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Alif-Lãm-Mĩm.¹

This is the Book! There is no doubt about it¹—a guide for those mindful ˹of Allah˺,²

who believe in the unseen,¹ establish prayer, and donate from what We have provided for them,

and who believe in what has been revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺¹ and what was revealed before you, and have sure faith in the Hereafter.

It is they who are ˹truly˺ guided by their Lord, and it is they who will be successful.

And so I have warned you of a raging Fire,

in which none will burn except the most wretched—

who deny and turn away.

But the righteous will be spared from it—

who donate ˹some of˺ their wealth only to purify themselves,

not in return for someone’s favours,

but seeking the pleasure of their Lord, the Most High.

They will certainly be pleased.

Or should We treat those who believe and do good like those who make mischief throughout the land? Or should We treat the righteous like the wicked?

Indeed, We have sent down to you clear revelations, along with examples of those who had gone before you, and a lesson to the God-fearing.

But they were succeeded by generations who neglected prayer and followed their lusts and so will soon face the evil consequences.¹

As for those who repent, believe, and do good, it is they who will be admitted into Paradise, never being denied any reward.

˹They will be in˺ the Gardens of Eternity, promised in trust by the Most Compassionate to His servants. Surely His promise will be fulfilled.

There they will never hear any idle talk—only ˹greetings of˺ peace. And there they will have their provisions morning and evening.¹

That is Paradise, which We will grant to whoever is devout among Our servants.

You are already aware of those of you who broke the Sabbath. We said to them, “Be disgraced apes!”¹

So We made their fate an example to present and future generations, and a lesson to the God-fearing.

Yet they are not all alike: there are some among the People of the Book who are upright, who recite Allah’s revelations throughout the night, prostrating ˹in prayer˺.

They believe in Allah and the Last Day, encourage good and forbid evil, and race with one another in doing good. They are ˹truly˺ among the righteous.

They will never be denied the reward for any good they have done. And Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of those mindful ˹of Him˺.

And hasten towards forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those mindful ˹of Allah˺.

˹They are˺ those who donate in prosperity and adversity, control their anger, and pardon others. And Allah loves the good-doers.

Ordain for us what is good in this life and the next. Indeed, we have turned to You ˹in repentance˺.” Allah replied, “I will inflict My torment on whoever I will. But My mercy encompasses everything. I will ordain mercy for those who shun evil, pay alms-tax, and believe in Our revelations.

“˹They are˺ the ones who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whose description they find in their Torah and the Gospel.¹ He commands them to do good and forbids them from evil, permits for them what is lawful and forbids to them what is impure, and relieves them from their burdens and the shackles that bound them. ˹Only˺ those who believe in him, honour and support him, and follow the light sent down to him will be successful.”

Righteousness is not in turning your faces towards the east or the west. Rather, the righteous are those who believe in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Books, and the prophets; who give charity out of their cherished wealth to relatives, orphans, the poor, ˹needy˺ travellers, beggars, and for freeing captives; who establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and keep the pledges they make; and who are patient in times of suffering, adversity, and in ˹the heat of˺ battle. It is they who are true ˹in faith˺, and it is they who are mindful ˹of Allah˺.

Indeed, when Satan whispers to those mindful ˹of Allah˺, they remember ˹their Lord˺ then they start to see ˹things˺ clearly.

But the devils persistently plunge their ˹human˺ associates¹ deeper into wickedness, sparing no effort.