Surah Al-Baqarah English Translation & Transliteration

¹Alif. Lam. Mim.

²There is no room for any doubt in this Book, which is a guide to the right path for those who guard themselves against defying Allah.

³Those who seek such protection are the ones who believe in the unseen/in what is made known in the Quran, perform the prayer, and spend from the provision We have given them.

⁴And they firmly believe in the Quran revealed to you, in what was revealed before you, and in the Hereafter.

⁵It is they who are under the guidance of their Lord, and it is they who will attain salvation.

⁶As for the disbelievers who cover up the truth, it makes no difference whether you warn them or not; they will no longer believe.

⁷Those disbelievers have closed their hearts and ears to the Quran, Allah's guiding Book, have refused to see with their eyes, and have earned punishment.

⁸And among people are some who say, "We believe," though they do not believe in Allah and the Last Day; in truth, they are not believers.

⁹By this they try to deceive Allah and the believers, yet they deceive no one but themselves, and they do not realize it.

¹⁰In their hearts is a disease. Because they deceive by invoking Allah, their disease has been increased. For them is a painful punishment because they used to lie.

¹¹When they are told, "Do not cause corruption on earth," they say, "We are only reformers."

¹²Know well that they themselves are the real corrupters, but they do not realize it.

¹³When they are told, "Believe as the believing people believe," they say, "Shall we believe as the fools believe?" Beware! They themselves are the real fools, but they do not know it.

¹⁴When they meet the believers, they say, "We believe." But when they go to their devils, they say, "We are with you; we are only mocking them."

¹⁵Allah grants them time so that they may turn back from their wrong, yet they stumble about in their mocking attitude, bewildered and transgressing.

¹⁶These are the ones who have bought misguidance in exchange for guidance, but their trade brought them no profit, nor did they become among the rightly guided.

¹⁷Their case is like that of someone who kindles a fire to light up his surroundings. At the very moment the fire illuminates what is around him, Allah takes away his light and leaves them in darkness, unable to see anything.

¹⁸They are deaf, mute, and blind. They can no longer turn back.

¹⁹Or their case is like a downpour from the sky, in which there are darkness, thunder, and lightning. They thrust their fingers into their ears against the thunderbolts, for fear of death. Surely Allah has encompassed these disbelievers on every side.

²⁰The lightning almost blinds them; whenever it lights up around them, they walk in its light, and when darkness suddenly falls, they stand still where they are. Had Allah willed, He would have made their ears deaf and their eyes blind. For Allah has power over all things.

²¹O people! Serve your Lord/Master, who created you and those before you, so that you may be protected from defying Him.

²²He made the earth a place to live for you and the sky a structure above you. He sent down water from the sky and with it brought forth all kinds of produce as provision for you. So, knowing all this, do not set up anyone as an equal to Allah.

²³If you are in doubt about the Quran that We have revealed to Our servant, and if you are sincere in your claim, then call upon all your witnesses apart from Allah to help you, and produce a single surah like it.

²⁴But if you cannot do it—and you will never be able to—then protect yourselves from the Fire, whose fuel is people and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.

²⁵Give good news to those who believe and do good and righteous deeds as their faith requires: for them are gardens beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with provision there, they will say, "This is what we were provided with before!" Those provisions will be given to them in the likeness of those in the world. There they will also have pure spouses, and they will abide there.

²⁶Allah does not hesitate to give the example of a mosquito, or of something larger. Those who believe know that it is the truth/reality from their Lord; but most of the disbelievers who cover up the truth say, "What does Allah mean by this example?" and so stray from Allah's right path.

²⁷They are the ones who break the covenant of natural disposition (fitrah) made with Allah after accepting it, who sever what Allah has commanded to be joined, and who cause corruption on earth. It is they who will be the losers.

²⁸How can you be ungrateful to Allah? You were lifeless and He gave you life. Then He will take your life, then He will bring you back to life, and in the end you will be returned to Him alone.

²⁹He is Allah, who created everything on earth for you, then turned to the sky and arranged it as seven heavens. For He knows all things.

³⁰Recall when your Lord said to the angels, "I am going to appoint a vicegerent/ruler on earth." The angels said, "Will You appoint as vicegerent/ruler one who will cause corruption on earth and shed blood, while we constantly glorify You with praise and proclaim Your holiness?" Allah said, "I know what you do not know."

³¹Allah taught Adam all the names. Then He presented them to the angels and said, "Tell Me the names of these, if you are sincere in what you say."

³²They said, "You are the most exalted of all! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. It is You, You alone, who knows and who judges."

³³Allah said, "O Adam! Tell them the names of these." When Adam told the angels their names, Allah said, "Did I not tell you that I know the unseen of the heavens and the earth, and likewise that I alone know what you reveal and what you conceal?"

³⁴We had said to the angels, "Prostrate for Adam/place yourselves at his command," and they at once placed themselves at his command. Only Iblis refused; he grew arrogant and became one of the disbelievers.

³⁵We had said, "O Adam! Dwell, you and your wife, in the garden of the earth, and eat freely from it wherever you wish, but do not approach this evil/sin/do not prefer this world over the Hereafter, or you will be among those who wrong themselves."

³⁶But Satan made them both slip from there and drove them out of the place they were in. We said, "Go down from there, all of you, as enemies to one another. On earth there is for you a place to settle for a while and a temporary benefit."

³⁷Then Adam received certain words from his Lord, and his Lord accepted his repentance. Indeed, He is the One who always accepts repentance, the Merciful.

³⁸We said, "Go down from there, all of you! Guidance to the right path will come to you from Me; whoever follows My guidance, there will be no fear for them, nor will they ever grieve."

³⁹But those who refuse to believe in Our verses and cling to lies against them will be the people of Hell, and they will abide there.

⁴⁰O Children of Israel, remember the blessing I once bestowed upon you. Keep your covenant/promise to Me, so that I may keep My covenant/promise to you. Be wary of Me alone!

⁴¹And believe in what I have revealed (the Quran), which confirms what is with you, and do not be the first to disbelieve in it and so become disbelievers. Do not sell My verses for a small price; act responsibly toward Me alone!

⁴²Do not knowingly conceal the truth (the Quran) by mixing falsehood with it.

⁴³Perform the prayer, give the zakat, and submit along with those who submit.

⁴⁴Do you command people to do good while forgetting yourselves, even though you keep reading the Book/the Quran? Do you not use your reason at all?

⁴⁵Seek help from Allah through patience and salat (prayer). For this weighs heavily on all except those who hold Allah in heartfelt reverence.

⁴⁶They are those who believe that they will meet their Lord; and indeed, to Him they will return.

⁴⁷O Children of Israel! Remember My blessing upon you and that I once favored you above other peoples.

⁴⁸And beware of a day when no one will be of any use to anyone, no intercession will be accepted from anyone, no ransom will be taken from anyone, and they will not be helped.

⁴⁹Remember when We saved you from Pharaoh's dynasty. He subjected you to the worst kind of torture: they slaughtered your sons and spared your daughters. In that was a great test for you from your Lord.

⁵⁰And when We parted the sea for you, saved you, and drowned Pharaoh and his dynasty before your very eyes.

⁵¹We made an appointment with Moses for forty nights; then you wronged yourselves by taking the calf as a god.

⁵²Even after that We pardoned you, so that you might be grateful.

⁵³And We gave Moses the Book and the Furqan (that which distinguishes right from wrong), so that you might be guided.

⁵⁴Recall when Moses said to his people, "O my people! You have wronged yourselves by taking the calf as a god. So turn in repentance to your Creator at once and kill the evils within your selves. Doing so is better for you in the sight of your Creator; then He will accept your repentance, for He is the One who accepts repentance abundantly, the Merciful."

⁵⁵You had said, "O Moses, we will not believe you until we see Allah plainly," and the thunderbolt struck you as you looked on.

⁵⁶Then We brought you back to life after your death, so that you might be grateful.

⁵⁷We shaded you with clouds and sent down to you manna and salwa (quails). "Eat of the good and wholesome things We have provided for you." They did not wrong Us; rather, they were wronging and harming themselves.

⁵⁸Recall when We said, "Enter this town and eat freely of whatever you wish, wherever you like. Enter its gate humbly and say, 'Forgive us,' so that We may forgive your faults. And We will increase the reward of those who do good."

⁵⁹But those who did wrong replaced the word that had been told to them with another word. So We sent down a calamity from the sky upon those who changed Our word, because they had plunged into sin and strayed from the path.

⁶⁰When Moses sought water for his people, We said, "Strike this rock with your staff." Twelve springs gushed forth from it, and each group knew its drinking place. Eat and drink of Allah's provision, but do not run riot on earth, spreading corruption!

⁶¹And when you said, "O Moses, we cannot endure one kind of food. So pray to your Lord for us to bring forth for us what the earth grows: vegetables, cucumbers, garlic, lentils, and onions," Moses said, "Would you exchange freedom, which is better, for onions and garlic, which are lesser? Go down to the city; there you will find what you want." And they were stamped with humiliation and poverty, and they incurred Allah's wrath. This was because they disbelieved in Allah's verses and unjustly killed their prophets. This was because they rebelled and transgressed the limits.

⁶²Surely, whoever among the believers, the Jews, the Christians, and the Sabians believes in Allah and the Last Day and acts rightly and well, their reward is with their Lord. There will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.

⁶³We had taken a firm covenant/pledge from you and raised the mountain above you, saying, "Hold fast to the Book We have given you and keep in mind what it contains, so that you may guard yourselves against defying Allah."

⁶⁴Yet after that you turned away again. Had it not been for Allah's grace/favor and mercy upon you, you would surely have been among the losers.

⁶⁵You certainly know those among you who violated the Sabbath prohibition. We said to them, "Become like apes, despised and degraded/live in humiliation and bondage."

⁶⁶So We made the punishment that befell them a lesson both for those of their own time and for those who would come after them, and an admonition for those who act responsibly.

⁶⁷Recall when Moses said to his people, "Allah commands you to slaughter a cow." They said, "Are you mocking us?" Moses said, "I seek refuge in Allah from being among the ignorant."

⁶⁸They said, "Pray to your Lord for us to make clear to us what kind of cow it is." Moses said, "Allah says it is neither too old nor too young. Now do what you are commanded."

⁶⁹They said, "Pray to your Lord for us to make clear to us what color it is." Moses said, "Allah says it is a bright yellow cow that delights those who look at it."

⁷⁰They said, "Pray to your Lord to make it plain to us, for to us cows all look alike. If Allah wills, we will surely be rightly guided."

⁷¹Moses said, "Allah says it is a cow not worn down under the yoke, neither plowing the land nor watering the crops; sound and without blemish." They said, "Now you have brought the truth," and they slaughtered it, though they almost did not do it.

⁷²Recall when you killed a person and blamed one another for it. But Allah was going to bring out what you were concealing.

⁷³We said, "Strike him with a part of it/use the method of solving the murder!" Thus does Allah bring the dead to life. And He shows you His signs so that you may use your reason.

⁷⁴After that your hearts hardened again, becoming like stone or even harder. For there are stones from which rivers gush forth; there are stones that split open so that water flows out of them; and there are stones that roll down for fear of Allah. Allah is not indifferent to what you do.

⁷⁵Do you hope that they will believe you? Yet there is a group among them who hear the word of Allah and then, after reflecting on it and understanding it, knowingly distort it.

⁷⁶When they meet the believers, they say, "We believe." But when they are alone with one another, they would say, "Do you keep telling them what Allah has disclosed to you, so that they may use it as evidence against you before your Lord? Do you not even think about that?"

⁷⁷Do they not know that Allah knows both what they conceal and what they reveal?

⁷⁸Some of them are unlettered; they do not know the Book, and what they know is nothing but wishful thinking. They follow nothing but conjecture.

⁷⁹Woe to those who write a book with their own hands and then say, "This is from Allah," in order to gain a small profit by it! Woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn!

⁸⁰And they go so far as to say, "The Fire will not touch us except for a few numbered days." Ask them, "Have you taken a covenant/promise from Allah about this? If so, Allah never breaks His covenant/promise; or are you making up something about Allah that you do not know?"

⁸¹Yes, the truth is this: those who commit sin and are then surrounded on every side by their sin—they are the people of Hell. They will abide there.

⁸²As for those who believe and do what is right as their faith requires, they are the people of Paradise. They will abide there.

⁸³We took a covenant/pledge from the Children of Israel: "Serve none but Allah. Be good to your mother and father, to close relatives, to orphans, and to the needy. Speak kindly to people, perform the prayer, and give the zakat!" Then, except for a few of you, you went back on your word, and you still keep going back on it.

⁸⁴And We took a covenant/pledge from you: "Do not shed your own blood, and do not drive one another out of your homes." Then you gave your word, and you still bear witness to it.

⁸⁵Yet it is you who kill one another, who drive a group of your own out of their homes, and who join forces against them in sin and hostility; and—though expelling them was forbidden to you—it is again you who pay their ransom when they come to you as captives. Do you then believe in part of the Book and disbelieve in another part? What, then, is the penalty for those of you who do this, other than disgrace in the life of this world and being subjected to the severest punishment on the Day of Resurrection? Allah is never indifferent to what you do.

⁸⁶These are the ones who have bought the life of this world at the price of the Hereafter. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they receive any help.

⁸⁷We certainly gave Moses the Book, and after him We sent messengers one after another. We gave Jesus, son of Mary, proofs and supported him with the holy spirit. Whenever a messenger came to you with something you did not like, you grew arrogant, denying some of them and killing others.

⁸⁸They went so far as to say, "Our hearts are closed." No! Because they covered up the truth, they incurred Allah's curse. Except for very few of them, they do not believe.

⁸⁹When a Book came to them from Allah confirming what was with them—though before that they had been hoping for victory over the disbelievers—when that message they recognized came to them, they disbelieved in it. So let Allah's curse be upon these disbelievers.

⁹⁰How wretched is the price for which they have sold themselves: begrudging that Allah sends down a Book to whomever He wills of His servants, they deny what Allah has revealed! So they incurred wrath upon wrath. For these disbelievers who cover up the truth there is a humiliating punishment.

⁹¹When they were told, "Believe in what Allah has revealed," they said, "We believe in what was revealed to us," and they disbelieved in the Quran that came after it, though it is a true Book confirming what is with them. Say to them, "If you truly believed in what was revealed to you, why then did you kill Allah's prophets before?"

⁹²Indeed, Moses came to you with clear proofs, and then, after him, you took the calf as a god. Thus you wronged yourselves.

⁹³And once, having invited your leader to Mount Tur, We took a covenant/pledge from you and said, "Hold fast to what We have given you and listen to the revelation." You said, "We hear, but we rebel and do not believe." And because of this denial of yours, love of the calf/of worldly things took root in your hearts. Say, "How evil is what your belief, set against the truth, commands you!"

⁹⁴Say: "If the abode of the Hereafter with Allah truly belongs to you alone, to the exclusion of all other people, and if you are sincere in this claim, then go on, wish for death, and let us see!"

⁹⁵But no, they will never wish for death, because of what their hands have done. Allah certainly knows best the wrongdoers who persist in this error.

⁹⁶You will find them the most eager of all people for life, even more than the polytheists! Some of them would like to live a thousand years; yet even that would not save them from the punishment. For Allah sees what they do.

⁹⁷Say: "Whoever is an enemy of Jibril (Gabriel), let him know that it is he who, by Allah's permission, brought down to your heart the Quran, which confirms the earlier Books and is a guide and good news for the believers."

⁹⁸Whoever is an enemy of Allah, His angels, His messengers who convey Allah's messages, Jibril (Gabriel), and Mikail (Michael), let him know well that Allah too is the enemy of such disbelievers.

⁹⁹We have certainly sent down to you clear verses. None refuse to believe in them except the transgressors who have strayed from the path.

¹⁰⁰Whenever they made a covenant with Allah, did not a group of them break and cast aside that covenant/promise? In fact, most of them do not even believe in their own values.

¹⁰¹Whenever a messenger came to them confirming what was with them, they threw Allah's Book behind their backs as if they did not know it, and closed their ears to the truth.

¹⁰²They followed the lies that people who had become devils put forward against the kingdom of Solomon. Yet Solomon did not become a disbeliever by practicing magic and sorcery; rather, those deceitful devils who taught people magic and sorcery became disbelievers. Contrary to what they claimed, nothing was sent down to the two rulers/kings in Babylon, Harut and Marut. Those two would say mockingly to the people they taught magic, "We have become addicted to magic/sorcery; don't you become disbelievers." These people with the nature of devils learned sorcery from them and used it only to separate husband and wife. Yet the truth was that the sorcerers could harm no one except by Allah's permission. They were learning things that harmed them and brought them no benefit. They certainly knew that those who profit in this way will have no share in the Hereafter. How wretched is the gain they obtained by selling their own values! If only they had known.

¹⁰³That is, if only they had believed and guarded themselves against defying Allah, the reward from Allah would surely have been far better. If only they knew!

¹⁰⁴O you who believe! Do not say "Ra'ina" (herd us); say "Unzurna" (watch over us/look upon us), and listen to the revelation with full attention. Remember that for the disbelievers who mock you there is a very painful punishment.

¹⁰⁵Neither the disbelievers among the People of the Book who cover up the truth nor the polytheists want any good/any verse to be sent down to you from your Lord. But Allah reserves His mercy for whoever wishes for it and deserves it. Allah is surely the possessor of great grace/favor.

¹⁰⁶Whatever verse We repeal or cause to be forgotten, We bring one better than it or one equal to it. Do you not know that Allah sets a measure for everything?

¹⁰⁷Do you not know that the dominion of the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah, and that apart from Allah you have no protector and no helper?

¹⁰⁸Or do you, too, want to interrogate your messenger as Moses was interrogated before? Whoever takes disbelief in exchange for faith has strayed from the right path.

¹⁰⁹Many of the People of the Book, even after the truth has become clear to them, would like to turn you back to disbelief after your faith, purely out of the envy within them. So leave them alone and let them be until Allah's command comes. Surely Allah has power over all things.

¹¹⁰Perform the prayer and give the zakat. Whatever good you send ahead for yourselves, you will find it with Allah. Surely Allah sees best what you do!

¹¹¹They said, "None will enter Paradise except those who are Jews or Christians!" That is their wishful thinking. Say to them, "If you are sincere in your claim, bring your proof and let us see!"

¹¹²No! Whoever submits to Allah with their whole being and does good, their reward is with their Lord. There will be no fear for them, and they will never grieve.

¹¹³The Jews said, "The Christians have no foundation of faith," and the Christians said, "The Jews have no foundation of faith," though they all read the same Book. Those who do not know say exactly the same words. But Allah will surely judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning what they disputed.

¹¹⁴Who is more unjust than one who prevents His name from being mentioned in Allah's mosques and works for their ruin and destruction? Such people ought not to enter them, or, if they do, to enter only in fear. For them is disgrace in this world and a great punishment in the Hereafter.

¹¹⁵The east and the west both belong to Allah; whichever way you turn, there is Allah's direction. Surely Allah encompasses all things with His power and knows all things with His knowledge.

¹¹⁶They said, "Allah has taken to Himself a child." Far from it! He is far above that. Rather, all that is in the heavens and on the earth belongs to Allah. All are submissive to Him.

¹¹⁷Allah is the matchless Creator of the heavens and the earth. When He wills something to be, He only says to it "Be!" and it enters the process of becoming.

¹¹⁸Those who do not fully know Allah said, "If only Allah would speak to us, or a sign would come to us!" Those before them said exactly the same as they say. How alike their hearts have become! Yet We have made Our signs perfectly clear for a people who wish to believe fully.

¹¹⁹We have sent you with the truth/the Quran as a bearer of good news and a warner. You are not responsible for the people of Hell.

¹²⁰Neither the Jews nor the Christians will ever be pleased with you unless you follow their belief system. Say, "The path Allah shows—this is the true right path." If, after the knowledge that has come to you, you were to follow their whims and desires, you would have, apart from Allah, neither a protector nor a helper to guard you.

¹²¹If those to whom We have given the Book read and convey this Book/the Quran as it deserves, they are the ones who have believed in it. And whoever does not believe in it—those are the losers.

¹²²O Children of Israel, remember the blessing I bestowed upon you and that I once favored you above other peoples.

¹²³And beware of a day when no one will pay anything on behalf of another, no intercession will benefit anyone, no one will be allowed to take another's place, and they will receive no help from anywhere.

¹²⁴His Lord had put Abraham through tests with certain weighty words, and when he fulfilled them completely, He said, "I will make you a leader/imam for people." Abraham said, "And from my descendants too?" Allah replied, "But this covenant of Mine does not include the wrongdoers."

¹²⁵We made the Kaaba a gathering place and a center of security for people. So take the station of Abraham as a place of prayer. We commanded Abraham and Ishmael: "Purify My House for those who circle it, those who devote themselves to worship, and those who bow and prostrate."

¹²⁶Recall when Abraham said, "My Lord! Make this a secure city, and provide its people who believe in Allah and the Last Day with all kinds of produce." Allah said, "I will provide even for the one who does not believe, for a little while; then I will cast him into the punishment of Hell—what an evil end!"

¹²⁷As Abraham, together with Ishmael, was raising the foundations of the Kaaba, [they prayed]: "Our Lord, accept our service from us. Surely You are the One who hears every prayer and knows all."

¹²⁸"Our Lord, make us among those wholly submitted to You, and bring forth from our descendants Muslim communities/nations. Show us our ways of worship and accept our repentance, for You alone are the One who accepts repentance and shows mercy!"

¹²⁹"Our Lord, raise up among them a messenger who will recite Your verses to them, teach them the Book and wisdom, and purify them of shirk (associating partners with Allah). Surely You alone are the Absolutely Mighty and Exalted, whose every judgment is right."

¹³⁰Who would turn away from Abraham's belief system except a fool who has lost his mind? We chose him in this world, and in the Hereafter too he will surely be among the righteous.

¹³¹When his Lord said to him, "Submit!" he said, "I have submitted to the Lord of the worlds."

¹³²Abraham bequeathed this to his sons, and so did Jacob: "O my sons, Allah has chosen this religion for you. So do not die except as Muslims!"

¹³³Or were you witnesses with them when death approached Jacob and he asked his sons, "O my sons, what will you serve after me?" and they said, "We will serve your God, the one God of your forefathers Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac. We will be among the Muslims!"

¹³⁴They were a community that has passed away. What they earned belongs to them, and what you earn belongs to you, and you will never be questioned about what they did.

¹³⁵They said, "Be Jews or Christians, and you will be rightly guided." Say: "No! If you follow the belief system of Abraham, who was a hanif and not one of the polytheists, you will be rightly guided."

¹³⁶And say: "We believe in Allah, in what has been revealed to us, in what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and his descendants, in what was given to Moses and Jesus, and in what was revealed to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them. We are those who have become Muslims."

¹³⁷If the Jews and Christians believed as you believe, they would be rightly guided; but if they turn away, they are only in schism. Allah is sufficient for you against them, for He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

¹³⁸This is the religion of tawhid (the oneness of God), Islam, the religion of Allah; and who could offer a better religion than Allah? That is why we serve Allah alone!

¹³⁹Say: "Do you argue with us about Allah? Yet He is our Lord/Master and your Lord/Master. The responsibility for what we do is ours, and the responsibility for what you do is yours. We are devoted to Allah purely and sincerely."

¹⁴⁰Or do you claim that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and his descendants were Jews or Christians? Say: "Do you know better, or does Allah? Who could be more unjust than one who conceals knowledge that has come from Allah? Allah is never indifferent to what you do."

¹⁴¹They were a community that has passed away. What they earned belongs to them, and what you earn belongs to you, and you will never be held responsible for what they did.

¹⁴²Some foolish people will say, "What has turned them away from the qibla they used to face?" Say: "The east and the west belong to Allah. He guides to the straight path whoever wishes for it and deserves it."

¹⁴³We have made you a balanced community, so that the Messenger may be a witness and model for you, and you may be witnesses and models for humanity. We made the qibla you now face only to distinguish those who follow the Messenger from those who turn on their heels—although this is hard except for those who follow the right path Allah has shown. Allah will never let your earlier worship and your faith go to waste. Allah is most compassionate and merciful toward people.

¹⁴⁴We certainly see you repeatedly turning your face toward the sky. So We are turning you toward a qibla that will please you. Turn your face toward the Masjid al-Haram! Wherever you may be, turn your faces in that direction too. Those who were given the Book know well that this is the very truth from their Lord. Allah is not unaware of what they do.

¹⁴⁵Even if you brought every proof to those who were given the Book, they would still not follow your qibla, nor are you going to follow their qibla. Indeed, they do not even follow each other's qibla. If, after all the knowledge that has come to you, you were to follow their desires and whims, you too would be among those who do injustice to the truth.

¹⁴⁶Those to whom We have given the Book recognize this truth as they recognize their own sons. Yet a group of them knowingly conceal the truth.

¹⁴⁷The truth is the Quran from your Lord. So never be among those who fall into doubt!

¹⁴⁸Everyone has a direction toward which they turn. So compete with one another in good deeds; wherever you may be, Allah will bring you together. Surely Allah has power over all things and sets a measure for everything.

¹⁴⁹From wherever you set out, be sure to turn your face toward the Masjid al-Haram. This is surely the truth/reality from your Lord. For Allah is not indifferent to what you do.

¹⁵⁰From wherever you set out, turn your face toward the Masjid al-Haram. Wherever you may be, turn your faces in that direction too, so that people—apart from the wrongdoers who persist in error—will have no argument to use against you. Do not fear them; fear Me! So that I may complete My blessing upon you, and so that, hopefully, you may find the right path.

¹⁵¹Just as We have sent you a messenger from among yourselves, who recites Our verses to you, purifies you, teaches you the Book and wisdom, and teaches you what you did not know.

¹⁵²So remember Me, and I will remember you. Be grateful to Me and do not be ungrateful.

¹⁵³O you who believe, seek help from Allah through patience and salat (prayer and supplication). Surely Allah is with those who are patient.

¹⁵⁴Do not call those who are killed in Allah's way "dead." They are alive, but you cannot perceive it.

¹⁵⁵We will certainly test you with some fear, some hunger, and loss of wealth, lives, and produce. Give good news to those who are patient!

¹⁵⁶Those who, when a calamity befalls them, say, "Surely we belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return."

¹⁵⁷It is they who are under continuous support and mercy from their Lord, and it is they who are rightly guided.

¹⁵⁸Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever performs hajj to the Kaaba or performs umrah, there is no blame on him for going around them both. For if a person does more good than is required, let him know that Allah rewards gratitude abundantly and knows all things.

¹⁵⁹As for those who conceal the clear proofs and the guidance We have sent down, after We have made them fully clear to people in this Book/the Quran—Allah curses them, and all who curse curse them too.

¹⁶⁰Except those who turn back to the right path in repentance, set their condition right, and make known the truths in this Quran. Their repentance I accept. For I alone am the One who abundantly accepts repentance and shows mercy.

¹⁶¹As for those who conceal these truths and die in that state—upon them is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people.

¹⁶²They will abide under that curse. Their punishment will not be lightened, nor will they be looked upon.

¹⁶³Your God is One God. There is no god but Allah. His mercy is infinite and His compassion boundless.

¹⁶⁴In the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the alternation of night and day; in the ships that sail the sea with what benefits people; in the water Allah sends down from the sky, with which He revives the earth after its death and scatters all kinds of creatures across it; in His driving the winds in whatever direction He wills; and in His steering the clouds held at His command between the sky and the earth—there are many lessons to be drawn for a people who use their reason.

¹⁶⁵And among people are some who place others between themselves and Allah, hold them equal to Allah, and love them as they love Allah. But those who believe love Allah above all else. When those who hold certain people equal to Allah see the punishment, they will know that all power and strength belong to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment—if only they could understand it (before death comes).

¹⁶⁶When those who were followed swiftly distance themselves from those who followed them, they will see the punishment, and all ties will be torn apart.

¹⁶⁷And those who followed will say, "If only we had another chance to return to the world, we would flee and distance ourselves from them just as they have fled and distanced themselves from us." Thus Allah will show them their deeds as regrets, and they will not come out of the Fire.

¹⁶⁸O people! Eat of what is clean and lawful on earth. Do not follow in Satan's footsteps, for he is a clear enemy to you.

¹⁶⁹Surely Satan commands you to do evil and indecency, and to fabricate about Allah what you do not know.

¹⁷⁰When they are told, "Follow the Quran that Allah has revealed," they say, "No, we will follow the tradition our forefathers saddled us with." What if their forefathers were people who understood nothing and were not on the right path?

¹⁷¹The case of the disbelievers who cover up the truth is like that of (animals) that a shepherd calls but which hear nothing in his call except shouting and noise. They are so deaf, mute, and blind that they do not use their reason.

¹⁷²O you who believe! Eat of the clean things among the provisions We have given you, and give thanks to Him, if it is Allah alone you serve.

¹⁷³Allah has forbidden you only carrion, blood, pork, and what has been slaughtered in the name of anyone other than Allah. But whoever is compelled by necessity, without being unrestrained or going to excess, commits no sin in eating of these. Surely Allah is matchless in forgiveness and possesses infinite mercy.

¹⁷⁴As for those who conceal something of the Book/the Quran that Allah has revealed and sell it for a small price—they fill their bellies with nothing but fire. On the Day of Resurrection Allah will not speak to them, nor will He clear them of guilt. For them is a painful punishment.

¹⁷⁵They are the ones who have bought misguidance in place of guidance, and punishment in place of forgiveness. How enduring they must be against the Fire!

¹⁷⁶Allah has sent down this very Book/the Quran with the truth. Those who fall into dispute over it are surely in deep schism.

¹⁷⁷Turning your faces toward the east or the west is not piety. True piety belongs to those who believe in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Books, and the prophets; who, despite their own need, spend their wealth on relatives, orphans, the poor, stranded travelers, those who ask for help, and those who need money to gain their freedom; who perform the prayer and give the zakat; who fulfill their covenants when they make agreements; and who are patient in hardship, in illness, and in war. These are the ones who are true to their cause, and these are the ones who guard themselves against defying Allah.

¹⁷⁸O you who believe! Just retribution in cases of murder has been prescribed for you: the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the woman for the woman. If anyone is in some way pardoned by his brother, this should be carried out in a reasonable manner, and the compensation should be paid to the one who pardons in a good manner. This is an alleviation and a mercy from your Lord. Whoever transgresses after this will have a painful punishment.

¹⁷⁹O people of understanding! In just retribution (qisas) there is life for you, so that you may act responsibly.

¹⁸⁰When death approaches one of you, if he leaves wealth behind, carrying out a fitting bequest for parents and close relatives is a duty upon those who act responsibly.

¹⁸¹Whoever changes the bequest after having heard it, the sin of it rests on those who change it. Surely Allah hears and knows all.

¹⁸²But whoever fears that the testator may act with bias and do injustice or fall into sin, and so sets things right between them, commits no sin. Surely Allah is forgiving and merciful.

¹⁸³O you who believe! Fasting has been prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard yourselves and be protected.

¹⁸⁴For a specified number of days... Whoever among you is ill or on a journey should fast the same number of other days in place of the days missed. Those who are able to do it give, as compensation, enough to feed a poor person. Whoever does extra good, that good is for himself. In this situation, fasting is better for you, if only you knew.

¹⁸⁵It is the month of Ramadan in which the Quran was revealed—a guide to the right path for people, carrying the proofs of this guidance, which distinguishes right from wrong and makes it plain. So whoever of you reaches that month should fast during it. And whoever is ill or on a journey should fast the same number of other days in place of the days missed. Allah wants ease for you, not hardship. He wants you to complete the number and to glorify Allah with takbir for having shown you the right path, so that you may give His blessings their due.

¹⁸⁶When My servants ask you about Me—surely I am very near. I respond to the prayer of whoever calls upon Me when he calls. So let them respond to My call and believe and trust in Me, so that they may be on the right path.

¹⁸⁷It has been made lawful for you to approach your wives on the night of the fast. They are a cover of chastity for you, and you are a cover of chastity for them. Allah knew that you were putting yourselves under hardship, so He released you from these hardships and lifted them from you. So now approach them and enjoy what Allah has made lawful for you. Eat and drink until the white line of dawn becomes fully distinguishable to you from the black line; then complete the fast until night (until the sun sets). Do not approach your wives during the days you are in i'tikaf (retreat) in the mosques. Thus Allah makes His verses clear to people, so that they may guard themselves against evil.

¹⁸⁸Do not consume one another's wealth among yourselves by unjust means. Those who knowingly consume even a part of people's wealth fall into sin.

¹⁸⁹They ask you about the phases of the crescent moon. Say: "They are measures of time for people and for the hajj." It is not piety to enter houses from the back. True piety is for a person to guard himself against defying Allah. Enter houses through their doors. Act responsibly toward Allah, so that you may attain salvation.

¹⁹⁰Fight in Allah's way against those who wage war on you, but do not be aggressors. For Allah does not love the aggressors.

¹⁹¹Kill those who fight you wherever you catch them. Drive them out from where they drove you out. Oppression and persecution aimed at faith are a greater wrong than killing. Do not fight them near the Masjid al-Haram unless they fight you there. But if they fight you, fight them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.

¹⁹²But if they cease fighting, surely Allah is forgiving and merciful.

¹⁹³Fight them until oppression and persecution aimed at faith are removed and judgment belongs to Allah alone; if they bring the fighting to an end, there is to be no hostility except against the aggressors and wrongdoers.

¹⁹⁴An attack in a sacred month is answered in a sacred month, and in matters of sanctity, equivalence is the rule. So whoever attacks you, respond to him in the same manner. Guard yourselves against defying Allah, and know well that Allah is with those who guard themselves against disobeying His commands.

¹⁹⁵Spend in Allah's way, so that you do not cast yourselves into danger with your own hands; and do good. Surely Allah loves those who do good.

¹⁹⁶Complete the hajj and the umrah for Allah. If you are prevented from performing the hajj, send whatever sacrificial animal is easy for you. Do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal reaches its place. Whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head must, as compensation, either fast, give charity, or offer a sacrifice. When you are in safety, whoever wishes to benefit from the umrah until the hajj must sacrifice whatever animal is easy for him; whoever cannot find one must fast three days during the hajj and seven days when you return—making ten full days. This is for those whose families do not reside at the Masjid al-Haram. Be mindful of Allah, and know that Allah's punishment is severe.

¹⁹⁷The hajj is in the well-known months. Whoever firmly resolves to perform the hajj in these months should know that during the hajj there is no marital intimacy, no sinning, and no quarreling. Whatever good you do, Allah knows it. Take provisions; surely the best provision is guarding oneself against defying Allah. Guard yourselves against defying Me, O you of deep understanding!

¹⁹⁸There is no sin on you in seeking your share of your Lord's bounty. When you stream down from Arafat, remember Allah at al-Mash'ar al-Haram. Though you were in error before, Allah has shown you the right path. So express your gratitude for this great favor.

¹⁹⁹Then stream forth from where the people stream forth together, and ask Allah for forgiveness. Surely Allah is matchless in forgiveness and possesses infinite mercy.

²⁰⁰When you have completed your hajj rites, remember Allah as you remember your forefathers, or with even more fervent remembrance. Among people are some who say, "Our Lord, whatever You will give us, give it to us in this world." They have no share in the Hereafter.

²⁰¹And among them are others who say, "Our Lord, give us goodness and beauty in this world and goodness and beauty in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire!"

²⁰²These are the ones who will have a share of what they have earned. And Allah is swift in reckoning...

²⁰³Remember Allah also during those numbered days. Whoever hastens and completes (the worship at Mina) in two days commits no sin; and whoever stays on beyond the two days commits no sin either, provided he acts responsibly. Be mindful of Allah, and know well that you will be gathered before Him.

²⁰⁴And among people is one whose talk about the life of this world pleases you, and he even calls Allah to witness what is in his heart. Yet he is a vicious enemy.

²⁰⁵When this type takes charge, he strives to spread corruption on earth, that is, to destroy and ruin crops and progeny. But Allah does not love corruption.

²⁰⁶When he is told, "Guard yourself against defying Allah!" his pride drives him into sin. Hell will settle his account. What an evil place it is!

²⁰⁷And among people is one who gives up his wealth and sacrifices his life to earn Allah's good pleasure. And Allah is most compassionate toward His servants.

²⁰⁸O you who believe! Enter into peace and tranquility all together, and do not follow Satan's footsteps. He is your clear enemy.

²⁰⁹If you stray after clear proofs have come to you, know that Allah is absolutely mighty and right in every judgment.

²¹⁰Are they now waiting for Allah to come with the angels out of the layers of cloud? But then the matter would already be settled. For in the end all matters return to Allah.

²¹¹Ask the Children of Israel how many clear proofs We gave them. Whoever alters Allah's messages after they have reached him—surely Allah's punishment is most severe.

²¹²The life of this world is made to seem attractive to the disbelievers, and so they mock those who believe. But those who are mindful of Allah will be far above them in rank on the Day of Resurrection. Allah gives provision without measure to whoever works as he should.

²¹³Humanity was originally a single community. Allah sent the prophets as bearers of good news and as warners, and with them He sent down the Book with the truth, to judge between people in what they differed about. But those who were given the Book fell into division after clear proofs had come to them, purely out of envy among themselves. Then Allah, by His permission, guided the believers to the right path on the matters they had differed about. Allah guides to His path whoever chooses the right path.

²¹⁴Or did you think you would enter Paradise without going through what befell those before you? Such distress and hardship befell them, and they were so shaken, that even the messenger and those who believed with him cried out, "When will Allah's help come?" Know well that Allah's help is near.

²¹⁵They ask you what they should give in spending. Say: "Whatever you spend in doing good is for parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, and stranded travelers. Whatever good you do, Allah surely knows it."

²¹⁶Fighting has been prescribed for you, even though you dislike it. It may be that you dislike something that is good for you, and it may be that you like something that is bad for you. You do not know, but Allah knows.

²¹⁷They ask you about fighting in the sacred, inviolable months. Say: "Fighting in that month is a grave offense; but turning people away from Allah's path, denying Him, barring people from the Masjid al-Haram, and driving its people out of it are graver in Allah's sight. And fitna (persecution) is worse than killing. If they can, they will keep fighting you until they turn you away from your religion. Whoever among you turns away from his religion and dies a disbeliever—their deeds are wasted in this world and in the Hereafter. They are the people of the Fire. They will abide there."

²¹⁸Those who believe, who emigrate, and who strive hard in Allah's way—they are the ones who hope for Allah's mercy. Allah is matchless in forgiveness and possesses boundless mercy.