2Al-BaqarahالبقرةVerse 1 of 286

The Cow2. Al-Baqarahالبقرة

Al-Baqarah

Al Baqarah

The Cow

Medinan286 verses2 / 114

2

Page 2

a-l-m (ʾalif lām mīm)

Alif, Lam, Mim.

— Ali Quli Qarai

dhālika l-kitābu lā rayba fīhi hudan li-l-muttaqīna

This is the Book, there is no doubt in it, a guidance to the Godwary,

— Ali Quli Qarai

alladhīna yuʾminūna bi-l-ghaybi wa-yuqīmūna ṣ-ṣalāta wa-mimmā razaqnāhum yunfiqūna

who believe in the Unseen, maintain the prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them;

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lladhīna yuʾminūna bi-mā ʾunzila ʾilayka wa-mā ʾunzila min qablika wa-bi-l-ʾākhirati hum yūqinūna

and who believe in what has been sent down to you and what was sent down before you, and are certain of the Hereafter.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾulāʾika ʿalā hudan min rabbihim wa-ʾulāʾika humu l-mufliḥūna

Those follow their Lord’s guidance and it is they who are the felicitous.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 3

ʾinna lladhīna kafarū sawāʾun ʿalayhim ʾa-ʾandhartahum ʾam lam tundhirhum lā yuʾminūna

As for the faithless, it is the same to them whether you warn them or do not warn them, they will not have faith.

— Ali Quli Qarai

khatama llāhu ʿalā qulūbihim wa-ʿalā samʿihim wa-ʿalā ʾabṣārihim ghishāwatun wa-lahum ʿadhābun ʿaẓīmun

Allah has set a seal on their hearts and their hearing, and there is a blindfold on their sight, and there is a great punishment for them.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-mina n-nāsi man yaqūlu ʾāmannā bi-llāhi wa-bi-l-yawmi l-ʾākhiri wa-mā hum bi-muʾminīna

Among the people are those who say, ‘We have faith in Allah and the Last Day,’ but they have no faith.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yukhādiʿūna llāha wa-lladhīna ʾāmanū wa-mā yakhdaʿūna ʾillā ʾanfusahum wa-mā yashʿurūna

They seek to deceive Allah and those who have faith, yet they deceive no one but themselves, but they are not aware.

— Ali Quli Qarai

fī qulūbihim maraḍun fa-zādahumu llāhu maraḍan wa-lahum ʿadhābun ʾalīmun bi-mā kānū yakdhibūna

There is a sickness in their hearts; then Allah increased their sickness, and there is a painful punishment for them because of the lies they used to tell.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidhā qīla lahum lā tufsidū fī l-ʾarḍi qālū ʾinnamā naḥnu muṣliḥūna

When they are told, ‘Do not cause corruption on the earth,’ they say, ‘We are only reformers!’

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾa-lā ʾinnahum humu l-mufsidūna wa-lākin lā yashʿurūna

Behold! They are themselves the agents of corruption, but they are not aware.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidhā qīla lahum ʾāminū ka-mā ʾāmana n-nāsu qālū ʾa-nuʾminu ka-mā ʾāmana s-sufahāʾu ʾa-lā ʾinnahum humu s-sufahāʾu wa-lākin lā yaʿlamūna

And when they are told, ‘Believe like the people who have believed,’ they say, ‘Shall we believe like the fools who have believed?’ Behold! They are themselves the fools, but they do not know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidhā laqū lladhīna ʾāmanū qālū ʾāmannā wa-ʾidhā khalaw ʾilā shayāṭīnihim qālū ʾinnā maʿakum ʾinnamā naḥnu mustahziʾūna

When they meet the faithful, they say, ‘We believe,’ but when they are alone with their devils, they say, ‘We are with you; we were only deriding [them].’

— Ali Quli Qarai

allāhu yastahziʾu bihim wa-yamudduhum fī ṭughyānihim yaʿmahūna

It is Allah who derides them, and leaves them bewildered in their rebellion.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾulāʾika lladhīna shtarawu ḍ-ḍalālata bi-l-hudā fa-mā rabiḥat tijāratuhum wa-mā kānū muhtadīna

They are the ones who bought error for guidance, so their trade did not profit them, nor were they guided.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 4

mathaluhum ka-mathali lladhī stawqada nāran fa-lammā ʾaḍāʾat mā ḥawlahū dhahaba llāhu bi-nūrihim wa-tarakahum fī ẓulumātin lā yubṣirūna

Their parable is that of one who lighted a torch, and when it had lit up all around him, Allah took away their light, and left them sightless in a manifold darkness.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ṣummun bukmun ʿumyun fa-hum lā yarjiʿūna

Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not come back.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾaw ka-ṣayyibin mina s-samāʾi fīhi ẓ-ẓulumātun wa-raʿdun wa-barqun yajʿalūna ʾaṣābiʿahum fī ʾādhānihim mina ṣ-ṣawāʿiqi ḥadhara l-mawti wa-llāhu muḥīṭun bi-l-kāfirīna

Or that of a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness, thunder and lightning: they put their fingers in their ears due to the thunderclaps, apprehensive of death; and Allah besieges the faithless.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yakādu l-barqu yakhṭafu ʾabṣārahum kullamā ʾaḍāʾa lahum mashaw fīhi wa-ʾidhā ʾaẓlama ʿalayhim qāmū wa-law shāʾa llāhu la-dhahaba bi-samʿihim wa-ʾabṣārihim ʾinna llāha ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīrun

The lightning almost snatches away their sight: whenever it shines for them, they walk in it, and when the darkness falls upon them, they stand. Had Allah willed, He would have taken away their hearing and sight. Indeed Allah has power over all things.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yā-ʾayyuhā n-nāsu ʿbudū rabbakumu lladhī khalaqakum wa-lladhīna min qablikum laʿallakum tattaqūna

O mankind! Worship your Lord, who created you and those who were before you, so that you may be Godwary

— Ali Quli Qarai

alladhī jaʿala lakumu l-ʾarḍa firāshan wa-s-samāʾa bināʾan wa-ʾanzala mina s-samāʾi māʾan fa-ʾakhraja bihī mina th-thamarāti rizqan lakum fa-lā tajʿalū li-llāhi ʾandādan wa-ʾantum taʿlamūna

—He who made the earth a place of repose for you, and the sky a canopy, and He sends down water from the sky and with it brings forth crops for your sustenance. So do not set up equals to Allah, while you know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾin kuntum fī raybin mimmā nazzalnā ʿalā ʿabdinā fa-ʾtū bi-sūratin min mithlihī wa-dʿū shuhadāʾakum min dūni llāhi ʾin kuntum ṣādiqīna

And if you are in doubt concerning what We have sent down to Our servant, then bring a surah like it, and invoke your helpers besides Allah, if you are truthful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-ʾin lam tafʿalū wa-lan tafʿalū fa-ttaqū n-nāra llatī waqūduhā n-nāsu wa-l-ḥijāratu ʾuʿiddat li-l-kāfirīna

But if you do not—and you will not—then beware the Fire whose fuel will be humans and stones, prepared for the faithless.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 5

wa-bashshiri lladhīna ʾāmanū wa-ʿamilū ṣ-ṣāliḥāti ʾanna lahum jannātin tajrī min taḥtihā l-ʾanhāru kullamā ruziqū minhā min thamaratin rizqan qālū hādhā lladhī ruziqnā min qablu wa-ʾutū bihī mutashābihan wa-lahum fīhā ʾazwājun muṭahharatun wa-hum fīhā khālidūna

And give good news to those who have faith and do righteous deeds, that for them shall be gardens with streams running in them: whenever they are provided with their fruit for nourishment, they will say, ‘This is what we were provided before,’ and they were given something resembling it. There will be chaste mates for them, and they will remain therein [forever].

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinna llāha lā yastaḥyī ʾan yaḍriba mathalan mā baʿūḍatan fa-mā fawqahā fa-ʾammā lladhīna ʾāmanū fa-yaʿlamūna ʾannahu l-ḥaqqu min rabbihim wa-ʾammā lladhīna kafarū fa-yaqūlūna mādhā ʾarāda llāhu bi-hādhā mathalan yuḍillu bihī kathīran wa-yahdī bihī kathīran wa-mā yuḍillu bihī ʾillā l-fāsiqīna

Indeed Allah is not ashamed to draw a parable whether it is that of a gnat or something above it. As for those who have faith, they know it is the truth from their Lord; and as for the faithless, they say, ‘What did Allah mean by this parable?’ Thereby He leads many astray, and thereby He guides many; and He leads no one astray thereby except the transgressors

— Ali Quli Qarai

alladhīna yanquḍūna ʿahda llāhi min baʿdi mīthāqihī wa-yaqṭaʿūna mā ʾamara llāhu bihī ʾan yūṣala wa-yufsidūna fī l-ʾarḍi ʾulāʾika humu l-khāsirūna

—those who break the covenant made with Allah after having pledged it solemnly, and sever what Allah has commanded to be joined, and cause corruption on the earth—it is they who are the losers.

— Ali Quli Qarai

kayfa takfurūna bi-llāhi wa-kuntum ʾamwātan fa-ʾaḥyākum thumma yumītukum thumma yuḥyīkum thumma ʾilayhi turjaʿūna

How can you be unfaithful to Allah, [seeing that] you were lifeless and He gave you life, then He will make you die and then bring you to life, and then you will be brought back to Him?

— Ali Quli Qarai

huwa lladhī khalaqa lakum mā fī l-ʾarḍi jamīʿan thumma stawā ʾilā s-samāʾi fa-sawwāhunna sabʿa samāwātin wa-huwa bi-kulli shayʾin ʿalīmun

It is He who created for you all that is in the earth, then He turned to the heaven and fashioned it into seven heavens, and He has knowledge of all things.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 6

wa-ʾidh qāla rabbuka li-l-malāʾikati ʾinnī jāʿilun fī l-ʾarḍi khalīfatan qālū ʾa-tajʿalu fīhā man yufsidu fīhā wa-yasfiku d-dimāʾa wa-naḥnu nusabbiḥu bi-ḥamdika wa-nuqaddisu laka qāla ʾinnī ʾaʿlamu mā lā taʿlamūna

When your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed I am going to set a viceroy on the earth,’ they said, ‘Will You set in it someone who will cause corruption in it and shed blood, while we celebrate Your praise and proclaim Your sanctity?’ He said, ‘Indeed I know what you do not know.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʿallama ʾādama l-ʾasmāʾa kullahā thumma ʿaraḍahum ʿalā l-malāʾikati fa-qāla ʾanbiʾūnī bi-ʾasmāʾi hāʾulāʾi ʾin kuntum ṣādiqīna

And He taught Adam the Names, all of them; then presented them to the angels and said, ‘Tell me the names of these, if you are truthful.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

qālū subḥānaka lā ʿilma lanā ʾillā mā ʿallamtanā ʾinnaka ʾanta l-ʿalīmu l-ḥakīmu

They said, ‘Immaculate are You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed You are the All-knowing, the All-wise.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

qāla yā-ʾādamu ʾanbiʾhum bi-ʾasmāʾihim fa-lammā ʾanbaʾahum bi-ʾasmāʾihim qāla ʾa-lam ʾaqul lakum ʾinnī ʾaʿlamu ghayba s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-ʾaʿlamu mā tubdūna wa-mā kuntum taktumūna

He said, ‘O Adam, inform them of their names,’ and when he had informed them of their names, He said, ‘Did I not tell you that I know the Unseen of the heavens and the earth, and that I know whatever you disclose and whatever you conceal?’

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidh qulnā li-l-malāʾikati sjudū li-ʾādama fa-sajadū ʾillā ʾiblīsa ʾabā wa-stakbara wa-kāna mina l-kāfirīna

And when We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate before Adam,’ they prostrated, but not Iblis: he refused and acted arrogantly, and he was one of the faithless.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-qulnā yā-ʾādamu skun ʾanta wa-zawjuka l-jannata wa-kulā minhā raghadan ḥaythu shiʾtumā wa-lā taqrabā hādhihi sh-shajarata fa-takūnā mina ẓ-ẓālimīna

We said, ‘O Adam, dwell with your mate in paradise and eat thereof freely whencesoever you wish, but do not approach this tree, lest you should be among the wrongdoers.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-ʾazallahumā sh-shayṭānu ʿanhā fa-ʾakhrajahumā mimmā kānā fīhi wa-qulnā hbiṭū baʿḍukum li-baʿḍin ʿaduwwun wa-lakum fī l-ʾarḍi mustaqarrun wa-matāʿun ʾilā ḥīnin

Then Satan caused them to stumble from it, and he dislodged them from what [state] they were in; and We said, ‘Get down, being enemies of one another! On the earth shall be your abode and sustenance for a time.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-talaqqā ʾādamu min rabbihī kalimātin fa-tāba ʿalayhi ʾinnahū huwa t-tawwābu r-raḥīmu

Then Adam received certain words from his Lord, and He turned to him clemently. Indeed He is the All-clement, the All-merciful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 7

qulnā hbiṭū minhā jamīʿan fa-ʾimmā yaʾtiyannakum minnī hudan fa-man tabiʿa hudāya fa-lā khawfun ʿalayhim wa-lā hum yaḥzanūna

We said, ‘Get down from it, all together! Yet, should any guidance come to you from Me, those who follow My guidance shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lladhīna kafarū wa-kadhdhabū bi-ʾāyātinā ʾulāʾika ʾaṣḥābu n-nāri hum fīhā khālidūna

But those who are faithless and deny Our signs, they shall be the inmates of the Fire and they shall remain in it [forever].

— Ali Quli Qarai

yā-banī ʾisrāʾīla dhkurū niʿmatiya llatī ʾanʿamtu ʿalaykum wa-ʾawfū bi-ʿahdī ʾūfi bi-ʿahdikum wa-ʾiyyāya fa-rhabūni

O Children of Israel, remember My blessing which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill My covenant that I may fulfill your covenant, and be in awe of Me [alone].

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾāminū bi-mā ʾanzaltu muṣaddiqan li-mā maʿakum wa-lā takūnū ʾawwala kāfirin bihī wa-lā tashtarū bi-ʾāyātī thamanan qalīlan wa-ʾiyyāya fa-ttaqūni

And believe in that which I have sent down confirming that which is with you, and do not be the first ones to deny it, and do not sell My signs for a paltry gain, and be wary of Me [alone].

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lā talbisū l-ḥaqqa bi-l-bāṭili wa-taktumū l-ḥaqqa wa-ʾantum taʿlamūna

Do not mix the truth with falsehood, nor conceal the truth while you know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾaqīmū ṣ-ṣalāta wa-ʾātū z-zakāta wa-rkaʿū maʿa r-rākiʿīna

And maintain the prayer, and give the zakat, and bow along with those who bow [in prayer].

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾa-taʾmurūna n-nāsa bi-l-birri wa-tansawna ʾanfusakum wa-ʾantum tatlūna l-kitāba ʾa-fa-lā taʿqilūna

Will you bid others to piety and forget yourselves, while you recite the Book? Do you not exercise your reason?

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-staʿīnū bi-ṣ-ṣabri wa-ṣ-ṣalāti wa-ʾinnahā la-kabīratun ʾillā ʿalā l-khāshiʿīna

And take recourse in patience and prayer, and it is indeed hard except for the humble

— Ali Quli Qarai

alladhīna yaẓunnūna ʾannahum mulāqū rabbihim wa-ʾannahum ʾilayhi rājiʿūna

—those who are certain that they will encounter their Lord and that they will return to Him.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yā-banī ʾisrāʾīla dhkurū niʿmatiya llatī ʾanʿamtu ʿalaykum wa-ʾannī faḍḍaltukum ʿalā l-ʿālamīna

O Children of Israel, remember My blessing which I bestowed upon you, and that I gave you an advantage over all the nations.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ttaqū yawman lā tajzī nafsun ʿan nafsin shayʾan wa-lā yuqbalu minhā shafāʿatun wa-lā yuʾkhadhu minhā ʿadlun wa-lā hum yunṣarūna

Beware of the day when no soul will compensate for another, neither any intercession shall be accepted from it, nor any ransom shall be received from it, nor will they be helped.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 8

wa-ʾidh najjaynākum min ʾāli firʿawna yasūmūnakum sūʾa l-ʿadhābi yudhabbiḥūna ʾabnāʾakum wa-yastaḥyūna nisāʾakum wa-fī dhālikum balāʾun min rabbikum ʿaẓīmun

[Remember] when We delivered you from Pharaoh’s clan who inflicted a terrible torment on you, and slaughtered your sons and spared your women, and in that there was a great test from your Lord.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidh faraqnā bikumu l-baḥra fa-ʾanjaynākum wa-ʾaghraqnā ʾāla firʿawna wa-ʾantum tanẓurūna

And when We parted the sea with you, and We delivered you and drowned Pharaoh’s clan as you looked on.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidh wāʿadnā mūsā ʾarbaʿīna laylatan thumma ttakhadhtumu l-ʿijla min baʿdihī wa-ʾantum ẓālimūna

And when We made an appointment with Moses for forty nights, you took up the Calf [for worship] in his absence, and you were wrongdoers.

— Ali Quli Qarai

thumma ʿafawnā ʿankum min baʿdi dhālika laʿallakum tashkurūna

Then We excused you after that so that you might give thanks.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidh ʾātaynā mūsā l-kitāba wa-l-furqāna laʿallakum tahtadūna

And when We gave Moses the Book and the Criterion so that you might be guided.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidh qāla mūsā li-qawmihī yā-qawmi ʾinnakum ẓalamtum ʾanfusakum bi-ttikhādhikumu l-ʿijla fa-tūbū ʾilā bāriʾikum fa-qtulū ʾanfusakum dhālikum khayrun lakum ʿinda bāriʾikum fa-tāba ʿalaykum ʾinnahū huwa t-tawwābu r-raḥīmu

And [recall] when Moses said to his people, ‘O my people! You have indeed wronged yourselves by taking up the Calf [for worship]. Now turn penitently to your Maker, and slay [the guilty among] your folks. That will be better for you with your Maker.’ Then He turned to you clemently. Indeed, He is the All-clement, the All-merciful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidh qultum yā-mūsā lan nuʾmina laka ḥattā narā llāha jahratan fa-ʾakhadhatkumu ṣ-ṣāʿiqatu wa-ʾantum tanẓurūna

And when you said, ‘O Moses, we will not believe you until we see Allah visibly.’ Thereupon a thunderbolt seized you as you looked on.

— Ali Quli Qarai

thumma baʿathnākum min baʿdi mawtikum laʿallakum tashkurūna

Then We raised you up after your death so that you might give thanks.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ẓallalnā ʿalaykumu l-ghamāma wa-ʾanzalnā ʿalaykumu l-manna wa-s-salwā kulū min ṭayyibāti mā razaqnākum wa-mā ẓalamūnā wa-lākin kānū ʾanfusahum yaẓlimūna

We shaded you with clouds, and sent down to you manna and quails [saying]: ‘Eat of the good things We have provided for you.’ And they did not wrong Us, but they used to wrong [only] themselves.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 9

wa-ʾidh qulnā dkhulū hādhihi l-qaryata fa-kulū minhā ḥaythu shiʾtum raghadan wa-dkhulū l-bāba sujjadan wa-qūlū ḥiṭṭatun naghfir lakum khaṭāyākum wa-sa-nazīdu l-muḥsinīna

And when We said, ‘Enter this town, and eat thereof freely whencesoever you wish, and enter while prostrating at the gate, and say, ‘‘Relieve [us of the burden of our sins],’’ so that We may forgive your iniquities and We will soon enhance the virtuous.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-baddala lladhīna ẓalamū qawlan ghayra lladhī qīla lahum fa-ʾanzalnā ʿalā lladhīna ẓalamū rijzan mina s-samāʾi bi-mā kānū yafsuqūna

But the wrongdoers changed the saying with other than what they were told. So We sent down on those who were wrongdoers a plague from the sky because of the transgressions they used to commit.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidhi stasqā mūsā li-qawmihī fa-qulnā ḍrib bi-ʿaṣāka l-ḥajara fa-nfajarat minhu thnatā ʿashrata ʿaynan qad ʿalima kullu ʾunāsin mashrabahum kulū wa-shrabū min rizqi llāhi wa-lā taʿthaw fī l-ʾarḍi mufsidīna

And when Moses prayed for water for his people, We said, ‘Strike the rock with your staff.’ Thereat twelve fountains gushed forth from it; every tribe came to know its drinking-place. ‘Eat and drink of Allah’s provision, and do not act wickedly on the earth, causing corruption.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidh qultum yā-mūsā lan naṣbira ʿalā ṭaʿāmin wāḥidin fa-dʿu lanā rabbaka yukhrij lanā mimmā tunbitu l-ʾarḍu min baqlihā wa-qiththāʾihā wa-fūmihā wa-ʿadasihā wa-baṣalihā qāla ʾa-tastabdilūna lladhī huwa ʾadnā bi-lladhī huwa khayrun-i hbiṭū miṣran fa-ʾinna lakum mā saʾaltum wa-ḍuribat ʿalayhimu dh-dhillatu wa-l-maskanatu wa-bāʾū bi-ghaḍabin mina llāhi dhālika bi-ʾannahum kānū yakfurūna bi-ʾāyāti llāhi wa-yaqtulūna n-nabiyyīna bi-ghayri l-ḥaqqi dhālika bi-mā ʿaṣaw wa-kānū yaʿtadūna

And when you said, ‘O Moses, ‘We will not put up with one kind of food. So invoke your Lord for us, so that He may bring forth for us of that which the earth grows—its greens and cucumbers, its garlic, lentils, and onions.’ He said, ‘Do you seek to replace what is superior with that which is inferior? Go down to any town and you will indeed get what you ask for!’ So they were struck with abasement and poverty, and they earned Allah’s wrath. That, because they would deny the signs of Allah and kill the prophets unjustly. That, because they would disobey and commit transgressions.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 10

ʾinna lladhīna ʾāmanū wa-lladhīna hādū wa-n-naṣārā wa-ṣ-ṣābiʾīna man ʾāmana bi-llāhi wa-l-yawmi l-ʾākhiri wa-ʿamila ṣāliḥan fa-lahum ʾajruhum ʿinda rabbihim wa-lā khawfun ʿalayhim wa-lā hum yaḥzanūna

Indeed the faithful, the Jews, the Christians and the Sabaeans—those of them who have faith in Allah and the Last Day and act righteously—they shall have their reward from their Lord, and they will have no fear, nor will they grieve.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidh ʾakhadhnā mīthāqakum wa-rafaʿnā fawqakumu ṭ-ṭūra khudhū mā ʾātaynākum bi-quwwatin wa-dhkurū mā fīhi laʿallakum tattaqūna

And when We took a pledge from you, and raised the Mount above you, [declaring], ‘Hold on with power to what We have given you and remember that which is in it so that you may be Godwary.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

thumma tawallaytum min baʿdi dhālika fa-law-lā faḍlu llāhi ʿalaykum wa-raḥmatuhū la-kuntum mina l-khāsirīna

Again you turned away after that; and were it not for Allah’s grace on you and His mercy, you would have surely been among the losers.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-la-qad ʿalimtumu lladhīna ʿtadaw minkum fī s-sabti fa-qulnā lahum kūnū qiradatan khāsiʾīna

And certainly you know those of you who violated the Sabbath, whereupon We said to them, ‘Be you spurned apes.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-jaʿalnāhā nakālan li-mā bayna yadayhā wa-mā khalfahā wa-mawʿiẓatan li-l-muttaqīna

So We made it an exemplary punishment for the present and the succeeding [generations], and an advice to the Godwary.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidh qāla mūsā li-qawmihī ʾinna llāha yaʾmurukum ʾan tadhbaḥū baqaratan qālū ʾa-tattakhidhunā huzuwan qāla ʾaʿūdhu bi-llāhi ʾan ʾakūna mina l-jāhilīna

And when Moses said to his people, ‘Allah commands you to slaughter a cow,’ they said, ‘Are you mocking us?’ He said, ‘I seek Allah’s protection lest I should be one of the ignorant!’

— Ali Quli Qarai

qālū dʿu lanā rabbaka yubayyin lanā mā hiya qāla ʾinnahū yaqūlu ʾinnahā baqaratun lā fāriḍun wa-lā bikrun ʿawānun bayna dhālika fa-fʿalū mā tuʾmarūna

They said, ‘Invoke your Lord for us that He may clarify for us what she may be.’ He said, ‘He says, she is a cow, neither old nor young, of a middle age. Now do what you are commanded.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

qālū dʿu lanā rabbaka yubayyin lanā mā lawnuhā qāla ʾinnahū yaqūlu ʾinnahā baqaratun ṣafrāʾu fāqiʿun lawnuhā tasurru n-nāẓirīna

They said, ‘Invoke your Lord for us that He may clarify for us what her colour may be.’ He said, ‘He says, she is a cow that is yellow, of a bright hue, pleasing to the onlookers.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 11

qālū dʿu lanā rabbaka yubayyin lanā mā hiya ʾinna l-baqara tashābaha ʿalaynā wa-ʾinnā ʾin shāʾa llāhu la-muhtadūna

They said, ‘Invoke your Lord for us that He may clarify for us what she may be. Indeed all cows are much alike to us, and if Allah wishes we will surely be guided.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

qāla ʾinnahū yaqūlu ʾinnahā baqaratun lā dhalūlun tuthīru l-ʾarḍa wa-lā tasqī l-ḥartha musallamatun lā shiyata fīhā qālū l-ʾāna jiʾta bi-l-ḥaqqi fa-dhabaḥūhā wa-mā kādū yafʿalūna

He said, ‘He says, She is a cow not broken to till the earth or water the tillage, sound and without blemish.’ They said, ‘Now have you come up with the truth!’ And they slaughtered it, though they were about not to do it.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidh qataltum nafsan fa-ddāraʾtum fīhā wa-llāhu mukhrijun mā kuntum taktumūna

And when you killed a soul, and accused one another about it—and Allah was to expose what you were concealing—

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-qulnā ḍribūhu bi-baʿḍihā ka-dhālika yuḥyi llāhu l-mawtā wa-yurīkum ʾāyātihī laʿallakum taʿqilūna

We said, ‘Strike him with a piece of it:’ thus does Allah revive the dead, and He shows you His signs so that you may exercise your reason.

— Ali Quli Qarai

thumma qasat qulūbukum min baʿdi dhālika fa-hiya ka-l-ḥijārati ʾaw ʾashaddu qaswatan wa-ʾinna mina l-ḥijārati la-mā yatafajjaru minhu l-ʾanhāru wa-ʾinna minhā la-mā yashshaqqaqu fa-yakhruju minhu l-māʾu wa-ʾinna minhā la-mā yahbiṭu min khashyati llāhi wa-mā llāhu bi-ghāfilin ʿammā taʿmalūna

Then your hearts hardened after that; so they are like stones, or even harder. For there are some stones from which streams gush forth, and there are some of them that split, and water issues from them, and there are some that fall for the fear of Allah. And Allah is not oblivious of what you do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾa-fa-taṭmaʿūna ʾan yuʾminū lakum wa-qad kāna farīqun minhum yasmaʿūna kalāma llāhi thumma yuḥarrifūnahū min baʿdi mā ʿaqalūhu wa-hum yaʿlamūna

Are you then eager that they should believe you, though a part of them would hear the word of Allah and then they would distort it after they had understood it, and they knew [what they were doing]?

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidhā laqū lladhīna ʾāmanū qālū ʾāmannā wa-ʾidhā khalā baʿḍuhum ʾilā baʿḍin qālū ʾa-tuḥaddithūnahum bi-mā fataḥa llāhu ʿalaykum li-yuḥājjūkum bihī ʿinda rabbikum ʾa-fa-lā taʿqilūna

When they meet the faithful, they say, ‘We believe,’ and when they are alone with one another, they say, ‘Do you recount to them what Allah has revealed to you, so that they may argue with you therewith before your Lord? Do you not exercise your reason?’

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 12

ʾa-wa-lā yaʿlamūna ʾanna llāha yaʿlamu mā yusirrūna wa-mā yuʿlinūna

Do they not know that Allah knows whatever they hide and whatever they disclose?

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-minhum ʾummiyyūna lā yaʿlamūna l-kitāba ʾillā ʾamāniyya wa-ʾin hum ʾillā yaẓunnūna

And among them are the illiterate who know nothing of the Book except hearsay, and they only make conjectures.

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-waylun li-lladhīna yaktubūna l-kitāba bi-ʾaydīhim thumma yaqūlūna hādhā min ʿindi llāhi li-yashtarū bihī thamanan qalīlan fa-waylun lahum mimmā katabat ʾaydīhim wa-waylun lahum mimmā yaksibūna

So woe to them who write the Book with their hands and then say, ‘This is from Allah,’ that they may sell it for a paltry gain. So woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn!

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-qālū lan tamassanā n-nāru ʾillā ʾayyāman maʿdūdatan qul ʾa-ttakhadhtum ʿinda llāhi ʿahdan fa-lan yukhlifa llāhu ʿahdahū ʾam taqūlūna ʿalā llāhi mā lā taʿlamūna

And they say, ‘The Fire shall not touch us except for a number of days.’ Say, ‘Have you taken a promise from Allah? If so, Allah will never break His promise. Do you ascribe to Allah what you do not know?’

— Ali Quli Qarai

balā man kasaba sayyiʾatan wa-ʾaḥāṭat bihī khaṭīʾatuhū fa-ʾulāʾika ʾaṣḥābu n-nāri hum fīhā khālidūna

Certainly whoever commits misdeeds and is besieged by his iniquity—such shall be the inmates of the Fire, and they will remain in it [forever].

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lladhīna ʾāmanū wa-ʿamilū ṣ-ṣāliḥāti ʾulāʾika ʾaṣḥābu l-jannati hum fīhā khālidūna

And those who have faith and do righteous deeds—they shall be the inhabitants of paradise; they will remain in it [forever].

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidh ʾakhadhnā mīthāqa banī ʾisrāʾīla lā taʿbudūna ʾillā llāha wa-bi-l-wālidayni ʾiḥsānan wa-dhī l-qurbā wa-l-yatāmā wa-l-masākīni wa-qūlū li-n-nāsi ḥusnan wa-ʾaqīmū ṣ-ṣalāta wa-ʾātū z-zakāta thumma tawallaytum ʾillā qalīlan minkum wa-ʾantum muʿriḍūna

When We took a pledge from the Children of Israel, [saying]: ‘Worship no one but Allah, do good to your parents, relatives, orphans, and the needy, speak kindly to people, maintain the prayer, and give the zakat,’ you turned away, except a few of you, and you were disregardful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 13

wa-ʾidh ʾakhadhnā mīthāqakum lā tasfikūna dimāʾakum wa-lā tukhrijūna ʾanfusakum min diyārikum thumma ʾaqrartum wa-ʾantum tashhadūna

And when We took a pledge from you, [saying]: ‘You shall not shed your [own people’s] blood, and you shall not expel your folks from your homes,’ you pledged, and you testify [to this pledge of your ancestors].

— Ali Quli Qarai

thumma ʾantum hāʾulāʾi taqtulūna ʾanfusakum wa-tukhrijūna farīqan minkum min diyārihim taẓāharūna ʿalayhim bi-l-ʾithmi wa-l-ʿudwāni wa-ʾin yaʾtūkum ʾusārā tufādūhum wa-huwa muḥarramun ʿalaykum ʾikhrājuhum ʾa-fa-tuʾminūna bi-baʿḍi l-kitābi wa-takfurūna bi-baʿḍin fa-mā jazāʾu man yafʿalu dhālika minkum ʾillā khizyun fī l-ḥayāti d-dunyā wa-yawma l-qiyāmati yuraddūna ʾilā ʾashaddi l-ʿadhābi wa-mā llāhu bi-ghāfilin ʿammā taʿmalūna

Then there you were, killing your folks and expelling a part of your folks from their homes, backing one another against them in sin and aggression! And if they came to you as captives, you would ransom them, though their expulsion itself was forbidden you. What! Do you believe in part of the Book and deny another part? So what is the requital of those of you who do that except disgrace in the life of this world? And on the Day of Resurrection, they shall be consigned to the severest punishment. And Allah is not oblivious of what you do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾulāʾika lladhīna shtarawu l-ḥayāta d-dunyā bi-l-ʾākhirati fa-lā yukhaffafu ʿanhumu l-ʿadhābu wa-lā hum yunṣarūna

They are the ones who bought the life of this world for the Hereafter; so their punishment shall not be lightened, nor will they be helped.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-la-qad ʾātaynā mūsā l-kitāba wa-qaffaynā min baʿdihī bi-r-rusuli wa-ʾātaynā ʿīsā bna maryama l-bayyināti wa-ʾayyadnāhu bi-rūḥi l-qudusi ʾa-fa-kullamā jāʾakum rasūlun bi-mā lā tahwā ʾanfusukumu stakbartum fa-farīqan kadhdhabtum wa-farīqan taqtulūna

Certainly, We gave Moses the Book and followed him with the apostles, and We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, manifest proofs and confirmed him with the Holy Spirit. Is it not that whenever an apostle brought you that which was not to your liking, you would act arrogantly; so you would impugn a group [of them], and slay a[nother] group?

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-qālū qulūbunā ghulfun bal laʿanahumu llāhu bi-kufrihim fa-qalīlan mā yuʾminūna

And they say, ‘Our hearts are uncircumcised.’ Rather, Allah has cursed them for their unfaith, so few of them have faith.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 14

wa-lammā jāʾahum kitābun min ʿindi llāhi muṣaddiqun li-mā maʿahum wa-kānū min qablu yastaftiḥūna ʿalā lladhīna kafarū fa-lammā jāʾahum mā ʿarafū kafarū bihī fa-laʿnatu llāhi ʿalā l-kāfirīna

And when there came to them a Book from Allah, confirming that which is with them—and earlier they would pray for victory over the pagans—so when there came to them what they recognized, they denied it. So may the curse of Allah be on the faithless!

— Ali Quli Qarai

biʾsamā shtaraw bihī ʾanfusahum ʾan yakfurū bi-mā ʾanzala llāhu baghyan ʾan yunazzila llāhu min faḍlihī ʿalā man yashāʾu min ʿibādihī fa-bāʾū bi-ghaḍabin ʿalā ghaḍabin wa-li-l-kāfirīna ʿadhābun muhīnun

Evil is that for which they have sold their souls, by defying what Allah has sent down, out of envy that Allah should bestow His grace on any of His servants that He wishes. Thus, they earned wrath upon wrath, and there is a humiliating punishment for the faithless.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidhā qīla lahum ʾāminū bi-mā ʾanzala llāhu qālū nuʾminu bi-mā ʾunzila ʿalaynā wa-yakfurūna bi-mā warāʾahū wa-huwa l-ḥaqqu muṣaddiqan li-mā maʿahum qul fa-li-ma taqtulūna ʾanbiyāʾa llāhi min qablu ʾin kuntum muʾminīna

And when they are told, ‘Believe in what Allah has sent down,’ they say, ‘We believe in what was sent down to us,’ and they disbelieve what is besides it, though it is the truth confirming what is with them. Say, ‘Then why would you kill the prophets of Allah formerly, should you be faithful?’

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-la-qad jāʾakum mūsā bi-l-bayyināti thumma ttakhadhtumu l-ʿijla min baʿdihī wa-ʾantum ẓālimūna

Certainly Moses brought you manifest proofs, but then you took up the Calf in his absence and you were wrongdoers.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidh ʾakhadhnā mīthāqakum wa-rafaʿnā fawqakumu ṭ-ṭūra khudhū mā ʾātaynākum bi-quwwatin wa-smaʿū qālū samiʿnā wa-ʿaṣaynā wa-ʾushribū fī qulūbihimu l-ʿijla bi-kufrihim qul biʾsa-mā yaʾmurukum bihī ʾīmānukum ʾin kuntum muʾminīna

And when We took covenant with you and raised the Mount above you, [declaring], ‘Hold on with power to what We have given you, and do listen!’ They said, ‘We hear, and disobey,’ and their hearts had been imbued with [the love of] the Calf, due to their unfaith. Say, ‘Evil is that to which your faith prompts you, should you be faithful!’

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 15

qul ʾin kānat lakumu d-dāru l-ʾākhiratu ʿinda llāhi khāliṣatan min dūni n-nāsi fa-tamannawu l-mawta ʾin kuntum ṣādiqīna

Say, ‘If the abode of the Hereafter were exclusively for you with Allah, and not for other people, then long for death, should you be truthful.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lan yatamannawhu ʾabadan bi-mā qaddamat ʾaydīhim wa-llāhu ʿalīmun bi-ẓ-ẓālimīna

But they will not long for it ever because of what their hands have sent ahead, and Allah knows best the wrongdoers.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-la-tajidannahum ʾaḥraṣa n-nāsi ʿalā ḥayātin wa-mina lladhīna ʾashrakū yawaddu ʾaḥaduhum law yuʿammaru ʾalfa sanatin wa-mā huwa bi-muzaḥziḥihī mina l-ʿadhābi ʾan yuʿammara wa-llāhu baṣīrun bi-mā yaʿmalūna

Surely, you will find them the greediest for life, of all people even the idolaters. Each of them is eager to live a thousand years, though it would not deliver him from the punishment, were he to live [that long]. And Allah watches what they do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

qul man kāna ʿaduwwan li-jibrīla fa-ʾinnahū nazzalahū ʿalā qalbika bi-ʾidhni llāhi muṣaddiqan li-mā bayna yadayhi wa-hudan wa-bushrā li-l-muʾminīna

Say, ‘Whoever is an enemy of Gabriel [should know that] it is he who has brought it down on your heart with the will of Allah, confirming what has been [revealed] before it and as a guidance and good news for the faithful.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

man kāna ʿaduwwan li-llāhi wa-malāʾikatihī wa-rusulihī wa-jibrīla wa-mīkāla fa-ʾinna llāha ʿaduwwun li-l-kāfirīna

[Say,] ‘Whoever is an enemy of Allah, His angels and His apostles and Gabriel and Michael, [let him know that] Allah is the enemy of the faithless.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-la-qad ʾanzalnā ʾilayka ʾāyātin bayyinātin wa-mā yakfuru bihā ʾillā l-fāsiqūna

We have certainly sent down manifest signs to you, and no one denies them except transgressors.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾa-wa-kullamā ʿāhadū ʿahdan nabadhahū farīqun minhum bal ʾaktharuhum lā yuʾminūna

Is it not that whenever they made a covenant, a part of them would cast it away? Rather, the majority of them do not have faith.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lammā jāʾahum rasūlun min ʿindi llāhi muṣaddiqun li-mā maʿahum nabadha farīqun mina lladhīna ʾūtū l-kitāba kitāba llāhi warāʾa ẓuhūrihim ka-ʾannahum lā yaʿlamūna

And when there came to them an apostle from Allah, confirming that which is with them, a part of those who were given the Book cast the Book of Allah behind their back, as if they did not know [that it is Allah’s Book].

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 16

wa-ttabaʿū mā tatlū sh-shayāṭīnu ʿalā mulki sulaymāna wa-mā kafara sulaymānu wa-lākinna sh-shayāṭīna kafarū yuʿallimūna n-nāsa s-siḥra wa-mā ʾunzila ʿalā l-malakayni bi-bābila hārūta wa-mārūta wa-mā yuʿallimāni min ʾaḥadin ḥattā yaqūlā ʾinnamā naḥnu fitnatun fa-lā takfur fa-yataʿallamūna minhumā mā yufarriqūna bihī bayna l-marʾi wa-zawjihī wa-mā hum bi-ḍārrīna bihī min ʾaḥadin ʾillā bi-ʾidhni llāhi wa-yataʿallamūna mā yaḍurruhum wa-lā yanfaʿuhum wa-la-qad ʿalimū la-mani shtarāhu mā lahū fī l-ʾākhirati min khalāqin wa-la-biʾsa mā sharaw bihī ʾanfusahum law kānū yaʿlamūna

And they followed what the devils pursued during Solomon’s reign —and Solomon was not faithless but it was the devils who were faithless—teaching the people magic and what was sent down to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut, who would not teach anyone without telling [him], ‘We are only a test, so do not be faithless.’ But they would learn from those two that with which they would cause a split between man and his wife—though they could not harm anyone with it except with Allah’s leave. They would learn that which would harm them and bring them no benefit; though they certainly knew that anyone who buys it has no share in the Hereafter. Surely, evil is that for which they sold their souls, had they known!

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-law ʾannahum ʾāmanū wa-ttaqaw la-mathūbatun min ʿindi llāhi khayrun law kānū yaʿlamūna

Had they been faithful and Godwary, the reward from Allah would have been better, had they known!

— Ali Quli Qarai

yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū lā taqūlū rāʿinā wa-qūlū nẓurnā wa-smaʿū wa-li-l-kāfirīna ʿadhābun ʾalīmun

O you who have faith! Do not say Ra‘ina, but say Unzurna, and listen! And there is a painful punishment for the faithless.

— Ali Quli Qarai

mā yawaddu lladhīna kafarū min ʾahli l-kitābi wa-lā l-mushrikīna ʾan yunazzala ʿalaykum min khayrin min rabbikum wa-llāhu yakhtaṣṣu bi-raḥmatihī man yashāʾu wa-llāhu dhū l-faḍli l-ʿaẓīmi

Neither the faithless from among the People of the Book nor the idolaters like that any good be showered on you from your Lord; but Allah singles out for His mercy whomever He wishes, and Allah is dispenser of a mighty grace.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 17

mā nansakh min ʾāyatin ʾaw nunsihā naʾti bi-khayrin minhā ʾaw mithlihā ʾa-lam taʿlam ʾanna llāha ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīrun

For any verse that We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring another which is better than it, or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah has power over all things?

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾa-lam taʿlam ʾanna llāha lahū mulku s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-mā lakum min dūni llāhi min waliyyin wa-lā naṣīrin

Do you not know that to Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth? And besides Allah, you do not have any guardian or helper.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾam turīdūna ʾan tasʾalū rasūlakum ka-mā suʾila mūsā min qablu wa-man yatabaddali l-kufra bi-l-ʾīmāni fa-qad ḍalla sawāʾa s-sabīli

Would you question your Apostle as Moses was questioned formerly? Whoever changes faith for unfaith certainly strays from the right way.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wadda kathīrun min ʾahli l-kitābi law yaruddūnakum min baʿdi ʾīmānikum kuffāran ḥasadan min ʿindi ʾanfusihim min baʿdi mā tabayyana lahumu l-ḥaqqu fa-ʿfū wa-ṣfaḥū ḥattā yaʾtiya llāhu bi-ʾamrihī ʾinna llāha ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīrun

Many of the People of the Book are eager to turn you into unbelievers after your faith, out of their inner envy, [and] after the truth had become manifest to them. Yet excuse [them] and forbear until Allah issues His edict. Indeed Allah has power over all things.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾaqīmū ṣ-ṣalāta wa-ʾātū z-zakāta wa-mā tuqaddimū li-ʾanfusikum min khayrin tajidūhu ʿinda llāhi ʾinna llāha bi-mā taʿmalūna baṣīrun

And maintain the prayer and give the zakat. Any good that you send ahead for your own souls, you shall find it with Allah. Indeed Allah watches what you do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-qālū lan yadkhula l-jannata ʾillā man kāna hūdan ʾaw naṣārā tilka ʾamāniyyuhum qul hātū burhānakum ʾin kuntum ṣādiqīna

And they say, ‘No one will enter paradise except one who is a Jew or Christian.’ Those are their [false] hopes! Say, ‘Produce your evidence, should you be truthful.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

balā man ʾaslama wajhahū li-llāhi wa-huwa muḥsinun fa-lahū ʾajruhū ʿinda rabbihī wa-lā khawfun ʿalayhim wa-lā hum yaḥzanūna

Certainly, whoever submits his will to Allah and is virtuous, he shall have his reward from his Lord, and they will have no fear, nor shall they grieve.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 18

wa-qālati l-yahūdu laysati n-naṣārā ʿalā shayʾin wa-qālati n-naṣārā laysati l-yahūdu ʿalā shayʾin wa-hum yatlūna l-kitāba ka-dhālika qāla lladhīna lā yaʿlamūna mithla qawlihim fa-llāhu yaḥkumu baynahum yawma l-qiyāmati fī-mā kānū fīhi yakhtalifūna

The Jews say, ‘The Christians stand on nothing,’ and the Christians say, ‘The Jews stand on nothing,’ though they follow the [same] Book. So said those who had no knowledge, [words] similar to what they say. Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that about which they used to differ.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-man ʾaẓlamu mimman manaʿa masājida llāhi ʾan yudhkara fīhā smuhū wa-saʿā fī kharābihā ʾulāʾika mā kāna lahum ʾan yadkhulūhā ʾillā khāʾifīna lahum fī d-dunyā khizyun wa-lahum fī l-ʾākhirati ʿadhābun ʿaẓīmun

Who is a greater wrongdoer than those who deny access to the mosques of Allah lest His Name be celebrated therein, and try to ruin them? Such ones may not enter them, except in fear. There is disgrace for them in this world and a great punishment in the Hereafter.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-li-llāhi l-mashriqu wa-l-maghribu fa-ʾaynamā tuwallū fa-thamma wajhu llāhi ʾinna llāha wāsiʿun ʿalīmun

To Allah belong the east and the west: so whichever way you turn, there is the face of Allah! Allah is indeed all-bounteous, all-knowing.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-qālū ttakhadha llāhu waladan subḥānahū bal lahū mā fī s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi kullun lahū qānitūna

And they say, ‘Allah has taken a son.’ Immaculate is He! Rather, to Him belongs whatever there is in the heavens and the earth. All are obedient to Him,

— Ali Quli Qarai

badīʿu s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-ʾidhā qaḍā ʾamran fa-ʾinnamā yaqūlu lahū kun fa-yakūnu

the Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decides on a matter, He just says to it, ‘Be!’ and it is.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-qāla lladhīna lā yaʿlamūna law-lā yukallimunā llāhu ʾaw taʾtīnā ʾāyatun ka-dhālika qāla lladhīna min qablihim mithla qawlihim tashābahat qulūbuhum qad bayyannā l-ʾāyāti li-qawmin yūqinūna

Those who have no knowledge say, ‘Why does not Allah speak to us, or come to us a sign?’ So said those who were before them, [words] similar to what they say. Alike are their hearts. We have certainly made the signs clear for a people who have certainty.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinnā ʾarsalnāka bi-l-ḥaqqi bashīran wa-nadhīran wa-lā tusʾalu ʿan ʾaṣḥābi l-jaḥīmi

Indeed We have sent you with the truth, as a bearer of good news and as a warner, and you will not be questioned concerning the inmates of hell.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 19

wa-lan tarḍā ʿanka l-yahūdu wa-lā n-naṣārā ḥattā tattabiʿa millatahum qul ʾinna hudā llāhi huwa l-hudā wa-la-ʾini ttabaʿta ʾahwāʾahum baʿda lladhī jāʾaka mina l-ʿilmi mā laka mina llāhi min waliyyin wa-lā naṣīrin

Never will the Jews be pleased with you, nor the Christians, unless you followed their creed. Say, ‘Indeed it is the guidance of Allah which is [true] guidance.’ And should you follow their desires after the knowledge that has come to you, you will not have against Allah any guardian or helper.

— Ali Quli Qarai

alladhīna ʾātaynāhumu l-kitāba yatlūnahū ḥaqqa tilāwatihī ʾulāʾika yuʾminūna bihī wa-man yakfur bihī fa-ʾulāʾika humu l-khāsirūna

Those to whom We have given the Book follow it as it ought to be followed: they have faith in it. As for those who deny it—it is they who are the losers.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yā-banī ʾisrāʾīla dhkurū niʿmatiya llatī ʾanʿamtu ʿalaykum wa-ʾannī faḍḍaltukum ʿalā l-ʿālamīna

O Children of Israel, remember My blessing which I bestowed upon you, and that I gave you an advantage over all the nations.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ttaqū yawman lā tajzī nafsun ʿan nafsin shayʾan wa-lā yuqbalu minhā ʿadlun wa-lā tanfaʿuhā shafāʿatun wa-lā hum yunṣarūna

Beware of the Day when no soul will compensate for another, neither will any ransom be accepted from it, nor will any intercession benefit it, nor will they be helped.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidhi btalā ʾibrāhīma rabbuhū bi-kalimātin fa-ʾatammahunna qāla ʾinnī jāʿiluka li-n-nāsi ʾimāman qāla wa-min dhurriyyatī qāla lā yanālu ʿahdī ẓ-ẓālimīna

When his Lord tested Abraham with certain words and he fulfilled them, He said, ‘I am making you the Imam of mankind.’ Said he, ‘And from among my descendants?’ He said, ‘My pledge does not extend to the unjust.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidh jaʿalnā l-bayta mathābatan li-n-nāsi wa-ʾamnan wa-ttakhidhū min maqāmi ʾibrāhīma muṣallan wa-ʿahidnā ʾilā ʾibrāhīma wa-ʾismāʿīla ʾan ṭahhirā baytiya li-ṭ-ṭāʾifīna wa-l-ʿākifīna wa-r-rukkaʿi s-sujūdi

And [remember] when We made the House a place of reward for mankind and a sanctuary, [declaring], ‘Take the venue of prayer from Abraham’s Station.’ We charged Abraham and Ishmael [with its upkeep, saying], ‘Purify My House for those who go around it, [for] those who make it a retreat and [for] those who bow and prostrate.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidh qāla ʾibrāhīmu rabbi jʿal hādhā baladan ʾāminan wa-rzuq ʾahlahū mina th-thamarāti man ʾāmana minhum bi-llāhi wa-l-yawmi l-ʾākhiri qāla wa-man kafara fa-ʾumattiʿuhū qalīlan thumma ʾaḍṭarruhū ʾilā ʿadhābi n-nāri wa-biʾsa l-maṣīru

And when Abraham said, ‘My Lord, make this a secure town, and provide its people with fruits—such of them as have faith in Allah and the Last Day,’ He said, ‘As for him who is faithless, I will provide for him [too] for a short time, then I will shove him toward the punishment of the Fire and it is an evil destination.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 20

wa-ʾidh yarfaʿu ʾibrāhīmu l-qawāʿida mina l-bayti wa-ʾismāʿīlu rabbanā taqabbal minnā ʾinnaka ʾanta s-samīʿu l-ʿalīmu

As Abraham raised the foundations of the House with Ishmael, [they prayed]: ‘Our Lord, accept it from us! Indeed You are the All-hearing, the All-knowing.

— Ali Quli Qarai

rabbanā wa-jʿalnā muslimayni laka wa-min dhurriyyatinā ʾummatan muslimatan laka wa-ʾarinā manāsikanā wa-tub ʿalaynā ʾinnaka ʾanta t-tawwābu r-raḥīmu

‘Our Lord, make us submissive to You, and [raise] from our progeny a nation submissive to You, and show us our rites [of worship], and turn to us clemently. Indeed You are the All-clement, the All-merciful.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

rabbanā wa-bʿath fīhim rasūlan minhum yatlū ʿalayhim ʾāyātika wa-yuʿallimuhumu l-kitāba wa-l-ḥikmata wa-yuzakkīhim ʾinnaka ʾanta l-ʿazīzu l-ḥakīmu

‘Our Lord, raise amongst them an apostle from among them, who will recite to them Your signs and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them. Indeed You are the All-mighty, the All-wise.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-man yarghabu ʿan millati ʾibrāhīma ʾillā man safiha nafsahū wa-la-qadi ṣṭafaynāhu fī d-dunyā wa-ʾinnahū fī l-ʾākhirati la-mina ṣ-ṣāliḥīna

And who will [ever] forsake Abraham’s creed except one who debases himself? We certainly chose him in the [present] world, and in the Hereafter he will indeed be among the Righteous.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾidh qāla lahū rabbuhū ʾaslim qāla ʾaslamtu li-rabbi l-ʿālamīna

When his Lord said to him, ‘Submit,’ he said, ‘I submit to the Lord of all the worlds.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-waṣṣā bihā ʾibrāhīmu banīhi wa-yaʿqūbu yā-baniyya ʾinna llāha ṣṭafā lakumu d-dīna fa-lā tamūtunna ʾillā wa-ʾantum muslimūna

Abraham enjoined this [creed] upon his children, and [so did] Jacob, [saying], ‘My children! Allah has indeed chosen this religion for you; so do not die except as those who have surrendered themselves [to Allah].

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾam kuntum shuhadāʾa ʾidh ḥaḍara yaʿqūba l-mawtu ʾidh qāla li-banīhi mā taʿbudūna min baʿdī qālū naʿbudu ʾilāhaka wa-ʾilāha ʾābāʾika ʾibrāhīma wa-ʾismāʿīla wa-ʾisḥāqa ʾilāhan wāḥidan wa-naḥnu lahū muslimūna

Were you witnesses when death approached Jacob, when he said to his children, ‘What will you worship after me?’ They said, ‘We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac, the One God, and to Him do we submit.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

tilka ʾummatun qad khalat lahā mā kasabat wa-lakum mā kasabtum wa-lā tusʾalūna ʿammā kānū yaʿmalūna

That was a nation that has passed: for it there will be what it has earned, and for you there will be what you have earned, and you will not be questioned about what they used to do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 21

wa-qālū kūnū hūdan ʾaw naṣārā tahtadū qul bal millata ʾibrāhīma ḥanīfan wa-mā kāna mina l-mushrikīna

They say, ‘Be either Jews or Christians, that you may be [rightly] guided.’ Say, ‘No, rather, [we will follow] the creed of Abraham, a Hanif, and he was not one of the polytheists.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

qūlū ʾāmannā bi-llāhi wa-mā ʾunzila ʾilaynā wa-mā ʾunzila ʾilā ʾibrāhīma wa-ʾismāʿīla wa-ʾisḥāqa wa-yaʿqūba wa-l-ʾasbāṭi wa-mā ʾūtiya mūsā wa-ʿīsā wa-mā ʾūtiya n-nabiyyūna min rabbihim lā nufarriqu bayna ʾaḥadin minhum wa-naḥnu lahū muslimūna

Say, ‘We have faith in Allah and what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus were given, and that which the prophets were given from their Lord; we make no distinction between any of them and to Him do we submit.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-ʾin ʾāmanū bi-mithli mā ʾāmantum bihī fa-qadi htadaw wa-ʾin tawallaw fa-ʾinnamā hum fī shiqāqin fa-sa-yakfīkahumu llāhu wa-huwa s-samīʿu l-ʿalīmu

So if they believe in the like of what you believe in, then they are surely guided; but if they turn away, then [know that] they are only [steeped] in defiance. Allah will suffice you against them, and He is the All-hearing, the All-knowing.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ṣibghata llāhi wa-man ʾaḥsanu mina llāhi ṣibghatan wa-naḥnu lahū ʿābidūna

‘The baptism of Allah, and who baptizes better than Allah? And Him do we worship.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

qul ʾa-tuḥājjūnanā fī llāhi wa-huwa rabbunā wa-rabbukum wa-lanā ʾaʿmālunā wa-lakum ʾaʿmālukum wa-naḥnu lahū mukhliṣūna

Say, ‘Will you argue with us concerning Allah, while He is our Lord and your Lord, and to us belong our deeds, and to you belong your deeds, and we worship Him dedicatedly?’

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾam taqūlūna ʾinna ʾibrāhīma wa-ʾismāʿīla wa-ʾisḥāqa wa-yaʿqūba wa-l-ʾasbāṭa kānū hūdan ʾaw naṣārā qul ʾa-ʾantum ʾaʿlamu ʾami llāhu wa-man ʾaẓlamu mimman katama shahādatan ʿindahū mina llāhi wa-mā llāhu bi-ghāfilin ʿammā taʿmalūna

[Ask them,] ‘Do you say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes were Jews or Christians?’ Say, ‘Is it you who know better, or Allah?’ And who is a greater wrongdoer than someone who conceals a testimony that is with him from Allah? And Allah is not oblivious of what you do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

tilka ʾummatun qad khalat lahā mā kasabat wa-lakum mā kasabtum wa-lā tusʾalūna ʿammā kānū yaʿmalūna

That was a nation that has passed: for it there will be what it has earned, and for you there will be what you have earned, and you will not be questioned about what they used to do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 22

sa-yaqūlu s-sufahāʾu mina n-nāsi mā wallāhum ʿan qiblatihimu llatī kānū ʿalayhā qul li-llāhi l-mashriqu wa-l-maghribu yahdī man yashāʾu ʾilā ṣirāṭin mustaqīmin

The foolish among the people will say, ‘What has turned them away from the qiblah they were following?’ Say, ‘To Allah belong the east and the west. He guides whomever He wishes to a straight path.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ka-dhālika jaʿalnākum ʾummatan wasaṭan li-takūnū shuhadāʾa ʿalā n-nāsi wa-yakūna r-rasūlu ʿalaykum shahīdan wa-mā jaʿalnā l-qiblata llatī kunta ʿalayhā ʾillā li-naʿlama man yattabiʿu r-rasūla mimman yanqalibu ʿalā ʿaqibayhi wa-ʾin kānat la-kabīratan ʾillā ʿalā lladhīna hadā llāhu wa-mā kāna llāhu li-yuḍīʿa ʾīmānakum ʾinna llāha bi-n-nāsi la-raʾūfun raḥīmun

Thus We have made you a middle nation that you may be witnesses to the people, and that the Apostle may be a witness to you. We did not appoint the qiblah you were following, but that We may ascertain those who follow the Apostle from those who turn back on their heels. It was indeed a hard thing except for those whom Allah has guided. And Allah would not let your prayers go to waste. Indeed Allah is most kind and merciful to mankind.

— Ali Quli Qarai

qad narā taqalluba wajhika fī s-samāʾi fa-la-nuwalliyannaka qiblatan tarḍāhā fa-walli wajhaka shaṭra l-masjidi l-ḥarāmi wa-ḥaythu mā kuntum fa-wallū wujūhakum shaṭrahū wa-ʾinna lladhīna ʾūtū l-kitāba la-yaʿlamūna ʾannahu l-ḥaqqu min rabbihim wa-mā llāhu bi-ghāfilin ʿammā yaʿmalūna

We certainly see you turning your face about in the sky. We will surely turn you to a qiblah of your liking: so turn your face towards the Holy Mosque, and wherever you may be, turn your faces towards it! Indeed those who were given the Book surely know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not oblivious of what they do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-la-ʾin ʾatayta lladhīna ʾūtū l-kitāba bi-kulli ʾāyatin mā tabiʿū qiblataka wa-mā ʾanta bi-tābiʿin qiblatahum wa-mā baʿḍuhum bi-tābiʿin qiblata baʿḍin wa-la-ʾini ttabaʿta ʾahwāʾahum min baʿdi mā jāʾaka mina l-ʿilmi ʾinnaka ʾidhan la-mina ẓ-ẓālimīna

Even if you bring those who were given the Book every [kind of] sign, they will not follow your qiblah. Nor shall you follow their qiblah, nor will any of them follow the qiblah of the other. And if you follow their desires, after the knowledge that has come to you, you will be one of the wrongdoers.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 23

alladhīna ʾātaynāhumu l-kitāba yaʿrifūnahū ka-mā yaʿrifūna ʾabnāʾahum wa-ʾinna farīqan minhum la-yaktumūna l-ḥaqqa wa-hum yaʿlamūna

Those whom We have given the Book recognize him just as they recognize their sons, but a part of them indeed conceal the truth while they know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

al-ḥaqqu min rabbika fa-lā takūnanna mina l-mumtarīna

This is the truth from your Lord; so do not be among the skeptics.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-li-kullin wijhatun huwa muwallīhā fa-stabiqū l-khayrāti ʾayna mā takūnū yaʾti bikumu llāhu jamīʿan ʾinna llāha ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīrun

Everyone has a cynosure to which he turns; so take the lead in all good works. Wherever you may be, Allah will bring you all together. Indeed Allah has power over all things.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-min ḥaythu kharajta fa-walli wajhaka shaṭra l-masjidi l-ḥarāmi wa-ʾinnahū la-l-ḥaqqu min rabbika wa-mā llāhu bi-ghāfilin ʿammā taʿmalūna

Whencesoever you may go out, turn your face towards the Holy Mosque. Indeed it is the truth from your Lord, and Allah is not oblivious of what you do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-min ḥaythu kharajta fa-walli wajhaka shaṭra l-masjidi l-ḥarāmi wa-ḥaythu mā kuntum fa-wallū wujūhakum shaṭrahū li-ʾallā yakūna li-n-nāsi ʿalaykum ḥujjatun ʾillā lladhīna ẓalamū minhum fa-lā takhshawhum wa-khshawnī wa-li-ʾutimma niʿmatī ʿalaykum wa-laʿallakum tahtadūna

And whencesoever you may go out, turn your face towards the Holy Mosque, and wherever you may be, turn your faces towards it, so that the people may have no allegation against you, neither those of them who are wrongdoers. So do not fear them, but fear Me, that I may complete My blessing on you and so that you may be guided.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ka-mā ʾarsalnā fīkum rasūlan minkum yatlū ʿalaykum ʾāyātinā wa-yuzakkīkum wa-yuʿallimukumu l-kitāba wa-l-ḥikmata wa-yuʿallimukum mā lam takūnū taʿlamūna

Even as We sent to you an apostle from among yourselves, who recites to you Our signs and purifies you, and teaches you the Book and wisdom, and teaches you what you did not know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-dhkurūnī ʾadhkurkum wa-shkurū lī wa-lā takfurūni

Remember Me and I will remember you, and thank Me, and do not be ungrateful to Me.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū staʿīnū bi-ṣ-ṣabri wa-ṣ-ṣalāti ʾinna llāha maʿa ṣ-ṣābirīna

O you who have faith! Take recourse in patience and prayer; indeed Allah is with the patient.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 24

wa-lā taqūlū li-man yuqtalu fī sabīli llāhi ʾamwātun bal ʾaḥyāʾun wa-lākin lā tashʿurūna

Do not call those who were slain in Allah’s way ‘dead.’ No, they are living, but you are not aware.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-la-nabluwannakum bi-shayʾin mina l-khawfi wa-l-jūʿi wa-naqṣin mina l-ʾamwāli wa-l-ʾanfusi wa-th-thamarāti wa-bashshiri ṣ-ṣābirīna

We will surely test you with a measure of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth, lives, and fruits; and give good news to the patient

— Ali Quli Qarai

alladhīna ʾidhā ʾaṣābathum muṣībatun qālū ʾinnā li-llāhi wa-ʾinnā ʾilayhi rājiʿūna

—those who, when an affliction visits them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah and to Him do we indeed return.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾulāʾika ʿalayhim ṣalawātun min rabbihim wa-raḥmatun wa-ʾulāʾika humu l-muhtadūna

It is they who receive the blessings of their Lord and [His] mercy, and it is they who are the [rightly] guided.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinna ṣ-ṣafā wa-l-marwata min shaʿāʾiri llāhi fa-man hajja l-bayta ʾawi ʿtamara fa-lā junāḥa ʿalayhi ʾan yaṭṭawwafa bihimā wa-man taṭawwaʿa khayran fa-ʾinna llāha shākirun ʿalīmun

Indeed Safa and Marwah are among Allah’s sacraments. So whoever makes hajj to the House, or performs the ‘umrah, there is no sin upon him to circuit between them. Should anyone do good of his own accord, then Allah is indeed appreciative, all-knowing.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinna lladhīna yaktumūna mā ʾanzalnā mina l-bayyināti wa-l-hudā min baʿdi mā bayyannāhu li-n-nāsi fī l-kitābi ʾulāʾika yalʿanuhumu llāhu wa-yalʿanuhumu l-lāʿinūna

Indeed those who conceal what We have sent down of manifest proofs and guidance, after We have clarified it in the Book for mankind—they shall be cursed by Allah and cursed by the cursers,

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾillā lladhīna tābū wa-ʾaṣlaḥū wa-bayyanū fa-ʾulāʾika ʾatūbu ʿalayhim wa-ʾana t-tawwābu r-raḥīmu

except such as repent, make amends, and clarify—those I shall pardon, and I am the All-clement, the All-merciful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinna lladhīna kafarū wa-mātū wa-hum kuffārun ʾulāʾika ʿalayhim laʿnatu llāhi wa-l-malāʾikati wa-n-nāsi ʾajmaʿīna

Indeed those who turn faithless and die while they are faithless—it is they on whom shall be the curse of Allah, the angels and all mankind.

— Ali Quli Qarai

khālidīna fīhā lā yukhaffafu ʿanhumu l-ʿadhābu wa-lā hum yunẓarūna

They will remain in it [forever] and their punishment shall not be lightened, nor will they be granted any respite.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾilāhukum ʾilāhun wāḥidun lā ʾilāha ʾillā huwa r-raḥmānu r-raḥīmu

Your god is the One God; there is no god except Him, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 25

ʾinna fī khalqi s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-khtilāfi l-layli wa-n-nahāri wa-l-fulki llatī tajrī fī l-baḥri bi-mā yanfaʿu n-nāsa wa-mā ʾanzala llāhu mina s-samāʾi min māʾin fa-ʾaḥyā bihi l-ʾarḍa baʿda mawtihā wa-baththa fīhā min kulli dābbatin wa-taṣrīfi r-riyāḥi wa-s-saḥābi l-musakhkhari bayna s-samāʾi wa-l-ʾarḍi la-ʾāyātin li-qawmin yaʿqilūna

Indeed in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, and the ships that sail at sea with profit to men, and the water that Allah sends down from the sky—with which He revives the earth after its death, and scatters therein every kind of animal—and the changing of the winds, and the clouds disposed between the sky and the earth, there are surely signs for a people who exercise their reason.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-mina n-nāsi man yattakhidhu min dūni llāhi ʾandādan yuḥibbūnahum ka-ḥubbi llāhi wa-lladhīna ʾāmanū ʾashaddu ḥubban li-llāhi wa-law yarā lladhīna ẓalamū ʾidh yarawna l-ʿadhāba ʾanna l-quwwata li-llāhi jamīʿan wa-ʾanna llāha shadīdu l-ʿadhābi

Among the people are those who set up compeers besides Allah, loving them as if loving Allah—but the faithful have a more ardent love for Allah—though the wrongdoers will see, when they sight the punishment, that power, altogether, belongs to Allah, and that Allah is severe in punishment.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾidh tabarraʾa lladhīna ttubiʿū mina lladhīna ttabaʿū wa-raʾawu l-ʿadhāba wa-taqaṭṭaʿat bihimu l-ʾasbābu

When those who were followed will disown the followers, and they will sight the punishment while all their means of recourse will be cut off,

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-qāla lladhīna ttabaʿū law ʾanna lanā karratan fa-natabarraʾa minhum ka-mā tabarraʾū minnā ka-dhālika yurīhimu llāhu ʾaʿmālahum ḥasarātin ʿalayhim wa-mā hum bi-khārijīna mina n-nāri

and when the followers will say, ‘Had there been another turn for us, we would disown them as they disown us [now]!’ Thus shall Allah show them their deeds as regrets for themselves, and they shall not leave the Fire.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yā-ʾayyuhā n-nāsu kulū mimmā fī l-ʾarḍi ḥalālan ṭayyiban wa-lā tattabiʿū khuṭuwāti sh-shayṭāni ʾinnahū lakum ʿaduwwun mubīnun

O mankind! Eat of what is lawful and pure in the earth, and do not follow in Satan’s steps. Indeed, he is your manifest enemy.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinnamā yaʾmurukum bi-s-sūʾi wa-l-faḥshāʾi wa-ʾan taqūlū ʿalā llāhi mā lā taʿlamūna

He only prompts you to [commit] evil and indecent acts, and that you attribute to Allah what you do not know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 26

wa-ʾidhā qīla lahumu ttabiʿū mā ʾanzala llāhu qālū bal nattabiʿu mā ʾalfaynā ʿalayhi ʾābāʾanā ʾa-wa-law kāna ʾābāʾuhum lā yaʿqilūna shayʾan wa-lā yahtadūna

When they are told, ‘Follow what Allah has sent down,’ they say, ‘No, We will follow what we have found our fathers following.’ What, even if their fathers neither exercised their reason nor were guided?!

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-mathalu lladhīna kafarū ka-mathali lladhī yanʿiqu bi-mā lā yasmaʿu ʾillā duʿāʾan wa-nidāʾan ṣummun bukmun ʿumyun fa-hum lā yaʿqilūna

The parable of the faithless is that of someone who shouts after that which does not hear [anything] except a call and cry: deaf, dumb, and blind, they do not exercise their reason.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū kulū min ṭayyibāti mā razaqnākum wa-shkurū li-llāhi ʾin kuntum ʾiyyāhu taʿbudūna

O you who have faith! Eat of the good things We have provided you, and thank Allah, if it is Him that you worship.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinnamā ḥarrama ʿalaykumu l-maytata wa-d-dama wa-l-laḥma l-khinzīri wa-mā ʾuhilla bihī li-ghayri llāhi fa-mani ḍṭurra ghayra bāghin wa-lā ʿādin fa-lā ʾithma ʿalayhi ʾinna llāha ghafūrun raḥīmun

He has forbidden you only carrion, blood, the flesh of the swine, and that which has been offered to other than Allah. But should someone be compelled, without being rebellious or transgressive, there shall be no sin upon him. Indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinna lladhīna yaktumūna mā ʾanzala llāhu mina l-kitābi wa-yashtarūna bihī thamanan qalīlan ʾulāʾika mā yaʾkulūna fī buṭūnihim ʾillā n-nāra wa-lā yukallimuhumu llāhu yawma l-qiyāmati wa-lā yuzakkīhim wa-lahum ʿadhābun ʾalīmun

Indeed those who conceal what Allah has sent down of the Book and sell it for a paltry gain—they do not take in, into their bellies, [anything] except fire, and Allah shall not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor shall He purify them, and there is a painful punishment for them.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾulāʾika lladhīna shtarawu ḍ-ḍalālata bi-l-hudā wa-l-ʿadhāba bi-l-maghfirati fa-mā ʾaṣbarahum ʿalā n-nāri

They are the ones who bought error for guidance, and punishment for pardon: how patient of them to face the Fire!

— Ali Quli Qarai

dhālika bi-ʾanna llāha nazzala l-kitāba bi-l-ḥaqqi wa-ʾinna lladhīna khtalafū fī l-kitābi la-fī shiqāqin baʿīdin

That is so because Allah has sent down the Book with the truth, and those who differ about the Book are surely in extreme defiance.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 27

laysa l-birra ʾan tuwallū wujūhakum qibala l-mashriqi wa-l-maghribi wa-lākinna l-birra man ʾāmana bi-llāhi wa-l-yawmi l-ʾākhiri wa-l-malāʾikati wa-l-kitābi wa-n-nabiyyīna wa-ʾātā l-māla ʿalā ḥubbihī dhawī l-qurbā wa-l-yatāmā wa-l-masākīna wa-bna s-sabīli wa-s-sāʾilīna wa-fī r-riqābi wa-ʾaqāma ṣ-ṣalāta wa-ʾātā z-zakāta wa-l-mūfūna bi-ʿahdihim ʾidhā ʿāhadū wa-ṣ-ṣābirīna fī l-baʾsāʾi wa-ḍ-ḍarrāʾi wa-ḥīna l-baʾsi ʾulāʾika lladhīna ṣadaqū wa-ʾulāʾika humu l-muttaqūna

Piety is not to turn your faces to the east or the west; rather, piety is [personified by] those who have faith in Allah and the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets, and who give their wealth, for the love of Him, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveller and the beggar, and for [the freeing of] the slaves, and maintain the prayer and give the zakat, and those who fulfill their covenants, when they pledge themselves, and those who are patient in stress and distress, and in the heat of battle. They are the ones who are true [to their covenant], and it is they who are the Godwary.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū kutiba ʿalaykumu l-qiṣāṣu fī l-qatlā l-ḥurru bi-l-ḥurri wa-l-ʿabdu bi-l-ʿabdi wa-l-ʾunthā bi-l-ʾunthā fa-man ʿufiya lahū min ʾakhīhi shayʾun fa-ttibāʿun bi-l-maʿrūfi wa-ʾadāʾun ʾilayhi bi-ʾiḥsānin dhālika takhfīfun min rabbikum wa-raḥmatun fa-mani ʿtadā baʿda dhālika fa-lahū ʿadhābun ʾalīmun

O you who have faith! Retribution is prescribed for you regarding the slain: freeman for freeman, slave for slave, and female for female. But if one is granted any extenuation by his brother, let the follow up [for the blood-money] be honourable, and let the payment to him be with kindness. That is a remission from your Lord and a mercy; and should anyone transgress after that, there shall be a painful punishment for him.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lakum fī l-qiṣāṣi ḥayātun yā-ʾulī l-ʾalbābi laʿallakum tattaqūna

There is life for you in retribution, O you who possess intellects! Maybe you will be Godwary!

— Ali Quli Qarai

kutiba ʿalaykum ʾidhā ḥaḍara ʾaḥadakumu l-mawtu ʾin taraka khayran-i l-waṣiyyatu li-l-wālidayni wa-l-ʾaqrabīna bi-l-maʿrūfi ḥaqqan ʿalā l-muttaqīna

Prescribed for you, when death approaches any of you and he leaves behind any property, is that he make a bequest for his parents and relatives, in an honourable manner—an obligation on the Godwary.

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-man baddalahū baʿda mā samiʿahū fa-ʾinnamā ʾithmuhū ʿalā lladhīna yubaddilūnahū ʾinna llāha samīʿunun

And should anyone alter it after hearing it, its sin shall indeed lie on those who alter it. Indeed Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 28

fa-man khāfa min mūṣin janafan ʾaw ʾithman fa-ʾaṣlaḥa baynahum fa-lā ʾithma ʿalayhi ʾinna llāha ghafūrun raḥīmun

But should someone, fearing deviance or sin on the testator’s behalf, set things right between them, there is no sin upon him. Indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū kutiba ʿalaykumu ṣ-ṣiyāmu ka-mā kutiba ʿalā lladhīna min qablikum laʿallakum tattaqūna

O you who have faith! Prescribed for you is fasting as it was prescribed for those who were before you, so that you may be Godwary.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾayyāman maʿdūdātin fa-man kāna minkum marīḍan ʾaw ʿalā safarin fa-ʿiddatun min ʾayyāmin ʾukhara wa-ʿalā lladhīna yuṭīqūnahū fidyatun ṭaʿāmu miskīnin fa-man taṭawwaʿa khayran fa-huwa khayrun lahū wa-ʾan taṣūmū khayrun lakum ʾin kuntum taʿlamūna

That for known days. But should any of you be sick or on a journey, let it be a [similar] number of other days. Those who find it straining shall be liable to atonement by feeding a needy person. Should anyone do good of his own accord, that is better for him, and to fast is better for you, should you know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

shahru ramaḍāna lladhī ʾunzila fīhi l-qurʾānu hudan li-n-nāsi wa-bayyinātin mina l-hudā wa-l-furqāni fa-man shahida minkumu sh-shahra fa-l-yaṣumhu wa-man kāna marīḍan ʾaw ʿalā safarin fa-ʿiddatun min ʾayyāmin ʾukhara yurīdu llāhu bikumu l-yusra wa-lā yurīdu bikumu l-ʿusra wa-li-tukmilū l-ʿiddata wa-li-tukabbirū llāha ʿalā mā hadākum wa-laʿallakum tashkurūna

The month of Rama¤¡n is one in which the Quran was sent down as guidance to mankind, with manifest proofs of guidance and the Criterion. So let those of you who witness it fast [in] it, and as for someone who is sick or on a journey, let it be a [similar] number of other days. Allah desires ease for you, and He does not desire hardship for you, and so that you may complete the number and magnify Allah for guiding you, and that you may give thanks.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidhā saʾalaka ʿibādī ʿannī fa-ʾinnī qarībun ʾujību daʿwata d-dāʿi ʾidhā daʿāni fa-l-yastajībū lī wa-l-yuʾminū bī laʿallahum yarshudūna

When My servants ask you about Me, [tell them that] I am indeed nearmost. I answer the supplicant’s call when he calls Me. So let them respond to Me, and let them have faith in Me, so that they may fare rightly.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 29

ʾuḥilla lakum laylata ṣ-ṣiyāmi r-rafathu ʾilā nisāʾikum hunna libāsun lakum wa-ʾantum libāsun lahunna ʿalima llāhu ʾannakum kuntum takhtānūna ʾanfusakum fa-tāba ʿalaykum wa-ʿafā ʿankum fa-l-ʾāna bāshirūhunna wa-btaghū mā kataba llāhu lakum wa-kulū wa-shrabū ḥattā yatabayyana lakumu l-khayṭu l-ʾabyaḍu mina l-khayṭi l-ʾaswadi mina l-fajri thumma ʾatimmū ṣ-ṣiyāma ʾilā l-layli wa-lā tubāshirūhunna wa-ʾantum ʿākifūna fī l-masājidi tilka ḥudūdu llāhi fa-lā taqrabūhā ka-dhālika yubayyinu llāhu ʾāyātihī li-n-nāsi laʿallahum yattaqūna

You are permitted on the night of the fast to go into your wives: they are a garment for you, and you are a garment for them. Allah knew that you would betray yourselves, so He pardoned you and excused you. So now consort with them and seek what Allah has ordained for you, and eat and drink until the white streak becomes manifest to you from the dark streak at the crack of dawn. Then complete the fast until nightfall, and do not consort with them while you dwell in confinement in the mosques. These are Allah’s bounds, so do not approach them. Thus does Allah clarify His signs for mankind so that they may be Godwary.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lā taʾkulū ʾamwālakum baynakum bi-l-bāṭili wa-tudlū bihā ʾilā l-ḥukkāmi li-taʾkulū farīqan min ʾamwāli n-nāsi bi-l-ʾithmi wa-ʾantum taʿlamūna

Do not eat up your wealth among yourselves wrongfully, nor proffer it to the judges in order to eat up a part of the people’s wealth sinfully, while you know [that it is immoral to do so].

— Ali Quli Qarai

yasʾalūnaka ʿani l-ʾahillati qul hiya mawāqītu li-n-nāsi wa-l-ḥajji wa-laysa l-birru bi-ʾan taʾtū l-buyūta min ẓuhūrihā wa-lākinna l-birra mani ttaqā wa-ʾtū l-buyūta min ʾabwābihā wa-ttaqū llāha laʿallakum tufliḥūna

They question you concerning the new moons. Say, ‘They are timekeeping signs for the people and [for the sake of] hajj.’ It is not piety that you enter houses from their rear; rather, piety is [personified by] one who is Godwary, and enter houses from their doors and be wary of Allah, so that you may be felicitous.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-qātilū fī sabīli llāhi lladhīna yuqātilūnakum wa-lā taʿtadū ʾinna llāha lā yuḥibbu l-muʿtadīna

Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress. Indeed Allah does not like transgressors.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 30

wa-qtulūhum ḥaythu thaqiftumūhum wa-ʾakhrijūhum min ḥaythu ʾakhrajūkum wa-l-fitnatu ʾashaddu mina l-qatli wa-lā tuqātilūhum ʿinda l-masjidi l-ḥarāmi ḥattā yuqātilūkum fīhi fa-ʾin qātalūkum fa-qtulūhum ka-dhālika jazāʾu l-kāfirīna

And kill them wherever you confront them, and expel them from where they expelled you, for persecution is graver than killing. But do not fight them near the Holy Mosque unless they fight you therein; but if they fight you, kill them; such is the requital of the faithless.

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-ʾini ntahaw fa-ʾinna llāha ghafūrun raḥīmun

But if they desist, then Allah is indeed all-forgiving, all-merciful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-qātilūhum ḥattā lā takūna fitnatun wa-yakūna d-dīnu li-llāhi fa-ʾini ntahaw fa-lā ʿudwāna ʾillā ʿalā ẓ-ẓālimīna

Fight them until persecution is no more, and religion becomes [exclusively] for Allah. Then if they desist, there shall be no reprisal except against the wrongdoers.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ash-shahru l-ḥarāmu bi-sh-shahri l-ḥarāmi wa-l-ḥurumātu qiṣāṣun fa-mani ʿtadā ʿalaykum fa-ʿtadū ʿalayhi bi-mithli mā ʿtadā ʿalaykum wa-ttaqū llāha wa-ʿlamū ʾanna llāha maʿa l-muttaqīna

A sacred month for a sacred month, and all sanctities require retribution. So should anyone aggress against you, assail him in the manner he assailed you, and be wary of Allah, and know that Allah is with the Godwary.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾanfiqū fī sabīli llāhi wa-lā tulqū bi-ʾaydīkum ʾilā t-tahlukati wa-ʾaḥsinū ʾinna llāha yuḥibbu l-muḥsinīna

Spend in the way of Allah, and do not cast yourselves with your own hands into destruction; and be virtuous. Indeed Allah loves the virtuous.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾatimmū l-ḥajja wa-l-ʿumrata li-llāhi fa-ʾin ʾuḥṣirtum fa-mā staysara mina l-hadyi wa-lā taḥliqū ruʾūsakum ḥattā yablugha l-hadyu maḥillahū fa-man kāna minkum marīḍan ʾaw bihī ʾadhan min raʾsihī fa-fidyatun min ṣiyāmin ʾaw ṣadaqatin ʾaw nusukin fa-ʾidhā ʾamintum fa-man tamattaʿa bi-l-ʿumrati ʾilā l-ḥajji fa-mā staysara mina l-hadyi fa-man lam yajid fa-ṣiyāmu thalāthati ʾayyāmin fī l-ḥajji wa-sabʿatin ʾidhā rajaʿtum tilka ʿasharatun kāmilatun dhālika li-man lam yakun ʾahluhū ḥāḍirī l-masjidi l-ḥarāmi wa-ttaqū llāha wa-ʿlamū ʾanna llāha shadīdu l-ʿiqābi

Complete the hajj and the ‘umrah for Allah’s sake, and if you are prevented, then [make] such [sacrificial] offering as is feasible. And do not shave your heads until the offering reaches its [assigned] place. But should any of you be sick, or have a hurt in his head, let the atonement be by fasting, or charity, or sacrifice. And when you have security—for those who enjoy [release from the restrictions] by virtue of their ‘umrah until the hajj—let the offering be such as is feasible. As for someone who cannot afford [the offering], let him fast three days during the hajj and seven when you return; that is [a period of] ten complete [days]. That is for someone whose family does not dwell by the Holy Mosque. And be wary of Allah, and know that Allah is severe in retribution.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 31

al-ḥajju ʾashhurun maʿlūmātun fa-man faraḍa fīhinna l-ḥajja fa-lā rafatha wa-lā fusūqa wa-lā jidāla fī l-ḥajji wa-mā tafʿalū min khayrin yaʿlamhu llāhu wa-tazawwadū fa-ʾinna khayra z-zādi t-taqwā wa-ttaqūni yā-ʾulī l-ʾalbābi

The hajj [season] is in months well-known; so whoever decides on hajj [pilgrimage] therein, [should know that] there is to be no sexual contact, vicious talk, or disputing during the hajj. And whatever good you do, Allah knows it. And take provision, for indeed the best provision is Godwariness. So be wary of Me, O you who possess intellects!

— Ali Quli Qarai

laysa ʿalaykum junāḥun ʾan tabtaghū faḍlan min rabbikum fa-ʾidhā ʾafaḍtum min ʿarafātin fa-dhkurū llāha ʿinda l-mashʿari l-ḥarāmi wa-dhkurūhu ka-mā hadākum wa-ʾin kuntum min qablihī la-mina ḍ-ḍāllīna

There is no sin upon you in seeking your Lord’s bounty [during the hajj season]. Then when you stream out of ‘Arafat remember Allah at the Holy Mash‘ar, and remember Him as He has guided you, and earlier you were indeed among the astray.

— Ali Quli Qarai

thumma ʾafīḍū min ḥaythu ʾafāḍa n-nāsu wa-staghfirū llāha ʾinna llāha ghafūrun raḥīmun

Then stream out from where the people stream out, and plead to Allah for forgiveness; indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-ʾidhā qaḍaytum manāsikakum fa-dhkurū llāha ka-dhikrikum ʾābāʾakum ʾaw ʾashadda dhikran fa-mina n-nāsi man yaqūlu rabbanā ʾātinā fī d-dunyā wa-mā lahū fī l-ʾākhirati min khalāqin

And when you finish your rites, then remember Allah as you would remember your fathers, or with a more ardent remembrance. Among the people there are those who say, ‘Our Lord, give us in this world,’ but for such there is no share in the Hereafter.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-minhum man yaqūlu rabbanā ʾātinā fī d-dunyā ḥasanatan wa-fī l-ʾākhirati ḥasanatan wa-qinā ʿadhāba n-nāri

And among them there are those who say, ‘Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Fire.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾulāʾika lahum naṣībun mimmā kasabū wa-llāhu sarīʿu l-ḥisābi

Such shall partake of what they have earned, and Allah is swift at reckoning.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 32

wa-dhkurū llāha fī ʾayyāmin maʿdūdātin fa-man taʿajjala fī yawmayni fa-lā ʾithma ʿalayhi wa-man taʾakhkhara fa-lā ʾithma ʿalayhi li-mani ttaqā wa-ttaqū llāha wa-ʿlamū ʾannakum ʾilayhi tuḥsharūna

Remember Allah in the appointed days. Then whoever hastens off in a couple of days, there is no sin upon him, and whoever delays, there is no sin upon him—that for one who has been Godwary—and be wary of Allah and know that toward Him you will be mustered.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-mina n-nāsi man yuʿjibuka qawluhū fī l-ḥayāti d-dunyā wa-yushhidu llāha ʿalā mā fī qalbihī wa-huwa ʾaladdu l-khiṣāmi

Among the people is he whose talk about worldly life impresses you, and he holds Allah witness to what is in his heart, though he is the staunchest of enemies.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidhā tawallā saʿā fī l-ʾarḍi li-yufsida fīhā wa-yuhlika l-ḥartha wa-n-nasla wa-llāhu lā yuḥibbu l-fasāda

If he were to wield authority, he would try to cause corruption in the land and to ruin the crop and the stock, and Allah does not like corruption.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidhā qīla lahu ttaqi llāha ʾakhadhathu l-ʿizzatu bi-l-ʾithmi fa-ḥasbuhū jahannamu wa-la-biʾsa l-mihādu

And when he is told, ‘Be wary of Allah,’ conceit seizes him sinfully; so let hell suffice him, and it is surely an evil resting place!

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-mina n-nāsi man yashrī nafsahu btighāʾa marḍāti llāhi wa-llāhu raʾūfun bi-l-ʿibādi

And among the people is he who sells his soul seeking the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is most kind to [His] servants.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū dkhulū fī s-silmi kāffatan wa-lā tattabiʿū khuṭuwāti sh-shayṭāni ʾinnahū lakum ʿaduwwun mubīnun

O you who have faith! Enter into submission, all together, and do not follow in Satan’s steps; he is indeed your manifest enemy.

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-ʾin zalaltum min baʿdi mā jāʾatkumu l-bayyinātu fa-ʿlamū ʾanna llāha ʿazīzun ḥakīmun

And should you stumble after the manifest proofs that have come to you, know that Allah is all-mighty, all-wise.

— Ali Quli Qarai

hal yanẓurūna ʾillā ʾan yaʾtiyahumu llāhu fī ẓulalin mina l-ghamāmi wa-l-malāʾikatu wa-quḍiya l-ʾamru wa-ʾilā llāhi turjaʿu l-ʾumūru

Do they await anything but that Allah [’s command] should come to them in the shades of the clouds, with the angels, and the matter be decided [once for all]? To Allah all matters are returned.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 33

sal banī ʾisrāʾīla kam ʾātaynāhum min ʾāyatin bayyinatin wa-man yubaddil niʿmata llāhi min baʿdi mā jāʾathu fa-ʾinna llāha shadīdu l-ʿiqābi

Ask the Children of Israel how many a manifest sign We had given them. Whoever changes Allah’s blessing after it has come to him, indeed Allah is severe in retribution.

— Ali Quli Qarai

zuyyina li-lladhīna kafarū l-ḥayātu d-dunyā wa-yaskharūna mina lladhīna ʾāmanū wa-lladhīna ttaqaw fawqahum yawma l-qiyāmati wa-llāhu yarzuqu man yashāʾu bi-ghayri ḥisābin

Worldly life has been glamorized for the faithless, and they ridicule the faithful. But those who are Godwary shall be above them on the Day of Resurrection, and Allah provides for whomever He wishes without any reckoning.

— Ali Quli Qarai

kāna n-nāsu ʾummatan wāḥidatan fa-baʿatha llāhu n-nabiyyīna mubashshirīna wa-mundhirīna wa-ʾanzala maʿahumu l-kitāba bi-l-ḥaqqi li-yaḥkuma bayna n-nāsi fī-mā khtalafū fīhi wa-mā khtalafa fīhi ʾillā lladhīna ʾūtūhu min baʿdi mā jāʾathumu l-bayyinātu baghyan baynahum fa-hadā llāhu lladhīna ʾāmanū li-mā khtalafū fīhi mina l-ḥaqqi bi-ʾidhnihī wa-llāhu yahdī man yashāʾu ʾilā ṣirāṭin mustaqīmin

Mankind were a single community; then Allah sent the prophets as bearers of good news and warners, and He sent down with them the Book with the truth, that it may judge between the people concerning that about which they differed, and none differed in it except those who had been given it, after the manifest proofs had come to them, out of envy among themselves. Then Allah guided those who had faith to the truth of what they differed in, by His will, and Allah guides whomever He wishes to a straight path.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾam ḥasibtum ʾan tadkhulū l-jannata wa-lammā yaʾtikum mathalu lladhīna khalaw min qablikum massathumu l-baʾsāʾu wa-ḍ-ḍarrāʾu wa-zulzilū ḥattā yaqūla r-rasūlu wa-lladhīna ʾāmanū maʿahū matā naṣru llāhi ʾa-lā ʾinna naṣra llāhi qarībun

Do you suppose that you will enter paradise though there has not yet come to you the like of [what befell] those who went before you? Stress and distress befell them and they were convulsed until the apostle and the faithful who were with him said, ‘When will Allah’s help [come]?’ Behold! Allah’s help is indeed near!

— Ali Quli Qarai

yasʾalūnaka mādhā yunfiqūna qul mā ʾanfaqtum min khayrin fa-li-l-wālidayni wa-l-ʾaqrabīna wa-l-yatāmā wa-l-masākīni wa-bni s-sabīli wa-mā tafʿalū min khayrin fa-ʾinna llāha bihī ʿalīmun

They ask you as to what they should spend. Say, ‘Let whatever wealth you spend be for the parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, and the traveller.’ Allah indeed knows whatever good you do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 34

kutiba ʿalaykumu l-qitālu wa-huwa kurhun lakum wa-ʿasā ʾan takrahū shayʾan wa-huwa khayrun lakum wa-ʿasā ʾan tuḥibbū shayʾan wa-huwa sharrun lakum wa-llāhu yaʿlamu wa-ʾantum lā taʿlamūna

Warfare has been prescribed for you, though it is repulsive to you. Yet it may be that you dislike something, which is good for you, and it may be that you love something, which is bad for you, and Allah knows and you do not know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yasʾalūnaka ʿani sh-shahri l-ḥarāmi qitālin fīhi qul qitālun fīhi kabīrun wa-ṣaddun ʿan sabīli llāhi wa-kufrun bihī wa-l-masjidi l-ḥarāmi wa-ʾikhrāju ʾahlihī minhu ʾakbaru ʿinda llāhi wa-l-fitnatu ʾakbaru mina l-qatli wa-lā yazālūna yuqātilūnakum ḥattā yaruddūkum ʿan dīnikum ʾini staṭāʿū wa-man yartadid minkum ʿan dīnihī fa-yamut wa-huwa kāfirun fa-ʾulāʾika ḥabiṭat ʾaʿmāluhum fī d-dunyā wa-l-ʾākhirati wa-ʾulāʾika ʾaṣḥābu n-nāri hum fīhā khālidūna

They ask you concerning warfare in the holy month. Say, ‘It is an outrageous thing to fight in it, but to keep [people] from Allah’s way, and to be unfaithful to Him, and [to keep people from] the Holy Mosque, and to expel its people from it are more outrageous with Allah. And persecution is graver than killing. They will not cease fighting you until they turn you away from your religion, if they can. And whoever of you turns away from his religion and dies faithless—they are the ones whose works have failed in this world and the Hereafter. They shall be the inmates of the Fire, and they shall remain in it [forever].

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinna lladhīna ʾāmanū wa-lladhīna hājarū wa-jāhadū fī sabīli llāhi ʾulāʾika yarjūna raḥmata llāhi wa-llāhu ghafūrun raḥīmun

Indeed those who are faithful and those who have migrated and waged jihad in the way of Allah—it is they who expect Allah’s mercy, and Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yasʾalūnaka ʿani l-khamri wa-l-maysiri qul fīhimā ʾithmun kabīrun wa-manāfiʿu li-n-nāsi wa-ʾithmuhumā ʾakbaru min nafʿihimā wa-yasʾalūnaka mādhā yunfiqūna quli l-ʿafwa ka-dhālika yubayyinu llāhu lakumu l-ʾāyāti laʿallakum tatafakkarūna

They ask you concerning wine and gambling. Say, ‘There is a great sin in both of them, and some profits for the people, but their sinfulness outweighs their profit.’ And they ask you as to what they should spend. Say, ‘All that is surplus.’ Thus does Allah clarify His signs for you so that you may reflect

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 35

fī d-dunyā wa-l-ʾākhirati wa-yasʾalūnaka ʿani l-yatāmā qul ʾiṣlāḥun lahum khayrun wa-ʾin tukhāliṭūhum fa-ʾikhwānukum wa-llāhu yaʿlamu l-mufsida mina l-muṣliḥi wa-law shāʾa llāhu la-ʾaʿnatakum ʾinna llāha ʿazīzun ḥakīmun

about the world and the Hereafter. And they ask you concerning the orphans. Say, ‘It is better to set right their affairs, and if you intermingle with them, they are of course your brothers: Allah knows those who cause corruption from those who set things right, and had Allah wished He would have put you to hardship.’ Indeed Allah is all-mighty, all-wise.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lā tankiḥū l-mushrikāti ḥattā yuʾminna wa-la-ʾamatun muʾminatun khayrun min mushrikatin wa-law ʾaʿjabatkum wa-lā tunkiḥū l-mushrikīna ḥattā yuʾminū wa-la-ʿabdun muʾminun khayrun min mushrikin wa-law ʾaʿjabakum ʾulāʾika yadʿūna ʾilā n-nāri wa-llāhu yadʿū ʾilā l-jannati wa-l-maghfirati bi-ʾidhnihī wa-yubayyinu ʾāyātihī li-n-nāsi laʿallahum yatadhakkarūna

Do not marry idolatresses until they embrace faith. A faithful slave girl is better than an idolatress, though she should impress you. And do not marry [your daughters] to idolaters until they embrace faith. A faithful slave is better than an idolater, though he should impress you. Those invite [others] to the Fire, but Allah invites to paradise and pardon, by His will, and He clarifies His signs for the people so that they may take admonition.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-yasʾalūnaka ʿani l-maḥīḍi qul huwa ʾadhan fa-ʿtazilū n-nisāʾa fī l-maḥīḍi wa-lā taqrabūhunna ḥattā yaṭhurna fa-ʾidhā taṭahharna fa-ʾtūhunna min ḥaythu ʾamarakumu llāhu ʾinna llāha yuḥibbu t-tawwābīna wa-yuḥibbu l-mutaṭahhirīna

They ask you concerning [intercourse during] menses. Say, ‘It is hurtful.’ So keep away from wives during the menses, and do not approach them till they are clean. And when they become clean, go into them as Allah has commanded you. Indeed Allah loves the penitent and He loves those who keep clean.

— Ali Quli Qarai

nisāʾukum ḥarthun lakum fa-ʾtū ḥarthakum ʾannā shiʾtum wa-qaddimū li-ʾanfusikum wa-ttaqū llāha wa-ʿlamū ʾannakum mulāqūhu wa-bashshiri l-muʾminīna

Your women are a tillage for you, so come to your tillage whenever you like, and send ahead for your souls, and be Godwary, and know that you will encounter Him; and give good news to the faithful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lā tajʿalū llāha ʿurḍatan li-ʾaymānikum ʾan tabarrū wa-tattaqū wa-tuṣliḥū bayna n-nāsi wa-llāhu samīʿun ʿalīmun

Do not make Allah an obstacle, through your oaths, to being pious and Godwary, and to bringing about concord between people. And Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 36

lā yuʾākhidhukumu llāhu bi-l-laghwi fī ʾaymānikum wa-lākin yuʾākhidhukum bi-mā kasabat qulūbukum wa-llāhu ghafūrun ḥalīmun

Allah will not take you to task for what is unconsidered in your oaths, but He will take you to task for what your hearts have incurred, and Allah is all-forgiving, all-forbearing.

— Ali Quli Qarai

li-lladhīna yuʾlūna min nisāʾihim tarabbuṣu ʾarbaʿati ʾashhurin fa-ʾin fāʾū fa-ʾinna llāha ghafūrun raḥīmun

For those who forswear their wives shall be a waiting [period]of four months. And if they recant, Allah is indeed all-forgiving, all-merciful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾin ʿazamū ṭ-ṭalāqa fa-ʾinna llāha samīʿun ʿalīmun

But if they resolve on divorce, Allah is indeed all-hearing, all-knowing.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-l-muṭallaqātu yatarabbaṣna bi-ʾanfusihinna thalāthata qurūʾin wa-lā yaḥillu lahunna ʾan yaktumna mā khalaqa llāhu fī ʾarḥāmihinna ʾin kunna yuʾminna bi-llāhi wa-l-yawmi l-ʾākhiri wa-buʿūlatuhunna ʾaḥaqqu bi-raddihinna fī dhālika ʾin ʾarādū ʾiṣlāḥan wa-lahunna mithlu lladhī ʿalayhinna bi-l-maʿrūfi wa-li-r-rijāli ʿalayhinna darajatun wa-llāhu ʿazīzun ḥakīmun-i

Divorced women shall wait by themselves for three periods of purity [after menses], 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 a greater right to restore them during this [duration], if they desire reconcilement. The wives have rights similar to the obligations upon them, in accordance with honourable norms; and men have a degree above them, and Allah is all-mighty and all-wise.

— Ali Quli Qarai

aṭ-ṭalāqu marratāni fa-ʾimsākun bi-maʿrūfin ʾaw tasrīḥun bi-ʾiḥsānin wa-lā yaḥillu lakum ʾan taʾkhudhū mimmā ʾātaytumūhunna shayʾan ʾillā ʾan yakhāfā ʾallā yuqīmā ḥudūda llāhi fa-ʾin khiftum ʾallā yuqīmā ḥudūda llāhi fa-lā junāḥa ʿalayhimā fī-mā ftadat bihī tilka ḥudūdu llāhi fa-lā taʿtadūhā wa-man yataʿadda ḥudūda llāhi fa-ʾulāʾika humu ẓ-ẓālimūna

[Revocable] divorce may be only twice; then [let there be] either an honourable retention, or a kindly release. It is not lawful for you to take back anything from what you have given them, unless the couple fear that they may not maintain Allah’s bounds; so if you fear they would not maintain Allah’s bounds, there is no sin upon them in what she may give to secure her own release. These are Allah’s bounds, so do not transgress them, and whoever transgresses the bounds of Allah—it is they who are the wrongdoers.

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-ʾin ṭallaqahā fa-lā taḥillu lahū min baʿdu ḥattā tankiḥa zawjan ghayrahū fa-ʾin ṭallaqahā fa-lā junāḥa ʿalayhimā ʾan yatarājaʿā ʾin ẓannā ʾan yuqīmā ḥudūda llāhi wa-tilka ḥudūdu llāhi yubayyinuhā li-qawmin yaʿlamūna

And if he divorces her, she will not be lawful for him thereafter until she marries a husband other than him, and if he divorces her, there is no sin upon them to remarry if they think that they can maintain Allah’s bounds. These are Allah’s bounds, which He clarifies for a people who have knowledge.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 37

wa-ʾidhā ṭallaqtumu n-nisāʾa fa-balaghna ʾajalahunna fa-ʾamsikūhunna bi-maʿrūfin ʾaw sarriḥūhunna bi-maʿrūfin wa-lā tumsikūhunna ḍirāran li-taʿtadū wa-man yafʿal dhālika fa-qad ẓalama nafsahū wa-lā tattakhidhū ʾāyāti llāhi huzuwan wa-dhkurū niʿmata llāhi ʿalaykum wa-mā ʾanzala ʿalaykum mina l-kitābi wa-l-ḥikmati yaʿiẓukum bihī wa-ttaqū llāha wa-ʿlamū ʾanna llāha bi-kulli shayʾin ʿalīmun

When you divorce women and they complete their term [of waiting], then either retain them honourably or release them honourably, and do not retain them maliciously in order that you may transgress; and whoever does that certainly wrongs himself. Do not take the signs of Allah in derision, and remember Allah’s blessing upon you, and what He has sent down to you of the Book and wisdom, to advise you therewith. Be wary of Allah and know that Allah has knowledge of all things.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidhā ṭallaqtumu n-nisāʾa fa-balaghna ʾajalahunna fa-lā taʿḍulūhunna ʾan yankiḥna ʾazwājahunna ʾidhā tarāḍaw baynahum bi-l-maʿrūfi dhālika yūʿaẓu bihī man kāna minkum yuʾminu bi-llāhi wa-l-yawmi l-ʾākhiri dhālikum ʾazkā lakum wa-ʾaṭharu wa-llāhu yaʿlamu wa-ʾantum lā taʿlamūna

When you divorce women and they complete their term, do not hinder them from [re]marrying their husbands, when they honourably reach mutual consent. Herewith are advised those of you who believe in Allah and the Last Day. That will be more decent and purer for you, and Allah knows and you do not know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-l-wālidātu yurḍiʿna ʾawlādahunna ḥawlayni kāmilayni li-man ʾarāda ʾan yutimma r-raḍāʿata wa-ʿalā l-mawlūdi lahū rizquhunna wa-kiswatuhunna bi-l-maʿrūfi lā tukallafu nafsun ʾillā wusʿahā lā tuḍārra wālidatun bi-waladihā wa-lā mawlūdun lahū bi-waladihī wa-ʿalā l-wārithi mithlu dhālika fa-ʾin ʾarādā fiṣālan ʿan tarāḍin minhumā wa-tashāwurin fa-lā junāḥa ʿalayhimā wa-ʾin ʾaradtum ʾan tastarḍiʿū ʾawlādakum fa-lā junāḥa ʿalaykum ʾidhā sallamtum mā ʾātaytum bi-l-maʿrūfi wa-ttaqū llāha wa-ʿlamū ʾanna llāha bi-mā taʿmalūna baṣīrun

Mothers shall suckle their children for two full years—that for such as desire to complete the suckling—and on the father shall be their maintenance and clothing, in accordance with honourable norms. No soul is to be tasked except according to its capacity: neither the mother shall be made to suffer harm on her child’s account, nor the father on account of his child, and on the [father’s] heir devolve [duties and rights] similar to that. And if the couple desire to wean with mutual consent and consultation, there will be no sin upon them. And if you want to have your children wet-nursed, there will be no sin upon you so long as you pay what you give in accordance with honourable norms, and be wary of Allah and know that Allah watches what you do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 38

wa-lladhīna yutawaffawna minkum wa-yadharūna ʾazwājan yatarabbaṣna bi-ʾanfusihinna ʾarbaʿata ʾashhurin wa-ʿashran fa-ʾidhā balaghna ʾajalahunna fa-lā junāḥa ʿalaykum fī-mā faʿalna fī ʾanfusihinna bi-l-maʿrūfi wa-llāhu bi-mā taʿmalūna khabīrun

As for those of you who die leaving wives, they shall wait by themselves four months and ten days, and when they complete their term, there will be no sin upon you in respect of what they may do with themselves in accordance with honourable norms. And Allah is well aware of what you do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lā junāḥa ʿalaykum fī-mā ʿarraḍtum bihī min khiṭbati n-nisāʾi ʾaw ʾaknantum fī ʾanfusikum ʿalima llāhu ʾannakum sa-tadhkurūnahunna wa-lākin lā tuwāʿidūhunna sirran ʾillā ʾan taqūlū qawlan maʿrūfan wa-lā taʿzimū ʿuqdata n-nikāḥi ḥattā yablugha l-kitābu ʾajalahū wa-ʿlamū ʾanna llāha yaʿlamu mā fī ʾanfusikum fa-ḥdharūhu wa-ʿlamū ʾanna llāha ghafūrun ḥalīmun

There is no sin upon you in what you may hint in proposing to [recently widowed] women, or what you may secretly cherish within your hearts. Allah knows that you will be thinking of them, but do not make troth with them secretly, unless you say honourable words, and do not resolve on a marriage tie until the prescribed term is complete. Know that Allah knows what is in your hearts, so beware of Him; and know that Allah is all-forgiving, all-forbearing.

— Ali Quli Qarai

lā junāḥa ʿalaykum ʾin ṭallaqtumu n-nisāʾa mā lam tamassūhunna ʾaw tafriḍū lahunna farīḍatan wa-mattiʿūhunna ʿalā l-mūsiʿi qadaruhū wa-ʿalā l-muqtiri qadaruhū matāʿan bi-l-maʿrūfi ḥaqqan ʿalā l-muḥsinīna

There is no sin upon you if you divorce women while you have not yet touched them or settled a dowry for them. Yet provide for them—the well-off according to his capacity, and the poorly-off according to his capacity—with a sustenance that is honourable, an obligation on the virtuous.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾin ṭallaqtumūhunna min qabli ʾan tamassūhunna wa-qad faraḍtum lahunna farīḍatan fa-niṣfu mā faraḍtum ʾillā ʾan yaʿfūna ʾaw yaʿfuwa lladhī bi-yadihī ʿuqdatu n-nikāḥi wa-ʾan taʿfū ʾaqrabu li-t-taqwā wa-lā tansawu l-faḍla baynakum ʾinna llāha bi-mā taʿmalūna baṣīrun

And if you divorce them before you touch them, and you have already settled a dowry for them, then [pay them] half of what you have settled, unless they forgo it, or someone in whose hand is the marriage tie forgoes it. And to forgo is nearer to Godwariness; so do not forget graciousness among yourselves. Indeed Allah watches what you do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 39

ḥāfiẓū ʿalā ṣ-ṣalawāti wa-ṣ-ṣalāti l-wusṭā wa-qūmū li-llāhi qānitīna

Be watchful of your prayers, and [especially] the middle prayer, and stand in obedience to Allah;

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-ʾin khiftum fa-rijālan ʾaw rukbānan fa-ʾidhā ʾamintum fa-dhkurū llāha ka-mā ʿallamakum mā lam takūnū taʿlamūna

and should you fear [a danger], then [pray] on foot or mounted, and when you are safe remember Allah, as He taught you what you did not know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lladhīna yutawaffawna minkum wa-yadharūna ʾazwājan waṣiyyatan li-ʾazwājihim matāʿan ʾilā l-ḥawli ghayra ʾikhrājin fa-ʾin kharajna fa-lā junāḥa ʿalaykum fī mā faʿalna fī ʾanfusihinna min maʿrūfin wa-llāhu ʿazīzun ḥakīmun

Those of you who die leaving wives shall bequeath for their wives providing for a year, without turning them out; but if they leave, there is no sin upon you in respect of what they may do with themselves in accordance with honourable norms. And Allah is all-mighty, all-wise.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-li-l-muṭallaqāti matāʿun bi-l-maʿrūfi ḥaqqan ʿalā l-muttaqīna

For the divorced women there shall be a provision, in accordance with honourable norms—an obligation on the Godwary.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ka-dhālika yubayyinu llāhu lakum ʾāyātihī laʿallakum taʿqilūna

Thus does Allah clarify His signs to you so that you may exercise your reason.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾa-lam tara ʾilā lladhīna kharajū min diyārihim wa-hum ʾulūfun ḥadhara l-mawti fa-qāla lahumu llāhu mūtū thumma ʾaḥyāhum ʾinna llāha la-dhū faḍlin ʿalā n-nāsi wa-lākinna ʾakthara n-nāsi lā yashkurūna

Have you not regarded those who left their homes in thousands, apprehensive of death, whereupon Allah said to them, ‘Die,’ then He revived them? Indeed Allah is gracious to mankind, but most people do not give thanks.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-qātilū fī sabīli llāhi wa-ʿlamū ʾanna llāha samīʿun ʿalīmun

Fight in the way of Allah, and know that Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.

— Ali Quli Qarai

man dhā lladhī yuqriḍu llāha qarḍan ḥasanan fa-yuḍāʿifahū lahū ʾaḍʿāfan kathīratan wa-llāhu yaqbiḍu wa-yabsuṭu wa-ʾilayhi turjaʿūna

Who is it that will lend Allah a good loan that He may multiply it for him severalfold? Allah tightens and expands [the means of life], and to Him you shall be brought back.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 40

ʾa-lam tara ʾilā l-malaʾi min banī ʾisrāʾīla min baʿdi mūsā ʾidh qālū li-nabiyyin lahumu bʿath lanā malikan nuqātil fī sabīli llāhi qāla hal ʿasaytum ʾin kutiba ʿalaykumu l-qitālu ʾallā tuqātilū qālū wa-mā lanā ʾallā nuqātila fī sabīli llāhi wa-qad ʾukhrijnā min diyārinā wa-ʾabnāʾinā fa-lammā kutiba ʿalayhimu l-qitālu tawallaw ʾillā qalīlan minhum wa-llāhu ʿalīmun bi-ẓ-ẓālimīna

Have you not regarded the elite of the Israelites after Moses, when they said to their prophet, ‘Appoint for us a king that we may fight in the way of Allah.’ He said, ‘May it not be that you will not fight if fighting were prescribed for you?’ They said, ‘Why should we not fight in the way of Allah, when we have been expelled from our homes and [separated from] our children?’ So when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned back except a few of them, and Allah knows well the wrongdoers.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-qāla lahum nabiyyuhum ʾinna llāha qad baʿatha lakum ṭālūta malikan qālū ʾannā yakūnu lahu l-mulku ʿalaynā wa-naḥnu ʾaḥaqqu bi-l-mulki minhu wa-lam yuʾta saʿatan mina l-māli qāla ʾinna llāha ṣṭafāhu ʿalaykum wa-zādahū basṭatan fī l-ʿilmi wa-l-jismi wa-llāhu yuʾtī mulkahū man yashāʾu wa-llāhu wāsiʿun ʿalīmun

Their prophet said to them, ‘Allah has appointed Saul as king for you.’ They said, ‘How can he have kingship over us, when we have a greater right to kingship than him, as he has not been given ample wealth?’ He said, ‘Indeed Allah has chosen him over you, and enhanced him vastly in knowledge and physique, and Allah gives His kingdom to whomever He wishes, and Allah is all-bounteous, all-knowing.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-qāla lahum nabiyyuhum ʾinna ʾāyata mulkihī ʾan yaʾtiyakumu t-tābūtu fīhi sakīnatun min rabbikum wa-baqiyyatun mimmā taraka ʾālu mūsā wa-ʾālu hārūna taḥmiluhu l-malāʾikatu ʾinna fī dhālika la-ʾāyatan lakum ʾin kuntum muʾminīna

Their prophet said to them, ‘Indeed the sign of his kingship shall be that the Ark will come to you, bearing tranquillity from your Lord and the relics left behind by the House of Moses and the House of Aaron, borne by the angels. There is indeed a sign in that for you, should you be faithful.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 41

fa-lammā faṣala ṭālūtu bi-l-junūdi qāla ʾinna llāha mubtalīkum bi-naharin fa-man shariba minhu fa-laysa minnī wa-man lam yaṭʿamhu fa-ʾinnahū minnī ʾillā mani ghtarafa ghurfatan bi-yadihī fa-sharibū minhu ʾillā qalīlan minhum fa-lammā jāwazahū huwa wa-lladhīna ʾāmanū maʿahū qālū lā ṭāqata lanā l-yawma bi-jālūta wa-junūdihī qāla lladhīna yaẓunnūna ʾannahum mulāqū llāhi kam min fiʾatin qalīlatin ghalabat fiʾatan kathīratan bi-ʾidhni llāhi wa-llāhu maʿa ṣ-ṣābirīna

As Saul set out with the troops, he said, ‘Allah will test you with a stream: anyone who drinks from it will not belong to me, but those who do not drink from it will belong to me, barring someone who draws a scoop with his hand.’ But they drank from it, [all] except a few of them. So when he crossed it along with the faithful who were with him, they said, ‘We have no strength today against Goliath and his troops.’ Those who were certain that they would encounter Allah said, ‘How many a small party has overcome a larger party by Allah’s will! And Allah is with the patient.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lammā barazū li-jālūta wa-junūdihī qālū rabbanā ʾafrigh ʿalaynā ṣabran wa-thabbit ʾaqdāmanā wa-nṣurnā ʿalā l-qawmi l-kāfirīna

So when they marched out for [encounter with] Goliath and his troops, they said, ‘Our Lord, pour patience upon us, make our feet steady, and assist us against the faithless lot.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-hazamūhum bi-ʾidhni llāhi wa-qatala dāwūdu jālūta wa-ʾātāhu llāhu l-mulka wa-l-ḥikmata wa-ʿallamahū mimmā yashāʾu wa-law-lā dafʿu llāhi n-nāsa baʿḍahum bi-baʿḍin la-fasadati l-ʾarḍu wa-lākinna llāha dhū faḍlin ʿalā l-ʿālamīna

Thus they routed them with Allah’s will, and David killed Goliath, and Allah gave him kingdom and wisdom and taught him whatever He liked. Were it not for Allah’s repelling the people by means of one another, the earth would surely have been corrupted; but Allah is gracious to the world’s people.

— Ali Quli Qarai

tilka ʾāyātu llāhi natlūhā ʿalayka bi-l-ḥaqqi wa-ʾinnaka la-mina l-mursalīna

These are the signs of Allah, which We recite for you in truth, and you are indeed one of the apostles.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 42

tilka r-rusulu faḍḍalnā baʿḍahum ʿalā baʿḍin minhum man kallama llāhu wa-rafaʿa baʿḍahum darajātin wa-ʾātaynā ʿīsā bna maryama l-bayyināti wa-ʾayyadnāhu bi-rūḥi l-qudusi wa-law shāʾa llāhu mā qtatala lladhīna min baʿdihim min baʿdi mā jāʾathumu l-bayyinātu wa-lākini khtalafū fa-minhum man ʾāmana wa-minhum man kafara wa-law shāʾa llāhu mā qtatalū wa-lākinna llāha yafʿalu mā yurīdu

These are the apostles, some of whom We gave an advantage over others: of them are those to whom Allah spoke and some of them He raised in rank, and We gave Jesus, son of Mary, manifest proofs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Had Allah wished, those who succeeded them would not have fought one another after the manifest proofs had come to them. But they differed. So there were among them those who had faith and there were among them those who were faithless, and had Allah wished, they would not have fought one another; but Allah does whatever He desires.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū ʾanfiqū mimmā razaqnākum min qabli ʾan yaʾtiya yawmun lā bayʿun fīhi wa-lā khullatun wa-lā shafāʿatun wa-l-kāfirūna humu ẓ-ẓālimūna

O you who have faith! Spend out of what We have provided you before there comes a day on which there will be no bargaining, neither friendship, nor intercession. And the faithless—they are the wrongdoers.

— Ali Quli Qarai

allāhu lā ʾilāha ʾillā huwa l-ḥayyu l-qayyūmu lā taʾkhudhuhū sinatun wa-lā nawmun lahū mā fī s-samāwāti wa-mā fī l-ʾarḍi man dhā lladhī yashfaʿu ʿindahū ʾillā bi-ʾidhnihī yaʿlamu mā bayna ʾaydīhim wa-mā khalfahum wa-lā yuḥīṭūna bi-shayʾin min ʿilmihī ʾillā bi-mā shāʾa wasiʿa kursiyyuhu s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍa wa-lā yaʾūduhū ḥifẓuhumā wa-huwa l-ʿaliyyu l-ʿaẓīmu

Allah—there is no god except Him—is the Living One, the All-sustainer. Neither drowsiness befalls Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that may intercede with Him except with His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they do not comprehend anything of His knowledge except what He wishes. His seat embraces the heavens and the earth and He is not wearied by their preservation, and He is the All-exalted, the All-supreme.

— Ali Quli Qarai

lā ʾikrāha fī d-dīni qad tabayyana r-rushdu mina l-ghayyi fa-man yakfur bi-ṭ-ṭāghūti wa-yuʾmin bi-llāhi fa-qadi stamsaka bi-l-ʿurwati l-wuthqā lā nfiṣāma lahā wa-llāhu samīʿun ʿalīmun-i

There is no compulsion in religion: rectitude has become distinct from error. So one who disavows fake deities and has faith in Allah has held fast to the firmest handle for which there is no breaking; and Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 43

allāhu waliyyu lladhīna ʾāmanū yukhrijuhum mina ẓ-ẓulumāti ʾilā n-nūri wa-lladhīna kafarū ʾawliyāʾuhumu ṭ-ṭāghūtu yukhrijūnahum mina n-nūri ʾilā ẓ-ẓulumāti ʾulāʾika ʾaṣḥābu n-nāri hum fīhā khālidūna

Allah is the wali of the faithful: He brings them out of darkness into light. As for the faithless, their awliya are the fake deities, who drive them out of light into darkness. They shall be the inmates of the Fire, and they will remain in it [forever].

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾa-lam tara ʾilā lladhī ḥājja ʾibrāhīma fī rabbihī ʾan ʾātāhu llāhu l-mulka ʾidh qāla ʾibrāhīmu rabbiya lladhī yuḥyī wa-yumītu qāla ʾana ʾuḥyī wa-ʾumītu qāla ʾibrāhīmu fa-ʾinna llāha yaʾtī bi-sh-shamsi mina l-mashriqi fa-ʾti bihā mina l-maghribi fa-buhita lladhī kafara wa-llāhu lā yahdī l-qawma ẓ-ẓālimīna

Have you not regarded him who argued with Abraham about his Lord, [only] because Allah had given him kingdom? When Abraham said, ‘My Lord is He who gives life and brings death,’ he replied, ‘I [too] give life and bring death.’ Abraham said, ‘Indeed Allah brings the sun from the east; now you bring it from the west.’ Thereat the faithless one was dumbfounded. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing lot.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾaw ka-lladhī marra ʿalā qaryatin wa-hiya khāwiyatun ʿalā ʿurūshihā qāla ʾannā yuḥyī hādhihi llāhu baʿda mawtihā fa-ʾamātahu llāhu miʾata ʿāmin thumma baʿathahū qāla kam labithta qāla labithtu yawman ʾaw baʿḍa yawmin qāla bal labithta miʾata ʿāmin fa-nẓur ʾilā ṭaʿāmika wa-sharābika lam yatasannah wa-nẓur ʾilā ḥimārika wa-li-najʿalaka ʾāyatan li-n-nāsi wa-nẓur ʾilā l-ʿiẓāmi kayfa nunshizuhā thumma naksūhā laḥman fa-lammā tabayyana lahū qāla ʾaʿlamu ʾanna llāha ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīrun

Or him who came upon a township as it lay fallen on its trellises. He said, ‘How will Allah revive this after its death?!’ So Allah made him die for a hundred years, then He resurrected him. He said, ‘How long did you remain?’ Said he, ‘I have remained a day or part of a day.’ He said, ‘No, you have remained a hundred years. Now look at your food and drink which have not rotted! Then look at your ass! [This was done] that We may make you a sign for mankind. And now look at its bones, how We raise them up and clothe them with flesh!’ When it became evident to him, he said, ‘I know that Allah has power over all things.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 44

wa-ʾidh qāla ʾibrāhīmu rabbi ʾarinī kayfa tuḥyi l-mawtā qāla ʾa-wa-lam tuʾmin qāla balā wa-lākin li-yaṭmaʾinna qalbī qāla fa-khudh ʾarbaʿatan mina ṭ-ṭayri fa-ṣurhunna ʾilayka thumma jʿal ʿalā kulli jabalin minhunna juzʾan thumma dʿuhunna yaʾtīnaka saʿyan wa-ʿlam ʾanna llāha ʿazīzun ḥakīmun

And when Abraham said, ‘My Lord! Show me how You revive the dead,’ He said, ‘Do you not believe?’ He said, ‘Yes indeed, but in order that my heart may be at rest.’ He said, ‘Catch four of the birds. Then cut them into pieces, and place a part of them on every mountain, then call them; they will come to you hastening. And know that Allah is all-mighty and all-wise.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

mathalu lladhīna yunfiqūna ʾamwālahum fī sabīli llāhi ka-mathali ḥabbatin ʾanbatat sabʿa sanābila fī kulli sunbulatin miʾatu ḥabbatin wa-llāhu yuḍāʿifu li-man yashāʾu wa-llāhu wāsiʿun ʿalīmun-i

The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is that of a grain which grows seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains. Allah enhances severalfold whomever He wishes, and Allah is all-bounteous, all-knowing.

— Ali Quli Qarai

alladhīna yunfiqūna ʾamwālahum fī sabīli llāhi thumma lā yutbiʿūna mā ʾanfaqū mannan wa-lā ʾadhan lahum ʾajruhum ʿinda rabbihim wa-lā khawfun ʿalayhim wa-lā hum yaḥzanūna

Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and then do not follow up what they have spent with reproaches and affronts, they shall have their reward near their Lord, and they will have no fear, nor will they grieve.

— Ali Quli Qarai

qawlun maʿrūfun wa-maghfiratun khayrun min ṣadaqatin yatbaʿuhā ʾadhan wa-llāhu ghaniyyun ḥalīmun

An honourable reply [in response to the needy] and forgiving [their annoyance] is better than a charity followed by affront. Allah is all-sufficient, most forbearing.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū lā tubṭilū ṣadaqātikum bi-l-manni wa-l-ʾadhā ka-lladhī yunfiqu mālahū riʾāʾa n-nāsi wa-lā yuʾminu bi-llāhi wa-l-yawmi l-ʾākhiri fa-mathaluhū ka-mathali ṣafwānin ʿalayhi turābun fa-ʾaṣābahū wābilun fa-tarakahū ṣaldan lā yaqdirūna ʿalā shayʾin mimmā kasabū wa-llāhu lā yahdī l-qawma l-kāfirīna

O you who have faith! Do not render your charities void by reproaches and affronts, like those who spend their wealth to be seen by people and have no faith in Allah and the Last Day. Their parable is that of a rock covered with soil: a downpour strikes it, leaving it bare. They have no power over anything of what they have earned, and Allah does not guide the faithless lot.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 45

wa-mathalu lladhīna yunfiqūna ʾamwālahumu btighāʾa marḍāti llāhi wa-tathbītan min ʾanfusihim ka-mathali jannatin bi-rabwatin ʾaṣābahā wābilun fa-ʾātat ʾukulahā ḍiʿfayni fa-ʾin lam yuṣibhā wābilun fa-ṭallun wa-llāhu bi-mā taʿmalūna baṣīrun

The parable of those who spend their wealth seeking Allah’s pleasure and to confirm themselves [in their faith], is that of a garden on a hillside: the downpour strikes it, whereupon it brings forth its fruit twofold; and if it is not a downpour that strikes it, then a shower, and Allah watches what you do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾa-yawaddu ʾaḥadukum ʾan takūna lahū jannatun min nakhīlin wa-ʾaʿnābin tajrī min taḥtihā l-ʾanhāru lahū fīhā min kulli th-thamarāti wa-ʾaṣābahu l-kibaru wa-lahū dhurriyyatun ḍuʿafāʾu fa-ʾaṣābahā ʾiʿṣārun fīhi nārun fa-ḥtaraqat ka-dhālika yubayyinu llāhu lakumu l-ʾāyāti laʿallakum tatafakkarūna

Would any of you like to have a garden of palm trees and vines, with streams running in it, with all kinds of fruit for him therein, and old age were to strike him while he has weakly offspring; whereupon a fiery hurricane were to hit it, whereat it lies burnt? Thus does Allah clarify His signs for you so that you may reflect.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū ʾanfiqū min ṭayyibāti mā kasabtum wa-mimmā ʾakhrajnā lakum mina l-ʾarḍi wa-lā tayammamū l-khabītha minhu tunfiqūna wa-lastum bi-ʾākhidhīhi ʾillā ʾan tughmiḍū fīhi wa-ʿlamū ʾanna llāha ghaniyyun ḥamīdun-i

O you who have faith! Spend of the good things you have earned [through trade and the like] and of what We bring forth for you from the earth, and do not be of the mind to give the bad part of it, for you yourselves would not take it, unless you ignore. And know that Allah is all-sufficient, all-laudable.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ash-shayṭānu yaʿidukumu l-faqra wa-yaʾmurukum bi-l-faḥshāʾi wa-llāhu yaʿidukum maghfiratan minhu wa-faḍlan wa-llāhu wāsiʿun ʿalīmun

Satan frightens you of poverty and prompts you to [commit] indecent acts. But Allah promises you His forgiveness and bounty, and Allah is all-bounteous, all-knowing.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yuʾtī l-ḥikmata man yashāʾu wa-man yuʾta l-ḥikmata fa-qad ʾūtiya khayran kathīran wa-mā yadhdhakkaru ʾillā ʾulū l-ʾalbābi

He grants wisdom to whomever He wishes, and he, who is given wisdom, is certainly given an abundant good, and none takes admonition except those who possess intellect.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 46

wa-mā ʾanfaqtum min nafaqatin ʾaw nadhartum min nadhrin fa-ʾinna llāha yaʿlamuhū wa-mā li-ẓ-ẓālimīna min ʾanṣārin

Allah indeed knows whatever charity you may give, or vows that you may vow, and the wrongdoers have no helpers.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾin tubdū ṣ-ṣadaqāti fa-niʿimmā hiya wa-ʾin tukhfūhā wa-tuʾtūhā l-fuqarāʾa fa-huwa khayrun lakum wa-yukaffiru ʿankum min sayyiʾātikum wa-llāhu bi-mā taʿmalūna khabīrun

If you disclose your charities, that is well, but if you hide them and give them to the poor, that is better for you, and it will atone for some of your misdeeds, and Allah is well aware of what you do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

laysa ʿalayka hudāhum wa-lākinna llāha yahdī man yashāʾu wa-mā tunfiqū min khayrin fa-li-ʾanfusikum wa-mā tunfiqūna ʾillā btighāʾa wajhi llāhi wa-mā tunfiqū min khayrin yuwaffa ʾilaykum wa-ʾantum lā tuẓlamūna

It is not up to you to guide them; rather, it is Allah who guides whomever He wishes. Whatever wealth you spend, it is for your own benefit, as you do not spend but to seek Allah’s pleasure, and whatever wealth you spend will be repaid to you in full and you will not be wronged.

— Ali Quli Qarai

li-l-fuqarāʾi lladhīna ʾuḥṣirū fī sabīli llāhi lā yastaṭīʿūna ḍarban fī l-ʾarḍi yaḥsabuhumu l-jāhilu ʾaghniyāʾa mina t-taʿaffufi taʿrifuhum bi-sīmāhum lā yasʾalūna n-nāsa ʾilḥāfan wa-mā tunfiqū min khayrin fa-ʾinna llāha bihī ʿalīmun-i

[The charities are] for the poor who are straitened in the way of Allah, not capable of moving about in the land [for trade]. The unaware suppose them to be well-off because of their reserve. You recognize them by their mark; they do not ask the people importunately. And whatever wealth you may spend, Allah indeed knows it.

— Ali Quli Qarai

alladhīna yunfiqūna ʾamwālahum bi-l-layli wa-n-nahāri sirran wa-ʿalāniyatan fa-lahum ʾajruhum ʿinda rabbihim wa-lā khawfun ʿalayhim wa-lā hum yaḥzanūna

Those who give their wealth by night and day, secretly and openly, they shall have their reward near their Lord, and they will have no fear, nor will they grieve.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 47

alladhīna yaʾkulūna r-ribā lā yaqūmūna ʾillā ka-mā yaqūmu lladhī yatakhabbaṭuhu sh-shayṭānu mina l-massi dhālika bi-ʾannahum qālū ʾinnamā l-bayʿu mithlu r-ribā wa-ʾaḥalla llāhu l-bayʿa wa-ḥarrama r-ribā fa-man jāʾahū mawʿiẓatun min rabbihī fa-ntahā fa-lahū mā salafa wa-ʾamruhū ʾilā llāhi wa-man ʿāda fa-ʾulāʾika ʾaṣḥābu n-nāri hum fīhā khālidūna

Those who exact usury will not stand but like one deranged by the Devil’s touch. That is because they say, ‘Trade is just like usury.’ While Allah has allowed trade and forbidden usury. Whoever relinquishes [usury] on receiving advice from his Lord shall keep [the gains of] what is past, and his matter will rest with Allah. As for those who resume, they shall be the inmates of the Fire and they shall remain in it [forever].

— Ali Quli Qarai

yamḥaqu llāhu r-ribā wa-yurbī ṣ-ṣadaqāti wa-llāhu lā yuḥibbu kulla kaffārin ʾathīmin

Allah brings usury to naught, but He makes charities flourish. Allah does not like any sinful ingrate.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinna lladhīna ʾāmanū wa-ʿamilū ṣ-ṣāliḥāti wa-ʾaqāmū ṣ-ṣalāta wa-ʾātawu z-zakāta lahum ʾajruhum ʿinda rabbihim wa-lā khawfun ʿalayhim wa-lā hum yaḥzanūna

Indeed those who have faith, do righteous deeds, maintain the prayer and give the zakat, they shall have their reward near their Lord, and they will have no fear, nor will they grieve.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū ttaqū llāha wa-dharū mā baqiya mina r-ribā ʾin kuntum muʾminīna

O you who have faith! Be wary of Allah and abandon [all claims to] what remains of usury, should you be faithful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

fa-ʾin lam tafʿalū fa-ʾdhanū bi-ḥarbin mina llāhi wa-rasūlihī wa-ʾin tubtum fa-lakum ruʾūsu ʾamwālikum lā taẓlimūna wa-lā tuẓlamūna

And if you do not, then be informed of a war from Allah and His apostle. And if you repent, then you will have your principal, neither harming others, nor suffering harm.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾin kāna dhū ʿusratin fa-naẓiratun ʾilā maysaratin wa-ʾan taṣaddaqū khayrun lakum ʾin kuntum taʿlamūna

If [the debtor] is in straits, let there be a respite until the time of ease; and if you remit [the debt] as charity, it will be better for you, should you know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ttaqū yawman turjaʿūna fīhi ʾilā llāhi thumma tuwaffā kullu nafsin mā kasabat wa-hum lā yuẓlamūna

And beware of a day in which you will be brought back to Allah. Then every soul shall be recompensed fully for what it has earned, and they will not be wronged.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 48

yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū ʾidhā tadāyantum bi-daynin ʾilā ʾajalin musamman fa-ktubūhu wa-l-yaktub baynakum kātibun bi-l-ʿadli wa-lā yaʾba kātibun ʾan yaktuba ka-mā ʿallamahu llāhu fa-l-yaktub wa-l-yumlili lladhī ʿalayhi l-ḥaqqu wa-l-yattaqi llāha rabbahū wa-lā yabkhas minhu shayʾan fa-ʾin kāna lladhī ʿalayhi l-ḥaqqu safīhan ʾaw ḍaʿīfan ʾaw lā yastaṭīʿu ʾan yumilla huwa fa-l-yumlil waliyyuhū bi-l-ʿadli wa-stashhidū shahīdayni min rijālikum fa-ʾin lam yakūnā rajulayni fa-rajulun wa-mraʾatāni mimman tarḍawna mina sh-shuhadāʾi ʾan taḍilla ʾiḥdāhumā fa-tudhakkira ʾiḥdāhumā l-ʾukhrā wa-lā yaʾba sh-shuhadāʾu ʾidhā mā duʿū wa-lā tasʾamū ʾan taktubūhu ṣaghīran ʾaw kabīran ʾilā ʾajalihī dhālikum ʾaqsaṭu ʿinda llāhi wa-ʾaqwamu li-sh-shahādati wa-ʾadnā ʾallā tartābū ʾillā ʾan takūna tijāratan ḥāḍiratan tudīrūnahā baynakum fa-laysa ʿalaykum junāḥun ʾallā taktubūhā wa-ʾashhidū ʾidhā tabāyaʿtum wa-lā yuḍārra kātibun wa-lā shahīdun wa-ʾin tafʿalū fa-ʾinnahū fusūqun bikum wa-ttaqū llāha wa-yuʿallimukumu llāhu wa-llāhu bi-kulli shayʾin ʿalīmun

O you who have faith! When you contract a loan for a specified term, write it down. Let a writer write with honesty between you, and let not the writer refuse to write as Allah has taught him. So let him write, and let the one who incurs the debt dictate, and let him be wary of Allah, his Lord, and not diminish anything from it. But if the debtor be feeble-minded, or weak, or incapable of dictating himself, then let his guardian dictate with honesty, and take as witness two witnesses from your men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women—from those whom you approve as witnesses—so that if one of the two defaults the other will remind her. The witnesses must not refuse when they are called, and do not consider it wearisome to write it down, whether it be a big or small sum, [as a loan lent] until its term. That is more just with Allah and more upright in respect to testimony, and the likeliest way to avoid doubt, unless it is an on-the-spot deal you transact between yourselves, in which case there is no sin upon you not to write it. Take witnesses when you make a deal, and let no harm be done to the writer or witness, and if you did that, it would be sinful of you. Be wary of Allah and Allah will teach you, and Allah has knowledge of all things.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 49

wa-ʾin kuntum ʿalā safarin wa-lam tajidū kātiban fa-rihānun maqbūḍatun fa-ʾin ʾamina baʿḍukum baʿḍan fa-l-yuʾaddi lladhī ʾtumina ʾamānatahū wa-l-yattaqi llāha rabbahū wa-lā taktumū sh-shahādata wa-man yaktumhā fa-ʾinnahū ʾāthimun qalbuhū wa-llāhu bi-mā taʿmalūna ʿalīmun

If you are on a journey and cannot find a writer, then a retained pledge [shall suffice]. And if one of you entrusts [an asset] to another, let him who is trusted deliver his trust, and let him be wary of Allah, his Lord. And do not conceal your testimony; anyone who conceals it, his heart will indeed be sinful, and Allah knows well what you do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

li-llāhi mā fī s-samāwāti wa-mā fī l-ʾarḍi wa-ʾin tubdū mā fī ʾanfusikum ʾaw tukhfūhu yuḥāsibkum bihi llāhu fa-yaghfiru li-man yashāʾu wa-yuʿadhdhibu man yashāʾu wa-llāhu ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīrun

To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. Whether you disclose what is in your hearts or hide it, Allah will bring you to account for it. Then He will forgive whomever He wishes and punish whomever He wishes, and Allah has power over all things.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾāmana r-rasūlu bi-mā ʾunzila ʾilayhi min rabbihī wa-l-muʾminūna kullun ʾāmana bi-llāhi wa-malāʾikatihī wa-kutubihī wa-rusulihī lā nufarriqu bayna ʾaḥadin min rusulihī wa-qālū samiʿnā wa-ʾaṭaʿnā ghufrānaka rabbanā wa-ʾilayka l-maṣīru

The Apostle and the faithful have faith in what has been sent down to him from his Lord. Each [of them] has faith in Allah, His angels, His scriptures and His apostles. [They declare,] ‘We make no distinction between any of His apostles.’ And they say, ‘We hear and obey. Our Lord, forgive us, and toward You is the return.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

lā yukallifu llāhu nafsan ʾillā wusʿahā lahā mā kasabat wa-ʿalayhā mā ktasabat rabbanā lā tuʾākhidhnā ʾin nasīnā ʾaw ʾakhṭaʾnā rabbanā wa-lā taḥmil ʿalaynā ʾiṣran ka-mā ḥamaltahū ʿalā lladhīna min qablinā rabbanā wa-lā tuḥammilnā mā lā ṭāqata lanā bihī wa-ʿfu ʿannā wa-ghfir lanā wa-rḥamnā ʾanta mawlānā fa-nṣurnā ʿalā l-qawmi l-kāfirīna

Allah does not task any soul beyond its capacity. Whatever [good] it earns is to its own benefit, and whatever [evil] it incurs is to its own harm. ‘Our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or make mistakes! Our Lord! Do not place upon us a burden as You placed on those who were before us! Our Lord! Do not lay upon us what we have no strength to bear! Excuse us, forgive us, and be merciful to us! You are our Master, so help us against the faithless lot!’

— Ali Quli Qarai