The Qur'an
Translation to English by Sher Ali

Chapter 1
Exordium
________________________________________
In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful.
1:2 All praise is due to God alone, Lord of all the worlds.
1:3 The Gracious, the Merciful.
1:4 Master of the Day of Judgment.
1:5 Thee alone do we worship and Thee alone do we implore for help.
1:6 Guide us in the straight path,
1:7 The path of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy favours,
those who have not incurred Thy displeasure and those who
have not gone astray.

Chapter 2
The Cow
________________________________________
In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful.
2:1 Alif, Lam, Mim.
2:2 This is a perfect Book; there is no doubt in it; it is a guidance for the righteous,
2:3 Who believe in the unseen and observe prayer and spend out of what We have provided for them.
2:4 And who believe in that which has been revealed to thee and that which was revealed before thee and they have firm faith in the hereafter.
2:5 It is they who follow the guidance from their Lord and it is they who shall prosper.
2:6 Those who have disbelieved -- it being alike to them whether thou warn them or warn them not -- they will not believe.
2:7 God has set a seal on their hearts and their ears, and over their eyes is a covering; and for them is a grievous chastisement.
2:8 And of the people there are some who say, 'We believe in God, and the Last Day;' while they are not believers at all.
2:9 They would deceive God and those who believe, but they deceive none but themselves; only they perceive it not.
2:10 In their hearts was a disease, so God has increased their disease, and for them is a grievous punishment because they lied.
2:11 And when it is said to them, 'Create not disorder in the earth,' they say 'We are only promoters of peace.'
2:12 Beware! it is surely they who create disorder, but they do not perceive it.
2:13 And when it is said to them, 'Believe as other people have believed,' they say, 'Shall we believe as the fools have believed?' Remember! it is surely they that are the fools, but they do not know.
2:14 And when they meet those who believe, they say, 'We believe;' but when they are alone with their ring-leaders they say, 'We were only mocking.'
2:15 God will punish their mockery and will let them continue in their transgression, wandering blindly.
2:16 These are they who have bartered away guidance for error, but their traffic has brought them no gain, nor are they rightly guided.
2:17 Their case is like the case of a person who kindled a fire, and when it lighted up all around him, God took away their light and left them in thick darkness, they see not.
2:18 They are deaf, dumb and blind; so they will not return.
2:19 Or, it is like a heavy rain from the clouds, wherein is thick darkness and thunder and lightning; they put their fingers into their ears because of the thunder claps for fear of death, and God encompasses the disbelievers.
2:20 The lightning might well nigh snatch away their sight; whenever it shines upon them, they walk therein; and when it becomes dark to them, they stand still. And if God had so willed He could take away their hearing and their sight; surely God has the power to do all that He wills.
2:21 O ye men! worship your Lord Who created you and those before you, that you may guard against evil.
2:22 Who made the earth a bed for you, and the heaven a roof, and caused water to come down from the clouds and therewith brought forth fruits for your sustenance; so do not set up equals to God, while you know.
2:23 And if you are in doubt as to what We have sent down to Our servant, then produce a chapter like it, and call upon your helpers besides God, if you are truthful.
2:24 But if you do it not -- and never shall you do it -- then guard against the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones, which is prepared for the disbelievers.
2:25 And give glad tidings to those who believe and do good works, that for them are gardens beneath which flow streams. Whenever they are given a portion of fruit therefrom, they will say, 'This is what was given us before,' and gifts mutually resembling shall be brought to them. And they will have therein pure mates, and therein will they abide.
2:26 God disdains not to give an illustration -- as small as a gnat or even smaller. Those who believe know that it is the truth from their Lord, while those who disbelieve say, 'What does God mean by such an illustration?' Many does He adjudge by it to be in error and many by it does He guide, and none does He adjudge thereby to be in error except the disobedient,
2:27 Who breaks the covenant of God after having established it, and cut asunder what God has bidden to be joined, and create disorder in the earth; it is these that are the losers.
2:28 How can you disbelieve in God? You were without life and He gave you life, and then He will cause you to die, then restore you to life, and then to Him shall you be made to return.
2:29 He it is Who created for you all that is in the earth; then He turned towards the heavens, and He perfected them as seven heavens; and He has perfect knowledge of all things.
2:30 And when thy Lord said to the angels, 'I am about to place a viceregent in the earth,' they said 'Wilt Thou place therein such as will cause disorder in it, and shed blood? -- and we glorify Thee with Thy praise and extol Thy holiness,' He answered, 'I know what you know not.'
2:31 And He taught Adam all the names, then He put the objects of these names before the angles and said, 'Tell Me the names of these, if you are right,'
2:32 They said, 'Holy art Thou! No knowledge have we except what Thou hast taught us; surely Thou art All-Knowing, the Wise.'
2:33 He said 'O Adam, tell them their names;' and when he had told them their names, He said 'Did I not say to you, I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you hide?
2:34 And remember the time when We said to the angels 'Submit to ADAM,' and they all submitted. But Iblis did not. He refused and deem himself too big; and he was of the disbelievers.
2:35 And when We said 'O Adam, dwell thou and thy wife in the garden, and eat therefrom plentifully where ever you will, but approach not this tree, least you be of the wrongdoers.'
2:36 But Satan caused them both to slip by means of it and drove them out of the state in which they were. And We said, 'Go forth hence; some of you are enemies of others and for you there is an abode in the earth and a provision for a time.'
2:37 Then Adam learnt from his Lord certain words of prayer. So He turned towards him with mercy. Surely He is Oft-Returning with compassion, and is Merciful.
2:38 We said. 'Go forth hence, all of you. And if there comes to you guidance from Me then whoso shall follow My guidance, on them shall come no fear nor shall they grieve.'
2:39 But they who will disbelieve and treat Our signs as lies, these shall be the inmates of the Fire; herein shall they abide.
2:40 O Children of Israel! remember My favours which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill your covenant with Me, I will fulfill My covenant with you, and Me alone should you fear.
2:41 And believe in what I have sent which fulfill that which is with you, and be not the first to disbelieve therein, and barter not My Signs for a paltry price, and take protection in Me alone.
2:42 And confound not truth with falsehood nor hide the truth knowingly.
2:43 And observe Prayer and pay the Zakaat, and bow down with those who bow.
2:44 Do you enjoined others to do what is good and forget your ownselves, while you read the book? Will you not then understand?
2:45 And seek help with patience and prayer, and this indeed is hard except for the humble in spirit,
2:46 Who know for certain that they will meet their Lord, and to Him will they return.
2:47 O Children of Israel! remember My favours which I bestowed upon you and that I exalted you above the peoples of the time.
2:48 And guard yourselves against the day when no soul shall serve as a substitute for another soul at all, nor shall intercession be accepted for it, nor shall ransom be taken from it, nor shall they be helped.
2:49 And remember the time when We delivered you from Pharaoh's people who afflicted you with grievous torment, slaying your sons and sparing your women; and in that was a great trial for you from your Lord.
2:50 And remember also the time when We divided the sea for you and saved you and drowned Pharaoh's people while you looked on.
2:51 And when We made Moses a promise of forty nights, then you took the calf for worship in his absence and you were the transgressors.
2:52 Then We forgave you thereafter, that you may be grateful.
2:53 And remember when We gave Moses the Book and the Discrimination, that you may be rightly guided.
2:54 And when Moses said to his people, 'O my people, you have indeed wronged yourselves by taking the calf for worship; turn ye therefore to your Maker, and kill your evil desires; that is best for you in the sight of your Maker.' Then He turned towards you with compassion. Surely He is Oft-Returning with compassion and is Merciful.
2:55 And remember when you said, 'O Moses, we will not believe thee until we see God face to face;' Then the thunderbolt overtook you, while you witnessed with your own eyes the consequences of your conduct.
2:56 The We raised you up after your death that you might be grateful.
2:57 And We caused the clouds to be a shade over you and sent down on you Manna and Salwa, saying, 'Eat of the good things We have provided for you.' And they wronged us not, but it was themselves that they wronged.
2:58 And remember the time when We said 'Enter this town and eat therefrom -- whatever you will -- plentifully; and enter the gate submissively and say, 'God! forgive us our sins.' We shall forgive you your sins and We shall give increase to those who do good.'
2:59 The transgressors changed it for a word other than that which was said to them. So We send down upon the transgressors a punishment from heaven because they were disobedient.
2:60 And remember the time when Moses prayed for water for his people and We said, 'Strike the rock with thy rod;' And there gushed forth from it twelve springs, so that each tribe knew their drinking place. And they were told, 'Eat and drink of what God has provided, and commit not iniquity in the earth, creating disorder.'
2:61 And remember when you said, O Moses, surely we will not remain content with one kind of food; pray, then, to thy Lord for us that He may bring forth for us of what the earth grows -- of its herbs and its cucumbers and its wheat and its lentils and its onions.' He said, 'Would you take in exchange that which is worse for that which is better? Go down to some town and there is for you what you ask.' And they were smitten with abasement and destitution, and they incurred the wrath of God; that was because they rejected the Signs of God and sought to slay the Prophets unjustly; this was because they rebelled and transgressed.
2:62 Surely, those who believe and the Jews and the Christians and the Sabians -- whichever party from among these truly believes in God and the Last Day and does good deeds, shall have their reward with their Lord, and no fear shall come upon then nor shall they grieve.
2:63 And remember the time when We took a covenant from you and raised you above the Mount, saying, 'Hold fast that which We have given you and bear in mind what is therein, that you may be saved.'
2:64 Then you turned back thereafter; and had it not been for God's grace and His mercy upon you, you would surely have been of the losers.
2:65 And surely, you have known the end of those amongst you, who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath. So We said to them, 'Be ye apes, despised.'
2:66 Thus We made it an example to those of its time and to those who came after it, and a lesson to those who fear God.
2:67 And remember when Moses said to his people, 'God commands you to slaughter a cow,' they said, 'Dost thou make a jest of us?' He said 'I seek refuge with God least I should be of the ignorant.'
2:68 They said, 'Pray for us to thy Lord that He make plain to us what she is,' He answered, 'God says, it is a cow, neither old nor young, full-grown between the two; now do what you are commanded.'
2:69 They said, 'Pray for us to thy Lord that He make plain to us of what colour she is.' He answered, 'God says, it is a cow of dun colour, pure and rich in tone, delighting the beholders.'
2:70 They said, 'Pray for us to thy Lord that He make plain to us what she is, for all such cows appear to us alike; and if God please, we shall indeed be guided aright,'
2:71 He answered, 'God says it is a cow not broken to plough the earth or water the tilth; one without blemish; of one colour.' They said, 'Now thou have brought the truth.' Then they slaughtered her, though they would rather not do it.
2:72 And remember the time when you killed a person and differed among yourselves about it, and God, would bring to light what you were hiding.
2:73 Then We said, 'Compare this incident with some other similar ones' and you will discover the truth. Thus does God give life to the dead and show you His Signs that you may understand.
2:74 Then your hearts became hardened after that, till they were like stones or harder still; for of stones there are some out of which gush forth streams, and of them there are some out of which flows water when they cleave asunder. And indeed of them are some that humble themselves for the fear of God. And God is not unmindful of what you do.
2:75 Do you expect that they will believe you when a party of them hear the Word of God, then pervert it after they have understood it, and they well know the consequences thereof.
2:76 And when they meet those who believe, they say 'We believe,' and when they meet one another in private, they say, 'Do you inform them (the believers) of what God has unfolded to you, that they may thereby argue with you before your Lord. Will you not then understand?
2:77 Do they not know that God knows what they keep secret and what they make known?
2:78 And some of them are illiterate, they know not the book but their own false notions, and they do nothing but conjecture.
2:79 Woe, therefore, to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say, 'This is from God,' That they may take it for a paltry price. Woe, then, to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn.
2:80 And they say, 'The fire shall not touch us except for a small number of days,' Say, 'Have you taken a promise from God? Then, God will never break His promise. Or, do you say of God what you know not.
2:81 Aye! whoso does evil and is encompassed by his sins -- those are the inmates of the Fire; therein shall they abide.
2:82 But they who believe and do good works -- those are the dwellers of Heaven; therein shall they abide.
2:83 And remember the time when We took a covenant from the Children of Israel: 'You shall worship none but God and be kind to parents and to the kindred and orphans and the poor, and speak to men kindly and observe prayer, and pay the Zakát.' then you turned away in aversion, except a few of you.
2:84 And remember when We took a covenant from you: 'You shall not shed each other's blood nor turn your people out of your homes,' Then you confirmed it; and you have been witness to it.
2:85 Yet you are those who slay one another and turn out a section of your people from their homes, backing up their enemies against them in sin and transgression. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, while their expulsion itself was unlawful for you. Do you then believe in a part of the Book and disbelieve in another part? What is then the reward of such among you as do so, except disgrace in the present life; and on the Day of Judgment they shall be driven to a most severe chastisement; and surely God is not unmindful of what you do.
2:86 These are they who have preferred the present life to the Hereafter. Their punishment shall not, therefore, be lightened, nor shall they be helped in any way.
2:87 And verily We gave Moses the Book and caused Messengers to follow in his footsteps after him; and to Jesus, son of Mary, We gave manifest Signs, and strengthened him with the Spirit of Holiness. Will you, then, every time a Messenger comes to you with what you yourselves desire not, behave arrogantly and treat some as liars and slay others?
2:88 They said 'Our hearts are wrapped up in covers.' Nay, God has cursed them for their disbelief. Little is that which they believe.
2:89 And when there came to them a book from God, fulfilling that which is with them -- and before that they have prayed for victory over the disbelievers -- yet when there came to them that which they knew to be the truth, they rejected it. The curse of God be on the disbelievers.
2:90 Evil is that which they have sold their souls -- that they should disbelieve in what God has revealed, grudging that God should send down His grace on whomsoever of His servants He pleases. So they have incurred wrath upon wrath; and there is a humiliating chastisement for the disbelievers.
2:91 And when it is said to them 'Believe in what God has sent down,' they say 'We believe in what has been sent down to us;' and they disbelieve in what has been sent down after that, yet it is the Truth, fulfilling that which is with them. Say 'Why, then, do you seek to slay the Prophets of God before this, if you were believers.
2:92 And Moses came to you with manifest Signs, then you took the calf for worship in his absence, and you were transgressors.
2:93 And remember the time when We took a covenant from you and raised high above you the Mount, saying 'Hold firmly to what We have given you and hearken;' They said, 'We hear and we disobey;' and their hearts were saturated with the love of the calf because of their disbelieve. Say 'Evil is that which your faith enjoins on you if you are believers,'
2:94 Say 'If the abode of the Hereafter with God is solely for you to the exclusion of all other people, then wish for death if you are truthful.'
2:95 But never shall they wish for it, because of what their own hands have sent on before them; and God knows the wrongdoers well.
2:96 And thou shalt surely find them of all people, the most covetous of life, even more than those who set up equals with God. Every one of them wishes that he may be granted a life of a thousand years, but his being granted such a life shall not remove him further away from the punishment; and God sees all they do.
2:97 Say 'Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel' -- for he it is who has caused it to descend on thy heart by the command of God, fulfilling that revelation which precedes it, and is a guidance and glad tidings to the believers.
2:98 Whoever is an enemy to God, and His angels, and His Messengers, and Gabriel, and Michael, then surely, God is an enemy to such disbelievers.'
2:99 And surely We have sent down to thee manifest Signs, and none disbelieves in them but the disobedient.
2:100 What! every time they make a covenant, will a party among them throw it aside? Nay, most of them have no faith.
2:101 And now that there has come to them a messenger from God, fulfilling that which is with them, a party of the people to whom the Book was given have thrown the Book of God behind their backs, as if they know it not.
2:102 And they pursue the course which was pursued by the rebellious men against the Kingdom of Solomon. And Solomon did not disbelieve; but it was the rebellious ones who disbelieved. They taught people falsehood and deception, and they claim that they follow what was revealed to the two angels in Babylon, Harút and Marút. But these two taught no one anything until they had said, 'We are but a trial from God, do not, therefore, reject what we say.' So men learnt from them that by which they made a distinction between man and his wife, but they harmed no one thereby, except by the command of God; on the contrary, these people (the opponents of the Holy Prophet) are learning that which would harm them and do them no good. And they have certainly known that he who traffics therein has no share of good in the Hereafter; and surely evil is that for which they sold their souls; if only they knew.
2:103 And if they had believed and acted righteously, better surely, would have been their reward from God, if only they knew.
2:104 O ye who believe, say not to the Prophet 'Ra'ina,' but say 'Unzurna' and hearken unto him. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.
2:105 They who disbelieve from among the people of the Book, or from among those who associate gods with God, desire not that any good should be sent down to you from your Lord; but God chooses for His mercy whomsoever He pleases; and God is Lord of exceeding bounty.
2:106 Whatever message We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring one better than that or the like thereof. Knowest thou not that God has the power to do all that He wills?
2:107 Knowest thou not that the Kingdom of the Heavens and the earth belongs to God alone? And there is no protector or helper for you besides God.
2:108 Would you question the Messenger sent to you as Moses was questioned before this? And whoever takes disbelief in exchange for belief has undoubtedly gone astray from the right path.
2:109 Many people of the Book wish, out of sheer envy from themselves, that, after you have believed, they could turn you again into disbelievers after the truth has become manifest to them. But forgive and overlook till God brings His decree, surely God has the power to do all that He wills.
2:110 And observe prayer and pay the Zakaat; and whatever good you send on before you for yourselves, you shall find it with God; surely God sees all that you do.
2:111 And they say. 'None shall enter Heaven unless he be a Jew or a Christian.' These are their vain desires. Say, 'Produce your proof, if you are truthful.'
2:112 Nay, whosoever submits himself completely to God and he is the doer of good, shall have his reward from his Lord. No fear shall come on them nor shall they grieve.
2:113 And the Jews say, 'The Christians stand on nothing' and the Christians say, 'The Jews stand on nothing;' while they both read the same book. Even thus said those, who had no knowledge, like what they say. But God shall judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein they disagree.
2:114 And who is more unjust than he who prohibits the name of God being glorified in God's temples and strives to ruin them? It was not proper for such men to enter therein except in fear. For them is disgrace in this world; and theirs shall be a great punishment in the next.
2:115 To God belongs the East and the West; so whithersover you turn, there will be the face of God. Surely, God is Bountiful, All-Knowing.
2:116 And they say, 'God has taken to Himself a son.' Holy is He! Nay, everything in the Heavens and the earth belongs to Him. To Him are all obedient.
2:117 He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a thing, He only says to it 'Be,' and it is.
2:118 And those who have no knowledge say, 'Why does God not speak to us, or a Sign come to us direct?' Likewise said those before them what was similar to their saying. Their hearts are all alike. We have certainly made the Signs plain for a people who firmly believe.
2:119 We have sent thee with the Truth, as a bearer of glad tidings and a Warner. And thou wilt not be questioned concerning the inmates of Hell.
2:120 And the Jews will never be pleased with thee, nor the Christians, unless thou followest their creed. Say 'Surely God's guidance alone is the true guidance,' And if thou follow their evil desires after the knowledge has come to thee, thou shalt have from God, no friend nor helper.
2:121 They to whom we have given the Book, follow it as it ought to be followed; it is these that believe therein. And whoso believes not therein, these are they who are the losers.
2:122 O Children of Israel! remember My favours which I bestowed upon you, and that I exalted you above all the nations of the time.
2:123 And guard yourselves against the day when no soul shall serve as a substitute for another soul at all, nor shall any ransom be accepted from it, nor any intercession avail it, nor shall it be helped.
2:124 And remember when his Lord tried Abraham with certain commandments which he fulfilled, He said, 'I will make thee a leader of men.' Abraham asked, 'And from among my offspring?' God said, 'My covenant does not embrace the transgressors.'
2:125 And remember the time when We made the House a resort for mankind and a place of security; We said, 'Take ye the station of Abraham as a place of prayer.' And we commanded Abraham and Ishmael, saying, 'Purify My House for those who perform the circuit and for those who remain therein for devotion and those who bow down and fall prostrate in Prayer.'
2:126 And remember when Abraham said, 'My Lord, make this a town of peace and provide with fruits such of its dwellers as believe in God and the Last Day.' God said 'And on him too who believes not, will I bestow benefits for a little while; then will I drive him to the punishment of the Fire, and an evil destination it is.
2:127 And remember the time when Abraham and Ishmael raised the foundations of the house, praying, 'Our Lord, accept this from us; for thou art the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing;
2:128 Our Lord, make us both submissive to Thee and make of our offspring a people submissive to Thee. And show us our ways of worship and turn to us with mercy; for thou art Oft-Returning with compassion, and art Merciful.
2:129 And, Our Lord, raise up among them a Messenger from among themselves who may recite to them Thy Signs and teach them the Book and Wisdom and may purify them; surely Thou art the Mighty the Wise.
2:130 And who will turn away from the religion of Abraham but he who makes a fool of himself. Him did we choose in this world, and in the next he will surely be among the righteous.
2:131 When his Lord said to Him, 'Submit', he said, 'I have already submitted to the Lord of the worlds.'
2:132 The same did Abraham enjoin upon his sons, -- and Jacob also -- saying, 'O my sons, truly God has chosen this religion for you; so let not death overtake you except when you are in a state of complete submission.'
2:133 Were you present when death came to Jacob, when he said to his sons. 'What will you worship after me?' They answered, 'We will worship thy God, the God of thy fathers, Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac, the One God; and to Him we submit ourselves.'
2:134 Those are a people that have passed away, for them is that which they have earned, and for you is what you earn, and you shall not be questioned as to what they did.
2:135 And they say, 'Be ye Jews or Christians, then you will be rightly guided,' Say 'Nay, but follow ye the religion of Abraham who was ever inclined to God; he was not of those who associated gods with God.'
2:136 Say ye, 'We believe in God and what has been revealed to us, and what was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael, and Isaac and Jacob and his children and what was given to Moses and Jesus, and what was given to all other Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them; and to Him we submit ourselves.'
2:137 And if they believe as you have believed, then they are rightly guided; but if they turn back, then they are bent upon creating a schism, and God will surely suffice thee against them, for He is All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
2:138 Say, 'We have adopted the religion of God; and who is better than God in teaching religion, and him alone do we worship.'
2:139 Say, 'Do you dispute with us concerning God, while He is our Lord and your Lord? And for us is our works and for you your works; and to Him alone are we sincerely devoted.'
2:140 Do you say that Abraham and Ishmael, and Isaac and Jacob and his children were Jews or Christians?' Say 'Do you know better or God and who is more unjust than he who hides the testimony that he has from God? And God is not unaware of what you do.'
2:141 Those are a people that have passed away, for them is what they have earned, and for you is what you earn, and you shall not be questioned as to what they did.
2:142 The fools among the people will say 'What has turned them away from their Qiblah which they followed?' Say, 'To God belong the East and the West. He guides whom He pleases to the right path.'
2:143 And thus have We made you an exalted nation, that you may be guardians over the people and the Messenger of God may be a guardian over you. And We did not appoint the Qiblah which thou didst follow; except that We might know him who follows the Messenger of God from him who turns upon his heels. And this is indeed hard except for those whom God has guided. And God would never let your faith go in vain; surely, God is compassionate and Merciful to the people.
2:144 Verily, We see thee turning thy face often to heaven, surely then will we make thee turn to the Qiblah which thou likest. So turn thy face towards the Sacred Mosque; and wherever you may be, turn your faces towards it. And they to whom the Book has been given know that this is the truth from their Lord; and God is not unmindful of what they do.
2:145 And even if thou shouldst bring every Sign to those who have been given the Book, they would not follow thy Qiblah nor wouldst thou follow their Qiblah, nor would some of them follow the Qiblah of others. And if thou shouldst follow their desires after the knowledge that has come to thee, then thou shalt surely be of the transgressors.
2:146 Those to whom We have given the Book recognize it even as they recognize their sons, but surely some of them hide the truth knowingly.
2:147 It is the truth from thy Lord; be not, therefore of those who doubt.
2:148 And everyone has a goal to which he turns his whole attention. Then vie with one another in good works. Wherever you may be God will bring you all together. Surely, God has the power to do all that He wills.
2:149 And from wheresoever thou comest forth, turn thy face towards the Sacred Mosque; for that is indeed the truth from thy Lord. And God is not unmindful of what you do.
2:150 And from wheresoever thou comest forth, turn thy face towards the Sacred Mosque; and wherever you be, turn your faces towards it that people may have no argument against you, except those who are unjust -- so fear them not, but fear Me -- and that I may perfect My favour upon you, and that you may be rightly guided.
2:151 Even as We have sent to you a Messenger from among yourselves who recites Our Signs to you, and purifies you, and teaches you the Book and Wisdom, and teaches you that which you knew not.
2:152 Therefore, remember Me and I will remember you; and be thankful to Me and do not be ungrateful to Me.
2:153 O ye who believe, seek help through perseverance and Prayer; surely, God is with those who patiently persevere.
2:154 And say not of those who are slain in the way of God that they are dead; nay they are living, only you perceive not.
2:155 And We will try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and fruits; but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.
2:156 Who, when a misfortune overtakes them, say, 'Surely, to God we belong and to Him shall we return.'
2:157 It is these on whom descend blessings from their Lord and also mercy, and it is these that are rightly guided.
2:158 Surely, Al-Safa and Al-Marwah are among the Signs of God. It is therefore no sin for him who is on Pilgrimage to the House, or performs Umrah, or go around the two. And whoso does good beyond what is obligatory, surely then, God is appreciative of good deeds, and All-Knowing.
2:159 Those who hide what We have sent down of Signs and guidance after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, it is these whom God curses; so curse them those who have the right to curse.
2:160 But they who repent and amend and openly declare the truth, it is these to whom I turn with forgiveness, and I am Oft-Returning with compassion and Merciful.
2:161 Those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers, on them shall be the curse of God and of the angels and of men all together.
2:162 They shall remain under it. The punishment shall not be lightened for them, nor shall they be granted respite.
2:163 And your God is One God; there is no God but He, the Gracious, the Merciful.
2:164 Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of the night and the day, and in the ships that sail the sea with that which profits men, and in the water which God sends down from the sky and quickens therewith the earth after its death and scatters therein all kinds of beasts, and in the change of the winds and the clouds pressed into service between the heaven and the earth -- are indeed Signs for the people who use their understanding.
2:165 And there are some among men who take for themselves objects of worship other than God, loving them as they should love God. But believers are stronger in their love for God. And if those who transgress could now see the time when they shall see the punishment, they would realize that all power belongs to God and that God is severe in punishing.
2:166 Could they but see when those who were followed shall disown their followers and shall see the punishment and all their ties shall be cut asunder.
2:167 And those who followed shall say, 'If we could only return, we would disown them even as they have disowned us.' Thus will God show them their works as anguish for them, and that they shall not get out of the fire.
2:168 O ye men! eat of what is lawful and good in the earth; and follow not the footsteps of Satan, surely he is to you an open enemy.
2:169 He enjoins upon you only what is evil and what is foul, and that you say of God what you do not know.
2:170 And when it is said to them, 'Follow that which God has sent down, they say, 'Nay, we will follow that wherein we found our fathers.' What! even if their fathers had no sense at all and followed not the right path.
2:171 And the case of those who disbelieve is like the case of one who shouts to that which hears naught but a call and a cry. They are deaf dumb and blind -- so they do not understand.
2:172 O ye who believe, eat of the good things We have provided for you, and render thanks to God, if it is He Whom you really worship.
2:173 He has made unlawful to you only that which dies of itself, and blood and the flesh of swine, and that on which the name of any other than God has been invoked. But he who is driven by necessity, being neither disobedient nor exceeding the limit, it shall be no sin for him. Surely, God is most Forgiving, Merciful.
2:174 Those who hide that which God has sent down of the Book and take in exchange for it a paltry price, they fill their bellies with nothing but fire. God will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them. And for them is a grievous punishment.
2:175 It is they who have bought error for guidance and punishment for forgiveness. How great is their endurance of the Fire!
2:176 That is because God has sent down the Book with the truth; and surely they who disagree concerning the Book are gone far in enmity.
2:177 It is not righteousness that you turn your faces to the East or the West, but truly righteous is he who believes in God and the Last Day and the angels and the Book and the Prophets, and spends his money out of love for Him, on the kindred and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and those who ask for charity and for ransoming the captives; and observes prayer and pays the Zakát; and those who fulfill their promise when they have made one, and the patient in poverty and afflictions and the steadfast in the time of war; it is these who have proved truthful and it is these who are truly God-Fearing.
2:178 O ye who believe! equitable retaliation in the matter of the slain is prescribed for you; the free man for the free man, and the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. But for him who is granted any remission by his injured brother, pursuing the matter for the realization of the blood-money shall be done with fairness, and the murderer shall pay him the blood-money in a handsome manner. This is an alleviation from your Lord and a mercy. And whoso transgresses thereafter, for him there shall be a grievous punishment.
2:179 And there is life for you in the law of retaliation, O men of understanding, that you may enjoy security.
2:180 It is prescribed for you, when death comes to any one of you, if he leaves much wealth that he make a will to parents and near relatives to act with fairness. This is an obligation on those who fear God.
2:181 And he who alters it after he has heard it, the sin thereof shall surely lie on those who alter it. Surely God is All-Hearing and All-Knowing.
2:182 But whoso apprehends from a testator a partiality or a wrong, and makes peace between them (the parties affected), it shall be no sin for him. Surely, God is most Forgiving and Merciful.
2:183 O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard against evil.
2:184 The prescribed fasting is for a fixed number of days, but whoso among you is sick or on a journey, shall fast the same number of other days; and for those who are able to fast only with great difficulty, is an expiation -- the feeding of a poor man. And whoso does good of his own accord it is better for him. And fasting is good for you, if you only knew.
2:185 The month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur'án was revealed as a guidance for mankind with clear proofs of guidance and discrimination. Therefore, whosoever is present at home in this month let him fast therein. But whoso is temporarily sick or on a journey, shall fast the same number of other days, God desires ease for you and He desires not hardship for you, and He desires that you may complete the number, and that you may exalt God for His having guided you and that you may be grateful.
2:186 And when My servants ask thee about Me, say 'I am near. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he prays to Me. So they should hearken to Me and believe in Me that they may follow the right way.
2:187 It is made lawful for you to go in unto your wives on the night of the fast. They are a sort of garment for you and you are a sort of garment for them. God knows that you have been acting unjustly to yourselves, wherefore He has turned to you with mercy and afforded you relief. So you may now go in unto them and seek what God has ordained for you; and eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black tread of the dawn. Then complete the fast till nightfall and do not go in unto them while you remain in the Mosques for devotion. These are the limits set by God, so approach them not. Thus does God make His commandments clear to men that they may become secure against evil.
2:188 And do not devour your property among yourselves by false means and offer it not as bribe to the authorities that you may devour a part of the wealth of other people wrongfully while you know.
2:189 They ask thee about the new moons. Say, 'They are means for measuring time, for the general convenience of people and for the Pilgrimage.' And it is not righteousness that you come into houses by the backs thereof, but truly righteous is he who fears God. And you should come into houses by the doors thereof; and fear God that you may prosper.
2:190 And fight in the way of God against those who fight against you, but do not transgress. Surely, God loves not the transgressors.
2:191 And slay these transgressors wherever you meet them and drive them out from where they have driven you out; for persecution is worst than slaying. And fight them not in and near the Sacred Mosque until they fight you therein. But if they fight you, then fight them. Such is the requital for the disbelievers.
2:192 But if they desist, then surely, God is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
2:193 And fight them until there is no persecution, and religion is professed only for God. But if they desist, then remember that no hostility is allowed except against the wrongdoers.
2:194 The violation of a Sacred Month may be retaliated in the Sacred Month, and for all sacred things there is the law of retaliation. So whoso transgresses against you, punish him for his transgression to the extent to which he has transgressed against you. And fear God and know that God is with those who fear him,
2:195 And spend in the cause of God, and cast not yourselves into ruin with your own hands, and do good; surely God loves those who do good.
2:196 And complete the pilgrimage and the Umrah for the sake of God; but if you are kept back, then make whatever offering is easily available; and do not shave your heads until the offering reaches its destination. And whoever among you is sick or has an ailment of the head, should make and expiation either by fasting or alms giving, or a sacrifice. But when you are safe, then he who would avail himself of the Umrah together with the Pilgrimage, should make whatever offering is easily obtainable. But such of you as cannot find an offering should fast three days during the Pilgrimage, and seven when you return home; these are ten complete. This is for him whose family does not reside near the Sacred Mosque. And fear God and know that God is severe in punishing.
2:197 The months of the Pilgrimage are well known; so whoever determines to perform the Pilgrimage in these months should remember that there is to be no foul talk, nor any transgression, nor any quarreling during the Pilgrimage. And whatever good you do, God knows it. And furnish yourselves with necessary provisions for your journey and surely, the best provision is righteousness. And fear Me alone, O men of understanding.
2:198 It is no sin for you that you seek the bounty of your Lord. But when you pour forth from Arafat, remember God at Mash'ar al-Haraam, and remember Him as He has guided you; although before this you were of those gone astray.
2:199 Then pour forth from where the people pour forth, and seek forgiveness from God; surely God is most forgiving, Merciful.
2:200 And when you have performed the acts of worship prescribed for you, celebrate the praises of God as you used to celebrate the praises of your fathers, or even with greater devotion. And of men there are some who say 'Our Lord grant us good things in this world;' and such a one shall have no share in the hereafter.
2:201 And of them there are some who say, 'Our Lord grant us good in this world as well as good in the world to come, and save us from the torment of the fire.
2:202 For these their shall be a goodly share because of what they have earned. And God is swift at reckoning.
2:203 And remember God during the appointed number of days, but whoso hastens to leave in two days, it shall be no sin for him; and whoso stays behind, it shall be no sin for him either. This direction is for him who fears God. So fear God and know that you shall all be brought together before Him.
2:204 And of men there is he whose talk on this life would please thee, and he calls God to witness as to that which is in his heart, and yet he is the most contentious of quarrelers.
2:205 And when he is in authority, he runs about in the land to create disorder in it and destroys the tilth and the progeny of man; and God loves not disorder.
2:206 And when it is said to him 'Fear God,' pride incites him to further sin. So Hell shall be his sufficient reward; and surely it is an evil place of rest.
2:207 And of men there is he who would sell himself to seek the pleasure of God; and God is Compassionate to His servants.
2:208 O ye who believe, come into submission all of you and follow not the footsteps of Satan; surely he is your open enemy.
2:209 But if you slip after the clear Signs that have come to you, then know that God is Mighty and Wise.
2:210 What do they wait for but that God should come to them in the coverings of the clouds with angels, and the matter be decided? And to God do all things return.
2:211 Ask the Children of Israel how many clear Signs We gave them. But whoso changes the gift of God after it has come to him, surely then, God is Severe in punishing.
2:212 The life of this world is made to appear attractive to those who disbelieve; and they scoff at those who believe. But those who fear God shall be above them on the day of Resurrection; and God bestows His gifts on whomsoever He pleases without reckoning.
2:213 Mankind were one community, then they differed among themselves, so God raised Prophets as bearers of good tidings and as warners, and sent down with them the book containing the truth that He might judge between the people wherein they differed. But then they began to differ about the Book, and none differed about it except those to whom it was given, after clear Signs had come to them, out of envy towards one another. Now has God, by His command, guided the believers to the truth in regard to which they (the unbelievers) differed; and God guides whomsoever He pleases to the right path.
2:214 Do you think that you will enter heaven while there has not come to you the like of that which came to those who passed away before you? Poverty and afflictions befell them and they were violently shaken until the Messenger and those who believe along with him said, 'When will the help of God come?' Yea, surely the help of God is nigh.
2:215 They ask thee what they shall spend. Say, 'Whatever of good and abundant wealth you spend should be for parents and near relatives and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer. And whatever good you do, surely God knows it perfectly well.'
2:216 Fighting is ordained for you, though it is repugnant to you; but it may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you like a thing while it is bad for you. God knows and you know not.
2:217 They ask thee about fighting in the Sacred Month. Say, 'Fighting therein is a heinous thing, but to hinder men from the way of God, and to be ungrateful to Him, and to hinder men from the Sacred Mosque, and to turn out its people therefrom, is more heinous in the sight of God; and persecution is worst than killing.' And they will not cease fighting you until they turn you back from your Faith, if they can. And whoso from among you turns back from his Faith and dies while he is a disbeliever, it is they whose works shall be vain in this world and in the next. These are the inmates of the Fire and therein shall they abide.
2:218 Those who believe and those who emigrate and strive hard in the cause of God, it is these who hope for God's mercy; And God is Most forgiving Merciful.
2:219 They ask thee concerning wine and games of chance. Say 'In both there is great sin and harm and also some advantages for men, but their sin and harm are greater than their advantage,' And they ask thee what they should spend. Say, 'Spend what you can spare.' Thus does God makes His commandments clear to you that you may reflect
2:220 -- Upon this world and the next. And they ask thee concerning the orphans. Say 'Promotion of their welfare is an act of great goodness. And if you intermix with them, they are your brethren. And God knows him who seeks to make mischief apart from him who seeks to promote the welfare of the orphans. And if God had so willed, He would have put you to hardship. Surely God is Mighty and Wise.'
2:221 And marry not idolatrous women until they believe; even a believing bond women is better than an idolatress, although she may please you. And give not believing women in marriage to idolaters until they believe; even a believing slave is better than an idolater, although he may please you. These call to Fire, but God calls to Heaven and to forgiveness by His will. And He makes His Signs clear to the people that they may remember.
2:222 And they ask thee concerning menstruation. Say, 'It is a harmful thing, so keep away from women during menstruation, and go not in unto them until they are clean. But when they have cleansed themselves, go in unto them as God has commanded you. God loves those who keep themselves clean.'
2:223 Your wives are a sort of tilth for you; so approach your tilth when and as you like and send ahead some good for yourselves; and fear God and know that you shall meet Him; and bear good tidings to those who believe.
2:224 And make not God a target for your oaths that you may thereby abstain from doing good and acting righteously and making peace between men. And God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
2:225 God will not call you to account for such of your oaths as are vain, but He will call you to account for what your hearts have earned. And God is Most forgiving, Forbearing.
2:226 For those who vow abstinence from their wives, the maximum period of waiting is four months. Then if they go back to their normal relationship, surely God is Most forgiving, Merciful.
2:227 And if they decide upon divorce, then surely God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
2:228 And the divorced women shall wait concerning themselves for three courses; and it is not lawful for them that they conceal what God has created in their wombs, if they believe in God and the Last Day; and their husbands have the greater right to take them back during that period, provided they desire reconciliation. And they (the women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them in equity; but men have a degree of advantage above them. And God is Mighty and Wise.
2:229 Such divorce may be pronounced twice; then either retain them in a becoming manner or send them away with kindness. And it is not lawful for you that you take anything of what you have given them (your wives) unless both fear that they cannot observe the limits prescribe by God. But if you fear that they cannot observe the limits prescribed by God, then it shall be no sin for either of them in what she gives to get her freedom. These are the limits prescribed by God, so transgress them not; and whoso transgresses the limits prescribed by God, it is they that are the wrongdoers.
2:230 And if he divorces her the third time, then she is not lawful for him thereafter, until she marries another husband; and, if he also divorces her, then it shall be no sin for them to return to each other, provided they are sure that they would be able to observe the limits prescribed by God. And these are the limits prescribed by God which He makes clear to the people who have knowledge.
2:231 And when you divorce women and they approach the end of their appointed period, then either retain them in a becoming manner or send them away in a becoming manner; but retain them not wrongfully so that you may transgress against them. And whoso does that, surely wrongs his own soul. And do not make a jest of the commandments of God, and remember the favour of God upon you and the book and the Wisdom which He has sent down to you, whereby He exhorts you. And fear God and know that God knows all things well
2:232 And when you divorce women and they reach the end of their period, prevent them not from marrying their husbands, if they agree between themselves in a decent manner. This an admonition for him among you who believes in God and the Last Day. It is more blessed for you and purer; and God knows but you know not.
2:233 And mothers shall give suck to their children for two whole years; this is for those who desire to complete the period of suckling. And the man to whom the child belongs shall be responsible for their (the mothers') maintenance and clothing according to usage. No soul is burdened beyond its capacity. Neither shall a mother be made to suffer on account of her child, nor shall he to whom the child belongs be made to suffer on account of his child and the same is incumbent on the father's heir. If they both decide upon weaning the child by mutual consent and consultation, there is no blame on them. And if you desire to engage a wet-nurse for your children, there shall be no blame on you, provided you pay what you have agreed to pay in a fair manner. And fear God and know that God sees what you do.
2:234 And as for those of you who die and leave wives behind, these (wives) shall wait concerning themselves for four months and ten days. And when they have reached the end of their period, no blame shall be attached to you concerning anything that they do with regard to themselves in a decent manner. And God is Aware of what you do.
2:235 And their shall be no blame on you in throwing out a hint regarding proposal of marriage to these women or in keeping the desire hidden in your minds. God knows that you will think of them in this connection. But make not a contract with them in secret, except that you say a fair word. And resolve not on marriage tie until the prescribed period reaches its end. And know that God knows what is in your minds; so beware of Him. And know that God is Most Forgiving, Forbearing.
2:236 It shall be no sin for you if you divorce women while you have not touched them, nor settle for them a dowry. But provide for them -- the rich man according to his means and the poor man according to his need -- a provision in a becoming manner. This is an obligation upon the virtuous.
2:237 And if you divorce them before you have touched them, but have settled upon them a dowry, then half of what you have settled shall be due from you, unless they remit, or he, in whose hands is the tie of marriage, should remit. And that you should remit is nearer to righteousness. And do not forget to do good to one another. Surely God sees what you do.
2:238 Watch over prayers, and particularly the middle Prayer, and stand before God submissively.
2:239 If you are in a state of fear, then say your prayers on foot or riding, but when you are safe, remember God as He has taught you that which you did not know.
2:240 And those of you who die and leave behind wives shall bequeath to their wives provision for a year without being turned out. But if they themselves go out, then there shall be no blame upon you in regard to any proper thing which they do concerning themselves. And God is Mighty and Wise.
2:241 And for the divorce women also there should be a provision according to what is fair -- an obligation on the God-fearing.
2:242 Thus does God make His commandments clear to you that you may understand.
2:243 Hast thou not heard of those who went forth from their homes, and they were thousands, fearing death? And God said to them, 'Die', Then He brought them to life. Surely God is Gracious to men, but most men are not grateful.
2:244 And fight in the cause of God and know that God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
2:245 Who is it that will lend God a goodly loan that He may multiply it for him manifold? And God receives and enlarges. And to Him shall you be made to return.
2:246 Hast thou not heard of the chiefs of the Children of Israel after Moses, when they said to a Prophet of theirs, 'Appoint for us a king that we may fight in the way of God?' He said, 'It is not likely that you will not fight, if fighting is prescribe for you?' They said, 'What reason have we that we should not fight in the way of God when we have been driven forth from our homes and our sons?' But when fighting was ordained for them, they turned back except a small number of them. And God knows the transgressors well.
2:247 And their Prophet said to them, 'God has appointed for you Talut as king.' They said, 'How can he have sovereignty over us while we are better entitled to sovereignty than he, and he is not given abundance of wealth?' He said, 'Surely, God has chosen him above you and has bestowed upon him abundant increase in knowledge and in strength of body. And God gives sovereignty to whom He pleases. And God is Bountiful, All-Knowing.
2:248 And their Prophet said to them, 'The sign of his sovereignty is that there shall be given you a heart wherein there will be tranquility from your Lord and a legacy of good left by the family of Moses and the family of Aaron -- the angels bearing it. Surely, in this there is a sign for you if you are believers.'
2:249 And when Talut set out with the forces, he said, 'Surely, God will try you with a river. So he who drinks therefrom is not of me; and he who taste it not is assuredly of me, save him who takes only a handful of water with his hand.' But they drank of it, except a few of them. And when they crossed it -- he and those who believed along with him -- they said, 'We have no power today against Jalut and his forces.' But those who knew for certain that they would one day meet God, said, 'How many a small party has triumphed over a large party by God's command! And God is with the steadfast.'
2:250 And when they issued forth to encounter Jalut and his forces, they said, 'O our Lord, pour forth steadfastness upon us, and make our steps firm, and help us against the disbelieving people.'
2:251 So they routed them by the command of God, and David slew Jalut, and God gave him sovereignty and wisdom and taught him of what He pleased. And had not God repelled some men by others, the earth would be full of mischief. But God is the Lord of grace to all peoples.
2:252 These are the Signs of God. We recite them unto thee with truth. Surely, thou art of the Messengers.
2:253 These messengers have We exalted some of them above others; among them there are those to whom God spoke and some of them He exalted in degrees of rank and We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs and strengthened him with the spirit of holiness. And if God had so willed, those that came after them would not have fought with one another after clear Signs had come to them; but they did disagree. Of them were some who believed, and of them were some who disbelieved. And if God had so willed, they would not have fought with one another; but God does what He desires.
2:254 O ye who believe! spend out of what We have bestowed on you before the day comes wherein there shall be no buying and selling, nor friendship, nor intercession, and it is those who disbelieve that do wrong to themselves.
2:255 God -- there is no god save Him, the Living, the Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining. Slumber seizes Him not, nor sleep. To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that dare intercede with Him save by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them; and they encompass nothing of His knowledge, except what He pleases. His knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth; and the care of them wearies Him not; and He is the High, the Great.
2:256 There is no compulsion in religion. Surely the right has become distinct from error; so whosoever refuses to be led by those who transgress and believes in God, has surely grasped a strong handle which knows no breaking. And God is All-Hearing. All-Knowing.
2:257 God is the Friend of those who believe; He brings them out of all kinds of darkness into light. And those who disbelieve, their friends are the transgressors who brings them out of light into manifold darknesses. These are the inmates of the Fire, therein shall they abide.
2:258 Hast thou not heard of him who disputed with Abraham about his Lord, because God has given him kingdom? When Abraham said, 'My Lord is He Who gives life and causes death,' he said, 'I also give life and cause death.' Abraham said, 'Well, God brings the sun from the East; bring it thou from the West,' Thereupon the infidel was confounded. And God guides not the unjust people.
2:259 Or hast thou not heard of the like of him who passed by a town which had fallen down upon its roofs and exclaimed, 'When will God restore it to life after its destruction?' Then God caused him to die for a hundred years, then He raised him and said, 'How long hast thou remained in this state?' He answered, 'I have remained a day or part of a day.' God said, 'It is so but thou hast also remained in this state for a hundred years. Now look at thy food and thy drink; they have not rotted And look at thy ass. And We have done this that We may make thee a Sign unto men. And look at the bones, how We set them and then clothe them with flesh.' And when this became clear to him, he said, 'I know that God has the power to do all that He wills.'
2:260 And remember when Abraham said, 'My Lord, show me how Thou givest life to the dead.' God said, 'Dost thou not believe?' Abraham said, 'Yes, but I ask this that my heart may be at ease.' God answered, 'Take four birds and make them attached to thee. Then put each of them on a hill; then call them; they will come to thee in haste.' And know that God is Mighty and Wise.
2:261 The similitude of those who spend their wealth in the way of God is like the similitude of a grain of corn which grows seven ears, in each ear a hundred grains. And God multiplies it further for whomsoever He pleases and God is Bountiful, All-Knowing.
2:262 They who spend their wealth in the way of God, then follow not up what they have spent with taunt or injury, for them is their reward with their Lord, and they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve.
2:263 A kind word and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And God is Self-Sufficient, Forbearing.
2:264 O ye who believe! render not vain your alms by reproach and injury like him who spends his wealth to be seen by men, and he believes not in God and the Last Day. His case is like the case of a smooth rock covered with earth, on which heavy rain falls, leaving it bare and hard, They shall not secure aught of what they earn. And God guides not the disbelieving people.
2:265 And the case of those who spend their wealth to seek the pleasure of God and to strengthen their souls is like the case of a garden on elevated ground. Heavy rain falls on it so that it brings forth its fruit twofold. And if heavy rain does not fall on it, then light rain suffices. And God sees what you do.
2:266 Would any of you desire that there should be for him a garden of palm tress and vines with streams flowing beneath it, and with all kinds of fruit for him therein -- while old age has stricken him and he has weak offspring -- and that a fiery whirlwind should smite it and it be all burnt? Thus does God makes His Signs clear to you that you may reflect.
2:267 O ye who believe! spend of the good things you have earned, and from what We produce for you from the earth; and seek not what is bad that you may spend out of it when you would not take it yourselves except that you connive at it. And know that God is Self-Sufficient, praiseworthy.
2:268 Satan threatens you with poverty and enjoins upon you what is foul, whereas God promises you forgiveness from Himself and bounty. And God is Bountiful, All-Knowing.
2:269 He grants wisdom to whom He pleases, and whoever is granted wisdom has indeed been granted abundant good; and none would take heed except those endowed with understanding.
2:270 And whatsoever you spend or whatsoever you vow, God surely knows it; and for the wrongdoers there shall be no helpers.
2:271 If you give alms openly it is well and good; but if you hide them and give them to the poor, it is better for you, And He will remit from you many of your evil deeds. And God is Aware of what you do.
2:272 It is not thy responsibility to make them follow the right path; But God guides whosoever He pleases. And whatever of wealth you spend, the benefit will of it will be for yourselves, for, you spend not but to seek the favour of God. And whatever of wealth you spend, it shall be paid back to you in full and you shall not be wronged.
2:273 Alms are for the poor who are detained in the way of God and are unable to move about in the land. The ignorant man imagines them to be free from want because of their abstaining from begging. Thou shalt know them by their appearance, they do not beg of men with importunity. And whatever of wealth you spend, Surely God has perfect knowledge thereof.
2:274 Those who spend their wealth by night and day, secretly and openly, have their reward with their Lord; on them shall come no fear nor shall they grieve.
2:275 Those who devour interest do not rise except as rises one whom Satan has smitten with insanity. That is because they say, 'Trade also is like interest;' whereas God has made trade lawful and has made interest unlawful. So he to whom an admonition comes from his Lord and he desist, then will that which he received in the pass be his; and his affair rests with God. And those who revert to it they are the inmates of the Fire; therein shall they abide.
2:276 God will blot out interest and will cause charity to increase. And God loves not anyone who is a confirmed disbeliever and an arch-sinner.
2:277 Surely, those, who believe and do good deeds, and observe Prayer and pay the Zakát, shall have their reward from their Lord, and no fear shall come on them, nor shall they grieve.
2:278 O ye who believe! fear God and give up what remains of interest, if you are truly believers.
2:279 But if you do it not, then beware of war from God and His Messenger; and if you repent, then you shall have your principal; thus you shall not wrong nor shall you be wronged.
2:280 And if the debtor be in straitened circumstances, then grant him respite till a time of ease. And that you remit it as charity shall be better for you, if you only knew.
2:281 And guard yourselves against the day when you shall be made to return to God; then shall every soul be paid in full what it has earned; and they shall not be wronged.
2:282 O ye who believe! When you borrow one from another for a fixed period, then write it down. And let a scribe write it in your presence faithfully; and no scribe should refuse to write, because God has taught him, so let him write and let him who incurs the liability dictate, and he should fear God, his Lord, and not diminish anything therefrom. But if the person incurring the liability be of low understanding or be weak or be unable himself to dictate, then let someone who can guard his interest dictate with justice. And call two witnesses from among your men; and if two men be not available, then a man and two women, of such as you approve as witnesses, so that if either of the two women should forget, then one may remind the other. And the witnesses should not refuse when they are called. And be not averse to writing it down whether it be small or large, along with its appointed time of payment. This is more equitable in the sight of God and makes testimony surer and is more likely to save you from doubt; so write it down except that it be ready transaction which you make among yourselves on the spot in which case it shall be no sin for you that you write it not. And have witnesses when you sell one to another, and let no harm be done to the scribe or the witness. And if you do that, then certainly it shall be disobedience on your part. And fear God. And God teaches you and God knows all things quite well.
2:283 And if you be on a journey, and you find not a scribe, then let there be a pledge with possession. And if one of you entrust another with something, then let him who is entrusted, surrender his trust and let him fear God, his Lord. And hide not testimony; and whoever hides it his heart is certainly sinful. And God is Well-Aware of what you do.
2:284 To God belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth; and whether you disclose what is in your minds or keep it hidden, God will call you to account for it, then will He forgive whomsoever He pleases, and punish whomsoever He pleases; and God has the power to do all that He wills.
2:285 This Messenger of OURS believes in that which has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers; all of them believe in God, and in His angels, and in His Books, and in His Messengers, saying, 'We make no distinction between any of His Messengers;' and they say 'We have heard and we are obedient. Our Lord, we implore Thy forgiveness, and to Thee is the returning.'
2:286 God burdens not any soul beyond its capacity. It shall have the reward it earns, and it shall get the punishment it incurs. Our Lord, do not punish us if we forget or fall into error, and our Lord, lay not on us a responsibility as Thou didst lay upon those before us. Our Lord, burden us not with what we have not he strength to bear; and efface our sins and grant us forgiveness and have mercy on us; Thou art our Master; so help us against the disbelieving people.

Chapter 3
Al-Imran
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
3:1 Alif, Lam, Mim.
3:2 God is He besides Whom there is none worthy of worship, the Living, the Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining.
3:3 He has sent down to thee the Book containing the truth and fulfilling that which precedes it; and He has sent down the Torah and the Gospel
3:4 Before this, as a guidance to the people; and He has sent down the Discrimination. Surely, those who deny the Signs of God, shall have a severe punishment. And God is Mighty, Lord of Retribution.
3:5 Surely, nothing in the earth or in the heaven is hidden from God.
3:6 He it is who fashions you in the wombs as He wills; there is none worthy of worship but He, the Mighty, the Wise.
3:7 He it is who has sent down to thee the Book; in it there are verses that are firm and decisive in meaning -- they are the basis of the Book -- and there are others that are susceptible of different interpretations. But those in whose hearts is perversity pursue such thereof as are susceptible of different interpretations, seeking to cause discord and seeking wrong interpretations of it. And none knows it except God and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge; they say, 'We believe in it; the whole is from our Lord.' -- And none take heed except those gifted with understanding -
3:8 Our Lord, let not our hearts become perverse after Thou hast guided us, and bestow on us mercy from Thyself; surely Thou art the Great Bestower;
3:9 Our Lord, Thou wilt certainly assemble mankind together on the Day about which there is no doubt; surely, God never fails in His promise.'
3:10 Those who disbelieve -- their possessions and their children shall not avail them at all against God; and it is they that are the fuel of the Fire.
3:11 Their case is the like the case of the people of Pharaoh and those before them; They rejected our Signs; So God punished them for their sins, and God is severe in punishing.
3:12 Say to those who disbelieve, 'You shall be overcome and be gathered unto Hell; and an evil place of rest it is.'
3:13 Certainly there was for you a Sign in the two armies which encountered each other -- one army fighting in the way of God and the other disbelieving, whom they saw with their own eyes to be twice as many as themselves. Thus does God strengthen with His aid whomsoever He pleases. In that surely is a lesson for those who have eyes.
3:14 Fair-seeming to men is made the love of desired things -- women and children, and stored up heaps of gold and silver, and horses of mark and cattle and crops. That is the provision of the present life; but it is God with Whom is an excellent home.
3:15 Say, 'Shall I inform you of something better than that?' For those who fear God, there are Gardens with their Lord; beneath which streams flow; therein shall they abide; and pure mates and God's pleasure. And God is Mindful of His servants.
3:16 Those who say, 'Our Lord, we do believe; forgive us, therefore, our sins and save us from the punishment of the Fire;
3:17 The steadfast, and the truthful, and the humble, and those who spend in the way of God and those who pray for pardon in the latter part of the night.
3:18 God bears witness that there is no god but He -- and also do the angels and those possessed of knowledge, maintaining justice; there is no god but He, the Mighty, the Wise.
3:19 Surely the true religion with God is Islam. And those who were given the Book did not disagree but, after knowledge had come to them, out of mutual envy. And whoso denies the Signs of God, then surely God is quick at reckoning.
3:20 But if they dispute with thee, say 'I have surrendered myself completely to God, and also those who follow me.' And say to those who have been given the Book and to the Unlearned, 'Have you also surrendered? If they surrender, then they will surely be rightly guided, but if they turn back, then thy duty is only to convey the Message. And God is Watchful of His servants.
3:21 Surely, those who deny the signs of God and seek to slay the Prophets unjustly and seek to slay such men as enjoin equity -- announce to them a painful punishment.
3:22 Those are they whose deed shall come to naught in this world and in the next, and they shall have no helpers.
3:23 Hast thou not seen those who have been given their portion of the Book? They are called to the Book of God that it may judge between them, but a party of them turn away in aversion.
3:24 That is because they say, 'The Fire shall not touch us except for a limited number of days.' And what they used to forge has deceived them regarding their religion.
3:25 How will it be with them when We will gather them together on the Day about which there is no doubt; and when every soul will be paid in full what it has earned, and they shall not be wronged?
3:26 Say, 'O God, Lord of Sovereignty, Thou givest sovereignty to whomsoever Thou pleasest; and Thou takest away sovereignty from whomsoever Thou pleasest. Thou exaltest whomsoever Thou pleasest and Thou abasest whomsoever Thou pleasest. In Thy hand is all good. Thou surely hast power to do all things.
3:27 Thou makest the night pass into the day and makest the day pass into the night. And Thou bringest forth the living from the dead and bringest forth the dead from the living. And Thou givest to whomsoever Thou pleasest without measure.'
3:28 Let not the believers take disbelievers for friends in preference to believers -- and whoever does that has no connection with God -- except that you guard yourselves fully against them. And God cautions you against His punishment; and to God is the returning.
3:29 Say, 'Whether you hide what is in your breasts or reveal it, God knows it; and He knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. And God has power to do all things.'
3:30 Beware of the Day when every soul shall find itself confronted with all the good it has done and all the evil it has done. It will wish there were a great distance between it and that evil. And God cautions you against His punishment. And God is Most Compassionate to His servants.
3:31 Say 'If you love God, follow me; then will God love you and forgive you your sins.' And God is Most Forgiving and Merciful.
3:32 Say, 'Obey God and His Messenger;' but if they turn away, then remember that God loves not the disbelievers.
3:33 God chose Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of Imran above all peoples of the time.
3:34 They were descendants of one another and God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
3:35 Remember when a women of Imran said, 'My Lord, I have vowed to Thee what is in my womb to be dedicated to Thy service. So do Thou accept it of me; Verily Thou alone art All-Hearing, All-Knowing.'
3:36 But when she was delivered of it, she said, 'My Lord, I am delivered of a female,' -- and God knew best of what she was delivered and the male she desired to have was not like the female she was delivered of -- 'and I have named her Mary, and I commit her and her offspring to Thy protection from Satan, the rejected.
3:37 So her Lord accepted her with gracious acceptance and caused her to grow an excellent growth and made Zachariah her guardian. Whenever Zachariah visited her in the chamber, he found with her provisions. He said, 'O Mary whence hast thou this?' She replied, 'It is from God.' Surely God gives to whomsoever He pleases without measure.
3:38 Then and there did Zachariah pray to his Lord, saying, 'My Lord grant me from Thyself pure offspring; surely thou art the Hearer of Prayer.'
3:39 And the angels called to him as he stood praying in the chamber, 'God gives thee glad tidings of Yahya, who shall testify to the truth of a word from God -- noble and chaste and a Prophet, from among the righteous.
3:40 He said 'My Lord, how shall I have a son, when old age has overtaken me already, and my wife is barren?' He answered, 'Such is the way of God; He does what He pleases,'
3:41 He said 'My Lord, give me a commandment.' He replied, 'The commandment for thee is that thou shalt not speak to men for three days except by signs. And remember thy Lord much and glorify Him in the evening and in the early morning.'
3:42 And remember when the angels said, 'God has chosen thee and purified thee and chosen thee above all women of the time.
3:43 O Mary, be obedient to thy Lord and prostrate thyself and worship the one God with those who worship Him.'
3:44 This is of the tidings of things unseen which We reveal to thee. And thou was not with them when they cast their arrows, as to which of them should be the guardian of Mary, nor was thou with them when they disputed with one another.
3:45 When the angels said, 'O Mary, God gives thee glad tidings of a son through a word from Him; his name shall be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, honoured in this world and in the next, and of those who are granted nearness to God;
3:46 And he shall speak to the people in the cradle, and when of middle age, and he shall be of the righteous.
3:47 She said, 'My Lord, how shall I have a son, when no man has touch me? He said, 'Such is the way of God. He creates what He pleases. When He decrees a thing He says to it 'Be,' and it is;
3:48 And He will teach him the Book and the Wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel;
3:49 And will send him as a Messenger to the Children of Israel with the Message, 'I come to you with a Sign from your Lord, which is, that I will fashion out for you a creation out of clay after the manner of a bird; then I will breath into it a new spirit and it will become a soaring being by the command of God; and I will heal the night blind and the leprous, and I will quicken the dead by the command of God; and I will announce to you what you will eat and what you will store up in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you, if you are believers.
3:50 And I come fulfilling that which is before me, namely the Torah; and to allow you some of that which was forbidden unto you, and I come to you with a Sign from your Lord; so fear God and obey me;
3:51 Surely, God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship him this is the right path.'
3:52 And when Jesus perceived their disbelief, he said, 'Who will be my helpers in the cause of God?' The disciples answered, 'We are the helpers of God. We have believed in God. And bear thou witness that we are obedient;
3:53 Our Lord, we believe in that which thou hast sent down and we follow this Messenger. So write us down among those who bear witness.'
3:54 And Jesus's enemies planned and God also planned, and God is the Best of Planners.
3:55 Remember the time when God said' 'O Jesus, I will cause thee to die a natural death and will raise thee to Myself, and will clear thee of the charges of those who disbelieve, and will exalt those who follow thee above those who disbelieve, until the Day of Resurrection; then to Me shall be your return, and I will judge between you concerning that wherein you differ.
3:56 Then as for those who disbelieve, I will punish them with a severe punishment in this world and in the next, and they shall have no helpers;'
3:57 And as for those who believe and do good works, He will give them their full rewards. And God loves not the wrongdoers.'
3:58 That is what We recite unto thee of the Signs and the Reminder, full of Wisdom.
3:59 Surely the case of Jesus is like the case of Adam. He created him out of dust, then he said to him, "Be" and he was.
3:60 This is the truth from thy Lord, so be thou not of those who doubt.
3:61 Now whoso disputes with thee concerning him, after what has come to thee of Knowledge, say to him 'Come, let us call our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and our people and your people; then let us pray fervently and invoke the curse of God on those who lie.
3:62 This certainly is the true account. There is none worthy of worship save God; and surely, it is God Who is the Mighty, the Wise.
3:63 But if they turn away, then remember that God fully knows the mischief-makers.
3:64 Say, 'O people of the Book! come to a word equal to us and you -- that we worship none but God, and that we associate no partner with Him, and that some of us take not others for Lords beside God.' But if they turn away, then say 'Bear witness that we have submitted to God.'
3:65 O People of the Book! Why do you dispute concerning Abraham, When the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Will you not understand.
3:66 Behold! you are those who disputed about that whereof you had some knowledge. Why then do you now dispute about that whereof you have no knowledge at all? God knows and you know not.
3:67 Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian but he was ever inclined to God and obedient to Him, and he was not of those who associate gods with God.
3:68 Surely, the nearest of men to Abraham are those who followed him and this prophet and those who believe in him, and God is the Friend of the believers.
3:69 A party of the People of the Book would fain lead you astray; but they lead astray none except themselves, only they perceive not.
3:70 O People of the Book! Why do you deny the signs of God, while you are witnesses thereof?
3:71 O People of the Book! Why do you confound truth with falsehood and hide the truth knowingly?
3:72 And a party of the People of the Book say, 'Declare your belief outwardly in that which has been revealed unto the believers, in the early part of the day, and disbelieve in the latter part of thereof; perchance they may return.
3:73 And obey none but him who follows your religion.' Say, 'Surely, true guidance -- the guidance of God, -- is, that one be given the like of that which has been given to you -- or they would argue with you before your Lord.' Say, 'All grace is in the hand of God. He gives it to whomsoever He pleases. And God is Bountiful, All-knowing.
3:74 He selects for His mercy whomsoever He pleases. And God is the Lord of mighty grace.
3:75 Among the People of the Book there is he who, if thou trust him with a treasure, will return it to thee; and among them is he who, if thou trust him with a dinar, will not return it to thee, unless thou keep standing over him. That is because they say, 'We are not liable to be called to account in the matter of the Unlearned people; and they utter a lie against God knowingly.
3:76 Nay, but whoso fulfills his pledge and fears God -- verily, God loves those who fear Him.
3:77 As for those who take a paltry price in exchange for their covenant with God and their oaths, they shall have no portion in the life to come, and God will neither speak to them nor look upon them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them; and for them shall be a grievous punishment.
3:78 And, surely, among them is a party who twist their tongues while reciting the Book that you may think it to be part of the Book, while it is not part of the Book. And they say 'It is from God;' while it is not from God; and they utter a lie against God while they know.
3:79 It does not befit a truthful man that God should give him the Book and Wisdom and Prophethood, and then he should say to men, 'Be my worshippers instead of God; but he would say, 'Be solely devoted to the Lord because you teach the book and because you study it.
3:80 Nor does it befit that he should bid you to take angels and Prophets for lords. What! would he enjoin you to disbelieve after you have submitted to God.
3:81 And remember the time when God took a covenant from the people through the Prophets, saying 'Whatever I give you of the Book and Wisdom and then there comes to you a Messenger, fulfilling that which is with you, you shall believe in him and help him.' And He said, 'Do you agree, and do you accept the responsibility which I lay upon you in this matter?' They said 'We agree.' He said 'Then bear witness and I am with you among the witnesses.'
3:82 Now whoso turns away after this, then surely, those are the transgressors.
3:83 Do the seek a religion other than God's, while to Him submits whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and to Him shall they all be returned?
3:84 Say, 'We believe in God and that which has been revealed to us, and that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and in that which was given to Moses and Jesus and other Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them and to Him we submit.
3:85 And whoso seeks a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he shall be among the losers.
3:86 How shall God guide a people who have disbelieved after believing and who had borne witness that the messenger was true and to whom clear proofs had come? And God guides not the wrong doing people.
3:87 As for such -- their reward is that on them shall be the curse of God and of angels and of men, all together.
3:88 They shall abide thereunder. Their punishment shall not be lightened nor shall they be reprieved.
3:89 Except those who repent thereafter and amend. And surely God is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
3:90 Surely those who disbelieve after they have believed and then increase in their disbelief, their repentance shall not be accepted, and these are they who have gone astray.
3:91 As for those who have disbelieved, and die while they are disbelievers, there shall not be accepted from anyone of them even the earth-full of gold though he offer it as ransom. It is these for whom shall be a grievous punishment, and they shall have no helpers.
3:92 You cannot attain to righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love; and whatever you spend, God surely knows it well.
3:93 All food was lawful to the Children of Israel, except what Israel forbade himself before the Torah was sent down. Say, 'Bring, then, the Torah and read it, if you are truthful.'
3:94 Now whoso forges a lie against God after this, then it is these that are the wrongdoers.
3:95 Say, 'God has declared the truth; follow, therefore, the religion of Abraham who was ever inclined to God, and he was not of those who associated gods with Him.'
3:96 Surely the first House founded for all mankind is that at Becca, abounding in blessings and a guidance for all peoples.
3:97 In it are manifest Signs; it is the place of Abraham; and whoso enters it, is safe. And pilgrimage to the House is a duty which men -- those who can find a way thither -- owe to God. And whoso disbelieves, let him remember that God is surely Independent of all creatures.
3:98 Say, 'O People of the Book! why deny ye the signs of God, while God is Witness of what you do?
3:99 Say, 'O People of the Book! why hinder ye the believers from the path of God, seeking to make it crooked, while you are witnesses thereof? And God is not unmindful of what you do.'
3:100 O ye who believe! if you obey any party of those who have been given the Book, they will turn you again into disbelievers after you have believed.
3:101 How would you disbelieve, while to you are rehearsed the Signs of God, and His messenger is in your midst? And he who holds fast to God is indeed guided to the right path.
3:102 O ye who believe! fear God as He should be feared; and let not death overtake you except when you are in a state of submission.
3:103 And hold fast, all together, to the rope of God and be not divided; and remember the favour of God which He bestowed upon you when you were enemies and He united your hearts in love, so that by His grace you became as brothers; and you were on the brink of a pit of fire and He saved you from it. Thus does God explain to you His commandments that you may be guided.
3:104 And let there always be among you a body of men who should invite to goodness, and enjoin virtue and forbid evil. And it is they who shall prosper.
3:105 And be not like those who became divided and who disagreed among themselves after clear proofs had come to them. And it is they for whom there shall be grievous punishment,
3:106 On the day when some faces shall be white, and some faces shall be black. As for those whose faces will be black, it will be said to them: 'Did you disbelieve after believing? Taste then the punishment because you disbelieved.'
3:107 And as for those whose faces will be white, they will be in the mercy of God; therein will they abide.
3:108 These are the Signs of God, comprising the Truth. We rehearse them to thee and God desires not any injustice to His creatures.
3:109 And to God belongs whatever is in the heavens and what ever is in the earth, and to God shall all affairs be returned for decision.
3:110 You are the best people raised for the good of mankind; you enjoin good and forbid evil and believe in God. And if the People of the Book had believed, it would have, surely, been better for them. Some of them are believers, but most of them are transgressors.
3:111 They cannot harm you save that they may cause you slight hurt; and if they fight you, they will turn their backs to you. Then they shall not be helped.
3:112 They shall be smitten with abasement wherever they are found unless they are protected by a covenant with God or by a covenant with men. They have incurred the wrath of God, and they have been smitten with wretchedness. That is because they rejected the Signs of God and sought to slay the Prophets unjustly. That is because they rebelled and used to transgress.
3:113 They are not all alike. Among the People of the Book, there is a party who stand by their covenant; they recite the word of God in the hours of the night and prostrate themselves before Him.
3:114 They believe in God and the Last Day, and enjoin good and forbid evil, and hasten to vie with one another in good works. And these are among the righteous.
3:115 And whatever good they do, they shall not be denied its due reward, and God well knows those who guard against evil.
3:116 As for those who disbelieve, their possessions and their children shall not avail them aught against God, and these are the inmates of the Fire; therein shall they abide.
3:117 The likeness of what they spend for the present life is as the likeness of a wind wherein there is intense cold. It smites the harvest of a people who have wronged themselves and destroys it. And God wronged them not but they wronged themselves.
3:118 O ye who believe! take not others than your own people as intimate friends; they will spare no pains to ruin you. They love to see you in trouble. Hatred has already shown itself through the utterances of their mouths and what their breasts hide is greater still. We have made clear to you Our commandments, if you will only use your understanding.
3:119 Behold! you are those who love them, but they love you not. And you believe in the Book, all of it. When they meet you, they say, 'We believe;' but when they are alone, they bite their finger tips at you for rage. Say, 'Perish in your rage. Surely God has full knowledge of what is hidden in your breast.'
3:120 If anything good befalls you, it grieves them; and if an evil afflicts you, they rejoice thereat. But if you be steadfast and righteous, their designs will not harm you at all; surely God encompasses all that they do.
3:121 And remember when thou didst go forth early in the morning from thy household, assigning to the believers their positions for battle. And God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
3:122 When two parties from among you, thought of showing cowardice, although God was their Friend. And upon God should the believers rely.
3:123 And God had already helped you at Badr when you were weak. So take God for your protector so that you may be grateful.
3:124 When thou didst say to the believers, 'Will it not suffice you that your Lord should help you with three thousand angels sent down from on high.
3:125 Yea, if you be steadfast and righteous and they came upon you immediately in hot haste, your Lord will help you with five thousand angels, attacking vehemently.
3:126 And God has made it only as glad tidings for you and to put your hearts at rest thereby; and help comes from God alone, the Mighty, the Wise.
3:127 This will be, that He might cut off a part of the disbelievers or abase them so that they may go back frustrated.
3:128 It is none of thy concern whether He may turn to them in mercy or punish them, for they are wrongdoers.
3:129 And to God belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. He forgives whomsoever He pleases and punishes whomsoever He pleases, and God is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
3:130 O ye who believe! devour not interest involving multiple additions, and fear God that you may prosper.
3:131 And fear the Fire which has been prepared for the disbelievers.
3:132 And obey God and the Messenger that you may be shown mercy.
3:133 And hasten towards forgiveness from your Lord, and the Paradise whose value is the heavens and the earth. It is prepared for the God-fearing.
3:134 Those, who spends in prosperity and adversity, and those who suppress anger, and pardon men; and God loves those who do good;
3:135 And those who, when they commit a foul deed or wrong themselves, remember God and implore forgiveness for their sins -- and who can forgive sins except God -- and do not knowingly persist in what they do.
3:136 It is these whose reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide; and an excellent is the reward of good workers.
3:137 Surely there have been many dispensations before you; so travel through the earth and see how evil was the end of those who treated the Prophets as liars.
3:138 This Qur'án is a clear demonstration to men, and a guidance and an admonition to the God-fearing.
3:139 Slacken not nor grieve; and you shall certainly have the upper hand, if you are true believers.
3:140 If you have received an injury, surely the disbelieving people have already received a similar injury. And such days We cause to alternate among men that they may be admonished, and that God may cause to be distinguished those who believe and may take witnesses from among you; and God loves not the unjust.
3:141 And that God may purify those who believe, and destroy the disbelievers.
3:142 Do you suppose that you will enter Heaven while God has not yet caused to be distinguished those of you that strive in the way of God and has not yet caused to be distinguished the steadfast.
3:143 And you used to wish for such a death before you met it; now you have seen it face to face, then why do some of you seek to avoid it.
3:144 And Muhammad is but a messenger. Verily all Messengers have passed away before him. If then he dies or is slain, will you turn back on your heels? And he who turns back on his heels shall not harm God at all. And God will certainly reward the grateful.
3:145 And no soul can die except by God's leave, -- a decree with a fixed term. And whoever desires the reward of the present world, We will give him thereof; and whoever desires the reward of the Hereafter, We will give him thereof; and We will surely reward the grateful.
3:146 And many a Prophet there has been beside whom fought numerous companies of their followers. They slacken not for aught that befell them in the way of God nor did they weaken, nor did they humiliate themselves before the enemy. And God loves the steadfast.
3:147 And they uttered not a word except that they said, 'Our Lord forgive us our sins and our excesses in our conduct, and make firm our steps and help us against the disbelieving people.
3:148 So God gave them the reward of this world, and also an excellent reward of the Hereafter; and God loves those who do good.
3:149 O ye who believe! if you obey those who have disbelieved, they will cause you to turn back on your heels, and you will become the losers.
3:150 Nay, God is your Protector, and He is the Best of helpers.
3:151 And We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved because they associate partners with God, for which He has sent down no authority. Their abode is the Fire; and evil is the habitation of the wrongdoers.
3:152 And God had surely made good to you His promise when you were slaying and destroying them by His leave, until, when your courage failed you and you disputed among yourselves concerning the order and you disobeyed, after He had shown you that which you love, He withdrew His help. Among you were those who desired the present world, and among you were those who desired the Hereafter. Then He turned you away from them, that He might try you -- and He has surely pardoned you, and God is Gracious to the believers -
3:153 When you were running away and looked not back at anyone while the Messenger was calling you, in your rear, then He gave you one sorrow after another sorrow, that you might not grieve for what escaped you nor for what befell you. And God is quite Aware of what you do.
3:154 Then after the sorrow He sent down peace on you -- a slumber that overcame a party of you -- while the other part was anxious concerning their ownselves. They entertain about God wrong thoughts of ignorance. They said, 'Have we any part in the affair?' Say, 'Verily the affair wholly belongs to God.' They hide in their minds what they disclose not to thee. They say, 'If we had any part in the determination of the affairs, we should not have been killed here.' Say, 'If you had remained in your homes, surely those on whom fighting had been enjoined would have gone forth to their death-beds that God might fulfill His decree and that He might test what is in your breasts and that He might purge what was in your hearts. And God knows well what is in your breasts;
3:155 Those of you who turned their backs on the day when the two host met, surely it was Satan who sought to make them stumble because of certain doings of theirs. But certainly God has already pardoned them. Verily God is Most Forgiving, Forbearing.
3:156 O ye who believe! be not like those who have disbelieved, and who say of their brethren when they travel in the land or go forth to war: 'Had they been with us, they would not have died or been slain.' They say this that God may make it a cause of regret in their hearts. And God gives life and causes death and God is Mindful of what you do.
3:157 And if you are slain in the cause of God or you die, surely, forgiveness from God and mercy are better than what they hoard.
3:158 And if you die or be slain, surely unto God shall you be gathered together.
3:159 And it is by the great mercy of God that thou art kind towards them, and if thou hadst been rough and hard-hearted, they would surely have dispersed from around thee. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them, and consult them in matters of administration; and when thou art resolved, then put thy trust in God. Surely, God loves those who put their trust in Him.
3:160 If God helps you none can overcome you; but if He forsakes you, then who is there that can help you beside Him? In God, then, let the believers put their trust.
3:161 And it is not possible for a Prophet to act dishonestly, and whosoever acts dishonestly shall bring with him that, concerning which he has been dishonest, on the Day of Resurrection. Then every soul shall be fully paid what it has earned; and they shall not be wronged.
3:162 Is he who follows the pleasure of God like him who draws on himself the wrath of God and whose abode is Hell? And an evil retreat it is!
3:163 They have different ranks with God; and God sees what they do.
3:164 Verily, God has conferred a favour on the believers by raising among them a Messenger from among themselves who recites to them His Signs, and purifies them and teaches them the Book and Wisdom; and, before that, they were surely in manifest error.
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
3:165 What! when a misfortune befalls you -- and you had already inflicted twice as much -- you say, 'Whence is this? Say, 'It is from your ownselves.' Surely God has the power over all things.
3:166 And that which befell you, on the day when the two host met, was by God's command; and this was so that he might cause the believers to be distinguished;
3:167 And that He might cause the hypocrites to be distinguished. And it was said to them, 'Come ye, fight in the cause of God and repel the attack of the enemy;' they said, 'If we knew how to fight we would surely follow you.' They were that day, nearer to disbelief than belief. They say with their mouths what is not in their hearts. And God knows quite well what they hide.
3:168 It is these who said to their brethren, while they themselves remained behind, 'If they had obeyed us, they would not have been slain.' Say, 'Then avert death from yourselves, if you are truthful.'
3:169 Think not of those, who have been slain in the cause of God, as dead. Nay, they are living, in the presence of their Lord, and are granted gifts from Him;
3:170 Jubilant because that which God has given them of His bounty; and rejoicing for the sake of those who have not yet joined them from behind them, because on them shall come no fear nor shall they grieve.
3:171 They rejoice at the favour of God and His bounty, and at the fact that God suffers not the reward of the believers to be lost.
3:172 Those who answered the call of God and the Messenger after they had received an injury -- such of them as do good and act righteously shall have a great reward;
3:173 Those to whom men said, 'People have mustered against you, therefore fear them,' but this only increased their faith and they said, 'Sufficient for us is God, and an excellent Guardian is He.'
3:174 So they returned with a mighty favour from God and a great bounty, while no evil had touched them; and they followed the pleasure of God; and God is the Lord of great bounty.
3:175 It is Satan who only frightens his friends, so fear them not but fear Me, if you are believers.
3:176 And let not those who hasten to fall into disbelief grieve thee; surely, they cannot harm God in any way. God desires not to assign them any portion in the life to come; and they shall have a severe punishment.
3:177 Surely those who have purchased disbelief at the price of faith cannot harm God at all; and they shall have a grievous punishment.
3:178 And let not the disbelievers think that Our granting them respite is good for them; in fact the result of Our granting them respite will only be that they will increase in sin; and they shall have an humiliating punishment.
3:179 God would not leave the believers in the state in which you are, until He separated the wicked from the good. Nor would God reveal to you the unseen. But God chooses of His Messengers whom He pleases. Believe therefore in God and His Messengers. If you believe and be righteous, you shall have a great reward.
3:180 And let not those who are niggardly in spending what God has given them of His bounty, think that it is good for them; nay, it is bad for them. That with respect to which they were niggardly shall be put as a collar round their necks on the Day of Resurrection. And to God belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth, and God is fully Aware of what you do.
3:181 And surely, God has heard the utterance of those who said, 'God is poor and we are rich.' We shall record what they have said, and their attempts to slay the Prophets unjustly; and We shall say, 'Take ye the punishment of the burning;'
3:182 That is because of that which your hands have sent on before.' and God is not at all unjust to His servants.
3:183 Those who say, 'God has charged us not to believe in any Messenger until he brings us an offering which fire devours.' Say, 'There have already come to you Messengers before me with clear Signs and with that which you ask for. Why, then, did you seek to slay them, if you are truthful?'
3:184 And if they accuse thee of lying, even so were accused of lying Messengers before thee who came with clear Signs and Books of wisdom and the illuminating Book.
3:185 Every soul shall taste of death. And you shall be paid in full your rewards only on the Day of Resurrection. So whosoever is removed away from the Fire and is made to enter Heaven has indeed attained his goal. And the life of this world is nothing but an illusory enjoyment.
3:186 You shall surely be tried in your possessions and your persons and you shall surely hear many hurtful things from those who were given the Book before you and from those who set up equals to God. But if you show patience and fortitude and act righteously, that indeed is a matter of high resolve.
3:187 And remember when God took a covenant from those who were given the Book, saying, 'You shall expound it to the people and not hide it.' But they threw it away behind their backs, and bartered it for a paltry price. Evil is that which they purchased.
3:188 Think not that those who exult in what they have done, and love to be praised for what they have not done -- think not that they are secure from punishment. They shall suffer a grievous chastisement.
3:189 And to God belongs the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth; and God has the power over all things.
3:190 In the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of the night and the day there are indeed Signs for men of understanding.;
3:191 Those who remember God standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and ponder over the creation of the heavens and the earth; and say, 'Our Lord, thou hast not created this universe in vain. Holy art Thou; save us then from the punishment of the Fire;
3:192 Our Lord, whomsoever Thou causest to enter the Fire, him Thou hast surely disgraced. And the wrongdoers shall have no helpers;
3:193 Our Lord, we have heard a Crier calling us unto faith, saying, 'Believe ye in your Lord,' and we have believed. Our Lord, forgive us, therefore, our sins and remit from us our evils and in death join us with the righteous;
3:194 Our Lord, give us what Thou hast promised to us through Thy Messengers; and disgrace us not on the Day of Resurrection. Surely, Thou breakest not Thy promise.
3:195 So their Lord answered their prayers, saying, 'I will suffer not the work of any worker from among you, whether male or female, to be lost. You are from one another. Those, therefore, who have emigrated, and have been driven out of their homes, and have been persecuted for My cause, and have fought and been slain, I will surely remit from them their evil deeds and will cause them to enter gardens through which streams flow -- a reward from God, and with God is the best of rewards.
3:196 Let not the moving about of the disbelievers in the land deceive thee.
3:197 It is a small and temporary advantage, then Hell shall be their abode. What an evil place of rest.
3:198 But those who fear their Lord shall have gardens through which streams flow; therein shall they abide -- an entertainment from God. And that which is with God is still better for the righteous.
3:199 And surely, among the People of the Book there are some who believe in God and in what has been sent down to you and in what was sent down to them, humbling themselves before God. They barter not the Signs of God for a paltry price. It is these who shall have their reward with their Lord. Surely God is Swift in settling account.
3:200 O ye who believe! be steadfast and strive to excel in steadfastness and be on your guard and fear God, that you may prosper.

Chapter 4
Women
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
4:1 O ye people! fear your Lord who created you from a single soul and of its kind created its mate, and from them twain spread many men and women; and fear God, in Whose name you appeal to one another, and fear him particularly respecting ties of kinship. Verily God watches over you.
4:2 And give to the orphans their property and exchange not the bad for the good, and devour not their property by mixing it with your own. Surely, it is a great sin.
4:3 And if you fear that you will not be just in dealing with the orphans, then marry of other women as may be agreeable to you, two, or three, or four; and if you fear you will not be able to do justice, then marry only one or marry what your right hand possess. Thus it is more likely that you will not do injustice.
4:4 And give the women their dowries willingly. But if they, of their own pleasure, remit to you a part thereof, then enjoy it as something pleasant and wholesome.
4:5 And give not to those weak of understanding your property which God has made for you a means of support; but feed them therewith and clothe them and speak to them words of kind advice.
4:6 And test the understanding of orphans until they attain the age of marriage, then, if you perceive in them mature judgment, deliver to them their property; and devour it not in extravagance and haste against their growing up. And whoso is rich, let him abstain; and who so is poor let him eat thereof with equity. And when you deliver to them their property, then call witnesses in their presence. And God is sufficient as a Reckoner.
4:7 For men is a share of that which parents leave and near relations leave; and for women is a share of that which parents and near relations leave, whether it be little or much -- a determined share.
4:8 And when other relations and orphans and the poor are present at the division of the heritage, give them something therefrom and speak to them words of kindness.
4:9 And let those fear God who, if they should leave behind them weak offspring, would be afraid on their account. Let them, therefore, fear God and let them say the right word.
4:10 Surely they who devour the property of the orphans unjustly, only swallow fire into their bellies, and they shall burn in a blazing fire.
4:11 God commands you concerning your children; a male shall have as much as the share of two females; but if their be females only, numbering more than two, then they shall have two-thirds of what the deceased leave; and if there be one, she shall have the half. And his parents each of them a sixth of the inheritance, if he have a child, but if he have no child and his parents be his heirs, then his mother shall have a third; and if he have brothers and sisters, then his mother shall have a sixth, after the payment of any bequests he may have bequeathed or of debts. Your fathers and your children; you know not which of them is more beneficent to you. This fixing of portions is from God. Surely, God is All-Knowing, Wise.
4:12 And you shall half of that which your wives leave, if they have no child; but if they have a child, then you shall have a fourth of that which they leave, after the payment of any bequests they may have bequeathed or of debts. And they shall have a fourth of that which you leave, if you have no child; but if you have a child, then they shall have an eighth of that which you leave, after the payment of any bequests you may have bequeathed or of debt. And if there be a man or a woman whose heritage is to be divided and he or she has neither parent nor child, and he or she has a brother and a sister, then each one of them shall have a sixth. But if they be more than that, then they shall be equal sharers in one-third, after the payment of any bequests which may have been bequeathed or of debt. And all this shall be without intent to cause injury to anyone. This is an injunction from God and God is Wise, Forbearing.
4:13 These are the limits set by God; and whoso obeys God and His Messenger, He will make him enter Gardens through which streams flow; Therein shall they abide; and that is a great triumph.
4:14 And whoso disobeys God and His Messenger and transgresses His limits. He will make him enter into the Fire; therein he shall abide; and he shall have an humiliating punishment.
4:15 And such of your women who are guilty of any flagrant impropriety -- call to witness four of you against them; and if they bear witness, then confine them to the houses until death overtakes them or God opens for them some other way.
4:16 And if two from among you are guilty of it, punish them both. And if they repent and amend, then leave them alone; surely God is Oft-Returning with compassion and is ever Merciful.
4:17 Verily, God accepts the repentance of only those who do evil in ignorance and then repent soon after. These are they to whom God turns with mercy; and God is All-Knowing, Wise.
4:18 There is no acceptance of repentance for those who continue to do evil until, when death faces one of them, he says, I do indeed repent now; nor for those who die disbelievers. It is these for whom We have prepared a painful punishment.
4:19 O ye who believe, it is not lawful for you to inherit women against their will, nor should you detain them wrongfully that you may take away part of that which you have given them, except that they be guilty of a flagrant impropriety, and consort with them in kindness, and if you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing wherein God has placed much good.
4:20 And if you desire to take one wife in place of another and you have given one of them a treasure, take not aught therefrom. Will you take it by false accusations and manifest sinfulness?
4:21 And how can you take it when one of you may have consorted with the other, and they (the women) have taken from you a strong covenant?
4:22 And marry not those women whom your fathers married, except what has already passed. It is a thing foul and hateful and an evil way.
4:23 Forbidden to you are your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and your fathers' sisters and your mothers' sisters and brother's daughters, and sister's daughters, and your foster mothers that have given you suck, and your foster-sisters, and the mothers of your wives, and your step-daughters, who are your wards being born of your wives to whom you have gone in -- but if you have not gone in unto them, there is no blame on you -- and the wives of your sons that are from your loins; and it is forbidden to you to have two sisters together in marriage, except what has already passed; surely God is Most Forgiving Merciful.
4:24 And forbidden to you are married women, except such as your right hands possess. This has God enjoined on you. And allowed to you are those beyond that, that you may seek them by means of your property, marrying them properly and not committing fornication. And for the benefit you receive from them, give them their dowries, as fixed, and there is no blame on you what you do by mutual agreement after the fixing of the dowry. Surely God is All-Knowing, Wise.
4:25 And whoso of you cannot afford to marry free believing women, let him marry what your right hands possess, namely your believing hand-maids. And God knows your faith best; you are all one from another; so marry them with the leave of their masters and give them their dowries, according to what is fair, they being chaste, not committing fornication, nor taking secret paramours. And if, after they are married, they are guilty of lewdness, they shall have half the punishment prescribe for free married women. This is for him among you who fears lest he should commit sin. And that you restrain yourselves is better for you; and God is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
4:26 God desires to make clear to you, and guide you to, the path of those before you and to turn to you in mercy. And God is All-Knowing, Wise.
4:27 And God wishes to turn to you in mercy, but those who follow their low desires wish that you should incline wholly towards evil.
4:28 God desires to lighten your burden, for man has been created weak.
4:29 O ye who believe! devour not your property among yourselves by unlawful means, except that you earn by trade with mutual consent. And kill not your people. Surely, God is Merciful towards you.
4:30 And whosoever does that by way of transgression and injustice, We shall cast him into Fire; and that is easy for God.
4:31 If you keep away from the more grievous of the things which are forbidden you, We will remove from you your minor evils and admit you to a place of great honour.
4:32 And covet not that whereby God has made some of you excel others. Men shall have a share of that which they have earned, and women a share of that which they have earned. And ask God of His bounty. Surely, God has perfect knowledge of all things.
4:33 And to everyone We have appointed heirs to what the parents and their relations leave, and also those with whom your oaths have ratified a contract. So give them their portion. Surely, God watches over all things.
4:34 Men are guardians over women because God has made some of them excel others, and because men spend on them of their wealth. So virtuous women are obedient, and guard the secrets of their husbands with God's protection. And as for those on whose part you fear disobedience, admonish them and keep away from them in their beds and chastise them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Surely, God is High and Great.
4:35 And if you fear a breach between them, then appoint an arbiter from his folk and an arbiter from her folk. If they (the arbiters) desire reconciliation, God will effect it between them. Surely, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware.
4:36 And worship God and associate naught with Him, and show kindness to parents, and to kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and to the neighbour who is a kinsman and the neighbour who is a stranger, and the companion by your side, and the wayfarer, and those whom your right hands possess. Surely, God loves not the arrogant and the boastful;
4:37 Who are niggardly and also enjoin people to be niggardly, and hide that which God has given them of His bounty. And We have prepared for the disbelievers an humiliating punishment;
4:38 And as for those who spend their wealth in order to be seen of men, and believe not in God, nor the Last Day, they are the companions of Satan, and whoso has Satan for a companion, an evil companion is he.
4:39 And what harm would have befallen them if they have believed in God and the Last Day and spend out of what God has given them? And God knows them well.
4:40 Surely, God wrongs not anyone even so much as the weight of an atom. And if there be a good deed, He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward.
4:41 And how will it fare with them when We shall bring a witness from every people, and shall bring thee as a witness against these!
4:42 On that day those who disbelieved and disobeyed the Messenger will wish that the earth were made level with them, and they will not be able to hide anything from God.
4:43 O ye who believe! go not near Prayer when you are not in full possession of your senses, until you know what you are saying, nor when you are unclean, except when you are traveling along a way, until you have bathed. And if you are ill or you are on a journey while unclean, or if one of you comes from the privy or you have touched women and you find no water, then betake yourselves to pure dust and wipe therewith your faces and your hands. Surely God is the Effacer of sins, Forgiving,
4:44 Hast thou not seen those who were given a portion of the Book? They buy error and desire that you too may lose the way.
4:45 And God knows your enemies well. And sufficient is God as a Friend, and sufficient is God as a helper.
4:46 There were some among the Jews who pervert words from their proper places. And they say, 'We hear and we disobey' and 'hear us and may God's Word never be heard by you,' and they say, 'Ra'ina.' They say all this twisting with their tongues and seeking to injure the Faith. And if they had said, 'We hear and we obey,' and hear thou,' and 'Unzurna,' it would have been better for them and more upright. But God has cursed them for their disbelief; so they believe but little.
4:47 O ye people of the Book! believe in what We have now sent down, fulfilling that which is with you, before We destroy some of your leaders and turn them on their backs or curse them as We cursed the people of the Sabbath. And the decree of God is bound to be fulfilled.
4:48 Surely, God will not forgive that a partner be associated with Him; but He will forgive whatever is short of that to whomsoever He pleases. And whoso associates partners with God has indeed devised a very great sin.
4:49 Hast thou not seen those who hold themselves to be pure? Nay, it is God who purifies whomsoever He pleases, and they will not be wronged a whit.
4:50 See how they forge a lie against God! And sufficient is that as a manifest sin.
4:51 Hast thou not seen those who were given a portion of the Book? They believe in evil objects and follow those who transgress, and they say of the disbelievers, 'These are better guided in religion than those who believe.'
4:52 Those are they whom God has cursed, and he whom God curses, thou shalt not find for him a helper.
4:53 Have they a share in the kingdom? Then they would not give men even so much as a the little hollow in the back of a date-stone.
4:54 Or do they envy men for what God has given them out of His bounty? If that is so, surely, We gave the children of Abraham the Book and wisdom and We gave them a great kingdom.
4:55 And of them were some who believed in him; and of them were others who turned away from him. And sufficient for them as punishment is the blazing fire of Hell.
4:56 Those who disbelieve in Our Signs, We shall soon cause them to enter Fire. As often as their skins are burnt up, We shall give them in exchange other skins that they may continue to taste the punishment. Surely, God is Mighty and Wise.
4:57 And those who believe and do good works. We shall make them enter Gardens through which streams flow, to abide therein for ever; therein shall they have pure spouses, and We shall admit them to a place of plenteous shade.
4:58 Verily God commands you to give over the trusts to those entitled to them, and that, when you judge between men, you judge with justice. And surely, excellent is that with which God admonishes you. God is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.
4:59 O ye who believe! obey God, and obey His Messenger and those who are in authority among you. And if you differ in anything refer it to God and His Messenger, if you are believers in God and the Last Day. That is best and most commendable in the end.
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
4:60 Hast thou not seen those who assert that they believe in what has been revealed to thee and what has been revealed before thee? They desire to seek judgment from the Evil One, although they were commanded not to obey him. And Satan desires to lead them far astray.
4:61 And when it is said to them, 'Come ye to what God has sent down and to His Messenger,' thou seest the hypocrites turn away from thee with aversion.
4:62 Then how is it that when an affliction befalls them because of what their hands have sent on before, they come to thee swearing by God, saying, 'We meant nothing but the doing of good and conciliation.'
4:63 These are they, the secrets of whose hearts God knows well. So turn away from them and admonish them and speak to them an effective word concerning themselves.
4:64 And We have sent no Messenger but that he should be obeyed by the command of God. And if they had come to thee, when they had wronged their souls, and asked forgiveness of God, and the Messenger also had asked forgiveness for them, they would have surely found God Oft-Returning with compassion, and Merciful.
4:65 But no, by thy Lord, they will not be true believers until they make thee judge in all that is in dispute between them and then find not in their hearts any demur concerning that which thou decidest and submit with full submission.
4:66 And if We had commanded them: Slay your people or leave your homes,' they would not have done it except a few of them; and if they had done what they are exhorted to do, it would surely have been better for them and conducive to greater strength;
4:67 And then We would have surely, given them a great reward from Ourselves;
4:68 And We could surely have guided them in the right path.
4:69 And whoso obeys God and this Messenger shall be among those on whom God has bestowed His blessings -- the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs, and the Righteous. And an excellent company are they.
4:70 This grace is from God, and God suffices as One Who is All-Knowing.
4:71 O ye who believe! take your precautions for security, then go forth in separate parties or go forth all together.
4:72 And among you there is he who tarries behind, and if a misfortune befalls you, he says, 'Surely God has been gracious to me, since I was not present with them.'
4:73 But if there comes to you good fortune from God, he says, as if there were no love between you and him, 'Would that I had been with them, then should I have indeed achieved a great success!'
4:74 Let those then fight in the cause of God who would sell the present life for the Hereafter. And whoso fights in the cause of God, be he slain or be he victorious, We shall soon give him a great reward.
4:75 And why should you not fight in the cause of God and for the rescue of the weak men, women and children -- who say, 'Our Lord, take us out of this town whose people are oppressors, and give us a friend from Thyself and give us from Thyself a helper.'
4:76 Those who believe fight in the cause of God, and those who disbelieve fight in the cause of the Evil One. Fight ye therefore, against the friends of Satan; surely Satan's strategy is weak.
4:77 Hast thou not seen those to whom it was said : 'Restrain your hands, observe Prayer, and pay the Zakát.' And when fighting is prescribed for them, behold a section of them fear men as they should fear God, or with still greater fear; and they say 'Our Lord, why hast thou prescribed fighting for us? Wouldst Thou not grant us respite yet a while?' Say, 'The benefit of this world is little and the Hereafter will be better for him who fears God; and you shall not be wronged a whit.'
4:78 Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you be in strongly built towers. And if some good befalls them, they say, 'This is from God;' and if evil befalls them, they say, 'This is from thee.' Say, 'All is from God.' What has happened to these people that they would not try to understand anything?
4:79 Whatever of good comes to thee is from God; and whatever of evil befalls thee is from thyself. And We have sent thee as a Messenger to all mankind. And sufficient is God as a Witness.
4:80 Whoso obeys the Messenger obeys God indeed; and whoso turns away, then We have not sent thee to be a keeper over them.
4:81 And they say, 'Obedience is our guiding principle;' but when they go forth from thy presence, a section of them spends the night scheming against what thou hast said. God records whatever they scheme by night. So turn away from them, and put thy trust in God. And sufficient is God as a Disposer of affairs.
4:82 Will they not, then, meditate upon the Qur'án? Had it been from anyone other than God, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy.
4:83 And when there comes to them any tidings whether of peace or of fear they spread it about, whereas if they had referred it to the Messenger and to those in authority among them, surely those of them, who can elicit the truth from it, would have understood it. And had it not been for the grace of God upon you and His mercy, you would have followed Satan, save a few.
4:84 Fight, therefore, in the way of God -- thou art not made responsible except for thyself -- and urge on the believers to fight. It may be that God will restrain the might of those that disbelieve; And God is stronger in might and stronger in inflicting punishment.
4:85 Whoso makes a righteous intercession shall have a share thereof, and whoso makes an evil intercession, shall have a like portion thereof; and God is Powerful over everything.
4:86 And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a better greeting or at least return it. Surely God takes account of all things.
4:87 God is He besides Whom there is none worthy of worship. He will certainly continue to assemble you till the Day of Resurrection about which there is no doubt. And who is more truthful in his word than God?
4:88 What is the matter with you that you are divided into two parties regarding the Hypocrites? And God has overthrown them because of what they earned. Desire ye to guide him whom God has caused to perish? And for him whom God causes to perish thou shalt not find a way.
4:89 They wish that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved, so that you may become alike. Take not, therefore, friends from among them, until they emigrate in the way of God. And if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them; and take no friend nor helper from among them;
4:90 Except those who are connected with a people between whom and you there is a pact, or those who come to you, while their hearts shrink from fighting you or fighting their own people. And if God had so pleased, He could have given them power against you, then they would have surely fought you. So, if they keep aloof from you and fight you not, and make you an offer of peace, then God has allowed you no way of aggression against them.
4:91 You will find others who desire to be secure from you and to be secure from their own people. Whenever they are made to revert to hostility, they fall headlong into it. Therefore, if they do not keep aloof from you nor offer you peace nor restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them, wherever you find them. Against these We have given you clear authority.
4:92 It does not behove a believer to slay a believer unless it be by mistake. And he who slays a believer by mistake shall free a believing slave, and pay blood-money to be handed over to his heirs, unless they remit it as charity. But if the person slain be of a people hostile to you, and he is a believer, then the penalty is only the freeing of a believing slave, and if he be of a people between whom and you is a pact, then the penalty is blood-money to be handed over to his heirs, and the freeing of a believing slave. But whoso finds not one, then he shall fast for two consecutive months -- a mercy from God. And God is All-Knowing, Wise.
4:93 And whoso slays a believer intentionally, his reward shall be Hell wherein he shall abide. And God shall be wroth with him and shall curse him and shall prepare for him a great punishment.
4:94 O ye who believe! when you go forth to fight in the cause of God, make proper investigation and say not to anyone who greets you with the greeting of peace, Thou art not a believer.' You seek the goods of this life, but with God are good things in plenty. Such were you before this, but God conferred His special favour on you; so do make proper investigation. Surely, God is Aware of what you do.
4:95 Those of the believers who sit at home, excepting the disabled ones, and those who strive in the cause of God with their wealth and their persons, are not equal. God has exalted in rank those who strive with their wealth and their persons above those who sit at home. And to each God has promised good. And God has exalted those who strive above those who sit at home, by a great reward --
4:96 By degrees of excellence bestowed by Him, and by special forgiveness and mercy. And God is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
4:97 Verily, those whom the angels cause to die while they are wronging their own souls, the angels will say to them : 'What were you after?' They will say : 'We were treated as weak in the land.' The angels will say, 'Was not God's earth spacious enough so that you could have emigrated therein?' It is these whose abode shall be Hell, and an evil destination it is;
4:98 Except such weak ones among men, women and children, as are incapable of adopting any plan or of finding any way to escape.
4:99 As to these, maybe God will efface their sins; for God is the Effacer of sins, the Most Forgiving.
4:100 And whoso emigrates from his country in the way of God will find in the earth an abundant place of refuge and plentifulness. And whoso goes forth from his home, emigrating in the cause of God and His Messenger, and death overtakes him, his reward lies on God, and God is Most Forgiving, Merciful,
4:101 And when you journey in the land, it shall be no blame on you if you shorten the Prayer, if you fear that those who disbelieve will cause you trouble. Verily the disbelievers are an open enemy to you.
4:102 And when thou art among them, and leadest the Prayer for them, let a party of them stand with thee and let them take their arms. And when they have performed their prostrations, let them go to your rear, and let another party, who have not yet prayed, come forward and pray with thee, and let them take their means of defence and their arms. The disbelievers wish that you were neglectful of your arms and your baggage that they may fall upon you at once. And it shall be no sin for you, because of the inconvenience caused by rain or because you are sick, that you lay aside your arms. But you should always take your precautions. Surely, God has prepared an humiliating punishment for the disbelievers.
4:103 And when you have finished the Prayer, remember God, standing and sitting, and laying on your sides. And when you are secure from danger, then observe Prayer in the prescribe form; verily Prayer is enjoined on the believers to be performed at fixed hours.
4:104 And slacken not in seeking these people. If you suffer, they too suffer even as you suffer. But you hope from God what they hope not. And God is All-Knowing, Wise.
4:105 We have surely sent down to thee the Book comprising the truth, that thou mayest judge between men by what God has taught thee. And be not thou a disputer on behalf of the faithless;
4:106 And ask forgiveness of God. Surely, God is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
4:107 And plead not on behalf of those who are dishonest to themselves. Surely, God loves not one who is perfidious and a great sinner.
4:108 They seek to hide their designs from men, but they cannot hide them from God; and He is present with them when they plot at night about matters which He does not approve. And God encompasses what they do.
4:109 Behold! you are those who pleaded for them in the present life. But who will plead with God for them on the Day of Resurrection, or who will be a guardian over them?
4:110 And whoso does evil or wrongs his soul, and then asks forgiveness of God, will find God Most Forgiving, Merciful.
4:111 And whoso commits a sin, it is only against his own soul. And God is All-Knowing, Wise.
4:112 And whoso commits a fault or a sin, then throws the blame thereof on an innocent person, certainly bears the burden of calumny and a manifest sin.
4:113 And but for the grace of God upon thee and His mercy, a party of them had resolved to bring about thy ruin. And they ruin none but themselves and they cannot harm thee at all. And God has sent down to thee the Book and wisdom and has taught thee what thou knewest not, and great is God's grace on thee.
4:114 There is no good in many of their conferences except the conferences of such as enjoin charity, or goodness or the making of peace among men. And whoso does that, seeking the pleasure of God, We shall soon bestow on him a great reward.
4:115 And whoso opposes the Messenger after guidance has become manifest to him, and follows a way other than that of the believers, We shall let him pursue the way he is pursuing and shall cast him into Hell, and an evil destination it is.
4:116 God shall not forgive that anything be associated with Him as partner, but He will forgive what is short of that to whomsoever He pleases. And whoso associates anything with God has indeed strayed far away.
4:117 They invoke besides Him none but lifeless objects, and they invoke none but Satan the rebellious,
4:118 Whom God has cursed. He said, 'I will assuredly take a fixed portion from Thy servants;
4:119 And assuredly I will lead them astray and assuredly I will arouse in them vain desires, and assuredly I will incite them and they will cut the ears of cattle; and assuredly I will incite them and they will alter God's creation.' And whoever takes Satan for a friend instead of God, he certainly suffers a manifest loss.
4:120 He holds out promises to them and excites vain desires in them, and Satan promises them nothing but vain things.
4:121 For such, their abode shall be Hell, and they shall find no way of escape from it.
4:122 But as for those who believe and do good works, We will admit them into Gardens, beneath which streams flow, wherein they will abide forever. It is God's unfailing promise; and who can be more truthful than God in word?
4:123 It shall not be according to your desires, nor according to the desires of the People of the Book. Whoso does evil shall be requited for it; and he shall find for himself no friend or helper besides God.
4:124 But whoso does good works, whether male or female, and he or she is a believer, such shall enter heaven, and shall not be wronged even as much as the little hollow in the back of a date-stone.
4:125 And who is better in faith than he who submits himself entirely to God, and he is a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham? And God took Abraham for a special friend.
4:126 And to God belongs all that is in the heavens and that is in the earth; and God encompasses all things.
4:127 And they seek of thee the decision of the law concerning marriage with more women than one. Say, God gives you His decision concerning them. And that which is recited to you elsewhere in your Book concerns the orphan girls whom you give not what is prescribed for them and whom you desire to marry, and also concerns the weak among children. And He enjoins you to deal equitably with the orphans. And whatever good you do, surely God knows it well.
4:128 And if a women fears ill treatment or indifference from her husband, it shall be no sin that they be suitably reconciled to each other; and reconciliation is best. And people are prone to covetousness. And if you do good and are righteous, surely God is Aware of what you do.
4:129 And you cannot keep perfect balance between wives, however much you may desire it. But incline not wholly to one so that you leave the other like a thing suspended. And if you are reconciled and act righteously, surely God is Most Forgiving, and Merciful.
4:130 And if they separate, God will make both independent out of His abundance, and God is Bountiful, Wise.
4:131 And to God belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. And We have assuredly commanded those who were given the Book before you and commanded you also to fear God. But if you disbelieve, then remember that to God belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and God is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.
4:132 And to God belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and sufficient is God as a Guardian.
4:133 If He please, He can take you away, O people, and bring others in your stead; and God has the full power to do that.
4:134 Whoso desires the reward of this world, then let him know that with God is the reward of this world and of the hereafter; and God is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.
4:135 O ye who believe! be strict in observing justice and be witnesses for God, even though it be against yourselves or against your parents or kindred. Whether he, against whom witness is borne, be rich or poor, God is more regardful of them both than you are. Therefore follow not your low desires that you may be able to act equitably. And if you hide the truth or evade it, then know that God is Well-Aware of what you do.
4:136 O ye who believe! believe in God and His Messenger and in the Book which He had revealed to His Messenger, and the Book which He revealed before it. And whoso disbelieves in God and His angels, and His Books and His Messengers and the Last Day, has surely strayed far away.
4:137 Those who believe, then disbelieve, then again believe, then disbelieve and then increase in disbelief, God will never forgive them nor will He guide them to the right way.
4:138 Give to the hypocrites the tidings that for them is a grievous punishment;
4:139 Those who take disbelievers as friends rather than believers. Do they seek honour at their hands? Surely, all honour belongs to God.
4:140 And He has already revealed to you in the Book that when you hear the Signs of God being denied and mocked at, sit not with those who indulge in such talk, until they engage in some other talk; for in that case you would be like them. Surely God will assemble the hypocrite and the disbelievers in Hell, all together.
4:141 Those who await your ruin. If you have a victory from God, they say, 'Were we not with you?' And if the disbelievers have a share of it, they say to them, 'Did we not on a previous occasion get the better of you and save you from the believers?' God will judge between you on the day of Resurrection; and God will not grant the disbelievers a way to prevail against the believers.
4:142 The hypocrites seek to deceive God, but He will punish them for their deception. And when they stand up for Prayer, they stand up lazily and to be seen of men, and they remember God but little.
4:143 Wavering between this and that, belonging neither to these nor to those. And he whom God causes to perish, for him thou shalt not find a way of escape.
4:144 O ye who believe, take not disbelievers for friends, in preference to believers. Do you mean to give God a manifest proof against yourselves?
4:145 The hypocrite shall surely be in the lowest depths of the Fire; and thou shalt find no helper for them,
4:146 Except those who repent and amend and hold fast to God and are sincere in their obedience to God -- these are among the believers. And God will soon bestow a great reward upon the believers.
4:147 Why should God punish you, if you are thankful and if you believe? And God is Appreciating, All-Knowing.
4:148 God likes not the uttering of unseemly speech in public, except on the part of one who is being wronged. Verily, God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
4:149 Whether you make public a good deed or keep it secret or pardon an evil, God is certainly the Effacer of sins, All-Powerful.
4:150 Surely, those who disbelieve in God and His Messengers and seek to make a distinction between God and His Messengers, and say, 'We believe in some and disbelieve in others,' and seek to take a way between;
4:151 These really are the disbelievers, and We have prepared for the disbelievers an humiliating punishment.
4:152 And those who believe in God and in all his Messengers and make no distinction between any of them, to such He will soon give their rewards. And God is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
4:153 The people of the Book ask thee to bring down upon them a Book from heaven. They asked Moses a greater thing than this. They said, 'Show us God openly.' Thereupon a destructive punishment overtook them because of their transgression. Then they took the calf for worship after clear Signs had come to them, but We pardoned even that. And We gave Moses a manifest authority.
4:154 And We raised high above them the Mount while making a covenant with them, and We said to them, 'Enter the gate submissively,' and We said to them, 'Transgress not in the matter of the Sabbath.' And We took from them a firm covenant.
4:155 So, for their breaking the covenant, and their denial of the Signs of God, and their seeking to slay the Prophets unjustly, and their saying: 'Our hearts are wrapped up in covers,' -- nay, but God has sealed them because of their disbelief, so they believe not but little --
4:156 And for their disbelief and for their uttering against Mary a grievous calumny;
4:157 And for their saying, 'We did slay the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of God;' whereas they slew him not, nor did they bring about his death upon the cross, but he was made to appear to them like one crucified; and those who differ therein are certainly in a state of doubt about it; they have no certain knowledge thereof, but only pursue a conjecture; and they did not arrive at a certainty concerning it.
4:158 On the contrary, God exalted him to Himself. And God is Mighty, Wise.
4:159 And there is none among the People of the Book but will continue to believe in it before his death; and on the Day of Resurrection, he (Jesus) shall be a witness against them.
4:160 So, because of the transgression of the Jews, We forbade them pure things which had been allowed to them, and also because of their hindering many men from God's way,
4:161 And because of their taking interest although they had been forbidden it, and because of their devouring peoples wealth wrongfully. And We have prepared for those of them, who disbelieve, a painful punishment.
4:162 But those among them who are firmly grounded in knowledge, and the believers, believe in what has been sent down to thee and what was sent down before thee, and especially those that observe Prayer and those who pay the Zakát and those who believe in God and the Last Day. To these We will surely give a mighty reward.
4:163 Surely, We have sent revelation to thee, as We sent revelation to Noah and the Prophets after him; and We sent revelation to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and his children and to Jesus and Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon, and We gave David a Book.
4:164 And We sent some Messengers whom We have already mentioned to thee and some Messengers whom We have not mentioned to thee -- and to Moses God spoke at great length -
4:165 Messengers, bearers of glad tidings and Warners, so that people may have no plea against God after the coming of Messengers. And God is Mighty, Wise.
4:166 But God bears witness by means of the revelation which He has sent down to thee, that He has sent it down full of His knowledge, and the angels also bear witness; and sufficient is God as a Witness.
4:167 Those who disbelieve and hinder others from the way of God, have certainly strayed far away.
4:168 Surely, those who have disbelieved and have acted unjustly, God will not forgive them, nor will He show them any way.
4:169 Except the way of Hell, wherein they shall abide for a long, long period. And that is easy for God.
4:170 O mankind! the Messenger has indeed come to you with truth from your Lord; believe therefore, it will be better for you. But if you disbelieve, verily, to God belongs whatever is in the heavens and in the earth. And God is All-Knowing, Wise.
4:171 O People of the Book! exceed not the limits in your religion, and say not of God anything but the truth. Verily, the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a Messenger of God, and a fulfillment of His word which He has sent down to Mary, and a mercy from Him. So believe in God and His Messengers, and say not, 'They are three.' Desist, it will be better for you. Verily, God is the only One God. Holy is He, far above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. And sufficient is God as a guardian.
4:172 Surely, the Messiah disdains not to be a servant of God, nor do the angels who are near to Him, and whoso disdains to worship Him and is proud, He will gather them all to Himself.
4:173 Then as for those who believe and do good works, He will give them their rewards in full and will give them more out of His grace; but as for those who disdain and are proud, He will punish them with a painful punishment. And they shall find for themselves beside God no friend, nor helper.
4:174 O ye people, manifest proof has indeed come to you from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a clear Light.
4:175 Then, as for those who believe in God and hold fast to Him, He will surely admit them to His mercy and grace and will guide them along a straight path leading to Himself.
4:176 They ask thee for a decision. Say, 'God gives His decision concerning 'Kalálah. If a man dies leaving no child and he has a sister, then she shall have half of what he leaves; and he shall inherit her if she has no child. But if there be two sisters, then they shall have two-thirds of what he leaves. And if the heirs be brethren -- both men and women -- then the male shall have as much as the portion of two females. God explains this to you lest you go astray and God knows all things well.'

Chapter 5
The Table
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
5:1 O ye who believe! fulfill you compacts. Lawful are made to you quadrupeds of the class of cattle other than those which are being announced to you, except that you should not hold game to be lawful while you are in a state of pilgrimage; verily, God decrees what He wills.
5:2 O ye who believe! profane not the Signs of God, nor the Sacred Month, nor the animals brought as an offering, nor the animals of sacrifice wearing collars nor those repairing to the Sacred House, seeking grace from their Lord and His pleasure. And when you put off the pilgrims' garb and are clear of the Sacred Territory, you may hunt. And let not the enmity of a people, that they hindered you from the Sacred Mosque, incite you to transgress. And help one another in righteousness and in piety; but help not one another in sin and transgression. And fear God; Surely God is Severe in punishment.
5:3 Forbidden to you is the flesh of an animal which dies of itself, and blood and the flesh of swine; and that on which is invoked the name of any other than God; and that which has been strangled; and that which has been beaten to death; and that which has been killed by a fall and that which has been gored to death; and that of which a wild animal has eaten, except that which you have properly slaughtered; and that which has been slaughtered at an altar as an offering to idols. And forbidden is also this that you seek to know your lot by the divining arrows. That is an act of disobedience. This day have those who disbelieve despaired of harming your religion. So fear them not, but fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as religion. But whoso is forced by hunger, without being wilfully inclined to sin, then, surely, God is Most Forgiving, and is Merciful.
5:4 They ask thee what is made lawful for them. Say, 'All good things have been made lawful for you, and what you have taught the beasts and the birds of prey to catch for you, training them for hunting and teaching them of what God has taught you. So eat of that which they catch for you, and pronounce thereon the name of God. And fear God, surely God is Quick in reckoning.'
5:5 This day all good things have been made lawful for you. And the food of the people of the Book is lawful for you. And your food is lawful for them. And lawful for you are chaste believing women and chaste women from among those who were given the Book before you, when you give them their dowries, contracting valid marriage and not committing fornication, nor taking secret paramours. And whoever rejects the faith, his work indeed is vain, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.
5:6 O ye who believe! when you stand up for Prayer, wash your faces, and your hands up to the elbows, and pass your wet hands over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you be unclean, purify yourselves by bathing. And if you are ill or you are on a journey while unclean, or one of you comes from the privy or you have touched women, and find not water, betake yourselves to pure dust and wipe therewith your faces and your hands. God desires not that He should place you in a difficulty but He desires to purify you and to complete His favour upon you, so that you may be grateful.
5:7 And remember God's favour upon you and the covenant which He made with you, when you said, 'We hear and we obey.' And fear God. Surely God knows well what is in your minds.
5:8 O ye who believe! be steadfast in the cause of God, bearing witness in equity; and let not a people's enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be always just. That is nearer to righteousness. And fear God. Surely, God is Aware of what you do.
5:9 God has promised those who believe and do good deeds that they shall have forgiveness and a great reward.
5:10 And as for those who disbelieve and reject Our Signs, they are the people of Hell.
5:11 O ye who believe! remember God's favour upon you when a people intended to stretch out their hands against you, but He with-held their hands from you; and fear God. And in God should the believers put their trust.
5:12 And indeed God did take a covenant from the Children of Israel; and We raised among them twelve leaders. And God said, 'Surely, I am with you, if you observe Prayer and pay the Zakaat, and believe in My Messengers and support them, and lend to God a goodly loan, I will remove your evils from you and admit you into Gardens beneath which streams flow. But whoso from among you disbelieves thereafter does indeed stray away from the right path.'
5:13 So, because of their breaking of the covenant, We have cursed them and have hardened their hearts. They pervert the words from their proper places and have forgotten a good part of that with which they were exhorted. And thou wilt not cease to discover treachery on their part, except a few of them. So pardon them and show forbearance. Surely God loves those who do good to others.
5:14 And from those also who say, 'We are Christians,' We took a covenant, but they too have forgotten a good part of that with which they were exhorted. So We have caused enmity and hatred among them till the Day of Resurrection. And God will soon let them know what they have been doing.
5:15 O People of the Book! there has come to you Our Messenger who makes clear to you much of what you have kept hidden of the Book and forgives many of your faults. There has come to you indeed from God a Light and a clear Book.
5:16 Thereby does God guide those who seek His pleasure on the paths of peace, and leads them out of every kind of darkness into light by His Will and guides them to the right path.
5:17 They indeed have disbelieved who say, 'Surely God -- He is the Messiah, son of Mary.' Say, 'Who then has any power against God, if He desired to destroy the Messiah, son of Mary, and his mother and all those that are in the earth?' And to God belongs the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them. He creates what He pleases and God has power over all things.
5:18 The Jews and the Christians say, 'We are the sons of God and His beloved ones.' Say, 'Why then does He punish you for your sins? Nay, you are mortals from among those He has created.' He forgives whom He pleases and punishes whom He pleases. And to God belongs the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, and to Him shall be the final return.
5:19 O People of the Book! there indeed has come to you Our Messenger, after a break in the series of Messengers, who makes things clear to you lest you should say, 'There has come to us no bearer of glad tidings and no Warner.' So a bearer of glad tidings and a warner has indeed come to you. And God has power over all things.
5:20 And remember when Moses said to his people, 'O my people, call to mind God's favour upon you when He raised Prophets among you and made you kings, and gave you what He gave not to any other among the peoples;
5:21 O my people, enter the Holy Land which God has ordained for you and do not turn back, for then you will return as losers.'
5:22 They said, 'O Moses, there is in that land an unruly and powerful people, and we shall not enter it until they go forth from it, but if they go forth from it, then we will enter it.'
5:23 Thereupon two men from among those who feared their Lord, on whom God has conferred His special favour, said 'Enter the gate advancing against them; when once you have entered it, then surely you will be victorious. And put your trust in God, if you are believers.'
5:24 They said, 'O Moses, we will never enter it, so long as they are in it. So go thou and thy Lord and fight, and here we sit.'
5:25 He said, 'My Lord, I have control over myself and my brother, therefore distinguish Thou between us and the rebellious people.'
5:26 God said: 'Verily it shall be forbidden to them for forty years; in distraction shall they wander through the land. So grieve not over the rebellious people.
5:27 And relate to them with truth the story of the two sons of Adam, when they each offered an offering, and it was accepted from one of them and was not accepted from the other. The latter said, 'I will surely kill thee.' The former replied, 'God accepts only from the righteous;
5:28 If thou stretch out thy hand against me to kill me, I shall not stretch out my hand against thee to kill thee. I do fear God, the Lord of the Universe;
5:29 I wish that thou shouldst bear the punishment of the sin against me as well as of thine own sin, and thus be among the inmates of the Fire, and that is the recompense of those who do wrong.'
5:30 But his evil self induced him to kill his brother, and so he killed him and became one of the losers.
5:31 Then God sent a raven which scratched in the ground, that He might show him how to hide the corpse of his brother. He said, 'Woe is me! Am I not able to be even like this raven so that I may hide the corpse of my brother?' And then he became remorseful.
5:32 On account of this, We prescribed for the Children of Israel that whosoever killed a person -- unless it be for killing a person or for creating disorder in the land -- it shall be as if he killed all mankind; and whoso saved a life, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind. And our Messengers came to them with clear Signs, Yet even after that, many of them commit excesses in the land.
5:33 The only reward of those, who wage war against God and His Messenger and strive to create disorder in the land, is that they be slain or crucified or their hands and feet be cut off on account of their enmity, or they be expelled from the land. That shall be a disgrace for them in this world, and in the Hereafter they shall have a great punishment;
5:34 Except those who repent before you have them in your power. So know that God is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
5:35 O ye who believe! fear God and seek the means of approach unto Him and strive in His way that you may prosper.
5:36 Surely, if those who disbelieve had all that is in the earth and as much over again to ransom themselves therewith from the punishment of the Day of Resurrection, it would not be accepted from them; and they shall have a painful punishment.
5:37 They would wish to come out of the Fire, but they will not be able to come out of it and they shall have a lasting punishment.
5:38 And as for the man who steals and the woman who steals, cut of their hands in retribution of their offence as an exemplary punishment from God. And God is Mighty, Wise.
5:39 But whoso repents after his transgression and amends, then will God surely turn to him in mercy; verily, God is most Forgiving and Merciful.
5:40 Dost thou not know that God is He to Whom belongs the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth? He punishes whom He pleases and forgives whom He pleases, and God has power over all things.
5:41 O Messenger! let not those grieve thee who hasten to fall into disbelief -- those who say with their mouths, 'We believe,' but their hearts believe not. And among the Jews too are those who would fondly listen to any lie -- who listen for conveying it to other people who have not come to thee. They pervert words after their being put in their right places; and say, 'If you are given this, then accept it, but if you are not given this, then keep away from it.' And as for him whom God desires to try, thou shalt not avail him aught against God. These are they whose hearts God has not been pleased to purify; they shall have disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter they shall have a severe punishment.
5:42 They are eager listeners to falsehood, devourers of things forbidden. If, then, they come to thee for judgment, judge between them or turn aside from them. And if thou turn aside from them, they cannot harm thee at all. And if thou judge, judge between them with justice. Surely God loves those who are just.
5:43 And how will they make thee their judge when they have with them the Torah, wherein is God's judgment? Yet in spite of that they turn their backs; and certainly they will not believe.
5:44 Surely, We sent down the Torah wherein was guidance and light. By it did the Prophets, who were obedient to Us, judge for the Jews, as did the godly people and those learned in the Law, because they were required to preserve the Book of God, and because they were guardians over it. Therefore fear not men but fear Me; and barter not My signs for a paltry price. And whoso judges not by that which God has sent down, these it is who are the disbelievers.
5:45 And therein We prescribed for them: Life for life, and eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, and tooth for tooth, and for other injuries equitable retaliation. And whoso waives the right thereto, it shall be an expiation for his own sins; and whoso judges not by what God has sent down, these it is who are wrongdoers.
5:46 And We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps, fulfilling that which was revealed before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel which contained guidance and light, fulfilling that which was revealed before him in the Torah; and a guidance and an admonition for the God-fearing.
5:47 And let the people of the Gospel judge according to what God has revealed therein, and whoso judges not by what God has revealed, these it is who are the transgressors.
5:48 And We have revealed unto thee the Book comprising the truth and fulfilling that which was revealed before it in the Book, and as a guardian over it. Judge, therefore, between them by what God has revealed, and follow not their evil desires, turning away from the truth which has come to thee. For each of you We prescribed a clear spiritual Law and a manifest way in secular matters. And if God had enforced His will, He would have made you all one people, but He wishes to try you by that which He has given you. Vie then with one another in doing good works. To God shall you all return; then He will inform you of that wherein you differed;
5:49 And that thou shouldst judge between them by that which God has revealed and follow not their evil desires and be on thy guard against them, lest they involve thee in trouble on account of a part of what God has revealed to thee. But if they turn away, then know that God intends to punish them for some of their sins. And indeed a large number of men are disobedient.
5:50 Do they then seek the judgment of the days of Ignorance. And who is better than God as a judge for a people who have firm faith?
5:51 O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for friends. They are friends of each other. And whoso among you takes them for friends is indeed one of them. Verily God guides not the unjust people.
5:52 And thou wilt see those in whose hearts is a disease, hastening towards them saying, 'We fear lest a misfortune befall us.' Maybe, God will bring about victory or some other event from Himself. Then will they regret what they hid in their minds.
5:53 And those who believe will say, 'Are these they who swore by God, their most solemn oaths that they were surely with you?' Their works are vain and they have become the losers.
5:54 O ye who believe! whoso among you turns back from his Religion, then let him know that God will soon bring in his stead a people whom He will love and who will love Him and who will be kind and humble to the believers, and hard and firm against the disbelievers. They will strive in the cause of God and will not fear the reproach of a fault-finder. That is God's grace; He bestows it upon whomsoever He pleases and God is Bountiful, All-Knowing.
5:55 Your friend is God and His Messenger and the believers who observe Prayer and pay the Zakaat and worship God alone.
5:56 And those who take God and His Messenger and the believers for friends should rest assured that it is the party of God that must triumph.
5:57 O ye who believe! take not those for friends who make a jest and sport of your religion from among those who were given the Book before you, and the disbelievers. And fear God if you are believers;
5:58 And who, when you call people to Prayer, take it for a jest and sport. This is because they are people who do not understand.
5:59 Say, 'O people of the Book! do you find fault with us because we believe in God and what was sent down to us and what was sent down previously? Or is it because most of you are disobedient to God?'
5:60 Say, 'Shall I inform you of those whose reward with God is worst than that? They are those whom God has cursed and on whom His wrath has fallen and of whom He has made apes and swine and who worship the Evil One. These indeed are in a worse plight, and father astray from the right path.
5:61 And when they come to you, they say, 'We believe,' while they enter with disbelief and go out therewith; and God best knows what they hide.
5:62 And thou seest many of them hastening towards sin and transgression and eating of things forbidden. Evil indeed is that which they practice.
5:63 Why do not the divines and those learned in Law prohibit them from uttering sin and eating things forbidden? Evil indeed is that which they do.
5:64 And the Jews say, 'God's hand is tied up.' Their own hands shall be tied up and they shall be cursed for what they say. Nay, both His hands are wide open. He spends as He pleases. And what has been sent down to thee from thy Lord will most surely increase many of them in rebellion and disbelief. And We have cast among them enmity and hatred till the Day of Resurrection. Whenever they kindle a fire for war, God extinguishes it. And they strive to create disorder in the earth, and God love not those who create disorder.
5:65 And if the People of the Book had believed and been righteous, We would surely have removed from them their evils and We would surely have admitted them into Gardens of bliss.
5:66 And if they had observed the Torah and the Gospel and what has been now sent down to them from their Lord, they would, surely, have eaten of good things from above them and from under their feet. Among them are a people who are moderate; but many of them are such that evil is what they do.
5:67 O Messenger! convey to the people what has been revealed to thee from thy Lord; and if thou do it not, thou has not conveyed His Message. And God will protect thee from men. Surely God guides not the disbelieving people.
5:68 Say, 'O People of the Book, you stand on nothing until you observe the Torah and the Gospel and what has now been sent down to you from your Lord.' And surely what has been sent down to thee from thy Lord will increase many of them in rebellion and disbelieve; so grieve not for the disbelieving people.
5:69 Surely those who believed, and the Jews, and the Sabians, and the Christians -- whoso believes in God and the Last Day and does good deeds, on them shall come no fear, nor shall they grieve.
5:70 Surely We took a covenant from the Children of Israel, and We sent Messengers to them. But every time there came to them a Messenger with what their hearts desired not, they treated some as liars, and some they sought to kill.
5:71 And they imagined that no punishment would result from their conduct, so they became blind and deaf. But God turned to them in mercy; yet again many of them became blind and deaf; and God is Watchful of what they do.
5:72 Indeed, they are disbelievers who say, 'God, He is the Messiah, son of Mary,' whereas the Messiah himself said, 'O Children of Israel, worship God Who is my Lord and your Lord.' Surely, whoso associates partners with God, him has God forbidden Heaven, and the Fire will be his resort. And the wrongdoers shall have no helpers.
5:73 They surely disbelieve who say, 'God is the third of three;' there is no god but the One God. And if they do not desist from what they say, a grievous punishment shall surely befall those of them that disbelieve.
5:74 Will they not then turn to God and ask His forgiveness, while God is Most Forgiving and Merciful?
5:75 The Messiah, son of Mary, was only a Messenger; surely Messengers like unto him had passed away before him. And his mother was a truthful woman. They both used to eat food. See how We explain the Signs for their good, and see how they are turned away.
5:76 Say, 'Will you worship beside God that which has no power to do you harm or good? And God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
5:77 Say, 'O People of the Book, exceed not the limits in the matter of your religion unjustly, nor follow the low desires of a people who went astray before and caused many to go astray, and who have strayed away from the right path.'
5:78 Those amongst the Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of David, and of Jesus, son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed and used to transgress.
5:79 They did not restrain one another from the iniquity which they committed. Evil indeed was what they used to do.
5:80 Thou shalt see many of them making friends with those who disbelieve. Surely, evil is that which their souls have sent on before for themselves so that God is displeased with them; and in this punishment they shall abide.
5:81 And if they had believed in God and this Prophet, and that which has been revealed to him, they would not have taken them for their friends, but many of them are transgressors.
5:82 Thou shalt certainly find the Jews and those who associate partners with God to be the most vehement of men in enmity against the believers. And thou shalt assuredly find those who say, 'We are Christians,' to be the nearest of them in friendship to the believers. That is because among them are savants and monks and because they are not arrogant.
5:83 And when they hear what has been revealed to this Messenger, thou seest their eyes overflow with tears, because of the truth which they have recognized. They say, 'Our Lord, we believe, so write us down among the witnesses;
5:84 And why should we not believe in God and in the truth which has come to us, while we earnestly wish that our Lord should include us among the righteous people?'
5:85 So God rewarded them for what they said, with Gardens beneath which streams flow. Therein shall they abide: and that is the reward of those who do good.
5:86 And those who have disbelieved and rejected Our Signs, these are they who are the inmates of Hell.
5:87 O ye who believe! make not unlawful the good things which God has made lawful for you, and do not transgress. Surely God loves not the transgressors.
5:88 And eat of that which God has provided for you of what is lawful and good. And fear God in Whom you believe.
5:89 God will not take you to task for such of your oaths as are vain, but He will take you to task for breaking the oaths which you take in earnest. The expiation thereof, then, is the feeding of ten poor persons with such average food as you feed your families with, or the clothing of them or the freeing of a slave. But whoso finds not the means shall fast for three days. That is the expiation of your oaths when you have sworn. And keep your oaths. Thus does God explain to you His Signs that you may be grateful.
5:90 O ye who believe! wine and the game of chance and idols and divining arrows are only the abomination of Satan's handiwork. So shun each one of them that you may prosper.
5:91 Satan seeks only to create enmity and hatred among you by means of wine and the game of chance, and to keep you back from the remembrance of God and from Prayer. Then will you keep back?
5:92 And obey God and obey the Messenger, and be on your guard. But if you turn away, then know that on Our Messenger lies only the clear conveyance of the Message.
5:93 On those who believe and do good works there shall be no sin for what they eat, provided they fear God and believe and do good works, and again fear God and believe, yet again fear God and do good. And God loves those who do good.
5:94 O ye who believe! God will surely try you in a little matter: the game which your hands and lances can reach, so that God may cause to be known those who fear Him in secret. Whoso, therefore, will transgress after this, shall have a grievous punishment.
5:95 O ye who believe! kill not game while you are in a state of Pilgrimage. And whoso among you kills it intentionally, its compensation is a quadruped like unto that which he has killed, as determined by two just men from among you, the same to be bought as an offering to the Ka'bah; or as an expiation he shall feed a number of poor persons, or fast an equivalent number of days, so that he may taste the penalty of his deed. As for the past, God forgives it; but whoso reverts to it, God will punish him for his offence. And God is the Lord of retribution.
5:96 The game of the sea and the eating thereof is made lawful for you as a provision for you and the travelers; but forbidden to you is the game of the land as long as you are in the state of Pilgrimage. And fear God to whom you shall be gathered.
5:97 God has made the Ka'bah the Sacred House, a means of support and uplift for mankind, as also the Sacred Month and the offerings and the animals with collars. That is so that you may know that God knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and that God knows all things well.
5:98 Know that God is Severe in punishment and that God is also Most Forgiving and ever Merciful.
5:99 On the Messenger lies only the conveying of the Message. And God knows what you disclose and what you hide.
5:100 Say, 'The bad and the good are not alike,' even though the abundance of bad may please thee. So be mindful of your duty to God, O men of understanding, that you may prosper.
5:101 O ye who believe! ask not about things which, if revealed to you, would cause you trouble, though if you ask about them while the Qur'án is being sent down they will be revealed to you. God has left them out on purpose. And God is Most Forgiving and Forbearing.
5:102 A people before you asked about such things, but then they became disbelievers therein.
5:103 God has not ordained any 'Bahira' or 'Sá'ibah' or Wasilah' or 'Hami' but those who disbelieve forge a lie against God, and most of them do not make use of their understanding.
5:104 And when it is said to them, 'Come to what God has revealed, and to the Messenger,' they say, 'Sufficient for us is that wherein we found our fathers.' What! even though their fathers had no knowledge and had no guidance.
5:105 O ye who believe! take care of your own selves. He who goes astray cannot harm you when you yourselves are rightly guided. To God will you all return; then He will inform you of what you used do.
5:106 O ye who believe! the right evidence among you, when death comes to one of you, at the time of making a will, is of two just men from among you; or of two others not from among you, in case you be journeying in the land and the calamity of death befalls you. You shall detain them both after Prayer for giving evidence; and if you have doubt concerning their evidence, they shall both swear by God, saying, 'We will not take for this any price, even though the person affected thereby be a near relation, nor will we hide the testimony enjoined by God; surely in that case we shall be among the sinners.'
5:107 But if it be discovered that the two witnesses are guilty of sin, then two others shall take their place from amongst those against whom the former two witnesses -- who were in a better position to give true evidence -- had deposed, and the two latter witnesses shall swear by God, saying, 'Surely our testimony is truer than the testimony of the former two, and we have not been unfair in any way; for then, indeed, we should be of the unjust.'
5:108 Thus it is more likely that they will give evidence according to facts or that they will fear that other oaths will be taken after their oaths. And fear God and hearken. And God guides not the disobedient people.
5:109 Think of the day when God will assemble the Messengers and say, 'What was the reply made to you?' They will say, 'We have no knowledge, it is only Thou Who art the Knower of hidden things.
5:110 When God will say, 'O Jesus son of Mary, remember My favour upon thee and upon thy mother; When I strengthened thee with the spirit of holiness so that thou didst speak to the people in the cradle and when of middle age; and when I taught thee the Book and the wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when thou didst fashion a creation out of clay, in the likeness of a bird, by My command; then thou didst breathe into it a new spirit and it became a soaring being by My command; and thou didst heal the night-blind and the leprous by My command; and when thou didst raise the dead by My command; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from putting thee to death when thou didst come to them with clear Signs; and those who disbelieved from among them said, 'This is nothing but clear deception.'
5:111 And remember My favour when I inspired the disciples saying, 'Believe in Me and My Messenger,' they said, 'We believe and bear Thou witness that we have submitted.'
5:112 When the disciples said, 'O Jesus, son of Mary, is thy Lord able to send down to us a table spread with food from heaven? He said, 'Fear God, if you are believers.'
5:113 They said, 'We desire that we may eat of it, and that our hearts may be at rest and that we may know that thou hast spoken the truth to us, and that we may be witness thereto.'
5:114 Said Jesus, son of Mary, 'O God, our Lord, send down to us a table from heaven spread with food that it may be to us a festival, to the first of us and to the last of us and a Sign from Thee; and provide sustenance for us, for Thou art the Best of Sustainers.'
5:115 God said, 'Surely I will send it down to you; but whosoever of you disbelieves afterwards -- I will surely punish them with a punishment wherewith I will not punish any other of the peoples.'
5:116 And when God will say, 'O Jesus, son of Mary, didst thou say to men, 'Take me and my mother for two gods beside God?' he will answer, 'Holy art Thou, I could never say that which I had no right. If I had said it, Thou wouldst have surely known it. Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I know not what is in Thy mind. It is Thou alone Who art the Knower of all hidden things;
5:117 I said nothing to them except that which Thou didst command me -- Worship God, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I remained among them, but since Thou didst cause me to die, Thou, hast been the Watcher over them, and Thou art Witness over all things;
5:118 If Thou punish them, they are Thy servants; and if Thou forgive them, Thou surely art the Mighty, the Wise.'
5:119 God will say, 'This is a day when only the truthful shall profit by their truthfulness. For them are Gardens beneath which streams flow; therein shall they abide forever. God is well pleased with them, and they are well pleased with Him; that indeed is the supreme achievement.'
5:120 To God belongs the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth and whatever is in them; and He has power over all things.

Chapter 6
Cattle
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
6:1 All praise belongs to God Who created the heavens and the earth and brought into being darkness and light; yet those who disbelieve set up equals to their Lord.
6:2 He it is Who created you from clay and then He decreed a term. And there is another term fixed with Him. Yet you doubt.
6:3 And He is God, the God, both in the heavens and in the earth. He knows what you disclose and your secrets. And He knows what you earn.
6:4 And there comes not to them any Sign of the Signs of their Lord, but they turn away from it.
6:5 So they rejected the truth when it came to them; but soon shall come to them the tidings of that at which they mocked.
6:6 See they not how many a generation We have destroyed before them? We had established them in the earth as We have not established you and We sent the clouds over them, pouring down abundant rain; and We caused streams to flow beneath them; then did We destroy them because of their sins and raised up after them another generation.
6:7 And if We had sent down to thee a writing upon the parchment and they had felt it with their hands even then the disbelievers would have surely said, 'This is nothing but manifest sorcery.'
6:8 And they say, 'Why has not an angel been sent down to him?' And if We had sent down an angel, the matter would have been decided, and then they would have been granted no respite.
6:9 And if We had appointed as Messenger an angel, We would have made him appear as a man; and thus We would have caused to be confused to them that which they are themselves confusing.
6:10 And surely the Messengers have been mocked at before thee, but that which they mocked at encompassed those of them who scoffed at it.
6:11 Say, 'Go about in the earth and see what was the end of those who treated the Prophets as liars.'
6:12 Say, 'To whom belongs what is in the heavens and the earth?' Say, 'To God.' He has taken upon Himself to show mercy. He will certainly continue to assemble you till the Day of Resurrection. There is no doubt in it. Those who have ruined their souls will not believe.
6:13 To Him belongs whatever exists in the darkness of the night and the light of the day. And He is All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
6:14 Say, 'Shall I take any protector other than God, the Maker of the heavens and the earth, Who feeds and is not fed?' Say, 'I have been commanded to be the first of those who submit.' And be thou not of those who associate partners with God.
6:15 Say, 'Indeed I fear, if I disobey my Lord, the punishment of an awful day.'
6:16 He from whom it is averted on that day, God indeed has had mercy on him. And that indeed is a manifest achievement.
6:17 And if God touch thee with affliction, there is none to remove it but He; and if He touch thee with happiness, then He has the power to do all that He wills.
6:18 And He is supreme over His servants; and He is the Wise, the All-Aware.
6:19 Say, 'What thing is the weightiest in testimony.' Say, 'God is a Witness between me and you. And this Qur'án has been revealed to me so that with it I may warn you, as well as whomsoever it reaches, of the impending punishment. What! do you really bear witness that there are other gods besides God?' Say, 'I bear not witness thereto.' Say, 'He is the One God, and certainly I am innocent of that which you associate with Him.'
6:20 Those to whom We gave the Book recognize him as they recognize their sons. But those who ruin their souls -- they will not believe.
6:21 And who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against God or treat His Signs as lies? Surely the unjust shall not prosper.
6:22 And think of the day when We shall gather them all together; then shall We say to those who associated partners with God, 'Where are the partners you spoke of -- those whom you asserted?'
6:23 Then they will have no excuse save that they shall say, 'By God, our Lord, we were not idolaters.'
6:24 See how they shall lie against themselves. And that which they fabricated shall fail them.
6:25 And among them are some who give ear to thee; but We have put veils on their hearts, that they should not understand, and deafness in their ears. And even if they see every Sign, they would not believe therein, so much so that when they come to thee, disputing with thee, those who disbelieve say, 'This is nothing but fables of the ancients.'
6:26 And they forbid others to believe in it and themselves too they keep away from it. And they ruin none but their ownselves; only they perceive not.
6:27 And if thou couldst only see when they are made to stand before the Fire! They will say, 'Oh, would that we might be sent back! And then we would not treat the Signs of our Lord as lies and we would be of the believers.'
6:28 Nay, that which they used to hide before has now become clear to them. And if they were sent back, they would surely return to that which they are forbidden. And they are certainly liars.
6:29 And they say, 'There is nothing except this our present life, and we shall not be raised again.'
6:30 And if thou couldst only see when they are made to stand before their Lord, He will say, 'Is not this second life the truth? They will say, 'Yea, by our Lord.' He will say, 'Then taste the punishment because you disbelieved.'
6:31 Those indeed are the losers who deny the meeting with God, so much so, that when the Hour shall come on them unawares, they will say, 'O our grief for our neglecting this Hour!' And they shall bear their burdens on their backs. Surely, evil is that which they bear.
6:32 And the life of this world is nothing but a sport and pastime. And surely the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who are righteous. Will you not then understand?
6:33 We know indeed that what they say grieves thee; for surely it is not thee that they charge with falsehood but it is the Signs of God that the evil-doers reject.
6:34 And the Messengers indeed have been rejected before thee, but notwithstanding their rejection and persecution they remained patient until Our help came to them. There is none to change the words of God. And there have already come to thee some of the tidings of the past Messengers.
6:35 And if their turning away is hard on thee, then, if thou art able to seek a passage into the earth or a ladder unto heaven and bring them a Sign, thou canst do so. And had God enforced His will, He could surely have brought them all together to the guidance. So be thou not of those who lack knowledge.
6:36 Only those can accept the truth who listen. And as for the dead, God will raise them to life, then to Him shall they all be brought back.
6:37 And they say, 'Why has not a Sign been sent down to him from his Lord?' Say, 'Surely God has the power to send down a Sign, but most of them do not know.'
6:38 There is not an animal that crawls in the earth, nor a bird that flies on its two wings, but they are communities like you. We have left out nothing in the Book. Then to their Lord shall they all be gathered together.
6:39 Those who have rejected Our signs are deaf and dumb, in utter darkness. Whom God wills He lets go astray and whom He wills He places on the right path.
6:40 Say,`Will you tell me if the punishment of God come or there come upon you the Hour, will you call upon any other than God, if you are truthful?
6:41 Nay, but on Him alone will you call; then will He remove, if He pleases, that which you call on Him to remove, and you will forget what you associate with Him.'
6:42 And indeed We sent Messengers to peoples before thee; then We afflicted them with poverty and adversity that they might humble themselves.
6:43 Why, then, when Our punishment came upon them, did they not humble themselves? But their hearts were hardened all the more and Satan made all that they did seem fair to them.
6:44 When they forgot that with which they had been admonished, and We opened unto them the gates of all things, till, even as they were rejoicing in what they were given, We seized them suddenly, and lo! they were in utter despair.
6:45 So the last remnant of the people who did wrong was cut off; and all praise belongs to God, the Lord of all the worlds.
6:46 Say, 'Will you tell me, if God should take away your hearing and your sight, and seal up your hearts, who is the god other than God who can bring it back to you?' See how We expound the Signs in various ways, yet they turn away.
6:47 Say, 'Will you tell me, if the punishment of God come upon you suddenly or openly, will any be destroyed save the wrongdoing people?'
6:48 And We sent not the Messengers but as bearers of glad tidings and as Warners. So those who believe and reform themselves, on them shall come no fear nor shall they grieve.
6:49 And those who reject our Signs, punishment will touch them, because they disobeyed.
6:50 Say, 'I do not say to you: 'I possess the treasures of God, nor do I know the unseen; nor do I say to you: 'I am an angel, I follow only that which is revealed to me.' Say, 'Can a blind man and one who sees be alike?' Will you not then reflect.
6:51 And warn thereby those who fear that they shall be gathered to their Lord that they shall have no friend nor intercessor besides Him, so that they may become righteous.
6:52 And drive not away those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, seeking His pleasure. Thou art not at all accountable for them nor are they accountable for thee. So if thou shouldst drive them away thou wilt be of the unjust.
6:53 And in the like manner have We tried some of them by others, that they may say, 'Is it these whom God has favoured from among us?' Does not God know best those who are grateful?
6:54 And when those who believe in Our Signs come to thee, say; 'Peace be unto you! Your Lord has taken it upon Himself to show mercy, so that whoso among you does evil in ignorance and repents thereafter and reforms, then He is Most Forgiving and Merciful.'
6:55 And thus do We expound the Signs that the truth may become manifest and that the way of the sinners may become clear.
6:56 Say, 'I am forbidden to worship those on whom you call besides God.' Say, 'I will not follow your low desires. In that case, I shall have gone astray and I shall not be of the rightly guided.'
6:57 Say, 'I take my stand on a clear evidence from my Lord and you reject it. That which you desire to be hastened is not in my power. The decision rest with God alone. He explains the truth and He is the Best of Judges.'
6:58 Say, 'If that which you desire to be hastened were in my power, surely the matter would have been decided between me and you. And God knows best the unjust.'
6:59 And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them but He. And He knows whatsoever is in the land and in the sea. And there falls not a leaf but He knows it; nor is there a grain in the deep darkness of the earth, nor anything green or dry, but it is recorded in a clear book.
6:60 And He it is who takes your soul by night and knows what you do by day, then He raises you up again therein, that the appointed term may be completed. Then to Him is your return. Then will He inform you of what you used to do.
6:61 And He is Supreme over His servants, and He sends guardians to watch over you, until, when death comes to anyone of you, Our Messengers take his soul, and they fail not.
6:62 Then they are returned to God, their true Lord. Surely, His is the judgment. And He is the Swiftest of reckoners.
6:63 Say, 'Who delivers you from the calamities of the land and the sea, when you call upon Him in humility and in secret, saying, 'If He deliver us from this, we will surely be of those who are grateful.'
6:64 Say, 'God delivers you from them and from every distress, yet you associate partners with Him.'
6:65 Say, 'He has the power to send punishment upon you from above you or from beneath your feet, or to confound you by splitting you into sects and make you taste the violence of one another. See how We expound the Signs in various ways that they may understand!
6:66 And thy people have rejected it though it is the truth. Say, 'I am not a guardian over you.'
6:67 For every prophecy there is a fixed time; and soon will you come to know.
6:68 And when thou seest those who engage in vain discourse concerning Our Signs, then turn thou away from them until they engage in a discourse other than that. And if Satan should cause thee to forget, then sit not, after recollection, with the unjust people.
6:69 And those who are righteous are not at all accountable for them, but their duty is to admonish them that they may fear God.
6:70 And leave alone those who take their religion to be a sport and a pastime, and whom worldly life has beguiled. And admonish people thereby lest a soul be consigned to perdition for what it has earned. It shall have no helper nor intercessor beside God; and even if it offer every ransom it shall not be accepted from it. These are they who have been delivered over to destruction for their own acts. They will have a drink of boiling water and a grievous punishment, because they disbelieved.
6:71 Say, 'Shall we call beside God, upon that which can neither profit us nor harm us, and shall we be turn back on our heels after God guided us? -- Like one whom the evil ones entice away, leaving him bewildered in the land, and who has companions who call him to guidance, saying, 'Come to us.' Say : 'Surely, the guidance of God is the only true guidance and we have been commanded to submit to the Lord of all the worlds.
6:72 And we have been given the command: Observe Prayers and fear Him;' and He it is Whom you shall all be gathered.'
6:73 And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in accordance with the requirements of wisdom; and on the day when He will say, 'Be', it will be. His word is the truth, and His will be the Kingdom on the day when the trumpet will be blown. He is the Knower of the unseen and the seen. And He is the Wise, the All-Aware.
6:74 And remember the time when Abraham said to his father, Azar, 'Dost thou take idols for gods? Surely, I see thee and thy people in manifest error.'
6:75 And thus did we show Abraham the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth that he should have full knowledge and that he might be of those who possess certainty of faith.
6:76 And when the night darkened upon him, he saw a star. He said, 'Can this be my Lord?' But when it set, he said, I like not those that set.'
6:77 And when he saw the moon rise with spreading light, he said, 'Can this be my lord?' But when it set, he said, 'If my Lord guide me not, I shall surely be of the people who go astray.'
6:78 And when he saw the sun rise with spreading light, he said, 'Can this be my Lord? This is the greatest.' But when it also set, he said, 'O my people! surely I am quit of that which you associate with God;
6:79 I have turned my face toward Him Who created the heavens and the earth, being ever inclined to God, and I am not of those who associate gods with Him.'
6:80 And his people argued with him. He said, 'Do you argue with me concerning God when He has guided me aright? And I fear not that which you associate with HIM' except that I fear what my Lord wills. My Lord comprehends all things in His knowledge. Will you not them be admonished?
6:81 And why should I fear that which you associate with God, when you fear not to associate with God that for which He has sent down to you no authority? Which, then, of the two parties has better title to security, If indeed you know?
6:82 Those who belief and mix not up their belief with injustice -- it is they who shall have peace, and who are rightly guided.
6:83 And that is Our argument which We gave to Abraham against his people. We exalt in decrees of rank whomso We please. Thy Lord is indeed Wise, All-Knowing.
6:84 And We gave him Isaac and Jacob; each did We guide aright, and Noah did We guide aright aforetime, and of his progeny, David and Solomon and Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron. Thus do We reward those who do good.
6:85 And We guided Zachariah and John and Jesus and Elias; each one of them was of the righteous.
6:86 And We also guided Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot! and each one of them did We exalt above the people.
6:87 And We exalted some of their fathers and their children and their brethren, and We chose them and We guided them in the straight path.
6:88 That is the guidance of God. He guides thereby those of His servants whom He pleases. And if they had worshiped aught beside Him, surely all they did would have been of no avail to them.
6:89 It is to these whom We gave the Book and dominion and Prophethood. But if they are ungrateful for these favours it matters not, for We have now entrusted them to a people who are not ungrateful for them.
6:90 These it is whom God guide aright, so follow thou their guidance. Say, 'I ask not of you any reward for it. This is naught but an admonition for all mankind.'
6:91 And they do not make a just estimate of the attributes of God, when they say, 'God has not revealed anything to any man. Say, 'Who revealed the Book which Moses brought, a light and a guidance for the people -- though you treat it as scrapes of paper, some of which you show while you hide much thereof and you have been taught that which neither you nor your fathers knew?' Say, 'God.' Then leave them to amuse themselves with idle talk.
6:92 And this is a Book which We have revealed, full of blessings, to fulfill that which preceded it, and to enable thee to warn the Mother of towns and those around her. And those, who believe in the Hereafter, believe therein and they strictly observe their Prayers.
6:93 And who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against God, or says, 'It has been revealed to me,' while nothing has been revealed to him; and who says, 'I will sent down the like of that which God has sent down?' And if thou couldst only see, when the wrongdoers are in the agonies of death, and the angels stretch forth their hands, saying, 'Yield up your souls. This day shall you be awarded the punishment of disgrace because of that which you spoke against God falsely and because you turned away from His Signs with disdain.'
6:94 And now you come to Us one by one even as We create you at first, and you have left behind your backs that which We bestowed upon you, and We do not see with you your intercessors of whom you asserted that they were partners with God in your affairs. Now you have been cut off from one another and that which you asserted has failed you.
6:95 Verily, it is God Who causes the grain and the date-stones to sprout. He brings forth the living from the dead, and He is the Bringer forth of the dead from the living. That is God; wherefore, then, are you turned back?
6:96 He causes the break of day and He made the night for rest and the sun and the moon for the reckoning of time. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Wise.
6:97 And He it is Who has made the stars for you that you may follow the right direction with their help amid the darkness of the land and the sea. We have explained the Signs in detail for a people who possess knowledge.
6:98 And He it is Who has produced you from a single soul and there is for you a temporary resort and a permanent abode. We have explained the Signs in detail for a people who understand.
6:99 And He it is Who sends down water from the cloud; And We bring forth therewith every kind of growth; then We bring forth with that green foliage wherefrom We produce clustered grain. And from the date-palm, out of its sheaths comes forth bunches hanging low. And We produce therewith gardens of grapes, and the olive and the pomegranate -- like and unlike. Look at the fruit thereof when it bears fruit, and the ripening thereof. Surely, in this are Signs for a people who believe.
6:100 And they hold the jinn to be partners with God, although He created them; and they falsely ascribe to Him sons and daughters without any knowledge. Holy is He and exalted far above what they attribute to Him,
6:101 The Originator of the heavens and the earth. How can He have a son when He has no consort, and when He has created everything and has knowledge of all things?
6:102 Such is God, your Lord. There is no god but He, the creator of all things; so worship Him. and He is the Guardian over everything.
6:103 Eyes cannot reach Him but He reaches the eyes. And He is the incomprehensible, the All-Aware.
6:104 Proofs have indeed come to you from your Lord; so whoever sees, it is for His own good; and whoever becomes blind, it is to his own loss. And I am not a guardian over you.
6:105 And thus do We explain the Signs in various ways that the truth may become established and that they may say, 'Thou hast read out what thou hast learnt' and that We may explain it to a people who have no knowledge.
6:106 Follow that which has been revealed to thee from thy Lord; there is no god but He; and turn aside from the idolaters.
6:107 And if God had enforced His will, they would not have set up gods with Him. And We have not made thee a keeper over them, nor art thou over them a guardian.
6:108 And abuse not those whom they call upon besides God, lest they, out of spite, abuse God in their ignorance. Thus unto every people have We caused their doings to seem fair. Then unto their Lord is their return; And He will inform them of what they used to do.
6:109 And they swear by God their strongest oaths that if there came to them a Sign, they would surely believe therein. Say, 'Surely, Signs are with God. And what should make you know that when the signs come, they will not believe.
6:110 And We shall confound their hearts and their eyes, for they believe not therein the first time, and We shall leave them in their transgression to wander in distraction.
6:111 And even if We send down unto them angels, and the dead speak to them, and We gather to them all things face to face, they would not believe, unless God enforced His Will. But most of them are ignorant.
6:112 And in the like manner have We made for every Prophet an enemy, the evil ones from among men and jinn. They suggest one to another gilded speech in order to deceive. And if thy Lord had enforced His will, they would not have done it; so leave them alone with that which they fabricate.
6:113 And God does this in order that the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter may incline thereto and that they may be pleased therewith and that they may continue to earn what they are earning.
6:114 Shall I seek for a judge other than God, when He it is Who has sent down to you the Book fully explained? And those to whom We gave the Book know that it has been sent down from thy Lord with truth; so be thou not of those who doubt.
6:115 And the word of thy Lord has been fulfilled in truth and justice. None can change His words, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
6:116 And if thou obey most of those on earth, they will lead thee astray from God's way. They follow nothing but mere conjecture, and they do nothing but lie.
6:117 Surely thy Lord knows best those who go astray from His way; and He knows best those who are rightly guided.
6:118 Eat, then, of that over which the name of God has been pronounced, if you are believers in His Signs.
6:119 And what reason have you that you should not eat of that over which the name of God has been pronounced when He has already explained to you that which He has forbidden unto you, -- save that which you are forced to. And surely many mislead others by their evil desires through lack of knowledge. Assuredly, thy Lord knows best the transgressors.
6:120 And eschew open sins as well as secret ones. Surely those who earn sin will be rewarded for that which they have earned.
6:121 And eat not of that on which the name of God has not been pronounced, for surely that is abomination. And certainly the evil ones inspire their friends with such thoughts that they may dispute with you. And if you obey them, you will indeed be of those who set up gods with God.
6:122 Can he, who was dead, then We gave him life and made for him a light whereby he walks among men, be like him whose condition is that he is in utter darkness whence he cannot come forth? Thus have the doings of the disbelievers been made to seem fair to them.
6:123 And thus have We made in every town the leaders of its wicked ones that their doings seem fair to them with the result that they plot therein against the Messengers of God and they plot not except against their own souls; but they perceive not.
6:124 And when there comes to them a Sign, they say, 'We will not believe until we are given the like of that which God's Messengers have been given.' God knows best where to place His Message. Surely, humiliation before God and a severe punishment shall afflict the offenders because of their plotting.
6:125 So, whomsoever God intends to guide, He expands his bosom for the acceptance of Islam; and whomsoever He intends that he should go astray, He makes his bosom narrow and close, as though he was mounting up into the skies. Thus does God inflict punishment on those who do not believe.
6:126 And this is the path of thy Lord leading straight to Him. We have, indeed, explained the Signs in detail for a people who would be admonished.
6:127 For them is the abode of peace with their Lord, and He is their Friend because of their works.
6:128 And on the day when He will gather them all together, He will say, 'O company of jinn! you won over to yourselves a great many from among men.' And their friends from among men will say, 'Our Lord! we profited from one another, but now we have reached our term which Thou didst appoint for us.' He will say, 'The Fire is your abode, wherein you shall abide, save what God may will.' Surely, Thy Lord is Wise, All-Knowing.
6:129 And thus do We make some of the wrongdoers friends of each other because of what they earn.
6:130 'O company of jinn and men! Did not Messengers come to you from among yourselves who related to you My Signs and who warned you of the meeting of this your day?' They will say, 'We bear witness against ourselves.' And the worldly life deceived them. And they will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.
6:131 The Messengers are sent because thy Lord would not destroy the towns unjustly while their people were unwarned.
6:132 And for all are degrees of rank according to what they do, and thy Lord is not unmindful of what they do.
6:133 And thy Lord is Self Sufficient, Lord of mercy. If He please, He can do away with you and cause to succeed you whom He pleases, even as He raised you from the posterity of other people.
6:134 Surely that which you are promised shall come to pass and you cannot frustrate it.
6:135 Say, 'O my people, act according to your power. I too am acting. Soon will you know whose will be the ultimate reward of the abode.' Surely, the wrongdoers shall not prosper.
6:136 And they have assigned God a portion of the crops and cattle which He has produced, and they say, 'This is for God,' -- so they assert -- 'and this is for our associate-gods.' But that which is for their associate-gods reaches not God while that which is for God reaches their associate-gods. Evil is what they judge.
6:137 And in the like manner have their associate-gods made the slaying of their children seem fair to many of the idolaters that they may ruin them and cause confusion in their religion. And if God had enforced His will, they would not have done this; so leave them alone with that which they invent.
6:138 And they say, 'Such and such cattle and crops are forbidden. None shall eat thereof save whom we please' -- so they assert -- and there are cattle whose backs are forbidden, and there are cattle over which they pronounce not the name of God, forging a lie against Him. Soon will He requite them for that which they have fabricated.
6:139 And they say, 'That which is in the wombs of such and such cattle is reserved for our males and is forbidden to our wives;' but if it be born dead, then they all partake thereof. He will reward them for their assertion. Surely, He is Wise, All-Knowing.
6:140 Losers indeed are they who slay their children foolishly for lack of knowledge, and make unlawful what God has provided for them, forging a lie against God. They have indeed gone astray and are not rightly guided.
6:141 And He it is Who produces gardens, trellised and untrellised, and the date-palm and the corn-fields whose fruits vary in taste, and the olive and the pomegranate, similar and dissimilar. Eat of the fruit thereof when they bear fruit, and pay His due on the day of the harvest and exceed not the bounds. Surely, God loves not those who exceed the bounds.
6:142 And of the cattle He has created some for burden and some for slaughter. Eat of that which God has provided for you, and follow not in the footsteps of Satan. Surely he is to you an open foe.
6:143 And of the cattle He has created eight mates -- of the sheep two, and of the goats two. Say, 'Is it the two males He has forbidden or the two females or that which the wombs of the two females contain? Inform me with knowledge if you are truthful.'
6:144 And of the camels two, and of the oxen two. Say, 'Is it the two males that He has forbidden or the two females or that which the wombs of the two females contain? Were you present when God enjoined this on you?' Who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against God that He may lead men astray without knowledge? Surely, God guides not the unjust people.
6:145 Say, 'I find not in what has been revealed to me aught forbidden to an eater who desires to eat it, except it be that which dies of itself or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine -- for all that is unclean -- or what is profane, on which is invoked the name of other than God. But whoso is driven by necessity, being neither disobedient nor exceeding the limit, then, surely, they Lord is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
6:146 And to those who are Jews We forbade all animals having claws; and of the oxen and the sheep and goats did We forbid them their fats, save that which their backs bear or the entrails or that which is mixed with the bones. With that did We recompense them for their rebellion. And most surely We are truthful.
6:147 But if they accuse thee of falsehood, say, 'Your Lord is the Lord of all-embracing mercy, and His wrath shall not be turned back from the guilty people.'
6:148 Those who associate gods with God will say, 'If God had pleased, we would not have associated gods with Him, nor would our fathers, nor would we have made anything unlawful.' In the like manner did those who were before them accuse God's Messengers of falsehood, until they tasted Our wrath. Say, 'Have you any knowledge? Then produce it for us. You only follow mere conjecture. And you only tell lies.'
6:149 Say, 'God's is the argument that reaches home. If He had enforced His Will, He would have surely guided you all.'
6:150 Say, 'Produce your witnesses who testify that God has forbidden this.' If they bear witness, bear thou not witness with them, nor follow thou the evil desires of those who treat Our Signs as lies and those who believe not in the Hereafter and who set up equals to their Lord.
6:151 Say, 'I will recite to you what your Lord has forbidden, that you associate not anything as partner with Him; and that you do good to parents, and that you slay not your children for fear of poverty -- it is We who provide for you and for them -- and that you approach not foul deeds, whether open or secret; and that you slay not the soul the slaying of which God has forbidden, save in accordance with the demands of justice. That is what He has enjoined upon you, that you may understand.
6:152 And approach not the property of the orphan, except in a way which is best, till he attains his maturity. And give full measure and weigh with equity. We charge not any soul except according to its capacity. And when you speak, observe justice, even if the person concerned be a relative, and fulfill the covenant of God. That is what He enjoins upon you, that you may take care.'
6:153 And say, 'This is My straight path. So follow it; and follow not other ways, lest they lead you away from His way. That is what He enjoins upon you, that you may be able to guard against evils.'
6:154 Moreover, We gave Moses the Book -- completing the favour upon him who did good, and an explanation of all necessary things, and a guidance and a mercy -- that they might believe in the meeting with their Lord.
6:155 And this is a Book which We have sent down; full of blessings. So follow it, and guard against evils that you may be shown mercy,
6:156 Lest you should say, 'The Book was sent down only to two peoples before us, and we were indeed unaware of what they read;'
6:157 Or lest you should say, 'Had the Book been sent down to us, we should surely have been better guided than they.' There has now come to you a clear evidence from your Lord and a guidance and a mercy. Who, then, is more unjust than he who rejects the Signs of God and turns away from them? We will requite those who turns away from Our Signs with an evil punishment because of their turning away.
6:158 They are but waiting that angels should come to them or that thy Lord should come or there should come some of the Signs of thy Lord. The day when some of the Signs of thy Lord shall come, it shall not profit a soul to believe, which had not believed before, nor earned any good by its faith. Say, 'Wait ye, we too are waiting.'
6:159 As for those who split up their religion and became divided into sects, thou hast no concern at all with them. Surely, their affair is with God, then shall He inform them of what they used to do.
6:160 Whoso does a good deed shall have ten times as much; but he who does an evil deed, shall be requited only with the like of it; and they shall not be wronged.
6:161 Say, 'My Lord has guided me unto a straight path -- the right religion, the religion of Abraham, the upright. And he was not of those who associated gods with God.
6:162 Say, 'My Prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are all for God, the Lord of the worlds;
6:163 He has no partner. And so I am commanded, and I am the first of those who submit.'
6:164 Say, 'Shall I seek a Lord, other than God while He is the Lord of all things?' And no soul earns evil but only against itself; nor does any bearer of burden bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord will be your return, and He will inform you of that wherein you used to differ.
6:165 And He it is who made you successors of others on the earth and has exalted some of you over others in degrees of rank, that He may try you by that which He has given you. Surely, thy Lord is Quick in punishment; and surely, He is Most Forgiving, Merciful.

Chapter 7
The Heights
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
7:1 Alif, Lam, Mim, Sad.
7:2 This is a Book revealed unto thee -- so let there be no straightness in thy bosom concerning it -- that thou mayest warn thereby and that it be an exhortation to the believers.
7:3 Follow that which has been sent down to you from your Lord, and follow no protectors other than Him. But you seldom take warning.
7:4 How many a town have We destroyed! And our punishment came upon it by night or while they slept at noon.
7:5 So when our punishment came upon them, their cry was nothing but they said, 'We were indeed wrongdoers!'
7:6 And We will certainly question those to whom the Messengers were sent and We will certainly question the Messengers.
7:7 The will We certainly relate to them their deeds with knowledge, for We were never absent.
7:8 And the weighing on that day will be true. Then as for those whose scales are heavy, it is they who shall prosper.
7:9 And as for those whose scales are light, it is they who shall have ruined their souls because of their being unjust concerning Our Signs.
7:10 And We have established you in the earth and provided for you therein the means of subsistence. But little thanks do you give.
7:11 And We indeed created you and then We gave you shape; and then We said to the angels, 'Submit to Adam; and they all submitted. But Iblis did not; he will not be of those who submit.
7:12 God said, 'What prevented thee from submitting when I commanded thee?' He said, 'I am better than he. Thou hast created me of fire while him hast thou created of clay.'
7:13 God said, 'Then go down hence; it is not for thee to be arrogant here. Get out; thou art certainly of those who are abased.'
7:14 He said, 'Respite me till the day when they will be raised up.'
7:15 God said, 'Thou art of those who are respited.'
7:16 He said, 'Now, since Thou hast adjudge me to be erring, I will assuredly lie in wait for them on Thy straight path;
7:17 Then will I surely come upon them from before them and from behind them and from their right and from their left, and Thou wilt not find most of them to be grateful.
7:18 God said, 'Get out hence, despised and banished. Whosoever of them shall follow thee, I will surely fill Hell with you all;'
7:19 O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden and eat therefrom wherever you will, but approach not this tree lest you be among the wrongdoers.
7:20 But satan made evil suggestions to them so that he might make known to them what was hidden from them of their shame and said, 'Your Lord has only forbidden you this tree, lest you become angels or lest you become of the immortals.'
7:21 And he swore to them, saying, 'Surely I am a sincere counsellor unto you.'
7:22 So he caused them to fall into disobedience by deceit. And when they tasted of the tree, their shame became manifest to them and they both began to cover themselves with the leaves of the Gardens. And their Lord called them, saying, 'Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you, verily Satan is to you an open enemy?'
7:23 They said, 'Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves and if Thou forgive us not and have not mercy on us, we shall surely be of the losers.'
7:24 God said, 'Go forth, some of you will be enemies of others. And for you there is an abode on the earth and a provision for a time.'
7:25 He said, 'Therein shall you live and therein shall you die and therefrom shall you be brought forth.'
7:26 O children of Adam, We have indeed send down to you raiment to cover you nakedness and to be a means of adornment; but the raiment of righteousness -- that is the best. That is of the commandments of God, that they may remember.
7:27 O children of Adam, let not Satan seduce you, even as he turned your parents out of the Garden, stripping them of their raiment that he might show them their nakedness. Truly, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you see them not. Surely, We have made Satan friends of those who believe not.
7:28 And when they commit an indecency, they say, 'We found our fathers doing it and God has enjoined it upon us.' Say, 'God never enjoins indecencies. Do you say of God that which you know not?'
7:29 Say, 'My Lord has enjoined justice. And fix your attention aright at everytime and place of worship and call upon Him, making yourselves sincere towards Him in religion. As He brought you into being, so shall you return to Him.'
7:30 Some has He guided and for some error has become their desert. They have taken evil ones for friends instead of God and they think that they are rightly guided.
7:31 O children of Adam! take your adornment at every time and place of worship, and eat and drink, but be not immoderate; surely, He does not love those who are immoderate.
7:32 Say, 'Who has forbidden the adornment of God which He has produced for His servants and the good things of His providing?' Say, 'They are for the believers in the present life and will be exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection.' Thus do We explain the Signs for a people who have knowledge.
7:33 Say, 'My Lord has only forbidden indecencies, open or secret and sin and wrongful transgression and that you associate with God that for which He has sent down no authority, and that you say of God what you know not.'
7:34 And for every people there is a term, and when their term is come, they cannot remain behind a single moment, nor can they get ahead of it.
7:35 O children of Adam, If Messengers come to you from among yourselves, rehearsing My Signs unto you, then whoso shall fear God and do good deeds, on them shall come no fear nor shall they grieve.
7:36 But those who reject Our Signs and turn away from them with disdain, -- these are the inmates of the Fire; they shall abide therein.
7:37 Who is, then, more unjust than he who forges a lie against God or gives the lie to His Signs? It is these who shall have their lot as ordained till when Our Messengers shall visit them to take away their souls, they shall say, 'Where is that which you used to call upon besides God?' they will answer, 'We cannot find them;' and they will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.
7:38 He will say, 'Enter ye into the Fire among the nations of jinn and men who passed away before you.' Everytime a nation enters, it shall curse its sister nation until, when they have all successively arrived therein, the last of them will say with regard to the first of them, 'Our Lord, these lead us astray, so give them a double punishment, but you do not know.'
7:39 And the first of them will say to the last of them, 'You have no superiority over us; taste, therefore, the punishment for all that you did.
7:40 Those who reject Our Signs and turn away from them with disdain, the gates of spiritual firmament will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Heaven until a camel goes through the eye of a needle. And thus do We requite the offenders.
7:41 They shall have a bed of Hell and over them coverings of the same. And thus do We requite the unjust.
7:42 But as to those who believe and do good works -- and We charge not any soul beyond its capacity -- these are the inmates of Heaven; they shall abide therein.
7:43 And We shall remove whatever rancour may be in their hearts. Beneath them shall flow rivers. And they shall say, 'All praise belongs to God who has guided us to this paradise. And we could not have found guidance, if God had not guided us. The Messengers of our Lord did indeed bring the truth.' And it shall be proclaimed unto them, 'This is the heaven to which you have been made heirs as a reward for what you did.'
7:44 And the inmates of Heaven will call out to the inmates of Hell, saying, 'We have indeed found what our Lord promised us to be true. Have you also found what your Lord promised you to be true?' They shall say, 'Yea!' Then a proclaimer shall proclaim between them, saying, 'The curse of God is on the wrongdoers -
7:45 Who hinder men from the path of God and seek to make it crooked and who are disbelievers in the hereafter.'
7:46 And between the two there shall be a partition, and on the Elevated Places in Heaven there shall be men who will know all by their marks. And they will call out to the people of Heaven, 'Peace be on you.' These will not have yet entered it although they will be hoping to do so.
7:47 And when their eyes are turned towards the companions of the Fire, they will say, 'Our Lord, place us not with the wrongdoing people.'
7:48 And the occupants of the Elevated Places will call out to men, whom they will know by their marks, and say, 'Your numbers availed you not, nor your arrogance.
7:49 Are these the men about whom you swore that God would not extend mercy to them?' To them God will say, 'Enter Paradise; no fear shall come upon you, nor shall you grieve.'
7:50 And the inmates of the Fire will call out to the inmates of Heaven. 'Pour out on us some water or some of that which God has provided for you.' They will say, 'Verily, God has forbidden them both to disbelievers,
7:51 Those who took their religion for a pastime and a sport, and whom the life of the world has beguiled.' This day, then, shall We forget them as they forgot the meeting of this day of theirs, and as they persisted in denying Our Signs.
7:52 And surely We have brought them a Book which We have expounded with knowledge, a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.
7:53 Do they wait only for the fulfillment of warnings thereof? On the day when the fulfillment thereof shall come, those who had forgotten it before shall say, 'The Messengers of our Lord did indeed bring the Truth. Have we then any intercessors to intercede for us? Or could we be sent back so that we might do good deeds, other than that which we used to do?' They have indeed ruined their souls and that which they used to fabricate has failed them.
7:54 Surely, your Lord is God, who created the heavens and the earth in six periods, then He settled Himself firmly on the Throne. He makes the night cover the day, which it pursues swiftly, And He created the sun and the moon and the stars -- all made subservient by His command. Verily, His is the creation and the command. Blessed is God, Lord of the worlds.
7:55 Call upon your Lord humbly and in secret. Surely, He does not love the transgressors.
7:56 And create not disorder in the earth after it has been set in order, and call upon Him in fear and in hope. Surely, the mercy of God is nigh unto those who do good.
7:57 And He it is Who sends the winds as glad tidings before His mercy till, when they bear a heavy cloud, We drive it to a dead land; then We send down water therefrom and We bring forth fruits of every kind. In like manner do We bring forth the dead that you may remember.
7:58 And the good land -- its vegetation comes forth plentifully by the command of its Lord; and that which is bad, its vegetation does not come forth but scantily. In like manner do We expound the Signs in various forms for a people who are grateful.
7:59 We sent Noah to his people and he said, 'O my people, worship God, you have no other god but Him. Indeed I fear for you the punishment of the great day.'
7:60 The chiefs of his people said, 'Surely we see thee to be in manifest error.'
7:61 He said, 'O my people, there is no error in me, but I am a Messenger from the Lord of the worlds;
7:62 I deliver to you the Messages of my Lord and give you sincere advice and I know from God what you know not;
7:63 Do you wonder that an exhortation has come to you from your Lord through a man from among yourselves, that he may warn you and that you may become righteous and that you may be shown mercy?'
7:64 But they called him a liar, so We saved him and those with him in the Ark and We drowned those who rejected Our Signs. They were indeed a blind people.
7:65 And unto Ad We sent their brother Hud. He said, 'O my people, worship God; you have no other deity but Him. Will you not then fear Him?
7:66 The disbelieving chiefs of his people said, 'We surely see the lost in foolishness and we surely think thee to be one of the liars.'
7:67 He said, 'O my people, there is no foolishness in me, but I am a Messenger from the Lord of the worlds;
7:68 I deliver to you the messages of My Lord and I am to you a sincere and faithful counsellor.
7:69 Do you wonder that an exhortation has come to you from your Lord through a man from among yourselves, that he may warn you? And remember the time when He made you heirs to His favours after the people of Noah and increasingly endowed you with great physical strength. Remember, then, the favours of God, that you may prosper.'
7:70 They said, 'Hast thou come to us that we may worship God alone and forsake what our fathers used to worship? Bring us, then, that which thou threatenest us with, if thou art of the truthful.'
7:71 He replied, 'Indeed there have already fallen on you punishment and wrath from your Lord. Do you dispute with me about names which you have named -- you and your fathers -- for which God has sent down no authority? Wait then, I am with you among those who wait.'
7:72 And We saved him and those who with him by Our mercy and We cut off the last of the remnants of those who rejected Our Signs and had not believed.
7:73 And to Thamud We sent their brother Salih. He said, 'O my people, worship God; you have no god other than Him. Verily, there has come to you a clear evidence from your Lord -- this she-camel of God, a Sign for you. So leave her that she may feed in God's earth and do her no harm, lest a punishment seize you;
7:74 And remember the time when He made you heirs to His favours after Ad and settled you in the land so that you build palaces in its plains and hew the mountains into dwellings. Remember, therefore, the favours of God and commit not iniquity in the earth causing disorder.'
7:75 The chief men of his people who were arrogant said to those who were considered weak -- those among them who believed -`Do you know for certain that Salih is one sent by his Lord?' They answered, 'Surely, we believe in that which he has been sent.'
7:76 Those who were arrogant said, 'Verily, we do disbelieve in that which you believe.'
7:77 Then they hamstrung the she-camel and revolted against the command of their Lord and said, 'O Salih, bring us that which thou threatenest us with, if thou art indeed one of the Messengers.'
7:78 So the earthquake seized them and in their homes they lay prostrate upon the ground.
7:79 Then Salih turned away from them and said, 'O my people, I delivered the Message of my Lord unto you and offered you sincere counsel, but you love not sincere counsellors.'
7:80 And We sent Lot, when he said to his people, 'Do you commit an abomination such as no one in the world ever did before you?
7:81 You approach men with lust instead of women. Nay, you are a people who exceed all bounds.'
7:82 And the only answer of his people was that they said, 'Turn them out of your town, for they are men who take pride in their purity.'
7:83 And We saved him and his family except his wife; she was of those who stayed behind.
7:84 And We rained upon them a rain. Now see, what was the end of the sinners.
7:85 And to Midian We sent their brother Shu'aib. He said, 'O my people, worship God; you have no god other than Him. A clear Sign has indeed come to you from your Lord. So give full measure and full weight and diminish not unto people their things and create not disorder in the earth after it has been set in order. This is better for you, if you are believers;
7:86 And sit not on every path, threatening and turning away from the path of God those who believe in Him and seeking to make it crooked. And remember when you were few and He multiplied you. And behold, what was the end of those who created disorder!
7:87 And if there is a party among you, who believe in that with which I have been sent, and a party who does not believe, then have patience until God judges between us. And He is the Best of judges.'
7:88 The chief men of his people who were arrogant said, 'Assuredly we will drive thee out, O Shu'aib, and the believers that are with thee from our town, or you shall return to our religion.' He said, 'Even though we be unwilling?
7:89 If we return to your religion after God has saved us therefrom, we would indeed admit that we had been forging a lie against God. And it behoves us not to return thereto except that God, our Lord, should so will. Our Lord comprehends all things in His knowledge. In God have we put our trust. So, Our Lord, decide Thou between us and between our people with truth and Thou art the Best of those who decide.
7:90 And the chief men of his people, who disbelieved, said, 'If you follow Shu'aib, you shall then certainly be of the losers.'
7:91 So the earthquake seized them and in their homes they lay prostrate upon the ground;
7:92 Those who accused Shu'aib of lying became as if they had never dwelt therein. Those who accused Shu'aib of lying -- it was they who were the losers.
7:93 Then he turned away from them and said, 'O my people, indeed I delivered to you the messages of my Lord and gave you sincere counsel, How then should I sorrow for a disbelieving people.'
7:94 And never did We send a Prophet to any town but We did seize its people with adversity and suffering, that they might humble themselves.
7:95 The We changed their evil condition to good until they grew in affluence and numbers and said, 'Suffering and happiness betided our fathers also, what if they befell us.' Then We seized them suddenly, while they perceive not.
7:96 And if the people of those towns had believed and been righteous, We would have surely opened for them blessings from heaven and earth; but they disbelieved, so We seized them because of that which they earned.
7:97 Are the people of these towns then secure from the coming of Our punishment upon them by night while they are asleep?
7:98 And are the people of these towns secure from the coming of Our punishment upon them in the early part of the forenoon while they play?
7:99 Are they then secure from the design of God? And none feels secure from the design of God save the people who are destined to perish.
7:100 Does it not lead those, who have inherited the earth in succession to its former inhabitants, to realize that if We please, We can smite them also for their sins and seal up their hearts, so that they would not listen to words of guidance.
7:101 Such were the towns some of whose news We have related to thee. And verily the Messengers came to them with clear Signs. But they would not believe what they had rejected before. Thus does God seal up the hearts of the disbelievers.
7:102 And We found not in most of them any observance of covenant and, surely, We found most of them to be evil-doers.
7:103 Then, after them, We sent Moses with Our Signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they unjustly rejected them. Behold, then, what was the end of those who created disorder!
7:104 And Moses said, 'O Pharaoh, surely, I am a Messenger from the Lord of the worlds;
7:105 It is not right that I should say anything of God except the truth. I have come to you with a clear Sign from your Lord; therefore, let the children of Israel go with me.'
7:106 Pharaoh replied, 'If thou hast indeed come with a Sign, then produce it, if thou art truthful.'
7:107 So he flung his rod and behold! it was a serpent plainly visible.
7:108 And he drew forth his hand, and lo! it appeared white to the beholders.
7:109 The chiefs of Pharaoh's people said, 'This is most surely a skillful sorcerer;
7:110 He desires to turn you out from your land. Now what do you advise?'
7:111 They said, 'Put him off and his brother awhile, and send into the city summoners,
7:112 Who should bring to thee every skillful sorcerer.'
7:113 And the sorcerers came to Pharaoh and said: 'We shall, of course, have a reward, if we prevail,'
7:114 He said, 'Yes, and you shall also be of those who are placed near to me.'
7:115 They said, 'O Moses, wilt thou throw first or shall we be the first throwers?'
7:116 He replied, 'Throw ye.' And when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck them with awe and produced a mighty magic.
7:117 And We revealed to Moses: 'Throw thy rod,' and lo! it swallowed up whatever they feigned.
7:118 So was the truth established and whatever they did, proved vain.
7:119 Thus were they vanquished there and they retired humiliated.
7:120 And the sorcerers were impelled to fall down prostrate.
7:121 And they said, 'We believe in the Lord of the worlds,
7:122 The Lord of Moses and Aaron.'
7:123 Pharaoh said, 'You have believed in him before I gave you leave. Surely, this is a plot which you have plotted in the city, that you may turn out therefrom its inhabitants, but you shall soon know the consequences;
7:124 Most surely will I cut off your hands and your feet on account of your disobedience. Then will I surely crucify you all together.'
7:125 They answered, 'To our Lord then shall we return;
7:126 And thou does not wreck vengeance on us but because we have believed in the Signs of our Lord, when they came to us. Our Lord, pour forth upon us steadfastness and cause us to die resigned unto Thee.'
7:127 And the chiefs of pharaoh's people said, 'Wilt thou leave Moses and his people to create disorder in the land and forsake thee and thy gods?' He answered, 'We will ruthlessly slay their sons and let their women live. And surely we are dominant over them.'
7:128 Moses said to his people, 'Seek help from God and be steadfast. Verily the earth is God's; He gives it as a heritage to whomsoever He pleases of His servants and the good end is for the God-fearing.'
7:129 They replied, 'We were persecuted before thou camest to us and even after thou camest to us.' He said, 'Your Lord is about to destroy your enemy and make you rulers in the land, that He may see how you act.'
7:130 And We afflicted Pharaoh's people with years of draught and scarcity of fruits, that they might take heed.
7:131 But whenever good befell them, they said, 'This is for us.' And if evil afflicted them, they ascribed the evil fortune to Moses and those with him. Now, surely, the cause of their evil fortune was with God. But most of them know not.
7:132 And they said, 'Whatever Sign thou mayest bring to us to bewitch us with, we will not submit to thee.'
7:133 Then We sent upon them the storm and the locust and the lice and the frogs and the blood -- clear Signs; but they behaved proudly and were a sinful people.
7:134 And when there fell upon them the punishment, they said, 'O Moses, pray for us to thy Lord according to that which He has promised to thee. If thou remove from us the punishment, we will surely believe thee and we will surely send with thee the Children of Israel.'
7:135 But when We removed from them the punishment for a term which they were to reach, lo! they broke their promise.
7:136 So We took vengeance upon them and drowned them in the sea, because they treated Our Signs as lies and were heedless of them.
7:137 And We caused the people who were considered weak to inherit the eastern parts of the land and the western parts thereof, which We blessed. And the gracious word of thy Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel because they were steadfast; and We utterly destroyed all that Pharaoh and his people has built and all that they had erected.
7:138 And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea and they came to a people who were devoted to their idols. They said, 'O Moses, make for us a god just as they have gods.' He said, 'Surely you are an ignorant people.
7:139 Surely, all that these people are engaged in shall be destroyed, and vain shall be all that they do.'
7:140 He said, 'Shall I seek for you a god other than God, while He has exalted you above all peoples?'
7:141 And remember the time when We delivered you from Pharaoh's people who afflicted you with grievous torment, slaughtering your sons and sparing your women. And therein was a great trial for you from your Lord.
7:142 And We made Moses a promise of thirty nights and supplemented them with ten. Thus the period appointed by his Lord was completed -- forty nights. And Moses said to his brother, Aaron, 'Take my place amongst my people in my absence, and manage them well and follow not the way of the mischief-makers.'
7:143 And when Moses came at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, 'My Lord, show Thyself to me that I may look at Thee.' God replied, 'Thou shalt not see Me. But look at the mountain; and if it remains in its place, then thou shalt see Me.' And when his Lord manifested Himself on the mountain, He broke it into pieces and Moses fell down unconscious. And when he recovered, he said, 'Holy art Thou, I turn to thee and I am the first to believe.'
7:144 God said, 'O Moses, I have chosen thee above the people of thy time by My Messages and by My Word. So take firm hold of that which I have given thee and be of the grateful.'
7:145 And We wrote for him upon the Tablets about everything an admonition and an explanation of all things. 'So hold them fast and bid thy people follow the best thereof. Soon shall I show you the abode of the transgressors.'
7:146 I shall soon turn away from My Signs those who behave proudly in the land in an unjust manner; and even if they see all the Signs, they will not believe therein; and if they see the way of righteousness, they will not adopt it as their way; but if they see the way of error, they will adopt it as their way. That is because they treated Our Signs as lies and were heedless of them.
7:147 And those who reject Our Signs and the meeting of the Hereafter -- their works are vain. Can they expect to be rewarded for anything except for what they do?
7:148 And the people of Moses made, in his absence, out of their ornaments, a calf -- a lifeless body, producing a lowing sound. Did they not see that it spoke not to them, nor guided them to any way? They took it for worship and they were transgressors.
7:149 And when they were smitten with remorse and saw that they had indeed gone astray, they said, 'If our Lord have not mercy on us and forgive us, we shall surely be of the losers.'
7:150 And when Moses returned to his people, indignant and grieved, he said, 'Evil is that which you did in my place in my absence. Did you hasten to devise a way for yourselves without waiting for the command of your Lord?' And he put down the tablet and seized his brother by the head, dragging him towards himself. Aaron said, 'Son of my mother, the people indeed deemed me weak, and were about to kill me. Therefore make not the enemies rejoice over my misfortune and place me not with the unjust people.'
7:151 Moses said, 'My Lord, forgive me and my brother, and admit us to Thy mercy and Thou art the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.'
7:152 As to those, who took the calf for worship, wrath from their Lord shall overtake them and abasement in the present life. And thus do We reward those who invent lies.
7:153 And those who do evil deeds and repent and believe, surely, thy Lord after that is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
7:154 And when the anger of Moses subsided, he took the tablets and in their writing there was guidance and mercy for those who fear their Lord.
7:155 And Moses chose of his people seventy men for Our appointment. But when the earthquake overtook them, he said, 'My Lord, if Thou hadst pleased, Thou couldst have destroyed them before this, and me too. Wilt Thou destroy us for that which the foolish among us have done? This is nothing but a trial from Thee. Thou causest to perish thereby whom Thou pleasest and Thou guidest whom Thou pleasest. Thou art our Protector; forgive us then and have mercy upon us and Thou art the Best of those who forgive;
7:156 And ordain for us good in this world, as well as in the next; we have turned to Thee with repentance.' God replied, 'I will inflict My punishment on whom I will; but My mercy encompasses all things; so I will ordain it for those who act righteously and pay the Zakaat and those who believe in Our Signs -
7:157 Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet, the Ummi whom they find mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel which are with them. He enjoins on them good and forbids them evil and makes lawful for them the good things and forbids them the bad things and remove from them their burdens and shackles that were upon them. So those who shall believe in him and honour and support him and help him and follow the light that has been sent down with him -- these shall prosper.'
7:158 Say, 'O mankind, truly I am a Messenger to you all from God to Whom belongs the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth. There is no god but He. He gives life and He causes death. So believe in God and His Messenger, the Ummi Prophet, who believes in God and His words; and follow him that you may be rightly guided.'
7:159 And of the people of Moses there is a party who guide with truth and do justice therewith.
7:160 And We divided them into twelve tribes, distinct peoples. And, We revealed to Moses, when his people asked him for water, saying, 'Strick the rock with thy rod;' and from it there gushed forth twelve springs; every tribe knew their drinking place. And We caused the clouds to overshadow them and We sent down for them Manna and Salwa and We said, 'Eat of the good things We have provided for you.' And they wronged Us not, but it was themselves that they wronged.
7:161 And remember the time when it was said to them, 'Dwell in this town and eat therefrom wherever you will, and say, 'God! lighten our burden,' and enter the gate in humility, We shall forgive you your sins, and surely We shall give increase to those who do good.'
7:162 But the transgressors among them changed it for a word other than that which was said to them. So We sent upon them a punishment from heaven, because of their wrongdoing.
7:163 And ask them concerning the town which stood by the sea. When they profaned the Sabbath; when their fish came to them on their Sabbath day appearing on the surface of the water, but on the day when they did not keep the Sabbath, they came not to them. Thus did We try them because they were rebellious.
7:164 And when a party among them said to another party, 'Why do you admonish a people whom God is going to destroy or punish with a severe punishment?' They said, 'In order to be absolved from blame before your Lord and that they may turn to righteousness.'
7:165 And when they forgot all that with which they had been admonished, We saved those who forbade evil and We seized the transgressors with a severe punishment because they were rebellious.
7:166 And when they insolently rebelled against that which they had been forbidden, We said to them, 'Be ye apes despised.'
7:167 And remember the time when thy Lord proclaimed that He would surely rise against them, till the Day of Resurrection, those who would afflict them with grievous torment. Surely, thy Lord is Quick in retribution and surely He is also Most forgiving, Merciful.
7:168 And We broke them up into separate peoples in the earth. Among them are those that are righteous and among them are those that are otherwise. And We tried them with good things and bad things that they might return to good.
7:169 Then there came after them an evil generation who inherited the Book. They take the paltry goods of this low world and say, 'It will be forgiven us.' But if there came to them similar goods again, they would take them. Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them, that they would not say of God anything but the truth? And they have studied what is therein. And the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who are righteous. Will you not then understand.
7:170 And as for those who hold fast by the Book and observe Prayer, surely, We suffer not the reward of the righteous to perish.
7:171 And when We shook the mountain over them as though it were a covering and they thought it was going to fall on them, We said, 'Hold fast that which We have given you and remember what is therein that you may guard against evil.'
7:172 And remember when thy Lord brought forth from Adam's children -- out of their loins -- their offspring and made them to bear witness against their ownselves saying, 'Yea, we do bear witness.' This He did lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection, 'We were surely unaware of this.'
7:173 Or lest you should say, 'It was only our fathers who associated co-partners with God in the past and we were merely a generation after them. Wilt Thou then destroy us for what those, who lied, did?
7:174 And thus do We make clear the Signs, that they may be admonished and that they may return to good.
7:175 And relate to them the story of him to whom We gave Our Signs, but he stepped away from them; so Satan followed him up and he became one of those who go astray.
7:176 And if We pleased, We would have exalted him thereby; but he inclined to the earth and followed his evil desires. His case, therefore, is like the case of a thirsty dog; if thou drive him away, he hangs out his tongue and if thou leave him, he hangs out his tongue. Such is the case of the people who disbelieve in Our Signs. So relate to them this narrative that they may reflect.
7:177 Evil is the case of the people who treat Our Signs as lies. And it was their ownselves that they wronged.
7:178 He whom God guides, is on the right path. And they whom He leaves in error, these it is who shall be the losers.
7:179 Verily, We have created many of the jinn and the men whose end shall be Hell. They have hearts wherewith they understand not and they have eyes wherewith they see not and they have ears wherewith they hear not. They are like cattle; nay, they are even more astray. They are indeed altogether heedless.
7:180 And to God alone belong all perfect attributes. So call on Him by these attributes. And leave alone those who deviate from the right way with respect to His attributes. They shall be requited for what they do.
7:181 And of those We have created, there are a people that guide men with truth and do justice therewith.
7:182 And those who reject Our Signs, We will draw them towards destruction step by step in a manner which they do not know.
7:183 And I give them respite, surely My plan is mighty.
7:184 Do they not consider that there is nothing of insanity about their companion? He is only a plain warner.
7:185 And do they not look into the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth and all things that God has created? And do they not see that, it may be, their own term has already drawn near? Then in what thing after this will they believe?
7:186 Whomsoever God adjudges astray, there can be no guide for him. And He leave such in their transgression, wandering in distraction.
7:187 They ask thee about the Hour; 'When it will come to pass?' Say, 'The knowledge thereof is only with my Lord. None can manifest it at its time but He. It lies heavy on the heavens and the earth. It shall not come upon you but of a sudden.' They ask thee as if thou were well-acquainted therewith. Say, 'The knowledge thereof is only with God; but most men do not know.'
7:188 Say, 'I have no power to do good or harm to myself save as God please. And if I had the knowledge of the unseen, I should have secured abundance of good; and evil would not have touched me. I am only a Warner and a bearer of good tidings.'
7:189 He it is Who created you from a single soul and made therefrom its mate, that he might find comfort in her. And when he knows her, she bears a light burden and goes about with it. And when she grows heavy, they both pray to God, their Lord, saying, 'If thou gives us a good child, we will surely be of the thankful.'
7:190 But when He gives them a good child, they associate with Him partners in respect of that which He has given them. But exalted is God far above what they associate with Him.
7:191 Do they associate with Him partners those who create nothing, and are themselves created?
7:192 And they give them no help, nor can they help themselves.
7:193 And if you call them to guidance, they will not follow you. It is the same to you whether you call them or you remain silent.
7:194 Surely, those whom you call on beside God are creatures like you. Then call on them and let them answer you, if you are truthful.
7:195 Have they feet wherewith they walk, or have they hands wherewith they hold, or have they eyes wherewith they see, or have they ears wherewith they hear? Say, 'Call upon the partners you associate with God, then contrive you all against me and give me no respite.
7:196 Truly my Protector is God Who revealed this Book. And He protects the righteous.
7:197 And they whom you call besides Him have no power to help you, nor can they help themselves;'
7:198 And if you invite them to guidance, they hear not. And thou seest them looking towards thee, but they see not.
7:199 Do thou ever forebear, O Prophet! and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant.
7:200 And if an evil suggestion of Satan assail thee, then seek refuge in God; surely, He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
7:201 As to those who are righteous, when an evil suggestion from Satan assails them, they remember God and behold! they begin to see aright.
7:202 And the brethren of the disbelievers draw them into error and then they relax not their efforts.
7:203 And when thou bringest not to them a fresh Sign, they say, 'Why hast thou not forged one?' Say, `I follow only that which is revealed to me from my Lord. These are clear proofs from your Lord and guidance and mercy for a people who believe.'
7:204 And when the Qur'án is recited, give ear to it and keep silence, that you may be shown mercy.
7:205 And remember thy Lord in thy mind humbly and fearing Him, and in a low voice in the mornings and evenings; and be not of the heedless.
7:206 Truly those who are near to thy Lord, turn not away with pride from His worship, but they glorify Him and prostrate themselves before Him.

Chapter 8
The Spoils
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
8:1 They ask thee concerning the spoils. Say, 'The spoils of war are for God and the Messenger. So fear God, and set things right among yourselves, and obey God and His Messenger, if you are believers.'
8:2 They are only the true believers whose hearts tremble when the name of God is mentioned, and when His Signs are recited to them they increase their faith, and who put their trust in their Lord.
8:3 Who observe Prayer and spend out of that which We have provided for them.
8:4 These it is who are true believers. They have exalted grades of rank with their Lord, as well as forgiveness and an honourable provision.
8:5 This is because thy Lord has brought thee forth from thy house for a righteous purpose while a party of the believers were quite averse to it.
8:6 They (the disbelievers) dispute with thee concerning the truth after it has become manifest, as though they are being driven to death while they actually see it.
8:7 And remember when God promised you one of the two parties that it should be yours, and you wished that the one unarmed should be yours, but God desired to establish the Truth by His words and to cut off the root of the disbelievers,
8:8 That He might establish the Truth and bring to naught that which is false, although the guilty may dislike it.
8:9 When you implored the help of your Lord, and He answered your prayer saying, 'I will surely help you with a thousand of the angels, rank on rank.'
8:10 And God made it only as a glad tidings so that your hearts might be at rest. But help comes from God alone; surely God is Mighty, Wise.
8:11 And when He caused sleep to come upon you as a sign of security from Him, and He sent down water upon you from the clouds, that thereby He might purify you, and remove from you the uncleanliness of Satan, and that He might strengthen your hearts and make your steps firm therewith.
8:12 When thy Lord revealed to the angels, saying, 'I am with you; so make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Smite them above their necks, and smite off all finger-tips.'
8:13 That is because they have opposed God and His Messenger. And whoso opposes God and His Messenger, Then God is surely Severe in retribution.
8:14 That is your punishment, taste it then; and remember that for disbelievers there is the punishment of the Fire.
8:15 O ye who believe! when you meet those who disbelieve, advancing in force, turn not your backs to them.
8:16 And whoso turns his back to them on such a day, unless manoeuvring for battle or turning to join another company, he indeed draws upon himself the wrath of God, and Hell shall be his abode. And an evil resort it is.
8:17 So you slew them not; but it was God Who slew them. And thou threwest not when thou didst throw, but it was God Who threw, that He might overthrow the disbelievers and that He might confer on the believers a great favour from Himself. Surely, God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
8:18 That is what happened; And know that God will weaken the design of the disbelievers.
8:19 If you, O disbelievers, sort a judgment, then judgment has indeed come to you. And if you desist, it will be better for you; but if you return to mischief, We too will return to punishment. And your party shall be of no avail to you, however numerous it be, and know that God is with the believers.
8:20 O ye who believe! obey God and His Messenger, and do not turn away from him while you hear his commands.
8:21 And be not like those who say, 'We hear,' but they hear not.
8:22 Surely, the worst of beasts in the sight of God are the deaf and the dumb, who have no sense.
8:23 And if God had known any good in them, He would certainly have made them hear. And if He now makes them hear, they will turn away in aversion.
8:24 O ye who believe! respond to God, and the Messenger when he calls you that he may give you life, and know that God comes in between a man and his heart, and that He it is unto Whom you will be gathered.
8:25 And beware of an affliction which will surely not smite exclusively those among you who have done wrong. And know that God is Severe in requiting.
8:26 And remember when you were a few and deemed weak in the land, and were in fear lest people should snatch you away, but He sheltered you and strengthened you with His help, and provided you with good things that you might be thankful.
8:27 O ye who believe! prove not false to God and the Messenger, nor betray your trusts knowingly.
8:28 And know that your possessions and your children are but a trial and that it is God with Whom is a great reward.
8:29 O ye who believe! if you do your duty to God, He will grant you a distinction and will remove your evils from you and will forgive you; and God is the Lord of great bounty.
8:30 And remember when the disbelievers devised plans against thee that they might put thee in confinement or slay thee or expel thee. And they planned and God also planned, and God is the Best of planners.
8:31 And when Our verses are recited to them, they say, 'We have heard. If we wished we could certainly say the like of it. This is nothing but mere tales of the ancients'
8:32 And remember the time when they said, 'O God, if this be indeed the truth from Thee, then rain down upon us stones from heaven or bring down upon us a grievous punishment.'
8:33 But God would not punish them while thou wast among them, and God would not punish them while they sought forgiveness.
8:34 And what excuse have they now that God should not punish them, when they hinder men from the Sacred Mosque, and they are not its true guardians? Its true guardians are only those who are righteous, but most of them know not.
8:35 And their prayer at the Sacred House is nothing but whistling and clapping of hands. 'Taste then the punishment because you disbelieved.'
8:36 Surely, those who disbelieve, spend their wealth to turn people away from the way of God. They will surely continue to spend it; but then shall it become a source of regret for them, and then shall they be overcome. And the disbelievers shall be gathered unto Hell;
8:37 That God may separate the bad from the good, and put the bad, one upon another, and heap them up altogether, and then cast them into Hell. These indeed are the losers.
8:38 Say to those who disbelieve, if they desist, that which is past will be forgiven them; and if they return to their misdeeds, then verily the example of the former peoples has already gone before them.
8:39 And fight them until there is no persecution and religion is wholly to God. But if they desist, then surely God is Watchful of what they do.
8:40 And if they turn back, then know that God is your Protector -- an excellent protector and an excellent Helper!
8:41 And know that whatever you take as spoils in war, a fifth thereof is for God and for the Messenger and the kindred and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, if you believe in God and what We sent down to Our servant on the Day of Distinction, -- the day when the two armies met -- and God has power to do all that He wills.
8:42 When you were on the nearer bank of the Valley, and they were on the further bank, and the caravan was below you. And if you had to make an appointment between you, you would have certainly differed with regard to the time of the appointment. But the encounter was brought about without appointment that God might accomplish the thing that was decreed, so that he, who had already perished by a clear proof, should perish, and he, would had already come to life by a clear proof, should live. And certainly God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
8:43 When God showed them to thee in thy dream as few and if He had shown them to thee as many, you would certainly have faltered and would have disagreed with one another about the matter; but God saved you. Surely, He has full knowledge of what is in your breasts.
8:44 And remember when at the time of your encounter, He made them appear to you as few in your eyes, and made you appear as few in their eyes, that God might bring about the thing that was decreed. And to God are all affairs referred for final decision.
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.8:45 O ye who believe! When you encounter an army, be firm and remember God much that you may prosper.
8:46 And obey God and His Messenger and dispute not with one another, lest you falter and your strength depart from you. And be steadfast; surely, God is with the steadfast.
8:47 And be not like those who came forth from their homes boastfully, and to be seen of men, and who turn men away from the path of God, and God encompasses what they do.
8:48 And when Satan made their deeds seem fair to them and said, 'None from among men shall prevail against you this day, and I am your protector.' But when the two armies came in sight of each other, he turned on his heels, and said, 'Surely, I have nothing to do with you; surely, I see what you see not. Surely I fear God; and God's punishment is severe.
8:49 When the Hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease said, 'Their religion has deluded these men.' And whoso puts his trust in God, then surely, God is Mighty, Wise.
8:50 And if thou couldst see when the angels take away the souls of those who disbelieve, smiting their faces and their backs and saying: 'Taste ye the punishment of burning.
8:51 This torment is because of that which your hands have sent on before and know that God is not at all unjust to His servants.'
8:52 Your condition will be like that of the people of Pharaoh and those before them, they disbelieved in the Signs of God; so God punished them for their sins. Surely, God is Powerful and Severe in punishing.
8:53 That is because God would never change a favour that He has conferred upon a people until they change their own condition, and know that God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
8:54 O disbelievers! your condition will also be like that of the people of Pharaoh and those before them; they rejected the Signs of their Lord, so We destroyed them for their sins. And We drowned the people of Pharaoh, for they were all wrongdoers.
8:55 Surely, the worst of beasts in the sight of God are the disbelievers, who will not believe.
8:56 Those with whom thou hast made a covenant, -- then they break their covenant every time, and they do not fear God.
8:57 So, if thou overcomest them in war, then thereby strike fear in those that are behind them, that they may be mindful.
8:58 And if thou fearest treachery from a people, throw back to them their covenant with equity. Surely, God loves not the treacherous.
8:59 And let not those who disbelieve think that they can outstrip Us. Surely, they cannot frustrate Our purpose.
8:60 And make ready for them who fight you whatever you can of armed force and of mounted pickets at the frontier, whereby you may frighten the enemy of God and your enemy and others besides them whom you know not, but God knows them. And whatever you spend in the way of God, it shall be paid back to you in full and you shall not be wronged.
8:61 And if they incline towards peace, incline thou also towards it, and put thy trust in God. Surely, it is He Who is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
8:62 And if they seek to deceive thee, then surely God is sufficient for thee. He it is Who has strengthened thee with His help and with the believers;
8:63 And He has put affection between their hearts. If thou hadst expended all that is in the earth, thou couldst not have put affection between their hearts, but God has put affection between them. Surely, He is Mighty, Wise.
8:64 O Prophet, God is Sufficient for thee and those who follow thee of the believers.
8:65 O Prophet, urge the believers to fight. If there be of you twenty who are steadfast, they shall overcome two hundred; And if there be a hundred of you, they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they are a people do not understand.
8:66 For the present God has lighten your burden, for He knows that there is weakness in you. So, if there be a hundred of you who are steadfast, they shall overcome two hundred; and if there be a thousand of you, they shall overcome two thousand by the command of God. And God is with those who are steadfast.
8:67 It does not behove a Prophet that he should have captives until he engages in regular fighting in the land. If you take captives, except in regular fighting, you will be regarded as desiring the goods of this world, while God desires for you the Hereafter. And God is Mighty, Wise.
8:68 Had there not been a decree from God which had gone before, great distress would have surely overtaken you in consequence of what you took.
8:69 So eat, of that which you have won in war as lawful and good, and fear God. Surely, God is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
8:70 O Prophet, say to the captives who are in your hands, 'If God knows any good in your hearts, He will give you better than that which has been taken from you as ransom and will forgive you. And God is Most Forgiving, Merciful.'
8:71 And if they intend to deal treacherously with thee, they have indeed been treacherous to God before, But He gave thee power over them. And God is All-Knowing, Wise.
8:72 Surely, those who believed and left their homes and strove with their wealth and their lives for the cause of God, and those who gave them shelter and help -- these are friends one of another. But as for those who believed but did not leave their homes, you are not at all responsible for their protection until they leave their homes. But if they seek your help in the matter of religion, then it is your duty to help them, except against a people between whom and yourselves there is a treaty. And God sees what you do.
8:73 And those who disbelieve -- they are friends one of another. If you do not what you are commanded, there will be mischief in the land and great disorder.
8:74 And those who believed and left their homes and strove for the cause of God, and those who gave them shelter and help -- these indeed are true believers. For them is forgiveness and an honourable provision.
8:75 And those who believe after this and leave their homes and strive for the cause of God along with you -- these are of you; and as to blood relations, they are nearer one to another in the Book of God. Surely, God knows all things well.

Chapter 9
Repentance
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
9:1 This is a declaration of complete vindication on the part of God and His Messenger to the idolaters to whom you had announce a commitment that Islam would triumph in Arabia.
9:2 So go about in the land for four months, and know that you cannot frustrate the plan of God and that God will humiliate the disbelievers.
9:3 And this is a proclamation from God and His Messenger to the people on the day of the Greater Pilgrimage, that God is clear of idolaters, and so is His Messenger. So if you repent, it will be better for you; but if you turn away, then know that you cannot frustrate the plan of God. And give tidings of a painful punishment to those who disbelieve,
9:4 Except those of the disbelievers with whom you have entered into a treaty and who have not subsequently failed you in anything nor aided anyone against you. So fulfill to these the treaty you have made with them till their term. Surely God loves those that are righteous.
9:5 And when the forbidden months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever you find them and take them captive, and beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they repent and observe Prayer and pay the Zakát, then leave their way free. Surely, God is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
9:6 And if anyone of the idolaters seeks protection of thee, grant him protection so that he may hear the Word of God; then convey him to his place of security. That is because they are a people who have no knowledge.
9:7 How can there be a treaty for these idolaters with God and His Messenger, Except those with whom you entered into a treaty at the Sacred Mosque? So, as long as they are true to them. Surely God loves those who fulfill their obligations.
9:8 How can it be when, if they prevail against you, they would not observe any tie of kinship or covenant in respect of you. They would please you with their mouths, while their heart repudiate what they say and most of them are perfidious.
9:9 They have bartered the Signs of God for a paltry price and have turned men away from His way. Evil indeed is that which they do.
9:10 They observe not any tie of kinship or covenant in respect of any believer. And it is they who are transgressors.
9:11 But if they repent and observe Prayer and pay the Zakát, then they are your brethren in Faith. And We explain the Signs for a people who have knowledge.
9:12 And if they break their oaths after their covenant, and attack your religion, then fight these leaders of disbelief -- surely, they have no regard for their oaths, -- that they may desist.
9:13 Will you not fight a people who have broken their oaths, and who plotted to turn out the Messenger, and they were the first to commence hostilities against you? Do you fear them? Nay, God is most worthy that you should fear Him, if you are believers.
9:14 Fight them, that God may punish them at your hands, and humiliate then, and help you to victory over them, and relieve the minds of a people who believe;
9:15 And that He may remove the anger of their hearts. And God turns with mercy to whomsoever He pleases. And God is All-Knowing, Wise.
9:16 Do you think that you would be left in peace, while God has not yet known those of you who strive in the cause of God and do not take anyone for an intimate friend besides God and His Messenger and the believers? And God is well-Aware of what you do.
9:17 It is not for the idolaters to maintain the Mosques of God while they bear witness against themselves to disbelief. It is they whose works shall be vain, and in the Fire shall they abide forever.
9:18 He alone can maintain the Mosques of God who believers in God, and the Last Day, and observes Prayer, and pays the Zakát and fears not but God; so these it is who may be rightly guided.
9:19 Do you consider the giving of drink to the pilgrims, and the maintenance of the Scared Mosque as equal to the work of him who believes in God and the Last Day and strives in the path of God? They are not at all equal in the sight of God and God guides not the unjust people.
9:20 Those who believed and left their homes for the sake of God and strove in the cause of God with their wealth and their lives have the highest rank in the sight of God. And it is they who shall triumph.
9:21 Their Lord gives them glad tidings of mercy from Him, and of His pleasure, and Gardens wherein there shall be lasting bliss for them;
9:22 They will abide therein forever. Verily, with God there is a great reward.
9:23 O ye who believe! take not your fathers and brothers for friends if they prefer disbelieve to faith. And whoso of you takes them for friends, such are the wrongdoers.
9:24 Say, if your fathers and sons and your brethren and your wives and your kinsfolk and the wealth you have acquired and the trade whose dullness you fear and the dwellings which you love are dearer to you than God and His Messenger and striving in His cause, then wait until God brings about His judgment; and God guides not the disobedient people.
9:25 Surely, God has helped you on many a battle field and on the day of Hunain, when your great numbers made you proud, but they availed you naught; and the earth, with all its vastness, became straitened for you, and then you turned back retreating.
9:26 Then God sent down His peace upon His Messenger and upon the believers, and He sent down host which you did not see, and He punished those who disbelieved. And this is the reward of the disbelievers.
9:27 Then after such punishment God turns with compassion to whomsoever He pleases; and God is Most Forgiving.
9:28 O ye who believe! surely, the idolaters are unclean. So they shall not approach the Sacred Mosque after this year of theirs. And if you fear poverty, God will enrich you out of His bounty, if He pleases. Surely, God is All-Knowing, Wise.
9:29 Fight those from among the people of the Book, who believe not in God, nor in the Last Day, nor hold as unlawful what God and His Messenger have declared to be unlawful, nor follow the true religion, until they pay the tax considering it a favour and acknowledge their subjection.
9:30 And the Jews say, 'Ezra is the son of God,' and the Christians say, 'the Messiah is the son of God;' that is what they say with their mouths. They only imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before them. God's curse be on them! How they are turned away.
9:31 They have taken their priest and their monks for lords besides God. And so have they taken the Messiah, son of Mary. And they were not commanded but to worship the One God. There is no God but He. Holy is He far above what they associate with Him!
9:32 They seek to extinguish the light of God with their mouths; but God refuses but to perfect His light, though the disbelievers may resent it.
9:33 He it is Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, that He may make it prevail over every other religion, even though the idolaters may resent it.
9:34 O ye who believe! surely, many of the priest and the monks devour the wealth of men by false means and turn men away from the way of God. And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of God -- give to them the tidings of a painful punishment.
9:35 On the day it shall be made hot in the fire of Hell, and their foreheads and their sides and their backs shall be branded therewith and it shall be said to them: 'This is what you hoarded for yourselves; so now taste what you hoard.'
9:36 The number of months with God is twelve months by God's ordinance since the day when He created the heavens and the earth. Of these four are sacred. That is the right religion. So wrong not yourselves therein. And fight the idolaters all together; and know that God is with those who fear Him.
9:37 Surely the postponement of the Sacred Month is an addition to disbelief. Those who disbelieve are led astray thereby. They allow it one year and forbid it another year, that they may agree in the number of the months which God has made sacred, and thus make lawful what God has forbidden. The evil of their deeds is made to seem fair to them. And God guides not the disbelieving people.
9:38 O ye who believe; what is the matter with you that, when it is said to you, go forth in the way of God, you sink down heavily towards the earth? Are you contented with the present life in the preference to the Hereafter? But the enjoyment of the present life is but little compared to the Hereafter.
9:39 If you will not go forth to fight in the cause of God, He will punish you with a painful punishment, and will chose in your stead a people other than you, and you shall do Him no harm at all. And God has full power over all things.
9:40 If you help him not, then know that God helped him even when the disbelievers drove him forth while he was one of the two, when they were both in the Cave, when he said to his Companion, 'Grieve not for God is with us.' Then God sent down His peace on him, and succoured him with hosts which you did not see, and humbled the word of those who disbelieved, and it is the word of God alone which is supreme. And God is Mighty, Wise.
9:41 Go forth, light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of God. That is best for you, if only you knew.
9:42 If it had been an immediate gain and a short journey, they would certainly have followed thee, but the hard journey seem too long to them. Yet they will swear by God, saying, 'If we had been able, we would surely have gone forth with you.' They but ruin their souls; and God knows that they are liars.
9:43 God remove the ill consequences of thy mistake. Why didst thou permit them to stay behind till it had become clear to thee and thou hadst also known the liars?
9:44 Those who believe in God and the Last Day will not ask leave of thee to be exempted from striving with their wealth and their persons. And God well knows those who keep their duty to Him.
9:45 Only those will ask leave of thee to be exempted who do not believe in God and the Last Day, and whose hearts are full of doubt, and in their doubt they waver.
9:46 And if they had readily intended to go forth, they would have made some preparations for it; but God was averse to their marching forth. So He kept them back, and it was said to them; 'keep sitting at home with those who have kept sitting.'
9:47 Had they gone forth with you, they would have added to you naught but trouble, and would have hurried to and fro in your midst, seeking to sow discord among you. And there are among you those who would listen to you so as to convey information to them. And God well knows the wrongdoers.
9:48 They sought to stir up sedition even before this, and they devised plots against thee till the truth came and the purpose of God prevailed, though they did not like it.
9:49 And among them is he who says, 'Permit me to stay behind and put me not to trial.' Surely, they have already fallen into trial. And surely, Hell shall encompass the disbelievers.
9:50 If good befalls thee, it grieves them, but if a misfortune befalls thee, they say, 'We had indeed taken our precaution beforehand.' And they turn away rejoicing.
9:51 Say, 'Nothing shall befall us save that which God has ordained for us. He is our Protector. And in God then should the believers put their trust.'
9:52 Say, 'You do not await for us aught save one of the two good things, while we wait that God will afflict you with a punishment either from Himself or at our hands. Wait then, we also are waiting.'
9:53 Say, 'Spend willingly or unwillingly, it shall not be accepted from you. You are indeed a disobedient people.
9:54 And nothing prevents that their contributions should be accepted from them save that they disbelieve in God and His Messenger. And they come not to Prayer except lazily and they spend not in the way of God but reluctantly.
9:55 So let not their wealth nor their children excite thy wonder. God only intends to punish them therewith in the present life and that their souls may depart while they are disbelievers.
9:56 And they swear by God that they are indeed of you, while they are not of you, but they are a cowardly people.
9:57 If they could find a place of refuge, or caves, or even a hole to enter, they would surely turn thereto, rushing in uncontrollable haste.
9:58 And among them are those who find fault with thee with respect to the division of alms. If they are given thereof, they are pleased; but if they are not given thereof, behold! they are indignant.
9:59 And if they had been content with what God and His Messenger had given them and had said, 'Sufficient for us is God; God will give us from His bounty, and so will His Messenger; to God do we turn in supplication,' it would have been better for them.
9:60 The alms are only for the poor and the needy, and for those employed in connections therewith, and for those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and for the freeing of slaves, and for those in debt, and for the cause of God, and for the wayfarer -- an ordinance from God. And God is All-Knowing, Wise.
9:61 And among them are those who annoy the Prophet and say, 'He is all ear.' Say, 'His giving ear to all is for your good; he believes in God and believes the Faithful, and is a mercy for those of you who believe.' And those who annoy the Messenger of God shall have a grievous punishment.
9:62 They swear by God to you to please you; but God with His Messenger has greater right that they should please Him if they are believers.
9:63 Do they not know that whoso opposes God and His Messenger, for him is the fire of Hell, wherein he shall abide? That is a great humiliation.
9:64 The Hypocrites pretend they fear lest a Surah should be revealed concerning them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say, 'Mock on; surely, God will bring to light that of which you pretended you were afraid lest it might be disclosed.
9:65 And if thou question them, they will most surely say, 'We were only talking idly and jesting.' Say, 'Was it God and His Signs and His Messenger that you mocked at?'
9:66 Make ye no excuses. You certainly disbelieved after believing. If We forgive a party from among you, a party shall We punish, for they are guilty.
9:67 The hypocrites, men and women, are all as one to another. They enjoin evil and forbid good, and withhold their hands from spending for the cause of God. They forgot God, So He has forgotten them. Surely, the hypocrites are the transgressors.
9:68 God promises the hypocrites, men and women, and the disbelievers the fire of Hell, wherein they shall abide. It will suffice them. And God has cursed them. And they shall have a lasting punishment.
9:69 Even as those before you -- they were mighty than you in power and had more wealth and children. They enjoyed their lot for a time, so have you enjoyed your lot as those before you enjoyed their lot. And you indulge in idle talk. It is they whose works shall be of no avail in this world and the Hereafter. And it is they who are the losers.
9:70 Has not the news reached them of those before them -- the people of Noah, and Ad, and Thamud, and the people of Abraham, and the dwellers of Midian, and the cities which were overthrown? Their Messengers came to them with clear Signs. So God wronged them not, but they wronged themselves.
9:71 And the believers, men and women, are friends of another. They enjoined good and forbid evil and observe Prayer and pay the Zakaat and obey God and His Messenger. It is these on whom God will have mercy. Surely, God is Mighty and Wise.
9:72 God has promised to believers, men and women, Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide, and delightful dwelling-places in Gardens of Eternity. And the pleasure of God is the greatest of all. That is the supreme triumph.
9:73 O Prophet! strive hard against the disbelievers and the Hypocrites. And be firm against them. Their abode is Hell, and evil destination it is.
9:74 They swear by God that they said nothing, but they did certainly utter the word of disbelief, and disbelieved after they had embraced Islam. And they designed what they could not attain. And they cherished enmity against believers only because God and His Messenger had enriched them out of His bounty. So if they repent, it will be better for them; but if they turn away, God will punish them with a grievous punishment in this world and the Hereafter, and they shall have neither friend nor helper in the earth.
9:75 And among them are those who made a covenant with God, saying, 'If He give us of His bounty, we would most surely give alms and be of the virtuous.'
9:76 But when He gave them out of His bounty, they became niggardly of it, and turned away in aversion.
9:77 So He requited them with hypocrisy which shall last in their hearts until the day when they shall meet Him, because they broke their promise, and because they lied.
9:78 Know they not that God knows their hidden thoughts as well as their secret counsels and that God knows full well all unseen things?
9:79 These hypocrites are those who find fault with such of the believers as give freely in charity and with such as find nothing to give save the earnings of their toil. So they deride them. God shall punish them for their derision, and for them is a grievous punishment.
9:80 Ask thou forgiveness for them, or ask thou not forgiveness for them; even if thou ask forgiveness for them seventy times, God will never forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in God and His Messenger. And God guides not the perfidious people.
9:81 Those who contrived to be left behind rejoice in their sitting at home behind the Messenger of God, and were averse to striving with their wealth and their persons in the cause of God. And they said, 'Go not forth in the heat.' Say, 'The fire of Hell is more intense in heat.' If only they could understand.
9:82 They should laugh little and weep much as a reward for that which they used to earn.
9:83 And if God bring thee back to a party of them, they ask of thee leave to go forth to fight, say then, 'You shall never go forth with me, and shall never fight an enemy with me. You chose to sit at home the first time, so sit now with those who remain behind.'
9:84 And never pray thou for any of them that dies, nor stand by his grave; for they disbelieved in God and His Messenger and died while they were disobedient.
9:85 And let not their riches and their children excite thy wonder; God only intends to punish them therewith in this world and that their souls may depart while they are disbelievers.
9:86 And when a Surah is revealed, enjoining, 'Believe in God and strive in His cause in company with His Messenger,' men of wealth an affluence among them ask leave of thee and say, 'Leave us that we be with those who sit at home.
9:87 They prefer to be with the womenfolk, who remain behind at home and their hearts are sealed so that they understand not.
9:88 But the Messenger and those who believe in him strive in the cause of God with their wealth and their persons, and it is they who shall have good things, and it is they who shall prosper.
9:89 God has prepared for them Gardens under which streams flow; therein shall they abide. That is the supreme triumph.
9:90 And those, who make excuses from among the desert Arabs, came with the request that exemption might be granted them. And those who lied to God and His Messenger stayed at home. A grievous punishment shall befall those of them who disbelieve.
9:91 No blame lies on the weak, nor on the sick, nor on those who find naught to spend, if they are sincere to God and His Messenger. There is no cause of reproach against those who do good deeds; and God is Most Forging, Merciful,
9:92 Nor against those to whom, when they came to thee that thou shouldst furnish them with mounts thou didst say, 'I cannot find whereon I can mount you;' they turned back, their eyes overflowing with tears, out of grief that they could not find what they might spend.
9:93 The cause of reproach is only against those who ask leave of thee, while they are rich. They are content to be with the womenfolk who remain behind at home. And God has set a seal upon their hearts so that they know not.
9:94 They will make excuses to you when you return to them. Say, 'Make no excuses; we shall not believe you. God has already informed us of the true facts about you. And God will observe your conduct, and also His Messenger; then will you be brought back to Him Who knows the unseen and the seen, and He will tell you all that you used to do.'
9:95 They will swear to you by God, when you return to them, that you may leave them alone. So leave them alone. Surely, they are an abomination, and their abode is Hell -- a fit recompense for that which they used to do.
9:96 They will swear to you that you may be pleased with them. But even if you be pleased with them, God will not be pleased with the rebellious people.
9:97 The Arabs of the desert are the worst in disbelief and hypocrisy, and most apt not to know the ordinances of the Revelation which God has sent down to His Messenger. And God is All-Knowing, Wise.
9:98 And among the Arabs of the desert are those who regard that which they spend in the cause of God as a compulsory fine and they wait for calamities to befall you. On themselves shall fall an evil calamity. And God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
9:99 And among the Arabs of the desert are those who believe in God and the Last Day, and regard that which they spend as means of bringing them near to God and of receiving the prayers of the Prophet. Aye! it is for them certainly a means of bringing them near to God. God will soon admit them to His mercy. Surely, God is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
9:100 And as for the foremost among the believers, the first of the Emigrants and the Helpers, and those who followed them in the best possible manner, God is well-pleased with them and they are well-pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them Gardens underneath which streams flow. They will abide therein for ever. That is the supreme triumph.
9:101 And of the desert Arabs around you some are hypocrites; and of the people of Medina also. They persist in hypocrisy. Thou knowest them not; We know them. We will punish them twice; then they shall be given over to a great punishment.
9:102 And there are others who confessed their faults. They mixed good works with others that are evil. It may be that God will turn to them with compassion. Surely, God is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
9:103 Take alms out of their wealth, so that thou mayest cleanse them and purify them thereby. And pray for them; thy prayer indeed is a source of tranquility for them. And God is All-Knowing.
9:104 Know they not that God is He Who accepts repentance from His servants and take alms, and that God is He Who is Oft-Returning with compassion, and is Merciful?
9:105 And say, 'Go on working and God will surely watch your conduct and also His Messenger and the believers. And you shall be brought back to Him Who knows the unseen and the seen; the He will inform you of what you did.'
9:106 And there are others whose case has been postponed pending the decree of God. He may punish them or He may turn to them with compassion. And God is All-Knowing, Wise.
9:107 And among the Hypocrites are those who have built a mosque in order to injure Islam and help disbelief and to cause a division among the believers, and to prepare an ambush for him who warred against God and His Messenger before this. And they will surely swear; 'We meant nothing but good;' But God bears witness that they are certainly liars.
9:108 Never stand to pray therein. A Mosque founded upon piety from the very first day is surely more worthy that thou shouldst stand to pray therein. In it are men who love to become purified, And God loves those who purify themselves.
9:109 Is he, then, who founded his building on the fear of God and His pleasure better or he who has founded his building on the brink of a tottering water-worn bank which tumbled down with him into the fire of Hell? And God guides not the wrongdoing people.
9:110 This building of theirs, which they have built, will ever continue to be a source of disquiet in their hearts, unless their hearts be cut into pieces. And God is All-Knowing, Wise.
9:111 Surely, God has purchased of the believers their persons and their property in return for the heavenly Garden they shall have; they fight in the cause of God, and they slay and are slain -- an unfailing promise that He has made binding on Himself in the Torah, and the Gospel, and the Qur'án. And who is more faithful to his promise than God? Rejoice, then, in your bargain which you have made with Him; and that is the mighty triumph.
9:112 Those who turn to God in repentance, who worship Him, who praise Him, who go about in the land serving Him, who bow down to Him, who prostrate themselves in Prayer, who enjoin good and forbid evil, and who observe the limits set by God. And give glad tidings to those who believe.
9:113 It does not behove the Prophet and those who believe that they should ask of God forgiveness for the idolaters, even though they may be their kinsmen, after it has become plain to them that they are the companions of Hell.
9:114 And Abraham asking forgiveness for his father was only because of a promise he has made to him, but when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of God, he dissociated himself from him. Surely, Abraham was most tender-hearted and forbearing.
9:115 And God would not cause a people to go astray after He has guided them, until He makes clear to them that which they ought to guard against. Surely, God knows all things well.
9:116 Surely, it is God to Whom belongs the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He gives life and causes death. And you have no friend nor helper besides God.
9:117 God has certainly turned with mercy to the Prophet and to the Emigrants and the Helpers who followed him in the hour of distress after the hearts of a party of them had almost swerved from duty. He again turned to them with mercy. Surely, He is to them Compassionate, Merciful.
9:118 And He has turned with mercy to the three who happened to be left behind until when the earth became too strait for them with all its vastness, and their souls were also straitened for them, and they became convinced that there was no refuge from God save unto Himself, then He turned to them with mercy that they might turn to Him. Surely it is God who is Oft-Returning with compassion and is Merciful.
9:119 O ye who believe! fear God and be with the truthful.
9:120 It was not proper for the people of Medina and those around them from among the Arabs of the desert that they should have remained behind the Messenger of God or that they should have preferred their own lives to his. That is because there afflicts them neither thirst nor fatigue nor hunger in the way of God, nor do they tread a track which enrages the disbelievers, nor do they gain an advantage over the enemy but there is written down for them a good work on account of it. Surely, God suffers not the reward of those who do good, to be lost.
9:121 And they spend not any sum, small or great, nor do they traverse a valley, but it is written down for them, among their good works, that God may give them the best reward for what they did.
9:122 It is not possible for the believers to go forth all together. Why, then, does not a party from every section of them go forth that they may become well-versed in religion, and that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may guard against evil.
9:123 O ye who believe! fight such of the disbelievers as are near to you and let them find hardness in you; and know that God is with the righteous.
9:124 And whenever a Surah is sent down, there are some of them who say; 'Which of you has this Surah increased in faith?' But as to those who believe, it increases their faith and they rejoice.
9:125 But as for those in whose hearts is a disease, it adds further uncleanness to their present uncleanness and they die while they are disbelievers.
9:126 Do they not see that they are tried every year once or twice? Yet they do not repent, nor do they take heed.
9:127 And whenever a Surah is sent down, they look at one another, saying, 'Does anyone see you?' Then they turn away. God has turned away their hearts because they are a people who would not understand.
9:128 Surely, a Messenger has come unto you from among yourselves; grievous to him is it that you should fall into trouble; he is ardently desirous of your welfare; and to the believers he is specially compassionate and merciful.
9:129 But if they turn away, say, 'God is sufficient for me. There is no god but He. In Him do I put my trust, and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.'

Chapter 10
Jonah
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
10:1 Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of the Book, full of wisdom.
10:2 It is a matter of wonder for men that We have sent down revelation to a man from among them, saying, 'Warn mankind and give glad tidings to those who believe that they have a true rank of honour with their Lord?' The disbelievers say, 'Surely, this is a manifest sorcerer.'
10:3 Verily, your Lord is God Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods, then He settled Himself firmly on the Throne; He governs everything. There is no intercessors with Him save after His permission. This is God, your Lord, so worship Him. Will you not, then, mind?
10:4 To Him shall you all return. The promise of God is true. Surely, He originates the creation; then He reproduces it, that He may reward those who believe and do good works, with equity; and as for those who disbelieve, they shall have boiling water to drink and a painful punishment, because they disbelieved.
10:5 He it is Who made the sun radiate a brilliant light and the moon reflect a lustre, and ordained for it proper stages, that you might know the count of years and the reckoning of time. God has not created this system but in accordance with the requirements of truth. He details the signs for a people who possess knowledge.
10:6 Verily, in the alternation of night and day, and in all that God has created in the heavens and the earth there are signs for a God fearing people.
10:7 Those who hope not for the meeting with Us and are pleased and satisfied with the life of this world and those who are heedless of Our Signs -
10:8 It is these whose abode is Fire, because of what they earned.
10:9 As for those who believe and do good works -- their Lord shall guide them along the path of success because of their faith. Streams shall flow beneath them in the Gardens of bliss.
10:10 Their prayer therein shall be, 'Glory be to Thee, O God! and their greeting therein to each other shall be, 'Peace! And the end of their prayer shall be, 'All praise be to God, the Lord of all the worlds.'
10:11 And if God were to hasten for men the ill consequences of their actions as they would seek to hasten on good, the end of their term of life would have been already brought upon them. But We leave those who look not for the meeting with Us to wonder distractedly in their transgression.
10:12 And when trouble befalls a man, he calls on Us, lying on his side, or sitting or standing, but when We have removed his trouble from him, he goes his way as though he had never called on Us for the removal of the trouble that befell him. Thus it is that the doings of the extravagant are made to seem fair in their eyes.
10:13 And We destroyed many generations before you when they did wrong; and there came to them Messengers with clear Signs, but they would not believe. Thus do We requite the guilty people.
10:14 Then, We made you their successors in the earth after them that We might see how you would act.
10:15 And when Our clear Signs are recited unto them, those who hope not for the meeting with Us say, 'Bring a Qur'án other than this or change it.' Say, 'It is not for me to change it of my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me. Indeed, I fear, if I disobey my Lord, the punishment of an awful day.'
10:16 Say, 'If God had so willed, I should not have recited it to you, nor would I have made it known to you. I have indeed lived a whole lifetime before this. Will you not then understand?'
10:17 Who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against God or he who treats His Signs as lies? Surely, the guilty shall never prosper.
10:18 And they worship, instead of God, that which neither harms them nor profits them; and they say,`These are our intercessors with God. Say, 'Do you presume to inform God what He knows not in the heavens or in the earth? Glory be to Him! High be He exalted above all that which they associate with Him.
10:19 And mankind were but one community, then they differed among themselves; and had it not been for a word that had gone before from thy Lord, it would have already been decided between them concerning that in which they differed.
10:20 And they say, 'Why has not a Sign been sent down to him from his Lord? Say, 'The knowledge of the unseen belongs only to God. So wait. I am with you among those who wait?'
10:21 And when We make people taste of mercy after adversity has touched them, behold! they begin to devise plans against Our Signs. Say, 'God is far swifter in planing.' Surely, Our Messengers write down all that you plan.
10:22 He it is Who enables you to journey through land and sea until when you are on board the ships and they sail with them with a fair breeze and they rejoice in it, there overtakes them (the ships) a violent wind and the waves come on them from every side and they think that they are encompassed, then they call upon God, in sincere submission to Him, saying, 'If thou deliver us from this, we will surely be of the thankful.'
10:23 But when He delivered them, lo! they begin to commit excesses in the earth wrongfully. O ye people, your excesses in seeking the enjoyment of the present life are only against your own selves. Then to Us shall be your return; and We will inform you of what you used to do.
10:24 The likeness of the present life is only as water which We sent down from the clouds, then there mingles with it the produce of the earth, of which men and cattle eat till when the earth takes on its ornament and looks beautiful and its owners think that they have full power over it, there comes to it by Our command by night or by day and We render it like a mown down field, as if nothing existed there the day before. Thus do We expound the Signs for a people who reflect.
10:25 And God calls to the abode of peace, and guides whom He pleases to the straight path.
10:26 For those who do good deeds, there shall be the best reward and yet more blessings. And neither darkness nor ignominy shall cover their faces. It is these who are the inmates of Heaven; therein shall they abide.
10:27 And as for those who do evil deeds, the punishment of an evil deed shall be the like thereof, and ignominy shall cover them. They shall have none to protect them from God. And they shall look as if their faces had been covered with dark patches of night. It is these who are the inmates of the Fire; therein shall they abide.
10:28 And remember the day when We shall gather them all together, then shall We say to those who associated gods with Us, 'Stand back in your places, you and your associated gods.' Then We shall separate them widely from one another, and their associated gods will say, 'Surely, it was not us that you worshiped;
10:29 So God is now sufficient as a Witness between us and you. We were certainly unaware of your worship.'
10:30 There shall every soul realize what it shall have sent on before. And they shall be brought back to God, their True Master, and all that they used to forge shall be lost to them.
10:31 Say, 'Who provides sustenance for you from the heaven or the earth? Or who is it that has power over the ears and the eyes? And who brings forth the living from the dead and brings forth the dead from the living? And who regulates all affairs? They will say, 'God.' Then say, 'Will you not seek His protection?'
10:32 Such is God, your True Lord. So what is there other than the truth but error? How then are you being turned away from the truth?
10:33 Thus is the word of thy Lord proved true against those who rebel, that they believe not.
10:34 Say, 'Is there any of your associated-gods who originates creation and then reproduces it?' Say, 'It is God alone Who originates creation and then reproduces it. Wither then are you turned away?'
10:35 Say, 'Is there any of your associated-gods who guides to the truth?' Say, 'It is God alone Who guides to the truth. Is then He Who guides to the truth more worthy to be followed, or he who finds not the way himself unless he be guided? What, then, is the matter with you? How judge ye?'
10:36 And most of them follow only conjecture. Surely, conjecture avails naught against the truth. Verily, God is well aware of what they do.
10:37 And this Qur'án is not such that could be produced by anyone other than God. On the contrary, it fulfills that revelation which is before it and is an exposition of the perfect Law. There is no doubt about it that it is from the Lord of all the worlds.
10:38 Do they say, 'He has forged it?' Say, 'Bring then a Surah like unto it, and call for help on all you can, apart from God, if you are truthful.'
10:39 Nay, but they have rejected that, full knowledge of which they did not compass nor has the true significance thereof yet come to them. In like manner did those before them reject the truth. But see what was the end of the wrongdoers.
10:40 And of them there are some who believe therein, and of them are others who do not believe therein, and thy Lord knows the mischief-makers very well.
10:41 And if they charge thee with lying, say, 'For me is my work and for you is your work. You are not accountable for what I do and I am not accountable for what you do.'
10:42 And among them are some who give ear to thee. But canst thou make the deaf hear, even though they understand not?
10:43 And among them are some who look towards thee. But canst thou guide the blind, even though they will not see.
10:44 Certainly, God wrongs not men at all; it is they who wrong their own souls.
10:45 And on the day when He will gather them together, it will appear to them as though they had not tarried in the world save for an hour of a day. They will recognize one another. Losers indeed are those who deny the meeting with God and would not follow guidance.
10:46 And if We show thee in thy lifetime the fulfillment of some of the things with which We have threatened them, thou wilt know it; or if We cause thee to die before that, then to Us is their return, and thou wilt have knowledge of it in the next world; and God is Witness to all that they do.
10:47 And for every people there is a Messenger. So when their Messenger comes, it is judged between them with equity, and they are not wronged.
10:48 And they say, 'When will this promise be fulfilled, if you are truthful?'
10:49 Say, 'I have no power over any harm or benefit for myself save that which God wills. For every people there is an appointed term. When their term is come, they cannot remain behind a single moment, nor can they get ahead of it.'
10:50 Say, 'Tell me, if His punishment come upon you by night or by day, how will the guilty run away from it?
10:51 Is it then when it has overtaken you that you will believe in it? What! you believe now! And before this you used to demand its speedy coming?
10:52 Then it will be said to those who did wrong, 'Taste ye the abiding punishment. You are not requited save for that which you earned.'
10:53 And they ask thee to tell them whether it is true? Say, 'Yea, by my Lord! it is most surely true; and you cannot frustrate it.'
10:54 And if every soul that does wrong possessed all that is in the earth, it would surely offer to ransom itself therewith. And they will conceal their remorse, when they see the punishment. And judgment shall be passed between them with equity and they shall not be wronged.
10:55 Remember, to God surely belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. Remember, that God's promise is surely true. But most of them understand not.
10:56 He it is who gives life and causes death, and to Him shall you all be brought back.
10:57 O mankind! there indeed has come to you an Exhortation from your Lord and a healing for whatever disease there is in the hearts, and a guidance and a mercy to the believers.
10:58 Say, 'All this is through the grace of God and through His mercy; therein, therefore, let them rejoice. That is better than what they hoard.'
10:59 Say, 'Have you ever considered that God has sent down provision for you, then you make some of it unlawful and some lawful? Say, 'Has God permitted you that, or do you invent lies against God?'
10:60 What think those who invent lies against God of the Day of Resurrection? Surely, God is Gracious towards mankind, but most of them are not thankful.
10:61 And thou art not engaged in anything, and thou recitest not from Him any portion of the Qur'án, and you do no work, but We are Witness of you when you are engrossed therein. And there is not hidden from thy Lord even an atom's weight in the earth or in heaven. And there is nothing smaller than that or greater, but it is recorded in a clear Book.
10:62 Behold! the friends of God shall certainly have no fear nor shall they grieve -
10:63 Those who believe and were ever righteous -
10:64 For them are glad tidings in the present life and also in the Hereafter -- there is no changing the words of God -- that indeed is the supreme achievement.
10:65 And let not their words grieve thee. Surely, all power belongs to God. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
10:66 Behold! whoever is in the heavens and whoever is in the earth is God's. Those who call on others than God do not really follow these associated-gods; they only follow conjecture, and they only make guesses.
10:67 He it is Who has made for you the night dark that you may rest therein, and the day full of light that you may pursue your occupations. Surely, therein are Signs for a people who listen to the divine Message.
10:68 They say, 'God has taken unto Him a son,' Holy is He! He is Self-Sufficient. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. You have no authority for this. What! do you say concerning God what you know not?
10:69 Say, 'Those who invent a lie against God shall not prosper.'
10:70 They will have some enjoyment in this world. Then to Us is their return. Then We shall make them taste a severe torment, because they continued to disbelieve.
10:71 And recite unto them the story of Noah, when he said to his people, 'O my people, if my station with God and my reminding you of your duty through the Signs of God offend you -- and in God do I put my trust -- muster then all your designs, and your associated-gods; then let not your course of action remain obscure to you in any respect; then carry out your designs against me and give me no respite,
10:72 But if you turn back, then remember, I have not asked of you any reward. My reward is with God alone, and I have been commanded to be of those who are wholly resigned to Him.
10:73 But they rejected him, so We saved him and those who were with him in the Ark. And We made them inheritors of Our favours, while We drowned those who rejected our Signs. See then, how evil was the end of those who had been warned.
10:74 The We sent, after him, other Messengers to their respective peoples, and they brought them clear proofs. But they would not believe in them, because they had rejected them before. Thus do We seal the hearts of the transgressors.
10:75 Then We sent after them Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and his chiefs with Our Signs, but they behaved arrogantly. And they were a sinful people.
10:76 And when there came to them the truth from Us, they said, 'This is surely a manifest enchantment.'
10:77 Moses said, 'Do you say this of the truth when it has come to you? Can this be enchantment? And the enchanters never prosper.
10:78 They said, 'Hast thou come to us that thou mayest turn us away from what we found our fathers following, and that you two may have greatness in the land? But we will not believe in either of you.'
10:79 And Pharaoh said, 'Bring to me every expert sorcerer.'
10:80 And when the sorcerers came, Moses said to them, cast ye what you would cast.'
10:81 And when they had cast, Moses said, 'What you have brought is mere sorcery. Surely God will bring it to naught. Verily, God does not permit the work of mischief-makers to prosper.
10:82 And God establishes the truth by His words, even though the guilty be averse to it.'
10:83 And none obeyed Moses save some youths from among his people, because of the fear of pharaoh and their chiefs, lest he should persecute them. And surely Pharaoh was a tyrant in the land and surely he was of the transgressors.
10:84 And Moses said, 'O my people, if you have believed in God, then in Him put your trust, if you have truly submitted to His Will.'
10:85 And they said, 'In God do we put our trust. Our Lord, make us not a trial for the wrongdoing people;
10:86 And deliver us by Thy mercy from the tyranny of the disbelieving people.'
10:87 And We revealed to Moses and his brother, saying, 'Take for your people some houses in the town, and construct your houses so that they face each other and observe Prayer. And give glad tidings to the believers.'
10:88 And Moses said, 'Our Lord, Thou hast bestowed upon Pharaoh and his chiefs splendour and riches in the present life, with the result, our Lord, that they are leading men astray from Thy path. Our Lord! destroy their riches and harden their hearts so that they believe not until they see the grievous punishment.'
10:89 God said, 'Your prayer is accepted. So be ye twain steadfast, and follow not the path of those who know not.'
10:90 And We brought the children of Israel across the sea; and Pharaoh and his hosts pursued them wrongfully and aggressively, till when the calamity of drowning overtook him, he cried, 'I believe that there is no god but He in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of those who submit to Him.'
10:91 What! Now! while thou wast disobedient before this and wast of the mischief-makers.
10:92 So this day We will save thee in thy body alone that thou mayest be a Sign to those who come after thee. And surely many of mankind are heedless of Our Signs.
10:93 And when We assigned to the Children of Israel and excellent abode and We provided them with good things, and they differed not until there came to them the knowledge. Surely, thy Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that which they now differ.
10:94 And if thou art in doubt concerning that which We have sent down to thee, ask those who have been reading the Book before thee. Indeed the truth has come to thee from thy Lord; be not, therefore, of those who doubt.
10:95 And be not of those who reject the Signs of God, or thou shalt be of the losers.
10:96 Surely, those against whom the decree of punishment of thy Lord has taken effect will not believe.
10:97 Even if there come to them every Sign till they see the grievous punishment.
10:98 Why was there no town, which believed so that their belief should have profited them, save the people of Jonah? When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in the present life, and We gave them provision for a while.
10:99 And if thy Lord had enforced His Will, surely, all who are in the earth would have believed together. Wilt thou, then, force men to become believers?
10:100 And no soul can believe except by the permission of God. And He causes His wrath to descend on those who would not use their judgment.
10:101 Say, 'Ponder over what is happening in the heavens and the earth.' But the Signs and warning avail not a people who will not believe.
10:102 What, then, do they wait for, save the like of the days of punishment suffered by those who passed away before them? Say, 'Wait, then, I am with you among those who wait.'
10:103 Then shall We save Our Messengers and those who believe. Thus have We made it incumbent on Us to save the believers.
10:104 Say, 'O ye men, if you are in doubt concerning my religion, then know that I worship not those whom you worship instead of God, but I worship God alone who causes you to die and I have been commanded to be of the believers;
10:105 And I have also been commanded to convey to you God's command: 'Set thy face toward religion as one ever inclined to God, and be not of those who ascribe partners to Him.
10:106 And call not, besides God, on any other that can neither profit thee nor harm thee. And if thou didst so, thou wouldst then certainly be of the wrongdoers.'
10:107 And if God afflicts thee with harm, there is none who can remove it but He; and if He intends good for thee, there is none who can repel His grace. He causes it to reach whomsoever of His servants He wills. And He is the Most Forgiving, Merciful.
10:108 Say, 'O men, now has the truth come to you from your Lord. So whoever follow the guidance, follows it only for the good of his own soul, and whoever errs, errs only against it. And I am not a keeper over you.'
10:109 And follow that which is revealed to thee and be steadfast until God gives His judgment. And God is the Best of judges.

Chapter 11
Hud
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
11:1 Alif Lam Ra. This is a Book, whose verses have been made firm and free from imperfection and then they have been expounded in detail. It is from One Wise, and All-Aware.
11:2 It teaches that you should worship none but God -- I am to you a Warner; and a bearer of glad tidings from Him --
11:3 And that you seek forgiveness of your Lord, and then turn to Him. He will provide for you a goodly provision until an appointed term. And He will grant His grace to everyone possessed of merit. And if you turn away, then surely I fear for you the punishment of a dreadful day.
11:4 To God is your return; and He has full power over all things.
11:5 Now surely, they fold up their breast that they may hide their evil thoughts from Him. Aye, even when they cover themselves up with their garments, He knows what they hide and what they reveal. Surely, He knows full well what is in their breast.
11:6 And there is no creature that moves on the earth but it is for God to provide it with sustenance. And He knows its place of temporary sojourn and its permanent dwelling. All this is recorded in a clear Book.
11:7 And He it is who created the heavens and the earth in six periods, -- and His throne rest on water -- that He might try you which of you is best in conduct. And if you sayest, 'You shall surely be raised after death,' those who disbelieve will certainly say, 'This is naught but clear deception.'
11:8 And if We put off their punishment until a reckoned time, they would certainly say, 'What withholds it?' Now, surely, on the day it shall come unto them, it shall not be averted from them, and that which they used to mock at shall encompass them.
11:9 And if We make man taste of mercy from Us, and then take it away from him, verily he is despairing, ungrateful.
11:10 And if after an adversity has touched him, We let him taste prosperity, he will assuredly say, 'Gone are the ills from me.' Lo! he is exultant, boastful,
11:11 Save those who are steadfast and do good works. It is they who have forgiveness and a great reward.
11:12 Perchance the disbelievers vainly hope that thou mayest be persuaded to abandon part of that which has been revealed to thee; and thy bosom may become straitened thereby, because they say, 'Wherefore has not a treasure been sent down to him or an angel come with him? Verily, thou art only a Warner, and God is Guardian over all things.
11:13 Do they say, 'He has forged it?' Say, 'Then bring ten Surahs like it forged, and call on whom you can apart from God, if you are truthful.'
11:14 And if they do not accept your challenge, then know that it has been revealed comprising that which is only within God's knowledge and there is no god but He. Will you then submit.
11:15 Whoso desires the present life and its adornment, We will fully repay them for their works in this life and they shall not be wronged therein.
11:16 Those are they who shall have nothing in the Hereafter save the Fire, and that which they wrought in this life shall come to naught, and vain shall be that which they used to do.
11:17 Can he, then, who stands upon a clear proof from his Lord, and to testify to whose truth a witness from Him shall follow him, and who was preceded by the Book of Moses, a guide and a mercy, be an impostor? Those who are the true followers of Moses believe therein, and whoever of the opposing parties disbelieve in it, the Fire shall be his promised place. So be not thou, O reader, in doubt about it. Surely, it is the truth from thy Lord; but most men believe not.
11:18 And who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against God? Such shall be presented before their Lord, and the witness will all say, 'These are they who lied against their Lord.' Now, surely, the curse of God is on the wrongdoers,
11:19 Who turn men away from the path of God and seek to make it crooked. And these it is who disbelieve in the Hereafter.
11:20 Such can never frustrate God's plan in the land nor have they any friends besides God. Punishment will be doubled for them. They can neither hear, nor can they see.
11:21 It is these who have ruined their souls, and that which they fabricated shall fail them.
11:22 Undoubtedly, it is they who shall be the greatest losers in the Hereafter.
11:23 Verily, those who believe and do good works, and humble themselves before their Lord -- these are the dwellers of Heaven; therein shall they abide forever.
11:24 The case of two parties is like that of the blind and deaf, and the seeing and the hearing. Is the case of the two alike? Will you not then understand?
11:25 And We sent Noah to his people, and he said, 'Truly, I am a plain Warner to you,
11:26 That you worship none but God. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a grievous day.'
11:27 The chiefs of his people, who disbelieved, replied, 'We see thee nothing but a mortal like ourselves, and we see that none have followed thee but those who, to all outward appearance, are the meanest of us. And we do not see in you any superiority over us; nay, we believe you to be liars.'
11:28 He said, 'O my people, tell me if I stand on a clear proof from my Lord and He has bestowed upon me from Himself a great mercy which has remained obscure to you, how will it fare with you? Shall we force it upon you, while you are averse thereto?
11:29 And O my people, I do not ask of you any wealth in return for it. My reward is only with God. And I am not going to drive away those who believe. They shall certainly meet their Lord. But I see that you are an ignorant people;
11:30 And O my people, who would help me against God, If I were to drive them away? Will you not then take heed?
11:31 And I do not say to you, I possess the treasures of God nor do I know the unseen,' nor do I say, 'I am an angel.' Nor do I say concerning those whom your eyes despise, 'God will not bestow any good on them' -- God knows best what is in their minds. Surely, in that case I should be of the unjust.'
11:32 They said, 'O Noah, thou hast indeed disputed with us and disputed long and often; bring us now what thou threatenest us with, if thou art of the truthful.'
11:33 He said, 'God alone will bring it to you, if He please, and you cannot frustrate His purpose;
11:34 And my advice will profit you not even if I seek to give you sincere advice if God intends to destroy you. He is your Lord and to Him shall you be made to return.'
11:35 Do they say, 'He has forged it?' Say, 'If I have forged it, on be my guilt and I am clear of all the crimes you commit.'
11:36 And it was revealed to Noah: 'None of thy people will believe except those who have already believed; grieve not, therefore, at what they have been doing.
11:37 And build thou the Ark under Our eyes and as commanded by Our revelation. And address Me not concerning the wrongdoers. They are surely going to be drowned.
11:38 And he started making the Ark; and every time the chiefs of his people passed by him, they mocked at him. He said, 'If now you mock at us, the time is coming when we shall mock at you even just as you mock now.
11:39 Then you shall know who it is on whom will come a punishment that will disgrace him; and on whom will fall a lasting punishment.'
11:40 Till -- when our command came and the fountains of the earth gushed forth -- We said, 'Embark therein two of every kind, male and female, and thy family, except those against whom the word has already gone forth, and those who believe.' And there had not believe in him except a few.
11:41 And he said, 'Embark therein. In the name of God, be its course and its mooring. My Lord is assuredly Most Forgiving, Merciful.'
11:42 And it moved along with them amid waves like mountains. And Noah cried unto his son, while he was keeping apart, 'O my son, embark with us and be not with the disbelievers.'
11:43 He replied, 'I shall soon betake myself for refuge to a mountain which will shelter me from the water.' Noah said, 'There is no shelter for anyone this day from the decree of God, except for him to whom He shows mercy.' And the waves came in between the two; so he was among the drowned.
11:44 And it was said, 'O earth, swallow thy water, and O sky, cease raining.' And the water was made to subside and the matter was decided. And the Ark came to rest on Al-Judi. And it was said, 'Cursed be the wrongdoing people.'
11:45 And Noah cried unto his Lord and said, 'My Lord, verily, my son is of my family, and surely Thy promise is true, and Thou art the Most Just of judges.'
11:46 God said, 'O Noah, he is surely not of thy family; he is indeed a man of unrighteous conduct. So do not ask of Me that, of which thou hast no knowledge, I admonish thee lest thou be one of the ignorant.'
11:47 Noah said, 'My Lord, I beg Thee to protect me from asking Thee that whereof I have no knowledge. And unless Thou forgive me and have mercy on me, I shall be among the losers.'
11:48 It was said, 'O Noah, descend then with peace from Us and blessings upon thee and upon peoples to be born of those with thee. And there will be other peoples whom We shall grant provision for a time, then shall a grievous punishment overtake them from Us.'
11:49 This is of the tidings of the unseen which We reveal to thee. Thou didst not know them, neither thou nor thy people, before this. So be thou patient; for the good end is for the God-fearing.
11:50 And to Ad, We sent their brother, Hud. He said, 'O my people worship God alone. You have no God save Him. In associating other gods with Him you but forge lies;
11:51 O my people, I do not ask of you any reward therefor. My reward is only with Him Who created me. Will you not then understand?
11:52 And O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord, then turn to Him, He will send over you clouds pouring down abundant rain, and will add strength to your strength. And turn not away from Him, being sinners.'
11:53 They said, 'O Hud, thou hast not brought us any clear proof, and we are not going to forsake our gods merely because of thy saying, nor are we going to believe in thee;
11:54 We can only say that some of our gods have smitten thee with evil.' He replied, 'Surely, I call God to witness, and do ye also bear witness that I am clear of the sin of your associating
11:55 Other gods with Him. So devise plans against me, all of you, and give me no respite;
11:56 I have indeed put my trust in God, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature that moves on the earth but He holds it by the forelock. Surely, my Lord is on the straight path to help those who put their trust in Him;
11:57 If, then, you turn away, I have already conveyed to you that with which I have been sent to you, and my Lord will make another people to take your place, and you cannot harm Him at all. Surely, my Lord is Guardian over all things.'
11:58 And when our command came, We saved Hud and those who believed with him, by Our special mercy. And We save them from a severe torment.
11:59 And such was 'Ad. They denied the Signs of their Lord and disobeyed His Messengers and followed the bidding of every haughty enemy of truth.
11:60 And they were pursued by a curse in this world, and on the Day of Resurrection. Behold! the 'Ad were ungrateful to their Lord. Behold! destruction is decreed for 'Ad, the people of Hud.
11:61 And to the tribe of Thamud, We sent their brother Salih. He said, 'O my people, worship God; you have no god other than Him. He raised you up from the earth and settled you therein. So ask forgiveness of Him, then turn to Him wholly. Verily, my Lord is nigh, and answers prayers.'
11:62 They said, 'O Salih, thou wast among us one whom we placed our hopes. Dost thou forbid us to worship what our fathers worshiped? And we are surely in disquieting doubt concerning that to which thou callest us.'
11:63 He said, 'O my people, tell me, If I base my claim on a clear proof from my Lord and He has granted me a special mercy from Himself, who then will help me against God, if I disobey Him? So you will only add to my destruction;
11:64 And O my people, this is the she-camel of God, a Sign for you, so leave her free that she may feed in God's earth, and touch her not with harm lest a near punishment seize you.'
11:65 But they hamstrung her; then he said, 'Enjoy yourselves in your houses for three days. This is a promise which will not be belied.
11:66 And when Our command came to pass, We saved Salih and those who believed with him by Our special mercy from the ignominy of that day. Surely, thy Lord is Powerful, Mighty.
11:67 And punishment overtook those who done wrong, and they lay prostrate in their houses,
11:68 As though they had never dwelt therein. Remember! The Thamud believed not in their Lord. So away with the tribe of Thamud.
11:69 And surely, Our Messengers came to Abraham with glad tidings. They said, 'We bid you peace.' He answered, 'Peace be on you,' and he was not long in bringing a roasted calf.
11:70 But when he saw their hands not reaching thereto, he considered this strange on their part and conceived fear of them. They said, 'Fear not, we have been sent to the people of Lot.'
11:71 And his wife was standing by and she too was frightened, whereupon to assure her we gave her glad tidings of birth of Isaac, and, after Isaac, of Jacob.
11:72 She said, 'Oh, woe is me! Shall I bear a child when I am an extremely old women and this my husband also is a very old man? This is indeed a strange thing!'
11:73 They said, 'Dost thou marvel at God's decree? The mercy of God and His blessings are upon you, O people of the house. Surely, He is Praiseworthy, Glorious.'
11:74 And when fear departed from Abraham and the glad tidings came to him, he began to plead with Us for the people of Lot.
11:75 Indeed, Abraham was clement, tender-hearted, and oft-returning to Us.
11:76 O Abraham, desist from this. Surely, the decree of thy Lord has gone forth, and surely, there is coming to them a punishment that cannot be averted.
11:77 And when Our Messengers came to Lot, he was grieved on their account and felt helpless for them and he said, 'This is a distressful day.'
11:78 And his people came to him, running towards him, trembling with rage, and before this too they used to do evils. He said, 'O my people, these are my daughters; they are purer for you. So fear God and do not disgrace me in the presence of my guest. Is there not among you one right-minded man?
11:79 They answered, 'Thou surely knowest that we have no claim against thy daughters, and thou surely knowest what we desire.
11:80 He said, 'Would that I had power to deal with you, or that I could betake myself to a mighty support for shelter.
11:81 The messengers said, 'O Lot, we are the messengers of thy Lord. They shall by no means reach thee so depart with thy family while yet a part of the night remain and let none of you look back, but thy wife. Surely, what is going to befall them shall befall her also. Verily, there appointed time is the morning. It not morning nigh?'
11:82 So when Our decree came to pass, We turned that town upside down and We rain upon it stones of clay, layer upon layer,
11:83 Marked for them in the decree of thy Lord. And such punishment is not far from the wrongdoers of the present age.
11:84 And to Midian We sent their brother Shu'aib. He said, 'O my people, worship God. You have no god other than Him. And give not short measure and short weight. I see you in a state of prosperity and I fear for you the punishment of a destructive day;
11:85 And O my people, give full measure and full weight with equity and defraud not people of their things and commit not iniquity in the land, causing disorder;
11:86 That which is left with you by God is better for you, if you are believers. And I am not appointed a keeper over you.'
11:87 They replied, 'O Shu'aib, does thy Prayer bid thee that we should leave what our fathers worshiped, or that we cease to do with our property what we please? Surely, thou dost consider thyself very intelligent and right-minded.'
11:88 He said, 'O my people, tell me if I stand on a clear evidence from my Lord, and He has provided for me from Himself with a handsome provision, what answer will you give Him? And I do not desire to do against you the very thing which I ask you not to do. I only desire to set things right as far as I can. I have no power to accomplish anything save through God. In Him do I put my trust and to Him do I turn.
11:89 And O my people, let not your hostility towards me lead you to this that there should befall you the like of that which befell the people of Noah or the people of Hud or the people of Salih; and the people of Lot are not far from you;
11:90 And seek forgiveness of your Lord; then turn wholly to Him. Verily, my Lord is Merciful, Most Loving.'
11:91 They replied, 'O Shu'aib, we do not understand much of what thou sayest, and surely we see that thou art weak among us. And were it not for thy tribe, we would surely stone thee. And thou holdest no strong position among us.'
11:92 He replied, 'O my people, is my tribe mightier with you than God? And you have cast Him behind your backs as a thing neglected. Surely, my Lord encompasses all that you do;
11:93 And O my people, act according to your power. I, too, am acting. You will soon know on whom descends a punishment that will disgrace him, and who it is that is a liar. And wait; I too wait with you.'
11:94 And when Our decree came to pass We saved Shu'aib, and those who had believed with him by Our special mercy; and chastisement seized those who had done wrong, so that they lay prostrate in their houses,
11:95 As though they had never dwelt therein. So perished Midian even as Thamud had perished.
11:96 And, surely, We sent Moses with Our Signs and manifest authority,
11:97 To Pharaoh and his chiefs; but they followed the command of Pharaoh, and the command of Pharaoh was not at all rightful.
11:98 He will go before his people on the Day of Resurrection and will lead them into the Fire. And evil indeed will be the watering-place arrived at.
11:99 And they are pursued by a curse in this life and on the Day of Resurrection. Evil is the gift which will be given them.
11:100 That is part of the tidings of the ruin cities, We relate it to thee. Of them some are standing and some have been mowed down like the harvest.
11:101 And We did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves, and their gods on whom they called instead of God were of no avail to them at all when the decree of punishment of thy Lord came to pass; and they added to them naught but perdition.
11:102 Such is the seizure of thy Lord when He seizes the cities while they are doing wrong. Surely, His seizure is grievous and severe.
11:103 In that surely is a Sign for him who fears the punishment of the Hereafter. That is a day on which all mankind shall be gathered together and that is the day which shall be witnessed by all.
11:104 And We delay it not save for a computed term.
11:105 On the day it comes, no soul shall speak except by His permission; then some of them will be unfortunate and other fortunate.
11:106 As to the unfortunate, they shall be in the Fire, wherein there will be for them sighing and sobbing,
11:107 Abiding therein, so long as the heavens and the earth endure, except as thy Lord may will. Surely, thy Lord does what He pleases.
11:108 But as for the fortunate, they shall be in Heaven, abiding therein as long as the heavens and the earth endure save as thy Lord may wish -- a gift that shall not be cut off.
11:109 So be thou not in doubt, O reader, concerning that which these people worship. They only worship as their fathers worshiped before, and We shall surely pay them in full their portion undiminished.
11:110 And We certainly gave Moses the Book, but differences were created therein; and had it not been for a word already gone forth from thy Lord, surely the matter would have been decided between them long before, and now these people are in a disquieting doubt concerning it.
11:111 Thy Lord will certainly repay them in full, according to their works. He is surely Well-Aware of all that they do.
11:112 So stand thou upright, as thou hast been commanded, and also those who have turned to God with thee; and exceed ye not the bounds, for surely, He sees what you do.
11:113 And incline not toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire touch you; and you will have no friend other than God, nor shall you be helped.
11:114 And observe Prayer at the two ends of the day, and in some hours of the night. Surely, good works drive away evil ones. This is a reminder for those who would remember.
11:115 And be thou steadfast; surely, God suffers not the reward of the righteous to perish.
11:116 Why, then, were there not among the generations before you persons possessed of understanding, who would have forbidden corruption in the earth, except a few among them whom We saved? But the wrongdoers pursued the enjoyment of the good things which they were given in plenty, and they became guilty.
11:117 And thy Lord would not destroy the cities unjustly while the people thereof were righteous.
11:118 And if thy Lord had enforced His will, He would have surely made mankind one people; but they would not cease to differ;
11:119 Save those on whom thy Lord has had mercy, and for this has He created them. But the word of thy Lord shall be fulfilled: 'Verily, I will fill Hell with the disobedient jinn and men all together.'
11:120 And We relate unto thee all the important tidings of the Messengers, whereby We strengthen thy heart. And herein has come to thee the truth and an exhortation and a reminder for the believers.
11:121 And say to those who believe not, 'Act as you can, we too are acting;'
11:122 And wait ye, we too are waiting.'
11:123 And to God belongs the unseen in the heavens and the earth, and to Him shall the whole affair be referred. So worship Him and put thy trust in Him alone. And thy Lord is not unmindful of what you do.

Chapter 12
Joseph
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
12:1 Alif Lam Ra. These are verses of the clear Book.
12:2 We have revealed it -- the Qur'án in Arabic -- that you may understand.
12:3 We relate unto thee the best of narrative in that We have revealed to thee this Qur'án though thou wast, before this among those unaware of the truth.
12:4 Remember the time when Joseph said to his father, O my father, I saw in a dream eleven stars and the sun and the moon -- I saw them making obeisance to me.'
12:5 He said, 'O my dear son, relate not thy dream to thy brothers, lest they contrive a plot against thee, for Satan is to man an open enemy.
12:6 And thus, as thou hast seen, thy Lord shall choose thee and teach thee the interpretations of things divine and perfect His favour upon thee and upon the family of Jacob as He perfected it upon thy two forefathers -- Abraham and Isaac. Verily, thy Lord is All-Knowing, Wise.'
12:7 Surely, in Joseph and his brethren there are Signs for the inquirers;
12:8 When they said to each other, 'Verily, Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we are, although we are a strong party. Surely, our father is in manifest error;
12:9 So contrive to kill Joseph or cast him out to some distant land, so that your father's favour may become exclusively yours, and you can thereafter repent and become a righteous people.'
12:10 One of them said, 'Kill not Joseph, but if you must do something, cast him into the bottom of a deep well; some of the travelers will pick him up.
12:11 They said, 'O our father, why dost thou not trust us with respect to Joseph, when we are certainly his sincere well-wishers?
12:12 Send him with us tomorrow that he may enjoy himself and play, and we shall surely keep guard over him.'
12:13 He said, 'It grieves me that you should take him away, and I fear lest the wolf should devour him while you are heedless of him.'
12:14 They said, 'Surely, if the wolf should devour him while we are a strong party, then we shall indeed be great losers.'
12:15 So, when they took him away, and agreed to put him into the bottom of a deep well, and carry out the malicious design, We sent revelation to him, saying, 'Thou shalt surely one day tell them of this affair of theirs, and they did not know.'
12:16 And they came to their father in the evening, weeping.
12:17 They said, 'O my father, we went forth racing with one another and left Joseph with our things, and the wolf devoured him, but thou wilt not believe us though we are telling the truth.
12:18 And they came with false blood on his shirt. He said, 'This what you say is not true but your souls have made a great thing appear light in your eyes. So comely patience is now called for. And it is God alone Whose help is sought against what you assert.'
12:19 And there came a caravan of travelers and they sent their water-drawer. And he let down his bucket into the well. 'Oh, good news!' said he, 'Here is your youth!' And they hid him as a piece of merchandise, and God well knew what they did.
12:20 And they sold him for a paltry price, a few dirhems, and they were not at all keen on it.
12:21 And the man from Egypt who bought him said to his wife, 'Make his stay among us honourable. Maybe we will benefit from him or we may adopt him as a son.' And thus did We establish Joseph in the land, and We did so that We might also teach him the interpretation of things. And God has full power over His decree, but most men know not.
12:22 And when he attained his age of full strength, We granted him judgment and knowledge. And thus do We reward those who do good.
12:23 And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him against his will. And she bolted the doors, and said, 'Now come.' He said, 'I seek refuge with God. He is my Lord. He has made my stay with you honourable. Verily, the wrongdoers never prosper.'
12:24 And she made up her mind with regard to him, to seduce him, and he made up his mind with regard to her, to resist her. If he had not seen manifest Sign of his Lord, he could not have shown such determination. Thus did it come about that We might turn away from him all evil and indecency. Surely, he was one of Our chosen servants.
12:25 And they both raced to the door, and in the struggle she tore his shirt from behind, and they found her lord at the door. She said to him, 'What shall be the punishment of one who intended evil to thy wife, save imprisonment or a grievous chastisement?'
12:26 Joseph said, 'She it was who sought to seduce me against my will.' And a witness of her household bore witness saying, 'If his shirt is torn from the front, then she has spoken the truth and he is a liar;
12:27 But if his shirt is torn from behind, then she has lied and he is of the truthful'.
12:28 So when he saw his shirt torn from behind, he said, Surely, this is a device of you women. Your device is indeed mighty;
12:29 O Joseph, do thou overlook this mischief and thou, O woman, ask forgiveness for thy sin. Certainly thou art of the guilty.'
12:30 And the women in the city said, 'The wife of Aziz seek to seduce her slave-boy against his will. He has infatuated her with love. Indeed we see her in manifest error.'
12:31 And when she heard of their sly whisperings, she sent for them and prepared for them a repast, and gave everyone of them a knife and then said to Joseph, 'Come forth to them.' And when they saw him they found him to be a person of great dignity and in their amazement cut their hands, and said, God be glorified! This is not a human being; this is but a noble angel.'
12:32 She said, 'And this is he whom you blamed me. I did seek to seduce him against his will, but he preserved himself from sin. And now if he do not what I bid him, he shall certainly be imprisoned and become one of the humbled.'
12:33 Thereupon Joseph prayed: 'O my Lord, prison is dearer to me than what they invite me to do; and unless thou turn away their guile from me I shall be inclined towards them and be of the ignorant.'
12:34 So his Lord heard his prayer, and turned away their guile from him. Verily, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
12:35 Then it occurred to them (the chiefs) after they had seen the Signs of his innocence that to preserve their good name, they should imprison him for a time.
12:36 And with him there entered the prison two young men. One of them said, 'I see myself in a dream pressing wine.' And the other said, 'I see myself in a dream carrying upon my head bread of which the birds are eating. Inform us of the interpretation thereof; for we see thee to be of the righteous.'
12:37 He replied, 'The food which you are given shall not come to you but I shall inform you of the interpretation thereof before it comes to you. This is on account of what my Lord has taught me. I have renounced the religion of the people who do not believe in God and who are disbelievers in the Hereafter;
12:38 And I have followed the religion of my fathers -- Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. It behoves us not to associate anything as partner with God. This is of God's grace upon us and upon mankind, but most men are ungrateful;
12:39 O my two companions of the prison, are many lords differing among themselves better or God, the One, the Most Supreme?
12:40 You worship nothing besides God, but mere names that you have named, you and your fathers; God has sent down no authority for that. The decision rest with God alone. He has commanded that you shall not worship anything, save Him. That is the right religion, but most men know not;
12:41 O my two companions of the prison, as for one of you he will pour out wine for his lord to drink; and as for the other, he will be crucified so that the birds will eat from his head. The matter about which you inquired has been decreed.'
12:42 And of the two he said to him whom he thought to be the one who would be released, 'Mention me to thy lord.' But Satan caused him to forget mentioning it to his lord, so he remained in prison for some years.
12:43 And the King said to his courtiers, 'I see in a dream seven fat kine which seven lean ones were eating, and seven green ears of corn and seven others withered. O ye chiefs, explain to me the meaning of my dream if you can interpret dreams.'
12:44 They replied, 'These are confused dreams and we do not know the interpretation of confused dreams.'
12:45 And he of the two who was released and who now remembered after a time, said, 'I will let you know its interpretation, therefore, send ye me.'
12:46 And he came to Joseph and said, 'Joseph! O thou man of truth, explain to us the meaning of seeing in a dream seven fat kine which seven lean ones devour, and of seven green ears of corn and seven others withered; that I may return to the people so that they may know the interpretation.'
12:47 Joseph replied, 'You shall sow for seven years, working diligently throughout; then leave, what you reap in its ear, except a little which you shall eat;
12:48 Then shall come after that seven hard years, which shall consume all that you shall have laid by in advance for them except a little which you may preserve;
12:49 Then shall come after that a year in which people shall be relieved and which they shall give presents to each other.
12:50 And the King said, 'Bring him to me.' But when the messenger came to him, he said, 'Go back to thy lord and ask him how fare the women who cut their hands; for, my Lord well knows their crafty design.'
12:51 The King said to the women, 'What was the truth of that matter of yours when you sought to seduce Joseph against his will?' They said, 'He kept away from sin for fear of God -- we have known no evil against him.' The wife of Aziz said, 'Now has the truth come to light. It was I who sought to seduce him against his will and surely, he is of the truthful.'
12:52 Joseph said, I ask for this inquiry to be made so that the Aziz might know that I was not unfaithful to him in his absence and that God suffers not the device of the unfaithful to succeed;
12:53 And I do not hold my own self to be free from weakness -- surely the soul is prone to enjoin evil -- save that whereon my Lord has mercy. Surely, my Lord is Most Forgiving, Merciful.'
12:54 And the King said, 'Bring him to me that I may take him specially for my own person. And when he had spoken to him, he said, 'Thou art this day a person of established position and trust with us.'
12:55 Joseph said, 'Appoint me over the treasures of the land, for I am a good keeper, and possessed of knowledge of these matters.'
12:56 And thus did We establish Joseph in the land. He dwelt therein wherever he pleased. We bestow Our mercy on whomsoever We please and We suffer not the reward of the righteous to be lost.
12:57 And surely the reward of the Hereafter, is better for those who believe and fear God.
12:58 And Joseph's brethren came and presented themselves before him; and he knew them, but they recognized him not.
12:59 And when he had provided them with their provision, he said, 'Bring me your brother on your father's side. Do you not see that I give you full measure of corn and that I am the best of hosts?
12:60 But if you bring him not to me, then there shall be no measure of corn for you from me, nor shall you come near me.'
12:61 They replied, 'We shall try to induce his father to part with him and we will certainly do it.'
12:62 And he said to his servants, 'Put their money back into their saddle-bags that they may recognize it when they return to their family; haply, they may come back.'
12:63 And when they returned to their father, they said, 'O our father, any further measure of corn has been denied us, so send with us our brother that we may obtain our measure, and we will surely be able to take care of him.'
12:64 He said, 'Can I trust you with him, except with the same result as when I trusted you with his brother before. But God is the Best Protector, And He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.'
12:65 And when they unpacked their goods, they found their money returned to them. They said, 'O our father, what more can we desire? Here is our money returned to us. We shall bring provision for our family, and guard our brother and we shall have an extra measure of a camel-load. That is a measure which is easy to obtain.'
12:66 He said, 'I will not send him with you until you give me a solemn promise in the name of God that you will surely bring him to me, unless it be that you are encompassed.' And when they had given him their solemn promise, he said, 'God watches over what we say.'
12:67 And he said, 'O my sons, enter not by one gate, but enter by different gates, and I can avail you naught against God. The decision rest only with God. In Him do I put my trust and in Him let all who would trust put their trust.'
12:68 And when they entered in the manner their father had commanded them, Jacob's purpose was fulfilled but it could not avail them anything against God, except that there was a desire in Jacob's mind which he thus satisfied; and he was surely possessed of great knowledge We had taught him, but most men know not.
12:69 And when they visited Joseph, he lodge his brother with himself. And he said, 'I am thy brother; so grieve not at they have been doing.'
12:70 And when he had given them their provisions, he put the drinking cup in his brothers saddle-bag. Then a crier cried. 'O ye men of the caravan, you are surely thieves.'
12:71 They said, turning around towards them, 'What is that you miss?'
12:72 They replied, 'We miss the King's measuring-vessel and whoso brings it shall have a camel-load of corn and I am surety for it.'
12:73 They answered, 'By God, you know well that we came not to make mischief in the land, and we are not thieves.'
12:74 They said, 'What then shall be the punishment for it, if you are found to be liars?'
12:75 They replied, 'The punishment for it -- he in whose saddle-bag it is found shall himself be the penalty for it. Thus do we punish the wrongdoers.'
12:76 Then he began with the search of their sacks before the sack of Joseph's brother; then he took it out of the sack of his brother. He could not have taken his brother under the King's law unless God had so willed. We raise in degrees of rank whomsoever We please; and over every possessor of knowledge is One, Most-Knowing.
12:77 They replied, 'If he has stolen, a brother of his had also committed theft before.' But Joseph kept it a secret in his heart and did not disclose it to them. He simply said, 'You are in a worst condition; and God knows best what you allege.'
12:78 They said, 'O noble chief, he has a very aged father, so take one of us in his place; for we see thee to be one of those who are benevolent.'
12:79 He replied, 'God forbid that we should take any other but him with whom we have found our property; for then we would certainly be unjust.'
12:80 And when they despaired of him, they retired, conferring together in private. Then their leader said, 'Know ye not that your father has taken from you a solemn pledge in the name of God and how, before this, you failed in your duty with respect to Joseph? I will not therefore, leave the land until my father permits me or God decides for me. And He is the Best of judges;
12:81 Go back to your father and say, 'O our father, thy son committed theft, and we have stated only what we know and we could not be guardians over the unseen;
12:82 And inquire of the people of the town wherein we were, and of the caravan with which we came, and certainly we are speaking the truth.'
12:83 He replied, 'Nay, but your minds have embellished to you an evil thing. So now there is nothing left for me but goodly patience. May be God will bring them all to me; for He is the All-Knowing the Wise.'
12:84 And he turned away from them and said, 'O my grief for Joseph!' And his eyes were filled with tears because of the grief, and he was suppressing his sorrow.
12:85 They said, 'By God, thou wilt not cease talking of Joseph until thou art wasted away or thou art of those who perish.'
12:86 He replied, 'I only complain of my sorrow and my grief to God, and I know from God that which you know not,
12:87 O my sons, go ye and inquire about Joseph and his brother and despair not of the mercy of God; for none despairs of God's mercy save the disbelieving people.'
12:88 And when they came before Joseph again, they said, 'O noble chief, poverty has smitten us and our family, and we have brought a paltry sum of money, but nonetheless give us full measure, and be charitable to us. Surely, God does reward the charitable.'
12:89 He said, 'Do you know what you did to Joseph and his brother in ignorance?'
12:90 They replied, 'Art thou Joseph?' He said, 'Yes, I am Joseph and this is my brother. God has indeed been gracious to us. Verily, whoso fears God and is steadfast -- God never suffers the reward of the good to be lost.'
12:91 They replied, 'By God; surely, God has preferred thee above us and we have indeed been sinners.'
12:92 He said, 'No blame shall lie on you this day; may God forgive you! And He is the Most Merciful of those Who show mercy.
12:93 Go with this shirt of mine and lay it before my father; he will come to know everything. And bring to me the whole of your family.'
12:94 And when the caravan departed, their father said, 'Surely, I perceive the scent of Joseph, even though you take me to be a dotard.'
12:95 They replied, 'By God, thou art assuredly still in thy old error.'
12:96 And when the bearer of glad tidings came, he laid the shirt before him and he became enlightened. Then he said, 'Did I not say to you, 'I know from God what you know not?'
12:97 They said, 'O our father, ask of God forgiveness of our sins for us; we have indeed been sinners.'
12:98 He said, 'I will certainly ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Surely He is the Most Forgiving, the Merciful.
12:99 And when they came to Joseph, he put up his parents with himself and said, 'Enter Egypt in peace, if it please God.'
12:100 And he raised his parents upon the throne and they all fell down prostrate before God for him. And he said, 'O my father, this is the fulfillment of my dream of old. My Lord has made it come true. And he bestowed a favour upon me when he took me out of the prison and brought you from the desert after Satan had stirred up discord between me and my brethren. Surely, my Lord is Benignant to whomsoever He pleases; for He is the All-Knowing, the Wise.
12:101 O my Lord, Thou hast bestowed a portion of sovereignty upon me and taught me the interpretations of dreams. O Maker of the heavens and the earth, Thou art my Protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Let death come to me in a state of submission to Thy Will and join me to the righteous.'
12:102 That is of the tidings of the unseen, which We reveal to thee. And thou wast not with them when they agreed upon their plan while they were plotting.
12:103 And most men will not believe even though eagerly desire it.
12:104 And thou does not ask of them any reward for it. It is but a source of honour for all mankind.
12:105 And how many a Sign is there in the heavens and the earth, which they pass by, turning away from it!
12:106 And most of them believe not in God without at the same time associating partners with Him.
12:107 Do they, then, feel secure from the coming on them of an overwhelming punishment from God or the sudden coming of the Hour upon them while they are unaware?
12:108 Say, 'This my way; I call unto God standing on sure knowledge, -- I and those who follow me. Holy is God, and I am not of those who associate gods with God.
12:109 And We sent not before thee as Messengers any but men to whom We sent revelation, from among the people of the towns. Have they not then traveled in the earth so that they should see what was the end of those before them? And surely, the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who fear God. Will you not then use you understanding?
12:110 And when the Messengers despaired of the disbelievers and the disbelievers were convinced that they had been told only lies, Our help came to the Messengers, and then were saved those whom We please. And Our chastisement cannot be averted from the sinful people.
12:111 Assuredly, in their narrative is a lesson for men of understanding. It is not a thing that has been forged, but a fulfillment of that which is before it and a detail exposition of all things, and a guidance and a mercy to people who believe.

Chapter 13
Thunder
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
13:1 Alif Lam Mim Ra. These are the verses of the perfect Book. That which has been revealed to thee from thy Lord is the truth, but most men believe not.
13:2 God is He Who raised up the heavens without any pillars that you can see. Then He settled Himself on the Throne. And He pressed the sun and the moon into your service; each planet pursues its course until an appointed term. He regulates all affairs and He clearly explains the Signs that you may have firm belief in the meeting with your Lord.
13:3 And He it is Who spread out the earth and made therein mountains and rivers, and of fruits of every kind He made therein two sexes. He causes the night to cover the day. Therein, verily, are Signs for a people who reflect.
13:4 And in the earth are diverse tracks, adjoining one another, and gardens of vines, and corn-fields, and date-palms, growing together from one root and others not so growing, they are all watered with the same water, yet We make some of them excel others in fruit. Therein are Signs for a people who use their understanding.
13:5 And if thou shouldst wonder at their saying, 'What! when we have become dust, shall we then be in a state of new creation,' then wondrous indeed is what they say. These it is who disbelieve in their Lord; and these it is who shall have shackles round their necks, and they shall be the inmates of the Fire, wherein they shall abide.
13:6 And they ask thee to hasten on the evil rather than the good, whereas exemplary punishment have already come to pass before them. And, verily, thy Lord is full of forgiveness for mankind despite their wrongdoing, and verily, thy Lord is also Severe in retribution.
13:7 And those who disbelieve say, 'Wherefore has not a Sign been sent down to him from his Lord?' Thou art surely a warner. And their is a Guide for every people.
13:8 God knows what every female bears, and what the wombs render defective and discard and what they cause to grow. And with Him everything has a proper measure.
13:9 He is the Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Incomparably Great, the Most High.
13:10 He among you who utters his word secretly, and he who utters it openly are equal in His knowledge; and also he who hides by night and he who goes forth openly by day.
13:11 For him (the Messenger) is a succession of angels before him and behind him; they guard him by the command of God. Surely, God changes not the condition of a people until they change that which is in their hearts. And when God decides to punish a people, there is no repelling it, nor have they any helper besides Him.
13:12 He it is Who shows you the lightning to inspire fear and hope and He raises the heavy clouds.
13:13 And the thunder glorifies Him with His praise and likewise do the angels for awe of Him; and He sends the thunderbolts, and smites therewith whom He wills, yet they dispute concerning God, while He is Severe in punishing.
13:14 Unto Him alone is due the true Prayer. And those on whom they call instead of Him answer them not at all. Their case is but like the case of him who stretches forth his two hands towards water that it may reach his mouth, but it reaches it not. And the prayer of a disbeliever is but a thing wasted.
13:15 And to God submits whosoever is in the heavens and the earth willingly or unwillingly and like wise do their shadows in the mornings and the evenings.
13:16 Say, 'Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?' Say, 'God.' Say, 'Have you then taken instead of Him helpers who have no power for good or harm even for themselves?' Say, 'Can the blind and the seeing be equal? Or can darkness be equal to light? Or, do they assign to God partners who have created the like of His creation so that the two creations appear similar to them?' Say, 'God alone is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Most supreme.'
13:17 He sends down water from the sky so that the valleys flow according to their measure and the flood bears on its surface swelling foam. And from that which they heat in the fire, seeking to make ornaments or utensils, comes out a foam similar to it. Thus does God illustrate truth and falsehood. Now, as to the foam it goes away as rubbish and perishes but as to that which benefits men, it stays in the earth. Thus does God set forth parables.
13:18 For those who respond to their Lord is external good; and as for those who respond not to Him, if they had all that is in the earth and the like of it added thereto, they would readily ransom themselves therewith. It is these that shall have an evil reckoning and their abode is Hell. What a wretched place of rest!
13:19 Is he, then, who knows that what has been revealed to thee from thy Lord is the truth, like one who is blind? But only those gifted with understanding take heed;
13:20 Those who fulfill God's pact, and break not the covenant;
13:21 And those who join what God has commanded to be joined, and fear their Lord, and dread the evil reckoning;
13:22 And those who persevere in seeking the favour of their Lord, and observe Prayer, and spend out of that with which We have provided them, secretly and openly, and repel evil with good. It is these who shall have the best reward of the final abode -
13:23 Gardens of Eternity. They shall enter them and also those who are righteous from among their fathers, and their wives and their children. And the angels shall enter unto them from every gate, saying,
13:24 Peace be unto you, because you were steadfast; behold, how excellent is the reward of the final abode!'
13:25 And those who break the covenant of God, after having established it and cut asunder what God has commanded to be joined, and act corruptly in the earth, on them is the curse of God and they shall have a grievous abode.
13:26 God enlarges His provision and straitens it for whomsoever He pleases. And they rejoice in the present life, while the present life is but a temporary enjoyment as compared with the Hereafter.
13:27 And those who disbelieves say, 'Why is not a Sign sent down to him from his Lord?' Say, 'God leaves to go astray whom He wills and guides to Himself those who turn to Him;
13:28 Those who believe, and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of God. Aye! It is the remembrance of God that hearts can find comfort;
13:29 Those who believe and do good works -- happiness is decreed for them, and an excellent place of return.'
13:30 Thus have We sent thee to a people, before whom other peoples have passed away, that thou mayest recite to them what We have revealed to thee, for they deny the Gracious God. Say, 'He is my Lord; There is no god but He. In Him do I put my trust and towards Him is my return.
13:31 And if there was a Qur'án by which mountains could be moved or by which the earth could be cut asunder or by which the dead could be spoken to, they would still not believe in it. Nay, the matter of their believing rests entirely with God. Have not the believers yet come to know that if God had enforced His will He could have surely guided all mankind? And as for those who disbelieve, disaster shall not cease to befall them for what they have wrought or to alight near their home, until the promise of God comes to pass. Surely, God fails not in His promise.
13:32 And surely, Messengers were mocked at before thee; but I granted respite to those who disbelieved. Then I seized them and how terrible was My punishment!
13:33 Will then He, Who stands over every soul watching what it earns, let them go unpunished? Yet they ascribe partners to God. Say, 'Do name them.' Would you inform Him of what He does not know in the earth? Or, is it a mere empty saying? Nay, but the design of the disbelievers has been made to appear beautiful in their eyes, and they have been kept back from the right way. And he whom God lets go astray shall have no guide.
13:34 For them is a punishment in the present life; and surely, the punishment in the Hereafter is harder, and they will have no defender against God.
13:35 The similitude of the Garden promised to the God-fearing is that through it flow streams; its fruit is everlasting, and so is its shade. That is the reward of those who are righteous; and the end of the disbelievers is Fire.
13:36 And those to whom We have given the Book rejoice in what has been revealed to thee. And of the different parties there are some who deny part thereof. Say 'I am only commanded to worship God and not to set up equals to Him. Unto Him do I call and unto Him is my return.
13:37 And thus have We revealed it, a clear judgment in Arabic. And if thou follow their evil desires after the knowledge that has come to thee, thou shalt have no friend nor defender against God.
13:38 And, indeed, We sent Messengers before thee, and We gave them wives and children. And it is not possible for a Messenger to bring a Sign save by the command of God. For every term there is a divine decree.
13:39 God effaces and establishes what He wills, and with Him is the source of all commandments.
13:40 And whether We show thee in thy life-time the fulfillment of some of the things which We threaten them or whether We cause the to die, it makes little difference, for on thee lies only the delivery of the Message, and on Us the reckoning.
13:41 Do they not see that We are visiting the land, reducing it from its outlying boarders? And God judges; there is none to reverse His judgment. And He is Swift at reckoning.
13:42 And those who were before them did also devise plans but all effective devising of plans belongs to God. He knows what every soul earns; and the disbelievers shall soon know whose will be the final reward of the Abode.
13:43 And those who disbelieve say, 'Thou art not a Messenger.' Say, 'Sufficient is God as a Witness between me and you and so also is he who possesses knowledge of the Book.

Chapter 14
Abraham
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
14:1 Alif Lám Rá. This is a Book which We have revealed to thee that thou mayest bring mankind out of the depths of darkness into light, by the command of their Lord, to the path of the Mighty, the Praiseworthy --
14:2 The path of God to Whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. And woe to the disbelievers for a terrible punishment;
14:3 Those who prefer the present life to the Hereafter, and hinder men from the way of God and seek to make it crooked. It is these who have gone far off in error.
14:4 And We have not sent any Messenger except with revelation in the language of his people in order that he might make things clear to them. Then God leaves to go astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And He is the Mighty, the Wise.
14:5 And We sent Moses with Our Signs, saying, 'Bring forth thy people from the depths of darkness into light and remind them of the days of God.' Surely, therein are Signs for every patient and thankful person.
14:6 And call to mind when Moses said to his people, 'Remember God's favour upon you when He delivered you from Pharaoh's people who afflicted you with grievous torment, slaying your sons and sparing your women; and in that there was a great trial for you from your Lord.'
14:7 And when your Lord declared: 'If you are grateful, I will surely bestow more favours on you; but if you are ungrateful, then know that My punishment is severe indeed.'
14:8 And Moses said, 'If you disbelieve, you and those who are in the earth all together, you can do no harm to God; verily, God is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.'
14:9 Have not the tidings come to you of those before you, the people of Noah and the tribes of Ad and Thamud and those after them? None knows them now save God. Their Messengers came to them with clear Signs, but they trust their hands into their mouths and said, 'We disbelieve in what you have sent with and surely, we are disquieting doubt concerning that to which you call us.'
14:10 The Messengers said, 'Are you in doubt concerning God, Maker of the heavens and the earth? He calls you that He may forgive you your sins and grant you respite till an appointed term.' They said, 'You are but mortals like us, you desire to turn us away from that which our fathers used to worship. Bring us, then, some clear proof.'
14:11 Their Messengers said to them, 'We are indeed only mortals like you but God bestows His favours on whomsoever He wills from among His servants. And it is not for us to bring you a proof except by the permission of God. And in God alone should the believers put their trust;
14:12 And why should we not put our trust in God when He has showed us our appropriate ways? And we will, surely, bear with patience all the harm you do to us. So, in God let those who trust put their trust.'
14:13 And those who disbelieved said to their Messengers, 'We will surely, expel you from our land unless you return to our religion.' Then their Lord sent unto them the revelation: 'We will surely destroy the wrongdoers,
14:14 And We shall, surely, make you dwell in the land after them. This promise is for him who fears to stand before My Tribunal and fears My warning.'
14:15 And they prayed for victory, and every haughty enemy of truth came to naught:
14:16 Before him is Hell; and he shall be made to drink boiling water.
14:17 He shall sip it in and shall not be able to swallow it easily. And death shall come to him from every quarter, yet he shall not die. And besides that there shall be for him a severe chastisement.
14:18 The case of those who disbelieve in their Lord is that their works are like ashes, on which wind blows violently on a stormy day. They shall have no power over what they earn. That, indeed, is utter ruin.
14:19 Dost thou not see that God created the heaven and the earth in accordance with the requirements of wisdom? If He please, He can do away with you, and bring a new creation.
14:20 And that is not at all difficult for God.
14:21 They shall all appear before God; then shall those who were considered weak say to those who were arrogant, 'Surely, we were your followers can you not them avail us aught against God's punishment?' They will say, 'If God had guided us, we should have, surely, guided you. It is the same for us whether we show impatience or are patient, there is no way of escape for us.'
14:22 And when the matter is decided, Satan will say, 'God promised you a promise of truth, But I promised you and failed you. I had no power over you, except that I called you and you obeyed me. So blame me not, but blame your ownselves. I cannot succour you nor can you succour me. I have already disclaimed your associating me with God. For the wrongdoers there shall, surely, be a grievous punishment.'
14:23 And those who believe and act righteously, will be admitted into Gardens through which streams flow, wherein they will abide by the command of their Lord. Their greeting therein for each other will be, 'Peace be on you.'
14:24 Dost thou not see how God sets forth a parable of a good word? It is like a good tree, whose root is firm and whose branches reach into heaven?
14:25 It brings forth its fruit at all times by the command of its Lord. And God sets forth parables for men that they may be reminded.
14:26 And the case of an evil word, is like that of an evil tree, which is uprooted from above the earth and has no stability.
14:27 God strengthens the believers with the word that is firmly established, both in the present life and in the Hereafter; and God lets the wrongdoers go astray. And God does what He wills.
14:28 Dost thou not see those who changed God's favour for ingratitude and landed their people into the abode of ruin -
14:29 Into Hell. They shall burn therein; and an evil place of rest it is.
14:30 And they have set up rivals to God to lead people astray from His way. Say, 'Enjoy yourselves a while, then, surely, your journey is toward the Fire.'
14:31 Say to My servants who believe that they should observe Prayer, and spend out of what We have given them, secretly and openly, before there comes a day where there will be neither bargaining nor friendship.
14:32 God is He Who created the heavens and the earth and caused water to come down from the clouds, and brought forth therewith fruits for your sustenance, and He has subjected to you the ships that they may sail through the sea by His command, and the rivers too has He subjected to you.
14:33 And He has also subjected to you the sun and the moon, both performing their functions constantly. And He has subjected to you the night as well as the day.
14:34 And He gives you all that you ask of Him, and if you try to count the favours of God, you will not be able to number them. Verily man is very unjust, very ungrateful.
14:35 And call to mind when Abraham said, 'My Lord, make this a city of peace, and preserve me and my children from worshiping idols,
14:36 My Lord, they have indeed led astray many among mankind. So whoever follows me, he is certainly of me; and whoever disobeys me Thou art, surely, Most Forgiving, Merciful,
14:37 Our Lord, I have settled some of my progeny in an uncultivable valley near Thy Sacred House. -- Our Lord, -- that they may observe Prayer. So make men's heart incline towards them and provide them with fruits that they may be thankful.
14:38 Our Lord, certainly, Thou knowest what we keep secret and what we make known. And nothing whatever is hidden from God, whether in the earth or the heaven,
14:39 All praise belongs to God Who has given me, despite my old age, Ishmael and Isaac. Surely, my Lord is the Hearer of Prayer,
14:40 My Lord make me constant in observing Prayer, and my children too. Our Lord! bestow thy grace on me and accept my prayer,
14:41 Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers on the day when the reckoning will take place.'
14:42 And think not that God is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only gives them respite till the day on which their eyes will fixedly stare in horror;
14:43 They will hurry along in fright, raising up their heads, their gaze not returning to them, and their hearts utterly void.
14:44 And warn people of the day when the promised chastisement will come upon them, and the wrongdoers will say, Our Lord, grant us respite for a short term, we will respond to thy call and will follow the Messengers.' He will say, 'Did you not swear before this that you would never have a fall?
14:45 And you dwell in the dwellings of those who wronged themselves and it has become plain to you how We dealt with them; and We set forth clear parables for you.'
14:46 And they have tried all their designs; but their designs are with God. And even though their designs be such as to make the mountains move, they will not succeed.
14:47 Think not then that God will ever fail to keep His promise to His Messengers. Surely, God is Mighty, Lord of retribution,
14:48 On the day when this earth will be changed into another earth, and the heavens too; and they will appear before God, the One, the Most Supreme.
14:49 And thou wilt see the guilty on that day bound in chains.
14:50 Their garments will be, as if, of pitch and the fire shall envelop their faces.
14:51 This will be so that God may requite each soul for what it has wrought. Surely, God is swift at reckoning.
14:52 This is a sufficient admonition for mankind that they may benefit by it and that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is the only One God and that those possessed of understanding may take heed.

Chapter 15
Al-Hijr
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
15:1 Alif Lám Rá. These are verses of the perfect Book and of the illuminating Qur'án.
15:2 Often do the disbelievers wish they Muslims.
15:3 Leave them alone that they may eat and enjoy themselves and that vain hope may beguile them, but they will soon know.
15:4 And never a town have We destroyed but there was for it a known decree.
15:5 No people can escape their doom by outstripping their appointed term, nor can they remain behind.
15:6 And they said, 'O thou to whom this exhortation has been sent down, thou art surely a madman,
15:7 Why dost thou not bring angels to us, if thou art of the truthful?'
15:8 We do not send down angels but with the requirements of justice, and when We do send them, the disbelievers are not respited.
15:9 Verily, it is We Who have sent down this Exhortation, and most surely We are its Guardians.
15:10 And We sent Messengers before thee among parties of ancient people.
15:11 And there never came to them a Messenger but they mocked at him.
15:12 Thus do We cause this habit of mocking to enter into the hearts of the sinful people.
15:13 They believe not in this Qur'án, though the example of the former peoples have gone before them.
15:14 And even if We open to them a gate in heaven, and they kept ascending through it,
15:15 They would surely say, 'Only our eyes are dazed; rather we are a bewitched people'
15:16 And We have, indeed, made mansions of stars in the heaven and have adorned it for beholders.
15:17 And We have guarded it against the intrusion of every rejected Satan.
15:18 But if anyone hears stealthily something of revelation and distorts it, there pursues him a bright flame.
15:19 And the earth have We spread out, and set therein firm mountains and cause every thing to grow therein in proper proportion.
15:20 And We have made for you therein means of livelihood and also for all those for whom you do not provide.
15:21 And there is not a thing but are limitless treasures thereof with Us and We sent it not down except in a known measure.
15:22 And We send fecundating winds, then We send down water from the clouds, then We give it to you to drink, and you could not yourselves store it.
15:23 And verily, it is We Who give life, and We Who cause death; And it is We Who are the sole Inheritors of All.
15:24 And We do know those who go ahead among you and We also do know those who lag behind.
15:25 And, surely, it is thy Lord Who will gather them together. Surely, He is Wise, All-Knowing.
15:26 And, surely, We created man from dry ringing clay, of black mud wrought into shape.
15:27 And the jinn We have created before of the fire of hot wind.
15:28 And remember when thy Lord said to the angels, I am about to create man of dry ringing clay, of black mud wrought into shape:
15:29 So when I fashioned him in perfection and have breath into him of My spirit, fall ye down in submission to him.'
15:30 So the angels submitted, all of them together.
15:31 But Iblis did not; he refused to be among those who submit.
15:32 God said, 'O Iblis, what has happened to thee that thou wouldst not be among those who submit?'
15:33 He answered, 'I am not going to submit to a mortal whom Thou hast created of dry ringing clay, of black mud wrought into shape.'
15:34 God said, 'Then get out hence, for surely, thou art rejected.
15:35 And, surely, on thee shall be My curse till the day of Judgment.'
15:36 He said, 'My Lord, then grant me respite till the day when they shall be raised.'
15:37 God said, 'Thou art of those who are respited.
15:38 Till the day of the appointed time.,
15:39 He answered, 'My Lord, since Thou hast adjudged me as gone astray, I will surely make straying from the right path appear beautiful to them on the earth and I will surely lead them all astray,
15:40 Except Thy chosen servants from among them.'
15:41 God said, 'This is a path leading straight to Me;
15:42 Surely, thou shall have no power over My servants, except such of the erring ones as choose to follow thee.'
15:43 And, surely, Hell is the promised place for them all.
15:44 It has seven gates, and each gate has a portion of them allotted to it.
15:45 Verily, the righteous, will be placed amid gardens and fountains.
15:46 Enter therein with peace, in security.'
15:47 And We shall remove whatever of rancour may be in their breasts so that they will be as brothers seated on thrones, facing one another;
15:48 Fatigue shall not touch them, nor shall they ever be ejected therefrom.
15:49 Tell My servants, O Prophet, that I am surely, All-Forgiving, All-Merciful.
15:50 And also that My punishment is the most grievous punishment.
15:51 And tell the about Abraham's guest.
15:52 When they came to him and said, 'Peace be upon you,' He answered, 'Verily, we are afraid of you.'
15:53 They said, 'Be not afraid; we give thee glad tidings of a son who shall be endowed with great knowledge.'
15:54 He said, 'Do you give me this glad tidings despite the fact that old age has overtaken me? On what basis, then, do you give me this glad tidings?'
15:55 They said, 'We have indeed given thee true glad tidings, be not, therefore, of those who despair.'
15:56 He said, 'And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord but such as go astray?'
15:57 He said, 'What now is your real business, O ye messengers?'
15:58 They said, 'We have been sent unto a guilty people,
15:59 Except the followers of Lot, Them shall we save all,
15:60 Except his wife. We have decreed that she shall be of those who remain behind.'
15:61 And when the messengers came unto lot and his followers;
15:62 He said, 'Verily, you a party of strangers.'
15:63 They said, 'Yea; but we have brought thee that news of the punishment concerning which they have been in doubt;
15:64 And we have brought thee sure news, and certainly we are truthful;
15:65 So go forth with thy family in the latter part of the night, and follow thou in their rear. And let none of you look back, and now proceed to where you are commanded.'
15:66 And We communicated to him clearly this decree that the roots of these people would be cut off by the morning.
15:67 And the people of the city came rejoicing.
15:68 He said, 'These are my guests, so put me not to shame.
15:69 And fear God and do not humiliate me.'
15:70 They said, 'Did we not forbid thee to entertain any people?'
15:71 He said, 'These are my daughters who are guarantee enough if you must do something.'
15:72 By the life, they, too, in their mad intoxication of wandering in distraction.
15:73 Then the punishment seized them at sunrise.
15:74 We turned their town upside down and We rained upon them stones of clay.
15:75 Surely, in this are many Signs for those who use their understanding.
15:76 And that town lies on a road that still exists.
15:77 Surely, in this is a Sign for believers.
15:78 And the people of the Wood, too, were surely wrongdoers.
15:79 So We chastised them also. And they both lie on an open highway.
15:80 And the People of the Hijr also treated the Messengers as liars.
15:81 And We gave them Our Signs, but they turned away from them.
15:82 And they used to hew out houses in the mountains, in security.
15:83 But the punishment seized them in the morning,
15:84 And all they had earned availed them not.
15:85 And We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between the two but in accordance with the requirements of wisdom; and the Hour is sure to come. So do thou forbear with goodly forbearance.
15:86 Verily, it is thy Lord Who is the Great Creator, the All-Knowing.
15:87 And We have indeed given the seven oft-repeated verses, and the great Qur'án.
15:88 Stretch not thine eyes towards what We have bestowed on some classes of them for temporary enjoyment and grieve not for them; and lower thy wing of mercy for the believers.
15:89 And say, 'I am indeed a plain Warner.'
15:90 Because We have decided to send down punishment on those who have formed themselves into groups against thee;
15:91 Who have pronounced the Qur'án to be so many lies.
15:92 So by the Lord, We will, surely, question them all
15:93 Concerning that which they used to do.
15:94 So declare openly that thou art commanded to convey and turn aside from those who ascribe partners to God.
15:95 We will, certainly, suffice thee against those who mock -
15:96 Who set up another god with God, but soon shall they come to know.
15:97 And, indeed, We know that thy bosom becomes straitened because of what they say.
15:98 But glorify the Lord praising Him, and be of those who prostrate themselves before Him.
15:99 And continue worshiping thy Lord till death comes to thee.

Chapter 16
The Bee
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
16:1 The decree of God is at hand, so seek ye not to hasten it. Holy is He and exalted far above all that which they associate with Him.
16:2 He sends down the angels with revelation by His command on whomsoever of His servants He pleases, saying, 'Warn people that there is no god but I, so take Me alone for your protector.'
16:3 He has created the heavens and the earth in accordance with the requirements of wisdom. Exalted is He far above all that they associate with Him.
16:4 He has created man from a mere drop of fluid, but lo! he is an open disputer.
16:5 And the cattle too He has created; and you find in them warmth and other uses; and of the flesh of some of them you eat.
16:6 And in them there is ornament and dignity for you when you bring them home in the evening and when you drive them forth to pasture in the morning.
16:7 And they carry your loads to a land which you could not reach except with great hardship to yourselves. Surely, your Lord is compassionate, Merciful.
16:8 And He has created horses and mules and asses that you may ride them, and as a source of beauty. And He will create what you do not yet know.
16:9 And upon God rests the showing of the right way, and there are ways which deviate from the right course. And if He had enforced His Will, He would have guided you all.
16:10 He it is who sends down water from the clouds; out of it you have your drink, and there grow from it trees on which you pasture your cattle.
16:11 Therewith He grows corn for you and the olive and the date-palm and the grapes and all manner of fruit. Surely, in that is a Sign for people who reflect.
16:12 And He pressed into service for you the night and the day and the sun and the moon; and the stars too have been pressed into service by His command. Surely, in that are Signs for a people who use their understanding.
16:13 And the things of diverse hues that He has created for you in the earth also serve your purpose. Surely, in that is a Sign for a people who take heed.
16:14 And He it is Who has subjected to you the sea that you may eat therefrom fresh flesh and may take forth articles which you wear as ornaments. And thou seest the ships ploughing through it, that you may journey thereby and that you may seek of His bounty in other ways and that you may be grateful.
16:15 And He has placed in the earth firm mountains lest it quake with you and rivers and routes that you may find the way to your destination.
16:16 And, He has set up other marks; by them and by the stars they follow the right direction.
16:17 Is He, then, Who creates like one who creates not? Will you not then take heed?
16:18 And if you try to count the favours of God, you will not be able to number them. Surely, God is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
16:19 And God knows what you keep hidden and what you disclose.
16:20 And those on whom they call besides God create not anything, but they are themselves created.
16:21 They are dead, not living; and they know not when they will be raised.
16:22 Your God is One God. And as to those who believe not in the Hereafter, their hearts are strangers to truth and they are full of pride.
16:23 Undoubtedly, God knows what they keep secret and what they disclose. Surely, He loves not the proud.
16:24 And when it is said to them, 'What think ye of that which your Lord has sent down?' They say, 'They are but mere stories of the ancients.'
16:25 The consequence will be that they shall bear their burdens in full on the Day of Resurrection, and also a portion of the burdens of those whom they lead astray without knowledge. Behold! evil is that which the bear.
16:26 Those who were before them also devised plans, but God came upon their structure from the very foundations, so that the roof fell down upon them from above them, and the punishment came upon them from where they knew not.
16:27 The on the Day of Resurrection He will humiliate them and will say, 'Where are my partners for whose sake you used to oppose My Prophets?' Those endowed with knowledge will say, 'This day humiliation and affliction will surely befall the disbelievers.'
16:28 Those on whom the angels cause to die while they are wronging their souls, will offer submission pleading, 'We use not to do any evil.' It will be said to them, 'Nay, surely, God knows well what you used to do,
16:29 So enter the gates of Hell, to abide therein. Evil indeed is the abode of the arrogant.'
16:30 And when it is said to the righteous, 'What say ye of that which your Lord has revealed?' They say, 'The best.' For those who do good, there is good in this world, and the home of the Hereafter is even better. Excellent indeed is the abode of the righteous,
16:31 Gardens of Eternity, which they will enter; through them flow streams. They will have therein what they wish for. Thus does God reward the righteous,
16:32 Those whom the angels cause to die while they are pure, they say to them, 'Peace be unto you. Enter Heaven because of what you used to do.'
16:33 What do these disbelievers wait for except that the angels should come upon them or that the decree of thy Lord should come to pass? So did those who were before them. God did not wrong them, but they used to wrong themselves.
16:34 So the evil consequences of what they did overtook them and that which they used to mock at encompassed them.
16:35 And the idolaters say, 'If God had so willed, we should not have worshiped anything beside Him, neither we nor our fathers, nor should we have forbidden anything without command from Him.' So did those who opposed the truth before them. Are the Messengers responsible for anything except the plain delivery of the Message?
16:36 And We did raise among every people a Messenger with the teaching, 'Worship God and shun the Evil one.' Then among them were some whom God guided and among them were some who became deserving of ruin. So travel through the earth and see what was the end of those who treated the prophets as liars!
16:37 If thou art solicitous of their guidance, then know that God surely guides not those who lead others astray. And for such there are no helpers.
16:38 And they swear by God their strongest oaths, that God will not raise up those who die. Nay, He will certainly raise them up. This is a true promise the fulfillment of which is binding on Him but most men know not.
16:39 He will surely raise them up that He may make clear to them that wherein they differed, and that those who disbelieved may realize that they were liars.
16:40 Our word concerning a thing, when We will it, it is only that We say to it, 'Be,' and it is.
16:41 And as to those who leave their homes for the sake of God after they are wronged, We will surely give them a goodly abode in this world; and truly the reward of the Hereafter is greater; if they but knew -
16:42 Those who are steadfast and put their trust in their Lord.
16:43 And We sent not as Messengers before thee but men to whom We sent revelation -- so ask those who possess the reminder, if you know not -
16:44 With clear Signs and Scriptures. And We have sent down to thee the Reminder that thou mayest explain to mankind that which has been sent down to them, and that they may reflect.
16:45 Do, then, those who devise evil plans, feel secure that God will humiliate them in their own land, or that the punishment will not come upon them whence they do not know?
16:46 Or that He will not seize them in their going to and fro so that they shall not be able to frustrate His plans?
16:47 Or that He will not destroy them through a process of gradual attrition? Your Lord is indeed Compassionate, Merciful.
16:48 Have they not observed, bowing in humility before God that the shadows of everything which God has created shift from the right and from the left, and they are being humbled?
16:49 And whatever is in the heavens and whatever creature is in the earth submits humbly to God, and the angels too, and they are not proud.
16:50 They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded.
16:51 God has said, 'Take not for worship two gods. There is only One God. So fear Me alone.'
16:52 And to Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth and to Him is obedience due for ever. Will you then take any other than God as your Protector?
16:53 And whatever blessing you have, it is from God. And when affliction befalls you, it is unto Him that you cry for help;
16:54 Then, when He removes the affliction from you, behold! a party among you begins to ascribe associates to their Lord,
16:55 So as to deny that which We have bestowed upon them. Well, then, enjoy yourselves a while, but soon will you know.
16:56 And they set apart for their false gods of which they know nothing, a portion of that which We have bestowed on them. By God, you shall certainly be called to account for all that you forged.
16:57 And they ascribe daughters to God -- Holy is He -- while they themselves have what they desire.
16:58 And when to one of them is conveyed the tidings of the birth of a female, his face darkens with inward suppressed grief;
16:59 He hides himself from the people because of the bad news he has had. Shall he keep it inspite of disgrace or shall he bury it in the dust? Verily, evil is that which they judge.
16:60 The state of those who do not believe in the Hereafter, is evil, while all sublime attributes belong to God and He is the Mighty, the Wise.
16:61 And if God were to punish men for their wrongdoing, He would not leave on the earth a living creature, but He gives them respite till an appointed term; and when their term is come, they cannot remain behind a single hour, nor can they go ahead of it.
16:62 And they assign to God what they dislike for themselves and their tongues utter the lie that they will have the best of everything. Undoubtedly, theirs shall be the Fire, and therein shall they be abandoned.
16:63 By God, We certainly sent Messengers to all the peoples before thee; but Satan made their works appear beautiful to them. So he is their patron this day, and they shall have a grievous punishment.
16:64 And We have not sent down to thee the Book except that thou mayest explain to them that concerning which they have created differences and as a guidance, and a mercy for a people who believe.
16:65 And God has sent down water from the sky and has quickened the earth after its death. Surely, in that is a Sign for a people who would listen to the truth.
16:66 And surely in the cattle too there is a lesson for you. We provide for you drink out of that which is in their bellies -- from betwixt the faeces and the blood -- milk pure and pleasant for those who drink it.
16:67 And of the fruits of the date-palms and the grapes, whence you obtain intoxicating drink and wholesome food. Verily in that is a Sign for a people who use their understanding.
16:68 And thy Lord revealed to the bee : 'Make thou houses in the hills and in the trees and in the trellises which they build,
16:69 Then eat all manner of fruits, and follow the ways taught to thee by thy Lord and which have been made easy for thee.' There comes from their bellies a drink of varying hues. Therein is a healing for mankind. Surely, in that is Sign for a people who reflect.
16:70 And God creates you, then He causes you to die; and there are some among you who are driven to the worst state of life with the result that they know nothing after having had knowledge. Surely, God is All-Knowing, Powerful.
16:71 And God has favoured some of you above others in worldly gifts. But those more favoured will not restore any part of their worldly gifts to those whom their right hands possess, so that they may be equal shares in them. Knowing this, will they still deny the favour of God?
16:72 And God has made for you mates from among yourselves, and has made for you, from your mates, sons and grandsons, and has provided you with good things. Will they then believe in that which perishes and deny the favour of God?
16:73 And they worship beside God such as have no power to bestow on them any gift from the heavens and the earth, nor can they ever have such power.
16:74 So coin not similitudes for God. Surely God knows and you know not.
16:75 God sets forth for you the parable of a slave who is owned, having no power over anything; and a free man whom We have provided with a fair provision from Us and he spends thereof secretly and openly. Are they equal? Praise be to God. But most of them know not.
16:76 And God sets forth another parable of two men -- one of them is dumb, having no power over anything, and he is a burden on his master; withersoever he sends him, he brings no good. Can he be equal to him who enjoins justice and who is on the straight path?
16:77 And to God belongs the knowledge of the unseen in the heavens and the earth; and the matter of the coming of the promised Hour is but as the twinkling of an eye, nay, it is nearer still. Surely, God has full power over all things.
16:78 And God has brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers while you knew nothing, and gave you ears and eyes and hearts, that you may be grateful.
16:79 Do they not observe the birds held under subjection in the vault of heaven? None keeps them back save God. Verily, in that are Signs for a people who believe.
16:80 And God has made for you, in your houses, a place of rest and has also made for you, of the skins of cattle, abodes which you find light at the time when you travel and useful at the time when you halt; and of their wool and their furs and their hair He has supplied you with household goods and articles of use for a time.
16:81 And God has made for you of that which He has created, many things affording shade; and He has made for you in the mountains places of shelter; and He has made for you garments which protect you from heat, and coats of mail which protect you in your wars. Thus does He complete His favours upon you, that you may submit wholly to Him.
16:82 But if they turn away, then thou art responsible only for the plain delivery of the Message.
16:83 They recognize the favour of God, yet they deny it; and most of them are confirmed disbelievers.
16:84 And remember the day when We shall raise up a witness from every people, then those who disbelieve shall not be permitted to make amends, nor shall their plea be accepted.
16:85 And when those who did wrong actually see the punishment, it will not be lightened for them, nor will they be respited.
16:86 And when those who associate partners with God, will see their associated-gods, they will say, 'Our Lord, these are our associated-gods, whom we used to call upon instead of Thee.' Thereupon they will retort on them with the words, 'Surely, you are liars.'
16:87 And they will offer submission to God on that day, and all that they used to forge shall fail them.
16:88 As for those who disbelieve and turn men away from the way of God, We will add punishment to their punishment because they made mischief.
16:89 And remember the day when We will raise up in every people a witness against them from among themselves, and We will bring thee as a witness against all of them. And We have sent down to thee the Book to explain everything and a guidance and a mercy and glad tidings to those who submit to God.
16:90 Verily, God enjoins justice, and the doing of good to others; and giving like kindred; and forbids indecency and manifest evil and transgression. He admonishes you that you may take heed.
16:91 And fulfill the covenant of God when you have made one, and break not your oaths after making them firm, while you have made God your surety. Certainly, God knows what you do.
16:92 And be not like unto her who cuts up her yarn into pieces after having spun it strong by making your oaths a means of deceit between you, for fear lest one people become more powerful than another people. Surely, God tries you therewith, and on the Day of Resurrection He will make clear to you that wherein you differed.
16:93 And if God had enforced His will, He would surely have made you all one people; but He lets go astray him who wishes it, and guides him who wishes it, and you shall surely be questioned concerning that which you have been doing.
16:94 And make not your oaths a means of deceit between you; or you foot will slip after it has been firmly established and you will taste evil because by acting thus you have turned people away from the path of God, and you will have a severe punishment.
16:95 And barter not the covenant of God for a paltry price. Surely, that which is with God is better for you if you knew.
16:96 That which you have shall pass away, but that which is with God is lasting. And We will certainly give those, who are steadfast, their reward according to the best of their works.
16:97 Whoso acts righteously, whether male or female and is a believer, We will surely grant him a pure life; and We will surely bestow on such their reward according to the best of their works.
16:98 And when thou recitest the Qur'án, seek refuge with God from Satan, the rejected.
16:99 Surely he has no power over those who believe and who put their trust in their Lord.
16:100 His power is only over those who make friends with him and those who associate partners with him.
16:101 And when We bring one Sign in place of another -- and God knows best the object of what He reveals -- they say, 'Thou art but a fabricator,' Nay, but most of them know not.
16:102 Say, 'The Spirit of holiness has brought it down from thy Lord with truth, that He may strengthen in their faith those who believe and as a guidance and glad tidings for Muslims.
16:103 And indeed We know that they say that it is only a man who teaches him. But the tongue of him towards whom their minds is inclined in making this insinuation is foreign while this is Arabic tongue plain and clear.
16:104 As to those who do not believe in the Signs of God, surely, God will not guide them, and they shall have a grievous punishment.
16:105 It is only those who believe not in the Signs of God, who forge falsehood, and they it is who are the liars.
16:106 Whoso disbelieves in God after he has believed -- save him who is forced to make a declaration of disbelief while his heart finds peace in faith -- but such as open their breast to disbelief, on them is God's wrath; and for them is decreed a severe punishment.
16:107 That is because they have preferred the present life to the Hereafter, and because God guides not the disbelieving people.
16:108 It is they on whose hearts and ears and eyes God has set a seal. And it is they who are the heedless.
16:109 Undoubtedly, it is they who will be the loses in the Hereafter.
16:110 Then, surely thy Lord -- to those who migrated after they had been persecuted and the strove hard in the cause of God and remained steadfast -- surely, after that, thy Lord is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
16:111 On the day when every soul shall come pleading for itself, and every soul will be fully recompensed for what it did, and they will not be wronged.
16:112 And God sets forth the parable of a city which enjoyed security and peace; its provisions come to it in plenty from every quarter; but it was ungrateful for the favours of God, so God made it taste hunger and fear which clothed it like a garment because of what they used do.
16:113 And indeed there has come to them a Messenger from among themselves, but they treated him as a liar, so punishment overtook them while they were wrongdoers.
16:114 So eat of the lawful and good things which God has provided for you; and be grateful for the bounty of God, if it is Him you worship.
16:115 He has made unlawful for you only that which dies of itself and blood and the flesh of swine and that on which the name of other than God has been invoked. But he who is driven by necessity to eat any of these things, being neither disobedient nor exceeding the limit, them, surely, God is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
16:116 And say not -- because of the falsehood which your tongues utter -- 'This is lawful, and this is unlawful,' so as to be of those who forge lies against God. Surely, those who forge lies against God do not prosper.
16:117 This life is a brief enjoyment and then they shall have a grievous punishment.
16:118 And to those also who are the Jews, We forbade before this all that We have related to thee. And We wronged them not, but they used to wrong themselves.
16:119 Then, surely, thy Lord -- to those who do evil in ignorance and repent thereafter and make amends -- surely, after that thy Lord is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
16:120 Abraham was indeed a paragon of virtue, obedient to God, ever inclined to Him, and he was not of those who set up equals with God;
16:121 Ever grateful for His favours: He chose him and guided him to a straight path.
16:122 And We bestowed on him good in this world, and in the Hereafter he will surely be among the righteous.
16:123 And now We have sent revelation to thee, enjoining, 'Follow the way of Abraham who was ever inclined to God and was not of those who set up equals to Him.'
16:124 The punishment for profaning the Sabbath was imposed only on those who had differed about it and thy Lord will surely judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein they differed.
16:125 Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation and argue with them in a way that is best. Surely, thy Lord knows best who has strayed from His way; and He also knows those who are rightly guided.
16:126 And if you decide to punish the oppressors, then punish them to the extent to which you have been wronged; but if you show patience then, surely, that is best for those who are patient.
16:127 And, O Prophet, endure thou with patience; and verily thy patience is possible only with the help of God. And grieve not for them, nor feel distressed because of their evil designs.
16:128 Verily, God is with those who are righteous and those who do good.

Chapter 17
The Night Journey
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
17:1 Glory be to Him Who carried His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Distant Mosque, the environs of which We have blessed, that We might show him some of Our Signs. Surely, He alone is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.
17:2 And We gave Moses the Book and We made it a guidance for the Children of Israel, commanding, 'Take ye no guardian beside Me,
17:3 O ye, the progeny of those whom We carried in the Ark with Noah.' He indeed was a grateful servant of Ours.
17:4 And We had clearly conveyed to the Children of Israel in the Book: 'You will surely do great mischief in the land twice, and you will surely become excessively overbearing.'
17:5 So when the time of the fulfillment of the first of the two warnings came, We sent against you some servants of Ours, possessed of great might in war, and they penetrated into your houses and it was a warning that was bound to be fulfilled.
17:6 Then We gave you back the power against them and aided you with wealth and children and also made you larger in numbers than before.
17:7 Now, if you do good, you will do good for your own souls; and if you do evil, it will be to your own loss. So when the time for the fulfillment of the latter warning came, We raised a people against you that they might cover your faces with grief, and that they enter the Mosque, as they entered it the first time, and that they might destroy utterly all that they conquered.
17:8 It may be that your Lord will now have mercy on you; but if you return to mischief, We too will return to punishment, and remember We have made Hell a prison for the disbelievers.
17:9 Surely, this Qur'án guides to what is most right; and gives to the believers who do good deeds the glad tidings that they shall have a great reward;
17:10 And warns that for those who do not believe in the Hereafter We have prepared a grievous punishment.
17:11 And man prays for evil as he should pray for good; and man is very hasty.
17:12 And We have made the night and the day two Signs, and the Sign of the night We have made dark, and the Sign of the day We have made sight-giving, that you make seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the computation of years and the process of reckoning. And everything We have explained with a detailed explanation.
17:13 And every man's work have We fasten to his neck; and on the Day of Resurrection We shall bring out for him a book which he will find wide open.
17:14 It will be said to him, 'Read thy book. Sufficient is thy own soul as a reckoner against thee this day.'
17:15 He who follows the right way follows it only for the good of his own soul; and he who goes astray, goes astray only to his own loss. And no bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another. And We shall never punish until We have sent a Messenger.
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.17:16 And when We intend to destroy a township, We command its people who live in comfort to adopt the way of righteousness but they transgress therein, so the sentence of punishment becomes due against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction.
17:17 How many generations did We destroy after Noah! and thy Lord suffices as Knower and Seer of the sins of His servants.
17:18 Whoso desires the present life, We hasten for him therein of its provision what We will -- for such of them as We please; then We appoint Hell for him; he shall burn therein condemned and rejected.
17:19 And whoso desires the Hereafter and strives for it as it should be striven for and is a believer -- these are the ones whose striving shall be duly appreciated.
17:20 To all We render aid -- to those as well as to these -- a gift from thy Lord. And the gift of thy Lord is not restricted.
17:21 Behold, how We have exalted some of them over others in the present life; and surely the Hereafter shall be greater in degrees of rank and greater in excellence.
17:22 So set up not another god with God lest thou sit down condemned and forsaken.
17:23 Thy Lord has commanded that ye worship none but Him, and that ye show kindness to parents. If one or both of them attain old age with thee, never say to them as much as ugh nor reproach them, but always address them with kindly speech.
17:24 And lower them the wing of humility out of tenderness. And say, 'My Lord, have mercy on them even as they nourished me when I was a little child.'
17:25 Your Lord knows best what is in your minds, if you are righteous, then surely, He is Most Forgiving to those who turn to Him again and again.
17:26 And give to the kinsman his due, and to the poor and the wayfarer, and squander not thy wealth extravagantly.
17:27 Verily, the squanderers are brothers of satans and Satan is ungrateful to his Lord.
17:28 And if thou has to turn away from them while seeking thy Lord's mercy for which thou hopest, even then speak to them a kind word.
17:29 And keep not thy hand chained to thy neck out of miserliness nor stretch it forth to its utmost limit out of extravagance, lest thou sit down blamed and exhausted.
17:30 Surely, thy Lord enlarges His provision for whom He pleases, and straitens it for whom He pleases. Verily, He knows and sees His servants full well.
17:31 And slay not your children for fear of poverty. It is We Who provide for them and for you. Surely, the slaying of them is a grievous sin.
17:32 And go not nigh unto adultery, surely, it is a manifest indecency and an evil way.
17:33 And slay not the soul, the slaying of which God has forbidden, save for a just cause. And whoso is slain wrongfully, We have surely given his heir authority to demand retribution but let him not exceed the prescribed bounds in slaying; for therein he will be supported by law.
17:34 And come not near the property of the orphan, except in the best way, until he attains his maturity and fulfill the covenant; for the covenant shall be questioned about.
17:35 And give full measure when you measure and weigh with a right balance; that is best and most commendable in the end.
17:36 And follow not that of which thou hast no knowledge. Verily, the ear and the eye and the heart -- all these shall be called to account.
17:37 And walk not in the earth haughtily, for thou canst not thus rend the earth, nor canst thou reach the mountains in height.
17:38 The evil of all these is hateful in the sight of thy Lord.
17:39 These injunctions are part of that wisdom which thy Lord has revealed to thee. And set not up with God any other god, lest thou be cast into Hell, condemned and rejected.
17:40 What! has your Lord favoured you with sons and taken for Himself females from among the angels? Surely, you say a grievous saying.
17:41 We have explained the truth in this Qur'án in various ways that they may be admonished, but it only increase them in aversion.
17:42 Say, 'Had there been other gods with Him as they allege, then certainly by their help the idolaters would have sought out a way to the Owner of the Throne.'
17:43 Holy is He, and Exalted far above that which they say.
17:44 The seven heavens and the earth and those that are therein extol His glory; and there is not a thing but glorifies Him with His praise; but you understand not their glorification. Verily, He is Forbearing, Most Merciful.
17:45 And when thou recitest the Qur'án, We put between thee and those who believe not in the Hereafter an invisible veil;
17:46 And We put coverings over their hearts lest they should understand it, and in their ears a deafness. And when thou makest mention in the Qur'án of thy Lord alone, they turn their backs in aversion.
17:47 We knowest best what they listen for, when they listen to thee, and when they confer in private, when the wrongdoers say, 'You follow none but a man who is a victim of deception.'
17:48 See, how they coin similitudes for thee, and have in consequence gone astray so that they cannot find a way.
17:49 And they say, 'What! when we shall have become bones and broken particles, shall we be really raised up again as a new creation?'
17:50 Say, 'Be ye stones or Iron,
17:51 Or created matter of any kind which appears hardest in your minds, even then shall you be raised up.' Then will they ask, 'Who shall restore us to life?' Say, 'He who created you the first time.' Still they will shake their heads at thee and say, '`When will it be?' Say, 'May be, it is nigh,
17:52 It will be on the day when He will call you; Then you will respond praising Him and you will think that you have tarried in the world but a little while.'
17:53 And say to My servants that they should always speak what is best. Surely, Satan, stirs up discord among them. Surely, Satan is an open enemy to man.
17:54 Your Lord knows you best. If He please, He will have mercy on you; or if He please, He will punish you. And We have not sent thee to be a keeper over them.
17:55 And thy Lord knows best those that are in the heavens and the earth. And We exalted some of the Prophets over others and to David We gave a Book.
17:56 Say, 'Call on those whom you assert to be gods besides Him; then you will know that they have no power to remove affliction from you nor to change your condition.'
17:57 Those, whom they call on, themselves seek nearness to their Lord -- even those of them who are nearest -- and hope for His mercy, and fear His punishment. Surely the punishment of thy Lord is a thing to be feared.
17:58 There is not a township but We shall destroy it before the Day of Resurrection, or punish it with a severe punishment. That is written down in a Book.
17:59 And nothing could hinder Us from sending Signs, except that the former people rejected them, but this did not hinder Us. And We gave Thamud the she-camel as a clear Sign, but they unjustly restricted it. And We send not Signs but to warn.
17:60 And call to mind when We said to thee, 'Surely, thy Lord has decreed the ruin of this people.' And We made not the vision which We showed thee but as a trial for men, as also the tree cursed in the Qur'án. And We continue to warn them, but it only increases them in great transgression.
17:61 And call to mind when We said to the angels, 'Submit to Adam,' and they all submitted. But Iblis did not. He said, 'Shall I submit to one whom Thou hast created of Clay?'
17:62 And he said, 'What thinkest thou? Can this whom thou hast honoured above me be my superior? If Thou wilt grant me respite till the Day of Resurrection, I will most surely bring his descendants under my sway except a few.'
17:63 God said, 'Begone! and whoso follow thee from them, Hell shall surely be the recompense of you all -- a full recompense;
17:64 And entice whomsoever of them thou canst with thy voice, and urge against them thy horsemen and thy footmen and share with them in wealth, and their children, and make promises to them.' And Satan promises them naught but deceit.
17:65 As to My servants, thou shalt certainly have no power over them, and sufficient is thy Lord as a Guardian.
17:66 Your Lord is He Who drives for you the ships in the sea, that you may seek of His bounty. Surely, He is Ever-Merciful towards you.
17:67 And when harm touches you on the sea, all of those whom you call upon, except Him, are lost to you. But when He brings you safe to land, you turn aside; and man is very ungrateful.
17:68 Do you then feel secure that He will not cause you to sink in the earth on the side of the shore or send against you a violent sand-storm and then you will find no guardian for yourselves?
17:69 Or, do you feel secure that He will not send you back therein a second time, and then send against you a storm-blast, and drown you because of your disbelief? You will then find therein no helper for yourselves against Us.
17:70 Indeed, We have honoured the children of Adam, and We carry them by land and sea, and provide them with good things and have exalted them far above many of those whom We have created.
17:71 Call to mind the day when We shall summon every people with their Leader. Then whoso shall be given his Book in his right hand -- such will read their book eagerly and they will not be wronged a whit.
17:72 But whoso is blind in this world shall be blind in the Hereafter, and even more astray from the way.
17:73 And they had well-nigh caused thee severest affliction on account of what We have revealed to thee that thou mightest forge against Us something other than that; and they would have certainly taken thee for a special friend.
17:74 And if We had not strengthened thee with the Qur'án even then thou wouldst have inclined to them but a little.
17:75 But if, as they imagine, thou hast been one to forge a lie against Us, then We would have made thee taste a heavy punishment in life and a heavy punishment in death, and then thou wouldst not have found for thyself any helper against Us.
17:76 And indeed they are near to scare thee to drive thee away from the land that they might expel thee therefrom, but in that case they themselves would not have stayed after thee save a little.
17:77 This has been Our way with Our Messengers whom We sent before thee; and thou wilt not find any change in Our way.
17:78 Observe Prayer from the declining and paling of the sun till the darkness of the night, and recite the Qur'án at dawn. Verily, the recitation of the Qur'án at dawn is specially acceptable to God.
17:79 And during a part of the night wake up for its recitation -- a supererogatory service for thee. It may be that thy Lord will raise thee to an exalted station.
17:80 And say, 'O my Lord, make my entry a good entry and make me go forth a good going forth. And grant me from thyself a helping power.'
17:81 And proclaim: 'Truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Verily, falsehood is bound to vanish.
17:82 And We gradually reveal of the Qur'án that which is healing and a mercy to believers; but it only adds to the loss of the wrongdoers.
17:83 And when We bestow favour on man, he turns away and goes aside; and when evil touches him, he gives himself up to despair.
17:84 Say, 'Everyone acts according to his own way, and your Lord knows well who is best guided.'
17:85 And they ask thee concerning the soul. Say, 'The soul has been created by the command of my Lord; and of the knowledge thereof you have been given but a little.
17:86 And if We pleased, We could certainly take away that which We have revealed to thee and then thou wouldst find no guardian for thyself against Us in the matter,
17:87 Except through the special mercy of thy Lord. Surely, great is His grace on thee.
17:88 Say, 'If men and jinn should gather together to produce the like of this Qur'án, they could not produce the like thereof, even though they should help one another.'
17:89 And surely We have set forth for mankind in various ways all kinds of similitudes in this Qur'án, but most men would reject everything in respect of it but disbelief.
17:90 And they say, 'We will not believe in thee until thou cause a spring to gush forth for us from the earth;
17:91 Or, thou have a garden of date-palms and vines and cause streams to gush forth in the midst thereof in abundance;
17:92 Or, thou cause the heaven to fall upon us in pieces, as thou hast claimed, or, thou bring God and the angels before us face to face;
17:93 Or, thou have a house of gold or thou ascend up into heaven; and we will not believe in thy ascension until thou send down to us a Book that we can read.' Say, 'Holy is my Lord! I am but a mortal sent as a Messenger.'
17:94 And nothing prevents people from believing when the guidance comes to them save that they say, 'Has God sent a man like us as a Messenger?'
17:95 Say, 'Had there been in the earth angels walking about in peace and quiet, We would have certainly sent down to them from heaven an angel as a Messenger.'
17:96 Say, 'Sufficient is God for a Witness between me and you; surely, He knows and sees His servants full well.'
17:97 And he whom God guides, is the only one rightly guided; but as for those whom He leaves to go astray, thou wilt find for them no helpers beside Him. And on the Day of Resurrection We shall gather them together on their faces blind, dumb and deaf. Their abode shall be Hell; every time it abates, We shall increase for them the flame.
17:98 That is their recompense, because they rejected Our Signs and said, 'What! when we die and are reduced to bones and broken particles, shall we really be raised up as a new creation?'
17:99 Do they not see that God, Who created the heavens and the earth, has the power to create the like of them? And He has appointed for them a term; there is no doubt about it. But the wrongdoers would reject everything but disbelief.
17:100 Say, 'Even if you possessed the limitless treasures of the mercy of my Lord, you would surely hold them back for the fear of exhausting them, for man is niggardly.'
17:101 And certainly We gave Moses nine manifest Signs. So ask then the Children of Israel. When he came to them, Pharaoh said to him, 'I do think thee, O Moses, to be a victim of deception.'
17:102 He said, 'Thou thinkest well that none has sent down these Signs but the Lord of the heavens and the earth as so many evidences; and I certainly consider thee, O Pharaoh, to be doomed to perish.'
17:103 So he resolved to remove them from the land; but We drowned him and those who were with him, all together.
17:104 And after him We said to the Children of Israel, Dwell ye in the promised land; and when the time of the promise of the Latter Days comes, We shall bring you together out of various peoples.'
17:105 And, in accordance with the requirements of truth and wisdom We have sent it down, and with truth and wisdom has it descended. And We have sent thee only as a bearing of good tidings and a Warner.
17:106 And We have divided the Qur'án in parts that thou mayest read it to mankind slowly and at intervals and We have sent it down piecemeal.
17:107 Say, 'Whether you believe therein or believe not, those to whom knowledge has been given before it, do fall down prostrate on their faces when it is recited to them.
17:108 And say, 'Holy is our Lord. Surely, the promise of our Lord is bound to be fulfilled.'
17:109 They fall down on their faces weeping, and it increases humility in them.
17:110 Say, 'Call upon God or call upon Al-Rahmán, by whichever name you call on Him, His are the most beautiful names.' And utter not thy Prayer aloud, nor utter it too low, but seek a way between.
17:111 And say, 'All praise belongs to God who has taken unto Himself no son, and who has no partner in His kingdom, nor has He anyone to help Him because of any weakness of His.' And proclaim His greatness, glorifying Him.

Chapter 18
The Cave
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
18:1 All praise belongs to God Who has sent down the Book to His servant, and has not placed therein any crookedness.
18:2 He has made it a guardian, that it may give warning of a severe chastisement from Him, and that it may give the believers, who do good works, the glad tidings that they shall have a goodly reward,
18:3 Wherein they will abide forever;
18:4 And that it may warn those who say, 'God has taken unto Himself a son.'
18:5 No knowledge have they thereof, nor had their fathers. Monstrous is the word that comes out of their mouths. They speak naught but a lie.
18:6 So it may be, thou wilt grieve thyself to death sorrowing after them if they believe not in this Discourse.
18:7 Verily, We have made all that is on the earth an ornament for it, that We may try them as to which of them is the best in conduct.
18:8 And We shall destroy all that is thereon and make it a barren soil.
18:9 Dost thou think that the Companions of the Cave and the Inscription were a wonder among Our Signs?
18:10 When the young men betook themselves to the Cave for refuge they said, 'Our Lord, bestow on us mercy from Thyself, and furnish us with right guidance in our affair.'
18:11 So We prevented them from hearing in the Cave for a number of years.
18:12 Then We raised them up that We might know which of the two parties would preserve a better reckoning of the time that they tarried.
18:13 We will relate to thee the story with truth. They were young men who believed in their Lord and We increased them in guidance.
18:14 And We strengthened their hearts when they stood up and said, 'Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. Never shall we call on any god beside Him; for if we did so, we would utter a preposterous thing;
18:15 These, our people, have taken for worship other gods beside Him. Wherefore do they not bring a clear authority regarding them? And who is more unjust than he who invents a lie concerning God?
18:16 And now when you have withdrawn from them and from that which they worship beside God, then seek refuge in the cave; your Lord will unfold to you His mercy and will provide for you some easy and comfortable course in this affair of yours.'
18:17 And thou couldst see the sun, as it rose, move away from their Cave on the right, and when it set, turn away from them on the left; and they were in a spacious hollow thereof. This is among the Signs of God. He whom God guides is alone rightly guided; but he whom He leaves to go astray, for him thou wilt find no helper or guide.
18:18 Thou mightest deem them awake, whilst they are asleep; and We shall cause them to turn over to the right and to the left; their dog stretching out its forelegs on the threshold. If thou hadst had a look at them, thou wouldst surely be filled with awe of them.
18:19 And so We raised them up that they might question one another. One of them said, 'How long have you tarried?' They said, 'We have tarried a day or part of a day.' Others said, 'Your Lord knows best the time you have tarried. Now send one of you with these silver coins of yours to the city; and let him see which of the inhabitants has the purest food, and let him bring you provisions thereof. And let him be courteous but let him not inform anyone about you;
18:20 For, if they should prevail against you, they would stone you or force you to return to their religion and then you will never prosper.'
18:21 And thus did We disclose them to the people that they might know that the promise of God was true, and that, as to the promised Hour, there was no doubt about it. And call to mind the time when people disputed among themselves concerning them, and said to each other, 'Build over them a building.' Their Lord knew them best. 'We will, surely, build a place of worship over them.'
18:22 Some say, 'They were three, the fourth of them was their dog;' and others say, 'They were five, the sixth of them was their dog,' guessing at random. And yet others say, 'They were seven, the eighth of them was their dog.' Say, 'My Lord knows best their correct number. None knows them except a few.' So argue not concerning them except with unanswerable arguments, nor seek information concerning them from anyone of them.
18:23 And say not of anything, 'I shall do that tomorrow,'
18:24 Unless God should will. And remember thy Lord when thou forgetest and say, 'I hope my Lord will guide me to what is even nearer than this to the right path.'
18:25 And they stayed in their Cave three hundred years and to that they added nine.
18:26 Say, 'God knows best how long they tarried.' To Him belong the secrets of the heavens and the earth. How Seeing is He, and how Hearing! They have no helper beside Him, and He does not let anyone share in His judgment.
18:27 And recite what has been revealed to thee of the Book of thy Lord. There is none who can change His words, and thou wilt find no refuge beside Him.
18:28 And keep thyself attached to those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His pleasure; and let not thine eyes pass beyond them, seeking the adornment of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his low desires, and his case exceeds all legitimate bounds.
18:29 And say, 'It is the truth from your Lord; wherefore let him who will, believe, and let him, who will, disbelieve.' Verily, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose flaming canopy shall enclose them. And if they cry for help, they will be helped with water like molten lead which would scale their faces. How dreadful the drink and how evil the resting place!
18:30 Verily, those who believe and do good works -- surely We suffer not the reward of those who do good works to be lost.
18:31 It is these who will have Gardens of Eternity underneath which streams shall flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade, reclining therein upon raised couches. How good the reward and how excellent the place of rest!
18:32 And set forth for them the parable of two men -- one of them We provided with two gardens of grapes and surrounded them with date-palms, and between the two We placed cornfields.
18:33 Each of the gardens yielded its fruits in abundance and failed not the least therein. And in between the two We caused a stream to flow.
18:34 And he had fruit in abundance. And he said to his companion boastfully, arguing with him, 'I am richer than thou in wealth and stronger in respect of men.'
18:35 And he entered his garden while he was wronging his soul. He said, 'I do not think that this will ever perish;
18:36 And I do not think the promised Hour will ever come. And even if I am ever brought back to my Lord, I shall, surely, find a better resort than this.'
18:37 His companion said to him while he was arguing with him, 'Dost thou not believe in Him who created thee first from dust, then fashioned thee into a perfect man?
18:38 But as for me, I believe that God alone is my Lord, and I will not associate anyone with my Lord;
18:39 And why didst thou not say when thou didst enter thy garden, 'Only that which God wills comes to pass. There is no power save in God,' if thou seest me as less than thyself in riches and offspring;
18:40 It may be, my Lord will grant me something better than thy garden, and will send on thy garden a thunderbolt from heaven so that it will become bare slippery ground;
18:41 Or its water will dry up so that thou wilt not be able to find it.'
18:42 And his fruit was totally destroyed, and he began to wring his hands bewailing all that he had spent on it, and it had fallen down on its trellises. And he said, 'Would that I had not associated anyone with my Lord!
18:43 And he had no party to help him against God, nor was he able to defend himself.
18:44 In such a case protection comes only from God, the True. He is Best in rewarding and Best in respect of the final outcome.
18:45 And set forth for them the similitude of the life of this world. It is like water which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth is mingled with it, and then it becomes dry grass broken into pieces which the winds scatter, and God has full power over everything.
18:46 Wealth and children are ornaments of the life of this world. But enduring good works are better in the sight of thy Lord in respect of immediate reward, and better in respect of future hope.
18:47 And bethink of the day when We shall remove the mountains and thou wilt see the nations of the earth march forth against one another and We shall gather them all together and shall not leave any one of them behind.
18:48 And they will be presented to thy Lord standing in rows; and it will be said to them, 'Now have you come to Us as We created you at first. But you thought that We would not appoint a time for the fulfillment of Our promise to you.'
18:49 And the Book of their deeds will be placed before them, and thou wilt see the guilty ones fearful at what is therein; and they will say, 'O woe to us! What kind of Book is this! It leaves out nothing small or great but has recorded it.' And they will find all that they did confronting them, and thy Lord does not wrong anyone.
18:50 And call to mind the time when We said to the angels, 'Submit to Adam,' and they all submitted but Iblis did not. He was one of the jinn; and he disobeyed the command of his Lord. Will you than take him and his offspring for friends instead of Me while they are your enemies? Evil is the exchange for the wrongdoers.
18:51 I did not make them witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor their own creation; nor could I take as helpers those who lead people astray.
18:52 And remember the day when He will say to them, 'Call those whom you deemed to be My partners.' Then will they call on them, but they will not answer them; and We shall place a barrier between them.
18:53 And the guilty shall see the fire and realize that they are going to fall therein; and they shall find no escape therefrom.
18:54 And, surely, We have explained in various ways in this Qur'án for the good of mankind all manner of similitudes, but of all things man is most contentious.
18:55 And nothing hinders people from believing when the guidance comes to them, and from asking forgiveness of their Lord, but that they wait for the fate of the ancients to overtake them or that punishment should come upon them face to face.
18:56 And We sent not the Messengers but as bearers of glad tidings and as Warners. And those who disbelieve content by means of falsehood that they may rebut the truth thereby. And they take My Signs and what they are warned of only a jest.
18:57 And who is more unjust than he who is reminded of the Signs of his Lord, but turns away from them, and forgets what his hands have sent forward? Verily, We have placed veils over their hearts that they understand it not and in their ears a deafness. And if thou call them to guidance, they will never accept t.
18:58 And thy Lord is Most Forgiving, Lord of Mercy. If He were to seize them for what they have earned, then surely He would have hastened the punishment for them. But they have an appointed time from which they will find no refuge
18:59 And these towns -- We destroyed them when they committed iniquities. And We appointed a time for their destruction.
18:60 And remember the time when Moses said to his young companion, 'I will not cease pursuing my course until I reach the junction of the two seas, though I may have to journey on for ages.
18:61 But when they reached the place where the two seas met, they forgot their fish and it made its way into the sea going away quickly.
18:62 And when they had gone beyond that place, he said to his young companion, 'Bring us our morning meal. Surely, we have suffered much fatigue on account of this journey of ours.'
18:63 He replied, 'Didst thou see, when we betook ourselves to the rock for rest and I forgot the fish -- and none but Satan caused me to forget to mention it to thee -- it took its way into the sea in a marvelous manner?
18:64 He said, 'That is what we have been seeking.' So they both returned, retracing their footsteps.
18:65 Then they found a servant of OURS, upon whom We had bestowed mercy from Us, and whom We had taught knowledge from Ourselves.
18:66 Moses said to him, 'May I follow thee on condition that thou teach me some of the guidance which thou hast been taught?'
18:67 He replied, 'Thou canst not have patience with me;
18:68 And how can thou have patience about the things the knowledge of which thou comprehendest not?'
18:69 He said, 'Thou wilt find me, if God please, patient and I shall not disobey any command of thine.'
18:70 He said, 'Well, if thou wouldst follow me, then ask me no questions about anything till I myself speak to thee about it.'
18:71 So they both set out till, when they embarked in a boat, he made a hole in it. Moses said, 'Hast thou made a hole in it to drown those who are in it? Surely, thou hast done a grievous thing.'
18:72 He replied, 'Did I not tell thee that thou canst not have patience with me?'
18:73 Moses said, 'Take me not to task for what I forgot and be not hard on me for this lapse of mine.'
18:74 So they journeyed on till when they met a young boy; he slew him. Moses said, 'What! hast thou slain an innocent person without his having slain anyone! Surely, thou hast done a hideous thing.'
18:75 He replied, 'Did I not tell thee that thou couldst never bear with me patiently?'
18:76 Moses said, 'If I ask thee concerning anything after this, keep me not in thy company, for then thou shalt have got sufficient excuse from me.'
18:77 So they went on till, when they came to the people of a town, they asked its people for food, but they refused to receive them as their guests. And they found therein a wall which was about to fall and he repaired it. Moses said, If thou hadst so desired, thou couldst have taken payment for it.'
18:78 He said, 'This is the parting of the ways between me and thee. I will tell thee the meaning of that which thou wast not able to bear with patience;
18:79 As for the boat, it belonged to certain poor people who worked on the sea and I desired to damage it, for there was behind them a king who seized every boat by force;
18:80 And as for the youth, his parents were believers, and we feared lest on growing up he should involve them into trouble through rebellion and disbelief;
18:81 So we desired that their Lord should give them in exchange one better than he in purity and closer in filial affection;
18:82 And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the town, and beneath it was a treasure belonging to them, and their father had been a righteous man, so thy Lord desired that they should reach their age of full strength and take out their treasure, as a mercy from thy Lord and I did it not of my own accord. This is the explanation of that which thou could not bear with patience.'
18:83 And they ask thee concerning Dhu'l Qarnain. Say, 'I will recite to you something of his account.'
18:84 We established him in the earth and gave him the means to achieve everything.
18:85 The he followed a certain way.
18:86 Until when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting as if in a pool of murky water, and near it he found a people. We said, 'O Dhu'l Qarnain, you may punish them, or treat them with kindness.'
18:87 He said, 'As for him who does wrong, we shall certainly punish him; then shall he be brought back to his Lord, who will punish him with a dreadful punishment;
18:88 But as for him who believes and act righteously, he will have a good reward with his Lord, and We too shall speak to him easy words of Our command.'
18:89 Then indeed he followed another way.
18:90 Until he reached the rising-place of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had made no shelter against it.
18:91 Thus indeed it was. Verily, We had full knowledge of all that he had with him.
18:92 Then he followed another way.
18:93 Until when he reached the open place between the two mountain mountains, he found, beneath them a people who could scarcely understand a word of what he said.
18:94 They said, 'O Dhu'l Qarnain, verily, Gog and Magog are creating disorder in the earth; shall we then pay tribute on condition that thou set up a barrier between us and them?'
18:95 He replied, 'The power with which my Lord has endowed me about this is better than the resources of my enemies but you may help me with strength of labourers, I will set up a rampart between you and them;
18:96 Bring me blocks of iron.' They did so till, when he had filled up the space between the two mountains sides, he said, 'Now blow with your bellows.' They blew till, when he had made it red as fire, he said, 'Bring me molten copper that I may pour it thereon.'
18:97 So they (Gog and Magog) were not able to scale it, nor were they able to dig through it.
18:98 Thereupon he said, 'This is a mercy from my Lord. But when the promise of my Lord shall come to pass, He will break it into pieces. And the promise of my Lord is certainly true.'
18:99 And on that day We shall leave some of them to surge against others, and the trumpet will be blown. Then shall We gather them all together.
18:100 And on that day We shall present Hell, face to face, to the disbelievers
18:101 Whose eyes were under a veil, not heeding My reminder and they could not even afford to hear.
18:102 Do the disbelievers think that they can take My servants as protectors instead of Me? Surely, We have prepared Hell as an entertainment for the disbelievers.
18:103 Say, 'Shall We tell you of those who are the greatest losers in respect of their works.'
18:104 Those whose labour is all lost in pursuit of the life of this world, and yet they imagine that they are doing good works.'
18:105 Those are they who deny the Signs of their Lord and the meeting with Him. So their works are vain, and on the Day of Resurrection We shall give them no weight.
18:106 That is their reward -- Hell; because they disbelieved, and made a jest of My Signs and My Messengers.
18:107 Surely, those who believe and act righteously, will have Gardens of Paradise for an abode,
18:108 Wherein they will abide; having no desire to be removed therefrom.
18:109 Say, 'If every ocean become ink for the words of my Lord, surely, the ocean would be exhausted before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even though We brought the like thereof as further help.'
18:110 Say, I am but a man like yourselves; but it is revealed to me that your God is One God. So let him who hopes to meet his Lord, do good deeds, and let him join no one in the worship of his Lord.

Chapter 19
Maryam
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
19:1 Kaf Ha Ya 'Ain Sad.
19:2 This is an account of the mercy of thy Lord shown to His servant Zachariah,
19:3 When he called upon his Lord in a low voice.
19:4 He said, 'My Lord, my bones have indeed become feeble and my head is all aflame with hoariness but never, my Lord, have I been unblessed in my prayer to Thee;
19:5 And I fear my relations after me, and my wife is barren. So grant me from Thyself a successor,
19:6 To be my heir and the heir of the blessings of the House of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, well-pleasing to Thee.'
19:7 God said, 'O Zachariah, We give thee glad tidings of a son whose name shall be Yahya. We have not called any one before him by that name.'
19:8 He said, 'My Lord, how shall I have a son when my wife is barren, and I have reached the extreme limit of old age?
19:9 The angel bearing the revelation said, 'So shall it be.' But thy Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, and indeed I created thee before, when thou wast nothing.'
19:10 Zachariah said, 'My Lord appoint for me a commandment.' God said, 'The commandment for thee is that thou shalt not speak to the people for three successive days and nights.'
19:11 Then he came forth unto his people from the chamber and asked them in a low voice to glorify GOD morning and evening.
19:12 God said, 'O Yahya, hold fast the Book.' And We gave him wisdom while yet a child,
19:13 And tenderness of heart from Us and purity, and he was pious,
19:14 And dutiful towards his parents. And he was not haughty and rebellious.
19:15 And peace was on him the day he was born, and the day he died, and peace will be on him the day he will be raised up to life again.
19:16 And relate the story of Mary as mentioned in the Book, when she withdrew from her people to an eastern place;
19:17 And screened herself off from them. Then We sent Our angel to her and he appeared to her in the form of a well proportioned man.
19:18 She said, 'I seek refuge with the Gracious God from thee if indeed thou dost fear Him.'
19:19 The angel said, 'I am only a messenger of thy Lord, that I may give thee glad tidings of a righteous son.'
19:20 She said, 'How can I have a son when no man has touched me, neither have I been unchaste?'
19:21 The angel said, 'Thus it shall be.' But says thy Lord, 'It is easy for Me; and We shall do so that We may make him a Sign unto men, and a mercy from Us, and it is a thing decreed.'
19:22 So she conceived him, and withdrew with him to a remote place.
19:23 And the pains of child-birth drove her unto the trunk of a palm-tree. She said, 'O, would that I had died before this and had become a thing quite forgotten!
19:24 Then the angel called her from beneath her, saying, 'Grieve not. Thy Lord has placed a rivulet below thee;
19:25 And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree; it will drop upon thee fresh ripe dates;
19:26 So, eat and drink and cool thine eye. And if thou seest any man, say, 'I have vowed a fast to the Gracious God; I will, therefore, not speak this day to any human being.'
19:27 Then she brought him to her people, mounted. They said, 'O Mary, surely, thou hast committed a monstrous thing!
19:28 O sister of Aaron, thy father was not a wicked man, nor was thy mother an unchaste woman!'
19:29 Thereupon she pointed to him. They said, 'How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?'
19:30 Jesus said, 'I am a servant of God. He has given me the Book, and has made me a Prophet;
19:31 And He has made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and has enjoined upon me Prayer and almsgiving so long as I live;
19:32 And He has made me dutiful towards my mother, and has not made me arrogant and graceless;
19:33 And peace was on me the day I was born, and peace will be on me the day I shall die, and the day I shall be raised up to life again.'
19:34 That was Jesus, son of Mary. This is a statement of the truth concerning which they entertain doubt.
19:35 It does not befit the Majesty of God to take unto Himself a son. Holy is He. When He decrees a thing, He says to it, 'Be, and it comes into being.'
19:36 Said Jesus, 'Surely, God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him alone, this is the right path.'
19:37 But the parties differed among themselves; so woe to those who disbelieve, because of the meeting of a grievous day.
19:38 How will they hear and see on the day when they will come to Us! But today the wrongdoers are in manifest error.
19:39 And warn them of the day of sorrow when the matter will be decided. But now they are in a state of heedlessness, so they do not believe.
19:40 It is We who shall inherit the earth and all who are thereon, and to Us will they all be returned.
19:41 And relate the story of Abraham as mentioned in the Book. He was a truthful man and a Prophet.
19:42 When he said to his father, why dost thou worship that which neither hears nor sees, nor can avail thee aught?
19:43 O my father, there has indeed come to me knowledge such as has not come to thee; so follow me, I will guide thee to a straight path;
19:44 O my father, worship not Satan; surely, Satan is a rebel against the Gracious God;
19:45 O my father, indeed I fear lest a punishment from the Gracious God seize thee and thou become a friend of Satan.'
19:46 He replied, 'Dost thou turn away from my gods, O Abraham? If thou desist not, I will surely cut off all relations with thee. Now leave me alone for a while.'
19:47 Abraham said, 'Peace be upon thee. I will ask forgiveness of my Lord for thee. He is indeed gracious to me;
19:48 And I shall keep away from you and from that which you call upon beside God; and I will pray unto my Lord. Maybe that in praying to my Lord I shall not be disappointed.'
19:49 So when he had separated himself from them and from that which they worshiped beside God, We bestowed upon him Isaac and Jacob and each of them We made a Prophet.
19:50 And We granted them abundantly of Our mercy; and We bestowed upon them true and lasting renown.
19:51 And relate the story of Moses as mentioned in the Book. He was, indeed, a chosen one; and he was a Messenger, a Prophet.
19:52 And We called him from the right side of the Mount and We made him draw near to Us for special communion.
19:53 And We bestowed upon him, out of Our mercy, his brother Aaron whom We made a Prophet.
19:54 And relate the story of Ishmael as mentioned in the Book. He was indeed true to his promises. And he was a Messenger, a Prophet.
19:55 He used to enjoin Prayer and alms-giving on his people, and he was well pleasing to his Lord.
19:56 And relate the story of Idris as mentioned in the Book. He was a truthful man and a Prophet.
19:57 And We exalted him to a lofty station.
19:58 These are the people upon whom God bestowed His blessings from among the Prophets of the posterity of Adam, and of the posterity of those whom We carried in the Ark with Noah, and of the posterity of Abraham and Israel; and they are of those whom We guided and chose. When the Signs of the Gracious God were recited unto them, they fell down, prostrating themselves before God and weeping.
19:59 Then there came after them an evil generation who neglected Prayer, and followed their evil desires. So they will meet destruction.
19:60 Except those who repent and believe and do good deeds. These will enter Heaven and they will not be wronged in the least -
19:61 Gardens of Eternity, which the Gracious God has promised to His servants while they are yet hidden from their sight. Surely, His promise must come to pass.
19:62 They will not hear therein anything vain but only greetings of peace; they will have their sustenance therein, morning and evening.
19:63 Such is the Heaven which We shall give for an inheritance to those of Our servants who are righteous.
19:64 And the angels will say to them, 'We do not come down save by the command of thy Lord. To Him belongs all that is before us and all that is behind us and all that is between; and thy Lord is not forgetful;'
19:65 He is the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between the two. Serve Him, therefore, and be steadfast in His service. Dost thou know anyone equal to Him?
19:66 And says man, 'What! when I am dead, shall I be brought forth alive?'
19:67 Does not man remember that We created him before, when he was nothing?
19:68 And, by thy Lord, We shall assuredly gather them together, and the satans too; then shall We bring them on their knees around Hell.
19:69 Then shall We certainly pick out, from every group, those of them who were most stubborn in rebellion against the Gracious God.
19:70 And surely, We know best those deserving to be burnt therein.
19:71 And there is not one of you but will come to it. This is an absolute decree of thy Lord.
19:72 And We shall save the righteous, and shall leave the wrongdoers therein, on their knees.
19:73 And when Our manifest Signs are recited unto them, the disbelievers say to the believers, 'Tell us, which of the two parties is better in respect of position and is more impressive in respect of companions?'
19:74 And how many a generation have We destroyed before them, who were better off than these in wealth and better in outward show.
19:75 Say, 'The Gracious God grants those, who are in error, respite for a time until, when they will see that with which they are threatened -- whether it be punishment or the final Hour -- they will realize who is worse in respect of position and weaker in forces.'
19:76 And God increases in guidance those who follow guidance. And the good works that endure are best in the sight of thy Lord in respect of reward and in respect of the ultimate end.'
19:77 Hast thou not seen him who disbelieves in Our Signs, and says, 'I shall certainly be given great wealth and children?'
19:78 Has he got knowledge of the unseen or has he taken a promise from the Gracious God?
19:79 Indeed not! We shall note down what he says and shall prolong for him the punishment.
19:80 And We shall inherit from him all that he talks of and he shall come to Us all alone.
19:81 And they have taken other gods than God that they may be a source of honour and power for them.
19:82 Not at all! They will deny their worship, and will be their opponents.
19:83 Seest thou not that We send satans against the disbelievers, inciting them to acts of disobedience?
19:84 So be thou not in haste against them; We are keeping full account of their doings.
19:85 Remember the day when We shall gather the righteous before the Gracious God as honoured guest;
19:86 And We shall drive the guilty to Hell like a herd of thirsty camels.
19:87 None will have the power of intercession save he who has received a promise from the Gracious God.
19:88 And they say, 'The Gracious God has taken unto Himself a son.'
19:89 Assuredly, you have indeed uttered a most hideous thing.
19:90 The heavens might well-nigh burst thereat, and the earth cleave asunder, and the mountains fall down in pieces.
19:91 Because they ascribe a son to the Gracious God.
19:92 It becomes not the Gracious God that He should take unto Himself a son.
19:93 There is none in the heavens and the earth but he shall come to the Gracious God as a bondman.
19:94 Verily, He comprehends them by His knowledge and has numbered them all fully.
19:95 And each of them shall come to Him on the Day of Resurrection, all alone.
19:96 Those who believe and do good deeds -- The Gracious God will create deep love for them.
19:97 So We have made the Qur'án easy in thy tongue that thou mayest give thereby glad tidings to the righteous, and warn thereby a contentious people.
19:98 And how many a generation have We destroyed before them! Canst thou perceive a single one of them, or hear even a whisper of them?

Chapter 20
Ta Ha
________________________________________
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
20:1 Ta Ha.
20:2 We have not sent down the Qur'án to thee that thou shouldst be distressed;
20:3 But as a reminder to him who fears God;
20:4 And a revelation from Him Who created the earth and the high heavens.
20:5 He is the Gracious God Who has settled Himself firmly on the throne.
20:6 To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, and whatsoever is between them, and whatsoever is beneath the moist sub-soil.
20:7 And if thou speakest aloud, He hears it and also if thou speakest in a low voice, For He knows the secret thoughts of man and what is yet more hidden.
20:8 God -- there is no god but He. His are the most beautiful names.
20:9 And has the story of Moses come to thee?
20:10 When he saw a fire, and he said to his family, 'Tarry ye, I perceive a fire; perhaps I may bring you a brand therefrom or find guidance at the fire.
20:11 And when he came to it, he was called by a voice, 'O Moses,
20:12 Verily, I am thy Lord. So take off thy shoes; for thou art in the sacred Valley of Tuwa;
20:13 And I Myself have chosen thee; so hearken to what is revealed to thee;
20:14 Verily, I am God; there is no god but I, so worship Me alone and observe Prayer for my remembrance;
20:15 Surely, the Hour is coming and I am going to manifest it, that every soul may be recompensed for its labours;
20:16 So let not him, who believes not therein and follows his own low desires, turn thee away therefrom, lest thou perish;
20:17 And what is that in thy right hand, O Moses?'
20:18 Moses said, 'This is my rod, I lean on it and beat down therewith leaves for my sheep and other uses also I find in it.'
20:19 God said, 'Cast it down, O Moses.'
20:20 So he cast it down, and behold! it was a serpent running.
20:21 God said, 'Take hold of it, and fear not. We shall restore it to its former state.
20:22 And draw thy hand closer under thy arm-pit, it shall come forth white, without any disease -- another Sign.
20:23 That We may show thee some of Our greater Signs;
20:24 Go thou to Pharaoh; he has indeed exceeded all bounds.'
20:25 Moses said, 'My Lord, expand for me my breast;
20:26 And make my task easy for me;
20:27 And loose the knot from my tongue,
20:28 That they may understand my speech;
20:29 And grant me an assistant from my family -
20:30 Aaron, my brother;
20:31 Increase my strength by him;
20:32 And make him share my task;
20:33 That we may glorify thee much;
20:34 And remember thee much;
20:35 Thou art, surely, Ever-Watching over us.'
20:36 God said, 'Granted is thy prayer, O Moses.
20:37 And We did indeed confer a favour upon thee at another time also;
20:38 When We revealed to thy mother what was an important revelation, to wit:
20:39 Put him in the ark, and place in into the river, then the river will cast it on to the shore, and there one who is an enemy to Me and also an enemy to him will take him up.' And I wrapped thee with love from Me; and this I did that thou mightest be reared before My eye;
20:40 When thy sister walked along and said, 'Shall I direct you to one who will take charge of him? So We restored thee to thy mother that her eye might be cooled and she might not grieve. And thou didst slay a man, but We delivered thee from sorrow. Then We tried thee with various trials. And thou didst tarry several years among the people of Midian. Then thou camest up to the required standard, O Moses;
20:41 And I have chosen thee for Myself;
20:42 Go, thou and thy brother, with My Signs, and slacken not in remembering Me;
20:43 Go, both of you, to Pharaoh, for he has transgressed all bounds;
20:44 But speak to him a gentle word, haply he might take heed or fear.'
20:45 They replied, 'Our Lord, we fear lest he commit some excess against us, or exceed all bounds in persecuting us.'
20:46 God said, 'Fear not; for I am with you both. I hear and I see.
20:47 So go ye both to him and say, 'We are the Messengers of thy Lord; so let the Children of Israel go with us; and torment them not. We have, indeed, brought thee a great Sign from thy Lord; and peace shall be on him who follows the guidance;
20:48 It has, indeed, been revealed to us that punishment shall come upon him who rejects the Message of God and turns away.'
20:49 Pharaoh said, 'Who then is the Lord of you two, O Moses?'
20:50 Moses said, 'Our Lord is He Who gave unto everything its proper form and then guided it to its proper function.'
20:51 Pharaoh said, 'What will be the fate of the former generations?'
20:52 Moses said, 'The knowledge thereof is with my Lord preserved in a Book. My Lord neither errs nor forgets;
20:53 It is He Who has made the earth for you a bed and has caused pathways for you to run through it; and Who sends down rain from the sky and thereby We bring forth various kinds of vegetation in pairs.
20:54 Eat ye and pasture your cattle. Verily, in this are Signs for those endowed with reason.'
20:55 From the earth have We have created you, and into it shall We cause you to return, and from it shall We bring you forth a second time.
20:56 And We did show Pharaoh Our Signs, all of them; but he rejected them and refused to believe.
20:57 He said, 'Has thou come to us, O Moses, to drive us out of our land by thy magic?
20:58 But we shall assuredly bring thee magic the like thereof; so make an appointment between us and thyself which we shall not fail to keep -- neither we nor thou -- at a place alike for us both.'
20:59 Moses said, 'Your appointment shall be the day of the festival and let the people be assembled when the sun is risen high.'
20:60 Then Pharaoh withdrew and concerted his plan and then came to the place of appointment.
20:61 Moses said to them, 'Woe to you, forge not a lie against God, lest He destroy you utterly by some punishment and, surely, he who forges a lie shall perish.'
20:62 Then they argued their affair among themselves and conferred in secret.
20:63 They said, 'Certainly these two are magicians who seek to drive you out from your land by their magic and to destroy your best way of life;
20:64 Concert, therefore, your plan; and then come forward in a body. And, surely, he who gains ascendancy this day shall prosper.'
20:65 They said, 'O Moses, either do thou cast first, or we shall be the first to cast.'
20:66 Moses said, 'Nay, cast ye.' Then lo! their cords and their staves appeared to him, by their magic, as though they ran about.
20:67 And Moses conceived a fear in his mind.
20:68 We said, 'Fear not, for thou wilt have the upper hand;
20:69 And cast that which is in thy right hand; it will swallow that which they have wrought, for that which they have wrought is only a sorcerer's trick. And a sorcerer shall not thrive, contrive what he may.'
20:70 Then the realization of truth made the sorcerers fall down prostrate. They said, 'We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.'
20:71 Pharaoh said, 'Do you believe in him before I give you leave? He must be your chief who has taught you magic. I will, therefore, surely cut off your hands and your feet on alternate sides, and I will surely crucify you on the trunks of palm trees; and you shall know which of us can impose severer and more abiding punishment.'
20:72 They said, 'We shall not prefer thee to the manifest Signs that have come to us, nor shall we prefer thee to Him Who has created us. So decree what thou wilt decree; thou canst only decree concerning this present life;
20:73 Surely, we have believed in our Lord that He may forgive us our sins and forgive us the magic which thou didst force us to practise. And God is the Best and the Most Abiding.'
20:74 Verily, he who comes to his Lord a sinner -- for him is Hell; he shall neither die therein nor live.
20:75 But he who comes to him a believer, having done good deeds, for such are the highest ranks -
20:76 Gardens of Eternity, beneath which streams flow; they will abide therein for ever. And that is the recompense of those who keep themselves pure.
20:77 And We directed Moses by revelation: 'Take away My servants by night, and strike for them a dry path through the sea, fearing not to be overtaken, nor having any other fear.'
20:78 Then Pharaoh pursued them with his hosts, and the waters of the sea completely covered them.
20:79 And Pharaoh led his people astray and did not guide them aright.
20:80 O Children of Israel, We delivered you from your enemy, and We made a covenant with you on the right side of the Mount, and sent down on you Manna and Salwa.
20:81 And admonished you, 'Eat of the good things that We have provided for you, and transgress not therein, lest My wrath descend upon you; and he, on whom My wrath descends, shall perish;
20:82 But, surely, I am All-Forgiving to him who repents and believes and does righteous deeds, then sticks to guidance.'
20:83 When Moses arrived for his tryst with his Lord He said, 'And what has made thee hasten away from thy people, O Moses?'
20:84 He said, 'They are closely following in my footsteps and I have hastened to Thee, my Lord, that Thou mightest be pleased.'
20:85 God said, 'We have tried thy people in thy absence, and the Samari has led them astray.'
20:86 So Moses returned to his people, angry and sad, and he said, 'O my people, did not your Lord promise you a gracious promise? Did, then, the time of its fulfillment appear too long to you, or did you desire that wrath should descend upon you from your Lord, that you broke your promise to me?'
20:87 They said, 'We did not break our promise to thee of our own accord; but we were laden with loads of people's ornaments and we cast them away, and likewise did the Samari cast away.'
20:88 Then he produced for them a calf -- a mere body which emitted a lowing sound. Then he and his companions said, 'This is your god, and the god of Moses but he has forgotten it and left it behind.'
20:89 Could they not see that it returned to them no answer, and had no power to do them either harm or good?
20:90 And Aaron had said to them before the return of Moses, 'O my people, you have only been tried by means of the calf. And, surely, the Gracious God is your Lord, so follow me and obey my command.'
20:91 They replied, 'We shall not cease to worship it until Moses return to us.'
20:92 Moses said, 'O Aaron, what prevented thee, when thou didst see them gone astray
20:93 From following me? Didst thou then disobey my command?'
20:94 Aaron answered, 'Son of my mother, seize me not by my beard, nor by the hair of my head. I feared lest thou shouldst say: 'Thou hast caused a division among the Children of Israel, and didst not wait for my word.'
20:95 Moses said, 'And what then is thy plea, O Samiri?'
20:96 He said, 'I perceived what they perceived not. I had only adopted part of what the Messenger (Moses) inculcated, but I threw even that away. Thus it is that my mind commended to me.'
20:97 Moses said, 'Begone then! It shall be thine all this life to say to everyone, 'Touch me not,' and there is a promise of punishment for thee which shall not fail to be fulfilled about thee. Now, look at thy god of which thou hast become a devoted worshiper. We will certainly burn it and then We will scatter its ashes into the sea;
20:98 Your God is only God, there is no god but He. He comprehends all things in His knowledge.'
20:99 Thus do We relate to thee the tidings of what has happened before. And We have given thee from Us a Reminder.
20:100 Whoso turns away from it, he will surely bear a heavy burden on the Day of Resurrection.
20:101 Abiding thereunder, and evil will the burden be to them on the Day of Resurrection.
20:102 The day when the trumpet will be blown. And on that day We shall gather the sinful together, blue-eyed.
20:103 They will talk to one another in a low tone saying, 'You tarried only ten days.'
20:104 We know best what they will say -- when the one most upright in conduct among them will say, 'You have tarried only a day.'
20:105 And they ask thee concerning the mountains. Say, 'My Lord will break them into pieces and scatter them as dust;
20:106 And He will leave them a barren level plain;
20:107 Wherein thou wilt see no depression or elevation.
20:108 On that day they will follow the Caller in whose teaching is no crookedness; and all voices shall be hushed before the Gracious God and thou shalt not hear but a subdued murmur.
20:109 On that day intercession shall not avail save the intercession of him whom the Gracious God grants permission and with whose word of faith He is pleased.
20:110 He knows all that is before them and all that is behind them, but they cannot compass it with their knowledge.
20:111 And all great leaders shall humble themselves before the Living, Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining God. And He indeed is undone who bears the burden of iniquity.
20:112 But he who does good works, being a believer, shall apprehend neither injustice nor loss.
20:113 And thus have We sent it down -- the Qur'án in Arabic -- and We have explained therein every kind of warning, that they may fear God or that it may cause them to remember him.
20:114 Exalted then is God, the True King. And make no haste to recite the Qur'án ere its revelation is completed unto thee, but only say, 'Lord, bestow on me increase of knowledge.'
20:115 And verily, We had made a covenant with Adam beforehand, but he forgot, and We found in him no resolve to disobey Us.
20:116 And remember when We said to the angels, 'Submit to Adam,' and they all submitted. But Iblis did not. He refused to submit.
20:117 Then We said, 'O Adam, this is an enemy to thee and to thy wife; so let him not drive you both out of the garden, lest thou come to grief;
20:118 It is decreed for thee that thou shalt not hunger therein nor shalt thou be naked;
20:119 And that thou shalt not thirst therein, nor shall thou be exposed to the sun.'
20:120 But Satan whispered evil suggestions to him. He said, 'O Adam, shall I direct thee to the tree of eternity, and to a kingdom that never decays?'
20:121 Then they both ate thereof, so that their nakedness became manifest to them, and they began to cover themselves with the leaves of the garden. And Adam observed not the commandment of his Lord, so his life became miserable.
20:122 Then his Lord chose him for His grace, and turned to him with mercy and guided him.
20:123 God said, 'Go forth both of you from here; some of you will be enemies of others. And if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoso will follow My guidance, will not go astray, nor will he come to grief;
20:124 But whosoever will turn away from My remembrance, his will be a straitened life, and on the Day of Resurrection We shall raise him up blind.'
20:125 He will say, 'My Lord, why hast Thou raised me up blind, while I possessed sight before?'
20:126 God will say, 'Thus did Our Signs come to thee and thou didst ignore them and in like manner wilt thou be ignored this day.'
20:127 And thus do We recompense him who transgresses the limits of Divine Law and believes not in the Signs of his Lord; and the punishment of the Hereafter is even severer and more lasting.
20:128 Does it not furnish guidance to them, how many a generation We destroyed before them, amid whose dwellings they now walk? Therein, verily, are Signs for those who possess understanding.
20:129 And had not been for a word already gone forth from thy L