Sūrah Banī Isrā’īl

Flawless is the being who one night took His servant from the Sacred Mosque to that Distant Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed so that We can make him observe some of Our signs. Indeed, only He hears and knows all.¹

[So, the era of those has ended who were made the custodians of this Distant Mosque. Its details are that] We had given Moses the Book and had made it a guidance for [those very] Israelites stressing: “Do not make anyone your guardian except Myself, O progeny of those whom We had boarded with Noah [on the Ark].” Undoubtedly, he was a grateful servant [of Ours].

We had informed the Israelites about this decision of Ours in this very Book: “Twice shall you surely create disorder in the land and show great rebelliousness; [thus on both occasions you shall be sternly punished].” Then [you saw that] when the time for that first promise arrives, We let loose on you such people of Ours who were extremely powerful. So, they barged into your houses and that promise was fulfilled. Then We rotated your turn to them and gave you wealth and children and made you a large group. [This was a lesson for you that] if you do good deeds, it will be for yourself and if you do bad deeds, that too will be for yourself. [This was the first promise.] After that, when the time of the second promise arrives, We depute some other mighty people of Ours so that they may ruin your faces and barge into your mosque the way they had done the first time and ravage whatever they can lay hands on. [Even now, O Israelites] it may well be that your Lord shows mercy to you [once again]. But [remember that] if you do the same, We too shall do the same and We have made Hell a shed for such disbelievers.²

[People!] In reality, this Qur’ān shows the way which is absolutely straight. It gives glad tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that for them is a great reward and this also that those who do not believe in the Hereafter, for them We have prepared a painful torment.

[They ask for its sign.] Man [regrettably] asks for good [for himself], in the same way as he asks for evil. Man is very impatient. If they see, [it is solely for them that] We have made the night and the day as two signs. Then We faded the sign of the night that you may receive comfort in it and made the sign of the day radiant so that you may seek the bounty of your Lord in it and so that you can calculate the years and know their count. Moreover, We have stated everything [in this Book] with complete detail.

[By relying on their deities, they should not hastily demand the torment.] We have tied the fate of each person with his neck, and on the Day of Judgement We shall bring forth a register for him which he will find open right before him. Here it is. “Read your account of deeds. Today you yourself are sufficient to take your own account.” In reality, he who treads the path of guidance, he treads it for himself and he who goes astray, he too bears its evil consequence. [The law of God is that] no bearer of burden shall bear someone else’s burden. [So, do you show haste?] We never punish [any nation] unless We send a messenger [so that he is able to conclusively communicate the truth to it before being punished].

When We intend to destroy a settlement [because of its misdeeds], We direct its affluent: “Go and do whatever you want to.” Then they continue to show defiance in it; after that, the word is fulfilled for that settlement and We totally ravage it. [Observe] how many a nation after Noah have We destroyed like this. [O Prophet!] Sufficient is your Lord to know about and see the sins of His people.

[Our practice is that] he who wants this immediate world, We give it right here for whomsoever We want and in whatever quantity We want. After that, We have Hell for him which he shall enter humiliated and accursed. And he who seeks the Hereafter, and also strives for it the way it is befitting and is also a believer, then it is such people whose effort will be accepted. With the bounty of your Lord, We keep giving [here] to each; to these also and to those as well. And the bounty of your Lord is not closed on anyone. Observe, how We have granted one superiority over the other, and the ranks and blessings of the Hereafter, however, are much more.

[Listen!] Serve no other deity except God, lest [on the Day of Judgement] you are left blameworthy and helpless. Your Lord has enjoined you to worship none but Him, and to treat your parents very well. If either or both of them attain old age before you, show them no sign of impatience, nor scold them while answering; speak to them with respect, and with softness lower arms of tenderness on them and keep praying: “Lord! be merciful to them the way they nursed me [with love and tenderness] in childhood.” [People!] Your Lord fully knows what is in your hearts. If you remain obedient, He is very forgiving to those who turn to Him.

Give to the near of kin his due, and also to the destitute and the traveller. And do not squander your wealth wastefully, for the wasteful are brothers of devils; and the Devil is extremely ungrateful to his Lord. And if you have to disregard [those in need] because you are still seeking your Lord’s bounty which you are hopeful of, then speak to them softly. Neither tie your hand with the neck nor leave it totally loose that you earn reproach and be reduced to indigence. Indeed, it is your Lord Who gives abundantly to whomsoever He pleases and sparingly to whomsoever He pleases. He surely is aware of His servants; He is observing them.

Do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them also and for you as well. Killing them is surely a heinous crime. And do not go near adultery because it is blatant lewdness and a very evil path. Do not wrongfully kill any person whose life has been held sacred by God and [remember that] he who is slain unjustly, We have given his heir the authority. Then he should not exceed limits in killing because he has been helped. Do not even go near the wealth of an orphan except in a goodly way, until he reaches maturity. And keep your promises because you shall be held accountable for promises. Give full measure, when you measure, and weigh with correct scales. This is better and fairer as far as the consequences are concerned. Do not go after what you know not because eyes, ears, and heart all of them shall be questioned. And do not walk arrogantly on the earth because neither can you split apart the earth, nor can you reach the height of the mountains. The evil of each of these things to your Lord is very displeasing.

These are from the counsels of wisdom which your Lord has revealed to you. [Hold steadfastly to them] and [listen once again:] serve no other deity besides God, lest you should be cast into Hell rejected and condemned.

[You people are surprising.] Then, has your Lord made you exclusive to have sons and taken daughters from angels for Himself? In reality, you say something very grave. We have explained in this Qur’ān in a variety of ways so that they receive a reminder. But [alas] it is only increasing their aversion. Tell them [O Prophet]: If there had been other deities with God as these people say, they would have definitely sought to dethrone Him. God is pure and far beyond what they say. The seven heavens, the earth and whatever they contain all glorify Him. There is nothing which does not praise Him while glorifying Him except that you do not understand their glorification. [So heinous is what you say that the heavens would have fallen on them, but] no doubt God is very Benevolent and most Forgiving.

[O Prophet!] When you recite the Qur’ān, We place an unseen barrier between you and those who do not believe in the Hereafter and put a cover on their hearts and make them hard of hearing so that they may not understand or hear. And when you mention your Lord alone in the Qur’ān, they turn away in hatred. We know full well when they listen to you the reason they listen to you and know full well when they whisper to one another; when those unjustsay: “You people are only following a person who is under a spell.” See what examples they heap on you. So, they have lost their way. Now they are not finding any way.

They say: “When we [decay and become] bones and are reduced to bits, will we still be created again and raised to life?” Say: Whether you become stones or iron or any other substance which in your view is even more adverse than them [to accept life, even then]. At this, they will say: “Who will restore us?” Say: He who had created you the first time. Then they will shake their heads [as if to make fun of you] and ask: “So, when will this happen?” Say: It may well be that its time is near. Bear in mind! When God calls you, you will obey His directive while praising Him and at that time you will think that you have remained in this state for a short while.

Make My servants understand [O Prophet] that [in response to them] they should say what is better. This is because it is Satan who [in the heat of discussion] induces disorder between them. In reality, Satan is an open enemy of a human being. [My People! Do not pass verdicts about the fates of people regarding Paradise or Hell.] Your Lord knows you full well too. If He wants, He will show mercy to you [thinking that you are worthy of it] or if He desires, He will afflict you with a torment [since you deserve it according to His opinion. Your task O Prophet is to only communicate the message to them]. We have not sent you to be responsible for them. [Similarly, there is no need for you to get entangled in the debate of superiority.] Whatever is in the heavens and earth, your Lord knows them full well [that what status each has]. In reality, We have granted superiority to some prophets over others and this also is a reality that We had given the Psalms to David.

Tell these [disbelievers:] Invoke those who you regard as deities besides God. Then neither will they be able to ward off any calamity from yourself nor change it. Those whom they invoke themselves try to find the means of seeking their Lord’s nearness as to who among them could become the nearest. They seek His mercy and fear His torment. In reality, the torment of your Lord is a thing to be feared.

[They should not go about hastening the punishment. In reality,] there is not a city that We shall not destroy before the Day of Judgement or not inflict with a severe punishment. This is written in the register of God. What has stopped Us from sending signs of punishment is that the earlier generations had denied them. We had given the Thamūd a she-camel [in a similar way] as an eye-opening sign but they were unjust to themselves and denied it. [What then is the use to send signs?] We only send signs to frighten [people before punishing them].

Remember when [for such an admonition and warning,] We said to you: Your Lord has surrounded these people; [and they were making fun of this]. The dream We showed you We made it a trial too for these people [because of this attitude of theirs] and that tree as well which has been cursed in the Qur’ān. We are only frightening them of their fate, but this thing is merely increasing them in their extreme rebelliousness.³

[There is no reason for this except that they have adopted the way of Satan.] Remind them when We had said to the angels: “Prostrate before Adam.” Thus all of them prostrated except Iblīs. He said: “Should I prostrate before him who you have created from clay?” He further said: “Look! Is this the one who you honoured above me? If you give me respite until the Day of Judgement, I shall consume all his progeny except a few.” God said: “Very Well! Go; then all those among them who follow you are the fuel of Hell because it is Hell which is the full recompense for you all. Whoever among them you can overpower, make them anxious with your commotion; bring upon them your riders and pedestrians, become a partner in their wealth and children and make promises with them. In reality, the promises Satan makes with them are nothing but deception. You will not have any power whatsoever over My servants and as a guardian, sufficient is your Lord alone [O Prophet!]”

[People!] Your Lord is one who makes the ship sail for you in the sea so that you can seek His bounty. Undoubtedly, He is very Merciful to you. When you are struck by a calamity in the sea, all those you invoke besides Him are forgotten; only He is remembered. Then when He safely brings you to the shore, you turn away. In reality, man is very ungrateful.

So, have you no fear that he take you to that very shore and thrust you in the earth or send upon you a stone-hurling wind, then you find no one as your protector? Or have you no fear that He take you to the sea again, then send on you a stormy wind and drown you for your ingratitude, then you do not find any supporter for yourselves who is able to come after Us for it?

We have bestowed honour on the children of Adam and provided them with transport in the land and sea and have given them sustenance of pure things and given them prominent superiority over many creatures of Ours. [Even then, they show ingratitude.] They should remember the day when We shall call all the people including their leaders. Then those who are given their account in their right hands, they will [happily] read it and not the slightest injustice shall be done to them. On the contrary, those who remained blind in this world, they shall remain blind in the Hereafter as well and far away from the path.

[O Prophet!] It may well have been that these people turn you away from what We have revealed to you so that you present something other than this Qur’ān by fabricating it on Us. If you had done this, they would have certainly made you their friend. And had this not been the case that We continued to bless you with strength, it may well be that you would also have become a little inclined to them. If this had happened, We would have doubly punished you in this world and the next. Then you would not have found anyone against Us as your helper.

They are after uprooting you from this land in order to turn you out from here. But if this happens, then they too will not be able to stay here for long after you. Bear in mind this established practice about the messengers We have sent before you and you will not find any change in this practice of Ours. [This phase is certainly difficult; so in order to acquire patience and perseverance in it,] be diligent in the prayer from the setting of the sun to the darkness of the night and especially in the recital of fajr because the recital of fajr is in the presence and similarly get up in a part of night also [and pray]. This is additional for you. You may hope that [on the Day of Judgement] your Lord will raise you such that you will be showered with praise and keep praying: Lord! Wherever you want to make me enter, let it be an entry with honour and from wherever you want me to leave, make me leave with honour and make political authority my helper especially from Your self. And [O Prophet] proclaim: The truth has arrived and evil has perished because evil was bound to perish.

We are revealing in this Qur’ān that which is a cure and mercy for the believers but it is only increasing these unjust in [their] loss. The issue with a human being is that when We grant him favour, he shows indifference and turns away and when some calamity strikes him, he totally loses hope. [Their situation is the same as well; for this reason,] say: Each is following his own way. So your Lord knows full well those who are on the exact right path.

They ask you about the rūḥ [that is being revealed to you]. Tell them: This rūḥ is a directive of my Lord and you have been given very little knowledge of such facts. [None of your intentions is involved in this in any way O Prophet!] If We want, We can [snatch and] take away what We have revealed to you. Then you do not find any helper for this against Us except that this is just God’s mercy [that you are fortunate enough to have acquired it]. In reality, great is His bounty on you. Say: If all humankind and jinnkind combine to make such a Qur’ān, they will not be able to make a Qur’ān like this, even if they become helpers of one another.

We have mentioned in this Qur’ān various words of wisdom for people in different ways. Even then most people are adamant on denying. They have said: “We shall not believe in you unless you make a spring gush from the earth or an orchard of dates or grapes is produced for you; then unless you make many canals run through it. Or unless, as you say, you make the sky fall upon us in pieces or unless you bring God and His angels to stand before us, or you not have a house of gold or you not climb to the sky [right before our eyes]. And We shall not even believe in your climbing unless you reveal a book to us [from there] that we can read” – Tell them: Exalted is my Lord. Am I someone else besides a human being whom the Almighty has sent as a messenger?

When guidance came to them, the only thing that stopped these people from accepting faith was that they said: “Has God sent a human being as a messenger?” Tell them: Had there been angels on the earth walking about calmly, We would have sent down from the heavens an angel as a messenger to them. Say: Sufficient is God between you and me as a witness. Undoubtedly, He knows His servants; He is watching them. In reality, he whom God guides [according to His law], only he will be guided and he whom He misleads, then for such misled you will not find any helper except Him. On the Day of Judgement, We shall gather them by dragging them by their faces. The blind, the dumb and the deaf. Their abode is Hell. Whenever its fire diminishes, We shall ignite it further on them. This is their reward because they denied Our revelations and said: “When we become bones and are crushed to pieces, would we be raised again?” Have they not thought that the God Who has created the heavens and the earth has the power to create their likes again? And it is a fact that He has appointed a time for them in which there is no doubt. Even then, these unjust people are adamant in their denial.

[They are wonderstruck on this favour God has blessed you with.] Tell them: If the treasures of my Lord’s mercy were in your possession, you would have definitely stocked them for fear of being consumed. Surely, man is very miserly.

[You ask for signs.] We had given Moses nine clear signs. So, ask the Israelites that when Moses came to them, the Pharaoh had only said to him: “Moses! I think that you are under a magical spell.” Moses replied: “You very well know that these signs have been sent forth by the Lord of the heavens and the earth to open [your] eyes. And I think that O Pharaoh! You are [now] a person doomed.” After this, the Pharaoh planned to totally uproot the Israelites from the land. So, We drowned him as well as all those with him, and after this said to the Israelites: “Dwell you now in the land [without fear]. Then when the promise of the Hereafter arrives, We shall bring you forth by gathering all of you.”

We have revealed this Qur’ān with the truth and it is revealed with the truth, and [O Prophet] We have sent you only to give glad tidings [to those who believe] and to warn [those who do not believe]. And We have revealed this Qur’ān in parts so that you can gradually recite it to people and precisely for this purpose, We have revealed it in a very elaborate way. Tell them: Whether you believe in it or not, when it is recited before those who are given precisely this knowledge [from their Lord] before this, they fall on their chins in prostration and cry out: “Exalted is our Lord; [this was His promise and] the promise of Our Lord had to be fulfilled come what may.” [Hearing it,] they fall on their chins weeping and this further increases their humility.

[They object: “Why do you call Allah as Raḥmān?”] Tell them: Whether you call Him by Allah or by Raḥmān, by whichever name you call him, all good names are His. And [earlier, O Prophet! the prayer you only were directed to offer,] do not offer that prayer of yours very loudly nor in a very low tone. In fact, adopt a middle way between the two. [Continue to show diligence in this prayer in this befitting manner] and proclaim: Gratitude is for God Who neither has children nor is anyone His partner in His kingdom, nor does He need any helper in times of helplessness, and declare His exaltedness the way it should be.⁴