Quote:
{2:135} 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."
As I mentioned before,
هودا literally means "those who came back remorseful and apologized". It refers to the Jews. But it is too lengthy. I suggest,
{2:135} And they said, "Be Jews or Christians [so] you find guidance." Say, "Rather, [we follow] the doctrine of Abraham, inclining toward truth, and he was not of the polytheists."Quote:
{2:136} Say, [O believers], "We have believed in God and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."
Only comment is that there is no reason to capitalize "the Descendants." Also, it's better English to not repeat "and," e.g., "Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the descendants..." So, I suggest,
{2:136} Say, "We have believed in God and what has been sent down to us and what has been sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the grandsons and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We do not segregate between any of them, and we are to Him Muslims."Quote:
{2:137} So if they believe in the same as you believe in, then they have been [rightly] guided; but if they turn away, they are only in dissension, and God will be sufficient for you against them. And He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
The interjection, "rightly" is redundant. I suggest,
{2:137} So if they have believed in the like of what you have believed in, then they have found guidance; but if they have turned away, then verily they are only in dissension, and God will spare you them. And He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.Quote:
{2:138} [And say, "Ours is] the religion of God. And who is better than God in [ordaining] religion? And we are worshippers of Him."
صبغة means "dye" or "cast." It's a unique way to call the religion of God. Such uniqueness needs to be translated or the English reader wouldn't know it's in the source! Yusuf Ali and Sarwar translated it "baptism" and Asad "hue." Such excellent translations, especially Asad's. You know me; I like to use the most direct word, dye, but I find Asad's choice much better and quite insightful. So, I suggest,
{2:138} [That is] the hue of God. And who is better than God in hue? And we are to Him worshiping."
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