Sūrah al-A‘rāf

This is Alif Lām Mīm Ṣu‘ād. It is this Book which has been revealed to you. So [O Prophet!] let not there be any anxiety in your heart because of it. It has been revealed so that you can warn [people] through it and the believers are reminded [through it. People!] Follow whatever has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other patrons leaving aside your Lord. [Alas!] Seldom do you receive a reminder. [Before this,] how many cities have We destroyed; so, Our scourge descended on them suddenly at night or visited them right in the day when they were resting. Then when Our scourge fell on them, they could not say anything but cried out: “Indeed, it was we who were unjust.” So, We shall definitely ask those to whom messengers were sent and ask from the messengers themselves as well about the answer they received when they communicated Our message. Then with full knowledge, We shall narrate the whole account before them. For We were never away from them. And the measure shall be absolutely correct on that day. Then those whose scales are heavy shall only succeed and those whose scales are light are the ones who put themselves in loss because they would deny Our revelations and would be unjust to their souls.¹

[People!] We have granted you authority in this land and have opened up for you sources of livelihood, yet seldom are you grateful.

[Your tale is that] We had created you, then had given you form. Then We had said to the angels: “Prostrate before Adam.” So, except Satan all prostrated. He was not among those who prostrated. God said: “What stopped you from prostrating when I had ordered you?” He replied: “I am better than him. You have created me from fire and created him from clay.” He said: “Get you down from here because you do not have the right to show arrogance here. So, away with you! Surely, you are disgraceful.” He replied: “Give me respite until the Day people are raised up.” God said: “You have this respite.” He replied: “Then because you have led me astray, I too shall surely lie in ambush at Your straight path for the progeny of Adam. Then I shall certainly pounce upon them from their front and behind, from their right and left – from all sides. And You will find most of them to be ungrateful to You.” God said: “Go away from here, disgraced and accursed. [Remember that] those of them who follow you, I also shall definitely fill Hell with you all.”

[We said to Adam:] “O Adam! Dwell with your wife in this orchard and eat in it from wherever you want. But both of you do not go near this tree otherwise you both will become unjust. Then Satan lured them so as to open to them what had been hidden to them from their private parts. He said to them: “Your Lord has only stopped you from this tree lest you become angels or that you may acquire immortality.” He swore to them repeatedly and said: “I am your true well-wisher.” By deceiving them in this way, he gradually enticed both of them. Then when they tasted the fruit of the tree, their private parts became evident to them and they began covering themselves with the leaves of that orchard. [At that time,] their Lord called them: “Did I not stop you from this tree and not told you that Satan is your open enemy?” Both cried out: “Lord! We have been unjust to our souls. If you now do not forgive us and not have mercy on us, we shall definitely be among the losers.” He said: “Get down [from here]; you are enemies of one another and you will have to stay in the earth until an appointed time and live there.” He said: “You will live and die in it and also be raised up from it.”²³⁴

Children of Adam! We have sent down attire for you that hides your private parts also and is also an embellishment for you. And the attire of piety, that is better than this. It is a sign from among the signs of God so that people may be reminded. Children of Adam! This should never happen that Satan lures you the way he ousted your father and mother from that orchard – [in which God had made them dwell] – by revealing their private parts to them by making them take off this very attire. [Bear in mind that] he and his accomplices see you from where you cannot see them. In reality, We have made these devils the companions of those who do not believe.⁵

[It is precisely the consequence of this companionship O Prophet that] when these people [of your nation] do something vulgar, they say: “We found our forefathers on this way and to this God has directed us.” Tell them: God never directs [people to indulge] in vulgarity. Do you say such things that you do not know by imputing falsehood to God. Tell them: My Lord has directed me to fairness [in every matter]. He has asked [you] to face Him near every mosque and call Him by showing obedience to Him only. You will return [to Him alone] the way He initiated you. He guided one faction; [it believes in all these things] and another was led astray because leaving aside God they made devils their companions and think that they are rightly guided. Children of Adam! Come with your adornments at the time of your presence in every mosque. And eat and drink but do not cross the limits. God does not like those who cross limits. Ask them [O God’s Messenger]: Who has forbidden you the adornments of the Almighty which He had created for His servants, and who has forbidden the wholesome among the edibles? Tell them: They are for the believers also even in this world [but God has also given the disbelievers a share in them]; and on the Day of Judgement, they shall be theirs alone. [The disbelievers shall have no share in them.] Thus do We explain Our revelations for those who want to know. Say: My Lord has only forbidden lewd acts, whether open or hidden and usurping rights and wrongful oppression and that you associate with God that for which He did not send down any sanction and that you fabricate something about God that you know not. [At this time, you have no fear. But one day He shall definitely seize you due to your rebelliousness regarding all these prohibitions because] a time has been appointed for each nation. Then once its time ends, even for a moment it can neither be pushed back nor moved forward.⁶

Children of Adam! [On the very first day, I had informed you that] if messengers come to you from among your own selves reciting to you My revelations, listen to what they say because those who feared God and reformed themselves shall then have nothing to dread nor shall they be grieved. On the other hand, those who denied Our revelations and arrogantly turned away from them are the ones who are the dwellers of Hell. They shall abide therein forever. So who can be more unjust than those who impute falsehood to God or deny His revelations. What has been [written for them] in their record as their share [in the life of this world] will reach them. Until when Our angels come to them to claim their souls, they will ask: “Where are those whom you worshipped besides God?” They will reply: “All of them have been lost upon us,” and will bear witness against themselves that they were in fact disbelievers. God will say: “You too enter Hell with all those groups of men and jinn who lived before you.” Whenever a group from among them will enter, it will curse its fellow group. Until when all are gathered there, their later ones will say about the earlier ones: “Lord! It is these people who led us astray; so inflict a two-fold punishment on them.” God will reply: “For each of you is a two-fold punishment but you know not.” At this, the earlier ones will say to the later ones: “If [we are wrongdoers,] then you too could not acquire any superiority on us; so, taste the flavour of punishment in retribution of what you did.”

This is certain that those who have denied Our revelations and have arrogantly turned away from them, for them the doors of the heavens shall not be opened and they shall never enter Paradise unless a camel passes through the eye of a needle. [Listen!] this is how We punish wrongdoers. For them shall be the bedding of Hell and also their very covering from above. [Listen!] This is how We punish the unjust. On the other hand, those who have professed faith and have done righteous deeds – and [in this matter] We do not burden a soul beyond its capacity – it is they who are the companions of Paradise. They shall abide in it forever. We shall banish every grievance of their hearts. Rivers will be flowing beneath them and they will say: “Gratitude be to God who guided us to this path and had God not given us this guidance, we would never ourselves have been able to reach this path.” In reality, the messengers sent by Us had brought the absolute truth. [At that time,] they will be called: “This is the very Paradise that you have been made heirs of because of your deeds.”

[At this instance,] the dwellers of Paradise will call out and ask the dwellers of Hell: “We found that the promise God made with us was absolutely true; so, did you also find the promise your Lord made with you to be true?” They will reply: “Yes.” Then a caller will call out between them: “The curse of God be on these unjust people.” – [God added:] on those who [today] stop [people] from the way of God, want to create divergence in it and disbelieve in the Hereafter.

There will be a curtain-wall between these two groups and on the turrets of the wall there will be some prominent and distinguished people who will recognize each person through his sign. And they will cry out to the dwellers of Paradise: “Peace be upon you,” – they will not yet have entered Paradise but would be contenders [to enter it]. When their sight will be turned to the dwellers of Hell, they will [instinctively] say: “Lord! Do not make us the companions of these unjust people.” [After this,] these people of the turrets will call some prominent people [of Hell] who they would recognize through their signs. They will say to them: “What benefit did you gain from your groups and from the arrogance that you would show; [just take a look at Paradise.] Are these not the people about whom you would repeatedly swear that these people cannot be worthy of any mercy from God?” “[Dwellers of Paradise!] Remain in [this] Paradise [of yours]; there is neither any fear for you now nor will you ever grieve.”

[Seeing the] dwellers of Paradise, these companions of Hell will say: “Pour down on us some of your water or grant us some sustenance which God has blessed you with.” They will reply: “God has forbidden both these things to the disbelievers.” – [God added:] For those who have made their religion an entertainment and amusement and who were deceived by the life of the world. So, today We shall forget them the way they forgot this day of their meeting and the way they used to deny Our revelations – [At this juncture, O Prophet!] We have brought forth to these people [of your nation] a Book which We have explained on the basis of certain knowledge, as a means of guidance and mercy for those who believe. Do they only wait to see the reality of what they are being informed? The day its reality comes forth, these very people who had ignored it earlier will say: “Indeed, the messengers sent by our Lord had brought the absolute truth. Then are there any intercessors who may intercede in our favour or is there a possibility that we may be returned so that we do the opposite to what we have being doing?” [Alas,] these people inflicted themselves with loss and the falsehoods they used to invent have all vanished.

[People!] This is a reality that your Lord is the God Who created the heavens and the earth in six days; then sat on His throne. He covers the day with the night which comes running after it. And He has created the sun, the moon and the stars which follow His orders. Listen! He alone creates and He alone governs. Very blessed is God, Lord of the worlds. Invoke your Lord while beseeching Him and calling Him in private. This is what is befitting before Him because He does not like those who cross limits. And do not spread disorder in the land after it has been set right and call Him alone in both states of fear and of hope. This is the upright path. Tread on it only because the mercy of God is close to those who are thorough.⁷

It is He Who before [sending down] His mercy drives forth winds as glad tidings. Until when they lift clouds laden with water, We propel it to a barren piece of land and send down rain there; thenbring into existence from it fruits of various kinds. In this manner, We shall raise up the dead as well; it may be that you are reminded. The land which is fertile produces much fruit and flower at its Lord’s directive and defective land produces nothing but what is defective. [Same is your case. In the verses of this Qur’ān,] We show Our signs in this manner in a variety of ways for those who want to be grateful.⁸

[Your history also bears witness to these facts.]

We had sent forth Noah as a messenger to his people; so, he called upon them: “O People of My Nation! Worship God. You have no other god than Him. I fear for you the torment of a horrible day.” The elders of his nation replied: “We see you in manifest error.” He said: “O People of My Nation! I am not in any error. In fact, I am a messenger of the Lord of the worlds. I am communicating to you the messages of my Lord. I am being your well-wisher and know from God which you do not know. Do you express wonder on receiving God’s reminder through a person from among yourselves so that he may warn you and so that you may fear [God] and mercy can be shown to you?” Even then, they rejected him. So, We saved him and those who were with him in the ship and drowned all those who had denied Our revelations. Surely, they were blind [at heart and mind].

To ‘Ād, We had similarly sent their brother Hūd. He called upon them: “O People of My Nation! Worship God. You have no other god than Him. Then do you not have fear?” The elders of his nation, who had taken to disbelief, replied to him: “We certainly see you inflicted with foolishness and We surely think that you are a liar.” He said: “O People of My Nation! I am not inflicted with any foolishness. In fact, I am a messenger of the Lord of the worlds. I am communicating to you the messages of my Lord. And with full sincerity am a well-wisher of yours. Do you express wonder on receiving God’s reminder through a person from among yourselves so that he may warn you? Remember when He granted you sovereignty after the people of Noah and made you strong and mighty in physique. So, keep in mind the majesties of God so that you may succeed.” They replied: “Have you come to us so that we worship only one God and leave aside those who our forefathers have been worshipping? If this is the case, then bring on us the punishment you are threatening us with, if you are truthful.” He said: “Filth has come upon you from your Lord and [His] wrath has burst forth. Do you quarrel with me about those names which you and your forefathers have kept, about which God has revealed no sanction? Wait then; I shall also wait with you.” Finally, We saved him and his companions through Our mercy and severed the roots of those who denied Our revelations and were not prepared to believe.

[In a similar way,] to the Thamūd We had sent their brother Ṣāliḥ. He called upon them: “O People of My Nation! Worship God. You have no other god than Him. A clear sign has come to you from your Lord. This is God’s she-camel, as a sign for you. So, leave it that it may graze in the land of God and do not touch it with any evil intention otherwise a painful torment will visit you. Remember, when after the nation of ‘Ād, God gave you sovereignty and granted you ascendancy in the land: you make grand forts in its lands and carve houses from mountains. So, remember the majesties of God and do not spread disorder in the land.” The arrogant elders of his nation said to the subservient among them who had accepted faith: “Do you think that Ṣāliḥ has been sent by his Lord?” They replied: “We do believe in the message with which he has been sent.” At this, those arrogant people said: “[But] We disbelieve in what you have believed.” Then they hamstrung the she-camel and disobeyed the directive of their Lord with full defiance and said: “Ṣāliḥ! If you have been sent by God, bring on us the torment you are threatening us with.” At last, a violent shudder overtook them and they were left lying face down in their homes. At that time, Ṣāliḥ walked off from them, saying: “O People of My Nation! I have delivered to you the message of My Lord and showed a lot of concern for you. But you do not like people who have concern.”⁹

Similarly, We sent Lot when he said to his nation: “Do you commit this vulgarity? No nation before you has perpetrated it. Do you fulfil your desire through men leaving aside women? [In reality, you have lost your sight;] in fact, you are those who have totally crossed the limits.” But his nation merely replied: “Expel these people from your settlement; they pose to be very pious.” So, We saved him and his family except his wife. She was among those who were left behind. And We showered a [stone-hurling] rain on that nation the way it should be showered. Then observe the fate met by these wrongdoers.¹⁰

And to Madyan sent their brother, Shu‘ayb. He called out: “O People of My Nation! Worship God. You have no other god than Him. A clear proof has come to you from your Lord. Thus weigh and measure full. Do not give things to people by reducing them and do not spread disorder in the land after it has been set right. This is what is better for you if you have accepted faith. And do not sit on every path intimidating people, stopping those who have accepted faith from the path of God and finding fault in His way. Remember when you were few. Then God increased you, and observe the fate of those who were mischief-mongers. If one group from among you has professed faith in what I have been sent with and another has not, then wait until God passes His judgement between us and He is the best of judges.” The elders of his nation who had turned arrogant said to him: “O Shu‘ayb! We shall turn out from this settlement you and those [of your] people who have professed faith with you or you would have to return to our ways.” He replied: “Even in the case when we are averse [to it]? If we return to your ways after God has delivered us from it, then [this will mean that] we have imputed falsehood to God. [No] this is not possible for us to return to them except only if our Lord intends. The knowledge of our Lord embraces everything. We have trusted in God alone. Lord! Judge fairly between us and our nation. You are the best of judges.” The elders of his nation who had decided to deny warned people: “If you follow Shu‘ayb, then you should understand that you will end up in great loss.” At last, a violent jolt shook them and they were left lying face-down in their houses. Those who denied Shu‘ayb were such as if they never lived in that settlement. Those who denied Shu‘ayb, it was they who finally ended up as losers. At that time, Shu‘ayb left them saying: “People of My Nation! I have delivered the messages of my Lord to you and have done my best as your well-wisher. Now, what sorrow should I express on those who have taken to disbelief!”

In whichever settlement We have sent a prophet as a messenger, We have inflicted its inhabitants with financial and corporal trials so that they may show humility. Then We changed their sorrow into happiness until they greatly prospered and said: “Good and bad days did come to our forefathers as well.” Ultimately, We seized them all of a sudden while they were not even aware. In reality, had the people of these settlements professed faith and adhered to piety, We would have opened the doors of blessings of the heavens and the earth. But they denied; so, We too seized them because of their misdeeds.

Then [tell us whether] the people of these settlements could remain secure from Our torment that it may visit them at night while they are fast asleep? Or could the people of the settlements remain secure from Our torment that it may come to them right in daytime when they would be involved in playing? Then were they secure from God’s plan? So, [remember that] only those people think that they are secure from God’s plan who are to become losers. Did this not teach a lesson to those who inherit the earth from its previous inhabitants that had We intended We could have seized them too because of their sins? [No, they never seek a lesson] and [as a result of this] We put a seal on their hearts; then they are not able to hear anything. These are the settlements a part of whose tale We are narrating before you. Their messengers had come to them with open signs but it did not happen that they accepted faith because they had been denying earlier. In such a manner, God seals the hearts of the disbelievers. In reality, in most of them, We did not find those who abide by promises; in fact, most of them We found to be those who break promises.

After these [nations which have been mentioned earlier], We sent Moses with Our signs to the Pharaoh and His chiefs [as a messenger]. But they were unjust to their souls and denied these signs. Then observe the fate of these who spread disorder. Moses said: “O Pharaoh! I have come from the Lord of the worlds. This is what I should do and this is precisely my craving that I say to you nothing from God but the truth. I have come to you from your Lord with a sure sign [of this status of mine]; so, let the Israelites go with me.” He replied: “If you have brought a sign, present it, if you are truthful.” At this, Moses placed his rod [on the ground]; then, it suddenly turned into a vibrant serpent and he pulled out his hand [from his arm-slit]; so, it suddenly appeared dazzling to the onlookers. When the chiefs of the Pharaoh’s nation [saw this,] they said: “This person is a very adept magician; he wants to expel you from your country; so, what is your opinion?” Then all of them advised [the Pharaoh]: “Put him off and his brother and send forth workers in every city who gather and bring to you all adept magicians.” [Thus, this is what was done,] and the magicians came to the Pharaoh. They said: “If we win, we shall certainly be rewarded abundantly?” The Pharaoh replied: “Yes, surely and you shall also be included among our favoured ones.”¹¹

At this, the magicians said: “O Moses! Will you throw or [if you want,] we can throw?” He said: “You throw.” Thus when they threw, the eyes of the people were deluded and it terrified them and they brought forth a great magic. We signalled to Moses: “Throw down your staff.” Then as soon as it was thrown, it went on engulfing the magic they had fabricated. So, the truth manifested itself and whatever they were doing was all nullified. [On that day,] the Pharaoh and his companions were vanquished there and were humiliated and the magicians [upon seeing this sign of God] fell down in prostration. They [spontaneously] said: “We have professed faith in the Lord of the worlds Who is the Lord of Moses and Aaron.”

The Pharaoh said: “You have professed faith in Him without my permission? This surely is a conspiracy which you have hatched in this city so that you expel its inhabitants from there. So, you will now know [its consequences]. I shall chop your hands and feet from alternate sides; after that shall surely crucify all of you.” They replied: “[Then what will happen is that] we shall only return to our Lord. You are harming us in anger because when the signs of our Lord came to us, we professed faith in them. Lord! [Now] bless us with loads of patience and let us die as Muslims.”

The chiefs of the Pharaoh’s nation said to him: “Will you leave Moses and his people in this manner to spread disorder in the land and forsake you and the deities [set up] by you?” The Pharaoh replied: “We shall ransack [the land to] kill their sons and let their women live. In reality, We are fully dominant on them.” At this, Moses advised his people: “Seek help from God and remain steadfast. The earth belongs to God. He makes whomsoever He wills from His servants to be its inheritors and [remember that] success finally belongs to those who fear Him.” They said: “We were harassed before you came and are being harassed even after your arrival.” Moses replied: “Hopefully, your Lord will kill your enemy and grant you authority in the land and then see how you behave.”¹²

We kept the people of the Pharaoh inflicted with [the torment of] famine and reduction in production so that they pay heed. But [what happened was that] when their good days came, they would say: “This is our right.” And when bad days came, they would regard them to be owing to the ill-omen of Moses and his companions. Listen! The ill-omen of these people lies with God but most of them do not know. They only said: “Whatever sign you bring to us to cast a spell on us, we shall not listen to you.” So, We sent a storm on them and let loose on them locusts, lice and frogs and rained down blood. All these were signs which have been mentioned in detail in the scriptures of the Israelites. Even then they continued to show arrogance and in reality they were wrongdoers. When a calamity struck them, they would say: “O Moses! Pray to God for us on the basis of the covenant He has made with you: if [at this time] you put off this calamity from us, we shall certainly listen to you and shall definitely let the Israelites go with you.” Then if for some period, which they had to reach, We warded off that calamity from them, they would immediately break their promise. So, We sought revenge from them and drowned them in the sea because they denied Our signs and remained indifferent to them. On the other hand, those who had been oppressed We made them the heirs of the vastness of the East and the West of that land We had blessed. In this way, the gracious word of your Lord with the Israelites was fulfilled because they remained steadfast. And We ruined everything the Pharaoh and his people would make [in their cities] and whatever they would enwrap [on the thatched screens of the orchards and cultivated lands of the villages].¹³

On the other hand, We led the Israelites across the sea. Then they passed by a people who [were so foolish that] they had taken to worshipping some of their idols. [When] the Israelites [saw this, they] said: “Just as they have gods, make a similar god for us also.” Moses said: “You are a very ignorant people. What they are involved in will be ruined and what they are doing is totally wrong.” He said: “Should I find some other deity for you than God, even though it is He Who has granted you superiority over other nations of the world?” Recall when We saved you from the people of the Pharaoh who had inflicted you with great torment: they would ransack [the land] to kill your sons and would let your women live and in this there was a great favour [for you] from your Lord.

[When the Israelites moved ahead from there,] We took a promise of thirty nights from Moses and completed it with ten further nights; so, as a result of this, forty nights were completed as the time appointed by his Lord. [While he was going to fulfil this promise,] Moses said to his brother Aaron: “After me, you will be in my place among my people and will keep reforming people and will not tread the path of the mischief-mongers.” When Moses reached at the time appointed by Us and his Lord conversed with him, he pleaded: “Lord! Give me the opportunity to see you.” God said: “You shall never be able to see Me. Look, however, towards this mountain; if it stays in its place you will also be able to see Me later.” Then when His Lord revealed His radiance on the mountain, He shattered it to pieces and Moses fell down unconscious. Then when he regained consciousness, he said: “Exalted are you. I seek repentance before You and [bear witness that] I am the first of the believers.” God said: “Moses! I have given you preference among people by My message and speech. So, take whatever I have given you and remain among the grateful.” And We wrote on the tablets every type of counsel and every detail [about religion] for him. [God said: “We have written these down;] so, hold fast to them, and ask your people to befittingly follow the good way written [in them]. [Move ahead a little with your people;] I shall soon show you the houses of the defiant. [You will see that] soon I shall turn them away from My signs who unjustly show arrogance in the land and [are such that] if they see signs of all kind, even then they will not believe. If they see the path of guidance, they will not adopt it and if they see the path of error, they will tread on it. This is because they denied Our revelations [earlier] and paid no heed to them. Wasted are the deeds of all those who denied Our signs and have rejected the meeting of the Hereafter. Now will they receive something else in reward for what they have been doing?”¹⁴

[While] Moses [was still in the presence of God, his] people behind him carved out a calf from jewellery: a body from which a sound similar to that of a calf would come. Did they not see that it can neither speak to them nor can guide them? [In spite of this,] they made it a deity and they were extremely unjust. Then when what they had done came before them [to make them regret] and they saw that they had gone astray, they said: “If our Lord does not show mercy on us and does not pardon our mistake, we shall end up among losers.” [After that,] when Moses returned to his nation, full of anger and sorrow, he said [as soon as he came to them:] “You have represented me very badly in my absence. Did you show haste even before your Lord’s directive?” He threw down the tablets and began pulling his brother [Aaron] to himself by his head. Aaron said: “O son of my mother! These people overpowered me and almost killed me. So, do not give the enemies an opportunity to laugh at me and do not count me with these unjust.” [Thereupon,] Moses prayed: “My Lord! Forgive me and my brother and admit us into Your mercy. You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy.”

[God said:] “Those who regarded the calf as a deity, the wrath of God, however, is bound to reach them and they shall be afflicted with humiliation in this very world. [This happened so that] it is in this way We punish those who fabricate falsehoods. Indeed, those who did evil deeds, then repented after them and accepted faith, then after this your Lord certainly is Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.”

Then when Moses’ anger cooled down, he picked up those tablets. Whatever is reported from them had guidance and mercy for people who fear their Lord. And Moses selected seventy men from his people so that they may appear on the time appointed by Us. Then when they [came and] an earthquake seized them, Moses said: “Lord! Had you willed, You could already have killed them and me earlier. Will you kill us for something which was done by the foolish among us? All this was but a trial from you. You can lead astray through this whomsoever You wish [according to your law] and guide whomsoever You wish. You alone are our guardian. So, pardon us and have mercy on us, and you are the best of forgivers. [Lord!] Ordain what is good for us both in this world and in the Hereafter. We have turned towards You.” God said: “I shall inflict with My torment only those whom I intend to [according to My law] but My mercy encompasses everything. So, [on the Day of Judgement,] I shall ordain it for those who are pious and pay zakāh and for those who will believe in Our revelations – [for those] who [today] will follow this messenger, this unlettered prophet whose mention they see written in the Torah and the Gospel. He directs them to do good, forbids them from evil, regards pure things as lawful to them and impure things as unlawful to them and lifts their burdens and undoes the shackles which have remained with them until now. Thus, those who professed faith in him, honoured him, supported him and followed the light that was revealed with him, it is they who shall succeed.¹⁵

Say [O Prophet]: People! I am sent to all of you as the messenger of the God to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity but Him. He alone gives life and death. So, profess faith in God and in His unlettered prophet, His messenger who himself believes in God and His words and follows Him that you may be guided.

[Some people from among the Israelites shall definitely believe in him.]

There has always remained a group of people among the nation of Moses who guide according to the truth and pass judgement according to it as well. [Yet the majority are insolent.] We had divided them into twelve tribes to make separate groups. When his nation asked for water from him, We revealed to Moses: “Strike this rock with your staff.” When he struck it, twelve springs gushed forth such that each group appointed its place to acquire water. [Not only this,] We made the clouds cast a shadow over them and sent down mann and salwā to them – Eat these pure things We have given you. [Alas, those who were bestowed with these favours did not duly value them] and [in this way] did not harm Us in any way; in fact, they remained being unjust to their souls only.¹⁶

And make them recall that incident when they were told: “Dwell in this city and eat in it wherever you are and pray to God: ‘Lord! Forgive our sins,’ and enter the gate of the settlement while bowing your heads [in humility]; We shall forgive your sins and [those of you] who will adopt a good attitude, We shall bless them with even more favours in future.” Then their unjust changed what was said to them by other words. Thus We sent down a torment on them from the heavens because they had remained unjust to themselves.

And ask them about the circumstances of that settlement also which was near the sea shore when they would transgress [the bounds of God] regarding the Sabbath when their fish would come before them on their Sabbath with heads raised above the water and would not come on other days. In this way, We used to test them because they would be disobedient. And make them recall when one of their groups said to [those who were counselling]: “Why do you counsel people whom God is going to destroy or sternly punish?” They replied: “To present our excuse before your Lord and so that they can be secure [from God’s punishment].” Then when they forgot everything through which they were reminded of, We delivered those who were forbidding from evil. And those who had been unjust to themselves, We seized them in a stern punishment because they had become defiant. Thus when with rebelliousness they continued to do precisely that from which they had been forbidden, We said to them: “Go, turn into despicable monkeys.”

And also make them recall when your Lord informed them of [this] verdict [of His] that until the Day of Judgement, He will definitely keep raising against them people who will inflict them with extremely cruel punishments. In reality, your Lord is very swift in retribution also and certainly is Forgiving and very Merciful as well. We scattered their community in the land in the form of various groups. Among them, some are pious and some otherwise also. We tested them through good and bad circumstances so that they may take heed. Then, after the earlier generations, such unworthy people became inheritors of the Book of God who reap benefits of this lowly world [in exchange for its verses], and say: “We shall be forgiven everything.” And if they are given that lowly provision once again, they will accept it as well. Was not a promise taken from them about this very Book that they will say nothing but the truth about God? And have they even thoroughly read whatever has been [written] in this Book? In reality, the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who fear God. Then do you not understand? Indeed, those who strongly hold on to the Book of God and are diligent in the prayer are the ones who are reformers and We will not waste the reward of the reformers. [Do they even remember] when We had lifted the mountain and suspended it above them as if it were a canopy and they were thinking that it is about to fall upon them. [God said:] “Hold fast to whatever We have bestowed on you and remember whatever is [written] in it so that you remain secure [from God’s wrath].”

[O Prophet!] Remind them of that time too when your Lord had brought forth from the loins of Adam’s children their progeny and had made them testify to themselves. [He had asked:] “Am I not your Lord?” They replied: “Yes, [You alone are our Lord.] We bear witness to it.” This We did lest you should say on the Day of Judgement: “We had no knowledge of this,” or present this excuse: “Our forefathers had already adopted polytheism and we later became their children; then, will You destroy us on account of what these wrongdoers did?” In this way, We explain Our revelations so that people are left with no excuse to deny the truth and so that they may return to the right path.

And narrate to them also the account of the person to whom We had given Our revelations. But he ran away from them. The result was that Satan pursued him until he ended up among those who had gone astray. If We wanted, We could have elevated him through these revelations but he clung to the ground and began following his desires. Thus his example became like that of a dog: when you heave a stone at him, he pants and when you release it, he still pants. This is the parable of the nation which denied Our revelations. So, narrate this anecdote to them that they may think. What an evil parable of the nation which denied Our revelations and continued to be unjust to its own self. [In reality,] those whom God forgives are the ones who are guided. And those He leads astray [according to His law] are the ones who are the losers.¹⁷

[They should take heed:] We have created many among the jinn and men for Hell. They have hearts through which they do not understand. They have eyes through which they do not see. They have ears through which they do not hear. They are like animals. In fact, they are even more misguided. They are the ones who are totally heedless. [Believers! Remember that] God has only good names. So, call Him by these only and leave aside those who are distorting them. Whatever they are doing, they will soon receive its due. [Bear in mind that all are not the same.] Amongst those We have created, there also is a group that has been guiding people according to the truth and also passing judgement according to it. On the other hand, those who have denied Our revelations, We are gradually leading them to destruction from where they cannot even know. [At this time,] I am granting them reprieve because My strategy is very secure.¹⁸

Have they not reflected that their companion is not inflicted with any lunacy? He is only an open warner. Have they not observed the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and all the things created by God [so that it may have become evident to them that God has not created all this without purpose] and have they not thought that their time period may well have drawn near? So, [if this period expires, then] in what word will they profess faith? [In reality,] none can guide those whom God leads astray [according to His law]. He leaves them to wander in their rebelliousness. They ask you about the Judgement Day [to make fun of you]: “When at last will it land?” Say: Its knowledge rests with my Lord alone. Only He will bare it at its appointed time. The heavens and the earth are burdened with it. It will come upon you suddenly. They ask you [about it] as if you are researching into it. Say: Its knowledge rests with God alone, but the majority of people do not know this fact. Say: [Do not demand from me what is in the knowledge and power of God.] I do not have any authority to benefit or to harm even my own self except what God intends. Had I been aware of all the unseen, I would have gathered a great amount of good and no harm would have ever come to me. In reality, I am only a warner and a deliverer of glad tidings for those who want to accept faith.

It is God alone Who has made you from a single soul and created its pair from its very species so that it may receive comfort from it. Then [many a time it happened that] when the man covered the woman, a slight burden remained in her. So, she kept moving about with it. When she became more burdened, both the man and the woman prayed to God, their Lord: “[Lord!] If You grant us a healthy child, we shall certainly remain among those grateful to You.” But when God gave them healthy children, they started to associate others in what they had been blessed with. So, [in reality,] exalted is God from the things they associate. Do they associate those who do not create anything; in fact, are created themselves! They can neither help them nor their own selves. And if you call them for guidance, they will not come after you. Whether you call them or remain silent, it is the same for you. Whomsoever you call besides God are people like you. So call them; they should reply to you, if you are truthful. [Have you ever not reflected:] Do they have feet with which they walk? Do they have hands with which they grasp? Do they have eyes with which they see? Do they have ears with which they hear? Say [O Prophet:] Bring all your partners you associate with God. Then execute all your schemes against me and do not the slightest give me any respite. My guardian is God Who has revealed this Book in a very thorough manner and He is the guardian of the righteous. On the contrary, those whom you call besides God cannot help you nor can they help their own selves. If you call them for guidance, they will not hear what you say. It seems to you that they are looking towards you; yet in reality they see nothing. [What else can their followers be made to understand? Therefore,] forgive them [O Prophet], enjoin good and pay no heed to these ignorant people. In spite of this, if you feel any temptation from Satan, seek refuge with God because He knows and hears all. [Bear in mind that] those who are God-fearing, when they are tempted by Satan in any way they immediately turn their attention to their Lord and their hearts light up at once. On the contrary, the brothers [among devils] of these [ignorant] keep pulling them into error; then they do not relent in this in any way.

When [at their demand] you do not present a sign to them, they say: “Why did you not fabricate a sign for your self?” Say: I only follow what is revealed to me by my Lord. These are eye-opening revelations from your Lord for those people and are a guidance and mercy for those who want to believe. [Therefore,] when this Qur’ān is recited to you, listen attentively to it and remain silent so that you may be shown mercy.

Remember your Lord morning and evening [O Prophet] in your heart with humility and with fear and in a low voice and do not be among those who are in error. In reality, [the angels] who are in the presence of your Lord, never show disdain in worshipping Him. They glorify him and remain in prostration before Him.