Chapter Two: Al Baqarah- verses 251 to 286

"They routed them with Allah's will, and David killed Goliath, and Allah gave him the kingdom and wisdom, and taught him whatever He liked. Were it not for Allah's repelling the people by means of one another, the earth would surely have been corrupted; but Allah is gracious to the world's creatures.( 251 )

These are the signs of Allah which We recite for you in truth, and you are indeed one of the apostles.( 252 )

These are the apostles, some of whom We gave an advantage over others: of them are those to whom Allah spoke, and some of them He raised in rank, and We gave Jesus, son of Mary, manifest proofs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Had Allah wished, those who succeeded them would not have fought each other after the manifest proofs had come to them. But they differed. So there were among them those who had faith and there were among them those who were faithless, and had Allah wished, they would not have fought one another; but Allah does whatever He desires.( 253 )

O you who have faith! Spend out of what We have provided you before there comes a day on which there will be no bargaining, neither friendship, nor intercession. And the faithless they are the wrongdoers.( 254 )

Allah there is no god except Him is the Living One, the All-sustainer. Neither drowsiness befalls Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that may intercede with Him except with His permission? He knows that which is before them and that which is behind them, and they do not comprehend anything of His knowledge except what He wishes. His seat embraces the heavens and the earth, and He is not wearied by their preservation, and He is the All-exalted, the All-supreme.( 255 )

There is no compulsion in religion: rectitude has become distinct from error. So one who disavows the Rebels and has faith in Allah has held fast to the firmest handle for which there is no breaking; and Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.( 256 )

Allah is the Guardian of the faithful: He brings them out of darkness into light. As for the faithless, their patrons are the Rebels, who drive them out of light into darkness. They shall be the inmates of the Fire, and they shall remain in it[ forever ].( 257 )

Have you not regarded him who argued with Abraham about his Lord, because Allah had given him kingdom? When Abraham said," My Lord is He who gives life and brings death," he replied," I[ too ]give life and bring death." Abraham said," Indeed Allah brings the sun from the east; now you bring it from the west." Thereat the faithless one was dumbfounded. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing lot.( 258 )

Or him who came upon a township as it lay fallen on its trellises. He said," How will Allah revive this after its death?!" So Allah made him die for a hundred years, then He resurrected him. He said," How long have you remained?" Said he," I have remained a day or part of a day." He said," Rather you have remained a hundred years. Now look at your food and drink which have not rotted! Then look at your ass![ This was done ]that We may make you a sign for mankind. And look at the bones, how We arrange them and then clothe them with flesh!" When it became evident to him, he said," I know that Allah has power over all things."( 259 )

And when Abraham said," My Lord! Show me how You revive the dead," He said," Do you not believe?" He said," Yes indeed, but in order that my heart may be at rest." He said," Take four of the birds. Then cut them into pieces, and place a part of them on every mountain, then call them; they will come to you hastening. And know that Allah is all-mighty and all-wise."( 260 )

parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is that of a grain which grows seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains. Allah enhances several fold whomever He wishes, and Allah is all-bounteous, all-knowing.( 261 )

Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and then do not follow up what they have spent with reproaches and affronts, they shall have their reward near their Lord, and they will have no fear, nor will they grieve.( 262 )

An honourable word with pardon is better than a charity followed by affront. Allah is all-sufficient, most forbearing.( 263 )

O you who have faith! Do not render your charities void by reproaches and affronts, like those who spend their wealth to be seen by people and have no faith in Allah and the Last Day. Their parable is that of a rock covered with soil: a downpour strikes it, leaving it bare. They have no power over anything of what they have earned, and Allah does not guide the faithless lot.( 264 )

The parable of those who spend their wealth seeking Allah's pleasure and to confirm themselves, is that of a garden on a hillside: the downpour strikes it, whereupon it brings forth its fruit twofold; and if it is not a downpour that strikes it, then a shower, and Allah sees best what you do.( 265 )

Would any of you like to have a garden of palm trees and vines, with streams running in it, with all kinds of fruit for him therein, and old age were to strike him while he has weakly offspring; whereupon a fiery hurricane were to hit it, whereat it lies burnt? Thus does Allah clarify His signs for you so that you may reflect.( 266 )

O you who have faith! Spend of the good things you have earned, and of what We bring forth for you from the earth, and do not be of the mind to give the bad part of it, for you yourselves would not take it, unless you overlook it. And know that Allah is all-sufficient, all-laudable.( 267 )

Satan frightens you of poverty and prompts you to[ commit ]indecent acts. But Allah promises you His forgiveness and grace, and Allah is all-bounteous, all-knowing.( 268 )

He gives wisdom to whomever He wishes, and he who is given wisdom, is certainly given an abundant good. But none takes admonition except those who possess intellect.( 269 )

Whatever charity you may give, or vows that you may vow, Allah indeed knows it, and the wrongdoers have no helpers.( 270 )

If you disclose your charities, that is well, but if you hide them and give them to the poor, that is better for you, and it will atone for some of your misdeeds, and Allah is well aware of what you do.( 271 )

It is not up to you to guide them; rather it is Allah who guides whomever He wishes. And whatever wealth you spend, it is for your own benefit, as you do not spend but to seek Allah's pleasure, and whatever wealth you spend will be repaid to you in full, and you will not be wronged.( 272 )

[ The charities are ]for the poor who are straitened in the way of Allah, not capable of moving about in the land[ for trade ]. The unaware suppose them to be well-off because of their reserve. You recognize them by their mark; they do not ask the people importunately. And whatever wealth you may spend, Allah indeed knows it.( 273 )

Those who give their wealth by night and day, secretly and openly, they shall have their reward near their Lord, and they will have no fear, nor will they grieve.( 274 )

Those who exact usury will not stand but like one deranged by the Devil's touch. That is because they say," Trade is just like usury." While Allah has allowed trade and forbidden usury. Whoever, on receiving advice from his Lord, relinquishes[ usury ], shall keep[ the gains of ]what is past, and his matter shall rest with Allah. As for those who resume, they shall be the inmates of the Fire and they shall remain in it[ forever ].( 275 )

Allah brings usury to naught, but He makes charities flourish. Allah does not like any sinful ingrate.( 276 )

Indeed those who have faith, do righteous deeds, maintain the prayer and give the zakat, they shall have their reward near their Lord, and they will have no fear, nor will they grieve.( 277 )

O you who have faith! Be wary of Allah, and abandon[ all claims to ]what remains of usury, should you be faithful.( 278 )

And if you do not, then be informed of a war from Allah and His apostle. And if you repent, then you will have your principal, neither harming others, nor suffering harm.( 279 )

And if[ the debtor ]is in straits, let there be a respite until the time of ease; and if you remit[ the debt ]as charity, it will be better for you, should you know.( 280 )

And beware of a day in which you will be brought back to Allah. Then every soul shall be recompensed fully for what it has earned, and they will not be wronged.( 281 )

O you who have faith! When you contract a loan for a specified term, write it down. Let a writer write between you with honesty, and let not the writer refuse to write as Allah has taught him. So let him write, and let the one who incurs the debt dictate, and let him be wary of Allah, his Lord, and not diminish anything from it. But if the debtor be feeble-minded, or weak, or incapable of dictating himself, then let his guardian dictate with honesty, and take as witness two witnesses from your men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women from those whom you approve as witnesses so that if one of the two defaults the other will remind her. The witnesses must not refuse when they are called, and do not consider it wearisome to write it down, whether it be a big or a small sum,[ as being lent ]until its term. That is more just with Allah and more upright in respect to testimony, and the likeliest way to avoid doubt, unless it is an on the spot deal you transact between yourselves, in which case there is no sin upon you not to write it. Take witnesses when you make a deal, and let no harm be done to writer or witness, and if you did that, it would be sinful of you. Be wary of Allah and Allah shall teach you, and Allah has knowledge of all things.( 282 )

If you are on a journey and cannot find a writer, then a retained pledge[ shall suffice ]. And if one of you entrusts to another, let him who is trusted deliver his trust, and let him be wary of Allah, his Lord. And do not conceal testimony; anyone who conceals it, his heart will indeed be sinful. And Allah knows best what you do.( 283 )

To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth; and whether you disclose what is in your hearts or hide it, Allah will bring you to account for it. Then He will forgive whomever He wishes and punish whomever He wishes, and Allah has power over all things.( 284 )

The Apostle has faith in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and all the faithful. Each[ of them ]has faith in Allah, His angels, His scriptures and His apostles.[ They declare, ]" We make no distinction between any of His apostles." And they say," We hear and obey. Our Lord, forgive us, and toward You is the return."( 285 )

Allah does not task any soul beyond its capacity. Whatever[ good ]it earns is to its benefit, and whatever[ evil ]it incurs is to its harm." Our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or make mistakes! Our Lord! Place not upon us a burden as You placed on those who were before us! Our Lord! Lay not upon us what we have no strength to bear! Excuse us and forgive us, and be merciful to us! You are our Master, so help us against the faithless lot!"( 286 )