1. Ha Mi

2. ‘Ayn Sin Qaf. Allah knows best what this means.

3. That Revelation is how He sends Revelation to you and those before you. Allah is Almighty in His kingdom, the All-Wise in what He does.

4. Everything in the heavens and everything in the earth belongs to Him as His property, creation and slaves. He is the Most High, the Magnificent.

5. The heavens are all but (read as takadu and yakadu) rent asunder (read as yatafattarna and yanfatirna) from above – each almost split above the one next to it because of the immense power of Allah – when the angels glorify their Lord with praise and ask forgiveness for those believers who are on the earth. Allah is the Ever Forgiving to His friends, the Most Merciful to them.

6. As for those who take others (idols) besides Him as protectors, Allah will take care of them and will repay them. You are not set over them as a guardian. You are only asked to convey the Message.

7. Accordingly We have revealed to you an Arabic Qur’an so that you may warn the Mother of Cities – the people of Makka – and those around it – all other human beings, and give warning to humankind of the Day of Gathering – another name for the Day of Resurrection, because it is the day on which all creatures will be gathered together – about which there is no doubt: one group in the Garden, the other in the Blazing Fire.

8. If Allah had willed, He would have made them a single nation following the same dın, namely Islam. But He admits whomever He wills into His mercy and the wrongdoers (unbelievers) have no protector and no helper to defend them from the Punishment.

9. Have they then taken others (idols) besides Him as protectors? But Allah is the Protector. It is Allah who helps the believers. He gives life to the dead. He has power over all things.

10. The judgement concerning anything you differ about with the unbelievers regarding matters of the dın and other things is Allah’s concern on the Day of Rising. He will decide between you. Say to them: That is Allah, my Lord – I have put my trust in Him and to Him I turn –

11. …the Bringer into Being of the heavens and the earth: He has given you mates from among yourselves – a reference to the creation of hawwa’ from the rib of ◊dam – and given mates – male and female – to the livestock, in that way multiplying you through procreation. Nothing is like Him. He is the All-Hearing of what is said, the All-Seeing of what is done.

12. The Keys of the heavens and earth – the keys to the treasuries of rain, plants and other things – belong to Him. He expands the provision of anyone He wills or restricts it as a test and a trial. He has knowledge of all things.

13. He has laid down the same dın for you as He enjoined on Nuh – the first of the Prophets of Shari‘a – that which We have revealed to you and which We enjoined on Ibrahim, Musa and Isa: ‘Establish the dın and do not make divisions in it.’ This is the Law which is commanded and revealed to Mu˛ammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. What you call the idolators – who refuse to acknowledge Allah’s unity – to follow is very hard for them. Allah chooses for Himself anyone He wills – those who affirm His unity – and guides to Himself those who turn to Him and agree to obey Him.

14. They (the people of the different religions) only split up – and disagreed about their religion, so that some affirmed Allah’s unity and some rejected it – after knowledge of the truth came to them – the unbelievers – tyrannising one another. And were it not for a prior decree from your Lord – that the repayment would be delayed for a specified term until the Day of Rising – the judgement between them would already have been made and the unbelievers would have been punished in this world. Those who inherited the Book after them – after the Jews and Christians – are indeed in grave doubt about it – or about him, meaning Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

15. So call – people to Allah’s unity, Mu˛ammad – and go straight in His din as you have been ordered to. Do not follow their whims and desires by abandoning it but say, ‘I believe in a Book sent down by Allah and I am ordered to be just between you in rendering judgement. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. We have our actions and you have your actions. Allah will repay everyone for what they do. There is no debate between us and you. This was before jihad was ordered. Allah will gather us all together and decide between all of us in the Final Judgement: He is our final destination.’

16. The argument of those who argue about the din of Allah – with His Prophet – once He (or he) has been acknowledged – by faith because his miracles have appeared. This is a reference to the Jews – has no basis whatsoever with their Lord. Their argument is false and invalid. There is anger upon them and they will have a harsh punishment.

17. It is Allah who has sent down the Book (the Qur’an) with truth and with the Just Balance (justice). What will make you realise – and inform you? Perhaps the Last Hour is close.

18. Those who do not believe in it try to hasten it. They say, “When will it come?” thinking that it will not come. But those who believe in it are afraid of it. They know it is the truth. Those who doubt the Hour and argue about it are greatly misguided.

19. Allah is very gentle with His slaves – both the pious and the impious among them, and does not make them perish from hunger because of their disobedience. He provides for anyone He wills – all of them, in whatever way He wishes. He is the Most Strong, the Almighty.

20. If anyone desires to cultivate the Next World – by performing actions whose fruit is the reward of the Next World – We will increase him in his cultivation – his good actions being multiplied up to ten times and more. If anyone desires to cultivate this world, We will give him some of it – without any multiplication taking place – but he will have no share in the Next World.

21. Or do they (the unbelievers of Makka) have partners (shaytans) who have laid down a false dın – involving partners – for them (the unbelievers) for which Allah has not given any authority (permission) – for attributing partners to Him and denying the Resurrection? Were it not for the prior Word of Decision that repayment for our actions will come on the Day of Rising the judgement between them and the believers about punishment in this world would already have been made. The wrongdoers (unbelievers) will have a painful punishment.

22. You will see the wrongdoers – on the Day of Rising – afraid of what they have earned – in this world, for which they will be repaid – when it is about to land right on top of them, whereas those who believe and do right actions will be in the lush Meadows of the Gardens – which only they will enjoy. They will have whatever they wish for with their Lord. That is the great favour.

23. That is the good news (read as yubashshiru and yabshuru) which Allah gives to His slaves who believe and do right actions. Say: ‘I do not ask you for any wage for this – for conveying the Message – except for you to love your near of kin. I only ask you to love my kin, who are also your kin. There was no sub-tribe among Quraysh which did not have kinship with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. If anyone does a good action in obedience to Allah We will increase the good of it for him and multiply it. Allah is Ever- Forgiving of wrong actions, Ever- Thankful for a few right actions which He multiplies.’

24. Or do they ask, ‘Has he invented a lie about Allah – by ascribing the Qur’an to Allah?’ If Allah willed, He could shore up your heart by making you steadfast in the face of their harming you by saying that and other things. He did indeed do so. By His Words Allah wipes out the false things which they say and confirms the truth – by the words which He sent down to His Prophet. He knows what the heart contains.

25. It is He who accepts repentance from His slaves and pardons evil acts, and He knows what you do (read as taf‘ aluna and also yaf‘alüna, “what they do”).

26. He responds to those who believe and do right actions – and grants them what they ask for – and gives them increase from His favour. But the unbelievers will have a harsh punishment.

27. Were Allah to expand the provision of all His slaves, they would all act as tyrants on the earth. But He sends down (read as yunazzilu and yunzal) whatever provision He wills in a measured way. He sends it down and gives more to some and less to others. Tyranny results from excessive provision. He is aware of and He sees His slaves.

28. It is He who sends down abundant rain, after they have lost all hope of it, and unfolds His mercy in the form of rain. He is the Protector who is good to the believers, the Praiseworthy – praised by them.

29. Among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and earth and all the creatures He has spread about in them: all the animals and people that move about the earth. And He has the power to gather them together whenever He wills.

30. This is addressed to the believers. Any disaster – affliction or hardship – that strikes you is through what – the wrong actions – your own hands have earned – “hands” are mentioned because most actions are done using them – and He pardons much. He pardons many of them and does not exact repayment for them. As for those who do not do wrong, the afflictions which befall them in this world come in order to raise their degrees in the Next World.

31. You, idolaters, will not be able to thwart Him on the earth – flee from Allah or escape Him – and you have no protector or helper besides Allah to avert the punishment from you.

32. Among His Signs are the tall ships sailing like tall mountains through the sea.

33. If He wills He makes the wind stop blowing – and then ships stop moving – and then they lie motionless on its back. There are certainly Signs in that for everyone who is steadfast and thankful – meaning believers who are steadfast in affliction and thankful in ease.

34. Or the wind can destroy the ship and then He wrecks it and drowns them for what (the wrong actions) they have earned, though He pardons much of that and does not drown people.

35. Those who argue about Our Signs should know that they have no way of escape – and that He may drown them in order to take revenge on them and they will have no way to run away.

36. This is addressed to the believers and others. Whatever you have been given is only the enjoyment of goods in the life of this world – and it will soon vanish. What is with Allah by way of reward is better and longer lasting for those who believe and trust in their Lord:

37. …those who avoid major wrong actions and indecencies – which necessitate the ˛udüd punishments – and who, when they are angered, then overlook and forgive;

38. …those who respond to their Lord – and act on what He calls them to in terms of tawhid and worship – and establish regular prayer, and manage their affairs in the way which seems right to them by mutual consultation – about them and are not hasty, and give (spend) of what We have provided for them in obedience to Allah;

39. …those who, when they are wronged, defend themselves. The word for “wronged”, baghi, means “suffer injustice”. They may revenge themselves on those who have wronged them with the like of the wrong done to them, as Allah says in the next ayat.

40. The repayment of a bad action is one equivalent to it. The second action is called a bad action because its form resembles the first. This is clear when retaliation for wounds is taken. It is said that when someone says, “May Allah disgrace you,” he answers him with “May Allah disgrace you too.” But if someone pardons the person who wrongs him and puts things right – restores the love between him and the one he pardons – his reward for doing that is with Allah. Certainly He does not love wrongdoers who initiate wrongdoing, and so He will punish them.

41. But if people do defend themselves when they are wronged – and wrong those who have wronged them – nothing can be held against them for doing that, and there is no punishment.

42. There are only grounds against those who wrong people and act as tyrants – and commit acts of disobedience – in the earth without any right to do so. Such people will have a painful punishment.

43. But if someone is steadfast – and does not defend himself – and forgives – and overlooks that steadfastness and overlooking is the most resolute course to follow – qualities which are desired in the Shari‘a.

44. Whoever Allah misguides has no one to protect them after that. No one can undertake the guidance of someone after Allah has misguided him. You will see the wrongdoers saying, when they see the punishment, ‘Is there no way back to the world?’

45. You will see them as they are exposed to it (the Fire), abject in their abasement – humble and fearful, glancing around them furtively – stealing glances. Those who believe will say, ‘Truly the losers are those who lose themselves and their families on the Day of Rising.’ They will be for ever in the Fire and will not obtain the hour is prepared for them in the Garden which they would have had if they had believed. The wrongdoers (unbelievers) are in an everlasting – continuous – punishment.

46. They have no one to protect or help them apart from Allah – there is no one who can avert the punishment of Allah. There is no way out for anyone Allah misguides – no path to the truth in this world or to the Garden in the Next World.

47. Respond to your Lord by affirming His unity and worshipping Him, before a Day – the Day of Resurrection – comes from Allah which cannot be turned back. No one can turn it aside. On that Day you will have no hiding-place – nowhere to seek refuge – and no means of denial of your wrong actions.

48. But if they turn away – and fail to respond – We have not sent you to be their guardian to ensure that their actions conform to what is desired: you are only responsible for transmission. This was before the command to fight jihad. When We let a man – used generically to mean all human beings – taste mercy – meaning here a blessing like wealth or health – from Us he exults in it. But if something bad (an affliction) strikes him for what he has done – literally “what his hands have advanced”, because hands are the limbs by which most actions are carried out – he is ungrateful for the blessings he has received.

49. The kingdom of the heavens and earth belongs to Allah. Hecreates whatever He wills. He gives daughters to whoever He wishes; and He gives sons to whoever He wishes;

50. …or He gives them both sons and daughters; and He makes whoever He wishes barren – without children. Truly He is All Knowing, All-Powerful – and therefore able to do whatever He wishes.

51. It does not befit Allah to address any human being except by inspiration – while they are asleep or actual inspiration while awake – or from behind a veil – so that he hears His words but does not see Him, as was the case with Musa, peace be upon him; or He sends a messenger – an angel like Jibril – who then reveals – to the Messenger to whom He is sent by speaking to him – by His (Allah’s) permission whatever He wills. He is indeed Most High above the attributes of temporal beings, All-Wise – in whatever He does.

52. Accordingly We have revealed to you, Muhammad, a Ruh– meaning the Qur’an, which gives life to the hearts, as We revealed to other Messengers – by Our command. Before the revelation came you had no idea of what the Book (the Qur’an) was, or faith – meaning the laws and practices of Islam. Yet We have made it (the Ruh or the Book) a Light by which We guide those of Our slaves We will. Truly you are guiding – by the revelation given to you – to a Straight Path – the dın of Islam:

53. …the Path of Allah to Whom everything in the heavens and everything on the earth belongs. Indeed all matters return eventually to Allah