الإسراء
The Night Journey
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
unẓur kayfa faḍḍalnā baʿḍahum ʿalā baʿḍin walalākhiratu akbaru darajātin wa-akbaru tafḍīlan
Look how We have favored [in provision] some of them over others. But the Hereafter is greater in degrees [of difference] and greater in distinction.
lā tajʿal maʿa l-lahi ilāhan ākhara fataqʿuda madhmūman makhdhūlan
Do not make [as equal] with Allāh another deity and [thereby] become censured and forsaken.
waqaḍā rabbuka allā taʿbudū illā iyyāhu wabil-wālidayni iḥ'sānan immā yablughanna ʿindaka l-kibara aḥaduhumā aw kilāhumā falā taqul lahumā uffin walā tanharhumā waqul lahumā qawlan karīman
And your Lord has decreed that you worship not except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.
wa-ikh'fiḍ lahumā janāḥa l-dhuli mina l-raḥmati waqul rabbi ir'ḥamhumā kamā rabbayānī ṣaghīran
And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small."
rabbukum aʿlamu bimā fī nufūsikum in takūnū ṣāliḥīna fa-innahu kāna lil'awwābīna ghafūran
Your Lord is most knowing of what is within yourselves. If you should be righteous [in intention] - then indeed He is ever, to the often returning [to Him], Forgiving.
waāti dhā l-qur'bā ḥaqqahu wal-mis'kīna wa-ib'na l-sabīli walā tubadhir tabdhīran
And give the relative his right, and [also] the poor and the traveler, and do not spend wastefully.
inna l-mubadhirīna kānū ikh'wāna l-shayāṭīni wakāna l-shayṭānu lirabbihi kafūran
Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.
wa-immā tuʿ'riḍanna ʿanhumu ib'tighāa raḥmatin min rabbika tarjūhā faqul lahum qawlan maysūran
And if you [must] turn away from them [i.e., the needy] awaiting mercy from your Lord which you expect, then speak to them a gentle word.
walā tajʿal yadaka maghlūlatan ilā ʿunuqika walā tabsuṭ'hā kulla l-basṭi fataqʿuda malūman maḥsūran
And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent.
inna rabbaka yabsuṭu l-riz'qa liman yashāu wayaqdiru innahu kāna biʿibādihi khabīran baṣīran
Indeed, your Lord extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. Indeed He is ever, concerning His servants, Aware and Seeing.
walā taqtulū awlādakum khashyata im'lāqin naḥnu narzuquhum wa-iyyākum inna qatlahum kāna khiṭ'an kabīran
And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin.
walā taqrabū l-zinā innahu kāna fāḥishatan wasāa sabīlan
And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.
walā taqtulū l-nafsa allatī ḥarrama l-lahu illā bil-ḥaqi waman qutila maẓlūman faqad jaʿalnā liwaliyyihi sul'ṭānan falā yus'rif fī l-qatli innahu kāna manṣūran
And do not kill the soul [i.e., person] which Allāh has forbidden, except by right. And whoever is killed unjustly - We have given his heir authority, but let him not exceed limits in [the matter of] taking life. Indeed, he has been supported [by the law].
walā taqrabū māla l-yatīmi illā bi-allatī hiya aḥsanu ḥattā yablugha ashuddahu wa-awfū bil-ʿahdi inna l-ʿahda kāna masūlan
And do not approach the property of an orphan, except in the way that is best, until he reaches maturity. And fulfill [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned.
wa-awfū l-kayla idhā kil'tum wazinū bil-qis'ṭāsi l-mus'taqīmi dhālika khayrun wa-aḥsanu tawīlan
And give full measure when you measure, and weigh with an even [i.e., honest] balance. That is the best [way] and best in result.
walā taqfu mā laysa laka bihi ʿil'mun inna l-samʿa wal-baṣara wal-fuāda kullu ulāika kāna ʿanhu masūlan
And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned.
walā tamshi fī l-arḍi maraḥan innaka lan takhriqa l-arḍa walan tablugha l-jibāla ṭūlan
And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height.
kullu dhālika kāna sayyi-uhu ʿinda rabbika makrūhan
All that [i.e., the aforementioned] - its evil is ever, in the sight of your Lord, detested.
dhālika mimmā awḥā ilayka rabbuka mina l-ḥik'mati walā tajʿal maʿa l-lahi ilāhan ākhara fatul'qā fī jahannama malūman madḥūran
That is from what your Lord has revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], of wisdom. And, [O mankind], do not make [as equal] with Allāh another deity, lest you be thrown into Hell, blamed and banished.
afa-aṣfākum rabbukum bil-banīna wa-ittakhadha mina l-malāikati ināthan innakum lataqūlūna qawlan ʿaẓīman
Then, has your Lord chosen you for [having] sons and taken [i.e., adopted] from among the angels daughters? Indeed, you say a grave saying.