 Surah 1 of the Holy Quran. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Holy Quran, translated by Muhammad Habib Shaker. Surah 1, the opening, Al-Fatiha, revealed at Makkah. In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, the Beneficent, the Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment, they do we serve and they do we beseech for help. Keep us on the right path. The path of those upon whom thou hast bestowed favours, not the path of those upon whom thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who go astray. End of Surah 1. Surah 2, part 1 of the Holy Quran, translated by Muhammad Habib Shaker. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Surah 2, the cow, al-Baqarah, revealed at Medina. In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Alif, Lam, Meem. This book, there is no doubt in it, is a guide to those who guard against evil. Those who believe in the unseen and keep up prayer and spend out of what we have given them, and who believe in that which has been revealed to you and that which was revealed before you, and they are sure of the hereafter. These are on the right course, from the Lord and these it is that shall be successful. Surely those who disbelieve, it being alike to them, whether you warn them or do not warn them, will not believe. Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing and there is a covering over their eyes. And there is a great punishment for them. And there are some people who say we believe in Allah and the last day and they are not at all believers. They desire to deceive Allah and those who believe and they deceive only themselves and they do not perceive. There is a disease in their hearts so Allah added to their disease and they shall have a painful chastisement because they lied. And when it is said to them, do not make mischief in the land, they say, we are but peacemakers. Now surely they themselves are the mischief makers but they do not perceive. And when it is said to them, believe as the people believe, they say, shall we believe as the fools believe. Now surely they themselves are the fools but they do not know. And when they meet those who believe, they say, we believe and when they are alone with their shaitans, they say, surely we are with you, we were only mocking. Allah shall pay them back their mockery and He leaves them alone in their inordinacy, blindly wandering on. These are they who buy error for the right direction, so their bargain shall bring no gain, nor are they the followers of the right direction. Their parable is like the parable of one who kindled a fire. But when it had illumined, all around Him, Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness, they do not see. Death dumb and blind, so they will not turn back. Or like abundant rain from the cloud in which is utter darkness and thunder and lightning, they put their fingers into their ears because of the thunder peel. For fear of death and Allah encompasses the unbelievers, the lightning almost takes away their sight. Whenever it shines on them, they walk in it, and when it becomes dark to them, they stand still. And if Allah had pleased, He would certainly have taken away their hearing and their sight. Surely, Allah has power over all things. All men serve your Lord who created you and those before you, so that you may guard against evil, who made the earth a resting place for you and the heaven a canopy, and who sends down rain from the cloud, then brings forth with it subsistence for you of the fruits. Therefore do not set up rivals to Allah while you know. And if you are in doubt as to that which we have revealed to our servant, then produce a chapter like it, and call on your witnesses besides Allah, if you are truthful. But if you do it not, and never shall you do it, then be on your guard against the fire, of which men and stones are the fuel. It is prepared for the unbelievers. And convey good news to those who believe and do good deeds, that they shall have gardens in which rivers flow, whenever they shall be given a portion of the fruit thereof, they shall say, this is what was given to us before, and they shall be given the like of it, and they shall have pure mates in them, and in them they shall abide. Surely Allah is not ashamed to set forth any parable, that of anat, or anything above that. Then as for those who believe, they know that it is the truth from their Lord, and as for those who disbelieve, they say, what is it that Allah means by disperable? He causes many to err by it, and many He leads a rite by it, but He does not cause to err by it any except the transgressors, who break the covenant of Allah after its confirmation, and cut asunder what Allah has ordered to be joined, and make mischief in the land. These it is that are the losers. How do you deny Allah, and you were dead, and He gave you life? Again He will cause you to die, and again bring you to life. Then you shall be brought back to Him. He it is who created for you, all that is in the earth, and He directed Himself to the heaven, so He made them complete seven heavens, and He knows all things. And when your Lord said to the angels, I am going to place in the earth a Khalif. They said, what? Would thou place in it, such as shall make mischief in it, and shed blood? And we celebrate thy praise, and extol thy holiness? He said, surely I know what you do not know. And He taught Adam all the names, then presented them to the angels. Then He said, tell me the names of those if you are rite. They said, glory be to thee, we have no knowledge but that which thou hast taught us. Surely thou art the knowing, the wise. He said, O Adam, inform them of their names. Then when He had informed them of their names, He said, did I not say to you that I surely know what is rai'b in the heavens and the earth, and that I know what you manifest and what you hide? And when we said to the angels, make obeisance to Adam, they did obeisance. But Iblis did it not. He refused, and he was proud, and he was one of the unbelievers. And we said, O Adam, dwell you and your wife in the garden and eat from it a plentious food, wherever you wish and do not approach this tree, for then you will be of the unjust. But the shaitan made them both fall from it, and cause them to depart from that state in which they were. And we said, get forth, some of you being the enemies of others, and there is for you in the earth and abode and a provision for a time. Then Adam received some words from his Lord. So he turned to him mercifully. Surely he is oft returning to mercy, the merciful. We said, go forth from this state all. So surely there will come to you a guidance from me. Then whoever follows my guidance, no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve. And as to those who disbelieve in and reject my communications, they are the inmates of the fire. In it they shall abide. O children of Israel, call to mind my favour which I bestowed on you and be faithful to your covenant with me. I will fulfil my covenant with you, and of me, me alone, should you be afraid. And believe in what I have revealed, verifying that which is with you and be not the first to deny it. Neither take a mean price in exchange for my communications, and me, me alone, should you fear. And do not mix up the truth with the falsehood, nor hide the truth while you know it. And keep up prayer and pay the poor rate and bow down with those who bow down. What do you enjoin men to be good and neglect your own souls while you read the book? Have you then no sense? And seek assistance through patience and prayer. And most surely it is a hard thing, except for the humble ones. Who know that they shall meet their Lord, and that they shall return to Him. O children of Israel, call to mind my favour which I bestowed on you and that I may do excel the nations. And be on your guard against a day when one soul shall not avail another in the least. Neither shall intercession on its behalf be accepted, nor shall any compensation be taken from it, nor shall they be helped. And when we delivered you from foreign's people, who subjected you to severe torment, killing your sons and spearing your women. And in this there was a great trial from your Lord. And when we parted the sea for you, so we saved you and drowned the followers of Farron, and you watched by. And when we appointed a time of forty nights with Musa, then you took the calf for a god, after him, and you were unjust. Then we pardoned you after that, so that you might give thanks. And when we gave Musa the book, and the distinction that you might walk right. And when Musa said to his people, O my people, you have surely been unjust to yourselves by taking the calf for a god. Therefore turn to your Creator penitently. So kill your people. That is best for you with your Creator. So he turned to you mercifully, for surely he is oft returning to mercy the merciful. And when you said, O Musa, we will not believe in you until we see Allah manifestly. So the punishment overtook you while you looked on. Then we raised you up after your death, that you may give thanks. And we made the clouds to give shade over you. And we sent you men and quails, each of the good things that we have given you. And they did not do us any harm. But they made their own souls suffer the loss. And when we said, enter this city, then eat from it a plentiful food wherever you wish. And enter the gate making obeisance and say forgiveness. We will forgive you your wrongs and give more to those who do good to others. But those who were unjust, change it for a saying other than that, which had been spoken to them. So we sent upon those who were unjust, a pestilence from heaven, because they transgressed. And when Musa prayed for drink for his people, we said, strike the rock with your staff. So they're gushed from it 12 springs. Each tribe knew its drinking place, eat and drink of the provisions of Allah, and do not act correctly in the land, making mischief. And when you said, O Musa, we cannot bear with one food. Therefore pray Lord on our behalf to bring forth for us out of what the earth grows of its herbs and its cucumbers and its garlic and its lentils and its onions. He said, Will you exchange that which is better for that which is worse? Enter a city so you will have what you ask for. And abasement and humiliation were brought down upon them. And they became deserving of Allah's wrath. This was so because they disbelieved in the communications of Allah and killed the prophets unjustly. This was so because they disobeyed and exceeded the limits. Surely those who believe and those who are Jews and the Christians and the Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the last day and thus good, they shall have the reward from their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve. And when we took a promise from you and lifted the mountain over you, take hold of the law, Torah, we have given you with firmness and bear in mind what is in it, so that you may guard against evil. Then you turn back after that. So wear it not for the grace of Allah and his mercy on you. You would certainly have been among the losers. And certainly you have known those among you who exceeded the limits of the Sabbath. So we said to them, be as apes, despised and hated. So we made them an example to those who witnessed it, and those who came after it, and an admonition to those who guard against evil. And when Moses said to his people, surely Allah commands you that you should sacrifice a cow. They said, do you ridicule us? He said, I seek the protection of Allah from being one of the ignorant. They said, call on your Lord for our sake to make it plain to us what she is. Moses said, he says, surely she is a cow, neither advanced in age nor too young, of middle age between that and this. Do therefore what you are commanded. They said, call on your Lord for our sake to make it plain to us what her color is. Moses said, he says, surely she is a yellow cow. Her color is intensely yellow, giving delight to the beholders. They said, call on your Lord for our sake to make it plain to us what she is. For surely to us the cows are all alike. And if Allah please, we shall surely be guided alright. Moses said, he says, surely she is a cow, not made submissive, that she should plow the land nor does she irrigate the tilth. Sound without a blemish in her. They said, now you have brought the truth. So they sacrificed her, though they had not the mind to do it. And when you killed a man, then you disagreed with respect to that. And Allah was to bring forth that which you were going to hide. So we said, strike the dead body was part of the sacrificed cow. Thus Allah brings the dead to life. And he shows you his signs so that you may understand. Then your hearts hardened after that, so that they were like rocks, rather worse in hardness. And surely there are some rocks from which streams burst forth. And surely there are some of them which split asunder, so water issues out of them. And surely there are some of them which fall down for fear of Allah. And Allah is not at all heedless of what you do. Do you then hope that they would believe in you? And a party from among them indeed used to hear the word of Allah, then altered it after they had understood it. And they know this. And when they meet those who believe they say, we believe. And when they are alone, one with another, they say, do you talk to them of what Allah has disclosed to you, that they may content with you by this before your Lord? Do you not then understand? Do they not know that Allah knows what they keep secret? And what they make known? And there are among them illiterates who know not the book, but only lies, and they do but conjecture. Woe then to those who write the book with their hands and then say, this is from Allah, so that they may take for it a small price. Therefore, woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn. And they say, fire shall not touch us, but for a few days. Say, have you received a promise from Allah? Then Allah will not fail to perform His promise. Or do you speak against Allah what you do not know? Yea, whoever earns evil, and his sins beset him on every side. These are the inmates of the fire. In it they shall abide. And as for those who believe and do good deeds, these are the dwellers of the garden. In it they shall abide. And when we made a covenant with the children of Israel, you shall not serve any but Allah. And you shall do good to your parents, and to the near of kin, and to the orphans, and the needy, and you shall speak to men good words, and keep a prayer and pay the poor rate. Then you turn back except a few of you, and now too you turn aside. And when we made a covenant with you, you shall not shed your blood, and you shall not turn your people out of your cities. Then you gave a promise while you witnessed. Yet you it is who slay your people and turn a party from among you out of their homes, backing each other up against them unlawfully and exceeding the limits. And if they should come to you as captives, you would ransom them. While their very turning out was unlawful for you, do you then believe in a part of the book and disbelieve in the other? What then is the reward of such among you as do this but disgrace in the life of this world? And on the day of resurrection, they shall be sent back to the most grievous chastisement. And Allah is not at all heedless of what you do. These are they who buy the life of this world for the hereafter. So their chastisement shall not be lightened, nor shall they be helped. And most certainly we gave Musa the book, and we sent messengers after him, one after another. And we gave Isa, the son of Maryam, clear arguments and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. What? Whenever then a messenger came to you with that which your souls did not desire, you were insolent, so you called some liars and some you slum. And they say, our hearts are covered. Nay, Allah has cursed them on account of their unbelief. So little it is that they believe. And when there came to them a book from Allah verifying that which they have, and a foretime they used to pray for victory against those who disbelieve. But when there came to them prophet, that which they did not recognize, they disbelieved in him. So Allah's curse is on the unbelievers. Evil is that for which they have sold their souls, that they should deny what Allah has revealed out of envy that Allah should send down of his grace, on whom so ever of his servants, he pleases. So they have made themselves deserving of wrath upon wrath. And there is a disgraceful punishment for the unbelievers. And when it is said to them, believe in what Allah has revealed, they say, we believe in that which was revealed to us. And they deny what is besides that, while it is the truth verifying that which they have. Say, why then did you kill Allah's prophets before, if you were indeed believers? And most certainly, Musa came to you with clear arguments. Then you took the call for a God, in his absence, and you were unjust. And when we made a covenant with you, and raised the mountain over you, take hold of what we have given you with firmness and be obedient. They said, we hear and disobey. And they were made to imbibe the love of the calf into their hearts on account of their unbelief. Say, evil is that which your belief bids you if you are believers. Say, if the future abode was Allah is especially for you to the exclusion of the people, then invoke death if you are truthful. And they will never invoke it on account of what their hands have sent before. And Allah knows the unjust. And you will most certainly find them the greediest of men for life, greedier than even those who are polytheists. Every one of them loves that he should be granted a life of a thousand years. And his being granted a long life will in no way remove him further off from the chastisement. And Allah sees what they do. Say, whoever is the enemy of Jibril, for surely he revealed it to your heart by Allah's command, verifying that which is before it, and guidance and good news for the believers. Whoever is the enemy of Allah and his angels and his messengers and Jibril and Mikael, so surely Allah is the enemy of the unbelievers. And certainly we have revealed to you clear communications and non-disbelief in them except the transgressors. What? Whenever they make a covenant, a party of them cast it aside. Nay, most of them do not believe. And when there came to them a messenger from Allah verifying that which they have, a party of those who were given the book threw the book of Allah behind their backs as if they knew nothing. And they followed what the shaitans chanted of sorcery in the reign of Sulayman. And Sulayman was not an unbeliever, but the shaitans disbelieved. They taught men sorcery, and that was sent down to the two angels at Babel, Harut and Marut. Yet these two taught no man until they had said, surely we are only a trial, therefore do not be a disbeliever. Even then men learned from these two, magic by which they might cause a separation between a man and his wife. And they cannot hurt with it anyone except with Allah's permission, and they learned what harmed them and did not profit them. And certainly they know that he who bought it should have no share of good in the hereafter, and evil was the price for which they sold their souls. Had they but known this? And if they had believed and guarded themselves against evil, reward from Allah would certainly have been better. Had they but known this? O you who believe, don't say ra'ina and say unzorna and listen, and for the unbelievers there is a painful chastisement. Those who disbelieve from among the followers of the book do not like, nor do the polytheists, that the good should be sent down to you from your Lord, and Allah chooses especially whom he pleases for his mercy. And Allah is the Lord of mighty grace. Whatever communications we abrogate or cause to be forgotten, we bring one better than it or like it. Do you not know that Allah has power over all things? Do you not know that Allah's is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and that besides Allah you have no garden or helper? Rather you wish to put questions to your messenger, as Musa was questioned before, and whoever adopts unbelief instead of faith, he indeed has lost the right direction of the way. Many of the followers of the book wish that they could turn you back into unbelievers after your faith, out of envy from themselves, even after the truth has become manifest to them, but pardon and forgive, so that Allah should bring about his command, surely Allah has power over all things, and keep up prayer and pay the poor rate, and whatever good you send before for yourselves, you shall find it with Allah. Surely Allah sees what you do, and they say, none shall enter the garden or paradise except he who is a Jew or a Christian. These are their vain desires. Say, bring your proof if you are truthful. Yes, whoever submits himself entirely to Allah, and he is the doer of good to others, he has his reward from his Lord, and there is no fear for him nor shall he grieve, and the Jews say, the Christians do not follow anything good, and the Christians say, the Jews do not follow anything good, while they recite the same book. Even thus say those who have no knowledge, like to what they say, so Allah shall judge between them on the day of resurrection in what they differ, and who is more unjust than he who prevents men from the masjids of Allah, that his name should be remembered in them, and strives to ruin them. As for these, it was not proper for them that they should have entered them except in fear. They shall meet with disgrace in this world, and they shall have great chastisement in the hereafter, and Allah is the East and the West. Therefore, whether you turn, thither is Allah's purpose, surely Allah is ample giving, knowing, and they say, Allah has taken to himself a son, glory be to him, rather whatever is in the heavens and the earth is his, all are obedient to him. Wonderful originator of the heavens and the earth, and when he decrees an affair, he only says to it, be, so there it is. And those who have no knowledge say, why does not Allah speak to us, or a sign come to us? Even thus said those before them, the like of what they say, their hearts are all alike. Indeed we have made the communications clear for a people who are sure. Surely we have sent you with the truth as a bearer of good news and as a warner, and you shall not be called upon to answer for the companions of the flaming fire. And the Jews will not be pleased with you, nor the Christians, until you follow their religion. Say, surely Allah's guidance, that is the true guidance, and if you follow their desires after the knowledge that has come to you, you shall have no guardian from Allah nor any helper. Those to whom we have given the book, read it as it ought to be read. These believe in it, and whoever disbelieves in it, these it is that are the losers. All children of Israel, call to mind my favour, which I bestowed on you, and that I made you excel the nations. And be on your guard against a day, when no soul shall avail another in the least. Neither shall any compensation be accepted from it, nor shall intercession profit it, nor shall they be helped. And when his Lord tried Ibrahim with certain words, he fulfilled them. He said, surely I will make you an Imam of men. Ibrahim said, and of my offspring, my covenant does not include the unjust, said he. And when we made the house a pilgrimage for men and a place of security, and a point for yourselves a place of prayer on the standing place of Ibrahim. And we enjoined Ibrahim and Ismail saying, purify my house for those who visit it, and those who abide in it for devotion, and those who bow down, and those who prostrate themselves. And when Ibrahim said, my Lord, make it a secure town, and provide its people with fruits such of them as believe in Allah and the last day, he said, and whoever disbelieves, I will grant him enjoyment for a short while. Then I will drive him to the chastisement of the fire, and it is an evil destination. And when Ibrahim and Ismail raised the foundations of the house, our Lord accept from us surely thou art the hearing, the knowing. Our Lord, and make us both submissive to thee, and raise from our offspring a nation submitting to thee, and show us our ways of devotion, and turn to us mercifully. Surely thou art the afterturning to mercy, the merciful. Our Lord, and raise up in them a messenger from among them, who shall recite to them thy communications, and teach them the book and the wisdom, and purify them. Surely thou art the mighty, the wise. And who forsakes the religion of Ibrahim, but he who makes himself a fool. And most certainly we chose him in this world, and in the hereafter he is most surely among the righteous. When his Lord said to him, be a Muslim, he said, I submit myself to the Lord of the worlds. And the same did Ibrahim enjoin on his sons. And so did Yaqub. O my sons, surely Allah has chosen for you this faith. Therefore die not unless you are Muslims. Nay, where you witnesses when death visited Yaqub, when he said to his sons, what will you serve after me? They said, we will serve your God and the God of your fathers, Ibrahim and Ismail and Ishaq, one Allah only. And to him do we submit. This is a people that have passed away. They shall have what they earned, and you shall have what you earn, and you shall not be called upon to answer for what they did. And they say, be Jews or Christians, you will be on the right course. Say, Nay, we follow the religion of Ibrahim the Hanif, and he was not one of the polytheists. Say, we believe in Allah and in that which had been revealed to us, and in that which was revealed to Ibrahim and Ismail and Ishaq and Yaqub, and the tribes, and in that which was given to Musa and Aisa, and in that which was given to the prophets from their Lord. We do not make any distinction between any of them, and to him do we submit. If then they believe as you believe in him, they are indeed on the right course, and if they turn back, then they are only in great opposition. So Allah will suffice you against them, and he is adhering the knowing. Receive the baptism of Allah, and who is better than Allah in baptising, and him do we serve. Say, do you dispute with us about Allah, and he is our Lord and your Lord, and we shall have our deeds, and you shall have your deeds, and we are sincere to him. Nay, do you say that Ibrahim and Ismail and Yaqub and the tribes, were Jews or Christians? Say, are you better knowing or Allah, and who is more unjust than he who conceals a testimony that he has from Allah, and Allah is not at all heedless of what you do. This is a people that have passed away. They shall have what they earned, and you shall have what you earn, and you shall not be called upon to answer for what they did. The fools among the people will say, what has turned them from their qiblah which they had? Say, the east and the west belong only to Allah. He guides whom he likes to the right path, and thus we have made you a medium, just nation that you may be the bearers of witness to the people, and that the messenger may be a bearer of witness to you. And we did not make that which you would have to be the qiblah, but that we might distinguish him who follows the messenger from him who turns back upon his heels. And this was surely hard except for those whom Allah has guided a right. And Allah was not going to make your faith to be fruitless. Most surely Allah is affectionate, merciful to the people. Indeed we see the turning of your faith to heaven, so we shall surely turn you to a qiblah which you shall like. Turn then your faith towards the sacred mosque, and wherever you are turn your face towards it. And those who have been given the book most surely know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not at all heedless of what they do. And even if you bring to those who have been given the book, every sign they would not follow your qiblah. Nor can you be a follower of their qiblah. Neither are they the followers of each other's qiblah. And if you follow their desires after the knowledge that has come to you, then you shall most surely be among the unjust. Those whom we have given the book recognize him as they recognize their sons. And a party of them most surely conceal the truth while they know it. The truth is from your Lord. Therefore you should not be of the doubters. And everyone has a direction to which he should turn. Therefore hasten to do good works wherever you are. Allah will bring you all together. Surely Allah has power over all things. And from whatsoever place you come forth turn your face towards the sacred mosque. And surely it is the very truth from your Lord. And Allah is not at all heedless of what you do. And from whatsoever place you come forth turn your face towards the sacred mosque. And wherever you are turn your faces towards it. So that people shall have no accusation against you except such of them as are unjust. So do not fear them and fear me. That I may complete my favor on you and that you may walk on the right course. Even as we have sent among you a messenger from among you who recites to you our communications and purifies you and teaches you the book and the wisdom and teaches you that which you did not know. Therefore remember me. I will remember you and be thankful to me and do not be ungrateful to me. O you who believe seek assistance through patience and prayer. Surely Allah is with the patient and do not speak of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay they are alive but you do not perceive. And we will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits and give good news to the patient who when a misfortune befalls them say surely we are Allah's and to him we shall surely return. Those are they on whom our blessings and mercy from the Lord and those are the followers of the right course. Surely the Safa and the Marwa are among the signs appointed by Allah. So whoever makes a pilgrimage to the house or pays a visit to it there is no blame on him if he goes around them both and whoever does good spontaneously then surely Allah is grateful knowing. Surely those who conceal the clear proofs and the guidance that we revealed after we made it clear in the book for men these it is whom Allah shall curse and those who curse shall curse them too except those who repent and amend and make manifest the truth. These it is to whom I turn mercifully and I am the oft returning to mercy the merciful. Surely those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers these it is on whom is the curse of Allah and the angels and men all abiding in it their chastisement shall not be lightened nor shall they be given respite and your Allah is one Allah there is no God but he he is the beneficent the merciful most surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day and the ships that run in the sea was that which profits men and the water that Allah sends down from the cloud then gives life with it to the earth after its death and spreads in it all kinds of animals and the changing of the winds and the clouds made subservient between the heaven and the earth there are signs for a people who understand and there are some among men who take for themselves objects of worship besides Allah whom they love as they love Allah and those who believe are stronger in love for Allah and oh that those who are unjust had seen when they see the chastisement that the power is holy Allah's and that Allah is severe in requiting evil when those who were followed shall renounce those who followed them and they see the chastisement and their ties are cut asunder and those who followed shall say have there been for us a return then we would renounce them as they have renounced us thus will Allah show them their deeds to be intense regret to them and they shall not come forth from the fire oh men eat the loaful and good things out of what is in the earth and do not follow the footsteps of the shaitan surely he is your open enemy he only enjoins you evil and indecency and that you may speak against Allah what you do not know and when it is said to them follow what Allah has revealed they say nay we follow what we found our fathers upon what and though their fathers had no sense at all nor did they follow the right way and the parable of those who disbelieve is as the parable of one who calls out to that which hears no more than a call and a cry death dumb and blind so they do not understand end of surah two part one surah two part two of the holy Quran translated by muhammad habib shaker this LibriVox recording is in the public domain surah two the cow al-bakara revealed at madina part two oh you who believe eight of the good things that we have provided you with and give thanks to Allah if him it is that you serve he has only forbidden you what dies of itself and blood and flesh of swine and that over which any other name than that of Allah has been invoked but whoever is driven to necessity not desiring nor exceeding the limit no sin shall be upon him surely Allah is forgiving merciful surely those who conceal any part of the book that Allah has revealed and take for it a small price they eat nothing but fire into their bellies and Allah will not speak to them on the day of resurrection nor will he purify them and they shall have a painful chastisement these are they who buy error for the right direction and chastisement for forgiveness how bold they are to encounter fire this is because Allah has revealed the book with the truth and surely those who go against the book are in a great opposition it is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the east and the west but righteousness is this that one should believe in Allah and the last day and the angels and the book and the prophets and give away wealth out of love for him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for the emancipation of the captives and keep up prayer and pay the poor rate and the performers of their promise when they make a promise and the patient in distress and affliction and in time of conflicts these are they who are true to themselves and these are they who guard against evil oh you who believe retaliation is prescribed for you in the matter of the slain the free for the free and the slave for the slave and the female for the female but if any remission is made to anyone by his aggrieved brother then prosecution for the blood with should be made according to usage and payment should be made to him in a good manner this is an alleviation from your lord and a mercy so whoever exceeds the limit after this he shall have a painful chastisement and there is life for you in the law of retaliation all men of understanding that you may guard yourselves bequest is prescribed for you when death approaches one of you if he leaves behind wealth for parents and new relatives according to usage a duty incumbent upon those who guard against evil whoever then alters it after he has heard it the sin of it then is only upon those who alter it surely Allah is hearing knowing but he who fears an inclination to a wrong course or an act of disobedience on the part of the testator and affects an agreement between the parties there is no blame on him surely Allah is forgiving merciful oh you who believe fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you so that you may guard against evil for a certain number of days but whoever among you is sick or on a journey then he shall fast a like number of other days and those who are not able to do it may affect redemption by feeding a poor man so whoever does good spontaneously it is better for him and that you fast is better for you if you know the month of Ramadan is that in which the Quran was revealed a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction therefore whoever of you is present in the month he shall fast therein and whoever is sick or upon a journey then he shall fast a like number of other days Allah desires ease for you and he does not desire for you difficulty and he desires that you should complete the number and that you should exalt the greatness of Allah for his having guided you and that you may give thanks and when my servants ask you concerning me then surely i am very near i answered the prayer of the suplend when he calls on me so they should answer my call and believe in me that they may walk in the right way it is made lawful to you to go into your wives on the night of the fast they are an apparel for you and you are an apparel for them Allah knew that you acted unfaithfully to yourselves so he has turned to you mercifully and removed from you this burden so now be in contact with them and seek what Allah has ordained for you and eat and drink until the whiteness of the day becomes distinct from the blackness of the night at dawn then complete the fast till night and have not contact with them while you keep to the mosques these are the limits of Allah so do not go near them thus does Allah make clear his communications for men that they may guard against evil and do not swallow up your property among yourselves by false means neither seek to gain access thereby to the judges so that you may swallow up a part of the property of men wrongfully while you know they ask you concerning the new moon say they are times appointed for the benefit of men and for the pilgrimage and it is not righteousness that you should enter the houses at their backs but righteousness is this that one should guard against evil and go into the houses by their doors and be careful of your duty to Allah that you may be successful and fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you and do not exceed the limits surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits and kill them wherever you find them and drive them out from whence they drove you out and persecution is severe than slaughter and do not fight with them at the sacred mosque until they fight with you in it but if they do fight you then slay them such is the recompense of the unbelievers but if they desist then surely Allah is forgiving merciful and fight with them until there is no persecution and religion should be only for Allah but if they desist then there should be no hostility except against the oppressors the sacred month for the sacred month and all sacred things are under the law of retaliation whoever then acts aggressively against you inflict injury on him according to the injury he has inflicted on you and be careful of your duty to Allah and know that Allah is with those who guard against evil and spend in the way of Allah and cause not yourselves to perdition with your own hands and do good to others surely Allah loves the doers of good and accomplish the pilgrimage and the visit for Allah but if you are prevented send whatever offering is easy to obtain and do not shave your heads until the offering reaches its destination but whoever among you is sick or has an ailment of the head he should effect a compensation by fasting or arms or sacrificing then when you are secure whoever profits by combining the visit with the pilgrimage should take what offering is easy to obtain but he who cannot find any offering should fast for three days during the pilgrimage and for seven days when you return these make 10 days complete this is for him whose family is not present in the sacred mosque and be careful of your duty to Allah and know that Allah is severe in requiting evil the pilgrimage is performed in the well-known month so whoever determines the performance of the pilgrimage therein there shall be no intercourse nor fornication nor quarreling amongst one another and whatever good you do Allah knows it and make provision for surely the provision is the guarding of oneself and be careful of your duty to me o men of understanding there is no blame on you in seeking bounty from your Lord so when you hasten on from Arafat then remember Allah near the holy monument and remember him as he has guided you though before that you were certainly of the airing ones then hasten on from the place from which the people hasten on and ask the forgiveness of Allah surely Allah is forgiving merciful so when you have performed your devotions then load Allah as you loaded your fathers rather a greater loading but there are some people who say our Lord give us in the world and they shall have no resting place and there are some among them who say our Lord grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter and save us from the chastisement of the fire they shall have their portion of what they have earned and Allah is swift in reckoning and load Allah during the numbered days then whoever hastens off in two days there is no blame on him and whoever remains behind there is no blame on him this is for him who guards against evil and be careful of your duty to Allah and know that you shall be gathered together to him and among men is he whose speech about the life of this world causes you to wonder and he calls on Allah to witness as to what is in his heart yet he is the most violent of adversaries and when he turns back he runs along in the land that he may cause mischief in it and destroy the tilt and the stock and Allah does not love mischief making and when it is said to him guard against the punishment of Allah pride carries him off to sin therefore hell is sufficient for him and certainly it is an evil resting place and among men is he who sells himself to seek the pleasure of Allah and Allah is affectionate to the servants O you who believe enter into submission one and all and do not follow the footsteps of shaitan surely he is your open enemy but if you slip after clear arguments have come to you then know that Allah is mighty wise they do not wait out but that Allah should come to them in the shadows of the clouds along with the angels and the matter has already been decided and all matters are returned to Allah ask the Israelites how many a clear sign have we given them and whoever changes the favor of Allah after it has come to him then surely Allah is severe in requiting evil the life of this world is made to seem fair to those who disbelieve and they mock those who believe and those who guard against evil shall be above them on the day of resurrection and Allah gives means of subsistence to whom he pleases without measure all people are a single nation so Allah raised prophets as bearers of good news and as warners and he revealed with them the book with truth that it might judge between people in that in which they differed and none but the very people who were given it differed about it after clear arguments had come to them revolting among themselves so Allah has guided by his will those who believe to the truth about which they differed and Allah guides whom he pleases to the right path or do you think that you would enter the garden while yet the state of those who have passed away before you has not come upon you distress and affliction befell them and they were shaken violently so that the messenger and those who believed with him said when will the help of Allah come now surely the help of Allah is nigh they ask you as to what they should spend say whatever wealth you spend it is for the parents the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and whatever good you do Allah surely knows it fighting is enjoined on you and it is an object of dislike to you and it may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you and it may be that you love a thing while it is evil for you and Allah knows while you do not know they ask you concerning the sacred month about fighting in it say fighting in it is a grave matter and hindering men from Allah's way and denying him and hindering men from the sacred mosque and turning its people out of it are still graver with Allah and persecution is graver than slaughter and they will not cease fighting with you until they turn you back from your religion if they can and whoever of you turns back from his religion then he dies while an unbeliever these it is whose works shall go for nothing in this world and the hereafter and they are the inmates of the fire therein they shall abide surely those who believed and those who fled their home and strove hard in the way of Allah these hope for the mercy of Allah and Allah is forgiving merciful they ask you about intoxicants and games of chants say in both of them there is a great sin and means of profit for men and their sin is greater than their profit and they ask you as to what they should spend say what you can spare thus does Allah make clear to you the communications that you may ponder on this world and the hereafter and they ask you concerning the orphans say to set right for them their affairs is good and if you become co-partners with them they are your brethren and Allah knows the mischief maker and the peace maker and if Allah had pleased He would certainly have caused you to fall into a difficulty surely Allah is mighty wise and do not marry the idolatresses until they believe and certainly a believing maid is better than an idolatrous woman even though she should please you and do not give believing women in marriage to idolaters until they believe and certainly a believing servant is better than an idolater even though He should please you these invite to the fire and Allah invites to the garden and to forgiveness by His will and makes clear His communications to men that they may be mindful and they ask you about menstruation say it is a discomfort therefore keep aloof from the women during the menstrual discharge and do not go near them until they have become clean then when they have cleansed themselves go into them as Allah has commanded you surely Allah loves those who turn much to Him and He loves those who purify themselves your wives are a tilth for you so go into your tilth when you like and do good beforehand for yourselves and be careful of your duty to Allah and know that you will meet Him and give good news to the believers and make not Allah because of your swearing by Him an obstacle to your doing good and guarding against evil and making peace between men and Allah is hearing, knowing Allah does not call you to account for what is vain in your oath but He will call you to account for what your hearts have earned and Allah is forgiving for bearing those who swear that they will not go into their wives should wait for a month so if they go back then Allah is surely forgiving, merciful and if they have resolved on a divorce then Allah is surely hearing, knowing and the divorced women should keep themselves in waiting for three courses and it is not lawful for them that they should conceal what Allah has created in their wombs if they believe in Allah and the lost they and their husbands have a better right to take them back in the meanwhile if they wish for reconciliation and they have rights similar to those against them in a just manner and the men are at agree above them and Allah is mighty wise divorce may be pronounced twice then keep them in good fellowship or let them go with kindness and it is not lawful for you to take any part of what you have given them unless both fear that they cannot keep within the limits of Allah then if you fear that they cannot keep within the limits of Allah there is no blame on them for what she gives up to become free thereby these are the limits of Allah so do not exceed them and whoever exceeds the limits of Allah these it is that are the unjust so if he divorces her she shall not be lawful to him afterwards until she marries another husband then if he divorces her there is no blame on them both if they return to each other by marriage if they think that they can keep within the limits of Allah and these are the limits of Allah which he makes clear for a people who know and when you divorce women and they reach their prescribed time then either retain them in good fellowship or set them free with liberality and do not retain them for injury so that you exceed the limits and whoever does this he indeed is unjust to his own soul and do not take Allah's communications for a mockery and remember the favor of Allah upon you and that which he has revealed to you of the book and the wisdom admonishing you thereby and be careful of your duty to Allah and know that Allah is the knower of all things and when you have divorced women and they have ended their term of waiting then do not prevent them from marrying their husbands when they agree among themselves with this is admonished he among you who believes in Allah and the law's day this is more profitable and purer for you and Allah knows while you do not know and the mothers should suckle their children for two whole years for him who desires to make complete the time of suckling and their maintenance and their clothing must be borne by the father according to usage no soul shall have imposed upon it a duty but to the extent of its capacity neither shall a mother be made to suffer harm on account of her child nor a father on account of his child and a similar duty devolves on the father's ear but if both desire weaning by mutual consent and counsel there is no blame on them and if you wish to engage a wet nurse for your children there is no blame on you so long as you pay what you promised for according to usage and be careful of your duty to Allah and know that Allah sees what you do and as for those of you who die and leave wives behind they should keep themselves in waiting for four months and ten days then when they have fully attained their term there is no blame on you for what they do for themselves in a lawful manner and Allah is aware of what you do and there is no blame on you respecting that which you speak indirectly in the asking of such women in marriage or keep the proposal concealed within your minds Allah knows that you will mention them but do not give them a promise in secret unless you speak in a lawful manner and do not confirm the marriage tie until the writing is fulfilled and know that Allah knows what is in your minds therefore beware of him and know that Allah is forgiving, forbearing there is no blame on you if you divorce women when you have not touched them or appointed for them a portion and make provision for them the wealthy according to his means and the straightened in circumstances according to his means a provision according to usage this is a duty on the doers of good to others and if you divorce them before you have touched them and you have appointed for them a portion then pay to them half of what you have appointed unless they relinquish or he should relinquish in whose hand is the marriage tie and it is nearer to righteousness that you should relinquish and do not neglect the giving of free gifts between you surely Allah sees what you do attend constantly to prayers and to the middle prayer and stand up truly obedient to Allah but if you are in danger then say your prayers on foot or on horseback and when you are secure then remember Allah is he has taught you what you did not know and those of you who die and leave wives behind make a bequest in favor of their wives of maintenance for a year without turning them out then if they themselves go away there is no blame on you for what they do of local deeds by themselves and Allah is mighty wise and for the divorced women to provision must be made according to usage this is a duty on those who guard against evil Allah thus makes clear to you his communications that you may understand have you not considered those who went forth from their homes for fear of death and they were thousands then Allah said to them die again he gave them life most surely Allah is gracious to people but most people are not grateful and fight in the way of Allah and know that Allah is hearing knowing who is it that will offer of Allah a goodly gift so he will multiply it to him many fold and Allah straightens and amplifies and you shall be returned to him have you not considered the sheikhs of the children of Israel after Musa when they said to a prophet of theirs raise up for us a king that we may fight in the way of Allah he said may it not be that you would not fight if fighting is ordained for you they said and what reason have we that we should not fight in the way of Allah and we have indeed been compelled to abandon our homes and our children but when fighting was ordained for them they turned back except a few of them and Allah knows the unjust and their prophet said to them surely Allah has raised Talut to be a king over you they said how can he hold kinship over us while we have a greater right to kinship than he and he has not been granted an abundance of wealth he said surely Allah has chosen him in preference to you and he has increased him abundantly in knowledge and physique and Allah grants his kingdom to whom he pleases and Allah is ample giving knowing and the prophet said to them surely the sign of his kingdom is that there shall come to you the chest in which there is tranquility from your Lord and residue of the relics of what the children of Musa and the children of Haroon have left the angels bearing it surely there is a sign in this for those who believe so when Talut departed with the forces he said surely Allah will try you with a river whoever then drinks from it he is not of me and whoever does not taste of it he is surely of me except he who takes with his hand as much of it as fills the hand but with the exception of a few of them they drank from it so when he had crossed it he and those who believed with him they said we have today no power against Galut and his forces those who were sure that they would meet their Lord said how often has a small party vanquished a numerous hosts by Allah's permission and Allah is with the patient and when they went out against Galut and his forces they said our Lord pour down upon us patience and make our steps firm and assist us against the unbelieving people so they put them to fight by Allah's permission and the would slew Galut and Allah gave him kingdom and wisdom and told him of what he pleased and were it not for Allah's repelling some men with others the earth would certainly be in a state of disorder but Allah is gracious to the creatures these are the communications of Allah we recite them to you with truth and most surely you are one of the messengers we have made some of these messengers to excel the others among them are they to whom Allah spoke and some of them he exalted by many degrees of rank and we gave clear miracles to Isa son of Maryam and strengthened him with the holy spirit and if Allah had pleased those after them would not have fought one with another after clear arguments had come to them but they disagreed so there were some of them who believed and others who denied and if Allah had pleased they would not have fought one with another but Allah brings about what he intends all you who believe spend out of what we have given you before the day comes in which there is no bargaining neither any friendship nor intercession and the unbelievers they are the unjust Allah is he besides whom there is no God the ever living the self subsisting by whom all subsist slumber does not overtake him nor sleep whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is his who is he that can intercede with him but by his permission he knows what is before them and what is behind them and they cannot comprehend anything out of his knowledge except what he pleases his knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth and the preservation of them both tries him not and he is the most high the great there is no compulsion in religion truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error therefore whoever disbelieves in the shaitan and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle which shall not break off and Allah is hearing knowing Allah is the guardian of those who believe he brings them out of the darkness into the light and as to those who disbelieve their guardians are shaitans who take them out of the light into the darkness they are the inmates of the fire in it they shall abide have you not considered him namrud who disputed with ibrahim about his lord because Allah had given him the kingdom when ibrahim said my lord is he who gives life and causes to die he said i give life and cause death ibrahim said so surely Allah causes the sun to rise from the east then make it rise from the west thus he who disbelieved was confounded and Allah does not guide a right the unjust people or the like of him ozair who passed by a town and it had fallen down upon its roofs he said when will Allah give it life after its death so Allah caused him to die for a hundred years then raised him to life he said how long have you tarried he said i have tarried a day or a part of a day said he nay you have tarried a hundred years then look at your food and drink years have not passed over it and look at your ass and that we may make you a sign to men and look at the bones how we set them together then closed them with flesh so when it became clear to him he said i know that Allah has power over all things and when ibrahim said my lord show me how thou givest life to the dead he said what and do you not believe he said yes but that my heart may be at ease he said then take four of the birds then train them to follow you then place on every mountain a part of them then call them they will come to you flying and know that Allah is mighty wise the parable of those who spend their property in the way of Allah is as the parable of a grain growing seven years with a hundred grains in every ear and Allah multiplies for whom he pleases and Allah is ample giving knowing as for those who spend their property in the way of Allah then do not follow up what they have spent with reproach or injury they shall have the reward from their Lord and they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve kind speech and forgiveness is better than charity followed by injury and Allah is self-sufficient for bearing O you who believe do not make your charity worthless by reproach and injury like him who spends his property to be seen of men and does not believe in Allah and the last day so his parable is as the parable of a smooth rock with earth upon it then a heavy rain falls upon it so it leaves it bare they shall not be able to gain anything of what they have earned and Allah does not guide the unbelieving people and the parable of those who spend their property to seek the pleasure of Allah and for the certainty of their souls is as the parable of a garden on an elevated ground upon which heavy rain falls so it brings forth its fruit twofold but if heavy rain does not fall upon it then light rain is sufficient and Allah sees what you do does one of you like that he should have a garden of ponds and vines with streams flowing beneath it he has in it all kinds of fruits and old age has overtaken him and he has weak offspring when low a whirlwind with fire in it smites it so it becomes blasted thus Allah makes the communications clear to you that you may reflect all you who believe spend benevolently of the good things that you earn and or what we have brought forth for you out of the earth and do not aim at what is bad that you may spend in arms of it while you would not take it yourselves unless you have its price lowered and know that Allah is self-sufficient praise worthy shaitan threatens you with poverty and enjoins you to be niggardly and Allah promises you forgiveness from himself and abundance and Allah is ample giving knowing he grants wisdom to whom he pleases and whoever is granted wisdom he indeed is given a great good and none but men of understanding mind and whatever arms you give or whatever vow you vow surely Allah knows it and the unjust shall have no helpers if you give arms openly it is well and if you hide it and give it to the poor it is better for you and this will do away with some of your evil deeds and Allah is aware of what you do to make them walk in the right way is not incumbent on you but Allah guides a right whom he pleases and whatever good thing you spend it is to your own good and you do not spend but to seek Allah's pleasure and whatever good things you spend shall be paid back to you in full and you shall not be wronged arms are for the poor who are confined in the way of Allah they cannot go about in the land the ignorant man thinks them to be rich on account of their abstaining from begging you can recognize them by their mark they do not beg from men unfortunately and whatever good thing you spend surely Allah knows it as for those who spend their property by night and by day secretly and openly they shall have their reward from their Lord and they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve those who swallow down usury cannot arise except as one whom shaitan has prostrated by his touch does rise that is because they say trading is only like usury and Allah has allowed trading and forbidden usury to whomsoever then the admonition has come from his Lord then he desists he shall have what has already passed and his affair is in the hands of Allah and whoever returns to it these are the inmates of the fire they shall abide in it Allah does not bless usury and he causes charitable deeds to prosper and Allah does not love any ungrateful sinner surely they who believe and do good deeds and keep up prayer and pay the poor rate they shall have the reward from their Lord and they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve O you who believe be careful of your duty to Allah and relinquish what remains due from usury if you are believers but if you do it not then be appraised of war from Allah and his messenger and if you repent then you shall have your capital neither shall you make the debtor suffer loss nor shall you be made to suffer loss and if the debtor is in straightness then let there be postponement until he is in ease and that you remit it as alms is better for you if you knew and guard yourselves against a day in which you shall be returned to Allah then every soul shall be paid back in full what it has earned and they shall not be dealt with unjustly O you who believe when you deal with each other in contracting a debt for a fixed time then write it down and let a scribe write it down between you with fairness and the scribe should not refuse to write as Allah has told him so he should write and let him who owes the debt dictate and he should be careful of his duty to Allah his lord and not diminish anything from it but if he who owes the debt is unsound in understanding or weak or if he is not able to dictate himself let his garden dictate with fairness and call in to witness from among your men two witnesses but if there are not two men then one man and two women from among those whom you choose to be witnesses so that if one of the two hers the second of the two may remind the other and the witnesses should not refuse when they are summoned and be not averse to writing it whether it is small or large with the time of its falling due this is more equitable in the sight of Allah and assures greater accuracy and testimony and the nearest way that you may not entertain doubts afterwards except when it is ready merchandise which you give and take among yourselves from hand to hand then there is no blame on you in not writing it down and have witnesses when you barter with one another and let no harm be done to the scribe or to the witness and if you do it then surely it will be a transgression in you and be careful of your duty to Allah Allah teaches you and Allah knows all things and if you are upon a journey and you do not find a scribe then there may be a security taken into possession but if one of you trusts another then he who is trusted should deliver his trust and let him be careful of his duty to Allah his Lord and do not conceal testimony and whoever concealed it his heart is surely sinful and Allah knows what you do whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is Allah's and whether you manifest what is in your minds or hide it Allah will call you to account according to it then he will forgive whom he pleases and chastise whom he pleases and Allah has power over all things the messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord and so do the believers they all believe in Allah and his angels and his books and his messengers we make no difference between any of his messengers and they say we hear and obey our Lord thy forgiveness do we crave and to thee is the eventual course Allah does not impose upon any soul a duty but to the extent of its ability for it is the benefit of what it has earned and upon it the evil of what it has wrote our Lord do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake our Lord do not lay on us a burden as thou didst lay on those before us our Lord do not impose upon us that which we have not the strength to bear and pardon us and grant us protection and have mercy on us thou art our patron so help us against the unbelieving people