THE GLORIOUS QURAN
Translated by A. S. Mohamed
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Sura 1 The Opener (Al-Fatiha)
[1:1] In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.
[1:2] Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds.
[1:3] The Almighty, the Merciful.
[1:4] Possessor of the Day of the Religion.
[1:5] You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.
[1:6] Guide us to the straight path;
[1:7] the path of those whom You have blessed, not those who have incurred wrath, nor the misguided.
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Footnote 1:1 - For the Glorious Name 'Al-Rahman', see the Introduction.
Footnote 1:4 - One of the Quranic names used in the Quran for the Day of Judgment is'Yawm Al-Deen' (the Day of the Religion). The religion, as authorised by God, is our means to attain salvation. This makes the 'The Day of the Religion' an accurate name. The culmination of our religion is on that Day.
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Sura 2 The Cow (Al-Baqarah)
In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.
[2:1] A. L. M.
[2:2] This is the Book in which there is no doubt; a guidance for the reverent
[2:3] who believe in the unseen, observe the Salat, and from what We have provided them, they give.
[2:4] And those who believe in what was brought down to you, and in what was brought down before you, and who are certain of the Hereafter;
[2:5] those are guided by their Lord, and those are the successful ones.
[2:6] As for those who disbelieved, it is the same for them; whether you warn them or do not warn them, they will not believe.
[2:7] God has sealed their hearts and their hearing, and over their sight is a veil. They shall have a great punishment.
[2:8] And among the people are those who say, "We have believed in God and the Last Day," while they are not believers.
[2:9] They attempt to deceive God and those who believe, but they deceive none but themselves, and they do not realise it.
[2:10] In their hearts is sickness. Consequently, God increased their sickness, and they shall have a painful punishment because they used to lie.
[2:11] And when they are told, "Do not corrupt in the earth," they say, "We are but reformers."
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Footnote 2:11 - The words 'fi al-ard' translate to 'in the earth' and not 'on the earth'. Considering that the atmosphere is part of the earth, it follows that everything on the surface of the earth is in fact in the earth and not on the earth. This is one of the countless examples of the Quran's very precise scientific content.
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[2:12] In fact, they are the corruptors, but they do not realise it.
[2:13] And when it is said to them, "Believe as the people have believed," they say, "Shall we believe as the foolish ones have believed?" In fact, they are the foolish ones, but they know not.
[2:14] When they encounter those who believe, they say, "We believe," but when alone with their devils, they say, "We are with you. We were only mocking."
[2:15] God mocks them and lets them extend their transgression as they blunder blindly.
[2:16] Those are the ones who bought the misguidance at the cost of the guidance; consequently, their trade did not profit, nor were they guided.
[2:17] Their example is like the example of one who ignited a fire, then when it illuminated what was around him, God took away their light and left them in darkness, unable to see.
[2:18] Deaf, dumb and blind! Thus, they will not revert.
[2:19] Or like a rainstorm from the sky in which there is darkness, thunder and lightning. In fear of death, they put their fingers in their ears because of the thunderbolts. God encompasses the disbelievers.
[2:20] The lightning almost snatches away their sight. Whenever it lights for them, they walk through it, and when it turns dark, they stand still. Had God willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. God is Capable of all things.
[2:21] O people, worship your Lord who created you and those before you so that you may be reverent.
[2:22] The One who rendered the earth a habitat for you and the sky a structure, and brought water down from the sky with which He produced fruits as provision for you. So do not set up equals with God knowingly.
[2:23] And if you are in doubt regarding what We brought down upon Our servant, then produce one Sura of its like, and call upon your own witnesses besides God if you are truthful.
[2:24] So if you do not do so, and you will not do so, then beware of the Fire whose fuel is people and stones. It is prepared for the disbelievers.
[2:25] And give good news to those who believe and do good deeds that they shall have Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with a provision of fruits therein, they will say, "This is what was provided for us previously," and its like they shall be given. They will have purified spouses therein, and therein, they shall permanently remain.
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Footnote 2:25 - The word 'bash'ir' (adjective) is used in the Quran to mean a deliverer of news. The news can be good news, such as in 2:25 and 17:9 or it can be bad news, such as in 4:138 and 9:3.
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[2:26] God does not shy away from citing the example of a mosquito or what is above it. As for those who believe, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. As for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did God intend with that example?" He misguides many with it and guides many with it, but He does not misguide with it except the wicked
[2:27] who break the oath of God after making its covenant, and they sever what God has commanded to be joined, and they corrupt in the land. Those are the losers.
[2:28] How can you disbelieve in God when you were dead and He brought you to life, then He puts you to death, then He brings you to life, then to Him you shall be returned?
[2:29] He is the One who created for you everything in the earth, then He took hold of the heaven and fashioned it into seven universes. He is Knowledgeable of all things.
[2:30] And when your Lord said to the angels, "I am placing a supreme ruler in the earth," they said, "Will You place in it one who will corrupt therein and shed blood, while we glorify You with praise and sanctify You?" He said, "I know what you do not know."
[2:31] And He taught Adam all the names, then presented them to the angels, saying, "Inform Me of the names of these if you are truthful."
[2:32] They said, "Glory be to You, we have no knowledge except that which You have taught us. You are the Knowledgeable, the Wise."
[2:33] He said, "Adam, inform them of their names." So when he informed them of their names, He said, "Did I not tell you that I know the unseen of the heavens and the earth and that I know what you reveal and what you were concealing?"
[2:34] And when We said to the angels, "Fall prostrate before Adam," they fell prostrate, except Satan; he refused, was arrogant and was among the disbelievers.
[2:35] And We said, "O Adam, dwell with your wife in Paradise and eat from it freely as you please, but do not go near this tree or you will be of the transgressors."
[2:36] But the devil made them slip away from it and caused their eviction from where they had been. We said, "Go down as enemies of one another, and in the earth, you shall have a place of settlement and enjoyment for a certain time."
[2:37] Then Adam received words from his Lord whereby He redeemed him. He is the Redeemer, the Merciful.
[2:38] We said, "Go down therefrom, all of you. Then when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance, no fear will there be concerning them nor will they grieve.
[2:39] And for those who disbelieved and denied Our revelations, they are the companions of the Fire. Therein, they shall permanently remain."
[2:40] O Children of Israel, remember My blessings that I bestowed upon you and fulfil your oath to Me, and I will fulfil My oath to you, and fear Me.
[2:41] And believe in what I have brought down, confirming what you have, and do not be the first to disbelieve in it. And do not trade away My revelations for a cheap price, and reverence Me.
[2:42] And do not confuse the truth with falsehood and conceal the truth knowingly.
[2:43] And observe the Salat and give the Zakat, and bow down with those who bow down.
[2:44] Do you advocate piety to the people and forget your own selves even though you recite the Scripture? Will you not reason?
[2:45] And seek help through patience and the Salat. It is difficult indeed, but not so for the humble
[2:46] who believe that they will meet their Lord and that to Him they will return.
[2:47] O Children of Israel, remember My blessings that I bestowed upon you and that I favoured you over all people.
[2:48] And beware of a Day when no self will avail another self anything, nor will intercession be accepted from it, nor will compensation be taken from it, nor will they be supported.
[2:49] And when We saved you from Pharaoh's people who were inflicting upon you the worst punishment, slaughtering your children and shaming your women; in those were great tests from your Lord.
[2:50] And when We parted the sea around you, We saved you and drowned Pharaoh's people while you looked on.
[2:51] And when We appointed Moses for forty nights, you set up the calf after he had gone, and you were transgressors.
[2:52] Then We pardoned you after that so that perhaps you would give thanks.
[2:53] And We gave Moses the Book and the Criterion so that you may be guided.
[2:54] And when Moses said to his people, "O my people, you have wronged yourselves by setting up the calf, so repent to your Maker and kill your egos. This is better for you at your Maker." So He has redeemed you. He is the Redeemer, the Merciful.
[2:55] And when you said, "O Moses, we will not believe you until we see God plainly." So the thunderbolt struck you while you looked on.
[2:56] Then We resurrected you after your death so that you may give thanks.
[2:57] And We shaded you with clouds and brought down upon you manna and quails: "Eat from the good things We have provided for you." They did not wrong Us, but they were wronging themselves.
[2:58] And when We said, "Enter this village and eat from it plentifully as you please, and enter the gate in submission and speak with humility. We would then forgive you your sins. We will certainly increase further for the good-doers."
[2:59] But those who transgressed substituted other words in place of what they were told. Thus, We brought down affliction from the sky upon the transgressors for how wickedly they used to behave.
[2:60] And when Moses sought water for his people, We said, "Strike the rock with your staff," whereby twelve springs burst out therefrom; each people knew their own drinking place. "Eat and drink from God's provisions, and do not act wickedly inthe earth spreading corruption."
[2:61] And when you said, "O Moses, we cannot endure one kind of food, so implore your Lord for us so that He may produce for us what the earth grows of its green herbs, cucumbers, garlic, lentils, and onions." He said, "Do you wish to replace what is inferior with what is better? Then go down to some settlement, and you will have what you asked for." They were stricken with humiliation and misery, and they incurred wrath from God. That was because they disbelieved in God's revelations and killed the prophets unjustly. That was because they disobeyed and used to transgress.
[2:62] Indeed, those who believe, and those who are Jewish, the Christians and the Sabians - all who believe in God and the Last Day and do good deeds; they will have their reward with their Lord. No fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
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Footnote 2:62 - The 'Sabians' (Ssabi'een in Arabic), believed to have been a monotheistic Abrahamic religious group, are also mentioned in 5:69 and 22:17. It is believed that they followed the 'Zaboor' (known in the Bible as The Psalms) that was given to prophet David.
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[2:63] And when We took a covenant from you and raised the mount above you: "Uphold what We have given you strongly, and remember what is in it so that you may be reverent."
[2:64] Then after that, you turned away, and if it were not for God's favour upon you and His mercy, you would have been among the losers.
[2:65] And you knew those among you who transgressed in the Sabbath, and thus We said to them, "Be apes, despised."
[2:66] We decreed this to be a deterrent punishment for their time and for what is to follow, and an advice for the reverent.
[2:67] And when Moses said to his people, "God commands you to slaughter a cow." They said, "Are you making a mockery of us?" He said, "I seek refuge in God lest I be among the ignorant."
[2:68] They said, "Implore your Lord for us so that He would clarify for us what it is." He said, "He says that it is a cow that is neither too old nor virgin but in between, so do what you are commanded to do."
[2:69]They said, "Implore your Lord for us so that He would clarify for us what is its colour."He said, "He says that it is a yellow cow. Its colour is intensely bright, pleasing to the beholders."
[2:70]They said, "Implore your Lord for us so that He would clarify for us what it is, for the cows look alike to us. Then, God willing, we will be guided."
[2:71] He said, "He says that it is a cow that has not been overworked in ploughing the earth or watering the field. It is sound with no blemish on it." They said, "Now you have come with the truth." So they slaughtered it, but they nearly had not done so.
[2:72] And when you killed a person, then you disputed over it, God brought out what you had been concealing.
[2:73] So We said, "Strike him with some of its parts." That is how God brings the dead back to life, and He shows you His signs so that you may reason.
[2:74] Then your hearts hardened after that and were like rocks, or indeed harder, for even among the rocks there are some from which rivers gush out, and there are some that split open whereupon water comes out of it, and there are some that collapse out of fear of God. God is not unaware of what you do.
[2:75] Do you long that they would believe you when a group of them used to hear God's Words then distort them knowingly after they had understood them?
[2:76] When they encounter those who believe, they say, "We believe," but when some of them meet one another in private, they say, "Would you inform them of what God disclosed to you only for them to use it to argue with you before your Lord? So will you not reason?"
[2:77] Do they not know that God knows what they conceal and what they declare?
[2:78] And among them are ummiyoon who do not know of the Scripture except through hearsay. They are merely guessing.
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Footnote 2:78 - For 'ummiyoon', see the glossary of un-translated words.
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[2:79] Therefore, woe to those who write with their own hands what is supposed to be the Scripture, then say, "This is from God," that they may trade it for a cheap price. Therefore woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn.
[2:80] And they said, "The Fire will not touch us except for a number of days." Say, "Have you taken an oath from God and therefore, God will not break His oath? Or are you saying about God what you know not?"
[2:81] Indeed, whoever has earned a bad deed and is engulfed by his wrongdoing, they are the companions of the Fire. Therein, they shall permanently remain.
[2:82] And those who believe and do good deeds, they are the companions of Paradise. Therein, they shall permanently remain.
[2:83] And when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel: "Worship none but God, and treat your parents kindly, as well as the relatives, the orphans and the needy, and speak kindly to the people, and observe the Salat and give the Zakat." Then you turned away in aversion, except a few of you.
[2:84] And when We took a covenant from you: "Do not shed one another's blood nor drive one another from your homes." You then agreed while bearing witness.
[2:85] Yet you are the ones who are killing one another and driving a group of you from their homes, banding against them with sin and aggression. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them when it was prohibited for you to drive them out in the first place. Do you believe in some of the Scripture and disbelieve in some? So what is the penalty for those among you who do that except disgrace in the worldly life and to be returned to the most severe punishment on the Day of Resurrection? God is not unaware of what you do.
[2:86] Those are the ones who bought the worldly life at the cost of the Hereafter. Consequently, the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be supported.
[2:87] And We gave Moses the Book, and We sent a succession of messengers after him. And We gave Jesus, son of Mary, the clear proofs and supported him with the Holy Ruh. So why is it that whenever a messenger came to you with what your selves did not desire, you acted arrogantly, denying a group of them and killing another group?
[2:88] And they said, "Our hearts are veiled!" Rather, God has cursed them for their disbelief, for little do they believe!
[2:89] And when a Book came to them from God confirming what is with them, and though before they used to foretell its coming to the disbelievers, when what they knew came to them, they disbelieved in it. So God's curse is on the disbelievers.
[2:90] Miserable indeed is what they sold themselves for! They disbelieve in what God has brought down because they resented that God bestows His favour upon whom He wills of His servants. Consequently, they incurred wrath upon wrath. The disbelievers shall have a humiliating punishment.
[2:90] Miserable indeed is what they sold themselves for! They disbelieve in what God has brought down because they resented that God bestows His favour upon whom He wills of His servants. Consequently, they incurred wrath upon wrath. The disbelievers shall have a humiliating punishment.
[2:91] And if they are told, "Believe in what God has brought down," they say, "We believe in what was brought down to us," and they disbelieve in what came after it, which is the truth confirming what is with them. Say, "Why then did you kill God's prophets before if you were believers?"
[2:92] And Moses came to you with clear proofs, then you set up the calf in his absence, and you were transgressors.
[2:93] And when We took a covenant from you, and We raised the mount above you: "Uphold what We have given you strongly and listen," they said, "We listened, and we disobeyed." Their hearts were totally captivated by the calf due to their disbelief. Say, "Miserable indeed is what your faith commands you if you truly are believers!"
[2:94] Say, "If the Abode of the Hereafter is yours at God, to the exclusion of all other people, then long for death if you are truthful."
[2:95] They will never long for it because of what their hands have put forth. Indeed, God is Knowledgeable of the transgressors.
[2:96] And you will find them the most clingy to life among people, even more than the mushrikeen. Any one of them wishes that he would live a thousand years, but this will not nudge him away from the punishment even if he lived that long. God is Seer of what they do.
[2:97] Say, "Whoever is an enemy of Gabriel should know that he brought it down upon your heart with God's permission, confirming what came before it, and a guidance and good news for the believers."
[2:98] Whoever is an enemy of God, and His angels, and His messengers, and Gabriel and Michael, then indeed God is an enemy to the disbelievers.
[2:99] We have brought down to you clear revelations. None disbelieves in them except the wicked.
[2:100] Is it not that whenever they took an oath, a group of them cast it aside? In fact, most of them do not believe.
[2:101] And when a messenger from God came to them, confirming what is with them, a group of those who had been given the Scripture cast the Scripture of God behind their backs as if they did not know,
[2:102] and they followed what the devils recited during the reign of Solomon. Solomon did not disbelieve, but the devils disbelieved. They taught the people magic and what was brought down upon the two angels in Babylon, Haroot and Maroot. Neither of the two angels teaches anyone without saying: "We are only a test, so do not disbelieve." Yet, they learn from them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife. But they do not harm anyone by means of it except with God's permission. They learn what harms them and does not benefit them, and they know that whoever buys into it will have no share in the Hereafter. Miserable indeed is what they sold themselves for if they only knew.
[2:103] And had they believed and been reverent, the reward from God would have been better if they only knew.
[2:104] O you who believe, do not say, "Shepherd us." Instead, you should say, "Grant us respite," and listen. The disbelievers shall have a painful punishment.
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Footnote 2:104 - The root of the word 'raa'ina' in this verse is 'raa'i', which means a shepherd. The word 'raa'ina' means 'shepherd us'. A shepherd has full control over his sheep and directs their every movement. The message of this verse is that we should not ask God or expect God to make every small decision for us the way a shepherd controls his sheep. God sends us the guidance, provides for us, supports us, and is merciful upon us, but since God gave us free will, God will not control our every move like a shepherd does with his sheep. Instead, we should ask God to 'grant us respite'. In other words, people should ask God to give them more time to reform, submit to Him and follow His path.
The important message of this verse: to implore God to 'grant us respite' rather than 'be our shepherd' is also emphasised in 4:46.
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[2:105] Neither those who disbelieved among the People of the Book nor the mushrikeen would like to see any good brought down upon you from your Lord. However, God specifies His mercy to whom He wills, and God is the Possessor of Great Favour.
[2:106] Whichever sign We instate or cause to be forgotten, We replace it with that which is better than it or similar to it. Did you not know that God is Capable of all things?
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Footnote 2:106 - The second word in 2:106, 'nansakh', has been translated as 'abrogate'. However, when we consult the most accurate dictionary, which is the Quran itself, we find that the word 'nasakha' and its derivatives mean the exact opposite of 'abrogate'. The correct meaning is to record and instate.
In 7:154, the word 'nuskha' means a record or inscription. Moses found in the tablets the inscription containing guidance and mercy and not an abrogation of the guidance and mercy!
In 22:52, the word 'yansakh' cannot mean abrogate or nullify. It means to record. We read in 22:53 that God sets up the work of the devil as a test for those who have sickness in their hearts. If the word 'yansakh' in 22:52 meant to abrogate, how can something abrogated and nullified set a test for anyone?
In 45:29, the word 'nastansikh' means to write/record and not abrogate.
The erroneous concept of 'Quranic Abrogation' is based on the incorrect interpretation of 2:106. The word 'ayat' in 2:106 does not mean a verse in the Quran. Verses in the absolute Book of God cannot be replaced or abrogated:
There is no alteration to the Words of God. 10:64
Equally, no Quranic verse can be called "better" than another in a perfect Book:
A.L.R. A Book whose verses have been perfected. 11:1
In contrast, the signs and miracles sent by God can indeed be greater than their predecessors. We have in the story of Moses such confirmation:
There was not a sign that We showed them without it being greater than its sister. 43:48---------------------------------------------------
[2:107] Did you not know that to God belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, and that you have none other than God as an ally or supporter?
[2:108] Or do you wish to ask your messenger the same as what Moses was asked before? Whoever replaces belief with disbelief has indeed strayed away from the right path.
[2:109] Many among the People of the Book would love to revert you to being disbelievers after having believed. This is due to envy on their part after the truth has been made clear to them. So pardon and overlook until God delivers His command. Indeed, God is Capable of all things.
[2:110] Observe the Salat and give the Zakat. Any good you put forward for yourselves, you will find it with God. Indeed, God is Seer of what you do.
[2:111] They said, "None will enter Paradise except those who are Jews or Christians." These are their wishes! Say, "Produce your proof if you are truthful."
[2:112] Not so! He who submits his face to God, and is a good-doer, will have his reward with his Lord. No fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
[2:113] The Jews said, "The Christians have nothing to stand on," and the Christians said, "The Jews have nothing to stand on," yet they both recite the Scripture! Those who do not know also said the same. God will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection regarding that over which they used to differ.
[2:114] Who is more transgressing than those who prevented the name of God from being mentioned in God's masjids and sought for their ruin? It is not for them to enter therein except fearfully. They shall have disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter, they shall have a great punishment.
[2:115] To God belong the east and the west, so wherever you turn, there is the Face of God. Indeed, God is Immense, Knowledgeable.
[2:116] And they said, "God has taken a son." Glory to Him, rather, to Him belongs what is in the heavens and the earth. All are obedient to Him.
[2:117] The Originator of the heavens and the earth, whenever He decrees any matter, He merely says to it, "Be," and it is.
[2:118] And those who do not know said, "If only God would speak to us, or some miracle would come to us!" Those before them have also said the same as their saying; their hearts are alike. We have clarified the revelations for people who are certain.
[2:119] We have sent you with the truth as a bearer of good news and a warner, and you will not be held accountable for the companions of Hellfire.
[2:120] Neither the Jews nor the Christians will approve of you until you follow their creed. Say, "God's guidance is the guidance." If you were to follow their personal desires after what came to you of the knowledge, you would have no ally nor supporter to help you against God.
[2:121] Those whom We have given the Scripture and they recite it as per its correct recitation; they are the ones who believe in it. As for those who disbelieve in it, they are indeed the losers.
[2:122] O Children of Israel, remember My blessings that I have bestowed upon you and that I favoured you over all the people.
[2:123] And beware of a Day when no self will avail another self anything, no compensation will be accepted from it, and no intercession will benefit it, nor will they be supported.
[2:124] And when Abraham was tested by his Lord with certain words, which he fulfilled, He said, "I am appointing you a leader for the people." He said, "And of my descendants?" He said, "My oath does not include the transgressors."
[2:125] And when We made the House a focal point for the people and a secure place: "Take Abraham's station as a prayer house." And We took an oath from Abraham and Ishmael: "Purify My House for those who visit and those who live near it, and for those who bow and prostrate."
[2:126] And when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this land a safe place, and provide fruits for those among its people who believe in God and the Last Day," He said, "And for the one who disbelieves, I will grant him enjoyment briefly, then compel him to the punishment of the Fire and a miserable destination."
[2:127] And when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House, together with Ishmael: "Our Lord, accept this from us. You are the Hearer, the Knowledgeable.
[2:128] Our Lord, and make us Submitters to You, and from our descendants a nation of Submitters to You, and show us our worship rituals, and redeem us. You are the Redeemer, the Merciful.
[2:129] Our Lord, and raise in their midst a messenger from themselves to recite to them Your revelations, teach them the Scripture and the wisdom, and purify them. You are the Dignified, the Wise."
[2:130] Who would be averse to the creed of Abraham except one who has made a fool of himself? We have chosen him in this world, and in the Hereafter, he is among the righteous.
[2:131] When his Lord said to him, "Submit," he said, "I have submitted to the Lord of the Worlds."
[2:132] And Abraham instructed his children and Jacob with the same: "O my children, God has selected the religion for you, so do not die except as Submitters."
[2:133] Or were you witnesses when death came to Jacob, when he said to his children, "What will you worship after I am gone?" They said, "We worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac: One God, and to Him we are Submitters."
[2:134] That was a nation that has passed away. To them is what they have earned and to you is what you have earned. You will not be questioned about what they used to do.
[2:135] They said, "Be Jewish or Christian and you will be guided." Say, "Rather, the creed of Abraham. He was a monotheist and was not one of the mushrikeen."
[2:136] Say, "We believe in God and in what was brought down to us, and in what was brought down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, and in what was given to Moses and Jesus, and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We do not distinguish between any of them, and to Him we are Submitters."
[2:137] So if they believe in the same as what you believe in, then they have been guided. But if they turn away, then they are in opposition. God will suffice you against them. He is the Hearer, the Knowledgeable.
[2:138] Such is the colouring of God, and whose colouring is better than God's? We are worshippers of Him.
[2:139] Say, "Do you argue with us about God when He is our Lord and your Lord? For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. And to Him, we are devoted."
[2:140] Or do you say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes were Jewish or Christian? Say, "Are you more knowledgeable, or is God? Who is more transgressing than one who conceals a testimony he has from God? God is not unaware of what you do."
[2:141]That was a nation that has passed away. To them is what they have earned and to you is what you have earned. You will not be questioned about what they used to do.
[2:142] The foolish ones among the people will say, "What has turned them away from their Qiblah which they used to be on?" Say, "To God belong the east and the west. He guides whom He wills to a straight path."
[2:143] We thus made you a middlemost nation so that you would be witnesses over the people, and the messenger would be a witness over you. We did not appoint the Qiblah that you were on except to distinguish those who follow the messenger from those who turn back on their heels. It was indeed a great issue, but not for those whom God has guided. God would never allow your faith to be wasted. Indeed, God is Compassionate and Merciful towards the people.
[2:144] We have seen your face turning about the sky, and so We will direct you towards a Qiblah that you are content with. So turn your face towards the Masjid Al-Haram. And wherever you may be, turn your faces towards it. Those who were given the Scripture know that it is the truth from their Lord. God is not unaware of what they do.
[2:145] If you were to bring to those who have been given the Scripture every sign, they would not follow your Qiblah, nor will you follow their Qiblah, nor do they follow each other's Qiblahs. If you follow their personal desires after what has come to you of the knowledge, then you would be of the transgressors.
[2:146] Those to whom We gave the Scripture know it as well as they know their own children, yet a group of them conceals the truth knowingly.
[2:147] The truth is from your Lord, so do not be among the doubters.
[2:148] For everyone, there is a direction that he faces, so hasten towards doing good deeds. Wherever you may be, God will recall all of you. Indeed, God is Capable of all things.
[2:149] From wherever you set off, turn your face towards the Masjid Al-Haram. This is the truth from your Lord, and God is not unaware of what you do.
[2:150] Indeed,from wherever you set off, turn your face towards the Masjid Al-Haram. And wherever you may be, turn your faces towards it so that the people will have no argument against you, except for the transgressors among them. So do not fear them, but fear Me, so that I may perfect My blessings upon you and so that you may be guided.
[2:151] We also sent a messenger to you from amongst you who recites to you Our revelations, purifies you, teaches you the Scripture and the wisdom, and teaches you what you knew not.
[2:152] So remember Me and I will remember you, and be thankful to Me and do not disbelieve.
[2:152] So remember Me and I will remember you, and be thankful to Me and do not disbelieve.
[2:153] O you who believe, seek help through patience and the Salat. Indeed, God is with the patient ones.
[2:154] And do not say of those who are killed in the cause of God, "They are dead!" No, they are alive, but you do not realise it.
[2:155] We will surely test you through some fear, hunger, and shortage of money, lives and crops. So give good news to the patient ones
[2:156] who, when stricken with a disaster, say, "We belong to God and to Him we will return."
[2:157] They are granted support and mercy from their Lord, and they are the guided ones.
[2:158] The Safa and Marwah are among the rites decreed by God. So whoever observes Hajj at the House or observes Umrah incurs no blame for passing by them. And as for those who volunteer extra good work, indeed, God is Appreciative, Knowledgeable.
[2:159] Those who conceal the clear proofs and guidance that We brought down after We have clarified it for the people in the Scripture, they are cursed by God and cursed by those who curse.
[2:160] Except for those who repent, reform and bring matters to light; those I shall redeem. I am the Redeemer, the Merciful.
[2:161] As for those who disbelieve and die as disbelievers, upon them is the curse of God, the angels, and all the people.
[2:162] Therein, they shall permanently remain. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be granted respite.
[2:163] Your God is One God. There is no god except Him, the Almighty, the Merciful.
[2:164] In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, and the ships that sail in the sea for the benefit of the people, and the water that God brought down from the sky with which He brought the land to life after it had died, and then He spread in it all kinds of creatures, and the diversifying of the winds, and the clouds that are ordained between the sky and the earth; are signs for people who reason.
[2:165] Among the people are those who take other than God as equals, loving them as the love of God. However, those who believe have a much greater love for God. If only the transgressors were to see themselves when they witness the punishment, they would realise that all power belongs to God and that God's punishment is severe.
[2:166] Those who were followed disowned those who followed them, they witnessed the punishment, and all connections between them were cut off.
[2:167] Those who followed said, "If only we had another chance, we would disown them as they have disowned us." God thus shows them their deeds bringing remorse upon them. They will not exit the Fire.
[2:168] O people, eat from what is in the earth that is lawful and good and do not follow in the footsteps of the devil. Indeed,he is to you a clear enemy.
[2:169] He only commands you to commit evil and immorality, and to say about God what you do not know.
[2:170] And if they are told, "Follow what God has brought down," they say, "Rather, we follow what we found our fathers upon." What! Even if their fathers did not understand anything and were not guided?
[2:171] The likeness of those who disbelieved is the like of one who shouts at what hears nothing but calls and cries. Deaf, dumb and blind; they do not understand.
[2:172] O you who believe, eat from the good things We have provided for you and give thanks to God if it is Him whom you worship.
[2:173] He only prohibited for you carrion, blood, the flesh of the pig and what was dedicated to other than God. But if one is compelled out of necessity rather than desire or greed, then he incurs no sin. Indeed, God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[2:174] Those who conceal what God has brought down of the Scripture and trade it for a cheap price; they eat but fire into their bellies. God will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them, and they shall have a painful punishment.
[2:175] They are the ones who bought the misguidance at the cost of the guidance, and punishment in place of forgiveness. How then will they endure the Fire?
[2:176] That is because God has brought down the Book with truth, and those who have differed regarding the Book are in vast opposition.
[2:177] Piety is not in turning your faces towards the east and the west. Rather, the pious is the one who has believed in God, the Last Day, the angels, the Scripture and the prophets, and who gave away money, despite his love for it, to the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the homeless, the beggars and to free slaves, and who observed the Salat and gave the Zakat, and the ones who fulfil their oath if they take an oath, and the ones who are patient through misery, hardship and during battle. These are the ones who have been truthful, and these are the reverent ones.
[2:178] O you who believe, equivalence is decreed upon you regarding those murdered: the free for the free, the slave for the slave and the female for the female. If one is pardoned anything by his brother, this must be followed by a righteous return that is paid to him with goodwill. This is an alleviation from your Lord and mercy. Then whoever transgresses after that shall have a painful punishment.
[2:179] There is life for you in equivalence O you who possess intelligence so that you may be reverent.
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Footnote 2:179 - In the words 'There is a life for you in equivalence' is a reminder that even though equivalence makes it lawful to administer the death penalty in the case of murder, yet there is also the option of saving a life, should the family of the murdered person choose to pardon.
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[2:180]It is decreed upon you that if any of you feels death approaching, should he leave anything of value, a will should be written equitably for the parents and the close ones. This is a decreed obligation on the reverent.
[2:181] Whoever replaces it after having heard it, the sin thereof lies on those who replace it. Indeed, God is Hearer, Knowledgeable.
[2:182] If one fears wrongdoing or sin on the part of a testator and attempts to reconcile between them, he commits no sin. Indeed, God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[2:183] O you who believe, fasting is decreed upon you as it was decreed upon those before you so that you may be reverent.
[2:184] A number of days, but whoever among you is ill or travelling, then an equal number of other days, and for those who can bear it, a concession of feeding a needy person. Then, whoever volunteers extra good work it is better for him, but if you fast, it is better for you if you only knew.
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Footnote 2:184 - A keyword used in 2:184 is 'yutiqunahu' which translates to: 'bear it'. In some translations, the word 'cannot' was added before the words 'bear it'. In other translations, the words 'but with difficulty' have been added after the words 'bear it'. Both these translations, and the meanings they imply, are incorrect because they are based on words that are not found in the Quranic text.
In 2:184, God grants a merciful concession, but only to those who miss fasting due to lawful reasons (illness or travel). They can either fast the missed days at a later date or substitute each missed day with feeding one needy person. The context of the words 'bear it' can be understood when we read the words that immediately follow 'bear it', which give the concession of feeding a needy person.
Feeding the poor costs money, which indicates that the words 'bear it' speak of those who can afford to feed others without incurring hardship.
This concession does not apply to those who miss fasting due to laziness or non-commitment, nor can it buy a person out of fasting altogether, as some have wrongly claimed. The words in the verse continue to say that whoever 'volunteers extra good work', either by feeding more than one needy person or by fasting the missed days as well as feeding a needy person, it is better still for him. The verse continues to say that out of the two options (fasting the missed days or feeding a needy person), fasting is the better option in the sight of God.
The correct meaning of this verse and the concession given is further confirmed in 2:185. God knows that many who miss days of fasting due to illness or travel will be forgetful and will most probably not fast them at a later date. For that, God says that He wants ease for us. God has granted this merciful concession to those who have missed days of fasting due to illness or travel so that they would 'complete the count' (of the missed days).
The concession of feeding a needy person also applies to those who are chronically ill and can never fast any days. By means of the same concession, if they can bear it (afford it), they can feed a needy person. As for those who cannot fast at any time due to terminal illness, nor can they afford to feed a needy person, then as per the words in 2:286, 'God does not assign to any self except what is within its capacity', no obligation falls on them.
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[2:185] The month of Ramadan, in which the Quran was brought down, a guidance for the people, as well as clear proofs of the guidance and the Criterion. So those of you who have witnessed the month shall fast it, and for those who are ill or travelling, then an equal number of other days. God wants ease for you, and He does not want hardship for you, and for you to complete the count and magnify God for guiding you so that you may be thankful.
[2:186] And if My servants ask you about Me, I am near. I answer the caller's call if he calls upon Me. Therefore, they shall respond to Me and believe in Me so that they may be guided.
[2:187] It has been made lawful for you to have sexual intercourse with your wives during the nights of the fast. They are a garment for you, and you are a garment for them. God knows that you used to betray yourselves, so He redeemed you and pardoned you. Hence, you may now approach them and seek what God has decreed for you. You may eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes clear to you from the dark thread, then maintain the fast until the night, and do not approach them while you are in retreat at the masjids. These are God's limits, so do not go near them. God thus clarifies His revelations for the people, so hopefully, they may be reverent.
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Footnote 2:187 - A beautiful analogy is given in 2:187 in the word 'libas' (garment). The garments we wear (animal skins or synthetic) serve three main functions: 1- They keep us warm (16:5). 2- They make us look nice (7:32) and with a good imagein the eyes of people. 3- They hide the parts of our bodies that need hiding (7:26). God assigned all three tasks to our spouses: 1- They enrich our lives with warm affection. 2- They speak well of us in front of others to preserve our good image. 3- They hide our secrets from others.
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[2:188] And do not consume one another's money illicitly, nor offer it as bribes to the officials in order to consume a portion of other people's money sinfully while you know.
[2:189] They ask you about the crescents, say, "They are timing devices for the people and for the Hajj." And piety is not in entering houses from their backs, but piety is in being reverent. So enter the houses from their doors and reverence God so that you may succeed.
[2:190] And fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not aggress. Indeed, God does not like the aggressors.
[2:191] And kill them wherever you encounter them and expel them from where they expelled you. Oppression is indeed worse than murder. Do not fight them at the Masjid Al-Haram unless they fight you therein. If they fight you, then kill them; such is the penalty of the disbelievers.
[2:192] If they cease, then indeed, God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[2:193] And fight them until there is no more oppression, and until the religion is dedicated to God. If they do cease, then no aggression is permitted except against the transgressors.
[2:194] The Haram month for the Haram month, and equivalence applies to prohibitions. Then whoever attacks you, attack him in the same manner he attacked you and reverence God, and know that God is with the reverent.
[2:195] And spend in the cause of God and be not thrown, by your own hands, into destruction. And do good; indeed, God loves the good-doers.
[2:196] And complete the Hajj and Umrah for God. If you are prevented, then make a convenient offering, and do not shave your heads until the offering reaches its destination. And for the one who is ill or suffering a head injury is given the concession of fasting or giving to charity or by observing a worship ritual.And when you are safe and well, those who progress from Umrah to Hajj shall make a convenient offering. And for those who do not find the means, then a fast of three days during the Hajj and seven when you have returned; that is a total of ten. That is for the one whose family does not live near the Masjid Al-Haram. And reverence God and know that God is severe in punishment.
[2:197] The Hajj is during the known months, so whoever executes the Hajj in them shall refrain from sexual contact, wickedness and arguing during the Hajj. Whatever good you do, God knows it. And supply yourself with provisions, but verily the best provision is reverence. And reverence Me, O you who possess intelligence.
[2:198] There is no blame upon you for seeking favour from your Lord. Then when you disperse from Arafat, commemorate God at the Al-Haram shrine. And commemorate Him as He has guided you, for before that, you were among the misguided.
[2:199] Then disperse from where the people have dispersed and ask God for forgiveness. Indeed, God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[2:200] Then, once you have completed your worship rituals, commemorate God as you commemorate your own fathers or even a greater commemoration. Among the people is he who says, "Our Lord, grant us in this world," and he will have no share in the Hereafter.
[2:201] And among them are those who say, "Our Lord, grant us something good in this world, and something good in the Hereafter, and guard us against the punishment of the Fire."
[2:202] These will have a share of what they have earned. God is swift in reckoning.
[2:203] And commemorate God for a number of days. Whoever hastens in two days incurs no sin and whoever delays incurs no sin, so long as he exercises reverence. And reverence God and know that you shall be gathered before Him.
[2:204] Among the people is he whose talk impresses you in the worldly life, and he calls on God to witness what is in his heart, while he is in fact, the most ardent opponent.
[2:205] Then, when he turns away, he strives throughout the earth to corrupt therein, destroying the crops and the offspring. God does not like corruption.
[2:206] And when he is told, "Reverence God," he is grabbed by pride towards sin. Consequently, Hell is appropriate for him; what a miserable resting place!
[2:207] And among the people is he who sells himself in pursuit of God's consent. God is Compassionate towards the servants.
[2:208] O you who believe, enter into peace wholeheartedly and do not follow in the footsteps of the devil. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.
[2:209] If you slip up after the clear proofs have come to you, then know that God is Dignified, Wise.
[2:210] Are they waiting until God comes to them in dense clouds together with the angels? The matter would be settled by then, and to God, all matters are returned.
[2:211] Ask the Children of Israel how many clear proofs We gave them. For the one who replaces God's blessings after it came to him, then indeed, God is severe in punishment.
[2:212] The worldly life has been adorned in the eyes of the disbelievers, and they ridicule those who believe. However, the reverent will be above them on the Day of Resurrection. God provides whom He wills without count.
[2:213] The people used to be one nation, then God sent the prophets as bearers of good news and warners, and He brought the Scriptures down with them with truth to judge between the people regarding that over which they differed. But none differed over it other than those who received it, even after the clear proofs were given to them. This was due to animosity between them. Then God guided those who believed, in accordance with His will, to the truth over which they differed. God guides whom He wills to a straight path.
[2:214] Or did you think that you would enter Paradise without having come to you the same as what came to those who passed away before you? They were touched by misery and hardship and were so shaken up that the messenger and those who believed with him said, "When is God's victory?" Indeed, God's victory is imminent.
[2:215] They ask you what should they give, say, "Anything good that you give should be to the parents, the close ones, the orphans, the needy and the homeless, and any good that you do, indeed, God is Knowledgeable thereof."
[2:216] Fighting is decreed upon you even though it is something you hate. It may be that you hate something when it is good for you, and you like something when it is bad for you. God knows while you do not know.
[2:217] They ask you about the Haram Month and fighting therein, say, "Fighting therein is a grave matter, but repelling from the path of God, and rejecting Him and the Masjid Al-Haram, and evicting its people therefrom are far greater in the sight of God." Oppression is indeed worse than murder. They will continue to fight you until they revert you from your religion if they can. Any of you who reverts from his religion and dies as a disbeliever, for those, their work is nullified in this world and the Hereafter, and they are the companions of the Fire. Therein, they shall permanently remain.
[2:218] Those who believed and those who emigrated and strove in the cause of God; those seek God's mercy, and God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[2:219] They ask you about intoxicants and gambling, say, "In them are gross sins and benefits for the people, and their sinfulness is greater than their benefits." And they ask you what to give, say: "Al-affwoo." God thus clarifies the revelations for you so that you may reflect
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Footnote 2:219 - For lack of finding an English word that gives the exact meaning, the Arabic word 'al-affwoo' is left un-translated. The root word 'yaafoo' means to pardon. When we connect the act of pardoning with giving money to charity, this word speaks of that part of our money/income which is excess to our needs and which we are able to give away and relinquish our right to getting it back, or in other words, to pardon the receiver from paying it back. In 2:219, we are advised to be charitable in that extra part of our income that we can give away without expecting its return and without causing hardship to ourselves or our families.
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[2:220] upon this world and the Hereafter. And they ask you about the orphans, say, "Improving their affairs is best." If you mix your affairs with theirs, they are your brothers. God knows the corruptor from the reformer. Had God willed, He could have made things difficult for you. Indeed, God is Dignified, Wise.
[2:221] Do not marry the mushrikaat until they believe. A believing slave woman is better than a mushrikah, even if you like her. And do not marry the mushrikeen until they believe. A believing slave man is better than a mushrik, even if you like him. Those invite to the Fire while God invites to Paradise and forgiveness, by His permission. He clarifies His revelations for the people. Hopefully, they may remember.
[2:222] They ask you about menstruation, say, "It contains harm, so keep apart from women during menstruation and do not approach them until they are cleansed of it. When they are cleansed of it, you can approach them in the way God has commanded you. God loves the repenters, and He loves those who purify themselves."
[2:223] Your women are a tilth for you, so you may approach your tilth as you please. Put forth good work for yourselves and reverence God, and know that you will meet Him, and give good news to the believers.
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Footnote 2:223 - The word 'tilth' (harth in Arabic) is the state of the land that has been prepared for a crop/cultivation. The analogy is of the wife who bears the seed of her husband.
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[2:224] Do not make God the subject of your pledges in order to appear pious or reverent or to reconcile among the people. God is Hearer, Knowledgeable.
[2:225] God does not hold you accountable for your casual pledges, but He holds you accountable for what your hearts have earned. God is Forgiver, Forbearing.
[2:226] Those who wish to separate from their wives shall wait four months. If they reconsider, then indeed, God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[2:227] And if they decide to go through with the divorce, then indeed, God is Hearer, Knowledgeable.
[2:228] The divorced women shall keep themselves in waiting for three menstruations, and it is not lawful for them to conceal what God has created in their wombs if they believe in God and the Last Day. Their husbands have more right to take them back if they wish to reconcile. The women have rights equitably as well as obligations, and the men have a degree over them. God is Dignified, Wise.
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Footnote 2:228 - The word 'daragattun' (degree) in this verse has been incorrectly interpreted by some scholars. The following is the rebuttal of three of the main interpretations, followed by the correct meaning of the word 'degree' within the context of 2:228.
1- The 'degree' that men have over women does not mean that men can force their divorced wives back into marriage if they are found to be pregnant. The words, 'Their husbands have more right to take them (wives) back' are immediately followed by the words 'if they wish to reconcile', which confirm that reconciliation must be a joint decision. The same is confirmed in 4:35 and 4:128 regarding the right of the wives to reconcile or divorce.
2- The 'degree' that men have over women does not mean that men can force their wives to remain married should they wish to be divorced. We read in 2:231 a clear command addressed to all husbands, 'Do not retain them (wives) against their will in order to be vindictive.'
3- The 'degree' that men have over women does not mean that men are entitled to absolute and blind obedience from their wives. We read in 60:12 how the prophet himself was not given that privilege, 'O you prophet, if the believing women come to you pledging allegiance to you .................. nor disobey you in any righteous matter'. These words state that women are to obey their men only in righteous matters and not blindly.
The correct context of the 'degree' which men have over women is the added responsibility that God lays upon men within marriage:
1- Responsibility towards wives
Men are assigned the responsibility of financially maintaining their wives, 'Men are responsible for the financial maintenance of women by means of what God has favoured some over the others and through what they spend of their money.' (see footnote 4:34).
In addition, we read in 65:6 that if the divorced wife is found to be pregnant, the divorced husband is assigned the added responsibility of maintaining her until she gives birth and also paying her wages for suckling the newborn, 'If they are pregnant, maintain them financially until they give birth. If they suckle the infant for you, pay them their wages for doing so.'
2- Responsibility towards children
In 2:233, we read that the man is also assigned the responsibility of maintaining his newborn, 'And he, to whom the child was born, shall provide their provision and clothing equitably.'
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[2:229] Divorce is allowed twice, after which either remain together equitably or separate with kindness. It is not lawful for you to take back anything you had given them unless both fear that they may not uphold God's limits. If you fear they may not uphold God's limits, then there is no blame on either of them for what she willingly forfeits. These are God's limits, so do not overstep them. As for those who overstep God's limits, they are the transgressors.
[2:230] Then, if he divorces her after that, she becomes unlawful for him unless she marries a husband other than him. If he then divorces her, they incur no blame for returning to one another if they think they will uphold God's limits. These are God's limits. He clarifies them for people who know.
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Footnote 2:230 - This verse contains an example of how God honoured women in the Quran and assured that their dignity would be preserved. The law in this verse states that a man who divorces his wife three times may not re-marry her unless she first takes another husband, then only if the new husband divorces her that she would once again be lawful to him. This law, which applies to women only (marrying another man first) and not to men, is God's way of teaching a lesson to the man who treats divorce too lightly, thereby not showing much respect to his wife.
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[2:231] When you have divorced the women, and they have fulfilled their interim, then either retain them equitably or release them equitably. Do not retain them against their will in order to be vindictive. Anyone who does that has indeed wronged himself. Do not take God's revelations in mockery, and remember God's blessings upon you and what He has brought down upon you of the Scripture and the wisdom by which He advises you. And reverence God and know that God is Knowledgeable of all things.
[2:232] When you have divorced the women, and they have fulfilled their interim, do not make difficulties for them to prevent them from marrying their husbands if they have equitably reached mutual consent. With this are those among you who believe in God and the Last Day advised; this is better for you and purer, and God knows while you do not know.
[2:233] Mothers may suckle their infants for two full years should they elect to complete such a period of suckling. And he, to whom the child was born, shall provide their provision and clothing equitably. No self is assigned except what is within its capacity. No mother shall be harmed on account of her child, nor shall a father be harmed on account of his child, and the responsibility lies on the inheritor for the same. Then, if the two of them desire weaning by mutual consent and after due consultation, they incur no blame. And there is no blame upon you if you wish to hire nursing mothers, so long as you hand over to them what you have agreed to give equitably. And reverence God, and know that God is Seer of what you do.
[2:234] Those of you who die and leave wives, their widows shall keep themselves in waiting for four months and ten days. Then once they fulfil their interim, there shall be no blame on you regarding what they wish to do with themselves equitably. And God is All-Aware of what you do.
[2:235] There is no blame upon you if you announce your engagement to the women, or keep it to yourself. God knows that you will think about them, but do not meet them secretly unless it is for saying righteous words. Do not execute the marriage contract until the interim is fulfilled. And know that God knows your innermost thoughts, so beware of Him, and know that God is Forgiver, Forbearing.
[2:236] There is no blame on you if you divorce the women before touching them or before setting a farida for them. You shall then compensate them, the rich according to his means and the poor according to his means: an equitable compensation. This is a decreed obligation upon the good-doers.
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Footnote 2:236 - The 'farida' in the context of 2:236 is the dowry that is decreed for all women in marriage and which must be paid by the man.
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[2:237] And if you divorce them before touching them, but after you had set the farida for them, half what you agreed upon is to be given unless they voluntarily forfeit their rights, or the one who executed the marriage contract on their behalf does so. And if you pardon, you would be closer to reverence. And do not forget to act gracefully towards each other. Indeed, God is Seer of what you do.
[2:238] Maintain the Salawaat and the Salat Al-Wusta, and stand devoutly obedient before God.
[2:239] If you fear, then on foot or riding. Then once you are secure, remember God as He taught you what you previously did not know.
[2:240] And for those among you who die and leave wives, a will shall provide their wives with maintenance for a year with no expulsion. If they decide to leave, then there is no blame on you for what they do with themselves equitably. God is Dignified, Wise.
[2:241] And the divorced women shall be provided for, equitably. This is a decreed obligation upon the reverent.
[2:242] Thus does God clarify His revelations to you so that you may understand.
[2:243] Have you not seen those who exited their homes in their thousands, fearing death? So God said to them, "Die," then brought them back to life. Indeed, God is Possessor of Favour for the people, but most people do not give thanks.
[2:244] Fight in the cause of God, and know that God is Hearer, Knowledgeable.
[2:245] Who is the one who would lend God a good loan, for Him to multiply it manifold? God withholds and expands, and to Him, you shall be returned.
[2:246] Have you not seen the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses when they said to a prophet of theirs, "Send us a king and we will fight in the cause of God."He said, "Is it possible that if fighting is decreed upon you, you will not fight?" They said, "Why should we not fight in the cause of God when we have been evicted from our homes and our children?" Yet, when fighting was decreed upon them, they turned away, except a few of them. God is Knowledgeable of the transgressors.
[2:247] And their prophet said to them, "God has sent you Saul for a king." They said, "How can he have sovereignty over us when we are more worthy of sovereignty than he and he was not given an abundance of wealth?"He said, "God has chosen him over you and has increased him greatly in knowledge and in physique. And God grants His sovereignty to whom He wills. God is Immense, Knowledgeable."
[2:248] And their prophet said to them, "The sign of his sovereignty is that the Ark will come to you containing tranquillity from your Lord, as well as some relics left by the people of Moses and the people of Aaron, and it will be carried by the angels. Indeed, in that is a sign for you if you are believers."
[2:249] When Saul set out with the soldiers, he said, "God is putting you to the test by means of a river, whereas whoever drinks from it does not belong with me, and whoever does not taste it, except for a single scoop of his hand, belongs with me." But they drank from it except a few of them. Then, when he and those who believed with him crossed it, they said, "We have no power today against Goliath and his soldiers." Those who were certain of meeting God said, "How many a small group has defeated a large group with God's permission! God is with the patient ones."
[2:250] When they faced Goliath and his soldiers, they said, "Our Lord, pour upon us patience, secure our foothold and support us against the disbelieving people."
[2:251] So they defeated them with God's permission, and David killed Goliath, and God granted him sovereignty and the wisdom and taught him of what He pleased.If it were not for God repelling some people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but God is Possessor of Favour for all the worlds.
[2:252] These are God's revelations that We recite to you with truth, and you are indeed one of the messengers.
[2:253] These messengers: We favoured some of them over others. Among them were some whom God spoke to, and He raised some of them in ranks, and We gave Jesus, son of Mary, the clear proofs and supported him with the Holy Ruh. Had God willed, the people who came after them would not have fought each other after the clear proofs had come to them. But they differed; some of them believed, and some of them disbelieved. Had God willed, they would not have fought, but God does what He wishes.
[2:254] O you who believe, give from what We provided you with before a Day comes in which there will be no trade, no friendship and no intercession. The disbelievers are the transgressors.
[2:255] God, there is no god except Him, the Living, the Eternal. Never does a moment of unawareness or slumber overtake Him. To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. Who is he who could intercede with Him, except with His permission? He knows what is before them and what is after them, and they do not attain any of His knowledge except as He wills. His Seat encompasses the heavens and the earth, and preserving them never burdens Him. He is the Most High, the Great.
[2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion. Correctness has been clearly distinguished from error, so whoever rejects false gods and believes in God has grasped the most secure handhold that will never break. And God is Hearer, Knowledgeable.
[2:257] God is the Ally of those who believe; He takes them out of the darkness and into the light. As for those who disbelieve, their allies are the false gods; they take them out of the light and into darkness. They are the companions of the Fire. Therein, they shall permanently remain.
[2:258] Have you not seen the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord because God had given him sovereignty? When Abraham said, "My Lord is the One who brings to life and puts to death," he said, "I grant life and death." Abraham said, "God brings the sun from the east, so make it come from the west." So the one who disbelieved was confounded. Indeed, God does not guide the transgressing people.
[2:259] Or the one who passed by a village that was deserted and in ruins and said, "How can God bring this to life after it had died?" So God put him to death for a hundred years, and then resurrected him. He said, "How long have you remained?" He said, "I have remained a day or part of a day." He said, "No! You have remained a hundred years, so look at your food and drink; it has not spoiled, and look at your donkey. We thus render you a sign for the people, and look at the bones, how We construct them, then cover them with flesh." Then when it became clear to him, he said, "I know that God is Capable of all things."
[2:260] And when Abraham said, "My Lord, show me how You bring the dead to life." He said, "Have you not believed?" He said, "Yes, but so that my heart is reassured." He said, "Then take four birds and draw them close to you, then place a piece of the birds on each hill, then call them, they shall come rushing to you, and know that God is Dignified, Wise."
[2:261] The example of those who spend their money in the cause of God is like the example of a grain that grows seven spikes, with a hundred grains in each spike; God multiplies manifold for whom He wills. God is Immense, Knowledgeable.
[2:262] Those who spend their money in the cause of God, then do not follow what they spent with insult or harm, will have their reward with their Lord. No fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
[2:263] Kind words and forgiveness are better than a charity that is followed by harm. God is Rich, Forbearing.
[2:264] O you who believe, do not nullify your charities through insult and harm, like one who spends his money to show off in front of the people, while he does not believe in God and the Last Day. His example is like the example of a smooth rock upon which was dust, and then it was hit by heavy rain which left it bare. They have no control over what they earn, and God does not guide the disbelieving people.
[2:265] And the example of those who spend their money seeking God's consent, and seeking to secure themselves, is like the example of a garden on high ground that was hit by heavy rain whereupon it yielded its crop twofold. Still, even if no heavy rain hits it, a light drizzle will suffice. God is Seer of what you do.
[2:266] Does any of you wish to have a garden of palm trees and grapevines beneath which rivers flow where he has all kinds of fruit and to be stricken with old age and his offspring is weak, and then for a whirlwind containing fire to strike it and it is burned? Thus does God clarify the revelations for you so that you may reflect.
[2:267] O you who believe, give from the good that you have earned, and from what We have produced for you from the earth. Do not pick out the bad therein to give away when you yourselves would not accept it unless your eyes are shut. You should know that God is Rich, Praiseworthy.
[2:268] The devil promises you poverty and commands you to commit immorality, while God promises you forgiveness from Him and favour.God is Immense, Knowledgeable.
[2:269] He grants wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever is granted wisdom has indeed been granted much good, but none will take heed except those who possess intelligence.
[2:270] And whatever expenditure you have spent or a vow that you have vowed, indeed, God knows it, and the transgressors have no supporters.
[2:271] If you disclose the charities, that is fine, but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, it is better for you, and He will wipe out your bad deeds for you. And God is All-Aware of what you do.
[2:272] You are not responsible for guiding them, but it is God who guides whom He wills. The good that you give is for your own good. Indeed, that which you give should be for the sole aim of seeking the Face of God. The good that you give will be fully repaid back to you, and you will not be treated unjustly.
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Footnote 2:272 - Besides this verse, the words 'seeking the Face of God' appear in a number of other Quranic verses, they are: 6:52, 13:22, 18:28, 30:39, 76:9 and 92:20. Seeking 'the Face of God' is best understood in conjunction with the words in 3:77 in which we read that on the Day of Resurrection, God will not speak to the disbelievers 'nor look at them.' They will be deprived of seeing God's Face on that Day, which will be a source of great misery. On the other hand, the believers will be granted the blessing of looking at God: 'Some faces on that Day will be radiant, looking at their Lord.' 75:22-23. The radiance on the faces of the believers for looking at God affirms that the mere act of looking at God on the Day of Resurrection will be a blessing and a source of unparalleled happiness.
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[2:273] It is for the poor who strive in the cause of God and are prevented from travelling in the land. An ignorant person may think that they are rich because they act with dignity. You will recognise them by their features; they do not ask of the people persistently. Whatever good you spend, indeed, God is Knowledgeable thereof.
[2:274] Those who give of their money during the night and the day, secretly and publicly; they will have their reward with their Lord. No fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
[2:275] Those who gobble up usury do not stand except as how one who is being knocked about by the devil's touch stands. That is because they said that trade is the same as usury. However, God has made trade lawful and prohibited usury. The one who receives advice from his Lord, and thus refrains, may keep his past earnings, and his case rests with God. As for those who re-offend, they are the companions of the Fire. Therein, they shall permanently remain.
[2:276] God condemns usury and expands the charities. God dislikes every ungrateful sinner.
[2:277] Those who believe and do good deeds, observe the Salat, and give the Zakat; they will have their reward with their Lord. No fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
[2:278] O you who believe, reverence God, and relinquish any outstanding usury that is owed to you if you are believers.
[2:279] If you do not, then take notice of a war from God and His messenger. But if you repent, you may keep your capitals, and thus you do not wrong nor be wronged.
[2:280] If one is facing difficulty, he is to be granted respite to a time of ease, and if you relinquish it as a charity, it would even be better for you if you only knew.
[2:281] And beware of a Day when you will be returned to God, then every self will be paid in full for what it had earned, and they will not be wronged.
[2:282] O you who believe, if you transact a loan for a specified term, write it down. A scribe shall write equitably in your presence. No scribe shall refuse to write. As God has taught him, so he should write. Let the one on whom the debt falls dictate. He shall reverence God, his Lord, and not leave out anything therefrom. But if the one whom the debt falls on is with mental disability, weak, or is unable to dictate, then his guardian is to dictate equitably. And call to witness two witnesses from among your men, and if not two men, then a man and two women whom you accept as witnesses. Thus, if one of them errs, one can remind the other.The witnesses should not decline when they are called upon. Do not tire of writing it, be it small or large, along with its due date. This is more equitable as far as God is concerned and provides validity should it be produced as testimony, and is more likely to prevent doubt between you. However, regarding on the spot trade transactions that you execute among yourselves, there is no blame upon you if you do not write them down. And let there be witnesses when you trade. No scribe or witness shall be harmed. If you do so, it would be wickedness on your part. And reverence God. God teaches you, and God is Knowledgeable of all things.
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Footnote 2:282 - The words 'call to witness two witnesses from among your men, and if not two men, then a man and two women whom you accept as witnesses' have been used by the critics of the Quran to claim that it advocates male superiority over women.
Footnote 2:282 - The words 'call to witness two witnesses from among your men, and if not two men, then a man and two women whom you accept as witnesses' have been used by the critics of the Quran to claim that it advocates male superiority over women.
The verse instructs that in the case of a dispute over a loan, and witnesses are called to testify, they should be two men. If this is not possible, then one man and two women.
Since the entire subject of the verse is loans, it follows that the rule of having two women in place of one man applies only to witnessing loans, when witnesses are required, and not for any other type of witnesses. It can be shown that the reason behind the two female witnesses in place of one male witness has nothing to do with male superiority:
1- Business transactions and loans, in a family arrangement where the man is given the responsibility of supporting his wife (4:34), are normally contracted by men rather than women. It is thus more likely for women not to know, or to forget, the details of a loan/transaction. This is the significance of the word 'remind' in the sentence, 'Thus, if one of them errs, one can remind the other.'
2- The arrangement of two women witnesses in this verse provides protection for women who may be bullied, threatened or subject to physical violence from their men in order to give false witness. Exerting pressure and bullying by men happen frequently in many communities worldwide. Having a second independent woman to testify truthfully would render no gain for bullying and threatening. The ruling of one man in place of two women applies only in the case of witnessing a loan. It is devised for the protection of women against bullying and violence.
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[2:283] And if you are travelling and cannot find a scribe, a security deposit is to be held. If one of you entrusts another, the one who was entrusted should fulfil the trust. He shall reverence God, his Lord. Do not withhold the testimony. Anyone who withholds a testimony is sinful at heart. God is Knowledgeable of what you do.
[2:284] To God belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and whether you reveal your innermost thoughts or keep them hidden, God holds you accountable to them, then He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. God is Capable of all things.
[2:285] The messenger has believed in what was brought down to him from his Lord, and so did the believers. They all believed in God, His angels, His Scriptures and His messengers: "We do not distinguish between any of His messengers," and they said, "We hear, and we obey. Forgive us, our Lord. To You is the ultimate destination."
[2:286] God does not assign to any self except what is within its capacity; to its credit is what it has earned, and against it is what it has incurred. "Our Lord, do not hold us accountable if we forget or make mistakes. Our Lord, do not place on us a heavy burden like that which You placed on those before us. Our Lord, do not place on us what we cannot bear and pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy upon us. You are our Master, so support us against the disbelieving people."
Sura 3 The Family of Imran (Al-Imran)
In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.
[3:1] A. L. M.
[3:2] God, there is no god except Him, the Living, the Eternal.
[3:3] He brought down upon you the Book with truth confirming what came before it. And He brought down the Torah and the Injeel
[3:4] previously providing guidance for the people. And He brought down the Criterion. Those who disbelieve in God's revelations shall have a severe punishment. God is Dignified, Possessor of retribution.
[3:5] Indeed, nothing is hidden from God, in the earth or in heaven.
[3:6] He is the One who designs you in the wombs as He wills. There is no other god except Him, the Dignified, the Wise.
[3:7] He is the One who brought down upon you the Book containing clear-cut verses that constitute the foundation of the Book, and others that allow multiple meanings. As for those who harbour deviation in their hearts, they pursue the multiple-meaning verses, seeking to cause discord and seeking to interpret it, but none know its true interpretation except God. And those well-founded in knowledge say, "We believe in it; all of it is from our Lord." But none will take heed except those who possess intelligence.
[3:8] "Our Lord, do not deviate our hearts after You have guided us, and grant us a mercy from You. You are the Grantor.
[3:9] Our Lord, You will gather the people on a Day about which there is no doubt." God never breaks a promise.
[3:10] Those who disbelieve, neither their wealth nor their children will avail them in any way against God. Those are fuel for the Fire.
[3:11] Like the constant behaviour of Pharaoh's people and those before them, they denied Our signs, and so God seized them for their sins, and God is severe in punishment.
[3:12] Say to those who disbelieve, "You will be defeated, then gathered unto Hell; what a miserable resting place!"
[3:13] There was a sign for you in two groups that met: one group fighting in the cause of God and another of disbelievers. They saw with their own eyes that they were twice as many. God supports with His victory whom He wills. Indeed, in that is a lesson for those who possess vision.
[3:14] The love of worldly desires has been adorned for the people, such as women, children, hoarded piles of gold and silver, branded horses, livestock and tilled land. These are the enjoyments of the worldly life, while at God lies the best homecoming.
[3:15] Say, "Shall I inform you of better than that? For those who have been reverent, they shall have at their Lord Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Therein, they shall permanently remain. They shall have purified spouses and consent from God." God is Seer of the servants
[3:16] who say, "Our Lord, we have believed, so forgive us our sins, and guard us against the punishment of the Fire."
[3:17] They are the patient ones, the truthful, the obedient, the ones who give, and the ones who seek forgiveness before dawn.
[3:18] God bears witness that there is no god except Him, and so do the angels and those who possess knowledge, upholding justice. There is no god except Him, the Dignified, the Wise.
[3:19] Indeed, the religion in the sight of God is Submission. Those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after the knowledge came to them due to animosity between them. And whoever disbelieves in God's revelations, then indeed, God is swift in reckoning.
[3:20] If they argue with you, say, "I have submitted my face to God, and so do the ones who follow me." And say to those who were given the Scripture and the ummiyeen, "Have you submitted?" If they have submitted, then they have been guided, but if they turn away, then your sole duty is the delivery, and God is Seer of the servants.
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Footnote 3:20 - For 'ummiyeen', see the glossary of un-translated words.
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[3:21] Regarding those who disbelieve in God's revelations, and kill the prophets unjustly, and kill those among the people who advocate justice: give them news of a painful punishment.
[3:22] They are the ones whose work is nullified in this world and in the Hereafter and they have no supporters.
[3:23] Have you not seen those who were given a share of the Scripture? They were invited to employ God's Scripture to judge between them, but then a group of them turned away in aversion?
[3:24] That is because they said, "The Fire will not touch us, except for a few days."They were deluded in their religion by what they used to fabricate.
[3:25] So how will it be when We gather them on a Day about which there is no doubt, and every self is paid in full for what it had earned, and they are not wronged?
[3:26] Say, "O God, Possessor of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will, and You strip sovereignty away from whom You will. You grant dignity to whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will. In Your hand are all good things. You are Capable of all things.
[3:27] You merge the night into the day, and You merge the day into the night. You extract the living from the dead and extract the dead from the living, and You provide for whom You please without count."
[3:28] The believers are not to take the disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Whoever does that will have nothing to do with God, unless you are being on guard of them out of precaution. God warns you to beware of Him, and to God is the ultimate destination.
[3:29] Say, "Whether you conceal what is in your chests or reveal it, God knows it. He knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and God is Capable of all things."
[3:30] There will come a Day when every self will find the good work it has done brought forth. As for the bad it has done, it will wish it were separated from it by a long distance.God warns you to beware of Him, and God is Compassionate towards the servants.
[3:31] Say, "If you do love God, then follow me. God will then love you and forgive your sins. God is Forgiver, Merciful."
[3:32] Say, "Obey God and the messenger." If they turn away, then indeed, God does not like the disbelievers.
[3:33] God has chosen Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham and the family of Imran over all the people.
[3:34] Their descendants were intermixed. God is Hearer, Knowledgeable.
[3:35] The wife of Imran said, "My Lord, I have vowed to you that what is in my womb shall be entirely devoted to You, so accept from me. Indeed, You are the Hearer, the Knowledgeable."
[3:36] Then when she delivered her, she said, "My Lord, I have given birth to a female." God knows best what she delivered and that the male is not the same as the female. "I have named her Mary, and I seek Your protection for her and her offspring from the outcast devil."
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Footnote 3:36 - It is customary in the Quran that when God compares two topics, the more valued of the two is mentioned last, for it is the more valued one that is to be compared to. We read, for example, the words, 'Is the blind the same as the seer? Or is darkness the same as the light?' (13:16), and, 'The bad and the good are not the same' (5:100). When Mary's mother said, 'My Lord, I have given birth to a female,' God said that He 'knows best what she delivered,' and that He was also aware that 'the male is not the same as the female.' God honoured women by placing the 'female' last (the one to be compared to). The words 'not the same as' confirm this matter when we examine their use in verses such as 9:19, 16:76, 5:100, 13:16 and 4:95.
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[3:37] So her Lord received her with a gracious acceptance, and brought her up a fine upbringing, and appointed Zechariah as her guardian. Whenever Zechariah entered upon her in the sanctuary, he would find provisions with her and would ask, "Mary, how did you get this?" She would say, "It is from God. God provides whom He wills without count."
[3:38] Thereupon, Zechariah implored his Lord: "My Lord, grant me from You good offspring. You are the Hearer of prayers."
[3:39] So the angels called out to him while he was standing observing the Salat in the sanctuary: "God gives you good news of John, confirming a Word from God, who will be honourable and celibate, as well as a prophet, from among the righteous."
[3:40] He said, "My Lord, how can I have a boy when old age has caught up with me, and my wife is barren?" He said, "Such is God. He does what He wills."
[3:41] He said, "My Lord, appoint for me a sign." He said, "Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three days except by signs. And remember your Lord frequently and glorify in the evenings and mornings."
[3:42] The angels said, "O Mary, God has chosen you and purified you. He has chosen you over the women of all the world.
[3:43] O Mary, be obedient to your Lord, and prostrate and bow down with those who bow down."
[3:44] That is news from the unseen that We reveal to you. You were not with them when they tossed their pens to determine who would be Mary's guardian, and you were not with them when they quarrelled.
[3:45] When the angels said, "O Mary, God gives you good news of a Word from Him whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, distinguished in this world and in the Hereafter, and among those brought near.
[3:46] He will speak to the people from the cradle as well as an adult, and will be one of the righteous."
[3:47] She said, "My Lord, how can I have a son when no man has touched me?" He said, "Such is God. He creates what He wills. If He decrees a matter, He merely says to it, 'Be,' and it is."
[3:48] And He teaches him the Scripture, wisdom, the Torah and the Injeel,
[3:49] and a messenger to the Children of Israel: "I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I create for you from clay the shape of a bird, then I blow into it, and it becomes a bird with God's permission, and I heal the blind and the leper and bring the dead back to life with God's permission, and I can tell you what you eat and what you store in your homes. Indeed, in that is a sign for you if you are believers.
[3:50] I come confirming what came before me of the Torah, and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. Therefore, reverence God and obey me.
[3:51] Indeed, God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is a straight path."
[3:52] Then, when Jesus felt disbelief on their part, he said, "Who are my supporters for God?" The disciples said, "We are God's supporters. We have believed in God and bear witness that we are Submitters.
[3:53] Our Lord, we have believed in what You have brought down, and we have followed the messenger, so write us among the witnesses."
[3:54] They schemed, and God schemed, and God is the best of schemers.
[3:55] God said, "O Jesus, I am taking you back, raising you to Me and purifying you of those who disbelieved. I will place those who followed you above those who disbelieved until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you regarding that over which you used to differ.
[3:56] As for those who disbelieve, I will punish them with a severe punishment in this world and in the Hereafter and they have no supporters."
[3:57] And as for those who believe and do good deeds, He will pay them their rewards in full. God does not like the transgressors.
[3:58] This We recite to you of the revelations and the wise Reminder.
[3:59] The likeness of Jesus with God is the like of Adam: He created him from dust, then said to him, "Be," and he was.
[3:60] The truth is from your Lord, so do not be among the doubters.
[3:61] If anyone argues with you concerning it, after what has come to you of the knowledge, say, "Let us call our children and your children, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then let us invoke the curse of God upon the liars."
[3:62] This is indeed the true narrative. There is no god but God, and indeed, God is the Dignified, the Wise.
[3:63] If they turn away, then indeed, God is Knowledgeable of the corruptors.
[3:64] Say, "O People of the Book, let us come to an equitable word between us and you; that we shall not worship except God, and that we would never associate anything with Him, nor that we would take one another as lords besides God." If they turn away, then say, "Bear witness that we are Submitters."
[3:65] O People of the Book, why do you argue about Abraham when the Torah and the Injeel were not brought down until after him? Will you not reason?
[3:66] There you are, having argued about matters you have knowledge of, but why do you argue about matters you have no knowledge of? God knows while you do not know.
[3:67] Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian but was a monotheist Submitter and was not one of the mushrikeen.
[3:68] The people most worthy of Abraham are those who followed him and this prophet and those who believe. God is the Ally of the believers.
[3:69] A group from among the People of the Book wished they could misguide you, but they misguide none but themselves, and they do not realise it.
[3:70] O People of the Book, why do you disbelieve in God's revelations while you bear witness?
[3:71] O People of the Book, why do you confuse the truth with falsehood and conceal the truth knowingly?
[3:72] A group among the People of the Book said, "Believe in what was brought down upon those who believe at the beginning of the day, then disbelieve in it at the end of the day so that perhaps they will revert,
[3:73] and believe none other than those who follow your religion." Say, "The guidance is God's guidance." If anyone is given what you have been given, or if they argue with you before your Lord, say, "All favour lies in the hand of God; He bestows it upon whom He wills." God is Immense, Knowledgeable.
[3:74] He specifies His mercy to whom He wills, and God is the Possessor of Great Favour.
[3:75] Among the People of the Book is one whom if you entrust with a qintar he would return it to you, and among them is one whom if you entrust with a dinar, he will not return it to you unless you keep after him. This is because they said, "We are under no obligation towards the ummiyeen." And they say lies about God knowingly.
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Footnote 3:75 - Definitions of the word 'qintar' have varied. Some have defined it as a unit of weight, while others defined it as a unit of currency. As a unit of weight, it is said to equal 1200 ounces. Others defined it as 100 lbs. weight of gold. As a unit of currency, it was said to equate to 70,000 'dinars'. Since the word 'dinar' is also used in 3:75, it would make sense to understand the word 'qintar' in this verse to be a unit of currency.
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[3:76] Yes, whoever fulfils his oath and is reverent, then indeed, God loves the reverent.
[3:77] Those who trade away God's oaths and their pledges for a cheap price, they receive no share in the Hereafter. God will not speak to them nor look at them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them. And they shall have a painful punishment.
[3:78] Among them are a group who twist the Scripture with their tongues so you would think that it is from the Scripture when it is not from the Scripture. And they say it is from God when it is not from God. And they say lies about God, knowingly.
[3:79] It is not for any human being to whom God gave the Scripture, the law, and the prophethood to then say to the people, "Be worshippers of me rather than God," but instead, "Be devoted to the Lord in accordance to the Scripture you have been teaching and in accordance to what you have been studying."
[3:80] Nor would he command you to take the angels and the prophets as lords. Would he command you to disbelieve after becoming Submitters?
[3:81] And when God took a covenant from the prophets: "For what I have given you of the Scripture and wisdom, then afterwards, a messenger comes to you, confirming what is with you; you shall believe in him and support him." He said, "Do you agree to this and accept this obligation from Me?" They said, "We agree." He said, "Therefore bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses."
[3:82] Whoever turns away after that, then they are the wicked ones.
[3:83] Is it other than God's religion that they seek, when all who are in the heavens and the earth have submitted to Him, willingly or unwillingly, and to Him they will be returned?
[3:84] Say, "We believe in God, and in what was brought down upon us, and in what was brought down upon Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, and in what was given to Moses, Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We do not distinguish between any of them, and to Him we are Submitters."
[3:85] Whoever seeks other than Submission for a religion, it will not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter, he will be among the losers.
[3:86] How can God guide people who disbelieved after their belief, when they had witnessed that the messenger was truthful, and when clear proofs had come to them? God does not guide the transgressing people.
[3:87] The penalty for those is that God's curse will be upon them, as well as the angels and all the people.
[3:88] Therein, they shall permanently remain. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be granted respite,
[3:89] except for those who repent after that and reform, then indeed, God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[3:90] Those who disbelieved after having believed, then increased in disbelief, their repentance will not be accepted. They are the misguided ones.
[3:91] Those who disbelieve and die as disbelievers, the whole earth full of gold will not be accepted from any one of them, were he to offer it as ransom. Those shall have a painful punishment and they have no supporters.
[3:92] You will not attain piety until you give from that which you love. And whatever you give, indeed, God is Knowledgeable of it.
[3:93] All food was lawful for the Children of Israel except what Israel prohibited on itself before the Torah was brought down. Say, "Then bring the Torah and recite it if you are truthful."
[3:94] So whoever fabricates lies about God after that, they are the transgressors.
[3:95] Say, "God has proclaimed the truth, so follow the creed of Abraham. He was a monotheist and was not one of the mushrikeen."
[3:96] The first House established for the people was the one in Bacca; blessed and a guidance for all people.
[3:97] In it are clear signs: Abraham's station. And whoever entered it was safe. Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to God by the people who find the means to get to it. As for those who disbelieve, then indeed, God is beyond need of all the worlds.
[3:98] Say, "O People of the Book, why do you disbelieve in God's revelations when God is Witness over what you do?"
[3:99] Say, "O People of the Book, why do you repel those who believe from the path of God seeking to make it crooked, when you are witnesses? God is not unaware of what you do."
[3:100] O you who believe, if you obey a group of those who were given the Scripture, they will revert you, after having believed, to being disbelievers.
[3:101] How could you disbelieve when God's revelations are being recited to you, and among you is His messenger? Whoever holds fast to God has been guided to a straight path.
[3:102] O you who believe, reverence God as He should be revered, and do not die except as Submitters,
[3:103] and hold fast to the rope of God, and do not be divided, and remember God's blessings upon you when you were enemies, then He instilled harmony between your hearts. As a result, and through His blessing, you became brethren. You were at the brink of a fire pit, and He saved you from it. God thus clarifies His revelations for you so that you may be guided.
[3:104] Let there be a nation from among you that invites to goodness, advocates righteousness and forbids evil. They are the successful ones.
[3:105] And do not be like those who became divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them. Those shall have a great punishment
[3:106] on the Day when some faces will be whitened, and some faces will be blackened. As for those whose faces are blackened: "Did you disbelieve after having believed? Therefore, taste the punishment for what you used to deny."
[3:107] And as for those whose faces are whitened, they are embraced within God's mercy. Therein, they shall permanently remain.
[3:108] These are God's revelations that We recite to you with truth, and God wants no injustice to the worlds.
[3:109] To God belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and to God, all matters are returned.
[3:110] You were the best nation produced for the people: you advocate righteousness, forbid evil, and you believe in God. Had the People of the Book believed, it would have been better for them. Some of them are believers, but most of them are wicked.
[3:111] They will not harm you beyond throwing abuse. If they fight you, they will turn their backs on you and flee. Then they will not be supported.
[3:112] They shall be stricken with humiliation wherever they are encountered unless they are sustained by a rope from God and a rope from the people. They have incurred wrath from God. Consequently, they are stricken with misery. This is because they used to disbelieve in God's revelations and kill the prophets unjustly. This is because they disobeyed and used to transgress.
[3:113] They are not all the same: among the People of the Book is an upright community. They recite God's revelations during the night while they prostrate.
[3:114] They believe in God and the Last Day, and they advocate righteousness and forbid evil, and they hasten to do good. These are among the righteous.
[3:115] Any good that they do will not be denied them. God is Knowledgeable of the reverent.
[3:116] Those who disbelieved, neither their wealth nor their children will avail them in any way against God. They are the companions of the Fire. Therein, they shall permanently remain.
[3:117] The example of what they give in this worldly life is like the example of a wind with bitter frost that hit the harvest of people who have wronged themselves, thereby destroying it. God did not wrong them, but it was they who wronged themselves.
[3:118] O you who believe, do not take outsiders who never cease to wish you harm as intimates. They wish to see you suffer. Hatred is evident from what comes out of their mouths, while what their chests conceal is even greater. We have clarified the revelations for you if you will use reason.
[3:119] Here you are, loving them while they do not love you, and you believe in all the Scripture. If they meet you, they say, "We believe," then, when they are alone, they bite their fingers out of rage towards you. Say, "Die in your rage." Indeed, God is Knowledgeable of what the chests hold.
[3:120] If something good comes your way, it grieves them. And if something bad befalls you, they rejoice for it. If you are patient and reverent, their schemes will not harm you in any way. God encompasses what they do.
[3:121] And when you rose earlier than your people to assign to the believers positions for battle, indeed, God is Hearer, Knowledgeable.
[3:122] When two groups amongst you were on the verge of failing, God was their Ally. In God, the believers should trust.
[3:123] God has granted you victory at Badr when you were outnumbered and humiliated. So reverence God, and hopefully, you may give thanks.
[3:124] You told the believers, "Would it not be sufficient for you if your Lord was to reinforce you with three thousand angels sent down?"
[3:125] Indeed, if you are patient and reverent, then should they suddenly attack you, your Lord would reinforce you with five thousand marked angels.
[3:126] God ordained this only as good news for you and so that your hearts would be assured thereby. Victory comes only from God, the Dignified, the Wise.
[3:127] He thus cuts off a flank of those who disbelieved or debases them. Thus, they turn back disappointed.
[3:128] You have no say in the matter as to whether He redeems them or He punishes them, for they are transgressors.
[3:129] To God belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[3:130] O you who believe, do not consume usury, doubled manifold, and reverence God so that you may succeed.
[3:131] And beware of the Fire that has been prepared for the disbelievers.
[3:132] And obey God and the messenger so that you may be granted mercy.
[3:133] And hasten in pursuit of forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise whose width encompasses the heavens and the earth. It has been prepared for the reverent
[3:134] who give in prosperity and hardship, and the suppressors of rage, and those who pardon the people. God loves the good-doers.
[3:135] And those who, upon committing an immorality or wronging themselves, remember God and ask forgiveness for their sins. And who forgives the sins except for God? Then they do not persist in what they have done knowingly.
[3:136] The reward for those is forgiveness from their Lord and Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Therein, they shall permanently remain. Excellent is the reward of the workers.
[3:137] Many precedents have passed away before you, so travel in the land and look what the outcome of the deniers was.
[3:138] This is a clarification for the people and a guidance and advice for the reverent.
[3:139] Do not waver nor grieve, for you shall have the upper hand if you are believers.
[3:140] If a wound afflicts you, a similar wound has afflicted other people. We alternate these days among the people, and indeed, God knows the ones who believe, and He selects witnesses from among you. God does not like the transgressors.
[3:141] And God thus purges those who believe and condemns the disbelievers.
[3:142] Or have you thought that you would enter Paradise without God distinguishing the ones who strove amongst you and distinguishing the patient ones?
[3:143] You used to long for death before encountering it. Now you have seen it while you looked on.
[3:144] Muhammad is no more than a messenger like the messengers who passed away before him. Should he die or get killed, would you turn back on your heels? Anyone who turns back on his heels does not harm God in any way. God will reward those who are thankful.
[3:145] No self is to die except with God's permission. It is a predetermined decree. Whoever desires the reward of this world, We grant him therefrom, and whoever desires the reward of the Hereafter, We grant him therefrom. We shall reward those who are thankful.
[3:146] Many a prophet had many devout people fight alongside him. They did not waver in the face of what afflicted them in the cause of God, nor did they weaken or become discouraged. God loves the patient ones.
[3:147] Their utterance was none other than to say, "Our Lord, forgive us our sins and our excessiveness in our affairs, and secure our foothold, and support us against the disbelieving people."
[3:148] So God granted them the reward of this world and the good reward of the Hereafter. God loves the good-doers.
[3:149] O you who believe, if you obey those who disbelieve, they will turn you back on your heels, and you will then turn into losers.
[3:150] Rather, it is God who is your Master, and He is the best of supporters.
[3:151] We will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved for associating with God what He did not bring down authorisation for. Their refuge is the Fire; what a miserable home for the transgressors!
[3:152] God has fulfilled His promise to you when you defeated them with His permission. That was until you faltered, disputed in the matter and disobeyed after He showed you that which you love. Some of you want this world, and some of you want the Hereafter. Then He averted you from them in order to test you, and He pardoned you, and God is Possessor of Favour for the believers.
[3:153] You climbed up and paid no attention to anyone while the messenger was calling you from your rear. And so He repaid you, one misery for another, so that you may not grieve over what passed you by nor what afflicted you. God is All-Aware of what you do.
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Footnote 3:153 - The Muslims looked like they were gaining a decisive victory over the Meccans in the battle of Uhud. However, in breach of the prophet's orders, a group of archers left their assigned posts in order to join in collecting the spoils. This was exploited by the Meccans who launched a surprise attack and spread chaos among the Muslim ranks. The Muslims had to withdraw and 'climbed up' the slopes of Uhud to escape the onslaught. The Meccans did not pursue the Muslims further but marched victoriously back to Mecca.
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[3:154] Then after the misery, He brought down upon you peaceful slumber which overtook a group among you, while another group were only concerned about themselves. They entertained thoughts about God that were untrue, the thoughts of the days of ignorance, saying, "Do we have any say in the matter?" Say, "All matters are up to God." They conceal inside themselves what they do not reveal to you. They said, "If we had any say in the matter, we would not have been killed right here." Say, "If you had been in your homes, those decreed to be killed would have encountered it in their beds." God thus tests what is in your chests and purges what is in your hearts. God is Knowledgeable of what the chests hold.
[3:155] Those among you who turned away on the day the two armies met, it was but the devil who made them slip by means of some of what they had earned. God has pardoned them. Indeed, God is Forgiver, Forbearing.
[3:156] O you who believe, do not be like those who disbelieved and said of their brethren who travelled the land or were on the offensive, "Had they stayed with us, they would not have died or been killed." God renders this a source of remorse in their hearts. God brings to life and puts to death. God is Seer of what you do.
[3:157] If you get killed in the cause of God, or die, the forgiveness from God and mercy are better than whatever they can amass.
[3:158] And if you die or get killed, unto God you shall be gathered.
[3:159] It was out of mercy from God that you became gentle towards them. Had you been harsh and hard-hearted, they would have dispersed from around you. So pardon them, ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. Once you make a decision, put your trust in God. God loves the trusting ones.
[3:160] If God supports you, none can defeat you. And if He forsakes you, who is the one who can support you after Him? In God the believers should trust.
[3:161] It is not for a prophet to defraud. Anyone who defrauds will bring along what he defrauded on the Day of Resurrection. Then every self will be paid in full for what it had earned, and they will not be wronged.
[3:162] Is one who pursues God's consent the same as one who incurs anger from God and whose refuge is Hell? What a miserable destination!
[3:163] They occupy different ranks at God. God is Seer of what they do.
[3:164] God has bestowed favour upon the believers when He sent them a messenger from amongst themselves, reciting to them His revelations, purifying them and teaching them the Scripture and wisdom, whereas they were previously in clear misguidance.
[3:165] Why is it that when a disaster befell you, and you had already inflicted double as much, you said, "How could this possibly happen?" Say, "It is from yourselves." Indeed, God is Capable of all things.
[3:166] What befell you on the day the two armies met was by God's permission, and indeed, He knows the believers,
[3:167] and indeed, He knows the ones who acted hypocritically. They were told, "Come and fight in the cause of God, or defend." They said, "If we knew how to fight, we would have followed you." They were closer to disbelief on that day than they were to belief. They utter with their mouths what is not in their hearts. God knows best what they conceal.
[3:168] Those who stayed behind and said to their brothers, "Had they obeyed us, they would not have been killed." Say, "Then avert death from yourselves if you are truthful."
[3:169] Do not think that those who are killed in the cause of God are dead. Rather, they are alive at their Lord, being provided for.
[3:170] They are delighted in what God has granted them of His favour, and they rejoice in the good news of those after them who have not yet joined them; that no fear will there be concerning them nor will they grieve.
[3:171] They receive good news of a blessing from God and favour, and that God does not waste the reward of the believers
[3:172] who have responded to God and the messenger after being afflicted by wounds. For those among them who did good and were reverent is a great reward.
[3:173] And it is those to whom the people said, "People have gathered against you, so you should fear them," but this merely increased their faith, and they said, "God suffices us. He is the best Trustee."
[3:174] So they returned with a blessing from God and favour. No harm touched them, and they sought God's consent, and God is Possessor of Great Favour.
[3:175] It is but the devil who tries to frighten his allies, so do not fear them, but fear Me if you are believers.
[3:176] Do not be grieved by those who hasten towards disbelief. They will not harm God in any way. God wills that they shall have no share in the Hereafter, and they shall have a great punishment.
[3:177] Those who bought disbelief at the cost of belief will not harm God in any way, and they shall have a painful punishment.
[3:178] Those who disbelieved should not think that We grant them respite for their own good. We only grant them respite so that they increase in sinfulness, and they shall have a humiliating punishment.
[3:179] God was not to leave the believers in the state you are in until He distinguishes the bad from the good. Nor was God to inform you of the unseen, but God chooses whom He wills from among His messengers. So believe in God and His messengers. If you believe and are reverent, you shall have a great reward.
[3:180] Those who are miserly with what God has granted them of His favour should not think that it is good for them, but it is bad for them. They shall have their hoardings placed around their necks on the Day of Resurrection. To God belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth. And God is All-Aware of what you do.
[3:181] God has heard the utterance of those who said, " Indeed, God is poor, and we are rich." We will record what they said and their killing of the prophets unjustly, and We will say, "Taste the punishment of the Fire.
[3:182] This is for what your hands have put forth for God is not unjust towards the servants."
[3:183] To those who said, "God has taken an oath from us that we shall not believe in any messenger unless he brings us a sacrificial offering to be consumed by the fire." Say, "Messengers have come to you before me with the clear proofs and with what you said. Why then did you kill them if you are truthful?"
[3:184] If they deny you, so have other messengers been denied before you who came with the clear proofs, the Scriptures, and the enlightening Book.
[3:185] Every self tastes death, and it is on the Day of Resurrection that you will be paid your rewards in full. Whoever is nudged away from the Fire, and admitted into Paradise, has indeed triumphed. The worldly life is no more than the enjoyment of an illusion.
[3:186] You will be tested by means of your money and yourselves, and you will hear much abuse from those who were given the Scripture before you and from the mushrikeen. If you are patient and reverent, this would be the most resolute behaviour.
[3:187] God took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture: "You shall make it clear to the people, and not conceal it." However, they cast it behind their backs and traded it away for a cheap price. Miserable indeed is what they purchased.
[3:188] Do not think that those who boast about what they have done and love to be praised for what they did not do - do not think that they have triumphed by evading the punishment, for they shall have a painful punishment.
[3:189] And to God belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, and God is Capable of all things.
[3:190] In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, are signs for those who possess intelligence.
[3:191] Those who remember God while standing, sitting, and on their sides, and they reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth: "Our Lord, You did not create this in vain, glory to You, so guard us against the punishment of the Fire.
[3:192] Our Lord, whomever You admit into the Fire, You have disgraced, and the transgressors have no supporters.
[3:193] Our Lord, we have heard a caller inviting to faith: 'Believe in your Lord,' so we believed. Our Lord, forgive us our sins, wipe out our bad deeds and end our lives among the pious.
[3:194] Our Lord, and grant us what You promised us through Your messengers, and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection. You never break a promise."
[3:195] So their Lord responded to them: "I do not let the work of any worker among you, male or female, go to waste; you are of one another. For those who have emigrated, and were evicted from their homes, and were harmed for striving in My cause, and have fought and got killed, I will surely wipe out their bad deeds and admit them into Gardens beneath which rivers flow; a reward from God. God has the best reward."
[3:196] Do not be deluded by the free movement of the disbelievers in the land.
[3:197] A little enjoyment, then their refuge is Hell; what a miserable resting place!
[3:198] But for those who reverenced their Lord, they shall have Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Therein, they shall permanently remain. A hospitality from God and what is at God is better for the pious.
[3:199] Indeed, among the People of the Book are those who believe in God and in what was brought down to you, and in what was brought down to them; they are humble before God. They do not trade away God's revelations for a cheap price. These will receive their reward from their Lord. Indeed, God is swift in reckoning.
[3:200] O you who believe, be patient, persevere, be united and reverence God so that you may succeed.
Sura 4 The Women (Al-Nisa)
In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.
[4:1] O people, reverence your Lord who created you from a single self and created from it its mate and spread from the two many men and women. Reverence God in whose name you implore one another and regard the blood-relatives. Indeed, God is Watchful over you.
[4:2] And give the orphans their money. Do not replace the good with the bad, and do not consume their money by adding it to yours; this is indeed a great sin.
[4:3] And if you fear that you may not be just to the orphans, then you may marry whom you please of the women, two, three, or four. But if you fear that you may not treat them equally, then only one, or what your right hand possesses. This is less than if you do not support orphans.
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Footnote 4:3 – The words 'inn' (if) and the letter 'fa' (then) in the first sentence in 4:3 are conditional words. This makes the act of supporting orphans and fearing not being able to provide them with sufficient care a condition for polygamy. This condition is sadly overlooked by the majority of Muslim scholars. A second wife would indeed support the man in raising and caring for the orphans he supports. Should the man be supporting a large number of orphans, he may marry up to four wives for the same purpose. This affirms that the reason God allowed polygamy in the Quran is not for the personal pleasure of men but to safeguard the best interest of the orphans.
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[4:4] And give the women their dowries willingly. If they gladly forfeit any of it to you, then you may consume it happily and with gratitude.
[4:5] And do not give the simple-minded the money that God has entrusted to you for their benefit. Provide for them therefrom and clothe them, and say kind words to them.
[4:6] And test the orphans when they reach the age of marriage, then if you sense sound judgment in them, hand over to them their money. Do not consume it wastefully or quickly before they have grown up. Those who are rich shall not charge any wage, and whoever is poor can charge equitably.When you hand over to them their money, have witnesses in their presence. God suffices as a Reckoner.
[4:7] The men have a share in what the parents and the close ones leave behind, and the women have a share in what the parents and close ones leave behind. Whether it is less or more than it, it is a decreed share.
[4:8] If the distribution is attended by the relatives, the orphans and the needy, provide for them from it and say kind words to them.
[4:9] Those who fear for their weak offspring, should they die and leave them behind, should show the same concern. Therefore, they shall reverence God and speak appropriate words.
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Footnote 4:9 – The instruction in this verse is for the guardians and those in charge of orphans. They should show concern for the orphans in the same way that they would be concerned about their own children, who would be vulnerable if they were to die and leave them behind.
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[4:10] Those who consume the orphans' money unjustly are only consuming fire in their bellies, and they will roast in a Blaze.
[4:11] God instructs you regarding your children: the male gets the share of two females. If they are only females and more than two, they get two-thirds of what he leaves behind. If she is a single daughter, she gets one-half. His parents get one-sixth each of what he leaves behind if he has any children. If he had no children, and his parents are the only inheritors, then one-third is for the mother. If he has siblings, then one-sixth is for the mother after the payment of a will that he may have left or a debt. Regarding your parents and your children, you do not know which of them is closer to you in benefit. This is a decreed obligation from God. Indeed, God is Knowledgeable, Wise.
[4:12] For you is half of what your wives leave behind if they had no children. If they had children, you get one-fourth of what they leave behind after the payment of a will that they may have left or any debt. To them is one-quarter of what you leave behind if you have no children. If you have children, they get one-eighth of what you leave behind after the payment of a will that you may have left or any debt. If the deceased man or woman has no parents or children but has a brother or sister, each of them gets one-sixth. If there are more siblings, then they all share one-third after the payment of a will that may have been left or any debt, without any prejudice. This is God's instruction. God is Knowledgeable, Forbearing.
[4:13] These are God's limits. He who obeys God and His messenger, He will admit him into Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Therein, they shall permanently remain, and that is the great triumph.
[4:14] And he who disobeys God and His messenger and oversteps His limits, He will admit him into a Fire wherein he shall permanently remain, and for him is a humiliating punishment.
[4:15] For the ones who commit an immorality among your women, call to witness four from among you against them. If they do bear witness, then confine them to the homes until death takes them or until God devises for them a way out.
[4:16] And for the male couple among you who commit it, punish them. Then if they repent and reform, leave them alone. Indeed, God is Redeemer, Merciful.
[4:17] Repentance is acceptable by God only from those who commit wrongdoings out of ignorance, then repent soon after. Those will be redeemed by God. Indeed, God is Knowledgeable, Wise.
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Footnote 4:17 - By reading 4:17 in isolation, the words can imply that repentance is only accepted if the offender committed a sin 'out of ignorance'. What about those who commit sins knowingly, but then repent and reform? Are their repentances not accepted?
This question is resolved when we seek the guidance of other verses that confirm a number of issues:
1- Any sin committed by any person entails disobedience of God's law.
2- More importantly, we learn from the Quran that the act of disobeying God in itself is an act of ignorance.
Example 1: In 12:33, we read how prophet Joseph implored God to avert from him the scheming of the women who tried to seduce him, lest he should succumb to them and disobey God's commandments. Joseph continued to say that if he were to succumb to what the women were inviting him to do (adultery), thereby disobeying God's commandments, he would be 'among the ignorant ones.'
The ignorance that Joseph spoke about was not ignorance of the sin of adultery. Joseph was well aware of what adultery meant otherwise he would not have implored God to save him from it. The ignorance Joseph spoke about was in the act of disobeying God.
Example 2: In 11:46, God commanded prophet Noah not to ask what he has no knowledge of lest he would be 'among the ignorant ones.' How can asking a question make a person ignorant when in fact, asking and receiving an answer makes the person more knowledgeable? Had Noah continued to ask God about that matter, he would have disobeyed God's command not to ask. It is the disobedience of God that would have made him one of the ignorant ones.
Example 3: In verses, 6:33,34,35 God admonishes prophet Muhammad who was not being patient in the face of the grief his people were causing him. God tells him that other messengers were also mistreated, but they were patient. God warns prophet Muhammad not to lose patience and abandon his mission or else he would be'among the ignorant ones.'
Had prophet Muhammad not been patient, he would have disobeyed God's command to be patient.
It is the disobedience of God that would have made him one of the ignorant ones.
Example 4: In 7:138, we read how the Children of Israel, who had just seen a breathtaking miracle in the parting of the sea, asked prophet Moses to make for them a stone god! The reply of Moses was, 'You are an ignorant people.' Once again, their ignorance was not in the fact that they were not aware of what they asked for but in the fact that in seeking an idol of stone for a god, they would have disobeyed God's very first commandment: "Thou shalt have no other gods but Me."
From the above, it can be concluded that God's acceptance of repentance for sins committed 'out of ignorance' is, in fact, an acceptance of repentance for all sins, even the ones that are committed knowingly. As established, the mere act of disobeying God is in itself an act of ignorance. Any person who repents and seeks God's forgiveness will find God forgiving:
[4:110] Whoever does a bad deed, or wrongs himself, then asks God for forgiveness, will find that God is Forgiver, Merciful.
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[4:18] Not acceptable is the repentance of those who do bad deeds until death comes to one of them, then he says, "Now I have repented." Nor is it acceptable from those who die as disbelievers. For those, We have prepared a painful punishment.
[4:19] O you who believe, it is not lawful for you to inherit the women against their will. Nor shall you make difficulties for them so you can make off with some of what you had given them unless they commit a clear immorality. And live with them in kindness. If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike something wherein God has placed a lot of good.
[4:20] If you wish to replace one wife for another and you had given one of them a qintar, do not take any of it back. Would you take it by means of slander and clear sin?
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Footnote 4:20 – For the word 'qintar', see footnote 3:75.
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[4:21] How could you take it back when you have been so close to one another, and after they had taken from you a strict covenant?
[4:22] Do not marry the women whom your fathers had previously married unless it happened in the past. This is an immorality, an abhorrence and a bad path to follow.
[4:23] Forbidden for you are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your paternal aunts, your maternal aunts, the daughters of your brother, the daughters of your sister, your mothers through suckling, your sisters through suckling, your step-mothers and your step-daughters who are living in your homes if you have consummated the marriage with their mothers. If you have not consummated the marriage with their mothers, then there is no blame upon you. Also forbidden for you are the women who were married to your genetic sons and marrying two sisters simultaneously, unless it happened in the past. Indeed, God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[4:24] And also married women, except what your right hand possesses. This is God's decree that is binding on you. Beyond those, all others are permitted for you, so long as you employ your money for marriage purposes and not for illicit sex. Those among them who are pleasing to you, you shall pay them their decreed dowries. There is no blame upon you for what you mutually agree upon beyond the obligation. Indeed, God is Knowledgeable, Wise.
[4:25] Those among you who cannot afford to marry one of the free believing women may marry from among what your right hand possesses of the believing girls. God knows best about your faith than what you know about one another. So marry them with the permission of their families and pay them their due dowries equitably. Thus they become protected in marriage, rather than for them to commit illicit sex or take secret lovers. Once they are married, if they commit an immorality, they shall receive half the punishment of free women. This is for those among you who fear falling into sin, but if you are patient, it would be better for you. God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[4:26] God wishes to clarify for you, and to guide you to the ways of those before you, and to redeem you. God is Knowledgeable, Wise.
[4:27] God wishes to redeem you, while those who pursue lust wish that you would deviate a great deviation.
[4:28] God wishes to lighten your burden, for the human being was created weak.
[4:29] O you who believe, do not consume each other's money illicitly, but only engage in mutually acceptable trade. And do not kill yourselves. Indeed, God is Merciful towards you.
[4:30] Whoever does that out of aggression and injustice, We will roast him in a Fire. And that is easy for God.
[4:31] If you stay away from the worst of what you have been forbidden, We will wipe out your bad deeds and admit you a noble entrance.
[4:32] And do not covet that by which God has favoured some of you over others: the men have a share in what they have incurred, and the women have a share in what they have incurred. Implore God for His favour. Indeed, God is Knowledgeable of all things.
[4:33] We have assigned heirs for everything that is left by the parents and the close ones. And regarding those to whom you have given your pledges, give them their share. Indeed, God is Witness over all things.
[4:34] Men are responsible for the financial maintenance of women by means of what God has favoured some over the others and through what they spend of their money. The righteous women accept this willingly, and they guard in their husband's absence what God has guarded. As for the women from whom you fear irrational behaviour, you shall first advise them. Then desert them in bed. Then you may strike them out. If they obey you, you are not to seek further action against them. Indeed, God is Most High, Great.
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Footnote 4:34 – The Arabic words 'qawwamoon ala al-nisaa' mean that men are responsible for the financial maintenance of their women. This meaning is confirmed by the words that follow in the verse.
- The words 'by means of what God has favoured some over the others' give the means by which men are to maintain their wives financially. God favoured men over women in inheritance; men receive double the share of women. The wisdom behind this rule, which initially seems an unfair bias, is explained in 4:34. God assigned to men double the inheritance of women because God made men responsible for the financial maintenance of their women.
- The words 'through what they spend of their money' confirm that the word 'qawwamoon' relates to financial support and maintenance.
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The Arabic word 'adribuhhunna' is from the root word 'daraba'. This word has been used in the Quran in multiple meanings and not just physical beating. To determine the correct meaning of this word in 4:34, we need to remind ourselves of the command in 4:19 for men to treat their wives kindly, 'live with them in kindness'. It would be contradictory for God to say 'live with them in kindness' yet at the same time allow men to physically beat up their wives (regardless of the reason for the beating)!
Physical beating is also in violation of 30:21, in which God stresses the love and mercy between husband and wife.
Physical beating also violates the words in 5:87, which contain a clear command from God forbidding all aggression.
One of the Quranic uses of the word 'daraba' is to travel, as in 4:101. The word 'daraba' is also used in the Quran to mean to strike out, remove or withhold, such as in 43:5 where we read: 'Should We 'nadrib' (withhold) the Reminder from you because you were a transgressing people?'
In harmony with the command in 4:19, the correct meaning of 4:34 is that if the first two options do not yield the required result, the man is to strike his wife out (separate from her).
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[4:35] If you fear a rift between them, send an arbitrator from his family and an arbitrator from her family. If they seek reconciliation, God will reconcile between them. Indeed, God is Knowledgeable, All-Aware.
[4:36] Worship God and do not associate anything with Him, and be kind to the parents, the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the close-by neighbour, the distant neighbour, the close friend, the homeless and those whom your right hand possesses. Indeed, God does not like the ones who are arrogant and boastful,
[4:37] and who are stingy and advocate stinginess to the people, and who conceal what God has given them of His favour. We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
[4:38] And the ones who spend their money to show off in front of the people, and they do not believe in God nor in the Last Day. Whoever has the devil as a companion, he has the worst companion.
[4:39] What harm would have come to them had they believed in God and the Last Day and gave from what God has provided for them? God is Knowledgeable of them.
[4:40] God does not inflict an atom's weight of injustice, and if it is a good deed, God multiplies it and grants a great reward from Him.
[4:41] So how will it be when We bring a witness from every nation and We bring you as a witness over these?
[4:42] On that Day, those who disbelieved and disobeyed the messenger will wish that they were level with the ground. They will not be able to conceal any utterance from God.
[4:43] O you who believe, do not approach the Salat while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying, nor after sexual intercourse, until you have washed yourselves; unless you are on the road travelling. If you are ill or travelling, or if any of you has come from the toilet or had sexual contact with women, and you could not find water, then wipe your faces and hands with clean dry earth. Indeed, God is Pardoner, Forgiver.
[4:44] Have you not seen those who were given a share of the Scripture, yet they purchase the misguidance, and they want you to be misguided away from the path?
[4:45] God knows best who your enemies are. God is sufficient as an Ally, and God suffices as a Supporter.
[4:46] Some amongst the Jews distort the words out of their context, and they say, "We hear and we disobey," and "Listen to one who cannot be heard," and "Be our shepherd," twisting their tongues and defaming the religion. Had they said, "We hear, and we obey," and "We hear you," and "Grant us respite," it would have been better for them and more upright. But God has cursed them for their disbelief. Ultimately, only a few of them believe.
[4:47] O you who have been given the Scripture, believe in what We have brought down, confirming what you have, before We obliterate faces and turn them backwards, or curse them as We cursed the people of the Sabbath. God's command will be done.
[4:48] God does not forgive the association of anything with Him, and He forgives other than that for whom He wills. Anyone who associates anything with God has forged a gross sin.
[4:49] Have you not seen those who ascribe purity to themselves? Rather, God purifies whom He wills, and they will not suffer a thread's breadth of injustice.
[4:50] Look how they fabricate lies about God; that suffices as a clear sin.
[4:51] Have you not seen those who were given a share of the Scripture, and how they believe in idolatry and false gods, and they say to those who disbelieved that they are better guided to the path than those who believe.
[4:52] Those are the ones whom God has cursed, and whomever God curses, you will not find for him a supporter.
[4:53] Or do they own a share of the sovereignty, and thus they do not give the people even a naqeer?
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Footnote 4:53 - A 'naqeer' is a tiny speck on the stone of a date.
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[4:54] Or do they envy the people for what God has given them of His favour? We have given Abraham's family the Scripture and wisdom, and We granted them great sovereignty.
[4:55] So some of them believed in it, and some of them repelled from it. Hell suffices as a blaze.
[4:56] Those who disbelieved in Our revelations, We will roast them in a Fire. Every time their skins are roasted, We will replace them with other skins so that they taste the punishment. Indeed, God is Dignified, Wise.
[4:57] As for the ones who believe and do good deeds, We will admit them into Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Therein, they shall forever remain. They will have purified spouses therein, and We will admit them into a blissful shade.
[4:58] God commands you to return those things you hold on trust to their owners, and that if you judge between the people, that you judge equitably. Excellent indeed is the advice God gives to you. Indeed, God is Hearer, Seer.
[4:59] O you who believe, obey God and obey the messenger and those in charge among you. If you dispute in any matter, refer it to God and the messenger if you do believe in God and the Last Day. This is better and is the correct way to act.
[4:60] Have you not seen those who claim that they believed in what was brought down to you and in what was brought down before you? They seek the laws of false gods, although they were commanded to reject them. The devil wishes to lead them far astray.
[4:61] And if they are told, "Come to what God has brought down, and to the messenger," you see the hypocrites repelling away from you fervently.
[4:62] How come when a disaster strikes them as a result of what their hands have put forth, they come to you and swear by God: "We only intended goodwill and reconciliation"?
[4:63] Those are the ones whom God knows what is in their hearts, so keep away from them. Just advise them and say to them convincing words about themselves.
[4:64] We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed with God's permission. Had they, when they wronged themselves, come to you and asked God for forgiveness, and the messenger asked for their forgiveness, they would have found that God is Redeemer, Merciful.
[4:65] No! By your Lord, they are not believers until they have you judge the disputes which arise between them, then find no resentment within themselves towards what you have decided and accept it wholeheartedly.
[4:66] Had We decreed upon them: "Kill yourselves," or "Leave your homes," they would not have done it, except for a few of them. Had they done what they were advised to do, it would have been better for them, and it would have given them a far more secure position.
[4:67] And then We would have granted them a great reward from Us.
[4:68] And We would surely have guided them to a straight path.
[4:69] The ones who obey God and the messenger shall be with those whom God has blessed of the prophets, the truthful ones, the witnesses and the righteous. What a fine company such people are!
[4:70] Such favour is from God, and God suffices as a Knower.
[4:71] O you who believe, take your precaution, then march forth in groups or march forth all together.
[4:72] There is certainly among you he who lags behind, then if a disaster befalls you, he says, "God has blessed me in that I was not present with them."
[4:73] And if you are granted a favour from God, he would say, as if no previous affection had existed between you and him, "I wish I had been with them, so that I could have gained a great triumph."
[4:74] So let those who buy the Hereafter at the cost of the worldly life fight in the cause of God. Whoever fights in the cause of God, then gets killed or attains victory, We shall grant him a great reward.
[4:75] What is the matter with you that you do not fight in the cause of God when there are oppressed men, women and children who say, "Our Lord, take us out of this village whose people are oppressive, and grant us from You an ally, and grant us from You a supporter."
[4:76] Those who believe, they fight in the cause of God, while those who disbelieve fight for the cause of false gods. So fight the allies of the devil. Indeed, the devil's scheming is weak.
[4:77] Have you not seen those who were told, "Withhold your hands and observe the Salat and give the Zakat"? Then when fighting was decreed for them, a group of them feared the people as much as the fear of God, or even more, and they said, "Our Lord, why did You decree the fighting upon us? If only You would respite us for a short while!" Say, "The enjoyments of this world mean little, while the Hereafter is better for the reverent, and you will not suffer a thread's breadth of injustice."
[4:78] Wherever you may be, death will catch up with you, even if you are in fortified towers. When something good happens to them, they say, "This is from God," and when something bad afflicts them, they say, "This is from you." Say, "All is from God." So what is the matter with these people that they can hardly understand anything being said?
[4:79] Anything good that happens to you is from God, and anything bad that happens to you is from your own self. We have sent you as a messenger to the people, and God suffices as a Witness.
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Footnote 4:78-79 – The words 'all is from God' refer to God being the source of everything that happens to us. All that happens to us is God-given, and 'nothing befalls us except what God has decreed for us' (9:51).
In contrast, the words 'anything bad that happens to you is from your own self' speak of the cause (not the source) of the bad things that happen to us. All bad things that happen to the human being are a consequence of his own work, see 42:30.
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[4:80] He who obeys the messenger has obeyed God. As for those who turn away, We did not send you as a guardian over them.
[4:81] They speak of obedience, but as soon as they come away from you, a group of them conspire by night to do other than what you have said. God records what they conspire by night. Stay away from them and trust in God, and God suffices as a Trustee.
[4:82] Will they not reflect upon the Quran? If it were from other than God, they would have found in it much discrepancy.
[4:83] And if some matter of security or fear comes their way, they make it publicly known, but if they had referred it to the messenger and to those in charge among them, then those of them who investigate these matters would have known about it. If it were not for God's favour towards you and His mercy, you would have followed the devil, except for a few.
[4:84] So fight in the cause of God. You are not responsible for other than yourself and urge the believers on. It may be that God will restrain the might of those who disbelieved. God is far mightier and greater in exemplary punishment.
[4:85] Whoever intercedes for a good cause receives a share thereof, and whoever intercedes for a bad cause shares its burden. God, over all things, is a Keeper.
[4:86] If you are greeted with a greeting, greet with a better greeting or return it. Indeed, God is a Reckoner over all things.
[4:87] God, there is no god except Him. He will gather you onto the Day of Resurrection about which there is no doubt. And who is more truthful in hadith than God?
[4:88] What is the matter with you that you divide into two groups regarding the hypocrites when God has condemned them for what they have earned? Do you want to guide those whom God has misguided? Whomever God misguides, you will not find a way for him.
[4:89] They wish that you would disbelieve as they have disbelieved so that you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate in the cause of God. If they turn back, then take them and kill them wherever you may encounter them, and do not take from among them an ally or supporter,
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Footnote 4:89 – This verse has been interpreted by some to mean that believers may kill the disbelievers wherever they may encounter them. This would surely be the correct conclusion if we read 4:89 in isolation. However, the words 'kill them wherever you may encounter them' must be read within the context of verses (89, 90 and 91). The words in these three verses clearly speak about the disbelievers who attack the believers in a state of war. The subject of the three verses, which is the state of war, is confirmed in verse 4:90 with the words: 'except for those who join people with whom you have a treaty or those who come to you with hearts reluctant to fight you or to fight their own people.'
The words 'if they leave you alone, refrain from fighting you, and offer you peace, then God gives you no claim against them' in 4:90 confirm that war and killing are only permitted in the case of self-defence.
Finally, the identity of the enemy whom God gives the believers 'authority' to fight against and kill is defined in 4:91 as those who: 'do not leave you alone, nor offer you peace, nor withdraw their hands.'
The same truth is confirmed in other Quranic verses, such as:
- 'If they should incline to peace, so shall you'8:61
- 'Fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not aggress. Indeed, God does not like the aggressors.' 2:190.
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[4:90] except for those who join people with whom you have a treaty or those who come to you with hearts reluctant to fight you or to fight their own people. Had God willed, He could have charged them against you, and then they would have fought you. Therefore, if they leave you alone, refrain from fighting you, and offer you peace, then God gives you no claim against them.
[4:91] You will find others who wish to be safe from you and safe from their own people. Every time they are returned to the test, they plunge into it, causing their condemnation. So if they do not leave you alone, nor offer you peace, nor withdraw their hands, take them and kill them where you encounter them. Over these, We have given you clear authority.
[4:92] No believer shall kill another believer except if it is by mistake. If one kills a believer by mistake, he shall free a believing slave, and a compensation is to be handed over to his family unless they forfeit such a compensation as a charity. If the victim was a believer, but from people who are your enemy, you shall free a believing slave. If he was from people with whom you have a treaty, then a compensation is to be handed over to his family and the freeing of a believing slave. If you are not able to, then fast two consecutive months to attain redemption from God. God is Knowledgeable, Wise.
[4:93] Whoever kills a believer intentionally, his penalty is Hell, wherein he shall permanently remain. God is angry with him, has cursed him, and has prepared for him a great punishment.
[4:94] O you who believe, if you go forth in the cause of God, investigate all matters, and do not say to one who offers you peace, "You are not a believer." You seek the material gains of the worldly life, while with God are abundant bounties. That is how you were before, then God bestowed favour on you, so investigate. Indeed, God is All-Aware of what you do.
[4:95] Not the same are the sedentary among the believers, except the disabled and those who strive in the cause of God with their money and themselves. God has favoured, in rank, the strivers with their money and themselves over the sedentary. For both, God promises good things, yet God favours the strivers over the sedentary with a great reward.
[4:96] Such ranks come from Him, as well as forgiveness and mercy. God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[4:97] When the angels take back those who wronged themselves, they say, "What circumstances were you in?" They said, "We were oppressed in the land." They said, "Was God's earth not vast enough for you to emigrate therein?" For those, their refuge is Hell, and a miserable destination it is,
[4:98] but not the oppressed among the men, women, and children who did not have the means nor were they guided to find the way.
[4:99] With regards to those, perhaps God will pardon them. God is Pardoner, Forgiver.
[4:100] Anyone who emigrates in the cause of God will find plenty of refuge and abundance in the earth. And whoever departs his home, emigrating to God and His messenger, then death catches up with him, his reward falls on God. God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[4:101] If you travel in the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening your Salat if you fear that those who disbelieved may harm you. Surely, the disbelievers are your clear enemy.
[4:102] And if you are among them and you lead the Salat for them, let a group of them stand with you and let them hold on to their weapons. Then once they have prostrated, let them be positioned behind you and let another group, who has not yet observed the Salat, observe the Salat with you while remaining cautious and while holding on to their weapons. Those who disbelieved would like you to be negligent of your weapons and goods in order to come down on you with one blow. There is no blame upon you, should you be impeded by rain or are ill, for putting down your weapons, but remain cautious. God has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
[4:103] Once you have completed the Salat, remember God while standing, sitting and on your sides. Once you are back to safety, observe the Salat. The Salat has been decreed upon the believers at specifically appointed times.
[4:104] Do not waver in pursuing those people. If you should be suffering, they are suffering just as you are suffering. However, you seek from God what they do not seek. God is Knowledgeable, Wise.
[4:105] We brought down to you the Book with the truth so that you may judge between the people in accordance with what God has shown you, and do not be an advocate for the betrayers,
[4:106] and ask God for forgiveness. Indeed, God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[4:107] Do not argue on behalf of those who betray themselves. Indeed, God does not like one who is a betrayer, sinner.
[4:108] They may hide from the people, but they cannot hide from God. He is with them as they conspire by night with the kind of talk which He does not approve of. God encompasses what they do.
[4:109] Here you are having argued on their behalf in the worldly life, but who will argue with God on their behalf on the Day of Resurrection? Or who will be their trustee?
[4:110] Whoever does a bad deed, or wrongs himself, then asks God for forgiveness, will find that God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[4:111] And whoever commits a sin, he brings it upon himself. God is Knowledgeable, Wise.
[4:112] And whoever commits a wrongdoing or a sin, then accuses an innocent person thereof, has committed slander and a clear sin.
[4:113] If it were not for God's favour upon you and His mercy, a group of them were about to misguide you, but they do not misguide except themselves, and they do not harm you in any way. God has brought down upon you the Book and the wisdom and has taught you what you knew not. Indeed, God's favour upon you is great.
[4:114] There is not much good in most of their private conferring, except for the one who advocates a charity, a righteous deed, or a reconciliation between the people. Whoever does this, seeking God's consent, We shall grant him a great reward.
[4:115] And whoever opposes the messenger after the guidance has become clear to him, and follows other than the path of the believers, We will direct him towards what he has turned to, and We will roast him in Hell; what a miserable destination!
[4:116] God does not forgive the association of anything with Him, and He forgives other than that for whom He wills. Whoever associates anything with God has indeed strayed far astray.
[4:117] They call upon only females besides Him, but in fact, they call upon none other than a rebellious devil.
[4:118] God has cursed him, and he said, "I will surely claim a decreed share of Your servants.
[4:119] I will misguide them, and I will entice them, and I will command them so they would slit the ears of livestock, and I will command them so they would alter God's creation." Anyone who takes the devil for an ally instead of God has indeed lost, a clear loss.
[4:120] He promises them and entices them, but the devil promises them nothing but delusion.
[4:121] The refuge of those is Hell, and they will find no escape from it.
[4:122] As for those who believe and do good deeds, We will admit them into Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Therein, they shall forever remain. God's promise is truthful. And who is more truthful in utterance than God?
[4:123] It is not in accordance with your wishes, nor the wishes of the People of the Book: whoever commits a bad deed will be repaid for it and will not find for himself any ally or supporter besides God.
[4:124] And whoever does good deeds, male or female, and is a believer, those will enter Paradise, and they will not be wronged by even so much as a naqeer.
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Footnote 4:124 - For 'naqeer', see footnote 4:53.
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[4:125] Who could possibly have a better religion than the one who submits himself to God while being a good-doer and follows the creed of Abraham, the monotheist? God has taken Abraham as a friend.
[4:126] To God belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and God encompasses all things.
[4:127] They ask you for a fatwa regarding women. Say, "God gives you a fatwa regarding them and also regarding what is recited to you in the Book about the orphaned girls to whom you do not give what has been decreed for them, and you wish to marry them, and about the oppressed children, and about the orphans whose welfare you should maintain equitably. Whatever good you do, indeed, God is Knowledgeable thereof."
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Footnote 4:127 – The word 'fatwa' means a ruling that is of binding legal nature.
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[4:128] If a woman fears irrational behaviour or aversion from her husband, there is no blame on them if they reconcile between them, for reconciliation is best. The selves are prone to stinginess, so if you do good and are reverent, then indeed, God is All-Aware of what you do.
[4:129] You will not be able to treat women equally, no matter how keen you may be. So do not be totally inclined towards one leaving another as one who is suspended. If you make amends and are reverent, then indeed, God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[4:130] If they do separate, God will enrich each of them from His abundance. God is Immense, Wise.
[4:131] To God belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. We have instructed those who were given the Scripture before you, as well as you, that you shall reverence God. If you disbelieve, then to God belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. God is Rich, Praiseworthy.
[4:132] To God belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and God suffices as a Trustee.
[4:133] If He wills, He can remove you, O people, and bring forth others. God is Capable to do that.
[4:134] For those who seek the rewards of this world: with God is the reward of this world and the Hereafter. God is Hearer, Seer.
[4:135] O you who believe, uphold justice and serve as witnesses for God, even if it is against yourselves or the parents and the close ones. Whether a person is rich or poor, God is worthy of taking care of both. Therefore, in order to be just, do not follow personal desire. If you deviate or turn away, then indeed, God is All-Aware of what you do.
[4:136] O you who believe, believe in God and His messenger, and the Book He has brought down upon His messenger, and the Scripture He has brought down previously. Whoever disbelieves in God, and His angels, and His Scriptures, and His messengers, and the Last Day, has indeed strayed far astray.
[4:137] Those who believed, then disbelieved, then believed, then disbelieved, then increased in disbelief, God is not to forgive them, nor will He guide them to a path.
[4:138] Give news to the hypocrites that they shall have a painful punishment.
[4:139] Regarding those who take the disbelievers as allies instead of the believers, do they seek to acquire dignity in their company? Most surely, all dignity belongs to God.
[4:140] He has brought down upon you in the Book that if you hear God's revelations being disbelieved in and ridiculed, do not sit with them until they engage in a different talk. Otherwise, you are like them. God will gather the hypocrites and the disbelievers, all together, into Hell.
[4:141] Those who watch you and wait, then, if you gain a victory from God, they say, "Were we not with you?" But if the disbelievers have a share of success, they tell them, "Did we not have the upper hand over you, yet we prevented the believers from getting to you?" God will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection. God will not give the disbelievers the means to prevail over the believers.
[4:142] The hypocrites think that they are deceiving God, but He is the One who leads them on. When they get up for the Salat, they get up lazily, showing off in front of the people, but they do not remember God except rarely.
[4:143] They dither in between, neither belonging with these nor with those. And whoever God misguides, you will not find for him a way.
[4:144] O you who believe, do not take the disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do you want to give God clear justification to act against you?
[4:145] The hypocrites are committed to the lowest pit of the Fire, and you will find no supporter for them.
[4:146] Except those who repent, reform, hold fast to God, and devote their religion purely to God. Those will be with the believers. God will grant the believers a great reward.
[4:147] What benefit would God gain from your punishment if you were thankful and believed? God is Appreciative, Knowledgeable.
[4:148] God does not like the public utterance of foul language, except if one was wronged. God is Hearer, Knowledgeable.
[4:149] If you disclose something good or conceal it, or if you pardon something bad, then indeed, God is Pardoner, Capable.
[4:150] Those who disbelieve in God and His messengers and seek to separate between God and His messengers, saying, "We believe in some and disbelieve in some," and wish to pursue a path in between;
[4:151] those are the true disbelievers. We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
[4:152] As for those who believe in God and His messengers and do not distinguish between any of them, He will grant those their rewards. Indeed, God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[4:153] The People of the Book ask you to bring down upon them a Book from the sky. They have asked of Moses greater than that, saying, "Show us God plainly." Consequently, the thunderbolt struck them for their transgression. Then they set up the calf, even after the clear proofs had come to them, yet We pardoned that, and We gave Moses a clear authority.
[4:154] And We raised the mount above them in accordance with their covenant, and We said to them, "Enter the gate in submission," and We said to them, "Do not violate the Sabbath." We took from them a strict covenant.
[4:155] It was in response to their breaking of their covenant, disbelieving in God's revelations, killing the prophets unjustly and their saying, "Our hearts are veiled." In fact, God has sealed them because of their disbelief; they do not believe except for a few.
[4:156] It was because of their disbelief and their utterance of a gross slander against Mary,
[4:157] and their saying, "We have killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of God." In fact, they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them that they did. Those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it; they only follow conjecture. For certain, they did not kill him.
[4:158] Rather, God raised him unto Him. God is Dignified, Wise.
[4:159] There was none from among the People of the Book who was not required to believe in him before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection, he will be a witness over them.
[4:160] Due to transgressions on the part of the Jews, We prohibited for them good things that used to be lawful for them, and for their repelling many from the path of God.
[4:161] And for their taking of usury when they were forbidden to do it, and for consuming people's money illicitly. We have prepared for the disbelievers among them a painful punishment.
[4:162] However, the well-founded in knowledge among them, and the believers, believe in what was brought down to you and in what was brought down before you. Also, the observers of the Salat, the givers of the Zakat, and the believers in God and the Last Day; We shall grant those a great reward.
[4:163] We have inspired you as We inspired Noah and the prophets after him, and We inspired Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and We gave David the Psalms.
[4:164] Some messengers We have narrated to you before, and other messengers We have not narrated to you, and God spoke to Moses directly.
[4:165] Messengers are sent as bearers of good news and warners so that the people would have no argument against God after the coming of the messengers. God is Dignified, Wise.
[4:166] But God bears witness by what He has brought down to you; He has brought it down with His knowledge, and the angels bear witness. And God suffices as a Witness.
[4:167] Those who have disbelieved and repelled from the path of God have strayed far astray.
[4:168] Those who have disbelieved and transgressed, God was not to forgive them nor to guide them to any path,
[4:169] except the path of Hell wherein they shall forever remain. And that is easy for God.
[4:170] O people, the messenger has come to you with the truth from your Lord, so believe; it is better for you. If you disbelieve, then to God belongs what is in the heavens and the earth. God is Knowledgeable, Wise.
[4:171] O People of the Book, do not exaggerate in your religion, and do not say about God except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of God, and His Word that He delivered to Mary, and a Ruh from Him. So believe in God and His messengers. And do not say, "Three." Desist! That would be better for you. Indeed, God is but One God. Glory to Him that He should have a son. To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and God suffices as a Trustee.
[4:172] The Messiah would never disdain from being a servant of God, nor would the closest angels. Those who disdain from worshipping Him and act arrogantly, He will gather them all unto Him.
[4:173] As for those who believe and do good deeds, He will pay them their rewards in full and increase for them from His favour. As for those who disdain and act arrogantly, He will punish them with a painful punishment. They will find no ally besides God or a supporter.
[4:174] O people, a proof has come to you from your Lord, and We have brought down to you a clear Light.
[4:175] So for those who believe in God and hold fast to Him, He will admit them into mercy from Him and favour and will guide them along a straight path to Himself.
[4:176] They ask you for a fatwa, say, "God gives you a fatwa regarding those with no parents nor children. If a man dies, leaving no child, and he has a sister, she gets half of what he left, and he inherits her full estate if she has no child. If they are two sisters, they get two-thirds of what he left. If they are siblings, men and women, the male gets the share of two females." God thus clarifies for you, lest you go astray. God is Knowledgeable of all things.
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Footnote 4:176 – For the word 'fatwa', see footnote 4:127.
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Sura 5 The Table (Al-Ma'edah)
In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.
[5:1] O you who believe, honour the contracts. Livestock animals have been made lawful to you, except what is recited to you. You are not permitted hunting while you are hurum. God decrees what He wills.
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Footnote 5:1 - For the word 'hurum', see the glossary of un-translated words.
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[5:2] O you who believe, do not violate God's rites, nor the Haram Month, nor the offerings, nor the garlands, nor the free safe passage of those who visit the Haram House seeking favour from their Lord and consent. When you have come out of ihram, you may hunt. Do not let your animosity against some people who once repelled you from the Masjid Al-Haram lead you to transgress. Cooperate in matters of piety and reverence, and do not cooperate in sin and aggression, and reverence God. Indeed, God is severe in punishment.
[5:3] Prohibited for you are the carrion, blood, the flesh of the pig and what has been dedicated to other than God. Also, that which has been strangled, struck with an object, fallen from a height, gored, eaten by a wild animal, except what you manage to render lawful before it dies, and also what is slaughtered on altars. Also prohibited is what you divide through arrows of chance; this is vileness. Today, the disbelievers have given up on your religion, so do not fear them, but fear Me. Today, I have completed your religion for you, perfected My blessing upon you and approved Submission as the religion for you. If one is compelled through severe hunger and without being deliberately sinful, then indeed, God is Forgiver, Merciful.
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Footnote 5:3 - The words 'except what you manage to render lawful before it dies' speak of animals found in between life and death. They can still be made lawful if they are killed and not found already dead. By doing so, such animals would not be classified as carrion (found already dead), and thus would not be unlawful to eat.
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[5:4] They ask you what has been made lawful for them, say, "Lawful for you are all good things, including what the trained birds of prey and dogs catch for you." You teach them from what God has taught you. So eat what they catch for you, and mention God's name upon it, and reverence God. Indeed, God is swift in reckoning.
[5:5] Today, the good things have been made lawful for you, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them. Also, lawful for you are the chaste women among the believers, as well as the chaste women among those who were given the Scripture before you, provided you pay them their due dowries and take them in marriage and not for illicit sex, nor as secret lovers. Whoever rejects the faith, his work will be nullified, and in the Hereafter, he will be among the losers.
[5:6] O you who believe, when you get up to observe the Salat, wash your faces and your arms to the elbows, and wipe your heads and your feet to the ankles. If you had sexual intercourse, then purify yourselves. If you are ill or travelling, or if any of you have come from the toilet or had sexual contact with women and you could not find water, then wipe your faces and hands with clean dry earth. God does not wish to place any hardship on you, but He wishes to purify you and to perfect His blessing upon you, so that you may be appreciative.
[5:7] Remember God's blessing upon you and His covenant with which He has bound you when you said, "We hear and we obey," and reverence God. Indeed, God is Knowledgeable of what the chests hold.
[5:8] O you who believe, stand firm for God and be equitable when you serve as witnesses. Do not let your animosity towards some people prevent you from being equitable. You shall be equitable, for it is nearest to reverence. You shall reverence God. Indeed, God is All-Aware of what you do.
[5:9] God promises those who believe and do good deeds that they will have forgiveness and a great reward,
[5:10] and those who disbelieved and denied Our revelations, they are the companions of Hellfire.
[5:11] O you who believe, remember God's blessings upon you. When some people intended to extend their hands against you, He withheld their hands from you. Reverence God, and in God the believers should trust.
[5:12] God has taken a covenant from the Children of Israel, and We raised from among them twelve chieftains, and God said, "I am with you, so long as you observe the Salat, give the Zakat, believe in My messengers and support them, and lend God a good loan; I will then wipe out your bad deeds and admit you into Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Anyone among you who disbelieves after that has strayed off the right path."
[5:13] Due to their breaking of their covenant, We cursed them and turned their hearts hard. They distort the words out of their context and have forgotten a portion of what they were reminded of. You will still observe betrayal from them, except for a few. Pardon them and overlook. God loves the good-doers.
[5:14] And from those who said, "We are Christians," We took their covenant, then they forgot a portion of what they were reminded of. So We stirred up animosity and hatred between them until the Day of Resurrection. God will then inform them of what they used to do.
[5:15] O People of the Book, Our messenger has come to you to clarify to you many issues that you were concealing in the Scripture, and to pardon many issues. A Light has come to you from God and a clear Book.
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Footnote 5:15 – The words 'to pardon' indicate that the 'messenger' spoken of in 5:15 and 5:16 is the Quran. It cannot be a human messenger since pardoning sins is an act exclusive to God alone. The last words in the verse 'A Light' and 'clear Book'confirm that the messenger is the Quran. The messenger mentioned in 11:2 and 65:11 is also the Quran.
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[5:16] With it, God guides those who seek His consent to the paths of peace, takes them out of the darkness into the light with His permission, and guides them to a straight path.
[5:17] Those who say that God is the Messiah, the son of Mary, have certainly disbelieved. Say, "Then who possesses any power against God if He wanted to annihilate the Messiah, son of Mary, and his mother, and everyone in the earth?" To God belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and what is between them. He creates whatever He wills. God is Capable of all things.
[5:18] The Jews and the Christians said, "We are the children of God and His beloved." Say, "Why then does He punish you for your sins? Rather, you are humans among others He has created." He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. To God belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, and to Him is the ultimate destination.
[5:19] O People of the Book, Our messenger has come to you, to clarify to you, after a period of time without messengers, lest you say, "We did not receive any bearer of good news nor a warner." Indeed, a bearer of good news and warner has come to you, and God is Capable of all things.
[5:20] When Moses said to his people, "O my people, remember God's blessings upon you when He appointed prophets amongst you, made you kings, and granted you what He did not grant anyone among all the people.
[5:21] O my people, enter the Holy Land which God has decreed for you and do not turn back or you will become losers,"
[5:22] they said, "O Moses, there are tyrannical people in it, and indeed, we will not enter it unless they get out of it. If they get out of it, we will then enter."
[5:23] Among those who were afraid, two men whom God had blessed said, "Enter upon them through the gate. Once you have entered, you shall 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, you and your Lord, and fight. We are staying right here."
[5:25] He said, "My Lord, I possess no authority except over myself and my brother, so separate between us and between the wicked people."
[5:26] He said, "It is therefore forbidden for them for forty years during which they will wander aimlessly in the land. So do not grieve over the wicked people."
[5:27] Recite for them the true account of Adam's two sons when they made an offering, and it was accepted from one of them but not from the other. He said, "I will kill you." He said, "God accepts only from the reverent.
[5:28] If you extend your hand towards me to kill me, I shall not extend my hand towards you to kill you. I fear God, the Lord of the Worlds.
[5:29] I want you to bear my sin and your sin, then you will be among the companions of the Fire. Such is the penalty for the transgressors."
[5:30] His own self persuaded him to kill his brother, so he killed him, and thus he became one of the losers.
[5:31] So God sent a crow scratching in the ground to show him how to bury his brother's corpse. He said, "Woe unto me, have I failed to be like this crow and bury my brother's corpse?" So he became among the remorseful ones.
[5:32] Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a person, unless for the killing of another person, or causes corruption in the land, it shall be as if he has killed all the people. And anyone who spares a life, it shall be as if he has spared the lives of all the people. Our messengers came to them with clear proofs, but then many of them after that committed excesses in the land.
[5:33] The penalty for those who fight God and His messenger and seek corruption in the land is to be killed, or crucified, or to have their hands and feet cut on opposite sides, or to be banished from the land. That is their disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter, they shall have a great punishment.
[5:34] Except those who repent before you overpower them, then you should know that God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[5:35] O you who believe, reverence God and seek the means to Him, and strive in His cause so that you may succeed.
[5:36] Those who disbelieved, if they possessed everything in the earth, and as much again to ransom them from the punishment of the Day of Resurrection, it will not be accepted from them, and they shall have a painful punishment.
[5:37] They will want to exit the Fire, but they will not exit therefrom, and they shall have a lasting punishment.
[5:38] The male thief and the female thief: you shall cut their hands as a penalty for what they have earned as a deterrent punishment from God. God is Dignified, Wise.
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Footnote 5:38 - The word 'eqta'u' (which is the command form of the word qata'a), as used in 5:38, has been wrongly interpreted by the traditional scholars to mean 'to sever'.
However, Quranic evidence points to the fact that the word 'eqta'u' in this verse does not mean to sever but to make a cut or a marking.
1- The Arabic word for sever is 'batara'. In 108:3, we read the word 'abtar', which is an adjective from the verb 'batara'. It means one whose progeny has been cut off/severed. In 5:38, God did not use the word 'batara' but used the word 'eqta'u'. The act of cutting can simply mean making a wound or a marking. An example is of one who is preparing food in the kitchen then accidently cuts his hand. Clearly, the word 'cut' in this case does not mean severing his hand.
The words (qata'a and abtar) are both used in the Quran, which confirms that they do not have the same meaning, otherwise, only one of the two words would have been used.
2- In the story of prophet Joseph (Sura 12), we read about the women who were the guests of the governor's wife who prepared for them a banquet. When Joseph came out to them, and they saw how handsome he was, in their excitement, they cut their hands (12:31). The same word (qata'a), which is used in 5:38, is used in 12:31. Needless to say, these women did not amputate their hands but they only made a cut to their hands.
Consequently, the punishment for theft in God's Book is to mark the hand of the offender so that he would be shamed in front of the people. This is in addition to applying the rule of equivalence (2:178-179 and 2:194), whereby the offender is obliged to compensate the victim fully.
3- God's law states that no person would be punished for the burden/sins of another (6:164). Severing the hand of the thief would deprive him of his livelihood. As a result, his family and dependents would experience hardship for no fault of theirs! God's law is fair, and God's wisdom is unquestionable.
4- When we review the various worldly punishments decreed by God in the Quran for various sins, we note that none of them is of a lasting nature. For example, the punishment for adultery is 100 lashes. Once this punishment is given, the offender who repents may continue his life as normal. Other offences are assigned penalties such as freeing a slave or extra fasting. Once again, none of these punishments is of a lasting nature. In contrast, administering the incorrect punishment of severing the hand of the thief would leave the offender suffering a lasting punishment for the rest of his life.
The reason why none of the prescribed Quranic punishments is of a lasting nature is given in 5:39. Verse 5:39 immediately follows the verse that prescribes the punishment of theft, and this is not coincidental:
'Whoever repents after his transgression and reforms, God redeems him.' 5:39.
Since God redeems those who repent and reform, it follows that a person who has committed theft and then repented would also be redeemed by God. By definition, the act of redemption necessitates the termination of the punishment. By administering the un-Quranic punishment, a person whose hand has been severed can never be redeemed since his punishment cannot be reversed or terminated. Instead, he would have to live with his punishment until his dying day. The impossibility of redemption for such a person violates the merciful words in 5:39, which confirm that God redeems all who repent and reform. This indicates once again that the severing of the hand of the thief is not the correct Quranic punishment. To insist that severing the hand is the correct Quranic punishment for theft is to overlook God's Words about redemption.
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[5:39] Then whoever repents after his transgression and reforms, God redeems him. Indeed, God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[5:40] Did you not know that to God belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth? He punishes whom He wills and forgives whom He wills. God is Capable of all things.
[5:41] O you messenger, do not let them grieve you who hasten into disbelief among those who say, "We believe," with their mouths, while their hearts did not believe. And among the Jews are those who are avid listeners to lies. They listen to other people who have not come to you. They distort the words out of their context, and they say, "If you are given this, then take it, but if you are not given it, then beware." Whomever God wishes to test, you can do nothing to help him against God. Those are the ones whose hearts God did not wish to purify. They shall have disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter, they shall have a great punishment.
[5:42] They are avid listeners to lies and devourers of illicit earnings. If they come to you, either judge between them or turn away from them. If you turn away from them, they cannot harm you in the least. And if you judge between them, judge between them equitably. Indeed, God loves the equitable.
[5:43] How is it that they come to you for judgment when they have the Torah, wherein there is God's law, and they still turn away after that? Those are not believers.
[5:44] We have brought down the Torah, containing guidance and light. The prophets who submitted judged by it for the Jews, so did the rabbis and the scholars; in accordance with what they were entrusted with in God's Book, and they were witnesses over it. So do not fear the people, but fear Me. And do not trade away My revelations for a cheap price. Those who do not rule by what God has brought down, they are indeed the disbelievers.
[5:45] And We decreed for them in it that a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and equivalence regarding wounds. If one forfeits what is due to him as a charity, it will be an atonement for him. Those who do not rule by what God has brought down, they are the transgressors.
[5:46] And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming what came before him of the Torah. We gave him the Injeel, containing guidance and light and confirming what came before it of the Torah, and providing guidance and advice for the reverent.
[5:47] And the people of the Injeel shall rule in accordance with what God has brought down therein. Those who do not rule by what God has brought down, they are indeed the wicked ones.
[5:48] And We brought down to you the Book with truth, confirming what came before it of the Scripture and superseding it. So judge between them in accordance with what God has brought down, and do not follow their personal desires in place of what has come to you of the truth. For each of you, We have decreed a law and a method. Had God willed, He would have made you one nation, but He tests you through what He has given each of you. So hasten to do good deeds. To God is your return, all of you, then He will inform you about that over which you used to differ.
[5:49] And judge between them in accordance with what God has brought down, and do not follow their personal desires, and beware lest they tempt you away from some of what God brought down to you. If they turn away, then know that God wants to afflict them for some of their sins. Indeed, many people are wicked.
[5:50] Is it the law of the days of ignorance that they seek? Whose law is better than God's for people who are certain?
[5:51] O you who believe, do not take the Jews and Christians as allies. Some of them are allies of one another. Whoever amongst you allies himself with them is one of them. God does not guide the transgressing people.
[5:52] You will see those with sickness in their hearts hastening towards them and saying, "We fear lest the wheel of fortune may turn against us." Perhaps God may bring about the conquest or a command from Him, and then they would become regretful over what they had concealed within themselves.
[5:53] And those who believe will say, "Are these the ones who swore by God solemnly that they were with you?" Their work is nullified, so they have become losers.
[5:54] O you who believe, if any amongst you reverts from his religion, God will then bring a people whom He loves and who love Him, and who are humble towards the believers and stern towards the disbelievers. They strive in the cause of God and do not fear the blame of those who blame. Such is God's favour; He grants it to whom He wills. God is Immense, Knowledgeable.
[5:55] Your ally is none but God and His messenger and those who believe; those who observe the Salat and give the Zakat, and they bow down.
[5:56] And whoever allies himself with God and His messenger, and with those who believe, then indeed, it is God's party who are the victorious ones.
[5:57] O you who believe, do not take as allies those who make a mockery and a plaything out of your religion from among the ones who were given the Scripture before you or the disbelievers, and reverence God if you are believers.
[5:58] And when you call to the Salat, they make a mockery and a plaything of it. This is because they are a people who do not reason.
[5:59] Say, "O People of the Book, do you resent us just because we have believed in God and in what was brought down to us, and in what was brought down before, and because most of you are wicked?"
[5:60] Say, "Shall I inform you of a worse penalty from God than that? It is that for whom God has cursed and who incurred His wrath. He has made from them apes and pigs and worshippers of false gods. Those are worst in position and farthest from the right path."
[5:61] And when they come to you, they say, "We have believed," but in fact, they entered with disbelief, and they certainly exited with it. God knows best what they were concealing.
[5:62] And you see many of them hasten towards sin and aggression, as well as their devouring of illicit earnings. Miserable indeed is what they have been doing.
[5:63] If only the rabbis and scholars would forbid them from their sinful utterances and their devouring of illicit earnings! Miserable indeed is the work they have been doing.
[5:64] The Jews said, "God's hand is chained." It is their hands that have been chained, and they have been cursed for what they said. Rather, His hands are outstretched, handing out as He pleases. What was brought down to you from your Lord will indeed increase the transgression and disbelief of many of them. We have cast animosity and hatred between them until the Day of Resurrection. Whenever they ignite a fire for war, God puts it out. They seek corruption in the land, and God does not like the corruptors.
[5:65] Had the People of the Book believed and been reverent, We would have wiped out their bad deeds and admitted them into Gardens of Bliss.
[5:66] Had they upheld the Torah and the Injeel, and what was brought down to them from their Lord, they would have enjoyed provisions from above them and from beneath their feet. From among them is a 'muqtasida' nation, but with regards to many of them, evil is what they do.
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Footnote 5:66 - For the word 'muqtasida', see footnote 31:32.
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[5:67] O you messenger, deliver what was brought down to you from your Lord. If you do not, then you have not delivered His message. God shields you from the people. God does not guide the disbelieving people.
[5:68] Say, "O People of the Book, you have nothing to stand on until you uphold the Torah, and the Injeel, and what was brought down to you from your Lord."What was brought down to you from your Lord will indeed increase the transgression and disbelief of many of them, so do not grieve over the disbelieving people.
[5:69] Those who believe and those who are Jewish, and the Sabians, and the Christians: the ones who believe in God and the Last Day and do good deeds; no fear will there be concerning them nor will they grieve.
[5:70] We have taken a covenant from the Children of Israel, and We sent them messengers. Whenever a messenger came to them with what their selves did not desire, they denied a group of them and a group of them they killed.
[5:71] They thought it was not a test, so they turned blind and deaf. Then God redeemed them, but then many of them turned blind and deaf again. God is Seer of what they do.
[5:72] They have certainly disbelieved who say, "God is the Messiah, son of Mary." The Messiah said, "O Children of Israel, worship God; my Lord and your Lord." Whoever associates anything with God, God has forbidden Paradise for him, and his refuge will be the Fire. And the transgressors have no supporters.
[5:73] They have certainly disbelieved who say, "God is a third of a trinity." There is no god except One God. If they do not refrain from what they are saying, a painful punishment will befall those who disbelieved among them.
[5:74] Will they not repent to God and ask Him for forgiveness when God is Forgiver, Merciful?
[5:75] The Messiah, son of Mary, is no more than a messenger like the messengers who passed away before him, and his mother was a truthful one. They both used to eat the food! Look how We clarify the revelations for them, then look how they are deluded!
[5:76] Say, "Do you worship besides God what does not possess any harm nor benefit for you, when God is the Hearer, the Knowledgeable?"
[5:77] Say, "O People of the Book, do not exaggerate in your religion beyond the truth, and do not follow the personal desires of a people who have gone astray before, and who have misled many; they have strayed from the right path."
[5:78] Those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel were cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus, the son of Mary. This is because they disobeyed and used to transgress.
[5:79] They did not forbid one another from the evil they committed. Miserable indeed is what they used to do.
[5:80] You see many of them allying themselves with those who disbelieved. Miserable indeed is what their selves brought forth upon them. God's anger is upon them, and in the punishment, they shall permanently remain.
[5:81] Had they believed in God, and the prophet, and in what was brought down to him, they would not have taken them as allies, but many of them are wicked.
[5:82] You will find that the people with the greatest animosity towards those who believe are the Jews and those who commit shirk, and you will find that the closest in affection to those who believe are those who say, "We are Christians." This is because some of them are priests and monks, and they do not act arrogantly.
[5:83] And if they hear what was brought down to the messenger, you see their eyes flooding with tears for what they have known of the truth. They say, "Our Lord, we have believed, so decree us to be among the witnesses.
[5:84] Why should we not believe in God and in the truth that has come to us? We hope that our Lord may admit us with the righteous people."
[5:85] So God rewarded them for what they said with Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Therein, they shall permanently remain. That is the reward of the good-doers.
[5:86] As for those who disbelieved and denied Our revelations, they are the companions of Hellfire.
[5:87] O you who believe, do not prohibit the good things which God has made lawful for you and do not transgress. Indeed, God does not like the transgressors.
[5:88] And eat from what God has provided for you which is lawful and good, and reverence God, the One in whom you believe.
[5:89] God does not hold you accountable for your casualpledges, but He holds you accountable for the pledges which you make binding. The atonement for it is by feeding ten needy people from the average of what you feed your families, or by clothing them, or by freeing a slave. Whoever does not have the means shall fast three days. That is the atonement for your pledges when you have sworn, and so, fulfil your pledges. Thus does God clarify for you His revelations so that you may be thankful.
[5:90] O you who believe, intoxicants, gambling, altars and arrows of chance are impurities that are the work of the devil, so stay away from him so that you may succeed.
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Footnote 5:90 – The Arabic word 'ijtanibuhu' translates to 'stay away from him'. This word refers to a singular noun and comes immediately after the word 'devil'.
The instruction is to stay away from the devil. Had the reference been to the items prohibited in the verse (intoxicants, gambling, altars and arrows of chance), the word to use would have been 'ijtanibuhum' (stay away from them).
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[5:91] The devil only wants to stir up animosity and hatred between you through intoxicants and gambling and to repel you from the remembrance of God and from the Salat. So will you thus refrain?
[5:92] Obey God and obey the messenger, and beware: if you turn away, then know that the sole duty of Our messenger is the clear delivery.
[5:93] There is no blame on those who believe and do good deeds for what they may have fed on if they are reverent, believe and do good deeds, then continue to be reverent and believe, and yet again were reverent and do good. God loves the good-doers.
[5:94] O you who believe, God will test you with some game, which will be within reach of your hands and your arrows. Indeed, God knows who fears Him though unseen. Whoever transgresses after that will have a painful punishment.
[5:95] O you who believe, do not kill any game while you are hurum. Whoever of you kills it deliberately, the penalty for it shall be the equivalent in livestock animals to what he killed. The assessment is to be arbitrated by two equitable people among you and to be set as an offering to reach the Kaaba. Alternatively, the atonement shall be by feeding the needy, or its equivalent in fasting, in order to taste the consequence of his action. God has pardoned what happened in the past, but God will avenge anyone who re-offends. God is Dignified, Possessor of retribution.
[5:96] The catch of the sea has been made lawful for you, and its food is a provision for you and for the travellers, but prohibited for you is the catch of the land as long as you are hurum, and reverence God unto whom you shall be gathered.
[5:97] God has rendered the Kaaba, the Haram House, an establishment for the people, as well as the Haram Month, the offerings and the garlands. That is so that you may know that God knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth and that God is Knowledgeable of all things.
[5:98] Know that God is severe in punishment and that God is Forgiver, Merciful.
[5:99] The sole duty of the messenger is the delivery, and God knows what you reveal and what you conceal.
[5:100] Say, "The bad and the good are not the same, even if the abundance of the bad may impress you. So reverence God O you who possess intelligence so that you may succeed."
[5:101] O you who believe, do not ask about matters which, if disclosed to you, would hurt you, but if you ask about them when the Quran is being brought down, they will be disclosed to you. God has pardoned those matters. God is Forgiver, Forbearing.
[5:102] Other people before you have asked about such matters, then they became disbelievers therein.
[5:103] God has not authorised the innovations of Baheerah, Sa'ibah, Waseelah or Ham. Rather, the disbelievers fabricate lies about God. Most of them do not reason.
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Footnote 5:103 – The four Arabic names in this verse are names of rulings related to livestock that the pagan Arabs falsely attributed to God.
1- When a she-camel delivers for the 5th time, if her offspring is a male camel, the latter would be immolated, and both men and women would eat from it, but if it is a female, they would slit its ear. The latter is then called a 'Baheerah'.
2- The pagan Arabs used to give whatever they were willing to give of cattle and hand it over to the custodians of the idols. This was called 'Sa'ibah'. This would then be offered to male travellers who passed by.
3- As for the 'Waseelah', when a sheep had delivered seven times, they used to check the seventh birth. If it is a male, they used to immolate it, and its meat was shared by men and women. If it is a female, women would not be allowed to benefit from it until the animal died.
4- As for the 'Ham', it is the male camel whose offspring has produced its own offspring. It is then said that such an animal is 'Ham' (protected). It would be left alone and not used for riding or loading.
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[5:104] And if they are told, "Come to what God has brought down, and to the messenger," they say, "Sufficient for us is what we found our fathers upon." What! Even if their fathers did not know anything, nor were they guided?
[5:105] O you who believe, you are accountable only for yourselves. If you are guided, you cannot be harmed by those who are misguided. To God is your return, all of you, then He will inform you of what you used to do.
[5:106] O you who believe, witnessing a will when death draws near to one of you shall be done by two equitable people from among you, or two other persons, not from your people if you are travelling the land and the disaster of death should strike you. If you have doubts about them, detain them after the Salat and let them swear by God: "We will not trade it for a price, even if he is related to us, nor will we conceal God's testimony. Otherwise, we would be sinners."
[5:107] If it is found that those two were guilty of any wrongdoing, let two others stand in their place from amongst those who have a claim against them, and let them swear by God: "Our testimony is more truthful than their testimony, and we have not transgressed. Otherwise, we would be of the transgressors."
[5:108] That makes it more likely that they will give a correct testimony, for otherwise, they would fear that subsequent testimonies could be lodged to dispute their testimonies. Reverence God and listen. God does not guide the wicked people.
[5:109] On the Day when God will gather the messengers, He will say, "What was the response you received?" They will say, "We have no knowledge. You are the Knower of the unseen."
[5:110] God said, "O Jesus, son of Mary, remember My blessings upon you and your mother when I supported you with the Holy Ruh. You spoke to the people from the cradle, as well as an adult. I taught you the Scripture, wisdom, the Torah, and the Injeel. You created from clay the shape of a bird with My permission, then you blew into it, and it became a bird with My permission. You healed the blind and the leper with My permission. You brought the dead to life with My permission. I prevented the Children of Israel from getting to you when you brought them the clear proofs, then those who disbelieved among them said, 'This is nothing but clear magic.' "
[5:111] And when I inspired the disciples: "Believe in Me and My messenger." They said, "We have believed, so bear witness that we are Submitters."
[5:112] And when the disciples said, "O Jesus, son of Mary, is your Lord able to bring down to us a table from the sky?" He said, "Reverence God if you are believers."
[5:113] They said, "We wish to eat from it and for our hearts to be reassured, and to know that you have been truthful to us and that we may be among those who witness it."
[5:114] Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "O God, our Lord, bring down to us a table from the sky to be a feast for the first and last one of us, and a sign from You, and provide for us. You are the best of providers."
[5:115] God said, "I am bringing it down to you, then whoever among you disbelieves afterwards, I will punish him with a punishment with which I have not punished anyone else among all the people."
[5:116] And when God said, "O Jesus, son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as two gods besides God?' " He said, "Glory to You, it is not for me to say what I had no right to say. Had I said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, while I do not know what is within Yourself. You are the Knower of the unseen.
[5:117] I have not said to them other than what You commanded me to say, that: 'You shall worship God, my Lord and your Lord.' I was witness over them for as long as I was among them. When You took me back, You were the Watchful One over them. You are Witness over all things.
[5:118] If You punish them, they are Your servants. And if You forgive them, You are the Dignified, the Wise."
[5:119] God said, "This is a Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness." They shall have Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Therein, they shall forever remain. God is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. This is the great triumph.
[5:120] To God belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and what is in them. He is Capable of all things.
Sura 6 The Livestock (Al-An'aam)
In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.
[6:1] Praise be to God who created the heavens and the earth and devised the darkness and the light. Yet those who disbelieve equate others with their Lord.
[6:2] He is the One who created you from clay then decreed a term; a term that is known to Him, yet you go on doubting.
[6:3] He is God in the heavens and in the earth. He knows your secrets and your declarations, and He knows what you earn.
[6:4] There is not a sign that comes to them of their Lord’s signs without them turning away from it.
[6:5] They denied the truth when it came to them, and so the news will come to them regarding what they used to ridicule.
[6:6] Have they not seen how many generations before them We have annihilated whom We had established in the land more firmly than We have established you? And We showered them generously from the sky, and We made the rivers flow beneath them. Then We annihilated them for their sins, and We brought about another generation after them.
[6:7] And if We had brought down upon you a book on parchment and they were to touch it with their hands, those who disbelieved would have said, "This is nothing but clear magic."
[6:8] And they said, "If only an angel had been brought down upon him!" Had We brought down an angel, the matter would have been settled, and they would not have been granted respite.
[6:9] And had We made him an angel, We would have made him a man, and We would have only confused them in what they are already confused.
[6:10] Messengers before you were ridiculed. Consequently, those who ridiculed them were engulfed by what they used to ridicule.
[6:11] Say, "Travel in the land, then look what the outcome of the deniers was."
[6:12] Say, "To whom belongs what is in the heavens and the earth?" Say, "To God." He has decreed mercy upon Himself. He will gather you unto the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. Those who have lost themselves, they do not believe.
[6:13] And to Him belongs what resides in the night and the day. He is the Hearer, the Knowledgeable.
[6:14] Say, "Shall I take other than God as an ally, the Initiator of the heavens and the earth; the One who feeds and is not fed?" Say, "I have been commanded to be the first to submit," and do not be one of the mushrikeen.
[6:15] Say, "I fear, should I disobey my Lord, the punishment of a great Day."
[6:16] Whoever is averted from it on that Day has indeed attained His mercy. This is the clear triumph.
[6:17] If God touches you with some harm, none can remove it except Him. And if He touches you with a blessing, He is Capable of all things.
[6:18] He is the Supreme over His servants. He is the Wise, the All-Aware.
[6:19] Say, "What thing is the greatest testimony?" Say, "God is Witness between me and you, and this Quran has been revealed to me to warn you with it and whomever it reaches. Do you bear witness that there are other gods besides God?" Say, "I do not bear witness." Say, "He is but One God, and I am innocent of the shirk that you commit."
[6:20] Those to whom we have given the Scripture know it as they know their own children. Those who have lost themselves, they do not believe.
[6:21] Who is more transgressing than one who fabricates lies about God or denies His revelations? For certain, the transgressors will not succeed.
[6:22] And on the Day when We gather them all, We will ask those who committed shirk, "Where are your partners, those whom you used to claim?"
[6:23] Then, in their desperation, they will say nothing other than, "By God our Lord, we were not mushrikeen."
[6:24] Look how they lied about themselves and that which they used to fabricate has deserted them.
[6:25] Among them are those who listen to you, but We have placed veils over their hearts so that they would not understand it, and deafness in their ears. And if they were to see every sign, they still would not believe in it. Then when they come to you and argue with you, the disbelievers say, "This is nothing but the tales of the previous ones."
[6:26] And they forbid others from it, and they distance themselves from it, but they are destroying none other than themselves, and they do not realise it.
[6:27] If only you could see when they are made to stand before the Fire, they will say, "How we wish we could be sent back! We would not deny our Lord's revelations, and we would be among the believers."
[6:28] Rather, what they were concealing before became evident to them. If they were sent back, they would return to what they were forbidden from. They are liars.
[6:29] They had said, "There is nothing other than our worldly life, and we will not be resurrected."
[6:30] If you could see when they are made to stand before their Lord, He said, "Is this not the truth?" They said, "Yes, by our Lord." He said, "Then taste the punishment for what you used to deny."
[6:31] Those who denied the meeting with God have indeed lost. Then, when the Hour comes to them suddenly, they will say, "Oh, how remorseful we are for what we have neglected concerning it!" They will carry their burdens on their backs; how miserable is the burden they carry!
[6:32] The worldly life is no more than play and amusement, while the Abode of the Hereafter is better for the reverent, so will you not reason?
[6:33] We know that you are grieved by what they say, but they are not denying you; it is God's revelations that the transgressors are rejecting.
[6:34] Messengers before you have been denied, but they showed patience in the face of being denied and persecuted until Our victory came to them. There is none to alter the Words of God, and you have been given news of the messengers.
[6:35] If their turning away is unbearable to you, then if you are able, seek a tunnel in the earth, or a stairway into the sky, so as to produce for them a miracle! Rather, if God willed, He could have gathered them all to guidance. Therefore, do not be among the ignorant ones.
[6:36] Only those who can hear will respond. As for the dead, God resurrects them, and then to Him, they will be returned.
[6:37] They said, "If only a miracle was brought down to him from his Lord!" Say, " Indeed, God is Capable of bringing down a miracle, but most of them do not know."
[6:38] There is not a creature in the earth or a bird that flies with its wings that are but communities like you. We did not leave anything out of the Book; then to their Lord, they will be gathered.
[6:39] Those who denied in Our revelations are deaf and dumb in utter darkness. Whomever God wills, He sends astray, and whomever He wills, He sets on a straight path.
[6:40] Say, "Let me then see you if God's punishment came to you, or the Hour came to you; would you implore other than God if you are truthful?"
[6:41] No, it is Him you implore, then if He wills, He removes that which you implored Him for, and you forget the partners you set up.
[6:42] We have sent to nations before you, and We subjected them to misery and hardship so that they may humble themselves.
[6:43] If only they had humbled themselves when Our might was upon them! Instead, their hearts were hardened, and the devil adorned for them what they were doing.
[6:44] Then, when they forgot what they were reminded of, We opened for them the gates of everything. Then, as they rejoiced in what was given to them, We seized them suddenly, and they were in total despair.
[6:45] So the last remnant of those who transgressed was cut off. Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds.
[6:46] Say, "Have you considered: If God took away your hearing and your sight and sealed your hearts, which god other than God can restore these to you?" Look how we diversify the revelations, yet they turn away!
[6:47] Say, "Let me then see if God's punishment should come to you suddenly or openly, would any be annihilated other than the transgressing people?"
[6:48] We do not send the messengers except as bearers of good news and warners. Then for those who believe and reform; no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
[6:49] As for those who denied Our revelations, the punishment will touch them for how wickedly they used to behave.
[6:50] Say, "I do not say to you that I have at my disposal the treasuries of God, or that I know the unseen, nor do I say to you that I am an angel. I follow nothing other than what is revealed to me." Say, "Is the blind and the seer the same? Do you not reflect?"
[6:51] And warn with it those who fear being gathered before their Lord, having no ally nor intercessor apart from Him, so hopefully, they may be reverent.
[6:52] And do not turn away those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His Face. Their reckoning is in no way your responsibility, nor is your reckoning in any way their responsibility. If you turn them away, you would be of the transgressors.
[6:53] We have thus tested some of them by means of others so that they would say, "Are these the ones whom God has bestowed favour upon from among us?" Is God not Most Knowledgeable of those who are thankful?
[6:54] And when those who believe in Our revelations come to you, say, "Peace be upon you." Your Lord has decreed mercy upon Himself. Whoever among you commits sin out of ignorance, then repents thereafter and reforms, then He is Forgiver, Merciful.
[6:55] We thus detail the revelations so that the path of the criminals is exposed.
[6:56] Say, "I have been commanded to desist from worshipping those whom you call upon besides God." Say, "I will not follow your personal desires. Otherwise, I would go astray and not be among the guided ones."
[6:57] Say, "I am on a clear proof from my Lord, yet you have denied it. I do not have what you wish to hasten. Judgment belongs to God alone. He narrates the truth, and He is the best of deciders."
[6:58] Say, "If I had what you seek to hasten, the matter would have been settled between myself and you. God knows best who the transgressors are."
[6:59] With Him are the keys of the unseen. None knows them except Him. And He knows what is in the land and the sea. No leaf falls without Him knowing thereof, nor is there a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything moist or dry that is not recorded in a clear Book.
[6:60] And He is the One who takes you back during the night, and He knows what you have done during the day, then He resurrects you in it until a specified term is fulfilled, then to Him is your return. He will then inform you of what you used to do.
[6:61] He is Supreme over His servants, and He sends guardians over you so that when death comes unto one of you, Our messengers take him, and they never fail.
[6:62] Then they are returned to God, their true Master. Unquestionably, judgment belongs to Him, and He is the swiftest Reckoner.
[6:63] Say, "Who can save you from the darkness of the land and the sea?" You implore Him humbly and secretly: "If He saves us from this, we would be among the thankful."
[6:64] Say, "God saves you from it, and from every affliction, then you still commit shirk."
[6:65] Say, "He is the One Capable of sending a punishment upon you, from above you or from beneath your feet, or turn you into confused factions and have you taste the might of one another." Look how We diversify the revelations so that they may understand.
[6:66] Your people have denied it even though it is the truth. Say, "I am not a trustee over you."
[6:67] For every news, there comes a time for settlement, and you will come to know.
[6:68] If you see those who engage in vain discourse concerning Our revelations, stay away from them until they engage in some other talk. If the devil causes you to forget then, after you have remembered, do not sit with the transgressing people.
[6:69] Those who are reverent are not accountable for them in any way, but only to offer a reminder, so hopefully, they may be reverent.
[6:70] And disregard those who take their religion as play and amusement and are deluded by the worldly life. And remind with it, lest a self suffers the consequence of what it has earned and will have none besides God as an ally nor an intercessor. If it offers every kind of compensation, it would not be accepted from it. Those are the ones who suffer the consequences of what they have earned. They shall have a boiling drink and a painful punishment for what they used to deny.
[6:71] Say, "Shall we call upon, other than God, what cannot benefit us nor harm us, and be turned back on our heels after God has guided us?" This is like one in the earth who was captivated by the devils, rendering him utterly confused. He has friends who invite him to the guidance, saying, "Come to us." Say, "God's guidance is indeed the guidance, and we are commanded to submit to the Lord of the Worlds,
[6:72] and to observe the Salat and reverence Him. It is He to whom you will be gathered."
[6:73] He is the One who created the heavens and the earth with truth. The day He says, "Be," it is. His Word is the truth, and to Him belongs the sovereignty on the Day the horn is blown. He is the Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the Wise, the All-Aware.
[6:74] Abraham said to his father Azar, "Do you take stone idols as gods? I see that you and your people are in clear misguidance."
[6:75] Thus, We showed Abraham the realm of the heavens and the earth so that he would be among those with certainty.
[6:76] Then, when the night covered him, he saw a planet. He said, "This is my Lord." Then when it set, he said, "I do not like that which disappears."
[6:77] Then, when he saw the moon rising, he said, "This is my Lord." Then when it set, he said, "Unless my Lord guides me, I will be among the misguided people."
[6:78] Then, when he saw the sun rising, he said, "This is my Lord. This is larger." Then when it set, he said, "O my people, I am innocent of the shirk you are committing.
[6:79] I have turned my face towards the One who initiated the heavens and the earth; a monotheist. I am not one of the mushrikeen."
[6:80] His people argued with him. He said, "Do you argue with me about God when He has guided me? I have no cause to fear what you associate with Him unless my Lord wills something to happen.My Lord encompasses all things in knowledge. Will you not be reminded?
[6:81] How can I possibly fear what you have associated when you yourselves do not fear having associated with God that for which He has not brought down to you any authorisation? So which of the two groups is more worthy of feeling secure if you know?"
[6:82] Those who believe and do not mix their faith with transgression, they shall have security, and they are guided.
[6:83] Such was Our argument which We gave Abraham against his people. We raise in rank whom We will. Indeed, your Lord is Wise, Knowledgeable.
[6:84] And We granted him Isaac and Jacob, both of whom We guided, and We guided Noah previously. And from among his descendants, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses and Aaron. We thus reward the good-doers.
[6:85] Also, Zechariah, John, Jesus and Elijah. All were among the righteous.
[6:86] Also Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah and Lot; each of whom We favoured over all the people,
[6:87] as well as some from among their fathers, their offspring and their brothers; We chose them and guided them to a straight path.
[6:88] Such is God's guidance. He guides with it whom He wills of His servants. If they had committed shirk, what they were doing would have been nullified.
[6:89] Those are the ones to whom We have given the Scripture, the law, and the prophethood. If they disbelieve in it, We have entrusted it to a people who are not disbelievers therein.
[6:90] They are the ones whom God has guided, so let their guidance be an example for you. Say, "I do not ask you for a reward for it. It is but a Reminder for all the people."
[6:91] They did not value God according to His true worth when they said, "God did not bring down upon any human being anything." Say, "Who then brought down the Book which Moses came with, a light and guidance for the people? You put it down on parchment that you display while concealing much. You were taught what you did not know, neither you nor your fathers." Say, "It is God," then leave them playing in their vain discourse.
[6:92] This is a blessed Book that We brought down, confirming what came before it, that you may warn the Mother of Villages and those around it. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in it, and they maintain their Salat.
[6:93] Who is more transgressing than one who fabricates lies about God or says, "It has been inspired to me," when nothing has been inspired to him, or says, "I will bring down the same as what God brought down"? If only you could see the transgressors during the pangs of death with the angels extending their hands to them and saying, "Get yourselves out! Today you will be repaid with the punishment of humiliation for the untruths you used to say about God and for how you used to shun His revelations arrogantly."
[6:94] You have come to Us each on his own, just as We created you the first time, and you have left behind you what We had provided for you. We do not see with you your intercessors whom you claimed were partners among you! All has been severed between you, and that which you used to claim has deserted you.
[6:95] Indeed, God is the One who splits the seed and the kernel. He extracts the living out of the dead, and He extracts the dead out of the living. Such is God. How then are you deluded?
[6:96] He is the One who splits the daybreak, and He rendered the night for resting and the sun and the moon for calculation. Such is the determination of the Dignified, the Knowledgeable.
[6:97] And it is He who rendered for you the stars so that you would be guided by them in the darkness of the land and the sea. We have detailed the revelations for a people who have knowledge.
[6:98] And it is He who initiated you from a single self, then to a place of settlement and a depository. We have detailed the revelations for a people who understand.
[6:99] And it is He who brought water down from the sky. With it, We produce plants of all kinds. Then with it, We produce green vegetation from which comes out multiple grains. And from the palm trees, from its sheaths, are clusters hanging low, also gardens of grapevines, olives and pomegranates, similar and dissimilar. Look at its fruit when it blossoms and ripens. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who believe.
[6:100] They ascribed to God partners of the jinn whom He created! And they attributed to Him, without knowledge, sons and daughters. Glory to Him and exalted is He, far above what they portray.
[6:101] The Originator of the heavens and the earth: How can He have a son when He did not have a consort? He created all things, and He is Knowledgeable of all things.
[6:102] Such is God your Lord. There is no god except Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him. He is Trustee over all things.
[6:103] The vision perceives Him not while He encompasses all visions. He is the Gentle One, the All-Aware.
[6:104] Insights have come to you from your Lord, so whoever chooses to see, it is for his own good, and whoever chooses to turn blind does so to his own detriment. I am not a guardian over you.
[6:105] We thus diversify the revelations so that they would say, "You have studied," and to clarify it for a people who know.
[6:106] Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord. There is no god except Him, and keep away from the mushrikeen.
[6:107] Had God willed, they would not have committed shirk. We did not appoint you a guardian over them, nor are you a trustee over them.
[6:108] Do not insult those whom they call upon besides God, lest they insult God spitefully without knowledge. Thus We have adorned the work of every nation in their eyes, then to God is their return. He will then inform them of what they used to do.
[6:109] They swore solemnly by God that if a miracle were to come to them, they would surely believe in it. Say, "The miracles are only with God." For all you know, if a miracle did come, they still would not believe.
[6:110] We overturn their hearts and their sights just as they disbelieved in it the first time, and We leave them blundering blindly in their transgression.
[6:111] If We had brought the angels down to them, and the dead spoke to them, and We gathered all things before them, they still would not believe unless God wills it, but most of them are ignorant.
[6:112] And thus, We have made for every prophet enemies from among the human and jinn devils. They inspire one another with fancy sayings in delusion. Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. So disregard them and what they fabricate.
[6:113] This is to let the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter listen to it, accept it, and thus commit what they are committing.
[6:114] Shall I seek other than God as a lawmaker when it is He who has brought down to you the Book fully detailed? Those to whom We have given the Scripture know that it was brought down from your Lord with truth, so do not be among the doubters.
[6:115] The Word of your Lord has been completed, in truth and justice. There is none to alter His Words. He is the Hearer, the Knowledgeable.
[6:116] If you were to obey the majority of those in the earth, they would mislead you away from the path of God. They follow nothing but conjecture; they are only guessing.
[6:117] Your Lord knows best those who stray off His path, and He knows best those who are guided.
[6:118] So eat from that upon which God's name has been mentioned if you believe in His revelations.
[6:119] And what is the matter with you that you should not eat from that upon which God's name has been mentioned, when He has detailed for you what is prohibited for you, with the exception of that to which you are compelled? Many do mislead through their personal desires and without knowledge. Your Lord knows best the transgressors.
[6:120] And abstain from what is apparent of sin and what is concealed thereof. Those who have committed sins will be repaid for what they used to commit.
[6:121] Do not eat from that upon which God's name has not been mentioned, for it is vileness. The devils inspire their allies to argue with you. If you obey them, you would indeed be mushrikoon.
[6:122] Is one who was dead then We brought him to life, and provided him with a light with which he walks among the people, the same as one who is in the darkness, never to exit therefrom? What the disbelievers have been doing was thus adorned in their eyes.
[6:123] Thus, We let the worst criminals of every village scheme in it. But they only scheme against themselves, and they do not realise it.
[6:124] And if a sign comes to them, they say, "We will not believe unless we are given the same as what God's messengers were given." God knows best where He places His message. Such criminals will suffer belittlement at God and a great punishment for what they used to scheme.
[6:125] Whomever God wishes to guide, He renders his chest receptive to Submission, and whomever He wishes to misguide, He renders his chest tight and constricted as if he is ascending into the sky. Thus does God let impurity befall those who do not believe.
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Footnote 6:125 – God does not misguide any person unjustly. Rather, God allows people with sickness in their hearts to be misguided because they chose to reject the guidance and follow the falsehood. God knows that they will never accept the guidance no matter what proofs are shown to them (7:146), and in 8:23, we read: 'Had God known of any good in them, He would have made them hear. But even if He had made them hear, they would still turn away in aversion.'
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[6:126] This is your Lord's straight path. We have detailed the revelations for a people who take heed.
[6:127] They shall have the Abode of Peace at their Lord. He is their Ally because of what they used to do.
[6:128] On the Day He gathers them all, "O you tribes of jinn, you have claimed multitudes of humans." Their allies among the humans said, "Our Lord, we enjoyed each other's company, and we have now reached our term which You appointed for us." He said, "The Fire is your home, wherein you shall permanently remain, except for what God wills." Indeed, your Lord is Wise, Knowledgeable.
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Footnote 6:128 – God gives us ample indication in the Quran that in the Hereafter, there is no such thing as 'Time' as we know it. In 6:128 and 6:130, we witness an example of the Quranic use of the past tense for an event that has not yet taken place as far as we humans are concerned. The summoning of all humans on Judgment Day and the replies of the humans on that Day are future events as far as we are concerned, yet these events are phrased in the past tense. Other translators, unaware of the deliberate use of the past tense and its significance, used the future tense, thereby disregarding the scientific input of these verses.
We now know that 'Time' is a dimension of the physical universe. According to the Big Bang theory, 'Time' was created along with space and matter, when the universe was created. Verses 39:68-75 and 78:19-20 contain further examples of future events (end of the world/Day of Judgment) that are worded in the past tense. Also, see footnote 17:52.
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[6:129] And thus, We ally some of the transgressors with one another because of what they used to earn.
[6:130] O you tribes of jinn and humans, did not messengers from among you come to you narrating to you My revelations and warning you about the meeting of this Day of yours? They said, "We bear witness against ourselves." They were deluded by the worldly life, and they bore witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.
[6:131] That is because your Lord was not to annihilate any village unjustly while its people are unaware.
[6:132] And all shall be assigned ranks in accordance to what they have done. Your Lord is not unaware of what they do.
[6:133] Your Lord is the Rich One, the Possessor of Mercy. If He wills, He can remove you and bring in succession to you whatever He wills, just as He produced you from the descendants of other people.
[6:133] Your Lord is the Rich One, the Possessor of Mercy. If He wills, He can remove you and bring in succession to you whatever He wills, just as He produced you from the descendants of other people.
[6:134] What you are promised will surely come to pass, and you cannot thwart it.
[6:135] Say, "O my people, act according to your position, and so will I. Then you will know who will have the Abode for a homecoming." The transgressors will never succeed.
[6:136] And they apportioned for God a share in the tilth and livestock that He multiplied, saying, "This is for God," according to their claims, "and this share belongs to our partners." Then what was for their partners never reached God, while that which was for God reached their partners. Miserable indeed was how they judged.
[6:137] Likewise, many of the mushrikeen were duped by their partners who adorned for them the killing of their own children. This was to destroy them and confuse their religion for them. Had God willed, they would not have done it, so disregard them and what they fabricate.
[6:138] And they said, "These livestock and crops are barred. No one shall eat them except whom we will," for so they claimed. Also, livestock on whose backs it was forbidden to ride, and livestock upon which they do not pronounce God's name; all were fabrications attributed to Him. He will surely repay them for what they used to fabricate.
[6:139] And they said, "What is in the bellies of this livestock is exclusively for our males and prohibited for our wives." But if it was a stillbirth, then they would be partners therein! He will repay them for their portrayal. He is Wise, Knowledgeable.
[6:140] Those who have killed their children foolishly without knowledge, and fabricated lies against God by prohibiting what God has provided for them, have indeed lost. They have gone astray; they were not guided.
[6:141] He is the One who produced gardens, trellised and un-trellised and palm trees, and vegetation of various tastes, and olives, and pomegranate, similar and dissimilar. Eat from their fruits when it yields, and give its decreed right on the day of its harvest, and do not be excessive. Indeed, He does not like the excessive ones.
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Footnote 6:141 – The words 'decreed right' speak of the Zakat which must be paid every time we receive income. The 'harvest'in this verse is symbolic of any income received. The words 'on the day of its harvest' make it mandatory for the Zakat to be paid as soon as income is received and not at the end of the month or the end of the year.
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[6:142] Some of the livestock are carriers of the load, and some are a source for bedding materials. Eat from what God has provided for you, and do not follow in the footsteps of the devil. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.
[6:143] Eight pairs: from the sheep, two, and from the goats, two, say, "Is it the two males that He prohibited, or the two females, or the contents of the wombs of the two females? Inform me with knowledge if you are truthful."
[6:144] And from the camels, two, and from the cows, two, say, "Is it the two males that He prohibited, or the two females, or the contents of the wombs of the two females? Or were you witnesses when God instructed you with this?" So who is more transgressing than one who fabricates lies about God to misguide the people without knowledge? God does not guide the transgressing people.
[6:145] Say, "I do not find in what has been inspired to me any food that is prohibited for any eater to eat except if it is carrion, or running blood, or the flesh of the pig for it is impure, or any vileness that is dedicated to other than God." But if one is compelled out of necessity rather than desire or greed, then indeed, your Lord is Forgiver, Merciful.
[6:146] For those who are Jewish, We prohibited all that have claws, and of the cows and sheep, We prohibited their fat, except that which is carried on their backs, or the entrails, or what is mixed with bones. That was how We repaid them for their transgressions; We are indeed truthful.
[6:147] So if they deny you, say, "Your Lord possesses immense mercy, and His might is not withheld from the criminal people."
[6:148] Those who committed shirk will say, "Had God willed, we would not have committed shirk, nor would have our fathers, nor would we have prohibited anything." Likewise did those before them deny until they tasted Our might. Say, "Do you have any knowledge that you can produce for us? You follow nothing but conjecture; you are only guessing."
[6:149] Say, "God possesses the conclusive argument. Had He willed, He would have guided you all."
[6:150] Say, "Bring forth your witnesses who would testify that God has prohibited this." If they testify, do not testify with them, and do not follow the personal desires of those who deny Our revelations and those who do not believe in the Hereafter, and they equate others with their Lord.
[6:151] Say, "Come let me recite to you what your Lord has prohibited for you: Do not associate anything with Him, and treat your parents kindly. Do not kill your children because of poverty; We provide for you and for them. Do not go near immoralities, the apparent of it as well as the concealed. Do not take a life; God has prohibited that, except in the course of justice. That is what He instructed you to do, so perhaps you will reason.
[6:152] Do not go near the money of the orphan except for what is best until he reaches his maturity, and give the full measure and weight equitably. We do not assign to any self except what is within its capacity. When you speak, do so justly, even if it concerns a relative, and fulfil the oath made to God. This is what He instructed you to do; may you take heed."
[6:153] This is My path, a straight one, so follow it. And do not follow other paths, for they will divert you from His path. This is what He instructed you to do, so perhaps you will be reverent.
[6:154] Then We gave Moses the Book, perfect for the one who does good, and detailing all things, and a guidance and mercy, so perhaps they would believe in the meeting with their Lord.
[6:155] And this is a blessed Book which We brought down, so follow it and be reverent so that you may attain mercy.
[6:156] Lest you say, "The Scripture was only brought down upon two groups before us, and we were unaware of their studies."
[6:157] Or lest you say, "Had the Scripture been brought down to us, we would have been better guided than them." A clear proof has now come to you from your Lord, a guidance and a mercy. So who is more transgressing than one who denies God's revelations and turns away from them? We shall repay those who turn away from Our revelations with the worst punishment for how they turned away.
[6:158] Are they waiting only for the angels to come to them, or your Lord to come, or for some signs of your Lord to come? The Day that some of your Lord's signs do come, no self will benefit from its faith if it had not believed from before or had not earned some good through its faith. Say, "Wait, we too are waiting."
[6:159] As for those who have divided their religion and broken up into sects, you shall have nothing to do with them. Their case rests with God, and then He will inform them of what they used to do.
[6:160] The one who comes with a good deed shall be rewarded with ten of its like. And the one who comes with a sin will not be repaid except by its like, and they will not be wronged.
[6:161] Say, "My Lord has guided me to a straight path, a correct religion, the creed of Abraham. He was a monotheist and was not one of the mushrikeen."
[6:162] Say, "My Salat, my worship rituals, my life and my death, are all devoted to God, the Lord of the Worlds.
[6:163] He has no partner. This is what I was commanded with, and I am the first of the Submitters."
[6:164] Say, "Shall I seek other than God as a lord, when He is the Lord of all things?" Every self earns for none other than itself, and no burden-bearer bears the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return. He will then inform you of that over which you used to differ.
[6:165] He is the One who made you successors in the earth, and He raised some of you above others in rank so as to test you through what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is swift in punishment, and indeed, He is Forgiver, Merciful.
Sura 7 The Heights (Al-A'araf)
In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.
[7:1] A. L. M. Ss.
[7:2] A Book has been brought down to you, so let there be no constraint in your chest because of it, and so that you may warn with it. It is a Reminder for the believers.
[7:3] Follow what has been brought down to you from your Lord, and do not follow any allies besides Him. Little do you take heed!
[7:4] How many a village We have annihilated! Our might came to them while they were asleep at night or during their afternoon rest.
[7:5] Their plea when Our might came to them was only to say: "We have been transgressors."
[7:6] We will question those to whom the message has been sent, and We will question the messengers.
[7:7] We will narrate to them with knowledge, for We were never absent.
[7:8] The weight on that Day will spell out the truth. So those whose scales are heavy, they will be the successful ones.
[7:9] And those whose scales will be light, they will be the ones who have lost themselves for how they used to transgress against Our revelations.
[7:10] We established you in the land, and We provided for you means of livelihood therein; little do you give thanks!
[7:11] We created you, then We designed you, then We said to the angels, "Fall prostrate before Adam." So they fell prostrate, except Satan; he was not one of the prostrators.
[7:12] He said, "What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?" He said, "I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay."
[7:13] He said, "Therefore, descend from it, for you are not to be arrogant in it. So get out; you are among the belittled."
[7:14] He said, "Grant me a respite until the Day they are resurrected."
[7:15] He said, "You are among those granted respite."
[7:16] He said, "Since You have led me astray, I will lie in wait for them on Your straight path.
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Footnote 7:16 – With shameless impudence, Satan accused God that He led him astray! The truth is that Satan is a confirmed liar. God does not lead anyone astray. It is those with sickness in their hearts who choose the misguidance in place of God's guidance. A clear example of Satan's lies is when he lied to Adam and his wife, telling them that eating from the forbidden tree would turn them into angels and grant them immortality (7:20).
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[7:17] Then I will come to them from before them, and from behind them, and from their right, and from their left, and You will not find many of them to be thankful."
[7:18] He said, "Get out of it, despised and banished. As for those among them who follow you, I will fill Hell with you all.
[7:19] And you Adam, dwell in Paradise, you and your wife. Eat from wherever you please, but do not go near this tree, lest you be of the transgressors."
[7:20] So the devil whispered to the two of them in order to reveal to them that which was unapparent to them of their bodies. He said, "Your Lord has only forbidden you this tree, lest you become two angels, or you become among the immortals."
[7:21] He swore to them, "Truly, I am a sincere adviser to you."
[7:22] He thus lured them through deception. Then, when they tasted of the tree, their bodies became apparent to them, and they started to cover themselves with the leaves of Paradise. Their Lord called to them: "Did I not forbid you from that tree and tell you that the devil is a clear enemy to you?"
[7:23] They said, "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers."
[7:24] He said, "Go down; some of you will be enemies of one another.In the earth, you shall have a place of settlement and enjoyment for a certain time."
[7:25] He said, "In it, you will live, and in it, you will die, and from it, you will be brought out."
[7:26] O Children of Adam, We have brought down to you garments to cover your bodies, as well as for adornment, yet the garment of reverence is the best. These are some of God's signs. May you take heed.
[7:27] O Children of Adam, do not let the devil entice you just like he caused your parents to be evicted from Paradise, stripping them of their garments to expose to them their bodies. He and his tribe see you from where you do not see them. We have appointed the devils as allies of those who do not believe.
[7:28] If they commit an immorality, they say, "We found our parents doing it, and God has commanded us to do it." Say, "God does not command immorality. Are you saying about God what you do not know?"
[7:29] Say, "My Lord commands justice, and that you maintain your devotion at every masjid. And call upon Him, devoting the religion purely to Him. Just as He initiated you, so shall you return."
[7:30] A group He has guided, and a group have rightly deserved the misguidance. They have taken the devils as allies besides God, and they think that they are guided.
[7:31] O Children of Adam, take along your zinat to every masjid, and eat and drink, but do not be excessive. Indeed, He does not like the excessive ones.
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Footnote 7:31 – For the word 'zinat', see the glossary of Arabic words.
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[7:32] Say, "Who prohibited the zinat of God which He has produced for His servants and the good provisions?" Say, "They are, during the worldly life, for those who believe, and are exclusively theirs on the Day of Resurrection." We thus detail the revelations for a people who know.
[7:33] Say, "My Lord has only prohibited immoralities, what is apparent of them and what is concealed, and the sins, and unjustified aggression, and that you associate with God that for which He has not brought down any authorisation, and to say about God what you know not."
[7:34] For every nation, there is an appointed term, then when their time comes, they will not be delayed by one hour nor be advanced.
[7:35] O Children of Adam, when messengers come to you from among you narrating My revelations to you; for those who are reverent and who reform, no fear will there be concerning them nor will they grieve.
[7:36] As for those who denied Our revelations and acted arrogantly towards them, they are the companions of the Fire. Therein, they shall permanently remain.
[7:37] So who is more transgressing than one who fabricates lies about God or denies His revelations? Those will receive their share of the Scripture. Then when Our messengers come to them to take them back, they will say, "Where are those whom you used to call upon besides God?" They will say, "They have abandoned us." They will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.
[7:38] He said, "Enter the Fire among nations of jinn and humans which have passed away before you." Every time a nation entered, it cursed its sister nation. Once they are all in, one after the other, each latter one will say of its predecessor, "Our Lord, these have misled us, so give them a double punishment of the Fire." He said, "For all is double, but you do not know."
[7:39] And each predecessor said to its latter, "You have done us no favour either, so taste the punishment for what you used to earn."
[7:40] Those who denied Our revelations and acted arrogantly towards them, the gates of heaven will not open for them, nor will they enter Paradise until the camel passes through the needle's eye! We thus repay the criminals.
[7:41] Hell will be theirs for a resting place, with covering barriers above them. We thus repay the transgressors.
[7:42] And for those who believe and do good deeds, We do not assign to any self except what is within its capacity. They are the companions of Paradise. Therein, they shall permanently remain.
[7:43] We stripped away the animosity that was in their chests and rivers will flow beneath them. They said, "Praise be to God for guiding us to this. We would have never been guided had God not guided us. The messengers of our Lord had come with the truth." It was called out to them: "This is Paradise. You have inherited it in return for what you used to do."
[7:44] The companions of Paradise called out to the companions of the Fire: "We have found what our Lord promised us to be true. So have you found what your Lord had promised to be true?" They said, "Yes." Then an announcer between them announced: "God's curse is on the transgressors
[7:45] who repel from the path of God, desiring to make it crooked, and with regards to the Hereafter, they are disbelievers."
[7:46] A barrier lies between them, and on the Heights, there are men who recognise everyone by their features. They called the companions of Paradise: "Peace be upon you." They have not entered it, but they long to do so.
[7:47] Then, when their sight was turned towards the companions of the Fire, they said, "Our Lord, do not place us with the transgressing people."
[7:48] And the companions of the Heights called on men whom they recognised by their features and said, "Your large numbers did not avail you, nor did your arrogance!"
[7:49] Are those the ones whom you swore that God would not bestow mercy upon? Enter Paradise. No fear is there concerning you, nor will you grieve.
[7:50] And the companions of the Fire called out to the companions of Paradise: "Pour over us some water, or some of what God has provided you with." They said, "God has forbidden them to the disbelievers
[7:51] who took their religion as amusement and play, and were deluded by the worldly life." Therefore, We forget them today just as they forgot the meeting of this Day of theirs and for having rejected Our revelations.
[7:52] We have brought them a Book that We detailed with knowledge as a guidance and mercy for a people who believe.
[7:53] Are they only waiting for its fulfilment? The Day its fulfilment occurs, those who had forgotten it before will say, "The messengers of our Lord had come with the truth. Do we have any intercessors to intercede for us? Or could we be sent back to do other than what we used to do?" They have indeed lost themselves, and that which they used to fabricate has deserted them.
[7:54] Indeed, your Lord is God: the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then He settled on the Throne. The night covers the day as it pursues it relentlessly, and the sun, the moon and the stars are ordained through His command. Absolutely, to Him belong the creation and the command. Blessed be God, Lord of the Worlds.
[7:55] Call upon your Lord humbly and privately. Indeed, He does not like the transgressors.
[7:56] And do not corrupt in the land after it has been reformed. And call upon Him when in fear and in aspiration. God's mercy is nearby for the good-doers.
[7:57] He is the One who sends the winds bearing good news ahead of His mercy, so that when they have lifted up heavy clouds, We drive them to a dead land where We bring down the water to it, then with it, We produce all kinds of fruits. In the same way, We bring out the dead. May you take heed.
[7:58] The good land produces its plants by its Lord's permission, while that which has gone bad produces only that which is useless. We thus diversify the revelations for a people who give thanks.
[7:59] We sent Noah to his people, and he said, "O my people, worship God; you have no god other than Him. I fear for you the punishment of a great Day."
[7:60] The leaders among his people said, "We see that you are in clear misguidance."
[7:61] He said, "O my people, there is no misguidance in me. Rather, I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds.
[7:62] I deliver to you the messages of my Lord, and I advise you, and I know from God what you know not.
[7:63] Are you astonished that a Reminder should come to you from your Lord through a man from amongst you, to warn you so that you may be reverent and so that you may attain mercy?"
[7:64] But they denied him, so We saved him and those with him on the ship, and We drowned those who denied Our revelations; they were a blind people.
[7:65] And to Aad was their brother Hud. He said, "O my people, worship God; you have no god other than Him, so will you not be reverent?"
[7:66] The leaders who disbelieved among his people said, "We see you are in utter foolishness, and we think you are of the liars."
[7:67] He said, "O my people, there is no foolishness in me. Rather, I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds.
[7:68] I deliver to you my Lord's messages, and I am a trustworthy adviser to you.
[7:69] Are you astonished that a Reminder should come to you from your Lord through a man from amongst you, to warn you? Remember that He made you successors after the people of Noah and increased you greatly in stature. So remember the favours of God so that you may succeed."
[7:70] They said, "Did you come to us so that we would worship God alone and abandon what our fathers used to worship? Then bring us what you are promising us if you are of the truthful."
[7:71] He said, "An affliction and wrath has befallen you from your Lord. Are you arguing with me about names that you and your fathers have made up and for which God has brought down no authorisation? Then wait; I am with you among those who wait."
[7:72] So We saved him and those with him by mercy from Us, and We cut off the last remnant of those who denied Our revelations and were not believers.
[7:73] And to Thamoud was their brother Saleh. He said, "O my people, worship God; you have no god other than Him. A clear proof has come to you from your Lord. This she-camel belonging to God is a sign for you. So leave her to eat from God's land, and do not touch her with any harm, lest a painful punishment seizes you.
[7:74] And remember when He made you successors after Aad and settled you in the land, building palaces on its plains and carving homes in the mountains. So remember the favours of God, and do not act wickedly in the earth spreading corruption."
[7:75] The arrogant leaders among his people said to the believers among the oppressed ones, "Do you know that Saleh is sent by his Lord?" They said, "We believe in what he was sent with."
[7:76] The arrogant ones said, "We disbelieve in what you believe in."
[7:77] So they hamstrung the she-camel and defied their Lord's command and said, "O Saleh, bring us what you are promising us if you are of the messengers."
[7:78] So the earthquake seized them, leaving them motionless in their homes.
[7:79] So he turned away from them and said, "O my people, I have delivered my Lord's message to you and advised you, but you do not like the advisers."
[7:80] Lot said to his people, "Do you commit such immorality that was not perpetrated before you by anyone else among all the people?
[7:81] You approach men lustfully instead of the women. Indeed, you are an excessive people."
[7:82] The response of his people was nothing other than to say, "Evict them from your village. They are a people who keep themselves pure."
[7:83] So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; she was one of those who stayed behind.
[7:84] And We rained down a shower upon them, so look what the outcome of the criminals was.
[7:85] And to Madyan was their brother Shu'aib. He said, "O my people, worship God; you have no god other than Him. A clear proof has come to you from your Lord, so give the full measure and weight and do not deprive the people of what is due to them, and do not corrupt in the land after it has been reformed. This is better for you if you are believers.
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Footnote 7:85 - Shu'aib, the messenger of God sent to the people of Madyan, is believed by some historians to be the Biblical figure Jethro, the 'Priest of Midian' (Exodus 3:1).
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[7:86] And do not lie in wait on every path, threatening and repelling from the path of God those who believe in Him and seeking to make it crooked. Remember when you were a few, and He multiplied you, and look what the outcome of the corruptors was.
[7:87] And if a group of you has believed in what I was sent with, and a group has not believed, then wait until God judges between us. He is the best of judges."
[7:88] The arrogant leaders among his people said, "We will evict you, Shu'aib, together with those who believed with you from our village, unless you return to our creed." He said, "Even though we hate it?
[7:89] We would surely be fabricating lies about God if we were to return to your creed after God has saved us from it. It is not for us to return to it unless God, our Lord, wills. Our Lord encompasses all things in knowledge. In God we trust. Our Lord, decide between us and our people with truth. You are the best of deciders."
[7:90] The disbelieving leaders among his people said, "If you follow Shu'aib, you will surely be losers."
[7:91] So the earthquake seized them, leaving them motionless in their homes.
[7:92] Those who denied Shu'aib, it was as if they never prospered therein. Those who denied Shu'aib were the losers.
[7:93] He turned away from them and said, "O my people, I have delivered my Lord's message to you and advised you, so how could I grieve over a disbelieving people?"
[7:94] We have never sent a prophet to any village without afflicting its people with misery and hardship so that they may humble themselves.
[7:95] Then, We replaced the bad with the good until they thrived, and they said, "Our fathers were touched by hardship and prosperity." So We seized them suddenly while they were unaware.
[7:96] Had the people of the villages believed and been reverent, We would have showered them with blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they denied, so We seized them for what they used to earn.
[7:97] Did the people of the villages feel secure against Our might coming to them in the night while they are asleep?
[7:98] Or did the people of the villages feel secure against Our might coming to them in the morning brightness while they are playing?
[7:99] Did they feel safe against God's scheming? None feels safe against God's scheming except the losing people.
[7:100] Or has it not been a guide to those who inherit the earth after its people that, if We wish, We could strike them down for their sins and seal their hearts so they do not hear?
[7:101] We narrate to you news of those villages. Their messengers came to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe in what they had previously denied. Thus does God seal the hearts of the disbelievers.
[7:102] We have not found commitment to any oath in the majority of them. Indeed, We found most of them to be wicked.
[7:103] Then after them, We sent Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his leaders, but they transgressed against them, so look what the outcome of the corruptors was.
[7:104] Moses said, "O Pharaoh, I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds.
[7:105] I am duty-bound to say nothing about God except the truth. I have come to you with a clear proof from your Lord, so send with me the Children of Israel."
[7:106] He said, "If you have come with a miracle, then produce it if you are one of the truthful."
[7:107] So he cast his staff, and it became a clear snake,
[7:108] and he drew out his hand whereupon it was white to the beholders.
[7:109] The leaders among Pharaoh's people said, "This is a knowledgeable magician.
[7:110] He wants to drive you out of your land, so what do you command?"
[7:111] They said, "Let him and his brother wait and send gatherers to the cities.
[7:112] They will bring you every knowledgeable magician."
[7:113] The magicians came to Pharaoh and said, "Will there be a reward for us if we are the victors?"
[7:114] He said, "Yes indeed, and you will be among those who are close to me."
[7:115] They said, "O Moses, either you cast, or we shall be the ones to cast."
[7:116] He said, "You cast." So when they cast, they bewitched the people's eyes, terrified them, and produced a great magic.
[7:117] And We inspired Moses: "Cast your staff," whereupon it swallowed what they were deluding.
[7:118] Thus, the truth was established, and what they were doing was nullified.
[7:119] So they were defeated there and belittled,
[7:120] and the magicians fell prostrate.
[7:121] They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the Worlds.
[7:122] The Lord of Moses and Aaron."
[7:123] Pharaoh said, "Have you believed in him before I gave you permission? This is surely a scheme that you have schemed in the city in order to drive its people out of it. You will know
[7:124] that I will surely cut your hands and feet on opposite sides, then I will crucify all of you."
[7:125] They said, "To our Lord, we shall return.
[7:126] You are only seeking revenge on us because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they came to us. Our Lord, pour upon us patience and take us back as Submitters."
[7:127] The leaders among Pharaoh's people said, "Will you leave Moses and his people to corrupt in the land and abandon you and your gods?" He said, "We will kill their children and shame their women. We have full power over them."
[7:128] Moses said to his people, "Seek God's help and be patient. The land belongs to God. He lets whom He wills of His servants inherit it, and the outcome belongs to the reverent."
[7:129] They said, "We were harmed before you came to us and after you came to us." He said, "Perhaps your Lord will annihilate your enemy and make you successors in the earth, then He will see how you will behave."
[7:130] We seized Pharaoh's people with years of drought and shortage of crops so that they may take heed.
[7:131] When something good comes their way, they say, "This is our due." But when something bad strikes them, they ascribe its omen to Moses and those with him! In fact, their omen rests with God, but most of them do not know.
[7:132] They said, "No matter what miracle you bring us to bewitch us with, we still will not believe in you."
[7:133] So We sent upon them the flood, the locusts, the lice, the frogs and the blood as clear-cut signs. But they acted arrogantly and were a criminal people.
[7:134] And when an affliction befell them, they said, "O Moses, implore your Lord by the oath He has made with you. If you remove the affliction from us, we will believe in you, and we will send the Children of Israel with you."
[7:135] Yet when We removed the affliction off them for a term they were to fulfil, they broke their pledge.
[7:136] So We inflicted retribution upon them and drowned them in the sea, for they denied Our signs and were oblivious thereof.
[7:137] And We made the people who had been oppressed inherit the eastern parts of the land and its western parts, which We had blessed. And the good Word of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel for what they had patiently endured. And We destroyed what Pharaoh and his people were constructing and what they were erecting.
[7:138] We delivered the Children of Israel across the sea. Then they came upon a people who were devoted to some stone idols that they had. They said, "O Moses, make for us a god just like they have gods." He said, "You are an ignorant people!
[7:139] What these people are engaged in is doomed, and what they have been doing is worthless."
[7:140] He said, "Is it a god other than God that I should seek for you when He has favoured you over all the people?"
[7:141] When We saved you from Pharaoh's people, who were inflicting upon you the worst punishment, killing your children and shaming your women; in those were great tests from your Lord.
[7:142] And We appointed for Moses thirty nights, and We completed them with ten. Thus, the term appointed by his Lord was completed in forty nights. Moses said to his brother Aaron, "Take charge over my people in my place. Act well, and do not follow the path of the corruptors."
[7:143] When Moses came to Our appointed time, and his Lord spoke to him, he said, "My Lord, let me look and see You." He said, "You cannot see Me, but look at the mountain; if it stays in its place, then you will see Me." Then when his Lord manifested Himself to the mountain, He reduced it to rubble, and Moses dropped down unconscious. When he came to, he said, "Glory to You. I repent to You, and I am the first of the believers."
[7:144] He said, "O Moses, I have chosen you over all people with My messages and My words. So take what I have given you and be among the thankful."
[7:145] And We wrote for him on the tablets advice and details of all things: "So uphold it strongly, and command your people to uphold the best therein. I will show you the abode of the wicked."
[7:146] I will avert from My revelations those who are arrogant in the earth with no right. Were they to see every sign, they still would not believe in it. If they see the path of correctness, they do not take it for a path, and if they see the path of error, they take it for a path. That is because they denied Our revelations and were oblivious thereof.
[7:147] Those who denied Our revelations and the meeting of the Hereafter, their work is nullified. Are they being repaid except for what they used to do?
[7:148] After he left, the people of Moses fashioned from their jewellery the body of a calf that gave out a mooing sound. Did they not see that it could not speak to them nor guide them to the path? They adopted it and were transgressors.
[7:149] When they realised what they had done, and they saw that they had gone astray, they said, "If our Lord does not have mercy upon us and forgive us, we will surely be among the losers."
[7:150] And when Moses returned to his people, angry and disappointed, he said, "What a miserable thing you have done behind my back after I had gone! Did you want to hasten the command of your Lord?" He threw down the tablets and took hold of his brother's head, pulling him towards him. He said, "Son of my mother, the people overpowered me, and they almost killed me, so let not the enemy gloat over me, and do not count me among the transgressing people."
[7:151] He said, "My Lord, forgive me and my brother, and admit us into Your mercy, for You are the Most Merciful of the merciful."
[7:152] Those who set up the calf shall receive wrath from their Lord and humiliation in the worldly life. We thus repay the fabricators.
[7:153] As for those who have committed bad deeds, then repented thereafter and believed, then indeed, your Lord thereafter is Forgiver, Merciful.
[7:154] When Moses' anger subsided, he took the tablets, and in its inscription was guidance and mercy for those who fear their Lord.
[7:155] Moses selected seventy men from among his people to come to Our appointed time. Then when the earthquake seized them, he said, "My Lord, if You had willed, You could have annihilated them before, as well as me. Would You annihilate us for what the foolish among us have done? It is but Your test; You let whom You will be misguided through it, and You let whom You will be guided. You are our Ally, so forgive us and have mercy upon us. You are the best of forgivers.
[7:156] And decree for us in this world that which is good, and also in the Hereafter. We have turned to You." He said, "My punishment will strike whomever I please, and My mercy encompasses all things, and so I shall decree it for those who are reverent, give the Zakat, and those who believe in Our revelations,
[7:157] and to those who follow the messenger, the ummi prophet, whom they find written down in the Torah and the Injeel that are with them. He advocates righteousness to them and forbids them from evil. He makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them what is bad, and he relieves them from the heavy burden and the shackles that were upon them. So those who have believed in him, honoured him, supported him, and followed the Light which was brought down with him, they are the successful ones."
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Footnote 7:157 - For 'ummi', see the glossary of un-translated words.
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[7:158] Say, "O people, I am the messenger of God to you all. The One to whom belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. There is no god except Him. He brings to life and puts to death." So believe in God and His messenger, the ummi prophet, and who believes in God and His Words, and follow him so that you may be guided.
[7:159] Among the people of Moses is a nation who guides with the truth, and with it, they establish justice.
[7:160] We split them up into twelve tribal communities, and We inspired Moses when his people asked him for water, "Strike the rock with your staff," wherefrom twelve springs gushed out. Each people knew their own drinking place, and We shaded them with clouds, and We brought down upon them manna and quails: "Eat from the good which We have provided you with." They did not wrong Us, but they were wronging themselves.
[7:161] When they were told, "Dwell in this village, eat therefrom as you please, speak with humility, and enter the gate in submission. We will then forgive you your sins. We will increase further for the good-doers."
[7:162] The transgressors among them replaced what was said to them with other words. So We sent upon them affliction from the sky in return for the transgression they were doing.
[7:163] And ask them about the village which was situated by the sea when they were violating the Sabbath. The fish came to them, near the surface of the water, on the day of their Sabbath, and on the day when it was not their Sabbath, they did not come. Thus did We test them for how wickedly they used to behave.
[7:164] And when a community among them said, "Why do you advise a people whom God will annihilate or punish with a severe punishment?" They answered, "To be free from blame before your Lord and so that perhaps they would be reverent."
[7:165] Then, when they forgot what they were reminded of, We saved those who forbade evil, and We seized those who transgressed with a wretched punishment for how wickedly they used to behave.
[7:166] Then, when they were defiant against what they were forbidden from, We said to them, "Be apes, despised."
[7:167] Then your Lord announced that He will raise up against them those who will inflict on them the worst punishment until the Day of Resurrection. Indeed, your Lord is swift in punishment, and indeed, He is Forgiver, Merciful.
[7:168] We split them up into nations throughout the land. Some of them were righteous, and some were otherwise. We tested them through good things and bad things so that they may revert.
[7:169] Successors came after them who inherited the Scripture. They indulged in the material gains of this lower life, saying, "It will be forgiven for us." Yet, if similar material gains came their way, again they would take it. Was the covenant of the Book not taken from them that they would not say about God except the truth, and they studied what was in it? The Abode of the Hereafter is better for the reverent, so will you not reason?
[7:170] As for those who hold fast to the Scripture and observe the Salat, We do not let the reward of the reformers go to waste.
[7:171] And when We raised the mountain above them as if it were an awning and they thought it would fall down on them: "Uphold what We have given you strongly and remember what is in it so that you may be reverent."
[7:172] And when your Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their backs, their descendants, and made them bear witness regarding themselves: "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we bear witness." Lest you say on the Day of Resurrection, "We were oblivious of this."
[7:173] Or lest you say, "It was our parents who committed shirk before, and we were no more than an offspring after them. Will You annihilate us because of what the falsifiers have done?"
[7:174] We thus detail the revelations so that they may revert.
[7:175] Recite for them the news of the one to whom We gave Our revelations, but he peeled himself away from them, and so the devil pursued him, and he became one of the strayers.
[7:176] Had We willed, We could have elevated him therewith, but he clung to the ground and followed his personal desire. His likeness is the like of a dog; if you chase him, he pants, and if you leave him alone, he pants. Such is the example of the people who denied Our revelations. So narrate the stories so that they may reflect.
[7:177] Terrible indeed is the example of the people who denied Our signs and used to wrong themselves.
[7:178] The one whom God guides is the truly guided one, and the one He misguides, those are the losers.
[7:179] We have committed to Hell multitudes of the jinn and the humans. They have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. These are like cattle. In fact, they are further astray. These are the oblivious ones.
[7:180] To God belong the Beautiful Names, so call Him by them and keep away from those who distort His Names. They will be repaid for what they used to do.
[7:181] From among those whom We have created is a nation who guide with the truth, and with it they establish justice.
[7:182] And regarding those who deny Our revelations, We will lead them on from where they know not.
[7:183] I will give them respite. Indeed, My scheme is firm.
[7:184] Have they not reflected? There is no madness in their companion. He is but a clear warner.
[7:185] Or have they not looked into the realm of the heavens and the earth, and all things which God has created, and that perhaps their time may be drawing near? Which hadith after it do they believe in?
[7:186] Whomever God misguides, he will have no guide. And He leaves them blundering blindly in their transgression.
[7:187] They ask you about the Hour: when is its arrival? Say, "Its knowledge rests only with my Lord. None can reveal its time except Him. It weighs heavily in the heavens and the earth. It will not come to you except suddenly." They ask you as if you have full knowledge thereof. Say, "Its knowledge is only with God," but most people do not know.
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Footnote 7:187 – The 'Hour' (Al-Sa'aa) is used in the Quran for the Day of Resurrection.
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[7:188] Say, "I possess no power to benefit nor to harm myself other than what God has willed. If I knew the unseen, I would have increased my wealth, and no harm would have touched me. I am no more than a warner and a bearer of good news for a people who believe."
[7:189] He is the One who created you from one single self and made from it its mate to find tranquillity with her. Then when he covered her, she carried a light load that she walked around with. Then when she got heavier, they implored God their Lord: "If You grant us a good one, we will be among the thankful."
[7:190] Then, when He granted them a good one, they set up partners to Him in what He has given them. Exalted is God, far above what they associate with Him.
[7:191] Are they setting up partners who do not create anything while they themselves are created,
[7:192] and who can neither support them nor support themselves?
[7:193] If you invite them to the guidance, they do not follow you. It is the same for you whether you invite them or remain silent.
[7:194] Those whom you call upon besides God are servants just like you. So go ahead and call upon them, and let them respond to you if you are truthful.
[7:195] Do they have legs with which they walk? Or do they have hands with which they strike? Or do they have eyes with which they see? Or do they have ears with which they hear? Say, "Call upon your partners, then scheme, and do not give me respite.
[7:196] Indeed, my Ally is God, the One who brought down the Book, and He looks after the righteous.
[7:197] And those whom you call upon besides Him are unable to support you, nor can they support themselves."
[7:198] And if you invite them to the guidance, they do not hear, and you see them looking at you, yet they do not see.
[7:199] Take what is freely given, advocate what is right, and turn away from the ignorant.
[7:200] If an evil suggestion is incited to you from the devil, seek refuge in God. He is Hearer, Knowledgeable.
[7:201] When a visitation from the devil comes to the reverent they remember, whereupon they become seers.
[7:202] Their brothers drag them increasingly into error, and then they do not stop short.
[7:203] And when you do not bring them a miracle, they say, "If only you had come up with one!" Say, "I only follow what is inspired to me from my Lord." This is insight from your Lord, as well as guidance and mercy for a people who believe.
[7:204] When the Quran is being read, listen to it and pay attention so that you may attain mercy.
[7:205] And remember your Lord within yourself humbly and fearfully, without loudness of voice, in the mornings and the evenings, and do not be among the oblivious.
[7:206] Those at your Lord are never too proud to worship Him; they glorify Him, and to Him they prostrate.
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