Abdullah Ali - The Holy Qur-an - Text, Translation and Commentary

92By no means shall ye attain righteousness unless ye give (freely) of that which ye love; and whatever ye give, of a truth God knoweth it well.

93All food was lawful to the children of Israel, except what Israel made unlawful for itself, before the Law (of Moses) was revealed. Say: “Bring ye the Law and study it, if ye be men of truth.”

94If any, after this, invent a lie and attribute it to God, they are indeed unjust wrong-doers.

95Say: “God speaketh the Truth: follow the religion of Abraham, the sane in faith; he was not of the Pagans.”

96The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka: full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings:

97In it are Signs manifest; (for example), the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains security; pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to God, those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, God stands not in need of any of his creatures.

98Say: “O people of the Book! Why reject ye the signs of God, when God is Himself witness to all ye do?

99Say: “O ye People of the Book! Why obstruct ye those who believe from the Path of God, seeking to make it crooked, while ye were yourselves witnesses (to God’s Covenant)? But God is not unmindful of all that ye do.”

100O ye who believe! If ye listen to a faction among the People of the Book, they would (indeed) render you apostates after ye have believed!

101And how would ye deny Faith while unto you are rehearsed the Signs of God, and among you lives the Apostle? Whoever holds firmly to God will be shown a way that is straight.

102O ye who believe! Fear God as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.

103And hold fast all together, by the Rope which God (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude God’s favor on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the Pit of Fire and He saved you from it. Thus doth God make His signs clear to you: that ye may be guided.

104Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain felicity.

105Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving clear Signs; for them is a dreadful penalty,—

106On the day when some faces will be (lit up with) white, and some faces will be (in the gloom of) black: to those whose faces will be black (will be said): “Did ye reject Faith after accepting it? Taste then the penalty for rejecting Faith."

107But those whose faces will be (lit with) white,— they will be in (the light of) God’s Mercy: therein to dwell (for ever).

108These are the Signs of God: We rehearse them to thee in Truth: and God means no injustice to any of His creatures.

109To God belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth: to Him do all questions go back (for decision).

110Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in God. If only the People of the Book had faith, it were best for them: among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors.

111They will do you no harm, barring a trifling annoyance; if they come out to fight you, they will show you their backs, and no help shall they get.

112Shame is pitched over them (Like a tent) wherever they are found, except when under a covenant (of protection) from God and from men; they draw on themselves wrath from God, and pitched over them is (the tent of) destitution. This because they rejected the Signs of God, and slew the Prophets in defiance of right; this because they rebelled and transgressed beyond bounds.

113Not all of them are alike: Of the People of the Book are a portion that stand (for the right); they rehearse the Signs of God all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration.

114They believe in God and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works: They are in the ranks of the righteous.

115Of the good that they do, nothing will be rejected of them; for God knoweth well those that do right.

116Those who reject Faith,— neither their possessions nor their (numerous) progeny will avail them aught against God. They will be companions of the Fire,—dwelling therein (forever).

117What they spend in the life of this (material) world may be likened to a Wind which brings a nipping frost: It strikes and destroys the harvest of men who have wronged their own souls: it is not God that hath wronged them, but they wrong themselves.

118O ye who believe! Take not into your intimacy those outside your ranks: They will not fail to corrupt you. They only desire your ruin: Rank hatred has already appeared from their mouths: What their hearts conceal is far worse. We have made plain to you the Signs, if ye have wisdom.

119Ah! ye are those who love them, but they love you not,— though ye believe in the whole of the Book. When they meet you, they say, “We believe”: But when they are alone, they bite off the very tips of their fingers at you in their rage. Say: “Perish in you rage; God knoweth well all the secrets of the heart.”

120If aught that is good befalls you, it grieves them; but if some misfortune overtakes you, they rejoice at it. But if ye are constant and do right, not the least harm will their cunning do to you; for God compasseth round about all that they do.

C. 58.(3:121-148)—God's help comes to those who strive

With firmness, as it did at Badr.

Much can be learnt from the misfortunes

At Uḥud. It is not for us

To question God's Plan, which is full

Of wisdom and mercy for all. Our duty

Is to stand firm and unswerving,

To obey, and in steadfast courage

To persevere, to retrieve our mistakes,

Not in grief and despair, but in firm hope

In God and in contempt of pain and death.

121Remember that morning thou didst leave thy household (early) to post the Faithful at their stations for battle: And God heareth and knoweth all things:

122Remember two of your parties meditated cowardice; but God was their protector, and in God should the faithful (ever) put their trust.

123God had helped you at Badr, when ye were a contemptible little force; then fear God; thus may ye show your gratitude.

124Remember thou saidst to the Faithful: “Is it not enough for you that God should help you with three thousand angels (specially) sent down?

125“Yea,—if ye remain firm, and act aright, even if the enemy should rush here on you in hot haste, your Lord would help you with five thousand angels making a terrific onslaught.

126God made it but a message of hope for you, and an assurance to your hearts: (in any case) there is no help except from God. The Exalted, the Wise:

127That He might cut off a fringe of the Unbelievers or expose them to infamy, and they should then be turned back, frustrated of their purpose.

128Not for thee, (but for God), is the decision: Whether He turn in mercy to them, or punish them; for they are indeed wrong-doers.

129To God belongeth all that is in the heavens and on earth. He forgiveth whom He pleaseth and punisheth whom He pleaseth; but God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

130O ye who believe! Devour not Usury, doubled and multiplied; but fear God; that ye may (really) prosper.