Surah Al-Mu'minun (The Believers) 23

Revealed 74th in the Qur'an

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

23:1
The believers will certainly have succeeded -

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Those who are humble during their prayer

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And those who turn away from idle talk

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And those who are observant of purifying [alms]

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And those who guard their private parts

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Except from their spouses or those they possess by oath, for indeed, they will not be blamed -

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But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors -

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And those who are attentive to their trusts and their promises

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And those who are watchful of their prayers -

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Those are the inheritors

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Who will inherit Paradise. They will abide eternally therein.

23:12
And We certainly created man from an extract of clay. *Genesis 2:7

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Then We placed him as a drop [of seed] in a firm lodging.

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Then We made the drop [of seed] into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made bones [from] the lump, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. God is so blessed, the best of creators.

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Then indeed, you are to die after that.

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Then indeed, you will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection.

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And We have created seven paths above you, and We have never been unaware of [Our] creation.

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And We have sent down water from the heaven in a measured amount and settled it in the earth. And indeed, We are Able to take it away.

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And We brought forth gardens of palm trees for you thereby, and grapevines in which there are abundant fruits for you, and you eat from them.

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And [We brought forth] a tree issuing from Mount Sinai which produces oil and food for those who eat.

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And indeed, there is a lesson in livestock for you. We give you drink from that which is in their bellies, and there are numerous benefits in them for you, and you eat from them.

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And you are carried upon them and upon ships.

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And We had certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, "O my people, serve God; you have no god other than Him; then will you not fear [Him]?"

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But the eminent among those who disbelieved from his people said, "This is nothing but a man like yourselves who wishes to take precedence over you; and if God had willed [to send a messenger], He would have sent down angels. We have not heard of this among our forefathers.

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He is nothing but a man in whom there is a [devil of] jinn, ~*Mark 3:30 so wait for a time concerning him."

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[Noah] said, "My Lord, support me because they have denied me."

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So We inspired to him, "Construct the ark *Genesis 6:14 under Our eyes, and Our inspiration, and when Our command comes and the oven overflows, put two mates from each into the ark *Genesis 6:19 and your family, except for those whom the word [of destruction] has proceeded. And do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are to be drowned.

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And when you have boarded the ark, you and those with you, then say, 'Praise [belongs] to God who has saved us from the wrongdoing people.'

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And say, 'My Lord, send me down at a blessed descent, and You are the best to bring [me] down.'"

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Indeed, there are signs in that, and indeed, We are surely testing [Our servants].

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Then We produced a generation of others after them.

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And We sent a messenger among them from themselves, [saying], "Serve God; you have no god other than Him; then will you not fear [Him]?"

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And the eminent among his people who disbelieved and denied the meeting of the Hereafter while We had given them luxury in the worldly life said, "This is nothing but a man like yourselves. He eats from that which you eat and drinks from what you drink.

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And if you should obey a man like yourselves, indeed, you would then be in loss.

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Does he promise you that when you have died and become dust and bones that you will be brought forth [once more]?

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How far, how far, is that which you are promised.

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Life is nothing except our worldly life - we die and live, but we will not be resurrected.

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He is nothing but a man who has invented a lie about God, and we will not believe him."

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He said, "My Lord, support me because they have denied me."

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[God] said, "After a little, they will surely become regretful."

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So the shriek seized them in truth, ~*Amos 1:2, ~*Amos 2:2~*Joel 2:11, ~*Joel 3:16 and We made them as [plant] stubble. Then away with the wrongdoing people.

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Then We produced other generations after them.

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No nation will advance its term, nor will they postpone it.

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Then We sent Our messengers in succession. Every time a messenger came to his nation, they denied him, so We made them follow one another [to destruction], and We made them narrations. So away with a people who do not believe.

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Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron with Our signs and a clear authority

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To Pharaoh and his establishment, but they were arrogant and a haughty people.

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They said, "Should we believe two men like ourselves while their people are in servitude to us?"

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So they denied them and were among those destroyed.

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And We certainly gave Moses the Scripture so that perhaps they would be guided.

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And We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign and sheltered them within a high ground having level [areas] and flowing water.

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[God said], "O messengers, eat from the good [foods] and work righteousness. Indeed, I am Knowing of what you do.

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And indeed this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so fear Me."

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But the people divided their affair amongst themselves into [separate] Scriptures - each faction rejoicing in what [Book] it has.

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So leave them in their confusion for a time.

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Do they think that what We extend to them of wealth and children

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Is [because] We hasten good things for them? Rather, they do not perceive.

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Indeed, those who are apprehensive from fear of their Lord

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And those who believe in the verses of their Lord

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And those who do not associate anything [with their Lord]

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And those who give what they give while their hearts are fearful because they will be returning to their Lord -

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It is those who hasten to good deeds, and they outstrip [others] therein.

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And We charge no soul except [with that within] its capacity, and there is a Book with Us which speaks with truth; and they will not be wronged.

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But their hearts are in confusion over this, and they have [evil] deeds besides disbelief which they are doing,

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Until when We seize their affluent with punishment, at once they are crying [to God] for help.

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Do not cry out today. Indeed, you will not be helped by Us.

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Certainly, My verses had already been recited to you, but you were turning back on your heels

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In arrogance regarding it, conversing by night, speaking evil.

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Then have they not reflected over the Word, or has that which had not come to their forefathers [now] come to them?

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Or did they not know their messenger, so they do not acknowledge him?

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Or do they say, "[There is a devil of] jinn in him?" ~*Mark 3:30 Rather, he brought them the truth, but most of them are averse to the truth.

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But if the truth had followed their inclinations, the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them would have been ruined. Rather, We have brought them their reminder, but they are turning away from their reminder.

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Or do you ask them for payment? But the reward of your Lord is best, and He is the best of providers.

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And indeed, you invite them to a straight path.

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But indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter are deviating from the path.

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And even if We gave them mercy and removed what was upon them of affliction, they would persist in their transgression, wandering blindly.

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And We had seized them with punishment [as a warning], but they did not yield to their Lord, nor did they humble themselves [to Him],

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[And they will continue thus] until, when We have opened a gate of severe punishment before them, they will immediately be in despair therein.

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And it is He who produced hearing and vision for you *Proverbs 20:12 and hearts; [but] you are grateful for little.

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And it is He who has multiplied you throughout the earth, *Genesis 1:28 and you will be gathered to Him.

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And it is He who gives life and causes death, *Deuteronomy 32:39, *1 Samuel 2:6*Wisdom of Solomon 16:13*4 Maccabees 18:19 and the alternation of the night and the day is His. Then will you not reason?

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Rather, they say like what the former [peoples] said.

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They said, "When we have died and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?

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We have certainly been promised this before, we and our forefathers; this is nothing but legends of the former [peoples]."

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Say, "Whom do the earth and whoever is in it [belong to], if you should know?"

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They will say, "[They belong] to God." Say, "Then will you not remember?" *Psalms 24:1

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Say, "Who is Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the Great Throne?"

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They will say, "[They belong] to God." Say, "Then will you not fear [Him]?"

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Say, "Whose hand is the kingdom of all things in - and He protects while none can protect against Him - if you should know?"

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They will say, "[All belong] to God." Say, "Then how are you bewitched?"

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Rather, We have brought them the truth, and indeed they are liars.

23:91
God has not taken any son, nor has there ever been any god with Him. [If there had been], then each god would have gone with what it created, and some of them would have [sought to] be high above others. God is exalted above what they describe [concerning Him].

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[He is] Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, He is high above what they associate [with Him].

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Say, "My Lord, if You should show me that which they are promised,

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My Lord, then do not place me among the wrongdoing people."

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And indeed, We are able to show you what We have promised them.

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Repel evil by what is best. *Romans 12:21 We are most knowing of what they describe.

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And say, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils, *Book of Jubilees 12:21

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And I seek refuge in You, my Lord, unless they should approach me."

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[For such is the state of the disbelievers], until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "My Lord, return me,

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So that I might do righteousness in that which I left behind." *Book of Enoch 63:1, *Book of Enoch 63:5, *Shepherd of Hermas 17:5 No!  It is only a word he is saying; and there is a barrier behind them *Luke 16:26 until the Day they are resurrected.

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So when the Trumpet is blown, there will be no relationship among them that Day, nor will they ask about one another.

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And those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds] - it is those who are the successful.

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But those whose scales are light - those are the ones who have lost their souls, abiding eternally in Gehenna.

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The Fire will sear their faces, and they will have taut smiles therein.

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[It will be said], "Were My verses not recited to you and you used to deny them?"

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They will say, "Our Lord, our wretchedness overcame us, and we were a people astray.

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Our Lord, remove us from it, and if we were to return [to evil], we would indeed be wrongdoers." *Book of Enoch 63:1, *Book of Enoch 63:5, *Shepherd of Hermas 17:5

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He will say, "Remain despised therein and do not speak to Me.

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Indeed, there was a group of My servants who said, 'Our Lord, we have believed, so forgive us and have mercy upon us, and You are the best of the merciful.'

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But you took them in mockery until they made you forget My remembrance, and you used to laugh at them.

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Indeed, I have rewarded them for their patience this Day - so that they are the successful."

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[God] will say, "How long did you remain on earth in number of years?"

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They will say, "We remained a day or part of a day; but ask those who enumerate."

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He will say, "You did not stay except for a little - if only you had known.

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Then did you think that We created you uselessly and that you would not be returned to Us?"

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God is Exalted, the King, the Truth; there is no god except Him, *Deuteronomy 4:35, *Deuteronomy 4:39, *1 Samuel 2:2, *2 Samuel 7:22, *1 Kings 8:60, *Isaiah 44:6, *Isaiah 44:8, *Isaiah 45:5 - 6, *Isaiah 45:21, *Mark 12:32 [He is the] Lord of the Noble Throne.

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And whoever invokes another god besides God for which he has no proof - then his account is only with his Lord. Indeed, the disbelievers will not succeed.

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And say, "My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of the merciful."