Surah 23 · Meccan · 118 Verses
المؤمنون
SURAH AL-MU'MINUN
The Believers
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Certainly will the believers have succeeded:
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ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى صَلَاتِهِمْ خَٰشِعُونَ
They who are during their prayer humbly intent
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وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ ٱللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ
And they who turn away from ill speech
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وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَوٰةِ فَٰعِلُونَ
And they who are observant of zakāh
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وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَٰفِظُونَ
And they who guard their private parts
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إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ
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فَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْعَادُونَ
But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors -
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وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَٰنَٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَٰعُونَ
And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive
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وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَٰتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ
And they who carefully maintain their prayers -
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أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْوَٰرِثُونَ
Those are the inheritors
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ٱلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ ٱلْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ
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وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِن سُلَٰلَةٍۢ مِّن طِينٍۢ
And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay.
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ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَٰهُ نُطْفَةًۭ فِى قَرَارٍۢ مَّكِينٍۢ
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ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا ٱلنُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةًۭ فَخَلَقْنَا ٱلْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةًۭ فَخَلَقْنَا ٱلْمُضْغَةَ عِظَٰمًۭا فَكَسَوْنَا ٱلْعِظَٰمَ لَحْمًۭا ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَٰهُ خَلْقًا ءَاخَرَ ۚ فَتَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ ٱلْخَٰلِقِينَ
Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allāh, the best of creators.950
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ثُمَّ إِنَّكُم بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ لَمَيِّتُونَ
Then indeed, after that you are to die.
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ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ تُبْعَثُونَ
Then indeed you, on the Day of Resurrection, will be resurrected.
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وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا فَوْقَكُمْ سَبْعَ طَرَآئِقَ وَمَا كُنَّا عَنِ ٱلْخَلْقِ غَٰفِلِينَ
And We have created above you seven layered heavens, and never have We been of [Our] creation unaware.
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وَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۢ بِقَدَرٍۢ فَأَسْكَنَّٰهُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰ ذَهَابٍۭ بِهِۦ لَقَٰدِرُونَ
And We have sent down rain from the sky in a measured amount and settled it in the earth. And indeed, We are Able to take it away.
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فَأَنشَأْنَا لَكُم بِهِۦ جَنَّٰتٍۢ مِّن نَّخِيلٍۢ وَأَعْنَٰبٍۢ لَّكُمْ فِيهَا فَوَٰكِهُ كَثِيرَةٌۭ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ
And We brought forth for you thereby gardens of palm trees and grapevines in which for you are abundant fruits and from which you eat.
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وَشَجَرَةًۭ تَخْرُجُ مِن طُورِ سَيْنَآءَ تَنۢبُتُ بِٱلدُّهْنِ وَصِبْغٍۢ لِّلْءَاكِلِينَ
And [We brought forth] a tree issuing from Mount Sinai which produces oil and food [i.e., olives] for those who eat.
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وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ لَعِبْرَةًۭ ۖ نُّسْقِيكُم مِّمَّا فِى بُطُونِهَا وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَٰفِعُ كَثِيرَةٌۭ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ
And indeed, for you in livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from that which is in their bellies, and for you in them are numerous benefits, and from them you eat.
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وَعَلَيْهَا وَعَلَى ٱلْفُلْكِ تُحْمَلُونَ
And upon them and on ships you are carried.
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وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ فَقَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۖ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ
And We had certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him; then will you not fear Him?"
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فَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَؤُا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّا بَشَرٌۭ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُرِيدُ أَن يَتَفَضَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَنزَلَ مَلَٰٓئِكَةًۭ مَّا سَمِعْنَا بِهَٰذَا فِىٓ ءَابَآئِنَا ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
But the eminent among those who disbelieved from his people said, "This is not but a man like yourselves who wishes to take precedence over you; and if Allāh had willed [to send a messenger], He would have sent down angels. We have not heard of this among our forefathers.
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إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا رَجُلٌۢ بِهِۦ جِنَّةٌۭ فَتَرَبَّصُوا۟ بِهِۦ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍۢ
He is not but a man possessed with madness, so wait concerning him for a time."
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قَالَ رَبِّ ٱنصُرْنِى بِمَا كَذَّبُونِ
[Noah] said, "My Lord, support me because they have denied me."
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فَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْهِ أَنِ ٱصْنَعِ ٱلْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ ٱلتَّنُّورُ ۙ فَٱسْلُكْ فِيهَا مِن كُلٍّۢ زَوْجَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقَوْلُ مِنْهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تُخَٰطِبْنِى فِى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ ۖ إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ
So We inspired to him, "Construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration, and when Our command comes and the oven overflows,951 put into it [i.e., the ship] from each [creature] two mates and your family, except him for whom the decree [of destruction] has proceeded. And do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are to be drowned.
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فَإِذَا ٱسْتَوَيْتَ أَنتَ وَمَن مَّعَكَ عَلَى ٱلْفُلْكِ فَقُلِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى نَجَّىٰنَا مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
And when you have boarded the ship, you and those with you, then say, 'Praise to Allāh who has saved us from the wrongdoing people.'
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وَقُل رَّبِّ أَنزِلْنِى مُنزَلًۭا مُّبَارَكًۭا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْمُنزِلِينَ
And say, 'My Lord, let me land at a blessed landing place, and You are the best to accommodate [us].'"
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إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ وَإِن كُنَّا لَمُبْتَلِينَ
Indeed in that are signs, and indeed, We are ever testing [Our servants].
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ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ قَرْنًا ءَاخَرِينَ
Then We produced after them a generation of others.
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فَأَرْسَلْنَا فِيهِمْ رَسُولًۭا مِّنْهُمْ أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۖ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ
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وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ مِن قَوْمِهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِلِقَآءِ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ وَأَتْرَفْنَٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّا بَشَرٌۭ مِّثْلُكُمْ يَأْكُلُ مِمَّا تَأْكُلُونَ مِنْهُ وَيَشْرَبُ مِمَّا تَشْرَبُونَ
And the eminent among his people who disbelieved and denied the meeting of the Hereafter while We had given them luxury in the worldly life said, "This is not but a man like yourselves. He eats of that from which you eat and drinks of what you drink.
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وَلَئِنْ أَطَعْتُم بَشَرًۭا مِّثْلَكُمْ إِنَّكُمْ إِذًۭا لَّخَٰسِرُونَ
And if you should obey a man like yourselves, indeed, you would then be losers.
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أَيَعِدُكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ إِذَا مِتُّمْ وَكُنتُمْ تُرَابًۭا وَعِظَٰمًا أَنَّكُم مُّخْرَجُونَ
Does he promise you that when you have died and become dust and bones that you will be brought forth [once more]?
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إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا ٱلدُّنْيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحْيَا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَبْعُوثِينَ
It [i.e., life] is not but our worldly life - we die and live, but we will not be resurrected.
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إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا رَجُلٌ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًۭا وَمَا نَحْنُ لَهُۥ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
He is not but a man who has invented a lie about Allāh, and we will not believe him."
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قَالَ رَبِّ ٱنصُرْنِى بِمَا كَذَّبُونِ
He said, "My Lord, support me because they have denied me."
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قَالَ عَمَّا قَلِيلٍۢ لَّيُصْبِحُنَّ نَٰدِمِينَ
[Allāh] said, "After a little, they will surely become regretful."
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فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّيْحَةُ بِٱلْحَقِّ فَجَعَلْنَٰهُمْ غُثَآءًۭ ۚ فَبُعْدًۭا لِّلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
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ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ قُرُونًا ءَاخَرِينَ
Then We produced after them other generations.
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مَا تَسْبِقُ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ
No nation will precede its time [of termination], nor will they remain [thereafter].
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ثُمَّ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا تَتْرَا ۖ كُلَّ مَا جَآءَ أُمَّةًۭ رَّسُولُهَا كَذَّبُوهُ ۚ فَأَتْبَعْنَا بَعْضَهُم بَعْضًۭا وَجَعَلْنَٰهُمْ أَحَادِيثَ ۚ فَبُعْدًۭا لِّقَوْمٍۢ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ
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ثُمَّ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ وَأَخَاهُ هَٰرُونَ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا وَسُلْطَٰنٍۢ مُّبِينٍ
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إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَإِي۟هِۦ فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا عَالِينَ
To Pharaoh and his establishment, but they were arrogant and were a haughty people.
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فَقَالُوٓا۟ أَنُؤْمِنُ لِبَشَرَيْنِ مِثْلِنَا وَقَوْمُهُمَا لَنَا عَٰبِدُونَ
They said, "Should we believe two men like ourselves while their people are for us in servitude?"
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فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَكَانُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْمُهْلَكِينَ
So they denied them and were of those destroyed.
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وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ
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وَجَعَلْنَا ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُۥٓ ءَايَةًۭ وَءَاوَيْنَٰهُمَآ إِلَىٰ رَبْوَةٍۢ ذَاتِ قَرَارٍۢ وَمَعِينٍۢ
And We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign and sheltered them within a high ground having level [areas] and flowing water.
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About This Surah
Surah Al-Mu'minun begins with the practices of successful believers: humble prayer, avoidance of vain conduct, charitable purification, sexual responsibility, trustworthiness, and guarded prayer. It then moves through human creation, cosmic provision, Noah and later messengers, and rejection of resurrection. The chapter measures success by worship and character, not wealth, spectacle, ancestry, or claims of guaranteed worldly reward.
Al-Mu'minun opens with a portrait of successful believers. Humility in prayer, distance from empty conduct, charitable responsibility, sexual boundaries, care for trusts and promises, and preservation of prayer form one ethical pattern. The intimate relationship verses belong to a historical legal vocabulary and require qualified interpretation; they must never be used to excuse coercion, exploitation, trafficking, or sexual abuse.
Human development and creation are then presented as signs leading to death and resurrection. Seven paths above, measured rain, gardens, livestock, and ships place human life within divine provision. These passages invite reflection rather than supplying complete medical or scientific manuals.
Noah’s call and the ark begin a sequence of communities and messengers. Rejection often follows the claim that a human messenger cannot be trusted, while elites confuse wealth with divine approval. The chapter explicitly challenges the assumption that abundant wealth and children prove that God is hastening good for a person. Material success is therefore not reliable evidence of spiritual rank.
Messengers are told to eat what is good and act righteously. One religious community later divides, and groups become pleased with what they possess. Believers are instead described through reverence, faith, charity, and fear of returning to God.
The closing argument challenges denial of resurrection, asks who owns the earth and the mighty throne, and rejects the idea that creation lacks purpose. The Messenger is instructed to repel evil with what is better and seek refuge from destructive suggestion. The final prayer for forgiveness and mercy provides hope without turning the surah into a fixed-count prosperity or protection formula.
Core Themes
- Success defined through worship and character
- Sexual responsibility bounded by dignity and consent
- Creation and provision pointing to resurrection
- Human messengers confronting elite rejection
- Wealth rejected as proof of divine favor
- Purposeful creation, better response, and mercy
Structure
Verses 1–11: qualities of successful believers — 1-11
Prayer, restraint, charity, sexual responsibility, trusts, promises, and guarded worship define success through accountable character rather than material status or public identity.
Verses 12–22: human development and created provision — 12-22
Human formation, death, resurrection, heavens, rain, gardens, oil, livestock, and transport point to dependence and divine power without functioning as complete scientific descriptions.
Verses 23–50: Noah and succeeding messengers — 23-50
Noah’s ark, later communities, human messengers, elite objections, destruction, Moses, Aaron, Mary, and Jesus show recurring resistance and divine provision.
Verses 51–77: one community, division, and false measures — 51-77
Messengers receive ethical commands, communities divide, wealth is misread as favor, and sincere believers combine reverence, faith, charity, and awareness of return.
Verses 78–118: resurrection, purpose, and mercy — 78-118
Senses, life, death, gathering, ownership, truth, the throne, purpose, final judgment, better response to evil, refuge, and prayer for mercy complete the argument.
Reading Guide
Read the opening qualities as an integrated whole
Do not reduce success to one visible practice. Prayer, speech, charity, sexuality, trusts, promises, and sustained worship combine into a broad moral portrait.
Apply explicit safety limits to sexual material
Historical legal vocabulary requires qualified study and can never justify coercion, abuse, exploitation, trafficking, or the treatment of another person as available without dignity and rights.
Challenge prosperity assumptions with verses 55–56
Wealth and children are not declared reliable proof of divine approval. Avoid headlines or recitation claims that promise income, status, fertility, or business success.
End with purpose and mercy, not fear marketing
The closing judgment scene is serious, yet the final prayer seeks forgiveness and mercy. Do not monetize anxiety through guaranteed protection or outcome claims.
Key Passages
The qualities of successful believers — 1-11
Success begins with humble prayer and extends through speech, charity, sexuality, trusts, promises, and guarded worship. The sequence prevents spirituality from being reduced to wealth, image, or a single ritual. Read the cited verses as a unit; their immediate argument does not become a stand-alone ruling, diagnosis, prediction, or guaranteed result.
Human formation and resurrection — 12-16
Stages of formation lead to another creation, death, and resurrection. The passage serves a theological argument about divine creative power and should not be presented as a complete clinical protocol. Read the cited verses as a unit; their immediate argument does not become a stand-alone ruling, diagnosis, prediction, or guaranteed result.
Noah, rejection, and the ark — 23-30
Noah calls his people to worship God, faces elite rejection, and receives instruction for the ark. The narrative emphasizes prophetic warning and deliverance rather than supplying modern disaster predictions. Read the cited verses as a unit; their immediate argument does not become a stand-alone ruling, diagnosis, prediction, or guaranteed result.
Good provision and mistaken prosperity — 51-61
Messengers are told to eat good things and act righteously. Wealth and children are then explicitly questioned as possible false measures of favor, while reverence and charity mark genuine seriousness. Read the cited verses as a unit; their immediate argument does not become a stand-alone ruling, diagnosis, prediction, or guaranteed result.
Repelling evil and the barrier after death — 96-100
The Messenger is told to answer evil with what is better and seek refuge from destructive suggestion. The following death scene stresses delayed recognition without inviting paranormal speculation. Read the cited verses as a unit; their immediate argument does not become a stand-alone ruling, diagnosis, prediction, or guaranteed result.
Recitation Note
No exclusive time, fixed repetition count, or guaranteed worldly outcome is asserted here for reciting Surah Al-Mu'minun. It may be read as Quran for worship, reflection, and study. Any separate claim about protection, healing, provision, marriage, pregnancy, or a prescribed number requires its own verified evidence and carefully limited wording.
Interpretation Limits
- Sexual and historical legal vocabulary must never be used to excuse coercion, trafficking, exploitation, or abuse.
- Human-development verses are not a complete medical description.
- Wealth, children, or ease must not be presented as proof of divine approval.
- The surah supplies no fixed repetition count or guaranteed prosperity, fertility, or protection result.