Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of The Glorious Koran. An Explanatory Translation (1930)
believe, then are they rightly guided. But if they turn away, then are they in schism, and Allah will suffice thee (for defence) against them. He is the Hearer, the Knower.
138. (We take our) colour from Allah, and who is better than Allah at colouring. We are His worshippers.
139. Say (unto the People of the Scripture): Dispute ye with us concerning Allah when He is our Lord and your Lord? Ours are our works and yours your works. We look to Him alone.
140. Or say ye that Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Do ye know best, or doth Allah? And who is more unjust than he who hideth a testimony which he hath received from Allah? Allah is not unaware of what ye do.
141. Those are a people who have passed away; theirs is that which they earned and yours that which ye earn. And ye will not be asked of what they used to do.
142. The foolish of the people will say: What hath turned them from the qiblah 1 which they formerly observed? Say: Unto Allah belong the East and the West. He guideth whom He will unto a straight path.
143. Thus We have appointed you a middle nation, that ye may be witnesses against mankind, and that the messenger may be a witness against you. And We appointed the qiblah which ye formerly observed only that We might know him who followeth the messenger, from him who turneth on his heels. In truth it was a hard (test) save for those whom Allah guided. But it was not Allah’s purpose that your faith should be in vain, for Allah is full of pity, Merciful toward mankind.
144. We have seen the turning of thy face to heaven (for
1 i.e. the place towards which the face is turned at prayer. The first qiblah of the Muslims was Jerusalem, which gave rise to a misunderstanding on the part of the Jews of Al-Madînah, who wished to draw the Muslims into Judaism. This was the cause of the Prophet’s anxiety mentioned in the next verse but one.
