الشورى
The Consultation
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
am lahum shurakāu sharaʿū lahum mina l-dīni mā lam yadhan bihi l-lahu walawlā kalimatu l-faṣli laquḍiya baynahum wa-inna l-ẓālimīna lahum ʿadhābun alīmun
Or have they partners [i.e., other deities] who have ordained for them a religion to which Allāh has not consented? But if not for the decisive word, it would have been concluded between them. And indeed, the wrongdoers will have a painful punishment.
tarā l-ẓālimīna mush'fiqīna mimmā kasabū wahuwa wāqiʿun bihim wa-alladhīna āmanū waʿamilū l-ṣāliḥāti fī rawḍāti l-janāti lahum mā yashāūna ʿinda rabbihim dhālika huwa l-faḍlu l-kabīru
You will see the wrongdoers fearful of what they have earned, and it will [certainly] befall them. And those who have believed and done righteous deeds will be in lush regions of the gardens [in Paradise] having whatever they will in the presence of their Lord. That is what is the great bounty.
dhālika alladhī yubashiru l-lahu ʿibādahu alladhīna āmanū waʿamilū l-ṣāliḥāti qul lā asalukum ʿalayhi ajran illā l-mawadata fī l-qur'bā waman yaqtarif ḥasanatan nazid lahu fīhā ḥus'nan inna l-laha ghafūrun shakūrun
It is that of which Allāh gives good tidings to His servants who believe and do righteous deeds. Say, [O Muḥammad], "I do not ask you for it [i.e., this message] any payment [but] only good will through [i.e., due to] kinship." And whoever commits a good deed - We will increase for him good therein. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Appreciative.
am yaqūlūna if'tarā ʿalā l-lahi kadhiban fa-in yasha-i l-lahu yakhtim ʿalā qalbika wayamḥu l-lahu l-bāṭila wayuḥiqqu l-ḥaqa bikalimātihi innahu ʿalīmun bidhāti l-ṣudūri
Or do they say, "He has invented about Allāh a lie"? But if Allāh willed, He could seal over your heart. And Allāh eliminates falsehood and establishes the truth by His words. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
wahuwa alladhī yaqbalu l-tawbata ʿan ʿibādihi wayaʿfū ʿani l-sayiāti wayaʿlamu mā tafʿalūna
And it is He who accepts repentance from His servants and pardons misdeeds, and He knows what you do.
wayastajību alladhīna āmanū waʿamilū l-ṣāliḥāti wayazīduhum min faḍlihi wal-kāfirūna lahum ʿadhābun shadīdun
And He answers [the supplication of] those who have believed and done righteous deeds and increases [for] them from His bounty. But the disbelievers will have a severe punishment.
walaw basaṭa l-lahu l-riz'qa liʿibādihi labaghaw fī l-arḍi walākin yunazzilu biqadarin mā yashāu innahu biʿibādihi khabīrun baṣīrun
And if Allāh had extended [excessively] provision for His servants, they would have committed tyranny throughout the earth. But He sends [it] down in an amount which He wills. Indeed He is, of His servants, Aware and Seeing.
wahuwa alladhī yunazzilu l-ghaytha min baʿdi mā qanaṭū wayanshuru raḥmatahu wahuwa l-waliyu l-ḥamīdu
And it is He who sends down the rain after they had despaired and spreads His mercy. And He is the Protector, the Praiseworthy.
wamin āyātihi khalqu l-samāwāti wal-arḍi wamā batha fīhimā min dābbatin wahuwa ʿalā jamʿihim idhā yashāu qadīrun
And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and earth and what He has dispersed throughout them of creatures. And He, for gathering them when He wills, is competent.
wamā aṣābakum min muṣībatin fabimā kasabat aydīkum wayaʿfū ʿan kathīrin
And whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.
wamā antum bimuʿ'jizīna fī l-arḍi wamā lakum min dūni l-lahi min waliyyin walā naṣīrin
And you will not cause failure [to Allāh] upon the earth. And you have not besides Allāh any protector or helper.
wamin āyātihi l-jawāri fī l-baḥri kal-aʿlāmi
And of His signs are the ships in the sea, like mountains.
in yasha yus'kini l-rīḥa fayaẓlalna rawākida ʿalā ẓahrihi inna fī dhālika laāyātin likulli ṣabbārin shakūrin
If He willed, He could still the wind, and they would remain motionless on its surface. Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful.
aw yūbiq'hunna bimā kasabū wayaʿfu ʿan kathīrin
Or He could destroy them for what they earned; but He pardons much.
wayaʿlama alladhīna yujādilūna fī āyātinā mā lahum min maḥīṣin
And [that is so] those who dispute concerning Our signs may know that for them there is no place of escape.
famā ūtītum min shayin famatāʿu l-ḥayati l-dun'yā wamā ʿinda l-lahi khayrun wa-abqā lilladhīna āmanū waʿalā rabbihim yatawakkalūna
So whatever thing you have been given - it is but [for] enjoyment of the worldly life. But what is with Allāh is better and more lasting for those who have believed and upon their Lord rely
wa-alladhīna yajtanibūna kabāira l-ith'mi wal-fawāḥisha wa-idhā mā ghaḍibū hum yaghfirūna
And those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, and when they are angry, they forgive,
wa-alladhīna is'tajābū lirabbihim wa-aqāmū l-ṣalata wa-amruhum shūrā baynahum wamimmā razaqnāhum yunfiqūna
And those who have responded to their Lord and established prayer and whose affair is [determined by] consultation among themselves, and from what We have provided them, they spend,
wa-alladhīna idhā aṣābahumu l-baghyu hum yantaṣirūna
And those who, when tyranny strikes them, they retaliate [in a just manner].
wajazāu sayyi-atin sayyi-atun mith'luhā faman ʿafā wa-aṣlaḥa fa-ajruhu ʿalā l-lahi innahu lā yuḥibbu l-ẓālimīna
And the retribution for an evil act is an evil one like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation - his reward is [due] from Allāh. Indeed, He does not like wrongdoers.