| | Linda “iLHam” Barto rendition of Surah The Believers(al-Mu`minun)
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| 23:1 | | Indeed, the believers succeed. |
| 23:2 | | [They are] those who are humble in prayers. |
| 23:3 | | [They] avoid frivolous talk. |
| 23:4 | | [They] are active in charity. |
| 23:5 | | [They] abstain from sex… |
| 23:6 | | …except with their spouses or whom their right hands possess [after they are freed and married], and then indeed they are free from blame. |
| 23:7 | | Whoever seeks beyond (those limits) are sinners. |
| 23:8 | | As for those who faithfully observe their trusts and covenants… |
| 23:9 | | …and who guard their prayers,… |
| 23:10 | | …they will be heirs. |
| 23:11 | | They will inherit Paradise where they will dwell forever. |
| 23:12 | | We originated humanity from a product of mud. |
| 23:13 | | Afterward, We placed him/her as a seed in safe lodging. |
| 23:14 | | Next, We fashioned the seed into a mass of blood, and then We fashioned the mass into a lump, [that looked like] something chewed [like chewing gum]. Next, We added bones and clothed the bones with flesh. We then developed all this as a new creation. Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators! |
| 23:15 | | Eventually, you will die. |
| 23:16 | | Again, on the Day of Resurrection, you will be raised. |
| 23:17 | | We have made above you seven layers [of sky], and We never neglect creation. |
| 23:18 | | We send down water from the sky according to measure. We cause it to soak into the soil. We certainly are able to drain it away. |
| 23:19 | | With it, We grow for you gardens of date palms and vines. In them, you have abundant fruits. Of them, you eat. |
| 23:20 | | A tree grows from Mount Sinai. It produces oil and relish for all to eat. |
| 23:21 | | Truly, in cattle there is a lesson. We give you drink [milk] from what is in their bellies. In them are numerous benefits for you, and you eat of them. |
| 23:22 | | On them, as well as on ships, you are carried. |
| 23:23 | | Truly, We sent Noah to his people. He said, “O my people, worship Allah. You have no god but Him. Will you not fear?” |
| 23:24 | | The leaders of the unbelievers among his people said, “He is no more than a man like you. His wish is to assert his superiority over you. If Allah had wanted, He could have sent down angels. We never heard such a thing from our ancestors of old. |
| 23:25 | | “He is only a man possessed. Wait concerning him for a time.” |
| 23:26 | | (Noah) said, “My Lord, help me for they accuse me of lying.” |
| 23:27 | | We inspired him, “Build an ark within Our sight and with Our guidance. When Our command comes and the fountains of the earth gush, take onboard mated pairs of every species. Take also your family, except those of (your family) against whom the Word has already gone forth. Do not address Me in favor of the sinners, for they certainly shall be drowned. |
| 23:28 | | When you have boarded the ark, along with those with you, say, “Praise to Allah who has saved us from the people who sin.” |
| 23:29 | | Say, “My Lord, allow me to land at a blessed place to land. You are the best to allow the landing.” |
| 23:30 | | Truly, in this are signs by which We test. Truly, We are testing. |
| 23:31 | | Afterward, We raised another generation. |
| 23:32 | | We sent to them a messenger from among themselves. “Worship Allah. You have no god except Him. Will you not fear?” |
| 23:33 | | The leaders of his people did not believe, and they denied the meeting in the hereafter. We had bestowed on them good things of this life. They said, “He is no more than a man like you. He eats like you eat. He drinks like you drink. |
| 23:34 | | If you obey a man like yourselves, you will certainly be lost. |
| 23:35 | | Does he promise that, when you die and become dust and bones, you will be resurrected? |
| 23:36 | | Farfetched! Farfetched is what you are promised! |
| 23:37 | | There is nothing but the life of this world. We die and we live, but we will never be resurrected. |
| 23:38 | | He is only a man who invents a lie against Allah. We are not going to believe him.” |
| 23:39 | | (The prophet) said, “My Lord, help me for they accuse me of lying.” |
| 23:40 | | (Allah) said, “In only a little while, they will be sorry.” |
| 23:41 | | Then the blast overwhelmed them with justice. We made them as a pile of dead leaves. Away with the people who sin! |
| 23:42 | | We raised other generations after them. |
| 23:43 | | No people can hasten their term, and they cannot delay it. |
| 23:44 | | We sent Our messengers in succession. Every time a messenger came to a people, they accused him of lying, so We made them follow each other [in punishment]. We made them like just a story. Away with people who will not believe! |
| 23:45 | | We sent Moses and his brother Aaron with Our signs and apparent authority. |
| 23:46 | | [We sent them] to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they behaved arrogantly. They were a haughty people. |
| 23:47 | | They said, “Shall we believe in two men like us? Their people are servants to us!” |
| 23:48 | | They accused them of lies. They became among those who were destroyed. |
| 23:49 | | We gave Moses the Book [of Torah] so that they [the Hebrew nation] may receive guidance. |
| 23:50 | | Also, We made the son of Mary and his mother as a sign. We gave them both shelter on high ground, providing security and having springs. |
| 23:51 | | O Messengers, eat of the fine things, and live righteously. Truly, I [the Lord] am well aware of all that you do. |
| 23:52 | | Truly, your faith community is one faith community, and I am your Lord and Cherisher; therefore, fear Me. |
| 23:53 | | (People), however, have terminated their situation [of unity] and divided into sects. Each sect rejoices in its own (doctrine). |
| 23:54 | | Allow them their ignorance for the time being. |
| 23:55 | | Do they really think that, just because We have blessed them with wealth and children,… |
| 23:56 | | …We would hasten upon them every good thing. Certainly not, but they do not understand. |
| 23:57 | | Indeed, those who live in awe for fear of their Lord,… |
| 23:58 | | …who believe in the verses of their Lord,… |
| 23:59 | | …who do not assign partners with their Lord,… |
| 23:60 | | …and who dispense heart-felt charity out of reverence, knowing they will return to their Lord,… |
| 23:61 | | …are they who hasten to do every good deed and who are exemplary in doing so. |
| 23:62 | | We do not burden a soul beyond its endurance. Before Us is a record speaking the truth. They will never be wronged. |
| 23:63 | | But their hearts are confused about this. In addition, they perform [sinful] deeds. |
| 23:64 | | [They will sin] until We punish their affluent ones. They will groan in begging. |
| 23:65 | | Do not groan for help on this day. You will certainly not be helped by Us. |
| 23:66 | | My Signs used to be recited to you, but you used to turn away on your heels. |
| 23:67 | | [You turned] in arrogance. You spoke nonsense about (the Qur’an), talking wickedly. |
| 23:68 | | Do they not ponder the Word? Has anything come to them that did not come to their forefathers? |
| 23:69 | | Do they not recognize their messenger so that they deny him? |
| 23:70 | | Do they say, “He is possessed”? Nonsense! He has brought them the truth, but most of them hate the truth. |
| 23:71 | | If the truth had been in accordance with their desires, truly the skies and the earth and all beings of them would have been corrupted. Nonsense! We have sent them their reminder, but they turn from their reminder. |
| 23:72 | | Do you ask them for some payment? The payment of your Lord is best. He is the best of the providers. |
| 23:73 | | Truly, you call them to the Straight Way. |
| 23:74 | | Truly, those who do not believe in the hereafter are deviating from that way. |
| 23:75 | | If We had mercy on them and removed the distress that is on them, they would still persist in their sin. They would wander blindly. |
| 23:76 | | We inflicted punishment on them, but they did not humble themselves before their Lord. They do not address Him in submission. |
| 23:77 | | Finally, We will open for them a gate that leads to a severe punishment. At that time, they will be plunged into despair. |
| 23:78 | | It is He who has created for you hearing, sight, and hearts [for feeling and understanding]; yet, little thanks you give. |
| 23:79 | | He populated you throughout the earth, and to Him you will reassemble. |
| 23:80 | | It is He who gives life and death, and the alternation of night and day is His. Will you not understand? |
| 23:81 | | In contradiction, they say things similar to what the people of old said. |
| 23:82 | | They say, “Huh? When we die and become dust and bones, can we expect to be restored? |
| 23:83 | | “Such things were promised to us and to our parents before us. They are nothing but ancient tales!” |
| 23:84 | | Say, “To whom belong Earth and all beings of this [planet]? [Tell me] if you know.” |
| 23:85 | | They will say, “To Allah!” Then say, “So won’t you remember [Him]?” |
| 23:86 | | Say, “Who is the Lord of the seven skies? Who is the Lord of the Supreme Throne [of Heaven]?” |
| 23:87 | | They will say, “God!” Then say, “Will you not then be filled with awe?” |
| 23:88 | | Say, “In whose hands is the dominion of all things? Who protects, but is not protected? [Tell me] if you know.” |
| 23:89 | | They will say, “Allah!” Then say, “Then why are you so delusional?” |
| 23:90 | | We have sent them the truth, but certainly they prefer deception. |
| 23:91 | | Allah did not beget a son. There is no god along with Him. Otherwise, each god would have taken away what he created, and some [gods] would have overcome others. Glory to Allah above what they attribute! |
| 23:92 | | He knows what is secret and what is publicized. Exalted is He above what they associate! |
| 23:93 | | Say, “My Lord, perhaps You could show me what they are assured. |
| 23:94 | | “My Lord, do not put me among sinners.” |
| 23:95 | | We are certainly able to show you what they are assured. |
| 23:96 | | Repel evil with what is best. We know best what they attribute. |
| 23:97 | | Say, “My Lord, I seek refuge with You from the suggestions of the devils. |
| 23:98 | | “I seek refuge with You if they even come near me.” |
| 23:99 | | Finally, when death comes to one of them, he/she will say, “My Lord, send me back… |
| 23:100 | | “…so that I may work righteously in the things I neglected.” Nonsense! Truly, it is only a vow he/she says. Before them is a partition until the day they are resurrected. |
| 23:101 | | When the trumpet is blown, no more relationships will be among them that day. They will not even ask about one another. |
| 23:102 | | Those whose balance [of good deeds] is heavy will attain salvation. |
| 23:103 | | Those whose balance [of good deeds] is light will be those who have lost their souls. They will abide in Hell. |
| 23:104 | | The fire will burn their faces. They will [seem to] grin because their lips will be displaced. |
| 23:105 | | Were My signs not recited to you while you only treated them as lies? |
| 23:106 | | They will say, “Our Lord, our misery was too much for us, and we became a people gone astray. |
| 23:107 | | “Our Lord, bring us out of this. If we return [to sin], then we will certainly be [lost] sinners.” |
| 23:108 | | He will say, “Be humiliated in (Hell). Don’t even speak to Me. |
| 23:109 | | “Indeed, some of My servants said, ‘Our Lord, we believe. Forgive us and have mercy on us. You are the best of those who show mercy.’ |
| 23:110 | | “But you treated them with ridicule. You did so until it made you forget My message while you were laughing at them. |
| 23:111 | | “Indeed, I have rewarded them this day for their patience. They are truly the successful ones.” |
| 23:112 | | He will say, “How many years did you stay on earth?” |
| 23:113 | | They will say, “[It seems that] we stayed a day or part of a day, but ask those who keep account.” |
| 23:114 | | He will say, “You stayed only a little, if you only realized it. |
| 23:115 | | “Did you think that We created you only for sport? [Did you think that] you would not be brought back to Us?” |
| 23:116 | | Exalted is Allah, the King, the Reality! No god is there except Him, the Lord of the throne and of honor. |
| 23:117 | | If anyone invokes, besides Allah, any other god, he/she has no authority for it. His/her judgment will be only with his/her Lord. Truly, the unbelievers will fail to succeed. |
| 23:118 | | Say, “My Lord, grant Your forgiveness and mercy. You are the best of those who show mercy.” |
