Sura 13 ar-R’ad, Medina 96

The Quranic Text and Ali’s Translation

وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ...

13: 36.  Those to whom We have given the Book rejoice at what hath been revealed unto thee:

...وَمِنَ الأَحْزَابِ مَن يُنكِرُ بَعْضَهُ...

but there are among the clans those who reject a part thereof.

...قُلْ إِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللّهَ وَلا أُشْرِكَ بِهِ...

Say:

"I am commanded to worship God, and not to join partners with Him.

...إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُو وَإِلَيْهِ مَآبِ ﴿٣٦﴾

Unto Him do I call,

and unto Him is my return."

Transliteration

Wallazinaa_taina_humulkita_bayafrahu_nabima_ unzilailaikawaminalahza_bi may yunkiruba'dah(u_), qulinnama_ umirtuana'budalla_hawa la_ usyrikabih(i), ilaihiad'u_ wailaihima'a_b(i).

Other Translations:

Asad

…….but among the followers of other creeds there are such as deny the validity of some of it. Say: “I have only been bidden to worship God, and not to ascribe divine powers to aught beside Him: unto Him do I call [all mankind], and He is my goal!”

Pickthall

Those unto whom We gave the Scripture rejoice in that which is revealed unto thee. And of the clans there are who deny some of it. Say: I am commanded only that I serve Allah and ascribe unto Him no partner. Unto Him I cry, and unto Him is my return.

Yuksel

Those to whom We have previously given the book rejoice at what has been sent down to you, but there are some of the groups that reject parts of it. Say, "I am only ordered to serve God and not to associate any partner with Him. To Him I pray and to Him is the return."

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Asad note 71:

The particle “only” [innama] at the beginning of this sentence “clearly shows that there is [in Islam] no obligation, no ordinance and no prohibition that is not connected with this [principle]” [Razi].

Ali’s notes:

C1857. The Book: in a general sense, Revelation.

"Those to whom the Book hath been given" are both;

-        the People of the Book of previous revelations, who study the new Revelation in Arabic without prejudice and find in it confirmation of what their ancestors had received and believed in it, and

-        the Muslims who receive the Quran with such joy.

C1858. Ahzab (plural of hizb: parties, sects, troops, clans. The reference may be to the clans mentioned in 33:20 and 22 (that whole Surah is called Ahzab).

But we can understand it in a perfectly general sense. Among all sections of the people there are persons who would receive a portion of Allah's truth but reject whatever does not suit them or fall in with their selfish aims or vain desires. The proper answer to them is:

Surely, Allah's command is universal, -to worship and serve Him and refuse to bend the knee to any other; the man of God finds his staff and support in it; but he must invite all to share in its blessings; it came from Allah, and to Allah shall we all return.