A Translation that includes The Last Sermon
(In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful) Alif, Lam, Meem.
Surah 3. Ali 'Imran
Allah. There is no God but Him,
the Alive, the Self-Subsisting, the Eternal.
It is He who sent down the Book to you in Truth,
confirming what went before it.
And, He sent down the Law of Moses,
and the Gospel of Jesus before this, as a Guide to mankind.
And, He sent down the Criterion of Judgment between Right and wrong.
Then, those who reject Faith in God's Signs will suffer the severest punishment.
And, God is the Most Exalted in Might, The Owner of Retribution.
From God, indeed, nothing is hidden on Earth, or in the Heavens.
It is He who shapes you in the womb as He pleases.
There is no God but He, the Most Exalted in Might, the Most Wise.
It is He Who has sent down to you the Book.
Therein, there are verses of fundamental established meaning.
They are the foundation of the Book, others, are symbolism.
But, those in whose hearts is perversity, follow the part that is symbolism,
seeking things wrong with it, and searching for its hidden meanings.
But, no one knows its hidden meanings except God.
And, those who are firmly grounded in Knowledge say,
"We believe in the Book; all of it is from our Lord God."
And, none will grasp the Message except people of Understanding.
They say, "Our Lord!
Let not our hearts deviate now after You have Guided us,
and grant us Your Mercy from Your Presence;
for You are the Grantor of Bounties without limit."
"Our Lord!
You are He who will gather mankind together against a Day
about which there is no doubt; for God never fails in His promises."
Those who reject Faith, neither their possessions,
nor their many children will avail them against God.
They are themselves, but fuel for the fire of Hellfire, for their DisBelief in Him.
Their plight will be no better than that of Pharaoh's people, and their predecessors.
They denied Our Signs, and God called them to account for their sins.
For, God is strict in punishment to the DisBelievers.
Say to those who reject Faith, "Soon you will be vanquished and gathered together in Hell,
an evil bed indeed to lie on!"
"There has already been for you a Sign in the two armies that met in combat:
one was fighting in the God's cause,
the other resisting the existence of God and Belief in Him.
They saw with their own eyes twice their number.
But, Allah does support with His aid whom He pleases.
In this is a warning for those who have eyes to see."
Fair in the eyes of man is the love of things they covet: women and sons;
heaped-up hoards of gold and silver; horses branded for blood and excellence;
and the wealth of cattle and well-tilled soil.
Such are the possessions of this world's life;
but closeness to Allah is the best of the goals to return to.
Say, shall I give you glad news of things far better than those?
For the Righteous are Gardens of Paradise near to their Lord God,
with rivers flowing beneath;
therein is their eternal home with companions pure and holy,
and the good pleasure of Allah. For in God's sight are all of His servants,
Namely, those who say, "Our Lord! We have indeed Believed in You. Forgive us, then,
our sins, and save us from the agony of the Fire:"
Those who show patience, firmness and self-control; who are true in word and deed;
who worship devoutly; who spend in charity and in God's causes;
and who pray for forgiveness in the early hours of the morning.
There is no God but Him.
That is the witness of Allah, His angels, and those with Knowledge,
standing firm on Justice.
There is no God but Him,
the Most Exalted in Power,
the Most Wise.
The Religion before Allah is Islam and it is submission to God's Will.
Nor, did the People of the Book dissent therefrom except through envy of each other,
after Knowledge had come to them.
But, if any deny God's signs, God is swift in calling to account.
So if they dispute with you, say, "I have submitted my whole self to God,
and so have those who follow me."
And, say to the People of the Scripture, and to those who are UnKnowing:
"Do you submit yourselves to God?" If they do, they are in Right Guidance.
But, if they turn away, your duty is to convey the Message.
And, in God's sight, are all of His servants.
As to those who deny the Signs of God, in defiance of right, and those who kill the
prophets, and slay those who teach just dealing with mankind,
announce to them a grievous punishment.
They are those people whose works will bear no fruit in this world and in the Hereafter,
nor will they have anyone to help them.
Have you not turned your vision to those who have been given a portion of the Book?
They are invited to the Book of God to settle their dispute.
But, some of them turn away and decline the arbitration of the matter.
This is because they say, "The Fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days,"
for their forgeries deceive them as to their own religion.
But, how will they fare when We gather them together against a Day
about which there is no doubt, and each soul will be paid out justly for what it has earned,
without favor or injustice?
Say: "O God, Owner of Sovereignty, You give power to whom You please,
and You strip power from whom You please.
You endow with honor whom You please,
and You bring low whom You please.
In Your hand is all Good. Indeed, over all things You have Power.
You cause the night to gain on the day, and You cause the day to gain on the night.
You bring the living out of the dead, and You bring the dead out of the Living.
And, You give sustenance to whom You please, without measure."
Do not let the Believers take for friends or helpers DisBelievers, rather than Believers.
If any of you do that, there will be no help from God, except when taking precaution,
so that you may guard yourselves from them.
But, Allah cautions you to remember Him; for the final destination is to Him.
Say, "Whether you hide what is in your hearts or reveal it, God knows it all.
He knows what is in the Heavens, and what is on Earth.
And, Allah has Power over all things.
"On the Day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done,
and all the evil it has done, some may wish that there was a great distance between it
and it's evil. But, God cautions you to remember Him.
And, Allah is full of kindness to those who serve Him."
Say: "If you do love Allah, Follow me.
God will love you and forgive you your sins.
For Allah is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Say: "Obey God and His Messenger.
But if they turn away, Allah does not love those who reject Faith.
Allah did choose Adam and Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of 'Imran
above all people. And, God Hears and Knows all things.
Behold! Mary's mother said, "O my Lord! I do dedicate unto You
what is in my womb for Your special service. So accept this of me.
For You Hear and Know all things."
When she delivered the baby, she said, "O my Lord! Behold!
I have delivered a female child!" And, God knew best what she brought forth,
"And not wise is the male, like the female.
I named her Mary, and I commend her and her offspring to Your protection
from the Evil One, (Satan), the Rejected."
Her Lord did graciously accept her. He made her grow in purity and beauty.
She was assigned to the care of Zechariah.
Every time he entered her chamber to see her, he found her supplied with sustenance.
He said, "O Mary! How does all this come to you?"
She replied, "From God.
For Allah provides sustenance to whom He pleases without measure."
There Zechariah did pray to his Lord, saying, "O my Lord! Grant unto me from You
a child that is pure, for You are He that hears prayer!
While he was standing in prayer in the chamber, the Angels called unto him,
"Allah does give you glad tidings of John, witnessing the Truth of a Word from God.
And, in addition, be noble, chaste, and a prophet from among the Righteous."
He said, "O my Lord! How shall I have a son seeing as I am very old
and my wife is barren?" "Thus," was the answer, "God does accomplish what He Wills."
He said, "O my Lord! Give me a Sign!"
"Your Sign," was the answer, "It shall be that you shall not speak to any man for three
days but with hand signals. Then, celebrate the praises of your Lord again and again, and
glorify Him in the evening and in the morning."
Behold! The Angels said, "O Mary! God has chosen you and purified you,
chosen you above all women of all nations."
"O Mary! Worship Your Lord devoutly, prostrate yourself,
and bow down in prayer with those who bow down."
This is part of the tidings of the things unseen, which We Reveal unto you, O Messenger,
by inspiration. You were not with them when they cast lots with arrows, as to which of
them should be charged with the care of Mary. Nor, were you with them when they disputed the matter.
Behold! The Angels said, "O Mary! Allah gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him.
The child's name will be Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the
Hereafter and with the company of those nearest to Allah."
"He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity.
And, he shall be of the company of the Righteous."
She said, "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?"
He said, "Even so, Allah creates what He wills.
When God has decreed a Plan, He but says to it, "Be" and it is!
And, God will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law, and the Gospel,
and appoint him a Messenger to the Children of Israel, saying,
" I have come to you with a Sign from Your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay,
as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird filled with life by
God's Leave. And, I will heal those who were born blind and who are lepers. And, I give
life to the dead by God's Leave. And, I am able to tell you what you eat, and what you
store away in your homes. Surely, therein is a Sign for you if you do truly Believe.
I have come to you to attest the Law which was before me.
And, to make lawful to you part of what was before forbidden to you.
I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear God, and obey me.
It is God who is my Lord and your Lord; so worship Him. This is the Straight Path."
When Jesus found Disbelief on their part, he said,
"Who will be my helpers for God's work."
The disciples said, "We are God's helpers.
We Believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims."
"Our Lord! We Believe in what You have Revealed, and we follow the Messenger.
Then, write us down among those who bear witness."
And the DisBelievers plotted and planned, and God also planned,
and the Best of Planners is Allah.
Behold! God said, "O Jesus! I will take you and raise you to Myself
and clear you of the lies of those who blaspheme.
I will make those who follow you superior to those who reject Faith,
to the Day of Resurrection. Then you shall all return unto Me,
and I will judge between you on the matters wherein you dispute."
"As to those who reject Faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world,
and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help them."
"As to those who Believe, and work Righteously,
God will pay them their full reward.
But, Allah does not love those who do wrong.
"This is what we rehearse unto you with the Signs and the Message of Wisdom."
The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam.
He created him from dust, then said to him, "Be", and he was.
The Truth comes from God alone; so do not be among those who doubt.
If any one disputes this matter with you now, after full Knowledge has come to you,
say: "Come! Let us gather together, our sons and your sons, our women and your women,
ourselves and yourselves. Then, let us earnestly pray,
and invoke the curse of God upon those who are hypocrites in matters of Faith!"
This is the true account.
There is no God except Allah.
And, Allah, He is indeed the Most Exalted in Power, the Wise.
But, if they turn away from Faith, Allah has full Knowledge of those who are corruptors.
Say: "O People of the Scripture! Come to common terms between us and you;
that we worship none but God, that we associate no partners with him;
that we not take from among ourselves lords other than God."
If then they turn away, say to them,
"Bear witness that we are Muslims submitting to Allah'sWill.
O People of the Scripture! Why do you argue about Abraham, when the Law and the
Gospel were not revealed until after him? Have you no Understanding?
Ah! You are those who fell to disputing even in matters of which you had some
knowledge! But, why do you dispute in matters of which you have no knowledge?
It is Allah who Knows, and mankind knows not!
Abraham was not a Hebrew, nor a Christian; but he was true in Faith,
and bowed to Allah's Will (which is Islam), and he joined no other gods with Allah.
Without doubt, among men, the nearest of kin to Abraham, are those who follow him,
as is this Messenger and those who Believe.
And, Allah is the Protector of those who have Faith.
It is the wish of some of the People of the Scripture to lead you astray.
But they shall not lead you astray, only themselves do they lead astray,
and they do not know it!
O People of the Scripture!
Why do you reject the Signs of God, of which you yourselves were witnesses?
O People of the Scriputre!
Why do you clothe Truth with falsehood, and conceal the Truth,
while you have Knowledge?
A portion of the People of the Scripture say, "Believe in the morning what is Revealed
to the Believers, but reject it at the end of the day and maybe they may turn away."
"And believe no one unless he follows your religion."
Say, "True guidance is the Guidance of Allah.
Fear less a revelation be sent to someone else like unto that which was sent unto you? Or,
that those receiving such Revelation should engage you in argument before your Lord?"
Say, "All Bounty is in the Hand of Allah.
He grants it to whom He pleases. And, God cares for all things, and He knows all things."
For His Mercy, He especially chooses whom He pleases.
For, Allah is the Lord of Great Bounty and sustenance.
Among the People of the Scripture are some who, if entrusted with a hoard of gold,
will readily pay it back. Yet, there are others, who, if entrusted with even a single silver
coin, will not repay it unless you constantly stood there demanding it. This is because
they say, "There is no blame upon us when dealing with the UnKnowing."
But, they tell a lie against God, and they well know it.
But alas! Those who keep act Rightly and honor their commitments and fear Allah -
then, indeed, He Loves those who fear Him.
As for those who sell the covenant of Allah, and their own promises, for a trifling gain,
they shall have no portion in the Hereafter. Nor will Allah speak to them or look at them
on the Day of Judgment, nor will He purify them of their sin.
And, they will have a grievous punishment in Hellfire.
There is among them some people who distort the Book with their tongues.
As they read it, you would think it is a part of the Book, but it is not part of the Book;
and they say, "That is from Allah," but it is not from God.
It is they who tell a lie against Allah, and they well know it!
It is not possible that a man, to whom the Book and Wisdom is given,
should say to the people, "Are you my worshippers rather than God's?"
On the contrary, he should say, "Be worshippers of the Lord God because of what you
have taught of the Book and because you have studied it earnestly."
Nor should he instruct you to take angels and prophets for Lords.
Would he ask you to DisBelieve after you had submitted to God in Islam?
Behold! Allah took the covenant of the prophets, saying, "I give you a Book and Wisdom;
then there comes to you an apostle,
confirming what is with you; you believe and support him."
Allah said: "Do you agree, and take this my Covenant as binding on you?"
They said, "We agree."
He said, "Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses."
If any turn back after this, they are perverted transgressors.
Do they seek religions other than the Religion of Allah, while all creatures in the Heavens
and on Earth have willingly bowed to His Will and accepted Islam?
And, they shall be brought back to Him.
Say: "We believe in God, and in what has been Revealed to us, and what was Revealed to
Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in the Scriptures given to Moses,
Jesus, and the prophets, from their Lord. We make no distinction between one and
another among them, and to God we bow our will in Islam."
If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah),
never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who
have lost all spiritual good.
How shall Allah Guide those who reject Faith after they accepted it, and bore witness that
the Messenger was true, and that Clear Signs had come unto them?
But, Allah does not Guide an unjust people.
Of such the reward is that on them rests the curse of God, of His angels,
and of all mankind;
In that they will dwell; nor will their punishment be lightened,
nor will their lot be lightened;
except for those that repent even after that, and make amends.
For verily, Allah is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
But, those who reject Faith after they accepted it, and then go on adding to their defiance
of Faith, never will their repentance be accepted; for they are those who have gone astray.
As to those who reject Faith, and die rejecting,
never will all the gold as the earth contains be accepted,
though they should offer it for ransom.
For, them is a grievous penalty, and they will find no helpers.
By no means shall you attain Righteousness unless you give freely of that which you love;
and whatever you give, Allah knows it well in Truth.
All food was lawful to the Children of Israel, except what Israel made unlawful for itself,
before the Law of Moses was revealed. Say, "Bring you the Law and study it, if you are
people of Truth." If any, after this, invent a lie and attribute it to God,
they are indeed unjust wrongdoers.
Say: "Allah speaks the Truth. Follow the religion of Abraham, the sane in Faith for
he was not of the heathens."
The first House of worship appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (i.e. Makkah):
full of blessing and of Guidance for all creation.
In it are Manifest Signs; for example, the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains
security; pilgrimage thereto is a duty mankind owed to God (Allah),
those who can afford the journey.
But if any deny Faith, Allah does not stand in need of any of His creatures.
Say: "O People of the Scripture! Why do you reject the Signs of Allah,
when God is Himself witness to all you do?"
Say: "O you People of the Scripture!
Why do you obstruct those who Believe in the path of Allah,
seeking to make it crooked, while you were yourselves witnesses to Allah's Covenant?
But, Allah is not unmindful of all that you do."
O you who Believe! If you listen to a group among the People of the Scripture,
they would indeed render you apostates after you have believed!
And how would you deny Faith while God's Signs are given to you,
and among you lives the Messenger?
Whoever holds firmly to Belief in God, will be shown the Straight Path.
O you who Believe! Fear God as He should be feared,
and do not die except in a state of Islam, in submission to Allah.
And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah stretches out for you,
and do not be divided among yourselves;
and remember with gratitude Allah's favor on you;
for you were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, you
became brethren; and you were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it.
Thus, does God make His Signs clear to you, so that you might be Guided.
Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good,
enjoining what is Right, and forbidding what is wrong.
They are the ones who attain happiness.
Don't be like those who are divided among themselve
s and differed after receiving Clear Signs: for them is a dreadful punishment.
On the Day when some faces will be lit up with white light,
and some faces will be dark gloomy black: to those whose faces will be black,
it will be said: "Did you reject Faith after accepting it?
Taste then the punishment for rejecting Faith."
But, those whose faces will be lit up with white light,
they will be in the Light of God's Mercy therein to dwell forever.
These are the Signs of Allah. We recite them to You in Truth.
And, God does not mean any injustice to the worlds or His creatures.
To Allah belongs all that is in the Heavens and on Earth.
All matters will be returned to Him for decision.
You are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is Right,
forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah.
If only the People of the Scripture had Faith, it would be best for them.
And, among them are some who have Faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors.
They will try to do you harm, and
if they come out to fight you, they will show you their backs, and they will receive no help.
Humiliation is pitched over them wherever they are found,
except when under a covenant of protection from Allah.
They draw on themselves wrath from Allah, and will suffer the punishment.
This is because they rejected the Signs of God,
and killed the prophets in defiance of right.
This is because they disobeyed and transgressed beyond bounds.
But, not all of them are alike.
Some of the People of the Scripture are those who stand for what is right.
They rehearse the Signs of God all night long,
and they prostrate themselves in adoration to Him.
They Believe in Allah and the Last Day; they enjoin what is Right,
and forbid what is wrong; and they do good works.
They are in the ranks of the Righteous.
Of the good that they do, nothing will be rejected of them.
For, Allah knows well those that do Right.
But, those who reject Faith, neither their possessions nor their children will avail them
against Allah. They will be companions of the Fire, dwelling therein forever.
What they spend in the life of this world may be likened to a wind which brings a biting
frost: it strikes and destroys the harvest of mankind who have wronged their own souls.
It is not God that has wronged them, they wronged themselves.
O you who Believe! Do not be intimate with those who are not Believers.
They will not fail to corrupt you. They only desire your ruin.
Hatred has already appeared from their mouths. What their hearts conceal is far worse.
We have made plain to you God's Signs, if you will use reason and Understanding.
Ah! You are those who love them, but they love you not, though you Believe in all of the
Book. When they meet you, they say, "We believe." But when they are alone, they bite
their fingertips at you in rage.
Say to them, "Perish in your rage. Allah knows well all the secrets of the heart."
If something good happens to you, it grieves them.
But, if some misfortune overtakes you, they rejoice at it.
But, if you are constant and do Right, their plots will not harm you at all;
for God is encompassing of all that they do.
Remember that morning, that you left your household
early to post the Faithful at their stations for battle.
And, God Hears and Knows all things.
When two parties among you were losing courage; Allah was their Protector.
And, in God should the Faithful ever put their Trust.
And Allah had given you victory at Badr, when you were weak.
So, fear Allah and perhaps you will be grateful.
Remember when you said to the Believers,
"Isn't it enough for you that Allah should help you with three thousand angels sent down?
Yet, if you remain patient and act Righteously,
even if the enemy should rush you in hot pursuit,
your Lord will help you with five thousand angels making a terrific victory.
God made it but a Message of Hope for you, and an assurance to your hearts.
And, there is no help except from God, the Most Exalted, the Most Wise.
He might cut off a section of the DisBelievers,
or suppress them so that they should turn back, frustrated with their objectives.
Not for you, but for God, is the decision whether He will turn with Mercy
upon them, or punish them, for they are indeed, wrongdoers.
To Allah belongs all that is in the Heavens and on Earth.
He Forgives whom He pleases and punishes whom He wills.
But, God is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
O you who Believe! Do not commit usury, but fear Allah so that you may truly prosper.
Fear the Fire, which is prepared for those who reject Faith.
And, obey God and His Messenger so that you may obtain Mercy.
Be quick in the pursuit of Forgiveness from your Lord God.
And, a Garden as wide as all of the heavens and earth
has been prepared for the Righteous,
those who spend freely in the cause of Allah, whether in prosperity, or in adversity;
who restrain from anger, and pardon all mankind; for Allah loves those who do good.
And, those who having done something to be ashamed of,
or who have wronged their own souls,
should earnestly remember Allah, and ask His Forgiveness for their transgressions.
And who can forgive sins except God.
And, do not be stubborn to admit the wrong you may have done.
For the reward is Forgiveness from Your Lord God,
and Gardens with rivers flowing underneath,
an eternal dwelling.
How excellent a reward for those who work and strive to do Right!
Many were the civilizations that ended as you travel through the earth,
and see what was the end of those who rejected the Truth.
Here is a plain statement to the people,
a Guidance and Instruction to those who fear God.
So don't lose heart, nor fall into despair.
For you must gain sincerity, if you are true in your Faith to Him alone.
If a wound has harmed you, be certain a similar wound has harmed the opposing people.
These days of varying conditions We give to man by turns
so that Allah may know those that Believe,
and that He may take to Himself from you martyrs to the Truth.
And, Allah does not love those that do wrong.
And, Allah may purify the Believers, and purge those who resist Faith.
Did you think that you would enter Heaven without Allah testing those of you
who fought hard in his cause and remained steadfast?
You did indeed wish for death before you met him.
and now you have seen him with your own eyes.
Muhammad is but a Messenger;
and many were the apostles that passed away before him.
If he had died or were slain, will you then turn back on your heels in DisBelief?
If any of you did turn back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to God.
But, God, on the other hand, will reward the grateful.
Nor can a soul die except by God's permission, at a determined time.
If any of you desire a reward in this life, We shall give it to him.
And, if any of you desire a reward in the Hereafter, We shall give it to him.
And, We will reward those that serve Us with gratitude.
How many a prophet fought in God's cause, and with them many religious scholars?
But, they never lost heart if they met with disaster in the cause of Allah,
nor did they weaken in their will, nor give in.
So God gave them the reward of this world, and the great reward of the Hereafter.
And, Allah Loves those who are steadfast.
All that they said was, "Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and anything we may have done
that transgressed our duty.
Establish our feet firmly, and give us victory over the DisBelieving people."
And, Allah gave them a reward in this world, and the excellent reward of the Hereafter.
For Allah Loves those who do good.
O you who Believe! If you obey the DisBelievers, they will drive you back on your heels,
and you will turn back from Faith at your own loss.
No, God is your Protector, and He is the best of helpers.
God will cast terror into the hearts of the DisBelievers, for joining others with Allah,
for which He had sent no authority.
Their abode will be the Fire, and evil is the home of the wrongdoers!
Indeed, Allah did fulfill His promise to you when you were about to kill your enemy, with
His permission, when you lost courage and fell to disputing about the order,
and disobeyed after He brought you in sight of that which you covet.
Among you are some who desire this world and some that desire the Hereafter.
Then did He turn you back from your foes in order to test you,
but He already has forgiven you for Allah is full of Bounty to those who Believe.
Behold! You were climbing up the high ground, without looking a side glance at anyone,
and the Messenger was calling you back. There Allah repaid you one distress after another
to teach you to not grieve for that which you covet that had escaped you,
and for the ill that had befallen you. For Allah is well aware of all that you do.
Then, after the distress, He sent down calm through slumber over some,
while another group worried about themselves,
thinking of God other than the Truth due to ignorance.
They said, "What affair is this of ours?"
Say, "Indeed, the matter belongs completely to God."
They hide in their minds what they dare not reveal to you.
They say to themselves, "Is there anything we could have done in this matter?"
Say: "Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would
certainly have gone forth to their death beds."
This was so that Allah might test what is in your breasts
and purify what is in your hearts. For, Allah knows well the secrets of your hearts.
Those of you who turned back on the day the two armies met,
it was Satan who caused them to fail, because of some of the evil they had done.
But, Allah has already forgiven them, for Allah is the Most Forgiving, Forbearing.
O you who Believe! Do not be like the DisBelievers, who say of their brothers, when they
are traveling through the Earth or engaged in fighting,
"If they had stayed with us, they would not have died, or been killed."
This is because Allah may cause regret in their hearts.
It is Allah that gives Life and Death, and Allah sees well all that you do.
And if you are killed, or die in God's causes,
Forgiveness and Mercy from God are far better than all they could earn in this life.
And if you die, or are killed, unto God you will all be gathered.
It is part of the Mercy of Allah that you were lenient with them.
Were you severe or harsh-hearted, they would have disbanded away from you.
So pardon them for their faults, and ask for Allah's Forgiveness for them;
and consult them in the matter.
Then, you have taken a decision to put your trust in Allah.
For Allah loves those who put their Trust in Him.
And, if Allah helps you, none can overcome you.
If He forsakes you, who is there, after that, who can help you?
In God, then, let Believers put their Trust.
No prophet could ever be false to his duty.
If any prophet is so false, he will on the Day of Judgment, come with what he took.
Then shall every soul receive its due for whatever it earned in life,
and none shall be dealt with unjustly.
So is the person who follows the good pleasure of Allah like the man who draws on
himself the wrath of Allah, and whose abode is in Hell? No!
And, wretched is the destination!
They are in varying degrees in the sight of Allah, and Allah is Seeing of all that they do.
Allah did confer a great favor on the Believers when He sent among them
a Messenger from among themselves, rehearsing unto them the Signs of Allah,
purifying them, and instructing them in Scripture and Wisdom, although before that,
they had been in manifest error.
Why is it that when a single disaster strikes you, although you had struck your enemies
with one twice as great,
you say, "What is this?"
Say to them, "It is from yourselves. For, God has Power over all things."
What you suffered on the day when the two armies met, it was with God's leave,
in order that He might test the Believers.
And, so He might make evident who are the hypocrites also.
They were "Come, fight in the way of Allah, or at least drive the enemy from your city."
They said, "Had we known how to fight, we should certainly have followed you."
They were that day nearer to DisBelief than to Faith
, saying with their lips what was not in their hearts.
But, God has full Knowledge of all they concealed.
They are the ones that say, while they themselves sit at home,
"If only they had listened to us they would not have been killed."
Say, "Avert death from your own selves, if you speak the truth."
Do not think not of those who are killed in God's cause as dead.
No, they are alive, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord.
They rejoice in the Bounty provided by Allah.
And, with regard to those left behind, who have not joined them,
the Martyrs glorify the fact that on them is no fear, nor do they have cause to grieve.
They receive good tidings of favor and bounty from Allah,
and in the fact that Allah does not allow the reward of the Faithful to be lost.
Of those who answered the call of God, and the Messenger, even after being wounded,
those who do right, and refrain from doing wrong, will have a great reward with their Lord.
Man said to them, "A great army is gathering against you" and frightened them.
But, it only increased their Faith. They said, "For us, God is all we need,
for He is the Best Disposer of Affairs."
And, they returned with Grace and bounty from Allah.
No harm ever touched them for they followed the good pleasure of Allah.
And, God is the possessor of Great Bounty.
It is only Satan who frightens his supporters.
Be not afraid of them, but fear Me, if you are Believers.
And, do not grieve, O Muhammad, about someone who rushes headstrong into DisBelief:
they will have not share in the Hereafter, and not the least harm will they do to God.
Allah's plan is that He will give them no portion in the Hereafter,
nothing but a severe punishment.
Those who purchase DisBelief at the price of Faith,
not the least harm can they do to God, but they will have a grievous punishment.
And, do not let the DisBelievers think that because We extend their time of enjoyment
that is better for themselves.
We grant them respite that they may increase in sin.
And, they will have a shameful punishment.
God will not leave the Believers in the state in which you are now,
until He separates what is evil from what is good,
nor will He disclose to you the secrets of the Unseen.
But He chooses of His Messengers for the Purpose whom He pleases.
So Believe in God, and His Messengers if you are Believers.
And, if you Believe and do right, you will have a reward without measure.
And, do not let those who withhold of the Bounty that God has given them of His Grace,
think that it is good for them
No, it will be worse for them.
Soon shall the things that they covetously withheld be tied to their necks
like a twisted collar, on the Day of Judgment.
To Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth;
and Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do.
Allah has certainly heard those who say that "Truly, Allah is poor while we are rich!"
We shall record what they say and their acts of killing the prophets in defiance of right,
and We shall say,"Taste the penalty of the Scorching Fire!
"This is because of what your hands put forth.
For, God is never unjust to those who serve Him."
They also said, "Allah took our promise not to believe in an apostle
unless He showed us a sacrifice consumed by Fire from heaven."
Say: "There came to you apostles before me, with Clear Signs,
and even that of which you speak.
Why then did you kill them, if you speak the truth?"
Then, if they reject you, so were the apostles before you, who came with clear proof,
written laws, and the Enlightening Scriptures.
Every soul shall have a taste of death.
And, only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full reward.
Only one who is saved far from the Fire, and admitted to the Garden,
will have attained the Purpose of Life.
For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.
You shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves;
and you shall certainly hear much that will grieve you from those who received the Book
before you, and from those who worship many gods.
But, if you persevere patiently, and guard against evil,
then that will be a determining factor in all matters.
And, remember, God took a Covenant from the People of the Scripture,
to make it known and clear to mankind, and not conceal it.
But, they threw it away behind their backs, and exchanged it for some miserable gain!
And vile was the bargain they made!
Do not think that those who exalt in what they have brought about,
and who love to be praised for what they have not truly done,
will escape the punishment. For indeed, for them is a grievous punishment.
To God belongs the dominion of the Heavens and the Earth.
And, Allah is competent over all things.
Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth,
and the alternation of night and day, there are indeed Signs for people of understanding,
people who celebrate God' praises: standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides,
and contemplate the wonders of creation in the heavens and the earth,
"Our Lord! You created All of This! Glory to You!
Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire. "
"Our Lord!
Any of whom You did admit to the Fire, truly they are covered with shame,
and never will the wrongdoers find any helpers!
"Our Lord! We have heard the call of one calling us to Faith.
He said Believe in the Lord, and we Believed.
Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, and remove our misdeeds,
and take to Yourself our souls in the company of the Righteous.
"Our Lord! Grant us what You promised us through Your Messengers,
and save us from shame on the Day of Judgment. For, You never break Your promises."
And their Lord responded to them,
"Never will I allow the work of you to be lost, whether male or female.
You are members, one of another.
Those who have left their homes, or been driven out therefrom,
or suffered harm in My Cause,
or who fought or have been killed in My Causes, verily, I will blot out their sins,
and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing beneath.
It is a reward from the presence of Allah, and from His presence is the Best of Rewards."
Do not be deceived by the DisBelievers throughout the land.
Life is but a little enjoyment for them,
but their ultimate abode is Hell. What an evil bed to sleep on!
On the other hand, those who fear their Lord God, are Gardens,
with rivers flowing beneath; therein they will dwell forever,
a gift from the presence of Allah,
and that which is in the presence of Allah is best for the Righteous.
And, there are certainly, among the People of the Scripture, those who Believe in God,
and in the Revelation given to, and in the Revelation to them, bowing in humility to Allah.
They will not sell the Clear Signs of Allah for a miserable gain!
For them, is a reward with their Lord, and Allah is swift in account.
O you Believers! Persevere and endure, and remain strong in Faith, and fear God, so that you may prosper.
