Surah 37. As-Saffat

That was truly a revealing test.

  - Mustafa Khattab

For this was obviously a trial

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And We ransomed his son with a great sacrifice,¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Allah sent a ram to be sacrificed in place of Ishmael.

And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice: ⁴¹⁰³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The adjective qualifying "sacrifice" here, 'azim, (great, momentous) may be understood both in a literal and a figurative sense. In a literal sense it implies that a fine sheep or ram was substituted. The figurative sense is even more important. It was indeed a great and momentous occasion, when two men, with concerted will, "ranged themselves in the ranks" of those to whom self-sacrifice in the service of Allah was the supreme thing in life.

and blessed Abraham 'with honourable mention' among later generations:

  - Mustafa Khattab

And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times: ⁴¹⁰⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. above, xxxvii. 78-81 and n. 4083.

'Peace be upon Abraham.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

"Peace and salutation to Abraham!"

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This is how We reward the good-doers.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

He was truly one of Our faithful servants.

  - Mustafa Khattab

For he was one of Our believing Servants.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

We 'later' gave him good news of Isaac- a prophet, and one of the righteous.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 The birth of Isaac is announced after the story of sacrifice. So this is a proof that the son who was going to be sacrificed was Ishmael, not Isaac. This is also supported by 11:71, where Sarah is told that she would give birth to Isaac, who would (reach adulthood and) have a son by the name of Jacob.

And We gave him the good news of Isaac a prophet one of the Righteous. ⁴¹⁰⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Isaac was Abraham's second son, born of Sarah, when Abraham was 100 years of age. See n. 4101. He was also blessed and became the ancestor of the Jewish people. See next note.

We blessed him¹ and Isaac as well. Some of their descendants did good, while others clearly wronged themselves.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Abraham or Ishmael.

We blessed him and Isaac: but of their progeny are (some) that do right and (some) that obviously do wrong to their own souls. ⁴¹⁰⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

So long as the Children of Israel upheld the righteous banner of Allah, they enjoyed Allah's blessing, and their history is a portion of sacred history. When they fell from grace, they did not stop Allah's Plan: they injured their own souls.

And We certainly showed favour to Moses and Aaron,

  - Mustafa Khattab

Again (of old) We bestowed Our favor on Moses and Aaron. ⁴¹⁰⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The story of Moses is told in numerous passages of the Qur-an. The passages most illustrative of the present passage will be found in xxviii. 4 (oppression of the Israelites in Egypt) and xx. 77-79 (the Israelites triumphant over their enemies when the latter were drowned in the Red Sea).

and delivered them and their people from the great distress.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And We delivered them and their people from (their) Great Calamity; ⁴¹⁰⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

What could have been a greater calamity to them than that they should have been held in slavery by the Egyptians, that their male children should have been killed and their female children should have been saved alive for the Egyptians?

We helped them so it was they who prevailed.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And We helped them so they overcame (their troubles); ⁴¹⁰⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Israelites were delivered by three steps mentioned in verses 114, 115, and 116 respectively; but the consummation of Allah's favour on them was (verses 117-118) the Revelation given to them, which guided them on the Straight Way, so long as they preserved the Revelation intact and followed its precepts. The three steps were: (1) the divine commission to Moses and Aaron: (2) the deliverance from bondage; and (3) the triumphant crossing of the Red Sea and the destruction of Pharaoh's army.

We gave them the clear Scripture,

  - Mustafa Khattab

And We gave them the Book which helps to make things clear; ⁴¹¹⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Mustabin has a slightly different force from Mubin. I have translated the former by "which helps to make things clear", and the latter by "which makes things clear",-apt descriptions as applied to the Taurat and the Qur-an.

and guided them to the Straight Path.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And We guided them to the Straight Way.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And We blessed them 'with honourable mention' among later generations:

  - Mustafa Khattab

And We left (this blessing) for them among generations (to come) in later times: ⁴¹¹¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See above, xxxvii. 78-81 and n. 4083.

'Peace be upon Moses and Aaron.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

"Peace and salutation to Moses and Aaron!"

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali