An-Nisa

And on his authority from Ibn 'Abbas on Allah's saying: (O mankind!) [he said:] 'This is an expression of general applicability, but it could also be of particular applicability. (Be careful of your duty to your Lord) obey your Lord (Who created you) by means of copulation (from a single soul) from the soul of Adam alone, for the soul of Eve was included in his (and from it) from the soul of Adam (created its mate) Eve (and from them twain has spread abroad) He created through the copulation of Adam and Eve (a multitude of men and women) scores of human beings: male and female. (Be careful of your duty towards Allah) obey Allah (in Whom ye claim (your rights) of one another) your stuff and rights by Allah's right, (and towards the wombs (that bare you)) and also by the right of kinship and filiation; or it could also mean: keep the ties of kinship and do not sever them. (Lo! Allah hath been a Watcher over you) He has been a Protector: He shall ask you about that which He has commanded you of acts of obedience and keeping ties of kinship.

(Give unto orphans their wealth) which is with you when they reach the legal age. (Exchange not the good for the bad (in your management)) do not consume their wealth which is prohibited for you while leaving your own wealth which is lawful for you (nor absorb their wealth into your own wealth) by mixing them. (Lo! That) wrongfully consuming the wealth of the orphan (would be a great sin) which will be met by Allah's punishment. This was revealed about a man from Ghatafan who had in his possession a great amount of wealth that belonged to his orphaned nephew. When this verse was revealed he decided to separate the wealth of his nephew from his own for fear of committing a sin. Allah then revealed the following:

(And if ye fear that ye will not deal fairly by the orphans) and if you fear that you will not preserve orphans' wealth, you should also fear not dealing fairly with women in relation to providing sustenance and apportionment. This was because they used to marry as many women as they liked, as many as nine or ten. Qays Ibn al-Harth for example had eight wives. Allah forbade them from doing so and prohibited them from marrying more than four wives, saying: (marry of the women, who seem good to you) marry that which Allah has made lawful for you, (two or three or four) marry one, two, three or four but do not marry more than four wives; (and if ye fear that ye cannot do justice) to four wives in relation to apportionment and providing sustenance (then one (only)) then marry only one free woman (or that your right hands possess) of captives, and in that case you do not owe them any apportionment, and they need not observe any waiting period. (Thus it) marrying just one woman (is more likely that ye will not do injustice) that you will not incline to some at the expense of others or that you transgress regarding the provision of sustenance and apportionment to four wives.

(And give unto the women, (whom ye marry) free gift) as an obligation from Allah upon you (of their marriage portions) their dowries; (but if they of their own accord remit unto you a part thereof) if they make lawful for you to take some of the dowry, (then ye are welcome to absorb it (in your wealth)) there is no blame or sin on you if you do so. Before Islam, men used to marry without giving any dowry to their wives.

(Give not unto the foolish) do not give to those who are ignorant of the rights of women and children (your wealth which Allah hath given you to maintain) as a means of living; (but feed and clothe them from it) be yourselves responsible for feeding and clothing them, for you know better than them the right thing to do concerning sustenance and alms giving, (and speak kindly unto them) if you do not have anything to give them, promise them that you will clothe them and give to them.

(Prove orphans) test the intelligence of orphans (till they reach the marriageable age) the age of puberty; (then, if ye find them of) if you see that they possess (sound judgement) righteousness in Religion and a tendency to protect their wealth, (deliver over unto them their fortune) then give their wealth which is with you; (and devour it not squandering) it in transgression and unlawfully (and in haste) in haste lest the orphan grows older and consumes it little by little (lest they should grow up) for fear that they grow older and stop you from devouring their wealth. (Whoso (of the guardians) is rich) and needs not the orphan's wealth, (let him abstain generously) because of his richness from taking of the property of orphans, nor should he diminish anything from their wealth; (and whoso is poor) and needy (let him take thereof in reason (for his guardianship)) in measure, such that he is not in need for the wealth of orphans; it is also said that this means: he should take from the wealth of orphans in proportion with the measure of his work regarding this wealth; and it is also said that this means: he can take from the wealth of orphans as a loan to be paid back. (And when ye deliver up their fortune unto orphans) when they reach the legal age, (have (the transaction) witnessed in their presence) when you deliver it to them. (Allah sufficeth as a Reckoner) Allah suffices as a witness. This verse was revealed about Thabit Ibn Rifa'ah al-Ansari.

Allah then mentioned the share of men and women in inheritance-because they were not in the habit of giving any inheritance to women and children-saying: (Unto the men (of a family) belongeth a share of that which parents and near kindred leave, and unto the women a share of that which parents and near kindred leave, whether it is a little or much) whether the inheritance is much or little (a legal share) a determined share whether it is much or little, but He did not specify these shares. Allah did expound consequently on the exact value of these shares. This verse was revealed about Umm Kuhhah and her daughters who had an uncle who did not give them anything from their inheritance.

(And when kinsfolk) who are not entitled to receive a share of the inheritance (and orphans) the orphans of believers before the division of the inheritance (and the needy) the needy among believers (are present at the division) of the heritage, (bestow on them there from) give them something of the inheritance before you proceed to divide it upon those who are entitled to receive it (and speak kindly unto them) if the inheritor has not yet reached the age of puberty, by promising them to speak to the inheritor about giving them something.

(And let those) who visit a sick person and enjoin him to bequeath more than a third of his inheritance (fear (in their behaviour toward orphans)) the ruin of the children of this sick person after he dies (who if they left behind them) after they die (weak offspring) unable to fend for themselves (would be afraid for them) to face ruin. Just as they would fear ruin for their own children, they ought to fear ruin for the children of any deceased person; it is also said that this means: enjoin the person who is on his deathbed that which you would enjoin yourself; and fear for the loss of his children if he were to die, as you would fear for the loss of your own children if you were to die. This is because they were in the habit of visiting people who were on their deathbeds and enjoining them to give their property to this and that person until nothing was left for their own children, so Allah prohibited them from so doing. Then Allah said: (So let them mind their duty to Allah) let them fear Allah regarding the bequeathing of more than a third of the inheritance to those who are not entitled to inheritance, (and speak) to the person who is sick [expecting to die] (justly) about his will.

(Lo! Those who devour the wealth of orphans wrongfully) extortionately, (they do but swallow fire into their bellies) i.e. that which is unlawful; it is also said that this means: Allah will place fire in their bellies on the Day of Judgement (and they will be exposed to burning flame) a blazing fire in the Hereafter. This verse was revealed about Hanzalah Ibn Shamardal.

Allah then exposited the share of the male and female in inheritance, saying: (Allah chargeth you) Allah expounds to you (concerning your children) concerning the inheritance of your children after you die: (to the male the equivalent of the portion of two females) the share of two females, (and if there be women) blood daughters (more than two) two or more daughters, (then theirs is two-thirds of the inheritance, and if there be one) daughter ((only) then the half) of the inheritance. (And to his parents a sixth of the inheritance, if he) the deceased person (have a son) or daughter; (and if he) the deceased person (have no son) or daughter (and his parents are his heirs, then to his mother appertaineth the third) and the reminder is the share of the father; (and if he) the deceased person (have brethren) full brothers or half brothers from either the father or the mother, (then to his mother appertaineth the sixth, after any legacy he may have bequeathed, or debt (hath been paid)) after paying the debt of the deceased and extracting any bequest which does not exceed a third of the inheritance. (Your parents or your children: Ye know not) in this world (which of them is nearer unto you in usefulness) in the Hereafter in terms of rank; it is also said that this means: you do not know which of them is nearer in usefulness in this world with regard to inheritance. (It is an injunction from Allah) upon you that you divide the estates. (Lo! Allah is Knower) in relation to the division of inheritance, (Wise) in relation to the difference between the shares of the male and female.

(And unto you belongeth a half of that which your wives leave) of property, (if they have no child) male or female, from you or from other than you; (but if they have a child then unto you the fourth of that which they leave) of property, (after any legacy they may have bequeathed, or debt) after paying back any debt that they may have contracted and extracting any bequest she may have bequeathed. (And unto them belongeth the fourth of that which ye leave) of property (if ye have no child) male or female from them or from other than them, (but if ye have a child) male or female, from them or from other than them (then the eighth of that which ye leave) of property, (after any legacy ye may have bequeathed, or debt (ye may have contracted, hath been paid)) after paying back any debt you may have contracted and extracting any bequest you may have bequeathed to someone. (And if a man) who does not have parents, children or kinsfolk related to his parents or children (or a woman) who is in the same situation (have a distant heir (having left neither parent nor child)) brothers or sisters from the mother side. It is also said that this refers to any kin other than parents and children, (and he (or she)) the deceased (have a brother or a sister) only on the mother's side (then to each of them twain (the brother and the sister) the sixth, and if they be more than two, then they shall be sharers in the third) the male and the female having equal share, (after any legacy that may have been bequeathed or debt (contracted)) after paying back any debt that the deceased may have contracted and after extracting any bequest that he may have bequeathed provided it does not exceed a third of the inheritance (not injuring) the heirs by willing away more than a third of the inheritance (hath been paid. A commandment from Allah) it is an obligation upon you from Allah that you must divide inheritance. (Allah is Knower) regarding the division of inheritance, (Indulgent) in relation to that which happens between you of ignorance and deception regarding the division of inheritance, despite of which He does not hasten His punishment upon you.

(These are the limits (imposed by) Allah) these are the legal rulings and obligations imposed by Allah. (Whoso obeyeth Allah and His messenger) regarding the division of estates, (He will make him enter Gardens beneath which) beneath its habitations and trees (rivers) rivers of wine, water, honey and milk (flow, where such will dwell for ever) dwelling forever in Paradise, never to die or leave it. (That will be the great success) the greatest salvation through entering Paradise.

(And whoso disobeyeth Allah and His messenger) regarding the division of estates (and transgresseth His limits) contravenes His legal rulings and obligations through deviation and disobedience, (He will make him enter Fire, where such will dwell for ever) continually abiding in the Fire until whenever Allah wills; (his will be a shameful doom) through which he will be humiliated; it is also said that (be a shameful doom) means: a severe torment.

(As for those of your women) your free, married women (who are guilty of lewdness) i.e. of fornication, (call to witness) that they were caught red-handed in the act (four of you against them) four of your free men. (And if they testify) to the Truth of the allegation (then confine them to the houses) keep them in prison (until death take them) until they die in prison (or (until) Allah appoint for them a way) out by means of stoning. Imprisoning a free, married woman who commits fornication until she dies in prison was later abrogated by stoning.

(And as for the two of you) of your free people, i.e. any unmarried man or woman (who are guilty thereof) who are guilty of adultery, (punish them both) by maligning and upbraiding them. (And if they repent) after this (and improve) in relation to that which is between them and Allah, (then let them be) refrain from maligning and upbraiding them. (Lo! Allah is Relenting) He overlooks sins, (Merciful). Maligning and upbraiding the unmarried person who commits adultery was later abrogated and replaced by one hundred lashes for both parties.

(Allah accepteth the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance) even if they do so purposefully while being ignorant of its respective punishment ((and) then turn quickly (in repentance) to Allah) before being led away for punishment or at the moment of suffering from the pangs of death. (These are they towards whom Allah relenteth) Allah overlooks the sins of these. (Allah is ever Knower) of your repentance, (Wise) by accepting your repentance before death, while does not accept it when one is suffering from the pangs of death or after one dies.

(The forgiveness) Allah overlooking sins (is not for those who do ill deeds until, when death attendeth upon one of them) when one of them is suffering from the agony of death, (he saith: Lo! I repent now; nor yet for those who die while they are disbelievers). Allah says that He does not accept the repentance of unbelievers at the moment they suffer the pangs of death. (For such) for the unbelievers (We have prepared a painful doom) this was revealed about Tu'mah and his companions who had left Islam.

(O ye who believe! It is not lawful for you forcibly) coercively (to inherit the women (of your deceased kinsmen)) the women of your fathers, (nor (that) ye should put constraint upon them) by preventing them from marrying again. This verse was revealed about Kabshah Bint Ma'an al-Ansariyyah and Muhsin Ibn Abi Qays al-Ansari; for before the advent of Islam, they used to inherit the women of their fathers (that ye may take away a part of that which ye have given them) take away part of that which your fathers gave them, (unless they be guilty of flagrant lewdness) unless they are guilty of fornication by the testimony of witnesses in which case they should be imprisoned. However, imprisoning fornicators was abrogated by the verse on stoning. In the pre-Islamic period, men used to inherit the wives of their fathers in the same way as they inherited their properties. The wife of a deceased father used to be inherited by the eldest son. If the woman was rich and beautiful, the eldest son would marry her without giving her any dowry. If, however, she was neither rich, young nor beautiful, he would not marry her but instead leave her untouched until she ransomed herself with her own money. Allah forbade them from indulging in such a practice. Then He showed them how one must treat women, saying: (But consort with them) keep their company (in kindness) with beneficence and goodness, (for if ye hate them) i.e. hate their company (it may happen that ye hate a thing) their company (wherein Allah hath placed much good) Allah may provide you with righteous children from them.

(And if ye wish to exchange one wife for another) He says: If you wish to marry a woman and divorce one you are already married to, or marry a woman in addition to the one you are already married to (and ye have given unto one of them a sum of money (however great)) a dowry, (take nothing from it) from the dowry. (Would ye take it) the dowry (by the way of calumny) as an unlawful possession (and open wrong?) a clear transgression.

(How can ye take it (back)) how can you take the dowry back as a lawful possession. (after one of you hath gone in unto the other) when you have come together under one cover as a result of this dowry and marriage, (and they have taken) He says: Allah has taken from you upon marrying women (a strong pledge from you?) a firm pledge that you either keep them in goodness or release them in kindness. Then Allah forbade them from marrying the wives of their fathers, since this is what they did in the pre-Islamic era.

He said: (And marry not those women whom your fathers married, except what hath already happened (of that nature) in the past) in the pre-Islamic era. (Lo! It) i.e. marrying the wives of one's father (was ever lewdness) a transgression (and abomination) antagonism, (and an evil way) the worst way to follow. This was revealed about Muhsin Ibn Abi Qays al-Ansari. Allah then showed them the women who are unlawful for them to marry.

He said: (Forbidden unto you are your mothers) your blood mothers, (and your daughters) your blood daughters, (and your sisters) your blood sisters, whether from both parents or from either one of them, (and your father's sisters, and your mother's sisters, and your brother's daughters) the daughters of your blood brother whether he is a full brother or half brother from the father or the mother (and your sister's daughters) and the daughters of your sister whether she is a full sister or half sister from the father or mother, (and your foster mothers) who suckled you within the first two years, (and your foster sisters, and your mothers-in-law) whether you have consummated the marriage with their daughters or not: in both cases you are forbidden from marrying them, (and your stepdaughters who are under your protection) who are brought up in your homes ((born) of your women unto whom ye have gone in) with whom you are married and consummated this marriage (but if ye have not gone in unto them) if you have not have consummated the marriage with their mothers, (then it is no sin for you) to marry their daughters after you divorce their mothers (and the wives of your sons who (spring) from your own loins) your sons who are born in wedlock. (And (it is forbidden unto you) that ye should have two sisters together) whether they are free or slave sisters, (except what hath already happened (of that nature) in the past) before Islam. (Lo! Allah is ever Forgiving) of that which ensued from you in the pre-Islamic era, (Merciful) regarding that which ensues from you in Islam, provided that you repent.

(And all married women (are forbidden unto you save those (captives) whom your right hands possess) of captives, even if they have husbands in the Abode of War, after ascertaining that they are not pregnant, by waiting for the lapse of one period of menstruation. (It is a decree of Allah for you) that which I have mentioned to you is unlawful in Allah's Book. (Lawful unto you are all beyond those mentioned) as unlawful, (so that ye seek them) marry (with your wealth) up to four wives; it is also said that this means: so that you buy with your wealth captives; and it is also said that this means: so that you should seek with your money marrying women for an agreed period of time (zawaj al-mut'ah) but the lawfulness of this practice was later abrogated, (in honest wedlock) He says: be with them as legitimate husbands, (not debauchery) not indulging in adultery without having a proper marriage. (And those of whom) after marriage (ye seek content) from whom you derive benefit, (give unto them their portions) give to them their full dowry (as a duty) as an obligation upon you from Allah to give the dowry in full. (And there is no sin for you) there is no harm for you (in what ye do by mutual agreement) in increasing or decreasing the amount of the dowry by mutual agreement (after the duty hath been done) after the first obligation to which you have aspired. (Lo! Allah is ever Knower) in relation to making lawful to you marriage for an agreed, limited period of time, (Wise) in later making this practice unlawful; it is also said that this means: Allah is ever Knower of your compulsion for marriage for an agreed, limited period of time, Wise in making such marriage unlawful.

(And whoso is not able to afford to marry free, believing women, let them marry from the believing maids whom your right hands possess) who are in the hands of the believers. (Allah knoweth best (concerning) your faith) He knows best that your hearts are firm in faith. (Ye (proceed) one from another) You are all the children of Adam; it is also said that this means: some of you follow the religion of others; and it is also said that this means: you are strengthened by one another; (so wed them) marry the maids (by permission of their folk) their owners, (and give unto them) the maids (their portions) their dowry (in kindness) on top of the price given to the prostitute for providing sex, (they being honest) He says: marry those maids who are chaste, (not debauched) not those who commit adultery in the open (nor of loose conduct) nor those who have lovers who commit adultery with them in secret. (And if when they are honourably married) if when they marry maids (they commit lewdness) fornication (they) the maids (shall incur the half of the punishment (prescribed)) lashing (for free women (in that case). This is) marrying maids is lawful (for him among you who feareth to commit sin) adultery and debauchery. (But to have patience) and refrain from marrying maids (would be better for you) in that your children would be free. (Allah is Forgiving) of the adultery you might commit, (Merciful) when He gave you a legal dispensation to marry captives in cases of necessity.

(Allah wishes to explain to you) that which is lawful for you; it is also said that this means: Allah would explain to you that having patience and refraining from marrying captives is better for you than marrying them (and guide you) expound to you (by the examples of those who were before you) among the people of the Book who were forbidden from marrying captives, (and would turn to you in mercy) He will forgive you that which ensued from you in pre-Islamic times. (Allah is Knower) that you have a dire need for marriage, (Wise) when He prohibited you to marry them except upon necessity.

(And Allah wishes to turn to you in mercy) He wishes to overlook your transgression when He made adultery and marrying your sisters, from the father's side, forbidden for you; (but those who follow vain desires) i.e. adultery and marrying their sisters from their fathers' side, namely, the Jews (would have you go tremendously astray) commit a serious error by marrying your sisters, from the father's side, by claiming that it is lawful in their Scripture.

(Allah would make the burden light for you) He wishes to make things easy for you by marrying captives in case of necessity, (for man was created weak) in that he cannot do without women.

(O ye who believe! Squander not your wealth among yourselves in vanity) through transgression, usurpation, false testimony, lying in oath or through other unlawful means, (except it be a trade by mutual consent) except if there is mutual agreement between you in the course of buying and selling or in abating the price in selling (Muhabat), (and kill not one another) without justified right. (Lo! Allah is ever Merciful unto you) when He forbade you to kill one another without such a justification.

(Whoso doeth that) killing another or wrongfully taking another person's property (through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into Fire) in the Hereafter; this is a threat to such a person, (and that) casting him into the Fire and tormenting him (is ever easy for Allah).

(If you avoid the great (things) which ye are forbidden) in this surah, (We will remit from you your evil deeds) We will forgive you your sins which are not included among the enormities: the minor sins committed between the period separating a congregational prayer from another, those sins committed in the period separating one Friday Prayer from another, as well as those sins committed in the period separating one month of Ramadan from another, (and make you enter) in the Hereafter (at a noble gate) Paradise.

(And covet not the thing in which Allah hath made some of you excel others) Allah says: a man should not covet the wealth, mount or wife of his brother nor, in fact, anything that his brother may possess. Rather you should ask of Allah abundant bounty and say: �O Allah provide us with the like of, or better than, what you have provided him with�, while consigning the matter to Allah. It is also said that this verse was revealed about Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet (pbuh) because she said to him: �if only it is prescribed unto us as it is prescribed unto men so that we get rewarded as men do�. Allah prohibited such talk, saying: covet not the thing in which Allah has made a group of you excel over others, such as praying in congregation, attending the Friday Prayer, participating in military expeditions, jihad, enjoining good and forbidding evil. In this verse (some of you) and (others) refers to men and women. Allah then explained the reward that men and women earn for their works, saying: (Unto men a fortune) a reward (from that which they have earned) of works of goodness, (and unto women a fortune) a reward (from that which they have earned) of works of goodness in their homes. (But ask Allah of His bounty) Ask Allah to give you success and protection. (Lo! Allah is ever Knower of all things) good and bad, reward and punishment, success and otherwise.

(And unto each) He says: to each one of you (We have appointed heirs) so that they inherit (of that which parents and near kindred leave) of property; (and as for those with whom your right hands have made a covenant) your stipulation, (give them their due) give them their stipulation. But this is now abrogated. In the pre-Islamic era, they used to adopt men and youth and allocate for them a portion of their wealth, just as they would do with their own children. Allah abrogated such a practice. However, it is not abrogated if he gives them their portion from a third of his wealth. (Lo! Allah is ever witness over) Allah knows (all things) relating to your works.

(Men are in charge of women) they are in charge of overseeing the proper conduct of women, (because Allah hath made the one of them) the men through reason and the division of booty and estates (to excel the other) the women, (and because they spend of their property (for the support of women)) through paying the dowry and spending on them, which the women are not required to do. (So good women) He says: those wives who are kind to their husbands (are the obedient) they are obedient to Allah regarding their husbands, (guarding) their own persons and the wealth of their husbands (in secret) when their husbands are not present (that which Allah hath guarded) through Allah's protection of them in that He gave them the success to do so. (As for those from whom ye fear) know (rebellion) their disobedience to you in bed, (admonish them) by means of sacred knowledge and the Qur'an (and banish them to beds apart) turn your faces away from them in bed, (and scourge them) in a mild, unexaggerated manner. (Then if they obey you) in bed, (seek not a way against them) as regards love. (Lo! Allah is ever High Exalted) above every single thing, (Great) greater than every single thing. Allah has not burdened you with that which you cannot bear, so do not burden women with that which they cannot bear of affection.

(And if ye fear) if you know (a breech between them twain (the man and wife)) a dispute between the man and woman and you cannot establish who is at fault, (appoint an arbiter from his folk) from the man's folk to the man so that he can hear what he has to say and therefore establish whether he is in the right or wrong (and an arbiter from her folk) from the woman's folk to the woman in order to hear what she has to say and therefore establish whether she is in the right or wrong. (If they) the arbiters (desire amendment) between the man and the woman, (Allah will make them of one mind) i.e. the arbiters, the man and the woman. (Lo! Allah is ever Knower) of the agreement and disagreement of the arbiters, (Aware) of the doing of the woman and the man. The verses from Allah's saying: (Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other�) to His saying: (If they desire amendment Allah will make them of one mind. Lo! Allah is ever Knower, Aware) were revealed about the daughter of Muhammad Ibn Salamah. Her husband, As'ad Ibn al-Rabi' had slapped her because she refused to sleep with him. Consequently, she went to the Prophet (pbuh) to seek retaliation against her husband, but Allah prohibited her from doing so.

(And serve Allah) acknowledge His divine Oneness. (Ascribe no thing) no idol (as partner unto Him. (Show) kindness unto parents) be dutiful to parents, (and unto near kindred) Allah commands you to keep ties with your kin, (and orphans) He commands that you show kindness to orphans, and to protect their wealth, etc, (and the needy) and He enjoins giving alms to the needy, (and unto the neighbour who is of kin (unto you)) the neighbour who also happen to be your relative has three rights over you: the right of kinship, the right of Islam, and the right of being a neighbour (and the neighbour who is not of kin) the neighbour who is not a relative has two rights: the right of Islam and the right of being a neighbour (and the fellow traveller) a fellow traveller has two rights: the right of Islam and the right of companionship; it is also said that this refers to one's wife at home. Allah commands kindness towards her (and the wayfarer) Allah commands the honouring of guests. Honouring a guest for three days is the guest's right. The honour bestowed on the guest after the third day is considered a charity on the part of the host; (and (the slaves) whom your right hands possess) Allah commands kindness towards slaves, males and females. (Lo! Allah loveth not such as are proud) in their walking (and boastful) about the bounties of Allah, showing nothing but wantonness and arrogance towards Allah's servants,

(Who are avaricious) by concealing the traits and description of Muhammad as mentioned in their Scripture. These are Ka'b Ibn al-Ashraf and his companions (and enjoin avarice) concealment (on others, and hide that which Allah hath bestowed upon them) they hide that which Allah exposited to them in their Scripture (of His bounty) of the traits and description of Muhammad. (For disbelievers) for the Jews (We prepare a shameful doom) through which they will be humiliated;

(And (also) those) the Jewish leaders (who spend their wealth in order to be seen of men) by showing off to people so that they say about them that they follow the practice of Abraham and that they give and spend of their money, (and believe not in Allah) Muhammad or the Qur'an (nor the Last Day) resurrection after death nor in the bliss of Paradise. (Whoso taketh Satan for a comrade) a helper in this world, (a bad comrade hath he) an evil companion he will have in hell.

(What have they (to fear)) i.e. the Jews (if they believe in Allah) Muhammad and the Qur'an (and the Last Day) in resurrection after death and the bliss of Paradise (and spend (aright) of that which Allah hath bestowed upon them?) and spend in the way of Allah from that which Allah has given to them, (when Allah is ever Aware of them) i.e. of the Jews: those among them who believe and those among them who do not.

(Lo! Allah wrongeth not even of the weight of an ant) He will not leave of the works of the unbeliever even the weight of an ant to benefit him in the Hereafter or to restore the wrongs committed against his antagonists; (and if there is a good deed) for the sincere believer after restoring the wrongs committed against his antagonists, (He will double it) from one to ten times (and will give (the doer) from His presence an immense reward) an abundant reward in Paradise.

(But how (will it be with them)) how shall the unbelievers react (when we bring of every people a witness) a prophet who will testify that he has delivered the message to them, (and We bring thee) O Muhammad (a witness against these?) it is also said that this means: We bring you, O Muhammad, a witness in favour of your Community, testifying that it is reliable and upright. This is because his Community will be a witness for the other prophets against their nations when the latter will deny having received any message from them.

(On that day) on the Day of Resurrection (those who disbelieved) in Allah (and disobeyed the messenger) by denying his message (will wish that they were level with the ground) they will wish that they become dust with the beasts, (and they can hide no fact from Allah) they will not say: O Allah, our Lord! We did not associate any partner with you.

Allah revealed the following about the Companions of Muhammad prior to the prohibition of intoxicants: (O ye who believe!) in Muhammad and the Qur'an (Draw not near unto prayer) in the Mosque of the Prophet (pbuh) with the Prophet (pbuh) (when ye are drunken, till ye know that which ye utter) so that you know what the prayer leader recites during the prayer, (nor when ye are polluted) nor when you are in a state of major ritual impurity, (save when journeying upon the road) except when passing through when you have to, (till ye have bathed) to purify yourselves from major ritual impurity. (And if ye be ill) wounded, (or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the closet, or ye have touched women) made love to them, (and ye find not water, then go to high clean soil and rub your faces) with the first clap (and your hands (therewith)) with the second clap. (Lo! Allah is Benign) Allah is Generous for the abundance He has given you, (Forgiving) of any shortcoming that may ensue from you.