023.001 Successful indeed are the believers
023.002 Who are humble in their prayers,
023.003 And who shun vain conversation,
023.004 And who are payers of the poor-due;
023.005 And who guard their modesty -
023.006 Save from their wives or the (slaves) that their right hands possess, for then they are not blameworthy,
023.007 But whoso craveth beyond that, such are transgressors -
023.008 And who are shepherds of their pledge and their covenant,
023.009 And who pay heed to their prayers.
023.010 These are the heirs
023.011 Who will inherit paradise. There they will abide.
023.012 Verily We created man from a product of wet earth;
023.013 Then placed him as a drop (of seed) in a safe lodging;
023.014 Then fashioned We the drop a clot, then fashioned We the clot a little lump, then fashioned We the little lump bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it as another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators!
023.015 Then lo! after that ye surely die.
023.016 Then lo! on the Day of Resurrection ye are raised (again).
023.017 And We have created above you seven paths, and We are never unmindful of creation.
023.018 And we send down from the sky water in measure, and We give it lodging in the earth, and lo! We are Able to withdraw it.
023.019 Then We produce for you therewith gardens of date-palms and grapes, wherein is much fruit for you and whereof ye eat;
023.020 And a tree that springeth forth from Mount Sinai that groweth oil and relish for the eaters.
023.021 And lo! in the cattle there is verily a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, and many uses have ye in them, and of them do ye eat;
023.022 And on them and on the ship ye are carried.
023.023 And We verily sent Noah unto his folk, and he said: O my people! Serve Allah. Ye have no other God save Him. Will ye not ward off (evil) ?
023.024 But the chieftains of his folk, who disbelieved, said: This is only a mortal like you who would make himself superior to you. Had Allah willed, He surely could have sent down angels. We heard not of this in the case of our fathers of old.
023.025 He is only a man in whom is a madness, so watch him for a while.
023.026 He said: My Lord! Help me because they deny me.
023.027 Then We inspired in him, saying: Make the ship under Our eyes and Our inspiration. Then, when Our command cometh and the oven gusheth water, introduce therein of every (kind) two spouses, and thy household save him thereof against whom the Word hath already gone forth. And plead not with Me on behalf of those who have done wrong. Lo! they will be drowned.
023.028 And when thou art on board the ship, thou and whoso is with thee, then say: Praise be to Allah Who hath saved us from the wrongdoing folk!
023.029 And say: My Lord! Cause me to land at a blessed landing-place, for Thou art Best of all who bring to land.
023.030 Lo! herein verily are portents, for lo! We are ever putting (mankind) to the test.
023.031 Then, after them, We brought forth another generation;
023.032 And we sent among them a messenger of their own, saying: Serve Allah, Ye have no other God save Him. Will ye not ward off (evil) ?
023.033 And the chieftains of his folk, who disbelieved and denied the meeting of the Hereafter, and whom We had made soft in the life of the world, said: This is only a mortal like you, who eateth of that whereof ye eat and drinketh of that ye drink.
023.034 If ye were to obey a mortal like yourselves, then, lo! ye surely would be losers.
023.035 Doth he promise you that you, when ye are dead and have become dust and bones, will (again) be brought forth ?
023.036 Begone, begone, with that which ye are promised!
023.037 There is naught but our life of the world; we die and we live, and we shall not be raised (again).
023.038 He is only a man who hath invented a lie about Allah. We are not going to put faith in him.
023.039 He said: My Lord! Help me because they deny me.
023.040 He said: In a little while they surely will become repentant.
023.041 So the (Awful) Cry overtook them rightfully, and We made them like as wreckage (that a torrent hurleth). A far removal for wrongdoing folk!
023.042 Then after them We brought forth other generations.
023.043 No nation can outstrip its term, nor yet postpone it.
023.044 Then We sent our messengers one after another. Whenever its messenger came unto a nation they denied him; so We caused them to follow one another (to disaster) and We made them bywords. A far removal for folk who believe not!
023.045 Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron with Our tokens and a clear warrant
023.046 Unto Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they scorned (them) and they were despotic folk.
023.047 And they said: Shall we put faith in two mortals like ourselves, and whose folk are servile unto us ?
023.048 So they denied them, and became of those who were destroyed.
023.049 And We verily gave Moses the Scripture, that haply they might go aright.
023.050 And We made the son of Mary and his mother a portent, and We gave them refuge on a height, a place of flocks and watersprings.
023.051 O ye messengers! Eat of the good things, and do right. Lo! I am Aware of what ye do.
023.052 And lo! this your religion is one religion and I am your Lord, so keep your duty unto Me.
023.053 But they (mankind) have broken their religion among them into sects, each group rejoicing in its tenets.
023.054 So leave them in their error till a time.
023.055 Think they that in the wealth and sons wherewith We provide them
023.056 We hasten unto them with good things ? Nay, but they perceive not.
023.057 Lo! those who go in awe for fear of their Lord.
023.058 And those who believe in the revelations of their Lord,
023.059 And those who ascribe not partners unto their Lord,
023.060 And those who give that which they give with hearts afraid because they are about to return unto their Lord,
023.061 These race for the good things, and they shall win them in the race.
023.062 And we task not any soul beyond its scope, and with Us is a Record which speaketh the truth, and they will not be wronged.
023.063 Nay, but their hearts are in ignorance of this (Qur'an), and they have other works, besides, which they are doing;
023.064 Till when We grasp their luxurious ones with the punishment, behold! they supplicate.
023.065 Supplicate not this day! Assuredly ye will not be helped by Us.
023.066 My revelations were recited unto you, but ye used to turn back on your heels,
023.067 In scorn thereof. Nightly did ye rave together.
023.068 Have they not pondered the Word, or hath that come unto them which came not unto their fathers of old ?
023.069 Or know they not their messenger, and so reject him ?
023.070 Or say they: There is a madness in him ? Nay, but he bringeth them the Truth; and most of them are haters of the Truth.
023.071 And if the Truth had followed their desires, verily the heavens and the earth and whosoever is therein had been corrupted. Nay, We have brought them their Reminder, but from their Reminder they now turn away.
023.072 Or dost thou ask of them (O Muhammad) any tribute ? But the bounty of thy Lord is better, for He is Best of all who make provision.
023.073 And lo! thou summonest them indeed unto a straight path.
023.074 And lo! those who believe not in the Hereafter are indeed astray from the path.
023.075 Though We had mercy on them and relieved them of the harm afflicting them, they still would wander blindly on in their contumacy.
023.076 Already have We grasped them with punishment, but they humble not themselves unto their Lord, nor do they pray,
023.077 Until, when We open for them the gate of extreme punishment, behold! they are aghast thereat.
023.078 He it is Who hath created for you ears and eyes and hearts. Small thanks give ye!
023.079 And He it is Who hath sown you broadcast in the earth, and unto Him ye will be gathered.
023.080 And He it is Who giveth life and causeth death, and His is the difference of night and day. Have ye then no sense ?
023.081 Nay, but they say the like of that which said the men of old;
023.082 They say: When we are dead and have become (mere) dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, be raised again ?
023.083 We were already promised this, we and our forefathers. Lo! this is naught but fables of the men of old.
023.084 Say: Unto Whom (belongeth) the earth and whosoever is therein, if ye have knowledge ?
023.085 They will say: Unto Allah. Say: Will ye not then remember ?
023.086 Say: Who is Lord of the seven heavens, and Lord of the Tremendous Throne ?
023.087 They will say: Unto Allah (all that belongeth). Say: Will ye not then keep duty (unto Him) ?
023.088 Say: In Whose hand is the dominion over all things and He protecteth, while against Him there is no protection, if ye have knowledge ?
023.089 They will say: Unto Allah (all that belongeth). Say: How then are ye bewitched ?
023.090 Nay, but We have brought them the Truth, and lo! they are liars.
023.091 Allah hath not chosen any son, nor is there any god along with Him; else would each god have assuredly championed that which he created, and some of them would assuredly have overcome others. Glorified be Allah above all that they allege.
023.092 Knower of the Invisible and the Visible! and Exalted be He over all that they ascribe as partners (unto Him)!
023.093 Say: My Lord! If Thou shouldst show me that which they are promised.
023.094 My Lord! then set me not among the wrongdoing folk.
023.095 And verily We are Able to show thee that which We have promised them.
023.096 Repel evil with that which is better. We are Best Aware of that which they allege.
023.097 And say: My Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from suggestions of the evil ones,
023.098 And I seek refuge in Thee, my Lord, lest they be present with me,
023.099 Until, when death cometh unto one of them, he saith: My Lord! Send me back,
023.100 That I may do right in that which I have left behind! But nay! It is but a word that he speaketh; and behind them is a barrier until the day when they are raised.
023.101 And when the trumpet is blown there will be no kinship among them that day, nor will they ask of one another.
023.102 Then those whose scales are heavy, they are the successful.
023.103 And those whose scales are light are those who lose their souls, in hell abiding.
023.104 The fire burneth their faces, and they are glum therein.
023.105 (It will be said): Were not My revelations recited unto you, and then ye used to deny them ?
023.106 They will say: Our Lord! Our evil fortune conquered us, and we were erring folk.
023.107 Our Lord! Oh, bring us forth from hence! If we return (to evil) then indeed we shall be wrong-doers.
023.108 He saith: Begone therein, and speak not unto Me.
023.109 Lo! there was a party of My slaves who said: Our Lord! We believe, therefor forgive us and have mercy on us for Thou art Best of all who show mercy;
023.110 But ye chose them for a laughing-stock until they caused you to forget remembrance of Me, while ye laughed at them.
023.111 Lo! I have rewarded them this day forasmuch as they were steadfast in that they, even they, are the triumphant.
023.112 He will say: How long tarried ye in the earth, counting by years ?
023.113 They will say: We tarried by a day or part of a day. Ask of those who keep count!
023.114 He will say: Ye tarried but a little if ye only knew.
023.115 Deemed ye then that We had created you for naught, and that ye would not be returned unto Us ?
023.116 Now Allah be Exalted, the True King! There is no God save Him, the Lord of the Throne of Grace.
023.117 He who crieth unto any other god along with Allah hath no proof thereof. His reckoning is only with his Lord. Lo! disbelievers will not be successful.
023.118 And (O Muhammad) say: My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for Thou art Best of all who show mercy.