English - Chapter 23 - Al-Muminun

Truly the believers have prospered

who are humble in their prayers

and who turn away from idle talk

and who give the alms

and who guard their private parts

save from their spouses or those whom their right hands possess, for then they are not blameworthy—

and as for those who seek beyond that, it is they who are transgressors—

and who keep their trusts and their covenant

and who are mindful of their prayers

It is they who are the heirs

who shall inherit Paradise, abiding therein

And indeed We created man from a draught of clay

Then We made him a drop in a secure dwelling place

Then of the drop We created a blood clot, then of the blood clot We created a lump of flesh, then of the lump of flesh We created bones and We clothed the bones with flesh; then We brought him into being as another creation. Blessed is God, the best of creators

Then indeed you shall die thereafter

Then surely you shall be raised up on the Day of Resurrection

And indeed We created above you seven paths, and We were not heedless of creation

And We sent down water from Heaven in due measure, and settled it in the earth, and We are able to make it disappear

And thereby We brought into being for you gardens of date palms and grapevines, wherein you have many fruits and whereof you eat

and a tree issuing forth from Mount Sinai that produces oil and a seasoning for eating

And truly in cattle there is a lesson for you: We give you to drink from that which is in their bellies, and in them you have many uses, and some of them you eat

And upon them, and upon ships, are you carried

And We indeed sent Noah to his people, and he said, “O my people! Worship God! You have no god other than Him. Will you not be reverent?”

But the notables who disbelieved among his people said, “This is only a human being like yourselves, desiring to set himself above you. And had God willed, He would have sent down angels. We heard not of this from our fathers of old

He is but a man possessed. So wait concerning him, for a time.”

He said, “My Lord! Help me, for they deny me.”

So We revealed unto Him, “Build the Ark before Our eyes and by Our Revelation. Then when Our Command comes and the oven gushes forth, place therein two of every kind, and thy family except those against whom the word has already gone forth. And address Me not concerning those who did wrong; surely they shall be drowned

And when thou mountest the Ark, thou and those with thee, say, ‘Praise be to God, who has saved us from the wrongdoing people.’

And say, ‘My Lord! Harbor me in a blessed harbor, for Thou art the best of harborers.’

Truly in that are signs, and truly We put [mankind] to the test.”

Then after them We brought into being another generation

And We sent among them a messenger from among themselves, [saying], “Worship God! You have no god other than Him. Will you not be reverent?”

And the notables of his people who disbelieved and denied the meeting of the Hereafter, and unto whom We had given luxury in the life of this world, said, “This is but a human being like you, eating of what you eat, and drinking from what you drink

So if you obey a human being like yourselves, then surely you will be losers

Does he promise you that when you are dead and are dust and bones, you shall indeed be brought forth

Far-fetched, far-fetched is that which you are promised

There is naught but our life in this world: we die and we live, and we will not be resurrected

He is but a man fabricating lies against God, and we do not believe him.”

He said, “My Lord! Help me, for they deny me.”

So the Cry seized them rightly, and We made them into dross; so away with the wrongdoing people

Then after them We brought into being other generations

No community can hasten its term, nor delay it

Then We sent Our messengers in succession. Whenever there came unto a community its messenger, they would deny him. So We caused them to follow one another, and made them the objects of stories. So away with a people who believe not

Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron with Our signs and a manifest authority

to Pharaoh and his notables. But they waxed arrogant and were a haughty people

They said, “Shall we believe in two human beings like us, while their people are slaves we possess?”

But they denied them, and so were among the destroyed

And indeed We gave unto Moses the Book, that haply they may be guided

And We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign, and We gave them refuge in a high place of stillness and a flowing spring

O messengers! Eat of the good things and work righteousness. Truly I know what you do

And truly this community of yours is one community, and I am your Lord, so reverence Me

But they made their affair to be founded upon different scriptures, each party exulting in what it had

So leave them in their heedlessness for a time

Do they reckon that, [on account of] the wealth and the children that We have provided them

We hasten unto good for them? Nay, but they are unaware

Truly those who are in awe for fear of their Lord

and those who believe in the signs of their Lord

and those who ascribe not partners unto their Lord

and those who give what they give while their hearts quake with fear that they shall return to their Lord—

it is they who hasten toward good deeds, and are foremost in them

And We task no soul beyond its capacity, and with Us is a Book that speaks in truth. And they shall not be wronged

Nay, indeed their hearts are engrossed away from this, and they have other deeds besides which they undertake

till, when We seize those of them who lived in luxury with the punishment, behold, they shall implore

Implore not today! Truly you will not be helped by Us

My signs were recited unto you, but you used to turn on your heels

waxing arrogant on account thereof, talking foolishly by night

Have they not contemplated the Word, or has there come unto them that which came not unto their forefathers

Or do they not know their Messenger, and so deny him

Or do they say, “He is possessed?” Rather, he has brought them the truth, but most of them are averse to the truth

Were the truth to follow their caprices, the heavens and the earth and those therein would have been corrupted. Nay, We gave them their reminder, but they turned away from their reminder

Dost thou ask any recompense of them? For thy Lord’s recompense is better, and He is the best of providers

Surely thou callest them unto a straight path

And truly those who believe not in the Hereafter are deviating from the path

And were We to show them mercy and remove whatever evil was upon them, they would surely persist, wandering confused in their rebellion

And We already seized them with the punishment, but they did not yield to their Lord, nor are they humble

till, when We open upon them a gate of severe punishment, behold, they despair therein

He it is Who brought into being for you hearing, sight, and hearts. Little do you give thanks

He it is Who created you on the earth, and unto Him shall you be gathered

And He it is Who gives life and causes death, and unto Him belongs the variation of the night and the day. Will you not, then, understand

Nay, but they say the like of that which was said by those of old

They say, “What, when we have died and are dust and bones, are we to be resurrected

We and our fathers were certainly warned of this before. These are naught but fables of those of old.”

Say, “Whose is the earth and whosoever is upon it, if you know?”

They will say, “God’s.” Say, “Will you not, then, take heed?”

Say, “Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the great Throne?”

They will say, “God’s.” Say, “Will you not then be reverent?”

Say, “Who is it in Whose Hand lies the dominion of everything, who protects but is not protected against, if you know?”

They will say, “God’s.” Say, “How then are you bewitched?”

Nay, We brought them the truth, and indeed they are liars

God has not taken any child, and neither are there any gods with Him, for then each god would take away what he created, and some of them would overcome others. Glory be to God above that which they ascribe

Knower of the Unseen and the seen! Exalted is He above the partners they ascribe

Say, “My Lord! If Thou showest me what they are promised

my Lord, then place me not among the wrongdoing people!”

And surely We are able to show you what We promise them

Repel evil by that which is better. We know best what they ascribe

And say, “My Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from the incitements of the satans

And I seek refuge in Thee, my Lord, lest they should be present with me.”

Till, when death comes to one of them, he says, “My Lord! Return me

that haply I may work righteousness with regard to that which I left.” Nay, indeed these are words that he speaks. And behind them is a barrier till the Day they are resurrected

And when the trumpet is blown, there shall be no kinship between them that Day, nor will they question one another

As for those whose scales are heavy, it is they who shall prosper

And as for those whose scales are light, it is they who shall lose their souls, abiding in Hell

The Fire will smite their faces, and they shall grimace therein

“Were not My signs recited unto you, and you used to deny them?”

They will say, “Our Lord! Our wretchedness overwhelmed us, and we were a people astray

Our Lord! Remove us from it! Then if we revert, we shall be wrongdoers.”

He will say, “Be gone therein, and speak not to Me.”

Verily there was a group of My servants who would say, “Our Lord! We believe; so forgive us and have mercy upon us, and Thou art the best of those who are merciful.”

But you took them in mockery, till it made you forget My remembrance, and you used to laugh at them

Truly today I have rewarded them for having been patient. Truly they are the triumphant

He will say, “How many years did you tarry on earth?”

They will say, “We tarried a day or part of a day. But ask those who keep count.”

He will say, “You tarried but a little, if you but knew.”

“Did you suppose, then, that We created you frivolously, and that you would not be returned unto Us?”

So, exalted is God, the True Sovereign; there is no god but He, Lord of the noble Throne

Whosoever calls upon another god along with God, for which he has no proof, his reckoning is with God. Truly the disbelievers will not prosper

Say, “My Lord! Forgive and show mercy, for Thou art the best of those who are merciful.”