Abdullah Ali - The Holy Qur-an - Text, Translation and Commentary

C. 55.(3:21-30)—If the People who received

Earlier revelations confine themselves

To partial truths, and in their pride

Shut their eyes to the whole of the Book

Of God, their day is done:

Let the Muslims seek the society

And friendship of their own, and trust

In God, who knows all, and holds

Every soul responsible for its own deeds.

21As to those who deny the Signs of God and in defiance of right, slay the prophets, and slay those who teach just dealing with mankind, announce to them a grievous penalty.

22They are those whose works will bear no fruit in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help.

23Hast thou not turned thy vision to those who have been given a portion of the Book? They are invited to the Book of God, to settle their dispute, but a party of them turn back and decline (the arbitration).

24This because they say: "The Fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days": for their forgeries deceive them as to their own religion.

25But how (will they fare) when we gather them together against a day about which there is no doubt, and each soul will be paid out just what it has earned, without (favour or) injustice?

26Say: "O God! Lord of Power (and Rule), Thou givest Power to whom Thou pleasest, and Thou strippest off Power from whom Thou pleasest: Thou enduest with honour whom Thou pleasest, and Thou bringest low whom Thou pleasest: in Thy hand is all Good. Verily, over all things Thou hast power.

27"Thou causest the Night to gain on the Day, and Thou causest the Day to gain on the Night; Thou bringest the Living out of the Dead, and Thou bringest the Dead out of the Living; and Thou givest sustenance to whom Thou pleasest, without measure."

28Let not the Believers take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than Believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from God: except by way of precaution, that ye may Guard yourselves from them. But God cautions you (to remember) Himself; for the final goal is to God.

29Say: "Whether ye hide what is in your hearts or reveal it, God knows it all: He knows what is in the heavens, and what is on earth. And God has power over all things.

30"On the Day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done, and all the evil it has done, it will wish there were a great distance between it and its evil. But God cautions you (to remember) Himself. And God is full of kindness to those that serve Him."

C. 56.(3:31-63)—God’s truth is continuous, and His Apostles

From Adam, through Noah and Abraham,

Down to the last of the Prophets, Muḥammad,

Form one brotherhood. Of the progeny

Of ’Imrān, father of Moses and Aaron,

Sprang a woman, who devoted

Her unborn offspring to God.

The child was Mary the mother of Jesus.

Her cousin was the wife of the priest

Zakarīya, who took charge of Mary.

To Zakarīya, in his old age, was born

A son Yaḥyā, amid prodigies:

Yaḥyā was the herald of Jesus

The son of Mary, and was known

As John the Baptist. Jesus

Was of virgin birth,

And performed many miracles.

But those to whom he came as Prophet

Rejected him, and plotted for his death.

Their plots failed, for God's Plan

Is above man’s plots. So will it be

With Islam, the Truth from all eternity.

31Say: "If ye do love God, follow me: God will love you and forgive you your sins: For God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

32Say: "Obey God and His Apostle": But if they turn back, God loveth not those who reject Faith.

33God did choose Adam and Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of 'Imrān above all people,—

34Offspring, one of the other: And God heareth and knoweth all things.

35Behold! a woman of 'Imrān said: "O my Lord! I do dedicate unto Thee what is in my womb for Thy special service: So accept this of me: For Thou hearest and knowest all things."

36When she was delivered, she said: "O my Lord! Behold! I am delivered of a female child!"—and God knew best what she brought forth—"And no wise is the male like the female. I have named her Mary, and I commend her and her offspring to Thy protection from the Evil One, the Rejected."

37Right graciously did her Lord accept her: He made her grow in purity and beauty: To the care of Zakarīya was she assigned. Every time that he entered (her) chamber to see her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: "O Mary! Whence (comes) this to you?" She said: "From God: for God provides sustenance to whom He pleases without measure."

38There did Zakarīya pray to his Lord, saying: "O my Lord! Grant unto me from Thee a progeny that is pure: for Thou art He that heareth prayer!

39While he was standing in prayer in the chamber, the angels called unto him: "God doth give thee glad tidings of Yaḥyā, witnessing the truth of a Word from God, and (be besides) noble, chaste, and a prophet,—of the (goodly) company of the righteous."

40He said: "O my Lord! How shall I have son, seeing I am very old, and my wife is barren?" "Thus," was the answer, "Doth God accomplish what He willeth."

41He said: "O my Lord! Give me a Sign!" "Thy Sign," was the answer, "Shall be that thou shalt speak to no man for three days but with signals. Then celebrate the praises of thy Lord again and again, and glorify Him in the evening and in the morning."

42Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! God hath chosen thee and purified thee—chosen thee above the women of all nations.

43"O Mary! worship thy Lord devoutly: Prostrate thyself, and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down."

44This is part of the tidings of the things unseen, which We reveal unto thee (O Apostle!) by inspiration: Thou wast not with them when they cast lots with arrows, as to which of them should be charged with the care of Mary: Nor wast thou with them when they disputed (the point).

45Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to God;

46"He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous."

47She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: God createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is!

48"And God will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel,

49"And (appoint him) an apostle to the Children of Israel, (with this message): "'I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God's leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by God's leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe;

50"'(I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear God, and obey me.

51"'It is God Who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a Way that is straight.'"

52When Jesus found Unbelief on their part He said: "Who will be My helpers to (the work of) God?" Said the Disciples: "We are God's helpers: We believe in God, and do thou bear witness that we are Muslims.

53"Our Lord! we believe in what Thou hast revealed, and we follow the Apostle; then write us down among those who bear witness."