Alif Lam Mim.
Do people think they will be left alone because they say, "We believe," and not be tested?
We tested those before them, and God will surely distinguish those who are truthful from those who are liars.
Or do those who commit evil deeds think they can outrun Us? How badly they judge!
Whoever hopes to meet God, the appointed time of God is surely coming. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
Whoever strives, strives only for their own soul. God is truly free of need of all creation.
Those who believe and do righteous deeds, We will surely erase their sins and reward them according to the best of what they used to do.
We have commanded people to treat their parents with kindness. But if they pressure you to associate with Me what you have no knowledge of, do not obey them. To Me is your return, and I will inform you of what you used to do.
Those who believe and do righteous deeds, We will surely admit them among the righteous.
Among people are those who say, "We believe in God," but when they suffer harm for God's sake, they treat the persecution of people as if it were the punishment of God. Yet if victory comes from your Lord, they will surely say, "We were with you." Does God not know best what is in the hearts of all creation?
God will surely distinguish those who believe from the hypocrites.
Those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Follow our way, and we will bear your sins." But they will not bear any of their sins. They are liars.
They will surely carry their own burdens and other burdens along with their own, and they will surely be questioned on the Day of Resurrection about what they used to fabricate.
We sent Noah to his people, and he stayed among them for a thousand years minus fifty. Then the flood seized them while they were wrongdoers.
We saved him and the companions of the ark, and We made it a sign for all peoples.
Abraham, when he said to his people, "Worship God and be mindful of Him. That is better for you, if only you knew."
You worship nothing but idols instead of God, and you fabricate lies. Those you worship instead of God have no power to provide for you. So seek provision from God, worship Him, and be grateful to Him. To Him you will be returned.
If you deny, nations before you also denied. The messenger's only duty is clear delivery.
Have they not seen how God originates creation and then repeats it? That is easy for God.
Say, "Travel through the earth and observe how He originated creation. Then God will bring about the final creation. God has power over all things."
He punishes whom He wills and shows mercy to whom He wills. To Him you will be returned.
You cannot escape Him on earth or in heaven. You have no protector or helper besides God.
Those who reject God's signs and the meeting with Him, they have despaired of My mercy, and for them is a painful punishment.
His people's only response was to say, "Kill him or burn him!" But God saved him from the fire. In that are signs for people who believe.
He said, "You have taken idols instead of God only as a bond of affection between you in this worldly life. Then on the Day of Resurrection, you will disown one another and curse one another. Your refuge will be the Fire, and you will have no helpers."
Lot believed in him. He said, "I am emigrating to my Lord. He is the Almighty, the Wise."
We granted him Isaac and Jacob, and We placed prophethood and scripture among his descendants. We gave him his reward in this world, and in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous.
Lot, when he said to his people, "You commit an obscenity that no one in all the worlds has ever committed before you."
"Do you approach men, cut off the road, and commit evil in your gatherings?" His people's only response was to say, "Bring us God's punishment if you are truthful."
He said, "My Lord, help me against these corrupt people."
When Our messengers came to Abraham with good news, they said, "We are going to destroy the people of this town, for its people have been wrongdoers."
He said, "But Lot is there." They said, "We know well who is there. We will save him and his family, except his wife; she will be among those who stay behind."
When Our messengers came to Lot, he was distressed and felt powerless to protect them. They said, "Do not fear and do not grieve. We will save you and your family, except your wife; she will be among those who stay behind."
We are bringing down upon the people of this town a punishment from the sky because of their wickedness.
We have left from it a clear sign for people who reason.
To Midian We sent their brother Shuaib. He said, "My people, worship God and hope for the Last Day, and do not spread corruption in the land."
But they rejected him, so the earthquake seized them, and by morning they lay lifeless in their homes.
And Aad and Thamud: their fate is clear to you from their ruined dwellings. Satan made their deeds seem appealing to them and diverted them from the path, even though they were capable of seeing.
And Qarun, Pharaoh, and Haman: Moses came to them with clear proofs, but they acted arrogantly in the land. They could not escape.
Each one We seized for their sin. Against some We sent a storm of stones, some were taken by the blast, some We caused the earth to swallow, and some We drowned. God did not wrong them; they wronged themselves.
The likeness of those who take protectors other than God is that of a spider spinning a web. The flimsiest of all homes is the spider's web, if only they knew.
God knows whatever they call upon besides Him. He is the Almighty, the Wise.
These are the parables We set forth for people, but none grasp them except those who have knowledge.
God created the heavens and the earth in truth. In that is a sign for the believers.
Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Prayer restrains from shameful and evil deeds, and the remembrance of God is greater. God knows what you do.
Do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in the best manner, except for those among them who do wrong. Say, "We believe in what has been sent down to us and what has been sent down to you. Our God and your God is one, and to Him we submit."
Thus We have sent down the Book to you. Those to whom We gave the Book believe in it, and among these people are some who believe in it. None reject Our revelations except the disbelievers.
You never recited any book before this, nor did you write one with your own hand. Otherwise, the falsifiers would have had reason to doubt.
Rather, it is clear verses preserved in the hearts of those given knowledge. None reject Our verses except the wrongdoers.
They say, "Why have no miracles been sent down to him from his Lord?" Say, "Miracles are only with God, and I am only a clear warner."
Is it not enough for them that We have sent down to you the Book, recited to them? In that is mercy and a reminder for people who believe.
Say, "God is sufficient as a witness between me and you. He knows what is in the heavens and the earth. Those who believe in falsehood and reject God, they are the losers."
They urge you to hasten the punishment. Were it not for an appointed term, the punishment would have already come to them. It will come upon them suddenly while they are unaware.
They urge you to hasten the punishment, but Hell will surely engulf the disbelievers.
On the Day when the punishment covers them from above and from beneath their feet, He will say, "Taste what you used to do."
O My servants who believe, My earth is vast, so worship Me alone.
Every soul will taste death. Then to Us you will be returned.
Those who believe and do righteous deeds, We will settle them in lofty chambers of Paradise beneath which rivers flow, dwelling there forever. Excellent is the reward of those who work.
Those who are patient and place their trust in their Lord.
How many creatures do not carry their own provision? God provides for them and for you. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
If you asked them, "Who created the heavens and the earth and made the sun and moon subservient?" they would surely say, "God." So how are they deluded?
God expands provision for whomever He wills among His servants and restricts it. God knows all things.
If you asked them, "Who sends down water from the sky and revives the earth after its death?" they would surely say, "God." Say, "Praise be to God." But most of them do not reason.
This worldly life is nothing but amusement and play. The home of the Hereafter is the true life, if only they knew.
When they board a ship, they call upon God, sincere in their devotion to Him. But when He delivers them safely to shore, they associate others with Him.
Let them deny what We have given them and enjoy themselves. They will come to know.
Do they not see that We have made a secure sanctuary while people are snatched away all around them? Will they believe in falsehood and deny the blessing of God?
Who is more unjust than one who fabricates lies against God or denies the truth when it comes to him? Is there not a dwelling in Hell for the disbelievers?
Those who strive for Us, We will surely guide them to Our ways. God is with those who do good.