Selections from the Qur’an
From Silvers
Back to Islam syllabus
Back to Western Religions syllabus
See the full translation. See other translations and listen to recitations on this site.
This site teaches you how to recite Qur'an.
Selections from Arberry's translation of the Qur'an, The Koran Interpreted
Chapter 1 THE OPENING
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
1 Praise belongs to God, the Lord of all Being, the All-merciful, the All-compassionate, the Master of the Day of Doom. 5 Thee only we serve; to Thee alone we pray for succour. Guide us in the straight path, the path of those whom Thou hast blessed, not of those against whom Thou art wrathful, nor of those who are astray.
Chapter 2 THE COW
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Alif Lam Mim
2:1 That is the Book, wherein is no doubt, a guidance to the godfearing who believe in the Unseen, and perform the prayer, and expend of that We have provided them; who believe in what has been sent down to thee and what has been sent down before thee, and have faith in the Hereafter; those are upon guidance from their Lord, those are the ones who prosper.
2:5 As for the unbelievers, alike it is to them whether thou hast warned them or hast not warned them, they do not believe. God has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a covering, and there awaits them a mighty chastisement.
And some men there are who say, 'We believe in God and the Last Day'; but they are not believers.
They would trick God and the believers, and only themselves they deceive, and they are not aware. In their hearts is a sickness, and God has increased their sickness, and there awaits them a painful chastisement for that they have cried lies.
2:10 When it is said to them, 'Do not corruption in the land', they say, 'We are only ones that put things right.' Truly, they are the workers of corruption but they are not aware.
When it is said to them, 'Believe as the people believe', they say, 'Shall we believe, as fools believe?'
Truly, they are the foolish ones, but they do not know. When they meet those who beliieve, they say, 'We believe'; but when they go privily to their Satans, they say, 'We are with you; we were only mocking.' God shall mock them, and shall lead them on blindly wandering in their insolence.
2:15 Those are they that have bought error at the price of guidance, and their commerce has not profited them, and they are not right-guided. The likeness of them is as the likeness of a man who kindled a fire, and when it lit all about him God took away their light, and left them in darkness unseeing, deaf, dumb, blind -- so they shall not return; or as a cloudburst out of heaven in which is darkness, and thunder, and lightning -- they put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps, fearful of death; and God encompasses the unbelievers; the lightning wellnigh snatches away their sight; whensoever it gives them light, they walk in it, and when the darkness is over them, they halt; had God willed, He would have taken away their hearing and their sight. Truly, God is powerful over everything.
O you men, serve your Lord Who created you, and those that were before you; haply so you will be godfearing;
2:20 who assigned to you the earth for a couch, and heaven for an edifice, and sent down out of heaven water, wherewith He brought forth fruits for your provision; so set not up compeers to God wittingly. And if you are in doubt concerning that We have sent down on Our servant, then bring a sura like it, and call your witnesses, apart from God, if you are truthful. And if you do not -- and you will not -- then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for unbelievers.
Give thou good tidings to those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, that for them await gardens underneath which rivers flow; whensoever they are provided with fruits therefrom they shall say, 'This is that wherewithal we were provided before'; that they shall be given in perfect semblance; and there for them shall be spouses purified; therein they shall dwell forever.
God is not ashamed to strike a similitude even of a gnat, or aught above it. As for the believers, they know it is the truth from their Lord; but as for unbelievers, they say, 'What did God desire by this for a similitude?' Thereby He leads many astray, and thereby He guides many; and thereby He leads none astray save the ungodly
2:25 such as break the covenant of God after its solemn binding, and such as cut what God has commanded should be joined, and such as do corruption in the land -- they shall be the losers.
How do you disbelieve in God, seeing you were dead and He gave you life, then He shall make you dead, then He shall give you life, then unto Him you shall be returned?
It is He who created for you all that is in the earth, then He lifted Himself to heaven and levelled them seven heavens; and He has knowledge of everything.
And when thy Lord said to the angels, 'I am setting in the earth a viceroy.' They said, 'What, wilt Thou set therein one who will do corruption there, and shed blood, while we proclaim Thy praise and call Thee Holy?' He said, 'Assuredly I know that you know not.'
And He taught Adam the names, all of them; then He presented them unto the angels and said, 'Now tell Me the names of these, if you speak truly.'
2:30 They said, 'Glory be to Thee! We know not save what Thou hast taught us. Surely Thou art the All-knowing, the All-wise.'
He said, 'Adam, tell them their names.' And when he had told them their names He said, 'Did I not tell you I know the unseen things of the heavens and earth? And I know what things you reveal, and what you were hiding.'
And when We said to the angels, 'Bow yourselves to Adam'; so they bowed themselves, save Iblis; he refused, and waxed proud, and so he became one of the unbelievers.
And We said, 'Adam, dwell thou, and thy wife, in the Garden, and eat thereof easefully where you desire; but draw not nigh this tree, lest you be evildoers.' Then Satan caused them to slip therefrom and brought them out of that they were in; and We said, 'Get you all down, each of you an enemy of each; and in the earth a sojourn shall be yours, and enjoyment for a time.'
2:35 Thereafter Adam received certain words from his Lord, and He turned towards him; truly He turns, and is All-compassionate. We said, 'Get you down out of it, all together; yet there shall come to you guidance from Me, and whosoever follows My guidance, no fear shall be on them, neither shall they sorrow. As for the unbelievers who cry lies to Our signs, those shall be the inhabitants of the Fire, therein dwelling forever.'
Children of Israel, remember My blessing wherewith I blessed you, and fulfil My covenant and I shall fulfil your covenant; and have awe of Me. And believe in that I have sent down, confirming that which is with you, and be not the first to disbelieve in it. And sell not My signs for a little price; and fear you Me. And do not confound the truth with vanity, and do not conceal the truth wittingly.
2:40 And perform the prayer, and pay the alms, and bow with those that bow. Will you bid others to piety, and forget yourselves while you recite the Book? Do you not understand? Seek you help in patience and prayer, for grievous it is, save to the humble who reckon that they shall meet their Lord and that unto Him they are returning.
2:285 The Messenger believes in what was sent down to him from his Lord, and the believers; each one believes in God and His angels, and in His Books and His Messengers; we make no division between any one of His Messengers. They say, 'We hear, and obey.
Our Lord, grant us Thy forgiveness; unto Thee is the homecoming.'
God charges no soul save to its capacity; standing to its account is what it has earned, and against its account what it has merited.
Our Lord, take us not to task if we forget, or make mistake. Our Lord; charge us not with a load such as Thou didst lay upon those before us. Our Lord, do Thou not burden us beyond what we have the strength to bear. And pardon us, and forgive us, and have mercy on us; Thou art our Protector. And help us against the people of the unbelievers.
Chapter 4 THE WOMEN
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
4:1 Mankind, fear your Lord, who created you of a single soul, and from it created its mate, and from the pair of them scattered abroad many men and women; and fear God by whom you demand one of another, and the wombs; surely God ever watches over you.
Give the orphans their property, and do not exchange the corrupt for the good; and devour not their property with your property; surely that is a great crime.
If you fear that you will not act justly towards the orphans, marry such women as seem good to you, two, three, four; but if you fear you will not be equitable, then only one, or what your right hands own; so it is likelier you will not be partial. And give the women their dowries as a gift spontaneous; but if they are pleased to offer you any of it, consume it with wholesome appetite. But do not give to fools their property that God has assigned to you to manage; provide for them and clothe them out of it, and speak to them honourable words.
4:5 Test well the orphans, until they reach the age of marrying; then, if you perceive in them right judgment, deliver to them their property; consume it not wastefully and hastily ere they are grown. If any man is rich, let him be abstinent; if poor, let him consume in reason. And when you deliver to them their property, take witnesses over them; God suffices for a reckoner.
To the men a share of what parents and kinsmen leave, and to the women a share of what parents and kinsmen leave, whether it be little or much, a share apportioned; and when the division is attended by kinsmen and orphans and the poor, make provision for them out of it, and speak to them honourable words.
4:10 And let those fear who, if they left behind them weak seed, would be afraid on their account, and let them fear God, and speak words hitting the mark. Those who devour the property of orphans unjustly, devour Fire in their bellies, and shall assuredly roast in a Blaze.
God charges you, concerning your children: to the male the like of the portion of two females, and if they be women above two, then for them two-thirds of what he leaves, but if she be one then to her a half; and to his parents to each one of the two the sixth of what he leaves, if he has children; but if he has no children, and his heirs are his parents, a third to his mother, or, if he has brothers, to his mother a sixth, after any bequest he may bequeath, or any debt. Your fathers and your sons -- you know not which out of them is nearer in profit to you. So God apportions; surely God is All-knowing, All-wise.
And for you a half of what your wives leave, if they have no children; but if they have children, then for you of what they leave a fourth, after any bequest they may bequeath, or any debt. And for them a fourth of what you leave, if you have no children; but if you have children, then for them of what you leave an eighth, after any bequest you may bequeath, or any debt.
4:15 If a man or a woman have no heir direct, but have a brother or a sister, to each of the two a sixth; but if they are more numerous than that, they share equally a third, after any bequest he may bequeath, or any debt not prejudicial; a charge from God. God is All-knowing, All-clement.
Those are God's bounds. Whoso obeys God and His Messenger, He will admit him to gardens underneath which rivers flow, therein dwelling forever; that is the mighty triumph.
But whoso disobeys God, and His Messenger, and transgresses His bounds, him He will admit to a Fire, therein dwelling forever, and for him there awaits a humbling chastisement.
Such of your women as commit indecency, call four of you to witness against them; and if they witness, then detain them in their houses until death takes them or God appoints for them a way.
4:20 And when two of you commit indecency, punish them both; but if they repent and make amends, then suffer them to be; God turns, and is All-compassionate.
God shall turn only towards those who do evil in ignorance, then shortly repent; God will return towards those; God is All-knowing, All-wise. But God shall not turn towards those who do evil deeds until, when one of them is visited by death, he says, 'Indeed now I repent,' neither to those who die disbelieving; for them We have prepared a painful chastisement.
O believers, it is not lawful for you to inherit women against their will; neither debar them, that you may go off with part of what you have given them, except when they commit a flagrant indecency. Consort with them honourably; or if you are averse to them, it is possible you may be averse to a thing, and God set in it much good.
And if you desire to exchange a wife in place of another, and you have given to one a hundredweight, take of it nothing. What, will you take it by way of calumny and manifest sin?
4:25 How shall you take it, when each of you has been privily with the other, and they have taken from you a solemn compact? And do not marry women that your fathers married, unless it be a thing of the past; surely that is indecent and hateful; an evil way.
Forbidden to you are your mothers and daughters, your sisters, your aunts paternal and maternal, your brother's daughters, your sister's daughters, your mothers who have given suck to you, your suckling sisters, your wives' mothers, your stepdaughters who are in your care being born of your wives you have been in to -- but if you have not yet been in to them it is no fault in you -- and the spouses of your sons who are of your loins, and that you should take to you two sisters together, unless it be a thing of the past; God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate; and wedded women, save what your right hands own. So God prescribes for you. Lawful for you, beyond all that, is that you may seek, using your wealth, in wedlock and not in licence. Such wives as you enjoy thereby, give them their wages apportionate; it is no fault in you in your agreeing together, after the due apportionate. God is All-knowing, All-wise.
Any one of you who has not the affluence to be able to marry believing freewomen in wedlock, let him take believing handmaids that your right hands own; God knows very well your faith; the one of you is as the other. So marry them, with their people's leave, and give them their wages honourably as women in wedlock, not as in licence or taking lovers.
4:30 But when they are in wedlock, if they commit indecency, they shall be liable to half the chastisement of freewomen. That provision is for those of you who fear fornication; yet it is better for you to be patient. God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.
God desires to make clear to you, and to guide you in the institutions of those before you, and to turn towards you; God is All-knowing, All-wise; and God desires to turn towards you, but those who follow their lusts desire you to swerve away mightily. God desires to lighten things for you, for man was created a weakling.
O believers, consume not your goods between you in vanity, except there be trading, by your agreeing together. And kill not one another. Surely God is compassionate to you. But whosoever does that in transgression and wrongfully, him We shall certainly roast at a Fire; and that for God is an easy matter.
4:35 If you avoid the heinous sins that are forbidden you, We will acquit you of your evil deeds, and admit you by the gate of honour.
Do not covet that whereby God in bounty has preferred one of you above another. To the men a share from what they have earned, and to the women a share from what they have earned. And ask God of His bounty; God knows everything.
To everyone We have appointed heirs of that which parents and kinsmen leave, and those with whom you have sworn compact. So give to them their share; God is witness over everything.
Men are the managers of the affairs of women for that God has preferred in bounty one of them over another, and for that they have expended of their property. Righteous women are therefore obedient, guarding the secret for God's guarding. And those you fear may be rebellious admonish; banish them to their couches, and beat them. If they then obey you, look not for any way against them; God is All-high, All-great.
And if you fear a breach between the two, bring forth an arbiter from his people and from her people an arbiter, if they desire to set things right; God will compose their differences; surely God is All-knowing, All-aware.
4:40 Serve God, and associate naught with Him...(chapter continues)
Chapter 55 THE ALL-MERCIFUL
Click on the header for a separate page you can print out. Bring this chapter with you to class. We will read along with it while listening to a recitation.
Chapter 92 THE NIGHT
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
92:1 By the night enshrouding and the day in splendour and That which created the male and the female, surely your striving is to diverse ends.
92:5 As for him who gives and is godfearing and confirms the reward most fair, We shall surely ease him to the Easing. But as for him who is a miser, and self-sufficient, and cries lies to the reward most fair,
92:10 We shall surely ease him to the Hardship; his wealth shall not avail him when he perishes.
Surely upon Us rests the guidance, and to Us belong the Last and the First.
Now I have warned you of a Fire that flames,
92:15 whereat none but the most wretched shall be roasted, even he who cried lies, and turned away; and from which the most godfearing shall be removed, even he who gives his wealth to purify himself and confers no favour on any man for recompense,
92:20 only seeking the Face of his Lord the Most High; and he shall surely be satisfied.
Chapter 93 THE FORENOON
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
93:1 By the white forenoon and the brooding night! Thy Lord has neither forsaken thee nor hates thee and the Last shall be better for thee than the First.
93:5 Thy Lord shall give thee, and thou shalt be satisfied.
Did He not find thee an orphan, and shelter thee? Did He not find thee erring, and guide thee? Did He not find thee needy, and suffice thee?
93:10 As for the orphan, do not oppress him, and as for the beggar, scold him not; and as for thy Lord's blessing, declare it.
Chapter 94 THE EXPANDING
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
94:1 Did We not expand thy breast for thee and lift from thee thy burden, the burden that weighed down thy back? Did We not exalt thy fame?
94:5 So truly with hardship comes ease, truly with hardship comes ease.' So when thou art empty, labour, and let thy Lord be thy Quest.
Chapter 95 THE FIG
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
95:1 By the fig and the olive and the Mount Sinai and this land secure! We indeed created Man in the fairest stature
95:5 then We restored him the lowest of the low -- save those who believe, and do righteous deeds; they shall have a wage unfailing.
What then shall cry thee lies as to the Doom? Is not God the justest of judges?
Chapter 96 THE BLOOD-CLOT
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
96:1 Recite: In the Name of thy Lord who created, created Man of a blood-clot. Recite: And thy Lord is the Most Generous, who taught by the Pen, taught Man that he knew not.
96:5 No indeed; surely Man waxes insolent, for he thinks himself self-sufficient. Surely unto thy Lord is the Returning. What thinkest thou? He who forbids
96:10 a servant when he prays -- What thinkest thou? If he were upon guidance or bade to godfearing -- What thinkest thou? If he cries lies, and turns away -- Did he not know that God sees?
96:15 No indeed; surely, if he gives not over, We shall seize him by the forelock, a lying, sinful forelock. So let him call on his concourse! We shall call on the guards of Hell. No indeed; do thou not obey him, and bow thyself, and draw nigh.
Chapter 97 POWER
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
97:1 Behold, We sent it down on the Night of Power; And what shall teach thee what is the Night of Power? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months; in it the angels and the Spirit descend, by the leave of their Lord, upon every command.
97:5 Peace it is, till the rising of dawn.
Chapter 98 THE CLEAR SIGN
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
98:1 The unbelievers of the People of the Book and the idolaters would never leave off; till the Clear Sign came to them, a Messenger from God, reciting pages purified, therein true Books. And they scattered not, those that were given the Book, excepting after the Clear Sign came to them.
They were commanded only to serve God, making the religion His sincerely, men of pure faith, and to perform the prayer, and pay the alms -- that is the religion of the True.
98:5 The unbelievers of the People of the Book and the idolaters shall be in the Fire of Gehenna, therein dwelling forever; those are the worst of creatures.
But those who believe, and do righteous deeds, those are the best of creatures; their recompense is with their Lord -- Gardens of Eden, underneath which rivers flow, therein dwelling for ever and ever.
God is well-pleased with them, and they are well-pleased with Him; that is for him who fears his Lord.
Chapter 99 THE EARTHQUAKE
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
99:1 When earth is shaken with a mighty shaking and earth brings forth her burdens, and Man says, 'What ails her?' upon that day she shall tell her tidings for that her Lord has inspired her.
99:5 Upon that day men shall issue in scatterings to see their works, and whoso has done an atom's weight of good shall see it, and whoso has done an atom's weight of evil shall see it.
Chapter 100 THE CHARGERS
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
100:1 By the snorting chargers, by the strikers of fire, by the dawn-raiders blazing a trail of dust,
100:5 cleaving there with a host! Surely Man is ungrateful to his Lord, and surely he is a witness against that! Surely he is passionate in his love for good things. Knows he not that when that which is in the tombs is over-thrown,
100:10 and that which is in the breasts is brought out -- surely on that day their Lord shall be aware of them!
Chapter 101 THE CLATTERER
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
101:1 The Clatterer! What is the Clatterer? And what shall teach thee what is the Clatterer? The day that men shall be like scattered moths, and the mountains shall be like plucked wool-tufts.
101:5 Then he whose deeds weigh heavy in the Balance shall inherit a pleasing life, but he whose deeds weigh light in the Balance shall plunge in the womb of the Pit. And what shall teach thee what is the Pit? A blazing Fire!
Chapter 102 RIVALRY
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
102:1 Gross rivalry diverts you, even till you visit the tombs.
No indeed; but soon you shall know. Again, no indeed; but soon you shall know.
102:5 No indeed; did you know with the knowledge of certainty, you shall surely see Hell;
Again, you shall surely see it with the eye of certainty then you shall be questioned that day concerning true bliss.
Chapter 103 AFTERNOON
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
103:1 By the afternoon! Surely Man is in the way of loss, save those who believe, and do righteous deeds, and counsel each other unto the truth, and counsel each other to be steadfast.
Chapter 104 THE BACKBITER
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
104:1 Woe unto every backbiter, slanderer, who has gathered riches and counted them over thinking his riches have made him immortal!
No indeed; he shall be thrust into the Crusher; and what shall teach thee what is the Crusher; The Fire of God kindled roaring over the hearts covered down upon them, in columns outstretched.
Chapter 105 THE ELEPHANT
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
105:1 Hast thou not seen how thy Lord did with the Men of the Elephant?
Did He not make their guile to go astray? And He loosed upon them birds in flights, hurling against them stones of baked clay and He made them like green blades devoured.
Chapter 106 KORAISH
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
106:1 For the composing of Koraish, their composing for the winter and summer caravan!
So let them serve the Lord of this House who has fed them against hunger. and secured them from fear.
Chapter 107 CHARITY
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
107:1 Hast thou seen him who cries lies to the Doom? That is he who repulses the orphan and urges not the feeding of the needy.
So woe to those that pray and are heedless of their prayers, to those who make display and refuse charity.
Chapter 108 ABUNDANCE
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
108:1 Surely We have given thee abundance; so pray unto thy Lord and sacrifice. Surely he that hates thee, he is the one cut off.
Chapter 109 THE UNBELIEVERS
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
109:1 Say: 'O unbelievers, I serve not what you serve and you are not serving what I serve, nor am I serving what you have served, neither are you serving what I serve
109:5 To you your religion, and to me my religion!'
Chapter 110 HELP
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
110:1 When comes the help of God, and victory, and thou seest men entering God's religion in throngs, then proclaim the praise of thy Lord, and seek His forgiveness; for He turns again unto men.
Chapter 111 PERISH
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
111:1 Perish the hands of Abu Lahab, and perish he! His wealth avails him not, neither what he has earned; he shall roast at a flaming fire and his wife, the carrier of the firewood, upon her neck a rope of palm-fibre.
Chapter 112 SINCERE RELIGION
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
112:1 Say: 'He is God, One, God, the Everlasting Refuge, who has not begotten, and has not been begotten, and equal to Him is not any one.'
Chapter 113 DAYBREAK
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
113:1 Say: 'I take refuge with the Lord of the Daybreak from the evil of what He has created, from the evil of darkness when it gathers, from the evil of the women who blow on knots, 113:5 from the evil of an envier when he envies.'
Chapter 113 MEN
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
114:1 Say: 'I take refuge with the Lord of men, the King of men, the God of men, from the evil of the slinking whisperer who whispers in the breasts of men of jinn and men.'
