Surah Al-A'raf Verses 151–206

[Moses] said, "My Lord, forgive me and my brother and admit us into Your mercy, for You are the most merciful of the merciful."

Indeed, those who took the calf [for worship] will obtain anger from their Lord and humiliation in the life of this world, and thus do We recompense the inventors [of falsehood].

But those who committed misdeeds and then repented after them and believed - indeed your Lord, thereafter, is Forgiving and Merciful.

And when the anger subsided in Moses, he took up the tablets; and in their inscription was guidance and mercy for those who are fearful of their Lord.

And Moses chose from his people seventy men for Our appointment.⁴⁰⁸ And when the earthquake seized them,⁴⁰⁹ he said, "My Lord, if You had willed, You could have destroyed them before and me [as well]. Would You destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? This is not but Your trial by which You send astray whom You will and guide whom You will. You are our Protector, so forgive us and have mercy upon us; and You are the best of forgivers.

And decree for us in this world [that which is] good and [also] in the Hereafter; indeed, we have turned back to You." [Allāh] said, "My punishment - I afflict with it whom I will, but My mercy encompasses all things." So I will decree it [especially] for those who fear Me and give zakāh and those who believe in Our verses-

Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written [i.e., described] in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and prohibits them from what is wrong and makes lawful for them what is good and forbids them from what is evil and relieves them of their burden⁴¹⁰ and the shackles which were upon them.⁴¹¹ So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful.

Say, [O Muḥammad], "O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allāh to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death." So believe in Allāh and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allāh and His words, and follow him that you may be guided.

And among the people of Moses is a community⁴¹² which guides by truth and by it establishes justice.

And We divided them into twelve descendant tribes⁴¹³ [as distinct] nations. And We inspired to Moses when his people implored him for water, "Strike with your staff the stone," and there gushed forth from it twelve springs. Every people [i.e., tribe] knew its watering place. And We shaded them with clouds and sent down upon them manna and quails, [saying], "Eat from the good things with which We have provided you." And they wronged Us not, but they were [only] wronging themselves.

And [mention, O Muḥammad], when it was said to them, "Dwell in this city [i.e., Jerusalem] and eat from it wherever you will and say, 'Relieve us of our burdens [i.e., sins],' and enter the gate bowing humbly; We will [then] forgive you your sins. We will increase the doers of good [in goodness and reward]."

But those who wronged among them changed [the words] to a statement other than that which had been said to them. So We sent upon them a punishment from the sky for the wrong that they were doing.

And ask them about the town that was by the sea - when they transgressed in [the matter of] the sabbath - when their fish came to them openly on their sabbath day, and the day they had no sabbath they did not come to them. Thus did We give them trial because they were defiantly disobedient.

And when a community among them said, "Why do you advise [or warn] a people whom Allāh is [about] to destroy or to punish with a severe punishment?" they [the advisors] said, "To be absolved before your Lord and perhaps they may fear Him."

And when they [i.e., those advised] forgot that by which they had been reminded, We saved those who had forbidden evil and seized those who wronged, with a wretched punishment, because they were defiantly disobeying.

So when they were insolent about that which they had been forbidden, We said to them, "Be apes, despised."

And [mention] when your Lord declared that He would surely [continue to] send upon them until the Day of Resurrection those who would afflict them with the worst torment. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.

And We divided them throughout the earth into nations. Of them some were righteous, and of them some were otherwise. And We tested them with good [times] and bad that perhaps they would return [to obedience].

And there followed them successors who inherited the Scripture [while] taking the commodities⁴¹⁴ of this lower life and saying, "It will be forgiven for us." And if an offer like it⁴¹⁵ comes to them, they will [again] take it. Was not the covenant of the Scripture [i.e., the Torah] taken from them that they would not say about Allāh except the truth, and they studied what was in it? And the home of the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allāh, so will you not use reason?

But those who hold fast to the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] and establish prayer - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of the reformers.

And [mention] when We raised the mountain above them as if it was a dark cloud and they were certain that it would fall upon them,⁴¹⁶ [and Allāh said], "Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that you might fear Allāh."

And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified." [This] - lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this unaware."

Or [lest] you say, "It was only that our fathers associated [others in worship] with Allāh before, and we were but descendants after them. Then would You destroy us for what the falsifiers have done?"

And thus do We [explain in] detail the verses, and perhaps they will return.⁴¹⁷

And recite to them, [O Muḥammad], the news of him⁴¹⁸ to whom We gave [knowledge of] Our signs, but he detached himself from them; so Satan pursued him, and he became of the deviators.⁴¹⁹

And if We had willed, We could have elevated him thereby,⁴²⁰ but he adhered [instead] to the earth⁴²¹ and followed his own desire. So his example is like that of the dog: if you chase him, he pants, or if you leave him, he [still] pants. That is the example of the people who denied Our signs.⁴²² So relate the stories that perhaps they will give thought.

How evil an example [is that of] the people who denied Our signs and used to wrong themselves.

Whoever Allāh guides - he is the [rightly] guided; and whoever He sends astray⁴²³ - it is those who are the losers.

And We have certainly created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind. They have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. Those are like livestock; rather, they are more astray.⁴²⁴ It is they who are the heedless.

And to Allāh belong the best names, so invoke Him by them. And leave [the company of] those who practice deviation concerning His names.⁴²⁵ They will be recompensed for what they have been doing.

And among those We created is a community⁴²⁶ which guides by truth and thereby establishes justice.

But those who deny Our signs - We will progressively lead them [to destruction]⁴²⁷ from where they do not know.

And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm.

Then do they not give thought? There is in their companion [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] no madness. He is not but a clear warner.

Do they not look into the realm of the heavens and the earth and everything that Allāh has created and [think] that perhaps their appointed time has come near? So in what statement [i.e., message] hereafter will they believe?

Whoever Allāh sends astray - there is no guide for him. And He leaves them in their transgression, wandering blindly.

They ask you, [O Muḥammad], about the Hour: when is its arrival?⁴²⁸ Say, "Its knowledge is only with my Lord. None will reveal its time except Him. It lays heavily⁴²⁹ upon the heavens and the earth. It will not come upon you except unexpectedly." They ask you as if you are familiar with it. Say, "Its knowledge is only with Allāh, but most of the people do not know."

Say, "I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allāh has willed. And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth, and no harm would have touched me. I am not except a warner and a bringer of good tidings to a people who believe."

It is He who created you from one soul and created from it its mate that he⁴³⁰ might dwell in security with her. And when he [i.e., man] covers her,⁴³¹ she carries a light burden [i.e., a pregnancy] and continues therein. And when it becomes heavy, they both invoke Allāh, their Lord, "If You should give us a good⁴³² [child], we will surely be among the grateful."

But when He gives them a good [child], they⁴³³ ascribe partners to Him concerning that which He has given them. Exalted is Allāh above what they associate with Him.

Do they associate with Him those who create nothing and they are [themselves] created?

And they [i.e., the false deities] are unable to [give] them help, nor can they help themselves.

And if you [believers] invite them to guidance, they will not follow you. It is all the same for you whether you invite them or you are silent.

Indeed, those you [polytheists] call upon besides Allāh are servants [i.e., creations] like you. So call upon them and let them respond to you, if you should be truthful.

Do they have feet by which they walk? Or do they have hands by which they strike? Or do they have eyes by which they see? Or do they have ears by which they hear? Say, [O Muḥammad], "Call your 'partners' and then conspire against me and give me no respite.

Indeed, my protector is Allāh, who has sent down the Book; and He is an ally to the righteous.

And those you call upon besides Him are unable to help you, nor can they help themselves."

And if you invite them to guidance, they do not hear; and you see them looking at you while they do not see.

Take what is given freely,⁴³⁴ enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant.

And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allāh. Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing.

Indeed, those who fear Allāh - when an impulse touches them from Satan, they remember [Him] and at once they have insight.

But their brothers⁴³⁵ - they [i.e., the devils] increase them in error; then they do not stop short.

And when you, [O Muḥammad], do not bring them a sign [i.e., miracle], they say, "Why have you not contrived it?" Say, "I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This [Qur’ān] is enlightenment from your Lord and guidance and mercy for a people who believe."

So when the Qur’ān is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.

And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fear without being apparent in speech - in the mornings and the evenings. And do not be among the heedless.

Indeed, those who are near your Lord [i.e., the angels] are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, and they exalt Him, and to Him they prostrate.