Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of The Glorious Koran. An Explanatory Translation (1930)
SÛRAH XVII
Banî Isrâîl, “The Children of Israel,” begins and ends with references to the Israelites. V. 1 relates to the Prophet’s vision, in which he was carried by night upon a heavenly steed to the Temple at Jerusalem, whence he was caught up through the seven heavens to the very presence of God. The Sûrah may be taken as belonging to the middle group of Meccan Sûrahs, except v. 81, or, according to other commentators, vv. 76–82, revealed at Al-Madînah.
The Children of Israel
1. Glorified be He Who carried His servant by night from. the Inviolable Place of Worship 1 to the Far Distant Place of Worship 2 the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, that We might show him of Our tokens! Lo! He, only He, is the Hearer, the Seer.
2. We gave unto Moses the Scripture, and We appointed it a guidance for the Children of Israel, saying: Choose no guardian beside Me.
3. (They were) the seed of those whom We carried (in the ship) along with Noah. Lo! he was a grateful slave.
4. And We decreed for the Children of Israel in the Scripture: Ye verily will work corruption in the earth twice, and ye will become great tyrants.
5. So when the time for trie first of the two came, We
1 Mecca.
2 Jerusalem.
