[ Asad’s note to 17 to 68:35
This is the earliest occurance of the term “muslimun (sing. Muslim) in the history of Quranic revelation.
Throughout this work, I have translated the terms ‘muslim’ and ‘islam’ in accordance with their original connotations, namely “ one who surrenders [ or “has surrendered”] himself to God”, and “man’s self-surrender to God”: the same holds good of all forms of the verb ‘aslama’ occurring in the Quran.
It should be borne in mind that the “institutionalized” use of these terms – that is, their exclusive application to the followers of the Prophet Muhammad – represents a definitely post-Quranic development and, hence, must be avoided in a translation of the Quran.]
68: 34 [ al-Qalam, Mecca 3 ]
Asad For, behold, it is the God-conscious [alone] whom gardens of bliss await with their Sustainer:
Yusuf Ali Verily for the righteous are Gardens of Delight in the Presence of their Lord.
Pickthall Lo! for those who keep from evil are gardens of bliss with their Lord.
Transliteration Ina lilmut taqina inda rabihim jan na_tin naim
68: 35
Asad Or should We, perchance, treat those who surrender themselves unto Us as [ We would treat ] those who remain lost in sin ? [note 17]
Yusuf Ali Shall We then treat the People of Faith like the People of Sin?
Pickthall Shall We then treat those who have surrendered as We treat the guilty?
Transliteration Afanajalul muslimina kal mujrimin
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3: 20 [ al-i-Imran, Medina 89 ]
Yusuf Ali So if they dispute with thee say: "I have submitted my whole self to Allah and so have those who follow me." And say to the people of the Book and to those who are unlearned: "Do ye (also) submit yourselves?" If they do they are in right guidance but if they turn back thy duty is to convey the Message; and in Allah's sight are (all) His servants.
Pickthall And if they argue with thee, (O Muhammad), say: I have surrendered my purpose to Allah and (so have) those who follow me. And say unto those who have received the Scripture and those who read not: Have ye (too) surrendered? If they surrender, then truly they are rightly guided, and if they turn away, then it is thy duty only to convey the message (unto them). Allah is Seer of (His) bondmen.
Transliteration Fa in ha_jju_ka fa qul aslamtu wajhiya lilla_hi wa manittaba'an(i), wa qul lillazina u_tul kita_ba wal ummiyyina a'aslamtum, fa in aslamu_ fa qadihtadau, wa in tawallau fa innama_ 'alaikal bala_g(u), walla_hu basirum bil'iba_d(i).
[ Ruby’s note – This appeal is both to the literate and illiterate alike. This wisdom and this basic understanding that there is a creator and that to submit to God is our whole purpose should be there for everybody. ]
[ Ali’s notes
360 Wajh: whole self. See n. 114 to ii. 112. (3.20)
361 The People of the Book may be supposed to know something about the previous religious history of mankind. To them the appeal should be easy and intelligible, as all Religion is one, and it is only being renewed in Islam. But the appeal is also made to the Pagan Arabs, who are unlearned, and who can well be expected to follow the example of one of their own, who received divine enlightenment, and was able to bring new knowledge to them. A great many of both these classes did so. But the few who resisted Allah's grace, and actually threatened and persecuted those who believed, are told that Allah will look after His own. (3.20)
362 Note the literary skill in the argument as it proceeds. The mystery of birth faintly suggests that we are coming to the story of Jesus. The exposition of the Book suggests that Islam is the same religion as that of the People of the Book. Next we are told that the People of the Book made their religion one-sided, and through the priesthood of the family of Imran, we are brought to the story of Jesus, who was rejected by a body of the Jews as Muhammad was rejected by a body of both Jews and Christians. (3.20) ]
5: 15, 5:16 : O followers of the Bible! Now there has come unto you Our Apostle, to make clear unto you much of what you have been concealing [from yourselves] of the Bible, and to pardon much. (See Asad note 28 )
5: 15, 16 .........Now there has come unto you from God a light, and a clear divine writ, through which God shows unto all that seek His goodly acceptance the paths leading to salvation and, by His grace, brings them out of the depths of darkness into the light and guides them onto a straight way.
Asad Note 29: The word Salam, here rendered as “salvation”, has no proper equivalent in the English language. It denotes inner peace, soundness and security form evil and any kind, both physical and spiritual, and the achievement of what, in Christianity by terminology, is described as “salvation”: with the difference, however, that the Christian concept of salvation presupposes the existence of an
a-priori state of sinfulness, which is justified in Christianity by the doctrine of “original sin”, but is not justified in Islam...........spiritual peace and fulfillment .....
5: 15 [al-Maidah, Medina 112 ]
Asad …………..Now there has come unto you form God a light, and a clear divine writ,
Yusuf Ali O People of the Book! there hath come to you Our Apostle revealing to you much that ye used to hide in the Book and passing over much (that is now unnecessary): There hath come to you from Allah a (new) Light and a perspicuous Book.
Pickthall O people of the Scripture! Now hath Our messenger come unto you, expounding unto you much of that which ye used to hide in the Scripture, and forgiving much. Now hath come unto you light from Allah and a plain Scripture,
Transliteration Ya_ ahlal kita_bi qad ja_'akum rasu_luna_ yubayyinu lakum kasiram mimma_ kuntumtukhfu_na minal kita_bi wa ya'fu_ 'an kasir(in), qad ja_'akum minalla_hi nu_ruw wa kita_bum mubin(uy).
[[ Ali’s note - 716 Mubin: I wish I could translate by a simpler word than "perspicuous". But "plain" may mean unadorned, the opposite of beautiful, and this Book is among the most beautiful that it is the privilege of mankind to read. "Clear" would be right as far as it means "unambiguous, self-evident, not involved in mysteries of origin, history, or meaning, one which every one can understand as to the essentials necessary for him, without the intervention of priests or privileged persons". Mubin has all these meanings, but it suggests, besides, some quality of a shining light, by which we are able to make things clear, to distinguish the true from the false, This I think is suggested better by "perspicuous" than by the word "clear". Besides it is hardly good idiom to speak of "a clear Book." (5.15) ]]
5: 16
Asad through which God shows unto all that seek His goodly acceptance the paths leading to salvation [note 29] and, by His grace, brings them out of the depths of darkness into the light and guides them onto a straight way.
Yusuf Ali Wherewith Allah guide all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety and lead them out of darkness by His Will unto the light guide them to a Path that is Straight.
Pickthall Whereby Allah guide him who seek His good pleasure unto paths of peace. He bring them out of darkness unto light by His decree, and guide them unto a straight path.
Transliteration Yahdi bihilla_hu manittaba'aridwa_nahu_ subulas sala_mi wayukhrijuhum minaz zuluma_tiilan nu_ri bi iznihi wa yahdihim ila_ sira_tim mustaqim(in).
[[ Asad’s note 29 – The word ‘salam’, here rendered as “salvation’, has no proper equivalent in the English language. It denotes inner peace, soundness and security from evil of any kind, both physical and spiritual, and the achievement of what, in Christian terminology, is described as “salvation”: with the difference, however, that the Christian concept of salvation presupposes the existence of an a-priori state of sinfulness, which is justified in Christianity by the doctrine of “original sin”, but is not justified in Islam, which does not subscribe to this doctrine. …………]
6: 14
Yusuf Ali Say: "Shall I take for my protector any other than Allah the Maker of the heavens and the earth? And He is that feedeth but is not fed." Say: "Nay! but I am commanded to be the first of those who bow to Allah (in Islam) and be not thou of the company of those who join gods with Allah."
Pickthall Say: Shall I choose for a protecting friend other than Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, who feedeth and is never fed? Say: I am ordered to be the first to surrender (unto Him) . And be not thou (O Muhammad) of the idolaters.
Transliteration Qul agairalla_hi attakhizu waliyyan fa_tiras sama_wa_ti wal ardi wa huwa yut'imu wa la_ yut'am(u), qul inni umirtu an aku_na awwala man aslama wa la_ taku_nanna minal musyrikin(a).
6: 54 And when those who believe in Our messages come unto thee, say: “Peace be upon you. Your Sustainer has willed upon Himself the law of grace and mercy – so that if any of you does a bad deed out of ignorance, and there after repents and lives righteously, He shall be [found] much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.”
Asad note 46 (p. 179) : Regarding the word Salam, which has been translated here as ‘peace”...........has a spiritual connotation comprising the concepts of ethical soundness, security from all that is evil and therefore, freedom from all moral conflict and disquiet.
Note 10 (sura 6, p.173): The expression” God has willed upon Himself as a law” (kataba ala nafsihi) occurs in the Quran ONLY TWICE, - here and 6:54 - and in both instances with reference to His grace and mercy [rahmah]; none of the other divine attributes has been similarly described. This exceptional quality of God’s grace and mercy is further stressed in 7:156 – “My grace over-spreads everything” – and finds an echo in the authentic Tradition in which, according to the Prophet, God says of Himself, “Verily, My grace and mercy outstrips My wrath” (Bukhari and Muslim)
6: 163
Yusuf Ali No partner hath He: this am I commanded and I am the first of those who bow to His Will.
Pickthall He hath no partner. This am I commanded, and I am first of those who surrender (unto Him).
Transliteration La_ syarika lah(u_), wa biza_lika umirtu wa ana awwalul muslimin(a).