1- THE OPENING
1- THE OPENING [AL-FĀTIĤAH]
Revealed at Mecca, [7 verses]
Al-Fātiĥah, “The Opening” or Fatifatul-Kitab, “The
Opening of the Scripture” or Ummu’l-Qur’ân, “The Essence
of the Qur’ân,” as it is variously named, has been called the
Lord’s Prayer of the Muslims. It is an essential part of all
Muslim prayer, public and private, and no solemn contract
or transaction is complete unless it is recited. The date of
revelation is uncertain, but the fact that it has always, from
the very earliest times, formed a part of Muslim prayer, there
being no record or remembrance of its introduction, or of
public prayer without it, makes it clear that it was revealed
before the fourth year of the Prophet’s Mission (the tenth
year before the Hijrah); because we know for certain that by
that time regular congregational prayers were offered by the
little group of Muslims in Mecca. In that year, as the result of
insult and attack [1] by the idolaters, the Prophet arranged for
the services, which had till then been held out of doors, to
take place in a private house.
This sûrah is also often called Saba’an min al-Mathani, “Seven
of the Oft-repeated” (“verses” being understood), [Sûrah, 15:
87], words which are taken as referring to this sûrah.[2]
[1] Ibn Hishîm, Shah (Cairo ed.), Part I, p. 88.
[2] See Nöldeke, Gescliclte Acs Qorans, Zweite Auflage, bearbeitet von
Fr. Schwally, Part I, pp. no seq.
TRANSLATOR NOTE: I have retained the word Allah throughout,
because there is no corresponding word in English. The word Allah
(the stress is on the last syllable) has neither feminine nor plural,
and has never been applied to anything other than the unimaginable
Supreme Being. I use the word “God” only where the corresponding
word ilah is found in the Arabic. The words in brackets are interpolated
to explain the meaning.
1- THE OPENING PART I
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Al-Fātiĥah
1. In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
2. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,
3. The Beneficent, the Merciful.
4. Sovereign of the Day of Recompense,
5. You [alone] we worship; You [alone] we ask for help.
6. Guide us to the straight path,
7. The path of those whom You have bestowed favour; not
[the path] of those who earn Your anger nor of those
who are astray.
PART I
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2-THE COW
2- THE COW [AL-BAQARAH]
Revealed at Al-Madînah, [286 verses]
Al-Baqarah (The Cow) is so named from the story of the
yellow heifer (vv. 67-71). As is the case with many other sûrahs,
the title is taken from some word or incident which surprised
the listeners. All suggestions to the contrary notwithstanding,
it seems probable that the whole of this sûrah was revealed
during the first four years after the Hijrah, and that by far the
greater portion of it was revealed in the first eighteen months
of the Prophet’s reign at Al-Madînah that is to say, before the
battle of Badr. [1]
The Jewish tribes, once paramount in Yathrib had, not very
long before the coming of Al-Islâm, been reduced by the pagan
Arab tribes of Aus and Khazraj, each Jewish tribe becoming an
adherent of one or the other. But they had preserved a sort
of intellectual ascendancy owing to their possession of the
Scripture and their fame for occult science, the pagan Arabs
consulting their rabbis on occasions and paying heed to what
they said. Before the coming of Al-Islâm, [2] these Jewish rabbis
had often told their neighbours that a Prophet was about to
come, and had often threatened them that, when he came,
they (the Jews) would destroy the pagan Arabs as the tribes of
A’âd and Thamûd had been destroyed of old. [3] So plainly did
they describe the coming prophet that pilgrims from Yathrib
recognised the Prophet, when he addressed them in Mecca,
as the same whom the Jewish scholars had described to them.
[1] Th. Nöldeke, Gesclicfoe des Qorslns, Zweite Auflage, bearbeitet von Fr.
Schwally, Part I, pp. 173 seq.
[2] Al-Islâm means “The Surrender” i.e. man’s surrender to God’s will
and purpose.
[3] Ibn Hishâm (Cairo ed.), Part I, pp. 180 seq.
2-THE COW PART I
38
But the Jewish idea of a Prophet was one who would give
them dominion, not one who would make them brethren
of every pagan Arab who chose to accept Al-Islâm. When
they found that they could not make use of the newcomer,
they opposed him and tried to bewilder him with questions
from their theology, speaking to him as men who possessed
superior wisdom; failing to perceive that, from a Prophet’s
standpoint, theology is childish nonsense, the very opposite
of religion, and its enemy; religion, for the Prophet, being not
a matter of conjecture and speech, but of fact and conduct.
Ibn Ishâq[1] states definitely– that vv. 1-141 were revealed
concerning these Jewish rabbis and such of the new converts
to Al-Islâm as were half-hearted and inclined to them. There
follows the order to change the Qiblah (the place toward which
the Muslims turn their face in prayer) from Jerusalem to the
Ka’bah at Mecca, which was built by Abraham, the choice of
Jerusalem having led to a misunderstanding on the part of
the Jews that the Prophet was groping his way toward their
religion and stood in need of their guidance and instruction.
All through the sûrah runs the note of warning, which
sounds indeed throughout the whole Qur’ân, that it is not
the mere profession of a creed, but righteous conduct, which
is true religion. There is the repeated announcement that
the religion of Abraham, to which Judaism and Christianity
(which springs from Judaism) trace their origin, is the only
true religion, and that that religion consists in the surrender
of man’s will and purpose to the Will and Purpose of the
Lord of Creation as manifested in His creation and revealed
by way of guidance through successive Prophets. Of sincerity
in that religion the one test is conduct, and the standard of
that religion is for all alike.
[1] Apud Ibn Hishâm, Sîrah (Cairo ed.), pp. 189 seq.
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2-THE COW
At the time when this sûrah was revealed at Al-Madînah,
the Prophet’s own tribe, the pagan Qureysh at Mecca, were
preparing to attack the Muslims in their place of refuge.
Cruel persecution was the lot of Muslims who had stayed
in Meccan territory or who journeyed thither, and Muslims
were being prevented from performing the pilgrimage. The
possible necessity of fighting had been foreseen in the terms
of the oath, taken at Al-’Aqabah by the Muslims of Yathrib
before the Flight, to defend the Prophet as they would their
own wives and children, and the first commandment to fight
was revealed to the Prophet before his flight from Mecca;
but there was no actual fighting by the Muslims until the
battle of Badr.
Many of them were reluctant, having before been subject
to a rule of strict non-violence. It was with difficulty that they
could accept the idea of fighting even in self-defence, as can
be seen from several verses in this sûrah; which contains also
rules for fasting and the pilgrimage, bequests, almsgiving,
divorce and contracts, and verses which discountenance usury,
strong drink and gambling. It concludes with a statement of
the universal character of Al-Islâm, the religion of Allah’s
sovereignty, and a prayer for the forgiveness of shortcomings.
This sûrah might be described as the Qur’ân in little. It contains
mention of all the essential points of the Revelation, which are
elaborated elsewhere. This accounts for the precedence given to
it in the arrangement of the Book.
The period of revelation is the years 1 and 2 A.H. for the
most part, certain verses of legislation being considered as
of later date.
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In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
1. Alif. Lâm. Mîm. [1]
2. This is the Book whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to
those who fear Allah.
3. Who believe in the unseen, and establish prayer, and spend
of that We have provided for them;
4. And who believe in that which is revealed to you [Muhammad]
and that which was revealed before you, and are certain of
the Hereafter.
5. Those are upon [true] guidance from their Lord. And those
who are the successful.
6. Verily, those who disbelieve, whether you warn them or you
warn them not it is all one for them; they believe not.
7. Allah has sealed their hearts and their hearing and on their
eyes there is a covering. Theirs will be a great doom.
8. And of mankind, there are some [hypocrites] who say: We
believe in Allah and the Last Day, when they believe not.
9. They think to beguile Allah and those who believe, and
they beguile none save themselves; but they perceive not.
10. In their hearts is a disease, and Allah has increased their
disease. A painful doom is theirs because they used to lie.
11. And when it is said to them: Make not mischief in the
earth, they say: We are but reformers.
12. Are not they indeed the corrupters? But they perceive not.
[1] Three letters of the Arabic alphabet. Many Sûrahs begin thus with
letters of the alphabet. Opinions differ as to their significance, the
prevalent view being that they indicate some mystic words. Some
have opined that they are merely the initials of the scribe. They are
always included in the text and recited as part of it.
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13. And when it is said to them: Believe as the people[1] have
believed, they say: Shall we believe as the foolish have
believed? Are not they indeed the foolish? But they know
not.
14. And when they meet those who believe, they say: We
believe; but when they go apart to their devils they declare:
Lo! we are with you; verily we were only mockers.
15. Allah [Himself] does mock them, and prolongs them to
wander blindly on in their contumacy.
16. These are they who have purchased error at the price of
guidance, so their commerce has not prospered, neither
were they guided.
17. Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled fire,
and when it shed its light around him Allah took away
their light and left them in darkness, where they cannot
see.
18. Deaf, dumb and blind; and they return not.
19. Or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness,
thunder and the flash of lightning. They thrust their
fingers in their ears by reason of the thunder-claps, for
fear of death, Allah encompasses the disbelievers [in His
guidance, His Omniscience and His Omnipotence].
20. The lightning almost snatches away their sight. As often
as it flashes forth for them they walk therein, and when
it darkens against them they stand still. If Allah willed,
He could destroy their hearing and their sight lo! Allah is
Able to do all things.
[1] i.e. the people of Al-Madînah, most of whom were Muslims, w. 8 to
19 refer to the “Hypocrites,” or lukewarm Muslims of Al-Madînah,
whose leader was Abdullah ibn Ubeyy. They pretended that their aim
was to make peace between the Muslims and the Jewish rabbis, but
they only embittered the controversy.
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21. O mankind! Worship your Lord, Who has created you and
those before you, so that you may become righteous.
22. Who has made the earth a resting-place for you, and the
sky a canopy; and causes water to pour down from the
sky, thereby producing fruits as provision for you. And do
not set up rivals to Allah when you know [better].
23. And if you are in doubt concerning that which We have
sent down upon Our slave[1] [Muhammad], then produce
a sûrah or the like thereof, and call your witnesses other
than Allah if you are truthful.
24. And if you do it not - and you can never do it - then guard
yourselves against the Fire prepared for disbelievers,
whose fuel is of men and stones.
25. And give glad tidings [O Muhammad] to those who believe
and do good deeds; that theirs are Gardens underneath
which rivers flow; as often as they are provided with
a provision of the fruit thereof, they say: This is what
was given us previously;[2] and it is given to them in
resemblance. There for them are pure companions; and
they will abide therein forever.
26. Lo! Allah disdains not to coin the similitude even of
a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who
believe know that it is the truth from their Lord; but
those who disbelieve say: What does Allah want [to
teach] by such a similitude? He misleads many thereby,
and He guides many thereby; and He misleads thereby
only miscreants;
[1] To be the slave of Allah is the proudest boast of the Muslim,
bondage to Allah liberating from all other servitudes. In the Qur’an
mankind are often called God’s slaves or bondmen, a stronger and
more just expression than the word “servants” generally substituted
in translations.
[2] The joys of Paradise will recall, in a rapturous degree, the joys the
righteous tasted in their life on earth.
PART I
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2-THE COW
27. Those who break the covenant of Allah after ratifying
it, and sever that which Allah ordered to be joined, and
[who] make mischief in the earth: Those are they who are
the losers.
28. How disbelieve you in Allah when you were dead and He
gave life to you! Then he will give you death, then life
again, and then to Him you will return.
29. He it is Who created for you all that is in the earth. Then He
turned to the heaven, and fashioned it as seven heavens.
And He is Knower of all things.
30. And when your Lord said to the angels: Lo! I am about
to place a viceroy in the earth, they said: Will You place
therein one who causes corruption therein and will shed
blood, while we, we celebrate Your praise and sanctify
You? He said: Surely I know that which you know not.
31. And He taught Adam the names,[1] all of them, then
showed them to the angels, saying: Inform me of the
names of these, if you are truthful.
32. They said: Be glorified! We have no knowledge saving that
which You have taught us. Lo! You, only You, are the
Knower, the Wise.
33. He said: O Adam! Inform them of their names, and when
he had informed them of their names, He said: Did I not
tell you that I know the unseen of the heavens and the
earth? And I know that which you disclose and which you
conceal.
34. And when We said to the angels: Prostrate yourselves
before Adam, they fell prostrate, all save Iblîs He demurred
through pride, and so became a disbeliever.
35. And We said: O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in
[1] Some, especially Sûfîs, hold “the names” to be the attributes of Allah;
others, the names of animals and plants.
2-THE COW PART I
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the Paradise, and you[1] eat [of the fruits] in abundance
thereof where you will; but come not near this tree lest
you become wrong-doers.
36. But Satan caused them to deflect therefrom [the Paradise]
and expelled them from the [happy] state in which they
were; and We said: Fall down,[2] one of you a foe to the
other! There shall be for you on earth a habitation and
provision for a time.
37. Then Adam received from his Lord words [of revelation],
and He accepted his repentance. Lo! He is the Accepting
of repentance the Merciful.
38. We said: Go down, all of you, from hence; but verily there
comes to you from Me a guidance; and whoso follows
My guidance, there shall no fear come upon them neither
shall they grieve.
39. But they who disbelieve, and deny Our Signs, such are the
owners of the Fire. They will abide therein eternally.
40. O Children of Israel! Remember My favour wherewith
I favoured you, and fulfil your [part of the] covenant, I
shall fulfil My [part of the] covenant and fear Me.
41. And believe in what I have sent down, confirming that
which you possess already [of the Scripture], and be not
first to disbelieve therein, and do not exchange My verses
for a trifling price, and fear [only] Me.
42. Confound not truth with falsehood, nor knowingly
conceal the truth.
43. Establish prayer, pay the poor-due,[3] and bow your heads
with those who bow [in worship].
[1] Here the command is in the dual, as addressed to Adam and his wife.
[2] Here the command is in the plural, as addressed to Adam’s race.
[3] Az-Zakâh a tax at a fixed rate in proportion to the worth of
property, collected from the well-to-do and distributed among the
poor Muslims.
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2-THE COW
44. Enjoin you righteousness upon people while you
yourselves forget [to practise it]? And while you recite the
Scripture! Have you then no sense?
45. Seek help in patience and prayer; and truly it is hard save
for the humbly submissive [to Allah],
46. Those who are certain that they will meet their Lord, and
that to Him they are returning.
47. O Children of Israel! Remember My favour wherewith I
favoured you and how I preferred you to [all] the worlds.
48. And fear a Day when no soul will in nothing avail
another, nor will intercession be accepted from it, nor will
compensation be received from it, nor will they be helped.
49. And [remember] when We delivered you from Pharaoh’s
folk, who were afflicting you with dreadful doom,
slaying your sons and sparing your women: That was a
tremendous trial from your Lord.
50. And [recall] when We parted the sea for you and rescued
you, and drowned the folk of Pharaoh in your sight.
51. And when We did appoint for Moses forty nights [of
solitude], and then you took [for worship] the calf after
him and were wrong-doers.
52. Then, even after that, We pardoned you in order that you
might give thanks.
53. And when We gave to Moses the Scripture and the
Criterion [of right and wrong], that you might be guided.
54. And when Moses said to his people: O my people! You
have wronged yourselves by your taking of the calf [for
worship] so turn in repentance to your Creator, and kill
[the guilty] yourselves. That will be best for you with your
Creator and then He accepted your repentance. Lo! He is
the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.
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55. And when you said: O Moses! We will not believe in you
till we see Allah plainly; and even while you were looking
on the thunderbolt took you.
56. Then We revived you after your death, that you might give
thanks.
57. And We caused the white cloud to overshadow you and
sent down on you the manna and the quails, [saying]: Eat
of the good things wherewith We have provided you–
They wronged Us not, but they did wrong themselves.
58. And when We said: Go into this township [Jerusalem]
and eat of that which is therein wherever you will in [ease
and] abundance, and enter the gate in prostration [bowing
humbly] and say: “Repentance.”[1] We will forgive you
your sins and increase [reward] for the right-doers.
59. But those who did wrong changed the word which had
been told them for another saying, and We sent down
upon the wrong-doers a punishment from heaven for
their wrong-doing.
60. And when Moses asked for water for his people, We
said: Smite with your staff the rock. And there gushed
out therefrom twelve springs [so that] each tribe knew
their drinking-place. Eat and drink of that which Allah
has provided, and do not act corruptly, making mischief
in the earth.
61. And when you said: O Moses! We are weary of one kind
of food; so call upon your Lord for us that He brings forth
for us of that which the earth grows – of its herbs and
its cucumbers and its corn and its lentils and its onions.
He said: Would you exchange that which is better for
that which is lower? Go down to settled town, thus you
[1] According to a tradition of the Prophet, Hittatun is a word implying
submission to Allah and repentance. The wrong-doers changed it for
a word of rebellion i.e. they were disobedient.
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shall get that which you demand. And humiliation and
poverty were stamped upon them and they were visited
with wrath from Allah. That was because they disbelieved
in Allah’s signs and killed the prophets wrongfully. That
was for their disobedience and transgression.
62. Lo! those who believe [in that which is revealed to you,
Muhammad], and those who are Jews, and Christians, and
Sabaeans whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and
does righteousness surely their reward is with their Lord, and
there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.
63. And [remember, O children of Israel] when We made a
covenant with you and caused the Mount to tower above
you, [saying]: Hold fast that which We have given you, and
remember that which is therein, that you may become
righteous.
64. Then, even after that, you turned away, and if it had not
been for the grace of Allah and His mercy you had been
among the losers.
65. And you know of those of you who transgressed concerning
the Sabbath, how We said to them: Be you apes, despised
and hated!
66. And We made it an example to their own and to succeeding
generations, and an admonition for those who fear Allah.
67. And when Moses said to his people: Lo! Allah commands
you that you sacrifice a cow, they said: Do you take us
in ridicule? He answered: Allah forbids that I should be
among the ignorant!
68. They said: Pray for us to your Lord that He makes clear
to us what [cow] she is. [Moses] answered: Lo! He says,
Verily she is a cow neither with calf nor immature; [she
is] between the two conditions; so do that which you are
commanded.
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69. They said: Pray for us to your Lord that He makes clear to
us of what colour she is. [Moses] answered: Lo! He says:
Verily she is a yellow cow. Bright is her colour, gladdening
beholders.
70. They said: Pray for us to your Lord that He makes clear to
us what [cow] she is. Lo! cows are much alike to us; and
Lo! if Allah wills, we will be guided.
71. [Moses] answered: Lo! He says: Verily she is a cow unyoked;
she ploughs not the soil nor waters the tilth; whole and
without mark. They said: Now you brought the truth. So
they sacrificed her, though almost they did not.
72. And [remember] when you killed a man and disagreed
concerning it and Allah brought forth that which you
were hiding.
73. And We said: Smite him with some of it. Thus Allah
brings the dead to life and shows you His signs so that
you may understand.
74. Then, even after that, your hearts were hardened and
became as rocks, or worse than rocks, for hardness. For
indeed there are rocks from out which rivers gush, and
indeed there are rocks which split asunder so that water
flows from them. And indeed there are rocks which fall
down for the fear of Allah. Allah is not unaware of what
you do.
75. Have you any hope that they will believe in your religion
when a party of them used to listen to the Word of
Allah, then used to change it, after they had understood
it knowingly?
76. And when they [Jews] meet those who believe, they say:
We believe. But when they go apart one with another they
say: Do you talk to them of that which Allah has revealed
to you that they may contend with you before your Lord
concerning it? Have you then no sense?
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77. Are they [Jews] then unaware that Allah knows that which
they keep hidden and that which they proclaim?
78. And among them are unlettered ones who know the
Scripture not except in wishful thinking. They but guess.
79. Therefore woe be to those who write the Scripture with
their hands and then say, “This is from Allah,” that they
may purchase a small gain therewith. Woe to them for
that their hands have written, and woe to them for that
they earn thereby.
80. And they say: The fire [of punishment] will not touch us
save for a certain number of days. Say: Have you taken
a covenant with Allah – truly Allah will not break His
covenant or tell you concerning Allah that which you
know not?
81. Nay, but whoever has done evil and his sin surrounds
him; such are rightful owners of the Fire; they will abide
therein eternally.
82. And those who believe and do good deeds: such are
rightful owners of the Garden. They will abide therein
eternally.
83. And [remember] when We made a covenant with the
Children of Israel, [saying]: Worship none save Allah
[only], and be good to parents and to kindred and to
orphans and the needy, and speak kindly to mankind; and
establish prayer and pay the poor-due. Then, after that,
you turned away, save a few of you, being averse.
84. And when We made with you a covenant [saying]: Shed
not the blood of your people nor turn [a party of] your
people out of your dwellings. Then you ratified [Our
covenant] while you were witnessing [thereto].[1]
[1] v. 83 is generally taken as referring to the Biblical covenant and v. 84
as, referring to the solemn treaty which the Jews of Al-Madînah made
with the Prophet in the year 1 A.H.
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85. Yet you it is who kill one another and drive out a party of
your people from their homes, supporting one another
against them by sin and transgression,[1] and if they came
to you as captives you would ransom them, whereas their
expulsion was itself unlawful for you. Believe you in part
of the Scripture and disbelieve you in part thereof? And
what is the reward of those who do so save ignominy in
the life of the world, and on the Day of Resurrection they
will be consigned to the most grievous doom. For Allah is
not unaware of what you do.
86. Such are those who buy the life of the world at the price
of the Hereafter: Their punishment will not be lightened,
neither will they have support.
87. And verily We gave to Moses the Book and We caused a
train of messengers to follow after him, and We gave to
Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs [of Allah’s sovereignty],
and We supported him with the pure Spirit[2] is it ever so,
that, when there comes to you a messenger [from Allah]
with that which you yourselves desire not, you grow
arrogant, and some you disbelieve and some you kill?
88. And they say: Our hearts are hardened. Nay, but Allah has
cursed them for their unbelief. Little is that which they
believe.
89. And when there comes to them [the Jews] a Book [this
Qur’ân] from Allah, confirming that in their possession -
though before that they were praying for a signal triumph
over those who disbelieved and when there comes to them
that which they know [to be the Truth] they disbelieve
therein. The curse of Allah is on disbelievers.
[1] The reference is to the wars between the Arab tribes of Al-Madînah
in which the Jews used to take part as allies of one and the other, Jew
waging war upon Jew.
[2] “The pure Spirit” is a term for the angel of Revelation, Gabriel (on
whom be peace).
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90. Evil is that for which they sell their souls: that they should
disbelieve in that which Allah has revealed, grudging that
Allah should reveal of His bounty to whom He wills of
His bondmen.[1] They have incurred anger upon anger.
For disbelievers is a shameful doom.
91. And when it is said to them. Believe in that which Allah has
revealed, they say: We believe in that which was revealed
to us. And they disbelieve in that which comes after it,
though it is the truth confirming that which they possess.
Say [to them, O Muhammad]: Why then you killed the
Prophets of Allah previously, if you are [indeed] believers?
92. And Moses came to you with clear proofs [of Allah’s
sovereignty], yet, while he was away, you took the calf [in
worship] and you were wrong-doers.
93. And when We took your covenant and caused the Mount
to tower above you, [saying]: Hold fast by that which We
have given you, and hear [Our Word], they said: We hear
and we disobey. And [worship of] the calf was made to
sink into their hearts because of their disbelief. Say [to
them]: Evil is that which your belief enjoins on you, if
you are believers.
94. Say [to them]: If the abode of the Hereafter with Allah is
indeed for you alone and not for others of mankind [as
you pretend], then long for death [for you must long for
death] if you are truthful.
95. But they will never long for it, because of that which their
own hands have sent before them. Allah is Aware of
wrong-doers.
96. And you will find them greediest of mankind for life and
[greedier] than the polytheists. [Each] one of them would
like to be allowed to live a thousand years. And to live [a
thousand years] would by no means remove him from the
doom. Allah is Seer of what they do.
[1] See v. 2,3, footnote.
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97. Say [O Muhammad, to mankind]: Who is an enemy to
Gabriel! For he it is who brought down [this Qur’ân] to your
heart by Allah’s leave, confirming that which was [revealed]
before it, and a guidance and glad tidings to believers;
98. Who is an enemy to Allah, and His angels and His
messengers, and Gabriel and Michael! Then, lo! Allah
[Himself] is an enemy to the disbelievers.
99. Verily We have revealed to you clear verses, and only the
miscreants will disbelieve in them.
100. Is it ever so that when you took a covenant a party of
them set it aside? The truth is, most of them believe not.
101. And when there comes to them a messenger from Allah,
confirming that which they possess, a party of those
who have received the Scripture fling the Book of Allah
behind their backs as if they knew not,
102. And they follow that which the devils falsely related
against the kingdom of Solomon. Solomon disbelieved
not; but the devils disbelieved, teaching mankind magic
and that which was revealed to the two angels in Babel,
Harut and Marut. Nor did they [the two angels] teach
it to anyone till they had said: We are only a temptation,
therefore disbelieve not [in the guidance of Allah].
And from these two [angels] people learn that by which
they cause division between a man and his wife; but
they injure thereby no-one save by Allah’s leave. And
they learn that which harms them and benefits them
not. And surely they do know that he who purchases
therein will have no [happy] portion in the Hereafter;
and surely evil is the price for which they sell their
souls, if they but knew.[1]
[1] The reference is to the occult science practised by the Jews, the origin
of which was ascribed to Solomon.
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103. And if they had believed and feared Allah, a recompense
from Allah would be better, if they only knew.
104. O you who believe, say not [to the Prophet]: “Listen to
us” but say “Look upon us,”[1] and be you listeners. For
disbelievers is a painful doom.
105. Neither those who disbelieve among the People of the
Scripture[2] nor the polytheists love that there should be
sent down to you any good thing from your Lord. But
Allah chooses for His mercy whom He wills, and Allah
is the possessor of infinite bounty.
106. Nothing of Our revelation [even a single verse] do We
abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We bring [in place]
one better or the like thereof. Know you not that Allah is
Able to do all things.
107. Know you not that it is Allah to Whom belongs the
Sovereignty of the heavens and earth; and you have not,
beside Allah, any guardian or helper?
108. Or would you question your messenger as Moses was
questioned previously? He whoever exchanges disbelief
for faith, verily he has gone astray from a plain way.
109. Many of the People of the Scripture long to make you
disbelievers after your belief, through envy on their own
account, after the truth has become manifest to them.
Forgive and be indulgent [toward them] until Allah gives
His command. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.
110. And establish prayer and pay the poor-due; and whatever
of good you send before [you] for your souls, you will
find it with Allah. Lo! Allah is Seer of what you do.
[1] The first word which the Muslims used to call the Prophet’s attention
respectfully, Râ’ina, the Jews could change into an insult by a slight
mispronunciation.
[2] i.e. Jews and Christians.
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111. And they say: None enters Paradise unless he be a Jew or
a Christian. These are their own desires. Say: Bring your
proof [of what you state] if you are truthful.
112. Nay, but whoever submits his face [himself] to Allah
while doing good, his reward is with his Lord; and there
shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.
113. And the Jews say the Christians follow nothing [true], and
the Christians say the Jews follow nothing [true]; yet both
recite the Scripture. Even thus speak those who know not.
Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection
concerning that wherein they used to differ.
114. And who does greater wrong than he who forbids the
approach to the mosques of Allah lest His name should
be mentioned therein, and strives for their ruin? As for
such, it was never meant that they should enter them
except in fear. Theirs in the world is disgrace and theirs
in the Hereafter is an awful doom.
115. To Allah belong the East and the West, and to whithersoever
you turn, there is Allah’s Face. Lo! Allah is All-Embracing,
All-Knowing.
116. And they say: Allah has taken to Himself a Son. Be He
glorified! Nay, but whatsoever is in the heaven and the
earth is His. All are subservient to Him.
117. The Originator of the heavens and the earth! When He
decrees a matter, He says to it only: Be! and it is.
118. And those who do not know say: Why does not Allah
speak to us, or some sign come to us? Even thus, as they
now speak, spoke those [who were] before them. Their
hearts are all alike. We have made clear the Signs for
people who are certain.
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119. Lo! We have sent you [O Muhammad] with the truth, a
bringer of glad tidings and a warner. And you will not be
asked about the owners of Hellfire.
120. And the Jews will not be pleased with you, nor will the
Christians, till you follow their religion. Say: Lo! the
guidance of Allah [Himself] is the [only] Guidance. And
if you should follow their desires after the knowledge
which has come to you, then would you have from Allah
no protecting guardian nor helper.
121.Those to whom We have given the Book, who recite
it with its true recital, those believe in it. And whoso
disbelieves in it, those are they who are the losers.
122. O Children of Israel! Remember My favour wherewith I
favoured you and how I preferred you to [all] the worlds.
123. And guard [yourselves] against a day when no soul will
in anything avail another, nor will compensation be
accepted from it, nor will intercession be of use to it;
nor will they be helped.
124.And [remember] when his Lord tried Abraham with [His]
commands, and he fulfilled them, He said: Lo! I have
appointed you a leader for mankind. [Abraham] said:
And of my offspring [will there be leaders]? He said: My
covenant includes not wrong-doers.
125. And when We made the House [at Mecca] a resort for
mankind and a sanctuary, [saying]: Take as your place of
prayer the place where Abraham stood. And We imposed
a duty upon Abraham and Ishmael, [saying]: Purify My
house for those who perform Tawaf and those who
stay therein for worship and those who bow down and
prostrate themselves [in prayer].
126. And when Abraham said: My Lord! Make this a city of
