English - Chapter 23 - Al-Muminun

SUCCESSFUL ARE the believers

who are humble in their prayers

who avoid profane talk

and give alms in earnest

who restrain their carnal desires

except with their wives and slave-girls, for with them they are blameless

transgressors are those who lust after other than these

who are true to their trusts and promises

and diligent in their prayers

These are the heirs

of Paradise; wherein shall they abide for ever

We first created man from an essence of clay

then placed him, a living germ, in a secure enclosure¹

The germ We made a clot of blood,² and the clot a lump of flesh. This We fashioned into bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, thus bringing forth another creation. Blessed be God, the noblest of creators

Then you shall surely die hereafter

and then be restored to life on the Day of Resurrection

We have created seven heavens³ above you; of Our creation We were never heedless

We sent down water from the sky in due measure, and lodged it into the earth; but if We please, We can take it all away

With it We caused palm-groves and vineyards to spring up, yielding abundant fruit for your sustenance

The tree⁴ which grows on Mount Sinai gives oil and a condiment for all to eat

In cattle, too, you have but an example and a lesson. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, you eat their flesh, and gain other benefits from them besides

By them, as by the ships that sail the sea, you are carried

We sent forth Noah to his people. ‘Serve God, my people,‘ he said, ‘for you have no god but Him. Will you not take heed?‘

The unbelieving elders of his people said: ‘This man is but a mortal like yourselves, feigning to be your superior. Had God willed, He could have sent down angels. Nor did we hear that such a thing ever happened to our forefathers

He is surely but a man possessed. Keep an eye on him awhile.‘

He said: ‘Help me, Lord, for they disbelieve me

We revealed Our will to him, saying: ‘Build the ark under Our watchful eyes, according to Our instructions. When Our judgement comes to pass and water wells out from the Oven, take aboard a pair from every species and the members of your household, except those of them already doomed. Do not plead with Me for those who have done wrong: they shall be drowned

And when you and your followers have gone aboard, say: "Praise be to God who has delivered us from a sinful people

Lord, let my landing be blessed. You alone can make me land in safety."‘

Surely in that there were veritable signs. Thus did We put mankind to the proof

Then We raised a new generation

and sent forth to them an apostle of their own. ‘Serve God,‘ he said, ‘for you have no god but Him. Will you not take heed?‘

But the unbelieving elders of his people, who denied the life to come and on whom We had lavished the good things of this life, said: ‘This man is but a mortal like yourselves, nourished by the same food and drink

If you obey a mortal like yourselves, you shall indeed be lost

Does he promise you, when you are dead and turned to dust and bones, you will be raised to life

A foolish promise, indeed

There is no other life but this, our earthly life: we die and live, never to be restored to life

He is but a man who tells of God what is untrue. Never will We believe in him.‘

He replied: ‘Before long they shall rue it.‘

The Cry took them in all justice, and We swept them away like withered leaves. Gone are the sinful people

After them We raised other generations ―

no community can delay it‘s doom or go before it ―

and sent forth Our apostles in succession. Yet time after time each community disbelieved their apostles, so that We destroyed them one by one and held them up as an example. Gone are the people who disbelieved

Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron, with Our signs and with clear authority

to Pharaoh and his nobles. But they received them with contempt, for they were arrogant men

What!‘ said they. ‘Are we to believe in two men like ourselves, whose people are our slaves?‘

They denied them, and thus incurred destruction

And We gave Moses the Book, that they might be rightly guided

We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign, and gave them a shelter on a peaceful hill-side watered by a fresh spring

Apostles! Eat of that which is wholesome, and do good works: I have knowledge of all your actions

Your community is but one community, and I am your only Lord: therefore fear Me

Yet they have divided themselves into factions, each rejoicing in its own doctrines

Leave them in their error till a time appointed

Do they think that, in giving them wealth and children

We are solicitous for their welfare? By no means! They lack perception

Those who walk in fear of their Lord

who believe in the revelations of their Lord

who worship none besides their Lord

who give from what they were given with hearts filled with awe, knowing that they will return to their Lord

these vie with each other for salvation and shall be the first to attain it

We charge no soul with more than it can bear. We have a Book which speaks the Truth: and none shall be wronged

But their hearts are blind to all this; their deeds are of a different sort, and they are bent on doing them

But when We visit Our scourge upon those of them that live in affluence, they will howl for help

We shall say: ‘Do not howl this day, for from Us you shall receive no help

My revelations were recited to you many a time, but you turned your backs

in scorn, and passed the nights reviling them.‘

Should they not heed the Word? Was anything revealed to them that had not been revealed to their forefathers

Or is it because they do not know their apostle that they deny him

Do they say he is possessed? Surely he has come to them with the Truth. But most of them abhor the Truth

Had the Truth followed their appetites, the heavens, the earth, and all who dwell in them, would have surely been corrupted. We have given them their Admonition: yet to their Admonition they pay no heed

Are you seeking a recompense from them? Far better is your Lord‘s recompense. He is the most munificent Giver

You have surely called them to a straight path

but those who deny the life to come will ever stray from the path

And if We showed them mercy and relieved their misfortunes, they would persist in their insolent ways, ever straying blindly from the right path

We punished them, but they neither entreated their Lord nor humbled themselves before Him

And when We smote them with a grievous scourge, they yielded to utter despair

He it was who gave you ears, eyes, and hearts: yet you are seldom thankful

He it was who placed you on the earth, and before Him shall you be herded

And He it is who ordains life and death, and He who alternates the night with the day. Can you not understand

Indeed they say what the ancients said before them

‘After our death, when we are dust and bones,‘ they say, ‘shall we be raised to life

This we have been promised before, we and our forefathers. It is but a fable of the ancients.‘

Say: ‘Whose is the earth and all that it contains? If you really know.‘

God‘s,‘ they will say. Say: ‘Then will you not reflect?‘

Say: ‘Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and of the Glorious Throne?‘

God,‘ they will say. Say: ‘Will you not fear Him, then?‘

Say: ‘In whose hands is the sovereignty of all things, protecting all, while against Him there is no protection? If you really know.‘

In God‘s,‘ they will say. Say: ‘How then can you be so bewitched?‘

But We have revealed to them the Truth; and they are surely lying

Never has God begotten a son, nor is there any other god besides Him. Were this otherwise, each god would govern his own creation, each holding himself above the other. Exalted be God above their falsehoods

He knows alike the unknown and the manifest. Exalted be He above the gods they serve besides Him

Say: ‘Lord, if You will indeed let me see the scourge they are promised

do not abandon me, Lord, among these wrongdoing people.‘

Indeed, We do have power enough to let you see the scourge We promise them

Requite evil with good. We know their slanders well

And say: ‘Lord, I seek refuge in You from the promptings of the demons

Lord, I seek refuge in You from their presence.‘

When death comes to one among them, he will say: ‘Lord, let me go back

that I may do good works in the world I have left behind.‘ Never! These are the very words which he will speak. Behind them there shall stand a barrier till the Day of Resurrection

And when the Trumpet is blown, on that day their ties of kin shall be broken, nor shall they ask help of one another

Those whose good deeds weigh heavy in the scales shall triumph

but those whose good deeds are light shall forfeit their souls and abide in Hell for ever

The fire will scorch their faces and they will writhe in anguish

Were My revelations not recited to you, and did you not deny them?‘

Lord,‘ they will say, ‘fortune betrayed us and we were people gone astray

Lord, deliver us from it; if we relapse, then shall we indeed be wrongdoers.‘

He will say: ‘Stay here in shame and do not plead with Me

Among My servants there were those who said: "Lord, we now believe. Forgive us and have mercy on us: You are the best of those that show mercy

But you derided them until they caused you to forget My warning; and you laughed at them

Today I shall requite them for their fortitude, for it is they who have triumphed.‘

He will ask: ‘How many years did you linger on the earth?‘

They will say: ‘A day, or possibly less. Ask those who have kept count.‘

He will say: ‘Brief indeed was your sojourn, if you but knew it

Did you think We created you in vain and to Us you would never be recalled?‘

Exalted be God, the True King. There is no god but Him, the Lord of the Glorious Throne

He that invokes another god with God ― a god of whose divinity he has no proof ― his Lord will surely bring him to account. The unbelievers shall never succeed

Say: ‘Lord, forgive and have mercy. You are the best of those that show mercy.‘