1. When the idolaters thought that the punishment was taking a long time to come, Allah revealed this. Allah’s command (the Last Hour) is coming, so do not try to hasten it. The past tense is used because it is definite that it will occur, so that in effect it has already happened. ‘Do not seek it before its time. It will occur and that is inevitable.’ Glory be to Him! He is Exalted above anything they associate with Him.

2 . He sends down angels – including Jibrıl – with the Ruh (Revelation) of His command (by His will) to any of His slaves He wills – meaning the Prophets: ‘Give warning that there is no god but Me – alarm the unbelievers with news of the punishment and inform them of it, so be fearful of Me!’

3. He created the heavens and the earth with truth. He is exalted above anything in terms of idols they associate with Him.

4. He created man from a drop of sperm – and then he becomes strong – and yet he is an open challenger and strong opponent, as is made clear when he denies the resurrection, saying, “Who will bring the bones to life when they are decayed?”

5. And He created livestock: camels, cattle, sheep and goats. There is warmth for you, all mankind, in them – in the garments and cloaks you make from their hair and wool, which you use to keep yourselves warm – and various uses – such as increase of wealth through their offspring, and for their milk, and for riding and haulage – and some you eat.

6. And there is beauty in them for you in the evening when you bring them home to their night shelters and in the morning when you drive them out to their pastures to graze.

7. They carry your loads to lands you would never reach without beasts of burden such as camels except with great difficulty. Your Lord is All-Gentle, Most Merciful – to you since He created them for you.

8. And He has created horses, mules and donkeys; both to ride and for adornment. This is to define the main blessings in their creation and does not preclude other blessings, such as eating horses as stated in the hadith in the two Sahih Collections. And He creates other wondrous and strange things you do not know.

9. The clear, straight Way should lead to Allah, but there are those who deviate from it – from going straight on the Way. If He had wished He could have guided every one of you to go straight, so that all of you would choose to do it.

10. It is He who sends down water from the sky. From it you drink and from it come the shrubs – which grow because of it – among which you graze your herds.

11. And by it He makes crops grow for you, and olives and dates and grapes, and fruit of every kind. There is certainly a Sign in all that which has been mentioned, which indicates the Oneness of Allah for people who reflect and believe.

12. He has made night and day subservient to you, and the sun and moon and stars, all subject to His command (His Will). There are certainly Signs in that for people who use their intellect and reflect.

13. And also the things – animals, plants and other natural phenomena – of varying colours – red, yellow, green and all other hues – He has created for you in the earth. There is certainly a Sign in that for people who pay heed.

14. It is He who made the sea subservient to you – enabling you to sail on it and dive into it – so that you may eat fresh flesh (fish) from it and bring out from it ornaments (pearls and coral) to wear. And you see the ships cleaving through it – forwards and backwards on the same wind – so that you can seek His bounty through trade and so that perhaps you may show thanks to Allah for that.

15. He cast firmly embedded mountains on the earth so it would not move under you, and rivers – such as the Nile – and pathways so that perhaps you would be guided to reach your desired destinations.

16. …and landmarks which keep you on the paths, such as mountains by rivers. And they are guided by the stars to the direction of the qibla at night.

17. Is He who creates – in other words, Allah – like him who does not create – referring to the idols – since you worship them as well? No. So will you not pay heed to this and believe in Him alone?

18. If you tried to number Allah’s blessings, you could never count them. You could not even enumerate them, let alone be grateful for them. Allah is Ever- Forgiving, Most Merciful in spite of your falling short and your disobedience.

19. Allah knows what you keep secret and what you make public.

20. Those they call on (read as yad‘una and tad‘una, “you call upon”) and worship besides Allah (the idols) do not create anything. They are themselves created – made out of stones and other things.

21. They are dead – with no spirit in them, not alive, and they (the idols) are not aware of when they will be raised. They were not aware of creation, so how can they be worshipped sincerely since there is no god except the Living Creator, who knows the Unseen?

22. Your God – who alone is entitled to Your worship – is One God. There is no one like Him in respect of His Essence or His Attributes. He is Allah Almighty. As for those who do not believe in the Next World, their hearts are in denial of His oneness and they are puffed up with pride: too arrogant to believe in it.

23. There is no doubt that Allah knows what they keep secret and what they make public and will repay them for that. He does not love people puffed up with pride and will punish them.

24. The following was revealed about an-Nadr ibn al-harith. When they are asked, ‘What has your Lord sent down to Muhammad?’ they say, ‘Myths and legends (fabrications) of previous peoples to misguide people.’

25. So on the Day of Rising the result of their affair is that they will carry the full weight of their own burdens (sins) – without any of them being expiated – and some of the burdens of those they misguided without knowledge so that they followed them, and for that reason they share in the wrong action. What an evil load they bear because of this!

26. Those before them also plotted – said to be a reference to Nimrod, who built a tall tower by which to ascend to heaven so that he could fight its inhabitants, and Allah came at their building from the foundations – sending wind and an earthquake against it which destroyed it – and the roof caved in on top of them. The punishment came at them from where they did not expect and in a way which had not occurred to them. It is also said that this is a metaphor for the ruin of all the plotting of the unbelievers against their Messengers.

27. Then on the Day of Rising He (Allah) will disgrace them, and say to them on the tongues of the angels, to rebuke them, ‘Where are My partner gods you claimed for whose sake you became so hostile and opposed the believers?’ Those given knowledge among the Prophets and believers will say, ‘Today there is disgrace and evil for the unbelievers.’

28. As for those the angels take in death (read as tatawaffahum and yatawaffahum) while they are wronging themselve s through unbelief, they will offer their submission – they will obey and submit at death – saying: ‘We did not do any evil – meaning commit shirk.’ The angels will say: ‘Oh yes you did! Allah knows what you were doing and will repay you for it.’

29. They will be told: ‘Enter the gates of Hell, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. How evil is the abode of the arrogant!’

30. When those who are fearful of Allah and afraid of committing shirk are asked, ‘What has your Lord sent down?’ their reply is, ‘Good!’ There is good in the life of this world for those who do good accompanied by faith and the abode of the Next World (the Garden) is even better than this world and what it contains. Allah says about it; How wonderful is the abode of those who are godfearing!

31. Gardens of Eden which they enter, with rivers flowing under them, where they have whatever they desire. That is how Allah repays those who are godfearing:

32. …those the angels take in a virtuous state – free from unbelief. They say to them when they die, ‘Peace be upon you!’ and they will be told in the Next World: ‘Enter the Garden for what you did.’

33. What are they (the unbelievers) waiting for but the angels to come to them (read as ta’tiyahum and ya’tiyahum) to take their souls or for your Lord’s command of the punishment or the Day of Rising to come? That which they did is like what those before them from earlier communities did when they denied their Messengers and so were destroyed. Allah did not wrong them by destroying them without their committing wrong; rather they wronged themselves through their unbelief.

34. The repayment for the evil actions which they did assailed them. They were engulfed by what they mocked – meaning the punishment.

35. The idolaters among the people of Makka say, ‘If Allah had willed we would not have worshipped anything apart from Him, neither we nor our fathers, nor would we have forbidden anything without His say – the result of superstitions such as bahirra and sa’iba and other manifestations of their shirk.’ They said that making such things haram was by Allah’s will and He was pleased with it. Allah says: Those before them said the same when they denied the Messengers regarding what they brought. Are the Messengers responsible for anything but clear transmission? They are not held responsible for whether people follow their guidance.

36. We sent a Messenger among every people – as We sent Messengers to those peoples mentioned – saying: ‘Worship Allah and affirm His unity and keep clear of worshipping all false gods.’ Among them were some whom Allah guided – and who, therefore, believed – but others received the misguidance they deserved in Allah’s foreknowledge, and so they did not believe. Travel, unbelievers of Makka, about the earth and see the final fate of the deniers who belied the Messengers and were destroyed.

37. However eager you are, Muhammad, for them to be guided – if Allah has misguided them you will not be able to do so: Allah will not guide those whom He misguides. They will have no helpers to defend them against the punishment of Allah.

38. They swear by Allah with their most earnest oaths that Allah will not raise up those who die, when, on the contrary, it is a true and binding promise on Him to resurrect them; but most of the people of Makka do not know it.

39. It (resurrecting them) is so that He may make clear to them the things they differed about with the believers regarding their own punishment and the reward of the believers and so that those who disbelieved will know that they were liars when they denied the Resurrection.

40. Our Command to a thing when We desire to bring it into existence is just to say to it ‘Be!’ and it is (read as fa-yakunu and fayakuna). This ayat is an indication of Allah’s power to bring about the Re-surrection.

41. As for those who emigrate for Allah’s sake – in order to establish His din – after being wronged through the harm done to them by the people of Makka, meaning the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and His Companions: We shall give them good lodging in this world in Madina, and the reward of the Next World in the Garden is greater still if they – the unbelievers, or those who did not emigrate – only knew about the honour which those who emigrate are given, in which case they would have done so too:

42. …those who are steadfast – in the face of the harm done to them by the idolaters and emigrate to make the din victorious – and put their trust in their Lord, – Allah will provide for them from where they do not expect.

43. We have only ever sent before you men – not angels – who were given Revelation. Ask the People of the Reminder – those who know the Torah and the Gospel – if you do not know that. They do know it – and you are more likely to believe them than to believe those who believe in Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

44. …who brought Clear Signs and Revealed Books. And We have sent down the Reminder (the Qur’an) to you so that you may make clear to mankind what has been sent down to them regarding the lawful and unlawful – so that perhaps they will reflect on that and take note.

45. Do those who plot evil actions against the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in the Dar an-Nadwa to imprison him, kill him, or expel him, as stated in Surat al-Anfal, feel secure that Allah will not cause the earth to swallow them up in the way that Qarunn was swallowed up – or that a punishment will not come upon them from where they least expect? Such an event can occur from a direction which they have not thought about. They were destroyed at Badr and were not expecting that.

46. Or that He will not seize them on their travels for trade, something they are powerless to prevent? They have no power to evade Allah’s punishment.

47. Or that He will not seize them little by little? (The word here for “seize”, takhawwuf, means to take them one by one until all are destroyed.) For your Lord is All-Compassionate, Most Merciful, since He does not hasten the punishment.

48. Do they not see the things Allah has created – such as trees and mountains – casting their shadows to the right and to the left – in other words, they stretch first to one side at the beginning of the day and then to the other later on – prostrating themselves – referring to the shadows – before Allah in complete humility? Shadows are here referred to as if they were beings with intelligence.

49. Everything in the heavens and every creature on the earth prostrates to Allah – is subject to Him and does what He wants it to and this includes things with no intelligence which are extremely numerous, as do the angels. The angels are specifically mentioned because of their excellence. They are not puffed up with pride – preventing them from worshipping Him.

50. They (the angels) fear their Lord above them – knowing His power over them – and do what they are ordered to do.

51. Allah says, ‘Do not take two gods. The word “two”, ithnayn, is added despite being present in the dual form of the noun for reasons of stress. He is only One God – affirming both His divinity and unity, so dread Me alone and no one else.’ This is an example of a change of person from the third person singular to the first person singular.

52. Everything in the heavens and earth belongs to Him – as His kingdom, creation and slaves – and the dın belongs to Him – obedience is due to Him – firmly and for ever. So why do you fear any - one other than Allah? He is the True God and there is no god but Him. This is a question implying rebuke and expecting a negative response.

53. Any blessing you have is from Allah – only Allah brings it about. Then when harm – such as poverty and illness – touches you, it is to Him you cry for help, raising your voices in asking for help and in supplication and calling on Him alone.

54. But when He removes the harm from you, a group of you associate others with their Lord,

55. …ungrateful for what (the blessings) We have given them. Enjoy yourselves in worshipping your idols. This is a threat to them. You will soon know the result of doing that!

56. They (the idolaters) allot a portion of the provision We have given them to things they have no knowledge of at all – they allot a portion of their crops and livestock to their idols when they do not know whether they harm or benefit them. They said, “This is for Allah and this is for our partner gods.” By Allah, you will be asked about what you invented by saying that Allah commanded you to do that! This is a rebuke.

57. They allot daughters to Allah by saying that the angels are His daughters – glory be to Him! – this interjection is to disconnect Him from their claims – while they have what (the sons) they want. In other words, they allot Him daughters, which they dislike, when He is far exalted above having any children; and they allot themselves the sons, which they prefer, so that they have what is more glorious than what they attribute to Him. This is also referred to in His words: “Ask them their true opinion: Does your Lord have daughters while they themselves have sons?” (37:149)

58. When one of them is given the good news of the birth of a baby girl, his face darkens with sorrow and he is furious. ‘So how can you ascribe daughters to Allah?’

59. He hides away from his people because of the evil of the good news he has been given – out of fear of censure; but he hesitates about what he should do about it. Should he keep her alive igno - miniously or bury her alive in the earth? What an evil judgement they make in ascribing daughters to their Creator when they themselves take this position about it!

60. Those (the unbelievers) who do not believe in the Next World have an evil (ugly) likeness. That is a reference to their burying their daughters alive although they need them for marriage. Allah’s is the Highest Likeness – embodied in the expression “there is no god but Allah”. He is the Almighty in His kingdom, the All-Wise in His creation.

61. If Allah were to punish people for their wrong actions (acts of disobedience) not a single living creature would be left upon the earth, but He defers them till a predetermined time. When their specified time arrives, they cannot delay it for a single hour nor can they bring it forward.

62. They allot to Allah what they themselves dislike – in respect of daughters, a share of power, and humiliation of the Messengers – and their tongues frame the lie that they will receive the Best (the Garden) with Allah – when they say, “If I am returned to my Lord, I will definitely find the best reward with Him.” 41:50 Allah says: There is no doubt at all that they will receive the Fire and that they are people who go to excess (read as mufratun and mufritun).

63. By Allah, We sent Messengers to communities before your time, but Shaytan made their evil actions seem good to them – so they denied the Messengers. Therefore today he is their protector. He is the one who manages their affairs today in this world. They will have a painful punishment in the Next World. It is also said that the word “today” here refers to the Day of Rising and it reports about a future state. In other words, they will then have no protector except him; but he will have no power to protect himself even, so how will he be able to help them?

64. We have only sent down the Book (the Qur’an) to you, Muhammad, so that you may make clear to them the things about which they differ regarding the dın, and as a guidance and a mercy to people who believe.

65. Allah sends down water from the sky and by it brings the dead earth back to life – with plants after it has been arid and lifeless. There is certainly a Sign of the Resurrection in that which has been mentioned for people who hear and reflect.

66. There is instruction for you in cattle: from the contents of their bellies, from between the dung and blood, We give you pure milk to drink – not sullied by either dung or blood in respect of its taste, smell, or colour, easy for drinkers to swallow.

67. And from the fruit of the date-palm and the grape-vine you derive both intoxicants – this was revealed before wine was made unlawful – and wholesome provision such as dates, raisins, vinegar and grape syrup. There is certainly a Sign in that of the power of Allah for people who use their intellect and reflect.

68. Your Lord revealed by inspiration to the bees: ‘Build dwellings for shelter in the mountains and the trees, and also in the structures which men erect – a reference to hives which people build for them. Without this Divine instruction, they would not resort to them.

69. Then eat from every kind of fruit and travel the paths of your Lord – in search of nectar – which have been made easy for you to follow.’ These things have been placed at the service of bees and so they are not difficult for them to reach, even if the surroundings are rough, and bees do not normally get lost, even if they travel great distances. From inside them comes a drink of varying colours (honey) containing healing for mankind for illnesses. It is said this means “for some illnesses”, indicated by the fact that the word “healing” is indefinite; or it may mean “all illnesses” since it is grammatically connected to mankind as a whole; or it may be that the healing is dependent on the intention with which it is administered. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prescribed it for someone who had a stomach complaint, as related by al-Bukhari and Muslim. There is certainly a Sign in that ( Allah’s handiwork) for people who reflect.

70. Allah created you – when you were nothing – and then will take you back again at the end of your life-spans. And some of you revert to the lowest form of life – a reference to senility and dotage – so that after having knowledge, you know nothing at all. ‘ Ikrima said that this only applies to people who used to read (and act by) the Qur’an and then cease to do so. Allah is All-Knowing of how to manage His creation, All-Powerful – able to do whatever He wills.

71. Allah has favoured some of you over others in provision – so some are rich and some poor, some are masters and some slaves – but those who have been favoured (the masters) do not give their provision to their slaves – by dividing their wealth, and other things with which Allah has provided them, between themselves and their slaves so that masters and slaves become partners in the masters’ property – so they become the same in respect of it. The implication here is: Since people do not make their slaves partners in their property, how can they make some of Allah’s slaves partners with Him? So why do they renounce the blessings of Allah and disbelieve by ascribing partners to Him?

72. Allah has given you wives from among yourselves – by creating hawwa’ from a rib of Adam, and all others through sexual intercourse between men and women – and given you children and grandchildren from your wives, and provided good things for you – types of fruits, grains and animals. So why do they believe in falsehood (idols) and reject the blessings of Allah by associating others with Him –

73. …and worship, instead of Allah, things that have no control over their provision from the heavens (rain) or earth (plants) in any way, and are themselves completely impotent? The idols are impotent and cannot do anything.

74. Do not try to make metaphors for Allah. Do not make other things like Allah by associating them with Him. Allah knows that there is nothing like Him and you do not know that.

75. Allah does make a metaphor: an owned slave possessing no power over anything, who is clearly quite different from a free man, and someone We have given plentiful provision, who gives out from it secretly and openly. He disposes of it however He wishes. The first example (the owned slave) represents the idols and the second (the master) Allah Almighty. Are they the same? Are a powerless slave and a capable master equal? Praise be to Allah alone! They are not: but most people do not know it – do not know the reality of the punishment which they will suffer – and so they associate others with Allah.

76. Allah makes another metaphor: two men, one of them deaf and dumb, unable to do anything – because he does not understand and is not understood – a burden on his master, no matter where he directs him he brings no good (success) – this is what an unbeliever is like; is he the same as someone who commands justice – one who speaks and helps people since he can command and encourage them – and is on a straight path? This is what a believer is like. It is also said that this is a metaphor in which the second man represents Allah and the first the idols, rather than being a representation of unbelievers and the believers.

77. The knowledge of the Unseen of the heavens and earth belongs to Allah. The matter of the Hour is only the blink of an eye away, or even nearer – because it is simply a matter of the expression: “Be!” and it is. Allah has power over all things.

78. Allah brought you out of your mothers’ wombs knowing nothing at all, and gave you hearing, sight and hearts so that perhaps you would show thanks for that and believe.

79. Do they not see the birds suspended in mid-air up in the sky – able to fly through the air between heaven and earth? Nothing holds them there except Allah. When they draw in or stretch out their wings, all that keeps them from falling is the power of Allah. There are certainly Signs in that for people who believe. Birds are His creation, and He gives them the power to fly and created the atmosphere in such a way that they are able to fly in the air and remain in it.

80. Allah has made your houses places of rest for you and made houses for you out of cattle hides – such as tents and domed tents – which are light for you to carry both when you are travelling and when you are staying in one place. And from their wool – in the case of sheep – and fur – in the case of camels – and hair – in the case of goats – you obtain clothing and carpets (household furnishings) and household utensils for a time – meaning “which you use until they wear out.”

81. Allah has made shaded places for you in what He has created – houses, trees and clouds, to protect you from the heat of the sun – and He has made shelters – the word for “shelters”, aknan, is the plural of kann, which means a place where people go for shelter and concealment, such as caves and burrows – for you in the mountains and He has made shirts for you to protect you from the heat and cold and shirts of mail to protect you from each other’s violence in war from stabbing and blows. In that way – by creating these things – He perfects His blessing on you in this world – since He has created all that you need – so that perhaps, people of Makka, you will become Muslims and affirm His unity.

82. But if they turn their backs on Islam, Muhammad, you are only responsible for clear transmission. This was before the command to fight came.

83. They acknowledge Allah’s blessings – by admitting that they come from Him – and then deny them by committing shirk. Most of them are unbelievers.

84. On ( remember) the Day We raise up a witness from every nation – their Prophet, who will testify both for and against them, and that will happen on the Day of Rising – those who disbelieved will not be excused, nor will they be able to appease Allah. There will nothing they can resort to in order to please Allah.

85. When those who did wrong ( disbelieved) see the punishment (the Fire), it (the punishment) will not be lightened for them. They will be granted no reprieve when they see it.

86. When those who associated others (shaytans and idols) with Allah see those they associated, they will say, ‘Our Lord, these are our partner gods, the ones we called upon and worshipped apart from You.’ But they will fling their words back in their faces and will say to them: ‘You are truly liars in saying that you worshipped us!’ And in another ayat, “It was not us they were worshipping!” (28:63) They will reject their worship.

87. On that Day they will offer their submission to Allah – and submit to His judgement – and the things they invented (their gods) will abandon them.

88. As for those who disbelieved and barred people access to the way of Allah (His din), We will heap punishment on top of their punishment – which they deserve because of their unbelief. Ibn Mas‘ud spoke of “Scorpions with pincers the size of tall palm trees” – because of the corruption they brought about by barring people from belief.

89. On that Day We will raise up among every community a witness against them from amongst themselves (their Prophet) and bring you, Muhammad, as a witness against them (your people). We have sent down the Book (the Qur’an) to you making all things which people need in matters of the Shari‘a – clear and as guidance away from misguidance and mercy and good news of the Garden for the Muslims who affirm Allah’s oneness.

90. Allah commands justice – meaning affirmation of His unity or fairness – and doing good – performing the obligations imposed by Allah or worshipping Allah as if you were seeing Him as in the hadıth – and giving to relatives. Giving to relatives is particularly singled out as important. And He forbids indecency ( fornication) and doing what is wrong in legal terms – meaning unbelief and acts of disobedience – and tyranny – doing injustice to people, which is singled out for mention since it is important. He warns you – by His command and prohibition – so that perhaps you will pay heed and be warned. It is reported in al-Mustadrak that Ibn Mas‘ud said, “This is the most comprehensive ayat in the Book of Allah regarding good and evil.”

91. Be true to Allah’s contract – in respect of your sales and oaths and other things – when you have agreed to it – and they have become binding – and do not break your oaths once they are con - firmed and you have made Allah your guarantee – you have sworn by Allah. Allah knows what you do. This is a threat.

92. Do not be like a woman who spoils the thread she has spun by unravelling it after it is strong – a foolish woman in Makka used to spin for the entire day and then unravel her yarn, so do not be like her in respect of your oaths – by making your oaths a means of deceiving one another – the word dakhalan used here, which literally means “ingredient”, means what is put into something when it should not be there, to corrupt it or to deceive people – merely because one community is bigger than another. Do not break an oath you have made just because your nation has greater numbers than another nation. The Arabs used to swear an oath of allegiance to an ally and when they found one more numberous than them and more powerful, they would break their oath to the first one and swear allegiance to the other. Allah is only testing you by this command to keep to your oaths – in order to see who will obey and who will disobey, or it may mean that one nation will be larger than another to see whether they are godfearing or not; He will make clear to you on the Day of Rising the things about which you differed, in terms of treaties and other things, by punishing those who broke their oaths and rewarding those who kept them.

93. If Allah had willed He would have made you one community having a single din; but He misguides anyone He wills and guides anyone He wills. You will be questioned on the Day of Rising about what you did and then you will be repaid for it.

94. This is repeated in order to stress it: Do not make your oaths a means of deceiving one another or your feet will slip from the Path of Islam after being firmly placed – when you were going straight on it – and you will taste evil (punishment) for barring access to the Way of Allah by not keeping to your oaths or for barring other people from the Path when it has been established by you – and you will have a terrible punishment in the Next World.

95. Do not sell Allah’s contract for a paltry price (this world) – so that you break it for the sake of this world. What is with Allah (His reward) is better for you than what is in this world if you only knew. If you knew this, you would not break your contract with Him.

96. What is with you in this world runs out and vanishes, but what is with Allah goes on forever. We will recompense (read as najziyanna and yajziyanna, in which case the meaning becomes “Those who were steadfast will be recompensed”) those who were steadfast in fulfilling their contract according to the best of what they did.

97. Anyone who acts rightly, male or female, being a believer, We will give them a good life – it is said that “a good life” refers to the Next World in the Garden, and it is also said that it refers to this world and means a life of contentment and plentiful lawful provision – and We will recompense them according to the best of what they did.

98. Whenever you want to recite the Qur’an, seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan: in other words, before you start reciting say, “I seek refuge with Allah from the Accursed Shaytan.”

99. He (Shaytan) has no authority or power over those who believe and put their trust in their Lord.

100. He only has authority over those who take him as a friend by obeying him and associate others with Allah.

101. If We replace one ayat with another one by abrogating it and replacing it with another, in mankind’s best interests – and Allah knows best what He is sending down – they (the unbelievers) say to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ‘You are just inventing this and are lying, making it up!’ No indeed! Most of them have no knowledge of the reality of the Qur’an and the benefit of abrogation.

102. Say to them: ‘The Purest Ruh (Jibril) has brought it down from your Lord with truth, to make those who believe firm in their belief, and as guidance and good news for the Muslims.’

103. We know that they say, ‘It is only a human being who is teaching him the Qur’an.’ The unbelievers said that he was being taught by a Christian slave, whom The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to visit. The language of him they allude to is a foreign one, whereas this Qur’an is in clear and lucid Arabic.

104. As for those who do not believe in Allah’s Signs, Allah will not guide them and they will have a painful punishment.

105. Those who do not believe in Allah’s Signs (the Qur’an), saying that it is just the words of a human being, are merely inventing lies. It is they who are the liars. This is repeated for stress. The  ayat refutes their words, “You are just inventing this!”

106. Those who disbelieve in Allah after having believed – except for someone forced to do it – forced to articulate words of unbelief – whose heart remains at rest in its faith are excused – but as for those whose breasts become dilated with unbelief, anger from Allah will come down on them. This is a severe threat for those who are content and happy about disbelieving. They will have a terrible punishment.

107. That threat is because they prefer the life of this world to the Next World and because Allah does not guide unbelieving people.

108. Those are the people whose hearts, hearing and sight Allah has sealed up. They are the unaware, heedless of what is desired of them.

109. There is no doubt that in the Next World they will be the losers because they will go to the Fire in which they will remain forever.

110. But to those who emigrated to Madina after they were persecuted (read as futunu and as fatanu) – after they were tortured and made to articulate words of unbelief – and then did jihad and remained steadfast in obedience after the persecution they had suffered, to them your Lord is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

111. On that Day (the Day of Rising) every self will come to argue for itself – and will not be concerned with anyone else – and every self will be paid in full for what it did. They will not be wronged in any way.

112. Allah makes an example of a city (Makka) which was safe from attacks and at peace so that there was no need to move from it due to constriction or fear, its provision coming to it plentifully from every side. Then it showed ingratitude for Allah’s blessings by denying the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, so Allah made it wear the robes of hunger – by causing it to suffer drought for seven years – and fear – of expeditions made by the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace – for what it did.

113. A Messenger from among them – Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace – came to them but they denied him. So the punishment (hunger and fear) seized them and they were wrongdoers.

114. So, believers, eat from what Allah has provided for you, lawful and good, and be thankful for the blessing of Allah if it is Him you worship.

115. He has forbidden you carrion, blood, pork, and anything consecrated to other than Allah. But if someone is forced to eat it, without desiring to or going to excess in it, your Lord is Ever Forgiving, Most Merciful.

116. Do not say about what your lying tongues describe: ‘This is lawful and this is unlawful,’ – lying about what Allah has made unlawful and lawful – inventing lies against Allah – ascribing that to Him. Those who invent lies against Allah are not successful –

117. … they will have a brief enjoyment, then they will have a painful punishment in the Next World.

118. We forbade the Jews those things We told you about before in the ayat: “ We made unlawful for the Jews every animal with an undivided hoof…”. (6:147) We did not wrong them by forbidding these things; rather they wronged themselves by committing acts of disobedience which make punishment mandatory for them.

119. But to those who do evil (shirk) in ignorance and then after that ignorance repent and put things right and act rightly, to them your Lord is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

120. Ibrahim was a community in himself – an imam and a model, manifesting every good quality – exemplary, obedient to Allah, a man of pure natural belief – the Arabic word hanif means someone who inclines naturally to the Straight Din. He was not one of the idolaters.

121. He was thankful for His blessings. Allah chose him and guided him to a straight path.

122. This is an example of a change of person from the third person singular to the first person plural. We gave him good – praise among the people of all religions – in this world, and in the Next World he will be one of the righteous who have the high degrees.

123. Then We revealed to you, Muhammad: ‘Follow the religion of Ibrahim, a man of pure natural belief. He was not one of the idolaters.’ This is repeated to refute the claim of the Jews and Christians that they are following the dın of Ibrahim.

124. The Sabbath was only enjoined on those who differed about it. It was made obligatory for the Jews to respect the Sabbath. The Jews differed from their Prophet. They were commanded to devote themselves to worship on Friday but said, “We do not want it,” they chose Saturday, and it was made hard for them. Your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Rising regarding the things about which they differed – the obedient being rewarded and the disobedient being punished for violating the sanctity of the Sabbath.

125. Call people, Muhammad, to the way (the din) of your Lord with wisdom (the Qur’an) and fair admonition ( warning or gentle words) and argue with them in the kindest way – with what is better, like calling them to Allah by His Signs and citing the proofs of His existence. Your Lord knows best who is misguided from His way, and He knows best who are guided, and He will repay them. This was revealed before the command to fight. When Hamza was killed and mutilated and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saw him, he said, “I will mutilate seventy of them in retaliation for you.” So the following was revealed.

126. If you want to retaliate, retaliate to the same degree as the injury done to you. But if you are patient and do not take revenge, it is better to be patient. Therefore the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, refrained and expiated his oath. Al-Bazzar related it.

127. Be patient. But your patience is only by Allah – who gives success in exercising it. Do not be grieved by them (the unbelievers) – do not be grieved by the fact that they do not believe despite your eagerness for them to do so – and do not be constricted and worried by the plots they hatch. We will help you against them.

128. Allah is with those who are fearful of Him – and on their guard against unbelief and acts of disobedience – and with those who are good-doers by observing obedience and patience, and He gives them help and victory.