Al-Baqarah 2:120–174

(And Jews) The Jews of Medina (will not be pleased with thee, nor will Christians) the Christians of Najran, (till thou follow their creed) their religion and direction of prayer. (Say) O Muhammad! (Lo! The guidance of Allah is Guidance) the Religion of Allah is Islam and Allah's direction of prayer is the Ka'bah. (And if thou shouldst follow their desires) their religion and direction of prayer (after the knowledge which hath come unto thee) that the Religion of Allah is Islam and His direction of prayer is the Ka'bah, (then wouldst thou have from Allah) from His chastisement (no protecting friend) no one to benefit you (nor helper) to save you from this chastisement.

Allah then mentioned the believers from among the people of the Book: 'Abdullah Ibn Salam and his companions, Bahirah the Monk and the Negus and his followers, saying: (Those unto whom We have given the Scripture) given knowledge of the Scripture, i.e. the Torah, (who read it with the right reading) describe it as it is and do not alter it: expositing what is lawful and unlawful, its commands and prohibitions to whomever asks them, and they further act according to what is clear and unambiguous and believe in that which is ambiguous therein, (those believe in it) in Muhammad and the Qur'an. (And who disbelieveth in it) in Muhammad and the Qur'an, (those are they who are losers) who are duped in that they lose both this world and the world to come.

Allah then mentions His favour upon the Children of Israel, saying: (O Children of Israel!) O Children of Jacob (Remember) recollect (My favour wherewith I favoured you) favoured your forefathers by delivering them from Pharaoh and his people as well as by the blessings and bounties that I favoured them with (and how I preferred you) with Islam (to the worlds) the people of your time.

(And guard against a day) fear the torment of a day, i.e. the Day of Judgement (when no soul will in anything avail another) no unbelieving soul will be able to drive away anything from another unbelieving soul; it is also said that this means: no righteous soul will be able to drive away anything from another righteous soul; and it is said that this means: no father will be able to drive away anything from his son and no son will be able to drive away Allah's punishment from his father, (nor will compensation be accepted from it) no ransom will be accepted, (nor will intercession be of use to it) no intercessor will intercede for it: not a close angel, a sent messenger or a righteous servant; (nor will they be helped) will be prevented from what they will face.

Allah then mentioned His favour upon Abraham, His close friend, saying: (And when his Lord tried Abraham with some words) He commanded him to fulfil ten traits: five in relation to his head and five to his body, (and he fulfilled them) he complied. It is also said that (And when his Lord tried Abraham with some words) means: with every single word he prayed to Allah, (He said) to him: (Lo! I have appointed you a leader for mankind) a vicegerent that people may emulate you. (He) Abraham (said: And of my offspring) make of my offspring vicegerents that people would emulate? (He) Allah (said: My covenant) with you and My promise to you and the honour and mercy I bestowed upon you (includeth not wrong-doers) from among your offspring; it is also said that this means: My covenant will not include the wrong-doers in the Hereafter but it will include them in this life.

Allah then commanded people to emulate him, saying: (And when We made the House a resort) a place to turn to (for mankind) whereby they can turn and long for (and a sanctuary) for whoever enters it: (Take) it, O community of Muhammad! (as your place of worship the place where Abraham stood (to pray)) a place whereby you turn in prayer. (And We imposed a duty upon) commanded (Abraham and Ishmael: Purify My house) from idols (for those who go around and those who meditate therein) those who live there (and those who bow down and prostrate themselves) those who perform the five daily prayers, regardless of their country of origin.

(And when Abraham prayed: My Lord! Make this a region of security) free of perturbation (and bestow upon its people fruits) different kinds of fruit, (such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day) in resurrection after death, (He) Allah (answered: As for him who disbelieveth) as well, (I shall leave him in contentment for a while) I shall provide for him a little in this life, (then I shall compel him) force him (to the doom of fire, a hapless journey's end!) to which he shall come.

(And when Abraham and Ishmael were raising the foundation of the House) built the foundation of the House and Ishmael was helping him and when they finished, they prayed: (Our Lord!) O our Lord! (Accept from us) the building of Your house. (Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Hearer) of our prayer, (the Knower) of the answer to this prayer; it is also said that this means: the Knower of our intention in building Your house.

(Our Lord!) O our Lord! (And make us submissive) obedient and sincere (unto Thee) by not ascribing any partners to you and through worshipping You (and of our seed a nation submissive) obedient and sincere (unto Thee) by not ascribing any partners to you and through worshipping You, (and show us our rites) teach us the rites of our pilgrimage, (and relent towards us) overlook our shortcomings. (Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Relenting) You who overlooks shortcomings, (the Merciful) towards the believers.

(Our Lord!) O our Lord (And raise up in their midst) the offspring of Ishmael (a Messenger from among them) from their own lineage (who shall recite unto them Your revelations) the Qur'an, (and shall instruct them in the Scripture) the Qur'an (and in wisdom) the lawful and the prohibited (and shall make them pure) from sins through the declaration of the Oneness of God. (Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Mighty) Who is vengeful against whosoever does not answer Your Messenger whom You sent to them, (the Wise) in sending the Messenger. And Allah answered his prayers and sent unto them Muhammad (pbuh); and these are the words with which Allah tried him, and he fulfilled them by asking Allah for them in his prayer.

(And who forsaketh the religion of Abraham) renounces the Religion of Abraham and his practices (save him who befooleth himself?) has ruined himself, lost his mind or is foolish? (Verily We chose him) i.e. Abraham (in the world) by taking him as a friend; as it is said this means: We have chosen him in this world by bestowing upon him prophethood, Islam and goodly offspring, (and lo! In the Hereafter he is among the righteous ones) with his forefathers, the messengers, in Paradise.

(When his Lord said unto him) when he came out of the pit of fire: (Surrender) say specifically: there is no god save Allah! (He said: I have surrendered to the Lord of the Worlds) I submit to the Lord of all the worlds, and declare that Allah is the only One God, without partner. It is also said that when Abraham invited his people to accept that Allah is One without partners, his Lord said unto him: make your Religion and works sincere to Allah; and he answered: I make my Religion and works sincere to the Lord of the worlds. And it is also said that when Abraham was thrown in the Fire, his Lord said unto him: make your religion and works sincere to Allah; he replied: I comply and make my Religion and works sincere to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

(The same did Abraham enjoin) enjoined that there is no god except Allah (upon his sons) when he was dying, (and also Jacob) he also enjoined his children with the same: (O my sons! Lo! Allah hath chosen for you the (true) religion) the Religion of Islam; (therefore die not save as men who have surrendered) hold fast to Islam until you die as Muslims, sincere to Him in your worship and in your declaration of divine Oneness.

Then Allah mentioned the dispute among the Jews concerning the religion of Abraham, saying: (Or were ye witnesses) or were you, O assembly of Jews, present (when death came to Jacob) regarding what he enjoined his children, i.e. whether he enjoined them to follow Judaism or Islam, (when he said unto his sons: What will ye worship after me?) after I die? (They said: We shall worship thy God) we worship, (the God of your fathers, Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac, one God) i.e. we worship one God, (and unto Him we have surrendered) we acknowledge to worship Him and declare that there is only one true God.

(Those are the people) a group of people (who have passed away) perished. (Theirs is that which they earned) of goodness (and yours is that which ye earn) of goodness. (And ye will not be asked) on the Day of Judgement (of what they used to do) or say.

Allah mentioned after this the dispute of the Jews and Christians with the believers, saying: (And they say) i.e. the Jews: (Be Jews) you shall be guided from error (or Christians) and the Christians also say the same, (then ye will be rightly guided. Say) to them, O Muhammad: it is not as you claim: (Nay, but the religion of Abraham, the upright) the Muslim; rather follow the religion of Abraham, the upright, the Muslim, the sincere-only then you will be guided, (and he was not of the idolaters) i.e. he did not follow the religion of the Jews or Christians.

Then He taught the believers the path of divine Oneness so that the Jews and Christians had an indication of what this divine Oneness means, saying: (Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us) i.e. in Muhammad and the Qur'an (and that which was revealed unto Abraham) i.e. we believe in Abraham and his Scripture, (and Ishmael) and we believe in Ishmael and his Scripture, (and Isaac) and in Isaac and his Scripture, (and Jacob) and in Jacob and his Scripture, (and the tribes) and in the sons of Jacob and their Scriptures, (and that which Moses and Jesus received) i.e. we believe in Moses and the Torah and in Jesus and the Gospel, (and that which the Prophets received) we also believe in all the prophets and their Scriptures (from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them) that Allah sent them as prophets to teach divine Oneness, (and unto Him we have surrendered) we acknowledge that we worship Him and declare that there is only one true God.

(And if they) i.e. the people of the Book (believe in the like of that which you believe) in all the prophets and their Scriptures (then are they right guided) from error by following the religion of Muhammad and Abraham. (But if they turn away) refuse to believe in all the prophets and their Scriptures, (then are they in schism) in conflict with the true religion, (and Allah will suffice thee (for defence) against them) Allah will lift their burden from you, by killing and expelling them. (And He is the Hearer) of what they say, (the Knower) of their punishment.

((We take our) colour from Allah) i.e. follow the Religion of Allah, (and who is better than Allah at colouring) better than the Religion of Allah. (And We are His worshippers) say: we are monotheists and acknowledge that we worship Him and declare that there is only one true God.

(Say), O Muhammad, ((unto the People of the Scripture) dispute ye with us) do you argue with us (concerning Allah) concerning the Religion of Allah (when He is our Lord and your Lord?) when Allah is our Lord and yours? (Ours are our works) we have our religion (and yours your work) your religion. (And we are sincere (in our faith) in Him) we acknowledge that we worship Him and declare that there is only one true God.

(Or say ye) O Jews and Christians (that Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac and Jacob, and the tribes) the children of Jacob (were Jews or Christians) as you claim? (Say) to them, O Muhammad! (Do ye know best, or doth Allah?) do you know best about their religion or does Allah? Allah has already informed us that Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian. (And who is more unjust) in his disbelief and more insolent and daring vis-�-vis Allah (than he who hideth a testimony which he hath received from Allah) in the Torah concerning the prophethood of this Prophet (pbuh)? (Allah is not unaware) heedless (of what ye do) about concealing your testimony.

(Those are a people) a group of people (who have passed away) perished; (theirs is that which they earned) of goodness (and yours is that which ye earn) of goodness. (And ye will not be asked) on the Day of Judgement (of what they used to do) in this world.

(The foolish of the people) the ignorant among the Jews and Arab idolaters (will say: What hath turned them) made them change (from the Qiblah which they formerly observed) except that they want to revert to the religion of their ancestors; it is also said that this means: there was no reason to turn from the direction in which they prayed, i.e. Jerusalem? (Say) O Muhammad! (unto Allah belong the East) praying to the Ka'bah (and the West) the prayer that you prayed in the direction of Jerusalem-both are with Allah's command. (He guideth whom He will unto a straight path) He confirms whom He wills on a straight Religion and direction of prayer.

(Thus) i.e. just as we have honoured you with the Religion of Abraham (Islam) and his direction of prayer (We have appointed you a middle nation) a middlemost community, (that you be witnesses) for the prophets (over mankind, and that the Messenger) Muhammad (pbuh) (may be a witness over you) that you are upright and follow the straight path. (And We appointed) changed (the Qiblah which ye formerly observed) prayed towards for a period of 19 months (only that We might know) see and distinguish (him who followeth the Messenger) concerning the Qiblah, (from him who turneth) reverts (on his heels) to his former religion and direction of prayer. (In truth it) the changing of the Qiblah (was a hard (test) save for those whom Allah guided) whose hearts Allah had protected. (But it was not Allah's purpose that your faith should be in vain) that He thwarts your faith as it was prior to the abrogation of legal rulings; and it is also said that this means: it is not Allah's purpose to thwart your faith but rather His purpose is to abrogate the legal rulings which conduct your faith; and it is also said that this means: Allah did not thwart your prayers towards Jerusalem but He has abrogated the ruling which required you to pray towards Jerusalem, (for Allah is full of pity, Merciful) in that He does not thwart your faith as it was before the abrogation of legal rulings (towards mankind) towards the believers.

Allah then mentions the supplication of His Prophet regarding the changing of the Qiblah towards Mecca, saying: (We have seen the turning of thy face to heaven (for guidance, O Muhammad)) turning your sight to heaven in anticipation of Gabriel coming down to announce the change of the Qiblah. (And now surely We shall make thee turn (in prayer) toward a Qiblah that is dear to thee) that you like, namely, the Qiblah of Abraham. (So turn thy face) when in prayer (towards the Inviolable Place of Worship, and ye (O Muslims), wheresoever ye may be) whether on land or in the sea, (turn your faces (when ye pray)) in prayer (towards it. (Lo! Those who have received the Scripture know that) the Sacred Precinct (is the Truth from their Lord) is the Qiblah of Abraham but they conceal this fact. (And Allah is not unaware) heedless (of what they do) of what they conceal.

(And even if thou broughtest unto those who have received the Scripture all kinds of portents) all the signs they asked of you, (they would not follow your Qiblah) they would not pray towards your Qiblah nor embrace your Religion, (nor canst thou be a follower of their Qiblah) nor can you pray towards the Qiblah of the Jews or Christians; (nor are some of them followers of others) nor are some of them going to pray towards the Qiblah of the Jews and Christians. (And if thou shouldst follow their desires) after being warned and pray towards their Qiblah (after the knowledge which hath come unto you) that the Sacred Precinct is the Qiblah of Abraham, (then surely) if you do that then surely (wert thou of the evil-doers) who harm themselves.

Then Allah mentions the believers of the people of the Book, saying: (Those unto whom We gave the Scripture) gave the knowledge of the Torah, 'Abdullah ibn Salam and his followers (recognise) know Muhammad (pbuh) with his description and traits (as they recognise their children) in the midst of other children. (But lo! A party of them) of the people of the Book (knowingly) knowing it to exist in their Book (conceal the Truth) conceal the description and traits of Muhammad (pbuh).

(It is the Truth from thy Lord (O Muhammad)) that you are a Prophet sent by Allah. (So be not thou of those who waver) who doubt whether they know or not.

(And each one hath a goal) to each adherent of a religion a Qiblah (towards which he turneth) he faces according to his own whim; it is also said that this means: to each prophet a Qiblah, which is the Ka'bah, towards which he is ordered to face; (so vie with one another in good works) so hasten, O community of Muhammad, to perform acts of obedience more than any other nation. (Wheresoever you may be) on land or at sea, (Allah will bring you all together) gather you together and reward you for the good works you performed. (Lo! Allah is Able to do all things) like gathering you together as well as other things.

(And whencesoever you comest forth (for prayer, O Muhammad) turn thy face) in prayer (towards the Inviolable Place of Worship; Lo! It) the Inviolable Place of Worship (is the Truth from your Lord) it is the Qiblah of Abraham, Allah bless him. (And Allah is not unaware) heedless (of what ye do) of what you conceal about the Qiblah of Abraham and other things.

(Whencesoever thou comest forth) you are to (turn thy face) in prayer (towards the Inviolable Place of Worship; and wheresoever ye may be (O Muslims)) on land or at sea (turn your faces) in prayer (towards it (when ye pray) so that men) 'Abdullah Ibn Salam and his Companions (may have no argument against you) regarding the changing of the Qiblah because in their Scripture the Inviolable Place of Worship was the Qiblah of Abraham; therefore if you pray towards it, they will have no argument against you, (save such of them as do injustice) nor would those who transgressed with their words have any argument against you, and these included Ka'b Ibn Ashraf and the Arab idolaters (-Fear them not) regarding the changing of the Qiblah, (but fear Me) in leaving the old Qiblah (-so that I may complete My grace upon you) by giving you a Qiblah just as I have completed for you your Religion, (and that you be guided) to the Qiblah of Abraham.

(Even as We have sent unto you a Messenger) remember Me as I have sent a Messenger (from among you) from your own lineage, (who reciteth unto you Our revelations) i.e. the Qur'an: its commands and prohibitions (and causeth you to grow) cleanses you of sin through divine Oneness, the poor-due, and alms, (and teacheth you the Scripture) the Qur'an (and wisdom) the lawful and the prohibited, (and teacheth you) of legal rulings, legal punishments and stories of bygone nations (that which ye knew not) before the revelation of the Qur'an and the advent of Muhammad (pbuh).

(Therefore remember Me) through the performance of acts of obedience, (I will remember you) by granting you Paradise; and it is also said that this means: remember Me in time of ease, I will remember you in times of hardship. (Give thanks to Me) for the blessings I bestowed upon you, (and reject not Me) do not stop giving thanks for these blessings.

(O ye who believe! Seek help in steadfastness) to fulfil the obligations of Allah and to abstain from contraventions and shameful works (and prayer) and with abundant supererogatory prayers at night and during the day in order to come clean from sin. (Lo! Allah is with the steadfast) He helps, and protects the steadfast from shameful works.

Allah thereafter mentions the saying of the hypocrites apropos the martyrs of Badr, Uhud and all the other battles: " So-and-so has died and lost all comfort and happiness " , this in order to aggravate sincere believers, and so Allah says: (And call not those who are slain in the way of Allah) in obedience of Allah, on the Day of Badr or in any other battle ( " dead " ) like any other dead people. (Nay they are living) they are rather living like those living in Paradise, being provided with comfort and bounties, (only ye perceive not) you are not aware of the honour bestowed upon them or of their real state.

Then He mentioned His trial to the believer, saying: (And surely We shall try you) test you (with something of fear) fear of the enemy (and hunger) in the years of drought, (and loss of wealth and lives) through killing, death and illnesses (and crops) and the loss of crops;

but then He said: (but give) O Muhammad (glad tidings to the steadfast, who say, when a misfortune) like the ones I have mentioned (striketh them: lo! We are Allah's) we are the slaves of Allah (and lo! Unto Him we are returning) after we die; and if we are not pleased with His decree, He will not be pleased with our works.

(Such) those who have these traits (are they on whom are blessings) forgiveness (from their Lord) in this world, (and mercy) in that they are not tormented in the Hereafter. (And such are they who are rightly guided) to remember that we are Allah's and unto Him we shall return.

Allah then mentions the believers' dislike of going between al-Safa and al-Marwah in front of the idols which were placed there, saying: (Lo! Al-Safa and al-Marwah) going around al-Safa and al-Marwah (are among the rites of Allah) among the rites of pilgrimage that Allah, Exalted is He, has commanded. (It is therefore no sin) one commits no transgression (for him who is on pilgrimage to the House or visiteth it, to go around them (as the pagan custom is). And he who doeth good of his own accord) and whoever performs extra works other than this obligation of going between al-Safa and al-Marwah, (Lo! Allah is Responsive) accepts such works, (Aware) of your intentions; it is also said that this means: Allah accepts the smallest of your works and His reward is abundant.

(Those who hide the proofs) the commands, prohibitions and the signs mentioned in the Torah (and the guidance) i.e. the description given there of Muhammad (pbuh) and his feature (which We revealed) exposited, (after We had made it clear) to the Children of Israel (in the Scripture) in the Torah: (such are accursed of Allah) Allah will torment them in the grave (and are accursed of those who have the power to curse) all created beings, save human beings and jinn, will curse them upon hearing their screams from the grave.

(Except such of them as repent) from Judaism (and amend) worship Allah alone without ascribing to Him any partners (and make manifest) the traits and description of Muhammad. (These it is towards whom I relent) overlook their past transgressions. (I am the Relenting) towards those who repent, (the Merciful) towards him who dies in a state of repentance.

(Lo! Those who disbelieve, and die while they are disbelievers) in Allah and His Messenger; (on them is the curse of Allah) the torment of Allah (and of the angels) the curse of the angels (and of men combined) the curses directed by believers towards each other will end up as curses on these unbelievers.

(They ever dwell therein) i.e. in this curse. (The doom will not be lightened for them) it will not be lifted or reduced, (neither will they be reprieved) their torment will not be deferred.

Allah then declares His Oneness because the unbelievers denied this divine Oneness, saying: (Your God is one God) without son or partner; (there is no God save Him, the Beneficent) the Tender, (the Merciful) the Compassionate.

Then He mentioned the sign of His divine Oneness, saying: (Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth) i.e. in their making; or as it is said: in the making of what is in them, (and the difference of night and day) in the alternation of night and day, and in the increase and decrease of their duration, (and the ships which run upon the sea with that which is of use to men) in their livelihoods, (and the water) rain (which Allah sendeth down from the sky, thereby reviving) through rain (the earth after its death) after suffering by drought and being dried up, (and dispersing) creating (all kinds of beasts) male and female (therein, and the ordinance of the winds) in changing the direction of the wind towards the right and towards the left, coming sometimes from the East and sometimes from the West, sometimes carrying torment and sometimes mercy: (and the clouds obedient) subservient (between heaven and earth) He says: in all these (are signs) indications of the Lord's divine Oneness (for people who have sense) who believe that they are from Allah.

Allah mentions after this the unbelievers' love for their objects of worship in this world, and how they disown each other in the Hereafter, saying: (Yet of mankind) i.e. the unbelievers (are some who take unto themselves) who worship (rivals to Allah) idols, (loving them with a love like (that which is the due) of Allah) like the love that sincere believers have for Allah (-Those who believe are stauncher) more lasting (in their love for Allah) than are the unbelievers vis-�-vis their idols; it is also said that this verse was revealed about the hypocrites who buried their gold and silver or hid it in caves; and it is also said that this means: they took their leaders as gods (-that those who do evil had but known) if only the idolaters knew, (when they behold the doom) on the Day of Judgement, (that power) and might and invincibility (belongeth wholly to Allah, and that Allah is severe in punishment!) in the Hereafter-if they knew this, they would certainly have believed in this world.

(When those who were followed) the leaders (disown those who followed (them)) the lowly among people, (and they behold) both the leaders and the lowly (the doom) in the Hereafter, (and all their aims) the pledges and congeniality that were between them in this world (collapse with them).

(And those who were but followers) i.e. the lowly (will say: If a return) to this world (were possible for us, we would disown them) disown the leaders in this world (even as they have disowned us) in the Hereafter. (Thus will Allah show them their own deeds as anguish) as regrets (for them) in the Hereafter, (and they) the leaders and those who followed them (will not emerge from the Fire).

Allah then mentions the lawfulness of cultivating land and raising cattle, saying: (O mankind) O people of Mecca! (Eat of that which is lawful and wholesome) that is not prohibited by Allah (in the earth) of what is cultivated in lands and of cattle, (and follow not the footsteps of the devil) the embellishments and whisperings of the devil concerning the unlawfulness of the cultivation of land and of raising cattle. (Lo! He is an open enemy for you) whose enmity towards you is quite manifest.

(He) the devil (enjoineth upon you only the evil) evil works (and the foul) transgressions, (and that ye should tell) lies (concerning Allah that which ye know not).

(And when it is said unto them) to the Arab idolaters: (Follow that which Allah hath revealed) follow the lawfulness exposited by Allah concerning what is cultivated and the cattle raised, (they say: We follow that wherein we found our fathers) regarding their unlawfulness. (What! Even though their fathers were wholly unintelligent) with regard to Religion (and had no guidance) to the practice of any prophet, so how could you follow them? It is also said that this means: if their fathers did not understand about things in this world and did not follow the practice of any prophet, then how could you follow them? It is also said that this means: even though their fathers did not understand anything of Religion and were not guided to the practice of any prophet, how could they follow them?

Allah then gave a similitude regarding the unbelievers vis-�-vis Muhammad (pbuh) saying: (The likeness of those who disbelieve) vis-�-vis Muhammad (pbuh) (is as the likeness of one who calleth unto that which heareth nothing) just like camels and sheep with their shepherd: his speech is unintelligible to them when he says to them, for example, eat or drink (except a shout and a cry. Deaf) concerning the Truth, (dumb) regarding the Truth, (blind) to guidance; i.e. they pretend to be deaf, dumb and blind when it comes to the Truth and guidance, (therefore they have no sense) they do not understand Allah's command and the call of the Prophet (pbuh) just as camels and cattle do not comprehend the words of their shepherd.

Then Allah mentions the lawfulness of eating what is cultivated on the land and the meat of cattle, saying: (O ye who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you) of the lawful things We have given you, (and render thanks to Allah) for it (if it is (indeed) He whom ye worship) it is also said that this means: if you really intend to worship Allah by declaring these to be unlawful, then do not declare them unlawful, for to worship Allah entails that you declare them to be lawful.

Then Allah exposited what He made unlawful for them, saying: (He hath forbidden you only carrion) which He has commanded to immolate, (and blood) and shed blood, (and swineflesh, and that which hath been immolated to any other than Allah) that which is offered as sacrifice purposefully in any other thing than the Name of Allah, i.e. to idols. (But he who is driven by necessity) compelled to eat carrion (neither craving) neither rebelling nor declaring it lawful (nor transgressing) nor committing highway robbery nor purposefully eating it without being driven by necessity, (it is no sin for him) then such a person, who is compelled to eat it without having his fill and without taking anything with him, has not transgressed. (Lo! Allah is Forgiving) that he ate more than he needs to preserve himself, (Merciful) when He gave him legal dispensation to eat carrion.

(Lo! Those who hide anything of the Scripture which Allah hath revealed) what Allah has exposited in the Torah regarding the description and traits of Muhammad, (and purchase) by concealing this (a small gain therewith) a small profit, this was revealed about Ka'b Ibn al-Ashraf, Huyayy Ibn Akhtab and Judayy Ibn Akhtab (they eat into their bellies) they put into their bellies (nothing else than fire) except the unlawful; and it is also said that this means: they eat nothing except that which will turn into fire in their bellies on the Day of Judgement. (And Allah will not speak to them) nicely (on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He make them pure) He will not absolve them of their transgressions; it is also said that this means: He will not commend them in any good way. (Theirs will be a painful doom) a painful torment that will extend to their hearts.