may be that you abhor
something which is good for you,
and love something
which is bad for you;
for God knows—and you do not.
SECTION 26
217They ask you about fighting
during the sacred month. Say,
“Fighting in it is a grave offense,
but hindering people from
God’s path, disbelieving in Him,
barring access to the sacred mosque,
and driving out its people
are even more grave in God’s eyes,
for persecution is worse
than killing.” They won’t stop
fighting you until they turn you back
from your religion, if they can.
And those of you who turn back
from their religion and die
as disbelievers—their deeds
shall be vain in this life
and in the hereafter,
and they shall be inmates
of the fire—forever.
218Those who have believed,
migrated, and striven in God’s cause
can hope for God’s mercy—
God is Forgiving, Ever Merciful.
219They ask you about wine
and gambling. Say, “In them both
is great sin, and some gain for people;
but their sin is greater than their gain.”
They ask you what they should spend
in charity. Say, “Whatever
you can spare.” In this way,
God makes clear for you His signs,
that you might reflect,
220both in this life
and the hereafter.
And they ask you about orphans.
Say, “Improving their state is best.
and if you mix with them,
bear in mind that they
are your brothers; for God knows
the difference between those
who corrupt and those who reform.
Had He wished, He could have
made things difficult for you.
God is Almighty, All Wise.”
221Do not marry women who
are polytheists, until they believe—
for a believing female slave
is better than a polytheist,
however alluring she is to you;
nor give your women in marriage
to men who are polytheists,
until they believe—
for a believing male slave
is better than a polytheist,
however alluring he is to you.
These beckon you to the fire—
while God beckons to the garden,
and forgives by His leave;
He makes clear
His signs to humankind
that they might take heed.
SECTION 27
222They ask you about menstruation.°
Say, “It is an infirmity, so keep away
from women during menstruation;
don’t approach them
until they are purified. When pure,
you may approach them
as God has ordained.”
God loves those who turn to Him,
and He loves those
who keep themselves pure.
223Your wives are your fields
so go into your fields
as you please, advancing
good deed for yourselves,°
and be mindful of God;
know that you will meet Him, and
give joyous news to the believers.
224And don’t make
your oaths to God an excuse
for neglecting good deeds
or being mindful of God,
or reconciling between people,
for God is All Hearing, All Knowing.
225God will not call you to account
for oaths you spoke unintentionally,
but He will call you to account
for what your hearts have earned—
God is Forgiving, Most Forbearing.
226For those who swear
to abstain from their wives,
there will be a waiting period
of four months—and if
they go back [to them],
God is Forgiving, Ever Merciful.°
227But if they resolve on divorce,
they should know that God
is All Hearing, All Knowing.
228Divorced women shall wait
for three monthly periods
[before marrying again],
and it is not lawful for them
to hide what God has created
in their wombs—if they believe
in God and the last day.
If their husbands want to reconcile,
they have more warrant
to take them back during this time.
And their rights are similar
to the rights over them,
as in what is known to be fair;
though husbands have
a degree [of right] over them—
God is Almighty, All Wise.
SECTION 28
229Divorce [can be revoked] twice.
Each time, keep your wife
on equitable terms, or
release her in a kindly manner.
It’s not lawful for you to take back
anything you gave her, unless
you both fear that you can’t adhere
to the limits set by God;
if you fear this, there is no blame
on either of you if the woman
gives a sum for her release.
These are the limits set by God,
so do not transgress them.
Those who do so are wrongdoers.
230If a husband then divorces his wife,
it’s not lawful for him
to remarry her unless she has married
another husband; if he divorces her,
then there is no blame if she and her
first husband return to each other,
if they think they can adhere
to the limits ordained by God.
These are the limits set by God,
which He makes clear
for those who know.
231When you divorce women,
and they finish their waiting period,
either keep them or release them
on fair terms; but don’t keep them
with intent to harm them, so as to transgress.
Whoever does this
wrongs himself. Do not take
the signs of God in jest—
remember God’s favor to you
and the Book and wisdom
He revealed, to instruct you.
Be mindful of God, and know
that God Knows all things.
SECTION 29
232When you divorce women,
and they finish their waiting period,
don’t prevent them from marrying
their former husbands, if they
both agree, on fair terms.
This is counsel for those of you
who believe in God and the last day
to make you more virtuous and pure,
for God knows—and you do not.
233Mothers suckle their offspring
for two whole years, if they wish
to complete the term; the father
should maintain and clothe them
in a suitable manner. No one should
be burdened beyond their limit.
The mother shall not suffer
on account of her child, nor
the father on account of his.
The same duty falls upon
the father’s heir. And there’s no fault
if the couple, by mutual consulting
and consent, want to wean the child,
nor if you procure a wet nurse
for your child, provided you give
fair payment. Be mindful of God,
and know that God
Sees all that you do.
234If any of you die and leave
widows behind, they shall wait
for four months and ten days [before
remarrying]; and when they reach
this appointed term, there is no blame
on you [the guardians] if they then
conduct their affairs honorably.°
God is Aware of all that you do.
235There is no blame on you whether
you hint at a proposal of marriage
to these women or don’t disclose it.°
God knows that you want to propose
to them. Don’t make a secret contract
with them but speak honorably to them;
and don’t bind the knot of marriage
until the appointed period expires.
And know that God knows what is
within you; heed Him, and know
that God is Forgiving, Forbearing.
SECTION 30
236There is no blame on you
if you divorce women before
you consummate the marriage
and you have not fixed their dowry.
But provide a suitable gift for them,
the rich according to their means,
and the poor according to theirs—
a duty for those who do good.
237If you divorce women before
you consummate the marriage but
after you have fixed their dowry,
then give them half of the dowry,
unless they—or those holding
the marriage tie°—waive it.
Waiving it comes closer
to being mindful of God. So do not
forget to be generous to one another.
God Sees all that you do.
238Preserve your practice of prayers,
especially the midafternoon prayer,
and stand before God in devotion.
239If you are in fear of [an enemy],
then pray on foot, or while riding;
but when you are safe, remember God
in the way He taught you,
which you did not know before.
240Those of you who die
and leave widows behind
should bequeath your widows
a year’s provision, and not
expel them. But if they leave,
there is no blame on you
[the guardians] if they then
conduct their affairs honorably.°
God is Almighty, All Wise.
241Divorced women should be
fairly provided for—a duty
for those who are mindful of God.
242This is how God makes clear
His signs, so that you might
use your reason.
SECTION 31
243Won’t you reflect on those
who abandoned their homes,
though in their thousands, in fear
of death? God commanded them,
“Die!” But then He brought them
back to life. God is full of favor
toward humankind, yet
most are ungrateful.
244So fight in the cause of God,
and know that God
is All Hearing, All Knowing.
245Who will lend to God
a beautiful loan, which He might
multiply for them many times?
It is God who withholds or
grants in abundance—and to Him
you shall be returned.
246Won’t you reflect on the chiefs
of the children of Israel
after the time of Moses?
When they said to the prophet
among them, “Appoint for us a king,
so that we might fight
in the cause of God,”° he answered,
“Perhaps if you were commanded
to fight, you might not fight?”
They said, “How could we not
fight in the cause of God
after we have been turned out
of our homes, with our children?”
Yet when they were commanded
to fight, they turned back
—all but a few—
God Knows those who do wrong.
247Their prophet said to them,
“God has appointed Saul as your King.”
They said, “How can he be our king
when we have more right to kingship than him?
And he has not even been granted
much wealth.” The prophet replied,
“God has chosen him over you, and
has granted him much knowledge,
and a fair form.
God grants kingship to whom He will,
for God is Expansive, All Knowing.”
248And their prophet said to them,
“A sign of his kingship is that
the ark of the covenant° shall come
to you; it shall bear reassurance
from your Lord and relics from
the family of Moses and of Aaron,
which the angels shall bear.
In this is a sign for you
if you are true believers.”
SECTION 32
249Then, when Saul set out with
his armies, he said, “God will test you
at the river. Whoever drinks from it
shall not belong with me, and
whoever refrains from tasting it
shall be with me, though those who
take a handful will be excused.”
But all except a few drank from it.
When they crossed the river,
he and the believers with him said,
“We lack strength this day against
Goliath and his forces.” But those
assured of meeting God responded,
“How often has a small force
vanquished a large one,
by God’s leave? For God
is with those who show patience.”
250When they advanced against
Goliath and his armies, they prayed,
“Our Lord, fill us with patience,
make firm our feet, and help us
against a disbelieving people.”
251So they defeated them,
by God’s leave, and David
killed Goliath; God gave David
sovereignty and wisdom, and
taught him what He wished.
If God did not restrain
some people by others, the earth
would be corrupt—but God is
Full of Grace to humankind.
252These are the signs of God;
We recite them to you, the truth,
for you are one of the messengers.
253We favored some
of these messengers over others.
God spoke to some, and raised others
in rank. We gave Jesus, son of Mary
clear proofs, and strengthened him
with the holy spirit. If God had willed,
their descendants would not have
fought one another after clear signs
had come to them. But they disputed,
some believed, others disbelieved;
had God willed, they would not have
fought—but God does as He intends.
SECTION 33
254You who believe, spend
in charity from what We give you—
before there comes a