Nay, but if ye persevere, and keep from evil, and (the enemy) attack you suddenly, your Lord will help you with five thousand angels sweeping on.

Alláh ordained this only as a message of good cheer for you, and that thereby your hearts might be at rest—Victory cometh only from Alláh, the Mighty, the Wise—

That He may cut off a part of those who disbelieve, or overwhelm them so that they retire, frustrated.

It is no concern at all of thee (Muḥammad) whether He relent toward them or punish them; for they are evil-doers.

Unto Alláh belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. He forgiveth whom He will, and punisheth whom He will. Alláh is Forgiving, Merciful.

O ye who believe! Devour not usury, doubling and quadrupling (the sum lent). Observe your duty to Alláh, that ye may be successful.

And ward off (from yourselves) the Fire prepared for disbelievers.

And obey Alláh and the messenger, that ye may find mercy.

And vie one with another for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who ward off (evil);

Those who spend (of that which Alláh hath given them) in ease and in adversity, those who control their wrath and are forgiving toward mankind; Alláh loveth the good;

And those who, when they do an evil thing or wrong themselves, remember Alláh and implore forgiveness for their sins—Who forgiveth sins save Alláh only?—and will not knowingly repeat (the wrong) they did.

The reward of such will be forgiveness from their Lord, and Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide for ever—a bountiful reward for workers!

Systems have passed away before you. Do but travel in the land and see the nature of the consequence for those who did deny (the messengers).

This is a declaration for mankind, a guidance and an admonition unto those who ward off (evil)

Faint not nor grieve, for ye will overcome them if ye are (indeed) believers.

If ye have received a blow, the (disbelieving) people have received a blow the like thereof. These are (only) the vicissitudes which We cause to follow one another for mankind, to the end that Alláh may know those who believe and may choose witnesses from among you; and Alláh loveth not wrong-doers.

And that Alláh may prove those who believe, and may blight the disbelievers.

Or deemed ye that ye would enter paradise while yet Alláh knoweth not those of you who really strive, nor knoweth those (of you) who are steadfast?

And verily ye used to wish for death before ye met it (in the field). Now ye have seen it with your eyes!

Muḥammad is but a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) have passed away before him. Will it be that, when he dieth or is slain, ye will turn back on your heels? He who turneth back on his heels doth no hurt to Alláh, and Alláh will reward the thankful.

No soul can ever die except by Alláh’s leave and at a term appointed. Whoso desireth the reward of the world, We bestow on him thereof; and whoso desireth the reward of the Hereafter, We bestow on him thereof. We shall reward the thankful.

And with how many a prophet have there been a number of devoted men who fought (beside him). They quailed not for aught that befell them in the way of Alláh, nor did they weaken, nor were they brought low. Alláh loveth the steadfast.

Their cry was only that they said: Our Lord! forgive us for our sins and wasted efforts, make our foothold sure, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk.

So Alláh gave them the reward of the world and the good reward of the Hereafter. Alláh loveth those whose deeds are good.

O ye who believe! if ye obey those who disbelieve, they will make you turn back on your heels, and ye turn back as losers.

But Alláh is your Protector, and He is the best of helpers.

We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve because they ascribe unto Alláh partners, for which no warrant hath been revealed. Their habitation is the Fire, and hapless the abode of the wrong-doers.

Alláh verily made good His promise unto you when ye routed them by His leave, until (the moment) when your courage failed you, and ye disagreed about the order and ye disobeyed, after He had shown you that for which ye long. Some of you desired the world, and some of you desired the Hereafter. Therefore He made you flee from them, that He might try you. Yet now He hath forgiven you. Alláh is a Lord of Kindness to believers.

When ye climbed (the hill) and paid no heed to anyone, while the messenger, in your rear, was calling you (to fight). Therefor He rewarded you grief for (his) grief, that (He might teach) you not to sorrow either for that which ye missed or for that which befell you. Alláh is Informed of what ye do.

Then, after grief, He sent down security for you. As slumber did it overcome a party of you, while (the other) party, who were anxious on their own account, thought wrongly of Alláh, the thought of ignorance. They said: Have we any part in the cause? Say (O Muḥammad): The cause belongeth wholly to Alláh. They hide within themselves (a thought) which they reveal not unto thee, saying: Had we had any part in the cause we should not have been slain here. Say: Even though ye had been in your houses, those appointed to be slain would have gone forth to the places where they were to lie. (All this hath been) in order that Alláh might try what is in your breasts and prove what is in your hearts. Alláh is Aware of what is hidden in the breasts (of men).

Lo! those of you who turned back on the day when the two hosts met, Satan alone it was who caused them to backslide, because of some of that which they have earned. Now Alláh hath forgiven them. Lo! Alláh is Forgiving, Clement.

O ye who believe! Be not as those who disbelieved and said of their brethren who went abroad in the land or were fighting in the field: If they had been (here) with us they would not have died or been killed: that Alláh may make it anguish in their hearts. Alláh giveth life and causeth death; and Alláh is Seer of what ye do.

And what though ye be slain in Alláh’s way or die therein? Surely pardon from Alláh and mercy are better than all that they amass.

What though ye be slain or die, when unto Alláh ye are gathered?

It was by the mercy of Alláh that thou wast lenient with them (O Muḥammad), for if thou hadst been stern and fierce of heart they would have dispersed from round about thee. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult with them upon the conduct of affairs. And when thou art resolved, then put thy trust in Alláh. Lo! Alláh loveth those who put their trust (in Him).

If Alláh is your helper none can overcome you, and if He withdraw His help from you, who is there who can help you after Him? In Alláh let believers put their trust.

It is not for any prophet to embezzle. Whoso embezzleth will bring what he embezzled with him on the Day of Resurrection. Then every soul will be paid in full what it hath earned; and they will not be wronged.

Is one who followeth the pleasure of Alláh as one who hath earned condemnation from Alláh, whose habitation is the Fire, a hapless journey’s end?

There are degrees (of grace and reprobation) with Alláh, and Alláh is Seer of what they do.

Alláh verily hath shown grace to the believers by sending unto them a messenger of their own who reciteth unto them His revelations, and causeth them to grow, and teacheth them the Scripture and wisdom; although before (he came to them) they were in flagrant error.

And was it so, when a disaster smote you, though ye had smitten (them with a disaster) twice (as great), that ye said: How is this? Say (unto them, O Muḥammad): It is from yourselves. Lo! Alláh is Able to do all things.

That which befell you, on the day when the two armies met, was by permission of Alláh; that He might know the true believers;

And that He might know the hypocrites, unto whom it was said: Come, fight in the way of Alláh, or defend yourselves. They answered: If we knew aught of fighting we would follow you. On that day they were nearer disbelief than faith. They utter with their mouths a thing which is not in their hearts. Alláh is Best Aware of what they hide.

Those who, while they sat at home, said of their brethren (who were fighting for the cause of Alláh): If they had been guided by us they would not have been slain. Say (unto them, O Muḥammad): Then avert death from yourselves if ye are truthful.

Think not of those, who are slain in the way of Alláh, as dead. Nay, they are living. With their Lord they have provision.

Jubilant (are they) because of that which Alláh hath bestowed upon them of His bounty, rejoicing for the sake of those who have not joined them but are left behind: That there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.

They rejoice because of favour from Alláh and kindness, and that Alláh wasteth not the wage of the believers.

As for those who heard the call of Alláh and His messenger after the harm befell them (in the fight); for such of them as do right and ward off (evil), there is great reward.

Those unto whom men said: Lo! the people have gathered against you, therefor fear them. (The threat of danger) but increased the faith of them and they cried: Alláh is Sufficient for us! Most Excellent is He in Whom we trust!

So they returned with grace and favour from Alláh, and no harm touched them. They followed the good pleasure of Alláh, and Alláh is of Infinite Bounty.

It is only the devil who would make (men) fear his partisans. Fear them not; fear Me, if ye are true believers.

Let not their conduct grieve thee, who run easily to disbelief, for lo! they injure Alláh not at all. It is Alláh’s will to assign them no portion in the Hereafter, and theirs will be an awful doom.

Those who purchase disbelief at the price of faith harm Alláh not at all, but theirs will be a painful doom.

And let not those who disbelieve imagine that the rein We give them bodeth good unto their souls. We only give them rein that they may grow in sinfulness. And theirs will be a shameful doom.

It is not (the purpose) of Alláh to leave you in your present state till He shall separate the wicked from the good. And it is not (the purpose of) Alláh to let you know the Unseen. But Alláh chooseth of His messengers whom He will, (to receive knowledge thereof). So believe in Alláh and His messengers. If ye believe and ward off (evil), yours will be a vast reward.

And let not those who hoard up that which Alláh hath bestowed upon them of His bounty think that it is better for them. Nay, it is worse for them. That which they hoard will be their collar on the Day of Resurrection. Alláh’s is the heritage of the heavens and the earth, and Alláh is Informed of what ye do.

Verily Alláh heard the saying of those who said, (when asked for contributions to the war): “Alláh, forsooth, is poor, and we are rich!” We shall record their saying with their slaying of the prophets wrongfully and We shall say: Taste ye the punishment of burning!

This is on account of that which your own hands have sent before (you to the judgment). Alláh is no oppressor of (His) bondmen.

(The same are) those who say: Lo! Alláh hath charged us that we believe not in any messenger until he bring us an offering which fire (from heaven) shall devour. Say (unto them, O Muḥammad): Messengers came unto you before me with miracles, and with that (very miracle) which ye describe. Why then did ye slay them? (Answer that) if ye are truthful!

And if they deny thee, even so did they deny messengers who were before thee, who came with miracles and with the Psalms and with the Scripture giving light.

Every soul will taste of death. And ye will be paid on the Day of Resurrection only that which ye have fairly earned. Whoso is removed from the Fire and is made to enter paradise, he indeed is triumphant. The life of this world is but comfort of illusion.

Assuredly ye will be tried in your property and in your persons, and ye will hear much wrong from those who were given the Scripture before you, and from the idolaters. But if ye persevere and ward off (evil), then that is of the steadfast heart of things.

And (remember) when Alláh laid a charge on those who had received the Scripture (He said): Ye are to expound it to mankind and not to hide it. But they flung it behind their backs and bought thereby a little gain. Verily evil is that which they have gained thereby.

Think not that those who exult in what they have given, and love to be praised for what they have not done—Think not, they are in safety from the doom. A painful doom is theirs.

Unto Alláh belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. Alláh is Able to do all things.

Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and (in) the difference of night and day are tokens (of His Sovereignty) for men of understanding,

Such as remember Alláh, standing, sitting, and reclining, and consider the creation of the heavens and the earth, (and say): Our Lord! Thou createdst not this in vain. Glory be to Thee! Preserve us from the doom of Fire.

Our Lord! Whom Thou causest to enter the Fire: him indeed Thou hast confounded. For evil-doers there will be no helpers.

Our Lord! Lo! we have heard a crier calling unto Faith: “Believe ye in your Lord!” So we believed. Our Lord! Therefor forgive us our sins, and remit from us our evil deeds, and make us die the death of the righteous.

Our Lord! And give us that which Thou hast promised to us by Thy messengers. Confound us not upon the Day of Resurrection. Lo! Thou breakest not the tryst.

And their Lord hath heard them (and He saith): Lo! I suffer not the work of any worker, male or female, to be lost. Ye proceed one from another. So those who fled and were driven forth from their homes and suffered damage for My cause, and fought and were slain, verily I shall remit their evil deeds from them and verily I shall bring them into Gardens underneath which rivers flow—A reward from Alláh. And with Alláh is the fairest of rewards.

Let not the vicissitude (of the success) of those who disbelieve, in the land, deceive thee (O Muḥammad).

It is but a brief comfort. And afterward their habitation will be hell, an ill abode.

But those who keep their duty to their Lord, for them are Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will be safe for ever. A gift of welcome from their Lord. That which Alláh hath in store is better for the righteous.

And lo! of the People of the Scripture there are some who believe in Alláh and that which is revealed unto you and that which was revealed unto them, humbling themselves before Alláh. They purchase not a trifling gain at the price of the revelations of Alláh. Verily their reward is with their Lord. Lo! Alláh is swift to take account.

O ye who believe! Endure, outdo all others in endurance, be ready, and observe your duty to Alláh, in order that ye may succeed.

4.
An-Nisá’: Women

In the name of Alláh, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty toward Alláh in Whom ye claim (your rights) of one another, and toward the wombs (that bare you). Lo! Alláh hath been a watcher over you.

Give unto orphans their wealth. Exchange not the good for the bad (in your management thereof) nor absorb their wealth into your own wealth. Lo! that would be a great sin.

And if ye fear that ye will not deal fairly by the orphans, marry of the women, who seem good to you, two or three or four; and if ye fear that ye cannot do justice (to so many) then one (only) or (the captives) that your right hands possess. Thus it is more likely that ye will not do injustice.

And give unto the women (whom ye marry) free gift of their marriage portions; but if they of their own accord remit unto you a part thereof, then ye are welcome to absorb it (in your wealth).

Give not unto the foolish (what is in) your (keeping of their) wealth, which Alláh hath given you to maintain; but feed and clothe them from it, and speak kindly unto them.

Prove orphans till they reach the marriageable age; then, if ye find them of sound judgment, deliver over unto them their fortune; and devour it not by squandering and in haste lest they should grow up Whoso (of the guardians) is rich, let him abstain generously (from taking of the property of orphans); and whoso is poor let him take thereof in reason (for his guardianship). And when ye deliver up their fortune unto orphans, have (the transaction) witnessed in their presence. Alláh sufficeth as a Reckoner.

Unto the men (of a family) belongeth a share of that which parents and near kindred leave, and unto the women a share of that which parents and near kindred leave, whether it be little or much—a legal share.

And when kinsfolk and orphans and the needy are present at the division (of the heritage), bestow on them therefrom and speak kindly unto them.

And let those fear (in their behaviour toward orphans) who if they left behind them weak offspring would be afraid for them. So let them mind their duty to Alláh, and speak justly.

Lo! Those who devour the wealth of orphans wrongfully, they do but swallow fire into their bellies, and they will be exposed to burning flame.

Alláh chargeth you concerning (the provision for) your children: to the male the equivalent of the portion of two females, and if there be women more than two, then theirs is two-thirds of the inheritance, and if there be one (only) then the half. And to each of his parents a sixth of the inheritance, if he have a son; and if he have no son and his parents are his heirs, then to his mother appertaineth the third; and if he have brethren, then to his mother appertaineth the sixth, after any legacy he may have bequeathed, or debt (hath been paid). Your parents and your children: Ye know not which of them is nearer unto you in usefulness. It is an injunction from Alláh. Lo! Alláh is Knower, Wise.

And unto you belongeth a half of that which your wives leave, if they have no child; but if they have a child then unto you the fourth of that which they leave, after any legacy they may have bequeathed, or debt (they may have contracted, hath been paid). And unto them belongeth the fourth of that which ye leave if ye have no child, but if ye have a child then the eighth of that which ye leave, after any legacy ye may have bequeathed, or debt (ye may have contracted, hath been paid). And if a man or a woman have a distant heir (having left neither parent nor child), and he (or she) have a brother or a sister (only on the mother’s side) then to each of them twain (the brother and the sister) the sixth, and if they be more than two, then they shall be sharers in the third, after any legacy that may have been bequeathed or debt (contracted) not injuring (the heirs by willing away more than a third of the heritage) hath been paid. A commandment from Alláh. Alláh is Knower, Indulgent.

These are the limits (imposed by) Alláh. Whoso obeyeth Alláh and His messenger, He will make him enter Gardens underneath which rivers flow, where such will dwell for ever. That will be the great success.

And whoso disobeyeth Alláh and His messenger and transgresseth His limits, He will make him enter Fire, where he will dwell for ever; his will be a shameful doom.

As for those of your women who are guilty of lewdness, call to witness four of you against them. And if they testify (to the truth of the allegation) then confine them to the houses until death take them or (until) Alláh appoint for them a way (through new legislation).

And as for the two of you who are guilty thereof, punish them both. And if they repent and improve, then let them be. Lo! Alláh is ever relenting, Merciful.

Forgiveness is only incumbent on Alláh toward those who do evil in ignorance (and) then turn quickly (in repentance) to Alláh. These are they toward whom Alláh relenteth. Alláh is ever Knower, Wise.

The forgiveness is not for those who do ill-deeds until, when death attendeth upon one of them, he saith: Lo! I repent now; nor yet for those who die while they are disbelievers. For such We have prepared a painful doom.

O ye who believe! It is not lawful for you forcibly to inherit the women (of your deceased kinsmen), nor (that) ye should put constraint upon them that ye may take away a part of that which ye have given them, unless they be guilty of flagrant lewdness. But consort with them in kindness, for if ye hate them it may happen that ye hate a thing wherein Alláh hath placed much good.

And if ye wish to exchange one wife for another and ye have given unto one of them a sum of money (however great), take nothing from it. Would ye take it by the way of calumny and open wrong?

How can ye take it (back) after one of you hath gone in unto the other, and they have taken a strong pledge from you?

And marry not those women whom your fathers married, except what hath already happened (of that nature) in the past. Lo! it was ever lewdness and abomination, and an evil way.

Forbidden unto you are your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and your father’s sisters, and your mother’s sisters, and your brother’s daughters and your sister’s daughters, and your foster-mothers, and your foster-sisters, and your mothers-in-law, and your step-daughters who are under your protection (born) of your women unto whom ye have gone in—but if ye have not gone in unto them, then it is no sin for you (to marry their daughters)—and the wives of your sons who (spring) from your own loins. And (it is forbidden unto you) that ye should have two sisters together, except what hath already happened (of that nature) in the past. Lo! Alláh is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

And all married women (are forbidden unto you) save those (captives) whom your right hands possess. It is a decree of Alláh for you. Lawful unto you are all beyond those mentioned, so that ye seek them with your wealth in honest wedlock, not debauchery. And those of whom ye seek content (by marrying them), give unto them their portions as a duty. And there is no sin for you in what ye do by mutual agreement after the duty (hath been done). Lo! Alláh is ever Knower, Wise.

And whoso is not able to afford to marry free, believing women, let them marry from the believing maids whom your right hands possess. Alláh knoweth best (concerning) your faith. Ye (proceed) one from another; so wed them by permission of their folk, and give unto them their portions in kindness, they being honest, not debauched nor of loose conduct. And if when they are honourably married they commit lewdness they shall incur the half of the punishment (prescribed) for free women (in that case). This is for him among you who feareth to commit sin. But to have patience would be better for you. Alláh is Forgiving, Merciful.

Alláh would explain to you and guide you by the examples of those who were before you, and would turn to you in mercy. Alláh is Knower, Wise.

And Alláh would turn to you in mercy; but those who follow vain desires would have you go tremendously astray.

Alláh would make the burden light for you, for man was created weak.

O ye who believe! Squander not your wealth among yourselves in vanity, except it be a trade by mutual consent, and kill not one another. Lo! Alláh is ever Merciful unto you.

Whoso doeth that through aggression and injustice, we shall cast him into Fire, and that is ever easy for Alláh.

If ye avoid the great (things) which ye are forbidden, We will remit from you your evil deeds and make you enter at a noble gate.

And covet not the thing in which Alláh hath made some of you excel others. Unto men a fortune from that which they have earned, and unto women a fortune from that which they have earned. (Envy not one another) but ask Alláh of His bounty. Lo! Alláh is ever Knower of all things.

And unto each We have appointed heirs of that which parents and near kindred leave; and as for those with whom your right hands have made a covenant, give them their due. Lo! Alláh is ever Witness over all things.

Men are in charge of women, because Alláh hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Alláh hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Alláh is ever High, Exalted, Great.

And if ye fear a breach between them twain (the man and wife), appoint an arbiter from his folk and an arbiter from her folk. If they desire amendment Alláh will make them of one mind. Lo! Alláh is ever Knower, Aware.

And serve Alláh. Ascribe no thing as partner unto Him. (Show) kindness unto parents, and unto near kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and unto the neighbour who is of kin (unto you) and the neighbour who is not of kin, and the fellow-traveller and the wayfarer and (the slaves) whom your right hands possess. Lo! Alláh loveth not such as are proud and boastful,

Who hoard their wealth and enjoin avarice on others, and hide that which Alláh hath bestowed upon them of His bounty. For disbelievers We prepare a shameful doom;

And (also) those who spend their wealth in order to be seen of men, and believe not in Alláh nor the Last Day. Whoso taketh Satan for a comrade, a bad comrade hath he.

What have they (to fear) if they believe in Alláh and the Last Day and spend (aright) of that which Alláh hath bestowed upon them, when Alláh is ever Aware of them (and all they do)?

Lo! Alláh wrongeth not even of the weight of an ant; and if there is a good deed, He will double it and will give (the doer) from His presence an immense reward.

But how (will it be with them) when We bring of every people a witness, and We bring thee (O Muḥammad) a witness against these?