Quote:
{3:78} And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not from the Scripture. And they say, "This is from God," but it is not from God. And they speak untruth about God while they know.
I suggest,
{3:78} And verily, there surely is among them a segment [who] twist their tongues with the Book so that you may think it is from the Book, but it is not from the Book. And they say, "This is from God," but it is not from God. And they say about God untruth while they know [better].Quote:
{3:79} It is not for a human [prophet] that God should give him the Scripture and authority and prophethood and then he would say to the people, "Be servants to me rather than God," but [instead, he would say], "Be pious scholars of the Lord because of what you have taught of the Scripture and because of what you have studied."
I'd translate the italicized clause as, "Be worshipers of me beneath God."
من دون means beneath, while
دون means apart from. The reference in the verse is to the polytheist belief of associating others with God in worship, not replacing God altogether.
I suggest,
{3:79} It is not for a human that God should grant him the Book, rule, and prophethood and then he would say to the people, "Be worshipers of me aside from God," but [instead, he would say], "Be pietistic people for what you have been teaching the Book and for what you have been studying."Quote:
{3:80} Nor could he order you to take the angels and prophets as lords. Would he order you to disbelief after you had been Muslims?
I suggest,
{3:80} Nor would he order you to take for yourselves the angels and the prophets as lords. Would he order you to disbelief after you being Muslims?