Sūrah Āl-i ‘Imrān

This is Sūrah Alif Lām Mīm. God is the being besides whom there is no deity, the living and the one who keeps everyone in existence. [After putting people through trials, He could not have become indifferent to their guidance; therefore,] He has revealed to you this Book as the decisive truth, in confirmation of the scriptures which are present prior to it; and earlier, it was He Who had revealed the Torah and the Gospel as guidance for people, and now it is He alone Who has also revealed this Furqān. [These are the revelations of God and] people who [deliberately] deny God’s revelations shall be severely punished, and God is Mighty; He is revengeful [for such people]. This is because nothing on the earth or in the sky is hidden from God. It is He who makes your faces in your mothers’ wombs as He pleases. There is no deity but Him. He is the Mighty, the very Wise One.

It is He who has revealed to you this Book which has verses that are muḥkam also – they are the foundation of the Book – and some others [besides them] that are mutashābihāt as well. Then those whose hearts are perverted always go after the mutashābihāt from among it in order to create dissension and in order to know their reality even though no one except God knows their reality. On the other hand, those who are well-grounded in this knowledge say: “We believe in them: all this is from our Lord.” And, in reality, only those whom God has blessed with intellect understand such things. [They say:] “Lord! Do not cause our hearts to go astray after You have guided us and grant us mercy through Your own grace; Without doubt, you are the Giver. Lord! You shall surely gather all the people for a day of presence that will indubitably come. It is a fact that God does not break His promises.”

The wealth and children of the disbelievers of this Book [who have been conclusively communicated the truth] will be of no avail to them before God, and it is they who shall become the fuel of Hell. Their matter is also similar to that of the Pharaoh’s people and those before them. They denied Our revelations; so, God seized them because of their sins and, in reality, God is stern in retribution.

Tell these disbelievers: Soon you too shall be vanquished [similarly] and [after this] driven towards Hell and what an evil resting place it is. And [if you feel any doubt in this statement of Ours, then] there is a great sign for you in the account of the two groups which faced each other. One group was of the believers fighting for the cause of God and the other of the disbelievers fighting for the cause of Satan. They [in the battlefield of Badr] were openly seeing the believers as twice their own number. In reality, God [in this manner,] reinforces with His help whomsoever He pleases. Surely, in this there is a great lesson for those who have vision.

For those [who are deprived of this vision, the lures of the world – women and sons, treasures of gold and silver, marked horses, cattle, and plantations have been made very tempting. All this is the provision of this life, and a nice abode is only with God. Tell them: Shall I inform you what is better than these things? For the God-fearing, there are orchards with their Lord below which rivers will flow; they will dwell in them forever and chaste wives and most of all the pleasure of God. And God is watching these servants of His; these who pray: “Lord! We have professed faith; so, forgive our sins and save us from the torment of the Fire;” these who are patient, truthful, obedient, who spend in the way of God and who implore for forgiveness at the break of day.

God, His angels and all the bearers of true knowledge [in this world] have borne witness that there is no deity but Him; He adheres to justice, there is no deity but Him, the Mighty, the very Wise.

[If this is a fact, then there is also no doubt that] Islam is the only religion in God’s sight [because only Islam calls upon people to profess faith in God in this manner] and to whom the Book was given they, after the reality of this knowledge came to them [from God], have disagreed among themselves in it merely because of mutual squabble. [This is open denial] and those who deny God’s revelations in this manner should not feel secure from Him because swift is God in reckoning. Thus, if they dispute with you, say: I and those who follow me have submitted ourselves to God. And ask the People of the Book and these unlettered [among the Ishmaelites]: Do you also similarly submit to God? Then if they do, they shall be guided and if they turn away, your duty is only to communicate. God is duly watching over His servants.

As for those who have been denying God’s revelations and have been slaying his prophets unjustly; moreover, slaying those among His servants who would call people to adhere to justice, give them glad tidings of a woeful torment. These are the ones whose deeds shall come to nothing in this world and in the world to come, and now there shall be none to help them.

Have you not seen those who have received the Book of God; they are being called to the very Book of God that it may decide the [differences] among them. Then have you not seen that one group among themselves turns away and, in reality, they are ones who always turn away. The reason for this attitude of theirs is that they declare: “The fire of Hell shall never touch us come what may; yes we can be inflicted with torment for a few days.” In this way, it is what they have been fabricating that has deceived them in the matter of their religion. But what will happen when We gather them all for a day of meeting which is sure to come and in which every soul shall be fully given what it earned and no injustice shall be faced by anyone.

[Their era has ended; so, now] pray you: “God! The Sovereign of all sovereignty, You grant sovereignty to whomsoever You please and take it away from whomsoever You please. And You grant honour to whomsoever You please and humiliate whomsoever You please. All good lies in Your control alone; Indeed, You have power over all things. [We know that] You make the night pass into the day, and the day pass into the night and [know that] You bring forth the living from the dead and bring forth the dead from the living. And You give unlimited sustenance to whomsoever You please.”

[This is the decision of God and shall soon be declared for the People of the Book; so,] let not the believers now make friends with these disbelievers leaving aside the Muslims and [they should remember that] those who will do this shall have no relation with God except if you protect yourself from them the way it can be done best. God frightens you of Himself and does so that [one day] you have to return to God alone. Tell these [Muslims O Prophet:] Whatever is in your hearts whether you conceal it or reveal it, God knows it. And He also knows whatever is between the heavens and the earth and God has power over all things. The day when each soul will be confronted with the virtue it did and also with what evil it did. On that day, it will yearn that a long interval of time should stand between it and this Day’s presence. [This is the counsel of God] and God frightens you of Himself and frightens you because God is compassionate towards His servants.¹

Tell them: If you love God, follow me. God will love you and forgive your sins and God is Forgiving, Ever-Merciful. Say: Obey God and His Messenger. Then even if after this they turn away, [tell them that] God does not like such disbelievers.

[These People of the Book want to argue with you.] No doubt, God, whilst giving preference to Adam and Noah, Abraham’s family and ‘Imrān’s family over all the nations chose them [to guide these nations]. They are the progeny of one another and [whatever they have been saying and doing, God is aware of it because] God hears all and knows all.²

Remind them of the incident when ‘Imrān’s wife prayed: “Lord! I have dedicated to Your service this child which is in my womb by relieving it of all responsibilities. So, accept it from me. Indeed, You alone hear all and know all.” Then when she delivered the child, she said: “Lord, I have given birth to a daughter” – and God well knew what she had delivered – and [said:] “That boy would not have been like this girl. [Well! This is what I have now] and I have named her Mary and I give her and her progeny in your refuge from Satan, the Accursed One.” [These were her feelings;] however, Her Lord graciously accepted that girl and He made her grow into a goodly child and made Zacharias her guardian. [Thus] whenever Zacharias visited her in the worship abode, he would see the blessings [of God] there. [On one such occasion, he asked:] “Mary! Where do you receive this from?” She replied: “This is from God.” [Blessings of your Lord were for that girl.] Truly, God gives without measure to whomsoever He desires.

It was at that instance that Zacharias called out to his Lord. He prayed: “Lord, grant me of Your own grace pious offspring [like her]. Surely, You hear the prayers [of Your servants].” In reply, the angels called out to him whilst he was praying in the worship abode: “God gives you glad tidings of John who shall confirm a word of God, be a leader, an abstinent person and a prophet from among the righteous servants [of God]. He asked in amazement: “Lord! How can a boy be born to me; I have grown old and my wife is also barren?” He said: “In this manner, God does what He pleases.” He said: “Lord appoint then a sign for me.” He replied: “The sign for you is that for three days you will not be able to speak to people except through gestures. [Indeed, you would be able to declare the glory and exaltedness of the Almighty; so, you should spend these days thus] and [during this time,] remember your Lord very much and glorify Him morning and evening.”³

And remind them also of the incident when the angels said to Mary: “Mary! God has selected you and blessed you with purity and by exalting you above womankind has chosen you [for the manifestation of a great sign. So,] O Mary! Remain obedient to your Lord and kneel and prostrate before Him with those who bow before Him.”

These are tales from the unseen [O Prophet] which We are revealing to you and, in reality, you were not present at the time when the attendants of the temple were casting lots to decide which of them should have charge of Mary nor were you present with them when they were having an argument in this matter.

Remind them when the angels said: “O Mary! God gives you glad tidings of a word from Him. His name will be Messiah, Jesus son of Mary. He shall be noble and among the favoured ones both in this world and in that to come. He shall speak [in the capacity of a prophet] in his cradle and in elderly age too and shall be counted among the righteous.” She said: “Lord! How can I bear a child when no man has even touched me?” He replied: “In this manner, God creates what He wants.” When He decrees a matter, He need only say to it: “Be,” and it is. [Consequently, it will happen thus] and God will instruct him in law and in wisdom ie. teach him the Torah and the Gospel, and send him forth as a Messenger to the Israelites. [Consequently, this is what happened and he called upon the Israelites saying:] “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: from clay I make for you the likeness of a bird, then I breathe into it; then by God’s directive it actually becomes a bird. And I heal the born-blind and the leper, and by God’s directive raise the dead to life. And I can tell you what you eat and what you stock in your houses. Surely in it is a great sign for you, if you are ones who believe. And I have come to confirm the Torah which preceded me and have come to make lawful for you some of the things forbidden to you and [look] I bring for you a sign from your Lord: therefore, fear God and obey me. Surely, God alone is my Lord and yours also; hence, serve Him only. This alone is the straight path.”⁴

Then when Jesus felt that these people will only persist in denial, he said [to his disciples]: “Who will be my helper in the cause of God?” The disciples replied: “We are God’s helpers. We have professed faith in God and you bear witness that we have submitted to Him. Lord! We have believed in what You have revealed and [in order to fulfil its requisites] have followed the messenger. So, write us among those who have borne witness to him.”

[This is what happened] and the Israelites started to devise covert schemes [against him] and [in response] God also devised a hidden scheme and in such scheming God is the best. At that time when God said: “Jesus, I have decided to give you death and lift you up to Myself and I shall purify you from these who have disbelieved in you and shall grant your followers supremacy over these disbelievers until the Day of Judgement. Then to Me finally you shall all have to return. So, at that time, I shall give verdict on what you have been differing in. Thus, it is these disbelievers whom I sternly punish both in this world and in the world to come and they find none to help them.” And those who professed faith and did righteous deeds, God gives them their reward in full and, in reality, God does not befriend such wrongdoers.⁵

These are Our revelations and a reminder replete with wisdom that We are reciting to you. In the sight of God, Jesus is like Adam. God created him from clay; then commanded it: “Be,” so it becomes. This alone is the truth from your Lord; therefore, you should not be in any doubt. Then if they still dispute with you in this matter even after you have received this knowledge, say: Come, let us call our children also and you also bring your children; we call our wives too and you too bring your wives and we ourselves and you also come, then supplicate and pronounce the curse of God on every liar. Undoubtedly, this alone is the true account, and, in reality, there is no deity but God and it is God only who is the Mighty, the Wise One. Then if they show indifference, God certainly knows such mischief-mongers.

Tell them: O People of the Book! Come to what is common between you and us: that we should worship none but God, associate nothing with Him, and none of us should make anyone except God as our Lord. Then if they turn away, tell [the believers]: Bear witness that we are Muslims.

People of the Book! Why do you argue about Abraham even though the Torah and the Gospel were revealed after him only? Then do you not understand even this? Indeed, you are the ones who have argued about things of which you had some knowledge. But must you now argue about that of which you have no knowledge at all? And, in reality, God knows all these facts, but you know not. Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian; in fact, he was a devoted Muslim and he was also not from among these Idolaters. Those who followed Abraham are more entitled to ascribe themselves to him. Now this Prophet is entitled to this ascription and those also who have professed faith in him and God is a companion of these believers.⁶

[Believers!] A group from among these People of the Book desires to somehow make you deviate from the right path; and, in reality, they, in this manner, are misleading none but themselves, but they do not understand. People of the Book! Why do you deny God’s revelations when you bear witness to them? People of the Book! Why do you mingle truth with falsehood and why do you conceal the truth even when you know it?

And a group of the People of the Book says: “Believe in that which is revealed to believers in the morning and deny it in the evening so that they may also abandon their faith and do not listen to anyone except those of your own faith” – Tell them [O Prophet!]: Guidance in reality is the guidance of God! – so, do not listen to anyone lest such a thing which is bestowed on you is bestowed on others also or they are able to dispute with you in your Lord’s presence. Tell them: Grace is in the hands of God: He bestows it on whomsoever He wills. And God is Munificent, All-Knowing. He is Merciful to whom He chooses; and God is greatly exalted.

[You expect from them that in the matter of your prophet, they will act justly] and on the contrary, the situation is that among the People of the Book there are those also who, if you trust them with a heap of wealth, will return it to you intact; and there are others among them also who, if you entrust them with a single dīnār, will not hand it back unless you forcefully demand it from them. This is because they have said: “We shall not be held blameworthy in the matter of these unlettered.” And it is a fact that they deliberately say of God what is untrue. Indeed, why not? [The way of God only is that] he who keeps his covenant with Him and remains pious is liked by Him because God loves the pious.

On the other hand, those who sell the covenant of God and their own oaths for a trivial price have no share in the world to come. And God shall neither speak to them nor look at them with favour, nor purify them [from their sins] on the Day of Judgement. In fact, a grievous punishment awaits them there.

And there are those among them also that while reading the Book of God twist their tongues in such a way that you may think that [whatever they are reading] is precisely a statement from the Book whereas it is not a statement from the Book. And they say: “This is from God,” whereas it is not from God and in this manner they deliberately ascribe falsehood to God.

[Then not only this, they also forge a lie on the Prophet of God and do not even think that] it is not befitting for a human being to whom the Almighty gives His Book and the ability to decide and carry out the responsibilities of prophethood according to it, then he should say to people: “Serve me instead of God.” No, in fact, [he will only say: “People!] Be devoted servants of God because you study and teach the Book of God.” Nor will he ask you to make the angels and the prophets as your god. Will he urge you to commit disbelief once you have become Muslims?

And remind them when God took a covenant [from them] about the prophets: “The law and wisdom which I have given to you, then if a messenger comes forth in confirmation of what is before you, you shall necessarily profess faith in him and necessarily support him.” After this, He asked: “Do you agree to this and acknowledge the responsibility of My covenant on it?” They replied: “We agree to it.” He said: “Then bear witness and I also bear witness with you.” [He said:] “Then after this, those who turn away from this covenant, it is they who are the insolent.”

[These prophets have come in this manner.] So, do these people now seek a religion other than God’s even though all things in the heavens and the earth are obedient to Him, willingly or unwillingly and to Him shall they be returned. Tell them: We have believed in God and what is revealed to us and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and to their progeny and which was given by their Lord to Moses and Jesus and all other prophets. “We do not discriminate between anyone among them. [All these are prophets of God] and we are obedient to Him only.” [This precisely is Islam] and He who would like to choose a religion other than Islam, it shall never be accepted from him whatsoever and in the world to come he will be from among the losers. [You want them to be guided?] How can God guide those who lapse into disbelief after embracing faith even though they bear witness to the veracity of this messenger and there has also come to them clear signs [to bear witness to their veracity]. In reality, God does not guide such wrongdoers. It is these whose punishment is that the curse of God and His angels and all mankind is on them; they shall abide in it forever. Neither shall their punishment be reduced nor shall they be given respite. However, [those among them] who after this repent and mend their ways, they will remain protected from it because God is Forgiving, Ever-Merciful. On the contrary, those who disbelieved after believing and continued to grow in disbelief [until their death drew near] their repentance shall never be accepted and, in reality, it is they who are the erring ones. Similarly, those who disbelieved and died in this state of disbelief, no ransom which anyone of them may give [to save himself from punishment] shall be accepted from him even if it is as much gold as would fill the entire earth. It is these for whom there is a painful punishment, and they shall find none to help them there.

[This attitude of theirs is merely because after offering certain religious rituals they regard themselves to be superior. Tell them:] You shall never be truly virtuous until you spend in [the way of God] what is dear to you. [Reflect on this] and [remember that] whatever you spend you shall definitely be rewarded for it because it is known to God. (92)

[They object that if this prophet confirms the Torah, why does he regard those things as allowed which it regards as prohibited? Say:] All these edibles were also lawful to the Israelites [in the same way] except what Israel forbade himself before the Torah was revealed. Say: If you do not accept, bring the Torah and read it, if you are truthful. Then even after this those who impute falsehood to God, it is they who are the wrongdoers. Tell them: God has stated the truth; so, [leave aside your prejudices and] follow the way of Abraham who was totally devoted [to Islam] and was not among the Idolaters.

[Similarly, they have objections on the qiblah also. Tell them:] The first House of God ever to be built for mankind is surely the one at Makkah, as a blessing and centre of guidance for all people of the world. In it, there are manifest signs: the abode of Abraham; whoever enters it is secure and for those who are capable of reaching this place, the pilgrimage to this House is incumbent upon them for the sake of God. [These are His signs] and those who deny even after this, God does not the slightest care about them because God can surely do without all people of the world.⁷

Ask them: People of the Book! Why do you deny the revelations of God even though God sees whatever you are doing? Ask them: People of the Book! Why do you stop those people, who have embraced faith, from the path of God? You find errors in it even though you have been made its witnesses? [Reflect on this] and [remember that] God is not unaware of whatever you are doing.

Believers! If you yield to a group from among these People of the Book, they will turn you back from belief to disbelief. [Be forewarned of this] and [reflect] how can you disbelieve when God’s revelations are being recited to you and His own Messenger is among you. [So, hold fast to God] and [remember that] he who holds fast to God, then [know that] he has been guided to the straight path.⁸

Believers! Fear God as you rightly should, and when you leave this world leave it as followers of Islam whatsoever and together cling to the rope of God and be not divided and remember the favour God has bestowed upon you: when you were enemies of one another; so, He united your hearts and with His grace you became brothers and remember when you stood at the very brink of an abyss of fire; then He saved you from it. God in this way explains to you His revelations so that you may be guided. And let there be appointed among you some people who call towards righteousness, urge towards virtue and forbid evil. [Diligently arrange for this] and [remember that] those who do so shall only attain success.

[Do this] and be not like those who became divided into sects and who differed after very clear guidance had come to them. And [now] it is they for whom there is an extremely grave punishment, on the day when some faces will be bright and others on which darkness will be overspreading. So, the darkened-faces will be asked: “Did you once again become disbelievers after embracing faith? Hence, taste now the punishment because of this disbelief of yours.” As for those whose faces will be bright, they shall abide in the shades of God’s mercy; they shall remain in them forever. These are the revelations of God which We are reciting to you with all truth and reciting to you because God does not desire to do any injustice to mankind. [So, like these People of the Book, do not remain in false hopes] and [remember that] all that the heavens and the earth contain belongs to God only and all affairs are presented before God alone.

[Believers! with the blessing of God at this time] you are an excellent group raised up to bear witness to the truth before people. You urge towards virtue, forbid vice and have true belief in God. And had these People of the Book also professed faith [in the Qur’ān], it would have been better for them. [Undoubtedly,] some among them are believers also, but [alas] most among them are disobedient. They can cause you a slight hurt; apart from this, they certainly cannot harm you. And [rest assured that] if they fight against you, they shall definitely turn their backs. Then they shall not receive any help from anywhere. Ignominy shall be stamped upon them wherever they are seen; except if they hold on to the rope of God and the rope of [those who have held the rope of God]. They have returned with the wrath of God and cowardice has been stamped upon them. This is because they have been denying God’s revelations and have been slaying his prophets unjustly because they were disobedient and have always been crossing the limits.

[It should however remain clear that] all People of the Book are not alike. One group among them is abiding by its promise. They recite the revelations of God at night and remain in prostration [before Him]; they truly believe in God and the Last Day; they urge towards virtue, forbid vice, take lead in good deeds and are among the pious servants of God. [No doubt that they are true seekers of the truth] and [as a reward of this attitude of theirs] whatever good deed they do, its reward shall not be denied to them and God well knows these virtuous.

On the other hand, those who have decided to remain disbelievers, neither their wealth nor their children shall be of any benefit to them before God and they are the companions of the Fire; there they shall remain forever. In the life of this world, whatever they spend [apparently in the way of God] is like a freezing wind that smites the crop-fields of men who have been unjust to themselves and ruins it. [They deserve only this treatment] and in reality God has not done any injustice to them; in fact, they have continued to be unjust to their own souls.

Believers! [They are not your friends; so,] do not make those outside your own people [your] confidants. They will spare no opportunity to harm you. They desire hardships for you. Their enmity is evident from their mouths and greater is what their chests conceal. We have made evident to you these signs if you are sensible enough. It is you who want to befriend them while they do not want to be friends with you even though you believe in all the Books of God. And it is their practice that when they meet you, they say: “We already are believers,” and when alone, they bite their finger-tips with rage – Tell them: Perish in this rage of yours! [God is aware of all your doings] and, in reality, God even has knowledge of the secrets of the hearts – When you are blessed with success, they are aggrieved and when some calamity befalls you, they rejoice. [They are not your friends; ignore them] and [remember that] if you persevere and keep fearing God, none of their schemes will harm you the slightest because God fully encompasses what they are doing.

[Make them understand this reality, O Prophet] and [for this remind them] of the occasion when [on the day of Uḥud] you left your house very early in the morning to position Muslims in their battle-posts. [At that time, God was aware of your intentions and was listening to what you were saying] and God hears all and knows all.

At the time when two of your groups became timid, even though God was there to help them and it is only in God Whom the believers should trust. [Before this,] God had also helped you at Badr when you were very weak. [Even then you express ingratitude?] So, have fear of God that you may be grateful to Him.

Remember when you were saying to the believers: “Is it not sufficient for you that your Lord should help you with three thousand angels sent down [for this very purpose]? Yes, why not! If you have patience and remain fearful of God and your enemies attack you at this very instance, your Lord shall send to your aid five thousand angels marked specifically.”

And God undertook this only to give glad tidings to you and that your hearts be assured from it and help comes only from God, the Mighty, the very Wise. He undertook this so that [He may give an opportunity] to these disbelievers [to embrace faith and in this manner] He may sever one part of theirs or humiliate them to such an extent that they return in disgrace – You do not have any authority in this regard [that the Almighty deal with them in this way] or show favour to them and accept their repentance [if they repent] or send His punishment to them because they are the unjust. [Only God has this authority] and to Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. He shall forgive whomsoever He wants to and punish whomsoever He wants to [according to His law]. And, in reality, God is Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.

Believers! [If in future also you want God’s help,] do not consume this interest doubling it many times over and keep fearing God that you may prosper. And protect yourselves against the Fire that has been prepared for the disbelievers. And remain obedient to God and His Messenger that you earn mercy. And run to advance to the forgiveness of your Lord and to Paradise which is as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the righteous who spend in all circumstances whether they are in ease or in hardship and [even if they encounter any excesses from those upon whom they spend,] they curb their anger and forgive people – [These are people who are thorough in their deeds] and God befriends those people who are thorough in their deeds – and such are they that if they commit a lewd act or do something evil to themselves, remember God and seek forgiveness for their sins – and who but God can forgive sins – and do not deliberately persist in what they have done. It is these who shall be rewarded with forgiveness from their Lord and with orchards beneath which streams will flow. They shall dwell there forever. And what a grand reward this is for those who do righteous deeds.

[Believers! The final victory shall be yours.] Numerous examples of this have gone before you. So, roam about in this land of yours and see what fate those who disbelieved met. This is a very clear warning to those [who are adamant in denying the Prophet] and a guidance and counsel to the God-fearing. [So, rest assured] and do not despair and be sad [because of the losses you have been inflicted with]. If you are believers, you shall finally reign supreme. If you have suffered a wound [now], a similar wound was suffered [before this] by the enemy too. And We alternate these vicissitudes among people to test them and so that God may know the true believers and sift out those [who by even laying down their lives] bear witness to the truth – [try to understand these expediencies] and [remember that] God does not like those who are unjust – and We alternate these vicissitudes so that God may separate the believers and destroy these disbelievers. – Did you suppose that you would enter Paradise and God has not even seen as yet those among you who waged jihād [and those who did not] – and We alternate these vicissitudes so that God also knows the enduring among them. [Now you are giving up courage] and you have been wishing for death before it manifested itself in front of you [in this manner]. So, [your wish has been granted because] you have stared death in its face.

Muḥammad is no more than a Messenger. [The news of his killing has shattered your morale.] Other messengers have passed before him also [and they too passed through the phases of life and death]. Then if he dies or is slain, will you people revert back? [Remember that] he who reverts back will not harm God in any way and soon God will reward those who have remained grateful to Him in all circumstances.

[You gave up] and [forgot the fact that] everyone dies with the permission of God only in accordance with what is written for him [and also forgot that] he who desires the reward of this world, We shall give him from it; and he who desires the reward of the life to come, We shall give him from there and We shall surely recompense those who are thankful to Us.

[Try to understand these facts] and [remember that] there came many a prophet alongside whom many godly people have fought; so, when they were faced with hardships for the cause of God, they were not daunted nor did they show weakness nor did they lay down their arms before the enemy; [in fact, they remained steadfast in all circumstances] and God loves such steadfast [people]. Their only prayer was: “Lord! Forgive our sins and pardon the excesses we committed in our affairs; make us firm of foot and help us against these disbelievers.” Then God gave them the reward of this world, and also the glorious recompense of the world to come. [These are the ones who are thorough in their deeds] and God likes those who are thorough in their deeds.

Believers! If you obey these disbelievers, they shall surely revert you back and you will end up as losers. It is not these people but God Who is your helper and His help is the best. [You will see that] We shall now strike your awe in the hearts of these disbelievers because they associated things with God for whom He has revealed no sanction. The Fire shall be their abode and what an evil abode it is for those who are unjust to their souls.

God fulfilled His promise [of help] made with you when, by His permission, you were putting them to the sword. Until when you yourselves showed weakness and differed with each other in following the directive and disobeyed [the Messenger] after God had made you see what you desired. [This is a reality that] some among you were seekers of this world and some of the next. [Consequently, after this victory] God again turned you away from them to test you [so that those who are after the pleasures of this world become distinct]. And the truth is that He still forgave you and God is very Gracious to the believers.

Remember when you were fleeing and were not even turning to look behind and the Messenger of God was calling you [from behind you] in one of your own groups [which was standing alongside him]; so, God inflicted you with one sorrow after another so that [after passing through this trial] you do not grieve [in future] on what you lose and on any calamity which may befall you. And [remember that] God knows whatever you do.

Then, after this sorrow, God once again let peace descend upon you in the form of a sleep which was overtaking some of you and there were some who were fearing for their lives. They were engaging in totally false thoughts of the age of jāhiliyyah about God. They were saying: “Do we also have any say in these matters?” Tell them: All matters are in the hands of God. They are concealing in their hearts what they do not reveal to you. They say: “If we had any say in this matter, we would not have been slain here [like this].” Say: Had you stayed back in your homes, those of you who were destined to be killed would have gone to their places of death nevertheless. [So, once again try to understand the fact that] all this happened because God wanted to make you distinct from one another and because He may test what is concealed in your chests and because He may cleanse the evil of your hearts and, in reality, God knows what is in the hearts.

The reason for the mistake of those of you who had turned their backs on the day the two groups faced each other was that because of some of the misdeeds they had committed, Satan had induced them to cowardice. However, God forgave them. Indeed, God is Forgiving, Most Gracious.

Believers! Be not like these people who are disbelievers and who say of their relatives when they travel or go out for a battle [and are overcome by death]: “Had they been with us, they would not have died, nor would they have been killed.” This is because God will cause them to regret their words. Otherwise, in reality, it is God Who ordains life and it is God Who ordains death, and whatever you do is in God’s sight. And, to add to this, if you are slain for the cause of God or should die, His forgiveness and mercy you secure will indeed be far better than what they are amassing. And this also that if you should die or be slain, before God shall you all be gathered come what may.

So, it is because of God’s favour that you are very gentle to them [O Prophet]. Had you been ill-tempered and hard-hearted, all these would have dispersed from your presence. Therefore, ignore them and seek forgiveness for them and keep consulting them in affairs. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in God because God loves only those who trust Him. [Believers!] If God is there to help you, none can overcome you, and if He abandons you, who then can help you after this? And believers should only trust God.

[They think that by going out of the city for this battle, the Prophet ill-wished for them. Certainly not!] It is not in accordance with the stature of any prophet to be an ill-wisher [and they should know that] whoever wishes ill, shall be brought on the Day of Judgement with his ill-wish. Then shall every person be fully paid what he earned and none shall be shown injustice. So can he who seeks to please God become like those who incurred His wrath and Hell is whose abode, and what an evil abode it is? Different will be their status with God. And God is watching over whatever they are doing. In reality, God has been very gracious to the believers in sending them a Messenger from amongst themselves who recites out His revelations before them and purifies them, and for this instructs them in the law and in the wisdom. And there is no doubt that before this they were in open error.

And [yes] when a calamity struck you after you yourselves had [earlier] inflicted them with losses twice as heavy, did you also say: “Where has this come from?” Tell them [O Prophet!]: It was because of you yourself that it came. [If God grants victory, He also inflicts defeat as per His wisdom] because God has power over all things. And moreover the disaster which befell you when the two armies met was ordained by God, and befell so that He may see who the true believers are and those also who had adopted hypocrisy [from the very beginning; the ones that] when they were told: “Come, fight for the cause of God or least defend [your city],” they had replied: “If we knew that a battle was going to take place, we would have surely come with you.” On that day, they were closer to disbelief than belief. They were uttering words from their mouths which were not in their hearts: and God fully knew what they were concealing. The very ones who kept sitting and said of their brothers [who had gone out to fight]: “Had they listened to us, they would not have been slain [in this manner].” Tell them: Ward off your death, then, if what you say is true!

[Do not pay heed to these things, O Prophet] and whoever have been slain [during this war] for the cause of God, never regard them as dead. They are not dead; in fact, they are alive in the presence of God; they are being well provided for; pleased with what God has given them of His blessings, expressing joy about those they left behind who have not yet come to them that [in this eternal kingdom of God] neither is there any fear for them as well nor shall they ever be sorrowful, rejoicing in the favours and blessings of God and rejoicing that God shall never waste the reward of the believers – the reward of those who even after being inflicted with loss answered the call of God and His Messenger. Those among them who were thorough in their deeds and feared God shall be richly recompensed. They are those who, on being told by people: “The enemy has mustered a great force against you: so, fear it,” grew more in their faith [on hearing this] and replied: “God is all-sufficient for us, and He is the best protector.” Thus they returned [from this campaign] with God’s grace and bounty; no harm befell them and they sought God’s pleasure, and, in reality, God’s bounty is great. [Now it would have become obvious to you that] it is Satan who had been threatening you to fear his companions. So, have no fear of them. Fear Me only if you are true believers.

And [O Prophet!] Let not these people who [at this time] are fervent in their disbelief become a means of sorrow for you. They shall not the least be able to harm God. God intends that they have no share in the Hereafter. [They are criminals] and a grievous punishment awaits them there. It is a fact that all those who have bartered their faith for disbelief shall in no way be able to harm God and for them [He] has prepared an extremely woeful punishment. Let not these disbelievers in any way think that the respite We are giving them is for their own good. [They should know that] We are giving them this respite only because they may add some more to their sins. [After this, they have to come to Us] and [here] a very humiliating punishment awaits them. (176-178)

[The trial they have faced at the time of this battle is not being understood by them. Tell them that] without separating the pure from the impure God shall never leave the Muslims the way you were in, nor is it God’s way to reveal to you what is hidden [so that after knowing the situation of their hearts you can distinguish them]. In fact, God’s [way is that for this He] chooses those of His messengers whomsoever He wills, [then through them creates such trials that distinguish all the pure from the impure]. For this reason, have faith in God and His messengers and [know that] if you adhere to faith and piety, you shall have a rich reward.

And never should those [among them] who show stinginess in the things which God alone has bestowed to them out of His bounty think it is good for them: no, it is a very evil thing for them. [They should know that] the things they have been stingy about will soon on the Day of Judgement be made to be worn by them as yokes, and [it should be known that] to God belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth and God is aware of whatever you do. God has heard the words of those who have said: “God is poor, and we are rich.” These words of theirs We shall record and We have also written down their slaying of the prophets unjustly and [on the Day of Judgement] We shall tell them: “Taste now the torment of the Fire. This is the reward of what you had sent forward with your hands and because God is not unjust to His servants in the slightest of ways.”

These people who have declared: “God has directed us to not believe in any messenger unless a fire [descending from the heavens] consumes an offering made by him before us.” Tell them: Many messengers before me have come to you with veritable signs and have also brought the sign you are demanding. Then why did you slay them, if what you say be true? For this reason, [O Prophet] if they reject you, then this is no matter of amazement; many messengers have also been rejected [in this manner] before you who had come with veritable signs, scriptures and a radiant book. [Wait! and let them wait as well!] Every soul has to taste death and you shall receive your full reward only on the Day of Resurrection. Then whoever is spared from Hell and is admitted to Paradise is truly successful and the life of this world is nothing but a deceptive deal.

[Believers!] You shall be tried in all circumstances regarding your possessions and your persons, and you will also have to hear many painful things from those who were given the Book before you and from those have committed polytheism. However, if you remained steadfast and adhered to piety, God will help you because these are the things which have been regarded as essential [for this]. And to those who were given the Book, remind them also of their pledge which God took from them: “You shall necessarily recite out this Book before people and shall not conceal it come what may.” Then they cast it over their backs and accepted a paltry price for it. So, how evil is what they have bought. Never think that those who rejoice in their misdeeds and wish to be praised for what they have not done will escape the torment. In fact, a woeful punishment is ready for them. [They cannot run away from it anywhere because] God alone has sovereignty over the heavens and the earth and God has power over all things.

[They are totally bereft of intellect and that is why demand a sign to believe in the Prophet; otherwise,] in reality, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of night and day, there are many signs for people of insight; for those who remember God in all states whether standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and keep reflecting on the creation of the heavens and the earth. [Their prayer is:] “Lord! You have not created all this without a purpose. You are beyond doing anything which is purposeless; so, save us from the torment of the Fire. Lord! He whom You cast into Hell, You in reality put him into great humiliation and [it is a place where] the unjust shall have no helpers. Lord! We have heard a caller who would call to faith: ‘[People!] Believe in your Lord,’ so we believed. Then Master! Forgive now our sins; avert from us our evil deeds and make us die with Your faithful. Lord! Fulfil to us what You promised us through the tongue of Your prophets, and do not humiliate us on the Day of Judgement. Indeed! You never break Your promise.”⁹

So, their Lord answered this prayer of theirs in this manner: “I shall not waste the deeds of any man or woman among you. You are the offspring of one another. Thus those who have migrated and have been expelled from their homes and have suffered persecution for My sake and fought [for My cause] and were slain, I shall drive away their sins from them and definitely admit them to orchards below which streams flow.” This is their recompense from God and the best recompense is with God alone.

Do not [O Prophet] be deceived by the fortunes of these disbelievers in the cities of this land. This is brief prosperity; then Hell shall be their abode and what an evil abode it is? On the other hand, those who continued to fear their Lord, for them are orchards below which streams flow; they shall abide in them forever; this for them is the first feast with God and whatever God has with Him is much better for those faithful to Him.

[There do exist such faithful people even among the People of the Book.] In reality, among these People of the Book are those also who truly believe in God, in the Book which has been revealed to you and also in what had been revealed to them [earlier], while fearing God. They do not sell God’s revelations for a paltry price. These are the people whose reward lies with their Lord. [Soon it will be given to them] because swift is God’s reckoning.

Believers! [The final victory shall be yours; however, for this it is essential that you] exercise patience, show valour against your opponents, be prepared for a battle and [in all affairs] be God-conscious so that you may succeed.