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SURAH-23

AL-MUMINUN

Al-Muminun, “the Believers,” takes its name from its verse 1 in which the believers have been declared successful. It is considered to be the last Surah or one of the last Surahs revealed in Makkah just before the migration of the Prophet to Madinah in 622 A.D.

This Surah begins with the verses (from 1-11) wherein certain virtues and attributes have been described which are required to make a true believer, and then the believers are given good news of Paradise to which they would be the heirs. It is reported that when the Surah was revealed, the Prophet declared: “I have been given some verses. If anyone acts upon them, he will most surely go to Paradise.” Then he recited first eleven verses of this Surah. (Tirmizi, Nisai).

After announcing the virtues of the believers, the Surah (in verses 12-14) discloses such scientific information about the birth of man which was then absolutely unknown and which has come to the knowledge of a medical professional of present age only recently. In next few verses, the Surah describes Allah’s creative powers and then counts the favours of Him to man.

The central theme of the Surah is, however, the same as of other Makkan Surahs of its period, and that is the stress on Tauhid (Oneness of God), rejection of false gods, the sameness of the message of all Prophets, the resurrection of the dead, the reward and punishment in the Hereafter, and the fact that the messengers (and also their believers) are one community and their religion is one religion. A very strong argument in favour of oneness of God has been given in verse 91. Stories of the earlier Prophets such as Noah, Hud, Moses and Aaron have been described to indicate the fate of the rejecters of faith and in order to persuade the disbelievers to accept Islam.

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Lesson-204 : Attributes of the believers

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

1. Successful indeed are the believers.

2. Who are humble in their prayer (Salat).

3. And who avoid vain talk.

4. And who actively pay obligatory charity (Zakat). 5. And who guard their private parts (i.e. chastity). 6. Except from their wives or those (bondwomen) whom their right hands possess, for in that case they are not blameworthy.

7. But whoever seeks beyond that, such are transgressors.

8. And who keep their trusts and covenants faithfully. 9. And who guard their prayers strictly.

10. These are indeed the heirs.

11. Who will inherit Paradise; therein they will live forever. 12. Indeed, We created man from an essence of clay. 13. Then placed him as a drop in a safe lodging.

14. Then We made the drop into a clot, then We made the clot a little lump, then We made the little lump into bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then We brought it forth another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of all creators! 15. Then after that, you will certainly die.

16. Then on the Day of Resurrection, you will surely be raised to life again.

17. And We have indeed created seven paths (or heavens) above you, and We are never unaware of creation.

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have power to withdraw it.

18. And We send down water from the sky in measure and We give it a lodging in the earth, and verily, We

19. Then We produce for you with it gardens of date-palms and grapes, wherein is much fruit for you and from it you eat.

20. And a tree (olive) which comes forth from Mount Sinai that grows oil and is a relish for the eaters.

21. And verily, there is a lesson for you in the cattle. We give you to drink (milk) from that which is in their bellies, and in them there are many other benefits for you, and some of them you eat. 22. And on them and on the ships you ride.

Lesson-205 : Noah

23. And v

he ve no

other God save Him. Will you not then fear Him?

erily, We sent Noah to his nation, and said: O my nation! Worship Allah. You ha

24. But the chiefs of those who disbelieved among his nation said: He is no more than a man like you. He only seeks to make himself superior to you (byclaiming prophet-hood). Had Allah wished (to

send messengers), He could have sent down angels? We have never heard such a thing among our fathers of old. 25. He is only a man in whom there is some madness. So wait with him for a while.

26. He said: My Lord! Help me because they have denied me. 27. So We inspired him saying: Build the ship under Our Eyes and under Our guidance. Then, when Our command comes and the oven gushes forth water, take on board a pair (of a male and female) from every species, and take your family, except those of them on whom the order of punishment has already gone forth. And do not plead with Me on behalf of those who have done wrong. Verily, they are doomed to be drowned.

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28. And when you have embarked on the ship, you and those who are with you, then say: All praise be to Allah who has saved us from the nation of wrong-doers.

29. And pray: O my Lord! Make me to land at a blessed landing place, for You are Best of all who bring to land.

30. And verily, in this there are lessons, and We surely put (mankind) to test. 31. Then, We raised after them a new generation.

32. And We sent to them a messenger from among them saying: Worship Allah. You have no other God but Him. Will you not then fear Him?

33. But the chiefs of his nation who disbelieved and denied the meeting of the Hereafter and whom We had given prosperity in the life of the world, said: This is only a man like you, he eats of what you eat and drinks of what you drink.

34. If you obey a man like yourselves, you surely, would be losers.

35. Does he promise you that when you are dead and have become dust and bones, you shall again be brought to life?

36. Far off, very far off is that which you are promised.

37. There is nothing (i.e. no other life) but our life of the world; we die here and we live here, and we are not going to be raised again.

38. He is only a man who has fabricated a lie about Allah, and we are not going to believe him.

39. He said: My Lord! Help me as they have denied me. 40. Allah said: In a little while they surely will be regretful.

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41. So the Awful cry (or Blast) rightly seized them and We made them as rubbish (or wreckage). So gone is the nation of wrong-doers.

42. Then We raised after them other generations.

43. No nation can prepone their term, nor can they postpone it. 44. Then We sent Our messengers one after another. Whenever there came to a nation its messenger, they denied him; so We caused them to follow one another (to destruction) and We made them history (or stories). So gone are the people who believe not.

Lesson-206 : Moses sent to Pharaoh 45. Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron with our tokens and a clear authority.

46. Unto Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they behaved arrogantly for they were a self-exalting people. 47. And they said: Should we believe in two men like ourselves, while their people are our slaves?

48. So they denied both of them and became of those who were destroyed. 49. And We verily gave to Moses the Scripture so that they might be rightly guided. 50. And We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign (for mankind), and We gave them refuge on a high place, a place of security (or rest) and water.

51. O Messengers! Eat of pure (and good) things and do good deeds. Surely, I am Aware of what you do.

52. And verily, this your religion is one religion and I am your Lord, so fear Me.

53. But they have broken their religion among them into sects, and each sect is rejoicing with what they have (of the belief).

54. So leave them in their heedlessness for a while.

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55. Do they think that in the wealth and sons which We provide them. 56. We hasten unto them with good things. Nay, but they do not perceive. 57. Verily, those who live in awe for fear of their Lord;

58. And those who believe in the revelations of their Lord, 59. And those who do not attribute partners to their Lord. 60. And those who give (in charity) what they give and their hearts are full of fear because they are sure to return to their Lord.

61. It is they who hasten for the good deeds and they are foremost in doing them.

62. And We task not any soul beyond its capacity, and with Us is a Record (of deeds) which speaks the truth, and they will not be wronged.

63. Nay, but their hearts are in ignorance of this (Quran). And they have other deeds besides that which they are doing.

64. Till when We seize their well-to-do with punishment, behold! Then they start crying in supplication.

65. Do not supplicate this day! Surely, you will not be helped by Us. 66. Indeed My revelations were recited to you, but you used to turn back on your heels.

67. In pride, you passed night in talking nonsense about it (the Quran). Lesson-207 : The disbelievers 68. Have they not pondered over the word of Allah or has there come to them what had not come to their forefathers?

69. Or is it because they do not recognize their messenger, so they deny him. 70. Or they say that there is madness in him? Nay, but he has come to them with the Truth; and most of them dislike the Truth.

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71. And if the Truth had followed their desires, verily the heavens and the earth and whosoever is therein would have been disordered. Nay, We have brought to them their Reminder, but from their Reminder they turn away.

72. Or is it that you (O Muhammad) are asking of them any fee (for your services as a messenger)? But the bounty of your Lord is better, and He is the Best of those who provide sustenance. 73. In fact you call them indeed to a straight path.

74. And verily, those who believe not in the Hereafter are indeed deviating from the path.

75. And even if We have mercy on them and relieve them of the harm afflicting them, they would still persist in their rebellion, wandering blindly. 76. And indeed We have seized them with punishment but they do not humble themselves before their Lord nor do they submit.

77. Until when We open for them the gate of extreme punishment, behold! They are plunged in despair.

78. It is He Who has created for you ears and eyes and hearts, yet you give little thanks (to Him).

79. And it is He Who has created you in the earth and to Him you shall all be gathered. 80. And it is He Who gives life and causes death and in His control is the alternation of the night and day. Will you not then understand?

81. Nay, but they say the like of that which the former people had said. 82. They say: When we are dead and have become mere dust and bones, shall we then be raised to life again?

83. Indeed, we were promised this, we and our forefathers before, but this is no more than the stories of the former people.

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84. Say: To whom belongs the earth and everything which is in it? (Tell me) if you know!

85. They will promptly say: To Allah. Say: Will you not then remember? 86. Say: Who is Lord of the seven heavens, and Lord of the Great Throne?

87. They will at once say: To Allah (belong all these). Say: Will you not then fear Him? 88. Say: In Whose hand is the dominion over all things and He protects while against Whom there is no protector? (Tell me) if you know!

89. They will immediately say: To Allah (all these belong). Say: How then are you bewitched? 90. Nay, but We have brought them the Truth, and verily, they are the liars.

91. Allah has not taken any son, nor is there any god along with Him. Had it been so, then each god would have taken away what he had created, and some of them would have tried to overcome others. Glorified be Allah above all that they attribute to Him. 92. He is the Knower of the unseen and the seen! Exalted be He over all that they associate as partners to Him. Lesson-208 : Scene of the Judgment Day 93. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord! If you show me that (torment) with which they are threatened (in my lifetime). 94. My Lord! Then do not include me among the wrong-doing people. 95. And indeed We have the power to show you that with which We have threatened them. 96. Repel evil with that which is better. We are fully Aware of that which they utter.

97. And say: O my Lord! I seek refuge with You from the evil suggestions (or promptings) of the devils. 98. And I seek refuge with You, my Lord, lest they come near me. 99. Until, when death comes to one of them (i.e. the disbelievers), he says: My Lord! Send me back.

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100. So that I may do good deeds in that (world) which I have left behind! Not at all! It is but a word that he speaks. And behind them is a barrier until the Day when they will be resurrected.

101. And when the Trumpet is blown there will be no kinship among them that Day, nor will they ask about each other.

102. Then those whose scales (of good deeds) are heavy, they are such who indeed will attain success (salvation). 103. And those whose scales (of good deeds) are light, they are such who cause loss to themselves, and in Hell they will abide.

104. The Fire (of Hell) will burn their faces and they will be in much hardship therein.

105. (It will be said to them): Were not My revelations recited to you, and then you used to deny them?

106. They will say: Our Lord! Our misfortune overcame us, and we were an erring people.

107. Our Lord! Bring us out of it (i.e. the Hell)! If we ever return to evil, then indeed we shall be wrongdoers. 108. Allah will say: You remain herein with disgrace, and speak you not to Me. 109. Verily, there was a party of My slaves who used to say: O our Lord! We believe in You, so forgive us, and have mercy on us for You are the Best of all who show mercy. 110. But you took them for a laughing stock, till they made you forget My remembrance, while you went on ridiculing them.

111. Verily, I have rewarded them this Day because of their patience; they are indeed such who are successful.

112. He will (then) ask: How long you stayed in the earth in terms of years? 113. They will say: We stayed a day or part of a day, but ask those who keep account.

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114. He will say: You stayed but a little if you only knew. 115. Did you think that We had created you without any purpose and that you will not be returned to Us?

116. Therefore, exalted be Allah, the True King! There is no God save Him, the Lord of the Graceful Throne.

117. Whoever invokes another god besides Allah, of whom he has no proof, then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely, such disbelievers will never attain success.

118. And say (O Muhammad): My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for You are the Best of all who show mercy.

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