Alif, Lām, Meem.1 Footnote - 1 These are among the fourteen opening letters which occur in various combinations at the beginning of twenty-nine sūrahs in the Qur’ān. Although there has been much speculation as to their meaning, it was not, in fact, revealed by Allāh to anyone and is known only to Him.
This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allāh1 - Footnote - 1 Literally, "those who have taqwā," i.e., who have piety, righteousness, fear and love of Allāh, and who take great care to avoid His displeasure.
Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer,1 and spend out of what We2 have provided for them, Footnote - 1 At its proper times and according to its specified conditions.
And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith].
Those are upon [right] guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful.
Indeed, those who disbelieve1 - it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them - they will not believe. Footnote - 1 Literally, "cover" or "conceal" (faith or truth).
Allāh has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a veil.1 And for them is a great punishment. Footnote - 1 A covering preventing them from discerning guidance. This condition is a direct result of their arrogance and persistence in sin.
And of the people are some who say, "We believe in Allāh and the Last Day," but they are not believers.
They seek to deceive Allah and the believers, yet they only deceive themselves, but they fail to perceive it.
In their hearts is disease, so Allāh has increased their disease;1 and for them is a painful punishment because they [habitually] used to lie. Footnote - 1 The "disease" mentioned here includes doubt, hypocrisy, arrogance and disbelief.
And when it is said to them, "Do not cause corruption on the earth," they say, "We are but reformers."
Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not.
And when it is said to them, "Believe as the people have believed," they say, "Should we believe as the foolish have believed?" Unquestionably, it is they who are the foolish, but they know [it] not.
And when they meet those who believe, they say, "We believe"; but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, "Indeed, we are with you; we were only mockers."
But] Allāh mocks them and prolongs them in their transgression [while] they wander blindly.
Those are the ones who have purchased error [in exchange] for guidance, so their transaction has brought no profit, nor were they guided.
Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allāh took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see.
Deaf, dumb and blind - so they will not return [to the right path]
Or [it is] like a rainstorm from the sky within which is darkness, thunder and lightning. They put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps in dread of death. But Allāh is encompassing1 of the disbeliever
The lightning almost snatches away their sight. Every time it lights [the way] for them, they walk therein; but when darkness comes over them, they stand [still]. And if Allāh had willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous -
[He] who made for you the earth a bed [spread out] and the sky a ceiling and sent down from the sky, rain and brought forth thereby fruits as provision for you. So do not attribute to Allāh equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him].
And if you are in doubt about what We have revealed to Our servant,1 then produce a sûrah like it and call your helpers other than Allah, if what you say is true.
But if you do not - and you will never be able to - then fear the Fire, whose fuel is people and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.
And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with a provision of fruit therefrom, they will say, "This is what we were provided with before." And it is given to them in likeness. And they will have therein purified spouses, and they will abide therein eternally.
Indeed, Allāh is not timid to present an example - that of a mosquito or what is smaller1 than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did Allāh intend by this as an example?" He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient,
Who break the covenant of Allāh after contracting it and sever that which Allāh has ordered to be joined and cause corruption on earth. It is those who are the losers.
How can you disbelieve in Allāh when you were lifeless and He brought you to life; then He will cause you to die, then He will bring you [back] to life, and then to Him you will be returned.
He is the One Who created everything in the earth for you. Then He turned towards the heaven, forming it into seven heavens. And He has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things.
˹Remember˺ when your Lord said to the angels, “I am going to place a successive ˹human˺ authority on earth.” They asked ˹Allah˺, “Will You place in it someone who will spread corruption there and shed blood while we glorify Your praises and proclaim Your holiness?” Allah responded, “I know what you do not know.”1