Chapter 23, 118 verses
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. indeed are the believers
Certainly will the believers have succeeded:
Who are humble in their prayers,
They who are during their prayer humbly submissive
And who shun vain conversation,
And they who turn away from ill speech
And who are payers of the poor - due;
And they who are observant of zakah
And who guard their modesty -
And they who guard their private parts
Save from their wives or the (slaves) that their right hands possess, for then they are not blameworthy,
Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed -
But whoso craveth beyond that, such are transgressors -
But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors -
And who are shepherds of their pledge and their covenant,
And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive
And who pay heed to their prayers.
And they who carefully maintain their prayers -
These are the heirs
Those are the inheritors
Who will inherit paradise. There they will abide.
Who will inherit al - Firdaus. They will abide therein eternally.
Verily We created man from a product of wet earth;
And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay.
Then placed him as a drop (of seed) in a safe lodging;
Then We placed him as a sperm - drop in a firm lodging.
Then fashioned We the drop a clot, then fashioned We the clot a little lump, then fashioned We the little lump bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it as another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators!
Then We made the sperm - drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah, the best of creators.
Then lo! after that ye surely die.
Then indeed, after that you are to die.
Then lo! on the Day of Resurrection ye are raised (again).
Then indeed you, on the Day of Resurrection, will be resurrected.
And We have created above you seven paths, and We are never unmindful of creation.
And We have created above you seven layered heavens, and never have We been of [Our] creation unaware.
And we send down from the sky water in measure, and We give it lodging in the earth, and lo! We are Able to withdraw it.
And We have sent down rain from the sky in a measured amount and settled it in the earth. And indeed, We are Able to take it away.
Then We produce for you therewith gardens of date - palms and grapes, wherein is much fruit for you and whereof ye eat;
And We brought forth for you thereby gardens of palm trees and grapevines in which for you are abundant fruits and from which you eat.
And a tree that springeth forth from Mount Sinai that groweth oil and relish for the eaters.
And [We brought forth] a tree issuing from Mount Sinai which produces oil and food for those who eat.
And lo! in the cattle there is verily a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, and many uses have ye in them, and of them do ye eat;
And indeed, for you in livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from that which is in their bellies, and for you in them are numerous benefits, and from them you eat.
And on them and on the ship ye are carried.
And upon them and on ships you are carried.
And We verily sent Noah unto his folk, and he said: O my people! Serve Allah. Ye have no other God save Him. Will ye not ward off (evil) ?
And We had certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him; then will you not fear Him?"
But the chieftains of his folk, who disbelieved, said: This is only a mortal like you who would make himself superior to you. Had Allah willed, He surely could have sent down angels. We heard not of this in the case of our fathers of old.
But the eminent among those who disbelieved from his people said, "This is not but a man like yourselves who wishes to take precedence over you; and if Allah had willed [to send a messenger], He would have sent down angels. We have not heard of this among our forefathers.
He is only a man in whom is a madness, so watch him for a while.
He is not but a man possessed with madness, so wait concerning him for a time."
He said: My Lord! Help me because they deny me.
[Noah] said, "My Lord, support me because they have denied me."
Then We inspired in him, saying: Make the ship under Our eyes and Our inspiration. Then, when Our command cometh and the oven gusheth water, introduce therein of every (kind) two spouses, and thy household save him thereof against whom the Word hath already gone forth. And plead not with Me on behalf of those who have done wrong. Lo! they will be drowned.
So We inspired to him, "Construct the ship under Our observation, and Our inspiration, and when Our command comes and the oven overflows, put into the ship from each [creature] two mates and your family, except those for whom the decree [of destruction] has proceeded. And do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are to be drowned.
And when thou art on board the ship, thou and whoso is with thee, then say: Praise be to Allah Who hath saved us from the wrongdoing folk!
And when you have boarded the ship, you and those with you, then say, 'Praise to Allah who has saved us from the wrongdoing people.'
And say: My Lord! Cause me to land at a blessed landing - place, for Thou art Best of all who bring to land.
And say, 'My Lord, let me land at a blessed landing place, and You are the best to accommodate [us].' "
Lo! herein verily are portents, for lo! We are ever putting (mankind) to the test.
Indeed in that are signs, and indeed, We are ever testing [Our servants].
Then, after them, We brought forth another generation;
Then We produced after them a generation of others.
And we sent among them a messenger of their own, saying: Serve Allah, Ye have no other God save Him. Will ye not ward off (evil) ?
And We sent among them a messenger from themselves, [saying], "Worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him; then will you not fear Him?"
And the chieftains of his folk, who disbelieved and denied the meeting of the Hereafter, and whom We had made soft in the life of the world, said: This is only a mortal like you, who eateth of that whereof ye eat and drinketh of that ye drink.
And the eminent among his people who disbelieved and denied the meeting of the Hereafter while We had given them luxury in the worldly life said, "This is not but a man like yourselves. He eats of that from which you eat and drinks of what you drink.
If ye were to obey a mortal like yourselves, then, lo! ye surely would be losers.
And if you should obey a man like yourselves, indeed, you would then be losers.
Doth he promise you that you, when ye are dead and have become dust and bones, will (again) be brought forth ?
Does he promise you that when you have died and become dust and bones that you will be brought forth [once more]?
Begone, begone, with that which ye are promised!
How far, how far, is that which you are promised.
There is naught but our life of the world; we die and we live, and we shall not be raised (again).
Life is not but our worldly life - we die and live, but we will not be resurrected.
He is only a man who hath invented a lie about Allah. We are not going to put faith in him.
He is not but a man who has invented a lie about Allah, and we will not believe him."
He said: My Lord! Help me because they deny me.
He said, "My Lord, support me because they have denied me."
He said: In a little while they surely will become repentant.
[Allah] said, "After a little, they will surely become regretful."
So the (Awful) Cry overtook them rightfully, and We made them like as wreckage (that a torrent hurleth). A far removal for wrongdoing folk!
So the shriek seized them in truth, and We made them as [plant] stubble. Then away with the wrongdoing people.
Then after them We brought forth other generations.
Then We produced after them other generations.
No nation can outstrip its term, nor yet postpone it.
No nation will precede its time [of termination], nor will they remain [thereafter].
Then We sent our messengers one after another. Whenever its messenger came unto a nation they denied him; so We caused them to follow one another (to disaster) and We made them bywords. A far removal for folk who believe not!
Then We sent Our messengers in succession. Every time there came to a nation its messenger, they denied him, so We made them follow one another [to destruction], and We made them narrations. So away with a people who do not believe.
Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron with Our tokens and a clear warrant
Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron with Our signs and a clear authority
Unto Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they scorned (them) and they were despotic folk.
To Pharaoh and his establishment, but they were arrogant and were a haughty people.
And they said: Shall we put faith in two mortals like ourselves, and whose folk are servile unto us ?
They said, "Should we believe two men like ourselves while their people are for us in servitude?"
So they denied them, and became of those who were destroyed.
So they denied them and were of those destroyed.
And We verily gave Moses the Scripture, that haply they might go aright.
And We certainly gave Moses the Scripture that perhaps they would be guided.
And We made the son of Mary and his mother a portent, and We gave them refuge on a height, a place of flocks and watersprings.
And We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign and sheltered them within a high ground having level [areas] and flowing water.
O ye messengers! Eat of the good things, and do right. Lo! I am Aware of what ye do.
[Allah said], "O messengers, eat from the good foods and work righteousness. Indeed, I, of what you do, am Knowing.
And lo! this your religion is one religion and I am your Lord, so keep your duty unto Me.
And indeed this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so fear Me."
But they (mankind) have broken their religion among them into sects, each group rejoicing in its tenets.
But the people divided their religion among them into sects - each faction, in what it has, rejoicing.
So leave them in their error till a time.
So leave them in their confusion for a time.
Think they that in the wealth and sons wherewith We provide them
Do they think that what We extend to them of wealth and children
We hasten unto them with good things ? Nay, but they perceive not.
Is [because] We hasten for them good things? Rather, they do not perceive.
Lo! those who go in awe for fear of their Lord.
Indeed, they who are apprehensive from fear of their Lord
And those who believe in the revelations of their Lord,
And they who believe in the signs of their Lord
And those who ascribe not partners unto their Lord,
And they who do not associate anything with their Lord
And those who give that which they give with hearts afraid because they are about to return unto their Lord,
And they who give what they give while their hearts are fearful because they will be returning to their Lord -
These race for the good things, and they shall win them in the race.
It is those who hasten to good deeds, and they outstrip [others] therein.
And we task not any soul beyond its scope, and with Us is a Record which speaketh the truth, and they will not be wronged.
And We charge no soul except [with that within] its capacity, and with Us is a record which speaks with truth; and they will not be wronged.
Nay, but their hearts are in ignorance of this (Qur'an), and they have other works, besides, which they are doing;
But their hearts are covered with confusion over this, and they have [evil] deeds besides disbelief which they are doing,
Till when We grasp their luxurious ones with the punishment, behold! they supplicate.
Until when We seize their affluent ones with punishment, at once they are crying [to Allah] for help.
Supplicate not this day! Assuredly ye will not be helped by Us.
Do not cry out today. Indeed, by Us you will not be helped.
My revelations were recited unto you, but ye used to turn back on your heels,
My verses had already been recited to you, but you were turning back on your heels
In scorn thereof. Nightly did ye rave together.
In arrogance regarding it, conversing by night, speaking evil.
Have they not pondered the Word, or hath that come unto them which came not unto their fathers of old ?
Then have they not reflected over the Qur'an, or has there come to them that which had not come to their forefathers?
Or know they not their messenger, and so reject him ?
Or did they not know their Messenger, so they are toward him disacknowledging?
Or say they: There is a madness in him ? Nay, but he bringeth them the Truth; and most of them are haters of the Truth.
Or do they say, "In him is madness?" Rather, he brought them the truth, but most of them, to the truth, are averse.
And if the Truth had followed their desires, verily the heavens and the earth and whosoever is therein had been corrupted. Nay, We have brought them their Reminder, but from their Reminder they now turn away.
But if the Truth had followed their inclinations, the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them would have been ruined. Rather, We have brought them their message, but they, from their message, are turning away.
Or dost thou ask of them (O Muhammad) any tribute ? But the bounty of thy Lord is better, for He is Best of all who make provision.
Or do you, [O Muhammad], ask them for payment? But the reward of your Lord is best, and He is the best of providers.
And lo! thou summonest them indeed unto a straight path.
And indeed, you invite them to a straight path.
And lo! those who believe not in the Hereafter are indeed astray from the path.
But indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter are deviating from the path.
Though We had mercy on them and relieved them of the harm afflicting them, they still would wander blindly on in their contumacy.
And even if We gave them mercy and removed what was upon them of affliction, they would persist in their transgression, wandering blindly.
Already have We grasped them with punishment, but they humble not themselves unto their Lord, nor do they pray,
And We had gripped them with suffering [as a warning], but they did not yield to their Lord, nor did they humbly supplicate, [and will continue thus]
Until, when We open for them the gate of extreme punishment, behold! they are aghast thereat.
Until when We have opened before them a door of severe punishment, immediately they will be therein in despair.
He it is Who hath created for you ears and eyes and hearts. Small thanks give ye!
And it is He who produced for you hearing and vision and hearts; little are you grateful.
And He it is Who hath sown you broadcast in the earth, and unto Him ye will be gathered.
And it is He who has multiplied you throughout the earth, and to Him you will be gathered.
And He it is Who giveth life and causeth death, and His is the difference of night and day. Have ye then no sense ?
And it is He who gives life and causes death, and His is the alternation of the night and the day. Then will you not reason?
Nay, but they say the like of that which said the men of old;
Rather, they say like what the former peoples said.
They say: When we are dead and have become (mere) dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, be raised again ?
They said, "When we have died and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?
We were already promised this, we and our forefathers. Lo! this is naught but fables of the men of old.
We have been promised this, we and our forefathers, before; this is not but legends of the former peoples."
Say: Unto Whom (belongeth) the earth and whosoever is therein, if ye have knowledge ?
Say, [O Muhammad], "To whom belongs the earth and whoever is in it, if you should know?"
They will say: Unto Allah. Say: Will ye not then remember ?
They will say, "To Allah." Say, "Then will you not remember?"
Say: Who is Lord of the seven heavens, and Lord of the Tremendous Throne ?
Say, "Who is Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the Great Throne?"
They will say: Unto Allah (all that belongeth). Say: Will ye not then keep duty (unto Him) ?
They will say, "[They belong] to Allah." Say, "Then will you not fear Him?"
Say: In Whose hand is the dominion over all things and He protecteth, while against Him there is no protection, if ye have knowledge ?
Say, "In whose hand is the realm of all things - and He protects while none can protect against Him - if you should know?"
They will say: Unto Allah (all that belongeth). Say: How then are ye bewitched ?
They will say, "[All belongs] to Allah." Say, "Then how are you deluded?"
Nay, but We have brought them the Truth, and lo! they are liars.
Rather, We have brought them the truth, and indeed they are liars.
Allah hath not chosen any son, nor is there any god along with Him; else would each god have assuredly championed that which he created, and some of them would assuredly have overcome others. Glorified be Allah above all that they allege.
Allah has not taken any son, nor has there ever been with Him any deity. [If there had been], then each deity would have taken what it created, and some of them would have sought to overcome others. Exalted is Allah above what they describe [concerning Him].
Knower of the Invisible and the Visible! and Exalted be He over all that they ascribe as partners (unto Him)!
[He is] Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, so high is He above what they associate [with Him].
Say: My Lord! If Thou shouldst show me that which they are promised.
Say, [O Muhammad], "My Lord, if You should show me that which they are promised,
My Lord! then set me not among the wrongdoing folk.
My Lord, then do not place me among the wrongdoing people."
And verily We are Able to show thee that which We have promised them.
And indeed, We are able to show you what We have promised them.
Repel evil with that which is better. We are Best Aware of that which they allege.
Repel, by [means of] what is best, [their] evil. We are most knowing of what they describe.
And say: My Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from suggestions of the evil ones,
And say, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils,
And I seek refuge in Thee, my Lord, lest they be present with me,
And I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they be present with me."
Until, when death cometh unto one of them, he saith: My Lord! Send me back,
[For such is the state of the disbelievers], until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "My Lord, send me back
That I may do right in that which I have left behind! But nay! It is but a word that he speaketh; and behind them is a barrier until the day when they are raised.
That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind." No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected.
And when the trumpet is blown there will be no kinship among them that day, nor will they ask of one another.
So when the Horn is blown, no relationship will there be among them that Day, nor will they ask about one another.
Then those whose scales are heavy, they are the .
And those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds] - it is they who are the .
And those whose scales are light are those who lose their souls, in hell abiding.
But those whose scales are light - those are the ones who have lost their souls, [being] in Hell, abiding eternally.
The fire burneth their faces, and they are glum therein.
The Fire will sear their faces, and they therein will have taut smiles.
(It will be said): Were not My revelations recited unto you, and then ye used to deny them ?
[It will be said]. "Were not My verses recited to you and you used to deny them?"
They will say: Our Lord! Our evil fortune conquered us, and we were erring folk.
They will say, "Our Lord, our wretchedness overcame us, and we were a people astray.
Our Lord! Oh, bring us forth from hence! If we return (to evil) then indeed we shall be wrong - doers.
Our Lord, remove us from it, and if we were to return [to evil], we would indeed be wrongdoers."
He saith: Begone therein, and speak not unto Me.
He will say, "Remain despised therein and do not speak to Me.
Lo! there was a party of My slaves who said: Our Lord! We believe, therefor forgive us and have mercy on us for Thou art Best of all who show mercy;
Indeed, there was a party of My servants who said, 'Our Lord, we have believed, so forgive us and have mercy upon us, and You are the best of the merciful.'
But ye chose them for a laughing - stock until they caused you to forget remembrance of Me, while ye laughed at them.
But you took them in mockery to the point that they made you forget My remembrance, and you used to laugh at them.
Lo! I have rewarded them this day forasmuch as they were steadfast in that they, even they, are the triumphant.
Indeed, I have rewarded them this Day for their patient endurance - that they are the attainers [of success]."
He will say: How long tarried ye in the earth, counting by years ?
[Allah] will say, "How long did you remain on earth in number of years?"
They will say: We tarried by a day or part of a day. Ask of those who keep count!
They will say, "We remained a day or part of a day; ask those who enumerate."
He will say: Ye tarried but a little if ye only knew.
He will say, "You stayed not but a little - if only you had known.
Deemed ye then that We had created you for naught, and that ye would not be returned unto Us ?
Then did you think that We created you uselessly and that to Us you would not be returned?"
Now Allah be Exalted, the True King! There is no God save Him, the Lord of the Throne of Grace.
So exalted is Allah, the Sovereign, the Truth; there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Noble Throne.
He who crieth unto any other god along with Allah hath no proof thereof. His reckoning is only with his Lord. Lo! disbelievers will not be .
And whoever invokes besides Allah another deity for which he has no proof - then his account is only with his Lord. Indeed, the disbelievers will not succeed.
And (O Muhammad) say: My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for Thou art Best of all who show mercy.
And, [O Muhammad], say, "My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of the merciful."