The Holy Qor-aan 002:141
اَمۡ تَقُوۡلُوۡنَ اِنَّ اِبۡرٰهٖمَ وَاِسۡمٰعِيۡلَ وَاِسۡحٰقَ وَيَعۡقُوۡبَ وَالۡاَسۡبَاطَ كَانُوۡا هُوۡدًا اَوۡ نَصٰرٰىؕ قُلۡ ءَاَنۡـتُمۡ اَعۡلَمُ اَمِ اللّٰهُ ؕ وَمَنۡ اَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنۡ كَتَمَ شَهَادَةً عِنۡدَهٗ مِنَ اللّٰهِؕ وَمَا اللّٰهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ
Um-ta-qoo-loo-na-in-n
Ib-raa-he-ma-wa-is-maa-ee-la-wa-is-haa-qa-wa-yau-qoo-ba-wul-us-baa-ta
kaa-noo-hoo-dun-auo-na-sa-raa
Qool-aa-un-toom-au-la-mo-aa-mil-laa-ho
Wa-mun-uz-la-mo-mim-mun-ka-ta-ma-sha-haa-da-ton-in-da-hoo-may-nul-laa-hay
Wa-mul-laa-ho-bay-ghaa-fay-lin-um-maa-tau-ma-loo-n.
Is it that you say for sure that
Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes
Were Jewish or Christians?
Say, “Do you surely know more or is it Allah?”
And who is more unjust than him who concealed evidence he had from Allah.
And Allah is not unmindful relative to what you do.”
- اَمۡ — Um — Is it (= Question mark like could, did, dad, should, would?)
- تَقُوۡلُوۡنَ — Ta-qoo-loona — You say (= v., pres, pl., m, 2nd person. Allege; announce; assert; allege; attribute; boast; broadcast; call; claim; convey; inform; maintain; profess; specify; state; tell)
- اِنَّ — In-na — For sure (= Absolutely; certainly; definitely; doubtlessly; indeed; in all sincerity; positively; really; surely; truly; verily)
- اِبۡرٰهٖمَ — Ib-raa-he-ma — Abraham (= The name of a Messenger / Prophet of Allah)
- وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; but also; more over; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
- اِسۡمٰعِيۡلَ — Is-maa-ee-la — Ishmael (= The name of a Messenger / Prophet of Allah)
- وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ above)
- اِسۡحٰق — Is-haa-qa — Isaac (= The name of a Messenger / Prophet of Allah)
- وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ above)
- يَعۡقُوۡبَ — Yau-qoo-ba — Jacob (= The name of a Messenger / Prophet of Allah)
- وَ — Wa…(ul) — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ above)
- الۡاَسۡبَاطَ — Us-baa-ta — Tribes (= Children, families, offspring or progeny of the twelve sons of Jacob)
- كَانُوۡا — Kaa-noo — Had been (= v., Conveys continuation; ‘That one in the 3rd persons ‘used to’. This verb and its 14 grammatical variations indicate an act’s continuity from the past to the present and leading into the future – such as ‘continued doing’ or ‘went on doing’)
- هُوۡدًا — Hoo-dun — Jewish (= Followers of Moses; children of Israel; Israelite)
- اَوۡ — Auo — Or (= Alternatively; in substitution)
- نَصٰرٰى — Na-saa-raa — Christian (= Followers of Jesus Christ)
- قُلۡ — Qool — You say (= v., 2nd person. Ask; admonish; announce; assert; call; broadcast; challenge; contend; contest; counter; warn; convey; declare; explain; inform; insist; maintain; tell; preach; profess; question; reply; respond; retort; state. See Commentary titled as “‘You say’ means…“)
- ءَ — Aa — Do (= Question mark like Are, Can, Have, Shell or Will?)
- اَنۡ — Un — Surely (=Absolutely; certainly; definitely; doubtlessly; indeed; positively; really; surely; verily)
- تُمۡ — Toom — You (= pl., m., 2nd person. You men. Generally this way the Holy Qor-aan addresses both men and women)
- اَعۡلَمُ — Au-la-mo — Know more (= Better equipped with awareness; knowing better, full well and greater knowledge; highly knowledgeable)
- اَمِ — Aa-m…(il) — Or is it (= Question mark like could, did, dad, should, would?)
- اللّٰهُ — Laa-ho — Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
- وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ above)
- مَنۡ — Mun — Who (= Anyone; what; whatsoever; who; whoever; whom)
- اَظۡلَمُ — Uz-la-mo — More unjust (= Greater wrong-doer. Guilty of a greater wrong. More cruel, wicked or wrongful. More unfair. Worse)
- مِمَّنۡ — Mim-mun — From who (= Combination of two words. The first word مِنۡ ‘Min’ means ‘from.’ The second word مَنۡ meaning ‘who.’ The combination of two words thus means ‘from who’ or ‘concerning, regarding or relative to whom)
- كَتَمَ — Ka-ta-ma — Concealed (= Hid; kept secret; swept under the rug)
- شَهَادَةً — Sha-haa-da-ton — Evidence (= Corroboration; proof; testimony; witness’ account)
- عِنۡدَ — In-da — From / With (= In the counting, estimation, eyes, providence or sight of)
- هٗ — Hoo — Him (= pro., s., m., 3rd person. He who conceals evidence)
- مِنَ — May-n…(ul) — From (= From the class, category, count, kind, persons or out of)
- اللّٰهِ — Laa-hay — Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
The Phrase Wa-mul-laa-ho-bay-ghaa … is used frequently. See Note 002:075b.
- وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; but; also; more over; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
- مَا — Ma…(ul) — Not (= No; not; not at all; never)
- اللّٰهُ — Laa-ho — Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
- بِ — Bay — With (= This word in Arabic literally means ‘with’)
- غَافِلٍ — Ghaa-fay-lin — Unmindful (= Forgetful. Heedless; Ignorant. Unaware)
- عَمَّا — Um-ma — Relative to what (= This is a combination of two words. The first word عَنۡ (un) means about, concerning, regarding, relative to. The second word مَاۤ (maa) means all that or what. عَمَّا means about, concerning, regarding that or what. A/t/a, ‘what,’ ‘that which,’ ‘all the things,’ ‘that’ and ‘all that (evil)’’
- تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ — Tau-ma-loo-na — You do (= v., pres., pl., 2nd person. Act; activate; attempt; carry out; effect; exercise; execute; function; go; make out; implement; operate; perform; practice; render; serve; run-through; work-out. See Note 002:075b)
* Note 002:141. Five sets of words in this verse 002:141 have appeared in other verses. Some words and phrases just repeated the format for emphasis. Some reiterated the events and teachings provided elsewhere. Some conveyed different shades of a concept like being under a different-color floodlights. Some illuminated the subject from the angle that was not shown in the light of other angle. But put together in this verse they all have produced a priceless rule of the Law of Evidence. Ask a court or prosecutor how important it is that one must not withhold the evidence he has. See our Commentary titled as Repetitions in the Holy Qor-aan have benefits.
- 002:081 posed a question اَمۡ تَقُوۡلُوۡنَ exposing the ignorance of those to whom it was put.
- 002:137 presented in 10 words what was common among many named prophets.
- 002:112 and 002:136 highlighted the superiority claim of هُوۡدًا اَوۡ نَصٰرٰى.
- 002:115 produced the format to show extremely unjust behavior by asking وَمَنۡ اَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنۡ .
- The last seven (7) words are repeated in several verses including 002:075, 002:086, 002:141 and 002:150. The last word تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ (tau-ma-loon) meaning “you do” is in this verse. But the last word يَعۡمَلُوۡنَ (yau-ma-loon) meaning “they do” is in verses 002:145.
Repetitions in Qor-aan have benefits
Repetitions in the Holy Qor-aan have benefits
The revelation of the Holy Qor-aan started with the word اِقۡرَاۡ that meant “You Read” (096:002). It was foretold to be a Book that the Lord God of the Universe had revealed (o56:081), written down in black and white (052:003), in a secure document form (085 023), would be read again and again (056:078), understood well (043:004), preserved (056:079), touched only by the pious (056:080 ) and guaranteed to be protected by the Almighty God who had revealed (015:010) it. The Holy Qor-aan consists of words, words written down. No wonder Words Matter.
Several parts of the verses were revealed repeatedly in different contexts for the obvious benefits. The part وَمَا اللّٰهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ [wa-mul-laa-ho-bay-ghaa-fay-lin-um-maa-tau-ma-loon] meaning “And Allah is not unmindful of all that you do” was revealed as a part of verses that include 002:075, 002:086, 002:141 and 002:150. Then the last word تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ (tau-ma-loon) meaning “you” was substituted with the word يَعۡمَلُوۡنَ (yau-ma-loon) meaning “they” in the verses including 002:145. The cumulative effect is that you and all others must know that Allah watches everything everywhere all the time and nothing is ever hidden from Him and He has definite reasons why a thing is happening in a certain way.
Sometimes the same exact words used in different set-ups convey different shades of a concept and to translate them with one meaning despite changed underlying scenarios is not right. The Holy Qor-aan illustrates this phenomenon repeatedly. The same last five words in verses 002:134 and 002:137 mean differently. The verse 002:134 is an advice and a wish that Abraham and later Jacob gave to their sons centuries before the advent of Islam telling them to remain ‘submissive’ to God’ – not as the adherents of a religion that was not there. The verse 002:137 is a Command addressed to a reader of the Holy Qor-aan after the advent of Islam clearly telling to ‘be a Moslem’ as an adherent of Islam.
A very similar situation is stated in the words صِّرَاطَ and مُسۡتَقِيۡمَ . Those words are used in the verse 001:006 as man’s prayer to be put on the proper path and shown the right road. Those words are repeated in the verse 002:143 and 006:040 as God’s gift to anyone He chooses by putting him on the proper path or showing him the right road.”
The repetition in the Holy Qor-aan of words, phrases and even concepts some of which overlap, cover or are linked with other issues have distinct benefits. They by repeating again and again create a clearer, deeper impression on readers’ minds. They facilitate their readers to translate them correctly for a better understanding of them. They produce vivid pictures of the teachings described in them by their frequent repetition. They cause instant recollection of the prior precedents in relevant situations and scenarios. They lead to a far fuller comprehension of entire surroundings, not just the instant context. They help to memorize the content and enable the memorizer to practice that at all times. They enable a researcher to see others’ conclusions about them to evaluate the real impact. They prepare the reader to face and deal with similar facts but with other considerations. They bring to their readers the spirituality they can’t find in any publication anywhere else. They create fresh ideas to coup with harsh realities of life.
Similarly at least five following sets of words in verse 002:141 have appeared in other verses. Some words and phrases just reiterated the events and teachings provided elsewhere. Some conveyed different shades of a concept like being under floodlights of a different color. Some illuminated another side of the object not shown earlier in the light that came from a single angle. But put together they all show that Repetitions in the Holy Qor-aan have benefits.
The first 2 words (starting with ( اَمۡ ) are repeats in verse 002:081.
The 9 words (starting with ( اِبۡرٰهٖمَ ) are repeats in verse 002:137.
The 3 words (starting with ( هُوۡدًا ) are repeats in verses 002:112 and 002:136
The 4 words (starting with ( وَمَنۡ ) are repeats in verse 002:115.
The last 7 words (starting with (وَمَا اللّٰهُ) are repeats in the verses 002:075, 002:086, 002:150, etc.