Part 18
Sura XXIII (23)
The Believers
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Happy now
the believers,
Who
humble them in their prayer,
And
who keep aloof from vain words,
And
who are doers of alms deeds,
And
who restrain their appetites,
(Save
with their wives, or the slaves whom their right hands possess: for in that case they shall be free from blame:
But
they whose desires reach further than this are transgressors:)
And
who tend well their trusts and their covenants,
And
who keep them strictly to their prayers:
23:10 These shall be the heritors,
Who
shall inherit the paradise, to abide therein for ever.
Now of
a fine clay have we created man:
Then
we placed him, a moist germ, in a safe abode;
Then
made we the moist germ a clot of blood: then
made the clotted blood into a piece of flesh; then made the piece of flesh into
bones: and we clothed the bones with flesh: then brought forth man of yet another make --
Blessed therefore be God, the most excellent of Makers --
Then
after this you shall surely die:
Then
shall you be waked up on the day of resurrection.
And we
have created over you seven heavens: -- and we
are not careless of the creation.
And we
send down water from the Heaven in its due degree, and we cause it to settle on
the earth; -- and we have pwoer for its withdrawal:
--
And by
it we cause gardens of palm trees, and vineyards to spring forth for you, in
which you have plenteous fruits, and whereof you eat;
23:20 And the tree that growth up on Mount
Sinai; which yieldeth oil and a juice for those who eat.
And
there is a lesson for you in the cattle: We
give you to drink of what is in their bellies, and many advantages do you
derive from them, and for food they serve you;
And on
them and on ships are you borne.
We
sent Noah heretofore unto his people, and he said, "O my people! serve God: you have no other God than He: will you not therefore fear Him?
But
the chiefs of the people who believed not said, "This is but a man like
yourselves: he fain would raise himself above
you: but had it pleased God to send, He would
have sent angels: We heard not of this with
our sires of old; --
Verily
he is but a man possessed; leave him alone therefore for a time."
He
said, "O my Lord! help me against their charge of imposture."
So we
revealed unto him, "Make the ark under our eye, and as we have taught, and
when our doom shall come on, and the earth's surface shall boil up,
Carry
into it of every kind a pair, and thy family, save him on whom sentence hath
already passed: and plead not with me for the
wicked, for they shall be drowned.
And
when thou, and they who shall be with thee, shall go up into the ark; say,
'Praise be unto God, who hath rescued us from the wicked folk.'
23:30 And say, 'O my Lord! disembark me with
a blessed disembarking: for thou art the best
to disembark.'"
Verily
in this were signs, and verily we made proof of man.
We
then raised up other generations after them;
And we
sent among them an apostle from out themselves, with, "Worship you God!
you have no other God than He: will you not
therefore fear Him?"
And
the chiefs of His people who believed not, and who deemed the meeting with us
in the life to come to be a lie, and whom we had richly supplied in this
present life, said, "This is but a man like yourselves; he eateth of what
you eat,
And he
drinketh of what you drink:
And if
you obey a man like yourselves, then you will surely be undone.
What!
doth he fortell you, that after you shall be dead and become dust and bones,
you shall be brought forth?
Away,
away with his predictions!
There
is no life beyond our present life; we die, and we live, and we shall not be
quickened again!
23:40 This is merely a man who forgeth a lie
about God: and we will not believe him."
He
said, "O my Lord! help me against this charge of imposture."
He
said, "yet a little, and they will soon repent them!"
Then
did the shout of the destroying angel injustice surprise them, and we made them
like leaves swept down by a torrent,. Away then with the wicked people!
Then
raised we up other generations after them --
Neither
too soon, nor too late, shall a people reach its appointed time --
Then
sent we our apostles one after another. Oft as their apostle presented himself
to a nation, they treated him as a liar; and we caused one nation to follow
another; and we made them the burden of a tale. Away then with the people who
believe not!
Then
sent we Moses and his brother Aaron, with our signs and manifest power.
To
Pharaoh and his prices; but they behaved them proudly, for they were a haughty
people.
And
they said, "Shall we believe on two men like ourselves, whose people are
our slaves?"
23:50 And they treated them both as
impostors; wherefore they became of the destroyed.
And we
gave Moses the Book for Israel's guidance.
And we
appointed the Son of Mary, and His mother for a sign; and we prepared an abode
for both in a lofty spot, quiet, and watered with springs.
"O
you apostles! eat of things that are good: and
do that which is right: of your doings I am
cognisant.
And
truly this your religion is the one religion; and I am your Lord: therefore fear me."
But
men have rent their great concern, one among another, into sects; every party
rejoicing in that which is their own;
Wherefore
leave them till a certain time, in their depths of error.
What!
think they that what we largely bestow on them of wealth and children,
We
hasten to them for their good? Nay, they have no knowledge.
But
they who are awed with the dread of their Lord,
23:60 And who believe in the signs of their
Lord,
And
who give that which they give with hearts thrilled with dread because they must
return unto their Lord,
These
hasten after good, and are the first to win it.
We
will not burden a soul beyond its power: and
with us is a book, which speaketh the truth; and they shall not be wronged:
But as
to this Book, their hearts are plunged in error, and their works are far other
than those of Muslims, and they will work those works,
Until
when we lay hold on their affluent ones with punishment; lo! they cry for help:
-
"Cry not for help this day, for by Us you shall not be succoured:
Long
since were my signs rehearsed to you, but you turned back on your heels,
Puffed
up with pride, discoursing foolishly by night."
23:70 Do they not then heed the things
spoken -- whether that hath come to them which came not to theirs fathers of
old?
Or do
they not recognise their apostle; and therefore disavow him?
Or say
they, "A Djinn is in him?" Nay! he hath come to them with the truth;
but the truth do most of them abhor.
But if
the truth had followed in the train of their desires, the heavens and the
earth, and all that therein is, had surely come to ruin! But we have brought
them their warning; and from their warning they withdraw.
Dost
thou ask them for remuneration? But, remuneration from thy Lord is best; and He
is the best provider.
And
thou indeed biddest them to the right path;
But
verily they who believe not in the life to come, from that path do surely
wander!
And if
we had taken compassion on them with chastisement, yet they did not humble them
to their Lord, nor did they abase them;
Until,
when we have opened upon them the door of a serve punishment, lo! they are in
despair at it.
23:80 It is He who hath implanted in you
hearing, and sight, and heart; how few of you give thanks!
It is
He who hath caused you to be born on the earth:
and unto Him shall you be gathered.
And it
is He who maketh alive and killeth, and of Him is the change of the night and
of the day: Will you not understand?.
But
they say, as said those of old: --
They
say, "What! When we shall be dead, and have become dust and bones, shall
we, indeed, be waked to life?
This
have we been promised, we and our fathers aforetime:
but it is only fables of the ancients."
Say: Whose is the earth, and all that is therein; -- if
you know?
They
will answer, "God's.! Say: Will you not
then reflect?
Say: Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and the Lord
of the glorious throne?
They
will say, "They are God"s." Say:
Will you not, then, fear Him?
23:90 Say:
In whose hand is the empire of all things, who protecteth but is not protected?
if you know:
They
will answer, "In God's" Say: How,
then can you be so spell-bound?
Yea,
we have brought them the truth; but they are surely liars:
God
hath not begotten offspring; neither is there any other God with Him: else had each god assuredly taken away that which
he had created, and some had assuredly uplifted themselves above others! Far
from the glory of God, be what they affirm of Him!
He
knoweth alike the unseen and the seen: far be
He uplifted above the gods whom they associate with Him!
Say: O my Lord! If thou wilt let me witness the
infliction of that with which they have been threatened!
O my
Lord! place me not among the ungodly people.
Verily,
we are well able to make thee see the punishment with which we have threatened
them.
Turn
aside evil with that which is better: we best
know what they utter against thee.
And
Say: "O my Lord! I betake me to Thee,
against the promptings of the Satans:
23:100 And I betake me to Thee, O my Lord!
that they gain no hurtful access to me."
When
death overtaketh one of the wicked, he saith, "Lord, send me back again,
That I
may do the good which I have left undone." "By no means." These are
the very words which he shall speak: But
behind them shall be a barrier, until the day when they shall be raised again.
And
when the trumpet shall be sounded, the ties of kindred between them shall cease
on that day; neither shall they ask each other's help.
They
whose balances shall be heavy, shall be the blest.
But
they whose balances shall be light, -- these are they who shall lose their
souls, abiding in hell for ever:
The
fire shall scorch their faces, and their lips shall quiver therein: --
-
"What! Were not my signs rehearsed unto you? and did you not treat them as
lies?"
They
shall say, "O our Lord! our ill-fortune prevailed against us, and we
became an erring people.
O our
Lord! Bring us forth hence: if we go back
against to our signs, we shall indeed be evil doers."
23:110 He will say; "Be you driven down
into it; and, address me not."
A part
truly of my servants was there, who said, "O our Lord! we believe: forgive us, then, and be merciful to us, for of
the merciful art thou the best."
But
you received them with such scoffs that they suffered you to forget my warning,
and you laughed them to scorn.
Verily
this day will I reward them, for their patient endurance: the blissful ones shall they be!
He
will say, "What number of years tarried you on earth?"
They
will say, "We tarried a day, or part of a day; but ask the recording
angels."
God
will say, "Short indeed was the time you tarried, if that you knew it.
What!
Did you then think that we had created you for pastime, and that you should not
be brought back again to us?" Wherefore let God be exalted, the King, the
Truth! There is no god but He! Lord of the stately throne! And whoso, together
with God, shall call on another god, for whom he had no proof, shall surely
have to give account to his Lord. Aye, it shall fare ill with the infidels.
And
say: "O my Lord, pardon, and have mercy;
for of those who show mercy, art thou the best."
Sura XXIV (24)
Light
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
A Sura
which we have sent down and sanctioned! Clear signs have we sent down therein,
that you may take warning.
The
whore and the whoremonger -- scourge each of them with a hundred stripes; and
let not compassion keep you from carrying out the sentence of God, if you
believe in God and the last day: And let some
of the faithful witness their chastisement.
The
whoremonger shall not marry other than a whore or an idolatress; and the whore shall
not marry other than a whoremonger or an idolater. Such alliances are forbidden
to the faithful.
They
who defame virtuous women, and bring not four witnesses, scourge them with
fourscore stripes, and receive you not their testimony for ever, for these are
perverse persons --
Save
those who afterwards repent and life virtuously; for truly God is Lenient,
Merciful!
And
they who shall accuse their wives, and have no witnesses but themselves, the
testimony of each of them shall be a testimony by God four times repeated, that
he is indeed of them that speak the truth.
And
the fifth time that the malison of God be upon him, if he be of them that lie.
But it
shall avert the chastisement from her if she testify a testimony four times
repeated, by God, that he is of them that lie;
And a
fifth time to call down the wrath of God on her, if he have spoken the truth.
24:10 And but for the goodness and mercy of
God towards you, and that God is He who loveth to turn, Wise....!
Of a
truth, they who advanced that lie were a large number of you; but regard it not
as an evil to you. No, it is an advantage to you,. toe very man among them
shall it be done according to the offence he hath committed; and as to that
person among them who took on himself to aggravate it, a sore punishment doth
await him.
Did
not the faithful of both sexes, when you heard of this, form a favourable
judgment in their own minds, and say, "This is a manifest lie?"
Have
they brought four witnesses of the fact? If they cannot produce the witnesses,
they are the liars in the sight of God.
And
but for the goodness of God towards you, and His mercy in this world and in the
next, a severe punishment had come upon you for that which you spread abroad,
when you uttered with your tongues, and spake with your mouths that of which
you had no knowledge. You deemed it to be alight matter, but with God it was a
grave one.
And
did you say when you heard it, 'It is not for us to talk of this affair! O God!
By thy Glory, this is a gross calumny?"
God
hath warned you that you go not back to the like of this for ever, if you be
believers:
And
God maketh His signs clear to you: for God is
Knowing, Wise.
But as
for those who love that foul calumnies should go forth against those who
believe, a grievous chastisement awaits them
In
this world and in the next. And God hath knowledge, but you have not.
24:20 And but for the goodness of God
towards you and His Mercy, and that God is Kind, Merciful...!
O you
who believe! follow not the steps of Satan, for whosoever shall follow the
steps of Satan, he will enjoin on him what is base and blameworthy; and but for
the goodness of God towards you, and His mercy, no one of you had been cleansed
for ever: but God maketh whom He will to be clean,
and God Heareth, Knoweth.
And
let not persons of wealth and means among you swear that they will not give to
their kindred, to the poor, and to those who have fled their homes in the cause
of God; let them rather pardon and pass over the offence. Desire you not that
God should forgive you? And God is Gracious, Merciful!
Verily,
they who throw out charges against virtuous but careless women, who yet are
believers, shall be cursed in this world and in the world to come; and a
terrible punishment doth await them.
Their
own tongues, and hands, and feet, shall one day bear witness against them of
their own doings.
On
that day will God pay them their just due, and they shall know that God is the
clear Truth itself.
Bad
women for bad men, and bad men for bad women; but virtuous women for virtuous
men, and virtuous men for virtuous women! These shall be cleared from
calumnies; theirs shall be forgiveness and an honourable provision.
O you
who believe! enter not into other houses than your own, until you have asked
leave, and have saluted its inmates. This will be best for you: happly you will bear this in mind.
And if
you find no one therein, then enter it not till leave be given you; and if it
be said to you, "Go you back," then go you back. This will be more
blameless in you, and God knoweth what you do.
There
shall be no harm in your entering houses in which no one dwelleth, for the
supply of your needs: and God knoweth what you
do openly and what you hide.
24:30 Speak unto the believers that they restrain
their eyes and observe continence. Thus will they be more pure. God is well
aware of what they do.
And
speak to the believing women that they refrain their eyes, and observe continence;
and that they display not their ornaments, except those which are external; and
that they throw their veils over their bosoms, and display not their ornaments,
except to their husbands or their fathers, or their husbands' fathers, or their
sons, or their husbands' sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' son, or
their sisters' sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male domestics who
have no natural force, or to children who note not women's nakedness. And let
them not strike their feet together, so as to discover their hidden ornaments.
And be you all turned to God, O you Believers! that it may be well with you.
And
marry those among you who are single, and your good servants, and the
handmaidens. If they are poor, God of His bounty will enrich them. God is
all-bounteous, Knowing.
And
let those who cannot find a match live in continence till God of His bounty
shall enrich them. And to those of your slaves who desire a deed of
manumission, execute it for them, if you know good in them, and give them a
portion of the wealth of God which He hath given you. Force not your female
slaves into sin, in order that you may gain the casual fruitions of this world,
if they wish to preserve their modesty. Yet if any one compel them, then Verily
to them, after their compulsion, will God be Forgiving, Merciful.
And
now have we sent down to you clear signs, and an instance from among those who
flourished before you, and a caution for the God-fearing.
God is
the light of the Heavens and of the Earth. His Light is like a niche in which
is a lamp -- the lamp encased in glass -- the glass, as it were, a glistening
star. From a blessed tree it is lighted, the olive neither of the East nor of
the West, whose oil would well nigh shine out, even though fire touched it not!
It is light upon light. God guideth whom He will to His light, and God setteth
forth parables to men, for God knoweth all things.
In the
temples which God hath allowed to be reared, that His name may therein be
remember, do men praise Him morn and even.
Men
whom neither merchandise nor traffic beguile from the remembrance of God, and
from the observance of prayer, and the payment of the stated alms, through fear
of the day when hearts shall throb and eyes shall roll:
That
for their most excellent works may God recompense them, and of His bounty
increase it to them more and more: for God
maketh provision for whom He pleaseth without measure.
But as
to the infidels, their works are like the vapour in a plain which the thirst
dreameth to be water, until when he cometh unto it, he findeth it not aught,
but findeth that God is with him; and He fully payeth him his account: for swift to take account is God:
24:40 Or like the darkness on the deep sea
when covered by billows riding upon billows, above which are clouds: darkness upon darkness. When a man reacheth forth
his hand, he cannot nearly see it! He to whom God shall not give light, no
light at all hath he!
Hast
thou not seen how all in the Heavens and in the Earth uttereth the praise of
God? -- the very birds as they spread their wings? Every creature knoweth its
prayer and its praise! and God knoweth what they do.
God's,
the Kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth:
and unto God the final return!
Hast
thou not seen that God driveth clouds lightly forward, then gathereth them
together, then pileth them in masses? And then thou seest the rain forthcoming
from their midst; and He causeth clouds like mountains charged with hail, to
descend from the heaven, and He maketh it to fall on whom He will, and from
whom He will He turneth it aside. -- The brightness of His lightning all but
taketh away the sight!
God
causeth the day and the night to take their turn. Verily in this is teaching
for men of insight. And God hath created every animal of water. Some go upon
the belly; some go upon two feet; some go upon four feet. God hath created what
He pleased. Aye, God hath power over all things.
Now
have we sent down distinct signs. -- And God guideth whom He will into the
right path:
For
there are who say, "We believe on God and on the Apostle, and we
obey;" yet, after this, a part of them turn back. But these are not of the
faithful.
And
when they are summoned before God and His Apostle that He may judge between
them, lo! a part of them withdraw:
But
had the truth been on their side, they would have come to Him, obedient.
What!
are they diseased of heart? Do they doubt? Are they afraid that God and His
Apostles will deal unfairly with them? Nay, themselves are the unjust doers.
24:50 The words of the believers, when
called to God and His Apostle that He may judge between them, are only to say,
"We have heard, and we obey:" these
are they with whom it shall be well.
And
whoso shall obey God, and His Apostle, and shall dread God and fear Him, these
are they that shall be the blissful.
And
they have sworn by God, with a most solemn oath, that if thou give them the
word, they will certainly march forth. Say:
swear you not: of more worth is obedience.
Verily, God is well aware of what you do.
Say: Obey God and obey the Apostle. Suppose that you
turn back, still the burden of his duty is on him only, and the burden of your
duty rests on you. If you obey Him, you shall have guidance: but plain preaching is all that devolves upon the
Apostle.
God
hath promised to those of you who believe and do the things that are right,
that He will cause them to succeed others in the land, and He gave succession
to those who were before them, and that He will establish for them that
religion which they delight in, and that after their fears He will give them
security in exchange. They shall worship Me:
nought shall they join with Me: And whoso,
after this, believe not, they will be the impious.
But
observe prayer, and pay the stated alms, and obey the Apostle, that haply you may
find mercy.
Let
not the Infidels think that they can weaken God on His own Earth: their dwelling place shall be the Fire! and right
wretched the journey!
O you
who believe! let your slaves, and those of you who have not come of age, ask
leave of you, three times a day, ere they come into your presence; -- before
the morning prayer, and when you lay aside your garments at mid-day, and after
the evening prayer. These are your three times of privacy. No blame shall
attach to you or to them, if after these times, when you go your rounds of
attendance on one another, they come in without permission. Thus doth God make
clear to you His signs: and God is Knowing,
Wise!
And
when your children come of age, let them ask leave to come into your presence,
as they who were before them asked it. Thus doth God make clear to you his
signs: and God is Knowing, Wise.
As to
women who are past childbearing, and have no hope of marriage, no blame shall attach
to them if they lay aside their outer garments, but so as not to shew their
ornaments. Yet if they abstain from this, it will be better for them: and God Heareth, Knoweth.
24:60 No crime shall it be in the blind, or
in the lame, or in the sick, to eat at your tables:
or in yoursselves, if you eat in your own houses, or in the houses of your
fathers, or of your mothers, or of your brothers, or of your sisters, or of
your uncles on the father's side, or of your aunts on the father's side, or of
your uncles on the mother's side, or of your aunts on the mother's side, or in
those of which you possess the keys, or in the house of your friend. No blame
shall attach to you whether you eat together or apart.
And
when you enter houses, salute one another with good and blessed greeting as
from God. Thus doth God make clear to you His signs, that haply you may
comprehend them.
Verily,
they only are believers who believe in God and His Apostle, and who, when they
are with him upon any affair of common interest, depart not until they have
sought his leave. Yes, they who ask leave of thee, are those who believe in God
and His Apostle. And when they ask leave of Thee on account of any affairs of
their own, then grant it to those of them whom thou wilt, and ask indulgence
for them of God: for God is Indulgent,
Merciful.
Address
not the Apostle as you address one another. God knoweth those of you who
withdraw quietly from the assemblies, screening themselves behind others. And
let those who transgress his command beware, lest some present trouble befall
them, or a grievous chastisement befall them, hereafter.
Is not
whatever is in the Heavens and the Earth God's? He knoweth your state; and one
day shall men be assembled before Him, and He will tell them of what they have
done: for God knoweth all things.
Sura XXV (25)
Al Furkan
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Blessed
be He who hath sent down Al Furkan (the illumination) on his servant, that to
all creatures he may be a warner.
His
the Kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth! No son hath He begotten! No
partner hath He in his Empire! All things hath He created, and decreeing hath
decreed their destinies.
Yet
have they adopted gods beside Him which have created nothing, but were
themselves created:
And no
power have they over themselves for evil or for good, nor have they power of
death, or of life, or of raising the dead.
And
the infidels say, "This Koran is a mere fraud of his own devising, and
others have helped him with it, who had come hither by outrage and life."
And
they say, "Tales of the ancients that he hath put in writing! and they
were dictated to him morn and even."
Say: He hath sent it down who knoweth the secrets of
the Heavens and of the Earth. He truly is the Gracious, the Merciful.
And
they say, "What sort of apostle is this? He eateth food and he walketh the
streets! Unless an angel be sent down and take part in his warnings,
Or a
treasure be thrown down to him, or he have a garden that supplieth him with
food..." and those unjust persons say, "You follow but a man
enchanted."
25:10 See what likenesses they strike out
for thee! But they err, and cannot find their way.
Blessed
be He who if he please can give thee better than that of which they speak --
Gardens, 'neath which the rivers flow: and
pavilions will He assign thee.
Aye,
they have treated the coming of "the Hour" as a lie. But a flaming
fire have we got ready for those who treat the coming of the Hour as a lie.
When
it shall see them from afar, they shall hear its raging and roaring, --
And
when they shall be flung into a narrow space thereof bound together, they shall
invoke destruction on the spot:
-
"Call not this day for one destruction, but call for destructions
many."
Say: Is this, or the Paradise of Eternity which was
promised to the God-fearing, best? Their recompense shall it be and their
retreat;
Abiding
therein for ever, they shall have it in all that they desire! It is a promise
to be claimed of thy Lord.
And on
the day when he shall gather them together, and those whom they worshipped
beside God, he will say, "Was it you who led these my servants astray, or
of themselves strayed they from the path?"
They
will say, "Glory be to thee! It beseemed not us to take other lords than
thee. But thou gavest them and their fathers their fill of good things, till
they forgat the remembrance of thee, and became a lost people."
25:20 Then will God say to the Idolaters,
"Now have they made you liars in what you say, and they have no power to
avert your doom, or to succour you."