He sends down the angels with revelation by His command to whom He wills of His slaves, [saying], “Warn that none has the right to be worshiped except Me, so fear Me.”
He causes to grow therewith crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines and all kinds of fruits[6] for you. Indeed, there is a sign in this for people who reflect.
And He has subjected for you the night and day, the sun and moon, and the stars[7] are made subservient by His command. Indeed, there are signs in this for people of understanding.
It is He Who has subjected the sea, so that you may eat from it tender meat and extract ornaments to wear. And you see the ships cleaving their way through its waves[9], so that you may seek His bounty and so that you may give thanks.
They will bear their burdens in full on the Day of Resurrection and some burdens of those whom they misled without knowledge[15]. How terrible is what they will bear!
Those who came before them plotted, so Allah uprooted their buildings from their foundations and the roof fell down on top of them[16], and the punishment came on them from where they could not imagine.
Then on the Day of Resurrection, He will disgrace them and will say, “Where are My [so-called] partners for whose sake you used to oppose [the truth]?” Those who were given knowledge will say, “Today disgrace and misery will befall the disbelievers.”
Those whose souls are seized by the angels while they wrong themselves will then offer submission, “We did not do anything evil.” “Yes, indeed you did! Allah knows well what you used to do.
And it will be said to those who fear Allah, “What has your Lord sent down?” They will say, “All that is good.” For those who do good in this world, there is a good reward[17]; and the home of the Hereafter is far better. What an excellent home for those who fear Allah!
They will enter the Gardens of Eternity, under which rivers flow. They will have therein whatever they wish[18]. This is how Allah rewards those who fear Him,
Are [the disbelievers] waiting for the angels to come to them[20] or for the command of your Lord to come[21]? Those who came before them did the same. It was not Allah Who wronged them, but it was they who wronged themselves.
Those who associate partners with Allah say, “If Allah had willed, neither we nor our forefathers would have worshiped anything besides Him, nor would we have prohibited anything without His command[22].” Those who came before them did the same. Is the duty of the messengers except to convey the message clearly?
Indeed, We sent to every community a messenger, [saying], “Worship Allah and shun false gods[23].” Among them were some whom Allah guided, while others were destined to stray. So travel through the land and see how was the end of the deniers!
They swear by Allah their solemn oaths that Allah will not resurrect those who die. Yes, He will! It is a true promise upon Him, but most people do not know –
Those who migrated for the sake of Allah after being oppressed[25], We will surely give them good in this world. But the reward of the Hereafter is greater, if only they knew,
[We sent them] with clear proofs and scriptures, and We have sent down to you [O Prophet] the Reminder to explain to people what has been sent down to them, and so that they may reflect.
Do those who devise evil plots feel secure that Allah will not make them sink into the earth or that the punishment will not come upon them from where they do not expect?
They assign a portion of what We have provided for them to those [idols] who know nothing. By Allah, you will surely be called to account for what you used to fabricate.
He hides away from people because of the bad news he was given. Should he keep her in disgrace, or bury her in the dust? How terrible is their judgment!
If Allah were to take people to task for their wrongdoing, He would not leave a single living being on earth, but He gives them respite for an appointed time. When their time comes, they cannot delay it for a moment nor can they bring it forward.
They attribute to Allah[36] what they dislike for themselves, and their tongues make false claim that they will have the best [reward][37]. Without a doubt for them there will be the Fire, and they will be neglected.
By Allah, We sent [messengers] to nations before you, but Satan made their deeds[38] appealing to them. He is their ally today, and for them there will be a painful punishment.
We have only sent down to you the Book so that you may make clear to them what they differed about[39] and as a guidance and mercy for people who believe.
And there is surely a lesson for you in livestock. We give you drink from what is in their bellies – produced between excretion and blood – pure and pleasant milk for those who drink[41].
And from the fruits of palm trees and grapevines, you make intoxicants[42] and good provision[43]. Indeed, there is a sign in this for people of understanding.
Then feed on every kind of fruit and follow the ways that your Lord made easy for you.” There comes out from their bellies a drink[44] of various colors, in which there is healing for people. Indeed, there is a sign in this for people who reflect.
Allah has created you, then He causes you to die. Among you are some who are left to reach the most decrepit age[45], so that they may know nothing after having known much. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, Most Capable.
Allah has favored some of you over others in provision. Those who are favored will not share their provision with their slaves, so that they may become equal to them[46]. Do they then deny the favors of Allah?
Allah has made for you spouses of your own kind[47], and has given you through your spouses children and grandchildren, and has given you provision from good things. Do they still believe in falsehood and deny the favors of Allah?
Allah makes a comparison of a bonded slave who has no power over anything and a [free] person whom We granted good provision from Us, and he spends from it secretly and openly. Are they equal? All praise be to Allah. But most of them do not know[51].
And Allah makes a comparison of two men, one of them is dumb and unable to do anything, and he is a burden to his master; wherever he directs him, he brings no good[52]. Is he equal to the one who enjoins justice and follows a straight path?
To Allah belongs the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and earth; and the coming of the Hour is no more than the blink of an eye or even quicker, for Allah is Most Capable of all things.
Allah has made your houses a place of rest for you, and He has given you tents made from the hides of livestock which you find light to handle when you travel and when you camp. And out of their wool, fur and hair [He has given you] furnishings and enjoyment for a while.
Allah has made for you shade out of what He has created and has made for you shelter in the mountains. He has also made for you garments protecting you from heat [and cold], and garments [of armor] protecting you in battle. This is how He perfects His favors upon you, so that you may submit to Him.
On the Day when We raise up a witness[54] from every community, no excuse will be accepted from the disbelievers, nor will they be allowed to make amends.
When those who associated partners with Allah see their [so-called] partners, they will say, “Our Lord, these are our partners whom we used to worship besides You.” But they will counter them with the statement, “You are indeed liars.”
On the Day when We raise up against every community a witness from among themselves, We will bring you [O Prophet] as a witness against these [people]. We have sent down to you the Book as an explanation of everything, and as a guidance, mercy, and glad tidings for the Muslims.
Allah enjoins justice, kindness, and giving relatives[56] [their dues], and He forbids shameful acts, evil deeds and oppression. He exhorts you, so that you may take heed.
Fulfill the covenant of Allah when you pledge, and do not break oaths after confirming them, having made Allah your witness, for Allah knows all what you do.
Do not be like the woman who unravels her yarn after spinning it firmly, by taking your oaths as a means of deceit between yourselves so that one party might gain an advantage over the other[57]. Allah only puts you to the test thereby[58], and on the Day of Resurrection, He will surely make clear to you all that over which you used to differ.
If Allah had willed, He would have made all of you a single community [of believers], but He causes to stray whom He wills and guides whom He wills[59], and you will surely be questioned about what you used to do.
Do not take your oaths as a means of deceit between yourselves, lest some feet will slip after they have been firm[60], and you will taste the evil consequences of preventing people from the way of Allah, and for you there will be a great punishment.
Whatever you have will come to an end, but whatever Allah has will last forever. And We will surely grant those who remain steadfast their reward according to the best of their deeds.
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WHY IT GIVES YOU PAUSEWhatever you have will run out; whatever is with Allah remains. Every minute spent has an address: one of the two.
Whoever does righteous deeds, male or female, while being a believer, We will surely grant him a good life[61], and We will surely reward them according to the best of their deeds[62].
When We replace one verse with another[65] – and Allah knows best what He sends down – they say, “You are just making it up.” In fact, most of them have no knowledge.
Say, “This has been brought down by the Holy Spirit[66] from your Lord with the truth, to strengthen those who believe, and as guidance and glad tidings to the Muslims.”
We surely know that they say, “It is only a human being who teaches him[67].” But the language they refer to is foreign, whereas this is eloquent Arabic language.
Whoever disbelieves in Allah after having believed – except one who is compelled while his heart is firm in faith – but those who embrace disbelief willingly, upon them will be the wrath of Allah, and for them there will be a great punishment.
As for those who emigrated after being persecuted, then strove [for the cause of Allah], and were patient[69] – indeed, your Lord is after that All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Allah presents an example of a town[70] that was safe and secure, receiving its provision in abundance from all directions. Yet its people showed ingratitude to Allah’s favors, so Allah made them taste overwhelming hunger and fear for what they used to do.
He has only forbidden to you carrion, blood[73], flesh of swine, and what is slaughtered to other than Allah. But if one is compelled by necessity – neither driven by desire nor exceeding the need – then Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Do not falsely say what your tongues declare, “This is lawful and this is unlawful,” thus fabricating lies against Allah. Those who fabricate lies against Allah will never succeed.
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مَتَٰعٞ قَلِيلٞ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٞ
It is only a brief enjoyment, then for them there will be a painful punishment.
Then We revealed to you [O Prophet] to follow the religion of Abraham, inclining to true faith[77], and he was not one of those who associate partners with Allah.
The Sabbath was only ordained for those who differed about it[78]. Your Lord will surely judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom[79] and goodly exhortation[80], and reason with them in the best manner[81]. Your Lord knows best who has strayed from His way and knows best those who are rightly guided.