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3- THE FAMILY OF ‘IMRÂN ÂLI-’IMRÂN]
Revealed at Al-Madînah, [200 verses]
Âli ‘Imrân takes its title from v. 32, where “the family of
‘Imrân” (the father of Moses) occurs as a generic name for
all the Hebrew prophets from Moses to John the Baptist and
Jesus Christ. This, with the mention of the mother of Mary
as “the wife of ‘Imrân” (v. 34), and the words “sister of
Aaron” addressed to Mary [19: 28], have given rise to a charge
of anachronism absurd because the whole of the rest of the
Qur’ân is against it by Muir and other non-Muslim writers,
who say that the Prophet confused Mary, the mother of Jesus,
with Miriam, the sister of Moses. Most Muslims believe, on the
authority of the Qur’ân, that the grandfather of Jesus Christ
was named ‘Imrân, which may also have been the name of the
father of Moses. In Sûrah, [19: 28], where Mary is addressed as
“sister of Aaron,” they hold the ancestral sense to be the more
probable, while denying that there is any reason to suppose that
the Virgin Mary had not a brother named Aaron.
If vv. I to 34 were, as tradition states, revealed on the
occasion of the deputation from the Christians of Najran,
which took place in the tenth year of the Hijrah (“the year
of deputations,” as it is called), then they are of much later
date than the rest of the Sûrah, but it seems possible that
they were only recited by the Prophet on that occasion,
having been revealed before.
The Jews have become bolder and more bitter in
opposition which, as Nöldeke points out, cannot have been
the case, after the signal victory of Badr, until after the
Muslims suffered a reverse at Uhud; a battle to which vv.
120 to 188 largely refer.
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In the third year of the Hijrah the Meccans came against
Al-Madînah with an army of 3000 men to avenge their defeat
at Badr in the previous year, and to wipe out the Muslims.
The Prophet, against his own first plan, which was to defend
Al-Madînah, at the instance of his companions, went out to
meet them on Mt. Uhud, posting his men carefully. He led
an army of 1000 men, a third of whom under Abdullah ibn
Ubeyy (the “Hypocrite” leader) deserted him before the battle,
and said afterwards that they did not think there would be any
fighting that day. The battle began well for the Muslims but
was changed to something near defeat by the disobedience of a
band of fifty archers placed to guard a certain point. Seeing the
Muslims winning, they feared that they might lose their share
of the spoils, and ran to join the others, leaving a way open
for the Meccan cavalry. The idolaters then rallied and inflicted
considerable loss upon the Muslims, the Prophet himself being
wounded in the struggle. A cry arose that the Prophet had been
slain, and the Muslims were in despair till someone recognised
the Prophet and cried out that he was living. The Muslims then
rallied to his side, and retired in some sort of order. The army
of Qureysh also retired after the battle.
In this battle the wives of the leaders of Qureysh, who
had been brought with the army to give courage by their
presence and their chanting, mutilated the Muslim slain,
making necklaces and bracelets of ears and noses. Hind, the
wife of Abû Sufyan, plucked out the liver of the Prophet’s
uncle, Hamza, publicly, and tried to eat it. The Prophet, when
he saw the condition of the slain, was moved to vow reprisals.
But he was relieved of his vow by a revelation, and mutilation
was forbidden to the Muslims.
On the day after the battle of Mt. Uhud, the Prophet again
went out with such of the army as survived, in order that
Qureysh might hear that he was in the field and perhaps be
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deterred from any project of attacking Al-Madînah in its
weakened state. On that occasion many wounded men went
out with him. Tradition tells how at friendly nomad met the
Muslims and afterwards met the army of Qureysh. Questioned
by Abû Sufyan, he said that the Prophet was seeking vengeance
with an overwhelming force; and that report determined Abû
Sufyan to march back to Mecca. The period of revelation is
the third and fourth years of the Hijrah.
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
1. Alif. Lâm. Mîm.[1]
2. Allah! There is no deity save Him, the Living, the Sustainer
of the existence.
3. He has sent down upon you [Muhammad] the Book with
truth, confirming that which was [revealed] before it, even
as He sent down the Torah and the Gospel
4. Before, as guidance to people; and has revealed the Criterion
[of right and wrong]. Lo! those who disbelieve the verses
of Allah, theirs will be a heavy doom. Allah is Mighty, the
Owner of Retribution.
5. Lo! nothing in the earth or in the heavens is hidden from
Allah.
6. He it is who fashions you in the wombs as He wills. There
is no deity save Him, the Almighty, the Wise.
7. He it is Who has sent down to you [Muhammad] the Book
wherein are clear revelations– They are the substance of
the Book – and others [which are] unspecific. But those
in whose hearts is doubt pursue, indeed, that which is
unspecific seeking [to cause] dissension by seeking to
explain it. None knows its explanation save Allah. And
those who are of sound instruction say: We believe therein;
[1] See Sûr. [2] v.1, footnote.
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the whole is from our Lord; but only men of understanding
really heed.
8. Our Lord! Cause not our hearts to stray after You have
guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from You. Lo! You,
only You are the Bestower.
9. Our Lord! Lo! it is You Who gathers mankind together to
a Day of which there is no doubt. Lo! Allah fails not to
keep the tryst.
10. [On that day] neither the riches not the children of those
who disbelieve will avail them whatsoever with Allah.
They will be fuel for the Fire.
11. Like Pharaoh’s folk and those who were before them, they
disbelieved Our signs and so Allah seized them for their
sins. And Allah is severe in punishment.
12. Say [O Muhammad] to those who disbelieve: You shall be
overcome and gathered to Hell, an evil resting place.
13. There was a sign for you in two armies which met:[1]
one army fighting in the way of Allah, and another
disbelieving, whom they saw as twice their number,
clearly, with their very eyes. Thus Allah strengthens with
His victory whom He wills. Lo! herein verily is a lesson
for those who have eyes.
14. Beautified for people is love of the joys [that come] from
women and offspring, and stored-up heaps of gold and
silver, and horses branded [with their mark], and cattle
and tilled land. That is comfort of the life of the world.
Allah! With Him is a more excellent abode [to return to].
15. Say: Shall I inform you of something better than that?
For those who fear Allah, with their Lord, are Gardens
underneath which rivers flow, and pure spouses, and
contentment from Allah. Allah is Seer of His bondmen,
[1] The reference is to the battle of Badr.
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16. Those who say: Our Lord! Lo! we believe. So forgive us
our sins and guard us from the punishment of Fire;
17. The patient, and the truthful, and the obedient, those
who spend [and hoard not], those who seek forgiveness
before dawn.
18. Allah [Himself] is witness that there is no deity save Him.
And the angels and the men of learning [too are witness].
Maintaining His creation in justice, there is no deity save
Him, the Almighty, the Wise.
19. Lo! the religion with Allah [is] Islâm [to His Will and
Guidance]. Those who [previously] received the Scripture
differed only after knowledge came to them, through
transgression among themselves. Whoso disbelieves the
revelations of Allah [will find that] lo! Allah is swift at
reckoning.
20. And if they argue with you, [O Muhammad], say: I have
submitted myself to Allah [in Islâm] and [so have] those who
follow me. And say to those who have received the Scripture
and those who read not: Have you [too] submitted? If they
submit, then truly they are rightly guided, and if they turn
away, then it is your duty only to convey the message [to
them]. Allah is Seer of [His] bondmen.
21. Lo! those who disbelieve the signs of Allah, and kill the
Prophets wrongfully, and kill those of mankind who
enjoin equity: promise them a painful doom.
22. Those are they whose deeds have failed in the world and
the Hereafter; and they have no helpers.
23. Have you not seen how those who have received a portion
of the Scripture invoke the Scripture of Allah [in their
disputes] that it may judge between them; then a faction
of them turn away, being opposed [to it]?
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24. That is because they say: The Fire will not touch us save
for a certain number of days. That which they used to
invent has deceived them regarding their religion.
25. How [will it be with them] when We have brought them
all together to a Day of which there is no doubt, when
every soul will be paid in full what it has earned, and they
will not be wronged.
26. Say: O Allah! Owner of Sovereignty! You give sovereignty
to whom You will and You withdraw sovereignty from
whom You will. You exalt whom You will and You abase
whom You will. In Your hand is the good. Lo! You are
Able to do all things.
27. You cause the night to pass into the day, and You cause
the day to pass into the night. And You bring forth the
living from the dead, and You bring forth the dead from
the living. And You give sustenance to whom You will,
without account.
28. Let not the believers take disbelievers for their allies in
preference to believers. Whoso does that has nothing
with Allah unless [it be] that you but guard yourselves
against them in prudence. Allah bids you beware [only] of
Himself. To Allah is the final destination.
29. Say, [O Muhammad]: Whether you hide that which is in
your breasts or reveal it, Allah knows it. He knows that
which is in the heavens and that which is in the earth, and
Allah is Able to do all things.
30. On the day when every soul will find itself confronted
with all that it has done of good and all that it has done
of evil [every soul] will long that there might be a great
space of distance between it and that [evil]. Allah bids you
beware of Him. And Allah is Kind for [His] bondmen.
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31. Say, [O Muhammad, to mankind]: If you love Allah, follow
me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is
Forgiving, Merciful.
32. Say: Obey Allah and the messenger. But if they turn away,
lo! Allah loves not the disbelievers [in His guidance].
33. Lo! Allah chose Adam and Noah and the Family of
Abraham and the Family of ‘Imrân over the worlds.
34. They were descendants one of another. Allah is Hearer,
Knower.
35. [Remember] when the wife of Imran said: My Lord I have
vowed to You that which is in my belly as a consecrated
[offering]. Accept it from me. Lo! You, only You, are the
Hearer, the Knower!
36. And when she delivered her she said: My Lord! Lo! I
am delivered of a female. Allah knew best of what she
delivered, and the male is not as the female; and lo! I have
named her Mary, and lo! I crave Your protection for her
and for her offspring from Satan the outcast.
37. And her Lord accepted her with full acceptance and caused
to her a goodly growth; and made Zachariah her guardian.
Whenever Zachariah went into the sanctuary where she
was, he found that she had food. He said: O Mary! Whence
comes to you this [food]? She answered: It is from Allah.
Allah gives without account to whom He wills.
38. At that, Zachariah called upon his Lord and said: My
Lord! Bestow upon me of Your bounty goodly offspring.
Lo! You are the Hearer of supplication.
39. And the angels called to him as he stood praying in the
sanctuary: Allah gives you glad tidings of [a son whose
name is] Yahya [John], [who comes] to confirm a word
from Allah, honourable, abstaining [from women], a
prophet of the righteous.
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40. He said: My Lord! How can I have a son when age has
overtaken me already and my wife is barren? [The angel]
answered: So [it will be]. Allah does what He wills.
41. He said: My Lord! Make a sign for me. [The angel] said:
The sign to you [shall be] that you shall not speak to people
three days except by signs. Remember your Lord much,
and praise [Him] in the early hours of night and morning.
42. And when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah has chosen
you and made you pure, and has preferred you above [all]
the women of the worlds.
43. O Mary! Be devoutly obedient to your Lord, prostrate
yourself and bow with those who bow [in prayer].
44. This is from the news of the unseen. We reveal it to you
[Mohammad]. You were not present with them when they
threw their pens [to know] which of them should be the
guardian of Mary, nor were you present with them when
they quarrelled [thereupon].
45. [And remember] when the angels said: O Mary! Allah gives
you glad tidings of a word from Him, whose name is the
Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and
the Hereafter, and one of those brought near [to Allah].
46. He will speak to the people in his cradle and in his
manhood, and he is of the righteous.
47. She said: My Lord! How can I have a child when no mortal
has touched me? He said: So [it will be]. Allah creates what
He wills. If He decrees a thing, He says to it: Be! and it is.
48. And He will teach him writing and wisdom [the teachings
of the prophets], and the Torah and the Gospel.
49. And [will make him] a messenger to the children of Israel,
[saying]: Lo! I come to you with a sign from your Lord.
Lo! I fashion for you out of clay the likeness of a bird,
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and I breathe into it and it is a bird, by Allah’s leave. I
heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I raise
the dead, by Allah’s leave. And I announce to you what
you eat and what you store up in your houses. Lo! herein
verily is a sign for you, if you are believers.
50. And [I come] confirming that which was before me of
the Torah, and to make lawful some of that which was
forbidden to you. I come to you with a sign from your
Lord, so fear Allah and obey me.
51. Lo! Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him.
That is a straight path.
52. But when Jesus felt disbelief from them, he cried: Who
will be my supporters in the cause of Allah? The disciples
said: We will be supporters for Allah. We believe in
Allah, and bear you witness that we are Muslims [have
surrendered to Him].
53. Our Lord! We have believed in that which You have
revealed and we have followed the messenger [Jesus].
Enrol us among those who witness [to the truth].
54. And they [the disbelievers] planned, and Allah planned
[against them]: and Allah is the best of planners.
55. [And remember] when Allah said: O Jesus! Lo! I will take
you and causing you to ascend to Me, and am purifying
you of those who disbelieve and am setting those who
follow you above those who disbelieve until the Day of
Resurrection. Then to Me you will [all] return, and I shall
judge between you as to that wherein you used to differ.
56. As for those who disbelieve I shall punish them with a
heavy punishment in the world and the Hereafter; and
they will have no helpers.
57. And as for those who believe and do good deeds, He will
pay them their rewards in full. Allah loves not wrong-doers.
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58. This [which] We recite to you of the verses and the wise
reminder.
59. Lo! the likeness of Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of
Adam. He created him of dust, then He said to him: Be!
and he is.
60. [This is] the truth from your Lord [O Muhammad], so be
not you of those who doubt.
61. And whoso argues with you concerning him, after the
knowledge which has come to you, say [to him]: Come!
We will summon our sons and your sons, and our women
and your women, and ourselves and yourselves, then we
will pray humbly [to our Lord] and [solemnly] invoke the
curse of Allah upon those who lie.
62. Lo! This verily is the true narrative. There is no deity save
Allah, and lo! Allah is the Mighty, the Wise.
63. And if they turn away, then lo! Allah is Aware of [who are]
the corrupters.
64. Say: O People of the Scripture [Jews and Christians].
Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall
worship none but Allah, and that we shall not associate
anything with Him, and that none of us shall take others
for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then
say: Bear witness that we are Muslims [they who have
submitted to Him].
65. O People of the Scripture! Why do you argue about
Abraham, when the Torah and the Gospel were not
revealed till after him? Have you then no sense?
66. Lo! you are those who argue about that whereof you
have some knowledge: Why then argue you concerning
that whereof you have no knowledge? Allah knows. You
know not.
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67. Abraham was not a Jew, nor yet a Christian; but he was
a Muslim [submitted to Allah], and he was not of the
polytheists.
68. Lo! those of mankind who have the best claim to
Abraham are those who followed him, and this prophet
[Muhammad] and those who believe [with him]; and Allah
is the ally of the believers.
69. A party of the people of the Scripture long to make
you go astray; and they make none to go astray except
themselves, but they perceive not.
70. O People of the Scripture! Why do you disbelieve in the
verses of Allah, when you [yourselves] bear witness [to
their truth]?
71. O People of the Scripture! Why confound you truth with
falsehood and knowingly conceal the truth?
72. And a party of the People of the Scripture say: Believe in
that which has been revealed, to those who believe at the
opening of the day, and disbelieve at the end thereof, in
order that they may return; [1]
73. And believe not save in one who follows your religion–
Say [O Muhammad]: Lo! the guidance is Allah’s Guidance
– that anyone is given the like of that which was given
to you or that they may argue with you in the presence
of their Lord. Say [O Muhammad]: Lo! the bounty is in
Allah’s hand. He bestows it on whom He wills. Allah is
All-Embracing, All-Knowing.
74. He selects for His mercy whom He wills. Allah is of Great
Bounty.
75. Among the People of the Scripture there is he who, if you
trust him with a weight of treasure, will return it to you.
[1] The reference is to some Jews of Al-Madinah, who feigned an interest
in Al-Islam only in the hope of detaching some of the Muslims by their
subtle arguments.
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And among them there is he who, if you trust him with
a piece of gold, will not return it to you unless you keep
standing over him. That is because they say: There is no
blame upon us concerning the illiterates.[1] They speak a
lie concerning Allah knowingly.
76. Nay, but [the chosen of Allah is] he who fulfils his pledge
and fears Allah; for lo! Allah loves those who fear Him.
77. Lo! those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah’s
covenant and their oaths,[2] they have no portion in the
Hereafter. Allah will neither speak to them nor look upon
them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify
them. Theirs will be a painful doom.
78. And lo! there is a party of them who distort the Scripture
with their tongues, that you may think that what they say
is from the Scripture, when it is not from the Scripture.
And they say: It is from Allah, when it is not from Allah;
and they speak a lie concerning Allah knowingly.
79. It is not [possible] for any human being to whom Allah had
given the Scripture and authority and the Prophethood
that he should afterwards have said to the people: Be
slaves of me instead of Allah; but [what he said was]: Be
you faithful learned men of the Lord by virtue of your
constant teaching of the Scripture and of your constant
study thereof.
80. And he commanded you not that you should take the
angels and the prophets for lords. Would he command
you to disbelieve after you had been Muslims?
81. When Allah made [His] covenant with the prophets, [He
said]: Behold that which I have given you of the Scripture
[1] The Jews do not consider it a sin to cheat or lie to a gentile or a pagan.
[2] The Jews of Al-Madînah had made a solemn treaty with the Prophet
in the year 1 A.H.
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and knowledge. And afterward there will come to you a
messenger, confirming that which you possess. You shall
believe in him and you shall help him. He said: Do you agree,
and will you take up My covenant [which I lay upon you] in
this [matter]? They answered: We agree. He said: Then bear
you witness. And I am with you among the witnesses.
82. Then whosoever after this shall turn away: they will be
miscreants.
83. Seek they other than the religion of Allah, when to Him
submits whosoever is in the heavens and the earth,
willingly, or unwillingly, and to Him they will be returned.
84. Say [O Muhammad]: We believe in Allah and that which
is revealed to us and that which was revealed to Abraham
and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and that
which was given to Moses and Jesus and the Prophets
from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of
them, and to Him we are Muslims [have submitted].
85. And whoso seeks as religion other than Islâm [the
Submission to Allah] it will not be accepted from him,
and he will be one of the losers in the Hereafter.
86. How shall Allah guide a people who disbelieved after their
belief and [after] they bore witness that the messenger is
true and after clear proofs [of Allah’s sovereignty] had
come to them. And Allah guides not wrongdoing folk.
87. As for such, their reward is that on them rests the curse of
Allah and of angels and of men combined.
88. They will abide therein eternally. Their doom will not be
lightened, neither will they be reprieved;
89. Save those who afterward repent and do right. Lo! Allah
is Forgiving, Merciful.
90. Lo! those who disbelieve after their [profession of] belief,
and afterward grow violent in disbelief: their repentance
will not be accepted. And such are those who are astray.
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91. Lo! those who disbelieve, and die while they are
disbelievers, the [whole] earth full of gold would not
be accepted from one of them if it were offered as a
ransom [for his soul]. Theirs will be a painful doom and
they will have no helpers.
92. You will not attain to piety until you spend of that which you
love. And whatsoever you spend, Allah is aware thereof.
۞. 93 All food was lawful to the children of Israel, save that
which Israel forbade himself, [in days] before the Torah
was revealed. Say: Bring the Torah and read it [to us] if
you are truthful.
94. And whoever shall invent a lie after that concerning Allah,
such will be wrong-doers.
95. Say: Allah speaks truth. So follow the religion of Abraham,
the upright. He was not of the polytheists.
96. Lo! the first House [of worship] appointed for mankind
was that at Becca [Mecca], a blessed place, a guidance to
the worlds;
97. Wherein are plain signs [of Allah’s guidance]; the standing
place of Abraham; and whosoever enters it is safe. And
pilgrimage to the House is a duty to Allah for mankind,
for him who can find thereto a way. As for him who
disbelieves, [let him know that] lo! Allah is Independent
of [all] creatures.
98. Say: O People of the Scripture! Why disbelieve you in the
verses of Allah, when Allah [Himself] is Witness of what
you do?
99. Say: O People of the Scripture! Why drive you back
believers from the way of Allah, seeking to make it
crooked, when you are witnesses [to Allah’s guidance]?
Allah is not unaware of what you do.
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100. O you who believe! If you obey a party of those who have
received the Scripture they will make you disbelievers
after your belief.
101. How can you disbelieve, when it is you to whom Allah’s
verses are recited, and His messenger is in your midst?
He who holds fast to Allah, he indeed is guided to a
straight path.
102. O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be
feared, and die not save as Muslims [those who have
submitted to Him];
103. And hold fast, all of you together, to the rope of Allah,
and do not divide. And remember Allah’s favour to you:
how you were enemies and He brought your hearts
together so that you became as brothers by His grace;
and [how] you were upon the brink of an abyss of fire,
and He did save you from it. Thus Allah makes clear His
verses to you, that perhaps you may be guided,
104. And there may spring from you a nation inviting to
[all that is] good, and enjoin right conduct and forbid
indecency. Such are they who are successful.
105. And be you not as those who divided and disputed after
the clear proofs had come to them. For such there is a
great doom,
106. On the day when [some] faces will be whitened and
[some] faces will be blackened; and as for those whose
faces have been blackened, it will be said to them:
Disbelieved you after your [profession of] belief? Then
taste the punishment for that you disbelieved.
107. As for those whose faces have been whitened, in the
mercy of Allah they dwell forever.
108. These are the verses of Allah. We recite them to you in
truth. Allah wants no injustice to the worlds.
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109. And to Allah belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and
whatsoever is in the earth; and to Allah all matters are
returned.
110. You are the best nation that has been raised up for mankind.
You enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency; and you
believe in Allah. And if the People of the Scripture had
believed it had been better for them. Some of them are
believers; but most of them are defiantly disobedient.
111. They will not harm you save a trifling annoyance, and
if they fight against you they will turn and flee. And
afterward they will not be helped.
112. Ignominy is put over them wheresoever they are found
save [where they grasp] a covenant [of protection] from
Allah and a covenant from men.[1] They have incurred
anger from their Lord, and wretchedness is laid upon
them. That is because they used to disbelieve the verses
of Allah, and killed the Prophets wrongfully. That is
because they disobeyed and used to transgress.
113. They are not all alike. Of the People of the Scripture
there is a staunch community who recite the verses of
Allah in the night time, falling prostrate [before Him].
114. They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and enjoin right
conduct and forbid indecency, and hasten to good deeds.
They are of the righteous.
115. And whatever good they do, they will not be denied the
recompense thereof. Allah is Aware of the righteous.
116. Lo! the riches and the progeny of those who disbelieve
will not avail them anything against Allah; and such are
the owners of the Fire. They will abide therein eternally.
[1] i.e. when they keep the covenant which the Prophet had made with
the Jews of Al-Madînah.
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117. The likeness of that which they spend in this life of the
world is as the likeness of a biting, icy wind which smites
the harvest of a people who have wronged themselves,
and devastates it. Allah wronged them not, but they did
wrong themselves.
118. O you who believe! Take not for intimates others than
yourselves [i.e. believers], who would spare no pains to
ruin you; they love to hamper you. Hatred is revealed
by [the utterance of] their mouths, but that which their
breasts hide is greater. We have made plain for you the
signs if you will understand.
119. Lo! you are those who love them though they love you
not, and you believe in all the Scripture. When they
fall in with you they say: We believe; but when they
go apart they bite their finger-tips at you, for rage.
Say: Perish in your rage! Lo! Allah is Aware of what is
hidden in [your] breasts.
120. If good touches you, it distresses them, and if harm
strikes you they rejoice thereat. But if you are patient
and fear Allah their guile will never harm you. Lo! Allah
is surrounding what they do.
121. And remember when you set forth at daybreak from
your house folk to assign to the believers their positions
for the battle,[1] and Allah was Hearer, Knower.
122. When two parties of you almost fell away, and Allah was
their Protector. And upon Allah the believers should rely.
123. Allah had already given you the victory at Badr, when
you were few in number. So fear Allah in order that you
may be thankful.
[1] The battle at Mt. Uhud near Al-Madînah in the third year of the
Hijrah (see introduction to this Sûrah).
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124. And when you did say to the believers: Is it not sufficient
for you that your Lord should support you with three
thousand angels sent down [to your help]?
125. Nay, but if you remain patient, and keep from evil, and
[the enemy] attack you suddenly, your Lord will help you
with five thousand angels having marks [of distinction].
126. Allah ordained this only as a message of good news
for you, and that thereby your hearts might be assured.
Victory comes only from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.
127. That He may cut off a part of those who disbelieve, or
overwhelm them so that they retire, frustrated.
128. It is no concern at all of you [Muhammad] whether
He forgives them or punishes them; for they are
wrong-doers.
129. To Allah belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and
whatsoever is in the earth. He forgives whom He
wills, and punishes whom He wills. Allah is Forgiving,
Merciful.
130. O you who believe! Devour not usury, doubling and
multiplying [the sum lent]. Fear Allah, that you may be
successful.
131. And fear the Fire, which is prepared for disbelievers.
132. And obey Allah and the messenger, that you may find
mercy.
133. And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord, and for a
Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth,
prepared for the righteous;
134.Those who spend [of that which Allah has given them]
in ease and in adversity, those who repress anger and
pardon the people; Allah loves those who do good;
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135. And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong
themselves, remember Allah and implore forgiveness for
their sins. And who forgives sins save Allah only? – And
will not knowingly persist in [the wrong] they did.
136. The reward of such will be forgiveness from their Lord,
and Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein
they will abide forever – a bountiful reward for the
[righteous] workers!
137. Ways of life have passed away before you. Do but travel
in the land and see the nature of the consequence for
those who did deny [the messengers].
138. This [the Qur’ân] is a declaration for mankind, a guidance
and an admonition to those who fear Allah.
139. Faint not nor grieve, you will be superior if you are
[indeed] believers.
140. If a wound should touch you, there has already the
[disbelieving] people a wound similar to it.[1] These are
[only] the vicissitudes which We cause to follow one
another for mankind, to the end that Allah may know
those who believe and may take Martyrs from among
you; and Allah loves not wrong-doers.
141. And that Allah may purify those who believe [through
trials], and may destroy the disbelievers.
142. Or deemed you that you would enter Paradise while
yet Allah knows not those of you who really strive, nor
knows those [of you] who are steadfast?
143. And verily you used to wish for death before you met it
[in the field]. Now you have seen it with your eyes!
144. Muhammad is but a messenger, messengers [the like of
whom] have passed away before him. Will it be that,
when he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your
[1] At Badr.
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heels? He who turns back does no hurt to Allah, and
Allah will reward the thankful. [1]
145. No soul can ever die except by Allah’s leave and at a term
appointed. Whoso desires the reward of the world, We
bestow on him thereof; and whoso desires the reward
of the Hereafter, We bestow on him thereof. We shall
reward the thankful.
146. And with how many a prophet have there been a number
of devoted learnt men who fought [beside him]. They
quailed not for anything that befell them in the way of
Allah, nor did they weaken, nor were they brought low.
Allah loves the steadfast.
147. And their cry was only that they said: Our Lord! Forgive
us our sins and the excess [committed] in our affairs,
make our foothold firm, and give us victory over the
disbelieving folk.
148. So Allah gave them the reward of the world and the
good reward of the Hereafter. Allah loves those whose
deeds are good.
149. O you who believe! If you obey those who disbelieve,
they will make you turn back on your heels, and you turn
back [from faith] as losers.
150. But Allah is your Protector, and He is the Best of Helpers.
151. We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve
for what they have associated with Allah, for which no
[1] On the morning when the Prophet died, Abû Bakr came into the
mosque at Al-Madînah and found the people all distracted, and Omar
telling them that it was a sin to say that he was dead. Abû Bakr went
and ascertained the truth, and coming back into the mosque, cried:
“Lo! as for him who worshipped Muhammad, Muhammad is dead,
but as for him who worships Allah, Allah is alive and dies not.” Then
he recited this verse “and it was as if the people had not known till
then that such a verse had been revealed”.
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authority has been sent down. Their abode is the Fire,
and hapless the abode of the wrong-doers.
152. Allah verily fulfilled His promise to you when you
killed them by His leave, until [the moment] when
your courage failed you, and you disputed about the
order [given by the Prophet] and you disobeyed, after
He had shown you that for which you long.[1] Some of
you desired the world, and some of you desired the
Hereafter. Therefore He made you flee from them, that
He might test you. Yet now He has forgiven you. Allah
is the Processor of bounty to the believers.
153. When you [fled and] climbed [the mountain] and paid no
heed to anyone, while the messenger, in your rear, was
calling you [to fight]. Therefor He rewarded you grief
for [his] grief, that [He might teach] you not to sorrow
either for that which you missed or for that which befell
you. Allah is [fully] Acquainted of what you do.
154. Then, after grief, He sent down security for you. As
slumber did it overcome a party of you, while [the other]
party, who were anxious on their own account, thought
wrongly of Allah, the thought of ignorance. They said:
Have we any part in the cause? Say [O Muhammad]:
The cause belongs wholly to Allah. They hide within
themselves [a thought] which they reveal not to you,
saying: Had we had any part in the cause we should not
have been killed here. Say: Even though you had been
in your houses, those appointed to be killed would have
gone forth to the places where they were to lie. [All this
has been] in order that Allah might test what is in your
breasts and prove what is in your hearts. Allah is Aware
of what is hidden in the breasts [of men].
[1] When the archers deserted their post to share in the spoils, thinking
that the day was won.
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155. Lo! those of you who turned back on the day when the
two hosts met, Satan alone it was who caused them to
backslide, because of some of that which they have
earned. Now Allah has forgiven them. Lo! Allah is
Forgiving, Forbearing.
156. O you who believe! Be not as those who disbelieved
[hypocrites] and said of their brothers who went abroad
in the land or were fighting in the field: If they had been
[here] with us they would not have died or been killed;
that Allah may make it anguish in their hearts. Allah gives
life and causes death; and Allah is Seer of what you do.
157. And what though you be killed in Allah’s way or die
therein? Surely pardon from Allah and mercy are better
than all that they amass.
158. And whether you are killed or die, unto Allah you are
gathered?
159. It was by the mercy of Allah that you were lenient with
them [O Muhammad], for if you have been stern and
fierce of heart they would have dispersed from round
about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them
and consult with them upon the conduct of affairs. And
when you are resolved, then rely upon Allah. Lo! Allah
loves those who rely [upon Him].
160. If Allah helps you, none can overcome you, and if He
forsakes you, who is there who can help you? And upon
Allah let believers rely.
161. It is not for any Prophet to embezzle. Whoso embezzles
will bring what he embezzled with him on the Day of
Resurrection. Then every soul will be paid in full what it
has earned; and they will not be wronged.
162. Is one who follows the pleasure of Allah as one who has
earned condemnation from Allah, whose abode is the
Fire, and wrecked is the destination?
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163. They are degrees [of grace and reprobation] with Allah,
and Allah is Seer of what they do.
164. Allah verily has shown grace to the believers by sending
to them a messenger of their own who recites to them
His verses, and purifies them, and teaches them the Book
[the Qur’ân] and wisdom; although before [he came to
them] they were in flagrant error.
165. And was it so, when a disaster smote you [on the Day of
Uhud], though you had smitten [the enemy in the battle
of Badr with a disaster] twice [as great], that you said:
How is this? Say [to them, O Muhammad]: It is from
yourselves. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.
166. That which befell you, on the day when the two armies
met, was by permission of Allah; that He might know
the true believers;
167.And that He might know the hypocrites, to whom it
was said: Come, fight in the way of Allah, or defend
yourselves. They answered: If we had known [there
would be] fighting we would follow you. On that day
they were nearer to disbelief than to faith. They utter
with their mouths a thing which is not in their hearts.
Allah is Best Aware of what they hide.
168. Those who, while they sat at home, said of their brothers
[who were fighting for the cause of Allah]: If they had
obeyed us they would not have been killed. Say [to them,
O Muhammad]: Then avert death from yourselves if
you are truthful.
169. Think not of those, who are killed in the way of Allah,
as dead. Nay, they are living. With their Lord they have
provision.
170. Jubilant [are they] because of that which Allah has
bestowed upon them of His bounty, rejoicing for
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the sake of those who have not joined them but are
left behind: that there shall no fear come upon them
neither shall they grieve.
171. They rejoice because of favour from Allah and kindness,
and that Allah wastes not the reward of the believers.
172. As for those [believers] who responded to Allah and His
messenger after the harm befell them [in the fight]; for
those who did good and fear Allah, there is great reward,
173. Those [i.e. believers] to whom the people [hypocrites]
said: Lo! the people have gathered against you, therefor
fear them. [The threat of danger] but it increased them
in faith and they cried: Allah is sufficient for us! Most
Excellent is He in Whom we trust!
174. So they returned with grace and bounty from Allah, and
no harm touched them. They followed the good pleasure
of Allah, and Allah is of Infinite Bounty.
175. It is only the Satan who would make [men] fear his
partisans. Fear them not; fear Me, if you are true believers.
176. Let not those grieve you, who run easily to disbelief, for
lo! they injure Allah not at all. It is Allah’s will to assign
them no share in the Hereafter, and theirs will be a great
doom.
177. Those who purchase disbelief at the price of faith harm
Allah not at all, but theirs will be a painful doom.
178. And let not those who disbelieve imagine that the rein
We give them bodes good to their souls. We only give
them rein that they may grow in sinfulness. And theirs
will be a shameful doom.
179. It is not [the purpose] of Allah to leave you in your present
state till He shall separate the wicked from the good.
And it is not [the purpose of] Allah to let you know the
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Unseen. But Allah chooses of His messengers whom
He wills, [to receive knowledge thereof.] So believe in
Allah and His messengers. If you believe and fear Him,
yours will be a great reward.
180. And let not those who hoard up that which Allah has
bestowed upon them of His bounty think that it is better
for them. Nay, it is worse for them. That which they
hoard will be their collar on the Day of Resurrection.
Allah’s is the heritage of the heavens and the earth, and
Allah is Acquainted of what you do.
181. Verily Allah heard the saying of those [Jews] who said,
[when asked for contributions to the war]: “Allah, indeed,
is poor, and we are rich!” We shall record what they said
and their killing of the prophets wrongfully and We shall
say: Taste the punishment of burning [fire]!
182. This is on account of that which your own hands have
sent before [you to the judgment]. Allah is not ever
unjust to [His] bondmen.
183. [The same are] those who say: Lo! Allah has charged us
that we believe not in any messenger until he brings us
an offering which fire [from heaven] shall devour. Say [to
them, O Muhammad]: Messengers came to you before
me with miracles, and with that [very miracle] which you
describe. Why then did you kill them? [Answer that] if
you are truthful!
184. And if they deny you, even so did they deny messengers
who were before you, who came with miracles and with
the Psalms and with the Scripture giving light.
185. Every soul will taste of death. And you will only be given
your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection.
Whoso is removed from the Fire and is made to enter
Paradise, he indeed is triumphant. The life of this world
is but comfort of illusion.
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186. Assuredly you will be tested in your property and in your
persons, and you will hear from those who were given
the Scripture before you, and from those who associate
others with Allah much abuse. But if you are patient and
fear Allah, then that is of the steadfast heart of matters.
187. And [remember] when Allah took a covenant from those
who had received the Scripture [He said]: You are to
expound it to mankind and not to hide it. But they flung
it behind their backs and bought thereby a little gain.
Verily evil is that which they have gained thereby.
188. Think not that those who rejoice in what they have given,
and love to be praised for what they have not done–
Think not, they are in safety from the doom. A painful
doom is theirs.
189. To Allah belongs the Dominion of the heavens and the
earth. Allah is Able to do all things.
190. Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and
[in] the difference of night and day are signs [of His
Dominion] for men of understanding,
191. Such as remember Allah, standing, sitting, and reclining,
and consider the creation of the heavens and the earth,
[and say]: Our Lord! You created not this in vain. Glory
be to You! Preserve us from the doom of Fire.
192. Our Lord! Whom You causes to enter the Fire: him
indeed You have disgraced. For wrong-doers there will
be no helpers.
193. Our Lord! Lo! we have heard a crier calling to Faith:
“Believe in your Lord!” So we believed. Our Lord!
Therefor forgive us our sins, and remit from us our
misdeeds, and make us die with the righteous.
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194. Our Lord! And give us that which You have promised to
us by Your messengers. Disgrace us not upon the Day
of Resurrection. Lo! You break not the promise [tryst].
195. And their Lord has responded to them [and He says]:
Lo! I suffer not the work of any worker, male or female,
to be lost. You proceed one from another.[1] So those
who emigrated and were driven forth from their homes
and suffered damage for My cause, and fought and were
killed, verily I shall remit their misdeeds from them and
verily I shall bring them into Gardens underneath which
rivers flow. A reward from Allah. And with Allah is the
fairest of rewards.
196. Let not the vicissitude [of the success] of those who
disbelieve, in the land, deceive you [O Muhammad].
197. It is but a brief comfort. And afterward their habitation
will be Hell, an ill abode.
198. But those who fear their Lord, for them are Gardens
underneath which rivers flow, abiding therein eternally.
As accommodation from Allah. And that which is with
Allah is better for the righteous.
199. And lo! of the People of the Scripture [Jews and Christians]
there are some who believe in Allah and that which was
revealed to you and that which was revealed to them,
humbling themselves before Allah. They purchase not a
trifling gain at the price of the verses of Allah. Verily their
reward is with their Lord, and lo! Allah is swift in account.
200. O you who believe! Endure, outdo all others in endurance,
remain stationed, and fear Allah, in order that you may
succeed.
[1] This expression, which recurs in the Qur’an, is a reminder to men
that women are of the same human status as themselves.