23. THE BELIEVERS (al-Mu’minun)

In the name of Allah,
the Gracious, the Merciful

1. Successful are the believers.
2. Those who are humble in their prayers.
3. Those who avoid nonsense.
4. Those who work for charity.
5. Those who safeguard their chastity.
6. Except from their spouses, or their dependents—for then they are free from blame.
7. But whoever seeks anything beyond that—
   these are the transgressors.
8. Those who are faithful to their trusts and
   pledges.
9. Those who safeguard their prayers.
10. These are the inheritors.
11. Who will inherit Paradise, wherein they
    will dwell forever.
12. We created man from an extract of clay.
13. Then We made him a seed, in a secure repository.
14. Then We developed the seed into a clot.
    Then We developed the clot into a lump.
    Then We developed the lump into bones.
    Then We clothed the bones with flesh. Then
    We produced it into another creature. Most
    Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.
15. Then, after that, you will die.
16. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, you will
    be resurrected.
17. We created above you seven pathways, and
    We are never heedless of the creation.
18. And We sent down water from the sky in
    proper quantity, and settled it in the ground,
    and We are Able to take it away.
19. With it We produce for you gardens of
    palms and vines, yielding abundant fruit for
    you to eat.
20. And a tree springing out of Mount Sinai,
    producing oil, and seasoning for those who
    eat.
21. And there is a lesson for you in livestock:
    We give you to drink from what is in their
    bellies, and you have many benefits in them,
    and from them you eat.
22. And on them, and on the ships, you are
    transported.
23. We sent Noah to his people. He said, “O
    my people, worship Allah, you have no deity
    other than Him. Will you not take heed?”
24. But the notables of his people, who disbelieved, said, “This is nothing but a human like
    you, who wants to gain superiority over you.
    Had Allah willed, He would have sent down
    angels. We never heard of this from our forefathers of old.
25. He is nothing but a man possessed. Just ignore him for a while.”
26. He said, “My Lord, help me, for they have
    rejected me.”
27. So We inspired him: “Build the Ark under
    Our observation and by Our inspiration. And
    when Our decree comes to pass, and the oven
    boils over, load into it two pairs of every kind,
    together with your family, except those of
    them against whom the word has already
    been pronounced. And do not speak to me
    concerning those who did wrong; for they are
    to be drowned.”
28. Then, when you and those with you are settled in the Ark, say, “Praise be to Allah, who
    has saved us from the wrongdoing people.”
29. And say, “My Lord, land me with a blessed
    landing, as you are the best of transporters.”
30. Surely in that are signs. We are always testing.
31. Then, after them, We established another
    generation.
32. And We sent among them a messenger
    from themselves: “Serve Allah. You have no
    god other than Him. Will you not be cautious?”
33. But the dignitaries of his people, those who
    disbelieved and denied the meeting of the
    Hereafter, and We had indulged them in the
    present life, said, “This is nothing but a human like you; he eats what you eat, and he
    drinks what you drink.
34. If you obey a human being like yourselves,
    then you will be losers.
35. Does he promise you that when you have
    died and become dust and bones, you will be
    brought out?
36. Farfetched, farfetched is what you are
    promised.
37. There is nothing but our life in this world.
    We die, and we live, and we are not resurrected.
38. He is nothing but a man, making up lies
    about Allah. We have no faith in him.”
39. He said, “My Lord, help me, for they have
    rejected me.”
40. He said, “Soon they will be filled with regret.”
41. Then the Blast struck them, justifiably, and
    We turned them into scum. So away with the
    wicked people.
42. Then, after them, We raised other generations.
43. No nation can advance its time, nor can
    they postpone it.
44. Then We sent Our messengers in succession. Every time a messenger came to his
    community, they called him a liar. So We
    made them follow one another, and made
    them history. So away with a people who do
    not believe.
45. Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron, with Our signs and a clear authority.
46. To Pharaoh and his nobles, but they turned
    arrogant. They were oppressive people.
47. They said, “Are we to believe in two mortals like us, and their people are our slaves?”
48. So they called them liars, and thus were
    among those destroyed.
49. And We gave Moses the Scripture, that
    they may be guided.
50. And We made Mary’s son and his mother
    a sign, and We sheltered them on high
    ground with security and flowing springs.
51. O messengers, eat of the good things, and
    act with integrity. I am aware of what you do.
52. This nation of yours is one nation, and I
    am your Lord, so fear Me.
53. But they tore themselves into sects; each
    party happy with what they have.
54. So leave them in their bewilderment until
    a time.
55. Do they assume that, in furnishing them
    with wealth and children.
56. We race to give them the good things? In
    fact, they have no idea.
57. Those who, from awe of their Lord, are
    fearful.
58. And those who believe in their Lord’s
    Verses.
59. And those who associate no partners with
    their Lord.
60. And those who give what they give, while
    their hearts quake, knowing that to their Lord
    they will return.
61. It is they who race towards goodness. It is
    they who will reach it first.
62. We never burden any soul beyond its capacity. And with Us is a record that tells the
    truth, and they will not be wronged.
63. But their hearts are puzzled because of this;
    and they have deeds that do not conform to
    this, which they continue to perpetrate.
64. Until, when We seize the decadent among
    them with torment, they begin to groan.
65. Do not groan today. You will receive no
    help from Us.
66. My Verses were recited to you, but you
    turned back on your heels.
67. Arrogant towards it—talked nonsense
    about it—disregarded it.
68. Have they not pondered the Word? Or has
    there come to them what came not to their
    forefathers of old?
69. Or is it that they did not recognize their
    messenger, so they are denying him?
70. Or do they say, “He is possessed?” In fact,
    he brought them the truth, but most of them
    hate the truth.
71. If the truth conformed to their desires, the
    heavens, the earth, and everyone in them
    would have gone to ruin. In fact, We have
    given them their message, but they keep
    avoiding their message.
72. Or are you asking them for a payment? The
    revenue from your Lord is better, and He is
    the Best of providers.
73. You are inviting them to a straight path.
74. But those who do not believe in the Hereafter are swerving from the path.
75. Even if We had mercy on them, and relieved their problems, they would still blindly
    persist in their defiance.
76. We have already gripped them with suffering, but they did not surrender to their Lord,
    nor did they humble themselves.
77. Until, when We have opened before them
    a gate of intense agony, at once they will despair.
78. It is He who produced for you the hearing,
    and the eyesight, and the feelings. But little
    gratitude you show.
79. And it is He who multiplied you on earth,
    and to Him you will be gathered.
80. And it is He who gives life and brings
    death, and to Him is the alternation of night
    and day. Do you not understand?
81. But they say the like of what the ancients
    said.
82. They say, “After we have died, and become
    dust and bones, will we be resurrected?
83. We were promised this before—we and
    our ancestors—these are nothing but legends
    of the ancients.”
84. Say, “To whom does the earth belong, and
    everyone in it, if you happen to know?”
85. They will say, “To Allah.” Say, “Will you
    not reflect?”
86. Say, “Who is the Lord of the seven heavens,
    and Lord of the Splendid Throne?”
87. They will say, “To Allah.” Say, “Will you
    not become righteous?”
88. Say, “In whose hand is the dominion of all
    things, and He protects and cannot be protected from, if you happen to know?”
89. They will say, “To Allah.” Say, “Then are
    you bewitched?”
90. In fact, We have given them the truth, and
    they are liars.
91. Allah has never begotten a son, nor is there
    any god besides Him. Otherwise, each god
    would have taken away what it has created,
    and some of them would have gained supremacy over others. Glory be to Allah, far
    beyond what they describe.
92. The Knower of the hidden and the manifest. He is exalted, far above what they associate.
93. Say, “My Lord, if You would show me what
    they are promised.
94. My Lord, do not place me among the
    wicked people.”
95. We are surely Able to show you what We
    promise them.
96. Repel evil by what is better. We are aware
    of what they describe.
97. And say, “My Lord, I seek refuge with You
    from the urgings of the devils.
98. And I seek refuge with You, my Lord, lest
    they become present.”
99. Until, when death comes to one of them,
    he says, “My Lord, send me back.
100. That I may do right in what I have neglected.” By no means! It is just a word that
     he utters. And behind them is a barrier, until
     the Day they are resurrected.
101. When the Horn is blown, no relations between them will exist on that Day, and they
     will not ask after one another.
102. Those whose scales are heavy—those are
     the successful.
103. But those whose scales are light—those are
     they who have lost their souls; in Hell they
     will dwell forever.
104. The Fire lashes their faces, and therein
     they grimace.
105. “Were not My revelations recited to you,
     and you kept on rejecting them?”
106. They will say, “Our Lord, our wretchedness prevailed over us, and we were a people
     astray.
107. Our Lord! Bring us out of this. If we ever
     returned, we would truly be evil.”
108. He will say, “Be despised therein, and do
     not speak to Me.
109. There was a group of My servants who
     would say, `Our Lord, we have believed, so
     forgive us, and have mercy on us; You are the
     Best of the merciful.’
110. But you made them a target of ridicule,
     until they made you forget My remembrance;
     and you used to laugh at them.
111. Today, I have rewarded them for their endurance. They are the ones who are the triumphant.”
112. He will say, “How many years did you remain on earth?”
113. They will say, “We remained a day, or part
     of a day; but ask those who keep count.”
114. He will say, “You remained only for a little
     while, if you only knew.
115. Did you think that We created you in vain,
     and that to Us you will not be returned?”
116. So Exalted is Allah, the Ruler, the Real.
     There is no god except He, the Lord of the
     Noble Throne.
117. Whoever invokes another god besides Allah—he has no proof thereof—his reckoning
     rests with his Lord. The disbelievers will not
     succeed.
118. And say, “My Lord, forgive and have
     mercy, for You are the Best of the merciful.”