Surah Al-Isra (The Night Journey) 17

Revealed 50th in the Qur'an

Read the Full Text with References to the Torah and the Gospel

17:1
He is Exalted who took His servant by night from the Forbidden [House] ^9:28, ^14:37 to the Farthest [House], whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.

17:2
And We gave Moses the Scripture and made it a guidance for the Children of Israel so that you do not take [anything] other than Me as Disposer of affairs.

17:3
O descendants of those We carried [in the ark] with Noah. Indeed, he was a grateful servant.

17:4
And We conveyed to the Children of Israel in the Scripture that, "You will surely cause corruption on the earth twice, and you will surely reach great haughtiness."

17:5
So when the [time of the] promise came for the first of them, We sent servants of Ours *Jeremiah 25:9, *Jeremiah 27:6, *Jeremiah 43:10 against you - those of great military might, and they probed [even] into the homes, and it was a fulfilled promise. *Jeremiah 39:1, *Jeremiah 39:8, *Daniel 1:1, *Sirach 49:6

17:6
Then We gave a return victory back to you over them. *Isaiah 13:19, *Jeremiah 25:12, *Jeremiah 51:34 - 37 And We reinforced you with wealth and sons and made you more numerous in manpower.

17:7
[And said], "If you do good, you do good for yourselves; and if you do evil, [you do it] to yourselves." Then when the final promise came, [We sent your enemies] to sadden your faces and to enter the temple [in Jerusalem], as they entered it the first time, *2 Kings 25:9, *2 Chronicles 36:19, *Jeremiah 52:13, *Ezra 5:12 and to destroy what they had taken over with [total] destruction. *Book of Enoch 89:66, *Book of Enoch 93:8, *Matthew 24:1 - 2, *Luke 19:41 - 44, *Luke 21:5 - 6, *Luke 21:24, *Barnabas 16:5

17:8
[Then God said], "It is expected, [if you repent], that your Lord will have mercy upon you. But if you return [to sin], We will return [to punishment]. And We have made Gehenna a prison-bed for the disbelievers."

17:9
Indeed, this Qur'an guides to that which is most suitable and it gives good news to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward.

17:10
And that those who do not believe in the Hereafter - We have prepared a painful punishment for them.

17:11
And man supplicates for evil as he supplicates for good, and man is hasty.

17:12
And We have made the night and day as two signs, and We erased the sign of the night and made the sign of the day visible *Job 38:19 so that you may seek bounty from your Lord and may know the number of years and the account [of time]. And We have set everything out in detail.

17:13
And We have imposed the fate of every person upon his neck, and We will produce a record for him on the Day of Resurrection which he will encounter spread open.

17:14
[It will be said], "Read your record. You are sufficient as an accountant against yourself this Day."

17:15
Whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And We would never punish until We sent a messenger.

17:16
And when We intend to destroy a city, We command its affluent but they defiantly disobey therein; so the word comes true upon it, and We destroy it with [complete] destruction.

17:17
And how many have We destroyed from the generations after Noah? And your Lord is sufficient as Aware and Seeing concerning the sins of His servants.

17:18
Whoever should desire the immediate - We hasten what We will from it to whom We intend. Then We have made Gehenna for him, which he will [enter to] burn, censured and banished.

17:19
But whoever desires the Hereafter and exerts the effort due to it while he is a believer - it is those whose effort is appreciated [by God].

17:20
We extend to each from the gift of your Lord - to these and to those. And the gift of your Lord has never been restricted.

17:21
Look how We have favored some of them over others. But the Hereafter is greater in degrees and greater in distinction.

17:22
Do not make another god [as equal] with God and [thereby] become censured and forsaken.

17:23
And your Lord has decreed that you do not serve [anything] except Him, and good [treatment] to parents. *Exodus 20:12, *Deuteronomy 5:16, *Matthew 19:19 Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, do not say to them [so much as], "Uff," and do not repel them but speak a noble word to them.

17:24
And lower the wing of humility to them out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small."

17:25
Your Lord is most knowing of what is within yourselves. If you should be righteous [in intention] - then indeed He is Forgiving to the often returning [to Him].

17:26
And give the relative his right, and [also] the poor and the traveler, and do not spend wastefully.

17:27
Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and Satan is ungrateful to his Lord.

17:28
And if you turn away from the needy, awaiting mercy which you expect from your Lord, then speak a gentle word to them.

17:29
And do not make your hand chained to your neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent.

17:30
Indeed, your Lord extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. *1 Samuel 2:7 Indeed He is Aware and Seeing of His servants.

17:31
And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is a great sin.

17:32
And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. *Exodus 20:14, *Deuteronomy 5:18, *Matthew 5:27 Indeed, it is an immorality and evil as a way.

17:33
And do not kill the soul which God has forbidden, *Exodus 20:13, *Deuteronomy 5:17, *Matthew 5:21 except by truth. And whoever is killed unjustly - We have given his heir authority, but do not let him exceed limits in taking life. Indeed, he is helped.

17:34
And do not approach the wealth of an orphan until he reaches maturity, except in the way that is best. And fulfill [every] promise. Indeed, the promise will be questioned.

17:35
And give full measure when you measure, and weigh with an even balance. *Deuteronomy 25:15, *Leviticus 19:35 - 36 That is the best [way] and best in result.

17:36
And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. *Sirach 3:21 Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - [one] will be questioned about all those.

17:37
And do not walk exultantly upon the earth. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height.

17:38
All that - its evil is detested by your Lord.

17:39
That is from what your Lord has revealed to you of wisdom. And, [O mankind], do not make another god [as equal] with God, otherwise you will be thrown into Gehenna, blamed and banished.

17:40
Then has your Lord chosen you for sons and taken daughters from among the angels? Indeed, you say a grave saying.

17:41
And We have certainly diversified [the verses] in this Qur'an so that mankind may be reminded, but it does not increase the disbelievers in [anything] except aversion.

17:42
Say, "If there had been [other] gods with Him as they say, then they [each] would have sought a way to the Owner of the Throne."

17:43
He is Exalted and high above what they say by a great sublimity.

17:44
The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [God] by His praise, *Book of Enoch 41:7, *Book of Enoch 69:23 - 24, *Psalms 69:34, *Psalms 148:3 - 4, *Psalms 148:7 - 12, *Prayer of Azariah 1:36 - 1:59 but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is Forbearing and Forgiving.

17:45
And when you recite the Qur'an, We put a concealed partition between you and those who do not believe in the Hereafter.

17:46
And We have placed coverings over their hearts, unless they understand it, and deafness in their ears. And when you mention your Lord alone in the Qur'an, they turn back in aversion.

17:47
We are most knowing of how they listen to it when they listen to you and when they are in private conversation, when the wrongdoers say, "You do not follow [anyone] but a man affected by magic."

17:48
Look how they strike comparisons for you; but they have strayed, so they cannot [find] a way.

17:49
And they say, "When we are bones and crumbled particles, will we [truly] be resurrected as a new creation?"

17:50
Say, "[Even if] you are stones or iron

17:51
Or [any] creation of that which is great within your hearts." And they will say, "Who will restore us?" Say, "He who brought you forth the first time." Then they will nod their heads toward you and say, "When is that?" Say, "Perhaps it will be soon -

17:52
On the Day He will call you and you will respond with praise of Him and think that you had not remained [in the world] except for a little."

17:53
And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Satan induces [dissension] among them. Indeed Satan is a clear enemy to mankind.

17:54
Your Lord is most knowing of you. If He wills, He will have mercy upon you; or if He wills, He will punish you. And We have not sent you as a manager over them.

17:55
And your Lord is most knowing of whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And We have made some of the prophets exceed others [in various ways], and We gave the Scripture [Psalms] to David.

17:56
Say, "Invoke those you have claimed [as gods] besides Him, for they do not possess the [ability for] removal of adversity from you or [for its] alteration."

17:57
Those whom they invoke seek means of access to their Lord, [striving as to] which of them would be nearest, and they hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. Indeed, the punishment of your Lord is feared.

17:58
And there is no city except that We will destroy it before the Day of Resurrection or punish it with a severe punishment. That has been inscribed in the Book.

17:59
And nothing has prevented Us from sending signs except that the former [peoples] denied them. And We gave Thamud the she-camel as a visible sign, but they wronged her. And We do not send the signs except as a warning.

17:60
And [remember, O Muhammad], when We told you, "Indeed, your Lord has encompassed the people." And We did not make the vision which We showed you except as a trial for the people, as the accursed tree was [mentioned] in the Qur'an. *37:62 - 63, *44:43 - 44, *56:51 - 52 And We threaten them, but it does not increase them in [anything] except great transgression.

17:61
And when We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam," *Hebrews 1:6 and they prostrated, except for Iblees. He said, "Should I prostrate to one You created from clay?" ~*Gospel of Barnabas 35:3

17:62
[Iblees] said, "Do You see this one whom You have honored above me? If You delay me until the Day of Resurrection, I will surely bring his descendants under my control, except for a few."

17:63
[God] said, "Go, for whoever follows you among them, indeed the recompense of [both of] you will be Gehenna - an ample recompense.

17:64
And scare whoever you can among them with your voice and assault them with your horses and foot soldiers and become a partner in their wealth and their children and promise them." But Satan does not promise them [anything] except delusion.

17:65
[God said,] "Indeed, there is no authority for you over My [believing] servants." And your Lord is sufficient as Disposer of affairs.

17:66
It is your Lord who drives the ships for you through the sea so that you may seek of His bounty. Indeed, He is Merciful to you.

17:67
And when adversity touches you at sea, [all] those you invoke are lost except for Him. But when He delivers you to the land, you turn away [from Him]. And man is ungrateful. *Psalms 107:23 - 31

17:68
Then do you feel secure that He will not [instead] cause a part of the land to swallow you or send a storm of stones against you? Then you would not find an advocate for yourselves.

17:69
Or do you feel secure that He will not send you back into [the sea] another time and send a hurricane of wind upon you and drown you for what you denied? Then you would not find an avenger for yourselves against Us.

17:70
And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided good things for them and preferred them with [definite] preference over much of what We have created.

17:71
The Day We will call forth every people with their leader. Then whoever is given his record in his right hand - those will read their records and injustice will not be done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside the date seed].

17:72
And whoever is blind in this [life] will be blind in the Hereafter and more astray in way.

17:73
And indeed, they were about to tempt you away from that which We revealed to you in order to [make] you invent something else about Us; and then they would have taken you as a friend.

17:74
And if We had not strengthened you, you would have almost inclined to them a little.

17:75
Then [if you had], We would have made you taste double [punishment in] life and double [after] death. Then you would not find a helper for yourself against Us.

17:76
And indeed, they were about to scare you from the land to evict you therefrom. And then [when they do], they will not remain [there] after you, except for a little.

17:77
[That is Our established] way for those We had sent before you of Our messengers; and you will not find any alteration in Our way.

17:78
Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [noon], at the darkness of the night, and [also] a recitation at dawn. Indeed, a recitation at dawn is witnessed.

17:79
And from [part of] the night, arise from sleep [at midnight] as additional [prayer] for you; it is expected that your Lord will raise you to a praiseworthy station. *Psalms 119:62, *Acts 16:25

17:80
And say, "My Lord, cause me to enter a sound entrance and to exit a sound exit and grant me a supporting authority from Yourself."

17:81
And say, "Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed, falsehood is bound to depart."

17:82
And We send down of the Qur'an that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers in [anything] except loss.

17:83
And when We bestow favor upon the disbeliever, he turns away and distances himself; and when evil touches him, he is despairing.

17:84
Say, "Each works according to his manner, but your Lord is most knowing of who is best guided in way."

17:85
And they ask you about the [Holy] Spirit. Say, "The [Holy] Spirit is at the command of my Lord. And mankind has not been given [anything] except a little knowledge."

17:86
And if We willed, We could surely do away with that which We revealed to you. Then you would not find an advocate for yourself against Us.

17:87
Except [We have left it with you] as a mercy from your Lord. Indeed, His favor upon you has been great.

17:88
Say, "If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were assistants to each other."

17:89
And We have certainly explained every [kind] of example in this Qur'an for the people, but most of the people refused [anything] except disbelief.

17:90
And they say, "We will not believe you until you break open a spring for us from the ground.

17:91
Or [until] you have a garden of palm trees and grapes and make rivers gush forth within them in force [and abundance].

17:92
Or you make the heaven fall upon us in fragments as you have claimed or you bring God and the angels before [us].

17:93
Or you have a house of gold or you ascend into the heaven. And [even then], we will not believe in your ascension until you bring a book down to us we may read." Say, "My Lord is Exalted! Was I ever [anything] but a human messenger?"

17:94
And what prevented the people from believing when guidance came to them except that they said, "Has God sent a human messenger?"

17:95
Say, "If there were angels walking securely upon the earth, We would have sent an angel down to them from the heaven [as a] messenger."

17:96
Say, "God is sufficient as Witness between me and you. Indeed, He is Aware and Seeing of His servants."

17:97
And whoever God guides - he is the [rightly] guided; and whoever He sends astray - you will never find protectors for them besides Him, and We will gather them [and drag them] on their faces on the Day of Resurrection - blind, dumb and deaf. Their refuge is Gehenna; every time it subsides, We increase them in blazing fire.

17:98
That is their recompense because they disbelieved in Our verses and said, "When we are bones and crumbled particles, will we [truly] be resurrected [in] a new creation?"

17:99
Do they not see that God, who created the heavens and earth, is Able to create the likes of them? And He has appointed a term for them about which there is no doubt. But the wrongdoers refuse [anything] except disbelief.

17:100
Say [to them], "If you possessed the depositories of the mercy of my Lord, then you would withhold out of fear of spending." And man is stingy.

17:101
And We had certainly given Moses nine clear signs, so ask the Children of Israel [about] when he came to them and Pharaoh said to him, "O Moses, indeed I think that you are affected by magic."

17:102
[Moses] said, "You have already known that no one has sent down these [signs] as evidence except the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and O Pharaoh, indeed I think that you are destroyed."

17:103
So he intended to scare them from the land, but We drowned him and those with him all together.

17:104
And after Pharaoh, We said to the Children of Israel, "Dwell in the land, and when the promise of the Hereafter comes, We will bring you forth in [one] gathering."

17:105
And We have sent [the Qur'an] down with the truth, and it has descended with the truth. And We have not sent you except as a bringer of good news and a warner.

17:106
And [it is] a Qur'an which We have separated [by intervals] so that you might recite it to the people over a prolonged period. And We have sent it down progressively.

17:107
Say, "Believe in it or do not believe." Indeed, those who were given knowledge before it - when it is recited to them, they fall upon their faces in prostration,

17:108
And they say, "Our Lord is Exalted! Indeed, the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled."

17:109
And they fall upon their faces weeping, and [the Qur'an] increases them in humbleness.

17:110
Say, "Call upon God or call upon the Most Gracious. Whichever [name] you call - the best names [belong] to Him." And do not be [too] loud in your prayer or murmur, but seek an [intermediate] way between that.

17:111
And say, "Praise [belongs] to God, who has not taken a son, and has had no partner in [His] Kingdom, and has no [need of a] protector out of weakness;" and glorify Him with [great] glorification.