1. Everything in the heavens and everything on earth glorifies Allah. Sovereignty and praise belong to Him. He has power over all things.

2. It is He who created you, yet among you are disbelievers as well as believers. Allah sees what you do.

3. He created the heavens and the earth with truth and formed you, giving you the best of forms. The form of Adam is the best of forms. And He is your final destination.

4. He knows everything in the heavens and earth. He knows what you keep secret and what you divulge. Allah knows what secrets and beliefs the heart contains.

5. Has the news not reached you, unbelievers of Makka, of those who disbelieved before and tasted the evil consequences of what they did in their unbelief in this world? They will have a painful punishment in the Next World.

6. That punishment is because their Messengers brought them the Clear Signs – clear proofs in favour of faith – but they said, ‘Are human beings going to guide us?’ So they disbelieved and turned away from faith. But Allah is completely independent of them and whether they have faith. Allah is Rich Beyond Need of His creation, Praiseworthy in what He does.

7. Those who disbelieve claim that they will never be raised again. Say: ‘Oh yes, by my Lord, you certainly will be raised again, and then you will be informed about what you did! That is easy for Allah.’

8. So believe in Allah and His Messenger and in the Light (the Qur’an) We have sent down. Allah is aware of what you do.

9. On the Day He gathers you for the Day of Gathering – the Day of Rising – that is the Day of Profit and Loss. “Profit and loss” refers to the fact that the believers will cause loss to the unbelievers by taking the places and family in the Garden which they would have had if they had believed. As for those who believe in Allah and act rightly, He will erase (read as yukaffir and nukaffir, “We will erase”) their bad actions from their record and admit (read as yudkhil and nudkhil, “We will admit”) them to Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, forever and ever. That is the Great Victory!

10. But as for those who disbelieve and deny Our Signs (the Qur’an), they are the Companions of the Fire, remaining in it timelessly, forever. What an evil destination!

11. No misfortune occurs except by Allah’s permission – in other words, His decree. Whoever believes in Allah, and that everything happens by the decree of Allah, He will guide his heart to be steadfast in accepting it. Allah has knowledge of all things.

12. Obey Allah and obey the Messenger. But if you turn your backs, the Messenger is only responsible for clear transmission.

13. Allah – there is no god but Him, so let the believers put their trust in Allah.

14. You who believe, some of your wives and children are an enemy to you, so be wary of them. Beware of obeying them and staying behind instead of doing good actions, such as jihad and hijra. The reason for the revelation of the ayat was that some people obeyed their families in that respect. But if you pardon and exonerate and forgive those people for staying behind you and not doing what is good, because separation from you would be hard on them, Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

15. Your wealth and children are a trial because they distract you from matters of the Next World, but with Allah there is an immense reward, so do not forfeit it by being distracted by property and children.

16. So be fearful of Allah, as much as you are able to – abrogating His words, “Be fearful of Allah with the fear that is His due” (3:102) – and listen to what you are commanded to do and obey Allah and spend for your own benefit in obedience to Allah. It is the people who are safeguarded from the avarice of their own selves who are successful.

17. If you make a generous loan to Allah by giving sadaqa cheerfully He will multiply (read as yuda‘ifhu and as yuda‘ifhu) it for you from ten times over to seven hundred or more and forgive you as He wills. Allah is All-Thankful for your obedience, Most Forbearing in not punishing you for your disobedience –

18. The Knower of the Unseen and the Visible, the Almighty in His kingdom, the All-Wise in what He does.