In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
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Study the Qur'aan in Qur'aanic light to understand Islam in its pristine simplicity, clarity, beauty and purity
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Qur'aanic Studies - Volume XIV
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 Al-An'am Verses 36 to 110.
Mohammad Shafi
Mumbai, INDIA,
14th March, 2008
CONTENTS |
Chapter 6: Al-An'am (The Cattle)
36. Innama yastajeebu allatheena
yasmaAAoona waalmawta yabAAathuhumu Allahu
thumma ilayhi yurjaAAoona
36. Only those respond who hear. And as for the dead, Allah will resurrect them, then to Him they shall be returned.7
36. Only those respond who hear. And as for the dead, Allah will resurrect them, then to Him they shall be returned.7
7. Implied in this Verse is the fact that the dead can't hear. Reference in this context is invited to Verse 35.22 wherein we are informed that "... And you are in no position to make those to hear who are in the graves." Besides the dead, 'those in the graves' would include persons killed in the way of Allah whom Allah has directed us not to consider as 'dead' vide Verse 2.154. In the immediate context of this Verse, however, the non-believers may have been referred to here as the 'dead', since they were unable to comprehend the divine Message being conveyed to them by the Prophet (peace upon him).
37. Waqaloo lawla nuzzila AAalayhi
ayatun min rabbihi qul inna Allaha qadirun
AAala an yunazzila ayatan walakinna
aktharahum la yaAAlamoona
37. And they say, "Why is a sign not sent down upon him from his Lord?" Say, "Allah can indeed send down a sign." But most of them would not know it as a sign!8
37. And they say, "Why is a sign not sent down upon him from his Lord?" Say, "Allah can indeed send down a sign." But most of them would not know it as a sign!8
8. Most of the Messengers preceding Prophet Muhammad were given the signs, but most of their respective people wouldn't recognise them as such and had continued in their wayward behaviour. It was therefore in the divine scheme of things that the Ummah of the last Messenger would not be given an obviously miraculous sign as such. The Ummah had to use, instead, its Allah-given faculty of Intelligence to fathom the sign in the circumstances of the life of the Messenger in their midst, and in the Verses of the Qur'aan in the process of being revealed. This divine strategy proved to be more effective since Prophet Muhammad's mission was eminently more successful than most other Prophetic missions.
38. Wama min dabbatin fee al-ardi
wala ta-irin yateeru bijanahayhi illa
omamun amthalukum ma farratna fee
alkitabi min shay-in thumma ila rabbihim yuhsharoona
38. And there is no creature crawling on earth or bird flying with its two wings, but lives in communities like yours. - We have neglected nothing in the Book.9 - Then unto their Lord shall they be gathered.
38. And there is no creature crawling on earth or bird flying with its two wings, but lives in communities like yours. - We have neglected nothing in the Book.9 - Then unto their Lord shall they be gathered.
9. The Qur'aan has been referred to as the Book (alkitaab) at several places throughout therein. Allah thus tells us that everything necessary for the guidance of mankind has been put down in the Qur'aan.
39. Waallatheena kaththaboo
bi-ayatina summun wabukmun fee alththulumati
man yasha-i Allahu yudlilhu waman yasha/ yajAAalhu
AAala siratin mustaqeemin
39. And they who reject Our Verses/signs are deaf and dumb in darknesses. Allah sends astray whom He wills. And He puts on the Straight Path whom He wills.
40. Qul araaytakum in atakum AAathabu
Allahi aw atatkumu alssaAAatu aghayra Allahi
tadAAoona in kuntum sadiqeena
40. Say, "You see, if Allah's punishment comes upon you or the Hour comes upon you, would you then, honestly, pray to any one other than Allah?"
40. Say, "You see, if Allah's punishment comes upon you or the Hour comes upon you, would you then, honestly, pray to any one other than Allah?"
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41. Bal iyyahu tadAAoona fayakshifu ma
tadAAoona ilayhi in shaa watansawna ma tushrikoona
41. Nay, to Him only you would pray! He would then, if He wills, remove the distress, the removal of which you prayed for, and you would then forget the others you worshipped besides Him.
42. Walaqad arsalna ila omamin min
qablika faakhathnahum bialba/sa-i waalddarra-i
laAAallahum yatadarraAAoona
42. And certainly We did send down Messengers and Messages to peoples before you. We then seized them with distress and affliction in order that they might humble themselves.
43. Falawla ith jaahum
ba/suna tadarraAAoo walakin qasat quloobuhum
wazayyana lahumu alshshaytanu ma kanoo
yaAAmaloona
43. Then why did they not, when Our punishment came to them, humble themselves? But their hearts hardened and the Satan made what they did, look fair to them.
44. Falamma nasoo ma thukkiroo
bihi fatahna AAalayhim abwaba kulli shay-in hatta
itha farihoo bima ootoo akhathnahum
baghtatan fa-itha hum mublisoona
44. Then when they forgot what they had been reminded of, We opened for them the doors of all things. Until, when they were engrossed in rejoicing what they were given, We seized them suddenly. Then it was when they were driven to desperation and despair.
45. FaqutiAAa dabiru alqawmi allatheena
thalamoo waalhamdu lillahi
rabbi alAAalameena
45. And the roots of the wicked people were cut off. And all praise to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!
46. Qul araaytum in akhatha Allahu
samAAakum waabsarakum wakhatama AAala quloobikum
man ilahun ghayru Allahi ya/teekum bihi onthur
kayfa nusarrifu al-ayati thumma hum yasdifoona
46. Say, "You see, if Allah took away your hearing and your sight, and puts seals on your hearts, which god, other than Allah, can restore it to you?" Look, how We explain the Verses/signs, yet they turn away!
47. Qul araaytakum in atakum AAathabu
Allahi baghtatan aw jahratan hal yuhlaku illa
alqawmu alththalimoona
47. Say, "You see, if Allah's punishment were to come to you, suddenly or with due notice, would any but the wicked people be destroyed?"10, 11
10. There is a divine reiteration here that when a natural calamity (like earthquake, hurricane, tsunami) strikes, it is only the wicked people who are destroyed therein. However, I am aware that a few years back a number of small children were killed in an earthquake. Can we then conclude that the small children killed were wicked? Most of them were primary school children and may therefore have been under the age of 10! Whatever might have been the moral condition of their parents, the children can, by no stretch of imagination, be called wicked. And anyone who considers the Qur'aanic Verse to be wrong, he/she immediately falls outside the pail of Islam. How should the believers consider the occurrence of that episode then!?
47. Say, "You see, if Allah's punishment were to come to you, suddenly or with due notice, would any but the wicked people be destroyed?"10, 11
10. There is a divine reiteration here that when a natural calamity (like earthquake, hurricane, tsunami) strikes, it is only the wicked people who are destroyed therein. However, I am aware that a few years back a number of small children were killed in an earthquake. Can we then conclude that the small children killed were wicked? Most of them were primary school children and may therefore have been under the age of 10! Whatever might have been the moral condition of their parents, the children can, by no stretch of imagination, be called wicked. And anyone who considers the Qur'aanic Verse to be wrong, he/she immediately falls outside the pail of Islam. How should the believers consider the occurrence of that episode then!?
11. Death is an inevitable occurrence in any human being's life. And we know of many known believers being killed in wars even during the Prophet's time. Being killed is not equivalent to being destroyed. The word in question used in this Verse is destroyed (yuhlaku). And wherever the Qur'aan has used this word, it is to denote the destruction of a person's soul by causing his/her body not only killed in this worldly life, but subjected to severe pynishment in the Hereafter, for the person's wanton acts of omission and commission against laid-down divine laws, in this worldly life. Therefore we cannot say that the children killed in the earthquake were destroyed therein. But their killing was certainly a trial/punishment for the children's parents and near and dear relatives who survived the the earthquake.
48. Wama nursilu almursaleena illa
mubashshireena wamunthireena faman amana waaslaha
fala khawfun AAalayhim wala hum yahzanoona
48. And We did not send the Messengers but as harbingers of good news and warners. Then those who believe and mend their ways, they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve.
49. Waallatheena kaththaboo
bi-ayatina yamassuhumu alAAathabu bima
kanoo yafsuqoona
49. And those who reject Our Verses/signs, punishment shall afflict them because they are committing transgression.
50. Qul la aqoolu lakum AAindee khaza-inu
Allahi wala aAAlamu alghayba wala aqoolu
lakum innee malakun in attabiAAu illa ma yooha
ilayya qul hal yastawee al-aAAma waalbaseeru
afala tatafakkaroona
50. Say, "I do not say to you, I have Allah's treasures with me, nor do I know the unseen, nor do I say to you that I am an angel. I do not but follow what is revealed to me." Say, "Are the blind and the seeing alike? Won't you then ponder?"
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51. Waanthir bihi allatheena yakhafoona
an yuhsharoo ila rabbihim laysa lahum min doonihi
waliyyun wala shafeeAAun laAAallahum yattaqoona
51. And warn with it11 those who fear that they shall be gathered to their Lord - there is no wali12 for them, nor any intercessor besides Him - that they may be pious.
11. The Qur'aan.
51. And warn with it11 those who fear that they shall be gathered to their Lord - there is no wali12 for them, nor any intercessor besides Him - that they may be pious.
11. The Qur'aan.
12. Please see footnote 2.154.
52. Wala tatrudi allatheena
yadAAoona rabbahum bialghadati waalAAashiyyi
yureedoona wajhahu ma AAalayka min hisabihim
min shay-in wama min hisabika AAalayhim min
shay-in fatatrudahum fatakoona mina alththalimeena
52. And turn not away those who pray to their Lord, morning and evening, desiring His pleasure. Neither are you13 responsible for anything in their account, nor are they responsible for anything in your13 account. If you still turn them away, you should be among the wicked people.
52. And turn not away those who pray to their Lord, morning and evening, desiring His pleasure. Neither are you13 responsible for anything in their account, nor are they responsible for anything in your13 account. If you still turn them away, you should be among the wicked people.
13. The 2nd person pronoun used at both these places is in the singular, indicating that the addressee of the divine command in this Verse, in the first instance, was the Prophet.
53. Wakathalika fatanna baAAdahum
bibaAAdin liyaqooloo ahaola-i manna Allahu
AAalayhim min baynina alaysa Allahu bi-aAAlama bialshshakireena
53. And thus have We tried some of them through others, so that they say, "Are these the people14 upon whom Allah has conferred benefits from amongst us?" Does not Allah know who the grateful are!?
53. And thus have We tried some of them through others, so that they say, "Are these the people14 upon whom Allah has conferred benefits from amongst us?" Does not Allah know who the grateful are!?
14. This Verse, read with the preceding Verse 52, indicates that some poor believers had gathered around the Prophet. It is these poor people who are referred to here in this remark, made obviously by some rich persons of the community.
54. Wa-itha jaaka allatheena
yu/minoona bi-ayatina faqul salamun
AAalaykum kataba rabbukum AAala nafsihi alrrahmata
annahu man AAamila minkum soo-an bijahalatin thumma taba
min baAAdihi waaslaha faannahu ghafoorun raheemun
54. And when those who believe in Our Verses/signs come to you, say, "Peace be on you. Your Lord has made mandatory upon Himself the attribute of mercifulness. So if any of you does a bad thing in ignorance, and thereafter repents and mends his/her ways, then He is indeed Forgiving, Merciful."
55. Wakathalika nufassilu al-ayati
walitastabeena sabeelu almujrimeena
55. And thus do We explain the Verses/signs in detail to make the way of the guilty manifest.15
15. The guilty is given every chance to mend himself (see preceding Verse). If he still persists in his wayward behaviour, clearly then he is a wicked man, deserving divine punishment.
56. Qul innee nuheetu an aAAbuda allatheena
tadAAoona min dooni Allahi qul la attabiAAu ahwaakum
qad dalaltu ithan wama ana mina
almuhtadeena
56. Say, "I am indeed forbidden to worship those, other than Allah, whom you pray to." Say, "I follow not your desires. I should be gone astray otherwise, and I should not be of those who are guided."
57. Qul innee AAala bayyinatin min rabbee
wakaththabtum bihi ma AAindee ma
tastaAAjiloona bihi ini alhukmu illa lillahi
yaqussu alhaqqa wahuwa khayru alfasileena
57. Say, "I stand on manifest authority from my Lord, and you deny it! I have no power over what you hasten for. The decision is for none but Allah to take. HE tells the truth and He is the best of the judges."
58. Qul law anna AAindee ma
tastaAAjiloona bihi laqudiya al-amru baynee wabaynakum waAllahu
aAAlamu bialththalimeena
58. Say, "Had I the power over what you hasten for16, the matter between you and me would have certainly been decided. And Allah knows the wicked people."
16. It was the Lst Day, and then the Hereafter, which the non-believers wanted hastened!
59. WaAAindahu mafatihu alghaybi la
yaAAlamuha illa huwa wayaAAlamu ma fee
albarri waalbahri wama tasqutu min
waraqatin illa yaAAlamuha wala habbatin
fee thulumati al-ardi wala ratbin
wala yabisin illa fee kitabin mubeenin
59. And with Him are the keys of the unseen - none knows them but He. And He knows what is there in the land and the sea. And not a leaf falls, but He knows it. And no grain in the darknesses of the earth, or anything green or dry, but it is all recorded in a book manifest.17
17. Allah thus informs us that He causes everything happening, whether on a macro scale or micro, anywhere, is recorded. Allah's ways are inscrutable for the human mind, but the modern man, with his advanced knowledge, gets an inkling of His ways when he finds how, inter alia, his genealogy is recorded in his DNA!
60. Wahuwa allathee yatawaffakum
biallayli wayaAAlamu ma jarahtum bialnnahari
thumma yabAAathukum feehi liyuqda ajalun musamman thumma
ilayhi marjiAAukum thumma yunabbi-okum bima kuntum
taAAmaloona
60. And He it is Who takes your souls at night. And He knows what you strive for in the day, then raises you up therein to fulfill an appointed term. Then to Him is your return, when He will inform you of what you had been doing.
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61. Wahuwa alqahiru fawqa AAibadihi
wayursilu AAalaykum hafathatan hatta
itha jaa ahadakumu almawtu tawaffat-hu
rusuluna wahum la yufarritoona
61. And He is the One Supreme above His worshippers, and He sends guardians over you. Until when death comes to one of you, Our messengers take his/her soul up, and they make no mistake.
62. Thumma ruddoo ila Allahi mawlahumu
alhaqqi ala lahu alhukmu wahuwa asraAAu alhasibeena
62. They are then returned to their True Master. Isn't His the Command and isn't He quick in taking account?
63. Qul man yunajjeekum min thulumati
albarri waalbahri tadAAoonahu tadarruAAan
wakhufyatan la-in anjana min hathihi
lanakoonanna mina alshshakireena
63. Say, "Who is it that delivers you from darknesses of the land and the sea when you pray to Him in humility and secrecy, 'If He delivers us from this, we should certainly be of the grateful ones'?
64. Quli Allahu yunajjeekum minha
wamin kulli karbin thumma antum tushrikoona
64. Say, "Allah delivers you from those and from every distress, but, then, you go and worship others besides Allah!
65. Qul huwa alqadiru AAala an
yabAAatha AAalaykum AAathaban min fawqikum aw min tahti
arjulikum aw yalbisakum shiyaAAan wayutheeqa baAAdakum
ba/sa baAAdin onthur kayfa nusarrifu
al-ayati laAAallahum yafqahoona
65. Say, "He has the power to send punishment upon you from above you or from beneath your feet, or to clothe you in sectarian garbs and make some of you taste the hostility of others."18 See how variously do We explain the Verses/signs so that they may understand.
18. It is not only through earthquakes and other such natural calamities that Allah punishes mankind. HE punishes them through sectarian conflicts among them as well, as this Verse informs us.
66. Wakaththaba bihi qawmuka wahuwa alhaqqu
qul lastu AAalaykum biwakeelin
66. And your people have declared it19 to be a lie, and it is the Truth. Say, "I am not given the responsibility of pleading for you."
19. 'it' here connotes not only what is stated in the preceding Verses, but also the Qur'aan as a whole.
67. Likulli naba-in mustaqarrun wasawfa
taAAlamoona
67. And you will in time come to know that every information given20 is based on Truth.
20. Given in the preceding Verses and in the Qur'aan as a whole.
68. Wa-itha raayta allatheena
yakhoodoona fee ayatina faaAArid
AAanhum hatta yakhoodoo fee hadeethin
ghayrihi wa-imma yunsiyannaka alshshaytanu
fala taqAAud baAAda alththikra maAAa
alqawmi alththalimeena
68. And when you see people denying and ridiculing Our Verses/signs, withdraw from them until they enter another topic of talk. And if the Satan causes you to forget, then, after remembering the divine directive, sit not in the company of the wicked people.
69. Wama AAala allatheena
yattaqoona min hisabihim min shay-in walakin
thikra laAAallahum yattaqoona
69. And those who fear Allah shall not be responsible for anything in those wicked people's account, but their responsibility it is to remind the wicked people, so that the latter may also fear Allah.
70. Wathari allatheena ittakhathoo
deenahum laAAiban walahwan wagharrat-humu alhayatu
alddunya wathakkir bihi an tubsala nafsun
bima kasabat laysa laha min dooni Allahi
waliyyun wala shafeeAAun wa-in taAAdil kulla AAadlin la
yu/khath minha ola-ika allatheena
obsiloo bima kasaboo lahum sharabun min hameemin
waAAathabun aleemun bima kanoo yakfuroona
70. And leave alone those who have taken their religion as just play and pastime, and whom this world's life has deceived. But do remind them with it21 lest an individual self is given up to destruction for what it has earned. It shall not have, other than Allah, any wali nor an intercessor, and even if it offers all possible ransom, it shall not be accepted from it. These are they who shall be given up to destruction for what they earned. For them will be a drink of boiling water and a painful punishment, because they had been suppressing the Truth.
21. The Qur'aanic teachings.
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71. Qul anadAAoo min dooni Allahi ma
la yanfaAAuna wala yadurruna
wanuraddu AAala aAAqabina baAAda ith
hadana Allahu kaallathee istahwat-hu
alshshayateenu fee al-ardi hayrana
lahu as-habun yadAAoonahu ila alhuda
i/tina qul inna huda Allahi huwa alhuda
waomirna linuslima lirabbi alAAalameena
71. Say, "Shall we pray to someone - other than Allah - who can do us neither good nor harm, and shall we turn back on our heels, after Allah has guided us, like him whom the devils have made to move about perplexed in the earth and who has companions calling him to their guidance?" Say, "Indeed, Allah's guidance is the guidance.22 And we are commanded to submit to the Lord of the worlds."
22. In other words, no other guidance that adds to or subtracts from Allah's guidance has any divine sanction. And what is Allah's guidance? The essentials of this guidance are as stipulated in the Qur'aan. Anyone acting honestly within the framework of those stipulations can be said to be abiding by Allah's guidance. But most Muslims today have abandoned this divine framework. And the tragic fact is that they do not know that they have abandoned it! Because they do not understand what the Qur'aan says. They take no pains to understand it. They just go by what others say it contains.
72. Waan aqeemoo alssalata
waittaqoohu wahuwa allathee ilayhi tuhsharoona
72. "And that we should establish prayer and fear Him." And He it is to Whom you shall be gathered.
73. Wahuwa allathee khalaqa alssamawati
waal-arda bialhaqqi wayawma yaqoolu
kun fayakoonu qawluhu alhaqqu walahu almulku yawma
yunfakhu fee alssoori AAalimu alghaybi waalshshahadati
wahuwa alhakeemu alkhabeeru
73. And He it is, as a matter of fact, Who has created the heavens and the earth. And the time He says, 'Be', it is. His word is the truth. And His is the Sovereignty, the day the Trumpet is blown.23 HE is the Knower of the unseen and the seen. And He is the Wise, the Aware.
23. Allah's sovereignty it is over the heavens and the earth, always. But He has delegated some of His sovereign powers temporarily to mankind, just to test them. HE resumes these delegated powers also, when the Trumpet is blown to herald the the Last Day.
74. Wa-ith qala ibraheemu
li-abeehi azara atattakhithu asnaman alihatan
innee araka waqawmaka fee dalalin mubeenin
74. And when Abraham told his father, Azar, "Do you take idols as gods? I do indeed see you and your people in manifest error."
75. Wakathalika nuree ibraheema
malakoota alssamawati waal-ardi
waliyakoona mina almooqineena
75. And thus did We show to Abraham the Reality of sovereignty over the heavens and the earth so that he was of those, strong in Faith.
76. Falamma janna AAalayhi allaylu raa
kawkaban qala hatha rabbee falamma afala qala
la ohibbu al-afileena
76. So when the night fell on him, he saw a star. He said, "This is my Lord." But when it set, he said, "I do not love things that set."
77. Falamma raa alqamara bazighan
qala hatha rabbee falamma afala qala
la-in lam yahdinee rabbee laakoonanna mina alqawmi alddalleena
77. Then when he saw the moon rising, he said, "This is my Lord." But when it set, he said, "If my Lord does not guide me, I shall certainly be of the people gone astray."
78. Falamma raa alshshamsa
bazighatan qala hatha rabbee hatha
akbaru falamma afalat qala ya qawmi innee
baree-on mimma tushrikoona
78. Then when he saw the sun rising up, he said, "This is my Lord. This is the greatest. But when it set, he said, "O my people! I am indeed absolved of worshipping those, other than Allah, whom you worship."
79. Innee wajjahtu wajhiya lillathee fatara
alssamawati waal-arda haneefan
wama ana mina almushrikeena
79. "I have indeed turned my face wholeheartedly to Him Who has created the heavens and the earth, and I am not of those who worship others besides Allah."
80. Wahajjahu qawmuhu qala atuhajjoonnee
fee Allahi waqad hadani wala akhafu ma
tushrikoona bihi illa an yashaa rabbee shay-an
wasiAAa rabbee kulla shay-in AAilman afala tatathakkaroona
80. And his people quarrelled with him. He said, "Do you quarrel with me about Allah, Who certainly has guided me? And I do not fear those you worship besides Him in anything except what my Lord wills. My Lord comprehends all things in His knowledge. Don't you remember?"
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81. Wakayfa akhafu ma ashraktum
wala takhafoona annakum ashraktum biAllahi
ma lam yunazzil bihi AAalaykum sultanan faayyu
alfareeqayni ahaqqu bial-amni in kuntum taAAlamoona
81. "And why should I fear those whom you worship besides Allah, when you do not fear that you worship that, besides Allah, for which He has not sent down to you any authority. Then tell me, if you do know, which of the two parties has a greater claim to security?"
82. Allatheena amanoo walam
yalbisoo eemanahum bithulmin ola-ika
lahumu al-amnu wahum muhtadoona
82. "Those who believe, and do not obscure their belief with wickedness, those are they who shall have the security and those are they who are guided."
83. Watilka hujjatuna ataynaha
ibraheema AAala qawmihi narfaAAu darajatin
man nashao inna rabbaka hakeemun AAaleemun
83. And that was Our argument which we gave to Abraham against his people. We raise whom We will in rank. Indeed, your Lord is Wise, Knowledgeable.
84. Wawahabna lahu ishaqa
wayaAAqooba kullan hadayna wanoohan hadayna
min qablu wamin thurriyyatihi dawooda wasulaymana
waayyooba wayoosufa wamoosa waharoona wakathalika
najzee almuhsineena
84. And We gave him Isaac and Jacob. Each did We guide. And, before that, We guided Noah, and of his progeny, David and Solomon and Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron. And thus do We reward those who do good.
85. Wazakariyya wayahya
waAAeesa wailyasa kullun mina alssaliheena
85. And Zachariya and John and Jesus and Elias, all of them righteous men.
86. Wa-ismaAAeela wailyasaAAa
wayoonusa walootan wakullan faddalna AAala
alAAalameena
86. And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot, and to all of them We gave favours over the worlds.
87. Wamin aba-ihim wathurriyyatihim
wa-ikhwanihim waijtabaynahum wahadaynahum
ila siratin mustaqeemin
87. And from among their fathers and their progeny and their brethren, We chose some and guided to the Straight Path.
88. Thalika huda Allahi
yahdee bihi man yashao min AAibadihi walaw ashrakoo
lahabita AAanhum ma kanoo yaAAmaloona
88. This is Allah's guidance. He guides thereby whom He wills of His worshippers. And if they worship other gods, certainly, what they did would become useless for them.
89. Ola-ika allatheena ataynahumu
alkitaba waalhukma waalnnubuwwata
fa-in yakfur biha haola-i faqad wakkalna
biha qawman laysoo biha bikafireena
89. They are those whom We gave the Book and the authority and the prophecy. As their peoples suppressed and denied the Truth thereof, We then entrusted it to a people who do not suppress and deny the Truth in it.
90. Ola-ika allatheena hada
Allahu fabihudahumu iqtadih qul la as-alukum
AAalayhi ajran in huwa illa thikra lilAAalameena
90. They are those whom Allah had guided. Follow their guidance then!24 Say, "I do not ask you for any reward for it25. It is the Book of Guidance, to be referred to often, not just for you but for all the worlds26."
24. It may please be carefully noted that what Allah tells mankind here is for them to follow His chosen Prophets and Messengers only. All those who are mentioned by their names in the foregoing Verses were all Prophets and/or Messengers. This divine command to mankind is to follow the Prophets only - and not others. This Verse does not give any mandatory command for them to follow the others, howsoever learned and pious they may have been.
25. The Qur'aan.
26. Till the Last Day.
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91. Wama qadaroo Allaha haqqa
qadrihi ith qaloo ma anzala Allahu
AAala basharin min shay-in qul man anzala alkitaba
allathee jaa bihi moosa nooran wahudan lilnnasi
tajAAaloonahu qarateesa tubdoonaha watukhfoona
katheeran waAAullimtum ma lam taAAlamoo antum wala abaokum
quli Allahu thumma tharhum fee khawdihim
yalAAaboona
91. And they do not appreciate Allah's unique Majesty and Power as it should be appreciated, when they say, "Allah has not sent down any revelation upon man." Say, "Who revealed the Book that Moses brought, a light and a guidance to men, which you made into sheets you show while you conceal much, and you were taught what you or your fathers did not know?" Say, "Allah!" Then leave them to play with their vain talk in which the Truth is suppressed and ridiculed.
92. Wahatha kitabun anzalnahu
mubarakun musaddiqu allathee bayna yadayhi
walitunthira omma alqura waman hawlaha
waallatheena yu/minoona bial-akhirati
yu/minoona bihi wahum AAala salatihim yuhafithoona
92. And We have sent down this blessed Book, confirming that which is before it, so that you may warn the city27 and settlements around it. And those who believe in the Hereafter believe in it, and they guard their prayers.
27. Makkah.
93. Waman athlamu mimmani iftara
AAala Allahi kathiban aw qala oohiya
ilayya walam yooha ilayhi shay-on waman qala
saonzilu mithla ma anzala Allahu walaw tara
ithi alththalimoona fee ghamarati
almawti waalmala-ikatu basitoo
aydeehim akhrijoo anfusakumu alyawma tujzawna AAathaba
alhooni bima kuntum taqooloona AAala Allahi
ghayra alhaqqi wakuntum AAan ayatihi
tastakbiroona
93. And who can be more wicked than he who forges a lie against Allah, or says, 'It has been revealed to me' while nothing has been revealed to him, and who says, "I shall reveal the like of what Allah has revealed"? And if you could but see the wicked people when they are in the throes of death and the angels stretch out their hands saying, "Take out your lives! It's time you are recompensed with a contemptible punishment for speaking false things about Allah and for being too proud to accept His Verses/signs."
94. Walaqad ji/tumoona furada
kama khalaqnakum awwala marratin wataraktum ma
khawwalnakum waraa thuhoorikum wama
nara maAAakum shufaAAaakumu allatheena
zaAAamtum annahum feekum shurakao laqad taqattaAAa
baynakum wadalla AAankum ma kuntum tazAAumoona
94. And certainly you have come to Us alone just as We had created you the first time. And you have left behind your backs the things which We had given you. And We do not see with you your intercessors about whom you had asserted that they were gods besides Allah for you. Certainly, the ties between you are cut off and what you had been asserting has deserted you.
95. Inna Allaha faliqu alhabbi
waalnnawa yukhriju alhayya mina almayyiti
wamukhriju almayyiti mina alhayyi thalikumu Allahu
faanna tu/fakoona
95. Indeed, Allah causes the grain and the date stone to split. He brings forth the living from the dead and He is the One Who brings forth the dead from the living. That One is Allah! How are you then turned away from the Truth?
96. Faliqu al-isbahi
wajaAAala allayla sakanan waalshshamsa waalqamara husbanan
thalika taqdeeru alAAazeezi alAAaleemi
96. He causes the daybreaks. And He has made the night for rest, and the sun and the moon for timekeeping. This is the setting arranged by the Almighty, the Knowledgeable.
97. Wahuwa allathee jaAAala lakumu alnnujooma
litahtadoo biha fee thulumati albarri
waalbahri qad fassalna al-ayati
liqawmin yaAAlamoona
97. And He it is Who has made the stars for you that you may find your way thereby in the darkness of the land and the sea. We have certainly made the Verses/signs plain for people who know.
98. Wahuwa allathee anshaakum min nafsin
wahidatin famustaqarrun wamustawdaAAun qad fassalna
al-ayati liqawmin yafqahoona
98. And He it is Who has brought you into being from a single human being, then there is for you a domicile and a depository.28 We have certainly made the Verses/signs plain for people who understand.
28. 'Domicile' is a human being's sojourn on this earth as a living being. And the 'depository' is the earth itself wherein the remains of a human being get deposited, after his/her death. The latter term could also connote the depository, with Allah Almighty, wherein souls of all dead persons are deposited till the persons are resurrected on the Day of Resurrection.
99. Wahuwa allathee anzala mina alssama-i
maan faakhrajna bihi nabata kulli shay-in
faakhrajna minhu khadiran nukhriju minhu habban
mutarakiban wamina alnnakhli min talAAiha
qinwanun daniyatun wajannatin min aAAnabin
waalzzaytoona waalrrummana mushtabihan
waghayra mutashabihin onthuroo ila
thamarihi itha athmara wayanAAihi inna fee thalikum
laayatin liqawmin yu/minoona
99. And He it is Who sends down water from the sky. Then We bring forth with it every kind of growth. Then We bring forth from it greenery from which We produce grain clustered in ears. And of the palm-tree - of its sheaths - come forth clusters of dates within reach. And gardens of grapes and olives and pomegranates, looking alike and distinguishable. Look at its fruit when it bears fruit and when it ripens. Indeed, there are signs in these things for people who believe.
100. WajaAAaloo lillahi shurakaa
aljinna wakhalaqahum wakharaqoo lahu baneena wabanatin
bighayri AAilmin subhanahu wataAAala AAamma
yasifoona
100. And they worship the jinn as associates of Allah, and He created them! And, without knowledge, they falsely attribute sons and daughters to Him. Glory to Him! He is far too high and exalted above what they ascribe to Him.
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101. BadeeAAu alssamawati
waal-ardi anna yakoonu lahu waladun walam
takun lahu sahibatun wakhalaqa kulla shay-in wahuwa
bikulli shay-in AAaleemun
101. The One to bring into being the heavens and the earth! How could He have a son when He has no consort? And He Himself created everything, and He is the One Who knows all things!
102. Thalikumu Allahu rabbukum la
ilaha illa huwa khaliqu kulli shay-in faoAAbudoohu
wahuwa AAala kulli shay-in wakeelun
102. That One is Allah, your Lord! There is no god but He. HE is the Creator of all things, so worship Him! And He is the One Who looks after all things.
103. La tudrikuhu al-absaru wahuwa
yudriku al-absara wahuwa allateefu alkhabeeru
103. No vision can grasp Him, and He grasps all visions. And He is Aware of the minutest detail.
104. Qad jaakum basa-iru min
rabbikum faman absara falinafsihi waman AAamiya faAAalayha
wama ana AAalaykum bihafeethin
104. "Evidences have certainly come to you from your Lord. Whoever then sees the evidences, it is for his own good and whoever is blind to them, it is to his own detriment and I am not a guardian over you."
105. Wakathalika nusarrifu al-ayati
waliyaqooloo darasta walinubayyinahu liqawmin yaAAlamoona
105. And thus do We variously explain the Verses/signs so that they say, "You have repeated" and that We may make it clear to people who know.29
29. The Qur'aan itself explains here why certain things therein are apparently repeated. The divine purpose is to make those things more clear with additional information, or, just to hammer the things more securely into the forgetful human minds.
106. IttabiAA ma oohiya ilayka min
rabbika la ilaha illa huwa waaAArid
AAani almushrikeena
106. Follow what is revealed to you from your Lord! There is no god but He. And turn away from those who worship others besides Allah.
107. Walaw shaa Allahu ma
ashrakoo wama jaAAalnaka AAalayhim hafeethan
wama anta AAalayhim biwakeelin
107. Had Allah so willed, they would not have worshipped others besides Him. And We have not appointed you30 as a caretaker over them. And you are not there to look after all their affairs.
30. The 2nd person pronoun here is in the singular, indicating that the addressee is the Prophet.
108. Wala tasubboo allatheena
yadAAoona min dooni Allahi fayasubboo Allaha
AAadwan bighayri AAilmin kathalika zayyanna likulli
ommatin AAamalahum thumma ila rabbihim marjiAAuhum
fayunabbi-ohum bima kanoo yaAAmaloona
108. And do not abuse those whom they pray to, besides Allah, lest they should abuse Allah out of enmity and ignorance. To every people thus31 We have made their own deeds look fair. Then to their Lord shall be their return when He will inform them of what they used to do.
31. When one community decries what another community does, the latter retaliates by condemning what the former does. As in the example given at the beginning of this Verse itself, Muslims may be inclined to abuse and ridicule the false gods non-Muslims pray to. Doing so may seem good to the Muslims as, to their minds, they are denigrating things that are falsely considered as divine. But those things prayed to may be icons of really good people like Prophets and saints whom people, in their ignorance, consider worthy of worship, besides Allah! One example, which immediately comes to mind, is that of Jesus and his mother Mary, whom the Christians venerate and pray to. Can Muslims abuse either of these two? No - not at all! Both find mention in the Qur'aan as venerable persons. On the same basis, it would be wrong for Muslims to abuse gods of any other community. If Muslims would abuse them, the other communities would abuse Allah. By abusing Allah, they should certainly be inviting their own doom, but in the short life of this world they would be deluded into thinking that they have done a great thing!
109. Waaqsamoo biAllahi jahda aymanihim
la-in jaat-hum ayatun layu/minunna biha qul
innama al-ayatu AAinda Allahi wama
yushAAirukum annaha itha jaat la
yu/minoona
109. And they swear by Allah, with the strongest of their oaths, that if a sign comes to them they would certainly believe therein. Say, "Signs are only with Allah." And what should make you perceive that, when it comes, they will not believe32
32. The sentence continues into the next Verse.
110. Wanuqallibu af-idatahum waabsarahum
kama lam yu/minoo bihi awwala marratin wanatharuhum
fee tughyanihim yaAAmahoona
110. and that We will turn their hearts and their sights away, as they failed to believe in it, first thing after its occurrence, and that We will leave them to wander blindly in their transgression?33
33. Please see footnote 8 above, in this context.
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Mohammad Shafi
Mumbai, INDIA,
14th March, 2008
Books by Mohammad Shafi:
WHY DO I BELIEVE IN ISLAM
ISLAM & INTEREST
The Veil & Polygamy, In Islam
QUR'AANIC STUDIES - I
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54. And when those who believe in Our Verses/signs come to you, say, "Peace be on you. Your Lord has made mandatory upon Himself the attribute of mercifulness. So if any of you does a bad thing in ignorance, and thereafter repents and mends his/her ways, then He is indeed Forgiving, Merciful."
55. Wakathalika nufassilu al-ayati
walitastabeena sabeelu almujrimeena
55. And thus do We explain the Verses/signs in detail to make the way of the guilty manifest.15
55. And thus do We explain the Verses/signs in detail to make the way of the guilty manifest.15
15. The guilty is given every chance to mend himself (see preceding Verse). If he still persists in his wayward behaviour, clearly then he is a wicked man, deserving divine punishment.
56. Qul innee nuheetu an aAAbuda allatheena
tadAAoona min dooni Allahi qul la attabiAAu ahwaakum
qad dalaltu ithan wama ana mina
almuhtadeena
56. Say, "I am indeed forbidden to worship those, other than Allah, whom you pray to." Say, "I follow not your desires. I should be gone astray otherwise, and I should not be of those who are guided."
57. Qul innee AAala bayyinatin min rabbee
wakaththabtum bihi ma AAindee ma
tastaAAjiloona bihi ini alhukmu illa lillahi
yaqussu alhaqqa wahuwa khayru alfasileena
57. Say, "I stand on manifest authority from my Lord, and you deny it! I have no power over what you hasten for. The decision is for none but Allah to take. HE tells the truth and He is the best of the judges."
58. Qul law anna AAindee ma
tastaAAjiloona bihi laqudiya al-amru baynee wabaynakum waAllahu
aAAlamu bialththalimeena
58. Say, "Had I the power over what you hasten for16, the matter between you and me would have certainly been decided. And Allah knows the wicked people."
58. Say, "Had I the power over what you hasten for16, the matter between you and me would have certainly been decided. And Allah knows the wicked people."
16. It was the Lst Day, and then the Hereafter, which the non-believers wanted hastened!
59. WaAAindahu mafatihu alghaybi la
yaAAlamuha illa huwa wayaAAlamu ma fee
albarri waalbahri wama tasqutu min
waraqatin illa yaAAlamuha wala habbatin
fee thulumati al-ardi wala ratbin
wala yabisin illa fee kitabin mubeenin
59. And with Him are the keys of the unseen - none knows them but He. And He knows what is there in the land and the sea. And not a leaf falls, but He knows it. And no grain in the darknesses of the earth, or anything green or dry, but it is all recorded in a book manifest.17
59. And with Him are the keys of the unseen - none knows them but He. And He knows what is there in the land and the sea. And not a leaf falls, but He knows it. And no grain in the darknesses of the earth, or anything green or dry, but it is all recorded in a book manifest.17
17. Allah thus informs us that He causes everything happening, whether on a macro scale or micro, anywhere, is recorded. Allah's ways are inscrutable for the human mind, but the modern man, with his advanced knowledge, gets an inkling of His ways when he finds how, inter alia, his genealogy is recorded in his DNA!
60. Wahuwa allathee yatawaffakum
biallayli wayaAAlamu ma jarahtum bialnnahari
thumma yabAAathukum feehi liyuqda ajalun musamman thumma
ilayhi marjiAAukum thumma yunabbi-okum bima kuntum
taAAmaloona
60. And He it is Who takes your souls at night. And He knows what you strive for in the day, then raises you up therein to fulfill an appointed term. Then to Him is your return, when He will inform you of what you had been doing.
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61. Wahuwa alqahiru fawqa AAibadihi
wayursilu AAalaykum hafathatan hatta
itha jaa ahadakumu almawtu tawaffat-hu
rusuluna wahum la yufarritoona
61. And He is the One Supreme above His worshippers, and He sends guardians over you. Until when death comes to one of you, Our messengers take his/her soul up, and they make no mistake.
62. Thumma ruddoo ila Allahi mawlahumu
alhaqqi ala lahu alhukmu wahuwa asraAAu alhasibeena
62. They are then returned to their True Master. Isn't His the Command and isn't He quick in taking account?
63. Qul man yunajjeekum min thulumati
albarri waalbahri tadAAoonahu tadarruAAan
wakhufyatan la-in anjana min hathihi
lanakoonanna mina alshshakireena
63. Say, "Who is it that delivers you from darknesses of the land and the sea when you pray to Him in humility and secrecy, 'If He delivers us from this, we should certainly be of the grateful ones'?
64. Quli Allahu yunajjeekum minha
wamin kulli karbin thumma antum tushrikoona
64. Say, "Allah delivers you from those and from every distress, but, then, you go and worship others besides Allah!
65. Qul huwa alqadiru AAala an
yabAAatha AAalaykum AAathaban min fawqikum aw min tahti
arjulikum aw yalbisakum shiyaAAan wayutheeqa baAAdakum
ba/sa baAAdin onthur kayfa nusarrifu
al-ayati laAAallahum yafqahoona
65. Say, "He has the power to send punishment upon you from above you or from beneath your feet, or to clothe you in sectarian garbs and make some of you taste the hostility of others."18 See how variously do We explain the Verses/signs so that they may understand.
18. It is not only through earthquakes and other such natural calamities that Allah punishes mankind. HE punishes them through sectarian conflicts among them as well, as this Verse informs us.
66. Wakaththaba bihi qawmuka wahuwa alhaqqu
qul lastu AAalaykum biwakeelin
66. And your people have declared it19 to be a lie, and it is the Truth. Say, "I am not given the responsibility of pleading for you."
19. 'it' here connotes not only what is stated in the preceding Verses, but also the Qur'aan as a whole.
67. Likulli naba-in mustaqarrun wasawfa
taAAlamoona
67. And you will in time come to know that every information given20 is based on Truth.
20. Given in the preceding Verses and in the Qur'aan as a whole.
68. Wa-itha raayta allatheena
yakhoodoona fee ayatina faaAArid
AAanhum hatta yakhoodoo fee hadeethin
ghayrihi wa-imma yunsiyannaka alshshaytanu
fala taqAAud baAAda alththikra maAAa
alqawmi alththalimeena
68. And when you see people denying and ridiculing Our Verses/signs, withdraw from them until they enter another topic of talk. And if the Satan causes you to forget, then, after remembering the divine directive, sit not in the company of the wicked people.
69. Wama AAala allatheena
yattaqoona min hisabihim min shay-in walakin
thikra laAAallahum yattaqoona
69. And those who fear Allah shall not be responsible for anything in those wicked people's account, but their responsibility it is to remind the wicked people, so that the latter may also fear Allah.
70. Wathari allatheena ittakhathoo
deenahum laAAiban walahwan wagharrat-humu alhayatu
alddunya wathakkir bihi an tubsala nafsun
bima kasabat laysa laha min dooni Allahi
waliyyun wala shafeeAAun wa-in taAAdil kulla AAadlin la
yu/khath minha ola-ika allatheena
obsiloo bima kasaboo lahum sharabun min hameemin
waAAathabun aleemun bima kanoo yakfuroona
70. And leave alone those who have taken their religion as just play and pastime, and whom this world's life has deceived. But do remind them with it21 lest an individual self is given up to destruction for what it has earned. It shall not have, other than Allah, any wali nor an intercessor, and even if it offers all possible ransom, it shall not be accepted from it. These are they who shall be given up to destruction for what they earned. For them will be a drink of boiling water and a painful punishment, because they had been suppressing the Truth.
21. The Qur'aanic teachings.
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71. Qul anadAAoo min dooni Allahi ma
la yanfaAAuna wala yadurruna
wanuraddu AAala aAAqabina baAAda ith
hadana Allahu kaallathee istahwat-hu
alshshayateenu fee al-ardi hayrana
lahu as-habun yadAAoonahu ila alhuda
i/tina qul inna huda Allahi huwa alhuda
waomirna linuslima lirabbi alAAalameena
71. Say, "Shall we pray to someone - other than Allah - who can do us neither good nor harm, and shall we turn back on our heels, after Allah has guided us, like him whom the devils have made to move about perplexed in the earth and who has companions calling him to their guidance?" Say, "Indeed, Allah's guidance is the guidance.22 And we are commanded to submit to the Lord of the worlds."
22. In other words, no other guidance that adds to or subtracts from Allah's guidance has any divine sanction. And what is Allah's guidance? The essentials of this guidance are as stipulated in the Qur'aan. Anyone acting honestly within the framework of those stipulations can be said to be abiding by Allah's guidance. But most Muslims today have abandoned this divine framework. And the tragic fact is that they do not know that they have abandoned it! Because they do not understand what the Qur'aan says. They take no pains to understand it. They just go by what others say it contains.
72. Waan aqeemoo alssalata
waittaqoohu wahuwa allathee ilayhi tuhsharoona
72. "And that we should establish prayer and fear Him." And He it is to Whom you shall be gathered.
73. Wahuwa allathee khalaqa alssamawati
waal-arda bialhaqqi wayawma yaqoolu
kun fayakoonu qawluhu alhaqqu walahu almulku yawma
yunfakhu fee alssoori AAalimu alghaybi waalshshahadati
wahuwa alhakeemu alkhabeeru
73. And He it is, as a matter of fact, Who has created the heavens and the earth. And the time He says, 'Be', it is. His word is the truth. And His is the Sovereignty, the day the Trumpet is blown.23 HE is the Knower of the unseen and the seen. And He is the Wise, the Aware.
23. Allah's sovereignty it is over the heavens and the earth, always. But He has delegated some of His sovereign powers temporarily to mankind, just to test them. HE resumes these delegated powers also, when the Trumpet is blown to herald the the Last Day.
74. Wa-ith qala ibraheemu
li-abeehi azara atattakhithu asnaman alihatan
innee araka waqawmaka fee dalalin mubeenin
74. And when Abraham told his father, Azar, "Do you take idols as gods? I do indeed see you and your people in manifest error."
75. Wakathalika nuree ibraheema
malakoota alssamawati waal-ardi
waliyakoona mina almooqineena
75. And thus did We show to Abraham the Reality of sovereignty over the heavens and the earth so that he was of those, strong in Faith.
76. Falamma janna AAalayhi allaylu raa
kawkaban qala hatha rabbee falamma afala qala
la ohibbu al-afileena
76. So when the night fell on him, he saw a star. He said, "This is my Lord." But when it set, he said, "I do not love things that set."
77. Falamma raa alqamara bazighan
qala hatha rabbee falamma afala qala
la-in lam yahdinee rabbee laakoonanna mina alqawmi alddalleena
77. Then when he saw the moon rising, he said, "This is my Lord." But when it set, he said, "If my Lord does not guide me, I shall certainly be of the people gone astray."
78. Falamma raa alshshamsa
bazighatan qala hatha rabbee hatha
akbaru falamma afalat qala ya qawmi innee
baree-on mimma tushrikoona
78. Then when he saw the sun rising up, he said, "This is my Lord. This is the greatest. But when it set, he said, "O my people! I am indeed absolved of worshipping those, other than Allah, whom you worship."
79. Innee wajjahtu wajhiya lillathee fatara
alssamawati waal-arda haneefan
wama ana mina almushrikeena
79. "I have indeed turned my face wholeheartedly to Him Who has created the heavens and the earth, and I am not of those who worship others besides Allah."
80. Wahajjahu qawmuhu qala atuhajjoonnee
fee Allahi waqad hadani wala akhafu ma
tushrikoona bihi illa an yashaa rabbee shay-an
wasiAAa rabbee kulla shay-in AAilman afala tatathakkaroona
80. And his people quarrelled with him. He said, "Do you quarrel with me about Allah, Who certainly has guided me? And I do not fear those you worship besides Him in anything except what my Lord wills. My Lord comprehends all things in His knowledge. Don't you remember?"
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81. Wakayfa akhafu ma ashraktum
wala takhafoona annakum ashraktum biAllahi
ma lam yunazzil bihi AAalaykum sultanan faayyu
alfareeqayni ahaqqu bial-amni in kuntum taAAlamoona
81. "And why should I fear those whom you worship besides Allah, when you do not fear that you worship that, besides Allah, for which He has not sent down to you any authority. Then tell me, if you do know, which of the two parties has a greater claim to security?"
82. Allatheena amanoo walam
yalbisoo eemanahum bithulmin ola-ika
lahumu al-amnu wahum muhtadoona
82. "Those who believe, and do not obscure their belief with wickedness, those are they who shall have the security and those are they who are guided."
83. Watilka hujjatuna ataynaha
ibraheema AAala qawmihi narfaAAu darajatin
man nashao inna rabbaka hakeemun AAaleemun
83. And that was Our argument which we gave to Abraham against his people. We raise whom We will in rank. Indeed, your Lord is Wise, Knowledgeable.
84. Wawahabna lahu ishaqa
wayaAAqooba kullan hadayna wanoohan hadayna
min qablu wamin thurriyyatihi dawooda wasulaymana
waayyooba wayoosufa wamoosa waharoona wakathalika
najzee almuhsineena
84. And We gave him Isaac and Jacob. Each did We guide. And, before that, We guided Noah, and of his progeny, David and Solomon and Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron. And thus do We reward those who do good.
85. Wazakariyya wayahya
waAAeesa wailyasa kullun mina alssaliheena
85. And Zachariya and John and Jesus and Elias, all of them righteous men.
86. Wa-ismaAAeela wailyasaAAa
wayoonusa walootan wakullan faddalna AAala
alAAalameena
86. And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot, and to all of them We gave favours over the worlds.
87. Wamin aba-ihim wathurriyyatihim
wa-ikhwanihim waijtabaynahum wahadaynahum
ila siratin mustaqeemin
87. And from among their fathers and their progeny and their brethren, We chose some and guided to the Straight Path.
88. Thalika huda Allahi
yahdee bihi man yashao min AAibadihi walaw ashrakoo
lahabita AAanhum ma kanoo yaAAmaloona
88. This is Allah's guidance. He guides thereby whom He wills of His worshippers. And if they worship other gods, certainly, what they did would become useless for them.
89. Ola-ika allatheena ataynahumu
alkitaba waalhukma waalnnubuwwata
fa-in yakfur biha haola-i faqad wakkalna
biha qawman laysoo biha bikafireena
89. They are those whom We gave the Book and the authority and the prophecy. As their peoples suppressed and denied the Truth thereof, We then entrusted it to a people who do not suppress and deny the Truth in it.
90. Ola-ika allatheena hada
Allahu fabihudahumu iqtadih qul la as-alukum
AAalayhi ajran in huwa illa thikra lilAAalameena
90. They are those whom Allah had guided. Follow their guidance then!24 Say, "I do not ask you for any reward for it25. It is the Book of Guidance, to be referred to often, not just for you but for all the worlds26."
24. It may please be carefully noted that what Allah tells mankind here is for them to follow His chosen Prophets and Messengers only. All those who are mentioned by their names in the foregoing Verses were all Prophets and/or Messengers. This divine command to mankind is to follow the Prophets only - and not others. This Verse does not give any mandatory command for them to follow the others, howsoever learned and pious they may have been.
25. The Qur'aan.
26. Till the Last Day.
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91. Wama qadaroo Allaha haqqa
qadrihi ith qaloo ma anzala Allahu
AAala basharin min shay-in qul man anzala alkitaba
allathee jaa bihi moosa nooran wahudan lilnnasi
tajAAaloonahu qarateesa tubdoonaha watukhfoona
katheeran waAAullimtum ma lam taAAlamoo antum wala abaokum
quli Allahu thumma tharhum fee khawdihim
yalAAaboona
91. And they do not appreciate Allah's unique Majesty and Power as it should be appreciated, when they say, "Allah has not sent down any revelation upon man." Say, "Who revealed the Book that Moses brought, a light and a guidance to men, which you made into sheets you show while you conceal much, and you were taught what you or your fathers did not know?" Say, "Allah!" Then leave them to play with their vain talk in which the Truth is suppressed and ridiculed.
92. Wahatha kitabun anzalnahu
mubarakun musaddiqu allathee bayna yadayhi
walitunthira omma alqura waman hawlaha
waallatheena yu/minoona bial-akhirati
yu/minoona bihi wahum AAala salatihim yuhafithoona
92. And We have sent down this blessed Book, confirming that which is before it, so that you may warn the city27 and settlements around it. And those who believe in the Hereafter believe in it, and they guard their prayers.
27. Makkah.
93. Waman athlamu mimmani iftara
AAala Allahi kathiban aw qala oohiya
ilayya walam yooha ilayhi shay-on waman qala
saonzilu mithla ma anzala Allahu walaw tara
ithi alththalimoona fee ghamarati
almawti waalmala-ikatu basitoo
aydeehim akhrijoo anfusakumu alyawma tujzawna AAathaba
alhooni bima kuntum taqooloona AAala Allahi
ghayra alhaqqi wakuntum AAan ayatihi
tastakbiroona
93. And who can be more wicked than he who forges a lie against Allah, or says, 'It has been revealed to me' while nothing has been revealed to him, and who says, "I shall reveal the like of what Allah has revealed"? And if you could but see the wicked people when they are in the throes of death and the angels stretch out their hands saying, "Take out your lives! It's time you are recompensed with a contemptible punishment for speaking false things about Allah and for being too proud to accept His Verses/signs."
94. Walaqad ji/tumoona furada
kama khalaqnakum awwala marratin wataraktum ma
khawwalnakum waraa thuhoorikum wama
nara maAAakum shufaAAaakumu allatheena
zaAAamtum annahum feekum shurakao laqad taqattaAAa
baynakum wadalla AAankum ma kuntum tazAAumoona
94. And certainly you have come to Us alone just as We had created you the first time. And you have left behind your backs the things which We had given you. And We do not see with you your intercessors about whom you had asserted that they were gods besides Allah for you. Certainly, the ties between you are cut off and what you had been asserting has deserted you.
95. Inna Allaha faliqu alhabbi
waalnnawa yukhriju alhayya mina almayyiti
wamukhriju almayyiti mina alhayyi thalikumu Allahu
faanna tu/fakoona
95. Indeed, Allah causes the grain and the date stone to split. He brings forth the living from the dead and He is the One Who brings forth the dead from the living. That One is Allah! How are you then turned away from the Truth?
96. Faliqu al-isbahi
wajaAAala allayla sakanan waalshshamsa waalqamara husbanan
thalika taqdeeru alAAazeezi alAAaleemi
96. He causes the daybreaks. And He has made the night for rest, and the sun and the moon for timekeeping. This is the setting arranged by the Almighty, the Knowledgeable.
97. Wahuwa allathee jaAAala lakumu alnnujooma
litahtadoo biha fee thulumati albarri
waalbahri qad fassalna al-ayati
liqawmin yaAAlamoona
97. And He it is Who has made the stars for you that you may find your way thereby in the darkness of the land and the sea. We have certainly made the Verses/signs plain for people who know.
98. Wahuwa allathee anshaakum min nafsin
wahidatin famustaqarrun wamustawdaAAun qad fassalna
al-ayati liqawmin yafqahoona
98. And He it is Who has brought you into being from a single human being, then there is for you a domicile and a depository.28 We have certainly made the Verses/signs plain for people who understand.
28. 'Domicile' is a human being's sojourn on this earth as a living being. And the 'depository' is the earth itself wherein the remains of a human being get deposited, after his/her death. The latter term could also connote the depository, with Allah Almighty, wherein souls of all dead persons are deposited till the persons are resurrected on the Day of Resurrection.
99. Wahuwa allathee anzala mina alssama-i
maan faakhrajna bihi nabata kulli shay-in
faakhrajna minhu khadiran nukhriju minhu habban
mutarakiban wamina alnnakhli min talAAiha
qinwanun daniyatun wajannatin min aAAnabin
waalzzaytoona waalrrummana mushtabihan
waghayra mutashabihin onthuroo ila
thamarihi itha athmara wayanAAihi inna fee thalikum
laayatin liqawmin yu/minoona
99. And He it is Who sends down water from the sky. Then We bring forth with it every kind of growth. Then We bring forth from it greenery from which We produce grain clustered in ears. And of the palm-tree - of its sheaths - come forth clusters of dates within reach. And gardens of grapes and olives and pomegranates, looking alike and distinguishable. Look at its fruit when it bears fruit and when it ripens. Indeed, there are signs in these things for people who believe.
100. WajaAAaloo lillahi shurakaa
aljinna wakhalaqahum wakharaqoo lahu baneena wabanatin
bighayri AAilmin subhanahu wataAAala AAamma
yasifoona
100. And they worship the jinn as associates of Allah, and He created them! And, without knowledge, they falsely attribute sons and daughters to Him. Glory to Him! He is far too high and exalted above what they ascribe to Him.
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101. BadeeAAu alssamawati
waal-ardi anna yakoonu lahu waladun walam
takun lahu sahibatun wakhalaqa kulla shay-in wahuwa
bikulli shay-in AAaleemun
101. The One to bring into being the heavens and the earth! How could He have a son when He has no consort? And He Himself created everything, and He is the One Who knows all things!
102. Thalikumu Allahu rabbukum la
ilaha illa huwa khaliqu kulli shay-in faoAAbudoohu
wahuwa AAala kulli shay-in wakeelun
102. That One is Allah, your Lord! There is no god but He. HE is the Creator of all things, so worship Him! And He is the One Who looks after all things.
103. La tudrikuhu al-absaru wahuwa
yudriku al-absara wahuwa allateefu alkhabeeru
103. No vision can grasp Him, and He grasps all visions. And He is Aware of the minutest detail.
104. Qad jaakum basa-iru min
rabbikum faman absara falinafsihi waman AAamiya faAAalayha
wama ana AAalaykum bihafeethin
104. "Evidences have certainly come to you from your Lord. Whoever then sees the evidences, it is for his own good and whoever is blind to them, it is to his own detriment and I am not a guardian over you."
105. Wakathalika nusarrifu al-ayati
waliyaqooloo darasta walinubayyinahu liqawmin yaAAlamoona
105. And thus do We variously explain the Verses/signs so that they say, "You have repeated" and that We may make it clear to people who know.29
29. The Qur'aan itself explains here why certain things therein are apparently repeated. The divine purpose is to make those things more clear with additional information, or, just to hammer the things more securely into the forgetful human minds.
106. IttabiAA ma oohiya ilayka min
rabbika la ilaha illa huwa waaAArid
AAani almushrikeena
106. Follow what is revealed to you from your Lord! There is no god but He. And turn away from those who worship others besides Allah.
107. Walaw shaa Allahu ma
ashrakoo wama jaAAalnaka AAalayhim hafeethan
wama anta AAalayhim biwakeelin
107. Had Allah so willed, they would not have worshipped others besides Him. And We have not appointed you30 as a caretaker over them. And you are not there to look after all their affairs.
30. The 2nd person pronoun here is in the singular, indicating that the addressee is the Prophet.
108. Wala tasubboo allatheena
yadAAoona min dooni Allahi fayasubboo Allaha
AAadwan bighayri AAilmin kathalika zayyanna likulli
ommatin AAamalahum thumma ila rabbihim marjiAAuhum
fayunabbi-ohum bima kanoo yaAAmaloona
108. And do not abuse those whom they pray to, besides Allah, lest they should abuse Allah out of enmity and ignorance. To every people thus31 We have made their own deeds look fair. Then to their Lord shall be their return when He will inform them of what they used to do.
31. When one community decries what another community does, the latter retaliates by condemning what the former does. As in the example given at the beginning of this Verse itself, Muslims may be inclined to abuse and ridicule the false gods non-Muslims pray to. Doing so may seem good to the Muslims as, to their minds, they are denigrating things that are falsely considered as divine. But those things prayed to may be icons of really good people like Prophets and saints whom people, in their ignorance, consider worthy of worship, besides Allah! One example, which immediately comes to mind, is that of Jesus and his mother Mary, whom the Christians venerate and pray to. Can Muslims abuse either of these two? No - not at all! Both find mention in the Qur'aan as venerable persons. On the same basis, it would be wrong for Muslims to abuse gods of any other community. If Muslims would abuse them, the other communities would abuse Allah. By abusing Allah, they should certainly be inviting their own doom, but in the short life of this world they would be deluded into thinking that they have done a great thing!
109. Waaqsamoo biAllahi jahda aymanihim
la-in jaat-hum ayatun layu/minunna biha qul
innama al-ayatu AAinda Allahi wama
yushAAirukum annaha itha jaat la
yu/minoona
109. And they swear by Allah, with the strongest of their oaths, that if a sign comes to them they would certainly believe therein. Say, "Signs are only with Allah." And what should make you perceive that, when it comes, they will not believe32
32. The sentence continues into the next Verse.
110. Wanuqallibu af-idatahum waabsarahum
kama lam yu/minoo bihi awwala marratin wanatharuhum
fee tughyanihim yaAAmahoona
110. and that We will turn their hearts and their sights away, as they failed to believe in it, first thing after its occurrence, and that We will leave them to wander blindly in their transgression?33
33. Please see footnote 8 above, in this context.
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Mohammad Shafi
Mumbai, INDIA,
14th March, 2008
Books by Mohammad Shafi:
WHY DO I BELIEVE IN ISLAM
ISLAM & INTEREST
The Veil & Polygamy, In Islam
QUR'AANIC STUDIES - I
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64. Say, "Allah delivers you from those and from every distress, but, then, you go and worship others besides Allah!
65. Qul huwa alqadiru AAala an
yabAAatha AAalaykum AAathaban min fawqikum aw min tahti
arjulikum aw yalbisakum shiyaAAan wayutheeqa baAAdakum
ba/sa baAAdin onthur kayfa nusarrifu
al-ayati laAAallahum yafqahoona
65. Say, "He has the power to send punishment upon you from above you or from beneath your feet, or to clothe you in sectarian garbs and make some of you taste the hostility of others."18 See how variously do We explain the Verses/signs so that they may understand.
65. Say, "He has the power to send punishment upon you from above you or from beneath your feet, or to clothe you in sectarian garbs and make some of you taste the hostility of others."18 See how variously do We explain the Verses/signs so that they may understand.
18. It is not only through earthquakes and other such natural calamities that Allah punishes mankind. HE punishes them through sectarian conflicts among them as well, as this Verse informs us.
66. Wakaththaba bihi qawmuka wahuwa alhaqqu
qul lastu AAalaykum biwakeelin
66. And your people have declared it19 to be a lie, and it is the Truth. Say, "I am not given the responsibility of pleading for you."
66. And your people have declared it19 to be a lie, and it is the Truth. Say, "I am not given the responsibility of pleading for you."
19. 'it' here connotes not only what is stated in the preceding Verses, but also the Qur'aan as a whole.
67. Likulli naba-in mustaqarrun wasawfa
taAAlamoona
67. And you will in time come to know that every information given20 is based on Truth.
67. And you will in time come to know that every information given20 is based on Truth.
20. Given in the preceding Verses and in the Qur'aan as a whole.
68. Wa-itha raayta allatheena
yakhoodoona fee ayatina faaAArid
AAanhum hatta yakhoodoo fee hadeethin
ghayrihi wa-imma yunsiyannaka alshshaytanu
fala taqAAud baAAda alththikra maAAa
alqawmi alththalimeena
68. And when you see people denying and ridiculing Our Verses/signs, withdraw from them until they enter another topic of talk. And if the Satan causes you to forget, then, after remembering the divine directive, sit not in the company of the wicked people.
69. Wama AAala allatheena
yattaqoona min hisabihim min shay-in walakin
thikra laAAallahum yattaqoona
69. And those who fear Allah shall not be responsible for anything in those wicked people's account, but their responsibility it is to remind the wicked people, so that the latter may also fear Allah.
70. Wathari allatheena ittakhathoo
deenahum laAAiban walahwan wagharrat-humu alhayatu
alddunya wathakkir bihi an tubsala nafsun
bima kasabat laysa laha min dooni Allahi
waliyyun wala shafeeAAun wa-in taAAdil kulla AAadlin la
yu/khath minha ola-ika allatheena
obsiloo bima kasaboo lahum sharabun min hameemin
waAAathabun aleemun bima kanoo yakfuroona
70. And leave alone those who have taken their religion as just play and pastime, and whom this world's life has deceived. But do remind them with it21 lest an individual self is given up to destruction for what it has earned. It shall not have, other than Allah, any wali nor an intercessor, and even if it offers all possible ransom, it shall not be accepted from it. These are they who shall be given up to destruction for what they earned. For them will be a drink of boiling water and a painful punishment, because they had been suppressing the Truth.
70. And leave alone those who have taken their religion as just play and pastime, and whom this world's life has deceived. But do remind them with it21 lest an individual self is given up to destruction for what it has earned. It shall not have, other than Allah, any wali nor an intercessor, and even if it offers all possible ransom, it shall not be accepted from it. These are they who shall be given up to destruction for what they earned. For them will be a drink of boiling water and a painful punishment, because they had been suppressing the Truth.
21. The Qur'aanic teachings.
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71. Qul anadAAoo min dooni Allahi ma
la yanfaAAuna wala yadurruna
wanuraddu AAala aAAqabina baAAda ith
hadana Allahu kaallathee istahwat-hu
alshshayateenu fee al-ardi hayrana
lahu as-habun yadAAoonahu ila alhuda
i/tina qul inna huda Allahi huwa alhuda
waomirna linuslima lirabbi alAAalameena
71. Say, "Shall we pray to someone - other than Allah - who can do us neither good nor harm, and shall we turn back on our heels, after Allah has guided us, like him whom the devils have made to move about perplexed in the earth and who has companions calling him to their guidance?" Say, "Indeed, Allah's guidance is the guidance.22 And we are commanded to submit to the Lord of the worlds."
71. Say, "Shall we pray to someone - other than Allah - who can do us neither good nor harm, and shall we turn back on our heels, after Allah has guided us, like him whom the devils have made to move about perplexed in the earth and who has companions calling him to their guidance?" Say, "Indeed, Allah's guidance is the guidance.22 And we are commanded to submit to the Lord of the worlds."
22. In other words, no other guidance that adds to or subtracts from Allah's guidance has any divine sanction. And what is Allah's guidance? The essentials of this guidance are as stipulated in the Qur'aan. Anyone acting honestly within the framework of those stipulations can be said to be abiding by Allah's guidance. But most Muslims today have abandoned this divine framework. And the tragic fact is that they do not know that they have abandoned it! Because they do not understand what the Qur'aan says. They take no pains to understand it. They just go by what others say it contains.
72. Waan aqeemoo alssalata
waittaqoohu wahuwa allathee ilayhi tuhsharoona
72. "And that we should establish prayer and fear Him." And He it is to Whom you shall be gathered.
73. Wahuwa allathee khalaqa alssamawati
waal-arda bialhaqqi wayawma yaqoolu
kun fayakoonu qawluhu alhaqqu walahu almulku yawma
yunfakhu fee alssoori AAalimu alghaybi waalshshahadati
wahuwa alhakeemu alkhabeeru
73. And He it is, as a matter of fact, Who has created the heavens and the earth. And the time He says, 'Be', it is. His word is the truth. And His is the Sovereignty, the day the Trumpet is blown.23 HE is the Knower of the unseen and the seen. And He is the Wise, the Aware.
73. And He it is, as a matter of fact, Who has created the heavens and the earth. And the time He says, 'Be', it is. His word is the truth. And His is the Sovereignty, the day the Trumpet is blown.23 HE is the Knower of the unseen and the seen. And He is the Wise, the Aware.
23. Allah's sovereignty it is over the heavens and the earth, always. But He has delegated some of His sovereign powers temporarily to mankind, just to test them. HE resumes these delegated powers also, when the Trumpet is blown to herald the the Last Day.
74. Wa-ith qala ibraheemu
li-abeehi azara atattakhithu asnaman alihatan
innee araka waqawmaka fee dalalin mubeenin
74. And when Abraham told his father, Azar, "Do you take idols as gods? I do indeed see you and your people in manifest error."
75. Wakathalika nuree ibraheema
malakoota alssamawati waal-ardi
waliyakoona mina almooqineena
75. And thus did We show to Abraham the Reality of sovereignty over the heavens and the earth so that he was of those, strong in Faith.
76. Falamma janna AAalayhi allaylu raa
kawkaban qala hatha rabbee falamma afala qala
la ohibbu al-afileena
76. So when the night fell on him, he saw a star. He said, "This is my Lord." But when it set, he said, "I do not love things that set."
77. Falamma raa alqamara bazighan
qala hatha rabbee falamma afala qala
la-in lam yahdinee rabbee laakoonanna mina alqawmi alddalleena
77. Then when he saw the moon rising, he said, "This is my Lord." But when it set, he said, "If my Lord does not guide me, I shall certainly be of the people gone astray."
78. Falamma raa alshshamsa
bazighatan qala hatha rabbee hatha
akbaru falamma afalat qala ya qawmi innee
baree-on mimma tushrikoona
78. Then when he saw the sun rising up, he said, "This is my Lord. This is the greatest. But when it set, he said, "O my people! I am indeed absolved of worshipping those, other than Allah, whom you worship."
79. Innee wajjahtu wajhiya lillathee fatara
alssamawati waal-arda haneefan
wama ana mina almushrikeena
79. "I have indeed turned my face wholeheartedly to Him Who has created the heavens and the earth, and I am not of those who worship others besides Allah."
80. Wahajjahu qawmuhu qala atuhajjoonnee
fee Allahi waqad hadani wala akhafu ma
tushrikoona bihi illa an yashaa rabbee shay-an
wasiAAa rabbee kulla shay-in AAilman afala tatathakkaroona
80. And his people quarrelled with him. He said, "Do you quarrel with me about Allah, Who certainly has guided me? And I do not fear those you worship besides Him in anything except what my Lord wills. My Lord comprehends all things in His knowledge. Don't you remember?"
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81. Wakayfa akhafu ma ashraktum
wala takhafoona annakum ashraktum biAllahi
ma lam yunazzil bihi AAalaykum sultanan faayyu
alfareeqayni ahaqqu bial-amni in kuntum taAAlamoona
81. "And why should I fear those whom you worship besides Allah, when you do not fear that you worship that, besides Allah, for which He has not sent down to you any authority. Then tell me, if you do know, which of the two parties has a greater claim to security?"
82. Allatheena amanoo walam
yalbisoo eemanahum bithulmin ola-ika
lahumu al-amnu wahum muhtadoona
82. "Those who believe, and do not obscure their belief with wickedness, those are they who shall have the security and those are they who are guided."
83. Watilka hujjatuna ataynaha
ibraheema AAala qawmihi narfaAAu darajatin
man nashao inna rabbaka hakeemun AAaleemun
83. And that was Our argument which we gave to Abraham against his people. We raise whom We will in rank. Indeed, your Lord is Wise, Knowledgeable.
84. Wawahabna lahu ishaqa
wayaAAqooba kullan hadayna wanoohan hadayna
min qablu wamin thurriyyatihi dawooda wasulaymana
waayyooba wayoosufa wamoosa waharoona wakathalika
najzee almuhsineena
84. And We gave him Isaac and Jacob. Each did We guide. And, before that, We guided Noah, and of his progeny, David and Solomon and Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron. And thus do We reward those who do good.
85. Wazakariyya wayahya
waAAeesa wailyasa kullun mina alssaliheena
85. And Zachariya and John and Jesus and Elias, all of them righteous men.
86. Wa-ismaAAeela wailyasaAAa
wayoonusa walootan wakullan faddalna AAala
alAAalameena
86. And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot, and to all of them We gave favours over the worlds.
87. Wamin aba-ihim wathurriyyatihim
wa-ikhwanihim waijtabaynahum wahadaynahum
ila siratin mustaqeemin
87. And from among their fathers and their progeny and their brethren, We chose some and guided to the Straight Path.
88. Thalika huda Allahi
yahdee bihi man yashao min AAibadihi walaw ashrakoo
lahabita AAanhum ma kanoo yaAAmaloona
88. This is Allah's guidance. He guides thereby whom He wills of His worshippers. And if they worship other gods, certainly, what they did would become useless for them.
89. Ola-ika allatheena ataynahumu
alkitaba waalhukma waalnnubuwwata
fa-in yakfur biha haola-i faqad wakkalna
biha qawman laysoo biha bikafireena
89. They are those whom We gave the Book and the authority and the prophecy. As their peoples suppressed and denied the Truth thereof, We then entrusted it to a people who do not suppress and deny the Truth in it.
90. Ola-ika allatheena hada
Allahu fabihudahumu iqtadih qul la as-alukum
AAalayhi ajran in huwa illa thikra lilAAalameena
90. They are those whom Allah had guided. Follow their guidance then!24 Say, "I do not ask you for any reward for it25. It is the Book of Guidance, to be referred to often, not just for you but for all the worlds26."
24. It may please be carefully noted that what Allah tells mankind here is for them to follow His chosen Prophets and Messengers only. All those who are mentioned by their names in the foregoing Verses were all Prophets and/or Messengers. This divine command to mankind is to follow the Prophets only - and not others. This Verse does not give any mandatory command for them to follow the others, howsoever learned and pious they may have been.
90. They are those whom Allah had guided. Follow their guidance then!24 Say, "I do not ask you for any reward for it25. It is the Book of Guidance, to be referred to often, not just for you but for all the worlds26."
24. It may please be carefully noted that what Allah tells mankind here is for them to follow His chosen Prophets and Messengers only. All those who are mentioned by their names in the foregoing Verses were all Prophets and/or Messengers. This divine command to mankind is to follow the Prophets only - and not others. This Verse does not give any mandatory command for them to follow the others, howsoever learned and pious they may have been.
25. The Qur'aan.
26. Till the Last Day.
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91. Wama qadaroo Allaha haqqa
qadrihi ith qaloo ma anzala Allahu
AAala basharin min shay-in qul man anzala alkitaba
allathee jaa bihi moosa nooran wahudan lilnnasi
tajAAaloonahu qarateesa tubdoonaha watukhfoona
katheeran waAAullimtum ma lam taAAlamoo antum wala abaokum
quli Allahu thumma tharhum fee khawdihim
yalAAaboona
91. And they do not appreciate Allah's unique Majesty and Power as it should be appreciated, when they say, "Allah has not sent down any revelation upon man." Say, "Who revealed the Book that Moses brought, a light and a guidance to men, which you made into sheets you show while you conceal much, and you were taught what you or your fathers did not know?" Say, "Allah!" Then leave them to play with their vain talk in which the Truth is suppressed and ridiculed.
92. Wahatha kitabun anzalnahu
mubarakun musaddiqu allathee bayna yadayhi
walitunthira omma alqura waman hawlaha
waallatheena yu/minoona bial-akhirati
yu/minoona bihi wahum AAala salatihim yuhafithoona
92. And We have sent down this blessed Book, confirming that which is before it, so that you may warn the city27 and settlements around it. And those who believe in the Hereafter believe in it, and they guard their prayers.
92. And We have sent down this blessed Book, confirming that which is before it, so that you may warn the city27 and settlements around it. And those who believe in the Hereafter believe in it, and they guard their prayers.
27. Makkah.
93. Waman athlamu mimmani iftara
AAala Allahi kathiban aw qala oohiya
ilayya walam yooha ilayhi shay-on waman qala
saonzilu mithla ma anzala Allahu walaw tara
ithi alththalimoona fee ghamarati
almawti waalmala-ikatu basitoo
aydeehim akhrijoo anfusakumu alyawma tujzawna AAathaba
alhooni bima kuntum taqooloona AAala Allahi
ghayra alhaqqi wakuntum AAan ayatihi
tastakbiroona
93. And who can be more wicked than he who forges a lie against Allah, or says, 'It has been revealed to me' while nothing has been revealed to him, and who says, "I shall reveal the like of what Allah has revealed"? And if you could but see the wicked people when they are in the throes of death and the angels stretch out their hands saying, "Take out your lives! It's time you are recompensed with a contemptible punishment for speaking false things about Allah and for being too proud to accept His Verses/signs."
94. Walaqad ji/tumoona furada
kama khalaqnakum awwala marratin wataraktum ma
khawwalnakum waraa thuhoorikum wama
nara maAAakum shufaAAaakumu allatheena
zaAAamtum annahum feekum shurakao laqad taqattaAAa
baynakum wadalla AAankum ma kuntum tazAAumoona
94. And certainly you have come to Us alone just as We had created you the first time. And you have left behind your backs the things which We had given you. And We do not see with you your intercessors about whom you had asserted that they were gods besides Allah for you. Certainly, the ties between you are cut off and what you had been asserting has deserted you.
95. Inna Allaha faliqu alhabbi
waalnnawa yukhriju alhayya mina almayyiti
wamukhriju almayyiti mina alhayyi thalikumu Allahu
faanna tu/fakoona
95. Indeed, Allah causes the grain and the date stone to split. He brings forth the living from the dead and He is the One Who brings forth the dead from the living. That One is Allah! How are you then turned away from the Truth?
96. Faliqu al-isbahi
wajaAAala allayla sakanan waalshshamsa waalqamara husbanan
thalika taqdeeru alAAazeezi alAAaleemi
96. He causes the daybreaks. And He has made the night for rest, and the sun and the moon for timekeeping. This is the setting arranged by the Almighty, the Knowledgeable.
97. Wahuwa allathee jaAAala lakumu alnnujooma
litahtadoo biha fee thulumati albarri
waalbahri qad fassalna al-ayati
liqawmin yaAAlamoona
97. And He it is Who has made the stars for you that you may find your way thereby in the darkness of the land and the sea. We have certainly made the Verses/signs plain for people who know.
98. Wahuwa allathee anshaakum min nafsin
wahidatin famustaqarrun wamustawdaAAun qad fassalna
al-ayati liqawmin yafqahoona
98. And He it is Who has brought you into being from a single human being, then there is for you a domicile and a depository.28 We have certainly made the Verses/signs plain for people who understand.
98. And He it is Who has brought you into being from a single human being, then there is for you a domicile and a depository.28 We have certainly made the Verses/signs plain for people who understand.
28. 'Domicile' is a human being's sojourn on this earth as a living being. And the 'depository' is the earth itself wherein the remains of a human being get deposited, after his/her death. The latter term could also connote the depository, with Allah Almighty, wherein souls of all dead persons are deposited till the persons are resurrected on the Day of Resurrection.
99. Wahuwa allathee anzala mina alssama-i
maan faakhrajna bihi nabata kulli shay-in
faakhrajna minhu khadiran nukhriju minhu habban
mutarakiban wamina alnnakhli min talAAiha
qinwanun daniyatun wajannatin min aAAnabin
waalzzaytoona waalrrummana mushtabihan
waghayra mutashabihin onthuroo ila
thamarihi itha athmara wayanAAihi inna fee thalikum
laayatin liqawmin yu/minoona
99. And He it is Who sends down water from the sky. Then We bring forth with it every kind of growth. Then We bring forth from it greenery from which We produce grain clustered in ears. And of the palm-tree - of its sheaths - come forth clusters of dates within reach. And gardens of grapes and olives and pomegranates, looking alike and distinguishable. Look at its fruit when it bears fruit and when it ripens. Indeed, there are signs in these things for people who believe.
100. WajaAAaloo lillahi shurakaa
aljinna wakhalaqahum wakharaqoo lahu baneena wabanatin
bighayri AAilmin subhanahu wataAAala AAamma
yasifoona
100. And they worship the jinn as associates of Allah, and He created them! And, without knowledge, they falsely attribute sons and daughters to Him. Glory to Him! He is far too high and exalted above what they ascribe to Him.
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101. BadeeAAu alssamawati
waal-ardi anna yakoonu lahu waladun walam
takun lahu sahibatun wakhalaqa kulla shay-in wahuwa
bikulli shay-in AAaleemun
101. The One to bring into being the heavens and the earth! How could He have a son when He has no consort? And He Himself created everything, and He is the One Who knows all things!
102. Thalikumu Allahu rabbukum la
ilaha illa huwa khaliqu kulli shay-in faoAAbudoohu
wahuwa AAala kulli shay-in wakeelun
102. That One is Allah, your Lord! There is no god but He. HE is the Creator of all things, so worship Him! And He is the One Who looks after all things.
103. La tudrikuhu al-absaru wahuwa
yudriku al-absara wahuwa allateefu alkhabeeru
103. No vision can grasp Him, and He grasps all visions. And He is Aware of the minutest detail.
104. Qad jaakum basa-iru min
rabbikum faman absara falinafsihi waman AAamiya faAAalayha
wama ana AAalaykum bihafeethin
104. "Evidences have certainly come to you from your Lord. Whoever then sees the evidences, it is for his own good and whoever is blind to them, it is to his own detriment and I am not a guardian over you."
105. Wakathalika nusarrifu al-ayati
waliyaqooloo darasta walinubayyinahu liqawmin yaAAlamoona
105. And thus do We variously explain the Verses/signs so that they say, "You have repeated" and that We may make it clear to people who know.29
105. And thus do We variously explain the Verses/signs so that they say, "You have repeated" and that We may make it clear to people who know.29
29. The Qur'aan itself explains here why certain things therein are apparently repeated. The divine purpose is to make those things more clear with additional information, or, just to hammer the things more securely into the forgetful human minds.
106. IttabiAA ma oohiya ilayka min
rabbika la ilaha illa huwa waaAArid
AAani almushrikeena
106. Follow what is revealed to you from your Lord! There is no god but He. And turn away from those who worship others besides Allah.
107. Walaw shaa Allahu ma
ashrakoo wama jaAAalnaka AAalayhim hafeethan
wama anta AAalayhim biwakeelin
107. Had Allah so willed, they would not have worshipped others besides Him. And We have not appointed you30 as a caretaker over them. And you are not there to look after all their affairs.
107. Had Allah so willed, they would not have worshipped others besides Him. And We have not appointed you30 as a caretaker over them. And you are not there to look after all their affairs.
30. The 2nd person pronoun here is in the singular, indicating that the addressee is the Prophet.
108. Wala tasubboo allatheena
yadAAoona min dooni Allahi fayasubboo Allaha
AAadwan bighayri AAilmin kathalika zayyanna likulli
ommatin AAamalahum thumma ila rabbihim marjiAAuhum
fayunabbi-ohum bima kanoo yaAAmaloona
108. And do not abuse those whom they pray to, besides Allah, lest they should abuse Allah out of enmity and ignorance. To every people thus31 We have made their own deeds look fair. Then to their Lord shall be their return when He will inform them of what they used to do.
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108. And do not abuse those whom they pray to, besides Allah, lest they should abuse Allah out of enmity and ignorance. To every people thus31 We have made their own deeds look fair. Then to their Lord shall be their return when He will inform them of what they used to do.
31. When one community decries what another community does, the latter retaliates by condemning what the former does. As in the example given at the beginning of this Verse itself, Muslims may be inclined to abuse and ridicule the false gods non-Muslims pray to. Doing so may seem good to the Muslims as, to their minds, they are denigrating things that are falsely considered as divine. But those things prayed to may be icons of really good people like Prophets and saints whom people, in their ignorance, consider worthy of worship, besides Allah! One example, which immediately comes to mind, is that of Jesus and his mother Mary, whom the Christians venerate and pray to. Can Muslims abuse either of these two? No - not at all! Both find mention in the Qur'aan as venerable persons. On the same basis, it would be wrong for Muslims to abuse gods of any other community. If Muslims would abuse them, the other communities would abuse Allah. By abusing Allah, they should certainly be inviting their own doom, but in the short life of this world they would be deluded into thinking that they have done a great thing!
109. Waaqsamoo biAllahi jahda aymanihim
la-in jaat-hum ayatun layu/minunna biha qul
innama al-ayatu AAinda Allahi wama
yushAAirukum annaha itha jaat la
yu/minoona
109. And they swear by Allah, with the strongest of their oaths, that if a sign comes to them they would certainly believe therein. Say, "Signs are only with Allah." And what should make you perceive that, when it comes, they will not believe32
109. And they swear by Allah, with the strongest of their oaths, that if a sign comes to them they would certainly believe therein. Say, "Signs are only with Allah." And what should make you perceive that, when it comes, they will not believe32
32. The sentence continues into the next Verse.
110. Wanuqallibu af-idatahum waabsarahum
kama lam yu/minoo bihi awwala marratin wanatharuhum
fee tughyanihim yaAAmahoona
110. and that We will turn their hearts and their sights away, as they failed to believe in it, first thing after its occurrence, and that We will leave them to wander blindly in their transgression?33
Mohammad Shafi
Books by Mohammad Shafi:
WHY DO I BELIEVE IN ISLAM
ISLAM & INTEREST
The Veil & Polygamy, In Islam
QUR'AANIC STUDIES - I
110. and that We will turn their hearts and their sights away, as they failed to believe in it, first thing after its occurrence, and that We will leave them to wander blindly in their transgression?33
33. Please see footnote 8 above, in this context.
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Mohammad Shafi
Mumbai, INDIA,
14th March, 2008
WHY DO I BELIEVE IN ISLAM
ISLAM & INTEREST
The Veil & Polygamy, In Islam
QUR'AANIC STUDIES - I
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