Sura-3 [Al-Imran, Medina 89 ]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:
وَإِذْ
أَخَذَ
اللّهُ
مِيثَاقَ
النَّبِيِّيْنَ
...
3:81. Behold! Allah took the Covenant of the Prophets, saying:
The argument is:
You (People of the Book) are bound by your own oaths, sworn solemnly in the presence of your own Prophets. In the Old Testament as it now exists, Muhammad is foretold in Deut. 18:18: and the rise of the Arab nation in Isaiah. 42:11. for Kedar was a son of Ismail and the name is used for the Arab nation: in the New Testament as it now exists.
Muhammad is foretold in the Gospel of St. John. 14:16, 15:26, and 16:7:
the future Comforter cannot be the Holy Spirit as understood by Christians, because the Holy Spirit already was present, helping and guiding Jesus.
The Greek word translated "Comforter" is "Paracletos", which is an easy corruption from "Periclytos", which is almost a literal translation of "Muhammad" or "Ahmad": see 61:6.
Further, there were other Gospels that have perished, but of which traces still remain, which were even more specific in their reference to Muhammad; e.g., the Gospel of St. Barnabas, of which an Italian translation is extant in the State Library at Vienna. It was edited in 1907 with an English translation by Mr. Lonsdale and Laura Ragg.
.... لَمَا آتَيْتُكُم مِّن كِتَابٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ...
"I give you a Book and Wisdom;
...ثُمَّ جَاءكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُ...
then comes to you a Messenger confirming what is with you; do ye believe him and render him help."
...قَالَ أَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَى ذَلِكُمْ إِصْرِي...
Allah said: "Do ye agree, and take this My Covenant as binding on you?"
...قَالُواْ أَقْرَرْنَا...
They said: "We agree."
...قَالَ فَاشْهَدُواْ وَأَنَاْ مَعَكُم مِّنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ ﴿٨١﴾
He said: "Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses."
Asad’s Version:
3: 81
Asad And, Lo, God accepted, through the prophets, this solemn pledge [from the followers of earlier revelation] [note 64]: “If………there comes to you an apostle confirming the truth already in your possession, you must believe in him and succor him. Do you” – said He- “acknowledge it.” Said He: “Then bear witness [thereto], shall be your witness [ note 65].
Yusuf Ali Behold! Allah took the covenant of the Prophets saying: "I give you a Book and Wisdom; then comes to you an Apostle confirming what is with you; do ye believe him and render him help." Allah said: "Do ye agree and take this My Covenant as binding on you?" They said: "We agree." He said: "Then bear witness and I am with you among the witnesses."
Pickthall When Allah made (His) covenant with the Prophets, (He said): Behold that which I have given you of the Scripture and knowledge. And afterward there will come unto you a messenger, confirming that which ye possess. Ye shall believe in him and ye shall help him. He said: Do ye agree, and will ye take up My burden (which I lay upon you) in this (matter)? They answered: We agree. He said: Then bear ye witness. I will be a witness with you.
Transliteration Wa iz akhazalla_hu misa_qan nabiyyina lama_ a_taitukum min kita_biw wa hikmatin summa ja_'akum rasu_lum musaddiqul lima_ ma'akum latu'minunna bihi wa latansurunnah(u_), qa_la a'aqrartum wa akhaztum'ala_ za_likum isri, qa_lu_ aqrarna_, qa_la fasyhadu_ wa ana ma'akum minasy sya_hidin(a).
[ Ali’s note - 416 Cf. ii. 63. n. 78. The argument is: You (People of the Book) are bound by your own oaths, sworn solemnly in the presence of your own Prophets. In the Old Testament as it now exists, Muhammad is foretold in Deut. xviii. 18: and the rise of the Arab nation in Isaiah. xlii. 11. for Kedar was a son of Ismail and the name is used for the Arab nation: in the New Testament as it now exists. Muhammad is foretold in the Gospel of St. John. xiv. 16, xv. 26, and xvi. 7: the future Comforter cannot be the Holy Spirit as understood by Christians, because the Holy Spirit already was present, helping and guiding Jesus. The Greek word translated "Comforter" is "Paracletos", which is an easy corruption from "Periclytos", which is almost a literal translation of "Muhammad" or "Ahmad": see Q lxi. 6. Further, there were other Gospels that have perished, but of which traces still remain, which were even more specific in their reference to Muhammad; e.g., the Gospel of St. Barnabas, of which an Italian translation is extant in the State Library at Vienna. It was edited in 1907 with an English translation by Mr. Lonsdale and Laura Ragg. (3.81) ]
[ Asad’s note – Note 64 – Lit., “the solemn pledge of the prophets.” Zamakhshari holds that what is meant here is a pledge taken from the community as a whole: a pledge consisting in their acceptance of the messages conveyed through the prophets.]
Sura-19 [Maryam mecca 44]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:
Asad’s Version:
19: 146
Asad They unto whom We have vouchsafed revelation aforetime know it as they know their own children: but, behold some of them knowingly suppress the truth -
Yusuf Ali The people of the Book know this as they know their own sons; but some of them conceal the truth which they themselves know.
Pickthall Those unto whom We gave the Scripture recognize (this revelation) as they recognize their sons. But lo! a party of them knowingly conceal the truth.
Transliteration Al haqqu mir rabbika fala_ taku_nanna minal mumtarin(a).
[Asad’s note 122 This refers, in the first instance, to the fact tat the Kabah was Abraham’s qiblah, as well as to the Biblical prophecies relating to Ishmael as the progenitor of a “great nation” (Genesis xxi, 13 and 18) from whom a prophet “like unto Moses” would one day arise: fro it was through Ishmael’s descendant, the Arabian Prophet, that the commandment relating to the qiblah was revealed. (Regarding the still more explicit predictions of the future advent of the Prophet Muahmmad, forthcoming from the canonical Gospels, see 61:6 and the corresponding note.)