In the name of God, Most Gracious,
Most Merciful.
1. Whatever is
In the heavens and
On earth, doth declare
The Praises and Glory
Of God,—the Sovereign,
The Holy One, the Exalted
In Might, the Wise.
2. It is He Who has sent
Amongst the Unlettered
An apostle from among
Themselves, to rehearse
To them His Signs,
To sanctify them, and
To instruct them in Scripture
And Wisdom,—although
They had been, before,
In manifest error;—
3. As well as (to confer
All these benefits upon)
Others of them, who
Have not already joined them:
And He is Exalted
In Might, Wise.
4. Such is the Bounty of God,
Which He bestows
On whom He will:
And God is the Lord
Of the highest bounty.
5. The similitude of those
Who were charged
With the (obligations
Of the) Mosaic Law,
But who subsequently failed
In those (obligations), is
That of a donkey
Which carries huge tomes
(But understands them not).
Evil is the similitude
Of people who falsify
The Signs of God:
And God guides not
People who do wrong.
6. Say: "O ye that
Stand on Judaism!
If ye think that ye
Are friends to God,
To the exclusion of
(Other) men, then express
Your desire for Death,
If ye are truthful!"
7. But never will they
Express their desire
(For Death), because of
The (deeds) their hands
Have sent on before them!
And God knows well
Those that do wrong!
8. Say: "The Death from which
Ye flee will truly
Overtake you: then will
Ye be sent back
To the Knower of things
Secret and open: and He
Will tell you (the truth
Of) the things that ye did!"
9. O ye who believe!
When the call is proclaimed
To prayer on Friday
(The Day of Assembly),
Hasten earnestly to the
Remembrance
Of God, and leave off
Business (and traffic):
That is best for you
If ye but knew!
10. And when the Prayer
Is finished, then may ye
Disperse through the land,
And seek of the Bounty
Of God: and celebrate
The Praises of God
Often (and without stint):
That ye may prosper.
11. But when they see
Some bargain or some
Amusement, they disperse
Headlong to it, and leave
Thee standing. Say:
"The (blessing) from the Presence
Of God is better than
Any amusement or bargain!
And God is the Best
To provide (for all needs)."
