Monday, January 10, 2011

Unmistakably from Allah

69:38-47 (Pickthall tr.)

But nay! I swear by all that ye see
And all that ye see not
That it is indeed the speech of an illustrious messenger.
It is not poet's speech - little is it that ye believe!
Nor diviner's speech - little is it that ye remember!
It is a revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.
And if he had invented false sayings concerning Us,
We assuredly had taken him by the right hand
And then severed his life-artery,
And not one of you could have held Us off from him.

‏فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِمَا تُبْصِرُونَ
‏وَمَا لَا تُبْصِرُونَ
إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍۢ كَرِيمٍۢ
وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِ شَاعِرٍۢ ۚ قَلِيلًۭا مَّا تُؤْمِنُونَ
‏وَلَا بِقَوْلِ كَاهِنٍۢ ۚ قَلِيلًۭا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ
تَنزِيلٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَلَمِينَ
وَلَوْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيْنَا بَعْضَ ٱلْأَقَاوِيلِ
‏لَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُ بِٱلْيَمِينِ
‏ثُمَّ لَقَطَعْنَا مِنْهُ ٱلْوَتِينَ
‏فَمَا مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ عَنْهُ حَجِزِينَ

IV. What?

69:1-3 (Pickthall tr.)

The Reality!
What is the Reality ?
Ah, what will convey unto thee what the reality is!

ٱلْحَآقَّةُ
‏مَا ٱلْحَآقَّةُ
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْحَآقَّةُ

According to Tafsir of Ibn Kathir, "Al-Haaqqah" is one of the names of the Day of Judgement.

69:13-17 (Pickthall tr.)

And when the trumpet shall sound one blast
And the earth with the mountains shall be lifted up and crushed with one crash,
Then, on that day will the Event befall.
And the heaven will split asunder, for that day it will be frail.
And the angels will be on the sides thereof, and eight will uphold the Throne of thy Lord that day, above them.

فَإِذَا نُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ نَفْخَةٌۭ وَحِدَةٌۭ
‏وَحُمِلَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَٱلْجِبَالُ فَدُكَّتَا دَكَّةًۭ وَحِدَةًۭ
فَيَوْمَئِذٍۢ وَقَعَتِ ٱلْوَاقِعَةُ
وَٱنشَقَّتِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ فَهِىَ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ وَاهِيَةٌۭ
‏وَٱلْمَلَكُ عَلَىٰٓ أَرْجَآئِهَا ۚ وَيَحْمِلُ عَرْشَ رَبِّكَ فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ ثَمَنِيَةٌۭ ‎

69:32 (Pickthall tr.)

And then insert him in a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits.

ثُمَّ فِى سِلْسِلَةٍۢ ذَرْعُهَا سَبْعُونَ ذِرَاعًۭا فَٱسْلُكُوهُ

76:5-6 (Palmer tr.)

Verily, the righteous shall drink of a cup tempered with Kâfûr, a spring from which God's servants shall drink and make it gush out as they please!

‏إِنَّ ٱلْأَبْرَارَ يَشْرَبُونَ مِن كَأْسٍۢ كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا كَافُورًا
عَيْنًۭا يَشْرَبُ بِهَا عِبَادُ ٱللَّهِ يُفَجِّرُونَهَا تَفْجِيرًۭا

From Tafsir ibn Kathir:
"The properties of the Kafur (camphor) are well known; cooling, having a nice fragrance and in addition to this its taste will be delicious in Paradise."
"... this (drink) that will be mixed for these righteous people will be taken from Kafur, which is a spring that Allah's close servants will drink directly from, without it being mixed with anything, and they will drink to their fill from it."

76:17-18 (Pickthall tr.)

There are they watered with a cup whereof the mixture is of Zanjabil,
(The water of) a spring therein, named Salsabil.

‏وَيُسْقَوْنَ فِيهَا كَأْسًۭا كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا زَنجَبِيلًا
‏عَيْنًۭا فِيهَا تُسَمَّىٰ سَلْسَبِيلًۭا


86: 1-3 (Yusuf Ali tr.)

By the Sky
And the Night-Visitant
(Therein);—

And what will explain to thee
What the Night-Visitant is?—

(It is) the Star
Of piercing brightness;—

وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلطَّارِقِ
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلطَّارِقُ
ٱلنَّجْمُ ٱلثَّاقِبُ

36:1-4 (Rodwell tr.)

YA. SIN. By the wise Koran!
Surely of the Sent Ones, Thou,
Upon a right path!

‏يسٓ
‏وَٱلْقُرْءَانِ ٱلْحَكِيمِ
‏إِنَّكَ لَمِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
‏عَلَىٰ صِرَطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ

Friday, December 31, 2010

III. Muhammad And Those Who Go Astray

13:7 (Palmer tr)

Those who misbelieve say, 'Unless a sign be sent down upon him from his Lord . . . .'--Thou art only a warner, and every people has its guide.

وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُنذِرٌۭ ۖ وَلِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هَادٍ


13:32 (Palmer tr)

Before thee have apostles been mocked at; and those who misbelieved have I allowed to range at large; and then it caught them up! How then was my punishment?

وَلَقَدِ ٱسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍۢ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ


13:43 (Palmer tr)

And those who misbelieve say, 'Thou art not sent!' Say, 'God is witness enough between me and you; and so is he who has the knowledge of the Book!'

وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَسْتَ مُرْسَلًۭا ۚ قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدًۢا بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلْكِتَبِ


10:2 (Palmer tr)

Was it a wonder to the folk that we inspired a man from amongst themselves, 'Warn thou the folk; and give glad tidings, to those who believe, that for them there is an advance of sincerity gone before them with their Lord?' The misbelievers say, 'Verily, this is an obvious sorcerer!'

‏أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا أَنْ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ رَجُلٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ أَنْ أَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنَّ لَهُمْ قَدَمَ صِدْقٍ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ۗ قَالَ ٱلْكَفِرُونَ إِنَّ هَذَا لَسَحِرٌۭ مُّبِينٌ


10:15-16 (Pickthall tr)

And when Our clear revelations are recited unto them, they who look not for the meeting with Us say: Bring a Lecture other than this, or change it. Say (O Muhammad): It is not for me to change it of my accord. I only follow that which is inspired in me. Lo! if I disobey my Lord I fear the retribution of an awful Day.

Say: If Allah had so willed I should not have recited it to you nor would He have made it known to you. I dwelt among you a whole lifetime before it (came to me). Have ye then no sense ?

‏وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَاتُنَا بَيِّنَتٍۢ ۙ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا ٱئْتِ بِقُرْءَانٍ غَيْرِ هَذَآ أَوْ بَدِّلْهُ ۚ قُلْ مَا يَكُونُ لِىٓ أَنْ أُبَدِّلَهُۥ مِن تِلْقَآئِ نَفْسِىٓ ۖ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَبِّى عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍۢ

‏قُل لَّوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا تَلَوْتُهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَآ أَدْرَىٰكُم بِهِۦ ۖ فَقَدْ لَبِثْتُ فِيكُمْ عُمُرًۭا مِّن قَبْلِهِۦٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ



10:37-39 (Rodwell tr)

Moreover this Koran could not have been devised by any but God: but it confirmeth what was revealed before it, and is a clearing up of the Scriptures--there is no doubt thereof--from the Lord of all creatures.

Do they say, "He hath devised it himself?" SAY: Then bring a Sura like it; and call on whom ye can beside God, if ye speak truth.

But that which they embrace not in their knowledge have they charged with falsehood, though the explanation of it had not yet been given them. So those who were before them brought charges of imposture: But see what was the end of the unjust!


‏وَمَا كَانَ هَذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانُ أَن يُفْتَرَىٰ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَكِن تَصْدِيقَ ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ ٱلْكِتَبِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ مِن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَلَمِينَ

‏أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۖ قُلْ فَأْتُوا۟ بِسُورَةٍۢ مِّثْلِهِۦ وَٱدْعُوا۟ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَدِقِينَ

‏بَلْ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِمَا لَمْ يُحِيطُوا۟ بِعِلْمِهِۦ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِهِمْ تَأْوِيلُهُۥ ۚ كَذَلِكَ كَذَّبَ
ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَقِبَةُ ٱلظَّلِمِينَ


10:94 (Palmer tr)

And if thou art in doubt of that which we have sent down unto thee, ask those who read the Book before thee verily, the truth is come to thee from thy Lord, be not then of those who are in doubt. And be not of those who say the signs of God are lies, or thou wilt be of those who lose!

‏فَإِن كُنتَ فِى شَكٍّۢ مِّمَّآ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ فَسْـَٔلِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَقْرَءُونَ ٱلْكِتَبَ مِن قَبْلِكَ ۚ لَقَدْ جَآءَكَ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُمْتَرِينَ


11:12-14 (Yusuf Ali tr)

Perchance thou mayest (feel
The inclination) to give up
A part of what is revealed
Unto thee, and thy heart
Feeleth straitened lest they say,
"Why is not a treasure sent down
Unto him, or why does not
An angel come down with him?"
But thou art there only to warn!
It is God that arrangeth
All affairs!

Or they may say, "He forged it."
Say, "Bring ye then ten Sūras
Forged, like unto it, and call
(To your aid) whomsoever
Ye can, other than God!—
If ye speak the truth!

"If then they (your false gods)
Answer not your (call),
Know ye that this Revelation
Is sent down (replete) with the knowledge
Of God, and that there is
No god but He! Will ye
Even then submit (to Islam)?"

‏فَلَعَلَّكَ تَارِكٌۢ بَعْضَ مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيْكَ وَضَآئِقٌۢ بِهِۦ صَدْرُكَ أَن يَقُولُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ كَنزٌ أَوْ جَآءَ مَعَهُۥ مَلَكٌ ۚ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ نَذِيرٌۭ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَكِيلٌ

‏أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۖ قُلْ فَأْتُوا۟ بِعَشْرِ سُوَرٍۢ مِّثْلِهِۦ مُفْتَرَيَتٍۢ وَٱدْعُوا۟ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَدِقِينَ

‏فَإِلَّمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لَكُمْ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَآ أُنزِلَ بِعِلْمِ ٱللَّهِ وَأَن لَّآ إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

II. Divine Precision

3:7 (Palmer tr)

He it is who has revealed to thee the Book, of which there are some verses that are decisive, they are the mother of the Book; and others ambiguous; but as for those in whose hearts is perversity, they follow what is ambiguous, and do crave for sedition, craving for (their own) interpretation of it; but none know the interpretation of it except God. But those who are well grounded in knowledge say, 'We believe in it; it is all from our Lord; but none will remember save those who possess minds.

‏هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَبَ مِنْهُ ءَايَتٌۭ مُّحْكَمَتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ ٱلْكِتَبِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَبِهَتٌۭ ۖ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌۭ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَبَهَ مِنْهُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ ٱلْفِتْنَةِ وَٱبْتِغَآءَ تَأْوِيلِهِۦ ۗ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَٱلرَّسِخُونَ فِى ٱلْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ كُلٌّۭ مِّنْ عِندِ رَبِّنَا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّآ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَبِ

12:1-2 (Pickthall tr)

Alif. Lam. Ra. These are verses of the Scripture that maketh plain.

Lo! We have revealed it, a Lecture in Arabic, that ye may understand.

الٓر ۚ تِلْكَ ءَايَتُ ٱلْكِتَبِ ٱلْمُبِينِ

إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَهُ قُرْءَنًا عَرَبِيًّۭا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ


13:36-39 (Palmer tr)

And those to whom we brought the Book rejoice in that which we have sent down to thee; but of the confederates are some who deny a part thereof.

Say; 'I am only bidden to serve God and not to associate any with Him; on Him I call and to Him is my recourse.'

Thus have we sent it down, an Arabic judgment, but hadst thou followed their lusts, after the knowledge that has come to thee, thou hadst not had against God a patron or a keeper.

And we sent apostles before thee, and we made for them wives and seed; and no apostle could bring a sign save by God's permission;--for every period there is a book.

God blots out what He will, or He confirms; and with Him is the Mother of the Book

وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَهُمُ ٱلْكِتَبَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْأَحْزَابِ مَن يُنكِرُ بَعْضَهُۥ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱللَّهَ وَلَآ أُشْرِكَ بِهِۦٓ ۚ إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُوا۟ وَإِلَيْهِ مَـَٔابِ

وَكَذَلِكَ أَنزَلْنَهُ حُكْمًا عَرَبِيًّۭا ۚ وَلَىِٕنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَآءَهُم بَعْدَمَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّۢ وَلَا وَاقٍۢ

‏وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًۭا مِّن قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَجًۭا وَذُرِّيَّةًۭ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِىَ بِـَٔايَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍۢ كِتَابٌۭ

‏يَمْحُوا۟ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَيُثْبِتُ ۖ وَعِندَهُۥٓ أُمُّ ٱلْكِتَبِ