11:1  Alif Lam Ra - I am Allah, the All-Seeing. (This is) a Book, whose verses have been characterised by wisdom and they have been explained in detail. It is from One All-Wise, All-Aware (God)

11:2  (Say, O Prophet!) `You worship none but Allah, (and) I am indeed to you a Warner (warning you against the evil consequences of disbelief and evil doings), and a Bearer of good tidings (to the righteous) from Him

11:3  `And that you seek the protection of your Lord (against your faults) and then turn to Him (in repentance). He will provide for you a goodly provision (in this life) till an appointed term. And He will grant of His abounding bounty to every one possessed of abundant merit. And if you turn away, then surely I fear the punishment of a great (dreadful) Day for you

11:4  `To Allah is your return and He is the Possessor of full power to do all that He will.

11:5  Behold! they fold up their bosoms (refusing to accept the truth with open minds and in an effort) that they may hide (their enmity and hatred) from Him. Behold even (as they try to hide their true selves) when they wrap themselves in their garments (so that they might not see Divine signs, nor hear His Messages), He knows what they conceal and what they reveal. He is Well-Aware of what is in the (depths of their) hearts

11:6  There is not a single moving creature on the earth but its sustenance rests with Allah. He knows its permanent lodging place and its temporary sojourn. Everyone is governed by a clear law

11:7  And it is He Who created the heavens and the earth in six aeons and His Throne (of power ever) rests on water (to which the life is due), that He might show whoever of you is best in deeds and conduct. And if you were to say (to them), `You are indeed going to be raised after death,' those who disbelieve will certainly say, `This is naught but an obvious hoax.

11:8  Infact, if We defer the punishment from them till a reckoned time they would certainly ask, `What is that which withholds it?' Behold! the day this (punishment) befalls them, it shall not be such as to be averted from them. And that (punishment) which they used to hold in scorn, shall overwhelm them

11:9  And if We bestow upon a human being mercy from Us and then withdraw it from him, he is totally despairing (and) completely ungrateful

11:10  And if We confer upon him (Our) blessings after adversity has afflicted him, he will certainly say, `Gone are all my woes (now).' He is, of course, exultant and boastful (over a little favour)

11:11  Such, however, is not the case with those who steadfastly persevere (in virtues) and do deeds of righteousness. It is these for whom there awaits protection and a great reward

11:12  (The disbelievers vainly hope that) you may omit a part of the revelations made to you; and that you will be distressed and worried because of the fact that they say, `Why has not a treasure been sent down to him, or why has no angel come with him?' (This is far from you that you do such things,) for you are only a Warner (against the evil consequences of disbelief and rebellion), and Allah is Guardian over every thing

11:13  Do they say, `He has forged this (Qur'an)?' Say (to them in reply), `If you are truthful (in your objection then) bring ten forged chapters like it, calling upon whom you can (for your help) apart from Allah.

11:14  But if they do not respond to you, then know that this (Qur'an) which has been revealed is (replete) with (that which is only within) Allah's knowledge and that there is no other, cannot be and will never be One worthy of worship save Him. Will you then be the submitting ones (after knowing all this)

11:15  Those who desire (the provisions of) this present life and its ornature, We will repay them in full (the reward) for their deeds in this (very life) and they will be made to suffer no loss therein

11:16  It is these for whom waits nothing in the Hereafter but the Fire. And all that they do for the sake of this (life) shall come to naught (in the next) and all their activities shall prove vain and futile

11:17  How can he, who stands upon a clear proof from his Lord and (to testify to whose truth) a witness from Him follows him and (to witness whom) he is preceded by the Book of Moses, which was a guide and a mercy, (be an impostor)? Those (who keep in view all these clear proofs from their Lord) believe in him (- this Messenger of God). And whoever of these parties disbelieves in him, the Fire is his promised place. So (O reader!) be you not in doubt about this (Qur'an). It is indeed the Truth. It is from your Lord, but most people do not believe

11:18  And who is more unjust than those who forge lies in the name of Allah. They shall be produced before their Lord and the witnesses will all say, `These are they who lied against their Lord.' Beware! the disapproval of Allah lies upon the unjust

11:19  Those who keep (the people) away from the path of Allah and seek to paint it as crooked, it is these who are the disbelievers in the Hereafter

11:20  Such cannot frustrate (God's designs) in the land nor is there any protecting friend for them apart from Allah. They shall have their punishment doubled. They could neither bear to hear (the truth) nor did they see (it)

11:21  It is these who have suffered a loss in respect of their own souls and that (false deities) which they forged have failed them

11:22  No doubt, it is these who shall be the worst losers in the Hereafter

11:23  Verily, those who believe and do deeds of righteousness and humble themselves before their Lord, it is these who are the owners of Paradise, they shall abide in it

11:24  The case of these two groups (of disbelievers and believers) is like (the case of) the blind and the deaf (on the one hand) and the seeing and the hearing (on the other). Can the case of the two be alike? Will you not even then take heed

11:25  And (similar were the circumstances when) We sent Noah to his people (and he said), `Verily, I am a plain Warner to you

11:26  `(And my Message is) that you worship none but Allah; otherwise I fear lest there should overtake you the punishment of a woeful day.

11:27  Thereupon the chiefs of his people who had disbelieved said, `We find you but a human being like ourselves, and we find none have followed you except those who are the meanest of us, having only superficial views. And we find you (and your followers) possessing no superiority over us. Rather we take you all to be liars.

11:28  He said, `O my people, have you considered that if I stand on a clear proof from my Lord and He has conferred upon me a great mercy (- Prophethood) from Himself and it has been obscured to you, shall we thrust it upon you (to accept) while you are averse to it

11:29  `And O my people! I ask you in return for this (- my teaching) no wealth. My reward is due only from Allah. I am not at all one to drive away those who believe, for they are going to meet their Lord (to be blessed) and I see you are a people who are acting through lack of knowledge

11:30  `And O my people! who would save me from (the punishment of) Allah if I were to drive them away? Will you not then consider

11:31  `And I do not say to you that I possess the treasures of Allah, nor that I know the hidden realities, nor do I say that I am an angel, nor do I say concerning those whom your eyes despise that Allah will not grant them any good. Allah knows best whatever is in their minds. I shall indeed be of the unjust (if I say anything of the kind).

11:32  They said, `Noah! you have disputed with us long and have disputed with us many a time; bring down on us now that (punishment) you threaten us with, if you are of the truthful ones.

11:33  He said, `Allah alone will bring it down on you if He will and you cannot frustrate Him (in His purpose)

11:34  `And my sincere counsel will do you no good, choose as I may to counsel you in case Allah intends to destroy you. (All the same,) He is your Lord and to Him you shall be made to return.

11:35  Or do they say, `He (- Muhammad) has forged it.' Say (O Muhammad!), `If I have forged it then on me will be the penalty of my crime and I am quit of (all the responsibilities of) the sin you commit (by denying me).

11:36  And it was revealed to Noah, `No one of your people besides those who have so far believed, will henceforth believe, therefore grieve not over what they have been doing

11:37  `And build the Ark under Our eyes and in accordance with Our revelation, and address not (to plead with) Me in favour of those who act unjustly. Verily, they are doomed to be drowned.

11:38  And he set himself to making the Ark and every time the chiefs of his people passed by him they looked down upon him, (thereupon) he said, `Surely, we (in our turn) will look down on you just as you look down (on us now)

11:39  `You shall soon know for yourself who it is who will be overtaken by the punishment that will disgrace him, and on whom descends a long lasting penalty.

11:40  (Thus it was) till Our command (about the punishment) came and waters of the springs (of the valley) swelled and gushed forth, We said, `Embark in it two of every kind (needed) male and female and (all the members of) your family except those about the destruction of whom (Our) verdict has already been announced and (embark in it) also those who believe.' Yet there had not believed in him excepting a few

11:41  And (Noah) said, `Embark in it. With the name of Allah and His help be its course and its mooring. Surely, my Lord is indeed Great Protector, Ever Merciful.

11:42  Now this (Ark) moved carrying them amidst waves as (high as) mountains. And Noah called out to his son who was (standing) aloof, `My dear son, embark with us and do not be with the disbelievers.

11:43  He said, `I shall betake myself to a mountain for refuge which will protect me from this water.' (Noah) said, `There is no protection (for anyone) this day, from the decree of Allah (about this punishment), but he (will be safe) on whom He has mercy.' And (lo!) a wave separated the two so he (- Noah's son) was among the drowned

11:44  And it was said, `O earth! swallow back your water, and O cloud! abate and stop (pouring).' So the water was made to subside and the matter was decided. And this (Ark) came to rest on (the mount) Al-Judi. And the word went forth, `Away with the unjust people!

11:45  And Noah called to his Lord and said , `My Lord! my son belongs to my family and surely Your promise is (also) true; yet You are the Most Just of the judges.

11:46  (The Lord) said, `He decidedly does not belong to your family as he is given to unrighteous conduct, so do not ask of Me that of which you have no knowledge. I advise you not to be of those wanting in knowledge.

11:47  He said, `My Lord! I beg You to protect me that I should ask You that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy on me I shall be of the losers.

11:48  There came the command, `Noah! descend (from the Ark) with peace from Us and (varied) blessings (We shall bestow ) on you and upon peoples (to be born) of those with you. There shall be other peoples whom We shall grant provisions (of this world for a time), then they will receive from Us a grievous punishment (as a result of their transgression).

11:49  These (announcements full of warnings) are some of the important news of the hidden realities We have revealed them to you. You did not know them, neither you, nor your people before this. Therefore, persevere (in doing good), for those who become secure against evil shall surely have the (good and successful) end

11:50  And (We sent) to (the tribe of) 'Ad, their kinsman Hud (as a Messenger). He said, `My people! worship Allah (alone). You have no One worthy of worship other than He. You are but fabricators (of lies by assigning partners with Him in His sovereignty)

11:51  `My people! I ask of you no reward for this (teaching). My reward is not due but from Him Who created me. Will you not then understand

11:52  `And my people! seek protection of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance. (If you do so) He will send clouds over you pouring down abundance of rain, and He will add more strength to your (present) strength. And do not turn away (from Him) as those who sever their ties (with God).

11:53  They said, `O Hud, you have brought us no clear proof (about your truthfulness), and we will not forsake our gods (merely) for your saying, nor are we going to be believers in you at all

11:54  `All that we can say is that some of our gods have smitten you with evil (rendering you insane).' (Hud) said, `Surely I call Allah to witness; and do you also bear witness that I have nothing to do with the gods you associate (with Allah

11:55  `Apart from Him, so you and all (your gods) together devise concerted plans against me and give me no respite

11:56  `I have definitely put my trust in Allah, (Who is) my Lord and your Lord. There is no living and moving creature but He holds its forelock, (having absolute power over it). Surely, right and just are the ways of my Lord

11:57  `If you turn away (from Him, remember that) I have fully conveyed to you that (Message) I have been sent with to you. (If you do not accept it,) my Lord will replace you with another people to be rulers. And you shall be able to do Him no harm at all. Surely, my Lord is Preserver of all things.

11:58  And when Our command (about the punishment) came, We saved Hud and those who believed with him by a special mercy from Us. And We delivered them from a severe torment

11:59  And such were 'Ad, they deliberately denied the commandments of their Lord and disobeyed His Messengers and followed the bidding of every haughty enemy (of truth)

11:60  And there was sent following them a curse in this world and on the Day of Resurrection (they will meet the same fate). Behold! (the tribe of) 'Ad behaved ungratefully towards their Lord (by denying His favours). Look! destruction is decreed for 'Ad, the people of Hud

11:61  And to the tribe of Thamud (We sent as a Messenger) their kinsman Salih. He said, `My people! worship Allah, you have no One worthy of worship other than He. It is He Who brought you forth from the earth and made you dwell therein. So seek protection of Him and turn to Him in repentance. Verily, my Lord is Nigh, Responsive (to prayers).

11:62  They said, `Salih! you have hitherto been among us as one in whom we placed our hopes. Do you forbid us to worship what our fore fathers have been worshipping? And as a matter of fact we are in disquieting doubt about that (faith) you call us to.

11:63  He said, `My people! have you considered that if (in my claim to Prophethood) I stand on a clear proof from my Lord and He has granted me Mercy (- Prophethood) from Himself, who then will help (to save) me against (the punishment of) Allah if I disobey Him? For then you will increase me in nothing but in leading me to loss

11:64  `My people! this is a she-camel appointed by Allah as a sign for you; so leave her alone to pasture on Allah's earth and afflict her not with any harm or an imminent torment shall seize you.

11:65  But they hamstrung her, so that he (- Salih) said, `You shall enjoy the provision of Allah in your worldly abodes only for (another) three days. This is a promise which will never prove false.

11:66  And when Our command (about punishment) came (to pass), We saved Salih and with him the believers by a (special) mercy from Us and (We saved them) from the ignominy of that day. Surely, All-Powerful is your Lord (and) All Mighty

11:67  And a thunderbolt (caused by an earthquake) seized those who had acted unjustly. And the next morning found them lying prostrate in their habitations

11:68  As if they had never dwelt in them. Behold! Thamud behaved ungratefully to their Lord (denying His favours upon them). So away with (the tribe of) Thamud

11:69  And certainly, Our messengers came to Abraham with good tidings. They said, `(We bid you) peace.' He said, `Peace be (on you too) always.' And he lost no time in bringing them a roasted calf

11:70  But when he saw that their hands did not extend to that (meal) he considered it strange on their part and apprehended evil from them. They said, `Have no fear for we have been sent to the people of Lot.

11:71  And his wife was standing (nearby) and she too was inspired with awe. So we gave her good tidings of (the birth of) Isaac and after Isaac of (his son) Jacob

11:72  She said, `O wonder for me! Shall I bear a child while I am a very old woman and this husband of mine (also) a very old man? This is a wonderful thing indeed!

11:73  They (- Our messengers) said, `Do you marvel at the decree of Allah? Members of this house! the mercy of Allah and His blessings are upon you. Surely, He is the Lord of all praise, Owner of all glory.

11:74  And when awe departed from Abraham and the good tidings came to him, he started pleading with Us for the people of Lot

11:75  Surely, Abraham was gentle, tender-hearted and oft-returning (to Us)

11:76  (Thereupon We said to him,) `Abraham! turn away from this (pleading now), for your Lords command has decidedly come. They are certainly going to receive a punishment that cannot be averted.

11:77  And when Our messengers came to Lot he was grieved on their account and felt helpless on their behalf (- of his people, for he had no means to protect them) and he said, `This is a distressful and hard day.

11:78  And (on hearing the news of the strangers' arrival) his people came (as if) driven on towards him and before this they were given to evil practices. He said, `My people! these are my daughters. They can be purer (guarantee against any conspiracy on my part) for you and take Allah as a shield (against His punishment) and do not disgrace me in the matter of my guests. Is there not among you any right-minded man?

11:79  They said, `You certainly know we have no claim on your daughters, and you know well what we want (from you about the strangers).

11:80  He said, `Would that I had power to deal with you, rather I should betake myself for refuge to a strong support (of God).

11:81  (The messengers) said, `Lot! we are messengers of your Lord. They shall not at all reach you, so set forth (from here) with your family in the latter part of the night and let not anyone of you look about, but your wife (will not obey). Surely, she shall be smitten by that calamity which is going to smite the rest of them; the appointed time of theirs is the morning. Is not the morning nigh?

11:82  So when Our command (about the punishment) came to pass We turned those (townships) upside down and We rained upon them, layer upon layer, with many stones of petrified clay

11:83  Ear-marked (for them) by (the decree of) your Lord. And this (sort of punishment) is not far from the unjust people (of the opponents of the Prophet)

11:84  And to Midian (We sent) their kinsman Shu`aib (as a Messenger). He said, `My people! worship Allah, you have no One worthy of worship other than He. And give not short measure and (short) weight. (Today) I see you in (a state of) prosperity. But (for tomorrow) I fear lest there should befall you the punishment of a (dreadful) day that encompasses all (for destruction)

11:85  `And my people! give true measure and full weight with equity and defraud not people of their possession and commit not inequity in the land as peace-breakers

11:86  `The residue left to you by Allah (after your paying the dues of others) is better for you, if you are true believers. Yet I am not a guardian over you.

11:87  They said, `O Shu`aib! does your prayer enjoin you that we should give up what our fathers worshipped or (does it bid you) that we cease to do with our possessions as we like? You (O Shu`aib!) are you (so to say,) the only intelligent and the right-directing one?

11:88  He said, `My people! what do you think? While I stand (by His grace) on a clear proof from my Lord (then why should not I guide people to the path of peace?), He has provided me from Himself with a goodly and honest livelihood (I cannot therefore be dishonest to Him). I have no intention to practise contrary to you the very thing which I forbid you to do. All that I desire is to set things right as far as I can. There is no power in me to do something (for setting things right) except through the help of Allah. In Him do I put my trust and to Him do I always turn

11:89  `And my people! let not your breach with and hostility towards me make you guilty, so that there may befall you the like of that calamity which befell the people of Noah, and the people of Hud and the people of Salih. And the people of Lot are not far off from you. (You should ponder over their destruction and learn a lesson therefrom.

11:90  `And seek protection of your Lord and turn to Him (in repentance). Verily, my Lord is Ever Merciful, Most Loving.

11:91  They said, `Shu`aib! we do not understand much of what you say and truly we find you a weakling among us. And had it not been (a consideration) for your tribe, we would surely have stoned you to death. And you occupy no strong and respectable position at all as compared with us.

11:92  He said, `My people! does my tribe occupy stronger and more respectable position with you than Allah? And (He has occupied no importance in your eyes that) you have cast Him behind your backs neglected. Surely, my Lord encompasses all your activities (in His knowledge)

11:93  `And my people! do your worst, I (too) am doing (my best). You will soon know who is overtaken by a punishment that will disgrace him, and who it is that is a liar. And be on watch, I shall be with you watching.

11:94  And when Our command (about the punishment) came We saved Shu`aib and with him the believers by Our mercy, and the calamity seized those who had acted unjustly so that the morning found them lying prostrate in their habitations

11:95  (They were so destroyed and desolated) as if they had never dwelt there. So away with Midian; even as Thamud were done away

11:96  And surely We sent Moses with Our signs and manifest strong arguments

11:97  To Pharaoh and the nobles of his court, but they carried out Pharaoh's bidding; whereas the bidding of Pharaoh was not at all right directed

11:98  He (- Pharaoh) will lead his people on the Day of Resurrection and will land them down into the Fire, and evil is the arriving place to be arrived at (by them)

11:99  There was sent following after them a curse in this (life) and on the Day of Resurrection (they shall be the victims of it too). Evil is the gift which shall be given (them)

11:100  That is a part of the important news of the (ruined) townships (of the past), We relate them to you. Some of these (cities) still exist while others have been mown down (and perished)

11:101  We did no wrong to them (- their inhabitants) but they wronged themselves. And when their Lord's command (about their punishment) came to pass, their gods, whom they called upon apart from Allah, were of no avail to them. Infact, they added nothing to them except (leading them to) destruction

11:102  Such is the punishing grasp of your Lord when He takes to task the peoples of the townships (after bringing home to them the truth) while they are steeped in wrongdoings. Surely, painful is His punishing grasp (and) severe

11:103  Infact, there is in that a sign (to learn a lesson from) for him who fears the punishment of the Hereafter. That is a day on which the whole of mankind is to be gathered together and that is a day to be witnessed (by all, to be sure)

11:104  And We defer it not but for a computed term

11:105  The day it comes, no soul shall speak save by His leave; (on that day) some will turn out wretched and (others) fortunate

11:106  As for the wretched, they shall be in the Fire, where they shall moan and cry

11:107  And they shall abide therein, unless your Lord otherwise will, so long as the heavens and the earth (thereof) endure. Surely, your Lord does bring about very well what He intends (to do)

11:108  As for those who turn out fortunate they shall be in Paradise. They will abide therein so long as the heavens and the earth (thereof) endure, unless your Lord otherwise will. This is a gift that shall never be cut off

11:109  So (O people!) have no doubt about the (falsehood of) gods of those (polytheistic) people. They worship (these gods) only because their fathers worshipped (them) before (them), and We shall surely pay them their dues in full, undiminished

11:110  And We gave Moses the Book, but differences arose about it and had it not been for a word (- promise of mercy) that had gone forth from your Lord the issue between them (- the believers and the disbelievers) must have been decided (long before) and (now) they (- the disbelievers) are in a disquieting doubt about it (- the Qur'an)

11:111  Your Lord will certainly repay them all in full (the reward of) their deeds (when they will be presented before Him); for He is Well-Aware of all what they do

11:112  So stand you upright, as you have been commanded, and (also) those who (have left their evil ways and) turned to Allah (in repentance) and joined you. Do not exceed the bounds (set by Allah, O people!). He indeed is Observer of your deeds

11:113  Do not incline towards those who have committed wrong; lest the Fire (of Gehenna) should reach you while you shall find none to protect you, apart from Allah, nor shall you be helped

11:114  And observe Prayer at the two ends of the day and in some early hours of the night. Surely, the good deeds wipe out the evil ones. That is a reminder for those who would remember

11:115  And be you patiently persevering, for surely Allah suffers not the reward of the doers of good to others to go waste

11:116  Why, then, were there not among the generations that preceded you persons possessed of excellence who would forbid the perpetration of evil in the land. But there were only a few of those (who acted righteously and) whom We had saved from among them. And (all others) who had committed wrong pursued that (wanton) ease and plenty they were afforded with (and this led to their rebellion and disobedience), and they became those who cut off their ties (with Allah)

11:117  And your Lord is not the One Who would destroy the townships unjustly (simply for their disbelief) while the inhabitants thereof (live in peace and) set things right

11:118  Had your Lord (enforced) His will He would have certainly made the whole of mankind one community, but (since He did not like to enforce His will upon people) they would not cease to differ

11:119  Different, however, is the case of those on whom your Lord has had mercy. Indeed, it is for (the bestowal of mercy) that He has created them; yet (this) word of your Lord, `Verily I will fill Gehenna with the (rebellious) jinn and (ordinary) people all together,' has perfectly come true

11:120  And all that We relate to you of the important news of the Messengers is to make your heart firm and strong thereby. And there has come to you, implied in these (news) the truth, an exhortation, and a reminder for the believers

11:121  And say to those who do not believe, `Do your worst, we too are doing (Our best)

11:122  `And you may await (our end), we (too) are awaiting (yours).

11:123  To Allah belongs the hidden realities of the heavens and the earth. To Him all matters stand referred. So worship Him and put your trust in Him; for your Lord is not at all unmindful of what you do