Chapter 2

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. "O people! Fear your Lord, Who created you from a single person and created his wife from him, and spread forth from the two of them many men and women. Fear Allah, in Whose name you ask one another, and guard against severing the ties of kinship. Indeed, Allah is Ever-Watchful over you." (4:1) The creation of Adam (AS) and the command to all the angels to prostrate. Iblis's refusal to prostrate, and his deceiving Adam (AS) to get him expelled from Paradise. Allah Almighty accepted Adam's (AS) repentance and gave him counsel.

The Creation of Adam, the command to all the angels to prostrate, Satan's arrogance, his refusal to prostrate, his becoming one of the disbelievers, his enmity toward Adam, and his misleading Adam out of Paradise: {2:30-39} "And when your Lord said to the angels, 'I am going to place a khalifah on the earth,' they said, 'Why will You create such a being who will spread corruption on the earth and shed blood, while we glorify You with praise and proclaim Your holiness?' Allah said, 'I know what you do not know' (30). And Allah taught Adam all the names, then presented these things before the angels and said, 'Tell Me the names of these things, if you are truthful.' They all said, 'O Allah! Your Being is pure (31). We have no knowledge except what You have taught us; You alone are the Possessor of complete knowledge and wisdom' (32). Allah said to Adam (peace be upon him), 'Tell them their names.' When he told them their names, He said, 'Did I not tell you that I know the unseen of the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you conceal?' (33). And when We said to the angels, 'Prostrate to Adam,' they all prostrated except Iblis. He refused and showed arrogance, and he was indeed one of the disbelievers (34). And We said, 'O Adam, dwell you and your wife in Paradise, and eat freely from it wherever you wish; but do not go near this tree, or you will become among the wrongdoers' (35). But Satan misled them and caused them to be expelled from there, and We said, 'Go down. You are enemies to one another, and for you on the earth is a dwelling place and provision for a fixed time' (36). Then Adam (peace be upon him) received some words from his Lord, and Allah accepted his repentance; indeed, He is the Acceptor of repentance, the Merciful (37). We said, 'All of you go down from here. Whenever My guidance comes to you, those who follow My guidance will have no fear nor grief' (38). And those who disbelieve and deny Our signs, they are the people of the Fire; they will remain therein forever." (2:34-39)

(5:66) “And if only they had acted according to the Tawrah, the Injil, and what has (now) been sent down to them from their Lord (the Qur'an), they would surely have gotten provision from above them and from underneath their feet. And among them is a moderate community [Muqtasid Ummah], but for most of them; evil is their work.”

(5:67) “O Messenger! Convey what has been sent down to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His Message. Allah will protect you from mankind. Verily, Allah guides not the people who disbelieve.”

(5:68) “Say: "O People of the Scripture! You have nothing till you act according to the Tawrah, the Injil, and what has (now) been sent down to you from your Lord (the Qur'an).''Verily, the revelation that has come to you from your Lord makes many of them increase in rebellion and disbelief. So do not grieve for the people who disbelieve.”

Allah made man the noblest of creations, subjected the entire universe for man, and commanded even the angels to prostrate: {15:26-50} "Indeed, We created man from dry clay, from black mud fashioned into shape(26). And before that We created the jinn from the fire of scorching wind(27). And when your Lord said to the angels, 'I am going to create a man from black mud fashioned into shape, dry clay that gives out sound(28). So when I have fashioned him completely and breathed into him of My spirit, then fall down before him in prostration(29).' So all the angels prostrated, every one of them together(30), except Iblis; he refused to be among those who prostrated(31). He (Allah) said, 'O Iblis, what is the matter with you that you are not among those who prostrated?'(32) He said, 'I am not one to prostrate to a man whom You have created from black mud fashioned into shape, dry clay that gives out sound(33).' He said, 'Then get out from here, for indeed you are accursed(34), and indeed upon you is the curse until the Day of Judgment(35).' He said, 'My Lord, then give me respite until the day when they are resurrected(36).' He said, 'Then indeed you are among those given respite(37), until the day of the appointed time(38).' He said, 'My Lord, since You have led me astray, I swear that I will make sins appear beautiful to them on earth, and I will mislead them all together(39), except Your chosen servants from among them(40).' He (Allah) said, 'Yes, this is the straight path to reach Me(41). Indeed, you have no authority over My servants, except those who go astray and follow you(42). And indeed, Hell is the promised place for all of them(43), which has seven gates; for each gate there is an assigned portion of them(44). Indeed, the God-fearing will be in gardens and springs(45). Enter here in peace and security(46). We shall remove whatever bitterness and rancor is in their hearts; they will be like brothers, seated on couches, facing one another(47). No fatigue shall touch them there, nor shall they ever be expelled from it(48). Inform My servants that indeed I am the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful(49), and also that My punishment is indeed the most painful punishment(50)." Iblis's refusal to prostrate, and Allah's response.

"When your Lord said to the angels: I am going to create a human being from clay(71) So when I have fashioned him completely and breathed into him My spirit, then fall down before him in prostration(72) So all the angels prostrated together(73) except Iblis, he showed arrogance and he was of the disbelievers(74) Allah Ta'ala said: O Iblis! What prevented you from prostrating to that which I created with My own hands? Have you become proud, or are you of those of exalted rank?(75) He replied: I am better than him, You created me from fire, and You created him from clay(76) It was said: Then get out from here, for you are accursed(77) And upon you is My curse until the Day of Judgment(78) He said: My Lord, grant me respite until the day when people are raised up(79) Allah Ta'ala said: You are of those granted respite(80) until the day of the appointed time(81) He said: Then by Your might! I will surely mislead them all(82) except those of Your servants among them who are chosen and sincere(83). He said: The truth is this, and I only speak the truth(84) that I will surely fill Hell with you and with all of those among them who follow you."(85)

Satan, whom Allah has cursed, has resolved to lead mankind astray; he will take a fixed share and go to Hell: {4:117-121} "They call upon none but females besides Allah, and in reality they worship only the rebellious Satan (117), whom Allah has cursed. He has vowed: 'I will surely take a fixed share from Your servants (118), and I will lead them astray, and I will arouse false hopes in them, and I will teach them to slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them to alter the creation made by Allah.' Listen! Whoever takes Satan as his friend instead of Allah has certainly fallen into manifest loss (119). He keeps making verbal promises to them and shows them false hopes; but whatever promises Satan makes to them are nothing but deception (120). These are the people whose abode is Hell, from which they will find neither escape nor deliverance (121)."

Satan's resolve to lead mankind astray, obedience to Satan leads to Hell: {17:61-65} "When We commanded the angels, 'Prostrate before Adam,' they all did so except Iblis. He said, 'Shall I prostrate before one whom You have created from clay?' (61) He said, 'Look at this one whom You have honored above me—if You grant me respite until the Day of Resurrection, I will surely bring his offspring under my sway, except for a few.' (62) He said, 'Go! Whoever among them follows you—then indeed Hell is the recompense for all of you, a full recompense. (63) And incite whoever among them you can with your voice, and mobilize against them your cavalry and infantry, and share with them in wealth and offspring, and make them promises.' And Satan promises them nothing but sheer deception. (64) Indeed, over My true servants you have no authority. And your Lord suffices as a Guardian."(65)

"We created you, then We shaped you, then We said to the angels, 'Prostrate before Adam,' so they all prostrated except Iblis; he was not among those who prostrated (11) The Lord Almighty said, 'What prevented you from prostrating when I had already commanded you?' He replied, 'I am better than him; You created me from fire and him from clay' (12) Upon this Allah said, 'Then get down from here; you have no right to act arrogantly here, get out, you are indeed among the disgraced ones.' (13) He said, 'Grant me respite until the day they are raised again' (14) The reply came, 'Yes, indeed, you are among those granted respite' (15) Satan said, 'Since You have led me astray, I will now sit in wait for them on Your straight path to mislead them' (16) 'And I will come to them from before them and from behind them, and from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them grateful' (17) He said, 'Get out of here, disgraced and expelled; whoever among these humans follows you, I will fill Hell with all of you' (18) O Adam, you and your wife dwell in Paradise and eat from wherever you wish, but do not even go near this tree, or else you will become of the wrongdoers. (19) But Satan whispered to them so as to expose to them what had been concealed from them, namely their private parts, and said, 'Your Lord has forbidden you from this tree only so that you should not become angels or become of those who live forever' (20) And he swore to them repeatedly to convince them, saying, 'I am indeed among your well-wishers' (21) In short, he lured them by deception; as soon as they tasted the tree, their private parts became exposed to them, and they began sticking the leaves of Paradise upon themselves. At that very moment, their Lord called out to them, 'Did I not forbid you from that tree, and did I not tell you that Satan is your open enemy?' (22) Both of them began to pray, 'Our Lord, indeed we have wronged our own souls; now if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the doomed and ruined.'" (7:23) He said, 'All of you get down; you are enemies to one another. For you there is a dwelling place in the earth and provision for a fixed time' (24) He also said, 'You will live right here on the earth, and here you will die, and from it you will be brought forth.'" (25)

"We had already given a firm command to Adam before, but he forgot, and We found in him no firmness of resolve (115). And when We said to the angels, 'Prostrate before Adam,' they all prostrated except Iblis; he flatly refused (116). Then We said, 'O Adam! This is an enemy to you and to your wife, so take care that he does not get you both expelled from Paradise, causing you to fall into hardship (117). Here you have the comfort that you neither go hungry nor go naked (118), nor do you suffer thirst here, nor are you distressed by the heat of the sun (119).' But Satan cast a whisper into his heart, saying, 'Shall I show you the tree of eternal life and a kingdom that never decays?' (120). So they both ate from that tree, and their private parts became exposed to them, and they began to stick the leaves of Paradise upon themselves. Adam disobeyed his Lord and thus went astray (121). Then his Lord favoured him, turned towards him, and guided him (122). He said, 'Go down from here, both of you together; you are enemies to one another. Now whenever guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray nor fall into hardship (123). But whoever turns away from My remembrance, his life will remain confined, and We shall raise him blind on the Day of Resurrection (124). He will say, 'O Allah! Why have You raised me blind, whereas I used to see?' (125). It will be said, 'Thus it had to be. Our signs came to you, but you neglected them; so today, you too shall be left unattended.' Thus do We reward every person who transgresses the limits and does not believe in the signs of his Lord; and indeed the punishment of the Hereafter is far more severe and more lasting (126-127)."

"O people! Allah's promise is true. So let not the life of this world deceive you, and let not the deceiver deceive you concerning Allah(5). Remember, Satan is your enemy, so take him as an enemy. He only calls his party so that they may become companions of the blazing Fire(6). Those who disbelieved, for them is severe punishment; and those who believed and did righteous deeds, for them is forgiveness and a great reward.(7)"

"Do not follow Satan, he is your open enemy: "(So) eat from the sustenance that God has given you, and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. He is your open enemy."

Will you make Satan your friend, while he is disobedient to Allah Almighty and an enemy to all of you: {18:50} "And when We commanded all the angels to prostrate before Adam, they all prostrated except Iblis; he was among the jinn. He disobeyed his Lord. Even then, will you take him and his offspring as your friends instead of Me? Whereas he is an enemy to all of you. What an evil exchange it is for the wrongdoers."

Allah's advice to the children of Adam to beware of Satan: {7:27} "O children of Adam! Let not Satan tempt you into trouble as he got your parents expelled from Paradise, causing their clothes to be stripped off them so as to show them their shameful parts. Indeed, he and his tribe see you from where you cannot see them. We have made the devils friends and companions of those who do not accept faith."

"O children of Adam, did I not make a covenant with you that you should not obey Satan? Indeed, he is a clear enemy to you (61), and that you should worship Me alone — this is the straight path."(62)

Human beings walk on the path of Satan and consider themselves to be rightly guided—this is Satan's deception: {7:30} "A group He guided, and a group upon whom straying has become established—they took satans as friends instead of Allah, and despite that, they think they are rightly guided."

And he had already led astray from among you much of creation, so did you not use reason? Hence, to protect yourself from the plots and deceits of Satan, constantly seek help from Allah and turn towards Him. Secondly, do not excessively target those who, due to the weakness of their own souls, have fallen victim to Satan's deceit; instead, try to reform them with sincere goodwill.

Those who follow the footsteps of Satan: {24:21} "O believers! Do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Whoever follows the footsteps of Satan, then he will only command indecency and evil deeds. And had it not been for the grace and mercy of Allah Almighty upon you, none of you would ever have become pure. But Allah Almighty purifies whom He wills, and Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing."

Satan indeed betrays man (at the time of need): {25:25-29} "The day when the sky will split apart with clouds, and the angels will be sent down, one after another (25) and on that day the true kingdom will belong to the Most Merciful alone; this will be a very hard day for the disbelievers (26) On that day, the wrongdoer will bite his hands and say: Alas! would that I had taken the path of the Messenger of Allah (27) Alas! would that I had not taken so-and-so as a friend (29) He led me astray after the reminder had come to me, and Satan is indeed one who betrays man at the time of need."

"And as for those who are the brothers of the devils, the devils drag them into misguidance and do not fall short in doing so."

"Shall I tell you upon whom the devils descend?(221) They descend upon every lying sinner(222)."

The Result of Falling into Satan's Deception: {14:22} "And when the matter will be decided, Satan will say: Allah had indeed made you a true promise, and I made you promises but I went against them; I had no power over you at all, except that I called you and you obeyed me. So do not blame me, but blame yourselves. Neither am I your helper in distress, nor are you my helper in distress. Indeed, I reject that you associated me with Allah before this. Surely, for the wrongdoers there is a painful punishment."

(41:46) “Whosoever does righteous good deed, it is for himself; and whosoever does evil, it is against himself. And your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) servants.”

"In the name of Allah, the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful."

"Indeed, We sent Nuh to his people, saying: Warn your people before a painful punishment comes to them. Nuh said: O my people! I am a clear warner to you. That you worship Allah, fear Him, and obey me. He will forgive you your sins and grant you respite until an appointed time. Indeed, when Allah's promise comes, it is not deferred, if only you understood."(71:1-4)

"He said, 'My Lord! I have called my people night and day, (5) but my calling has only increased them in flight. (6) And indeed, every time I called them so that You might forgive them, they put their fingers into their ears and covered themselves with their garments, and persisted and grew ever more arrogant in their pride. (7) Then I called them aloud. (8) Then I proclaimed it to them openly, and also spoke to them secretly, (9) and I said, 'Seek forgiveness from your Lord for your sins; indeed, He is Most Forgiving. (10) He will send down upon you the sky in abundant rain, (11) and will aid you with wealth and children, and will provide you with gardens, and will provide you with rivers. (12) What is wrong with you that you do not hold in expectation the majesty of Allah, (13) when He has indeed created you in different stages? (14) Do you not see how Allah created seven heavens, one above the other, (15) and made the moon therein a light and made the sun a radiant lamp? (16) And Allah caused you to grow from the earth in a special manner, (17) then He will return you into it, and will bring you forth again in a special manner. (18) And Allah has made the earth a spread for you, (19) so that you may walk therein along its spacious paths.'" (20) Noah (peace be upon him) complained to Allah Almighty about the disobedience of his people.

"Nuh said: O my Lord! These people have disobeyed me and followed those whose wealth and children have increased them in nothing but loss. And they devised a very severe scheme. And they said: Do not ever leave your gods, and do not leave Wadd, nor Suwa', nor Yaghuth, and Ya'uq, and Nasr. And they have led many people astray. O Allah, increase these wrongdoers in nothing but misguidance."

"And We certainly sent Noah (peace be upon him) to his people as a Messenger, saying: I am a clear warner to you, (25) that you should worship none but Allah. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a painful day." The chiefs among the disbelievers of his people replied: "We see you only as a human being like ourselves, and we see that none have followed you except those who are the lowest among us, of shallow judgment. (26) We do not see in you any superiority over us; rather, we consider you liars." (27) Noah said: "O my people, tell me, if I am upon a clear proof from my Lord and He has granted me a mercy from Himself, which has been hidden from your eyes, should I force it upon you while you are averse to it? (28) O my people, I ask no wealth from you for this; my reward is with Allah alone. Nor can I drive away those who believe; they are surely to meet their Lord. But I see that you are a people acting in ignorance. (29) O my people, if I were to drive them away, who would help me against Allah? Will you not then take heed? (30) I do not say to you that I possess the treasures of Allah; nor do I know the unseen; nor do I say that I am an angel; nor do I say of those whom your eyes look down upon that Allah will never grant them any good—Allah knows best what is in their hearts. If I were to say such things, I would surely be among the wrongdoers." (31) They said: "O Noah, you have indeed argued with us and have argued excessively. Now bring upon us what you threaten us with, if you are truthful." (32) He said: "It is Allah alone who will bring it upon you, if He wills, and you cannot escape it. (33) My sincere counsel will not benefit you, however much I may wish to counsel you sincerely, if Allah intends to let you go astray. (34) He is your Lord, and to Him you shall all be returned. Do they say that he has fabricated it himself?"

“And it was revealed to Nuh that none of your people will believe except those who have already believed, so do not grieve over what they have been doing.() And build a ship before Our eyes and by Our revelation, and do not speak to Me concerning the wrongdoers; they are to be drowned. (37) And while he was building the ship, whenever a group of his people passed by him, they mocked him. He said, “If you mock us, then we shall mock you just as you are mocking us.”(38) Soon you will come to know upon whom comes a punishment that will disgrace him, and upon whom descends a lasting punishment.(11:36-39)

The command of Allah's punishment arrived. Nuh (peace be upon him) said that now the moving and stopping of this ship is only by the command of Allah Almighty. (11:40-43) “Until when Our command came and the oven gushed forth, We said, ‘Load into the ship a pair of two from every kind, and also your household, except those against whom the word has already gone forth, and all the believers as well’ — and only a few had believed with him (40). Nuh (peace be upon him) said, ‘Board this ship. In the name of Allah alone is its moving and its anchoring. Indeed, my Lord, the Sustainer, is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful’ (41). That ship was carrying them through waves like mountains. Nuh (peace be upon him) called out to his son, who was standing apart on one side, ‘O my dear son, board with us and do not remain among the disbelievers’ (42). He replied, ‘I will take refuge on some great mountain that will save me from the water.’ Nuh said, ‘Today there is no protector from the command of Allah, except the one on whom Allah has mercy.’ At that very moment a wave came between the two of them, and he became one of the drowned (43).”

"It was said, 'O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, cease and stop.' At that very moment, the water was dried up, and the matter was completed, and the ship came to rest on the mountain named 'Judi', and it was said, 'May curse descend upon the unjust people.'"

"These people, because of their sins, were drowned and made to enter Hell, and other than Allah they found no helper for themselves. And Hazrat Nuh said: O my Sustainer, do not leave upon the face of the earth even one dweller from among the disbelievers. If You leave them, they will surely lead astray Your servants as well, and whatever children they have will also be wicked and ungrateful. O my Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and whoever enters my house as a believer, and all believing men and all believing women, and give the wrongdoers nothing but destruction."

"Nuh called out to Us, so see how excellent We are as accepters of prayer. We saved him and his followers from that terrible calamity. We made his offspring the ones who remained. And We kept his good remembrance alive among those who came later. Peace be upon Nuh among all the worlds. This is how We reward those who do good. He was among Our believing servants. Then We drowned all the rest of the people."(37:75-82)

"We sent Nuh to his people. He stayed among them for nine hundred and fifty years, then the flood seized them, and they were indeed wrongdoers. Then We saved him and the people of the ship, and We made this event a sign of warning for all the worlds."(29:14,15)

"And to the 'Aad We sent their brother Hud, who said: O my people, worship Allah, you have no god other than Him. Do you not fear (Him)? The disbelieving chiefs of his people replied: We surely see you in sheer foolishness, and we think you are indeed among the liars. Hud said: O my people, there is no foolishness in me; rather I am one sent by the Lord of all the worlds. I am conveying to you the messages of my Lord, and I am your well-wisher, sincere and trustworthy. Do you wonder that a reminder from your Lord has come to you through one of your own men, so that he may warn you? Remember that Allah made you successors after the people of Nuh, and gave you increase in stature and strength. So remember the favours of Allah, so that you may attain salvation and success. They said: Have you come to us so that we should worship Allah alone and abandon what our forefathers used to worship? Then bring upon us that with which you threaten us, if you are among the truthful. Hud said: Indeed, punishment and wrath from your Lord have already befallen you. Do you dispute with me over mere names which you and your forefathers have coined, for which Allah has sent down no authority? Then wait, I too am with you among those who wait. In the end, We saved him and those with him by Our mercy, and We cut off the roots of those who denied Our signs and were not believers."

"And to the 'Aad We sent their brother Hud. He said: My people, worship Allah alone. You have no god besides Him. You are but fabricators of lies. My people-brothers, I do not ask you for any reward for this; my reward is with the One Who created me. Will you not then use your reason? O my people, seek forgiveness from your Lord for your shortcomings and turn to Him in repentance, so that He may send upon you clouds pouring abundant rain, and add strength to your strength. And do not turn away while being sinners."

The people of ‘Aad did not accept Hud (peace be upon him); they rejected him and remained firm upon their deities. Warning the people of ‘Aad of Allah’s punishment proved of no avail: "They said, ‘O Hud! You have not brought us any clear proof, and we are not going to leave our deities merely on your word, nor are we going to believe in you. Rather, we say that some of our deities have struck you with evil.’ He replied, ‘I call Allah to witness, and you too bear witness, that I am free from all those whom you associate as partners besides Allah. So devise your scheme against me, all of you together, and give me no respite at all. My trust is only in Allah, who is my Lord and the Lord of you all. There is no creature that walks but He holds it by its forelock. Indeed, my Lord is on a perfectly straight path.’"

"The people of 'Aad also denied the messengers(123) when their brother Hud said to them, 'Do you not fear?(124) I am your trustworthy, reliable messenger,(125) so fear Allah and follow me.'"(126)

"Are you building landmarks on every high place, uselessly, just for play?(128) And you construct grand, sturdy palaces, as if you would live here forever?(129) And when you seize someone, you seize with harshness and oppression?(130) So fear Allah and obey me."(131)

"Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a great day."

Punishment: Since the people of ‘Aad denied Hazrat Hud, We therefore destroyed them. Indeed, in this there is a sign, and most of them were not believers. {26:139} [The people of ‘Aad were the strongest and most powerful people in the world, about whom Allah has said, “No nation like it has ever been created,” meaning none like it in strength, severity, and might. That is why they used to say, “Who is mightier than us in strength?” But when this nation too did not abandon the path of disbelief and did not adopt faith and piety, Allah Almighty sent down punishment upon them in the form of a violent wind, which remained dominant over them for full seven nights and eight days. A fierce wind would come, lift a person up into the air, and then hurl him down forcefully upon the ground head-first, so that his skull would burst and shatter, and their headless corpses would lie upon the ground as though they were hollow trunks of date-palms. They had built great, sturdy structures in mountains, hollows, and caves, had dug deep wells for drinking water, and had abundant orchards, but when Allah’s punishment came, nothing availed them, and they were wiped out completely from the face of existence.]

"When Our command came, We rescued Hud and his believing companions through a special mercy from Us, and We saved all of them from a severe punishment. These were the people of ‘Aad, who denied the signs of their Lord, disobeyed His messengers, and followed the command of every rebellious opponent. A curse was made to follow them in this world, and also on the Day of Judgment—behold, the people of ‘Aad disbelieved in their Lord—behold, curse be upon ‘Aad, the people of Hud".(11:58-60)

"Remember that Allah made you successors after the ‘Aad, and settled you in the land such that you build mansions on its soft plains and carve out houses in the mountains. So remember the blessings of Allah, and do not go about spreading corruption and destruction in the land as mischief-makers." The rebellious chiefs of his people said to the weak believers among them, "Do you have complete knowledge that Salih is indeed a messenger of Allah?" They replied, "Yes, indeed, we believe in the message with which he has been sent." (7:74,75)

"And to Thamud We sent their brother Salih. He said: O my people, worship Allah, you have no god besides Him. It is He who created you from the earth and settled you therein. So seek forgiveness from Him and turn to Him in repentance. Indeed, my Lord is near to all and is the Accepter of prayers. (61) They said: O Salih, before this we had placed great hopes in you. Do you forbid us from worshipping those whom our forefathers used to worship? Indeed, we are in confounding doubt about that faith to which you call us. We are bewildered. (62) He replied: O my people, just tell me, if I stand upon a clear proof from my Lord, and He has granted me mercy from Himself, then if I disobey Him, who is there to help me against Him? You are only increasing my loss. (63)

"The Thamud also denied the messengers. Their brother Salih said to them, "Do you not fear Allah? I am a trustworthy messenger of Allah to you."

"And you carve out elaborate houses from the mountains (149) So fear Allah and obey me."

"You are nothing but a human being like us, so bring some miracle if you are truthful." (154) He said, "This is a she-camel; for her is a turn to drink, and for you is the turn to drink on an appointed day. (155) And do not touch her with harm, lest the punishment of a mighty day seize you." (156) But they hamstrung her, then became regretful. (157) So the punishment seized them. Indeed, in that is a sign, yet most of them were not believers." (26:154-158)

"And to Thamud We sent their brother Salih, who said: O my people, worship Allah, you have no god other than Him. Indeed, a clear proof has come to you from your Lord: this she-camel of Allah is a sign for you, so leave her to graze in Allah's earth, and do not touch her with any harm, lest a painful punishment seize you."

"O my people, this is the she-camel of Allah, sent for you as a miracle. So leave her to eat in Allah's land, and do not touch her with any harm, or a swift punishment will seize you." Yet they hamstrung her and killed her. Then Salih said, "Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. This is a promise that is not false." Then, when Our command came, We saved Salih and those who believed with him, by Our grace, and also saved them from the disgrace of that day. Indeed, your Lord is the All-Strong, the All-Mighty. And the mighty blast seized the wrongdoers, and they were left lying dead in their homes, fallen upon their knees— As if they had never lived there. Beware, the Thamud disbelieved in their Lord. Listen, curse be upon the Thamud.

The arrogant ones among the people invited the punishment of Allah. "Those who had shown arrogance said, 'We deny what you have believed in.' Then they slaughtered the she-camel and defied the command of their Lord, and said, 'O Salih, bring upon us that punishment with which you have been threatening us, if indeed you are one of the messengers.' Then the earthquake seized them, so that they were left lying dead, fallen upon their knees, in their own homes." Salih (peace be upon him) grieves over his people.

"So Salih turned away from them and said, ‘My brothers, I have indeed conveyed to you the message of my Lord and sincerely wished you well, but alas, you do not consider your well-wishers to be your friends.’"

"And the people of Nuh too, when they denied the messengers, We drowned them, and made them a sign of warning for the people. We have prepared a painful punishment for the wrongdoers. And the ‘Aad, and the Thamud, and the People of the Well, and many generations between them, We destroyed. We set forth examples before each of them, then We utterly destroyed and ruined every one of them."

"Before them the people of Nuh had also denied, and other groups after them, and every community intended to seize their messenger, and raised false doubts to distort the truth thereby. So I seized them. Then how was My punishment? And thus the word of your Lord was proved true against the disbelievers, that they are the inmates of the Fire."

"Before them the people of Nuh, and the ‘Aad, and Pharaoh, the lord of stakes, also denied. (12) And the Thamud, and the people of Lut, and the dwellers of Aikah as well. These were mighty hosts. (13) There was not one among them who did not deny the messengers, so My punishment became due upon them. (14) They are only waiting for a single fierce blast, in which there is no pause or delay. (15) And they said, ‘Give us our written fate before the Day of Reckoning.’ (16)”

(40:21,22) “Have they not traveled in the land and seen what was the end of those who were before them? They were superior to them in strength, and in the traces in the land. But Allah seized them with punishment for their sins. And none had they to protect them from Allah. (21) That was because there came to them their Messengers with clear evidences but they disbelieved (in them). So Allah seized them. Verily, He is All-Strong, Severe in punishment. (22)

(43: 6-8) “And how many a Prophet have We sent amongst the men of old. (6) And never came there a Prophet to them but they used to mock at him. (6) Then We destroyed men stronger (in power) than these and the example of the ancients has passed away. (6)

"Allah does not oppress. Have they not travelled in the land and seen what became of the end of those who came before them? They were far more vigorous and powerful than them; they too had tilled and cultivated the land, and had developed it more than they have developed it. Their messengers came to them with miracles, but it was impossible that Allah should oppress them; rather, they themselves used to oppress their own souls."

"Ibrahim was also among those who followed the way of Nuh. When he came to his Lord with a flawless heart. He said to his father and his people, ‘Whom are you worshipping?’. Are you, out of your corrupt opinion, becoming devotees of others besides Allah?. So tell me, what have you understood the Lord of the worlds to be?" (37:83-87)

"Narrate in this Book the story of Ibrahim, indeed he was a most truthful Messenger. When he said to his father, 'O my father, why do you worship that which neither hears nor sees, nor can it be of any benefit to you at all? My kind father, look, there has come to me that knowledge which has not come to you, so follow me, I will guide you to a perfectly straight path. My father, refrain from worshipping Satan, indeed Satan is a great rebel against the Most Merciful, the Gracious Allah. My dear father, I fear that a punishment from Allah may befall you, so that you become a companion of Satan.' He replied, 'O Ibrahim, are you turning away from our gods? Listen, if you do not desist, I will surely stone you to death. Go away and stay apart from me for a long time.' He said, 'Peace be upon you then. I shall pray to my Lord for your forgiveness; He is exceedingly kind to me. I am leaving you, and all those whom you call upon besides Allah. I shall call upon my Lord alone. I am confident that I shall not be left unanswered in calling upon my Lord.'"

"When Ibrahim said to his father Azar: Do you take idols as gods? Indeed, I see you and your people in manifest error. Thus did We show Ibrahim the dominion and creation of the heavens and the earths, as a proof, so that he might become of those who have certainty. Then when the darkness of night came over him, he saw a star and said: This is my Lord. But when it set, he said: I do not love those who disappear. Then when he saw the moon shining, he said: This is my Lord. But when it too disappeared, he said: If my Lord does not guide me rightly, I shall surely become of the people who have gone astray. Then when he saw the sun shining brightly, he said: This is my Lord, this is the greatest. But when it too set, he said: O my people, I am completely free of the partners you have set up. I turn my face, steadfast in devotion, towards the One who created the heavens and the earth, and I am not of those who associate partners with Him.”

"His people began to argue with him. He said, 'Are you disputing with me about Allah, while He has already guided me? I do not fear at all those whom you associate with Allah, unless my Lord wills something. My Lord encompasses everything in His knowledge. Why then do you not take heed?' Why should I fear your gods, while you are not afraid that you have associated partners with Allah, for which He has sent down to you no proof at all? If you truly have knowledge, then tell us yourselves, which of the two groups is more deserving of security? Those who believe and do not mix their faith with shirk—it is they for whom there is security, and it is they who are truly guided. These were Our arguments which We gave to Ibrahim against his people. We raise in ranks whom We will. Indeed, your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing."

"Ibrahim also said to his people, 'Worship Allah and keep fearing Him; if you have understanding, this is better for you. You are but worshipping idols besides Allah and fabricating lies from your hearts. Listen, those whom you worship besides Allah do not have power over your provision. So you should seek provision from Allah alone, and worship Him alone, and keep being grateful to Him; to Him you shall be returned. And if you deny, then the nations before you have also denied; the Messenger's responsibility is only to convey the message clearly."

"All the prophets were sent among their peoples with the message of Tawhid, so that people were commanded to believe in the One Allah and to keep away from shirk. {6:84-90} "We gave Ibrahim Ishaq and Ya'qub. We guided each one of them. Before that time, We had also shown Nuh the straight path, and from his descendants We guided Dawud, Sulaiman, Ayyub, Yusuf, Musa and Harun as well. This is how We reward those who do good. And Zakariyya, Yahya, Isa and Ilyas as well. All of them were among the righteous servants. And Isma'il, Al-Yasa', Yunus and Lut as well. All of them We favoured above the people of the world." (6:84-86) We also guided some of their fathers, their descendants and their brothers, and We chose them for Ourselves and guided them to the straight path. This is Allah's guidance; He bestows it upon whom He wills from among His servants. Even these people, had they committed shirk, all their deeds would have gone to waste. These are the people to whom We gave the Book, wisdom and prophethood. If these disbelievers deny the verses of the Qur'an, then We have appointed a people to believe in these verses who will never disbelieve in them.

Ibrahim (peace be upon him)’s argument with the king Namrud. “(2:258)” “Have you not seen him who, having gained kingship, disputed with Ibrahim about his Lord? When Ibrahim said, ‘My Lord is He who gives life and causes death,’ he said, ‘I give life and cause death.’ Ibrahim said, ‘Indeed, Allah brings the sun from the east, so bring it from the west.’ At this, the disbeliever was left dumbfounded, and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.”

The Story of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and the Four Birds: {2:260} "And when Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said, 'O my Lord, show me how You will give life to the dead.' The Almighty said, 'Do you not believe?' He replied, 'Indeed I believe, but so that my heart may be at peace.' He said, 'Take four birds and cut them into pieces, then place a piece of each on every mountain, then call them; they will come running to you. And know that Allah the Almighty is Mighty, Full of Wisdom.'"

Now Ibrahim raised a glance towards the stars and said, "I am about to become ill." At this, they all turned their faces away from him and went back. He quietly went to their gods and said, "Why do you not eat? What is wrong with you that you do not even speak?" Then, with full force, he fell upon them, striking with his right hand. The idol-worshippers came running, turning towards him. So he said, "Do you worship those whom you yourselves carve, while it is Allah who has created you and all the things you make?" They said, "Build for him a furnace and cast him into this blazing fire." They wished to deal treacherously with Ibrahim, but We made them the lowest of the low.

Statement of Monotheism: “All of them are enemies to me, except the true Allah, who is the Sustainer of all the worlds (77), Who created me, and it is He who guides me (78), and it is He who feeds me and gives me drink (79), and when I fall ill, it is He who grants me healing (80), and it is He who will cause me to die, then bring me back to life (81), and He from whom I hope that He will forgive me my sins on the Day of Recompense.” (82) “O Allah, grant me wisdom and join me with the righteous (83), and keep my good remembrance alive among the later generations (84), and make me one of the heirs of the Garden of Bliss.” (85)

"O our Lord, in You alone have we placed our trust, and to You alone do we turn, and to You alone is the return.(4) O God! Do not make us subjugated by the disbelievers and a target for their mockery, and O our Sustainer, forgive our faults; indeed, You alone are the Mighty, the Wise." {60:4,5}

“There is no doubt that my Lord, Allah, is the Hearer of prayers.() O my Lord! Make me one who keeps up prayer, and also from my offspring; O our Lord, accept my prayer.() O our Lord! Forgive me, and forgive my parents, and forgive the believers as well, on the Day when the reckoning takes place.(14:39-41)”

"He who created me, and it is He who guides me(78) and it is He who gives me food and drink(79) and when I fall ill, it is He who heals me(80) and He who will cause me to die, then bring me back to life(81) and He from whom I hope that He will forgive me my sins on the Day of Judgment"(82)

Ibrahim (peace be upon him) convinces people of monotheism and is thrown into the fire: {21:51-73} "When he said to his father and his people, 'What are these statues to which you sit devoted?' (51) They all replied, 'We found our fathers worshipping them.' (52) He said, 'Then you and your fathers have certainly been in manifest error.' (53) They said, 'Have you really brought us the truth,' (54) 'or are you merely playing games?' He said, 'No, in truth your Lord is the One who is the Master of the heavens and the earth, who created them; and I am a witness and firm believer in what I say.' (55) Indeed We had granted Ibrahim his right guidance in his early youth, and We were well aware of his affairs. (56) 'By Allah, I will certainly deal with your gods after you turn your backs and go away.' (57) Then he broke them all into pieces, except the biggest of them, so that they might return to it. (58) They said, 'Who has done this to our gods? Such a person is surely among the wrongdoers.' (59) They said, 'We heard a young man mentioning them, who is called Ibrahim.' (60) They all said, 'Then bring him before the eyes of the people so that they may all witness.' (61) They said, 'O Ibrahim, was it you who did this to our gods?' (62) He replied, 'Rather, it was done by this, their biggest one—so ask them, if they can speak.' (63) So they came back to their senses, saying ˹to one another˺, 'Indeed, you yourselves are the wrongdoers.' (64) Then, hanging their heads down after thinking it over, despite being convinced, they said, 'You know well that these do not speak.' (65) The Friend of Allah said at once, 'Alas! You worship that which can neither benefit you nor harm you in the least.' (66) 'Shame upon you and upon what you worship besides Allah! Do you not have even this much sense?' (67) They said, 'Burn him and help your gods, if you are to do anything at all.' (68) So We said, 'O fire, be cool and a means of safety and comfort for Ibrahim.' (69) Although they intended harm for Ibrahim, We made them the very losers. (70) We saved Ibrahim and Lut, taking them to the land in which We had placed blessing for all the worlds. (71) And We granted him Ishaq, and Ya'qub in addition, and We made each of them righteous. (72) And We made them leaders who guided people by Our command, and We inspired them to do good deeds, establish prayers, and give zakah; and they were all worshippers devoted to Us." (73)

"O Allah, grant me wisdom and join me with the righteous. And keep alive a good remembrance of me among later generations. And make me one of the heirs of the Garden of Bliss."

(Ibrahim (peace be upon him)'s prayer for a righteous offspring) “O my Lord! Grant me a righteous child.” {37:100} The prayer made at the time of leaving his son Ismail with Bibi Hajra near the Ka'bah (Baitullah): Ibrahim (peace be upon him) migrated from his people. Allah Ta'ala blessed him with a son, Ismail. By Allah's command, when leaving his six-month-old son Ismail with his mother, Bibi Hajra, near the Ka'bah (Baitullah), he prayed to Allah. At that time, Makkah was a desert (wilderness). There was neither any shade nor anything to eat or drink.

Also remember Ibrahim's prayer, "O my Lord! Make this city one of peace, and protect me and my children from idol worship.(35) My Lord, they have led many people astray from the path. Whoever follows me is mine, and whoever disobeys me, then You are indeed Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.(36) O our Lord! I have settled some of my children in this barren wilderness near Your sacred House, O our Lord, so that they may establish prayer. So make the hearts of some people incline towards them, and provide them with fruits, so that they may be grateful."(37)

"Ibrahim said, 'I am migrating towards my Lord; He will surely guide me(99). O my Lord! Grant me righteous offspring(100). So We gave him the good news of a forbearing child(101). Then, when the child reached the age of walking with him, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said, 'My dear son! I see in a dream that I am sacrificing you. Now tell me, what is your view?' The son replied, 'O my father! Carry out what you have been commanded; if Allah wills, you will find me among the patient(102).' So when both had submitted, and the father laid the son down upon his forehead(103), We called out, 'O Ibrahim!(104) You have indeed fulfilled your dream. Thus do We reward the doers of good(105). Indeed, this was a manifest trial(106). And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice(107). And We left for him a good name among the later generations(108). Peace be upon Ibrahim(109). Thus do We reward the doers of good(110). Indeed, he was among Our believing servants.'(111)"

Ibrahim AS is an excellent exemplar: (60:4-7) “Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people: "Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allah we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you, hostility and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone,'' --except the saying of Ibrahim to his father: "Verily, I will ask forgiveness for you, but I have no power to do anything for you before Allah. "Our Lord! In You we put our trust, and to You we turn in repentance, and to You is the final Return.''(4) "Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the disbelievers, and forgive us, Our Lord! Verily, You, only You, are the Almighty, the All-Wise.''(5) Certainly, there has been in them an excellent example for you to follow – for those who look forward to (the meeting with) Allah and the Last Day. And whosoever turns away, then verily, Allah is Al-Ghani, Al-Hamid.(6) Perhaps Allah will make friendship between you and those whom you hold as enemies. And Allah has power (over all things), and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”(7)

"We gave him the good news of Ishaq, a prophet who would be among the righteous. And We bestowed blessings upon Ibrahim and Ishaq; among the descendants of both of them are some who are righteous, and some who clearly wrong their own souls."

“Allah Ta'ala made Ibrahim (peace be upon him) a Messenger.(2:124,125) “When Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was tested by his Lord with several matters, and he fulfilled them, He said, I will make you an Imam for the people. He submitted, And from my offspring? He said, My covenant does not reach the wrongdoers. We made the House a place of reward and a place of peace and security for the people. Take the Station of Ibrahim as a place of prayer. We took a covenant from Ibrahim and Isma'il, that you should keep My House pure for those who circumambulate it, those who stay in devotion (i'tikaf), and those who bow and prostrate.”

After the incident of the sacrifice, Allah Almighty commanded Ibrahim (peace be upon him) to build the Ka‘bah. {2:127,128} "Ibrahim and Isma‘il were raising the foundations and walls of the Ka‘bah, and they kept saying, 'Our Lord, accept this from us. Indeed, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. O our Lord, make us submissive to You, and raise from our offspring a community submissive to You, and teach us our acts of worship, and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Ever-Accepting of repentance, the Most Merciful.'"

"Our Lord, and raise up among them a messenger from among themselves, who may recite Your verses to them, teach them the Book and wisdom, and purify them. Indeed, You are the Mighty, the Wise"(

"When We designated for Ibrahim the place of the House, on the condition that you shall not associate anyone with Me, and keep My House pure for those who circumambulate, and those who stand, bow, and prostrate; and proclaim among the people the Hajj, they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, coming from every distant path, so that they may come to obtain their benefits and remember the name of Allah during these appointed days over the cattle which He has provided for them; so eat from it yourselves and feed the hungry, the poor. Then let them remove their bodily dirt, fulfill their vows, and perform the circumambulation of the ancient House of Allah." (22:26-29)

That is it. And whoever honours the sanctities of Allah, that is better for him with his Lord. And the cattle have been made lawful for you, except those which have been mentioned to you. So you must keep away from the filth of idols, and you must also abstain from false speech.{22:30}

"And when Ibrahim said, 'O Lord, make this place a city of peace, and grant its residents, those among them who believe in Allah and the Last Day, provisions from the fruits.' Allah Almighty said, 'I will also give a little enjoyment to the disbelievers. Then I will drive them helplessly toward the punishment of the Fire. That is an evil destination'." (2:126)

None will show aversion to the religion of Ibrahim, except one who is merely a fool: {2:130,131} "None will show aversion to the religion of Ibrahim except one who is merely a fool. We had indeed chosen him in this world, and in the Hereafter he shall surely be among the righteous (130). Whenever his Lord said to him, 'Submit,' he said, 'I have submitted to the Lord of the worlds.'" (131) [This distinction and selection was granted to him because he presented an unparalleled example of obedience and submission.

"Indeed, there is for you in them a good example and excellent following, especially for every person who believes in meeting Allah and the Last Day. And whoever turns away, then indeed Allah is completely free of need, and He is worthy of all praise (6). It may well be that Allah will soon create love between you and those of them whom you consider your enemies. Allah has power over all things, and Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful."

"Also relate in this Book the account of Ismail; he was indeed very truthful to his promise, and he was also a Messenger and a Prophet. He used to constantly command his household to observe Prayer and give Zakah, and he was also liked and accepted in the court of his Lord."(19:54,55)

"We granted Ibrahim Ishaq and Ya'qub, and We placed prophethood and the Book among his offspring, and We gave him his reward in this world as well, and in the Hereafter he is indeed among the righteous."

"And We bestowed upon them abundantly from Our mercy, and We made for them a noble reputation of truth, exalted in rank."

"And We granted him Ishaq, and gave Ya'qub as an extra, and We made all of them righteous. And We made them leaders who guide people by Our command, and We revealed to them the doing of good deeds, the establishment of prayers, and the giving of zakah, and they were all Our worshipping servants."{21:72,73}

“And mention also Our servants Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya‘qub before the people, who were possessors of hands and eyes. We had specially favoured them with a distinguishing quality — the remembrance of the Hereafter. They were, in Our sight, all chosen and the very best of people. And mention also Isma‘il, al-Yasa‘, and Dhul-Kifl; they were all among the best of people. This is an admonition. Be assured that for the God-fearing there is indeed an excellent place of return.”

This is a reminder. And indeed, for the righteous is an excellent place of return— Gardens of Eden, whose gates will be opened wide for them, reclining therein, calling for abundant fruit and drink therein, and beside them will be maidens of modest gaze, all of matching age. This is what you are promised for the Day of Reckoning. Indeed, this is Our provision, which will never come to an end.

For those, there will be a known provision, fruits, and they will be honored, in gardens of bliss, upon couches, facing one another. A cup will be passed around among them from a flowing spring, white, delicious to those who drink it, it will neither harm them, nor will they be intoxicated by it. And with them will be maidens of modest gaze, with beautiful wide eyes, as if they were pristine pearls.

This is so. And indeed, for the transgressors is the worst place of return— Hell, into which they will burn, and how wretched is that resting place. This—so let them taste it—boiling water and pus, and other punishments of similar kind, in pairs. This is a company rushing headlong with you, no welcome for them; indeed, they will burn in the Fire. They will say, Rather, it is you—no welcome for you. It is you who brought this upon us, and how evil is this settled abode. They will say, Our Lord, whoever brought this upon us, increase for him double punishment in the Fire. And they will say, What is with us that we do not see men whom we used to count among the wicked? Did we take them in mockery, or has our sight missed them? Indeed, that is true—the dispute of the people of the Fire.

Ask them O Prophet: are they harder to create, or the other marvels creatures of our creation? Indeed, We created them from sticky clay. In fact, you are astonished (by their denial), while they ridicule you. And when they are reminded, they do not take heed. And when they see a sign, they call others to scoff at it. And they say, "This is nothing but plain magic. When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be resurrected? And our forefathers as well?" Say: "Yes, and you will be humbled." It will only be a single blast, then at once they will see it all.

And they will cry, "Oh, woe to us! This is the Day of Judgment." (They will be told) "This is the Day of Decision, which you used to deny." [The angels will be ordered], "Gather those who did wrong, together with their companions, and whatever they used to worship." "Other than Allah, and lead them to the path of the Blazing Fire." "And stop them, for they are to be questioned." [They will be asked] "What is the matter with you, that you do not help one another?" Rather, this Day they are surrendering themselves in submission(to Judgment); And some of them will turn to others, questioning one another. They will say, "Indeed, you used to come to us from the right hand (of power and authority)." The others will say, "No, you yourselves were not believers." "And we had no authority over you. Rather, you were a transgressing people." "So the word of our Lord has come true against us; indeed, we are to taste the punishment." "So we led you astray, for indeed we ourselves were astray." Indeed, that Day they will all share in the punishment together.

Indeed, thus do We deal with the criminals. Indeed, they used to, when it was said to them, "There is no god but Allah," act with arrogance, And say, "Are we to abandon our gods for a mad poet?" Rather, he has come with the truth and confirmed the messengers. Indeed, you will taste the painful punishment, And you will not be recompensed except for what you used to do.

Then they will turn to one another, questioning each other. One of them will say, "Indeed, I had a companion in the world who used to say, 'Are you indeed among those who believe it to be true, that when we die and become dust and bones, we will indeed be brought to account and repaid?'" He will (then) ask, “Would you care to see (his fate)?” Then he (and the others) will look and spot him in the midst of the blazing Hellfire. He will say, "By Allah, you almost destroyed me, and had it not been for the favor of my Lord, I would surely have been among those brought [to punishment]. (Then he will ask his fellow believers,)“Can you imagine that we will never die, except for our first death, nor be punished (like the others)?" This is truly the ultimate triumph. For such (honor) all should strive.

For the like of this, then, let all strive who wish to strive Is Paradise a better accommodation or the tree of Zaqqum? We have made it a trial for the wrongdoers. It is a tree that grows out from the bottom of the blazing Fire. Its fruit is as if it were the heads of devils. They will surely eat from it and fill their bellies with it. Then on top of it they will have a mixture of boiling water to drink. Then indeed their return will be to the blazing Fire. They found their fathers astray, So they (too) rush eagerly to follow in their footsteps! Indeed, most of the earlier peoples went astray before them, and We had certainly sent among them warners. So observe how was the end of those who were warned, except the chosen, sincere servants of Allah.

So Lout (Lot) believed in him [Ibrahim’s (Abraham) Message of Islamic Monotheism]. He [Ibrahim (Abraham)] said: “I will emigrate for the sake of my Lord. Verily, He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.”

And [mention] Lot, when he said to his people, “Indeed, you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with, from among the worlds. Indeed, you approach men and obstruct the road and commit in your gatherings [every] evil.” But his people's only answer was but this. They said: "Bring upon us the punishment of Allah, if you are truthful." He said: "My Lord, help me against this people who spread corruption." And when Our messengers came to Abraham with the good news, they said: "We are indeed going to destroy the people of this town, for its people have truly been wrongdoers." Ibrahim (Abraham) said: “But there is Lout (Lot) in it." They said: "We know best who is there. We will surely save him and his family, except his wife, who will be among those who remain behind to be destroyed." And when Our messengers came to Lot, he was distressed on their account and felt great discomfort for their sake. They said: "Do not fear, nor grieve. We are going to save you and your family, except your wife, who will be among those who remain behind. We are about to bring down upon the people of this town a punishment from heaven, because of the wickedness they used to commit." And indeed, We have left of it a sign as clear evidence for a people who use reason.

So when the fear had left Ibrahim, and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us concerning the people of Lut. Indeed, Ibrahim was forbearing, tender-hearted, and oft-turning to Allah. (The angels said,) “O Ibrahim! Plead no more! Your Lord’s decree has already come, and they will certainly be afflicted with a punishment that cannot be averted!”

77. And when Our messenger-angels came to Lot, he was distressed and worried by their arrival. He said, “This is a distressful day." 78. And (the men of) his people—who were used to shameful deeds—came to him rushing. He pleaded, “O my people! Here are my daughters (for marriage)—they are pure for you. So fear Allah, and do not humiliate me by disrespecting my guests. Is there not (even) a single right-minded man among you?” 79. They argued, “You certainly know that we have no need for your daughters. You already know what we desire!” 80. He responded, “If only I had the strength (to resist you) or could rely on a strong supporter.”

They said, "O Lut, we are the messengers of your Lord; they will never reach you. So set out with your family during a portion of the night, and let none of you look back, except your wife; indeed, what befalls them will befall her. Indeed, their appointed time is the morning. Is not the morning near?" So when Our command came, We turned that city upside down and rained upon it stones of baked clay, layered one upon another, marked from your Lord. And And Allah ‘s punishment is not far from the wrongdoers.

And We sent Lot when he said to his people, "Do you commit such immorality as no one in all the worlds has ever committed before you? Indeed, you approach men with desire instead of women. Rather, you are a people who transgress all bounds."

And the only answer of his people was that they said: "Drive them out of your town, for they are people who keep themselves pure!" So We saved him and his family, except his wife; she was among those who stayed behind. And We rained down upon them a rain of destruction. So see how was the end of the criminals.

And to Lot We gave sound judgment and knowledge, and We saved him from the town that used to commit wicked deeds. Indeed, they were an evil people, defiantly disobedient. And We admitted him into Our mercy. Indeed, he was among the righteous.

And indeed, Lot was one of the messengers. Remember when We saved him and his family, all of them, except an old woman among those who stayed behind. Then We destroyed the rest. And indeed, you pass by their ruins in the morning, and at night. Then will you not use reason?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Alif-Lam-Ra. These are the verses of the clear Book. We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an so that you may understand. We relate to you (O Prophet) the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur'an, though before it you were totally unaware (of them). When Joseph said to his father, "O my father, indeed I saw eleven stars, and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me." He said, "O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers, or they will devise a plot against you. Indeed, Satan is a clear enemy to mankind. And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of dreams and events, and complete His favor upon you and upon the family of Jacob, just as He completed it upon your forefathers before, Abraham and Isaac. Indeed, your Lord is All-Knowing, All-Wise." Certainly, in the story of Joseph and his brothers were signs for those who ask. When they said, "Joseph and his brother are more beloved to our father than we are, though we are a group. Indeed, our father is clearly in error. Kill Joseph or cast him out to some land, so that your father's attention will be free for you alone, and after that you may be a righteous people."

Kill Joseph or cast him out to some land, so that your father's attention will be free for you alone, and after that you will be righteous people. One of them said, "Do not kill Joseph, but if you must do something, cast him into the depths of the well; some travelers will pick him up."

They said, "O our father, why do you not trust us with Joseph, when we are indeed sincere well-wishers to him? Send him with us tomorrow that he may enjoy himself and play, and indeed, we will be his guardians." He said, "Indeed, it grieves me that you should take him, and I fear that a wolf may devour him while you are heedless of him." They said, "If a wolf should devour him while we are a strong group, then indeed, we would be losers."

So when they took him away and agreed to put him into the depths of the well, We revealed to him: You will surely inform them of this deed of theirs one day, while they do not perceive it.

And they came to their father in the evening, weeping. They said, "O our father, we went off racing one another and left Joseph with our belongings, and the wolf devoured him. But you will not believe us, even though we are truthful." And they brought upon his shirt false blood. He said, "Rather, your souls have made a matter seem fair to you. So patience is most fitting. And it is Allah whose help is sought against what you describe."

And a caravan of travelers came, and they sent their water-drawer, who let down his bucket into the well. He said, "Good news! Here is a boy!" And they hid him away as merchandise, but Allah was fully aware of what they were doing. And they sold him for a low price, a few dirhams counted out, for they attached no value to him.

And the man from Egypt who bought him said to his wife, "Make his stay honorable; perhaps he will benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son." Thus We established Joseph in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of dreams and events. And Allah is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know. And when he reached his full strength, We gave him judgment and knowledge. Thus do We reward the doers of good.

And she in whose house he was living sought to seduce him from himself, and she closed the doors firmly and said, "Come, I am ready for you." He said, "I seek refuge in Allah! Indeed, he is my master, who has made my stay honorable. Indeed, the wrongdoers will not succeed." And indeed she desired him, and he would have desired her, were it not that he saw the proof of his Lord. Thus it was, that We might turn away from him evil and immorality. Indeed, he was among Our chosen, sincere servants. And they raced each other to the door, and she tore his shirt from behind, and they found her husband at the door. She said, "What is the recompense of one who intended evil for your wife except that he be imprisoned or suffer a painful punishment?" He said, "It was she who sought to seduce me from myself." And a witness from her own household testified: "If his shirt is torn from the front, then she has spoken truly, and he is one of the liars. But if his shirt is torn from behind, then she has lied, and he is one of the truthful." So when he saw his shirt torn from behind, he said, "Indeed, this is of the guile of you women. Truly, your guile is great. Joseph, turn away from this matter. And you, woman, ask forgiveness for your sin. Indeed, you have been of the sinful."

And women in the city said, "The wife of al-'Aziz is seeking to seduce her young man; he has indeed stirred her heart with love. Indeed, we see her in clear error." So when she heard of their scheming, she sent for them and prepared for them a banquet, and gave each one of them a knife, and said, "Come out before them." Then when they saw him, they were amazed by him and cut their hands, and said, "God forbid! This is not a human being; this is none but a noble angel." She said, "That is the one about whom you blamed me. I did indeed seek to seduce him, but he saved himself firmly. And if he does not do what I order him, he will surely be imprisoned and will surely be among the humiliated." He said, "My Lord, prison is more beloved to me than that to which they invite me. And if You do not turn away their scheming from me, I might incline toward them and be among the ignorant." So his Lord answered him and turned away their scheming from him. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing. And so it occurred to those in charge, despite seeing all the proofs (of his innocence), that he should be imprisoned for a while.

And two young men entered the prison along with him. One of them said, "I saw myself in a dream pressing wine." And the other said, "I saw myself carrying bread upon my head, from which the birds were eating. Inform us of its interpretation, for we see that you are one who does good." He said, "No food will come to you as your provision but that I will have informed you of its interpretation before it comes to you. That is part of what my Lord has taught me. Indeed, I have left the religion of a people who do not believe in Allah, and who, in the Hereafter, are disbelievers. And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was not for us to associate anything with Allah. That is from the favor of Allah upon us and upon the people, but most of the people are not grateful. O my two companions in prison, are separate lords better, or Allah, the One, the Prevailing? You worship not besides Him except names that you and your fathers have named, for which Allah has sent down no authority. Judgment belongs only to Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but Him. That is the right religion, but most of the people do not know."

O my two companions of the prison, as for one of you, he will pour out wine for his master to drink; and as for the other, he will be crucified, and the birds will eat from his head. The matter about which you both inquired has been decreed. And he said to the one whom he believed would be saved of the two, "Mention me before your master." But Satan caused him to forget to mention it to his master, so he remained in prison for a number of years.

And the king said: I saw in a dream seven fat cows being devoured by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of grain and others dry. O counselors, explain to me my vision, if you are able to interpret dreams. They said: These are confused, meaningless dreams, and we have no knowledge of the interpretation of such dreams. Then the one of the two who had been released, remembering after a period of time, said: I will tell you its interpretation, so send me forth.

Joseph, O man of truth, explain to us the meaning of seven fat cows being devoured by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of corn and other dry ones, that I may return to the people so that they may know. He said, "You shall sow for seven consecutive years as usual, and whatever you harvest, leave it in its ear, except a little of which you eat. Then after that will come seven hard years which will consume what you have stored for them, except a little which you have kept in reserve. Then after that will come a year in which the people will be given relief, and in which they will press their fruits."

And the king said, "Bring him to me." But when the messenger came to him, he said, "Go back to your master and ask him what was the case of the women who cut their hands. Indeed, my Lord is fully aware of their scheme." The king said, "What was your affair when you sought to seduce Joseph?" They said, "Allah forbid! We know of no evil against him." The wife of al-'Aziz said, "Now the truth has become evident. It was I who sought to seduce him, and indeed, he is of the truthful." [Then Yusuf (Joseph) said: “I asked for this enquiry] in order that he (Al-‘Aziz) may know that I betrayed him not in his absence. And, verily! Allah does not guide the scheming of the betrayers.

And I do not absolve myself, for indeed the soul is prone to evil, except that which my Lord has mercy upon. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful. And the king said, "Bring him to me; I will take him exclusively for myself." And when he spoke to him, he said, "Indeed, from this day you are established with us in position and trust." He said, "Place me over the storehouses of the land; indeed, I am a knowledgeable guardian." And thus We established Joseph in the land, settling in it wherever he pleased. We bestow Our mercy upon whom We will, and We do not let the reward of those who do good go to waste. And the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believe and have been mindful of God.

And the brothers of Joseph came and entered upon him, and he recognized them, while they did not recognize him. And when he had provided them with their provisions, he said, "Bring me a brother of yours from your father. Do you not see that I give full measure and that I am the best of hosts? But if you do not bring him to me, then there will be no measure for you from me, nor shall you come near me." They said, "We will endeavor to persuade his father to part with him, and we will surely do so." And he said to his servants, "Put their merchandise back into their saddlebags, so they should know it only when they return to their family, that perhaps they will come back."

"And he said, 'Bring your youngest brother to me, or else you will receive no grain.' "Surah Yusuf (12:63-64 "When they returned to their father, they said, 'O our father, the measure [of grain] is denied to us [in the future]. So send our brother with us so we may get our measure, and we will surely take care of him. He said, 'Should I trust you with him except as I trusted you with his brother [Yusuf] before? But Allah is the best guardian, and He is the most merciful of the merciful.'"

And when they opened their baggage, they found their goods had been returned to them. They said, "O our father, what more could we desire? Here is our merchandise, returned to us. We will bring provisions for our family, protect our brother, and add a camel's load extra. That is an easy measure." He said, "I will never send him with you until you give me a solemn pledge before Allah that you will surely bring him back to me, unless you are surrounded and overcome." And when they had given him their pledge, he said, "Allah is Witness over what we have said."

{{12:67-69 Jacob ؑ sent his sons with the advice not to be careless about their younger brother. “And he said, O my sons, do not all enter through one gate, but enter through separate gates. I cannot ward off from you anything that comes from Allah. The command belongs only to Allah. In Him alone I place my complete trust, and every trusting person should place his trust in Him. When they had entered by the routes their father had instructed them to take, it did not avail them at all against what Allah had decreed. Yes, Jacob had fulfilled a concern in his heart. He was indeed knowledgeable in the knowledge We had taught him, but most people do not know. When all of them reached Joseph, he seated his brother beside him and said, “I am your brother (Joseph). So do not grieve over what they used to do.”-

So when he had provided them with their provisions, he placed the drinking-cup in his brother's saddlebag. Then an announcer called out: "O caravan, you are indeed thieves!" They said, turning toward them, "What is it you are missing?" They said, "We are missing the king's measuring cup, and whoever brings it shall have a camel-load, and I guarantee that." They said, "By Allah, you certainly know that we did not come to cause corruption in the land, and we have not been thieves." They said, "Then what shall be the recompense for this, if you are liars?" They said, "Its recompense is that the one in whose bag it is found shall himself be held as recompense. Thus do we recompense the wrongdoers."

So he began with their bags before the bag of his brother, then he brought it out from the bag of his brother. Thus did We plan for Joseph; he could not have taken his brother under the king's law, except that Allah willed it so. We raise in degrees whom We will, and above every possessor of knowledge is one more knowing. They said, "If he steals, a brother of his had stolen before." But Yusuf (Joseph) kept it within himself and did not reveal it to them. He said (within himself): “You are in worst case, and Allah knows best the truth of what you assert!”

{{12:78-80 “They said, ‘O Aziz of Egypt, his father is a very old man. Take one of us in his place; indeed, we see that you are a great benefactor. Yusuf said, ‘We seek refuge in Allah from taking anyone other than the one with whom we found our property. If we were to do that, we would certainly be unjust. When they despaired of him, they withdrew to confer privately. The eldest of them said, ‘Do you not know that your father took a solemn pledge from you in the name of Allah, and before this you committed a grave wrong concerning Yusuf? So I will not leave this land until my father himself gives me permission or Allah Almighty decides this matter for me, and He is the best of judges.’” .

Return to your father and say: "Our father, indeed your son stole, and we testify only to what we know; we could not guard against the unseen. Ask the town in which we were, and the caravan with which we returned; we are indeed telling the truth." He said, "Rather, your souls have made a matter seem alluring to you. So patience is most fitting. Perhaps Allah will bring them all to me. Indeed, it is He who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise." And he turned away from them and said, "Oh, my grief over Joseph!" And his eyes turned white from grief, for he was suppressing his sorrow.

They said, "By Allah, you will not cease remembering Joseph until you become fatally ill or die." He said, "I only complain of my anguish and my grief to Allah, and I know from Allah what you do not know."

O my sons, go and search for news of Joseph and his brother, and do not despair of relief from Allah. Indeed, none despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people. So when they entered upon him, they said, "O Aziz, hardship has afflicted us and our family, and we have come with merchandise of little value, but give us full measure and be charitable to us. Indeed, Allah rewards the charitable."

He said, "Do you know what you did with Joseph and his brother when you were ignorant?" They said, "Are you indeed Joseph?" He said, "I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Allah has certainly favored us. Indeed, whoever fears Allah and is patient, then surely Allah does not waste the reward of those who do good." They said, "By Allah, indeed Allah has preferred you over us, and we were certainly sinners." He said, "No blame will there be upon you today. Allah will forgive you, and He is the most merciful of the merciful. Take this shirt of mine and cast it over the face of my father; he will become able to see. And bring me all of your family."

{“{12:93-95 Yusufؑ gave his brothers his shirt and said: Put it over our father's face. {“{12:93-95Take this shirt of mine and place it over my father's face so that he may regain his sight and come, and bring your entire family to me. When the caravan departed, their father said, “Indeed, I can smell Yusuf. If only you would not consider me senile.” They said, “By Allah, you are certainly still in your old error”.

Then when the bearer of glad tidings came, he cast the shirt over his face, and his sight returned. He said, "Did I not tell you that I know from Allah what you do not know?" They said, "Our father, ask forgiveness for us of our sins; indeed, we have been sinners." He said, "I will ask forgiveness for you from my Lord. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."

Then when they entered upon Joseph, he drew his parents close to him and said, "Enter Egypt, if Allah wills, in safety." And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they fell down before him in prostration. And he said, "O my father, this is the interpretation of my vision from before. My Lord has made it come true. He was indeed good to me when He brought me out of prison and brought you from the desert after Satan had sown discord between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is subtle in what He wills. Indeed, it is He who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise."

My Lord, You have given me a share of dominion and taught me the interpretation of dreams and events. Originator of the heavens and the earth, You are my Protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die as one submitting to You, and join me with the righteous.

That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you. You were not present with them when they resolved upon their plan while they were plotting. Yet most of the people, however eager you may be, will not believe. And you ask of them no payment for it. It is only a reminder to all the worlds.

{12:105-107}There are many signs in the heavens and the earth, which they pass by, turning away from them. Most of them, despite believing in Allah, are still polytheists. Have they become fearless of the possibility that some general punishment from Allah may come upon them, or that the Hour may suddenly befall them while they are unaware”-

Say: This is my way; I call to Allah upon clear insight, I and whoever follows me. Glory be to Allah, and I am not of those who associate others with Him. And We sent not before you except men, from among the people of the towns, to whom We revealed. Have they not traveled through the land and seen what was the end of those who came before them? And surely the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allah. Will you not then understand?

Until, when the messengers despaired and thought that they had been denied, Our help came to them, and whoever We willed was saved. And Our punishment cannot be repelled from the wrongdoing people.

Indeed, in their stories there is a lesson for people of understanding. This is not a narration invented, but a confirmation of what came before it, and a detailed explanation of all things, and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.

And to Madyan We sent their brother Shu'ayb. He said: "O my people, worship Allah; you have no god other than Him. And do not give short measure and weight. Indeed, I see you in a state of prosperity, and indeed I fear for you the punishment of an all-encompassing Day."

And O my people, give full measure and weight in justice, and do not deprive people of their due, and do not go about the earth spreading corruption. What remains for you from Allah is better for you, if you are believers. And I am not a guardian over you.

And the chiefs of his people who disbelieved said, "If you follow Shu'ayb, you will indeed be losers." Then the earthquake seized them, and they were left lying lifeless in their homes. Those who denied Shu'ayb were as if they had never dwelt there. Those who denied Shu'ayb - it was they who were the losers.

And when Our command came, We saved Shu'ayb and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us, and the Blast seized those who had done wrong, so they were left lying dead in their homes, fallen face down.

They asked (sarcastically) said, "O Shu'ayb, does your prayer command you that we should abandon what our fathers worshipped, or that we should not do with our wealth what we wish? Indeed, you are the forbearing, right-minded one!" He said, "O my people, have you considered: if I am upon clear evidence from my Lord, and He has provided me with good sustenance from Himself... And I do not wish to differ from you in that which I forbid you, only wishing reform as much as I am able. My success is not but through Allah; upon Him I rely, and to Him I turn in repentance."

And O my people, let not your opposition to me bring upon you a punishment like that which befell the people of Noah, or the people of Hud, or the people of Salih; and the people of Lot are not far from you. And seek the forgiveness of your Lord, then turn to Him in repentance. Indeed, my Lord is Most Merciful, All-Loving.

They said, "O Shu'ayb, we do not understand much of what you say, and indeed we see you among us as weak. Were it not for your clan, we would have stoned you, for you are not mighty against us." He said, "O my people, is my clan mightier in your eyes than Allah, while you have cast Him away behind your backs. Indeed, my Lord encompasses all that you do. O my people, act according to your position; indeed, I too am acting. You will come to know upon whom a punishment will descend that disgraces him, and who it is that lies. So watch, and I too am watching with you." And when Our command came, We saved Shu'ayb and those who believed with him, by a mercy from Us, and the mighty blast seized those who wronged, so that they were left lifeless, fallen face down in their homes, as if they had never lived there in prosperity. Oh, away with Madyan, just as Thamud was cast far away.

(50:12-15) “Denied before them the people of Nuh, and the Dwellers of Rass, and Thamud, (12) And `Ad, and Fir`awn, and the brethren of Lut, (13) And the Dwellers of the wood, and the people of Tubba`. Everyone of them denied (their) Messengers, so My threat took effect. (14) Were We then tired with the first creation? Nay, they are in confused doubt about a new creation.” (15)

And indeed, Elias was truly one of the messengers. When he said to his people, "Will you not fear Allah? Do you call upon Ba'l and abandon the Best of Creators— Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers?" But they denied him, so they will surely be brought forth for punishment, Except the sincere and devoted servants of Allah. And We left for him among later generations a good remembrance: Peace be upon Elias. Indeed, thus do We reward the doers of good. Indeed, he was among Our believing servants.

And verily, Yunus (Jonah) was one of the Messengers When he ran to the laden ship as he had done an act worthy of blame he took part in the casting of lots, and he was among those cast out. Then the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy. Had he not been one of those who glorified God, he would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected. But We cast him onto the bare shore while he was ill, and We caused a gourd vine to grow over him. And We sent him to a hundred thousand people or more, and they believed, so We let them enjoy life for a while.

Was there ever a town that believed, so that its belief benefited it, except the people of Yunus? When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in the life of this world, and We let them enjoy life for a while. Had your Lord willed, all those on earth would have believed, all of them together. So will you, then, compel the people until they become believers? It is not for any soul to believe except by the permission of Allah. And He places wickedness upon those who do not use reason.

And We inspired the mother of Moses, saying: Nurse him, but when you fear for him, cast him into the river, and do not fear and do not grieve, for We shall return him to you and make him one of the messengers. And (it so happened that) Pharaoh’s people picked him up, only to become for them an enemy and a source of grief. Indeed, Pharaoh, Haman, and their soldiers were sinners. And the wife of Pharaoh said: He will be a comfort of the eye for me and for you. Do not kill him; perhaps he may benefit us, or we may take him as a son — while they did not perceive the outcome.

And the heart of Moses' mother became empty, and she was about to disclose his identity, had We not strengthened her heart so that she would be of the believers. And she said to his sister, "Follow him." So she watched him from a distance, while they perceived not. And We had forbidden him from nursing women before, so she said, "Shall I direct you to a household who will rear him for you while they are sincere towards him?" So We returned him to his mother that her eye might be comforted and she would not grieve, and that she would know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of them do not know.

And when he reached his full strength and maturity, We gave him sound judgment and knowledge. Thus do We reward those who do good. He entered the city at a time when its people were unaware, and found there two men fighting, one from his own people, and the other from his enemies. The one from his own people cried out to him for help against the one from his enemies. So Musa struck him with his fist and killed him. He said, "This is from the work of Satan; he is indeed a clear enemy who misleads." He said, "My Lord, I have wronged myself, so forgive me." So He forgave him; indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. He said, "My Lord, for the favor You have bestowed upon me, I will never be a supporter of the criminals."

So he awoke in the city fearful, watching about, when suddenly the one who had sought his help the day before cried out to him again for aid. Moses said to him, "Indeed, you are clearly a misguided man." Then, when he was about to strike the one who was an enemy to them both, the man said, "O Moses, do you intend to kill me as you killed a soul yesterday? You only intend to be a tyrant in the land, and you do not intend to be among the reformers." And a man came running from the farthest part of the city. He said, "O Moses, indeed the chiefs are conferring together about you to kill you, so leave. Indeed, I am to you of the sincere advisers."

By morning, he was in the city, fearful and watchful, when suddenly the one who had sought his help the day before cried out to him again for help. Moses said to him, "Indeed, you are clearly a troublemaker." Then, when he wanted to seize the one who was an enemy to both of them, the man said, "O Moses, do you intend to kill me as you killed a soul yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land, and you do not want to be among those who set things right." And a man came running from the farthest part of the city, saying, "O Moses, the chiefs are conspiring together about you to kill you, so leave. Indeed, I am to you among the sincere advisers."

So he left the city, fearful and watchful, saying, "My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people." And when he turned his face toward Madyan, he said, "I hope that my Lord will guide me to the right way." And when he arrived at the water of Madyan, he found there a group of people watering their flocks, and he found, apart from them, two women holding back their sheep. He said, "What is the matter with you two?" They said, "We do not water our flocks until the shepherds drive theirs away, and our father is a very old man." So he watered their flocks for them, then withdrew to the shade and said, "My Lord, indeed I am in need of whatever good You send down to me."

Then one of the two women came to him, walking with shyness, and said, "My father invites you, that he may reward you for having watered our flocks for us." So when he came to him and told him the story, he said, "Fear not. You have escaped from the wrongdoing people." One of the two women said, "O my father, hire him. Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and trustworthy."

He said, "I wish to marry you to one of these two daughters of mine, on condition that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten, it will be of your own accord, for I do not wish to make it difficult for you. You will find me, if Allah wills, among the righteous." He said, "That is settled between me and you. Whichever of the two terms I fulfill, there shall be no injustice against me. And Allah is Witness over what we say."

So when Musa had completed the term and was travelling with his family, he perceived a fire from the direction of the mount. He said to his family, "Wait here, for I have perceived a fire. Perhaps I will bring you news from it, or a burning brand from the fire, so that you may warm yourselves."

So when he came to it, he was called from the right side of the valley, in the blessed spot, from the tree: "O Moses, indeed I am Allah, Lord of all the worlds."

"And what is that in your right hand, O Moses?" He said, "It is my staff; I lean on it, and I beat down leaves with it for my sheep, and I have other uses for it." He said, "Throw it down, O Moses." So he threw it down, and behold, it was a snake, moving swiftly. He said, "Take hold of it and do not fear; We will return it to its former state."

And press your hand to your side; it will come out white, without any harm, as another sign, that We may show you some of Our greatest signs. Go to Pharaoh, for he has truly transgressed all bounds. He said, "My Lord, expand for me my breast, and ease for me my task, and untie the knot from my tongue, that they may understand my speech. And appoint for me a helper from my family, Harun, my brother. Strengthen my back through him, and let him share in my task, that we may glorify You much, and remember You much. Indeed, You are ever seeing us."

Go, both of you, to Pharaoh, for he has transgressed all bounds. Speak to him with gentle words, that perhaps he may take heed or fear.

They both said, "Our Lord, we fear that he may hasten to harm us or that he may transgress all bounds." He said, "Do not fear. I am with you both, hearing and seeing. So go to him and say, 'We are the messengers of your Lord, so send with us the Children of Israel and do not torment them. We have come to you with a sign from your Lord, and peace be upon whoever follows the guidance. It has indeed been revealed to us that the punishment will come upon whoever denies and turns away.'"

Pharaoh said, "Then who is the Lord of you two, O Moses?" Moses said, "Our Lord is He who gave everything its form and nature, then guided it." Pharaoh said, "Then what is the case of the former generations?" Moses said, "Knowledge of them is with my Lord in a record. My Lord neither errs nor forgets."

And indeed, We showed him Our signs, all of them, but he denied and refused. He said, "Have you come to us to drive us out of our land with your magic, O Moses? We will surely bring you magic like it, so appoint between us and you a meeting, which neither we nor you shall fail to keep, at a place fair to both." He said, "Your appointment shall be on the day of the festival, and let the people be gathered in the morning." So Pharaoh withdrew and put together his plan, then he came. Moses said to them, "Woe to you! Do not fabricate a lie against Allah, or He will destroy you with a punishment. Whoever fabricates falsehood indeed fails." Then they disputed among themselves over their affair and kept their private conversation secret.

They said, "Indeed, these two are magicians who wish to drive you out of your land with their magic and do away with your exemplary way of life. So resolve upon your plan and come forward in ranks. Whoever prevails today will indeed have succeeded."

They said, "O Moses, either you throw, or we will be the first to throw." He said, "Rather, you throw." Then suddenly their ropes and staffs appeared to him, through their magic, as though they were moving swiftly. So Moses felt a fear within himself. We said, "Do not fear. Indeed, you are the one who will prevail. Throw down what is in your right hand; it will swallow up what they have made. What they have made is only the trick of a magician, and the magician will not succeed wherever he may go." So the magicians fell down in prostration. They said, "We have believed in the Lord of Harun and Musa."

He said, "Have you believed in him before I gave you permission? Indeed, he is your chief who taught you magic. I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and you will surely know which of us is more severe in punishment and more lasting." They said, "We will never prefer you over what has come to us of clear proofs, and over the One who created us. So decree whatever you are going to decree. You can only decree for this worldly life. Indeed, we have believed in our Lord that He may forgive us our sins and the magic which you compelled us to practice. And Allah is better and more lasting."

And We indeed revealed to Musa: "Set out with My servants by night, and strike for them a dry path through the sea; you shall not fear being overtaken, nor shall you be afraid." Then Pharaoh pursued them with his soldiers, but how overwhelming were the waters that submerged them! Thus Pharaoh led his people astray, and did not guide them rightly.

O Children of Israel, We saved you from your enemy, and We made an appointment with you on the right side of the mount, and We sent down upon you manna and quails. Eat from the good, pure things We have provided for you, and do not transgress therein, lest My anger descend upon you. And whoever incurs My anger has certainly fallen to ruin. But indeed, I am truly Forgiving to whoever repents, believes, does righteous deeds, and then remains rightly guided.

"And what made you hasten ahead of your people, O Moses?" He said, "They are close upon my tracks, and I hastened to You, my Lord, that You might be pleased." He said, "Indeed, We have tried your people in your absence, and the Samiri has led them astray." So Moses returned to his people, angry and grieved. He said, "O my people, did your Lord not make you a good promise? Did the time seem too long to you, or did you wish that wrath from your Lord descend upon you, so you broke your promise to me?"

They said, "We did not break our promise to you by our own will, but we were made to carry heavy ornaments of the people [of Pharaoh], so we threw them [into the fire], and thus did the Samiri throw." Then he brought out for them a calf, a body which had a lowing sound, and they said, "This is your god and the god of Moses, but he has forgotten." Did they not see that it could not return a word to them, and had no power to cause them harm or benefit?

They said, "We did not break our promise to you by our own will, but we were made to carry the ornaments of the people [of Pharaoh], so we threw them [into the fire], and thus did the Samiri throw." Then he brought forth for them a calf, a body that made a lowing sound, and they said, "This is your god and the god of Moses, but he forgot." Did they not see that it could not return a word to them, and had no power to harm or benefit them? And Harun (Aaron) had already said to them before, "O my people, you are only being tested by it, and indeed your Lord is the Most Merciful, so follow me and obey my command."

He said, "O Aaron, what prevented you, when you saw them going astray, from following me? Have you then disobeyed my command?" He said, "O son of my mother, do not seize me by my beard or by my head. Indeed, I feared that you would say, 'You have caused division among the Children of Israel, and you did not observe my word.'" He said, "Then what is your case, O Samiri?" He said, "I saw what they did not see, so I took a handful from the so I took a handful [of dust] from the track of the messenger and threw it, and thus did my soul entice me."

[Moses] said, “Then go away, for indeed, it is [decreed] for you in [this] life to say, ‘No contact.’ And indeed, you have an appointment [in the Hereafter] you cannot escape. And look at your ‘god’ to which you remained devoted. We will surely burn it and then scatter it completely into the sea. Your god is only Allah, other than whom there is no deity. He has encompassed all things in knowledge."

Thus, [O Muhammad], We relate to you from the news of what has preceded. And We have certainly given you from Us a Reminder, the Qur’an. Whoever turns away from it will surely bear a burden on the Day of Resurrection, abiding under it forever. And evil it will be for them as a burden on the Day of Resurrection— the Day when the Trumpet will be blown and We will gather the criminals on that Day blue-eyed (with terror). They will murmur among themselves, “You remained not but ten [days in the world].” We know best what they will say, when the most exemplary of them in conduct will say, "You remained no longer than a day."

Moses said, "Our Lord, You have given Pharaoh and his chiefs splendor and wealth in the life of this world. Our Lord, so that they lead people astray from Your path. Our Lord, destroy their wealth and harden their hearts, so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment." He said, "Your supplication has been answered, so remain firm, both of you, and do not follow the way of those who do not know."

And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity, until, when drowning overtook him, he said, "I believe that there is no god except the One in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of those who submit."

Now? While before this you disobeyed and were among the corrupters? So today We shall save your body, that you may be a sign for those who come after you. But indeed, many among mankind are heedless of Our signs.

And We revealed to Musa: "Throw down your staff." And behold, it swallowed up all the false things they had produced. So the truth was established, and all that they had done was proven false. So they were defeated there and then, and were turned back in humiliation. And the sorcerers fell down in prostration. They said: "We believe in the Lord of all the worlds, the Lord of Musa and Harun."

Pharaoh said: "Have you believed in him before I gave you permission? Indeed, this is a plot you have devised in the city to drive out its people, but you are going to know. I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, then I will surely crucify you all together." They said: "Indeed, to our Lord we are returning. You take vengeance upon us only because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they came to us. Our Lord, pour upon us patience and let us die in submission to You."

And the chiefs of Pharaoh's people said, "Will you leave Moses and his people to spread corruption in the land and abandon you and your gods?" He said, "We will kill their sons and let their women live, and indeed we hold supreme power over them."

Moses said to his people, "Seek help in Allah and be patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah; He gives it as inheritance to whom He wills among His servants. And the final outcome is for the righteous." They said, "We were harmed before you came to us and after you have come to us." He said, "Perhaps your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you successors in the land, so that He may observe how you will act."

And indeed We seized the people of Pharaoh with years of famine and shortage of fruits, so that they might take heed. But when good came to them, they said, "This is ours by right," and when evil afflicted them, they attributed it to the ill omen of Moses and those with him. Unquestionably, their fortune was decreed by Allah alone, but most of them did not know.

And they said, "Whatever sign you bring us to bewitch us with, we will not believe in you." So We sent upon them the flood, the locusts, the lice, the frogs, and the blood, as clear signs, one after another, but they were too arrogant, and they were a people given to sin. And when the punishment fell upon them, they said, "O Moses, call upon your Lord for us by virtue of the covenant He has made with you. If you remove this punishment from us, we will surely believe you, and we will surely send with you the Children of Israel." But when We removed the punishment from them until a term which they were to reach, at once they broke their word.

So We took retribution from them and drowned them in the sea, because they denied Our signs and were heedless of them. And We caused the people who had been oppressed and weakened to inherit the eastern parts of the land and the western parts of it, which We had blessed. And the good word of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel because of their patient endurance, and We destroyed all that Pharaoh and his people were making and all that they were constructing.

And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity, until, when drowning overtook him, he said, "I believe that there is no god except He in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of those who submit."

Now? While before you disobeyed and were among the corrupters? So today We will save you in your body that you may be a sign for those who come after you. And indeed, many among the people are heedless of Our signs.

And remember when We saved you from the people of Pharaoh, who were afflicting you with the worst torment, slaughtering your sons and letting your women live. In that was a great trial from your Lord.

And when Musa came to Our appointed time, and his Lord spoke to him, he said, "My Lord, show me Yourself that I may look at You." He said, "You will never see Me, but look at the mountain; if it remains firm in its place, then you will see Me." So when his Lord manifested His glory to the mountain, He crushed it to dust, and Musa fell down unconscious. Then when he recovered, he said, "Glory be to You, I turn to You in repentance, and I am the first of the believers."

He said, "O Moses, I have chosen you above the people for My messages and for My speaking to you. So take what I have given you and be among the grateful." And We wrote for him upon the Tablets something of everything, an admonition and a detailed explanation of all things. "So take it with determination and command your people to take the best of it. I will show you the home of the defiantly disobedient."

Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allah] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allah, and they were witnesses thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the disbelievers.

I shall turn away from My signs those who behave with arrogance upon the earth without right. Even if they see every sign, they will not believe in it. And if they see the path of right guidance, they will not take it as a way, but if they see the path of error, they will take it as a way. That is because they denied Our signs and were heedless of them. And We shall surely relate to them, with knowledge, all that they did, for We were never absent.

I will turn away from My signs those who are arrogant upon the earth without right; and if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. And if they see the way of right guidance, they do not adopt it as a way, but if they see the way of error, they adopt it as a way. That is because they denied Our signs and were heedless of them. Those who denied Our signs and the meeting of the Hereafter - their deeds have become worthless. Are they recompensed except for what they used to do?

When Musa returned to his people, angry and grieved, he said, "How evil is what you have done in my absence! Did you seek to hasten the matter of your Lord?" And he threw down the tablets and seized his brother by the head, dragging him toward himself. Harun said, "Son of my mother, the people overpowered me and were about to kill me, so do not let the enemies gloat over me, nor place me among the wrongdoing people." Musa said, "My Lord, forgive me and my brother, and admit us into Your mercy, for You are the Most Merciful of the merciful."

Indeed, those who took the calf for worship will be overtaken by wrath from their Lord and humiliation in the life of this world. Thus do We recompense those who fabricate falsehood. But those who committed evil deeds and then repented after that and believed - indeed, your Lord, after that, is truly Forgiving, Most Merciful.

And when the anger of Musa subsided, he took up the tablets, and in their inscription was guidance and mercy for those who fear their Lord.

And Moses chose from his people seventy men for Our appointed meeting. Then, when the violent trembling seized them, he said: "My Lord, if You had willed, You could have destroyed them before, and me as well. Will You destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? This is only Your trial by which You send astray whom You will and guide whom You will. You are our Protector, so forgive us and have mercy upon us, for You are the best of those who forgive."

And decree for us in this world [that which is] good and [also] in the Hereafter; indeed, we have turned back to You.” [Allah] said, “My punishment – I afflict with it whom I will, but My mercy encompasses all things.” So I will decree it [especially] for those who fear Me, and give zakah, and those who believe in Our signs."

O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I bestowed upon you, and that I preferred you above all peoples of your time. And guard yourselves against a Day when no soul shall avail another soul in the least, nor will intercession be accepted from it, nor will any ransom be taken from it, nor will they be helped.

And indeed We bestowed favor upon Moses and Aaron. And We saved them and their people from the great distress. And We helped them, so that they became the victors. And We gave them both the clear Book. And We guided them both to the straight path. And We blessed them ˹with honorable mention˺ among later generations: "Peace be upon Moses and Aaron." Indeed, thus do We reward the doers of good. Indeed, they were both among Our believing servants.

Indeed, Qarun was from the people of Musa, but he oppressed them and transgressed against them. And We had given him such treasures that their very keys would burden a company of strong men to carry; thereupon his people said to him, "Do not exult, for indeed Allah does not love those who exult."

But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the abode of the Hereafter, and do not forget your share of this world. Do good as Allah has done good to you, and do not seek corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not love the corrupters. He said, "I have only been given it because of knowledge I possess." Did he not know that Allah had already destroyed before him generations who were stronger than him in might and greater in accumulation [of wealth]? And the criminals will not be asked about their sins."

So he went forth before his people in his adornment. Those who desired the life of this world said, "Would that we had the like of what has been given to Qarun! Truly, he is possessed of great fortune." But those who had been given knowledge said, "Woe to you! The reward of Allah is better for whoever believes and does righteous deeds, and none attains this except those who are patient."

Then We caused the earth to swallow him and his home, and he had no group to help him against Allah, nor was he among those who could save themselves. And those who had wished to be in his place the day before began to say, "Ah, indeed! It is Allah who extends provision for whom He wills of His servants, and He restricts it. Had Allah not been gracious to us, He would have caused the earth to swallow us as well. Ah, indeed! It is the disbelievers who will never succeed."

That is the abode of the Hereafter which We assign to those who do not desire exaltedness in the earth, nor corruption. And the good end is for the righteous. Whoever comes with a good deed will have something better than it, and whoever comes with an evil deed - then those who did evil deeds will not be recompensed except for what they used to do.

(29:39,40) “And Qarun, Fir`awn, and Haman. And indeed Musa came to them with clear Ayat, but they were arrogant in the land, yet they could not outstrip Us. (39) So, We punished each for his sins, of them were some on whom We sent a storm of stones [Hasib], and of them were some who were overtaken by the blast from the sky [As- Sayhah], and of them were some whom We caused the earth to swallow, and of them were some whom We drowned. It was not Allah Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves.” (40)

We sent Musa with Our signs and clear authority, to Fir'awn, Haman, and Qarun, but they said: "A magician, a liar!" Then, when he brought them the truth from Us, they said: "Kill the sons of those who have believed with him, and let their women live." But the scheming of the disbelievers is nothing but error. And Fir'awn said: "Leave me to kill Musa, and let him call upon his Lord. I fear that he will change your religion or that he will cause corruption to appear in the land." And Musa said: "I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every arrogant one who does not believe in the Day of Reckoning."

A believing man from the family of Pharaoh, who concealed his faith, said: "Will you kill a man for saying, 'My Lord is Allah,' when he has brought you clear proofs from your Lord? If he is lying, his lie will be upon him; but if he is truthful, then some of what he threatens you with will befall you. Indeed, Allah does not guide one who is a transgressor and a liar."

O my people, sovereignty is yours today, and you are dominant in the land. But who will help us against the punishment of Allah, should it come upon us? Pharaoh said, "I show you only what I see, and I guide you only to the way of right conduct."

And the one who believed said, "O my people, indeed I fear for you the like of the day of the confederates - The like of the fate of the people of Noah, and 'Aad, and Thamud, and those who came after them. And Allah does not intend any injustice for His servants. And O my people, indeed I fear for you the Day of Mutual Calling out - A Day when you will turn and flee, having no protector for you from Allah. And whoever Allah sends astray, for him there is no guide."

And indeed We seized the people of Pharaoh with years of drought and shortage of fruits, so that they might take heed. But whenever good came to them, they said, "This is ours by right," and if evil befell them, they attributed it to the ill omen of Moses and those with him. Surely, their ill omen was only with Allah, but most of them did not know.

And they said, "Whatever sign you bring us to bewitch us with, we will not believe in you." So We sent upon them the flood, the locusts, the lice, the frogs, and the blood, as distinct signs, but they were arrogant and were a criminal people. And when the punishment fell upon them, they said, "O Moses, invoke your Lord for us by what He has covenanted with you. If you remove this punishment from us, we will surely believe in you, and we will surely send with you the Children of Israel." But when We removed the punishment from them until a term which they were to reach, at once they broke their word.

So Allah protected him from the evil consequences of their scheming, while the people of Pharaoh were overwhelmed by the worst punishment— the Fire, to which they are exposed morning and evening. And on the Day when the Hour arrives, it will be said: Admit the people of Pharaoh into the severest punishment.

So Allah protected him from the evils of what they schemed, and the punishment of evil encompassed the people of Pharaoh. The Fire, they are exposed to it morning and evening, and on the Day the Hour arrives it will be said: Admit the people of Pharaoh into the severest punishment.

Have you not considered the assembly of the Children of Israel after Moses, when they said to a prophet of theirs, "Send us a king, and we will fight in the way of Allah"? He said, "Might it be that if fighting is ordained for you, you would not fight?" They said, "Why should we not fight in the way of Allah, when we have been driven out of our homes and away from our children?" But when fighting was ordained for them, they turned away, except for a few of them. And Allah is Knowing of the wrongdoers.

Their Prophet said to them: "Indeed, Allah has raised up Talut as a king for you." They said: "How can he have kingship over us when we are more entitled to kingship than he is, and he has not even been given abundant wealth?" He said: "Indeed, Allah has chosen him over you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. Allah gives His kingship to whom He wills, and Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing."

And their Prophet said to them, "Indeed, the sign of his kingship is that the Ark will come to you, in which there is tranquility from your Lord and a remnant of what the family of Moses and the family of Aaron left behind, carried by the angels. Indeed, in that is a sign for you, if you are believers."

Then when Talut set out with the armies, he said, "Indeed, Allah will test you with a river. So whoever drinks from it is not of me, and whoever does not taste it is indeed of me, except one who takes a scoop with his hand." But they drank from it, except a few of them. Then when he and those who believed with him had crossed it, they said, "We have no strength today against Jalut and his soldiers." But those who were certain that they would meet Allah said, "How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of Allah. And Allah is with the patient."

And when they went forth to face Goliath and his soldiers, they said, "Our Lord, pour upon us patience, make firm our footing, and give us victory over the disbelieving people." So they defeated them by the permission of Allah, and David killed Goliath, and Allah gave him kingship and wisdom and taught him of what He willed. And if it were not for Allah's checking some people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but Allah is full of bounty to the worlds.

And We had certainly given knowledge to David and Solomon, and they said, "Praise be to Allah, who has favored us above many of His believing servants." And Solomon inherited from David, and he said, "O people, we have been taught the speech of birds, and we have been given from everything. Indeed, this is truly the manifest favor."

Bear patiently what they say, and remember Our servant David, possessor of strength; indeed, he was ever turning back to Us. Truly, We subjected the mountains to glorify Us along with him in the evening and at sunrise. And the birds, gathered together, all obedient to him, turning back to Us. And We strengthened his kingdom, and We gave him wisdom and decisive speech.

Has the story of the disputants reached you, when they climbed over the wall into his private chamber? When they entered upon David and he was alarmed by them, they said, "Do not be afraid. We are two disputants, one of us has wronged the other, so judge between us with truth and do not be unjust, and guide us to the right path." "This is my brother; he has ninety-nine ewes, and I have but one ewe. Yet he said, 'Entrust her to me,' and he overpowered me in speech."

David said, "He has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe in addition to his ewes. Indeed, many partners wrong one another, except those who believe and do righteous deeds - and few are they." Then David realized that We had tried him, so he sought forgiveness of his Lord, fell down bowing, and turned in repentance. So We forgave him that, and indeed, he had a place of nearness to Us and an excellent place of return.

O David, We have made you a successor of authority upon the earth, so judge between the people in truth, and do not follow desire, for it will lead you astray from the way of Allah. Indeed, those who stray from the way of Allah will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Reckoning.

And indeed, We granted David favor from Ourselves: O mountains, echo his praises with him, and the birds as well. And We softened iron for him, Saying: Make full-length coats of armor and measure well the links, and do righteous deeds, all of you, for I am Seeing of all that you do.

And remember David and Solomon, when they gave judgment concerning the field, when the sheep of some people strayed into it by night and grazed there, and We were witness to their judgment. We gave Solomon the understanding of the case, and to each of them We gave sound judgment and knowledge. And We subjected the mountains to glorify Us along with David, and the birds as well; and it is We who did this. And We taught him the making of coats of armor for you, to protect you from your own violence in warfare. Will you then be grateful?

And We bestowed upon David a son, Solomon—an excellent servant indeed! He was ever turning back to Us. (Remember) when the well-trained, swift horses were paraded before him in the evening. He then proclaimed, “I am truly in love with (these) fine things out of remembrance for my Lord,” until they disappeared from sight behind their veil. (He ordered,) “Bring them back to me!” Then he began to stroke their legs and necks.

And indeed, We tested Solomon, placing a (deformed) body on his throne, then he turned ˹to Allah in repentance He said, "My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Great Bestower." So We subjected to him the wind, blowing gently by his command wherever he directed, And (We subjected to him) every builder and diver of the jinn, And others bound together in chains. (Allah said) "This is Our gift, so bestow or withhold without account." And indeed, for him is nearness to Us and a good place of return.

And to Solomon We subjected the wind, its morning course was a month's journey and its evening course was a month's journey. And We caused a fount of molten copper to flow for him. And among the jinn were those who worked before him by the permission of his Lord. And whoever deviated among them from Our command, We would make him taste the punishment of the blazing Fire. They made for him whatever he wished of high chambers, statues, basins like reservoirs, and cauldrons fixed in place. Work, O family of David, in gratitude. And few of My servants are grateful.

And to Solomon We subjected the strongly blowing wind, which flowed by his command to the land which We had blessed. It is We Who know everything. And (We subjected) some jinn that dived for him, and performed other duties. It is We Who kept them in check.

And We certainly gave knowledge to David and Solomon, and they said, "Praise belongs to Allah, who has favored us above many of His believing servants." And Solomon inherited from David, and he said, "O people, we have been taught the speech of birds, and we have been given from everything. Indeed, this is truly the clear favor." And gathered for Solomon were his soldiers of the jinn, mankind, and birds, and they were assembled in ranks.

Until, when they came upon the valley of the ants, an ant said: "O ants, enter your dwellings, lest Solomon and his soldiers crush you while they do not perceive." So he smiled, laughing at her words, and said: "My Lord, inspire me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to do righteous deeds that please You, and admit me, by Your mercy, among Your righteous servants."

And he inspected the birds and said, "Why is it that I do not see the hoopoe? Or is he among the absent? I will surely punish him with a severe punishment, or I will surely slaughter him, unless he brings me a clear excuse."

He did not stay away long, and then said: "I have learned of something you did not know, and I have come to you from Sheba with certain news. I found a woman ruling over them, who has been given abundance of everything, and she has a magnificent throne."

I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah, for Satan has made their deeds fair-seeming to them and has turned them away from the path, so they are not guided— so that they do not prostrate to Allah, who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and who knows what you conceal and what you reveal. Allah—there is no god but Him, Lord of the Mighty Throne.

He said, "We will see whether you have told the truth or whether you are among the liars. Go with this letter of mine and deliver it to them, then withdraw from them and see what response they return." She said, "O chiefs, indeed a noble letter has been delivered to me. It is from Solomon, and it is: 'In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Do not exalt yourselves above me, but come to me in submission.'"

She said, "O chiefs, advise me in this matter of mine. I do not decide any matter until you are present with me." They said, "We possess strength and we possess great might, but the command is yours, so consider what you will command." She said, "Indeed, kings, when they enter a city, corrupt it and make the honored of its people humbled. And thus they do. But indeed, I am going to send them a gift and see with what the messengers return."

So when the envoy came to Solomon, he said, "Would you supply me with wealth? What Allah has given me is better than what He has given you. Rather, it is you who rejoice in your gift. Return to them, for we will surely come to them with troops they have no power to resist, and we will surely drive them out from there in humiliation, and they will be abased."

He said, "O chiefs, which of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?" A powerful one from among the jinn said, "I will bring it to you before you rise from your place. Indeed, I am strong and trustworthy enough to do it." But the one who had knowledge from the Scripture said, "I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you." And when he saw it placed firmly before him, he said, "This is from the favor of my Lord, to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful. Whoever is grateful, his gratitude is only for the benefit of himself. And whoever is ungrateful, then indeed my Lord is Self-Sufficient, Generous."

He said, "Alter for her her throne; let us see whether she will recognize it or will be among those who do not recognize it." So when she arrived, it was said, "Is your throne like this?" She said, "It is as though it were the same." And we were given knowledge before her, and we had submitted. And she had been kept back by what she used to worship besides Allah, for she was from a disbelieving people. It was said to her, "Enter the palace." But when she saw it, she thought it was a body of water and uncovered her legs. He said, "It is a palace paved smooth with glass." She said, "My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, and I submit with Solomon to Allah, Lord of the worlds."

And remember Our servant Ayyub, when he called upon his Lord: "Indeed, Satan has afflicted me with hardship and suffering." "Strike the ground with your foot: here is a cool spring to wash in and to drink." And We restored to him his family, and the like of them along with them, as a mercy from Us and a reminder for those who possess understanding. "And take in your hand a bundle of grass and strike with it, and do not break your oath." Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Truly, he was one who constantly turned back to Allah.

And We sent, following in the footsteps of those prophets, Jesus son of Mary, confirming what came before him of the Torah. And We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light, confirming what came before it of the Torah, and a guidance and admonition for those who fear Allah. So let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - those are the defiantly disobedient.

Remember when the wife of Imran said, "My Lord, I have vowed to You what is in my womb, dedicated purely to Your service, so accept it from me. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing." But when she delivered her, she said, "My Lord, I have delivered a female" - and Allah was most knowing of what she delivered, and the male is not like the female - "and I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge for her in You, and for her offspring, from Satan, the accursed."

So her Lord accepted her with a good acceptance and made her grow up in a good manner, and He placed her under the care of Zechariah. Whenever Zechariah entered upon her in the sanctuary, he found provision with her. He said, "O Mary, from where do you have this?" She said, "It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without measure."

There, Zakariyya called upon his Lord, saying, "My Lord, grant me from Yourself righteous offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of prayer." Then the angels called out to him while he was standing in prayer in the sanctuary, "Allah gives you the good news of Yahya, confirming a word from Allah, and honorable, and abstaining from women, and a prophet from among the righteous."

He said, "My Lord, how can I have a son when old age has overtaken me and my wife is barren?" He said, "Thus does Allah do what He wills." He said, "My Lord, grant me a sign." He said, "Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three days except by gesture. And remember your Lord much and glorify Him in the evening and the early morning."

O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord, and prostrate, and bow with those who bow. That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you [O Muhammad]. And you were not with them when they cast their pens to decide which of them would take charge of Mary, nor were you with them when they disputed.

When the angels said, "O Mary, Allah gives you glad tidings of a word from Him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter, and among those brought near to Allah. He will speak to the people from the cradle and in maturity, and he will be among the righteous." She said, "My Lord, how can I have a child when no man has touched me?" He said, "Thus does Allah create what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is."

And He will teach him the Book, and wisdom, and the Torah, and the Gospel, and will make him a messenger to the Children of Israel, saying: "I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I will fashion for you out of clay the shape of a bird, then breathe into it, and it will become a bird by the permission of Allah. And I will heal the one born blind and the leper, and I will bring the dead to life by the permission of Allah. And I will inform you of what you eat and what you store up in your houses. Indeed, in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.

Confirming what came before me of the Torah, and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me. Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him alone. This is a straight path.

Then when Jesus perceived disbelief from them, he said, "Who will be my helpers for Allah?" The disciples said, "We are the helpers of Allah. We have believed in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims, submitting to Him. Our Lord, we believe in what You have sent down and we have followed the Messenger, so record us among those who bear witness." And they plotted, and Allah planned, and Allah is the best of planners.

Remember when Allah said, "O Jesus, I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify you from those who disbelieve, and I will make those who follow you superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ. As for those who disbelieved, I will punish them with a severe punishment in this world and the Hereafter, and they will have no helpers. But as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them their rewards in full. And Allah does not love the wrongdoers. This is what We recite to you his is what We recite to you, [O Muhammad], of [Our] verses and the precise [and wise] message, the wise reminder.

Remember when Allah will say: "O Jesus, son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother, when I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit, so that you spoke to people in the cradle and in maturity. And remember when I taught you writing, wisdom, the Torah, and the Gospel. And when you fashioned from clay the shape of a bird, by My permission, and breathed into it, and it became a bird, by My permission. And you healed the one born blind and the leper, by My permission. And when you brought forth the dead, by My permission. And when I restrained the Children of Israel from you when you came to them with clear proofs, and those who disbelieved among them said: 'This is nothing but plain magic.'"

And when I inspired the disciples to believe in Me and in My messenger, they said, "We believe, and bear witness that we are Muslims." When the disciples said, "O Jesus, son of Mary, is your Lord able to send down to us a table spread with food from heaven?" He said, "Fear Allah, if you are indeed believers." They said, "We wish to eat from it, and for our hearts to be at rest, and to know that you have indeed told us the truth, and to be among the witnesses to it."

Jesus, son of Mary, said: "O Allah, our Lord, send down to us a table spread with food from heaven, that it may be a festival for us, for the first of us and the last of us, and a sign from You. Provide for us, for You are the best of providers." Allah said: "I will send it down to you, but whoever among you disbelieves after that, I will punish him with a punishment such as I have not inflicted on anyone among all the worlds."

And when Allah will say, "O Jesus, son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as two gods besides Allah'?" He will say, "Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right to say. If I had said it, You would have surely known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is the Knower of the unseen.

I said to them nothing except what You commanded me to say: Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I remained among them, but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are Witness over all things. If You punish them, they are Your servants, and if You forgive them, You are the Almighty, the All-Wise.

Indeed, the likeness of Jesus in the sight of Allah is like that of Adam. He created him from dust, then said to him, "Be," and he was. This is the truth from your Lord, so do not be among the doubters.

Those who say, "Our Lord, indeed we have believed, so forgive us our sins and protect us from the punishment of the Fire" — the patient, the truthful, the obedient, those who spend in charity, and those who seek forgiveness before dawn. Allah bears witness that there is no god but Him, and so do the angels and those possessed of knowledge, maintaining His creation in justice. There is no god but Him, the Almighty, the All-Wise. Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. Those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them, out of mutual envy between them. And whoever disbelieves in the signs of Allah, then indeed, Allah is swift in reckoning.

So if they argue with you, say, "I have submitted my face to Allah, and so have those who follow me." And say to those who were given the Scripture and to the unlettered people, "Have you submitted yourselves?" If they submit, then they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, then upon you is only the conveyance of the message. And Allah is All-Seeing of His servants. Indeed, those who disbelieve in the signs of Allah and kill the prophets without right, and kill those among the people who command justice - give them tidings of a painful punishment.

Those are the ones whose deeds will come to nothing in this world and in the Hereafter, and they will have no helpers. Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture, being called to the Book of Allah so that it may judge between them, yet a party of them turns away in aversion?

That is because they said, "The Fire will not touch us except for a few numbered days," and what they used to invent has deceived them in their religion. How, then, will it be when We gather them together for a Day about which there is no doubt, and every soul will be paid in full what it has earned, and they will not be wronged? Say: "O Allah, Owner of all sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and take sovereignty away from whom You will; You honor whom You will and humble whom You will. In Your Hand is all good. Indeed, You are able to do all things."

You cause the night to enter into the day and cause the day to enter into the night, and You bring forth the living from the dead and bring forth the dead from the living, and You give provision to whom You will without measure. Let not the believers take the disbelievers as allies rather than the believers. Whoever does that has nothing to do with Allah, unless you are guarding yourselves against them out of fear. Allah warns you of Himself, and to Allah is the final return. Say: Whether you conceal what is in your breasts or reveal it, Allah knows it. He knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and Allah is able to do all things.

On the Day when every soul will find present before it whatever good it has done, and whatever evil it has done, it will wish that there were a great distance between itself and that evil. And Allah warns you of Himself, and Allah is full of kindness towards His servants. Say: If you truly love Allah, then follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Say: Obey Allah and the Messenger. But if they turn away, then indeed, Allah does not love the disbelievers. Indeed, Allah chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of Imran above all the worlds.

Offspring, some of them descended from others. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. When the wife of Imran said, "My Lord, indeed I have vowed to You what is in my womb, dedicated purely to Your service, so accept it from me. Indeed, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing." But when she delivered her, she said, "My Lord, I have delivered a female." And Allah was most knowing of what she delivered, and the male is not like the female. "And I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge for her in You, and for her offspring, from Satan the outcast." So her Lord accepted her with a good acceptance and caused her to grow in a good manner, and put her under the care of Zechariah. Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the sanctuary, he found with her provision. He said, "O Mary, from where does this come to you?" She said, "It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without account."

When the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allah gives you glad tidings of a word from Him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, distinguished in this world and the Hereafter, and among those brought near to Allah. He will speak to the people in the cradle and in maturity, and he will be among the righteous." She said, "My Lord, how shall I have a child while no human has touched me?" He said, "Thus does Allah create what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is."

And He will teach him the Scripture, and Wisdom, and the Torah, and the Gospel, and will make him a messenger to the Children of Israel, saying: "I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I will fashion for you out of clay the shape of a bird, then breathe into it, and it will become a bird by God's leave. And I will heal the one born blind and the leper, and I will bring the dead to life by God's leave. And I will inform you of what you eat and what you store up in your houses. Surely in that is a sign for you, if you are believers. And I come confirming what came before me of the Torah, and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. I have brought you a sign from your Lord, so fear God and obey me. Indeed, God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is a straight path."

When Jesus perceived their disbelief, he said, "Who will be my helpers in the cause of Allah?" The disciples said, "We are the helpers of Allah. We have believed in Allah, so bear witness that we are Muslims who submit to Him. Our Lord, we have believed in what You have sent down, and we have followed the Messenger, so record us among those who bear witness." And they schemed, and Allah schemed, and Allah is the best of schemers.

Remember when Allah said: "O Jesus, I will take you and raise you up to Myself, and purify you from those who disbelieved, and place those who follow you above those who disbelieved until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ."

O People of the Book, do not go to excess in your religion, and do not say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He cast to Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and do not say, "Three." Refrain, it is better for you. Allah is only one God. Glory be to Him that He should have a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.

The Messiah would never disdain to be a servant of Allah, nor would the angels who are near to Him. And whoever disdains His worship and is arrogant, He will gather them all to Himself. As for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them their rewards in full and increase them out of His bounty. But as for those who disdained and were arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment, and they will not find for themselves, besides Allah, any protector or helper.

And remember when Jesus, son of Mary, said: "O Children of Israel, I am the messenger of Allah sent to you, confirming what came before me of the Torah, and giving glad tidings of a messenger who will come after me, whose name is Ahmad." Yet when he came to them with clear proofs, they said: "This is plain magic." And who does greater wrong than one who invents a lie against Allah while he is being called to Islam? And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.

They desire to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, even though the disbelievers dislike it. He is the One who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, so that He may make it prevail over all other religions, even though the polytheists dislike it.

We took the covenant of the Children of Israel and sent messengers to them. Every time a messenger came to them with what their souls did not desire, some they denied and some they killed. They thought there would be no trial, so they became blind and deaf. Then Allah accepted their repentance, but then many of them again became blind and deaf. And Allah is All-Seeing of what they do.

So, for their breaking of the covenant, their disbelief in the signs of Allah, their killing of the prophets without right, and their saying, "Our hearts are wrapped up" — rather, Allah has sealed their hearts because of their disbelief, so they do not believe, except for a few — And for their disbelief and their utterance against Mary of a tremendous slander, And their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of Allah" — but they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; rather, it was made to appear so to them. And indeed, those who differ concerning him are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption, and they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him up to Himself. And Allah is ever Exalted in Might and Wise.

For the wrongdoing of those who are Jews, We forbade them good things that had been made lawful for them, and for their turning many away from the path of Allah, and for their taking usury when they had been forbidden it, and for their consuming people's wealth wrongfully. And We have prepared for the disbelievers among them a painful punishment.

But those firmly rooted in knowledge among them, and the believers, believe in what has been sent down to you and what was sent down before you, and those who establish prayer, and give zakah, and believe in Allah and the Last Day - these We will give a great reward.

It is not fitting for any human being to whom Allah has given the Scripture, wisdom, and prophethood, that he should then say to the people, "Be worshippers of me instead of Allah." Rather, he would say, "Be devoted men of the Lord, in accordance with what you have been teaching of the Scripture and studying." Nor would he command you to take the angels and the prophets as lords. Would he command you to disbelief after you had submitted as Muslims?

Do they seek other than the religion of Allah, when to Him submits whoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and to Him they will be returned? Say: We believe in Allah and in what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Ibrahim, Isma'il, Ishaq, Ya'qub, and the tribes, and what was given to Musa and 'Isa and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.

(3:64) “Say: "O people of the Scripture: Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah the same, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah.'' Then, if they turn away, say: "Bear witness that we are Muslims.''”

O People of the Book, why do you dispute concerning Abraham, when the Torah and the Gospel were not sent down until after him? Do you not use reason? Here you are — you have disputed about matters of which you have some knowledge; but why do you dispute about that of which you have no knowledge at all? Allah knows, while you do not know. Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, submitting to Allah, and he was not among those who associate partners with Allah. Indeed, the people closest to Abraham are those who followed him, and this Prophet, and those who believe. And Allah is the Protector of the believers.

O People of the Scripture, do not go to excess in your religion, and do not say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah and His word which He cast unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and do not say, "Three." Refrain, it is better for you. Allah is only one God. Glory be to Him, far above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.

The People of the Book ask you to bring down upon them a book from heaven. But indeed, they asked of Moses something greater than that, for they said, "Show us Allah plainly," and so the thunderbolt seized them for their wrongdoing. Then they took the calf for worship after clear proofs had come to them, but We pardoned that, and We gave Moses clear authority. And We raised the mount above them for their covenant, and We said to them, "Enter the gate prostrating," and We said to them, "Do not transgress in the matter of the Sabbath," and We took from them a solemn covenant. So for their breaking of their covenant, and their disbelief in the signs of Allah, and their killing of the prophets without right, and their saying, "Our hearts are wrapped," rather, Allah has sealed them because of their disbelief, so they do not believe except for a few.

Indeed, those who conceal what Allah has sent down of the Book and sell it for a small price - those eat nothing but fire into their bellies. And Allah will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor purify them, and for them is a painful punishment. Those are the ones who have bought error in exchange for guidance and punishment in exchange for forgiveness. How great is their endurance of the Fire! That is because Allah has sent down the Book in truth, and indeed, those who differ concerning the Book are in extreme discord.

And remember when Allah took a covenant from those who had been given the Scripture, that they would surely make it clear to mankind and not conceal it. But they cast it behind their backs and sold it for a small price. How evil is what they purchased in exchange. Do not think that those who rejoice in what they have done, and love to be praised for what they did not do, do not think that they are safe from the punishment. For them is a painful punishment. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is able to do all things.

Say, "O People of the Book, do you resent us for any reason other than that we believe in Allah and in what has been sent down to us and what was sent down before, while most of you are defiantly disobedient?" Say, "Shall I inform you of something worse than that in terms of recompense from Allah? It is those whom Allah has cursed and upon whom He brought His wrath, and some of whom He turned into apes and swine, and those who worshipped false gods. Such people are in a worse position and further astray from the right way."

When they come to you, they say, "We believe," while they entered with disbelief and left with it. Allah knows best what they were concealing.

A group among the People of the Book wished that they could lead you astray, but they lead no one astray except themselves, though they do not perceive it. O People of the Book, why do you reject the signs of Allah while you yourselves bear witness to them? O People of the Book, why do you mix truth with falsehood and conceal the truth while you know?

And a faction of the People of the Scripture say [to each other],: "Believe in what has been sent down upon those who believe at the beginning of the day, and reject it at the end of it, so that perhaps they will abandon their religion. And do not believe except in the one who follows your religion." Say: "Indeed, true guidance is the guidance of Allah." Say this so that no one else may be given the like of what you were given, or so that they may argue against you before your Lord. Say: "Indeed, all bounty is in the hand of Allah; He gives it to whom He wills, and Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing." He singles out for His mercy whom He wills, and Allah is the Possessor of great bounty.

And among the People of the Scripture is he who, if you entrust him with a great amount [of wealth], he will return it to you. And among them is he who, if you entrust him with a [single] silver coin, he will not return it to you unless you are constantly standing over him [demanding it]. That is because they say, “There is no blame upon us concerning the unlearned.” And they speak untruth about Allah while they know [it]. Yes, whoever fulfills his covenant and fears Allah, then indeed, Allah loves those who fear Him.

Indeed, those who sell the covenant of Allah and their oaths for a small price - those will have no share in the Hereafter. Allah will not speak to them, nor look at them on the Day of Resurrection, nor purify them, and theirs will be a painful punishment. And among them is indeed a group who twist their tongues in reciting the Scripture, so that you may think it is from the Scripture, while it is not from the Scripture. And they say, "It is from Allah," while it is not from Allah. And they speak lies against Allah while they know.

Say, "O People of the Scripture, why do you disbelieve in the verses of Allah, while Allah is Witness over what you do?"

Say, "O People of the Scripture, why do you turn those who believe away from the path of Allah, seeking to make it crooked, while you are witnesses that it is the truth? And Allah is not unaware of what you do."

Say, "O People of the Scripture, why do you disbelieve in the verses of Allah, while Allah is Witness over all that you do?"

And remember when Jesus, son of Mary, said: "O Children of Israel, I am the messenger of Allah sent to you, confirming what came before me of the Torah, and bringing glad tidings of a messenger who will come after me, whose name is Ahmad." Yet when he came to them with clear proofs, they said:"This is plain magic."

ایمان لانے والوں کو جنت حاصل ہوتی ہے Paradise is attained by those who believe. (5:65) “And if only the People of the Scripture had believed and had Taqwa, We would indeed have expiated for them their sins and admitted them to Gardens of pleasure (in Paradise).