 Sura-20 of THE MEANING OF THE GLORIOUS KORAN revealed at Makkah. In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful, Ta, Ha. We have not revealed unto thee, Muhammad, this Quran, that thou shouldst be distressed, but as a reminder unto him who feareth, a revelation from him who created the earth and the high heavens, the Beneficent One, who was established on the throne. Unto him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens, and whatsoever is in the earth, and whatsoever is in between them, and whatsoever is beneath the sod. And if thou speakest aloud, then lo, he knoweth the secret thought, and that which is yet more hidden. Allah, there is no God save him, his are the most beautiful names. Has there come unto thee the story of Moses? When he saw a fire, and said unto his folk, Lo, wait, I see a fire afar off, per adventure I may bring you a brand thereof, or may find guidance at the fire. And when he reached it, he was called by name, O Moses, lo, I even I am thy Lord, so take off thy shoes, for lo, thou art in the holy valley of Tua. And I have chosen thee, so hearken unto that which is inspired. Lo, I even I am Allah, there is no God save me, so serve me and establish worship for my remembrance. Lo, the hour is surely coming, but I will to keep it hidden, that every soul may be rewarded for that which it striveth to achieve. Therefore let not him turn thee aside from the thought of it, who believeth not therein, but followeth his own desire, lest thou perish. And what is that in thy right hand, O Moses? He said, This is my staff, whereon I lean, and wherewith I bear down branches for my sheep, and wherein I find other uses. He said, Cast it down, O Moses. So he cast it down, and lo, it was a serpent gliding. He said, Grasp it, and fear not, we shall return it to its former state. And thrust thy hand within nine armpits, it will come forth white without hurt. That will be another token. That we may show thee some of our greater portents. Go thou unto Pharaoh. Lo, he hath transgressed the bounds. Moses said, My Lord, relieve my mind, and ease my task for me, and loosen not from my tongue, that they may understand my saying. A point for me a henchman from my folk, Aaron my brother, confirm my strength with him, and let him share my task, that we may glorify thee much, and much remember thee. Lo, thou art ever seeing us. He said, Thou art granted thy request, O Moses. And indeed another time, already we have shown thee favor. When we inspired in thy mother, that which is inspired, saying, Throw him into the ark, and throw it into the river. Then the river shall throw it onto the bank. And there an enemy to me, and an enemy to him, shall take him. And I endued thee with love for me, that thou mightest be trained according to my will. When thy sister went and said, Shall I show you one who will nurse him? And we restored thee to thy mother, that her eyes might be refreshed, and might not sorrow. And thou didst kill a man, and we delivered thee from great distress, and tried thee with a heavy trial. And thou didst tarry years among the folk of Midian. Then came us thou hither by my providence, O Moses, and I have attached thee to myself. Go thou and thy brother with my tokens, and be not faint in remembrance of me. Go, both of you, unto Pharaoh. Lo, he hath transgressed the bounds. And speak unto him a gentle word, that per adventure he may heed or fear. They said, Our Lord, lo, we fear that he may be beforehand with us, or that he may play the tyrant. He said, Fear not, lo, I am with you twain, hearing and seeing. So go ye unto him, and say, Lo, we are two messengers of thy Lord. So let the children of Israel go with us, and torment them not. We bring thee a token from thy Lord, and peace will be for him who followeth right guidance. Lo, it hath been revealed unto us, that the doom will be for him who denyeth and turneth away. Pharaoh said, Who then is this Lord of you twain, O Moses? He said, Our Lord is he who gave unto everything its nature, then guided it to right. He said, What then is the state of the generations of old? He said, The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in a record, my Lord neither heareth nor forgeteth. Who hath appointed the earth as a bed, and hath threaded roads for you therein, and hath sent down water from the sky, and thereby we have brought forth diverse kinds of vegetation. Saying, Eat ye, and feed your cattle. Lo, herein verily are portents for men of thought. Thereof we created you, and thereon too we return you, and thence we bring you forth a second time. And we verily did show him all our tokens, but he denied them, and refused. He said, Has come to drive us out from our land by thy magic, O Moses? But we surely can produce for thee magic the like thereof. So appoint a trist between us and you, which neither we nor thou shall fail to keep at a place convenient to us both. Moses said, Your trist shall be the day of the feast, and let the people assemble when the sun hath risen high. Then Pharaoh went and gathered his strength, then came to the appointed trist. Moses said unto them, Wo unto you, invent not a lie against a law, lest he extirpate you by some punishment. He who lieth, faileth miserably. Then they debated with one another what they must do, and they kept their counsel secret. They said, Lo, these are two wizards who would drive you out from your country by their magic, and destroy your best traditions. So arrange your plan, and come in battle-line. Do so as uppermost this day will be indeed successful. They said, O Moses, either throw first, or let us be the first to throw. He said, Nay, do ye throw, then lo, their cords and their steves by their magic appeared to him as though they ran. And Moses conceived of fear in his mind. We said, Fear not, lo, thou art the hire. Throw that which is in thy right hand. It will eat up that which they have made. Lo, that which they have made is but a wizard's artifice, and a wizard shall not be successful to whatever point of skill he may attain. Then the wizards were all flung down prostrate, crying, We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses. Pharaoh said, Ye put faith in him before I give you leave. Lo, he is your chief who taught you magic. Now surely I shall cut off your hands and your feet alternately, and I shall crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and ye shall know for certain which of us hath sterner and more lasting punishment. They said, We choose thee not above the clear proofs that have come unto us, and above him who created us. So decree what thou wilt decree. Thou wilt in for us only this life of the world. Lo, we believe in our Lord, that he may forgive us our sins, and the magic unto which thou didst force us. A law is better and more lasting. Lo, whoso cometh guilty unto his Lord, verily for him is hell. There he will neither die nor live. But whoso cometh unto him a believer, having done good works, for such are the high stations. Gardens of Eden, underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the reward of him who groweth. And verily we inspired Moses, saying, Take away my slaves by night, and strike for them a dry path in the sea, fearing not to be overtaken, neither being afraid of the sea. Then Pharaoh followed them with his hosts, and there covered them that which did cover them of the sea. And Pharaoh led his folk astray. He did not guide them. O children of Israel, we delivered you from your enemy, and we made a covenant with you on the holy mountainside, and sent down on you the manna and the quails, saying, Eat of the good things wherewith we have provided you, and transgress not in respect thereof, lest my wrath come upon you, and he on whom my wrath cometh, he is lost indeed. And lo, verily I am forgiving toward him who repenteth, and believeth, and doeth good, and afterward walketh aright. And it was said, What hath made thee hasten from thy folk, O Moses? He said, There close upon my track, I hastened unto thee, my lord, that thou mightest be well pleased. He said, Lo, we have tried thy folk in nine absence, and us summary hath misled them. Then Moses went back unto his folk, angry and sad. He said, O my people, hath not your lord promised you a fair promise? Did the time appointed then appear too long for you? Or did you wish that wrath from your lord should come upon you, that you broke trist with me? They said, We broke not trist with thee of our own will, but we were laden with burdens of ornaments of the folk, then cast them in the fire, for thus us summary proposed. Then he produced for them a calf of saffron-hugh, which gave forth a lowing sound. And they cried, This is your God, and the God of Moses, but he hath forgotten. See they not, then, that it returneth no saying unto them, and possesseth for them neither hurt nor use? And Aaron indeed had told them beforehand. O my people, ye are but being seduced therewith, for lo, your lord is the beneficent, so follow me and obey my order. They said, We shall by no means cease to be its votaries till Moses return unto us. He, Moses, said, O Aaron, what held thee back when thou didst see them gone astray, that thou followest me not? Hast thou then disobeyed my order? He said, O son of my mother, clutch not my beard nor my head. I feared, lest thou shouldest say, Thou hast caused division among the children of Israel, and hast not waited for my word. Moses said, And what hast thou to say, O authority? He said, I perceived what they perceived not, so I seized a handful from the footsteps of the messenger, and then threw it in. Thus my soul commended to me. Moses said, Then go, and lo, in this life it is for thee to say, Touch me not, and lo, there is for thee a trist thou canst not break. Now look upon thy God, of which thou hast remained a votary. Verily we will burn it, and will scatter its dust over the sea. Your God is only Allah, then whom there is no other God. He embraces all things in his knowledge. Thus relate we unto thee, Muhammad, some tidings of that which happened of old, and we have given thee from our presence a reminder. Whoso turneth away from it, he verily will bear a burden on the day of resurrection, abiding under it an evil burden for them on the day of resurrection, the day when the trumpet is blown. On that day we assemble the guilty, white-eyed with terror, murmuring among themselves, You have tarried but ten days. We are best aware of what they utter when their best in conduct say, You have tarried but a day. They will ask thee of the mountains on that day. Say, My Lord will break them into scattered dust, and leave it as an empty plain, wherein thou seeest neither curve nor ruggedness. On that day they follow the summoner who deceiveth not, and voices are hushed for the beneficent, and thou hearest but a faint murmur. On that day no intercession availeth save that of him whom the beneficent hath given leave, and whose word he accepteth. He knoweth all that is before them, and all that is behind them, while they cannot compass it in knowledge. In faces humble themselves before the living, the eternal, and who beareth a burden of wrongdoing is indeed a failure on that day. In he who hath done some good works, being a believer, he feareth not injustice nor begrudging of his wage. Thus we have revealed it as a lecture in Arabic, and have displayed therein certain threats, that, per adventure, they may keep from evil, or that it may cause them to take heed. Then exalted be Allah, the true king, and hasten not, O Muhammad, with the Quran, ere its revelation hath been perfected unto thee, and say, My Lord, increase me in knowledge. And verily we made a covenant of old with Adam, but he forgot, and we found no constancy in him. And when we said unto the angels, Fall prostrate before Adam, they fell prostrate, all save Iblis, he refused. Therefore we said, O Adam, this is an enemy unto thee, and unto thy wife, so let him not drive you both out of the garden, so that thou come to toil. It is vouchsafed unto thee, that thou hungrest not therein, nor art naked, and that thou thirstest not therein, nor art exposed to the sun's heat. But the devil whispered to him, saying, O Adam, shall I show thee the tree of immortality and power that wasteeth not away? Then they twain ate thereof, so that their shame became apparent unto them, and they began to hide by heaping on themselves some of the leaves of the garden. And Adam disobeyed his Lord, so went to stray. Then his Lord chose him, and relented toward him, and guided him. He said, Go down, hence, both of you, one of you a foe unto the other. But when there come unto you from me a guidance, then whoso followeth my guidance, he will not go astray, nor come to grieve. But he who turneth away from remembrance of me, his will be a narrow life, and I shall bring him blind to the assembly on the day of resurrection. He will say, My Lord, wherefore hast thou gathered me hither blind when I was want to see? He will say, So it must be. Our revelations came unto thee, but thou didst forget them. In like manner thou art forgotten this day. Thus do we reward him who is prodigal, in believeth not the revelations of his Lord, and verily the doom of the hereafter will be sterner and more lasting. Is it not a guidance for them to know how many a generation we destroyed before them, amid whose dwellings they walk? Lo, therein verily are signs for men of thought. And but for a decree that had already gone forth from thy Lord, and a term already fixed, the judgment would have been inevitable in this world. Therefore, O Muhammad, bear with what they say, and celebrate the praise of thy Lord, ere the rising of the sun, and ere the going down thereof, and glorify him some hours of the night, and at the two ends of the day, that thou mayest find acceptance. And strain not thine eyes toward that which we cause some wedded pairs among them to enjoy, the flower of the life of the world, that we may try them thereby. The provision of thy Lord is better and more lasting. And enjoin upon thy people worship, and be constant therein. We ask not of thee a provision we provided for thee, and the sequel is for righteousness. And they say, if only he would bring us a miracle from his Lord. Had there not come unto them the proof of what is in the former scriptures? And if we had destroyed them with some punishment before it, they would assuredly have said, Our Lord, if only thou hath sent unto us a messenger, so that we might have followed thy revelations before we are thus humbled and disgraced. Say, each is waiting, so await ye. Ye will come to know who are the owners of the path of equity, and who is right. Surah 21 The Prophets Revealed at Makkah In the name of Allah the most beneficent, the most merciful, their reckoning draweth nigh for mankind while they turn away in heedlessness. Never commit there unto them a new reminder from their Lord, but they listen to it while they play with hearts preoccupied, and they confer in secret. The wrongdoers say, Is this other than a mortal like you? Will ye then succumb to magic when ye see it? He saith, My Lord knoweth what is spoken in the heaven and the earth. He is the hearer, the knower. Nay, they say, these are but muddled dreams. Nay, he hath but invented it. Nay, he is but a poet. Let him bring us a portent, even as those of old who were Allah's messengers were sent with portents. Not a township believed of those which we destroyed before them, though we sent them portents. Would they then believe? And we sent not as our messengers before thee other than men, whom we inspired. Ask the followers of the reminder if ye know not. We gave them not bodies that would not eat food, nor were they immortals. Then we fulfilled the promise unto them, so we delivered them and whom we would, and we destroyed the protocols. Now we have revealed unto you a scripture wherein is your reminder. Have ye then no sense? How many a community that dealt unjustly have we shattered, and raised up after them another folk? And when they felt our might, behold them fleeing from it. But it was said unto them, Flee not, but return to that existence which emasculated you into your dwellings, that ye may be questioned. They cried, Alas for us, we were wrongdoers, and this their crying ceased not till we made them as reaped corn, extinct. We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in play. If we had wished to find a pastime, we could have found it in our presence, if we ever did. Nay, but we hurled the true against the false, and it doth break its head, and lo it vanishes. And yours will be woe for that which ye ascribe unto him. Unto him belongeth whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, and those who dwell in his presence are not too proud to worship him, nor do they weary. They glorify him night and day, they flag not. Or have they chosen gods from the earth who raise the dead? If there were therein gods beside Allah, then verily both the heavens and the earth had been disordered. Glorified be Allah, the Lord of the throne, from all that they ascribe unto him. He will not be questioned as to that which he doeth, but they will be questioned. Or have they chosen other gods beside him? Say, bring your proof of their Godhead. This is the reminder of those with me and those before me, but most of them know not the truth, and so they are averse. And we sent no messenger before thee, but we inspired him, saying, there is no God save me, Allah, so worship me. And they say, the beneficent hath taken unto himself a son. Be he glorified. Nay, but those whom they call sons are honored slaves. They speak not until he hath spoken, and they act by his command. He knoweth what is before them, and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede, except for him whom he accepted, and they quake for all of him. And one of them who should say, lo, I am a God beside him, that one we should repay with hell. Thus we repay wrongdoers. Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were of one piece, then we parted them, and we made every living thing of water? Will they not then believe? And we have placed in the earth firm hills lest it quake with them, and we have placed therein ravines as roads, that happily they may find their way. And we have made the sky a roof withheld from them, yet they turn away from its portents. And he it is who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon, they float each in an orbit. We appointed immortality for no mortal before thee. What, if thou dyest, can they be immortal? Every soul must taste of death, and we try you with evil and with good for ordeal. None to us ye will be returned. And when those who disbelieve behold thee, they but choose thee out from mockery, saying, Is this he who maketh mention of your gods? And they would deny all mention of the beneficent. Man is made of haste. I shall show you my portents, but ask me not to hasten. And they say, When will this promise be fulfilled, if ye are truthful? If those who disbelieved but knew the time, when they will not be able to drive off the fire from their faces and from their backs, and they will not be helped. Nay, but it will come unto them unawares, so that it will stupefy them, and they will be unable to repel it. Neither will they be reprieved. Messengers before thee indeed were mocked, but that whereat they mocked surrounded those who scoffed at them. Say, Who guarded thee in the night or in the day from the beneficent? Nay, but they turn away from mention of their lord. Or have they gods who can shield them from us? They cannot help themselves, nor can they be defended from us. Nay, but we gave these and their fathers ease, until life grew long for them. See they not how we aim to the land, reducing it of its outlying parts? Can they then be the victors? Say, O Mohammed unto mankind, I warn you only by the inspiration, but the death hear not the call when they are warned. And if a breath of thy lord's punishment were to touch them, they assuredly would say, Alas for us, lo, we were wrong doers. And we set a just balance for the day of resurrection, so that no soul is wronged and ought. Though it be of the weight of a grain of mustard seed, we bring it, and we suffice for reckoners. And we verily gave Moses and Aaron the criterion of right and wrong, and a light, and a reminder for those who keep from evil, those who fear their lord in secret, and who dread the hour of doom. This is a blessed reminder that we have revealed. Will ye then reject it? And we verily gave Abraham of old his proper course, and we were aware of him, when he said unto his father and his folk, What are these images unto which ye pay devotion? They said, We found our fathers worshippers of them. He said, Verily ye and your fathers were in plain error. They said, Bring it thou unto us the truth, or art thou some jester? He said, Nay, but your lord is the lord of the heavens and the earth, who created them, and I am of those who testify unto that. And by Allah I shall circumvent your idols, after ye have gone away and turned your backs. Then he reduced them to fragments, all save the chief of them, that happily they might have recourse to it. They said, Who hath done this to our gods? Surely it must be some evildoer. They said, We heard a youth make mention of them, who is called Abraham. They said, Then bring him hither before the people's eyes, that they may testify. They said, Is it thou who hath done this to our gods, O Abraham? He said, But this their chief hath done it, so question them if they can speak. Then gathered they apart, and said, Lo ye yourselves are the wrongdoers, and they were utterly confounded, and they said, Well thou knowest that these speak not. He said, Worship ye then instead of Allah, that which cannot profit ye at all, nor harm ye. Fie on ye, and all that ye worship instead of Allah. Have ye then no sense? They cried, Burn him, and stand by your gods, if ye will be doing. We said, O fire, be coolness and peace for Abraham. And they wished to set a snare for him, but we made them the greater losers. And we rescued him and Lot, and brought them to the land which we have blessed for all peoples. And we bestowed unto him Isaac, and Jacob as a grandson. Each of them we made righteous. And we made them chiefs, who guide by our command. And we inspired in them the doing of good deeds, and the right establishment of worship, and the giving of alms. And they were worshipers of us alone. And unto Lot we gave judgment and knowledge, and we delivered him from the community that did abominations. Lo, they were folk of evil, lewd. And we brought him in unto our mercy. Lo, he was of the righteous. And Noah, when he cried of old, we heard his prayer, and saved him and his household from the great defliction. And delivered him from the people who denied our revelations. Lo, they were folk of evil. Therefore did we drown them all. And David and Solomon, when they gave judgment concerning the field, when people sheep had strayed and browsed therein by night, and we were witnesses to their judgment. And we made Solomon to understand the case. And unto each of them we gave judgment and knowledge. And we subdued the hills and the birds to him his praise along with David. We were the doers thereof. And we taught him the art of making garments of mail to protect you in your daring. Are ye then thankful? And unto Solomon we subdued the wind in its raging. It set by his command toward the land which we had blessed. And of everything we are aware. And of the evil ones subdued we unto him some who dived for pearls for him and did other work, and we were warders unto him. And Job, when he cried unto his Lord, saying, Lo, adversity afflicteth me, and thou art most merciful of all who show mercy. Then we heard his prayer, and removed that adversity from which he suffered. And we gave him his household that he had lost, and the like thereof along with them, a mercy from our store, and a remembrance for the worshippers. And mentioned Ishmael, and Idris, and Velkifl. All were of the steadfast. And we brought them into our mercy, lo, they are among the righteous. And mentioned Van Noon, when he went off in anger, and deemed that we had no power over him. But he cried out in the darkness, saying, There is no God save thee, be thou glorified, lo, I have been a wrongdoer. Then we heard his prayer, and saved him from the anguish. Thus we saved believers. And Zechariah, when he cried unto his Lord, My Lord, leave me not childless, though thou art the best of inheritors. Then we heard his prayer, and bestowed upon him John, and adjusted his wife to bear a child for him. Lo, they used to vie one with the other in good deeds, and they cried unto us in longing and fear, and were submissive unto us. And she who was chased, therefore we breathed into her something of our spirit, and made her and her son a token for all peoples. Lo, this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so worship me. And they have broken their religion into fragments among them, yet all are returning unto us. Then whoso doeth some good works, and is a believer, there will be no rejection of his effort. Lo, we record it for him. And there was a ban upon any community which we have destroyed, that they shall not return. Until when Gog and Magog are let loose, and they hasten out of every mound, and the true promise droth nigh, then behold them, staring wide in terror, the eyes of those who disbelieve. They say, Alas for us, we lived in forgetfulness of this. Ah, but we were wrongdoers. Lo, ye idolaters, and that which ye worship beside Allah, are fuel of hell. There unto ye will come. If these had been gods, they would not have come dither, but all will abide therein. Therein wailing is their portion, and therein they hear not. Lo, those unto whom kindness hath gone forth before from us, they will be far removed from thence. They will not hear the slightest sound thereof, while they abide, and that which their souls desire. The supreme horror will not grieve them, and the angels will welcome them, saying, This is your day which ye were promised. The day when we shall roll up the heavens, as a recorder rolleth up a written scroll. As we began the first creation, we shall repeat it. It is a promise, binding upon us. Lo, we are to perform it. And verily we have written in the scripture, after the reminder, My righteous slaves will inherit the earth. Lo, there is a plain statement for folk who are devout. We sent thee not, save as a mercy for the peoples. Say, it is only inspired in me, that your Allah is one Allah. Will ye then surrender unto him? But if they are averse, then say, I have warned you all alike, although I know not whether nigh or far is that which ye are promised. Lo, he knoweth that which is said openly, and that which ye conceal. And I know not, but this may be a trial for you, and enjoyment for a while. He saith, My Lord, judge thou with truth. Our Lord is the beneficent, whose help is to be implored against that which ye ascribe unto him. End of Surah 21 Surah 22 Of the Meaning of the Glorious Quran This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Leon Meyer The Meaning of the Glorious Quran Translated by Muhammad Marmadukh Pikthal Surah 22 The Pilgrimage Revealed at Medina In the name of Allah, the most beneficent, the most merciful. O mankind, fear your Lord. Lo, the earthquake of the hour of doom is a tremendous thing. On the day when ye behold it, every nursing mother will forget her nursing, and every pregnant one will be delivered of her burden. And thou, Muhammad, wilt see mankind as drunken, yet they will not be drunken, but the doom of Allah will be strong upon them. Among mankind is he who disputeth concerning Allah without knowledge, and followeth each forward devil. For him it is decreed, that whoso taketh him for friend, he verily will mislead him, and will guide him to the punishment of the flame. O mankind, if ye are in doubt concerning the resurrection, then lo, we have created you from dust, then from a drop of seed, then from a clot, then from a little lump of flesh, shapely and shapeless, that we may make it clear for you. And we cause what we will to remain in the wombs for an appointed time. And afterward we bring you forth as infants, then give you growth, that ye attain your full strength. And among you there is he who dyeth young, and among you there is he who is brought back to the most abject time of life, so that, after knowledge, he knoweth not. And thou, Muhammad, seeest the earth barren, but when we send down water thereon, it doth thrill and swell, and put forth every lovely kind of growth. That is because Allah, he is the truth, and because he quickeneth the dead, and because he is able to do all things. And because the hour will come, there is no doubt thereof, and because Allah will raise those who are in the graves. And among mankind is he who disputeth concerning Allah without knowledge or guidance or a scripture giving light, turning away in pride to beguile men from the way of Allah. For him in this world is ignominy, and on the day of resurrection we make him taste the doom of burning. And unto him it will be said, This is for that which thy two hands have sent before, and because Allah is no oppressor of his slaves. And among mankind is he who worshipeth Allah upon a narrow march, so that if good befalleth him, he is content therewith. But if a trial befalleth him, he falleth away utterly. He looseth both the world and the hereafter. That is the sheer loss. He calleth beside Allah, unto that which hurteth him not, nor benefited him. That is the far error. He calleth unto him, whose harm is nearer than his benefit, verily an evil patron, and verily an evil friend. Low, Allah causeth those who believe and do good works, to enter gardens, underneath which rivers flow. Low, Allah doth what he intended. Whoso is want to think, through envy, that Allah will not give him, Muhammad, victory in the world and the hereafter, and is enraged at the thought of his victory, let him stretch a rope up to the roof of his dwelling, and let him hang himself. Then let him see whether his strategy dispeleth that whereath he rageeth. Thus we reveal it as plain revelations, and verily Allah guided whom he will. Low, those who believe this revelation, and those who are Jews, and the Sabians, and the Christians, and the Magians, and the idolaters. Low, Allah will decide between them on the day of resurrection. Low, Allah is witness over all things. Has thou not seen that unto Allah payeth adoration whosoever is in the heavens, and whosoever is in the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the hills, and the trees, and the beasts, and many of mankind, while there are many unto whom the doom is justly due? He who Allah scorneth, there is none to give him honour. Low, Allah doth what he will. These twain, the believers and the disbelievers, are two opponents who contend concerning their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them, boiling fluid will be poured down on their heads, whereby that which is in their bellies, and their skins too, will be melted, and for them are hooked rods of iron. Whenever in their anguish they would go forth from thence, they are driven back therein, and it is said unto them, taste the doom of burning. Low, Allah will cause those who believe and do good works to enter gardens, underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will be allowed armlets of gold, and pearls, and their raiment therein will be silk. They are guided unto gentle speech, they are guided unto the path of the glorious one. Low, those who disbelieve and bar men from the way of Allah, and from the inviolable place of worship, which we have appointed for mankind together, the dweller therein and the nomad, whosoever seeketh wrongful partiality therein, him we shall cause to taste a painful doom. And remember when we prepared for Abraham the place of the holy house, saying, ascribe thou no thing as partner unto me, and purify my house for those who make the round thereof, and those who stand, and those who bow and make prostration, and proclaim unto mankind the pilgrimage, they will come unto thee on foot, and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep ravine, that they may witness things that are of benefit to them, and mention the name of Allah on appointed days over the beast of the cattle that he hath bestowed upon them, then eat thereof, and feed therewith the poor unfortunate. Then let them make an end of their unkemptness, and pay their vows, and go round the ancient house. That is the command. And whoso magnifyeth the sacred things of Allah, it will be well for him in the sight of his Lord. The cattle are lawful unto you, save that which hath been told you. So shun the filth of idols, and shun lying speech, turning unto Allah only, not ascribing partners unto him. For whoso ascribeth partners unto Allah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had blown him to a far off place. That is the command. And whoso magnifyeth the offerings consecrated to Allah, it surely is from devotion of the hearts. Therein are benefits for you for an appointed term, and afterward they are brought for sacrifice unto the ancient house. And for every nation have we appointed a ritual, that they may mention the name of Allah over the beast of cattle that he hath given them for food. And your Allah is one Allah, therefore surrender unto him, and give good tidings, O Muhammad, to the humble, whose hearts fear when Allah is mentioned, and the patient of whatever may befall them, and those who establish worship, and who spend of that we have bestowed on them. In the camels we have appointed them among the ceremonies of Allah. Therein ye have much good. So mention the name of Allah over them when they are drawn up in lines. Then when their flanks fall dead, eat thereof, and feed the beggar and the suppliant. Thus we have made them subject unto you, that happily ye may give thanks. Their flesh and their food reach not Allah, but the devotion from you reacheth him. Thus have we made them subject unto you, that ye may magnify Allah that he hath guided you, and give good tidings, O Muhammad, to the good. Low, Allah defendeth those who were true. Low, Allah loveth not, each treacherous ingrate. Sanction is given unto those who fight because they have been wronged, and Allah is indeed able to give them victory. Those who have been driven from their homes unjustly, only because they said, Our Lord is Allah, for had it not been for Allah's repelling some men by means of others, cloisters in churches and oratories and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft mentioned, would assuredly have been pulled down. Verily Allah helpeth one who helpeth him. Low, Allah is strong, Almighty. Those who, if we give them power in the land, establish worship and pay the poor due, and enjoin kindness and forbid iniquity, and Allah's is the sequel of events. If they deny thee, Muhammad, even so the folk of Noah, and the tribes of Ad and Thamud, before thee, denied our messengers, and the folk of Abraham, and the folk of Lot, and the dwellers in Midian, and Moses was denied, but I indulged the disbelievers a long while, then I seized them, and how terrible was my abhorrence. How many a township have we destroyed while it was sinful, so that it lieth to this day in ruins? And how many a deserted well in lofty tower? Have they not travelled in the land, and have they hearts wherewith to feel, and ears wherewith to hear? For indeed it is not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts, but it is the hearts which are within the bosoms that grow blind. And they will bid thee hasten on the doom, and Allah faileth not his promise, but lo a day with Allah is as a thousand years of what ye reckon. And how many a township did I suffer long, though it was sinful? Then I grasped it. Unto me is the return. Say, O mankind, I am only a plain warner unto you. Those who believe and do good works, for them is pardon and a rich provision. While those who strive to thwart our revelations, such are rightful owners of the fire. Never sent we a messenger or a prophet before thee, but when he recited the message Satan proposed opposition in respect of that which he recited thereof. But Allah abolisheth that which Satan proposes. Then Allah establisheth his revelations. Allah is knower, wise, that he may maketh that which the devil proposes a temptation for those in whose hearts is a disease, and those whose hearts are hardened. Lo, the evildoers are an open schism. And that those who have been given knowledge may know that it is the truth from thy Lord, so that they may believe therein, and their hearts may submit humbly unto him. Lo, Allah verily is guiding those who believe unto a right path. Will not cease to be in doubt thereof, will not cease to be in doubt thereof, until the hour come upon them unawares, or there come unto them the doom of a disastrous day? The sovereignty on that day will be Allah's. He will judge between them. Then those who believed and did good works will be in gardens of delight, while those who disbelieved and denied our revelations, for them will be a shameful doom. Those who fled their homes for the cause of Allah, and then were slain or died, Allah verily will provide for them a good provision. Lo, Allah, he verily, is best of all who make provision. Assuredly he will cause them to enter by an entry that they will love. Lo, Allah verily is knower, indulgent. That is so. And whoso hath retaliated with the like of that which he was made to suffer, and then hath again been wronged, Allah will succour him. Lo, Allah verily is mild, forgiving. That is because Allah make it the night to pass into the day, and make it the day to pass into the night, and because Allah is hearer, seer. That is because Allah, he is the true, and that whereon they call instead of him, it is the false. And because Allah, he is the high, the great. See is thou not how Allah sendeth down water from the sky, and then the earth becomeeth green upon the morrow? Lo, Allah is subtle, aware. Unto him belongeth all that is in the heavens, and all that is in the earth. Lo, Allah, he verily is the absolute, the owner of praise. Hath thou not seen how Allah hath made all that is in the earth subservient unto you? And the ship runeth upon the sea by his command, and he holdeth back the heaven from falling on the earth, unless by his leave. Lo, Allah is for mankind full of pity, merciful. And he it is who gave you life, then he will cause you to die, and then will give you life again. Lo, man is verily an ingrate. Unto each nation have we given sacred rites which they are to perform, so let them not dispute with thee of the matter, but summon thou unto thy Lord. Lo, thou indeed followest right guidance. And if they wrangle with thee, say, Allah is best aware of what ye do. Allah will judge between you on the day of resurrection, concerning that wherein you used to differ. Hath thou not known that Allah knoweth all that is in the heaven and the earth? Lo, it is in a record. Lo, that is easy for Allah. And they worship instead of Allah, that for which he hath sent down no warrant, and that whereof they have no knowledge. For evildoers there is no helper. And when our revelations are recited unto them, thou knowest the denial in the faces of those who disbelieve. They all but attack those who recite our revelations unto them. Say, shall I proclaim unto you worse than that, the fire? Allah hath promised it for those who disbelieve, a hapless journey's end. O mankind, a similitude is coined, so pay ye heed to it. Lo, those on whom ye call beside Allah will never create a fly, though they combine together for the purpose. And if the fly took something from them, they could not rescue it from it. So weak are both the seeker and the sought. They measure not Allah his rightful measure. Lo, Allah is strong, almighty. Allah chooses from the angels, messengers, and also from mankind. Lo, Allah is hearer, seer. He knoweth all that is before them, and all that is behind them, and unto Allah all things are returned. O ye who disbelieve, bow down and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord, and do good, that happily ye may prosper. And strive for Allah with the endeavor which is his right. He hath chosen you, and hath not laid upon you in religion any hardship. The faith of your Father Abraham is yours. He hath named you Muslims of all time, and in this scripture, that the messenger may be a witness against you, and that ye may be witnesses against mankind. So establish worship, pay the poor due, and hold fast to Allah. He is your protecting friend, a blessed patron and a blessed helper. The meaning of the glorious Qur'an, translated by Mohammed Marmadjouq Picthole, Surah 23, The Believers, Revealed at Mecca, in the name of Allah, the most beneficent, the most merciful. Successful indeed are the believers, who are humble in their prayers, and who shun varying conversation, and who are pairs of the poor due, and who guard their modesty, save from their wives or the slaves that their right hands possess. For them they are not blameworthy, but whoso craves beyond that, such hard transgressors, and who are shepherds of their pledge and their covenant, and who pay heed to their prayers. These are the heirs who will inherit paradise. There they will abide. Verily we created men from a product of wet earth, then placed him as a drop of seed in a safe lodging, then fashioned we the drop a cloth, then fashioned we the cloth a little lump, then fashioned we the little lump bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it as another creation. So, blessed be Allah, the best of creators. Then, lo, after that ye surely die. Then, lo, on the day of resurrection ye are raised again. And we have created above you seven paths, and we are never unmindful of creation. And we send down from the sky water in measure, and we give it lodging in the earth, and, lo, we are able to withdraw it. Then we produce for you therewith gardens of date palms and grapes, wherein is much fruit for you and whereof ye eat, and a tree that springeth forth from Mount Sinai, with growth oil and relish for the eaters. And, lo, in the cattle there is verily a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, and many uses have ye in them, and of them do ye eat. And on them and on the ship ye are carried. And we verily sent Noah unto his folk, and he said, O my people, serve Allah. Ye have no other gods save him. Will ye not ward off evil? But the chieftains of his folk, who disbelieved, said, This is only immortal, like you, who would make himself superior to you. Had Allah willed, he surely could have sent down angels. We heard not of this in the case of our fathers of old. He is only a man in whom is a madness, so watch him for a while. He said, My Lord, help me because they deny me. Then we inspired in him, saying, Make the ship under our eyes and our inspiration. Then when our command cometh in the oven-gusheth water, introduce therin of every kind to spouses, and thy household, save him thereof against whom the word have already gone forth. And plead not with me on behalf of those who have done wrong. Lo, they will be drowned. And when thou art on board the ship, thou and whoso is with thee, then say, Praise be to Allah, who hath saved us from the wrongdoing folk. And say, My Lord, cause me to land at a blessed landing-place, for thou art best of all who bring to land. Lo, herein verily are portents, for lo, we are ever putting mankind to the test. Then, after them, we brought forth another generation. And we sent among them a messenger saying, Serve Allah, ye have no other God save him. Will ye not ward off evil? And the chieftains of his folk, who disbelieved and denied the meeting of the hereafter, and whom we had made soft in the life of the world, said, This is only immortal like you, who eateth of that whereof ye eat, and drinketh of that ye drink. If ye were to obey a mortal like yourselves, then lo, ye surely would be losers. Doth he promise you that you, when ye are dead and have become dust and bones, will again be brought forth? Be gone, be gone with that which ye are promised. There is not but our life of the world. We die and we live, and we shall not be raised again. He is only a man who hath invented a lie about Allah. We are not going to put faith in him. He said, My Lord, help me, because they deny me. He said, In a little while, they surely will become repentant. So the offal cry overtook them rightfully, and we made them like as wreckage, that a torrent hurleth, a far removal for wrongdoing folk. Then, after them, we brought forth other generations. No nation can outstrip its term, nor yet postpone it. Then we sent our messengers one after another. Whenever its messenger came unto a nation, they denied him. So we caused them to follow one another to disaster, and we made them by words, a far removal for folk who believe not. Then we sent Moses and his brother Aaron with our tokens and a clear warrant, unto Pharaoh and his chiefs. But they scorned them, and they were despotic folk. And they said, Shall we put faith in two mortals like ourselves, and whose folk are servile unto us? So they denied them, and became of those who were destroyed. And we verily gave Moses the scripture, that happily they might go a-ride. And we made the son of Mary and his mother a-portant, and we gave them the refuge on a height, a place of flocks and water-strings. All ye messengers, eat of the good things and do right. Lo, I am aware of what ye do. And lo, this your religion is one religion, and I am your Lord, so keep your duty unto me. But they, mankind, have broken the religion among them into sects, each group rejoicing in its tenets. So leave them in their error till a time. Think they that in the wealth and sons wherewith we provide them, we hasten unto them with good things? Nay, but they perceive not. Lo, those who go and offer fear of their Lord, and those who believe in the revelations of their Lord, and those who ascribe not partners unto their Lord, and those who give that which they give with hearts afraid, because they are about to return unto their Lord. These raise for the good things, and they shall win them in the race. And we task not any soul beyond its scope, and with us is a record, which speaketh the truth, and they will not be wronged. Nay, but their hearts are in ignorance of this Quran, and they have other works besides which they are doing. Till, when we grasp their luxurious ones with the punishment, behold, they supplicate. Supplicate not this day, but surely you will not be helped by us. My revelations were recited unto you, but he used to turn back on your heels, and scorn thereof. Nightly did he rave together. Have they not pondered the word, or have that come unto them, which came not unto their fathers of old? Or know they not their messenger, and so reject him? Or say they, there is a madness in him. Nay, but he bringeth them the truth, and most of them are haters of the truth. And if the truth had followed their desires, verily, the heavens and the earth, and whosoever is therein had been corrupted. Nay, we have brought them their reminder, but from their reminder they now turn away. Or just thou ask of them, O Muhammad, any tribute, but the bounty of thy Lord is better, for his best of all who make provision. And lo, thou summonest them indeed unto a straight path. And lo, those who believe not in the hereafter are indeed astray from the path. Though we had mercy on them, and relieved them of the harm afflicting them, they still would wander blindly on in their contumacy. Already have regressed them with punishment, but they humble not themselves unto their Lord, nor do they pray. Until, when we open for them the gate of extreme punishment, behold, they are aghast there at. He it is who hath created for you ears and eyes and hearts. Small thanks give ye. And he it is who hath sown you broadcast in the earth, and unto him you will be gathered. And he it is who giveth life and causeth death, and his is the difference of night and day. Have ye then no sense? Nay, but they say the like of that which saith the man of old. They say, when we are dead and have become mere dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, be raised again? We were already promised this, we and our forefathers. Lo, this is not but fables of the man of old. Say, unto whom belongeth the earth, and whosoever is therein, if ye have knowledge? They will say, unto Allah. Say, will ye not then remember? Say, who is Lord of the seven heavens, and Lord of the tremendous throne? They will say, unto Allah all that belongeth. Say, will ye not then keep duty unto him? Say, and whose hand is the dominion over all things, and he protecteth, while against him there is no protection, if ye have knowledge? They will say, unto Allah all that belongeth. Say, how then are ye bewitched? Nay, but we have brought them the truth, and know they are liars. Allah hath not chosen any son, nor is there any God along with him. Else would each God have assuredly championed that which he created, and some of them would assuredly have overcome others. Glorified be Allah above all that they allege. Nor were of the invisible and the visible, and exalted be he over all that they ascribe as partners unto him. Say, my Lord, if thou shalt show me that which they are promised, my Lord, then set me not among the wrongdoing folk, and verily we are able to show thee that which ye have promised them. Repel evil with that which is better. We are best aware of that which they allege. And say, my Lord, I seek refuge in thee from suggestions of the evil ones, and I seek refuge in thee, my Lord, lest they be present with me. Until, when death cometh unto one of them, he saith, my Lord, send me back that I may do right in that which I have left behind. But, Nay, it is but a word that he speaketh, and behind them is a barrier unto the day when they are raised. And when the trumpet is blown, there will be no kinship among them that day, nor will they ask of one another. Then those who scales are heavy, they are the successful. And those who scales are light, are those who lose their souls in hell abiding. The fire burneth their faces, and they are gloom therein. It will be said, where not my revelations recited unto you, and then you used to deny them? They will say, our Lord, our evil fortune conquered us, and we were earring foe. Our Lord, oh, bring us forth from hands. If we return to evil, then indeed we shall be wrongdoers. He saith, be gone therein, and speak not unto me. Lo, there was a party of my slaves who said, Our Lord, we believe therefore, forgive us, and have mercy on us, for thou art best of all who show mercy. But ye chose them for a laughing stock, until they caused you to forget remembrance of me, while ye left at them. Lo, I have rewarded them this day, for as much as they were steadfast, in that they, even they, are the triumphant. He will say, how long tarried ye in the earth, counting by years? They will say, we tarried by a day, or part of a day. Ask of those who keep count. He will say, ye tarried but a little, if ye only knew. Dim ye then, that we had created ye for naught, and that ye would not be returned unto us? Now Allah be exalted, the true king. There is no God save him, the Lord of the throne of grace. He who cryeth unto any other God, along with Allah, have no proof thereof. His reckoning is only with his Lord. Lo, these believers will not be successful. And O Muhammad say, my Lord, forgive and have mercy, for thou art best of all who show mercy. Revealed at Medina In the name of Allah, the most beneficent, the most merciful. Here is a surah which we have revealed and enjoined, and wherein we have revealed plain tokens, that happily ye may take heed. The adulterer and the adulteress scourge ye each one of them with a hundred stripes, and let not pity for the twain withhold ye from obedience to Allah, if ye believe in Allah in the last day, and let a party of believers witness their punishment. The adulterer shall not marry save an adulteress or an idolatress, and the adulteress none shall marry save an adulterer or an idolater, and that is forbidden unto believers. And those who accuse honorable women, but bring not four witnesses, scourge them with eighty stripes, and never afterward accept their testimony. They indeed are evildoers. Save those who afterward repent and make amends. For such, lo, Allah is forgiving, merciful. As for those who accuse their wives, but have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies, swearing by Allah that he is of those who speak the truth, and yet a fifth invoking the curse of Allah on him, if he is of those who lie. And it shall avert the punishment from her, if she bear witness before Allah four times, that the thing he sayeth is indeed false, and a fifth time that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he speaketh truth. And had it not been for the grace of Allah and his mercy unto you, and that Allah is clement wise, ye had been undone. Lo, they who spread the slander are a gang among you, deem it not a bad thing for you, nay, it is a good for you. Unto every man of them will be paid that which he hath earned of the sin, and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be an awful doom. Why did not the believers, men and women, when ye heard it, think good of their own folk, and say, It is a manifest untruth? Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they produce not witnesses, they verily are liars in the sight of Allah. Had it not been for the grace of Allah and his mercy unto you in the world and the Hereafter, an awful doom had overtaken you for that whereof ye murmured. When ye welcomed it with your tongues, and uttered with your mouths that whereof ye had no knowledge, ye counted it a trifle. In the sight of Allah it is very great. Wherefore, when ye heard it, said ye not, It is not for us to speak of this. Glory be to thee, O Allah. This is awful columny. Allah admonisheth you that ye repeat not the like thereof, ever, if ye are in truth believers. And he expounded unto you the revelations. Allah is knower, wise. Lo, those who love that slanders should be spread concerning those who believe, theirs will be a painful punishment in the world and the Hereafter. Allah knoweth, ye know not. Had it not been for the grace of Allah and his mercy unto you, and that Allah is clement, merciful, ye had been undone. O ye who believe, follow not the footsteps of the devil, unto whomsoever follow with the footsteps of the devil, lo, he commandeth filthiness and wrong. Had it not been for the grace of Allah and his mercy unto you, not one of you would ever have grown pure. But Allah causeth whom he will to grow. And Allah is hearer, knower. And let not those who possess dignity and ease among you swear not to give to the near kin and to the needy and to fugitives for the cause of Allah. Let them forgive and show indulgence. Learn ye not that Allah may forgive you. Allah is forgiving, merciful. Lo, as for those who produce virtuous, believing women who are careless, cursed are they in the world and the Hereafter. Theirs will be an awful doom. On the day when their tongues and their hands and their feet testify against them as to what they used to do, on that day Allah will pay them their just due, and they will know that Allah, he is the manifest truth. Vile women are for vile men, and vile men for vile women. Good women are for good men, and good men for good women. Such are innocent of that which people say, for them is pardon and a bountiful provision. O ye who believe, enter not houses other than your own without first announcing your presence, and invoking peace upon the folk thereof. That is better for you, that ye may be heedful. And if you find no one therein, still enter not until permission hath been given. And if it be said unto you, go away again, then go away, for it is purer for you. Allah knoweth what ye do. It is no sin for you to enter uninhabited houses, wherein is comfort for you. Allah knoweth what ye proclaim and what ye hide. Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Low, Allah is aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment saved to their own husbands, or fathers, or husbands' fathers, or their sons, or their husbands' sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or sister's sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigor, or children who know not of women's nakedness, and let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment, and turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed. And marry such of you as are solitary in the pious of your slaves and maid servants. If they be poor, Allah will enrich them of his bounty. Allah is of ample means, aware. And let those who cannot find a match keep chase till Allah give them independence by his grace. And such of your slaves as seek a riding of emancipation, ride it for them, if ye are aware of odd of good in them, and bestow upon them of the wealth of Allah which he hath bestowed upon you. Force not your slave-girls to hoard them that ye may seek enjoyment of the life of the world if they would preserve their chastity. And if one force them, then unto them, after their compulsion, lo, Allah will be forgiving, merciful. And verily we have sent down for you revelations that make plain, and the example of those who passed away before you, and admonition unto those who ward off evil. Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of his light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass, as it were, a shining star. This lamp is kindled from a blessed tree, and olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow forth of itself, though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideeth unto his light whom he will, and Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is knower of all things. This lamp is found in houses which Allah hath allowed to be exalted, and that his name shall be remembered therein. Therein do you offer praise to him at morn and evening. Men whom neither merchandise nor sale beguileth from remembrance of Allah and constancy in prayer and paying to the poor their due, who fear a day when hearts and eyeballs will be overturned, that Allah may reward them with the best of what they did, and increase reward for them of his bounty. Allah giveth blessings without stint to whom he will. As for those who disbelieve, their deeds are as a mirage in a desert. The thirsty one supposes it to be water till he cometh unto it and findeth it not, and findeth in the place thereof Allah who payeth him his due, and Allah is swift at reckoning. Or as a darkness on a vast abysmal sea, there covering him a wave, above which is a wave, above which is a cloud, layer upon layer of darkness, when he holdeth out his hand he can scarce see it, and he for whom Allah hath not appointed light, for him there is no light. Has thou not seen, that Allah, he it is, whom all who are in the heavens and the earth prays, and the birds in their flight? Of each he knoweth verily the worship in the praise, and Allah is aware of what they do. And unto Allah belongeth the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, and unto Allah is the journeying. Has thou not seen how Allah wafteth the clouds, and then gathereth them, then maketh them layers, and thou seeest the rain come forth from between them. He sendeth down from the heaven mountains, wearing his hail, and smighteth therewith whom he will, and averteth it from whom he will. The flashing of his lightning all but snatcheth away the sight. Allah causeth the revolution of the night and the day. Lo, herein is indeed a lesson for those who see. Allah hath created every animal of water. Of them is a kind that goeth upon its belly, and a kind that goeth upon two legs, and a kind that goeth upon four. Allah createeth what he will. Lo, Allah is able to do all things. Verily we have sent down revelations and explained them, Allah guideeth whom he will unto a straight path. And they say, We believe in Allah and the messenger, and we obey. Then after that a faction of them turn away. Such are not believers. And when they appeal unto Allah and his messenger to judge between them, Lo, a faction of them are averse. But if right had been with them they would have come unto him willingly. Is there in their hearts a disease, or have they doubts, or fear, lest Allah and his messenger should wrong them in judgment? Nay, but such are evildoers. The saying of all true believers, when they appeal unto Allah and his messenger to judge between them, is only that they say, We hear and we obey. And such are the successful. He who obeyeth Allah and his messenger, and feareth Allah, and keepeth duty unto him, such indeed are the victorious. They swear by Allah solemnly, that if thou order them, they will go forth. Say, Swear not, no nobedience is better. Lo, Allah is informed of what ye do. Say, Obey Allah and obey the messenger. But if ye turn away, then it is for him to do only that wherewith he hath been charged, and for you to do only that wherewith he hath been charged. If ye obey him, ye will go aright. But the messenger hath no other charge than to convey the message plainly. Allah hath promised such of you as believe and do good work, that he will surely make them to succeed the present rulers in the earth, even as he caused those who were before them to succeed others, and that he will surely establish for them their religion with he hath approved for them, and will give them in exchange safety after their fear. They serve me. They ascribe no thing as partner unto me. Those who disbelieve henceforth they are the miscreants. Establish worship and pay the poor due and obey the messenger that happily ye may find mercy. Think not that the disbelievers can escape in the land. Fire will be their home, a hapless journey's end. O ye who believe, let your slaves and those of you who have not come to puberty ask leave of you at three times before they come into your presence, before the prayer of dawn, and when ye lay aside your raiment for the heat of noon, and after the prayer of night, three times of privacy for you. It is no sin for them or for you at other times when some of you go round attendant upon others, if they come into your presence without leave. Thus Allah maketh clear the revelations for you. Allah is knower, wise. And when the children among you come to puberty, then let them ask leave even as those before them used to ask it. Thus Allah maketh clear his revelations for you. Allah is knower, wise. As for women past childbearing, who have no hope of marriage, it is no sin for them if they discard their outer clothing in such a way as not to show adornment. But to refrain is better for them. Allah is hearer, knower. No blame is there upon the blind, nor any blame upon the lame, nor any blame upon the sick, nor on yourselves if ye eat from your houses, or the houses of your fathers, or the houses of your mothers, or the houses of your brothers, or the houses of his sisters, or the houses of your fathers' brothers, or the houses of your fathers' sisters, or the houses of your mothers' brothers, or the houses of your mothers' sisters, or from that whereof ye hold the keys, or from the house of a friend. No sin shall it be for you whether you eat together or apart. But when ye enter houses, salute one another with a greeting from Allah, blessed and sweet. Thus Allah maketh clear his revelations for you, that happily ye may understand. They are only the true believers who believe in Allah and his messenger, and when they are with him, on some common errand, go not away until they have asked leave of him. Lo, those who ask leave of thee, those are they who believe in Allah and his messenger. So if they ask thy leave for some affair of theirs, give leave to whom thou wilt of them, and ask for them forgiveness of Allah. Lo, Allah is forgiving, merciful. Make not the calling of the messenger among you as your calling one of another. Allah knoweth those of you who steal away, hiding themselves, and let those who conspire to evade orders beware, lest grief or painful punishment befall them. Lo, verily unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth. He knoweth your condition, and he knoweth the day when they are returned unto him, so that he may inform them of what they did. Allah is the knower of all things. The meaning of the Glorious Qur'an, translated by Muhammad Marmadud-Pikthal Surah 25 The Criterion Revealed at Mecca In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful Blessed is he who hath revealed unto his slave the Criterion of right and wrong, that he may be a warner to the peoples. He unto whom belongeth the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. He hath chosen no son, nor hath he any partner in the sovereignty. He hath created everything, and hath meted out for it a measure. Yet they chose beside him other gods who create not, but are themselves created, and possess not hurt nor profit for themselves, and possess not death nor life nor power to raise the dead. Those who disbelieve say, this is not but a lie that he hath invented, and other folk have helped him with it, so that they have produced a slander and a lie. And they say, fables of the men of old which he hath written down so that they are dictated to him morning evening. Say unto them, O Muhammad, he that knoweth the secret of the heavens and the earth hath revealed it. Lo, he ever is forgiving, merciful. And they say, what aileth this messenger of Allah that he eateth food and walketh in the markets. Why is not an angel sent down unto him to be a warner with him? Or why is not treasure thrown down unto him? Or why hath he not a paradise from whence to eat? And the evildoers say, ye are but following a man bewitched. See how they coin similitudes for thee, so that they are all astray and cannot find a road. Blessed is he who, if he will, will assign thee better than all that, gardens underneath which rivers flow, and will assign thee mansions. Nay, but they deny the coming of the hour. And for those who deny the coming of the hour, we have prepared a flame. When it seeeth them from afar, they hear the crackling and the roar thereof. And when they are flung into a narrow place thereof, chained together, they pray for destruction there. Pray not for one destruction, but pray for many destructions. Say, is that doom better or the garden of immortality which is promised unto those who ward off evil? It will be their reward and journey's end. They're in abiding. They have all that they desire. It is for thy Lord a promise that must be fulfilled. And on the day when he will assemble them, and that which they worship instead of Allah, and will say, Was it ye who misled these, my slaves, or did they themselves wander from the way? They will say, Be thou glorified. It was not for us to choose any protecting friends beside thee. But thou didst give them and their fathers ease till they forgot the warning and became a lost folk. Thus they will give you the lie regarding what you say. Then ye can neither avert the doom nor obtain help. And whoso among you doeth wrong, we shall make him taste great torment. We never sent before thee any messengers, but lo, they verily ate food and walked in the markets. And we have appointed some of you a test for others. Will ye be steadfast? And thy Lord is ever seer. And those who look not for meeting with us say, Why are angels not sent down unto us? And why do we not see our Lord? Or surely they think too highly of themselves and are scornful with great pride. On the day when they behold the angels, and on that day there will be no good tidings for the guilty, and they will cry, a forbidding ban. And we shall turn unto the work they did and make it scattered motes. Those who have earned the garden on that day will be better in their home and happier in their place of noonday rest. A day when the heaven with the clouds will be rent asunder, and the angels will be sent down, a grand descent. The sovereignty on that day will be the true sovereignty belonging to the beneficent one, and it will be a hard day for disbelievers. On the day when the wrongdoer knoth his hands he will say, Ah, would that I had chosen a way together with the messenger of Allah. Alas, for me, ah, would that I had never taken such a one for a friend. He verily led me astray from the reminder after it had reached me. Satan was ever man's deserter in the hour of need. And the messenger saith, O my Lord, lo, mine own folk make this Quran of no account. Even so we have appointed unto every prophet an opponent from among the guilty, but Allah sufficeseth for a guide and a helper. And those who disbelieve say, Why is the Quran not revealed unto him all at once? It is revealed thus that we may strengthen thy heart therewith, and we have arranged it in right order. And they bring the no similitude, but we bring the truth as against it and better than their similitude as argument. Those who will be gathered on their faces unto hell, such are worse in plight and further from the right road. We verily gave Moses the scripture and placed with him his brother Aaron as henchmen. Then we said, Go together unto the folk who have denied our revelations. Then we destroyed them a complete destruction. And Noah's folk, when they denied the messengers, we drowned them and made them a portent for mankind. We have prepared a painful doom for evildoers. And the tribes of Ad and Tamad, and the dwellers in Aras, and many generations in between. Each of them we warned by examples, and each of them we brought to utter ruin. And indeed they have passed by the township thereon was raised the fatal rain. Can it be that they have not seen it? Nay, but they hope for no resurrection. And when they see thee, O Muhammad, they treat thee only as a jest, saying, Is this he whom Allah sendeth as a messenger? He would have led us far away from our gods if we had not been staunch to them. They will know, when they behold the doom, who is more astray as to the road. Hast thou seen him who chooseth for his own God his own lust, what's thou then begarding over him? Or demest thou that most of them hear or understand? They are as but the cattle. Nay, but they are farther astray. Hast thou not seen how thy Lord hath spread the shade, and if he willed he could have made it still, then we would have made the sun its pilot. Then we withdraw it unto us, a gradual withdrawal. And he it is who maketh night a covering for you, and sleep repose, and maketh day a resurrection. And he it is who sendeth the winds, glad tidings, heralding his mercy, and we send down purifying water from the sky, that we may give life thereby to a dead land, and we may give many beasts and men that which we have created to drink thereof. And verily we have repeated it among them that they may remember, but most of mankind begrudge ought saving gratitude. If we willed we could raise up a warner in every village. So obey not the disbelievers, but strive against them herewith with a great endeavour. And he it is who hath given independence to the two seas, though they meet, one palatable, sweet, the other saltish, bitter, and hath set a bar and a forbidding ban between them. And he it is who hath created man from water, and hath appointed for him kindred by blood and kindred by marriage, for thy Lord is ever powerful. Yet they worship instead of Allah that which can neither benefit them nor hurt them. The disbeliever was ever a partisan against his Lord. And we have sent thee, O Muhammad, only as a bearer of good tidings and a warner. Say, I ask of you no reward for this, save that who so will may choose away unto his Lord. And trust thou in the living one who dieth not, and him his praise. He sufficeseth as the knower of his bondman's sins. Who created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six days, and then he mounted the throne. The beneficent, ask any one informed concerning him. And when it is said unto them, adore the beneficent, they say, and what is the beneficent? Are we to adore whatever thou, Muhammad, bidest us? And it increaseeth aversion in them. Blessed be he who hath placed in the heaven mansions of the stars, and hath placed therein a great lamp in a moon giving light. And he it is who hath appointed night and day in secession, for him who desireth to remember, or desireth thankfulness. The faithful slaves of the beneficent are they who walk upon the earth modestly, and when the foolish ones address them answer, peace. And who spend the night before their Lord prostrate and standing, and who say, Our Lord, avert us from the doom of hell, lo, the doom thereof is anguish. Lo, it is wretched as a boat and station. And those who, when they spend, are neither prodigal nor grudging, and there is ever firm station between the two. And those who cry not unto any other God along with Allah, nor take the life which Allah hath forbidden save in course of justice, nor commit adultery, and whoso doeth this shall pay the penalty. The doom will be doubled for him on the day of resurrection, and he will abide therein disdained for ever. Save him who repenteth and believeth and doth righteous work, as for such Allah will change their evil deeds to good deeds. Allah is ever forgiving, merciful. And whosoever repenteth and doeth good, he verily repenteth toward Allah with true repentance. And those who will not witness vanity, but when they pass near senseless play, pass by with dignity. And those who, when they are reminded of the revelations of their Lord, fall not deaf and blind thereat. And who say, Our Lord, vouchsafe us comfort of our wives and of our offspring, and make us patterns for all those who ward off evil. They will be awarded the high place for as much as they were steadfast, and they will meet therein with welcome and the ward of peace. Abiding there for ever, happy is it as abode and station. Say, O Muhammad unto the disbelievers, My Lord would not concern himself with you but for your prayer. But now you have denied the truth, therefore there will be judgment. End of Surah 25. Surah 26 of the meaning of the Glorious Kuran. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Leni. The meaning of the Glorious Kuran. Translated by Muhammad Marmadukh Pikthal. Surah 26. The Poets. Revealed at Mecca. In the name of Allah, the most beneficent, the most merciful. Ta Sin Min. These are revelations of the scripture that make the plain. It may be that thou tormentest thyself, O Muhammad, because they believe not. If we will, we can send down on them from the sky important, so that their necks would remain bowled before me. Never cometh there unto them a fresh reminder from the beneficent one, but they turn away from it. Now they have denied the truth, but there will come unto them tidings of that whereup they used to scoff. Have they not seen the earth how much of every fruitful kind we make to grow therein? Low, herein is indeed important, yet most of them are not believers. And low, thy Lord, he is indeed the mighty, the merciful. And when thy Lord called Moses, saying, Go unto the wrongdoing folk, the folk of the Pharaoh. Will they not ward off evil? He said, My Lord, low, I fear that they will deny me, and I shall be embarrassed, and my tongue will not speak plainly, therefore, send for Aaron to help me. And they have a crime against me, so I fear that they will kill me. He said, May verily, so go ye twain with our tokens, Low, we shall be with you, hearing. And come together unto the Pharaoh, and say, Low, we bear a message of the Lord of the worlds, saying, Let the children of Israel go with us. Pharaoh said unto Moses, Did we not rear thee among us as a child, and thou didst dwell many ears of thy life among us, and thou didst that thy deed which thou didst, and thou wasst one of the ingrates? He said, I did it, then, when I was of those who are astray. Then I fled from you when I feared you, and my Lord vouchsafed me, a command, and appointed me of the number of those sent by him. And this is the past favor wherewith thou reproachest me, that thou hast enslaved the children of Israel. Pharaoh said, And what is the Lord of the worlds? Moses said, Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, if ye had but sure belief. Pharaoh said unto those around him, Hear ye not? He said, Your Lord and the Lord of your fathers. Pharaoh said, Low, your messenger who hath been sent unto you is indeed a madman. He said, Lord of the east and the west, and all that is between them, if ye did but understand. Pharaoh said, If thou choosest a God other than me, I assuredly shall place thee among the prisoners. He said, Even though I show thee something plain, Pharaoh said, Produce it then, if thou art of the truthful. Then he flung down his staff, and it became a serpent manifest, and he drew forth his hand, and, Low, it was white to the beholders. Pharaoh said unto the chiefs about him, Low, this is verily a knowing wizard, who would drive you out of your land by his magic. Now, what counsel ye? They said, Put him off, him and his brother, and send into the city summoners, who shall bring unto thee every knowing wizard. So the wizards were gathered together at a sad time on a day appointed, and it was said unto the people, Are ye also gathering? They said, Aye, so that we may follow the wizards if they are the winners. And when the wizards came, they said unto Pharaoh, Will there surely be a reward for us if we are the winners? He said, Aye, and ye will then surely be of those brought near to me. Moses said unto them, Throw what ye are going to throw. Then they threw down their cords and their stoves, and said, By Pharaoh's might, Low, we verily are the winners. Then Moses threw his staff, and Low, it swallowed that which they did falsely show. And the wizards were flung prostrate, crying, We believe in the Lord of the worlds, the Lord of Moses and Aaron. Pharaoh said, Ye put your faith in him before I give you leave. Low, he doubtless is your chief who taught you magic. But verily it shall come to know. Verily I will cut off your hands and your feet alternately, and verily I will crucify you, every one. They said, It is no hurt for Low unto our Lord we shall return. Low, we ardently hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins, because we are the first of the believers. And we inspired Moses, saying, Take away my slaves by night, for ye will be pursued. Then Pharaoh sent into the city's summoners, who said, Low, these indeed are but a little troop, and Low, they are offenders against us, and Low, we are a ready host. Thus did we take them away from gardens and water springs, and treasures in a fair estate. Thus were those things taken from them, and we caused the children of Israel to inherit them, and they overtook them at sunrise. And when the two hosts saw each other, those with Moses said, Low, we are indeed caught. He said, May verily, for Low, my Lord is with me, he will guide me. Then we inspired Moses, saying, Smite the sea with thy staff, and it parted, and each part was as a mountain vast. Then brought we near the others to that place, and we saved Moses and those with him, everyone, and we drowned the others. Low, herein is indeed important, yet most of them are not believers. And Low, thy Lord, he is indeed the mighty, the merciful. Recite unto them the story of Abraham, when he said unto his father and his folk, What worship ye? They said, We worship idols, and are ever devoted unto them. He said, Do they hear you when you cry? Or do they benefit or harm you? They said, Nay, but we found our fathers acting on this wise. He said, See now that which ye worship, ye and your forefathers. Low, they are all an enemy unto me, save the Lord of the worlds, who created me, and he doth guide me, and who feedeth me, and watereth me, and when I sicken, then he healeth me, and who causes me to die, then giveeth me life again, and who I ardently hope will forgive me my sin on the day of judgment. My Lord, vouchsave me wisdom, and unite me to the righteous, and give unto me a good report in later generations, and place me among the inheritors of the garden of the light, and forgive my father. Low, he is of those who err, and obeys me not on the day when they are raised, the day when wealth and sons avail not any men, save him who bringeth unto Allah a whole heart, and the garden will be brought nigh for those who ward off evil, and hell will appear plainly to the earring, and it will be said unto them, Where is all that he used to worship instead of Allah? Can they help you, or help themselves? Then will they be hurled therein, they and the seducers and the hosts of Iblis together, and they will say, when they are quarreling therein, By Allah, of a truth we were in error manifest, when we made you equal with the Lord of the worlds. It was but the guilty whom it led us. Now we have no intercessors nor any loving friend. O, that we had another turn on earth, that we might be of the believers. Low, herein is indeed important, yet most of them are not believers. And, Low, thy Lord, he is indeed the mighty, the merciful. Noah's folk deny the messengers of Allah, when their brother Noah said unto them, Will you not ward off evil? Low, I am a faithful messenger unto you, so keep your duty to Allah, and obey me. And I ask of you no wage, therefore. My wage is the concern only of the Lord of the worlds. So keep your duty to Allah, and obey me. They said, Shall we put faith in thee, when the lowest of the people follow thee? He said, And what knowledge have I of what they may have been doing in the past? Low, their reckoning is my Lord's concern, if ye but new. And I am not here to repulse believers. I am only a plain warner. They said, If thou seest not, O Noah, thou will surely be among those toned to death. He said, My Lord, Low, my own folk deny me. Therefore judge thou between us, a conclusive judgment, and save me and those believers who are with me. And we saved him and those with him in the laden ship. Then afterward we drowned the others. Low, herein is indeed important, yet most of them are not believers. And Low, thy Lord, he is indeed the mighty, the merciful. The tribe of Ah denied the messengers of Allah. When their brother said unto them, Will ye not ward off evil? Low, I am a faithful messenger unto you, so keep your duty to Allah, and obey me. And I ask of you no wage, therefore. My wage is the concern only of the Lord of the worlds. Behold ye on every high place a monument for vain delight, and seek ye out strongholds that happily ye may last forever. And if ye cease by force, seize ye as tyrants. Rather, keep your duty to Allah, and obey me. Keep your duty toward him, who hath aided you with the good things that ye know, hath aided you with cattle and suns, and gardens and water springs. Low, I fear for you the retribution of an awful day. They said, It is all one to us, whether thou preachest, or art not of those who preach. This is but a fable of the men of old, and we shall not be doomed. And they denied him, therefore we destroy them. Low, herein is indeed important, yet most of them are not believers. And Low, thy Lord, he is indeed the mighty, the merciful. The tribe of Thamud denied the messengers of Allah. When their brother Salih said unto them, will ye not ward off evil? Low, I am a faithful messenger unto you, so keep your duty to Allah, and obey me. And I ask of you no wage, therefore. My wage is the concern only of the Lord of the worlds. Will ye be left secure in that which is here before us, in gardens and water springs, and tilled fields and heavy sheath palm trees, though ye hew out dwellings in the mountain being skillful? Therefore keep your duty to Allah, and obey me. And obey not the command of the prodigal, who spread corruption in the earth, and reform not. They said, Thou art but one of the bewitched, Thou art but a mortal like us, so bring some token if Thou art of the truthful. He said, Behold this cheek Hamel, she hath the right to drink at the well, and ye have the right to drink, each on an appointed day. And touch her not with ill, lest there come on you the retribution of an awful day. But they hemstrung her, and then were penitent. So the retribution came on them, lo, herein is indeed important, yet most of them are not believers. And lo, thy Lord, he is indeed the mighty, the merciful. The folk of Lot denied the messengers of Allah. When their brother Lot said unto them, will ye not ward off evil? Lo, I am a faithful messenger unto you, so keep your duty to Allah and obey me. And I ask of you no wage, therefore. My wage is the concern only of the Lord of the worlds. What, of all creatures, do ye come unto the males, and leave the wives your Lord created for you? Nay, but ye are fraught folk. They said, If thou seest not, O Lot, thou wilt soon be of the outcast. He said, I am in truth of those who hate your conduct. My Lord, save me and my household from what they do. So we saved him and his household, everyone. Save an old woman amongst those who stayed behind. Then, afterward, we destroy the others. And we reigned on them a reign, and dreadful is the reign of those who have been warned. Lo, herein is indeed important, yet most of them are not believers. And lo, thy Lord, he is indeed the mighty, the merciful. The dwellers in the wood of Midian denied the messengers of Allah. When Shuaib said unto them, Will ye not ward off evil? Lo, I am a faithful messenger unto you, so keep your duty to Allah and obey me. And I ask of you no wage for it. My wage is the concern only of the Lord of the worlds. Give full measure, and be not of those who give less than they do. And weigh with the true balance. Wrong not mankind in their goods, and do not evil, making mischief in the earth. And keep your duty unto him who created you and the generations of the men of old. They said, Thou art but one of the bewitched, Thou art but a mortal like us, and lo, we deem thee of the liars. Then make fragments of the heaven fall upon us if thou art of the truthful. He said, My Lord, is best aware of what ye do. But they denied him, so there came on them the retribution of the day of gloom. Lo, it was the retribution of an awful day. Lo, herein is indeed important, yet most of them are not believers. And lo, thy Lord, he is indeed the mighty, the merciful. And lo, it is a revelation of the Lord of the worlds, which the true spirit hath brought down upon thy heart, that thou mayst be one of the warners in plain Arabic speech. And lo, it is in the scriptures of the men of old. Is it not a token for them that the doctors of the children of Israel know it? And if we had revealed it unto one of any other nation than the Arabs, and he had read it unto them, they would not have believed in it. Thus do we make it traverse the hearts of the guilty. They will not believe in it, till they behold the painful doom, so that it will come upon them suddenly, when they perceive not. Then they will say, Are we to be reprieved? Would they now hasten on our doom? Has thou then seen, if we content them for long years, and then cometh that which they were promised? How that were with they were content not availeth them? And we destroyed no township, but it had its warners, for reminder, for we never were repressors. The devils did not bring it down. It is not meat for them, nor is it in their power. Low, verily, they are banished from the hearing. Therefore invoke not with Allah another God, lest thou be one of the doomed, and warn thy tribe of near Kindred, and lower thy wing and kindness unto those believers who follow thee. And if they, thy kinsfolk, disobey thee, say, Low, I am innocent of what they do, and put thy trust in the mighty, the merciful, who seeth thee when thou standest up to pray, and seeth thine abasement among those who fall prostrate in worship. Low, he, only he, is the hearer, the knower. Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend? They descend on every sinful, false one. They listen eagerly, but most of them are liars. As for poets, the earring follow them. Has thou not seen how they stray in every valley, and how they say that which they do not? Save those who believe and do good works, and remember Allah much, and vindicate themselves after they have been wronged. Save those who believe and do good works, and remember Allah much, and vindicate themselves after they have been wronged. Those who do wrong will come to know by what a great reverse they will be overturned.