Verse 3:74 | inQuran

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

‘And obey none but him who follows your religion;’ — Say, ‘Surely, the true guidance, the guidance of Allah, is that one may be given the like of that which has been given to you’ — ‘or they would dispute with you before your Lord.’ Say, ‘All bounty is in the hand of Allah. He gives it to whomsoever He pleases. And Allah is Bountiful, All-Knowing.

English - Five Volume Translation

And [a]obey none but him who follows your religion;’—Say, ‘Surely, the true guidance, the guidance of Allah, is that one be given the like of that which has been given to you’—‘or [b]they would dispute with you before your Lord.’ Say, ‘All bounty is in the hand of [c]Allah. He gives it to whomsoever He pleases. And Allah is Bountiful, All-Knowing.[362]

2:121.

2:77.

57:30.

Commentary:

The construction of this verse, though seemingly rather complicated, is designed to make it capable of different interpretations. We will give here those most apparent:

(1) The clause, And obey none but him who follows your religion, is a continuation of the concluding clause of the preceding verse. Thereafter comes a parenthetical clause beginning with the words, Say, surely the true guidance, and ending with the words, the like of that which has been given to you. Then comes again the speech of the Jews in the words, Or they would dispute with you before your Lord, the verse finally ending with the Divine commandment, Say, All bounty, etc. The style is peculiar to the Quran and is intended to produce a good psychological effect.

The words, that one be given the like of that which has been given to you, which Muslims are bidden to say are in fitting contrast to the words of the Jews quoted in the beginning of the verse, i.e. obey none but him who follows your religion. Jews make God a national deity, debarring all others from His favours, whereas Muslims believe in Him as the Lord of all, basing His right to greatness on the bestowal of His favours in whatever form and to whatever people they may come. Moreover, they believe that the fold of Islam, which is Allah’s universal guidance, is open to all peoples. The words of the Jews, Or they would dispute with you before your Lord, mean that if the Jews follow any dispensation other than their own, they would thereby prove their own guilt in the sight of God, for in that case they would be tacitly admitting that the door of God’s favours is open to others as well, and thus they would make themselves liable to punishment for rejecting Islam. The words, All bounty is in the hand of Allah, mean that the bestowing of the gift of prophethood upon a people is in the hand of God alone and He confers it on those who are deserving of it.

(2) According to another interpretation, only the words قل ان الھدی ھدی الله which in this case would be translated as "Say, the true guidance is the guidance of Allah," would be considered as being parenthetical and the following words, i.e. that one be given the like of that which has been given to you, etc. would be taken to form part of the speech of the Jews. In this case the clause would signify that the Jews say to one another that the guidance that has come to the House of Israel, or the favours that have been bestowed on them, can never be vouchsafed to any other people. They are the exclusive privilege of Israel.

(3) Yet another interpretation is obtained, if the speech of the Jews is taken to end with the words, obey none but him who follows your religion, the succeeding clauses being considered to be all Divine speech put in the mouth of believers. In this case the words فتقبلوه would be considered to be understood before the clause او یحاجوکم عند ربکم and the entire expression would mean, "so they should accept it, or they should dispute with you before your Lord", signifying that, as true guidance is the guidance contained in the Quran, so either the Jews should accept it or they and Muslims should place their case before God for decision, i.e. they should have a مباھله (Mubahalah), i.e. a prayer contest with them and pray to God to help the righteous and destroy the wicked as already explained in 3:62.

English - Short Commentary Translation

‘And [a]obey none but him who follows your religion.’—Say, ‘Surely, true guidance—the guidance of Allah, is, that one be given the like of that which has been given to you’—‘or [b]they would argue[428A] with you before your Lord.’ Say, ‘All grace[428B] is in the [c]hand of Allah. He gives it to whomsoever He pleases. And Allah is Bountiful, All-Knowing;[428C]

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

اور کسی کی بات پر ایمان نہ لاؤ سوائے اس کے جو تمہارے دین کی پیروی کرے۔ تُو کہہ دے کہ یقیناً ہدایت تو اللہ ہی کی ہدایت ہے۔ یہ (ضروری نہیں) کہ کسی کو وہی کچھ دیا جائے جیسا تمہیں دیا گیا یا (اگر نہ دیا جائے تو گویا اُن کا حق ہوجائے گا کہ) وہ تمہارے ربّ کے حضور تم سے جھگڑا کریں۔ تُو کہہ دے یقیناً فضل اللہ کے ہاتھ میں ہے وہ اسے جس کو چاہتا ہے دیتا ہے اور اللہ بہت وسعت بخشنے والا (اور) دائمی علم رکھنے والا ہے۔

French

Et n’obéissez qu’à celui qui suit votre religion. » Ô Prophète , dis : « En vérité, la vraie direction est n’importe quelle direction provenant d’Allāh – l’essentiel, c’est que chacun reçoive des enseignements similaires à ce qui vous a été donné à vous - les Gens du Livre. Sinon, ils - les croyants - auraient eu le droit d’argumenter contre vous en présence de votre Seigneur. » Dis : « Toute grâce est dans la main d’Allāh. Il la donne à qui Il veut. Et Allāh est Munificent et Omniscient. »

German

und gehorchet niemandem außer dem, der eure Religion befolgt." Sprich: "Gewiss, die (wahre) Leitung, die Führung Allahs, besteht darin, dass einem ein Gleiches gegeben werde, wie es euch gegeben ward, oder dass sie mit euch streiten vor eurem Herrn." Sprich: "Alle Huld ist in Allahs Hand. Er gewährt sie, wem Er will. Und Allah ist allgütig, allwissend.

Chinese

(他们说:) [d]“除非是跟从你们的宗教的人, 对谁都不要相信。”你 (对他们) 说: “真正的指导只是安拉的指导, 即别人也得到你们所得到的, (如果不得到), 那么, 他们 (就有权利) 在你们养主之前与你们[e]争论。” (你再对他们说:) “恩典[254]确在[f]安拉的掌握中, 他对自己所意欲的人施与恩典。安拉是广施者, 全知的:

Italian

E non obbedite se non a colui che segue la vostra religione.» Di': «In verità, la guida è la guida di Allah, qualunque essa sia. Non è essenziale che a ognuno venga concesso un insegnamento, come a voi era stato concesso prima. Altrimenti essi si metterebbero a discutere con voi al cospetto del vostro Signore.» Di': «Ogni grazia è nella mano di Allah; Egli la concede a chiunque Gli aggrada. E Allah è Munifico, l'Onnisciente.*

Spanish

“Y no obedezcáis sino a quien sigue vuestra religión”. Di, Oh, Profeta: “En verdad, la guía es la guía de Al-lah, la que El desee”. Lo que es esencial es que a cada uno se le conceda una enseñanza similar a la que fue concedida anteriormente. De otra manera tendrían derecho a disputar con vosotros en presencia de vuestro Señor. Diles: “Toda la generosidad está en las manos de Al-lah y Él la concede a quien Le place. Y Al-lah es Magnánimo, Omnisciente;

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

اور (کہتے ہیں کہ) اس شخص کے سوا جو تمہارے دین کی پیروی کرتا ہو کسی کی نہ مانو۔ تو کہدے (کہ) اصل ہدایت یعنی اللہ کی ہدایت تو یہ ہے کہ کسی کو ویسا ہی (کچھ) ملے جیساکہ تم کو ملا تھا یا پھر وہ تمہارے رب کے حضور تمہارے ساتھ جھگڑیں[2] (نیز) کہدے کہ فضل تو یقیناً اللہ کے ہاتھ میں ہے۔ وہ جسے چاہتا ہے فضل بخشتا ہے اور اللہ بہت وسعت دینے والا اور بہت جاننے والا ہے۔

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

نیز یہ لوگ آپس میں کہتے ہیں کہ اپنے مذہب والے کے سوا کسی کی بات نہ مانو اے نبیؐ! ان سے کہہ دو کہ، "اصل میں ہدایت تو اللہ کی ہدایت ہے اور یہ اُسی کی دین ہے کہ کسی کو وہی کچھ دے دیا جائے جو کبھی تم کو دیا گیا تھا، یا یہ کہ دوسروں کو تمہارے رب کے حضور پیش کرنے کے لیے تمہارے خلاف قوی حجت مل جائے" اے نبیؐ! ان سے کہو کہ، "فضل و شرف اللہ کے اختیار میں ہے، جسے چاہے عطا فرمائے وہ وسیع النظر ہے اور سب کچھ جانتا ہے

English - Sahih

And do not trust except those who follow your religion." Say, "Indeed, the [true] guidance is the guidance of Allah. [Do you fear] lest someone be given [knowledge] like you were given or that they would [thereby] argue with you before your Lord?" Say, "Indeed, [all] bounty is in the hand of Allah - He grants it to whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Wise."

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

اوراپنے مذہب والے کے سوا کسی کی بات نہ مانو ان سے کہہ دو کہ بے شک ہدایت وہی ہے جو الله ہدایت کرے اور یہ بات نہ مانو کہ کوئی شخص دیا جا سکتا ہے مثل اس کے کہ تم دیے گئے ہو یا کوئی گروہ خدا کے ہاں تم پر الزام قائم کرسکتا ہے ان سے کہہ دو کہ فضل الله کے اختیار میں ہے جسے چاہے وہ دیتا ہے اور الله کشائش والا جاننے والا ہے

English - Talal Itani

And (do) not believe except (the one) who follows your religion." Say, "Indeed the (true) guidance (is the) Guidance (of) Allah - lest is given (to) one - (the) like (of) what was given to you or they may argue with you near your Lord." Say, "Indeed, the Bounty (is) in the Hand (of) Allah. He gives it (to) whom He wills, and Allah (is) All-Encompassing, All-Knowing."

Chinese Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

d

2:121.

e

2:77.

f

57:30.

254

“恩典” 在此处可能表示先知品位。

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

2

یعنی اگر یہ ہماری غلطی ہے تو پھر چاہیے کہ کوئی آسمانی دلیل پیش کرکے اسے دور کریں۔

English - Arberry

and believe not any but him who follows your religion.' Say: 'The true guidance is God's guidance -- that anyone should be given the like of what you have been given, or dispute with you before your Lord.' Say: 'Surely bounty is in the hand of God; He gives it unto whomsoever He will; and God is All-embracing, All-knowing.

English - Maududi

They also say among themselves: 'Do not follow anyone except him who follows your faith.' Say: 'Surely true guidance is Allah's. It is His favour that anyone should be given the like of what you have been given in the past, and that others should have been given firm evidence to proffer against you before your Lord.' Say: 'Surely bounty is in the Hand of Allah; He gives it to whom He wills. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.

English - Ahmed Ali

"And do not believe those who do not belong to your faith." Say: "True guidance is the guidance of God -- that any may be given the like of what has been given you." Will they argue with you before your Lord? Say: "God's is the bounty. He gives whomsoever He please, for He is infinite and all-wise."

English - Yusuf Ali

"And believe no one unless he follows your religion." Say: "True guidance is the Guidance of Allah: (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 Allah: He granteth them to whom He pleaseth: And Allah careth for all, and He knoweth all things."

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

a

2:121.

b

2:77.

c

57:30.

362

Commentary:

The construction of this verse, though seemingly rather complicated, is designed to make it capable of different interpretations. We will give here those most apparent:

(1) The clause, And obey none but him who follows your religion, is a continuation of the concluding clause of the preceding verse. Thereafter comes a parenthetical clause beginning with the words, Say, surely the true guidance, and ending with the words, the like of that which has been given to you. Then comes again the speech of the Jews in the words, Or they would dispute with you before your Lord, the verse finally ending with the Divine commandment, Say, All bounty, etc. The style is peculiar to the Quran and is intended to produce a good psychological effect.

The words, that one be given the like of that which has been given to you, which Muslims are bidden to say are in fitting contrast to the words of the Jews quoted in the beginning of the verse, i.e. obey none but him who follows your religion. Jews make God a national deity, debarring all others from His favours, whereas Muslims believe in Him as the Lord of all, basing His right to greatness on the bestowal of His favours in whatever form and to whatever people they may come. Moreover, they believe that the fold of Islam, which is Allah’s universal guidance, is open to all peoples. The words of the Jews, Or they would dispute with you before your Lord, mean that if the Jews follow any dispensation other than their own, they would thereby prove their own guilt in the sight of God, for in that case they would be tacitly admitting that the door of God’s favours is open to others as well, and thus they would make themselves liable to punishment for rejecting Islam. The words, All bounty is in the hand of Allah, mean that the bestowing of the gift of prophethood upon a people is in the hand of God alone and He confers it on those who are deserving of it.

(2) According to another interpretation, only the words قل ان الھدی ھدی الله which in this case would be translated as "Say, the true guidance is the guidance of Allah," would be considered as being parenthetical and the following words, i.e. that one be given the like of that which has been given to you, etc. would be taken to form part of the speech of the Jews. In this case the clause would signify that the Jews say to one another that the guidance that has come to the House of Israel, or the favours that have been bestowed on them, can never be vouchsafed to any other people. They are the exclusive privilege of Israel.

(3) Yet another interpretation is obtained, if the speech of the Jews is taken to end with the words, obey none but him who follows your religion, the succeeding clauses being considered to be all Divine speech put in the mouth of believers. In this case the words فتقبلوه would be considered to be understood before the clause او یحاجوکم عند ربکم and the entire expression would mean, "so they should accept it, or they should dispute with you before your Lord", signifying that, as true guidance is the guidance contained in the Quran, so either the Jews should accept it or they and Muslims should place their case before God for decision, i.e. they should have a مباھله (Mubahalah), i.e. a prayer contest with them and pray to God to help the righteous and destroy the wicked as already explained in 3:62.

English - Short Commentary Notes ^*

Cross Refs:

a

2:121.

b

2:77.

c

57:30.

428A

If we are wrong in holding this view, then they should remove this misunderstanding by some Divine argument.

428B

'Grace' here may signify Prophethood.

428C

(1) The clause, And obey none but him who follows your religion, constitutes a continuation of the concluding clause of the preceding verse. Thereafter comes the parenthetical clause beginning with the words, Say, surely true guidance—the guidance of Allah—is that one may be given the like of that which has been given to you. Then comes again the speech of the Jews in the words, or they would argue with you before your Lord, the verse finally ending with the Divine commandment: Say, 'All bounty, etc.' This style is peculiar to the Qur’an and is intended to produce a good psychological effect.

(2) According to another interpretation, only the words which in this case would be translated as "Say, the true guidance is the guidance of Allah," would be considered as being parenthetical and the following words, i.e. that one be given the like of that which has been given to you, ...before your Lord, would be taken to form part of the speech of the Jews. (3) Y

English - Pickthall

And believe not save in one who followeth your religion - Say (O Muhammad): Lo! the guidance is Allah's Guidance - that anyone is given the like of that which was given unto you or that they may argue with you in the presence of their Lord. Say (O Muhammad): Lo! the bounty is in Allah's hand. He bestoweth it on whom He will. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.

English - Muhammad Ali ^ra

And believe not but in him who follows your religion. Say: True guidance -- Allah’s guidance -- is that one may be given the like of what you were given; or they would prevail on you in argument before your Lord. Say: Grace is surely in Allah’s hand. He gives it to whom He pleases. And Allah is Ample-giving, Knowing.

English - Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan ^ra

But put no faith in any save him who follows your religion. Say to them: Surely, the true guidance is the guidance of Allah — that one may be given the like of that which has been given to you — or else that they should contend against you before your Lord. Say to them also: All bounty is in the hand of Allah, He bestows it upon whomsoever He pleases. Allah is Lord of vast bounty, All-Knowing.

Verse 74

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