Alif-Lãm-Ra.

These are the verses of the Book, rich in wisdom.

Is it astonishing to people

that We have sent revelation to a man from among themselves,

˹instructing him,˺ “Warn humanity

and give good news to the believers

that they will have an honourable status with their Lord.”?

Yet the disbelievers said,

“Indeed, this ˹man˺ is clearly a magician!”

Surely your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days,

then established Himself on the Throne,

conducting every affair.

None can intercede except by His permission.

That is Allah—your Lord, so worship Him ˹alone˺.

Will you not then be mindful?

To Him is your return all together.

Allah’s promise is ˹always˺ true.

Indeed, He originates the creation then resurrects it

so that He may justly reward those who believe and do good.

But those who disbelieve will have a boiling drink and a painful punishment for their disbelief.

He is the One Who made the sun a radiant source and the moon a reflected light,

with precisely ordained phases,

so that you may know the number of years and calculation ˹of time˺.

Allah did not create all this except for a purpose.

He makes the signs clear for people of knowledge.

Surely in the alternation of the day and the night,

and in all that Allah has created in the heavens and the earth,

there are truly signs for those mindful ˹of Him˺.

Indeed, those who do not expect to meet Us,

being pleased and content with this worldly life,

and who are heedless of Our signs,

they will have the Fire as a home

because of what they have committed.

Surely those who believe and do good,

their Lord will guide them ˹to Paradise˺ through their faith,

rivers will flow under their feet in the Gardens of Bliss,

in which their prayer will be, “Glory be to You, O Allah!”

and their greeting will be, “Peace!”

and their closing prayer will be, “All praise is for Allah—Lord of all worlds!”

If Allah were to hasten evil for people as they wish to hasten good,

they would have certainly been doomed.

But We leave those who do not expect to meet Us to wander blindly in their defiance.

Whenever someone is touched by hardship, they cry out to Us,

whether lying on their side, sitting, or standing.

But when We relieve their hardship,

they return to their old ways as if they had never cried to Us to remove any hardship!

This is how the misdeeds of the transgressors have been made appealing to them.

We surely destroyed ˹other˺ peoples before you when they did wrong,

and their messengers came to them with clear proofs

but they would not believe!

This is how We reward the wicked people.

Then We made you their successors in the land

to see how you would act.

When Our clear revelations are recited to them,

those who do not expect to meet Us say ˹to the Prophet˺,

“Bring us a different Quran or make some changes in it.”

Say ˹to them˺, “It is not for me to change it on my own.

I only follow what is revealed to me.

I fear, if I were to disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day.”

Say, “Had Allah willed, I would not have recited it to you,

nor would He have made it known to you.

I had lived my whole life among you before this ˹revelation˺.

Do you not understand?”

Who does more wrong than those who fabricate lies against Allah or deny His revelations?

Indeed, the wicked will never succeed.

They worship besides Allah others who can neither harm nor benefit them,

and say, “These are our intercessors with Allah.”

Ask ˹them, O Prophet˺, “Are you informing Allah of something He does not know in the heavens or the earth?

Glorified and Exalted is He above what they associate ˹with Him˺!”

Humanity was once nothing but a single community ˹of believers˺,

but then they differed.

Had it not been for a prior decree from your Lord,

their differences would have been settled ˹at once˺.

They ask, “Why has no ˹other˺ sign been sent down to him from his Lord?”

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “˹The knowledge of˺ the unseen is with Allah alone.

So wait! I too am waiting with you.”

When We give people a taste of mercy after being afflicted with a hardship,

they swiftly devise plots against Our revelations!

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Allah is swifter in devising ˹punishment˺.

Surely Our messenger-angels record whatever you devise.”

He is the One Who enables you to travel through land and sea.

And it so happens that you are on ships, sailing with a favourable wind, to the passengers’ delight.

Suddenly, the ships are overcome by a gale wind

and those on board are overwhelmed by waves from every side, and they assume they are doomed.

They cry out to Allah ˹alone˺ in sincere devotion,

“If You save us from this, we will certainly be grateful.”

But as soon as He rescues them, they transgress in the land unjustly.

O humanity!

Your transgression is only against your own souls.

˹There is only˺ brief enjoyment in this worldly life,

then to Us is your return,

and then We will inform you of what you used to do.

The life of this world is just like rain We send down from the sky,

producing a mixture of plants which humans and animals consume.

Then just as the earth looks its best, perfectly beautified,

and its people think they have full control over it,

there comes to it Our command by night or by day,

so We mow it down as if it never flourished yesterday!

This is how We make the signs clear for people who reflect.

And Allah invites ˹all˺ to the Home of Peace

and guides whoever He wills to the Straight Path.

Those who do good will have the finest reward and ˹even˺ more.

Neither gloom nor disgrace will cover their faces.

It is they who will be the residents of Paradise.

They will be there forever.

As for those who commit evil, the reward of an evil deed is its equivalent.

Humiliation will cover them—with no one to protect them from Allah—

as if their faces were covered with patches of the night’s deep darkness.

It is they who will be the residents of the Fire. They will be there forever.

˹Consider˺ the Day We will gather them all together

then say to those who associated others ˹with Allah in worship˺,

“Stay in your places—you and your associate-gods.”

We will separate them from each other,

and their associate-gods will say, “It was not us that you worshipped!

Allah is sufficient as a Witness between each of us

that we were totally unaware of your worship.”

Then and there every soul will face ˹the consequences of˺ what it had done.

They all will be returned to Allah—their True Master.

And whatever ˹gods˺ they fabricated will fail them.

Ask ˹them, O Prophet˺, “Who provides for you from heaven and earth?

Who owns ˹your˺ hearing and sight?

Who brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living?

And who conducts every affair?”

They will ˹surely˺ say, “Allah.”

Say, “Will you not then fear ˹Him˺?

That is Allah—your True Lord.

So what is beyond the truth except falsehood?

How can you then be turned away?”

And so your Lord’s decree has been proven true against the rebellious—

that they will never believe.

Ask ˹them, O Prophet˺, “Can any of your associate-gods originate creation and then resurrect it?”

Say, “˹Only˺ Allah originates creation and then resurrects it.

How can you then be deluded ˹from the truth˺?”

Ask ˹them, O  Prophet˺, “Can any of your associate-gods guide to the truth?”

Say, “˹Only˺ Allah guides to the truth.”

Who then is more worthy to be followed: the One Who guides to the truth

or those who cannot find the way unless guided?

What is the matter with you? How do you judge?

Most of them follow nothing but ˹inherited˺ assumptions.

˹And˺ surely assumptions can in no way replace the truth.

Allah is indeed All-Knowing of what they do.

It is not ˹possible˺ for this Quran to have been produced by anyone other than Allah.

In fact, it is a confirmation of what came before,

and an explanation of the Scripture.

It is, without a doubt,

from the Lord of all worlds.

Or do they claim, “He made it up!”?

Tell them ˹O Prophet˺, “Produce one sûrah like it then,

and seek help from whoever you can—other than Allah—

if what you say is true!”

In fact, they ˹hastily˺ rejected the Book without comprehending it

and before the fulfilment of its warnings.

Similarly, those before them were in denial.

See then what was the end of the wrongdoers!

Some of them will ˹eventually˺ believe in it;

others will not.

And your Lord knows best the corruptors.

If they deny you, then say,

“My deeds are mine and your deeds are yours.

You are free of what I do

and I am free of what you do!”

Some of them listen to what you say,

but can you make the deaf hear even though they do not understand?

And some of them look at you,

but can you guide the blind even though they cannot see?

Indeed, Allah does not wrong people in the least,

but it is people who wrong themselves.

On the Day He will gather them,

it will be as if they had not stayed ˹in the world˺ except for an hour of a day,

˹as though they were only˺ getting to know one another.

Lost indeed will be those who denied the meeting with Allah,

and were not ˹rightly˺ guided!

Whether We show you ˹O Prophet˺ some of what We threaten them with, or cause you to die ˹before that˺,

to Us is their return

and Allah is a Witness over what they do.

And for every community there is a messenger.

After their messenger has come,

judgment is passed on them in all fairness,

and they are not wronged.

They ask ˹the believers˺,

“When will this threat come to pass

if what you say is true?”

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “I have no power to benefit or protect myself, except by the Will of Allah.”

For each community there is an appointed term.

When their time arrives, they cannot delay it for a moment, nor could they advance it.

Tell them ˹O Prophet˺, “Imagine

if His torment were to overcome you by night or day—

do the wicked realize what they are ˹really˺ asking Him to hasten?

Will you believe in it only after it has overtaken you?

Now?

But you always wanted to hasten it!”

Then the wrongdoers will be told,

“Taste the torment of eternity!

Are you not rewarded except for what you used to commit?”

They ask you ˹O Prophet˺, “Is this true?”

Say, “Yes, by my Lord! Most certainly it is true!

And you will have no escape.”

If every wrongdoer were to possess everything in the world, they would surely ransom themselves with it.

They will hide ˹their˺ remorse when they see the torment.

And they will be judged in all fairness, and none will be wronged.

Surely to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth.

Surely Allah’s promise is ˹always˺ true,

but most of them do not know.

He ˹is the One Who˺ gives life and causes death,

and to Him you will ˹all˺ be returned.

O humanity!

Indeed, there has come to you a warning from your Lord,

a cure for what is in the hearts,

a guide, and a mercy for the believers.

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “In Allah’s grace and mercy

let them rejoice.

That is far better than whatever ˹wealth˺ they amass.”

Ask ˹the pagans, O Prophet˺, “Have you seen that which Allah has sent down for you as a provision,

of which you have made some lawful and some unlawful?”

Say, “Has Allah given you authorization,

or are you fabricating lies against Allah?”

What do those who fabricate lies against Allah expect on Judgment Day?

Surely Allah is ever Bountiful to humanity,

but most of them are ungrateful.

There is no activity you may be engaged in ˹O Prophet˺

or portion of the Quran you may be reciting,

nor any deed you ˹all˺ may be doing

except that We are a Witness over you while doing it.

Not ˹even˺ an atom’s weight is hidden from your Lord on earth or in heaven;

nor anything smaller or larger than that,

but is ˹written˺ in a perfect Record.

There will certainly be no fear for the close servants of Allah,

nor will they grieve.

˹They are˺ those who are faithful

and are mindful ˹of Him˺.

For them is good news in this worldly life and the Hereafter.

There is no change in the promise of Allah.

That is ˹truly˺ the ultimate triumph.

Do not let their words grieve you ˹O Prophet˺.

Surely all honour and power belongs to Allah.

He is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

Certainly to Allah ˹alone˺ belong all those in the heavens and all those on the earth.

And what do those who associate others with Allah really follow?

They follow nothing but assumptions

and do nothing but lie.

He is the One Who has made the night for you to rest in

and the day bright.

Surely in this are signs for people who listen.

They say, “Allah has offspring.”

Glory be to Him!

He is the Self-Sufficient.

To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth.

You have no proof of this!

Do you say about Allah what you do not know?

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺

“Indeed, those who fabricate lies against Allah

will never succeed.”

˹It is only˺ a brief enjoyment in this world,

then to Us is their return,

then We will make them taste the severe punishment

for their disbelief.

Relate to them ˹O Prophet˺ the story of Noah

when he said to his people, “O my People!

If my presence and my reminders to you of Allah’s signs are unbearable to you,

then ˹know that˺ I have put my trust in Allah.

So devise a plot along with your associate-gods—

and you do not have to be secretive about your plot—

then carry it out against me without delay!

And if you turn away,

˹remember˺ I have never demanded a reward from you ˹for delivering the message˺.

My reward is only from Allah.

And I have been commanded to be one of those who submit ˹to Allah˺.”

But they still rejected him,

so We saved him and those with him in the Ark

and made them successors,

and drowned those who rejected Our signs.

See then what was the end of those who had been warned!

Then after him We sent ˹other˺ messengers to their ˹own˺ people

and they came to them with clear proofs.

But they would not believe in what they had rejected before.

This is how We seal the hearts of the transgressors.

Then after these ˹messengers˺ We sent Moses and Aaron

to Pharaoh and his chiefs with Our signs.

But they behaved arrogantly

and were a wicked people.

When the truth came to them from Us,

they said, “This is certainly pure magic!”

Moses responded,

“Is this what you say about the truth when it has come to you?

Is this magic?

Magicians will never succeed.”

They argued, “Have you come to turn us away from the faith of our forefathers

so that the two of you may become supreme in the land?

We will never believe in you!”

Pharaoh demanded,

“Bring me every skilled magician.”

When the magicians came,

Moses said to them,

“Cast whatever you wish to cast!”

When they did,

Moses said,

“What you have produced is mere magic,

Allah will surely make it useless,

for Allah certainly does not set right the work of the corruptors.

And Allah establishes the truth by His Words—

even to the dismay of the wicked.”

But no one believed in Moses except a few youths of his people,

while fearing that Pharaoh and their own chiefs might persecute them.

And certainly Pharaoh was a tyrant in the land,

and he was truly a transgressor.

Moses said, “O my people!

If you do believe in Allah

then put your trust in Him.”

and submit ˹to His Will˺,

They replied, “In Allah we trust.

Our Lord! Do not subject us to the persecution of the oppressive people,

and deliver us by Your mercy

from the disbelieving people.”

We revealed to Moses and his brother,

“Appoint houses for your people in Egypt.

Turn these houses into places of worship,

establish prayer,

and give good news to the believers!”

Moses prayed, “Our Lord!

You have granted Pharaoh and his chiefs luxuries and riches in this worldly life,

˹which they abused˺ to lead people astray from Your Way!

Our Lord, destroy their riches and harden their hearts

so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment.”

Allah responded ˹to Moses and Aaron˺, “Your prayer is answered!

So be steadfast

and do not follow the way of those who do not know.”

We brought the Children of Israel across the sea.

Then Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them unjustly and oppressively.

But as Pharaoh was drowning, he cried out,

“I believe that there is no god except that in whom the Children of Israel believe,

and I am ˹now˺ one of those who submit.”

“Now ˹you believe˺?

But you always disobeyed

and were one of the corruptors.

Today We will preserve your corpse

so that you may become an example for those who come after you.

And surely most people are heedless of Our examples!”

Indeed, We settled the Children of Israel in a blessed land,

and granted them good, lawful provisions.

They did not differ until knowledge came to them.

Surely your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Judgment

regarding their differences.

If you ˹O Prophet˺ are in doubt about ˹these stories˺ that We have revealed to you,

then ask those who read the Scripture before you.

The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord,

so do not be one of those who doubt,

and do not be one of those who deny Allah’s signs

or you will be one of the losers.

Indeed, those against whom Allah’s decree ˹of torment˺ is justified

will not believe—

even if every sign were to come to them—

until they see the painful punishment.

If only there had been a society which believed ˹before seeing the torment˺ and, therefore, benefited from its belief,

like the people of Jonah.

When they believed, We lifted from them the torment of disgrace in this world

and allowed them enjoyment for a while.

Had your Lord so willed ˹O Prophet˺,

all ˹people˺ on earth would have certainly believed, every single one of them!

Would you then force people to become believers?

It is not for any soul to believe except by Allah’s leave,

and He will bring His wrath upon those who are unmindful.

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Consider all that is in the heavens and the earth!”

Yet neither signs nor warners are of any benefit to those who refuse to believe.

Are they waiting for ˹anything˺ except the same torments that befell those before them?

Say, “Keep waiting then!

I too am waiting with you.”

Then We saved Our messengers and those who believed.

For it is Our duty to save the believers.

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “O humanity!

If you are in doubt of my faith,

then ˹know that˺ I do not worship those ˹idols˺ you worship instead of Allah.

But I worship Allah, Who has the power to cause your death.

And I have been commanded, ‘Be one of the believers,’

and, ‘Be steadfast in faith in all uprightness,

and do not be one of the polytheists,’

and ‘Do not invoke, instead of Allah, what can neither benefit nor harm you—

for if you do, then you will certainly be one of the wrongdoers,’

If Allah touches you with harm, none can undo it except Him.

And if He intends good for you, none can withhold His bounty.

He grants it to whoever He wills of His servants.

And He is the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “O humanity!

The truth has surely come to you from your Lord.

So whoever chooses to be guided, it is only for their own good.

And whoever chooses to stray, it is only to their own loss.

And I am not a keeper over you.”

And follow what is revealed to you,

and be patient until Allah passes His judgment.

For He is the Best of Judges.