5. Surah Al-Ma'idah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ ...

5: 20. Remember Moses said to his people:

... يَا قَوْمِ اذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنبِيَاء ...

"O my people! call in remembrance the favor of Allah unto you, when He produced prophets among you,

C721. There was a long line of patriarchs and prophets before Moses, e.g., Abraham, Isaac, Ismail, Jacob, etc.

... وَجَعَلَكُم مُّلُوكًا...

made you kings,

C722. From the slavery of Egypt the Children of Israel were made free and independent, and thus each man became as it were a king, if only he had obeyed Allah and followed the lead of Moses.

... وَآتَاكُم مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ أَحَدًا مِّن الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢٠﴾

and gave you what He had not given to any other among the peoples.

C723. Cf. Exod. 19:5: "Now, therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people."

Israel was chosen to be the vehicle of Allah's message, the highest honour which any nation can receive.

Other versions:

5: 20 [al-Maidah, Medina 112]

Asad And, Lo, Moses said unto his people [note 31]: “O my people ! Remember the blessings which God bestowed upon you when he raised up prophets among you, and made you your own masters [note 32], and granted unto you [favors] such as He had not granted to anyone else in the world.

Yusuf Ali Remember Moses said to his people: "O my people! call in remembrance the favor of Allah unto you when He produced prophets among you made you kings and gave you what He had not given to any other among the peoples.

Pickthall And (remember) when Moses said unto his people: O my people ! Remember Allah's favor unto you, how He placed among you Prophets, and He made you Kings, and gave you that (which) He gave not to any (other) of (His) creatures.

Transliteration Wa iz qa_la mu_sa_ li qaumihi ya_ qaumizkuru_ ni'matalla_hi 'alaikum iz ja'ala fikum ambiya_'a wa ja'alakum mulu_ka_(w), wa a_ta_kum ma_ lamyu'ti ahadam minal'a_lamin(a).

[[ Asad’s note 31 – With these words the Quran returns to the story of the children of Israel alluded to in verses 12 and 13 – namely, to an illustration of their having “broken their solemn pledge” and gone back on their faith in God. The following story is, moreover , directly connected with the preceding verse inasmuch as Moses appeals here to the children of Israel as “a bearer of glad tidings and a warner”.]

[[ Asad’s note 32 – Lit., “made you kings”. According to most of the commentators ….the “kingship” of the Israelites is a metaphorical allusion to their freedom and independence after their Egyptian bondage, the term “king” being equivalent here to “a free man who is master of his own affairs” and can, therefore adopt any way of life he chooses.]]

[[ Ali’s notes -

722 From the slavery of Egypt the Children of Israel were made free and independent, and thus each man became as it were a king, if only he had obeyed Allah and followed the lead of Moses. (5.20)

723 Cf. Exod. xix. 5: "Now, therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people." Israel was chosen to be the vehicle of Allah's message, the highest honour which any nation can receive. (5.20) ]]