In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
*************
Study the Qur'aan in Qur'aanic light to understand Islam in its pristine simplicity, clarity, beauty and purity
**************
Qur'aanic Studies - Volume VI
by
Mohammad Shafi
PREFACE
Below the Arabic text of every verse of the Qur'aan, is its transliteration, followed by translation and Chapter Notes, if any, essentially based on the Qur'aan itself. Please remember that the Arabic text is divine and, therefore, sacrosanct, but the transliteration, translation and the Notes are human and, therefore, subject to correction. Please also remember that the human-made Notes cannot, and do not, explain the divine verses. They seek to explain the human translation only and/or to relate the verse to present circumstances or to divine explanations given in other verses of the Qur'aan.
I have adopted the transliteration method employed by the Muslim Students' Association (MSA) of the University of Southern California. And, in this regard, I may usefully quote from their site:
"MSA-USC would like to thank muslimnet.net for making their transliteration of the Qur'an publicly available.
'We would like to emphasize that this [transliteration] text is not a substitute for the original Arabic Qur'an. It is only an attempt to help those who are trying to learn to read the Arabic text, since it is as close to the written text as possible.
It is important to practice pronouncing the letters as directed in the transliteration table, especially the underlined letters, before starting to read. It will be helpful if an Arabic speaker can help you.
This work is free for use to everyone as long as no changes that might distort it are done to it. We request from those who benefit from it to pray for us. We pray to Almighty Allah to help you learn to read the Holy Qur'an, and to do every good thing.'"
I present this humble work in the earnest hope that it will prompt my Readers to try and understand the divine Message in its original Arabic text. They should remember that no translation however meticulously done can ever equal the original Arabic text in its divine grandeur and pristine clarity.
One may wonder why this yet another addition to the existing plethora of Translations and Commentaries! The answer to this question lies in the beauty of the fact that the divine Message of the Qur'aan remains valid for all times and ages since its revelation until the Last Day. The Message therefore needs to be studied from time to time in the changing perspectives of the changing times. It would be absolutely wrong to confine this universal Message for mankind to the circumstances and situations of a particular period in the past. Unfortunately, however, most of the commentators so far have based their understanding of the Qur'aan in the strict perspective of the circumstances and situations prevailing at the time of its revelation way back in 7th century A.D. The Muslim mindset generally has thus got stagnated and therefore unable to cope with the changing situations of the changing times. This humble attempt of mine is to help Muslims generally to come out, Allah willing, of that crippling stagnation.
This Volume of my Qur'aanic Studies is on Aal-e-Imran Verses 19 to 91.
Mohammad Shafi
Mumbai, INDIA,
23rd February, 2007
CONTENTS |
|
(Aal-e-Imran)
Chapter 3: Family of Imran
19. Inna alddeena AAinda Allahi
al-islamu wama ikhtalafa allatheena ootoo
alkitaba illa min baAAdi ma jaahumu
alAAilmu baghyan baynahum waman yakfur bi-ayati Allahi
fa-inna Allaha sareeAAu alhisabi
19. Islam is indeed the Religion sanctioned/approved by Allah.17 And those to whom the Book was given did raise no disputes but after knowledge had come to them, thanks to competitiveness among themselves.18 And as regards the one who suppresses/denies Allah's revelations/signs, Allah is certainly swift in keeping accounts.19
17. In Verse 5.3, Allah Ta'ala Himself declares, "... This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. ..."
18. As were the earlier divine Books, the Qur'aan is unambiguous, clear and well-explained. It warrants no disputes in interpretation. Yet, disputes are raised! These disputes are the results of human tendency to err. And once any man commits an error, it becomes difficult for him to amend it even when he comes to realise that he has committed an error. It hurts his undue sense of pride to admit it, and thus get himself downgraded in the esteem of other people. The Satan makes it hurtful for him to admit that the other person - and not he - is right.
19. Allah, the Creator, of course has adequate arrangements to make a debit entry in the person's accounts, carrying adequate weightage for the grave sin of suppressing/denying the Truth. This entry is likely to doom that person to everlasting hellfire in the Hereafter!
20. Fa-in hajjooka faqul aslamtu wajhiya
lillahi wamani ittabaAAani waqul lillatheena ootoo
alkitaba waal-ommiyyeena aaslamtum fa-in
aslamoo faqadi ihtadaw wa-in tawallaw fa-innama AAalayka
albalaghu waAllahu baseerun bialAAibadi
20. So if they argue with you, tell them, "I have submitted my being to Allah and so have those who follow me, submitted theirs." And ask those who are given the Book and those who are unenlightened: "Have you submitted?" Then, if they have submitted they are guided, and if they have turned back, your responsibility is only to convey the Message. And Allah is ever watchful over the worshippers.20
20. This Verse was of course meant initially to guide Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in his given task of propagating Islam among mankind. But, after him, the task is delegated to the Ummah. So the guidance given in the Verse applies to members of the Ummah as well. We all have to bear in mind that Islam is not to be forced upon anyone. We have to use only persuation. Our responsibility is only to convey the divine Message. We do not punish anyone just for not accepting Islam. It is for Allah to punish those who thus suppress/deny the Truth. Please also see Verse 2.256 and Note 2.486 thereunder in this context.
21. Inna allatheena yakfuroona bi-ayati Allahi wayaqtuloona alnnabiyyeena bighayri haqqin wayaqtuloona allatheena ya/muroona bialqisti
mina alnnasi fabashshirhum biAAathabin aleemin
21. Those indeed who suppress/deny Allah’s revelations/signs, and unjustly kill the Prophets, and kill from among the people those who enjoin justice - to them forebode a painful punishment.21
21. The Prophets are no longer there amongst us to be killed, but there are people still, who enjoin justice. And this Verse is still applicable to those who are after the blood of such people. And of course there are those a plenty who suppress/deny Allah's revelations/signs.
22. Ola-ika allatheena habitat aAAmaluhum fee alddunya waal-akhirati wama lahum min nasireena
22. Those22 are the ones whose deeds have become null and void, in this world and in the other. And they have none to help.23
22. That is those spoken of in the immediately preceding Verse 3.21.
23. Divine punishment could come to such people in this world itself as well as in the next. All authority, in the Hereafter, would rest solely with Allah, and there would of course be no question of anyone coming to the help of those punished there. In this world, apparently, there could be some friend or relative trying to help any recepient of divine punishment out of his/her predicament. But that help would be of no use at all to the sufferer.
23. Alam tara ila allatheena ootoo
naseeban mina alkitabi yudAAawna ila kitabi
Allahi liyahkuma baynahum thumma yatawalla
fareequn minhum wahum muAAridoona
23. Have you not seen those who have been given a share from the Book? They are called upon to refer to the Book of Allah to settle things among themselves. A section of them then back out and turn hostile.24
24. Initially, at the time of revelation, this Verse obviously referred to the Jews or the Christians as being those given a share of the Book. But in our present times, it very well refers to Muslims who have been given the Qur'aan. The Muslims seldom refer to the Qur'aan, for settlements of disputes among them selves. At the time of writing of these comments, the Muslim Ummah is faced with the unseemly spectacle of Muslims celbrating EidulFitr on different days, not only in the different parts of the world, but also in different parts of the same country! The Muslim Ummah is not at all bothered to follow what the Qur'aan says in this regard. They would rather follow a hadeeth, no matter it leads them to follow a calendar, untenable and impracticable in the present circumstances when Islam has become a fast-growing world Religion. Please refer to the article The New Moon in this context.
24. Thalika bi-annahum qaloo lan
tamassana alnnaru illa ayyaman
maAAdoodatin wagharrahum fee deenihim ma kanoo
yaftaroona
24. That is indeed because they say: "The fire shall touch us not, but for a few days." And what they fabricated in their religion, deluded their own selves.25
25. This delusion of the Jews/Christians/Muslims it is that has made them careless about their own divine Scriptures. They give scant regard to instructions therein.
25. Fakayfa itha jamaAAnahum
liyawmin la rayba feehi wawuffiyat kullu nafsin ma
kasabat wahum la yuthlamoona
25. What then when on that Day - in the occurrence of which there is no doubt - We will gather them together, when every soul will be given what it earned and when none of them shall be wronged?26
26. The Day referred to here is of course the Judgement Day in the Hereafter. On that Day, the Lord of us all is sure to question us closely on how we treated His Own instructions on the right conduct of our lives in this world. How would we be able to face Him then if we have fallen in the habit of giving scant regard to those divine instruction in this worldly life?
26. Quli allahumma malika almulki
tu/tee almulka man tashao watanziAAu almulka mimman tashao
watuAAizzu man tashao watuthillu man tashao
biyadika alkhayru innaka AAala kulli shay-in qadeerun
26. Say: "O Allah, Master of all sovereign authority! You grant the authority to whom You please and take away the authority from whom You please. And You honour whom You please and disgrace whom You please. In Your Hand27 is all that is good. Indeed! You have power over everything."
27. "... There is nothing like unto Him ..." [Q: 42.11]. "And there is none comparable to Him." [Q: 112.4] In view of these clear Qur'aanic Verses, Allah's Hand cannot be like any human hand. And 'Your Hand' mentioned in this Verse, are mutashabih words, in terms of Verse 3.7. You may also go through Footnotes 3.5 & 3.6 in this context. All that we humans are required to understand here is that all good things emanate from Allah.
27. Tooliju allayla fee alnnahari
watooliju alnnahara fee allayli watukhriju alhayya
mina almayyiti watukhriju almayyita mina alhayyi watarzuqu
man tashao bighayri hisabin
27. "You cause the night to creep into the day and You cause the day to creep into the night.28 And You extract the living from the dead and You extract the dead from the living.29 And You provide, without measure, for anyone You wish.30"31
28. The contrast between the day and the night has been mentioned as one of the divine signs in Verse 2.164. (Readers may like to go through the study Notes on that Verse, in this context.) It has been mentioned as a sign, in that Verse (2.164), for people who make use of their Allah-given intelligence. As a further clue for such people, the fact of the darkness of the night slowly enveloping the earth is highlighted in this Verse (3.27), presently under our study here. This clue along with more clues contained in Verses 7.54, 24.44, 25.62 & 36.40, give enough indications for scientists and discoverers to become aware that the earth ought to be round in shape and ought to be rotating around its axis to cause the observed phenomenon of the day and the night. This cause of the phenomenon was unknown to the Arabs, among whom the Qur'aan was first revealed. The Qur'aan did thus inculcate the spirit of enquiry and investigation in the minds of those early adherents of it, making them pioneers in the fields of astronomy, mathematics, physics, chemistry, medicine & art. Those pioneers gave the world that scientific base upon which is built the imposing edifice of today's technological advance. Sadly, later Muslims lost that scientific spirit as they relegated the Qur'aan to just ritual reading.
29. Recall, in this context, the divine statement in Verse 2.28. Consider also Verse 6.95 wherein our attention is drawn to the spectacle of Allah causing the dead grains and seeds sprout into living vegetation. And, by the way, the Qur'aan - revealed over 1400 years ago - is replete with such quotations, calling trees and plants as living things. It is only in the recent past that scientists have conclusively proved them to be living organisms!
30. Allah may give plenty of wealth to a non-believer, in this world, to test the believers whether it creates doubts in their minds about their belief. Allah may give plenty of wealth to believers, in this world, to test whether they succumb to the lure of worldly pleasure that their wealth can buy them. Allah may provide all good things, without measure, to the believers, in the Hereafter, as a reward from Him for their steadfast adherence to His Straight Path in this world despite innumerable satanic enducements for leaving that Path.
31. These two Verses 3.26 & 3.27, along with Verse 2.255 and Qur'aanic Chapter 112 (Surah Al-Ikhlas), which we often recite in our prayers, give important defining attributes of our Lord, Allah Almighty. A believer has necessarily to believe in all these attributes, without exception.
28. La yattakhithi almu/minoona
alkafireena awliyaa min dooni almu/mineena waman
yafAAal thalika falaysa mina Allahi fee shay-in illa
an tattaqoo minhum tuqatan wayuhaththirukumu
Allahu nafsahu wa-ila Allahi almaseeru
28. The believers take not the unbelievers - instead of the believers - as their auliya32. And anyone who does that, won't have any share in anything from Allah, except in the case that you fear persecution from them. And Allah asks you to have fear of Him.33 And to Allah is the return.
32. For the comprehensive Qur'aanic meaning of the word auliya (singular wali), please refer Note 2.154.
33. Here the Qur'aan tells us that Allah may condone any believer taking suppressors of Truth as his/her auliya, only if he/she fears persecution from them otherwise. But the Qur'aan reminds us that it is Allah that the believers should fear and not others. Because, it is to Him that all have to return in the end.
29. Qul in tukhfoo ma fee sudoorikum
aw tubdoohu yaAAlamhu Allahu wayaAAlamu ma fee alssamawati
wama fee al-ardi waAllahu AAala
kulli shay-in qadeerun
29. Say, "Whether you conceal what is in your heart or reveal it, Allah knows it. And He knows all that is in the heavens, and all that is in the earth. And Allah has power over everything."
30. Yawma tajidu kullu nafsin ma AAamilat
min khayrin muhdaran wama AAamilat min soo-in
tawaddu law anna baynaha wabaynahu amadan baAAeedan wayuhaththirukumu
Allahu nafsahu waAllahu raoofun bialAAibadi
30. The Day! When every soul would find presented, whatever good it had done. And as regards whatever evil it had committed, it (the soul) would wish there were a great distance, on that day, between it and that evil. And Allah asks you to have fear of Him.34 And Allah is kind to His devotees.
34. There is benevolence in Allah's asking His devotees here to have fear of Him. HE doesn't want them to commit evil deeds in this world because of which they may have to suffer in the Hereafter. The devotees wouldn't commit such deeds, if they really have Allah's fear in their hearts here.
back to CONTENTS
31. Qul in kuntum tuhibboona Allaha
faittabiAAoonee yuhbibkumu Allahu wayaghfir
lakum thunoobakum waAllahu ghafoorun raheemun
31. Say, "If you do love Allah, obey me. Allah will then love you and forgive you your sins.35 to 37 And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful."
35. Allah's loving us and forgiving our sins is apparently made conditional to our obeying His Messenger (peace be upon him). At the time when the Messenger was living among mankind here in this world, this divine directive obviously meant that all the Messenger's directions, whether in matters of religion or of administration, were to be obeyed scrupulously. But what about us now, when the Messenger is no longer living among mankind? A majority of Muslims believe that obeying the Messenger means following his sunnah as described in authentic ahaadeeth. But who decides whether any hadeeth is authentic or not?
36. Allah has guaranteed the protection of the Qur'aan (Verse 15.9). There is, however, no such divine protection guaranteed for the ahaadeeth. And the ahaadeeth were floating from mouth to mouth for generations till some of them were recorded in writing, for the first time, at least 150 years after the death the Prophet (peace be upon him). There is every likelihood, therefore, of the ahaadeeth having been contaminated and interpolated with the personal opinions and words of the narrators. The Allah-perfected Religion of Islam could not therefore be based on such an unreliable source. It is based solely on the Qur'aan now. This does not mean that the ahaadeeth are to be completely discarded. They are invaluable in the sense that they give us the historical perspective of the era in which our Prophet lived. But any hadeeth, that is basically contradictory to the teachings of the Qur'aan, has to be rejected outright. The Qur'aan is, and ought to be, the criterion.
37. Obeying the Messenger ought now, therefore, to mean following the Qur'aan.
32. Qul ateeAAoo Allaha waalrrasoola fa-in tawallaw fa-inna Allaha la yuhibbu alkafireena
32. Say, "Obey Allah and His Messenger." Then if they turn away, surely, Allah loves not suppressors of the Truth.38
38. Obeying Allah and His Messenger is an act in consonance with the Reality and Truth and with one's own conscience. And disobedience to Allah and His Messenger would tantamount to suppression of the Truth.
33. Inna Allaha istafa adama wanoohan waala ibraheema waala AAimrana AAala alAAalameena
33. Indeed, Allah chose Adam, Noah, family of Abraham and family of Imran above all the worlds.39
39. Allah chose them for leadership among mankind. Through these leaders, He gave guidance to mankind. It is the Creator's privilege to choose whom He wishes. HIS choice ought to be the best. Jesus (peace be upon him) was from the family of Imran and Moses & Muhammad (peace be upon them both) were from the family of Abraham. As regards AAalameena (worlds), please refer Note 1.5 for a comprehensive Qur'aanic meaning thereof.
34. Thurriyyatan baAAduha min baAAdin waAllahu sameeAAun AAaleemun
34. They40 were offsprings of one another. And Allah is the One Who listened, the One who knew.
40. That is those mentioned in the preceding Verse.
35. Ith qalati imraatu AAimrana rabbi innee nathartu laka ma fee batnee muharraran fataqabbal minnee innaka anta alssameeAAu alAAaleemu
35. 41When Imran's wife said, "Indeed my Lord! I do freely42 consecrate to You that which is in my womb. So accept it from me. You are indeed the One to listen, the One to know.43"
41. This is a continuation of the sentense started in the preceding Verse with the phrase, 'And Allah is the One Who listened, the One Who knew". So the relevant sentense would read as: 'And Allah is the One Who listened, the One Who knew when Imran's wife said, "Indeed my Lord! ..." It synchronises well with what Imran's wife said at the end of her offer & plea to Allah, in this Verse.
42. That is, with her own volition, and without anyone else forcing her to do so.
43. Allah Almighty gives us here an example of how he invariably listens to invocations honestly made by any human being to Him, and to Him Alone. And He grants the humble requests of His devotees, if those are worth granting, with suitable modifications, as deemed right and appropriate by Him with His absolute knowledge. And whatever He grants would be in the best interests of the invoking devotee in prevailing circumstances. As Muslims, we have to have an absolute faith in this.
36. Falamma wadaAAat-ha qalat rabbi innee wadaAAtuha ontha waAllahu aAAlamu bima wadaAAat walaysa alththakaru kaalontha wa-innee sammaytuha maryama wa-innee oAAeethuha bika wathurriyyataha
mina alshshaytani alrrajeemi
36. And when she delivered a female child, she exclaimed: "It's a female that I have delivered, my Lord!" - and Allah knew what she had delivered and the male is not like the female44 - "and I do name her Mary and I entrust her protection, and her children's, to you against Satan, the accursed."
44. Imran's wife obviously expected to deliver a male child, whom she could present for Allah's service. This presumption on her part got reflected in her exclamation that it was a female that she had given a birth to, as if Allah knew not what she had delivered! Allah makes this parenthetic statement to set the record right. And to bring the point home, He emphasises the fact - with a touch of good humour - that He, as the Creator, of course knew the difference between a male child and a female.
37. Fataqabbalaha rabbuha
biqaboolin hasanin waanbataha nabatan hasanan
wakaffalaha zakariyya kullama dakhala AAalayha zakariyya almihraba wajada AAindaha rizqan qala ya maryamu anna laki hatha qalat huwa min AAindi Allahi inna Allaha yarzuqu man yashao bighayri hisabin
37. Her Lord accepted her graciously, and gave her a good upbringing. And He made Zachariah her guardian. Whenever Zachariah entered the sanctuary to visit her, he found her with food. He asked, "O Mary! How did you get this?" She replied, "It is from Allah." Allah does indeed provide for whom He wills, in an abnormal way.45, 46
45. What Allah gives to His devotees need not necessarily be through a miraculous act - although He is capable of doing it miraculously too. In the pre-historic time of Mary (Jesus' mother) and Zachariah, Allah may well have provided the food miraculously, but for the Ummah of His last Prophet, Allah has apparently willed that they should take cognizance of His existence through their intelligence and the surfeit of knowledge that He has now made available to them. For any person, in Mary's position now, He might induce other persons around to provide the food, turn by turn.
46. But in Mary's case, at her time, it does appear, from the term used, bi ghayri hisaab (translated here as "in an abnormal way"), that the food found with Mary was miraculously provided by Allah. The said Arabic term is usually translated as "without measure", but in the context here, it means "without following the normal/usual manner/course".
38. Hunalika daAAa zakariyya rabbahu qala rabbi hab lee min ladunka thurriyyatan
tayyibatan innaka sameeAAu aldduAAa/-i
38. Whereupon Zachariah prayed to his Lord. He said, "My Lord! Grant me a righteous child from You. You do, indeed, listen to the prayer!."47
47. This particular prayer from Zachariah was obviously prompted, on the spot, by his finding that Allah had provided food for Mary in a miraculous manner. The thought struck him that Allah could also similarly provide a child for him miraculously. From Verse 3.40 below, we learn that Zachariah himself was pretty old and his wife barren. Normally, therefore, the couple was beyond expecting a child of their own.
39. Fanadat-hu almala-ikatu wahuwa qa-imun yusallee fee almihrabi anna Allaha yubashshiruka biyahya musaddiqan
bikalimatin mina Allahi wasayyidan wahasooran
wanabiyyan mina alssaliheena
39. Then the angels, calling out to him as he stood praying in the sanctuary, said, "Allah gives you the good news of John - in confirmation of a Word from Allah48, honourable, chaste and a Prophet from among the righteous."
48. In fulfilment of the divine promise made to Zachariah, that is. The birth of John wouldn't be a normal one, since he would be born to old parents, the mother having been barren till the child's (John's) conception in her womb. John's birth, in other words, would be a confirmation that Allah can do and undo anything any time. And so does the very next Verse here, 3.40, say.
40. Qala rabbi anna yakoonu lee ghulamun waqad balaghaniya alkibaru waimraatee AAaqirun
qala kathalika Allahu yafAAalu ma
yasha/o
40. He said: "My Lord! How can I have a son? And I have already reached old age and my wife is barren!" One of the angels49 said, "Thus does Allah do what He wills."
49. The manner in which the reply to Zachariah is recorded here indicates that it was not Allah Himself who gave the reply. And since the verb used (qala) is in the 3rd person singular form, the reply was obviously given by one of the angels who had conveyed to Zachariah the prophesy of a son.
back to CONTENTS
41. Qala rabbi ijAAal lee ayatan qala ayatuka alla tukallima alnnasa thalathata ayyamin illa ramzan waothkur rabbaka
katheeran wasabbih bialAAashiyyi waal-ibkari
41. Zachariah said: "My Lord! Make a sign for me." The angel said: "Your sign is that you shall not speak to people for three days except through gestures. And remember your Lord much and glorify Him in the evening and in the morning."50
50. Zachariah had asked for a sign - and not for a command from Allah, only in compliance of which he would get the son. This fact indicates that Zachariah did not voluntarily restrain himself from speaking, but that he was physically unable to speak.
42. Wa-ith qalati almala-ikatu ya maryamu inna Allaha istafaki watahharaki waistafaki AAala nisa-i alAAalameena
42. And when the angels said: "O Mary! Allah has indeed chosen you and purified you. And He has chosen you over women of the worlds51."
51. Refer Note 1.5 for a comprehensive Qur'aanic meaning of the Arabic term AAalameen. In the immediate context of Mary being given preference over other women here, it means that Mary was chosen among all women that lived or would live in this world from the time of Eve till the Last Day. And, in fact, the honour of giving birth to a child without insertion of sperm from a man, was bestowed by Allah Almighty on Mary, uniquely. In modern days of surrogate mothers, a man's sperm is artificially inseminated, although it is done asexually. Besides, a modern-day man has no reason to have his eyebrows raised at the fatherless birth of Jesus (peace be upon him)! When a human modern-day scientist has been successful in cloning an animal without the male animal taking any active part in the process, it ought to have been as easy as anything could be for the Creator Himself to create Jesus without any father.
43. Ya maryamu oqnutee lirabbiki waosjudee wairkaAAee maAAa alrrakiAAeena
43. 52"O Mary! Be completely devoted to your Lord, and prostrate and bow down with those who bow down."53
52. This is a continuation from the preceding Verse, of the angels' address to Mary.
53. And, undoubtedly, Allah would like to have the same kind of devotion from every believer hoping to be chosen for a place in Paradise, in the hereafter.
44. Thalika min anba-i alghaybi nooheehi ilayka wama kunta ladayhim ith
yulqoona aqlamahum ayyuhum yakfulu maryama wama
kunta ladayhim ith yakhtasimoona
44. These are narrations of events from the unknown past which We reveal to you. You were not there with them when they drew lots to decide which of them to be the guardian of Mary. Nor were you with them when they were arguing.54
54. This is a parenthetical note placed in the midst of the narration of events leading to the miraculous birth of Jesus. It emphasises the fact that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was unaware of those past events before those were divinely revealed to him here. It reveals that there was a dispute on who to be the guardian of Mary, in the resolution of which lots had been drawn.
45. Ith qalati almala-ikatu ya maryamu inna Allaha yubashshiruki bikalimatin
minhu ismuhu almaseehu AAeesa ibnu maryama wajeehan
fee alddunya waal-akhirati wamina
almuqarrabeena
45. When the angels said "O Mary! Allah does indeed give you the good news of a Word55 from Him. His name is Jesus the Messiah, son of Mary. He is to be illustrious in this world and the Hereafter. And he is to be from among those near to Allah."
55. When A promises anything to B, the former gives the latter his/her word. As a human being, A may fail to, or be unable to, keep his/her word. But Allah is Almighty. None can make Him change His Word. Nor does He ever fail to keep His Word. His Word is the Truth (Verse 6.73)! "And the Word of your Lord is fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. And He is the One Who listens, the One Who knows." [6.115] In the instant case, Allah's Word got accomplished when Mary gave birth to a son, although no man had 'touched' Mary. And the name of that accomplished Word (son) was to be Jesus.
46. Wayukallimu alnnasa fee almahdi wakahlan wamina alssaliheena
46. 56"And he would address the people while in the cradle57 and as an adult, and he would be among the righteous."
56. This is in continuation of the angels' address to Mary.
57. Addressing the people even as an infant in a cradle, is one of the many miracles Allah Almighty had displayed to the people through His Messenger, Jesus. Some commentators have tried to rationalise this particular miracle as a metaphor for the prophetic wisdom Jesus started displaying at a very early age. But the Qur'aanic narration in Verses 19.27 to 19.37 leaves no doubt that Jesus did address the people when he was just an infant in cradle. It was indeed a miracle since such human infants can't even speak - leave alone give a prophetic address to the people! Allah showed this miracle as devine proof for the fact that Mary had committed no sin in giving miraculous birth to a child, without any male participation in the process, by Allah's Will.
47. Qalat rabbi anna yakoonu lee waladun walam yamsasnee basharun qala kathaliki Allahu
yakhluqu ma yashao itha qada amran
fa-innama yaqoolu lahu kun fayakoonu
47. She58 said, "My Lord! How can I have a son when no man has touched me?" One of the angels replied, "Allah does thus create whatever He wishes! When He decrees a matter, He just tells it, "Be", and it happens!"
58. That is, Mary.
48. WayuAAallimuhu alkitaba waalhikmata waalttawrata waal-injeela
48. And Allah will teach him the book, the wisdom, the Torah, and the Gospel.59
59. Since both the Torah and the Gospel (Injeel) are mentioned here, the clause 'teach him the book' (yuAAallimuhu alkitaba) could mean 'teach him how to read and understand a written book.' And Injeel is the Book revealed to Jesus, which Book appears to have been completely lost. The New Testament part of the Bible, that we get today, is only a translated compilation of writings, the originals of which are not made publicly and openly available now. And the translations are asubjected to frequent revisions, from time to time.
49. Warasoolan ila banee isra-eela annee qad ji/tukum bi-ayatin min rabbikum annee akhluqu
lakum mina altteeni kahay-ati alttayri
faanfukhu feehi fayakoonu tayran bi-ithni Allahi
waobri-o al-akmaha waal-abrasa waohyee
almawta bi-ithni Allahi waonabbi-okum bima
ta/kuloona wama taddakhiroona fee buyootikum inna fee thalika
laayatan lakum in kuntum mu/mineena
49. And as a Messenger to the Children of Israel60, he said, "I have indeed come to you with a sign from your Lord. And the sign is that I will make for you, from clay, the likeness of a bird. I will then blow into it and, with Allah’s leave, it will become a living bird. And I will heal the blind and the lepers, and raise the dead to life, by Allah's leave. And, I will tell you what you eat and what you store in your houses. In this indeed is a sign for you, if you are believers."
60. The Qur'aan thus makes a statement here that Jesus (peace be upon him) was Allah's Messenger for the Children of Israel, and not for the entire mankind. As against this, the Qur'aan categorically states, in Verse 34.28, that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent for the entire mankind.
50. Wamusaddiqan lima bayna yadayya mina alttawrati wali-ohilla lakum
baAAda allathee hurrima AAalaykum waji/tukum
bi-ayatin min rabbikum faittaqoo Allaha waateeAAooni
50. 61"And to confirm that which has come before me of the Torah and to make lawful to you some of the things that had been forbidden to you62. And I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. So fear Allah and obey me."
61. This is a continuation of Jesus' address to his people.
62. Jesus' address was to the Jews, and the food items that were specifically prohibited to the Jews are mentioned in Verse 6.146.
back to CONTENTS
51. Inna Allaha rabbee warabbukum faoAAbudoohu hatha siratun mustaqeemun
51. "Indeed! Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So, worship Him! That, is the Straight Path63."
63. The Straight Path, Allah Ta'ala taught us to pray for, in the Opening Chapter Al-Fatiha.
52. Falamma ahassa AAeesa minhumu alkufra qala man ansaree ila Allahi
qala alhawariyyoona nahnu ansaru
Allahi amanna biAllahi waishhad
bi-anna muslimoona
52. Then when Jesus became aware of the faithlessness from them,64 he asked: "Who will help me in Allah's cause?" The Disciples replied: "We will help you in Allah's cause. We believe in Allah. And bear witness that we indeed are those who surrender to Allah."
64. Apparently Jesus' address to his people (the Children of Israel), reproduced above in Verses 49 to 51, did not have much effect on them. He therefore sought help from the few who believed in him.
53. Rabbana amanna bima anzalta waittabaAAna alrrasoola faoktubna maAAa alshshahideena
53. 65"Our Lord! We have believed in what you have sent down and we have obeyed/followed the Messenger. So mention us with the witnesses."
65. After reassuring Jesus of their solidarity with him (see preceding Verse), the disciples turn to Allah in prayer, thus, here.
54. Wamakaroo wamakara Allahu waAllahu khayru almakireena
54. And they planned, and Allah planned. And Allah is the best of planners.66
66. In Verse 4.157, the Qur'aan tells us that the plan of the Children of Israel to kill Jesus on the Cross did not succeed. They in fact killed someone else thus and thought it was Jesus that they killed. Jesus' death on the Cross was a mere deception, which deception later pervaded to the Christians.
55. Ith qala Allahu ya AAeesa innee mutawaffeeka warafiAAuka ilayya wamutahhiruka mina allatheena kafaroo wajaAAilu allatheena
ittabaAAooka fawqa allatheena kafaroo ila yawmi alqiyamati thumma ilayya marjiAAukum faahkumu baynakum feema kuntum feehi takhtalifoona
55. When67 Allah said: "O Jesus! I am indeed going to make you die68 and raise you up to Me. And I will cleanse you of what those who suppress the Truth say about you.69 And I will make those who follow you surpass those who suppress the Truth, towards the Day of Resurrection.70 And then to Me shall be the return of you all. Then I shall judge between you on matters which you have been disputing."
67. That is, at the failure of the plan of the people to kill Jesus on the Cross.
68. This is the plain meaning of the Arabic term mutawaffeeka. But, influenced by the prevalent belief in the return of Jesus to this world at a period near its end, some translators have twisted the plain meaning to connote raising of Jesus alive to Allah for being sent back again to this world later. There is nothing in the Qur'aan to substantiate this belief. At death, every human soul, like Jesus', is raised to Allah.
69. The suppressors of Truth blaspheme that Jesus, was son of God - His begotten son! The uniquely divine Being of Allah is far, far above the human attribute they give Him. Through the Qur'aan, Allah has cleansed Jesus of that blasphemy.
70. This is a Qur'aanic prediction, which is, by Allah's Will, gradually but surely in the process of being fulfilled. The real followers of Jesus are those who follow the Qur'aan, and not those who suppress the Truth about him. Despite being viciously denigrated, Islam is the fastest growing Religion today.
56. Faamma allatheena kafaroo faoAAaththibuhum AAathaban shadeedan fee alddunya
waal-akhirati wama lahum min nasireena
56. "So I punish, with severe punishment in this world and the Hereafter,71 those who suppress the Truth. And they shall have none to help them."
71. Had the preposition fee (in) been used also before akhirati (Hereafter), then it would have meant that the severe punishment would be given both here and in the hereafter. But the construction of the phrase here, - treating 'here and the hereafter' as one unit in relation to the prefix 'in' - indicates that some suppressors of the Truth may not be subjected to the severe punishment, in this world. Suppressors of the Truth, as the Qur'aan repeatedly says, are bound to be punished severely in the hereafter. And incorrigible suppressors of the Truth like the people of Noah and the people of Lot are known to have suffered severe punishment in this world also.
57. Waamma allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati fayuwaffeehim
ojoorahum waAllahu la yuhibbu alththalimeena
57. And as for those who believe and do good deeds, He will pay them their full rewards. And Allah does not love the transgressors."72
72. Those who go beyond the Allah-set limits in anything are the transgressors. Suppressors of Truth (kafiroon) are the obvious first claimants to being transgressors. But by placing this statement, regarding Allah's displeasure with the transgressors, just after a statement about the believers, the Qur'aan lays stress on the fact that Allah is displeased with any transgression in the deeds of the believers as well.
58. Thalika natloohu AAalayka mina al-ayati waalththikri alhakeemi
58. This We73 recite to you from the signs of and the things about the Wise One.
73. As regards the use of the personal pronoun in the Qur'aan, sometimes in the plural and sometimes in the singular, for Allah and His divine dispensation, please refer Note 2.184.
59. Inna mathala AAeesa AAinda Allahi kamathali adama khalaqahu min turabin thumma qala
lahu kun fayakoonu
59. Indeed, for Allah, the case of Jesus is like the case of Adam whom He created out of dust and then said to him "Be" and he was!74
74. The normal way in which any man is created is through sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. Adam and Jesus were the exceptions to this general rule. Jesus is therefore likened to Adam.
60. Alhaqqu min rabbika fala takun mina almumtareena
60. The Truth from your75 Lord! Be not among those, then, who doubt.
75. In the Arabic text, the second person pronoun (ka) here is in the singular form, indicating that the addressee was, primarily, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In fact, all these 3 Verses (58 to 60) were addressed to him and through him, by inference, to every believer. The Prophet and the believers were thus reassured that all the unusual facts about Jesus - his birth to virgin Mary and the fact that Jesus was not crucified as commonly believed by the Jews and the Christians - were absolutely true!
back to CONTENTS
61. Faman hajjaka feehi min baAAdi ma
jaaka mina alAAilmi faqul taAAalaw nadAAu abnaana
waabnaakum wanisaana wanisaakum
waanfusana waanfusakum thumma nabtahil fanajAAal laAAnata
Allahi AAala alkathibeena
61. So when one argues with you in this matter76, after what knowledge has come to you, say: "Come! Let us call together our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves. Then let us pray and invoke Allah's curse on those who lie."
76. In the matter of the miraculous birth of Jesus to Virgin Mary and in the matter of Jesus not being crucified as alleged by the Jews and the Christians, that is.
62. Inna hatha lahuwa alqasasu alhaqqu wama min ilahin illa Allahu wa-inna Allaha lahuwa alAAazeezu alhakeemu
62. This indeed is the true account77. And there is none worthy of worship but Allah. And, indeed, Allah is the One Who is Mighty, the One Who is Wise.
77. The account about Jesus, that is. Jesus was an honourable Prophet and Messenger of Allah. But he was indeed not god or begotten son of god (I seek Allah's pardon for expressing the blasphemy), as the Christians consider him to be.
63. Fa-in tawallaw fa-inna Allaha
AAaleemun bialmufsideena
63. And then if they turn away78, Allah indeed knows those who are corrupted.
78. Turn away from the absolute Truth that the preceding Verse 62 revealed and emphasised.
64. Qul ya ahla alkitabi taAAalaw ila kalimatin sawa-in baynana wabaynakum alla
naAAbuda illa Allaha wala nushrika bihi
shay-an wala yattakhitha baAAduna
baAAdan arbaban min dooni Allahi fa-in
tawallaw faqooloo ishhadoo bi-anna muslimoona
64. Say: "O people of the Book! Let us come together on a common ground, between us and between you, that we shall worship none but Allah, that we shall not associate any partners with Him and that some of us shall not take some others, from among ourselves, as lords besides Allah79." Then if they turn away, tell them, "Bear witness that we are those who have surrendered to Allah."80
79. In Verse 9.31, Allah tells us that the Jews and the Christians had taken their rabbis and their monks as lords besides Allah. The general public in those communities had ceased referring their divine scriptures for solutions to their day-to-day problems. They didn't want to take the trouble. Instead, they referred their problems to their rabbis and their monks, and gobbled up whatever those religious leaders told them as the gospel truth. Muslims of today are doing the same. They have stopped referring the Qur'aan for their day-to-day problems. They go to the Mullahs instead. The Muslims have thus, like the Jews and the Christians, made their religious leaders their lords besides Allah.
80. The terms mentioned in this Verse, for all religious communities to whom divine books were bestowed to come together, are valid even now. Their religious scriptures, although polluted with human writings, still contain the basic principles of monotheism that this Verse describes as the common ground (kalimatin sawa-in) between the communities. Efforts ought to be made in inter-religious conferences, on these lines, for world peace. And if the others turn deaf ears to the proposals, the Muslims should reiterate their basic creed of complete surrender to the Almighty Will, and stand firmly by that creed, come what may.
65. Ya ahla alkitabi lima tuhajjoona fee ibraheema wama onzilati alttawratu waal-injeelu illa min baAAdihi afala taAAqiloona
65. O people of the Book! Why do you quarrel with us over Abraham? And the Torah and the Gospel were not sent down but only after his time! Have you, then, no sense?81
81. The Jews claimed that Abraham was a Jew; and the Christians claimed that he was a Christian. But the lie of them both is nailed here by pointing out to them that Abraham had lived in this world before the revelation of either the Torah or the Gospel. And in Verse 3.67 below, it is categorically stated that he was neither a Jew, nor a Christian. Also please refer to Verse 2.140 and footnote 212 thereunder, in this context.
66. Ha antum haola-i hajajtum feema
lakum bihi AAilmun falima tuhajjoona feema laysa lakum bihi
AAilmun waAllahu yaAAlamu waantum la
taAAlamoona
66. You have been, till now, arguing over things of which you had knowledge!
Why are you now arguing over things you know nothing about?82 Allah
knows while you do not.
82. About Moses and Jesus, the Children of Israel had knowledge; for, those were Prophets sent to their own community. The Children of Israel had therefore some basis to argue about those Prophets. But what about Abraham, who had lived in this world much before the community came into existence? The community had its genesis in the offspring of Israel, a grandchild of Abraham! It is Allah, the All-knowing, Who knows everything about Abraham, and not they.
67. Ma kana ibraheemu yahoodiyyan wala
nasraniyyan walakin kana haneefan musliman
wama kana mina almushrikeena
67. Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian. But he was one who was
single-minded in his devotion and submission to Allah. And he was not a
polytheist.
68. Inna awla alnnasi bi-ibraheema
lallatheena ittabaAAoohu wahatha alnnabiyyu
waallatheena amanoo waAllahu
waliyyu almu/mineena
68. Those who followed him (Abraham), this Prophet and those who believe are
indeed the people close to Abraham. And Allah is close to the
believers.83
83. This Verse makes it clear that it is those who follow Abraham by being single-minded, like him, in their devotion and submission to Allah, who are close to him. This Prophet (Muhammad, peace be upon him) and the believers in the Qur’aan, to whom Allah is close, are included among those who are close to Abraham.
69. Waddat ta-ifatun min ahli alkitabi law
yudilloonakum wama yudilloona illa anfusahum
wama yashAAuroona
69. A section of the People of the Book would love to mislead you. And they
mislead not but themselves! And they know not.
70. Ya ahla alkitabi lima takfuroona bi-ayati
Allahi waantum tashhadoona
70. O People of the Book! Why do you suppress Allah's Verses, and you are
witnesses thereto?84
84. In Verse 6.20, the Qur'aan informs us that those who have been given the Book recognise it (the Qur'aan) to be divine as they would recognise their own sons. The Jews and the Christians, present near the place of revelation of the Qur'aan, had sufficient evidences, in their own scriptures, of the Truth of the Qur'aanic Verses being divine. But their false sense of pride, that the divine Book was not revealed to one among themselves (the Children of Israel), prevented them from giving expression to the Truth in their hearts.
back to CONTENTS
71. Ya ahla alkitabi lima talbisoona alhaqqa
bialbatili wataktumoona alhaqqa waantum
taAAlamoona
71. O People of the Book! Why do you clothe the truth with falsehood and
conceal the truth knowingly?85
85. Please see the preceding Note
72. Waqalat ta-ifatun min ahli alkitabi aminoo
biallathee onzila AAala allatheena
amanoo wajha alnnahari waokfuroo
akhirahu laAAallahum yarjiAAoona
72. A section of the People of the Book say, "Express belief in what is
revealed to the believers early in the day, and express disbelief at the end
of it; so that they may turn back."86
86. It was a ploy of the Jews and Christians thus to sow seeds of doubts in the minds of the Muslims and turn them back from Islam.
73. Wala tu/minoo illa liman tabiAAa deenakum qul inna
alhuda huda Allahi an yu/ta ahadun mithla
ma ooteetum aw yuhajjookum AAinda rabbikum qul inna
alfadla biyadi Allahi yu/teehi man yashao
waAllahu wasiAAun AAaleemun
73. 87"And believe not that, except to one who follows your
religion," - Say, "Indeed, the guidance is guidance of Allah."88 -
"anyone else could be given the like of what was given to you, or, could
quarrel with you in the presence of your Lord." Say, "All favour89
is indeed in the hand of Allah. HE grants it to whom He wills. And Allah is
Pervasive, Knowledgeable."
87. This is a continuation of what a section of the People of the Book was
quoted as saying in the preceding
Verse.
88. This is a divine parenthetic
interruption, in the middle of what the people of the Book were saying. The
parenthetic interruption was by way of guiding and pointing out to the
Prophet, and to the believers, that what the People of the Book were saying
here was nothing but misguidance to their own people.
89. To make any person a Prophet or Messenger of Allah, is a
special Favour from Allah. The Children of Israel wrongly assumed that Allah
granted this favour only to members of their own community. They disputed the
Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him), since he was not one of
them.
74. Yakhtassu birahmatihi man yashao
waAllahu thoo alfadli
alAAatheemi
74. HE specifies for His Mercy whom He wills. And Allah has immense capacity
to grant favours.
75. Wamin ahli alkitabi man in ta/manhu biqintarin yu-addihi
ilayka waminhum man in ta/manhu bideenarin la yu-addihi ilayka
illa ma dumta AAalayhi qa-iman thalika bi-annahum
qaloo laysa AAalayna fee al-ommiyyeena sabeelun wayaqooloona
AAala Allahi alkathiba wahum yaAAlamoona
75. And among the People of the Book is one who, if you entrust him with a
treasure, will return it back to you. And among them is one who, if you
entrust him with a single dinar, will not return it back to you unless you
constantly keep on pressing him for it. That is the position because they say,
"We are not bound by any obligations to the illiterates90." And
they knowingly ascribe a lie to Allah!91
90. The People of the Book (Jews and Christians) called
others so, because the others (the native Arabs) could not lay claims to any
Book previously revealed to them. And the former did not recognise the
latter's claim of the Qur'aan being the Book in the process of being divinely
revealed to them.
91. The lie was two-fold:
- that the then in-process revelation of the Qur'aan was not divine,
- that any people of the Book are not bound by any obligation to anyone,
literate or illiterate.
76. Bala man awfa biAAahdihi waittaqa
fa-inna Allaha yuhibbu almuttaqeena
76. Yes, indeed! Allah loves the pious people, such as one who keeps one's
word and fears Allah.
77. Inna allatheena yashtaroona biAAahdi Allahi
waaymanihim thamanan qaleelan ola-ika la khalaqa
lahum fee al-akhirati wala yukallimuhumu Allahu
wala yanthuru ilayhim yawma alqiyamati wala
yuzakkeehim walahum AAathabun aleemun
77. Indeed, those who trade Covenants with Allah and their pledges for a petty
price92 - those shall have nothing good for them in the Hereafter.
Allah shall neither speak to them nor look at them on the Day of Resurrection.
And He shall cleanse them not. And for them, a painful punishment.
92. Those indicated here are, of course, the Jews and Christians living at the time and place of the revelation of the Qur'aan. But, Muslims of today are no less indicated by this Qur'aanic Verse! Like those Children Of Israel, who time and again broke their Covenants with Allah (as mentioned, for example, in Verse 2.51) and thought nothing of dishonouring their obligations (as mentioned herein above in Verse 3.75), majority of the Muslims today are guilty of the same crimes. Although the Muslims have made a Covenant with Allah not to associate anything or anybody with Him, they visit graves of dead persons for redressal of their worldly woes. And they too, like those People of the Book mentioned in Verse 3.75 above, think nothing of breaking their pledges with non-Muslims. They should beware that they too are candidates for the humiliating punishment in the Hereafter, unless they mend their ways.
78. Wa-inna minhum lafareeqan yalwoona alsinatahum
bialkitabi litahsaboohu mina alkitabi
wama huwa mina alkitabi wayaqooloona huwa min AAindi
Allahi wama huwa min AAindi Allahi wayaqooloona
AAala Allahi alkathiba wahum yaAAlamoona
78. And, indeed, there is among them a section who so twist their tongues with
the Book that you may think it is from the Book, and it is not from the Book.
And they say it is from Allah and it is not from Allah. And they knowingly
utter a lie about Allah.93
93. This Verse might well have been revealed in the perspective of the Jews and the Christians trying then to change the contents of the revealed Books with them. But, in our present-day perspective, we need not get concerned with what those people did then. The Qur'aan is valid for all times. Let us therefore look at this Verse in our own perspective. And let us first look to what we ourselves do with our own Qur'aan, before looking to what the Jews and the Christians are doing with their Books. We are fortunate, by Allah's Grace, that the Arabic text of the Qur'aan is divinely protected. But Arabic is not known to all the Muslims. In fact, a majority of them do not know Arabic; nor are any sincere efforts made to make Arabic a compulsory subject for all Muslims to learn, all over the world. In this scenario, Satan has manoeuvred the majority Muslim mind into thinking that it is enough for them to learn just to read the Qur'aan. It is indeed a satanic handiwork to delude the intelligence of the Muslim mind against the imperative need to understand what one reads from the Qur'aan. The Moulvis and the Mullahs have, in the circumstances, become the the Arbaab (Lords), besides the One Lord, of the common Muslims. For, they (the common Muslims) literally gulp down what their religious leaders tell them, right or wrong. And the Moulvis and Mullahs, many of them semi-literates themselves, often give the commoners a wrong picture of Islam. Besides, in the translations & commentaries of the Qur'aan in other languages, not only do human mistakes creep in inadvertantly, but deviations are advertently made to cater to views promoting shirk.
79. Ma kana libasharin an yu/tiyahu Allahu
alkitaba waalhukma waalnnubuwwata thumma
yaqoola lilnnasi koonoo AAibadan lee min dooni
Allahi walakin koonoo rabbaniyyeena bima kuntum
tuAAallimoona alkitaba wabima kuntum tadrusoona
79. A man, whom Allah has given the Book and the Command and the Prophethood,
cannot say to the people: "Be worshippers of me besides Allah." But be you all
faithful worshippers of your Lord in accordance with what you have been
teaching from the Book and in accordance with what you have been
studying/learning from it.94
94. The Verse is a direct indictment of the Christians. They worship Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) as God Himself or as Son of God. This tendency to worship God's Messenger as God Himself is not restricted, among mankind, to the Christians alone. Worshipping of Rama and Krishna in India appears to be a result of the same tendency. Why blame other communities? There is a palpable tendency among the Muslims themselves to give their own Prophet (peace be upon him) some of the divine powers. They have already 'given' him the power of intercession, as the Christians have given Jesus, to ensure their safe entry into Paradise despite their sins committed here on earth. There is nothing in the Qur'aan to show that Allah has given the power of intercession to any of His Messengers/Prophets. The Qur'aan, in fact, categorically states that there shall be no intercession on the Day of Judgement (Verse 2.254)
80. Wala ya/murakum an tattakhithoo almala-ikata
waalnnabiyyeena arbaban aya/murukum bialkufri
baAAda ith antum muslimoona
80. And he95 does not ask you to take the angels and the prophets
as your lords. Would he exhort you to suppression of the Truth after you have
submitted to Allah!?
95. That is, the man whom Allah has given the Book and the Command and the Prophethood, referred to in the preceding Verse.
back to CONTENTS
81. Wa-ith akhatha Allahu meethaqa
alnnabiyyeena lama ataytukum min kitabin
wahikmatin thumma jaakum rasoolun musaddiqun lima
maAAakum latu/minunna bihi walatansurunnahu qala aaqrartum
waakhathtum AAala thalikum isree qaloo
aqrarna qala faishhadoo waana maAAakum mina
alshshahideena
81. And when Allah took the covenant of the Prophets, - Along with what I have
given you of Book and Wisdom, you would certainly believe in what a Messenger
would bring to you confirming that which is with you, and you would certainly
help that Messenger - He asked, "Do you affirm and make a contract with Me in
this matter?" They said, "We do affirm." He said, "Bear witness and I am among
those who bear witness with you."96
96. The parenthetic portion in the translation of the Verse is the Covenant proper that Allah took of the people, through their respective Prophets. The purpose of the Verse is to assure the believers that every Prophet was duly informed in advance of the coming of the final Messenger who would confirm the divine Message that particular Prophet carried. And every Prophet helped the cause of the final Messenger by specifically telling his people about him. This indicates that the religious Scriptures of the earlier people contain references to the last Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him). And those references are the affirmations Allah took of those earlier people. The Wise Lord and Creator of all things, has thus provided unassailable proof of the genuineness of the last Prophet and the last divine Message.
82. Faman tawalla baAAda thalika faola-ika humu
alfasiqoona
82. Then those, such as one who turns away after this, are the
transgressors.97
97. The reference is to those earlier people of the Book, who despite references to the last Prophet in their own scriptures, refuse to recognise, and believe in him.
83. Afaghayra deeni Allahi yabghoona walahu aslama man fee
alssamawati waal-ardi
tawAAan wakarhan wa-ilayhi yurjaAAoona
83. Are they looking for a religion other than that of Allah?98 And
to Him submits everything that is in the heavens and in the earth, willingly
or unwillingly. And to Him they all return.
98. And in Verse 3.85 below it is categorically mentioned that no religion other than Islam is accepted.
84. Qul amanna biAllahi wama onzila
AAalayna wama onzila AAala ibraheema
wa-ismaAAeela wa-ishaqa wayaAAqooba waal-asbati
wama ootiya moosa waAAeesa waalnnabiyyoona min
rabbihim la nufarriqu bayna ahadin minhum wanahnu lahu
muslimoona
84. Say, "We believe in Allah and in that which is sent down upon us, in that
which was sent down upon Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the descendent
Tribes and in that which was given to Moses, to Jesus and to the Prophets,
from their Lord. We do not discriminate between any one and another of them.
And to Him we do totally submit."99
99. The wordings of this Verse are almost the same as those of Verse 2.136. Please refer footnote 2.204 of these Studies, under that Verse.
85. Waman yabtaghi ghayra al-islami deenan falan yuqbala minhu
wahuwa fee al-akhirati mina alkhasireena
85. And whoever may seek a religion other than Islam, it is not accepted from
him. And he, in the Hereafter, will be among the doomed.100
100. A cyber-friend of mine opines that the 'Islam' mentioned in this Verse is not the same as the perfected 'Islam' mentioned in Verse 5.3. The relevant portion of Verse 5.3 is one of the last revelation of the Qur'aan, while Verse 3.85 was revealed, before Islam was perfected. The cyber-friend says that under the 'Islam' of Verse 3.85, Christians, who do not believe in the theory of Jesus being the begotten son of God, and the Jews, could be included, because of their belief in one God. And by virtue of Verse 2.62, such Christians and Jews could attain to salvation in the Hereafter, even though they do not believe in the Qur'aan and the last Prophet. This opinion is erronious because, first of all, there are no discrepancies in the Qur'aan (Verse 4.82). Islam, mentioned in Verse 3.85, is the same as Islam mentioned in Verse 5.3. As regards Verse 2.62, the Qur'aan is valid for all times. The Jews and the Christians mentioned therein (Verse 2.62) are those to whom the Message of the Qur'aan had not reached, whether before or after the revelation of the Qur'aan. But for those to whom the Message had/has reached, there is no excuse for their non-belief either in the Qur'aan or in Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The earlier religious scriptures, even in their present corrupted forms, contain enough evidence of the prophecy made therein about the last Prophet and the last divine Message. Please refer Verse 3.81 and footnote 96 thereon above and also footnote 2.69 under Verse 2.62 of these Studies. The Christians and the Jews wouldn't be doing a righteous deed by ignoring the evidence in their own Scriptures. Verse 2.62 wouldn't therefore apply to them.
86. Kayfa yahdee Allahu qawman kafaroo baAAda eemanihim
washahidoo anna alrrasoola haqqun wajaahumu
albayyinatu waAllahu la yahdee alqawma
alththalimeena
86. How would Allah guide people who suppress the Truth after having accepted
faith and acknowledged that the Messenger is right, and after clear signs had
come to them? And Allah does not guide people who indulge in
wrongdoing.101
101. The Qur'aan thus chides the People of the Book, who had already made a Covenant with their respective Prophets that they would believe in and help the Last Prophet when he comes to them (see Verse 81 herein above). This Verse too confirms that the Jews and the Christians would not attain to salvation, if they refuse to believe in Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and in the Qur'aan (see preceding Note 100). This Verse applies also to the nominal Muslims of today, who do not follow Qur'aanic teachings.
87. Ola-ika jazaohum anna AAalayhim laAAnata Allahi
waalmala-ikati waalnnasi
ajmaAAeena
87. Reward for such people102 is that upon them is the curse of
Allah, of the angels and of all mankind.
102. That is, those described in the preceding Verse 86. The torment, such people would suffer, is continued to be described in the next Verse 88.
88. Khalideena feeha la yukhaffafu AAanhumu
alAAathabu wala hum yuntharoona
88. Dwellers therein103 forever! Neither will their punishment be
lightened, nor will they be given respite.
103. That is, the Hell wherein the cursed people (see Verse 87 above) are bound to land.
89. Illa allatheena taboo min baAAdi thalika
waaslahoo fa-inna Allaha ghafoorun
raheemun
89. Except for those who do penitence thereafter and mend their ways. Then
indeed Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.104
104. Allah gives every human being a long rope, literally till he/she approaches death. So for the persons covered by Verse 86 above, all is not lost. Allah may spare them from the terrible torment of Hell-fire, if they repent and mend their ways before death approaches them. But they should beware of the divine warning given to them in Verses 90 & 91 below.
90. Inna allatheena kafaroo baAAda eemanihim thumma
izdadoo kufran lan tuqbala tawbatuhum waola-ika humu
alddalloona
90. Those indeed who suppress the Truth after their acceptance of Faith, then
go on adding to the suppression, their penitence will not be accepted. And
those are the ones who go astray.
