English - Chapter 23 - Al-Muminun

It is the muminun who are successful

those who are humble in their salat

those who turn away from worthless talk

those who pay zakat

those who guard their private parts —

except from their wives or those they own as slaves, in which case they are not blameworthy

but those who desire anything more than that are people who have gone beyond the limits —

those who honour their trusts and their contracts

those who safeguard their salat

such people are the inheritors

who will inherit Firdaws, remaining in it timelessly, for ever

We created man from the purest kind of clay

then made him a drop in a secure receptacle

then formed the drop into a clot and formed the clot into a lump and formed the lump into bones and clothed the bones in flesh; and then brought him into being as another creature. Blessed be Allah, the Best of Creators

Then subsequently you will certainly die

Then on the Day of Rising you will be raised again

We created above you seven levels and We were not unaware of the creation

We sent down a measured amount of water from heaven and lodged it firmly in the earth; and We are well able to remove it

By means of it We produce gardens of dates and grapes for you, in which there are many fruits for you and from which you eat

and a tree springing forth from Mount Sinai yielding oil and a seasoning to those who eat

And there is certainly a lesson for you in your livestock. We give you to drink from what is in their bellies and there are many ways in which you benefit from them, and some of them you eat

and you are conveyed on them and on ships as well

We sent Nuh to his people and he said, ´My people, worship Allah. You have no god other than Him. So will you not have taqwa?´

The ruling circle of those of his people who were kafir said, ´This is nothing but a human being like yourselves who simply wants to gain ascendancy over you. If Allah had wanted He would have sent angels down. We never heard of anything like this among our ancestors, the earlier peoples

He said, ´My Lord, help me because of their calling me a liar!´

We revealed to him: ´Build the Ship under Our supervision and as We reveal. When Our command comes and water bubbles up from the earth, load into it a pair of every species, and your family — except for those among them against whom the word has already gone ahead. And do not address Me concerning those who do wrong. They shall be drowned

When you and those with you are settled in the Ship, then say: "Praise be to Allah who has rescued us from the people of the wrongdoers

And say: "My Lord, land me in a blessed landing-place. You are the best Bringer to Land."´

There are Signs in that. We are always putting people to the test

Then We raised up another generation after them

and sent a Messenger to them from themselves: ´Worship Allah. You have no god other than Him! So will you not have taqwa?´

The ruling circle of his people — those who were kafir and denied the encounter of the Next World and whom We had given opulence in this world — said, ´This is nothing but a human being like yourselves. who eats what you eat and drinks what you drink

If you were to obey a human being like yourselves, you would, in that case, definitely be the losers

Does he promise you that when you have died and become dust and bones you will be brought forth again

What you have been promised is sheer nonsense

What is there but our life in this world? We die and we live and we will not be raised again

What is he but a man who has invented a lie against Allah? We do not have iman in him.´

He said, ´My Lord, help me because of their calling me a liar!´

He said, ´In a short while they will be full of regret.´

The Great Blast seized hold of them inexorably and We turned them into dirty scum. Away with the people of the wrongdoers

Then We raised up other generations after them

No nation can advance its appointed time nor can they delay it

Then We sent Our Messengers one after another, at intervals. Each time its Messenger came to a community they called him a liar so We made them follow one another too and turned them into myths and legends. Away with the people who have no iman

Then We sent Musa and his brother Harun with Our Signs and clear authority

to Pharaoh and his ruling circle. But they were proud and were a haughty people

They said, ´What! Should we have iman in two human beings like ourselves when their people are our slaves?´

They denied them and so they were destroyed

We gave Musa the Book so that perhaps they would be guided

And We made the son of Maryam and his mother a Sign and gave them shelter on a mountainside where there was a meadow and a flowing spring

Messengers, eat of the good things and act rightly. I most certainly know what you do

This faith of yours is a single faith and I am your Lord, so have taqwa of Me

But they disagreed and split up, dividing into sects, each party exulting in what it had

So leave them in their glut of ignorance for a while

Do they imagine that, in the wealth and children We extend to them

We are hastening to them with good things? No indeed, but they have no awareness

Those who are filled with the fear of their Lord

those who have iman in the Signs of their Lord

those who do not associate anything with their Lord

those who give what they have given, their hearts fearful of their return to their Lord

such people are truly racing towards good things, and they are the first to reach them

We do not impose on any self any more than it can stand. With Us there is a Book which speaks the truth. They will not be wronged

However, their hearts are overwhelmed by ignorance about this matter and they do other things as well

But then when We seize the affluent among them with the punishment, they will suddenly start praying fervently

´Do not pray fervently today. You will not get any help from Us

My Signs were recited to you and you turned round on your heels

arrogant towards it, talking arrant nonsense all night long.´

Do they not ponder these words? Has anything come to them that did not come to their ancestors the previous peoples

Or is it that they do not recognise their Messenger and therefore do not acknowledge him

Or do they say, ´He is a man possessed,´ when he has brought the truth to them? But most of them hate the truth

If the truth were to follow their whims and desires, the heavens and the earth and everyone in them would have been brought to ruin. No indeed! We have given them their Reminder, but they have turned away from it

Are you asking them for payment? Your Lord´s payment is better. He is the Best of Providers

You are calling them to a straight path

But those who do not have iman in the akhira recoil from the path

If We did have mercy on them and removed the harm afflicting them, they would still obstinately persist in wandering blindly in their excessive insolence

We seized them with the punishment, but they did not go low before their Lord; nor will they humble themselves

until We open to them a gate to a harsh punishment in which they will at once be crushed by despair

It is He who has created hearing, sight and hearts for you. What little thanks you show

It is He who dispersed you about the earth and you will be gathered to Him

It is He who gives life and causes to die and His is the alternation of the night and day. So will you not use your intellect

However, they say the same as previous peoples said

They say, ´When we are dead and turned to dust and bones, shall we then be raised again

We and our forefathers were promised this before. This is nothing but the myths of previous peoples!´

Say: ´To whom does the earth belong, and everyone in it, if you have any knowledge?´

They will say: ´To Allah.´ Say: ´So will you not pay heed?´

Say: ´Who is the Lord of the Seven Heavens and the Lord of the Mighty Throne?´

They will say: ´Allah.´ Say: ´So will you not have taqwa?´

Say: ´In whose hand is the dominion over everything, He who gives protection and from whom no protection can be given, if you have any knowledge?´

They will say: ´Allah´s.´ Say: ´So how have you been bewitched?´

The fact is that We have given them the truth and they are liars

Allah has no son and there is no other god accompanying Him, for then each god would have gone off with what he created and one of them would have been exalted above the other. Glory be to Allah above what they describe

Knower of the Unseen and the Visible! May He be exalted above all they associate with Him

Say: ´My Lord, if You let me see what they have been promised

do not then, my Lord, put me among the wrongdoing people!´

We are certainly capable of letting you see what We have promised them

Ward off evil with what is better. We know very well what they express

Say: ´My Lord, I seek refuge with You from the goadings of the shaytans

and I seek refuge with You, my Lord, from their presence.´

When death comes to one of them, he says, ´My Lord, send me back again

so that perhaps I may act rightly regarding the things I failed to do!´ No indeed! It is just words he utters. Before them there is an interspace until the Day they are raised up

Then when the Trumpet is blown, that Day there will be no family ties between them; they will not be able to question one another

Those whose scales are heavy, they are the successful

Those whose scales are light, they are the losers of their selves, remaining in Hell timelessly, for ever

The Fire will sear their faces, making them grimace horribly in it, their lips drawn back from their teeth

´Were My Signs not recited to you and did you not deny them?´

They will say, ´Our Lord, our miserable destiny overpowered us. We were misguided people

Our Lord, remove us from it! Then if we revert again, we will definitely be wrongdoers.´

He will say, ´Slink away into it and do not speak to Me

There was a group of My slaves who said, "Our Lord, we have iman, so forgive us and have mercy on us. You are the Best of the Merciful

But you made a mockery of them so that they made you forget to remember Me while you were laughing at them

Today I have rewarded them for being steadfast. They are the ones who are victorious.´

He will say, ´How many years did you tarry on the earth?´

They will say, ´We tarried there for a day or part of a day. Ask those able to count!´

He will say, ´You only tarried there for a little while if you did but know

Did you suppose that We created you for amusement and that you would not return to Us?´

Exalted be Allah, the King, the Real. There is no god but Him, Lord of the Noble Throne

Whoever calls on another god together with Allah, has no grounds for doing so at all and his reckoning is with his Lord. Truly the kafirun have no success

Say: ´My Lord, forgive and be merciful! You are the Best of the Merciful.´