Sura Ii. Baqara, Or The Heifer

*
"The Holy Quran", tr. by Yusuf Ali, [1934],

p. 16 p. 17

Sra Ii.

Baqara, Or The Heifer.

In the name of God, most Gracious,

Most Merciful.

1. A. L. M.

2. This is the Book;

In it is guidance sure, without doubt,

To those who fear God;

3. Who believe in the Unseen,

Are steadfast in prayer,

And spend out of what We

Have provided for them;

4. And who believe in the Revelation

Sent to thee,

p. 18

And sent before thy time,

And (in their hearts)

Have the assurance of the Hereafter.

5. They are on (true) guidance,

From their Lord, and it is

These who will prosper.

6. As to those who reject Faith,

It is the same to them

Whether thou warn them

Or do not warn them;

They will not believe.

7. God hath set a seal

On their hearts and on their hearing,

And on their eyes is a veil;

Great is the penalty they (incur).

Section 2.

8. Of the people there are some who say:

"We believe in God and the Last Day;"

But they do not (really) believe.

9. Fain would they deceive

God and those who believe,

But they only deceive themselves,

And realize (it) not!

10. In their hearts is a disease;

p. 19

And God has increased their disease:

And grievous is the penalty they (incur),

Because they are false (to themselves).

11. When it is said to them:

"Make not mischief on the earth,"

They say: "Why, we only

Want to make peace!"

12. Of a surety, they are the ones

Who make mischief,

But they realize (it) not.

13. When it is said to them:

"Believe as the others believe:"

They say: "Shall we believe

As the fools believe?"

Nay, of a surety they are the fools,

But they do not know."

14. When they meet those who believe,

They say: "We believe;"

But when they are alone

With their evil ones,

They say: "We are really with you:

We (were) only jesting."

15. God will throw back

Their mockery on them,

And give them rope in their trespasses;

So they will wander like blind ones

(To and fro).

16. These are they who have bartered

Guidance for error:

p. 20

But their traffic is profitless,

And they have lost true direction,

17. Their similitude is that of a man

Who kindled a fire;

When it lighted all around him,

God took away their light

And left them in utter darkness.

So they could not see.

18. Deaf, dumb, and blind,

They will not return (to the path).

19. Or (another similitude)

Is that of a rain-laden cloud

From the sky: in it are zones

Of darkness, and thunder and lightning:

They press their fingers in their ears

To keep out the stunning thunder-clap,

The while they are in terror of death.

But God is ever round

The rejecters of Faith!

20. The lightning all but snatches away

Their sight; every time the light

(Helps) them, they walk therein,

And when the darkness grows on them,

They stand still.

And if God willed, He could take away

Their faculty of hearing and seeing;

For God hath power over all things

p. 21

Section 3.

21. O ye people!

Adore your Guardian-Lord,

Who created you

And those who came before you,

That ye may have the chance

To learn righteousness;

22. Who has made the earth your couch,

And the heavens your canopy;

And sent down rain from the heavens;

And brought forth therewith

Fruits for your sustenance;

Then set not up rivals unto God

When ye know (the truth).

23. And if ye are in doubt

As to what We have revealed

From time to time to Our servant,

Then produce a Sra

Like thereunto;

And call your witnesses or helpers

(If there are any) besides God,

If your (doubts) are true.

24. But if ye cannot

And of a surety ye cannot--

Then fear the Fire

Whose fuel is Men and Stones,--

Which is prepared for those

p. 22

Who reject Faith.

25. But give glad tidings

To those who believe

And work righteousness,

That their portion is Gardens,

Beneath which rivers flow.

Every time they are fed

With fruits therefrom,

They say: "Why, this is

What we were fed with before,"

For they are given things in similitude;

And they have therein

Companions pure (and holy);

And they abide therein (for ever).

26. God disdains not to use

The similitude of things,

Lowest as well as highest.

p. 23

Those who believe know

That it is truth from their Lord;

But those who reject Faith say:

"What means God by this similitude?"

By it He causes many to stray,

And many He leads into the right path;

But He causes not to stray,

Except those who forsake (the path),--

27. Those who break God's Covenant

After it is ratified,

And who sunder what God

Has ordered to be joined,

And do mischief on earth:

These cause loss (only) to themselves.

28. How can ye reject

The faith in God?--

Seeing that ye were without life,

And He gave you life

Then will He cause you to die,

And will again bring you to life;

And again to Him will ye return.

29. It is He Who hath created for you

All things that are on earth;

Moreover His design comprehended the heavens,

For He gave order and perfection

To the seven firmaments;

And of all things

He hath perfect knowledge.

p. 24

Section 4.

30. Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create

A vicegerent on earth." They said:

"Wilt Thou place therein one who will make

Mischief therein and shed blood?--

Whilst we do celebrate Thy praises

And glorify Thy holy (name)?"

He said: "I know what ye know not."

31. And He taught Adam the nature

Of all things; then He placed them

Before the angels, and said: "Tell Me

The nature of these if ye are right."

32. They said: "Glory to Thee: of knowledge

p. 25

We have none, save what Thou

Hast taught us: in truth it is Thou

Who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom."

33. He said: "O Adam! tell them

Their natures." When he had told them,

God said: "Did I not tell you

That I know the secrets of heaven

And earth, and I know what ye reveal

And what ye conceal?"

34. And behold, We said to the angels:

"Bow down to Adam: "and they bowed down:

Not so Ibls: he refused and was haughty:

He was of those who reject Faith.

35. We said: "O Adam! dwell thou

And thy wife in the Garden;

And eat of the bountiful things therein

As (where and when) ye will; but approach not this tree,

Or ye run into harm and transgression."

36. Then did Satan make them slip

From the (Garden), and get them out

p. 26

Of the state (of felicity) in which

They had been. We said:

"Get ye down, all (ye people),

With enmity between yourselves.

On earth will be your dwelling-place

And your means of livelihood--

For a time."

37. Then learnt Adam from his Lord

Words of inspiration, and his Lord

Turned towards him; for He

Is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.

38. We said: "Get ye down all from here;

And if, as is sure, there comes to you

Guidance from Me, whosoever

Follows My guidance, on them

Shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

39. \"But those who reject Faith

And belie Our Signs,

They shall be Companions of the Fire;

They shall abide therein."

p. 27

Section 5.

40. O Children of Israel! call to mind

The (special) favour which I bestowed

Upon you, and fulfil your Covenants

With Me as I fulfil My Covenant

With you, and fear none but Me.

41. And believe in what I reveal,

Confirming the revelation

Which is with you,

And be not the first to reject

Faith therein, nor sell My Signs

For a small price; and fear Me,

And Me alone.

42. And cover not Truth

With falsehood, nor conceal

The Truth when ye know (what it is).

43. And be steadfast in prayer;

Practise regular charity;

And bow down your heads

With those who bow down (in worship).

44. Do ye enjoin right conduct

On the people, and forget

(To practise it) yourselves,

And yet ye study the Scripture?

Will ye not understand?

p. 28

45. Nay, seek (God's) help

With patient perseverance

And prayer:

It is indeed hard, except

To those who bring a lowly spirit,--

46. Who bear in mind the certainty

That they are to meet their Lord,

And that they are to return to Him.

Section 6.

47. O Children of Israel! call to mind

The (special) favour which I bestowed

Upon you, and that I preferred you

To all others (for My Message).

48. Then guard yourselves against a day

When one soul shall not avail another

Nor shall intercession be accepted for her,

Nor shall compensation be taken from her,

Nor shall anyone be helped (from outside).

49. And remember, We delivered you

From the people of Pharaoh: they set you

Hard tasks and punishments, slaughtered

p. 29

Your sons and let your women-folk live;

Therein was a tremendous trial from your Lord.

50. And remember We divided

The Sea for you and saved you

And drowned Pharaoh's people

Within your very sight.

51. And remember We appointed

Forty nights for Moses,

And in his absence ye took

The calf (for worship),

And ye did grievous wrong.

52. Even then We did forgive you;

There was a chance for you

To be grateful.

53. And remember We gave

Moses the Scripture and the Criterion

p. 30

(Between right and wrong): there was

A chance for you to be guided aright.

54. And remember Moses said

To his people: "O my people!

Ye have indeed wronged

Yourselves by your worship of the calf:

So turn (in repentance) to your Maker,

And slay yourselves (the wrong-doers);

That will be better for you

In the sight of your Maker."

Then He turned towards you (in forgiveness):

For He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.

55. And remember ye said: "O Moses!

We shall never believe in thee

Until we see God manifestly,"

But ye were dazed

With thunder and lightning

Even as ye looked on.

56. Then We raised you up

After your death:

Ye had the chance

To be grateful.

57. And We gave you the shade of clouds

p. 31

And sent down to you

Manna and quails, saying:

"Eat of the good things

We have provided fcr you:"

(But they rebelled);

To Us they did no harm,

But they harmed their own souls.

58. And remember We said:

"Enter this town, and eat

Of the plenty therein

As ye wish; but enter

The gate with humility,

In posture and in words,

And We shall forgive you your faults

And increase (the portion of)

Those who do good."

59. But the transgressors

Changed the word from that

Which had been given them;

So We sent on the transgt essors

A plague from heaven,

For that they infringed

(Our command) repeatedly.

Section 7.

60. And remember Moses prayed

For water for his people;

We said: "Strike the rock

With thy staff." Then gushed forth

p. 32

Therefrom twelve springs.

Each group knew its own place

For water. So eat and drink

Of the sustenance provided by God,

And do no evil nor mischief

On the (face of the) earth.

61. And remember ye said:

"O Moses! we cannot endure

One kind of food (always);

So beseech thy Lord for us

To produce for us of what the earth

Groweth,--its pot-herbs, and cucumbers,

Its garlic, lentils, and onions."

He said: "Will ye exchange

The better for the worse?

Go ye down to any town,"

And ye shall find what ye want!"

p. 33

They were covered with humiliation

And misery; they drew

On themselves the wrath of God.

This because they went on

Rejecting the Signs of God

And slaying His Messengers

Without just cause.

This because they rebelled

And went on transgressing.

Section 8.

62. Those who believe (in the Qur-n),

And those who follow the Jewish (scriptures),

And the Christians and the Sabians,--

Any who believe in God

And the Last Day,

And work righteousness,

Shall have their reward

p. 34

With their Lord: on them

Shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

63. And remember We took

Your Covenant

And We raised above you

(The towering height)

Of Mount (Sinai):

(Saying): "Hold firmly

To what We have given you

And bring (ever) to remembrance

What is therein:

Perchance ye may fear God."

64. But ye turned back thereafter:

Had it not been for the Grace

And Mercy of God to you,

Ye had surely been

Among the lost.

65. And well ye knew

Those amongst you

Who transgressed

In the matter of the Sabbath:

We said to them:

"Be ye apes,

Despised and rejected."

66. So We made it an example

To their own time

p. 35

And to their posterity,

And a lesson

To those who fear God.

67. And remember Moses said

To his people: "God commands

That ye sacrifice a heifer."

They said: "Makest thou

A laughing-stock of us?"

He said: "God save me

From being an ignorant (fool)!"

68. They said: "Beseech on our behalf

Thy Lord to make plain to us

What (heifer) it is!"

He said: "He says: the heifer

Should be neither too old

Nor too young, but of middling

Age: now do what ye are commanded!"

69. They said: "Beseech on our behalf

Thy Lord to make plain to us

Her colour." He said: "He says:

A fawn-coloured heifer,

Pure and rich in tone,

The admiration of beholders!"

70. They said: "Beseech on our behalf

Thy Lord to make plain to us

What she is: to us are all heifers

Alike: we wish indeed for guidance,

If God wills."

p. 36

71. He said: "He says: a heifer

Not trained to till the soil

Or water the fields: sound

And without blemish." They said:

"Now hast thou brought

The truth." Then they offered

Her in sacrifice,

But not with good-will.

Section 9.

72. Remember ye slew a man

And fell into a dispute

Among yourselves as to the crime:

But God was to bring forth

What ye did hide.

73. So We said: "Strike the (body)

With a piece of the (heifer)."

Thus God bringeth the dead

To life and showeth you His Signs:

Perchance ye may understand.

74. Thenceforth were your hearts

Hardened: they became

Like a rock and even worse

In hardness. For among rocks

There are some from which

Rivers gush forth; others

There are which when split

Asunder send forth water;

And others which sink

p. 37

For fear of God. And God is

Not unmindful of what ye do.

75. Can ye (O ye men of Faith)

Entertain the hope that they

Will believe in you?--

Seeing that a party of them

Heard the Word of God,

And perverted it knowingly

After they understood it.

76. Behold! when they meet

The men of Faith, they say:

"We believe": but when

They meet each other in private,

They say: "Shall you tell them

What God hath revealed to you,

That they may engage you

In argument about it

Before your Lord?"--

Do ye not understand (their aim)?

77. Know they not that God

Knoweth what they conceal

And what they reveal?

p. 38

78. And there are among them

Illiterates, who know not the Book,

But (see therein their own) desires,

And they do nothing but conjecture.

79. Then woe to those who write

The Book with their own hands,

And then say: "This is from God,"

To traffic with it

For a miserable price!--

Woe to them for what their hands

Do write, and for the gain

They make thereby.

80. And they say: "The Fire

Shall not touch us

But for a few numbered days:"

Say: "Have ye taken a promise

From God, for He never

Breaks His promise?

Or is it that ye say of God

What ye do not know?"

81. Nay, those who seek gain

In Evil, and are girt round

By their sins,

They are Companions of the Fire:

Therein shall they abide

(For ever).

82. But those who have faith

And work righteousness,

p. 39

They are Companions of the Garden:

Therein shall they abide

(For ever).

Section 10.

83. And remember We took

A Covenant from the Children

Of Israel (to this effect):

Worship none but God;

Treat with kindness

Your parents and kindred,

And orphans and those in need;

Speak fair to the people;

Be steadfast in prayer;

And practise regular charity.

Then did ye turn back,

Except a few among you,

And ye backslide (even now).

84. And remember We took

Your Covenant (to this effect):

Shed no blood amongst you,

Nor turn out your own people

From your homes: and this

Ye solemnly ratified,

And to this ye can bear witness.

85. After this it is ye, the same people,

Who slay among yourselves,

And banish a party of you

From their homes; assist

(Their enemies) against them,

In guilt and rancour;

And if they come to you

As captives, ye ransom them,

p. 40

Though it was not lawful

For you to banish them.

Then is it only a part of the Book

That ye believe in,

And do ye reject the rest?

But what is the reward for those

Among you who behave like this

But disgrace in this life?--

And on the Day of Judgment

They shall be consigned

To the most grievous penalty.

For God is not unmindful

Of what ye do.

86. These are the people who buy

The life of this world at the price

Of the Hereafter: their penalty

Shall not be lightened

Nor shall they be helped.

Section 11.

87. We gave Moses the Book

And followed him up

With a succession of Apostles;

We gave Jesus the son of Mary

Clear (Signs) and strengthened him

With the holy spirit. Is it

That whenever there comes to you

An Apostle with what ye

Yourselves desire not, ye are

Puffed up with pride?--

Some ye called impostors,

And others ye slay!

p. 41

88. They say, "Our hearts

Are the wrappings (which preserve

God's Word: we need no more)."

Nay, God's curse is on them

For their blasphemy:

Little is it they believe.

89. And when there comes to them

A Book from God, confirming

What is with them,--although

From of old they had prayed

For victory against those

Without Faith,--when there comes.

To them that which they

(Should) have recognized,

They refuse to believe in it

But the curse of God

Is on those without Faith.

90. Miserable is the price

For which they have sold

Their souls, in that they

Deny (the revelation)

Which God has sent down,

In insolent envy that God

Of His Grace should send it

To any of His servants He pleases:

p. 42

Thus have they drawn

On themselves Wrath upon Wrath.

And humiliating is the punishment

Of those who reject Faith.

91. When it is said to them,

"Believe in what God

Hath sent down," they say,

"We believe in what was sent down

To us": yet they reject

All besides, even if it be Truth

Confirming what is with them.

Say: "Why then have ye slain

The prophets of God in times

Gone by, if ye did indeed

Believe?"

92. There came to you Moses

With clear (Signs); yet

Ye worshipped the Calf

(Even) after that, and ye

Did behave wrongfully.

93. And remember We took

Your Covenant and We raised

Above you (the towering height)

Of Mount (Sinai):

(Saying): "Hold firmly

To what We have given you,

And hearken (to the Law)"

They said: "We hear,

And we disobey"

And they had to drink

p. 43

Into their hearts

(Of the taint) of the Calf

Because of their Faithlessness.

Say: "Vile indeed

Are the behests of your Faith

If ye have any faith!"

94. Say: "If the last Home,

With God, be for you specially,

And not for anyone else,

Then seek ye for death,

If ye are sincere."

95. But they will never seek

For death, on account of the (sins)

Which their hands have sent

On before them.

And God is well-acquainted

With the wrong-doers.

96. Thou wilt indeed find them,

Of all people, most greedy

Of life,--even more

Than the idolaters:

Each one of them wishes

He could be given a life

Of a thousand years:

But the grant of such life

Will not save him

From (due) punishment.

For God sees well

All that they do.

Section 12.

97. Say: Whoever is an enemy

To Gabriel--for he brings down

p. 44

The (revelation) to thy heart

By God's will, a confirmation

Of what went before,

And guidance and glad tidings

For those who believe,--

98. Whoever is an enemy to God

And His angels and apostles,

To Gabriel and Michael,--

Lo! God is an enemy to those

Who reject Faith.

99. We have sent down to thee

Manifest Signs ("yt");

And none reject them

But those who are perverse.

100. Is it not (the case) that

Every time they make a Covenant,

Some party among them

Throw it aside?--Nay,

Most of them are faithless.

101. And when there came to them

An Apostle from God,

Confirming what was with them,

A party of the People of the Book

Threw away the Book of God

Behind their backs,

As if (it had been something)

They did not know!

102. They followed what the evil ones

Gave out (falsely)

Against the power

Of Solomon: the blasphemers

Were, not Solomon, but

The evil ones, teaching men

p. 45

Magic, and such things

As came down at Babylon

To the angels Hrt and Mrt.

But neither of these taught anyone

(Such things) without saying:

"We are only for trial;

So do not blaspheme."

They learned from them

The means to sow discord

Between man and wife.

But they could not thus

Harm anyone except

By God's permission.

And they learned what harmed them,

Not what profited them.

And they knew that the buyers

Of (magic) would have

No share in the happiness

Of the Hereafter. And vile

Was the price for which

They did sell their souls,

If they but knew!

103. If they had kept their Faith

And guarded themselves from evil,

p. 46

Far better had been

The reward from their Lord,

If they but knew!

Section 13

104. ye of Faith!

Say not (to the Apostle)

Words of ambiguous import,

But words of respect;

And hearken (to him):

To those without Faith

Is a grievous punishment.

105. It is never the wish

Of those without Faith

Among the People of the Book,

Nor of the Pagans,

That anything good

Should come down to you

From your Lord.

But God will choose

For His special Mercy

Whom He will--for God is

Lord of grace abounding.

106. None of Our revelations

Do We abrogate

Or cause to be forgotten,

But We substitute

p. 47

Something better or similar:

Knowest thou not that God

Hath power over all things?

107. Knowest thou not

That to God belongeth

The dominion of the heavens

And the earth?

And besides Him ye have

Neither patron nor helper.

108. Would ye question

Your Apostle as Moses's

Was questioned of old?

But whoever changeth

From Faith to Unbelief,

Hath strayed without doubt

From the even way.

109. Quite a number of the People

Of the Book wish they could

Turn you (people) back

To infidelity after ye have believed,

From selfish envy,

After the Truth hath become

Manifest unto them:

But forgive and overlook,

Till God accomplish

His purpose; for God

Hath power over all things.'

p. 48

110. And be steadfast in prayer

And regular in charity:

And whatever good

Ye send forth for your souls

Before you, ye shall find it

With God: for God sees

Well all that ye do.

111. And they say: "None

Shall enter Paradise unless

He be a Jew or a Christian."

Those are their (vain) desires.

Say: "Produce your proof

If ye are truthful."

112. Nay,--whoever submits

His whole self to God

And is a doer of good,

He will get his reward

With his Lord;

On such shall be no fear,

Nor shall they grieve.

Section 14.

113. The Jews say: "The Christians

Have naught (to stand) upon;

And the Christians say:

"The Jews have naught

(To stand) upon." Yet they

(Profess to) study the (same) Book.

Like unto their word

Is what those say who know not;

p. 49

But God will judge

Between them in their quarrel

On the Day of Judgment.

114. And who is more unjust

Than he who forbids

That in places for the worship

Of God, God's name should be

Celebrated?--whose zeal

Is (in fact) to ruin them?

It was not fitting that such

Should themselves enter them

Except in fear. For them

There is nothing but disgrace

In this world, and in the world

To come, an exceeding torment.

115. To God belong the East

And the West: whithersoever

Ye turn, there is the Presence

Of God. For God is All-Pervading,

All-Knowing.

116. They say: "God hath begotten

A son": Glory be to Him.--Nay,

To Him belongs all

That is in the heavens

And on earth: everything

Renders worship to Him.'"

117. To Him is due

The primal origin

p. 50

Of the heavens and the earth:

When He decreeth a matter,

He saith to it: "Be,"

And it is.

118. Say those without knowledge:

"Why speaketh not God

Unto us? Or why cometh not

Unto us a Sign?"

So said the people before them

Words of similar import.

Their hearts are alike.

We have indeed made clear

The Signs unto any people

Who hold firmly

To Faith (in their hearts).

119. Verily We have sent thee

In truth as a bearer

Of glad tidings and a warner:

But of thee no question

Shall be asked of the Companions

Of the Blazing Fire.

120. Never will the Jews

Or the Christians be satisfied

With thee unless thou follow

Their form of religion. Say:

p. 51

\"The Guidance of God,--that

Is the (only) Guidance."

Wert thou to follow their desires

After the knowledge

Which hath reached thee,

Then wouldst thou find

Neither Protector nor Helper

Against God.

121. Those to whom We have sent

The Book study it as it

Should be studied: they are

The ones that believe therein:

Those who reject faith therein,--

The loss is their own.

Section 15.

122. O Children of Israel! call to mind

The special favour which I bestowed

Upon you, and that I preferred you

To all others (for My Message).

123. Then guard yourselves against a Day

p. 52

When one soul shall not avail another,

Nor shall compensation be

accepted from her

Nor shall intercession profit her

Nor shall anyone be helped (from outside).

124. And remember that Abraham

Was tried by his Lord

With certain Commands,

Which he fulfilled:

He said: "I will make thee

An Imm to the Nations."

He pleaded: "And also

(Imms) from my offspring!"

He answered: "But My Promise

Is not within the reach

Of evil-doers."

125. Remember We made the House

A place of assembly for men

And a place of safety;

And take ye the Station

Of Abraham as a place

Of prayer; and We covenanted

With Abraham and lsm'l,

That they should sanctify

My House for those who

Compass it round, or use it

p. 53

As a retreat, or bow, or

Prostrate themselves (therein

In prayer).

126. And remember Abraham said:

"My Lord, make this a City

Of Peace, and feed its People

With fruits,--such of them

As believe in God and the Last Day."

He said: "(Yea), and such as

Reject Faith,--for a while

Will I grant them their pleasure,

But will soon drive them

To the torment of Fire,--

An evil destination (indeed)!"

127. And remember Abraham

And Ism'l raised

The foundations of the House

(With this prayer): "Our Lord!

Accept (this service) from us:

For Thou art the All-Hearing,

The All-Knowing.

128. \"Our Lord! make of us

Muslims, bowing to Thy (Will),

And of our progeny a people

Muslim, bowing to Thy (Will);

And show us our places for

The celebration of (due) rites;

And turn unto us (in Mercy);

For Thou art the Oft-Returning,

Most Merciful.

129. \"Our Lord! send amongst them

An Apostle of their own,

Who shall rehearse Thy Signs

To them and instruct them

p. 54

In Scripture and Wisdom,

And sanctify them:

For Thou art the Exalted in Might,

The Wise."

Section 16.

130. And who turns away

From the religion of Abraham

But such as debase their souls

With folly? Him We chose

And rendered pure in this world:

And he will be in the Hereafter

In the ranks of the Righteous.

131. Behold! his Lord said

To him: "Bow (thy will to Me):"

He said: "I bow (my will)

To the Lord and Cherisher

Of the Universe."

132. And this was the legacy

That Abraham left to his sons,

And so did Jacob;

"Oh my sons! God hath chosen

The Faith for you; then die not

Except in the Faith of Islam."

133. Were ye witnesses

When Death appeared before Jacob?

Behold, he said to his sons:

"What will ye worship after me?"

They said: "We shall worship

p. 55

Thy God and the God of thy fathers,--

Of Abraham, Ism'l, and Isaac,--

The One (True) God:

To Him we bow (in Islam)."

134. That was a People that hath

Passed away. They shall reap

The fruit of what they did,

And ye of what ye do!

Of their merits

There is no question in your case!

135. They say: "Become Jews

Or Christians if ye would be guided

(To salvation)." Say thou:

"Nay! (I would rather) the Religion

Of Abraham the True,

And he joined not gods with God."

136. Say ye: "We believe

In God, and the revelation

Given to us, and to Abraham,

Ism'l, Isaac, Jacob,

And the Tribes, and that given

To Moses and Jesus, and that given

To (all) Prophets from their Lord:

We make no difference

Between one and another of them:

And we bow to God (in Islam)."

137. So if they believe

As ye believe, they are indeed

On the right path; but if

They turn back, it is they

p. 56

Who are in schism; but God will

Suffice thee as against them,

And He is the All-Hearing,

The All-Knowing.

138. (Our religion is)

The Baptism of God:

And who can baptize better

Than God? And it is He

Whom we worship.

139. Say: Will ye dispute

With us about God, seeing

That He is our Lord

And your Lord; that we

Are responsible for our doings

And ye for yours; and that

We are sincere (in our faith) In him?

140. Or do ye say that

Abraham, Ism'l, Isaac,

Jacob and the Tribes were

Jews or Christians?

Say: Do ye know better

Than God? Ah! who

Is more unjust than those

Who conceal the testimony

They have from God?

But God is not unmindful

Of what ye do!

141. That was a people that hath

Passed away. They shall reap

The fruit of what they did,

And ye of what ye do!

Of their merits

There is no question in your case:

p. 57

Section 17.

142. The Fools among the people

Will say: "What hath turned

Them from the Qibla to which

They were used?" Say:

To God belong both East and West:

He guideth whom He will

To a Way that is straight.

143. Thus have We made of you

An "Ummat" justly balanced,

That ye might be witnesses

Over the nations,

p. 58

And the Apostle a witness

Over yourselves;

And We appointed the Qibla

To which thou wast used,

Only to test those who followed

The Apostle from those

Who would turn on their heels

(From the Faith). Indeed it was

(A change) momentous, except

To those guided by God.

And never would God

Make your faith of no effect.

For God is to all people

Most surely full of kindness,

Most Merciful.

144. We see the turning

Of thy face (for guidance)

To the heavens: now

Shall We turn thee

To a Qibla that shall

Please thee. Turn then

Thy face in the direction

Of the sacred Mosque:

Wherever ye are, turn

Your faces in that direction.

p. 59

The people of the Book

Know well that that is

The truth from their Lord.

Nor is God unmindful

Of what they do.

145. Even if thou wert to bring

To the people of the Book

All the Signs (together),

They would not follow

Thy Qibla; nor art thou

Going to follow their Qibla;

Nor indeed will they follow

Each other's Qibla. If thou

After the knowledge hath reached thee,

Wert to follow their (vain)

Desires,--then wert thou

Indeed (clearly) in the wrong.

146. The people of the Book

Know this as they know

Their own sons; but some

Of them conceal the truth

Which they themselves know.

147. The Truth is from thy Lord;

So be not at all in doubt.

p. 60

Section 18.

148. To each is a goal

To which God turns him;

Then strive together (as in a race)

Towards all that is good.

Wheresoever ye are,

God will bring you

Together, For God

Hath power over all things.

149. From whencesoever

Thou startest forth, turn

Thy face in the direction

Of the Sacred Mosque;

That is indeed the truth

From thy Lord. And God

Is not unmindful

Of what ye do.

150. So from whencesoever

Thou startest forth, turn

Thy face in the direction

Of the Sacred Mosque;

And wheresoever ye are,

Turn your face thither:

That there be no ground

Of dispute against you

Among the people,

Except those of them that are

Bent on wickedness; so fear

Them not, but fear Me;

And that I may complete

My favours on you, and ye

May (consent to) be guided;

p. 61

151. A similar (favour

Have ye already received)

In that We have sent

Among you an Apostle

Of your own, rehearsing to you

Our Signs, and sanctifying

You, and instructing you

In Scripture and Wisdom,

And in new Knowledge.

152. Then do ye remember

Me; I will remember

You. Be grateful to Me,

And reject not Faith.

Section 19.

153. O ye who believe! seek help

With patient Perseverance

And Prayer: for God is with those

Who patiently persevere.

154. And say not of those

Who are slain in the way

p. 62

Of God: "They are dead."

Nay, they are living,

Though ye perceive (it) not.

155. Be sure we shall test you

With something of fear

And hunger, some loss

In goods or lives or the fruits

(Of your toil), but give

Glad tidings to those

Who patiently persevere,--

156. Who say, when afflicted

With calamity: "To God

We belong, and to Him

Is our return":--

157. They are those on whom

(Descend) blessings from God,

And Mercy,

And they are the ones

That receive guidance.

158. Behold! afa and Marwa

Are among the Symbols

Of God. So if those who visit

The House in the Season

Or at other times,

Should compass them round,

It is no sin in them.

And if any one obeyeth his own

p. 63

Impulse to Good,--

Be sure that God

Is He Who recogniseth

And knoweth.

159. Those who conceal

The clear (Signs) We have

Sent down, and the Guidance,

After We have made it

Clear for the People

In the Book,--on them

Shall be God's curse,

And the curse of those

Entitled to curse,--

160. Except those who repent

And make amends

And openly declare (the Truth):

To them I turn;

For I am Oft-returning,

Most Merciful.

161. Those who reject Faith,

And die rejecting,--

On them is God's curse,

And the curse of angels,

And of all mankind;

162. They will abide therein:

Their penalty will not

Be lightened, nor will

Respite be their (lot).

163. And your God

Is One God:

There is no god

But He,

p. 64

Most Gracious,

Most Merciful.

Section 20.

164. Behold! In the creation

Of the heavens and the earth;

In the alternation

Of the Night and the Day;

In the sailing of the ships

Through the Ocean

For the profit of mankind;

In the rain which God

Sends down from the skies,

And the life which He gives therewith

To an earth that is dead;

In the beasts of all kinds

That He scatters

Through the earth;

In the change of the winds,

And the clouds which they

Trail like their slaves

Between the sky and the earth;--

(Here) indeed are Signs

For a people that are wise.

165. Yet there are men

Who take (for worship)

Others besides God,

As equal (with God):

p. 65

They love them

As they should love God.

But those of Faith are

Overflowing in their love

For God. If only

The unrighteous could see,

Behold, they would see

The Penalty: that to God

Belongs all power, and God

Will strongly enforce

The Penalty.

166 Then would those

Who are followed

Clear themselves of those

Who follow (them):

They would see the Penalty,

And all relations

Between them would be cut off.

167. And those who followed

Would say: "If only

We had one more chance,

We would clear ourselves

Of them, as they have

Cleared themselves of us."

Thus will God show them

(The fruits of) their deeds

As (nothing but) regrets.

Nor will there be a way

For them out of the Fire.

p. 66

Section 21.

168. O ye people!

Eat of what is on earth,

Lawful and good;

And do not follow

The footsteps of the Evil One,

For he is to you

An avowed enemy.

p. 67

169. For he commands you

What is evil

And shameful,

And that ye should say

Of God that of which

Ye have no knowledge.

170. When it is said to them:

"Follow what God hath revealed:"

They say: "Nay! we shall follow

The ways of our fathers."

What! even though their fathers

Were void of wisdom and guidance?

171. The parable of those

Who reject Faith is

As if one were to shout

Like a goat-herd, to things

That listen to nothing

But calls and cries:

Deaf, dumb, and blind,

They are void of wisdom.

172 O ye who believe!

Eat of the good things

That We have provided for you,

And be grateful to God,

If it is Him ye worship.

173. He hath only forbidden you

Dead meat, and blood,

And the flesh of swine,

And that on which

p. 68

Any other name hath been invoked

Besides that of God.

But if one is forced by necessity,

Without wilful disobedience,

Nor transgressing due limits,--

Then is he guiltless.

For God is Oft-forgiving

Most Merciful.

174. Those who conceal

God's revelations in the Book,

And purchase for them

A miserable profit,--

They swallow into themselves

Naught but Fire;

God will not address them

On the Day of Resurrection,

Nor purify them:

Grievous will be

Their Penalty.

175. They are the ones

Who buy Error

In place of Guidance

And Torment in place

Of Forgiveness.

Ah! what boldness

(They show) for the Fire!

176. (Their doom is) because

God sent down the Book

In truth but those who seek

Causes of dispute in the Book

p. 69

Are in a schism

Far (from the purpose).

Section 22.

177. It is not righteousness

That ye turn your faces

Towards East or West;

But it is righteousness--

To believe in God

And the Last Day,

And the Angels,

And the Book,

And the Messengers;

To spend of your substance,

Out of love for Him,

For your kin,

For orphans,

For the needy,

For the wayfarer,

For those who ask,

And for the ransom of slaves;

To be steadfast in prayer,

And practice regular charity;

To fulfil the contracts

Which ye have made;

p. 70

And to be firm and patient,

In pain (or suffering)

And adversity,

And throughout

All periods of panic.

Such are the people

Of truth, the God-fearing.

178. O ye who believe!

The law of equality

Is prescribed to you

In cases of murder:

The free for the free,

The slave for the slave,

The woman for the woman.

But if any remission

Is made by the brother

Of the slain, then grant

Any reasonable demand,

And compensate him

p. 71

With handsome gratitude.

This is a concession

And a Mercy

From your Lord.

After this whoever

Exceeds the limits

Shall be in grave penalty.

179. In the Law of Equality

There is (saving of) Life

To you, O ye men of understanding;

That ye may

Restrain yourselves.

180. It is prescribed,

When death approaches

Any of you, if he leave

Any goods, that he make a bequest

To parents and next of kin,

According to reasonable usage;

This is due

From the God-fearing.

181. If anyone changes the bequest

After hearing it,

The guilt shall be on those

Who make the change.

For God hears and knows

(All things).

182. But if anyone fears

Partiality or wrong-doing

On the part of the testator,

And makes peace between

p. 72

(The parties concerned),

There is no wrong in him:

For God is Oft-forgiving,

Most Merciful.

Section 23.

183. O ye who believe!

Fasting is prescribed to you

As it was prescribed

To those before you,

That ye may (learn)

Self-restraint,--

184. (Fasting) for a fixed

Number of days;

But if any of you is ill,

Or on a journey,

The prescribed number

(Should be made up)

From days later.

For those who can do it

(With hardship), is a ransom,

The feeding of one

That is indigent.

But he that will give

More, of his own free will,--

It is better for him.

And it is better for you

That ye fast,

If ye only knew.

p. 73

185. Ramadhn is the (month)

In which was sent down

The Qur-n, as a guide

To mankind, also clear (Signs)

For guidance and judgment

(Between right and wrong).

So every one of you

Who is present (at his home)

During that month

Should spend it in fasting,

But if any one is ill,

Or on a journey,

The prescribed period

(Should be made up)

By days later.

God intends every facility

For you; He does not want

To put you to difficulties.

(He wants you) to complete

The prescribed period,

And to glorify Him

In that He has guided you;

And perchance ye shall be grateful.

186. When My servants

Ask thee concerning Me,

I am indeed

Close (to them): I listen

To the prayer of every

Suppliant when he calleth on Me:

Let them also, with a will,

Listen to My call,

And believe in Me:

That they may walk

In the right way.

187. Permitted to you,

On the night of the fasts,

Is the approach to your wives.

They are your garments

p. 74

And ye are their garments.

God knoweth what ye

Used to do secretly among yourselves;

But He turned to you

And forgave you;

So now associate with them,

And seek what God

Hath ordained for you,

And eat and drink,

Until the white thread

Of dawn appear to you

Distinct from its black thread;

Then complete your fast

Till the night appears;

But do not associate

With your wives

While ye are in retreat

In the mosques. Those are

Limits (set by) God:

Approach not nigh thereto.

Thus doth God make clear

His Signs to men: that

They may learn self-restraint.

188. And do not eat up

Your property among yourselves

For vanities, nor use it

As bait for the judges,

With intent that ye may

Eat up wrongfully and knowingly

p. 75

A little of (other) people's property.

Section 24.

189. They ask thee

Concerning the New Moons.

Say: They are but signs

To mark fixed periods of time

In (the affairs of) men,

And for Pilgrimage.

It is no virtue if ye enter

Your houses from the back:

It is virtue if ye fear God.

Enter houses

Through the proper doors:

And fear God:

That ye may prosper.

190. Fight in the cause of God

Those who fight you,

But do not transgress limits;

For God loveth not transgressors.

191. And slay them

Wherever ye catch them,

And turn them out

From where they have

p. 76

Turned you out;

For tumult and oppression

Are worse than slaughter;

But fight them not

At the Sacred Mosque,

Unless they (first)

Fight you there;

But if they fight you,

Slay them.

Such is the reward

Of those who suppress faith.

192. But if they cease,

God is Oft-forgiving,

Most Merciful.

193. And fight them on

Until there is no more

Tumult or oppression,

And there prevail

Justice and faith in God;

But if they cease,

Let there be no hostility

Except to those

Who practise oppression.

p. 77

194. The prohibited month

For the prohibited month,--

And so for all things prohibited,--

There is the law of equality.

If then any one transgresses

The prohibition against you,

Transgress ye likewise

Against him.

But fear God, and know

That God is with those

Who restrain themselves.

195. And spend of your substance

In the cause of God,

And make not your own hands

Contribute to (your) destruction;

But do good;

For God loveth those

Who do good.

196. And complete

The."Hajj" or "'umra"

p. 78

In the service of God.

But if ye are prevented

(From completing it),

Send an offering

For sacrifice,

Such as ye may find,

And do not shave your heads

Until the offering reaches

The place of sacrifice.

And if any of you is ill,

Or has an ailment in his scalp,

(Necessitating shaving),

(He should) in compensation

Either fast, or feed the poor,

Or offer sacrifice;

And when ye are

In peaceful conditions (again),

If any one wishes

To continue the "'umra"

On to the "ajj",

He must make an offering,

Such as he can afford,

But if he cannot afford it,

He should fast

Three days during the "ajj"

And seven days on his return,

Making ten days in all.

This is for those

Whose household

Is not in (the precincts

Of) the Sacred Mosque.

And fear God,

And know that God.

Is strict in punishment?

p. 79

Section 25.

197. For "ajj"

Are the months well known.

If any one undertakes

That duty therein,

Let there be no obscenity,

Nor wickedness,

Nor wrangling

In the "ajj".

And whatever good

Ye do, (be sure)

God knoweth it.

And take a provision

(With you) for the journey,

But the best of provisions

Is right conduct.

So fear Me,

O ye that are wise.

198. It is no crime in you

If ye seek of the bounty

Of your Lord (during pilgrimage).

Then when ye pour down

From (Mount) 'Araft,

Celebrate the praises of God

At the Sacred Monument,

p. 80

And celebrate His praises

As He has directed you,

Even though, before this,

Ye went astray.

199. Then pass on

At a quick pace from the place

Whence it is usual

For the multitude

So to do, and ask

For God's forgiveness.

For God is Oft-forgiving,

Most Merciful.

200. So when ye have

Accomplished your holy rites,

Celebrate the praises of God,

As ye used to celebrate

The praises of your fathers,--

Yea, with far more

Heart and soul.

There are men who say:

"Our Lord! Give us

(Thy bounties) in this world!"

But they will have

No portion in the Hereafter.

201. And there are men who say:

"Our Lord! Give us

Good in this world

And good in the Hereafter,

And defend us

From the torment

Of the Fire!"

p. 81

202. To these will be allotted

What they have earned;

And God is quick in account.

203. Celebrate the praises of God

During the Appointed Days.

But if any one hastens

To leave in two days,

There is no blame on him,

And if any one stays on,

There is no blame on him,

If his aim is to do right.

Then fear God, and know

That ye will surely

Be gathered unto Him.

204. There is the type of man

Whose speech

About this world's life

May dazzle thee,

And he calls God to witness

About what is in his heart;

Yet is he the most contentious

Of enemies.

205. When he turns his back,

His aim everywhere

Is to spread mischief

Through the earth and destroy

Crops and cattle.

But God loveth not mischief.

206. When it is said to him,

"Fear God,"

He is led by arrogance

To (more) crime.

p. 82

Enough for him is Hell;--

An evil bed indeed

(To lie on)!

207. And there is the type of man

Who gives his life

To earn the pleasure of God;

And God is full of kindness

To (His) devotees.

208. O ye who believe!

Enter into Islam

Whole-heartedly;

And follow not

The footsteps

Of the Evil One;

For he is to you

An avowed enemy.

209. If ye backslide

After the clear (Signs)

Have come to you,

Then know that God

Is Exalted in Power, Wise.

210. Will they wait

Until God comes to them

In canopies of clouds,

With angels (in His train)

And the question

Is (thus) settled?

But to God

Do all questions

Go back (for decision).

Section 26.

211. Ask the Children of Israel

How many Clear (Signs)

p. 83

We have sent them.

But if any one,

After God's favour

Has come to him,

Substitutes (something else),

God is strict in punishment.

212. The life of this world

Is alluring to those

Who reject faith,

And they scoff at those

Who believe.

But the righteous

Will be above them

On the Day of Resurrection;

For God bestows His abundance

Without measure

On whom He will.

213. Mankind was one single nation,

And God sent Messengers

With glad tidings and warnings;

And with them He sent

The Book in truth,

To judge between people

In matters wherein

They differed;

But the People of the Book,

After the clear Signs

Came to them, did not differ

Among themselves,

Except through selfish contumacy.

God by His Grace

Guided the Believers

To the Truth,

Concerning that

Wherein they differed.

For God guides

Whom He will

To a path

That is straight.

214. Or do ye think

That ye shall enter

p. 84

The Garden (of Bliss)

Without such (trials)

As came to those

Who passed away

Before you?

They encountered

Suffering and adversity,

And were so shaken in spirit

That even the Apostle

And those of faith

Who were with him

Cried: "When (will come)

The help of God?"

Ah! Verily, the help of God

Is (always) near!

215. They ask thee

What they should spend

(In charity). Say: Whatever

Ye spend that is good,

Is for parents and kindred

And orphans

And those in want

And for wayfarers.

And whatever ye do

That is good,--God

Knoweth it well.

216. Fighting is prescribed

For you, and ye dislike it.

But it is possible

That ye dislike a thing

Which is good for you,

And that ye love a thing

Which is bad for you.

But God knoweth,

And ye know not.

p. 85

Section 27.

217. They ask thee

Concerning fighting

In the Prohibited Month.

Say: "Fighting therein

Is a grave (offence);

But graver is it

In the sight of God

To prevent access

To the path of God,

To deny Him,

To prevent access

To the Sacred Mosque,

And drive out its members.

Tumult and oppression

Are worse than slaughter.

Nor will they cease

Fighting you until

They turn you back

From your faith

If they can.

And if any of you

Turn back from their faith

And die in unbelief,

Their works will bear no fruit

In this life

And in the Hereafter;

They will be

Companions of the Fire

And will abide therein.

218. Those who believed

And those who suffered exile

And fought (and strove and struggled)

In the path of God,--

They have the hope

Of the Mercy of God;

And God is Oft-forgiving,

Most Merciful.

p. 86

219. They ask thee

Concerning wine and gambling.

Say: "In them is great sin,

And some profit, for men;

But the sin is greater

Than the profit."

Whey ask thee how much

They are to spend;

Say: "What is beyond

Your needs."

Thus doth God

Make clear to you

His Signs: in order that

Ye may consider--

220. (Their bearings) on

This life and the Hereafter.

They ask thee

Concerning orphans.

Say: "The best thing to do

Is what is for their good;

If ye mix

Their affairs with yours,

They are your brethren;

But God knows

p. 87

The man who means mischief

From the man who means good.

And if God had wished,

He could have put you

Into difficulties: He is indeed

Exalted in Power, Wise.

221. Do not marry

Unbelieving women (idolaters),

Until they believe:

A slave woman who believes

Is better than an unbelieving woman,

Even though she allure you.

Nor marry (your girls)

To unbelievers until

They believe:

A man slave who believes

Is better than an unbeliever,

Even though he allure you.

Unbelievers do (but)

Beckon you to the Fire.

But God beckons by His Grace

To the Garden (of Bliss)

And forgiveness,

And makes His Signs

Clear to mankind:

That they may

Celebrate His praise.

Section 28.

222. They ask thee

Concerning women's courses.

Say: They are

A hurt and a pollution:

p. 88

So keep away from women

In their courses, and do not

Approach them until

They are clean.

But when they have

Purified themselves,

Ye may approach them

In any manner, time, or place

Ordained for you by God.

For God loves those

Who turn to Him constantly

And He loves those

Who keep themselves pure and clean,

223. Your wives are

As a tilth unto you;

So approach your tilth

When or how ye will;

But do some good act

For your souls beforehand;

And fear God,

And know that ye are

To meet Him (in the Hereafter),

And give (these) good tidings

To those who believe.

224. And make not

God's (name) an excuse

In your oaths against

Doing good, or acting rightly,

Or making peace

Between persons;

p. 89

For God is One

Who heareth and knoweth

All things.

225. God will not

Call you to account

For thoughtlessness

In your oaths,

But for the intention

In your hearts;

And He is

Oft-forgiving

Most Forbearing.

226. For those who take

An oath for abstention

From their wives,

A waiting for four months

Is ordained;

If then they return,

God is Oft-forgiving,

Most Merciful.

227. But if their intention

Is firm for divorce,

God heareth

And knoweth all things.

228. Divorced women

Shall wait concerning themselves

p. 90

For three monthly periods.

Nor is it lawful for them

To hide what God

Hath created in their wombs,

If they have faith

In God and the Last Day.

And their husbands

Have the better right

To take them back

In that period, if

They wish for reconciliation.

And women shall have rights

Similar to the rights

Against them, according

To what is equitable;

But men have a degree

(Of advantage) over them.

And God is Exalted in Power, Wise.

Section 29.

229. A divorce is only

Permissible twice: after that,

The parties should either hold

Together on equitable terms,

Or separate with kindness.

It is not lawful for you,

(Men), to take back

Any of your gifts (from your wives)

Except when both parties

Fear that they would be

Unable to keep the limits

p. 91

Ordained by God.

If ye (judges) do indeed

Fear that they would be

Unable to keep the limits

Ordained by God,

There is no blame on either

Of them if she give

Something for her freedom.

These are the limits

Ordained by God;

So do not transgress them

If any do transgress

The limits ordained by God,

Such persons wrong

(Themselves as well as others).

230. So if a husband

Divorces his wife (irrevocably),

He cannot, after that,

Re-marry her until

After she has married

Another husband and

He has divorced her.

In that case there is

No blame on either of them

If they re-unite, provided

They feel that they

Can keep the limits

Ordained by God.

Such are the limits

Ordained by God,

Which He makes plain

To those who understand.

231. When ye divorce

Women, and they fulfil

p. 92

The term of their ("'Iddat"),

Either take them back

On equitable terms

Or set them free

On equitable terms;

But do not take them back

To injure them, (or) to take

Undue advantage;

If any one does that,

He wrongs his own soul.

Do not treat God's Signs

As a jest,

But solemnly rehearse

God's favours on you,

And the fact that He

Sent down to you

The Book

And Wisdom,

For your instruction.

And fear God,

And know that God

Is well acquainted

With all things.

Section 30.

232. When ye divorce

Women, and they fulfil

The term of their ("'Iddat"),

Do not prevent them

From marrying

Their (former) husbands,

If they mutually agree

On equitable terms.

This instruction

Is for all amongst you,

Who believe in God

And the Last Day.

That is (the course

p. 93

Making for) most virtue

And purity amongst you,

And God knows,

And ye know not.

233. The mothers shall give suck

To their offspring

For two whole years,

If the father desires

To complete the term.

But he shall bear the cost

Of their food and clothing

On equitable terms.

No soul shall have

A burden laid on it

Greater than it can bear.

No mother shall be

Treated unfairly

On account of her child.

Nor father

On account of his child,

An heir shall be chargeable

In the same way.

If they both decide

On weaning,

By mutual consent,

And after due consultation,

There is no blame on them.

If ye decide

On a foster-mother

For your offspring,

There is no blame on you,

Provided ye pay (the mother)

What ye offered,

On equitable terms.

But fear God and know

That God sees well

What ye do.

234. If any of you die

And leave widows behind,

p. 94

They shall wait concerning themselves

Four months and ten days:

When they have fulfilled

Their term, there is no blame

On you if they dispose

Of themselves in a just

And reasonable manner.

And God is well acquainted

With what ye do.

235. There is no blame

On you if ye make

An offer of betrothal

Or hold it in your hearts.

God knows that ye

Cherish them in your hearts:

But do not make a secret contract

With them except in terms

Honourable, nor resolve on the tie

Of marriage till the term

Prescribed is fulfilled.

And know that God

Knoweth what is in your hearts,

And take heed of Him;

And know that God is

Oft-forgiving, Most Forbearing.

Section 31.

236. There is no blame on you

If ye divorce women

Before consummation

Or the fixation of their dower;

But bestow on them

(A suitable gift),

The wealthy

According to his means,

And the poor

According to his means;--

p. 95

A gift of a reasonable amount

Is due from those

Who wish to do the right thing.

237. And if ye divorce them

Before consummation,

But after the fixation

Of a dower for them,

Then the half of the dower

(Is due to them), unless

They remit it

Or (the man's half) is remitted

By him in whose hands

Is the marriage tie;

And the remission

(Of the man's half)

Is the nearest to righteousness.

And do not forget

Liberality between yourselves.

For God sees well

All that ye do.

238. Guard strictly

Your (habit of) prayers,

Especially the Middle Prayer;

And stand before God

In a devout (frame of mind).

239. If ye fear (an enemy),

Pray on foot, or riding,

(As may be most convenient),

But when ye are

In security, celebrate

God's praises in the manner

He has taught you,

Which ye knew not (before).

p. 96

240. Those of you

Who die and leave widows

Should bequeath

For their widows

A year's maintenance

And residence;

But if they leave

(The residence),

There is no blame on you

For what they do

With themselves,

Provided it is reasonable.

And God is Exalted in Power, Wise.

241. For divorced women

Maintenance (should be provided)

On a reasonable (scale).

This is a duty

On the righteous.

242. Thus doth God

Make clear His Signs

To you: in order that

Ye may understand.

p. 97

Section 32.

243. Didst thou not

Turn by vision to those

Who abandoned their homes,

Though they were thousands

(In number), for fear of death?

God said to them: "Die":

Then He restored them to life.

For God is full of bounty

To mankind, but

Most of them are ungrateful.

244. Then fight in the cause

Of God, and know that God

Heareth and knoweth all things.

245. Who is he

That will loan to God

A beautiful loan, which God

Will double unto his credit

And multiply many times?

It is God that giveth (you)

Want or Plenty,

And to Him shall be

Your return.

246. Hast thou not

Turned thy vision to the Chiefs

Of the Children of Israel

After (the time of) Moses?

p. 98

They said to a Prophet

(That was) among them:

"Appoint for us a King, that we

May fight in the cause of God."

He said: "Is it not possible,

If ye were commanded

To fight, that that ye

Will not fight?" They said:

"How could we refuse

To fight in the cause of God,

Seeing that we were turned out

Of our homes and our families?"

But when they were commanded

To fight, they turned back,

Except a small band

Among them. But God

Has full knowledge of those

Who do wrong.

247. Their Prophet said to them:

"God hath appointed

Talut as king over you."

They said: "How can he

Exercise authority over us

When we are better fitted

Than he to exercise authority,

And he is not even gifted,

With wealth in abundance?"

He said: "God hath

Chosen him above you,

And hath gifted him

Abundantly with knowledge

And bodily prowess: God

p. 99

Granteth His authority to whom

He pleaseth. God careth

For all, and He knoweth

All things."

248. And (further) their Prophet

Said to them: "A Sign

Of his authority

Is that there shall come

To you the Ark of the Covenant,

With (an assurance) therein

Of security from your Lord,

And the relics left

By the family of Moses

And the family of Aaron,

Carried by angels.

In this is a Symbol

For you if ye indeed

Have faith."

Section 33.

249. When Talt set forth

With the armies, he said:

"God will test you

At the stream: if any

Drinks of its water,

He goes not with my army:

Only those who taste not

Of it go with me:

A mere sip out of the hand

Is excused." But they all

Drank of it, except a few.

When they crossed the river,--

He and the faithful ones with him,

They said: "This day

We cannot cope

With Goliath and his forces."

p. 100

But those who were convinced

That they must meet God,

Said: "How oft, by God's will,

Hath a small force

Vanquished a big one?

God is with those

Who steadfastly persevere."

250. When they advanced

To meet Goliath and his forces,

They prayed: "Our Lord

Pour out constancy on us

And make our steps firm:

Help us against those

That reject faith."

251. By God's will,

They routed them;

And David slew Goliath;

And God gave him

Power and wisdom

And taught him

Whatever (else) He willed,

And did not God

Check one set of people

By means of another,

The earth would indeed

Be full of mischief:

But God is full of bounty

To all the worlds.

252. These are the Signs

Of God: we rehearse them

To thee in truth: verily

Thou art one of the Apostles.

p. 101

253. Those apostles

Were endowed with gifts,

Some above others

To one of them God spoke;

Others He raised

To degrees (of honour);

To Jesus the son of Mary

We gave Clear (Signs),

And strengthened him

With the holy spirit.

If God had so willed,

Succeeding generations

Would not have fought

Among each other, after

Clear (Signs) had come to them,

But they (chose) to wrangle,

Some believing and Others

Rejecting. If God had so willed,

They would not have fought

Each other; but God

Fulfilleth His plan.

p. 102

Section 34.

254. O ye who believe!

Spend out of (the bounties)

We have provided for you,

Before the Day comes

When no bargaining

(Will avail), nor friendship

Nor intercession.

Those who reject Faith--they

Are the wrong-doers.

255. God! There is no god

But He,--the Living,

The Self-subsisting, Eternal.

No slumber can seize Him

Nor sleep. His are all things

In the heavens and on earth.

Who is there can intercede

In His presence except

As He permitteth? He knoweth

What (appeareth to His creatures

p. 103

As) Before or After

Or Behind them.

Nor shall they compass

Aught of His knowledge

Except as He willeth.

His Throne doth extend

Over the heavens

And the earth, and He feeleth

No fatigue in guarding,

And preserving them

For He is the Most High,

The Supreme (in glory).

256. Let there be no compulsion

In religion: Truth stands out

Clear from Error: whoever

Rejects Evil and believes

In God hath grasped

The most trustworthy

Hand-hold, that never breaks.

And God heareth

And knoweth all things.

257. God is the Protector

Of those who have faith:

p. 104

From the depths of darkness

He will lead them forth

Into light. Of those

Who reject faith the patrons

Are the Evil Ones: from light

They will lead them forth

Into the depths of darkness.

They will be Companions

Of the fire, to dwell therein

(For ever).

Section 35.

258. Hast thou not

Turned thy vision to one

Who disputed with Abraham

About his Lord, because

God had granted him

Power? Abraham said:

"My Lord is He Who

Giveth life and death."

He said: "I give life and death."

Said Abraham: "But it is God

That causeth the sun

To rise from the East:

Do thou then cause him

To rise from the West."

Thus was he confounded

Who (in arrogance) rejected

Faith. Nor doth God

Give guidance

To a people unjust.

259. Or (take) the similitude

Of one who passed

p. 105

By a hamlet, all in ruins

To its roofs. He said:

"Oh! how shall God

Bring it (ever) to life,

After (this) its death?"

But God caused him

To die for a hundred years,

Then raised him up (again).

He said: "How long

Didst thou tarry (thus)?"

He said: "(Perhaps) a day

Or part of a day." He said:

"Nay, thou hast tarried

Thus a hundred years;

But look at thy food

And thy drink; they show

No signs of age; and look

At thy donkey: and that

We may make of thee

A Sign unto the people,

Look further at the bones,

How We bring them together

And clothe them with flesh."

When this was shown clearly

To him, he said: "I know

That God hath power

Over all things."

260. Behold! Abraham said:

"My Lord! Show me how

Thou givest life to the dead."

He said: "Dost thou not

Then believe?" He said:

"Yea! but to satisfy

p. 106

My own understanding."

He said: "Take four birds;

Tame them to turn to thee;

Put a portion of them

On every hill, and call to them:

They will come to thee

(Flying) with speed.

Then know that God

Is Exalted in Power, Wise."

Section 36.

261. The parable of those

Who spend their substance

In the way of God is that

Of a grain of corn: it groweth

Seven ears, and each ear

Hath a hundred grains.

God giveth manifold increase

To whom He pleaseth:

And God careth for all

And He knoweth all things

262. Those who spend

Their substance in the cause

Of God, and follow not up

Their gifts with reminders

Of their generosity

Or with injury,--for them

Their reward is with their Lord:

On them shall be no fear,

Nor shall they grieve.

263. Kind words

And the covering of faults

p. 107

Are better than charity

Followed by injury.

God is Free of all wants,

And He is most Forbearing.

264. O ye who believe!

Cancel not your charity

By reminders of your generosity

Or by injury,--like those

Who spend their substance

To be seen of men,

But believe neither

In God nor in the Last Day.

They are in Parable like a hard,

Barren rock, on which

Is a little soil: on it

Falls heavy rain,

Which leaves it

(Just) a bare stone.

They will be able to do nothing

With aught they have earned.

And God guideth not

Those who reject faith.

265. And the likeness of those

Who spend their substance,

Seeking to please God

And to strengthen their souls,

Is as a garden, high

And fertile: heavy rain

Falls on it but makes it yield

A double increase

Of harvest, and if it receives not

Heavy rain, light moisture

Sufficeth it. God seeth well

Whatever ye do.

p. 108

266. Does any of you wish

That he should have a garden

With date-palms and vines

And streams flowing

Underneath, and all kinds

Of fruit, while he is stricken

With old age, and his children

Are not strong (enough

To look after themselves)--

That it should be caught

In a whirlwind,

With fire therein,

And be burnt up?

Thus doth God make clear

To you (His) Signs;

That ye may consider.

Section 37.

267. O ye who believe!

Give of the good things

Which ye have (honourably) earned,

And of the fruits of the earth

Which We have produced

p. 109

For you, and do not even aim

At getting anything

Which is bad, in order that

Out of it ye may give away

Something, when ye yourselves

Would not receive it

Except with closed eyes.

And know that God

Is Free of all wants,

And Worthy of all praise.

268. The Evil One threatens

You with poverty

And bids you to conduct

Unseemly. God promiseth

You His forgiveness

And bounties.

And God careth for all

And He knoweth all things.

269. He granteth wisdom

To whom He pleaseth;

And he to whom wisdom

Is granted receiveth

Indeed a benefit overflowing;

But none will grasp the Message

But men of understanding.

270. And whatever ye spend

In charity or devotion,

Be sure God knows it all.

But the wrong-doers

Have no helpers.

p. 110

271. If ye disclose (acts

Of) charity, even so

It is well,

But if ye conceal them,

And make them reach

Those (really) in need,

That is best for you:

It will remove from you

Some of your (stains

Of) evil. And God

Is well acquainted

With what ye do.

272. It is not required

Of thee (O Apostle),

To set them on the right path,

But God sets on the right path

Whom He pleaseth.

Whatever of good ye give

Benefits your own souls,

And ye shall only do so

Seeking the "Face"

Of God. Whatever good

Ye give, shall be

Rendered back to you,

And ye shall not

Be dealt with unjustly.

273. (Charity is) for those

In need, who, in God's cause

Are restricted (from travel),

And cannot move about

p. 111

In the land, seeking

(For trade or work):

The ignorant man thinks,

Because of their modesty,

That they are free from want.

Thou shaltnow them

By their (unfailing) mark:

They beg not importunately

From all and sundry.

And whatever of good

Ye give, be assured

God knoweth it well.

Section 38.

274. Whose who (in charity)

Spend of their goods

By night and by day,

In secret and in public,

Have their reward

With their Lord:

On them shall be no fear,

Nor shall they grieve.

275. Those who devour usury

Will not stand except

As stands one whom

The Evil One by his touch

Hath driven to madness.

That is because they say:

"Trade is like usury,"

But God hath permitted trade

p. 112

And forbidden usury.

Those who after receiving

Direction from their Lord,

Desist, shall be pardoned

For the past; their case

Is for God (to judge);

But those who repeat

(The offence) are Companions

Of the Fire: they will

Abide therein (for ever).

276. God will deprive

Usury of all blessing,

But will give increase

For deeds of charity:

For He loveth not

Creatures ungrateful

And wicked.

277. Those who believe,

And do deeds of righteousness,

And establish regular prayers

And regular charity,

Will have their reward

With their Lord:

On them shall be no fear,

Nor shall they grieve.

278. O ye who believe!

Fear God, and give up

What remains of your demand

For usury, if ye are

Indeed believers.

279. If ye do it not,

Take notice of war

From God and His Apostle:

But if ye turn back,

Ye shall have

Your capital sums:

Deal not unjustly,

And ye shall not

Be dealt with unjustly.

p. 113

280. If the debtor is

In a difficulty,

Grant him time

Till it is easy

For him to repay.

But if ye remit it

By way of charity,

That is best for you

If ye only knew.

281. And fear the Day

When ye shall be

Brought back to God.

Then shall every soul

Be paid what it earned,

And none shall be

Dealt with unjustly.

Section 39.

282. O ye who believe!

When ye deal with each other,

In transactions involving

Future obligations

In a fixed period of time,

Reduce them to writing

Let a scribe write down

Faithfully as between

The parties: let not the scribe

Refuse to write: as God

Has taught him,

So let him write.

Let him who incurs

The liability dictate,

But let him fear

His Lord God,

And not diminish

Aught of what he owes.

If the party liable

Is mentally deficient,

p. 114

Or weak, or unable

Himself to dictate,

Let his guardian

Dictate faithfully.

And get two witnesses,

Out of your own men,

And if there are not two men,

Then a man and two women,

Such as ye choose,

For witnesses,

So that if one of them errs,

The other can remind her.

The witnesses

Should not refuse

When they are called on

(For evidence).

Disdain not to reduce

To writing (your contract)

For a future period,

Whether it be small

Or big: it is juster

In the sight of God,

More suitable as evidence,

And more convenient

To prevent doubts

Among yourselves

But if it be a transaction

Which ye carry out

On the spot among yourselves,

There is no blame on you

If ye reduce it not

To writing.

But take witnesses

Whenever ye make

A commercial contract;

And let neither scribe

Nor witness suffer harm.

If ye do (such harm),

It would be wickedness

In you. So fear God;

For it is God

That teaches you.

And God is well acquainted

With all things.

p. 115

283. If ye are on a journey,

And cannot find

A scribe, a pledge

With possession (may serve

The purpose).

And if one of you

Deposits a thing

On trust with another,

Let the trustee

(Faithfully) discharge

His trust, and let him

Fear his Lord.

Conceal not evidence;

For whoever conceals it,--

His heart is tainted

With sin. And God

Knoweth all that ye do.

Section 40.

284. To God belongeth all

That is in the heavens

And on earth. Whether

Ye show what is in your minds

Or conceal it, God

Calleth you to account for it.

p. 116

He forgiveth whom He pleaseth,

And punishefh whom He pleaseth.

For God hath power

Over all things.

285. The Apostle believeth

In what hath been revealed

To him from his Lord,

As do the men of faith.

Each one (of them) believeth

In God, His angels,

His books, and His apostles.

"We make no distinction (they say)

Between one and another

Of His apostles." And they say:

"We hear, and we obey:

(We seek) Thy forgiveness,

Our Lord, and to Thee

Is the end of all journeys."

286. On no soul doth God

Place a burden greater

Than it can bear.

It gets every good that it earns,

And it suffers every ill that if earns.

(Pray:) "Our Lord!

Condemn us not

If we forget or fall

Into error; our Lord!

Lay not on us a burden

Like that which Thou

Didst lay on those before us;

p. 117

Our Lord! lay not on us

A burden greater than we

Have strength to bear.

Blot out our sins,

And grant us forgiveness,

Have mercy on us.

Thou art our Protector;

Help us against those

Who stand against Faith"