{"collection":"Islam","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/isl/pick/023.htm","path":"isl/pick/023.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/isl/pick/023.htm","text":"The Meaning of the Glorious Qur'\u00e2n, by M.M. Pickthall\n 23. al-Mu'minun: The Believers\n 1\u00a0Successful indeed are the believers \n 2\u00a0Who are humble in their prayers, \n 3\u00a0And who shun vain conversation, \n 4\u00a0And who are payers of the poor-due; \n 5\u00a0And who guard their modesty - \n 6\u00a0Save from their wives or the (slaves) that their right hands possess, for then they are not blameworthy, \n 7\u00a0But whoso craveth beyond that, such are transgressors - \n 8\u00a0And who are shepherds of their pledge and their covenant, \n 9\u00a0And who pay heed to their prayers. \n 10\u00a0These are the heirs \n 11\u00a0Who will inherit paradise. There they will abide. \n 12\u00a0Verily We created man from a product of wet earth; \n 13\u00a0Then placed him as a drop (of seed) in a safe lodging; \n 14\u00a0Then fashioned We the drop a clot, then fashioned We the clot a little lump, then fashioned We the little lump bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it as another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators! \n 15\u00a0Then lo! after that ye surely die. \n 16\u00a0Then lo! on the Day of Resurrection ye are raised (again). \n 17\u00a0And We have created above you seven paths, and We are never unmindful of creation. \n 18\u00a0And we send down from the sky water in measure, and We give it lodging in the earth, and lo! We are Able to withdraw it. \n 19\u00a0Then We produce for you therewith gardens of date-palms and grapes, wherein is much fruit for you and whereof ye eat; \n 20\u00a0And a tree that springeth forth from Mount Sinai that groweth oil and relish for the eaters. \n 21\u00a0And lo! in the cattle there is verily a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, and many uses have ye in them, and of them do ye eat; \n 22\u00a0And on them and on the ship ye are carried. \n 23\u00a0And We verily sent Noah unto his folk, and he said: O my people! Serve Allah. Ye have no other God save Him. Will ye not ward off (evil) ? \n 24\u00a0But the chieftains of his folk, who disbelieved, said: This is only a mortal like you who would make himself superior to you. Had Allah willed, He surely could have sent down angels. We heard not of this in the case of our fathers of old. \n 25\u00a0He is only a man in whom is a madness, so watch him for a while. \n 26\u00a0He said: My Lord! Help me because they deny me. \n 27\u00a0Then We inspired in him, saying: Make the ship under Our eyes and Our inspiration. Then, when Our command cometh and the oven gusheth water, introduce therein of every (kind) two spouses, and thy household save him thereof against whom the Word hath already gone forth. And plead not with Me on behalf of those who have done wrong. Lo! they will be drowned. \n 28\u00a0And when thou art on board the ship, thou and whoso is with thee, then say: Praise be to Allah Who hath saved us from the wrongdoing folk! \n 29\u00a0And say: My Lord! Cause me to land at a blessed landing-place, for Thou art Best of all who bring to land. \n 30\u00a0Lo! herein verily are portents, for lo! We are ever putting (mankind) to the test. \n 31\u00a0Then, after them, We brought forth another generation; \n 32\u00a0And we sent among them a messenger of their own, saying: Serve Allah, Ye have no other God save Him. Will ye not ward off (evil) ? \n 33\u00a0And the chieftains of his folk, who disbelieved and denied the meeting of the Hereafter, and whom We had made soft in the life of the world, said: This is only a mortal like you, who eateth of that whereof ye eat and drinketh of that ye drink. \n 34\u00a0If ye were to obey a mortal like yourselves, then, lo! ye surely would be losers. \n 35\u00a0Doth he promise you that you, when ye are dead and have become dust and bones, will (again) be brought forth ? \n 36\u00a0Begone, begone, with that which ye are promised! \n 37\u00a0There is naught but our life of the world; we die and we live, and we shall not be raised (again). \n 38\u00a0He is only a man who hath invented a lie about Allah. We are not going to put faith in him. \n 39\u00a0He said: My Lord! Help me because they deny me. \n 40\u00a0He said: In a little while they surely will become repentant. \n 41\u00a0So the (Awful) Cry overtook them rightfully, and We made them like as wreckage (that a torrent hurleth). A far removal for wrongdoing folk! \n 42\u00a0Then after them We brought forth other generations. \n 43\u00a0No nation can outstrip its term, nor yet postpone it. \n 44\u00a0Then We sent our messengers one after another. Whenever its messenger came unto a nation they denied him; so We caused them to follow one another (to disaster) and We made them bywords. A far removal for folk who believe not! \n 45\u00a0Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron with Our tokens and a clear warrant \n 46\u00a0Unto Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they scorned (them) and they were despotic folk. \n 47\u00a0And they said: Shall we put faith in two mortals like ourselves, and whose folk are servile unto us ? \n 48\u00a0So they denied them, and became of those who were destroyed. \n 49\u00a0And We verily gave Moses the Scripture, that haply they might go aright. \n 50\u00a0And We made the son of Mary and his mother a portent, and We gave them refuge on a height, a place of flocks and watersprings. \n 51\u00a0O ye messengers! Eat of the good things, and do right. Lo! I am Aware of what ye do. \n 52\u00a0And lo! this your religion is one religion and I am your Lord, so keep your duty unto Me. \n 53\u00a0But they (mankind) have broken their religion among them into sects, each group rejoicing in its tenets. \n 54\u00a0So leave them in their error till a time. \n 55\u00a0Think they that in the wealth and sons wherewith We provide them \n 56\u00a0We hasten unto them with good things ? Nay, but they perceive not. \n 57\u00a0Lo! those who go in awe for fear of their Lord. \n 58\u00a0And those who believe in the revelations of their Lord, \n 59\u00a0And those who ascribe not partners unto their Lord, \n 60\u00a0And those who give that which they give with hearts afraid because they are about to return unto their Lord, \n 61\u00a0These race for the good things, and they shall win them in the race. \n 62\u00a0And we task not any soul beyond its scope, and with Us is a Record which speaketh the truth, and they will not be wronged. \n 63\u00a0Nay, but their hearts are in ignorance of this (Qur'an), and they have other works, besides, which they are doing; \n 64\u00a0Till when We grasp their luxurious ones with the punishment, behold! they supplicate. \n 65\u00a0Supplicate not this day! Assuredly ye will not be helped by Us. \n 66\u00a0My revelations were recited unto you, but ye used to turn back on your heels, \n 67\u00a0In scorn thereof. Nightly did ye rave together. \n 68\u00a0Have they not pondered the Word, or hath that come unto them which came not unto their fathers of old ? \n 69\u00a0Or know they not their messenger, and so reject him ? \n 70\u00a0Or say they: There is a madness in him ? Nay, but he bringeth them the Truth; and most of them are haters of the Truth. \n 71\u00a0And if the Truth had followed their desires, verily the heavens and the earth and whosoever is therein had been corrupted. Nay, We have brought them their Reminder, but from their Reminder they now turn away. \n 72\u00a0Or dost thou ask of them (O Muhammad) any tribute ? But the bounty of thy Lord is better, for He is Best of all who make provision. \n 73\u00a0And lo! thou summonest them indeed unto a straight path. \n 74\u00a0And lo! those who believe not in the Hereafter are indeed astray from the path. \n 75\u00a0Though We had mercy on them and relieved them of the harm afflicting them, they still would wander blindly on in their contumacy. \n 76\u00a0Already have We grasped them with punishment, but they humble not themselves unto their Lord, nor do they pray, \n 77\u00a0Until, when We open for them the gate of extreme punishment, behold! they are aghast thereat. \n 78\u00a0He it is Who hath created for you ears and eyes and hearts. Small thanks give ye! \n 79\u00a0And He it is Who hath sown you broadcast in the earth, and unto Him ye will be gathered. \n 80\u00a0And He it is Who giveth life and causeth death, and His is the difference of night and day. Have ye then no sense ? \n 81\u00a0Nay, but they say the like of that which said the men of old; \n 82\u00a0They say: When we are dead and have become (mere) dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, be raised again ? \n 83\u00a0We were already promised this, we and our forefathers. Lo! this is naught but fables of the men of old. \n 84\u00a0Say: Unto Whom (belongeth) the earth and whosoever is therein, if ye have knowledge ? \n 85\u00a0They will say: Unto Allah. Say: Will ye not then remember ? \n 86\u00a0Say: Who is Lord of the seven heavens, and Lord of the Tremendous Throne ? \n 87\u00a0They will say: Unto Allah (all that belongeth). Say: Will ye not then keep duty (unto Him) ? \n 88\u00a0Say: In Whose hand is the dominion over all things and He protecteth, while against Him there is no protection, if ye have knowledge ? \n 89\u00a0They will say: Unto Allah (all that belongeth). Say: How then are ye bewitched ? \n 90\u00a0Nay, but We have brought them the Truth, and lo! they are liars. \n 91\u00a0Allah hath not chosen any son, nor is there any god along with Him; else would each god have assuredly championed that which he created, and some of them would assuredly have overcome others. Glorified be Allah above all that they allege. \n 92\u00a0Knower of the Invisible and the Visible! and Exalted be He over all that they ascribe as partners (unto Him)! \n 93\u00a0Say: My Lord! If Thou shouldst show me that which they are promised. \n 94\u00a0My Lord! then set me not among the wrongdoing folk. \n 95\u00a0And verily We are Able to show thee that which We have promised them. \n 96\u00a0Repel evil with that which is better. We are Best Aware of that which they allege. \n 97\u00a0And say: My Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from suggestions of the evil ones, \n 98\u00a0And I seek refuge in Thee, my Lord, lest they be present with me, \n 99\u00a0Until, when death cometh unto one of them, he saith: My Lord! Send me back, \n 100\u00a0That I may do right in that which I have left behind! But nay! It is but a word that he speaketh; and behind them is a barrier until the day when they are raised. \n 101\u00a0And when the trumpet is blown there will be no kinship among them that day, nor will they ask of one another. \n 102\u00a0Then those whose scales are heavy, they are the successful. \n 103\u00a0And those whose scales are light are those who lose their souls, in hell abiding. \n 104\u00a0The fire burneth their faces, and they are glum therein. \n 105\u00a0(It will be said): Were not My revelations recited unto you, and then ye used to deny them ? \n 106\u00a0They will say: Our Lord! Our evil fortune conquered us, and we were erring folk. \n 107\u00a0Our Lord! Oh, bring us forth from hence! If we return (to evil) then indeed we shall be wrong-doers. \n 108\u00a0He saith: Begone therein, and speak not unto Me. \n 109\u00a0Lo! there was a party of My slaves who said: Our Lord! We believe, therefor forgive us and have mercy on us for Thou art Best of all who show mercy; \n 110\u00a0But ye chose them for a laughing-stock until they caused you to forget remembrance of Me, while ye laughed at them. \n 111\u00a0Lo! I have rewarded them this day forasmuch as they were steadfast in that they, even they, are the triumphant. \n 112\u00a0He will say: How long tarried ye in the earth, counting by years ? \n 113\u00a0They will say: We tarried by a day or part of a day. Ask of those who keep count! \n 114\u00a0He will say: Ye tarried but a little if ye only knew. \n 115\u00a0Deemed ye then that We had created you for naught, and that ye would not be returned unto Us ? \n 116\u00a0Now Allah be Exalted, the True King! There is no God save Him, the Lord of the Throne of Grace. \n 117\u00a0He who crieth unto any other god along with Allah hath no proof thereof. His reckoning is only with his Lord. Lo! disbelievers will not be successful. \n 118\u00a0And (O Muhammad) say: My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for Thou art Best of all who show mercy.","title":"The Meaning of the Glorious Qur'\u00e2n,: 23. al-Mu'minun: The Believers","type":"page"}