Al-A'raf

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










1. Alif, Lam, Meem, Saad.

2. A Scripture was revealed to you, so let
there be no anxiety in your heart because
of it. You are to warn with it—and a reminder
for the believers.
3. Follow what is revealed to you from
your Lord, and do not follow other masters
beside Him. Little you recollect.
4. How many cities have We destroyed?
Our might came upon them by night, or
while they were napping.
5. When Our might came upon them,
their only cry was, “We were indeed
wrongdoers.”
6. We will question those to whom messengers
were sent, and We will question
the messengers.
7. We will narrate to them with
knowledge, for We were never absent.
8. The scales on that Day will be just.
Those whose weights are heavy—it is they
who are the winners.
9. But as for those whose weights are
light—it is they who have lost their souls,
because they used to mistreat Our revelations.
10. We have established you firmly on
earth, and made for you in it livelihood—
but rarely do you give thanks.
11. We created you, then We shaped you,
then We said to the angels, “Bow down
before Adam;” so they bowed down, except
for Satan; he was not of those who
bowed down.
12. He said, “What prevented you from
bowing down when I have commanded
you?” He said, “I am better than he; You
created me from fire, and You created him
from mud.”
13. He said, “Get down from it! it is not for
you to act arrogantly in it. Get out! You
are one of the lowly!”
14. He said, “Give me respite, until the Day
they are resurrected.”
15. He said, “You are of those given respite.”
16. He said, “Because you have lured me, I
will waylay them on Your straight path.
17. Then I will come at them from before
them, and from behind them, and from
their right, and from their left; and you
will not find most of them appreciative.”
18. He said, “Get out of it, despised and
vanquished. Whoever among them follows
you—I will fill up Hell with you all.
19. And you, Adam, inhabit the Garden,
you and your wife, and eat whatever you
wish, but do not approach this tree, lest
you become sinners.”
20. But Satan whispered to them, to reveal
to them their nakedness, which was invisible
to them. He said, “Your Lord has only
forbidden you this tree, lest you become
angels, or become immortals.”
21. And he swore to them, “I am a sincere
advisor to you.”
22. So he lured them with deceit. And
when they tasted the tree, their nakedness
became evident to them, and they began
covering themselves with the leaves of the
Garden. And their Lord called out to
them, “Did I not forbid you from this tree,
and say to you that Satan is a sworn enemy
to you?”
23. They said, “Our Lord, we have done
wrong to ourselves. Unless You forgive us,
and have mercy on us, we will be among
the losers.”
24. He said, “Fall, some of you enemies to
one another. On earth you will have residence
and livelihood for a while.”
25. He said, “Therein you will live, and
therein you will die, and from it you will
be brought out.”
26. O children of Adam! We have provided
you with clothing to cover your bodies,
and for luxury. But the clothing of piety—
that is best. These are some of God’s revelations,
so that they may take heed.
27. O Children of Adam! Do not let Satan
seduce you, as he drove your parents out
of the Garden, stripping them of their
garments, to show them their nakedness.
He sees you, him and his clan, from where
you cannot see them. We have made the
devils friends of those who do not believe.
28. And when they commit an indecency,
they say, “We found our parents doing
this, and God has commanded us to do it.”
Say, “God does not command indecencies.
Are you attributing to God what you do
not know?”
29. Say, “My Lord commands justice, and
to stand devoted at every place of worship.
So call upon Him, and dedicate your faith
to Him alone. Just as He originated you,
so you will return.”
30. Some He has guided; and some have
deserved misguidance. They have adopted
the devils for patrons rather than God,
and they assume that they are guided.
31. O Children of Adam! Dress properly at
every place of worship, and eat and drink,
but do not be excessive. He does not love
the excessive.
32. Say, “Who forbade God’s finery which
He produced for His servants, and the
delights of livelihood?” Say, “They are for
those who believe, in this present world,
but exclusively theirs on the Day of Resurrection.”
We thus detail the revelations for
people who know.
33. Say, “My Lord has forbidden immoralities—
both open and secret—and sin, and
unjustified aggression, and that you associate
with God anything for which He revealed
no sanction, and that you say about
God what you do not know.”
34. For every nation is an appointed time.
And when their time has come, they cannot
delay it by one hour, nor can they advance
it.
35. O Children of Adam! When messengers
from among you come to you, relating
to you My revelations—whoever practices
piety and reforms—upon them shall
be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
36. But as for those who reject Our revelations,
and are too proud to accept them—
these are the inmates of the Fire, where
they will remain forever.
37. Who does greater wrong than he who
invents lies about God, or denies His revelations?
These—their share of the decree
will reach them. Until, when Our envoys
come to them, to take their souls away,
they will say, “Where are they whom you
used to pray to besides God?” They will
say, “They have abandoned us,” and they
will testify against themselves that they
were faithless.
38. He will say, “Join the crowds of jinn
and humans who have gone into the Fire
before you.” Every time a crowd enters, it
will curse its sister-crowd. Until, when
they are all in it, the last of them will say to
the first of them, “Our Lord, these are the
ones who misled us, so inflict on them a
double punishment in the Fire.” He will
say, “Each will have a double, but you do
not know.”
39. The first of them will say to the last of
them, “You have no advantage over us, so
taste the torment for what you used to
earn.”
40. Those who reject Our revelations and
are too arrogant to uphold them—the
doors of Heaven will not be opened for
them, nor will they enter Paradise, until
the camel passes through the eye of the
needle. Thus We repay the guilty.
41. For them is a couch of hell, and above
them are sheets of fire. Thus We repay the
wrongdoers.
42. As for those who believe and do righteous
works—We never burden any soul
beyond its capacity—these are the inhabitants
of the Garden; abiding therein eternally.
43. We will remove whatever rancor is in
their hearts. Rivers will flow beneath
them. And they will say, “Praise be to God,
who has guided us to this. Had God not
guided us, we would never be guided. The
messengers of our Lord did come with the
truth.” And it will be proclaimed to them,
“This is the Garden you are made to inherit,
on account of what you used to do.”
44. And the inhabitants of the Garden will
call out to the inmates of the Fire, “We
have found what our Lord promised us to
be true; did you find what your Lord
promised you to be true?” They will say,
“Yes.” Thereupon a caller will announce
in their midst, “The curse of God is upon
the wrongdoers.”
45. “Those who hinder from the path of
God, and seek to distort it, and who deny
the Hereafter.”
46. And between them is a partition, and
on the Elevations are men who recognize
everyone by their features. And they will
call to the inhabitants of the Garden,
“Peace be upon you.” They have not entered
it, but they are hoping.
47. And when their eyes are directed towards
the inmates of the Fire, they will
say, “Our Lord, do not place us among the
wrongdoing people.”
48. And the dwellers of the Elevations will
call to men they recognize by their features,
saying, “Your hoardings did not
avail you, nor did your arrogance.”
49. “Are these the ones you swore God will
not touch with mercy?” “Enter the Garden;
you have nothing to fear, and you will
not grieve.”
50. The inmates of the Fire will call on the
inhabitants of the Garden, “Pour some
water over us, or some of what God has
provided for you.” They will say, “God has
forbidden them for the disbelievers.”
51. Those who took their religion lightly,
and in jest, and whom the worldly life deceived.
Today We will ignore them, as
they ignored the meeting on this Day of
theirs, and they used to deny Our revelations.
52. We have given them a Scripture, which
We detailed with knowledge—guidance
and mercy for people who believe.
53. Are they waiting for anything but its
fulfillment? The Day its fulfillment comes
true, those who disregarded it before will
say, “The messengers of our Lord did
come with the truth. Have we any intercessors
to intercede for us? Or, could we
be sent back, to behave differently from
the way we behaved before?” They ruined
their souls, and what they used to invent
has failed them.
54. Your Lord is God, He who created the
heavens and the earth in six days, then
established Himself on the Throne. The
night overtakes the day, as it pursues it
persistently; and the sun, and the moon,
and the stars are subservient by His command.
His is the creation, and His is the
command. Blessed is God, Lord of all beings.
55. Call upon your Lord humbly and privately.
He does not love the aggressors.
56. And do not corrupt on earth after its
reformation, and pray to Him with fear
and hope. God’s mercy is close to the doers
of good.
57. It is He who sends the wind ahead of
His mercy. Then, when they have gathered
up heavy clouds, We drive them to a dead
land, where We make water come down,
and with it We bring out all kinds of
fruits. Thus We bring out the dead—
perhaps you will reflect.
58. As for the good land, it yields its produce
by the leave of its Lord. But as for the
bad, it produces nothing but hardship and
misery. Thus We explain the revelations in
various ways—for people who are thankful.
59. We sent Noah to his people. He said,
“O my people, worship God; you have no
god other than Him. I fear for you the
punishment of a tremendous Day.”
60. The dignitaries among his people said,
“We see that you are in obvious error.”
61. He said, “O my people, I am not in error,
but I am a messenger from the Lord of
the Worlds.”
62. “I deliver to you the messages of my
Lord, and I advise you, and I know from
God what you do not know.”
63. “Do you wonder that a reminder has
come to you from your Lord, through a
man from among you, to warn you, and to
lead you to righteousness, so that you may
attain mercy?”
64. But they called him a liar. So We saved
him and those with him in the Ark, and
We drowned those who rejected Our revelations.
They were blind people.
65. And to Aad, their brother Hud. He
said, “O my people, worship God; you
have no god other than Him. Will you not
take heed?”
66. The elite of his people who disbelieved
said, “We see foolishness in you, and we
think that you are a liar.”
67. He said, “O my people, there is no foolishness
in me, but I am a messenger from
the Lord of the Worlds.
68. “I convey to you the messages of my
Lord, and I am a trustworthy adviser to
you.”
69. “Are you surprised that a reminder has
come to you from your Lord, through a
man from among you, to warn you? Remember
how He made you successors
after the people of Noah, and increased
you greatly in stature. And remember
God’s blessings, so that you may prosper.”
70. They said, “Did you come to us to make
us worship God alone, and abandon what
our ancestors used to worship? Then bring
us what you threaten us with, if you are
truthful.”
71. He said, “Condemnation and wrath
have befallen you from your Lord. Are you
arguing with me over names, which you
and your ancestors invented, for which
God sent down no authority? Just wait; I
am waiting with you.”
72. So We saved him and those with him,
by mercy from Us, and We cut off the
roots of those who rejected Our revelations
and were not believers.
73. And to Thamood, their brother Saleh.
He said, “O my people, worship God; you
have no god other than Him. Clarification
has come to you from your Lord. This
she-camel of God is a sign for you. So
leave her to graze on God’s earth, and do
her no harm, lest a painful penalty seizes
you.”
74. And remember how He made you successors
after Aad, and settled you in the
land. You make for yourselves mansions
on its plains, and carve out dwellings in
the mountains. So remember God’s benefits,
and do not roam the earth corruptingly.”
75. The elite of his people, who were arrogant,
said to the common people who had
believed, “Do you know that Saleh is sent
from his Lord?” They said, “We are believers
in what he was sent with.”
76. Those who were arrogant said, “We
reject what you believe in.”
77. So they hamstrung the she-camel, and
defied the command of their Lord, and
said, “O Saleh, bring upon us what you
threaten us with, if you are one of the messengers.”
78. Whereupon the quake overtook them,
and they became lifeless bodies in their
homes.
79. Then he turned away from them, and
said, “O my people, I have delivered to
you the message of my Lord, and I have
advised you, but you do not like those who
give advice.”
80. And Lot, when he said to his people,
“Do you commit lewdness no people anywhere
have ever committed before you?”
81. “You lust after men rather than women.
You are an excessive people.”
82. And his people's only answer was to
say, “Expel them from your town. They
are purist people.”
83. But We saved him and his family, except
for his wife; she was of those who
lagged behind.
84. And We rained down on them a rain;
note the consequences for the sinners.
85. And to Median, their brother Shuaib.
He said, “O my people, worship God; you
have no god other than Him. A clear proof
has come to you from your Lord. Give full
measure and weight, and do not cheat
people out of their rights, and do not corrupt
the land once it has been set right.
This is better for you, if you are believers.”
86. “And do not lurk on every path, making
threats and turning away from the
path of God those who believe in Him,
seeking to distort it. And remember how
you were few, and how He made you numerous.
So note the consequences for the
corrupters.”
87. “Since some of you believed in what I
was sent with, and some did not believe,
be patient until God judges between us;
for He is the Best of Judges.”
88. The arrogant elite among his people
said, “O Shuaib, We will evict you from
our town, along with those who believe
with you, unless you return to our religion.”
He said, “Even if we are unwilling?”
89. “We would be fabricating falsehood
against God, if we were to return to your
religion, after God has saved us from it. It
is not for us to return to it, unless God,
our Lord, wills. Our Lord embraces all
things in knowledge. In God we place our
trust. Our Lord, decide between us and
our people in truth, for You are the Best of
Deciders.”
90. The elite of his people who disbelieved
said, “If you follow Shuaib, you will be
losers.”
91. Thereupon, the quake struck them; and
they became lifeless bodies in their homes.
92. Those who rejected Shuaib—as if they
never prospered therein. Those who rejected
Shuaib—it was they who were the
losers.
93. So he turned away from them, and said,
“O my people, I have delivered to you the
messages of my Lord, and I have advised
you, so why should I grieve over a disbelieving
people?”
94. We did not send any prophet to any
town but We afflicted its people with misery
and adversity, so that they may humble
themselves.
95. Then We substituted prosperity in
place of hardship. Until they increased in
number, and said, “Adversity and prosperity
has touched our ancestors.” Then
We seized them suddenly, while they were
unaware.
96. Had the people of the towns believed
and turned righteous, We would have
opened for them the blessings of the heaven
and the earth; but they rejected the
truth, so We seized them by what they
were doing.
97. Do the people of the towns feel secure
that Our might will not come upon them
by night, while they sleep?
98. Do the people of the towns feel secure
that Our might will not come upon them
by day, while they play?
99. Do they feel safe from God’s plan?
None feels safe from God’s plan except the
losing people.
100. Is it not guidance for those who inherit
the land after its inhabitants, that if We
willed, We could strike them for their
sins? And seal up their hearts, so that they
would not hear?
101. These towns—We narrate to you some
of their tales. Their messengers came to
them with the clear signs, but they would
not believe in what they had rejected previously.
Thus God seals the hearts of the
disbelievers.
102. We found most of them untrue to their
covenants; We found most of them corrupt.
103. Then, after them, We sent Moses with
Our miracles to Pharaoh and his establishment,
but they denounced them. So
consider the end of the evildoers.
104. Moses said, “O Pharaoh, I am a messenger
from the Lord of the Worlds.”
105. “It is only proper that I should not say
about God anything other than the truth. I
have come to you with clear evidence
from your Lord, so let the Children of Israel
go with me.”
106. He said, “If you brought a miracle,
then present it, if you are truthful.”
107. So he threw his staff, and it was an apparent
serpent.
108. And He pulled out his hand, and it was
white to the onlookers.
109. The notables among Pharaoh’s people
said, “This is really a skilled magician.”
110. “He wants to evict you from your land,
so what do you recommend?”
111. They said, “Put him off, and his brother,
and send heralds to the cities.”
112. “And let them bring every skillful magician.”
113. The magicians came to Pharaoh, and
said, “Surely there is a reward for us, if we
are the victors.”
114. He said, “Yes, and you will be among
my favorites.”
115. They said, “O Moses, either you throw,
or we are the ones to throw.”
116. He said, “You throw.” And when they
threw, they beguiled the eyes of the people,
and intimidated them, and produced a
mighty magic.
117. And We inspired Moses, “Throw your
staff,” and at once, it swallowed what they
were faking.
118. So the truth came to pass, and what
they were producing came to nothing.
119. There they were defeated, and utterly
reduced.
120. And the magicians fell to their knees.
121. They said, “We have believed in the
Lord of the Worlds.”
122. “The Lord of Moses and Aaron.”
123. Pharaoh said, “Did you believe in Him
before I have given you permission? This
is surely a conspiracy you schemed in the
city, in order to expel its people from it.
You will surely know.”
124. “I will cut off your hands and your feet
on opposite sides, then I will crucify you
all.”
125. They said, “It is to our Lord that we
will return.”
126. “You are taking vengeance on us only
because we have believed in the signs of
our Lord when they have come to us.”
“Our Lord, pour out patience upon us,
and receive our souls in submission.”
127. The chiefs of Pharaoh's people said,
“Will you let Moses and his people cause
trouble in the land, and forsake you and
your gods?” He said, “We will kill their
sons, and spare their women. We have
absolute power over them.”
128. Moses said to his people, “Seek help in
God, and be patient. The earth belongs to
God. He gives it in inheritance to whomever
He wills of His servants, and the future
belongs to the righteous.”
129. They said, “We were persecuted before
you came to us, and after you came to us.”
He said, “Perhaps your Lord will destroy
your enemy, and make you successors in
the land; then He will see how you behave.”
130. And We afflicted the people of Pharaoh
with barren years, and shortage of
crops, that they may take heed.
131. When something good came their way,
they said, “This is ours,” and when something
bad happened to them, they ascribed
the evil omen to Moses and those with
him. In fact, their omen is with God, but
most of them do not know.
132. And they said, “No matter what sign
you bring us, to bewitch us with, we will
not believe in you.”
133. So We let loose upon them the flood,
and the locusts, and the lice, and the frogs,
and blood—all explicit signs—but they
were too arrogant. They were a sinful people.
134. Whenever a plague befell them, they
would say, “O Moses, pray to your Lord
for us, according to the covenant He made
with you. If you lift the plague from us, we
will believe in you, and let the Children of
Israel go with you.”
135. But when We lifted the plague from
them, for a term they were to fulfill, they
broke their promise.
136. So We took vengeance on them, and
drowned them in the sea—because they
rejected Our signs, and paid no heed to
them.
137. And We made the oppressed people
inherit the eastern and western parts of
the land, which We had blessed. Thus the
fair promise of your Lord to the Children
of Israel was fulfilled, because of their en7.
durance. And We destroyed what Pharaoh
and his people had built, and what they
had harvested.
138. And We delivered the Children of Israel
across the sea. And when they came
upon a people who were devoted to some
statues of theirs, they said, “O Moses,
make for us a god, as they have gods.” He
said, “You are truly an ignorant people.”
139. “What these people are concerned
with is perdition, and their deeds are
based on falsehoods.”
140. He said, “Shall I seek for you a god
other than God, when He has favored you
over all other people?”
141. Remember how We saved you from
Pharaoh’s people, who subjected you to
the worst of sufferings—killing your sons
and sparing your women. In that was a
tremendous trial from your Lord.
142. And We appointed to Moses thirty
nights, and completed them with ten; and
thus the time appointed by his Lord was
forty nights. And Moses said to his brother
Aaron: “Take my place among my people,
and be upright, and do not follow the
way of the mischief-makers.”
143. And when Moses came to Our appointment,
and his Lord spoke to him, he
said, “My Lord, allow me to look and see
You.” He said, “You will not see Me, but
look at the mountain; if it stays in its place,
you will see Me.” But when his Lord manifested
Himself to the mountain, He turned
it into dust, and Moses fell down unconscious.
Then, when he recovered, he said,
“Glory be to you, I repent to you, and I am
the first of the believers.”
144. He said, “O Moses, I have chosen you
above all people for My messages and for
My words. So take what I have given you,
and be one of the thankful.”
145. And We inscribed for him in the Tablets
all kinds of enlightenments, and decisive
explanation of all things. “Hold fast to
them, and exhort your people to adopt the
best of them. I will show you the fate of
the sinners.”
146. I will turn away from My revelations
those who behave proudly on earth without
justification. Even if they see every
sign, they will not believe in it; and if they
see the path of rectitude, they will not
adopt it for a path; and if they see the path
of error, they will adopt it for a path. That
is because they denied Our revelations,
and paid no attention to them.
147. Those who deny Our revelations and
the meeting of the Hereafter—their deeds
will come to nothing. Will they be repaid
except according to what they used to do?
148. In his absence, the people of Moses
adopted a calf made from their ornaments—
a body which lowed. Did they not
see that it could not speak to them, nor
guide them in any way? They took it for
worship. They were in the wrong.
149. Then, when they regretted, and realized
that they had erred, they said, “Unless
our Lord extends His mercy to us, and
forgives us, we will be among the losers.”
150. And when Moses returned to his people,
angry and disappointed, he said,
“What an awful thing you did in my absence.
Did you forsake the commandments
of your Lord so hastily?” And he
threw down the tablets, and took hold of
his brother’s head, dragging him towards
himself. He said, “Son of my mother, the
people have overpowered me, and were
about to kill me; so do not allow the enemies
to gloat over me, and do not count
me among the unjust people.”
151. He said, “My Lord, forgive me and my
brother, and admit us into Your mercy;
for you are the Most Merciful of the merciful.”
152. Those who idolized the calf have incurred
wrath from their Lord, and humiliation
in this life. We thus requite the innovators.
153. As for those who commit sins, and
then repent afterwards and believe—your
Lord, thereafter, is Forgiving and Merciful.
154. When the anger abated in Moses, he
took up the tablets. In their transcript is
guidance and mercy for those in awe of
their Lord.
155. And Moses chose from his people seventy
men for Our appointment. When the
tremor shook them, he said, “My Lord,
had You willed, You could have destroyed
them before, and me too. Will you destroy
us for what the fools among us have done?
This is but Your test—with it You misguide
whomever You will, and You guide
whomever You will. You are our Protector,
so forgive us, and have mercy on us.
You are the Best of Forgivers.”
156. “And inscribe for us goodness in this
world, and in the Hereafter. We have
turned to You.” He said, “My punishment—
I inflict it upon whomever I will,
but My mercy encompasses all things. I
will specify it for those who act righteously
and practice regular charity, and those
who believe in Our signs.”
157. Those who follow the Messenger, the
Unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned
in the Torah and the Gospel in
their possession. He directs them to righteousness,
and deters them from evil, and
allows for them all good things, and prohibits
for them wickedness, and unloads
the burdens and the shackles that are upon
them. Those who believe in him, and respect
him, and support him, and follow
the light that came down with him—these
are the successful.
158. Say, “O people, I am the Messenger of
God to you all—He to whom belongs the
kingdom of the heavens and the earth.
There is no god but He. He gives life and
causes death.” So believe in God and His
Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, who
believes in God and His words. And follow
him, that you may be guided.
159. Among the people of Moses is a community
that guides by truth, and thereby
does justice.
160. We divided them into twelve tribal
communities. And We inspired Moses,
when his people asked him for something
to drink, “Strike the rock with your staff.”
Whereupon twelve springs gushed from it.
Each group recognized its drinking-place.
And We shaded them with clouds, and
sent down upon them manna and quails,
“Eat of the good things We have provided
for you.” They did not wrong Us, but they
used to wrong their own selves.
161. And it was said to them, “Settle this
town, and eat therein whatever you wish,
and speak modestly, and enter the gate in
humility—We will forgive your sins, and
will promote the righteous.”
162. But the wicked among them substituted
other words for the words given to
them, so We sent down upon them a
plague from the sky, because of their
wrongdoing.
163. Ask them about the town by the sea,
when they violated the Sabbath. When
they observed the Sabbath, their fish
would come to them abundantly. But
when they violated the Sabbath, their fish
would not come. Thus We tried them because
they disobeyed.
164. And when a group of them said, “Why
do you counsel a people whom God will
annihilate, or punish with a severe punishment?”
They said, “As an excuse to
your Lord, and so that they may become
righteous.”
165. Then, when they neglected what they
were reminded of, We saved those who
prohibited evil, and We seized those who
did wrong with a terrible punishment,
because of their sinfulness.
166. Then, when they rebelled against the
commands to refrain, We said to them,
“Be despicable apes.”
167. Your Lord has announced that, He
would send against them, until the Day of
Resurrection, those who would inflict terrible
suffering upon them. Your Lord is
swift in retribution, yet He is Forgiving
and Merciful.
168. And We scattered them into communities
on earth. Some of them righteous,
and some of them short of that. And We
tested them with fortunes and misfortunes,
so that they may return.
169. They were succeeded by generations
who inherited the Scripture and chose the
materials of this world, saying, “We will be
forgiven.” And should similar materials
come their way, they would again seize
them. Did they not make a covenant to
uphold the Scripture, and to not say about
God except the truth? Did they not study
its contents? But the Home of the Hereafter
is better for the cautious; will you not
understand?
170. Those who adhere to the Scripture,
and practice prayer—We will not waste
the reward of the reformers.
171. And when We suspended the mountain
over them, as if it was an umbrella,
and they thought it would fall on them:
“Hold fast to what We have given you, and
remember what it contains, so that you
may be saved.”
172. And when Your Lord summoned the
descendants of Adam, and made them
testify about themselves. “Am I not your
Lord?” They said, “Yes, we testify.” Thus
you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection,
“We were unaware of this.”
173. Nor can you Say, “Our ancestors practiced
idolatry before; and we are their descendants
who came after them; will you
destroy us for what the falsifiers did?”
174. We thus elaborate the revelations, so
that they may return.
175. And relate to them the story of him to
whom We delivered Our signs, but he detached
himself from them, so Satan went
after him, and he became one of the perverts.
176. Had We willed, We could have elevated
him through them, but he clung to the
ground, and followed his desires. His metaphor
is that of a dog: if you chase it, it
pants, and if you leave it alone, it pants.
Such is the metaphor of the people who
deny Our signs. So tell the tale, so that
they may ponder.
177. Evil is the metaphor of the people who
reject Our signs and wrong themselves.
178. Whomever God guides is the guided
one. And whomever He sends astray—
these are the losers.
179. We have destined for Hell multitudes
of jinn and humans. They have hearts with
which they do not understand. They have
eyes with which they do not see. They
have ears with which they do not hear.
These are like cattle. In fact, they are further
astray. These are the heedless.
180. To God belong the Most Beautiful
Names, so call Him by them, and disregard
those who blaspheme His names.
They will be repaid for what they used to
do.
181. Among those We created is a community—
they guide by truth, and do justice
thereby.
182. As for those who reject Our messages,
We will gradually lead them from where
they do not know.
183. And I will encourage them. My plan is
firm.
184. Do they not think? There is no madness
in their friend. He is but a plain
warner.
185. Have they not observed the government
of the heavens and the earth, and all
the things that God created, and that their
time may have drawn near? Which message,
besides this, will they believe in?
186. Whomever God misguides has no
guide. And He leaves them blundering in
their transgression.
187. They ask you about the Hour, “When
will it come?” Say, “Knowledge of it rests
with my Lord. None can reveal its coming
except He. It weighs heavily on the heavens
and the earth. It will not come upon
you except suddenly.” They ask you as if
you are responsible for it. Say,
“Knowledge of it rests with God,” but
most people do not know.
188. Say, “I have no control over any benefit
or harm to myself, except as God wills.
Had I known the future, I would have acquired
much good, and no harm would
have touched me. I am only a warner, and
a herald of good news to a people who
believe.”
189. It is He who created you from a single
person, and made from it its mate, that he
may find comfort with her. Then, when he
has covered her, she conceives a light load,
and she carries it around. But when she
has grown heavy, they pray to God their
Lord, “if You give us a good child, we will
be among the thankful.”
190. But when He has given them a good
child, they attribute partners to Him in
what He has given them. God is exalted
above what they associate.
191. Do they idolize those who create nothing,
and are themselves created?
192. And can neither help them, nor help
their own selves?
193. And if you invite them to guidance,
they will not follow you. It is the same for
you, whether you invite them, or remain
silent.
194. Those you call upon besides God are
servants like you. So call upon them, and
let them answer you, if you are truthful.
195. Do they have feet with which they
walk? Or do they have hands with which
they strike? Or do they have eyes with
which they see? Or do they have ears with
which they hear? Say, “Call upon your
partners, then plot against me, and do not
wait.”
196. “My Master is God, He Who sent
down the Book, and He takes care of the
righteous.”
197. Those you call upon besides Him cannot
help you, nor can they help themselves.
198. And if you call them to guidance, they
will not hear. And you see them looking at
you, yet they do not see.
199. Be tolerant, and command decency,
and avoid the ignorant.
200. And when a suggestion from Satan
assails you, take refuge with God. He is
Hearing and Knowing.
201. Those who are righteous, when an impulse
from Satan strikes them, they remind
themselves, and immediately see
clearly.
202. But their brethren lead them relentlessly
into error, and they never stop short.
203. If you do not produce a miracle for
them, they say, “Why don’t you improvise
one.” Say, “I only follow what is inspired
to me from my Lord.” These are insights
from your Lord, and guidance, and mercy,
for a people who believe.
204. When the Quran is recited, listen to it,
and pay attention, so that you may experience
mercy.
205. And remember your Lord within
yourself, humbly and fearfully, and quiet8.
ly, in the morning and the evening, and do
not be of the neglectful.
206. Those who are in the presence of your
Lord are not too proud to worship Him.
They recite His praises, and to Him they
bow down.