7- THE HEIGHTS [AL-A’RAF]
Revealed at Mecca, [206 verses]
Al-A’râf, “The Heights” takes its name from a word in
v. 46, “And on the Heights are men who know them all by
their marks.” The best authorities assign the whole of it to
about the same period as Sûrah [6], i.e. the Prophet’s last year
in Mecca, though some consider vv. 163-167 to have been
revealed at Al-Madînah. The subject may be said to be the
opponents of God’s will and purpose, from Satan onward,
through the history of Divine Guidance.
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
1. Alif. Lâm Mîm. Sad.[1]
2. [It is] a Book that is revealed to you [Muhammad] - so let
there be no heaviness in your heart therefrom - that you
may warn thereby, and [it is] a Reminder to believers.
3. [Saying]: Follow that which is sent down to you from your
Lord, and follow no allies besides Him. Little do you
remember!
4. How many a township have We destroyed! As a raid by
night, or while they slept at noon, Our punishment came
to them.
5. No plea had they, when Our punishment came to them,
save that they said: Lo! We were wrong-doers.
6. Then verily We shall question those to whom [Our
message] has been sent, and verily We shall question the
messengers.
[1] See Sûr. [2], v 1,.
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7. Then verily We shall narrate to them [the event] with
knowledge, for verily We were not absent, [when it came
to pass].
8. The weighing on that day is the true [weighing]. As for
those whose scale is heavy, they are the successful.
9. And as for those whose scale is light: those are they who
lose their souls because they used to wrong Our verses.
10. And We have given you [mankind] authority in the earth,
and appointed for you therein livelihoods. Little you give
thanks!
11. And We created you, then fashioned you, then told
the angels: Fall you prostrate before Adam! And they
fell prostrate, all save Iblîs, who was not of those who
prostrated.
12. He said: What hindered you that you did not fall prostrate
when I commanded you? [Iblîs] said: I am better than him.
You created me of fire while him You did create of clay.
13. He said: Then go down hence! It is not for you to show
pride here, so get out! Lo! you are of those degraded.
14. He said: Reprieve me till the day when they are raised
[from the dead].
15. He said: Lo! you are of those reprieved.
16. He said: Now, because You have sent me astray, verily I
shall lurk in ambush for them on Your Right Path.
17. Then I shall come upon them from before them and from
behind them and from their right hands and from their
left hands, and You will not find most of them grateful
[to You].
18. He said: Get out from hence [paradise], degraded,
banished. As for such of them as follow you, surely I will
fill Hell with all of you.
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19. And [to man]: O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the
Paradise and eat from whence you will, but come not near
this tree lest you become wrong-doers.
20. Then Satan whispered to them that he might manifest to
them that which was hidden from them of their private
parts, and he said: Your Lord forbade you from this tree
only lest you should become angels or become of the
immortals.
21. And he swore to them [saying]: Lo! I am a sincere adviser
to you.
22. Thus did he lead them on with guile. And when they
tasted of the tree their private parts was manifest to them
and they began to hide [by heaping] on themselves some
of the leaves of the Paradise. And their Lord called them,
[saying]: Did I not forbid you from that tree and tell you:
Lo! Satan is an open enemy to you?
23. They said: Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You
forgive us not and have not mercy on us, surely we are of
the lost!
24. He said: Go down [from hence], one of you a foe to the
other. There will be for you on earth a habitation and
enjoyment for a while.
25. He said: There shall you live, and there shall you die, and
thence shall you be brought forth.
26. O Children of Adam! We have bestowed upon you clothing
to conceal your private parts, and splendid vesture, but
the clothing of righteousness, that is best. This is of the
signs of Allah, that they may remember.
27. O Children of Adam! Let not Satan tempt you as he
caused your [first] parents to go forth from the Paradise
and tore off from them their robe [of innocence] that he
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might show their private parts to them. Lo! he sees you,
he and his tribe, from whence you see him not. Lo! We
have made the devils allies to those who believe not.
28. And when they do some lewdness they say: We found
our fathers doing it and Allah has enjoined it on us. Say:
Allah, verily, enjoins not lewdness. Tell you concerning
Allah that which you know not?
29. Say: My Lord enjoins justice. And set your faces, upright
[toward Him] at every place of worship [i.e. mosque] and
call upon Him, making religion pure for Him [only]. As
He brought you into being, so you will return [to Him].
30. A party has He guided, while error has just held over
[another] party, for lo! they took the devils for allies
instead of Allah and deem that they are rightly guided.
31. O Children of Adam! Take your adornment at every place
of worship [i.e. mosque], and eat and drink, but be not
prodigal. Lo! He loves not the prodigals.
32. Say: Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He
has brought forth for His bondmen, and the good things
of His providing? Say: Such, on the Day of Resurrection,
will be only for those who believed during the life of
the world. Thus do We detail Our verses for people who
know.
33. Say: My Lord forbids only indecencies, such of them as
are apparent and such as are within, and sin and wrongful
oppression, and that you associate with Allah that for
which no authority has been sent down, and that you tell
concerning Allah that which you know not.
34. And every nation has its term, and when its term comes,
they cannot put it off an hour nor yet advance [it].
35. O Children of Adam! If messengers of your own come
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to you who recite to you My verses, then whoever fears
Allah and reforms there shall no fear come upon them
neither shall they grieve.
36. But they who deny Our verses and scorn them– such are
the owners of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
37. Who does greater wrong than he who invents a lie
concerning Allah or denies Our signs. [For such] their
appointed portion of the Book [of destiny] reaches them
till, when Our messengers [of death] come to gather them,
they say: Where [now] is that to which you cried besides
Allah? They say: They have departed from us. And they
testify against themselves that they were disbelievers.
38. He says: Enter into the Fire among nations of the jinn
and humankind who passed away before you. Every time
a nation enters, it curses its sister [nation] till, when they
have all been made to follow one another therein, the last
of them says to the first of them: Our Lord! These led us
astray, so give them double torment of the Fire. He says:
For each one there is double [torment], but you know not.
39. And the first of them says to the last of them: You had
not any favour over us, so taste the doom for what you
used to earn.
40. Lo! they who deny Our verses and scorn them, for them
the gates of heaven will not be opened nor will they enter
the Paradise until the camel goes through the needle’s eye.
Thus do We requite the criminals.
41. Theirs will be a bed of Hell, and over them coverings [of
Hell]. Thus do We requite wrong-doers.
42. But [as for] those who believe and did good deeds - We
burden not any soul beyond its scope - Such are the
owners of the Paradise. They abide therein eternally.
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43. And We remove whatever rancour may be in their breasts.
Rivers flow beneath them. And they say: The praise to
Allah, Who has guided us to this. We could not truly
have been led aright if Allah had not guided us. Verily
the messengers of our Lord did bring the Truth. And it is
cried to them: This is the Paradise. You inherit it for what
you used to do.
44. And the dwellers of the Paradise cry to the dwellers of
the Fire: We have found that which our Lord promised
us [to be] the Truth. Have you [too] found that which
your Lord promised the Truth? They say: Yea, verily. And
a crier in between them cries: The curse of Allah is on
wrong-doers.
45. Who debar [men] from the path of Allah and would have
it crooked, and who are disbelievers in the Last Day.
46. Between them is a veil. And on the Heights are men
who know them all by their marks. And they call to the
dwellers of the Paradise: Peace be to you! They enter it
not although they hope [to enter].
47. And when their eyes are turned toward the dwellers of
the Fire, they say: Our Lord! Place us not with the wrongdoing
folk.
48. And the dwellers on the Heights call to men whom they
know by their marks, [saying]: What did your multitude
and that in which you took your pride avail you?
49. Are these they of whom you swore that Allah would not
show them mercy? [To them it has been said]: Enter the
Paradise. No fear shall come upon you nor is it you who
will grieve.
50. And the dwellers of the Fire cry out to the dwellers of
the Paradise; Pour on us some water or some of that
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wherewith Allah has provided you. They say: Lo! Allah
has forbidden both to disbelievers [in His guidance],
51. Who took their religion for a play and pastime, and
whom the life of the world beguiled. So this day We have
forgotten them even as they forgot the meeting of this
their Day and as they used to deny Our verses.
52. Verily We have brought them a Book which We expound
with knowledge, a guidance and a mercy for a people who
believe.
53. Await they anything save the fulfilment thereof? On the
day when the fulfilment thereof comes, those who were
before forgetful thereof will say: The messengers of our
Lord did bring the Truth! Have we any intercessors, that
they may intercede for us? Or can we be returned [to life
on earth], that we may act otherwise than we used to act?
They have lost their souls, and that which they invented
has failed them.
54. Lo! your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the
earth in six Days, then He established Himself above the
Throne. He covers the night with the day, which is in
haste to follow it, and has made the sun and the moon
and the stars subservient by His command. His verily
is all creation and commandment. Blessed be Allah, the
Lord of the Worlds!
55. [O mankind!] Call upon your Lord humbly and in secret.
Lo! He loves not aggressors.
56. Cause not corruption in the earth after the fair ordering
[thereof], and invoke Him in fear and hope. Lo! the mercy
of Allah is near to the doers of good.
57. And He it is Who sends the winds as good tidings
heralding His mercy, till, when they bear a cloud heavy
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[with rain], We lead it to a dead land, and then cause water
to descend thereon, and thereby bring forth fruits of
every kind. Thus We bring forth the dead. Perhaps you
may remember.
58. As for the good land, its vegetation comes forth by
permission of its Lord; while as for that which is bad, only
the useless comes forth [from it]. Thus We do recount the
signs for people who give thanks.
59. We sent Noah [of old] to his people, and he said: O my
people! Worship Allah. You have no other deity save Him.
Lo! I fear for you the doom of a Great Day.
60. The chieftains of his people said: Lo! we see you surely in
plain error.
61. He said: O my people! There is no error in me, but I am a
messenger from the Lord of the Worlds.
62. I convey to you the messages of my Lord and give good
counsel to you, and know from Allah that which you
know not.
63. Do you marvel that there should come to you a Reminder
from your Lord by means of a man among you, that
he may warn you, and that you may fear Allah, and that
perhaps you may receive mercy.
64. But they denied him, so We saved him and those with him
in the ship, and We drowned those who denied Our signs
lo! they were a blind folk.
65. And to [the tribe of] A’âd [We sent] their brother, Hud.
He said: O my people! Worship Allah. You have no other
deity save Him. Will you fear Him?
66. The chieftains of his people, who were disbelieving, said:
Lo! we surely see you in foolishness, and lo! we deem you
of the liars.
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67. He said: O my people! There is no foolishness in me, but
I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds.
68. I convey to you the messages of my Lord and am for you
a true adviser.
69. Do you marvel that there should come to you a Reminder
from your Lord by means of a man among you, that he
may warn you? Remember how He made you viceroys
after Noah’s folk, and gave you growth of stature.
Remember [all] the bounties of your Lord, that perhaps
you may be successful.
70. They said: Have you come to us that we should worship
Allah alone, and forsake what our fathers worshipped?
Then bring upon us that wherewith you threatened us if
you are of the truthful.
71. He said: Punishment and wrath from your Lord have
already fallen on you. Would you dispute with me over
names which you have named, you and your fathers, for
which no authority from Allah has sent down? Then await
[the consequence], lo! I [also] am of those awaiting [it].
72. And We saved him and those with him by a mercy from
Us, and We cut the root of those who denied Our signs
and were not believers.
73. And to [the tribe of] Thamûd [We sent] their brother Salih.
He said: O my people! Worship Allah. You have no other
deity save Him. A wonder from your Lord has come to
you. Lo! this is the camel of Allah, a sign to you; so let
her feed in Allah’s earth, and touch her not with hurt lest
painful torment seize you.
74. And remember how He made you viceroys after A’âd and
gave you habitations in the earth. You take for yourselves
castles in the plains and hew the mountains into dwellings.
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So remember [all] the bounties of Allah and do not evil,
making mischief in the earth.
75. The chieftains of his people, who were arrogant, said to
those who were oppressed, to such of them as believed:
Know you that Salih is one sent from his Lord? They said:
Lo! In that wherewith he has been sent we are believers.
76. Those who were arrogant said: Lo! in that which you
believe we are disbelievers.
77. So they hamstrung the she-camel, and they flouted the
commandment of their Lord, and they said: O Salih!
Bring upon us that you threatened if you are indeed of
those sent [from Allah].
78. So the earthquake seized them, and morning found them
prostrate in their dwelling-place.
79. And Salih turned from them and said: O my people! I
delivered my Lord’s message to you and gave you good
advice, but you love not the advisers.
80. And Lot! [Remember] when he said to his folk: Will you
commit abomination such as no one ever did before you?
81. Lo! you come with lust to men instead of women. Nay,
but you are a transgressing folk.
82. And the answer of his people was only that they said [one
to another]: Turn them out of your township.[1] They are
folk, indeed, who keep pure.
83. And We rescued him and his household, save his wife,
who was of those who stayed behind.
84. And We rained a rain upon them. See now the nature of
the consequence of wrong-doers!
85. And to Midian [We sent] their brother, Shu’eyb. [2] He said:
[1] The Arabic word Qariah means originally a settled community, polity
or civilisation.
[2] Identified with Jethro.
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O my people! Worship Allah. You have no other deity
save Him. Lo! a clear proof has come to you from your
Lord; so give full measure and full weight and wrong not
people in their goods, and work not mischief in the earth
after the fair ordering thereof. That will be better for you,
if you are believers.
86. Lurk not on every road to threaten [wayfarers], and to
turn away from Allah’s path him who believes in Him,
and to seek to make it crooked. And remember, when
you were but few, how He did multiply you. And see the
nature of the consequence for the corrupters!
87. And if there is a party of you which believes in that
wherewith I have been sent, and there is a party which
believes not, then have patience until Allah judge between
us. He is the best of all who deal in judgment.
? . 88 The chieftains of his people, who were scornful, said:
Surely we will drive you out, O Shu’eyb, and those who
believe with you, from our township, unless you return to
our religion. He said: Even though we hate it?
89. We should have invented a lie against Allah if we
returned to your religion after Allah has rescued us from
it. It is not for us to return to it unless Allah should [so]
will. Our Lord encompassed all things in knowledge. In
Allah do we put our trust. Our Lord! Decide with truth
between us and our folk, for You are the Best of those
who make decision.
90. But the chieftains of his people, who disbelieved, said: If
you follow Shu’eyb, then truly you shall be the losers.
91. So the earthquake seized them, and morning found them
prostrate in their dwelling-place.
92. Those who denied Shu’eyb became as though they had
not dwelt there. Those who denied Shu’eyb, they were
the losers.
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93. So he turned from them and said: O my people! I delivered
my Lord’s messages to you and gave you good advice;
then how can I sorrow for a disbelieving people?
94. And We sent no prophet to any township but We did
afflict its folk with tribulation and adversity that perhaps
they might grow humble.
95. Then We changed the evil plight for good till they grew
affluent and said: Tribulation and distress did touch
our fathers. Then We seized them unawares, when they
perceived not.
96. And if the people of the townships had believed and
feared Allah, surely We should have opened for them,
blessings from the sky and from the earth. But [to every
messenger] they gave the lie, and so We seized them on
account of what they used to earn.
97. Are the people of the townships then secure from the
coming of Our wrath, upon them as a night-raid while
they sleep?
98. Or are the people of the townships then secure from the
coming of Our wrath upon them in the daytime while
they play?
99. Are they then secure from Allah’s plan? None deems
himself secure from Allah’s plan save the losing folk.
100. Is it not an indication to those who inherit the land after
its people [who thus reaped the consequence of evil
doing] that, if We will, We can smite them for their sins
and print upon their hearts so that they hear not?
101. Such were the townships. We relate some tidings of them
to you [Muhammad]. Their messengers verily came to
them with clear proofs [of Allah’s Sovereignty], but they
could not believe because they had before denied. Thus
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does Allah print upon the hearts of disbelievers [that
they hear not].
102. We found no [loyalty to any] covenant in most of them.
Nay, most of them We found defiantly disobedient.
103. Then, after them, We sent Moses with Our signs to
Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they repelled them. Now, see
the nature of the consequence for the corrupters!
104. Moses said: O Pharaoh! Lo! I am a messenger from the
Lord of the Worlds,
105. Approved upon condition that I speak concerning Allah
nothing but the truth, I come to you [lords of Egypt]
with a clear proof from your Lord. So let the Children
of Israel go with me.
106. [Pharaoh] said: If you come with a sign, then bring it
forth, if you are of those who speak the truth.
107. Then he flung down his staff and lo! it was a serpent
manifest;
108. And he drew forth his hand [from his bosom]: and lo! it
was white for the seers.
109. The chiefs of Pharaoh’s people said: Lo! this is some
knowing magician,
110. Who would expel you from your land. Now what do you
advise?
111. They said [to Pharaoh]: Put him off [a while] - him and
his brother - and send into the cities summoners,
112. To bring each knowing magician to you.
113. And the magicians came to Pharaoh, saying: Surely there
will be a reward for us if we are victors.
114. He answered: Yes, and surely you shall be of those
brought near [to me].
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115. They said: O Moses! Either throw [first] or let us be the
first throwers?
116. He said: Throw! And when they threw they cast a
spell upon the people’s eyes, and overawed them, and
produced a mighty spell.
117. And We inspired Moses [saying]: Throw your staff! And
lo! it swallowed up what they were falsifying.
118. Thus was the Truth vindicated and that which they were
doing was made vain.
119. Thus they were defeated there and returned disgraced.
120. And the magicians fell down prostrate,
121. They said: We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,
122. The Lord of Moses and Aaron.
123. Pharaoh said: You believe in Him before I give you leave!
Lo! this is the plot that you have plotted in the city that you
may drive its people hence. But you shall come to know!
124. Surely I shall have your hands and feet cut off upon
alternate sides. Then I shall crucify you every one.
125. They said: Lo! We are about to return to our Lord!
126. You take vengeance on us only forasmuch as we believed
the signs of our Lord when they came to us. Our Lord!
Bestow upon us steadfastness and make us die as
Muslims [men who have submitted to You].
127. The chiefs of Pharaoh’s people said: [O King], will you
leave Moses and his people to make mischief in the land,
and abandon you and your gods? He said: We will kill
their sons and keep their women alive, for lo! we are in
power over them.
128. And Moses said to his people: Seek help in Allah and be
patient. Lo! the earth is Allah’s. He inherits it to whom
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He wills of His bondmen. And lo! the sequel is for the
righteous.
129. They said: We suffered hurt before you came to us, and
since you have come to us. He said: It may be that your
Lord is going to destroy your adversary and make you
viceroys in the earth, that He may see how you will do.
130. And We straitened Pharaoh’s folk with famine and the
dearth of fruits, that perhaps they might heed.
131. But whenever good befell them, they said: This is ours;
and whenever evil smote them they ascribed it to the evil
omens of Moses and those with him. Surely their evil
omen was only with Allah. But most of them knew not.
132. And they said: Whatever sign you bring therewith to
bewitch us, we shall not put faith in you.
133. So We sent them the flood and the locusts and the vermin
and the frogs and the blood - a succession of clear signs.
But they were arrogant and became a criminal folk.
134. And when the punishment fell on them they cried: O
Moses! Pray for us to your Lord, because He has a
covenant with you. If you remove the punishment from
us we verily will trust you and will let the Children of
Israel go with you.
135. But when We did remove from them the punishment for
a term which they must reach, behold! they broke their
covenant.
136. Therefore We took retribution from them; therefore We
drowned them in the sea: because they denied Our signs
and were heedless of them.
137. And We caused the folk who were oppressed to inherit
the eastern parts of the land and the western parts
thereof which We had blessed. And the fair Word of the
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Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel because of
their endurance; and We destroyed [all] that Pharaoh and
his folk had done and that they had been building.
138. And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea,
and they came to a people who were given up to idols
which they had. They said: O Moses! Make for us a god
even as they have gods. He said: Lo! you are a folk who
know not.
139. Lo! as for these, their way will be destroyed and all that
they are doing is in vain.
140. He said: Shall I seek for you a god other than Allah when
He has favoured you above [all] worlds?
141. And [remember] when We did deliver you from Pharaoh’s
folk who were afflicting you with dreadful doom, killing
your sons and keeping your women alive. That was a
great trial from your Lord.
142. And when We did appoint for Moses thirty nights [of
solitude], and added to them ten, and he completed the
whole time appointed by his Lord of forty nights; and
Moses said to his brother: Take my place among my
people. Do right, and follow not the way of mischiefmakers.
143. And when Moses came to Our appointed time and his
Lord had spoken to him, he said: My Lord! Show me
[Yourself], that I may gaze upon You. He said: You will
not see Me, but gaze upon the mountain! If it stands still
in its place, then you will see Me. And when his Lord
appeared to the mountain He sent it crashing down.
And Moses fell down unconscious. And when he woke
he said: Glory to You! I turn to You repentant, and I am
the first of [true] believers.
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144. He said: O Moses! I have chosen you above people by
My messages and by My speaking [to you]. So hold that
which I have given you, and be among the thankful.
145. And We wrote for him, upon the tablets, the lesson to be
drawn from all things and the explanation of all things,
then [bade him]: Hold it fast; and command your people
[saying]: Take the better [course made clear] therein. I
shall show you the abode of defiantly disobedient.
146. I shall turn away from My signs those who magnify
themselves wrongfully in the earth, and if they see each
sign believe it not, and if they see the way of righteousness
choose it not for [their] way, and if they see the way of
error choose it for [their] way. That is because they deny
Our signs and are used to disregard them.
147. Those who deny Our signs and the meeting of the
Hereafter, their deeds are fruitless. Are they requited
anything save what they used to do?
148. And the folk of Moses, after [he had left them], chose
a calf [for worship], [made] out of their ornaments,
which gave a lowing sound. Saw they not that it spoke
not to them nor guided them to a way? They took it, and
became wrong-doers.
149. And when they feared the consequences thereof and
saw that they had gone astray, they said: Unless our
Lord have mercy on us and forgive us, we will verily be
among the losers.
150. And when Moses returned to his people, angry and
grieved, he said: Evil is that [course] which you took after
I had left you. Would you hasten on the judgment of your
Lord? And he cast down the tablets, and he seized his
brother by the head, dragging him toward him. He said:
Son of my mother! Lo! the folk did judge me weak and
almost killed me. Oh, make not the enemies to rejoice
over me and place me not among the wrong-doing folk!
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151. He said: My Lord! Have mercy on me and on my brother;
admit us into Your mercy, You the Most Merciful of all
who show mercy.
152. Lo! Those who took the calf [for worship], will obtain
anger from their Lord and humiliation will come upon
them in the life of the world. Thus do We requite those
who invent a lie.
153. But those who do ill-deeds and afterward repent and
believe– lo! for them, afterward, Allah is Forgiving,
Merciful.
154. Then, when the anger of Moses abated, he took up the
tablets, and in their inscription there was guidance and
mercy for all those who fear their Lord.
155. And Moses chose of his people seventy men for Our
appointed tryst and, when the earthquake seized them,
he said: My Lord! If you had willed You had destroyed
them long before, and me with them. Will you destroy
us for that which the ignorant among us did? It is but
Your trial [of us]. You send whom You will astray and
guide whom You will. You are our Protector, therefore
forgive us and have mercy on us, You, the Best of all
who show forgiveness.
156. And ordain for us in this world that which is good, and
in the Hereafter [that which is good], lo! We have turned
to You. He said: I smite with My punishment whom I
will, and My Mercy encompasses all things, therefore I
shall ordain it for those who fear Me and pay the poordue,
and those who believe Our verses;
157. Those who follow the messenger, the Prophet who can
neither read nor write, whom they will find described in
the Torah and the Gospel [which are] with them. He will
enjoin on them that which is right and forbid them that
which is wrong. He will make lawful for them all good
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things and prohibit for them the evil; and he will relieve
them of their covenant and the shackles that they used
to burden. Then those who believe in him, and honour
him and help him, and follow the light which is sent
down with him: they are the successful.
158. Say [O Muhammad]: O mankind! Lo! I am the messenger
of Allah to you all– [the messenger of] Him to Whom
belongs the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth.
There is no deity save Him. He gives life and He gives
death. So believe in Allah and His messenger, the
Prophet who can neither read nor write,[1] who believes
in Allah and in His words and follow him that perhaps
you may be guided.
159. And of Moses’ folk there is a community who guides
with truth and establish justice therewith.
160. And We divided them into twelve tribes, nations; and
We inspired Moses, when his people implored him for
water, saying: Smite with your staff the rock! And there
gushed forth therefrom twelve springs, so that each tribe
knew their drinking-place. And We caused the white
clouds to overshadow them and sent down for them the
manna and the quails [saying]: Eat of the good things
wherewith We have provided you. They wronged Us
not, but they were used to wrong themselves.
161. And when it was said to them: Dwell in this township
and eat therefrom whence you will, and say “Relieve
us from our burdens”, and enter the gate prostrate; We
shall forgive you your sins; We shall increase [reward] for
the good-doers.
[1] I give the usual rendering. Some modern criticism, while not denying
the comparative illiteracy of the Prophet, would prefer the rendering
“who is not of those who read the Scriptures” or “Gentile.”
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162. But those of them who did wrong changed the word which
had been told them for another saying, and We sent down
upon them wrath from heaven for their wrong-doing.
163. Ask them [O Muhammad] of the township that was by
the sea, how they did break the Sabbath, how their fish
came to them visibly upon their Sabbath day and on a
day when they did not keep Sabbath they came not to
them. Thus did We try them for that they were defiantly
disobedient.
164. And when a community among them said: Why preach you
to a folk whom Allah is about to destroy and punish with
an awful doom, they said: In order to be free from guilt
before your Lord, and that perhaps they may fear Allah.
165. And when they forgot that whereof they had been
reminded, We rescued those who forbade wrong, and
seized those who did wrong with dreadful punishment
because they were defiantly disobedient.
166. So when they took pride in that which they had been
forbidden, We said to them: Be apes, despised!
167. And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed that He
would raise against them till the Day of Resurrection
those who would lay on them a cruel torment. Lo! verily
your Lord is swift in retribution and Lo! verily He is
Forgiving, Merciful.
168. And We have divided them in the earth as [separate]
nations. Some of them are righteous, and some far from
that. And We have tested them with good things and evil
things that perhaps they might return.
169. And a generation has succeeded them who inherited
the Scriptures. They grasp the goods of this low life [as
the price of evil-doing] and say: It will be forgiven us.
And if there came to them [again] the offer of the like,
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they would accept it [and would sin again]. Has not the
covenant of the Scripture been taken on their behalf that
they should not speak anything concerning Allah save
the truth? And they have studied that which is therein.
And the abode of the Hereafter is better, for those who
fear Allah. Have you then no sense?
170. And as for those who hold fast to the Book, and establish
prayer - lo! We waste not the reward of reformers.
171. And when We raised the Mount above them as it were a
covering, and they thought that it was going to fall upon
them [and We said]: Hold fast that which We have given
you, and remember that which is therein, that you may
fear Allah.
172. And [remember] when your Lord brought forth from the
Children of Adam, from their loins, their descendants,
and made them testify of themselves, [saying]: Am I not
your Lord? They said: Yes, verily. We testify. [That was]
lest you should say at the Day of Resurrection: Lo! of
this we were unaware;
173. Or lest you should say: [It is] only [that] our fathers
associated partners with Allah of old and we were [their]
descendants after them. Will You destroy us on account
of that which those who follow falsehood did?
174. Thus We detail the verses, that they may return.
175. Recite to them the tale of him to whom We gave Our
signs, but he sloughed them off, so Satan pursued him
and he became of those who lead astray.
176. And had We willed We could have raised him by their
means, but he clung to the earth and followed his own
lust. Therefor his likeness is as the likeness of a dog; if you
attack him he pants with his tongue out, and if you leave
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him he pants with his tongue out. Such is the likeness of
the people who deny Our signs. Relate the stories [of the
men of old], that perhaps they may take thought.
177. Evil as an example are the folk who denied Our signs,
and were used to wrong themselves.
178. He who Allah guides, he indeed is [rightly] guided, while
he whom Allah sends astray– they indeed are the losers.
179. Already We have created for Hell many of the jinn and
humankind, having hearts wherewith they understand
not, and having eyes wherewith they see not, and having
ears wherewith they hear not. These are as the cattle–
nay, but they are worse! These are the heedless.
180. Allah’s are the fairest names. Invoke Him by them. And
leave the company of those who blaspheme His names.
They will be requited what they do.
181. And of those whom We created there is a nation who
guides with the Truth and establishes justice therewith.
182. And those who deny Our signs– We shall gradually lead
them on from whence they know not.
183. I give them rein [for] lo! My plan is strong.
184. Do they not give thought [that] there is no madness in
their companion? He is but a plain warner.
185. Have they not considered the dominion of the heavens
and the earth, and what things Allah has created, and
that it may be that their own term draws near? In what
message after this will they believe?
186. Those whom Allah sends astray, there is no guide for
them. He leaves them to wander blindly on in their
contumacy.
187. They ask you of the [destined] Hour, when will be its
appointed time. Say: Knowledge thereof is with my
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Lord only. He alone will manifest it at its proper time.
It is heavy in the heavens and the earth. It comes not
to you save unexpectedly. They question you as if you
could be well informed thereof. Say: Knowledge thereof
is with Allah only, but most of mankind know not.
188. Say: For myself I have no power to benefit, nor power
to hurt, save that which Allah wills. Had I knowledge
of the Unseen, I should have abundance of wealth, and
adversity would not touch me. I am but a warner, and a
bearer of good tidings to folk who believe.
189. He it is who did create you from a single soul, and
therefrom did make his mate that he might take rest in
her. And when he covered her she bore a light burden,
and she passed [unnoticed] with it, but when it became
heavy they cried to Allah, their Lord, saying: If you give
to us a good child we shall be of the thankful.
190. But when He gave to them a good child, they ascribed
to Him partners in respect of that which He had given
them. High is He Exalted above all that they associate
[with Him].
191. Do they associate with Him those who create nothing,
but are themselves created,
192. And cannot give them help, nor can they help themselves?
193. And if you call them to the Guidance, they follow you not.
Whether you call them or are silent is all one for you.
194. Lo! those on whom you call besides Allah are slaves like
you. Call on them, and let them answer you, if you are
truthful!
195. Have they feet wherewith they walk, or have they hands
wherewith they strike, or have they eyes wherewith
they see, or have they ears wherewith they hear? Say:
Call upon your [so-called] partners [of Allah], and then
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conspire against me, spare me not!
196. Lo! my Protector is Allah who reveals the Book. And He
is an ally to the righteous.
197. And they on whom you call besides Him have no power
to help you, nor can they help themselves.
198. And if you [Muslims] call them to the Guidance they
hear not; and you [Muhammad] see them looking toward
you, but they see not.
199. Take what is given freely [O Muhammad], and enjoin
kindness, and turn away from the ignorant.
200. And if a slander from the Satan assails you, then seek
refuge in Allah. Lo! He is Hearer, Knower.
201. Lo! those who fear Allah, when a glamour from the Satan
troubles them, they do but remember [Allah’s Guidance]
and behold them seers!
202. Their brothers [the devils] plunge them further into error
and cease not.
203. And when you [O Muhammad] bring not a sign for them
they say: Why have you not brought it? Say: I follow
only that which is revealed to me from my Lord. This
[Qur’ân] is insights from your Lord, and a guidance and
a mercy for a people that believe.
204. And when the Qur’ân is recited, give ear to it and pay
attention, that you may obtain mercy.
205. And [O Muhammad] remember your Lord within
yourself humbly and with awe, below your breath, at
morning and evening. And do not be of the heedless.
206. Lo! those who are with your Lord are not disdained
to worship Him, but they praise Him and to Him they
prostrate.