Shabbir Ahmed

Surah 2. The Cow (al-Baqarah)

286 verses Medinan
1 Fundamental Principles of Islam
2 Lip-profession
3 Divine Unity
2:25
وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتࣲ تَجۡرِی مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُۖ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا۟ مِنۡهَا مِن ثَمَرَةࣲ رِّزۡقࣰاۙ قَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِی رُزِقۡنَا مِن قَبۡلُۖ وَأُتُوا۟ بِهِۦ مُتَشَـٰبِهࣰاۖ وَلَهُمۡ فِیهَاۤ أَزۡوَ ٰجࣱ مُّطَهَّرَةࣱۖ وَهُمۡ فِیهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ ۝٢٥
Shabbir Ahmed
(Now, see the other side of the coin.) And convey happy news to those who have chosen to be graced with belief, and have done acts of service to humanity. (For them will be a most pleasant reward. Call it Paradise in both lives. Try to understand it in your current vocabulary). Plush Gardens with rivulets flowing underneath! When they are provided with the delicious fruit of their deeds therein, they will say, "This is the provision we were given before." They had tasted some of the reward in this world. For, they will be given sustenance that will recall that past. The men and women will have pure companions therein, an everlasting happy family life. (Remember, this Paradise is not given away as charity. It has to be built in this life and then inherited (14:25), (24:55), (39:74)
wabashiri alladhīna āmanū waʿamilū l-ṣāliḥāti anna lahum jannātin tajrī min taḥtihā l-anhāru kullamā ruziqū min'hā min thamaratin riz'qan qālū hādhā alladhī ruziq'nā min qablu wa-utū bihi mutashābihan walahum fīhā azwājun muṭahharatun wahum fīhā khālidūn
2:26
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا یَسۡتَحۡیِۦۤ أَن یَضۡرِبَ مَثَلࣰا مَّا بَعُوضَةࣰ فَمَا فَوۡقَهَاۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فَیَعۡلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمۡۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَیَقُولُونَ مَاذَاۤ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَـٰذَا مَثَلࣰاۘ یُضِلُّ بِهِۦ كَثِیرࣰا وَیَهۡدِی بِهِۦ كَثِیرࣰاۚ وَمَا یُضِلُّ بِهِۦۤ إِلَّا ٱلۡفَـٰسِقِینَ ۝٢٦
Shabbir Ahmed
Behold, Allah does not shy away from citing any kind of allegory, even of an insect. (Men and women of intellect know that abstract phenomena are frequently well defined and understood in that manner). Since the believers exercise reason, (they appreciate this beauty of the Divine Wisdom and) they know that it is the Truth from their Lord. On the other hand, those who have chosen to disbelieve, try to ridicule by saying, "What could Allah mean to teach by this similitude?" Thus His Law of guidance lets go astray many and shows the Way to many. (But note) He never lets go astray except those who drift away from Reason
inna l-laha lā yastaḥyī an yaḍriba mathalan mā baʿūḍatan famā fawqahā fa-ammā alladhīna āmanū fayaʿlamūna annahu l-ḥaqu min rabbihim wa-ammā alladhīna kafarū fayaqūlūna mādhā arāda l-lahu bihādhā mathalan yuḍillu bihi kathīran wayahdī bihi kathīran wamā yuḍillu bihi illā l-fāsiqīn
4 Greatness of Man
5 Israelite Prophecies fulfilled
6 Divine favours on Israel
7 Divine favours on Israel
2:61
وَإِذۡ قُلۡتُمۡ یَـٰمُوسَىٰ لَن نَّصۡبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامࣲ وَ ٰحِدࣲ فَٱدۡعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ یُخۡرِجۡ لَنَا مِمَّا تُنۢبِتُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ مِنۢ بَقۡلِهَا وَقِثَّاۤىِٕهَا وَفُومِهَا وَعَدَسِهَا وَبَصَلِهَاۖ قَالَ أَتَسۡتَبۡدِلُونَ ٱلَّذِی هُوَ أَدۡنَىٰ بِٱلَّذِی هُوَ خَیۡرٌۚ ٱهۡبِطُوا۟ مِصۡرࣰا فَإِنَّ لَكُم مَّا سَأَلۡتُمۡۗ وَضُرِبَتۡ عَلَیۡهِمُ ٱلذِّلَّةُ وَٱلۡمَسۡكَنَةُ وَبَاۤءُو بِغَضَبࣲ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِۗ ذَ ٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ كَانُوا۟ یَكۡفُرُونَ بِءَایَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَیَقۡتُلُونَ ٱلنَّبِیِّـۧنَ بِغَیۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّۗ ذَ ٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ یَعۡتَدُونَ ۝٦١
Shabbir Ahmed
(At one stage you demanded Moses to provide you with a great variety of edibles, although you were living in the desert Sinai.) You said, "O Moses! We are weary of the same kind of food, so ask your Lord that He brings forth for us plant food such as herbs, cucumbers, garlic, lentils and onions." He said, "Would you exchange superior for the inferior? (Preoccupy yourselves with petty desires instead of higher goals). Go back in shame to Egypt and you will get what you demand." So humiliation and misery were stamped upon them and they had to face the Divine Requital. That was because they kept denying the Messages of Allah. And in the past they had opposed and even killed some Prophets in their transgression. They did all this, because they chose to rebel against the Divine Commands, and crossed the moral bounds
wa-idh qul'tum yāmūsā lan naṣbira ʿalā ṭaʿāmin wāḥidin fa-ud'ʿu lanā rabbaka yukh'rij lanā mimmā tunbitu l-arḍu min baqlihā waqithāihā wafūmihā waʿadasihā wabaṣalihā qāla atastabdilūna alladhī huwa adnā bi-alladhī huwa khayrun ih'biṭū miṣ'ran fa-inna lakum mā sa-altum waḍuribat ʿalayhimu l-dhilatu wal-maskanatu wabāū bighaḍabin mina l-lahi dhālika bi-annahum kānū yakfurūna biāyāti l-lahi wayaqtulūna l-nabiyīna bighayri l-ḥaqi dhālika bimā ʿaṣaw wakānū yaʿtadūn
8 Israelites' Degeneration
9 Grow in hard heartedness
10 Violation of Covenant
2:85
ثُمَّ أَنتُمۡ هَـٰۤؤُلَاۤءِ تَقۡتُلُونَ أَنفُسَكُمۡ وَتُخۡرِجُونَ فَرِیقࣰا مِّنكُم مِّن دِیَـٰرِهِمۡ تَظَـٰهَرُونَ عَلَیۡهِم بِٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡعُدۡوَ ٰنِ وَإِن یَأۡتُوكُمۡ أُسَـٰرَىٰ تُفَـٰدُوهُمۡ وَهُوَ مُحَرَّمٌ عَلَیۡكُمۡ إِخۡرَاجُهُمۡۚ أَفَتُؤۡمِنُونَ بِبَعۡضِ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ وَتَكۡفُرُونَ بِبَعۡضࣲۚ فَمَا جَزَاۤءُ مَن یَفۡعَلُ ذَ ٰلِكَ مِنكُمۡ إِلَّا خِزۡیࣱ فِی ٱلۡحَیَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡیَاۖ وَیَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِیَـٰمَةِ یُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰۤ أَشَدِّ ٱلۡعَذَابِۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعۡمَلُونَ ۝٨٥
Shabbir Ahmed
Yet you it is who subdue and slay your own folk, and evict a weak faction among you from their homes. And you support one another in hurting the community and sowing the seeds of discord. And when these homeless people get enslaved by others and are brought to you, you ransom them, whereas it was unlawful for you to evict them in the first place. What! Do you wish to accept one part of the Scripture and reject the other? Think then, what the reward of such wrongdoing must be, nothing but disgrace in the life of this world - and on the Day of Resurrection the most grievous chastisement! For Allah is not unaware of what you do. (The verse is referring to the Jewish community of Madinah, but as is always the case in the Qur'an, the Commands have a wide historical applicability - in this case, to oppressive societies anywhere anytime.
thumma antum hāulāi taqtulūna anfusakum watukh'rijūna farīqan minkum min diyārihim taẓāharūna ʿalayhim bil-ith'mi wal-ʿud'wāni wa-in yatūkum usārā tufādūhum wahuwa muḥarramun ʿalaykum ikh'rājuhum afatu'minūna bibaʿḍi l-kitābi watakfurūna bibaʿḍin famā jazāu man yafʿalu dhālika minkum illā khiz'yun fī l-ḥayati l-dun'yā wayawma l-qiyāmati yuraddūna ilā ashaddi l-ʿadhābi wamā l-lahu bighāfilin ʿammā taʿmalūn
11 Reject the Prophet
12 Enmity to the Prophet
2:102
وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ مَا تَتۡلُوا۟ ٱلشَّیَـٰطِینُ عَلَىٰ مُلۡكِ سُلَیۡمَـٰنَۖ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَیۡمَـٰنُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلشَّیَـٰطِینَ كَفَرُوا۟ یُعَلِّمُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ ٱلسِّحۡرَ وَمَاۤ أُنزِلَ عَلَى ٱلۡمَلَكَیۡنِ بِبَابِلَ هَـٰرُوتَ وَمَـٰرُوتَۚ وَمَا یُعَلِّمَانِ مِنۡ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ یَقُولَاۤ إِنَّمَا نَحۡنُ فِتۡنَةࣱ فَلَا تَكۡفُرۡۖ فَیَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنۡهُمَا مَا یُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِۦ بَیۡنَ ٱلۡمَرۡءِ وَزَوۡجِهِۦۚ وَمَا هُم بِضَاۤرِّینَ بِهِۦ مِنۡ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَیَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا یَضُرُّهُمۡ وَلَا یَنفَعُهُمۡۚ وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمُوا۟ لَمَنِ ٱشۡتَرَىٰهُ مَا لَهُۥ فِی ٱلۡءَاخِرَةِ مِنۡ خَلَـٰقࣲۚ وَلَبِئۡسَ مَا شَرَوۡا۟ بِهِۦۤ أَنفُسَهُمۡۚ لَوۡ كَانُوا۟ یَعۡلَمُونَ ۝١٠٢
Shabbir Ahmed
(They followed conjecture in the past as well.) Some rebellious people spread a rumor in the Kingdom of Solomon. Solomon never disbelieved in the Divine Laws, but the rebellious ones did. They fabricated a story that two angels Harut and Marut had descended in Babylon and taught magic to people. That they used to warn people, "We are only a temptation, therefore be not oblivious to the rational Divine Laws." The rumor further stated that people learned magic from these two angels how to create discord between a man and his wife. (This entire story is nothing but falsehood. Magic, amulets, ghoul, demon-possession, exorcism, witchcraft, evil eye, fortune telling, astrology, palm reading, clairvoyance, voodoo are nothing but conjecture). These things can neither harm nor benefit anyone since they are contrary to the Divine Laws in Nature ((3:123-127), (6:73), (7:54), (45:22)). (Superstitions can harm people by becoming self-fulfilling prophecies). And that which they try to learn only harms them and profits not. They are well aware that any person indulging in this trade (of the so-called "Occult sciences") will be a loser in the long run, and shall have no portion in the Hereafter. And surely, evil is the price for which they (magicians, diviners, clairvoyants, fortunetellers and claimants to witchcraft) sell their humanity, if they but knew better
wa-ittabaʿū mā tatlū l-shayāṭīnu ʿalā mul'ki sulaymāna wamā kafara sulaymānu walākinna l-shayāṭīna kafarū yuʿallimūna l-nāsa l-siḥ'ra wamā unzila ʿalā l-malakayni bibābila hārūta wamārūta wamā yuʿallimāni min aḥadin ḥattā yaqūlā innamā naḥnu fit'natun falā takfur fayataʿallamūna min'humā mā yufarriqūna bihi bayna l-mari wazawjihi wamā hum biḍārrīna bihi min aḥadin illā bi-idh'ni l-lahi wayataʿallamūna mā yaḍurruhum walā yanfaʿuhum walaqad ʿalimū lamani ish'tarāhu mā lahu fī l-ākhirati min khalāqin walabi'sa mā sharaw bihi anfusahum law kānū yaʿlamūn
13 Previous Scriptures abrogated
14 Perfect guidance only in Islam
15 Covenant with Abraham
16 Religion of Abraham
17 Ka'bah — Spiritual Centre
2:143
وَكَذَ ٰلِكَ جَعَلۡنَـٰكُمۡ أُمَّةࣰ وَسَطࣰا لِّتَكُونُوا۟ شُهَدَاۤءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَیَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ عَلَیۡكُمۡ شَهِیدࣰاۗ وَمَا جَعَلۡنَا ٱلۡقِبۡلَةَ ٱلَّتِی كُنتَ عَلَیۡهَاۤ إِلَّا لِنَعۡلَمَ مَن یَتَّبِعُ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِمَّن یَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَیۡهِۚ وَإِن كَانَتۡ لَكَبِیرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلَّذِینَ هَدَى ٱللَّهُۗ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِیُضِیعَ إِیمَـٰنَكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفࣱ رَّحِیمࣱ ۝١٤٣
Shabbir Ahmed
And, thus it is: We have appointed you a middle and just Community that you would be watchers over all mankind and that the Messenger be a witness against you. (It will be your sacred duty to ensure that no people on earth will oppress others). So far as the transformation of the Center of devotion is concerned, it has distinguished between those who succumb to traditional and nationalistic preferences from those who see all mankind as one nation and follow the Messenger. And the Messenger is fulfilling Allah's Command for the Unity of Mankind. In fact it was a hard test except for those who have attained Allah's Guidance. Allah never lets your Faith go in vain. Verily, Allah is Compassionate and Merciful to all mankind
wakadhālika jaʿalnākum ummatan wasaṭan litakūnū shuhadāa ʿalā l-nāsi wayakūna l-rasūlu ʿalaykum shahīdan wamā jaʿalnā l-qib'lata allatī kunta ʿalayhā illā linaʿlama man yattabiʿu l-rasūla mimman yanqalibu ʿalā ʿaqibayhi wa-in kānat lakabīratan illā ʿalā alladhīna hadā l-lahu wamā kāna l-lahu liyuḍīʿa īmānakum inna l-laha bil-nāsi laraūfun raḥīmu
2:144
قَدۡ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجۡهِكَ فِی ٱلسَّمَاۤءِۖ فَلَنُوَلِّیَنَّكَ قِبۡلَةࣰ تَرۡضَىٰهَاۚ فَوَلِّ وَجۡهَكَ شَطۡرَ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِۚ وَحَیۡثُ مَا كُنتُمۡ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمۡ شَطۡرَهُۥۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِینَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ لَیَعۡلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمۡۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا یَعۡمَلُونَ ۝١٤٤
Shabbir Ahmed
We know your eagerness O Messenger, to fulfill Our Command and to establish Ka'bah as the Center of Devotion for all humanity. Soon, you will happily administer the Sacred Masjid that is dear to you for its Sublime objective. Wherever each of you is, keep your focus on it as a symbol of pure Monotheism, and of your Ideological uniformity. Behold, those who have been given the Scripture know that your call is the Truth from their Lord. (They remain bent upon denial for blind following, prejudice and arrogance). Allah is not unaware of what they do
qad narā taqalluba wajhika fī l-samāi falanuwalliyannaka qib'latan tarḍāhā fawalli wajhaka shaṭra l-masjidi l-ḥarāmi waḥaythu mā kuntum fawallū wujūhakum shaṭrahu wa-inna alladhīna ūtū l-kitāba layaʿlamūna annahu l-ḥaqu min rabbihim wamā l-lahu bighāfilin ʿammā yaʿmalūn
18 Ka'bah — Spiritual Centre
19 Hard Trials establish Truth
20 Unity must prevail
2:164
إِنَّ فِی خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّیۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱلۡفُلۡكِ ٱلَّتِی تَجۡرِی فِی ٱلۡبَحۡرِ بِمَا یَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ وَمَاۤ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَاۤءِ مِن مَّاۤءࣲ فَأَحۡیَا بِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِیهَا مِن كُلِّ دَاۤبَّةࣲ وَتَصۡرِیفِ ٱلرِّیَـٰحِ وَٱلسَّحَابِ ٱلۡمُسَخَّرِ بَیۡنَ ٱلسَّمَاۤءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ لَءَایَـٰتࣲ لِّقَوۡمࣲ یَعۡقِلُونَ ۝١٦٤
Shabbir Ahmed
(Allah does not propose blind faith at all.) Behold, there are ample Signs for you in the Universe. In the creation of the heavens and the earth, the alternation of night and day, the ships that roam the ocean for the benefit of mankind, the water that Allah sends down from the heights, thereby giving life to the land after it had been lifeless - and the variety of creatures that are dispersed on the earth, the currents of winds and the clouds they carry at various heights, are clear Signs for those who exercise their intellect. (The Universe is too organized to be the result of an accident (6:73))
inna fī khalqi l-samāwāti wal-arḍi wa-ikh'tilāfi al-layli wal-nahāri wal-ful'ki allatī tajrī fī l-baḥri bimā yanfaʿu l-nāsa wamā anzala l-lahu mina l-samāi min māin fa-aḥyā bihi l-arḍa baʿda mawtihā wabatha fīhā min kulli dābbatin wataṣrīfi l-riyāḥi wal-saḥābi l-musakhari bayna l-samāi wal-arḍi laāyātin liqawmin yaʿqilūn
21 Prohibited Foods
22 Retaliation and Bequests
2:177
۞ لَّیۡسَ ٱلۡبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمۡ قِبَلَ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلۡبِرَّ مَنۡ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡیَوۡمِ ٱلۡءَاخِرِ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰۤىِٕكَةِ وَٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلنَّبِیِّـۧنَ وَءَاتَى ٱلۡمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ ذَوِی ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡیَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَـٰكِینَ وَٱبۡنَ ٱلسَّبِیلِ وَٱلسَّاۤىِٕلِینَ وَفِی ٱلرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَى ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱلۡمُوفُونَ بِعَهۡدِهِمۡ إِذَا عَـٰهَدُوا۟ۖ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِینَ فِی ٱلۡبَأۡسَاۤءِ وَٱلضَّرَّاۤءِ وَحِینَ ٱلۡبَأۡسِۗ أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ ٱلَّذِینَ صَدَقُوا۟ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُتَّقُونَ ۝١٧٧
Shabbir Ahmed
(One obvious result of sectarianism is their pre-occupation with rituals. This is because each sect leaves the Book aside and makes its own set of dogmas they call religion). No wonder, they forget that) Righteousness and exponential development of personality is not in that you turn your faces to the East and the West. But righteous is he who has conviction in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Book and the Prophets. And he gives his wealth that he loves in reverence of Him, to: Family and relatives, Orphans, Widows, Those left helpless in the society, Those whose hard-earned income fails to meet their basic needs, Those whose running businesses have stalled, The ones who have lost their jobs, Whose life has stalled for any reason, The disabled, The needy wayfarer, son of the street, the homeless, the one who travels to you for assistance, Those who ask for help, and Those whose necks are burdened with any kind of bondage, oppression, crushing debts and extreme hardship of labor. They (the truly righteous) strive to establish the Divine System, and set up the Just Economic Order. They are true to their promises whenever they make a promise. They remain steadfast in physical or emotional distress and in times of peril. It is they that have proved to be practically true, and it is they, they that indeed journey through life in Blissful honor and security. ((2:4), (3:91))
laysa l-bira an tuwallū wujūhakum qibala l-mashriqi wal-maghribi walākinna l-bira man āmana bil-lahi wal-yawmi l-ākhiri wal-malāikati wal-kitābi wal-nabiyīna waātā l-māla ʿalā ḥubbihi dhawī l-qur'bā wal-yatāmā wal-masākīna wa-ib'na l-sabīli wal-sāilīna wafī l-riqābi wa-aqāma l-ṣalata waātā l-zakata wal-mūfūna biʿahdihim idhā ʿāhadū wal-ṣābirīna fī l-basāi wal-ḍarāi waḥīna l-basi ulāika alladhīna ṣadaqū wa-ulāika humu l-mutaqūn
2:178
یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَیۡكُمُ ٱلۡقِصَاصُ فِی ٱلۡقَتۡلَىۖ ٱلۡحُرُّ بِٱلۡحُرِّ وَٱلۡعَبۡدُ بِٱلۡعَبۡدِ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ بِٱلۡأُنثَىٰۚ فَمَنۡ عُفِیَ لَهُۥ مِنۡ أَخِیهِ شَیۡءࣱ فَٱتِّبَاعُۢ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَأَدَاۤءٌ إِلَیۡهِ بِإِحۡسَـٰنࣲۗ ذَ ٰلِكَ تَخۡفِیفࣱ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَرَحۡمَةࣱۗ فَمَنِ ٱعۡتَدَىٰ بَعۡدَ ذَ ٰلِكَ فَلَهُۥ عَذَابٌ أَلِیمࣱ ۝١٧٨
Shabbir Ahmed
(Security of life is the cornerstone of a civilized society.) O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! QISAAS (The Law of Just Recompense) has been prescribed for you in dealing with murder. If a free person has committed murder, that free person will face the Law. If a slave has committed murder, that slave will face the Law. And if a woman has committed murder, that woman will face the Law. (The status of the victim or that of the offender, whether they are free men and women or those in bondage, will have no bearing before the Justice System). If the victim's kin pardons the guilty, he must be appreciative and pay an equitable compensation to the kin in handsome gratitude. This pardon is a concession from your Lord and Mercy. Whoever, after this, trespasses this Law will have a painful doom (through the court of law and in the Court of Allah). (For full aspects please see (4:92-93), (5:32), (17:33), (42:40))
yāayyuhā alladhīna āmanū kutiba ʿalaykumu l-qiṣāṣu fī l-qatlā l-ḥuru bil-ḥuri wal-ʿabdu bil-ʿabdi wal-unthā bil-unthā faman ʿufiya lahu min akhīhi shayon fa-ittibāʿun bil-maʿrūfi wa-adāon ilayhi bi-iḥ'sānin dhālika takhfīfun min rabbikum waraḥmatun famani iʿ'tadā baʿda dhālika falahu ʿadhābun alīmu
23 Fasting
2:185
شَهۡرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِیۤ أُنزِلَ فِیهِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ هُدࣰى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَیِّنَـٰتࣲ مِّنَ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَٱلۡفُرۡقَانِۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهۡرَ فَلۡیَصُمۡهُۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِیضًا أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرࣲ فَعِدَّةࣱ مِّنۡ أَیَّامٍ أُخَرَۗ یُرِیدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلۡیُسۡرَ وَلَا یُرِیدُ بِكُمُ ٱلۡعُسۡرَ وَلِتُكۡمِلُوا۟ ٱلۡعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمۡ وَلَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ ۝١٨٥
Shabbir Ahmed
The month of Ramadhan has been chosen for your collective training because this is the month in which Revelation of the Qur'an began (with the most revolutionary and Benevolent Message ever). It is Guidance for mankind, and it clearly explains the 'why' of every Rule. And it is the Criterion of right and wrong. So, whoever is at home during this month should participate in the program. Whoever of you is sick or on a journey, let him do Abstinence later. Allah desires for you ease. He desires not hardship for you - and that you should complete the period. (Do not treat this program as just a ritual). The objective of this training is to establish the Greatness of Allah on earth for having placed you on a well-lighted road, and then being practically grateful by sharing His Bounties with others
shahru ramaḍāna alladhī unzila fīhi l-qur'ānu hudan lilnnāsi wabayyinātin mina l-hudā wal-fur'qāni faman shahida minkumu l-shahra falyaṣum'hu waman kāna marīḍan aw ʿalā safarin faʿiddatun min ayyāmin ukhara yurīdu l-lahu bikumu l-yus'ra walā yurīdu bikumu l-ʿus'ra walituk'milū l-ʿidata walitukabbirū l-laha ʿalā mā hadākum walaʿallakum tashkurūn
2:187
أُحِلَّ لَكُمۡ لَیۡلَةَ ٱلصِّیَامِ ٱلرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَاۤىِٕكُمۡۚ هُنَّ لِبَاسࣱ لَّكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ لِبَاسࣱ لَّهُنَّۗ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمۡ كُنتُمۡ تَخۡتَانُونَ أَنفُسَكُمۡ فَتَابَ عَلَیۡكُمۡ وَعَفَا عَنكُمۡۖ فَٱلۡءَـٰنَ بَـٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَٱبۡتَغُوا۟ مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡۚ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشۡرَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ یَتَبَیَّنَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡخَیۡطُ ٱلۡأَبۡیَضُ مِنَ ٱلۡخَیۡطِ ٱلۡأَسۡوَدِ مِنَ ٱلۡفَجۡرِۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلصِّیَامَ إِلَى ٱلَّیۡلِۚ وَلَا تُبَـٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمۡ عَـٰكِفُونَ فِی ٱلۡمَسَـٰجِدِۗ تِلۡكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَقۡرَبُوهَاۗ كَذَ ٰلِكَ یُبَیِّنُ ٱللَّهُ ءَایَـٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ یَتَّقُونَ ۝١٨٧
Shabbir Ahmed
(The Abstinence is only for the daytime. Eating, drinking, and going to your wives is not forbidden during the night). It is Lawful to go to your wives on the night of the Abstinence. They are your garments and you are their garments - close to each other, source of mutual comfort, complementing each other, trustworthy and keepers of privacy, reason for decor, and redressers of faults. ('Libas' embraces all the meanings given). Allah turns to you in Kindness and dispels and pardons your unworthy fears of disobedience at night. Freeing yourselves of misconceptions, keep seeking in life that Allah has decreed to be available for you. So, eat and drink until the white line of dawn becomes distinct for you from the black line of night. Then you shall be in Abstinence until night begins to fall. During this training program, some of you will be called on deputation in local Centers of the Divine Order. (This will be an assignment from the State. During that special duty you will learn, consult and plan the governmental and social affairs). So you will have to divert your attention from personal matters, even from intimately touching your wives. These are the limits imposed by Allah, so overstep them not. Thus it is that Allah explains His Messages to mankind that they may walk aright
uḥilla lakum laylata l-ṣiyāmi l-rafathu ilā nisāikum hunna libāsun lakum wa-antum libāsun lahunna ʿalima l-lahu annakum kuntum takhtānūna anfusakum fatāba ʿalaykum waʿafā ʿankum fal-āna bāshirūhunna wa-ib'taghū mā kataba l-lahu lakum wakulū wa-ish'rabū ḥattā yatabayyana lakumu l-khayṭu l-abyaḍu mina l-khayṭi l-aswadi mina l-fajri thumma atimmū l-ṣiyāma ilā al-layli walā tubāshirūhunna wa-antum ʿākifūna fī l-masājidi til'ka ḥudūdu l-lahi falā taqrabūhā kadhālika yubayyinu l-lahu āyātihi lilnnāsi laʿallahum yattaqūn
24 Fighting in Defence
2:191
وَٱقۡتُلُوهُمۡ حَیۡثُ ثَقِفۡتُمُوهُمۡ وَأَخۡرِجُوهُم مِّنۡ حَیۡثُ أَخۡرَجُوكُمۡۚ وَٱلۡفِتۡنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ ٱلۡقَتۡلِۚ وَلَا تُقَـٰتِلُوهُمۡ عِندَ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ حَتَّىٰ یُقَـٰتِلُوكُمۡ فِیهِۖ فَإِن قَـٰتَلُوكُمۡ فَٱقۡتُلُوهُمۡۗ كَذَ ٰلِكَ جَزَاۤءُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِینَ ۝١٩١
Shabbir Ahmed
(But if they keep on fighting), subdue them wherever you find them. And drive them out from where they have driven you out. For, oppression, cruelty and persecution are even more severely destructive than the killing in battle. And fight not against them near the Sacred House that is a Symbol of unified submission of all mankind to their Creator, unless they attack you therein. But if they attack you there, then fight against them. Such is the reward of those who refuse to acknowledge and then violate the sanctity of the Sanctuary of Peace for all humanity. (The Sacred Masjid in Makkah must be a safe Sanctuary and a source of peace and security for all mankind (2:144-148), (3:96), (5:2), (5:97), (9:18), (22:25-28), (40:19), (48:25). 'Qatl' = Kill = Bring low = Subdue = Fight = Attack = Slay)
wa-uq'tulūhum ḥaythu thaqif'tumūhum wa-akhrijūhum min ḥaythu akhrajūkum wal-fit'natu ashaddu mina l-qatli walā tuqātilūhum ʿinda l-masjidi l-ḥarāmi ḥattā yuqātilūkum fīhi fa-in qātalūkum fa-uq'tulūhum kadhālika jazāu l-kāfirīn
2:196
وَأَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلۡحَجَّ وَٱلۡعُمۡرَةَ لِلَّهِۚ فَإِنۡ أُحۡصِرۡتُمۡ فَمَا ٱسۡتَیۡسَرَ مِنَ ٱلۡهَدۡیِۖ وَلَا تَحۡلِقُوا۟ رُءُوسَكُمۡ حَتَّىٰ یَبۡلُغَ ٱلۡهَدۡیُ مَحِلَّهُۥۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِیضًا أَوۡ بِهِۦۤ أَذࣰى مِّن رَّأۡسِهِۦ فَفِدۡیَةࣱ مِّن صِیَامٍ أَوۡ صَدَقَةٍ أَوۡ نُسُكࣲۚ فَإِذَاۤ أَمِنتُمۡ فَمَن تَمَتَّعَ بِٱلۡعُمۡرَةِ إِلَى ٱلۡحَجِّ فَمَا ٱسۡتَیۡسَرَ مِنَ ٱلۡهَدۡیِۚ فَمَن لَّمۡ یَجِدۡ فَصِیَامُ ثَلَـٰثَةِ أَیَّامࣲ فِی ٱلۡحَجِّ وَسَبۡعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعۡتُمۡۗ تِلۡكَ عَشَرَةࣱ كَامِلَةࣱۗ ذَ ٰلِكَ لِمَن لَّمۡ یَكُنۡ أَهۡلُهُۥ حَاضِرِی ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعۡلَمُوۤا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِیدُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ ۝١٩٦
Shabbir Ahmed
And complete the Hajj or Umrah for Allah. If it so happens that you planned but could not execute your plan to visit, send in gifts that the congregation would utilize. Do not consider that by doing so you have relieved yourself of the burden of the duty from your head. Be with them at heart until all reach the destination. If someone is sick or has other compelling burdens on the head denying him sending the gifts, then Abstinence for a few days at convenience, or an act of charity or fulfilling someone's need shall be in order. If a person is present in the congregation but cannot afford gift sharing, one should exercise Abstinence for a total number of ten days, three days there and seven days after coming home. This is for him whose folk are not present in the Sacred Masjid (Makkah in the wider sense). This will help him feel no less devoted than others. Follow the Guidance of Allah. Remember the higher goal and be mindful of Allah. And know that Allah's Law of Requital is strict in pursuing and grasping
wa-atimmū l-ḥaja wal-ʿum'rata lillahi fa-in uḥ'ṣir'tum famā is'taysara mina l-hadyi walā taḥliqū ruūsakum ḥattā yablugha l-hadyu maḥillahu faman kāna minkum marīḍan aw bihi adhan min rasihi fafid'yatun min ṣiyāmin aw ṣadaqatin aw nusukin fa-idhā amintum faman tamattaʿa bil-ʿum'rati ilā l-ḥaji famā is'taysara mina l-hadyi faman lam yajid faṣiyāmu thalāthati ayyāmin fī l-ḥaji wasabʿatin idhā rajaʿtum til'ka ʿasharatun kāmilatun dhālika liman lam yakun ahluhu ḥāḍirī l-masjidi l-ḥarāmi wa-ittaqū l-laha wa-iʿ'lamū anna l-laha shadīdu l-ʿiqāb
25 The Pilgrimage
26 Trials and Tribulations
2:213
كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ أُمَّةࣰ وَ ٰحِدَةࣰ فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِیِّـۧنَ مُبَشِّرِینَ وَمُنذِرِینَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لِیَحۡكُمَ بَیۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فِیمَا ٱخۡتَلَفُوا۟ فِیهِۚ وَمَا ٱخۡتَلَفَ فِیهِ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِینَ أُوتُوهُ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَاۤءَتۡهُمُ ٱلۡبَیِّنَـٰتُ بَغۡیَۢا بَیۡنَهُمۡۖ فَهَدَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِمَا ٱخۡتَلَفُوا۟ فِیهِ مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ بِإِذۡنِهِۦۗ وَٱللَّهُ یَهۡدِی مَن یَشَاۤءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَ ٰطࣲ مُّسۡتَقِیمٍ ۝٢١٣
Shabbir Ahmed
Mankind were one community. (Nature's provision was abundant and open for all (2:36). Then Satan, their selfish desire, divided them (10:19)) Allah sent Prophets as heralds of good news and as Warners. He sent down with them the Scripture with the Truth to judge among people in their differences. After the Prophet passed on, people started differing in the Scripture that was given to them with clear verses. And they did so in stubborn rivalry. Allah by His Will keeps the sincere believers guided in Truth concerning whatever differences arise among them. Allah guides people according to His Laws. (Using your faculties of listening, observing and reasoning will help you achieve guidance, while selfishness, arrogance and blind following will lead people astray (2:170), (6:56), (40:35), (41:17))
kāna l-nāsu ummatan wāḥidatan fabaʿatha l-lahu l-nabiyīna mubashirīna wamundhirīna wa-anzala maʿahumu l-kitāba bil-ḥaqi liyaḥkuma bayna l-nāsi fīmā ikh'talafū fīhi wamā ikh'talafa fīhi illā alladhīna ūtūhu min baʿdi mā jāathumu l-bayinātu baghyan baynahum fahadā l-lahu alladhīna āmanū limā ikh'talafū fīhi mina l-ḥaqi bi-idh'nihi wal-lahu yahdī man yashāu ilā ṣirāṭin mus'taqīmi
27 Miscellaneous Questions
2:217
یَسۡءَلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلشَّهۡرِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ قِتَالࣲ فِیهِۖ قُلۡ قِتَالࣱ فِیهِ كَبِیرࣱۚ وَصَدٌّ عَن سَبِیلِ ٱللَّهِ وَكُفۡرُۢ بِهِۦ وَٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ وَإِخۡرَاجُ أَهۡلِهِۦ مِنۡهُ أَكۡبَرُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِۚ وَٱلۡفِتۡنَةُ أَكۡبَرُ مِنَ ٱلۡقَتۡلِۗ وَلَا یَزَالُونَ یُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمۡ حَتَّىٰ یَرُدُّوكُمۡ عَن دِینِكُمۡ إِنِ ٱسۡتَطَـٰعُوا۟ۚ وَمَن یَرۡتَدِدۡ مِنكُمۡ عَن دِینِهِۦ فَیَمُتۡ وَهُوَ كَافِرࣱ فَأُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ حَبِطَتۡ أَعۡمَـٰلُهُمۡ فِی ٱلدُّنۡیَا وَٱلۡءَاخِرَةِۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِۖ هُمۡ فِیهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ ۝٢١٧
Shabbir Ahmed
During active warfare, mankind should agree upon one month of peacetime. This would serve as a cooling off period. They ask you about the Sacred Months and fighting therein. Say, "Fighting in the Sacred Months is a grave offense (2:194). However, repelling from the Path of Allah, rejecting His Command and the sanctity of the Sacred Masjid, and evicting its people, are greater offenses in the Sight of Allah. Persecution is a greater crime than killing." They will not cease from fighting against you till they revert you from your religion, if they can. Those among you who revert from their religion, and die as disbelievers, have nullified their works in this life and their rewards in the Hereafter. These are the companions of Fire; they will abide therein
yasalūnaka ʿani l-shahri l-ḥarāmi qitālin fīhi qul qitālun fīhi kabīrun waṣaddun ʿan sabīli l-lahi wakuf'run bihi wal-masjidi l-ḥarāmi wa-ikh'rāju ahlihi min'hu akbaru ʿinda l-lahi wal-fit'natu akbaru mina l-qatli walā yazālūna yuqātilūnakum ḥattā yaruddūkum ʿan dīnikum ini is'taṭāʿū waman yartadid minkum ʿan dīnihi fayamut wahuwa kāfirun fa-ulāika ḥabiṭat aʿmāluhum fī l-dun'yā wal-ākhirati wa-ulāika aṣḥābu l-nāri hum fīhā khālidūn
2:221
وَلَا تَنكِحُوا۟ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكَـٰتِ حَتَّىٰ یُؤۡمِنَّۚ وَلَأَمَةࣱ مُّؤۡمِنَةٌ خَیۡرࣱ مِّن مُّشۡرِكَةࣲ وَلَوۡ أَعۡجَبَتۡكُمۡۗ وَلَا تُنكِحُوا۟ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِینَ حَتَّىٰ یُؤۡمِنُوا۟ۚ وَلَعَبۡدࣱ مُّؤۡمِنٌ خَیۡرࣱ مِّن مُّشۡرِكࣲ وَلَوۡ أَعۡجَبَكُمۡۗ أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ یَدۡعُونَ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِۖ وَٱللَّهُ یَدۡعُوۤا۟ إِلَى ٱلۡجَنَّةِ وَٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ بِإِذۡنِهِۦۖ وَیُبَیِّنُ ءَایَـٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ یَتَذَكَّرُونَ ۝٢٢١
Shabbir Ahmed
(Family is the unit of any good society. Uniformity of Ideology between the husband and the wife is important to ensure a wholesome family life). Do not marry women who associate others with Allah, till they believe. Even if such women seem attractive to you, marrying a believing woman who toils in labor and might not seem as attractive, is better for you. Nor shall you give your daughters in marriage to men who associate others with Allah, till they believe. A believing man is better than an idolater, even if you like him. Clash of basic value systems creates a fiery atmosphere in the family and it carries on to the Lasting Abode. Allah, by His Leave, invites you to Paradise and protection against your imperfections. (A happy family life is a life of paradise). He expounds His Revelations for all humanity to ponder
walā tankiḥū l-mush'rikāti ḥattā yu'minna wala-amatun mu'minatun khayrun min mush'rikatin walaw aʿjabatkum walā tunkiḥū l-mush'rikīna ḥattā yu'minū walaʿabdun mu'minun khayrun min mush'rikin walaw aʿjabakum ulāika yadʿūna ilā l-nāri wal-lahu yadʿū ilā l-janati wal-maghfirati bi-idh'nihi wayubayyinu āyātihi lilnnāsi laʿallahum yatadhakkarūn
28 Divorce
2:228
وَٱلۡمُطَلَّقَـٰتُ یَتَرَبَّصۡنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ ثَلَـٰثَةَ قُرُوۤءࣲۚ وَلَا یَحِلُّ لَهُنَّ أَن یَكۡتُمۡنَ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ فِیۤ أَرۡحَامِهِنَّ إِن كُنَّ یُؤۡمِنَّ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡیَوۡمِ ٱلۡءَاخِرِۚ وَبُعُولَتُهُنَّ أَحَقُّ بِرَدِّهِنَّ فِی ذَ ٰلِكَ إِنۡ أَرَادُوۤا۟ إِصۡلَـٰحࣰاۚ وَلَهُنَّ مِثۡلُ ٱلَّذِی عَلَیۡهِنَّ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۚ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَیۡهِنَّ دَرَجَةࣱۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِیزٌ حَكِیمٌ ۝٢٢٨
Shabbir Ahmed
After divorce, women shall wait three menstruations before remarriage. There is no waiting period for a woman who is divorced before intimate relations with her husband (33:49). And it is three months if they do not habitually menstruate (65:4). They shall not conceal pregnancy if they believe in Allah and in the Hereafter. In case of pregnancy, their waiting period shall be until delivery (65:4). And during this period their husbands would do better to take them back if both of them desire reconciliation. The husband and the wife have the right to reconcile during this waiting period of the wife. Women have rights similar to those of men in mutual kindness. Men, however, do not have a waiting period for remarriage for obvious physiological reasons. That is where men are on a platform different from them. ((2:228-234), (4:3), (4:19), (4:35), (4:128), (33:49), (58:1), (65:1-4))
wal-muṭalaqātu yatarabbaṣna bi-anfusihinna thalāthata qurūin walā yaḥillu lahunna an yaktum'na mā khalaqa l-lahu fī arḥāmihinna in kunna yu'minna bil-lahi wal-yawmi l-ākhiri wabuʿūlatuhunna aḥaqqu biraddihinna fī dhālika in arādū iṣ'lāḥan walahunna mith'lu alladhī ʿalayhinna bil-maʿrūfi walilrrijāli ʿalayhinna darajatun wal-lahu ʿazīzun ḥakīmu
29 Divorce
2:229
ٱلطَّلَـٰقُ مَرَّتَانِۖ فَإِمۡسَاكُۢ بِمَعۡرُوفٍ أَوۡ تَسۡرِیحُۢ بِإِحۡسَـٰنࣲۗ وَلَا یَحِلُّ لَكُمۡ أَن تَأۡخُذُوا۟ مِمَّاۤ ءَاتَیۡتُمُوهُنَّ شَیۡءًا إِلَّاۤ أَن یَخَافَاۤ أَلَّا یُقِیمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِۖ فَإِنۡ خِفۡتُمۡ أَلَّا یُقِیمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَیۡهِمَا فِیمَا ٱفۡتَدَتۡ بِهِۦۗ تِلۡكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَعۡتَدُوهَاۚ وَمَن یَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ ۝٢٢٩
Shabbir Ahmed
In a given couple's lifetime, a divorce is permissible twice. (The whole period of divorce i.e. three menstruations / three months, or until delivery can be taken back twice). Then the divorced woman must be retained in honor or released in kindness. She shall be allowed to live in the same home amicably, or leave it amicably. At or after divorce, it is not lawful for you to take back anything of what you have ever given to her. However, if both of you fear that you might (in waves of emotion) transgress the bounds set by Allah, there shall be no blame on either of you if the wife willingly gives back whatever she chooses. These are the Limits set by Allah; transgress them not. Whoever transgresses the bounds set by Allah, such are the wrongdoers
al-ṭalāqu marratāni fa-im'sākun bimaʿrūfin aw tasrīḥun bi-iḥ'sānin walā yaḥillu lakum an takhudhū mimmā ātaytumūhunna shayan illā an yakhāfā allā yuqīmā ḥudūda l-lahi fa-in khif'tum allā yuqīmā ḥudūda l-lahi falā junāḥa ʿalayhimā fīmā if'tadat bihi til'ka ḥudūdu l-lahi falā taʿtadūhā waman yataʿadda ḥudūda l-lahi fa-ulāika humu l-ẓālimūn
2:231
وَإِذَا طَلَّقۡتُمُ ٱلنِّسَاۤءَ فَبَلَغۡنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمۡسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعۡرُوفٍ أَوۡ سَرِّحُوهُنَّ بِمَعۡرُوفࣲۚ وَلَا تُمۡسِكُوهُنَّ ضِرَارࣰا لِّتَعۡتَدُوا۟ۚ وَمَن یَفۡعَلۡ ذَ ٰلِكَ فَقَدۡ ظَلَمَ نَفۡسَهُۥۚ وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوۤا۟ ءَایَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ هُزُوࣰاۚ وَٱذۡكُرُوا۟ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَیۡكُمۡ وَمَاۤ أَنزَلَ عَلَیۡكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةِ یَعِظُكُم بِهِۦۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعۡلَمُوۤا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَیۡءٍ عَلِیمࣱ ۝٢٣١
Shabbir Ahmed
When you have divorced women, and they have completed their waiting period, then retain them in kindness or release them in kindness. You shall allow them to live in the same home amicably, or let them leave amicably. Do not force them to stay against their will, as revenge. Anyone who does this wrongs his own "Self". Do not make the Revelations of Allah a laughing stock. Remember Allah's Blessings upon you and the Book and Wisdom He has sent down to you in order to enlighten you. Be mindful of Allah's Commands and know that Allah is Aware of all things
wa-idhā ṭallaqtumu l-nisāa fabalaghna ajalahunna fa-amsikūhunna bimaʿrūfin aw sarriḥūhunna bimaʿrūfin walā tum'sikūhunna ḍirāran litaʿtadū waman yafʿal dhālika faqad ẓalama nafsahu walā tattakhidhū āyāti l-lahi huzuwan wa-udh'kurū niʿ'mata l-lahi ʿalaykum wamā anzala ʿalaykum mina l-kitābi wal-ḥik'mati yaʿiẓukum bihi wa-ittaqū l-laha wa-iʿ'lamū anna l-laha bikulli shayin ʿalīmu
30 Remarriage
2:233
۞ وَٱلۡوَ ٰلِدَ ٰتُ یُرۡضِعۡنَ أَوۡلَـٰدَهُنَّ حَوۡلَیۡنِ كَامِلَیۡنِۖ لِمَنۡ أَرَادَ أَن یُتِمَّ ٱلرَّضَاعَةَۚ وَعَلَى ٱلۡمَوۡلُودِ لَهُۥ رِزۡقُهُنَّ وَكِسۡوَتُهُنَّ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفۡسٌ إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۚ لَا تُضَاۤرَّ وَ ٰلِدَةُۢ بِوَلَدِهَا وَلَا مَوۡلُودࣱ لَّهُۥ بِوَلَدِهِۦۚ وَعَلَى ٱلۡوَارِثِ مِثۡلُ ذَ ٰلِكَۗ فَإِنۡ أَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَن تَرَاضࣲ مِّنۡهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرࣲ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَیۡهِمَاۗ وَإِنۡ أَرَدتُّمۡ أَن تَسۡتَرۡضِعُوۤا۟ أَوۡلَـٰدَكُمۡ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَیۡكُمۡ إِذَا سَلَّمۡتُم مَّاۤ ءَاتَیۡتُم بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعۡلَمُوۤا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِیرࣱ ۝٢٣٣
Shabbir Ahmed
If the (divorced) mothers wish to nurse their infants, the father shall provide for the mother's sustenance and clothing equitably up to two years of nursing. No human being shall be burdened with more than he or she is well able to bear. No mother shall be made to suffer because of her child, nor shall a father be made to suffer because of his child. If the father dies, his heir will assume these responsibilities. If both parents decide with mutual consent, there shall be nothing wrong in entrusting your children to foster-mothers. You shall mutually ensure, in a fair manner, the safety of the child you are handing over. Be mindful of Allah's Laws and know that Allah is Seer of all that you do
wal-wālidātu yur'ḍiʿ'na awlādahunna ḥawlayni kāmilayni liman arāda an yutimma l-raḍāʿata waʿalā l-mawlūdi lahu riz'quhunna wakis'watuhunna bil-maʿrūfi lā tukallafu nafsun illā wus'ʿahā lā tuḍārra wālidatun biwaladihā walā mawlūdun lahu biwaladihi waʿalā l-wārithi mith'lu dhālika fa-in arādā fiṣālan ʿan tarāḍin min'humā watashāwurin falā junāḥa ʿalayhimā wa-in aradttum an tastarḍiʿū awlādakum falā junāḥa ʿalaykum idhā sallamtum mā ātaytum bil-maʿrūfi wa-ittaqū l-laha wa-iʿ'lamū anna l-laha bimā taʿmalūna baṣīru
2:235
وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَیۡكُمۡ فِیمَا عَرَّضۡتُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ خِطۡبَةِ ٱلنِّسَاۤءِ أَوۡ أَكۡنَنتُمۡ فِیۤ أَنفُسِكُمۡۚ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمۡ سَتَذۡكُرُونَهُنَّ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تُوَاعِدُوهُنَّ سِرًّا إِلَّاۤ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ قَوۡلࣰا مَّعۡرُوفࣰاۚ وَلَا تَعۡزِمُوا۟ عُقۡدَةَ ٱلنِّكَاحِ حَتَّىٰ یَبۡلُغَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبُ أَجَلَهُۥۚ وَٱعۡلَمُوۤا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ یَعۡلَمُ مَا فِیۤ أَنفُسِكُمۡ فَٱحۡذَرُوهُۚ وَٱعۡلَمُوۤا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِیمࣱ ۝٢٣٥
Shabbir Ahmed
You do nothing wrong in announcing your engagement to women or keep it to yourselves. Allah knows that the community will think about getting them married. But, never make a secret pledge or contract with them. Speak with them honorably and in recognized words. Do not tie the wedding knot nor sign the martial contract until the waiting period has ended. Know that Allah understands human psyche, and that which is in your hearts. Take heed of Him and know that Allah is Forgiving, Clement. He does not wish to impose hardship on you. His Laws protect your society from harm by absolving your imperfections. (Allah, the Clement never gets enraged and His Rule is the Rule of Law)
walā junāḥa ʿalaykum fīmā ʿarraḍtum bihi min khiṭ'bati l-nisāi aw aknantum fī anfusikum ʿalima l-lahu annakum satadhkurūnahunna walākin lā tuwāʿidūhunna sirran illā an taqūlū qawlan maʿrūfan walā taʿzimū ʿuq'data l-nikāḥi ḥattā yablugha l-kitābu ajalahu wa-iʿ'lamū anna l-laha yaʿlamu mā fī anfusikum fa-iḥ'dharūhu wa-iʿ'lamū anna l-laha ghafūrun ḥalīmu
31 Provision for Divorced Women and Widows
32 Fighting for Truth
2:246
أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلۡمَلَإِ مِنۢ بَنِیۤ إِسۡرَ ٰۤءِیلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مُوسَىٰۤ إِذۡ قَالُوا۟ لِنَبِیࣲّ لَّهُمُ ٱبۡعَثۡ لَنَا مَلِكࣰا نُّقَـٰتِلۡ فِی سَبِیلِ ٱللَّهِۖ قَالَ هَلۡ عَسَیۡتُمۡ إِن كُتِبَ عَلَیۡكُمُ ٱلۡقِتَالُ أَلَّا تُقَـٰتِلُوا۟ۖ قَالُوا۟ وَمَا لَنَاۤ أَلَّا نُقَـٰتِلَ فِی سَبِیلِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَدۡ أُخۡرِجۡنَا مِن دِیَـٰرِنَا وَأَبۡنَاۤىِٕنَاۖ فَلَمَّا كُتِبَ عَلَیۡهِمُ ٱلۡقِتَالُ تَوَلَّوۡا۟ إِلَّا قَلِیلࣰا مِّنۡهُمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِیمُۢ بِٱلظَّـٰلِمِینَ ۝٢٤٦
Shabbir Ahmed
Sustained commitment to the Divine Order with your lives and wealth is no easy undertaking. After the times of Moses, some leaders of the Israelites promised their Prophet (Samuel), "If you appoint a king for us, we will fight in the Cause of Allah." The Prophet said, "Is it your intention to refrain from fighting if it was decreed to you?" They said' "Why should we not fight in the Cause of Allah when we have been driven out of our homes with our children?" Yet when fighting was ordained for them, they turned away all but a few. Allah is Aware of the wrongdoers
alam tara ilā l-mala-i min banī is'rāīla min baʿdi mūsā idh qālū linabiyyin lahumu ib'ʿath lanā malikan nuqātil fī sabīli l-lahi qāla hal ʿasaytum in kutiba ʿalaykumu l-qitālu allā tuqātilū qālū wamā lanā allā nuqātila fī sabīli l-lahi waqad ukh'rij'nā min diyārinā wa-abnāinā falammā kutiba ʿalayhimu l-qitālu tawallaw illā qalīlan min'hum wal-lahu ʿalīmun bil-ẓālimīn
33 Fighting for Truth
2:249
فَلَمَّا فَصَلَ طَالُوتُ بِٱلۡجُنُودِ قَالَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُبۡتَلِیكُم بِنَهَرࣲ فَمَن شَرِبَ مِنۡهُ فَلَیۡسَ مِنِّی وَمَن لَّمۡ یَطۡعَمۡهُ فَإِنَّهُۥ مِنِّیۤ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱغۡتَرَفَ غُرۡفَةَۢ بِیَدِهِۦۚ فَشَرِبُوا۟ مِنۡهُ إِلَّا قَلِیلࣰا مِّنۡهُمۡۚ فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَهُۥ هُوَ وَٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ قَالُوا۟ لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا ٱلۡیَوۡمَ بِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِۦۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِینَ یَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَـٰقُوا۟ ٱللَّهِ كَم مِّن فِئَةࣲ قَلِیلَةٍ غَلَبَتۡ فِئَةࣰ كَثِیرَةَۢ بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِینَ ۝٢٤٩
Shabbir Ahmed
The Commander Saul then marched along with his soldiers to face the armies of Jaloot (Goliath). They came upon a rivulet on their way. Saul, in order to create discipline among his soldiers and to test their resolve commanded them to refrain from drinking that water, save a sip out of the hand. But except for a few they drank it. Their behavior was hardly strange when they crossed the rivulet. They complained, "This day we cannot cope with Goliath and his armies." But those who were resolute and were convinced that they were marching forward in the Cause of Allah, said, "How often a small force has overwhelmed a big army since it is the Law of Allah that He is with those who are proactively steadfast."
falammā faṣala ṭālūtu bil-junūdi qāla inna l-laha mub'talīkum binaharin faman shariba min'hu falaysa minnī waman lam yaṭʿamhu fa-innahu minnī illā mani igh'tarafa ghur'fatan biyadihi fasharibū min'hu illā qalīlan min'hum falammā jāwazahu huwa wa-alladhīna āmanū maʿahu qālū lā ṭāqata lanā l-yawma bijālūta wajunūdihi qāla alladhīna yaẓunnūna annahum mulāqū l-lahi kam min fi-atin qalīlatin ghalabat fi-atan kathīratan bi-idh'ni l-lahi wal-lahu maʿa l-ṣābirīn
2:251
فَهَزَمُوهُم بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتَلَ دَاوُۥدُ جَالُوتَ وَءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُۥ مِمَّا یَشَاۤءُۗ وَلَوۡلَا دَفۡعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعۡضَهُم بِبَعۡضࣲ لَّفَسَدَتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ذُو فَضۡلٍ عَلَى ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ ۝٢٥١
Shabbir Ahmed
And, they routed the much bigger force by the Law of Allah, as David, who was one of the officers of Saul, slew the mighty commander, Goliath. Then Allah honored David with a powerful kingdom, along with wisdom and sound judgment, and commissioned him for the special Office of Knowledge. We have decreed that those who spend their youth in righteousness, i.e., benefiting humanity, shall be granted knowledge and wisdom ((12:22), (28:14)). The annihilation of the mighty armies of Goliath bears a historical lesson for mankind that if Balance in Nature were not one of the Laws, tyrants would ransack the earth and its inhabitants unopposed. But, oppression brings revolution and eventually, the oppressed overthrow the oppressors (22:39). Allah is Limitless in His Bounties to the Worlds
fahazamūhum bi-idh'ni l-lahi waqatala dāwūdu jālūta waātāhu l-lahu l-mul'ka wal-ḥik'mata waʿallamahu mimmā yashāu walawlā dafʿu l-lahi l-nāsa baʿḍahum bibaʿḍin lafasadati l-arḍu walākinna l-laha dhū faḍlin ʿalā l-ʿālamīn
2:253
۞ تِلۡكَ ٱلرُّسُلُ فَضَّلۡنَا بَعۡضَهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضࣲۘ مِّنۡهُم مَّن كَلَّمَ ٱللَّهُۖ وَرَفَعَ بَعۡضَهُمۡ دَرَجَـٰتࣲۚ وَءَاتَیۡنَا عِیسَى ٱبۡنَ مَرۡیَمَ ٱلۡبَیِّنَـٰتِ وَأَیَّدۡنَـٰهُ بِرُوحِ ٱلۡقُدُسِۗ وَلَوۡ شَاۤءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا ٱقۡتَتَلَ ٱلَّذِینَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَاۤءَتۡهُمُ ٱلۡبَیِّنَـٰتُ وَلَـٰكِنِ ٱخۡتَلَفُوا۟ فَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ ءَامَنَ وَمِنۡهُم مَّن كَفَرَۚ وَلَوۡ شَاۤءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا ٱقۡتَتَلُوا۟ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ یَفۡعَلُ مَا یُرِیدُ ۝٢٥٣
Shabbir Ahmed
(All Messengers were one in Purpose). We have caused some of them to excel others. (They were assigned different strategies suitable to their times, locations and people. So they worked at diverse platforms and) Allah communicated to all of them in various ways. Jesus son of Mary was one of those Messengers to whom We gave clear signs of the Truth and We helped him with the Sacred Revelation. If Allah had created human beings like programmed robots, lacking free will, they wouldn't have differed and wouldn't fight among themselves in matters of belief. But, Allah planned that men and women be endowed with the ability to make choices, and that compulsion in matters of faith would never been ordained (2:256). Allah makes His Laws in the World of Command as He Wills, and then He implements them in the World of Creation (the Universe) and never changes His Laws ((7:54), (17:77), (33:62))
til'ka l-rusulu faḍḍalnā baʿḍahum ʿalā baʿḍin min'hum man kallama l-lahu warafaʿa baʿḍahum darajātin waātaynā ʿīsā ib'na maryama l-bayināti wa-ayyadnāhu birūḥi l-qudusi walaw shāa l-lahu mā iq'tatala alladhīna min baʿdihim min baʿdi mā jāathumu l-bayinātu walākini ikh'talafū famin'hum man āmana wamin'hum man kafara walaw shāa l-lahu mā iq'tatalū walākinna l-laha yafʿalu mā yurīd
34 No Compulsion in Religion
2:255
ٱللَّهُ لَاۤ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡحَیُّ ٱلۡقَیُّومُۚ لَا تَأۡخُذُهُۥ سِنَةࣱ وَلَا نَوۡمࣱۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِی ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰتِ وَمَا فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِی یَشۡفَعُ عِندَهُۥۤ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِهِۦۚ یَعۡلَمُ مَا بَیۡنَ أَیۡدِیهِمۡ وَمَا خَلۡفَهُمۡۖ وَلَا یُحِیطُونَ بِشَیۡءࣲ مِّنۡ عِلۡمِهِۦۤ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاۤءَۚ وَسِعَ كُرۡسِیُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَۖ وَلَا یَءُودُهُۥ حِفۡظُهُمَاۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَلِیُّ ٱلۡعَظِیمُ ۝٢٥٥
Shabbir Ahmed
These directions, tidings and warnings come from Allah, the One True God. There is no god but He, the Living, the Originator of life, the Self-Subsisting Sustainer of all creation. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtakes Him. All that exists in the Highs and the Lows, in the Heavens and the Earth, belongs to Him alone. Who can intercede in His Court, except as a witness of Law? His Knowledge transcends time and space. No one can encompass a trace of His Knowledge but through His Laws. The Throne of His Supreme Control extends over the Highs and the Lows. No fatigue touches Him as He benevolently guards His Dominion and creation. He is the Glorious, the Supreme
al-lahu lā ilāha illā huwa l-ḥayu l-qayūmu lā takhudhuhu sinatun walā nawmun lahu mā fī l-samāwāti wamā fī l-arḍi man dhā alladhī yashfaʿu ʿindahu illā bi-idh'nihi yaʿlamu mā bayna aydīhim wamā khalfahum walā yuḥīṭūna bishayin min ʿil'mihi illā bimā shāa wasiʿa kur'siyyuhu l-samāwāti wal-arḍa walā yaūduhu ḥif'ẓuhumā wahuwa l-ʿaliyu l-ʿaẓīm
35 Dead Nations' Revival
2:258
أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِی حَاۤجَّ إِبۡرَ ٰهِـۧمَ فِی رَبِّهِۦۤ أَنۡ ءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكَ إِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَ ٰهِـۧمُ رَبِّیَ ٱلَّذِی یُحۡیِۦ وَیُمِیتُ قَالَ أَنَا۠ أُحۡیِۦ وَأُمِیتُۖ قَالَ إِبۡرَ ٰهِـۧمُ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ یَأۡتِی بِٱلشَّمۡسِ مِنَ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ فَأۡتِ بِهَا مِنَ ٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ فَبُهِتَ ٱلَّذِی كَفَرَۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا یَهۡدِی ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِینَ ۝٢٥٨
Shabbir Ahmed
Think of the one who adamantly argued with Abraham about his Lord because Allah had given him power (Nimrod Shaddad, the King of Babylon who used to proclaim divinity). Abraham said to him, "My Lord is He Who gives life and causes death." He answered, "I give life and cause death." (Being a tyrant king he could reverse or impose death penalty upon his subjects). Abraham said, "Allah makes the sun rise from the East; make it rise from the West." Thereupon the rejecter of the Truth remained dumbfounded. And Allah does not guide people who displace reality with falsehood
alam tara ilā alladhī ḥājja ib'rāhīma fī rabbihi an ātāhu l-lahu l-mul'ka idh qāla ib'rāhīmu rabbiya alladhī yuḥ'yī wayumītu qāla anā uḥ'yī wa-umītu qāla ib'rāhīmu fa-inna l-laha yatī bil-shamsi mina l-mashriqi fati bihā mina l-maghribi fabuhita alladhī kafara wal-lahu lā yahdī l-qawma l-ẓālimīn
2:259
أَوۡ كَٱلَّذِی مَرَّ عَلَىٰ قَرۡیَةࣲ وَهِیَ خَاوِیَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا قَالَ أَنَّىٰ یُحۡیِۦ هَـٰذِهِ ٱللَّهُ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَاۖ فَأَمَاتَهُ ٱللَّهُ مِا۟ئَةَ عَامࣲ ثُمَّ بَعَثَهُۥۖ قَالَ كَمۡ لَبِثۡتَۖ قَالَ لَبِثۡتُ یَوۡمًا أَوۡ بَعۡضَ یَوۡمࣲۖ قَالَ بَل لَّبِثۡتَ مِا۟ئَةَ عَامࣲ فَٱنظُرۡ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِكَ وَشَرَابِكَ لَمۡ یَتَسَنَّهۡۖ وَٱنظُرۡ إِلَىٰ حِمَارِكَ وَلِنَجۡعَلَكَ ءَایَةࣰ لِّلنَّاسِۖ وَٱنظُرۡ إِلَى ٱلۡعِظَامِ كَیۡفَ نُنشِزُهَا ثُمَّ نَكۡسُوهَا لَحۡمࣰاۚ فَلَمَّا تَبَیَّنَ لَهُۥ قَالَ أَعۡلَمُ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَیۡءࣲ قَدِیرࣱ ۝٢٥٩
Shabbir Ahmed
. The similitude of this history is that someone passes by the ruins of a town and wonders if that town could ever come back to life again, and Allah causes him to die for a hundred years and then revives him. He thinks it was only a matter of a day or a part of it. He even finds his food, drink, and donkey standing beside him. Allah creates you in the wombs of your mothers, in bone and flesh. And when the matter became clear to him, he said, "I know now that Allah is Able to do all things."
aw ka-alladhī marra ʿalā qaryatin wahiya khāwiyatun ʿalā ʿurūshihā qāla annā yuḥ'yī hādhihi l-lahu baʿda mawtihā fa-amātahu l-lahu mi-ata ʿāmin thumma baʿathahu qāla kam labith'ta qāla labith'tu yawman aw baʿḍa yawmin qāla bal labith'ta mi-ata ʿāmin fa-unẓur ilā ṭaʿāmika washarābika lam yatasannah wa-unẓur ilā ḥimārika walinajʿalaka āyatan lilnnāsi wa-unẓur ilā l-ʿiẓāmi kayfa nunshizuhā thumma naksūhā laḥman falammā tabayyana lahu qāla aʿlamu anna l-laha ʿalā kulli shayin qadīru
2:260
وَإِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَ ٰهِـۧمُ رَبِّ أَرِنِی كَیۡفَ تُحۡیِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰۖ قَالَ أَوَ لَمۡ تُؤۡمِنۖ قَالَ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن لِّیَطۡمَىِٕنَّ قَلۡبِیۖ قَالَ فَخُذۡ أَرۡبَعَةࣰ مِّنَ ٱلطَّیۡرِ فَصُرۡهُنَّ إِلَیۡكَ ثُمَّ ٱجۡعَلۡ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ جَبَلࣲ مِّنۡهُنَّ جُزۡءࣰا ثُمَّ ٱدۡعُهُنَّ یَأۡتِینَكَ سَعۡیࣰاۚ وَٱعۡلَمۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِیزٌ حَكِیمࣱ ۝٢٦٠
Shabbir Ahmed
Abraham wanted to understand the Law of Revival of nations. Allah asked him if he believed that it were possible. Abraham said he believed but that he wanted a practical example to educate his heart and mind. Allah told him to take four birds and train them in a kind manner, and then to leave them far apart on each hilltop. And then call them; they will come in haste. (At one call of Abraham, those birds came flying back to him. This is how mankind can be brought to the Word of Allah with decent training, giving them a new life). Know that this Wisdom comes to you from Allah, the Almighty, the Wise
wa-idh qāla ib'rāhīmu rabbi arinī kayfa tuḥ'yī l-mawtā qāla awalam tu'min qāla balā walākin liyaṭma-inna qalbī qāla fakhudh arbaʿatan mina l-ṭayri faṣur'hunna ilayka thumma ij'ʿal ʿalā kulli jabalin min'hunna juz'an thumma ud'ʿuhunna yatīnaka saʿyan wa-iʿ'lam anna l-laha ʿazīzun ḥakīmu
36 Spending for Truth
2:264
یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُبۡطِلُوا۟ صَدَقَـٰتِكُم بِٱلۡمَنِّ وَٱلۡأَذَىٰ كَٱلَّذِی یُنفِقُ مَالَهُۥ رِئَاۤءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا یُؤۡمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡیَوۡمِ ٱلۡءَاخِرِۖ فَمَثَلُهُۥ كَمَثَلِ صَفۡوَانٍ عَلَیۡهِ تُرَابࣱ فَأَصَابَهُۥ وَابِلࣱ فَتَرَكَهُۥ صَلۡدࣰاۖ لَّا یَقۡدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَیۡءࣲ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا یَهۡدِی ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِینَ ۝٢٦٤
Shabbir Ahmed
O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Cancel not your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injuring the self-respect of the recipients; like those who spend their wealth for show-off. This kind of behavior contradicts the true belief in Allah and His Law of Recompense. Charity has been ordained to help individuals and not to hurt them (93:10), and Allah has promised you manifold reward. But, a seed won't grow on a dusty rock, upon which rain falls and washes it clean. Even Allah won't guide those who deny such simple realities
yāayyuhā alladhīna āmanū lā tub'ṭilū ṣadaqātikum bil-mani wal-adhā ka-alladhī yunfiqu mālahu riāa l-nāsi walā yu'minu bil-lahi wal-yawmi l-ākhiri famathaluhu kamathali ṣafwānin ʿalayhi turābun fa-aṣābahu wābilun fatarakahu ṣaldan lā yaqdirūna ʿalā shayin mimmā kasabū wal-lahu lā yahdī l-qawma l-kāfirīn
2:265
وَمَثَلُ ٱلَّذِینَ یُنفِقُونَ أَمۡوَ ٰلَهُمُ ٱبۡتِغَاۤءَ مَرۡضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ وَتَثۡبِیتࣰا مِّنۡ أَنفُسِهِمۡ كَمَثَلِ جَنَّةِۭ بِرَبۡوَةٍ أَصَابَهَا وَابِلࣱ فَءَاتَتۡ أُكُلَهَا ضِعۡفَیۡنِ فَإِن لَّمۡ یُصِبۡهَا وَابِلࣱ فَطَلࣱّۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِیرٌ ۝٢٦٥
Shabbir Ahmed
On the other hand, there are people who keep their wealth open for the society in sincere submission to Allah, not for show off, and not for putting anyone under obligation. They have joined hands with Allah in Purpose and have strengthened their "Self" (13:33). They have achieved self-actualization and made themselves truly worthy of immortality (20:76). Remember, that a "Self" that has not been developed by giving to community in wealth or labor, merely survives ((14:17), (43:77), (69:27)). Immortality is not a spontaneous gift from Allah; men and women are candidates for it (91:9-10). Such people are creating the Paradise of their own making that is ever-blooming; rain or shine. This glad tiding is relayed to you from Allah. Who can be a better Watcher and Guarantor of explaining the intricacies of your psyche and actions than the One Who created you
wamathalu alladhīna yunfiqūna amwālahumu ib'tighāa marḍāti l-lahi watathbītan min anfusihim kamathali jannatin birabwatin aṣābahā wābilun faātat ukulahā ḍiʿ'fayni fa-in lam yuṣib'hā wābilun faṭallun wal-lahu bimā taʿmalūna baṣīru
37 Spending for Truth
38 Usury Prohibited
2:275
ٱلَّذِینَ یَأۡكُلُونَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ لَا یَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا یَقُومُ ٱلَّذِی یَتَخَبَّطُهُ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنُ مِنَ ٱلۡمَسِّۚ ذَ ٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ قَالُوۤا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡبَیۡعُ مِثۡلُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ۗ وَأَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡبَیۡعَ وَحَرَّمَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ۚ فَمَن جَاۤءَهُۥ مَوۡعِظَةࣱ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ فَٱنتَهَىٰ فَلَهُۥ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمۡرُهُۥۤ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ وَمَنۡ عَادَ فَأُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِۖ هُمۡ فِیهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ ۝٢٧٥
Shabbir Ahmed
On the other hand are those who eat usury. In greed of money, they run around like someone who has been bitten by a snake. They claim that trade is like usury. This is not so. Trade is the return on labor that is permissible (53:39), while usury is the return on money. That is why Allah, in His Infinite Wisdom, has permitted trade and forbidden usury. One to whom the clear Admonition has come from his Sustainer, must abstain from taking usury forthwith. What he has taken in the past, he may keep and his judgment rests with Allah. (It is better for him to return the interest he has earned if possible, but the law shall not force him to do so). As for him who returns to usury, such are the rightful companions of the Fire to abide therein. (Satan=Serpent)
alladhīna yakulūna l-riba lā yaqūmūna illā kamā yaqūmu alladhī yatakhabbaṭuhu l-shayṭānu mina l-masi dhālika bi-annahum qālū innamā l-bayʿu mith'lu l-riba wa-aḥalla l-lahu l-bayʿa waḥarrama l-riba faman jāahu mawʿiẓatun min rabbihi fa-intahā falahu mā salafa wa-amruhu ilā l-lahi waman ʿāda fa-ulāika aṣḥābu l-nāri hum fīhā khālidūn
39 Contracts and Evidence
2:282
یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوۤا۟ إِذَا تَدَایَنتُم بِدَیۡنٍ إِلَىٰۤ أَجَلࣲ مُّسَمࣰّى فَٱكۡتُبُوهُۚ وَلۡیَكۡتُب بَّیۡنَكُمۡ كَاتِبُۢ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِۚ وَلَا یَأۡبَ كَاتِبٌ أَن یَكۡتُبَ كَمَا عَلَّمَهُ ٱللَّهُۚ فَلۡیَكۡتُبۡ وَلۡیُمۡلِلِ ٱلَّذِی عَلَیۡهِ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَلۡیَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّهُۥ وَلَا یَبۡخَسۡ مِنۡهُ شَیۡءࣰاۚ فَإِن كَانَ ٱلَّذِی عَلَیۡهِ ٱلۡحَقُّ سَفِیهًا أَوۡ ضَعِیفًا أَوۡ لَا یَسۡتَطِیعُ أَن یُمِلَّ هُوَ فَلۡیُمۡلِلۡ وَلِیُّهُۥ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِۚ وَٱسۡتَشۡهِدُوا۟ شَهِیدَیۡنِ مِن رِّجَالِكُمۡۖ فَإِن لَّمۡ یَكُونَا رَجُلَیۡنِ فَرَجُلࣱ وَٱمۡرَأَتَانِ مِمَّن تَرۡضَوۡنَ مِنَ ٱلشُّهَدَاۤءِ أَن تَضِلَّ إِحۡدَىٰهُمَا فَتُذَكِّرَ إِحۡدَىٰهُمَا ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰۚ وَلَا یَأۡبَ ٱلشُّهَدَاۤءُ إِذَا مَا دُعُوا۟ۚ وَلَا تَسۡءَمُوۤا۟ أَن تَكۡتُبُوهُ صَغِیرًا أَوۡ كَبِیرًا إِلَىٰۤ أَجَلِهِۦۚ ذَ ٰلِكُمۡ أَقۡسَطُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَأَقۡوَمُ لِلشَّهَـٰدَةِ وَأَدۡنَىٰۤ أَلَّا تَرۡتَابُوۤا۟ إِلَّاۤ أَن تَكُونَ تِجَـٰرَةً حَاضِرَةࣰ تُدِیرُونَهَا بَیۡنَكُمۡ فَلَیۡسَ عَلَیۡكُمۡ جُنَاحٌ أَلَّا تَكۡتُبُوهَاۗ وَأَشۡهِدُوۤا۟ إِذَا تَبَایَعۡتُمۡۚ وَلَا یُضَاۤرَّ كَاتِبࣱ وَلَا شَهِیدࣱۚ وَإِن تَفۡعَلُوا۟ فَإِنَّهُۥ فُسُوقُۢ بِكُمۡۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَۖ وَیُعَلِّمُكُمُ ٱللَّهُۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَیۡءٍ عَلِیمࣱ ۝٢٨٢
Shabbir Ahmed
O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! When you transact a loan for any period, you shall write it down. An impartial scribe shall do the writing. No scribe shall decline to perform this duty, and write as Allah has taught him. The debtor, or in case he or she is incompetent, his representative shall dictate the document honestly and be mindful of his Lord, and diminish not the amount. There shall be two men among you to witness the transaction. If two men are not available, let there be one man and two women as witnesses. All witnesses should be such that their testimony is acceptable to all. The second woman will not be a witness in the court of law. She is there only to remind the first woman if she forgets. It is the obligation of the witnesses to testify when called upon to do so. Do not tire of writing the details, no matter how long, including the time of repayment. This is equitable in the Sight of Allah, assures better witnessing, and eliminates any doubts you may have. When it is actual merchandise that you transfer among yourselves from hand to hand, there is nothing wrong for you if you write it not, but have it witnessed. The scribe and the witnesses must be held harmless for their services. If you harm them, it would be wickedness on your part. If you follow Allah's Commands He will increase you in knowledge. These are the Injunctions of Allah Who is the Knower of all things; intentions, events and actions
yāayyuhā alladhīna āmanū idhā tadāyantum bidaynin ilā ajalin musamman fa-uk'tubūhu walyaktub baynakum kātibun bil-ʿadli walā yaba kātibun an yaktuba kamā ʿallamahu l-lahu falyaktub walyum'lili alladhī ʿalayhi l-ḥaqu walyattaqi l-laha rabbahu walā yabkhas min'hu shayan fa-in kāna alladhī ʿalayhi l-ḥaqu safīhan aw ḍaʿīfan aw lā yastaṭīʿu an yumilla huwa falyum'lil waliyyuhu bil-ʿadli wa-is'tashhidū shahīdayni min rijālikum fa-in lam yakūnā rajulayni farajulun wa-im'ra-atāni mimman tarḍawna mina l-shuhadāi an taḍilla iḥ'dāhumā fatudhakkira iḥ'dāhumā l-ukh'rā walā yaba l-shuhadāu idhā mā duʿū walā tasamū an taktubūhu ṣaghīran aw kabīran ilā ajalihi dhālikum aqsaṭu ʿinda l-lahi wa-aqwamu lilshahādati wa-adnā allā tartābū illā an takūna tijāratan ḥāḍiratan tudīrūnahā baynakum falaysa ʿalaykum junāḥun allā taktubūhā wa-ashhidū idhā tabāyaʿtum walā yuḍārra kātibun walā shahīdun wa-in tafʿalū fa-innahu fusūqun bikum wa-ittaqū l-laha wayuʿallimukumu l-lahu wal-lahu bikulli shayin ʿalīmu
40 Muslims' Victory Sure
2:286
لَا یُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتۡ وَعَلَیۡهَا مَا ٱكۡتَسَبَتۡۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذۡنَاۤ إِن نَّسِینَاۤ أَوۡ أَخۡطَأۡنَاۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحۡمِلۡ عَلَیۡنَاۤ إِصۡرࣰا كَمَا حَمَلۡتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِینَ مِن قَبۡلِنَاۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلۡنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦۖ وَٱعۡفُ عَنَّا وَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَٱرۡحَمۡنَاۤۚ أَنتَ مَوۡلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِینَ ۝٢٨٦
Shabbir Ahmed
Allah tasks not and expects not from anyone more than his capacity. Any challenges that come your way, afford you a chance to expand your "Self". For the "Self" is what it earns and against it is only what it deserves. Pray, "Our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or miss the mark! Our Lord! Do not place a burden on us as you did place on those before us. Our Lord! Impose not on us what we have not the strength to bear! Pardon us, absolve us, and bestow Grace on us, You are our Supreme Master, so help us prevail over those who reject the Truth."
lā yukallifu l-lahu nafsan illā wus'ʿahā lahā mā kasabat waʿalayhā mā ik'tasabat rabbanā lā tuākhidh'nā in nasīnā aw akhṭanā rabbanā walā taḥmil ʿalaynā iṣ'ran kamā ḥamaltahu ʿalā alladhīna min qablinā rabbanā walā tuḥammil'nā mā lā ṭāqata lanā bihi wa-uʿ'fu ʿannā wa-igh'fir lanā wa-ir'ḥamnā anta mawlānā fa-unṣur'nā ʿalā l-qawmi l-kāfirīn
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