4al-Nisā’Womenسُورَةُ النساء

O people! Avoid your Sustainer [as it pertains to His corrective power], who has created you out of one living organism/spirit, and out of it created its mate, and out of the two spread abroad a multitude of men and women. And remain guarded of Allah, in whose name you demand [your rights] from one another, and of these ties of kinship. Verily, Allah is ever watchful over you!

Hence, administer to the orphans their possessions, and do not substitute damaged goods [belonging to you] for assets [belonging to the orphans], and do not consume their possessions together with your own: this, verily, is [considered to be] a great bias.

And if you have reason to fear that you might not [as an Islamic authority] offer social justice to orphans, then marry from among [widowed or orphaned] women such as are lawful to you — [a corresponding] second, [a corresponding] third, or [a corresponding] fourth; but if you have reason to fear that you might not be able to treat them with equal fairness, then [only] one [wife], or [from among] those who are in your honorable protective care. This will make it more likely that you will not cause encumbrance [and financial strain in family relations].

And give to women their marriage portions [dowry] in the spirit of a gift, but if they, of their own accord, give up to you any of it, then enjoy it with pleasure and good cheer.

And do not entrust to those who are weak of judgement [and immature] the possessions that Allah has placed in your charge for [the orphan’s] support, but let them have their sustenance therefrom, and clothe them, and speak to them in a kindly way.

And assess the orphans [in your charge] until they reach marriageable age; then, if you find them to be mature of mind, hand over to them their possessions; and do not consume them by wasteful spending, and in haste, before they grow up. And let him who is rich abstain entirely [from his ward’s property]; and let him who is poor partake thereof in a fair manner. And when you hand over to them their possessions, let there be witnesses on their behalf — although none can take account as Allah does.

Men shall have a share in what parents and kinsfolk leave behind, and women shall have a share in what parents and kinsfolk leave behind, whether it be little or much — a share ordained [by Allah].

And when [other] near of kin and orphans and needy persons are present at the distribution [of inheritance], give them something thereof for their sustenance, and speak to them in a considerate way.

And let them stand in awe [of Allah] — those [legal heirs] who, if they [themselves] had to leave behind weak offspring, would feel fear on their account — and let them remain vigilant of Allah [and His power in human affairs], and let them speak [to the poor] in a precise manner.

Behold, those who sinfully devour the possessions of orphans only fill their bellies with fire: for [in the life to come] they will have to endure a blazing flame!

Concerning [the inheritance of] your children, Allah enjoins [this] upon you: the male shall have the equal of two females’ share; but if there are more than two females, they shall have two-thirds of what [their parents] leave behind; and if there is only one, she shall have one-half thereof. And as for the parents [of the deceased], each of them shall have one- sixth of what he leaves behind, in the event of his having [left] a child; but if he has left no child and his parents are his [only] heirs, then his mother shall have one-third; and if he has brothers and sisters, then his mother shall have one-sixth after [the deduction of] any bequest he may have made, or any debt [he may have incurred]. As for your parents and your children, you know not which of them is more deserving of benefit from you: [therefore this] ordinance from Allah. Verily, Allah is [and has always been] all-knowing, wise.

And you shall inherit one-half of what your wives leave behind, provided they have left no child; but if they have left a child, then you shall have one-quarter of what they leave behind, after [the deduction of] any bequest they may have made, or any debt [they may have incurred]. And your widows shall have one-quarter of what you leave behind, provided you have left no child; but if you have left a child, then they shall have one-eighth of what you leave behind, after [the deduction of] any bequest you may have made, or any debt [you may have incurred]. And if a man or a woman has no heir in the direct line, but has a brother or a sister, then each of these two shall inherit one-sixth; but if there are more than two, then they shall share in one-third [of the inheritance], after [the deduction of] any bequest that may have been made, or any debt [that may have been incurred], neither of which was intended to harm [the heirs]. [This is] an [outlined] settlement [on matters of inheritance] from Allah, and Allah is all-knowing, forbearing.

These are the bounds set by Allah. And whoever pays heed to Allah and His Apostle, him will He bring to gardens through which running waters flow, therein to abide; and this is a triumph supreme.

And whoever disobeys Allah and His Apostle and transgresses His bounds, him will He commit to the Fire, therein to abide; and shameful suffering awaits him.

And as for those of your women who become guilty of [outrageous] immoral conduct, call upon four from among you who have witnessed their guilt; and if these bear witness thereto, confine the guilty women to their houses until death takes them away or Allah opens for them a way [through repentance].

And injure [thus] both men who are guilty [of sexual immorality]; but if they both repent and mend their ways, leave them alone: for, behold, Allah is an acceptor of repentance, a dispenser of grace.

Verily, Allah’s acceptance of repentance relates only to those who do evil out of ignorance and then repent before their time runs out; and it is they to whom Allah will turn again in His mercy — for Allah is all-knowing, wise;

Whereas repentance shall not be accepted from those who do evil deeds until their dying hour and then say, “Behold, I now repent;” nor from those who die as deniers of the truth [about Allah’s power presence]: it is these for whom We have readied grievous suffering.

O you who are committed to Allah! It is not lawful for you to [try to] become heirs to your wives [by holding onto them] against their will; and neither shall you keep them under constraint with a view to taking away anything of what you may have given them, unless it be that they have become guilty, in an obvious manner, of [sexual] immoral conduct. And consort with your wives in a reasonable manner; for if you dislike them, it may well be you dislike something that Allah might yet make a source of abundant good.

But if you desire to give up a wife and to take another in her stead, do not take away anything of what you have given the first one, however much it may have been. Would you, perchance, take it away by slandering her and thus committing a manifest sin!

And how could you take it away after you have given yourselves to one another [in the deepest wedded emotions], and she has received a most solemn pledge [of the intimate bond of wedlock] from you?

And do not marry women whom your fathers have previously married — although what is past is past; this, verily, is an [appallingly] shameful deed, and a hateful thing, and an evil way.

Forbidden to you are your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and your aunts paternal and maternal, and a brother’s daughters, and a sister’s daughters; and your breastfeeding-mothers, and those breastfed by the same breastfeeding mother; and the mothers of your wives; and your step-daughters, who are your foster-children, born of your wives with whom you have consummated your marriage; but if you have not consummated your marriage, you will incur no sin [by marrying their daughters]; and [forbidden to you are] the spouses of the sons who spring from your loins; and [you are forbidden] to have two sisters [as your wives] at one and the same time — but what is past is past. For, behold, Allah is indeed much-forgiving, very gracious.1

And [forbidden to you are] all married women other than those who are in your family [care/ emotional security] circle [due to the dislocation of war]: this is Allah’s ordinance, binding upon you. But lawful to you are all [women] beyond these, for you to seek out, offering them of your possessions, taking them in honest wedlock, and not in fornication. And to those with whom you desire to enjoy marriage, you shall give the bride-wealth due to them; but you will incur no sin if, after [agreeing upon] this lawful due, you freely agree with one another upon anything [else]: behold, Allah is indeed all-knowing, wise.

And as for those of you who, owing to circumstances, are not in a position to marry free women committed to Allah, [let them marry] ladies committed to Allah who are within [a man’s] family [emotional-security] environ. And Allah knows all about your commitment; each one of you is an elicitation of the other. Marry them, then, with their kin’s permission, and give them their bride-wealth in an equitable manner — they being women who give themselves in honest wedlock, not in fornication, nor as secret love-companions. And when they are married, and thereafter become guilty of immoral conduct, they shall be liable to half the penalty to which free married women are liable. This [permission to marry insecure ladies applies] to those of you who fear stumbling into [sexual] immorality. But it is for your own good to persevere in patience [and to abstain from such marriages]: and Allah is much-forgiving, very understanding.

Allah wants to make [all this] clear to you, and to guide you to the [righteous] ways of life of those who preceded you, and to turn to you in His mercy: for Allah is all-knowing, wise.

And Allah wants to turn to you in His mercy, whereas those who follow [only] their own lusts want you to acutely drift far away from the right path.

Allah wants to lighten your burdens — for humans have been created in a state of vulnerability.

O you who are firmly committed to Allah! Do not devour one another’s possessions wrongfully — not even by way of trade based on mutual agreement — and do not destroy one another: for, behold, Allah is indeed extremely merciful to you.

And as for him who does this with malicious intent and a will to do wrong, him shall We, in time, cause to endure [suffering through] fire — for this is indeed easy for Allah.

If you avoid the severe sins that you have been ordered to shun, We shall efface your [minor] bad deeds, and shall cause you to enter an abode of glory.

Hence, do not covet the bounties that Allah has bestowed more abundantly on some of you than on others. Men shall have a share from what they earn, and women shall have a share from what they earn. Ask, therefore, Allah [to give you] out of His bounty: behold, Allah has indeed full knowledge of everything.

And to everyone have We appointed heirs to what he may leave behind: parents, and near kinsfolk, and those to whom you have pledged your loyalty; give them, therefore, their share. Behold, Allah is indeed a witness over everything.

Men shall take full care of women with those [peculiar] bounties that Allah has bestowed more abundantly on the former than on the latter, and with what they may spend out of their possessions. And the righteous women are the truly devout ones, who guard the intimacy that Allah has [ordained to be] guarded. And as for those women whose ill-will you have reason to fear, admonish them [first]; then leave them alone in bed; then copulate with them;2 and if thereupon they pay you heed, do not seek to harm them. Behold, Allah is indeed most high, great!

And if you have reason to fear that a breach might occur between a [married] couple, appoint an arbiter from among his people and an arbiter from among her people; if they both want to set things aright, Allah may bring about their reconciliation. Behold, Allah is indeed all-knowing, aware.

And conform to Allah [alone], and do not ascribe divinity/authority, in any way, to any beside Him. And do from good to better to your parents, and near of kin, and to orphans, and the needy, and the neighbor from among your own people, and the neighbor who is a stranger, and the friend by your side, and the homeless, and those whom you have in your [honorable family protective] custody. Verily, Allah does not love any of those who, full of self-conceit, act in a boastful manner;

[Nor] those who are miserly, and bid others to be miserly, and conceal whatever Allah has bestowed upon them out of His bounty; and so We have readied shameful suffering for all who thus deny the truth [about Allah’s authority].

And [Allah does not love] those who spend their possessions on others [only] to be seen and praised by others, the while they are committed neither to Allah, nor to the Last Day; and he who has Satan for a soulmate, how evil a soulmate has he!

And what would they have to fear if they would but commit to Allah and the Last Day, and spend [in His way] out of what Allah has granted them as sustenance — since Allah has indeed full knowledge of them?

Verily, Allah does not wrong [anyone] by as much as an atom’s weight; and if there be a good deed, He will multiply it, and will bestow out of His grace a mighty reward.

How, then, [will the sinners fare on Judgement Day] when We shall bring forward witnesses from within every community, and bring you [O Prophet] as a witness against them?

Those who were bent on denying the truth and paid no heed to the Apostle will on that Day wish that the earth would swallow them, but they shall not [be able to] conceal from Allah anything that they expressed.

O you who have committed to Allah! Do not attempt to pray while you are in a state of drunkenness, [but wait] until you know what you are saying; nor yet [while you are] in a state requiring total ablution, until you have bathed — except if you are traveling [and are unable to do so]. But if you are ill, or are traveling, or have just satisfied a want of nature [relieved yourselves], or have cohabited with a woman, and can find no water — then take resort to pure dust, passing [therewith] lightly over your face and your hands. Behold, Allah is indeed an absolver of sins, much-forgiving.

Are you not aware of those who, having been granted their share of the divine Writ, now barter it away for waywardness, and want you [too] to lose your way?

But Allah knows best who your enemies are: and none can supervise as Allah does, and none can give support as Allah does.

Among those of the Jewish faith there are some who distort the meaning of the [revealed] words, taking them out of their context and saying [as it were], “We have heard, but we disobey,” and, “Hear without listening,” and, “Listen you to us, [O Muhammad]” — thus making a [semantic] diversion with their tongues, and implying that the [true] dīn is false. And had they but said, “We have heard, and we pay heed,” and, “Hear [us] and have patience with us,” it would indeed have been for their own good, and more upright; but Allah has rejected them because of their refusal to acknowledge the truth [about His immediate authority and preponderant power], for it is in but few things that they are [heavenwardly] committed.

O you who have been granted revelation [aforetime]! Commit to what We have [now] bestowed from on high in confirmation of whatever [of the truth] you already possess, lest We efface your aspirations and bring them to an end — just as We rejected those people who broke the Sabbath: for Allah’s will is always done.

Verily, Allah does not forgive the ascribing of divinity/authority to any beside Him, although He forgives any lesser sin to whomever He wills: for he who ascribes divinity/authority to any beside Allah has indeed contrived an enormous sin.

Are you not aware of those who consider themselves highly exceptional? No, but it is Allah who causes whomever He wills to become highly extraordinary; and none shall be wronged by as much as a hair’s breadth.

Behold how they attribute their own lying inventions to Allah — [compared] to which there is no sin more obvious.

Are you not aware of those [Yahūd] who, after being granted their share of the divine Writ, [now] commit to baseless mysteries and the powers of evil, and maintain that those [in Makkah] who are bent on denying the truth [about Allah’s higher authority and preeminent power] are more surely guided than those who have committed to Allah?

It is they whom Allah has rejected [and condemned]: and he whom Allah rejects [and condemns] shall find none to support him.

Have they, perchance, a share in [Allah’s] dominion? But [if they had], lo, they would not give to other people as much as [would fill] the groove of a date-stone!

Do they, perchance, envy other people for what Allah has granted them out of His bounty; but then, We did grant revelation and wisdom to the House of Abraham, and We did bestow on them a mighty dominion.

And among them are such as [truly] committed to him [Abraham], and among them are such as have turned away from him [Abraham], and nothing could be as burning as [the fire of] Hell.

For, verily, those who are bent on denying the truth [of Our involvement in people’s affairs], We shall, in time, cause to endure fire: [and] every time their skins are burnt off, We shall replace them with new skins, so that they may taste suffering [in full]. Verily, Allah is grand, wise.

But those who are committed to Allah [through faith and reason] and do righteous deeds We shall bring into gardens through which running waters flow, therein to abide beyond the count of time; there shall they have spouses pure: and [thus] We shall bring them into copious shades [of happiness abounding].

Behold, Allah bids you to deliver all that you have been entrusted with to those who are entitled thereto, and whenever you govern [and judge between] people, to govern [and judge] with justice. Verily, most excellent is what Allah exhorts you to do: indeed, Allah is all-hearing, all-seeing!

O you who are securely committed to Allah! Pay heed to Allah, and pay heed to the Apostle and to those from among you who have been entrusted with authority; and when you are at variance over any matter, refer it to Allah and the Apostle, if you are [truly] committed to Allah and the Last Day. This is the best [for you], and best in the end.

Are you not aware of those who claim they are committed to what has been bestowed from on high upon you, [O Prophet], as well as in what was bestowed from on high before you, [and yet] are willing to defer to the rule coming from concentrated and excessive powers of evil — although they were bidden to deny such [powers], seeing that Satan but wants to lead them far astray?

And so, whenever they are told, “Come to that which Allah has bestowed from on high, and to the Apostle,” you can see these political hypocrites turn away from you with aversion.

But how [will they fare] when calamity befalls them [on the Day of Judgement] because of what they have wrought in this world, whereupon they will come to you, swearing by Allah, “Our aim was but to do good, and to bring about coherence”?

As for them, Allah knows all that is in their hearts; so leave them alone, and admonish them, and speak to them about themselves in a most poignant manner.

For We have never sent any apostle save that he should be obeyed by Allah’s leave. If, then, after having sinned against themselves, they would but come round to you [O Muhammad] and ask Allah to forgive them — with the Apostle, too, praying that they be forgiven — they would assuredly find that Allah is an acceptor of repentance, a dispenser of grace.

But no, by your Sustainer! They do not [really] commit [to Allah] unless they make you [O Prophet] a judge of all on which they disagree among themselves, and then find in their hearts no bar to an acceptance of your decision and give themselves up [to it] in utter self-surrender.

Yet if We were to ordain for them, “Lay down your lives,” or “Forsake your homelands,” only a very few of them would do it; although, if they did what they are admonished to do, it would indeed be for their own good and apt to strengthen them greatly [in conviction],

Whereupon We should indeed grant them, out of Our grace, a mighty reward,

And indeed guide them to a straight way.

For, all who pay heed to Allah and the Apostle shall be among those upon whom Allah has bestowed His blessings: the prophets, and those who never deviated from the truth, and those who [with their lives] bore witness to the truth, and the righteous ones; and how goodly a company are these!

Such is the bounty of Allah; and [sufficient enough is the fact that] none has the knowledge that Allah has.

O you who are secure in your commitment [to Allah]! Be on guard against danger, as you mobilize in contingents or in all-out mobilization.

And, behold, there are indeed among you such as would lag behind, and then, if calamity befalls you, [they] say, “Allah has bestowed His favor upon me in that I was not present with them!”

But if good fortune comes to you from Allah, such a person is sure to say, just as if there had never been any question of love between you and him, “Oh, would that I had been with them, and thus had a [share in their] mighty triumph!”

Hence, let them fight in Allah’s cause — all who are willing to barter the life of this world for the life to come, for to him who fights in Allah’s cause, whether he be slain or be victorious, We shall in time grant a mighty reward.

And how could you refuse to fight in the cause of Allah and of the utterly helpless men and women and children who are crying, “O our Sustainer! Lead us forth [to freedom] out of this land whose people are oppressors, and raise for us, out of Your grace, a protector, and raise for us, out of Your grace, one who will bring us support!”

Those who are committed to Allah fight in the cause of Allah, whereas those who are bent on denying the truth [of Allah’s power attributes] fight in the cause of hegemonic imperialist powers [of evil]. Fight, then, against those allies of Satan: verily, Satan’s guile is weak indeed!

Are you not aware of those who have been told, “Curb your hands, and standardize your ṣalāh, and institutionalize your zakāh”? But as soon as fighting [in Allah’s cause] is ordained for them, lo, some of them stand in awe of people as one should stand in awe of Allah — or in even greater awe — and say, “O our Sustainer! Why have You ordained fighting for us? If only You had granted us a delay for a little while!” Say, “Brief is the enjoyment of this world, whereas the life to come is the best for all who are conscious of Allah, since none of you shall be wronged by as much as a hair’s breadth…

“Wherever you may be, death will overtake you — even though you be in towers raised high.” Yet, when a good thing happens to them, some [people] say, “This is from Allah,” whereas when evil befalls them, they say, “This is from you [O fellow man]!” Say, “All is from Allah.” What, then, is amiss with these people who can barely grasp the practicality of what they are being told?

Whatever good happens to you is from Allah; and whatever evil befalls you is from yourself. And We have sent you [O Muhammad] as an apostle to all mankind: and none can bear witness [thereto] as Allah does.

Whoever pays heed to the Apostle pays heed to Allah thereby; and as for those who turn away, We have not sent you to be their keeper.

And they [the political hypocrites] say, “We do pay heed to you,” but when they leave your presence, some of them devise, in the dark of night, [intents] other than what you are voicing; and all the while Allah records what they thus devise in the dark of night. Leave them, then, alone, and place your trust in Allah, for none is as worthy of trust as Allah.

Will they not, then, try to understand [and manage] this Qur’an? Had it issued from any but Allah, they would surely have found in it many an inner contradiction!

And if any [secret] matter pertaining to peace or war comes within their awareness, they go public with it; whereas, if they would but refer it to the Apostle and to those from among the committed muslims who have been entrusted with authority, such of them as are engaged in obtaining intelligence would indeed know [what to do with] it. And but for Allah’s bounty toward you, and His grace, all but a few of you would certainly have followed Satan.

Fight you, then, in Allah’s cause — since you are but responsible for your own self — and inspire the committed muslims to overcome all fear of death. Allah may well curb the might of those who are bent on denying the truth [about Allah’s power]: for Allah is stronger in might, and stronger in ability to deter.

Whoever rallies to a good cause shall have a share in its blessings; and whoever rallies to an evil cause shall be answerable for his part in it: for, indeed, Allah watches over everything.

But when you are greeted with a greeting [of peace], answer with an even better greeting, or [at least] with the like thereof. Verily, Allah keeps count indeed of all things.

Allah — there is no deity/authority except Him; He will surely gather you all together for the Day of Resurrection, [the coming of] which is beyond all doubt: and whose word could be truer than Allah’s?

How, then, could you be of two minds about the munāfiqs, seeing that Allah [Himself] has disowned them because of their guilt? Do you, perchance, seek to guide those whom Allah has let go astray — when for him whom Allah lets go astray you can never find any way?

They would love to see you deny the truth [about Allah’s presence in human affairs] even as they have denied it, so that you would be like them. Do not, therefore, take any of them for your allies until they forsake the domain of evil for the sake of Allah; and if they revert to [open] enmity, seize them and slay them wherever you may find them. And do not take any of them for your ally or giver of support,

Unless it be such [of them] as have ties with people to whom you yourselves are bound by a covenant, or such as come to you because their hearts shrink from [the thought of] making war either on you or on their own folk — although, if Allah had willed to make them stronger than you, they would certainly have made war on you. Thus, if they let you be, and do not make war on you, and offer you peace, Allah does not allow you to harm them.

You will find [that there are] others who would like to be safe from you as well as safe from their own folk, [but who] whenever they are faced anew with temptation to evil, plunge into it headlong. Hence, if they do not let you be, and do not offer you peace, and do not stay their hands, seize them and slay them whenever you come upon them: for it is against these that We have clearly empowered you [to make war].

And it is not conceivable that a committed muslim should slay another committed muslim, unless it be by mistake. And upon him who has slain a committed muslim by mistake there is the duty of freeing a committed muslim from bondage and paying an indemnity to the victim’s relations, unless they forgo it by way of charity. Now if the slain, while himself a committed muslim, belonged to a people who are at war with you, [the penance shall be confined to] the freeing of a committed muslim from bondage; whereas, if he belonged to a people to whom you are bound by a covenant, [it shall consist of] an indemnity to be paid to his relations in addition to the freeing of a committed muslim from bondage. And he who does not have the wherewithal shall fast [instead] for two consecutive months. [This is] the atonement ordained by Allah: and Allah is indeed all-knowing, wise.

But whoever deliberately slays another committed muslim, his requital shall be Hell, therein to abide [forever]; and Allah will condemn him, and will reject him, and will prepare for him awesome suffering.

[Hence], O you who are committed [to Allah’s power presence], when you go forth [to war] in Allah’s cause, use your discernment, and do not — out of a desire for the fleeting gains of this worldly life — say to anyone who offers you the salutation of peace, “You are not a committed muslim [of peace preferences],” for with Allah there are gains abundant. You, too, were once in the same condition — but Allah has been gracious to you. Use, therefore, your discernment: verily, Allah is always cognizant of what you do.

Such of the committed muslims as remain militarily inactive — other than the disabled — cannot be deemed equal to those who strive hard in Allah’s cause with their possessions and their lives: Allah has exalted those who strive hard with their possessions and their lives far above those who remain sluggish [and militarily inactive]. Although Allah has promised the ultimate good to all [committed muslims], yet Allah has exalted those who strive hard [and struggle] above those who remain passive by [promising them] a mighty reward —

[Many] degrees thereof — and forgiveness of sins, and His grace; for Allah is indeed much-forgiving, mightily gracious.

Behold, those whom the angels gather in death while they are still sinning against themselves, [the angels] will ask, “[What was wrong with you] what were you doing?” They will answer, “We were disempowered on earth.” [The angels] will say, “Was, then, Allah’s earth not wide enough for you to forsake the domain of evil?” For such, then, the goal is Hell — and how evil a journey’s end!

But excepted shall be the truly helpless — be they men or women or children — who cannot muster any strength and have not been shown the right way:

As for them, Allah may well efface their sin; and Allah is indeed an absolver of sins, much-forgiving.

And he who forsakes the [political and economic] domain of evil for the sake of Allah shall find on earth many a lonely road, as well as life abundant. And if anyone leaves his home, fleeing from evil to Allah and His Apostle, and then death overtakes him — his reward is ready with Allah: for Allah is indeed much-forgiving, very gracious.

And when you go forth [to war] on earth, you will incur no sin by shortening your ṣalāh if you have reason to fear that those who are bent on denying Allah might suddenly cause you to be at odds with each other: for, verily, those who deny Allah are your open foes.

Thus, when you [Muhammad] are among the committed muslims and about to lead them in ṣalāh, let [only] part of them stand up with you, retaining their arms. Then, after they have finished their ṣalāh, let them provide you cover while another group, who has not yet prayed, shall come forward and pray with you, being fully prepared against danger and retaining their arms: [for] those who are bent on denying Allah would love to see you oblivious of your arms and your equipment, so that they might come at you full force [in a surprise attack]. But it shall not be wrong for you to lay down your arms [while you pray] if you are troubled by rain or if you are ill; but [always] be fully prepared against danger. Verily, Allah has readied shameful suffering for all who deny Allah!

And when you have finished your ṣalāh, be conscious of Allah — while in mobilization, and while standing down, and while in transition; and when you are once again secure, observe your ṣalāh [fully]. Verily, for all committed muslims ṣalāh is indeed a sacred duty linked to particular times [of day].

And be not faint of heart when you seek out the [enemy] army. If you happen to suffer pain, behold, they suffer pain even as you suffer it: but you are hoping [to receive] from Allah what they cannot hope for. And Allah is indeed all-knowing, wise.

Behold, We have bestowed upon you [O Muhammad] from on high this divine Writ, setting forth the truth and justice, so that you may judge between people in accordance with what Allah has taught you. Hence, do not contend with those who are false to their trust,

But pray to Allah to forgive [them]; behold, Allah is indeed much-forgiving, very merciful.

Yet do not argue on behalf of those who are false to their own selves: verily, Allah does not love those who betray their trust and persist in sinful ways.

They would conceal their doings from mortal beings; but from Allah they cannot conceal them — for He is with them whenever they devise, in the dark of night, all unsatisfactory statements that He does not approve. And Allah indeed encompasses [with His presence] whatever they do.

Oh, you might well argue on their behalf in the life of this world: but who will argue on their behalf with Allah on the Day of Resurrection, or who will be their trustee?

Yet he who does evil or [otherwise] sins against himself, and thereafter prays for Allah to forgive him, shall find Allah much-forgiving, tremendously merciful:

For he who commits a sin, commits it only to his own hurt; and Allah is indeed all-knowing, wise.

But he who commits a fault or a sin and then throws the blame thereof on an innocent person, burdens himself with the guilt of calumny and [yet another] flagrant sin.

And but for Allah’s favor upon you [O Muhammad] and His grace, some of those [who are false to themselves] would indeed endeavor to lead you astray; yet none but themselves do they lead astray. Nor can they harm you in any way, since Allah has bestowed upon you from on high this divine Writ and [given you] wisdom, and has imparted to you the knowledge of what you did not know. And Allah’s favor upon you is tremendous indeed.

No good comes, as a rule, out of their secret confabulations — saving such as are devoted to financial justice, or equitable dealings, or setting a correct social course among people: and to him who does this out of longing for Allah’s goodly acceptance We shall in time grant a mighty reward.

But as for him who, after guidance has been vouchsafed to him, cuts himself off from the Apostle and follows a path other than that of the committed muslims, him shall We leave to that which he himself has chosen, and shall cause him to endure Hell: and how evil a destiny!

Verily, Allah does not forgive the ascribing of divine authority to anyone beside Him, although He forgives any lesser sin to whomever He wills: for those who ascribe divinity/authority to any beside Allah have indeed gone far astray.

In His stead, they invoke only lifeless symbols, thus invoking none but a rebellious Satan,

Whom Allah has rejected for having said, “Verily, of your servants I shall most certainly take [into erroneous ways in life] my due share,

“And shall lead them astray, and fill them with vain desires; and I shall command them — and they will cut off the ears of cattle [in idolatrous sacrifice]; and I shall command them — and they will corrupt Allah’s creation!” But all who take Satan rather than Allah for their master do indeed, most clearly, lose all.

He holds out promises to them, and fills them with vain desires, yet whatever Satan promises them is but meant to delude the mind.

Such as these have Hell for their haven; and they shall find no way to escape therefrom.

Yet those who commit [to Allah] and do righteous deeds We shall bring into gardens through which running waters flow, therein to abide beyond the count of time: this is, in truth, Allah’s promise — and whose word could be truer than Allah’s?

It may not accord with your wishful thinking, nor with the wishful thinking of the followers of earlier revelation, [that] he who does evil shall be requited for it, and shall find none to protect him from Allah, and none to bring him support,

Whereas anyone — be it male or female — who does [whatever can be done] of good deeds and is a committed muslim withal, shall enter Paradise, and shall not be wronged by as much as [would fill] the groove of a date-stone.

And who could be of better dīn than he who cedes his whole being to Allah and is a doer of good withal, and follows the millah [divinely inspired independent course in life] of Ibrāhīm, who was independent [of all false powers] — seeing that Allah exalted Ibrāhīm with His love?

For, to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth; and, indeed, Allah encompasses everything.

And they will ask you to enlighten them about the laws concerning women. Say, “Allah [Himself] enlightens you about the laws concerning them,” for [His will is shown] in what is being conveyed to you through this divine Writ about orphan women [in your moral charge], to whom — because you yourselves may be desirous of marrying them — you do not give that which has been ordained for them; and about helpless children; and about your duty to treat orphans with equity. And whatever good you may do — behold, Allah has indeed full knowledge thereof.

And if a woman has reason to fear ill-treatment from her husband, or that he might turn away from her, it shall not be wrong for the two to reach a reconciliation between themselves — for conciliation is best, [even though] stinting on giving is ever-present in human souls. But if you do good and are conscious of Him [and His immediate power presence in your lives] — behold, Allah is indeed aware of all that you do.

And it will not be within your power to treat your wives with equal fairness, however much you desire it; and so, do not allow yourselves to incline toward one to the exclusion of the other, leaving her in a state, as it were, of having and not having a husband. But if you make amends and are conscious of Him [as your immediate and ultimate authority] — behold, Allah is indeed much-forgiving, enormously gracious.

And if husband and wife do separate, Allah shall provide for each of them out of His abundance: for Allah is indeed infinite, wise.

And to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. And, indeed, We have enjoined upon those who were granted revelation before your time, as well as upon yourselves, to remain on guard concerning Allah [as His is the will for justice]. And if you deny Him, behold, to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth, and Allah is indeed self-sufficient, ever to be praised.

And to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth; and none is as worthy of trust as Allah.

If He so wills, He can cause you, O mankind, to disappear, and bring forth other beings [in your stead]: for Allah has indeed the power to do this.

If one desires the rewards of this world, [let him remember that] with Allah are the rewards of [both] this world and the life to come: and Allah is indeed all-hearing, all-seeing.

O you who are securely committed [to Allah]! Be ever dynamic in standing up for social justice, bearing witness to the truth for the sake of Allah, even though it be against your own selves or your parents and kinsfolk. Whether the person concerned be rich or poor, Allah’s claim takes precedence over [the claims of] either of them. Do not, then, follow your own desires, lest you swerve from justice: for if you distort [the truth] or disregard it, behold, Allah is indeed aware of all that you do!

O you who have committed yourselves [to Allah]! Rededicate yourselves to Allah and His Apostle, and to the divine Writ that He has bestowed from on high upon His Apostle, step by step, as well as to the revelation that He sent down aforetime; for he who denies Allah, and His angels, and His revelations, and His apostles, and the Last Day, has indeed gone far astray.

Behold, as for those who express commitment [to Allah], and then deny the truth [of that commitment], and again come to express commitment [to Allah], and again deny the truth [of that commitment], and thereafter grow stubborn in their denial of that truth — Allah will not forgive them, nor will He guide them in any way.

Announce you to such [allegiance] betrayers that grievous suffering awaits them.

As for those who take the deniers of the truth for their allies in preference to the committed muslims, do they hope to be honored by them when, behold, all honor belongs to Allah [alone]?

And, indeed, He has enjoined upon you in this divine Writ that whenever you hear people deny the truth of Allah’s manifestations [in human affairs] and mock at these [manifestations], you shall avoid their company until they begin to talk of other things — or else, verily, you will become like them. Behold, together with those who deny the truth Allah will gather in Hell those of dual [or multiple] allegiance (munāfiqs),

Who but wait to see what betides you: thus, if triumph comes to you from Allah, they say, “Were we not on your side?” whereas if those who deny the truth are in luck, they say [to them], “Have we not earned your affection by defending you against those committed muslims?” But Allah will judge between you all on the Day of Resurrection; and never will Allah allow those who deny the truth to break through the committed muslims.

Behold, the dual-loyalists (munāfiqs) seek to deceive Allah — the while it is He who caused them to be deceived [by themselves]. And when they rise to pray, they rise reluctantly, only to be seen and praised by the general public, remembering Allah but seldom,

Wavering between this and that, [true] neither to these nor those. But for him who Allah lets go astray you can never find [for him] any way.

O you who have committed [to Allah’s power]! Do not take the deniers of the truth [pertaining to Allah’s power and authority] for your allies in preference to the committed muslims! Do you want to place before Allah a manifest proof of your guilt?

Verily, those who switch allegiance (munāfiqs) shall be in the lowest depth of the Fire, and you will find none who could support them.

But excepted shall be they who repent, and live righteously, and hold fast to Allah, and grow sincere in their commitment to Allah alone: for these shall be one with the committed muslims — and in time Allah will grant to all committed muslims a mighty reward.

Why would Allah cause you to suffer [for your past sins] if you are grateful and [deeply] committed to Allah — seeing that Allah is always responsive to gratitude, all-knowing?3

Allah does not like any expression of flagrant language in public, unless it be by him who has been wronged [thereby]. And Allah is indeed all-hearing, all-knowing.

Whether you do good openly or you conceal it, or pardon others for evil [done to you], for behold, Allah is indeed an absolver of sins, infinite in His power.

Verily, those who deny Allah and His apostles by endeavoring to make a distinction between [commitment to] Allah and [commitment to] His apostles, and who say, “We affirm some but we deny others,” and want to pursue a path in-between —

It is they, they who are truly denying the truth [of this divine matter]: and for those who deny the truth We have readied shameful suffering.

But as for those who commit to Allah and His apostles and make no distinction between any of them — to them, in time, will He grant their rewards [in full]. And Allah is indeed much-forgiving, exceedingly merciful.

The followers of the Old Testament demand of you [O Prophet] that you cause a revelation to be sent down to them from heaven. And an even greater thing than this did they demand of Mūsā when they said, “Make us see Allah face to face,” whereupon the thunderbolt of punishment overtook them for this, their brazenness. After that, they referred to the [golden] calf — and this after all evidence of the truth had come to them! Nonetheless, We effaced this [sin of theirs], and vouchsafed to Mūsā a clear mandate,

Raising Mt. Sinai high above them in witness of their solemn pledge. And We said to them, “Enter the gate humbly”; and We told them, “Do not break the Sabbath-law”; and We accepted from them a most solemn pledge.

And so, [We punished them] for the breaking of their pledge; and their refusal to acknowledge Allah’s messages; and their slaying of prophets against all right; and their boast, “Our hearts are already full of knowledge” — no, but Allah has sealed their hearts in result of their denial of the truth, and [now] they commit to but few things;

And for their refusal to acknowledge the truth; and the awesome calumny that they utter against Mary;

And their boast, “Behold, we have slain the Christ Jesus, son of Mary, [who claimed to be] an apostle of Allah!” However, they did not slay him, and neither did they crucify him, but it only seemed to them [as if it had been] so; and, verily, those who hold conflicting views thereon are indeed confused, having no [real] knowledge thereof, and following mere conjecture. For, of a certainty, they did not slay him:

No, Allah exalted him unto Himself — and Allah is indeed almighty, wise.

Yet there is not one of the followers of earlier revelation who does not, at the moment of his death, grasp the truth about Jesus; and on the Day of Resurrection he [himself] shall bear witness to the truth against them.

So, then, for the iniquity committed by those who followed the Jewish faith, We did deny them certain of the good things of life that [aforetime] had been allowed to them; and [We did this] for their having so often turned away from the path of Allah;

And [for] their taking usury although it had been forbidden to them; and [for] their wrongful devouring of other people’s possessions. And for those from among them who [continue to] deny the truth, We have readied grievous suffering.

But as for those from among them who are deeply rooted in knowledge, and the sincere devotees who are committed to that which has been bestowed upon you [O Muhammad] from on high as well as that which was bestowed from on high before you, and those who are [especially keen on] standardized ṣalāh, and [institutionalized] zakāh, and all who are committed to Allah and the Last Day — these it is to whom We shall grant a mighty compensation.

Behold, We have inspired you [O Prophet] just as We inspired Noah and all the prophets after him; as We inspired Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and their descendants, including Jesus, and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron, and Solomon; and as We vouchsafed to David a book of divine wisdom;

And as [We inspired other] apostles whom We have mentioned to you before this, as well as apostles whom We have not mentioned to you; and as Allah spoke His word to Moses:

[We sent all these] apostles as heralds of glad tidings and as warners, so that people might have no excuse before Allah after [the coming of] these apostles — and Allah is indeed almighty, wise.

However it be, Allah [Himself] bears witness to [the truth of] what He has bestowed from on high upon you. Out of His own wisdom has He bestowed it from on high, with the angels bearing witness thereto — although none can bear witness as Allah does.

Behold, those who are bent on denying the truth [concerning Allah’s power and authority] and on turning others away from the path of Allah have indeed gone far astray.

Behold, as for those who are bent on denying the truth and on evildoing, Allah will indeed not forgive them, nor will He guide them onto any road,

But the road that leads to Hell, therein to abide beyond the count of time: and this is indeed easy for Allah.

O mankind! The Apostle has now come to you with the truth from your Sustainer: commit [with security and trust], then, for your own good! And if you deny the truth — behold, unto Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth, and Allah is indeed all-knowing, wise!

O People of the Bible! Do not overdraw [and stretch] your dīn; and do not say of Allah anything but the truth. The Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, was but Allah’s apostle — [the fulfillment of] His promise that He had conveyed to Mary — and a soul from Him. Therefore, commit yourselves to Allah and His apostles, and do not say, “[Allah is] a trinity.” Desist [from this assertion] for your own good. Allah is but One God; utterly remote is He, in His glory, from having a son; unto Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth; and none is as worthy of trust as Allah.

Never did the Messiah feel too proud to be Allah’s subject, nor do the angels who are near unto Him. And those who feel too proud to serve Him and glory in their arrogance [should know that on Judgement Day] He will gather them all unto Himself:

Whereupon to those who committed themselves [to Him] and did good deeds He will grant their just rewards, and give them yet more out of His bounty; whereas those who felt too proud and gloried in their arrogance He will chastise with grievous suffering, and they shall find none to protect them from Allah, and none to bring them support.

O mankind! A manifestation of the truth has now come to you from your Sustainer, and We have sent down to you a clear light.

And as for those who have committed themselves to Allah and hold fast unto Him, He will enfold them within His grace and bounty, and guide them unto Himself by a straight way.

They will ask you to enlighten them. Say, “Allah enlightens you [thus] about the laws concerning [inheritance from] those who leave no heir in the direct line: if a man dies childless and has a sister, she shall inherit one- half of what he has left, just as he shall inherit from her if she dies childless. But if there are two sisters, both [together] shall have two- thirds of what he has left; and if there are brothers and sisters, then the male shall have the equal of two females’ share.” Allah makes [all this] clear to you, lest you go astray; and Allah knows everything.