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Word Analysis & Comparison
2. Surah • 135. Verse
Word Analysis
أَوْ
aw
or
بَلْ
bal
Nay
إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ
ib'rāhīma
(of) Ibrahim
وَمَا
wamā
and not
مِنَ
mina
of
Rashad Khalifa
The Final Testament
They said, "You have to be Jewish or Christian, to be guided." Say, "We follow the religion of Abraham - monotheism - he never was an idol worshiper."
The Monotheist Group
The Quran: A Monotheist Translation
And they said: "Be Jewish or Nazarenes so that you may be guided!" Say: "No, rather the creed of Abraham, monotheism; for he was not of the polytheists."
Edip-Layth
Quran: A Reformist Translation
They said, "Be Jews or Nazarenes so that you may be guided!" Say, "No, rather the creed of Abraham, monotheism; for he was not of those who set up partners."
Abul A'la Maududi
Tafhim commentary
They say: "Be Jews," or “Be Christians.” “Then you will be rightly guided.” Say to them: “No, follow exclusively the way of Abraham who was not one of those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity.”[1]
1
In order to grasp the subtlety, of this remark two things should be borne in mind. First, that in comparison to Islam, the primordial religion, both Judaism and Christianity are later products. The name Judaism, as well as the characteristic features and elaborate body of laws and regulations associated with it. emerged during the third or fourth century, B.C. As for Christianity. in the sense of the body of dogmas and theological doctrines which characterize it, it came into existence long after Jesus (peace be on him). The question that naturally arises is that, if man's guidance depends on following Judaism or Christianity, how can Abraham and other Prophets and righteous people who are accepted as having been rightly-guided even by the Jews and Christians be considered so when they were born several centuries before the birth of Judaism and Christianity? If they were rightly-guided from whom did they receive their guidance? Obviously their source of guidance and inspiration was neither Judaism nor Christianity since, in their times, these did not exist. So man's rectitude does not depend on those characteristics which led to the rise of Jewish and Christian particularisms; it rather depends on adopting that universal way to Truth which has guided and inspired men throughout the ages. Second. the Scriptures of the Jews and Christians attest that Abraham believed that worship, adoration, service and obedience were due to God alone, and that it was his mission to have none associated with God in His attributes and rights. Since polytheistic elements had made inroads into Judaism and Christianity it was obvious that both had strayed from the way of Abraham.
Marmaduke Pickthall
Holy Quran Translation
And they say: Be Jews or Christians, then ye will be rightly guided. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Nay, but (we follow) the religion of Abraham, the upright, and he was not of the idolaters.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Holy Quran Translation
They say: "Become Jews or Christians if ye would be guided (To salvation)." Say thou: "Nay! (I would rather) the Religion of Abraham the True, and he joined not gods with Allah."
Abdul Haleem
Holy Quran Translation
They say, ‘Become Jews or Christians, and you will be rightly guided.’ Say [Prophet], ‘No, [ours is] the religion of Abraham, the upright, who did not worship any god besides God.’
Taqi Usmani
Holy Quran Translation
They said, "Become Jews or Christians, and you will find the right path." Say: “Instead, (we follow) the faith of Ibrāhīm, the upright, - and he was not one of those who associate partners with Allah.”
Al-Hilali & Khan
Holy Quran Translation
And they say, "Be Jews or Christians, then you will be guided." Say (to them O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), "Nay, (we follow) only the religion of Ibrâhîm (Abraham), Hanîfa [Islâmic Monotheism, i.e. to worship none but Allâh (Alone)], and he was not of Al-Mushrikûn (those who worshipped others along with Allâh - see V.2:105)."[1]
Mustafa Khattab
The Clear Quran
The Jews and Christians each say, "Follow our faith to be ˹rightly˺ guided." Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “No! We follow the faith of Abraham, the upright—who was not a polytheist.”
Aisha Bewley
Holy Quran Translation
They say, ‘Be Jews or Christians and you will be guided. ’ Say, ‘Rather adopt the religion of Ibrahim, a man of natural pure belief. He was not one of the idolaters.’
George Sale
Holy Quran Translation
They say, become Jews or Christians that ye may be directed. Say, nay, we follow the religion of Abraham the orthodox, who was no idolater.
E. Henry Palmer
Holy Quran Translation
They say, 'Be ye Jews or Christians so shall ye of Abraham be guided. ' Say, 'Not so! but the faith of Abraham the 'Hanif, be was not of the idolaters.'
Amatul Rahman Omar
Holy Quran Translation
And they (the Jews and the Christians respectively) said, `Be Jews or be Christians, then you shall be on the right course. ' Say, `Nay, but (ours is) the faith of Abraham, the upright, and he was not of the polytheist.'
Arthur John Arberry
Holy Quran Translation
And they say, 'Be Jews or Christians and you shall be guided. ' Say thou: 'Nay, rather the creed of Abraham, a man of pure faith; he was no idolater.'
Ali Quli Qarai
Holy Quran Translation
And they say, ‘Be either Jews or Christians, that you may be [rightly] guided. ’ Say, ‘Rather [we will follow] the creed of Abraham, a ḥanīf, and he was not one of the polytheists.’
Hamid S. Aziz
Holy Quran Translation
They say, "Become you Jews or Christians then shall you be guided by Abraham. " Say, "Not so! But we follow the religion of Abraham, the upright; he was not of the idolaters."
Mahmoud Ghali
Holy Quran Translation
And they have said, "Be Judaic or Nasara, (Christian) (then) you shall be guided. " Say, "No, indeed, (but) it is the creed of Ibrahîm, (Abraham) the unswervingly (upright, ) (i.e. veering away from idolatry) and in no way was he one of the associators. (i.e. those who associate others with' Allah).
Bijan Moeinian
Holy Quran Translation
They (Jews & Christians) say: "Choose Judaism or Christianity and you will get the true guidance. " Say: “No way; we resent any alternative way except the way of Abraham who did not worship none but the Lord.”
Mohamed Ahmed - Samira
Holy Quran Translation
Those were the people, and they have passed away. Theirs the reward for what they did, as yours will be for what you do. You will not be questioned about their deeds.
Muhammad Asad
Holy Quran Translation
AND THEY say, "Be Jews" - or, "Christians" - "and you shall be on the right path. " Say: "Nay, but [ours is] the creed of Abraham, who turned away from all that is false, and was not of those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God."
Abdel Khalek Himmat
Al- Muntakhab
Yet once more Ahl Al-Kitab explicitly say: "Be Jews or Christians, and thus be guided into all truth". Say to them, O Muhammad: "But rather the religion of Ibrahim as the true and straightforward, and his system of faith and worship; never did he incorporate with Allah other deities".
Progressive Muslims
Holy Quran Translation
And they said: "Be Jews or Nazarenes so that you may be guided!" Say: "No, rather the creed of Abraham, monotheism; for he was not of those who set up partners. "
Sahih International
(Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)
They say, "Be Jews or Christians [so] you will be guided. " Say, "Rather, [we follow] the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth, and he was not of the polytheists."
Syed Vickar Ahamed
Holy Quran Translation
And they said: "Become Jews or Christians, if you would be guided (to salvation). " You say (to them): "No! (I would rather follow) the Religion of Ibrahim (Abraham), the true, and he joined not gods with Allah."
Shabbir Ahmed
Holy Quran Translation
And they say, "Be Jews or Christians, then you will be rightly guided. " Say, "Nay, we follow the Creed of Abraham, the upright. He turned away from all that is false, and ascribed divinity to none but the One True God." (And he was neither a Jew nor a Christian (3:67)).
Sam Gerrans
The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation
And they say: “Be such as hold to Judaism, or Christians — you will be guided.” Say thou: “Nay, the creed of Abraham, inclining to truth; and he was not of the idolaters.”