23. Al-Mu'minun (The Believers)

Meccan, 118 verses

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

  1. The believers have succeeded,

  2. those who are humble in their prayers,

  3. and who stay away from the useless (acts and talks),

  4. and who do their mandatory charity,

  5. and who guard their private parts,

  6. except with their spouses or what they own, then indeed they are blameless,

  7. and anyone who looks for beyond this, then they are those who exceed the limits,

  8. and those who observe their trusts and their promise,

  9. and who guard their mandatory prayer,

  10. they are the inheritors,

  11. those who inherit the paradise remaining in there forever.

  12. And We have certainly created human being from extract of clay.

  13. Then We placed him as a fertilized egg (zygote) in a safe quarter (the womb).

  14. Then We made the fertilized egg into a (dangling, clinging, and leach like) blood clot, then We made the clot into a (piece of) chewed flesh, then We made the chewed flesh into bones, then We covered the bones with flesh, then We turned it into another creation. So blessed is God, the best of creators.

  15. Then you certainly die after that.

  16. Then you shall be raised on the Resurrection Day.

  17. And We have certainly created seven paths/levels (of the skies) above you, and We are not neglectful of the creation.

  18. And We send down rain from the sky in proper amount, then We make it settle in the earth, and indeed We are able to take it away.

  19. And We produce gardens of date palms and grapes for you with it, and there are plenty of fruits in them that you eat from them.

  20. And a tree (of olive) that comes out of Mount Sinai producing oil and sauce/dip for those who eat.

  21. And there is a lesson for you in livestock, We give you drink from what is in their bellies, and there are many other benefits for you in them, and you also eat from them,

  22. and you are carried on them and on the ships.

  23. And We certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said: “My people, serve God, you have no god other than Him, will you not be cautious (of God)?”

  24. The leaders of those who disbelieved among his people said: “He is only a human being like you who wants to be superior over you, and if God wanted He would have sent down angels, we did not hear of this among our forefathers,

  25. he is only a man that there is madness in him, so put up with him for a while.”

  26. He said: “My Lord, help me because they deny me.”

  27. So We revealed to him: “Build the Ark under Our eyes and Our revelation, and when Our command comes and the oven erupts (with water), then put two of every kind (a male and a female) and your family in it except anyone among them whom the word is already issued against him, and do not talk to me about those who did wrong for they will be drowned.

  28. And when you and those with you settle on the Ark, then say: “All praise belongs to God, the One Who saved us from the wrongdoing people.”

  29. And say: “My Lord, make me land in a blessed landing place, you are the best of those who make (people) land.””

  30. Indeed there are signs in that, and indeed We put (people) to test.

  31. Then We gave rise to another generation after them (people of Aad).

  32. And We sent them a messenger (Hud) from among themselves (saying:) “Serve God, you have no god other than Him, will you not be cautious (of God)?”

  33. And the leaders of his people, those who disbelieved and denied the meeting of the Hereafter and We made them comfortable in this world’s life said: “This is only a human being like you, he eats from what you eat from it and he drinks from what you drink,

  34. and if you obey a human being like yourselves, then you are certainly losers.

  35. Does he promise you that when you die and you become dust and bones, that you are brought out (and resurrected)?

  36. What you are promised is far, far (from the truth),

  37. there is nothing except our life of this world, we die and we live (and world goes on), and we will not be raised.

  38. He is only a man that makes up a lie (and attributes it) to God, and we do not believe him.”

  39. He said: “My Lord, help me because they deny me.”

  40. He (God) said: “They shall become sorry in a short while.”

  41. Then the awful blast rightfully took them, and We made them into debris. So away with the wrongdoing people.

  42. Then We gave rise to other generations after them.

  43. No community (of faith) advances its appointed time nor can they delay it.

  44. Then We sent Our messengers one after the other, every time a messenger came to a community, they denied him. So We made them follow each other (to destruction), and We made them stories (for people). So away with people who do not believe.

  45. Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron with Our signs and clear power

  46. to Pharaoh and his assembly, but they acted arrogantly and they were bossy people.

  47. They said: “Should we believe in two human beings like us while their people are our servants?”

  48. So they denied them both, then they became of the destroyed ones.

  49. And We certainly gave Moses the book, so that they may be guided.

  50. And We made son of Mary and his mother a sign, and we sheltered them both on a hilltop having an accommodation and a spring (of running water).

  51. Messengers, eat from the good things and do good, indeed I know well what you do.

  52. And indeed this is your community, a single community, and I am your Lord so be cautious of Me.

  53. But they cut up their affair between them (their religion) into pieces (becoming) as different groups, each party happy with what they have.

  54. So leave them in their overwhelming ignorance for a while.

  55. Do they think that what We supplied them from wealth and children,

  56. (is because) We are rushing good things for them? No, they do not realize.

  57. Indeed those who are fearful of the awe of their Lord

  58. and who believe in their Lord’s signs

  59. and who do not associate (partners) with their Lord

  60. and who give from what they are given, and their hearts tremble because (they know that) they will return to their Lord,

  61. (they are) those who rush in (doing) good and they are ahead in (doing) that.

  62. We do not task anyone beyond its capability, and there is a book with Us that speaks the truth, and they will not be wronged.

  63. No, but their hearts are in overwhelming ignorance regarding this (truth), and they have deeds (that are) other than that, which they are doers of them.

  64. Until We take their rich ones with the punishment, then they cry out for help.

  65. Do not cry out for help today, indeed you will not be helped by Us.

  66. My signs were read to you, but you used to turn back on your heels (to your old ways).

  67. Being arrogant about it, talking nonsense (about My signs) in nightly conversation.

  68. Do they not think about the words (of Quran), or has something come to them that had not come to their forefathers?

  69. Or do they not recognize their messenger, so they reject him?

  70. Or do they say there is madness in him? No, but he brought them the truth, and most of them dislike the truth.

  71. And if the truth had followed their desires, then the skies and the earth and everyone in them would have certainly corrupted/perished. No, but We brought them their mention/reminder, but they turn away from their mention/reminder.

  72. Or do you ask them for any payment? Payment from your Lord is better, and He is the best of providers.

  73. And you certainly invite them to a straight path.

  74. Indeed those who do not believe in the Hereafter are deviators from the (right) path.

  75. And if We have mercy on them and remove what is with them from harm, they would persist in their rebellion, blindly wandering.

  76. And We have certainly taken them with the punishment, but they did not comply with their Lord and they did not humbly plead.

  77. Until when We opened a door having a severe punishment for them, then they became hopeless in it.

  78. And He is the One Who made the hearing and the sight and the hearts for you. You give little thanks.

  79. And He is the One Who multiplied (and spread) you on the earth, and you will be gathered to Him.

  80. And He is the One Who gives life and causes death, and the alternation between night and day belongs to Him. Do you not understand?

  81. No, but they say the same as what the earlier ones said.

  82. They said: “Will we be raised when we die and become dust and bones?

  83. We and our fathers have certainly been promised this in the past. This is only stories of the earlier ones.”

  84. Say: “To whom belongs the earth and everyone in it, if you knew?”

  85. They are going to say: “God.” Say: “Do you not take notice?”

  86. Say: “Who is the Lord of the seven skies and the Lord of the great dominion?”

  87. They are going to say: “God.” Say: “Will you not be cautious (of God)?”

  88. Say: “In whose hand is the rule of everything? He shelters and no one is sheltered against him, if you knew.”

  89. They are going to say: “God.” Say: “So, how are you bewitched?”

  90. No, We have brought them the truth, and they are certainly liars.

  91. God did not take a child and there is no god with Him, (if there was) then every god would have taken away what it had created, and some of them would have overcome the others. God is flawless about what they describe.

  92. (God is) knower of the unseen and the visible, and He is above what they associate (with Him).

  93. Say: “My Lord, I wish You would show me what they are promised.

  94. My Lord, do not make me of the wrongdoing people.

  95. And We are certainly able to show you what We have promised them.

  96. Repel (and respond to) badness with something that is better. We know better about what they describe.

  97. And say: “My Lord, I seek Your protection from seductions of the devils,

  98. and my Lord, I seek your protection from them being in my presence.

  99. Until when death comes to one of them, then he says: “My Lord, send me back,

  100. so that I do good in what I left behind (and neglected).” No way, indeed it is only a word that he says. And there is a separator behind them until the day they are raised.

  101. So when the horn is blown, then there is no relationship between them on that day, and they do not ask each other.

  102. So those whose scales are heavy, they are the successful ones.

  103. And those whose scales are light, then they are those who have lost themselves (their souls), remaining in hell forever.

  104. The fire burns their faces, and they frown in it.

  105. Were not My signs read to you, and you were denying them?

  106. They say: “Our Lord, our misfortune overcame us and we were misguided people.

  107. Our Lord, bring us out of it (the fire), and if we return (to disbelief) then indeed we are wrongdoers.”

  108. He (God) will say: “Go away, into it and do not talk to Me.

  109. Indeed there was a group of My servants who used to say: “Our Lord, we believe, so forgive us and have mercy on us, and You are the best of the merciful ones.”

  110. But you took them as a joke (and ridiculed them) until they made you forget remembering Me and you used to laugh at them.

  111. Indeed I have rewarded them today because of their perseverance (and patience), indeed they are the triumphant ones.”

  112. He (God) will say: “How many years did you stay in the earth (in the grave)?”

  113. They will say: “We stayed for a day or part of a day, so ask those who count.”

  114. He will say: “You only stayed a little while, if only you knew.

  115. Did you think that We created you uselessly (without a purpose), and you are not returned to Us?”

  116. High (above all) is God, the true king, there is no God except Him, the Lord of the honorable dominion.

  117. And whoever calls on any other god with God without having any proof for it, then indeed his reckoning is with his Lord. Indeed the disbelievers will not succeed.

  118. And say: “My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and you are the best of the merciful ones.”