23:1  The believers have prospered.

23:2  They are those who humble themselves in prayer,

23:3  who turn away from meaningless talk,

23:4  pay the purifying alms,

23:5  and who protect their chastity

23:6  except with their wives or with those whom their right hands held in trust, for which they will not be blamed.

23:7  Those who desire anything beyond that are transgressors,

23:8  whereas those who honor their trusts and their promises

23:9  and who keep up their prayers,

23:10  those are the inheritors

23:11  who will inherit the Paradise of Ferdous, where they will dwell for eternity.

23:12  And We did certainly create man from an extract of clay.

23:13  and then We placed him as a fertilized ovum in a safe place,

23:14  and then We transformed the fertilized ovum into a clinging leach, and the leach into a chewed morsel, and [from] the chewed morsel, We created bones, and We covered the bones with flesh, and then we structured him into yet another creation. Blessed is God, the best of creators.

23:15  Then, after that, you will surely die.

23:16  Then, on the Day of Resurrection, you will be resurrected.

23:17  And We have created above you seven heavenly dimensions, and We have never abandoned [Our] creation.

23:18  And We have sent down rain from the sky in a measured amount and we settle it into the earth, [although] We have the power to withdraw it.

23:19  With [water] We bring forth gardens of palm trees, and vines with abundant fruit for you, from which you may eat,

23:20  and a tree growing out of Mount Sinai that produces oil and relish for those who eat.

23:21  And there is a lesson for you in livestock, we give you milk to drink from their bellies, [you derive] numerous other benefits from them: you eat [their meat]

23:22  We sent Noah to his people, and he said, "My people, worship God; you have no gods before Him. Will you not be aware of Him?"

23:23  and ride upon them as you do on ships.

23:24  But their leaders, who were among the unbelievers from his people said, "He is but a human being like you, trying to gain dominance over you; if God had so willed, He would have sent down angels. We have never heard of anything like this from our forefathers.

23:25  He is only a man possessed, so put up with him for a while, and let's see what happens to him."

23:26  [Noah] said, "My Lord, help me, because they have accused me of lying."

23:27  So We instructed him, "Build the Ark under Our watchful eyes and [according to] Our revelation. When Our command comes and the valley overflows, take on board pairs of every species and your family, except for those among them against whom judgment has been proclaimed. And do not plead with Me on behalf of the unjust; they will all be drowned.

23:28  When you and those with you are settled on the Ark, then say, 'All praise is due to God, who has delivered us from the oppressive people.'

23:29  And say, 'My Lord, let me land at a blessed landing place, as You are the best to provide.' "

23:30  There are signs in all this, and We are always putting people to the test.

23:31  Then, after those people, We raised up a new generation.

23:32  And We sent them a messenger from among them, [saying], "Worship God for you have no god before Him. Will you not, then, be aware of Him?"

23:33  But the leaders among his people, who denied the truth and denied the encounter with the Hereafter, and to whom We had given ease and plenty in this worldly, life said, "This is only a man like you, who eats what you eat and drinks what you drink

23:34  and, if you should obey a human being like yourselves, you would then fail.

23:35  Does he promise you that when you have died and become dust and bones that you will be brought forth [to a new life]?

23:36  What You have been promised is sheer nonsense.

23:37  Life is only our worldly life: we live and die, but we will not be resurrected.

23:38  He is just a man who has invented a lie about God, and We will never believe him."

23:39  He said, "My Lord, help me because they call me a liar."

23:40  [God] said, "After a little while, they will surely regret [what they have said]."

23:41  So the blast justly struck them, and We swept them away like scum. Away then with the oppressive people.

23:42  After them, We gave rise to new generations.

23:43  No community can speed up or hold back its appointed destiny.

23:44  Then We sent Our Messengers in succession. Whenever a messenger came to a community he was invariably rejected, so We destroyed them one after the other, until they became mere tales. Away, then, with the people who do not believe

23:45  Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron with Our signs and a clear authority

23:46  to Pharaoh and his inner circle, but they were an arrogant, haughty people.

23:47  They said, "Should we believe two human beings like us while their people are serving us?"

23:48  So they called them both liars, and were consequently destroyed.

23:49  And We gave Moses the Book so that they might be guided.

23:50  And We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign, and sheltered them within a hill where there was a meadow and a flowing spring.

23:51  [God said], "O Messengers, eat good things and do good. I know all that you do.

23:52  This community of yours is one community, and I am your Lord, so be ever conscious of Me."

23:53  Yet [your followers] tore their unity piece by piece, each faction rejoicing in what it has.

23:54  So, leave them in their confusion for a while.

23:55  Do they think that We provide them wealth and children

23:56  because We rush to give them good things? No, but they are oblivious [to what is going on].

23:57  Those who stand in awe of their Lord

23:58  who believe in the messages of their Lord

23:59  who do not associate anything with their Lord,

23:60  and who give whatever they can while their hearts tremble at the thought that they will be returning to their Lord,

23:61  these are the ones who vie to do good deeds, and they will be the first to attain them.

23:62  We do not burden any soul with more than it can bear. There is a record with Us which speaks the Truth and they will not be treated unjustly.

23:63  However, the [unbelievers'] hearts are in confusion about this [message], and they do even do worse deeds,

23:64  until We bring those corrupted with opulence for punishment. Only then will they suddenly start crying [to God] for help.

23:65  "Do not cry out today. You will not get any help from Us.

23:66  For [every time] My verses were recited to you, you turned away from them

23:67  in arrogance, amusing yourself by talking nonsense about them far into the night."

23:68  Have they not thought about what We tell them, or has something come to them that did not come to their forefathers?

23:69  Or do they not recognize their messenger? Is that why they do not acknowledge him?

23:70  Or do they say, "He is crazy?" when in fact he brought them the Truth. But most of them hate the Truth.

23:71  If the Truth conformed to their desires, truly, the heavens, and the earth, and whoever is in them would have been corrupted. Instead, We have given them their Reminder, but they turn away from it.

23:72  Or [do they think that] you are asking them for compensation, when your Lord's compensation is best? He is the Best of Providers.

23:73  You call them to a straight path,

23:74  but those who do not believe in the Hereafter deviate from that path.

23:75  Even if We were to show them mercy and relieve them of the harm afflicting them, they would persist in their blind transgression.

23:76  Even when We afflicted them with suffering [as a warning], they did not humble themselves to their Lord, nor were they submissive,

23:77  but when We open a gate of severe punishment to them, they will immediately be crushed with despair.

23:78  And it is He who created your hearing and vision and hearts; how seldom are you grateful.

23:79  And it is He who spread you over the earth, and to Him you will be gathered.

23:80  And It is He Who gives life and causes death, and to Him is due the alternation of night and day. Will you not then use your reason?

23:81  However, they are content to say what their ancestors said.

23:82  They said, "When we die and become dust and bones, are we to be resurrected?

23:83  We have been promised this before, and so were our forefathers. These are just ancient legends."

23:84  Say, "To whom belongs the earth and all that is in it, if you know?"

23:85  They will say, "To God." Say, "Then will you not take heed?"

23:86  Say, "Who is Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the Mighty Throne?"

23:87  They will say, "[They belong] to God." Say, "Then will you not be mindful?"

23:88  Say, "In whose hand is the dominion over all things. Who protects, while none can protect against Him, if you happen to know?"

23:89  They will say, "[All belongs] to God." Say, "Then how can you be so mislead?"

23:90  In fact, We have sent them the Truth, but they lie.

23:91  God has not taken any son, nor has there ever been any other god but Him. [Had there been], then each god would have taken aside what it created, and sought to overcome the others. May God be exalted in His glory, far above what they ascribed to Him.

23:92  The Knower of all that is beyond human's perception, as well as all that can be witnessed by humans. May He be exalted above all whom they associate with Him!

23:93  Say, "My Lord, if You are going to show me what you have promised them,

23:94  then, My Lord, do not place me among such unjust people."

23:95  We are surely able to show you what We have promised them.

23:96  Overcome evil with good- We are well aware of what they are saying.

23:97  And say, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils,

23:98  and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, so they may not come near me."

23:99  When death comes to one of them, he says, "My Lord, send me back

23:100  so that I may make amends for what I left undone." Never! This is but a word he is saying; for behind them there is a [dimensional) barrier until the Day when all will be resurrected!

23:101  So when the Horn is blown, no ties of kinship will bind them on that Day, nor will they ask about one another.

23:102  And those whose balance [of good deeds) is heavy, it is they who will be successful;

23:103  but those whose balance is light, those are the ones who have lost their souls and will remain in Hell forever.

23:104  The Fire will sear their faces, distorting them horribly and painfully.

23:105  "Were not My verses recited to you and did you not reject them?"

23:106  They will say, "Our Lord, our defiance overcame us, and we were led astray.

23:107  Our Lord, get us out of here, and, if we go back to our evil ways, we would be unjust."

23:108  He will say, "Remain despised where you are and do not speak to Me.

23:109  Among My worshipers there were those who used to say, 'Our Lord, We have believed, so forgive us and have mercy on us, for You are the most Merciful.'

23:110  But you were so preoccupied with mocking them that you forgot about Me, while you were laughing at them.

23:111  I have rewarded them this Day for their patient endurance - they are the successful."

23:112  He said: "How many years were you on earth?"

23:113  They will say, "We were there a day or part of a day; ask those who keep track of it."

23:114  He will say, "You stayed but a little, if only you had known.

23:115  Did you think, then, that We created you in vain, or that you would not be returned to Us?"

23:116  How sublimely exalted is God, the Ultimate Sovereign, the Ultimate Truth; there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Noble Throne of His majesty.

23:117  Whoever calls another deity besides God with no evidence for its existence, then his reckoning will be with his Lord. the unbelievers will never triumph.

23:118  And, say, "My Lord, forgive and have mercy; and You are the most Merciful-to-all."