VERSES : 1 – 111                 Chapters                                                                          

17. THE NIGHT JOURNEY ( Al – Isra )

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

1. Glorified be He Who made His servant travel on a night from the Masjid-il-Haram (Kaaba) to the Masjid-il-Aqsa (in Jerusalam) the neighborhood of which We have blessed, that We might show him (some) of Our signs {1}. He is certainly the Hearing, the Seeing.

 

2. And We gave Musa the book and made it a (source of) guidance for the children of Israel (in which it was stated) that: “Do not take a trustee besides Me,”

 

3. (they were) the descendants of those whom We carried (in the ship) along with Nuh, he was certainly a grateful servant.

 

4. And We had decreed for the children of Israel in the book, that you will definitely cause corruption in the earth twice and you will definitely transgress (with) a great transgression.

 

5. So when (the time for) the first of the two promises came, We raised against you Our servants of severe might who entered into the very spaces in between (your) houses, and the promise was fulfilled.

 

6. Then We gave you back (your) turn (to prevail) over them and We helped you with wealth and sons and We made you a party more numerous.

 

7. If you do good, you do good for your ownselves and if you do evil then it is against it (your ownself). Then when (the time for) the second promise came (We raised your enemies against you) that they may spoil your faces and that they may enter the mosque as they had entered it the first time and that they may destroy with utter destruction whatever they conquered.

 

8. Perhaps your Fosterer will have mercy on you, but if you return (to disobedience) We (too) will return (to punishment) and We have made hell, a prison for the infidels.

 

9. This Quran certainly guides to that which is the straightest, and gives good news to the believers who do righteous works that for them there is a great reward,

 

10. and that, those who do not believe in the hereafter, We have prepared a painful punishment for them. ( R1 )

 

11. And man prays for evil as he ought to pray for good, for man is hasty (by temperament).

 

12. And We have made the night and the day two signs, then We darken the sign of the night and make the sign of the day visible that you may seek the grace of your Fosterer and that you may know the numbering of years and (keep) the account (of your works). And We have explained everything in detail.

 

13. And We have made every man’s fate (or action) to cling to his neck {2}, and We will bring out for him on the day of resurrection, a book (or a record) which he will find wide open.

 

14. (It will be said to him), “Read your book, this day your ownself is sufficient against you as one who takes account.”

 

15. He who receives guidance receives it only for (the benefit of) his ownself and he who goes astray, (the loss of) his going astray is only on him. And no bearer of a burden will bear the burden of another. And We do not punish until We have raised a messenger.

 

16. And when We intend to destroy a town, We send our commandment to those who are well-off therein, but they transgress in it, thus the word is proved true against the (town), then We destroy it with utter destruction.

 

17. And how many of the generations have We destroyed after Nuh, and your Fosterer is sufficient (as) One Informed, seeing the sins of His servants.

 

18. Whoever intends (the comfort of the life of this world) which hasten away, We hasten it for him therein what We will (and) for whom We intend, then We appoint hell for him, he will enter it disgraced, driven away.

 

19. And whoever intends (to achieve the benefits of) the hereafter and strives for it (with the) striving (due for) it while he is a believer, then those are the persons whose striving will be acknowledged.

 

20. We help all, these as well as those, from the bounty of your Fosterer, and the bounty of your Fosterer is not confined.

 

21. See how We have made some of them to excel others, and the hereafter is certainly greater in grades and greater in excellence.

 

22. Do not set up another god with Allah, lest you sit down disgraced, forsaken. ( R 2 )

 

23. And your Fosterer has decreed that you should not serve anyone except Him and (that you should do) good to parents. If one of them or both of them reach old age in your presence, then do not say (even), “Uff,” to them nor scold them, but speak to them in words of honour,

 

24. and lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say , “My Fosterer ! have mercy on them in a manner similar to the manner in which they fostered me when I was a small (child).”

 

25. Your Fosterer knows best about that which is in your souls (minds). If you are of those who are righteous, then He is certainly Protectively Forgiving to those who turn (to Him).

 

26. And give to the relative his due, and (also to) the needy and (to) the wayfarer, and do not squander (just) squandering (away).

 

27. The squanderers are certainly the brothers of the devils, and the devil was ungrateful to his Fosterer (by disobeying Him).

 

28. And (not having anything to give as charity), if you have to turn away from them seeking mercy from your Fosterer which you hope for, then speak to them (in) words which make them feel easy.

 

29. And do not make your hand tied to your neck nor stretch it to its full stretching (capacity) lest you sit down blamed, full of regrets.

 

30. Your Fosterer certainly enlarges the provision for whom He wills and He straitens (it whenever and for whomever He wills), He is certainly informed of His servants, seeing (them). (R 3)

 

31. And do not kill your children for fear of poverty, We provide for them and for yourselves (too). Killing them is certainly a great mistake.

 

32. And do not (even) go near adultery, it is certainly indecent and an evil way.

 

33. And do not kill any person, whose (killing) Allah has made unlawful except (when his killing is) for the right (cause). And whoever is killed unjustly, then We have given authority to his heir, so let his (heir) not exceed the limits in killing (because) he is helped (by the law).

 

34. And do not go near the wealth of an orphan, except in (a manner) which is the best, till he reaches his (age of physical and mental) strength. And fulfill the agreement, (you will) certainly be questioned (about) the agreement you had made.

 

35. And give back in full, the measure which you measure, and weigh with a balance that is straight. That is good and best (from the point of view of) the result.

 

36. And do not follow that about which you do not have (any) knowledge, the hearing and the sight and the heart, regarding each of those (you) will certainly be questioned.

 

37. And do not walk proudly in the earth, you can neither tear the earth nor can you ever reach the mountains in height.

 

38. The evil of all that (which is mentioned above) is disliked by your Fosterer.

 

39. That is from what your Fosterer has communicated to you of wisdom. And do not set up another god with Allah, lest you should be put in hell, blamed, driven away.

 

40. Then has your Fosterer selected sons for you and He has (Himself) taken daughters from among the angels? You certainly utter a greatly( dreadful )saying. ( R 4 )

 

41. And We have repeated (various subjects) in this Quran that they may be mindful, but that increases in them nothing but hatred.

 

42. Say, “Had there been (other) gods along with Him as they say, then they would have sought a way to the (Real) Owner of the throne (of the universe).”

 

43. Glory be to Him and He is high above that which they say, Exalted, Great.

 

44. The seven skies and the earth and whoever is in them, (all) declare His glory, and there is nothing which does not glorify Him by praising Him but you do not understand their glorification. He is certainly Clement, Protectively Forgiving.

 

45. And when you recite the Quran, We place between you and those who do not believe in the hereafter, an invisible veil.

 

46. And We have placed coverings over their hearts, lest they understand it, and in their ears is heaviness, and when you mention (about) your single Fosterer in the Quran, they turn on their backs in hatred.

 

47. We know best about that which they wish to hear when they seek to hear you, and when they have secret talks when the unjust say, “ You follow none except a man under the influence of magic.”

 

48. See how they strike simile's for you, thus they are astray so  they cannot find (the right) way. ( P14 ¼ )

 

49. And they say, “What! when we become bones and powder, will we be raised (as) a new creation?”

 

50. Say, “Become stones or iron,

 

51. or a creation from (something) which you consider great in your minds.” Then they will say, “Who will return us (to life)?” Say, “He Who initiated your creation the first time.” Then they will shake their heads towards you and say, “When will it be?” Say, “Perhaps it is near,

 

52. on the day He will call you, you will respond by praising Him and you will think that you stayed but for a little while.” (R 5)

 

53. And say to My servants, “Speak that which is the best,” the devil certainly instigates (evil) between them. The devil is certainly an open enemy of man.

 

54. Your Fosterer knows best about you, If He wills he will have mercy on you and if He wills He will punish you, and We have not sent you as a trustee over them.

 

55. And your Fosterer knows best about whomsoever is in the skies and the earth. And We have made some of the prophets to excel others, and We gave Dawood, Zabur (the book).

 

56. Say, “Pray to those whom you claim (to be gods) besides Him, they do not have the power to remove (any) harm from you nor (even) to change (it).”

 

57. Those whom they pray to, they themselves seek the means of access to their Fosterer (competing to see) which of them is nearer, and they hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. The punishment of your Fosterer is certainly something to be cautious of.

 

58. And there is not a town but We will destroy it before the day of resurrection or punish it with a severe punishment, that is written in the book.

 

59. And nothing prevents Us from sending the signs except that the ancients (too) denied them. And We gave to Samood, the she-camel which could be seen (clearly), but they were unjust to it (by killing it); and We do not send signs but (to cause) fear.

 

60. And (remember) when We said to you, “Your Fosterer certainly encompasses mankind.” And We did not make the vision {1} which We showed you but a trial for mankind and (also) the cursed tree (mentioned) in the Quran, and We cause them to fear, but it increases them in nothing except a great rebellion. ( R 6 )

 

61. And when We said to the angels, “Bow down to Adam,” they bowed down except Iblis, he said, “Shall I bow down to him whom You created (of) clay?”

 

62. He (Iblis) said, “Do you see the (person) whom You have honored above me? If You give me time till the day of resurrection I will definitely bring his descendants under my control (all) but a few.”

 

63. He (Allah) said, “Go, and whoever follows you from among them, then hell will certainly be your reward, an ample reward.

 

64. And upset and dislodge with your voice whom you can from among them, and collect (your forces) against them (to attack them riding) on your horse and (marching on) your foot (that is, all means at your disposal), and have a share with them in their wealth and children making promises to them. And the devil promises them nothing but deceit.

 

65. You certainly have no authority on My servants and your Fosterer is sufficient (as) a Trustee.”

 

66. Your Fosterer is He Who makes the ships to sail in the sea for you that you may seek from His grace, He is   certainly  Merciful to you.                                                                               

 

67. And when harm afflicts you in the sea, (all) whom you pray to, go away (from your minds) except Him, but when He brings you safe to the land, you turn away (from Him). And man is ungrateful.

 

68. Then do you feel secure that He cannot cause you to sink on a tract of land or send a sand storm on you? Then you will not find for yourselves any trustee.

 

69. Or do you feel secure that He cannot take you back into it (your plight in the sea) a second time, then send against you a violent wind so as to drown you because of your ungratefulness? Then in that (case) you will not find for yourselves any helper against Us.

 

70. And We have honored the children of Adam, and We carry them on the land and in the sea, and We provide for them from the good things, and We have preferred them in excellence over many of those whom We have created. ( R7 )

 

71. (One) day We will call all mankind with their leaders, then whoever is given his record (of deeds) in his right hand, they will read their record and they will not be dealt with unjustly even to the extent of the hair on a date stone.

 

72. And whoever is blind in this (world) then he will be blind in the hereafter, and more astray form the way.

 

73. And they were about to tempt you away from that which We have communicated to you, so as to make you forge against Us (something) other than what (We had communicated), and (if you had obeyed), then they would have taken you as a friend.

 

74. And had We not made you firm, you were about to incline towards them to some extent,

 

75. then in that case  We would have made you taste double (punishment in this) life and double (punishment in) death, then you would not have found any helper against Us.

 

76. And they were about to unsettle you from the land, so as to drive you out of it, and in that case they would not have stayed (therein) after you, except for a little while.

 

77. (This was Our) procedure with those of Our messengers whom We had sent before you and you will not find a change in Our procedure. ( R 8 )

 

78. Establish worship (salat) from the decline of the sun till the darkness of the night, and (recite) the Quran at dawn, (recitation of) the Quran at dawn is certainly witnessed { 3 }.

 

79. And forsake sleep for (worshiping during part) of the night. (This is) an additional (duty) for you. May be that your Fosterer will raise you to a praised position.

 

80. And say, “My Fosterer! cause me to enter the entrance of truth and cause me to exit the exit of truth and grant me from Your presence a helping authority.”

 

81. And say, “The truth has come and falsehood departed. Falsehood is certainly bound to depart.”

 

82. And We have sent down through the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy for the believers; and to those who are unjust, it adds nothing but loss.

 

83. And when We bestow favor on man, he keeps away and turns away to his side and when harm afflicts him, he is despairing.

 

84. Say, “Everyone acts according to the scope allowed { 2 } to him, (through his inherent character or destiny) but your Fosterer knows best, about him who is best guided on the way.” ( R 9 )

 

85. And they ask you about the Spirit (Ruh), say, “The Spirit (comes) with the command of my Fosterer$, and you have been given little knowledge,”(therefore you cannot understand everything). $ Or, the Sprit is from one of the affairs of my Fosterer.

86. And if We will We can definitely take away that which We have communicated to you, then you would not find for it any trustee (in whom you could put your trust) against Us,

87. but (this has not been done because of ) the mercy from   your  Fosterer. His grace on you is certainly great.

 

88. Say, “If mankind and jinn were to gather together on (the project of) bringing (out) a Quran similar to this, they would not be able to bring (out anything) similar to it, even if they help each other.”

 

89. And in this Quran, We have repeated for mankind every kind of similitude, but the majority of mankind refuses (to understand, and accept nothing) but infidelity.

 

90. And they say, “We will never believe in you till you cause a spring to gush forth from the earth for us.

 

91. Or you have a garden of date palms and grapes and cause gushing out rivers to gush forth in spaces between the (trees of the garden).

 

92. Or you cause the sky to fall upon us in pieces as you claim, or you bring Allah and the angels face to face (with us).

 

93. Or you have a house of gold or you climb into the sky, and we will not believe in your climbing till you bring down to us a book which we could read.” Say, “Glory be to my Fosterer! am I anything but a human (news giving) messenger?” ( R 10 )

 

94. And nothing prevents mankind from believing when the guidance comes to them, except that they say, “Has Allah raised up a human being as a messenger?”

 

95. Say, “Had there been angles walking about as settlers in the earth, We would have sent down to them an angel as a messenger form the sky.”

 

96. Say, “Allah is sufficient as a witness between me and you, He is certainly informed of and seeing His servants.”

 

97. And whomsoever Allah guides, then he (it) is (who is really) guided, But whomsoever He leaves in error, then you will not find for him guardians besides Him; and We will gather them on the day of resurrection on their faces, blind and dumb and deaf, their settling place will be hell, whenever (the fire tends to get) extinguished, We will increase for them the blazing flame. ( P 14 ½ )

 

98. That is their reward because they did not believe in Our  signs and said, “What! when we become bones and powder, will we then be raised up (as) a new creation?”

 

99. Do they not consider that Allah Who created the skies and the earth is able to create their like? And He has appointed for them a term about which there is no doubt, except unjust refuse (everything) but the infidelity.

 

100. Say, “Had you (any) control on the treasures of the mercy of my Fosterer, then you would have held back (the treasures, due to the) fear that they will be spent off, and man is niggardly.” (R 11)

 

101. And We did give to Musa nine signs (as) clear proofs, so ask the children of Israel (about the details) when he had come to them (with these signs). But Firawn said to him, “I definitely consider you, O Musa, one under the influence of magic.”

 

102. He said, “You do know that none has sent down these (signs) but the Fosterer of the skies and the earth (as) visual proofs, and I definitely consider you, O Firawn, one destroyed.”

 

103. So he (Firawn) intended to upset and dislodge them from the land, so We drowned him and those with him all together.

 

104. And We said to the children of Israel after him, “Dwell in the earth, but when the promise of the hereafter comes to pass, We will bring you together (as a gathering of people coming from different directions).”

 

105. And We have sent it down in reality and it has come down in reality, and We have not sent you but as a conveyer of good news and a warner.

 

106. And We have divided the Quran (in such a manner) that you may recite it to mankind at intervals, and (therefore) We have sent it down, sending it down gradually.

 

107. Say, “Believe in it or do not believe.” When it is read out to those who were given knowledge before it, they certainly fall down on their faces prostrating,

 

108. and saying, “Glory be to our Fosterer, the promise of our Fosterer was surely to be fulfilled.”

 

109. And they fall down on their faces weeping and it increases their humility.

 

110. Say “Call upon (God by the name of) Allah or call upon (God by the name of) Rehman (the Beneficent), (by) whichever (name) you call (Him), His are the best names. And do not be loud voiced in your worship (salat) nor be silent in it, but seek a way between these.”

 

111. And say “Praise is due only for Allah Who has not taken a son and Who has no partner in the kingdom and who needs no guardian due to weakness (which He does not have),” and regard Him Great by proclaiming His Greatness. ( R 12 )

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