7al-A‘rāfThe Faculty of Discernmentسُورَةُ الأعراف

Alif-Lām-Mīm-Ṣād [A-L-M-Ṣ].

A divine Writ has been granted from on high to you — let there be no doubt about this in your conscience — in order that you may warn [the erring] thereby, and raise the cognizance of the committed muslims,

“Follow what has been sent down to you by your Sustainer, and follow no chiefs other than Him.” How seldom do you keep this in mind!

And how many a [rebellious] community have We destroyed with Our punishment as it was slumbering at night, or while they were resting at noontide!

And when Our severe punishment came upon them, they had nothing to say for themselves, and could only cry, “Verily, we were wrongdoers!”

Thus [on Judgement Day], We shall most certainly call to account all those to whom a [divine] message was sent, and We shall most certainly call to account the message-bearers [themselves];

And thereupon We shall most certainly reveal to them Our knowledge [of their doings]: for never have We been absent [from them and their doings].

And true and fair will be the weighing [of their deeds] on that Day: and those whose weight [of good deeds] is substantial in the balance — it is they, they who shall be successful;

Whereas those whose weight [of good deeds] is light in the balance — it is they who will have squandered their own selves by their willful rejection of Our messages [of divine power and Godly authority].

Yes, indeed, [O people], We have given you a [bountiful and firm] place on earth, and appointed thereon means of livelihood for you: [yet] how seldom are you grateful!

Yes, indeed, We have created you, and then featured you; and then We said to the angels, “Prostrate yourselves before Adam!” — whereupon they [all] prostrated [themselves], save Iblīs: he was not among those who prostrated.

[And Allah] said, “What has kept you from prostrating yourself when I commanded you [to do so]?” Answered [Iblīs], “I am better than he: You have created me out of fire, whereas him You have created out of clay.”

[Allah] said, “Down with you, then, from this [state] — for it is not meant for you to show arrogance here! Go away then: verily, among the humiliated you shall be!”

Said [Iblīs], “Grant me a respite until the Day when all shall be raised from the dead.”

[And Allah] replied, “Verily, you shall be among those who are granted a respite.”

[Whereupon Iblīs] said, “Now that You have allowed me to err, I shall most certainly lie in ambush for them all along Your straight way,

“And I shall most certainly fall upon them head-on as well as in a manner beyond their awareness, and from their right and from their left: and most of them You will find ungrateful.”

[And Allah] said, “Out of here, disgraced and disowned! [And] as for such of them as follow you, I will most certainly fill Hell with you all!

“And [as for you], O Adam, dwell you and your wife in this garden, and eat, both of you, whatever you may wish; but do not approach this one tree, lest you both become evildoers!”

Thereupon Satan whispered to the two with a view to making them conscious of their nakedness, of which [hitherto] they had been unaware; and he said, “Your Sustainer has but forbidden you this tree lest you two become [as] angels, or lest you live forever.”

And he swore to them, “Verily, I am of those who wish you well indeed!” —

And thus he led them on with deluding thoughts. But as soon as the two had tasted [the fruit] of the tree, they became conscious of their nakedness; and they began to cover themselves with pieced-together leaves from the garden. And their Sustainer called to them, “Did I not forbid that tree to you and tell you, ‘Verily, Satan is your open foe’?”

The two replied, “O our Sustainer! We have sinned against ourselves, and unless You grant us forgiveness and bestow Your mercy upon us, we shall most certainly be among the losers!”

Said He, “Down with you, [as you made it possible to be] enemies to one another, having on earth your abode and joyful livelihood for a while:

“There shall you live” — He added — “and there shall you die, and thereafter shall you be brought forth [on Resurrection Day]!”

O children of Adam! Indeed, We have bestowed upon you from on high [the knowledge of making] garments to cover your nakedness, and as a thing of beauty: but the garment of a person’s awareness of Allah’s power is the best of all. Herein rests an authoritative message from Allah, so that they might take it to heart.

O children of Adam! Do not allow Satan to seduce you in the same way as he caused your ancestors to be driven out of the garden [in Paradise]: he deprived them of their garment [of guarding against Allah’s immediate power presence] in order to make them aware of their nakedness. Verily, he and his tribe are lying in wait for you where you cannot perceive them! Verily, We have placed [all manner of] satanic forces as backers [advocates] of those who do not [truly] commit themselves [to Allah’s power presence and overwhelming authority].

And [so], whenever they commit a shameful deed, they are inclined to say, “We found our forefathers doing it,” and, “Allah has enjoined it upon us.” Say, “Behold, never does Allah enjoin deeds of abomination. Would you attribute unto Allah something of which you have no knowledge?”

Say, “My Sustainer has [but] enjoined the doing of social justice; and [He desires you to] put your whole being into every act of compliance [to Him], and to call unto Him, sincere in your faith-responsibilities to Him alone. As it was He who brought you into being in the first instance, so also [unto Him] you will return:

“Some [of you] He will have graced with His guidance, whereas for some a straying from the right path will have become unavoidable; for, behold, they will have taken [their own] satanic evil impulses for their masters in preference to Allah, thinking all the while that they have found the right path!”

O children of Adam! Beautify yourselves for every act of reverence, and eat and drink [freely], but do not waste: verily, He does not love the wasteful!

Say, “Who is there to forbid the beauty that Allah has brought forth for His conforming subjects, and the good and healthy foods from among the means of sustenance?” Say, “They are [lawful] in the life of this world to all who are committed [to Allah] — to be theirs alone on Resurrection Day.” Thus clearly do We spell out these messages to people of knowledge!

Say, “Verily, my Sustainer has forbidden only shameful deeds, be they open or secret, and [every kind of] sinning, and unjustified aggression, and the ascribing of divinity/ authority to any beside Him — since He has never bestowed any warrant therefor from on high — and the attributing unto Allah of anything at all of which you have no knowledge.”

And for every ummah a term has been set: and when [the end of] their term approaches, they can neither delay it by a single moment, nor can they hasten it.

O children of Adam! Whenever there come to you apostles of your own, conveying My messages [of power and authority] to you, then all who are on guard concerning Me [and my power presence] and live righteously — no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve;

But those who give the lie to Our messages and scorn them in their pride — these are destined for the Fire, therein to abide.

And who could be more wicked than those who attribute their own lying inventions to Allah or give the lie to His messages [of miraculous power and sole authority]? Whatever has been decreed to be their lot [in life] will be theirs — until there shall come to them Our [angelic] messengers to cause them to expire, [and who] shall say, “Where, now, are those beings whom you were in the habit of invoking beside Allah?” And [those sinners] will reply, “They have forsaken us!” — and [thus] they will bear witness against themselves that they had been denying the truth [about Allah’s power and authority].

[And Allah] will say, “Join those legions of invisible beings and humans who have gone before you into the Fire!” [And] every time a legion enters [the Fire], it will curse its counterpart — so much so that, when they all shall have passed into it, one after another, the last of them will speak [thus] of the first of them, “O our Sustainer! It is they who have led us astray: give, them, therefore, double suffering through fire!” He will reply, “Every one of you deserves double suffering — but you know it not.”

And the first of them will say to the last of them, “So you were in no way superior to us! Taste, then, this suffering for all [the evil] you were disposed to do!”

Verily, to those who dispute Our messages [of amazing power and final authority] and scorn them in their pride, the gates of Heaven shall not be opened; and they shall not enter Paradise any more than a twisted rope can pass through a needle’s eye: for thus do We requite such as are criminals.

Hell will be their resting-place and their covering as well: for thus do We requite the evildoers.

But those who commit themselves [to Us] and do righteous deeds — [and] We do not burden any human being with more than he is well able to bear — they are destined for Paradise, therein to abide,

After We shall have removed whatever unworthy thoughts or feelings may have been [lingering] in their bosoms. Running waters will flow at their feet; and they will say, “All praise is due to Allah, who has guided us to this; for we would certainly not have found the right path unless Allah had guided us! Indeed, our Sustainer’s apostles have told us the truth [about justice]!” And [a voice] will call out to them, “This is the Paradise you have inherited by virtue of your past deeds!”

And the folks of Paradise will call out to the inmates of the Fire, “Now we have found that what our Sustainer promised us has come true; have you, too, found that what your Sustainer promised has come true?” [The others] will answer, “Yes!” — whereupon from their midst a voice will loudly proclaim, “Allah’s rejection is the due of the evildoers,

“Who turn others away from Allah’s path and try to make it appear crooked, and who refuse to acknowledge the truth of the life to come!”

And between the two there will be a barrier. And there will be persons who [in life] were endowed with the faculty of discernment [between right and wrong], recognizing each by its mark. And they will call out to the folks of Paradise, “Peace be upon you!” — not having entered it themselves, but longing [for it].

And whenever their eyes are turned toward the inmates of the Fire, they will cry, “O our Sustainer! Place us not among the people who have been guilty of evildoing!”

And they who [in life] had possessed this faculty of discernment will call out to those whom they recognize by their marks [as sinners], saying, “What has your amassing [of wealth] availed you, and all the false pride of your past?

“Are those [blessed and God-conscious ones] the self-same people of whom you once solemnly declared, ‘Never will Allah bestow His grace upon them’? [For now they have been told] ‘Enter Paradise; no fear need you have, and neither shall you grieve!’ ”

And the inmates of the Fire will call out to the folks of Paradise, “Pour down water upon us, or some of the sustenance [of Paradise] that Allah has provided for you!” [The folks of Paradise] will reply, “Verily, Allah has denied both to those who have denied the truth [concerning His dominance and revealed evidence] —

“Those who, lured by the life of this world, have made play and passing delights their religion!” [And Allah will say], “And so We shall be oblivious of them today as they were oblivious of the coming of this, their Day [of Judgement], and as Our [astounding power] messages they did deny.

“For, indeed, We did convey to them a divine writ that We clearly, and perceptively spelled out — a guidance and a grace to people who will commit [themselves to Us].”

Are [the deniers of Allah’s power] but waiting for the final meaning of that [Day of Judgement] to unfold? [But] on the Day when its final meaning is unfolded, those who aforetime had been oblivious thereof will say, “Our Sustainer’s apostles have indeed approached us with the truth! Have we, then, any intercessors who could intercede on our behalf? Or could we be brought back [to life] so that we might act otherwise than we were inclined to act?” Indeed, they will have squandered their own selves, and all their false imagery will have forsaken them.

Verily, your Sustainer is Allah, who has created the heavens and the earth in six eons, and is established on the throne of His almightiness. He covers the day with the night in swift pursuit, with the Sun and the Moon and the stars [being] utilities [for humanity] due to His command: oh, verily, His is all creation and all command. Hallowed is Allah, the Sustainer of all the worlds!

Call upon your Sustainer humbly, and in the secrecy of your hearts. Verily, He does not love those who are belligerent:

Hence, do not spread corruption on earth after it has been so well ordered. And call upon Him with fear and yearning: verily, Allah’s grace is ever near to the doers of good!

And He it is who sends forth the winds as a glad tiding of His coming grace — so that, when they have brought heavy clouds, We may drive them toward dead land and cause thereby water to descend; and by this means do We cause all manner of crops to come forth. Even thus shall We cause the dead to come forth: [and this] you ought to keep in mind.

As for the good land, its vegetation comes forth [in abundance] by its Sustainer’s leave, whereas from the bad it comes forth but poorly. Thus do We give many facets to Our implications [of power and authority] for [the benefit of] people who are grateful!

Indeed, We sent forth Nūḥ to his people, and he said, “O my people! Conform to Allah alone: you have no deity/authority other than Him. Verily, I fear lest suffering befall you on an awesome Day!”

The elites among his people replied, “Verily, we see that you are obviously lost in error!”

Said [Nūḥ], “O my people! There is no error in me, but I am an apostle from the Sustainer of all the worlds.

“I am delivering to you my Sustainer’s messages and giving you good advice: for I know [through revelation] from Allah what you do not know.

“Why, do you deem it strange that a consciousness from your Sustainer should have come to you through a man from among yourselves, so that he might warn you, and that you might avert Allah [concerning His power for justice], and that you might be graced with His mercy?”

And yet they contradicted him! And so We saved him and those who stood by him, in the ark, the while We caused those who contradicted Our messages [that substantiate Our power] to drown: verily, they were blind folk!

And to [the tribe/nation of] ‘Ād [We sent] their brother Hūd. He said, “O my people! Conform to Allah alone: you have no deity/ authority other than Him. Will you not, then, be on guard [concerning His power presence in this world]?”

Said the elites among his people, who refused to acknowledge the truth [pertaining to Allah’s sole authority and unique power], “Verily, we see that you are weak-minded; and, verily, we think that you are a liar!”

Said [Hūd], “O my people! There is no weak- mindedness in me, but I am an apostle from the Sustainer of all the worlds.

“I am delivering to you my Sustainer’s messages and I am honestly and sincerely advising you.

“Why, do you deem it strange that a consciousness from your Sustainer should have come to you through a man from among yourselves, so that he might warn you? Do but remember how He made you heirs to Nūḥ’s people, and endowed you abundantly with power: remember, then, Allah’s blessings, so that you might be successful!”

They answered, “Have you come to us [with the demand] that we conform to Allah alone, and give up all that our forefathers were accustomed to revere? Bring about, then, that [punishment] with which you have threatened us, if you are a man of truth!”

Said [Hūd], “You are already beset by loathsome evil and by your Sustainer’s condemnation! Do you argue with me about the [empty] names you have invented — you and your forefathers — for which Allah has bestowed no warrant from on high? Wait, then, [for what will happen]: verily, I shall wait with you!”

And so, by Our grace, We saved him and those who stood by him, the while We wiped out the last remnant of those who disputed Our [power and powerful] messages and would not commit themselves [to Us].

And to [the tribal nation of] Thamūd [We sent] their brother Ṣāliḥ. He said, “O my people! Conform to Allah alone: you have no deity/ authority other than Him. Clear evidence of the truth has now come to you from your Sustainer. This she-camel belonging to Allah shall be a token for you: so leave her alone to pasture on Allah’s earth, and do her no harm, lest grievous chastisement befall you.

“And remember how He made you heirs to [the tribal nation of] ‘Ād and settled you firmly on earth, so that you [are able to] build for yourselves castles on its plains and hew out mountains [to serve you] as dwellings: remember, then, Allah’s blessings, and do not act mischievously on earth by spreading corruption.”

The elites among his people, who gloried in their arrogance toward all who were deemed weak, said to the committed [faithful] among them, “Do you [really] know that Ṣāliḥ has been sent by his Sustainer?” They answered, “Verily, we believe in and commit ourselves to the message he bears.”

[But] the arrogant ones said, “Behold, what you have come to commit to we refuse to regard as true!”

And then they cruelly slaughtered the she- camel, and turned with disdain from their Sustainer’s commandment, and said, “O Ṣāliḥ! Bring about that [punishment] with which you have threatened us, if you are truly one of Allah’s message-bearers!”

Thereupon a shocking tremor overtook them: and then they lay lifeless, in their very homes, on the ground.

And [Ṣāliḥ] turned away from them, and said, “O my people! Indeed, I delivered to you my Sustainer’s message and gave you good advice, but you did not love those who gave [you] good advice.”

And [remember] Lūṭ, when he said to his people, “Why do you commit abominations [moral depravity] such as none in all the world has ever done before you?

“Verily, with lust you approach men instead of women: no, but you are people given to excesses [bypassing man’s God-given state of nature]!”

But his people’s only answer was this, “Expel them from your land! Verily, they are folk who make themselves out to be pure!”

Thereupon We saved him and his household, except his wife, who was among those who stayed behind [and doomed herself],

The while We rained a rain [of destruction] upon the others: and behold what happened in the end to those people lost in [scandalous] sin!

And to [the people of] Madyan [We sent] their brother Shu‘ayb. He said, “O my people! Conform unto Allah alone: you have no deity/ authority other than Him. Clear evidence of the truth has now come to you from your Sustainer. Give, therefore, full measure and weight [in all your market activities and dealings], and do not deprive people of what is rightfully theirs; and do not spread corruption on earth after it has been so well ordered: [all] this is for your own good, if you would but commit [to Allah].

“And do not lie in ambush by every road [that leads to the truth], threatening and trying to turn away from Allah’s path all who have committed to Him, and trying to make it [Allah’s path] appear crooked. And remember [the time] when you were few, and [how] He made you many: and behold what happened in the end to the spreaders of corruption!

“And if there be some among you who have come to believe [and commit] to the message I bear, the while the others do not [similarly] believe, then have patience in adversity until Allah shall judge between us [and them]: for He is the best of all judges!”1

Said the elites among his people, who gloried in their arrogance, “Most certainly, O Shu‘ayb, we shall expel you and your fellow commitment-bearers from our social order, unless you indeed return to our ways!” Said [Shu‘ayb], “Why, even though we abhor [your ways]?

“We would be guilty of blaspheming against Allah were we to return to your ways [of greed and market manipulations] after Allah has saved us from them! It is not conceivable that we should return to them — unless Allah, our Sustainer, so wills. All things does our Sustainer embrace within His knowledge; in Allah we place our trust. O our Sustainer! Advance the truth between us and our people — for You are the best of all to advance the truth!”

But the elites among his people, who were bent on denying the truth [about Allah’s overriding authority and ultimate power], said [to his followers], “Indeed, if you follow Shu‘ayb, you will, verily, be the losers!”

Thereupon a shocking tremor overtook them: and then they lay lifeless, in their very homes, on the ground —

They who had contradicted Shu‘ayb — as though they had never lived there: they who had given the lie to Shu‘ayb — it was they who were the losers!

And he turned away from them, and said, “O my people! Indeed, I delivered to you my Sustainer’s messages and gave you good advice: how, then, could I mourn for people who have denied the [revealed] truth?”

And never yet have We sent a prophet to any civil society without trying its people with trouble and hardship, so that they might humble themselves;

Then We transformed the affliction into ease of life, so that they thrived and said [to themselves], “Trouble and hardship befell our forefathers as well” — whereupon We took them to task, all of a sudden, without their being aware [of what was coming].

Yet if the people of those societies had but committed themselves to Allah and been on their guard [concerning Allah’s fair punishment], We would indeed have opened up for them blessings out of heaven and earth; but they disputed the truth — and so We took them to task through what they [themselves] had been gaining.

Can, then, the people of any community ever feel secure that Our punishment will not come upon them by night-lodging, while they are asleep?

Or, can the people of any society ever feel secure that Our severity [of punishment] will not come upon them in broad daylight, while they are engaged in [worldly] entertainment?

Can they, then, ever feel secure from Allah’s deep devising? For none feels secure from Allah’s deep devising save people who are [already] lost.

Has it, then, not become obvious to those who have inherited the earth in the wake of former generations that, if We so willed, We could smite them [too] by means of their sins, sealing their hearts so that they cannot hear [the truth about this matter]?

To those [earlier] societies — some of whose stories We [now] relate to you — there had indeed come apostles of their own with all evidence of the truth [pertaining to Allah’s authority and power]; but they would not commit themselves to anything to which they had once disputed: thus it is that Allah seals the hearts of those who deny the truth [relevant to His authority and power];

And in most of them We found no bond with anything that is divinely reasoned and validated — and most of them We found to be iniquitous and degenerate indeed.

And after those [early people] We sent Moses with Our [power] messages to Pharaoh and his elite, and they willfully rejected them: and behold what happened in the end to those spreaders of corruption!

And Moses said, “O Pharaoh! Verily, I am an apostle from the Sustainer of all the worlds,

“It behooves me not to say anything about Allah but the truth. I have now come to you with clear evidence from your Sustainer: let, then, the Children of Israel go with me!”

Said [Pharaoh], “If you have come with a sign [of power and ability], produce it — if you are a man of truth!”

Thereupon [Moses] threw down his staff, and lo! It was a serpent, plainly visible;

And he drew forth his hand, and lo! It appeared [shining] white to the beholders.

The elites among Pharaoh’s people said, “Verily, this is indeed a sorcerer of great knowledge,

“Who wants to drive you out of your land!” [Said Pharaoh], “What, then, do you require?”

They answered, “Let him and his brother wait awhile, and send to all cities heralds,

“Who shall bring before you every sorcerer of great knowledge.”

And the sorcerers came to Pharaoh saying, “Verily, we ought to have a great reward if it is we who prevail.”

Answered [Pharaoh], “Yes; and, verily, you shall be among those who are near and dear to me.”

They said, “O Moses! Either you shall throw [your staff first], or we shall [be the first to] throw.”

He answered, “You throw [first].” And when they threw down [their staffs], they cast a spell upon the people’s eyes, and struck them with awe, and produced mighty sorcery.

And [then] We inspired Moses, “Throw down your staff!” — and lo! It swallowed up all their artificial deceptions:

Whereupon the truth was established, and annulled and exposed was all that they [the sorcerers] had been doing.

And thus were they vanquished there and then, and became pathetically humiliated.

And down fell the sorcerers, prostrating themselves,

[And] exclaiming, “We have come to believe and commit to the Sustainer of all the worlds,

“The Sustainer of Moses and Aaron!”

Said Pharaoh, “Have you come to believe and abide by him [Moses] before I have given you permission? Behold, this is indeed a plot you have cunningly devised in this [my] city in order to drive out its people hence! But in time you shall come to know [my revenge]:

“Most certainly shall I cut off your hands and your feet in great numbers, because of [your] perverseness, and then I shall most certainly crucify you in great numbers, all together!”

They answered, “Verily, unto our Sustainer do we revert —

“For you take vengeance on us only because we have come to believe and commit to our Sustainer’s messages [of power] as soon as they came to us. O our Sustainer! Inundate us with patience in adversity, and make us die in a state of surrender to You!”

And the elites among Pharaoh’s people said, “Will you allow Moses and his people to spread corruption on earth, and to [cause your people to] forsake you and your gods?” Pharaoh replied, “We shall slay their sons in great numbers and shall spare [only] their women: for, verily, we hold sway over them!”

[And] Moses said to his people, “Turn to Allah for aid, and have patience in hard times. Verily, all the earth belongs to Allah: He gives it as a heritage to such as He wills of His subjects; and the future belongs to people conscious and observant [of Allah’s power presence]!”

[But] they [the Children of Israel] said, “We have suffered hurt before you [Mūsā] came to us and since you have come to us!” [Mūsā] replied, “It may well be that your Sustainer will destroy your foe and make you responsibly inherit the earth: and thereupon He will behold how you act.”

And most certainly did We overwhelm Pharaoh’s people with drought and scarcity of crops, so that they might take it to heart.

But whenever good fortune alighted upon them, they would say, “This is [but] our due”; and whenever affliction befell them, they would blame their evil fortune on Moses and those who followed him. Oh, verily, their [evil] fortune had been decreed by Allah — but most of them knew it not.

And they said [to Moses], “Whatever sign [of power] you may produce before us in order to cast a spell upon us thereby, we shall not believe or trust you!”

Thereupon We let loose upon them floods, and [plagues of] locusts, and lice, and frogs, and [water turning into] blood — distinct [power] signs [all]; but they gloried in their arrogance, for they were people lost in criminal sin.

And whenever a disaster struck them, they would cry, “O Moses, pray for us to your Sustainer on the strength of the covenant [of prophethood] He has made with you! If you eliminate this disaster from us, we will truly believe in you, and will let the Children of Israel go with you!”

But whenever We removed the disaster from them, giving them time to make good their promise, lo! They would break their word.

And so We inflicted Our retribution on them, and caused them to drown in the sea, because they had contested Our [power] messages and had been heedless of them.

Whereas to the people who [in the past] had been deemed powerless, We gave as their heritage the eastern and western parts of the land that We had blessed. And [thus] your Sustainer’s good promise to the Children of Israel was fulfilled in result of their patience in hardship; whereas We utterly destroyed all that Pharaoh and his people had wrought, and all that they had assembled [and erected].

And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea; and thereupon they came upon people who were devoted to the adulation of some idols of theirs. Said [the Children of Israel], “O Moses, set up for us a god in the same manner that they have gods!” He replied, “Verily, you are people without any awareness [of right and wrong]!

“As for these [with idol deities] here — verily, their way of life is bound to lead to destruction; and worthless is all that they have ever done!”

[And] he said, “Am I to seek for you a deity/ authority other than Allah, although it is He who has favored you above all other people?”

And [he reminded them of this word of Allah], “Lo! We saved you from Pharaoh’s people who afflicted you with cruel suffering, slaying your sons in great numbers and sparing [only] your women — which was an awesome trial from your Sustainer.”

And [then] We appointed for Moses thirty nights [on Mt. Sinai]; and We added to them ten, whereby the term of forty nights set by his Sustainer was fulfilled. And Moses said to his brother Aaron, “You take my place among my people; and act righteously, and follow not the path of the spoilers and spreaders of corruption.”

And when Moses came [to Mt. Sinai] at the time set by Us, and his Sustainer spoke to him, he said, “O my Sustainer! Show [Yourself] to me, so that I might behold You!” Said [Allah], “Never can you see Me. However, behold this mountain: if it remains firm in its place, then — only then — will you see Me.” And as soon as his Sustainer revealed His glory to the mountain, He caused it to crumble to dust; and Moses fell down in a swoon. And when he regained consciousness, he said, “Limitless are You in Your glory! Unto You do I turn in repentance; and I shall [always] be the first to commit to You!”

Said [Allah], “O Moses! Behold, I have raised you above all people by virtue of the messages I have entrusted to you, and by virtue of My speaking [to you]: hold fast, therefore, to what I have vouchsafed you, and be among the grateful!”

And We ordained for him in the tablets [of the Law] all manner of admonition, clearly spelling out everything. And [We said], “Hold fast to them with [all your] strength and determination, and bid your people to hold fast to their most goodly rules.” I will show you the way the degenerate iniquitous shall go.

From My illustrations of power and authority shall I divert those who, without any right, behave haughtily on earth: for, though they may see every sign [of the truth-in-power], they do not commit to it, and though they may see the path of rectitude, they do not choose to follow it — whereas, if they see a path of error, they adopt it as their own: this, because they have contested Our messages, and have remained heedless of them.

Hence, all who contest Our messages, and [thus] the truth of the life to come, in vain shall be all their doings: [for] are they to be rewarded for anything but what they were in the habit of doing?

And in his absence the people of Moses took to revering the effigy of a calf [made] of their ornaments, which gave forth a mooing sound [of a bull]. Did they not see that it could neither speak to them nor guide them in any way? [And yet] they took to venerating it, for they were evildoers:

Although [later], when they would smite their hands in remorse, having perceived that they had gone astray, they would say, “Indeed, unless our Sustainer has mercy on us and grants us forgiveness, we shall most certainly be counted among the losers.”

And when Moses returned to his people, full of wrath and sorrow, he exclaimed, “Dreadful is the course you have followed in my absence! Have you forsaken your Sustainer’s commandment?” And he threw down the tablets [of the Law], and seized his brother’s head, dragging him toward himself. Cried Aaron, “O my mother’s son! Behold, the people strong- armed me and almost slew me: so let not my enemies rejoice at my affliction, and count me not among the evildoing folk!”

Said [Moses], “O my Sustainer! Grant for-giveness to me and my brother, and admit us into Your grace: for You are the most merciful of the merciful!”

[And to Aaron he said], “Verily, as for those who have taken to idolizing the [golden] calf, their Sustainer’s condemnation will overtake them, and ignominy [will be their lot] in the life of this world!” For thus do We requite all who invent [such] falsehood.

But as for those who do bad deeds and afterward repent and [truly] commit themselves [to Us] — verily, after such repentance your Sustainer is indeed much-forgiving, always merciful!

And when Moses’ wrath was stilled, he took up the tablets, in the writing whereof there was guidance and grace for all who stood in awe of their Sustainer.

And Moses chose out of his people seventy men to come [and pray for forgiveness] at a time set by Us. Then, when violent trembling seized them, he prayed, “O my Sustainer! Had You so willed, You would have destroyed them before this, and me [with them]. Will You destroy us for what the weak-minded among us have done? [All] this is but a trial from You, whereby You allow to go astray whom You will, and guide aright whom You will. You are superbly near to us: grant us, then, forgiveness and have mercy on us — for You are the best of all forgivers!

“And [O Allah] ordain for us what is good in this world as well as in the life to come: behold, unto You have we turned in repentance!” [Allah] answered, “With My chastisement do I afflict whom I will, but My grace accommodates everything: and so I shall confer it on those who are conscious of Me and are socially responsible with their wealth, and who commit themselves to Our messages [pertaining to Our power and authority] —

“Those who shall follow the [last] Apostle, the prophet belonging to people without previous scriptures, whom they shall find described in the Torah that is with them, and [later on] in the Gospel, [the Prophet] who will put the self-evident truth into law and abolish the self-evident offense [from society], and make lawful to them the good and healthy things of life and forbid them the bad and toxic things, and lift from them their burdens and the shackles that were upon them [aforetime]. Those, therefore, who shall dedicate themselves to him, and honor him, and support him, and follow the light that has been bestowed from on high through him — it is they who shall be effective.”

Say [O Muhammad], “O mankind! Verily, I am an apostle of Allah to all of you, [sent by Him] unto whom the dominion over the heavens and the earth belongs! There is no deity/ authority save Him; He [alone] grants life and deals death!” Commit, then, to Allah and His Apostle — the prophet belonging to people without previous scriptures, who is committed to Allah and His words — and follow him, so that you might find guidance!

And among the folk of Moses there have been a band of people who would guide [others] in the way of the truth and act justly in its light.

And We divided them into twelve tribes, [or] communities. And when his people asked Moses for water, We inspired him, “Strike the rock with your staff!” — whereupon twelve springs gushed forth from it, so that all the people knew whence to drink. And We caused the clouds to comfort them with their shade, and We sent down to them manna [choice vegetation] and quails [choice meat], [saying], “Partake of the good things We have provided for you as sustenance.” And [by all their sinning] they did no harm to Us — but [only] against their own selves did they transgress.

And [remember] when you were told, “Dwell in this land and eat of its food as you may desire; but say, ‘Remove You from us the burden of our sins,’ and make your debut into that land [of yours] with humility — [whereupon] We shall forgive you your sins [and] shall amply reward the doers of good.”

But those among them who were bent on wrongdoing substituted another saying to substitute for the one they were given: and so We let loose against them a plague from heaven in requital of all their evil doings.

And ask them about the town that stood by the sea: how its people would profane the Sabbath whenever their fish came to them, breaking the water’s surface, on a day on which they ought to have kept Sabbath — because they [the fish] would not come to them on other than Sabbath-days! Thus did We try them by means of their [own] out of character and iniquitous doings.

And whenever a caucus among them asked [those who tried to restrain the Sabbath-breakers], “Why do you preach to people whom Allah is about to destroy or [at least] to chastise with suffering severe?” — [the observant ones would] answer, “In order to be free from blame before your Sustainer, and that these [transgressors, too], might become conscious of Him [and His immediate power presence].”

And thereupon, when those [sinners] had forgotten all they had been told to take to heart, We saved those who had tried to prevent the doing of evil, and overwhelmed those who had been bent on evildoing with dreadful suffering for all their degenerate iniquity;

And then, when they disdainfully persisted in doing what they had been forbidden to do, We said to them, “Be as apes despicable!”

And lo! Your Sustainer made it known that most certainly He would stir up against them, until Resurrection Day, people who would afflict them with cruel suffering: verily, your Sustainer is swift in retribution — yet, verily, He is [also] much-forgiving, very merciful.

And We dispersed them as [separate] communities all over the earth — some of them were righteous, and some of them less than that; and the latter We tried with blessings as well as with afflictions, so that they might mend their ways.

And they have been succeeded by [new] generations who — [in spite of] having inherited the divine writ — clutch but at the fleeting good of this lower world and say, “We shall be forgiven,” the while they are ready, if another such fleeting good should come their way, to clutch at it [and sin again]. Have they not been solemnly pledged through the divine writ not to attribute unto Allah anything but what is true, and [have they not] read again and again all that is therein? Since the life in the hereafter is the better [of the two] for all who are conscious of Allah [and avoid His power-for-justice punishment] — will you not, then, use your reason?

And as for those who hold fast to the divine writ and standardize the ṣalāh [in society], verily, We shall not fail to requite these [standard-bearers] who improve [their conditions]!

And [did We not say] when We caused Mt. Sinai to quake above the Children of Israel as though it were a [mere] shadow, and they thought that it would fall upon them, “Hold fast with [all your] strength to what We have vouchsafed you, and bear in mind all that is therein, so that you might remain conscious of Allah [His power and authority].”

And bear in mind your Sustainer as He brings forth their offspring from the children of Adam, He [thus] calls upon them to bear witness about themselves [saying], “Am I not your Sustainer?” — to which they answer, “Yes, indeed, we do bear witness thereto!” [Of this, We remind you] lest you say on the Day of Resurrection, “Verily, we were unaware of this”;

Or lest you say, “Verily, it was but our forefathers who, in times gone by, began to ascribe divinity/authority to other beings beside God; and we were but their late offspring: will You, then, destroy us for the doings of those inventors of falsehoods?”

And thus clearly do We spell out these [authoritative] messages; and [We do it] so that they [who have sinned] might return [to Us].

And tell them what happens to him to whom We vouchsafed Our [authoritative] messages and who then discards them: Satan catches up with him, and he strays, like so many others, into grievous error.

Now had We so willed, We could indeed have exalted him by means of those [authoritative messages], but he always clung to the earth and followed but his own desires. Thus, his parable is that of an [excited] dog: if you approach him threateningly, he will pant with his tongue lolling; and if you leave him alone, he will pant with his tongue lolling. Such is the parable of those who are bent on contesting Our [authoritative] messages. Tell [them], then, this story, so that they might take thought.

Evil is the example of people who are bent on contesting Our [authoritative] messages, for it is their own selves that they are abusing.

He whom Allah guides, he alone is truly guided; whereas those whom He lets go astray — it is they, they who are the losers!

And most certainly have We destined for Hell many of the invisible beings and human beings who have hearts with which they fail to grasp the truth, and eyes with which they fail to see, and ears with which they fail to hear. They are like cattle — no, they are even less conscious of the right way: it is they, they who are the [truly] heedless!

And Allah’s [alone] are the attributes of perfection; invoke Him, then, by these, and stand aloof from all who distort the meaning of His attributes: they shall be requited for all they were in the habit of doing.

Now, among those whom We have created there are consolidated communities who guide [others] in the way of the truth and act justly in its light.

But as for those who are bent on contesting Our [authoritative] messages, We shall bring them low, step by step, without their perceiving how it came about:

For, behold, though I may give them rein for a while, My subtle scheme is exceedingly firm!

Has it, then never occurred to them that there is no madness whatsoever in [this] their fellow-man [Muhammad]? He is only a plain warner.

Have they, then, never considered [Allah’s] mighty dominion over the heavens and the earth, and all the things that Allah has created, and [asked themselves] whether, perchance, the end of their own term might already have drawn near? In what other conversation, then, will they, after this, have confidence?

For those whom Allah lets go astray, there is no guide; and He shall leave them in their overweening arrogance, blindly stumbling to and fro.

They will ask you [O Prophet] about the Last Hour, “When will it come to pass?” Say, “Verily, knowledge thereof rests with my Sustainer alone. None but He will reveal it in its time. Heavily will it weigh on the heavens and the earth; [and] it will not fall upon you otherwise than of a sudden.” They will ask you — as if you could gain insight into this [mystery] by dint of persistent inquiry! Say, “Knowledge thereof rests with my Sustainer alone, but [of this] most people are unaware.”

Say [O Prophet], “It is not within my power to bring benefit to, or avert harm from myself, except as Allah may please. And if I knew that which is beyond the reach of human perception, abundant good fortune would surely have fallen to my lot, and no evil would ever have touched me. I am nothing but a warner, and a herald of glad tidings to people who will commit [to Allah].”

It is He who has created you [all] out of one living entity, and out of it brought into being its mate, so that the mate might incline [with love] toward it [its counterpart]. And so, when he has submerged her, she conceives [what at first is] a light burden, and continues to bear it. Then, when she grows heavy [with the child], they both call unto Allah, their Sustainer, “If You indeed grant us a sound [child], we shall most certainly be among the grateful!”

And yet, as soon as He has granted them sound [offspring], they begin to ascribe to other powers beside Him a share in bringing about what He has granted them! Sublimely exalted, however, is Allah — above anything to which people may ascribe a share in His divinity/authority.

Will they, then, ascribe divinity/authority, side by side with Him, to beings that cannot create anything — since they themselves are created —

And who neither are able to give them support nor can they support themselves,

And, if you pray to them [the false deities/authorities] for guidance, they do not respond to you? As far as you are concerned, it is all the same whether you invoke them or keep silent.

Verily, all those whom you invoke beside Allah are but created beings like yourselves: invoke them, then, and let them answer your prayer — if what you claim is true!

Have these [figures/false deities], perchance, feet on which they could walk? Or have they hands with which they could strike? Or have they eyes with which they could see? Or have they ears with which they could hear? Say [O Prophet], “Summon to your aid [O mushriks] all those to whom you ascribe a share in Allah’s authority/divinity, and thereupon contrive [anything you may wish] against me, and give me no respite!

“Verily, my prime protector is Allah, who has bestowed this divine Writ from on high: for it is He who protects the righteous,

“Whereas all those whom you invoke in His stead are neither able to give you support nor can they support themselves;

And if you pray to them [the human and material] for guidance, they do not hear [and fulfill]; and though you may imagine that they behold you, they do not see.”

Make due allowance for man’s [erring] nature, and insist on the doing of what is right; and leave alone all those who choose to remain ignorant [of Our guidance].

And if it should happen that a prompting from Satan stirs you up [to blind anger], seek refuge with Allah: behold, He is all-hearing, all-knowing.

Verily, they who are conscious of Allah [as life’s sole power and authority] bethink themselves [of Him] whenever any dark suggestion from Satan touches them — whereupon, lo! They begin to see [things] clearly,

Even though their [god-oblivious] brethren would [like to] draw them into error: and then they cannot fail [to do what is right].

And yet, when you [O Prophet] do not produce any miracle for them [the people of Makkah and all who think like them], some [people] say, “Why do you not seek to obtain it [from Allah]?” Say, “I only follow whatever is being revealed to me by my Sustainer: this [revelation] is a means of insight from your Sustainer, and a guidance and grace to people who will [without condescending behavior] commit themselves [to Allah].

“Hence, when the Qur’an is expressed, listen to it, and pay attention to it, so that you might be graced with [Allah’s] mercy.”

And be self-conscious of your Sustainer with humility and with awe, and without raising your voice, at morning and at evening; and do not allow yourself to be oblivious [to Allah and His Qur’an].

Behold, those who are near unto your Sustainer are never too proud to conform to Him; and they extol His limitless glory, and revere and prostrate themselves before Him [alone].2