Surah Al-An'am Part One: Verses 1 to 55 | Quran Study Guide

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The Surah · Verses 1 to 55

﴾١﴿ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ وَٱلنُّورَ ۖ ثُمَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ يَعْدِلُونَ

Alhamdu lillaahil lazee khalaqas samaawaati wal arda wa ja'alaz zulumaati wannoor; summal lazeena kafaroo bi Rabbihim ya'diloon

Praise belongs to Allah, who created the heavens and the earth and made the darknesses and the light. Then those who disbelieve set up equals to their Lord.

﴾٢﴿ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن طِينٍۢ ثُمَّ قَضَىٰٓ أَجَلًۭا ۖ وَأَجَلٌۭ مُّسَمًّى عِندَهُۥ ۖ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تَمْتَرُونَ

Huwal lazee khalaqakum min teenin summa qadaaa ajalanw wa ajalum musamman 'indahoo summa antum tamtaroon

He is the One who created you from clay, then decreed a term. And a named term is with Him. Then you doubt.

﴾٣﴿ وَهُوَ ٱللَّهُ فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يَعْلَمُ سِرَّكُمْ وَجَهْرَكُمْ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْسِبُونَ

Wa Huwal laahu fissamaawaati wa fil ardi ya'lamu sirrakum wa jahrakum wa ya'lamu maa taksiboon

And He is Allah in the heavens and on the earth. He knows your secret and what you make public, and He knows what you earn.

﴾٤﴿ وَمَا تَأْتِيهِم مِّنْ ءَايَةٍۢ مِّنْ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَّا كَانُوا۟ عَنْهَا مُعْرِضِينَ

Wa maa taateehim min Aayatim min Aayaati Rabbihim illaa kaanoo 'anhaa mu'rideen

And no sign comes to them from the signs of their Lord without them turning away from it.

﴾٥﴿ فَقَدْ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِيهِمْ أَنۢبَٰٓؤُا۟ مَا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ

Faqad kazzaboo bilhaqqi lammaa jaaa'ahum fasawfa yaateehim ambaaa'u maa kaanoo bihee yastahzi'oon

So they called the truth a lie when it came to them. The news of what they were mocking will come to them.

﴾٦﴿ أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍۢ مَّكَّنَّٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَا لَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّكُمْ وَأَرْسَلْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْهِم مِّدْرَارًۭا وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرَ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمْ فَأَهْلَكْنَٰهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَأَنشَأْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ قَرْنًا ءَاخَرِينَ

Alam yaraw kam ahlaknaa min qablihim min qarnim makkannaahum fil ardi maa lam numakkil lakum wa arsalnas samaaa'a 'alaihim midraaranw wa ja'alnal anhaara tajree min tahtihim fa ahlak naahum bizunoobihim wa anshaanaa mim ba'dihim qarnan aakhareen

Have they not seen how many generations We destroyed before them, whom We established on the earth as We have not established you, and We sent the sky on them pouring, and We made rivers flow beneath them. Then We destroyed them for their sins and raised another generation after them.

﴾٧﴿ وَلَوْ نَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ كِتَٰبًۭا فِى قِرْطَاسٍۢ فَلَمَسُوهُ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ لَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ

Wa law nazzalnaa 'alaika Kitaaban fee qirtaasin falamasoohu bi aideehim laqaalal lazeena kafarooo in haazaaa illaa sihrum mubeen

And if We had sent down to you a Book on parchment, and they had touched it with their hands, those who disbelieved would have said, this is nothing but clear magic.

﴾٨﴿ وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ مَلَكٌۭ ۖ وَلَوْ أَنزَلْنَا مَلَكًۭا لَّقُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ثُمَّ لَا يُنظَرُونَ

Wa qaaloo law laaa unzila alaihi malakunw wa law anzalna malakal laqudiyal amru summa laa yunzaroon

And they said, why has an angel not been sent down to him. And if We had sent down an angel, the matter would have been settled, and then they would be given no time.

﴾٩﴿ وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَٰهُ مَلَكًۭا لَّجَعَلْنَٰهُ رَجُلًۭا وَلَلَبَسْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّا يَلْبِسُونَ

Wa law ja'alnaahu malakal laja'alnaahu rajulanw wa lalabasnaa 'alaihim maa yalbisoon

And if We had made him an angel, We would have made him a man, and We would have confused them with what they are already confused about.

﴾١٠﴿ وَلَقَدِ ٱسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍۢ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَحَاقَ بِٱلَّذِينَ سَخِرُوا۟ مِنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ

Wa laqadis tuhzi'a bi-Rusulim min qablika fahaaqa billazeena sakhiroo minhum maa kaanoo bihee yastahzi'oon

And messengers before you were mocked, and what they mocked closed in on those who ridiculed them.

﴾١١﴿ قُلْ سِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ ٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

Qul seeroo fil ardi summan zuroo kaifa kaana 'aaqibatul mukazzibeen

Say, travel the land, then look how the end was for those who called it a lie.

﴾١٢﴿ قُل لِّمَن مَّا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ قُل لِّلَّهِ ۚ كَتَبَ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ ٱلرَّحْمَةَ ۚ لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۚ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

Qul limam maa fis samaawaati wal ardi qul lillaah; kataba 'alaa nafsihir rahmah; la yajma 'annakum ilaa Yawmil Qiyaamati laa raiba feeh; allazeena khasirooo anfusahum fahum laa yu'minoon

Say, to whom belongs what is in the heavens and the earth. Say, to Allah. He has written mercy upon Himself. He will gather you to the Day of Standing, in which there is no doubt. Those who lost themselves, they do not believe.

﴾١٣﴿ وَلَهُۥ مَا سَكَنَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

Wa lahoo maa sakana fillaili wannahaar; wa Huwas Samee'ul Aleem

And to Him belongs whatever rests in the night and the day. And He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

﴾١٤﴿ قُلْ أَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَتَّخِذُ وَلِيًّۭا فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ يُطْعِمُ وَلَا يُطْعَمُ ۗ قُلْ إِنِّىٓ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ ۖ وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

Qul aghairal laahi attakhizu waliyyan faatiris samaawaati wal ardi wa Huwa yut'imu wa laa yut'am; qul inneee umirtu an akoona awwala man salama wa laa takoonanna minal mushrikeen

Say, shall I take as protector anyone other than Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, and He feeds and is not fed. Say, I was commanded to be the first to submit. And do not be of those who associate.

﴾١٥﴿ قُلْ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَبِّى عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍۢ

Qul inneee akhaafu in 'asaitu Rabbee 'azaaba Yawmin 'Azeem

Say, I fear, if I disobey my Lord, the punishment of a great Day.

﴾١٦﴿ مَّن يُصْرَفْ عَنْهُ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ فَقَدْ رَحِمَهُۥ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْمُبِينُ

Mai yusraf 'anhu Yawma'izin faqad rahimah; wa zaalikal fawzul mubeen

Whoever it is turned away from that Day, He has had mercy on him. And that is the clear triumph.

﴾١٧﴿ وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرٍّۢ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُۥٓ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ بِخَيْرٍۢ فَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ

Wa iny-yamsaskal laahu bidurrin falaaa kaashifa lahoo illaa Huwa wa iny-yamsaska bikhairin fa Huwa 'alaa kulli shai'in Qadeer

And if Allah touches you with harm, there is no remover of it except Him. And if He touches you with good, He is able to do all things.

﴾١٨﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِۦ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ

Wa Huwal gaahiru fawqa 'ibaadih; wa Huwal Hakeemul Khabeer

And He is the Subduer over His servants. And He is the Wise, the Aware.

﴾١٩﴿ قُلْ أَىُّ شَىْءٍ أَكْبَرُ شَهَٰدَةًۭ ۖ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ ۖ شَهِيدٌۢ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ ۚ وَأُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ هَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانُ لِأُنذِرَكُم بِهِۦ وَمَنۢ بَلَغَ ۚ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَشْهَدُونَ أَنَّ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ ءَالِهَةً أُخْرَىٰ ۚ قُل لَّآ أَشْهَدُ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٌۭ وَٰحِدٌۭ وَإِنَّنِى بَرِىٓءٌۭ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ

Qul ayyu shai'in akbaru shahaadatan qulil laahu shaheedum bainee wa bainakum; wa oohiya ilaiya haazal Qur'aanu li unzirakum bihee wa mam balagh; a'innakum latashhadoona anna ma'al laahi aalihatan ukhraa; qul laaa ashhad; qul innamaa Huwa Ilaahunw Waahidunw wa innanee baree'um mimmaa tushrikoon

Say, what thing is greatest as a witness. Say, Allah is a witness between me and you. And this Quran was revealed to me so that I may warn you with it, and whoever it reaches. Do you testify that there are other gods with Allah. Say, I do not testify. Say, He is only one God, and I am free of what you associate.

﴾٢٠﴿ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ يَعْرِفُونَهُۥ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَآءَهُمُ ۘ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

Allazeena aatainaa humul Kitaaba ya'rifoonahoo kamaa ya'rifoona abnaaa'ahum; allazeena khasirooo anfusahum fahum laa yu'minoon

Those We gave the Book recognize it as they recognize their own sons. Those who lost themselves, they do not believe.

﴾٢١﴿ وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِـَٔايَٰتِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ

Wa man azlamu mim manif tara 'alal laahi kaziban aw kazzaba bi Aayaatih; innahoo laa yuflihuz zaalimoon

And who does greater wrong than one who invents a lie against Allah or calls His signs a lie. The wrongdoers will not succeed.

﴾٢٢﴿ وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًۭا ثُمَّ نَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوٓا۟ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآؤُكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تَزْعُمُونَ

Wa yawma nahshuruhum jamee'an summa naqoolu lillazeena ashrakooo ayna shurakaaa' ukumul lazeena kuntum taz'umoon

And on the Day We gather them all, then We say to those who associated, where are your partners that you used to claim.

﴾٢٣﴿ ثُمَّ لَمْ تَكُن فِتْنَتُهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ وَٱللَّهِ رَبِّنَا مَا كُنَّا مُشْرِكِينَ

Summa lam takun fitnatuhum illaaa an qaaloo wallaahi Rabbinaa maa kunnaa mushrikeen

Then their argument will be nothing but to say, by Allah our Lord, we were not those who associated.

﴾٢٤﴿ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَذَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ

Unzur kaifa kazaboo 'alaaa anfusihim, wa dalla 'anhum maa kaanoo yaftaroon

Look how they lied against themselves, and what they used to invent left them.

﴾٢٥﴿ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَجَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًۭا ۚ وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ كُلَّ ءَايَةٍۢ لَّا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَا ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوكَ يُجَٰدِلُونَكَ يَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

Wa minhum mai yastami'u ilaika wa ja'alnaa 'alaa quloobihim akinnatan ai yafqahoohu wa feee aazaanihim waqraa; wa ai yaraw kulla Aayatil laa yu'minoo bihaa; hattaaa izaa jaaa'oka yujaadiloonaka yaqoolul lazeena kafaroo in haazaa illaaa asaateerul awwaleen

And among them is one who listens to you. And We placed coverings over their hearts so they do not understand it, and heaviness in their ears. And if they saw every sign they would not believe in it. Until, when they come to you arguing with you, those who disbelieved say, this is nothing but the tales of the ancients.

﴾٢٦﴿ وَهُمْ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ وَيَنْـَٔوْنَ عَنْهُ ۖ وَإِن يُهْلِكُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ

Wa hum yanhawna 'anhu wa yan'awna 'anhu wa iny yuhlikoona illaa anfusahum wa maa yash'uroon

And they forbid others from it and keep away from it themselves. And they destroy no one but themselves, and they do not realize it.

﴾٢٧﴿ وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ وُقِفُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ فَقَالُوا۟ يَٰلَيْتَنَا نُرَدُّ وَلَا نُكَذِّبَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ رَبِّنَا وَنَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Wa law taraaa iz wauqifoo 'alan Naari faqaaloo yaa laitanaa nuraddu wa laa nukaz ziba bi Aayaati Rabbinaa wa nakoona minal mu'mineen

And if you could see when they are made to stand at the Fire and they say, if only we were returned and did not call the signs of our Lord a lie and were of the believers.

﴾٢٨﴿ بَلْ بَدَا لَهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يُخْفُونَ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَلَوْ رُدُّوا۟ لَعَادُوا۟ لِمَا نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَكَٰذِبُونَ

Bal badaa lahum maa kaanoo yukhfoona min qablu wa law ruddoo la'aadoo limaa nuhoo 'anhu wa innahum lakaaziboon

Rather, what they used to hide before has become clear to them. And if they were returned they would go back to what they were forbidden. And they are liars.

﴾٢٩﴿ وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَبْعُوثِينَ

Wa qaalooo in hiya illaa hayaatunad dunyaa wa maa nahnu bimab'ooseen

And they said, there is nothing but our life in this world, and we will not be raised.

﴾٣٠﴿ وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ وُقِفُوا۟ عَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ ۚ قَالَ أَلَيْسَ هَٰذَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَا ۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ

Wa law taraa iz wuqifoo 'alaa Rabbihim; qaala alaisa haazaa bilhaqq; qaaloo balaa wa Rabbinaa; qaala fazooqul 'azaaba bimaa kuntum takfuroon

And if you could see when they are made to stand before their Lord. He will say, is this not the truth. They will say, yes, by our Lord. He will say, then taste the punishment for your rejection.

﴾٣١﴿ قَدْ خَسِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِلِقَآءِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةًۭ قَالُوا۟ يَٰحَسْرَتَنَا عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطْنَا فِيهَا وَهُمْ يَحْمِلُونَ أَوْزَارَهُمْ عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِمْ ۚ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ

Qad khasiral lazeena kazzaboo biliqaaa'il laahi hattaaa izaa jaaa'at humus Saa'atu baghtan qaaloo yaa hasratanaa 'alaa maa farratnaa feehaa wa hum yahmiloona awzaarahum 'alaa zuhoorihim; alaa saaa'a ma yaziroon

Those who called the meeting with Allah a lie have lost, until when the Hour comes upon them suddenly they say, what regret we have for how we neglected it, while they carry their burdens on their backs. Evil is what they carry.

﴾٣٢﴿ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا لَعِبٌۭ وَلَهْوٌۭ ۖ وَلَلدَّارُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

Wa mal hayaatud dunyaaa illaa la'ibunw wa lahwunw wa lad Daarul Aakhiratu kahyrul lillazeena yattaqoon; afalaa ta'qiloon

And the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement. And the home of the Hereafter is better for those conscious of Allah. Will you not use your reason.

﴾٣٣﴿ قَدْ نَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُۥ لَيَحْزُنُكَ ٱلَّذِى يَقُولُونَ ۖ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يُكَذِّبُونَكَ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ

Qad na'lamu innahoo layahzunukal lazee yaqooloona fa innahum laa yukazziboonaka wa laakinnaz zaalimeena bi Aayaatil laahi yajhadoon

We know that what they say grieves you. They are not calling you a lie, but the wrongdoers reject the signs of Allah.

﴾٣٤﴿ وَلَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌۭ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَصَبَرُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا كُذِّبُوا۟ وَأُوذُوا۟ حَتَّىٰٓ أَتَىٰهُمْ نَصْرُنَا ۚ وَلَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَكَ مِن نَّبَإِى۟ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

Wa laqad kuzzibat Rusulum min qablika fasabaroo 'alaa maa kuzziboo wa oozoo hattaaa ataahum nasrunaa; wa laa mubaddila li Kalimaatil laah; wa laqad jaaa'aka min naba'il mursaleen

And messengers before you were called liars, and they were patient over being called liars and being harmed, until Our help came to them. And there is no changing the words of Allah. And there has come to you some of the news of the messengers.

﴾٣٥﴿ وَإِن كَانَ كَبُرَ عَلَيْكَ إِعْرَاضُهُمْ فَإِنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتَ أَن تَبْتَغِىَ نَفَقًۭا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَوْ سُلَّمًۭا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَتَأْتِيَهُم بِـَٔايَةٍۢ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَمَعَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰ ۚ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْجَٰهِلِينَ

Wa in kaana kabura 'alaika i'raaduhum fa inistata'ta an tabtaghiya nafaqan fil ardi aw sullaman fis samaaa'i fataa tiyahum bi Aayah; wa law shaaa'al laahu lajama'ahum 'alal hudaa; falaa takoonanna minal jaahileen

And if their turning away is heavy on you, then if you are able to seek a tunnel into the earth or a ladder into the sky and bring them a sign. And if Allah had willed He would have gathered them on guidance. So do not be of the ignorant.

﴾٣٦﴿ إِنَّمَا يَسْتَجِيبُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْمَعُونَ ۘ وَٱلْمَوْتَىٰ يَبْعَثُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ

Innamaa yastajeebul lazeena yasma'oon; walmawtaa yab'asuhumul laahu summa ilaihi yurja'oon

Only those who hear respond. And the dead, Allah will raise them, then to Him they are returned.

﴾٣٧﴿ وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَادِرٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُنَزِّلَ ءَايَةًۭ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Wa qaaloo law laa nuzzila 'alaihi Aayatum mir Rabbih; qul innal laaha qaadirun 'alaaa ai yunazzila Aayatanw wa laakinna aksarahum laa ya'lamoon

And they said, why has a sign not been sent down to him from his Lord. Say, Allah is able to send down a sign, but most of them do not know.

﴾٣٨﴿ وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَٰٓئِرٍۢ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّآ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم ۚ مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مِن شَىْءٍۢ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ

Wa maa min daaabbatin fil ardi wa laa taaa'iriny yateeru bijanaahaihi illaaa umamun amsaalukum; maa farratnaa fil Kitaabi min shai'in summa ilaa Rabbihim yuhsharoon

And there is no creature on the earth, and no bird that flies on its wings, but they are communities like you. We have left out nothing in the record. Then to their Lord they will be gathered.

﴾٣٩﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا صُمٌّۭ وَبُكْمٌۭ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ ۗ مَن يَشَإِ ٱللَّهُ يُضْلِلْهُ وَمَن يَشَأْ يَجْعَلْهُ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ

Wallazeena kazzaboo bi Aayaatinaa summunw wa bukmun fiz zulumaat; mai yasha il laahu yudlilh; wa mai yashaa yaj'alhu 'alaa Siraatim Mustaqeem

And those who called Our signs a lie are deaf and dumb, in darknesses. Whoever Allah wills, He lets go astray, and whoever He wills, He places on a straight path.

﴾٤٠﴿ قُلْ أَرَءَيْتَكُمْ إِنْ أَتَىٰكُمْ عَذَابُ ٱللَّهِ أَوْ أَتَتْكُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ أَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ تَدْعُونَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ

Qaul ara'aytakum in ataakum 'azaabul laahi aw atatkumus Saa'atu a-ghairal laahi tad'oona in kuntum saadiqeen

Say, have you considered, if the punishment of Allah came to you, or the Hour came to you, would you call on anyone other than Allah, if you are truthful.

﴾٤١﴿ بَلْ إِيَّاهُ تَدْعُونَ فَيَكْشِفُ مَا تَدْعُونَ إِلَيْهِ إِن شَآءَ وَتَنسَوْنَ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ

Bal iyyaahu tad'oona fa yakshifu maa tad'oona ilaihi in shaaa'a wa tansawna maa tushrikoon

Rather, it is Him you would call, and He would remove what you called Him about, if He willed. And you would forget what you associate.

﴾٤٢﴿ وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمَمٍۢ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَخَذْنَٰهُم بِٱلْبَأْسَآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَضَرَّعُونَ

Wa laqad arsalnaaa ilaaa umamim min qablika fa akhaznaahum bilbaasaaa'i waddarraaa'i la'allahum yata darra'oon

And We sent to communities before you, and We seized them with hardship and difficulty, so that they might humble themselves.

﴾٤٣﴿ فَلَوْلَآ إِذْ جَآءَهُم بَأْسُنَا تَضَرَّعُوا۟ وَلَٰكِن قَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

Falaw laaa iz jaaa'ahum baasunaa tadarra'oo wa laakin qasat quloobuhum wa zaiyana lahumush Shaitaanu maa kaanoo ya'maloon

So why did they not humble themselves when Our force came to them. But their hearts hardened, and Satan made what they were doing look good to them.

﴾٤٤﴿ فَلَمَّا نَسُوا۟ مَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَٰبَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَرِحُوا۟ بِمَآ أُوتُوٓا۟ أَخَذْنَٰهُم بَغْتَةًۭ فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْلِسُونَ

Falammaa nasoo maa zukkiroo bihee fatahnaa 'alaihim abwaaba kulli shai'in hattaaa izaa farihoo bimaaa ootooo akhaznaahum baghtatan fa izaa hum mmublisoon

Then when they forgot what they had been reminded of, We opened for them the doors of everything, until when they rejoiced in what they were given, We seized them suddenly, and they were in despair.

﴾٤٥﴿ فَقُطِعَ دَابِرُ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ۚ وَٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

Faquti'a daabirul qawmil lazeena zalamoo; walhamdu lillaahi Rabbil 'aalameen

So the last of the wrongdoing people was cut off. And praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all worlds.

﴾٤٦﴿ قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ سَمْعَكُمْ وَأَبْصَٰرَكُمْ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِكُم مَّنْ إِلَٰهٌ غَيْرُ ٱللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُم بِهِ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ ثُمَّ هُمْ يَصْدِفُونَ

Qul ara'aitum in akhazal laahu sam'akum wa absaarakum wa khatama 'alaa quloobikum man ilaahun ghairul laahi yaateekum bih; unzur kaifa nusarriful Aayaati summa hum yasdifoon

Say, have you considered, if Allah took your hearing and your sight and sealed your hearts, which god other than Allah would bring it back to you. Look how We turn the signs about, then they turn away.

﴾٤٧﴿ قُلْ أَرَءَيْتَكُمْ إِنْ أَتَىٰكُمْ عَذَابُ ٱللَّهِ بَغْتَةً أَوْ جَهْرَةً هَلْ يُهْلَكُ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ

Qul ara'aitakum in ataakum 'azaabul laahi baghtatan aw jahratan hal yuhlaku illal qawmuz zaalimoon

Say, have you considered, if the punishment of Allah came to you suddenly or openly, would any be destroyed but the wrongdoing people.

﴾٤٨﴿ وَمَا نُرْسِلُ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ ۖ فَمَنْ ءَامَنَ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

Wa maa nursilul mursaleena illaa mubashshireena wa munzireena faman aamana wa aslaha falaa khawfun 'alaihim wa laa hum yahzanoon

And We send the messengers only as bringers of good news and warners. So whoever believes and sets things right, there is no fear upon them, and they will not grieve.

﴾٤٩﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا يَمَسُّهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْسُقُونَ

Wallazeena kazzaboo bi Aayaatinaa yamassuhumul 'azaabu bimaa kaanoo yafsuqoon

And those who called Our signs a lie, the punishment touches them for the disobedience they were committing.

﴾٥٠﴿ قُل لَّآ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِى خَزَآئِنُ ٱللَّهِ وَلَآ أَعْلَمُ ٱلْغَيْبَ وَلَآ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّى مَلَكٌ ۖ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ ۚ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ وَٱلْبَصِيرُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَفَكَّرُونَ

Qul laaa aqoolu lakum 'indee khazaaa'inul laahi wa laaa a'lamul ghaiba wa laaa aqoolu lakum innee malakun in attabi'u illaa maa yoohaaa ilaiy; qul hal yastawil a'maa walbaseer; afalaa tatafakkaroon

Say, I do not tell you that I have the treasuries of Allah, and I do not know the unseen, and I do not tell you that I am an angel. I follow only what is revealed to me. Say, are the blind and the seeing equal. Will you not reflect.

﴾٥١﴿ وَأَنذِرْ بِهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَن يُحْشَرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ ۙ لَيْسَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ وَلِىٌّۭ وَلَا شَفِيعٌۭ لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ

Wa anzir bihil lazeena yakhaafoona ai yuhsharooo ilaa Rabbihim laisa lahum min doonihee waliyyunw wa laa shafee'ul la'allahum yattaqoon

And warn with it those who fear that they will be gathered to their Lord. They have no protector and no intercessor besides Him. Perhaps they will become conscious.

﴾٥٢﴿ وَلَا تَطْرُدِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَدَوٰةِ وَٱلْعَشِىِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُۥ ۖ مَا عَلَيْكَ مِنْ حِسَابِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍۢ وَمَا مِنْ حِسَابِكَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن شَىْءٍۢ فَتَطْرُدَهُمْ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Wa laa tatrudil lazeena yad'oona Rabbahum bilghadaati wal 'ashiyyi yureedoona Wajhahoo ma 'alaika min hisaabihim min shai'inw wa maa min hisaabika 'alaihim min shai'in fatatrudahum fatakoona minaz zaalimeen

And do not drive away those who call on their Lord in the morning and the evening, wanting His face. Nothing of their account is upon you, and nothing of your account is upon them, that you should drive them away and be of the wrongdoers.

﴾٥٣﴿ وَكَذَٰلِكَ فَتَنَّا بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍۢ لِّيَقُولُوٓا۟ أَهَٰٓؤُلَآءِ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنۢ بَيْنِنَآ ۗ أَلَيْسَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِٱلشَّٰكِرِينَ

Wa kazaalika fatannaa ba'dahum biba'dil liyaqoolooo ahaaa'ulaaa'i mannal laahu 'alaihim mim baininaa; alaisal laahu bi-a'lama bish shaakireen

And in this way We tested some of them by others, so that they would say, are these the ones Allah has favored from among us. Is Allah not most knowing of the grateful.

﴾٥٤﴿ وَإِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلَٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ ٱلرَّحْمَةَ ۖ أَنَّهُۥ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنكُمْ سُوٓءًۢا بِجَهَٰلَةٍۢ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَنَّهُۥ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

Wa izaa jaaa'akal lazeena yu'minoona bi Aayaatinaa faqul salaamun 'alaikum kataba Rabbukum 'alaa nafsihir rahmata annahoo man 'amila minkum sooo'am bijahaalatin summa taaba mim ba'dihee wa aslaha fa annahoo Ghafoorur Raheem

And when those who believe in Our signs come to you, say, peace be upon you. Your Lord has written mercy upon Himself, that whoever among you does something bad in ignorance and then repents after it and sets things right, He is Forgiving, Merciful.

﴾٥٥﴿ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ وَلِتَسْتَبِينَ سَبِيلُ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ

Wa kazaalika nufassilul Aayaati wa litastabeena sabeelul mujrimeen

And in this way We lay out the signs in detail, and so that the way of the criminals becomes clear.

Tafsir

The Commentary

Overview

He Has Written Mercy Upon Himself.

Verse 1 opens on praise and immediately gives a piece of grammar that carries a doctrine. He made the darknesses and the light. Darknesses plural, light singular. There are many ways to be in the dark and one way out, and the Quran keeps that number consistent every time it uses the pair.

Then the chapter settles into what it does for one hundred and sixty-five verses. It argues. It states the objection accurately, takes it seriously, and answers it. Why not send an angel. Why not a sign. Why him and not somebody else. Each one gets a reply, and several of the replies concede more than the objector expected.

The line the chapter is built around appears twice in Part One, at verse 12 and again at verse 54. He has written mercy upon Himself. Not, He is merciful. Written it, as a binding undertaking, with no external party in a position to require it.

And then the passage that should govern how any religious community treats its poorest members. Verse 52, said to the Prophet himself: do not drive away those who call on their Lord in the morning and the evening, wanting His face. Followed by the reason, which is an accounting principle. Nothing of their account is upon you, and nothing of your account is upon them.

Verses 1 to 20

The Sign That Would Not Have Worked.

Verses 7 through 9 answer the demand for a miracle in three moves, and each move is more devastating than the last.

First: if We had sent down a Book on parchment, and they had touched it with their hands, they would still have called it magic. Physical contact with the object, and the verdict does not change. The demand was never really about evidence.

Second: and if We had sent down an angel, the matter would have been settled, and then they would be given no time. The requested sign is available. It ends the discussion by ending the opportunity, which is why it is being withheld. The refusal is a reprieve.

Third: and if We had made him an angel, We would have made him a man. An angel in visible form would have to appear in a form men could stand, which means appearing as a man, which returns the objection exactly where it started.

Verse 12 then delivers the sentence. Say, to whom belongs what is in the heavens and the earth. Say, to Allah. He has written mercy upon Himself. The question about ownership is answered, and then, unprompted, a fact about the owner is added that nothing in the question required. Total ownership, and a self-imposed obligation of mercy, in the same breath. Abu Hurayrah reported the Prophet, peace be upon him, saying that when Allah decreed the creation He wrote in a book with Him above the Throne, My mercy overcomes My anger. Reported in Sahih al-Bukhari.

Verse 14 gives a description of Allah in five words that has never been improved on. And He feeds and is not fed. Every relationship of dependency runs one direction only.

And verse 20 says something about recognition. Those We gave the Book recognize it as they recognize their own sons. Not as they recognize a text or a doctrine. As they recognize a face they have known since it was small.

Verses 21 to 45

The Doors of Everything.

Verse 23 records something the Quran says about the Day of Standing that people rarely expect. Their argument will be nothing but to say, by Allah our Lord, we were not those who associated. They lie. Standing in front of the One who knows, with the evidence present, they still reach for the denial, because it is the only motion they know. Verse 24 comments on it in the only way possible. Look how they lied against themselves.

Verse 26 gives one of the sharpest character sketches in the Quran, in two verbs that rhyme in Arabic. They forbid others from it and keep away from it themselves. The same energy pointed outward and inward. And then, they destroy no one but themselves, and they do not realize it.

Verses 27 and 28 handle the wish everyone assumes they would keep. If only we were returned, and did not call the signs of our Lord a lie. The verse does not doubt that they mean it. It says something more precise: if they were returned they would go back to what they were forbidden. The sincerity of the regret is not the issue. Regret at the point of consequence is produced by the consequence, and it dissolves when the consequence is removed.

Verse 33 is one of the most personal consolations in the Quran, and the mechanism is reclassification. We know that what they say grieves you. They are not calling you a lie, but the wrongdoers reject the signs of Allah. The insult was aimed at him and is redirected at its actual target. What he was carrying as a personal rejection is reassigned, out loud, to where it belongs.

Verse 35 goes further and is startling in its frankness. If their turning away is heavy on you, then if you are able to seek a tunnel into the earth or a ladder into the sky and bring them a sign. The desperation of a man who would physically dig or climb to produce the thing that would convince them is described without any embarrassment, and answered with, and if Allah had willed He would have gathered them on guidance.

Verse 38 widens the frame entirely. There is no creature on the earth, and no bird that flies on its wings, but they are communities like you. Umam, nations, with their own orders and their own ends. And then, We have left out nothing in the record.

And verses 42 through 44 give the two-stage sequence again, this time with the second stage described in a phrase that should be read slowly. When they forgot what they had been reminded of, We opened for them the doors of everything. Not one door. Everything. Until they rejoiced in what they were given, and then it closed. The opening of doors is described here as a stage in the process rather than as an interruption of it.

Verses 46 to 55

Do Not Drive Them Away.

Verse 46 asks a question that removes any ground for pride in one’s own faculties. If Allah took your hearing and your sight and sealed your hearts, which god other than Allah would bring it back to you. Not could give you these. Could give them back. Everything in the question is already in your possession, and the question is about the recovery, not the acquisition.

Verse 50 is the shortest list of things the Prophet, peace be upon him, publicly refused to claim. I do not have the treasuries of Allah. I do not know the unseen. I am not an angel. Three claims that would have made his position easier to sell, all three declined, and then the actual basis stated: I follow only what is revealed to me.

And then verse 52, which is the passage this section is built around. Do not drive away those who call on their Lord in the morning and the evening, wanting His face. It is addressed to the Prophet, peace be upon him, about the poor and low-status believers whose presence the Makkan leadership found embarrassing. The instruction is not a suggestion, and the consequence attached to ignoring it is stated plainly: that you should drive them away and be of the wrongdoers.

The reasoning in the middle of the verse is worth extracting on its own. Nothing of their account is upon you, and nothing of your account is upon them. Every social calculation about who is worth including assumes some transfer of standing between people. The verse says there is none. Their record does not attach to you and yours does not attach to them, so their status is irrelevant to your decision about whether they sit in the room.

Verse 53 names the test underneath it. We tested some of them by others, so that they would say, are these the ones Allah has favored from among us. The presence of people you consider beneath you, who are visibly nearer to Allah than you are, is itself described as the examination. And the answer to their question is not an argument. It is a question back: is Allah not most knowing of the grateful.

Then verse 54 gives the instruction for how to receive the people verse 52 told him not to expel. When those who believe in Our signs come to you, say, peace be upon you. The greeting is commanded. And immediately attached to it, for the second time in the chapter, your Lord has written mercy upon Himself, with the terms spelled out: bad done in ignorance, then repentance, then setting right. Three conditions, all of them available to anybody.

Structural Summary

Verses One to Fifty-Five. He Has Written Mercy Upon Himself.

Darknesses in the plural and light in the singular. A parchment they could have touched and would still have refused. An angel withheld as a reprieve rather than a denial. Mercy written as a self-imposed obligation, twice. One who feeds and is not fed. Recognition as of a familiar face. A denial attempted in front of the One who knows. Forbidding others and staying away oneself. Regret that would not survive the removal of its cause. An insult redirected to its real target. A tunnel and a ladder, described without embarrassment. Birds named as communities. The doors of everything opened as a stage in the process. Three claims declined. And an order not to send the poor away, with the accounting reason attached.

The Practice

Take It Into the Week

Verse 26. The verse describes forbidding others from something while staying away from it yourself. Name the thing you advocate publicly and avoid privately. Do the private half this week before you say anything else about it.

Verse 44. The verse describes doors opening after a reminder is forgotten. Take the last significant opening in your circumstances. Ask, out loud, whether anything was dropped just before it arrived.

Verse 52. The verse forbids driving away the poor who call on their Lord. Identify the person in your circle whose company you have quietly reduced because of their standing. Sit with them this week.

آمِين

Prepared with discipline · Ameen

Verse-By-Verse · Test Yourself

The Quiz

Two questions per verse. Translation and a key Arabic word. Walk through it slow. The goal is comprehension, not speed.

Verses 1 to 141 / 12

Grammar

What grammatical detail does verse 1 carry in the pair it names?

Al-An’am · Part One