سورة الحديد
Surah Al-Hadid
The Iron
Surah Al-Hadid (The Iron) is the 57th surah of the Quran. It has 29 verses and is a Medinan surah. Below is the complete Arabic text with an English translation and transliteration, verse by verse.
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ۖ وَ هُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ﴿١﴾
Sabbaha lillahi ma fee alssamawati waalardi wahuwa alʿazeezu alhakeemu
Whatever is in the heavens and earth exalts Allāh, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
لَهُۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ۖ يُحۡيِۦ وَ يُمِيتُ ۖ وَ هُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءࣲ قَدِيرٌ﴿٢﴾
Lahu mulku alssamawati waalardi yuhyee wayumeetu wahuwa ʿala kulli shayin qadeerun
His is the dominion of the heavens and earth. He gives life and causes death, and He is over all things competent.
هُوَ ٱلۡأَوَّلُ وَ ٱلۡأٓخِرُ وَ ٱلظَّٰهِرُ وَ ٱلۡبَاطِنُ ۖ وَ هُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمٌ﴿٣﴾
Huwa alawwalu waalakhiru waalththahiru waalbatinu wahuwa bikulli shayin ʿaleemun
He is the First and the Last, the Ascendant and the Intimate, and He is, of all things, Knowing.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامࣲ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِ ۖ يَعۡلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَ مَا يَخۡرُجُ مِنۡهَا وَ مَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَ مَا يَعۡرُجُ فِيهَا ۖ وَ هُوَ مَعَكُمۡ أَيۡنَ مَا كُنتُمۡ ۚ وَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِيرࣱ﴿٤﴾
Huwa allathee khalaqa alssamawati waalarda fee sittati ayyamin thumma istawa ʿala alʿarshi yaʿlamu ma yaliju fee alardi wama yakhruju minha wama yanzilu mina alssamai wama yaʿruju feeha wahuwa maʿakum ayna ma kuntum waAllahu bima taʿmaloona baseerun
It is He who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein; and He is with you wherever you are. And Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.
لَّهُۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ۚ وَ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرۡجَعُ ٱلۡأُمُورُ﴿٥﴾
Lahu mulku alssamawati waalardi waila Allahi turjaʿu alomooru
His is the dominion of the heavens and earth. And to Allāh are returned [all] matters.
يُولِجُ ٱلَّيۡلَ فِي ٱلنَّهَارِ وَ يُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِي ٱلَّيۡلِ ۚ وَ هُوَ عَلِيمُۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ﴿٦﴾
Yooliju allayla fee alnnahari wayooliju alnnahara fee allayi wahuwa ʿaleemun bithati alssudoori
He causes the night to enter the day and causes the day to enter the night, and He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
ءَامِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِۦ وَ أَنفِقُواْ مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسۡتَخۡلَفِينَ فِيهِ ۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمۡ وَ أَنفَقُواْ لَهُمۡ أَجۡرࣱ كَبِيرࣱ﴿٧﴾
Aminoo biAllahi warasoolihi waanfiqoo mimma jaʿalakum mustakhlafeena feehi faallatheena amanoo minkum waanfaqoo lahum ajrun kabeerun
Believe in Allāh and His Messenger and spend out of that in which He has made you successive inheritors. For those who have believed among you and spent, there will be a great reward.
وَ مَا لَكُمۡ لَا تُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَ ٱلرَّسُولُ يَدۡعُوكُمۡ لِتُؤۡمِنُواْ بِرَبِّكُمۡ وَ قَدۡ أَخَذَ مِيثَٰقَكُمۡ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ﴿٨﴾
Wama lakum la tuminoona biAllahi waalrrasoolu yadʿookum lituminoo birabbikum waqad akhatha meethaqakum in kuntum mumineena
And why do you not believe in Allāh while the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord and He has taken your covenant, if you should [truly] be believers?
هُوَ ٱلَّذِي يُنَزِّلُ عَلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦٓ ءَايَٰتِۭ بَيِّنَٰتࣲ لِّيُخۡرِجَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ ۚ وَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُمۡ لَرَءُوفࣱ رَّحِيمࣱ﴿٩﴾
Huwa allathee yunazzilu ʿala ʿabdihi ayatin bayyinatin liyukhrijakum mina alththulumati ila alnnoori wainna Allaha bikum laraoofun raheemun
It is He who sends down upon His Servant [Muḥammad (ﷺ)] verses of clear evidence that He may bring you out from darknesses into the light. And indeed, Allāh is to you Kind and Merciful.
وَ مَا لَكُمۡ أَلَّا تُنفِقُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَ لِلَّهِ مِيرَٰثُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ۚ لَا يَسۡتَوِي مِنكُم مَّنۡ أَنفَقَ مِن قَبۡلِ ٱلۡفَتۡحِ وَ قَٰتَلَ ۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَعۡظَمُ دَرَجَةࣰ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنفَقُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدُ وَ قَٰتَلُواْ ۚ وَ كُلࣰّا وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ ۚ وَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرࣱ﴿١٠﴾
Wama lakum alla tunfiqoo fee sabeeli Allahi walillahi meerathu alssamawati waalardi la yastawee minkum man anfaqa min qabli alfathi waqatala olaika aʿthamu darajatan mina allatheena anfaqoo min baʿdu waqataloo wakullan waʿada Allahu alhusna waAllahu bima taʿmaloona khabeerun
And why do you not spend in the cause of Allāh while to Allāh belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth? Not equal among you are those who spent before the conquest [of Makkah] and fought [and those who did so after it]. Those are greater in degree than they who spent afterwards and fought. But to all Allāh has promised the best [reward]. And Allāh, of what you do, is Aware.
مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِي يُقۡرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرۡضًا حَسَنࣰا فَيُضَٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥ وَ لَهُۥٓ أَجۡرࣱ كَرِيمࣱ﴿١١﴾
Man tha allathee yuqridu Allaha qardan hasanan fayudaʿifahu lahu walahu ajrun kareemun
Who is it that would loan Allāh a goodly loan so He will multiply it for him and he will have a noble reward?
يَوۡمَ تَرَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ يَسۡعَىٰ نُورُهُم بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَ بِأَيۡمَٰنِهِم ۖ بُشۡرَىٰكُمُ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ جَنَّٰتࣱ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ﴿١٢﴾
Yawma tara almumineena waalmuminati yasʿa nooruhum bayna aydeehim wabiaymanihim bushrakumu alyawma jannatun tajree min tahtiha alanharu khalideena feeha thalika huwa alfawzu alʿatheemu
On the Day you see the believing men and believing women, their light proceeding before them and on their right, [it will be said], "Your good tidings today are [of] gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein you will abide eternally." That is what is the great attainment.
يَوۡمَ يَقُولُ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقُونَ وَ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقَٰتُ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱنظُرُونَا نَقۡتَبِسۡ مِن نُّورِكُمۡ قِيلَ ٱرۡجِعُواْ وَرَآءَكُمۡ فَٱلۡتَمِسُواْ نُورࣰا ۖ فَضُرِبَ بَيۡنَهُم بِسُورࣲ لَّهُۥ بَابُۢ بَاطِنُهُۥ فِيهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَةُ وَ ظَٰهِرُهُۥ مِن قِبَلِهِ ٱلۡعَذَابُ﴿١٣﴾
Yawma yaqoolu almunafiqoona waalmunafiqatu lillatheena amanoo onthuroona naqtabis min noorikum qeela irjiʿoo waraakum failtamisoo nooran faduriba baynahum bisoorin lahu babun batinuhu feehi alrrahmatu wathahiruhu min qibalihi alʿathabu
On the [same] Day the hypocrite men and hypocrite women will say to those who believed, "Wait for us that we may acquire some of your light." It will be said, "Go back behind you and seek light." And a wall will be placed between them with a door, its interior containing mercy, but on the outside of it is torment.
يُنَادُونَهُمۡ أَلَمۡ نَكُن مَّعَكُمۡ ۖ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ وَ لَٰكِنَّكُمۡ فَتَنتُمۡ أَنفُسَكُمۡ وَ تَرَبَّصۡتُمۡ وَ ٱرۡتَبۡتُمۡ وَ غَرَّتۡكُمُ ٱلۡأَمَانِيُّ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ أَمۡرُ ٱللَّهِ وَ غَرَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلۡغَرُورُ﴿١٤﴾
Yunadoonahum alam nakun maʿakum qaloo bala walakinnakum fatantum anfusakum watarabbastum wairtabtum wagharratkumu alamaniyyu hatta jaa amru Allahi wagharrakum biAllahi algharooru
They [i.e., the hypocrites] will call to them [i.e., the believers], "Were we not with you?" They will say, "Yes, but you afflicted yourselves and awaited [misfortune for us] and doubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allāh. And the Deceiver [i.e., Satan] deceived you concerning Allāh.
فَٱلۡيَوۡمَ لَا يُؤۡخَذُ مِنكُمۡ فِدۡيَةࣱ وَ لَا مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ۚ مَأۡوَىٰكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ ۖ هِيَ مَوۡلَىٰكُمۡ ۖ وَ بِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ﴿١٥﴾
Faalyawma la yukhathu minkum fidyatun wala mina allatheena kafaroo mawakumu alnnaru hiya mawlakum wabisa almaseeru
So today no ransom will be taken from you or from those who disbelieved. Your refuge is the Fire. It is most worthy of you, and wretched is the destination."
أَلَمۡ يَأۡنِ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَن تَخۡشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمۡ لِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَ مَا نَزَلَ مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَ لَا يَكُونُواْ كَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ مِن قَبۡلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡأَمَدُ فَقَسَتۡ قُلُوبُهُمۡ ۖ وَ كَثِيرࣱ مِّنۡهُمۡ فَٰسِقُونَ﴿١٦﴾
Alam yani lillatheena amanoo an takhshaʿa quloobuhum lithikri Allahi wama nazala mina alhaqqi wala yakoonoo kaallatheena ootoo alkitaba min qablu fatala ʿalayhimu alamadu faqasat quloobuhum wakatheerun minhum fasiqoona
Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allāh and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient.
ٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحۡيِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَا ۚ قَدۡ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ﴿١٧﴾
Iʿlamoo anna Allaha yuhyee alarda baʿda mawtiha qad bayyanna lakumu alayati laʿallakum taʿqiloona
Know that Allāh gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. We have made clear to you the signs; perhaps you will understand.
إِنَّ ٱلۡمُصَّدِّقِينَ وَ ٱلۡمُصَّدِّقَٰتِ وَ أَقۡرَضُواْ ٱللَّهَ قَرۡضًا حَسَنࣰا يُضَٰعَفُ لَهُمۡ وَ لَهُمۡ أَجۡرࣱ كَرِيمࣱ﴿١٨﴾
Inna almussaddiqeena waalmussaddiqati waaqradoo Allaha qardan hasanan yudaʿafu lahum walahum ajrun kareemun
Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity and [they who] have loaned Allāh a goodly loan - it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward.
وَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَ رُسُلِهِۦٓ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلصِّدِّيقُونَ ۖ وَ ٱلشُّهَدَآءُ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ لَهُمۡ أَجۡرُهُمۡ وَ نُورُهُمۡ ۖ وَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ﴿١٩﴾
Waallatheena amanoo biAllahi warusulihi olaika humu alssiddeeqoona waalshshuhadao ʿinda rabbihim lahum ajruhum wanooruhum waallatheena kafaroo wakaththaboo biayatina olaika ashabu aljaheemi
And those who have believed in Allāh and His messengers - those are [in the ranks of] the supporters of truth and the martyrs, with their Lord. For them is their reward and their light. But those who have disbelieved and denied Our verses - those are the companions of Hellfire.
ٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّمَا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا لَعِبࣱ وَ لَهۡوࣱ وَ زِينَةࣱ وَ تَفَاخُرُۢ بَيۡنَكُمۡ وَ تَكَاثُرࣱ فِي ٱلۡأَمۡوَٰلِ وَ ٱلۡأَوۡلَٰدِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيۡثٍ أَعۡجَبَ ٱلۡكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصۡفَرࣰّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَٰمࣰا ۖ وَ فِي ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ عَذَابࣱ شَدِيدࣱ وَ مَغۡفِرَةࣱ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَ رِضۡوَٰنࣱ ۚ وَ مَا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَآ إِلَّا مَتَٰعُ ٱلۡغُرُورِ﴿٢٠﴾
Iʿlamoo annama alhayatu alddunya laʿibun walahwun wazeenatun watafakhurun baynakum watakathurun fee alamwali waalawladi kamathali ghaythin aʿjaba alkuffara nabatuhu thumma yaheeju fatarahu musfarran thumma yakoonu hutaman wafee alakhirati ʿathabun shadeedun wamaghfiratun mina Allahi waridwanun wama alhayatu alddunya illa mataʿu alghuroori
Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allāh and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.
سَابِقُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ مَغۡفِرَةࣲ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَ جَنَّةٍ عَرۡضُهَا كَعَرۡضِ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أُعِدَّتۡ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَ رُسُلِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضۡلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤۡتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَ ٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلۡفَضۡلِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ﴿٢١﴾
Sabiqoo ila maghfiratin min rabbikum wajannatin ʿarduha kaʿardi alssamai waalardi oʿiddat lillatheena amanoo biAllahi warusulihi thalika fadlu Allahi yuteehi man yashao waAllahu thoo alfadli alʿatheemi
Race [i.e., compete] toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allāh and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allāh which He gives to whom He wills, and Allāh is the possessor of great bounty.
مَآ أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةࣲ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَ لَا فِيٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ إِلَّا فِي كِتَٰبࣲ مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن نَّبۡرَأَهَآ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرࣱ﴿٢٢﴾
Ma asaba min museebatin fee alardi wala fee anfusikum illa fee kitabin min qabli an nabraaha inna thalika ʿala Allahi yaseerun
No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being - indeed that, for Allāh, is easy -
لِّكَيۡلَا تَأۡسَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ مَا فَاتَكُمۡ وَ لَا تَفۡرَحُواْ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمۡ ۗ وَ ٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخۡتَالࣲ فَخُورٍ﴿٢٣﴾
Likayla tasaw ʿala ma fatakum wala tafrahoo bima atakum waAllahu la yuhibbu kulla mukhtalin fakhoorin
In order that you not despair over what has eluded you and not exult [in pride] over what He has given you. And Allāh does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful -
ٱلَّذِينَ يَبۡخَلُونَ وَ يَأۡمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلۡبُخۡلِ ۗ وَ مَن يَتَوَلَّ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡغَنِيُّ ٱلۡحَمِيدُ﴿٢٤﴾
Allatheena yabkhaloona wayamuroona alnnasa bialbukhli waman yatawalla fainna Allaha huwa alghaniyyu alhameedu
[Those] who are stingy and enjoin upon people stinginess. And whoever turns away - then indeed, Allāh is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.
لَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ وَ أَنزَلۡنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ وَ ٱلۡمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ ٱلنَّاسُ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ ۖ وَ أَنزَلۡنَا ٱلۡحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأۡسࣱ شَدِيدࣱ وَ مَنَٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَ لِيَعۡلَمَ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُۥ وَ رُسُلَهُۥ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِيٌّ عَزِيزࣱ﴿٢٥﴾
Laqad arsalna rusulana bialbayyinati waanzalna maʿahumu alkitaba waalmeezana liyaqooma alnnasu bialqisti waanzalna alhadeeda feehi basun shadeedun wamanafiʿu lilnnasi waliyaʿlama Allahu man yansuruhu warusulahu bialghaybi inna Allaha qawiyyun ʿazeezun
We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [their affairs] in justice. And We sent down iron, wherein is great military might and benefits for the people, and so that Allāh may make evident those who support Him and His messengers unseen. Indeed, Allāh is Powerful and Exalted in Might.
وَ لَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوحࣰا وَ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَ جَعَلۡنَا فِي ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا ٱلنُّبُوَّةَ وَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ ۖ فَمِنۡهُم مُّهۡتَدࣲ ۖ وَ كَثِيرࣱ مِّنۡهُمۡ فَٰسِقُونَ﴿٢٦﴾
Walaqad arsalna noohan waibraheema wajaʿalna fee thurriyyatihima alnnubuwwata waalkitaba faminhum muhtadin wakatheerun minhum fasiqoona
And We have already sent Noah and Abraham and placed in their descendants prophethood and scripture; and among them is he who is guided, but many of them are defiantly disobedient.
ثُمَّ قَفَّيۡنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِم بِرُسُلِنَا وَ قَفَّيۡنَا بِعِيسَى ٱبۡنِ مَرۡيَمَ وَ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُ ٱلۡإِنجِيلَ ۖ وَ جَعَلۡنَا فِي قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ رَأۡفَةࣰ وَ رَحۡمَةࣰ ۚ وَ رَهۡبَانِيَّةً ٱبۡتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبۡنَٰهَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ إِلَّا ٱبۡتِغَآءَ رِضۡوَٰنِ ٱللَّهِ فَمَا رَعَوۡهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَا ۖ فَـَٔاتَيۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنۡهُمۡ أَجۡرَهُمۡ ۖ وَ كَثِيرࣱ مِّنۡهُمۡ فَٰسِقُونَ﴿٢٧﴾
Thumma qaffayna ʿala atharihim birusulina waqaffayna biʿeesa ibni maryama waataynahu alinjeela wajaʿalna fee quloobi allatheena ittabaʿoohu rafatan warahmatan warahbaniyyatan ibtadaʿooha ma katabnaha ʿalayhim illa ibtighaa ridwani Allahi fama raʿawha haqqa riʿayatiha faatayna allatheena amanoo minhum ajrahum wakatheerun minhum fasiqoona
Then We sent following their footsteps [i.e., traditions] Our messengers and followed [them] with Jesus, the son of Mary, and gave him the Gospel. And We placed in the hearts of those who followed him compassion and mercy and monasticism, which they innovated; We did not prescribe it for them except [that they did so] seeking the approval of Allāh. But they did not observe it with due observance. So We gave the ones who believed among them their reward, but many of them are defiantly disobedient.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَ ءَامِنُواْ بِرَسُولِهِۦ يُؤۡتِكُمۡ كِفۡلَيۡنِ مِن رَّحۡمَتِهِۦ وَ يَجۡعَل لَّكُمۡ نُورࣰا تَمۡشُونَ بِهِۦ وَ يَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ ۚ وَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورࣱ رَّحِيمࣱ﴿٢٨﴾
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo ittaqoo Allaha waaminoo birasoolihi yutikum kiflayni min rahmatihi wayajʿal lakum nooran tamshoona bihi wayaghfir lakum waAllahu ghafoorun raheemun
O you who have believed, fear Allāh and believe in His Messenger; He will [then] give you a double portion of His mercy and make for you a light by which you will walk and forgive you; and Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
لِّئَلَّا يَعۡلَمَ أَهۡلُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ أَلَّا يَقۡدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَيۡءࣲ مِّن فَضۡلِ ٱللَّهِ وَ أَنَّ ٱلۡفَضۡلَ بِيَدِ ٱللَّهِ يُؤۡتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَ ٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلۡفَضۡلِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ﴿٢٩﴾
Lialla yaʿlama ahlu alkitabi alla yaqdiroona ʿala shayin min fadli Allahi waanna alfadla biyadi Allahi yuteehi man yashao waAllahu thoo alfadli alʿatheemi
[This is] so that the People of the Scripture may know that they are not able [to obtain] anything from the bounty of Allāh and that [all] bounty is in the hand of Allāh; He gives it to whom He wills. And Allāh is the possessor of great bounty.
Translation: Saheeh International · Transliteration
About this surah
Name
The Surah takes its title from the sentence, Wa anzalna' l-hadida, of verse 25.
Period of Revelation
This is unanimously a Madani Surah, and a study of its subject matter shows that it was probably sent down some time during the interval between the Battle of Uhud and the Truce of Hudaibiyah. This was the time when the tiny Islamic State of Madinah had been hemmed in by the disbelievers and the handful of the ill equipped Muslims were entrenched against the combined power of entire Arabia. In this state Islam not only stood in need of the sacrifice of Life from its followers, but it also needed monetary help and assistance. In this Surah a forceful appeal has been made for the same. This view is further strengthened by verse 10 in which Allah has addressed the believers to the effect "Those of you who would spend and fight after the victory can never be equal to those who have spent and fought before the victory." And the same is supported by the traditions that Ibn Marduyah has related on the authority of Hadrat Anas. In respect of the verse: Alam ya'n-i lilladhina aamanu an takhsha'a qulubu- hum li-dhikrillah-i, he says that 17 years after the commencement of the revelation of the Qur'an this verse was sent down to arouse the believers to action. Reckoned thus the period of the revelation of this Surah falls between the 4th and the 5th year after the hijrah.
Theme and Subject Matter
The theme of this Surah is to exhort the Muslims to spend in the cause of Allah. At the most critical juncture of the history of Islam when it was engaged in a life and death struggle against Arab paganism, this Surah was revealed to persuade the Muslim's to make monetary sacrifices in particular, and to make them realize that Islam did not merely consist in verbal affirmation and some outward practices but its essence and spirit is sincerity towards Allah and His Religion. The faith of the one who was devoid of this spirit and who regarded his own self and wealth as dearer to himself than Allah and His Religion, was hollow and therefore of little worth in the sight of Allah.
For this object, first the attributes of Allah Almighty have been mentioned so that the listeners may fully realize as to Who is addressing them. Then, the following themes have been expressed in sequence:
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The inevitable demand of the Faith is that one should not shirk spending one's wealth for the sake of Allah. This would not only be contrary to the Faith but also wrong realistically. For the wealth indeed belongs to Allah, on which man has been given proprietary rights only as His vicegerent. Yesterday this wealth was in other people's possession today it is with one particular man, and tomorrow it will pass into some one else's hand. Ultimately, it will go back to Allah, Who is the inheritor of everything in the universe. Only that much of this wealth will be of any use to a man, which he spends in the cause of Allah during the period it is in his possession.
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Although making sacrifices for the sake of Allah is commendable in any case, the true worth of these sacrifices is determined by the nature of the occasion. There is an occasion when the power of paganism is overwhelming and there is a danger that it might subdue and overcome Islam completely; there is another occasion when Islam is in a stronger position in its struggle against un-Islam and the believers are attaining victories. Both these states are not equal as regards their respective importance. Therefore, the sacrifices that are made in these different states would also not be equal. Those who sacrifice their lives and expend their wealth to further promote the cause of Islam when it is already strong cannot attain to the rank of those who struggled with their lives and their wealth to promote and uphold the cause of Islam when it was weak.
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Whatever is spent for the cause of the Truth is a loan on Allah, and Allah will not only return it increasing it manifold but will also give from Himself the best reward for it.
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In the Hereafter the Light shall be bestowed only on those believers who would have spent their wealth in the cause of Allah. As for the hypocrites who watched and served only their own interests in the world, and who least bothered whether the Truth or falsehood prevailed will be segregated from the believers in the Hereafter although they might have lived in close association with them in the world. They will be deprived of the Light, and they will be counted among the disbelievers.
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The Muslims should not behave like those followers of the earlier Books, whose lives have been. spent in the worship of the world and whose hearts have become hardened due to negligence with the passage of time. He cannot be a believer whose heart does not melt at the remembrance of Allah and does not bow to the Truth sent down by Him.
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The sincere upholders of the Truth and the true witnesses of the Faith in the sight of Allah are only those believers who spend their wealth in His way sincerely, without any desire of show.
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The life of this world is only a short lived spring and a means of pride and show. Its sports and pastimes, its adornments and decorations, its pride of place, its wealth and possessions, for which the people try to vie with one another, are transient. Its likeness is of the crop which flourishes and blooms, then turns pale and then finally is reduced to chaff. The everlasting life is the life hereafter when results of great consequence will be announced. Therefore, if one has to vie with another for something, one should strive for Paradise.
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Whatever good man meets with and whatever hardship he suffers in the world, are pre-ordained by Allah. A true believer is he who does not lose heart in affliction and is not puffed up with pride in good times. It is the character of a hypocrite and disbeliever that he is puffed up with pride when Allah favors him with His blessings, behaved boastfully and shows stinginess when called upon to spend in the cause of the same God Who blessed him, and also counsels others to be stingy like himself.
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Allah sent His Messengers with clear signs and the Book and the Law of Justice so that the people may adhere to justice; besides, He sent down iron also so that power may be used to establish the Truth and vanquish falsehood. Thus, Allah likes to see as to who from among the people would rise to support and succor His true Religion even at the risk of their lives. These opportunities Allah has created for man's own advantage and development; otherwise Allah does not stand in need of others for His works.
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Prophets came from Allah in the past, and by their preaching some people adopted the Right Path, but most of them persisted in wickedness. Then the Prophet Jesus came, whose teachings brought about many moral improvements in the lives of the people, but his community invented monasticism. Now Allah has sent the Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be His peace and blessings). Those who affirm faith in him and pass their life fearing Allah's accountability, will be given by Allah a double share of His mercy and He will bless them with the Light by which they will see and walk the straight path among the crooked paths met with at every step in the life of this world. Although the followers of the earlier revelation regard themselves as the monopolists of Allah's bounties, the fact remains that Allah Himself controls His bounties He may bless with these whomever He pleases.
Source: Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Quran