البقرة
The Cow
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
wamin'hum man yaqūlu rabbanā ātinā fī l-dun'yā ḥasanatan wafī l-ākhirati ḥasanatan waqinā ʿadhāba l-nāri
But among them is he who says, "Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."
ulāika lahum naṣībun mimmā kasabū wal-lahu sarīʿu l-ḥisābi
Those will have a share of what they have earned, and Allāh is swift in account.
wa-udh'kurū l-laha fī ayyāmin maʿdūdātin faman taʿajjala fī yawmayni falā ith'ma ʿalayhi waman ta-akhara falā ith'ma ʿalayhi limani ittaqā wa-ittaqū l-laha wa-iʿ'lamū annakum ilayhi tuḥ'sharūna
And remember Allāh during [specific] numbered days. Then whoever hastens [his departure] in two days - there is no sin upon him; and whoever delays [until the third] - there is no sin upon him - for him who fears Allāh. And fear Allāh and know that unto Him you will be gathered.
wamina l-nāsi man yuʿ'jibuka qawluhu fī l-ḥayati l-dun'yā wayush'hidu l-laha ʿalā mā fī qalbihi wahuwa aladdu l-khiṣāmi
And of the people is he whose speech pleases you in worldly life, and he calls Allāh to witness as to what is in his heart, yet he is the fiercest of opponents.
wa-idhā tawallā saʿā fī l-arḍi liyuf'sida fīhā wayuh'lika l-ḥartha wal-nasla wal-lahu lā yuḥibbu l-fasāda
And when he goes away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allāh does not like corruption.
wa-idhā qīla lahu ittaqi l-laha akhadhathu l-ʿizatu bil-ith'mi faḥasbuhu jahannamu walabi'sa l-mihādu
And when it is said to him, "Fear Allāh," pride in the sin takes hold of him. Sufficient for him is Hellfire, and how wretched is the resting place.
wamina l-nāsi man yashrī nafsahu ib'tighāa marḍāti l-lahi wal-lahu raūfun bil-ʿibādi
And of the people is he who sells himself, seeking means to the approval of Allāh. And Allāh is Kind to [His] servants.
yāayyuhā alladhīna āmanū ud'khulū fī l-sil'mi kāffatan walā tattabiʿū khuṭuwāti l-shayṭāni innahu lakum ʿaduwwun mubīnun
O you who have believed, enter into Islām completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.
fa-in zalaltum min baʿdi mā jāatkumu l-bayinātu fa-iʿ'lamū anna l-laha ʿazīzun ḥakīmun
But if you slip [i.e., deviate] after clear proofs have come to you, then know that Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
hal yanẓurūna illā an yatiyahumu l-lahu fī ẓulalin mina l-ghamāmi wal-malāikatu waquḍiya l-amru wa-ilā l-lahi tur'jaʿu l-umūru
Do they await but that Allāh should come to them in covers of clouds and the angels [as well] and the matter is [then] decided? And to Allāh [all] matters are returned.
sal banī is'rāīla kam ātaynāhum min āyatin bayyinatin waman yubaddil niʿ'mata l-lahi min baʿdi mā jāathu fa-inna l-laha shadīdu l-ʿiqābi
Ask the Children of Israel how many a sign of evidence We have given them. And whoever exchanges the favor of Allāh [for disbelief] after it has come to him - then indeed, Allāh is severe in penalty.
zuyyina lilladhīna kafarū l-ḥayatu l-dun'yā wayaskharūna mina alladhīna āmanū wa-alladhīna ittaqaw fawqahum yawma l-qiyāmati wal-lahu yarzuqu man yashāu bighayri ḥisābin
Beautified for those who disbelieve is the life of this world, and they ridicule those who believe. But those who fear Allāh are above them on the Day of Resurrection. And Allāh gives provision to whom He wills without account.
kāna l-nāsu ummatan wāḥidatan fabaʿatha l-lahu l-nabiyīna mubashirīna wamundhirīna wa-anzala maʿahumu l-kitāba bil-ḥaqi liyaḥkuma bayna l-nāsi fīmā ikh'talafū fīhi wamā ikh'talafa fīhi illā alladhīna ūtūhu min baʿdi mā jāathumu l-bayinātu baghyan baynahum fahadā l-lahu alladhīna āmanū limā ikh'talafū fīhi mina l-ḥaqi bi-idh'nihi wal-lahu yahdī man yashāu ilā ṣirāṭin mus'taqīmin
Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allāh sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over it [i.e., the Scripture] except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allāh guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allāh guides whom He wills to a straight path.
am ḥasib'tum an tadkhulū l-janata walammā yatikum mathalu alladhīna khalaw min qablikum massathumu l-basāu wal-ḍarāu wazul'zilū ḥattā yaqūla l-rasūlu wa-alladhīna āmanū maʿahu matā naṣru l-lahi alā inna naṣra l-lahi qarībun
Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, "When is the help of Allāh?" Unquestionably, the help of Allāh is near.
yasalūnaka mādhā yunfiqūna qul mā anfaqtum min khayrin falil'wālidayni wal-aqrabīna wal-yatāmā wal-masākīni wa-ib'ni l-sabīli wamā tafʿalū min khayrin fa-inna l-laha bihi ʿalīmun
They ask you, [O Muḥammad], what they should spend. Say, "Whatever you spend of good is [to be] for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveler. And whatever you do of good - indeed, Allāh is Knowing of it."
kutiba ʿalaykumu l-qitālu wahuwa kur'hun lakum waʿasā an takrahū shayan wahuwa khayrun lakum waʿasā an tuḥibbū shayan wahuwa sharrun lakum wal-lahu yaʿlamu wa-antum lā taʿlamūna
Battle has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allāh knows, while you know not.
yasalūnaka ʿani l-shahri l-ḥarāmi qitālin fīhi qul qitālun fīhi kabīrun waṣaddun ʿan sabīli l-lahi wakuf'run bihi wal-masjidi l-ḥarāmi wa-ikh'rāju ahlihi min'hu akbaru ʿinda l-lahi wal-fit'natu akbaru mina l-qatli walā yazālūna yuqātilūnakum ḥattā yaruddūkum ʿan dīnikum ini is'taṭāʿū waman yartadid minkum ʿan dīnihi fayamut wahuwa kāfirun fa-ulāika ḥabiṭat aʿmāluhum fī l-dun'yā wal-ākhirati wa-ulāika aṣḥābu l-nāri hum fīhā khālidūna
They ask you about the sacred month - about fighting therein. Say, "Fighting therein is great [sin], but averting [people] from the way of Allāh and disbelief in Him and [preventing access to] al-Masjid al-Ḥarām and the expulsion of its people therefrom are greater [evil] in the sight of Allāh. And fitnah is greater than killing." And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able. And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever - for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
inna alladhīna āmanū wa-alladhīna hājarū wajāhadū fī sabīli l-lahi ulāika yarjūna raḥmata l-lahi wal-lahu ghafūrun raḥīmun
Indeed, those who have believed and those who have emigrated and fought in the cause of Allāh - those expect the mercy of Allāh. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
yasalūnaka ʿani l-khamri wal-maysiri qul fīhimā ith'mun kabīrun wamanāfiʿu lilnnāsi wa-ith'muhumā akbaru min nafʿihimā wayasalūnaka mādhā yunfiqūna quli l-ʿafwa kadhālika yubayyinu l-lahu lakumu l-āyāti laʿallakum tatafakkarūna
They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they should spend. Say, "The excess [beyond needs]." Thus Allāh makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought
fī l-dun'yā wal-ākhirati wayasalūnaka ʿani l-yatāmā qul iṣ'lāḥun lahum khayrun wa-in tukhāliṭūhum fa-ikh'wānukum wal-lahu yaʿlamu l-muf'sida mina l-muṣ'liḥi walaw shāa l-lahu la-aʿnatakum inna l-laha ʿazīzun ḥakīmun
To this world and the Hereafter. And they ask you about orphans. Say, "Improvement for them is best. And if you mix your affairs with theirs - they are your brothers. And Allāh knows the corrupter from the amender. And if Allāh had willed, He could have put you in difficulty. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise."