The High Places (Al-Arâf)

In the name of Allah, Gracious, Merciful.

¹A. L. M. S.¹

²A book revealed unto you so let your heart be oppressed no more by any difficulty on that account that with it you might warn and teach the believers.

³Follow the revelation given unto you from your Lord and follow not as friends or protectors other than Him. Little it is you remember of admonition.

⁴And how many towns have We destroyed? Our punishment took them on a sudden, by night, or while they slept for their afternoon rest.²

⁵When our punishment took them, no cry did they utter but this “indeed we did wrong.”³

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

¹Alif Lam Mim Suad

²Kitabun unzila ilaika fala yakun fi sadrika harajun minhu litunzira bihi wa zikra lil muminina.

³Ittabiu ma unzila ilaikum mi rabbikum wa la tattabiu min dunihi auliyaa qalilan ma tazakkaruna.

⁴Wa kam min qaryatin ahlaknaha fajaaha basuna bayatan au hum qailuna.

⁵Fama kana dawahum iz jaahum basuna illa an qalu inna kunna tualimina.

1. These abbreviations A. L. M. S. have no particular meaning to them that I know of. According to George Sale, some Muslims believe that only God knows the meaning of such abbreviations.

2. The towns described here are those who were invaded, whether at night or during the day time when they were resting in the afternoon. Their sins mainly consisted of idolatry and being non‑Muslims.

3. According to the verse their only cry was, we did wrong. In the face of adversity, with the swords of the Muslims already drawn and ready to slash the throat of the unbelievers, their only survival was in accepting Islam.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁶Then shall We question those to whom Our message was sent and those by whom We sent it.

⁷And verily, We shall recount their whole story with knowledge, for We were never absent.

⁸And the balance that day will be true, those whose scale of good will be heavy will prosper.

⁹And those whose scale will be light will find their souls in perdition because they wrongfully treated our signs.

¹⁰And it is We who have placed you with authority on earth and provided you therein with means for the fulfillment of your life. Small are the thanks that you give.

⁶Falanasal anna lazina ursila ilaihim wa lanasalannal mursalina.

⁷Falanaqusuanna alaihim biilmin wa ma kunna gaibinaFalanaqusuanna alaihim biilmin wa ma kunna gaibina.

⁸Wal waznu yauma izinil haqqu faman saqulat mawazinuhu fa ulaika humul muflihuna.

⁹Wa man khaffat mawazinhu fa ulaikal lazina khasiru anfusahum bima kanu bi ayatina yatlimuna.

¹⁰Wa laqad makkannakum filarddi wa jaalna lakum fiha maayisha qalilan ma tashkuruna.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹¹And it is We who created you and gave you shape, then We bade the angels bow down to Adam and they bowed down, not so Iblis, he refused to be of those who bow down.

¹²Allah said, “What prevented you from bowing down when I commanded you?” He said, “I am better than he, you created me from fire and him from clay.”

¹³Allah said, “Get down from this, it is not for you to be arrogant here, get out for you are of the meanest.”

¹⁴He said, “give me respite till the day they are raised up.”

¹⁵Allah said, “Be among those who have respite.”

¹⁶He said, “because you have thrown me out of the way, lo, I will lie in wait for them on your straight way.”⁴

¹¹Wa laqad khalaqnakum summa sawwarnakum summa qulna lil malaikati sujudu li Adama fasajadu illa iblisa lam yakun mina sajidina.

¹²Qala ma manaaka alla tasjuda iz amartuka qala anna khairun minhu khalaqtani min narin wa khalaqtahu min tinin.

¹³Qala fahbit minha fama yakunu laka an tatakabbara fiha fakhruj innaka mina sagirina.

¹⁴Qala antirni ila yaumi yubasuna.

¹⁵Qala innaka minal muntuarina.

¹⁶Qala fabima agwaitani la aqudanna lahum siratuakal mustaqima

4. The conversation suddenly changes from 11‑16 on the status of Satan (Iblis), according to the Qur’an, the fall of Satan was a result of his disobedience to bow the man who after he was created by God. In the Bible, we read of his pride in wanting to be like God as the cause for his downfall, knowin Ezekiel 28:2:

Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: This is spoken of Satan. He was not commanded to bow to man, but he was puffed up with pride and arrogance.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁷Then will I assault them from before them, and behind them, from their right and their left, nor will you find in most of them gratitude.

¹⁸Allah said, “Get out from this disgraced and expelled. If any of them follow you hell will I fill with you all.”

¹⁹And O Adam, dwell with your wife in the garden and enjoy as you wish, but approach not this tree or you run into harm and transgression.

¹⁷Summa la atiyannahum min baini aidihim wa min khalfihim wa an aimanihim wa an im wa shamailihla tajidu aksarahum shakirina.

¹⁸Qalakhruj minha mazuman madhuran laman tabiaka minhum la amlaanna jahannama minkum ajmaina.

¹⁹Wa ya Adamu sukun anta wa zaujukal jannata fakula min haisu shituma wa la taqraba hazihi shajarata fatakunamina tualimina.

[Commentary continues below.]

²⁰Then began Satan to whisper suggestions to them, bringing openly before their minds all their shame that was hidden from them, he said “Your Lord only forbade you this tree lest you should become angels or such beings as live for ever.”

²¹And he swore to them both that he was their sincere adviser.

²²So by deceit he brought about their fall, when they tasted of the tree their shame became manifest to them and they began to sew together the leaves of the garden over their bodies. And their Lord called unto them, “Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you that Satan was an avowed enemy unto you?”⁵

²³They said, “our Lord! we have wronged our own souls, if you forgive us not and bestow not upon us your mercy we shall certainly be lost.”

²⁰Fa waswasa lahuma shaitanu liyubdiya lahuma ma wuriyaanhuma min sauatihima wa qala ma nahakuma rabbukuma an hazihi shajarati illa an takuna malakaini au takuna minal khalidina.

²¹Wa qasamahuma inni lakuma laminan nasihina .

²²Fadallahuma bi gururin falamma zaqa shajarata badatu lahuma sauatuhuma watafiqa yakhsifani alaihima mi waraqil jannahtiwa nadahuma rabbuhuma alam anhakuma an tilkuma shajarati wa aqul lakuma inna shaitana lakuma aduwun mubinun.

²³Qala rabbana tualamna anfusana wa illam tagfir lana wa tarhamna lanakunanna minal khasirina.

5. The story of the fall of man is told with great differences in the Qur’an. Consider and compare this account with the Biblical account in Genesis 3:1‑13:

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.

And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate." Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

²⁴Allah said, “Get down with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling place and your means of livelihood for a time.”

²⁵He said, “Therein shall you live and therein shall you die, but from it shall you be taken out.”

²⁶O children of Adam, We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover your shame as well as to be an adornment to you, but the raiment of righteousness that is the best. Such are among the signs of Allah that they may receive admonition.⁶

²⁴Qalahbitu badukum libadin aduwwun wa lakum filarddi mustaqarru wa mataun ila hinin.

²⁵Qala fiha tahyauna wa fiha tamutuna wa minha tukhrajuna

²⁶Ya bani Adama qad anzalna alaikum libasa yuwari sauatikum wa rishan walibasu taqwa zalika khairun zalika min ayatillahi laallahum yazzakkaruna.

6. The raiment of righteousness is best in covering than any kind of clothing used for covering our nakedness. The prophets of old spoke about rending our hearts, and not our garments (Joel 2:13).

Paul spoke about imputation of righteousness by Christ who took our sins upon Himself in Romans 4:22‑25: And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

This process is by means of acceptance, Adam and Eve could not hide their shame, God had to do it for them. On our own we can never attain acceptance by God but through Christ who said no one can come to the Father except through Him, and by Him whose followers will be exalted

above the unbelievers until the day of resurrection.

²⁷O children of Adam, let not Satan seduce you in the same manner as he got your parents out of the garden, stripping them of their raiment to expose their shame, for he and his tribe watch you from a position where you cannot see them, We made the evil ones friends to those without faith.

²⁸And when they do anything that is shameful they say, “We found our fathers doing so,” and “Allah commanded us thus” say, “No, Allah never commands what is shameful, do you say of Allah what you know not?”.

²⁹Say, “My Lord has commanded justice, and that you set your whole selves at every time and place of prayer, and call upon him, making your devotion sincere as in his sight, such as he created you in the beginning so shall you return.”.

³⁰Some He has guided, others have deserved the loss of their way, in that they took the evil ones in preference to Allah for their friends and protectors, and think that they receive guidance.

²⁷Ya bani Adama la yaftinannakumu shaitanu kama akhraja abawaikum minal jannati yanziu anhuma libasahuma liyuriyahuma sauatihima innahu yarakum huwa wa qabiluhu min haisu la taraunahum inna jaalna shayatina auliyaa lillazina la yuminuna.

²⁸Wa iza faalu fahishatan qalu wajadna alaiha abaana wallahu amarana biha qul innallaha la yamuru bilfahshai ataqulunaalallahi ma la talamuna.

²⁹Qul amara rabbi bil qisti wa aqimu wujuhakum inda kulli masjidin waduhu mukhlisina lahudina kama badaakum tauduna.

³⁰Fariqan hada wa fariqan haqqa alaihimu ddalala htu innahumuttakhazu shayatina auliyaa min dunillahi wa yahsabuna annahum muhtaduna.

[Commentary continues below.]

³¹O children of Adam, ear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink, but waste not by excess for Allah loves not the wasters.

³²Say, who has forbidden the beautiful things of Allah which He has produced for his servants, and the things clean and pure for sustenance? Say, they are in the life of this world for those who believe and purely for them on the day of judgment. Thus do We explain the signs in detail for those who understand.

³¹Ya bani Adama khuzu zinatakum inda kulli masjidi wa kulu washrabu wa la tusrifu innahu la yuhibbul musrifina.

³²Qul man harrama zinatallahil lati akhraja li ibadihi wa tayyibati mina rizqi qul hiya lillazina amanu fil hayati dunya khalisata yaumal qiyamahti kazalika nufassilul ayati liqaumin yalamuna.

[Commentary continues below.]

³³Say, the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are, shameful deeds whether open or secret, sins and trespasses against truth or reason, assigning of partners to Allah for which he has given no authority, and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge.

³⁴And to every people is a term appointed, when their term is reached not an hour can they cause delay nor can they advance it in anticipation.⁷

³⁵O children of Adam, whenever there come to you apostles from among you, rehearsing my signs unto you, those who are righteous and mend their lives, on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.

³³Qul innama harrama rabbiyal fawahisha ma zahara minha wa ma batana wal isma wal bagya bi gairil haqqi wa an tushriku billahi ma lam yunazzil bihi sultuanan wa an taqulu alallahi ma la talamuna.

³⁴Wa likulli ummatin ajalun fa iza jaa ajaluhum la yastakhiruna saatan wa la yastaqdimuna.

³⁵Yabani Adama imma yatiyannakum rusulun minkum yaqussuna alaikum ayati famanittaqa wa aslaha fala khaufun alaihim wa la hum yahzanuna.

7. It is to our own benefit that we calculate our surrounding and consider the dimension which God has given us in His infinite wisdom, a failure to do this could cost us dearly. There is an appointed time and place for every soul and it will not be a day more or a day less, in this light therefore we need to consider the Lord while we are yet alive before destruction suddenly overtakes us and plunge us into the darkest night and the deepest gloom.

Deuteronomy 32:29: If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!

Psalm 39:4: If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!

[Commentary continues below.]

³⁶And those who reject our signs and treat them with arrogance, they are companions of the fire to dwell therein.

³⁷Who is more unjust than one who invents a lie against Allah or rejects his signs? For such their portion appointed must reach them from the book, until when Our messengers arrive and take their souls they say, “Where are the things that you used to invoke besides Allah?” They will reply, “They have left us in the lurch,” and they will bear witness against themselves.

³⁸He says, Enter into the fire among the nations of the jinn and humankind who passed away before you. Everytime a nation enmters, it curses its sister nation till, when they have all been made to follow one another thither, the one says to the first: Our Lord! These led us astray, so give them double of the fire. He says: for each one there is double torment but you know not.

³⁶Wallazina kazzabu bi ayatina wastakbaru anha ulaika ashabun nari hum fiha khaliduna.

³⁷Faman atlamu mimmani futaraalallahi kaziban au kazzaba bi ayatihi ulaika yanaluhum nasibuhum minal kitabi hatta iza jaathum rusuluna yatawaffaunahum qalu aina ma kuntum taduna min dunillahi qalu dalluanna wa shahidu ala anfusihim annahum kanu kafirina.

³⁸Qaladu khulu fi ummamin qadu khalatu min qabulikum minal jinni wal insi fi nari kulama dakhalatu umatun laanatu ukhutaha hata iza darakuu fiha jamian qalatu ukhurahum li ulahum rabbana haulai adualuna fa atihim azaban ddiufan mina nari qala likullin ddiafun wa lakinu laa talamuna.

[Commentary continues below.]

³⁹And then the first will say to the last, “See then, no advantage have you over us, so taste of the penalty for all that you did.”⁸

⁴⁰To those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance, no opening will there be of the gates of heaven, nor will they enter the garden until the camel can pass through the eye of the needle, such is Our reward for those in sin.⁹

⁴¹For them there is hell as a couch below and folds and folds of covering above, such is Our requital of those who do wrong.

⁴²And those who believe and work righteousness no burden do We place on any soul but that which it can bear, they will be companions of the garden therein to dwell.

³⁹Wa qalat ulahum li ukhrahum fama kana lakum alaina min fadlin fazuqul azaba bima kuntum taksibuna.

⁴⁰Innallazina kazzabu bi ayatina wastakbaru anha la tufattahu lahum abwabu samai wa la yadkhulunal jannata hatta yalijal jamalu fi sammil khiyati wa kazalika najzil mujrimina.

⁴¹Lahum min jahannama mihadu wa min fauqihim gawashin wa kazalika najzi tualimina.

⁴²Wallazina amanu wa amilu sualihati la nukallifu nafsan illa wusaha ulaika ashabul jannahti hum fiha khaliduna.

8. Sounds like the first shall be last and the last shall be first story of Matthew 19:30: But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. And Matthew 20:1‑16. Muhammad tried to tell the story of the Bible but lacked the fluidity with which Jesus told His description of heaven: nor will they enter the garden until the camel can pass through the eye of the needle: such is Our reward for those in sin.

9. This story was also told by Jesus almost six hundred years before Muhammad was even born. In Luke 18:25 we read what Jesus said: For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁴³And We shall remove from their hearts any lurking sense of injury, beneath them will be rivers flowing, and they shall say, “Praise be to Allah who has guided us to this felicity, never could we have found guidance had it not been for the guidance of Allah, indeed it was the truth that the apostles of our Lord brought unto us.” And they shall hear the cry, “Behold! the garden before you. You have been made its inheritors for your deeds.”

⁴⁴And the companions of the garden will call out to the companions of the fire, “We have indeed found the promises of our Lord to us true, have you also found your Lord’s promises true?” They shall say, “yes,” but a crier shall proclaim between them, “the curse of Allah is on the wrongdoers.”¹⁰

⁴³Wa nazana ma fi sudurihim min gillin tajri min tahtihimul anharu wa qalul hamdu lillahil lazi hadana lihaza wa ma kunna linahtadiya lau la an hadanallahu laqad jaat rusulu rabbina bil haqqi wa nudu an tilkumul jannatu uristumuha bima kuntum tamaluna.

⁴⁴Wa nada ashabul jannati asuhaban nari an qad wajadna ma waadana rabbuna haqqan fahal wajattum ma waada rabbukum haqqan qalu naam fa azzana muazzinum bainahum allanatullahi ala tualimina.

10. Compare this verse with the story of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16:19‑31:

"Once there was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and live in great luxury every day. A beggar named Lazarus, who was covered with sores, was brought to his gate. He was always craving to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table. In fact, even the dogs used to come and lick his sores. "One day the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In the afterlife, where he was in constant torture, he looked up and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus by his side. So he shouted, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and to cool off my tongue, because I am suffering in this fire.'

But Abraham said, 'My child, remember that during your lifetime you received blessings, while Lazarus received hardships. But now he is being comforted here, while you suffer. Besides all

this, a wide chasm has been fixed between us, so that those who want to cross from this side to you can't do so, nor can they cross from your side to us.'

"The rich man said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house—for I have five brothers—to warn them, so that they won't end up in this place of torture, too.' Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets. They should listen to them!' But the rich man replied, 'No, father Abraham! Yet if someone from the dead went to them, they would repent.' Then Abraham said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded, even if someone rises from the dead.'"

⁴⁵“Those who would hinder men from the path of Allah and would seek in it something crooked, they were those who denied the hereafter.”

⁴⁶And between them shall be a veil, and on the heights will be men who would know everyone by his marks, they will call out to the companions of the garden “peace on you,” they will not have entered but they will have an assurance thereof.

⁴⁷And when their eyes shall be turned towards the companions of the fire they will say, “Our Lord, send us not to the company of the wrongdoers.”

⁴⁸And the men on the heights will call to certain men whom they will know from their marks saying, “Of what profit to you were your hoards and your arrogant ways?”

⁴⁵Allazina yasudduna an sabilillahi wa yabgunaha iwajan wa hum bil akhirati kafiruna.

⁴⁶Wa bainahuma hijabun waalal arafi rijalu yarifuna kullam bi simahum wa nadau ashabal jannati an salamun alaikum lam yadkhuluha wa hum yalabuna.

⁴⁷Wa iza surifat absaruhum tilqaa asuhabin nari qalu rabbana la tajalna maal qaumi tualimina.

⁴⁸Wa nada asuhabul arai rijala yarifunahum bi simahum qalu ma agna ankum jamukum wa ma kuntum tastakbiruna.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁴⁹Behold, are these not the men whom you swore that Allah with his mercy would never bless? Enter the garden, no fear shall be on you nor shall you grieve.

⁵⁰And the companions of the fire will call to the companions of the garden, “Pour down to us water or anything that Allah does provide for your sustenance.” They will say, “Both these things has Allah forbidden to those who rejected Him.”

⁵¹Such as took their religion to be mere amusement and play and were deceived by the life of the world. That day shall We forget them as they forgot the meeting of this day of theirs and as they were known to reject Our signs.

⁴⁹Ahaulai lazina aqsamtum la yanaluhumullahu bi rahmahtin udkhulul jannata la khaufun alaikum wa la antum tahuzanuna.

⁵⁰Wa nada asuhabun nari asuhabal jannati an afidu alaina minal mai au mimma razaqakumullahu qalu innallaha harramahuma alal kafirina.

⁵¹Allazina ttakhazu dinahum lahuwan wa laiban wa garrathumul hayatu dunya fal yauma nansahum kama nasu liqaa yaumihim haza wa ma kanu bi ayatina yajhaduna.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁵²And We had certainly sent unto them a book based on knowledge which We explained in detail, a guide and a mercy to all who believe.

⁵³Do they just wait for the final fulfillment of the event? On the day the event is finally fulfilled, those who disregarded it before will say, “the apostles of our Lord did indeed bring true tidings. Have we no intercessors now to intercede on our behalf? Or could we be sent back? Then should we behave differently from our behavior in the past.” In fact they will have lost their souls and the things they invented will leave them in the lurch.

⁵²Wa laqad jinakum bi kitabin fassalnahu ala ilmin hudan wa rahmatal liqaumi yuminuna.

⁵³Hal yanzuruna illa tawilaha yauma yati tawiluhu yaqulu lazina nasuhu min qablu qad jaatu rusulu rabbina bil haqqi fahal lana min shufaaa fa yashfau lana au nuraddu fa namala gaira lazi kunna namalu qad khasiru anfusahum wa ddalla anhum ma kanu yaftaruna.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁵⁴Your guardian Lord is Allah who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and is firmly established on the throne, He draws the night as a veil over the day, each seeking the other in rapid succession. He created the sun, the moon, and the stars, governed by laws under His command. Is it not His to create and to govern? Blessed be Allah the Lord of the worlds.¹¹

⁵⁵Call on your Lord with humility and in private, for Allah loves not those who trespass beyond bounds.

⁵⁶And do no mischief on the earth after it has been set in order but call on Him with fear and longing, for the mercy of Allah is near to those who do good.

⁵⁴Inna rabbakumu lazi khalaqa samawati walardda fi sittati ayyamin summa sutawa alal arshi yugshil lailan nahara yatlubuhu hasisa wa samsa wal qamara wa nujuma musakhkharatim bi amrihi ala lahul khalqu wal amru tabarakallahu rabbul alamina.

⁵⁵Udu rabbakum tadarrua wa khufyahtan innahu la yuhibbul mutadina.

⁵⁶Wa la tufsidu filarddi bada islahiha waduhu khaufa wa tamaan inna rahmatallahi qaribun minal muhsinina.

11. How many days did God use in creating the world, here, the passage is in agreement with the Bible but in Qur’an 41:9‑12, we see that the world and all its fullness were made in eight days.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁵⁷And it is He who sends the winds like heralds of glad tidings going before His mercy, when they have carried the heavy laden clouds, We drive them to a land that is dead, make rain to descend thereon and produce every kind of harvest therewith, thus shall We raise up the dead, perchance you may remember.

⁵⁸And from the land that is clean and good, by the will of its cherisher springs up produce after its kind, but from the land that is bad spring up nothing but that which is niggardly, thus do We explain the signs by various ways to those who are grateful.

⁵⁹We sent Noah to his people. He said, “O my people! worship Allah, you have no other allah but Him. I fear for you the punishment of a dreadful day.¹²

⁵⁷Wa huwal lazi yursilu riyaha bushram baina yadai rahmatihi hatta iza aqallatu sahaban siqalan suqnahu labaladin mayyitin fa anzalna bihil maa fa akhrajna bihi min kuli samarati kazalika nukhrijul mauta laallakum tazakkaruna.

⁵⁸Wal baladu tuayyibu yakhruju nabatuhu bi izni rabbihi wallazi khabusa la yakhruju illa nakidan kazalika nusarriful ayati liqaumi yashkuruna.

⁵⁹Laqad arsalna Nuhan ila qaumihi faqala ya qaumi budullaha ma lakum min ilahin gairuhu inni akhafu alaikum azaba yaumin atimin.

12. The story of Noah as told here differs from that which we read in the Bible. It can be found in Genesis 6:8‑9:29. It gives a full and detail account of Noah, his family, the unbelievers, the Ark, the flood, the restoration and the remnant, something the Qur’an does not do. The Qur’an carries the story in spurs, and somehow leave the feeling that its audience are familiar with the story. Not so with the Bible, it takes nothing for granted but does a painstaking job of not leaving the reader in the dark about anything.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁶⁰The leaders of his people said, “Ah, we see you evidently wandering.”

⁶¹He said, “O my people, no wandering is there in me, on the contrary I am an apostle from the Lord of the worlds.”

⁶²I fulfill towards you the duties of my Lord’s mission, sincere is my advice to you and I know from Allah something that you know not.

⁶³Do you wonder that there has come to you a message from your Lord through a man of your own people, to warn you so that you may fear Allah and haply receive his mercy?

⁶⁴But they rejected him and We delivered him and those with him in the ark, but We overwhelmed in the flood those who rejected our signs. They were indeed a blind people.

⁶⁰Qalal malau min qaumihi inna lanaraka fi dalalin mubinin.

⁶¹Qala ya qaumi laisa bi dalalatu wa lakinni rasulun mi rabbil alamina.

⁶²Uballigukum risalati rabbi wa ansahu lakum wa alamu minallahi ma la talamuna.

⁶³Awaajibtum an jaakum zikrun mi rabbikum ala rajulin minkum liyunzirakum wa litattaqu wa laallakum turhamuna.

⁶⁴Fa kazzabuhu fa anjainahu wallazina maahu fil fulki wa agraqna lazina kazzabu bi ayatina innahum kanu qauman amina.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁶⁵And to the people of Ad We sent Hud, one of their own brothers, He said, “O my people, worship Allah, you have no other god but Him. Will you not fear Allah?”¹³

⁶⁶The leaders of the unbelievers among his people said, “Ah, we see you are an imbecile, and we think you are a liar.”

⁶⁷He said, “O my people, I am not imbecile but an apostle from the Lord of the worlds.”

⁶⁸I fulfill towards you the duties of my Lord’s mission, I am to you a sincere and trustworthy adviser.

⁶⁵Wa ila adin akhahum Hudan qala ya qaumibudullaha ma lakum min ilahin gairuhu afala tattaquna.

⁶⁶Qala lmalau lazina kafaru min qaumihi inna lanaraka fi safahatin wa inna lanatunnuka minal kazibina.

⁶⁷Qala ya qaumi laisa bi safahatun wa lakinni rasulun mi rabbil alamina.

⁶⁸Uballigukum risalati rabbi wa ana lakum nasihun aminun.

13. These are a people not known to the readers of the Bible. According to Yusuf Ali, their story belongs to Arabian tradition and that they are fourth generation ancestors of Noah who occupied most of Southern Arabia.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁶⁹Do you wonder that there has come to you a message from your Lord through a man of your own people to warn you? Call in remembrance that he made you inheritors after the people of Noah and gave you a stature tall among the nations. Call in remembrance the benefits from Allah, so that you may prosper.

⁷⁰They said, “did you come to us that we may worship Allah alone and give up the cult of our fathers? Bring us what you threaten us with, if so be that you tell the truth.”

⁷¹He said, “Punishment and wrath have already come upon you from your Lord, do you dispute with me over names which you have devised, you and your fathers without authority from Allah? Then wait, I am among you also waiting.”

⁷²We saved him and those who adhered to him by our mercy and We cut off the roots of those who rejected our signs and did not believe.

⁶⁹Awaajibtum an jaakum zikrun mi rabbikum ala rajulin minkum liyunzirakum wazkuru iz jaalakum khulafaa min badi qaumi Nuhin wa zadakum fil khalqi bastahtan fazkuru alaallahi laallakum tuflihuna.

⁷⁰Qalu ajitana linabudallaha wahdahu wa nazara ma kana yabudu abauna fatina bima taiduna inkunta mina suadiqina.

⁷¹Qala qad waqaa alaikum mi rabbikum rijsu wa gadabun atujadilunani fi asmain sammaitumuha antum wa abaukum ma nazzalallahu biha min sultanin fantaziru inni maakum minal muntazirina.

⁷²Fa anjainahu wallazina maahu bi rahmatin minna wa qatana dabira lazina kazzabu bi ayatina wa ma kanu muminina.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁷³And to the people of Thamud We sent Salih one of their own brothers, he said, “O my people, worship Allah, you have no other god but Him. Now has come unto you a clear sign from your Lord. This she camel of Allah is a sign unto you, so leave her to graze in Allah’s earth and let her come to no harm or you shall be seized with a grievous punishment.

⁷⁴And remember how He made you inheritors after the people of Ad and gave you habitations in the land, you build for yourselves palaces and castles in plains and carve out homes in the mountains, so bring to remembrance the benefits from Allah and refrain from evil and mischief on the earth.

⁷³Wa ila Samuda akhahum Salihan qala ya qaumibudullaha ma lakum min ilahin gairuhu qad jaatkum bayyinatun mi rabbikum hazihi naqatullahi lakum ayatan fazaruha takul fiardillahi wa la tamasuha bi suin fa yakhuzakum azabun alimun.

⁷⁴Wazkuru iz jaalakum khulafaa min badi Adin wa bawaakum filardi tattakhizuna min suhuliha qusura wa tanhitunal jibala buyutan fazkuru alaallahi wa la tasau filardi mufsidina.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁷⁵The leaders of the arrogant party among his people said to those who were reckoned powerless, those among them who believe, “know indeed that Salih is an apostle from his Lord?” They said, “We do indeed believe in the revelation which has been sent through him.”

⁷⁶The arrogant party said, “For our part we reject what you believe in.”

⁷⁷Then they ham strung the she camel and insolently defied the order of their Lord saying, “O Salih, bring about your threats if you are an apostle.”

⁷⁸So the earthquake took them unawares and they lay prostrate in their homes in the morning.¹⁴

⁷⁵Qalal malaul lazina sutakbaru min qaumihi lillazina sutuddifu liman amana minhum atalamuna anna salihan mursalun mi rabbihi qalu inna bima ursila bihi muminuna.

⁷⁶Qalal lazina sutakbaru inna billazi amantum bihi kafiruna.

⁷⁷Faaqarun naqata wa atau an amri rabbihim wa qalu ya Salihutina bima taiduna inkunta mina l mursalina.

⁷⁸Fa akhazathumu rajfatu fa asbahu fi darihim jasimina.

14. According to the Qur’an this is a Talmudic account and not a Biblical account.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁷⁹So he left them saying, ‘O my people! I did indeed convey to you the message for which I was sent by my Lord, I gave you good counsel but you love not good counselors.”

⁸⁰And We also sent Lot, he said to his people, “Do you commit lewdness such as no people in creation committed before you?”

⁸¹For you practice your lusts on men in preference to women, you are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds.

⁸²And his people gave no answer but this, they said, “Drive them out of your city, these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure.”

⁸³But We saved him and his family, except his wife, she was of those who lagged behind.

⁷⁹Fa tawalla anhum wa qala ya qaumi laqad ablagtukum risalata rabbi wa nasahtu lakum wa lakil la tuhibbunan nasihina.

⁸⁰Wa Lutan iz qala liqaumihi atatunal fahishata ma sabaqakum biha min ahadin minal alamina.

⁸¹Innakum latatuna rijala shahwatan min dunin nisai bal antum qaumun musrifuna.

⁸²Wa ma kana jawaba qaumihi illa an qalu akhrijuhum min qaruyatikum innahum unasun yatataharuna.

⁸³Fa anjainahu wa ahlahu illamraatahu kanatu minal gabirina.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁸⁴And We rained down on them a shower, then see what was the end of those who indulged in sin and crime.¹⁵

⁸⁵And to the Madyan people We sent Shuaib one of their own brothers, he said, “O my people, worship Allah, you have no other god but Him. Now has come unto you a clear sign from your Lord. Give just measure and weight, nor withhold from the people the things that are their due, and do no mischief on the earth after it has been set in order, that will be best for you if you have faith.

⁸⁴Wa amtuarna alaihim mataran fanturu kaifa kana aqibatul mujrimina.

⁸⁵Wa ila Madyana akhahum Shuaiban qala ya qaumibudullaha ma lakum min ilahin gairuhu qad jaatkum bayyinatun mi rabbikum fa auful kaila wal mizana wa la tabkhasun nasa ashyaahum wa la tufsidu filarddi bada islahiha zalikum khairul lakum inkuntum muminina.

15. The story of Lot (Lut) and Sodom and Gomorrah is recorded in Genesis 18‑19. He and his family dwelt among the Sodomites, a people given to lewd and obscene behavior from whom we get the word sodomy. Because of their wickedness God came down to destroy them but saved Lot and family except his wife at the intercession of Abraham his uncle. In destroying them God sent down brimstone and fire upon their twin cities. Please read Genesis 12‑19 for the full account of Lot’s life. mischief on the earth after it has been set in order: that will be best for you if ye have faith.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁸⁶And squat not on every road breathing threats, hindering from the path of Allah those who believe in Him, and seeking in it something crooked, but remember how you were little and He gave you increase. And hold in your mind’s eye what was the end of those who did mischief.

⁸⁷And if there is a party among you who believes in the message with which I have been sent and a party which does not believe hold yourselves in patience until Allah does decide between us: for He is the best to decide.

⁸⁸The leaders, the arrogant party among his people said, “O Shuaib, we shall certainly drive you out of our city and those who believe with you, or else you shall have to return to our ways and religion.” He said, “What, even though we do detest them?”

⁸⁶Wa la taqudu bikulli siratin tuiduna wa tasudduna an sabilillahi man amana bihi wa tabgunahaiwajan wazkuru inkuntum qalilan fa kassarakum wanturu kaifa kana aqibatul mufsidina.

⁸⁷Wa in kana tuaifatun minkum amanu billazi ursiltu bihi wa taifatul lam yuminu fasbiru hatta yahkumallahu bainana wa huwa khairul hakimina.

⁸⁸Qalal malau lazina sutakbaru min qaumihi lanukhrijannaka ya Shuaibu wallazina amanu maaka min qaryatina au lataudunna fi milltatina qala awalau kunna karihina.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁸⁹We should indeed invent a lie against Allah if we returned to your ways, after Allah has rescued us therefrom, nor could we by any manner of means return thereto unless it be as in the will and plan of Allah, our Lord. Our Lord can reach out to the utmost recesses of things by His knowledge. In Allah is our trust. Our Lord, decide between us and our people in truth for you are the best to decide.

⁹⁰And the leaders, the unbelievers among his people said, “if you follow Shuaib be sure then you are ruined.”

⁹¹But the earthquake took them unawares and they lay prostrate in their homes before the morning.

⁹²The men who rejected Shuaib became as if they had never been in the homes where they had flourished, the men who rejected Shuaib, it was they who were ruined.

⁸⁹Qadiftaraina alallahi kaziban in udna fi millatikum bada iz najjanallahu minha wa ma yakunu lana an nauda fiha illa anyashaallahu rabbuna wasia rabbuna kulla shaiin ilman alallahi tawakkalna rabbanaftah bainana wa baina qaumina bil haqqi wa anta khairul fatihina.

⁹⁰Wa qalal malau lazina kafaru min qaumihi lainittabatum Shuaiban innakum izal lakhasiruna.

⁹¹Fa akhazathumur rajfatu fa asubahu fi darihim jasimina.

⁹²Allazina kazzabu Shuaiban ka allam yagnau fiha allazina kazzabu Shuaiban kanu humul khasirina.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁹³So Shuaib left them saying, “O my people, I did indeed convey to you the messages for which I was sent by my Lord, I gave you good counsel but how shall I lament over a people who refuse to believe.”¹⁶

⁹⁴And whenever We sent a prophet to a town, We took up its people in suffering and adversity in order that they might learn humility.

⁹⁵Then We changed their suffering into prosperity until they grew and multiplied and began to say, “Our fathers were touched by suffering and affluence.” Behold, we called them to account of a sudden while they realized not.

⁹³Fa tawalla anhum wa qala ya qaumi laqad ablagtukum risalati rabbi wa nasahtu lakum fa kaifa asa ala qaumin kafirina.

⁹⁴Wa ma arsalna fi qaryatim min nabiyyin illa akhazna ahlaha bil basai wad darrai laallahum yaddarrauna.

⁹⁵Summa baddalna makana sayyiatil hasanata hattaafau wa qalu qad massa abaanad darrau wa sarrau fa akhaznahum bagtata wahum la yashuruna.

16. Shuaib is a pre‑Islamic Arabian preacher of monotheism, preceding Muhammad by several centuries. However as the story here indicates he was not as successful as Muhammad was in the making of converts for his system of belief. Verse 85 mentions him as a Midianite, nevertheless, he was of Arab origin and proclaimed his message among them.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁹⁶And if the people of the towns had believed and feared Allah, We should indeed have opened out to them blessings from heaven and earth, but they rejected the truth, and We brought them to book for their misdeeds.

⁹⁷Did the people of the towns feel secure against the coming of our wrath by night while they were asleep?

⁹⁸Or else did they feel secure against its coming in broad daylight while they played about?

⁹⁹Did they then fell secure against the plan of Allah? But no one can feel secure from the plan of Allah except those doomed to ruin.

⁹⁶Wa lau anna ahlal qura amanu wattaqau lafatahna alaihim barakatin mina samai walarddi wa lakin kazzabu fa akhaznahum bima kanu yaksibuna.

⁹⁷Afa amina ahlul qura anyatiyahum basuna bayata wahum naimuna.

⁹⁸Awa amina ahlul qura anyatiyahum basuna duha wahum yalabuna.

⁹⁹Afa aminu makrallahi fala yamanu makrallahi illal qaumul khasiruna.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁰⁰To those who inherit the earth in succession to its possessors, is it not a guiding lesson that if We so willed We could punish them for their sins and seal up their hearts so that they could not hear?

¹⁰¹Such were the towns whose story We relate unto you, there came indeed to them their apostles with clear signs, but they would not believe what they had rejected before. Thus does Allah seal up the heart of those who reject faith.

¹⁰²And most of them We found not men true to their covenant, but most of them We found rebellious and disobedient.

¹⁰³Then after them We sent Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they wrongfully rejected them, so see what was the end of those who made mischief.

¹⁰⁰Awa lam yahdi lillazina yarisuna lardda min badi ahliha allau nashau asabnahum bi zunubihim wa natbau ala qulubihim fahum la yasmauna.

¹⁰¹Tilkal qura naqussu alaika min ambaiha wa laqad jaathum rusuluhum bil bayyinati fama kanu liyuminu bima kazzabu min qablu kazalika yatbaullahu alla qulubil kafirina.

¹⁰²Wama wajadna li aksarihim min ahdin wa iwajadna aksarahum lafasiqina.

¹⁰³Summa baasuna min badihim Musa bi ayatina ila Firauna wa malaihi fa tualamu biha fanzur kaifa kana aqibatul mufsidina.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁰⁴And Moses said, “O Pharaoh! I am an apostle from the Lord of the worlds.

¹⁰⁵One for whom it is right to say nothing but truth about Allah. Now have I come unto you from your Lord with a clear sign, so let the children of Israel depart along with me.

¹⁰⁶He said, “If indeed you have come with a sign, show it forth, if you tell the truth.”

¹⁰⁷Then he threw his rod and behold, it was a plain serpent.

¹⁰⁸. And he drew out his hand and behold, it was white to all beholders.

¹⁰⁹The chiefs of the people of Pharaoh said, “This is indeed a skilled sorcerer.”

¹¹⁰“His plan is to get you out of your land then what is it you counsel?”

¹⁰⁴Wa qala Musa ya Firaunu inni rasulun mi rabbil alamina.

¹⁰⁵Haqiqun ala alla aqula alallahi illal haqqa qad jitukum bi bayyinatin mi rabbikum fa arsil maiya bani Israila.

¹⁰⁶Qala inkunta jita bi ayatin fati biha in kunta mina sadiqina.

¹⁰⁷Fa alqaasahu fa iza hiya subanun mubinun.

¹⁰⁸Wa nazaa yadahu fa iza hiya baidau lin nazirina.

¹⁰⁹Qalal malau min qaumi Firauna inna haza lasahirun alimun.

¹¹⁰Yuridu anyukhrijakum min ardikum famaza tamuruna.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹¹¹They said, “Keep him and his brother in suspense, and send to the cities men to collect.

¹¹²And bring up to you all our skilled sorcerers.

¹¹³And so there came the sorcerers to Pharaoh, they said, “Of course we shall have a reward if we win.”

¹¹⁴He said, “Yes, for you shall in that case be raised to posts nearest to my person.”

¹¹⁵They said, “O Moses, will you throw first or shall we have the throw?”

¹¹⁶He said, “Throw first.” So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, for they showed a great magic.

¹¹⁷And We put it into Moses’s mind by inspiration, “Throw your rod,” and behold, it swallows up straightway all the falsehoods which they fake.

¹¹¹Qalu arujih wa akhahu wa arusilu fil madaini hashirina.

¹¹²Yatuka bi kulli sahirina alimin.

¹¹³Wa jaa saharatu Firauna qalu inna lana la ajuran in kunna nahnul galibina.

¹¹⁴Qala naam wa innakum laminal muqarrabina.

¹¹⁵Qalu ya Musa imma an tulqiya wa imma an nakuna nahnu l mulqina.

¹¹⁶Qala alqu falamma alqau saharu ayuna nasi wastarhabuhum wa jau bi sihrin attimin.

¹¹⁷Wa auhaina ila Musa an alqiasaka fa iza hiya taluqafu ma yafikuna.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹¹⁸Thus truth was confirmed and all that they did was made of no effect.

¹¹⁹So they were vanquished there and then, and were made to look small.¹⁷

¹²⁰And the sorcerers fell down prostrate in adoration.

¹²¹Saying, “We believe in the Lord of the worlds.”

¹²²“The Lord of Moses and Aaron.”

¹²³Pharaoh said, “Believe in him before I give you permission? Surely this is a trick which you have planned in the city to drive out its people, but soon shall you know the consequences.”

¹²⁴“Be sure I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will cause you all to die on the cross.”¹⁸

¹²⁵They said, “For us we are sent back unto our Lord.”

¹¹⁸Fa waqaal haqqu wa batala ma kanu yamaluna.

¹¹⁹Fa gulibu hunalika waanqalabu suagirina.

¹²⁰Wa ulqiya saharatu sajidina.

¹²¹Qalu amanna bi rabbil alamina.

¹²²Rabbi Musa wa Haruna.

¹²³Qala Firaunu amantum bihi qabla an azana lakum inna haza lamakrum makartumuhu fil madinati litukhriju minha ahlaha fa saufa talamuna.

¹²⁴La uqattianna aidiyakum wa arujulakum min khilafin summa la usallibannakum ajumaina.

¹²⁵Qalu inna ila rabbina munqalibuna.

17. The story of Moses starts in Exodus chapter 2 where the Bible recounts his birth, his survival from Pharaoh’s massacre of children at the birth of Moses, his adoption by Pharaoh’s daughter, his upbringing by his own mother. Chapter three talks about his call, his early miracles, his partnership with his brother, the plagues he performed before Pharaoh and the deliverance of his people from Egypt. This will take you through Chapter 13. The Qur’an leaves out a great deal of detail to us in this fabricated nutshell story.

18. Death on the cross (Crucifiction) mentioned here was not known in Egypt at that time in history. The Romans introduced it centuries later after several empires. Pharaoh’s does not claim to be speaking prophetically, rather he was passing judgment on those who had abandoned his religion. Since the Qur’an was written after this incident, it is possible that this language was fabricated in order to claim legitimacy for Muhammad’s ‘Book’.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹²⁶“And you wreak your vengeance on us simply because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they reached us. Our Lord, pour out on us patience and constancy, and take our souls unto you as Muslims.”

¹²⁷And the chiefs said of Pharaoh’s people, “Will you leave Moses and his people to spread mischief in the land and to abandon you and your gods?” He said, “Their male children will we slay, their females will we save alive, and we have over them irresistible power.”¹⁹

¹²⁸Moses said to his people, “Pray for help from Allah and wait in patience and constancy, for the earth is Allah’s to give as a heritage to such of his servants as He pleases, and the end is for the righteous.”

¹²⁶Wa ma tanqimu minna illa an amanna bi ayati rabbina lamma jaatuna rabbana afrigu alaina sabra wa tawaffana muslimina.

¹²⁷Wa qalal malau min qaumi Firauna atazaru Musa wa qaumahu liyufusidu filarddi wa yazaraka wa alihataka qala sanuqattilu abnaahum wa nastahyi nisaahum wa inna fauqahum qahiruna.

¹²⁸Qala Musa li qaumihi sutainu billahi wasubiru innal ardda lillahi yurisuha ma yashau min ibadihi walaqibatu lil muttaqina.

19. The order to slay the male children came even before Moses was born, he was not the cause of it as the Qur’an indicates rather, but for the mercy of God he would have been a victim.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹²⁹They said, “We have had trouble both before and after you came to us.” He said, “It may be that your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you inheritors in the earth, so that He may try you by your deeds.”

¹³⁰And We punished the people of Pharaoh with years of drought and shortness of crops, that they might receive admonition.

¹³¹But when good came they said “This is due to us,” when gripped by calamity they ascribed it to evil omens connected with Moses and those with him. Behold, in truth the omens of evil are theirs in Allah’s sight but most of them do not understand.

¹³²And they said, “whatever be the signs you bring to work therewith the sorcery on us we shall never believe in you.”

¹²⁹Qalu uzina min qabuli an tatiyana wa min badi ma jitana qala asa rabbukum anyuhlika aduwwakum wa yastakhulifakum filarddi fa yanzura kaifa tamaluna.

¹³⁰Wa laqadu akhazuna ala Firauna bi sinina wa naqusin mina samarati laallahum yazzakkaruna.

¹³¹Fa iza jaathumul hasanatu qalu lana hazihi wa in tusibuhum sayyiatu yattayyaru bi Musa wa man maahu ala innama tairahum indallahi wa lakinna akusarahum la yalamuna.

¹³²Wa qalu mahuma tatina bihi min ayatin litasuharana biha fama nahnu laka bi muminina.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹³³So We sent on them wholesale death, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood, signs openly self explained, but they were steeped in arrogance, a people given to sin.

¹³⁴And every time the penalty fell on them they said, “O Moses, call on you Lord on our behalf in virtue of his promise to you, if you will remove the penalty from us, we shall truly believe in you, and we shall send away the children of Israel with you.”

¹³⁵But every time We removed the penalty from them according to a fixed term, which they had to fulfill, behold, they broke their word.

¹³⁶So We exacted retribution from them, We drowned them in the sea because they rejected Our signs and failed to take warning from them.

¹³³Fa arusaluna alaihimu ttufana wal jarada wal qummala waddafadia wa dama ayatin mufassalatin fasutakubaru wa kanu qauman mujrimina.

¹³⁴Wa lamma waqaa alaihimu rijuzu qalu ya Musa du lana rabbaka bima ahidainadaka lain kashafuta anna rijuza lanuminanna laka wa lanurusilanna maaka bani Israila.

¹³⁵Fa lamma kashafuna anhumu rijuza ila ajalin hum baliguhu iza hum yanukusuna.

¹³⁶Fantaqamna minhum fa aguraqunahum fil yammi bi annahum kazzabu bi ayatina wa kanu anha gafilina.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹³⁷And We made a people considered weak inheritors of lands in both east and west, lands whereon We sent down our blessings. The fair promise of the Lord was fulfilled for the children of Israel because they had patience and constancy and We leveled to the ground the great works and fine buildings which Pharaoh and his people erected.²⁰

¹³⁸And We took the children of Israel across the sea. They came upon a people devoted entirely to some idols they had. They said, “O Moses, fashion for us a god like unto the gods they have.” He said, “Surely you are a people without knowledge.²¹

¹³⁹As to these folk the cult they are in is a fragment of a ruin and vain is that which they practice.

¹³⁷Wa aurasunal quma lazina kanu yustadafuna mashariqa larddi wa magariba hallati barakuna fiha wa tammatu kalimatu rabbikal husuna ala bani Israila bima suabaru wa dammaruna ma kana yasnau Firaunu wa qaumuhu wa ma kanu yarishuna.

¹³⁸Wa jawazuna bi bani Israilal bahura fa atau ala qaumi yakufuna ala asunamin lahum qalu ya Musa jalu lana ilahan kama lahum alihatun qala innakum qaumun tajuhaluna.

¹³⁹Inna haulai mutabbarun ma hum fihi wa batilum ma kanu yamaluna.

20. The truth of matter is that the Egyptians who pursued the Jews were drowned, Egypt did not become a wasteland, their great buildings still stand even today. They are pyramids of Egypt, a great architectural piece, never equaled in all the world.

21. Commenting on verse 138, Yusuf Ali only conjectures without any concrete proof in defense of the Islamic claim. Moses was never asked to fashion a god for the people. Aaron, on the other hand, in the absence of Moses yielded to the people’s demand and he made for them the golden calf according Exodus 32:1‑6.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁴⁰He said, “Shall I seek for you a god other than the Allah, when it is Allah who has endowed you with gifts above the nations?”

¹⁴¹And remember We rescued you from Pharaoh’s people who afflicted you with the worst of penalties, who slew your male children and saved alive your females, in that was a momentous trial from your Lord.

¹⁴²And We appointed for Moses thirty nights and completed with ten, thus was completed the term with his Lord forty nights. And Moses had charged his brother Aaron, “Act for me among my people, do right and follow not the way of those who do mischief.”

¹⁴⁰Qala agairallahi abugikum ilahan wa huwa faddalakum alal alamina.

¹⁴¹Wa iz anjainakum min ali Firauna yasumunakum sual azabi yuqattiluna abunaakum wa yastahyuna nisaakum wa fi zalikum balaun mi rabbikum attimun.

¹⁴²Wa waadna Musa salasiyuna lailata wa atmamnaha biashrin fa tamma miqatu rabbihi arbaina lailahtan wa qala Musa li akhihi Haruna khlufni fi qaumi wa aslih wa la tattabi sabilal mufusidina.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁴³And when Moses came to the place appointed by Us and his Lord addressed him, He said, “O my Lord! show to me that I may look upon you.” Allah said, “By no means can you see Me, but look upon the mount, if it abide in its place then shall you see Me.” When his Lord manifested his glory on the mount, He made it as dust and Moses fell down in a swoon. When he recovered his senses he said, “Glory be to You, to you I turn in repentance and I am the first to believe.”²²

¹⁴⁴He said, “O Moses, I have chosen you above men by the mission I have given you, and the words I have spoken to you, take then that which I give you and be of those who give thanks.”²³

¹⁴³Wa lamma jaa Musa limiqatina wa kallamahu rabbuhu qala rabbi arini anzur ilaika qala lantarani wa lakininzur ilal jabali fa inistaqarra makanahu fa saufa tarani falamma tajalla rabbuhu lil jabali jaalahu dakkaw wa kharra Musa saiqan falamma afaqa qala subhanaka tubtu ilaika wa ana awwalul muminina.

¹⁴⁴Qala ya Musa inni ssutuafaituka ala nasi bi risalati wa bikalami fa khuzu ma ataituka wa kum mina shakirina.

22. Here is a further proof that Allah is more than one and it is not certain who is responsible for the Qur’an. The Us or the Lord. Also compare this story to the Biblical account in Exodus 33:23: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. The Qur’anic account has other add-ons not found in the Bible.

23. The Qur’an assumes that God gave the revelation to Moses in a book form, rather than through verbal communication and other signs. To this end therefore when the Qur’an talks about revelation, in the Muslim’s mind, they are expecting a book which descended from God and not that put together by mankind.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁴⁵And We ordained laws for him in the tablets in all matters both commanding and explaining all things, “Take and hold these with firmness and enjoin your people to hold fast by the best in the precepts, soon shall I show you the homes of the wicked.”

¹⁴⁶Those who behave arrogantly on the earth in defiance of right, them will I turn away from My signs, they will not believe in them, and if they see the way of right conduct they will not adopt it as the way, but if they see the way of error that is the way they will adopt, for they rejected Our signs and failed to take warning from them.

¹⁴⁵Wa katabna lahu fil alwahi min kulli shaiin mauituatan wa tafusilan likulli shaiin fa khuzuha bi quwwatin waumuru qaumaka yakhuzu bi ahsaniha saurikum daral fasiqina.

¹⁴⁶Sa assurifu an ayatiya lazina yatakabbaruna filarddi bi gairil haqqi wa iyarau kulla ayatil la yuminu biha wa inyarau sabilar rushudi la yattakhizuhu sabilan wa inyarau sabilal gayyi yattakhizuhu sabilan zalika bi annahum kazzabu bi ayatina wa kanu anha gafilina.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁴⁷And those who reject Our signs and the meeting in the hereafter, vain are their deeds, can they expect to be rewarded, except as they have wrought?

¹⁴⁸And the people of Moses made in his absence out of their ornaments the image of a calf, it seemed too low, did they not see that it could neither speak to them nor show them the way? They took it for worship and they did wrong.

¹⁴⁹And when they repented and saw that they had erred, they said, “If our Lord have not mercy upon us and forgive us we shall indeed be of those who perish.”

¹⁴⁷Wallazina kazzabu bi ayatina wa liqail akhirati habituatu amaluhum hal yujuzauna illa ma kanu yamaluna.

¹⁴⁸Wattakhaza qaumu Musa min badihi min huliyyihim ijulan jasada lahu khuwarun alam yarau annahum la yukallimuhum wa la yahudihim sabilan ittakhazuhu wa kanu tualimina.

¹⁴⁹Wa lamma suqita fi aidihim wa raau annahum qad ddallu qalu lain lam yaruhamna rabbuna wa yagufir lana lanakunanna minal khasirina.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁵⁰And when Moses came back to his people angry and grieved he said, “Evil it is that you have done in my place, in my absence, did you make haste to bring on the judgment of your Lord?” He put down the tablets seized his brother by his head and dragged him to him. Aaron said, “Son of my mother! the people did indeed reckon me as nothing and went near to slaying me, make not the enemies rejoice over my misfortune nor count me among the people of sin.”²⁴

¹⁵¹He said, “O my Lord, forgive me and my brother, admit us to your mercy, for you are the most merciful of those who sow mercy.”²⁵

¹⁵²Those who took the calf will indeed be overwhelmed with wrath from their Lord and with shame in this life, thus do We recompense those who invent falsehoods.

¹⁵⁰Wa lamma rajaa Musa ila qaumihi gaddubana asifan qala bisama khalafutumuni min badi aajilutum amra rabbikum wa alqal alwaha wa akhaza birasi akhihi yajurruhu ilaihi qalabuna umma innal qauma sutaduafuni wa kadu yaqtulunani fala tushmit biyal adaa wa la tajalni maal qaumi tualimina.

¹⁵¹Qala rabbigfirli wa li akhi wa adkhilna fi rahmatika wa anta aruhamu rahimina.

¹⁵²Innal lazina ttakhazul ijla sayanaluhum gaduabun mi rabbihim wa zillatun fil hayati dunya wa kazalika najuzil muftarina.

24. Moses did not exhibit any violence towards his brother as the passage asserts, rather, according to Exodus 32, he directed his anger to those who were bent on doing wrong and many of them that were killed by their brothers to avert the wrath of God.

25. In asking for forgiveness, Moses did not isolate his brother and himself from the rest of the Jews, in fact he prayed and interceded for all of the congregation.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁵³And those who do wrong but repent thereafter and believe, verily, your Lord is thereafter forgiving, merciful.

¹⁵⁴And when the anger of Moses was appeased, he took up the tablets, in the writing thereon was guidance and mercy for such as fear their Lord.

¹⁵³Wallazina amilu sayyiati summa tabu min badiha wa amanu inna rabbaka min badiha lagafuru rahimun.

¹⁵⁴Wa lamma sakata am Musal gadabu akhazal alwaha wa fi nuskhatiha hudan wa rahmatu lillazina hum lirabbihim yarhabuna.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁵⁵And Moses chose seventy of his people for Our place of meeting, when they were seized with violent quaking, he prayed, “O my Lord, if it had been your will you could have destroyed long before both them and me, would you destroy us for the deeds of the foolish one among us? This is no more than your trial, by it you caused whom you will to stray and you led whom you will into the right path. You are our protector, so forgive us and give us your mercy, for you are the best of those who forgive.²⁶

¹⁵⁶And ordain for us that which is good in this life and in the hereafter, for we have turned unto you. He said, “With My punishment I visit whom I will, but My mercy extends to all things. That I shall ordain for those who do right and practice regular charity and those who believe in Our signs.”

¹⁵⁵Wakhtara Musa qaumahu sabina rajulal limiqatina falamma akhazathumur rajufatu qala rabbi lau shita ahlaktahum min qablu wa iyyaya atuhlikuna bima faala sufahau minna in hiya illa fitunatuka tudillu biha man tashau wa tahdi man tashau anta waliyyuna fagufiri lana warhamna wa anta khairul gafirina.

¹⁵⁶Wakutubu lana fi hazihi dunya hasanata wa filakhirati inna hudna ilaika qala azabi usibu bihi man ashau wa rahmati wasiat kulla shaiin fa saaktubuha lillazina yattaquna wa yutuna zakata wallazina hum bi ayatina yuminuna.

26. Numbers 11:25: And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. This is what happened when the seventy elders met and the spirit of the Lord came down on them, there was no violent quaking, except the soft touch of the Holy Spirit upon them.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁵⁷Those who follow the apostle, the unlettered prophet whom they find mentioned in their own Scriptures, in the law and the Gospel, for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil, he allows them as lawful what is good and pure and prohibits them from what is bad, He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honor him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him, it is they who will prosper.²⁷

¹⁵⁷Allazina yattabiuna rasulan nabiyyal ummiyyal lazi yajidunahu maktuban indah fi Taurati wal Injili yamuruhum bil marufi wa yanhahum anil munkari wa yuhillu lahumu tayyibati wa yuharrimu alaihimul khabaisa wa yadau anhum israhum wal aglalal lati kanatalaihim fallazina amanu bihi wa azzaruhu wa nasaruhu wattabaun nura lazi unzila maahu ulaika humul muflihuna.

27. This Qur’anic verse has given rise to Muslims combing through the Bible to isolate books, chapters and verses which appear to be talking about Muhammad. Although the passage mentions the Law (the Torah) and the Gospel, Muslims have extend their claim to cover the Prophets as well. For more discussion on the subject please turn to the end of this chapter.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁵⁸Say, “O men, I am sent unto you all as the apostle of Allah to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, there is no god but He, it is He that gives both life and death. So believe in Allah and His apostle, the unlettered prophet who believed in Allah and His words, follow him that you may be guided.”

¹⁵⁹And of the people of Moses there is a section who guide and do justice in the light of truth.

¹⁵⁸Qul ya ayyuhan nasu inni rasulullahi ilaikum jamianillazi lahu mulku samawati wal ardi la ilaha illa huwa yuhyi wa yumitu fa aminu billahi wa rasulihin nabiyyil ummiyyil lazi yuminu billahi wa kalimatihi wattabiuhu laallakum tahtaduna.

¹⁵⁹Wa min qaumi Musa ummatu yahduna bil haqqi wa bihi yadiluna.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁶⁰And We divided them into twelve tribes or nations. We directed Moses by inspiration when his people asked him for water, “Strike the rock with your staff out,” of it there gushed forth twelve springs, each group knew its own place for water. We gave them the shade of clouds and sent down to them manna and quails saying, “Eat of the good things We have provided for you,” to Us they did no harm but they harmed their own souls.²⁸

¹⁶¹And remember it was said to them, “Dwell in this town and eat therein as you wish but say the word of humility and enter the gate in a posture of humility, We shall forgive you your faults, We shall increase those who do good.”

¹⁶²But the transgressors among them changed the word from that which had been given them, so We sent on them a plague from heaven because they repeatedly transgressed.

¹⁶⁰Wa qattanahumu sunatai ashurata asbatuan umaman wa auhaina ila Musa izistasqahu qaumuhu anidrib bi asakal hajara fanbajasat minhu sunata ashrata ainan qad alima kullu unasin mashrabahum wa zallalna alaihimul gamama wa anzalna alaihimul manna wa salwa kulu min tuayyibati ma razaqunakum wa ma tualamuna wa lakin kanu anfusahum ya ttulimuna.

¹⁶¹Wa iz qila lahumu sukunu hazihil qaryata wa kulu minha haisu shitum wa qulu hittatu wadkhulul baba sujjadan nagufiru lakum khatiatikum sanazidul muhsinina.

¹⁶²Fa baddala lazina tualamu minhum qaulan gairal lazi qila lahum fa arsalna alaihim rijuzan min samai bima kanu ya tulimuna.

28. The Israelites are the children of Jacob, the twelve brothers and one sister. However the brothers form what is now known as the tribes. It was as natural as that, God did not divide them into tribes or nations, because they were one nation whose god was the Lord. There is no mention anywhere in the Scriptures about twelve springs gushing out for them when Moses stroke the rock. According to Exodus 17:6:

Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink." And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁶³And ask them concerning the town standing close by the sea. Behold, they transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath. For on the day of their Sabbath their fish did come to them openly, holding up their heads, but on the day they had no Sabbath they came not, thus did We make a trial of them for they were given to transgression.²⁹

¹⁶⁴And when some of them said, “Why do you preach to a people whom Allah will destroy or visit with a terrible punishment?” Said the preachers, “To discharge our duty to your Lord and perchance they may fear him.”³⁰

¹⁶⁵When they disregarded the warnings that had been given them, We rescued those who forbade evil, but We visited the wrongdoers with a grievous punishment because they were given to transgression.

¹⁶³Wasalhum anil qaryati lati kanatu haddirtal bahri iz yaduna fi sabti iz tatihim hitanuhumyauma sabtihim shurraan wa yauma la yasbituna la tatihim kazalika nabluhum bima kanu yafusuquna.

¹⁶⁴Wa iz qalatu ummatun minhum lima taizuna qauman illahu muhlikuhum au muazzibuhum azaban shadidan qalu maziratan ila rabbikum wa laallahum yattaquna.

¹⁶⁵Falamma nasu ma zukkiru bihi anjainal lazina yanhauna anis sui wa akhaznal lazina tualamu bi azabin baisin bima kanu yafusuquna.

29. This is nothing but a myth. Fish do not operate on the cycle of time as mankind do, hence they would not know the Sabbath day from what is not. Also in explicit terms we are told in James 1:13;...

“God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does he tempt any man.”

If God is here saying that he tries the people, that is in contradiction to His principle. On the other hand, God may allow us to be tested by Satan as in the case of Job, in that scenario, God was confident that Job would never betray his faith in Him (Job 1‑2). According to the Scriptures, God would never allow any of us to tempted above and beyond what our natural resources can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13:

No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it.

God is not so wicked as to lead us into temptation and wait to see whether we are faithful to Him or not.

30. This is the Jonaistic characteristic of mankind, there are some who believe that the wicked must not be sought to be brought to repentance but to allow them to be consumed in the wrath of God. Such is the objection of some of the people here. They believed with Jonah that the wicked must die, forgetting that God is oft forgiving and most merciful.

¹⁶⁶When in their insolence they transgressed the prohibition, We said to them, “Be apes despised and rejected.”³¹

¹⁶⁷And behold, your Lord did declare that He would send against them to the day of judgment those who would afflict them with grievous penalty. Your Lord is quick in retribution but he is also always forgiving, most merciful.

¹⁶⁸And We broke them up into sections on this earth. There are among them some that are the righteous and some that are the opposite. We have tried them with both prosperity and adversity, in order that they might turn to us.

¹⁶⁶Falamma atau amma nuhu anhu qulna lahum kunu qiradatan khasiina.

¹⁶⁷Wa iz taazzana rabbuka layabasanna alaihim ila yaumil qiyamati ma yasumuhum sual azabi inna rabbaka lasariul iqabi wa innahu lagafuru rahimun.

¹⁶⁸Wa qattanahum filardi umaman minhumu sualihuna wa minhum duna zalika wa balaunahum bil hasanati wa sayyiati laallahum yarujiuna.

31. This is a Muhammadan myth not based on the revelation or history of the Bible.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁶⁹After them succeeded a generation, they inherited the book but they chose the vanities of this world saying, “everything will be forgiven us.” Even so if similar vanities came their way, they would seize them. Was not the covenant of the book taken from them that they would not ascribe to Allah anything but the truth? And they study what is in the book. But best for the righteous is the home in the hereafter, will you not understand?

¹⁷⁰And as to those who hold fast by the book and establish regular prayer, never shall We suffer the reward of the righteous to perish.

¹⁷¹And when We shook the mount over them as if it had been a canopy and they thought it was going to fall on them We said, “Hold firmly to what We have given you and bring to remembrance what is therein, perchance you may fear Allah.”

¹⁶⁹Fa khalafa min badihim khalfu warisul kitaba yakhuzuna arada hazal adna wa yaquluna sayugfaru lana wa inyatihim aradum misluhu yakhuzuhu alam yukhazalaihim misaqul kitabi alla yaqulu alallahi illal haqqa wa darasu ma fihi wad darul akhiratu khairul lillazina yattaquna afala taqiluna.

¹⁷⁰Wallazina yumassikuna bil kitabi wa aqamu sualata inna la nudiu ajura musslihina.

¹⁷¹Wa iz nataqunal jabala fauqahum ka annahu ttullatun wa tuannu annahu waqium bihim khuzu ma atainakum biquwwatin wazkuru ma fihi laallakum tataquna.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁷²And when your Lord drew forth from the children of Adam from their loins their descendants and made them testify concerning themselves saying, “Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes, we do testify.” Lest you should say on the day of judgment, “of this we were never mindful.”

¹⁷³Or lest you should say, “Our fathers before us may have taken false gods but we are descendants after them, will you then destroy us because of the deeds of men who were futile?”

¹⁷⁴And thus do We explain the signs in detail, and perchance they may turn unto Us.

¹⁷⁵And relate to them the story of the man to whom We sent our signs but he passed them by, so Satan followed him up and he went astray.³²

¹⁷²Wa iz akhaza rabbuka min bani Adama min zuhurihim zurriyyatahum wa ashuhadahum ala anfusihim alasutu bi rabbikum qalu bala shahidna an taqulu yaumal qiyamati inna kunna an haza gafilina.

¹⁷³Au taqulu innama ashraka abauna min qablu wa kunna zurriyyatan min badihim afatuhlikuna bima faalal mubutiluna.

¹⁷⁴Wa kazalika nufassilul ayati wa laallahum yarujiuna.

¹⁷⁵Watulu alaihim nabaal lazi atainahu ayatina fansalakha minha fa atbaahu shaitanu fa kana minal gawina.

32. Exactly what this story is about is uncertain. According to George Sale, “some suppose him to be a Jewish Rabbi, or one Ommeya Ebn Abi’lsalt, who read the Scriptures, and found thereby that God would send a prophet about that time, and was in hopes that he might be the man; but when Muhammad declared his mission, believed not on him through envy...” Yusuf Ali quotes the story of Balak and Baalam but says that it is very different and that it is better to accept a more general stance on this one. persons who perish.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁷⁶And if it had been Our will, We should have elevated him with our signs, but he inclined to the earth and followed his own vain desires. His similitude is that of a dog, if you attack him he lolls out his tongue or if you leave him alone he lolls out his tongue. That is the similitude of those who reject our signs, so relate the story, perchance they may reflect.

¹⁷⁷Evil as an example are people who reject Our signs and wrong their own souls.

¹⁷⁸Whom Allah does guide he is on the right path, whom He rejects from His guidance such are the persons who perish.

¹⁷⁶Wa lau shina larafanahu biha wa lakinnahu akhlada ilal ardi wattabaa hawahu fa masaluhu ka masalil kalbi in tahmil alaihi yalhas au tatrukhu yalhas zalika mashalul qaumil lazina kazzabu bi ayatina faqususil qasasa laallahum yatafakkaruna.

¹⁷⁷Saa masalanil qaumul lazina kazzabu bi ayatina wa anfusahum kanu ya tualimuna.

¹⁷⁸Ma yahdillahu fa huwal muhtadi wa ma yudlil fa ulaika humul khasiruna

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁷⁹And many are the jinns and men We have made for hell. They have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewith they see not, and ears wherewith they hear not. They are like cattle, no, more misguided, for they are heedless.

¹⁸⁰And the most beautiful names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them, but shun such men as use profanity in His names, for what they do they will soon be requited.³³

¹⁸¹And of those We have created are people who direct with truth and dispense justice therewith.

¹⁸²And those who reject Our signs We shall gradually visit with punishment in ways they perceive not.

¹⁸³And I will grant respite unto them, for My scheme is strong.

¹⁷⁹Wa laqadu zarana lijahannama kasiran minal jinni wal insi lahum qulubul la yafuqahuna biha wa lahum ayunul la yubsiruna biha wa lahum azanul la yasmauna biha ulaika kal anami bal hum adallu ulaika humul gafiluna.

¹⁸⁰Wa lillahil asmaul husuna faduhu biha wa zaru lazina yulhiduna fi asmaihi sayujuzauna ma kanu yamaluna.

¹⁸¹Wa mimman khalaquna ummatu yahduna bil haqqi wa bihi yadiluna.

¹⁸²Wallazina kazzabu bi ayatina sanastadrijuhum min haisu la yalamuna.

¹⁸³Wa umli lahum inna kaidi matinu.

33. It is commonly believed that Allah has ninety‑nine (99) names. These names in effect are attributes which reveal the characteristics of Allah. Some believe that Allah’s hundredth (100th) name is only known by a donkey and the donkey is dead so no one would actually ever know that name. As one surveys the attributes of Allah in Islam it becomes apparent that he differs from that of the God of the Bible.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁸⁴Do they not reflect? Their companion is not seized with madness, he is but a perspicuous warner.³⁴

¹⁸⁵Do they see nothing in the government of the heavens and the earth and all that Allah has created? That it may well be that their term is nigh drawing to an end? In what message after this will they then believe?

¹⁸⁶To such as Allah rejects from His guidance there can be no guide, He will leave them in their trespasses wandering in distraction.

¹⁸⁴Awalam yatafakkaru ma bisahibihim min jinnahtin inhuwa illa nazirun mubinun.

¹⁸⁵Awalam yanzuru fi malakuti samawati wal ardi wa ma khalaqallahu min shaiin wa an asa anyakuna qadiqtaraba ajaluhum fabiayyi hadisin badahu yuminuna.

¹⁸⁶Ma yudlilillahu fala hadiya lahu wa yazaruhum fi ttugyanihim yamahuna.

34. Muhammad himself at one feared that he may be possessed by a demon and therefore wanted to kill himself several times; Sahih Al‑Bukhari Hadith 9.111 narrated by Aisha:

But after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while and the Prophet became so sad as we have heard that he intended several times to throw himself from the tops of high mountains and every time he went up the top of a mountain in order to throw himself down. The following three hadiths are some of the reasons why Muhammad was thought of by some as a lunatic.

Sahih Al‑Bukhari Hadith 9.111 narrated by Aisha:

Allah’s Apostle returned with the Inspiration, his neck muscles twitching with terror till he entered upon

Khadija and said, “Cover me! Cover me!” They covered him till his fear was over and then he said, “O Khadija, what is wrong with me?” Then he told her everything that had happened and said, ‘I fear that something may happen to me.”

Sahih Al‑Bukhari Hadith 1.2 narrated by Aisha, (the mother of the faithful believers):

Al‑Harith bin Hisham asked Allah’s Apostle “O Allah’s Apostle! How is the Divine Inspiration revealed to you?” Allah’s Apostle replied, “Sometimes it is (revealed) like the ringing of a bell, this form of Inspiration is the hardest of all and then this state passes off after I have grasped what is inspired. Sometimes the Angel comes in the form of a man and talks to me and I grasp whatever he says.” ‘Aisha added: Verily I saw the Prophet being inspired Divinely on a very cold day and noticed the sweat dropping from his forehead (as the Inspiration was over).

Sahih Al‑Bukhari Hadith 1.4 narrated by Said bin Jubair:

Ibn ‘Abbas in the explanation of the Statement of Allah. “Move not your tongue concerning (the Quran) to make haste therewith.” (75.16) said “Allah’s Apostle used to bear the revelation with great trouble and used to move his lips (quickly) with the Inspiration.” Ibn ‘Abbas moved his lips saying, “I am moving my lips in front of you as Allah’s Apostle used to move his.”

¹⁸⁷They ask you about the hour, when will be its appointed time? Say, “The knowledge thereof is with my Lord, none but He can reveal as to when it will occur.” Heavy were its burden through the heavens and the earth. Only all of a sudden will it come to you. They ask you as if you were eager in search thereof, Say, “The knowledge thereof is with Allah but most men know not.”

¹⁸⁸Say, “I have no power over any good or harm to myself except as Allah wills. If I had knowledge of the unseen I should have multiplied all good and no evil should have touched me, I am but a warner and a bringer of glad tidings to those who have faith.”

¹⁸⁹It is He who created you from a single person and made his mate of like nature in order that he might dwell with her. When they are united she bears a light burden and carries it about. When she grows heavy they both pray to Allah their Lord, “If you give us a goodly child we vow we shall be grateful.”

¹⁸⁷Yasalunaka ani saati ayyana murusaha qul innamailmuha inda rabbi la yujalliha li waqutiha illa huwa saqulat fi samawati wal ardi la tatikum illa bagtahtan yasalunaka ka annaka hafiyyun anha qul innama ilmuha indallahi wa lakinna aksaran nasi la yalamuna.

¹⁸⁸Qul la amliku linafusi nafan wa la ddarran illa ma shaallahu wa lau kuntu alamul gaiba lastaksartu minal khairi wa ma massaniya suu in ana illa nazirun wa bashirul li qaumi yuminuna.

¹⁸⁹Huwal lazi khalaqakum min nafusi wahidatin wa jaala minha zaujaha liyaskuna ilaiha falamma tagashshaha hamalatu hamlan khafifan fa marratu bihi falamma asqalatu daawallaha rabbahuma lain ataitana salihal lanakunanna mina shakirina.

¹⁹⁰But when He gives them a goodly child they ascribe to others a share in the gift they have received, but Allah is exalted high above the partners they ascribe to Him.

¹⁹¹Do they indeed ascribe to Him as partners things that can create nothing but are themselves created?

¹⁹²And no aid can they give them nor can they aid themselves.

¹⁹³And if you call them to guidance they will not obey, for you it is the same whether you call them or you hold your peace.

¹⁹⁴Verily, those whom you call upon besides Allah are servants like unto you, call upon them and let them listen to your prayer if you are truthful.

¹⁹⁰Falamma atahuma salihan jaala lahu shurakaa fima atahuma fataalallahu amma yushrikuna.

¹⁹¹Ayusyrikuna ma la yakhluqu shaian wa hum yukhlaquna

¹⁹²Wa la yastatiuna lahum nasra wa la anfusahum yansuruna.

¹⁹³Wa in taduhum ilal huda la yattabiukum sawaun alaikum adaautumuhum amantum samituna.

¹⁹⁴Innal lazina taduna min dunillahi ibadun amsalukum faduhum falyastajibu lakum in kuntum sadiqina.

¹⁹⁵Have they feet to walk with? Or hands to lay hold with? Or eyes to see with? Or ears to hear with? Say, “Call your god partners scheme against me and give me no respite.”

¹⁹⁶“For my protector is Allah who revealed the book and He will choose and befriend the righteous.”

¹⁹⁷And those you call upon besides Him are unable to help you and indeed to help themselves.

¹⁹⁸And if you call them to guidance, they hear not. You will see them looking at you but they see not.

¹⁹⁹Hold to forgiveness, command what is right, but turn away from the ignorant.

¹⁹⁵Alahum arujulu yamshuna biha am lahum aidi yabtishuna biha am lahum ayunun yubusiruna biha am lahum azanun yasmauna biha qulidu shurakaakum summa kiduni fala tunziruni

¹⁹⁶Inna waliyyiyallahul lazi nazzalal kitaba wa huwa yatawalla sualihina.

¹⁹⁷Wallazina taduna min dunihi la yastatiuna nasrakum wa la anfusahum yansurunas.

¹⁹⁸Wa in taduhum ilal huda la yasmau wa tarahum yanzuruna ilaika wa hum la yubsiruna.

¹⁹⁹Khuzil afwa wamuru bil urufi wa ariddu anil jahilina.

²⁰⁰And if a suggestion from Satan assail you, seek refuge with Allah, for He hears and knows all things.

²⁰¹Those who fear Allah when a thought of evil from Satan assaults them bring Allah to remembrance when lo, they see aright.

²⁰²And their brothers plunge them deeper into error and never relax.

²⁰³And if you bring them not a revelation they say, “Why have you not got it together?” Say, “I but follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This is lights from your Lord and guidance and mercy for any who have faith.”

²⁰⁴And when the Qur’an is read, listen to it with attention and hold your peace, that you may receive mercy.

²⁰⁰Wa imma yanzagannaka mina shaitani nazugun fasutaiz billahi innahu samiun alimun.

²⁰¹Innal lazina taqqau iza massahum taifum mina shaitani tazakkaru fa iza hum mubussiruna.

²⁰²Wa ikhwanuhum yamuddunahum fil gayyi summa la yuqusiruna.

²⁰³Wa iza lam tatihim bi ayatin qalu lau lajutabaitaha qul innama attabiu ma yuha ilayya mi rabbi haza basairu mi rabbikum wa huda wa rahmatul liqaumin yuminuna.

²⁰⁴Wa iza qurial quranu fasutamiu lahu wa ansitu laallakum turhamuna.

²⁰⁵And do you bring your Lord to remembrance in your soul with humility and in reverence without loudness in words in the mornings and evenings, and be not of those who are neglectful.

²⁰⁶Those who are near to your Lord disdain not to do Him worship. They celebrate His praises and bow down before Him.

²⁰⁵Wazukuru rabbaka fi nafusika tadarruan wa khifata wa dunal jahri minal qauli bil guduwwi wal asali wa la takun minal gafilina

²⁰⁶Innallazina inda rabbika la yastakbiruna an ibadatihi wa yusabbihunahu wa lahu yasujuduna.