earth—
in all these are signs for
people who use reason.
165Yet some people take others
as equal to God, loving them
as they should love God.
But those who believe
are stronger in their love for God.
If only the wrongdoers could see—
as when they will see
their punishment—that all power
belongs to God, and that God
is Severe in Punishment.
166When those who were followed
disown their followers, and they
see the punishment, and all bonds
among them are severed,
167the followers will say,
“If only we could go back,
we would disown them
as they now disown us.”
So God will make them
see their deeds with deep regret,
they will never escape the fire.
SECTION 20
168“People, eat from what is lawful
and good upon the earth, and
don’t follow in the footsteps
of Satan; for he
is your open enemy.
169“For he commands you
to evil and indecency,
and to say of God
what you do not know.”
170When told, “Follow what
God has revealed,” they say,
“No. We follow the ways
of our fathers.” What?
Even though their fathers
understood nothing
nor were rightly guided?
171Those who disbelieve
can be compared to one who
shouts like a shepherd to flocks
who hear nothing
but a cry and a call—
deaf, dumb, blind,
they are bereft of reason.
172You who believe,
eat of the good things
We have given you,
and be thankful to God,
if it is Him you worship.
173He has forbidden for you
only carrion, blood, the flesh
of swine, and anything on which
some name other than God’s
was invoked. But whoever
is constrained—without wanting
to disobey or transgress—
shall remain blameless.
God is Forgiving, Ever Merciful.
174Those who conceal what
God has revealed in the Book
and trade it for a paltry price—
they shall swallow into their bellies
nothing but fire—
God shall not speak to them
on the day of resurrection, nor
purify them; theirs shall be
a painful punishment.
175They are the ones who trade
guidance for error, forgiveness
for punishment; how shall they
endure the fire?
176That is because God revealed
the Book, with truth,
and those who dispute the Book
have gone far astray, in discord.
SECTION 21
177Righteousness
does not reside
in turning your faces
toward East or West;
rather, it resides in those—
who believe in God
and the last day,
in the angels, the Book,
and the prophets;
who give their wealth
—despite their love of it—
for kin, for orphans, the needy,
the traveler, for those who ask,
and for freeing slaves;
who are steadfast in prayer,
who give in charity,
keeping their covenants;
who suffer in patience
hardship, pain, and
times of conflict—
they are the ones
who are truthful, and
they are the ones
mindful of God.
178You who believe, you are
commanded to be fair in requital
for murder—free man for free man,
slave for slave, woman for woman.
But if the culprit is pardoned
by his injured brother, he should
seek suitable recompense,
given graciously. This is a mitigation
and a mercy from your Lord.
Whoever transgresses after this
shall face painful torment.
179The rule of retaliation
preserves life for you—
you people with insight,
so that you might be righteous.
180When death approaches any of you
who leaves wealth behind—
you are commanded
to make a suitable bequest
to parents and close relatives;
this is a duty imposed on those
who are mindful of God.
181Anyone who alters the bequest
after hearing it commits a sin—
God is All Hearing, All Knowing.
182But if anyone suspects that
the testator is mistaken or biased,
it is no sin for him
if he reconciles the two parties.
God is Forgiving, Ever Merciful.
SECTION 22
183You who believe,
fasting is ordained for you,
as it was ordained for those
before you, so that you might
be mindful of God—
184fasting for a fixed number
of days. But if any of you is ill,
or traveling, then for a fixed number
of other days.
Those who find it difficult
may compensate by feeding
a needy person. But if anyone
does good of his own accord,
it will be better for him.
And fasting is better for you,
if only you knew.
185It was in the month of Ramadan
that the Quran was sent down,
as a guide for humankind,
with clear signs of guidance and
criteria of right and wrong.
So whoever among you
is present during the month
should fast in it.
And whoever is ill, or on a journey,
should make up a fixed number
of other days. God intends ease,
not hardship, for you—and that
you complete the ordained period,
so that you might magnify Him
for His guidance, and be thankful.°
186Prophet, when My servants
ask you about Me, I am indeed Near;
I answer the prayer of those
who pray to me. So let them
respond to Me, and believe in Me,
that they might be rightly guided.
187You are allowed, on the night
of fasting, to approach your wives;
they are your garment and
you are their garment.
God knows that you used to betray
yourselves,° but He turned to you
and pardoned you; so now,
be intimate with them and seek what
God has ordained for you.
Eat and drink until you can
distinguish the white thread of dawn
from the black thread. Then
complete your fast until nightfall,
and don’t be intimate with your wives
while you are secluded in devotion
in the mosques.
These are the limits set by God,
so do not venture near them.
This is how God makes clear
His signs to humankind,
so that they might be mindful of Him.
188Do not wrongfully consume
one another’s property,
and do not use it to bribe judges
in order to consume a portion
of other people’s property,
sinfully—and knowingly.
SECTION 23
189They ask you, Prophet,
about the new moons. Say,
“They signify fixed periods
for people, and for the pilgrimage.
Also, it is not righteous for you
to enter houses by the back door;°
righteousness resides in being
mindful of God.
Enter houses by their main doors.
And be mindful of God
that you might flourish.”
190Fight in the cause of God
against those who fight you,
but do not transgress due limits;
for God dislikes transgressors.
191And kill them where you
find them, and drive them out
from where they drove you out—
for persecution is worse
than killing.° But do not
fight them at the sacred mosque
unless they fight you there.
But if they do fight you, kill them.
This is the disbelievers’ reward.
192But if they should stop—God
is Forgiving, Ever Merciful.
193Fight them until there is
no more persecution,
until worship at the sacred mosque
is for God alone. But if they stop,
let there be no more hostility
except against aggressors.
194Sacred month for sacred month;°
and for all violations, a fair requital.
If anyone assaults you, you may
respond in kind, equally, against them;
but fear God, and know that God
is with those who fear Him.
195Spend in the cause of God, to
avoid bringing ruin upon yourselves,°
and practice good deeds, for
God loves those who do good.
196Complete the major or minor pilgrimage
for the sake of God; if you are
prevented from this, then sacrifice
whatever animal you can,
and do not shave your heads
until the animal reaches
the sacrificial site.
If any of you is ill or has
a malady of the head,
they can compensate by fasting,
or charity or ritual sacrifice.
When you feel secure, those who
have the chance to perform
the minor along with the major pilgrimage
should offer whatever sacrifice
they can afford; those without
the means should fast for three days
during the major pilgrimage, and seven days
upon your return, ten days in all.
This is for people whose house
is not near the sacred mosque.
Be mindful of God, and know
that God is Severe in Requital.
SECTION 24
197The major pilgrimage occurs during
the ordained months; those who
perform the duty of pilgrimage then
should refrain from lewdness,
or wickedness, or quarreling.
And whatever good you do,
God knows it.
Take provision for your journey—
but the best provision
is mindfulness of God.
Be mindful of Me,
you who understand.
198There’s nothing wrong with your
seeking the bounty of your Lord
[while the pilgrimage goes on].°
Then when you leave, going down
from Mount ʿArafat, remember God
at the sacred site of Muzdalifa.°
Remember Him, for He guided you
before, when you were astray.
199Then leave, going down,
where all the other people go down,
and ask forgiveness of God; for
God is Forgiving, Ever Merciful.
200When you have finished
your rites of worship, remember
God—as you remember
your fathers, or with more fervent
remembrance. For some people
pray, “Our Lord, grant us good
in this world”—they shall have
no share in the hereafter.
201There are others who pray,
“Our Lord, grant us good in
this world and in the hereafter,
and deliver us from
the torment of fire.”
202They shall have what they earned;
for God is Swift in Reckoning.
203And remember God
during the appointed days,°
but if anyone leaves earlier
—in two days—this is no sin,
nor if anyone stays longer,
for those who fear God.
So fear God, and know that
you will be gathered to Him.
204There’s a kind of person
whose talk in this worldly life
might please you, and they call
on God to witness
what is in their heart—
yet they are the most
contentious of opponents.
205When they turn to go away,
they strive to sow corruption
in the land, and to destroy
crops and livestock—
and God despises corruption.
206When urged, “Be mindful
of God,” their pride leads them to sin.
Hell shall be ample for them—
an evil end.
207But there are also people
who would sell their own selves
seeking to please God—and
God is Most Compassionate
toward His servants.
208You who believe,
submit yourselves entirely,
and don’t follow
in the footsteps of Satan—
your open enemy.
209If you backslide, after
clear signs have come to you,
you should know that God
is Almighty, All Wise.
210Are they waiting for God
to come to them in the shadows
of clouds, with a train of angels?
No—the entire matter is settled.
All matters revert to God.
SECTION 25
211Ask the children of Israel
how many clear signs
We sent to them.
But those who alter
the blessings of God
after what has come to them,
should know that
God is Severe in Requital.
212This worldly life is alluring
to those who disbelieve, and they
mock those who do believe.
But those who are mindful of God
will be higher than them
on the day of resurrection, and
God provides without measure
for those whom He will.
213Humankind was one community,
[then they quarreled]
so God sent prophets to bear
joyous news and to warn people.
He sent with them the Book,
with truth, to judge between people
in the things they disputed.
But, in their mutual envy,
those who were given the Book
quarreled, even after receiving
clear signs. So, God guides
the believers to the truth, by His will,
in the things they dispute.
And God guides whom He will
to a straight path.
214Or, do you think you will
enter the garden without facing
the trials imposed
on those before you?
They were struck by misfortune
and hardship, and were so shaken
that their messenger and those
who believed with him
cried, “When will the help
of God come?” Without doubt,
the help of God is near.
215They ask you what they
should spend in charity.
Say, “Whatever you spend for good
should be for parents, close kin,
orphans, the poor, and travelers.
And whatever good you do,
God Knows it.”
216Fighting is ordained for you
though you find it abhorrent.
But it