Al-Mukhtasar · Tafsir · in English
المؤمنون
Al-Mu'minun
The Believers · Meccan · 118 ayahs
Those who believed in Allah and acted according to His laws have indeed succeeded by achieving whatever they sought, and gaining salvation from whatever they feared.
23:2Page 342
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ فِي صَلَاتِهِمۡ خَٰشِعُونَ ٢
They who are during their prayer humbly intent
Those who were humble in their prayer: their limbs remained calm during it and their hearts were free of distractions.
Those who turned away from falsehood and futility, especially those futile actions and speech which was sinful.
Those who purified themselves of evil characteristics, and their wealth by taking out Zakat from it.
Those who safeguarded their private parts by keeping them far from fornication, homosexuality and shameful actions; so they remained pure and chaste.
23:6Page 342
إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزۡوَٰجِهِمۡ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُهُمۡ فَإِنَّهُمۡ غَيۡرُ مَلُومِينَ ٦
Except from their wives or those their right hands possess,1 for indeed, they will not be blamed -
Except using them with their wives or the female servants they possessed, for they are blameless in taking pleasure from them through sexual intercourse and the like.
23:7Page 342
فَمَنِ ٱبۡتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡعَادُونَ ٧
But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors -
So whosoever seeks pleasure from other than his wives and female servants that he possesses, he is transgressing the limits of Allah by delving into that which Allah has forbidden, without keeping to that which He has kept lawful.
23:8Page 342
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِأَمَٰنَٰتِهِمۡ وَعَهۡدِهِمۡ رَٰعُونَ ٨
And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive
Those who fulfil and do not neglect or usurp the trusts Allah has entrusted them with, or any of His servants have entrusted them with. Rather, they keep to their pacts.
23:9Page 342
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَٰتِهِمۡ يُحَافِظُونَ ٩
And they who carefully maintain their prayers -
Those who observe their prayers by being punctual in them, by performing them at their correct times together, obligations and preferred actions.
Those possessing these characteristics are the true inheritors.
23:11Page 342
ٱلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ ٱلۡفِرۡدَوۡسَ هُمۡ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ ١١
Who will inherit al-Firdaus.1 They will abide therein eternally.
They will inherit the loftiest level of paradise wherein they will live forever. Their bounties will not finish in it.
23:12Page 342
وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِن سُلَٰلَةٖ مِّن طِينٖ ١٢
And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay.
Verily, I created the father of mankind, Adam, from clay. I took the soil he was created from, from a mixture of water and the soil of the earth.
23:13Page 342
ثُمَّ جَعَلۡنَٰهُ نُطۡفَةٗ فِي قَرَارٖ مَّكِينٖ ١٣
Then We placed him as a sperm-drop1 in a firm lodging [i.e., the womb].
Then I created his progeny who procreate, by way of a drop of sperm that lodges in the womb until birth.
23:14Page 342
ثُمَّ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلنُّطۡفَةَ عَلَقَةٗ فَخَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡعَلَقَةَ مُضۡغَةٗ فَخَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡمُضۡغَةَ عِظَٰمٗا فَكَسَوۡنَا ٱلۡعِظَٰمَ لَحۡمٗا ثُمَّ أَنشَأۡنَٰهُ خَلۡقًا ءَاخَرَۚ فَتَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ أَحۡسَنُ ٱلۡخَٰلِقِينَ ١٤
Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allāh, the best of creators.1
I then created the lodged drop of sperm into a red clot of blood, which I then created into a piece of flesh, which I then created into hard bones. I then covered those bones with flesh and then developed it into a completely different creation, by blowing a soul into it and bringing it out into life. Praised is Allah, the best of creators!
O people! After having passed through all these phases, you shall die when your lives expire.
23:16Page 342
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ تُبۡعَثُونَ ١٦
Then indeed you, on the Day of Resurrection, will be resurrected.
Then, after your death, you shall be resurrected from your graves on the Day of Judgment so that you may be held to account for whatever deeds you sent forth.
23:17Page 342
وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا فَوۡقَكُمۡ سَبۡعَ طَرَآئِقَ وَمَا كُنَّا عَنِ ٱلۡخَلۡقِ غَٰفِلِينَ ١٧
And We have created above you seven layered heavens, and never have We been of [Our] creation unaware.
O people! Verily, I created seven heavens over you, one above the other. I am never neglectful of My creation, nor am I One to forget it.
23:18Page 343
وَأَنزَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءَۢ بِقَدَرٖ فَأَسۡكَنَّٰهُ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰ ذَهَابِۭ بِهِۦ لَقَٰدِرُونَ ١٨
And We have sent down rain from the sky in a measured amount and settled it in the earth. And indeed, We are Able to take it away.
I sent down rain from the heavens according to the need toward it; not in excessive amounts that cause ruin, nor too little that is insufficient. I allow it to settle on earth so that the people and animals can take benefit from it. Otherwise, I am capable of causing it to wash away, in which case they would not be able to benefit from it.
23:19Page 343
فَأَنشَأۡنَا لَكُم بِهِۦ جَنَّٰتٖ مِّن نَّخِيلٖ وَأَعۡنَٰبٖ لَّكُمۡ فِيهَا فَوَٰكِهُ كَثِيرَةٞ وَمِنۡهَا تَأۡكُلُونَ ١٩
And We brought forth for you thereby gardens of palm trees and grapevines in which for you are abundant fruits and from which you eat.
Through that water I then created gardens for you, the like of palms and grapevines. You have fruits of varying colours and appearance that grow within them, like figs, pomegranates and apples, of which you eat.
23:20Page 343
وَشَجَرَةٗ تَخۡرُجُ مِن طُورِ سَيۡنَآءَ تَنۢبُتُ بِٱلدُّهۡنِ وَصِبۡغٖ لِّلۡأٓكِلِينَ ٢٠
And [We brought forth] a tree issuing from Mount Sinai which produces oil and food [i.e., olives] for those who eat.
Through that water, I also created the olive tree for you, the origins of which come from the land of Mount Sinai. From its fruits, the oil is extracted which you use and consume.
23:21Page 343
وَإِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمِ لَعِبۡرَةٗۖ نُّسۡقِيكُم مِّمَّا فِي بُطُونِهَا وَلَكُمۡ فِيهَا مَنَٰفِعُ كَثِيرَةٞ وَمِنۡهَا تَأۡكُلُونَ ٢١
And indeed, for you in livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from that which is in their bellies, and for you in them are numerous benefits, and from them you eat.
O people! Indeed, you have a lesson to take from grazing livestock (camels, cows and sheep), in that you can draw conclusions from them in the power of Allah and His kindness to you. He quenches your thirst with pure, tasty milk from the bellies of these animals. You can also derive other benefits from them, like conveyance, wool, fur, bristles, together with being able to consume their meat.
23:22Page 343
وَعَلَيۡهَا وَعَلَى ٱلۡفُلۡكِ تُحۡمَلُونَ ٢٢
And upon them and on ships you are carried.
You are carried on the camels on land and on the ships at sea.
23:23Page 343
وَلَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ فَقَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُۥٓۚ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ ٢٣
And We had certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him; then will you not fear Him?"
Indeed, I sent Noah (peace be upon him) to his people to call them towards Allah, so he said to them, “O my people! Worship Allah only; you do not have any true deity except Him, may He be glorified. Will you not be mindful of Allah by fulfilling His commands and refraining from His prohibitions?”
23:24Page 343
فَقَالَ ٱلۡمَلَؤُاْ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن قَوۡمِهِۦ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّا بَشَرٞ مِّثۡلُكُمۡ يُرِيدُ أَن يَتَفَضَّلَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَنزَلَ مَلَٰٓئِكَةٗ مَّا سَمِعۡنَا بِهَٰذَا فِيٓ ءَابَآئِنَا ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ٢٤
But the eminent among those who disbelieved from his people said, "This is not but a man like yourselves who wishes to take precedence over you; and if Allāh had willed [to send a messenger], He would have sent down angels. We have not heard of this among our forefathers.
So the noblemen and leaders from his people who disbelieved in Allah said to their followers and the masses, “This man that claims to be a messenger is only a human like yourselves; he only desires leadership and rule over you. If Allah wished to send a messenger to you He would have done so by sending one from the angels, not from the humans. We have not heard anything like what he is claiming from our predecessors!”
23:25Page 343
إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا رَجُلُۢ بِهِۦ جِنَّةٞ فَتَرَبَّصُواْ بِهِۦ حَتَّىٰ حِينٖ ٢٥
He is not but a man possessed with madness, so wait concerning him for a time."
He is only a man who is mad. He does not understand what he himself is saying. Wait and see when soon his true reality becomes apparent to the people.
23:26Page 343
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱنصُرۡنِي بِمَا كَذَّبُونِ ٢٦
[Noah] said, "My Lord, support me because they have denied me."
Noah (peace be upon him) said, “O my Lord! Help me against them and pay them back for their rejection and defiance!”
23:27Page 343
فَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡهِ أَنِ ٱصۡنَعِ ٱلۡفُلۡكَ بِأَعۡيُنِنَا وَوَحۡيِنَا فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَمۡرُنَا وَفَارَ ٱلتَّنُّورُ فَٱسۡلُكۡ فِيهَا مِن كُلّٖ زَوۡجَيۡنِ ٱثۡنَيۡنِ وَأَهۡلَكَ إِلَّا مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ مِنۡهُمۡۖ وَلَا تُخَٰطِبۡنِي فِي ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓاْ إِنَّهُم مُّغۡرَقُونَ ٢٧
So We inspired to him, "Construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration, and when Our command comes and the oven overflows,1 put into it [i.e., the ship] from each [creature] two mates and your family, except him for whom the decree [of destruction] has proceeded. And do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are to be drowned.
So I revealed to him: Make a ship under My supervision and tutorage. Then, when My command to destroy them is issued and water gushes forth from the place where bread is baked, start taking a male and female from every living species onto the ship, so that they can procreate and not become extinct. Also take your family on board, except for those upon whom Allah’s decree of destruction has been passed i.e. your wife and son. Do not request Me to save and not destroy those who have wronged through disbelief; there is no doubt they shall be destroyed by drowning in the water of the flood.
23:28Page 344
فَإِذَا ٱسۡتَوَيۡتَ أَنتَ وَمَن مَّعَكَ عَلَى ٱلۡفُلۡكِ فَقُلِ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِي نَجَّىٰنَا مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ ٢٨
And when you have boarded the ship, you and those with you, then say, 'Praise to Allāh who has saved us from the wrongdoing people.'
When you board the ship together with the believers achieving salvation, say: “All praise is for Allah Who saved us from the disbelieving people and destroyed them.”
23:29Page 344
وَقُل رَّبِّ أَنزِلۡنِي مُنزَلٗا مُّبَارَكٗا وَأَنتَ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡمُنزِلِينَ ٢٩
And say, 'My Lord, let me land at a blessed landing place, and You are the best to accommodate [us].'"
And say: “O my Lord! Cause me to disembark at a blessed place, for You are the best of those who cause to disembark.”
23:30Page 344
إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ وَإِن كُنَّا لَمُبۡتَلِينَ ٣٠
Indeed in that are signs, and indeed, We are ever testing [Our servants].
Indeed, in the aforementioned, i.e. saving Noah and the believers with him, and destroying the disbelievers, are great signs of My ability to help My messengers and destroy their rejecters. I had tested the people of Noah by sending him to them, so that the believers and disbelievers, the obedient and sinners become distinct.
23:31Page 344
ثُمَّ أَنشَأۡنَا مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ قَرۡنًا ءَاخَرِينَ ٣١
Then We produced after them a generation of others.
Thereafter, I created a different generation of people after destroying the people of Noah. They were the Ād, the people of Hud (peace be upon him).
23:32Page 344
فَأَرۡسَلۡنَا فِيهِمۡ رَسُولٗا مِّنۡهُمۡ أَنِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُۥٓۚ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ ٣٢
And We sent among them a messenger1 from themselves, [saying], "Worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him; then will you not fear Him?"
I sent to them a messenger from amongst them: Hud, who would call them towards Allah. He said to them, “O my people! Worship Allah only; you do not have any true deity except Him, may He be glorified. Will you not be mindful of Allah by fulfilling His commands and refraining from His prohibitions?”
23:33Page 344
وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ مِن قَوۡمِهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِلِقَآءِ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ وَأَتۡرَفۡنَٰهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّا بَشَرٞ مِّثۡلُكُمۡ يَأۡكُلُ مِمَّا تَأۡكُلُونَ مِنۡهُ وَيَشۡرَبُ مِمَّا تَشۡرَبُونَ ٣٣
And the eminent among his people who disbelieved and denied the meeting of the Hereafter while We had given them luxury in the worldly life said, "This is not but a man like yourselves. He eats of that from which you eat and drinks of what you drink.
The noblemen and leaders from his people who disbelieved in Allah, rejected the Hereafter and the punishment and reward to be meted out in it, and were misled by the blessings I had granted them in the world, said to their followers and masses, “This is a human just like you are: he eats of the food you eat and drinks of the drinks you drink. He does not have any superiority over you such that he would be sent as a messenger to you!”
23:34Page 344
وَلَئِنۡ أَطَعۡتُم بَشَرٗا مِّثۡلَكُمۡ إِنَّكُمۡ إِذٗا لَّخَٰسِرُونَ ٣٤
And if you should obey a man like yourselves, indeed, you would then be losers.
“And if you were to follow a human just like you, you would indeed have been deceived into leaving aside your deities and following one who has no virtue over you.”
23:35Page 344
أَيَعِدُكُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ إِذَا مِتُّمۡ وَكُنتُمۡ تُرَابٗا وَعِظَٰمًا أَنَّكُم مُّخۡرَجُونَ ٣٥
Does he promise you that when you have died and become dust and bones that you will be brought forth [once more]?
“Does this man who claims to be a messenger promise you that when you die and become dust and decomposed bones, that you shall leave your graves alive? Is this even conceivable?!”
23:36Page 344
۞ هَيۡهَاتَ هَيۡهَاتَ لِمَا تُوعَدُونَ ٣٦
How far, how far, is that which you are promised.1
The promise you are being given in being taken out of your graves alive after you have died and turned into dust and decomposed bones, is very far from reality.
23:37Page 344
إِنۡ هِيَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا ٱلدُّنۡيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحۡيَا وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَبۡعُوثِينَ ٣٧
It [i.e., life] is not but our worldly life - we die and live, but we will not be resurrected.
The only life is the life of this world, not the afterlife. The living from among us die and are not revived, whilst others are born and live. We are not going to be taken out after we have died, to be taken to account on the Day of Judgment.
23:38Page 344
إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا رَجُلٌ ٱفۡتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبٗا وَمَا نَحۡنُ لَهُۥ بِمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٣٨
He is not but a man who has invented a lie about Allāh, and we will not believe him."
Hud, who claims he is a messenger, has only fabricated a lie unto Allah by this claim of his; we are not going to believe him.
23:39Page 344
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱنصُرۡنِي بِمَا كَذَّبُونِ ٣٩
He said, "My Lord, support me because they have denied me."
Hud said, “O my Lord! Help me against them and pay them back for their rejection and defiance!”
23:40Page 344
قَالَ عَمَّا قَلِيلٖ لَّيُصۡبِحُنَّ نَٰدِمِينَ ٤٠
[Allāh] said, "After a little, they will surely become regretful."
Allah responded to him, saying, “Very soon, these people who have rejected the message you have brought to them will regret their rejection.”
23:41Page 344
فَأَخَذَتۡهُمُ ٱلصَّيۡحَةُ بِٱلۡحَقِّ فَجَعَلۡنَٰهُمۡ غُثَآءٗۚ فَبُعۡدٗا لِّلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ ٤١
So the shriek1 seized them in truth,2 and We made them as [plant] stubble. Then away with the wrongdoing people.
So a severe scream, accompanied by a severe wind, took them by surprise, due to their deserving the punishment owing to their stubbornness. I destroyed them, leaving them like the froth of the flood. Woe be to the transgressing nation!
23:42Page 344
ثُمَّ أَنشَأۡنَا مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ قُرُونًا ءَاخَرِينَ ٤٢
Then We produced after them other generations.
Then, after destroying them, I created other peoples and nations, like the nation of Lot, Shu‘ayb and Jonah.
23:43Page 345
مَا تَسۡبِقُ مِنۡ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا يَسۡتَـٔۡخِرُونَ ٤٣
No nation will precede its time [of termination], nor will they remain [thereafter].
None of these rejecting nations will precede the time fixed for their destruction, nor will they be delayed from it, regardless of whatever means they have at their disposal.
23:44Page 345
ثُمَّ أَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا تَتۡرَاۖ كُلَّ مَا جَآءَ أُمَّةٗ رَّسُولُهَا كَذَّبُوهُۖ فَأَتۡبَعۡنَا بَعۡضَهُم بَعۡضٗا وَجَعَلۡنَٰهُمۡ أَحَادِيثَۚ فَبُعۡدٗا لِّقَوۡمٖ لَّا يُؤۡمِنُونَ ٤٤
Then We sent Our messengers in succession. Every time there came to a nation its messenger, they denied him, so We made them follow one another [to destruction], and We made them narrations.1 So away with a people who do not believe.
I then sent My messengers in succession, one after the other. Each time the Messenger came to his nation he was sent to they rejected him, so I successively destroyed them, leaving nothing except for the tales of people regarding them. So destruction be to the nation that does not believe in the message brought to it by a messenger sent to it!
23:45Page 345
ثُمَّ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مُوسَىٰ وَأَخَاهُ هَٰرُونَ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا وَسُلۡطَٰنٖ مُّبِينٍ ٤٥
Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron with Our signs and a clear authority1
I then sent Moses and his brother Aaron with nine of My signs: the Staff, the Hand, locusts, lice, frogs, blood, floods, drought and shortage of produce, and with clear proof.
23:46Page 345
إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَإِيْهِۦ فَٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ وَكَانُواْ قَوۡمًا عَالِينَ ٤٦
To Pharaoh and his establishment, but they were arrogant and were a haughty people.
I sent them both to Pharaoh and the noblemen of his people, but they displayed arrogance and did not submit to believing in them. They were a people who imposed themselves upon people by subduing and oppressing them.
23:47Page 345
فَقَالُوٓاْ أَنُؤۡمِنُ لِبَشَرَيۡنِ مِثۡلِنَا وَقَوۡمُهُمَا لَنَا عَٰبِدُونَ ٤٧
They said, "Should we believe two men like ourselves while their people are for us in servitude?"
So they said, “Should we believe two humans like us, who have no superiority over us and their tribe (the Israelites) are submissive and obedient to us?”
23:48Page 345
فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَكَانُواْ مِنَ ٱلۡمُهۡلَكِينَ ٤٨
So they denied them and were of those destroyed.
So they rejected whatever message they brought to them from Allah. And because of their rejection, they were destroyed by drowning.
23:49Page 345
وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا مُوسَى ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَهۡتَدُونَ ٤٩
And We certainly gave Moses the Scripture that perhaps they1 would be guided.
Verily, I gave Moses the Torah in the hope that his people would be guided to the truth through it and implement its teachings.
23:50Page 345
وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱبۡنَ مَرۡيَمَ وَأُمَّهُۥٓ ءَايَةٗ وَءَاوَيۡنَٰهُمَآ إِلَىٰ رَبۡوَةٖ ذَاتِ قَرَارٖ وَمَعِينٖ ٥٠
And We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign and sheltered them within a high ground having level [areas] and flowing water.
I also made Jesus and his mother Mary signs indicating My capability; she conceived him without a father. I granted them shelter in an elevated place on earth, an even, habitable place which had fresh flowing water.
23:51Page 345
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرُّسُلُ كُلُواْ مِنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ وَٱعۡمَلُواْ صَٰلِحًاۖ إِنِّي بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ عَلِيمٞ ٥١
[Allāh said], "O messengers, eat from the good foods and work righteousness. Indeed I, of what you do, am Knowing.
O Messengers! Eat from the appealing food that I have made lawful for you, and perform good deeds in accordance to the laws of Allah. Indeed, I am ever aware of every action of yours; none of your actions are hidden from Me.
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وَإِنَّ هَٰذِهِۦٓ أُمَّتُكُمۡ أُمَّةٗ وَٰحِدَةٗ وَأَنَا۠ رَبُّكُمۡ فَٱتَّقُونِ ٥٢
And indeed this, your religion, is one religion,1 and I am your Lord, so fear Me."
O Messengers! Indeed, your creed is one creed: it is Islam. And I am your Lord, you do not have a Lord other than Me, so be mindful of Me by fulfilling My commands and refraining from My prohibitions.
23:53Page 345
فَتَقَطَّعُوٓاْ أَمۡرَهُم بَيۡنَهُمۡ زُبُرٗاۖ كُلُّ حِزۡبِۭ بِمَا لَدَيۡهِمۡ فَرِحُونَ ٥٣
But they [i.e., the people] divided their religion among them into portions [i.e., sects] - each faction, in what it has,1 rejoicing.
After they passed away, their followers were divided in religion and became sects and groups, with each group conceited in believing that whatever it believed in was the true acceptable religion according to Allah, disregarding the views of anyone else.
23:54Page 345
فَذَرۡهُمۡ فِي غَمۡرَتِهِمۡ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ ٥٤
So leave them in their confusion for a time.
O Messenger! Leave them in the ignorance and confusion they are in, until the punishment descends upon them.
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أَيَحۡسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُم بِهِۦ مِن مَّالٖ وَبَنِينَ ٥٥
Do they think that what We extend to them of wealth and children
نُسَارِعُ لَهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡخَيۡرَٰتِۚ بَل لَّا يَشۡعُرُونَ ٥٦
Is [because] We hasten for them good things? Rather, they do not perceive.1
Do these self-conceited groups think that whatever wealth and offspring we bestow them with in the world, is a prelude of good they deserve? It is not as they think; I am only giving it to them as respite, gradually leading them into destruction, but they do not realise it.
23:57Page 345
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ هُم مِّنۡ خَشۡيَةِ رَبِّهِم مُّشۡفِقُونَ ٥٧
Indeed, they who are apprehensive from fear of their Lord
Indeed, those who, despite their belief and good, are fearful of their Lord.
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وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِـَٔايَٰتِ رَبِّهِمۡ يُؤۡمِنُونَ ٥٨
And they who believe in the signs of their Lord
And those who believe in the universal and religious signs of their Lord.
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وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِرَبِّهِمۡ لَا يُشۡرِكُونَ ٥٩
And they who do not associate anything with their Lord
And those who proclaim the oneness of their Lord, without ascribing anything to Him as partner.
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وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡتُونَ مَآ ءَاتَواْ وَّقُلُوبُهُمۡ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّهُمۡ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمۡ رَٰجِعُونَ ٦٠
And they who give what they give while their hearts are fearful1 because they will be returning to their Lord -
Those who strive in doing righteous deeds and draw closer to Allah through them, whilst fearing that He may not accept their spending in His path, or good deeds when they return to Him on the Day of Judgment.
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أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ يُسَٰرِعُونَ فِي ٱلۡخَيۡرَٰتِ وَهُمۡ لَهَا سَٰبِقُونَ ٦١
It is those who hasten to good deeds, and they outstrip [others] therein.
Those possessing these lofty characteristics hasten towards good deeds, and beat others in performing them. That is why they surpass everyone else.
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وَلَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۚ وَلَدَيۡنَا كِتَٰبٞ يَنطِقُ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ ٦٢
And We charge no soul except [with that within] its capacity, and with Us is a record which speaks with truth; and they will not be wronged.
I do not burden any soul except with whatever actions are within its capability. I have a book in which I have recorded all the deeds of every doer; it shows the undisputable truth. The people will not be wronged by having their good deeds decreased or evil deeds increased.
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بَلۡ قُلُوبُهُمۡ فِي غَمۡرَةٖ مِّنۡ هَٰذَا وَلَهُمۡ أَعۡمَٰلٞ مِّن دُونِ ذَٰلِكَ هُمۡ لَهَا عَٰمِلُونَ ٦٣
But their hearts are covered with confusion over this, and they have [evil] deeds besides that [i.e., disbelief] which they are doing,
Rather, the hearts of the disbelievers are neglectful of this book that contains the truth, and of the book that was revealed to them. They also commit evil actions other than the disbelief that they are insistent on.
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حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَخَذۡنَا مُتۡرَفِيهِم بِٱلۡعَذَابِ إِذَا هُمۡ يَجۡـَٔرُونَ ٦٤
Until when We seize their affluent ones with punishment,1 at once they are crying [to Allāh] for help.
Until when I punish those among them who lived in luxury in the world with the punishment on the Day of Judgment, they shall raise their voices calling out for help.
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لَا تَجۡـَٔرُواْ ٱلۡيَوۡمَۖ إِنَّكُم مِّنَّا لَا تُنصَرُونَ ٦٥
Do not cry out today. Indeed, by Us you will not be helped.
It will be said to them, depriving them of all hope in the mercy of Allah, “Do not scream and do not call for help today! There is no helper for you today who can help you against the punishment of Allah.
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قَدۡ كَانَتۡ ءَايَٰتِي تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فَكُنتُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَعۡقَٰبِكُمۡ تَنكِصُونَ ٦٦
My verses had already been recited to you, but you were turning back on your heels
Verily, the verses of Allah would be recited to you in the world, but you would turn away from them when you heard them, in hatred for them.
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مُسۡتَكۡبِرِينَ بِهِۦ سَٰمِرٗا تَهۡجُرُونَ ٦٧
In arrogance regarding it,1 conversing by night, speaking evil.
You did that displaying arrogance over the people, because you thought you were the people of the sanctuary while you were not; the true people of the sanctuary are the Mindful. You also talked ill of it by night and would not deem it sacred.
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أَفَلَمۡ يَدَّبَّرُواْ ٱلۡقَوۡلَ أَمۡ جَآءَهُم مَّا لَمۡ يَأۡتِ ءَابَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ٦٨
Then have they not reflected over the word [i.e., the Qur’ān], or has there come to them that which had not come to their forefathers?
Will these idolaters not ponder over the Qur’ān Allah has revealed, bring faith in it and implement its teachings? Or is it that something has come to them which did not come to their predecessors, so they turned away from it and rejected it?
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أَمۡ لَمۡ يَعۡرِفُواْ رَسُولَهُمۡ فَهُمۡ لَهُۥ مُنكِرُونَ ٦٩
Or did they not know their Messenger, so they are toward him disacknowledging?
Or is it that they do not recognise Muhammad peace be upon him whom Allah has sent to them, and so they reject him? Verily, they recognise him, his truthfulness and his honesty.
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أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ بِهِۦ جِنَّةُۢۚ بَلۡ جَآءَهُم بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَكۡثَرُهُمۡ لِلۡحَقِّ كَٰرِهُونَ ٧٠
Or do they say, "In him is madness"? Rather, he brought them the truth, but most of them, to the truth, are averse.
Rather, do they say, “He is insane!”? Surely, they have lied. Rather, the truth has come to them, undisputably from Allah. The majority of them dislike the truth, hating it due to the jealousy within themselves and fanaticism over their falsehood.
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وَلَوِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلۡحَقُّ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ لَفَسَدَتِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ وَٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّۚ بَلۡ أَتَيۡنَٰهُم بِذِكۡرِهِمۡ فَهُمۡ عَن ذِكۡرِهِم مُّعۡرِضُونَ ٧١
But if the Truth [i.e., Allāh] had followed their inclinations, the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them would have been ruined. Rather, We have brought them their message,1 but they, from their message, are turning away.
If Allah was to have let matters run and arrange them in accordance to their desires, the heavens, earth and all their inhabitants would fall into ruin due to their ignorance of the outcome of matters, and their inability to differentiate between good and bad plans.
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أَمۡ تَسۡـَٔلُهُمۡ خَرۡجٗا فَخَرَاجُ رَبِّكَ خَيۡرٞۖ وَهُوَ خَيۡرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ ٧٢
Or do you, [O Muḥammad], ask them for payment? But the reward of your Lord is best, and He is the best of providers.
O Messenger! Have you asked for a fee from these people for what you brought to them, which has made them reject your call? You have not done as such; the reward of your Lord is far better than the reward any of these people can give. He, may He be glorified, is the best of providers.
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وَإِنَّكَ لَتَدۡعُوهُمۡ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ٧٣
And indeed, you invite them to a straight path.
O Messenger! Indeed, you call these people and others towards a straight path which has no deviation: it is the path of Islam.
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وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ عَنِ ٱلصِّرَٰطِ لَنَٰكِبُونَ ٧٤
But indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter are deviating from the path.
And indeed those who do not believe in the Hearafter; accountability, punishment and reward, incline towards other paths which lead to the hellfire.
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۞ وَلَوۡ رَحِمۡنَٰهُمۡ وَكَشَفۡنَا مَا بِهِم مِّن ضُرّٖ لَّلَجُّواْ فِي طُغۡيَٰنِهِمۡ يَعۡمَهُونَ ٧٥
And even if We gave them mercy and removed what was upon them of affliction, they would persist in their transgression, wandering blindly.
If I were to have mercy on them and lift their famine and hunger, they would continue being misguided from the truth, being confused and stumbling.
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وَلَقَدۡ أَخَذۡنَٰهُم بِٱلۡعَذَابِ فَمَا ٱسۡتَكَانُواْ لِرَبِّهِمۡ وَمَا يَتَضَرَّعُونَ ٧٦
And We had gripped them with suffering [as a warning], but they did not yield to their Lord, nor did they humbly supplicate, [and will continue thus]
I tested them through different afflictions, but neither did they humble before their Lord or submit to Him nor did they pray to Him submissively so that He lifts the afflictions from them when they befall.
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حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَتَحۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم بَابٗا ذَا عَذَابٖ شَدِيدٍ إِذَا هُمۡ فِيهِ مُبۡلِسُونَ ٧٧
Until when We have opened before them a door of severe punishment, immediately they will be therein in despair.
Until when I opened a door of severe punishment on them, they became hopeless of every ease and good.
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وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَنشَأَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَۚ قَلِيلٗا مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ ٧٨
And it is He who produced for you hearing and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect]; little are you grateful.
O deniers of the resurrection, Allah is the One Who created for you hearing to listen with, vision to see with, and hearts to ponder with, but despite that, you do not thank Him for these favours except a little.
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وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِي ذَرَأَكُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ ٧٩
And it is He who has multiplied you throughout the earth, and to Him you will be gathered.
O people, it is He Who created you on earth, and to Him alone you will be raised for reckoning and reward on the Day of Judgment.
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وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِي يُحۡيِۦ وَيُمِيتُ وَلَهُ ٱخۡتِلَٰفُ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ ٨٠
And it is He who gives life and causes death, and His is the alternation of the night and the day. Then will you not reason?
And it is He alone Who gives life; there is nobody who gives life besides Him. And it is He alone Who gives death; there is nobody who gives death besides Him. To Him alone belongs fixing the difference of night and day, in terms of darkness and light, and length and shortness. Do you not understand His power and His being alone in creating and managing?
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بَلۡ قَالُواْ مِثۡلَ مَا قَالَ ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ ٨١
Rather,1 they say like what the former peoples said.
But they said what their forefathers and predecessors in disbelief said.
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قَالُوٓاْ أَءِذَا مِتۡنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابٗا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبۡعُوثُونَ ٨٢
They said, "When we have died and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?
They said, unbelievingly and denyingly: “When we die and turn into dust and decomposed bones, will we be raised alive to be reckoned?
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لَقَدۡ وُعِدۡنَا نَحۡنُ وَءَابَآؤُنَا هَٰذَا مِن قَبۡلُ إِنۡ هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ٨٣
We have been promised this, we and our forefathers, before; this is not but legends of the former peoples."
We were promised this, i.e. resurrection after death, and so were our predecessors promised this before, but we did not see this promise fulfilled. These are only the false tales and lies of the previous people”.
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قُل لِّمَنِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَمَن فِيهَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ ٨٤
Say, [O Muḥammad], "To whom belongs the earth and whoever is in it, if you should know?"
O Messenger, say to these disbelievers who deny the resurrection: “Who does this earth and those on it belong to, if you have any knowledge?”
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سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِۚ قُلۡ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ٨٥
They will say, "To Allāh." Say, "Then will you not remember?"
They will say: “The earth and all upon it belong to Allah”, so say to them: “Do you not then remember that the One to Whom belong the earth and all upon it has the power to restore you to life after you die?”
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قُلۡ مَن رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ ٱلسَّبۡعِ وَرَبُّ ٱلۡعَرۡشِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٨٦
Say, "Who is Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the Great Throne?"
Say to them: “Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and who is the Lord of the Great Throne, besides which there is no bigger creation?”
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سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِۚ قُلۡ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ ٨٧
They will say, "[They belong] to Allāh." Say, "Then will you not fear Him?"
They will say: “The seven heavens and the Great Throne are the property of Allah”, so say to them: “Will you not then by mindful of Allah by carrying out His orders and refraining from His prohibitions, so that you are saved from His punishment?”
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قُلۡ مَنۢ بِيَدِهِۦ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ وَهُوَ يُجِيرُ وَلَا يُجَارُ عَلَيۡهِ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ ٨٨
Say, "In whose hand is the realm of all things - and He protects while none can protect against Him - if you should know?"
Say to them: “Who is the One in whose hand is the realm of everything, with nothing escaping His realm, Who helps whom He wants from His servants, with nobody being able to protect whom He intends bad for so as to remove punishment from Him, if you have any knowledge?”
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سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِۚ قُلۡ فَأَنَّىٰ تُسۡحَرُونَ ٨٩
They will say, "[All belongs] to Allāh." Say, "Then how are you deluded?"
They will say: “In Allah's hands belong all things”, so say to them: “So how do you lose your senses and worship others besides Him, whilst you profess to that?”
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بَلۡ أَتَيۡنَٰهُم بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَإِنَّهُمۡ لَكَٰذِبُونَ ٩٠
Rather, We have brought them the truth, and indeed they are liars.
The matter is not as they claim. But rather, I have brought them the truth in which there is no doubt. They are lying in their claiming a partner and child for Allah. Allah is far above what they say.
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مَا ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِن وَلَدٖ وَمَا كَانَ مَعَهُۥ مِنۡ إِلَٰهٍۚ إِذٗا لَّذَهَبَ كُلُّ إِلَٰهِۭ بِمَا خَلَقَ وَلَعَلَا بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖۚ سُبۡحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ ٩١
Allāh has not taken any son, nor has there ever been with Him any deity. [If there had been], then each deity would have taken what it created, and some of them would have [sought to] overcome others. Exalted is Allāh above what they describe [concerning Him].
Allah has not taken a child as the disbelievers claim, nor is there any true deity alongside Him. If there were to be any true deity alongside Him, every deity would take his share of the creation he made and they would dominate one another, causing the order of the Universe to become corrupt. The reality is that none of this has occurred, proving that the true deity is Allah alone. He is pure and holy of what the idolaters describe Him with, namely partners and children which are unbefitting for Him.
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عَٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّهَٰدَةِ فَتَعَٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ ٩٢
[He is] Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, so high is He above what they associate [with Him].
He is Knowing of everything hidden from His creation and Knowing of everything which can be seen and perceived through the senses. None of this is hidden from Him. Allah is above having a partner.
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قُل رَّبِّ إِمَّا تُرِيَنِّي مَا يُوعَدُونَ ٩٣
Say, [O Muḥammad], "My Lord, if You should show me that which they are promised,
O Messenger, say: “O Lord, if you show me regarding these idolaters the punishment You have promised them.
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رَبِّ فَلَا تَجۡعَلۡنِي فِي ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ ٩٤
My Lord, then do not place me among the wrongdoing people."
O Lord, if You punish them and I am witnessing that, do not make me amongst them so that I would be afflicted with the punishment that afflicts them”.
23:95Page 348
وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّرِيَكَ مَا نَعِدُهُمۡ لَقَٰدِرُونَ ٩٥
And indeed, We are Able to show you what We have promised them.
I have power to make you witness and see the punishment I am promising them. I am not powerless to do this or anything else.
Text: Quranic Universal Library (Tarteel), via spa5k/tafsir_api (MIT), at a fixed version. The ayahs: Quran Foundation. Sources and licences