The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Alif Lām Ra[1]. These are the verses of the Book of wisdom.

Is it surprising to people that We have sent revelation to a man from among themselves to warn people[2] and give glad tidings to those who believe, that they will have a noble position with their Lord? But the disbelievers say, “This man is a clear magician![3]”

Allah is your Lord Who created the heavens and earth in six Days and then rose over the Throne[4], governing all affairs[5]. None can intercede except by His permission[6]. Such is Allah your Lord, so worship Him. Will you not then take heed?

To Him is your return altogether. Allah’s promise will surely come true. He originates the creation then brings it back, so that He may justly reward those who believe and do righteous deeds. But for those who disbelieve, there will be a drink of scalding water and a painful punishment because of their disbelief.

It is He Who made the sun a radiant light[7] and the moon a reflected light[8], and precisely determined its phases, so that you may know the number of years and account [of time][9]. Allah has not created all of this except for a true purpose[10]. He makes the signs clear for people who know.

Indeed, in the alternation of the night and day, and in what Allah has created in the heavens and earth, there are signs[11] for people who fear Him.

Those who do not expect to meet Us, and are pleased and content with the life of this world[12], and those who are heedless of Our signs,

their abode will be the Fire, for what they used to earn.

As for those who believe and do righteous deeds[13], their Lord will guide them by virtue of their faith. Rivers will flow beneath them in the Gardens of Bliss.

Their prayer will be, “Glorify be to You, O Allah,” and their greeting will be, “Peace,” and the closing of their prayer will be, “All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.”

If Allah were to hasten evil[14] to the people, just as they seek to hasten good[15], they would have been ruined. But We leave those who do not expect to meet Us to wander blindly in their transgression.

When hardship befalls man, he calls upon Us, whether lying on his side, sitting or standing. But when We remove his hardship, he turns a blind eye as though he had never called upon Us to remove his hardship[16]. This is how the misdeeds of the transgressors are made appealing to them.

We destroyed the generations[17] before you when they indulged in wrongdoing, and their messengers came to them with clear proofs, but they would not believe. This is how We recompense the wicked people.

Then We made you their successors in the land to see how you would behave[18].

When Our verses are recited to them clearly, those who do not expect to meet Us say, “Bring us a different Qur’an, or make changes in it[19].” Say, “It is not for me to change it on my own accord; I only follow what is revealed to me. If I were to disobey my Lord, I fear the punishment of a momentous Day.”

Say, “If Allah had willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you. I have spent a lifetime[20] among you before this. Do you not then understand?”

Who does greater wrong than he who fabricates lies against Allah or rejects His verses? Indeed, the wicked will never succeed.

They worship besides Allah those who can neither harm nor benefit them, saying, “These are our intercessors with Allah.” Say, “Do you inform Allah of what He does not know in the heavens or on the earth? Glorified and Exalted is He far above what they associate [with Him]!”

The whole of mankind was but a single community, then they differed[21]. If it had not been for a prior decree from your Lord, a decisive judgment would have been passed between them concerning their differences[22].

They say, “Why has no sign[23] been sent down to him from his Lord?” Say [O Prophet], “The unseen belongs to Allah alone. Wait then; I too am waiting with you.”

When We give people a taste of mercy after being afflicted with adversity, they start plotting against Our verses. Say, “Allah is swifter in planning [retribution]. Our angel-messengers record whatever you plot.”

It is He Who enables you to travel through the land and sea, until when you are in the ships and they sail with those on board and rejoicing in a favorable wind, then suddenly a stormy wind comes, with waves crashing into them on all sides, and they feel that there is no escape. Then they cry out to Allah[24] with sincere devotion to Him, “If You save us from this, we will surely be among those who are grateful.”

However, when He saves them, they start transgressing in the land unjustly[25]. O people, your transgression is against your own souls. Take your little enjoyment in this life; then to Us is your return, and We will inform you of what you used to do.

The likeness of the life of this world is that of the rain that We send down from the sky, and it mixes with the plants of the earth, from which both humans and livestock eat. Then when the earth is in its splendor and its fairest appearance, and its owners feel that they have full control over it, Our command comes to it, by night or by day, and We reduce it to stubble, as if it had not flourished the day before[26]. This is how We make the signs clear for people who reflect.

Allah invites to the Home of Peace[27] and guides whom He wills to a straight path.

For those who do good, there will be the best reward and more[28] – neither gloom nor humiliation will cover their faces[29]. It is they who are the people of Paradise, they will abide therein forever.

As for those who commit evil deeds, the recompense of an evil deed is the like thereof, and humiliation will cover them[30] – there will be none to protect them from Allah – as if their faces were covered with patches of the darkest night. It is they who are the people of the Fire, they will abide therein forever.

On the Day when We gather them all together, then We will say to those who associated partners with Us, “Stay where you are, you and your [so-called] partners!” Then We will separate them, and their partners[31] will say, “It was not us that you used to worship!

Allah is sufficient as a Witness between us and you that we were completely unaware of your worship.”

Thereupon, every soul will realize what it did in the past. They will be brought back to Allah, their True Guardian, and all [false gods] that they fabricated will vanish from them.

Say, “Who provides for you from the heaven and earth? Or who owns [your] hearing and sight? Who brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living? Who controls all things?” They will say, “Allah[32].” Say, “Do you not then fear Him?

Such is Allah, your True Lord. What is beyond the truth except falsehood? So how could you be averted [from the truth]?”

Thus the decree of your Lord has come true against the wicked, that they will never believe[33].

Say, “Can any of your [so-called] partners originate creation and then repeat it[34]?” Say, “Allah originates creation and then repeats it. How are you then deluded [from the truth]?”

Say, “Can any of your [so-called] partners guide to the truth[35]?” Say, “Allah guides to the truth.” Who is then more worthy to be followed: the One Who guides to the truth, or he who has no guidance unless he himself is guided? What is the matter with you, that you judge so[36]?

Most of them follow nothing but assumptions. However, assumptions are of no avail against the truth. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing of what they do.

This Qur’an could not possibly have been produced by anyone other than Allah. It is a confirmation of what came before it and an explanation of the Scripture and is undoubtedly from the Lord of the worlds.

Or do they say, “He fabricated it?” Say, “Produce then one chapter like it[37], and call upon whoever you can other than Allah, if you are truthful!”

But they rejected that which they did not comprehend, and its warning has not yet been fulfilled against them. Similarly, those who came before them refused to believe. Then see how was the end of the wrongdoers!

There are some among them who will believe in it and others will not. And your Lord knows best those who spread corruption.

If they reject you, then say, “My deeds are mine and your deeds are yours[38]. You are not responsible for what I do, nor am I responsible for what you do.”

Among them are some who listen to you, but can you make the deaf hear, even though they have no understanding?

And among them are some who look at you, but can you guide the blind even though they have no sight[39]?

Allah does not wrong people in the least, but it is people who wrong themselves.

On the Day when He will gather them, it will be as if they had not stayed [in this world] except for an hour of a day, they will recognize one another[40]. Those who denied the meeting of Allah will be losers, for they did not follow guidance.

Whether We show you [O Prophet] some of that [punishment] of which We warn them, or We cause you to die, to Us is their return, and Allah is a Witness to all what they do.

For every people there is a messenger. When their messenger comes, it will be judged[41] between them with justice, and they will not be wronged.

They say, “When will this warning[42] come to pass, if you are truthful?”

Say, “I have no power to harm or benefit myself, except by the Will of Allah.” For every people there is an appointed term; when their time comes, they can neither delay it for a moment nor can they bring it forward.

Say, “What do you think, if His punishment were to overtake you by night or by day, what part of it would the wicked seek to hasten[43]?

Will you believe in it only after it befalls you[44]? Now! While you used to seek its hastening[45]?”

Then the wrongdoers will be told, “Taste the everlasting punishment! Are you being recompensed except for what you used to earn?”

They ask you, “Is it true?” Say, “Yes, by my Lord. It is certainly true, and you cannot escape it.”

If every wrongdoer were to possess all that is on earth, he would surely offer it to ransom himself. They will hide their remorse[46] when they see the punishment. They will be judged in all fairness, and they will not be wronged.

Indeed, to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and earth. Allah’s promise is certainly true, but most of them do not know.

It is He Who gives life and causes death, and to Him you will all be returned.

O people, there has come to you an exhortation from your Lord, a cure for [illness] of the hearts, a guidance and mercy for the believers.

Say, “By Allah’s grace and His mercy let them therefore rejoice. It is much better than what they accumulate[47].”

Say [to the pagans], “What do you think about the provision that Allah has sent down to you, of which you made some unlawful and some lawful[48].” Say, “Has Allah given you permission or are you fabricating lies against Allah?”

What do those who fabricate lies against Allah think of it on the Day of Judgment[49]? Indeed, Allah is bountiful to people, yet most of them are ungrateful.

Whatever matter you [O Prophet] may be engaged in, and whatever portion of the Qur’an you may recite, and whatever deed you [O people] may do, We are a Witness over you when you are engaged in it. Nothing is hidden from your Lord, not even an atom’s weight on earth nor in heaven, nor anything smaller or greater than that, except that it is [written] in a clear Record[50].

Indeed, the allies of Allah will have no fear, nor will they grieve.

Those who believe and fear Allah.

For them are glad tidings in the life of this world[51] and in the Hereafter; there is no change in Allah’s words. That is the supreme triumph.

Do not let their words grieve you. Indeed, all power belongs to Allah. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

Indeed, to Allah belongs all those who are in the heavens and all those who are on earth. Those who invoke [so-called] partners besides Allah follow nothing but conjecture and they do nothing but lie.

It is He Who made the night for you to rest therein and the day bright. Indeed, there are signs in this for people who listen.

They say, “Allah has taken a son.” Glory be to Him! He is the Self-Sufficient. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. You have no proof for this. Do you[52] say about Allah something that you do not know?

Say, “Those who fabricate lies against Allah will never succeed.”

A short enjoyment in this life, then to Us is their return, then We will make them taste the severe punishment because of their disbelief.

Relate to them the story of Noah when he said to his people, “O my People, if my presence among you and my reminding you of Allah’s signs have become unbearable to you, then in Allah I have put my trust. So gather all your schemes, you and your [so-called] partners, leaving no room for uncertainty, then carry it out against me, and give me no respite[53].

But if you turn away, then I have not asked you for any reward. My reward is only with Allah, and I have been commanded to be among those who submit to Allah [as Muslims].”

But they rejected him, so We saved him and those who were with him in the Ark, and made them successors[54], and We drowned those who rejected Our signs. Then see how was the end of those who were warned.

Then We sent after him messengers to their [own] peoples; they came to them with clear proofs, but they would not believe in what they had already rejected beforehand[55]. This is how We seal the hearts of the transgressors.

Then We sent after them Moses and Aaron with Our signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they showed arrogance and were wicked people.

So when the truth came to them from Us, they said, “This is indeed a clear magic!”

Moses said, “Do you say this about the truth after it has come to you? Can this be magic? But magicians will never succeed.”

They said, “Have you come to turn us away from what we found our forefathers following, so that you two might become supreme in the land? We will never believe in you[56]!”

Pharaoh said, “Bring me all learned magicians.”

When the magicians came, Moses said to them, “Cast whatever you have to cast.”

When they did, Moses said, “All what you have brought is mere magic; Allah will surely make it useless, for Allah does not let the work of the mischief-makers thrive.

And Allah establishes the truth by His Words, even though the wicked abhor it.”

But none believed in Moses except some youth of his own people, despite their fear that Pharaoh and their own chiefs might persecute them[57]. Pharaoh was indeed a tyrant in the land and he was truly one of the transgressors.

Moses said, “O my people, if you have faith in Allah, then put your trust in Him, if you have truly submitted.”

They said, “In Allah we put our trust. Our Lord, do not subject us to the persecution of the oppressive people[58],

and save us by Your mercy from the disbelieving people.”

We inspired Moses and his brother, “Provide houses for your people in Egypt, and make your houses face the qiblah direction, establish prayer, and give glad tidings to the believers.”

Moses said, “Our Lord, You have given Pharaoh and his chiefs splendor and wealth in the life of this world. Our Lord, they may lead people astray from Your way. Our Lord, destroy their wealth and harden their hearts[59], so that they may not believe until they see the painful punishment.”

Allah said [to Moses and Aaron], “Your prayer is answered, so be steadfast on the straight path, and do not follow the way of those who do not know.”

We led the Children of Israel across the sea, then Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them out of transgression and tyranny, until when he was drowning, he said, “I believe that none has the right to be worshiped except He in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am one of those who submit to Allah.”

[He was told], “Now [you believe]? You had always been disobedient, and were one of the mischief-makers!

So today We will preserve your body, so that you will be an example[60] for those who come after you, yet most people are heedless of Our signs.”

We settled the Children of Israel in a blessed land and provided good things for their sustenance[61]. They did not differ until after knowledge had come to them[62]. Your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.

If you are in doubt about what We have sent down to you [O Prophet], then ask those who read the Scripture[63] before you. The truth has surely come to you from your Lord, so never be of those who doubt,

and never be of those who reject the signs of Allah, for then you would be among the losers.

Indeed, those upon whom the decree of Allah is passed will not believe[64],

even if every sign were to come to them until they see the painful punishment.

There had never been any town that believed [after seeing the punishment] and benefited from its faith except the people of Jonah[65]. When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in the life of this world, and let them enjoy themselves for a while.

Had your Lord willed, all those on earth would have believed altogether. Will you then compel people to become believers?

No soul can believe except by Allah’s will, and He will bring disgrace upon those who do not use their intellect.

Say, “Look at what is in the heavens and earth.” But the signs and warnings are of no avail to those who do not believe.

Are they waiting except for the same punishment that befell those who came before them? Say, “Then wait. I too am waiting with you.”

Then We will save Our messengers and those who believe. For We took it upon Us to save the believers.

Say [O Prophet], “O people, if you are in doubt about my religion, then I do not worship those whom you worship besides Allah. But I worship Allah, Who causes you to die, and I have been commanded to be one of the believers.

And be steadfast and exclusively devoted to true faith, and never be of those who associate partners with Allah.

Do not supplicate[66] besides Allah that which can neither benefit nor harm you, for if you do so, you will be one of the wrongdoers.

If Allah afflicts you with harm, none can remove it except Him; if He wants good for you, none can withhold His bounty. He grants it to whom He wills of His slaves, and He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”

Say, “O people, the truth has come to you from your Lord. So whoever accepts guidance, it is only for his own good; and whoever goes astray, it is only for his own loss. I am not a keeper over you.”

Follow what is revealed to you, and be patient until Allah passes His judgment, for He is the Best of Judges.