3. Surah Aal-i-Imraan

آل عمرانThe Family of Imraan · 200 ayahsتفہیم القرآن انگلش

Read Surah Aal-i-Imraan in the Quran reader
Ayahs 3:1–2

الٓمَّٓۙ Open ayah 3:1 in the Quran reader

Alif, Lam, Mim.

اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ١ۙ الْحَیُّ الْقَیُّوْمُؕ Open ayah 3:2 in the Quran reader

Allah, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting, Who sustains the entire order of the universe - there is no God but He. 1

1. For explanation see Surah 2, n. 278 above.
Ayahs 3:3–4

نَزَّلَ عَلَیْكَ الْكِتٰبَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَیْنَ یَدَیْهِ وَ اَنْزَلَ التَّوْرٰىةَ وَ الْاِنْجِیْلَۙ Open ayah 3:3 in the Quran reader

He has revealed this Book to you, setting forth the truth and confirming the earlier Books, and earlier He revealed the Torah and Gospel

مِنْ قَبْلُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَ اَنْزَلَ الْفُرْقَانَ١ؕ۬ اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوْا بِاٰیٰتِ اللّٰهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِیْدٌ١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ عَزِیْزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ Open ayah 3:4 in the Quran reader

for the guidance of mankind; 2 and He has also revealed the Criterion (to distinguish truth from falsehood) . A severe chastisement lies in store for those who deny the signs of Allah. Allah is All-Mighty; He is the Lord of Retribution.

2. The Torah is generally taken to signify the first five books of the Old Testament, and the Injil (Gospel) , to mean the four Gospels of the New Testament, even though those books form a part of it. This has sometimes caused people to wonder if these books were indeed revealed by God. If they are accepted as revealed, one may wonder if the Qur'an really verifies their contents as this verse says. The fact is, however, that the Torah is not identical with the first five books of the Old Testament even though those books form a part of the Torah. Likewise, the Injil is not identical with the four Gospels of the New Testament. The fact is that the Torah, in the Qur'anic usage, signifies the revelations made to Moses (peace be on him) , in about forty years, from the time he was appointed a Prophet until his death. These include the Ten Commandments', which were handed over to him inscribed on stone tablets. Moses took down the rest of the revealed injunctions and handed over one copy to each of the twelve tribes of Israel, and one copy to the Levites for safe keeping. It is this book which was known as the Torah and it existed until the first destruction of Jerusalem. The copy entrusted to the Levites was put beside the Ark of the Covenant along with the Commandment tablets, and the Israelites knew it as the Torah. The Jews, however, neglected the Book: during the reign of Josiah the King of Judah the Temple of Solomon was under repair and the high priest, Hilkiah, chanced to find the Book lying in the construction area. He gave it to the King's secretary, Shaphan, who in turn took it to the King as if it were a strange find (see 2 Kings 22: 8-13) . Hence, when the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar, conquered Jerusalem and razed it and the Temple of Solomon to the ground, the Israelites lost for ever the few original copies of the Torah which they possessed, and which they had consigned to obscurity. At the time of Ezra the priest, some Israelites returned from captivity in Babylon, and when Jerusalem was rebuilt the entire history of Israel, which now comprises the first seventeen books of the Old Testament, was recorded by Ezra with the assistance of some other elders of the community. Four of these books, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, consist of a biographical narrative of Moses. In this biography those verses of the Torah available to Ezra and the other elders are also recorded and in the contexts in which they were revealed. The present Torah, therefore, comprises those fragments of the original book which are interspersed throughout the biography of Moses (composed in the manner described above) . In locating these fragments of the original Torah there are certain expressions which help us. These are interspersed between the different pieces of biographical narration and usually open with words such as: 'Then the Lord said to Moses', and 'Moses said, the Lord your God commands you.' These expressions, then, are fragments of the original Torah. When the biographical narration re-commences, however, we can be sure that the fragment of the true Torah has concluded. Wherever authors and editors of the Bible have added anything of their own accord, by way of either elaboration or elucidation, it has become very difficult for an ordinary reader to distinguish the original from the explanatory additions. Those with insight into Divine Scripture, however, do have the capacity to distinguish between the original revealed fragments and the later, human interpolations. It is these scattered fragments of the original revealed Book which the Qur'an terms as the Torah, and it is these which it confirms. When these fragments are compared with the Qur'an, there is no difference between the two as regards the fundamental teachings. Whatever differences exist relate to legal matters and are of secondary importance. Even today a careful reader can appreciate that the Torah and the Qur'an have sprung from one and the same Divine source. Likewise, Injil signifies the inspired orations and utterances of Jesus (peace be on him) , which he delivered during the last two or three years of his life in his capacity as a Prophet. There are no certain means by which we can definitively establish whether or not his statements were recorded during his lifetime. It is possible that some people took notes of them and that some followers committed them to memory. After a period of time, however, several treatises on the life of Jesus were written. The authors of these treatises recorded, in connection with the biographical account, those sayings of his which they had received from the previous generation of co-religionists, in the form of either oral traditions or written notes about events in his life. As a result the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are not identical with the Injil. Rather, the Injil consists of those statements by Jesus which form part of these Gospels. Unfortunately we have no means of distinguishing the fragments of the original Injil from the pieces written by the authors themselves. All we can say is that only those sections explicitly attributed to Jesus, for example in statements such as: 'And Jesus said' and 'And Jesus taught', constitute the true Injil. It is the totality of such fragments which is designated as the Injil by the Qur'an, and it is the teachings contained in these fragments that the Qur'an confirms. If these fragments are put together and compared with the teachings of the Qur'an one notices very few discrepancies between the two, and any discrepancies that are found can be resolved easily by unbiased reflection.
Ayah 3:5

اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا یَخْفٰى عَلَیْهِ شَیْءٌ فِی الْاَرْضِ وَ لَا فِی السَّمَآءِؕ Open ayah 3:5 in the Quran reader

Nothing in the earth and in the heavens is hidden from Allah. 3

3. That is, God knows all the facts of the universe. Hence the Book which He has revealed is, of necessity, true. It may be more appropriate to say that the unadulterated Truth can be made available to man only through this Book, which has been revealed by the All-Knowing, All-Wise God.
Ayah 3:6

هُوَ الَّذِیْ یُصَوِّرُكُمْ فِی الْاَرْحَامِ كَیْفَ یَشَآءُ١ؕ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ الْعَزِیْزُ الْحَكِیْمُ Open ayah 3:6 in the Quran reader

It is He Who fashions you in the wombs as He wills. 4 There is no God but He; the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

4. This refers to two important facts. The first is that no being knows human nature as well as God does; it is thus imperative that man should depend on the guidance revealed by God, something man needs the most. The second is that the Being Who takes care of all of man's requirements, major and minor, from the time of conception onwards, will not fail to provide guidance for man's conduct in this life.
Ayah 3:7

هُوَ الَّذِیْۤ اَنْزَلَ عَلَیْكَ الْكِتٰبَ مِنْهُ اٰیٰتٌ مُّحْكَمٰتٌ هُنَّ اُمُّ الْكِتٰبِ وَ اُخَرُ مُتَشٰبِهٰتٌ١ؕ فَاَمَّا الَّذِیْنَ فِیْ قُلُوْبِهِمْ زَیْغٌ فَیَتَّبِعُوْنَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَآءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَ ابْتِغَآءَ تَاْوِیْلِهٖ١ؐۚ وَ مَا یَعْلَمُ تَاْوِیْلَهٗۤ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ١ؔۘ وَ الرّٰسِخُوْنَ فِی الْعِلْمِ یَقُوْلُوْنَ اٰمَنَّا بِهٖ١ۙ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَا١ۚ وَ مَا یَذَّكَّرُ اِلَّاۤ اُولُوا الْاَلْبَابِ Open ayah 3:7 in the Quran reader

It is He Who has revealed the Book to you. Some of its verses are absolutely clear and lucid, and these are the core of the Book. 5 Others are ambiguous. 6 Those in whose hearts there is perversity, always go about the part which is ambiguous, seeking mischief and seeking to arrive at its meaning arbitrarily, although none knows their true meaning except Allah. On the contrary, those firmly rooted in knowledge say: 'We believe in it; it is all from our Lord alone.' 7 No one derives true admonition from anything except the men of understanding.

5. Muhkam means that which has been made firmly and perfectly. The muhkam verses mentioned here are those Qur'anic verses which are embodied in clear and lucid language and whose meaning is not liable to any ambiguity and equivocation. The words of these verses are clear pointers to their true meaning and, therefore, it is difficult to subject them to arbitrary interpretation. Such verses form the core of the Holy Book; they are the verses which fulfil the true purpose for which the Qur'an was revealed, and they invite the whole world to Islam. They embody admonition and instruction as well as the refutation of erroneous doctrines and the elucidation of the Right Way. They also contain the fundamentals of the true faith; teachings relating to belief, worship and morality, and mandatory duties and prohibitions. These are the verses which will guide the genuine seeker after Truth who turns to the Qur'an in order to find out what he ought and ought not to do. 6. 'Ambiguous' verses are those whose meaning may have some degree of equivocation. It is obvious that no way of life can be prescribed for man unless a certain amount of knowledge explaining the truth about the universe, about its origin and end, about man's position in it and other matters of similar importance, is intimated to him. It is also evident that the truths which lie beyond the range of human perception have always eluded and will continue to elude man; no words exist in the human vocabulary which either express or portray them. In speaking about such things, we necessarily resort to words and expressions generally employed in connection with tangible objects. In the Qur'an, too, this kind of language is employed in relation to supernatural matters; the verses which have been characterized as 'ambiguous' refer to such matters. At best, such expressions may serve to either bring man close to or enable him to formulate some view of reality, even if it is a faint one. The more one tries to determine the precise meaning of such verses, the more their ambiguities proliferate, and the more one is confronted with choosing between several plausible interpretations. All this is likely to alienate one progressively further away' from the Truth instead of bringing one closer to it. Those who seek the Truth and do not hanker after the satisfaction of their egocentric quest for exotic superfluities, will be satisfied with the dim vision of reality derived from these verses. They will concentrate their attention instead on the clear and lucid 'core' verses of the Qur'an. It will be left to those who are either out to make mischief and mislead people or who have an abnormal passion for superfluities to devote their attention to hair-splitting discussions about the contents of the 'ambiguous" verses. 7. This might give rise to an unnecessary problem: How can people believe in 'ambiguous' verses when the contents of these cannot be grasped? The fact is that a reasonable person will believe that the Qur'an is the Book of God through his reading of its clear and lucid verses, rather than by learning fanciful interpretations of the ambiguous verses. Once so convinced, he is not likely to be worried by doubts and anxieties caused by the ambiguities of the verses concerned. One who seeks the Truth is satisfied with the obvious meaning of these verses, and wherever he encounters complications and ambiguities he abstains from pursuing their solution too far. Instead of wasting his time splitting hairs, he is content to believe in the things laid down in the Book of God, without seeking to know them precisely and in detail. He turns his attention, in the main, to questions of a practical nature.
Ayahs 3:8–12

رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوْبَنَا بَعْدَ اِذْ هَدَیْتَنَا وَ هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَّدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً١ۚ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ Open ayah 3:8 in the Quran reader

They pray to Allah: 'Our Lord! Do not let our hearts swerve towards crookedness after You have guided us to the right way, and. bestow upon us Your mercy. Surely You, only You, are the Munificent Giver!

رَبَّنَاۤ اِنَّكَ جَامِعُ النَّاسِ لِیَوْمٍ لَّا رَیْبَ فِیْهِ١ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا یُخْلِفُ الْمِیْعَادَ۠ Open ayah 3:9 in the Quran reader

Our Lord! You surely will gather mankind together one Day, a Day about (the coming of which) there is no doubt. Surely Allah never goes against His promise.'

اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوْا لَنْ تُغْنِیَ عَنْهُمْ اَمْوَالُهُمْ وَ لَاۤ اَوْلَادُهُمْ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ شَیْئًا١ؕ وَ اُولٰٓئِكَ هُمْ وَ قُوْدُ النَّارِۙ Open ayah 3:10 in the Quran reader

Those who disbelieve, neither their wealth nor their offspring will avail them at all against Allah, and it is they who will be the fuel of the Fire

كَدَاْبِ اٰلِ فِرْعَوْنَ١ۙ وَ الَّذِیْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ١ؕ كَذَّبُوْا بِاٰیٰتِنَا١ۚ فَاَخَذَهُمُ اللّٰهُ بِذُنُوْبِهِمْ١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ شَدِیْدُ الْعِقَابِ Open ayah 3:11 in the Quran reader

(To them shall happen) the like of what happened to the people of Pharaoh, and those before them. They rejected Our signs, so Allah seized them for their sins. Allah indeed is severe in punishment.

قُلْ لِّلَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوْا سَتُغْلَبُوْنَ وَ تُحْشَرُوْنَ اِلٰى جَهَنَّمَ١ؕ وَ بِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ Open ayah 3:12 in the Quran reader

Tell those who disbelieved: 8 'You shall soon be overpowered and mustered to Hell - and that is an evil resting place!'

8. For explanation see Surah 2, n. 161 above.
Ayah 3:13

قَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ اٰیَةٌ فِیْ فِئَتَیْنِ الْتَقَتَا١ؕ فِئَةٌ تُقَاتِلُ فِیْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰهِ وَ اُخْرٰى كَافِرَةٌ یَّرَوْنَهُمْ مِّثْلَیْهِمْ رَاْیَ الْعَیْنِ١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ یُؤَیِّدُ بِنَصْرِهٖ مَنْ یَّشَآءُ١ؕ اِنَّ فِیْ ذٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّاُولِی الْاَبْصَارِ Open ayah 3:13 in the Quran reader

You have already come across an instructive sign in the two hosts that encountered each other in battle (at Badr) : one host fighting in the way of Allah, and the other that of unbelievers. They saw with their own eyes that one host was twice the number of the other. 9 But (the result of the battle has proved that) Allah succours with His victory whomsoever He wills. In this there is surely a lesson for all who have eyes to see. 10

9. The actual disparity between the two armies was roughly three to one, but even a cursory glance was enough to tell the casual observer that the army of unbelievers was about twice as large as that of the believers.
Ayah 3:14

زُیِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوٰتِ مِنَ النِّسَآءِ وَ الْبَنِیْنَ وَ الْقَنَاطِیْرِ الْمُقَنْطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَ الْفِضَّةِ وَ الْخَیْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَ الْاَنْعَامِ وَ الْحَرْثِ١ؕ ذٰلِكَ مَتَاعُ الْحَیٰوةِ الدُّنْیَا١ۚ وَ اللّٰهُ عِنْدَهٗ حُسْنُ الْمَاٰبِ Open ayah 3:14 in the Quran reader

Men are naturally tempted by the lure of women, children, treasures of gold and silver, horses of mark, cattle and plantations. These are the enjoyments in the life of this world; but with Allah lies a goodly abode to return to.

10. The events and results of the Battle of Badr are briefly reviewed so as to bring home certain lessons to the Muslims. There are three important lessons to be learnt. First, the manner in which the believers and the unbelievers advanced to the battlefield clearly demonstrated the difference in the moral fibre of the two armies. In the army of the unbelievers, the soldiers held drinking parties and were entertained by the songs and dances of slave girls. The prevalent mood of that army was one of self-indulgence. On the other hand, piety, fear of God and moral restraint of the highest order characterized the Muslim army. The soldiers were busy in devotion and remembrance of God, to Whom they addressed all their prayers and supplication. It was obvious to anyone which army was fighting in God's cause. Second, the believers won a resounding victory against an army of unbelievers superior to them in numbers, and in the quality and the quantity of arms. So the victory clearly indicated which of the two armies enjoyed the support of God. Third, the outcome of the battle came as a shocking humiliation for those who, heedless of God's might, had been exulting in the strength of their arms and the number of their supporters. It came as a shock to such people when God subjected a tribe like the Quraysh, foremost in influence and power throughout Arabia, to an ignominious defeat at the hands of a few ill-equipped Makkan fugitives and peasants from Madina.
Ayah 3:15

قُلْ اَؤُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَیْرٍ مِّنْ ذٰلِكُمْ١ؕ لِلَّذِیْنَ اتَّقَوْا عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنّٰتٌ تَجْرِیْ مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْاَنْهٰرُ خٰلِدِیْنَ فِیْهَا وَ اَزْوَاجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ وَّ رِضْوَانٌ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ بَصِیْرٌۢ بِالْعِبَادِۚ Open ayah 3:15 in the Quran reader

Say: 'Shall I tell you of things better than these? For the God-fearing there are, with their Lord, gardens beneath which rivers flow; there they will abide for ever, will have spouses of stainless purity 11 as companions, and will enjoy the good pleasure of Allah.' Allah thoroughly observes His servants. 12

11. For explanation see Surah 2, n. 27 above. 12. This shows that God neither showers His favours on people arbitrarily nor makes casual and superficial judgements. He knows full well the deeds and intentions of people. He also knows who merits His rewards and who does not.
Ayahs 3:16–17

اَلَّذِیْنَ یَقُوْلُوْنَ رَبَّنَاۤ اِنَّنَاۤ اٰمَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوْبَنَا وَ قِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِۚ Open ayah 3:16 in the Quran reader

These are the ones who pray: 'Our Lord! We do indeed believe, so forgive us our sins and keep us safe from the chastisement of the Fire';

اَلصّٰبِرِیْنَ وَ الصّٰدِقِیْنَ وَ الْقٰنِتِیْنَ وَ الْمُنْفِقِیْنَ وَ الْمُسْتَغْفِرِیْنَ بِالْاَسْحَارِ Open ayah 3:17 in the Quran reader

men who are steadfast, 13 truthful, obedient, spend (in the way of Allah) and implore the forgiveness of Allah before daybreak.

13. That is, they are those who remain steadfast in the cause of Truth; who do not lose heart when they either suffer losses or are subjected to afflictions; who do not despair when they encounter reverses; who are not seduced by temptations. They are the ones who remain faithful to the Truth, even when it apparently stands no chance of prevailing (see also Surah 2, n. 60 above) .
Ayah 3:18

شَهِدَ اللّٰهُ اَنَّهٗ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ١ۙ وَ الْمَلٰٓئِكَةُ وَ اُولُوا الْعِلْمِ قَآئِمًۢا بِالْقِسْطِ١ؕ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ الْعَزِیْزُ الْحَكِیْمُؕ Open ayah 3:18 in the Quran reader

Allah Himself bears witness that there is no God but He; 14 and likewise do the angels and the men possessed of knowledge 15 bear witness in truth and justice that there is no God but He, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

14. The testimony in question is from God Himself, Who knows directly all the realities of the universe, Who observes every existing thing without obstruction. It is the testimony of the One from Whose sight nothing is hidden, and who can be a better first-hand witness than He? His testimony is that no one but He is possessed of the attributes of godhead; no one has the power to govern the universe, and no one has the right to claim the rights which belong exclusively to God. 15. After God, the most trustworthy testimony is that of the angels, for they carry out the administration of the universe. The testimony of the angels, based on their own observations, is that the Will of God alone reigns supreme in the universe, and they turn to Him alone in the governance of the heavens and the earth. Moreover, all creatures possessing knowledge of reality have testified, unanimously, that no one except the One True God reigns and rules over the universe.
Ayah 3:19

اِنَّ الدِّیْنَ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ الْاِسْلَامُ١۫ وَ مَا اخْتَلَفَ الَّذِیْنَ اُوْتُوا الْكِتٰبَ اِلَّا مِنْۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بَغْیًۢا بَیْنَهُمْ١ؕ وَ مَنْ یَّكْفُرْ بِاٰیٰتِ اللّٰهِ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ سَرِیْعُ الْحِسَابِ Open ayah 3:19 in the Quran reader

The true religion with Allah is Islam. 16 The People of the Book adopted many different ways rather than follow the true way of Islam even after the knowledge of truth had reached them, and this merely to commit excesses against one another. 17 Let him who refuses to follow the ordinances and directives of Allah know that Allah is swift in His reckoning.

16. In the sight of God there is only one system of life and way of conduct which is both in accord with reality and morally right. This consists of man's acknowledging God as his Lord and the sole object of his worship and devotion; of surrendering himself unreservedly to God in obedience and service. In doing so he should follow in toto the guidance communicated by God through His Messengers rather than try to devise ways of serving God according to his own lights. This mode of thought and action is known as Islam, and it is only reasonable that the Lord and Creator of the universe should accept nothing less from His creatures and servants. In his folly man thinks that he has the right to believe in and follow every doctrine that comes his way whether it be atheism or idolatry. In the sight of the Sovereign of the universe, however, all such attitudes amount to nothing short of rebellion against God. 17. This shows that the religion of every Messenger of God, in every age and clime, was none other than Islam (submission to God) . Likewise, every Divine book, in whichever language it was revealed, and to whichever people it was addressed, contained the teachings of Islam. The various religions which have spread among mankind are distortions of this true, original religion, and are the result of tampering. Coveting privileges over and above those to which they were entitled, people altered the beliefs, principles and injunctions of the true religion in a manner conducive to their own interests.
Ayah 3:20

فَاِنْ حَآجُّوْكَ فَقُلْ اَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِیَ لِلّٰهِ وَ مَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ١ؕ وَ قُلْ لِّلَّذِیْنَ اُوْتُوا الْكِتٰبَ وَ الْاُمِّیّٖنَ ءَاَسْلَمْتُمْ١ؕ فَاِنْ اَسْلَمُوْا فَقَدِ اهْتَدَوْا١ۚ وَ اِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَاِنَّمَا عَلَیْكَ الْبَلٰغُ١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ بَصِیْرٌۢ بِالْعِبَادِ۠ Open ayah 3:20 in the Quran reader

And if they remonstrate with you, tell them: 'I have submitted my whole being to Allah, and so have those who follow me.' And ask the People of the Book as well as those who follow no heavenly Scripture: 'Have you also submitted (to Allah) ?' 18 If they have submitted to Him, they are indeed on the right way but if they deviate from submitting to Allah, then your duty is merely to deliver the message. Allah observes the affairs of His servants.

18. The Prophet (peace be on him) is asked to tell them in effect: I and my followers have embraced the original, unadulterated Islam which is the true religion enjoined by God. Tell us, now, if you are prepared to give up the accretions introduced by your forefathers, and embrace this original, true religion?'
Ayah 3:21

اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ یَكْفُرُوْنَ بِاٰیٰتِ اللّٰهِ وَ یَقْتُلُوْنَ النَّبِیّٖنَ بِغَیْرِ حَقٍّ١ۙ وَّ یَقْتُلُوْنَ الَّذِیْنَ یَاْمُرُوْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ مِنَ النَّاسِ١ۙ فَبَشِّرْهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ اَلِیْمٍ Open ayah 3:21 in the Quran reader

Give those who refuse to follow the directives of Allah, who slay the Prophets unjustly, and who slay those who enjoin justice, give them glad tidings of a grievous chastisement. 19

19. This is a sarcastic remark. Its purpose is to bring home to them that the misdeeds about which they are so jubilant, and which they regard as their proud achievements, will ultimately lead them to a painful end.
Ayah 3:22

اُولٰٓئِكَ الَّذِیْنَ حَبِطَتْ اَعْمَالُهُمْ فِی الدُّنْیَا وَ الْاٰخِرَةِ١٘ وَ مَا لَهُمْ مِّنْ نّٰصِرِیْنَ Open ayah 3:22 in the Quran reader

These are the people whose works have gone to waste in this world and in the World to Come. 20 They have none to help them. 21

20. They have spent their efforts and energies in a manner leading to catastrophic results in this world and the Next. 21. No power can make these misdeeds either bear good fruit or prevent them bearing evil fruit. The powers upon which the wrong-doers rely for support in this world and in the World to Come will not be of any help to them.
Ayah 3:23

اَلَمْ تَرَ اِلَى الَّذِیْنَ اُوْتُوْا نَصِیْبًا مِّنَ الْكِتٰبِ یُدْعَوْنَ اِلٰى كِتٰبِ اللّٰهِ لِیَحْكُمَ بَیْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ یَتَوَلّٰى فَرِیْقٌ مِّنْهُمْ وَ هُمْ مُّعْرِضُوْنَ Open ayah 3:23 in the Quran reader

Have you not noticed those who have been given a portion of the Book? Whenever their learned men are summoned to the Book of Allah to judge the differences between them, 22 a party of them turns away in aversion.

22. They are asked to acknowledge the Book of God as the final arbiter in all matters, and to submit to its judgement, accepting as right whatever this Book holds to be right, and as wrong whatever it holds to be wrong. The Book of God referred to here is the Torah and the Injil, while the expression 'those who have been given a portion of the Book' refers to the Jewish and Christian religious scholars. (For the Quranic view of the Torah and the Injil see n. 2 above - Ed.)
Ayah 3:24

ذٰلِكَ بِاَنَّهُمْ قَالُوْا لَنْ تَمَسَّنَا النَّارُ اِلَّاۤ اَیَّامًا مَّعْدُوْدٰتٍ١۪ وَّ غَرَّهُمْ فِیْ دِیْنِهِمْ مَّا كَانُوْا یَفْتَرُوْنَ Open ayah 3:24 in the Quran reader

This is because they say: 'The fire of Hell shall not touch us except for a limited number of days.' 23 The false beliefs which they have forged have deluded them in their faith.

23. These people considered themselves to be God's favourites and cherished the illusion that, regardless of what they did, they were bound to enter Paradise. They took the view that since they were believers, were descended from pious people, followed noble Prophets, and were disciples and admirers of holy men, Hell would not dare touch them. They also thought that even if they were thrown into Hell they would remain there for a few days only, to be purged of the impurity of the sins which had afflicted them, and would then be sent straight to Paradise. Such notions had made them so bold that even when they committed the most atrocious crimes and the most mortal of sins, and brazenly deviated from Truth and rectitude, their hearts remained utterly unmoved by the fear of God.
Ayahs 3:25–27

فَكَیْفَ اِذَا جَمَعْنٰهُمْ لِیَوْمٍ لَّا رَیْبَ فِیْهِ١۫ وَ وُفِّیَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَ هُمْ لَا یُظْلَمُوْنَ Open ayah 3:25 in the Quran reader

How, then, will they fare when We shall gather them all together to witness the Day about (the coming of) which there is no doubt, and when every human being shall be repaid in full for what he has done, and none shall be wronged?

قُلِ اللّٰهُمَّ مٰلِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِی الْمُلْكَ مَنْ تَشَآءُ وَ تَنْزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّنْ تَشَآءُ١٘ وَ تُعِزُّ مَنْ تَشَآءُ وَ تُذِلُّ مَنْ تَشَآءُ١ؕ بِیَدِكَ الْخَیْرُ١ؕ اِنَّكَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَیْءٍ قَدِیْرٌ Open ayah 3:26 in the Quran reader

Say: 'O Allah, Lord of all dominion! You give dominion to whom You will, and take away dominion from whom You will, and You exalt whom You will, and abase whom You will. In Your Hand is all good. Surely You are All-Power-ful.

تُوْلِجُ الَّیْلَ فِی النَّهَارِ وَ تُوْلِجُ النَّهَارَ فِی الَّیْلِ١٘ وَ تُخْرِجُ الْحَیَّ مِنَ الْمَیِّتِ وَ تُخْرِجُ الْمَیِّتَ مِنَ الْحَیِّ١٘ وَ تَرْزُقُ مَنْ تَشَآءُ بِغَیْرِ حِسَابٍ Open ayah 3:27 in the Quran reader

You cause the night to pass into the day and the day to pass into the night. You bring forth the living out of the dead, and You bring the dead out of the living, and You give sustenance to whom You will beyond all reckoning.' 24

24. Those who disbelieved and disobeyed were seen to be prosperous, whereas the believers, with their devotion and loyalty to God, suffered all the deprivation, persecution and torment to which the Prophet and his followers were subjected around the year 3 A.H. The contrasting states of the two groups of men were the reverse of what would naturally be expected. This raised disturbing questions in people's minds about the underlying wisdom of this phenomenon. The verse conveys God's answer.
Ayah 3:28

لَا یَتَّخِذِ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ الْكٰفِرِیْنَ اَوْلِیَآءَ مِنْ دُوْنِ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ١ۚ وَ مَنْ یَّفْعَلْ ذٰلِكَ فَلَیْسَ مِنَ اللّٰهِ فِیْ شَیْءٍ اِلَّاۤ اَنْ تَتَّقُوْا مِنْهُمْ تُقٰىةً١ؕ وَ یُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللّٰهُ نَفْسَهٗ١ؕ وَ اِلَى اللّٰهِ الْمَصِیْرُ Open ayah 3:28 in the Quran reader

The believers may not take the unbelievers for their allies in preference to those who believe. Whoever does this has nothing to do with Allah unless he does so in order to protect himself from their wrong-doing. 25 Allah warns you to beware of Him for it is to Allah that you will return. 26

25. This means that it is lawful for a believer, helpless in the grip of the enemies of Islam and in imminent danger of severe wrong and persecution, to keep his faith concealed and to behave in such a manner as to create the impression that he is on the same side as his enemies. A person whose Muslim identity is discovered is permitted to adopt a friendly attitude owards the unbelievers in order to save his life. If he considers himself incapable of enduring the excesses to which he may be subjected, he may even state that he is not a believer. 26. One should not be overwhelmed by the fear of other human beings to the extent of losing the fear of God. Human beings can harm a man but the most they can do is to ruin his transient, earthly life. God, on the other hand, can subject him to everlasting torment. If one is constrained in extraordinary circumstances to resort to a prudent concealment of faith (taqiyah) in order to save one's life, this concealment should remain within reasonable limits. The most one is permitted to do is to protect one's life and property without jeopardizing either the interests of Islam or of the Muslim community as a whole, and without causing loss of life and property to other Muslims. One must never allow saving one's own life to lead to the propagation of unbelief at the expense of Islam and to the dominance of unbelievers over Muslims. Here the believers are warned that, no matter how dangerous the circumstances surrounding them, they cannot escape God's reproach if they give substantial aid to those rebelling against Him, and cause any harm to God's chosen religion, to the community of believers or to any individual believer. For, it is to God that one will ultimately return for reckoning.
Ayahs 3:29–30

قُلْ اِنْ تُخْفُوْا مَا فِیْ صُدُوْرِكُمْ اَوْ تُبْدُوْهُ یَعْلَمْهُ اللّٰهُ١ؕ وَ یَعْلَمُ مَا فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ مَا فِی الْاَرْضِ١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَیْءٍ قَدِیْرٌ Open ayah 3:29 in the Quran reader

Say: 'Whether you conceal what is in your hearts or disclose it, Allah knows it. Allah knows what is in the heavens and in the earth and He has power over everything.'

یَوْمَ تَجِدُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا عَمِلَتْ مِنْ خَیْرٍ مُّحْضَرًا١ۛۖۚ وَّ مَا عَمِلَتْ مِنْ سُوْٓءٍ١ۛۚ تَوَدُّ لَوْ اَنَّ بَیْنَهَا وَ بَیْنَهٗۤ اَمَدًۢا بَعِیْدًا١ؕ وَ یُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللّٰهُ نَفْسَهٗ١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ رَءُوْفٌۢ بِالْعِبَادِ۠ Open ayah 3:30 in the Quran reader

The Day is approaching when every soul shall find itself confronted with whatever good it has done and whatever evil it has wrought. It will then wish there is a wide space between it and the Day! Allah warns you to beware of Him; He is most tender towards His servants. 27

27. It is out of sheer goodwill that God warns people against deeds likelyto have devastating consequences for them.
Ayahs 3:31–32

قُلْ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّوْنَ اللّٰهَ فَاتَّبِعُوْنِیْ یُحْبِبْكُمُ اللّٰهُ وَ یَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوْبَكُمْ١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِیْمٌ Open ayah 3:31 in the Quran reader

(O Messenger!) Tell people: 'If you indeed love Allah, follow me, and Allah will love you and will forgive you your sins. Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate.'

قُلْ اَطِیْعُوا اللّٰهَ وَ الرَّسُوْلَ١ۚ فَاِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا یُحِبُّ الْكٰفِرِیْنَ Open ayah 3:32 in the Quran reader

Say: 'Obey Allah and obey the Messenger.' If they turn away from this then know that Allah does not love those who refuse to obey Him and His Messenger. 28

28. This marks the conclusion of the first discourse. Reflection upon its contents, particularly the reference to the Battle of Badr, leads one to the conclusion that this section was probably revealed between the battles of Badr and Uhud, i.e. sometime in 3.A.H. The tradition mentioned by Muhammad b. Ishaq has led to the common misunderstanding that the first eighty verses of this surah were revealed on the occasion of the arrival of the deputation from Najran in 9 A.H. (See Ibn Hisham. Sirah, vol. 1, pp. 573 ff., especially p. 576; Ibn Ishaq, Life of Muhammad, tr. A. Guillaume, second impression, London, Oxford, 1968. pp. 270 ff.. especially p. 272 - Ed.) This is not true. In the first place, the introductory section indicates that the surah was revealed much earlier. Second, the Tradition narrated by Muqatil b. Sulayman states explicitly that on the occasion of the arrival of the deputation from Najran only those verses which concern the Prophets John (Yahya) and Jesus ('Isa) (peace be on them) were revealed, and the number of those verses is about thirty.
Ayah 3:33

اِنَّ اللّٰهَ اصْطَفٰۤى اٰدَمَ وَ نُوْحًا وَّ اٰلَ اِبْرٰهِیْمَ وَ اٰلَ عِمْرٰنَ عَلَى الْعٰلَمِیْنَۙ Open ayah 3:33 in the Quran reader

Truly Allah 29 chose Adam and Noah and the descendants of Abraham and of 'Imran 30 above all mankind.

29. This marks the beginning of the second discourse. The period of its revelation is about 9 A.H., when a delegation from the Christian republic of Najran visited the Prophet. Najran lies between the Hijaz and Yaman, and comprised, at that time, seventy-three towns and villages. Its population can be gauged from the fact that an estimated one hundred and twenty thousand men could bear arms. The entire population was Christian and was under the hegemony of three Christian chiefs. The first of these, 'aqib, was the head of the community. The second, sayyid, looked after the collective and political affairs of the people. The third, usquf (bishop) , was their religious leader. (See Ibn Hisham, vol. 1, p. 573; Ibn Ishaq, Life of Muhammad, tr. A. Guillaume, pp. 270 f. - Ed.) When the Prophet annexed Makka, the whole of Arabia became convinced that the future of the area was bound up with him, and deputations from all parts of the peninsula began to visit him. In this connection the three chiefs of Najran came to Madina accompanied by sixty people. As they were not prepared to go to war, the alternatives before them were either to embrace Islam or to live as dhimmis (protected non-Muslim subjects of the Islamic state) . It was on this occasion that God revealed this discourse; it served as an invitation to the people of Najran to accept Islam. 30. 'Imran was the father of Moses and Aaron, and has been mentioned in the Bible as Amram.
Ayah 3:34

ذُرِّیَّةًۢ بَعْضُهَا مِنْۢ بَعْضٍ١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ سَمِیْعٌ عَلِیْمٌۚ Open ayah 3:34 in the Quran reader

(for His messengership) - a people alike and the seed of one another. 31 Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

31. The real error of the Christians lies in considering Jesus to be the son of God and a partner in His godhead, rather than His servant and Messenger. If this misunderstanding was removed it would become quite easy for them to advance towards Islam. Hence at the very outset of the discourse it is mentioned that Adam, Noah and the Prophets in the house of Abraham and 'Imran were all human beings. Even though many Prophets were born in the same family, one from the other, none of them was God. Their merit lay in the fact that God had chosen them to preach His religion and reform the world.
Ayah 3:35

اِذْ قَالَتِ امْرَاَتُ عِمْرٰنَ رَبِّ اِنِّیْ نَذَرْتُ لَكَ مَا فِیْ بَطْنِیْ مُحَرَّرًا فَتَقَبَّلْ مِنِّیْ١ۚ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ السَّمِیْعُ الْعَلِیْمُ Open ayah 3:35 in the Quran reader

(He also heard) when the woman of 'Imran 32 said: 'O Lord! Behold, unto You do I vow that the child in my womb is to be devoted to Your exclusive service. Accept it, then, from me. Surely You alone are All-Hearing, All-Knowing.' 33

32. If the 'woman of 'Imran' is interpreted as the wife of 'Imran, this 'Imran must be different from the 'Imran just mentioned (see the preceding verse) . In the Christian tradition the name of the father of Mary is mentioned as Joachim. If this expression, however, is interpreted to mean 'a woman of the house of 'Imran', it would mean that the mother of Mary belonged to that tribe. There is, unfortunately, no definite source of information that would lead us to prefer one interpretation to the other, as there is no historical record either about who the parents of Mary were, or to which tribes they belonged. Were we to accept the tradition that the mother of John (Yahya) and the mother of Jesus were cousins, then it would be valid to interpret the expression as meaning 'a woman of the tribe of 'Imran' for, according to the Gospel of Luke, the mother of John was one of the daughters of Aaron (Luke 1:5) . 33. That is, God heeds the prayers of His creatures and is well aware of their intentions.
Ayah 3:36

فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْهَا قَالَتْ رَبِّ اِنِّیْ وَضَعْتُهَاۤ اُنْثٰى١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ اَعْلَمُ بِمَا وَضَعَتْ١ؕ وَ لَیْسَ الذَّكَرُ كَالْاُنْثٰى١ۚ وَ اِنِّیْ سَمَّیْتُهَا مَرْیَمَ وَ اِنِّیْۤ اُعِیْذُهَا بِكَ وَ ذُرِّیَّتَهَا مِنَ الشَّیْطٰنِ الرَّجِیْمِ Open ayah 3:36 in the Quran reader

But when she gave birth to a female child, she said: 'O Lord! I have given birth to a female' - and Allah knew full well what she had given birth to - 'and a female is not the same as a male. 34 I have named her Mary and commit her and her offspring to You for protection from Satan, the accursed.'

34. Since a boy is free from some of the physical shortcomings and social disabilities associated with a girl, the mother of Mary thought that had the child been a boy he would have been more able to achieve the purpose for which she had consecrated the child.
Ayah 3:37

فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُوْلٍ حَسَنٍ وَّ اَنْۢبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا١ۙ وَّ كَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِیَّا١ؕۚ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَیْهَا زَكَرِیَّا الْمِحْرَابَ١ۙ وَجَدَ عِنْدَهَا رِزْقًا١ۚ قَالَ یٰمَرْیَمُ اَنّٰى لَكِ هٰذَا١ؕ قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللّٰهِ١ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ یَرْزُقُ مَنْ یَّشَآءُ بِغَیْرِ حِسَابٍ Open ayah 3:37 in the Quran reader

Thereupon her Lord graciously accepted Mary and vouchsafed to her a goodly growth and placed her in the care of Zechariah. Whenever Zechariah 35 visited her in the sanctuary, 36 he found her provided with food. He asked her: 'O Mary, how did this come to you?' She said: 'It is from Allah. Allah provides sustenance to whom He wills beyond all reckoning.'

35. This section refers to that period of Mary's life when she attained her majority and was admitted to the Temple of Jerusalem, and devoted all her time to remembering God. Zechariah, into whose care she was given, was perhaps the husband of her maternal aunt, and was one of the guardians of the Temple. This Zechariah is not to be confused with the Prophet Zechariah whose assassination is mentioned in the Old Testament. 36. The word mihrab usually refers to that niche in mosques where the leader of the prayer stands. In this instance, however, the term signifies the apartments usually built in synagogues and sanctuaries on a raised platform adjacent to the place of congregational worship, which served as the residence of caretakers, servants and beggars. Mary lived in an apartment of this kind and devoted all her time to worship and prayer.
Ayah 3:38

هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِیَّا رَبَّهٗ١ۚ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِیْ مِنْ لَّدُنْكَ ذُرِّیَّةً طَیِّبَةً١ۚ اِنَّكَ سَمِیْعُ الدُّعَآءِ Open ayah 3:38 in the Quran reader

Then Zechariah prayed to his Lord: 'O Lord! Grant me from Yourself out of Your grace the gift of a goodly offspring, for indeed You alone heed all Prayers.' 37

37. Until then Zechariah had no issue. The sight of this pious young girl made him yearn for a child just as virtuous and devout. When he saw that God sent food to her, by dint of His limitless power, he felt hopeful that God might also bless him with issue, despite his old age.
Ayah 3:39

فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلٰٓئِكَةُ وَ هُوَ قَآئِمٌ یُّصَلِّیْ فِی الْمِحْرَابِ١ۙ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ یُبَشِّرُكَ بِیَحْیٰى مُصَدِّقًۢا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَ سَیِّدًا وَّ حَصُوْرًا وَّ نَبِیًّا مِّنَ الصّٰلِحِیْنَ Open ayah 3:39 in the Quran reader

As he stood praying in the sanctuary, the angels called out to him: 'Allah gives you good tidings of John (Yahya) , 38 who shall confirm a command of Allah , 39 shall be outstanding among men, utterly chaste, and a Prophet from among the righteous.'

38. In the Bible his name is mentioned as John the Baptist. For information about him see Matthew 3, 9 and 14: Mark 1 and 6; Luke 1 and 3. 39. The 'command from Allah' signifies Jesus (peace be on him) . His birth took place as the result of an extraordinary command from God and in an unusual manner, hence he is designated as 'the command' or 'word' from Allah.
Ayah 3:40

قَالَ رَبِّ اَنّٰى یَكُوْنُ لِیْ غُلٰمٌ وَّ قَدْ بَلَغَنِیَ الْكِبَرُ وَ امْرَاَتِیْ عَاقِرٌ١ؕ قَالَ كَذٰلِكَ اللّٰهُ یَفْعَلُ مَا یَشَآءُ Open ayah 3:40 in the Quran reader

Zechariah exclaimed: 'My Lord! How shall I have a son when old age has overtaken me and my wife is barren?' He said: Thus shall it be; 40 Allah does what He wills.'

40. God granted Zechariah a son despite his old age and despite the barrenness of his wife.