The English Reference Qur’an

24A3 In the name of Allah, the most gracious and merciful. HM.

The revelation of the book from the mighty, all-knowing one,

*** the forgiver of sin, accepter of repentance, severe in punishment, powerful. He is the only god, and he is [man’s] destiny.

*** Only disbelievers argue about Allah’s signs. Do not let their turning around in the lands deceive you^MS.

Before them, Nuh’s people rejected, as well as the parties after them, and every nation plotted to seize their messenger. They argued with vain arguments to weaken the truth with them, and I seized them. What a punishment it was!

Thus the word of your^MS Lord will be fulfilled against the disbelievers, when they go to hellfire.

*** Those who carry the throne and those around it worship and praise their Lord. They believe in him and ask his forgiveness for the believers: “Our Lord, you^MS have made your^MS mercy and knowledge reach everything; forgive those who repent and follow your^MS path, and protect them from the torment of the blazing fire.

Our Lord, cause them to enter heavenly gardens of Eden, as you^MS have promised them, their righteous ancestors, their spouses and their seed. You^MS are Mighty and Wise.

Protect them from bad deeds. You^MS will have mercy on that day towards those you^MS protect from bad deeds. That is the great triumph.

Disbelievers will be told, “Allah’s hates [you] more than you^MP hate yourselves^MP, since you^MP are called to faith, and yet you^MP disbelieve.”

*** They will say, “Our Lord, you^MS have made us die twice and live twice, so we confessed our sins. Will we go forth by the path?”

*** That is because when Allah alone was prayed to, you^MP disbelieved, and when other gods are worshiped, you^MP believe in them. Judgment belongs to Allah, the most high and great.

*** He shows you^MP his signs and sends provision for you^MP from heaven. Only those who turn to him remember.

*** Pray to Allah in sincere religion, even if the disbelievers hate it.

*** He who is high in station and owner of the throne casts forth the spirit from his command on whom of his servants he wills, so he can warn of the day of meeting.

The day they will be plainly seen. Nothing about them will be hidden from Allah. Who has the kingdom today? The one, victorious Allah.

Today every soul will be repaid as it deserves. There will be no injustice today. Allah is swift in reckoning.

Warn them of the day that is imminent, when they will choke on their hearts in their throats. The wicked will have no friend or intercessor that will be listened to.

*** He knows those with treacherous eyes, and knows what their hearts conceal.

Allah judges justly. Those they pray to besides him do not judge anything. Allah hears all and sees all.

24A4 *** Have they not walked through the land and seen what was the end of those before them? They were stronger and left greater ruins behind them in the land, but Allah seized them for their sins, and no one could protect them from Allah.

That was because their messengers had come to them with miracles, and they disbelieved, so Allah seized them. He is strong and severe in punishment.

*** We sent Musa with our signs and clear authority

*** to Pharaoh, Haman, and Korah, and they said, “A lying magician.”

When he came to them with truth from us, they said, “Kill the sons of those who believe along with him, and keep their women alive. The disbelievers’ plot went astray.

Pharaoh said, “Let me kill Musa. Let him pray to his Lord. I fear that he will replace your^MP religion, or cause destruction on the land.”

Musa said, “I take refuge in my Lord and your^MP Lord from every proud person who does not believe in the day of reckoning.”

A believing man from Pharaoh’s household, who hid his faith, said, “Will you^MP kill a man who says: My Lord is Allah, when he has come to you^MP with your^MP Lord’s miracles? If he is a liar, then he is responsible for his lie. But if he is truthful, you^MP will be afflicted with some of what he promises you^MP. Allah does not guide those who are wasteful liars.

My people, you^MP are conspicuous in having the kingdom today on the earth. But who can save us from Allah’s vengeance if it comes upon us?” Pharaoh said, “I show you^MP only what I see, and I guide you^MP only on the right path.”

The believer said, “My people, I fear for you^MP just as on the day of the parties,

like what happened to the people of Nuh, Aad, Thamud, and those after them. Allah does not want injustice for the servants.

My people, I fear for you^MP regarding a day of mutual calling,

a day when you^MP will turn back. You^MP will have no protector from Allah. Those Allah leads astray have no guide.

Yusuf brought you^MP miracles beforehand, and you^MP still doubted about what he brought. When he died, you^MP said, Allah will not send a messenger after him. This is how Allah leads astray wasteful doubters

who argue about Allah’s signs without having been given authority. That is hateful to Allah and to believers. Thus Allah seals every proud, perverse heart.”

Pharaoh said, “Haman, build me a tower so that I can reach the ropes,

the ropes of the heavens, and take a look at Musa’s god. I think he is a liar.” Thus Pharaoh’s bad deeds were made to seem fair to him, and he was blocked from the path. Pharaoh’s plot was a loss.

The believer said, “My people, follow^MP me and I will guide you^MP on the right path.

My people, this life is transient enjoyment, but the hereafter is the place of permanent stability.

Those who do bad deeds will only be punished for its equivalent, but those believers who do righteous deeds, male or female, will enter the heavenly garden, where they will be provided for bountifully.

24B1 My people, what’s wrong with me that I call you^MP to rescue while you^MP call me to hellfire?

You^MP call me to disbelieve in Allah and worship other gods I know nothing about. I call you^MP to the mighty forgiver.

No doubt you^MP call me to what cannot be called in this world or the hereafter. Our return is to Allah. The wasteful are going to hellfire.

You^MP will remember what I tell you^MP. I commit my matter to Allah. Allah sees [his] servants.

Allah protected him from the bad deeds of what they plotted, and Pharaoh’s family was surrounded by the worst torment.

They will be shown hellfire morning and evening, and on the day that the hour occurs, “Make Pharaoh’s family enter the severest torment.”

When they argue in hellfire, the weak will say to the proud, “We followed you^MP. Will you^MP take for us a portion of the fire?”

The proud will say, “We are all in it. Allah has judged among his servants.”

Those in hellfire will say to the keepers of hell, “Ask your^MP Lord to lighten our torment for a day.”

They will say, “Did your^MP messengers not come to you^MP with miracles?” They will say, “Yes.” They will say, “Then pray^MP. The prayer of disbelievers is only astray.”

We will save our messengers and the believers in this world and on the day when the witnesses stand up.

On that day, the excuses of the wicked will not help them. They will be damned and will go to the worst abode.

We gave Musa guidance and gave the book as an inheritance to the people of Israel,

guidance, and a reminder to thinkers.

So endure^MS, for Allah’s promise is true. Ask^MS forgiveness for your^MS sin, and worship^MS and praise^MS your^MS Lord, evening and morning.

*** Those who argue about Allah’s signs without having been given authority are proud at heart. They will not reach it. So take refuge in Allah. He hears all and sees all.

*** The creation of the heavens and the earth was greater than the creation of people, but most people do not know.

The blind and the sighted are not alike, nor are believers who do righteous deeds and those who do bad deeds. You^MP reflect very little.

The hour is undoubtedly coming, but most people do not believe.

Your^MP Lord said, “Call^MP to me and I will answer you^MP. Those who are too proud to worship me will go to hell in humiliation.”

Allah has given you^MP the night to rest in, and the day to see in. Allah is gracious to people, but most people do not give thanks.

That is Allah, your^MP Lord, creator of everything. He is the only god. How you^MP lie!

Those who denied our signs lied similarly.

Allah has given the earth to you^MP for stability, and the sky as a building. He formed you^MP perfectly, and provided good things for you^MP. That is Allah, your^MP Lord. Blessed be Allah, the Lord of the universe.

He is the living one, and he is the only god. Pray to him in sincere religion. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe.

24B2 Say^MS, “I am forbidden to worship the gods you^MP pray to besides Allah, since miracles from my Lord came to me and I was commanded to submit to the Lord of the universe.

He created you^MP from dirt, then from a drop of sperm, then from a blood clot, then he brings you^MP forth as children, then you^MP grow up, and then you^MP grow old. Some of you^MP die before that, but you^MP will reach the specified life span, so that you^MP may comprehend.

He gives life and causes death. If he decrees a matter, he merely tells it, “Be,” and it is.

Have you^MS not seen how those who argue about Allah’s signs turn away?

Those who rejected the book and what we sent our messengers with will know,

when with chains and shackles around their necks, they are dragged

through boiling water, and then burned in hellfire.

Then they will be asked, “Where are the gods you^MP used to worship

besides Allah?” They will say, “They have gone astray from us. We did not pray to anything beforehand.” This is how Allah leads disbelievers astray.

That is for your^MP unrighteous exulting and insolence on the earth.

Enter^MP the doors of hell and remain there forever. It is an awful abode for the proud.

So endure. Allah’s promise is true. Either we will show you^MS some of what we promise them, or we will make you^MS die, and you^MP will be returned to us.

We sent messengers before you^MS. Some of them we have told you^MS about, and some we have not told you^MS about. Whenever a messenger brought a sign, it was with Allah’s permission. When Allah’s command comes, it will be done in truth. The vain are lost.

Allah gave you^MP cattle. Some you^MP ride and some you^MP eat.

You^MP benefit from them, and you^MP can meet a need of your^MP hearts. You^MP can be carried on them and on ships.

He shows you^MP his signs. Which of his signs do you^MP deny?

Have they not walked in the land and seen what was the end of those before them? They were more numerous, stronger, and left behind them greater ruins in the land, but what they had done did not help them.

When our messengers brought them miracles, they rejoiced with the knowledge they had, but then they were surrounded by what they had made fun of.

When they saw our revenge, they said, “We believe in Allah alone, and we disbelieve in the gods we worshiped.”

Their faith  did not benefit them when they saw our revenge, as was Allah’s custom in the past with his servants. Those disbelievers were lost.