23:1  Certainly, the faithful have attained salvatio

23:2  —those who are humble in their prayers

23:3  who avoid vain talk

23:4  who carry out their [duty of] zakat

23:5  who guard their private part

23:6  (except from their spouses or their slave women, for then they are not blameworthy

23:7  but whoever seeks [anything] beyond that —it is they who are transgressors

23:8  and those who keep their trusts and covenants

23:9  and who are watchful of their prayers

23:10  It is they who will be the inheritors

23:11  who shall inherit paradise, and will remain in it [forever]

23:12  Certainly We created man from an extract of clay

23:13  Then We made him a drop of [seminal] fluid [lodged] in a secure abode

23:14  Then We created the drop of fluid as a clinging mass. Then We created the clinging mass as a fleshy tissue. Then We created the fleshy tissue as bones. Then We clothed the bones with flesh. Then We produced him as [yet] another creature. So blessed is Allah, the best of creators

23:15  Then indeed you die after that

23:16  Then you will indeed be raised up on the Day of Resurrection

23:17  Certainly We created above you the seven tiers and We have not been oblivious of creation

23:18  We sent down water from the sky in a measured manner, and We lodged it within the ground, and We are indeed able to take it away

23:19  Then with it We produced for you gardens of date palms and vines. There are abundant fruits in them for you, and you eat from them

23:20  And a tree that grows on Mount Sinai which produces oil and a seasoning for those who eat

23:21  There is indeed a moral for you in the cattle: We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, and you have many uses in them, and you eat some of them

23:22  and you are carried on them and on ships

23:23  Certainly We sent Noah to his people, and he said, ‘O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other god besides Him. Will you not then be wary [of Him]?&rsquo

23:24  But the elite of the faithless from among his people said, ‘This is just a human being like you, who seeks to dominate you. Had Allah wished, He would have sent down angels. We never heard of such a thing among our forefathers

23:25  He is just a man possessed by madness. So bear with him for a while.’

23:26  He said, ‘My Lord! Help me, as they impugn me.’

23:27  So We revealed to him: ‘Build the ark before Our eyes and by Our revelation. When Our edict comes and the oven gushes [a stream of water], bring into it a pair of every kind [of animal], and your family, except those of them against whom the decree has gone beforehand, and do not plead with Me for those who are wrongdoers: they shall indeed be drowned.’

23:28  ‘When you, and those who are with you, are settled in the ark, say, ‘‘All praise belongs to Allah, who has delivered us from the wrongdoing lot.’&rsquo

23:29  And say, ‘‘My Lord! Land me with a blessed landing, for You are the best of those who bring ashore.’’ ’

23:30  There are indeed signs in this; and indeed We have been testing

23:31  Then after them We brought forth another generation

23:32  and We sent them an apostle from among themselves, saying, ‘Worship Allah! You have no other god besides Him. Will you not then be wary [of Him]?&rsquo

23:33  Said the elite of his people, who were faithless and who denied the encounter of the Hereafter and whom We had given affluence in the life of the world: ‘This is just a human being like you: he eats what you eat, and drinks what you drink

23:34  If you obey a human being like yourselves, you will indeed be losers

23:35  Does he promise you that when you have died and become dust and bones you will indeed be raised [from the dead]

23:36  Far-fetched, far-fetched is what you are promised

23:37  There is nothing but the life of this world: we live and we die, and we shall not be resurrected

23:38  He is just a man who has fabricated a lie against Allah, and we will not believe in him.’

23:39  He said, ‘My Lord! Help me, as they impugn me.’

23:40  He said, ‘In a little while they will become regretful.’

23:41  So the Cry seized them justifiably and We turned them into a scum. So away with the wrongdoing lot

23:42  Then after them We brought forth other generations

23:43  No nation can advance its time nor can it defer it

23:44  Then We sent Our apostles successively. Whenever there came to a nation its apostle, they impugned him, so We made them follow one another [to extinction] and We turned them into folktales. So away with the faithless lot

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

23:46  to Pharaoh and his elites; but they acted arrogantly and they were a tyrannical lot

23:47  They said, ‘Shall we believe two humans like ourselves, while their people are our slaves?’

23:48  So they impugned the two of them, whereat they were among those who were destroyed

23:49  Certainly 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 in a highland, level and watered by a stream

23:51  O apostles! Eat of the good things and act righteously. Indeed I know best what you do

23:52  Indeed this community of yours is one community, and I am your Lord, so be wary of Me

23:53  But they fragmented their religion among themselves, each party exulting in what it had

23:54  So leave them in their stupor for a while

23:55  Do they suppose that whatever aid We provide them in regard to wealth and children [is because]

23:56  We are eager to bring them good? Rather they are not aware

23:57  Indeed those who are apprehensive for the fear of their Lord

23:58  and who believe in the signs of their Lord

23:59  and who do not ascribe partners to their Lord

23:60  and who give whatever they give while their hearts tremble with awe that they are going to return to their Lor

23:61  —it is they who are zealous in [performing] good works, and take the lead in them

23:62  We task no soul except according to its capacity, and with Us is a book that speaks the truth, and they will not be wronged

23:63  Rather their hearts are in a stupor in regard to this, and there are their other deeds besides which they perpetrate

23:64  When We seize their affluent ones with punishment, behold, they make entreaties [to Us]

23:65  ‘Do not make entreaties today! Indeed you will not receive any help from Us

23:66  Certainly My signs used to be recited to you, but you used to take to your heels

23:67  being disdainful of it, talking nonsense in your nightly sessions.’

23:68  Have they not contemplated the discourse, or has anything come to them [in it] that did not come to their forefathers

23:69  Is it that they do not recognize their apostle, and so they deny him

23:70  Do they say, ‘There is madness in him’? Rather he has brought them the truth, and most of them are averse to the truth

23:71  Had the Truth followed their desires, the heavens and the earth would have surely fallen apart [along] with those who are in them. Rather We have brought them their reminder, but they are disregardful of their reminder

23:72  Do you ask a recompense from them? Yet your Lord’s recompense is better, and He is the best of providers

23:73  Indeed you invite them to a straight path

23:74  and indeed those who do not believe in the Hereafter surely deviate from the path

23:75  Should We have mercy upon them and remove their distress from them, they would surely persist, bewildered in their rebellion

23:76  Certainly We have seized them with punishment, yet they neither humbled themselves to their Lord, nor did they entreat [Him for mercy]

23:77  When We opened on them the door of a severe punishment, behold, they are despondent in it

23:78  It is He who made for you hearing, eyesight, and hearts. Little do you thank

23:79  It is He who created you on the earth, and you will be mustered toward Him

23:80  And it is He who gives life and brings death and due to Him is the alternation of day and night. Do you not apply reason

23:81  Rather they say just like what the ancients said

23:82  They said, ‘What, when we are dead and become dust and bones, shall we be resurrected?’

23:83  Certainly we and our fathers were promised this before. [But] these are nothing but myths of the ancients.’

23:84  Say, ‘To whom does the earth belong and whoever it contains, if you know?’

23:85  They will say, ‘To Allah.’ Say, ‘Will you not then take admonition?’

23:86  Say, ‘Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the Great Throne?’

23:87  They will say, ‘[They belong] to Allah.’ Say, ‘Will you not then be wary [of Him]?&rsquo

23:88  Say, ‘In whose hand is the dominion of all things, and who shelters and no shelter can be provided from Him, if you know?’

23:89  They will say, ‘[They all belong] to Allah.’ Say, ‘Then how are you being deluded?’

23:90  Rather We have brought them the truth, and they are indeed liars

23:91  Allah has not taken any offspring, neither is there any god besides Him, for then each god would take away what he created, and some of them would surely rise up against others. Clear is Allah of what they allege

23:92  The Knower of the sensible and the Unseen, He is above having any partners that they ascribe [to Him]

23:93  Say, ‘My Lord! If You should show me what they are promised

23:94  then do not put me, my Lord, among the wrongdoing lot.’

23:95  We are indeed able to show you what We promise them

23:96  Repel ill [conduct] with that which is the best. We know best whatever they allege

23:97  And say, ‘My Lord! I seek Your protection from the promptings of devils

23:98  and I seek Your protection, my Lord, from their presence near me.’

23:99  When death comes to one of them, he says, ‘My Lord! Take me back

23:100  that I may act righteously in what I have left behind.’ ‘By no means! These are mere words that he says.’ And ahead of them is a barrier until the day they will be resurrecte

23:101  And when the Trumpet is blown, there will be no ties between them on that day, nor will they ask [about] each other

23:102  Then those whose deeds weigh heavy in the scales —it is they who are the felicitous

23:103  As for those whose deeds weigh light in the scales, —they will be the ones who have ruined their souls, [and] they will remain in hell [forever]

23:104  The Fire will scorch their faces, and they will be morose in it

23:105  ‘Was it not that My signs were recited to you but you would deny them?’

23:106  They will say, ‘Our Lord! Our wretchedness overcame us, and we were an astray lot

23:107  Our Lord! Bring us out of this! Then, if we revert, we will indeed be wrongdoers.’

23:108  He will say, ‘Begone in it, and do not speak to Me

23:109  Indeed there was a part of My servants who would say, ‘‘Our Lord! We have believed. So forgive us, and have mercy on us, and You are the best of the merciful.’&rsquo

23:110  But then you took them by ridicule until they made you forget My remembrance, and you used to laugh at them

23:111  Indeed I have rewarded them today for their patience. They are indeed the triumphant.’

23:112  He will say, ‘How many years did you remain on earth?’

23:113  They will say, ‘We remained for a day, or part of a day; yet ask those who keep the count.’

23:114  He will say, ‘You only remained a little; if only you had known

23:115  Did you suppose that We created you aimlessly, and that you will not be brought back to Us?’

23:116  So exalted is Allah, the True Sovereign, there is no god except Him, the Lord of the Noble Throne

23:117  Whoever invokes besides Allah another god of which he has no proof, his reckoning will indeed rest with his Lord. Indeed the faithless will not be felicitous

23:118  Say, ‘My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of the merciful.’