The Qur'an/Source/Suras 10 through 28

SURA 10. YUNUS (JONAH)

1. Alif. Lam. Ra. These are verses of the Wise Scripture.

2. Is it a wonder for mankind that We have inspired a man among them, saying:

Warn mankind and bring unto those who believe the good tidings that they have asure footing with their Lord? The disbelievers say: Lo! this is a mere wizard.

3. Lo! your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days,

then He established Himself upon the Throne, directing all things. There is nointercessor [with Him] save after His permission. That is Allah, your Lord, soworship Him. Oh, will ye not remind?

4. Unto Him is the return of all of you; it is a promise of Allah in truth. Lo!

He produceth creation, then reproduceth it, that He may reward those who believeand do good works with equity; while, as for those who disbelieve, theirs willbe a boiling drink and painful doom because they disbelieved.

5. He it is Who appointed the sun a splendour and the moon a light, and measuredfor her stages, that ye might know the number of the years, and the reckoning.

Al lah created not [all] that save in truth. He detaileth the revelations forpeople who have knowledge.

6. Lo! in the difference of day and night and all that Allah hath created in theheavens and the earth are portents, verily, for folk who ward off [evil].

7. Lo! those who expect not the meeting with Us but desire the life of the worldand feel secure therein, and those who are neglectful of Our revelations,

8. Their home will be the Fire because of what they used to earn.

9. Lo! those who believe and do good works, their Lord guideth them by theirfaith. Rivers will flow beneath them in the Gardens of Delight,

10. Their prayer therein will be: Glory be to Thee, O Allah! and their greetingtherein will be: Peace. And the conclusion of their prayer will be: Praise be toAllah, Lord of the Worlds!

11. If Allah were to hasten on for men the ill [that they have earned] as theywould hasten on the good, their respite would already have expired. But Wesuffer those who look not for the meeting with Us to wander blindly on in theircontumacy.

12. And if misfortune touch a man he crieth unto Us, [while reclining] on hisside, or sitting or standing, but when We have relieved him of the misfortune hegoeth his way as though he had not cried unto Us because of a misf ortune thatafflicted him. Thus is what they do made [seeming] fair unto the prodigal.

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13. We destroyed the generations before you when they did wrong; and theirmessengers [from Allah] came unto them with clear proofs [of His Sovereignty]

but they would not believe. Thus do We reward the guilty folk.

14. Then We appointed you viceroys in the earth after them, that We might seehow ye behave.

15. And when Our clear revelations are recited unto them, they who look not forthe meeting with Us s ay: Bring a Lecture other than this, or change it. Say [OMuhammad]: It is not for me to change it of my accord. I only follow that whichis inspired in me. Lo! if I disobey my Lord I fear the retribution of an awfulDay.

16. Say: If Allah had so willed I s hould not have recited it to you nor would Hehave made it known to you. I dwelt among you a whole lifetime before it [came tome]. Have ye then no sense?

17. Who doeth greater wrong than he who inventeth a lie concerning Allah anddenieth His revelations? Lo! the guilty never are successful.

18. They worship beside Allah that which neither hurteth them nor profiteththem, and they say: These are our intercessors with Allah. Say: Would ye informAllah of [something] that He knoweth not in the heavens or in t he earth? Praisedbe He and High Exalted above all that ye associate [with Him]!

19. Mankind were but one community; then they differed; and had it not been fora word that had already gone forth from thy Lord it had been judged between themin respect of that wherein they differ.

20. And they will say: If only a portent were sent down upon him from his Lord!

Then say, [O Muhammad]: The Unseen belongeth to Allah. So wait! Lo! I am waitingwith you.

21. And when We cause mankind to taste of mercy after some adversity which hadafflicted them, behold! they have some plot against Our revelations. Say: Allahis more swift in plotting. Lo! Our messengers write down that which ye plot.

22. He it is Who maketh you to go on the land and the sea till, when ye are inthe ships and they sail with them with a fair breeze and they are glad therein,

a storm-wind reacheth them and the wave cometh unto them from every side andthey deem that they are overwhelmed therein; [then] they cry unto Allah, makingtheir faith pure f or Him only: If Thou deliver us from this, we truly will be ofthe thankful.

23. Yet when He hath delivered them, behold! they rebel in the earth wrongfully.

O mankind! Your rebellion is only against yourselves. [Ye have] enjoyment of thelife of the worl d; then unto Us is your return and We shall proclaim unto youwhat ye used to do.

24. The similitude of the life of the world is only as water which We send downfrom the sky, then the earth's growth of that which men and cattle eat minglethwith it till, when the earth hath taken on her ornaments and is embellished, andher people deem that they are masters of her, Our commandment cometh by night orby day and We make it as reaped corn as if it had not flourished yesterday. Thusdo we expound the revelations for people who reflect.

25. And Allah summoneth to the abode of peace, and leadeth whom He will to astraight path.

26. For those who do good is the best [reward] and more [thereto]. Neither dustnor ignominy cometh near their faces. Such are rightful own ers of the Garden;

they will abide therein.

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27. And those who earn ill-deeds, [for them] requital of each ill-deed by thelike thereof; and ignominy overtaketh them - They have no protector from Allah -

as if their faces had been covered with a cloak of darkest night. Such arerightful owners of the Fire; they will abide therein.

28. On the day when We gather them all together, then We say unto those whoascribed partners [unto Us]: Stand back, ye and your [pretended] partners [ofAllah]! And We separate them, the one from the other, and their [pretended]

partners say: It was not us ye worshipped.

29. Allah sufficeth as a witness between us and you, that we were unaware ofyour worship.

30. There doth every soul experience that which it did aforetime, and they arereturned unto Allah, their rightful Lord, and that which they used to inventhath failed them.

31. Say [unto them, O Muhammad]: Who provideth for you from the sky and theearth, or Who owneth hearing and sight; and Who bringeth fort h the living fromthe dead and bringeth forth the dead from the living; and Who directeth thecourse? They will say: Allah. Then say: Will ye not then keep your duty [untoHim]?

32. Such then is Allah, your rightful Lord. After the Truth what is there savingerror? How then are ye turned away!

33. Thus is the Word of thy Lord justified concerning those who do wrong: thatthey believe not.

34. Say: Is there of your partners [whom ye ascribe unto Allah] one thatproduceth Creation and then reproduceth it? Say : Allah produceth Creation, thenreproduceth it. How then, are ye misled!

35. Say: Is there of your partners [whom ye ascribe unto Allah] one that leadethto the Truth? Say: Allah leadeth to the Truth. Is He Who leadeth to the Truthmore deserving that He s hould be followed, or he who findeth not the way unlesshe [himself] be guided. What aileth you? How judge ye?

36. Most of them follow not but conjecture. Assuredly conjecture can by no meanstake the place of truth. Lo! Allah is Aware of what they do.

37. And this Qur'an is not such as could ever be invented in despite of Allah;

but it is a confirmation of that which was before it and an exposition of thatwhich is decreed for mankind - Therein is no doubt - from the Lord of the

Worlds.

38. Or say th ey: He hath invented it? Say: Then bring a surah like unto it, andcall [for help] on all ye can besides Allah, if ye are truthful.

39. Nay, but they denied that, the knowledge whereof they could not compass, andwhereof the interpretation [in events] hath not yet come unto them. Even so didthose before them deny. Then see what was the consequence for the wrong-doers!

40. And of them is he who believeth therein, and of them is he who believeth nottherein, and thy Lord is Best Aware of the corrupters.

41. And if they deny thee, say: Unto me my work, and unto you your work. Ye areinnocent of what I do, and I am innocent of what ye do.

42. And of them are some who listen unto thee. But canst thou make the deaf to

hear even though they apprehend not?

43. And of them is he who looketh toward thee. But canst thou guide the blindeven though they see not?

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44. Lo! Allah wrongeth not mankind in aught; but mankind wrong themselves.

45. And on the day when He shall gather them together, [when it will seem] asthough they had tarried but an hour of the day, recognising one another, thosewill verily have perished who denied the meeting with Allah and were not guided.

46. Whether We let thee [O Muhammad] behold something of that which We promisethe m or [whether We] cause thee to die, still unto Us is their return, andAllah, moreover, is Witness over what they do.

47. And for every nation there is a messenger. And when their messenger cometh[on the Day of Judgment] it will be judged between them fa irly, and they willnot be wronged.

48. And they say: When will this promise be fulfilled, if ye are truthful?

49. Say: I have no power to hurt or benefit myself, save that which Allahwilleth. For every nation there is an appointed time. When their time cometh,

then they cannot put it off an hour, nor hasten [it].

50. Say: Have ye thought: When His doom cometh unto you as a raid by night, orin the [busy] day; what is there of it that the guilty ones desire to hasten?

51. Is it [only] then, when it h ath befallen you, that ye will believe? What!

[Believe] now, when [until now] ye have been hastening it on [throughdisbelief]?

52. Then will it be said unto those who dealt unjustly Taste the torment ofeternity. Are ye requited aught save what ye used to earn?

53. And they ask thee to inform them [saying]: Is it true? Say: Yea, by my Lord,

verily it is true, and ye cannot escape.

54. And if each soul that doeth wrong had all that is in the earth it would seekto ransom itself therewith; and they will feel remorse within them, when theysee the doom. But it hath been judged between them fairly and they are notwronged.

55. Lo! verily all that is in the heavens and the earth is Allah's. Lo! verilyAllah's promise is true. But most of them know not.

56. He quickeneth and giveth death, and unto Him ye will be returned.

57. O mankind! There hath come unto you an exhortation from your Lord, a balmfor that which is in the breasts, a guidance and a mercy for believers.

58. Say: In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy: therein let them rejoice. Itis better than what they hoard.

59. Say: Have ye considered what provision Allah hath sent down for you, how yehave made of it lawful and unlawful? Hath Allah permitted you, or do ye invent alie concerning Allah?

60. And what think those who invent a lie concerning Allah [will be theirplight] upon the Day of Resurrection? Lo! Allah truly is Bountiful towardmankind, but most of them give not thanks.

61. And thou [Muhammad] art not occupied with any business and thou recitest nota Lecture from this [Scripture], and ye [mankind] perform no act, but We areWitness of you when ye are engaged therein. And not an atom's weight in theearth or in the sky escapeth your Lord, nor what is less than that or greaterthan that, but it is [written] in a clear Book.

62. Lo! verily the friends of Allah are [those] on whom fear [cometh] not, nordo they grieve?

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63. Those who believe and keep their duty [to Allah].

64. Theirs are good tidings in the life of the world and in the Hereafter -

There is no changing the Words of Allah - that is the Supreme Triumph.

65. And let not their speech grieve thee [O Muhammad]. Lo! power belongethwholly to Allah. He is the Hearer, the Knower.

66. Lo! is it not unto Allah that b elongeth whosoever is in the heavens andwhosoever is in the earth? Those who follow aught instead of Allah follow not[His] partners. They follow only a conjecture, and they do but guess.

67. He it is Who hath appointed for you the night that ye should rest thereinand the day giving sight. Lo! herein verily are portents for a folk that heed.

68. They say: Allah hath taken [unto Him] a son - Glorified be He! He hath noneeds! His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. Ye have

no warrant for this. Tell ye concerning Allah that which ye know not?

69. Say: Verily those who invent a lie concerning Allah will not succeed.

70. This world's portion [will be theirs], then unto Us is their return. Then Wemake them taste a dreadful doom bec ause they used to disbelieve.

71. Recite unto them the story of Noah, when he told his people: O my people! Ifmy sojourn [here] and my reminding you by Allah's revelations are an offenceunto you, in Allah have I put my trust, so decide upon your course o f action youand your partners. Let not your course of action be in doubt for you. Then haveat me, give me no respite.

72. But if ye are averse I have asked of you no wage. My wage is the concern ofAllah only, and I am commanded to be of those who surrend er [unto Him].

73. But they denied him, so We saved him and those with him in the ship, andmade them viceroys [in the earth], while We drowned those who denied Ourrevelations. See then the nature of the consequence for those who had beenwarned.

74. Then, after him, We sent messengers unto their folk, and they brought themclear proofs. But they were not ready to believe in that which they beforedenied. Thus print We on the hearts of the transgressors.

75. Then, after them, We sent Moses and Aaron unto Pharaoh and his chiefs withOur revelations, but they were arrogant and were a guilty folk.

76. And when the Truth from Our presence came unto them, they said: Lo! this ismere magic.

77. Moses said: Speak ye [so] of the Truth when it hath come unto you? Is thismagic? Now magicians thrive not.

78. They said: Hast thou come unto us to pervert us from that [faith] in whichwe found our fathers, and that you two may own the place of greatness in theland? We will not believe you two.

79. And Pharaoh said: Bring every cunning wizard unto me.

80. And when the wizards came, Moses said unto them: Cast your cast!

81. And when they had cast, Moses said: That which ye have brought is magic. Lo!

Allah will make it vain. Lo! Allah upholdeth not the work of mischief-makers.

82. And Allah will vindicate the Truth by His words, however much the guilty beaverse.

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83. But none trusted Moses, save some scions of his people, [and they were] infear of Pharaoh and their chiefs, that he would persecute them. Lo! Pharaoh wasverily a tyrant in the land, and lo! he verily was of the wanton.

84. And Moses said: O my people! If ye have believed in Allah then put trust inHim, if ye have indeed surrendered [unto Him]!

85. They said: In Allah we put trust. Our Lord! Oh, make us not a lure for thewrongdoing folk;

86. And, of Thy mercy, save us from the folk that disbelieve.

87. And We inspired Moses and his brother, [saying]: Appoint houses for yourpeople in Egypt and make your houses oratories, and establish worship. And givegood news to the believers.

88. And Moses said: Our Lord! Lo! Thou hast given Pharaoh and his chiefssplendour and riches in the life of the world, Our Lord! that they may lead menastray from Thy way. Our Lord! Destroy their riches and harden their hearts sothat they believe not till they see the painful doom.

89. He said: Your prayer is heard. Do ye twain keep to the straight path, andfollow not the road of those who have no knowledge.

90. And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh with hishosts pursued them in rebellion and transgression, till, when the [fate of]

drowning overtook him, he exclaimed: I believe that there is no Allah save Himin Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of those who surrender [untoHim].

91. What! Now! When hitherto thou hast rebelled and been of the wrong-doers?

92. But this day We save thee in thy body that thou mayst be a portent for thoseafter thee. Lo! most of mankind are heedless of Our portents.

93. And We verily did allot unto the Children of Israel a fixed abode, and didprovide them with good things; and they differed not until the knowledge cameunto them. Lo! thy Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrectionconcerning that wherein they used to differ.

94. And if thou [Muhammad] art in doubt concerning that which We reveal untothee, then question those who read the Scripture [that was] before thee. Verilythe Truth from thy Lord hath come unto thee. So be not thou of the waverers.

95. And be not thou of those who deny the revelations of Allah, for then wertthou of the losers.

96. Lo! those for whom the word of thy Lord [concerning sinners] hath effectwill not believe,

97. Though every token come unto them, till they see the painful doom.

98. If onl y there had been a community [of all those that were destroyed of old]

that believed and profited by its belief as did the folk of Jonah! When theybelieved We drew off from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the worldand gave them comfort for a while.

99. And if thy Lord willed, all who are in the earth would have believedtogether. Wouldst thou [Muhammad] compel men until they are believers?

100. It is not for any soul to believe save by the permission of Allah. He hathset uncleanness upon those who have no sense.

101. Say: Behold what is in the heavens and the earth! But revelations andwarnings avail not folk who will not believe.

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102. What expect they save the like of the days of those who passed away beforethem? Say: Expect then! I am with you among the expectant.

103. Then shall We save Our messengers and the believers, in like manner [as ofold]. It is incumbent upon Us to save believers.

104. Say [O Muhammad]: O mankind! If ye are in doubt of my religion, then [knowthat] I worship not those whom ye worship instead of Allah, but I worship AllahWho causeth you to die, and I have been commanded to be of the believers.

105. And, [O Muhammad] set thy purpose resolutely for religion, as a man bynature upright, and be not of t hose who ascribe partners [to Allah].

106. And cry not, beside Allah, unto that which cannot profit thee nor hurtthee, for if thou didst so then wert thou of the wrong-doers.

107. If Allah afflicteth thee with some hurt, there is none who can remove itsave Him; and if He desireth good for thee, there is none who can repel Hisbounty. He striketh with it whom He will of his bondmen. He is the Forgiving,

the Merciful.

108. Say: O mankind! Now hath the Truth from your Lord come unto you. Sowhosoever is g uided, is guided only for [the good of] his soul, and whosoevererreth erreth only against it. And I am not a warder over you.

109. And [O Muhammad] follow that which is inspired in thee, and forbear untilAllah give judgment. And He is the Best of Judges.

SURA 11. HUD (HUD)

1. Alif. Lam. Ra. [This is] a Scripture the revelations whereof are perfectedand then expounded. [It cometh] from One Wise, Informed,

2. [Saying]: Serve none but Allah. Lo! I am unto you from Him a warner and abringer of good ti dings.

3. And [bidding you]: Ask pardon of your Lord and turn to Him repentant. He willcause you to enjoy a fair estate until a time appointed. He giveth His bountyunto every bountiful one. But if ye turn away, lo! [then] I fear for you theretribution of an awful Day.

4. Unto Allah is your return, and He is Able to do all things.

5. Lo! now they fold up their breasts that they may hide [their thoughts] fromHim. At the very moment when they cover themselves with their clothing, Allahknoweth that which they keep hidden and that which they proclaim. Lo! He isAware of what is in the breasts [of men].

6. And there is not a beast in the earth but the sustenance thereof dependeth onAllah. He knoweth its habitation and its repository. All is in a clear Record.

7. And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days - and HisThrone was upon the water - that He might try you, which of you is best inconduct. Yet if thou [O Muhammad] sayest: Lo! ye will be raised again afterdeath! those who disbelieve will surely say: This is naught but mere magic.

8. And if We delay for them the doom until a reckoned time, they will surelysay: What withholdeth it? Verily on the day when it cometh unto them, it cannotbe averted from them, and that which they derided will surround them.

9. And if we cause man to taste some mercy from Us and afterward withdraw itfrom him, lo! he is despairing, thankless.

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10. And if We cause him to taste grace after some misfortune that had befallenhim, he saith: The ills have gone from me. Lo! he is exultant, boastful;

11. Save those who persevere and do good works. Theirs will be forgiveness and agreat reward.

12. A likely thing, that thou wouldst forsake aught of that which hath beenrevealed unto thee, and that thy breast should be straitened for it, becausethey say: Why hath not a treasure been sent down for him, or an angel come withhim? Thou art but a warner, and Allah is in charge of all things.

13. Or they say: He hath invented it. Say: Then bring ten surahs, the likethereof, invented, and call on everyone ye can beside Allah, if ye are truthful!

14. And if they answer not your prayer, then know that it is revealed only inthe knowledge of Allah; and that there is no Allah save Him. Will ye then be[of] those w ho surrender?

15. Whoso desireth the life of the world and its pomp, We shall repay them theirdeeds herein, and therein they will not be wronged.

16. Those are they for whom is naught in the Hereafter save the Fire. [All] thatthey contrive here is vain and [all] that they are wont to do is fruitless.

17. Is he [to be counted equal with them] who relieth on a clear proof from hisLord, and a witness from Him reciteth it, and before it was the Book of Moses,

an example and a mercy? Such believe therein, and whoso disbelieveth therein ofthe clans, the Fire is his appointed place. So be not thou in doubt concerningit. Lo! it is the Truth from thy Lord; but most of mankind believe not.

18. Who doeth greater wrong than he who inventeth a lie concerning Allah? Suchwill be brought before their Lord, and the witnesses will say: These are theywho lied concerning their Lord. Now the curse of Allah is upon wrong-doers,

19. Who debar [men] from the way of Allah and would have it crooked, and who aredisbelievers in the Hereafter.

20. Such will not escape in the earth, nor have they any protecting friendsbeside Allah. For them the torment will be double. They could not bear to hear,

and they used not to see.

21. Such are they who have lost their souls, and that which they used to inventhath failed them.

22. Assuredly in the Hereafter they will be the greatest losers.

23. Lo! those who believe and do good works and humble themselves before theirLord: such are rightful owners of the Garden; they will abide therein.

24. The similitude of the two parties is as the blind and the deaf and the seerand the hearer. Are they equal in similitude? Will ye not then be admonished?

25. And We sent Noah unto his folk [and he said]: Lo! I am a plain warner untoyou.

26. That ye serve none, save Allah. Lo! I fear for you the retribution of apainful Day.

27. The chieftains of his folk, who disbelieved, said: We see thee but a mortallike us, and we see not that any follow thee save the most abject among us,

without reflection. We behold in you no merit above us - nay, we deem you liars.

28. He said: O my people! Bethink you, if I rely on a clear proof from my Lordand there hath come unto me a mercy from His presence, and it hath been madeobscure to you, can we compel you to accept it when ye are averse thereto?

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29. And O my people! I ask of you no wealth therefor. My reward is the concernonly of Allah, and I am not going to thrust away those who believe - Lo! theyhave to meet their Lord! - but I see you a folk that are ignorant.

30. And, O my people! who would deliver me from Allah if I thrust them away?

Will ye not then reflect?

31. I say not unto you: "I have the treasures of Allah" nor "I have knowledge ofthe Unseen," nor say I: "Lo! I am an angel!" Nor say I unto those whom your eyesscorn that Allah will not give them good - Allah knoweth best what is in theirhearts - Lo! then indeed I should be of the wrong-doers.

32. They said: O Noah! Thou hast disputed with us and multiplied disputationwith us; now bring upon us that wherewith thou threatenest us, if thou art ofthe truthful.

33. He said: Only Allah will bring it upon you if He will, and ye can by nomeans escape.

34. My counsel will not profit you if I were minded to advise you, if Allah'swill is to keep you astray. He is your Lord and unto Him ye will be broughtback.

35. Or say they [again]: He hath invented it? Say: If I have invented it, uponme be my crimes, but I am innocent of [all] that ye commit.

36. And it was inspired in Noah, [sa ying]: No-one of thy folk will believe savehim who hath believed already. Be not distressed because of what they do.

37. Build the ship under Our eyes and by Our inspiration, and speak not unto Meon behalf of those who do wrong. Lo! they will be drowned.

38. And he was building the ship, and every time that chieftains of his peoplepassed him, they made mock of him. He said: Though ye make mock of Us, yet Wemock at you even as ye mock;

39. And ye shall know to whom a punishment that will confound him cometh, andupon whom a lasting doom will fall.

40. [Thus it was] till, when Our commandment came to pass and the oven gushedforth water, We said: Load therein two of every kind, a pair [the male andfemale], and thy household, save him against whom the wor d hath gone forthalready, and those who believe. And but a few were they who believed with him.

41. And he said: Embark therein! In the name of Allah be its course and its

mooring. Lo! my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.

42. And it sailed with them amid waves like mountains, and Noah cried unto hisson - and he was standing aloof - O my son! Come ride with us, and be not withthe disbelievers.

43. He said: I shall betake me to some mountain that will save me from the

water. [Noah] said: This day there i s none that saveth from the commandment ofAllah save him on whom He hath had mercy. And the wave came in between them, sohe was among the drowned.

44. And it was said: O earth! Swallow thy water and, O sky! be cleared ofclouds! And the water was made to subside. And the commandment was fulfilled.

And it [the ship] came to rest upon [the mount] Al-Judi and it was said: A farremoval for wrongdoing folk!

45. And Noah cried unto his Lord and said: My Lord! Lo! my son is of myhousehold! Surely Thy promise is the truth and Thou are the Most Just of Judges.

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46. He said: O Noah! Lo! he is not of thy household; lo! he is of evil conduct,

so ask not of Me that whereof thou hast no knowledge. I admonish thee lest thoube among the ignorant.

47. He said: My Lord! Lo! in Thee do I seek refuge [from the sin] that I shouldask of Thee that whereof I have no knowledge. Unless Thou forgive me and havemercy on me I shall be among the lost.

48. It was said [unto him]: O Noah! Go thou down [from the mounta in] with peacefrom Us and blessings upon thee and some nations [that will spring] from thosewith thee. [There will be other] nations unto whom We shall give enjoyment along while and then a painful doom from Us will overtake them.

49. This is of the tidi ngs of the Unseen which We inspire in thee [Muhammad].

Thou thyself knewest it not, nor did thy folk [know it] before this. Then havepatience. Lo! the sequel is for those who ward off [evil].

50. And unto [the tribe of] A'ad [We sent] their brother, Hud. He said: O mypeople! Serve Allah! Ye have no other Allah save Him. Lo! ye do but invent.

51. O my people! I ask of you no reward for it. Lo! my reward is the concernonly of Him Who made me. Have ye then no sense?

52. And, O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord, then turn unto Himrepentant; He will cause the sky to rain abundance on you and will add unto youstrength to your strength. Turn not away, guilty!

53. They said: O Hud! Thou hast brought us no clear proof and we are not goingto forsake our gods on thy [mere] saying, and we are not believers in thee.

54. We say naught save that one of our gods hath possessed thee in an evil way.

He said: I call Allah to witness, and do ye [too] bear witness, that I aminnocent of [all] that ye ascribe as p artners [to Allah]

55. Beside Him. So [try to] circumvent me, all of you, give me no respite.

56. Lo! I have put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Not an animal butHe doth grasp it by the forelock! Lo! my Lord is on a straight path.

57. And if ye turn away, still I have conveyed unto you that wherewith I wassent unto you, and my Lord will set in place of you a folk other than you. Yecannot injure Him at all. Lo! my Lord is Guardian over all things.

58. And when Our commandment came to pass We saved Hud and those who believedwith him by a mercy from Us; We saved them from a harsh doom.

59. And such were A'ad. They denied the revelations of their Lord and floutedHis messengers and followed the command of every froward potentate.

60. And a curse was made to follow them in the world and on the Day ofResurrection. Lo! A'ad disbelieved in their Lord. A far removal for A'ad, thefolk of Hud!

61. And unto [the tribe of] Thamud [We sent] their brother Salih. He said: O mypeople! Serve Allah, Ye ha ve no other Allah save Him. He brought you forth fromthe earth and hath made you husband it. So ask forgiveness of Him and turn untoHim repentant. Lo! my Lord is Nigh, Responsive.

62. They said: O Salih! Thou hast been among us hitherto as that wherein ourhope was placed. Dost thou ask us not to worship what our fathers worshipped?

Lo! we verily are in grave doubt concerning that to which thou callest us.

63. He said: O my people! Bethink you: if I am [acting] on clear proof from myLord and there hath come unto me a mercy from Him, who will save me from Allahif I disobey Him? Ye would add to me naught save perdition.

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64. O my people! This is the camel of Allah, a token unto you, so suffer her tofeed in Allah's earth, and touch her not with harm lest a near torment seize

you.

65. But they hamstrung her, and then he said: Enjoy life in your dwelling-placethree days! This is a threat that will not be belied.

66. So, when Our commandment came to pass, We saved Salih, and those whobelieved with him, by a mercy from Us, from the ignominy of that day. Lo, thyLord! He is the Strong, the Mighty.

67. And the [awful] Cry overtook those who did wrong, so that morning found themprostrate in their dwellings,

68. As though they had not dwelt there. Lo! Thamud disbelieved in their Lord. Afar removal for Thamud!

69. And Our messengers cam unto Abraham with good news. They said: Peace! Heanswered: Peace! and delayed not to bring a roasted calf.

70. And when he saw their hands reached not to it, he mistrusted them andconceived a fear of them. They said: Fear not! Lo! we are sent unto the folk ofLot.

71. And his wife, standing by laughed when We gave her good tidings [of thebirth] of Isaac, and, after Isaac, of Jacob.

72. She said: Oh woe is me! Shall I bear a child when I am an old woman, andthis my husband is an old man? Lo! this is a strange thing!

73. They said: Wonderest thou at the commandment of Allah? The mercy of Allahand His blessings be upon you, O people of the house! Lo! He is Owner of Praise,

Owner of Glory!

74. And when the awe departed from Abraham, and the glad news reached him, hepleaded with Us on behalf of the folk of Lot.

75. Lo! Abraham was mild, imploring, penitent.

76. [It was said] O Abraham! Forsake this! Lo! th y Lord's commandment hath goneforth, and lo! there cometh unto them a doom which cannot be repelled.

77. And when Our messengers came unto Lot, he was distressed and knew not how toprotect them. He said: This is a distressful day.

78. And his people ca me unto him, running towards him - and before then theyused to commit abominations - He said: O my people! Here are my daughters! Theyare purer for you. Beware of Allah, and degrade me not in [the person of] myguests. Is there not among you any upright man ?

79. They said: Well thou knowest that we have no right to thy daughters, andwell thou knowest what we want.

80. He said: Would that I had strength to resist you or had some strong support[among you]!

81. [The messengers] said: O Lot! Lo! we are mes sengers of thy Lord; they shallnot reach thee. So travel with thy people in a part of the night, and let notone of you turn round - [all] save thy wife. Lo! that which smiteth them willsmite her [also]. Lo! their tryst is [for] the morning. Is not the morn ing nigh?

82. So when Our commandment came to pass We overthrew [that township] and rainedupon it stones of clay, one after another,

83. Marked with fire in the providence of thy Lord [for the destruction of thewicked]. And they are never far from the wrong-doers.

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84. And unto Midian [We sent] their brother Shu'eyb. He said: O my people! ServeAllah. Ye have no other Allah save Him! And give not short measure and shortweight. Lo! I see you well-to-do, and lo! I fear for you the doom of a b esettingDay.

85. O my people! Give full measure and full weight in justice, and wrong notpeople in respect of their goods. And do not evil in the earth, causingcorruption.

86. That which Allah leaveth with you is better for you if ye are believers; andI am not a keeper over you.

87. They said: O Shu'eyb! Doth thy way of prayer command thee that we shouldforsake that which our fathers [used to] worship, or that we [should leave off]

doing what we will with our own property. Lo! thou art the mild, the guide toright behaviour.

88. He said: O my people! Bethink you: if I am [acting] on a clear proof from myLord and He sustaineth me with fair sustenance from Him [how can I concede aughtto you]? I desire not to do behind your backs that which I ask you no t to do. Idesire naught save reform so far as I am able. My welfare is only in Allah. InHim I trust and unto Him I turn [repentant].

89. And, O my people! Let not the schism with me cause you to sin so that therebefall you that which befell the folk of Noah and the folk of Hud, and the folkof Salih; and the folk of Lot are not far off from you.

90. Ask pardon of your Lord and then turn unto Him [repentant]. Lo! my Lord isMerciful, Loving.

91. They said: O Shu'eyb! We understand not much of that thou tellest, and lo!

we do behold thee weak among us. But for thy family, we should have stoned thee,

for thou art not strong against us.

92. He said: O my people! Is my family more to be honoured by you than Allah?

and ye put Him behind you, neglected! Lo! my Lord surroundeth what ye do.

93. And, O my people! Act according to your power, lo! I [too] am acting. Yewill soon know on whom there cometh a doom that will abase him, and who it isthat lieth. And watch! Lo! I am a watcher with you.

94. And when Our commandment came to pass We saved Shu'eyb and those whobelieved with him by a mercy from Us; and the [Awful] Cry seized those who didinjustice, and morning found them prostrate in their dwellings,

95. As though they had not dwelt there. A far removal for Midian, even as Thamudhad been removed afar!

96. And verily We sent Moses with Our revelations and a clear warrant

97. Unto Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they did follow the command of Pharaoh, andthe command of Pharaoh was no right guide.

98. He will go before his people on the Day of Resurrection and will lead themto the Fire for watering-place. Ah, hapless is the watering-place [whither theyare] led.

99. A curse is made to follow them in the world and on the Day of Resurrection.

Hapless is th e gift [that will be] given [them].

100. That is [something] of the tidings of the townships [which were destroyedof old]. We relate it unto thee [Muhammad]. Some of them are standing and some[already] reaped.

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101. We wronged them not, but they did wrong themselves; and their gods on whomthey call beside Allah availed them naught when came thy Lord's command; theyadded to them naught save ruin.

102. Even thus is the grasp of thy Lord when He graspeth the townships whilethey are doing wrong. Lo! His grasp is painful, very strong.

103. Lo! herein verily there is a portent for those who fear the doom of theHereafter. That is a day unto which mankind will be gathered, and that is a daythat will be witnessed.

104. And We defer it only to a term already reckoned.

105. On the day when it cometh no soul will speak except by His permission; someamong them will be wretched, [others] glad.

106. As for those who will be wretched [on that day] they will be in the Fire;

sighing and wailing will be their portion therein,

107. Abiding there so long as the heavens and the earth endure save for thatwhich thy Lord willeth. Lo! thy Lord is Doer of what He will.

108. And as for those who will be glad [that day] they will be in the Garden,

abiding there so long as the heavens and the earth endure save for that whichthy Lord willeth: a gift unfailing.

109. So be not thou in doubt concerning that which these [folk] worship. Theyworship only as their fathers worshipped aforetime. Lo! we shall pay them theirwhole due unabated.

110. And we verily gave unto Moses the Scripture, and there was strifethereupon; and had it not been for a Word that had already gone forth from thyLord, the case would have been judged between them, and lo! they are in gravedoubt concerning it.

111. And lo! unto each thy Lord will verily repay his works in full. Lo! He isInformed of what they do.

112. So tread thou the straight path as thou art commanded, and those who turn[unto Allah] with thee, and transgress not. Lo! He i s Seer of what ye do.

113. And incline not toward those who do wrong lest the Fire touch you, and yehave no protecting friends against Allah, and afterward ye would not be helped.

114. Establish worship at the two ends of the day and in some watches of thenight. Lo! good deeds annul ill-deeds. This is reminder for the mindful.

115. And have patience, [O Muhammad], for lo! Allah loseth not the wages of thegood.

116. If only there had been among the generations before you men possessing aremnant [of g ood sense] to warn [their people] from corruption in the earth, asdid a few of those whom We saved from them! The wrong-doers followed that bywhich they were made sapless, and were guilty.

117. In truth thy Lord destroyed not the townships tyrannously while their folkwere doing right.

118. And if thy Lord had willed, He verily would have made mankind one nation,

yet they cease not differing,

119. Save him on whom thy Lord hath mercy; and for that He did create them. Andthe Word of thy Lord hath been fulfilled: Verily I shall fill hell with the jinnand mankind together.

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120. And all that We relate unto thee of the story of the messengers is in orderthat thereby We may make firm thy heart. And herein hath come unto thee theTruth and an exhortation and a reminder for believers.

121. And say unto those who believe not: Act according to your power. Lo! We[too] are acting.

122. And wait! Lo! We [too] are waiting.

123. And Allah's is the Invisible of the heavens and the earth, and unto Hi m thewhole matter will be returned. So worship Him and put thy trust in Him. Lo! thyLord is not unaware of what ye [mortals] do.

SURA 12. YUSUF (JOSEPH)

1. Alif. Lam. Ra. These are verse of the Scripture that maketh plain.

2. Lo! We have revealed it, a Lecture in Arabic, that ye may understand.

3. We narrate unto thee [Muhammad] the best of narratives in that We haveinspired in thee this Qur'an, though aforetime thou wast of the heedless.

4. When Joseph said unto his father: O my father! Lo! I saw in a dream elevenplanets and the sun and the moon, I saw them prostrating themselves unto me.

5. He said: O my dear son! Tell not thy brethren of thy vision, lest they plot aplot against thee. Lo! Satan is for man an open foe.

6. Thus thy Lord will prefer thee and will teach thee the interpretation ofevents, and will perfect His grace upon thee and upon the family of Jacob as Heperfected it upon thy forefathers, Abraham and Isaac. Lo! thy Lord is Knower,

Wise.

7. Verily in Joseph and his brethren are signs [of Allah's Sovereignty] for theinquiring.

8. When they said: Verily Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father thanwe are, many though we be. Lo! our father is in plain aberration.

9. [One said]: Kill Joseph or cast him to some [other] land, so that yourfather's favour may be all for you, and [that] ye may afterward be righteousfolk.

10. One among them said: Kill not Joseph but, if ye must be doing, fling himinto the depth of the pit; some caravan will find him.

11. They said: O our father! Why wilt thou not trust us with Joseph, when lo! weare good friends to him?

12. Send him with us to-morrow that he may enjoy himself and play. And lo! weshall take good care of him.

13. He said: Lo! in truth it saddens me that ye should take him with you, and Ifear less the wolf devour him while ye are heedless of him.

14. They said: If the wolf should devour him when we are [so strong] a band,

then surely we should have already perished.

15. Then, when they led him off, and were of one min d that they should place himin the depth of the pit, We inspired in him: Thou wilt tell them of this deed oftheirs when they know [thee] not.

16. And they came weeping to their father in the evening.

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17. Saying: O our father! We went racing one with another, and left Joseph byour things, and the wolf devoured him, and thou believest not our saying evenwhen we speak the truth.

18. And they came with false blood on his shirt. He said: Nay, but your mindshave beguiled you into something. [My course is] comely patience. And Allah itis Whose help is to be sought in that [predicament] which ye describe.

19. And there came a caravan, and they sent their waterdrawer. He let down hispail [into the pit]. He said: Good luck! Here is a youth. And th ey hid him as atreasure, and Allah was Aware of what they did.

20. And they sold him for a low price, a number of silver coins; and theyattached no value to him.

21. And he of Egypt who purchased him said unto his wife: Receive himhonourably. Perchance he may prove useful to us or we may adopt him as a son.

Thus we established Joseph in the land that We might teach him theinterpretation of events. And Allah was predominant in His career, but most ofmankind know not.

22. And And when he reached his prime We gave him wisdom and knowledge. Thus Wereward the good.

23. And she, in whose house he was, asked of him an evil act. She bolted thedoors and said: Come! He said: I seek refuge in Allah! Lo! he is my lord, whohath treated me honourably. Lo! wrong-doers never prosper.

24. She verily desired him, and he would have desired her if it had not beenthat he saw the argument of his Lord. Thus it was, that We might ward off fromhim evil and lewdness. Lo! he was of Our chosen slaves.

25. And they raced with one another to the door, and she tore his shirt frombehind, and they met her lord and master at the door. She said: What shall behis reward, who wisheth evil to thy folk, save prison or a painful doom?

26. [Joseph] said: She it was who asked of me an e vil act. And a witness of herown folk testified: If his shirt is torn from before, then she speaketh truthand he is of the liars.

27. And if his shirt is torn from behind, then she hath lied and he is of thetruthful.

28. So when he saw his shirt torn from behind, he said: Lo! this is of the guileof you women. Lo! the guile of you is very great.

29. O Joseph! Turn away from this, and thou, [O woman], ask forgiveness for thysin. Lo! thou art of the faulty.

30. And women in the city said: The ruler's wife is asking of her slave-boy anill-deed. Indeed he has smitten her to the heart with love. We behold her in

plain aberration.

31. And when she heard of their sly talk, she sent to them and prepared for thema cushioned couch [to lie on at the feast] a nd gave to every one of them a knifeand said [to Joseph]: Come out unto them! And when they saw him they exalted himand cut their hands, exclaiming: Allah Blameless! This is no a human being. Thisis not other than some gracious angel.

32. She said: This is he on whose account ye blamed me. I asked of him an evilact, but he proved continent, but if he do not my behest he verily shall beimprisoned, and verily shall be of those brought low.

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33. He said: O my Lord! Prison is more dear than that unto which they urge me,

and if Thou fend not off their wiles from me I shall incline unto them and

become of the foolish.

34. So his Lord heard his prayer and fended off their wiles from him. Lo! He isHearer, Knower.

35. And it seemed good to them [the men-folk] after they had seen the signs [ofhis innocence] to imprison him for a time.

36. And two young men went to prison with him. One of them said: I dreamed thatI was pressing wine. The other said: I dreamed that I was carrying upon my headbrea d whereof the birds were eating. Announce unto us the interpretation, for wesee thee of those good [at interpretation].

37. He said: The food which ye are given [daily] shall not come unto you but Ishall tell you the interpretation ere it cometh unto you. This is of that whichmy Lord hath taught me. Lo! I have forsaken the religion of folk who believe notin Allah and are disbelievers in the Hereafter.

38. And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.

It never was for us t o attribute aught as partner to Allah. This is of thebounty of Allah unto us [the seed of Abraham] and unto mankind; but most mengive not thanks.

39. O my fellow-prisoners! Are divers lords better, or Allah the One, Almighty?

40. Those whom ye worship beside Him are but names which ye have named, ye andyour fathers. Allah hath revealed no sanction for them. The decision rests withAllah only, Who hath commanded you that ye worship none save Him. This is theright religion, but most men know not.

41. O my two fellow-prisoners! As for one of you, he will pour out wine for hislord to drink; and as for the other, he will be crucified so that the birds willeat from his head. Thus is the case judged concerning which ye did inquire.

42. And he said unto him of the twain who he knew would be released: Mention me

in the presence of thy lord. But Satan caused him to forget to mention it to hislord, so he [Joseph] stayed in prison for some years.

43. And the king said: Lo! I saw in a dream seven fat kine which seven lean wereeating, and seven green ears of corn and other [seven] dry. O notables! Expoundfor me my vision, if ye can interpret dreams.

44. They answered: Jumbled dreams! And we are not knowing in the interpretationof dreams.

45. And he of the two who was released, and [now] at length remembered, said: Iam going to announce unto you the interpretation, therefore send me forth.

46. [And when he came to Joseph in the prison, he exclaimed]: Joseph! O thoutruthful one! Expound for us the seven fat ki ne which seven lean were eating andthe seven green ears of corn and other [seven] dry, that I may return unto thepeople, so that they may know.

47. He said: Ye shall sow seven years as usual, but that which ye reap, leave itin the ear, all save a little which ye eat.

48. Then after that will come seven hard years which will devour all that yehave prepared for them, save a little of that which ye have stored.

49. Then, after that, will come a year when the people will have plenteous cropsand when they will press [wine and oil].

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50. And the king said: Bring him unto me. And when the messenger came unto him,

he [Joseph] said: Return unto thy lord and ask him what was the case of thewomen who cut their hands. Lo! my Lord knoweth their guile.

51. He [the king] [then sent for those women and] said: What happened when yeasked an evil act of Joseph? They answered: Allah Blameless! We know no evil ofhim. Said the wife of the ruler: Now the truth is out. I asked of him an evil

act, and he is surely of the truthful.

52. [Then Joseph said: I asked for] this, that he [my lord] may know that Ibetrayed him not in secret, and that surely Allah guideth not the snare of thebetrayers.

53. I do not exculpate myself. Lo! the [human] soul enjoineth unt o evil, savethat whereon my Lord hath mercy. Lo! my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.

54. And the king said: Bring him unto me that I may attach him to my person. Andwhen he had talked with him he said: Lo! thou art to-day in our presenceestablished and trusted.

55. He said: Set me over the storehouses of the land. Lo! I am a skilled

custodian.

56. Thus gave We power to Joseph in the land. He was the owner of it where hepleased. We reach with Our mercy whom We will. We lose not the reward of thegood.

5 7. And the reward of the Hereafter is better, for those who believe and wardoff [evil].

58. And Joseph's brethren came and presented themselves before him, and he knewthem but they knew him not.

59. And when he provided them with their provision he said: Bring unto me abrother of yours from your father. See ye not that I fill up the measure and Iam the best of hosts?

60. And if ye bring him not unto me, then there shall be no measure for you withme, nor shall ye draw near.

61. They said: We will try to win him from his father: that we will surely do.

62. He said unto his young men: Place their merchandise in their saddlebags, sothat they may know it when they go back to their folk, and so will come again.

63. So when they went back to their father they said: O our father! The measureis denied us, so send with us our brother that we may obtain the measure, surelywe will guard him well.

64. He said: Can I entrust him to you save as I entrusted his brother to youaforetime? Allah is better at guarding, and He is the Most Merciful of those whoshow mercy.

65. And when they opened their belongings they discovered that their merchandisehad been returned to them. They said: O our father! What [more] can we ask? Hereis our merchandise returned to us. We shall get provision for our folk and guardour brother, and we shall have the extra measure of a camel [load]. This [thatwe bring now] is a light measure.

66. He said: I will not send him with you till ye give me an undertaking in thename of Allah that ye will bring him back to me, unless ye are surrounded. Andwhen they gave him their undertaking he said: Allah is the Warden over what wesay.

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67. And he said: O my sons! Go not in by one gate; go in by different gates. Ican naught avail you as against Allah. Lo! the decision rests with Allah only.

In Him do I put my trust, and in Him let all the trusting put their trust.

68. And when they entered in the manner which their father had enjoined, itwould have naught availed them as against Allah; it was but a need of Jacob'ssoul which he thus satisfied; and lo! he was a lord of knowledge because We hadtaught him; but most of mankind know not.

69. And when they went in before Joseph, he took his brother unto him, saying:

Lo! I, even I, am thy brother, therefore sorrow not for what they did.

70. And when he provided them with their provision, he put the drinking-cup inhis brother's saddlebag, and then a crier cried: O camel-riders! Lo! ye aresurely thieves!

71. They cried, coming toward them: What is it ye have lost?

72. They said: We have lost the king's cup, and he who bringeth it shall have acamel-load, and I [said Joseph] am answerable for it.

73. They said: By Allah, well ye know we came not to do evil in the land, andare no thieves.

74. They said: And what shall be the penalty for it, if ye prove liars?

75. They said: The penalty for it! He in whose bag [the cup] is found, he is thepenalty for it. Thus we requite wrong-doers.

76. Then he [Joseph] began the search with their bags before his brother's bag,

then he produced it from his brother's bag. Thus did We contrive for Joseph. Hecould not have taken his brother according to the king's law unless Allahwilled. We raise by grades [of mercy] whom We will, and over every lord ofkn owledge there is one more knowing.

77. They said: If he stealeth, a brother of his stole before. But Joseph kept itsecret in his soul and revealed it not unto them. He said [within himself]: Yeare in worse case, and Allah knoweth best [the truth of] that which ye allege.

78. They said: O ruler of the land! Lo! he hath a very aged father, so take oneof us instead of him. Lo! we behold thee of those who do kindness.

79. He said: Allah forbid that we should seize save him with whom we found our

property; then truly we should be wrong-doers.

80. So, When they despaired of [moving] him, they conferred together apart. Theeldest of them said: Know ye not how your father took an undertaking from you inAllah's name and how ye failed in the case of Joseph af oretime? Therefore Ishall not go forth from the land until my father giveth leave or Allah judgethfor me. He is the Best of Judges.

81. Return unto your father and say: O our father! Lo! thy son hath stolen. Wetestify only to that which we know; we are not guardians of the Unseen.

82. Ask the township where we were, and the caravan with which we travelledhither. Lo! we speak the truth.

83. [And when they came unto their father and had spoken thus to him] he said:

Nay, but your minds have beguiled you into something. [My course is] comelypatience! It may be that Allah will bring them all unto me. Lo! He, only He, isthe Knower, the Wise.

84. And he turned away from them and said: Alas, my grief for Joseph! And hiseyes were whitened with the sorrow that he was suppressing.

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85. They said: By Allah, thou wilt never cease remembering Joseph till thyhealth is ruined or thou art of those who perish!

86. He said: I expose my distress and anguish only unto Allah, and I know fromAllah that which ye know not.

87. Go, O my sons, and ascertain concerning Joseph and his brother, and despairnot of the Spirit of Allah. Lo! none despaireth of the Spirit of Allah savedisbelieving folk.

88. And when they came [again] before him [Joseph] they said: O ruler!

Misfortune hath touched us and our folk, and we bring but poor merchandise, sofill for us the measure and be charitable unto us. Lo! Allah will requite thecharitable,

89. He said: Know ye what ye did unto Joseph and his brother in your ignorance?

90. They said: Is it indeed thou who art Joseph? He said: I am Joseph and thisis my brother. Allah hath shown us favour. Lo! he who wardeth off [evil] andendureth [findeth favour]; for lo! Allah loseth not the wages of the kindly.

91. They said: By Allah, verily Allah hath preferred thee above us, and we wereindeed sinful.

92. He said: Have no fear this day! May Allah forgive you, and He is the MostMerciful of those who show mercy.

93. Go with this shirt of mine and lay it on my father's face, he w ill become[again] a seer; and come to me with all your folk.

94. When the caravan departed their father had said: Truly I am conscious of thebreath of Joseph, though ye call me dotard.

95. [Those around him] said: By Allah, lo! thou art in thine old ab erration.

96. Then, when the bearer of glad tidings came, he laid it on his face and hebecame a seer once more. He said: Said I not unto you that I know from Allahthat which ye know not?

97. They said: O our father! Ask forgiveness of our sins for us, for lo! we weresinful.

98. He said: I shall ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Lo! He is theForgiving, the Merciful.

99. And when they came in before Joseph, he took his parents unto him, and said:

Come into Egypt safe, if Allah will!

100. And he placed his parents on the dais and they fell down before himprostrate, and he said: O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream ofold. My Lord hath made it true, and He hath shown me kindness, since He took meout of the prison and hath brought you from the desert after Satan had madestrife between me and my brethren. Lo! my Lord is tender unto whom He will. Heis the Knower, the Wise.

101. O my Lord! Thou hast given me [something] of sovereignty and hast taught me[something] of the interpretation of events - Creator of the heavens and theearth! Thou art my Protecting Guardian in the world and the Hereafter. Make meto die muslim [unto Thee], and join me to the righteous.

102. This is of the tidings of the Unseen which We inspire in thee [Muhammad].

Thou wast not present with them when they fixed their plan and they werescheming.

103. And though thou try much, most men will not believe.

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104. Thou askest them no fee for it. It is naught else than a reminder unto thepeoples.

105. How many a portent is there in the heavens and the earth which they pass bywith face averted!

106. And most of them believe not in Allah except that they attribute partners[unto Him].

107. Deem they themselves secure from the coming on them of a pall of Allah'spunishment, or the coming of the Hour suddenly while they are unaware?

108. Say: This is my Way: I call on Allah with sure knowledge. I and whosoeverfolloweth me - Glory be to Allah! - and I am not of the idolaters.

109. We sent not before thee [ any messengers] save men whom We inspired fromamong the folk of the townships - Have they not travelled in the land and seenthe nature of the consequence for those who were before them? And verily theabode of the Hereafter, for those who ward off [evil], i s best. Have ye then nosense? -

110. Till, when the messengers despaired and thought that they were denied, thencame unto them Our help, and whom We would was saved. And Our wrath cannot bewarded from the guilty.

111. In their history verily there is a lesson for men of understanding. It isno invented story but a confirmation of the existing [Scripture] and a detailedexplanation of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for folk who believe.

SURA 13. AR-RAD (THE THUNDER)

1. Alif. Lam. Mim. Ra. These are verses of the Scripture. That which is revealedunto thee from thy Lord is the Truth, but most of mankind believe not.

2. Allah it is Who raised up the heavens without visible supports, then mountedthe Throne, and compelled the sun and the moon to be of service, each runnethunto an appointed term; He ordereth the course; He detaileth the revelations,

that haply ye may be certain of the meeting with your Lord.

3. And He it is Who spread out the earth and placed therein firm hills andflowing streams, and of all fruits He placed therein two spouses [male andfemale]. He covereth the night with the day. Lo! herein verily are portents forpeople who take thought.

4. And in the Earth are neighbouring tracts, vineyards and ploughed lands, anddate-palms, like and unlike, which are watered with one water. And we have madesome of them to excel others in fruit. Lo! herein verily are portents for peoplewho have sense.

5. And if thou wonderest, then wondrous is their saying: When we are dust, arewe then forsoo th [to be raised] in a new creation? Such are they who disbelievein their Lord; such have carcans on their necks; such are rightful owners of theFire, they will abide therein.

6. And they bid thee hasten on the evil rather than the good, when exemplarypunishments have indeed occurred before them. But lo! thy Lord is rich in pardonfor mankind despite their wrong, and lo! thy Lord is strong in punishment.

7. Those who disbelieve say: If only some portent were sent down upon him fromhis Lord! Thou art a warner only, and for every folk a guide.

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8. Allah knoweth that which every female beareth and that which the wombs absorband that which they grow. And everything with Him is measured.

9. He is the Knower of the Invisible and the Visible, the Great, the HighExalted.

10. Alike of you is he who hideth the saying and he who noiseth it abroad, hewho lurketh in the night and he who goeth freely in the daytime.

11. For him are angels ranged before him and behind him, who guard him byAllah's comm and. Lo! Allah changeth not the condition of a folk until they[first] change that which is in their hearts; and if Allah willeth misfortunefor a folk there is none that can repel it, nor have they a defender beside Him.

12. He it is Who showeth you the lightning, a fear and a hope, and raiseth theheavy clouds.

13. The thunder hymneth His praise and [so do] the angels for awe of Him. Helauncheth the thunderbolts and smiteth with them whom He will while they dispute[in doubt] concerning Allah, and He is m ighty in wrath.

14. Unto Him is the real prayer. Those unto whom they pray beside Allah respondto them not at all, save as [is the response to] one who stretcheth forth hishands toward water [asking] that it may come unto his mouth, and it will neverreac h it. The prayer of disbelievers goeth [far] astray.

15. And unto Allah falleth prostrate whosoever is in the heavens and the earth,

willingly or unwillingly, as do their shadows in the morning and the eveninghours.

16. Say [O Muhammad]: Who is Lord o f the heavens and the earth? Say: Allah. Say:

Take ye then [others] beside Him for protectors, which, even for themselves,

have neither benefit nor hurt? Say: Is the blind man equal to the seer, or isdarkness equal to light? Or assign they unto Allah par tners who created the likeof His creation so that the creation [which they made and His creation] seemedalike to them? Say: Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, theAlmighty.

17. He sendeth down water from the sky, so that valleys flow a ccording to theirmeasure, and the flood beareth [on its surface] swelling foam - from that whichthey smelt in the fire in order to make ornaments and tools riseth a foam likeunto it - thus Allah coineth [the similitude of] the true and the false. Then,

as for the foam, it passeth away as scum upon the banks, while, as for thatwhich is of use to mankind, it remaineth in the earth. Thus Allah coineth thesimilitudes.

18. For those who answered Allah's call is bliss; and for those who answered notHis call, if they had all that is in the earth, and therewith the like thereof,

they would proffer it as ransom. Such will have a woeful reckoning, and theirhabitation will be hell, a dire abode.

19. Is he who knoweth that what is revealed unto thee from thy Lord is the truthlike him who is blind? But only men of understanding heed;

20. Such as keep the pact of Allah, and break not the covenant;

21. Such as unite that which Allah hath commandeth should be joined, and feartheir Lord, and dread a woeful reckoning;

22. Such as persevere in seeking their Lord's Countenance and are regular inprayer and spend of that which We bestow upon them secretly and openly, andovercome evil with good. Theirs will be the sequel of the [heavenly] Home,

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23. Gardens of Eden which they enter, along with all who do right of theirfathers and their helpmeets and their seed. The angels enter unto them fromevery gate,

24. [Saying]: Peace be unto you because ye persevered. Ah, passing sweet will bethe sequel of the [heave nly] Home.

25. And those who break the covenant of Allah after ratifying it, and sever thatwhich Allah hath commanded should be joined, and make mischief in the earth:

theirs is the curse and theirs the ill abode.

26. Allah enlargeth livelihood for wh om He will, and straiteneth [it for whom Hewill]; and they rejoice in the life of the world, whereas the life of the worldis but brief comfort as compared with the Hereafter.

27. Those who disbelieve say: If only a portent were sent down upon him from hi sLord! Say: Lo! Allah sendeth whom He will astray, and guideth unto Himself allwho turn [unto Him],

28. Who have believed and whose hearts have rest in the remembrance of Allah.

Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest!

29. Those who be lieve and do right: Joy is for them, and bliss [their] journey'send.

30. Thus We send thee [O Muhammad] unto a nation, before whom other nations havepassed away, that thou mayst recite unto them that which We have inspired inthee, while they are disbelie vers in the Beneficent. Say: He is my Lord; thereis no Allah save Him. In Him do I put my trust and unto Him is my recourse.

31. Had it been possible for a Lecture to cause the mountains to move, or theearth to be torn asunder, or the dead to speak, [thi s Qur'an would have doneso]. Nay, but Allah's is the whole command. Do not those who believe know that,

had Allah willed, He could have guided all mankind? As for those who disbelieve,

disaster ceaseth not to strike them because of what they do, or it dwelleth neartheir home until the threat of Allah come to pass. Lo! Allah faileth not to keepthe tryst.

32. And verily messengers [of Allah] were mocked before thee, but long I borewith those who disbelieved. At length I seized them, and how [awful] was My punishment!

33. Is He Who is aware of the deserts of every soul [as he who is aware ofnothing]? Yet they ascribe unto Allah partners. Say: Name them. Is it that yewould inform Him of something which He knoweth not in the earth? Or is it but away of speak ing? Nay but their contrivance is made seeming fair for those whodisbelieve and they are kept from the right road. He whom Allah sendeth astray,

for him there is no guide.

34. For them is torment in the life of the world, and verily the doom of theHereafter is more painful, and they have no defender from Allah.

35. A similitude of the Garden which is promised unto those who keep their duty[to Allah]: Underneath it rivers flow; its food is everlasting, and its shade;

this is the reward of those who keep their duty, while the reward ofdisbelievers is the Fire.

36. Those unto whom We gave the Scripture rejoice in that which is revealed untothee. And of the clans there are who deny some of it. Say: I am commanded onlythat I serve Allah and ascribe unto Him no partner. Unto Him I cry, and unto Himis my return.

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37. Thus have We revealed it, a decisive utterance in Arabic; and if thoushouldst follow their desires after that which hath come unto thee of knowledge,

then truly wouldst thou have from Allah no protecting friend nor defender.

38. And verily We sent messengers [to mankind] before thee, and We appointed forthem wives and offspring, and it was not [given] to any messenger that he shouldbring a portent save by Allah's leave. For every thing there is a timeprescribed.

39. Allah effaceth what He will, and establisheth [what He will], and with Himis the source of ordinance.

40. Whether We let thee see something of that which We have promised them, ormake thee die [before its happening], thine is but conveyance [of the message].

Ours the reckoning.

41. See they not how we aim to the land, reducing it of its outlying parts?

[When] Allah doometh there is none that can postpone His doom, and He is swiftat reckoning.

42. Those who were before them plotted; but all plotting is Allah's. He knoweththat which each soul earneth. The disbelievers will come to know for whom will

be the sequel of the [heavenly] Home.

43. They who disbelieve say: Thou art no messenger [of Allah]. Say: Allah, andwhosoever hath knowledge of the Scripture, is sufficient witness between me andyou.

SURA 14. IBRAHIM (ABRAHAM)

1. Alif. Lam. Ra. [This is] a Scripture which We have revealed unto thee[Muhammad] that thereby thou mayst bring forth mankind from dar kness unto light,

by the permission of their Lord, unto the path of the Mighty, the Owner ofPraise,

2. Allah, unto Whom belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is inthe earth. and woe unto the disbelievers from an awful doom;

3. Those wh o love the life of the world more than the Hereafter, and debar [men]

from the way of Allah and would have it crooked: such are far astray.

4. And We never sent a messenger save with the language of his folk, that hemight make [the message] clear for th em. Then Allah sendeth whom He will astray,

and guideth whom He will. He is the Mighty, the Wise.

5. We verily sent Moses with Our revelations, saying: Bring thy people forthfrom darkness unto light. And remind them of the days of Allah. Lo! therein are revelations for each steadfast, thankful [heart].

6. And [remind them] how Moses said unto his people: Remember Allah's favourunto you when He delivered you from Pharaoh's folk who were afflicting you withdreadful torment, and were slaying your sons and sparing your women; that was atremendous trial from your Lord.

7. And when your Lord proclaimed: If ye give thanks, I will give you more; butif ye are thankless, lo! My punishment is dire.

8. And Moses said: Though ye and all who are in the earth prove thankless, lo!

Allah verily is Absolute, Owner of Praise.

9. Hath not the history of those before you reached you: the folk of Noah, and[the tribes of] A'ad and Thamud, and those after them? None save Allah knoweth

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them. Their messengers came unto them with clear proofs, but they thrust theirhands into their mouths, and said: Lo! we disbelieve in that wherewith ye havebeen sent, and lo! we are in grave doubt concerning that to which ye call us.

10. Their messengers said: Can there be doubt concerning Allah, the Creator ofthe heavens and the earth? He calleth you that He may forgive you your sins andreprieve you unto an appointed term. They said: Ye are but mortals like us, whowould fain turn us away from what our fathers used to worship. Then bring someclear warrant.

11. Their messengers said unto them: We are but mortals like you, but Allahgiveth grace unto whom He will of His slaves. It is not ours to bring you awarrant unless by the permission of Allah. In Allah let believers put theirtrust!

12. How should we not put our trust in Allah when He hath shown us our ways? Wesurely will endure the hurt ye do us. In Allah let the trusting put their trust.

13. And those who disbelieved said unto their messengers: Verily we will driveyou out from our land, unless ye return to our religion. Then their Lordinspired them, [saying]: Verily we shall destroy the wrong-doers,

14. And verily We shall make you to dwell in the land after them. This is forhim who feareth My Majesty and feareth My threats.

15. And they sought help [from their Lord] and every froward potentate wasbought to naught;

16. Hell is before him, and he is made to drink a festering water,

17. Which he sippeth but can hardly swallow, and death cometh unto him fromevery side while yet he cannot die, and before him is a harsh doom.

18. A similitude of those who disbelieve in their Lord: Their works are as ashes

which the wind bloweth hard upon a stormy day. They have no control of aughtthat they have earned. That is the extreme failure.

19. Hast thou not seen that Allah hath created the heavens and the earth with

truth? If He will, He can remove you and bring [in] some new creation;

20. And that is no great matter for Allah.

21. They all come forth unto their Lord. Then those who were despised say untothose who were scornful: We were unto you a following, can ye then avert from usaught of Allah's doom? They say: Had Allah guided us, we should have guided you.

Whether we rage or patiently endure is [now] all one f or us; we have no place ofrefuge.

22. And Satan saith, when the matter hath been decided: Lo! Allah promised you apromise of truth; and I promised you, then failed you. And I had no power overyou save that I called unto you and ye obeyed me. So blame not, but blameyourselves. I cannot help you, nor can ye help me, Lo! I disbelieved in thatwhich ye before ascribed to me. Lo! for wrong-doers is a painful doom.

23. And those who believed and did good works are made to enter Gardensunderneath which rivers flow, therein abiding by permission of their Lord, theirgreeting therein: Peace!

24. Seest thou not how Allah coineth a similitude: A goodly saying, as a goodlytree, its root set firm, its branches reaching into heaven,

25. Giving its fruit at every season by permission of its Lord? Allah coineththe similitudes for mankind in order that they may reflect.

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26. And the similitude of a bad saying is as a bad tree, uprooted from upon theearth, possessing no stability.

27. Allah confirmeth those who believe by a firm saying in the life of the worldand in the Hereafter, and Allah sendeth wrong-doers astray. And Allah doeth whatHe will.

28. Hast thou not seen those who gave the grace of Allah in exchange forthanklessness and led their people down to the Abode of Loss,

29. [Even to] hell? They are exposed thereto. A hapless end!

30. And they set up rivals to Allah that they may mislead [men] from His way.

Say: Enjoy life [while ye may] for lo! your journey's end will be the Fire.

31. Tell My bondmen who believe to establish worship and spend of that which Wehave given them, secretly and publicly, before a day cometh wherein there willbe neither traffick nor befriending.

32. Allah is He Who created the heavens and the earth, and causeth water todescend from the sky, thereby producing fruits as food for you, and maketh theships to be of service unto you, that they may run upon the sea at His command,

and hath made of service unto you the rivers;

33. And maketh the sun and the moon, constant in their courses, to be of serviceunto you, and hath made of service unto you the night and the day.

34. And He giveth you of all ye ask of Him, and if ye would count the bounty ofAllah ye cannot reckon it. Lo! man is verily a wrong-doer, an ingrate.

35. And when Abraham said: My Lord! Make safe this territory, and preserve meand my sons from serving idols.

36. My Lord! Lo! they have led many of mankind astray. But whoso followeth me,

he verily is of me. And whoso disobeyeth me - Still Thou art Forgiving,

Merciful.

37. Our Lord! Lo! I have settled some of my posterity in an uncultivable valleynear unto Thy holy House, our Lord! that they may establish proper worship; soincline some hearts of men that they may yearn toward them, and provide Thouthem with fruits in order that they may be thankful.

38. Our Lord! Lo! Thou knowest that which we hide and that which we proclaim.

Nothing in the earth or in the heaven is hidden from Allah.

39. Praise be to Allah Who hath given me, in my old age, Ishmael and Isaac! Lo!

my Lord is indeed the Hearer of Prayer.

40. My Lord! Make me to establish proper worship, and some of my posterity[also]; our Lord! and accept my prayer.

41. Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and believers on the day when theaccount is cast.

42. Deem not that Allah is unaware of what the wicked do. He but giveth them arespite till a day when eyes will stare [in terror],

43. As they come hurrying on in fear, their heads upraised, their gaze returningnot to them, and their hearts as air.

44. And warn mankind of a day when the doom will come upon them, and those whodid wrong will say: Our Lord! Reprieve us for a little while. We will obey Thycall and will follow the messengers. [It will be answered]: Did ye not swearbefore that t here would be no end for you?

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45. And [have ye not] dwelt in the dwellings of those who wronged themselves [ofold] and [hath it not] become plain to you how We dealt with them and madeexamples for you?

46. Verily they have plotted their plot, and their plot is with Allah, thoughtheir plot were one whereby the mountains should be moved.

47. So think not that Allah will fail to keep His promise to His messengers. Lo!

Allah is Mighty, Able to Requite [the wrong].

48. On the day when the e arth will be changed to other than the earth, and theheavens [also will be changed] and they will come forth unto Allah, the One, theAlmighty,

49. Thou wilt see the guilty on that day linked together in chains,

50. Their raiment of pitch, and the Fire covering their faces,

51. That Allah may repay each soul what it hath earned. Lo! Allah is swift atreckoning.

52. This is a clear message for mankind in order that they may be warnedthereby, and that they may know that He is only One Allah, and that men ofunderstanding may take heed.

SURA 15. AL-HIJR (AL-HIJR, STONELAND, ROCK CITY)

1. Alif. Lam. Ra. These are verses of the Scripture and a plain Reading.

2. It may be that those who disbelieve wish ardently that they were Muslims.

3. Let them ea t and enjoy life, and let [false] hope beguile them. They willcome to know!

4. And We destroyed no township but there was a known decree for it.

5. No nation can outstrip its term nor can they lag behind.

6. And they say: O thou unto whom the Reminder is revealed, lo! thou art indeeda madman!

7. Why bringest thou not angels unto us, if thou art of the truthful?

8. We send not down the angels save with the Fact, and in that case [thedisbelievers] would not be tolerated.

9. Lo! We, even We, reveal the Reminder, and lo! We verily are its Guardian.

10. We verily sent [messengers] before thee among the factions of the men ofold.

11. And never came there unto them a messenger but they did mock him.

12. Thus do We make it traverse the hearts of the guilty:

13. They believe not therein, though the example of the men of old hath gonebefore.

14. And even if We opened unto them a gate of heaven and they kept mountingthrough it,

15. They would say: Our sight is wrong - nay, but we are folk bewitched.

16. And verily in the heaven we have set mansions of the stars, and We havebeautified it for beholders.

17. And We have guarded it from every outcast devil,

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18. Save him who stealeth the hearing, and them doth a clear flame pursue.

19. And the earth have We spread out, and placed therein firm hills, and causedeach seemly thing to grow therein.

20. And we have given unto you livelihoods therein, and unto those for whom yeprovide not.

21. And there is not a thing but with Us are the stores thereof. And we send itnot down save in appointed measure.

22. And We send the winds fertilising, and cause water to descend from the sky,

and give it you to drink. It is not ye who are the holders of the store thereof.

23. Lo! and it is We, even We, Who quicken and give death, and We are theInheritor.

24. And verily We know the eager among you and verily We know the laggards.

25. Lo! thy Lord will gather them together. Lo! He is Wise, Aware.

26. Verily We created man of potter's clay of black mud altered,

27. And the jinn did We create aforetime of essential fire.

28. And [remember] when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am creating amortal out of potter's clay of black mud altered,

29. So, when I have made him and have breathed into him of My Spirit, do ye falldown, prostrating yourselves unto him.

30. So the angels fell prostrate, all of them together

31. Save Iblis. He refused to be among the prostrate.

32. He said: O Iblis! What aileth thee that thou art not among the prostrate?

33. He said: I am not one to prostrate myself unto a mortal whom Thou hastcreated out of potter's clay of black mud altered!

34. He said: Then go thou forth from hence, for lo! thou art outcast.

35. And lo! the curse shall be upon thee till the Day of Judgment.

36. He said: My Lord! Reprieve me till the day when they are raised.

37. He said: Then lo! thou art of those reprieved

38. Till the Day of appointed time.

39. He said: My Lord! Because Thou hast sent me astray, I verily shall adorn thepath of error for them in the earth, and shall mislead them every one,

40. Save such of them as are Thy perfectly devoted slaves.

41. He said: This is a right course incumbent upon Me:

42. Lo! as for My slaves, thou hast no power over any of them save such of thefroward as follow thee,

43. And lo! for all such, hell will be the promised place.

44. It hath seven gates, and each gate hath an appointed portion.

45. Lo! those who ward off [evil] are among gardens and watersprings.

46. [A nd it is said unto them]: Enter them in peace, secure.

47. And We remove whatever rancour may be in their breasts. As brethren, face toface, [they rest] on couches raised.

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48. Toil cometh not unto them there, nor will they be expelled from thence.

49. Announce, [O Muhammad] unto My slaves that verily I am the Forgiving, theMerciful,

50. And that My doom is the dolorous doom.

51. And tell them of Abraham's guests,

52. [How] when they came in unto him, and said: Peace. He said: Lo! we areafraid of you.

53. They said: Be not afraid! Lo! we bring thee good tidings of a boy possessingwisdom.

54. He said: Bring ye me good tidings [of a son] when old age hath overtaken me?

Of what then can ye bring good tidings?

55. They said: We bring thee good tidings in truth. So be not thou of thedespairing.

56. He said: And who despaireth of the mercy of his Lord save those who areastray?

57. He said: And afterward what is your business, O ye messengers [of Allah]?

58. They said: We have been sent unto a guilty folk,

59. [All] save the family of Lot. Them we shall deliver every one,

60. Except his wife, of whom We had decreed that she should be of those who staybehind.

61. And when the messengers came unto the family of Lot,

62. He s aid: Lo! ye are folk unknown [to me].

63. They said: Nay, but we bring thee that concerning which they keep disputing,

64. And bring thee the Truth, and lo! we are truth-tellers.

65. So travel with thy household in a portion of the night, and follow thoutheir backs. Let none of you turn round, but go whither ye are commanded.

66. And We made plain the case to him, that the root of them [who did wrong] wasto be cut at early morn.

67. And the people of the city came, rejoicing at the news [of new ar rivals].

68. He said: Lo! they are my guests. Affront me not!

69. And keep your duty to Allah, and shame me not!

70. They said; Have we not forbidden you from [entertaining] anyone?

71. He said: Here are my daughters, if ye must be doing [so].

72 . By thy life [O Muhammad] they moved blindly in the frenzy of approachingdeath.

73. Then the [Awful] Cry overtook them at the sunrise.

74. And We utterly confounded them, and We rained upon them stones of heatedclay.

75. Lo! therein verily are portents for those who read the signs.

76. And lo! it is upon a road still uneffaced.

77. Lo! therein is indeed a portent for believers.

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78. And the dwellers in the wood indeed were evil-doers.

79. So we took vengeance on them; and lo! they both are on a high-road plain tosee.

80. And the dwellers in Al-Hijr denied [Our] messengers.

81. And we gave them Our revelations, but they were averse to them.

82. And they used to hew out dwellings from the hills, [wherein they dwelt]

secure.

83. But the [Awful] Cry overtook them at the morning hour,

84. And that which they were wont to count as gain availed them not.

85. We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them save

with truth, and lo! the Hour is surely comi ng. So forgive, [O Muhammad], with agracious forgiveness.

86. Lo! Thy Lord! He is the All-Wise Creator.

87. We have given thee seven of the oft-repeated [verses] and the great Qur'an.

88. Strain not thine eyes toward that which We cause some wedded p airs amongthem to enjoin, and be not grieved on their account, and lower thy wing [intenderness] for the believers.

89. And say: Lo! I, even I, am a plain warner,

90. Such as We send down for those who make division,

91. Those who break the Qur'an into parts.

92. Them, by thy Lord, We shall question, every one,

93. Of what they used to do.

94. So proclaim that which thou art commanded, and withdraw from the idolaters.

95. Lo! We defend thee from the scoffers,

96. Who set some other god along with Allah. But they will come to know.

97. Well know We that thy bosom is oppressed by what they say,

98. But hymn the praise of thy Lord, and be of those who make prostration [untoHim].

99. And serve thy Lord till the Inevitable cometh unto thee.

SURA 16. AN-NAHL (THE BEE)

1. The commandment of Allah will come to pass, so seek not ye to hasten it.

Glorified and Exalted be He above all that they associate [with Him].

2. He sendeth down the angels with the Spirit of His command unto whom He willof His bondmen, [saying]: Warn mankind that there is no Allah save Me, so keepyour duty unto Me.

3. He hath created the heavens and the earth with truth. High be He Exaltedabove all that they associate [with Him].

4. He hath created man from a drop of fluid, yet behold! he is an open opponent.

5. And the cattle hath He created, whence ye have warm clothing and uses, andwhereof ye eat;

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6. And wherein is beauty for you, when ye bring them home, and when ye take themout to pasture.

7. And they bear your loads for you unto a land ye could not reach save withgreat trouble to yourselves. Lo! your Lord is Full of Pity, Merciful.

8. And horses and mules and asses [hath He created] that ye may ride them, andfor ornament. And He createth t hat which ye know not.

9. And Allah's is the direction of the way, and some [roads] go not straight.

And had He willed He would have led you all aright.

10. He it is Who sendeth down water from the sky, whence ye have drink, andwhence are trees on which ye send your beasts to pasture.

11. Therewith He causeth crops to grow for you, and the olive and the date-palmand grapes and all kinds of fruit. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for people whoreflect.

12. And He hath constrained the night and the day and the sun and the moon to beof service unto you, and the stars are made subservient by His command. Lo!

herein indeed are portents for people who have sense.

13. And whatsoever He hath created for you in the earth of divers hues, lo!

therein is indeed a portent for people who take heed.

14. And He it is Who hath constrained the sea to be of service that ye eat freshmeat from thence, and bring forth from thence ornaments which ye wear. And thouseest the ships ploughing it that ye [mankind] may seek of His bounty and thathaply ye may give thanks.

15. And He hath cast into the earth firm hills that it quake not with you, andstreams and roads that ye may find a way.

16. And landmarks [too], and by the star they find a way.

17. Is He then Who createth as him who createth not? Will ye not then remember?

18. And if ye would count the favour of Allah ye cannot reckon it. Lo! Allah isindeed Forgiving, Merciful.

19. And Allah knoweth that which ye keep hidden and that which ye proclaim.

20. Those unto whom they cry beside Allah created naught, but are themselvescreated.

21. [They are] dead, not living. And they know not when they will be raised.

22. Your Allah is One Allah. But as for those who believe not in the Hereafter

their hearts refuse to know, for they are proud.

23. Assuredly Allah knoweth that which they keep hidden and that which theyproclaim. Lo! He loveth not the proud.

24. And when it is said unto them: What hath your Lord revealed? they say:

[Mere] fables of the men of old,

25. That they may bear their burdens undiminished on the Day of Resurrection,

with somewhat of the burdens of those whom they mislead without knowledge. Ah!

evil is that which they bear!

26. Those before them plotted, so Allah struck at the foundations of theirbuilding, and then the roof fell down upon them from above them, and the doomcame on them whence they knew not;

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27. Then on the Day of Resurrection He will disgrace them and will say: Whereare My partners, for whose sake ye oppose d [My guidance]? Those who have beengiven knowledge will say: Disgrace this day and evil are upon the disbelievers,

28. Whom the angels cause to die while they are wronging themselves. Then willthey make full submission [saying]: We used not to do any wr ong. Nay! SurelyAllah is Knower of what ye used to do.

29. So enter the gates of hell, to dwell therein for ever. Woeful indeed will bethe lodging of the arrogant.

30. And it is said unto those who ward off [evil]: What hath your Lord revealed?

They s ay: Good. For those who do good in this world there is a good [reward] andthe home of the Hereafter will be better. Pleasant indeed will be the home of

those who ward off [evil] -

31. Gardens of Eden which they enter, underneath which rivers flow, where in theyhave what they will. Thus Allah repayeth those who ward off [evil],

32. Those whom the angels cause to die [when they are] good. They say: Peace beunto you! Enter the Garden because of what ye used to do.

33. Await they aught say that the angels should come unto them or thy Lord'scommand should come to pass? Even so did those before them. Allah wronged themnot, but they did wrong themselves,

34. So that the evils of what they did smote them, and that which they used tomock surrounded them.

35 . And the idolaters say: Had Allah willed, we had not worshipped aught besideHim, we and our fathers, nor had we forbidden aught without [command from] Him.

Even so did those before them. Are the messengers charged with aught save plainconveyance [of the message]?

36. And verily We have raised in every nation a messenger, [proclaiming]: ServeAllah and shun false gods. Then some of them [there were] whom Allah guided, andsome of them [there were] upon whom error had just hold. Do but travel in theland and see the nature of the consequence for the deniers!

37. Even if thou [O Muhammad] desirest their right guidance, still Allahassuredly will not guide him who misleadeth. Such have no helpers.

38. And they swear by Allah their most binding oaths [that] A llah will not raiseup him who dieth. Nay, but it is a promise [binding] upon Him in truth, but mostof mankind know not,

39. That He may explain unto them that wherein they differ, and that those whodisbelieved may know that they were liars.

40. And Our word unto a thing, when We intend it, is only that We say unto it:

Be! and it is.

41. And those who became fugitives for the cause of Allah after they had beenoppressed, We verily shall give them goodly lodging in the world, and surely thereward of the Hereafter is greater, if they but knew;

42. Such as are steadfast and put their trust in Allah.

43. And We sent not [as Our messengers] before thee other than men whom Weinspired - Ask the followers of the Remembrance if ye know not! -

44. With clear proofs and writings; and We have revealed unto thee theRemembrance that thou mayst explain to mankind that which hath been revealed forthem, and that haply they may reflect.

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45. Are they who plan ill-deeds then secure that Allah will not cause the earthto swallow them, or that the doom will not come on them whence they know not?

46. Or that He will not seize them in their going to and fro so that there be noescape for them?

47. Or that He will not seize them with a gradual wasting? Lo! thy Lord isindeed Full of Pity, Merciful.

48. Have they not observed all things that Allah hath created, how their shadowsincline to the right and to the left, making prostration unto Allah, and theyare lowly?

49. And unto Allah maketh prostration whats oever is in the heavens andwhatsoever is in the earth of living creatures, and the angels [also] and theyare not proud.

50. They fear their Lord above them, and do what they are bidden.

51. Allah hath said: Choose not two gods. There is only One Allah. So of Me, Meonly, be in awe.

52. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth, and religionis His for ever. Will ye then fear any other than Allah?

53. And whatever of comfort ye enjoy, it is from Allah. Then, when misfortunereacheth you, unto Him ye cry for help.

54. And afterward, when He hath rid you of the misfortune, behold! a set of youattribute partners to their Lord,

55. So as to deny that which We have given them. Then enjoy life [while ye may],

for ye will come to know.

56. And they assign a portion of that which We have given them unto what theyknow not. By Allah! but ye will indeed be asked concerning [all] that ye used toinvent.

57. And they assign unto Allah daughters - Be He Glorified! - and untothemselves what they desire;

58. When if one of them receiveth tidings of the birth of a female, his faceremaineth darkened, and he is wroth inwardly.

59. He hideth himself from the folk because of the evil of that whereof he hath

had tidings, [asking himself]: Shall he keep it in contempt, or bury it beneaththe dust. Verily evil is their judgment.

60. For those who believe not in the Hereafter is an evil similitude, andAllah's is the Sublime Similitude. He is the Mighty, the Wise.

61. If Allah were to take mankin d to task for their wrong-doing, he would notleave hereon a living creature, but He reprieveth them to an appointed term, andwhen their term cometh they cannot put [it] off an hour nor [yet] advance [it].

62. And they assign unto Allah that which they [t hemselves] dislike, and theirtongues expound the lie that the better portion will be theirs. Assuredly theirswill be the Fire, and they will be abandoned.

63. By Allah, We verily sent messengers unto the nations before thee, but thedevil made their deeds fairseeming unto them. So he is their patron this day,

and theirs will be a painful doom.

64. And We have revealed the Scripture unto thee only that thou mayst explainunto them that wherein they differ, and [as] a guidance and a mercy for a peoplewho b elieve.

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65. Allah sendeth down water from the sky and therewith reviveth the earth afterher death. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for a folk who hear.

66. And lo! in the cattle there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink ofthat which is in their bellies, from betwixt the refuse and the blood, pure milkpalatable to the drinkers.

67. And of the fruits of the date-palm, and grapes, whence ye derive strongdrink and [also] good nourishment. Lo! therein is indeed a portent for peoplewho hav e sense.

68. And thy Lord inspired the bee, saying: Choose thou habitations in the hillsand in the trees and in that which they thatch;

69. Then eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of thy Lord, made smooth [forthee]. There cometh forth from their be llies a drink divers of hues, wherein ishealing for mankind. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for people who reflect.

70. And Allah createth you, then causeth you to die, and among you is he who isbrought back to the most abject stage of life, so that he k noweth nothing after[having had] knowledge. Lo! Allah is Knower, Powerful.

71. And Allah hath favoured some of you above others in provision. Now those whoare more favoured will by no means hand over their provision to those [slaves]

whom their right hands possess, so that they may be equal with them in respectthereof. Is it then the grace of Allah that they deny?

72. And Allah hath given you wives of your own kind, and hath given you, fromyour wives, sons and grandsons, and hath made provision of good things for you.

Is it then in vanity that they believe and in the grace of Allah that theydisbelieve?

73. And they worship beside Allah that which owneth no provision whatsoever forthem from the heavens or the earth, nor have they [whom they worship] a ny power.

74. So coin not similitudes for Allah. Lo! Allah knoweth; ye know not.

75. Allah coineth a similitude: [on the one hand] a [mere] chattel slave, whohath control of nothing, and [on the other hand] one on whom we have bestowed afair provision from Us, and he spendeth thereof secretly and openly. Are theyequal? Praise be to Allah! But most of them know not.

76. And Allah coineth a similitude: Two men, one of them dumb, having control ofnothing, and he is a burden on his owner; whithersoever he directeth him to go,

he bringeth no good. Is he equal with one who enjoineth justice and followeth astraight path [of conduct]?

77. And unto Allah belongeth the Unseen of the heavens and the earth, and thematter of the Hour [of Doom] is but as a twinkl ing of the eye, or it is nearerstill. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.

78. And Allah brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers knowing nothing,

and gave you hearing and sight and hearts that haply ye might give thanks.

79. Have they not seen the birds obedient in mid-air? None holdeth them saveAllah. Lo! herein, verily, are portents for a people who believe.

80. And Allah hath given you in your houses an abode, and hath given you [also],

of the hides of cattle, houses which ye find light [ to carry] on the day ofmigration and on the day of pitching camp; and of their wool and their fur andtheir hair, caparison and comfort for a while.

81. And Allah hath given you, of that which He hath created, shelter from thesun; and hath given you places of refuge in the mountains, and hath given you

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coats to ward off the heat from you, and coats [of armour] to save you from yourown foolhardiness. Thus doth He perfect His favour unto you, in order that yemay surrender [unto Him].

82. T hen, if they turn away, thy duty [O Muhammad] is but plain conveyance [ofthe message].

83. They know the favour of Allah and then deny it. Most of them are ingrates.

84. And [bethink you of] the day when we raise up of every nation a witness,

then there is no leave for disbelievers, nor are they allowed to make amends.

85. And when those who did wrong behold the doom, it will not be made light forthem, nor will they be reprieved.

86. And when those who ascribed partners to Allah behold those partners oftheirs, they will say: Our Lord! these are our partners unto whom we used to cryinstead of Thee. But they will fling to them the saying: Lo! ye verily areliars!

87. And they proffer unto Allah submission on that day, and all that they usedto invent hath failed them.

88. For those who disbelieve and debar [men] from the way of Allah, We add doomto doom because they wrought corruption,

89. And [bethink you of] the day when We raise in every nation a witness againstthem of their own folk, and We bri ng thee [Muhammad] as a witness against these.

And We reveal the Scripture unto thee as an exposition of all things, and aguidance and a mercy and good tidings for those who have surrendered [to Allah].

90. Lo! Allah enjoineth justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, andforbiddeth lewdness and abomination and wickedness. He exhorteth you in orderthat ye may take heed.

91. Fulfil the covenant of Allah when ye have covenanted, and break not youroaths after the asseveration of them, and after ye have made Allah surety overyou. Lo! Allah knoweth what ye do.

92. And be not like unto her who unravelleth the thread, after she hath made itstrong, to thin filaments, making your oaths a deceit between you because of anation being more numerous than [anothe r] nation. Allah only trieth you thereby,

and He verily will explain to you on the Day of Resurrection that wherein yediffered.

93. Had Allah willed He could have made you [all] one nation, but He sendethwhom He will astray and guideth whom He will, and ye will indeed be asked ofwhat ye used to do.

94. Make not your oaths a deceit between you, lest a foot should slip afterbeing firmly planted and ye should taste evil forasmuch as ye debarred [men]

from the way of Allah, and yours should be an awful doom.

95. And purchase not a small gain at the price of Allah's covenant. Lo! thatwhich Allah hath is better for you, if ye did but know.

96. That which ye have wasteth away, and that which Allah hath remaineth. Andverily We shall pay those who are steadfast a recompense in proportion to thebest of what they used to do.

97. Whosoever doeth right, whether male or female, and is a believer, him verilywe shall quicken with good life, and We shall pay them a recompense inproportion to the best of what they used to do.

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98. And when thou recitest the Qur'an, seek refuge in Allah from Satan theoutcast.

99. Lo! he hath no power over those who believe and put trust in their Lord.

100. His power is only over those who make a friend of him, and t hose whoascribe partners unto Him [Allah].

101. And when We put a revelation in place of [another] revelation, - and Allahknoweth best what He revealeth - they say: Lo! thou art but inventing. Most ofthem know not.

102. Say: The holy Spirit hath delive red it from thy Lord with truth, that itmay confirm [the faith of] those who believe, and as guidance and good tidingsfor those who have surrendered [to Allah].

103. And We know well that they say: Only a man teacheth him. The speech of himat whom they falsely hint is outlandish, and this is clear Arabic speech.

104. Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, Allah guideth them notand theirs will be a painful doom.

105. Only they invent falsehood who believe not Allah's revelations, and [only]

they are the liars.

106. Whoso disbelieveth in Allah after his belief - save him who is forced

thereto and whose heart is still content with the Faith - but whoso findeth ease

in disbelief: On them is wrath from Allah. Theirs will be an awful doom.

107. That is because they have chosen the life of the world rather than theHereafter, and because Allah guideth not the disbelieving folk.

108. Such are they whose hearts and ears and eyes Allah hath sealed. And suchare the heedless.

109. Assuredly in the Hereafter they are the losers.

110. Then lo! thy Lord - for those who became fugitives after they had beenpersecuted, and then fought and were steadfast - lo! thy Lord afterward is [forthem] indeed Forgiving, Merciful.

111. On the Day when every soul will come pleading for itself, and every soulwill be repaid what it did, and they will not be wronged.

112. Allah coineth a similitude: a township that dwelt secure and well content,

its provision coming to it in abundance from every side, but it disbelieved inAllah's favours, so Allah made it experience the garb of dearth and fear becauseof what they used to do.

113. And verily there had come unto them a messenger from among them, but theyhad denied him, and so the torment seized them while they were wrong-doers.

114. So eat of the lawful and good food which Allah hath provided for you, andthank the bounty of your Lord if it is Him ye serve.

115. He hath forbidden for you only carrion and blood and swineflesh and thatwhich hath been immolated in the name of any other than Allah; but he who isdriven thereto, neither craving nor transgressing, lo! then Allah is Forgiving,

Merciful.

116. And speak not, concerning that which your own tongues qualify [as clean orunclean], the falsehood: "This is lawful, and this is forbidden," so that yeinvent a lie against Allah. Lo! those who invent a lie against Allah will notsucceed.

117. A brief enjoyment [will be theirs]; and theirs a painful doom.

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118. And unto those who are Jews We have forbidden that which We have alreadyrelated unto thee. And We wronged them not, but they were wont to wrongthemselves.

119. Then lo! thy Lord - for those who do evil in ignorance and afterward repentand amend - lo! [for them] thy Lord is afterward indeed Forgiving, Merciful.

120. Lo! Abraham was a nation obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he wasnot of the idolaters;

121. Thankful for His bounties; He chose him and He guided him unto a straightpath.

122. And We gave him good in the world, and in the Hereafter he is among therighteous.

123. And afterward We inspired thee [Muhammad, saying]: Follow the religion ofAbraham, as one by nature upright. He was not of the idolaters.

124. The Sabbath was appointed only for those who differed concerning it, andlo! thy Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning thatwherein they used to differ.

125. Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reasonwith them in the better way. Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth fromHis way, and He is Best Aware of those who go aright.

126. If ye punish, then punish with the like of that wherewith ye wereafflicted. But if ye endure patiently, verily it is better for the patient.

127. Endure thou patiently [O Muhammad]. Thine endurance is only by [the helpof] Allah. Grieve not for them, and be not in distress because of that whichthey devise.

128. Lo! Allah is with those who keep their duty unto Him and those who aredoers of good.

SURA 17. AL-ISRA (ISRA', THE NIGHT JOURNEY,

CHILDREN OF ISRAEL)

1. Glorified be He Who carried His servant by night from the Inviolable Place ofWorship to the Far distant place of worship the neighbourhood whereof We haveblessed, that We might show him of Our tokens! Lo! He, only He, is the Hearer,

the Seer.

2. We gave unto Moses the Scripture, and We appointed it a guidance for thechildren of Israel, saying: Choose no guardian beside Me.

3. [They were] the seed of those whom We carried [in the ship] along with Noah.

Lo! he was a grateful slave.

4. And We decreed for the Children of Israel in the Scripture: Ye verily willwork corruption in the earth twice, and ye will become great tyrants.

5. So when the time for the first of the two came, We roused against you slav esof Ours of great might who ravaged [your] country, and it was a threatperformed.

6. Then we gave you once again your turn against them, and We aided you withwealth and children and made you more in soldiery.

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7. [Saying]: If ye do good, y e do good for your own souls, and if ye do evil, itis for them [in like manner]. So, when the time for the second [of thejudgments] came [We roused against you others of Our slaves] to ravage you, andto enter the Temple even as they entered it the first ti me, and to lay waste allthat they conquered with an utter wasting.

8. It may be that your Lord will have mercy on you, but if ye repeat [the crime]

We shall repeat [the punishment], and We have appointed hell a dungeon for thedisbelievers.

9. Lo! this Qur'an guideth unto that which is straightest, and giveth tidingsunto the believers who do good works that theirs will be a great reward.

10. And that those who believe not in the Hereafter, for them We have prepared apainful doom.

11. Man prayeth for evil as he prayeth for good; for man was ever hasty.

12. And We appoint the night and the day two portents. Then We make dark theportent of the night, and We make the portent of the day sight-giving, that yemay seek bounty from your Lord, and that ye may know the computation of theyears, and the reckoning; and everything have We expounded with a clearexpounding.

13. And every man's augury have We fastened to his own neck, and We shall bringforth for him on the Day of Resurrection a book which he will find wide open.

14. [And it will be said unto him]: Read thy Book. Thy soul sufficeth asreckoner against thee this day.

15. Whosoever goeth right, it is only for [the good of] his own soul that hegoeth right, and whosoever erreth, erreth only to its hur t. No laden soul canbear another's load, We never punish until we have sent a messenger.

16. And when We would destroy a township We send commandment to its folk wholive at ease, and afterward they commit abomination therein, and so the Word [ofdoom] hat h effect for it, and we annihilate it with complete annihilation.

17. How many generations have We destroyed since Noah! And Allah sufficeth asKnower and Beholder of the sins of His slaves.

18. Whoso desireth that [life] which hasteneth away, We hasten for him thereinwhat We will for whom We please. And afterward We have appointed for him hell;

he will endure the heat thereof, condemned, rejected.

19. And whoso desireth the Hereafter and striveth for it with the effort

necessary, being a believer; for such, their effort findeth favour [with theirLord].

20. Each do We supply, both these and those, from the bounty of thy Lord. Andthe bounty of thy Lord can never be walled up.

21. See how We prefer one of them above another, and verily the Hereafter willbe greater in degrees and greater in preferment.

22. Set not up with Allah any other god [O man] lest thou sit down reproved,

forsaken.

23. Thy Lord hath decreed, that ye worship none save Him, and [that ye show]

kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age with thee,

say not "Fie" unto them nor repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word.

24. And lower unto them the wing of submission through mercy, and say: My Lord!

Have mercy on them both as they did care for me when I was little.

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25. Your Lord is Best Aware of what is in your minds. If ye are righteous, thenlo! He was ever Forgiving unto those who turn [unto Him].

26. Give the kinsman his due, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and squander not[t hy wealth] in wantonness.

27. Lo! the squanderers were ever brothers of the devils, and the devil was everan ingrate to his Lord.

28. But if thou turn away from them, seeking mercy from thy Lord, for which thouhopest, then speak unto them a reasonable word.

29. And let not thy hand be chained to thy neck nor open it with a completeopening, lest thou sit down rebuked, denuded.

30. Lo! thy Lord enlargeth the provision for whom He will, and straiteneth [itfor whom He will]. Lo, He was ever Knower, Seer of His slaves.

31. Slay not your children, fearing a fall to poverty, We shall provide for themand for you. Lo! the slaying of them is great sin.

32. And come not near unto adultery. Lo! it is an abomination and an evil way.

33. And slay not the life which Allah hath forbidden save with right. Whoso isslain wrongfully, We have given power unto his heir, but let him not commitexcess in slaying. Lo! he will be helped.

34. Come not near the wealth of the orphan save with that which is better tillhe come to strength; and keep the covenant. Lo! of the covenant it will beasked.

35. Fill the measure when ye measure, and weigh with a right balance; that ismeet, and better in the end.

36. [O man], follow not that whereof thou hast no knowledge. Lo! the h earing andthe sight and the heart - of each of these it will be asked.

37. And walk not in the earth exultant. Lo! thou canst not rend the earth, norcanst thou stretch to the height of the hills.

38. The evil of all that is hateful in the sight of thy Lord.

39. This is [part] of that wisdom wherewith thy Lord hath inspired thee [OMuhammad]. And set not up with Allah any other god, lest thou be cast into hell,

reproved, abandoned.

40. Hath your Lord then distinguished you [O men of Makka] by giving you sons,

and hath chosen for Himself females from among the angels? Lo! verily ye speakan awful word!

41. We verily have displayed [Our warnings] in this Qur'an that they may takeheed, but it increaseth them in naught save aversion.

42. Say [O Muhamm ad, to the disbelievers]: If there were other gods along withHim, as they say, then had they sought a way against the Lord of the Throne.

43. Glorified is He, and High Exalted above what they say!

44. The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein praise Him, andthere is not a thing but hymneth His praise; but ye understand not their praise.

Lo! He is ever Clement, Forgiving.

45. And when thou recitest the Qur'an we place between thee and those whobelieve not in the Hereafter a hidden barrier;

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46. And We place upon their hearts veils lest they should understand it, and intheir ears a deafness; and when thou makest mention of thy Lord alone in theQur'an, they turn their backs in aversion.

47. We are Best Aware of what they wish to hear when they give ear to thee andwhen they take secret counsel, when the evil-doers say: Ye follow but a manbewitched.

48. See what similitudes they coin for thee, and thus are all astray, and cannotfind a road!

49. And they say: When we are bones and fragments, shall we forsooth, be raisedup as a new creation?

50. Say: Be ye stones or iron

51. Or some created thing that is yet greater in your thoughts! Then they willsay: Who shall bring us back [to life]. Say: He Who created you at the first.

Then will they shake their heads at thee, and say: When will it be? Say: It willperhaps be soon;

52. A day when He will call you and ye will answer with His praise, and ye willthink that ye have tarried but a little while.

53. Tell My bondmen to speak that which is kindlier. Lo! the devil sowethdiscord among them. Lo! the devil is for man an open foe.

54. Your Lord is Best Aware of you. If He will, He will have mercy on you, or ifHe will, He will punish you. We have not sent thee [O Muhammad] as a warden overthem.

55. And thy Lord is Best Aware of all who are in the heavens and the earth. Andwe preferred some of the prophets above others, and unto David We gave thePsalms.

56. Say: Cry unto those [saints and angels] whom ye assume [to be gods] be sideHim, yet they have no power to rid you of misfortune nor to change.

57. Those unto whom they cry seek the way of approach to their Lord, which ofthem shall be the nearest; they hope for His mercy and they fear His doom. Lo!

the doom of thy Lord is to be shunned.

58. There is not a township but We shall destroy it ere the Day of Resurrection,

or punish it with dire punishment. That is set forth in the Book [of Ourdecrees].

59. Naught hindereth Us from sending portents save that the folk of old deniedthem. And We gave Thamud the she-camel - a clear portent save to warn.

60. And [it was a warning] when we told thee: Lo! thy Lord encompasseth mankind,

and We appointed the sight which We showed thee as an ordeal for mankind, and[likewise] the Accur sed Tree in the Qur'an. We warn them, but it increaseth themin naught save gross impiety.

61. And when We said unto the angels: Fall down prostrate before Adam and theyfell prostrate all save Iblis, he said: Shall I fall prostrate before that whichThou hast created of clay?

62. He said: Seest Thou this [creature] whom Thou hast honoured above me, ifThou give me grace until the Day of Resurrection I verily will seize his seed,

save but a few.

63. He said: Go, and whosoever of them followeth thee - lo! hell will be yourpayment, ample payment.

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64. And excite any of them whom thou canst with thy voice, and urge thy horseand foot against them, and be a partner in their wealth and children, andpromise them. Satan promiseth them only to deceive.

65. Lo! My [faithful] bondmen - over them thou hast no power, and thy Lordsufficeth as [their] guardian.

66. [O mankind], your Lord is He Who driveth for you the ship upon the sea thatye may seek of His bounty. Lo! He was ever Merciful toward you.

67. And when harm toucheth you upon the sea, all unto whom ye cry [for succour]

fail save Him [alone], but when He bringeth you safe to land, ye turn away, forman was ever thankless.

68. Feel ye then secure that He will not cause a slope of the land to engulfyou, or send a sand-storm upon you, and then ye will find that ye have noprotector?

69. Or feel ye secure that He will not return you to that [plight] a secondtime, and send against you a hurricane of wind and drown you for yourthanklessness, and then ye will not find therein that ye have any avengeragainst Us?

70. Verily we have honoured the Children of Adam. We carry them on the land andthe sea, and have made provision of good things for them, and have preferredthem above many of those whom We created with a marked preferment.

71. On the day when We shall summon all men with their record, whoso is givenhis book in his right hand - such will read their book and they will not bewronged a shred.

72. Whoso is blind here will be blind in the Hereafter, and yet further from theroad.

73. And they indeed strove hard to beguile thee [Muhammad] away from thatwherewith We have inspired thee, that thou shouldst invent other than it againstUs; and then would they have accepted thee as a friend.

74. And if We had not made thee wholly firm thou mightest almost have inclinedunto them a little.

75. Then had we made thee taste a double [punishment] of living and a double[punishment] of dying, then hadst thou found no helper against Us.

76. And they inde ed wished to scare thee from the land that they might drivethee forth from thence, and then they would have stayed [there] but a littleafter thee.

77. [Such was Our] method in the case of those whom We sent before thee [tomankind], and thou wilt not find for Our method aught of power to change.

78. Establish worship at the going down of the sun until the dark of night, and[the recital of] the Qur'an at dawn. Lo! [the recital of] the Qur'an at dawn isever witnessed.

79. And some part of the night awake for it, a largess for thee. It may be thatthy Lord will raise thee to a praised estate.

80. And say: My Lord! Cause me to come in with a firm incoming and to go outwith a firm outgoing. And give me from Thy presence a sustaining Power.

81. And say: Truth hath come and falsehood hath vanished away. Lo! falsehood isever bound to vanish.

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82. And We reveal of the Qur'an that which is a healing and a mercy forbelievers though it increase the evil-doers in naught save ruin.

83. And when We make life pleasant unto man, he turneth away and is averse; andwhen ill toucheth him he is in despair.

84. Say: Each one doth according to his rule of conduct, and thy Lord is BestAware of him whose way is right.

85. They are asking thee concerning the Spirit. Say: The Spirit is by command ofmy Lord, and of knowledge ye have been vouchsafed but little.

86. And if We willed We could withdraw that which We have revealed unto thee,

then wouldst thou find no guardian for thee against Us in respect thereof.

87. [It is naught] save mercy from thy Lord. Lo! His kindness unto thee was evergreat.

88. Say: Verily, though mankind and the jinn should assemble to produce the likeof this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof though they were helpersone of another.

89. And verily We have displayed for mankind in this Qur'an all kind ofsimilitudes, but most of mankind refuse aught save disbelief.

90. And they say: We will not put faith in thee till thou cause a spring to gushforth from the earth for us;

91. Or thou have a garden of date-palms and grapes, and cause rivers to gushforth therein abundantly;

92. Or thou cause the heaven to fall upon us piecemeal, as thou hast pretended,

or bring Allah and the angels as a warrant;

93. Or thou have a h ouse of gold; or thou ascend up into heaven, and even thenwe will put no faith in thine ascension till thou bring down for us a book thatwe can read. Say [O Muhammad]: My Lord be Glorified! Am I aught save a mortalmessenger?

94. And naught prevented mank ind from believing when the guidance came unto themsave that they said: Hath Allah sent a mortal as [His] messenger?

95. Say: If there were in the earth angels walking secure, We had sent down forthem from heaven an angel as messenger.

96. Say: Allah sufficeth for a witness between me and you. Lo! He is Knower,

Seer of His slaves.

97. And he whom Allah guideth, he is led aright; while, as for him whom Hesendeth astray, for them thou wilt find no protecting friends beside Him, and Weshall assemble them on the Day of Resurrection on their faces, blind, dumb anddeaf; their habitation will be hell; whenever it abateth, We increase the flamefor them.

98. That is their reward because they disbelieved Our revelations and said: Whenwe are bones and fragments shall we, forsooth, be raised up as a new creation?

99. Have they not seen that Allah Who created the heavens and the earth is Ableto create the like of them, and hath appointed for them an end whereof there isno doubt? But the wrong-doers refuse aught save disbelief.

100. Say [unto them]: If ye possessed the treasures of the mercy of my Lord, yewould surely hold them back for fear of spending, for man was ever grudging.

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101. And verily We gave unto Moses nine tokens, clear proofs [of A llah'sSovereignty]. Do but ask the Children of Israel how he came unto them, thenPharaoh said unto him: Lo! I deem thee one bewitched, O Moses.

102. He said: In truth thou knowest that none sent down these [portents] savethe Lord of the heavens and the e arth as proofs, and lo! [for my part] I deemthee lost, O Pharaoh.

103. And he wished to scare them from the land, but We drowned him and thosewith him, all together.

104. And We said unto the Children of Israel after him: Dwell in the land; butwhen the promise of the Hereafter cometh to pass We shall bring you as a crowdgathered out of various nations.

105. With truth have We sent it down, and with truth hath it descended. And Wehave sent thee as naught else save a bearer of good tidings and a warner.

106. And [it is] a Qur'an that We have divided, that thou mayst recite it untomankind at intervals, and We have revealed it by [successive] revelation.

107. Say: Believe therein or believe not, lo! those who were given knowledgebefore it, when it is read unto them, fall down prostrate on their faces,

adoring,

108. Saying: Glory to our Lord! Verily the promise of our Lord must befulfilled.

109. They fall down on their faces, weeping, and it increaseth humility in them.

110. Say [unto mankind]: Cr y unto Allah, or cry unto the Beneficent, untowhichsoever ye cry [it is the same]. His are the most beautiful names. And thou[Muhammad], be not loud-voiced in thy worship nor yet silent therein, but followa way between.

111. And say: Praise be to Allah, Who hath not taken unto Himself a son, and Whohath no partner in the Sovereignty, nor hath He any protecting friend throughdependence. And magnify Him with all magnificence.

SURA 18. AL-KAHF (THE CAVE)

1. Praise be to Allah Who hath revealed the Scripture unto His slave, and hathnot placed therein any crookedness,

2. [But hath made it] straight, to give warning of stern punishment from Him,

and to bring unto the believers who do good works the news that theirs will be afair reward,

3. Wherein they will abide for ever;

4. And to warn those who say: Allah hath chosen a son,

5. [A thing] whereof they have no knowledge, nor [had] their fathers, Dreadfulis the word that cometh out of their mouths. They speak naught but a lie.

6. Yet it may be, if they believe not in this statement, that thou [Muhammad]

wilt torment thy soul with grief over their footsteps.

7. Lo! We have placed all that is on the earth as an ornament thereof that Wemay try them: which of them is best in conduct.

8. And lo! We shall make all that is thereon a barren mound.

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9. Or deemest thou that the People of the Cave and the Inscription are a wonderamong Our portents?

10. When the young men fled for refuge to the Cave and said: Our Lord! Give usmercy from Thy presence, and shape for us right conduct in our plight.

11. Then We sealed up their hearing in the Cave for a number of years.

12. And afterward We raised them up that We might know which of the two partieswould best calculate the time that they had tarried.

13. We narrate unto thee their story with truth. Lo! they were young men whobelieved in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.

14. And We made firm their hearts when they stood forth and said: Our Lord isthe Lord of the heavens and the earth. We cry unto no Allah beside Him, for thenshould we utter an enormity.

15. These, our people, have chosen [other] gods beside Him though they bring noclear warrant [vouchsafed] to them. And who doth greater wrong than he whoinventeth a lie concerni ng Allah?

16. And when ye withdraw from them and that which they worship except Allah,

then seek refuge in the Cave; your Lord will spread for you of His mercy andwill prepare for you a pillow in your plight.

17. And thou mightest have seen the sun wh en it rose move away from their caveto the right, and when it set go past them on the left, and they were in thecleft thereof. That was [one] of the portents of Allah. He whom Allah guideth,

he indeed is led aright, and he whom He sendeth astray, for him thou wilt notfind a guiding friend.

18. And thou wouldst have deemed them waking though they were asleep, and Wecaused them to turn over to the right and the left, and their dog stretching outhis paws on the threshold. If thou hadst observed them closely thou hadstassuredly turned away from them in flight, and hadst been filled with awe ofthem.

19. And in like manner We awakened them that they might question one another. Aspeaker from among them said: How long have ye tarried? They said: We havetarried a day or some part of a day, [Others] said: Your Lord best knoweth whatye have tarried. Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city,

and let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof. Lethim be courteous and let no man know of you.

20. For they, if they should come to know of you, will stone you or turn youback to their religion; then ye will never prosper.

21. And in like manner We disclosed them [to the people of the city] that theymight know that the promise o f Allah is true, and that, as for the Hour, thereis no doubt concerning it. When [the people of the city] disputed of their caseamong themselves, they said: Build over them a building; their Lord knoweth bestconcerning them. Those who won their point said: We verily shall build a placeof worship over them.

22. [Some] will say: They were three, their dog the fourth, and [some] say:

Five, their dog the sixth, guessing at random; and [some] say: Seven, and theirdog the eighth. Say [O Muhammad]: My Lord is B est Aware of their number. Noneknoweth them save a few. So contend not concerning them except with an outwardcontending, and ask not any of them to pronounce concerning them.

23. And say not of anything: Lo! I shall do that tomorrow,

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24. Except if Allah will. And remember thy Lord when thou forgettest, and say:

It may be that my Lord guideth me unto a nearer way of truth than this.

25. And [it is said] they tarried in their Cave three hundred years and addnine.

26. Say: Allah is Best Aware how long they tarried. His is the Invisible of theheavens and the earth. How clear of sight is He and keen of hearing! They haveno protecting friend beside Him, and He maketh none to share in His government.

27. And recite that which hath been revealed unto thee of the Scripture of thyLord. There is none who can change His words, and thou wilt find no refugebeside Him.

28. Restrain thyself along with those who cry unto their Lord at morn andevening, seeking His Countenance; and let not thine eyes overlook them, desiringthe pomp of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have madeheedless of Our remembrance, who followeth his own lust and whose case hath beenabandoned.

29. Say: [It is] the truth from the Lord of you [all]. Then whoso ever will, lethim believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve. Lo! We have prepared fordisbelievers Fire. Its tent encloseth them. If they ask for showers, they willbe showered with water like to molten lead which burneth the faces. Calamitous

the drink and ill the resting-place!

30. Lo! as for those who believe and do good works - Lo! We suffer not thereward of one whose work is goodly to be lost.

31. As for such, theirs will be Gardens of Eden, wherein rivers flow beneaththem; therein they will be given armlets of gold and will wear green robes offinest silk and gold embroidery, reclining upon throne therein. Blest thereward, and fair the resting-place!

32. Coin for them a similitude: Two men, unto one of whom We had assigned twogardens of grapes, and We had surrounded both with date-palms and had putbetween them tillage.

33. Each of the gardens gave its fruit and withheld naught thereof. And Wecaused a river to gush forth therein.

34. And he had fruit. And he said unto his comrade, when he spake with him: I ammore than thee in wealth, and stronger in respect of men.

35. And he went into his garden, while he [thus] wronged himself. He said: Ithink not that all this will ever perish.

36. I think not that the Hour will ever come, and if indeed I am brought backunto my Lord I surely shall find better than this as a resort.

37. His comrade, when he [thus] spake with him, exclaimed: Disbelievest thou inHim Who created thee of dust, then of a drop [of seed], and then fashioned theea man?

38. But He is Allah, my Lord, and I ascribe unto my Lord no partner.

39. If only, when thou enteredst thy garden, thou hadst said: That which Allahwilleth [will come to pass]! There is no strength save in Allah! Though thouseest me as less than thee in weal th and children,

40. Yet it may be that my Lord will give me better than thy garden, and willsend on it a bolt from heaven, and some morning it will be a smooth hillside,

41. Or some morning the water thereof will be lost in the earth so that thoucanst not make search for it.

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42. And his fruit was beset [with destruction]. Then began he to wring his handsfor all that he had spent upon it, when [now] it was all ruined on itstrellises, and to say: Would that I had ascribed no partner to my Lord!

43. And he had no troop of men to help him as against Allah, nor could he savehimself.

44. In this case is protection only from Allah, the True, He is Best for reward,

and best for consequence.

45. And coin for them the similitude of the life of the world as water which We

send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingleth with it andthen becometh dry twigs that the winds scatter. Allah is able to do all things.

46. Wealth and children are an ornament of the life of the world. But the gooddeeds which endure are better in thy Lord's sight for reward, and better inrespect of hope.

47. And [bethink you of] the Day when we remove the hills and ye see the earthemerging, and We gather them together so as to leave not one of them be hind.

48. And they are set before thy Lord in ranks [and it is said unto them]: Nowverily have ye come unto Us as We created you at the first. But ye thought thatWe had set no tryst for you.

49. And the Book is placed, and thou seest the guilty fearful of that which istherein, and they say: What kind of a Book is this that leaveth not a smallthing nor a great thing but hath counted it! And they find all that they didconfronting them, and thy Lord wrongeth no-one.

50. And [remember] when We said unto t he angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, andthey fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He was of the jinn, so he rebelled againsthis Lord's command. Will ye choose him and his seed for your protecting friendsinstead of Me, when they are an enemy unto you? Calamitous is the exchange forevil-doers.

51. I made them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, northeir own creation; nor choose I misleaders for [My] helpers.

52. And [be mindful of] the Day when He will say: Call those partners of Minewh om ye pretended. Then they will cry unto them, but they will not hear theirprayer, and We shall set a gulf of doom between them.

53. And the guilty behold the Fire and know that they are about to fall therein,

and they find no way of escape thence.

54. And verily We have displayed for mankind in this Qur'an all manner ofsimilitudes, but man is more than anything contentious.

55. And naught hindereth mankind from believing when the guidance cometh untothem, and from asking forgiveness of their Lord un less [it be that they wish]

that the judgment of the men of old should come upon them or [that] they shouldbe confronted with the Doom.

56. We send not the messengers save as bearers of good news and warners. Thosewho disbelieve contend with falsehood in order to refute the Truth thereby. Andthey take Our revelations and that wherewith they are threatened as a jest.

57. And who doth greater wrong than he who hath been reminded of the revelationsof his Lord, yet turneth away from them and forgetteth wha t his hands sendforward [to the Judgment]? Lo! on their hearts We have placed coverings so thatthey understand not, and in their ears a deafness. And though thou call them tothe guidance, in that case they can never be led aright.

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58. Thy Lo rd is the Forgiver, Full of Mercy. If He took them to task [now] forwhat they earn, He would hasten on the doom for them; but theirs is an appointedterm from which they will find no escape.

59. And [all] those townships! We destroyed them when they did w rong, and Weappointed a fixed time for their destruction.

60. And when Moses said unto his servant: I will not give up until I reach thepoint where the two rivers meet, though I march on for ages.

61. And when they reached the point where the two met, they forgot their fish,

and it took its way into the waters, being free.

62. And when they had gone further, he said unto his servant: Bring us ourbreakfast. Verily we have found fatigue in this our journey.

63. He said: Didst thou see, when we took refuge on the rock, and I forgot thefish - and none but Satan caused me to forget to mention it - it took its wayinto the waters by a marvel.

64. He said: This is that which we have been seeking. So they retraced theirsteps again.

65. Then found they one of Our slaves, unto whom We had given mercy from Us, andhad taught him knowledge from Our presence.

66. Moses said unto him: May I follow thee, to the end that thou mayst teach meright conduct of that which thou hast been taught?

67. He said: Lo! thou canst not bear with me.

68. How canst thou bear with that whereof thou canst not compass any knowledge?

69. He said: Allah willing, thou shalt find me patient and I shall not in aughtgainsay thee.

70. He said: Well, if thou go with me, ask me not concerning aught till I myselfmake mention of it unto thee.

71. So they twain set out till, when they were in the ship, he made a holetherein. [Moses] said: Hast thou made a hole therein to drown the folk thereof?

Thou verily hast done a dreadful thing.

72. He said: Did I not tell thee that thou couldst not bear with me?

73. [Moses] said: Be not wroth with me that I forgot, and be not hard upon mefor my fault.

74. So they twain journeyed on till, when they met a lad, he slew him. [Moses]

said: What! Hast thou slain an innocent soul who hath slain no man? Verily thouhast done a horrid thing.

75. He said: Did I not tell thee that thou couldst not bear with me?

76. [Moses] said: If I ask thee after this concerning aught, keep not companywith me. Th ou hast received an excuse from me.

77. So they twain journeyed on till, when they came unto the folk of a certaintownship, they asked its folk for food, but they refused to make them guests.

And they found therein a wall upon the point of falling into ruin, and herepaired it. [Moses] said: If thou hadst wished, thou couldst have taken paymentfor it.

78. He said: This is the parting between thee and me! I will announce unto theethe interpretation of that thou couldst not bear with patience.

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79. As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working on the river, and Iwished to mar it, for there was a king behind them who is taking every ship byforce.

80. And as for the lad, his parents were believers and we feared lest he shouldoppress them by rebellion and disbelief.

81. And we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better inpurity and nearer to mercy.

82. And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and therewas beneath it a treasure belonging to them, and their father had beenrighteous, and thy Lord intended that they should come to their full strengthand should bring forth their treasure as a mercy from their Lord; and I did itnot upon my own command. Such is the interpretation of that wherewith thoucouldst not bear.

83. They will ask thee of Dhu'l-Qarneyn. Say: I shall recite unto you aremembrance of him.

84. Lo! We made him strong in the land and gave him unto every thing a road.

85. And he followed a road

86. Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in amuddy spring, and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Eitherpunish or show them kindness.

87. He said: As for him who doeth wrong, we shall punish him, and then he willbe brought back unto his Lord, Who will punish him with awful punishment!

88. But as for him who believeth and doeth right, good will be his reward, andWe shall speak unto him a mild command.

89. Then he followed a road

90. Till, when he reached the rising-place of the sun, he found it rising on apeople for whom We had appointed no shelter therefrom.

91. So [it was]. And We knew all concerning him.

92. Then he followed a road

93. Till, when he came between the two mountains, he found upon their hitherside a folk that scarce could understand a saying.

94. They said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Lo! Gog and Magog are spoiling the land. So maywe pay thee tribute on condition that thou set a barrier between us and them?

95. He said: That wherein my Lord hath established me i s better [than yourtribute]. Do but help me with strength [of men], I will set between you and thema bank.

96. Give me pieces of iron - till, when he had levelled up [the gap] between thecliffs, he said: Blow! - till, when he had made it a fire, he said: Bring memolten copper to pour thereon.

97. And [Gog and Magog] were not able to surmount, nor could they pierce [it].

98. He said: This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lordcometh to pass, He will lay it low, for the promise of my Lord is true.

99. And on that day we shall let some of them surge against others, and theTrumpet will be blown. Then We shall gather them together in one gathering.

100. On that day we shall present hell to the disbelievers, plain to view,

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101. Those whose eyes were hoodwinked from My reminder, and who could not bearto hear.

102. Do the disbelievers reckon that they can choose My bondmen as protectingfriends beside Me? Lo! We have prepared hell as a welcome for the disbelievers.

103. Say: Shall We inform you who will be the greatest losers by their works?

104. Those whose effort goeth astray in the life of the world, and yet theyreckon that they do good work.

105. Those are they who disbelieve in the revelations of their Lord and in themeeting with Him. Therefor their works are vain, and on the Day of ResurrectionWe assign no weight to them.

106. That is their reward: hell, because they disbelieved, and made a jest ofOur revelations and Our messengers.

107. Lo! those who believe and do good works, theirs are the Gardens of Paradisefor welcome,

108. Wherein they will abide, with no desire to be removed from thence.

109. Say: Though the sea became ink for the Words of my Lord, verily the seawould be used up before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even though Webrought the like thereof to help.

110. Say: I am only a mortal like you. My Lord inspireth in me that your Allahis only One Allah. And whoever hopeth for the meeting with his Lord, let him dorighteous work, and make none sharer of the worship due unto his Lord.

SURA 19. MARYAM (MARY)

1. Kaf. Ha. Ya. A'in. Sad.

2. A mention of the mercy of thy Lord unto His servant Zachariah.

3. When he cried unto his Lord a cry in secret,

4. Saying: My Lord! Lo! the bones of me wax feeble and my head is shining withgrey hair, and I have never been unblest in prayer to Thee, my Lord.

5. Lo! I fear my kinsfolk after me, since my wife is barren. Oh, give me fromThy presence a successor

6. Who shall inherit of me and inherit [also] of the house of Jacob. And makehim, my Lord, acceptable [unto Thee].

7. [It was said unto him]: O Zachariah! Lo! We bring thee tidings of a son whosename is John; we have given the same name to none before [him].

8. He said: My Lord! How can I have a son when my wife is barren and I havereached infirm old age?

9. He said: So [it will be]. Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me, even as Icreated thee before, when thou wast naught.

10. He said: My Lord! Appoint for me some token. He said: Thy token is thatthou, with no bodily defect, shalt not speak unto mankind three nights.

11. Then he came forth unto his people from the sanctuary, and signified tothem: Glorify your Lord at break of day and fall of night.

12. [And it was said unto his son]: O John! Hold fast the Scripture. And we gavehim wisdom when a child,

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13. And compassion from Our presence, and purity; and he was devout,

14. And dutiful toward his parents. And he was not arrogant, rebellious.

15. Peace on him the day he was born, and the day he dieth and the day he shallbe raised alive!

16. And make mention of Mary in the Scripture, when she had withdrawn from herpeople to a chamber looking East,

17. And had chosen seclusion from them. Then We sent unto her Our Spirit and itassumed for her the likeness of a perfect man.

18. She said: Lo! I seek refuge in the Beneficent One from thee, if thou artAllah-fearing.

19. He said: I am only a messenger of thy Lord, that I may bestow on thee afaultless son.

20. She said: How can I have a son when no mortal hath touched me, neither haveI been unchaste?

21. He said: So [it will be]. Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me. And [it willbe] that We may make of him a revelation for mankind and a mercy from Us, and itis a thing ordai ned.

22. And she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far place.

23. And the pangs of childbirth drove her unto the trunk of the palm-tree. Shesaid: Oh, would that I had died ere this and had become a thing of naught,

forgotten!

24. Then [o ne] cried unto her from below her, saying: Grieve not! Thy Lord hathplaced a rivulet beneath thee,

25. And shake the trunk of the palm-tree toward thee, thou wilt cause ripe datesto fall upon thee.

26. So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! Ihave vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.

27. Then she brought him to her own folk, carrying him. They said: O Mary! Thouhast come with an amazing thing.

28. O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a wicked man nor was thy mother aharlot.

29. Then she pointed to him. They said: How can we talk to one who is in thecradle, a young boy?

30. He spake: Lo! I am the slave of Allah. He hath given me the Scripture andhath appointed me a Prophet,

31. And hath made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and hath enjoined upon meprayer and almsgiving so long as I remain alive,

32. And [hath made me] dutiful toward her who bore me, and hath not made mearrogant, unblest.

33. Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall beraised alive!

34. Such was Jesus, son of Mary: [this is] a statement of the truth concerningwhich they doubt.

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35. It befitteth not [the Majesty of] Allah that He should take unto Himself ason. Glory be to Him! When He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! andit is.

36. And lo! Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So serve Him. That is the rightpath.

37. The sects among them differ: but woe unto the disbelievers from the meetingof an awful Day.

38. See and hear them on the Day they come unto Us! yet the evil-doers are today

in error manifest.

39. And warn them of the Day of anguish when the case hath been decided. Nowthey are in a state of carelessness, and they believe not.

40. Lo! We, only We, inherit the earth and all who are thereon, and unto Us theyare returned.

41. And make mention [O Muhammad] in the Scripture of Abraham. Lo! he was asaint, a prophet.

42. When he said unto his father: O my father! Why worshippest thou that whichheareth not nor seeth, nor can in aught avail thee?

43. O my father! Lo! there hath come unto me of knowledge that which came notunto thee. So follow me, and I will lead thee on a right path.

44. O my father! Serve not the devil. Lo! the devil is a rebel unto theBeneficent.

45. O my father! Lo! I fear lest a punishment from the Beneficent overtake theeso that thou become a comrade of the devil.

46. He said: Rejectest thou my gods, O Abraham? If thou cease not, I shallsurely stone thee. Depart from me a long while!

47. He said: Peace be unto thee! I shall ask forgiveness of my Lord for thee.

Lo! He was ever gracious unto me.

48. I shall withdraw from you and that unto which ye pray beside Allah, and Ishall pray unto my Lord. It may be that, in prayer unto my Lord, I shall not beunblest.

49. So, when he had withdrawn from them and that which they were worshippingbeside Allah, We gave him Isaac and Jacob. Each of them We made a prophet.

50. And we gave them of Our mercy, and assigned to them a high and true renown.

51. And make mention in the Scripture of Moses. Lo! he was chosen, and he was amessenger [of Allah], a prophet.

52. We called him from the right slope of the Mount, and brought him nigh incommunion.

53. And We bestowed upon him of Our mercy his brother Aaron, a prophet[likewise].

54. And make mention in the Scripture of Ishmael. Lo! he was a keeper of hispromise, and he was a messenger [of Allah], a prophet.

55. He enjoined upon his people worship and almsgiving, and was acceptable inthe sight of his Lord.

56. And make mention in the Scripture of Idris. Lo! he was a saint, a prophet;

57. And We raised him to high station.

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58. These are they unto whom Allah showed favour from among the prophets, of these ed of Adam and of those whom We carried [in the ship] with Noah, and of theseed of Abraham and Israel, and from among those whom We guided and chose. Whenthe revelations of the Beneficent were recited unto them, they fell down,

adoring and weeping.

59. Now there hath succeeded them a later generation whom have ruined worshipand have followed lusts. But they will meet deception.

60. Save him who shall repent and believe and do right. Such will enter theGarden, and they will not be wronged in aught -

61. Gardens of Eden, which the Beneficent hath promised to His slaves in theunseen. Lo! His promise is ever sure of fulfilment -

62. They hear therein no idle talk, but only Peace; and therein they have foodfor morn and evening.

63. Such is the Garden which We cause the devout among Our bondmen to inherit.

64. We [angels] come not down save by commandment of thy Lord. Unto Himbelongeth all that is before us and all that is behind us and all that isbetween those two, and thy Lord was never forgetful -

65. Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them! Therefor,

worship thou Him and be thou steadfast in His service. Knowest thou one that canbe named along with Him?

66. And man saith: When I am dead, shall I forsooth be brought forth alive?

67. Doth not man remember that We created him before, when he was naught?

68. And, by thy Lord, verily We shall assemble them and the devils, then Weshall bring them, crouching, around hell.

69. Then We shall pluck out from every sect whichever of them was most stubbornin rebellion to the Beneficent.

70. And surely We are Best Aware of those most worthy to be burned therein.

71. There is not one of you but shall approach it. That is a fixed ordinance ofthy Lord.

72. Then We shall rescue those who kept from evil, and leave the evil-doerscrouching there.

73. And when Our clear revelations are recited unto them, those who disbelievesay unto those who believe: Which of the two parties [yours or ours] is betterin position, and more imposing as a n army?

74. How many a generation have We destroyed before them, who were more imposingin respect of gear and outward seeming!

75. Say: As for him who is in error, the Beneficent will verily prolong his spanof life until, when they behold that which th ey were promised, whether it bepunishment [in the world], or the Hour [of doom], they will know who is worse inposition and who is weaker as an army.

76. Allah increaseth in right guidance those who walk aright, and the good deedswhich endure are better in thy Lord's sight for reward, and better for resort.

77. Hast thou seen him who disbelieveth in Our revelations and saith: AssuredlyI shall be given wealth and children?

78. Hath he perused the Unseen, or hath he made a pact with the Beneficent?

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79. Nay, but We shall record that which he saith and prolong for him a span oftorment.

80. And We shall inherit from him that whereof he spake, and he will come untoUs, alone [without his wealth and children].

81. And they have chosen [other ] gods beside Allah that they may be a power forthem.

82. Nay, but they will deny their worship of them, and become opponents untothem.

83. Seest thou not that We have set the devils on the disbelievers to confound

them with confusion?

84. So make no haste against them [O Muhammad]. We do but number unto them a sum[of days].

85. On the day when We shall gather the righteous unto the Beneficent, a goodlycompany.

86. And drive the guilty unto hell, a weary herd,

87. They will have no power of intercession, save him who hath made a covenantwith his Lord.

88. And they say: The Beneficent hath taken unto Himself a son.

89. Assuredly ye utter a disastrous thing

90. Whereby almost the heavens are torn, and the earth is split asunder and themountains fall in ruins,

91. That ye ascribe unto the Beneficent a son,

92. When it is not meet for [the Majesty of] the Beneficent that He shouldchoose a son.

93. There is none in the heavens and the earth but cometh unto the Beneficent as

a slave.

9 4. Verily He knoweth them and numbereth them with [right] numbering.

95. And each one of them will come unto Him on the Day of Resurrection, alone.

96. Lo! those who believe and do good works, the Beneficent will appoint forthem love.

97. And We make [this Scripture] easy in thy tongue, [O Muhammad] only that thoumayst bear good tidings therewith unto those who ward off [evil], and warntherewith the froward folk.

98. And how many a generation before them have We destroyed! Canst thou[Muhammad] see a single man of them, or hear from them the slightest sound?

SURA 20. TA-HA (TA-HA)

1. Ta. Ha.

2. We have not revealed unto thee [Muhammad] this Qur'an that thou shouldst bedistressed,

3. But as a reminder unto him who feareth,

4. A revelation from Him Who created the earth and the high heavens,

5. The Beneficent One, Who is established on the Throne.

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6. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in theearth, and whatsoever is between them, and whatsoever is beneath the sod.

7. And if thou speakest aloud, then lo! He knoweth the secret [thought] and[that which is yet] more hidden.

8. Allah! There is no Allah save Him. His are the most beautiful names.

9. Hath there come unto thee the story of Moses?

10. When he saw a fire and said unto his folk: Lo! Wait! I see a fire afar off.

Peradventure I may bring you a brand therefrom or may find guidance at the fire.

11. And when he reached it, he was called by name: O Moses!

12. Lo! I, even I, am thy Lord, So take off thy shoes, for lo! thou art in theholy valley of Tuwa.

13. And I have chosen thee, so hearken unto that which is inspired.

14. Lo! I, even I, am Allah, There is no Allah save Me. So serve Me andestablish worship for My remembrance.

15. Lo! the Hour is surely coming. But I will to keep it hidden, that every soulmay be rewarded for that which it striveth [to achieve].

16. Therefor, let not him turn thee aside from [the thought of] it who believethnot therein but followeth his own desire, lest thou perish.

17. And what is that in thy right hand, O Moses?

18. He said: This is my staff whereon I lean, and wherewith I bear down branchesfor my sheep, and wherein I find other uses.

19. He said: Cast it down, O Moses!

20. So he cast it down, and lo! it was a serpent, gliding.

21. He said: Grasp it and fear not. We shall return it to its former state.

22. And thrust thy hand within thine armpit, it will come forth white withouthurt. [That will be] another token.

23. That We may show thee [some] of Our greater portents,

24. Go thou unto Pharaoh! Lo! he hath transgressed [the bounds].

25. [Moses] said: My Lord! relieve my mind

26. And ease my task for me;

27. And loose a knot from my tongue,

28. That they may understand my saying.

29. Appoint for me a henchman from my folk,

30. Aaron, my brother.

31. Confirm my strength with him

32. And let him share my task,

33. That we may glorify Thee much

34. And much remember Thee.

35. Lo! Thou art ever Seeing us.

36. He said: Thou art granted thy request, O Moses.

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37. And indeed, another time, already We have shown thee favour,

38. When we inspired in thy mother that which is inspired,

39. Saying: Throw him into the ark, and throw it into the river, then the rivershall throw it on to the bank, and there an enemy to Me and an enemy to himshall take him. And I endued thee with love from Me that thou mightest betrained according to My will,

40. When thy sister went and said: Shall I show you one who will nurse him? andwe restored thee to thy mother that her eyes might be refreshed and might notsorrow. And thou didst kill a man and We delivered thee from great distress, andtried thee with a heavy trial. And thou didst tarry years among the folk ofMidian. The n camest thou [hither] by [My] providence, O Moses,

41. And I have attached thee to Myself.

42. Go, thou and thy brother, with My tokens, and be not faint in remembrance ofMe.

43. Go, both of you, unto Pharaoh. Lo! he hath transgressed [the bounds].

44. And speak unto him a gentle word, that peradventure he may heed or fear.

45. They said: Our Lord! Lo! we fear that he may be beforehand with us or thathe may play the tyrant.

46. He said: Fear not. Lo! I am with you twain, Hearing and Seeing.

47. So go ye unto him and say: Lo! we are two messengers of thy Lord. So let thechildren of Israel go with us, and torment them not. We bring thee a token fromthy Lord. And peace will be for him who followeth right guidance.

48. Lo! it hath been revealed unto us that the doom will be for him who denieth

and turneth away.

49. [Pharaoh] said: Who then is the Lord of you twain, O Moses?

50. He said: Our Lord is He Who gave unto everything its nature, then guided itaright.

51. He said: What then is the state of the generations of old?

52. He said: The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in a Record. My Lord neithererreth nor forgetteth,

53. Who hath appointed the earth as a bed and hath threaded roads for youtherein and hath sent down water from the sky and thereby We have brought forthdivers kinds of vegetation,

54. [Saying]: Eat ye and feed your cattle. Lo! herein verily are portents formen of thought.

55. Thereof We created you, and thereunto We return you, and thence We bring youforth a second time.

56. And We verily did show him all Our tokens, but he denied them and refused.

57. He said: Hast come to drive us out from our land by thy magic, O Moses?

58. But we surely can produce for thee magic the like thereof; so appoint atryst between us and you, which neither we nor thou shall fail to keep, at aplace convenient [to us both].

59. [Moses] said: Your tryst shall be the day of the feast, and let the peopleassemble when the sun hath risen high.

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60. Then Pharaoh went and gat hered his strength, then came [to the appointedtryst].

61. Moses said unto them: Woe unto you! Invent not a lie against Allah, lest Heextirpate you by some punishment. He who lieth faileth miserably.

62. Then they debated one with another what they must do, and they kept theircounsel secret.

63. They said: Lo! these are two wizards who would drive you out from yourcountry by their magic, and destroy your best traditions;

64. So arrange your plan, and come in battle line. Whoso is uppermost this daywill be indeed successful.

65. They said: O Moses! Either throw first, or let us be the first to throw?

66. He said: Nay, do ye throw! Then lo! their cords and their staves, by theirmagic, appeared to him as though they ran.

67. And Moses conceived a fear in his mind.

68. We said: Fear not! Lo! thou art the higher.

69. Throw that which is in thy right hand! It will eat up that which they havemade. Lo! that which they have made is but a wizard's artifice, and a wizardshall not be successful to whate ver point [of skill] he may attain.

70. Then the wizards were [all] flung down prostrate, crying: We believe in theLord of Aaron and Moses.

71. [Pharaoh] said: Ye put faith in him before I give you leave. Lo! he is yourchief who taught you magic. Now s urely I shall cut off your hands and your feetalternately, and I shall crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and ye shallknow for certain which of us hath sterner and more lasting punishment.

72. They said: We choose thee not above the clear proofs that have come unto us,

and above Him Who created us. So decree what thou wilt decree. Thou wilt end for

us only this life of the world.

73. Lo! we believe in our Lord, that He may forgive us our sins and the magicunto which thou didst force us. Allah is better and more lasting.

74. Lo! whoso cometh guilty unto his Lord, verily for him is hell. There he willneither die nor live.

75. But whoso cometh unto Him a believer, having done good works, for such arethe high stations;

76. Gardens of Eden underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the reward of him who groweth.

77. And verily We inspired Moses, saying: Take away My slaves by night andstrike for them a dry path in the sea, fearing not to be overtaken, neitherbeing a fraid [of the sea].

78. Then Pharaoh followed them with his hosts and there covered them that which

did cover them of the sea.

79. And Pharaoh led his folk astray, he did not guide them.

80. O Children of Israel! We delivered you from your enemy, and we made acovenant with you on the holy mountain's side, and sent down on you the mannaand the quails,

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81. [Saying]: Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you, andtransgress not in respect thereof lest My wrath come upon you: a nd he on whom Mywrath cometh, he is lost indeed.

82. And lo! verily I am Forgiving toward him who repenteth and believeth anddoeth good, and afterward walketh aright.

83. And [it was said]: What hath made thee hasten from thy folk, O Moses?

84. He said: They are close upon my track. I hastened unto Thee, my Lord, thatThou mightest be well pleased.

85. He said: Lo! We have tried thy folk in thine absence, and As-Samiri hathmisled them.

86. Then Moses went back unto his folk, angry and sad. He said: O my people!

Hath not your Lord promised you a fair promise? Did the time appointed thenappear too long for you, or did ye wish that wrath from your Lord should comeupon you, that ye broke tryst with me?

87. They said: We broke not tryst with thee of o ur own will, but we were ladenwith burdens of ornaments of the folk, then cast them [in the fire], for thusAs-Samiri proposed.

88. Then he produced for them a calf, of saffron hue, which gave forth a lowingsound. And they cried: This is your god and the god of Moses, but he hathforgotten.

89. See they not, then, that it returneth no saying unto them and possesseth forthem neither hurt nor use?

90. And Aaron indeed had told them beforehand: O my people! Ye are but beingseduced therewith, for lo! your Lord is the Beneficent, so follow me and obey myorder.

91. They said: We shall by no means cease to be its votaries till Moses returnunto us.

92. He [Moses] said: O Aaron! What held thee back when thou didst see them goneastray,

93. That thou followedst me not? Hast thou then disobeyed my order?

94. He said: O son of my mother! Clutch not my beard nor my head! I feared lestthou shouldst say: Thou hast caused division among the Children of Israel, andhast not waited for my word.

95. [Moses] said: An d what hast thou to say, O Samiri?

96. He said: I perceived what they perceive not, so I seized a handful from thefootsteps of the messenger, and then threw it in. Thus my soul commended to me.

97. [Moses] said: Then go! and lo! in this life it is for thee to say: Touch menot! and lo! there is for thee a tryst thou canst not break. Now look upon thygod of which thou hast remained a votary. Verily we will burn it and willscatter its dust over the sea.

98. Your Allah is only Allah, than Whom there is no other Allah. He embracethall things in His knowledge.

99. Thus relate We unto thee [Muhammad] some tidings of that which happened ofold, and We have given thee from Our presence a reminder.

100. Whoso turneth away from it, he verily will bear a burden on the Day ofResurrection,

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101. Abiding under it - an evil burden for them on the Day of Resurrection,

102. The day when the Trumpet is blown. On that day we assemble the guiltywhite-eyed [with terror],

103. Murmuring among themselves: Ye have tarried but ten [days].

104. We are Best Aware of what they utter when their best in conduct say: Yehave tarried but a day.

105. They will ask thee of the mountains [on that day]. Say: My Lord will breakthem into scattered dust.

106. And leave it as an empty plain,

107. Wherein thou seest neither curve nor ruggedness.

108. On that day they follow the summoner who deceiveth not, and voices arehushed for the Beneficent, and thou hearest but a faint murmur.

109. On that day no intercession availeth save [that of] him unto whom theBeneficent hath given leave and whose word He accepteth.

110. He knoweth [all] that is before them and [all] that is behind them, whilethey cannot compass it in knowledge.

111. And faces humble themselves before the Living, the Eternal. And he whobeareth [a burden of] wrongdoing is indeed a failure [on that day].

112. And he who hath done some good works, being a believer, he feareth notinjustice nor begrudging [of his wage].

113. Thus we have revealed it as a Lecture in Arabic, and have displayed thereincertain threats, that peradventure they may keep from evil or that it may causethem to take heed.

114. Then exalted be Allah, the True King! And hasten not [O Muhammad] with theQur'an ere its revelation hath been perfected unto thee, and say: My Lord!

Increase me in knowledge.

115. And verily We made a covenant of old with Adam, but he forgot, and We foundno constancy in him.

116. And when We said unto the angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, they fellpro strate [all] save Iblis; he refused.

117. Therefor we said: O Adam! This is an enemy unto thee and unto thy wife, solet him not drive you both out of the Garden so that thou come to toil.

118. It is [vouchsafed] unto thee that thou hungerest not therei n nor art naked,

119. And that thou thirstest not therein nor art exposed to the sun's heat.

120. But the devil whispered to him, saying: O Adam! Shall I show thee the treeof immortality and power that wasteth not away?

121. Then they twain ate thereof, so that their shame became apparent unto them,

and they began to hide by heaping on themselves some of the leaves of theGarden. And Adam disobeyed his Lord, so went astray.

122. Then his Lord chose him, and relented toward him, and guided him.

123. He said: Go down hence, both of you, one of you a foe unto the other. Butwhen there come unto you from Me a guidance, then whoso followeth My guidance,

he will not go astray nor come to grief.

124. But he who turneth away from remembrance of Me, his will be a narrow life,

and I shall bring him blind to the assembly on the Day of Resurrection.

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125. He will say: My Lord! Wherefor hast Thou gathered me [hither] blind, when Iwas wont to see?

126. He will say: So [it must be]. Our revelati ons came unto thee but thou didstforget them. In like manner thou art forgotten this Day.

127. Thus do We reward him who is prodigal and believeth not the revelations ofhis Lord; and verily the doom of the Hereafter will be sterner and more lasting.

12 8. Is it not a guidance for them [to know] how many a generation We destroyedbefore them, amid whose dwellings they walk? Lo! therein verily are signs formen of thought.

129. And but for a decree that had already gone forth from thy Lord, and a termalrea dy fixed, the judgment would have been inevitable [in this world].

130. Therefor [O Muhammad], bear with what they say, and celebrate the praise ofthy Lord ere the rising of the sun and ere the going down thereof. And glorifyHim some hours of the night a nd at the two ends of the day, that thou mayst findacceptance.

131. And strain not thine eyes toward that which We cause some wedded pairsamong them to enjoy, the flower of the life of the world, that We may try themthereby. The provision of thy Lord is better and more lasting.

132. And enjoin upon thy people worship, and be constant therein. We ask not ofthee a provision: We provided for thee. And the sequel is for righteousness.

133. And they say: If only he would bring us a miracle from his Lord! Hath therenot come unto them the proof of what is in the former scriptures?

134. And if we had destroyed them with some punishment before it, they wouldassuredly have said: Our Lord! If only Thou hadst sent unto us a messenger, sothat we might have follow ed Thy revelations before we were [thus] humbled anddisgraced!

135. Say: Each is awaiting; so await ye! Ye will come to know who are the ownersof the path of equity, and who is right.

SURA 21. AL-ANBIYA (THE PROPHETS)

1. Their reckoning draweth nigh for mankind, while they turn away inheedlessness.

2. Never cometh there unto them a new reminder from their Lord but they listento it while they play,

3. With hearts preoccupied. And they confer in secret. The wrong-doers say: Isthis other than a mor tal like you? Will ye then succumb to magic when ye see[it]?

4. He saith: My Lord knoweth what is spoken in the heaven and the earth. He isthe Hearer, the Knower.

5. Nay, say they, [these are but] muddled dreams; nay, he hath but invented it;

nay, he is but a poet. Let him bring us a portent even as those of old [who wereAllah's messengers] were sent [with portents].

6. Not a township believed of those which We destroyed before them [though Wesent them portents]: would they then believe?

7. And We sent not [as Our messengers] before thee other than men, whom Weinspired. Ask the followers of the Reminder if ye know not?

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8. We gave them not bodies that would not eat food, nor were they immortals.

9. Then we fulfilled the promise unto them. So we delivered them and whom Wewould, and We destroyed the prodigals.

10. Now We have revealed unto you a Scripture wherein is your Reminder. Have yethen no sense?

11. How many a community that dealt unjustly have We shattered, and raised upafter them another folk!

12. And, when they felt Our might, behold them fleeing from it!

13. [But it was said unto them]: Flee not, but return to that [existence] whichemasculated you and to your dwellings, that ye may be questioned.

14. They cried: Alas for us! we were wrong-doers.

15. And this their crying ceased not till We made them as reaped corn, extinct.

16. We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in

play.

17. If We had wished to find a pastime, We could have found it in Our presence -

if We ever did.

18. Nay, but We hurl the true against the false, and it doth break its head andlo! it vanisheth. And yours will be woe for that which ye ascribe [unto Him].

19. Unto Him belongeth whosoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those whodwell in His presence are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they weary;

20. They glorify [Him] night and day; they flag not.

21. Or have they chosen gods from the earth who raise the dead?

22. If there were therein gods b eside Allah, then verily both [the heavens andthe earth] had been disordered. Glorified be Allah, the Lord of the Throne, fromall that they ascribe [unto Him].

23. He will not be questioned as to that which He doeth, but they will bequestioned.

24. Or have they chosen other gods beside Him? say: Bring your proof [of theirgodhead]. This is the Reminder of those with me and those before me, but most ofthem know not the Truth and so they are averse.

25. And We sent no messenger before thee but We inspire d him, [saying]: There isno Allah save Me [Allah], so worship Me.

26. And they say: The Beneficent hath taken unto Himself a son. Be He Glorified!

Nay, but [those whom they call sons] are honoured slaves;

27. They speak not until He hath spoken, and they act by His command.

28. He knoweth what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannotintercede except for him whom He accepteth, and they quake for awe of Him.

29. And one of them who should say: Lo! I am a god beside Him, that one Weshould repay with hell. Thus We Repay wrong-doers.

30. Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were of

one piece, then We parted them, and we made every living thing of water? Willthey not then believe?

31. And We have placed in the earth firm hills lest it quake with them, and Wehave placed therein ravines as roads that haply they may find their way.

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32. And we have made the sky a roof withheld [from them]. Yet they turn awayfrom its portents.

33. And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon.

They float, each in an orbit.

34. We appointed immortality for no mortal before thee. What! if thou diest, canthey be immortal!

35. Every soul must taste of death, and We try you with evil and with good, forordeal. And unto Us ye will be returned.

36. And when those who disbelieve behold thee, they but choose thee out formockery, [saying]: Is this he who maketh mention of your gods? And they woulddeny all mention of the Beneficent.

37. Man is made of haste. I shall show you My portents, but ask Me not tohasten.

38. And they say: When will this promise [be fulfilled], if ye are truthful?

39. If those who disbelieved but knew the time when they will not be able todrive off the fire from their faces and from their backs, and they will not behelped!

40. Nay, but it will come upon them unawares so that it will stupefy them, andthey will be unable to repel it, neither will they be reprieved.

41. Messengers before thee, indeed, were mocked, but that whereat they mockedsurrounded those who scoffed at them.

42. Say: Who guardeth you in the night or in the day from the Beneficent? Nay,

but they turn away from mention of their Lord!

43. Or have they gods who can shield them from Us? They cannot help themselvesnor can they be defended from Us.

44. Nay, but We gave these and their fathers ease until life grew long for them.

See they not how we aim to the land, reducing it of its outlying parts? Can theythen be the victors?

45. Say [O Muh ammad, unto mankind]: I warn you only by the Inspiration. But thedeaf hear not the call when they are warned.

46. And if a breath of thy Lord's punishment were to touch them, they assuredlywould say: Alas for us! Lo! we were wrong-doers.

47. And We set a just balance for the Day of Resurrection so that no soul iswronged in aught. Though it be of the weight of a grain of mustard seed, Webring it. And We suffice for reckoners.

48. And We verily gave Moses and Aaron the Criterion [of right and wrong] and alight and a Reminder for those who keep from evil,

49. Those who fear their Lord in secret and who dread the Hour [of doom].

50. This is a blessed Reminder that we have revealed: Will ye then reject it?

51. And We verily gave Abraham of old his proper course, and We were Aware ofhim,

52. When he said unto his father and his folk: What are these images unto whichye pay devotion?

53. They said: We found our fathers worshippers of them.

54. He said: Verily ye and your fathers were in plain error.

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55. They said: Bringest thou unto us the truth, or art thou some jester?

56. He said: Nay, but your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Whocreated them; and I am of those who testify unto that.

57. And, by Allah, I shall circumvent your idols after ye have gone away andturned your backs.

58. Then he reduced them to fragments, all save the chief of them, that haplythey might have recourse to it.

59. They said: Who hath done this to our gods? Surely it must be some evil-doer.

60. They said: We heard a youth make mention of them, who is called Abraham.

61. They said: Then bring him [hither] before the people's eyes that they maytestify.

62. They said: Is it thou who hast done this to our gods, O Abraham?

63. He said: But this, their chief hath done it. So question them, if they canspeak.

64. Then gathered they apart and said: Lo! ye yourselves are the wrong-doers.

65. And they were utterly confounded, and they said: Well thou knowest thatthese speak not.

66. He said: Worship ye then instead of Allah that which cannot profit you atall, nor harm you?

67. Fie on you and all that ye worship instead of Allah! Have ye then no sense?

68. They cried: Burn him and stand by your gods, if ye will be doing.

69. We said: O fire, be coolness and peace for Abraham,

70. And they wished to set a snare for him, but We made them the greater losers.

71. And We rescued him and Lot [and brought them] to the land which We haveblessed for [all] peoples.

72. And We bestowed upon him Isaac, and Jacob as a grandson. Each of them Wemade righteous.

73. And We made them chiefs who guide by Our command, and We inspired in themthe doing of good deeds and the right establishment of worship and the giving ofalms, and they were worshippe rs of Us [alone].

74. And unto Lot we gave judgment and knowledge, and We delivered him from thecommunity that did abominations. Lo! they were folk of evil, lewd.

75. And We brought him in unto Our mercy. Lo! he was of the righteous.

76. And Noah, when he cried of old, We heard his prayer and saved him and hishousehold from the great affliction.

77. And delivered him from the people who denied Our revelations. Lo! they werefolk of evil, therefor did We drown them all.

78. And David and Solomon, when they gave judgment concerning the field, whenpeople's sheep had strayed and browsed therein by night; and We were witnessesto their judgment.

79. And We made Solomon to understand [the case]; and unto each of them We gavejudgment and knowledge. And we subdued the hills and the birds to hymn [His]

praise along with David. We were the doers [thereof].

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80. And We taught him the art of making garments [of mail] to protect you inyour daring. Are ye then thankful?

81. And unto Solomon [We s ubdued] the wind in its raging. It set by his commandtoward the land which We had blessed. And of everything We are Aware.

82. And of the evil ones [subdued We unto him] some who dived [for pearls] forhim and did other work, and We were warders unto them.

83. And Job, when he cried unto his Lord, [saying]: Lo! adversity afflicteth me,

and Thou art Most Merciful of all who show mercy.

84. Then We heard his prayer and removed that adversity from which he suffered,

and We gave him his household [that h e had lost] and the like thereof along withthem, a mercy from Our store, and a remembrance for the worshippers;

85. And [mention] Ishmael, and Idris, and Dhu'l-Kifl. All were of the steadfast.

86. And We brought them in unto Our mercy. Lo! they are among the righteous.

87. And [mention] Dhu'n-Nun, when he went off in anger and deemed that We had nopower over him, but he cried out in the darkness, saying: There is no Allah saveThee. Be Thou Glorified! Lo! I have been a wrong-doer.

88. Then we heard his prayer and saved him from the anguish. Thus we savebelievers.

89. And Zachariah, when he cried unto his Lord: My Lord! Leave me not childless,

though Thou art the Best of inheritors.

90. Then We heard his prayer, and bestowed upon him John, and adj usted his wife[to bear a child] for him. Lo! they used to vie one with the other in gooddeeds, and they cried unto Us in longing and in fear, and were submissive untoUs.

91. And she who was chaste, therefor We breathed into her [something] of OurSpirit a nd made her and her son a token for [all] peoples.

92. Lo! this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so worship Me.

93. And they have broken their religion [into fragments] among them, [yet] allare returning unto Us.

94. Then whoso do eth some good works and is a believer, there will be norejection of his effort. Lo! We record [it] for him.

95. And there is a ban upon any community which We have destroyed: that theyshall not return.

96. Until, when Gog and Magog are let loose, and they hasten out of every mound,

97. And the True Promise draweth nigh; then behold them, staring wide [interror], the eyes of those who disbelieve! [They say]: Alas for us! We [lived]

in forgetfulness of this. Ah, but we were wrong-doers!

98. Lo! ye [i dolaters] and that which ye worship beside Allah are fuel of hell.

Thereunto ye will come.

99. If these had been gods they would not have come thither, but all will abidetherein.

100. Therein wailing is their portion, and therein they hear not.

101. Lo! those unto whom kindness hath gone forth before from Us, they will befar removed from thence.

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102. They will not hear the slightest sound thereof, while they abide in thatwhich their souls desire.

103. The Supreme Horror will not grieve them, and the angels will welcome them,

[saying]: This is your Day which ye were promised;

104. The Day when We shall roll up the heavens as a recorder rolleth up awritten scroll. As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it. [It is] apromise [ binding] upon Us. Lo! We are to perform it.

105. And verily we have written in the Scripture, after the Reminder: Myrighteous slaves will inherit the earth:

106. Lo! there is a plain statement for folk who are devout.

107. We sent thee not save as a mercy for the peoples.

108. Say: It is only inspired in me that your Allah is One Allah. Will ye thensurrender [unto Him]?

109. But if they are averse, then say: I have warned you all alike, although Iknow not whether nigh or far is that which ye are promised.

110. Lo! He knoweth that which is said openly, and that which ye conceal.

111. And I know not but that this may be a trial for you, and enjoyment for awhile.

112. He saith: My Lord! Judge Thou with truth. Our Lord is the Beneficent, Whosehel p is to be implored against that which ye ascribe [unto Him].

SURA 22. AL-HAJJ (THE PILGRIMAGE)

1. O mankind! Fear your Lord. Lo! the earthquake of the Hour [of Doom] is atremendous thing.

2. On the day when ye behold it, every nursing mother will forget her nurslingand every pregnant one will be delivered of her burden, and thou [Muhammad] wiltsee mankind as drunken, yet they will not be drunken, but the Doom of Allah willbe strong [upon them].

3. Among mankind is he who disputeth concerning Allah without knowledge, andfolloweth each froward devil;

4. For him it is decreed that whoso taketh him for friend, he verily willmislead him and will guide him to the punishment of the Flame.

5. O mankind! if ye are in doubt concerning the Resurrection, then lo! We havecreated you from dust, then from a drop of seed, then from a clot, then from alittle lump of flesh shapely and shapeless, that We may make [it] clear for you.

And We cause what We will to remain in the wombs for an appointed time, andafter ward We bring you forth as infants, then [give you growth] that ye attainyour full strength. And among you there is he who dieth [young], and among youthere is he who is brought back to the most abject time of life, so that, afterknowledge, he knoweth naug ht. And thou [Muhammad] seest the earth barren, butwhen We send down water thereon, it doth thrill and swell and put forth everylovely kind [of growth].

6. That is because Allah, He is the Truth and because He quickeneth the dead,

and because He is Able to do all things;

7. And because the Hour will come, there is no doubt thereof; and because Allahwill raise those who are in the graves.

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8. And among mankind is he who disputeth concerning Allah without knowledge orguidance or a scripture giving light,

9. Turning away in pride to beguile [men] from the way of Allah. For him in thisworld is ignominy, and on the Day of Resurrection We make him taste the doom ofburning.

10. [And unto him it will be said]: This is for that which thy two ha nds havesent before, and because Allah is no oppressor of His slaves.

11. And among mankind is he who worshippeth Allah upon a narrow marge so that ifgood befalleth him he is content therewith, but if a trial befalleth him, hefalleth away utterly. He loseth both the world and the Hereafter. That is thesheer loss.

12. He calleth, beside Allah, unto that which hurteth him not nor benefitethhim. That is the far error.

13. He calleth unto him whose harm is nearer than his benefit; verily an evilpatron and verily an evil friend!

14. Lo! Allah causeth those who believe and do good works to enter Gardensunderneath which rivers flow. Lo! Allah doth what He intendeth.

15. Whoso is wont to think [through envy] that Allah will not give him[Muhammad] victory i n the world and the Hereafter [and is enraged at the thoughtof his victory], let him stretch a rope up to the roof [of his dwelling], andlet him hang himself. Then let him see whether his strategy dispelleth thatwhereat he rageth!.

16. Thus We reveal it as plain revelations, and verily Allah guideth whom Hewill.

17. Lo! those who believe [this revelation], and those who are Jews, and theSabaeans and the Christians and the Magians and the idolaters - Lo! Allah willdecide between them on the Day of Resurr ection. Lo! Allah is Witness over allthings.

18. Hast thou not seen that unto Allah payeth adoration whosoever is in theheavens and whosoever is in the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars,

and the hills, and the trees, and the beasts, and many of mankind, while thereare many unto whom the doom is justly due. He whom Allah scorneth, there is noneto give him honour. Lo! Allah doeth what He will.

19. These twain [the believers and the disbelievers] are two opponents whocontend concerning their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, garments of firewill be cut out for them; boiling fluid will be poured down on their heads,

20. Whereby that which is in their bellies, and their skins too, will be melted;

21. And for them are hooked rods of iron.

22. Whenever, in their anguish, they would go forth from thence they are drivenback therein and [it is said unto them]: Taste the doom of burning.

23. Lo! Allah will cause those who believe and do good works to enter Gardensunderneath which rivers flow, wherein they will be allowed armlets of gold, andpearls, and their raiment therein will be silk.

24. They are guided unto gentle speech; they are guided unto the path of theGlorious One.

25. Lo! those who disbelieve and bar [men] from the way of A llah and from theInviolable Place of Worship, which We have appointed for mankind together, the

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dweller therein and the nomad: whosoever seeketh wrongful partiality therein,

him We shall cause to taste a painful doom.

26. And [remember] when We prepared for Abraham the place of the [holy] House,

saying: Ascribe thou no thing as partner unto Me, and purify My House for thosewho make the round [thereof] and those who stand and those who bow and makeprostration.

27. And proclaim unto mankind the pilgrimage. They will come unto thee on footand on every lean camel; they will come from every deep ravine,

28. That they may witness things that are of benefit to them, and mention thename of Allah on appointed days over the beast of cattle that He hath bestowedupon them. Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor unfortunate.

29. Then let them make an end of their unkemptness and pay their vows and goaround the ancient House.

30. That [is the command]. And whoso magnifieth the sacred thin gs of Allah, itwill be well for him in the sight of his Lord. The cattle are lawful unto yousave that which hath been told you. So shun the filth of idols, and shun lyingspeech,

31. Turning unto Allah [only], not ascribing partners unto Him; for whosoasc ribeth partners unto Allah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky and thebirds had snatched him or the wind had blown him to a far-off place.

32. That [is the command]. And whoso magnifieth the offerings consecrated toAllah, it surely is from devotion o f the hearts,

33. Therein are benefits for you for an appointed term; and afterward they arebrought for sacrifice unto the ancient House.

34. And for every nation have We appointed a ritual, that they may mention thename of Allah over the beast of catt le that He hath given them for food; andyour god is One God, therefor surrender unto Him. And give good tidings [OMuhammad] to the humble,

35. Whose hearts fear when Allah is mentioned, and the patient of whatever maybefall them, and those who establish worship and who spend of that We havebestowed on them.

36. And the camels! We have appointed them among the ceremonies of Allah.

Therein ye have much good. So mention the name of Allah over them when they aredrawn up in lines. Then when their flanks fal l [dead], eat thereof and feed thebeggar and the suppliant. Thus have We made them subject unto you, that haply yemay give thanks.

37. Their flesh and their food reach not Allah, but the devotion from youreacheth Him. Thus have We made them subject unto you that ye may magnify Allahthat He hath guided you. And give good tidings [O Muhammad] to the good.

38. Lo! Allah defendeth those who are true. Lo! Allah loveth not each

treacherous ingrate.

39. Sanction is given unto those who fight because they have been wronged; andAllah is indeed Able to give them victory;

40. Those who have been driven from their homes unjustly only because they said:

Our Lord is Allah - For had it not been for Allah's repelling some men by meansof others, cloisters and churches and oratories and mosques, wherein the name ofAllah is oft mentioned, would assuredly have been pulled down. Verily Allahhelpeth one who helpeth Him. Lo! Allah is Strong, Almighty -

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41. Those who, if We give them power in the land, establish worship and pay thepoor-due and enjoin kindness and forbid iniquity. And Allah's is the sequel ofevents.

42. If they deny thee [Muhammad], even so the folk of Noah, and [the tribes of]

A'ad and Thamud, before thee, denied [Our messengers];

43. And the folk of Abraham and the folk of Lot;

44. [And] the dwellers in Midian. And Moses was denied; but I indulged thedisbelievers a long while, then I seized them, and how [terrible] was Myabhorrence!

45. How many a township have We destroyed while it was sinful, so that it lieth[to this day] in ruins, and [how many] a deserted well and lofty tower!

46. Have they not travelled in the land, and have they hearts wherewith to feeland ears wherewith to hear? For indeed it is not the eyes that grow blind, butit is the hearts, which are within the bosoms, that grow blind.

47. And they will bid thee hasten on the Doom, and Allah faileth not Hispromise, but lo! a Day with Allah is as a thousand years of what ye reckon.

48. And how many a township did I suffer long though it was sinful! Then Igrasped it. Unto Me is the return.

49. Say: O mankind! I am only a plain warner unto you.

50. Those who believe and do good works, for them is pardon and a richprovision;

51. While those who strive to thwart Our revelations, such are rightful ownersof the Fire.

52. Never sent We a messenger or a prophet before thee but when He recited [themessage] Satan proposed [opposition] in respect of that which he recitedthereof. But Allah abolisheth that which Satan propose th. Then Allahestablisheth His revelations. Allah is Knower, Wise;

53. That He may make that which the devil proposeth a temptation for those inwhose hearts is a disease, and those whose hearts are hardened - Lo! the evildoers

are in open schism -

54. And that those who have been given knowledge may know that it is the truthfrom thy Lord, so that they may believe therein and their hearts may submithumbly unto Him. Lo! Allah verily is guiding those who believe unto a rightpath.

55. And those who disbelieve will not cease to be in doubt thereof until the

Hour come upon them unawares, or there come unto them the doom of a disastrousday.

56. The Sovereignty on that day will be Allah's, He will judge between them.

Then those who believed and did good works will be in Gardens of Delight,

57. While those who disbelieved and denied Our revelations, for them will be ashameful doom.

58. Those who fled their homes for the cause of Allah and then were slain or

died, Allah verily will provide for them a good provision. Lo! Allah, He verilyis Best of all who make provision.

59. Assuredly He will cause them to enter by an entry that they will love. Lo!

Allah verily is Knower, Indulgent.

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60. That [is so]. And whoso hath retaliated with the like of that which he wasmade to suffer and then hath [again] been wronged, Allah will succour him. Lo!

Allah verily is Mild, Forgiving.

61. That is because Allah maketh the night to pass into the day and maketh theday to pass into the night, and because Allah is Hearer, Seer.

62. That is because Allah, He is the True, and that whereon they call instead ofHim, it is the false, and because Allah, He is the High, the Great.

63. Seest thou not how Allah sendeth down water from the sky and then the earthbecometh green upon the morrow? Lo! Allah is Subtile, Aware.

64. Unto Him belongeth all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth.

Lo! Allah, He verily is the Absolute, the Owner of Praise.

65. Hast thou not seen how Allah hath made all that is in the earth subservient

unto you? And the ship runneth upon the sea by His command, and He holdeth backthe heaven from falling on the earth unless by His leave. Lo! Allah is, formankind, Full of Pity, Merciful.

66. And He it is Who gave you life, then He will cause you to die, and then willgive you life [again]. Lo! man is verily an ingrate.

67. Unto each nation have We given sacred rites which they are to perform; solet them not dispute with thee of the matter, but summon thou unto thy Lord. Lo!

thou indeed followest right guidance.

68. And if they wrangle with thee, say: Allah is Best Aware of what ye do.

69. Allah will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection concerning thatwherein ye used to differ.

70. Hast thou not known that Allah knoweth all that is in the heaven and the

earth? Lo! it is in a record. Lo! that is easy for Allah.

71. And they worship instead of Allah that for which He hath sent down nowarrant, and that whereof they have no knowledge. For evil-doers there is nohelper.

72. And when Our revelations are recited unto them, thou knowest the denial inthe faces of those who disbelieve; they all but attack those who recite Ourrevelations unto them. Say: Shall I proclaim unto you worse than that? The Fire!

Allah hath promised it for those who disbelieve. A hapless journey's end!

73. O mankind! A similitude is coined, so pay ye heed to it: Lo! those on whomye call beside Allah will never create a fly though they combine together forthe purpose. And if the fly took some thing from them, they could not rescue itfrom it. So weak are [both] the seeker and the sought!

74. They measure not Allah His rightful measure. Lo! Allah is Strong, Almighty.

75. Allah chooseth from the angels messengers, and [also] from mankind. Lo!

Allah is Hearer, Seer.

76. He knoweth all that is before them and all that is behind them, and untoAllah all things are returned. $$A

77. O ye who believe! Bow down and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord,

and do good, that haply ye may prosper.

78. And strive for Allah with the endeavour which is His right. He hath chosenyou and hath not laid upon you in religion any hardship; the faith of yourfather Abraham [is yours]. He hath named you Muslims of old time and in this[Scripture], that the messenger may be a witness against you, and that ye may be

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witnesses against mankind. So establish worship, pay the poor-due, and hold fastto Allah. He is your Protecting friend. A blessed Patron and a blessed Helper!

SURA 23. AL-MUMENOON (THE BELIEVERS)

1. Successful indeed are the believers

2. Who are humble in their prayers,

3. And who shun vain conversation,

4. And who are payers of the poor-due;

5. And who guard their modesty -

6. Save from their wives or the [slaves] th at their right hands possess, forthen they are not blameworthy,

7. But whoso craveth beyond that, such are transgressors -

8. And who are shepherds of their pledge and their covenant,

9. And who pay heed to their prayers.

10. These are the heirs

11. Who will inherit paradise. There they will abide.

12. Verily We created man from a product of wet earth;

13. Then placed him as a drop [of seed] in a safe lodging;

14. Then fashioned We the drop a clot, then fashioned We the clot a little lump,

then fashioned We the little lump bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, andthen produced it as another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators!

15. Then lo! after that ye surely die.

16. Then lo! on the Day of Resurrection ye are raised [again].

17. And We have created above you seven paths, and We are never unmindful ofcreation.

18. And we send down from the sky water in measure, and We give it lodging inthe earth, and lo! We are Able to withdraw it.

19. Then We produce for you therewith gardens of date-palms and grapes, whereinis much fruit for you and whereof ye eat;

20. And a tree that springeth forth from Mount Sinai that groweth oil and relishfor the eaters.

21. And lo! in the cattle there is verily a lesson for you. We give you to drinkof that which is in their bellies, and many uses have ye in them, and of them doye eat;

22. And on them and on the ship ye are carried.

23. And We verily sent Noah unto his folk, and he said: O my people! ServeAllah. Ye have no other Alla h save Him. Will ye not ward off [evil]?

24. But the chieftains of his folk, who disbelieved, said: This is only a mortallike you who would make himself superior to you. Had Allah willed, He surelycould have sent down angels. We heard not of this in the case of our fathers ofold.

25. He is only a man in whom is a madness, so watch him for a while.

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26. He said: My Lord! Help me because they deny me.

27. Then We inspired in him, saying: Make the ship under Our eyes and Ourinspiration. The n, when Our command cometh and the oven gusheth water, introducetherein of every [kind] two spouses, and thy household save him thereof againstwhom the Word hath already gone forth. And plead not with Me on behalf of thosewho have done wrong. Lo! they will be drowned.

28. And when thou art on board the ship, thou and whoso is with thee, then say:

Praise be to Allah Who hath saved us from the wrongdoing folk!

29. And say: My Lord! Cause me to land at a blessed landing-place, for Thou artBest of all who bring to land.

30. Lo! herein verily are portents, for lo! We are ever putting [mankind] to thetest.

31. Then, after them, We brought forth another generation;

32. And we sent among them a messenger of their own, saying: Serve Allah, Yehave no other Allah save Him. Will ye not ward off [evil]?

33. And the chieftains of his folk, who disbelieved and denied the meeting ofthe Hereafter, and whom We had made soft in the life of the world, said: This isonly a mortal like you, who eateth of that whereof ye eat and drinketh of thatye drink.

34. If ye were to obey a mortal like yourselves, then, lo! ye surely would belosers.

35. Doth he promise you that you, when ye are dead and have become dust andbones, will [again] be brought forth?

36. Begone, begone, with that which ye are promised!

37. There is naught but our life of the world; we die and we live, and we shallnot be raised [again].

38. He is only a man who hath invented a lie about Allah. We are not going toput faith in him.

39. He said: My Lord! Help me because they deny me.

40. He said: In a little while they surely will become repentant.

41. So the [Awful] Cry overtook them rightfully, and We made them like aswreckage [that a torrent hurleth]. A far removal for wrongdoing folk!

42. Then after them We brought forth other generations.

43. No nation can outstrip its term, nor yet postpone it.

44. Then We sent our messengers one after another. Whenever its messenger cameunto a nation they denied him; so We caused them to follow one an other [todisaster] and We made them bywords. A far removal for folk who believe not!

45. Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron with Our tokens and a clear warrant

46. Unto Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they scorned [them] and they were despoticfolk.

47. And they said: Shall we put faith in two mortals like ourselves, and whosefolk are servile unto us?

48. So they denied them, and became of those who were destroyed.

49. And We verily gave Moses the Scripture, that haply they might go aright.

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50. And We made the son of Mary and his mother a portent, and We gave themrefuge on a height, a place of flocks and watersprings.

51. O ye messengers! Eat of the good things, and do right. Lo! I am Aware ofwhat ye do.

52. And lo! this your religion is one religion and I am your Lord, so keep yourduty unto Me.

53. But they [mankind] have broken their religion among them into sects, eachgroup rejoicing in its tenets.

54. So leave them in their error till a time.

55. Think they that in the wealth and sons wherewith We provide them

56. We hasten unto them with good things? Nay, but they perceive not.

57. Lo! those who go in awe for fear of their Lord.

58. And those who believe in the revelations of their Lord,

59. And those who ascribe not partners unto their Lord,

60. And those who give that which they give with hearts afraid because they areabout to return unto their Lord,

61. These race for the good things, and they shall win them in the race.

62. And we task not any soul beyond its scope, and with Us is a Record whichspeaketh the truth, and they will not be wronged.

63. Nay, but their hearts are in ignorance of this [Qur'an], and they have otherworks, besides, which they are doing;

64. Till when We grasp their luxurious ones with the punishment, behold! theysupplicate.

65. Supplicate not this day! Assuredly ye will not be helped by Us.

66. My revelations were recited unto you, but ye used to turn back on yourheels,

67. In scorn thereof. Nightly did ye rave together.

68. Have they not pondered the Word, or hath that come unto them which came notunto their fathers of old?

69. Or know they not their messenger, and so reject him?

70. Or say they: There is a madness in him? Nay, but he bringeth them the Truth;

and most of them are haters of the Truth.

71. And if the Truth had followed their desires, verily the heavens and theearth and whosoever is therein had been corrupted. Nay, We have brought themtheir Reminder, but from their Reminder they now turn away.

72. O r dost thou ask of them [O Muhammad] any tribute? But the bounty of thyLord is better, for He is Best of all who make provision.

73. And lo! thou summonest them indeed unto a straight path.

74. And lo! those who believe not in the Hereafter are indeed astray from thepath.

75. Though We had mercy on them and relieved them of the harm afflicting them,

they still would wander blindly on in their contumacy.

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76. Already have We grasped them with punishment, but they humble not themselvesunto their Lord, nor do they pray,

77. Until, when We open for them the gate of extreme punishment, behold! theyare aghast thereat.

78. He it is Who hath created for you ears and eyes and hearts. Small thanksgive ye!

79. And He it is Who hath sown you broadcast in the earth, and unto Him ye willbe gathered.

80. And He it is Who giveth life and causeth death, and His is the difference ofnight and day. Have ye then no sense?

81. Nay, but they say the like of that which said the men of old;

82. They s ay: When we are dead and have become [mere] dust and bones, shall wethen, forsooth, be raised again?

83. We were already promised this, we and our forefathers. Lo! this is naughtbut fables of the men of old.

84. Say: Unto Whom [belongeth] the earth and whosoever is therein, if ye haveknowledge?

85. They will say: Unto Allah. Say: Will ye not then remember?

86. Say: Who is Lord of the seven heavens, and Lord of the Tremendous Throne?

87. They will say: Unto Allah [all that belongeth]. Say: Will ye not then keepduty [unto Him]?

88. Say: In Whose hand is the dominion over all things and He protecteth, whileagainst Him there is no protection, if ye have knowledge?

89. They will say: Unto Allah [all that belongeth]. Say: How then are yebewitched?

90. Nay, but We have brought them the Truth, and lo! they are liars.

91. Allah hath not chosen any son, nor is there any god along with Him; elsewould each god have assuredly championed that which he created, and some of themwould assuredly have overcome others. Glorified be Allah above all that theyallege.

92. Knower of the Invisible and the Visible! and Exalted be He over all that

they ascribe as partners [unto Him]!

93. Say: My Lord! If Thou shouldst show me that which they are promised.

94. My Lord! then set me not among the wrongdoing folk.

95. And verily We are Able to show thee that which We have promised them.

96. Repel evil with that which is better. We are Best Aware of that which theyallege.

97. And say: My Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from suggestions of the evil ones,

98. And I seek refuge in Thee, my Lord, lest they be present with me,

99. Until, when death cometh unto one of them, he saith: My Lord! Send me back,

100. That I may do right in that which I have left behind! But nay! It is but aword that he speaketh; and behind them is a barrier until the day when they areraised.

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101. And when the trumpet is blown there will be no kinship among them that day,

nor will they ask of one another.

102. Then those whose scales are heavy, they are the successful.

103. And those whose scales are light are those who lose their souls, in hellabiding.

104. The fire burneth their faces, and they are glum therein.

105. [It will be said]: Were not My revelations recited unto you, and then yeused to deny them?

106. They will say: Our Lord! Our evil fortune conquered us, and we were erringfolk.

107. Our Lord! Oh, bring us forth from hence! If we return [to evil] then indeedwe shall be wrong-doers.

108. He saith: Begone therein, and speak not unto Me.

109. Lo! there was a party of My slaves who said: Our Lord! We believe, thereforforgive us and have mercy on us for Thou art Best of all who show mercy;

110. But ye chose them for a laughing-stock until they caused you to forgetremembrance of Me, while ye laughed at them.

111. Lo! I have rewarded them this day forasmuch as they were steadfast in thatthey, even they, are the triumphant.

112. He will say: How long tarried ye in the earth, counting by years?

113. They will say: We tarried by a day or part of a day. Ask of those who keepcount!

114. He will say: Ye tarried but a little if ye only knew.

115. Deemed ye then that We had created you for naught, and that ye would not bereturned unto Us?

116. Now Allah be Exalted, the True King! There is no Allah save Him, the Lordof the Throne of Grace.

117. He who crieth unto any other god along with Allah hath no proof thereof.

His reckoning is only with his Lord. Lo! disbelievers will not be successful.

118. An d [O Muhammad] say: My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for Thou art Best ofall who show mercy.

SURA 24. AN-NOOR (THE LIGHT)

1. [Here is] a surah which We have revealed and enjoined, and wherein We haverevealed plain tokens, that haply ye may take heed.

2. The adulterer and the adulteress, scourge ye each one of them [with] ahundred stripes. And let not pity for the twain withhold you from obedience toAllah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a party of believerswitness their punishment.

3. The adulterer shall not marry save an adulteress or an idolatress, and theadulteress none shall marry save an adulterer or an idolater. All that isforbidden unto believers.

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4. And those who accuse honourable women but bring not four wit nesses, scourgethem [with] eighty stripes and never [afterward] accept their testimony - Theyindeed are evil-doers -

5. Save those who afterward repent and make amends. [For such] lo! Allah isForgiving, Merciful.

6. As for those who accuse their wives but have no witnesses except themselves;

let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies, [swearing] by Allah thathe is of those who speak the truth;

7. And yet a fifth, invoking the curse of Allah on him if he is of those wholie.

8. And it shall avert the punishment from her if she bear witness before Allahfour times that the thing he saith is indeed false,

9. And a fifth [time] that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he speaketh truth.

10. And had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mer cy unto you, and thatAllah is Clement, Wise, [ye had been undone].

11. Lo! they who spread the slander are a gang among you. Deem it not a badthing for you; nay, it is good for you. Unto every man of them [will be paid]

that which he hath earned of the sin; and as for him among them who had thegreater share therein, his will be an awful doom.

12. Why did not the believers, men and women, when ye heard it, think good oftheir own own folk, and say: It is a manifest untruth?

13. Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they produce not witnesses,

they verily are liars in the sight of Allah.

14. Had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy unto you in the worldand the Hereafter an awful doom had overtaken you for that whereof ye murmured.

15. When ye welcomed it with your tongues, and uttered with your mouths thatwhereof ye had no knowledge, ye counted it a trifle. In the sight of Allah it isvery great.

16. Wherefor, when ye heard it, said ye not: It is not for us to speak of this.

Gl ory be to Thee [O Allah]! This is awful calumny.

17. Allah admonisheth you that ye repeat not the like thereof ever, if ye are[in truth] believers.

18. And He expoundeth unto you the revelations. Allah is Knower, Wise.

19. Lo! those who love that slander should be spread concerning those whobelieve, theirs will be a painful punishment in the world and the Hereafter.

Allah knoweth. Ye know not.

20. Had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy unto you, and thatAllah is Clement, Merciful, [ye had been undone].

21. O ye who believe! Follow not the footsteps of the devil. Unto whomsoeverfolloweth the footsteps of the devil, lo! he commandeth filthiness and wrong.

Had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy unto you, not one of youwould ever have grown pure. But Allah causeth whom He will to grow. And Allah isHearer, Knower.

22. And let not those who possess dignity and ease among you swear not to giveto the near of kin and to the needy, and to fugitives for the cause of Allah.

Let them forgive and show indulgence. Yearn ye not that Allah may forgive you?

Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

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23. Lo! as for those who traduce virtuous, believing women [who are] careless,

cursed are they in the world and the Hereafter. Theirs will be an awful doom

24. On the day when their tongues and their hands and their feet testify againstthem as to what they used to do,

25. On that day Allah will pay them their just due, and they will know thatAllah, He is the Manifest Truth.

26. Vile women are for vile men, and vile men for vile women. Good women are forgood men, and good men for good women; such are innocent of that which peoplesay: For them is pardon and a bountiful provision.

27. O ye who believe! Enter not houses other than your own without firstannouncing your presence and invoking peace upon the folk thereof. That isbetter for you, that ye may be heedful.

28. And if ye find no-one therein, still enter not until permission hath beengiven. And if it be said unto you: Go away again, then go away, for it is purerfor you. Allah knoweth what ye do.

29. [It is] no sin for you to enter uninhabited houses wherein is comfort foryou. Allah knoweth what ye proclaim and what ye hide.

30. Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer forthem. Lo! Allah is aware of what they do.

31. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and todisplay of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veilsover their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbandsor fathers or husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or theirbrothers or their brothers' sons or sisters' sons, or their women, or theirslaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught ofwomen's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what theyhide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in orderthat ye may succeed.

32. And marry such of you as are solitary and the pious of your slaves and maidservants.

If they be poor, Allah will enrich them of His bounty. Allah is ofample means, Aware.

33. And let those who cannot find a match keep chaste till Allah give themindependence by His grace. And such of your slaves as seek a writing [ofemancipation], write it for them if ye are aware of aught of good in them, andbestow upon them of the wealth of Allah which He hath bestowed upon you. Forcenot your slave-girls to whoredom that ye may seek enjoyment of the life of theworld, if t hey would preserve their chastity. And if one force them, then [untothem], after their compulsion, lo! Allah will be Forgiving, Merciful.

34. And verily We have sent down for you revelations that make plain, and theexample of those who passed away before you. An admonition unto those who wardoff [evil].

35. Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His lightis as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it werea shining star. [This lamp is] kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither ofthe East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth [of itself] thoughno fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will.

And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things.

36. [This lamp is found] in houses which Allah hath allowed to be exalted andthat His name shall be remembered therein. Therein do offer praise to Him atmorn and evening.

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37. Men whom neither merchandise nor sale beguileth from remembrance of Allahand constancy in prayer and paying to the poor their due; who fear a day whenhearts and eyeballs will be overturned;

38. That Allah may reward them with the best of what they did, and increasereward for them of His bounty. Allah giveth blessings without stint to whom Hewill.

39. As for those who disbelieve, their deeds are as a mirage in a desert. Thethirsty one supposeth it to be water till he cometh unto it and findeth itnaught, and findeth, in the place thereof, Allah Who payeth him his due; andAllah is swift at reckoning.

40. Or as darkness on a vast, abysmal sea. There covereth him a wave, abovewhich is a wave, above which is a cloud. Layer upon layer of darkness. When heholdeth out his hand he scarce can see it. And he for whom Allah hath not

appointed light, for him there is no light.

41. Hast thou not seen that Allah, He it is Whom all who are in the heavens andthe earth praise, and the birds in their flight? Of each He knoweth verily theworship and the praise; and Allah is Aware of what they do.

42. And unto Allah belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, andunto Allah is the journeying.

43. Hast thou not seen how Allah wafteth the clouds, then gathereth them, thenmaketh them layers, and thou seest the rain come forth from between them; Hesendeth down from the heaven mountains wherein is hail, and smiteth therewithwhom He will, and averteth it from whom He will. The flashing of His lightningall but snatcheth away the sight.

44. Allah causeth the revolution of the day and the night. Lo! herein is indeeda lesson for those who see.

45. Allah hath created every animal of water. Of them is [a kind] that goethupon its belly and [a kind] that goeth upon two legs and [a kind] that goethupon four. Alla h createth what He will. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.

46. Verily We have sent down revelations and explained them. Allah guideth whomHe will unto a straight path.

47. And they say: We believe in Allah and the messenger, and we obey; then afterthat a faction of them turn away. Such are not believers.

48. And when they appeal unto Allah and His messenger to judge between them, lo!

a faction of them are averse;

49. But if right had been with them they would have come unto him willingly.

50. Is there in their hearts a disease, or have they doubts, or fear they lestAllah and His messenger should wrong them in judgment? Nay, but such are evildoers.

51. The saying of [all true] believers when they appeal unto Allah and Hismessenger to judge betw een them is only that they say: We hear and we obey. Andsuch are the successful.

52. He who obeyeth Allah and His messenger, and feareth Allah, and keepeth duty[unto Him]: such indeed are the victorious.

53. They swear by Allah solemnly that, if thou order them, they will go forth.

Say: Swear not; known obedience [is better]. Lo! Allah is Informed of what yedo.

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54. Say: Obey Allah and obey the messenger. But if ye turn away, then [it is]

for him [to do] only that wherewith he hath been charged, and for you [to do]

only that wherewith ye have been charged. If ye obey him, ye will go aright. Butthe messenger hath no other charge than to convey [the message] plainly.

55. Allah hath promised such of you as believe and do good work that He willsurely make them to succeed [the present rulers] in the earth even as He causedthose who were before them to succeed [others]; and that He will surelyestablish for them their religion which He hath approved for them, and will givethem in exchange safe ty after their fear. They serve Me. They ascribe no thingas partner unto Me. Those who disbelieve henceforth, they are the miscreants.

56. Establish worship and pay the poor-due and obey the messenger, that haply yemay find mercy.

57. Think not that the disbelievers can escape in the land. Fire will be theirhome - a hapless journey's end!

58. O ye who believe! Let your slaves, and those of you who have not come topuberty, ask leave of you at three times [before they come into your presence]:

Before t he prayer of dawn, and when ye lay aside your raiment for the heat ofnoon, and after the prayer of night. Three times of privacy for you. It is nosin for them or for you at other times, when some of you go round attendant uponothers [if they come into your presence without leave]. Thus Allah maketh clearthe revelations for you. Allah is Knower, Wise.

59. And when the children among you come to puberty then let them ask leave evenas those before them used to ask it. Thus Allah maketh clear His revelations for

you. Allah is Knower, Wise.

60. As for women past child-bearing, who have no hope of marriage, it is no sinfor them if they discard their [outer] clothing in such a way as not to showadornment. But to refrain is better for them. Allah is Hearer, Kn ower.

61. No blame is there upon the blind nor any blame upon the lame nor any blameupon the sick nor on yourselves if ye eat from your houses, or the houses ofyour fathers, or the houses of your mothers, or the houses of your brothers, orthe houses of y our sisters, or the houses of your fathers' brothers, or thehouses of your fathers' sisters, or the houses of your mothers' brothers, or thehouses of your mothers' sisters, or [from that] whereof ye hold the keys, or[from the house] of a friend. No sin sha ll it be for you whether ye eat togetheror apart. But when ye enter houses, salute one another with a greeting fromAllah, blessed and sweet. Thus Allah maketh clear His revelations for you, thathaply ye may understand.

62. They only are the true believers who believe in Allah and His messenger and,

when they are with him on some common errand, go not away until they have askedleave of him. Lo! those who ask leave of thee, those are they who believe inAllah and His messenger. So, if they ask thy leave for some affair of theirs,

give leave to whom thou wilt of them, and ask for them forgiveness of Allah. Lo!

Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

63. Make not the calling of the messenger among you as your calling one ofanother. Allah knoweth those of you who steal away, hiding themselves. And letthose who conspire to evade orders beware lest grief or painful punishmentbefall them.

64. Lo! verily unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth.

He knoweth your condition. And [He knoweth] the Day when they are returned untoHim so that He may inform them of what they did. Allah is Knower of all things.

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SURA 25. AL-FURQAN (THE CRITERION, THE STANDARD)

1. Blessed is He Who hath revealed unto His slave the Criterion [of right andwro ng], that he may be a warner to the peoples.

2. He unto Whom belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, He hathchosen no son nor hath He any partner in the Sovereignty. He hath createdeverything and hath meted out for it a measure.

3. Yet they choose beside Him other gods who create naught but are themselvescreated, and possess not hurt nor profit for themselves, and possess not deathnor life, nor power to raise the dead.

4. Those who disbelieve say: This is naught but a lie that he hath invented, andother folk have helped him with it, so that they have produced a slander and alie.

5. And they say: Fables of the men of old which he hath had written down so thatthey are dictated to him morn and evening.

6. Say [unto them, O Muhammad]: H e who knoweth the secret of the heavens and theearth hath revealed it. Lo! He ever is Forgiving, Merciful.

7. And they say: What aileth this messenger [of Allah] that he eateth food andwalketh in the markets? Why is not an angel sent down unto him, to be a warnerwith him.

8. Or [why is not] treasure thrown down unto him, or why hath he not a paradisefrom whence to eat? And the evil-doers say: Ye are but following a manbewitched.

9. See how they coin similitudes for thee, so that they are all astray andcannot find a road!

10. Blessed is He Who, if He will, will assign thee better than [all] that -

Gardens underneath which rivers flow - and will assign thee mansions.

11. Nay, but they deny [the coming of] the Hour, and for those who deny [thecoming of] the Hour We have prepared a flame.

12. When it seeth them from afar, they hear the crackling and the roar thereof.

13. And when they are flung into a narrow place thereof, chained together, theypray for destruction there.

14. Pray not that day for one destruction, but pray for many destructions!

15. Say: Is that [doom] better or the Garden of Immortality which is promisedunto those who ward off [evil]? It will be their reward and journey's end.

16. Therein abiding, they have all that they desire. It is for thy Lord apromise that must be fulfilled.

17. And on the day when He will assemble them and that which they worshipinstead of Allah and will say: Was it ye who misled these my slaves or did they[themselves] wander from the way?

18. They will say: Be Thou Glorified! it was not for us to choose any protectingfriends beside thee; but Thou didst give them and their fathers ease till theyforgot the warning and became lost folk.

19. Thus they will give you the lie regarding what ye say, then y e can neitheravert [the doom] nor obtain help. And whoso among you doeth wrong, We shall makehim taste great torment.

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20. We never sent before thee any messengers but lo! they verily ate food andwalked in the markets. And We have appointed some of you a test for others: Willye be steadfast? And thy Lord is ever Seer.

21. And those who look not for a meeting with Us say: Why are angels not sentdown unto us and [Why] do we not see our Lord! Assuredly they think too highlyof themselves and are scornful with great pride.

22. On the day when they behold the angels, on that day there will be no goodtidings for the guilty; and they will cry: A forbidding ban!

23. And We shall turn unto the work they did and make it scattered motes.

24. Those who have earned the Garden on that day will be better in their homeand happier in their place of noonday rest;

25. A day when the heaven with the clouds will be rent asunder and the angelswill be sent down, a grand descent.

26. The Sovereignty on that day will be the True [Sovereignty] belonging to theBeneficent One, and it will be a hard day for disbelievers.

27. On the day when the wrong-doer gnaweth his hands, he will say: Ah, wouldthat I had chosen a way together with the messenger [of Allah]!

28. Alas for me! Ah, would that I had never taken such an one for friend!

29. He verily led me astray from the Reminder after it had reached me. Satan wasever man's deserter in the hour of need.

30. And the messenger saith: O my Lord! Lo! mine own folk make this Qur'an of noaccount.

31. Even so have We appointed unto every prophet an opponent from among theguilty; but Allah sufficeth for a Guide and Helper.

32. And those who disbelieve say: Why is the Qur'an not revealed unto him all atonce? [It is r evealed] thus that We may strengthen thy heart therewith; and Wehave arranged it in right order.

33. And they bring thee no similitude but We bring thee the Truth [as againstit], and better [than their similitude] as argument.

34. Those who will be gathered on their faces unto hell: such are worse inplight and further from the right road.

35. We verily gave Moses the Scripture and placed with him his brother Aaron ashenchman.

36. Then We said: Go together unto the folk who have denied Our revelations.

Then We destroyed them, a complete destruction.

37. And Noah's folk, when they denied the messengers, We drowned them and madeof them a portent for mankind. We have prepared a painful doom for evil-doers.

38. And [the tribes of] A'ad and Thamud, an d the dwellers in Ar-Rass, and manygenerations in between.

39. Each [of them] We warned by examples, and each [of them] We brought to utterruin.

40. And indeed they have passed by the township whereon was rained the fatalrain. Can it be that they have not seen it? Nay, but they hope for noresurrection.

41. And when they see thee [O Muhammad] they treat thee only as a jest [saying]:

Is this he whom Allah sendeth as a messenger?

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42. He would have led us far away from our gods if we had not been staunch tothem. They will know, when they behold the doom, who is more astray as to theroad.

43. Hast thou seen him who chooseth for his god his own lust? Wouldst thou thenbe guardian over him?

44. Or deemest thou that most of them hear or understand? They are but as thecattle - nay, but they are farther astray?

45. Hast thou not seen how thy Lord hath spread the shade - And if He willed Hecould have made it still - then We have made the sun its pilot;

46. Then We withdraw it unto Us, a gradual withdrawal?

47. And He it is Who maketh night a covering for you, and sleep repose, andmaketh day a resurrection.

48. And He it is Who sendeth the winds, glad tidings heralding His mercy, and Wesend down purifying water from the sky,

49. That We may give life thereby to a dead land, and We give many beasts andmen that We have created to drink thereof.

50. And verily We have repeated it among them that they may remember, but mostof mankind begrudge aught save ingratitude.

51. If We willed, We could raise up a warner in every village.

52. So obey not the disbelievers, but strive against them herewith with a greatendeavour.

53. And He it is Who hath given independence to the two seas [though they meet];

one palatable, sweet, and the other saltish, bitter; and hath set a bar and aforbidding ban between them.

54. And He it is Who hath created man from water, and hath appointed for himkindred by blood and kindred by marriage; for thy Lord is ever Powerful.

55. Yet they worship instead of Allah that which can neither benefit them norhurt them. The disbeliever was ever a partisan against his Lord.

56. And We have sent thee [O Muhammad] only as a bearer of good tidings and awarner.

57. Say: I ask of you no reward for this, save that whoso will may choose a wayunto his Lord.

58. And trust thou in the Living One Who dieth not, and hymn His praise. Hesufficeth as the Knower of His bondmen's sins,

59. Who created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six

Days, then He mounted the Throne. The Beneficent! Ask anyone informed concerningHim!

60. And when it is said unto them: Prostrate to the Beneficent! they say: Andwhat is the Beneficent? Are we to prostrate to whatever thou [Muhammad] biddestus? And it increaseth aversion in them.

61. Blessed be He Who hath placed in the heaven mansions of the stars, and hathplaced therein a great lamp and a moon giving light!

62. And He it is Who hath appointed night and day in succession, for him whodesireth to remember, or desireth thankfulness.

63. The [faithful] slaves of the Beneficent are they who walk upon the earthmodestly, and when the foolish ones address them answer: Peace;

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64. And who spend the night before their Lord, prostrate and standing,

65. And who say: Our Lord! Avert from us the doom of hell; lo! the doom thereofis anguish;

66. Lo! it is wretched as abode and station;

67. And those who, when they spend, are neither prodigal nor grudging; and thereis ever a firm station between the two;

68. An d those who cry not unto any other god along with Allah, nor take the lifewhich Allah hath forbidden save in [course of] justice, nor commit adultery -

and whoso doeth this shall pay the penalty;

69. The doom will be doubled for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he willabide therein disdained for ever;

70. Save him who repenteth and believeth and doth righteous work; as for such,

Allah will change their evil deeds to good deeds. Allah is ever Forgiving,

Merciful.

71. And whosoever repenteth and doeth good, he verily repenteth toward Allahwith true repentance -

72. And those who will not witness vanity, but when they pass near senselessplay, pass by with dignity.

73. And those who, when they are reminded of the revelations of their Lord, fallnot deaf and blind thereat.

74. And who say: Our Lord! Vouchsafe us comfort of our wives and of ouroffspring, and make us patterns for [all] those who ward off [evil].

75. They will be awarded the high place forasmuch as they were steadfast, andthey will meet therein with welcome and the ward of peace,

76. Abiding there for ever. Happy is it as abode and station!

77. Say [O Muhammad, unto the disbelievers]: My Lord would not concern Himselfwith you but for your prayer. But now ye have denied [the Truth ], therefor therewill be judgment.

SURA 26. ASH-SHUARA (THE POETS)

1. Ta. Sin. Mim.

2. These are revelations of the Scripture that maketh plain.

3. It may be that thou tormentest thyself [O Muhammad] because they believe not.

4. If We will, We can send down on them from the sky a portent so that theirnecks would remain bowed before it.

5. Never cometh there unto them a fresh reminder from the Beneficent One, butthey turn away from it.

6. Now they have denied [the Truth]; but there will come unto them tidings ofthat whereat they used to scoff.

7. Have they not seen the earth, how much of every fruitful kind We make to growtherein?

8. Lo! herein is indeed a portent; yet most of them are not believers.

9. And lo! thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

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10. And when thy Lord called Moses, saying: Go unto the wrongdoing folk,

11. The folk of Pharaoh. Will they not ward off [evil]?

12. He said: My Lord! Lo! I fear that they will deny me,

13. And I shall be embarra ssed, and my tongue will not speak plainly, thereforsend for Aaron [to help me].

14. And they have a crime against me, so I fear that they will kill me.

15. He said: Nay, verily. So go ye twain with Our tokens. Lo! We shall be withyou, Hearing.

16. And come together unto Pharaoh and say: Lo! we bear a message of the Lord ofthe Worlds,

17. [Saying]: Let the Children of Israel go with us.

18. [Pharaoh] said [unto Moses]: Did we not rear thee among us as a child? Andthou didst dwell many years of thy life among us,

19. And thou didst that thy deed which thou didst, and thou wast one of theingrates.

20. He said: I did it then, when I was of those who are astray.

21. Then I fled from you when I feared you, and my Lord vouchsafed me a commandand ap pointed me [of the number] of those sent [by Him].

22. And this is the past favour wherewith thou reproachest me: that thou hastenslaved the Children of Israel.

23. Pharaoh said: And what is the Lord of the Worlds?

24. [Moses] said: Lord of the heave ns and the earth and all that is betweenthem, if ye had but sure belief.

25. [Pharaoh] said unto those around him: Hear ye not?

26. He said: Your Lord and the Lord of your fathers.

27. [Pharaoh] said: Lo! your messenger who hath been sent unto you is indeed amadman!

28. He said: Lord of the East and the West and all that is between them, if yedid but understand.

29. [Pharaoh] said: If thou choosest a god other than me, I assuredly shallplace thee among the prisoners.

30. He said: Even though I show thee something plain?

31. [Pharaoh] said: Produce it then, if thou art of the truthful!

32. Then he flung down his staff and it became a serpent manifest,

33. And he drew forth his hand and lo! it was white to the beholders.

34. [Pharaoh] said unto the chiefs about him: Lo! this is verily a knowingwizard,

35. Who would drive you out of your land by his magic. Now what counsel ye?

36. They said: Put him off, [him] and his brother, and send into the citiessummoners

37. Who shall bring unto thee every knowing wizard.

38. So the wizards were gathered together at a set time on a day appointed.

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39. And it was said unto the people: Are ye [also] gathering?

40. [They said]: Aye, so that we may follow the wizards if they are the w inners.

41. And when the wizards came they said unto Pharaoh: Will there surely be areward for us if we are the winners?

42. He said: Aye, and ye will then surely be of those brought near [to me].

43. Moses said unto them: Throw what ye are going to throw!

44. Then they threw down their cords and their staves and said: By Pharaoh'smight, lo! we verily are the winners.

45. Then Moses threw his staff and lo! it swallowed that which they did falselyshow.

46. And the wizards were flung prostrate,

47. Crying: We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,

48. The Lord of Moses and Aaron.

49. [Pharaoh] said: Ye put your faith in him before I give you leave. Lo! hedoubtless is your chief who taught you magic! But verily ye shall come to know.

Verily I will cut off your hands and your feet alternately, and verily I willcrucify you every one.

50. They said: It is no hurt, for lo! unto our Lord we shall return.

51. Lo! we ardently hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we arethe first of the believers.

52. And We inspired Moses, saying: Take away My slaves by night, for ye will bepursued.

53. Then Pharaoh sent into the cities summoners,

54. [Who said]: Lo! these indeed are but a little troop,

55. And lo! they are offenders against us.

56. And lo! we are a ready host.

57. Thus did We take them away from gardens and watersprings,

58. And treasures and a fair estate.

59. Thus [were those things taken from them] and We caused the Children ofIsrael to inherit them.

60. And they overtook them at sunrise.

61. And when the two hosts saw each other, those with Moses said: Lo! we areindeed caught.

62. He said: Nay, verily! for lo! my Lord is with me. He will guide me.

63. Then We inspired Moses, saying: Smite the sea with thy staff. And it parted,

and each part was as a mountain vast.

64. Then brought We near the others to that place.

65. And We saved Moses and those with him, every one;

66. And We drowned the others.

67. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.

68. And lo, thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

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69. Recite unto them the story of Abraham:

70. When he said unto his father and his folk: What worship ye?

71. They said: We worship idols, and are ever devoted unto them.

72. He said: Do they hear you when ye cry?

73. Or do they benefit or harm you?

74. They said: Nay, but we found our fathers acting on this wise.

75. He said: See now that which ye worship,

76. Ye and your forefathers!

77. Lo! they are [all] an enemy unto me, save the Lord of the Worlds,

78. Who created me, and He doth guide me,

79. And Who feedeth me and watereth me.

80. And when I sicken, then He healeth me,

81. And Who causeth me to die, then giveth me life [again],

82. And Who, I ardently hope, will forgive me my sin on the Day of Judgment.

83. My Lord! Vouchsafe me wisdom and unite me to the righteous.

84. And give unto me a good report in later generations.

85. And place me among the inheritors of the Garden of Delight,

86. And forgive my father. Lo! he is of those who err.

87. And abase me not on the day when they are raised,

88. The day when wealth and sons avail not [any man]

89. Save him who bringeth unto Allah a whole heart.

90. And the Garden will be brought nigh for those who ward off [evil].

91. And hell will appear plainly to the erring.

92. And it will be said unto them: Where is [all] that ye used to worship

93. Instead of Allah? Can they help you or help themselves?

94. Then will they be hurled therein, they and the seducers

95. And the hosts of Iblis, together.

96. And they will say, when they are quarrelling therein:

97. By Allah, of a truth we were in error manifest

98. When we made you equal with the Lord of the Worlds.

99. It was but the guilty who misled us.

100. Now we have no intercessors

101. Nor any loving friend.

102. Oh, that we had another turn [on earth], that we might be of the believers!

103. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers!

104. And lo, thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

105. Noah's folk denied the messengers [of Allah],

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106. When their brother Noah said unto them: Will ye not ward off [evil]?

107. Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

108. So keep your duty to Allah, and obey me.

109. And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lordof the Worlds.

110. So keep your duty to Allah, and obey me.

111. They said: Shall we put faith in thee, when the lowes t [of the people]

follow thee?

112. He said: And what knowledge have I of what they may have been doing [in thepast]?

113. Lo! their reckoning is my Lord's concern, if ye but knew;

114. And I am not [here] to repulse believers.

115. I am only a plain warner.

116. They said: If thou cease not, O Noah, thou wilt surely be among thosestoned [to death].

117. He said: My Lord! Lo! my own folk deny me.

118. Therefor judge Thou between us, a [conclusive] judgment, and save me andthose believers who are with me.

119. And We saved him and those with him in the laden ship.

120. Then afterward We drowned the others.

121. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.

122. And lo, thy Lord, He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

123. [The tribe of] A'ad denied the messengers [of Allah].

124. When their brother Hud said unto them: Will ye not ward off [evil]?

125. Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

126. So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.

127. And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lordof the Worlds.

128. Build ye on every high place a monument for vain delight?

129. And seek ye out strongholds, that haply ye may last for ever?

130. And if ye seize by force, seize ye as tyrants?

131. Rather keep your duty to Allah, and obey me.

132. Keep your duty toward Him Who hath aided you with [the good things] that yeknow,

133. Hath aided you with cattle and sons.

134. And gardens and watersprings.

135. Lo! I fear for you the retribution of an awful day.

136. They said: It is all one to us whether thou preachest or art not of thosewho preach;

137. This is but a fable of the men of old,

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138. And we shall not be doomed.

139. And they denied him; therefor We destroyed them. Lo! herein is indeed aportent, yet most of them are not believers.

140. And lo! thy Lord, He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

141. [The tribe of] Thamud denied the messengers [of Allah]

142. When their brother Salih said unto them: Will ye not ward off [evil]?

143. Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

144. So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.

145. And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lordof the Worlds.

146. Will ye be left secure in that which is here before us,

147. In gardens and watersprings.

148. And tilled fields and heavy-sheathed palm-trees,

149. Though ye hew out dwellings in the mountain, being skilful?

150. Therefor keep your duty to Allah and obey me,

151. And obey not the command of the prodigal,

152. Who spread corruption in the earth, and reform not.

153. They said: Thou art but one of the bewitched;

154. Thou art but a mortal like us. So bring some token if thou art of thetruthful.

155. He said: [Behold] th is she-camel. She hath the right to drink [at thewell], and ye have the right to drink, [each] on an appointed day.

156. And touch her not with ill lest there come on you the retribution of anawful day.

157. But they hamstrung her, and then were penitent.

158. So the retribution came on them. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet mostof them are not believers.

159. And lo! thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

160. The folk of Lot denied the messengers [of Allah],

161. When their brothe r Lot said unto them: Will ye not ward off [evil]?

162. Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

163. So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.

164. And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lordof the Worlds.

165. What! Of all creatures do ye come unto the males,

166. And leave the wives your Lord created for you? Nay, but ye are frowardfolk.

167. They said: If thou cease not, O Lot, thou wilt soon be of the outcast.

168. He said: I am in truth of those who hate your conduct.

169. My Lord! Save me and my household from what they do.

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170. So We saved him and his household, every one,

171. Save an old woman among those who stayed behind.

172. Then afterward We destroyed the others.

173. And We rained on them a rain. And dreadful is the rain of those who have

been warned.

174. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.

175. And lo! thy Lord, He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

176. The dwellers in the wood [of Midi an] denied the messengers [of Allah],

177. When Shu'eyb said unto them: Will ye not ward off [evil]?

178. Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

179. So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.

180. And I ask of you no wage for it; my wage is the concern only of the Lord ofthe Worlds.

181. Give full measure, and be not of those who give less [than the due].

182. And weigh with the true balance.

183. Wrong not mankind in their goods, and do not evil, making mischief, in theearth.

184. And keep your duty unto Him Who created you and the generations of the menof old.

185. They said: Thou art but one of the bewitched;

186. Thou art but a mortal like us, and lo! we deem thee of the liars.

187. Then make fragments of the heaven fall upon us, if thou art of thetruthful.

188. He said: My Lord is Best Aware of what ye do.

189. But they denied him, so there came on them the retribution of the day ofgloom. Lo! it was the retribution of an awful day.

190. Lo! herein is indeed a portent; yet most of them are not believers.

191. And lo! thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

192. And lo! it is a revelation of the Lord of the Worlds,

193. Which the True Spirit hath brought down

194. Upon thy heart, that thou mayst be [one] of the wa rners,

195. In plain Arabic speech.

196. And lo! it is in the Scriptures of the men of old.

197. Is it not a token for them that the doctors of the Children of Israel know

it?

198. And if We had revealed it unto one of any other nation than the Arabs,

199. And he had read it unto them, they would not have believed in it.

200. Thus do We make it traverse the hearts of the guilty.

201. They will not believe in it till they behold the painful doom,

202. So that it will come upon them suddenly, when they perceive not.

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203. Then they will say: Are we to be reprieved?

204. Would they [now] hasten on Our doom?

205. Hast thou then seen, if We content them for [long] years,

206. And then cometh that which they were promised,

2 07. [How] that wherewith they were contented naught availeth them?

208. And We destroyed no township but it had its warners

209. For reminder, for We never were oppressors.

210. The devils did not bring it down.

211. It is not meet for them, nor is it in their power,

212. Lo! verily they are banished from the hearing.

213. Therefor invoke not with Allah another god, lest thou be one of the doomed.

214. And warn thy tribe of near kindred,

215. And lower thy wing [in kindness] unto those belie vers who follow thee.

216. And if they [thy kinsfolk] disobey thee, say: Lo! I am innocent of whatthey do.

217. And put thy trust in the Mighty, the Merciful.

218. Who seeth thee when thou standest up [to pray]

219. And [seeth] thine abasement amon g those who fall prostrate [in worship].

220. Lo! He, only He, is the Hearer, the Knower.

221. Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend?

222. They descend on every sinful, false one.

223. They listen eagerly, but most of them are liars.

224. As for poets, the erring follow them.

225. Hast thou not seen how they stray in every valley,

226. And how they say that which they do not?

227. Save those who believe and do good works, and remember Allah much, andvindicate themselves after they have been wronged. Those who do wrong will cometo know by what a [great] reverse they will be overturned!

SURA 27. AN-NAML (THE ANT, THE ANTS)

1. Ta. Sin. These are revelations of the Qur'an and a Scripture that makethplain;

2. A guidance and good tidings for believers

3. Who establish worship and pay the poor-due and are sure of the Hereafter.

4. Lo! as for those who believe not in the Hereafter, We have made their worksfairseeming unto them so that they are all astray.

5. Those are they for whom is the worst of punishment, and in the Hereafter theywill be the greatest losers.

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6. Lo! as for thee [Muhammad], thou verily receivest the Qur'an from thepresence of One Wise, Aware.

7. [Remember] when Moses said unto his household: L o! I spy afar off a fire; Iwill bring you tidings thence, or bring to you a borrowed flame that ye may warmyourselves.

8. But when he reached it, he was called, saying: Blessed is Whosoever is in thefire and Whosoever is round about it! And Glorified be Allah, the Lord of theWorlds!

9. O Moses! Lo! it is I, Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.

10. And throw down thy staff! But when he saw it writhing as it were a demon, heturned to flee headlong; [but it was said unto him]: O Moses! Fear not! theemissaries fe ar not in My presence,

11. Save him who hath done wrong and afterward hath changed evil for good. Andlo! I am Forgiving, Merciful.

12. And put thy hand into the bosom of thy robe, it will come forth white butunhurt. [This will be one] among nine tokens unto Pharaoh and his people Lo!

they were ever evil-living folk.

13. But when Our tokens came unto them, plain to see, they said: This is meremagic,

14. And they denied them, though their souls acknowledged them, for spite andarrogance. Then see the nature of the consequence for the wrong-doers!

15. And We verily gave knowledge unto David and Solomon, and they said: Praisebe to Allah, Who hath preferred us above many of His believing slaves!

16. And Solomon was David's heir. And he said: O mankind! Lo! we have been

taught the language of birds, and have been given [abundance] of all things.

This surely is evident favour.

17. And there were gathered together unto Solomon his armies of the jinn andhumankind, and of the birds, and they were set in battle order;

18. Till, when they reached the Valley of the Ants, an ant exclaimed: O ants!

Enter your dwellings lest Solomon and his armies crush you, unperceiving.

19. And [Solomon] smiled, laughing at her speech, and said: My Lord, arouse meto be thankful for Thy favour wherewith Thou hast favoured me and my parents,

and to do good that shall be pleasing unto Thee, and include me in [the numberof] Thy righteous slaves.

20. And he sought among the birds and said: How is it that I see not the hoopoe,

or is he among the absent?

21. I verily will punish him with hard punishment or I verily will slay him, orhe verily shall bring me a plain excuse.

22. But he was not long in coming, and he said: I have found out [a thing] thatthou apprehendest no t, and I come unto thee from Sheba with sure tidings.

23. Lo! I found a woman ruling over them, and she hath been given [abundance] ofall things, and hers is a mighty throne.

24. I found her and her people worshipping the sun instead of Allah; and Sata nmaketh their works fairseeming unto them, and debarreth them from the way [ofTruth], so that they go not aright;

25. So that they worship not Allah, Who bringeth forth the hidden in the heavensand the earth, and knoweth what ye hide and what ye proclaim,

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26. Allah; there is no Allah save Him, the Lord of the Tremendous Throne.

27. [Solomon] said: We shall see whether thou speakest truth or whether thou artof the liars.

28. Go with this my letter and throw it down unto them; then turn a way and seewhat [answer] they return,

29. [The Queen of Sheba] said [when she received the letter]: O chieftains! Lo!

there hath been thrown unto me a noble letter.

30. Lo! it is from Solomon, and lo! it is: In the name of Allah, the Beneficent,

the Merciful;

31. Exalt not yourselves against me, but come unto me as those who surrender.

32. She said: O chieftains! Pronounce for me in my case. I decide no case tillye are present with me.

33. They said: We are lords of might and lords of great prowess, but it is forthee to command; so consider what thou wilt command.

34. She said: Lo! kings, when they enter a township, ruin it and make the honourof its people shame. Thus will they do.

35. But lo! I am going to send a present unto them, and to se e with what[answer] the messengers return.

36. So when [the envoy] came unto Solomon, [the King] said: What! Would ye helpme with wealth? But that which Allah hath given me is better than that which Hehath given you. Nay it is ye [and not I] who exult in your gift.

37. Return unto them. We verily shall come unto them with hosts that they cannotresist, and we shall drive them out from thence with shame, and they will beabased.

38. He said: O chiefs! Which of you will bring me her throne before they comeunto me, surrendering?

39. A stalwart of the jinn said: I will bring it thee before thou canst risefrom thy place. Lo! I verily am strong and trusty for such work.

40. One with whom was knowledge of the Scripture said: I will bring it theebefore thy gaze returneth unto thee. And when he saw it set in his presence,

[Solomon] said: This is of the bounty of my Lord, that He may try me whether Igive thanks or am ungrateful. Whosoever giveth thanks he only giveth thanks for[the good of] his own soul; and w hosoever is ungrateful [is ungrateful only tohis own soul's hurt]. For lo! my Lord is Absolute in independence, Bountiful.

41. He said: Disguise her throne for her that we may see whether she will goaright or be of those not rightly guided.

42. So, whe n she came, it was said [unto her]: Is thy throne like this? Shesaid: [It is] as though it were the very one. And [Solomon said]: We were giventhe knowledge before her and we had surrendered [to Allah].

43. And [all] that she was wont to worship instead of Allah hindered her, forshe came of disbelieving folk.

44. It was said unto her: Enter the hall. And when she saw it she deemed it a

pool and bared her legs. [Solomon] said: Lo! it is a hall, made smooth, ofglass. She said: My Lord! Lo! I have wronge d myself, and I surrender withSolomon unto Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

45. And We verily sent unto Thamud their brother Salih, saying: Worship Allah.

And lo! they [then became two parties quarrelling.

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46. He said: O my people! Why will ye hasten on the evil rather than the good?

Why will ye not ask pardon of Allah, that ye may receive mercy.

47. They said: We augur evil of thee and those with thee. He said: Your evilaugury is with Allah. Nay, but ye are folk that are being tested.

48. And there were in the city nine persons who made mischief in the land andreformed not.

49. They said: Swear one to another by Allah that we verily will attack him andhis household by night, and afterward we will surely say unto his friend: Wewitnessed not the destruction of his household. And lo! we are truthtellers.

50. So they plotted a plot: and We plotted a plot, while they perceived not.

51. Then see the nature of the consequence of their plotting, for lo! Wedestroyed them and their people, every one.

52. See, yonder are their dwellings empty and in ruins because they did wrong.

Lo! herein is indeed a portent for a people who have knowledge.

53. And we saved those who believed and used to ward off [evil].

54. And Lot! when he said unto his folk: Will ye commit abomination knowingly?

55. Must ye needs lust after men instead of women? Nay, but ye are folk who actsenselessly.

56. But the answer of his folk was naught save that they said: Expel thehousehold of Lot from your township, for they [forsooth] are folk who would keepclean!

57. Then We saved him and his household save his wife; We destined her to be ofthose who stayed behind.

58. And We rained a rain upon them. Dreadful is the rain of those who have beenwarned.

59. Say [O M uhammad]: Praise be to Allah, and peace be on His slaves whom Hehath chosen! Is Allah best, or [all] that ye ascribe as partners [unto Him]?

60. Is not He [best] Who created the heavens and the earth, and sendeth down foryou water from the sky wherewith We cause to spring forth joyous orchards, whosetrees it never hath been yours to cause to grow. Is there any Allah besideAllah? Nay, but they are folk who ascribe equals [unto Him]!

61. Is not He [best] Who made the earth a fixed abode, and placed rivers in thefolds thereof, and placed firm hills therein, and hath set a barrier between thetwo seas? Is there any Allah beside Allah? Nay, but most of them know not!

62. Is not He [best] Who answereth the wronged one when he crieth unto Him andremoveth the e vil, and hath made you viceroys of the earth? Is there any Allahbeside Allah? Little do they reflect!

63. Is not He [best] Who guideth you in the darkness of the land and the sea, HeWho sendeth the winds as heralds of His mercy? Is there any Allah beside Allah?

High Exalted be Allah from all that they ascribe as partner [unto Him]!

64. Is not He [best] Who produceth creation, then reproduceth it, and Whoprovideth for you from the heaven and the earth? Is there any Allah besideAllah? Say: Bring your pro of, if ye are truthful!

65. Say [O Muhammad]: None in the heavens and the earth knoweth the Unseen saveAllah; and they know not when they will be raised [again].

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66. Nay, but doth their knowledge reach to the Hereafter? Nay, for they are indoubt concerning it. Nay, for they cannot see it.

67. Yet those who disbelieve say: When we have become dust like our fathers,

shall we verily be brought forth [again]?

68. We were promised this, forsooth, we and our fathers. [All] this is naughtbut fables of the men of old.

69. Say [unto them, O Muhammad]: Travel in the land and see the nature of thesequel for the guilty!

70. And grieve thou not for them, nor be in distress because of what they plot[against thee].

71. And they say: When [will] this promise [be fulfilled], if ye are truthful?

72. Say: It may be that a part of that which ye would hasten on is close behindyou.

73. Lo! thy Lord is full of bounty for mankind, but most of them do not givethanks.

74. Lo! thy Lord knoweth surely all that their bosoms hide, and all that theyproclaim.

75. And there is nothing hidden in the heaven or the earth but it is in a clearRecord.

76. Lo! this Qur'an narrateth unto the Children of Israel most of thatconcerning which they differ.

77. And lo! it is a guidance and a mercy for believers.

78. Lo! thy Lord will judge between them of His wisdom, and He is the Mighty,

the Wise.

79. Therefor [O Muhammad] put thy trust in Allah, for thou [standest] on theplain Truth.

80. Lo! thou canst not make the dead to hear, nor canst thou make the deaf tohear the call when they have turned to flee;

81. Nor canst thou lead the blind out of their error. Thou canst make none to

hear, save those who believe Our revelations and who have surrendered.

82. And when the word is fulfilled concerning them, We shall bring forth a beastof the earth to speak unto them because mankind had not faith in Ourrevelations.

83. And [remind them of] the Day when We shall gather out of every nation a hostof those who deni ed Our revelations, and they will be set in array;

84. Till, when they come [before their Lord], He will say: Did ye deny Myrevelations when ye could not compass them in knowledge, or what was it that yedid?

85. And the Word will be fulfilled concerning them because they have done wrong,

and they will not speak.

86. Have they not seen how We have appointed the night that they may resttherein, and the day sight-giving? Lo! therein verily are portents for a peoplewho believe.

87. And [remind them of] the Day when the Trumpet will be blown, and all who arein the heavens and the earth will start in fear, save him whom Allah willeth.

And all come unto Him, humbled.

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88. And thou seest the hills thou deemest solid flying with the flight ofclouds: the doing of Allah Who perfecteth all things. Lo! He is Informed of whatye do.

89. Whoso bringeth a good deed will have better than its worth; and such aresafe from fear that Day.

90. And whoso bringeth an ill-deed, such will be flung down on their faces inthe Fire. Are ye rewarded aught save what ye did?

91. [Say]: I [Muhammad] am commanded only to serve the Lord of this land whichHe hath hallowed, and unto Whom all things belong. And I am commanded to be ofthose who surrender [unto Him],

92 . And to recite the Qur'an. And whoso goeth right, goeth right only for [thegood of] his own soul; and as for him who goeth astray - [Unto him] say: Lo! Iam only a warner.

93. And say: Praise be to Allah Who will show you His portents so that ye shallkno w them. And thy Lord is not unaware of what ye [mortals] do.

SURA 28. AL-QASAS (THE STORY, STORIES)

1. Ta. Sin. Mim.

2. These are revelations of the Scripture that maketh plain.

3. We narrate unto thee [somewhat] of the story of Moses and Pharaoh with truth,

for folk who believe.

4. Lo! Pharaoh exalted himself in the earth and made its people castes. A tribeamong them he oppressed, killing their sons and sparing their women. Lo! he wasof those who work corruption.

5. And We desired to show favour unto those who were oppressed in the earth, andto make them examples and to make them the inheritors,

6. And to establish them in the earth, and to show Pharaoh and Haman and theirhosts that which they feared from them.

7. And We inspired the moth er of Moses, saying: Suckle him and, when thoufearest for him, then cast him into the river and fear not nor grieve. Lo! Weshall bring him back unto thee and shall make him [one] of Our messengers.

8. And the family of Pharaoh took him up, that he might become for them an enemyand a sorrow, Lo! Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts were ever sinning.

9. And the wife of Pharaoh said: [He will be] a consolation for me and for thee.

Kill him not. Peradventure he may be of use to us, or we may choose him for ason. And they perceived not.

10. And the heart of the mother of Moses became void, and she would havebetrayed him if We had not fortified her heart, that she might be of thebelievers.

11. And she said unto his sister: Trace him. So she observed him from afar, andthey perceived not.

12. And We had before forbidden foster-mothers for him, so she said: Shall Ishow you a household who will rear him for you and take care of him?

13. So We restored him to his mother that she might be comforted and not grieve,

and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of them knownot.

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14. And when he reached his full strength and was ripe, We gave him wisdom andknowledge. Thus do We reward the good.

15. And he entered the city at a time of carelessness of its folk, and he foundtherein two men fighting, one of his own caste, and the other of his enemies;

and he who was of his caste asked him for help against him who was of hisenemies. So Moses struck him with his fist and killed him. He said: This is of

the devil's doing. Lo! he is an enemy, a mere misleader.

16. He said: My Lord! Lo! I have wronged my soul, so forgive me. Then He forgavehim. Lo! He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

17. He said: My Lord! Forasmuch as Thou hast favoured me, I will nevermore be asupporter of the guilty.

18. And morning found him in the city, fearing, vigilant, when behold! he whohad appealed to him the day before cried out to him for help. Moses said untohim: Lo! thou art indeed a mere hothead.

19. And when he would have fallen upon the man who was an enemy unto them both,

he said: O Moses! Wouldst thou kill me as thou didst kill a person yesterday.

Thou wouldst be nothing but a tyrant in the land, thou wouldst not be of thereformers.

20. And a man came from the uttermost part of the city, running. He said: OMoses! Lo! the chiefs take counsel against thee to slay thee; therefor escape.

Lo! I am of those who give thee good advice.

21. So he escaped from thence, fearing, vigilant. He said: My Lord! Deliver mefrom the wrongdoing folk.

22. And when he turned his face toward Midian, he said: Peradventure my Lordwill guide me in the right road.

23. And when he came unto the water of Midian he found there a whole tribe of

men, watering. And he found apart from them two women keeping back [theirflocks]. He said: What aileth you? The two said: We cannot give [our flocks] todrink till the shepherds return from the water; and our father is a very oldman.

24. So he watered [their flock] for them. Then he turned aside into the shade,

and said: My Lord! I am needy of whatever good Thou sendest down for me.

25. Then there came unto him one of the two women, walking shyly. She said: Lo!

my father biddeth thee, that he may reward thee with a payme nt for that thoudidst water [the flock] for us. Then, when he came unto him and told him the[whole] story, he said: Fear not! Thou hast escaped from the wrongdoing folk.

26. One of the two women said: O my father! Hire him! For the best [man] thatthou ca nst hire in the strong, the trustworthy.

27. He said: Lo! I fain would marry thee to one of these two daughters of mineon condition that thou hirest thyself to me for [the term of] eight pilgrimages.

Then if thou completest ten it will be of thine own accord, for I would not makeit hard for thee. Allah willing, thou wilt find me of the righteous.

28. He said: That [is settled] between thee and me. Whichever of the two terms Ifulfil, there will be no injustice to me, and Allah is Surety over what we say.

29. Then, when Moses had fulfilled the term, and was travelling with hishousefolk, he saw in the distance a fire and said unto his housefolk: Bide ye[here]. Lo! I see in the distance a fire; peradventure I shall bring you tidingsthence, or a brand from the fire that ye may warm yourselves.

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30. And when he reached it, he was called from the right side of the valley inthe blessed field, from the tree: O Moses! Lo! I, even I, am Allah, the Lord ofthe Worlds;

31. Throw down thy staff. And w hen he saw it writhing as it had been a demon, heturned to flee headlong, [and it was said unto him]: O Moses! Draw nigh and fearnot. Lo! thou art of those who are secure.

32. Thrust thy hand into the bosom of thy robe it will come forth white withouthurt. And guard thy heart from fear. Then these shall be two proofs from yourLord unto Pharaoh and his chiefs. Lo! they are evil-living folk.

33. He said: My Lord! Lo! I killed a man among them and I fear that they willkill me.

34. My brother Aaron is more eloquent than me in speech. Therefor send him withme as a helper to confirm me. Lo! I fear that they will give the lie to me.

35. He said: We will strengthen thine arm with thy brother, and We will giveunto you both power so that they cannot reach you for Our portents. Ye twain,

and those who follow you, will be the winners.

36. But when Moses came unto them with Our clear tokens, they said: This isnaught but invented magic. We never heard of this among our fathers of old.

37. And Moses said: My Lo rd is Best Aware of him who bringeth guidance from Hispresence, and whose will be the sequel of the Home [of bliss]. Lo! wrong-doerswill not be successful.

38. And Pharaoh said: O chiefs! I know not that ye have a god other than me, sokindle for me [a fi re], O Haman, to bake the mud; and set up for me a loftytower in order that I may survey the god of Moses; and lo! I deem him of theliars.

39. And he and his hosts were haughty in the land without right, and deemed thatthey would never be brought back to Us.

40. Therefor We seized him and his hosts, and abandoned them unto the sea.

Behold the nature of the consequence for evil-doers!

41. And We made them patterns that invite unto the Fire, and on the Day ofResurrection they will not be helped.

42. And We made a curse to follow them in this world, and on the Day ofResurrection they will be among the hateful.

43. And We verily gave the Scripture unto Moses after We had destroyed thegenerations of old: clear testimonies for mankind, and a guidance and a mercy,

that haply they might reflect.

44. And thou [Muhammad] wast not on the western side [of the Mount] when Weexpounded unto Moses the commandment, and thou wast not among those present;

45. But We brought forth generations, and their lives dra gged on for them. Andthou wast not a dweller in Midian, reciting unto them Our revelations, but Wekept sending [messengers to men].

46. And thou was not beside the Mount when We did call; but [the knowledge of itis] a mercy from thy Lord that thou mayst warn a folk unto whom no warner camebefore thee, that haply they may give heed.

47. Otherwise, if disaster should afflict them because of that which their ownhands have sent before [them], they might say: Our Lord! Why sentest Thou nomessenger unto us, t hat we might have followed Thy revelations and been of thebelievers?

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48. But when there came unto them the Truth from Our presence, they said: Why ishe not given the like of what was given unto Moses? Did they not disbelieve inthat which was given unto Moses of old? They say: Two magics that support eachother; and they say: Lo! in both we are disbelievers.

49. Say [unto them, O Muhammad]: Then bring a scripture from the presence ofAllah that giveth clearer guidance than these two [that] I m ay follow it, if yeare truthful.

50. And if they answer thee not, then know that what they follow is their lusts.

And who goeth farther astray than he who followeth his lust without guidancefrom Allah. Lo! Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.

51. And now verily We have caused the Word to reach them, that haply they maygive heed.

52. Those unto whom We gave the Scripture before it, they believe in it,

53. And when it is recited unto them, they say: We believe in it. Lo! it is theTruth from our Lord. L o! even before it we were of those who surrender [untoHim].

54. These will be given their reward twice over, because they are steadfast andrepel evil with good, and spend of that wherewith We have provided them,

55. And when they hear vanity they withdraw from it and say: Unto us our worksand unto you your works. Peace be unto you! We desire not the ignorant.

56. Lo! thou [O Muhammad] guidest not whom thou lovest, but Allah guideth whomHe will. And He is Best Aware of those who walk aright.

57. And they say: If we were to follow the Guidance with thee we should be tornout of our land. Have We not established for them a sure sanctuary, whereuntothe produce of all things is brought [in trade], a provision from Our presence?

But most of them know not.

58. And how many a community have We destroyed that was thankless for its meansof livelihood! And yonder are their dwellings, which have not been inhabitedafter them save a little. And We, even We, were the inheritors.

59. And never did thy Lord destro y the townships, till He had raised up in theirmother[-town] a messenger reciting unto them Our revelations. And never did Wedestroy the townships unless the folk thereof were evil-doers.

60. And whatsoever ye have been given is a comfort of the life of the world andan ornament thereof; and that which Allah hath is better and more lasting. Haveye then no sense?

61. Is he whom We have promised a fair promise which he will find [true] likehim whom We suffer to enjoy awhile the comfort of the life of the w orld, then onthe Day of Resurrection he will be of those arraigned?

62. On the day when He will call unto them and say: Where are My partners whomye imagined?

63. Those concerning whom the Word will have come true will say: Our Lord! Theseare they whom we led astray. We led them astray even as we ourselves wereastray. We declare our innocence before Thee: us they never worshipped.

64. And it will be said: Cry unto your [so-called] partners [of Allah]. And theywill cry unto them, and they will give no answer unto them, and they will seethe Doom. Ah, if they had but been guided!

65. And on the Day when He will call unto them and say: What answer gave ye tothe messengers?

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66. On that day [all] tidings will be dimmed for them, nor will the y ask one ofanother,

67. But as for him who shall repent and believe and do right, he haply may beone of the successful.

68. Thy Lord bringeth to pass what He willeth and chooseth. They have never anychoice. Glorified be Allah and Exalted above all tha t they associate [with Him]!

69. And thy Lord knoweth what their breasts conceal, and what they publish.

70. And He is Allah; there is no Allah save Him. His is all praise in the formerand the latter [state], and His is the command, and unto Him ye wil l be broughtback.

71. Say: Have ye thought, if Allah made night everlasting for you till the Dayof Resurrection, who is a god beside Allah who could bring you light? Will yenot then hear?

72. Say: Have ye thought, if Allah made day everlasting for you till the Day ofResurrection, who is a god beside Allah who could bring you night wherein yerest? Will ye not then see?

73. Of His mercy hath He appointed for you night and day, that therein ye mayrest, and that ye may seek His bounty, and that haply ye may be thankful.

74. And on the Day when He shall call unto them and say: Where are My partnerswhom ye pretended?

75. And We shall take out from every nation a witness and We shall say: Bringyour proof. Then they will know that Allah hath the Truth, and all that theyinvented will have failed them.

76. Now Korah was of Moses' folk, but he oppressed them; and We gave him so muchtreasure that the stores thereof would verily have been a burden for a troop ofmighty men. When his own folk said unto him: Exult not; lo! Allah loveth not theexultant;

77. But seek the abode of the Hereafter in that which Allah hath given thee andneglect not thy portion of the world, and be thou kind even as Allah hath beenkind to thee, and seek not corruption in the earth; lo! Allah loveth notcorrupters,

78. He said: I have been given it only on account of knowledge I possess. Knewhe not that Allah had destroyed already of the generations before him men whowere mightier than him in strength and greater in respect of following? Theguilty are not questioned of their sins.

79. Then went he forth before his people in his pomp. Those who were desirous ofthe life of the world said: Ah, would that we had the like of what hath beengiven unto Korah! Lo! he is lord of rare good fortune.

80. But those who had been given knowledge said: Woe unto you! The reward ofAllah for him who believeth and doeth right is better, and only the steadfastwill obtain it.

81. So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling-place. Then he had nohost to help him against Allah, nor was he of those who can save themselves.

82. And morning found those who had coveted his place but yesterday crying: Ah,

welladay! Allah enlargeth the provision for whom He will of His slaves andstraiteneth it [for who m He will]. If Allah had not been gracious unto us Hewould have caused it to swallow us [also]. Ah, welladay! the disbelievers neverprosper.

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83. As for that Abode of the Hereafter We assign it unto those who seek notoppression in the earth, nor yet corruption. The sequel is for those who wardoff [evil].

84. Whoso bringeth a good deed, he will have better than the same; while as forhim who bringeth an ill-deed, those who do ill-deeds will be requited only whatthey did.

85. Lo! He Who hath given thee the Qur'an for a law will surely bring thee homeagain. Say: My Lord is Best Aware of him who bringeth guidance and him who is inerror manifest.

86. Thou hadst no hope that the Scripture would be inspired in thee; but it is amercy from thy Lord, so never be a helper to the disbelievers.

87. And let them not divert thee from the revelations of Allah after they havebeen sent down unto thee; but call [mankind] unto thy Lord, and be not of thosewho ascribe partners [unto Him].

88. And cry not unto any other god along with Allah. There is no Allah save Him.

Everything will perish save His countenance. His is the command, and unto Him yewill be brought back.