[23:1] Successful indeed are the faithful.

[23:2] These are the ones who humble themselves through the contact prayer.

[23:3] And they are the ones who object to nonsense.

[23:4] And these are the ones who are givers of their cleansing charity.

[23:5] And these are the ones who keep their chastity –

[23:6] -except with their spouses or those who are truly theirs, then they are certainly not to be blamed.

[23:7] Therefore, whoever transgresses beyond this then they are in opposition.

[23:8] And these are the ones who are honest when given a deposit and they keep their promise.

[23:9] And these are the ones who keep their contact prayers in mind.

[23:10] These are the inheritors.

[23:11] They inherit Paradise, wherein they abide forever.

[23:12] And We surely created the human being from clay.

[23:13] Then We made him from semen in a protected repository.

[23:14] Then We created out of the semen an embryo and then created out of the embryo a fetus, then created out of the fetus bones and then covered the bones with flesh, and then We initiated a whole new creation. Therefore, blessed is God , the best of the creators.

[23:15] Afterwards, you will surely die.

[23:16] Then you will indeed be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection.

[23:17] Indeed We created above you seven universes and We are never unaware of a single creation.

[23:18] And We send down from the sky water in exact measure, and store it in the ground, and indeed We are fully capable of taking it away.

[23:19] Then We initiate with it gardens of date palms and grapes for you, wherein you have many fruits that you may eat.

[23:20] And the tree that grows on Mount Sinai produces oil and relish for the eaters.

[23:21] And certainly, there is a lesson for you in the livestock, We provide a drink for you from their bellies and in them are many benefits for you as well as nourishment.

[23:22] You are carried on them as well as on the ships.

[23:23] And indeed We sent Noah to his people, he then said; O my people worship God , you have no other god except Him. Do you not then fear god?

[23:24] Thereafter, the group amongst his people who disbelieved said; this one is nothing but a human being like you who wants to gain superiority over you and had God willed, He could have surely sent down angels, we did not hear anything such as this from our forefathers before us.

[23:25] He is nothing but a crazy man, therefore be patient with him for a while.

[23:26] He said; my Lord, help me for they have disbelieved.

[23:27] We therefore inspired him to construct the ship under Our eyes and according to Our inspiration, then when Our command is issued and the pot boils over, take a pair of every kind and your family except those amongst them who are marked, and do not talk to me on behalf of those who have transgressed, they will surely drown.

[23:28] Then when you and those with you get settled on the ship, then, you shall say, praise God for saving us from the transgressing people.

[23:29] And say, my Lord, disembark us to a blessed location, for You are the best locator.

[23:30] Indeed in this there are signs, for We will surely put you to the test.

[23:31] Then We initiated after them another generation.

[23:32] We then sent messengers from amongst them, so that they worship God for they have no other god except Him. Would you not then become righteous?

[23:33] And a group of unfaithful amongst his people who rejected the meeting of the Hereafter and were impressed with the material of this world said; this one is no more than a human being like you who eats the same thing you eat and drinks the same thing you drink.

[23:34] And if you obey a human being like you, you will indeed be losers.

[23:35] Is he promising you that when you die and become dust and bones that you indeed come back?

[23:36] It is far off in the future, far off in the future, what has been promised!

[23:37] There is only this worldly life that we live; we die and we live!? Certainly, we will never be resurrected.

[23:38] He is just a man who is attributing a lie to God and we will never believe him.

[23:39] He said; my Lord, help me for they have disbelieved.

[23:40] He said; in a little while, for indeed they will regret it in the morning.

[23:41] Consequently they were punished by the thunder justly; We then made them like hay. Thereafter the people who committed injustice perished.

[23:42] Then We initiated after them other generations.

[23:43] No community can advance its predetermined interim nor can they ever delay it.

[23:44] Then We dispatched our messengers in succession. Each time a messenger went to his people, they rejected him. They followed others and We made them history. Therefore, the people who rejected faith perished.

[23:45] Then We dispatched Moses and his brother Aaron with Our signs and clear authority –

[23:46] -to Pharaoh and his congregation, but they turned arrogant and they were a people who sought superiority.

[23:47] They went on to say, are we going to believe because of a couple of humans like ourselves, from a people who are our slaves?

[23:48] Afterwards, they rejected both, hence they were annihilated.

[23:49] And We surely gave Moses the scripture that they may become guided.

[23:50] And We made son of Mary and his mother a sign and We settled the two of them in a naturally exalted abode with ever-flowing water.

[23:51] O you messengers; eat from the clean things and lead a righteous life. Indeed I know all that you do.

[23:52] And surely this is your community, a single community and I am your Lord, therefore you shall fear Me.

[23:53] However, they divided themselves into sects, each party happy with what they had.

[23:54] Therefore, leave them in their confusion until a given time.

[23:55] Do they reckon that just because We provide them with money and sons –

[23:56] -that We would bless them continuously? On the contrary, they cannot perceive.

[23:57] There are indeed those who revere their Lord, and are cautious.

[23:58] And these are the ones who believe in the signs of their Lord.

[23:59] And these are the ones who never set up a partner for their Lord.

[23:60] And these are the ones who give what they can and their hearts are fearful, indeed they will return to their Lord.

[23:61] These are the ones who race to insure general welfare and they are always ahead of the crowd.

[23:62] And We never burden any soul beyond her means, and We have a record with Us which speaks the truth and they will never suffer any injustice.

[23:63] On the contrary, their hearts are heedless of this and their deeds are in contradiction with this.

[23:64] Until We afflict the affluent with a suffering, that is when they lament.

[23:65] Do not lament today, you will have no help from Us.

[23:66] Surely, you received My signs recited to you but you turned your backs to them.

[23:67] You arrogantly treated them as nightly entertainment; you avoided them.

[23:68] Why do they not ponder in this narration? Is this something different from what their forefathers received?

[23:69] Do they not recognize their messenger? Is it why they are rejecting him?

[23:70] Do they say that he is crazy? On the contrary, he had brought them the truth; however, most of them are reluctant to face the truth.

[23:71] And if the truth were to follow their wishes, the skies and the land and every one in them would certainly decay. Surely, We have given them their reminder, however, they are objecting to their reminder.

[23:72] Are you asking them for a wage? No for indeed the wage from your Lord is much better, and He is the best provider.

[23:73] And indeed you are inviting them to the straight path.

[23:74] As for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, they are indeed on a disastrous path.

[23:75] And if We have mercy upon them and remove their adversity, they stubbornly continue in their transgression blind.

[23:76] And if We afflict them with a suffering, they would not reform for the sake of their Lord and they would not humble themselves.

[23:77] Until We open up the gate of the ultimate suffering, they suddenly face total hopelessness.

[23:78] And He is the One who designed for you the hearing, the eyesight and the mind. Rarely, are you appreciative.

[23:79] And He is the One who spread everything throughout the land for you and before Him you will be summoned.

[23:80] And He is the One who grants life and death and to Him belong the variation of the night and the day. Would you then not use your intelligence?

[23:81] On the contrary, they uttered exactly what the previous generations uttered.

[23:82] They said; when we die and become dust and bone, do we get resurrected?

[23:83] Indeed, this was promised to us and to our parents before us, this is nothing but tales from the past.

[23:84] Say, to whom belong the land and every one on it if you know?

[23:85] They will say, to God . Say, why do you then not take heed?

[23:86] Say, who is the Lord of the seven firmaments, and the Lord of the magnificent throne?

[23:87] They will say, God . Say, why do you then not become god-fearing?

[23:88] Say, who holds in His hand the kingship of all things and He gives refuge and does not require refuge, if you know?

[23:89] They will say, God . Say, then why have you been deceived?

[23:90] Indeed, We have brought them the truth, but they are rejecting it.

[23:91] God has never begotten a son nor is there any other god besides Him. Had there been, each god would have tried to take over the creation of the others. Glory to God , far above their descriptions.

[23:92] He is the knower of all secrets and declarations, far above having a partner.

[23:93] Say, my Lord, if you see fit, show me what is promised to them.

[23:94] My Lord, therefore, do not put me with the transgressing people

[23:95] And indeed we are capable of showing you what We have promised to them.

[23:96] You shall repel evil with good. We know full well what they are describing.

[23:97] And say, I seek refuge in You, my Lord from the whispers of the demons.

[23:98] And I seek refuge in You lest they come near me.

[23:99] Once death comes upon one of them, he says, my Lord, send me back –

[23:100] -that I may make right what I left behind. Not so, this is only an utterance, there is a barrier that separates him until the Day of Resurrection.

[23:101] Then when the trumpet sounds, all relationships amongst them are severed on that day and they will not even ask about each other.

[23:102] Therefore, those whose weights are heavy are the winners.

[23:103] As for those whose weights are light, then these are the ones who have lost their souls and they will abide in Gehenna eternally.

[23:104] Hell will burn their faces and they will end up therein full of grief.

[23:105] Were My signs not recited to you, but you rejected them?

[23:106] They would say, our Lord, our own wickedness defeated us and we are people who have gone astray.

[23:107] Our Lord, take us out of here, and if we continue as we were, then we are indeed transgressors.

[23:108] He said, stay in there humiliated and do not speak.

[23:109] Indeed, a group amongst My servants used to say; our Lord, we have attained faith, therefore, forgive us and have mercy upon us, for You are the best of the merciful ones.

[23:110] But you ridiculed them until you forgot My reminder, and you consistently laughed at them.

[23:111] Indeed today I reward them for their steadfastness, for indeed they are the winners.

[23:112] He said how many years did you last on the land?

[23:113] They would say, we lasted a day or part of a day, ask those who keep count.

[23:114] He said you only lasted a little while, if you could only realize it.

[23:115] Did you reckon that We created you in vain and you will not return to Us?

[23:116] The Most Exalted is God , the true king; there is no god except Him, Lord of the magnificent throne.

[23:117] And whoever calls upon another god besides God without any proof, then, indeed his reckoning rests with his Lord. He will definitely not allow the unfaithful to succeed.

[23:118] And say, my Lord, forgive and have mercy for You are the best of the merciful ones.