Messengers of good cheer and of warning, in order that mankind might have no argument against Alláh after the messengers. Alláh was ever Mighty, Wise.

But Alláh (Himself) testifieth concerning that which He hath revealeth unto thee; in His knowledge hath He revealed it; and the angels also testify. And Alláh is sufficient Witness.

Lo! those who disbelieve and hinder (others) from the way of Alláh, they verily have wandered far astray.

Lo! those who disbelieve and deal in wrong, Alláh will never forgive them, neither will He guide them unto a road,

Except the road of hell, wherein they will abide for ever. And that is ever easy for Alláh.

O mankind! The messenger hath come unto you with the Truth from your Lord. Therefor believe; (it is) better for you. But if ye disbelieve, still, lo! unto Alláh belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth. Alláh is ever Knower, Wise.

O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Alláh save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Alláh, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Alláh and His messengers, and say not “Three”—Cease! (it is) better for you!—Alláh is only One God. Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Alláh is sufficient as Defender.

The Messiah will never scorn to be a slave unto Alláh, nor will the favoured angels. Whoso scorneth His service and is proud, all such will He assemble unto Him;

Then, as for those who believed and did good works, unto them will He pay their wages in full, adding unto them of His bounty; and as for those who were scornful and proud, them will He punish with a painful doom. And they will not find for them, against Alláh, any protecting friend or helper.

O mankind! Now hath a proof from your Lord come unto you, and We have sent down unto you a clear light;

As for those who believe in Alláh, and hold fast unto Him, them He will cause to enter into His mercy and grace, and will guide them unto Him by a straight road.

They ask thee for a pronouncement. Say: Alláh hath pronounced for you concerning distant kindred. If a man die childless and he have a sister, hers is half the heritage, and he would have inherited from her had she died childless. And if there be two sisters, then theirs are two-thirds of the heritage, and if they be brethren, men and women, unto the male is the equivalent of the share of two females. Alláh expoundeth unto you, so that ye err not. Alláh is Knower of all things.

5.
Al-Má’idah: The Table Spread

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

O ye who believe! Fulfil your indentures. The beast of cattle is made lawful unto you (for food) except that which is announced unto you (herein), game being unlawful when ye are on the pilgrimage. Lo! Alláh ordaineth that which pleaseth Him.

O ye who believe! Profane not Alláh’s monuments nor the Sacred Month nor the offerings nor the garlands, nor those repairing to the Sacred House, seeking the grace and pleasure of their Lord. But when ye have left the sacred territory, then go hunting (if ye will). And let not your hatred of a folk who (once) stopped your going to the inviolable place of worship seduce you to transgress; but help ye one another unto righteousness and pious duty. Help not one another unto sin and transgression, but keep your duty to Alláh. Lo! Alláh is severe in punishment.

Forbidden unto you (for food) are carrion and blood and swineflesh, and that which hath been dedicated unto any other than Alláh, and the strangled, and the dead through beating, and the dead through falling from a height, and that which hath been killed by (the goring of) horns, and the devoured of wild beasts, saving that which ye make lawful (by the death-stroke), and that which hath been immolated unto idols. And (forbidden is it) that ye swear by the divining arrows. This is an abomination. This day are those who disbelieve in despair of (ever harming) your religion; so fear them not, fear Me! This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour unto you, and have chosen for you as religion al-Islam. Whoso is forced by hunger, not by will, to sin: (for him) lo! Alláh is Forgiving, Merciful.

They ask thee (O Muḥammad) what is made lawful for them. Say: (all) good things are made lawful for you. And those beasts and birds of prey which ye have trained as hounds are trained, ye teach them that which Alláh taught you; so eat of that which they catch for you and mention Alláh’s name upon it, and observe your duty to Alláh. Lo! Alláh is swift to take account.

This day are (all) good things made lawful for you. The food of those who have received the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them. And so are the virtuous women of the believers and the virtuous women of those who received the Scripture before you (lawful for you) when ye give them their marriage portions and live with them in honour, not in fornication, nor taking them as secret concubines. Whoso denieth the faith, his work is vain and he will be among the losers in the Hereafter.

O ye who believe! When ye rise up for prayer, wash you faces, and your hands up to the elbows, and lightly rub your heads and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. And if ye are unclean, purify yourselves. And if ye are sick or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the closet, or ye have had contact with women, and ye find not water, then go to clean, high ground and rub your faces and your hands with some of it. Alláh would not place a burden on you, but He would purify you and would perfect His grace upon you, that ye may give thanks.

Remember Alláh’s grace upon you and His covenant by which He bound you when ye said: We hear and we obey; And keep your duty to Alláh. Lo! He knoweth what is in the breasts (of men).

O ye who believe! Be steadfast witnesses for Alláh in equity, and let not hatred of any people seduce you that ye deal not justly. Deal justly, that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty to Alláh. Lo! Alláh is Informed of what ye do.

Alláh hath promised those who believe and do good works: Theirs will be forgiveness and immense reward.

And they who disbelieve and deny Our revelations, such are rightful owners of hell.

O ye who believe! Remember Alláh’s favour unto you, how a people were minded to stretch out their hands against you but He withheld their hands from you; and keep your duty to Alláh. In Alláh let believers put their trust.

Alláh made a covenant of old with the Children of Israel and We raised among them twelve chieftains, and Alláh said: Lo! I am with you. If ye establish worship and pay the poor-due, and believe in My messengers and support them, and lend unto Alláh a kindly loan, surely I shall remit your sins, and surely I shall bring you into Gardens underneath which rivers flow. Whoso among you disbelieveth after this will go astray from a plain road.

And because of their breaking their covenant, We have cursed them and made hard their hearts. They change words from their context and forget a part of that whereof they were admonished. Thou wilt not cease to discover treachery from all save a few of them. But bear with them and pardon them. Lo! Alláh loveth the kindly.

And with those who say: “Lo! we are Christians,” We made a covenant, but they forgot a part of that whereof they were admonished. Therefor We have stirred up enmity and hatred among them till the Day of Resurrection, when Alláh will inform them of their handiwork.

O People of the Scripture! Now hath Our messenger come unto you, expounding unto you much of that which ye used to hide in the Scripture, and forgiving much. Now hath come unto you light from Alláh and plain Scripture,

Whereby Alláh guideth him who seeketh His good pleasure unto paths of peace. He bringeth them out of darkness unto light by His decree, and guideth them unto a straight path.

They indeed have disbelieved who say: Lo! Alláh is the Messiah, son of Mary. Say: Who then can do aught against Alláh, if He had willed to destroy the Messiah son of Mary, and his mother and everyone on earth? Alláh’s is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them. He createth what He will. And Alláh is Able to do all things.

The Jews and Christians say: We are sons of Alláh and His loved ones. Say: Why then doth He chastise you for your sins? Nay, ye are but mortals of His creating. He forgiveth whom He will, and chastiseth whom He will. Alláh’s is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, and unto Him is the journeying.

O People of the Scripture! Now hath Our messenger come unto you to make things plain unto you after an interval (of cessation) of the messengers, lest ye should say: There came not unto us a messenger of cheer nor any warner. Now hath a messenger of cheer and a warner come unto you. Alláh is Able to do all things.

And (remember) when Moses said unto his people: O my people! Remember Alláh’s favour unto you, how He placed among you prophets, and He made you kings, and gave you that (which) He gave not to any (other) of (His) creatures.

O my people! Go into the holy land which Alláh hath ordained for you. Turn not in flight, for surely ye turn back as losers:

They said: O Moses! Lo! a giant people (dwell) therein and lo! we go not in till they go forth from thence. When they go forth from thence, then we will enter (not till then).

Then out spake two of those who feared (their Lord, men) unto whom Alláh had been gracious: Enter in upon them by the gate, for if ye enter by it, lo! ye will be victorious. So put your trust (in Alláh) if ye are indeed believers.

They said: O Moses! We will never enter (the land) while they are in it. So go thou and thy Lord and fight! We will sit here.

He said: My Lord! I have control of none but myself and my brother, so distinguish between us and the wrong-doing folk.

(Their Lord) said: For this the land will surely be forbidden them for forty years that they will wander in the earth, bewildered. So grieve not over the wrongdoing folk.

But recite unto them with truth the tale of the two sons of Adam, how they offered each a sacrifice, and it was accepted from the one of them and it was not accepted from the other. (The one) said: I will surely kill thee. (The other) answered: Alláh accepteth only from those who ward off (evil).

Even if thou stretch out thy hand against me to kill me, I shall not stretch out my hand against thee to kill thee, lo! I fear Alláh, the Lord of the Worlds.

Lo! I would rather thou shouldst bear the punishment of the sin against me and thine own sin and become one of the owners of the fire. That is the reward of evil-doers.

But (the other’s) mind imposed on him the killing of his brother, so he slew him and became one of the losers.

Then Alláh sent a raven scratching up the ground, to show him how to hide his brother’s naked corpse. He said: Woe unto me! Am I not able to be as this raven and so hide my brother’s naked corpse? And he became repentant.

For that cause We decreed for the Children of Israel that whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind. Our messengers came unto them of old with clear proofs (of Alláh’s Sovereignty), but afterwards lo! many of them became prodigals in the earth.

The only reward of those who make war upon Alláh and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom;

Save those who repent before ye overpower them. For know that Alláh is Forgiving, Merciful.

O ye who believe! Be mindful of your duty to Alláh, and seek the way of approach unto Him, and strive in His way in order that ye may succeed.

As for those who disbelieve, lo! if all that is in the earth were theirs, and as much again therewith, to ransom them from the doom on the Day of Resurrection, it would not be accepted from them. Theirs will be a painful doom.

They will wish to come forth from the Fire, but they will not come forth from it. Theirs will be a lasting doom.

As for the thief, both male and female, cut off their hands. It is the reward of their own deeds, an exemplary punishment from Alláh. Alláh is Mighty, Wise.

But whoso repenteth after his wrongdoing and amendeth, lo! Alláh will relent toward him. Lo! Alláh is Forgiving, Merciful.

Knowest thou not that unto Alláh belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth? He punisheth whom He will, and forgiveth whom He will. Alláh is Able to do all things.

O Messenger! Let not them grieve thee who vie one with another in the race to disbelief, of such as say with their mouths: “We believe,” but their hearts believe not, and of the Jews: listeners for the sake of falsehood, listeners on behalf of other folk who come not unto thee, changing words from their context and saying: If this be given unto you, receive it, but if this be not given unto you, then beware! He whom Alláh doometh unto sin, thou (by thine efforts) wilt avail him naught against Alláh. Those are they for whom the Will of Alláh is that He cleanse not their hearts. Theirs in the world will be ignominy, and in the Hereafter an awful doom;

Listeners for the sake of falsehood! Greedy for illicit gain! If then they have recourse unto thee (Muḥammad) judge between them or disclaim jurisdiction. If thou disclaimest jurisdiction, then they cannot harm thee at all. But if thou judgest, judge between them with equity. Lo! Alláh loveth the equitable.

How come they unto thee for judgment when they have the Torah, wherein Alláh hath delivered judgment (for them)? Yet even after that they turn away. Such (folk) are not believers.

Lo! We did reveal the Torah, wherein is guidance and a light, by which the prophets who surrendered (unto Alláh) judged the Jews, and the rabbis and the priests (judged) by such of Alláh’s Scripture as they were bidden to observe, and thereunto were they witnesses. So fear not mankind, but fear Me. And My revelations for a little gain. Whoso judgeth not by that which Alláh hath revealed: such are disbelievers.

And We prescribed for them therein: The life for the life, and the eye for the eye, and the nose for the nose, and the ear for the ear, and the tooth for the tooth, and for wounds retaliation. But whoso forgoeth it (in the way of charity) it shall be expiation for him. Whoso judgeth not by that which Alláh hath revealed: such are wrong-doers.

And We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps, confirming that which was (revealed) before him in the Torah, and We bestowed on him the Gospel wherein is guidance and a light, confirming that which was (revealed) before it in the Torah—a guidance and an admonition unto those who ward off (evil).

Let the People of the Gospel judge by that which Alláh hath revealed therein. Whoso judgeth not by that which Alláh hath revealed: such are evil-livers.

And unto thee have We revealed the Scripture with the truth, confirming whatever Scripture was before it, and a watcher over it. So judge between them by that which Alláh hath revealed, and follow not their desires away from the truth which hath come unto thee. For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced-out way. Had Alláh willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). So vie one with another in good works. Unto Alláh ye will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ.

So judge between them by that which Alláh hath revealed, and follow not their desires, but beware of them lest they seduce thee from some part of that which Alláh hath revealed unto thee. And if they turn away, then know that Alláh’s Will is to smite them for some sin of theirs. Lo! many of mankind are evil-livers.

Is it a judgment of the time of (pagan) ignorance that they are seeking? Who is better than Alláh for judgment to a people who have certainty (in their belief)?

O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for friends. They are friends one to another. He among you who taketh them for friends is (one) of them. Lo! Alláh guideth not wrongdoing folk.

And thou seest those in whose heart is a disease race toward them, saying: We fear lest a change of fortune befall us. And it may happen that Alláh will vouchsafe (unto thee) the victory, or a commandment from His presence. Then will they repent them of their secret thoughts.

Then will the believers say (unto the people of the Scripture): are these they who swore by Alláh their most binding oaths that they were surely with you? Their works have failed, and they have become the losers.

O ye who believe! Whoso of you becometh a renegade from his religion, (know that in his stead) Alláh will bring a people whom He loveth and who love Him, humble toward believers, stern toward disbelievers, striving in the way of Alláh, and fearing not the blame of any blamer. Such is the grace of Alláh which He giveth unto whom He will. Alláh is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.

Your guardian can be only Alláh; and His messenger and those who believe, who establish worship and pay the poordue, and bow down (in prayer).

And whoso taketh Alláh and His messenger and those who believe for guardian (will know that), lo! the party of Alláh, they are the victorious.

O Ye who believe! Choose not for guardians such of those who received the Scripture before you, and of the disbelievers, as make a jest and sport of your religion. But keep your duty to Alláh if ye are true believers.

And when ye call to prayer they take it for a jest and sport. That is because they are a folk who understand not.

Say: O People of the Scripture! Do ye blame us for aught else than that we believe in Alláh and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed aforetime, and because most of you are evil-livers?

Shall I tell thee of a worse (case) than theirs for retribution with Alláh? (Worse is the case of him) whom Alláh hath cursed, him on whom His wrath hath fallen and of whose sort Alláh hath turned some to apes and swine, and who serveth idols. Such are in worse plight and further astray from the plain road.

When they come unto you (Muslims), they say: We believe; but they came in unbelief and they went out in the same; and Alláh knoweth best what they were hiding.

And thou seest many of them vying one with another in sin and transgression and their devouring of illicit gain. Verily evil is what they do.

Why do not the rabbis and the priests forbid their evil-speaking and their devouring of illicit gain? Verily evil is their handiwork.

The Jews say: Alláh’s hand is fettered. Their hands are fettered and they are accursed for saying so. Nay, but both His hands are spread out wide in bounty. He bestoweth as He will. That which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord is certain to increase the contumacy and disbelief of many of them, and We have cast among them enmity and hatred till the Day of Resurrection. As often as they light a fire for war, Alláh extinguisheth it. Their effort is for corruption in the land, and Alláh loveth not corrupters.

If only the People of the Scripture would believe and ward off (evil), surely We should remit their sins from them and surely We should bring them into Gardens of Delight.

If they had observed the Torah and the Gospel and that which was revealed unto them from their Lord, they would surely have been nourished from above them and from beneath their feet. Among them there are people who are moderate, but many of them are of evil conduct.

O Messenger! Make known that which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord, for if thou do it not, thou wilt not have conveyed His message. Alláh will protect thee from mankind. Lo! Alláh guideth not the disbelieving folk.

Say O People of the Scripture! Ye have naught (of guidance) till ye observe the Torah and the Gospel and that which was revealed unto you from your Lord. That which is revealed unto thee (Muḥammad) from thy Lord is certain to increase the contumacy and disbelief of many of them. But grieve not for the disbelieving folk.

Lo! those who believe, and those who are Jews, and Sabaeans, and Christians—Whosoever believeth in Alláh and the Last Day and doeth right—there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.

We made a covenant of old with the Children of Israel and We sent unto them messengers. As often as a messenger came unto them with that which their souls desired not (they became rebellious). Some (of them) they denied and some they slew.

They thought no harm would come of it, so they were wilfully blind and deaf. And afterward Alláh turned (in mercy) toward them. Now (even after that) are many of them wilfully blind and deaf. Alláh is Seer of what they do.

They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Alláh is the Messiah, son of Mary. The Messiah (himself) said: O Children of Israel, worship Alláh, my Lord and your Lord. Lo! whoso ascribeth partners unto Alláh, for him Alláh hath forbidden paradise. His abode is the Fire. For evil-doers there will be no helpers.

They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Alláh is the third of three; when there is no God save the One God. If they desist not from so saying a painful doom will fall on those of them who disbelieve.

Will they not rather turn unto Alláh and seek forgiveness of Him? For Alláh is Forgiving, Merciful.

The Messiah, son of Mary, was no other than a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) had passed away before him. And his mother was a saintly woman. And they both used to eat (earthly) food. See how We make the revelations clear for them, and see how they are turned away!

Say: Serve ye in place of Alláh that which possesseth for you neither hurt nor use? Alláh it is Who is the Hearer, the Knower.

Say: O People of the Scripture! Stress not in your religion other than the truth, and follow not the vain desires of folk who erred of old and led many astray, and erred from a plain road.

Those of the Children of Israel who went astray were cursed by the tongue of David, and of Jesus, son of Mary. That was because they rebelled and used to transgress.

They restrained not one another from the wickedness they did. Verily evil was that they used to do!

Thou seest many of them making friends with those who disbelieve. Surely ill for them is that which they themselves send on before them: that Alláh will be wroth with them and in the doom they will abide.

If they believed in Alláh and the Prophet and that which is revealed unto him, they would not choose them for their friends. But many of them are of evil conduct.

Thou wilt find the most vehement of mankind in hostility to those who believe (to be) the Jews and the idolaters. And thou wilt find the nearest of them in affection to those who believe (to be) those who say: Lo! We are Christians. That is because there are among them priests and monks, and because they are not proud.

When they listen to that which hath been revealed unto the messengers, thou seest their eyes overflow with tears because of their recognition of the Truth. They say: Our Lord, we believe. Inscribe us as among the witnesses.

How should we not believe in Alláh and that which hath come unto us of the Truth. And (how should we not) hope that our Lord will bring us in along with righteous folk?

Alláh hath rewarded them for that their saying—Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide for ever. That is the reward of the good.

But those who disbelieve and deny Our revelations, they are owners of hell-fire.

O ye who believe! Forbid not the good things which Alláh hath made lawful for you, and transgress not, Lo! Alláh loveth not transgressors.

Eat of that which Alláh hath bestowed on you as food lawful and good, and keep your duty to Alláh in Whom ye are believers.

Alláh will not take you to task for that which is unintentional in your oaths, but He will take you to task for the oaths which ye swear in earnest. The expiation thereof is the feeding of ten of the needy with the average of that wherewith ye feed your own folk, or the clothing of them, or the liberation of a slave, and for him who findeth not (the wherewithal to do so) then a three days’ fast. This is the expiation of your oaths when ye have sworn; and keep your oaths. Thus Alláh expoundeth unto you His revelations in order that ye may give thanks.

O ye who believe! Strong drink and games of chance and idols and divining arrows are only an infamy of Satan’s handiwork. Leave it aside in order that ye may succeed.

Satan seeketh only to cast among you enmity and hatred by means of strong drink and games of chance, and to turn you from remembrance of Alláh and from (His) worship. Will ye then have done?

Obey Alláh and obey the messenger, and beware! But if ye turn away, then know that the duty of Our messenger is only plain conveyance (of the message).

There shall be no sin (imputed) unto those who believe and do good works for what they may have eaten (in the past). So be mindful of your duty (to Alláh), and believe, and do good works; and again: be mindful of your duty, and believe; and once again: be mindful of your duty, and do right. Alláh loveth the good.

O ye who believe! Alláh will surely try you somewhat (in the matter) of the game which ye take with your hands and your spears, that Alláh may know him who feareth Him in secret. Whoso transgresseth after this, for him there is a painful doom.

O ye who believe! Kill no wild game while ye are on the pilgrimage. Whoso of you killeth it of set purpose he shall pay its forfeit in the equivalent of that which he hath killed, of domestic animals, the judge to be two men among you known for justice, (the forfeit) to be brought as an offering to the Ka‘bah; or, for expiation, he shall feed poor persons, or the equivalent thereof in fasting, that he may taste the evil consequences of his deed. Alláh forgiveth whatever (of this kind) may have happened in the past, but whoso relapseth, Alláh will take retribution from him. Alláh is Mighty, Able to Requite (the wrong).

To hunt and to eat the fish of the sea is made lawful for you, a provision for you and for seafarers; but to hunt on land is forbidden you so long as ye are on the pilgrimage. Be mindful of your duty to Alláh, unto Whom ye will be gathered.

Alláh hath appointed the Ka‘bah, the Sacred House, a standard for mankind, and the Sacred Month and the offerings and the garlands. That is so that ye may know that Alláh knoweth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, and that Alláh is Knower of all things.

Know that Alláh is severe in punishment, but that Alláh (also) is Forgiving, Merciful.

The duty of the messenger is only to convey (the message). Alláh knoweth what ye proclaim and what ye hide.

Say: The evil and the good are not alike even though the plenty of the evil attract thee. So be mindful of your duty to Alláh, O men of understanding, that ye may succeed.

O ye who believe! Ask not of things which, if they were made unto you, would trouble you; but if ye ask of them when the Qur’án is being revealed, they will be made known unto you. Alláh pardoneth this, for Alláh is Forgiving, Clement.

A folk before you asked (for such disclosures) and then disbelieved therein.

Alláh hath not appointed anything in the nature of a Baḥírah or a Sá‘ibah or a Waṣílah or a Ḥámi, but those who disbelieve invent a lie against Alláh. Most of them have no sense.

And when it is said unto them: Come unto that which Alláh hath revealed and unto the messenger, they say: Enough for us is that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even though their fathers had no knowledge whatsoever, and no guidance?

O ye who believe! Ye have charge of your own souls. He who erreth cannot injure you if ye are rightly guided. Unto Alláh ye will all return; and then He will inform you of what ye used to do.