Sura-3 [Al-Imran, Medina 89 ]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:

الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ عَهِدَ إِلَيْنَا أَلاَّ نُؤْمِنَ لِرَسُولٍ حَتَّىَ يَأْتِيَنَا بِقُرْبَانٍ تَأْكُلُهُ النَّارُ...

3:183. They (also) said: "Allah took our promise not to believe in a messenger unless He showed us a sacrifice consumed by fire (from heaven)."

C489. Burn sacrifices figured in the Mosaic Law, and in the religious ceremonies long before Moses, but it is not true that the Mosaic Law laid down a fire from heavens on a burnt sacrifice as a test of the credentials of Prophets.

Even if it had been so, did the Jews obey the Prophets who showed this Sign? In Leviticus 9:23-24, we are told a burnt offering prepared by Moses and Aaron: "and there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat." Yet the people rebelled frequently against Moses.

Abel's offering (sacrifice) was probably a burnt offering: it was accepted by Allah, and he was killed by Cain out of jealousy: Gen. 4:3-8.

Mosaic sacrifices were no longer-needed by the people of Jesus or the people of Muhammad.

...قُلْ قَدْ جَاءكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِي بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَبِالَّذِي قُلْتُمْ...

Say: "There came to you Messengers before me, with clear signs and even with what ye ask for:

...فَلِمَ قَتَلْتُمُوهُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ﴿١٨٣﴾

why then did ye slay them, if ye speak the truth?"

فَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كُذِّبَ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِكَ جَآؤُوا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالزُّبُرِ وَالْكِتَابِ الْمُنِيرِ ﴿١٨٤﴾

3:184. Then if they reject thee, so were rejected Messengers before thee, who came with clear Signs, Books of dark prophecies, and the Book of enlightenment.

C490. The three things mentioned in the Text are:

1. Clear Signs (baiyinat);

2. zubur, and

3. kitab-il-Munir.

The signification of 1, I have explained in the note to 3:62, as far as they relate to Jesus.

In a more general sense, it means the clear evidence which Allah's dealings furnish about a Messenger of Allah having a true mission: e.g., Moses in relation to Pharaoh.

As to 2, the word Zubur has been translated as scriptures. It comes from the root Zabara which implies something hard. The commentators are not agreed, but the prophetic writings which seemed to contemporaries difficult to understand may well be meant here.

David's psalms (Zabur, 4:163) may also come under this description.

As to 3, there is no doubt about the literal meaning of the words, "the Book of Enlightenment". But what does it precisely refer to?

I take it to mean the fundamental guide to conduct,-the clear rules laid down in all Dispensations to help men to lead good lives. (R).

Other versions:

3: 183

Asad As for those who maintain, “Behold, God has bidden us not to believe in any apostle unless he comes unto us with burnt offerings” [note 141]…..

Yusuf Ali They (also) said: "Allah took our promise not to believe in an Apostle unless He showed us a sacrifice consumed by fire (from heaven)." Say: "There came to you Apostles before me with clear signs and even with what ye ask for: why then did ye slay them if ye speak the truth?

Pickthall (The same are) those who say: Lo! Allah hath charged us that we believe not in any messenger until he bring us an offering which fire (from heaven) shall devour. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Messengers came unto you before me with miracles, and with that (very miracle) which ye describe. Why then did ye slay them? (Answer that) if ye are truthful!

Transliteration Allazina qa_lu_ innalla_ha'ahida ilaina_ alla_ nu'mina lirasu_lin hatta_ ya'tiyana_ bi qurba_nin ta'kuluhun na_r(u), qul qad ja_'akum rasu_lum min qabli bil bayyina_ti wa billazi qultum falima qataltumu_hum in kuntum sa_diqin(a).

[[ Asad’s note 141 – Lit., “with an offering which the fire consumes” - - in other words, unless he confirms to Mosaic Law, which prescribes burnt offerings as an essential part of divine services. Although this aspect of the Law had been left in abeyance ever since the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, the Jews of post-Talmudic times were convinced that the Messiah promised to them would restore the Mosaic rites in their entirety; and so they refused to accept as a prophet anyone who did not conform to the Law of the Torah in every detauil. ]]

3: 184

Asad And if they give thee the lie-even so, before thy time, have [other] apostles been given the lie when they came with all evidence of the truth, and with books of divine wisdom, and with light-giving revelation.

Yusuf Ali Then if they reject thee so were rejected Apostles before thee who came with clear Signs Books of dark prophecies and the Book of enlightenment.

Pickthall And if they deny thee, even so did they deny messengers who were before thee, who came with miracles and with the Psalms and with the Scripture giving light.

Transliteration Fa in kazzabu_ka faqad kuzziba rusulum min qablika ja_'u_ bil bayyina_ti waz zuburi wal kita_bil munir(i).

[[ Ali’s note - 490 The three things mentioned in the Text are: (1) Clear Signs (baiyinat); (2) zubur, and (3) kitab-il-Munir. The signification of (1) I have explained in the note to iii. 62, as far as they relate to Jesus. In a more general sense, it means the clear evidence which Allah's dealings furnish about a Messenger of Allah having a true mission: e.g., Moses in relation to Pharaoh. (2) The word Zubur has been translated as scriptures. It comes from the root Zabara which implies something hard. The commentators are not agreed, but the prophetic writings which seemed to contemporaries difficult to understand may well be meant here. David's psalms (Zabur, iv. 163) may also come under this description. As to (3), there is no doubt about the literal meaning of the words, "the Book of Enlightenment". But what does it precisely refer to? I take it to mean the fundamental guide to conduct,-the clear rules laid down in all Dispensations to help men to lead good lives. (3.184)]]

Sura- 6 [Al Anam mecca 55]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:

وَإِذَا جَاءتْهُمْ آيَةٌ قَالُواْ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ حَتَّى نُؤْتَى مِثْلَ مَا أُوتِيَ رُسُلُ اللّهِ...

6:124. When there comes to them a Sign (from Allah), they say:

"We shall not believe until we receive one (exactly) like those received by Allah's messengers."

C946. Besides the teaching in Allah's Word, and the teaching in Allah's world, of nature and history and human contacts, many Signs also come to the ungodly, in the shape of warnings or otherwise, which the ungodly either do not heed, or deliberately reject.

The Signs in the two cases are not the same, and that becomes one of their perverse arguments against Faith. But Allah's working will be according to His own Will and Plan, and not according to the wishes whims of the ungodly.

...اللّهُ أَعْلَمُ حَيْثُ يَجْعَلُ رِسَالَتَهُ ...

Allah knoweth best where (and how) to carry out His mission.

...سَيُصِيبُ الَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُواْ صَغَارٌ عِندَ اللّهِ وَعَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَمْكُرُونَ ﴿١٢٤﴾

Soon will the wicked be overtaken by humiliation before Allah, and a severe punishment, for all their plots.

فَمَن يُرِدِ اللّهُ أَن يَهْدِيَهُ يَشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُ لِلإِسْلاَمِ...

6:125. Those whom Allah (in His Plan) willeth to guide, He openeth their breast to Islam;

C947. Allah's Universal Plan is the Qadha wa Qadr, which is so much misunderstood. That Plan is unalterable, and that is His Will.

It means that in the spiritual world, as in t physical world, there are laws of justice, mercy, grace, penalty, etc., which work as surely as anything we know.

If, then, a man refuses Faith, becomes a rebel, with each step he goes further and further down, and his pace will be accelerated; he will scarcely be able to take spiritual breath, and his recovery -in spite of Allah's mercy which he has rejected-will be as difficult as if he had to climb up to the skies.

On the other hand, the godly will find, with each step, the next step easier. Jesus expressed this truth paradoxically:

"He that hath, to him shall be given; but he that hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath": Mark, 4:25.

John (6:65) make Jesus say: "No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father."

...وَمَن يُرِدْ أَن يُضِلَّهُ يَجْعَلْ صَدْرَهُ ضَيِّقًا حَرَجًا كَأَنَّمَا يَصَّعَّدُ فِي السَّمَاء...

those whom He willeth to leave straying, He maketh their breast close and constricted, as if they had to climb up to the skies:

...كَذَلِكَ يَجْعَلُ اللّهُ الرِّجْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٢٥﴾

thus doth Allah (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe.

Other versions:

6: 124

Yusuf Ali When there comes to them a Sign (from Allah) they say: "We shall not believe until we receive one (exactly) like those received by Allah's apostles." Allah knoweth best where (and how) to carry out His mission. Soon will the wicked be overtaken by humiliation before Allah and a severe punishment for all their plots.

Pickthall And when a token cometh unto them, they say: We will not believe till we are given that which Allah's messengers are given. Allah knoweth best with whom to place His message. Humiliation from Allah and heavy punishment will smite the guilty for their scheming.

Transliteration Wa iza_ ja_'athum a_yatun qa_lu_ lan nu'mina hatta_ nu'ta_ misla ma_ u_tiya rusululla_h(i), alla_hu a'lamu haisu yaj'alu risa_latah(u_), sayusibul lazina ajramu_ saga_run'indalla_hi wa aza_bun syadidum bima_ ka_nu_ yamkuru_n(a).

6: 125

Yusuf Ali Those whom Allah (in His Plan) willeth to guide He openeth their breast to Islam; those whom He willeth to leave straying He maketh their breast close and constricted as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus doth Allah (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe.

Pickthall And whomsoever it is Allah's will to guide, He expandeth his bosom unto the Surrender, and whomsoever it is His will to send astray, He maketh his bosom close and narrow as if he were engaged in sheer ascent. Thus Allah layeth ignominy upon those who believe not.

Transliteration Fa may yuridilla_hu ay yahdiyahu_ yasyrah sadrahu_ lil isla_m(i), wa may yurid ay yudillahu_ yaj'al sadrahu_ dayyiqan harajan ka annama_ yassa''adu fis sama_'(i), kaza_lika yaj'alulla_hur rijsa 'alal lazina la_ yu'minu_n(a).

[[947 God's Universal Plan is the Qadha wa Qadr, which is so much misunderstood. That Plan is unalterable, and that is His Will. It means that in the spiritual world, there are laws of justice, mercy, grace, penalty, etc., which work as surely as anything we know. If, then, a man refuses Faith, becomes a rebel, with each step he goes further and further down, and his pace will be accelerated; he will scarcely be able to take spiritual breath, and his recovery, -in spite of God's mercy which he has rejected,-will be as difficult as if he had to climb up to the skies. On the other hand, the godly will find, with each step, the next step easier. Jesus expressed this truth paradoxically: "He that hath, to him shall be given; but he that hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath": Mark, iv. 25. John (vi 65) make Jesus say: "No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." (6.125)]]

Ayah 126

Yusuf Ali This is the way of thy Lord leading straight: We have detailed the Signs for those who receive admonition.

Pickthall This is the path of thy Lord, a straight path. We have detailed Our revelations for a people who take heed.

Transliteration Wa ha_za_ sira_tu rabbika mustaqima_(n), qad fassalnal a_ya_ti liqaumiy yazzakkaru_n(a).

Ayah 127

Yusuf Ali For them will be a Home of Peace in the presence of their Lord: He will be their Friend because they practiced (righteousness).

Pickthall For them is the abode of peace with their Lord. He will be their Protecting Friend because of what they used to do.

Transliteration Lahum da_rus sala_mi 'inda rabbihim wa huwa waliyyuhum bima_ ka_nu_ ya'