2 The Heifer al-Baqarah
In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful.
1 Alif, Lam, Meem.
2 This is the Book in which there is no doubt, a guide for the righteous.
3 Those who believe in the unseen, and perform the prayers, and give from what We have provided for them.
4 And those who believe in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed before you, and are certain of the Hereafter.
5 These are upon guidance from their Lord. These are the successful.
6 As for those who disbelieve-it is the same for them, whether you have warned them, or have not warned them-they do not believe.
7 God has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and over their vision is a veil. They will have a severe torment.
8 Among the people are those who say, "We believe in God and in the Last Day," but they are not believers.
9 They seek to deceive God and those who believe, but they deceive none but themselves, though they are not aware.
10 In their hearts is sickness, and God has increased their sickness. They will have a painful punishment because of their denial.
11 And when it is said to them, "Do not make trouble on earth," they say, "We are only reformers."
12 In fact, they are the troublemakers, but they are not aware.
13 And when it is said to them, "Believe as the people have believed," they say, "Shall we believe as the fools have believed?" In fact, it is they who are the fools, but they do not know.
14 And when they come across those who believe, they say, "We believe"; but when they are alone with their devils, they say, "We are with you; we were only ridiculing."
15 It is God who ridicules them, and leaves them bewildered in their transgression.
16 Those are they who have bartered error for guidance; but their trade does not profit them, and they are not guided.
17 Their likeness is that of a person who kindled a fire; when it illuminated all around him, God took away their light, and left them in darkness, unable to see.
18 Deaf, dumb, blind. They will not return.
19 Or like a cloudburst from the sky, in which is darkness, and thunder, and lightning. They press their fingers into their ears from the thunderbolts, in fear of death. But God surrounds the disbelievers.
20 The lightning almost snatches their sight away. Whenever it illuminates for them, they walk in it; but when it grows dark over them, they stand still. Had God willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. God is capable of everything.
21 O people! Worship your Lord who created you and those before you, that you may attain piety.
22 He who made the earth a habitat for you, and the sky a structure, and sends water down from the sky, and brings out fruits thereby, as a sustenance for you. Therefore, do not assign rivals to God while you know.
23 And if you are in doubt about what We have revealed to Our servant, then produce a chapter like these, and call your witnesses apart from God, if you are truthful.
24 But if you do not-and you will not-then beware the Fire whose fuel is people and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.
25 And give good news to those who believe and do righteous deeds; that they will have gardens beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with fruit therefrom as sustenance, they will say, "This is what we were provided with before," and they will be given the like of it. And they will have pure spouses therein, and they will abide therein forever.
26 God does not shy away from making an example of a gnat, or something above it. As for those who believe, they know that it is the Truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did God intend by this example?" He leads astray many thereby, and He guides many thereby; but He misleads thereby only the evildoers.
27 Those who violate God's covenant after its confirmation, and sever what God has commanded to be joined, and commit evil on earth. These are the losers.
28 How can you deny God, when you were dead and He gave you life, then He will put you to death, then He will bring you to life, then to Him you will be returned?29 It is He who created for you everything on earth, then turned to the heaven, and made them seven heavens. And He is aware of all things.
30 When your Lord said to the angels, "I am placing a successor on earth." They said, "Will You place in it someone who will cause corruption in it and shed blood, while we declare Your praises and sanctify You?" He said, "I know what you do not know."
31 And He taught Adam the names, all of them; then he presented them to the angels, and said, "Tell Me the names of these, if you are sincere."
32 They said, "Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. It is you who are the Knowledgeable, the Wise."
33 He said, "O Adam, tell them their names." And when he told them their names, He said, "Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and that I know what you reveal and what you conceal?"
34 And We said to the angels, "Bow down to Adam." They bowed down, except for Satan. He refused, was arrogant, and was one of the disbelievers.
35 We said, "O Adam, inhabit the Garden, you and your spouse, and eat from it freely as you please, but do not approach this tree, lest you become wrongdoers."
36 But Satan caused them to slip from it, and caused them to depart the state they were in. We said, "Go down, some of you enemies of one another. And you will have residence on earth, and enjoyment for a while."
37 Then Adam received words from his Lord, so He relented towards him. He is the Relenting, the Merciful.
38 We said, "Go down from it, all of you. Yet whenever guidance comes to you from Me, then whoever follows My guidance-they have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve.39 But as for those who disbelieve and reject Our signs-these are the inmates of the Fire-wherein they will remain forever."
40 O Children of Israel! Remember My blessings which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill your pledge to Me, and I will fulfill My pledge to you, and fear Me.
41 And believe in what I revealed, confirming what is with you; and do not be the first to deny it; and do not exchange My revelations for a small price; and be conscious of Me.
42 And do not mix truth with falsehood, and do not conceal the truth while you know.
43 And attend to your prayers, and practice regular charity, and kneel with those who kneel.
44 Do you command people to virtuous conduct, and forget yourselves, even though you read the Scripture? Do you not understand?
45 And seek help through patience and prayer. But it is difficult, except for the devout.
46 Those who know that they will meet their Lord, and that to Him they will return.
47 O Children of Israel! Remember My favor which I bestowed upon you, and I that favored you over all nations.
48 And beware of a Day when no soul will avail another in the least, nor will any intercession be accepted on its behalf, nor will any ransom be taken from it, nor will they be helped.
49 And recall that We delivered you from the people of Pharaoh. They inflicted on you terrible persecution, killing your sons and sparing your women. Therein was a tremendous trial from your Lord.
50 And recall that We parted the sea for you, so We saved you, and We drowned the people of Pharaoh as you looked on.
51 And recall that We appointed for Moses forty nights. Then you took to worshiping the calf after him, and you turned wicked.
52 Then We pardoned you after that, so that you might be grateful.
53 And recall that We gave Moses the Scripture and the Criterion, so that you may be guided.
54 And recall that Moses said to his people, "O my people, you have done wrong to yourselves by worshiping the calf. So repent to your Maker, and kill your egos. That would be better for you with your Maker." So He turned to you in repentance. He is the Accepter of Repentance, the Merciful.
55 And recall that you said, "O Moses, we will not believe in you unless we see God plainly." Thereupon the thunderbolt struck you, as you looked on.
56 Then We revived you after your death, so that you may be appreciative.
57 And We shaded you with clouds, and We sent down to you manna and quails: "Eat of the good things We have provided for you." They did not wrong Us, but they used to wrong their own souls.
58 And recall that We said, "Enter this town, and eat plentifully from it whatever you wish; but enter the gate humbly, and say, 'Pardon.' We will forgive your sins, and give increase to the virtuous."
59 But the wrongdoers among them substituted words other than those given to them, so We sent down on the wrongdoers a plague from heaven, because of their wicked behavior.
60 And recall when Moses prayed for water for his people. We said, "Strike the rock with your staff." Thereupon twelve springs gushed out from it, and each tribe recognized its drinking-place. "Eat and drink from God's provision, and do not corrupt the earth with disobedience.”
61 And recall when you said, "O Moses, we cannot endure one kind of food, so call to your Lord to produce for us of what the earth grows: of its herbs, and its cucumbers, and its garlic, and its lentils, and its onions." He said, "Would you substitute worse for better? Go down to Egypt, where you will have what you asked for." They were struck with humiliation and poverty, and incurred wrath from God. That was because they rejected God's revelations and wrongfully killed the prophets. That was because they disobeyed and transgressed.
62 Those who believe, and those who are Jewish, and the Christians, and the Sabeans-any who believe in God and the Last Day, and act righteously-will have their reward with their Lord; they have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
63 And recall when We received a pledge from you, and raised the Mount above you: "Take what We have given you earnestly, and remember what is in it, that you may attain righteousness."
64 But after that you turned away. Were it not for God's grace and mercy towards you, you would have been among the losers.
65 And you surely knew those of you who violated the Sabbath. We said to them, "Be despicable apes!"
66 Thus We made it a deterrent for their generation, and for subsequent generations, and a lesson for the righteous.
67 And recall when Moses said to his people, "God commands you to sacrifice a heifer." They said, "Do you make a mockery of us?" He said, "God forbid that I should be so ignorant."
68 They said, "Call upon your Lord to show us which one." He said, "He says she is a heifer, neither too old, nor too young, but in between. So do what you are commanded."
69 They said, "Call upon your Lord to show us what her color is." He said, "He says she is a yellow heifer, bright in color, pleasing to the beholders.”
70 They said, "Call upon your Lord to show us which one; the heifers look alike to us; and God willing, we will be guided."
71 He said, "He says she is a heifer, neither yoked to plow the earth, nor to irrigate the field; sound without blemish." They said, "Now you have brought the truth." So they slew her; though they almost did not.
72 And recall when you killed a person, and disputed in the matter;
but God was to expose what you were hiding.
73 We said, "Strike him with part of it." Thus God brings the dead to life; and He shows you His signs, that you may understand.
74 Then after that your hearts hardened. They were as rocks, or even harder. For there are some rocks from which rivers gush out, and others that splinter and water comes out from them, and others that sink in awe of God. God is not unaware of what you do.
75 Do you hope that they will believe in you, when some of them used to hear the Word of God, and then deliberately distort it, even after understanding it?
76 And when they come across those who believe, they say, "We believe," but when they come together privately, they say, "Will you inform them of what God has disclosed to you, so that they might dispute with you concerning it before your Lord?" Do you not understand?
77 Do they not know that God knows what they conceal and what they reveal?
78 And among them are uneducated who know the Scripture only through hearsay, and they only speculate.
79 So woe to those who write the Scripture with their own hands, and then say, "This is from God," that they may exchange it for a little price. Woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn.
80 And they say, "The Fire will not touch us except for a number of days." Say, "Have you received a promise from God-God never breaks His promise-or are you saying about God what you do not know?"
81 Indeed, whoever commits misdeeds, and becomes besieged by his iniquities-these are the inmates of the Fire, wherein they will dwell forever.
82 As for those who believe and do righteous deeds-these are the inhabitants of Paradise, wherein they will dwell forever.
83 We made a covenant with the Children of Israel: "Worship none but God; and be good to parents, and relatives, and orphans, and the needy; and speak nicely to people; and pray regularly, and give alms." Then you turned away, except for a few of you, recanting.
84 And We made a covenant with you: "You shall not shed the blood of your own, nor shall you evict your own from your homes." You agreed, and were all witnesses.
85 But here you are, killing your own, and expelling a group of your own from their homes-conspiring against them in wrongdoing and hostility. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, although it was forbidden to you. Is it that you believe in part of the Scripture, and disbelieve in part? What is the reward for those among you who do that but humiliation in this life? And on the Day of Resurrection, they will be assigned to the most severe torment. God is not unaware of what you do.
86 Those are they who bought the present life for the Hereafter, so the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be helped.
87 We gave Moses the Scripture, and sent a succession of messengers after him. And We gave Jesus son of Mary the clear proofs, and We supported him with the Holy Spirit. Is it that whenever a messenger comes to you with anything your souls do not desire, you grew arrogant, calling some impostors, and killing others?
88 And they said, "Our hearts are sealed." Rather, God has cursed them for their ingratitude. They have little faith.
89 And when a scripture came to them from God, confirming what they have-although previously they were seeking victory against those who disbelieved-but when there came to them what they recognized, they disbelieved in it. So God's curse is upon the disbelievers.
90 Miserable is what they sold their souls for-rejecting what God has revealed, out of resentment that God would send down His grace upon whomever He chooses from among His servants. Thus they incurred wrath upon wrath. And there is a demeaning punishment for the disbelievers.
91 And when it is said to them, "Believe in what God has revealed," they say, "We believe in what was revealed to us," and they reject anything beyond that, although it is the truth which confirms what they have. Say, "Why did you kill God's prophets before, if you were believers?"
92 Moses came to you with clear proofs, yet you adopted the calf in his absence, and you were in the wrong.
93 And We made a covenant with you, and raised the Mount above you: "Take what We have given you firmly, and listen." They said, "We hear and disobey." And their hearts became filled with the love of the calf because of their disbelief. Say, "Wretched is what your faith commands you to do, if you are believers."
94 Say, "If the Final Home with God is yours alone, to the exclusion of all other people, then wish for death if you are sincere."
95 But they will never wish for it, because of what their hands have forwarded. God is aware of the evildoers.
96 You will find them, of all mankind, the most eager for life, even more than the polytheists. Every one of them wishes he could live a thousand years; but to be granted a long life will not nudge him from the punishment. God is Seeing of what they do.
97 Say, "Whoever is hostile to Gabriel-it is he who revealed it to your heart by God's leave, confirming what preceded it, and guidance and good news for the believers."
98 Whoever is hostile to God, and His angels, and His messengers, and Gabriel, and Michael-God is hostile to the faithless.
99 We have revealed to you clear signs, and none rejects them except the sinners.
100 Is it not that whenever they make a covenant, some of them toss it aside? In fact, most of them do not believe.
101 And when there came to them a messenger from God, confirming what they had, a faction of those who were given the Book threw the Book of God behind their backs, as if they do not know.
102 And they followed what the devils taught during the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but it was the devils who disbelieved. They taught the people witchcraft and what was revealed in Babylon to the two angels Harut and Marut. They did not teach anybody until they had said, "We are a test, so do not lose faith." But they learned from them the means to cause separation between man and his wife. But they cannot harm anyone except with God's permission. And they learned what would harm them and not benefit them. Yet they knew that whoever deals in it will have no share in the Hereafter. Miserable is what they sold their souls for, if they only knew.
103 Had they believed and been righteous, the reward from God would have been better, if they only knew.
104 O you who believe! Do not say ambiguous words, but say words of respect, and listen. The disbelievers will have a painful torment.
105 It is never the wish of the disbelievers from among the People of the Book, nor of the polytheists, that any good should be sent down to you from your Lord. But God chooses for His mercy whomever He wills. God is Possessor of Sublime Grace.
106 We never nullify a verse, nor cause it to be forgotten, unless We bring one better than it, or similar to it. Do you not know that God is capable of all things?
107 Do you not know that to God belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, and that apart from God you have no guardian or helper?
108 Or do you want to question your Messenger as Moses was questioned before? Whoever exchanges faith for disbelief has strayed from the right path.
109 Many of the People of the Book wish to turn you back into unbelievers after you have believed, out of envy on their part, after the Truth has become clear to them. But pardon and overlook, until God brings His command. God has power over all things.
110 And perform the prayer, and give alms. Whatever good you forward for yourselves, you will find it with God. God is Seeing of everything you do.
111 And they say, "None will enter Heaven unless he is a Jew or a Christian." These are their wishes. Say, "Produce your proof, if you are truthful."
112 In fact, whoever submits himself to God, and is a doer of good, will have his reward with his Lord-they have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve.
113 The Jews say, "The Christians are not based on anything;" and the Christians say, "The Jews are not based on anything." Yet they both read the Scripture. Similarly, the ignorant said the same thing. God will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection regarding their differences.
114 Who is more unjust than him who forbids the remembrance of God's name in places of worship, and contributes to their ruin? These ought not to enter them except in fear. For them is disgrace in this world, and for them is a terrible punishment in the Hereafter.
115 To God belong the East and the West. Whichever way you turn, there is God's presence. God is Omnipresent and Omniscient.
116 And they say, "God has begotten a son." Be He glorified. Rather, His is everything in the heavens and the earth; all are obedient to Him.
117 Originator of the heavens and the earth. Whenever He decrees a thing, He says to it, "Be," and it becomes.
118 Those who do not know say, "If only God would speak to us, or a sign would come to us." Thus said those who were before them. Their hearts are alike. We have made the signs clear for people who are certain.
119 We have sent you with the truth-bringing good news, and giving warnings. You will not be questioned about the inmates of Hell.
120 The Jews and the Christians will not approve of you, unless you follow their creed. Say, "God's guidance is the guidance." Should you follow their desires, after the knowledge that has come to you, you will have in God neither guardian nor helper.
121 Those to whom We have given the Scripture follow it, as it ought to be followed-these believe in it. But as for those who reject it- these are the losers.
122 O Children of Israel! Remember My blessing which I bestowed upon you, and that I have favored you over all people.
123 And beware of a Day when no soul will avail another soul in any way, and no ransom will be accepted from it, and no intercession will benefit it, and they will not be helped.
124 And when his Lord tested Abraham with certain words, and he fulfilled them. He said, "I am making you a leader of humanity." He said, "And my descendants?" He said, "My pledge does not include the wrongdoers."
125 And We made the House a focal point for the people, and a sanctuary. Use the shrine of Abraham as a place of prayer. And We commissioned Abraham and Ishmael, "Sanctify My House for those who circle around it, and those who seclude themselves in it, and those who kneel and prostrate."
126 When Abraham said, "O My Lord, make this a peaceful land, and provide its people with fruits-whoever of them believes in God and the Last Day." He said, "And whoever disbelieves, I will give him a little enjoyment, then I will consign him to the punishment of the Fire; how miserable the destiny!"
127 As Abraham raises the foundations of the House, together with Ishmael, "Our Lord, accept it from us, You are the Hearer, the Knower.
128 Our Lord, and make us submissive to You, and from our descendants a community submissive to You. And show us our rites, and accept our repentance. You are the Acceptor of Repentance, the Merciful.
129 Our Lord, and raise up among them a messenger, of themselves, who will recite to them Your revelations, and teach them the Book and wisdom, and purify them. You are the Almighty, the Wise."
130 Who would forsake the religion of Abraham, except he who fools himself? We chose him in this world, and in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous.
131 When his Lord said to him, "Submit!" He said, "I have submitted to the Lord of the Worlds."
132 And Abraham exhorted his sons, and Jacob, "O my sons, God has chosen this religion for you, so do not die unless you have submitted."
133 Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob, and he said to his sons, "What will you worship after Me?" They said, "We will worship your God, and the God of your fathers, Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac; One God; and to Him we submit."
134 That was a community that has passed; for them is what they have earned, and for you is what you have earned; and you will not be questioned about what they used to do.
135 And they say, "Be Jews or Christians, and you will be guided." Say, "Rather, the religion of Abraham, the Monotheist; he was not an idolater."
136 Say, "We believe in God; and in what was revealed to us; and in what was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Patriarchs; and in what was given to Moses and Jesus; and in what was given to the prophets-from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we surrender."
137 If they believe in the same as you have believed in, then they have been guided. But if they turn away, then they are in schism. God will protect you against them; for He is the Hearer, the Knower.
138 God's coloring. And who gives better coloring than God? "And we are devoted to Him."
139 Say, "Do you argue with us about God, when He is our Lord and your Lord, and We have our works, and you have your works, and we are sincere to Him?"
140 Or do you say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Patriarchs were Jews or Christians? Say, "Do you know better, or God?" And who does greater wrong than he who conceals a testimony he has from God? God is not unaware of what you do.
141 That was a community that has passed. To them is what they have earned, and to you is what you have earned. And you will not be questioned about what they used to do.
142 The ignorant among the people will say, "What has turned them away from the direction of prayer they once followed?" Say, "To God belong the East and the West. He guides whom He wills to a straight path."
143 Thus We made you a moderate community, that you may be witnesses to humanity, and that the Messenger may be a witness to you. We only established the direction of prayer, which you once followed, that We may distinguish those who follow the Messenger from those who turn on their heels. It is indeed difficult, except for those whom God has guided. But God would never let your faith go to waste. God is Kind towards the people, Merciful.
144 We have seen your face turned towards the heaven. So We will turn you towards a direction that will satisfy you. So turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque. And wherever you may be, turn your faces towards it. Those who were given the Book know that it is the Truth from their Lord; and God is not unaware of what they do.
145 Even if you were to bring to those who were given the Book every proof, they would not follow your direction, nor are you to follow their direction, nor do they follow the direction of one another. And if you were to follow their desires, after the knowledge that has come to you, you would be in that case one of the wrongdoers.
146 Those to whom We have given the Book recognize it as they recognize their own children. But some of them conceal the truth while they know.
147 The truth is from your Lord, so do not be a skeptic.
148 To every community is a direction towards which it turns. Therefore, race towards goodness. Wherever you may be, God will bring you all together. God is capable of everything.
149 And wherever you come from, turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque. This is the truth from your Lord, and God is not heedless of what you do.
150 And wherever you come from, turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque. And wherever you may be, turn your faces towards it. So that the people may not have any argument against you- except those who do wrong among them. So do not fear them, but fear Me, that I may complete My blessings upon you, and that you may be guided.
151 Just as We sent to you a messenger from among you, who recites Our revelations to you, and purifies you, and teaches you the Book and wisdom, and teaches you what you did not know.
152 So remember Me, and I will remember you. And thank Me, and do not be ungrateful.
153 O you who believe! Seek help through patience and prayers. God is with the steadfast.
154 And do not say of those who are killed in the cause of God, "Dead." Rather, they are alive, but you do not perceive.
155 We will certainly test you with some fear and hunger, and some loss of possessions and lives and crops. But give good news to the steadfast.
156 Those who, when a calamity afflicts them, say, "To God we belong, and to Him we will return."
157 Upon these are blessings and mercy from their Lord. These are the guided ones.
158 Safa and Marwa are among the rites of God. Whoever makes the Pilgrimage to the House, or performs the Umrah, commits no error by circulating between them. Whoever volunteers good-God is Appreciative and Cognizant.
159 Those who suppress the proofs and the guidance We have revealed, after We have clarified them to humanity in the Scripture- those-God curses them, and the cursers curse them.
160 Except those who repent, and reform, and proclaim. Those-I will accept their repentance. I am the Acceptor of Repentance, the Merciful.
161 But as for those who reject faith, and die rejecting-those-upon them is the curse of God, and of the angels, and of all humanity.
162 They will remain under it forever, and the torment will not be lightened for them, and they will not be reprieved.
163 Your God is one God. There is no god but He, the Benevolent, the Compassionate.
164 In the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the alternation of night and day; in the ships that sail the oceans for the benefit of mankind; in the water that God sends down from the sky, and revives the earth with it after it had died, and scatters in it all kinds of creatures; in the changing of the winds, and the clouds disposed between the sky and the earth; are signs for people who understand.
165 Yet among the people are those who take other than God as equals to Him. They love them as the love of God. But those who believe have greater love for God. If only the wrongdoers would realize, when they see the torment; that all power is God's, and that God is severe in punishment.
166 Those who were followed will then disown those who followed them, and they will see the retribution, and ties between them will be severed.
167 Those who followed will say, "If only we can have another chance, we will disown them, as they disowned us." Thus God will show them their deeds, as regrets to them, and they will not come out of the Fire.
168 O people!