Quran Chapters

Chapter 23: Al-Mu’minun– 118 Verses

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

23:1

Successful indeed are the believers,

23:2

those who humble themselves in prayer;
Meaning:-
Humble: not arrogant, a humble person is not proud and does not believe that they are better than other people.

23:3

who avoid vain talk,
Meaning:-
Vain: producing no result; useless.

23:4

Who are active in deeds of charity;

23:5

And they who guard their private parts

23:6

except with their spouses (wives) or those who are legally in their possession, for in that case they shall not be blamed

23:7

– however those who seek to go beyond that in lust are the ones who shall be the transgressors
Meaning:-
Lust: illicit sexual desire
transgression: violation of a law, command, etc.; sin.

23:8

-And those who fulfil their trusts and keep their promises;

23:9

And they who carefully maintain their prayers –

23:10

These are the ones who will be awarded

23:11

Who will own Paradise; and live therein forever.

23:12

Indeed We created humankind from a chosen clay.
Meaning:-
Clay: earth; mud.

23:13

Then We placed him as (a drop of) sperm in a place of rest, firmly fixed;

23:14

then changed the semen into a leechlike mass, then leechlike mass into a fetus lump, then fetus lump into bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then We brought him forth as quite a different creature from the embryo – so blessed is Allah, the best of all creators.
Meaning:
leechlike mass: semen into a leechlike mass, then leechlike mass into a fetus lump, then fetus.
Fetus: an unborn offspring of a mammal, in particular an unborn human baby more than eight weeks after conception.
Embryo: an unborn or unhatched offspring in the process of development, in particular a human offspring during the period from approximately the second to the eighth week after fertilization (after which it is usually termed a fetus).

23:15

Then after living for a while you shall all die,

23:16

then most surely you shall be raised to life again on the Day of Resurrection.

23:17

And We have created above you seven layered heavens, and never have We been of [Our] creation unaware.

23:18

We send down rain from the sky in perfect measure, causing it to soak into the earth. And We are surely able to take it away.

23:19

– then with it We cause to grow gardens of palm trees and grapes for you, in which there are abundant fruits, and from which you may eat,
Meaning:-
Abundant: present in great quantity; more than adequate; over sufficient:

23:20

and also a tree which grows on Mount Sinai which produces oil and relish as a food for those who like to eat it.
Meaning:-
Mount Sinai: is a mountain in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. This was the Mountain on which the Law was given to Moses, and the glory of Allah was made visible.

23:21

In cattle, too, there is a lesson for you: from within their bodies We produce milk for you to drink, besides this you gain numerous other benefits; some of them you eat,

23:22

And on them (on land) and on the ships (in the sea) you are carried.

23:23

And We had certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, “O my people, worship Allah ; you have no deity other than Him; then will you not fear Him?”
Meaning:-
Deity: God; Supreme Being, like a god or goddess, Fake God.

23:24

The chiefs of the unbelievers among his people said, “Nuh is but a human like you, he desires to assert his superiority over you. If Allah wanted to send messengers, He could have sent down angels, we have never heard such a thing as he says from our forefathers.”

23:25

Some of them said: “He is just a madman, so bear with him for a while.”

23:26

Nuh said, “O my Lord! Help me against their calling me a liar.”

23:27

So We revealed Our will to him, saying: “Build an ark under our supervision according to Our instructions; and when Our judgement comes to pass and water wells overflows from ‘At-Tannur‘, put into the ship from each [creature] two mates (a male and a female) and your family, except those of them against whom the judgement has already been passed; and do not plead with Me in favor of the wrongdoers, for they are doomed to be drowned in the flood.
Meaning:-
Tannur: oven (Noah was given a signal that once the water gushes out of a particular oven then the Flood is about to begin. It can also be translated as: “The fountains of the earth gushed forth.”)
Plead: make an emotional appeal, you ask them in an intense, emotional way to do it.
Wrongdoers: especially a sinner, or transgressor, criminal, dishonestly; an offender.
Doomed: certain to fail, die, or be destroyed.

23:28

And when you have boarded the ship, you and those with you, then say, ‘Praise to Allah who has saved us form the wrongdoing people.’

23:29

And say: “My Lord! Cause me to land at a blessed landing-place, for You are the best accommodator.”

23:30

There are many lessons in this story, and surely We do test people.

23:31

Then We raised up after them another generation.

23:32

And We sent among them a messenger (Hud) from themselves, [saying], “Worship Allah ; you have no deity other than Him; then will you not fear Him?”
Meaning:-
Deity: Fake God, God; Supreme Being, like a god or goddess.

23:33

But the chiefs of his people – who disbelieved the message and denied the life in the hereafter, – on whom We had bestowed affluence in this worldly life, said: “This person is but a human like you; he eats of what you eat and drinks of what you drink.
Meaning:-
Bestow:an honor, right, or gift
Affluence: abundance of money, property, and other material goods; riches; wealth.

23:34

And if you ˹ever˺ obey a human like yourselves, then you would certainly be losers.

23:35

What! Does he claim that when you are dead and turned into dust and bones, you will be brought to life out of your graves?

23:36

Impossible! Just impossible is that with which you are being threatened with!

23:37

There is no other life but our life of this world: we live here and die here, and shall never be raised to life again.

23:38

He is not but a man who has invented a lie about Allah , and we will not believe him.”

23:39

He said: O my Lord! help me against their calling me a liar.

23:40

Allah responded: “After a short time they will surely be sorry.”

23:41

Then the ˹mighty˺ Blast overtook them with justice, and We made them as rubbish of dead leaves (floating on the stream of Time)! So away with the people who do wrong!
Meaning:-
Rubbish: worthless, unwanted material that is rejected or thrown out; debris; litter; trash.
Stream of Time: (Stream Meaning: a small, narrow river) Streams flow only one way. Time moves only forward. · Streams flow constantly. Time never stops.

23:42

After them We raised other generations

23:43

No people can hasten their term, nor can they delay (it).

23:44

– and sent forth Our Messengers one after another: every time a Messenger came to his people, they disbelieved him, so We punished them one by one and made them a history; so gone is the nation of disbelievers.

23:45

Then We sent Musa (Moses) and his brother Haroon (Aaron) with Our signs and clear authority,

23:46

to Fir’on (Pharaoh) and his chiefs: but they received them with arrogance for they were very haughty people.
Meaning:-
Haughty: arrogantly superior and disdainful, proud, self important

23:47

They said: “What! Should we believe in two human beings like ourselves, and whose people are our slaves?”

23:48

So they rejected them both [Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron)], and ˹so˺ were among those destroyed.

23:49

And indeed We gave Musa (Moses) the Scripture, that they may be guided.

23:50

And We made the son of Maryam (Jesus) and his mother a sign for mankind, and We gave them shelter on a peaceful hillside with flowing water.

23:51

O Messengers! Eat of pure things and do good deeds, certainly I have knowledge of all your actions.

23:52

In fact, your religion is one religion, and I am your only Lord: so fear Me Alone.

23:53

But the people divided their religion among them into sects – each faction, in what it has, rejoicing.
Meaning:-
Rejoicing: great joy

23:54

But leave them ˹O Prophet˺ in their confused ignorance for a time.
Meaning:-
Ignorance: lack of knowledge or information, unawareness of.

23:55

Do they think that because We have granted them abundance of wealth and children,
Meaning:-
Abundance: a very large quantity of something.

23:56

Is [because] We hastenn for them good things (in this worldly life so that they will have no share of good things in the Hereafter)? In fact, they do not know.
Meaning:-
Hasten: act quickly, to cause to happen more quickly.

23:57

Verily those who live in awe for fear of their Lord;
Meaning:-
Awe: feeling of fear that is mixed with respect and wonder

23:58

Those who believe in the Signs of their Lord;

23:59

And they who do not associate anything with their Lord
Meaning:-
Associate: partners, nearly equal status, to join as a companion.

23:60

who give to charity whatever they can give, and their hearts are full of fear by the very idea that they shall have to return to their Lord,

23:61

it is they who rush in doing good deeds and try to be the first in attaining them.

23:62

On no soul do We place a burden greater than it can bear; We have a Book of record which shall clearly tell the truth, and they shall not be treated unjustly.

23:63

But their hearts are blind to all this; and their deeds are also different from the believers. They will continue doing their misdeeds

23:64

until when We seize those of them who live in comfort with punishment, at once they are crying [to Allah] for help.

23:65

˹They will be told,˺ “Do not cry for help today. Surely you will never be saved from Us.

23:66

My verses had already been recited to you, but you were turning back on your heels

23:67

in arrogance, talking nonsense about The Qur’an like one telling fables by night.
Meaning:-
Fable: tell fictitious tales, a story not founded on fact:

23:68

Then have they not pondered over the Qur’an, or has there come to them that which had not come to their forefathers?

23:69

Or do they not recognize their Messenger, that they deny him?

23:70

Or are they really convinced that he is a madman? Nay! In fact he has brought them the Truth and most of them dislike the Truth.

23:71

And if the truth followed their self attractions for desires, then indeed the heavens and the earth and all those who are in them would be destroyed, We have brought them their message, but they, from their message, are turning away.

23:72

Or are you (O Muhammad) asking them for a payment? But the payment (reward) of your Lord is best, and He is the best of providers.

23:73

And certainly, you (O Muhammad) call them to a Straight Path (true religion Islamic Monotheism).
Meaning:-
Monotheism: the doctrine or belief that there is only one God.

23:74

But indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter are deviated from the Straight Path.
Meaning:-
Deviated: To cause to turn aside or stray..

23:75

˹Even˺ if We had mercy on them and removed their distress, they would still persist in their transgression, wandering blindly.
Meaning:-
Distress: extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain
Persist: do something repeatedly, continue to exist, continue firmly.
Transgression:: offense, crime, sin, wrong, wrongdoing.
Wandering: traveling aimlessly from place to place.

23:76

And, indeed, We tested them through suffering [as a warning], but they did not bow before their Lord, nor do they pray.
Meaning:-
Bow: a bending of the head or body in respect, submission.

23:77

Until when We have opened before them a door of severe punishment, immediately they will be therein in despair.
Meaning:-
Despair: the complete loss or absence of hope.

23:78

He is the ˹Allah˺ One Who created for you hearing, sight, and intellect. ˹Yet˺ you hardly give any thanks.
Meaning:-
Intellect: ability to understand or mental powers, The ability to learn and reason; the capacity for knowledge.

23:79

And it is He who has multiplied you throughout the earth, and to Him you will be gathered on the Day of Judgment..

23:80

It is He Who gives life and cause you to die, and in His control is the alternation of the night and the day: then why don’t you understand?

23:81

Rather, they say like what the former peoples (forefathers) said.

23:82

who said: “What! After death when our bodies become dust and bones, could we really be raised to life again?

23:83

We have heard many such threats and so did our forefathers before us. These are nothing but legends of primitive people.”
Meaning:-
Primitive: early in the history of the world or of humankind.

23:84

Say, [O Muhammad], “To whom belongs the earth and whoever is in it, if you should know?”

23:85

They will promptly reply: “to Allah!” Ask them: “Then why you don’t use your common sense and believe in Him?”
Meaning:-
Promptly: very quickly or immediately.

23:86

Say: “Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and the Lord of the Throne (of Glory) Supreme?”

23:87

They will say, “[They belong] to Allah .” Say, “Then will you not fear Him?”

23:88

Ask ˹them also,˺ “In Whose Hands is the authority over all things, protecting ˹all˺ while none can protect against Him, if you ˹really˺ know?”

23:89

They will say, “[All belongs] to Allah .” Say, “Then how are you deluded?”
Meaning:-
Delude: to mislead the mind or judgment of; deceive:

23:90

The fact of the matter is that We have brought them the Truth, and undoubtedly these people are liars.

23:91

No son did Allah beget, nor is there any god besides Him. Otherwise, each god would have taken away what he created, and they would have tried to dominate one another. Glorified is Allah above what they claim!
Meaning:-
Beget: To produce (children) by sexual reproduction.

23:92

[He is] Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, so high is He above what they associate [with Him].
Meaning:-
Associate: Partners, nearly equal status, to join as a companion.

23:93

Say (O Muhammad): ” My Lord! If You would show me (in my lifetime) that with which they are threatened (torment),
Meaning:-
Torment: great mental suffering and unhappiness, or great physical pain.

23:94

My Lord, then do not place me among the wrongdoing people.”

23:95

And indeed We are Able to show you (O Muhammad) that with which We have threatened them.

23:96

Respond to evil with what is best. We know well what they claim.
Meaning:-
Explanation of they claim: Their claims that there are many gods, and that the Prophet is a liar, a poet, etc.

23:97

And say, “My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils,
Meaning:-
Incitement: the action of provoking unlawful behavior or urging someone to behave unlawfully.

23:98

And I seek refuge in You, my Lord, that they ˹even˺ come near me.”
Meaning:-
Refuge: shelter, protection, safety, security, asylum.

23:99

When death approaches any of them, they cry, “My Lord! Send me back to the world (to life),

23:100

so that I may do good deeds in the world that I have left behind.” Never! This is just a statement which carries no value, it will be too late because there will be a barrier (Barzakh) between them and the world they have just left till the Day they are raised to life again.
Meaning:-
Barzakh” is an Arabic word: ‘interval, gap, break, partition (The technical meaning of barzakh is the period between a person’s death and his resurrection on the Day of Resurrection)

23:101

On the Day when the Trumpet will be blown, they will neither have worldly relations between them any more, nor will they ask about each other.

23:102

And those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds] – it is they who are the successful.

23:103

As for those whose weight of good deeds is light, they will be the ones who have lost their souls to live in hell forever.

23:104

The Fire will burn their faces and they will grin therein with their lips displaced.
Meaning:-
Grin: to draw back the lips so as to show the teeth, as a snarling dog or aperson in pain.

23:105

˹It will be said,˺ “Were My Verses (this Quran) not recited to you, but you used to deny them?”

23:106

They will say: “our Lord! Our misfortune overwhelmed us, so we became a misguided people.
Meaning:-
Overwhelmed: to cover over completely, to completely overcome or take over.

23:107

Our Lord! Take us out of this ˹Fire˺. Then if we ever return ˹to sin˺, we will truly be wrongdoers.”
Meaning:-
Wrongdoers: especially a sinner, or transgressor, criminal, dishonestly; an offender.

23:108

In answer to this Allah will say: “Stay here in shame and do not ˹ever˺ plead with Me ˹again˺!

23:109

For you are the same people, who used to make fun of some of My worshippers who prayed: ‘Our Lord, We believe in You; please forgive us and have mercy on us, for You are the Best of those who show mercy!’

23:110

but you were ˹so busy˺ making fun of them that it made you forget My remembrance. And you used to laugh at them.

23:111

“I have rewarded them this Day for their patience and constancy: they are indeed the ones that have achieved Bliss…”
Meaning:-
Bliss: the joy of heaven

23:112

[ Allah ] will say, “How long did you remain on earth in number of years?”

23:113

They will reply: “We lived there a day or part of a day; You may ask those who kept the count.”

23:114

It will be said: “Well, now you know that your stay was just a little while – what a pity, you did not believe it then!”

23:115

Did you think that We had created you without any purpose and that you would never return to Us for accountability?”

23:116

Therefore exalted be Allah, the King, the Reality: there is no god but He, the Lord of the Throne of Honour!

23:117

Whoever invokes, besides Allah, another god—for which they can have no proof—they will surely find their penalty with their Lord. Indeed, the disbelievers will never succeed.
Meaning:-
Invokes: Fake God, God; Supreme Being, like a god or goddess,

23:118

And, [O Muhammad], say, “My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of the merciful.”