Surah 3. Aal-Imran

How would God bestow His guidance upon people who have resolved to deny the truth after having attained to faith, and having borne witness that this Apostle is true, and [after] all evidence of the truth has come unto them?⁶⁹ For, God does not guide such evildoing folk.

  - Mohammad Asad

The people referred to are the Jews and the Christians. Their acceptance of the Bible, which predicts the coming of the Prophet Muhammad, has made them "witnesses" to the truth of his prophethood. See also verses {70} and {81} above.

How it can be that Allah would guide those people who commit Kufr (reject faith) after their Iman (acceptance of faith), acknowledge that the Rasool is true, and clear proofs have come to them? Allah does not guide such wrongdoers.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

How shall Allah guide a people who disbelieved after their belief and (after) they bore witness that the messenger is true and after clear proofs (of Allah's sovereignty) had come unto them. And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Their requital shall be rejection by God, and by the angels, and by all [righteous] men.

  - Mohammad Asad

The reward of such people is that upon them is the curse of Allah, the angels and all mankind.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

As for such, their guerdon is that on them rests the curse of Allah and of angels and of men combined.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

In this state shall they abide; [and] neither will their suffering be lightened, nor will they be granted respite.

  - Mohammad Asad

They shall remain under it for ever; neither will their punishment be lightened nor will they be given respite.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

They will abide therein. Their doom will not be lightened, neither will they be reprieved;

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But excepted shall be they that afterwards repent and put themselves to rights: for, behold, God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.

  - Mohammad Asad

However, those who repent after this and mend their ways, then verily Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Save those who afterward repent and do right. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Verily, as for those who are bent on denying the truth after having attained to faith, and then grow [ever more stubborn] in their refusal to acknowledge the truth, their repentance [of other sins] shall not be accepted:⁷⁰ for it is they who have truly gone astray.

  - Mohammad Asad

My interpolation, between brackets, of the words "of other sins" is based on Tabari's convincing explanation of this passage.

However, those who disbelieve after their belief (acceptance of Islam) then go on adding to their disbelief, their repentance will never be accepted; because they intentionally chose to go astray.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Lo! those who disbelieve after their (profession of) belief, and afterward grow violent in disbelief: their repentance will not be accepted. And such are those who are astray.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Verily, as for those who are bent on denying the truth and die as deniers of the truth - not all the gold on earth could ever be their ransom.⁷¹ It is they for whom grievous suffering is in store; and they shall have none to succour them.

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "there shall not be accepted from any of them the earth full of gold, were he to proffer it in ransom". The meaning of this sentence is obviously metaphorical; but in view of the mention of "ransom", some of the commentators are of the opinion that what is meant here are otherwise good actions in this world (and, in particular, efforts and possessions spent for the sake of helping one's fellow-men), on the strength of which such stubborn "deniers of the truth" might plead for God's clemency on the Day of Judgment - a plea that would be rejected on the ground of their deliberate denial of fundamental truths.

As to those who are unbelievers and die while they were unbelievers, if they were to fill the whole earth with gold and offer as a ransom for each one of them, that will not be accepted. These are the ones who shall have the painful punishment, and shall have no helpers.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Lo! those who disbelieve, and die in disbelief, the (whole) earth full of gold would not be accepted from such a one if it were offered as a ransom (for his soul). Theirs will be a painful doom and they will have no helpers.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[But as for you, O believers,] never shall you attain to true piety unless you spend on others out of what you cherish yourselves; and whatever you spend - verily, God has full knowledge thereof.⁷²

  - Mohammad Asad

After telling those who deliberately deny the truth that even their benevolent spending of efforts and possessions during their lifetime will be of no avail to them on the Day of Judgment, the Qur'an reminds the believers that, on the other hand, their faith in God cannot be considered complete unless it makes them conscious of the material needs of their fellow-beings (cf. 2:177 ).

You can never attain righteousness unless you spend in the cause of Allah that which you dearly cherish; and whatever you spend, surely it is known to Allah.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Ye will not attain unto piety until ye spend of that which ye love. And whatsoever ye spend, Allah is aware thereof.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

ALL FOOD was lawful unto the children of Israel, save what Israel had made unlawful unto itself [by its sinning] before the Torah was bestowed from on high.⁷³ Say: "Come forward, then, with the Torah and recite it, if what you say is true!"

  - Mohammad Asad

Up to this point, most of this surah dealt with the divine origin of the Qur'an and was meant to establish the true nature of the mission entrusted to the Prophet - namely, his call to an acknowledgement of God's oneness and uniqueness. Now, verses {93-97} are devoted to a refutation of two objections on the part of the Jews to what they consider to be an infringement, by the Qur'an, of Biblical laws, in spite of the oft-repeated Qur'anic claim that this revelation confirms the truth inherent in the teachings of the earlier prophets. These two objections relate to (a) the Qur'anic annulment of certain dietary injunctions and prohibitions laid down in the Torah, and (b) the alleged "substitution" of Mecca for Jerusalem as the direction of prayer (qiblah) - see surah {2}, note [116]. In order to answer the objection relating to Jewish food laws, the Qur'an calls to mind that originally all wholesome foods were lawful to the children of Israel, and that the severe restrictions subsequently imposed upon them in the Torah were but a punishment for their sins (cf. 6:146 ), and were, therefore, never intended for a community that truly surrenders itself to God. For an answer to the second objection, see verse {96}.

All food, that is lawful in Islamic Law, was also Halal (lawful) for the children of Israel except what Israel (Ya'qoob) made Haram (unlawful) for himself before the Taurat (Torah) was revealed to Musa. Ask them: "Bring the Taurat (Torah) and read a passage from it in support of your objection, if what you say is true."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

All food was lawful unto the children of Israel, save that which Israel forbade himself, (in days) before the Torah was revealed. Say: Produce the Torah and read it (unto us) if ye are truthful.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And all who henceforth invent lies about God - it is they, they who are evildoers!⁷⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

This is a reference to the unwarranted Jewish belief that the Mosaic food restrictions were an eternal law decreed by God. As against this claim, the Qur'an stresses that no food restrictions had been imposed before the time of Moses and, secondly, that the restrictions arising from the Mosaic Law were imposed on the children of Israel alone. To claim that they represent an eternal divine law is described here as "inventing lies about God".

Then whoever fabricates a lie against Allah after this, will indeed be unjust.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And whoever shall invent a falsehood after that concerning Allah, such will be wrong doers.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Say: "God has spoken the truth: follow, then, the creed of Abraham, who turned away from all that is false, and was not of those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God."

  - Mohammad Asad

Say: "Allah has declared the truth. If you are sincere then follow the faith of Ibrahim (Abraham); he was upright and not a mushrik."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Say: Allah speaketh truth. So follow the religion of Abraham, the upright. He was not of the idolaters.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Behold, the first Temple ever set up for mankind was indeed the one at Bakkah:⁷⁵ rich in blessing, and a [source of] guidance unto all the worlds,

  - Mohammad Asad

All authorities agree that this name is synonymous with Mecca (which, correctly transliterated, is spelt Makkah). Various etymologies have been suggested for this very ancient designation; but the most plausible explanation is given by Zamakhshari (and supported by Razi): in some old Arabic dialects the labial consonants b and m, being phonetically close to one another, are occasionally interchangeable. The mention, in this context, of the Temple in Mecca - that is, the Ka'bah - arises from the fact that it is the direction of prayer (qiblah) stipulated in the Qur'an. Since the prototype of the Ka'bah was built by Abraham and Ishmael (see 2:125 ff.) - and is, therefore, much older than the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem - its establishment as the qiblah of the followers of the Quran does not only not imply any break with the Abrahamic tradition (on which, ultimately, the whole Bible rests), but, on the contrary, re-establishes the direct contact with that Patriarch: and herein lies the answer to the second of the two Jewish objections mentioned in note [73] above.

Undoubtedly the first House for the worship of Allah ever built for mankind is the one at Bakka (Makkah), a blessed site and a guidance for all the worlds.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Lo! the first Sanctuary appointed for mankind was that at Mecca, a blessed place, a guidance to the peoples;

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

full of clear messages.⁷⁶ [It is] the place whereon Abraham once stood; and whoever enters it finds inner peace.⁷⁷ Hence, pilgrimage unto the Temple is a duty owed to God by all people who are able to undertake it. And as for those who deny the truth - verily, God does not stand in need of anything in all the worlds.

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "in it [are] clear messages" - such as the messages relating to God's oneness and uniqueness (symbolized by the Ka'bah), to the continuity of mankind's religious experience ("the first Temple set up for mankind") and, finally, to the brotherhood of all believers (who, wherever they may be, turn their faces in prayer towards this one focal point).

Or: "is secure" - i.e., in the original sense of amn, which implies "ease of mind and freedom from fear" (cf. Lane I, 100 f.).

In it are clear signs and the Station of Ibrahim (Abraham) where he used to worship. Whoever enters it is safe. Performance of Hajj (pilgrimage) to this House is a duty to Allah for all who can afford the journey to it; and the one who disobeys this commandment should know that Allah is Self-sufficient, beyond the need of anyone from the worlds.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Wherein are plain memorials (of Allah's guidance); the place where Abraham stood up to pray; and whosoever entereth it is safe. And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto Allah for mankind, for him who can find a way thither. As for him who disbelieveth, (let him know that) Lo! Allah is Independent of (all) creatures.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

SAY: "O followers of earlier revelation! Why do you refuse to acknowledge the truth of God's messages, when God is witness to all that you do?"

  - Mohammad Asad

Say: "O people of the Book! Why do you deny the revelations of Allah? Allah Himself is a witness to your actions."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Say: O People of the Scripture! Why disbelieve ye in the revelations of Allah, when Allah (Himself) is Witness of what ye do?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Say: "O followers of earlier revelation! Why do you [endeavour to] bar those who have come to believe [in this divine writ] from the path of God by trying to make it appear crooked, when you yourselves bear witness⁷⁸ [to its being straight]? For, God is not unaware of what you do."

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., "through your own scriptures" (see note [69] above, as well as note [33] on 2:42 ). This is an allusion to the attempts of Jews and Christians to "prove" that Muhammad had "borrowed" the main ideas of the Qur'an from the Bible and twisted them out of context so as to suit his own alleged "ambitions".

Say: "O people of the Book! Why do you obstruct the believers from the path of Allah and desire that they follow the crooked way while you yourselves are witnesses to Allah's Covenant? Allah is not unmindful of what you do."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Say: O People of the Scripture! Why drive ye back believers from the way of Allah, seeking to make it crooked, when ye are witnesses (to Allah's guidance)? Allah is not unaware of what ye do.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

O you who have attained to faith! If you pay heed to some of those to whom revelation was vouchsafed aforetime, they might cause you to renounce the truth after you have come to believe [in it].

  - Mohammad Asad

O believers! If you were to obey a group of those who were given the Book, they will turn you back from belief to unbelief.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

O ye who believe! If ye obey a party of those who have received the Scripture they will make you disbelievers after your belief.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall