Introduction to
Surah
17. Al-Isrâ'
In the Name of Allâh, the Most
Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
1. Glorified (and
Exalted) be He (Allâh) [above all that (evil) they associate
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Who took His slave (Muhammad SAW) for a journey by night from Al-Masjid-al-Harâm
(at Makkah) to the farthest mosque (in Jerusalem), the neighbourhood
whereof We have blessed, in order that We might show him (Muhammad
SAW) of Our Ayât (proofs,
evidences, lessons, signs, etc.). Verily, He is the All-Hearer,
the All-Seer[].
2. And We gave Mûsa
(Moses) the Scripture and made it a guidance for the Children
of Israel (saying): "Take not other than Me as (your) Wakîl
(Protector, Lord, or Disposer of your affairs, etc).
3. "O offspring
of those whom We carried (in the ship) with Nûh (Noah)!
Verily, he was a grateful slave."
4. And We decreed
for the Children of Israel in the Scripture, that indeed you would
do mischief on the earth twice and you will become tyrants and
extremely arrogant!
5. So, when the promise
came for the first of the two, We sent against you slaves of Ours
given to terrible warfare. They entered the very innermost parts
of your homes. And it was a promise (completely) fulfilled.
6. Then We gave you
once again, a return of victory over them. And We helped you with
wealth and children and made you more numerous in man power.
7. (And We said):
"If you do good, you do good for your ownselves, and if you
do evil (you do it) against yourselves." Then, when the second
promise came to pass, (We permitted your enemies) to make your
faces sorrowful and to enter the mosque (of Jerusalem) as they
had entered it before, and to destroy with utter destruction all
that fell in their hands.
8. [And We said in
the Taurât (Torah)]: "It may be that your Lord may
show mercy unto you, but if you return (to sins), We shall return
(to Our Punishment). And We have made Hell a prison for the disbelievers.
9. Verily, this Qur'ân
guides to that which is most just and right and gives glad tidings
to the believers (in the Oneness of Allâh and His Messenger,
Muhammad SAW,
etc.). who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a
great reward (Paradise).
10. And that those
who believe not in the Hereafter (i.e. they disbelieve that they
will be recompensed for what they did in this world, good or bad,
etc.), for them We have prepared a painful torment (Hell).
11. And man invokes
(Allâh) for evil as he invokes (Allâh) for good and
man is ever hasty [i.e., if he is angry with somebody, he invokes
(saying): "O Allâh! Curse him, etc." and that
one should not do, but one should be patient].
12. And We have appointed
the night and the day as two Ayât (signs etc.). Then,
We have made dark the sign of the night while We have made the
sign of day illuminating, that you may seek bounty from your Lord,
and that you may know the number of the years and the reckoning.
And We have explained everything (in detail) with full explanation.
13. And We have fastened
every man's deeds[] to his neck, and on the
Day of Resurrection, We shall bring out for him a book which he
will find wide open.
14. (It will be said
to him): "Read your book. You yourself are sufficient as
a reckoner against you this Day."
15. Whoever goes
right, then he goes right only for the benefit of his ownself.
And whoever goes astray, then he goes astray to his own loss.
No one laden with burdens can bear another's burden. And We never
punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning).
16. And when We decide
to destroy a town (population), We (first) send a definite order
(to obey Allâh and be righteous) to those among them [or
We (first) increase in number those of its population] who are
given the good things of this life. Then, they transgress therein,
and thus the word (of torment) is justified against it (them).
Then We destroy it with complete destruction.
17. And how many
generations have We destroyed after Nûh (Noah)! And Sufficient
is your Lord as an All-Knower and All-Beholder of the sins of
His slaves.
18. Whoever wishes
for the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this world), We
readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then, afterwards,
We have appointed for him Hell, he will burn therein disgraced
and rejected, ( far away from Allâh's Mercy).
19. And whoever desires
the Hereafter and strives for it, with the necessary effort due
for it (i.e. do righteous deeds of Allâh's Obedience) while
he is a believer (in the Oneness of Allâh Islâmic
Monotheism), then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated,
thanked and rewarded (by Allâh).
20. To each these
as well as those We bestow from the Bounties of your Lord. And
the Bounties of your Lord can never be forbidden.
21. See how We prefer
one above another (in this world) and verily, the Hereafter will
be greater in degrees and greater in preference.
22. Set not up with
Allâh any other ilâh (god), (O man)! (This
verse is addressed to Prophet Muhammad SAW , but its implication is general
to all mankind), or you will sit down reproved, forsaken (in the
Hell-fire).
23. And your Lord
has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful
to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age
in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout
at them but address them in terms of honour.
24. And lower unto
them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say:
"My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me
up when I was small."
25. Your Lord knows
best what is in your inner-selves. If you are righteous, then,
verily, He is Ever Most Forgiving to those who turn unto Him again
and again in obedience, and in repentance.
26. And give to the
kindred his due and to the Miskîn[]
(poor) and to the wayfarer. But spend not wastefully (your
wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift[] . [Tafsir.
At-Tabarî, Vol. 10, Page 158 (Verse 9: 60)].
27. Verily, spendthrifts
are brothers of the Shayatîn (devils), and the Shaitân
(Devil Satan) is ever ungrateful to his Lord.
28. And if you (O
Muhammad SAW)
turn away from them (kindred, poor, wayfarer, etc. whom We have
ordered you to give their rights, but if you have no money at
the time they ask you for it) and you are awaiting a mercy from
your Lord for which you hope, then, speak unto them a soft kind
word (i.e. Allâh will give me and I shall give you).
29. And let not your
hand be tied (like a miser) to your neck, nor stretch it forth
to its utmost reach (like a spendthrift), so that you become blameworthy
and in severe poverty.
30. Truly, your Lord
enlarges the provision for whom He wills and straitens (for whom
He wills). Verily, He is Ever All-Knower, All-Seer of His slaves.
31. And kill not
your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for
you. Surely, the killing of them is a great sin.
32. And come not
near to the unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Fâhishah
[i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin)],
and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allâh forgives
him).
33. And do not kill
anyone which Allâh has forbidden, except for a just cause.
And whoever is killed (intentionally with hostility and oppression
and not by mistake), We have given his heir the authority [(to
demand Qisâs, Law of Equality in punishment or
to forgive, or to take Diya (blood money)]. But let him
not exceed limits in the matter of taking life (i.e he should
not kill except the killer only). Verily, he is helped (by the
Islâmic law)[].
34. And come not
near to the orphan's property except to improve it, until he attains
the age of full strength. And fulfil (every) covenant. Verily!
the covenant, will be questioned about.
35. And give full
measure when you measure, and weigh with a balance that is straight.
That is good (advantageous) and better in the end.
36. And follow not
(O man i.e., say not, or do not or witness not, etc.) that of
which you have no knowledge (e.g. one's saying: "I have seen,"
while in fact he has not seen, or "I have heard," while
he has not heard). Verily! The hearing, and the sight, and the
heart, of each of those you will be questioned (by Allâh).
37. And walk not
on the earth with conceit and arrogance. Verily, you can neither
rend nor penetrate the earth, nor can you attain a stature like
the mountains in height.
38. All the bad aspects
of these (the above mentioned things) are hateful to your Lord.
39. This is (part)
of Al-Hikmah (wisdom, good manners and high character,
etc.) which your Lord has inspired to you (O Muhammad SAW ). And set not up with Allâh
any other ilâh (god) lest you should be thrown into
Hell, blameworthy and rejected, (from Allâh's Mercy).
40. Has then your
Lord (O pagans of Makkah) preferred for you sons, and taken for
Himself from among the angels daughters. Verily! You utter an
awful saying, indeed.
41. And surely, We
have explained [Our Promises, Warnings and (set forth many) examples]
in this Qur'ân that they (the disbelievers) may take heed,
but it increases them in naught save aversion.
42. Say (O Muhammad
SAW to these polytheists, pagans,
etc.): "If there had been other âliha (gods)
along with Him as they assert, then they would certainly have
sought out a way to the Lord of the Throne (seeking His Pleasures
and to be near to Him).
43. Glorified and
High be He! From 'Uluwan Kabîra (the great falsehood)
that they say! (i.e.forged statements that there are other gods
along with Allâh, but He is Allâh, the One, the Self-Sufficient
Master, whom all creatures need. He begets not, nor was He begotten,
and there is none comparable or coequal unto Him).
44. The seven heavens
and the earth and all that is therein, glorify Him and there is
not a thing but glorifies His Praise. But you understand not their
glorification. Truly, He is Ever Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving.
45. And when you
(Muhammad SAW)
recite the Qur'ân, We put between you and those who believe
not in the Hereafter, an invisible veil[] (or
screen their hearts, so they hear or understand it not).
46. And We have put
coverings over their hearts lest, they should understand it (the
Qur'ân), and in their ears deafness. And when you make mention
of your Lord Alone [Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh (none
has the right to be worshipped but Allâh) Islâmic
Monotheism (<><>)]
in the Qur'ân, they turn on their backs, fleeing in extreme
dislikeness.
47. We know best
of what they listen to, when they listen to you. And when they
take secret counsel, behold, the Zâlimûn (polytheists
and wrong-doers, etc.) say: "You follow none but a bewitched
man."
48. See what examples
they have put forward for you. So they have gone astray, and never
can they find a way.
49. And they say:
"When we are bones and fragments (destroyed), should we really
be resurrected (to be) a new creation?"
50. Say (O Muhammad
SAW) "Be you stones or iron,"
51. "Or some
created thing that is yet greater (or harder) in your breasts
(thoughts to be resurrected, even then you shall be resurrected)"
Then, they will say: "Who shall bring us back (to life)?"
Say: "He Who created you first!" Then, they will shake
their heads at you and say: "When will that be ?" Say:
"Perhaps it is near!"
52. On the Day when
He will call you, and you will answer (His Call) with (words of)
His Praise and Obedience, and you will think that you have stayed
(in this world) but a little while!
53. And say to My
slaves (i.e. the true believers of Islâmic Monotheism) that
they should (only) say those words that are the best. (Because)
Shaitân (Satan) verily, sows disagreements among
them. Surely, Shaitân (Satan) is to man a plain enemy.
54. Your Lord knows
you best, if He will, He will have mercy on you, or if He will,
He will punish you. And We have not sent you (O Muhammad SAW) as a guardian over them.
55. And your Lord
knows best all who are in the heavens and the earth. And indeed,
We have preferred some of the Prophets above others, and to Dawûd
(David) We gave the Zabûr (Psalms).
56. Say (O Muhammad
SAW): "Call unto those besides
Him whom you pretend [to be gods like angels, Iesâ (Jesus),
'Uzair (Ezra), etc.]. They have neither the power to remove the
adversity from you nor even to shift it from you to another person."
57. Those whom they
call upon [like 'Iesa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), 'Uzair
(Ezra), angel, etc.] desire (for themselves) means of access to
their Lord (Allâh), as to which of them should be the nearest
and they ['Iesa (Jesus), 'Uzair (Ezra), angels, etc.] hope for
His Mercy and fear His Torment. Verily, the Torment of your Lord
is something to be afraid of!
58. And there is
not a town (population) but We shall destroy it before the Day
of Resurrection, or punish it with a severe torment. That is written
in the Book (of our Decrees)[]
59. And nothing stops
Us from sending the Ayât (proofs, evidences, signs)
but that the people of old denied them. And We sent the she-camel
to Thamûd as a clear sign, but they did her wrong. And We
sent not the signs except to warn, and to make them afraid (of
destruction).
60. And (remember)
when We told you: "Verily! Your Lord has encompassed mankind
(i.e. they are in His Grip)." And We made not the vision
which we showed you (O Muhammad as an actual eye-witness and not
as a dream on the night of Al-Isrâ'[])
but a trial for mankind, and likewise the accursed tree (Zaqqûm,
mentioned) in the Qur'ân. We warn and make them afraid but
it only increases them in naught save great disbelief, oppression
and disobedience to Allâh.
61. And (remember)
when We said to the angels: "Prostrate unto Adam." They
prostrated except Iblîs (Satan). He said: "Shall
I prostrate to one whom You created from clay?"
62. [Iblîs
(Satan)] said: "See? This one whom You have honoured above
me, if You give me respite (keep me alive) to the Day of Resurrection,
I will surely seize and mislead his offspring (by sending them
astray) all but a few!"
63. (Allâh)
said: "Go, and whosoever of them follows you, surely! Hell
will be the recompense of you (all) an ample recompense.
64. "And Istafziz
[literally means: befool them gradually] those whom you can among
them with your voice (i.e. songs, music, and any other call for
Allâh's disobedience), make assaults on them with your cavalry
and your infantry, mutually share with them wealth and children
(by tempting them to earn money by illegal ways usury, etc.,
or by committing illegal sexual intercourse, etc.), and make promises
to them." But Satan promises them nothing but deceit.
65. "Verily!
My slaves (i.e the true believers of Islâmic Monotheism),
you have no authority over them. And All-Sufficient is your Lord
as a Guardian."
66. Your Lord is
He Who drives the ship for you through the sea, in order that
you may seek of His Bounty. Truly! He is Ever Most Merciful towards
you.
67. And when harm
touches you upon the sea, those that you call upon besides Him
vanish from you except Him (Allâh Alone). But when He brings
you safely to land, you turn away (from Him). And man is ever
ungrateful[].
68. Do you then feel
secure that He will not cause a side of the land to swallow you
up, or that He will not send against you a violent sand-storm?
Then, you shall find no Wakîl (guardian one to guard
you from the torment).
69. Or do you feel
secure that He will not send you back a second time to sea and
send against you a hurricane of wind and drown you because of
your disbelief, then you will not find any avenger therein against
Us?
70. And indeed We
have honoured the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on
land and sea, and have provided them with At-Taiyibât
(lawful good things), and have preferred them above many of
those whom We have created with a marked preference.
71. (And remember)
the Day when We shall call together all human beings with their
(respective) Imâm [their Prophets, or their records
of good and bad deeds, or their Holy Books like the Qur'ân,
the Taurât (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), etc.]. So whosoever
is given his record in his right hand, such will read their records,
and they will not be dealt with unjustly in the least.
72. And whoever is
blind in this world (i.e., does not see Allâh's Signs and
believes not in Him), will be blind in the Hereafter, and more
astray from the Path.
73. Verily, they
were about to tempt you away from that which We have revealed
(the Qur'ân) unto you (O Muhammad SAW), to fabricate something other
than it against Us, and then they would certainly have taken you
a friend!
74. And had We not
made you stand firm, you would nearly have inclined to them a
little.
75. In that case,
We would have made you taste a double portion (of punishment)
in this life and a double portion (of punishment) after death.
And then you would have found none to help you against Us.
76. And Verily, they
were about to frighten you so much as to drive you out from the
land. But in that case they would not have stayed (therein) after
you, expcept for a little while.
77. (This was Our)
Sunnah (rule or way) with the Messengers We sent before
you (O Muhammad SAW),
and you will not find any alteration in Our Sunnah (rule
or way, etc.).
78. Perform AsSalât
(Iqamât-as-Salât)[] from mid-day
till the darkness of the night (i.e. the Zuhr, 'Asr, Maghrib,
and 'Ishâ' prayers), and recite the Qur'ân
in the early dawn (i.e. the morning prayer). Verily, the recitation
of the Qur'ân in the early dawn is ever witnessed (attended
by the angels in charge of mankind of the day and the night)[].
79. And in some parts
of the night (also) offer the Salât (prayer) with
it (i.e. recite the Qur'an in the prayer), as an additional prayer
(Tahajjud optional prayer Nawâfil) for you
(O Muhammad SAW).
It may be that your Lord will raise you to Maqâman Mahmûda
(a station of praise and glory, i.e. the highest degree in
Paradise!)[].
80. And say (O Muhammad
SAW): My Lord! Let my entry (to the
city of Al-Madinah) be good, and likewise my exit (from the city
of Makkah) be good. And grant me from You an authority to help
me (or a firm sign or a proof).
81. And say: "Truth
(i.e. Islâmic Monotheism or this Qur'ân or Jihâd
against polytheists) has come and Bâtil (falsehood,
i.e. Satan or polytheism, etc.) has vanished. Surely! Bâtil
is ever bound to vanish."
82. And We send down
from the Qur'ân that which is a healing and a mercy to those
who believe (in Islâmic Monotheism and act on it), and it
increases the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers)
nothing but loss.
83. And when We bestow
Our Grace on man (the disbeliever), he turns away and becomes
arrogant, far away from the Right Path. And when evil touches
him he is in great despair.
84. Say (O Muhammad
SAW to mankind): "Each one does
according to Shakilatihi (i.e. his way or his religion
or his intentions, etc.), and your Lord knows best of him whose
path (religion, etc.) is right."
85. And they ask
you (O Muhammad SAW)
concerning the Rûh (the Spirit); Say: "The Rûh
(the Spirit): it is one of the things, the knowledge of which
is only with my Lord. And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been
given only a little."
86. And if We willed
We could surely take away that which We have revealed to you by
inspiration (i.e. this Qur'ân). Then you would find no protector
for you against Us in that respect.
87. Except as a Mercy
from your Lord. Verily! His Grace unto you (O Muhammad SAW) is ever great.
88. Say: "If
the mankind and the jinns were together to produce the like of
this Qur'ân, they could not produce the like thereof, even
if they helped one another."
89. And indeed We
have fully explained to mankind, in this Qur'ân, every kind
of similitude, but most mankind refuse (the truth and accept nothing)
but disbelief.
90. And they say:
"We shall not believe in you (O Muhammad SAW), until you cause a spring to
gush forth from the earth for us;
91. "Or you
have a garden of date-palms and grapes, and cause rivers to gush
forth in their midst abundantly;
92. "Or you
cause the heaven to fall upon us in pieces, as you have pretended,
or you bring Allâh and the angels before (us) face to face;
93. "Or you
have a house of adornable materials (like silver and pure gold,
etc.), or you ascend up into the sky, and even then we will put
no faith in your ascension until you bring down for us a Book
that we would read." Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Glorified (and Exalted)
be my Lord (Allâh) above all that evil they (polytheists)
associate with Him! Am I anything but a man, sent as a Messenger?"
94. And nothing prevented
men from believing when the guidance came to them, except that
they said: "Has Allâh sent a man as (His) Messenger?"
95. Say: "If
there were on the earth, angels walking about in peace and security,
We should certainly have sent down for them from the heaven an
angel as a Messenger."
96. Say: "Sufficient
is Allâh for a witness between me and you. Verily! He is
the All-Knower, the All-Seer of His slaves."
97. And he whom Allâh
guides, he is led aright; but he whom He sends astray for such
you will find no Auliyâ' (helpers and protectors,
etc.), besides Him, and We shall gather them together on the Day
of Resurrection on their faces[], blind, dumb
and deaf, their abode will be Hell; whenever it abates, We shall
increase for them the fierceness of the Fire.
98. That is their
recompense, because they denied Our Ayât (proofs,
evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and said:
"When we are bones and fragments, shall we really be raised
up as a new creation?"
99. See they not
that Allâh, Who created the heavens and the earth, is Able
to create the like of them. And He has decreed for them an appointed
term, whereof there is not doubt. But the Zâlimûn
(polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.) refuse (the truth the
Message of Islâmic Monotheism, and accept nothing) but disbelief.
100. Say (to the
disbelievers): "If you possessed the treasure of the Mercy
of my Lord (wealth, money, provision, etc.), then you would surely
hold back (from spending) for fear of (being exhausted), and man
is ever miserly!"
101. And indeed We
gave to Mûsa (Moses) nine clear signs. Ask then the Children
of Israel, when he came to them, then Fir'aun (Pharaoh) said to
him: "O Mûsa (Moses)! I think you are indeed bewitched."
102. [Mûsa
(Moses)] said: "Verily, you know that these signs have been
sent down by none but the Lord of the heavens and the earth as
clear (evidences i.e. proofs of Allâh's Oneness and His
Omnipotence, etc.). And I think you are, indeed, O Fir'aun (Pharaoh)
doomed to destruction (away from all good)!"
103. So he resolved
to turn them out of the land (of Egypt). But We drowned him and
all who were with him.
104. And We said
to the Children of Israel after him: "Dwell in the land,
then, when the final and the last promise comes near [i.e. the
Day of Resurrection or the descent of Christ ['Iesa (Jesus), son
of Maryam (Mary) <><>
<> on the earth].
We shall bring you altogether as mixed crowd (gathered out of
various nations).[Tafsir Al-Qurtubî, Vol. 10, Page
338]
105. And with truth
We have sent it down (i.e. the Qur'ân), and with truth it
has descended. And We have sent you (O Muhammad SAW) as nothing but a bearer of glad
tidings (of Paradise, for those who follow your Message of Islâmic
Monotheism), and a warner (of Hell-fire for those who refuse to
follow your Message of Islâmic Monotheism)[].
106. And (it is)
a Qur'ân which We have divided (into parts), in order that
you might recite it to men at intervals. And We have revealed
it by stages. (in 23 years).
107. Say (O Muhammad
SAW to them): "Believe in it
(the Qur'ân) or do not believe (in it). Verily! Those who
were given knowledge before it (the Jews and the Christians like
'Abdullâh bin Salâm and Salmân Al-Farisî),
when it is recited to them, fall down on their faces in humble
prostration."
108. And they say:
"Glory be to our Lord! Truly, the Promise of our Lord must
be fulfilled."
109. And they fall
down on their faces weeping and it adds to their humility.
110. Say (O Muhammad
SAW): "Invoke Allâh or
invoke the Most Beneficent (Allâh), by whatever name you
invoke Him (it is the same), for to Him belong the Best Names.
And offer your Salât (prayer) neither aloud nor in
a low voice, but follow a way between.
111. And say: "All
the praises and thanks be to Allâh, Who has not begotten
a son (nor an offspring), and Who has no partner in (His) Dominion,
nor He is low to have a Walî (helper, protector or
supporter). And magnify Him with all the magnificence, [Allâhu-Akbar
(Allâh is the Most Great)]."
