2. This scripture has been revealed to you--you
shall not harbor doubt about it
3. You shall all follow what is revealed
4. Many a community we annihilated;
5. Their utterance when our retribu-
6. We will certainly question those
7. We will inform them authoritatively,
8. The scales will be set on that day,
9. As for those whose weights are light,
10. We have established you on earth, and we
have provided for you the means of
11. We created you, then we shaped you, then
we said to the angels,
___________________________________________________________________
12. He said, "What prevented you from prostrating
when I ordered you?"
13. He said, "Therefore, you must go down,
for you are not to be arrogant here.
14. He said, "Grant me a respite, until the
Day of Resurrection."
15. He said, "You are granted a respite."
16. He said, "Since You have willed
17. "I will come to them from before
18. He said, "Get out therefrom,
19. "As for you, Adam, dwell with your
20. The devil whispered to them,
21. He swore to them, "I am giving you good advice."
22. He thus duped them with lies. As soon as they tasted the tree,
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23. They said, "Our Lord, we have wronged our souls, and unless You
forgive us
24. He said, "Go down as enemies of one another.
25. He said, "On it you will live, on it you will die,
26. O children of Adam, we have
27. O children of Adam, do not let
Examine
All Inherited Information
28. They commit a gross sin, then say,
29. Say, "My Lord advocates justice,
Beware:
They Believe that They Are Guided
30. Some He guided, while others are committed to straying.
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31. O children of Adam, you shall be clean and dress nicely
Innovated
Prohibitions Condemned
32. Say, "Who prohibited the nice things GOD has created for His
creatures,
33. Say, "My Lord prohibits only evil
34. For each community, there is a
35. O children of Adam, when mes-
36. As for those who reject our revela-
37. Who is more evil than those who invent lies about GOD,
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38. He will say, "Enter with the previous communities of jinns and
humans
39. The ancestral group will say to the
Rejecting
God's Revelations:
40. Surely, those who reject our revela-
41. They have incurred Hell as an
42. As for those who believe and lead
43. We will remove all jealousy from their hearts. Rivers will flow
beneath them,
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44. The dwellers of Paradise will call the dwellers of Hell:
45. "who repel from the path of GOD, and strive to make it crooked,
46. A barrier separates them, while the
47. When they turn their eyes towards
48. The dwellers of the Purgatory will
49. "Are those the people you swore
50. The dwellers of Hell will call on the
51. Those who do not take their religion seriously, and are totally
preoccupied with
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52. We have given them a scripture that is fully detailed,
53. Are they waiting until all (prophecies) are fulfilled?
54. Your Lord is the one GOD; who
55. You shall worship your Lord
56. Do not corrupt the earth after it
57. He is the One who sends the wind with good omen,
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58. The good land readily produces its plants by the leave of its
Lord,
59. We sent Noah to his people, saying, "O my people,
60. The leaders among his people said,
61. He said, "O my people, I am not
62. "I deliver to you the messages
63. "Is it too much of a wonder that a
64. They rejected him. Consequently,
65. To `Aad we sent their brother Hood.
66. The leaders who disbelieved among his people said,
67. He said, "O my people, there is no foolishness in me;
_____________________________________________________________________
68. "I deliver to you my Lord's messages,
69. "Is it too much of a wonder that a message
Following
the Parents Blindly:
70. They said, "Did you come to make
71. He said, "You have incurred
72. We then saved him and
73. To Thamood we sent their brother
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74. "Recall that He made you inheritors after `Aad,
The Message:
75. The arrogant leaders among his
76. The arrogant ones said, "We
77. Subsequently, they slaughtered the
78. Consequently, the quake
79. He turned away from them,
80. Lot said to his people,
81. "You practice sex with the men,
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82. His people responded by saying,
83. Consequently, we saved him and his family,
84. We showered them with a certain
Shu`aib:
85. To Midyan we sent their brother
86. "Refrain from blocking every path,
87. "Now that some of you
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88. The arrogant leaders among his people said,
89. "We would be blaspheming against GOD
90. The disbelieving leaders among
91. The quake annihilated them,
92. Those who rejected Shu`aib
93. He turned away from them, saying,
94. Whenever we sent a prophet to any
95. Then we substituted peace and
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Most
People Make the Wrong Choice
96. Had the people of those communities believed and turned righteous,
97. Did the people of the present communities guarantee that
98. Did the people of today's com-
99. Have they taken GOD's plans for
100. Does it ever occur to those who
101. We narrate to you the history of
102. We found that most of them
103. After (those messengers,)
104. Moses said, "O Pharaoh, I am a messenger from the Lord of the
universe.
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105. "It is incumbent upon me that I do not say about GOD
106. He said, "If you have a sign,
107. He threw down his staff, and it turned into a tremendous serpent.
108. He took out his hand, and it was white to the beholders.
109. The leaders among Pharaoh's people
110. "He wants to take you out of your
111. They said, "Respite him and his
112. "Let them summon every
113. The magicians came to Pharaoh
114. He said, "Yes indeed; you will
115. They said, "O Moses, either you
116. He said, "You throw."
117. We then inspired Moses:
The
Truth Recognized by the Experts
118. Thus, the truth prevailed, and what they did was nullified.
119. They were defeated then and there; they were humiliated.
120. The magicians fell prostrate.
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121. They said, "We believe in the Lord of the universe.
122. "The Lord of Moses and Aaron."
123. Pharaoh said, "Did you believe in him without my permission?
124. "I will cut your hands and feet on alternate sides,
125. They said, "We will then return
126. "You persecute us simply because
127. The leaders among Pharaoh's
128. Moses said to his people, "Seek
129. They said, "We were persecuted
130. We then afflicted Pharaoh's people with drought,
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131. When good omens came their way,
132. They said, "No matter what kind of sign
133. Consequently, we sent upon them
134. Whenever a plague afflicted them,
135. Yet, when we relieved the plague
136. Consequently, we avenged their
137. We let the oppressed people
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138. We delivered the Children of Israel across the sea.
139. "These people are committing a blasphemy,
140. "Shall I seek for you other than
Reminder
to the Children of Israel
141. Recall that we delivered you
Our
World Cannot Stand
142. We summoned Moses for thirty*
143. When Moses came at our appointed
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144. He said, "O Moses, I have chosen you, out of all the people,
145. We wrote for him on the tablets
Divine
Intervention
146. I will divert from My revelations
147. Those who reject our revelations
148. During his absence, Moses' people made from their jewelry the
statue of a calf,
149. Finally, when they regretted their action, and realized that
they
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150. When Moses returned to his people,
151. (Moses) said, "My Lord, forgive me
152. Surely, those who idolized the calf
153. As for those who committed sins,
154. When Moses' anger subsided,
155. Moses then selected seventy men
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Requirements
For Attaining God's Mercy
156. "And decree for us righteousness in this world, and in the Hereafter.
157. "(4) follow the messenger,
158. Say, "O people, I am GOD's
159. Among the followers of Moses there are those
_____________________________________________________________________
160. We divided them into twelve tribal communities,
Rebellion
Despite the Miracles
161. Recall that they were told,
162. But the evil ones among them
Observing
the Commandments
163. Remind them of the community by the sea,
_____________________________________________________________________
Mocking
and Ridiculing God's Message
164. Recall that a group of them said,
165. When they disregarded what they were reminded of,
166. When they continued to defy the
167. Additionally, your Lord has decreed
168. We scattered them among many
169. Subsequent to them, He sub-
170. Those who uphold the scripture, and observe the Contact Prayers
(Salat),
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171. We raised the mountain above them like an umbrella,
We
Are Born With Instinctive Knowledge About God*
172. Recall that your Lord summoned all the descendants of Adam,
173. Nor can you say, "It was our
174. We thus explain the revelations,
175. Recite for them the news of one
176. Had we willed, we could have
177. Bad indeed is the example of people who reject our proofs;
178. Whomever GOD guides is the truly guided one,
_____________________________________________________________________
Satan
Hypnotizes His Constituents
179. We have committed to Hell multitudes of jinns and humans.
180. To GOD belongs the most beautiful names; call upon Him therewith,
181. Among our creations, there are
182. As for those who reject our
183. I will even encourage them;
184. Why do they not reflect upon
185. Have they not looked at the
186. Whomever GOD commits to
187. They ask you about the end of the world
(the Hour),* and when it will come to
_____________________________________________________________________
Messengers
Are Powerless;
188. Say, "I have no power to benefit myself, or harm myself.
189. He created you from one person
190. But when He gives them a good
191. Is it not a fact that they are idolizing
192. Idols that can neither help them,
193. When you invite them to the
194. The idols you invoke besides GOD
195. Do they have legs on which they walk?
_____________________________________________________________________
196. "GOD is my only Lord and Master;
197. "As for the idols you set up beside Him,
198. When you invite them to the guidance,
199. You shall resort to pardon,
200. When the devil whispers to you
201. Those who are righteous, when-
202. Their brethren ceaselessly entice
203. If you do not produce a miracle
204. When the Quran is recited,
205. You shall remember your Lord
206. Those at your Lord are never too proud
_____________________________________________________________________
in your heart--that you may warn with it,
and to provide a reminder
for the believers.
to you from your Lord; do not
follow any idols besides Him.
Rarely do you take heed.
they incurred our retribution while
they were asleep, or wide awake.
tion came to them was: "Indeed,
we have been transgressors."
who received the message, and we
will question the messengers.
for we were never absent.
equitably. Those whose weights are
heavy will be the winners.
they will be the ones who lost their
souls,* as a consequence of
disregarding our revelations, unjustly.
support therein. Rarely are you appreciative.
"Fall prostrate before Adam." They fell prostrate,
except Iblees (Satan);
he was not with the prostrators.
*7:1 See Appendix 1 for the role of these
initials in the Quran's mathematical miracle.
*7:9 Failing to heed our Creator leads
to spiritual starvation and eventual "loss" of the soul.
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He said, "I am better than he; You created
me from fire,
and created him from mud."
Get out; you are debased."
that I go astray,* I will skulk for
them on Your straight path.
them, and from behind them,
and from their right, and from
their left, and You will find that
most of them are unappreciative."
despised and defeated. Those
among them who follow you,
I will fill Hell with you all.
wife in Paradise, and eat therefrom
as you please, but do not approach
this one tree, lest you fall in sin."
in order to reveal their bodies,
which were invisible to them.
He said, "Your Lord did not forbid
you from this tree, except to prevent
you from becoming angels, and from
attaining eternal existence."
their bodies became visible to them, and they tried to cover themselves
with the leaves of Paradise. Their Lord called upon them:
"Did I not enjoin you from that tree, and warn you
that the devil is your most ardent enemy?"
*7:16 Satan is a proven liar, and so are
his constituents (see 2:36, 6:22-23, & 7:20).
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and have mercy on us, we will be losers."
On earth shall be your habitation and provision for awhile."
and from it you will be brought out."
provided you with garments to cover
your bodies, as well as for luxury.
But the best garment is the garment
of righteousness. These are some of
GOD's signs, that they
may take heed.
the devil dupe you as he did when
he caused the eviction of your
parents from Paradise, and the
removal of their garments to expose
their bodies. He and his tribe
see you, while you do not see them.
We appoint the devils as companions
of those who do not believe.
"We found our parents doing this,
and GOD has commanded us to do
it." Say, "GOD never advocates
sin. Are you saying about GOD
what you do not know?"
and to stand devoted to Him alone
at every place of worship.
You shall devote your worship absolutely to Him alone.
Just as He initiated you,
you will ultimately go back to Him."
They have taken the devils as their masters, instead of GOD,
yet they believe that they are guided.
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when you go to the masjid. And eat and drink moderately.
Surely, He does not love the gluttons.
and the good provisions?" Say, "Such provisions are to be enjoyed
in this life
by those who believe. Moreover, the good provisions will be exclusively
theirs
on the Day of Resurrection." We
thus explain the revelations for
people who know.
deeds, be they obvious or hidden,
and sins, and unjustifiable aggression,
and to set up beside GOD powerless
idols, and to say about GOD
what you do not know."
predetermined life span.
Once their interim comes to an end,
they cannot delay it by one hour,
nor advance it.
sengers come to you from among
you, and recite My revelations to
you, those who take heed and lead
a righteous life, will have nothing
to fear, nor will they grieve.
tions, and are too arrogant to uphold
them, they have incurred Hell, wherein they abide forever.
or reject His revelations? These will get their share,
in accordance with the scripture, then,
when our messengers come to terminate their lives,
they will say, "Where are the idols you used to implore beside GOD?"
They will say, "They have abandoned us." They will bear witness
against themselves that they were disbelievers.
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into Hell." Every time a group enters,
they will curse their ancestral group.
Once they are all in it,
the latest one will say of the previous one,
"Our Lord, these are the ones who misled us.
Give them double the retribution of Hell."
He will say, "Each receives
double, but you do not know."
later group, "Since you had an
advantage over us, taste the retribu-
tion for your own sins."
An Unforgivable Offense
tions and are too arrogant to uphold
them, the gates of the sky will
never open for them, nor will
they enter Paradise until the camel
passes through the needle's eye.
We thus requite the guilty.
abode; they will have barriers
above them. We thus requite
the transgressors.
a righteous life--we never burden
any soul beyond its means--these
will be the dwellers of Paradise.
They abide in it forever.
and they will say, "GOD be praised for guiding us.
We could not possibly be guided, if it were not that GOD has guided
us.
The messengers of our Lord did bring the truth."
They will be called: "This is your Paradise.
You have inherited it, in return for your works."
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"We have found our Lord's promise to be the truth,
have you found your Lord's promise to be the truth?"
They will say, "Yes." An announcer between them will announce:
"GOD's condemnation has befallen the transgressors;
and, with regard to the Hereafter,
they are disbelievers."
Purgatory* is occupied by people
who recognize each side by their
looks. They will call the dwellers of
Paradise: "Peace be upon you."
They did not enter (Paradise)
through wishful thinking.
the dwellers of Hell, they will say,
"Our Lord, do not put us
with these wicked people."
call on people they recognize by
their looks, saying, "Your great
numbers did not avail you in any
way, nor did your arrogance.
that GOD will never touch them
with mercy?" (The people in the
Purgatory will then be told,)
"Enter Paradise; you have nothing
to fear, nor will you grieve."
dwellers of Paradise: "Let some of
your water, or some of GOD's provisions to you flow towards us."
They will say, "GOD has forbidden them for the disbelievers."
this worldly life, we forget them on that day, because they forgot
that day,
and because they spurned our revelations.
*7:46-49 Initially, there will be 4 places:
(1) the High Heaven, (2) the Lower Heaven, (3) the Purgatory, and (4) Hell.
The Purgatory will be annexed into the Lower Heaven.
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with knowledge, guidance, and mercy for the people who believe.
The day such fulfillment comes to pass,
those who disregarded it in the past will say,
"The messengers of our Lord have brought the truth.
Are there any intercessors to
intercede on our behalf?
Would you send us back,
so that we change our behavior,
and do better works than what we
did?" They have lost their souls,
and their own innovations
have caused their doom.
created the heavens and the earth
in six days,* then assumed all
authority. The night overtakes the
day, as it pursues it persistently, and
the sun, the moon, and the stars
are committed to serve by His
command. Absolutely, He controls
all creation and all commands.
Most Exalted is GOD,
Lord of the universe.
publicly and privately;
He does not love the transgressors.
has been set straight, and worship
Him out of reverence, and out of
hope. Surely, GOD's mercy is attainable by the righteous.
as a mercy from His hands. Once they gather heavy clouds,
we drive them to dead lands, and send down water therefrom,
to produce with it all kinds of fruits.
We thus resurrect the dead, that you may take heed.
*7:54 The six days of creation are allegorical;
they serve as a yardstick to let us know the relative complexity of our
infinitesimal planet Earth--it was created in "4 days" (see 41:10).
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while the bad land barely produces anything useful.
We thus explain the revelations for people who are appreciative.
worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him.
I fear for you the retribution of an awesome day."
"We see that you are far astray."
astray; I am a messenger from
the Lord of the universe.
of my Lord, and I advise you,
and I know from GOD
what you do not know.
reminder should come to you from
your Lord, through a man like you,
to warn you, and to lead you to
righteousness, that you may attain
mercy?"
we saved him and those with him
in the ark, and we drowned those
who rejected our revelations;
they were blind.
He said, "O my people, worship
GOD; you have no other god
beside Him. Would you then
observe righteousness?"
"We see that you are behaving foolishly,
and we think that you are a liar."
I am a messenger from the Lord of the universe.
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and I am honestly advising you.
should come to you from your Lord,
through a man like you, to warn you?
Recall that He made you inheritors
after the people of Noah, and multiplied
your number. Remember GOD's
blessings, that you may succeed."
A Human Tragedy
us worship GOD alone, and
abandon what our parents used
to worship? We challenge you
to bring the doom you threaten us
with, if you are truthful."
condemnation and wrath from
your Lord. Do you argue with me
in defense of innovations you have
fabricated--you and your parents--
which were never authorized by
GOD? Therefore, wait and I will
wait along with you."
those with him, by mercy from us,
and we annihilated those who
rejected our revelations and
refused to be believers.
Saaleh. He said, "O my people,
worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him.
Proof has been provided for you
from your Lord:
here is GOD's camel, to serve as a sign for you.
Let her eat from GOD's land,
and do not touch her with any harm,
lest you incur a painful retribution.
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and established you on earth,
building mansions in its valleys,
and carving homes from its mountains.
You shall remember GOD's blessings,
and do not roam the earth corruptingly."
Proof of Messengership
people said to the common people
who believed, "How do you know
that Saaleh is sent by his Lord?"
They said, "The message he
brought has made us believers."
disbelieve in what you believe in."
camel, rebelled against their Lord's
command, and said, "O Saaleh,
bring the doom you threaten us with,
if you are really a messenger."
annihilated them, leaving them
dead in their homes.
saying, "O my people,
I have delivered my Lord's
message to you, and advised you,
but you do not like any advisers."
"You commit such an abomination;
no one in the world
has done it before!
instead of the women.
Indeed, you are a transgressing people."
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"Evict them from your town.
They are people who wish to be pure."
but not his wife;
she was with the doomed.
shower; note the consequences
for the guilty.
Cheating, Dishonesty Condemned
Shu`aib. He said, "O my people,
worship GOD;
you have no other god
beside Him.
Proof has come to you
from your Lord.
You shall give full weight
and full measure when you trade.
Do not cheat the people
out of their rights.
Do not corrupt the earth
after it has been set straight.
This is better for you,
if you are believers.
seeking to repel those who believe
from the path of GOD, and
do not make it crooked.
Remember that you used to be
few and He multiplied your number.
Recall the consequences
for the wicked.
have believed in what I was sent with,
and some have disbelieved,
wait until GOD issues His judgment
between us;
He is the best judge."
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"We will evict you, O Shu`aib,
together with those who believed with you,
from our town, unless you revert to our religion."
He said, "Are you going to force us?
if we reverted to your religion
after GOD has saved us from it.
How could we revert back to it
against the will of GOD our Lord?
Our Lord's knowledge encompasses
all things. We have put our trust
in GOD. Our Lord, grant us
a decisive victory over our people.
You are the best supporter."
his people said, "If you follow
Shu`aib, you will be losers."
leaving them dead in their homes.
vanished, as if they never existed.
Those who rejected Shu`aib
were the losers.
"O my people, I have delivered to
you the messages of my Lord, and
I have advised you. How can I
grieve over disbelieving people."
community, we afflicted its people
with adversity and hardship,
that they may implore.
prosperity in place of that hardship.
But alas, they turned heedless and said,
"It was our parents who experienced that hardship before prosperity."
Consequently, we punished them suddenly
when they least expected.
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we would have showered them with blessings from the heaven and the
earth.
Since they decided to disbelieve,
we punished them for what they earned.
our retribution will not come to them in the night as they sleep?
munities guarantee that our
retribution will not come to them
in the daytime while they play?
granted? None takes GOD's plans
for granted except the losers.
inherit the earth after previous
generations that, if we will, we
can punish them for their sins,
and seal their hearts, causing them
to turn deaf?
those communities: their mes-
sengers went to them with clear
proofs, but they were not to be-
lieve in what they had rejected
before. GOD thus seals the hearts
of the disbelievers.
disregard their covenant;
we found most of them wicked.*
we sent Moses with our signs to Pharaoh and
his people, but they transgressed.
Note the consequences for the wicked.
*7:102 This life is our last chance to
redeem ourselves, but most people are proven to be stubbornly rebellious
and evil (see the INTRODUCTION).
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except the truth. I come to you with a sign from your Lord;
let the Children of Israel go."
then produce it, if you are truthful."
said, "This is no more
than a clever magician.
land; what do you recommend?"
brother, and send summoners to
every city.
experienced magician."
and said, "Do we get paid
if we are the winners?"
even become close to me."
throw, or we are throwing."
When they threw, they tricked
the people's eyes, intimidated them,
and produced a great magic.
"Throw down your staff,"
whereupon it swallowed whatever
they fabricated.
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This must be a conspiracy you schemed in the city,
in order to take its people away.
You will surely find out.
then I will crucify you all."
to our Lord.
we believed in the proofs of our
Lord when they came to us."
"Our Lord, grant us steadfastness,
and let us die as submitters."
people said, "Will you allow
Moses and his people to corrupt
the earth, and forsake you and
your gods?" He said, "We will kill
their sons, and spare their
daughters. We are much more
powerful than they are."
GOD's help, and steadfastly
persevere. The earth belongs to
GOD, and He grants it to whom-
ever He chooses from among
His servants. The ultimate
victory belongs to the righteous."
before you came to us,
and after you came to us."
He said, "Your Lord will annihilate your enemy
and establish you on earth,
then He will see how you behave."
and shortage of crops, that they may take heed.
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they said, "We have deserved this,"
but when a hardship afflicted them,
they blamed Moses and those with him.
In fact, their omens are decided only by GOD,
but most of them do not know.
you show us, to dupe us with your magic,
we will not believe."
the flood, the locusts, the lice,
the frogs, and the blood--profound
signs. But they maintained their
arrogance. They were evil people.
they said, "O Moses, implore
your Lord--you are close to Him.
If you relieve this plague,
we will believe with you,
and will send the Children of
Israel with you."
for any length of time,
they violated their pledge.
actions, and drowned them
in the sea. That is because
they rejected our signs,
and were totally heedless thereof.
inherit the land,
east and west, and we blessed it.
The blessed commands of your Lord
were thus fulfilled for the Children of Israel,
to reward them for their steadfastness,
and we annihilated the works
of Pharaoh and his people
and everything they harvested.
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When they passed by people who were worshiping statues,
they said, "O Moses, make a god for us, like the gods they have."
He said, "Indeed, you are ignorant people.
for what they are doing is disastrous for them.
GOD to be your god,
when He has blessed you more
than anyone else in the world?"
from Pharaoh's people, who
inflicted the worst persecution
upon you, killing your sons
and sparing your daughters.
That was an exacting trial for you
from your Lord.
the Physical Presence of God
nights, and completed them by
adding ten.* Thus, the audience
with his Lord lasted forty* nights.
Moses said to his brother Aaron,
"Stay here with my people, maintain
righteousness, and do not follow
the ways of the corruptors."
time, and his Lord spoke with him,
he said, "My Lord, let me look and see You."
He said, "You cannot see Me. Look at that mountain;
if it stays in its place, then you can see Me."
Then, his Lord manifested Himself to the mountain,
and this caused it to crumble. Moses fell unconscious.
When he came to, he said, "Be You glorified.
I repent to You, and I am the most convinced believer."
*7:142 The manner in which these numbers
are mentioned is significant. As detailed in Appendix 1, all the numbers
mentioned in the Quran add up to 162146, 19x8534.
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with My messages and by speaking to you.
Therefore, take what I have given you and be appreciative."
all kinds of enlightenments and details of everything:
"You shall uphold these teachings strongly,
and exhort your people to uphold them--
these are the best teachings.
I will point out for you
the fate of the wicked."
Keeps the Disbelievers in the Dark
those who are arrogant on earth,
without justification. Consequently,
when they see every kind of proof
they will not believe. And when
they see the path of guidance they
will not adopt it as their path, but
when they see the path of straying
they will adopt it as their path.
This is the consequence of their
rejecting our proofs, and being
totally heedless thereof.
and the meeting of the Hereafter,
their works are nullified. Are they
requited only for what they
committed?
complete with the sound of a calf.*
Did they not see that it could not speak to them,
or guide them in any path?
They worshiped it, and thus turned wicked.
had gone astray, they said, "Unless our Lord redeems us
with His mercy, and forgives us, we will be losers."
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angry and disappointed, he said,
"What a terrible thing you have done in my absence!
Could you not wait for the commandments of your Lord?"
He threw down the tablets, and took hold of his brother's head,
pulling him towards himself. (Aaron) said,
"Son of my mother, the people took advantage of my weakness,
and almost killed me. Let not my enemies rejoice,
and do not count me with the transgressing people."
and my brother, and admit us into
Your mercy. Of all the merciful
ones, You are the Most Merciful."
have incurred wrath from their
Lord, and humiliation in this life.
We thus requite the innovators.
then repented thereafter and
believed, your Lord--after this--
is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
he picked up the tablets, containing
guidance and mercy for those
who reverence their Lord.
from among his people, to come
to our appointed audience. When
the quake shook them, he said,
"My Lord, You could have
annihilated them in the past,
together with me, if You so willed.
Would You annihilate us
for the deeds of those among us
who are foolish? This must be the test
that You have instituted for us.
With it, You condemn whomever You will,
and guide whomever You will.
You are our Lord and Master,
so forgive us, shower us with Your mercy;
You are the best Forgiver.
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The Importance of Zakat
We have repented to You." He said, "My retribution befalls whomever
I will. But My mercy encompasses all things.
However, I will specify it for those who
(1) lead a righteous life, (2) give the obligatory
charity (Zakat),*
(3) believe in our revelations, and
the gentile prophet (Muhammad),
whom they find written in their
Torah and Gospel.* He exhorts
them to be righteous, enjoins
them from evil, allows for them all
good food, and prohibits that which
is bad, and unloads the burdens and
the shackles imposed upon them.
Those who believe in him, respect
him, support him, and follow
the light that came with him
are the successful ones."
messenger to all of you.
To Him belongs the sovereignty
of the heavens and the earth.
There is no god except He.
He controls life and death."
Therefore, you shall believe in
GOD and His messenger, the
gentile prophet, who believes in
GOD and His words. Follow him,
that you may be guided.
who guide in accordance with the truth,
and the truth renders them righteous.
*7:156 The importance of the obligatory
charity (Zakat) cannot be overemphasized. As instituted in 6:141, Zakat
must be given away upon receiving any income---2.5% of one's net income
must be given to the parents, the relatives, the orphans, the poor, and
the traveling alien, in this order (see 2:215).
*7:157 Muhammad is prophesied in Deuteronomy
18:15-19 and John 14:16-17 & 16:13.
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and we inspired Moses
when his people asked him for water:
"Strike the rock with your staff,"
whereupon twelve springs
gushed out therefrom.
Thus, each community knew its water.
And we shaded them with clouds,
and sent down to them manna
and quails: "Eat from the good
things we provided for you."
It is not us that they wronged;
it is they who wronged
their own souls.
"Go into this town to live,
and eat therefrom
as you please, treat the people
amicably, and enter the gate
humbly. We will then
forgive your transgressions.
We will multiply the reward
for the righteous."
substituted other commands
for the commands given to them.
Consequently, we sent upon them
condemnation from the sky,
because of their wickedness.
` Brings Prosperity
who desecrated the Sabbath.
When they observed the Sabbath,
the fish came to them abundantly.
And when they violated the Sabbath,
the fish did not come. We thus afflicted them,
as a consequence of their transgression.
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"Why should you preach to people whom
GOD will surely annihilate or punish severely?"
They answered, "Apologize to your Lord,"
that they might be saved.
we saved those who prohibited evil,
and afflicted the wrongdoers with a
terrible retribution for
their wickedness.
commandments, we said to them,
"Be you despicable apes."
that He will raise up against them
people who will inflict severe
persecution upon them, until the
Day of Resurrection. Your Lord
is most efficient in enforcing
retribution, and He is certainly
the Forgiver, Most Merciful.
communities throughout the land.
Some of them were righteous,
and some were less than righteous.
We tested them with prosperity
and hardship, that they may return.
stituted new generations who
inherited the scripture. But they
opted for the worldly life instead,
saying, "We will be forgiven." But then they continued to opt for
the materials of this world. Did they not make a covenant
to uphold the scripture, and not to say about GOD except the truth?
Did they not study the scripture? Certainly, the abode of the Hereafter
is far better for those who maintain righteousness.
Do you not understand?
we never fail to recompense the pious.
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and they thought it was going to fall on them:
"You shall uphold what we have given you, strongly,
and remember the contents thereof, that you may be saved."
and had them bear witness for themselves:
"Am I not your Lord?" They all said, "Yes.
We bear witness." Thus, you cannot
say on the Day of Resurrection,
"We were not aware of this."
parents who practiced idolatry,
and we simply followed in their
footsteps. Will You punish us
because of what others have
innovated?"
to enable the people to redeem
themselves.*
who was given our proofs, but
chose to disregard them.
Consequently, the devil pursued
him, until he became a strayer.
elevated him therewith, but he
insisted on sticking to the ground,
and pursued his own opinions.
Thus, he is like the dog; whether
you pet him or scold him, he pants.
Such is the example of people
who reject our proofs. Narrate these narrations, that they may reflect.
it is only their own souls that they wrong.
and whomever He commits to straying,
these are the losers.
*7:172 Thus, every human being is born
with an instinctive knowledge about God.
*7:174 This life is our last chance to
return to God's Kingdom (See INTRODUCTION).
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They have minds with which they do not understand,
eyes with which they do not see, and ears with which they do not
hear.
They are like animals; no, they are far worse--they are totally
unaware.
and disregard those who distort His names.
They will be requited for their sins.
those who guide with the truth, and
the truth renders them righteous.
revelations, we lead them on
without them ever realizing it.
My scheming is formidable.
their friend (the messenger)?
He is not crazy. He is simply a
profound warner.
dominion of the heavens and the
earth, and all the things GOD has
created? Does it ever occur to
them that the end of their life
may be near? Which Hadith,
beside this, do they believe in?
straying, there is no way for
anyone to guide him. He leaves
them in their sins, blundering.
pass. Say, "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord. Only He reveals
its time.*
Heavy it is, in the heavens and the earth. It will not come to you
except
suddenly."** They ask you as if you are in control thereof.
Say, "The knowledge thereof is with GOD," but most people do not
know.
*7:187 The right time to reveal this information
was predestined to be 1980 A.D., through God's Messenger of the Covenant
(See 15:87, 72:27, and Appendices 2
& 11).
**7:187 The "Hour" comes "suddenly'" only
to the disbelievers (See Appendix 11).
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They Do Not Know the Future.
Only what GOD wills happens to me. If I knew the future,
I would have increased my wealth, and no harm would have
afflicted me. I am no more than a warner,
and a bearer of good news for those who believe."
(Adam). Subsequently, He gives
every man a mate to find
tranquillity with her. She then
carries a light load that she can
hardly notice. As the load
gets heavier, they implore GOD
their Lord: "If You give us a good
baby, we will be appreciative."
baby, they turn His gift into an
idol that rivals Him. GOD be
exalted, far above any partnership.
idols who create nothing, and are
themselves created?
nor even help themselves?
guidance, they do not follow you.
Thus, it is the same for them
whether you invite them,
or remain silent.
are creatures like you. Go ahead and call upon them;
let them respond to you, if you are right.
Do they have hands with which they defend themselves?
Do they have eyes with which they see?
Do they have ears with which they hear?
Say, "Call upon your idols, and ask them to smite me without delay.
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the One who revealed this scripture.
He protects the righteous.
they cannot help you, nor can they help themselves."
they do not hear. And you see them looking at you,
but they do not see.
advocate tolerance,
and disregard the ignorant.
any whisper, seek refuge in GOD;
He is Hearer, Omniscient.
ever the devil approaches them
with an idea, they remember,
whereupon they become seers.
them to go astray.
that they demand, they say, "Why
not ask for it?" Say, "I simply follow
what is revealed to me from my
Lord." These are enlightenments
from your Lord, and guidance, and
mercy for people who believe.
you shall listen to it and take heed,
that you may attain mercy.
within yourself, publicly, privately, and quietly,
day and night; do not be unaware.*
to worship Him; they glorify Him
and fall prostrate before Him.
*7:205 Your god is whoever or whatever
occupies your mind most of the day. This explains the fact that most of
those who believe in God are destined for Hell (See 12:106, 23:84-90, and
Appendix 27).
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