Surah-23 362

SURAH-23

AL-MUMINUN
Al-Muminun, “the Believers,” takes its name from its verse 1 in which the
believers have been declared successful. It is considered to be the last Surah or one
of the last Surahs revealed in Makkah just before the migration of the Prophet to
Madinah in 622 A.D.

This Surah begins with the verses (from 1-11) wherein certain virtues and
attributes have been described which are required to make a true believer, and then
the believers are given good news of Paradise to which they would be the heirs. It is
reported that when the Surah was revealed, the Prophet declared: “I have been given
some verses. If anyone acts upon them, he will most surely go to Paradise.” Then he
recited first eleven verses of this Surah. (Tirmizi, Nisai).

After announcing the virtues of the believers, the Surah (in verses 12-14)
discloses such scientific information about the birth of man which was then absolutely
unknown and which has come to the knowledge of a medical professional of present
age only recently. In next few verses, the Surah describes Allah’s creative powers and
then counts the favours of Him to man.

The central theme of the Surah is, however, the same as of other Makkan Surahs
of its period, and that is the stress on Tauhid (Oneness of God), rejection of false
gods, the sameness of the message of all Prophets, the resurrection of the dead, the
reward and punishment in the Hereafter, and the fact that the messengers (and also
their believers) are one community and their religion is one religion. A very strong
argument in favour of oneness of God has been given in verse 91. Stories of the
earlier Prophets such as Noah, Hud, Moses and Aaron have been described to indicate
the fate of the rejecters of faith and in order to persuade the disbelievers to accept
Islam.

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Lesson-204 : Attributes of the believers

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the
Most Merciful.
1. Successful indeed are the believers.

2. Who are humble in their prayer (Salat).

3. And who avoid vain talk.

4. And who actively pay obligatory charity

(Zakat).
5. And who guard their private parts (i.e.
chastity).
6. Except from their wives or those
(bondwomen) whom their right hands possess, for
in that case they are not blameworthy.

7. But whoever seeks beyond that, such are

transgressors.
8. And who keep their trusts and covenants
faithfully.
9. And who guard their prayers strictly.

10. These are indeed the heirs.

11. Who will inherit Paradise; therein they will

live forever.
12. Indeed, We created man from an essence of
clay.
13. Then placed him as a drop in a safe lodging.

14. Then We made the drop into a clot, then We

made the clot a little lump, then We made the little
lump into bones, then clothed the bones with
flesh, and then We brought it forth another
creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of all
creators!
15. Then after that, you will certainly die.

16. Then on the Day of Resurrection, you will

surely be raised to life again.
17. And We have indeed created seven paths (or
heavens) above you, and We are never unaware of
creation.

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18. And We send down water from the sky in

measure and We give it a lodging in the earth, and
verily, We have power to withdraw it.

19. Then We produce for you with it gardens of

date-palms and grapes, wherein is much fruit for
you and from it you eat.

20. And a tree (olive) which comes forth from

Mount Sinai that grows oil and is a relish for the
eaters.

21. And verily, there is a lesson for you in the

cattle. We give you to drink (milk) from that
which is in their bellies, and in them there are
many other benefits for you, and some of them
you eat.
22. And on them and on the ships you ride.

Lesson-205 : Noah
23. And verily, We sent Noah to his nation, and he
said: O my nation! Worship Allah. You have no
other God save Him. Will you not then fear Him?

24. But the chiefs of those who disbelieved among

his nation said: He is no more than a man like you.
He only seeks to make himself superior to you (by
claiming prophet-hood). Had Allah wished (to
send messengers), He could have sent down
angels? We have never heard such a thing among
our fathers of old.
25. He is only a man in whom there is some
madness. So wait with him for a while.
26. He said: My Lord! Help me because they have
denied me.
27. So We inspired him saying: Build the ship
under Our Eyes and under Our guidance. Then,
when Our command comes and the oven gushes
forth water, take on board a pair (of a male and
female) from every species, and take your family,
except those of them on whom the order of
punishment has already gone forth. And do not
plead with Me on behalf of those who have done
wrong. Verily, they are doomed to be drowned.

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28. And when you have embarked on the ship, you

and those who are with you, then say: All praise
be to Allah who has saved us from the nation of
wrong-doers.
29. And pray: O my Lord! Make me to land at a
blessed landing place, for You are Best of all who
bring to land.

30. And verily, in this there are lessons, and We

surely put (mankind) to test.
31. Then, We raised after them a new generation.

32. And We sent to them a messenger from among

them saying: Worship Allah. You have no other
God but Him. Will you not then fear Him?

33. But the chiefs of his nation who disbelieved

and denied the meeting of the Hereafter and whom
We had given prosperity in the life of the world,
said: This is only a man like you, he eats of what
you eat and drinks of what you drink.

34. If you obey a man like yourselves, you surely,

would be losers.
35. Does he promise you that when you are dead
and have become dust and bones, you shall again
be brought to life?

36. Far off, very far off is that which you are
promised.
37. There is nothing (i.e. no other life) but our life
of the world; we die here and we live here, and we
are not going to be raised again.

38. He is only a man who has fabricated a lie

about Allah, and we are not going to believe him.

39. He said: My Lord! Help me as they have

denied me.
40. Allah said: In a little while they surely will be
regretful.

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41. So the Awful cry (or Blast) rightly seized them

and We made them as rubbish (or wreckage). So
gone is the nation of wrong-doers.

42. Then We raised after them other generations.

43. No nation can prepone their term, nor can they

postpone it.
44. Then We sent Our messengers one after
another. Whenever there came to a nation its
messenger, they denied him; so We caused them
to follow one another (to destruction) and We
made them history (or stories). So gone are the
people who believe not.
Lesson-206 : Moses sent to Pharaoh
45. Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron
with our tokens and a clear authority.

46. Unto Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they behaved

arrogantly for they were a self-exalting people.
47. And they said: Should we believe in two men
like ourselves, while their people are our slaves?

48. So they denied both of them and became of

those who were destroyed.
49. And We verily gave to Moses the Scripture so
that they might be rightly guided.
50. And We made the son of Mary and his mother
a sign (for mankind), and We gave them refuge on
a high place, a place of security (or rest) and
water.
51. O Messengers! Eat of pure (and good) things
and do good deeds. Surely, I am Aware of what
you do.

52. And verily, this your religion is one religion

and I am your Lord, so fear Me.

53. But they have broken their religion among

them into sects, and each sect is rejoicing with
what they have (of the belief).

54. So leave them in their heedlessness for a

while.

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55. Do they think that in the wealth and sons

which We provide them.
56. We hasten unto them with good things. Nay,
but they do not perceive.
57. Verily, those who live in awe for fear of their
Lord;
58. And those who believe in the revelations of
their Lord,
59. And those who do not attribute partners to
their Lord.
60. And those who give (in charity) what they give
and their hearts are full of fear because they are
sure to return to their Lord.

61. It is they who hasten for the good deeds and

they are foremost in doing them.

62. And We task not any soul beyond its capacity,

and with Us is a Record (of deeds) which speaks
the truth, and they will not be wronged.

63. Nay, but their hearts are in ignorance of this

(Quran). And they have other deeds besides that
which they are doing.

64. Till when We seize their well-to-do with

punishment, behold! Then they start crying in
supplication.

65. Do not supplicate this day! Surely, you will

not be helped by Us.
66. Indeed My revelations were recited to you, but
you used to turn back on your heels.

67. In pride, you passed night in talking nonsense

about it (the Quran).
Lesson-207 : The disbelievers
68. Have they not pondered over the word of
Allah or has there come to them what had not
come to their forefathers?

69. Or is it because they do not recognize their

messenger, so they deny him.
70. Or they say that there is madness in him? Nay,
but he has come to them with the Truth; and most
of them dislike the Truth.

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71. And if the Truth had followed their desires,

verily the heavens and the earth and whosoever is
therein would have been disordered. Nay, We
have brought to them their Reminder, but from
their Reminder they turn away.

72. Or is it that you (O Muhammad) are asking of

them any fee (for your services as a messenger)?
But the bounty of your Lord is better, and He is
the Best of those who provide sustenance.
73. In fact you call them indeed to a straight path.

74. And verily, those who believe not in the

Hereafter are indeed deviating from the path.

75. And even if We have mercy on them and

relieve them of the harm afflicting them, they
would still persist in their rebellion, wandering
blindly.
76. And indeed We have seized them with
punishment but they do not humble themselves
before their Lord nor do they submit.

77. Until when We open for them the gate of

extreme punishment, behold! They are plunged in
despair.

78. It is He Who has created for you ears and eyes

and hearts, yet you give little thanks (to Him).

79. And it is He Who has created you in the earth

and to Him you shall all be gathered.
80. And it is He Who gives life and causes death
and in His control is the alternation of the night
and day. Will you not then understand?

81. Nay, but they say the like of that which the
former people had said.
82. They say: When we are dead and have become
mere dust and bones, shall we then be raised to
life again?

83. Indeed, we were promised this, we and our

forefathers before, but this is no more than the
stories of the former people.

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84. Say: To whom belongs the earth and

everything which is in it? (Tell me) if you know!

85. They will promptly say: To Allah. Say: Will

you not then remember?
86. Say: Who is Lord of the seven heavens, and
Lord of the Great Throne?

87. They will at once say: To Allah (belong all

these). Say: Will you not then fear Him?
88. Say: In Whose hand is the dominion over all
things and He protects while against Whom there
is no protector? (Tell me) if you know!

89. They will immediately say: To Allah (all these

belong). Say: How then are you bewitched?
90. Nay, but We have brought them the Truth, and
verily, they are the liars.
91. Allah has not taken any son, nor is there any
god along with Him. Had it been so, then each god
would have taken away what he had created, and
some of them would have tried to overcome
others. Glorified be Allah above all that they
attribute to Him.
92. He is the Knower of the unseen and the seen!
Exalted be He over all that they associate as
partners to Him.
Lesson-208 : Scene of the Judgment Day
93. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord! If you show
me that (torment) with which they are threatened
(in my lifetime).
94. My Lord! Then do not include me among the
wrong-doing people.
95. And indeed We have the power to show you
that with which We have threatened them.
96. Repel evil with that which is better. We are
fully Aware of that which they utter.

97. And say: O my Lord! I seek refuge with You

from the evil suggestions (or promptings) of the
devils.
98. And I seek refuge with You, my Lord, lest
they come near me.
99. Until, when death comes to one of them (i.e.
the disbelievers), he says: My Lord! Send me
back.

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100. So that I may do good deeds in that

(world) which I have left behind! Not at all! It is
but a word that he speaks. And behind them is a
barrier until the Day when they will be
resurrected.

101. And when the Trumpet is blown there

will be no kinship among them that Day, nor will
they ask about each other.

102. Then those whose scales (of good deeds)

are heavy, they are such who indeed will attain
success (salvation).
103. And those whose scales (of good deeds)
are light, they are such who cause loss to
themselves, and in Hell they will abide.

104. The Fire (of Hell) will burn their faces

and they will be in much hardship therein.
105. (It will be said to them): Were not My
revelations recited to you, and then you used to
deny them?

106. They will say: Our Lord! Our misfortune

overcame us, and we were an erring people.

107. Our Lord! Bring us out of it (i.e. the

Hell)! If we ever return to evil, then indeed we
shall be wrongdoers.
108. Allah will say: You remain herein with
disgrace, and speak you not to Me.
109. Verily, there was a party of My slaves
who used to say: O our Lord! We believe in You,
so forgive us, and have mercy on us for You are
the Best of all who show mercy.
110. But you took them for a laughing stock,
till they made you forget My remembrance, while
you went on ridiculing them.

111. Verily, I have rewarded them this Day

because of their patience; they are indeed such
who are successful.

112. He will (then) ask: How long you stayed

in the earth in terms of years?
113. They will say: We stayed a day or part of
a day, but ask those who keep account.

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114. He will say: You stayed but a little if you

only knew.
115. Did you think that We had created you
without any purpose and that you will not be
returned to Us?

116. Therefore, exalted be Allah, the True

King! There is no God save Him, the Lord of the
Graceful Throne.

117. Whoever invokes another god besides

Allah, of whom he has no proof, then his
reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely, such
disbelievers will never attain success.
118. And say (O Muhammad): My Lord!
Forgive and have mercy, for You are the Best of
all who show mercy.

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