5. Surah Al-Ma'idah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:



لَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ رُسُلاً ...

5: 70. We took the Covenant of the Children of Israel and sent them Messengers.

... كُلَّمَا جَاءهُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لاَ تَهْوَى أَنْفُسُهُمْ فَرِيقًا كَذَّبُواْ وَفَرِيقًا يَقْتُلُونَ ﴿٧٠﴾

Every time there came to them an apostle with what they themselves desired not --

some (of these) they called impostors, and some they (go so far as to) slay.

C780. Cf. 2:87, and n. 91.

Other versions:


5:70

Yusuf Ali We took the Covenant of the Children of Israel and sent them Apostles. Every time there came to them an apostle with what they themselves desired not some (of these) they called impostors and some they (go so far as to) slay.

Pickthall We made a covenant of old with the Children of Israel and We sent unto them messengers. As often as a messenger came unto them with that which their souls desired not (they became rebellious). Some (of them) they denied and some they slew.

Transliteration Laqad akhazna_ misa_qa bani isra_'ila wa arsalna_ ilaihim rusulu_(n), kullama_ ja_'ahum rasu_lum bima_ la_ tahwa_ anfusuhum, fariqan kazzabu_ wa fariqay yaqtulu_n(a).

11.Surah Hud

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:



وَاسْتَغْفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُواْ إِلَيْهِ...   

11: 90.  "But ask forgiveness of you Lord, and turn unto Him (in repentance):

...إِنَّ رَبِّي رَحِيمٌ وَدُودٌ ﴿٩٠﴾

for my Lord is indeed Full of mercy and loving-kindness."

قَالُواْ يَا شُعَيْبُ مَا نَفْقَهُ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا تَقُولُ ...

11: 91.  They said:

"O Shuayb! much of what thou sayest we do not understand!

C1591. Spiritual things are easy to understand if we bring the right mind to them. But those who are contemptuous of them deliberately shut their eyes to Allah's Signs, and then pretend in their superior arrogance that they are 'quite beyond them'!

... وَإِنَّا لَنَرَاكَ فِينَا ضَعِيفًا...

In fact among us we see that thou hast no strength!

...وَلَوْلاَ رَهْطُكَ لَرَجَمْنَاكَ...

Were it not for thy family, we should certainly have stoned thee!

...وَمَا أَنتَ عَلَيْنَا بِعَزِيزٍ ﴿٩١﴾

For thou hast among us no great position!"

C1592. What they do understand is brute strength. They practically say:

"Don't you see that we have all the power and influence, and you, Shu'ayb, are only a poor Teacher?

We could stone you or imprison you or do what we like with you!

Thank us for our kindness that we spare you-, for the sake of your family. It is more than you yourself deserve!"


Other versions:



11: 90

Yusuf Ali "But ask forgiveness of you Lord and turn unto Him (in repentance): for my Lord is indeed Full of mercy and loving-kindness."

Pickthall Ask pardon of your Lord and then turn unto Him (repentant). Lo! my Lord is, Merciful, Loving.


Yuksel "Seek forgiveness from your Lord then repent to Him. My Lord is Compassionate, Loving."


Transliteration Wa-stagfiru_ rabbakum summa tu_bu_ ilaih(i), inna rabbi rahimuw wadu_d(un).

11: 91

Yusuf Ali They said: "O Shuaib! much of what thou sayest we do not understand! In fact among us we see that thou hast no strength! Were it not for thy family we should certainly have stoned thee! For thou hast among us no great position!"

Pickthall They said: O Shueyb! We understand not much of that thou tellest, and lo! we do behold thee weak among us. But for thy family, we should have stoned thee, for thou art not strong against us.


Yuksel They said, "O Shuayb, we do not understand most of what you say, and we see you as weak amongst us. If it were not for who your family is, we would have stoned/rejected you, and you would not be proud against us."


Transliteration Qa_lu_ ya_ syu'aibu ma_ nafqahu kasiram mimma_ taqu_lu wa inna_ lanara_ka fina_ da'ifa_(n), wa lau la_ rahtuka larajamna_k(a), wa ma_ anta 'alaina_ bi 'aziz(in).