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

54And (the unbelievers) plotted and planned, and God too planned, and the best of planners is God.

55Behold! God said: "O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection: Then shall ye all return unto me, and I will judge between you of the matters wherein ye dispute.

56"As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help."

57"As to those who believe and work righteousness, God will pay them (in full) their reward; but God loveth not those who do wrong."

58"This is what we rehearse unto thee of the Signs and the Message of Wisdom."

59The similitude of Jesus before God is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be". And he was.

60The Truth (comes) from God alone; so be not of those who doubt.

61If any one disputes in this matter with thee, now after (full) knowledge hath come to thee, say: "Come! let us gather together,—our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves: Then let us earnestly pray, and invoke the curse of God on those who lie!"

62This is the true account: There is no god except God; and God—He is indeed the Exalted in Power, the Wise.

63But if they turn back, God hath full knowledge of those who do mischief.

C. 57.(3:64-120)—Islam doth invite all people

To the Truth: there is no cause

For dissembling or disputing.

False are the people who corrupt

God’s truth, or hinder men

From coming to God. Let the Muslims

Hold together in unity and discipline,

Knowing that they have a mission

Of righteousness for humanity.

No harm can come to them.

Though there are good men and true

In other Faiths, Muslims must

Be true to their own Brotherhood.

They should seek help and friendship

From their own, and stand firm

In constancy and patient perseverance.

64Say: "O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but God; that we associate no partners with Him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than God." If then they turn back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to God's Will).

65Ye People of the Book! Why dispute ye about Abraham, when the Law and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have ye no understanding?

66Ah! Ye are those who fell to disputing (even) in matters of which ye had some knowledge! But why dispute ye in matters of which ye have no knowledge? It is God who knows, and ye who know not!

67Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to God's (which is Islam), and he joined not gods with God.

68Without doubt, among men, the nearest of kin to Abraham, are those who follow him, as are also this Apostle and those who believe: And God is the Protector of those who have faith.

69It is the wish of a section of the People of the Book to lead you astray. But they shall lead astray (not you), but themselves, and they do not perceive!

70Ye People of the Book! Why reject ye the Signs of God, of which ye are (yourselves) witnesses?

71Ye People of the Book! Why do ye clothe Truth with falsehood, and conceal the Truth, while ye have knowledge?

72A section of the People of the Book say: "Believe in the morning what is revealed to the Believers, but reject it at the end of the day; perchance they may (themselves) turn back;

73"And believe no one unless he follows your religion." Say: "True guidance is the guidance of God: (Fear ye) lest a revelation be sent to someone (else) like unto that which was sent unto you? Or that those (receiving such revelation) should engage you in argument before your Lord?" Say: "All bounties are in the hand of God: He granteth them to whom He pleaseth: And God careth for all, and He knoweth all things."

74For His Mercy He specially chooseth whom He pleaseth; for God is the Lord of bounties unbounded.

75Among the People of the Book are some who, if entrusted with a hoard of gold, will (readily) pay it back; others, who, if entrusted with a single silver coin, will not repay it unless thou constantly stoodest demanding, because, they say, "there is no call on us (to keep faith) with these ignorant (Pagans)." but they tell a lie against God, and (well) they know it.

76Nay.—Those that keep their plighted faith and act aright,—verily God loves those who act aright.

77As for those who sell the faith they owe to God and their own plighted word for a small price, they shall have no portion in the Hereafter: Nor will God (deign to) speak to them or look at them on the Day of Judgment, nor will He cleanse them (of sin): they shall have a grievous penalty.

78There is among them a section who distort the Book with their tongues: (As they read) you would think it is a part of the Book, but it is no part of the Book; and they say, "That is from God," but it is not from God: It is they who tell a lie against God, and (well) they know it!

79It is not (possible) that a man, to whom is given the Book, and Wisdom, and the Prophetic Office, should say to people: "Be ye my worshippers rather than God's": on the contrary (he would say) "Be ye worshippers of Him who is truly the Cherisher of all: for ye have taught the Book and ye have studied it earnestly."

80Nor would he instruct you to take angels and prophets for Lords and Patrons. What! would he bid you to unbelief after ye have bowed your will (to God in Islam)?

81Behold! God took the Covenant of the Prophets, saying: "I give you a Book and Wisdom; then comes to you an Apostle, confirming what is with you; do ye believe in him and render him help." God said: "Do ye agree, and take this my Covenant as binding on you?" They said: "We agree." He said: "Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses."

82If any turn back after this, they are perverted transgressors.

83Do they seek for other than the Religion of God?—while all creatures in the heavens and on earth have, willing or unwilling, bowed to His Will (accepted Islam), and to Him shall they all be brought back.

84Say: "We believe in God, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ismā'īl, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the Prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another among them, and to God do we bow our will (in Islam)."

85If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to God), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).

86How shall God guide those who reject Faith after they accepted it and bore witness that the Apostle was true and that Clear Signs had come unto them? But God guides not a people unjust.

87Of such the reward is that on them (rests) the curse of God, of His angels, and of all mankind;—

88In that will they dwell; nor will their penalty be lightened, nor respite be their (lot);—

89Except for those that repent (even) after that, and make amends; for verily God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

90But those who reject Faith after they accepted it, and then go on adding to their defiance of Faith,—never will their repentance be accepted; for they are those who have (of set purpose) gone astray.

91As to those who reject Faith, and die rejecting,—never would be accepted from any such as much gold as the earth contains, though they should offer it for ransom. For such is (in store) a penalty grievous, and they will find no helpers.