A. L. R. (This is) a Book, with verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning), further explained
in detail,- from One Who is Wise and Well-acquainted (with all things):
"(And to preach thus), Seek ye the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance; that
He may grant you enjoyment, good (and true), for a term appointed, and bestow His abounding grace on all
who abound in merit! But if ye turn away, then I fear for you the penalty of a great day:
Behold! they fold up their hearts, that they may lie hid from Him! Ah even when they cover themselves
with their garments, He knoweth what they conceal, and what they reveal: for He knoweth well the (inmost
secrets) of the hearts.
He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days - and His Throne was over the waters - that
He might try you, which of you is best in conduct. But if thou wert to say to them, "Ye shall indeed be
raised up after death", the Unbelievers would be sure to say, "This is nothing but obvious sorcery!"
If We delay the penalty for them for a definite term, they are sure to say, "What keeps it back?" Ah! On
the day it (actually) reaches them, nothing will turn it away from them, and they will be completely
encircled by that which they used to mock at!
But if We give him a taste of (Our) favours after adversity hath touched him, he is sure to say, "All
evil has departed from me:" Behold! he falls into exultation and pride.
Perchance thou mayest (feel the inclination) to give up a part of what is revealed unto thee, and thy
heart feeleth straitened lest they say, "Why is not a treasure sent down unto him, or why does not an
angel come down with him?" But thou art there only to warn! It is Allah that arrangeth all affairs!
Or they may say, "He forged it," Say, "Bring ye then ten suras forged, like unto it, and call (to your
aid) whomsoever ye can, other than Allah!- If ye speak the truth!
"If then they (your false gods) answer not your (call), know ye that this revelation is sent down
(replete) with the knowledge of Allah, and that there is no god but He! will ye even then submit (to
Islam)?"
They are those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but the Fire: vain are the designs they frame
therein, and of no effect and the deeds that they do!
Can they be (like) those who accept a Clear (Sign) from their Lord, and whom a witness from Himself doth
teach, as did the Book of Moses before it,- a guide and a mercy? They believe therein; but those of the
Sects that reject it,- the Fire will be their promised meeting-place. Be not then in doubt thereon: for
it is the truth from thy Lord: yet many among men do not believe!
Who doth more wrong than those who invent a life against Allah? They will be turned back to the presence
of their Lord, and the witnesses will say, "These are the ones who lied against their Lord! Behold! the
Curse of Allah is on those who do wrong!-
They will in no wise frustrate (His design) on earth, nor have they protectors besides Allah! Their
penalty will be doubled! They lost the power to hear, and they did not see!
But those who believe and work righteousness, and humble themselves before their Lord,- They will be
companions of the gardens, to dwell therein for aye!
These two kinds (of men) may be compared to the blind and deaf, and those who can see and hear well. Are
they equal when compared? Will ye not then take heed?
But the chiefs of the Unbelievers among his people said: "We see (in) thee nothing but a man like
ourselves: Nor do we see that any follow thee but the meanest among us, in judgment immature: Nor do we
see in you (all) any merit above us: in fact we thing ye are liars!"
He said: "O my people! See ye if (it be that) I have a Clear Sign from my Lord, and that He hath sent
Mercy unto me from His own presence, but that the Mercy hath been obscured from your sight? shall we
compel you to accept it when ye are averse to it?
"And O my people! I ask you for no wealth in return: my reward is from none but Allah: But I will not
drive away (in contempt) those who believe: for verily they are to meet their Lord, and ye I see are the
ignorant ones!
"I tell you not that with me are the treasures of Allah, nor do I know what is hidden, nor claim I to be
an angel. Nor yet do I say, of those whom your eyes do despise that Allah will not grant them (all) that
is good: Allah knoweth best what is in their souls: I should, if I did, indeed be a wrong-doer."
They said: "O Noah! thou hast disputed with us, and (much) hast thou prolonged the dispute with us: now
bring upon us what thou threatenest us with, if thou speakest the truth!?"
"Of no profit will be my counsel to you, much as I desire to give you (good) counsel, if it be that
Allah willeth to leave you astray: He is your Lord! and to Him will ye return!"
"But construct an Ark under Our eyes and Our inspiration, and address Me no (further) on behalf of those
who are in sin: for they are about to be overwhelmed (in the Flood)."
Forthwith he (starts) constructing the Ark: Every time that the chiefs of his people passed by him, they
threw ridicule on him. He said: "If ye ridicule us now, we (in our turn) can look down on you with
ridicule likewise!
At length, behold! there came Our command, and the fountains of the earth gushed forth! We said: "Embark
therein, of each kind two, male and female, and your family - except those against whom the word has
already gone forth,- and the Believers." but only a few believed with him.
So the Ark floated with them on the waves (towering) like mountains, and Noah called out to his son, who
had separated himself (from the rest): "O my son! embark with us, and be not with the unbelievers!"
The son replied: "I will betake myself to some mountain: it will save me from the water." Noah said:
"This day nothing can save, from the command of Allah, any but those on whom He hath mercy! "And the
waves came between them, and the son was among those overwhelmed in the Flood.
Noah said: "O my Lord! I do seek refuge with Thee, lest I ask Thee for that of which I have no
knowledge. And unless thou forgive me and have Mercy on me, I should indeed be lost!"
The word came: "O Noah! Come down (from the Ark) with peace from Us, and blessing on thee and on some of
the peoples (who will spring) from those with thee: but (there will be other) peoples to whom We shall
grant their pleasures (for a time), but in the end will a grievous penalty reach them from Us."
Such are some of the stories of the unseen, which We have revealed unto thee: before this, neither thou
nor thy people knew them. So persevere patiently: for the End is for those who are righteous.
To the Ad People (We sent) Hud, one of their own brethren. He said: "O my people! worship Allah!
ye have no other god but Him. (Your other gods) ye do nothing but invent!
"And O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him (in repentance): He will send you the
skies pouring abundant rain, and add strength to your strength: so turn ye not back in sin!"
"We say nothing but that (perhaps) some of our gods may have seized thee with imbecility." He said: "I
call Allah to witness, and do ye bear witness, that I am free from the sin of ascribing, to Him,
"I put my trust in Allah, My Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving creature, but He hath grasp of
its fore-lock. Verily, it is my Lord that is on a straight Path.
"If ye turn away,- I (at least) have conveyed the Message with which I was sent to you. My Lord will
make another people to succeed you, and you will not harm Him in the least. For my Lord hath care and
watch over all things."
Such were the Ad People: they rejected the Signs of their Lord and Cherisher; disobeyed His
apostles; And followed the command of every powerful, obstinate transgressor.
They said: "O Salih! thou hast been of us! a centre of our hopes hitherto! dost thou (now) forbid us the
worship of what our fathers worshipped? But we are really in suspicious (disquieting) doubt as to that
to which thou invitest us."
He said: "O my people! do ye see? if I have a Clear (Sign) from my Lord and He hath sent Mercy unto me
from Himself,- who then can help me against Allah if I were to disobey Him? What then would ye add to my
(portion) but perdition?
"And O my people! This she-camel of Allah is a symbol to you: leave her to feed on Allahs (free)
earth, and inflict no harm on her, or a swift penalty will seize you!"
But they did ham-string her. So he said: "Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days: (Then will be
your ruin): (Behold) there a promise not to be belied!"
When Our Decree issued, We saved Salih and those who believed with him, by (special) Grace from
Ourselves - and from the Ignominy of that day. For thy Lord - He is the Strong One, and able to enforce
His Will.
As if they had never dwelt and flourished there. Ah! Behold! for the Thamud rejected their Lord and
Cherisher! Ah! Behold! removed (from sight) were the Thamud!
But when he saw their hands went not towards the (meal), he felt some mistrust of them, and conceived a
fear of them. They said: "Fear not: We have been sent against the people of Lut."
They said: "Dost thou wonder at Allahs decree? The grace of Allah and His blessings on you, o ye
people of the house! for He is indeed worthy of all praise, full of all glory!"
And his people came rushing towards him, and they had been long in the habit of practising abominations.
He said: "O my people! Here are my daughters: they are purer for you (if ye marry)! Now fear Allah, and
cover me not with shame about my guests! Is there not among you a single right-minded man?"
(The Messengers) said: "O Lut! We are Messengers from thy Lord! By no means shall they reach thee! now
travel with thy family while yet a part of the night remains, and let not any of you look back: but thy
wife (will remain behind): To her will happen what happens to the people. Morning is their time
appointed: Is not the morning nigh?"
"And O my people! give just measure and weight, nor withhold from the people the things that are their
due: commit not evil in the land with intent to do mischief.
They said: "O Shuaib! Does thy (religion of) prayer command thee that we leave off the worship
which our fathers practised, or that we leave off doing what we like with our property? truly, thou art
the one that forbeareth with faults and is right-minded!"
He said: "O my people! see ye whether I have a Clear (Sign) from my Lord, and He hath given me
sustenance (pure and) good as from Himself? I wish not, in opposition to you, to do that which I forbid
you to do. I only desire (your) betterment to the best of my power; and my success (in my task) can only
come from Allah. In Him I trust, and unto Him I look.
"And O my people! let not my dissent (from you) cause you to sin, lest ye suffer a fate similar to that
of the people of Noah or of Hud or of Salih, nor are the people of Lut far off from you!
They said: "O Shuaib! much of what thou sayest we do not understand! In fact among us we see that
thou hast no strength! Were it not for thy family, we should certainly have stoned thee! for thou hast
among us no great position!"
He said: "O my people! is then my family of more consideration with you than Allah? For ye cast Him away
behind your backs (with contempt). But verily my Lord encompasseth on all sides all that ye do!
"And O my people! Do whatever ye can: I will do (my part): Soon will ye know who it is on whom descends
the penalty of ignominy; and who is a liar! and watch ye! for I too am watching with you!"
When Our decree issued, We saved Shuaib and those who believed with him, by (special) mercy from
Ourselves: But the (mighty) blast did seize the wrong-doers, and they lay prostrate in their homes by
the morning,-
He will go before his people on the Day of Judgment, and lead them into the Fire (as cattle are led to
water): But woeful indeed will be the place to which they are led!
These are some of the stories of communities which We relate unto thee: of them some are standing, and
some have been mown down (by the sickle of time).
It was not We that wronged them: They wronged their own souls: the deities, other than Allah, whom they
invoked, profited them no whit when there issued the decree of thy Lord: Nor did they add aught (to
their lot) but perdition!
In that is a Sign for those who fear the penalty of the Hereafter: that is a Day for which mankind will
be gathered together: that will be a Day of Testimony.
They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as thy Lord
willeth: for thy Lord is the (sure) accomplisher of what He planneth.
And those who are blessed shall be in the Garden: They will dwell therein for all the time that the
heavens and the earth endure, except as thy Lord willeth: a gift without break.
Be not then in doubt as to what these men worship. They worship nothing but what their fathers
worshipped before (them): but verily We shall pay them back (in full) their portion without (the least)
abatement.
We certainly gave the Book to Moses, but differences arose therein: had it not been that a word had gone
forth before from thy Lord, the matter would have been decided between them, but they are in suspicious
doubt concerning it.
Therefore stand firm (in the straight Path) as thou art commanded,- thou and those who with thee turn
(unto Allah); and transgress not (from the Path): for He seeth well all that ye do.
And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night: For those
things, that are good remove those that are evil: Be that the word of remembrance to those who remember
(their Lord):
Why were there not, among the generations before you, persons possessed of balanced good sense,
prohibiting (men) from mischief in the earth - except a few among them whom We saved (from harm)? But
the wrong-doers pursued the enjoyment of the good things of life which were given them, and persisted in
sin.
Except those on whom thy Lord hath bestowed His Mercy: and for this did He create them: and the Word of
thy Lord shall be fulfilled: "I will fill Hell with jinns and men all together."
All that we relate to thee of the stories of the apostles,- with it We make firm thy heart: in them
there cometh to thee the Truth, as well as an exhortation and a message of remembrance to those who
believe.
Say to those who do not believe: "Do what ever ye can: We shall do our part;
122وَانتَظِرُوا إِنَّا مُنتَظِرُونَ
To Allah do belong the unseen (secrets) of the heavens and the earth, and to Him goeth back every affair
(for decision): then worship Him, and put thy trust in Him: and thy Lord is not unmindful of aught that
ye do.