Chapter 6 - 87
Cattle (Surah Al-Anam)
(165 verses in total, late Makkan – one revelation)
In the name of God, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy
Let Allah Who created the heavens and the earth, and intertwined light with darkness, be praised! Yet those who deny such reality wish to equate others to God. It is God Who created you all from clay and assigned a term1, a term that is only known to God; still you are in a state of self-doubt. God permeates everywhere and everything in the universe and in the earth, knowing all that is secret or open, and God knows what you accomplish. (v. 1-3)
And there comes to them no message from their Sustainer God except that they turn away from it; thereby, they reject the truth when it comes to them, but soon the news will come to them about what they have mocked previously. Do they not see and reflect how We removed generations before who were established on the earth in ways that were not given to you—an abundance of rain from the sky and waterways flowing amid them. Yet We destroy them for their deliberate sins (of denial and doing evil) and bring in their place another generation (to see how they behave). (v. 4-6)
If We had sent down to you a writing on a paper that you can touch (as opposed to revelations), and they could touch it with their own hand, it would still lead those who deny the truth to say: “This is nothing but a manifest illusion.” Others say: “Why has not an Angel been sent to him?” If We had sent an Angel, then their term would have ended, and they would find no further opportunity to mend themselves. Moreover, if we had made him (the messenger) an angel instead, we would have made it appear as a human, and they would still be confused the same way. Surely messengers before you were made fun of, and those who made such mockery were overwhelmed by that which they mocked. Say: “Travel the earth and see what the consequences of their denials were.” (v. 7-11)
Let them ask: “To whom does all that is in the universe and the earth belong to?” Say: “It is to Allah Who had ordained mercy for all! God will gather everyone on the Day of Judgment—an eventuality about which there is no doubt. Those who neglect their soul will not achieve faith. All that dwell during the night and the day are God’s —God Knows and God Hears.” (v. 12-13)
Ask them: “Shall I be aligned with others against Allah, Who is the Originator of the Universe and the Earth? God feeds others but does not need to be fed.” Say: “I am commanded to be first among those who submit to God and not to be a polytheist.” Say: “I fear the consequences on a Day of Awesome Calamity, if I were to rebel against my Sustainer God. Whoever avoids such a calamity on that Day is indeed blessed with God’s mercy. This is an achievement to celebrate!” (v. 14-16)
If Allah lets a misfortune touch you, there is none who can remove it except Him; if God provides you with good fortune, then you should know that God is ever powerful over all that exists. God alone is Supreme above all of God’s creations; God is Wise, and God is Aware! Ask: “What thing is the most reliable as a witness?” Say: “It is Allah Who is a witness between you and me; this Qur’an has been revealed to me so that I can inform and warn you and those it will eventually touch. Yet do you really bear witness that there are other deities besides Allah?” Say: “I bear no such witness; God is One, and I am clear of any other divine association (you make with God).” (v. 17-19)
To those who were given books before recognize this (the Qur’an, the prophet, and the unity of God) just as they recognize their own children; those who neglect their souls will not strive for faith. Who is more unjust than he who invents lies against Allah and His messages? Surely such unjust will not achieve any measure of success. We will gather them together on a given Day and ask those who associated partners with God: “Where are the deities you asserted?” Their (self-deprecating) excuse on that day would be nothing other than this: “Allah, You are our Lord; we were not polytheists.” See how they will belie themselves and all their false assertions will fail them. (v. 12-24)
Among them are those who come to you to listen, but there is a filter over their hearts so that they do not understand, and there is a deafness in their hearing. They will not achieve faith even if all possible signs are shown to them. They only come with an intent to argue with you. Those who deny faith have only this to say: “This (the Qur’an) is nothing but stories of the ancients.” They discourage others from it, and they themselves keep away from it; they thus harm their own souls and fail to perceive. (v. 25-26)
If you could witness when they will be made to stand before the fire, they would say: “Would we be sent back? We would then certainly not deny the message from our Sustainer God and we will be among the believers.” The truth that they denied will be made known to them. Even if they were sent back, they would surely go back to what was forbidden before, and they are truly liars. Some of them say: “There is nothing beyond the life of this world, and we will not be raised after our death.” Again, if you could only see them when they will stand before their Sustainer God, Who will ask: “Isn’t this the truth?” They will say: “Yes, our Sustainer.” God will say: “Then face the consequences of your disbelief!” (v. 27-30)
Lost indeed are those who fail to prepare to meet their Sustainer God. That meeting comes to them suddenly, and they will say: “Too bad for us that we neglected such a meeting!” It is a burden they will have to face, and it is an evil burden to carry on one’s back. The life of this world is but a play and a sport (unless one makes good use of it), and the life after death will be better for those who act responsibly. What is it that you fail to understand? (v. 31-32)
We (God) know what they say pains you (Prophet), but it is not you that they give the lie to; it is Allah’s messages that these unjust people deny. Messengers before you were similarly denied, and they patiently faced such denials and persecutions until Our help came to them. Allah’s way of dealing with such situations does not change, as there have come to you the stories of some of these Messengers already. (v. 33-34)
If their denials are unbearable for you, then perhaps you should seek an opening into the earth or a ladder to climb to the sky to try to bring them a sign, whereas, if God had willed, God would have certainly brought all of them to God’s guidance. Therefore, do not act in ignorance. It is only those who pay attention will accept the message. As for those who are dead, God will raise them so that they will return to God. (v. 35-36)
They ask: “Why has his God not sent him a sign?” Say: “Surely Allah is able to send a sign.” But most of them are oblivious (to such signs)—there are no animals on earth nor birds that fly on two wings but are creatures and communities like yourself. We have not neglected anything in the Book (the Qur’an). Eventually to your Sustainer all will be gathered. Those who deny God’s messages are like those who are deaf and dumb and (live) in darkness. Whom God wills, God leaves in their errant ways, and whom God wills, God puts them on the Straight Path. (v. 37-39)
Say: “What would you do if Allah’s displeasure were to affect you, or you are faced with the Hour of Judgment? Would you call upon Allah or someone else? Let’s be truthful!” Yes, it is God that you supplicate to, and God removes what you prayed for; you forget (in those hours) what other deities you subscribe to. (v. 40-41)
We (God) did indeed send messengers to communities before you and let distress and afflictions touch them to see if they would find humility. Why did they not seek humility when misfortune decreed by Us fell on them? Instead, their hearts hardened, and the Devil (and their evil inclinations) made their activities seem good to them. While they were negligent of what they were cautioned for, We opened up the gates of all things—so that joy and abundance seemed permanent to them. Then We seized them suddenly, and they found themselves in utter despair. So, in the end, the roots of those who did evils were cut-off. Praise be to Allah, the Sustainer of the Universe! (v. 42-45)
Say: “Have you considered this possibility—If Allah were to take away your hearing and sight, and harden your heart, who is there besides Allah that can bring these back to you?” This is how We expound the message in different ways, yet they walk away in arrogance. Say: “If Allah’s displeasure were to descend suddenly or in a perceptible way, would it destroy anyone other than those who do evil?” (v. 46-47)
We (God) do not send messengers except as the expounders of goodness and to warn; therefore, whoever believes and acts righteously will have no reason to fear or grieve, but for those who reject Our Guidance, evil consequence will envelop them because of their corruptions. Say: “I do not claim (as a prophet) that I own treasures from Allah or that I know what is hidden or that I am an Angel; I strictly follow what has been revealed to me.” Are the blind and the one who can see are the same—how can you not reflect? (v. 48-50)
Remind them with this revelation, those who recognize that they will be gathered in front of their Sustainer—where they will have no protector and no one to intercede on their behalf—perhaps this will make them mindful of their responsibility. And do not drive away from you those who call upon God daily in the morning and in the evening seeking God’s blessings. You are in no way accountable for them, nor are they accountable for you. Should you ignore them (in favor of others), then you will become one of those who are unjust. It is this way that God tries some of them against others when they say: “Are these the people whom Allah had favored over us?” Do they not know that Allah is the best in knowing who truly is grateful? (v. 51-53)
When those who accept Our messages come to you, say: “Peace. Your Sustainer has willed upon Himself Mercy; therefore, if any among you does evil in ignorance and then turns away from it and lives righteously, he will find God full of Mercy and Forgiveness.” This is how We clarify the message and make it distinct from the path of evils. (v. 54-55)
Say: “I am forbidden to worship anyone you call upon besides Allah. I cannot follow your conjectures; otherwise, I will lose the way and will not be among those who are guided.” Say: “I am firmly rooted on evidence (of truth) from my Sustainer, and you call it a lie. It is not in my power to fulfill what you ask for in haste. Judgment and decision belong to Allah alone. God expounds the truth, and God is the best to decide (between truth and falsehood).” Say: “If I were empowered to fulfill your demands, the matter would have been settled already between you and me. But it is Allah Who knows who does evil. With God is the knowledge of what is unknown—none knows but God. God knows what is in the land and what is in the sea. Not a leaf falls but God knows, nor is there a grain in the deep darkness of the earth or a thing green or dry; all are clearly defined and documented. God is the One Who takes your soul away as you sleep at night, and God knows what you accomplish during the day. God lets you rise each day so that your appointed term for life can be completed. Eventually all of you will gather back to God, and God will inform you of the end results of your lifelong pursuits.” (v. 56-60)
God has dominion over God’s creation, and God deploys preservers2 over you until death comes to one of you. Then Our Messengers (Angels) cause his death, and they never fail. Then those who have died are brought back to God, their true Master. To God belong all matters for judgment, and God is ever prompt in taking accountability. (v. 61-62)
Say: “Who removes the calamities of the land and the sea? You call upon God in humility and in secret: God, if You deliver us from this, we will be grateful.” Say: “It is Allah Who saves you from this and every other distress; yet you ascribe divinity to others.” Say: “God has the power to send a torment from above or from under your feet or to confuse you with your mutual distrust and disagreements so much so that you suffer the violence of others.” See how We expound the realities and the messages so that you might understand. Your people call it (the message) a lie, whereas it is the truth. Say: “I am not responsible for you (my job is to convey the message); for every prophecy there is a term set, and in time you will come to know.” (v. 63-67)
When you come across those who indulge in vain talk regarding Our message, do not engage until they move into some other discourse. Should you forget, then do not continue with such evil folks after you have realized your lapse. Those who are conscious of their responsibility are not responsible for such evil folks except that they should continue to remind such folks so that they might attain consciousness as well. Such people who take guidance for mockery and sports and who are beguiled by the life of this world should continue to be reminded, lest an individual life come to nothing for its actions; such individual will have no friend nor an aid to intercede with God nor an offer of compensation, which will be accepted. It is these people who reduce life to nothing by what they do and by what earn; they will face extreme and unpleasant consequences3 and a chastisement from God that will be severe—all because of their persistent denial of truth. (v. 68-70)
Say: “Shall we call upon or rely on anyone or anything, other than Allah, which can neither benefit us nor harm us—only to prove our turning away from Allah after guidance has come to us? This is how the Devil (and his evil companions) entice and beguile those who are prone to earthly (lowly) desires—by saying: ‘Come to Our guidance.’” Say: “True guidance comes from Allah, Who has inspired us to submit to the Sustainer of the Universe—to maintain constancy in prayer and to be mindful of our responsibilities; it is to God that we will all be gathered.” (v. 71-72)
God is the One Who has created the universe and the earth in truth4. Whenever God says: “Be,” it comes into existence. God’s words define the truth, and God’s Dominion will be evident when such manifestation will be announced.5 God knows what is manifest and what is hidden; God is Wise and Aware! (v. 73)
(Remember) when Abraham said to his father, Azar: “How is it that you consider idols to be gods? I see this as straying from reality by you and your community.” We helped Abraham to comprehend the essence of the universe and the earth in a way that he might be of those who have full conviction. He reflected on a star that became visible during the night. He thought: “This is my Sustainer God.” But when the star went down, he said: “I cannot worship that which is not permanent.” Then he reflected on the moon rising and said: “Could this be my Sustainer?” But when the moon disappeared, he said: “If my true Sustainer does not guide me, I will also become one of those who stray from reality.” Then he reflected on the sun rising and said: “Could this be my Sustainer God? Is this greater than anything else?” So, when the sun too set and disappeared, he said: “O my people, I am clear of all that you worship besides God. Indeed, I have accepted and oriented myself wholly to the Originator of the Universe and the Earth, being truthful and humble, and I do not associate anything or anyone with the divine God.” 6 (v. 74-79)
His people did argue with him, and he responded: “Do you dispute with me regarding Allah and the fact that He has guided me? I am not afraid of those whom you have set up with God, unless my Sustainer wills as such. My Sustainer encompasses all things in knowledge. Why would not you reflect on these? How could you want me to accept partners that you have set up with God while you are not afraid to set up partners with Allah for which you have no confirmation from God? Which party, then—you or me—should feel more secure, if you really want to know?” Those who believe and do not taint their faith with evils of inequity will have security and are properly guided. This is how We inspired Abraham with Our arguments against his people. We honor by increment whom We please; your Sustainer God is Ever Wise and All Knowing. (v. 80-83)
We (God) blessed Abraham with Isaac and Jacob; We guided each as We did guide Noah before and from his descendants—David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron. This is how We recognize those who do good to others. So was Zacharias, John, Jesus, and Elias—all of them righteous. We also made Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah, and Lot to excel among people. We did select and guide from among their forefathers, their descendants, and contemporaries to the Straight Path. (v. 84-87)
This is Allah’s guidance with which He guides whom He wills among His servants; so, if any of them had associated partners with God, then all their activities will have been in vain. These are the (chosen) people whom We gifted with revelations, sound judgment, and prophethood. While the deniers disbelieve, We have entrusted such truth to a group of people who will remain faithful—these are the people whom God has guided; it behooves you to follow their guidance. Say: “I seek no reward from you; this guidance is just a reminder to all people.” (v. 88-90)
They fail to understand and estimate Allah the way He should be measured and esteemed, when they say: “Allah has revealed nothing to a mortal.” Ask: “Who revealed to Moses the book, which is a Light and a Guide for men; yet you consider it a bundle of paper to claim it but ignore and conceal much of it; it teaches you things that neither you nor your previous generations knew.” Say: “Allah it is!” Let them be consumed in their meaningless conversations! (v. 91)
This (Qur’an) is a blessed book that We have revealed; it confirms all that came before it, and with it you may inform and inspire people of this mother of towns (Makkah) and all around it. Those who have firm conviction in the Hereafter do believe in this book, and they are ever vigilant over their worship (salat). But who is more perverse than the one who constructs lies against Allah or says: “I have been given revelations while no such revelations have been granted, or I can reveal the likes of which Allah has revealed.” If you could only comprehend the consequences of such a perverse stance when such persons will face agonies of death, and the Angel of Death will approach them, saying: “Separate yourself from your soul; This day you will suffer the consequences—disgrace and humiliation—for speaking against Allah without any truth and for arrogantly denying God’s messages.” (v. 92-93)
(On Resurrection Day, God will say): “You have come back to Us (God) one by one, just as We created you in the first instance, and you have left behind all that We gave you (in your earthly life). We also do not see your intermediaries with you now, whom you had asserted to be partners with God for your sake. Now the bond that you imagined with your intermediaries has been lost, and such relationships have failed you.” (v. 94)
It is Allah Who enables grains and seed kernels to germinate. God brings back life from the dead, and God causes death to those who are living. This is Allah; how is it that you turn away from such truth? God is the One Who makes the dawn to appear, the night for rest, the sun and the moon to follow prescribed courses. These are the determinations7 from God—the Mighty, the Knowing. God is the One Who placed the stars so that you may find ways in the darkness on land and sea. We have thus detailed the messages and signs for people who wish to seek knowledge. God it is Who brought you forth from a single soul and defined for you a term limit and a place to rest. Again, this is how We have detailed the messages and signs for those who wish to know the truth. (v. 95-98)
It is God Who rains down water from the clouds and causes such water to bring out new growth in all living plants and vegetation, turn those into lush green foliage, and then produce flowers and grains in clusters, dates in dense clusters hanging low, and gardens full of grapes, olives, and pomegranates—alike, yet different. Watch the fruits—how they come forth and ripen. This is how We detail the message for those who wish to believe! (v. 99)
They consider the Jinn to be partners with Allah, whereas He created them. They also falsely ascribe sons and daughters to God out of ignorance. God is glorious and above anything that one might ascribe to God. (v. 100)
(God is the) Wonderful Originator of the Universe and the Earth! How can God have a son while God has no consort? God created all that exists, and God encompasses everything in God’s knowledge. Such is Allah, your Sustainer—there is no god but God—Creator of all things! Therefore, serve God—in Whose care is all that exists. Human vision cannot behold God, whereas God envisions all vision. God is truly Subtle and Aware! (v. 101-103)
Insightful evidence has already arrived from your Sustainer; therefore, whoever can envision it, it is for his own good, and who remains blind to it will have its consequence. (Tell them): “I am not responsible for your conduct!” This is how We reinforce the messages such that they say: “You have indeed studied it well.” This is how We enable the people of knowledge to understand (Our message). Follow the truth that your Sustainer has revealed—there is no god but God and remain undeterred by those who subscribe to polytheism. If Allah had willed, they would not practice polytheism. (Also), We did not assign you (Prophet) as a protector for them, nor are you in charge of them. Be mindful, and do not criticize those whom they invoke besides Allah, perchance they then revile Allah out of ignorance. We have made every community see their conduct as fair in their views, but they will be informed about their activities once they return to their Sustainer. (v. 104-108)
They swear by Allah with a strong declaration that if a miracle were to come, they would certainly take faith in it. Say: “Miracles are at Allah’s disposal.” Do you not realize that even if such miracles were to happen, they would not believe? We keep their hearts and sights turned off, as they did not believe the first time around; We leave them alone in their arrogance, blindly stumbling around. Even if We have Angels descend on them, let the dead speak to them, and assemble all evidence in front of them, they will not believe unless Allah wills; most of them are steeped in ignorance. (v. 109-111)
God allowed enemies against every prophet—the devils among men and Jinn, some of them inspiring others with charming speeches and arguments, only to deceive. If your Sustainer had willed, they would not have done so. Therefore, remain aloof from them and from their falsehoods. (This is how God) inclines the hearts of those who doubt the Hereafter toward such gilded enticements so that they may earn what is due. (Say:) “How can I seek a judge other than Allah when He is the One Who has revealed this book, explaining and differentiating? Those who received the Book (the Bible and the Torah before) know that this book is revealed from your Sustainer with Truth; therefore, be not of those who doubt. (v. 112-114)
The Word of God has been fulfilled with truth and as promised. There is none who can change what God intends. God is the Hearer, the Knower. If you were to follow many of those who inhabit the earth, they would lead you away from guidance coming from Allah. They follow nothing but their own conjectures and manufactured lies. Your Sustainer God surely knows who moves away from God’s guidance and who stays on it. (v. 115-117)
Eat of the meat on which Allah’s grace has been acknowledged as a means to demonstrate your belief in God’s message. What reason you may have not to eat of which Allah’s grace has been acknowledged? God has already made it known to you what is forbidden and its exceptions if you are compelled to it. Certainly, many people deviate from guidance by their ignorance and errant views. Your Sustainer God knows those who transgress as such. Stay away from any sin—in public or in secret. Those who commit sins will face the consequences. Do not eat of which God’s grace has not been acknowledged—this is a practice of transgression. Certainly, the Devil within people instigates them to contend on these matters with you. If you incline to them, they will bring you to the practices of polytheism. (v. 118-121)
Think of someone who was dead, and then We (God) brought him to life and gave him a light by which he can walk among people; is he the same as the one who is in darkness and has no light to come to? For those who deny the truth, their doings are made to appear good to them. Thus, We allow the leaders in every land to be its evildoers so that they plan in it; but their plan is against themselves, which they do not perceive. When a message (from God) comes to them, they say: “We will not believe until we are given the same message that Allah had given to the messengers.” But Allah knows best where to place His message. Humiliation and serious chastisement will come to these evildoers for what they scheme. (v. 122-124)
Whomever Allah intends to guide, God opens their hearts to Islam (faith and goodness), and whomever God wills to leave in their errant ways, God constrains and restricts their chests as if they are rising up in sky. This is how God let their souls revile against themselves who deny the truth. This guidance is the true guidance from your Sustainer—a straight path. God makes the message clear to those who mind. For such is the residence of peace with their Sustainer Who is their Friend for what they do. (v. 125-127)
On the Day when We will gather them all and ask: “O assembly of Jinn (leaders of evildoers), you have diverted a great many among people,” their erstwhile friends among mankind will say: “Some of us have benefited from others (in our lives), and now we have come to the end of our terms, terms that You have fixed for us.” God will say: “Fire is where you will reside, except whom God wills; Your Sustainer is Wise and Knowing. This is how We make the evildoers befriend one another because of what they do.” (God will address): “O community of Jinn and mankind, did not My messengers come to you giving you guidance and making you aware of this Day of Meeting?” They will reply: “We bear witness against ourselves”; indeed, their life on earth deceived them and they will testify against themselves that they denied the truth. This is a norm from your Sustainer, Who does not destroy a town where its inhabitants are unaware. Everyone is treated according to a measure of what they do. Your Sustainer God is not unmindful of what they do. (v. 128-132)
Your Sustainer is Self-Sufficient, Full of Mercy. If God wills, God may remove you and make whom God wills to succeed you in the same way that God made you to succeed your predecessors. Whatever you have been promised8 will surely take place; you cannot escape. Say: “O my community, act as you are able, and I will do the same. You will soon come to know who will inherit the future, because the unjust will not succeed.” (v. 133-135)
They assign from which Allah has created for them of produce and cattle a portion to Allah—at least that is what they assert, and a portion to other deities. The portion assigned to other deities never comes to Allah but what is assigned to Allah somehow reaches the other deities. (See how) their judgment is corrupted with evil practices! Their belief in these deities justifies them to kill their children; such belief may cause their destruction and confuse them regarding their faith. If Allah had willed, they would not have behaved as such; therefore, stay away from what they falsely assert. (v. 136-137)
They say: “Specific cattle and produce from the field are forbidden; none shall eat from these except as we please”—this they assert and more— “certain cattle you cannot ride, and on certain cattle you cannot grace by Allah’s name.” All of these are falsely ascribed as if injunctions from God; all such false assertions will have consequences as defined by God. They say: “What is in the womb of such and such cattle is reserved for males only and forbidden to females, but if it turns out to be stillborn, then all can partake in it.” God will make them face the consequences of such false assertions; God is Ever Wise, All Knowing. (v. 138-139)
Failure is bound to come to those who kill their children perversely without proper knowledge and who forbid people from what Allah has provided for—all to forge a lie against Allah; these are deviations from truth, and they are certainly not guided. (v. 140)
God is the One Who produces in fields cultivated or growing wild—date palms, fruits and grains of various sorts, olives and pomegranates, similar and in varieties. Consume the fruits as they ripen and share their due to others when you harvest. Don’t be wasteful; God does not love the prodigal. Among the cattle, there are some that carry your burden and others for you to consume. Eat from what Allah had gifted you with, and do not create evil practices by following the Devil, whose evilness is openly declared against you. (v. 141)
Regarding the eight in pairs—two of sheep and two of goats—ask them: “Has God forbidden the two males or two females or what the wombs of these female may contain? Inform me with knowledge, if you are truthful.” Now as regards the two of camels and two of cattle, ask them: “Has God forbidden the two males or two females or what the wombs of these female may contain? Were you a witness to Allah’s prescribing any of these?” Who is more perverse than the one who falsifies in the name of Allah and leads people to devious ways without the benefit of any real knowledge? God certainly will not guide such corrupt people. (v. 142-144)
Say: “Based on what has been revealed to me, I find nothing forbidden to eat for anyone desiring to eat except what died of itself, blood poured forth, or flesh of swine—these being filthy—or where a transgression has occurred by blessing a slaughter with a name other than Allah’s. But if some are driven by necessity—neither desiring it nor consuming more than their immediate needs, then they will find their Sustainer Forgiving and Merciful.” As for the followers of the Jewish faith, We (God) prohibited animals with claws9, of oxen and sheep all their fats except what is on their backs or in the intestines or internal organs or what is inside the bones—these restrictions are a form of punishment for their continued rebellion; indeed We (God) speak the truth. Therefore, if they deny you, say: “Your Sustainer is expansive in mercy, but for those who persist in sinful acts, their negative consequences, as prescribed by God, cannot be avoided.” (v. 145-147)
Those who are Polytheists say: “If Allah had willed, we would not have set up partners to God, nor our forefathers, nor we would have prohibited things that are allowed.” Similar was the behavior of those before them until the evil consequences, as prescribed by God, touched them. Say (Prophet): “Do you have any documented sources that you can produce before us? (Perhaps) you follow conjectures and are telling lies.” Say: “With Allah rests the final evidence to truth. If God willed, we all would have been guided (to the truth).” Ask them: “Bring your witness regarding what Allah had prohibited.” Even if they bear witness, you should stay away from such witnesses and never follow the unworthy desires of those who reject God’s messages, have no conviction in the Afterlife, and regard others as equal with God, their Sustainer. (v. 148-150)
Say: “Come and let me convey what God has forbidden: Assign no partner to God, be good to your parents, do not kill your children for fear of poverty—God provides for you and for them, do not get close to anything shameful—openly or in secret, and do not take a human life that Allah has made sacred, except for reason of justice. These God directs you to so that you will have a better understanding.” Do not touch the property of orphans except with the best of intentions; wait until they attain maturity, and then give what is due and be equitable; We (God) never impose a burden on anyone except what one can bear. When you speak, speak the truth and be just, even if it goes against those with whom you have relationships with. Fulfill your covenant with Allah. Thus God directs you to so that you will become conscious and mindful. (v. 151-152)
These are the directives to My Straight Path—stay on this path, and do not follow other ways that might lead you away (from God). Such are God’s directives so that you become responsible and fulfill your obligations. (v. 153)
We (God) gave Moses the book, to complete (Our blessings) on those who would do what is good and beautiful, proving clear exposition of all things, a guidance and a mercy so that they might develop faith in meeting their Sustainer God. This is a book (the Qur’an) that We have revealed as blessings; therefore, follow its teachings and be mindful of your responsibility so that you might receive God’s blessings; lest you say that books were revealed to two parties before us, and we were not informed of what they read. Or, you say: “If the book was revealed to us, we would have guided ourselves better than they did.” Now then, the evident truth from your Sustainer has come—a source of guidance and blessings; whoever now denies such messages from Allah and walks away from them will be the one doing evil indeed. We will return such negligence and opposition to our Messages with evil consequences that befit such conducts. (v. 154-157)
Is it that they are waiting for anything other than angels to come to them, or that your Sustainer God should come, or some other evidence appears from your Sustainer? The day when such evidence arrives, their faith in it will benefit no souls that did not believe before or did not use their prior faith to do good. Say: “Wait then, and we will wait with you as well.” (Beyond belief) those who create division in their faith and turn into sectarian divides, you have no relationship with them. Their affairs will be in the hands of Allah, Who will inform them with respect to their conduct. Whoever earns a good and beautiful deed, God will multiply its rewards ten times, and whoever brings about an evil deed will face its consequences accordingly, no wrong will be done to them. (v. 158-160)
Say: “As for me, my Sustainer God has directed me to the Straight Path—a path that is steeped in righteousness, in the tradition of Abraham, the bearer of truth and faith, who was not a polytheist.” Say: “My prayer, my worship, my sacrifice, my perseverance, my life’s pursuit, and my ever-approaching death—all are directed to Allah’s will, the Sustainer of the Universe! God has no partners. I am commanded to this, and I am the first to accept and act accordingly.” (v. 161-163)
Say: “How can I seek out a Sustainer other than Allah, since He is the Cherisher of all things?” No soul bears but what it earns, and no soul will face the consequence of what someone else has done10. At the end of your life, you return to you Cherisher God so that God can inform you on matters that you differed (while alive). God is the One Who made your generation the successor on earth and made some of you excel over others11 so that God may ascertain your worth with respect to God’s gift to you. God is prompt in requiting, and God is ever the Forgiver, the Merciful! (v. 164-165)
1 “azalan” – a term, a defined period from beginning to end of things, such as life, social evolution, rise and fall of civilization, planets and stars, galaxies, etc.
2 Guardian Angels; see also 13:11
3 Boiling drinks – refers to how evil people with quench their thirsts in Hell
4 In the same principles that God governs such as natural laws, social balance, consequence for evil, etc.
5 Trumpet is blown – a term used as a precursor to the Day of Resurrection and Judgment
6 This last statement (v79) is also used to initiate daily Islamic prayers (salat) as one stands and gets ready to pray – a fitting homage to Abraham
7 “taqdiru” – process and outcomes that God had placed as natural laws as God willed!
8 Promise of death, Day of Judgment, consequence for evil actions and promise for good actions
9 See Leviticus 7:23
10 The notion of individual accountability is evident in many other verses such as 53:33–41
11 In matters of intelligence, leadership, wealth, health, spirituality, morals, ethics, kindness, freedom – in all aspects of desirable human attributes and human conditions