The Qur'an

---

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful.

All types of perfect praise belong to Allah alone,
the Lord of all the worlds, 
Most Gracious, Ever Merciful, 
Master of the Day of Judgment. (2-4)

Thee alone do we worship and Thee 
alone do we implore for help.

Guide us along the straight path --
the path of those on whom Thou hast 
bestowed Thy favours,
those who have not incurred Thy displeasure, and
those who have not gone astray. (5-7)

---

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful.

I Am Allah, The All-Knowing.

This is the Perfect Book, free from all doubt; it is a guidance for the righteous, who believe in the unseen, observe Prayer, and spend out of whatsoever We have bestowed upon them; and who believe in that which has been revealed to thee, and in that which was revealed before thee, and have firm faith in that which has been foretold and is yet to come. It is these who are firmly grounded in the guidance that has come from their Lord, and it is these who shall prosper. Those who have disbelieved so that it is the same whether thou warn them or warn them not, will not believe. Allah has set a seal on their hearts and their ears, and over their eyes there is a covering. For them there is a great punishment. (2-8)

Of the people there are some who say: We believe in Allah and the Last Day; yet they do not believe at all. They seek to deceive Allah and those who believe, but in truth they deceive none save themselves; only they perceive it not. In their minds is a disease; Allah through the continuous manifestation of His Signs causes their disease to grow worse. For them there is a painful punishment because of their lying. (9-11)

When it is said to them: Create not disorder in the land; they retort: We are only seeking to promote peace. Take note: Most certainly, it is they who create disorder, but they realise it not. When it is said to them: Believe ye as other people have believed; they exclaim: Shall we also believe as the foolish ones have believed? Take note: Most certainly it is they who are foolish but they know it not. When they meet those who believe, they assert: We believe; but when they are in the company of their ringleaders they assure them: We are certainly with you, we were only mocking these believers. Allah will punish them for their mockery and will leave them to flounder on in their transgression. These are they who have rejected guidance and chosen error, but their traffic has brought them no gain, nor are they rightly guided.(12-17)

Their case is like that of a person who kindles a fire, and when it lights up all around him, Allah takes away their light and leaves them in manifold darknesses out of which they can see no way of deliverance. They are deaf, dumb and blind and cannot find their way back. Or, their case is like that of heavy rain pouring down from thick clouds, wherein there are manifold darknesses and thunder and lightning; they thrust their fingers into their ears to keep out the sound of the thunder-claps, being fearful of death, while Allah is sure to compass the ruin of the disbelievers. The lightning flash might well-nigh strike them blind; whenever it flashes they walk in its light, and when it is dark they stand still. If Allah so willed, He could destroy their hearing and their sight; surely Allah has the power to carry out all that He wills. (18-21)

O mankind, worship your Lord Who has created you and created those who were before you, that you may be shielded against all ill; Who has spread out the earth like a bed for you and has made the heaven like a canopy, and has caused water to come down from the clouds and has therewith brought forth provision for you in the shape of fruits. Do not, therefore, deliberately set up equals with Allah. If you are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down to Our servant, then produce a chapter like it and call upon your helpers beside Allah to help you out, if you are truthful. But if you do it not, and never shall you be able to do it, then guard against the Fire, whose fuel are men and stones, which is prepared for the disbelievers. (22-25)

Give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that for them there are Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with fruit therefrom, they will exclaim: This is what was given us before; and similar gifts will be bestowed upon them. They will have therein mates most pure, and therein will they abide. (26)

Allah disdains not the recital of anything, even as small as a gnat or smaller. Those who believe recognise it as truth from their Lord; while those who disbelieve mutter: What does Allah mean by such a recital? The truth is that many does Allah adjudge to be in error and many does He guide by means of the Quran, and none does He adjudge thereby to be erring save the disobedient ones, who break the covenant of Allah after having affirmed it, and cut asunder that which Allah has bidden to be joined, and create disorder in the land; it is these that are the losers. (27-28)

How can you disbelieve in Allah? You were without life and He gave you life, then He will cause you to die, then He will restore you to life and then to Him will you be made to return. He it is Who has created for your benefit all that is in the earth; then He turned towards the heavens and perfected them seven heavens. He has full knowledge of all things. (29-3O)

Call to mind, when thy Lord announced to the angels: I am about to place a vicegerent in the earth. They said: Wilt Thou then place there also such as will create disorder therein and shed blood, while we glorify Thee with Thy praise and extol Thy holiness? Whereupon He admonished them: I know that which you know not. He taught Adam the names of all His attributes, then He presented the manifestations of those attributes to the angels and asked them: Tell Me the names of these, if you are right. They answered: Holy art Thou! No knowledge have we save that which Thou hast taught us. Thou alone art the All-Knowing, the Possessor of Wisdom. He turned to Adam and commanded him: Adam, do thou inform them of the names of these. When Adam had told them the names, Allah said to the angels:

Did I not say to you: I know the secrets of the heavens and of the earth, and I know all that you disclose and all that you conceal? (31-34)

Call to mind, when We commanded the angels: Submit to Adam; they all submitted, but Iblis did not; he refused and was arrogant, being already one of the disbelievers. We commanded Adam: Dwell thou and thy wife in the garden, and eat plentifully therefrom wherever you will, but approach not this one tree, lest you be of the wrongdoers.

But Satan caused them both to slip from their stand of obedience by means of that tree, and thus drove them out of the state in which they were. Whereupon We decreed: Go forth, some of you are enemies of others, and for you there is in the earth a place of abode and provision for a time. Thereafter Adam learnt certain words of prayer from his Lord, and began to pray as he was taught. So He turned towards him with mercy; surely He is Oft-returning with compassion towards His creatures and is Ever Merciful. We decreed: Go forth hence, all of you, but remember that if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoso follows My guidance, on them shall come no fear, nor shall they grieve; but such as shall disbelieve and reject Our Signs as false, these shall be the inmates of the Fire; therein shall they abide. (35-40)

Children of Israel, call to mind My favour which I bestowed upon you, and fulfil the covenant that you made with Me, I shall fulfil the covenant I made with you, and fear Me alone, I repeat, fear Me alone. Believe in the revelation that I have now sent down which fulfils the revelation that was sent down to you, and be not the first to disbelieve therein, and barter not My Signs for a paltry price, and seek protection with Me alone, I repeat, seek protection with Me alone. Confound not truth with falsehood nor hide the truth deliberately; and observe Prayer and pay the Zakat, and worship Allah whole heartedly, along with those who worship Him whole-heartedly. Do you, then, admonish others to do good and forget your own selves, while you read the Book -- the Torah. Will you not then understand? Seek Allah's help with steadfastness and Prayer; and this indeed is hard, except for the humble in spirit, who know for certain that they will meet their Lord. and that to Him will they return. (41-47)

Children of Israel, call to mind My favour which I bestowed upon you and that I exalted you above the peoples of the time; and be mindful of the day when no one shall serve as a substitute for another at all, nor shall any intercession be accepted on his behalf, nor shall ransom be taken from him, nor shall they be helped. Call to mind when We delivered you from Pharaoh's people, who subjected you to grievous torment, slaying your male children and sparing your female children; and in that there was a great trial for you from your Lord. Call to mind also when We held back the sea for you and delivered you and drowned Pharaoh's people, while you looked on. Call to mind also when We made Moses a promise extending over forty nights; then you took the calf for worship, wrongfully, in his absence. Even then We forgave you there after, that you might be grateful. Call to mind also when We gave Moses the Book, the Torah, and the Signs discriminating between truth and falsehood, that you might be rightly guided. (48-54)

Call to mind when Moses said to his people: O my people you have indeed wronged your souls by taking the calf for worship; so turn to your Maker and let each one of you slay the evil propensities of his mind; that course is best for you in the sight of your Maker. Then He turned towards you with compassion. Surely, He is Oft-returning with compassion and is Merciful. Call to mind also, when you said: Moses, we shall by no means put faith in what thou sayest until we see Allah face to face; then a grievous chastisement overtook you and you were witnesses thereof. Then after your downfall We raised you up again by strengthening your faith and multiplying your numbers, that you might be grateful. (55-57)

Then We caused the clouds to provide shade for you and sent down for you Manna and Salwa and announced: Eat of the good things We have provided for you. They wronged Us not by their disobedience; it was themselves that they wronged. Call to mind also, when We said: Enter ye this township and eat therefrom, wherever you will, freely; and enter its gate in submission, saying: We pray for the lightening of our burdens. We shall forgive you your sins and We shall bestow increase upon those who do good. Then out of a spirit of mischief the transgressors substituted something else in place of that which was told them; whereupon, We sent down upon the transgressors a punishment from heaven, because of their disobedience. (58-60)

Call to mind also when Moses prayed for water for his people, and We directed him: Strike that rock with your rod; and there gushed forth from it twelve springs, so that every tribe knew its drinking place. They were told: Eat and drink of what Allah has provided, and do not go about in the land creating disorder. Call to mind also when you said to Moses:

We cannot restrict ourselves to one kind of food; pray, then, to thy Lord for us that He bring forth for us of what the earth grows, of its herbs, cucumbers, wheat, lentils and onions. Allah rebuked them:

Would you change that which is better for that which is worse? If that is what you desire, go down into any town and there you will find what you demand. Thus were they smitten with abasement and penury, and they incurred the wrath of Allah because they rejected the Signs of Allah and would slay the Prophets unjustly, and this had resulted from their persisting in rebellion and transgression. (61-62)

Surely, of the Believers, the Jews, the Christians and the Sabians, those who truly believe in Allah and the Last Day and act righteously, shall have their reward with their Lord, and no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve. (63)

Call to mind, children of Israel, when We took a covenant from you and raised the Mount high above you, and said: Hold fast that which We have given you and bear its contents in mind that you may attain to righteousness. Yet you turned back thereafter; and had it not been for Allah's grace upon you and His mercy, you would surely have been of the losers. 'You have surely known thd end of those from amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath, in consequence of which We condemned them: Be ye like apes, despised. Thus We made this event a lesson for their contemporaries and for those who came after and an admonition for the God-fearing. (64-67)

Call to mind also, when Moses said to his people: Allah commands you to slaughter a cow; and they exclaimed: Dost thou make a mockery of us? to which Moses retorted: I seek the protection of Allah that I should behave foolishly. Where upon, they temporised: Pray for us to thy Lord that He may make plain to us what sort of a cow it is. Moses told them: He says, it is a cow neither old nor young, full grown, of middle age. Now do what you are told. They came back with: Pray again for us to thy Lord that He explain to us what colour she is. Moses said: He says: It is a cow of dun colour, pure and rich in tone, which delights the beholders. But they persisted: Pray once more for us to thy Lord to make plain to us what she is, for all such cows appear to us alike; and if Allah please we shall indeed be guided. Moses answered: He says: It is a cow not broken in to plough the earth or water the tilth; one without blemish; of uniform colour. They said: Now have you given us correct particulars. Then they slaughtered her, though they would rather not have done it. (68-72)

Call to mind also when you claimed to have brought about the death of a Personage and then differed among yourselves concerning it, and Allah would bring to light that which you concealed. So We said: Test the crucial question by putting together other incidents relating to the affair and you will arrive at the truth. Thus does Allah plan to preserve alive those considered dead and shows you His Signs that you may understand. Thereafter your hearts became hardened and became like stones or even harder, for of stones there are some out of which gush forth streams, and there are some that cleave asunder and water flows out from them. Of the hearts also there are some that humble themselves before Allah for fear of Him. Allah is not at all unmindful of that which you do. (73-75)

Do you expect that the children of Israel will put faith in you, when a party of them are such that they hear the word of Allah, then pervert it after they have understood it, well knowing the consequences of their enormity? When they meet those who believe they say: We believe; and when they meet one another in private, they upbraid one another: You communicate to the believers that which Allah has unfolded to you. Do you not realise that they may thereby contend against you before your Lord? Are they not aware that Allah knows all that they conceal and that they disclose? Some of them are illiterate; they know not the Book, treating their own false notions as such, and follow only conjecture. Painful is the chastisement awaiting those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say: This is from Allah; to gain therewith a paltry sum; so for them is a painful chastisement for that which they write and a painful chastisement for that which they earn. (76-80)

They boast: The Fire shall not touch us except for a limited number of days. Ask them: Have you then taken a promise from Allah, in which case Allah will not go back on His promise, or, do you allege concerning Allah that of which you have no knowledge? Verily, those who do evil and are encompassed by their misdeeds, are the inmates of the Fire, therein shall they abide; but those who believe and act righteously are the dwellers of the Garden, therein shall they abide. (81-83)

Call to mind when We took a covenant from the children of Israel: You shall worship none save Allah, and shall behave kindly towards parents, and kindred and the orphans and the needy, and speak graciously to people and observe Prayer and pay the Zakat. Then you turned away in aversion except a small number of you. Call to mind also when We took a covenant from you: You shall not shed each other's blood, nor turn your people out of their homes; thus did you affirm and you have throughout borne witness to it. Yet you are a people who slay one another and turn out a section of your people from their homes, backing up their enemies against them, committing sin and transgression. Thereafter if they come to you as captives seeking your help you deem it meritorious to ransom them, while their turning out in the first place was unlawful for you. Do you, then, believe in a part of the Book and disbelieve in a part of it? For those of you, therefore, who do this, the penalty in this life is humiliation, and on the Day of Judgment they shall be driven to a most severe chastisement.

Surely, Allah is not unmindful of that which you do. These are they who have chosen the hither life in preference to the Hereafter. Their punishment shall not therefore be lightened, nor shall they be helped in any other way. (84-87)

Indeed We gave Moses the Book and caused a number of Messengers to follow after him; and to Jesus son of Mary, We gave manifest Signs and strengthened him with the Spirit of holiness. But as for you, was it not that whenever there came to you a Messenger with that which you desired not you behaved arrogantly and some you called liars and some you were after slaying? They have also said: Our hearts are wrapped up in covers. That is not so, but Allah has condemned them for their rebellion; thus little it is that they believe. So that when there came to them a Book from Allah fulfilling the prophecies contained in the Book which is with them and they used before that to pray to Allah for victory over the disbelievers yet when there came to them that which they recognised, they rejected it. Such disbelievers are under Allah's curse. Evil is that for which they have sold their souls, namely, that they should reject that which Allah has revealed, out of grudge that Allah should send down His grace on whomsoever of His servants He pleases. Thus they incurred wrath upon wrath, and for such disbelievers there is humiliating chastisement. When it is said to them: Believe ye in that which Allah has sent down; they retort: We do believe in that which has been sent down to us; and saying this they reject that which has been sent down after that; yet it has been proved to be the truth by fulfilling that which is with them. Ask them: If you did truly believe, why were you after slaying the Prophets of Allah before this? Moses came to you with manifest Signs, yet you took the calf for worship in his absence, because you were transgressors. (88-93)

Call to mind when We took a covenant from you and raised the Mount high above you and admonished you: Hold fast that which We have given you and obey; but those admonished said: We have heard but we shall not obey; and because of their disbelief their hearts were filled with love of the calf. Say to them: If you are believers, evil is indeed that which your faith enjoins on you. Say to them: If the abode of the Hereafter has been adjudged by Allah to be solely for you to the exclusion of all other people, then call for death upon whichever party of us adheres, to falsehood, if you are truthful in your assertion. But never will they pray for death in such terms, because of that which their own hands have wrought; and Allah knows the wrongdoers well. Thou shalt surely find them and some of those who set up partners with Allah, the most covetous of life, of all people. Every one of them desires that he may be granted a span extending over a thousand years, but his being granted a long life will not rescue him from his doom; Allah sees all that they do. (94-97)

Announce, O Prophet: Whoso bears enmity towards Gabriel -- because of his having caused to descend upon thy heart, by the command of Allah, this Book which fulfils that which precedes it and contains guidance and glad tidings for the believers -- whoso bears enmity towards Allah, His angels, His Messengers, Gabriel and Michael, then surely, Allah too is the enemy of such disbelievers. Indeed We have sent down to thee manifest Signs, and no one disbelieves, in them but the disobedient. (98-100)

Has it not been that every time they make a covenant, a party of them throws it aside? In truth most of them have no faith. Now when there has come to them a Messenger from Allah, fulfilling the Book which is with them, a party of people to whom the Book was given have thrown this Bbok of Allah behind their backs, as if they knew it not. They pursue the course which the rebellious ones followed in the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon who disbelieved; it was the rebellious ones who disbelieved, teaching people falsehood and deception. They claim also to pursue that which was revealed to the two saintly ones in Babylon, Harut and Marut. But these two taught no one till they had warned: We are surely a trial from Allah, therefore, do not reject that which we set forth. So people learnt from them that by which they brought about discrimination between a man and his wife, but they harmed no one thereby except by the command of Allah. But these are seeking to learn that which shall do them harm and shall do them no good, and they have certainly known that he who trafficks therein, for him there is no share of good in the Hereafter. Surely, evil is that for which they have sold their souls; if they but knew. If they had believed and acted righteously, they would have found that Allah's recompense is best, had they but known. (101-104)

O ye who believe, say not to the Prophet ra'ina but say unzurna, and listen to him with attention. For the disbelievers there is a painful punishment. (105)

Those ones from among the People of the Book and from among those who associate partners with Allah, who have disbelieyed, desire not that any good may be sent down to you from your Lord. They forget that Allah chooses as the recipients of His mercy whomsoever He pleases. Allah is Lord of exceeding bounty. Whatever previous commandment We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We reveal in this Quran one better or the like thereof:

Knowest thou not that Allah has full power to do all that He wills? Knowest thou not that to Allah belongs the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and that for you beside Allah there is no helper or protector? (106-108)

Would you question the Messenger sent to you as Moses was questioned before, forgetting that whoever takes disbelief in exchange for belief has undoubtedly gone astray from the right path? (109)

Many of the People of the Book, after the truth has become manifest to them, would desire out of sheer envy generated by their minds that, after you have believed, they could turn you into disbelievers. But do you forgive them and forbear, till Allah sends down His decrees. Surely, Allah has full power to do all that He wills. Observe Prayer, and pay the Zakat, therefore, for whatever good you send on before you for yourselves, you shall find it with Allah. Surely Allah sees all that you do. (110-111)

They claim that no one shall enter Paradise unless he is a Jew or a Christian. These are their vain desires. Ask them:

Produce your proof, if you are truthful. The truth is that whoever submits himself completely to the will of Allah and acts righteously, shall have his reward with his lord. No fear shall come upon such, nor shall they grieve. The Jews say the Christians base themselves on no firm truth, and the Christians say the Jews base themselves on no firm truth, yet both read the same Book. In like manner did those who had no knowledge say that which these say. Allah shall judge between them on the Day of Judgment concerning that wherein they disagree. (112-114)

Who can be guilty of a greater wrong than one who forbids Allah's name being glorified in His mosques and seeks to bring about their ruin? It behoves not such to enter therein except in fear of Allah. For them is disgrace in this world and a great chastisement in the next. To Allah belong the East and the West; so whithersoever you turn, there is the countenance of Allah. Surely Allah is vastly Bountiful, All-Knowing. (115-116)

They allege Allah has taken unto Himself a son. Holy is He! On the contrary, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth; to Him are all obedient. Originator of the heavens and the earth, when He determines the coming into being of a thing, He says concerning it: Be! and it is. (117-118)

Those who have no knowledge of Allah's purpose ask: Why does Allah not speak to us direct, or a Sign not come to us? Likewise said those before them, similar to their saying; their hearts are alike. Indeed have We made all varieties of Signs plain to the people who believe. (119)

Most surely have We sent thee with the Truth, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner; nor art thou answerable for the inmates of the Fire. The Jews will by no means be pleased with thee, nor the Christians, unless thou conform to their creed. Proclaim, therefore: Surely Allah's guidance is the only true guidance. If thou follow their evil desires after the knowledge that has come to thee, thou shalt have neither friend nor helper from Allah. Those whom We have given this Book follow it as it should be followed; it is these who have firm faith therein. Whoso believes not therein, these are they who are the losers. (120-122)

Children of Israel, call to mind My favour which I bestowed upon you and that I exalted you above the peoples of the time; and fear the day when no one shall serve as a substitute for another at all, nor shall any ransom be accepted from him, nor any intercession avail him, nor shall they be helped. (121-l24)

Call to mind also, when his Lord tried Abraham with certain commands which be fulfilled, and his Lord said: I shall make thee a leader of men. Abraham asked:

And from among my offspring also? to which his Lord replied: Indeed, but My covenant will not embrace the transgressors. Call to mind also, when We made the House a resort for mankind and a place of security, and commanded: Take ye the station of Abraham as a place for Prayer. We laid a strict command upon Abraham and Ishmael: Purify My House for those who perform the circuits and those who go into retreat and those who bow down and fall prostrate in Prayer. Call to mind also, when Abraham prayed: My Lord, make this city inviolate, and provide such of its dwellers as believe in Allah and the Last Day with all varieties of fruit. His Lord responded: So shall it be, and on him too who believes not I shall bestow benefits for a short while; then will I drive him to the punishment of the Fire, and an evil destination it is. Call to mind also when Abraham raised the foundations of the House and also Ishmael, and they prayed:

Our Lord, accept this offering from us, it is Thou Who art All-Hearing, All-Knowing. Our Lord, make us submissive to Thy will and pleasure and make of our offspring a people submissive to Thee. Teach us our appropriate ways of worship, and turn to us in mercy; for Thou art Oft-returning with compassion and Ever Merciful. Our Lord, raise up from among them a Messenger who may recite to them Thy Signs and teach them the Book and Wisdom and may purify them. Surely, Thou art the Mighty, the Wise. (125-130)

Thus who will turn away from the religion of Abraham but he who has ruined his soul? Of a surety, We exalted him in this world, and in the next also he will be among the righteous. When his Lord commanded him: Do thou submit thyself to Me, he responded: I submit myself to the Lord of the worlds. The same did Abraham enjoin upon his sons and also Jacob: Sons of mine, truly Allah has chosen this religion for you, so live every moment in submission to Allah, so that death whenever it comes should find you in a state of submission to Him. Were you present when Jacob faced the hour of death and he asked his sons: Who will you worship after I am gone? They answered: We will worship thy God and the God of thy fathers Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac, the One God, and to Him have we submitted ourselves. Those were a people that have passed away; for them was what they earned and for you is what you earn. You wlll not be answerable for what they did. (131-135)

The Jews and the Christians invite you:

Be ye Jews, or be ye Christians, that you may be rightly guided. Tell them: Nay, not so, let us agree to follow the religion of Abraham, who was ever inclined towards Allah and was not one of those who set up partners with Him. Affirm, We believe in Allah and in that which has been sent down to us and that which was sent down to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jaoob and his children and that which was given to Moses and Jesus, and that which was given to all other Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them -- and to Him do we wholly submit ourselves: Then, if they believe as you have believed, they are rightly guided, but if they turn back, then know that they are determined to create a schism. In that event Allah will surely guard thee against their mischief. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowlng. (136-138)

Proclaim: We adopt the Faith revealed by Allah, and who is better than Allah in teaching the Faith? Him alone do we worship. Ask them: Do you dispute with us concerning Allah, when He is our lord and also your Lord? We are responsible for that which we do and you are responsible for that which you do. To Him alone are we devoted. (139-140)

People of the Book, do you say that Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and his children were Jews, or, that they were Christians? Do you know better or Allah? Who can be more unjust than one who conceals such testimony as he has from Allah? Allah is not unaware of that which you do. Those were a people that have passed away; for them was what they earned and for you is what you earn. You will not be answerable for what they did. (141-142)

Foolish people will say: What has caused the Muslims to turn away from the Qibla towards which they faced when in Prayer? Tell them: To Allah belong the East and the West. He guides whom He pleases to the right path. By guiding you along the right path have We made you an exalted people, that you may be guardians over mankind and the Messenger may be a guardian over you. We did not appoint the Qibla which thou didst follow, except that We might distinguish him who follows the Messenger from him who turns away upon his heels, though this is indeed hard, save for those whom Allah has guided. Allah is not the One to let your faith go in vain; surely, Allah is Compassionate and Merciful towards the people. Surely, We see thy mind turning frequently to heaven; We shall, therefore, certainly make thee turn to the Qibla thou likest.

So, turn thy face now towards the Sacred Mosque; and wheresoever you be, turn your faces towards it. They to whom the Book has been given know that this is the truth from their Lord. Surely, Allah is not unmindful of that which they do. Even if thou shouldst produce every kind of Sign before those who have been given the Book, they would never follow thy Qibla, nor canst thou follow their Qibla; nor would some of them follow the Qibla of the others. If thou shouldst follow their desires after the knowledge that has been vouchsafed to thee, then thou shalt surely be of the transgressors. Those to whom We have given the Book recognise the truth of this even as they recognise their sons, but surely some of them conceal the truth deliberately. This truth is from thy Lord; be not, therefore, of those who doubt. (143-148)

Everyone has a goal which dominates him; do you, then, vie with one another in good works. Wherever you be, Allah will bring you all together. Surely, Allah has the power to do all that He wills. (149)

From wheresoever thou comest forth turn thy attention towards the Sacred Mosque; for that, indeed, is the truth from thy Lord. Allah is not unmindful of what you do. From wheresoever thou comest forth, turn thy attention towards the Sacred Mosque; and wheresoever you be, turn your full attention towards it, so that excepting such of your enemies who are bent upon transgression against you, the rest of the people be left with no valid cause of contention against you in this respect. So fear not the transgressors, but fear only Me. I have ordained this that I may perfect My favour unto you; and that you may be rightly guided.

Even as We have sent to you a Messenger from among yourselves who recites Our Signs to you, and purifies you, and teaches you the Book and Wisdom, and teaches you that which you did not know. Keep Me, therefore, constantly in mind, I shall keep you in mind, and be grateful to Me and be not unmindful of the bounties that I have bestowed upon you. O ye who believe, seek the help of Allah through steadfastness and Prayer; surely Allah is with the steadfast. Say not of those who are killed in the cause of Allah that they are dead; they are not dead but alive; only you perceive it not. We will surely try you with somewhat of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and fruits; then give glad tidings to the steadfast, who, when a misfortune overtakes them do not lose heart, but say: Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return. It is these on whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy, and it is these who are rightly guided. (150-158)

Surely, Safa and Marwa are among the Signs of Allah; it is no sin for him who is on Pilgrimage to the House or performs 'Umra to ambulate between the two. Whoso does good voluntarily, beyond that which is prescribed, should know that Allah is Appreciating, All-Knowing. (159)

Those who conceal that which We have sent down comprising Signs and guidance after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, it is these who are cursed by Allah and by those who curse; but those who repent and amend and openly declare that which Allah has revealed, to them I turn with forgiveness, for I am Oft-Returning with compassion and Ever Merciful. (160-161)

As for those who have disbelieved and die while they are disbelievers, on them shall be the curse of Allah and of angels and of men all together; they shall continue under it. Their punishment shall not be lightened nor shall they be granted respite. Your God is One God; there is no god but He, Ever Gracious, Most Merciful. (162-164)

In the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of the night and the day, and in the vessels that sail in the sea carrying that which profits people, and in the water that Allah sends down from the clouds and quickens there -- with the earth after its death and scatters therein all kinds of beasts, and in the courses of the winds, and the clouds pressed into service between the heaven and the earth, are indeed Signs for a people who understand. (165)

Some people adopt objects of worship other than Allah and love them as they should love Allah, but those who believe love Allah most. Those who are guilty of such transgression, if they could perceive now the hour when they shall find themselves face to face with the punishment, they would realise that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment; in the hour in which they shall witness that, those who were followed shall disown their followers in the face of the punishment and all their avenues of escape shall be cut off. At that hour, those who followed will say: If we could only return to the world, we would disown them as they have disowned us. Thus will Allah apprise them that the end of all their striving is only a bundle of regrets and that they will not find a way of deliverance from the Fire. (166-168)

O mankind, eat of that which is lawful and wholesome in the earth; and do not follow in the footsteps of Satan; surely, he is your declared enemy. (169)

He enjoins upon you only that which is vicious and foul and that you should say concerning Allah falsely that which you know not. When it is said to them: Follow that which Allah has sent down; their response is: Indeed not. We shall follow in the way of our fathers. But what if their fathers had no sense and followed not the right path? The case of those who disbelieve is like that of one who calls out to an animal which pays heed only to the sound of the voice, without comprehending its import. They are deaf, dumb and blind and are not able to understand. (170-172)

O ye who believe, eat of the lawful and wholesome things We have provided for you, and render thanks to Allah, if truly it is He Whom you worship. He has made unlawful for you only that which has died, and blood and the flesh of swine, and that on which the name of any other than Allah has been invoked. But he who is driven by extreme need to partake of any of them, not being defiant of the law nor exceeding the limit of his need, it shall be no sin for him. Surely, Allah is most Forgiving, Merciful. Those who conceal that which Allah has sent down of the Book and take in exchange for it a paltry price, only fill their bellics with fire. Allah will not speak to them on the Day of Judgment, nor will He purify them; and for them is a grievous punishment. These are they who have chosen error rather than guidance and punishment rather than forgiveness. How great is their endurance of the Fire! They will find themselves in this predicament because Allah has sent down the Book comprising the Truth; and those who disagree concerning the Book are, surely, far gone in enmity. (173-177)

Righteousness is not that you turn your faces to the East or the West; but truly righteous are those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and the angels and the Book and the Prophets, and spend their wealth, for love of Him, on the kindred and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and those who ask, and for procuring the freedom of captives; and who observe Prayer and pay the Zakat; and whenever they make a promise carry it out, and are steadfast in adversity and under affliction and in battle. It is these who have proved faithful and it is these who are righteous. (178)

O ye who believe, equitable retribution in the matter of the slain is prescribed for you: exact it from the freeman if he is the offender, from the slave if he is the offender, from the woman if she is the offender. If the offender is granted some remission by the heir of the slain person, the agreed penalty should be equitably exacted and should be handsomely discharged. This is an alleviation from your Lord and a mercy. Whoso transgresses thereafter, for him there is a grievous chastisement. There is safeguarding of life for you in the law of retribution, O men of understanding, that you may have security. (179-180)

When death approaches any of you who is a person of substance it is incumbent on him, as an obligation laid on those who fear Allah, that he should leave directions for his parents and near relations to act with fairness. Those who vary these directions after having heard them, the sin thereof shall surely lie on such. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. But whoso apprehends partiality or wrong in consequence of such directions of the deceased it shall be no sin on him to bring about reconciliation between the parties affected thereby. Surely, Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful. (181-183)

O ye who believe, fasting is prescribed for you during a fixed number of days, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may safeguard yourselves against moral and spiritual ills. But whoso from among you should be ailing, not being permanently incapacitated, or should be on a journey, shall complete the reckoning by fasting on a corresponding number of other days; and for those who find fasting a strain hard to bear is an expiation, the feeding of a poor person, if they can afford it. Whoso carries through a good work with eager obedience, it is the better for him. If you had knowledge you would realise that it is better for you that you should fast. The month of Ramadhan is the month in which the Quran began to be revealed, the Book which comprises guidance for mankind and clear proofs of guidance and divine Signs which discriminate between truth and falsehood. Therefore, he who witnesses this month, being stationary and in health, should fast through it. But whoso is ailing, not being permanently incapacitated, or is on a journey, should complete the reckoning by fasting on a corresponding number of other days. Allah desires ease for you and desires not hardship for you; He has granted you this facility so that you should encounter no hardship in completing the reckoning, and that you may exalt Allah for His having guided you and that you may be grateful to Him. (184-186)

When My servants enquire from thee concerning Me, O Prophet, tell them I am close. I respond to the call of the supplicant when he calls on Me. So should they respond to Me and have firm faith in Me, that they may be rightly guided. (187)

It is made lawful for you to consort with your wives during the nights of the fast. They are as a garment for you and you are as a garment for them. Allah knows that you were being unjust to yourselves, wherefore He has turned to you with mercy and has corrected your error. So consort with them now without compunction and seek that which Allah has ordained for you, and eat and drink till the break of dawn begins to manifest itself. From then on, complete the fast till nightfall. But do not consort with your wives during the period when you are in retreat in the mosques. These are the limits prescribed by Allah, so approach them not. Thus does Allah expound His commandments to the people, so that they may safeguard themselves against evil. (188)

Do not devour each other's wealth among yourselves through deceit and falsehood, nor offer your wealth as a bribe to the authorities that you may deliberately devour a part of other people's wealth through injustice. (189)

They ask thee, O Prophet, concerning the phases of the moon. Tell them: These alternations are a means of determining time for regulation of people's affairs and for the Pilgrimage. Once you set forth for the Pilgrimage and then have occasion to revisit your homes, it is no part of righteousness that you should enter them from the backs thereof; indeed truly righteous is he who guards himself against evil out of fear of Allah. Enter your houses by the doors thereof, and be mindful of your duty to Allah that you may prosper. (190)

Fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but transgress not. Surely, Allah loves not the transgressors. Once they start the fighting, kill them wherever you meet them, and drive them out from where they have driven you out; for aggression is more heinous than killing. But fight them not in the proximity of the Sacred Mosque unless they fight you there-in; should they fight you even there, then fight them: such is the requital of these disbelievers. Then if they desist, surely Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful. Fight them until all aggression ceases and religion is professed or the pleasure of Allah alone. If they desist, then be mindful that no retaliation is permissible except against the aggressors. (191-194)

The violation of a sacred month may be retaliated in a sacred month, for the law of retaliation applies in respect of all sacred things. Thus whoso transgresses against you, you may exact retribution from him in proportion to his transgression and be mindful of your obligations to Allah, and remember that Allah is with those who are mindful of their obligations to Him. (195)

Spend yourselves and your belongings in the cause of Allah and do not push yourselves into ruin with your own hands, and be benevolent, surely Allah loves the benevolent. (196)

Perform the Hajj and the Umra for winning the pleasure of Allah: but if you are hindered from doing so, then make whatever offering is easily available and do not shave your heads until the offering reaches its appointed place. If any of you should have to shave his head before that time because of illness or of some ailment of the head, he should make an expiation by way of fasting or almsgiving or a sacrifloe. When there is no longer any hindrance, then he who would avail himself of the Umra together with the Hajj should make whatever offering is easily available. Such of you whose families do not reside near the Sacred Mosque, and who cannot find an offering should fast three days during the Pilgrimage, and seven days when they return home; thus completing ten. Fear Allah and be mindful that Allah's chastisement is severe. The months of Hajj are well known. For him who determines to perform the Pilgrimage therein, there is to be no loose talk, nor any trangression nor any contention during the Pilgrimage. Whatever of good you do, Allah will recognise its value. Furnish yourselves with necessary provisions; surely, the best provision is righteousness. Be ever mindful of your obligations to Me, O ye who possess understanding. It is no sin for you to seek any of the bounties of your Lord during the days of the Pilgrimage. When you return from Arafat, remember Allah at Mash'aral-Haram, and remember Him as He has guided you. Before this you were surely misguided. Thereafter, proceed as people have been proceeding, and seek forgiveness from Allah; surely Allah is Most-Forgiving, Ever Merciful. On completing the acts of worship prescribed for you, celebrate the praises of Allah as eagerly as you used to celebrate the praises of your forefathers, or even with greater eagerness. There are some who keep supplicating: Lord, grant us of the bounties of this world; these have no portion in the Hereafter. (197-201)

There are others who pray: Lord, grant us the best in this world as well as the best in the world to come and safeguard us against the torment of the Fire. It is these for whom there will be a goodly recompense because of that which they have earned. Allah is Swift at reckoning. Remember Allah during the appointed number of days; but if any should be pressed and leave in two days' time it shall be no sin for him, and if any should linger it shall be no sin for him, so long as each is inspired by the spirit of righteousness. So be mindful of your obligations to Allah, and know that you shall all be brought together before Him. (202-204)

Of the people there are some whose talk on the affairs of this life would please thee, and who would call Allah to witness as to the sincerity of that which is in their minds, yet they are the most cantankerous contenders. When they attain to authority, they run about in the land to create disorder and destroy the tilth and the young; and Allah loves not disorder. When it is said to them: Be mindful of your duty to Allah; self esteem incites them to further misconduct. For such as these hell is a sufficiency, and an evil resting place it is. Also of the people there are those who dedicate themselves to seeking the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is Most Compassionate towards such devoted servants. O ye who believe, enter wholly into submission and follow not in the footsteps of Satan; surely, he is your declared enemy. But, if, despite the clear Signs that have come to you, you were to slip, then know that Allah is Mighty, Wise. Those others, what do they wait for? That Allah should come to them in the coverings of the clouds and the angels also, and that the affair be settled out of hand? To Allah are all affairs returned. (205-211)

Enquire from the children of Israel how many a clear Sign did We give them? Then whoso exchanges the bounty of Allah, after having received it and recognised its value, for something inferior, must realise that the chastisement of Allah is severe. The hither life is made to appear attractive to those who are disdainful of the bounties of Allah: they scoff at those who believe. But those who are mindful of their duty to Allah shall be superior in rank to them on the Day of Judgment. Allah bestows His bounties on whomsoever He pleases without measure. (212-213)

Mankind were of one persuasion, then they developed differences, so Allah raised Prophets as bearers of good tidings and as warners, and sent down with them the Book comprising the Truth, that He might judge between the people on that wherein they differed. Then those very people to whom it was given differed about the Book, after clear Signs had come to them, out of insolence and envy of one another. Whereupon, Allah guided by His command those who believed to the Truth in regard to which the others had differed. Allah guides whomsoever He pleases to the right path. (214)

Do you reckon that you will enter Paradise while you have not yet been subjected to the like of that to which those were subjected who have passed away before you? They were afflicted with indigence and adversity and were sorely tried, so that the Messenger sent to them and those who believed along with him should beseech: When will succour arrive from Allah? Yea, surely, at such times the succour of Allah is nigh. (215)

They ask thee what shall they spend? Tell them: Of pure and abundant wealth that which you spend is, in the first instance, for parents, near relations, orphans, the needy and the wayfarer. Whatever good you do, surely Allah knows it well. (216)

Fighting is ordained for you, while it is repugnant to you. It may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and it may also be that you prefer a thing and it may be the worse for you. Allah knows all and you know not. They enquire from thee about fighting in the Sacred Month. Say to them: Fighting in it is a great evil; but to hinder people from the way of Allah and to deny Him and to profane the sanctity of the Sacred Mosque, and to turn out its people therefrom is a much greater evil in the sight of Allah; and disorder is a worse evil than killing. They will not stop fighting you until they turn you back from your Faith, if they can. The works of those from among you who turn back from their Faith and die in a state of disbelief shall be vain in this world and the next. These are the inmates of the Fire, therein shall they abide. Those who have believed and have emigrated, and have striven hard in the cause of Allah, are those who hope for Allah's mercy. Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful. (217-219)

They ask thee concerning liquor and gambling. Tell them: There is great harm in both and also some benefit for people, but their harm is greater than their benefit. They also ask thee what shall they spend. Tell them: Whatever is spare. Thus does Allah make His commandments clear to you that you may reflect upon this world and the next. (220)

They ask thee concerning orphans. Tell them: The promotion of their welfare is very meritorious. There is no harm in your living together with them, for they are your brethren, and Allah well knows him who seeks to promote their welfare and also him who seeks to do them harm. If Allah had so willed, He would have put you to hardship. Surely, Allah is Mighty, Wise. (221)

Marry not idolatrous women till after they have believed; surely a believing bondwoman would make a better wife than an idolatress, however pleasing she may appear to you. Nor give believing women in marriage to idolaters till after they have believed; surely a believing bondman would make a better husband than an idolater, however pleasing he may appear to you. These invite to the Fire and Allah invites to Paradise and forgiveness by His command. He makes His Signs clear to the people that they may take heed. (222)

They enquire from thee as to consorting with their wives during their monthly courses. Tell them: It is harmful, so keep away from women during their monthly courses and do not consort with them until they are clean. But when they have washed themselves clean, consort with them as Allah has commanded you. Indeed Allah loves those who turn to Him often, and Allah loves those who are clean and pure. Your wives are as a tilth for you, so approach your tilth as you like and lay up a store of good for yourselves. Be mindful of your duty to Allah, and be sure you shall meet Him. Give glad tidings concerning that day to the believers. (223-224)

Use not Allah's name for your vain oaths, making them an excuse or refraining from doing good and working righteousness and promoting public welfare. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. Allah will not call you to account for such of your oaths as are vain, but will call you to account for the evil you have deliberately assented to. Allah is Most Forgiving, Forbearing. For those who vow abstinence from their wives, the maximum period for making up their minds is four months; then, if they revert towards conciliation, surely, Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful; and if they decide upon divorce, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (225-228)

Divorced women shall wait, concerning themselves, for the space of three courses. It is not lawful for them to conceal what Allah may have created in their wombs, if they believe in Allah and the Last Day. If their husbands should desire reconciliation during this period, they would have the stronger right to the continuation of the marriage than that it should be irrevocably dissolved. In such case the wives have rights corresponding to those which the husbands have, in equitable reciprocity, though, in certain situations men would have the final word and would thus enjoy a preference. Allah is Mighty, Wise. (229)

Revocable divorce can only be pronounced twice; whereafter there should be reconciliation in approved form or final separation with beneficence. It is not lawful for you to take away anything of that which you have given your wives, unless the husband and wife should be afraid that they would not be able to observe the limits prescribed by Allah. In such case there will be no sin on either of them in respect of that which the wife may surrender by way of compromise. These are the limits prescribed by Allah, so transgress them not; whoso transgresses the limits prescribed by Allah, it is they that are the wrongdoers. Should the husband divorce the wife a third time, then she would not be lawful for him thereafter, except in case she should marry another husband and he too should divorce her. Should this happen, it would be no sin for them to return to each other, provided they are sure they would be able to observe the limits prescribed by Allah. These are the limits prescribed by Allah which He makes clear to the people who possess knowledge. In the case of a revocable divorce, when the end of the appointed period of waiting approaches, there should be reconciliation in approved form or final separation in approved form but do not hold back such women to impose hardship upon them. Whoso does that, surely wrongs his own self. Do not bring the commandments of Allah into contempt and keep in mind the favour that Allah has bestowed upon you and that which He has sent down to you of the Book and Wisdom, whereby He exhorts you. Be mindful of your duty to Allah and be sure that Allah knows all things well. When you divorce your wives and they reach the end of their waiting period and the divorce becomes irrevocable, do not hinder them from marrying their chosen husbands, if they agree between themselves in an approved manner. This is an admonition for everyone of you who believes in Allah and the Last Day: it is most blessed for you and purest Allah knows and you know not. (230-233)

In cases of divorce, mothers shall give suck to their children for two whole years, where it is desired to complete the suckling, and the father of the child shall be responsible for the maintenance of the mother during that period, according to usage. No one shall be burdened beyond his capacity. No mother shall be made to suffer on account of her child, and no father shall be made to suffer on account of his child, and the same is the obligation of the heir. If both should agree by mutual consultation and consent upon weaning the child, there shall be no blame on them. Should you desire to engage a wet-nurse for your children, there shall be no blame on you, provided you hand over what you have agreed to pay, in a fair manner. Be mindful of your duty to Allah and be sure that Allah sees what you do. (234)

Women who survive their husbands shall wait concerning themselves for four months and ten days, and when they arrive at the end of that period there shall be no sin for you in anything that they do with regard to themselves according to what is fair. Allah is aware of what you do. There shall be no blame on you in hinting at a proposal of marriage to divorced or widowed women or in contemplating the possibility in your minds. Allah knows that you will think of them in that connection; but do not enter into any secret engagement with them, beyond conveying some indication to them of your inclination. Do not, however, resolve on the marriage tie until after the expiry of the period of waiting. Be sure Allah knows what is in your minds, so beware of it. Know also that Allah is Most Forgiving, Forbearing. (235-236)

It will be no sin for you, if need arises, to divorce women whom you have not even touched, or for whom no definite dower has been fixed. In such case, make provision for them -- the rich man according to his means and the poor man according to his means -- a provision in a becoming manner. This is an obligation binding upon the virtuous. If you divorce them before you have touched them, but you have fixed a dower for them, then take over to them half of that which you have fixed, unless they should remit it or the guardian for the marriage should remit it, or unless the husband should voluntarily decide to pay a sum in excess of the half. That you should remit or should pay a larger sum, as the case may be, would be closer to righteousness. Do not neglect any chance of behaving benevolently towards each other. Surely, Allah sees what you do. (237-238)

Be watchful over Prayers, particularly over the Prayer the hour of which approaches when you are pre-occupied, and stand before Allah in submissive devotion. Should you be in a state of fear, then observe Prayer on foot or riding, as the case may be; then when you feel secure, remember Allah as He has taught you that which you knew not. (239-240)

Those of you who die leaving them surviving widows shall bequeath to their widows provision for a year, without being turned out. Should they depart on their own, after the expiry of the period of waiting, there shall be no blame upon you in regard to any proper thing which they do concerning themselves. Allah is Mighty, Wise. For divorced women also there shall be provision according to what is fair. This is an obligation binding on the righteous. Thus does Allah make His commandments clear to you that you may understand. (24l-243)

Knowest thou not of those who went forth from their homes in their thousands, fearing death? Allah said to them: Be you as the dead. Thereafter He bestowed life upon them. Surely, Allah is Bountiful towards people, but most people are not grateful. (244)

Fight in the cause of Allah and know that Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. Is there any who would set aside a goodly portion of his wealth for Allah that He may multiply it for him manifold? Allah does, indeed, receive of the wealth of His servants and multiply it and to Him shall you be made to return. (245-246)

Knowest thou not of the chiefs of the children of Israel, who came after Moses, when they said to a Prophet of theirs:

Appoint for us a king that we may fight in the cause of Allah, under his command. He said to them: Perchance you may not fight, if fighting is prescribed for you. They said: Wherefore would we hold back from fighting in the cause of Allah, when we have been driven forth from our homes and our children. But when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned back, except a small number of them. Allah knows the wrongdoers well. Their Prophet said to them: Allah has appointed for you Talut as a king. They demurred, saying: How can he have sovereignty over us while we are better entitled to sovereignty than he, and he has not even been granted abundance of wealth? He answered: Surely Allah has granted him superiority over you and has given him a large portion of knowledge and strength. Allah bestows sovereignty upon whom He pleases; Allah is Lord of vast bounty, All-Knowing. Their Prophet added: Another proof of his sovereignty is that there shall come to you the casket borne by angels wherein there will be tranquillity from your Lord and a legacy of that which was left by the family of Moses and the family of Aaron. Surely, in this there is a Sign for you if you are believers. (247-249)

When Talut set out with his forces, he announced: Surely, Allah will put you to the test in respect of a river; he who drinks his fill therefrom will not remain with me; and he who tastes it not will of a surety continue with me. There will, however, be no blame upon him who sips only a handful from it. But, except a few of them, they all drank of it. When he and those who believed along with him had crossed it, they said: We have no strength today to oppose Jalut and his forces. Those who were certain that they would one day meet Allah said: Many a small party has triumphed over a large party by Allah's command; Allah is indeed with the steadfast. When they issued forth to encounter Jalut and his forces, they prayed: Lord grant us steadfastness and make our steps firm in the battlefield and help us against the disbelieving people. The issue was joined and they routed the enemy by the command of Allah. (250-251)

When his time came David slew the Jalut of his time, and Allah bestowed upon him sovereignty and wisdom and taught him of what He pleased. If Allah were not to repel a section of mankind by another, the earth would be filled with disorder; but Allah is full of bounty towards all peoples. (252)

These are Signs of Allah; We recite them unto thee with truth. Surely, thou art one of the Messengers. Of these Messengers some have We exalted above others; among them there are those to whom Allah spoke and revealed to them a Law; and some of them He only exalted in rank. We gave Jesus son of Mary clear proofs and strengthened him with the Spirit of holiness. Had Allah so willed, those who came after them would not have fought with one another after clear Signs had come to them, but they disagreed nevertheless. Some of them believed and some of them disbelieved. Had Allah so willed, they would not have fought with one another; but Allah does what He wills. (253-254)

O ye who believe, spend out of whatever We have bestowed on you before the day comes wherein there will be no buying and selling, nor friendship, nor intercession. Those who reject this admonition are the ones who wrong themselves. (255)

Allah is He save Whom none is worthy of worship, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining. Slumber seizes Him not, nor sleep. To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that dare intercede with Him, except by His permission? He knows all that is before them and all that is behind them, and they cannot compass aught of His knowledge, except that which He pleases. His knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth, and the care of them wearies Him not. He is the Most High, the Most Great. (256)

There shall be no compulsion in religion, for guidance and error have been clearly distinguished; then whoso rejects those who hinder people from following the right path and believes in Allah, has surely taken hold of a strong and dependable support which will never break. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (257)

Allah is the Friend of those who believe: He brings them out of every kind of darkness into light. Those who disbelieve, their friends are those who hinder people from following the right path; they bring them out of light into every kind of darkness. These are the inmates of the Fire; therein shall they abide. (258)

Knowest thou not of him who, because Allah had bestowed sovereignty upon him, began to dispute with Abraham concerning his Lord. When Abraham said to him: My Lord is He who bestows life and causes death; he countered with: I too grant life and inflict death. Said Abraham: Well, then, Allah causes the sun to rise in the East, do thou cause it to rise in the West. Thus the infidel was confounded. Indeed Allah guides not the unjust to success. (259)

Or knowest thou one like him who passed by a town which was in ruin, its roofs all fallen down? Whereupon he exclaimed: When will Allah restore it after its ruin? Thereupon Allah caused him to sleep and to dream that he had died and risen after a hundred years. When he woke up, Allah asked him: How long hast thou passed in that state? He answered:

I remained thus for a day or part of a day. Allah said: That is so, but thou hast witnessed developments over a hundred years. Now look at thy provision for food and for drink, they have not deteriorated, and look at thy donkey likewise. We have made thee a Sign unto people. Observe how We adjust and set the bones and then clothe them with flesh. When all became clear to him, he said: I know that Allah has the power to do all that He wills. (260)

Call to mind when Abraham supplicated: Lord, show me how dost Thou bring the dead to life. Allah said: Hast thou not believed? Said Abraham; Indeed, I have believed; but I have asked this question that my mind may be comforted. Said Allah: Well, then, take four birds and train them to be attached to thee. Thereafter put each one of them on a hillock. Then call them; they will hasten towards thee. Know then that Allah is Mighty, Wise. (261)

The case of those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah is like that of a grain of corn, which grows seven ears, and in each ear there are a hundred grains. Allah multiplies it even more for whomsoever He pleases. Allah is Lord of vast bounty, All-Knowing. Those who spend their wealth In the cause of Allah, then follow not up that which they have spent with reproaches or injury, have their reward with their Lord. They shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve. A kind word and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is Self-Sufficient, Forbearing. (262-264)

O ye who believe, render not vain your alms by reproaches or injury, like one who spends his wealth to be seen of people and believes not in Allah and the Last Day. His case is like that of a smooth rock covered with earth, on which heavy rain falls and washes it clean, leaving it bare and hard. Such people shall not secure for themselves aught of that which they earn. Allah guides not the disbelieving people. The case of those who spend their wealth to seek the pleasure of Allah and to gain inner strength is like that of a garden on elevated ground, on which heavy rain falls, so that it brings forth its fruit twofold. Even if heavy rain does not fall on it, a light shower suffices. Allah sees well that which you do. Would any of you desire that having a garden of date-palms and vines with streams flowing beneath it, which brings forth for him all kinds of fruits, he should be stricken with old age while his children are small, and a fiery whirlwind should sweep through his garden consuming it all? Thus does Allah make His Signs clear to you that you may reflect. (265-267)

O ye who believe, spend of the good things that you have earned, and of that which We produce for you from the earth; and do not select out of it for charity that which is useless, when you would not yourselves accept the like of it, save with reluctance. Know that Allah is Self-Sufficient, Worthy of Highest Praise. Satan threatens you with poverty and enjoins upon you that which is indecent, whereas Allah promises you forgiveness from Himself and bounty. Allah is the Lord of vast bounty, All-Knowing. He grants wisdom to whom He pleases, and whoever is granted wisdom has indeed been granted abundant good and none takes heed except those endowed with understanding. (268-270)

Whatsoever you spend in the cause of Allah or vow as an offering, surely Allah knows it well, but the wrongdoers shall have no helpers. If you give alms openly that is indeed good, but if you give them secretly to the poor, it is even better for your own selves; thereby will He remove from you many of your ills. Allah is aware of what you do. (271-272)

Thou art not charged with guiding them to the right path; it is Allah Who guides whomsoever He pleases. Whatever of your pure wealth you spend in the cause of Allah, and undoubtedly you spend it to seek the favour of Allah, its benefit accrues to yourselves. Whatever of your pure wealth you spend, it shall be paid back to you in full and you shall not be wronged. These alms are for the deserving poor who are detained in the cause of Allah and are unable to move about in the land. Those who lack knowledge of their circumstances consider them to be free from want because of their abstaining from soliciting alms. They can be known from their appearance. They do not importune people. Whatever of your pure wealth you spend, Allah has full knowledge thereof. Those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah by night and day, secretly and openly, have their reward with their Lord; on them shall come no fear, nor shall they grieve. (273-275)

Those who devour interest stand like one whom Satan has smitten with insanity. That is so because they keep saying: The business of buying and selling is also like lending money on interest; whereas Allah has made buying and selling lawful and has made the taking of interest unlawful. Remember, therefore, that he who desists because of the admonition that has come to him from his Lord, may retain what he has received in the past; and his affair is committed to Allah. But those who revert to the practice, they are the inmates of the Fire; therein shall they abide. (276)

Allah will wipe out interest and will foster charity. Allah loves not confirmed disbelievers and arch-sinners. Those who believe and act righteously and observe Prayer and pay the Zakat, shall have their reward with their Lord. No fear shall come on them, nor shall they grieve. O Ye who believe, be mindful of your duty to Allah and relinquish your claim to what remains of interest, if you are truly believers. But if you do it not, then beware of war from the side of Allah and His Messenger. If, however, you desist you will still have your capital sums; thus you will commit no wrong, nor suffer any wrong yourselves. Should a debtor be in straitened circumstances, then grant him respite, in respect of the repayment of the capital sum, till a time of ease. But if, in such a case, you remit the capital sum also as charity, it will be the better for you, if you only knew. Be ever mindful of the day when you shall be made to return to Allah; -- when every one shall be paid in full that which he has earned and they shall not be wronged. (277-282)

O ye who believe, when you take a loan, one from another, for a term, reduce the transaction to writing; and let a scribe record it in your presence faithfully. No scribe should refuse to set it down in writing, because Allah has taught him, so he should write. Let him who undertakes the liability dictate the terms of the contract, and in so doing let him be mindful of his duty to Allah, his Lord, and not keep back anything therefrom. If he who undertakes the liability should be of defective intelligence, or a minor, or unable to dictate, then let his guardian dictate faithfully. Procure two witnesses from among your men; and if two men be not available, then one man and two women, of such as you like as witnesses, so that if either of the two women should be in danger of forgetting, the other may refresh her memory.

The witnesses should not refuse to testify when they are called upon to do so. Whether the transaction be large or small do not be disinclined to write it down, together with the appointed time of payment. This is more equitable in the sight of Allah, makes testimony surer and is more likely to exclude doubts. In case of ready transactions when goods and money pass from hand to hand, it shall be no sin for you not to reduce them to writing. Have witnesses when you buy or sell. Let no harm befall a scribe or a witness, and if you do such a thing it shall certainly be disobedience on your part. Be ever mindful of your duty to Allah. Allah grants you knowledge and Allah knows all things well. Should you be on a journey and not find a scribe, the alternative is a pledge with possession. When one of you entrusts something to another, then let him who is entrusted render back his trust when he is called upon to do so, and let him be mindful of his duty to Allah, his Lord. Conceal not testimony; whoever conceals it is one whose heart is certainly sinful. Remember Allah knows well all that you do. (283-284)

To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. Whether you disclose that which is in your minds or keep it hidden, Allah will call you to account for it; then will He forgive whomsoever He wills and punish whomsoever He wills. Allah has the power to do all that He wills. The Messenger has full faith in that which has been sent down to him from his Lord and so have the believers: all of them believe in Allah, and in His angels, and in His Books and in His Messengers, affirming: We make no distinction between any of His Messengers; we have heard Allah's command and we have submitted ourselves wholly to Him. They supplicate: We implore Thy forgiveness, Lord, and to Thee is our return. Allah requires not of any one that which is beyond his capacity; each shall have the benefit of the good he does and shall suffer the consequences of the ill he works. Supplicate, therefore: Lord, take us not to task if we forget or fall into error; Lord, place us not under responsibility in the manner of those whom Thou didst place under responsibility before us; Lord, burden us not with that which we have not the strength to bear; overlook our defaults and grant us forgiveness and have mercy on us; Thou art our Master, so grant us succour against those who reject Thee. (285-287)

---

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful.

I Am Allah, The All-Knowing. (2)

Allah is He beside Whom there is none worthy of worship, the Living, the Self-Subsisting, All-Sustaining. (3)

He has sent down to thee the Book, comprising the truth, which fulfils the revelation that preceded it; and He sent down the Torah and the Gospel before this as a guidance for the people; and He has sent down the Criterion. Those who have rejected the Signs of Allah shall certainly receive a severe punishment. Allah is Mighty, Possessor of the power to requite. Nothing is hidden from Allah, in the earth or in the heaven. He it is Who fashions you in the wombs as He wills; there is none worthy of worship beside Him, the Mighty, the Wise. (4-7)

He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book; in it there are verses that are fundamental -- they are the basis of the Book -- and there are others which are allegoric. Wherefore, those in whose hearts is perversity pursue such thereof as are allegoric seeking to create confusion and to pervert their meaning, and none knows the meaning thereof except Allah and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge; these last affirm: We believe in it, all of it is from our Lord (and, indeed, none takes heed except those gifted with understanding); Lord, let not our hearts become perverse after Thou hast guided us; and bestow upon us mercy from Thyself, surely Thou art the Great Bestower.

Our Lord, Thou wilt certainly assemble mankind together on the Day concernmg which there is no doubt. Surely, Allah does not contravene His promise. (8-10)

The possessions and the children of those who disbelieve shall not avail them at all against Allah; it is they that are the fuel of the Fire. Their case is like that of the people of Pharaoh and those before them; they rejected Our Signs; so Allah seized them because of their sins. Allah's chastisement is severe. Warn those who disbelieve: You shall surely be vanquished and gathered unto hell; and an evil place of rest it is. (11-13)

Certainly there was for you a Sign in the two parties that encountered each other, one party fighting in the cause of Allah and the other disbelieving, whom they saw with their eyes to be twice as many as themselves. Allah strengthens with His aid whomsoever He pleases. In that surely is a lesson for those who have eyes. (14)

The love of desired objects, like women and children and stored-up reserves of gold and silver, and pastured horses and cattle and crops, appears attractive to people. All this is the provision of the hither life; and it is Allah with Whom is an excellent abode. Ask them: Shall I apprise you of something which is better than all this? For those who are constantly mindful of their duty to Allah, there are Gardens with their Lord beneath which rivers flow, wherein they shall abide, and pure spouses. They shall also enjoy the pleasure of Allah.

Allah is Mindful of His servants who supplicate: Lord, surely we have believed; forgive us, therefore, our sins and shield us from the torment of the Fire. They are the steadfast, the faithful, the humble, those who spend in the cause of Allah and those who seek forgiveness in the small hours of the morning. (l5-l8)

Allah bears witness that there is none worthy of worship beside Him, and so do the angels and those who possess knowledge; Maintainer of justice; there is none worthy of worship beside Him, the Mighty, the Wise. (19)

Surely the true religion in the estimation of Allah is Islam, that is, complete submission to Him, and those who were given the Book disagreed only, out of mutual envy, after knowledge had come to them. Whoso rejects the Signs of Allah should remember that Allah is Swift at reckoning. (20)

Now if they should dispute with thee, say to them: I have submitted myself wholly to Allah, and also those who follow me. Say to those who have been given the Book and to those to whom no revelation has been vouchsafed: Do you submit yourselves to Allah also? If they submit they will surely be guided; but if they turn away, thy duty is only to convey the message. Allah is Watchful of His servants. (21)

To those who reject the Signs of Allah and seek to kill the Prophets and those from among the people who enjoin equity, without just cause, announce thou a painful chastisement. These are they whose works shall come to naught in this world and the next, and they shall have no helpers. (22-23)

Knowest thou not that of those who have been given their portion of the Book, when they are called to the Book of Allah that it may judge between them, a party turn away in aversion? (24)

That is because they claim: The Fire shall not touch us except for a limited number of days; and that which they concoct has become a snare for them in the matter of their religion. How will it be with them when We shall gather them together on the Day concerning which there is no doubt, when every one shall be paid in full that which he has earned, and they shall not be wronged? (25-26)

Supplicate: O Allah, Lord of sovereignty, Thou bestowest sovereignty upon whomsoever Thou pleasest, and Thou takest away sovereignty from whomsoever Thou pleasest, Thou exaltest whomsoever Thou pleasest, and Thou abasest whomsoever Thou pleasest; in Thy hand is all good. Thou surely hast power to do all that Thou dost will. Thou makest the night pass into day and makest the day pass into night; Thou bringest forth the living from the dead and bringest forth the dead from the living. Thou bestowest upon whomsoever Thou pleasest without measure. (27-28)

Let not the believers take the disbelievers for intimate friends in preference to believers; whoever does that has no connection with Allah. Your only course is to keep away from them altogether, Allah warns you against His chastisement; and to Allah is your return. Warn them:

Whether you keep hidden that which is in your minds, or disclose it, Allah knows it; and He knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. Allah has full power over all things. Beware of the day when everyone shall find confronting him all the good he has done and all the evil he has done. He will wish there were a great distance between him and the evil. Allah warns you against His chastisement; Allah is Most Compassionate towards His servants. (29-31)

Announce: If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will then love you and forgive you your faults. Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful. Call on them: Obey Allah and the Messenger. Then if they turn away, let them remember that Allah loves not the disbelievers. (32-33)

Allah did exalt Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of Imran above all the people of their times -- a group spiritually akin one to another. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (34-35)

Call to mind when the woman of Imran offered: Lord, I have dedicated to Thy service that which is in my womb free from all other obligations; so do accept it of me. Thou alone art the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. (36)

When she was delivered of it she supplicated: Lord, I am delivered of a female child, and I have named her Mary, and I commit her and her offspring to Thy protection against the mischief of Satan, the rejected. Allah knew best what she had brought forth and the male child of her fancy was not like the female child she brought forth. So her Lord accepted her with a gracious acceptance and caused her to grow up an excellent growing up. Zachariah became her guardian. Whenever Zachariak entered her chamber, he found some provision with her. One day he said to her: Mary, whence hast thou this? She answered: It is from Allah; surely, Allah bestows upon whomsoever He pleases without measure. (37-38)

Thereupon Zachariah prayed to his Lord: Lord, grant me from Thyself pure offspring, surely Thou art the Hearer of prayer. The angels called to him as he stood praying in the chamber: Allah gives thee glad tidings of Yahya, who shall fulfil a word of Allah; he will be noble, chaste and a Prophet from among the righteous.

Zachariah submitted: Lord, how shall I have a youth as my son when I am already of advanced age and moreover my wife is barren. He responded: Such is the power of Allah, He does what He pleases. Zachariah beseeched: My Lord, lay upon me a special commandment. He replied:

The commandment for thee is that thou shalt not communicate with people for three days except by signs, and shalt remember thy Lord much and shalt glorify Him night and morn. (39-42)

Call to mind when the angels said to Mary: Allah has exalted thee and purified thee and chosen thee from among all the women of thy time. Mary, be obedient to thy Lord and prostrate thyself before Him and worship Him alone with single-minded devotion along with those who worship. (43-44)

This is of the tidings of the unseen that We reveal to thee: Thou wast not with them when they cast their arrows to determine which of them should take care of Mary, nor wast thou with them when they disputed with one another. (45)

Call to mind when the angels said to Mary: Allah, through His word, gives thee glad tidings of a son named the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honoured in this world and the next, and of those who are granted nearness to Allah. He shall admonish people in his early years and also in his ripe years, and he shall be of the righteous. Mary said: Lord, how shall I have a son, when no man has touched me? He answered: Such is the power of Allah, He creates what He pleases. When He decrees a thing, He says to it: Be; and it is. He will teach him the Book and the Wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel and will make him a Messenger to the children of Israel, bearing the message: I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord, that for your benefit, in the manner of a bird, I shall fashion, from among persons who are capable of receiving an impress, shapes and shall breathe into them a new spirit, then they will begin to soar like birds by the command of Allah; and I shall declare clean the blind and the leprous and shall bestow life on the spiritually dead, by the command of Allah; and shall announce to you what you will eat and what you will store up in your houses. In all this there is a Sign for you, if you will believe. I fulfil that which has been sent down before me, namely the Torah, and shall make lawful for you some of that which was forbidden you. I come to you with a Sign from your Lord; so be mindful of your duty to Allah and obey me. Verily, Allah is my Lord and your Lord; so worship Him. That is the straight path. (46-52)

When Jesus perceived their disbelief, he asked: Who will be my helpers in the cause of Allah! The disciples answered:

We are helpers in the cause of Allah. We have believed in Allah, and bear thou witness we are obedient to Allah. They affirmed: Our Lord we have believed in that whch Thou hast sent down and we have become the followers of this Messenger, so write us down among the witnesses. (53-54)

The enemies of Jesus devised their plans and Allah devised His plan; Allah is the best of planners. Allah reassured Jesus:

I shall cause thee to die a natural death, and shall exalt thee to Myself, and shall clear thee from the calumnies of those who disbelieve, and shall place those who follow thee above those who disbelieve, until the Day of Judgment; then to Me shall be your return and I will judge between you concerning that wherein you differ. As for those who disbelieve, I will punish them with a severe punishment in this world and in the next, and they shall have no helpers; and as for those who believe and work righteousness, Allah will pay them their full deserts. Allah loves not the wrongdoers. That is what We recite unto thee of the Signs and the Wise Instructions. (55-59)

The case of Jesus in the sight of Allah is like unto the case of Adam. He created him out of dust. He said concerning him:

Be; and he began to be. This is the truth from thy Lord, so be thou not of those who doubt. Then whoso should dispute with thee concerning it, after that which has come to thee of divinely revealed knowledge, say to them: Come, let us call our sons and you call your sons, and let us call our women and you call your women, and let us call our people and you call your people, then let us pray fervently for the triumph of the truth and invoke the curse of Allah on those who lie. Most certainly this is the true account. There is none worthy of worship save Allah; and surely, it is Allah Who is the Mighty, the Wise. Then if they turn away, let them remember that Allah knows well those who create mischief. (60-64)

Say to the People of the Book: Let us agree upon one matter which is the same for you and for us, namely, that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partner with Him, and that some of us take not others for lords beside Allah. Then, if they turn away, say to them: Bear ye witness that we have submitted to Allah. (65)

People of the Book, why do you dispute concerning Abraham, whereas the Torah and Gospel were surely not sent down till after him? Will you not then understand? Hearken, you are those who have disputed about that whereof you had some knowledge; why do you now dispute about that whereof you have no knowledge at all? Allah knows and you know not. Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian; he was ever inclined to Allah and obedient to Him, and he was not of those who associate partners with Allah. Surely, the people closest to Abraham are those who followed him, and this Prophet and those who believe in him. Allah is the Friend of believers. (66-69)

A section of the People of the Book would fain lead you astray, but they only lead themselves astray, only they perceive it not. People of the Book, why do you reject the Signs of Allah, having been witnesses thereof? People of the Book, why do you confound truth with falsehood and hide the truth deliberately? (70-72)

A section of the People of the Book urge some from among themselves: Why not affirm, in the early part of the day, belief in that which has been revealed unto the believers and repudiate it in the latter part thereof, perchance they may return? But put no faith in any save him who follows your religion. Say to them: Surely, the true guidance is the guidance of Allah -- that one may be given the like of that which has been given to you -- or else that they should contend against you before your Lord. Say to them also: All bounty is in the hand of Allah, He bestows it upon whomsoever He pleases. Allah is Lord of vast bounty, All-Knowing. He singles out for His mercy whomsoever He pleases. Allah is the Lord of exceeding bounty. (73-75)

Among the People of the Book there are those who, if thou trust them with a treasure, will return it to thee faithfully; and among them are those who, if thou trust them with a single diner, will not return it to thee, unless thou keep dunning them. That is because they say: We owe no obligation in respect of the unenlightened. They utter a lie against Allah and they know it. The truth is that whoso fulfils his pledge and is mindful of his duty to Allah is righteous, and Allah loves the righteous. (76-77)

Those who take a paltry price in exchange for their covenant with Allah and their oaths, shall have no portion in the life to come. Allah will not speak to them nor cast a look upon them on the Day of Judgment, nor will He purify them. For them shall be a grievous punishment. There surely is a section of them who twist their tongues as if they were reciting the Book, that you may take that which they are reciting to be part of the Book, while it is not part of the Book. They say: It is from Allah; while it is not from Allah. They utter a lie against Allah and they know it. (78-79)

It would not behove a righteous person that Allah should give him the Book and dominion and Prophethood, and yet he should say to people: Worship me instead of Allah. Such a one could only say: Be solely devoted to the Lord because you teach the Book and because you study it attentively. Nor would he bid you take the angels and the Prophets for lords. Would he teach you to disbelieve after you had submitted to Allah? (80-81)

Call to mind when Allah took from their people, through the Prophets, a firm covenant: Whatever I give you of the Book and Wisdom and then there comes to you a Messenger, fulfilling that which is with you, you shall most surely believe in him and help him. Do you then promise and accept the obligation I lay upon you in this respect? They affirmed: We promise. Allah said: Then bear witness and I am also a witness along with you. Now whoso turns away after this, those surely are transgressors. (82-83)

Then do they seek a religion other than Allah's while to Him submits whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and to Him shall they be returned? Proclaim: We believe in Allah and in that which has been revealed to us, and that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Tribes, and that which was given to Moses and Jesus and other Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them and to Him we submit. Whoso seeks a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the life to come he shall be among the losers. (84-86)

How shall Allah guide a people who have disbelieved after having believed and who had borne witness that the Messenger is true and to whom clear proofs had come? Allah guides not the wrongdoers. Of such the punishment is that on them shall be the curse of Allah and of angels and of men, all together; thereunder shall they abide. Their punishment shall not be lightened nor shall they be granted respite; except in the case of those who repent thereafter and amend. Surely, Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful. Those who disbelieve after having believed, and then continue to advance in disbelief, their repentance shall not be accepted. Those are they who have gone utterly astray. (87-91)

From any one of those who have disbelieved, and die while they are disbelievers, there shall not be accepted even an earthful of gold, though he offer it in ransom. For those there shall be a grievous punishment, and they shall have no helpers. (92)

Never will you attain to the highest degree of virtue unless you spend in the cause of Allah out of that which you love; and whatever you spend, Allah surely knows it well. (93)

All food was lawful for the children of Israel, except that which Israel had forbidden himself before the Torah was sent down. Say to them: Bring then the Torah and read it, if you are truthful. Whoso, therefore, fabricates a lie against Allah after this, it is these who are the wrong doers. Affirm: Allah has spoken the truth; follow, therefore, the religion of Abraham, who was ever inclined to Allah and was not of those who associate partners with Him. (94-96)

Surely, the first House established for the benefit of all mankind is the one at Mecca, abounding in blessings and a means of guidance for all peoples. In it are manifest Signs: in it is the station of Abraham; and whoso enters it is secure. Pilgrimage to the House is a duty laid upon people which they owe to Allah, those of them who can afford the journey thither. Those who repudiate it should remember that Allah is Independent of all creatures. (97-98)

Say to them: People of the Book, why do you reject the Signs of Allah, while Allah is Watchful of that which you do? Ask them: People of the Book, why do you hinder those who believe, from the path of Allah, seeking to make it appear crooked while you are witnesses thereof? Allah is not unmindful of that which you do. (99-100)

O ye who believe, if you obey any party of those who have been given the Book, they will turn you again into disbelievers after you have believed. How would you disbelieve, while you are the people to whom the Signs of Allah are rehearsed and among whom the Messenger of Allah is present? He who holds fast to Allah is indeed guided to the right path. (101-102)

O ye who believe, be mindful of your duty to Allah in all respects, every moment of your lives, so that death, whenever it overtakes you, should find you in a state of complete submission to Him. Take fast hold, all together, of the rope of Allah, and be not divided. Call to mind the favour of Allah which He bestowed upon you when you were at enmity with each other and He united your hearts in love so that by His grace you became as brethren. You were on the brink of a pit of fire and He rescued you from it. Thus does Allah explain to you His commandments that you may be guided. Let there be from among you a party whose business it should be to invite to goodness, to enjoin equity and to forbid evil. It is they who shall prosper. (103-105)

Be not like those who became divided and created dissensions after clear proofs had come to them. It is they for whom there will be a great punishment, on the Day when some faces will be bright and some faces will be gloomy. Those whose faces will be gloomy will be questioned: Did you, then, disbelieve after having believed? Then suffer the torment because you disbelieved. Those whose faces will be bright will rejoice in the mercy of Allah; therein will they abide. (106-108)

These are the Signs of Allah, comprising the truth, that we recite to thee. Allah wills not any wrong to His creatures. To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth; and to Allah shall all affairs be returned. (109-110)

You are the best people for you have been raised for the benefit of mankind; you enjoin good, forbid evil and believe in Allah. If the People of the Book had believed, it would surely have been the better for them. Some of them have believed, but most of them are disobedient. They cannot harm you beyond causing you some slight injury; and if they fight you, they will turn their backs upon you. They will receive no help from any quarter. They will be humiliated wherever they are found, unless they are protected under a covenant with Allah, or a covenant with another people. They have incurred Allah's wrath and they have been afflicted with misery. That is because they continuously rejected the Signs of Allah and were after slaying the Prophets without just cause, and this resulted from their disobedience and their habit of transgression. (111-113)

They are not all alike. Of the People of the Book there is a party who stand by their covenant; they recite the Word of Allah in the hours of night and prostrate themselves before Him. They believe in Allah and the Last Day, enjoin good, forbid evil, and hasten to outdo each other in benevolence. These are among the righteous. Whatever good they do will not be ignored. Allah knows well those who are mindful of their duty to Him. (114-116)

Those who disbelieve will find that their possessions and their children shall not avail them aught against Allah. They are the inmates of the Fire therein shall they abide. That which they spend in pursuit of the life of this world is like a biting frosty blast which smites the harvest of a people who have wronged themselves, and utterly destroys it. Allah does not wrong them; they wrong themselves. (117-118)

O ye who believe, do not take outsiders as your intimate friends, they will not fail to cause you injury. They love to see you in trouble. Their hatred has been expressed in words, and that which they design is even more virulent. We have made Our commandments clear to you, if you will understand. Hearken, you are the ones who love them, but they love you not. You believe in all the Book, but they only pretend to do so. When they are with you they say: We believe; but, when they part from you, they bite their fingertips with rage against you. Say to them: Perish in your rage. Surely Allah knows well your designs. Your success grieves them and your being involved in trouble gladdens their hearts. But if you are steadfast and mindful of your duty to Allah, their designs will not harm you at all. Surely Allah will demolish all that they do. (119-121)

Call to mind, when thou didst go forth early from thy household, on the day of Uhud, to assign to the believers their positions for battle; and Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (122)

Call to mind also, when two of your groups meditated cowardice, while Allah was their friend; and upon Allah should the believers rely. Allah had already helped you in the battle of Badr, when you were inconsiderable. So be mindful of your duty to Allah that you may be grateful. (123-124)

Call to mind also, when thou didst say to the believers: Will it not suffice you that your Lord should help you with three thousand angels sent down from on high? Indeed, if you are steadfast and mindful of your duty to Allah and the enemy should come upon you without respite, your Lord will help you with five thousand angels attacking vehemently. Allah has designed this as glad tidings for you and that your hearts may be comforted thereby, and that He may cut off a portion of the disbelievers or abase them so that they might go back frustrated. All help comes from Allah alone, the Mighty, the Wise. Thou art not concerned in the matter; their end is in Allah's hands; He may turn to them in mercy, or punish them; for, surely, they are wrongdoers. To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. He forgives whomsoever He pleases and punishes whomsoever He pleases. Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful. (125-130)

O ye who believe, devour not interest, for it goes on multiplying itself; and be mindful of your obligation to Allah that you may prosper; and safeguard yourselves against the Fire which is prepared for the disbelievers. Obey Allah and the Messenger that you may be shown mercy; and advance towards forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise whose price is the heavens and the earth, prepared for the righteous -- those who spend in prosperity and adversity, who control their tempers when they are roused and who overlook people's faults (and Allah loves the benevolent) and those who, when they commit an indecency or wrong themselves, call Allah to mind and implore forgiveness for their sins (and who can forgive sins except Allah?) and do not persist knowingly in that of which they have been guilty. It is these whose reward is forgiveness from their Lord and Gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they shall abide. Excellent is the reward of those who work righteousness. Surely, there have been many dispensations before you, then go about in the earth and observe how evil was the end of those who rejected them. This Quran is an exposition for the people and a guidance and admonition for the God-fearing. (131-139)

Do not slacken, therefore, nor grieve; you will have the upper hand, if you continue firm in the faith. If you should receive an injury, they will have received a like injury; and We cause these days, with their ups and downs, to alternate between the people that they may be admonished, and that Allah may cause to be known those who believe and may make some of you martyrs, and that Allah may purify those who believe and may utterly destroy the disbelievers. Allah loves not the unjust. Do you reckon that you will enter Paradise while Allah has not yet caused to be known those of you that strive hard in the cause of Allah and has not yet caused to be known the steadfast?

You used to wish for this type of death before you met it; now that you have encountered it in all its aspects, there is no cause for any of you to hold back. (140-144)

Muhammad is but a Messenger; of a surety, all Messengers before him have passed away. If then, he die or be slain, will you turn back on your heels? He who turns back on his heels shall not harm Allah a whit. Allah will certainly reward the grateful. No one can die except by Allah's leave, that is a decree with a fixed term. Whoever desires the reward of this world, We will give him thereof; and whoever desires the reward of the Hereafter We will give him thereof, and We will surely reward the grateful richly. (145-146)

Many Prophets have there been along with whom large numbers of their followers went into battle. They slackened not for aught that befell them in the way of Allah, nor did they weaken or humiliate themselves before the enemy. Allah loves the steadfast. They uttered no word except the prayer: Lord, forgive us our sins and our excesses in our affairs, and make firm our steps and help us against the disbelieving people. So Allah bestowed upon them the reward of this world, as also the best reward of the Hereafter. Allah loves those who do their duty to the utmost. (147-149)

O ye who believe, if you obey those who have disbelieved, they will cause you to revert to disbelief and you will become losers. Indeed, Allah is your Protector and He is the Best of helpers. We shall strike terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved because they associate partners with Allah, for which He has sent down no authority. Their abode is the Pire, and evil is the habitation of the wrongdoers. (150-152)

Allah surely made good to you His promise on the day of Uhud when you were slaying and destroying them by His leave. Then, when, after He had shown you what you desired and victory was within your grasp, you became lax and disagreed among yourselves concerning the Prophet's direction and disobeyed it. He withdrew His support from you. Some of you desired the goods of this world and some of you desired the Hereafter. Then He safeguarded you against the attack of the enemy that He might try you, having pardoned you, and Allah is Gracious to the believers. You were running away and looked not back at anyone, while the Messenger called to you from the rear. Then He inflicted upon you the sorrow of defeat as an expiation to lighten the burden of your sorrow over having disobeyed the Prophet's order, that you might not grieve over that which you had missed nor over what had befallen you. Allah is well aware of what you do. (153-154)

Then, after the sorrow, He sent down peace of mind upon you in the shape of a slumber that overcame a party of you. But there was another party who were anxious only concerning their own selves, they entertained false notions concerning Allah like the notions of the days of Ignorance. They muttered: Have we any say in matters of administration Tell them: All government belongs to Allah. They conceal that in their minds which they disclose not to thee. They say: Had we any say in matters of administration, we would not have been slaughtered here. Say to them: Had you remained in your homes, surely those on whom fighting had been enjoined would have issued forth to the stations where they were to die. Thus would Allah's decree have been carried out. Allah desired to test your secret thoughts and to purge that which was in your minds. Allah knows well that which passes through your minds. (155)

Those of you who turned their backs on the day when the two hosts met at Uhud, were sought to be made to slip by Satan, in consequence of some of their doings. Allah has, however, granted them pardon. Verily, Allah is Most Forgiving, Forbearing. (156)

O ye who believe, be not like those who have disbelieved and who say of their brethren, when they go about in the land or go forth to war, in the cause of Allah:

Had they bided with us they would not have died or been slain. Allah will make this a cause of regret in their hearts. It is Allah who gives life and causes death. Allah sees well what you do. If you are slain or you die in the cause of Allah, surely Allah's forgiveness and mercy are far better than that which they hoard. If you die or be slain surely it is Allah unto Whom you shall be gathered together. (157-150)

It is by the great mercy of Allah that thou art gentle with them, for if thou hadst been rough and hard-hearted they would surely have dispersed from around thee. So bear with them and pray for forgiveness for them and take counsel with them in matters of administration. Then when thou hast made up thy mind concerning a matter, put thy trust in Allah. Surely Allah loves those who put their trust in Him. If Allah help you, none shall prevail against you; but if He forsake you, then who is it that can help you beside Him? It is in Allah that the believers should put their trust. (160-161)

It behoves not a Prophet to act dishonestly, and whoever acts dishonestly shall disclose that concerning which he shall have been dishonest on the Day of Judgment. Then shall every one be paid in full that which he has earned; and they shall not be wronged. Can be who follows the pleasure of Allah, be like him who draws on himself the wrath of Allah, and whose abode is hell? An evil retreat it is!

Each of them has his standing in the sight of Allah, and Allah sees well what they do. (162-164)

Indeed, Allah has conferred a great favour on the believers by raising among them a Messenger from among themselves, who recites to them His Signs, and purifies them and teaches them the Book and Wisdom. Before that they were surely in manifest error. (165)

Is it not that whenever a misfortune befalls you, though you may have inflicted upon the enemy twice as much, you say: Whence is this? Say to them: It is from your own selves. Surely, Allah has power over all things. That which befell you, on the day when the two hosts met at Uhud, was by Allah's command, that He might distinguish between the believers and the hypocrites. It was said to the hypocrites: Come, fight in the cause of Allah and repel the enemy. They countered: If we knew how to fight, we would surely go forth with you. They were that day nearer to disbelief than to belief. They utter through their mouths that which is not in their hearts. Allah knows well that which they conceal. These are those who said of their brethren, while they themselves remained behind: Had they listened to us, they would not have been slain. Say to them: Then avert death from your own selves; if you are truthful. (166-169)

Do not account those who are slain in the cause of Allah, as dead. Indeed, they are living in the presence of their Lord and are provided for. They are jubilant over that which Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty, and rejoice for those who have not yet joined them out of such as they left behind, because on them shall come no fear, nor shall they grieve. They rejoice at the favour of Allah and His bounty, and at the realisation that Allah suffers not the reward of the faithful to be lost. (170-172)

Those who responded to the call of Allah and the Messenger despite their having received an injury, for such of them as perform their duty in all respects and act righteously there is a great reward; those who were told: People have mustered against you, so fear them; but this only added to their faith and they affirmed:

Sufficient for us is Allah, and an excellent Guardian is He. So they returned with a mighty favour from Allah and a great bounty, having suffered no harm; they followed the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is the Lord of great bounty. It is Satan who seeks to frighten his friends; so fear them not and fear Me, if you are believers. (173-176)

Let not those who advance rapidly into disbelief cause thee concern; surely they cannot harm Allah in any way. Allah designs to assign them no portion in the Hereafter; and for them there is a severe chastisement. Those who have chosen disbelief in place of belief cannot harm Allah at all; for them is a grievous punishment. Let not the disbelievers imagine that Our granting them respite is good for them; Our granting them respite will only cause them to increase in disobedience, and for them is an humiliating punishment. (177-179)

Allah would not leave the believers in the state in which you are at present, until He separates the wicked from the good. Nor would Allah reveal to you the unseen. But Allah chooses of His Messengers whom He pleases and vouchsafes to them the knowledge of the unseen. Believe, therefore, in Allah and His Messengers. If you believe and are righteous, you shall have a great reward. (180)

Let not those who are niggardly of that which Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty imagine that it is good for them. Indeed, it is evil for them. That of which they are niggardly shall be twisted as a collar round their necks on the Day of Judgment. To Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. Allah is well aware of that which you do. Surely, Allah has heard the utterance of those who have said: Allah is needy and we are rich. We shall record what they have said and also their seeking to kill the Prophets without just cause, and We shall say to them: Suffer the torment of burning. This is the recompense of that which you have wrought. The truth is that Allah does not wrong His servants. (181-183)

To those who say: Allah has charged us not to believe in any Messenger unless he enjoins a burnt offering; do thou make answer: There have already come to you Messengers before me with clear Signs, and with that which you speak of, then why did you seek to kill them, if you are truthful? Then, if they call thee false, even so were called false Messengers before thee who came with clear Signs, Scriptures and shining commandments. (184-185)

Every one shall suffer death, and you shall be paid your full recompense on the Day of Judgment. He who is kept away from the Fire and is admitted to Paradise, has indeed attained felicity. The life of this world is but an illusory enjoyment. (186)

You will surely be tried in respect of your possessions and your persons and you shall surely hear many hurtful things from those who were given the Book before you and from those who set up partners with Allah, but if you show fortitude and restrain yourselves, that indeed is a matter of strong determination. (187)

Call to mind when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Book: You shall make it known to the people and shall not conceal it; yet they threw it away behind their backs, and bartered it for a paltry price. Evil is that which they have taken in exchange for it. Imagine not that those who exult in their deeds, and love to be eulogised for that which they have not done, that they are secure from punishment. They shall suffer a chastisement. To Allah belongs kingdom of the heavens and the earth; and Allah has power over all things. (188-190)

In the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of the night and the day there are indeed Signs for people of understanding, who remember Allah standing, sitting and lying on their sides and ponder over the creation of the heavens and the earth, which impels them to supplicate: Lord, Thou hast not created all this without purpose. Holy art Thou; shield us then from the torment of the Fire. Lord, him whom Thou dost condemn to enter the Fire hast Thou surely humiliated, and for the transgressors there is no helper. Lord, we have heard a Caller calling unto faith: Believe ye in your Lord; and we have believed. Lord, forgive us, therefore, our errors and remove from us our ills, and in death number us with the righteous.

Lord, grant us that which Thou hast promised us through Thy Messengers and humiliate us not on the Day of Judgment, surely Thou doest not contrary to Thy promise. Their Lord would answer their supplication: I will not suffer the labour of any labourer from among you, male or female, to perish. You are spiritually akin one to another. Those, therefore, who have emigrated and have been driven forth from their homes and have been persecuted in My cause, and have fought and have been slain, from them will surely remove their ills and I will admit them to Gardens through which rivers flow -- a reward from Allah, and with Allah is the best reward. (191-196)

Let not the going about of the disbelievers in the land mislead thee. A brief respite, and then hell shall be their abode. What an evil resting place! (197-198)

But those who make their Lord their shield shall have Gardens through which rivers flow; therein shall they abide -- an entertainment from Allah. That which is with Allah is even better for the righteous. (199)

Among the People of the Book there are some who believe in Allah and in that which has been sent down to you and in that which was sent down to them, humbling themselves before Allah. They barter not the Signs of Allah for a paltry price. It is these who shall have their reward with Allah. Surely, Allah is Swift at reckoning. (200)

O ye who believe, be steadfast and strive to excel in steadfastness and be on your guard and be mindful of your duty to Allah that you may prosper. (201)

---

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful.

O mankind, be mindful of your duty to your Lord, Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from the two created and spread many men and women; and be mindful of your duty to Allah in Whose name you appeal to one another, and of your obligations in respect of ties of kinship. Verily, Allah watches over you. (2)

Hand over their property to the orphans and do not exchange the bad for the good, and do not devour their property mixing it with your own. Surely, that is a great sin. (3)

Should you apprehend that you will not he able to deal fairly with orphans, then marry of other women as may be agreeable to you, two or three, or four; but if you feel you will not deal justly between them, then marry only one, or, out of those over whom you have authority. That is the best way for you to obviate injustice. Hand over to the women their dowers freely; but if they, of their own pleasure, should remit to you a part thereof, then enjoy it as a thing agreeable and wholesome. (4-5)

Hand not over to those of immature mind your property which Allah has made a means of support for you; but make provision for them out of it and give them good advice. Check up on the orphans till they attain the age of marriage; then if you find them sensible hand over their property to them, and consume it not in extravagance and haste against their growing up. Whoso is rich let him abstain altogether; and whoso is poor, let him make use of as much as is fair. When you hand over their property to them, call witnesses in their presence. Allah is Sufficient as a Reckoner. (6-7)

For men, as well as for women, there is a share in that which parents and near relations leave, whether it be little or much, a share which has been determined by Allah. At the time of the division of the inheritance, if there are present other relations and orphans and the needy, give them also something out of it and speak to them graciously. Those who would be anxious if they should leave behind them helpless offspring, should be mindful of their obligation to Allah in respect of orphans and should speak and act in a straightforward manner. Surely, those who eat up the property of orphans unjustly, only swallow fire into their bellies and shall enter a blazing fire. (8-11)

Allah commands you concerning your children as follows: the share of a male is as much as the share of two females: but if there are only females, two or more, they shall have two-thirds of what the deceased sh