O You who have chosen to be graced with belief!

[Dr. Shabbir]

Sister Nighat Ara from India has asked me the reason for my rendition, O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! in QXP.

Here is my humble explanation.

2:104 O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Never say to the Prophet, "RA’INA - listen to us.” Instead, say, "UNZURNA - Grant us attention!” And then listen intently. There is a painful consequence for the rejecters of the Divine Commands.

[‘Ya ayyuhallazeena aamanu’ is generally, but inaccurately, translated as “O You who believe!”, “O Believers!”, “O You of faith! O Faithfuls!” Firstly, ‘aamanu’ is a verb. Secondly, attaining to belief must be an act undertaken after due reflection and with free will. ‘Passive’ faith such as claiming to be a ‘believer by birth’ has no merit in the Sight of Allah. See 4]

[‘Ra’ina’ with a slight twist of the tongue and in very similar Hebrew words has derogatory meanings to it, e.g. “Be our shepherd”, “O Our proud one”, “May deafness befall you.” Some Hebrews resorted to these kinds of insults to the Prophet. (4]