Surah “The Believers”

as rendered by Muhammad Taqi Usmani — 118 verses

Success is really attained by the believer
who concentrate their attention in humbleness when offering Salah (prayers
and who keep themselves away from vain things
and who are performers of Zakah
and who guard their private part
except from their wives or from those (bondwomen who are) owned by their hands, as they are not to be blamed
However, those who seek (sexual pleasure) beyond that are the transgressor
– and (success is attained) by those who honestly look after their trusts and covenant
and who consistently observe their prayers
Those are the inheritor
who will inherit Firdaus (the Paradise). They will be there forever
We have created man from an extract of clay
Then We made him a sperm-drop in a firm resting place
Then We turned the sperm-drop into a clot, then We turned the clot into a fetus-lump, then We turned the fetus-lump into bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh; thereafter We developed it into another creature. So, glorious is Allah, the Best of the creators
Then, after all this, you are to die
Then you are to be raised again on the Day of Judgment
And We created above you seven paths (heavens), and We were never neglectful of the creation
And We sent down water from the sky in due measure, then We lodged it in the earth, and of course, We are able to take it away
Then We produced with it gardens of date-palms and vines for your benefit. For you there are many fruits in them, and of them you ea
– and (We produced) a tree (of olive) that comes forth from the (mount) Tur of Sinai, which grows with oil and with a dressing for those who eat
And indeed there is a sure lesson in the cattle for you. We give you a drink from that which lies in their bellies, and for you there are many benefits in them, and of them you eat
and on them and on the boats you are transported
Surely, We sent NuH to his nation. So he said, .My people, worship Allah. You have no god whatsoever other than Him. So, do you not fear Allah?
So, said the disbelieving chiefs from among his nation, .This (man) is nothing but a human being like you. He wishes to impose his superiority over you. Had Allah willed, He would have sent down angels (instead of him). We have not heard of such a thing among our forefathers
He is none but a man suffering from madness; so wait for (what happens to) him until some time
He said, .My Lord, help me, for they have rejected me
So, We sent Our revelation to him, saying, .Make the ship under Our eyes and Our revelation. So, when Our command will come, and the oven will gush forth, take on its board a pair of two from each (species) along with your family, except those of them against whom the word has already come to pass. And do not speak to Me (in favor) of those who have done wrong. They are sure to be drowned
So, when you and those with you are well seated in the ship, say, ‘Praise is for Allah who saved us from the wrongdoing people.‘
And say, ‘My Lord, make me land a blessed landing, and You are the best of those who bring (someone) to land‘
Surely, there are signs in it, and We do always test (people)
Then after them We created another generation
and sent among them a messenger from themselves (to convey the message): .Worship Allah; you have no god whatsoever other than Him. So do you not fear Allah?
Then said the chiefs of his nation who were disbelievers and who denied facing the Hereafter and whom We made affluent in the worldly life, .This (man) is nothing but a human being. He eats from what you eat from, and drinks from what you drink
If you obey a human like yourselves, then you will be absolute losers
Does he promise you that, when you die and are turned into dust and bones, you are to be brought forth
Far too improbable is what you are being promised
There is nothing but our worldly life. We die and we live, and we are not to be raised again
He is nothing but a man who has forged a lie against Allah, and we are not going to believe in him
He said, .My Lord, help me, for they have rejected me
He (Allah) said, .In a little while they will have to be remorseful
So the Cry seized them according to the true (promise), and We turned them in to scum. So, away with the wrongdoing people
Then, after them, We created another generation
No community can go ahead of its appointed time, nor can they become late
Thereafter, We sent Our messengers successively. Whenever its messenger came to a community, they rejected him. Then We made some of them follow others (in destruction) and turned them into tales (of history). So, away with a people who do not believe
Thereafter, We sent Musa and his brother Harun with Our signs and a clear proo
towards Fir‘aun (Pharaoh) and his advisors. But they showed arrogance and they were haughty people
So they said, .shall we believe in two humans who are like ourselves and whose people are serving us as slaves?
Thus they rejected both of them and were among the destroyed
And, of course, We gave Musa the Book, so that they may take the right path
And We made the son of Maryam (Mary) and his mother a sign, and gave them shelter on a height, having a place of rest and running springs
O messengers, eat from the good things, and act righteously. Of whatever you do, I am fully aware
Surely, this is your creed, a single creed, and I am your Lord. So fear Me
But they split up ways from one another (dividing themselves) into factions, each faction happy with what lies before it
So leave them in their negligence for some time
Do they think that by consistently providing them with wealth and children
We are accelerating the (real) good things to them? The fact, however, is that they do not understand (the reality)
(Contrarily) those who are anxious out of awe of their Lord
and those who believe in the verses of their Lor
and those who do not associate any partner to their Lord
And those who give whatever they give, with their hearts full of fear that to their Lord they are to return
– those people are accelerating towards the (real) good things, and they are the foremost to attain them
We do not place a burden on anyone except according to his ability. With Us there is a book which speaks with truth, and they shall not be wronged
But their hearts are in ignorance about this, and they have deeds, other than that, which they are continuously doing
Until when We will seize their affluent ones with punishment, they will suddenly start crying
(Then it will be said to them,) .Do not cry today. You will not be helped by Us
My verses used to be recited to you, but you used to turn back on your heel
in arrogance, making it a subject of tales at night, talking nonsense (about it)
Then, is it that they did not ponder over the Word (of Allah), or there has come to them something that did not come to their forefathers
Or did they not recognize their messenger and therefore they denied him
Or do they say, .He is suffering from madness?. No, but he has come to them with truth, but it is the truth that most of them dislike
Had the truth followed their desires, the heavens and the earth and all those therein would have fallen in total disorder. However, We have brought to them their advice, but it is their advice that they are averse to
Or is it that you (O Prophet) demand remuneration from them? But the remuneration from your Lord is best, and He is the best of all givers
Surely you are inviting them to a straight path
and those who do not believe in the Hereafter are surely the deviators from the Path
And if We have mercy on them and remove whatever distress they have, they would still persist obstinately in their rebellion, wandering blindly (in disbelief)
We have already seized them with punishment, but they did not turn humble to their Lord, nor do they supplicate in humility
until when We will open against them the door of a severe punishment, they will be taken aback in despair
He is the One who created for you ears and eyes and hearts. Little you are grateful
And He is the One who created you on the earth, and it is He unto whom you will be gathered together
And He is the One who gives life and brings death, and it is He who controls the alternation of night and day. So, do you not understand
But they say as the earlier people had said
They said, .Is it that, when we will die and become dust and bones – is it that we will be raised again
This is what has been promised to us and to our fathers before. It is nothing but the tales of the ancients
Say, .Whose is the earth and all those therein if you have knowledge?
They will say, .Allah‘s. Say, .Would you still pay no heed
Say, .Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the Great Throne?
They will say, .(All this belongs) to Allah. Say, .Would you still not fear Allah?
Say, .Who is the One in whose hand lies the kingdom of every thing and who gives protection, and no protection can be given against him, if you have knowledge?
They will say, .(All this belongs) to Allah. Say, .Then by which magic are you drawn crazy?
The fact is that We have brought to them The Truth, and they are absolute liars
Allah has not taken a son to Himself, nor was there any god with Him. Had there been so, every god would have taken away what he created, and each one of them would have been aggressive against the other. Pure is Allah from what they describe
He is the Knower of the hidden and the manifest. So, He is far higher than their ascribing of partners to Him
(O prophet) say (in prayer), .O my Lord, if You are to show me (in my life) that (punishment) which they (the infidels) are threatened with
then, my Lord, do not place me among the wrongdoing people
And of course, We do have the power to show you that with which We have threatened them
Repel evil with that which is best. We are well aware of what they describe
And say, .My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the strokes of the satans (devils)
and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, even from their coming near me
(The infidels go on doing their misdeeds) until when death comes to one of them, he will say, .My Lord send me back
so that I may act righteously in that (world) which I have left behind. Never! It is simply a word he utters, and in front of such people there is a barrier till the day when they will be resurrected
Thereafter, when the Sur (the trumpet) is blown, no ties of kinship will remain between them any more, nor will they inquire about one another
So, the one whose scales (of good deeds) turn out to be heavy, then such people are the successful ones
and the one whose scales turn out to be light, then such people are the ones who harmed their own selves; in Jahannam (Hell) they are to remain for ever
Fire will scorch their faces, and they will be disfigured therein
(It will be said to such people), .Were My verses not used to be recited to you and you used to reject them?
They will say, .Our Lord, our wretchedness prevailed over us, and we were a people wandering astray
Our Lord, get us out from here; if we do this again, then of course, we will be transgressors
He (Allah) will say, .Stay in it, humiliated, and do not speak to Me
There was indeed a group of My servants who used to say, ‘Our Lord, we adhere to the (true) faith, so forgive us and have mercy upon us, and you are the best of all the merciful.‘
But you made fun of them, so much so that they caused you to forget My remembrance, and you used to laugh at them
Today I have so recompensed them for their observing patience that they are the triumphant
He (Allah) will say (to unbelievers), .How long did you stay on the earth by number of years?
They will say, .We stayed for a day or for a part of a day. So, ask those (angels) who have (exact) calculation
He will say, .You did not stay but for a little. Would that you had understood (this at that time)
So did you think that We created you for nothing, and that you will not be brought back to Us?
So, High above all is Allah, the King, the True. There is no god but He, the Lord of the Noble Throne
And whoever invokes another god with Allah, while he has no proof for it, his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely, the infidels will not achieve success
And say (O prophet) .My Lord, grant pardon and have mercy, for you are the best of all the merciful