23: The Believers (Al-Muminun)
Revealed at Makkah
This chapter is so named because it deals with the success of the Believers. Continuing the subject-matter of the last chapter, it first asserts the success of the believers and then refers to similar success in case of the former prophets, whose history, it tells us, will be repeated in the Holy Prophet’s case. It ends with a condemnation of polytheism by its own votaries and shows how the wicked will finally regret their evil deeds. This chapter was revealed in the late period at Makkah.
Section 1 (Verses 23:1–23:22): Success of the Faithful
The words li-l-zakāt mean for the sake of purity or to attain purity. The word zakāt means originally purity, as in 19:13, while zakāt in the sense of due charity is spoken of as being paid or given.
This expression, lit. guard their private parts, means the restraining of sexual passions.
23:6
اِلَّا عَلٰۤی اَزۡوَاجِہِمۡ اَوۡ مَا مَلَکَتۡ اَیۡمَانُہُمۡ فَاِنَّہُمۡ غَیۡرُ مَلُوۡمِیۡنَ ۚ﴿۶﴾
except in the presence of their spouses or those whom their right hands possess, for such surely are not to be blamed,
The words mā malakat aimānu-hum, literally “those whom their right hands possess”, usually indicate slaves. It should be noted that this chapter was revealed at Makkah, and the conditions under which slave-girls could be taken as wives were given later at Madinah; see 4:25. If the reference here is to sexual relations, the permission regarding those whom their right hands possess must be read subject to the conditions of 4:25. It may, however, be added that the expression used in v. 5 means in a wider sense the covering of parts of the body which it is indecent to expose, and in this connection it must be borne in mind that, according to Islamic rules of decency, the exposure of such parts of the body, as are generally exposed at evening entertainment venues, is disallowed, but a certain degree of freedom is allowed to women in the presence of their husbands and female servants and to men in the presence of their wives and male servants.
23:7
فَمَنِ ابۡتَغٰی وَرَآءَ ذٰلِکَ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡعٰدُوۡنَ ۚ﴿۷﴾
but whoever seeks to go beyond that, these are the transgressors —
23:8
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ ہُمۡ لِاَمٰنٰتِہِمۡ وَ عَہۡدِہِمۡ رٰعُوۡنَ ۙ﴿۸﴾
and those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant,
23:9
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ ہُمۡ عَلٰی صَلَوٰتِہِمۡ یُحَافِظُوۡنَ ۘ﴿۹﴾
and those who keep a guard on their prayers.
23:11
الَّذِیۡنَ یَرِثُوۡنَ الۡفِرۡدَوۡسَ ؕ ہُمۡ فِیۡہَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱﴾
who inherit Paradise. In it they will abide.
23:12
وَ لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا الۡاِنۡسَانَ مِنۡ سُلٰلَۃٍ مِّنۡ طِیۡنٍ ﴿ۚ۱۲﴾
And certainly We create man of an extract of clay,
The creation of man is here traced back to earth, for the life-germ in sperma is an extract of food, which is drawn from earth in whatever form it may be. While the first eleven verses speak of the spiritual growth of man, his physical growth is here spoken of, and thus a comparison may be established between the physical and the spiritual growth. Though described in the past tense, it is a general law of the creation of man that is spoken of here. The addition of the words, then We cause it to grow into another creation (v. 14), is to show that man’s creation does not end with the completion of the different stages of physical growth, as in the case of other animals, but he is endowed with certain other faculties — the reference being to the moral and spiritual side of man’s growth.
23:13
ثُمَّ جَعَلۡنٰہُ نُطۡفَۃً فِیۡ قَرَارٍ مَّکِیۡنٍ ﴿۪۱۳﴾
then We make him a small life-germ in a firm resting-place,
23:14
ثُمَّ خَلَقۡنَا النُّطۡفَۃَ عَلَقَۃً فَخَلَقۡنَا الۡعَلَقَۃَ مُضۡغَۃً فَخَلَقۡنَا الۡمُضۡغَۃَ عِظٰمًا فَکَسَوۡنَا الۡعِظٰمَ لَحۡمًا ٭ ثُمَّ اَنۡشَاۡنٰہُ خَلۡقًا اٰخَرَ ؕ فَتَبٰرَکَ اللّٰہُ اَحۡسَنُ الۡخٰلِقِیۡنَ ﴿ؕ۱۴﴾
then We make the life-germ a clot, then We make the clot a lump of flesh, then We make (in) the lump of flesh bones, then We clothe the bones with flesh, then We cause it to grow into another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators!
The several stages in the growth of the human child, as given here, and unknown then, are quite in accordance with scientific investigation. It should be borne in mind that the word fa, meaning then, as used in then We clothe the bones… does not always imply order. This is clear from the context, which states that there is first a lump of flesh, and the nucleus of the bones is generated in this flesh.
23:16
ثُمَّ اِنَّکُمۡ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ تُبۡعَثُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶﴾
Then on the day of Resurrection you will surely be raised up.
23:17
وَ لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا فَوۡقَکُمۡ سَبۡعَ طَرَآئِقَ ٭ۖ وَ مَا کُنَّا عَنِ الۡخَلۡقِ غٰفِلِیۡنَ ﴿۱۷﴾
And indeed We have made above you seven ways — and never are We heedless of creation.
Instead of the seven heavens, here we have the seven ways, which may be the orbits of the seven members of the solar system, excluding the earth, as shown by the words above you.
23:18
وَ اَنۡزَلۡنَا مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءًۢ بِقَدَرٍ فَاَسۡکَنّٰہُ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ٭ۖ وَ اِنَّا عَلٰی ذَہَابٍۭ بِہٖ لَقٰدِرُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۱۸﴾
And We send down water from the cloud according to a measure, then We cause it to settle in the earth, and We are indeed Able to carry it away.
23:19
فَاَنۡشَاۡنَا لَکُمۡ بِہٖ جَنّٰتٍ مِّنۡ نَّخِیۡلٍ وَّ اَعۡنَابٍ ۘ لَکُمۡ فِیۡہَا فَوَاکِہُ کَثِیۡرَۃٌ وَّ مِنۡہَا تَاۡکُلُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۹﴾
Then with it We cause to grow gardens of palm-trees and grapes for you. You have therein many fruits, of which you eat;
23:20
وَ شَجَرَۃً تَخۡرُجُ مِنۡ طُوۡرِ سَیۡنَآءَ تَنۡۢبُتُ بِالدُّہۡنِ وَ صِبۡغٍ لِّلۡاٰکِلِیۡنَ ﴿۲۰﴾
and a tree that grows out of Mount Sinai, which produces oil and relish for the eaters.
In the tree that grows out of Mount Sinai, and which produces oil, there seems to be reference to the blessed olive tree of 24:35, as representing the Muslim nation.
23:21
وَ اِنَّ لَکُمۡ فِی الۡاَنۡعَامِ لَعِبۡرَۃً ؕ نُسۡقِیۡکُمۡ مِّمَّا فِیۡ بُطُوۡنِہَا وَ لَکُمۡ فِیۡہَا مَنَافِعُ کَثِیۡرَۃٌ وَّ مِنۡہَا تَاۡکُلُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۲۱﴾
And surely there is a lesson for you in the cattle. We make you to drink of what is in their bellies, and you have in them many advantages and of them you eat,
23:22
وَ عَلَیۡہَا وَ عَلَی الۡفُلۡکِ تُحۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿٪۲۲﴾
and on them and on the ships you are borne.
Section 2 (Verses 23:23–23:32): Noah
23:23
وَ لَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوۡحًا اِلٰی قَوۡمِہٖ فَقَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰہَ مَا لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰہٍ غَیۡرُہٗ ؕ اَفَلَا تَتَّقُوۡنَ ﴿۲۳﴾
And certainly We sent Noah to his people, so he said: My people, serve Allah, you have no God other than Him. Will you not guard against evil?
23:24
فَقَالَ الۡمَلَؤُا الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا مِنۡ قَوۡمِہٖ مَا ہٰذَاۤ اِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثۡلُکُمۡ ۙ یُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ یَّتَفَضَّلَ عَلَیۡکُمۡ ؕ وَ لَوۡ شَآءَ اللّٰہُ لَاَنۡزَلَ مَلٰٓئِکَۃً ۚۖ مَّا سَمِعۡنَا بِہٰذَا فِیۡۤ اٰبَآئِنَا الۡاَوَّلِیۡنَ ﴿ۚ۲۴﴾
But the chiefs of those who disbelieved from among his people said: He is only a mortal like you, who desires to have superiority over you. And if Allah had pleased, He could have sent down angels. We have not heard of this among our forefathers.
23:25
اِنۡ ہُوَ اِلَّا رَجُلٌۢ بِہٖ جِنَّۃٌ فَتَرَبَّصُوۡا بِہٖ حَتّٰی حِیۡنٍ ﴿۲۵﴾
He is only a madman, so bear with him for a time.
23:26
قَالَ رَبِّ انۡصُرۡنِیۡ بِمَا کَذَّبُوۡنِ ﴿۲۶﴾
He said: My Lord, help me against their calling me a liar.
23:27
فَاَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡہِ اَنِ اصۡنَعِ الۡفُلۡکَ بِاَعۡیُنِنَا وَ وَحۡیِنَا فَاِذَا جَآءَ اَمۡرُنَا وَ فَارَ التَّنُّوۡرُ ۙ فَاسۡلُکۡ فِیۡہَا مِنۡ کُلٍّ زَوۡجَیۡنِ اثۡنَیۡنِ وَ اَہۡلَکَ اِلَّا مَنۡ سَبَقَ عَلَیۡہِ الۡقَوۡلُ مِنۡہُمۡ ۚ وَ لَا تُخَاطِبۡنِیۡ فِی الَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا ۚ اِنَّہُمۡ مُّغۡرَقُوۡنَ ﴿۲۷﴾
So We revealed to him: Make the ark under Our eyes and according to Our revelation; then when Our command comes, and water gushes forth from the valley, take into it two of all things, a pair, and your own people, except those among them against whom the word has gone forth, and do not speak to Me in respect of those who are unjust; surely they will be drowned.
See 11:40, 11:42.
23:28
فَاِذَا اسۡتَوَیۡتَ اَنۡتَ وَ مَنۡ مَّعَکَ عَلَی الۡفُلۡکِ فَقُلِ الۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیۡ نَجّٰنَا مِنَ الۡقَوۡمِ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۲۸﴾
Then when you are firmly seated, you and those with you, in the ark, say: Praise be to Allah, Who delivered us from the unjust people!
23:29
وَ قُلۡ رَّبِّ اَنۡزِلۡنِیۡ مُنۡزَلًا مُّبٰرَکًا وَّ اَنۡتَ خَیۡرُ الۡمُنۡزِلِیۡنَ ﴿۲۹﴾
And say: My Lord, cause me to land a blessed landing and You are the Best of those who bring to land.
23:30
اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیٰتٍ وَّ اِنۡ کُنَّا لَمُبۡتَلِیۡنَ ﴿۳۰﴾
Surely there are signs in this, and surely We are ever trying (people).
23:31
ثُمَّ اَنۡشَاۡنَا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہِمۡ قَرۡنًا اٰخَرِیۡنَ ﴿ۚ۳۱﴾
Then We raised after them another generation.
23:32
فَاَرۡسَلۡنَا فِیۡہِمۡ رَسُوۡلًا مِّنۡہُمۡ اَنِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰہَ مَا لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰہٍ غَیۡرُہٗ ؕ اَفَلَا تَتَّقُوۡنَ ﴿٪۳۲﴾
So We sent among them a messenger from among them, saying: Serve Allah — you have no God other than Him. Will you not guard against evil?
Section 3 (Verses 23:33–23:50): Prophets after Noah
23:33
وَ قَالَ الۡمَلَاُ مِنۡ قَوۡمِہِ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا وَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِلِقَآءِ الۡاٰخِرَۃِ وَ اَتۡرَفۡنٰہُمۡ فِی الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا ۙ مَا ہٰذَاۤ اِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثۡلُکُمۡ ۙ یَاۡکُلُ مِمَّا تَاۡکُلُوۡنَ مِنۡہُ وَ یَشۡرَبُ مِمَّا تَشۡرَبُوۡنَ ﴿۪ۙ۳۳﴾
And the chiefs of his people who disbelieved and called the meeting of the Hereafter a lie, and whom We had given plenty to enjoy in this world’s life, said: He is only a mortal like you, eating what you eat and drinking what you drink.
The prophets are rejected because they are subject to the same laws of nature in their human requirements as other people. And no one can be a model for humans, who is not himself a human being, and who is not subject to the same laws of nature, for only a human being can show people how they can avoid falling a prey to the frailties of human nature. Hence, a Divine incarnation, or God in a human body, cannot serve as a model to human beings. We want a mortal to show us how to avoid the pitfalls with which we, as mortals, are surrounded; if God Himself comes into the world, He cannot serve this purpose.
23:34
وَ لَئِنۡ اَطَعۡتُمۡ بَشَرًا مِّثۡلَکُمۡ اِنَّکُمۡ اِذًا لَّخٰسِرُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۳۴﴾
And if you obey a mortal like yourselves, then surely you are losers.
23:35
اَیَعِدُکُمۡ اَنَّکُمۡ اِذَا مِتُّمۡ وَ کُنۡتُمۡ تُرَابًا وَّ عِظَامًا اَنَّکُمۡ مُّخۡرَجُوۡنَ ﴿۪ۙ۳۵﴾
Does he promise you that, when you are dead and become dust and bones, you will then be brought forth?
23:37
اِنۡ ہِیَ اِلَّا حَیَاتُنَا الدُّنۡیَا نَمُوۡتُ وَ نَحۡیَا وَ مَا نَحۡنُ بِمَبۡعُوۡثِیۡنَ ﴿۪ۙ۳۷﴾
There is nothing but our life in this world, we die and we live and we shall not be raised again;
23:38
اِنۡ ہُوَ اِلَّا رَجُلُۨ افۡتَرٰی عَلَی اللّٰہِ کَذِبًا وَّ مَا نَحۡنُ لَہٗ بِمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۳۸﴾
he is only a man who has forged a lie about Allah, and we are not going to believe in him.
23:39
قَالَ رَبِّ انۡصُرۡنِیۡ بِمَا کَذَّبُوۡنِ ﴿۳۹﴾
He said: My Lord, help me against their calling me a liar.
23:40
قَالَ عَمَّا قَلِیۡلٍ لَّیُصۡبِحُنَّ نٰدِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۚ۴۰﴾
He said: In a little while they will certainly be repenting.
23:41
فَاَخَذَتۡہُمُ الصَّیۡحَۃُ بِالۡحَقِّ فَجَعَلۡنٰہُمۡ غُثَآءً ۚ فَبُعۡدًا لِّلۡقَوۡمِ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۴۱﴾
So the punishment overtook them in justice, and We made them as rubbish; so away with the unjust people!
23:42
ثُمَّ اَنۡشَاۡنَا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہِمۡ قُرُوۡنًا اٰخَرِیۡنَ ﴿ؕ۴۲﴾
Then We raised after them other generations.
23:43
مَا تَسۡبِقُ مِنۡ اُمَّۃٍ اَجَلَہَا وَ مَا یَسۡتَاۡخِرُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۴۳﴾
No people can hasten on their doom, nor postpone it.
23:44
ثُمَّ اَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا تَتۡرَا ؕ کُلَّمَا جَآءَ اُمَّۃً رَّسُوۡلُہَا کَذَّبُوۡہُ فَاَتۡبَعۡنَا بَعۡضَہُمۡ بَعۡضًا وَّ جَعَلۡنٰہُمۡ اَحَادِیۡثَ ۚ فَبُعۡدًا لِّقَوۡمٍ لَّا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۴۴﴾
Then We sent Our messengers one after another. Whenever its messenger came to a people, they called him a liar, so We made them follow one another and We made them stories. So away with a people who do not believe!
The significance of making them stories is that the stories of their evil fate were the only remembrance of them left when they perished.
23:45
ثُمَّ اَرۡسَلۡنَا مُوۡسٰی وَ اَخَاہُ ہٰرُوۡنَ ۬ۙ بِاٰیٰتِنَا وَ سُلۡطٰنٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿ۙ۴۵﴾
Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron with Our messages and a clear authority
23:46
اِلٰی فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَ مَلَا۠ئِہٖ فَاسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡا وَ کَانُوۡا قَوۡمًا عَالِیۡنَ ﴿ۚ۴۶﴾
to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they behaved haughtily and they were an insolent people.
23:47
فَقَالُوۡۤا اَنُؤۡمِنُ لِبَشَرَیۡنِ مِثۡلِنَا وَ قَوۡمُہُمَا لَنَا عٰبِدُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۴۷﴾
So they said: Shall we believe in two mortals like ourselves while their people serve us?
23:48
فَکَذَّبُوۡہُمَا فَکَانُوۡا مِنَ الۡمُہۡلَکِیۡنَ ﴿۴۸﴾
So they rejected them and became of those who were destroyed.
23:49
وَ لَقَدۡ اٰتَیۡنَا مُوۡسَی الۡکِتٰبَ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَہۡتَدُوۡنَ ﴿۴۹﴾
And certainly We gave Moses the Book that they might go aright.
23:50
وَ جَعَلۡنَا ابۡنَ مَرۡیَمَ وَ اُمَّہٗۤ اٰیَۃً وَّ اٰوَیۡنٰہُمَاۤ اِلٰی رَبۡوَۃٍ ذَاتِ قَرَارٍ وَّ مَعِیۡنٍ ﴿٪۵۰﴾
And We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign, and We gave them refuge on a lofty ground having meadows and springs.
This description of the land applies exactly to the valley of Kashmir, and part of the lost ten tribes of Israel is traced to Kashmir, where a large number of places bear the names of places in Palestine. There is also a tomb known as the tomb of Nabī (i.e., the prophet), or ‘Īsā (i.e., Jesus), or a man by the name of Yūz Āsaf, in Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir. The fact that the chapter deals with the final triumph of prophets and their deliverance from the hands of their enemies also gives us a clue to the mystery attending the circumstances of the disappearance of Jesus after the event of the Cross; for, as shown in 4:157 footnote, Jesus did not die on the cross. This verse indicates that, being delivered from the hands of his enemies, he was given shelter at some other place which, from its description here and other evidence, seems to be Kashmir. Traditions about Yūz Āsaf lead us to identify him with Jesus, and to conclude that Jesus went to Kashmir after the event of the crucifixion, and that he preached, lived, died and was buried there. (Editor’s Note: Since this footnote was written, much research has been published supporting this theory. For details, Khwaja Nazir Ahmad’s work, Jesus in Heaven on Earth, first published in 1952, as well as a number of later publications, some of them by Western authors, should be consulted.)
Section 4 (Verses 23:51–23:77): Higher Values of Life
23:51
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الرُّسُلُ کُلُوۡا مِنَ الطَّیِّبٰتِ وَ اعۡمَلُوۡا صَالِحًا ؕ اِنِّیۡ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ عَلِیۡمٌ ﴿ؕ۵۱﴾
O messengers, eat of the good things and do good. Surely I am Knower of what you do.
23:52
وَ اِنَّ ہٰذِہٖۤ اُمَّتُکُمۡ اُمَّۃً وَّاحِدَۃً وَّ اَنَا رَبُّکُمۡ فَاتَّقُوۡنِ ﴿۵۲﴾
And surely this your community is one community, and I am your Lord, so keep your duty to Me.
23:53
فَتَقَطَّعُوۡۤا اَمۡرَہُمۡ بَیۡنَہُمۡ زُبُرًا ؕ کُلُّ حِزۡبٍۭ بِمَا لَدَیۡہِمۡ فَرِحُوۡنَ ﴿۵۳﴾
But they split apart their unity into sects, each faction rejoicing in what it had.
23:55
اَیَحۡسَبُوۡنَ اَنَّمَا نُمِدُّہُمۡ بِہٖ مِنۡ مَّالٍ وَّ بَنِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۵۵﴾
Do they think that by the wealth and children with which We aid them,
23:56
نُسَارِعُ لَہُمۡ فِی الۡخَیۡرٰتِ ؕ بَلۡ لَّا یَشۡعُرُوۡنَ ﴿۵۶﴾
We are hastening to them good things? Rather, they do not perceive.
23:57
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ ہُمۡ مِّنۡ خَشۡیَۃِ رَبِّہِمۡ مُّشۡفِقُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۵۷﴾
Surely they who live in awe for fear of their Lord,
23:58
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ ہُمۡ بِاٰیٰتِ رَبِّہِمۡ یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۵۸﴾
and those who believe in the messages of their Lord,
23:59
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ ہُمۡ بِرَبِّہِمۡ لَا یُشۡرِکُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۵۹﴾
and those who set up no partner with their Lord,
23:60
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ یُؤۡتُوۡنَ مَاۤ اٰتَوۡا وَّ قُلُوۡبُہُمۡ وَجِلَۃٌ اَنَّہُمۡ اِلٰی رَبِّہِمۡ رٰجِعُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۶۰﴾
and those who give what they give while their hearts are full of fear that to their Lord they must return —
23:61
اُولٰٓئِکَ یُسٰرِعُوۡنَ فِی الۡخَیۡرٰتِ وَ ہُمۡ لَہَا سٰبِقُوۡنَ ﴿۶۱﴾
These hasten to good things and they are foremost in attaining them.
23:62
وَ لَا نُکَلِّفُ نَفۡسًا اِلَّا وُسۡعَہَا وَ لَدَیۡنَا کِتٰبٌ یَّنۡطِقُ بِالۡحَقِّ وَ ہُمۡ لَا یُظۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۶۲﴾
And We do not impose on any soul a duty beyond its ability, and with Us is a book which speaks the truth, and they are not wronged.
23:63
بَلۡ قُلُوۡبُہُمۡ فِیۡ غَمۡرَۃٍ مِّنۡ ہٰذَا وَ لَہُمۡ اَعۡمَالٌ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ ذٰلِکَ ہُمۡ لَہَا عٰمِلُوۡنَ ﴿۶۳﴾
But their hearts are in ignorance about it, and they have besides this other deeds which they do.
23:64
حَتّٰۤی اِذَاۤ اَخَذۡنَا مُتۡرَفِیۡہِمۡ بِالۡعَذَابِ اِذَا ہُمۡ یَجۡـَٔرُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۶۴﴾
Until, when We seize those who lead easy lives among them with punishment, then they cry for help.
23:65
لَا تَجۡـَٔرُوا الۡیَوۡمَ ۟ اِنَّکُمۡ مِّنَّا لَا تُنۡصَرُوۡنَ ﴿۶۵﴾
Do not cry for help this day. Surely you will not be helped by Us.
23:66
قَدۡ کَانَتۡ اٰیٰتِیۡ تُتۡلٰی عَلَیۡکُمۡ فَکُنۡتُمۡ عَلٰۤی اَعۡقَابِکُمۡ تَنۡکِصُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۶۶﴾
My messages were indeed recited to you, but you used to turn back on your heels
23:67
مُسۡتَکۡبِرِیۡنَ ٭ۖ بِہٖ سٰمِرًا تَہۡجُرُوۡنَ ﴿۶۷﴾
haughtily, passing nights in talking nonsense about it.
23:68
اَفَلَمۡ یَدَّبَّرُوا الۡقَوۡلَ اَمۡ جَآءَہُمۡ مَّا لَمۡ یَاۡتِ اٰبَآءَہُمُ الۡاَوَّلِیۡنَ ﴿۫۶۸﴾
Do they not then ponder the Word? Or has there come to them something which did not come to their fathers of old?
23:69
اَمۡ لَمۡ یَعۡرِفُوۡا رَسُوۡلَہُمۡ فَہُمۡ لَہٗ مُنۡکِرُوۡنَ ﴿۫۶۹﴾
Or do they not recognize their Messenger, that they deny him?
23:70
اَمۡ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ بِہٖ جِنَّۃٌ ؕ بَلۡ جَآءَہُمۡ بِالۡحَقِّ وَ اَکۡثَرُہُمۡ لِلۡحَقِّ کٰرِہُوۡنَ ﴿۷۰﴾
Or say they: There is madness in him? But he has brought them the Truth, and most of them hate the Truth.
23:71
وَ لَوِ اتَّبَعَ الۡحَقُّ اَہۡوَآءَہُمۡ لَفَسَدَتِ السَّمٰوٰتُ وَ الۡاَرۡضُ وَ مَنۡ فِیۡہِنَّ ؕ بَلۡ اَتَیۡنٰہُمۡ بِذِکۡرِہِمۡ فَہُمۡ عَنۡ ذِکۡرِہِمۡ مُّعۡرِضُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۷۱﴾
And if the Truth follow their desires, the heavens and the earth and all those who are in them would perish. Indeed, We have brought them their reminder, but they turn away from their reminder.
23:72
اَمۡ تَسۡـَٔلُہُمۡ خَرۡجًا فَخَرَاجُ رَبِّکَ خَیۡرٌ ٭ۖ وَّ ہُوَ خَیۡرُ الرّٰزِقِیۡنَ ﴿۷۲﴾
Or do you ask them a recompense? But the recompense of your Lord is best, and He is the Best of providers.
23:73
وَ اِنَّکَ لَتَدۡعُوۡہُمۡ اِلٰی صِرَاطٍ مُّسۡتَقِیۡمٍ ﴿۷۳﴾
And surely you call them to a right way.
23:74
وَ اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِالۡاٰخِرَۃِ عَنِ الصِّرَاطِ لَنٰکِبُوۡنَ ﴿۷۴﴾
And surely those who do not believe in the Hereafter are deviating from the way.
23:75
وَ لَوۡ رَحِمۡنٰہُمۡ وَ کَشَفۡنَا مَا بِہِمۡ مِّنۡ ضُرٍّ لَّلَجُّوۡا فِیۡ طُغۡیَانِہِمۡ یَعۡمَہُوۡنَ ﴿۷۵﴾
And if We show mercy to them and remove the distress they have, they would persist in their inordinacy, blindly wandering on.
23:76
وَ لَقَدۡ اَخَذۡنٰہُمۡ بِالۡعَذَابِ فَمَا اسۡتَکَانُوۡا لِرَبِّہِمۡ وَ مَا یَتَضَرَّعُوۡنَ ﴿۷۶﴾
And already We seized them with punishment, but they were not submissive to their Lord, nor did they humble themselves.
The punishment referred to in this verse, and the distress, the removal of which is mentioned in the previous verse, probably refer to the famine which overtook the people of Makkah.
23:77
حَتّٰۤی اِذَا فَتَحۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمۡ بَابًا ذَا عَذَابٍ شَدِیۡدٍ اِذَا ہُمۡ فِیۡہِ مُبۡلِسُوۡنَ ﴿٪۷۷﴾
Until, when We open for them a door of severe punishment, then they are in despair at it.
They do not take a warning from the milder punishment, so a severer punishment must follow. This overtook them in the form of battles, leading to their ultimate defeat. But the promise relates to the future as well.
Section 5 (Verses 23:78–23:92): Polytheism is Self-condemned
23:78
وَ ہُوَ الَّذِیۡۤ اَنۡشَاَ لَکُمُ السَّمۡعَ وَ الۡاَبۡصَارَ وَ الۡاَفۡـِٕدَۃَ ؕ قَلِیۡلًا مَّا تَشۡکُرُوۡنَ ﴿۷۸﴾
And He it is Who made for you the ears and the eyes and the hearts. Little thanks you give!
23:79
وَ ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ ذَرَاَکُمۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ اِلَیۡہِ تُحۡشَرُوۡنَ ﴿۷۹﴾
And He it is Who multiplied you in the earth, and to Him you will be gathered.
23:80
وَ ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ یُحۡیٖ وَ یُمِیۡتُ وَ لَہُ اخۡتِلَافُ الَّیۡلِ وَ النَّہَارِ ؕ اَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿۸۰﴾
And He it is Who gives life and causes death, and His is the alternation of the night and the day. Do you not then understand?
23:81
بَلۡ قَالُوۡا مِثۡلَ مَا قَالَ الۡاَوَّلُوۡنَ ﴿۸۱﴾
But they say the like of what the ancients said.
23:82
قَالُوۡۤا ءَ اِذَا مِتۡنَا وَ کُنَّا تُرَابًا وَّ عِظَامًا ءَ اِنَّا لَمَبۡعُوۡثُوۡنَ ﴿۸۲﴾
They say: When we die and become dust and bones, shall we then be raised up?
23:83
لَقَدۡ وُعِدۡنَا نَحۡنُ وَ اٰبَآؤُنَا ہٰذَا مِنۡ قَبۡلُ اِنۡ ہٰذَاۤ اِلَّاۤ اَسَاطِیۡرُ الۡاَوَّلِیۡنَ ﴿۸۳﴾
We are indeed promised this, and (so were) our fathers before. This is nothing but stories of the ancients!
23:84
قُلۡ لِّمَنِ الۡاَرۡضُ وَ مَنۡ فِیۡہَاۤ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۸۴﴾
Say: Whose is the earth, and whoever is in it, if you know?
23:85
سَیَقُوۡلُوۡنَ لِلّٰہِ ؕ قُلۡ اَفَلَا تَذَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۸۵﴾
They will say: Allah’s. Say: Will you not then be mindful?
23:86
قُلۡ مَنۡ رَّبُّ السَّمٰوٰتِ السَّبۡعِ وَ رَبُّ الۡعَرۡشِ الۡعَظِیۡمِ ﴿۸۶﴾
Say: Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the mighty Throne of power?
23:87
سَیَقُوۡلُوۡنَ لِلّٰہِ ؕ قُلۡ اَفَلَا تَتَّقُوۡنَ ﴿۸۷﴾
They will say: (This is) Allah’s. Say: Will you not then guard against evil?
23:88
قُلۡ مَنۡۢ بِیَدِہٖ مَلَکُوۡتُ کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ وَّ ہُوَ یُجِیۡرُ وَ لَا یُجَارُ عَلَیۡہِ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۸۸﴾
Say: Who is it in Whose hand is the kingdom of all things and He protects, and none is protected against Him, if you know?
23:89
سَیَقُوۡلُوۡنَ لِلّٰہِ ؕ قُلۡ فَاَنّٰی تُسۡحَرُوۡنَ ﴿۸۹﴾
They will say: (This is) Allah’s. Say: From what are you then deceived?
23:90
بَلۡ اَتَیۡنٰہُمۡ بِالۡحَقِّ وَ اِنَّہُمۡ لَکٰذِبُوۡنَ ﴿۹۰﴾
Indeed, We have brought them the Truth and surely they are liars.
23:91
مَا اتَّخَذَ اللّٰہُ مِنۡ وَّلَدٍ وَّ مَا کَانَ مَعَہٗ مِنۡ اِلٰہٍ اِذًا لَّذَہَبَ کُلُّ اِلٰہٍۭ بِمَا خَلَقَ وَ لَعَلَا بَعۡضُہُمۡ عَلٰی بَعۡضٍ ؕ سُبۡحٰنَ اللّٰہِ عَمَّا یَصِفُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۹۱﴾
Allah has not taken to Himself a son, nor is there with Him any (other) god — in that case would each god have taken away what he created, and some of them would have overpowered others. Glory be to Allah above what they describe —
23:92
عٰلِمِ الۡغَیۡبِ وَ الشَّہَادَۃِ فَتَعٰلٰی عَمَّا یُشۡرِکُوۡنَ ﴿٪۹۲﴾
The Knower of the unseen and the seen; so may He be exalted above what they set up as partners (with Him)!
Section 6 (Verses 23:93–23:118): Regrets of the Wicked
23:93
قُلۡ رَّبِّ اِمَّا تُرِیَنِّیۡ مَا یُوۡعَدُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۹۳﴾
Say: My Lord, if You show me what they are promised —
23:94
رَبِّ فَلَا تَجۡعَلۡنِیۡ فِی الۡقَوۡمِ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۹۴﴾
My Lord, then do not place me with the unjust people.
23:95
وَ اِنَّا عَلٰۤی اَنۡ نُّرِیَکَ مَا نَعِدُہُمۡ لَقٰدِرُوۡنَ ﴿۹۵﴾
And surely We are well Able to show you what We promise them.
The promise given to the Holy Prophet in these verses is that the power of his persecutors will be broken in his lifetime.
23:96
اِدۡفَعۡ بِالَّتِیۡ ہِیَ اَحۡسَنُ السَّیِّئَۃَ ؕ نَحۡنُ اَعۡلَمُ بِمَا یَصِفُوۡنَ ﴿۹۶﴾
Repel evil with what is best. We know better what they describe.
The doing of good in return for evil is the common teaching of all prophets. But nowhere is the principle put in such a beautiful and practical form as in the Quran. To return good for evil is only possible under certain circumstances, and the Gospel doctrine — that ye resist not evil — has not been found practicable. The Quran, however, says, repel evil with what is best. If you can repel an evil by doing good for it, it is the course recommended; but if punishment is necessary, that would be the better course. It is the only workable principle of life.
23:97
وَ قُلۡ رَّبِّ اَعُوۡذُ بِکَ مِنۡ ہَمَزٰتِ الشَّیٰطِیۡنِ ﴿ۙ۹۷﴾
And say: My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the evil suggestions of the devils,
The evil suggestions of the devils were really suggestions of the wicked, who were opposed to the progress of Islam, and the Prophet is here told to look upon Allah as his only support. To seek refuge in the Lord is the height of goodness. Nowhere has a man a better refuge than in the Source of all strength, and no mortal can aspire to a higher honour than having his refuge in the Lord. The command to the Prophet to say this is really an image of the aspiration of his soul. His soul rested in that highest degree of security from all evil suggestions, which is termed refuge in the Lord.
23:98
وَ اَعُوۡذُ بِکَ رَبِّ اَنۡ یَّحۡضُرُوۡنِ ﴿۹۸﴾
and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, should they come to me.
23:99
حَتّٰۤی اِذَا جَآءَ اَحَدَہُمُ الۡمَوۡتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ارۡجِعُوۡنِ ﴿ۙ۹۹﴾
Until when death catches up with one of them, he says: My Lord, send me back,
These words make it quite certain that the devils of the two previous verses are no other than the wicked opponents of the Holy Prophet.
23:100
لَعَلِّیۡۤ اَعۡمَلُ صَالِحًا فِیۡمَا تَرَکۡتُ کَلَّا ؕ اِنَّہَا کَلِمَۃٌ ہُوَ قَآئِلُہَا ؕ وَ مِنۡ وَّرَآئِہِمۡ بَرۡزَخٌ اِلٰی یَوۡمِ یُبۡعَثُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۰﴾
that I may do good in that which I have left. By no means! It is only a word that he speaks. And before them is a barrier, until the day they are raised.
That the dead do not return to life is a principle which is reaffirmed here; see also 21:95. According to the Quran there are three states of a man’s life, viz., his life in this world, his life in barzakh (referred to as “barrier” here) and the great manifestation of all spiritual realities that will take place on the day of Resurrection. Barzakh is the intermediate state in which the soul lives after death till the Resurrection. Here it is stated that no one who has passed into the state of barzakh is allowed to go back into the previous state. See further 39:42.
23:101
فَاِذَا نُفِخَ فِی الصُّوۡرِ فَلَاۤ اَنۡسَابَ بَیۡنَہُمۡ یَوۡمَئِذٍ وَّ لَا یَتَسَآءَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۱﴾
So when the trumpet is blown, there will be no ties of relationship among them that day, nor will they ask of one another.
23:102
فَمَنۡ ثَقُلَتۡ مَوَازِیۡنُہٗ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡمُفۡلِحُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۲﴾
Then those whose good deeds are heavy, those are the successful.
23:103
وَ مَنۡ خَفَّتۡ مَوَازِیۡنُہٗ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ خَسِرُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ فِیۡ جَہَنَّمَ خٰلِدُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۳﴾ۚ
And those whose good deeds are light, those are they who have lost their souls, abiding in hell.
23:104
تَلۡفَحُ وُجُوۡہَہُمُ النَّارُ وَ ہُمۡ فِیۡہَا کٰلِحُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۴﴾
The Fire will scorch their faces, and in it they will be in severe affliction.
23:105
اَلَمۡ تَکُنۡ اٰیٰتِیۡ تُتۡلٰی عَلَیۡکُمۡ فَکُنۡتُمۡ بِہَا تُکَذِّبُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۵﴾
Were not My messages recited to you, but you used to reject them?
23:106
قَالُوۡا رَبَّنَا غَلَبَتۡ عَلَیۡنَا شِقۡوَتُنَا وَ کُنَّا قَوۡمًا ضَآلِّیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۶﴾
They will say: Our Lord, our misfortune overcame us, and we were a people in error.
23:107
رَبَّنَاۤ اَخۡرِجۡنَا مِنۡہَا فَاِنۡ عُدۡنَا فَاِنَّا ظٰلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۷﴾
Our Lord, take us out of it; then if we return (to evil), we shall be unjust.
23:108
قَالَ اخۡسَـُٔوۡا فِیۡہَا وَ لَا تُکَلِّمُوۡنِ ﴿۱۰۸﴾
He will say: Go away into it, and do not speak to Me.
23:109
اِنَّہٗ کَانَ فَرِیۡقٌ مِّنۡ عِبَادِیۡ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ رَبَّنَاۤ اٰمَنَّا فَاغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَ ارۡحَمۡنَا وَ اَنۡتَ خَیۡرُ الرّٰحِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۹﴾ۚۖ
Surely there was a group of My servants who said: Our Lord, we believe, so forgive us and have mercy on us, and You are the Best of those who show mercy.
23:110
فَاتَّخَذۡتُمُوۡہُمۡ سِخۡرِیًّا حَتّٰۤی اَنۡسَوۡکُمۡ ذِکۡرِیۡ وَ کُنۡتُمۡ مِّنۡہُمۡ تَضۡحَکُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱۰﴾
But you ridiculed them, until they made you forget remembrance of Me, and you used to laugh at them.
It was not really the believers who caused them to forget the remembrance of their Lord but, on account of their mocking the believers, the disbelievers forgot their Lord; hence the believers are here spoken of as though they caused the disbelievers to forget their Lord.
23:111
اِنِّیۡ جَزَیۡتُہُمُ الۡیَوۡمَ بِمَا صَبَرُوۡۤا ۙ اَنَّہُمۡ ہُمُ الۡفَآئِزُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱۱﴾
Surely I have rewarded them this day because they were patient, that they are the achievers.
23:112
قٰلَ کَمۡ لَبِثۡتُمۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ عَدَدَ سِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۲﴾
He will say: How many years did you remain in the earth?
23:113
قَالُوۡا لَبِثۡنَا یَوۡمًا اَوۡ بَعۡضَ یَوۡمٍ فَسۡـَٔلِ الۡعَآدِّیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۳﴾
They will say: We remained a day or part of a day, but ask those who keep account.
23:114
قٰلَ اِنۡ لَّبِثۡتُمۡ اِلَّا قَلِیۡلًا لَّوۡ اَنَّکُمۡ کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱۴﴾
He will say: You remained only a little — if only you knew!
23:115
اَفَحَسِبۡتُمۡ اَنَّمَا خَلَقۡنٰکُمۡ عَبَثًا وَّ اَنَّکُمۡ اِلَیۡنَا لَا تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱۵﴾
Do you then think that We have created you in vain, and that you will not be returned to Us?
This verse establishes the doctrine of the responsibility of human actions. Man is not created in vain, but he will be returned to his Lord to meet the consequences of what he does in this life.
23:116
فَتَعٰلَی اللّٰہُ الۡمَلِکُ الۡحَقُّ ۚ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ہُوَ ۚ رَبُّ الۡعَرۡشِ الۡکَرِیۡمِ ﴿۱۱۶﴾
So exalted be Allah, the True King! No God is there but He, the Lord of the Throne of Grace.
23:117
وَ مَنۡ یَّدۡعُ مَعَ اللّٰہِ اِلٰـہًا اٰخَرَ ۙ لَا بُرۡہَانَ لَہٗ بِہٖ ۙ فَاِنَّمَا حِسَابُہٗ عِنۡدَ رَبِّہٖ ؕ اِنَّہٗ لَا یُفۡلِحُ الۡکٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱۷﴾
And whoever invokes, besides Allah, another god — he has no proof of this — his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely the disbelievers will not be successful.
23:118
وَ قُلۡ رَّبِّ اغۡفِرۡ وَ ارۡحَمۡ وَ اَنۡتَ خَیۡرُ الرّٰحِمِیۡنَ ﴿٪۱۱۸﴾
And say: My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the Best of those who show mercy.