Hizb 36

21. O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing. And if not for the favor of Allāh upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever, but Allāh purifies whom He wills, and Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.

22. And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to give [aid] to their relatives and the needy and the emigrants for the cause of Allāh, and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allāh should forgive you? And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

23. Indeed, those who [falsely] accuse chaste, unaware and believing women are cursed in this world and the Hereafter; and they will have a great punishment

24. On a Day when their tongues, their hands and their feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do.

25. That Day, Allāh will pay them in full their true [i.e., deserved] recompense, and they will know that it is Allāh who is the manifest Truth [i.e., perfect in justice].

26. Evil words are for evil men, and evil men are [subjected] to evil words. And good words are for good men, and good men are [an object] of good words.⁹⁸⁴ Those [good people] are declared innocent of what they [i.e., slanderers] say. For them is forgiveness and noble provision.

27. O you who have believed, do not enter houses other than your own houses until you ascertain welcome and greet⁹⁸⁵ their inhabitants. That is best for you; perhaps you will be reminded [i.e., advised].

28. And if you do not find anyone therein, do not enter them until permission has been given you. And if it is said to you, "Go back,"⁹⁸⁶ then go back; it is purer for you. And Allāh is Knowing of what you do.

29. There is no blame upon you for entering houses not inhabited in which there is convenience⁹⁸⁷ for you. And Allāh knows what you reveal and what you conceal.

30. Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision⁹⁸⁸ and guard their private parts.⁹⁸⁹ That is purer for them. Indeed, Allāh is [fully] Aware of what they do.

31. And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision⁹⁹⁰ and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment⁹⁹¹ except that which [necessarily] appears thereof⁹⁹² and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment [i.e., beauty] except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess [i.e., slaves], or those male attendants having no physical desire,⁹⁹³ or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allāh in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.

32. And marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves. If they should be poor, Allāh will enrich them from His bounty, and Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.

33. But let them who find not [the means for] marriage abstain [from sexual relations] until Allāh enriches them from His bounty. And those who seek a contract [for eventual emancipation] from among whom your right hands possess⁹⁹⁴ - then make a contract with them if you know there is within them goodness and give them from the wealth of Allāh which He has given you. And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, if they desire chastity, to seek [thereby] the temporary interests of worldly life. And if someone should compel them, then indeed, Allāh is [to them], after their compulsion, Forgiving and Merciful.

34. And We have certainly sent down to you distinct verses⁹⁹⁵ and examples from those who passed on before you and an admonition for those who fear Allāh.

35. Allāh is the Light⁹⁹⁶ of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light⁹⁹⁷ is like a niche within which is a lamp;⁹⁹⁸ the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allāh guides to His light whom He wills. And Allāh presents examples for the people, and Allāh is Knowing of all things.

36. [Such niches are] in houses [i.e., mosques] which Allāh has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned [i.e., praised] therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings⁹⁹⁹

37. [Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allāh and performance of prayer and giving of zakāh. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about -

38. That Allāh may reward them [according to] the best of what they did and increase them from His bounty. And Allāh gives provision to whom He wills without account [i.e., limit].

39. But those who disbelieved - their deeds are like a mirage in a lowland which a thirsty one thinks is water until, when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing but finds Allāh before him, and He will pay him in full his due; and Allāh is swift in account.

40. Or [they are] like darknesses within an unfathomable sea which is covered by waves, upon which are waves, over which are clouds - darknesses, some of them upon others. When one puts out his hand [therein], he can hardly see it. And he to whom Allāh has not granted light - for him there is no light.

41. Do you not see that Allāh is exalted by whomever is within the heavens and the earth and [by] the birds with wings spread [in flight]? Each [of them] has known his [means of] prayer and exalting [Him], and Allāh is Knowing of what they do.

42. And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and to Allāh is the destination.

43. Do you not see that Allāh drives clouds? Then He brings them together; then He makes them into a mass, and you see the rain emerge from within it. And He sends down from the sky, mountains [of clouds] within which is hail, and He strikes with it whom He wills and averts it from whom He wills. The flash of its lightning almost takes away the eyesight.

44. Allāh alternates the night and the day. Indeed in that is a lesson for those who have vision.

45. Allāh has created every [living] creature from water. And of them are those that move on their bellies, and of them are those that walk on two legs, and of them are those that walk on four. Allāh creates what He wills. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.

46. We have certainly sent down distinct verses. And Allāh guides whom He wills to a straight path.

47. But they [i.e., the hypocrites] say, "We have believed in Allāh and in the Messenger, and we obey"; then a party of them turns away after that. And those are not believers.

48. And when they are called to [the words of] Allāh and His Messenger to judge between them, at once a party of them turns aside [in refusal].

49. But if the right is theirs, they come to him in prompt obedience.

50. Is there disease in their hearts? Or have they doubted? Or do they fear that Allāh will be unjust to them, or His Messenger? Rather, it is they who are the wrongdoers [i.e., the unjust].

51. The only statement of the [true] believers when they are called to Allāh and His Messenger to judge between them is that they say, "We hear and we obey." And those are the successful.

52. And whoever obeys Allāh and His Messenger and fears Allāh and is conscious of Him - it is those who are the attainers.

53. And they swear by Allāh their strongest oaths that if you ordered them, they would go forth [in Allāh's cause]. Say, "Do not swear. [Such] obedience is known.¹⁰⁰⁰ Indeed, Allāh is [fully] Aware of that which you do."

54. Say, "Obey Allāh and obey the Messenger; but if you turn away - then upon him is only that [duty] with which he has been charged, and upon you is that with which you have been charged. And if you obey him, you will be [rightly] guided. And there is not upon the Messenger except the [responsibility for] clear notification."

55. Allāh has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves¹⁰⁰¹ after that - then those are the defiantly disobedient.

56. And establish prayer and give zakāh and obey the Messenger - that you may receive mercy.

57. Never think that the disbelievers are causing failure [to Allāh] upon the earth. Their refuge will be the Fire - and how wretched the destination.

58. O you who have believed, let those whom your right hands possess and those who have not [yet] reached puberty among you ask permission of you [before entering] at three times: before the dawn prayer and when you put aside your clothing [for rest] at noon and after the night prayer. [These are] three times of privacy¹⁰⁰² for you. There is no blame upon you nor upon them beyond these [periods], for they continually circulate among you - some of you, among others. Thus does Allāh make clear to you the verses [i.e., His ordinances]; and Allāh is Knowing and Wise.

59. And when the children among you reach puberty, let them ask permission [at all times] as those before them have done. Thus does Allāh make clear to you His verses; and Allāh is Knowing and Wise.

60. And women of post-menstrual age who have no desire for marriage - there is no blame upon them for putting aside their outer garments [but] not displaying adornment. But to modestly refrain [from that] is better for them. And Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.

61. There is not upon the blind [any] constraint nor upon the lame constraint nor upon the ill constraint nor upon yourselves when you eat from your [own] houses or the houses of your fathers or the houses of your mothers or the houses of your brothers or the houses of your sisters or the houses of your father's brothers or the houses of your father's sisters or the houses of your mother's brothers or the houses of your mother's sisters or [from houses] whose keys you possess or [from the house] of your friend. There is no blame upon you whether you eat together or separately. But when you enter houses, give greetings of peace¹⁰⁰³ upon each other - a greeting from Allāh, blessed and good. Thus does Allāh make clear to you the verses [of ordinance] that you may understand.

62. The believers are only those who believe in Allāh and His Messenger and, when they are [meeting] with him for a matter of common interest, do not depart until they have asked his permission. Indeed, those who ask your permission, [O Muḥammad] - those are the ones who believe in Allāh and His Messenger. So when they ask your permission due to something of their affairs, then give permission to whom you will among them and ask forgiveness for them of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

63. Do not make [your] calling of the Messenger among yourselves as the call of one of you to another. Already Allāh knows those of you who slip away, concealed by others. So let those beware who dissent from his [i.e., the Prophet's] order,¹⁰⁰⁴ lest fitnah¹⁰⁰⁵ strike them or a painful punishment.

64. Unquestionably, to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth. Already He knows that upon which you [stand]¹⁰⁰⁶ and [knows] the Day¹⁰⁰⁷ when they will be returned to Him and He will inform them of what they have done. And Allāh is Knowing of all things.

1. Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion upon His Servant that he may be to the worlds a warner -

2. He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and who has not taken a son and has not had a partner in dominion and has created each thing and determined it with [precise] determination.

3. But they have taken besides Him gods which create nothing, while they are created, and possess not for themselves any harm or benefit and possess not [power to cause] death or life or resurrection.

4. And those who disbelieve say, "This [Qur’ān] is not except a falsehood he invented, and another people assisted him in it." But they have committed an injustice and a lie.

5. And they say, "Legends of the former peoples which he has written down, and they are dictated to him morning and afternoon."

6. Say, [O Muḥammad], "It has been revealed by He who knows [every] secret within the heavens and the earth. Indeed, He is ever Forgiving and Merciful."

7. And they say, "What is this messenger that eats food and walks in the markets? Why was there not sent down to him an angel so he would be with him a warner?

8. Or [why is not] a treasure presented to him [from heaven], or does he [not] have a garden from which he eats?" And the wrongdoers say, "You follow not but a man affected by magic."

9. Look how they strike for you comparisons;¹⁰⁰⁹ but they have strayed, so they cannot [find] a way.

10. Blessed is He who, if He willed, could have made for you [something] better than that - gardens beneath which rivers flow - and could make for you palaces.

11. But they have denied the Hour, and We have prepared for those who deny the Hour a Blaze.

12. When it [i.e., the Hellfire] sees them from a distant place, they will hear its fury and roaring.

13. And when they are thrown into a narrow place therein bound in chains, they will cry out thereupon for destruction.

14. [They will be told], "Do not cry this Day for one destruction but cry for much destruction."

15. Say, "Is that better or the Garden of Eternity which is promised to the righteous? It will be for them a reward and destination.

16. For them therein is whatever they wish, [while] abiding eternally. It is ever upon your Lord a promise [worthy to be] requested.¹⁰¹⁰

17. And [mention] the Day He will gather them and that which they worship besides Allāh and will say, "Did you mislead these, My servants, or did they [themselves] stray from the way?"

18. They will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for us to take besides You any allies [i.e., protectors]. But You provided comforts for them and their fathers until they forgot the message and became a people ruined."

19. So they will deny you, [disbelievers], in what you say,¹⁰¹¹ and you cannot avert [punishment] or [find] help. And whoever commits injustice¹⁰¹² among you - We will make him taste a great punishment.

20. And We did not send before you, [O Muḥammad], any of the messengers except that they ate food and walked in the markets. And We have made some of you [people] as trial for others - will you have patience? And ever is your Lord, Seeing.