11:1  Alif. Lam. Ra. This Book of Scriptures is perfected and clarified. It is from the One who is Perfectly Wise and Fully Aware.

11:2  You should worship none but Allah. I [Muhammed] am sent from Him for your benefit, to warn and to announce good news.

11:3  Seek the forgiveness of your Lord and turn to Him in repentance. He may award you a satisfactory life for an appointed time and bestow His abundant grace on all who are meritorious. But if you reject Him, I fear for you the penalty of an awesome day.

11:4  To Allah you will return, and His power extends over all.

11:5  Observe how they twist their hearts so they may be concealed from Him. Even when they shroud themselves, He knows what they conceal as well as what they reveal. He well knows the secrets of hearts.

11:6  There is not a mobile creature on the earth that does not depend on Allah for its sustenance. (Allah) knows (each creature’s) residence and its final destiny. Everything is perfectly recorded.

11:7  He is the One who created the skies and the earth in six days. His throne was over the waters, so that He may test which among you are best in conduct. If you were to say, “You will be resurrected after death,” the unbelievers would certainly say, “Obviously, this is a cult.”

11:8  If We delayed the penalty for them for a definite term, they would certainly say, “What is preventing it?” On the day it finally comes to them, nothing can divert it from them. They will be completely encircled by that which they used to mock.

11:9  If We give humanity a taste of mercy from Us and then retrieve it, he/she surely falls into despair and loses faith.

11:10  But then, if We give him/her a taste of grace after adversity has affected him/her, he/she is certain to say, “Misfortune has left me” [without acknowledging God’s involvement]. See how he/she falls into ecstasy and pride.

11:11  The exception is those who are patient and live righteously. For them are forgiveness and a great reward.

11:12  Perhaps you are ignoring something inspired in you. Your heart may feel burdened if they say, “Why is a treasure not sent down for him?” or “Why does an angel not come with him?” You are here only to warn. Allah is the Trustee over everything.

11:13  They may say, “He made it up.” Say, “Bring ten made-upChapters like it. Call on whomever you can, besides Allah, if you speak the truth.

11:14  “If (your false gods) do not answer you, you must realize that (this revelation) is bestowed with the knowledge of Allah and that no god is there except Him. Will you then submit?”

11:15  To those who desire the worldly life and its glitter, We will pay them for their deeds, without any deductions.

11:16  They are the ones for whom there is nothing in the hereafter except fire. What they have done is all in vain. Their deeds are worthless.

11:17  Are they comparable to those who accept, from their Lord, clarification taught by a witness sent from Him? Like the Book of Moses before it, it is a source of guidance and mercy. They believe in it, but those sects that reject it will have the fire for their promised meeting place. Have no doubt about it! Indeed, it is truth from your Lord, although most people do not believe.

11:18  Who is worse than those who invent a lie about Allah? They will return to the presence of their Lord. Witnesses will say, “These are they who lied about their Lord.” Undoubtedly, the condemnation of Allah is on those who sin.

11:19  Those who create a hindrance from the path of Allah and look for something faulty in it are the same ones who deny life after death.

11:20  They cannot interfere [with Allah’s will] on Earth, and they have no protectors besides Allah. Their penalty will be doubled. They lost the power to understand, and they did not see.

11:21  They lost their own souls, and what they invented did them no good.

11:22  Without a doubt, they will lose the most in the afterlife.

11:23  Those who believe, perform righteousness, and humble themselves before their Lord, however, will be companions of the Garden, where they will live forever.

11:24  These two kinds [of people] may be compared to those who won’t see or hear to those who do see and hear. Are they equal when compared? Will you not pay attention?

11:25  We certainly sent Noah to his people. “Indeed, I am a clear warner for you.

11:26  Worship only Allah. Truly, I fear for you the penalty of a dreadful day.”

11:27  The leaders of the unbelievers among his people said, “We don’t see you as anything except a man like us. We also don’t see anyone following you except the ordinary people without good judgment. We don’t see that you have any merit above us. In fact, we think that you [along with your family] are all liars.”

11:28  (Noah) said, “O my people, do you see that I have a clear sign from my Lord? He has sent mercy to me from His own presence. (That mercy) has been obscured from you. Should we force you to accept it when you are averse to it?

11:29  O my people, I ask you for no wealth in return. My reward is only from Allah, but I will not reject any who believe. Truly, they are to meet their Lord. You, I see, are the ignorant ones.

11:30  O my people, who would help me against Allah if I rejected them? Won’t you take heed?”

11:31  I am not telling you that the treasures of Allah are with me. I don’t know what is hidden. I don’t claim to be an angel. I don’t say of those you despise that Allah will not grant them what is good. Allah knows best what is in their souls. If I did that, I would be wrong.”

11:32  They said, “O Noah, you have certainly argued with us and have prolonged the argument with us. Now, bring upon us that with which you have threatened us, if you’re telling the truth.”

11:33  He said, “Truly, Allah will bring it upon you if He wills. Then you will not be able to stop it.

11:34  “My counsel will not help you, as much as I desire to give you counsel. If it is Allah’s will to leave you astray, He is your Lord. To Him you will return.”

11:35  Do they say, “He has faked (this Qur’an)?” Say, “If I had faked it, my sin would be upon me. I am innocent of the sins you commit.”

11:36  It was revealed to Noah, “None of your people will believe except those who have already believed. Do not grieve over their deeds any longer.

11:37  “Build an ark under Our eyes and according to Our inspiration. No longer speak to Me on behalf of those lost in sin. They will surely be drowned.”

11:38  (Noah) began construction of the ark. Whenever leaders of his people passed, they ridiculed him [and his family], but he said, “Taunt us now, but we scoff at you even as you ridicule us.

11:39  “Soon you will realize on whom will descend a penalty that will shame and on whom will be unleashed a lasting penalty.”

11:40  Finally Our command emerged, and the earthen oven boiled over. We commanded [Noah], “Embark, along with a pair [male and female] of each creature, and with your family, except those [family members] against whom the Word has already gone against, and with other believers.” But only a few believed with him.

11:41  (Noah) then ordered, “Board the ark! In the Name of Allah are its passage and its anchoring. My Lord is surely the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”

11:42  (The ark) floated with them on mountainous waves, and Noah called out to his son who had estranged himself, “O my son, come on board with us and do not be among the unbelievers.”

11:43  (The son) replied, “I will take refuge on some mountain where I will be safe from the [rising] waters.” (Noah) said, “This day there is no rescue from the command of Allah except for those on whom He has shown mercy.” Then the waves swelled between them, and (the son) became among those who drowned.

11:44  It was commanded, “O Earth, swallow your water! O Sky, hold back! The water stopped, and the command was fulfilled. (The ark) came to a stop on Mount Judi. It was commanded, “Away with the sinners!”

11:45  Noah called upon his Lord and said, “O my Lord, my son is certainly of my family, and certainly Your promise is true. You are the fairest of judges.”

11:46  (Allah) said, “O Noah, he is not of your family because his behavior is sinful. Do not question Me about things you do not understand. I admonish you so that you won’t be among the ignorant.

11:47  (Noah) said, “O my Lord, I do indeed seek refuge with You so that I won’t question you about things I do not understand. Unless You forgive me and have mercy on me, I will be among the losers.”

11:48  It was said, “O Noah, come down [from the ark] with peace from Us. Blessings on you and on some of the people (to come from) you! There will be people [descending from you] to whom We will allow [temporal] pleasure, but a horrid punishment will come to them from Us.”

11:49  These are some of the episodes you have not seen. We have revealed them to you. Before this [Qur’an], you and your people did not know them. Certainly be patient. The finale is for the righteous.

11:50  We sent Heber to the Ad people. He was one of their own people. He said, “O my people, worship Allah. You have no god except Him. You only invent [other gods].

11:51  O my people, I ask no reward for (this message). My reward is only from He who created me. Will you not try to understand?

11:52  “O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord. Turn to Him in repentance. He will give you skies that pour abundant rain. He will add strength to your strength. Do not return to sin.”

11:53  They said, “O Heber, you have not brought us any clear evidence. We will not forsake our gods on your say-so. We don’t believe you.

11:54  “The only thing we can say is that some of our gods have made you crazy.” (Heber) said, “I call Allah to witness, and you also can witness, that I am innocent of assigning with Him…

11:55  “…what [gods] you associate. All of you can scheme against me and give me no rest.

11:56  “Truly, I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord. There is no moving creature that He does not have by the frontal lobes. Truly, my Lord is on the Straight Way.

11:57  “If you turn away, I have conveyed (the message) given to me for you. My Lord will make another people to succeed you. You will not harm Him in the least. Certainly, my Lord is the Preserver of all things.”

11:58  When Our command came, We saved Heber and those who believed with him by grace from Us. We saved them from a severe penalty.

11:59  Such was Ad! They rejected the signs of their Lord. They disobeyed His messengers and followed the leadership of every arrogant sinner.

11:60  They were pursued by condemnation in this life and on the Day of Judgment. No doubt about it! The Ad really did reject their Lord. Away with the Ad, the people of Heber!

11:61  Salih went to the Thamud. He was one of their own people. He said, “O my people, worship Allah. You have no god except Him. He created you from the earth and settled you on it. Ask His forgiveness. Repent to Him. Truly, my Lord is near. [He is] the Responder to Prayer.”

11:62  They said, “O Salih, you have been one of us. Before this, we had high hopes for you. Do you forbid us to worship the way our fathers worshiped? We really doubt and are suspicious of what you are telling us.”

11:63  He said, “O my people, do you see that I have evidence from my Lord and He has sent mercy to me from Himself? Who could help me against Allah if I disobeyed Him? What could you add besides loss?

11:64  “O my people, this female camel of Allah is a sign for you. Let her eat from Allah’s earth and inflict no harm on her, or a swift penalty will be upon you.”

11:65  But they butchered her. He said, “Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. A promise will come, which cannot be denied.”

11:66  When Our command went out, We saved Salih and those who believed with him, by grace from Us. We saved them from the shame of that day. Your Lord is the Strongest, the Victorious.

11:67  The mighty blast [of an earthquake] overcame the sinners. They lay flattened in their homes.

11:68  It became as if they had never lived there. No doubt about it! The Thamud rejected their Lord. Away with the Thamud!

11:69  Our messengers certainly came to Abraham with good news. They said, “Peace!” He answered, “Peace!” He hurried to offer them a roasted calf.

11:70  When he saw that they did not touch it, he became suspicious and fearful of them. They said, “Have no fear. Indeed, we have been sent against the people of Lot.”

11:71  (Abraham’s) wife was standing. She laughed when We gave her the good news of Isaac and, after him, Jacob.

11:72  She said, “Oh, me! Shall I bear a child now that I am an old woman and my husband is an old man? That would certainly be amazing!”

11:73  They said, “Do you marvel at Allah’s command? The grace of Allah and His blessings on you, O People of the house! He is indeed the Most Praiseworthy, the Majestic.”

11:74  After fear had passed from Abraham and he had received the good news, he began to plead with Us on behalf of Lot’s people.

11:75  Abraham was, without a doubt, patient, compassionate, and dedicated.

11:76  “O Abraham, do not seek this. Indeed, the command has already been declared by your Lord. Indeed, for them is a penalty that cannot be turned away.”

11:77  Our messengers [angels] came to Lot. He was grieved because of them and felt anxiety over them. He said, “This is a dreadful day.”

11:78  (Lot’s) people mobbed towards him [and expressed an interest in his guests]. They had long been in the habit of practicing perversions. He said, “O my people, here are my daughters. They are decent for you [to have in marriage]. Now fear Allah, and do not make me ashamed in front of my guests. Is there not among you a single man with moral character?”

11:79  They replied, “You know full well that we have no desire for your daughters. You know perfectly what we want.”

11:80  He said, “I would overpower you if I could, or I would take refuge with a strong ally.”

11:81  (The angels) said, “O Lot, we are messengers from your Lord. By no means will (the evil men) get to you. Now travel with your family while a part of the night still remains, and do not let anyone look back. But your wife will, and she will suffer the fate of the people. Morning is their appointed time. Is the morning not very near?”

11:82  When Our command went forth, We toppled (the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah). We showered them with brimstones as hard as baked clay, layer upon layer.

11:83  [The shower of brimstones] became the mark of your Lord [for sinful cities]. (That calamity) is never far from the sinners.

11:84  To the Midian people, We sent Jethro, one of their own people. He said, “O my people, worship Allah. You have no god except Him. Do not slight in measure or weight. I see you in prosperity, but I fear for you the penalty of a day that will overwhelm you.

11:85  “O my people, give correct measure and weight, and do not withhold from people what they are due. Do not sin in the land with intent to do evil.

11:86  “That which is left for you by Allah is best for you. If only you believed! I am not assigned to keep watch over you, however.”

11:87  (The Midian people) said, “O Jethro, does your religion tell you that we must abandon the religion of our fathers or that we abandon what we will with our own property? For sure, you are the one tolerant of faults and rightly guided!”

11:88  He answered, “O my people, see if I have evidence from my Lord, and He has provided me with ample sustenance as from Himself. I do not wish to oppose you, doing that which I forbid you to do. I only want to improve you to the best of my power, and my success can come only from Allah. In Him I trust, and to Him I turn.”

11:89  [Prophet Jethro said,] “O my people, just because I alienate myself from you [because of your lifestyle], do not let that cause you to sin. [You could] then suffer a fate similar to that of the people of Noah or of Heber or of Salih. You are not far removed from the people of Lot [of the infamous cities of Sodom and Gomorrah].

11:90  “Ask forgiveness of your Lord, turning to Him in repentance. My Lord is indeed flowing with mercy and loving kindness.”

11:91  (The Midian people) said, “O Jethro, we do not understand most of what you are saying. In fact, nobody here sees that you have any strengths! If it were not for your [prestigious] family, we would already have stoned you. Among us, you have no honorable position.”

11:92  He responded, “O my people, is my family of more concern to you than Allah? You cast Him aside, behind your backs, but, truly, my Lord surrounds all that you do.

11:93  “O my people, do whatever you can, and I also. Soon you will know on whom descends the penalty of shame and who is a liar. Watch, and I too am watching with you.”

11:94  When Our command went forth, We saved Jethro and those believers with him, by Our grace. The mighty blast, however, seized the sinners, and they lay flattened in their homes.

11:95  It was as if they had never lived there. Away with the Midian, as with the Thamud!

11:96  Certainly, We sent Moses Our signs and obvious authority…

11:97  …to Pharaoh and his chiefs. They followed the command of Pharaoh, however, and the command of Pharaoh was not right.

11:98  On the Day of Judgment, (Pharaoh) will go before his people and lead them into the fire. Wretched will be the place to which they are led!

11:99  They are followed by condemnation in this life and on the Day of Resurrection. Wretched is the gift they will be given!

11:100  These are some of the stories of communities about which we are telling you. Some of them are still standing, and some have been demolished.

11:101  We did not wrong them. They wronged themselves. Their gods, to whom they prayed instead of Allah, did not help them any from the Lord’s given command. They added nothing but loss.

11:102  Such is the discipline of your Lord when He rebukes communities in the midst of their sin. His discipline is indeed horrible and severe.

11:103  In that is truly a sign for those who fear the penalty of the hereafter. That is a day for which humanity will be assembled. That will be a day of testimony.

11:104  We will not delay it except for the time appointed.

11:105  The day that (the Day of Resurrection) comes, no soul shall speak except by His will. Of those [assembled], some will be condemned, and some will be blessed.

11:106  Those who are condemned will be cast into the fire. There will be the heaving of sighs and wails.

11:107  They will dwell there for as long as the skies and Earth endure, except as Allah wills. He does as He intends.

11:108  Those who are blessed will be in Paradise. They will dwell there for as long as the skies and Earth endure, except as Allah wills. It is a gift without end.

11:109  Do not be in doubt about what these people worship. They worship nothing except what their fathers worshiped before them. Truly, We will pay them their due without any deductions.

11:110  We certainly gave Moses the Book [of the Torah], but differences arose in it. If it had not been for a Word going forth from your Lord, the matter would have been settled among them. (The various Jewish and Christian sects) are in suspicious doubt about it.

11:111  Certainly, your Lord will repay them for their deeds. Truly, He is Fully Aware of what they do.

11:112  You and those with you should stand firmly as you are commanded. Repent and do not sin. He is All-seeing of all that you do.

11:113  Do not tend toward those who sin, or the fire will seize you. You have no protectors other than Allah, and you won’t be helped.

11:114  Establish ritual prayers at both ends of the day and at the approach of night. Truly, good deeds repel evil deeds. Let that be a reminder for those who remember.

11:115  Be patient. Truly, Allah will not allow the reward of the righteous to perish.

11:116  Why were there, among generations before you, no people with enough common sense to prohibit evil upon the earth, except for those few people We saved? The sinners pursued the enjoyment of the good things of life, which were given to them, and persisted in sin.

11:117  Your Lord would never destroy a community for a single sin if its members were likely to mend.

11:118  If your Lord had so willed, He could have made humanity one people, but they will never cease to argue.

11:119  The exceptions are those on whom your Lord has bestowed His mercy, and for this reason He created them. The Word of your Lord will be fulfilled: “I will fill Hell with evil spirit-beings and people –all together.”

11:120  With all that We relate to you from the stories of the messengers, We strengthen your heart. In them comes to you truth, advice, and a message to remember by those who believe.

11:121  Say to the unbelievers, “Go ahead and do as you will; we will do our mission.

11:122  Just wait! We too will wait [to see God’s plan unfold].”

11:123  To Allah belongs the unseen of the skies and Earth. To Him everything returns. Worship Him, and put your trust in Him. Your Lord is not unaware of all that you do.