Sura 17: The Children of Israel (Bani Israel) ( سورة بنى إسرائيل )
بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
١:سُبحٰنَ الَّذى أَسرىٰ بِعَبدِهِ لَيلًا مِنَ المَسجِدِ الحَرامِ إِلَى المَسجِدِ الأَقصَا الَّذى بٰرَكنا حَولَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِن ءايٰتِنا إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّميعُ البَصيرُ
[17:1] Most glorified is the One who summoned His servant (Muhammad) during the night, from the Sacred Masjid (of Mecca) to the farthest place of prostration,* whose surroundings we have blessed, in order to show him some of our signs. He is the Hearer, the Seer.
Footnote*17:1 “The Aqsa Masjid” means “the farthest place where there is prostration,” many billions of Light Years away. This verse informs us that Muhammad, the soul, was taken to the highest Heaven to be given the Quran (2:185, 44:3, 53:1-18, & 97:1).
٢وَءاتَينا موسَى الكِتٰبَ وَجَعَلنٰهُ هُدًى لِبَنى إِسرٰءيلَ أَلّا تَتَّخِذوا مِن دونى وَكيلًا
[17:2] Similarly, we gave Moses the scripture, and rendered it a beacon for the Children of Israel that: “You shall not set up any idol as a Lord and Master beside Me.”
٣:ذُرِّيَّةَ مَن حَمَلنا مَعَ نوحٍ إِنَّهُ كانَ عَبدًا شَكورًا
[17:3] They are descendants of those whom we carried with Noah; he was an appreciative servant.
٤:وَقَضَينا إِلىٰ بَنى إِسرٰءيلَ فِى الكِتٰبِ لَتُفسِدُنَّ فِى الأَرضِ مَرَّتَينِ وَلَتَعلُنَّ عُلُوًّا كَبيرًا
[17:4] We addressed the Children of Israel in the scripture: “You will commit gross evil on earth, twice. You are destined to fall into great heights of arrogance.
٥:فَإِذا جاءَ وَعدُ أولىٰهُما بَعَثنا عَلَيكُم عِبادًا لَنا أُولى بَأسٍ شَديدٍ فَجاسوا خِلٰلَ الدِّيارِ وَكانَ وَعدًا مَفعولًا
[17:5] “When the first time comes to pass, we will send against you servants of ours who possess great might, and they will invade your homes. This is a prophecy that must come to pass.
٦:ثُمَّ رَدَدنا لَكُمُ الكَرَّةَ عَلَيهِم وَأَمدَدنٰكُم بِأَموٰلٍ وَبَنينَ وَجَعَلنٰكُم أَكثَرَ نَفيرًا
[17:6] “Afterwards, we will give you a turn over them, and will supply you with a lot of wealth and children; we will give you the upper hand.
٧:إِن أَحسَنتُم أَحسَنتُم لِأَنفُسِكُم وَإِن أَسَأتُم فَلَها فَإِذا جاءَ وَعدُ الـٔاخِرَةِ لِيَسـٔوا وُجوهَكُم وَلِيَدخُلُوا المَسجِدَ كَما دَخَلوهُ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَلِيُتَبِّروا ما عَلَوا تَتبيرًا
[17:7] “If you work righteousness, you work righteousness for your own good, but if you commit evil you do so to your own detriment. Thus, when the second time comes to pass, they will defeat you and enter the mosque (masjid), just as they did the first time. They will wipe out all the gains you had accomplished.”
٨:عَسىٰ رَبُّكُم أَن يَرحَمَكُم وَإِن عُدتُم عُدنا وَجَعَلنا جَهَنَّمَ لِلكٰفِرينَ حَصيرًا
[17:8] Your Lord showers you with His mercy. But if you revert to transgression, we will counter with retribution. We have designated Gehenna as a final abode for the disbelievers.
٩:إِنَّ هٰذَا القُرءانَ يَهدى لِلَّتى هِىَ أَقوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ المُؤمِنينَ الَّذينَ يَعمَلونَ الصّٰلِحٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُم أَجرًا كَبيرًا
Quran: Our Means to Salvation
[17:9] This Quran guides to the best path, and brings good news to the believers who lead a righteous life, that they have deserved a great recompense.
١٠:وَأَنَّ الَّذينَ لا يُؤمِنونَ بِالـٔاخِرَةِ أَعتَدنا لَهُم عَذابًا أَليمًا
[17:10] As for those who disbelieve in the Hereafter, we have prepared for them a painful retribution.
١١:وَيَدعُ الإِنسٰنُ بِالشَّرِّ دُعاءَهُ بِالخَيرِ وَكانَ الإِنسٰنُ عَجولًا
[17:11] The human being often prays for something that may hurt him, thinking that he is praying for something good. The human being is impatient.
١٢:وَجَعَلنَا الَّيلَ وَالنَّهارَ ءايَتَينِ فَمَحَونا ءايَةَ الَّيلِ وَجَعَلنا ءايَةَ النَّهارِ مُبصِرَةً لِتَبتَغوا فَضلًا مِن رَبِّكُم وَلِتَعلَموا عَدَدَ السِّنينَ وَالحِسابَ وَكُلَّ شَىءٍ فَصَّلنٰهُ تَفصيلًا
[17:12] We rendered the night and the day two signs. We made the night dark, and the day lighted, that you may seek provisions from your Lord therein. This also establishes for you a timing system, and the means of calculation. We thus explain everything in detail.
١٣:وَكُلَّ إِنسٰنٍ أَلزَمنٰهُ طٰئِرَهُ فى عُنُقِهِ وَنُخرِجُ لَهُ يَومَ القِيٰمَةِ كِتٰبًا يَلقىٰهُ مَنشورًا
The Video Tape*
[17:13] We have recorded the fate of every human being; it is tied to his neck. On the Day of Resurrection we will hand him a record that is accessible.
Footnote*17:13 Your life is already recorded, as if on a video tape, from birth to death. This same record will be made accessible to us upon resurrection. See 57:22 & Appendix 14.
١٤:اقرَأ كِتٰبَكَ كَفىٰ بِنَفسِكَ اليَومَ عَلَيكَ حَسيبًا
[17:14] Read your own record. Today, you suffice as your own reckoner.
١٥:مَنِ اهتَدىٰ فَإِنَّما يَهتَدى لِنَفسِهِ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّما يَضِلُّ عَلَيها وَلا تَزِرُ وازِرَةٌ وِزرَ أُخرىٰ وَما كُنّا مُعَذِّبينَ حَتّىٰ نَبعَثَ رَسولًا
[17:15] Whoever is guided, is guided for his own good, and whoever goes astray does so to his own detriment. No sinner will bear the sins of anyone else. We never punish without first sending a messenger.
١٦:وَإِذا أَرَدنا أَن نُهلِكَ قَريَةً أَمَرنا مُترَفيها فَفَسَقوا فيها فَحَقَّ عَلَيهَا القَولُ فَدَمَّرنٰها تَدميرًا
[17:16] If we are to annihilate any community, we let the leaders commit vast corruption therein. Once they deserve retribution, we annihilate it completely.
١٧:وَكَم أَهلَكنا مِنَ القُرونِ مِن بَعدِ نوحٍ وَكَفىٰ بِرَبِّكَ بِذُنوبِ عِبادِهِ خَبيرًا بَصيرًا
[17:17] Many a generation have we annihilated after Noah. Your Lord is most efficient in dealing with the sins of His servants; He is fully Cognizant, Seer.
١٨:مَن كانَ يُريدُ العاجِلَةَ عَجَّلنا لَهُ فيها ما نَشاءُ لِمَن نُريدُ ثُمَّ جَعَلنا لَهُ جَهَنَّمَ يَصلىٰها مَذمومًا مَدحورًا
Choose Your Priorities Carefully This Life
[17:18] Anyone who chooses this fleeting life as his priority, we will rush to him what we decide to give him, then we commit him to Gehenna, where he suffers forever, despised and defeated.
١٩:وَمَن أَرادَ الـٔاخِرَةَ وَسَعىٰ لَها سَعيَها وَهُوَ مُؤمِنٌ فَأُولٰئِكَ كانَ سَعيُهُم مَشكورًا
The Hereafter
[17:19] As for those who choose the Hereafter as their priority, and work righteousness, while believing, their efforts will be appreciated.
٢٠:كُلًّا نُمِدُّ هٰؤُلاءِ وَهٰؤُلاءِ مِن عَطاءِ رَبِّكَ وَما كانَ عَطاءُ رَبِّكَ مَحظورًا
[17:20] For each one of them we provide; we provide those and these from your Lord’s bounties. Your Lord’s bounties are inexhaustible.
٢١:انظُر كَيفَ فَضَّلنا بَعضَهُم عَلىٰ بَعضٍ وَلَلـٔاخِرَةُ أَكبَرُ دَرَجٰتٍ وَأَكبَرُ تَفضيلًا
[17:21] Note how we preferred some people above others (in this life). The differences in the Hereafter are far greater and far more significant.
٢٢:لا تَجعَل مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلٰهًا ءاخَرَ فَتَقعُدَ مَذمومًا مَخذولًا
Major Commandments
[17:22] You shall not set up any other god beside GOD, lest you end up despised and disgraced.
٢٣:وَقَضىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلّا تَعبُدوا إِلّا إِيّاهُ وَبِالوٰلِدَينِ إِحسٰنًا إِمّا يَبلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُما أَو كِلاهُما فَلا تَقُل لَهُما أُفٍّ وَلا تَنهَرهُما وَقُل لَهُما قَولًا كَريمًا
[17:23] Your Lord has decreed that you shall not worship except Him, and your parents shall be honored. As long as one or both of them live, you shall never say to them, “Uff” (the slightest gesture of annoyance), nor shall you shout at them; you shall treat them amicably.
٢٤:وَاخفِض لَهُما جَناحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحمَةِ وَقُل رَبِّ ارحَمهُما كَما رَبَّيانى صَغيرًا
[17:24] And lower for them the wings of humility, and kindness, and say, “My Lord, have mercy on them, for they have raised me from infancy.”
٢٥:رَبُّكُم أَعلَمُ بِما فى نُفوسِكُم إِن تَكونوا صٰلِحينَ فَإِنَّهُ كانَ لِلأَوّٰبينَ غَفورًا
[17:25] Your Lord is fully aware of your innermost thoughts. If you maintain righteousness, He is Forgiver of those who repent.
٢٦:وَءاتِ ذَا القُربىٰ حَقَّهُ وَالمِسكينَ وَابنَ السَّبيلِ وَلا تُبَذِّر تَبذيرًا
[17:26] You shall give the due alms to the relatives, the needy, the poor, and the traveling alien, but do not be excessive, extravagant.
٢٧:إِنَّ المُبَذِّرينَ كانوا إِخوٰنَ الشَّيٰطينِ وَكانَ الشَّيطٰنُ لِرَبِّهِ كَفورًا
[17:27] The extravagant are brethren of the devils, and the devil is unappreciative of his Lord.
٢٨:وَإِمّا تُعرِضَنَّ عَنهُمُ ابتِغاءَ رَحمَةٍ مِن رَبِّكَ تَرجوها فَقُل لَهُم قَولًا مَيسورًا
[17:28] Even if you have to turn away from them, as you pursue the mercy of your Lord, you shall treat them in the nicest manner.
٢٩:وَلا تَجعَل يَدَكَ مَغلولَةً إِلىٰ عُنُقِكَ وَلا تَبسُطها كُلَّ البَسطِ فَتَقعُدَ مَلومًا مَحسورًا
Stinginess Condemned
[17:29] You shall not keep your hand stingily tied to your neck, nor shall you foolishly open it up, lest you end up blamed and sorry.
٣٠:إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَبسُطُ الرِّزقَ لِمَن يَشاءُ وَيَقدِرُ إِنَّهُ كانَ بِعِبادِهِ خَبيرًا بَصيرًا
[17:30] For your Lord increases the provision for anyone He chooses, and reduces it. He is fully Cognizant of His creatures, Seer.
٣١:وَلا تَقتُلوا أَولٰدَكُم خَشيَةَ إِملٰقٍ نَحنُ نَرزُقُهُم وَإِيّاكُم إِنَّ قَتلَهُم كانَ خِطـًٔا كَبيرًا
Abortion is Murder
[17:31] You shall not kill your children due to fear of poverty. We provide for them, as well as for you. Killing them is a gross offense.
٣٢:وَلا تَقرَبُوا الزِّنىٰ إِنَّهُ كانَ فٰحِشَةً وَساءَ سَبيلًا
[17:32] You shall not commit adultery; it is a gross sin, and an evil behavior.
٣٣:وَلا تَقتُلُوا النَّفسَ الَّتى حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلّا بِالحَقِّ وَمَن قُتِلَ مَظلومًا فَقَد جَعَلنا لِوَلِيِّهِ سُلطٰنًا فَلا يُسرِف فِى القَتلِ إِنَّهُ كانَ مَنصورًا
[17:33] You shall not kill any person—for GOD has made life sacred—except in the course of justice. If one is killed unjustly, then we give his heir authority to enforce justice. Thus, he shall not exceed the limits in avenging the murder, he will be helped.
٣٤:وَلا تَقرَبوا مالَ اليَتيمِ إِلّا بِالَّتى هِىَ أَحسَنُ حَتّىٰ يَبلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَأَوفوا بِالعَهدِ إِنَّ العَهدَ كانَ مَسـٔولًا
[17:34] You shall not touch the orphans’ money except for their own good, until they reach maturity. You shall fulfill your covenants, for a covenant is a great responsibility.
٣٥:وَأَوفُوا الكَيلَ إِذا كِلتُم وَزِنوا بِالقِسطاسِ المُستَقيمِ ذٰلِكَ خَيرٌ وَأَحسَنُ تَأويلًا
[17:35] You shall give full measure when you trade, and weigh equitably. This is better and more righteous.
٣٦:وَلا تَقفُ ما لَيسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلمٌ إِنَّ السَّمعَ وَالبَصَرَ وَالفُؤادَ كُلُّ أُولٰئِكَ كانَ عَنهُ مَسـٔولًا
Crucial Advice
[17:36] You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them.
٣٧:وَلا تَمشِ فِى الأَرضِ مَرَحًا إِنَّكَ لَن تَخرِقَ الأَرضَ وَلَن تَبلُغَ الجِبالَ طولًا
[17:37] You shall not walk proudly on earth —you cannot bore through the earth, nor can you be as tall as the mountains.
٣٨:كُلُّ ذٰلِكَ كانَ سَيِّئُهُ عِندَ رَبِّكَ مَكروهًا
[17:38] All bad behavior is condemned by your Lord.
٣٩:ذٰلِكَ مِمّا أَوحىٰ إِلَيكَ رَبُّكَ مِنَ الحِكمَةِ وَلا تَجعَل مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلٰهًا ءاخَرَ فَتُلقىٰ فى جَهَنَّمَ مَلومًا مَدحورًا
Quran Is Wisdom
[17:39] This is some of the wisdom inspired to you by your Lord. You shall not set up another god beside GOD , lest you end up in Gehenna, blamed and defeated.
٤٠:أَفَأَصفىٰكُم رَبُّكُم بِالبَنينَ وَاتَّخَذَ مِنَ المَلٰئِكَةِ إِنٰثًا إِنَّكُم لَتَقولونَ قَولًا عَظيمًا
[17:40] Has your Lord given you boys, while giving Himself the angels as daughters?! How could you utter such a blasphemy?
٤١:وَلَقَد صَرَّفنا فى هٰذَا القُرءانِ لِيَذَّكَّروا وَما يَزيدُهُم إِلّا نُفورًا
[17:41] We have cited in this Quran (all kinds of examples), that they may take heed. But it only augments their aversion.
٤٢:قُل لَو كانَ مَعَهُ ءالِهَةٌ كَما يَقولونَ إِذًا لَابتَغَوا إِلىٰ ذِى العَرشِ سَبيلًا
[17:42] Say, “If there were any other gods beside Him, as they claim, they would have tried to overthrow the Possessor of the throne.”
٤٣:سُبحٰنَهُ وَتَعٰلىٰ عَمّا يَقولونَ عُلُوًّا كَبيرًا
[17:43] Be He glorified, He is much too exalted, far above their utterances.
٤٤:تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمٰوٰتُ السَّبعُ وَالأَرضُ وَمَن فيهِنَّ وَإِن مِن شَىءٍ إِلّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمدِهِ وَلٰكِن لا تَفقَهونَ تَسبيحَهُم إِنَّهُ كانَ حَليمًا غَفورًا
Everything Glorifies God
[17:44] Glorifying Him are the seven universes, the earth, and everyone in them. There is nothing that does not glorify Him, but you do not understand their glorification. He is Clement, Forgiver.
٤٥:وَإِذا قَرَأتَ القُرءانَ جَعَلنا بَينَكَ وَبَينَ الَّذينَ لا يُؤمِنونَ بِالـٔاخِرَةِ حِجابًا مَستورًا
Disbelievers Cannot Understand Quran
[17:45] When you read the Quran, we place between you and those who do not believe in the Hereafter an invisible barrier.
٤٦:وَجَعَلنا عَلىٰ قُلوبِهِم أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفقَهوهُ وَفى ءاذانِهِم وَقرًا وَإِذا ذَكَرتَ رَبَّكَ فِى القُرءانِ وَحدَهُ وَلَّوا عَلىٰ أَدبٰرِهِم نُفورًا
Quran: The ONLY Source
[17:46] We place shields around their minds, to prevent them from understanding it, and deafness in their ears. And when you preach your Lord, using the Quran alone,* they run away in aversion.
Footnote*17:46 The Arabic word “alone” refers to God in 7:70, 39:45, 40:12 & 84, and 60:4. If you add these numbers, you get 361, 19×19. But if you include 17:46, which refers to the Quran, the product is not a multiple of 19. “Alone,” therefore refers to the Quran in 17:46 (Appendix 18).
٤٧:نَحنُ أَعلَمُ بِما يَستَمِعونَ بِهِ إِذ يَستَمِعونَ إِلَيكَ وَإِذ هُم نَجوىٰ إِذ يَقولُ الظّٰلِمونَ إِن تَتَّبِعونَ إِلّا رَجُلًا مَسحورًا
[17:47] We are fully aware of what they hear, when they listen to you, and when they conspire secretly—the disbelievers say, “You are following a crazy man.”
٤٨:انظُر كَيفَ ضَرَبوا لَكَ الأَمثالَ فَضَلّوا فَلا يَستَطيعونَ سَبيلًا
[17:48] Note how they describe you, and how this causes them to stray off the path.
٤٩:وَقالوا أَءِذا كُنّا عِظٰمًا وَرُفٰتًا أَءِنّا لَمَبعوثونَ خَلقًا جَديدًا
[17:49] They said, “After we turn into bones and fragments, we get resurrected anew?!”
٥٠:قُل كونوا حِجارَةً أَو حَديدًا
[17:50] Say, “Even if you turn into rocks or iron.
٥١:أَو خَلقًا مِمّا يَكبُرُ فى صُدورِكُم فَسَيَقولونَ مَن يُعيدُنا قُلِ الَّذى فَطَرَكُم أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ فَسَيُنغِضونَ إِلَيكَ رُءوسَهُم وَيَقولونَ مَتىٰ هُوَ قُل عَسىٰ أَن يَكونَ قَريبًا
[17:51] “Even if you turn into any kind of creation that you deem impossible.” They will then say, “Who will bring us back?” Say, “The One who created you in the first place.” They will then shake their heads and say, “When will that be?” Say, “It may be closer than you think.”
٥٢:يَومَ يَدعوكُم فَتَستَجيبونَ بِحَمدِهِ وَتَظُنّونَ إِن لَبِثتُم إِلّا قَليلًا
[17:52] The day He summons you, you will respond by praising Him, and you will then realize that you had lasted in this life but a short while.
٥٣:وَقُل لِعِبادى يَقولُوا الَّتى هِىَ أَحسَنُ إِنَّ الشَّيطٰنَ يَنزَغُ بَينَهُم إِنَّ الشَّيطٰنَ كانَ لِلإِنسٰنِ عَدُوًّا مُبينًا
Treat Each Other Amicably
[17:53] Tell My servants to treat each other in the best possible manner, for the devil will always try to drive a wedge among them. Surely, the devil is man’s most ardent enemy.
٥٤:رَبُّكُم أَعلَمُ بِكُم إِن يَشَأ يَرحَمكُم أَو إِن يَشَأ يُعَذِّبكُم وَما أَرسَلنٰكَ عَلَيهِم وَكيلًا
[17:54] Your Lord knows you best. According to His knowledge, He may shower you with mercy, or He may requite you. We did not send you to be their advocate.
٥٥:وَرَبُّكَ أَعلَمُ بِمَن فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضِ وَلَقَد فَضَّلنا بَعضَ النَّبِيّـۧنَ عَلىٰ بَعضٍ وَءاتَينا داوۥدَ زَبورًا
[17:55] Your Lord is the best knower of everyone in the heavens and the earth. In accordance with this knowledge, we preferred some prophets over others. For example, we gave David the Psalms.
٥٦:قُلِ ادعُوا الَّذينَ زَعَمتُم مِن دونِهِ فَلا يَملِكونَ كَشفَ الضُّرِّ عَنكُم وَلا تَحويلًا
[17:56] Say, “Implore whatever idols you have set up beside Him.” They have no power to relieve your afflictions, nor can they prevent them.
٥٧:أُولٰئِكَ الَّذينَ يَدعونَ يَبتَغونَ إِلىٰ رَبِّهِمُ الوَسيلَةَ أَيُّهُم أَقرَبُ وَيَرجونَ رَحمَتَهُ وَيَخافونَ عَذابَهُ إِنَّ عَذابَ رَبِّكَ كانَ مَحذورًا
The Righteous Idols Worship God Alone
[17:57] Even the idols that they implore are seeking the ways and means towards their Lord. They pray for His mercy, and fear His retribution. Surely, the retribution of your Lord is dreadful.
٥٨:وَإِن مِن قَريَةٍ إِلّا نَحنُ مُهلِكوها قَبلَ يَومِ القِيٰمَةِ أَو مُعَذِّبوها عَذابًا شَديدًا كانَ ذٰلِكَ فِى الكِتٰبِ مَسطورًا
[17:58] There is not a community that we will not annihilate before the Day of Resurrection, or inflict severe retribution upon them. This is already written down in the book.
٥٩:وَما مَنَعَنا أَن نُرسِلَ بِالـٔايٰتِ إِلّا أَن كَذَّبَ بِهَا الأَوَّلونَ وَءاتَينا ثَمودَ النّاقَةَ مُبصِرَةً فَظَلَموا بِها وَما نُرسِلُ بِالـٔايٰتِ إِلّا تَخويفًا
Old Kind of Miracles Made Obsolete
[17:59] What stopped us from sending the miracles is that the previous generations have rejected them. For example, we showed Thamûd the camel, a profound (miracle), but they transgressed against it. We sent the miracles only to instill reverence.
٦٠:وَإِذ قُلنا لَكَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ أَحاطَ بِالنّاسِ وَما جَعَلنَا الرُّءيَا الَّتى أَرَينٰكَ إِلّا فِتنَةً لِلنّاسِ وَالشَّجَرَةَ المَلعونَةَ فِى القُرءانِ وَنُخَوِّفُهُم فَما يَزيدُهُم إِلّا طُغيٰنًا كَبيرًا
[17:60] We informed you that your Lord fully controls the people, and we rendered the vision that we showed you a test for the people, and the tree that is accursed in the Quran.* We showed them solid proofs to instill reverence in them, but this only augmented their defiance.
Footnote*17:60 Muhammad’s journey to the highest heaven to receive the Quran, as stated in 17:1 and 53:1-18, is a test because the people had to believe Muhammad on faith.
٦١:وَإِذ قُلنا لِلمَلٰئِكَةِ اسجُدوا لِـٔادَمَ فَسَجَدوا إِلّا إِبليسَ قالَ ءَأَسجُدُ لِمَن خَلَقتَ طينًا
Satan Dupes the People
[17:61] When we said to the angels, “Fall prostrate before Adam,” they fell prostrate, except Satan. He said, “Shall I prostrate to one You created from mud?”
٦٢:قالَ أَرَءَيتَكَ هٰذَا الَّذى كَرَّمتَ عَلَىَّ لَئِن أَخَّرتَنِ إِلىٰ يَومِ القِيٰمَةِ لَأَحتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُ إِلّا قَليلًا
[17:62] He said, “Since You have honored him over me, if You respite me till the Day of Resurrection, I will possess all his descendants, except a few.”
٦٣:قالَ اذهَب فَمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنهُم فَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ جَزاؤُكُم جَزاءً مَوفورًا
[17:63] He said, “Then go; you and those who follow you will end up in Hell as your requital; an equitable requital.
٦٤:وَاستَفزِز مَنِ استَطَعتَ مِنهُم بِصَوتِكَ وَأَجلِب عَلَيهِم بِخَيلِكَ وَرَجِلِكَ وَشارِكهُم فِى الأَموٰلِ وَالأَولٰدِ وَعِدهُم وَما يَعِدُهُمُ الشَّيطٰنُ إِلّا غُرورًا
[17:64] “You may entice them with your voice, and mobilize all your forces and all your men against them, and share in their money and children, and promise them. Anything the devil promises is no more than an illusion.
٦٥:إِنَّ عِبادى لَيسَ لَكَ عَلَيهِم سُلطٰنٌ وَكَفىٰ بِرَبِّكَ وَكيلًا
[17:65] “As for My servants, you have no power over them.” Your Lord suffices as an advocate.
٦٦:رَبُّكُمُ الَّذى يُزجى لَكُمُ الفُلكَ فِى البَحرِ لِتَبتَغوا مِن فَضلِهِ إِنَّهُ كانَ بِكُم رَحيمًا
[17:66] Your Lord is the One who causes the ships to float on the ocean,* that you may seek His bounties. He is Most Merciful towards you.
Footnote*17:66 We now learn from physics and physical chemistry that water possesses unique qualities that render it perfectly suitable for serving our various needs.
٦٧:وَإِذا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ فِى البَحرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدعونَ إِلّا إِيّاهُ فَلَمّا نَجّىٰكُم إِلَى البَرِّ أَعرَضتُم وَكانَ الإِنسٰنُ كَفورًا
Bad Weather Friends
[17:67] If you are afflicted in the middle of the sea, you forget your idols and sincerely implore Him alone. But as soon as He saves you to the shore, you revert. Indeed, the human being is unappreciative.
٦٨:أَفَأَمِنتُم أَن يَخسِفَ بِكُم جانِبَ البَرِّ أَو يُرسِلَ عَلَيكُم حاصِبًا ثُمَّ لا تَجِدوا لَكُم وَكيلًا
[17:68] Have you guaranteed that He will not cause the land, on shore, to swallow you? Or, that He will not send upon you a tempest, then you find no protector?
٦٩:أَم أَمِنتُم أَن يُعيدَكُم فيهِ تارَةً أُخرىٰ فَيُرسِلَ عَلَيكُم قاصِفًا مِنَ الرّيحِ فَيُغرِقَكُم بِما كَفَرتُم ثُمَّ لا تَجِدوا لَكُم عَلَينا بِهِ تَبيعًا
[17:69] Have you guaranteed that He will not return you to the sea another time, then send upon you a storm that drowns you because of your disbelief? Once this happens, we will not give you another chance.
٧٠:وَلَقَد كَرَّمنا بَنى ءادَمَ وَحَمَلنٰهُم فِى البَرِّ وَالبَحرِ وَرَزَقنٰهُم مِنَ الطَّيِّبٰتِ وَفَضَّلنٰهُم عَلىٰ كَثيرٍ مِمَّن خَلَقنا تَفضيلًا
[17:70] We have honored the children of Adam, and provided them with rides on land and in the sea. We provided for them good provisions, and we gave them greater advantages than many of our creatures.
٧١:يَومَ نَدعوا كُلَّ أُناسٍ بِإِمٰمِهِم فَمَن أوتِىَ كِتٰبَهُ بِيَمينِهِ فَأُولٰئِكَ يَقرَءونَ كِتٰبَهُم وَلا يُظلَمونَ فَتيلًا
[17:71] The day will come when we summon every people, together with their record. As for those who are given a record of righteousness, they will read their record and will not suffer the least injustice.
٧٢:وَمَن كانَ فى هٰذِهِ أَعمىٰ فَهُوَ فِى الـٔاخِرَةِ أَعمىٰ وَأَضَلُّ سَبيلًا
[17:72] As for those who are blind in this life, they will be blind in the Hereafter; even a lot worse.
٧٣:وَإِن كادوا لَيَفتِنونَكَ عَنِ الَّذى أَوحَينا إِلَيكَ لِتَفتَرِىَ عَلَينا غَيرَهُ وَإِذًا لَاتَّخَذوكَ خَليلًا
God Strengthens the Messenger
[17:73] They almost diverted you from the revelations we have given you. They wanted you to fabricate something else, in order to consider you a friend.
٧٤:وَلَولا أَن ثَبَّتنٰكَ لَقَد كِدتَ تَركَنُ إِلَيهِم شَيـًٔا قَليلًا
[17:74] If it were not that we strengthened you, you almost leaned towards them just a little bit.
٧٥:إِذًا لَأَذَقنٰكَ ضِعفَ الحَيوٰةِ وَضِعفَ المَماتِ ثُمَّ لا تَجِدُ لَكَ عَلَينا نَصيرًا
[17:75] Had you done that, we would have doubled the retribution for you in this life, and after death, and you would have found no one to help you against us.
٧٦:وَإِن كادوا لَيَستَفِزّونَكَ مِنَ الأَرضِ لِيُخرِجوكَ مِنها وَإِذًا لا يَلبَثونَ خِلٰفَكَ إِلّا قَليلًا
[17:76] They almost banished you from the land to get rid of you, so they could revert as soon as you left.
٧٧:سُنَّةَ مَن قَد أَرسَلنا قَبلَكَ مِن رُسُلِنا وَلا تَجِدُ لِسُنَّتِنا تَحويلًا
[17:77] This has been consistently the case with all the messengers that we sent before you, and you will find that our system never changes.
٧٨:أَقِمِ الصَّلوٰةَ لِدُلوكِ الشَّمسِ إِلىٰ غَسَقِ الَّيلِ وَقُرءانَ الفَجرِ إِنَّ قُرءانَ الفَجرِ كانَ مَشهودًا
The Noon Prayer
[17:78] You shall observe the Contact Prayer (Salat) when the sun declines from its highest point at noon, as it moves towards sunset. You shall also observe (the recitation of) the Quran at dawn. (Reciting) the Quran at dawn is witnessed.
٧٩:وَمِنَ الَّيلِ فَتَهَجَّد بِهِ نافِلَةً لَكَ عَسىٰ أَن يَبعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقامًا مَحمودًا
Meditation
[17:79] During the night, you shall meditate for extra credit, that your Lord may raise you to an honorable rank.
٨٠:وَقُل رَبِّ أَدخِلنى مُدخَلَ صِدقٍ وَأَخرِجنى مُخرَجَ صِدقٍ وَاجعَل لى مِن لَدُنكَ سُلطٰنًا نَصيرًا
[17:80] And say, “My Lord, admit me an honorable admittance, and let me depart an honorable departure, and grant me from You a powerful support.”
٨١:وَقُل جاءَ الحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ البٰطِلُ إِنَّ البٰطِلَ كانَ زَهوقًا
[17:81] Proclaim, “The truth has prevailed, and falsehood has vanished; falsehood will inevitably vanish.”
٨٢:وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ القُرءانِ ما هُوَ شِفاءٌ وَرَحمَةٌ لِلمُؤمِنينَ وَلا يَزيدُ الظّٰلِمينَ إِلّا خَسارًا
Healing and Mercy
[17:82] We send down in the Quran healing and mercy for the believers. At the same time, it only increases the wickedness of the transgressors.
٨٣:وَإِذا أَنعَمنا عَلَى الإِنسٰنِ أَعرَضَ وَنَـٔا بِجانِبِهِ وَإِذا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ كانَ يَـٔوسًا
[17:83] When we bless the human being, he becomes preoccupied and heedless. But when adversity strikes him, he turns despondent.
٨٤:قُل كُلٌّ يَعمَلُ عَلىٰ شاكِلَتِهِ فَرَبُّكُم أَعلَمُ بِمَن هُوَ أَهدىٰ سَبيلًا
[17:84] Say, “Everyone works in accordance with his belief, and your Lord knows best which ones are guided in the right path.”
٨٥:وَيَسـَٔلونَكَ عَنِ الرّوحِ قُلِ الرّوحُ مِن أَمرِ رَبّى وَما أوتيتُم مِنَ العِلمِ إِلّا قَليلًا
Divine Revelation: The Source of All Knowledge
[17:85] They ask you about the revelation. Say, “The revelation comes from my Lord. The knowledge given to you is minute.”
٨٦:وَلَئِن شِئنا لَنَذهَبَنَّ بِالَّذى أَوحَينا إِلَيكَ ثُمَّ لا تَجِدُ لَكَ بِهِ عَلَينا وَكيلًا
[17:86] If we will, we can take back what we revealed to you, then you will find no protector against us.
٨٧:إِلّا رَحمَةً مِن رَبِّكَ إِنَّ فَضلَهُ كانَ عَلَيكَ كَبيرًا
[17:87] This is but mercy from your Lord. His blessings upon you have been great.
٨٨:قُل لَئِنِ اجتَمَعَتِ الإِنسُ وَالجِنُّ عَلىٰ أَن يَأتوا بِمِثلِ هٰذَا القُرءانِ لا يَأتونَ بِمِثلِهِ وَلَو كانَ بَعضُهُم لِبَعضٍ ظَهيرًا
Mathematical Composition of the Quran
[17:88] Say, “If all the humans and all the jinns banded together in order to produce a Quran like this, they can never produce anything like it, no matter how much assistance they lent one another.”
٨٩:وَلَقَد صَرَّفنا لِلنّاسِ فى هٰذَا القُرءانِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ فَأَبىٰ أَكثَرُ النّاسِ إِلّا كُفورًا
[17:89] We have cited for the people in this Quran all kinds of examples, but most people insist upon disbelieving.
٩٠:وَقالوا لَن نُؤمِنَ لَكَ حَتّىٰ تَفجُرَ لَنا مِنَ الأَرضِ يَنبوعًا
God's Messengers Challenged
[17:90] They said, “We will not believe you unless you cause a spring to gush out of the ground.
٩١:أَو تَكونَ لَكَ جَنَّةٌ مِن نَخيلٍ وَعِنَبٍ فَتُفَجِّرَ الأَنهٰرَ خِلٰلَها تَفجيرًا
[17:91] “Or unless you own a garden of date palms and grapes, with rivers running through it.
٩٢:أَو تُسقِطَ السَّماءَ كَما زَعَمتَ عَلَينا كِسَفًا أَو تَأتِىَ بِاللَّهِ وَالمَلٰئِكَةِ قَبيلًا
[17:92] “Or unless you cause masses from the sky, as you claimed, to fall on us. Or unless you bring GOD and the angels before our eyes.
٩٣:أَو يَكونَ لَكَ بَيتٌ مِن زُخرُفٍ أَو تَرقىٰ فِى السَّماءِ وَلَن نُؤمِنَ لِرُقِيِّكَ حَتّىٰ تُنَزِّلَ عَلَينا كِتٰبًا نَقرَؤُهُ قُل سُبحانَ رَبّى هَل كُنتُ إِلّا بَشَرًا رَسولًا
[17:93] “Or unless you own a luxurious mansion, or unless you climb into the sky. Even if you do climb, we will not believe unless you bring a book that we can read.”* Say, “Glory be to my Lord. Am I any more than a human messenger?”
Footnote*17:93 God’s Messenger of the Covenant, Rashad Khalifa, was thus challenged, including the challenge to bring a new book, or bring down masses from the sky. Verse 3:81 defines the duties of God’s Messenger of the Covenant. Overwhelming proof is detailed in Appendices 2 & 26.
٩٤:وَما مَنَعَ النّاسَ أَن يُؤمِنوا إِذ جاءَهُمُ الهُدىٰ إِلّا أَن قالوا أَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ بَشَرًا رَسولًا
Messengership: An Essential Test
[17:94] What prevented the people from believing when the guidance came to them, is their saying, “Did GOD send a human being as a messenger?”
٩٥:قُل لَو كانَ فِى الأَرضِ مَلٰئِكَةٌ يَمشونَ مُطمَئِنّينَ لَنَزَّلنا عَلَيهِم مِنَ السَّماءِ مَلَكًا رَسولًا
[17:95] Say, “If the earth were inhabited by angels, we would have sent down to them from the sky an angel messenger.”
٩٦:قُل كَفىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهيدًا بَينى وَبَينَكُم إِنَّهُ كانَ بِعِبادِهِ خَبيرًا بَصيرًا
God Is My Witness
[17:96] Say, “GOD suffices as a witness between me and you. He is fully Cognizant of His worshipers, Seer.”
٩٧:وَمَن يَهدِ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ المُهتَدِ وَمَن يُضلِل فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُم أَولِياءَ مِن دونِهِ وَنَحشُرُهُم يَومَ القِيٰمَةِ عَلىٰ وُجوهِهِم عُميًا وَبُكمًا وَصُمًّا مَأوىٰهُم جَهَنَّمُ كُلَّما خَبَت زِدنٰهُم سَعيرًا
[17:97] Whomever GOD guides is the truly guided one. And whomever He sends astray, you will never find for them any lords and masters beside Him. We will summon them on the Day of Resurrection forcibly; blind, dumb, and deaf. Their destination is Hell; whenever it cools down, we will increase their fire.
٩٨:ذٰلِكَ جَزاؤُهُم بِأَنَّهُم كَفَروا بِـٔايٰتِنا وَقالوا أَءِذا كُنّا عِظٰمًا وَرُفٰتًا أَءِنّا لَمَبعوثونَ خَلقًا جَديدًا
Their Innermost Thoughts
[17:98] Such is their just retribution, since they rejected our revelations. They said, “After we turn into bones and fragments, do we get resurrected into a new creation?”
٩٩:أَوَلَم يَرَوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ الَّذى خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضَ قادِرٌ عَلىٰ أَن يَخلُقَ مِثلَهُم وَجَعَلَ لَهُم أَجَلًا لا رَيبَ فيهِ فَأَبَى الظّٰلِمونَ إِلّا كُفورًا
[17:99] Could they not see that the GOD who created the heavens and the earth, is able to create the same creations? He has predetermined for them an irrevocable life span? Yet, the disbelievers insist upon disbelieving.
١٠٠:قُل لَو أَنتُم تَملِكونَ خَزائِنَ رَحمَةِ رَبّى إِذًا لَأَمسَكتُم خَشيَةَ الإِنفاقِ وَكانَ الإِنسٰنُ قَتورًا
[17:100] Proclaim, “If you possessed my Lord’s treasures of mercy, you would have withheld them, fearing that you might exhaust them. The human being is stingy.”
١٠١:وَلَقَد ءاتَينا موسىٰ تِسعَ ءايٰتٍ بَيِّنٰتٍ فَسـَٔل بَنى إِسرٰءيلَ إِذ جاءَهُم فَقالَ لَهُ فِرعَونُ إِنّى لَأَظُنُّكَ يٰموسىٰ مَسحورًا
Moses and Pharaoh
[17:101] We supported Moses with nine profound miracles—ask the Children of Israel. When he went to them, Pharaoh said to him, “I think that you, Moses, are bewitched.”
١٠٢:قالَ لَقَد عَلِمتَ ما أَنزَلَ هٰؤُلاءِ إِلّا رَبُّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضِ بَصائِرَ وَإِنّى لَأَظُنُّكَ يٰفِرعَونُ مَثبورًا
[17:102] He said, “You know full well that no one can manifest these except, obviously, the Lord of the heavens and the earth. I think that you, Pharaoh, are doomed.”
١٠٣:فَأَرادَ أَن يَستَفِزَّهُم مِنَ الأَرضِ فَأَغرَقنٰهُ وَمَن مَعَهُ جَميعًا
[17:103] When he pursued them, as he chased them out of the land, we drowned him, together with those who sided with him, all of them.
١٠٤:وَقُلنا مِن بَعدِهِ لِبَنى إِسرٰءيلَ اسكُنُوا الأَرضَ فَإِذا جاءَ وَعدُ الـٔاخِرَةِ جِئنا بِكُم لَفيفًا
[17:104] And we said to the Children of Israel afterwards, “Go live in this land. When the final prophecy comes to pass, we will summon you all in one group.”
١٠٥:وَبِالحَقِّ أَنزَلنٰهُ وَبِالحَقِّ نَزَلَ وَما أَرسَلنٰكَ إِلّا مُبَشِّرًا وَنَذيرًا
The Quran Released Slowly To Facilitate Memorization
[17:105] Truthfully, we sent it down, and with the truth it came down. We did not send you except as a bearer of good news, as well as a warner.
١٠٦:وَقُرءانًا فَرَقنٰهُ لِتَقرَأَهُ عَلَى النّاسِ عَلىٰ مُكثٍ وَنَزَّلنٰهُ تَنزيلًا
[17:106] A Quran that we have released slowly, in order for you to read it to the people over a long period, although we sent it down all at once.
١٠٧:قُل ءامِنوا بِهِ أَو لا تُؤمِنوا إِنَّ الَّذينَ أوتُوا العِلمَ مِن قَبلِهِ إِذا يُتلىٰ عَلَيهِم يَخِرّونَ لِلأَذقانِ سُجَّدًا
[17:107] Proclaim, “Believe in it, or do not believe in it.” Those who possess knowledge from the previous scriptures, when it is recited to them, they fall down to their chins, prostrating.
١٠٨:وَيَقولونَ سُبحٰنَ رَبِّنا إِن كانَ وَعدُ رَبِّنا لَمَفعولًا
[17:108] They say, “Glory be to our Lord. This fulfills our Lord’s prophecy.”
١٠٩:وَيَخِرّونَ لِلأَذقانِ يَبكونَ وَيَزيدُهُم خُشوعًا
[17:109] They fall down on their chins, prostrating and weeping. For it augments their reverence.
١١٠:قُلِ ادعُوا اللَّهَ أَوِ ادعُوا الرَّحمٰنَ أَيًّا ما تَدعوا فَلَهُ الأَسماءُ الحُسنىٰ وَلا تَجهَر بِصَلاتِكَ وَلا تُخافِت بِها وَابتَغِ بَينَ ذٰلِكَ سَبيلًا
[17:110] Say, “Call Him GOD , or call Him Most Gracious; whichever name you use, to Him belongs the best names.”
Tone of the Contact Prayers (Salat)
You shall not utter your Contact Prayers (Salat) too loudly, nor secretly; use a moderate tone.
١١١:وَقُلِ الحَمدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذى لَم يَتَّخِذ وَلَدًا وَلَم يَكُن لَهُ شَريكٌ فِى المُلكِ وَلَم يَكُن لَهُ وَلِىٌّ مِنَ الذُّلِّ وَكَبِّرهُ تَكبيرًا
[17:111] And proclaim: “Praise be to GOD , who has never begotten a son, nor does He have a partner in His kingship, nor does He need any ally out of weakness,” and magnify Him constantly.
| Cumulative frequency of the word GOD for this Sura =1583 | Cumulative sum of verses where the word GOD occurs for this Sura =92324 |