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Alif L'ãm R'ã. This Book, whose verses are perfected and issued in detail by the One Who is All-Wise, All-Aware,[1] Teaches that you should worship none but Allah - indeed I am a warner and bearer of good news from Him to you.[2] You should seek forgiveness of your Rabb and turn to Him in repentance; He will grant you good provisions untill an appointed term, and bestow His grace on everyone who has merit! But if you turn away (pay no heed), I fear for you the punishment of a Great Day.[3] To Allah you shall all return and He has power over everything.[4] Behold! They cover up their chests to conceal their thoughts from Him! Beware! Even when they cover themselves with their garments, He knows what they conceal and what they reveal, for He knows even the inmost secrets of the chests.[5]

There is no moving creature on Earth whose sustenance is not provided by Allah. He knows its living and its resting place, and all that is recorded in a Glorious Book. [6] He is the One Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods - at the time when His Throne was resting on the water - so that He may test to find out which of you is the best in deeds. Now if you tell them:" You shall indeed be raised up after death," the unbelievers would certainly say: “This is nothing but sheer magic!”[7] And if We put off their punishment till an appointed time, they are sure to ask: “What is holding it back?” Beware! When the Day of that punishment comes, nothing will hold it back from them and they will be completely encircled by that which they are ridiculing.[8]

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If We let man taste any mercy from Us, then withdraw it from him, he becomes despairing, ungrateful.[9] But if We let him taste any favor after adversity has afflicted him, then he says: “All my sorrows are gone from me,” and he becomes jubilantly arrogant.[10] The exception is for those people who are steadfast and do good deeds; they are the ones who will have forgiveness and a great reward.[11] O Prophet, be on your guard lest you omit to recite some things which are being revealed to you feeling distressed in your heart that they might say: “Why has no treasure been sent down to him, or why has no angel come with him?” You should know that you are nothing but a warner! It is Allah Who is the Custodian of everything.[12] Do they say: “He has made up the Qur’an himself." Say to them: "Make up ten Sürahs like this and call to your aid whomsoever you can, including your gods whom you worship besides Allah, if what you say is true.[13] But if those gods fail to answer you, then you should know that (they are false gods and that) this (Book) is revealed with the knowledge of Allah, and that there is no god but Him! Will you then become Muslims?”[14]

Those who desire the life of this world and its splendors, they are given full reward of their deeds therein and shall not be diminished.[15] They are the ones who will have nothing in the hereafter except Hellfire. There they shall come to know that their deeds were fruitless and their actions were worthless.[16] Can they be like those who have clear revelations from their Rabb and to whom a witness from Himself recites it, and they have the Book of Musa before them - a guidance and a blessing? Can such people deny the revelation of Al- Qur’an? No of course not, rather such people will believe in this, but those factions who do not believe shall have their promised place in the Hellfire. So, O Prophet, do not be in any doubt about it; it is the Truth from your Rabb, even though most people do not believe so.[17] Who can be more wrong than the one who forges a lie against Allah? Such people will be brought before their Rabb, and the witnesses will say: “These are the ones who lied against their Rabb." Beware! The Curse of Allah is on those wrongdoers[18] who hinder others from the path of Allah and seek to make it crooked, and who deny the hereafter.[19] These people cannot frustrate His plan in the land and there is none to protect them besides Allah. Their punishment shall be doubled, for they could neither hear others who speak the Truth nor see the Truth for themselves.[20] They are the ones who have lost their own souls, and the fancies they invented have left them in the lurch.[21] No doubt they will be the greatest losers in the Hereafter.[22] As for those who believe and do good deeds and humble themselves before their Rabb, they will be residents of paradise to live therein forever.[23] The example of these two kinds of people is like two men, one of whom is blind and deaf, and the other who can see and hear. Are they equal when compared? Will you not then learn a lesson from this example?[24]

SECTION: 3 We sent Nüh to his people. Nüh said: “I have come to warn you plainly,[25] not to worship anyone except Allah; otherwise I am afraid for you the punishment of a painful Day."[26] In answer to this, the chiefs of the unbelievers among his people said: “We see you as no more than merely a human being like ourselves: and we see that no one has followed you except the meanest among us, whose judgement abilities are immature, and we find nothing in you which gives you superiority over us: in fact we think that you are a liar."[27] He said: “O my people, look! If I am given clear proof from my Rabb, and He has bestowed on me His grace, although it be hidden from you, can we compel you to accept it against your will?[28] O my people! I do not ask you any wealth for this work, for none but Allah can reward me. I am not going to drive away those who believe; for they will surely meet their Rabb. But I can see that you are acting out of ignorance.[29] And O my people! Who will save me from Allah, if I drive them away? Don’t you understand this simple thing?[30] I do not say that I possess the Treasures of Allah, nor do I say that I have knowledge of the unseen, nor do I claim to be an angel; nor do I say of those who are mean in your eyes, that Allah will not grant them any good - Allah knows best what is in their hearts - for if I utter any thing like this, then I will indeed become a wrongdoer."[31] They said: “O Nüh! You have argued with us and argued too much, now bring upon us the scourge with which you threaten us, if what you say is true."[32] He replied: “ Allah will surely bring it on you if He pleases and then you will not be able to escape from it![33] My counsel will not profit you, much as I desire to give you good counsel, if Allah wants to leave you astray; He is your Rabb, and to Him you shall return." [34] Do the unbelievers say “He (Muhammad) himself has forged all this?” Say to them: “If I have indeed forged it, then its sin is on me! And I am clear of the sins which you are committing for not believing it."[35]

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And it was revealed to Nüh: “None of your people will believe now, other than those who have already believed. So do not grieve at their evil deeds.[36] Build an ark under Our supervision in accordance with Our revelation, and beware not to plead with Me on behalf of those who are wrongdoers: for they are all to be drowned in the flood."[37] So he started to build the ark; and whenever the chiefs of his people passed by him they laughed at him. He said: “Laugh at us now if you will, soon the time is going to come when we too will laugh at you as you are laughing at us.[38] Soon you will come to know who will be seized by a humiliating scourge, and who is afflicted with everlasting punishment."[39]

Finally when Our Command came and the water from Al-Tannür (a particular oven marked as a starting point to warn Nüh in order to get him ready to board the ark) gushed forth! We said to Nüh: “Take into the Ark a pair from every species, your family - except those against whom the Word has already gone forth - and the believers and those who believed with him were only a few."[40] Thus he said: “Embark in it, in the name of Allah in whose hands is its sailing and its stopping; surely my Rabb is Forgiving, Merciful."[41]

As the ark floated with them on board over the mountainous waves and Nüh called out to his son, who stood apart: “O my son! Embark with us and be not with the unbelievers!”[42] He replied: “I will take refuge on some mountain, which will save me from the flood." Nüh said: “None shall be secure today from the judgement of Allah, except the one on whom He has mercy!” And thereupon a wave came between them and he (Nüh’s son) became among one of those who drowned.[43] Finally, Allah said: “O earth! Swallow up your water," and "O sky! Cease your rain." The floodwater abated and the judgement was carried out. The ark rested on Mount Al-Jüdi and it was said: “Gone are the wrongdoing people!”[44] Nüh called out to his Rabb saying: “O my Rabb! My son is of my family, and surely Your promise is true and You are the most just of all Judges!”[45] Allah replied: “O Nüh! In fact he is not of your family; for he is not of righteous conduct. So do not ask Me anything of which you have no knowledge! I admonish you, lest you become one of the ignorant!” [46] Nüh said: “My Rabb! I seek refuge in You for asking You that of which I have no knowledge; and unless You forgive me and have mercy on me, I shall surely be lost!”[47] It was said: “O Nüh! Disembark (from the ark) with Our peace and blessings on you and on the peoples who are with you. As for other people, We shall grant them the provisions of life for some time, and if they do not behave righteously, then they shall have a painful punishment from Us."[48] O Muhammad, these are some of the facts from the unseen history which We have now revealed to you: neither you nor your people knew about it before. So have patience; surely the end is for the righteous.[49]

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To the people of ‘Ad We sent their brother Hüd. He said: “O my people! Worship Allah, you have no god but Him; otherwise you are just making things up.[50] O my people! I do not ask you any reward for my services; for none can reward me except my Creator. Will you not then use your common sense?[51] And O my people! Seek forgiveness of your Rabb and turn to Him in repentance. He will send you from the sky abundant rain and He will add strength to your strength. So do not turn away like criminals." [52] They said: “O Hüd! You have given us no clear proof. We are neither going to desert our gods just on your word, nor we are going to believe in you.[53] We rather believe that perhaps some of our gods have afflicted you with evil." He said: “Allah is my witness and let you also be my witness that I am done with your shirk of worshipping other deities besides Him.[54] So let all of you scheme against me if you will, and give me no respite.[55] I have put my trust in Allah, Who is my Rabb and your Rabb. There is no living creature (in the earth) whose destiny is not controlled by Him. Indeed straight is the Way of my Rabb.[56] Now, even if you turn away, I have at least conveyed the message with which I was sent to you. Since you have denied Him, my Rabb will raise up some other people in your place, and you cannot harm Him in any way. Indeed my Rabb is watching over everything."[57] When Our judgement came to pass, We saved Hüd and those who believed with him through a special grace from Us - We did save them from a horrifying scourge.[58] Such were the people of 'Ad. They denied the revelations of their Rabb, disobeyed His Rasool, and followed the command of every stubborn oppressor. [59] They were followed by a curse in this world, and cursed they shall be on the Day of Resurrection. Beware! 'Ad denied their Rabb. Beware! Gone are 'Ad, the people of Hüd.[60]

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To the Thamüd people, We sent their brother Saleh. He said: “O my people! Worship Allah, you have no god but Him. It is He Who created you from the earth and made it a dwelling place for you. So seek forgiveness from Him and turn to Him in repentance. Surely my Rabb is very close, ready to answer."[61] They said: “O Saleh! Till now you were the one in whom we had great expectations! Would you now forbid us the worship of what our forefathers worshipped? Indeed, we strongly doubt that to which you are calling us."[62] He said: “O my people! Tell me, if I have a clear proof from my Rabb and He has granted me mercy from Himself - who then will help me against Allah if I disobey Him? What would you add other than to make me lose even more?[63] And O my people! This she-camel of Allah is a sign for you. Leave her to pasture on Allah’s earth and do not molest her lest a swift scourge should fall upon you!”[64] But, even after the warning, they hamstring her. So he said: “You have but three days to enjoy your homes, that is a promise which will not be repudiated!”[65] When Our Judgement came to pass, We saved Saleh and those who believed with him through a special grace from Us, from the disgrace of that Day. Indeed your Rabb is All-Strong, All-Mighty.[66] A terrible blast overtook the wrongdoers and by the morning they were laying with their faces down in their homes,[67] as if they had never flourished there. Beware! Thamüd denied their Rabb. Gone are the people of Thamüd.[68]

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Our Messengers came to Ibrãhïm (Abraham) with good news. They said “Peace be upon you." He answered “Peace be upon you too,” and hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf.[69] But when he saw their hands were not extended towards it, he felt uneasy with them and started to be afraid of them. They said: “Do not fear. We have been sent to the people of Lüt."[70] His wife, who was standing there, laughed when We gave her good news of Allah's giving her a son Ishãq (Isaac) and after him a grandson Ya'qoob (Jacob).[71] She said: “O wonder! (An expression to indicate surprise) Shall I bear a child now when I have become an old woman and my husband has become well advanced in age? This is indeed a strange thing!” [72] They said: “Do you wonder at Allah’s decree? May Allah’s mercy and His blessings be upon you, O residents of the household; for He is indeed worthy of all praise, full of all glory."[73] When the fear of Ibrãhïm was gone as the good news (of his son and grand son) came to him, he began to plead with Us for the people of Lüt.[74] Indeed Ibrãhïm was forbearing, tenderhearted and devout.[75] The angels said: "O Ibrãhïm! Leave this topic. The decree of your Rabb has already been issued, now there must come to them a punishment that cannot be averted!"[76]

When Our messengers, in the form of beautiful young men, came to Lüt, he became upset about them, for he felt helpless to offer them protection against his nation’s many violent homosexual men. He said: “This is a critical day."[77] No sooner did the guests come to him than his people, long addicted to evil practices, came rushing towards him. He said: “O my people! Here are my daughters - they are purer for you. Now, fear Allah and do not humiliate me by insulting my guests. Is there not even one good man among you?”[78] They said: “Well you know, we have no right to your daughters. You know fully well what we want."[79] He said: “I wish I had power to suppress you or could find some powerful support."[80] The messengers said: “O Lüt! We are the messengers of your Rabb. They will not be able to harm you. Now, take your family and get out of this town while yet a part of the night remains - and let none of you turn back - except your wife, who should be left behind. She will face the same fate as they. Their scheduled time of doom is the morning. Is not the morning very close?”[81] When Our Judgement came to pass, We turned the cities upside down and rained down on them brimstones of baked clay, layer upon layer,[82] specially marked by your Rabb. Such scourge is not far off from the wrongdoers![83]

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To the people of Median We sent their brother Shu’aib. He said: “O my people! Worship Allah, you have no god but Him. Do not give short measure and weight. Although I see you in prosperity today, I fear for you the scourge of a Day that will encircle you.[84] O my people! Give full measure and weight in all fairness. Do not defraud people of their goods and do not spread mischief in the land.[85] What remains with Allah is better for you if you are true believers, and I am not set up as a guardian over you." [86] They said: “Oh Shu’aib! Does your Salah (prayer) command you that we give up all those deities whom our forefathers worshipped or that we have no right of doing what we like with our own goods? For sure, you are the only gracious and righteous man left in the land!”[87] He said: “O my people! You see, if I have a clear sign from my Rabb and He has given me good sustenance from Himself how can I, then, be a party to your evil and unlawful practices? I do not want to oppose you in what I am forbidding you. I desire nothing but to reform so far as I can manage. My success in this task depends entirely on the help of Allah; in Him do I trust and to Him do I turn for everything.[88] O my people! Let not my dispute with you bring upon you the doom similar to that of the people of Nüh or of Hüd or of Saleh, nor are the people of Lüt far off from you; [89] seek forgiveness of your Rabb and turn to Him in repentance; for my Rabb is indeed Merciful, Affectionate."[90]

They said: “O Shu'aib! We do not comprehend much of what you say. In fact, we see that you are a powerless person among us. Were it not for your family, we certainly would have stoned you, for you are not strong enough to prevail against us."[91] He said: “O my people! Do you regard my family to be more powerful than Allah, that you have disregarded Him totally as a thing cast behind your back? Surely my Rabb encompasses all that you do.[92] O my people! You keep on doing your way, and I shall keep up mine: soon you will find out who receives the disgraceful punishment and who is a liar! Wait if you will; I too am waiting with you!”[93] When Our judgement came to pass, We delivered Shu'aib and those who believed with him through Our special mercy. A mighty blast seized the wrongdoers and they lay dead with their faces down in their homes by the morning,[94] as if they had never flourished there. Behold! Like Thamüd, gone are the people of Median![95]

SECTION: 9 We sent Musa with Our signs and clear authority[96] to Fir'on (Pharaoh) and his chiefs; but they followed the command of Fir'on, and the command of Fir'on was not right.[97] He will be in front of his people on the Day of Resurrection, and will bring them down to Hell. How awful will be the place to which they will be brought?[98] A curse followed them in this life, and a curse will follow them on the Day of Resurrection. What an evil reward for one to receive.[99] These are the stories of the nations which We relate to you; of them some have survived and some have ceased to exist.[100] We were not unjust to them, but they were unjust to themselves. The deities they invoked beside Allah did not avail them when the judgement of your Rabb came to pass; they added nothing to their lot but perdition.[101] Such is the scourge of your Rabb when He seizes a sinful town; indeed, His seizure is terrible and painful.[102] In fact, there is a sign in this for those who fear the punishment of the hereafter; that is a Day in which mankind will be gathered together and that will be a Day of Testimony.[103] We do not delay it but to the appointed deadline.[104] When the Day will come, no one shall dare to speak except with His permission. Of them, some will be damned and some will be blessed.[105] Those who are damned shall be in the fire; in there, they will have only sighs and sobs.[106] They will dwell therein as long as the heavens and the earth shall last, unless your Rabb ordains otherwise; surely your Rabb is the mighty doer of what He intends.[107] As for those who are blessed, they shall be in paradise. They will dwell therein as long as the heavens and the earth shall last, unless your Rabb ordain otherwise; an award which shall never be taken away.[108] Therefore, have no doubt concerning the deities they worship, for they blindly imitate the worship of those deities whom their forefathers used to worship before them; and surely, We shall give them their share of punishment in full without any abatement.[109]

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We certainly gave the Book to Musa (Moses), but differences arose about it; had not a Word gone forth from your Rabb, the matter would have been decided between them regarding those differences. It is a fact that they are in suspicious doubt about this,[110] and it is also a fact that your Rabb will give them full measure for their deeds, for He is fully aware of what they do.[111] Therefore, stand firm on the Right Way as you are commanded, together with those who have turned from unbelief to belief in Allah, and do not transgress; surely, He is watching all that you do.[112] Do not be inclined to those who are unjust, lest you be seized by the fire; and you will not have any protector besides Allah, nor you shall be helped.[113]

Establish Salah ( prayers) at the two ends of the day and in the early part of the night. Indeed virtues remove evils. This is a reminder for the mindful.[114] Be patient; for sure Allah does not let the reward of the righteous be wasted.[115] Why were there not among the generations before you, good persons who could forbid the people from making mischief in the land, except a few of those whom We delivered from among them? The wrongdoers, however, pursued the worldly pleasure they were provided, and became confirmed criminals.[116] It is not possible that your Rabb would destroy the towns unjustly while their habitants were to mend their ways.[117]

If your Rabb had so willed, He would have certainly made mankind one single nation but that is not what He wants, so they will continue to differ[118] except those on whom He has bestowed His mercy; and that very freedom of choice and action is the whole purpose of their creation. That is how the Word of your Rabb, that He will fill Hell with jinns and human beings all together, will be fulfilled.[119] All these stories of the prior Rasools that We relate to you (O Muhammad) are to strengthen your heart therewith; through these you have received the knowledge of reality and the believers have gotten admonition and a reminder. [120] As for those who are unbelievers, say to them: “Do whatever you want, and so shall we.[121] Wait if you will! Surely, we too shall wait."[122] Allah Alone has the knowledge of what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and everything shall ultimately return to Him for decision; Therefore, worship Him and put your trust in Him, and your Rabb is not unmindful of what you do.[123]