al-Imran (The Family of Imran, The House of Imran) at IslamAwakened.com

3:4 for the guidance of mankind; and He has also revealed the Criterion (to distinguish truth from falsehood). A severe chastisement lies in store for those who deny the signs of Allah. Allah is All-Mighty; He is the Lord of Retribution

3:5 Nothing in the earth and in the heavens is hidden from Allah

3:6 It is He Who fashions you in the wombs as He wills. There is no God but He; the All-Mighty, the All-Wise

3:7 It is He Who has revealed the Book to you. Some of its verses are absolutely clear and lucid, and these are the core of the Book. Others are ambiguous. Those in whose hearts there is perversity, always go about the part which is ambiguous, seeking mischief and seeking to arrive at its meaning arbitrarily, although none knows their true meaning except Allah. On the contrary, those firmly rooted in knowledge say: ´We believe in it; it is all from our Lord alone.´ No one derives true admonition from anything except the men of understanding

3:8 They pray to Allah: ´Our Lord! Do not let our hearts swerve towards crookedness after You have guided us to the right way, and. bestow upon us Your mercy. Surely You, only You, are the Munificent Giver

3:9 Our Lord! You surely will gather mankind together one Day, a Day about (the coming of which) there is no doubt. Surely Allah never goes against His promise.´

3:10 Those who disbelieve, neither their wealth nor their offspring will avail them at all against Allah, and it is they who will be the fuel of the Fir

3:11 (To them shall happen) the like of what happened to the people of Pharaoh, and those before them. They rejected Our signs, so Allah seized them for their sins. Allah indeed is severe in punishment

3:12 Tell those who disbelieved: ´You shall soon be overpowered and mustered to Hell - and that is an evil resting place!´

3:13 You have already come across an instructive sign in the two hosts that encountered each other in battle (at Badr): one host fighting in the way of Allah, and the other that of unbelievers. They saw with their own eyes that one host was twice the number of the other. But (the result of the battle has proved that) Allah succours with His victory whomsoever He wills. In this there is surely a lesson for all who have eyes to see

3:14 Men are naturally tempted by the lure of women, children, treasures of gold and silver, horses of mark, cattle and plantations. These are the enjoyments in the life of this world; but with Allah lies a goodly abode to return to

3:15 Say: ´Shall I tell you of things better than these? For the God-fearing there are, with their Lord, gardens beneath which rivers flow; there they will abide for ever, will have spouses of stainles

3:16 These are the ones who pray: ´Our Lord! We do indeed believe, so forgive us our sins and keep us safe from the chastisement of the Fire´

3:17 men who are steadfast, truthful, obedient, spend (in the way of Allah) and implore the forgiveness of Allah before daybreak

3:18 Allah Himself bears witness that there is no God but He; and likewise do the angels and the men possessed of knowledge bear witness in truth and justice that there is no God but He, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise

3:19 The true religion with Allah is Islam. The People of the Book adopted many different ways rather than follow the true way of Islam even after the knowledge of truth had reached them, and this merely to commit excesses against one another. Let him who refuses to follow the ordinances and directives of Allah know that Allah is swift in His reckoning

3:20 And if they remonstrate with you, tell them: ´I have submitted my whole being to Allah, and so have those who follow me.´ And ask the People of the Book as well as those who follow no heavenly Scripture: ´Have you also submitted (to Allah)?´ If they have submitted to Him, they are indeed on the right way but if they deviate from submitting to Allah, then your duty is merely to deliver the message. Allah observes the affairs of His servants

3:21 Give those who refuse to follow the directives of Allah, who slay the Prophets unjustly, and who slay those who enjoin justice, give them glad tidings of a grievous chastisement

3:22 These are the people whose works have gone to waste in this world and in the World to Come. They have none to help them

3:23 Have you not noticed those who have been given a portion of the Book? Whenever their learned men are summoned to the Book of Allah to judge the differences between them, a party of them turns away in aversion

3:24 This is because they say: ´The fire of Hell shall not touch us except for a limited number of days.´ The false beliefs which they have forged have deluded them in their faith

3:25 How, then, will they fare when We shall gather them all together to witness the Day about (the coming of) which there is no doubt, and when every human being shall be repaid in full for what he has done, and none shall be wronged

3:26 Say: ´O Allah, Lord of all dominion! You give dominion to whom You will, and take away dominion from whom You will, and You exalt whom You will, and abase whom You will. In Your Hand is all good. Surely You are All-Power-ful

3:27 You cause the night to pass into the day and the day to pass into the night. You bring forth the living out of the dead, and You bring the dead out of the living, and You give sustenance to whom You will beyond all reckoning.´

3:28 The believers may not take the unbelievers for their allies in preference to those who believe. Whoever does this has nothing to do with Allah unless he does so in order to protect himself from their wrong-doing. Allah warns you to beware of Him for it is to Allah that you will return

3:29 Say: ´Whether you conceal what is in your hearts or disclose it, Allah knows it. Allah knows what is in the heavens and in the earth and He has power over everything.´

3:30 The Day is approaching when every soul shall find itself confronted with whatever good it has done and whatever evil it has wrought. It will then wish there is a wide space between it and the Day! Allah warns you to beware of Him; He is most tender towards His servants

3:31 (O Messenger!) Tell people: ´If you indeed love Allah, follow me, and Allah will love you and will forgive you your sins. Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate.´

3:32 Say: ´Obey Allah and obey the Messenger.´ If they turn away from this then know that Allah does not love those who refuse to obey Him and His Messenger

3:33 Truly Allah chose Adam and Noah and the descendants of Abraham and of ´Imran above all mankind

3:34 (for His messengership) - a people alike and the seed of one another. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing

3:35 . (He also heard) when the woman of ´Imran said: ´O Lord! Behold, unto You do I vow that the child in my womb is to be devoted to Your exclusive service. Accept it, then, from me. Surely You alone are All-Hearing, All-Knowing.´

3:36 But when she gave birth to a female child, she said: ´O Lord! I have given birth to a female´ - and Allah knew full well what she had given birth to - ´and a female is not the same as a male. I have named her Mary and commit her and her offspring to You for protection from Satan, the accursed.´

3:37 Thereupon her Lord graciously accepted Mary and vouchsafed to her a goodly growth and placed her in the care of Zechariah. Whenever Zechariah visited her in the sanctuary, he found her provided with food. He asked her: ´O Mary, how did this come to you?´ She said: ´It is from Allah. Allah provides sustenance to whom He wills beyond all reckoning.´

3:38 Then Zechariah prayed to his Lord: ´O Lord! Grant me from Yourself out of Your grace the gift of a goodly offspring, for indeed You alone heed all Prayers.´

3:39 As he stood praying in the sanctuary, the angels called out to him: ´Allah gives you good tidings of John (Yahya), who shall confirm a command of Allah, shall be outstanding among men, utterly chaste, and a Prophet from among the righteous.´

3:40 Zechariah exclaimed: ´My Lord! How shall I have a son when old age has overtaken me and my wife is barren?´ He said: Thus shall it be; Allah does what He wills.´

3:41 Zechariah said: ´O my Lord! Appoint a sign for me.´ The angel said: ´The sign for you shall be that you shall not speak to men for three days except by gesture. Remember your Lord and extol His glory by night and by day.´

3:42 Then came the time when the angels said: ´O Mary! Behold, Allah has chosen you, and made you pure, and exalted you above all the women in the world

3:43 O Mary! Remain devout to your Lord, and prostrate yourself in worship, and bow with those who bow (before Him).´

3:44 (O Muhammad!) We reveal to you this account from a realm which lies beyond the reach of your perception for you were not with them when they drew lots with their pens about who should be Mary´s guardian, and you were not with them when they disputed about it

3:45 And when the angels said: ´O Mary! Allah gives you the glad tidings of a command from Him: his name shall be Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary. He shall be highly honoured in this world and in the Next, and shall be one of those near stationed to Allah

3:46 And he shall speak to men in the cradle and also later when he grows to maturity and shall indeed be among the righteous.´

3:47 She said: ´O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has ever touched me?´ The angel answered: Thus shall it be. Allah creates whatever He wills. When He decides something, He merely says: "Be" and it is

3:48 And He will teach him the Book, the Wisdom, the Torah, the Gospel

3:49 and he will be a Messenger to the Children of Israel.´ (And when he came to them he said): ´I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I will make for you from clay the likeness of a bird and then I will breathe into it and by the leave of Allah it will become a bird. I will also heal the blind and the leper, and by the leave of Allah bring the dead to life. I will also inform you of what things you eat and what you treasure up in your houses. Surely this is a sign for you if you are true believ-ers

3:50 And I have come to confirm the truth of whatever there still remains of the Torah, and to make lawful to you some of the things which had been forbidden to you. have come to you with a sign from your Lord; so have fear of Allah and obey me

3:51 Surely, Allah is my Lord and your Lord; so serve Him alone. This is the straight way.´

3:52 And when Jesus perceived their leaning towards unbelief, he asked: ´Who will be my helpers in the way of Allah?´ The disciples said: ´We are the helpers of Allah. We believe in Allah, and be our witness that we have submitted ourselves exclusively to Allah

3:53 Our Lord! We believe in the com-mandment You have revealed and we obey the Messenger; make us, then, one of those who bear witness (to the Truth).´

3:54 Then they schemed (against the Messiah), and Allah countered their schemes by schemes of His own. Allah is the best of schemers

3:55 (And it was part of His scheme) when Allah said: ´O Jesus! I will recall you and raise you up to Me and will purify you (of the company) of those who disbelieve, and will set your followers above the unbelievers till the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me you shall return, and I will judge between you regarding what you differed

3:56 As for those who disbelieved, I shall punish them with a terrible chastisement in this world and in the Next; and they shall find none to help them

3:57 But those who believe and do righteous deeds, He will reward them in full. Allah does not love the unjust.´

3:58 What We recite to you consists of signs and wise admonition

3:59 Surely, in the sight of Allah, the similitude of the creation of Jesus is as the creation of Adam whom He created out of dust, and then said: ´Be´, and he was

3:60 This is the truth from your Lord; be not, then, among those who doubt

3:61 Tell whoever disputes with you on this matter after true knowledge has come to you: ´Come! Let us summon our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves, and then let us pray together and invoke the curse of Allah on those who lie.´

3:62 This is the true story. There is no God but Allah, and assuredly Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise

3:63 And if they turn their backs, truly Allah knows those who cause mischief

3:64 Say: ´People of the Book! Come to a word common between us and you: that we shall serve none but Allah and shall associate none with Him in His divinity and that some of us will not take others as lords beside Allah.´ And if they turn their backs (from accepting this call), tell them: ´Bear witness that we are the ones who have submitted ourselves exclusively to Allah.´

3:65 People of the Book! Why do you dispute with us about Abraham even though the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed until after the time of Abraham? Do you not understand

3:66 Behold, you are those who have disputed greatly concerning matters which you knew; why are you now disputing about matters that you know nothing about? Allah knows it whereas you do not know

3:67 Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian; he was a Muslim, wholly devoted to God. And he certainly was not amongst those who associate others with Allah in His divinity

3:68 Surely the people who have the best claim to a relationship with Abraham are those who followed him in the past, and presently this Prophet and those who believe in him; Allah is the guardian of the men of faith

3:69 A party of the People of the Book would fain lead you astray, whereas in truth they lead none astray except themselves, but they do not realize it

3:70 O People of the Book! Why do you reject the signs of Allah even though you yourselves witness them

3:71 People of the Book! Why do you confound Truth with falsehood, and why do you conceal the Truth knowingly

3:72 A party of the People of the Book said: ´Believe in the morning what has been revealed to those who believe, and then deny it in the evening that they may thus retract (from their faith).´

3:73 They also say among themselves: ´Do not follow anyone except him who follows your faith.´ Say: ´Surely true guidance is Allah´s. It is His favour that anyone should be given the like of what you have been given in the past, and that others should have been given firm evidence to proffer against you before your Lord.´ Say: ´Surely bounty is in the Hand of Allah; He gives it to whom He wills. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing

3:74 He singles out for His mercy whomever He wills, Allah is possessed of abounding bounty.´

3:75 And among the People of the Book there are some who would restore you even if you were to entrust a treasure of gold, and of them there are some whom were you to entrust with one gold piece, will not restore it unless you stand over them. That is because they say: ´We will not be taken to task for whatever we may do to non-Jews (ummls). Thus they falsely fix a lie upon Allah, and do so wittingly

3:76 But Allah loves only those who fulfil their covenant and fear Allah. Truly Allah loves the God-fearing

3:77 There shall be no share in the Life to Come for those who sell away the covenant of Allah and their oaths for a trivial gain. On the Day of Resurrection Allah will neither address them, look at them, nor will He purify them. A painful chastisement lies ahead of them

3:78 And there is a party among them who twist their tongues while reciting the Book to make you think that it is part of the Book when in fact it is not. They say: ´It is from Allah´, when in fact it is not from Allah. They falsely fix a lie upon Allah, and do so wittingly

3:79 It does not befit a man that Allah should grant him His Book and sound judgement and prophet-hood, and thereafter he should say to men: ´Become servants to me apart from Allah.´ He would rather say: ´Become dedicated men of Allah, in accord with the dictates of the Book you have been teaching and studying.´

3:80 He will never enjoin you to take the angels or Prophets for your lords. Will he enjoin upon you unbelief when you have submitted yourselves to Allah

3:81 And recall when Allah took a covenant from the Prophets: ´This is the Book and the Wisdom which I have given you. But should a Prophet come to you confirming that which is already with you, you shall believe in him and shall help him. So saying, Allah asked: ´Do you agree and accept to take up the burden of the covenant?´ They answered: ´We agree,´ He said: ´Then bear wirness; and I will be with you among the witness

3:82 Then whosoever shall turn away from this covenant they are the transgressors

3:83 Do they now seek a religion other than prescribed by Allah even though all that is in the heavens and the earth is in submission to Him - willing or unwillingly - and to Him all shall return

3:84 Say: ´We believe in Allah and what was revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and to Issac and Jacob and his descendents, and the teachings which Allah gave to Moses and Jesus and to other Prophets. We make no distinction between any of them and to Him do we submit

3:85 And whoever seeks a way other than this way a submission (Islam), will find that it will not be accepted from him and in the Life to come he will be among the losers

3:86 How can Allah guide people who once believed, after they received clear signs and affirmed that the Messenger was a true one, lapsed into disbelief. Allah does not guide the wrong-doers

3:87 The recom- pense for their wrong-doing is that the curse of Allah and of the angels and of all men shall upon them

3:88 Thus shall they abide. Neither shall their chastisement be granted nor shall they be granted any respite

3:89 But those who repent and mend their ways shall be excepted for indeed Allah is Forgiving, All-Compassionate

3:90 Those who relieved and have har-dened in their disbelief after once believing, their (pretence to) repentance shall not be accepted. Indeed such men have altogether strayed

3:91 Truly those who disbelieved and died as unbelievers, not even an earth full of gold will be accepted from them as ransom. For such people there is painful chastisement; and none shall come to their help

3:92 You shall not attain righteousness until you spend out of what you love (in the way of Allah). Allah knows whatever you spend

3:93 All food (that is lawful in the Law revealed to Muhammad) was lawful to the Children of Israel, except what Israel made unlawful to themselves before the revelation of the Torah. Tell them: ´Bring the Torah and recite any passage of it if you are truthful.´

3:94 Those who falsely fix lies upon Allah despite this are the wrong-doers

3:95 Say: ´Whatever Allah has said is true. Follow, then, the way of Abraham in total devotion to Allah. He was not one of those who associate others with Allah in His divinity

3:96 Behold, the first House (of Prayer) established for mankind is the one at Bakkah: it is full of blessing and a centre of guidance for the whole world

3:97 In it there are clear signs and the station of Abraham; whoever enters it becomes secure. Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by all who can make their way to it. As for those who refuse to follow His command, surely Allah does not stand in need of anything

3:98 Say: ´People of the Book! Why do you reject the signs of Allah when Allah is witness to all that you do?´

3:99 Say: ´People of the Book! Why do you hinder one who believes from the way of Allah, seeking that he follow a crooked way, even though you yourselves are witness to its being the right way?´ Allah is not heedless of what you do

3:100 Believers! Were you to obey a party of those who were given the Book, they might cause you to renounce the Truth after you have attained to faith

3:101 How can you disbelieve when you are the ones to whom the signs of Allah are recited and amidst you is His Messenger? Whoever holds fast to Allah will certainly be guided to the straight way

3:102 Believers! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and see that you do not die save in the state of submission to Allah

3:103 Hold fast together to the cable of Allah and be not divided. Remember the blessing that Allah bestowed upon you: you were once enemies then He brought your hearts together, so that through His blessing you became brothers. You stood on the brink of a pit of fire and He delivered you from it. Thus Allah makes His signs clear to you that you may be guided to the right way

3:104 And from among you there must be a party who invite people to all that is good and enjoin the doing of all that is right and forbid the doing of all that is wrong. It is they who will attain true success

3:105 Do not be like those who fell into factions and differed among themselves after clear signs had come to them. A mighty chastisement awaits them on the Day when some faces will turn bright and ther faces will turn dark. Those whose faces have turned dark will be told: ´Did you fall into unbelief after you had been blessed with belief? Taste, then, chastise- ment for your unbelief.´ And those whose faces have turned bright, they will be in the mercy of Allah, and therein they shall abide. These are the mes sages of Allah which We recite to you in truth, and Allah desires no wrong to the people of the world. To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth, and to Allah are all matters referred for decision

3:106 On the Day when some faces will turn bright and ther faces will turn dark. Those whose faces have turned dark will be told: ´Did you fall into unbelief after you had been blessed with belief? Taste, then, chastisement for your unbelief

3:107 And those whose faces have turned bright, they will be in the mercy of Allah, and therein they shall abide

3:108 These are the mes sages of Allah which We recite to you in truth, and Allah desires no wrong to the people of the world

3:109 To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth, and to Allah are all matters referred for decision

3:110 You are now the best people brought forth for (the guidance and reform of) mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. Had the People of the Book believed it were better for them. Some of them are believers but most of them are transgressors

3:111 They will not be able to harm you except for a little hurt, and if they fight against you they will turn their backs (in flight), and then they will not be succoured

3:112 Wherever they were, they were covered with ignominy, except when they were protected by either a covenant with Allah or a covenant with men. They are laden with the burden of Allah´s wrath, and humiliation is stuck upon them - and all this because they rejected the signs of Allah and slayed the Prophets without right, and because they disobeyed and transgressed

3:113 Yet all are not alike: among the People of the Book there are upright people who recite the messages of Allah in the watches of the night and prostrate themselves in worship

3:114 They believe in Allah and in the Last Day and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and hasten to excel each other in doing good. These are among the righteous

3:115 Whatever good they do shall not go unappreciated, and Allah fully knows those who are pious

3:116 As for those who denied the Truth, neither their possessions nor their children will avail them against Allah. They are the people of the Fire, and therein they shall abide

3:117 The example of what they spend in the life of this world is like that of a wind accompanied with frost which smites the harvest of a people who wronged themselves, and lays it to waste. It is not Allah who wronged them; rather it is they who wrong themselves

3:118 Believers! Do not take for intimate friends those who are not of your kind. They spare no effort to injure you. Indeed they love all that distresses you. Their hatred is clearly manifest in what they say, and what their breasts conceal is even greater. Now We have made Our messages clear to you, if only you can understand (the danger of their intimacy)

3:119 Lo! It is you who love them but they do not love you even though you believe in the whole of the (heavenly) Book. When they meet you they say: ´We believe´, but when they are by themselves they bite their fingers in rage at you. Say: ´Perish in your rage.´ Allah knows even what lies hidden in their breasts

3:120 If anything good happens to you they are grieved; if any misfortune befalls you they rejoice at it. But if you remain steadfast and mindful of Allah their designs will not cause you harm. Allah surely encompasses all that they do

3:121 (O Messenger! Remind the Muslims of the occasion) when you went forth from your home at early dawn (to the battlefield of Uhud) and placed the believers in battle arrays. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing

3:122 And recall when two groups from among you were inclined to flag although Allah was their protector; it is in Allah that the believers should put their trust

3:123 For sure Allah helped you at Badr when you were utterly weak. Beware, then, of Allah; perhaps you will be thankful

3:124 And recall when you said to the believers: ´Will it not suffice you that your Lord will aid you by sending down three thousand angels

3:125 If you are steadfast and mindful of God, even though the enemy should suddenly fall upon you, your Lord will help you even with five thousand marked angels

3:126 Allah has reminded you of this only as a glad tiding to you and so as to let your hearts be at rest. Help can only come from Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise

3:127 And Allah provided this aid to you in order to cut off a part of those who disbelieved and frustrate them so that they retreat in utter disappointment

3:128 (O Messenger!) It is not for you to decide whether He will accept their repentance or chastise them, for they surely are wrongdoers

3:129 Whatever is in the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah. He forgives whom He wills, and chastises whom He wills: Allah is indeed All-Forgiving, Most-Compassionate

3:130 Believers! Do not swallow interest, doubled and redoubled, and be mindful of Allah so that you may attain true success

3:131 And have fear of the Fire which awaits those who deny the Truth

3:132 And obey Allah and the Messenger, that you may be shown mercy. And hasten to the for-giveness of your Lord and to a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the God-fearing who spend in the way of Allah both in plenty and hardship, who restrain their anger, and forgive others. Allah loves such good-doers."

3:133 And hasten to the for-giveness of your Lord and to a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the God-fearing

3:134 who spend in the way of Allah both in plenty and hardship, who restrain their anger, and forgive others. Allah loves such good-doers."

3:135 These are the ones who, when they commit any indecency and wrong against themselves, instantly remember Allah and implore forgiveness for their sins - for who will forgive sins save Allah? - and who do not wilfully persist in the wrong they did

3:136 They shall be recompensed by forgiveness from their Lord and by gardens beneath which rivers flow; there they shall abide. How good is the reward of those who labour

3:137 Many eras have passed before you. Go about, then, in the land and behold the end of those who gave the lie to (the directives and ordinances of Allah)

3:138 This is a plain exposition for men, and a guidance and admonition for the Godfearing

3:139 Do not, then, either lose heart or grieve: for you shall surely gain the upper hand if you are true men of faith

3:140 If a wound has befallen you a similar wound has already befallen the people who are opposed to you. We make such movements to men in turn so that Allah might mark out those who are the true men of faith and select from among you those who do really bear witness (to the Truth): for Allah does not love the wrong-doers

3:141 and makes men go through trials in order that He might purge the believers and blot out those who deny the Truth

3:142 Did you think that you would enter Paradise even though Allah has not yet seen who among you strove hard in His way and remained steadfast

3:143 You previously longed for death (in the way of Allah): now you have faced it, observing it with your own eyes

3:144 Muhammad is no more than a Messenger, and Messengers have passed away before him. If, then, he were to die or be slain will you turn about on your heels? Whoever turns about on his heels can in no way harm Allah. As for the grateful ones, Allah will soon reward them

3:145 It is not given to any soul to die except with the leave of Allah, and at an appointed time. And he who desires his reward in this world, We shall grant him the reward of this world; and he who desires the reward of the Other World, We shall grant him the reward of the Other World. And soon shall We reward the ones who are grateful

3:146 Many were the Prophets on whose side a large number of God-devoted men fought: they neither lost heart for all they had to suffer in the way of Allah nor did they weaken nor did they abase themselves. Allah loves such steadfast ones

3:147 And all they said was this: ´Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, and our excesses, and set our feet firm, and succour us against those who deny the Truth.´

3:148 Thereupon Allah granted them the reward of this world as well as a better reward of the World to Come. Allah loves those who do good

3:149 Believers! If you follow those who deny the Truth, they will drive you back on your heels, and you will turn about, losers

3:150 But Allah is your Protector, and He is the best of helpers

3:151 We will cast terror into the hearts of those who have denied the Truth since they have associated others with Allah in His divinity - something for which He has sent down no sanction. The Fire is their abode; how bad the resting place of the wrong-doers will be

3:152 Allah surely fulfilled His promise (of succour) when you were slaying them by His leave until the moment when you flagged and quarrelled among yourselves about the matter, and acted against the order of (the Prophet). Soon He showed you what you had intensely desired - for some among you sought this world and some of you sought the Next. Thereupon, in order to put you to a test He turned you away from your foes. Still He pardoned you after that for Allah is Bounteous to those who believe

3:153 Recall when you were fleeing without casting even a side glance at anyone, and the Messenger was calling out to you from the rear. Then Allah requited you by inflicting grief after grief upon you so as to instruct you neither to grieve for the losses you might suffer nor for the afflictions that might befall you. Allah knows all that you do

3:154 Then, after inflict-ing this grief, He sent down an inner peace upon you - a sleep which overtook some of you. Those who were concerned merely about themselves, entertaining false notions about Allah - the notions of the Age of Ignorance - asked: ´Have we any say in the matter?´ Tell them: ´Truly, all power of decision rests solely with Allah.´ Indeed, they conceal in their hearts what they would not reveal to you, saying: ´If we had any power of decision, we would not have been slain here.´ Say: ´Even if you had been in your houses, those for whom slaying had been appointed would have gone forth to the places where they were to be slain.´ And all this happened so that Allah might test your secret thoughts and purge your hearts of all impurities. Allah knows well what is in the breasts of men

3:155 Surely those of them who turned their backs on the day when the two armies met (at Uhud) did so because Satan made them slip because of some of their lapses. But Allah has pardoned them; He is All-Forgiving, All-Forbearing

3:156 Believers, do not behave like those who disbelieved and say to their brothers (who meet some mishap) in the course of their journey for fighting: ´Had they remained with us, they would not have died nor been slain.´ Allah makes such thoughts the cause of deep regrets in their hearts. For in truth it is Allah alone who grants life and deals death. Allah sees all that you do

3:157 And were you to be slain or to die in the way of Allah, then surely Allah´s forgiveness and mercy are better than all the goods they amass

3:158 And were you to die or be slain, it is to Allah that you will all be mustered

3:159 It was thanks to Allah´s mercy that you were gentle to them. Had you been rough, hard-hearted, they would surely have scattered away from you. So pardon them, and pray for their forgiveness, and take counsel from them in matters of importance. And when you are resolved on a course of action place your trust in Allah; surely Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him)

3:160 If Allah helps you none shall prevail over you; if He forsakes you then who can help you? It is in Allah that the believers should put their trust

3:161 It is not for a Prophet to defraud; and whoever defrauds shall bring with him the fruits of his fraud on the Day of Resurrection, when every human being shall be paid in full what he has earned, and shall not be wronged

3:162 Is he who follows the good pleasure of Allah like him who is laden with Allah´s wrath and whose abode is Hell? How evil that is for a resting-place

3:163 They vary greatly in rank in the sight of Allah, and Allah sees what they do

3:164 Surely Allah conferred a great favour on the believers when He raised from among them a Messenger to recite to them His signs, and to purify them, and to teach them the Book and Wisdom. For before that they were in manifest error

3:165 And how come when a calamity befell you, you began to ask: ´How has this come about?´ even though the enemy has suffered at your hands (in the Battle of Badr) double what you have suffered! Say: This calamity has been brought about by yourselves. Surely Allah is Ail-Powerful

3:166 What befell you on the day when the two hosts met was by the leave of Allah, and in order that He might mark out those who believ

3:167 and those who are hypocrites. And when these hypocrites were asked: ´Come and fight in the wayof Allah´, or (at least) ´defend yourselves´, they answered: ´If we but knew that there would be fighting, we would certainly have followed. They were nearer then to infidelity than to faith. They utter from their mouths what is not in their hearts. Allah knows well what they conceal

3:168 These are the ones who stayed away, saying about their brothers: ´Had they followed us, they would not have been slain.´ Say: ´If you speak the truth then avert death when it comes to you.´

3:169 Think not of those slain in the way of Allah as dead. Indeed they are living, and with their Lord they have their sustenance

3:170 rejoicing in what Allah has bestowed upon them out of His bounty, jubilant that neither fear nor grief shall come upon the believers left behind in the world who have not yet joined them

3:171 They rejoice at the favours and bounties of Allah, and at the awareness that Allah will not cause the reward of the believers to be lost

3:172 There were those who responded to the call of Allah and the Messenger after injury had smitten them - for all those who do good and fear Allah there is a mighty reward

3:173 When people said to them: ´Behold, a host has gathered around you and you should fear them´, it only increased their faith and they answered: ´Allah is Sufficient for us; and what an excellent Guardian He is!´

3:174 So they returned with a mighty favour and a great bounty from Allah having suffered no harm. They followed the good pleasure of Allah, and Allah is the Lord of great bounty

3:175 It was Satan who suggested to you the fear of his allies. Do not fear them; fear Me, if you truly believe

3:176 Let not those who run towards disbelief grieve you; they shall not hurt Allah in the least. Allah will not provide for them any share in the Next Life. A mighty punishment awaits them

3:177 Indeed those who have purchased unbelief in exchange for faith shall not hurt Allah in the least. Theirs shall be a painful chastisement

3:178 Do not let the, unbelievers imagine that the respite We give them is good for them. We give them respite so that they may grow in wickedness. A humiliating chastisement lies in store for them

3:179 Allah will not let the believers stay in the state they are: He will set the wicked apart from the good. Allah is not going to disclose to you what is hidden in the realm beyond the reach of perception, but He chooses from among His Messengers whom He wills (to intimate such knowledge). Believe, then, in Allah and in His Messengers; and if you believe and be come God-fearing, yours will be a great reward

3:180 Those who are niggardly about what Allah has granted them out of His bounty think that niggardli ness is good for them; it is bad for them. What they were niggardly about will turn into a halter round their necks on the Day of Resur-rection. To Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is well aware of what you do

3:181 Allah has heard the saying of those who said: ´Allah is poor, and we are rich. We shall record what they have said, and the fact of their slaying the Prophets unjustly, and we shall say to them: Taste now the torment of the Fire

3:182 That is in recompense for what you have done.´ Allah does no wrong to His servants

3:183 To those who say: ´Allah has directed us that we accept none as Messenger until he makes an offering that the fire will consume´, say: ´Other Messengers came to you before me with clear signs, and with the sign you have mentioned. So why did you slay them, if what you say is true

3:184 Now, if they give the lie to you, then other Messengers who came bearing clear signs and scriptures and the illuminating Book were also given the lie before you

3:185 Everyone is bound to taste death and you shall receive your full reward on the Day of Resurrection. Then, whoever is spared the Fire and is admitted to Paradise has indeed been successful. The life of this world is merely an illusory enjoyment

3:186 (Believers!) You will certainly be put to test in respect of your properties and lives, and you will certainly hear many hurtful things from those who were granted the Book before you and those who have associated others with Allah in His divinity. If you remain patient and God-fearing this indeed is a matter of great resolution

3:187 And recall when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Book: ´You shall explain it to men and not hide it. Then they cast the Book behind their backs, and sold it away for a trivial gain. Evil indeed is their bargain

3:188 Do not think that those who exult in their misdeeds and love to be praised for what indeed they have not done, do not think that they are secure from chastisement. A painful chastisement awaits them

3:189 To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is All-Powerful. indeed been successful. The life of this world is merely an illusory enjoyment

3:190 Surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are signs for men of understanding

3:191 those who remember Allah while standing, sitting or (reclining) on their backs, and reflect in the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): ´Our Lord! You have not created this in vain. Glory to You! Save us, then, from the chastisement of the Fire

3:192 Our Lord! Whomever You cause to enter the Fire, him You indeed bring to disgrace, and there will be none to succour the wrong-doers

3:193 Our Lord! Indeed we heard a crier calling to the faith saying: "Believe in your Lord"; so we did believe. Our Lord, forgive us our sins, and wipe out our evil deeds and make us die with the truly pious.´

3:194 ´Our Lord, fulfil what You promised to us through Your Messengers, and disgrace us not on the Day of Resurrection; indeed You never go back on Your promise

3:195 Their Lord answered the Prayer thus: "I will not suffer the work of any of you, whether male or female, to go to waste; each of you is from the other. Those who emigrated and were driven out from their homesteads and were persecuted in My cause, and who fought and were slain, indeed I shall wipe out their evil deeds from them and shall certainly admit them to the gardens beneath which rivers flow." This is their reward with their Lord; and with Allah lies the best reward

3:196 (O Messenger!) Do not let the strutting about of the unbelievers in the land deceive you

3:197 This is but a little enjoyment, then their destination is Hell -what an evil resting place

3:198 But those who fear their Lord: theirs shall be the gardens beneath which rivers flow and in which they will live forever: a hospitality from Allah Himself, And Allah´s reward is best for the truly pious

3:199 And among the People of the Book some believe in Allah and what has been revealed to you, and what has been revealed to them. They humble themselves before Allah, and do not sell Allah´s revelations for a small price. For these men their reward is with their Lord. Allah is swift in His reckoning