42al-ShūrāInstitutionalized Deliberationسُورَةُ الشورى

Ḥā-Mīm [Ḥ-M].

‘Ayn-Sīn-Qāf [‘-S-Q].

[With such letters that are familiar to you] does Allah, the Grand, the Very Wise, reveal to you [O Muhammad] and to those [prophets and messengers] before you:

To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth — and He is the Superb, the Splendid —

[Wherein] the firmaments above them hang on the threshold of fragmentation [as they stand in awe of Allah] while the malā’ikah extol Allah’s matchlessness and ask forgiveness for whomever is on earth. Oh, indeed, Allah is the Very Forgiving, the Very Merciful.

Now, as for those who assign primacy patrons to His exclusion, [they should know that] Allah keeps an eye on them, and you [O Muhammad] are not responsible for them and what they do.

And so it was that We revealed to you [O Muhammad] an Arabic [language] Qur’an so that you may warn the mother of all civil societies [Makkah] and its surrounding inhabitants, and alert them to the Day of Assembly [in the life to follow], about which there is no doubt — [the Day when there will be] a lineup [of people] in Paradise and a lineup [of people] in the raging Fire.

And had Allah willed it, He would have made all of them one [harmonious] ummah; but [even though He willed it differently, still] He admits into His mercy whomever desires [to be admitted], whereas the offenders [of justice] will have no primary patron [above Allah] and no supporter [besides Allah].

Or was it that they assigned to themselves [in their functional life] primary patrons to the exclusion of Him? [Know that] Allah is the primary patron since He it is who brings the lifeless into life and He it is who has the power to will anything.

And whatever issue you may disagree on among yourselves, [know that] its adjudication is to be conceded to Allah. [Say, therefore], “All of this [final decison-making] is [the domain of] Allah, my Sustainer — in Him I place my trust and to Him I revert to [when such problems arise] —

“The One who separated away from each other the heavens and the earth, and made out of your own selves couples [for procreation] and from livestock couples, resulting in your mutiplying thereby: [but] there is nothing comparable to Him, and He is the All-Hearing and the All-Seeing [for nothing can escape His attention].

“His are the reins of the heavens and the earth: He extends provisions to whomever He decides, or limits [such provisions] — for, verily, He has immense knowledge of everything.”

He has laid down the law for you [Muhammad and the committed muslims], drawing on what He promulgated to Nūḥ [and it is] what We have revealed to you [O Muhammad] and what We had proclaimed to Ibrāhīm and Mūsā and ‘Īsā: [which is to] conduct [the stipulations of] the dīn and do not be divided [in doing so]. [And even though] this [constructing and conducting of the dīn] to which you summon them is too much for the mushriks to tolerate, Allah [nonetheless] favorably selects whomever is willing to be with Him, and guides to Himself whomever reverts to Him.

And they [who consider themselves scripturalists] only became divided, as a matter of transgression among themselves, once [definite divine] knowledge came to them. And had it not been for a decree preordained by Allah as a deferment [for their sake] the whole issue would have been over [by immediate punishment for their sins in this world]. [As it is, however], certainly those who inherited scripture after them are in dubious doubt stemming from this [divergence from scriptural certainty].

For it [the togetherness of scriptural unity], you [O Muhammad] should carry on calling [people into the fold] and be forthright as you have been ordered [by Allah]; and do not follow their wishes, rather respond [to them], “I have committed myself to whatever Allah has made known of scripture; and I have been commanded [from on high] to do justice among you. Allah is our Sustainer and your Sustainer; we have our deeds and you have your deeds. There is no need for a [selfish] confirmation of the truth [that each side claims for itself, as truth and justice have been outlined by their divine source]: Allah will [eventually] bring us together, for unto Him is the destination [of us all].”

And as for those who continue arguing [in defiance] about Allah after [the people] began responding favorably to him [Muhammad], their testament is void as far as their Sustainer is concerned, and they will have to bear the wrath [of their Sustainer] along with severe suffering.

[It is] Allah who delivered [from on high] the scripture encapsulating [all notions of] truth and justice, and [therefrom] a standard of reference [for people to distinguish what is right from what is wrong]. And for all you know, the Final Hour may well be near!

Those who have no conviction in it ask for its immediate onset while those who have a conviction in it stand worried over its onset — knowing that it is to occur as a fulfillment of truth and justice. Oh, verily, those who quarrel and disagree about the Final Hour are indeed in far-flung bewilderment.

Allah is imperceptibly kind to His subjects: He provides to whomever He wishes — for He alone is the Mighty, the Honorably Grand.

Whoever seeks the yield of the final life, We shall boost his yield; whereas whoever seeks the yield of this worldly life, We give him [a percentage] of it, but in the final life he will have no share.

Or do they [the mushriks] have associates [with divine powers] who set forth laws attributed to [Allah’s] dīn, which Allah did not sanction? And had it not been for the [Allah’s] decisive word [of deferring all of them to Judgement Day], the [divine] verdict [of utter destruction] would have taken its course [in their earthly lives]: and, indeed, crime-doers will have a harrowing pain.

You will see the offenders terrified [in the afterlife] by what they will have acquired [from their earthly tenure] as it will [definitely] come down on them [in torrents of torment], whereas those who committed themselves [to Allah] and did what was honest and honorable will be in the blissful islands of paradises: all that they desire fulfilled by their Sustainer — that is the magnanimous copiousness.

These are what Allah has as good news for His [devout] subjects who committed themselves [to Him] and did what was moral and legal. Say [O Muhammad], “I do not ask you [the people in Arabia] for any compensation except that you honor a mutual fondness of [my] kith and kin.” For whoever reaps a perfection [of deeds], We expand its excellence for him: indeed, Allah is very forgiving, very appreciative.

Or are they [the mushriks] saying, “He [Muhammad] is fabricating lies and attributing them to Allah?” But then, had Allah willed it, He would have sealed your heart [from being stressed by their allegations] — for Allah is the one who wipes out fallacies, and by His words vindicates truth and justice. Indeed, He has full knowledge of confidential information;

And it is He who accepts repentance from His [devout] subjects, and amnesties their wrongdoings, and knows [all of] what you do.

And those who commit themselves [to Allah’s might and judgement] respond favorably [to Allah] and He gives them abundantly out of His extras, whereas for the God-deniers, there is [but] a severe punishment.

And if Allah were to expand His sustenance [without limits] to all His subjects, they would transgress on earth; but, such as it is, He releases [His provisions] in His intended calculated measure: for, indeed, He is very familiar with and ever-watchful over His subjects.

And it is He who brings down [from the skies] regenerating rain after they despaired [of ever receiving reviving rain] and He [in this manner] spreads out His grace: for He alone is the primary sponsor, the praiseworthy patron [for all life-sustaining things].

And [counted] among His demonstrations [of power and authority] is the creation of the heavens and the earth and whatever earth-centric moving creatures He interspersed therein: and He, if He so desires, is supremely capable to gather them together.

Now whatever mishap befalls you, it is because of what you have reaped with your own hands, although He forgives loads [of what you do];

And you [people] cannot elude Him on earth, and besides Him you will have no prime higher-up [official defender] and no senior supporter [on the Day of Judgement].

And among His illustrations [of sanction and prospect] are the sailing ships that glide like mounds through the sea:

If He so wills, He stills the winds, and so they become stationary on the sea’s surface — in that, behold, there are indeed demonstrations [of Allah’s support and authorization] for anyone who is exceedingly patient and extraordinarily thankful;

Or He may have them [the ships] perish because of what they [those on board] wrought — and [withal], He pardons much [of their misconducts].

And let those who quarrel about Our illustrations [of authority and power] know that there is no escape for them.

And [realize that] whatever you have been given as a pleasure [and leisure] amounts to nothing but a [transient] enjoyment of life in this world, but whatever Allah has [in store in the eternal life] is better and more enduring — for those who committed themselves [to Allah] and place their trust in Him;

And who stay away from major sins and flagrant immoralities; and [who], if they turn angry, become forgiving;

And who respond to their Sustainer, and standardize the ṣalāh, and deliberate their [civic] affair through consultation among themselves, and spend out of what He provided for them;

And who, when they are the victims of aggression, opt for supporting [themselves against it].

And [know that] the requiting of an offense is [in some cases] a counter offense of a corresponding nature: therefore, whoever pardons [the offender] and makes amends, his reward is with Allah — for, indeed, He does not favor justice violators.

And, indeed, any who seek to defend themselves after having been oppressed shall bear no blame whatsoever,

Rather, blameworthy are those who oppress people and transgress on earth, having no basis in truth and justice: those are the ones who shall have [sooner or later] an excruciating punishment.

But withal, whoever is patient and forgiving — that indeed is a challenge [most demanding upon human nature].

And whoever goes astray [being that he is dependent on Allah’s social laws in this world] will have no primary superior after such [a decision] of his: and so, you will see such offending transgressors when they visualize the torment [of the hereafter], saying, “Is there a way we can go back [to the world we were in]?”

And you will see them parading in front of it [the fiery punishment] in a state of dread due to [their self-inflicted] degradation, looking around with a sneaky squint [of their eyes], the while the committed muslims will say, “The losers indeed are the ones who squandered themselves and their folks on the Day of Judgement!” Oh, surely, the offending oppressors are located in unremitting suffering,

And they will have had no primary patrons to come to their support once they excluded Allah [from being their primary patron]: and whoever [because of his worldly wrongheaded choices] Allah lets go astray will find no way out [of his deviant course].

[Thus, O people], act in response to your Sustainer before the arrival, at Allah’s command, of a Day that no one can turn aroound — [for] on that Day, none of you will have a shelter-place, and none of you will be able to negate your sins.

And if they are to turn away [and disregard your warnings] then [know that] We have not sent you [Muhammad] as their keeper; you only have to communicate [and explain] to them [Our message]. And if We were truly to have social beings experience Our grace [of affluence in the world] they become happy with it, but if they are beleaguered by trouble that they brought upon themselves with their own hands then [know that], surely, social beings are [prone to being] extremely bereft of gratitude!

To Allah belongs the dominion [and control] of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills: He grants an offspring of females to whomever He wills, and grants to whomever He wills males;

Or He gives both male and female to couples [as He wills], and causes to be barren [whomever He wills]: for, surely, He is infinitely knowledgeable, outstandingly capable.

And it has never occurred that Allah should speak to a [mortal] human except through revelation or from behind a [concealing] buffer, or by sending an [angelic] envoy to convey [to the apostle or prophet], by His permission, whatever He wills [to be conveyed]: for, verily, He is most-high, most-wise.

And in such a manner did We reveal to you [O Muhammad] an invigorating spirit out of Our command. You did not know [in the years before revelation] what scripture is, nor what divine [and responsible] commitment is: but We have rendered it [revealed scripture] an enlightenment by which We guide whomever We will of Our [devoted] subjects. And you, indeed, guide [people] to a straight course [of action and salvation] —

The [defined] course of [and to] Allah, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Oh, indeed, all affairs wind up with Allah [eventually].