Surah Al-Jumu'ah: Thematic English Translation (Mustafa Çevik)

Everything in the heavens and on the earth moves within the bounds of the laws of the order established by Allah, who created them and is their one true Owner (they glorify Him).

Sovereignty over His creation belongs to Allah, who prevents corruption through the rulings He lays down.

Allah has made the truths plain by sending a prophet to a people who lived under the oppression of an order founded on shirk and disbelief, bowing to the rule of wrongdoers and unaware of the truths, and to all humanity who have not yet joined them; a prophet who recites the Quran, which makes known the reason for their creation and how they should live in keeping with it, and teaches wisdom along with it.

Through the Prophet and the Book Allah invites people to purify themselves of shirk, disbelief, and every kind of filth. Allah is the Possessor of great grace, judgment, and wisdom.

The case of those to whom the Torah, Allah’s grace, was sent, and who were commanded to abide by its rulings, but who did not wish to bear this responsibility, is like that of a donkey loaded with books that does not know or understand their value.

Those who call Allah’s verses lies, do not wish to understand their worth, and turn their backs on them are wrongdoers who do themselves the greatest harm. Allah does not guide such wrongdoers.

O Prophet! Say to those Jews: “O Jews! If you are sincere in your claim that you alone are Allah’s friends and beloved servants, then go on, wish for death so that you may at once be reunited with Allah, your friend, whom you love and by whom you claim to be loved.” But because of the sins they have committed they will never wish for death.

Allah knows full well those who associate partners with Him, those who deny the truth, and the hypocrites. Then say this to them too: “The death you flee from will surely catch up with you, and then you will be brought before Allah, who knows everything seen and unseen, and confronted with what you did in your worldly lives.”

O believers! When you are called to the prayer on Friday, break off your trading and hasten to the mosques, which constantly remind you of the reason for your creation and how you should live. If only you knew, what will be called to mind there is better for you than trade. After the prayer, performed once you have been informed and made aware there, disperse through the land and carry on doing works that will win His good pleasure, never letting Allah slip from your minds.

O Prophet! Though the truth requires them to act in this way, some of the believers, for the sake of gaining the petty profits trade brings or of joining some entertainment, set aside the gain of what they would learn and left before you had finished what you had to say. Say to them: “The profit and reward you will gain with Allah are far better for you than what you will gain in trade and entertainment. Do not forget that Allah is the best of providers.”