|
|
|
|
|
They are on true guidance, from their Lord, and it is these who will prosper. As to those who reject Faith, it is the same to them whether you warn them or do not warn them; they will not believe. When it is said to them: "Believe as the others believe.": They say: "Will we believe as the fools believe?" Nay, of a surety they are the fools, but they do not know. God will throw back their mockery on them, and give them rope in their trespasses; so they will wander like blind ones To and fro. Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return to the path. How can you reject the faith in God, seeing that you were without life, and He gave you life; then will He cause you to die, and will again bring you to life; and again to Him will you return. Behold, your Lord said to the angels: "I will create a viceregent on earth." They said: "Will You place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? While we do celebrate Your praises and glorify Your Holy name?" He said: "I know what you know not." We said: "O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the Garden; and eat of the bountiful things therein as where and when you will; but approach not this tree, or you run into harm and transgression." Then did Satan make them slip from the garden, and get them out of the state of felicity in which they had been. We said: "Get you down, all you people, with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling-place and your means of livelihood - for a time." We said: "Get you down all from here; and if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from me, whosoever follows My guidance, on them will be no fear, nor will they grieve. "But those who reject Faith and belie Our Signs, they will be companions of the Fire; they will abide therein." Do you enjoin right conduct on the people, and forget To practise it yourselves, and yet you study the Scripture? Will you not understand? Then guard yourselves against a day when one soul will not avail another nor will intercession be accepted for her, nor will compensation be taken from her, nor will anyone be helped from outside. And remember Moses said to his people: "O my people! You have indeed wronged yourselves by your worship of the calf: So turn in repentance to your Maker, and slay yourselves the wrong-doers; that will be better for you in the sight of your Maker." Then He turned towards you in forgiveness: For He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. And remember you said: "O Moses! We will never believe in you until we see God manifestly.", but you were dazed with thunder and lightning even as you looked on. And remember We said: "Enter this town, and eat of the plenty therein as you wish; but enter the gate with humility, in posture and in words, and We will forgive you your faults and increase the portion of those who do good." And remember you said: "O Moses! We cannot endure one kind of food always; so beseech your Lord for us to produce for us of what the earth grows - its pot-herbs, and cucumbers, Its garlic, lentils, and onions." He said: "Will you exchange the better for the worse? Go you down to any town, and you will find what you want!" They were covered with humiliation and misery; they drew on themselves the wrath of God. This because they went on rejecting the Signs of God and slaying His Messengers without just cause. This because they rebelled and went on transgressing. Those who believe in the Qur'an, and those who follow the Jewish scriptures, and the Christians and the Sabians, any who believe in God and the Last Day, and work righteousness, will have their reward with their Lord; on them will be no fear, nor will they grieve. Can you o you men of Faith entertain the hope that they will believe in you? Seeing that a party of them heard the Word of God, and perverted it knowingly after they understood it. Behold! When they meet the men of Faith, they say: "We believe.": But when they meet each other in private, they say: "Will you tell them what God has revealed to you, that they may engage you in argument about it before your Lord?" Do you not understand their aim? And they say: "The Fire will not touch us but for a few numbered days.": Say: "Have you taken a promise from God, for He never breaks His promise? Or is it that you say of God what you do not know?" Nay, those who seek gain in evil, and are wrapped about by their sins. They are companions of the Fire: Therein will they abide For ever. But those who have faith and work righteousness, they are companions of the Garden: Therein will they abide For ever. After this it is you, the same people, who slay among yourselves, and banish a party of you from their homes; assist Their enemies against them, in guilt and rancor; and if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, though it was not lawful for you to banish them. Then is it only a part of the Book that you believe in, and do you reject the rest? But what is the reward for those among you who behave like this, but disgrace in this life? And on the Day of Judgment they will be consigned to the most grievous penalty. For God is not unmindful of what you do. These are the people who buy the life of this world at the price of the Hereafter: Their penalty will not be lightened nor will they be helped. But they will never seek for death, on account of the sins which their hands have sent on before them. And God is well-acquainted with the wrong-doers. You will indeed find them, of all people, most greedy of life, even more than the idolaters: Each one of them wishes He could be given a life of a thousand years: But the grant of such life will not save him from due punishment. For God sees well all that they do. Say: Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel - for he brings down the revelation to your heart by God's will, a confirmation of what went before, and guidance and glad tidings for those who believe, It is never the wish of those without Faith among the People of the Book, nor of the Pagans, that Any good should come down to you from your Lord. But God will choose for His special Mercy whom He will - for God is Lord of grace abounding. And be steadfast in prayer and regular in charity: And whatever good you send forth for your souls before you, you will find it with God. For God sees Well all that you do. And they say: "None will enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian." Those are their vain desires. Say: "Produce your proof if you are truthful." Nay, whoever submits His whole self to God and is a doer of good, he will get his reward with his Lord; on such will be no fear, nor will they grieve. The Jews say: "The Christians have nothing to stand upon; and the Christians say: "The Jews have nothing To stand upon." Yet they Profess to study the same Book. Like unto their word is what those say who know not; but God will judge between them in their quarrel on the Day of Judgment. Verily We have sent you in truth as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner: But of you no question will be asked of the Companions of the Blazing Fire. Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with you unless you follow their form of religion. Say: "The Guidance of God, that is the only Guidance." Were you to follow their desires after the knowledge which has reached you, then would you find neither Protector nor helper against God. Then guard yourselves against a Day when one soul will not avail another, nor will compensation be accepted from her nor will intercession profit her nor will anyone be helped from outside. And remember that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain commands, which he fulfilled: He said: "I will make you an Imam to the Nations." Abraham pleaded: "And also Imams from my offspring!" He answered: "But My Promise is not within the reach of evil-doers." And remember Abraham said: "My Lord, make this a City of Peace, and feed its people with fruits, such of them as believe in God and the Last Day." He said: "Yea, and such as reject Faith, for a while will I grant them their pleasure, but will soon drive them to the torment of Fire. An evil destination indeed!" "Our Lord! make of us Muslims, bowing to Your Will, and of our progeny a people Muslim, bowing to Your will; and show us our place for the celebration of due rites; and turn unto us in Mercy; for You are the Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. "Our Lord! send among them an Messenger of their own, who will rehearse Your Signs to them and instruct them in scripture and wisdom, and sanctify them: For You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise." And who turns away from the religion of Abraham but such as debase their souls with folly? Him We chose and rendered pure in this world: And he will be in the Hereafter in the ranks of the Righteous. Behold! His Lord said to him: "Bow your will to Me.": He said: "I bow my will to the Lord and Cherisher of the Universe." Were you witnesses when death appeared before Jacob? Behold, he said to his sons: "What will you worship after me?" They said: "We will worship Your God and the God of your fathers, of Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac, the one True God. To Him we bow in Islam." That was a people that has passed away. They will reap the fruit of what they did, and you of what you do! Of their merits there is no question in your case! So if they believe as you believe, they are indeed on the right path; but if they turn back, it is they who are in schism; but God will suffice you as against them, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. Say: Will you dispute with us about God, seeing that He is our Lord and your Lord; that we are responsible for our doings and you for yours; and that We are sincere in our faith in Him? That was a people that has passed away. They will reap the fruit of what they did, and you of what you do! Of their merits there is no question in your case: The fools among the people will say: "What has turned them from the Qibla, the direction they face towards in prayer, to which they were used?" Say: To God belong both east and West: He guides whom He will to a Way that is straight. We see the turning of your face for guidance to the heavens: Now Will We turn you to a Qibla that will please you. Turn then Your face in the direction of the sacred Mosque: Wherever you are, turn your faces in that direction. The people of the Book know well that that is the truth from their Lord. Nor is God unmindful of what they do. Even if you were to bring to the people of the Book all the Signs together, they would not follow Your Qibla; nor are you going to follow their Qibla; nor indeed will they follow each other's Qibla. If you after the knowledge has reached you, Were to follow their vain desires, then were you Indeed clearly in the wrong. To each is a goal to which God turns him; then strive together as in a race Towards all that is good. Wheresoever you are, God will bring you Together, for God Has power over all things. Then do you remember Me; I will remember you, be grateful to Me, and reject not Faith. Be sure we will test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits of your toil, but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, Those who conceal the clear Signs We have sent down, and the Guidance, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, on them will be God's curse, and the curse of those entitled to curse, They will abide therein: Their penalty will not be lightened, nor will respite be their lot. Yet there are men who take for worship others besides God, as equal with God: They love them as they should love God, but those of Faith are overflowing in their love for God. If only the unrighteous could see, behold, they would see the penalty: That to God belongs all power, and God will strongly enforce the penalty. And those who followed would say: "If only We had one more chance, We would clear ourselves of them, as they have cleared themselves of us." Thus will God show them The fruits of their deeds as nothing but regrets. Nor will there be a way for them out of the Fire. When it is said to them: "Follow what God has revealed.": They say: "Nay! we will follow the ways of our fathers." What! Even though their fathers Were void of wisdom and guidance? Those who conceal God's revelations in the Book, and purchase for them a miserable profit, they swallow into themselves nothing but Fire; God will not address them on the Day of Resurrection. Nor purify them: Grievous will be their penalty. O you who believe! the law of equality is prescribed for you in cases of murder: The free for the free, the slave for the slave, the woman for the woman. But if any remission is made by the brother of the slain, then grant any reasonable demand, and compensate him with handsome gratitude, this is a concession and a Mercy from your Lord. After this whoever exceeds the limits will be in grave penalty. If anyone changes the bequest after hearing it, the guilt will be on those who make the change. For God hears and knows All things. Fasting for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number Should be made up from days later. For those who cannot do it Without hardship, is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will, it is better for him. And it is better for you that you fast, if you only knew. Ramadhan is the month in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear Signs for guidance and judgment Between right and wrong. So every one of you who is present at his home during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period Should be made up by days later. God intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. He wants you to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance you will be grateful. When My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close to them: I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way. So when you have accomplished your Holy rites, celebrate the praises of God, as you used to celebrate the praises of your fathers. Yea, with far more Heart and soul. There are men who say: "Our Lord! Give us Your bounties in this world!" But they will have no portion in the Hereafter. To these will be allotted what they have earned; and God is quick in account. Celebrate the praises of God during the Appointed Days. But if any one hastens to leave in two days, there is no blame on him, and if any one stays on, there is no blame on him, if his aim is to do right. Then fear God, and know that you will surely be gathered unto Him. Will they wait until God comes to them in canopies of clouds, with angels in His train and the question is thus settled? But to God do all questions go back for decision. The life of this world is alluring to those who reject faith, and they scoff at those who believe. But the righteous will be above them on the Day of Resurrection; for God bestows His abundance without measure on whom He will. Mankind was one single nation, and God sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings; and with them He sent the Book in truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they differed; but the People of the Book, after the clear Signs came to them, did not differ among themselves, except through selfish contumacy. God by His Grace Guided the believers to the Truth, concerning that wherein they differed. For God guided whom He will to a path that is straight. Or do you think that you will enter the Garden of bliss without such trials as came to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in Spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When will come the help of God." Ah! Verily, the help of God is always near! They ask you concerning fighting in the Prohibited Month. Say: "Fighting therein is a grave offence; but graver is it in the sight of God to prevent access to the path of God, to deny Him, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, and drive out its members." Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter. Nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith if they can. And if any of you Turn back from their faith and die in unbelief, their works will bear no fruit in this life and in the Hereafter; they will be companions of the Fire and will abide therein. Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how you will; but do some good act for your souls beforehand; and fear God, and know that you are to meet Him in the Hereafter, and give these good tidings to those who believe. God will not call you to account for thoughtlessness in your oaths, but for the intention in your hearts; and He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing. Divorced women will wait concerning themselves for three monthly periods. Nor is it lawful for them to hide what God Has created in their wombs, if they have faith in God and the Last Day. And their husbands have the better right to take them back in that period, if they wish for reconciliation. And women will have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable; but men have a degree of advantage over them. And God is Exalted in Power, Wise. The mothers will give suck to their offspring for two whole years, if the father desires to complete the term, but he will bear the cost of their food and clothing on equitable terms. No soul will have a burden laid on it greater than it can bear. No mother will be Treated unfairly on account of her child. Nor father on account of his child, an heir will be chargeable in the same way. If they both decide on weaning, by mutual consent, and after due consultation, there is no blame on them. If you decide on a foster-mother for your offspring, there is no blame on you, provided you pay the mother what you offered, on equitable terms. But fear God and know that God sees well what you do. If any of you die and leave widows behind, they will wait concerning themselves four months and ten days: When they have fulfilled their term, there is no blame on you if they dispose of themselves in a just and reasonable manner. And God is well acquainted with what you do. Who is he that will loan to God a beautiful loan, which God will double unto his credit and multiply many times? It is God that gives you Want or plenty, and to Him will be your return. Have you not Turned your vision to the Chiefs of the Children of Israel after the time of Moses? They said to a prophet That was among them: "Appoint for us a king, that we May fight in the cause of God." He said: "Is it not possible, if you were commanded to fight, that that you will not fight?" They said: "How could we refuse to fight in the cause of God, seeing that we were turned out of our homes and our families?" but when they were commanded to fight, they turned back, except a small band among them. But God Has full knowledge of those who do wrong. And further their Prophet said to them: "A Sign of his authority is that there will come to you the Ark of the covenant, with an assurance therein of security from your Lord, and the relics left by the family of Moses and the family of Aaron, carried by angels. In this is a symbol for you if you indeed have faith." When Saul set forth with the armies, he said: "God will test you at the stream: If any drinks of its water, He goes not with my army: Only those who taste not of it go with me: A mere sip out of the hand is excused." But they all drank of it, except a few. When they crossed the river, he and the faithful ones with him. they said: "This day We cannot cope with Goliath and his forces." But those who were convinced that they must meet God, said: "How oft, by God's will, Has a small force vanquished a big one? God is with those who steadfastly persevere." By God's will they routed them; and David slew Goliath; and God gave him power and wisdom and taught him whatever else He willed. And did not God Check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief: But God is full of bounty to all the worlds. O you who believe! Spend out of the bounties We have provided for you, before the Day comes when no bargaining Will avail, nor friendship nor intercession. Those who reject Faith they are the wrong-doers. God. There is no god but He, the Living, the Self-Subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep, his are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permits? He knows what appears to His creatures as before or after or behind them. Nor will they compass anything of His knowledge except as He wills. His Throne does extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. For He is the Most High, the Supreme in glory. God is the Protector of those who have faith: From the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith the patrons are the evil ones: From light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of the fire, to dwell therein For ever. Or take the similitude of one who passed by a hamlet, all in ruins to its roofs. He said: "Oh! How will God bring it ever to life, after this its death?" But God caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him up again. He said: "How long did you tarry thus?" He said: Perhaps a day or part of a day." He said: "Nay, you have tarried thus a hundred years; but look at your food and your drink; they show no signs of age; and look at your donkey: And that We may make of you a sign unto the people, Look further at the bones, how We bring them together and clothe them with flesh." When this was shown clearly to him, he said: "I know that God has power over all things." Behold! Abraham said: "My Lord! Show me how You give life to the dead." He said: "Do you not then believe?" He said: "Yea! But to satisfy My own undertaking." He said: "Take four birds; Tame them to turn to you; put a portion of them on every hill and call to them: They will come to you Flying with speed. Then know that God is Exalted in Power, Wise." Those who spend their substance in the cause of God, and follow not up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury, for them their reward is with their Lord: On them will be no fear, nor will they grieve. O you who believe! cancel not your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injury. like those who spend their substance to be seen of men, but believe neither in God nor in the Last Day. They are in parable like a hard, barren rock, on which is a little soil: On it falls heavy rain, which leaves it Just a bare stone. They will be able to do nothing with anything they have earned, and God guides not those who reject faith. He grants wisdom to whom He pleases; and he to whom wisdom is granted receives indeed a benefit overflowing; but none will grasp the Message but men of understanding. If you disclose acts of charity, even so it is well, but if you conceal them, and make them reach those really in need, that is best for you: It will remove from you some of your stains of evil. And God is well acquainted with what you do. It is not required of you O Messenger, to set them on the right path, but God sets on the right path whom He pleases. Whatever of good you give benefits your own souls, and you will only do so seeking the "Face" of God. Whatever good you give, will be rendered back to you, and you will not Be dealt with unjustly. Charity is for those in need, who, in God's cause are restricted from travel, and cannot move about in the land, seeking For trade or work: The ignorant man thinks, because of their modesty, that they are free from want. You will know them by their Unfailing mark: They beg not importunately from all the sundry. And whatever of good you give, be assured God knows it well. Those who in charity spend of their goods by night and by day, in secret and in public, have their reward with their Lord: On them will be no fear, nor will they grieve. Those who devour usury will not stand except as stand one whom the Evil one by his touch Has driven to madness. That is because they say: "Trade is like usury.", but God has permitted trade and forbidden usury. Those who after receiving direction from their Lord, desist, will be pardoned for the past; their case is for God to judge; but those who repeat The offence are companions of the Fire: They will abide therein for ever. God will deprive usury of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity: For He loves not creatures ungrateful and wicked. Those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, and establish regular prayers and regular charity, will have their reward with their Lord: On them will be no fear, nor will they grieve. If you do it not, Take notice of war from God and His Messenger. But if you turn back, you will have your capital sums: Deal not unjustly, and you will not be dealt with unjustly. And fear the Day when you will be brought back to God. Then will every soul be paid what it earned, and none will be dealt with unjustly. Then those who reject Faith in the Signs of God will suffer the severest penalty, and God is Exalted in Might, Lord of Retribution. He it is Who has sent down to you the Book: In it are verses basic or fundamental of established meaning; they are the foundation of the Book: others are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical, seeking discord, and searching for its hidden meanings, but no one knows its hidden meanings except God. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord.": and none will grasp the Message except men of understanding. "Our Lord! You are He that will gather mankind Together against a day about which there is no doubt; for God never fails in His promise." Those who reject Faith, neither their possessions nor their numerous progeny will avail them anything against God. They are themselves but fuel for the Fire. Their plight will be no better than that of the people of Pharaoh, and their predecessors: They denied our Signs, and God called them to account for their sins. For God is strict in punishment. Say to those who reject Faith: "Soon will you be vanquished and gathered together to Hell, an evil bed indeed to lie on! The Religion before God is Islam submission to His Will: Nor did the People of the Book dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of God, God is swift in calling to account. They are those whose works will bear no fruit in this world and in the Hereafter. Nor will they have anyone to help. This because they say: "The Fire will not touch us but for a few numbered days.": For their forgeries deceive them as to their own religion. But how will they fare when we gather them together against a day about which there is no doubt, and each soul will be paid out just what it has earned, without favor or injustice? Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: If any do that, in nothing will there be help from God. except by way of precaution, that you may Guard yourselves from them. But God cautions you To remember Himself; for the final goal is to God. "On the Day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done, and all the evil it has done, it will wish there were a great distance between it and its evil. But God cautions you To remember Himself, and God is full of kindness to those that serve Him." Say: "If you do love God, Follow me: God will love you and forgive you your sins: For God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." He said: "O my lord! How will I have a son seeing I am very old and my wife is barren?" "Thus", was the answer, "does God accomplish what He wills." He said: "O my Lord! Give me a Sign!" "Your Sign", was the answer, "Will be that you will speak to no man for three days but with signals. Then celebrate the praises of your Lord again and again, and glorify Him in the evening and in the morning." Behold! The angels said: "O Mary! God gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him: His name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of the company of those nearest to God. "He will speak to the people in childhood and in maturity, and he will be of the company of the righteous." She said: "O my Lord! How will I have a son when no man has touched me?" He said: "Even so: God creates what He wills: When He has decreed a plan, He but says to it, `Be´, and it is! "And God will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel, When Jesus found Unbelief on their part He said: "Who will be My helpers to the work of God." Said the disciples: "We are God's helpers: We believe in God, and do you bear witness that we are Muslims. Behold! God said: "O Jesus! I will take you and raise you to Myself and clear you of the falsehoods of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow you superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection: Then will you all return unto me, and I will judge between you of the matters wherein you dispute. "As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help." "As to those who believe and work righteousness, God will pay them in full their reward; but God loves not those who do wrong." Say: "O People of the Book! Come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but God. That we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than God." If then they turn back, say you: "Bear witness that we at least are Muslims bowing to God's Will. Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to God's, Which is Islam, and he joined not gods with God. It is the wish of a section of the People of the Book to lead you astray, but they will lead astray Not you, but themselves, and they do not perceive! Among the People of the Book are some who, if entrusted with a hoard of gold, will readily pay it back. Others, who, if entrusted with a single silver coin, will not repay it unless you constantly stood demanding, because, they say, "There is no call on us to keep faith with these ignorant Pagans." But they tell a lie against God, and well they know it. As for those who sell the faith they owe to God and their own plighted word for a small price, they will have no portion in the Hereafter: Nor will God Deign to speak to them or look at them on the Day of Judgment, nor will He cleans them of sin: They will have a grievous penalty. Nor would he instruct you to take angels and prophets for Lords and patrons. What! would he bid you to unbelief after you have bowed your will To God in Islam? Do they seek for other than the Religion of God, while all creatures in the heavens and on earth have, willing or unwilling, bowed to His Will Accepted Islam, and to Him will they all be brought back. Say: "We believe in God, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in the Books given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another among them, and to God do we bow our will in Islam." If anyone desires a religion other than Islam submission to God, never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who have lost All spiritual good. How will God Guide those who reject Faith after they accepted it and bore witness that the Messenger was true and that Clear Signs had come unto them? But God guides not a people unjust. In that will they dwell; nor will their penalty be lightened, nor respite be their lot; But those who reject Faith after they accepted it, and then go on adding to their defiance of Faith, never will their repentance be accepted; for they are those who have of set purpose gone astray. As to those who reject Faith, and die rejecting, never would be accepted from any such as much gold as the earth contains, though they should offer it for ransom. For such is in store a penalty grievous, and they will find no helpers. By no means will you attain righteousness unless you give freely of that which you love; and whatever you give, of a truth God knows it well. And how would you deny Faith while unto you are rehearsed the Signs of God, and among you Lives the Messenger. Whoever holds firmly to God will be shown a way that is straight. On the Day when some faces will be lit up with white, and some faces will be in the gloom of black: To those whose faces will be black, will be said: "Did you reject Faith after accepting it? Taste then the penalty for rejecting Faith." But those whose faces will be lit with white, they will be in the light of God's mercy: Therein to dwell for ever. They will do you no harm, barring a trifling annoyance; if they come out to fight you, they will show you their backs, and no help will they get. Of the good that they do, nothing will be rejected of them; for God knows well those that do right. Those who reject Faith, neither their possessions nor their numerous progeny will avail them anything against God. They will be companions of the Fire, dwelling therein for ever. O you who believe! Take not into your intimacy those outside your ranks: They will not fail to corrupt you. They only desire your ruin: Rank hatred has already appeared from their mouths: What their hearts conceal is far worse. We have made plain to you the Signs, if you have wisdom. If anything that is good befalls you, it grieves them; but if some misfortune overtakes you, they rejoice at it. But if you are constant and do right, not the least harm will their cunning do to you; for God Compasses round about all that they do. Muhammad is no more than an apostle: Many Were the apostle that passed away before him. If he died or were slain, will you then Turn back on your heels? If any did turn back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to God. But God on the other hand will swiftly reward those who serve Him with gratitude. Nor can a soul die except by God's leave, the term being fixed as by writing. If any do desire a reward in this life, We will give it to him; and if any do desire a reward in the Hereafter, We will give it to him. And swiftly will We reward those that serve us with gratitude. How many of the prophets fought in God's way, and with them fought Large bands of godly men? But they never lost heart if they met with disaster in God's way, nor did they weaken in will nor give in. And God Loves those who are firm and steadfast. O you who believe! If you obey the Unbelievers, they will drive you back on your heels, and you will turn back from Faith to your own loss. Soon will We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with God, for which He had sent no authority: Their abode will be the Fire: And evil is the home of the wrong-doers! No prophet could ever be false to his trust. If any person is so false, He will, on the Day of Judgment, restore what he misappropriated; then will every soul receive its due, whatever it earned. And none will be dealt with unjustly. Let not those grieve you who rush headlong into Unbelief: Not the least harm will they do to God. God's plan is that He will give them no portion in the Hereafter, but a severe punishment. Those who purchase Unbelief at the price of faith, not the least harm will they do to God, but they will have a grievous punishment. Let not the Unbelievers think that our respite to them is good for themselves: We grant them respite that they may grow in their iniquity: But they will have a shameful punishment. God will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He separates what is evil from what is good. Nor will He disclose to you the secrets of the Unseen, but He chooses of His Messenger, For the purpose whom He pleases. So believe in God, And His apostles: And if you believe and do right, you have a reward without measure. And let not those who covetously withhold of the gifts which God Has given them of His Grace, think that it is good for them: Nay, it will be the worse for them: Soon will the things which they covetously withheld be tied to their necks Like a twisted collar, on the Day of Judgment. To God belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth; and God is well-acquainted with all that you do. God has heard the taunt of those who say: "Truly, God is indigent and we are rich!" We will certainly record their word and their act of slaying the prophets in defiance of right, and We will say: "Taste you the penalty of the Scorching Fire! Every soul will have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment will you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object of Life: For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception. You will certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves; and you will certainly Hear much that will grieve you, from those who received the Book before you and from those who worship many gods. But if you persevere patiently, and guard against evil, then that will be a determining factor in all affairs. "Our Lord! any whom You do admit to the Fire, Truly You cover with shame, and never will wrong-doers Find any helpers! And their Lord has accepted of them, and answered them: "Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female: You are members, one of another: Those who have left their homes, or been driven out therefrom, or suffered harm in My Cause, or fought or been slain, verily, I will blot out from them their iniquities, and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing beneath, a reward from the presence of God, and from His presence is the best of rewards." And there are, certainly, among the People of the Book, those who believe in God, in the revelation to you, and in the revelation to them, bowing in humility to God. They will not sell the Signs of God for a miserable gain! For them is a reward with their Lord, and God is swift in account. If you fear that you will not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if you fear that you will not be able to deal justly with them, then only one, or a captive that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice. Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, eat up a Fire into their own bodies: They will soon be enduring a Blazing Fire! Those are limits set by God. Those who obey God and His Messenger will be admitted to Gardens with rivers flowing beneath, to abide therein for ever, and that will be the supreme achievement. But those who disobey God and His Messenger and transgress His limits will be admitted to a Fire, to abide therein: And they will have a humiliating punishment. God accept the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards; to them will God turn in mercy: For God is full of knowledge and wisdom. O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should you treat them with harshness, that you may Take away part of the dower you have given them, except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If you take a dislike to them it may be that you dislike a thing, and God brings about through it a great deal of good. If any do that in rancor and injustice, soon will We cast them into the Fire: And easy it is for God. If you but eschew the most heinous of the things which you are forbidden to do, We will expel out of you all the evil in you, and admit you to a gate of great honor. If you fear a breach between them twain, appoint two arbiters, one from his family, and the other from hers; if they wish for peace, God will cause their reconciliation: For God has full knowledge, and is acquainted with all things. On that day those who reject Faith and disobey the apostle will wish that the earth Were made one with them: But never will they hide a single fact from God. Of the Jews there are those who displace words from their right places, and say: "We hear and we disobey."; And "Hear what is not Heard."; And "Ra'ina."; With a twist of their tongues and a slander to Faith. If only they had said: "We hear and we obey."; And "Do hear."; And "Do look at us."; It would have been better for them, and more proper; but God has cursed them for their Unbelief; and but few of them will believe. Have you not turned Your vision to those who claim sanctity for themselves? Nay. but God Does sanctify whom He pleases, but never will they fail to receive justice in the least little thing. They are men whom God has cursed: And those whom God Has cursed, you will find, have no one to help. Those who reject our Signs, We will soon cast into the Fire: As often as their skins are roasted through, We will change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the penalty: For God is Exalted in Power, Wise. But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, We will soon admit to Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, their eternal home: Therein will they have companions pure and Holy: We will admit them to shades, cool and ever deepening. We sent not an apostle, but to be obeyed, in accordance with the will of God. If they had only, when they were unjust to themselves, come unto you and asked God's forgiveness, and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found God indeed Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. Let those fight in the cause of God Who sell the life of this world for the hereafter. To him who fights in the cause of God, whether he is slain or gets victory - Soon will We give him a reward of great value. And why should you not fight in the cause of God and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated and oppressed? Men, women, and children, whose cry is: "Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from you one who will protect; and raise for us from you one who will help!" Have you not turned Your vision to those who were told to hold back their hands from fight but establish regular prayers and spend in regular charity? When at length the order for fighting was issued to them, behold! A section of them feared men as - or even more than - they should have feared God. They said: "Our Lord! Why have You ordered us to fight? Would You not Grant us respite to our natural term, near enough?" Say: "Short is the enjoyment of this world: The Hereafter is the best for those who do right: Never will you be dealt with unjustly in the very least! "Wherever you are, death will find you out, even if you are in towers built up strong and high!" If some good befalls them, they say, "This is from God.; but if evil, they say, "This is from you" O Prophet. Say: "All things are from God." But what has come to these people, that they fail to understand a single fact? Then fight in God's cause - You are held responsible only for yourself - and rouse the believers. It may be that God will restrain the fury of the Unbelievers; for God is the strongest in might and in punishment. God. There is no god but He: Of a surety He will gather you together against the Day of Judgment, about which there is no doubt. And whose word can be truer than God's? Why should you be divided into two parties about the Hypocrites? God has upset them for their evil deeds. Would you guide those whom God has thrown out of the Way? For those whom God has thrown out of the Way, never will you find the Way. Others you will find that wish to gain your confidence as well as that of their people: Every time they are sent back to temptation, they succumb thereto: If they withdraw not from you nor give you guarantees of peace besides restraining their hands, seize them and slay them wherever you get them: In their case We have provided you with a clear argument against them. When angels take the souls of those who die in sin against their souls, they say: "In what plight Were you?" They reply: "Weak and oppressed Were we in the earth." They say: "Was not the earth of God spacious enough for you to move yourselves away From evil?" Such men will find their abode in Hell. What an evil refuge! - For these, there is hope that God will forgive: For God does blot out sins and forgive again and again. Ah! These are the sort of men on whose behalf you may contend in this world; but who will contend with God on their behalf on the Day of Judgment, or who will carry their affairs through? If any one does evil or wrongs his own soul but afterwards seeks God's forgiveness, he will find God Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. But for the Grace of God to you and his Mercy, a party of them would certainly have plotted to lead you astray. But in fact they will only Lead their own souls astray, and to you they can do no harm in the least, for God has sent down to you the Book and wisdom and taught you what you Knew not before: And great is the Grace of God unto you. In most of their secret talks there is no good: But if one exhorts to a deed of charity or justice or conciliation between men, Secrecy is permissible: To him who does this, seeking the good pleasure of God, We will soon give a reward of the highest value. If anyone contends with the Messenger even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of Faith, We will leave him in the path he has chosen, and land him in Hell. What an evil refuge! God did curse him, but he said: "I will take of Your servants a portion Marked off; "I will mislead them, and I will create in them false desires; I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and to deface the fair nature created by God." Whoever, forsaking God, takes Satan for a friend, has of a surety suffered a loss that is manifest. They his dupes will have their dwelling in Hell, and from it they will find no way of escape. But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, we will soon admit them to gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, to dwell therein for ever. God's promise is the truth, and whose word can be truer than God's? Not your desires, nor those of the People of the Book can prevail: whoever works evil, will be requited accordingly. Nor will he find, besides God, any protector or helper. If any do deeds of righteousness, be they male or female - and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them. But if they disagree and must part, God will provide abundance for all from His All-Reaching bounty: For God is He that cares for all and is Wise. If it were His will, He could destroy you, o mankind, and create another race; for He has power this to do. Those who believe, then reject faith, then believe again and again reject faith, and go on increasing in unbelief. God will not forgive them nor guide them nor guide them on the way. Already has He sent you Word in the Book, that when you hear the signs of God held in defiance and ridicule, you are not to sit with them unless they turn to a different theme: If you did, you would be like them. For God will collect the hypocrites and those who defy faith - all in Hell: These are the ones who wait and watch about you: If you do gain a victory from God, they say: "Were we not with you?" But if the unbelievers gain a success, they say to them: "Did we not gain an advantage over you, and did we not guard you from the believers?" But God will judge betwixt you on the Day of Judgment. And never will God grant to the unbelievers a way to triumphs over the believers. The Hypocrites - they think they are over-reaching God, but He will over-reach them: When they stand up to prayer, they stand without earnestness, to be seen of men, but little do they hold God in remembrance; They are distracted in mind even in the midst of it, being sincerely for neither one group nor for another whom God leaves straying, never will you find for him the way. The Hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire: No helper will you find for them; Except for those who repent, mend their lives hold fast to God, and purify their religion as in God's sight: If so they will be numbered with the believers. And soon will God grant to the believers a reward of immense value. To those who believe in God and His apostles and make no distinction between any of the apostles, we will soon give their due rewards: For God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And there is none of the People of the Book but must believe in him before his death; and on the Day of Judgment he will be a witness against them; But those among them who are well-grounded in knowledge, and the believers, believe in what has been revealed to you and what was revealed before you: And especially those who establish regular prayer and practise regular charity and believe in God and in the Last Day: To them will We soon give a great reward. Those who reject Faith and do wrong. God will not forgive them nor guide them to any way - O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of God anything but the truth. Christ Jesus, the Son of Mary, was no more than an apostle of God, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from Him: So believe in God and His apostles. Say not "Trinity": Desist: It will be better for you: For God is one God, glory be to Him: far exalted is He above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth, and enough is God as a Disposer of affairs. Christ disdains nor to serve and worship God, nor do the angels, those nearest to God: Those who disdain His worship and are arrogant, He will gather them all together unto Himself to answer. But to those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, He will give their due rewards, and more, out of His bounty: But those who are disdainful and arrogant, He will punish with a grievous penalty; Nor will they find, besides God, any to protect or help them. Then those who believe in God, and hold fast to Him, soon will He admit them to mercy and grace from Himself, and guide them to Himself by a straight way. They ask you for a legal decision. Say: God directs thus about those who leave no descendants or ascendants as heirs. If it is a man that dies, leaving a sister but no child, she will have half the inheritance: If such a deceased was a woman, who left no child, Her brother takes her inheritance: If there are two sisters, they will have two-thirds of the inheritance between them: If there are brothers and sisters, they share, the male having twice the share of the female. Thus does God make clear to you His law, lest you err, and God has knowledge of all things. O you who believe! fulfill all obligations. Lawful unto you for food are all four-footed animals, with the exceptions named: But animals of the chase are forbidden while you are in the sacred precincts or in pilgrim garb: For God does command according to His will and plan. This day are all things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. Lawful unto you in marriage are not only chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book, revealed before your time. When you give them their due dowers, and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secret intrigues if any one rejects faith, fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost all spiritual good. Those who reject faith and deny our signs will be companions of Hell-Fire. God did aforetime take a covenant from the Children of Israel, and we appointed twelve captains among them. And God said: "I am with you: If you but establish regular prayers, practise regular charity, believe in my apostles, honor and assist them, and loan to God a beautiful loan, verily I will wipe out from you your evils, and admit you to gardens with rivers flowing beneath; but if any of you, after this, resists faith, he has truly wandered from the path or rectitude." But because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard; they change the words from their right places and forget a good part of the message that was sent them, nor will you cease to find them - barring a few - ever bent on new deceits: But forgive them, and overlook their misdeeds: For God loves those who are kind. From those, too, who call themselves Christians, We did take a covenant, but they forgot a good part of the message that was sent them: So we estranged them, with enmity and hatred between the one and the other, to the Day of Judgment. And soon will God show them what it is they have done. Wherewith God guides all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety, and leads them out of darkness, by His will, unto the light, guides them to a path that is straight. In blasphemy indeed are those that say that God is Christ, the son of Mary. Say: "Who then has the least power against God, if His will were to destroy Christ, the son of Mary, his mother, and all every - one that is on the earth? For to God belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between. He creates what He pleases. For God has power over all things." "O my people! Enter the Holy land which God has assigned unto you, and turn not back ignominiously, for then will you be overthrown, to your own ruin." They said: "O Moses! In this land are a people of exceeding strength: Never will we enter it until they leave it: If once they leave, then will we enter." But among their God.fearing men were two on whom God had bestowed His grace: They said: "Assault them at the proper Gate: When once you are in, victory will be yours; But on God put your trust if you have faith." They said: "O Moses! While they remain there, never will we be able to enter, to the end of time. Go you, and your Lord, and fight you two, while we sit here and watch." God said: "Therefore will the land be out of their reach for forty years: In distraction will they wander through the land: But sorrow you not over these rebellious people. Recite to them the truth of the story of the two sons of Adam. Behold! They each presented a sacrifice to God: It was accepted from one, but not from the other. Said the latter: "Be sure I will slay you." "Surely", said the former, "God does accept of the sacrifice of those who are righteous. "For me, I intend to let you draw on yourself my sin as well as yours, for you will be among the companions of the fire, and that is the reward of those who do wrong." Their wish will be to get out of the Fire, but never will they get out therefrom: Their penalty will be one that endures. O Messenger, let not those grieve you, who race each other into unbelief: whether it be among those who say "We believe" with their lips but whose hearts have no faith; or it be among the Jews. men who will listen to any lie, will listen even to others who have never so much as come to you. They change the words from their right times and places: They say, "If you are given this, take it, but if not, beware!" If any one's trial is intended by God, you have no authority in the least for him against God. For such - it is not God's will to purify their hearts. For them there is disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter a heavy punishment. It was We who revealed the law to Moses: therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed as in Islam to God's will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: For to them was entrusted the protection of God's book, and they were witnesses thereto: Therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by the light of what God has revealed, they are no better than Unbelievers. To you We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: So judge between them by what God has revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that has come to you. To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If God had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but His plan is to test you in what He has given you: So strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to God, it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which you dispute; Those in whose hearts is a disease - you see how eagerly they run about among them, saying: "We do fear lest a change of fortune bring us disaster." Ah! Perhaps God will give you victory, or a decision according to His will. Then will they repent of the thoughts which they secretly harbored in their hearts. And those who believe will say: "Are these the men who swore their strongest oaths by God, that they were with you?" All that they do will be in vain, and they will fall into nothing but ruin. O you who believe! if any from among you turn back from his Faith, soon will God produce a people whom He will love as they will love Him, lowly with the believers, mighty against the rejecters, fighting in the way of God, and never afraid of the reproaches of such as find fault. That is the grace of God, which He will bestow on whom He pleases. And God encompasses all, and He knows all things. Say: "Will I point out to you something much worse than this, as judged by the treatment it received from God, those who incurred the curse of God and His wrath, those of whom some He transformed into apes and swine, those who worshipped evil; these are many times worse in rank, and far more astray from the even path!" O Messenger. proclaim the message which has been sent to you from your Lord. If you did not, you would not have fulfilled and proclaimed His mission. And God will defend you from men who mean mischief. For God guides not those who reject Faith. Those who believe in the Qur'an, those who follow the Jewish scriptures, and the Sabians and the Christians, any who believe in God and the Last Day, and work righteousness, on them will be no fear, nor will they grieve. They do blaspheme who say: "God is Christ, the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel! worship God, my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with God. God will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help. They do blaspheme who say: God is one of three in a Trinity: For there is no god except One God. If they desist not from their word of blasphemy, verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them. Say: "Will you worship, besides God, something which has no power either to harm or benefit you? But God, He it is that hears and knows all things." You see many of them turning in friendship to the Unbelievers. Evil indeed are the works which their souls have sent forward before them with the result, that God's wrath is on them, and in torment will they abide. Strongest among men in enmity to the believers will you find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the believers will you find those who say, "We are Christians.": Because among these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant. And when they listen to the revelation received by the Messenger, you will see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognize the truth: They pray: "Our Lord! We believe; write us down among the witnesses. But those who reject Faith and belie our Signs, they will be companions of Hell-Fire. God will not call you to account for what is futile in your oaths, but He will call you to account for your deliberate oaths: For expiation, feed ten indigent persons, on a scale of the average for the food of your families; or clothe them; or give a slave his freedom. If that is beyond your means, fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths you have sworn. But keep to your oaths. Thus does God make clear to you His signs, that you may be grateful. Satan's plan is but to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of God, and from prayer: Will you not then abstain? O you who believe! God does but make a trial of you in a little matter of game well within reach of your hands and your lances, that He may test who fears him unseen: Any who transgress thereafter, will have a grievous penalty. O you who believe! Kill not game while in the sacred precincts or in pilgrim garb. If any of you does so intentionally, the compensation is an offering, brought to the Ka'ba, of a domestic animal equivalent to the one he killed, as adjudged by two just men among you; or by way of atonement, the feeding of the indigent; or its equivalent in fasts: that he may taste of the penalty of his deed. God forgives what is past: For repetition God will exact from him the penalty. For God is Exalted, and Lord of Retribution. Lawful to you is the pursuit of water-game and its use for food, for the benefit of yourselves and those who travel; but forbidden is the pursuit of land-game; as long as you are in the sacred precincts or in pilgrim garb. And fear God, to Whom you will be gathered back. O you who believe! Ask not questions about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble. But if you ask about things when the Qur'an is being revealed, they will be made plain to you, God will forgive those: For God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing. O you who believe! Guard your own souls: If you follow right guidance, no hurt can come to you from those who stray. The goal of you all is to God, it is He that will show you the truth of all that you do. O you who believe! When death approaches any of you, take witnesses among yourselves when making bequests, two just men of your own brotherhood or others from outside if you are journeying through the earth, and the chance of death befalls you thus. If you doubt their truth, detain them both after prayer, and let them both swear by God. "We wish not in this for any worldly gain, even though the beneficiary be our near relation: We will hide not the evidence before God. If we do, then behold! The sin be upon us!" One day will God gather the apostles together, and ask: "What was the response you received from men to your teaching?" They will say: "We have no knowledge: It is You Who know in full all that is hidden." Then will God say: "O Jesus, the Son of Mary! Recount My favor to you and to your mother. Behold! I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit, so that you did speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught you the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel and behold! you make out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and you breathe into it and it becomes a bird by My leave, and you heal those born blind, and the lepers, by My leave. And behold! You bring forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from violence to you when you did show them the clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: `This is nothing but evident magic.´ God said: "I will send it down unto you: But if any of you after that resists faith, I will punish him with a penalty such as I have not inflicted on any one among all the peoples." And behold! God will say: "O Jesus, the Son of Mary! Did you say unto men, worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of God.?" He will say: "Glory to You! Never could I say what I had no right to say. Had I said such a thing, you would indeed have known it. You know what is in my heart, You I know not what is in Yours. For You know in full all that is hidden. God will say: "This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: Theirs are gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, their eternal Home: God well-pleased with them, and they with God. That is the great salvation, the fulfillment of all desires. And now they reject the truth when it reaches them: But soon will they learn the reality of what they used to mock at. Say: "To whom belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth?" Say: "To God, He has inscribed for Himself the rule of Mercy. That He will gather you together for the Day of Judgment, there is no doubt whatever. It is they who have lost their own souls, that will not believe. Say: "Will I take for my protector any other than God, the Maker of the heavens and the earth? And He it is that feeds but is not fed." Say: "Nay! But I am commanded to be the first of those who bow to God in Islam, and be not you of the company of those who join gods with God." Who does more wrong than he who invents a lie against God or rejects His Signs? But verily the wrong-doers never will prosper. One day will We gather them all together: We will say to those who ascribed partners to Us: "Where are the partners whom you invented and talked about?" There will then be left no subterfuge for them but to say: "By God our Lord, we were not those who joined gods with God." Behold! How they lie against their own souls! But the lie which they invented will leave them in the lurch. Of them there are some who pretend to listen to you; but We have thrown veils on their hearts, So they understand it not, and deafness in their ears; if they saw every one of the signs, not they will believe in them; in so much that when they come to you, they but dispute with you; the Unbelievers say: "These are nothing but tales of the ancients." If you could but see when they are confronted with the Fire! They will say: "Would that we were but sent back! Then would we not reject the signs of our Lord, but would be among those who believe!" Yea, in their own eyes will become manifest what before they concealed. But if they were returned, they would certainly relapse to the things they were forbidden, for they are indeed liars. And they sometimes say: "There is nothing except our life on this earth, and never will we be raised up again." If you could but see when they are confronted with their Lord! He will say: "Is not this the truth?" They will say: "Yea, by our Lord!" He will say: "Taste you then the penalty, because you rejected Faith." What is the life of this world but play and amusement? But best is the home in the hereafter, for those who are righteous. Will you not then understand? If their spurning is hard on your mind, yet if you were able to seek a tunnel in the ground or a ladder to the skies and bring them a sign. what good?. If it were God's will, He could gather them together unto true guidance: So be not you among those who are swayed by ignorance and impatience! Those who listen in truth, be sure, will accept: As to the dead, God will raise them up; then will they be turned unto Him. There is not an animal that lives on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but forms part of communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they all will be gathered to their Lord in the end. "Nay. On Him would you call, and if it be His will, He would remove the distress which occasioned your call upon Him, and you would forget the false gods which you join with Him!" Say: "Think you, if the punishment of God comes to you, whether suddenly or openly, will any be destroyed except those who do wrong? We send the apostles only to give good news and to warn: So those who believe and mend their lives, upon them will be no fear, nor will they grieve. But those who reject our signs, them will punishment touch, for that they ceased not from transgressing. Say: "I tell you not that with me are the treasures of God, nor do I know what is hidden, nor do I tell you I am an angel. I but follow what is revealed to me." Say: "can the blind be held equal to the seeing?" Will you then consider not? Give this warning to those in whose hearts is the fear that they will be brought to judgment before their Lord: Except for Him they will have no protector nor intercessor: That they may guard against evil. Say: "I am forbidden to worship those - others than God - whom you call upon." Say: "I will not follow your wain desires: If I did, I would stray from the path, and be not of the company of those who receive guidance." It is He who does take your souls by night, and has knowledge of all that you have done by day: By day does He raise you up again; that a term appointed be fulfilled; In the end unto Him will be your return; then will He show you the truth of all that you did. Say: "Who is it that delivers you from the dark recesses of land and sea, when you call upon Him in humility and silent terror: `If He only delivers us from these dangers, we vow we will truly show our gratitude´.?" For every message is a limit of time, and soon will you know it." Leave alone those who take their religion to be mere play and amusement, and are deceived by the life of this world. But proclaim to them this truth: That every soul delivers itself to ruin by its own acts: It will find for itself no protector or intercessor except God. If it offered every ransom, or reparation, none will be accepted: Such is the end of those who deliver themselves to ruin by their own acts: They will have for drink only boiling water, and for punishment, one most grievous: For they persisted in rejecting God. Say: "Will we indeed call on others besides God, things that can do us neither good nor harm. And turn on our heels after receiving guidance from God. - like one whom the evil ones have made into a fool, wandering bewildered through the earth, his friends calling, come to us´, vainly guiding him to the path." Say: "God's guidance is the only guidance, and we have been directed to submit ourselves to the Lord of the Worlds; "To establish regular prayers and to fear God, for it is to Him that we will be gathered together." It is He who created the heavens and the earth in true proportions: the day He says, "Be.", behold! It is. His word is the truth, his will be the dominion the day the trumpet will be blown. He knows the unseen as well as that which is open, for He is the Wise, well acquainted with all things. When he saw the moon rising in splendor, he said: "This is my Lord." But when the moon set, He said: "unless my Lord guide me, I will surely be among those who go astray." "For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, towards Him Who created the heavens and the earth, and never will I give partners to God." His people disputed with him. He said: "Come you to dispute with me, about God, when He Himself has guided me? I fear not the beings you associate with God. Unless my Lord wills, nothing can happen. My Lord comprehends in His knowledge all things. Will you not yourselves be admonished? That was the reasoning about Us, which We gave to Abraham to use against his people: We raise whom We will, degree after degree: For your Lord is full of wisdom and knowledge. These were the men to whom We gave the Book, and authority, and prophethood: If these their descendants reject them, Behold! We will entrust their charge to a new people who reject them not. Who can be more wicked than one who invents a lie against God, or says, "I have received inspiration.", when he has received none, or again who says, "I can reveal the like of what God has revealed"? If you could but see how the wicked do fare in the flood of confusion at death! - the angels stretch forth their hands, saying, "Yield up your souls: This day will you receive your reward. A penalty of shame, for that you used to tell lies against God, and scornfully to reject of His signs!" "Now have come to you, from your Lord, proofs to open your eyes: If any will see, it will be for the good of his own soul; if any will be blind, it will be to his own harm: I am not here to watch over your doings." Revile not you those whom they call upon besides God, lest they out of spite revile God in their ignorance. Thus have We made alluring to each people its own doings. In the end will they return to their Lord, and We will then tell them the truth of all that they did. They swear their strongest oaths by God, that if a special sign came to them, by it they would believe. Say: "Certainly all signs are in the power of God. But what will make you Muslims realize that even if special signs came, they will not believe."? We too will turn to confusion their hearts and their eyes, even as they refused to believe in this in the first instance: We will leave them in their trespasses, to wander in distraction. Say: "Will I seek for judge other than God. - when He it is Who has sent unto you the Book, explained in detail." They know full well, to whom We have given the Book, that it has been sent down from your Lord in truth. Never be then of those who doubt. Were you to follow the common run of those on earth, they will lead you away from the way of God. They follow nothing but conjecture: They do nothing but lie. Eschew all sin, open or secret: Those who earn sin will get due recompense for their "earnings." When there comes to them a sign from God, They say: "We will not believe until we receive one exactly like those received by God's apostles." God knows best where and how to carry out His mission. Soon will the wicked be overtaken by humiliation before God, and a severe punishment, for all their plots. For them will be a home of peace in the presence of their Lord: He will be their friend, because they practised righteousness. One day will He gather them all together, and say: "O you assembly of Jinns! Much toll did you take of men." Their friends among men will say: "Our Lord! We made profit from each other: But alas! we reached our term - which you did appoint for us." He will say: "The Fire be your dwelling-place: You will dwell therein for ever, except as God wills." For your Lord is full of wisdom and knowledge. "O you assembly of Jinns and men! Came there not unto you apostles from among you, setting forth unto you My signs, and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say: "We bear witness against ourselves." It was the life of this world that deceived them. So against themselves will they bear witness that they rejected Faith. Your Lord is self-sufficient, full of Mercy: If it were His will, He could destroy you, and in your place appoint whom He will as your successors, even as He raised you up from the posterity of other people. All that has been promised unto you will come to pass: Nor can you frustrate it in the least bit. Say: "O my people! Do whatever you can: I will do my part: soon will you know who it is whose end will be best in the Hereafter: Certain it is that the wrong-doers will not prosper." And they say that such and such cattle and crops are taboo, and none should eat of them except those whom - so they say - We wish; further, there are cattle forbidden to yoke or burden, and cattle on which, at slaughter, the name of God is not pronounced; - inventions against God's name: Soon will He requite them for their inventions. They say: "What is in the wombs of such and such cattle is specially reserved for food for our men, and forbidden to our women; but if it is still-born, then all have share therein. For their false attribution of superstitions to God, He will soon punish them: For He is full of wisdom and knowledge. If they accuse you of falsehood, say: "Your Lord is full of mercy All-Embracing; but from people in guilt never will His wrath be turned back. Those who give partners to God will say: "If God had wished, we should not have given partners to Him nor would our fathers; nor should we have had any taboos." So did their ancestors argue falsely, until they tasted of Our wrath. Say: "Have you any certain knowledge? If so, produce it before us. You follow nothing but conjecture: You do nothing but lie." Say: "With God is the argument that reaches home: If it had been His will, He could indeed have guided you all." Say: "Come, I will rehearse what God has really prohibited you from.": Join not anything as equal with Him; be good to your parents; kill not your children on a plea of want; We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not nigh to shameful deeds. Whether open or secret; take not life, which God has made sacred, except by way of justice and law: Thus does He command you, that you may learn wisdom. Verily, this is My way, leading straight: Follow it: Follow not other paths: They will scatter you about from His great path: Thus does He command you, that you may be righteous. Or lest you should say: "If the Book had only been sent down to us, we should have followed its guidance better than they." Now then has come unto you a clear sign from your Lord. and a guide and a mercy: Then who could do more wrong than one who rejects God's signs, and turns away therefrom? In good time will We requite those who turn away from Our signs, with a dreadful penalty, for their turning away. Are they waiting to see if the angels come to them, or your Lord Himself, or certain of the signs of your Lord! The day that certain of the signs of your Lord do come, no good will it do to a soul to believe in them then if it believed not before nor earned righteousness through its faith. Say: "Wait you: We too are waiting." As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, you have no part in them in the least: Their affair is with God. He will in the end tell them the truth of all that they did. He that does good will have ten times as much to his credit: He that does evil will only be recompensed according to his evil: No wrong will be done unto any of them. No partner has He: this am I commanded, and I am the first of those who bow to His will. Say: "Will I seek for my Cherisher other than God, when He is the Cherisher of all things that exist? Every soul draws the meed of its acts on none but itself: No bearer of burdens can bear of burdens can bear the burden of another. Your goal in the end is towards God, He will tell you the truth of the things wherein you disputed." Then will we question those to whom Our message was sent and those by whom We sent it. And verily, We will recount their whole story with knowledge, for We were never absent at any time or place. The balance that day will be true to nicety: Those whose scale of good will be heavy, will prosper: Those whose scale will be light, will be their souls in perdition, for that they wrongfully treated Our signs. He said: "Because you have thrown me out of the way, lo! I will lie in wait for them on your straight way: "Then will I assault them from before them and behind them, from their right and their left: Nor will you find, in most of them, gratitude for your mercies." God said: "Get out from this, disgraced and expelled. If any of them follow you, Hell will I fill with you all. They said: "Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: If you forgive us not and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we will certainly be lost." God said: "Get you down. With enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling-place and your means of livelihood, for a time." He said: "Therein will you live, and therein will you die; but from it will you be taken out at last." Say: "My Lord has commanded justice; and that you set your whole selves to Him at every time and place of prayer, and call upon Him, making your devotion sincere as in His sight: Such as He created you in the beginning, so will you return." O you Children of Adam! Whenever there come to you apostles from among you, rehearsing My signs unto you, those who are righteous and mend their lives, on them will be no fear nor will they grieve. Who is more unjust than one who invents a lie against God or rejects His Signs? For such, their portion appointed must reach them from the Book of decrees: Until, when our messengers of death arrive and take their souls, they say: "Where are the things that you used to invoke besides God." They will reply, "They have left us in the lurch.", And they will bear witness against themselves, that they had rejected God. He will say: "Enter you in the company of the peoples who passed away before you - men and Jinns, - into the Fire." Every time a new people enters, it curses its sister-people that went before, until they follow each other, all into the Fire. Says the last about the first: "Our Lord! It is these that misled us: So give them a double penalty in the Fire." He will say: "Doubled for all.": But this you do not understand. Then the first will say to the last: "See then! No advantage have you over us; so taste you of the penalty for all that you did !" To those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance, no opening will there be of the gates of heaven, nor will they enter the garden, until the camel can pass through the eye of the needle: Such is Our reward for those in sin. But those who believe and work righteousness, no burden do We place on any soul, but that which it can bear. They will be Companions of the Garden, therein to dwell for ever. And We will remove from their hearts any lurking sense of injury; beneath them will be rivers flowing; and they will say: "Praise be to God, who has guided us to this felicity: Never could we have found guidance, had it not been for the guidance of God. Indeed it was the truth, that the apostles of our Lord brought unto us." And they will hear the cry: "Behold! The garden before you! You have been made its inheritors, for your deeds of righteousness." The Companions of the Garden will call out to the Companions of the Fire: "We have indeed found the promises of our Lord to us true: Have you also found Your Lord's promises true?" They will say, "Yes."; But a crier will proclaim between them: "The curse of God is on the wrong-doers; Between them will be a veil, and on the heights will be men who would know every one by his marks: They will call out to the Companions of the Garden, "peace on you.": They will not have entered, but they will have an assurance thereof. When their eyes will be turned towards the Companions of the Fire, they will say: "Our Lord! send us not to the company of the wrong-doers." The men on the heights will call to certain men whom they will know from their marks, saying: "Of what profit to you were your hoards and your arrogant ways? "Behold! Are these not the men whom you swore that God with His Mercy would |
.
