Ask the Children
of Israel how many clear Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) We gave them. And whoever changes Allah's Favour after it had
come to him, [e.g. renounces the Religion of Allah (Islam) and accepts Kufr (disbelief),]
then surely, Allah is Severe in punishment.
212.
Beautified is
the life of this world for those who disbelieve, and they mock at
those who believe. But those who obey Allah's Orders and keep
away from what He has forbidden, will be above them on the Day of
Resurrection. And Allah gives (of His Bounty, Blessings, Favours, Honours, on the Day of Resurrection) to whom He wills without limit.
213.
Mankind were one
community and Allah sent Prophets with glad tidings and warnings,
and with them He sent the Scripture in truth to judge between people
in matters wherein they differed. And only those to whom (the Scripture) was given differed
concerning it after clear proofs had come unto them through hatred,
one to another. Then Allah by His Leave guided those who believed
to the truth of that wherein they differed. And Allah guides
whom He wills to a Straight Path.
214.
Or think you that
you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who
passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and
ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who
believed along with him said, "When (will come) the Help of Allah?"
Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!
215.
They ask you (O Muhammad SAW) what
they should spend. Say: Whatever you spend of good must be for parents
and kindred and orphans and AlMasakin (the poor) and the wayfarers,
and whatever you do of good deeds, truly, Allah knows it well.
216.
Jihad (holy fighting in Allah's Cause) is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it
may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you
like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not
know.
217.
They ask you concerning
fighting in the Sacred Months (i.e. 1st, 7th, 11th and 12th months of the Islamic calendar).
Say, "Fighting therein is a great (transgression) but a greater (transgression) with Allah is to prevent mankind from following the Way of
Allah, to disbelieve in Him, to prevent access to Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah),
and to drive out its inhabitants, and Al-Fitnah is worse than killing.
And they will never cease fighting you until they turn you back from
your religion (Islamic Monotheism) if they can. And whosoever of you turns back from his religion and
dies as a disbeliever, then his deeds will be lost in this life and
in the Hereafter, and they will be the dwellers of the Fire. They
will abide therein forever."
218.
Verily, those
who have believed, and those who have emigrated (for Allah's Religion) and have striven hard in the Way of Allah, all these hope for
Allah's Mercy. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.
219.
They ask you (O Muhammad SAW) concerning
alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: "In them is a great sin, and (some) benefits for men, but
the sin of them is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what
they ought to spend. Say: "That which is beyond your needs." Thus
Allah makes clear to you His Laws in order that you may give
thought."
220.
In (to) this worldly life and in
the Hereafter. And they ask you concerning orphans. Say: "The best
thing is to work honestly in their property, and if you mix your affairs
with theirs, then they are your brothers. And Allah knows him
who means mischief (e.g. to
swallow their property) from
him who means good (e.g. to
save their property). And if
Allah had wished, He could have put you into difficulties.
Truly, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise."
221.
And do not marry
Al-Mushrikat (idolatresses,
etc.) till they believe (worship Allah Alone).
And indeed a slave woman who believes is better than a (free) Mushrikah (idolatress),
even though she pleases you. And give not (your daughters) in marriage
to Al-Mushrikun till they believe (in Allah Alone) and verily,
a believing slave is better than a (free) Mushrik (idolater),
even though he pleases you. Those (Al-Mushrikun) invite
you to the Fire, but Allah invites (you) to Paradise and Forgiveness
by His Leave, and makes His Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to mankind that they may remember.
222.
They ask you concerning
menstruation. Say: that is an Adha (a harmful thing for a husband to have a sexual intercourse with his
wife while she is having her menses),
therefore keep away from women during menses and go not unto them
till they have purified (from
menses and have taken a bath).
And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as Allah
has ordained for you (go in
unto them in any manner as long as it is in their vagina).
Truly, Allah loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and
loves those who purify themselves (by taking a bath and cleaning and washing thoroughly their private
parts, bodies, for their prayers).
223.
Your wives are
a tilth for you, so go to your tilth (have sexual relations with your wives in any manner as long as it
is in the vagina and not in the anus),
when or how you will, and send (good deeds, or ask Allah to bestow upon you pious offspring) for your ownselves beforehand. And fear Allah, and know that
you are to meet Him (in the
Hereafter), and give good tidings
to the believers (O Muhammad
SAW).
224.
And make not Allah's (Name) an excuse in your oaths against your doing good and acting piously,
and making peace among mankind. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower (i.e. do not swear much and
if you have sworn against doing something good then give an expiation
for the oath and do good).
225.
Allah will not
call you to account for that which is unintentional in your oaths,
but He will call you to account for that which your hearts have earned.
And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Forbearing.
226.
Those who take
an oath not to have sexual relation with their wives must wait for
four months, then if they return (change their idea in this period),
verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
227.
And if they decide upon
divorce, then Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.
228.
And divorced women
shall wait (as regards their
marriage) for three menstrual
periods, and it is not lawful for them to conceal what Allah
has created in their wombs, if they believe in Allah and the
Last Day. And their husbands have the better right to take them back
in that period, if they wish for reconciliation. And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience
and respect) to what is reasonable,
but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.
229.
The divorce is
twice, after that, either you retain her on reasonable terms or release
her with kindness. And it is not lawful for you (men) to take back (from your wives) any of your
Mahr (bridal-money given by
the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) which you have given them, except when both parties fear that they
would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah (e.g. to deal with each other on a fair basis).
Then if you fear that they would not be able to keep the limits ordained
by Allah, then there is no sin on either of them if she gives
back (the Mahr or a part of
it) for her Al-Khul' (divorce).
These are the limits ordained by Allah, so do not transgress
them. And whoever transgresses the limits ordained by Allah,
then such are the Zalimun (wrong-doers).
230.
And if he has
divorced her (the third time),
then she is not lawful unto him thereafter until she has married another
husband. Then, if the other husband divorces her, it is no sin on
both of them that they reunite, provided they feel that they can keep
the limits ordained by Allah. These are the limits of Allah,
which He makes plain for the people who have knowledge.
231.
And when you have
divorced women and they have fulfilled the term of their prescribed
period, either take them back on reasonable basis or set them free
on reasonable basis. But do not take them back to hurt them, and whoever
does that, then he has wronged himself. And treat not the Verses (Laws) of Allah as a
jest, but remember Allah's Favours on you (i.e. Islam), and that
which He has sent down to you of the Book (i.e. the Qur-an) and
Al-Hikmah (the Prophet's
Sunnah - legal ways - Islamic jurisprudence) whereby He instructs you. And fear Allah, and know that Allah
is All-Aware of everything.
232.
And when you have
divorced women and they have fulfilled the term of their prescribed
period, do not prevent them from marrying their (former) husbands, if they mutually
agree on reasonable basis. This (instruction) is an admonition
for him among you who believes in Allah and the Last Day. That
is more virtuous and purer for you. Allah knows and you know
not.
233.
The mothers shall
give suck to their children for two whole years, (that is) for those (parents) who desire to complete
the term of suckling, but the father of the child shall bear the cost
of the mother's food and clothing on a reasonable basis. No person
shall have a burden laid on him greater than he can bear. No mother
shall be treated unfairly on account of her child, nor father on account
of his child. And on the (father's) heir is incumbent the like of that (which was incumbent on the father).
If they both decide on weaning, by mutual consent, and after due consultation,
there is no sin on them. And if you decide on a foster suckling-mother
for your children, there is no sin on you, provided you pay (the mother) what you agreed (to give her) on reasonable basis.
And fear Allah and know that Allah is All-Seer of what
you do.
234.
And those of you
who die and leave wives behind them, they (the wives) shall wait (as regards their marriage) for
four months and ten days, then when they have fulfilled their term,
there is no sin on you if they (the wives) dispose of themselves
in a just and honourable manner (i.e. they can marry). And Allah
is Well-Acquainted with what you do.
235.
And there is no
sin on you if you make a hint of betrothal or conceal it in yourself,
Allah knows that you will remember them, but do not make a
promise of contract with them in secret except that you speak an honourable
saying according to the Islamic law (e.g. you can say to her, "If one finds a wife like you, he will be
happy"). And do not consummate
the marriage until the term prescribed is fulfilled. And know that
Allah knows what is in your minds, so fear Him. And know that
Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.
236.
There is no sin
on you, if you divorce women while yet you have not touched (had sexual relation with) them,
nor appointed unto them their Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage).
But bestow on them ( a suitable
gift), the rich according to
his means, and the poor according to his means, a gift of reasonable
amount is a duty on the doers of good.
237.
And if you divorce
them before you have touched (had a sexual relation with) them, and you have appointed unto them the Mahr (brida-money given by the husbands to his wife at the time of marriage),
then pay half of that (Mahr),
unless they (the women) agree to forego it, or he (the
husband), in whose hands is the marriage tie, agrees to forego and
give her full appointed Mahr. And to forego and give (her the full
Mahr) is nearer to At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness ).
And do not forget liberality between yourselves. Truly, Allah
is All-Seer of what you do.
238.
Guard strictly (five obligatory) AsSalawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salah (i.e. the best prayer 'Asr).
And stand before Allah with obedience [and
do not speak to others during the Salah (prayers)].
239.
And if you fear (an enemy),
perfrom Salah (pray) on foot or riding. And
when you are in safety, offer the Salah (prayer) in the manner He has
taught you, which you knew not (before).
240.
And those of you
who die and leave behind wives should bequeath for their wives a year's
maintenance and residence without turning them out, but if they (wives) leave, there is no sin
on you for that which they do of themselves, provided it is honourable (e.g. lawful marriage).
And
Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. [The
provision of this Verse has been abrogated by Verse 4:12].