His people’s arrogant leaders said, ‘Shuayb, we will expel you and your fellow believers from our town unless you return to our religion.’ He said, ‘What! Even if we detest it

If we were to return to your religion after God has saved us from it, we would be inventing lies about Him: there is no way we could return to it- unless by the will of God our Lord: in His knowledge He comprehends everything. We put our trust in God. Our Lord, expose the truth [and judge] between us and our people, for You are the best judge.’

The disbelieving leaders among his people said, ‘You will certainly be losers if you follow Shuayb’

an earthquake seized them: by the next morning they were lying dead in their homes

it was as if those who had rejected Shuayb had never lived there; it was those who had rejected Shuayb who were the losers

so he turned away from them, saying, ‘My people, I delivered my Lord’s messages to you and gave you sincere advice, so why should I grieve for people who refused to believe?’

Whenever We sent a prophet to a town, We afflicted its [disbelieving] people with suffering and hardships, so that they might humble themselves [before God]

and then We changed their hardship into prosperity, until they multiplied. But then they said, ‘Hardship and affluence also befell our forefathers,’ and so We took them suddenly, unawares

If the people of those towns had believed and been mindful of God, We would have showered them with blessings from the heavens and earth, but they rejected the truth and so We punished them for their misdeeds

Do the people of these towns feel secure that Our punishment will not come upon them by night, while they are asleep

Do the people of these towns feel secure that Our punishment will not come upon them by day, while they are at play

Do they feel secure against God’s plan? Only the losers feel secure against God’s plan

Is it not clear to those who inherit the land from former generations that We can punish them too for their sins if We will? And seal up their hearts so that they cannot hear

We have told you [Prophet] the stories of those towns: messengers came to them, and clear signs, but they would not believe in what they had already rejected- in this way God seals the hearts of disbelievers

We found that most of them did not honour their commitments; We found that most of them were defiant

After these, We sent Moses to Pharaoh and his leading supporters with Our signs, but they rejected them. See the fate of those who used to spread corruption

Moses said, ‘Pharaoh, I am a messenger from the Lord of all the Worlds

duty-bound to say nothing about God but the truth, and I have brought you a clear sign from your Lord. Let the Children of Israel go with me.’

He said, ‘Produce this sign you have brought, if you are telling the truth.’

So Moses threw his staff and- lo and behold!- it was a snake, clear to all

and then he pulled out his hand and- lo and behold!- it was white for all to see

The leaders among Pharaoh’s people said, ‘This man is a learned sorcerer

He means to drive you out of your land!’ Pharaoh said, ‘What do you suggest?’

They said, ‘Delay him and his brother for a while, and send messengers to all the cities

to summon every learned sorcerer to you.’

The sorcerers came to Pharaoh and said, ‘Shall we be rewarded if we win?’

and he replied, ‘Yes, and you will join my inner court.’

So they said, ‘Moses, will you throw first or shall we?’

He said, ‘You throw,’ and they did, casting a spell on people’s eyes, striking fear into them, and bringing about great sorcery

Then We inspired Moses, ‘Throw your staff,’ and- lo and behold!––it devoured their fakery

The truth was confirmed and what they had produced came to nothing

they were defeated there and utterly humiliated

The sorcerers fell to their knees

and said, ‘We believe in the Lord of the Worlds

the Lord of Moses and Aaron!’

but Pharaoh said, ‘How dare you believe in Him before I have given you permission? This is a plot you have hatched to drive the people out of this city! Soon you will see

I will cut off your alternate hands and feet and then crucify you all!’

They said, ‘And so we shall return to our Lord

Your only grievance against us is that we believed in the signs of our Lord when they came to us. Our Lord, pour steadfastness upon us and let us die in devotion to You.’

The leaders among Pharaoh’s people said to him, ‘But are you going to leave Moses and his people to spread corruption in the land and forsake you and your gods?’ He replied, ‘We shall kill their male children, sparing only the females: We have complete power over them.’

Moses said to his people, ‘Turn to God for help and be steadfast: the earth belongs to God- He gives it as their own to whichever of His servants He chooses- and the happy future belongs to those who are mindful of Him,’

and they replied, ‘We were being persecuted long before you came to us, and since then too.’ He said, ‘Your Lord may well destroy your enemy and make you successors to the land to see how you behave.’

We inflicted years of drought and crop failure on Pharaoh’s people, so that they might take heed

then, when something good came their way, they said, ‘This is our due!’. When something bad came, they ascribed it to the evil omen of Moses and those with him, but their ‘evil omen’ was really from God, though most of them did not realize it

They said, ‘We will not believe in you, no matter what signs you produce to cast a spell on us,’

and so We let loose on them the flood, locusts, lice, frogs, blood- all clear signs. They were arrogant, wicked people

They would say, whenever a plague struck them, ‘Moses, pray to your Lord for us by virtue of the promise He has made to you: if you relieve us of the plague, we will believe you and let the Children of Israel go with you,’

but when We relieved them of the plague and gave them a fixed period [in which to fulfil their promise]- lo and behold!- they broke it

And so, because they rejected Our signs and paid them no heed, We exacted retribution from them: We drowned them in the sea

and We made those who had been oppressed succeed to both the east and the west of the land that We had blessed. Your Lord’s good promise to the Children of Israel was fulfilled, because of their patience, and We destroyed what Pharaoh and his people were making and what they were building

We took the Children of Israel across the sea, but when they came upon a people who worshipped idols, they said, ‘Moses, make a god for us like theirs.’ He said, ‘You really are foolish people

[the cult] these people practise is doomed to destruction, and what they have been doing is useless

Why should I seek any god other than God for you, when He has favoured you over all other people?’

Remember how We saved you from Pharaoh’s people, who were subjecting you to the worst of sufferings, killing your male children, sparing only your females- that was a mighty ordeal from your Lord

We appointed thirty nights for Moses, then added ten more: the term set by his Lord was completed in forty nights. Moses said to his brother Aaron, ‘Take my place among my people: act rightly and do not follow the way of those who spread corruption.’

When Moses came for the appointment, and his Lord spoke to him, he said, ‘My Lord, show Yourself to me: let me see You!’ He said, ‘You will never see Me, but look at that mountain: if it remains standing firm, you will see Me,’ and when his Lord revealed Himself to the mountain, He made it crumble: Moses fell down unconscious. When he recovered, he said, ‘Glory be to You! To You I turn in repentance! I am the first to believe!’

He said, ‘Moses, I have raised you above other people by [giving you] My messages and speaking to you: hold on to what I have given you; be one of those who give thanks.’

We inscribed everything for him in the Tablets which taught and explained everything, saying, ‘Hold on to them firmly and urge your people to hold fast to their excellent teachings. I will show you the end of those who rebel

I will keep distracted from My signs those who behave arrogantly on Earth without any right, and who, even if they see every sign, will not believe in them; they will not take the way of right guidance if they see it, but will take the way of error if they see that. This is because they denied Our signs and paid them no heed

the deeds of those who denied Our signs and the Meeting of the Hereafter will come to nothing- why should they be repaid for anything other than what they have done?’

In his absence, Moses’ people took to worshipping a mere shape that made sounds like a cow- a calf made from their jewellery. Could they not see that it did not speak to them or guide them in any way? Yet they took it for worship: they were evildoers

When, with much wringing of hands, they perceived that they were doing wrong, they said, ‘If our Lord does not have mercy and forgive us, we shall be the losers.’

On his return to his people, angry and aggrieved, Moses said, ‘How foul and evil is what you have done in my absence! Were you so keen to bring your Lord’s judgement forward?’ He threw the tablets down and seized his brother by the hair, pulling him towards him. Aaron said, ‘Son of my mother, these people overpowered me! They almost killed me! Do not give my enemies reason to rejoice! Do not include me with these evildoers!’

Moses said, ‘My Lord, forgive me and my brother; accept us into Your mercy: You are the Most Merciful of all who show mercy

Those who took to worshipping the calf will be afflicted by their Lord’s wrath, and by disgrace in this life.’ This is the way We repay those who invent such falsehoods

but your Lord is most forgiving and most merciful towards those who do wrong, then repent afterwards and truly believe

When Moses’ anger abated, he picked up the Tablets, on which were inscribed guidance and mercy for those who stood in awe of their Lord

Moses chose from his people seventy men for Our appointment, and when they were seized by trembling, he prayed, ‘My Lord, if You had chosen to do so, You could have destroyed them long before this, and me too, so will You now destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? This is only a trial from You- through it, You cause whoever You will to stray and guide whoever You will- and You are our Protector, so forgive us and have mercy on us. You are the best of those who forgive

Grant us good things in this world and in the life to come. We turn to You.’ God said, ‘I bring My punishment on whoever I will, but My mercy encompasses all things. ‘I shall ordain My mercy for those who are conscious of God and pay the prescribed alms; who believe in Our Revelations

who follow the Messenger- the unlettered prophet they find described in the Torah that is with them, and in the Gospel- who commands them to do right and forbids them to do wrong, who makes good things lawful to them and bad things unlawful, and relieves them of their burdens, and the iron collars that were on them. So it is those who believe him, honour and help him, and who follow the light which has been sent down with him, who will succeed.’

Say [Muhammad], ‘People, I am the Messenger of God to you all, from Him who has control over the heavens and the earth. There is no God but Him; He gives life and death, so believe in God and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet who believes in God and His words, and follow him so that you may find guidance.’

There is a group among the people of Moses who guide with truth, and who act justly according to it

We divided them into twelve tribes [as distinct] communities, and, when his people asked him for water, inspired Moses to strike the rock with his staff [so that] twelve springs gushed out. Each tribe knew its own drinking place; We gave them the shade of clouds and sent down to them manna and quails [saying], ‘Eat the good things We have provided for you.’ They did not wrong Us; it was themselves they wronged

When they were told, ‘Enter this town and eat freely there as you will, but say, “Relieve us!” and enter its gate humbly: then We shall forgive you your sins, and increase the reward of those who do good,’

the wrongdoers among them substituted another saying for that which had been given them, so We sent them a punishment from heaven for their wrongdoing

[Prophet], ask them about the town by the sea; how its people broke the Sabbath when their fish surfaced for them only on that day, never on weekdays- We tested them in this way: because of their disobedience

how, when some of them asked [their preachers], ‘Why do you bother preaching to people God will destroy, or at least punish severely?’ [the preachers] answered, ‘In order to be free from your Lord’s blame, and so that they may perhaps take heed.’

When they ignored [the warning] they were given, We saved those who forbade evil, and punished the wrongdoers severely because of their disobedience

When, in their arrogance, they persisted in doing what they had been forbidden to do, We said to them, ‘Be like apes! Be outcasts!’

And then your Lord declared that, until the Day of Resurrection, He would send people against them to inflict terrible suffering on them. Your Lord is swift in punishment but He is most forgiving and merciful

We dispersed them over the earth in separate communities- some are righteous and some less so: We tested them with blessings and misfortunes, so that they might all return [to righteousness]

and they were succeeded by generations who, although they inherited the Scripture, took the fleeting gains of this lower world, saying, ‘We shall be forgiven,’ and indeed taking them again if other such gains came their way. Was a pledge not taken from them, writ-ten in the Scripture, to say nothing but the truth about God? And they have studied its contents well. For those who are mindful of God, the Hereafter is better. ‘Why do you not use your reason?’

But as for those who hold fast to the Scripture and keep up the prayer, We do not deny righteous people their rewards

When We made the mountain loom high above them like a shadow, and they thought it would fall on them, We said, ‘Hold fast to what We have given you, and remember what it contains, so that you may remain conscious of God.’

[Prophet], when your Lord took out the offspring from the loins of the Children of Adam and made them bear witness about themselves, He said, ‘Am I not your Lord?’ and they replied, ‘Yes, we bear witness.’ So you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection, ‘We were not aware of this,’

or, ‘It was our forefathers who, before us, ascribed partners to God, and we are only the descendants who came after them: will you destroy us because of falsehoods they invented?’

In this way We explain the messages, so that they may turn [to the right path]

[Prophet], tell them the story of the man to whom We gave Our messages: he sloughed them off, so Satan took him as his follower and he went astray

if it had been Our will, We could have used these signs to raise him high, but instead he clung to the earth and followed his own desires- he was like a dog that pants with a lolling tongue whether you drive it away or leave it alone. Such is the image of those who reject Our signs. Tell them the story so that they may reflect

How foul is the image of those who reject Our signs! It is themselves they wrong

whoever God guides is truly guided, and whoever God allows to stray is a loser

We have created many jinn and people who are destined for Hell, with hearts they do not use for comprehension, eyes they do not use for sight, ears they do not use for hearing. They are like cattle, no, even further astray: these are the ones who are entirely heedless

The Most Excellent Names belong to God: use them to call on Him, and keep away from those who abuse them- they will be requited for what they do

Among those We created are a group of people who guide with truth and act justly according to it

But We lead on those who reject Our messages, step by step, without them realizing it

I will give them respite, but My plan is sure

Has it not occurred to them that their companion is not mad but is giving clear warning

Have they not contemplated the realm of the heavens and earth and all that God created, and that the end of their time might be near? What [other revelation] will they believe in if they do not believe in this

No one can guide those God allows to stray: He leaves them blundering about in their insolence

They ask you [Prophet] about the Hour, ‘When will it happen?’ Say, ‘My Lord alone has knowledge of it: He alone will reveal when its time will come, a time that is momentous in both the heavens and earth. All too suddenly it will come upon you.’ They ask you about it as if you were eager [to find out]. Say, ‘God alone has knowledge of [when it will come], though most people do not realize it.’

Say [Prophet], ‘I have no control over benefit or harm, [even] to myself, except as God may please: if I had knowledge of what is hidden, I would have abundant good things and no harm could touch me. I am no more than a bearer of warning, and good news to those who believe.’

It is He who created you all from one soul, and from it made its mate so that he might find comfort in her: when one [of them] lies with his wife and she conceives a light burden, going about freely, then grows heavy, they both pray to God, their Lord, ‘If You give us a good child we shall certainly be grateful,’

and yet when He gives them a good child they ascribe some of what He has granted them to others

God is far above the partners they set up alongside Him! How can they set up with Him these partners that create nothing and are themselves created

that cannot help them at all, or even help themselves

If you [believers] call such people to guidance, they do not fol-low you: it makes no difference whether you call them or remain silent

Those you [idolaters] call upon instead of God are created beings like you. Call upon them, then, and let them respond to you if what you say is true

Do they have feet to walk, hands to strike, eyes to see, or ears to hear? Say [Prophet], ‘Call on your “partners”! Scheme against me! Do not spare me

My protector is God: He has revealed the Scripture, and it is He who protects the righteous

but those you call on instead of Him cannot help you or even help themselves.’

If you [believers] call such people to guidance, they do not hear. You [Prophet] may observe them looking at you, but they can-not see

Be tolerant and command what is right: pay no attention to foolish people

If Satan should prompt you to do something, seek refuge with God- He is all hearing, all knowing

those who are aware of God think of Him when Satan prompts them to do something and immediately they can see [straight]

the followers of devils are led relentlessly into error by them and cannot stop

When you do not bring them a fresh revelation, they say, ‘But can you not just ask for one?’ Say, ‘I merely repeat what is revealed to me from my Lord: this revelation brings you insights from your Lord, and guidance and mercy for those who believe

so pay attention and listen quietly when the Quran is recited, so that you may be given mercy.’

[Prophet], remember your Lord inwardly, in all humility and awe, without raising your voice, in the mornings and in the evenings- do not be one of the heedless

[even] those who live in the presence of your Lord are not too proud to worship Him: they glorify Him and bow down before Him

They ask you [Prophet] about [distributing] the battle gains. Say, ‘That is a matter for God and His Messenger, so be mindful of God and make things right between you. Obey God and His Messenger if you are true believers

true believers are those whose hearts tremble with awe when God is mentioned, whose faith increases when His revelations are recited to them, who put their trust in their Lord

who keep up the prayer and give to others out of what We provide for them

Those are the ones who truly believe. They have high standing with their Lord, forgiveness, and generous provision.’

For it was your Lord who made you [Prophet] venture from your home for a true purpose––though a group of the believers disliked it

and argued with you about the truth after it had been made clear, as if they were being driven towards a death they could see with their own eyes

Remember how God promised you [believers] that one of the two enemy groups would fall to you: you wanted the unarmed group to be yours, but it was God’s will to establish the truth according to His Word and to finish off the disbelievers––

to prove the Truth to be true, and the false to be false, much as the guilty might dislike it

When you begged your Lord for help, He answered you, ‘I will reinforce you with a thousand angels in succession.’

God made this a message of hope to reassure your hearts: help comes only from God, He is mighty and wise

Remember when He gave you sleep as a reassurance from Him, and sent down water from the sky to cleanse you, to remove Satan’s pollution from you, to make your hearts strong and your feet firm

Your Lord revealed to the angels: ‘I am with you: give the believers firmness; I shall put terror into the hearts of the disbelievers- strike above their necks and strike all their fingertips.’

That was because they opposed God and His Messenger, and if anyone opposes God and His Messenger, God punishes them severely

‘That is what you get! Taste that!’––and the torment of the Fire awaits the disbelievers

Believers, when you meet the disbelievers in battle, never turn your backs on them

if anyone does so on such a day- unless maneuvring to fight or to join a fighting group- he incurs the wrath of God, and Hell will be his home, a wretched destination

It was not you who killed them but God, and when you [Prophet] threw [sand at them] it was not your throw [that defeated them] but God’s, to do the believers a favour: God is all seeing and all knowing

‘That is what you get!’––and God will weaken the disbelievers’ designs

[Disbelievers], if you were seeking a decision, now you have witnessed one: if you stop here, it will be better for you. If you return, so shall We, and your forces, though greater in number, will be of no use to you. God is with the believers

Believers, obey God and His Messenger: do not turn away when you are listening to him

do not be like those who say, ‘We heard,’ though in fact they were not listening

the worst creatures in God’s eyes are those who are [wilfully] deaf and dumb, who do not reason

If God had known there was any good in them, He would have made them hear, but even if He had, they would still have turned away and taken no notice

Believers, respond to God and His Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. Know that God comes between a man and his heart, and that you will be gathered to Him

Beware of discord that harms not only the wrongdoers among you: know that God is severe in His punishment

Remember when you were few, victimized in the land, afraid that people might catch you, but God sheltered you and strengthened you with His help, and provided you with good things so that you might be grateful

Believers, do not betray God and the Messenger, or knowingly betray [other people’s] trust in you

Be aware that your possessions and your children are only a test, and that there is a tremendous reward with God

Believers, if you remain mindful of God, He will give you a criterion [to tell right from wrong] and wipe out your bad deeds, and forgive you: God’s favour is great indeed

Remember [Prophet] when the disbelievers plotted to take you captive, kill, or expel you. They schemed and so did God: He is the best of schemers

Whenever Our Revelation is recited to them they say, ‘We have heard all this before- we could say something like this if we wanted- this is nothing but ancient fables.’

They also said, ‘God, if this really is the truth from You, then rain stones on us from the heavens, or send us some other painful punishment.’

But God would not send them punishment while you [Prophet] are in their midst, nor would He punish them if they sought forgiveness

yet why should God not punish them when they debar people from the Sacred Mosque, although they are not its [rightful] guardians? Only those mindful of God are its rightful guardians, but most of the disbelievers do not realize this

Their prayers before the House are nothing but whistling and clapping. ‘So taste the punishment for your disbelief.’

They use their wealth to bar people from the path of God, and they will go on doing so. In the end this will be a source of intense regret for them: they will be overcome and herded towards Hell

God will separate the bad from the good, place the bad on top of one another- heaping them all up together- and put them in Hell. They will be the losers

[Prophet], tell the disbelievers that if they desist their past will be forgiven, but if they persist, they have an example in the fate of those who went before

[Believers], fight them until there is no more persecution, and all worship is devoted to God alone: if they desist, then God sees all that they do

but if they pay no heed, be sure that God is your protector, the best protector and the best helper