Excerpts from the Qur’an

Note: the Qur’an is considered divine revelation by Muslims, given to the

Prophet Muhammad by Gabriel, beginning in A.D. 610. “Qur’an” means
recitation because it is intended for recitation.
Note: a “Surah” is a chapter or section of the Koran. There are 123 Surahs in
the Quran.

2:21-39 (The Creation)

O ye people! Adore your Guardian-Lord, who created you and those who came before you, that ye may
have the chance to learn righteousness;
Who has made the earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy; and sent down rain from the heavens;
and brought forth therewith Fruits for your sustenance; then set not up rivals unto God when ye know (the
truth).
And if ye are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant, then produce a Surah
like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (If there are any) besides God, if your (doubts) are true.
But if ye cannot- and of a surety ye cannot- then fear the Fire whose fuel is men and stones,- which is
prepared for those who reject Faith.
But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that their portion is Gardens, beneath
which rivers flow. Every time they are fed with fruits therefrom, they say: "Why, this is what we were fed
with before," for they are given things in similitude; and they have therein companions pure (and holy);
and they abide therein (forever).
God disdains not to use the similitude of things, lowest as well as highest. Those who believe know that it
is truth from their Lord; but those who reject Faith say: "What means God by this similitude?" By it He
causes many to stray, and many He leads into the right path; but He causes not to stray, except those who
forsake (the path),-
Those who break God's Covenant after it is ratified, and who sunder what God Has ordered to be joined,
and do mischief on earth: These cause loss (only) to themselves.
How can ye reject the faith in God?- seeing that ye were without life, and He gave you life; then will He
cause you to die, and will again bring you to life; and again to Him will ye return.
It is He Who hath created for you all things that are on earth; Moreover His design comprehended the
heavens, for He gave order and perfection to the seven firmaments; and of all things He hath perfect
knowledge.
Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said: "Wilt Thou place
therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and
glorify Thy holy (name)?" He said: "I know what ye know not."
And He taught Adam the nature of all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said: "Tell me
the nature of these if ye are right."
They said: "Glory to Thee, of knowledge We have none, save what Thou Hast taught us: In truth it is
Thou Who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom."
He said: "O Adam! Tell them their natures." When he had told them, God said: "Did I not tell you that I
know the secrets of heaven and earth, and I know what ye reveal and what ye conceal?"
And behold, We said to the angels: "Bow down to Adam" and they bowed down. Not so Iblis: he refused
and was haughty: He was of those who reject Faith.
We said: "O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden; and eat of the bountiful things therein as
(where and when) ye will; but approach not this tree, or ye run into harm and transgression."
Then did Satan make them slip from the (garden), and get them out of the state (of felicity) in which they
had been. We said: "Get ye down, all (ye people), with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your
dwelling-place and your means of livelihood - for a time."
Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord Turned towards him; for He is Oft-
Returning, Most Merciful.
We said: "Get ye down all from here; and if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from me, whosoever
follows My guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
"But those who reject Faith and belie Our Signs, they shall be companions of the Fire; they shall abide
therein."
2:190-193 (The justified reason to fight)
Fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for God loveth not
transgressors.
And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have Turned you out; for
tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they
(first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith.
But if they cease, God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
And fight them on until there is no more Tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in God;
but if they cease, Let there be no hostility except to those who practise oppression.
4:125 (The way of Abraham)
Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self to God, does good, and follows the way
of Abraham the true in Faith? For God did take Abraham for a friend.
12:11-35 (Joseph)
They said: "O our father! why dost thou not trust us with Joseph,- seeing we are indeed his sincere well-
wishers?
"Send him with us tomorrow to enjoy himself and play, and we shall take every care of him."
(Jacob) said: "Really it saddens me that ye should take him away: I fear lest the wolf should devour him
while ye attend not to him."
They said: "If the wolf were to devour him while we are (so large) a party, then should we indeed (first)
have perished ourselves!"
So they did take him away, and they all agreed to throw him down to the bottom of the well: and We put
into his heart (this Message): 'Of a surety thou shalt (one day) tell them the truth of this their affair while
they know (thee) not'
Then they came to their father in the early part of the night, weeping.
They said: "O our father! We went racing with one another, and left Joseph with our things; and the wolf
devoured him.... But thou wilt never believe us even though we tell the truth."
They stained his shirt with false blood. He said: "Nay, but your minds have made up a tale (that may pass)
with you, (for me) patience is most fitting: Against that which ye assert, it is God (alone) Whose help can
be sought".
Then there came a caravan of travellers: they sent their water-carrier (for water), and he let down his
bucket (into the well)...He said: "Ah there! Good news! Here is a (fine) young man!" So they concealed
him as a treasure! But God knoweth w ell all that they do!
Then there came a caravan of travellers: they sent their water-carrier (for water), and he let down his
bucket (into the well)...He said: "Ah there! Good news! Here is a (fine) young man!" So they concealed
him as a treasure! But God knoweth w ell all that they do!
The man in Egypt who bought him, said to his wife: "Make his stay (among us) honourable: may be he
will bring us much good, or we shall adopt him as a son." Thus did We establish Joseph in the land, that
We might teach him the interpretation of stories (and events). And God hath full power and control over
His affairs; but most among mankind know it not.
When Joseph attained His full manhood, We gave him power and knowledge: thus do We reward those
who do right.
But she in whose house he was, sought to seduce him from his (true) self: she fastened the doors, and said:
"Now come, thou (dear one)!" He said: "God forbid! truly (thy husband) is my lord! he made my sojourn
agreeable! truly to no good come those who do wrong!"
And (with passion) did she desire him, and he would have desired her, but that he saw the evidence of his
Lord: thus (did We order) that We might turn away from him (all) evil and shameful deeds: for he was one
of Our servants, sincere and purified.
So they both raced each other to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back: they both found her lord
near the door. She said: "What is the (fitting) punishment for one who formed an evil design against thy
wife, but prison or a grievous chastisement?"
He said: "It was she that sought to seduce me - from my (true) self." And one of her household saw (this)
and bore witness, (thus):- "If it be that his shirt is rent from the front, then is her tale true, and he is a liar!
"But if it be that his shirt is torn from the back, then is she the liar, and he is telling the truth!"
So when he saw his shirt,- that it was torn at the back,- (her husband) said: "Behold! It is a snare of you
women! truly, mighty is your snare!
"O Joseph, pass this over! (O wife), ask forgiveness for thy sin, for truly thou hast been at fault!"
Ladies said in the City: "The wife of the (great) 'Aziz is seeking to seduce her slave from his (true) self:
Truly hath he inspired her with violent love: we see she is evidently going astray."
When she heard of their malicious talk, she sent for them and prepared a banquet for them: she gave each
of them a knife: and she said (to Joseph), "Come out before them." When they saw him, they did extol
him, and (in their amazement) cut their hands: they said, "God preserve us! no mortal is this! this is none
other than a noble angel!"
She said: "There before you is the man about whom ye did blame me! I did seek to seduce him from his
(true) self but he did firmly save himself guiltless!...and now, if he doth not my bidding, he shall certainly
be cast into prison, and (what is more) be of the company of the vilest!"
He said: "O my Lord! the prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me: Unless Thou turn
away their snare from me, I should (in my youthful folly) feel inclined towards them and join the ranks of
the ignorant."
So his Lord hearkened to him (in his prayer), and turned away from him their snare: Verily He heareth and
knoweth (all things).
Then it occurred to the men, after they had seen the signs, (that it was best) to imprison him for a time.
14:35-40 (Abraham)
Remember Abraham said: "O my Lord! make this city one of peace and security: and preserve me and my
sons from worshipping idols.
"O my Lord! they have indeed led astray many among mankind; He then who follows my (ways) is of me,
and he that disobeys me,- but Thou art indeed Oft- forgiving, Most Merciful.
"O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Thy Sacred
House; in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular Prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men
with love towards them, and feed them with fruits: so that they may give thanks.
"O our Lord! truly Thou dost know what we conceal and what we reveal: for nothing whatever is hidden
from God, whether on earth or in heaven.
"Praise be to God, Who hath granted unto me in old age Isma'il and Isaac: for truly my Lord is He, the
Hearer of Prayer!
O my Lord! make me one who establishes regular Prayer, and also (raise such) among my offspring O our
Lord! and accept Thou my Prayer.
42:13 (In the wake of past prophets)
The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah - the which We have
sent by inspiration to thee - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that ye
should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than
God, hard is the (way) to which thou callest them. God chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and
guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).
46:12 (Moses)
And before this, was the Book of Moses as a guide and a mercy: And this Book confirms (it) in the Arabic
tongue; to admonish the unjust, and as Glad Tidings to those who do right.
57:27 (Jesus)
Then, in their wake, We followed them up with (others of) Our apostles: We sent after them Jesus the son
of Mary, and bestowed on him the Gospel; and We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him
Compassion and Mercy. But the Monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe
for them: (We commanded) only the seeking for the Good Pleasure of God; but that they did not foster as
they should have done. Yet We bestowed, on those among them who believed, their (due) reward, but
many of them are rebellious transgressors.

Translation of Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)