –had they but know it!
Pickthall And follow that which the devils falsely related against the kingdom of Solomon. Solomon disbelieved not; but the devils disbelieved, teaching mankind magic and that which was revealed to the two angels in Babel, Harut and Marut. Nor did they (the two angels) teach it to anyone till they had said: We are only a temptation, therefore disbelieve not (in the guidance of Allah). And from these two (angels) people learn that by which they cause division between man and wife; but they injure thereby no one save by Allah's leave. And they learn that which harmeth them and profiteth them not. And surely they do know that he who trafficketh therein will have no (happy) portion in the Hereafter; and surely evil is the price for which they sell their souls, if they but knew.
Transliteration Wattaba'u_ ma_ tatlusy syaya_tinu 'ala_ mulki sulaima_n(a), wa ma_ kafara sulaima_nu wa la_kinnasy syaya_tina kafaru_ yu'allimu_nan na_sas sihra wa ma_ unzila 'alal malakaini bi ba_bila ha_ru_ta wa ma_ru_t(a), wa ma_ yu'allima_ni min ahadin hatta_ yaqu_la_ innama_ nahnu fitnatun fa la_ takfur, fa yata'allamu_na minhuma_ ma_ yufarriqu_na bihi bainal mar'i wa zaujih(i), wa ma_ hum bi da_rrina bihi min ahadin illa_ bi iznilla_h(i), wa yata'allamu_na ma_ yadurruhum wa la_ yanfa'uhum, wa laqad 'alimuu_ lamanisy tara_hu ma_ lahu_ fil a_khirati min khala_q(in), wa labi'sa ma_ syarau bihi anfusahum, lau ka_nu_ ya'lamun(a).
2: 103
Asad And had they but believed and been conscious of Him, reward from God would indeed have brought them good – had they but known it!
Pickthall And if they had believed and kept from evil, a recompense from Allah would be better, if they only knew.
Wa lau annahum a_manu_ wattaqau lamasu_batum min'indilla_hi khair(un), lau ka_nu_ ya'lamu_n(a).
[ Ruby’s Note to Magic and Sorcery: I disagree with the view of Asad that these verses do not invalidate the actual effects of magic or sorcery. These verses directly and clearly saying that in the true sense of causing or being cause, magic and sorcery would not be able to cause anything permanently unless God gives permission to such cause. The effects therefore may be illusory, short-term or not at all. And a believer therefore should not look up to these superficial means of effect, rather it they trust God and rely on God as the Cause of all causes, these would not have any effects on the believers at all.
THESE TAKEN AS BEING CAUSES WOULD VIOLATE THE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT THAT God alone is the Cause, and therefore these attitudes constitute as “shirk”. These are outside the domain of natural causes which God institutes in the nature or reality such as using medicine or manipulation of physical laws to achieve results, which his permitted. The given Human ability to tinker with natural phenomenon through knowledge, ability and reason are all permitted. Sorcery or magic which seem to defy or subvert these natural phenomena or laws are not. ]
[ Ali’s notes: 102 I think that by "the Book of God" here is meant, not the Qur-an, but the Book which the People of the Book had been given, viz., the previous Revelations. The argument is that Muhammad's Message was similar to Revelations which they had already received, and if they had looked into their own Books honestly and sincerely, they would have found proofs in them to show that the new Message was true and from God. But they ignored their own Books or twisted or distorted them according to their own fancies. Worse, they followed something which was actually false and mischeivous and inspired by the evil one. Such was the belief in magic and sorcery. These are described in the next verse in terms referring to the beliefs and practices of the "People of the Book." (2.101)
103 This is a continuation of the argument in ii. 101. The People of the Book, instead of sticking to the plain Books of Revelations, and seeking to do the will of God ran after all sorts of occult knowledge, most of which was false and evil. Many wonderful tales of occult power attributed the power of Solomon to magic. But Solomon dealt in not arts of evil. It was the powers of evil that pretended to force the laws of nature and the will of God; such a pretense is plainly blasphemy. (2.102)
104 This verse has been interpreted variously. Whe were Harut and Marut? What did they teach? Why did they teach it? The view which commends itself to me is that of the Tafsir Haqqani following Baidhawi and the Tafsir Kabir. The word "angels" as applied to Harut and Marut is figurative. It means "good men, of knowledge, science (or wisdom) and power." In modern language the word "angel" is applied to a good and beautiful woman. The earlier tradition made angels masculine, and applied to them the attributes which I have mentioned, along with the attribute of beauty, which was implied in goodness, knowledge, wisdom, and power. (2.102)
105 What the evil ones learnt from Harut and Marut (see last note) they turned to evil. When mixed with fraud and deception, it appeared as charms and spells of love potions. They did nothing but cause discord between the sexes. But of course their power was limited to the extent to which God permitted the evil to work, for His grace protected all who sought His guidance and repented and returned to Him. But apart from the harm that these false pretenders might do to others, the chief harm which they did was to their own souls. They sold themselves into slavery to the Evil One, as is shown in the allegory of Goethe's Faust. That allegory dealt with the individual soul. Here the tragedy is shown to occur not only to individuals but to whole groups of people, for example, the People of the Book. Indeed the story might be extended indefinitely. (2.102) ]
[Asad’s notes: 82 – The expression ash-shayatin, here rendered as “the evil ones”, apparently refers to human beings, as has been pointed out by Tabari, Razi, etc., but may also allude to the evil, immoral impulses within man’s heart………..The above parenthetic sentence constitutes the Quranic refutation of the Biblical statement that Solomon had been guilty of idolatrous practices (see I Kings xi, 1-10), as well as of the legend that he was the originator of the magic arts popular association with his name.
83 – This “declaration” circumscribes, metonymically, man’s moral duty to reject every attempt at “sorcery” inasmuch as – irrespective of whether it succeeds or fails – it aims at subverting the order of nature as instituted by God. As regards the designation of Harut and Marut, most of the readings of htge Quran give the spelling ‘malakayn’ (“the two angels”); but it is authentically recorded……………read it as ‘malikayn’ (“the two kings”). I myself incline to the latter reading; but since the other is more generally accepted, I have adopted it here…………and it is to this legend that the Quran refers with a view to condemning every attempt at magic and sorcery, as well as all preoccupation with occult science in general.
84- The above passage does not raise the question as to whether there is an objective truth in the occult phenomena loosely described as “magic”, or whether they are based on self deception. The intent here is no more and no less than to warn man that any attempt at influencing the course of events by means which – ………..have a “supernatural” connotation is a spiritual offence………]
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4. Sura an-Nisa
Medina 92 [Hijra 4]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَلَمْ
تَرَ إِلَى
الَّذِينَ
أُوتُواْ نَصِيبًا
مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ
...
4: 51. Hast thou not turned thy vision to those who were given a portion of the Book?
The phrase also occurs in 4:44.
... يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْجِبْتِ وَالطَّاغُوتِ...
They believe in sorcery and evil,
C573. The word I have translated Sorcery is jibt, which may mean divination, sorcery, magic, or any false object of belief or worship, such as an idol.
The word I have translated Evil (here and in 2:256) is Taghut, which means the evil one, the one who exceeds all bounds, Satan: or it may refer to some idol worshipped by the Pagan Arabs, with whom the Jews of Madinah were intriguing against the Holy Prophet.
The Jews had taken much to sorcery, magic, divination, and such superstitions.
... وَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ هَؤُلاء أَهْدَى مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ سَبِيلاً ﴿٥١﴾
and say to the unbelievers that they are better guided in the (right) way than the believers!
Pickthall’s Version:
4: 51
Pickthall Hast thou not seen those unto whom a portion of the Scripture hath been given, how they believe in idols and false deities, and bow they say of those (idolaters) who disbelieve: "These are more rightly guided than those who believe?"
Transliteration Alam tara ilal lazina u_tu_ nasibam minal kita_bi yu'minu_na bil jibti wat ta_gu_ti wa yaqu_lu_na lillazinakafaru_ ha_'ula_'i ahda_ minal lazina a_manu_ sabila_(n).
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10. Surah Yunus, Mecca 51
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَا
مِن بَعْدِهِم
مُّوسَى وَهَارُونَ
إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ
وَمَلَئِهِ
بِآيَاتِنَا...
10: 75. Then after them sent We Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and his chiefs with Our Signs.
C1461. The story of Moses, Aaron, and Pharaoh is fully told in 7:103-137, and there are references to it in many places in the Quran.
The incidental reference here is to illustrate a special point, viz., that
- the wicked are arrogant and bound up in their sin, and prefer deception to Truth:
- they do not hesitate to charge the men of Allah, who work unselfishly for them, with mean motives, such as would actuate them in similar circumstances!
...فَاسْتَكْبَرُواْ وَكَانُواْ قَوْمًا مُّجْرِمِينَ ﴿٧٥﴾
But they were arrogant: they were a people in sin.
فَلَمَّا
جَاءهُمُ الْحَقُّ
مِنْ عِندِنَا
قَالُواْ إِنَّ
هَـذَا لَسِحْرٌ
مُّبِينٌ ﴿٧٦﴾
10: 76. When the Truth did come to them from Us, they said:
"This is indeed evident sorcery!"
قَالَ مُوسَى
أَتقُولُونَ
لِلْحَقِّ
لَمَّا جَاءكُمْ
أَسِحْرٌ هَـذَا...
10: 77. Said Moses:
"Say ye (this) about the Truth when it hath (actually) reached you?
Is sorcery (like) this?
...وَلاَ يُفْلِحُ السَّاحِرُونَ ﴿٧٧﴾
But sorcerers will not prosper."
C1462. Sorcery is the very opposite of Truth, being deception of plausible shows by the powers of evil. But these cannot succeed or last permanently, and Truth must ultimately prevail.
قَالُواْ أَجِئْتَنَا
لِتَلْفِتَنَا
عَمَّا وَجَدْنَا
عَلَيْهِ
آبَاءنَا...
10: 78. They said:
"Hast thou come to us to turn us a way from the ways We found our fathers following --
...وَتَكُونَ لَكُمَا الْكِبْرِيَاء فِي الأَرْضِ ...
in order that thou and thy brother may have greatness in the land?
C1463. Notice how they attribute evil motives to the men of Allah, motives of ambition and lust of power, which the men of Allah had been sent expressly to put down.
The same device was used against Al-Mustafa.
... وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكُمَا بِمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٧٨﴾
But not we shall believe in you!"
وَقَالَ
فِرْعَوْنُ
ائْتُونِي
بِكُلِّ سَاحِرٍ
عَلِيمٍ ﴿٧٩﴾
10: 79. Said Pharaoh: "Bring me every sorcerer well-versed."
فَلَمَّا
جَاء السَّحَرَةُ
قَالَ لَهُم
مُّوسَى أَلْقُواْ
مَا أَنتُم
مُّلْقُونَ ﴿٨٠﴾
10: 80. When the sorcerers came, Moses said to them:
"Throw ye what ye (wish) to throw!"
فَلَمَّا
أَلْقَواْ قَالَ
مُوسَى ...
10: 81. When they had their throw, Moses said:
C1464. When they threw their rods, the rods became snakes by a trick of sorcery, but Moses' miracles were greater than any tricks of sorcery, and had real Truth behind them.
... مَا جِئْتُم بِهِ السِّحْرُ...
"What ye have brought is sorcery:
...إِنَّ اللّهَ سَيُبْطِلُهُ...
Allah will surely make it of no effect:
...إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُصْلِحُ عَمَلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ﴿٨١﴾
for Allah prospereth not the work of those who make mischief.
وَيُحِقُّ
اللّهُ الْحَقَّ
بِكَلِمَاتِهِ
وَلَوْ كَرِهَ
الْمُجْرِمُونَ ﴿٨٢﴾
10: 82. "And Allah by His Words doth prove and establish His truth, however much the Sinners may hate it!"
C1465. Allah's Words or Commands have real power, while Sorcerers' tricks only seem wonderful by deceiving the eye.
Other Versions:
10: 75
Pickthall Then, after them, We sent Moses and Aaron unto Pharaoh and his chiefs with Our revelations, but they were arrogant and were a guilty folk.
Transliteration Summa ba'asna_ mim ba'dihim mu_sa_ wa ha_ru_na ila_ fir'auna wa mala'ihi bi a_ya_tina_ fa-stakbaru_ wa ka_nu_ qaumam mujrimin(a).
10: 76
Pickthall And when the Truth from Our presence came unto them, they said: This is mere magic.
Transliteration Falamma_ ja_'ahumul haqqu min 'indina_ qa_lu_ inna ha_za_ lasihrum mubin(un).
10: 77
Asad …..But sorcerers can never come to a happy end!”
Pickthall Moses said: Speak ye (so) of the Truth when it hath come unto you? Is this magic? Now magicians thrive not.
Transliteration Qa_la mu_sa_ ataqu_lu_na lil haqqi lamma_ ja_'akum, asihrun ha_za_, wa la_ yuflihus sa_hiru_n(a).
10: 79
Pickthall And Pharaoh said: Bring every cunning wizard unto me.
Transliteration Wa qa_la fir'aunu'tu_ni bi kulli sa_hirin 'alim(in).
10: 80
Pickthall And when the wizards came, Moses said unto them: Cast your cast!
Transliteration Falamma_ ja_'as saharatu qa_la lahum mu_sa_ alqu_ ma_ antum mulqu_n(a).
[[ Yuksel note - 010:081 For the definition of magic, see 7:116-117 ]].
10: 81
Pickthall And when they had cast, Moses said: That which ye have brought is magic. Lo! Allah will make it vain. Lo! Allah upholdeth not the work of mischief makers.
Yuksel So when they cast, Moses said, "What you have brought is magic, God will falsify it. God does not set right the work of the corrupters."*
Transliteration Falamma_ alqau qa_la mu_sa_ ma_ ji'tum bihis sihr(u), innalla_ha sayubtiluh(u_), innalla_ la_ yuslihu 'amalal mufsidin(a).
10: 82
Asad Whereas by His words God proves the truth to be true, however hateful this may be to those who are lost in sin!
[asad note 103: By “God’s words” is meant here His creative will, manifested in the laws of nature instituted by Him as well as in the revelations granted by Him to His prophets[manar XI, 468], A similar phrase occurs also in 8: 7 and 42: 24 ]
Pickthall And Allah will vindicate the Truth by His words, however much the guilty be averse.
Transliteration Wa yuhiqqulla_hul haqqa bi kalima_tihi wa lau karihal mujrimu_n(a).
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20. Sura Taha, Mecca 45
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قُلْنَا
لَا تَخَفْ
إِنَّكَ أَنتَ
الْأَعْلَى ﴿٦٨﴾
20: 68. We said: "Fear not! for thou hast indeed the upper hand:
Asad’s Version:
20:68
[But] We said: "Fear not! Verily, it is thou who shalt prevail! (20:69) And [now] throw that [staff] which is in thy right hand - it shall swallow up all that they have wrought: [for] they have wrought only a sorcerer's artifice, and the sorcerer can never come to any good, whatever he may aim at!" 49 '
[[ Asad]s note 49
Lit., "wherever he may come" - i.e., irrespective of whether he aims at a good or at an evil end (Razi). The above statement implies a categorical condemnation of all endeavors which fall under the heading of "magic", whatever the intention of the person who devotes himself to it.(In this connection, see also surah 2, note 84.)]]