23. Surah Al-Mu'minun, English Translation

those who humble themselves in prayer;

those who avoid idle talk;

those who pay alms-tax;¹

those who guard their chastity¹

except with their wives or those ˹bondwomen˺ in their possession,¹ for then they are free from blame,

but whoever seeks beyond that are the transgressors;

˹the believers are also˺ those who are true to their trusts and covenants;

and those who are ˹properly˺ observant of their prayers.

These are the ones who will be awarded

Paradise as their own.¹ They will be there forever.

And indeed, We created humankind¹ from an extract of clay,

then placed each ˹human˺ as a sperm-drop¹ in a secure place,

then We developed the drop into a clinging clot, then developed the clot into a lump ˹of flesh˺, then developed the lump into bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, then We brought it into being as a new creation.¹ So Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.

After that you will surely die,

then on the Day of Judgment you will be resurrected.

And indeed, We created above you seven levels ˹of heaven˺. We are never unmindful of ˹Our˺ creation.

We send down rain from the sky in perfect measure, causing it to soak into the earth. And We are surely able to take it away.

With it We produce for you gardens of palm trees and grapevines, in which there are abundant fruits, and from which you may eat,

as well as ˹olive˺ trees which grow at Mount Sinai, providing oil and a condiment to eat.

And there is certainly a lesson for you in cattle, from whose bellies We give you ˹milk˺ to drink, and in them are many other benefits for you, and from them you may eat.

And you are carried upon ˹some of˺ them and upon ships.

Indeed, We sent Noah to his people. He declared, “O my people! Worship Allah ˹alone˺. You have no god other than Him. Will you not then fear ˹Him˺?”

But the disbelieving chiefs of his people said ˹to the masses˺, “This is only a human like you, who wants to be superior to you. Had Allah willed, He could have easily sent down angels ˹instead˺. We have never heard of this in ˹the history of˺ our forefathers.

He is simply insane, so bear with him for a while.”¹ 

Noah prayed, “My Lord! Help me, because they have denied ˹me˺.”

So We inspired him: “Build the Ark under Our ˹watchful˺ Eyes and directions. Then when Our command comes and the oven bursts ˹with water˺,¹ take on board a pair from every species along with your family—except those against whom the decree ˹to drown˺ has already been passed. And do not plead with Me for those who have done wrong, for they will surely be drowned.”

Then when you and those with you have settled in the Ark, say, “All praise is for Allah, Who saved us from the wrongdoing people.”

And pray, “My Lord! Allow me a blessed landing, for You are the best accommodator.”

Surely in this are lessons.¹ And We ˹always˺ put ˹people˺ to the test.

Then We raised another generation after them,

and sent to them a messenger from among themselves, ˹declaring,˺ “Worship Allah ˹alone˺. You have no god other than Him. Will you not then fear ˹Him˺?”

But the chiefs of his people—who disbelieved, denied the meeting ˹with Allah˺ in the Hereafter, and were spoiled by the worldly luxuries We had provided for them—said ˹to the masses˺, “This is only a human like you. He eats what you eat, and drinks what you drink.

And if you ˹ever˺ obey a human like yourselves, then you would certainly be losers.

Does he promise you that once you are dead and reduced to dust and bones, you will be brought forth ˹alive˺?

Impossible, simply impossible is what you are promised!

There is nothing beyond our worldly life. We die, others are born, and none will be resurrected.

He is no more than a man who has fabricated a lie about Allah, and we will never believe in him.”

The messenger prayed, “My Lord! Help me, because they have denied ˹me˺.”

Allah responded, “Soon they will be truly regretful.”

Then the ˹mighty˺ blast overtook them with justice, and We reduced them to rubble. So away with the wrongdoing people!

Then We raised other generations after them.

No people can advance their doom, nor can they delay it.

Then We sent Our messengers in succession: whenever a messenger came to his people, they denied him. So We destroyed them, one after the other, reducing them to ˹cautionary˺ tales. So away with the people who refuse to believe!

Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron with Our signs¹ and compelling proof

to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they behaved arrogantly and were a tyrannical people.