3:1  Alif. Lãm. Mĩm.

3:2  Allah! There is no deity except HIM, the Ever Living, the Eternal Self-Subsisting Sustainer of all.

3:3  HE has sent down upon you, in succession, the timeless Book bearing the Truth— a validator for whatever [of Scripture] is with them. And HE sent down the Torah and Injīl,

3:4  [sent] before as guidance for humankind. And HE sent down the Criterion [differentiating right from wrong]. As for those who disbelieve in the signs of Allah, for them is a severe consequence. Allah is almighty, owner of retribution.

3:5  Allah! Nothing on earth and nothing in the heavens becomes unknown to HIM.

3:6  HE is the One Who shapes you [outwardly and inwardly], in the wombs howsoever HE wills. There is no other deity except HIM, the almighty, the ever wise.

3:7  HE is the One Who has sent down the timeless Book upon you. From it are instructive verses [with actionable edicts], they are the primary principles of the Book, while others are symbolically evocative. As for those in whose hearts is perversion, they pursue the evocative part of it, in pursuit of all that is tempting, while in pursuit of its factual meaning. And no one knows the final factual meaning except Allah. Those deeply rooted in Knowledge say, “We have believed in it. Whole is from our Rabb.” None reflect except seekers of the essence.

3:8  “Our Rabb do not let our hearts deviate after YOU have guided us. And grant us mercy from YOUR divine domain. YOU are the most generous grantor.

3:9  Our Rabb, YOU are humankind’s gatherer to a day—not is there any doubt in it.” Indeed, Allah breaks not the [promised] tryst.

3:10  Hearken! Those who reject the Truth— never at all will their wealth, nor their progeny avail them against Allah. They are the fire’s fuel.

3:11  In the manner of the ilk of Pharaoh and those before them who rejected our messages and whom WE took to task for their trespasses. Allah is firm of requital.

3:12  Say to the disbelievers, “You shall be overpowered and driven toward Jahannam”—and miserable is [that] resting place.

3:13  You have had a sign in two bands which met—one band fighting in the way of Allah, and the other a disbelieving band. They were seeing them twice as many of them, in plain sight of the bare eyes. Allah supports with HIS help whoever HE wills. In that are definite lessons for people of insight.

3:14  Made attractive to man is the love of the many lusts— of the women [he pursues] and the sons [he sires], and the heaped piles of gold and silver, and the pedigreed horses, and the cattle and fertile fields [he calls his own]. That is the stuff of earthly life. Allah! With HIM is the homecoming’s best.

3:15  Say, “Shall I inform you of what is better than those things? For the ones who were conscious of God, with their Rabb, are gardens, subservient to which rivers flow, to abide therein, and pure mates and the assent of Allah. Allah is ever seeing of HIS devotees —

3:16  Those who say, “Our Rabb, we have indeed believed. Do then forgive us our trespasses and spare us the punishment of the Fire.”

3:17  [They are] the patient and the truthful and the obedient, and the ones who spend [in God’s way], and the ones who seek forgiveness, deep within themselves.

3:18  Allah has offered testimony that there is no god except HIM, and [so have] the angels, and [so have] those of knowledge, standing firmly in fair-mindedness. There is no god save HE, the almighty, the all-wise.

3:19  Surely, the [only revealed and acceptable] religion with Allah is the [religion of] willful surrender to HIM [Al Islam]. There was not any disagreement between the peoples who were given the Scripture except after the Knowledge came to them, [culminating in] rivalry between them. Whoever rejects the signs of Allah [should realize] that Allah is swift of reckoning.

3:20  Thus, when they contend with you, say to them in response, “I have surrendered my being to Allah and [so have] those who follow me.” Say to the people of the Scripture as well as to those without a Text, “Have you surrendered yourselves [to HIM]?” Then if they surrender, they are indeed on the right course. And if they turn away, even so [you have done your part] for upon you is only the duty of clear conveyance of the Message. Allah is ever seeing of HIS devotees.

3:21  Hearken! Those who reject the signs of Allah and kill prophets without right and kill those of humanity who enjoin fairness and equity—give them divine tidings of an agonizing punishment.

3:22  Those are the ones whose works have miscarried, both in this world and in the Hereafter. For them are not any helpers.

3:23  Have you not observed those who were given a share of the timeless Book, being called to the Book of Allah, that it may judge between them? Then a party of them turns away, averse?

3:24  That is because they have said, “The fire will not touch us save for a limited number of days.” Their made-up notions about their religion have deluded them.

3:25  So, how will it be when WE gather them to a day, not any doubt in it, and fully repay every soul for what it earned? And they will not be wronged.

3:26  Say, “O Allah, Sovereign of all dominion, YOU award dominion to whom YOU will, and YOU withdraw dominion from whom YOU will. YOU honor whosoever YOU will, and YOU withdraw honor for whom YOU will. All good is in YOUR hand. Surely, YOU almightily control all things and their measure.”

3:27  YOU give the night passage into the day, and YOU give the day passage into night, and YOU bring out the living from the dead and YOU bring out the dead from the living. And YOU provide sustenance beyond all reckoning to whom YOU will.

3:28  Not are the believers to take the non-believers as their allies in place of the believers. Whoever does that— not is he in anyway [following anything] from Allah, except being particularly wary of them. Allah warns you of HIS SELF and unto Allah is all the end [of all journeys].

3:29  Say, “Whether you conceal what is in your hearts or reveal it, Allah knows it. HE knows whatever there is in the heavens and whatever there is on earth. Allah has almighty control over all things and their measure.”

3:30  On that day, every soul will find present any good it did, and as well any wrong it committed, wishing that there were between it and its wrongs a long-forgotten past. Allah warns you of HIS SELF. And HE is kind with HIS devotees.

3:31  Say, “If you be loving Allah then follow me. [In return], Allah will love you and forgive you your trespasses. Allah is forgiving, ever merciful.”

3:32  Say, “Obey Allah and the Messenger.” If you turn away— surely, Allah does not love the ungrateful ones.

3:33  Behold! Allah chose Adam and Noah and the lineage of Abraham and the lineage of Imran over all realms [of humanity]—

3:34  Some were direct descendants of others. Allah is all-hearing, ever knowing.

3:35  [There was a time] when a woman of Imran prayed, “My Rabb, I have vowed unto YOU that which is in my belly— freed of all else. Do then accept from me! Surely, YOU are the all-hearing, the ever knowing.

3:36  So then when she delivered her, she said, “My Rabb! I have given birth to a girl,” while Allah had fully known what she had delivered; the male [she expected] could not be like the female [she delivered]. “I have named her Mary. And [My Rabb!] I seek refuge for her with YOU and for her offspring from Satan, the outcast.”

3:37  Thus, her Rabb accepted her—in a beauteous acceptance and reared her in a beautiful rearing and placed her in the care of Zachariah. Every time Zachariah came to see her in her prayer-nook, he found her provisions alongside her. He said, “O Mary, how and where from you have this?” She said, “It is from Allah. Verily, Allah provides sustenance to whomever HE wills— beyond all reckoning.

3:38  There [in that enlightening moment], pleaded Zachariah with his Rabb, “My Rabb, grant me from YOUR divine domain a well-blessed progeny. Surely, YOU are the hearer of all prayers.

3:39  So, the angels called him while he stood in prayer in the prayer-nook, “Hearken! Allah gives you tidings of John, a validator [of Faith], by a pronouncement from Allah— and noble, chaste, and a prophet from among the righteous.

3:40  He said, “My Rabb, how can there be a son for me when old age is upon me, and my wife is barren?” He said, “That is so. Allah does as HE wills.”

3:41  He said, “My Rabb, appoint a sign for me.” [The angel] said. “Your sign is that you will not speak to men for three days, except with gestures. Remember your Rabb much and often and contemplate HIS limitless glory with the drawing night and the dawning day.

3:42  And [remember] when the angels said, “O Mary! Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above all women in all realms.”

3:43  “O Mary, remain devout unto your Rabb, prostrate and bow-down with those who routinely bow-down [to HIM].”

3:44  Those happenings of the unseeable realm, WE reveal to you. You were not there with them when they threw their pens to cast lots to decide who amongst them would care for Mary. Nor were you present with them when they were disputing between themselves.

3:45  [Then came the moment] when the angels said to Mary, “O Mary! Allah gives you tidings with a pronouncement from HIM—his name, the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, ever of distinct honor in this world and the Hereafter and amongst the ones conferred nearness [to God].

3:46  And he shall speak to men from the cradle and as a man of mature age, and he shall be of the righteous.

3:47  She said, “My Rabb, how am I to have a son when no mortal has ever touched me?” He said, “That is so. Allah creates what HE wills. When HE decrees a matter, HE need only say to it, “BE.” Thus, it comes to be.

3:48  HE taught him the timeless Book, along with the wisdom, and the Torah, and Injīl.

3:49  And a Messenger he was to the Children of Israel. [Said he], “It is so! I have come to you with a message from your Rabb. I shall create for you from clay, the likeness of a bird, then breathe into it and it shall become a bird—with the permission of Allah. And I shall heal the blind by birth and the one plagued with leprosy, and I shall give life to the dead—by the permission of Allah. And I shall inform you of what you eat and of what you store up in your homes. Surely, a definite sign is in that for you all if you are believers.

3:50  And as validator for what is before me from the Torah and to make lawful for you some of that which was forbidden to you. I have come to you with a message from your Rabb. Be conscious of Allah and obey me.

3:51  Hearken! Allah is my Rabb and your Rabb. Therefore, worship HIM. This is a timelessly straight path.”

3:52  Then when Jesus got a sense from them of the [prevalent] disbelief, he asked, “Who will be my helpers in helping [guide people] towards Allah. Said the white-garbed ones, “We will be the helpers of Allah. We believe in Allah. Bear you witness [O Jesus] that we have surrendered ourselves unto HIM [i.e., we are Muslims]:

3:53  ‘Our Rabb, we believe in that which you have sent down and we follow the Messenger. So put us in the record with those who bear witness.’”

3:54  And they [the unbelievers] planned, and Allah had planned. Allah is the best of the planners.

3:55  [Remember] when Allah said, “O Jesus, I am your collector [in death] and your lifter unto ME, and your purifier from those who have disbelieved, and the placer of those who have followed you above those who have disbelieved, through to the Day of Resurrection. Further to that, unto ME is the defined return of all of you. Then I shall judge between you all, in all matters wherein you differ.

3:56  Then, as for those who had disbelieved, I will punish them with a severe punishment in the world and in the Hereafter and not for them are any helpers.

3:57  And as for those who have embraced Faith and have done the right deeds, HE shall fully repay them their due. And Allah does not love the wrongdoers.

3:58  That [the Truth]— WE recite unto you from the verses and the wise reminder.

3:59  Surely, with Allah the example of Jesus is like the example of Adam. HE created him from dust and then said to him, “BE.” Thus, he came to be.

3:60  The Truth [has come to you] from your Rabb. Therefore, you are not to be of the skeptical ones.

3:61  So then, whoever should dispute with you in the Knowledge that has now come to you, say to them, “Come let us call our sons and your sons, our women, and your women, ourselves, and yourselves, then let us all earnestly pray, and thereby invoke the denunciation of Allah upon the liars.

3:62  Hearken! This is the true and rightful narration. And there is no other deity in any sense, except Allah. And truly, Allah— HE alone is the Almighty, the Wise.

3:63  If you still turn away, know then that Allah is ever knowing concerning the corrupt.

3:64  Say, “O people of the Scripture, come toward a level tenet between us and you: that we do not worship except Allah and that we associate nothing as partner with HIM, and that we do not take some of us to be lords over others, instead of Allah,” Then, if they turn away then say, “Bear you all witness that we are surrendered unto HIM [i.e., Muslims].”

3:65  O People of the Scripture why do you dispute about Abraham [as to whether he was a Jew or a Christian], when neither the Torah nor the Injīl were sent down until after him? Do you then not reason?

3:66  Here you are! You have disputed in matters for which you do have knowledge. [Given that there is no coming to agreement in that], why are you arguing in matters of which you have no knowledge? Allah knows, whereas you do not know.

3:67  Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian. But he was a truth seeker, surrendered to God, and he was not of the polytheists.

3:68  Behold, the closest of people to Abraham are surely the ones who have followed him, and this Prophet [Muhammad ﷺ] and those who have embraced Faith. And Allah is the ally of the believers.

3:69  A party from among the people of Scripture wished that they could lead you all astray. They do not lead anyone astray, except themselves, and they do not realize.

3:70  O people of Book! Why are you ungrateful about Allah’s messages while you bear witness [to the Book]?

3:71  O people of the Book, why do you clothe the Truth in falsehood, while you conceal the Truth knowingly?

3:72  And a party of the people of the Book say, “Believe in that which has been revealed to those who believe, at the launch of the day and disbelieve at its end,” so to enable them to return.

3:73  And [they say], “Do not believe [anyone] except one who follows your faith.” Say, “The [true] guidance is Allah’s guidance that was given to one— similar to what was given to you.” Or will they contend with you in the presence of your Rabb? Say, “Most certainly, all bounty is in the Hand of God. HE gives it to whoever HE wills. Allah is infinite, ever knowing.

3:74  HE singles out for HIS mercy whomever HE wills. Allah is the Source-Owner of the transcendent bounty.”

3:75  And from among the people of the Scripture is he, who if you entrust him with a quintal, will fulfil the trust with you; and from them is he, who if you entrust him with a dinar, will not fulfil his trust with you unless you keep standing over him. This is so because they say, “There is no recourse against us concerning the gentiles.” They knowingly attribute their lie to Allah.

3:76  O yes! Whoever fulfils his pledge and is conscientious— of certain, Allah loves the conscientious.

3:77  Hearken! Those who exchange the covenant of Allah and their oaths for a paltry [earthly] value, they have no share in the Hereafter. Allah will not speak to them, nor look at them on the Day of Resurrection. HE will not purify them, and for them is a painful punishment.

3:78  And indeed, of them is a distinct group who with oral skill manipulate the words in the timeless Book, that you may think that it is from the Book, while it is not from the timeless Book. And they say, “It is directly from Allah,” while it is not from Allah. They knowingly attribute the lie to Allah.

3:79  It is not ever for a mortal who has been given the timeless divine words as well as wisdom and prophethood to thereafter say to the people, “Be worshippers of mine, besides Allah.” But [to say], “Be earnest teachers of Faith, because you have been teaching the Book and because you have been studying [it].”

3:80  Nor [is it possible for him] to bid you that you take the angels and the prophets as lords. Would he bid you to disbelief specially after you have surrendered yourselves unto God [i.e., become Muslims]?

3:81  And [how is it possible for a Prophet to mislead] when Allah has taken the sacred covenant of the Prophets, [passed on by them to their peoples]: Whatever I give you of the timeless Book and wisdom, and then a messenger comes to you as validator of that which is with you, you must believe in him, and you must support him. HE asked [the prophets on their return], “Did you affirm and take away that covenant of MINE?” They said, “We affirm.” HE said, “Then bear witness and I am of the witnesses alongside you.”

3:82  So, whoever turns away after this— those very ones are the iniquitous.

3:83  Do they then seek other than the religion of Allah, whereas everything which is in the heavens and the earth has surrendered to HIM—willingly and unwillingly and unto HIM they are being returned!

3:84  Say, “We have believed in Allah and in what has been revealed upon us, and in what has been revealed upon Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Tribes, and in that which was given to Moses and Jesus and the prophets from their Rabb. We make no distinction between any of them and unto HIM are we surrendered.”

3:85  And whoever pursues a religion other than Islam [i.e., surrender to the ONE], it shall not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter, he will be among the squanderers.

3:86  How should Allah guide a people who have come to reject the Truth after their belief, and [after] they bore witness that the Messenger is true, and [after] the telling proofs had come to them? Allah does not guide the unjust people.

3:87  Those— their deserving consequence is that upon them is the denunciation of Allah and the angels and humankind, all together.

3:88  They are to abide their [i.e., in their state]. Their punishment will not be alleviated from them, nor will they be reprieved.

3:89  Except the ones who repented after that and made amends. For indeed, Allah is forgiving, ever merciful.

3:90  Indeed, the ones who, after their belief, reject the Truth, and only grow in their rejection of it—their repentance will not be accepted. And those are the utterly lost.

3:91  Surely, the ones who reject the Truth and die as rejectors—not ever, [even] the earth’s mass in gold, will be accepted from anyone of them were he to offer it as expiation. For them is a painful suffering and they will have no helpers.

3:92  Never will you attain to true righteousness until you spend [in God’s way] from what you love. And whatsoever you spend of anything, Allah is ever knowing of it.

3:93  All food was lawful upon the children of Israel except what Israel made unlawful upon himself, ere the coming down of the Torah. Say, “Come with the Torah and read it, if you are truthful.”

3:94  Whoever, after that, invents the lie against Allah, then they are the ones who displace the Truth.

3:95  Say, “Allah has stated the Truth. Do therefore follow the creed of Abraham the earnest seeker of Truth. He was not of the polytheists.”

3:96  Surely, the first house [of worship] set down in its place for humankind is assuredly the one in Bakkah [i.e., Makkah]—a blessed one and a [nexus of] guidance for all realms.

3:97  In it are telling signs, the station of Abraham. Whoever has entered it [the House] is secure. And it is [incumbent] upon the people at large to undertake the pilgrimage to the House, for [the assent of] Allah — whoever has the capacity to undertake the journey to it. And whoever disbelieves— [let him realize] that it is Allah WHO is free of need and independent of all the realms.

3:98  Say, “O people of the timeless Book [of Scripture] for what reason do you reject the verses of Allah? Allah is witness over all that you do.”

3:99  Say, “O people of the timeless Book [of Scripture], why do you hinder those who have embraced Faith from the way of Allah? You seek to distort it, even while you yourselves are witnesses [to your injustice]? Allah is not anywise unaware about what you do.”

3:100  O you who have embraced Faith, if you obey a group from among those who have been given the timeless Book, they will— after your attainment to faith— turn you back into disbelievers.

3:101  How could you reject the truth while it is [for] you! Toward you are directed the verses of Allah and in your midst is HIS Messenger. Whoever holds fast onto Allah, he has already been guided to a timelessly straight path.

3:102  O you who have embraced Faith, be conscious of Allah, with the consciousness that is rightfully due to HIM. And die not except while you are in a state of surrender unto HIM.

3:103  Hold fast to the lifeline of Allah in togetherness, and do not splinter. Remember Allah’s blessing upon you: [There was a time] when you were enemies; from thence HE made love blossom between your hearts, and thus, through HIS blessings, you became as brothers. [Remember too when] you were on the edge of an abyss of fire, and HE pulled you back. Thus does Allah plainly state HIS verses to you, to enable you to be rightly guided.

3:104  And let there be from you a community of followers who call to the greater good, bid by the highest standard and forbid the immoral. And those are the truly successful ones.

3:105  And do not become like those who splintered and disputed after telling proofs had come to them. They are those for whom is a transcendent consequence.

3:106  That day faces are to exude brilliance [with elation]; and faces shall turn dark [with regrets]. As for those with the dark faces— [it will be asked of them], “Did you fall back upon disbelief after having found your Faith? Partake then, because of what you were rejecting.”

3:107  And as for those, their faces exuding brilliance—they will be in the mercy of Allah. In it they abide.

3:108  Those are Allah’s verses which WE recite to you with the Truth. Allah does not intend any injustice across the realms.

3:109  To Allah belongs that which is in the heavens and that which is upon the earth and toward Allah are all matters being returned.

3:110  You are ever the best of followers brought forth for humankind, bidding by the highest standard, forbidding the immoral, and believing in Allah. If the people of Book were to believe [in this message to the last Prophet] it would indeed be better for them. Among them are the believers, though most of them are iniquitous.

3:111  By no means can they harm you, except an [opportunistic] injury. If they fight you, they will show you their backs in flight. Then they will not be aided.

3:112  The [justified] humiliation was imposed over them wherever they were encountered, except for a lifeline from Allah and a lifeline from the people. And they reincurred the indignation of Allah. And upon them was imposed [their deserved] destitution. That because they opposed the messages of Allah and were killing the prophets without right. That because they disobeyed and were crossing bounds.

3:113  They are not all the same; from among the people of the Book are an upright community, reciting the verses of Allah during the recesses of the night, falling in prostration.

3:114  They believe in Allah and the Last Day and bid by the highest standard and forbid the immoral and show urgency in doing good works. They are of the righteous.

3:115  And whatever of any good they do; they will never be denied it. Allah is all-knowing of the ones who are conscious of HIM.

3:116  Hearken! Those who have disbelieved— neither their wealth nor their children will avail them anywise before Allah. They are the reapers of the fire, abiders therein.

3:117  The example of what they spend in this earthly life is like the example of a wind, biting cold in it, that struck the harvest of a people who had wronged themselves. So, it wiped it out. It is not Allah who wronged them, but they themselves do wrong.

3:118  O you who have embraced Faith, do not take intimates other than yourselves. They [i.e., the others] will not stop short of causing you turmoil. They wish for what would distress you. They have already voiced their hatred and what they hide in their bosoms is even greater. WE have surely clarified the signs for you if you were to understand.

3:119  Beware! Here you are loving them, whereas they do not love you, and you believe in the timeless Book— all of it. When they meet you, they say, “We do believe.” When they withdraw unto themselves, they bite their fingers from rage over you. Say, “Perish in your rage. Allah is ever knowing of the bosoms’ inner holdings.”

3:120  If good touches you, it vexes them; if you are stricken with an ill, they take delight in it. If you persevere and remain conscientious, their plotting cannot harm you one bit. Indeed, Allah is ever encompassing of all that they do.

3:121  [Recall] when you left early morning from your home and family to assign positions to the believers for the battle. Allah is ever hearing, ever knowing.

3:122  [Remember] when two groups amongst you were on the point of giving up, while Allah was their protector and ally? So then, let the believers rely on Allah.

3:123  And Allah did help you in Badr while you were pitifully weak. Therefore, be conscious of Allah to enable you to be grateful.

3:124  [And remember] when you said to the believers, “Is it not sufficient for you that your Rabb supports you with three thousand Angels, sent down from the Heavens?

3:125  Yes indeed! If you persevere and remain conscientious and they come at you in their urgency, this [place and instant], your Rabb will help you with five thousand angels, ready and aimed.

3:126  Allah set it up not except a glad tiding for you, to reassure your hearts with it. Victory is only from Allah’s side, the Almighty, the Wise.

3:127  [and HE set it up] that HE may sever a flank of the ones who have disbelieved, or crush them, so that they retreat in frustration.

3:128  The matter is not in any way for you, as to whether HE relents towards them or punishes them, for they surely are unjust.

3:129  To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is upon the earth, HE forgives whosoever HE wills, and HE punishes whosoever HE wills. HE is forgiving, ever merciful.

3:130  O you who have embraced Faith, do not devour usury, compounded, and multiplied. Be ever conscious of Allah, to enable you to attain success.

3:131  And beware of the fire proportioned for the rejecters of the Truth.

3:132  And obey Allah and the Messenger to enable you to receive mercy.

3:133  Hasten with urgency toward forgiveness from your Rabb and to a garden. Its breadth is the heavens and the earth, proportioned for the God-conscious.

3:134  The ones who spend [in God’s way] during the times of ease as well as hardship, and the ones who restrain their anger, and the ones pardoning of fellow human beings. And Allah loves the ones who selflessly do good unto others.

3:135  And the ones who, upon committing an immoral act, or upon wronging their own souls, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their trespasses— and who except Allah forgives the trespasses— and they do not knowingly persist in what they did.

3:136  Those— their reward is forgiveness from their Rabb and gardens subservient to which rivers flow, abiders therein. And excellent is the reward of the ones who exert.

3:137  Many practices from before your time have met their end. [In evidence] travel the land then see how the end-fate of the truth-beliers was.

3:138  This is an open discourse for all of humankind and a guidance and counsel for the God-conscious.

3:139  Do not lose heart and do not grieve. You are to be the ascendant ones if you [truly] are believers.

3:140  If a wound scrapes you, so too the people [you are up against] were scraped by a similar wound. Such days, WE rotate between peoples, so Allah may make evident those who have embraced Faith, and that HE may take martyrs from you. And Allah does not love the wrongdoers.

3:141  And that Allah may refine the ones who have embraced Faith and blight the disbelievers.

3:142  Or did you figure that you will enter the Garden while Allah has not yet proven out those from among you who struggled, and proven out the persevering?

3:143  Before coming face to face with it, you had indeed longed for the death [in God’s cause]. You were certainly seeing death as your eyes surveyed [the enemy].

3:144  And Muhammad is no other than a prophet. The prophets before him have come and passed away. Will you then, if he dies or is slain, turnabout on your heels? Whoever turns about on his heels [should realize that] he can in no way harm Allah, whereas Allah shall reward the grateful.

3:145  It is not for any soul that it will die except by the leave of Allah—per a time-bound record. And whoever intends [through his deeds] a reward of this world, WE will give him thereof and whoever intends a reward of the Hereafter, WE will give him thereof. And WE shall reward the grateful.

3:146  How many a Prophet fought, and alongside of him were many devout men. They did not lose heart for what befell them in the way of Allah, and they did not weaken, neither did they give in. Allah loves the persevering.

3:147  Their utterance was none, except they prayed, “Our Rabb, forgive us our trespasses and our excesses in our undertakings and make us surefooted and help us against the disbelievers.”

3:148  Whereupon Allah gave them their reward in this world and the beauteous reward of the Hereafter. Allah loves those who selflessly do good.

3:149  O you who have embraced Faith, if you obey those who oppose the Truth, they will turn you back on your heels and by turning back you will be squanderers.

3:150  Nay [do not obey them]! Allah is your protector and ally, and HE is the best of the helpers.

3:151  WE shall cast the dread [of you] into the hearts of those who disbelieve because of what they associate with Allah. HE has not sent down any authority for that. Their shelter is the fire—a miserable dwelling for the unjust.

3:152  Allah did make true HIS promise to you when you were routing them with HIS permission, until you faltered and contended between yourselves over the given directive, and you [outrightly] disobeyed after HE showed you what you love— and among you is he who makes his intent the world and among you is he who makes his intent the Hereafter. Thereafter HE disengaged you from them to test you. And HE did pardon you. Allah is Source-owner of the grace upon the believers.

3:153  [There was this incident] when you broke away, without turning to look upon anyone, while the Prophet was calling you from behind you. HE repaid you with grief upon grief so that you would not grieve over what eluded you, nor upon what had befallen you. Allah is forever aware of all your doings.

3:154  Then after the grief HE sent down upon you a sense of security. Slumber overtook a group of you while a group concerned about themselves, were drawing unjustified conclusions about Allah— a conclusion of the ignorant mindset— saying, “Is there anything for us in this undertaking?” Say, “Surely all undertakings are for Allah.” What they hide within themselves they will not reveal to you. They say, “If it was for us to have any say in this undertaking, none of us would have been killed here.” Say, “Had you been in your homes, those whose killing was decreed would have come out to the places of their demise. [All this happened] so that Allah may try that which is in your bosoms and refine what is your hearts. Allah is all-knowing of the bosoms’ inner holdings.

3:155  Those of you who turned back on the day the two armies met—it was Satan, who caused them to slip, only because of some of what they had earned. Allah did efface their sins from them. Behold! Allah is forgiving, ever forbearing.

3:156  O you who have embraced Faith, do not be like those who had disbelieved, and said for their brothers whenever they marched out into [distant] lands or were frontline warriors, “Had they been with us, they would not have died and would not have been killed.” [Such unbelief] that Allah may make that a regret in their hearts. And it is Allah WHO gives life and causes death and Allah is all-seeing of all that you do.

3:157  If you are killed in the way of Allah or you die, the certain forgiveness from Allah and mercy are better than all that they amass.

3:158  Whether you have died [naturally], or you are killed—without exception—you are to be assembled before Allah.

3:159  It [too] was by Allah’s mercy that you were gentle with them. If you were harsh, stern of heart, they would have dispersed from around you. So, pardon them and ask [God’s] forgiveness for them and do consult with them in the matter. Then when you have resolved, place your trust upon Allah. Behold! Allah loves those who rest their trust in HIM.

3:160  If Allah helps you, none can prevail over you, but if HE should forsake you then who is there who can help you after that? Therefore, upon Allah let the believers rely.

3:161  And unfaithfulness is not for a Prophet. Whoever is unfaithful, will on the Day of Resurrection come with whatever he did unfaithfully. Then every soul will be fully repaid for what it earned, and they will not be wronged.

3:162  Is then he who pursues the assent of Allah like one who elicits disapproval from Allah and whose shelter is Jahannam? And wretched is the destination.

3:163  They are of distinct ranks in the sight of Allah. Allah is seeing of all that they do.

3:164  Allah did indeed bestow a favor upon the believers when HE raised in their midst, from among them, a Messenger to recite unto them divine verses and to purify them and to teach them the timeless Book along with the wisdom [associated with it], while theretofore they categorically were in brazen error.

3:165  And do you ask — now that a disaster has struck you, after you had already inflicted twice as much [on your foes], “How and why this?” Say, “This is from your own selves.” Hearken! Allah has full control over all things and their measure.

3:166  That which befell you on the day the two armies met was by the permission of Allah, so that HE may prove out the true believers.

3:167  And that HE may prove out the ones who were being hypocritical when it was said to them. “Come fight in the way of Allah or defend.” They said, “If we knew about fighting, we would surely follow you.” On that day, they were closer to disbelief than to the faith, uttering through their mouths what was not in their hearts. Allah knows best about what they conceal—

3:168  They who said about their brothers while they [themselves] sat it out, “If they had obeyed us, they would not have been slain.” Say, “Then ward off death from yourselves if what you say is true.”

3:169  Do not think that those who were slain in the way of Allah are dead. Nay, they are alive with their Rabb—sustained and nurtured,

3:170  rejoicing in what Allah has bestowed upon them of HIS grace and in joyous realization concerning the ones left behind—who have not joined them [yet]—that no fear is to be upon them, and neither shall they grieve.

3:171  Joyous are they in the blessings from Allah and HIS grace, and that Allah does not let the reward of the believers go unrealized.

3:172  Those who responded to Allah and the Prophet [even] after they were stricken with the injury [they incurred in HIS way]—for the ones among them who did good, and were God-conscious, is a transcendent reward.

3:173  They are the ones to whom this set of people said, “Behold the populace has in fact teamed up against you, so fear them.” This only increased their faith, and they responded, “Allah is sufficient for us, and HE is the best Trustee.”

3:174  They returned with blessings and grace from Allah. No ill touched them. They pursued the assent of Allah. Allah is the source-owner of transcendent grace.

3:175  It is only that Satan plants the fear of his allies in you. Therefore, do not fear them. Fear ME if you are believers.

3:176  Do not let those who rush into false belief grieve you. Never can they harm Allah, in any sense. Allah intends not to render any share for them in the Hereafter. For them is a transcendent consequence.

3:177  Behold, those who buy false belief in exchange for the true faith, never can they harm Allah in any sense. For them is a painful punishment.

3:178  Those who have disbelieved should not assume that whatever leeway WE give to them bodes good for them. WE give them leeway only to let them grow in their sinfulness. For them is a humbling punishment.

3:179  It is not to be that Allah leaves the believers [in the condition] such as the one upon you—[not] until HE makes distinct the wicked from the earnest. And it is not to be that Allah discloses the unseen to you, but [in your aid] Allah designates whoever from HIS Messengers HE wills. Therefore, believe in Allah and HIS Messengers. If you believe and remain conscious of God, then for you is a transcendent reward.

3:180  Those who are clinging [out of their miserliness] to that which Allah has given them from HIS bounty should not think it bodes well for them. On the contrary, it is bad for them. What they cling to shall be hung around their necks on the Day of Accountability. To Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. Allah is fully aware with what you do.

3:181  Allah has indeed heard the uttering of those who say, “It is indeed Allah who is poor and needy, while we are rich and independent.” WE shall record what they said, and their killing of the prophets without right, and WE will say, “Taste the punishment of the Burning.”

3:182  That is because of what your hands sent ahead. And because Allah is not ever in any way an oppressive sovereign to [HIS] subjects.

3:183  [As for] those who say, “Allah has taken our pledge that we are not to believe in the Messenger until he comes to us with a sacrifice, which the fire will devour.” Say, “Many earlier Messengers had come to you with telling proofs and with what you asked for. Why then did you kill them if you be truthful?”

3:184  If they repudiate you, they have indeed repudiated Messengers before you, who came with telling proofs, and Zubur, and the enlightening timeless book [of Scripture].

3:185  Every soul is a taster of death and only on the Day of Resurrection will you be fully repaid. Then whosoever is drawn away from the fire and admitted into the garden—he would have triumphed. The earthly life is not but a chattel of the illusion [of permanence].

3:186  You will surely be tried with your wealth and your persons, and you will hear hurtful words, many and often, from those who were given the timeless Book [of Scripture] before you, as well as from those who believe in false gods. But if you persevere and remain God-conscious then that indeed is among the resolute of undertakings.

3:187  [There was a time] when Allah took a pledge from those who were given the timeless Book [of Scripture]. “Keep it openly accessible to all people and do not conceal it.” [Despite that] they tossed it behind their backs and bought a paltry worldly gain with it. Misery is what they took in exchange.

3:188  Do not ever assume that those who rejoice in what they have borne, while they love that they be praised for what they do not do—do not ever assume they are to escape their punishment. For them is an agonizing punishment.

3:189  To Allah belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and Allah controls all things and their measure.

3:190  Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the contrast of the night and the day, are distinct signs for seekers of the essence.

3:191  Those who remember Allah standing, sitting and [lying] on their sides and contemplate upon the creation of the heavens and the earth, realizing, “Our Rabb, YOU have not created this in vain. YOURS is all glory and might. Do then spare us the punishment of the fire.”

3:192  Our Rabb: Whoever YOU make to enter the fire, YOU have surely abased him, and for the wrongdoers there are not any helpers.

3:193  Our Rabb, we did hear a caller calling us to the Faith: “Believe in your Rabb.” So have we believed, our Rabb. Do then forgive us our trespasses and efface from us our misdeeds and collect us with the reverent.

3:194  Our Rabb, give us what YOU promised us through YOUR Messenger and do not deny us YOUR grace on the Day of Resurrection. Surely, YOU do not break [YOUR] promise.

3:195  Their Rabb responded to them: “Behold! I shall not let the toil of any toiler from among you go unrewarded —man or woman, subset of you from any set [of people]. For those who emigrated and those who were forced out from their homes and were inflicted with injury on MY path and fought and were killed— I shall efface their misdeeds from them, and I surely shall admit them to gardens subservient to which rivers flow — as reward from Allah. Allah! With HIM is the beauteous reward.”

3:196  Do not be deluded by the territorial sway of the ones who have disbelieved.

3:197  A little material indulgence, then their shelter is Jahannam, and miserable is [that] resting place.

3:198  But those who are conscious of the Rabb— for them are gardens subservient to which rivers flow, abiders therein. A greeting gift from Allah. That which is from Allah is best for the reverent.

3:199  And there indeed are from among the people of the timeless book [of Scripture] such who believe in Allah and in what has been revealed to you [i.e., followers of the Prophet] and in what was revealed upon them— humbly devoted to Allah. They do not exchange the verses of Allah for a paltry earthly gain. They are those whose rightful due is with their Rabb. Behold Allah is swift in reckoning.

3:200  O you who have embraced Faith, persevere, and out endure, and be rightly anchored and remain conscious of Allah to enable you to attain spiritual success.