The High Places (Al-Arâf)

In the name of Allah, Gracious, Merciful.

¹A. L. M. S.¹

²A book revealed unto you so let your heart be oppressed no more by any difficulty on that account that with it you might warn and teach the believers.

³Follow the revelation given unto you from your Lord and follow not as friends or protectors other than Him. Little it is you remember of admonition.

⁴And how many towns have We destroyed? Our punishment took them on a sudden, by night, or while they slept for their afternoon rest.²

⁵When our punishment took them, no cry did they utter but this “indeed we did wrong.”³

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

¹Alif Lam Mim Suad

²Kitabun unzila ilaika fala yakun fi sadrika harajun minhu litunzira bihi wa zikra lil muminina.

³Ittabiu ma unzila ilaikum mi rabbikum wa la tattabiu min dunihi auliyaa qalilan ma tazakkaruna.

⁴Wa kam min qaryatin ahlaknaha fajaaha basuna bayatan au hum qailuna.

⁵Fama kana dawahum iz jaahum basuna illa an qalu inna kunna tualimina.

1. These abbreviations A. L. M. S. have no particular meaning to them that I know of. According to George Sale, some Muslims believe that only God knows the meaning of such abbreviations.

2. The towns described here are those who were invaded, whether at night or during the day time when they were resting in the afternoon. Their sins mainly consisted of idolatry and being non‑Muslims.

3. According to the verse their only cry was, we did wrong. In the face of adversity, with the swords of the Muslims already drawn and ready to slash the throat of the unbelievers, their only survival was in accepting Islam.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁶Then shall We question those to whom Our message was sent and those by whom We sent it.

⁷And verily, We shall recount their whole story with knowledge, for We were never absent.

⁸And the balance that day will be true, those whose scale of good will be heavy will prosper.

⁹And those whose scale will be light will find their souls in perdition because they wrongfully treated our signs.

¹⁰And it is We who have placed you with authority on earth and provided you therein with means for the fulfillment of your life. Small are the thanks that you give.

⁶Falanasal anna lazina ursila ilaihim wa lanasalannal mursalina.

⁷Falanaqusuanna alaihim biilmin wa ma kunna gaibinaFalanaqusuanna alaihim biilmin wa ma kunna gaibina.

⁸Wal waznu yauma izinil haqqu faman saqulat mawazinuhu fa ulaika humul muflihuna.

⁹Wa man khaffat mawazinhu fa ulaikal lazina khasiru anfusahum bima kanu bi ayatina yatlimuna.

¹⁰Wa laqad makkannakum filarddi wa jaalna lakum fiha maayisha qalilan ma tashkuruna.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹¹And it is We who created you and gave you shape, then We bade the angels bow down to Adam and they bowed down, not so Iblis, he refused to be of those who bow down.

¹²Allah said, “What prevented you from bowing down when I commanded you?” He said, “I am better than he, you created me from fire and him from clay.”

¹³Allah said, “Get down from this, it is not for you to be arrogant here, get out for you are of the meanest.”

¹⁴He said, “give me respite till the day they are raised up.”

¹⁵Allah said, “Be among those who have respite.”

¹⁶He said, “because you have thrown me out of the way, lo, I will lie in wait for them on your straight way.”⁴

¹¹Wa laqad khalaqnakum summa sawwarnakum summa qulna lil malaikati sujudu li Adama fasajadu illa iblisa lam yakun mina sajidina.

¹²Qala ma manaaka alla tasjuda iz amartuka qala anna khairun minhu khalaqtani min narin wa khalaqtahu min tinin.

¹³Qala fahbit minha fama yakunu laka an tatakabbara fiha fakhruj innaka mina sagirina.

¹⁴Qala antirni ila yaumi yubasuna.

¹⁵Qala innaka minal muntuarina.

¹⁶Qala fabima agwaitani la aqudanna lahum siratuakal mustaqima

4. The conversation suddenly changes from 11‑16 on the status of Satan (Iblis), according to the Qur’an, the fall of Satan was a result of his disobedience to bow the man who after he was created by God. In the Bible, we read of his pride in wanting to be like God as the cause for his downfall, knowin Ezekiel 28:2:

Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: This is spoken of Satan. He was not commanded to bow to man, but he was puffed up with pride and arrogance.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁷Then will I assault them from before them, and behind them, from their right and their left, nor will you find in most of them gratitude.

¹⁸Allah said, “Get out from this disgraced and expelled. If any of them follow you hell will I fill with you all.”

¹⁹And O Adam, dwell with your wife in the garden and enjoy as you wish, but approach not this tree or you run into harm and transgression.

¹⁷Summa la atiyannahum min baini aidihim wa min khalfihim wa an aimanihim wa an im wa shamailihla tajidu aksarahum shakirina.

¹⁸Qalakhruj minha mazuman madhuran laman tabiaka minhum la amlaanna jahannama minkum ajmaina.

¹⁹Wa ya Adamu sukun anta wa zaujukal jannata fakula min haisu shituma wa la taqraba hazihi shajarata fatakunamina tualimina.

[Commentary continues below.]

²⁰Then began Satan to whisper suggestions to them, bringing openly before their minds all their shame that was hidden from them, he said “Your Lord only forbade you this tree lest you should become angels or such beings as live for ever.”

²¹And he swore to them both that he was their sincere adviser.

²²So by deceit he brought about their fall, when they tasted of the tree their shame became manifest to them and they began to sew together the leaves of the garden over their bodies. And their Lord called unto them, “Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you that Satan was an avowed enemy unto you?”⁵

²³They said, “our Lord! we have wronged our own souls, if you forgive us not and bestow not upon us your mercy we shall certainly be lost.”

²⁰Fa waswasa lahuma shaitanu liyubdiya lahuma ma wuriyaanhuma min sauatihima wa qala ma nahakuma rabbukuma an hazihi shajarati illa an takuna malakaini au takuna minal khalidina.

²¹Wa qasamahuma inni lakuma laminan nasihina .

²²Fadallahuma bi gururin falamma zaqa shajarata badatu lahuma sauatuhuma watafiqa yakhsifani alaihima mi waraqil jannahtiwa nadahuma rabbuhuma alam anhakuma an tilkuma shajarati wa aqul lakuma inna shaitana lakuma aduwun mubinun.

²³Qala rabbana tualamna anfusana wa illam tagfir lana wa tarhamna lanakunanna minal khasirina.

5. The story of the fall of man is told with great differences in the Qur’an. Consider and compare this account with the Biblical account in Genesis 3:1‑13:

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.

And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate." Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

²⁴Allah said, “Get down with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling place and your means of livelihood for a time.”

²⁵He said, “Therein shall you live and therein shall you die, but from it shall you be taken out.”

²⁶O children of Adam, We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover your shame as well as to be an adornment to you, but the raiment of righteousness that is the best. Such are among the signs of Allah that they may receive admonition.⁶

²⁴Qalahbitu badukum libadin aduwwun wa lakum filarddi mustaqarru wa mataun ila hinin.

²⁵Qala fiha tahyauna wa fiha tamutuna wa minha tukhrajuna

²⁶Ya bani Adama qad anzalna alaikum libasa yuwari sauatikum wa rishan walibasu taqwa zalika khairun zalika min ayatillahi laallahum yazzakkaruna.

6. The raiment of righteousness is best in covering than any kind of clothing used for covering our nakedness. The prophets of old spoke about rending our hearts, and not our garments (Joel 2:13).

Paul spoke about imputation of righteousness by Christ who took our sins upon Himself in Romans 4:22‑25: And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

This process is by means of acceptance, Adam and Eve could not hide their shame, God had to do it for them. On our own we can never attain acceptance by God but through Christ who said no one can come to the Father except through Him, and by Him whose followers will be exalted

above the unbelievers until the day of resurrection.

²⁷O children of Adam, let not Satan seduce you in the same manner as he got your parents out of the garden, stripping them of their raiment to expose their shame, for he and his tribe watch you from a position where you cannot see them, We made the evil ones friends to those without faith.

²⁸And when they do anything that is shameful they say, “We found our fathers doing so,” and “Allah commanded us thus” say, “No, Allah never commands what is shameful, do you say of Allah what you know not?”.

²⁹Say, “My Lord has commanded justice, and that you set your whole selves at every time and place of prayer, and call upon him, making your devotion sincere as in his sight, such as he created you in the beginning so shall you return.”.

³⁰Some He has guided, others have deserved the loss of their way, in that they took the evil ones in preference to Allah for their friends and protectors, and think that they receive guidance.

²⁷Ya bani Adama la yaftinannakumu shaitanu kama akhraja abawaikum minal jannati yanziu anhuma libasahuma liyuriyahuma sauatihima innahu yarakum huwa wa qabiluhu min haisu la taraunahum inna jaalna shayatina auliyaa lillazina la yuminuna.

²⁸Wa iza faalu fahishatan qalu wajadna alaiha abaana wallahu amarana biha qul innallaha la yamuru bilfahshai ataqulunaalallahi ma la talamuna.

²⁹Qul amara rabbi bil qisti wa aqimu wujuhakum inda kulli masjidin waduhu mukhlisina lahudina kama badaakum tauduna.

³⁰Fariqan hada wa fariqan haqqa alaihimu ddalala htu innahumuttakhazu shayatina auliyaa min dunillahi wa yahsabuna annahum muhtaduna.

[Commentary continues below.]

³¹O children of Adam, ear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink, but waste not by excess for Allah loves not the wasters.

³²Say, who has forbidden the beautiful things of Allah which He has produced for his servants, and the things clean and pure for sustenance? Say, they are in the life of this world for those who believe and purely for them on the day of judgment. Thus do We explain the signs in detail for those who understand.

³¹Ya bani Adama khuzu zinatakum inda kulli masjidi wa kulu washrabu wa la tusrifu innahu la yuhibbul musrifina.

³²Qul man harrama zinatallahil lati akhraja li ibadihi wa tayyibati mina rizqi qul hiya lillazina amanu fil hayati dunya khalisata yaumal qiyamahti kazalika nufassilul ayati liqaumin yalamuna.

[Commentary continues below.]

³³Say, the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are, shameful deeds whether open or secret, sins and trespasses against truth or reason, assigning of partners to Allah for which he has given no authority, and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge.

³⁴And to every people is a term appointed, when their term is reached not an hour can they cause delay nor can they advance it in anticipation.⁷

³⁵O children of Adam, whenever there come to you apostles from among you, rehearsing my signs unto you, those who are righteous and mend their lives, on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.

³³Qul innama harrama rabbiyal fawahisha ma zahara minha wa ma batana wal isma wal bagya bi gairil haqqi wa an tushriku billahi ma lam yunazzil bihi sultuanan wa an taqulu alallahi ma la talamuna.

³⁴Wa likulli ummatin ajalun fa iza jaa ajaluhum la yastakhiruna saatan wa la yastaqdimuna.

³⁵Yabani Adama imma yatiyannakum rusulun minkum yaqussuna alaikum ayati famanittaqa wa aslaha fala khaufun alaihim wa la hum yahzanuna.

7. It is to our own benefit that we calculate our surrounding and consider the dimension which God has given us in His infinite wisdom, a failure to do this could cost us dearly. There is an appointed time and place for every soul and it will not be a day more or a day less, in this light therefore we need to consider the Lord while we are yet alive before destruction suddenly overtakes us and plunge us into the darkest night and the deepest gloom.

Deuteronomy 32:29: If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!

Psalm 39:4: If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!

[Commentary continues below.]

³⁶And those who reject our signs and treat them with arrogance, they are companions of the fire to dwell therein.

³⁷Who is more unjust than one who invents a lie against Allah or rejects his signs? For such their portion appointed must reach them from the book, until when Our messengers arrive and take their souls they say, “Where are the things that you used to invoke besides Allah?” They will reply, “They have left us in the lurch,” and they will bear witness against themselves.

³⁸He says, Enter into the fire among the nations of the jinn and humankind who passed away before you. Everytime a nation enmters, it curses its sister nation till, when they have all been made to follow one another thither, the one says to the first: Our Lord! These led us astray, so give them double of the fire. He says: for each one there is double torment but you know not.

³⁶Wallazina kazzabu bi ayatina wastakbaru anha ulaika ashabun nari hum fiha khaliduna.

³⁷Faman atlamu mimmani futaraalallahi kaziban au kazzaba bi ayatihi ulaika yanaluhum nasibuhum minal kitabi hatta iza jaathum rusuluna yatawaffaunahum qalu aina ma kuntum taduna min dunillahi qalu dalluanna wa shahidu ala anfusihim annahum kanu kafirina.

³⁸Qaladu khulu fi ummamin qadu khalatu min qabulikum minal jinni wal insi fi nari kulama dakhalatu umatun laanatu ukhutaha hata iza darakuu fiha jamian qalatu ukhurahum li ulahum rabbana haulai adualuna fa atihim azaban ddiufan mina nari qala likullin ddiafun wa lakinu laa talamuna.

[Commentary continues below.]

³⁹And then the first will say to the last, “See then, no advantage have you over us, so taste of the penalty for all that you did.”⁸

⁴⁰To those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance, no opening will there be of the gates of heaven, nor will they enter the garden until the camel can pass through the eye of the needle, such is Our reward for those in sin.⁹

⁴¹For them there is hell as a couch below and folds and folds of covering above, such is Our requital of those who do wrong.

⁴²And those who believe and work righteousness no burden do We place on any soul but that which it can bear, they will be companions of the garden therein to dwell.

³⁹Wa qalat ulahum li ukhrahum fama kana lakum alaina min fadlin fazuqul azaba bima kuntum taksibuna.

⁴⁰Innallazina kazzabu bi ayatina wastakbaru anha la tufattahu lahum abwabu samai wa la yadkhulunal jannata hatta yalijal jamalu fi sammil khiyati wa kazalika najzil mujrimina.

⁴¹Lahum min jahannama mihadu wa min fauqihim gawashin wa kazalika najzi tualimina.

⁴²Wallazina amanu wa amilu sualihati la nukallifu nafsan illa wusaha ulaika ashabul jannahti hum fiha khaliduna.

8. Sounds like the first shall be last and the last shall be first story of Matthew 19:30: But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. And Matthew 20:1‑16. Muhammad tried to tell the story of the Bible but lacked the fluidity with which Jesus told His description of heaven: nor will they enter the garden until the camel can pass through the eye of the needle: such is Our reward for those in sin.

9. This story was also told by Jesus almost six hundred years before Muhammad was even born. In Luke 18:25 we read what Jesus said: For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁴³And We shall remove from their hearts any lurking sense of injury, beneath them will be rivers flowing, and they shall say, “Praise be to Allah who has guided us to this felicity, never could we have found guidance had it not been for the guidance of Allah, indeed it was the truth that the apostles of our Lord brought unto us.” And they shall hear the cry, “Behold! the garden before you. You have been made its inheritors for your deeds.”

⁴⁴And the companions of the garden will call out to the companions of the fire, “We have indeed found the promises of our Lord to us true, have you also found your Lord’s promises true?” They shall say, “yes,” but a crier shall proclaim between them, “the curse of Allah is on the wrongdoers.”¹⁰

⁴³Wa nazana ma fi sudurihim min gillin tajri min tahtihimul anharu wa qalul hamdu lillahil lazi hadana lihaza wa ma kunna linahtadiya lau la an hadanallahu laqad jaat rusulu rabbina bil haqqi wa nudu an tilkumul jannatu uristumuha bima kuntum tamaluna.

⁴⁴Wa nada ashabul jannati asuhaban nari an qad wajadna ma waadana rabbuna haqqan fahal wajattum ma waada rabbukum haqqan qalu naam fa azzana muazzinum bainahum allanatullahi ala tualimina.

10. Compare this verse with the story of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16:19‑31:

"Once there was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and live in great luxury every day. A beggar named Lazarus, who was covered with sores, was brought to his gate. He was always craving to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table. In fact, even the dogs used to come and lick his sores. "One day the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In the afterlife, where he was in constant torture, he looked up and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus by his side. So he shouted, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and to cool off my tongue, because I am suffering in this fire.'

But Abraham said, 'My child, remember that during your lifetime you received blessings, while Lazarus received hardships. But now he is being comforted here, while you suffer. Besides all

this, a wide chasm has been fixed between us, so that those who want to cross from this side to you can't do so, nor can they cross from your side to us.'

"The rich man said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house—for I have five brothers—to warn them, so that they won't end up in this place of torture, too.' Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets. They should listen to them!' But the rich man replied, 'No, father Abraham! Yet if someone from the dead went to them, they would repent.' Then Abraham said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded, even if someone rises from the dead.'"

⁴⁵“Those who would hinder men from the path of Allah and would seek in it something crooked, they were those who denied the hereafter.”

⁴⁶And between them shall be a veil, and on the heights will be men who would know everyone by his marks, they will call out to the companions of the garden “peace on you,” they will not have entered but they will have an assurance thereof.

⁴⁷And when their eyes shall be turned towards the companions of the fire they will say, “Our Lord, send us not to the company of the wrongdoers.”

⁴⁸And the men on the heights will call to certain men whom they will know from their marks saying, “Of what profit to you were your hoards and your arrogant ways?”

⁴⁵Allazina yasudduna an sabilillahi wa yabgunaha iwajan wa hum bil akhirati kafiruna.

⁴⁶Wa bainahuma hijabun waalal arafi rijalu yarifuna kullam bi simahum wa nadau ashabal jannati an salamun alaikum lam yadkhuluha wa hum yalabuna.

⁴⁷Wa iza surifat absaruhum tilqaa asuhabin nari qalu rabbana la tajalna maal qaumi tualimina.

⁴⁸Wa nada asuhabul arai rijala yarifunahum bi simahum qalu ma agna ankum jamukum wa ma kuntum tastakbiruna.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁴⁹Behold, are these not the men whom you swore that Allah with his mercy would never bless? Enter the garden, no fear shall be on you nor shall you grieve.

⁵⁰And the companions of the fire will call to the companions of the garden, “Pour down to us water or anything that Allah does provide for your sustenance.” They will say, “Both these things has Allah forbidden to those who rejected Him.”

⁵¹Such as took their religion to be mere amusement and play and were deceived by the life of the world. That day shall We forget them as they forgot the meeting of this day of theirs and as they were known to reject Our signs.

⁴⁹Ahaulai lazina aqsamtum la yanaluhumullahu bi rahmahtin udkhulul jannata la khaufun alaikum wa la antum tahuzanuna.

⁵⁰Wa nada asuhabun nari asuhabal jannati an afidu alaina minal mai au mimma razaqakumullahu qalu innallaha harramahuma alal kafirina.

⁵¹Allazina ttakhazu dinahum lahuwan wa laiban wa garrathumul hayatu dunya fal yauma nansahum kama nasu liqaa yaumihim haza wa ma kanu bi ayatina yajhaduna.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁵²And We had certainly sent unto them a book based on knowledge which We explained in detail, a guide and a mercy to all who believe.

⁵³Do they just wait for the final fulfillment of the event? On the day the event is finally fulfilled, those who disregarded it before will say, “the apostles of our Lord did indeed bring true tidings. Have we no intercessors now to intercede on our behalf? Or could we be sent back? Then should we behave differently from our behavior in the past.” In fact they will have lost their souls and the things they invented will leave them in the lurch.

⁵²Wa laqad jinakum bi kitabin fassalnahu ala ilmin hudan wa rahmatal liqaumi yuminuna.

⁵³Hal yanzuruna illa tawilaha yauma yati tawiluhu yaqulu lazina nasuhu min qablu qad jaatu rusulu rabbina bil haqqi fahal lana min shufaaa fa yashfau lana au nuraddu fa namala gaira lazi kunna namalu qad khasiru anfusahum wa ddalla anhum ma kanu yaftaruna.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁵⁴Your guardian Lord is Allah who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and is firmly established on the throne, He draws the night as a veil over the day, each seeking the other in rapid succession. He created the sun, the moon, and the stars, governed by laws under His command. Is it not His to create and to govern? Blessed be Allah the Lord of the worlds.¹¹

⁵⁵Call on your Lord with humility and in private, for Allah loves not those who trespass beyond bounds.

⁵⁶And do no mischief on the earth after it has been set in order but call on Him with fear and longing, for the mercy of Allah is near to those who do good.

⁵⁴Inna rabbakumu lazi khalaqa samawati walardda fi sittati ayyamin summa sutawa alal arshi yugshil lailan nahara yatlubuhu hasisa wa samsa wal qamara wa nujuma musakhkharatim bi amrihi ala lahul khalqu wal amru tabarakallahu rabbul alamina.

⁵⁵Udu rabbakum tadarrua wa khufyahtan innahu la yuhibbul mutadina.

⁵⁶Wa la tufsidu filarddi bada islahiha waduhu khaufa wa tamaan inna rahmatallahi qaribun minal muhsinina.

11. How many days did God use in creating the world, here, the passage is in agreement with the Bible but in Qur’an 41:9‑12, we see that the world and all its fullness were made in eight days.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁵⁷And it is He who sends the winds like heralds of glad tidings going before His mercy, when they have carried the heavy laden clouds, We drive them to a land that is dead, make rain to descend thereon and produce every kind of harvest therewith, thus shall We raise up the dead, perchance you may remember.

⁵⁸And from the land that is clean and good, by the will of its cherisher springs up produce after its kind, but from the land that is bad spring up nothing but that which is niggardly, thus do We explain the signs by various ways to those who are grateful.

⁵⁹We sent Noah to his people. He said, “O my people! worship Allah, you have no other allah but Him. I fear for you the punishment of a dreadful day.¹²

⁵⁷Wa huwal lazi yursilu riyaha bushram baina yadai rahmatihi hatta iza aqallatu sahaban siqalan suqnahu labaladin mayyitin fa anzalna bihil maa fa akhrajna bihi min kuli samarati kazalika nukhrijul mauta laallakum tazakkaruna.

⁵⁸Wal baladu tuayyibu yakhruju nabatuhu bi izni rabbihi wallazi khabusa la yakhruju illa nakidan kazalika nusarriful ayati liqaumi yashkuruna.

⁵⁹Laqad arsalna Nuhan ila qaumihi faqala ya qaumi budullaha ma lakum min ilahin gairuhu inni akhafu alaikum azaba yaumin atimin.

12. The story of Noah as told here differs from that which we read in the Bible. It can be found in Genesis 6:8‑9:29. It gives a full and detail account of Noah, his family, the unbelievers, the Ark, the flood, the restoration and the remnant, something the Qur’an does not do. The Qur’an carries the story in spurs, and somehow leave the feeling that its audience are familiar with the story. Not so with the Bible, it takes nothing for granted but does a painstaking job of not leaving the reader in the dark about anything.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁶⁰The leaders of his people said, “Ah, we see you evidently wandering.”

⁶¹He said, “O my people, no wandering is there in me, on the contrary I am an apostle from the Lord of the worlds.”

⁶²I fulfill towards you the duties of my Lord’s mission, sincere is my advice to you and I know from Allah something that you know not.

⁶³Do you wonder that there has come to you a message from your Lord through a man of your own people, to warn you so that you may fear Allah and haply receive his mercy?

⁶⁴But they rejected him and We delivered him and those with him in the ark, but We overwhelmed in the flood those who rejected our signs. They were indeed a blind people.

⁶⁰Qalal malau min qaumihi inna lanaraka fi dalalin mubinin.

⁶¹Qala ya qaumi laisa bi dalalatu wa lakinni rasulun mi rabbil alamina.

⁶²Uballigukum risalati rabbi wa ansahu lakum wa alamu minallahi ma la talamuna.

⁶³Awaajibtum an jaakum zikrun mi rabbikum ala rajulin minkum liyunzirakum wa litattaqu wa laallakum turhamuna.

⁶⁴Fa kazzabuhu fa anjainahu wallazina maahu fil fulki wa agraqna lazina kazzabu bi ayatina innahum kanu qauman amina.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁶⁵And to the people of Ad We sent Hud, one of their own brothers, He said, “O my people, worship Allah, you have no other god but Him. Will you not fear Allah?”¹³

⁶⁶The leaders of the unbelievers among his people said, “Ah, we see you are an imbecile, and we think you are a liar.”

⁶⁷He said, “O my people, I am not imbecile but an apostle from the Lord of the worlds.”

⁶⁸I fulfill towards you the duties of my Lord’s mission, I am to you a sincere and trustworthy adviser.

⁶⁵Wa ila adin akhahum Hudan qala ya qaumibudullaha ma lakum min ilahin gairuhu afala tattaquna.

⁶⁶Qala lmalau lazina kafaru min qaumihi inna lanaraka fi safahatin wa inna lanatunnuka minal kazibina.

⁶⁷Qala ya qaumi laisa bi safahatun wa lakinni rasulun mi rabbil alamina.

⁶⁸Uballigukum risalati rabbi wa ana lakum nasihun aminun.

13. These are a people not known to the readers of the Bible. According to Yusuf Ali, their story belongs to Arabian tradition and that they are fourth generation ancestors of Noah who occupied most of Southern Arabia.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁶⁹Do you wonder that there has come to you a message from your Lord through a man of your own people to warn you? Call in remembrance that he made you inheritors after the people of Noah and gave you a stature tall among the nations. Call in remembrance the benefits from Allah, so that you may prosper.

⁷⁰They said, “did you come to us that we may worship Allah alone and give up the cult of our fathers? Bring us what you threaten us with, if so be that you tell the truth.”

⁷¹He said, “Punishment and wrath have already come upon you from your Lord, do you dispute with me over names which you have devised, you and your fathers without authority from Allah? Then wait, I am among you also waiting.”

⁷²We saved him and those who adhered to him by our mercy and We cut off the roots of those who rejected our signs and did not believe.

⁶⁹Awaajibtum an jaakum zikrun mi rabbikum ala rajulin minkum liyunzirakum wazkuru iz jaalakum khulafaa min badi qaumi Nuhin wa zadakum fil khalqi bastahtan fazkuru alaallahi laallakum tuflihuna.

⁷⁰Qalu ajitana linabudallaha wahdahu wa nazara ma kana yabudu abauna fatina bima taiduna inkunta mina suadiqina.

⁷¹Qala qad waqaa alaikum mi rabbikum rijsu wa gadabun atujadilunani fi asmain sammaitumuha antum wa abaukum ma nazzalallahu biha min sultanin fantaziru inni maakum minal muntazirina.

⁷²Fa anjainahu wallazina maahu bi rahmatin minna wa qatana dabira lazina kazzabu bi ayatina wa ma kanu muminina.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁷³And to the people of Thamud We sent Salih one of their own brothers, he said, “O my people, worship Allah, you have no other god but Him. Now has come unto you a clear sign from your Lord. This she camel of Allah is a sign unto you, so leave her to graze in Allah’s earth and let her come to no harm or you shall be seized with a grievous punishment.

⁷⁴And remember how He made you inheritors after the people of Ad and gave you habitations in the land, you build for yourselves palaces and castles in plains and carve out homes in the mountains, so bring to remembrance the benefits from Allah and refrain from evil and mischief on the earth.

⁷³Wa ila Samuda akhahum Salihan qala ya qaumibudullaha ma lakum min ilahin gairuhu qad jaatkum bayyinatun mi rabbikum hazihi naqatullahi lakum ayatan fazaruha takul fiardillahi wa la tamasuha bi suin fa yakhuzakum azabun alimun.

⁷⁴Wazkuru iz jaalakum khulafaa min badi Adin wa bawaakum filardi tattakhizuna min suhuliha qusura wa tanhitunal jibala buyutan fazkuru alaallahi wa la tasau filardi mufsidina.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁷⁵The leaders of the arrogant party among his people said to those who were reckoned powerless, those among them who believe, “know indeed that Salih is an apostle from his Lord?” They said, “We do indeed believe in the revelation which has been sent through him.”

⁷⁶The arrogant party said, “For our part we reject what you believe in.”

⁷⁷Then they ham strung the she camel and insolently defied the order of their Lord saying, “O Salih, bring about your threats if you are an apostle.”

⁷⁸So the earthquake took them unawares and they lay prostrate in their homes in the morning.¹⁴

⁷⁵Qalal malaul lazina sutakbaru min qaumihi lillazina sutuddifu liman amana minhum atalamuna anna salihan mursalun mi rabbihi qalu inna bima ursila bihi muminuna.

⁷⁶Qalal lazina sutakbaru inna billazi amantum bihi kafiruna.

⁷⁷Faaqarun naqata wa atau an amri rabbihim wa qalu ya Salihutina bima taiduna inkunta mina l mursalina.

⁷⁸Fa akhazathumu rajfatu fa asbahu fi darihim jasimina.

14. According to the Qur’an this is a Talmudic account and not a Biblical account.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁷⁹So he left them saying, ‘O my people! I did indeed convey to you the message for which I was sent by my Lord, I gave you good counsel but you love not good counselors.”

⁸⁰And We also sent Lot, he said to his people, “Do you commit lewdness such as no people in creation committed before you?”

⁸¹For you practice your lusts on men in preference to women, you are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds.

⁸²And his people gave no answer but this, they said, “Drive them out of your city, these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure.”

⁸³But We saved him and his family, except his wife, she was of those who lagged behind.

⁷⁹Fa tawalla anhum wa qala ya qaumi laqad ablagtukum risalata rabbi wa nasahtu lakum wa lakil la tuhibbunan nasihina.

⁸⁰Wa Lutan iz qala liqaumihi atatunal fahishata ma sabaqakum biha min ahadin minal alamina.

⁸¹Innakum latatuna rijala shahwatan min dunin nisai bal antum qaumun musrifuna.

⁸²Wa ma kana jawaba qaumihi illa an qalu akhrijuhum min qaruyatikum innahum unasun yatataharuna.

⁸³Fa anjainahu wa ahlahu illamraatahu kanatu minal gabirina.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁸⁴And We rained down on them a shower, then see what was the end of those who indulged in sin and crime.¹⁵

⁸⁵And to the Madyan people We sent Shuaib one of their own brothers, he said, “O my people, worship Allah, you have no other god but Him. Now has come unto you a clear sign from your Lord. Give just measure and weight, nor withhold from the people the things that are their due, and do no mischief on the earth after it has been set in order, that will be best for you if you have faith.

⁸⁴Wa amtuarna alaihim mataran fanturu kaifa kana aqibatul mujrimina.

⁸⁵Wa ila Madyana akhahum Shuaiban qala ya qaumibudullaha ma lakum min ilahin gairuhu qad jaatkum bayyinatun mi rabbikum fa auful kaila wal mizana wa la tabkhasun nasa ashyaahum wa la tufsidu filarddi bada islahiha zalikum khairul lakum inkuntum muminina.

15. The story of Lot (Lut) and Sodom and Gomorrah is recorded in Genesis 18‑19. He and his family dwelt among the Sodomites, a people given to lewd and obscene behavior from whom we get the word sodomy. Because of their wickedness God came down to destroy them but saved Lot and family except his wife at the intercession of Abraham his uncle. In destroying them God sent down brimstone and fire upon their twin cities. Please read Genesis 12‑19 for the full account of Lot’s life. mischief on the earth after it has been set in order: that will be best for you if ye have faith.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁸⁶And squat not on every road breathing threats, hindering from the path of Allah those who believe in Him, and seeking in it something crooked, but remember how you were little and He gave you increase. And hold in your mind’s eye what was the end of those who did mischief.

⁸⁷And if there is a party among you who believes in the message with which I have been sent and a party which does not believe hold yourselves in patience until Allah does decide between us: for He is the best to decide.

⁸⁸The leaders, the arrogant party among his people said, “O Shuaib, we shall certainly drive you out of our city and those who believe with you, or else you shall have to return to our ways and religion.” He said, “What, even though we do detest them?”

⁸⁶Wa la taqudu bikulli siratin tuiduna wa tasudduna an sabilillahi man amana bihi wa tabgunahaiwajan wazkuru inkuntum qalilan fa kassarakum wanturu kaifa kana aqibatul mufsidina.

⁸⁷Wa in kana tuaifatun minkum amanu billazi ursiltu bihi wa taifatul lam yuminu fasbiru hatta yahkumallahu bainana wa huwa khairul hakimina.

⁸⁸Qalal malau lazina sutakbaru min qaumihi lanukhrijannaka ya Shuaibu wallazina amanu maaka min qaryatina au lataudunna fi milltatina qala awalau kunna karihina.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁸⁹We should indeed invent a lie against Allah if we returned to your ways, after Allah has rescued us therefrom, nor could we by any manner of means return thereto unless it be as in the will and plan of Allah, our Lord. Our Lord can reach out to the utmost recesses of things by His knowledge. In Allah is our trust. Our Lord, decide between us and our people in truth for you are the best to decide.

⁹⁰And the leaders, the unbelievers among his people said, “if you follow Shuaib be sure then you are ruined.”

⁹¹But the earthquake took them unawares and they lay prostrate in their homes before the morning.

⁹²The men who rejected Shuaib became as if they had never been in the homes where they had flourished, the men who rejected Shuaib, it was they who were ruined.

⁸⁹Qadiftaraina alallahi kaziban in udna fi millatikum bada iz najjanallahu minha wa ma yakunu lana an nauda fiha illa anyashaallahu rabbuna wasia rabbuna kulla shaiin ilman alallahi tawakkalna rabbanaftah bainana wa baina qaumina bil haqqi wa anta khairul fatihina.

⁹⁰Wa qalal malau lazina kafaru min qaumihi lainittabatum Shuaiban innakum izal lakhasiruna.

⁹¹Fa akhazathumur rajfatu fa asubahu fi darihim jasimina.

⁹²Allazina kazzabu Shuaiban ka allam yagnau fiha allazina kazzabu Shuaiban kanu humul khasirina.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁹³So Shuaib left them saying, “O my people, I did indeed convey to you the messages for which I was sent by my Lord, I gave you good counsel but how shall I lament over a people who refuse to believe.”¹⁶

⁹⁴And whenever We sent a prophet to a town, We took up its people in suffering and adversity in order that they might learn humility.

⁹⁵Then We changed their suffering into prosperity until they grew and multiplied and began to say, “Our fathers were touched by suffering and affluence.” Behold, we called them to account of a sudden while they realized not.

⁹³Fa tawalla anhum wa qala ya qaumi laqad ablagtukum risalati rabbi wa nasahtu lakum fa kaifa asa ala qaumin kafirina.

⁹⁴Wa ma arsalna fi qaryatim min nabiyyin illa akhazna ahlaha bil basai wad darrai laallahum yaddarrauna.

⁹⁵Summa baddalna makana sayyiatil hasanata hattaafau wa qalu qad massa abaanad darrau wa sarrau fa akhaznahum bagtata wahum la yashuruna.

16. Shuaib is a pre‑Islamic Arabian preacher of monotheism, preceding Muhammad by several centuries. However as the story here indicates he was not as successful as Muhammad was in the making of converts for his system of belief. Verse 85 mentions him as a Midianite, nevertheless, he was of Arab origin and proclaimed his message among them.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁹⁶And if the people of the towns had believed and feared Allah, We should indeed have opened out to them blessings from heaven and earth, but they rejected the truth, and We brought them to book for their misdeeds.

⁹⁷Did the people of the towns feel secure against the coming of our wrath by night while they were asleep?

⁹⁸Or else did they feel secure against its coming in broad daylight while they played about?

⁹⁹Did they then fell secure against the plan of Allah? But no one can feel secure from the plan of Allah except those doomed to ruin.

⁹⁶Wa lau anna ahlal qura amanu wattaqau lafatahna alaihim barakatin mina samai walarddi wa lakin kazzabu fa akhaznahum bima kanu yaksibuna.

⁹⁷Afa amina ahlul qura anyatiyahum basuna bayata wahum naimuna.

⁹⁸Awa amina ahlul qura anyatiyahum basuna duha wahum yalabuna.

⁹⁹Afa aminu makrallahi fala yamanu makrallahi illal qaumul khasiruna.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁰⁰To those who inherit the earth in succession to its possessors, is it not a guiding lesson that if We so willed We could punish them for their sins and seal up their hearts so that they could not hear?

¹⁰¹Such were the towns whose story We relate unto you, there came indeed to them their apostles with clear signs, but they would not believe what they had rejected before. Thus does Allah seal up the heart of those who reject faith.

¹⁰²And most of them We found not men true to their covenant, but most of them We found rebellious and disobedient.

¹⁰³Then after them We sent Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they wrongfully rejected them, so see what was the end of those who made mischief.

¹⁰⁰Awa lam yahdi lillazina yarisuna lardda min badi ahliha allau nashau asabnahum bi zunubihim wa natbau ala qulubihim fahum la yasmauna.

¹⁰¹Tilkal qura naqussu alaika min ambaiha wa laqad jaathum rusuluhum bil bayyinati fama kanu liyuminu bima kazzabu min qablu kazalika yatbaullahu alla qulubil kafirina.

¹⁰²Wama wajadna li aksarihim min ahdin wa iwajadna aksarahum lafasiqina.

¹⁰³Summa baasuna min badihim Musa bi ayatina ila Firauna wa malaihi fa tualamu biha fanzur kaifa kana aqibatul mufsidina.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁰⁴And Moses said, “O Pharaoh! I am an apostle from the Lord of the worlds.

¹⁰⁵One for whom it is right to say nothing but truth about Allah. Now have I come unto you from your Lord with a clear sign, so let the children of Israel depart along with me.

¹⁰⁶He said, “If indeed you have come with a sign, show it forth, if you tell the truth.”

¹⁰⁷Then he threw his rod and behold, it was a plain serpent.

¹⁰⁸. And he drew out his hand and behold, it was white to all beholders.

¹⁰⁹The chiefs of the people of Pharaoh said, “This is indeed a skilled sorcerer.”

¹¹⁰“His plan is to get you out of your land then what is it you counsel?”

¹⁰⁴Wa qala Musa ya Firaunu inni rasulun mi rabbil alamina.

¹⁰⁵Haqiqun ala alla aqula alallahi illal haqqa qad jitukum bi bayyinatin mi rabbikum fa arsil maiya bani Israila.

¹⁰⁶Qala inkunta jita bi ayatin fati biha in kunta mina sadiqina.

¹⁰⁷Fa alqaasahu fa iza hiya subanun mubinun.

¹⁰⁸Wa nazaa yadahu fa iza hiya baidau lin nazirina.

¹⁰⁹Qalal malau min qaumi Firauna inna haza lasahirun alimun.

¹¹⁰Yuridu anyukhrijakum min ardikum famaza tamuruna.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹¹¹They said, “Keep him and his brother in suspense, and send to the cities men to collect.

¹¹²And bring up to you all our skilled sorcerers.

¹¹³And so there came the sorcerers to Pharaoh, they said, “Of course we shall have a reward if we win.”

¹¹⁴He said, “Yes, for you shall in that case be raised to posts nearest to my person.”

¹¹⁵They said, “O Moses, will you throw first or shall we have the throw?”

¹¹⁶He said, “Throw first.” So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, for they showed a great magic.

¹¹⁷And We put it into Moses’s mind by inspiration, “Throw your rod,” and behold, it swallows up straightway all the falsehoods which they fake.

¹¹¹Qalu arujih wa akhahu wa arusilu fil madaini hashirina.

¹¹²Yatuka bi kulli sahirina alimin.

¹¹³Wa jaa saharatu Firauna qalu inna lana la ajuran in kunna nahnul galibina.

¹¹⁴Qala naam wa innakum laminal muqarrabina.

¹¹⁵Qalu ya Musa imma an tulqiya wa imma an nakuna nahnu l mulqina.

¹¹⁶Qala alqu falamma alqau saharu ayuna nasi wastarhabuhum wa jau bi sihrin attimin.

¹¹⁷Wa auhaina ila Musa an alqiasaka fa iza hiya taluqafu ma yafikuna.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹¹⁸Thus truth was confirmed and all that they did was made of no effect.

¹¹⁹So they were vanquished there and then, and were made to look small.¹⁷

¹²⁰And the sorcerers fell down prostrate in adoration.

¹²¹Saying, “We believe in the Lord of the worlds.”

¹²²“The Lord of Moses and Aaron.”

¹²³Pharaoh said, “Believe in him before I give you permission? Surely this is a trick which you have planned in the city to drive out its people, but soon shall you know the consequences.”

¹²⁴“Be sure I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will cause you all to die on the cross.”¹⁸

¹²⁵They said, “For us we are sent back unto our Lord.”

¹¹⁸Fa waqaal haqqu wa batala ma kanu yamaluna.

¹¹⁹Fa gulibu hunalika waanqalabu suagirina.

¹²⁰Wa ulqiya saharatu sajidina.

¹²¹Qalu amanna bi rabbil alamina.

¹²²Rabbi Musa wa Haruna.

¹²³Qala Firaunu amantum bihi qabla an azana lakum inna haza lamakrum makartumuhu fil madinati litukhriju minha ahlaha fa saufa talamuna.

¹²⁴La uqattianna aidiyakum wa arujulakum min khilafin summa la usallibannakum ajumaina.

¹²⁵Qalu inna ila rabbina munqalibuna.

17. The story of Moses starts in Exodus chapter 2 where the Bible recounts his birth, his survival from Pharaoh’s massacre of children at the birth of Moses, his adoption by Pharaoh’s daughter, his upbringing by his own mother. Chapter three talks about his call, his early miracles, his partnership with his brother, the plagues he performed before Pharaoh and the deliverance of his people from Egypt. This will take you through Chapter 13. The Qur’an leaves out a great deal of detail to us in this fabricated nutshell story.

18. Death on the cross (Crucifiction) mentioned here was not known in Egypt at that time in history. The Romans introduced it centuries later after several empires. Pharaoh’s does not claim to be speaking prophetically, rather he was passing judgment on those who had abandoned his religion. Since the Qur’an was written after this incident, it is possible that this language was fabricated in order to claim legitimacy for Muhammad’s ‘Book’.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹²⁶“And you wreak your vengeance on us simply because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they reached us. Our Lord, pour out on us patience and constancy, and take our souls unto you as Muslims.”

¹²⁷And the chiefs said of Pharaoh’s people, “Will you leave Moses and his people to spread mischief in the land and to abandon you and your gods?” He said, “Their male children will we slay, their females will we save alive, and we have over them irresistible power.”¹⁹

¹²⁸Moses said to his people, “Pray for help from Allah and wait in patience and constancy, for the earth is Allah’s to give as a heritage to such of his servants as He pleases, and the end is for the righteous.”

¹²⁶Wa ma tanqimu minna illa an amanna bi ayati rabbina lamma jaatuna rabbana afrigu alaina sabra wa tawaffana muslimina.

¹²⁷Wa qalal malau min qaumi Firauna atazaru Musa wa qaumahu liyufusidu filarddi wa yazaraka wa alihataka qala sanuqattilu abnaahum wa nastahyi nisaahum wa inna fauqahum qahiruna.

¹²⁸Qala Musa li qaumihi sutainu billahi wasubiru innal ardda lillahi yurisuha ma yashau min ibadihi walaqibatu lil muttaqina.

19. The order to slay the male children came even before Moses was born, he was not the cause of it as the Qur’an indicates rather, but for the mercy of God he would have been a victim.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹²⁹They said, “We have had trouble both before and after you came to us.” He said, “It may be that your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you inheritors in the earth, so that He may try you by your deeds.”

¹³⁰And We punished the people of Pharaoh with years of drought and shortness of crops, that they might receive admonition.

¹³¹But when good came they said “This is due to us,” when gripped by calamity they ascribed it to evil omens connected with Moses and those with him. Behold, in truth the omens of evil are theirs in Allah’s sight but most of them do not understand.

¹³²And they said, “whatever be the signs you bring to work therewith the sorcery on us we shall never believe in you.”

¹²⁹Qalu uzina min qabuli an tatiyana wa min badi ma jitana qala asa rabbukum anyuhlika aduwwakum wa yastakhulifakum filarddi fa yanzura kaifa tamaluna.

¹³⁰Wa laqadu akhazuna ala Firauna bi sinina wa naqusin mina samarati laallahum yazzakkaruna.

¹³¹Fa iza jaathumul hasanatu qalu lana hazihi wa in tusibuhum sayyiatu yattayyaru bi Musa wa man maahu ala innama tairahum indallahi wa lakinna akusarahum la yalamuna.

¹³²Wa qalu mahuma tatina bihi min ayatin litasuharana biha fama nahnu laka bi muminina.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹³³So We sent on them wholesale death, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood, signs openly self explained, but they were steeped in arrogance, a people given to sin.

¹³⁴And every time the penalty fell on them they said, “O Moses, call on you Lord on our behalf in virtue of his promise to you, if you will remove the penalty from us, we shall truly believe in you, and we shall send away the children of Israel with you.”

¹³⁵But every time We removed the penalty from them according to a fixed term, which they had to fulfill, behold, they broke their word.

¹³⁶So We exacted retribution from them, We drowned them in the sea because they rejected Our signs and failed to take warning from them.

¹³³Fa arusaluna alaihimu ttufana wal jarada wal qummala waddafadia wa dama ayatin mufassalatin fasutakubaru wa kanu qauman mujrimina.

¹³⁴Wa lamma waqaa alaihimu rijuzu qalu ya Musa du lana rabbaka bima ahidainadaka lain kashafuta anna rijuza lanuminanna laka wa lanurusilanna maaka bani Israila.

¹³⁵Fa lamma kashafuna anhumu rijuza ila ajalin hum baliguhu iza hum yanukusuna.

¹³⁶Fantaqamna minhum fa aguraqunahum fil yammi bi annahum kazzabu bi ayatina wa kanu anha gafilina.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹³⁷And We made a people considered weak inheritors of lands in both east and west, lands whereon We sent down our blessings. The fair promise of the Lord was fulfilled for the children of Israel because they had patience and constancy and We leveled to the ground the great works and fine buildings which Pharaoh and his people erected.²⁰

¹³⁸And We took the children of Israel across the sea. They came upon a people devoted entirely to some idols they had. They said, “O Moses, fashion for us a god like unto the gods they have.” He said, “Surely you are a people without knowledge.²¹

¹³⁹As to these folk the cult they are in is a fragment of a ruin and vain is that which they practice.

¹³⁷Wa aurasunal quma lazina kanu yustadafuna mashariqa larddi wa magariba hallati barakuna fiha wa tammatu kalimatu rabbikal husuna ala bani Israila bima suabaru wa dammaruna ma kana yasnau Firaunu wa qaumuhu wa ma kanu yarishuna.

¹³⁸Wa jawazuna bi bani Israilal bahura fa atau ala qaumi yakufuna ala asunamin lahum qalu ya Musa jalu lana ilahan kama lahum alihatun qala innakum qaumun tajuhaluna.

¹³⁹Inna haulai mutabbarun ma hum fihi wa batilum ma kanu yamaluna.

20. The truth of matter is that the Egyptians who pursued the Jews were drowned, Egypt did not become a wasteland, their great buildings still stand even today. They are pyramids of Egypt, a great architectural piece, never equaled in all the world.

21. Commenting on verse 138, Yusuf Ali only conjectures without any concrete proof in defense of the Islamic claim. Moses was never asked to fashion a god for the people. Aaron, on the other hand, in the absence of Moses yielded to the people’s demand and he made for them the golden calf according Exodus 32:1‑6.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁴⁰He said, “Shall I seek for you a god other than the Allah, when it is Allah who has endowed you with gifts above the nations?”

¹⁴¹And remember We rescued you from Pharaoh’s people who afflicted you with the worst of penalties, who slew your male children and saved alive your females, in that was a momentous trial from your Lord.

¹⁴²And We appointed for Moses thirty nights and completed with ten, thus was completed the term with his Lord forty nights. And Moses had charged his brother Aaron, “Act for me among my people, do right and follow not the way of those who do mischief.”

¹⁴⁰Qala agairallahi abugikum ilahan wa huwa faddalakum alal alamina.

¹⁴¹Wa iz anjainakum min ali Firauna yasumunakum sual azabi yuqattiluna abunaakum wa yastahyuna nisaakum wa fi zalikum balaun mi rabbikum attimun.

¹⁴²Wa waadna Musa salasiyuna lailata wa atmamnaha biashrin fa tamma miqatu rabbihi arbaina lailahtan wa qala Musa li akhihi Haruna khlufni fi qaumi wa aslih wa la tattabi sabilal mufusidina.

[Commentary continues below.]