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SURE
Bakara Suresi
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[God fearing people are] Those Who believe in the existence of the unseen [beings and phenomena that man can not perceive with his senses such as microbes, atoms, angles, etc. ], worship God [five times a day as established by Islamic laws] and give to charity a part of their income/ provisions [which God has provided for them at first place.]
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The above mentioned people are those who believe in this book (Qur’an) that I (God) have revealed to you (Mohammad) as well as the (original) Books that I had revealed to the prophets before you [which do not exist any more as they have been tampered with or partially/ totally lost] and firmly believe in the (existence of) Hereafter.
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Lord is the one who has made the earth habitable for you. He has created the sky as a canopy [a thin ozone layer covering the earth’s atmosphere like a canopy, without which we all die almost immediately]. He sends down from the sky water which causes the vegetations to grow [and create a food chain] as your provision. Do not then set up idols [in different forms and shapes] to rival God while you know that he is the only creator.
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And give good news to those who believe and do good deeds that they will live in gardens in which rivers flow. Anytime they are served with fruits (and other provisions), they will say: "These are similar [though superior in quality] to what God was providing for us in earth". The believers will have pure spouses and live in paradise forever.
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God is definitely not ashamed to refer to a tiny mosquito—or a bigger creature of his own—as an example to make a point. The believers get the message from the example; the unbelievers (on the other hand) will say: "What does God mean by these stupid examples?" Many are misled and many are lead by these examples to the right path; only the wicked ones are misled [as they do not get the message in account of their attitude.]
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[Once God created Adam, in order to answer the Angles’ question,] He taught Adam every possible subject and then asked questions about those subjects from the angles [making his points that in spite of the man’s shortcoming, he is given a higher level of learning capacity than the angles (who do not shed blood or make mischief) do not possess]
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Then God said: " O Adam, answer the questions that I asked the angles". When Adam answered those questions, God said: “Did I not tell you That I know the secrets of heaven and earth as well as what you disclose and what you hide.” [Do you now realize why I want to put such a mischief making creature as my representative on earth in spite of all his shortcomings?]
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But [as it was expected] Adam and Eve fell prey to Satan’s temptation and [lost their as they disobeyed God and thus committed the first sin of the human being. ] Then God said: "Go down to earth as enemies [a curse and punishment for disobedience.] You will stay there for a while with an appointed provision."
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And remember that We saved you from the slavery of Pharaoh’s people who subjected you to the worse persecution. They were killing your sons; sparing your daughters (for their pleasures.) That persecution was the most difficult test imposed upon you by your Lord [so that you may learn valuable lessons through hardship.]
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Also remember that when Moses [returned from Mt. Sinai] said to his people: "O my people, you have betrayed your souls by worshiping the statue of a cow. Ask your Creator to forgive you and slay the guilty ones among you." Then God forgave you as He is the one Who accepts repentance and is the most merciful.
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Remember also when I said: "[Fight with the unjust habitants of Jerusalem, conquer and] Enter into the town [Jerusalem] where you will find as many provisions as you want. Enter the gate (of the town) bowing down with humility invoking God’s name and granting general amnesty (to the inhabitants after the conquest.) Then I will forgive your sins and reward you generously." [They replied: “Moses, you and your God go fight for us and once you conquer the town we will join you!]”
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I (God) would like to remind you of the occasion when Moses prayed for water for his (thirsty) people. I answered his prayer saying: "Strike the rock with your staff." Then springs gushed from the rock; the people of every tribe knew their drinking place.” [Then God said:] “Eat and drink of what God has provided for you and do no evil nor mischief on the earth.
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Remember [instead of being grateful for receiving mann and salva from heaven] you grumbled: "O Moses, we can not stand this monotonous food ask “your" Lord to give us a variety of earthly 11crops such herbs, cucumbers, garlic, lentils, onions [etc]. Moses said: “Do you wish to substitute the worse for the best? Then follow the order of God and go conquer the town [Jerusalem] wherein God will give you whatever you want. [In account of this ungrateful attitude], little by little, God sent upon them his wrath, humiliation and misery. That was the consequence of their disobedience, rejecting God’s revelations and killing God’s Messengers for no good reason.
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[O’ Children of Israel;] I would like to remind you more: When I raised Mt. Sinai on top of your head and (while you were at awe) you promised Me that you will carry my order: "Hold up to the book that I have revealed to you and make it a part of your daily life and refer to it frequently" so that you may become successful.
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In spite of seeing all these miracles [with your own eyes], your heart became as hard as a rock. Your heart became even harder than a rock; after all, there are rocks that are pierced by water and become the source of a spring, being split so that a river pass through and even melt down when they feel the presence of the Lord. Know that [such awesome] God is not unaware of what you are doing.
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Shame and pity on the learned ones of them who fabricate some verses and then say: "These are the words of God. " They do so in order to make some money. They do not realize that they are digging their own grave with those hands [who fabricate lies against the Lord] and that what their earnings in this manner will lead to their ruins.
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Now here you are: killing each other, driving your own brothers out of their homes and gang up against each other. Even if the other side surrenders, you demand ransom for them in spite of the fact that the aggression against them was wrong at first place. You believe in a part of your book and disregard the other! What other punishment such people deserve except a miserable life in this world and a sever punishment in Hereafter. God is not unaware of what you do.
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I gave the Scriptures to Moses and send many prophets after him. I strengthened [the position of] Jesus, son of Mary [the last prophet sent to the Jews] by many miracles and supported him with the Holy Spirit. What a shame that when a prophet came to you, and relayed those Messages of Mine that you did not like, you showed arrogance; some of them you denied and some of them you killed!
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What a shame when someone decides to sell his own soul by choosing to disbelieve in the guidance sent by God; and what for? That God has [not revealed it to whom they wished and that He has] revealed it to the one that He has chosen out of His Grace! In this way they have earned curse upon curse and there is an awful punishment in reserve for the disbelievers.
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When they are told: "Believe in what God has sent to you, " they reply: “We [choose to] believe only in what is revealed to us (the prophets of our own race) and deny any [additional] revelations. ” This in spite of the fact that it is the truth; confirming what is with them. If it is so, ask them: “Then how come you killed the prophets of God who were chosen from among yourselves, if you consider yourselves as believers?”
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I took a solemn pledge from you while raising the Mount Sinai over your heads: "Follow my revelations to the point and be obedient. " They promised to believe but they rebelled. They were such phonies that they worshipped a cow! Tell them (O Mohammad): “If yours is belief, it is indeed a strange belief that makes you to do such evil things.”
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You (Mohammad) will find them (the Jews), of all the people, the most in love with this worldly life. They are in love with this world even more than the idol worshippers are in love with. They all wish to be given a thousand years life. [What they do not realize is that] Even if their wish is granted, they can not escape the punishment of God as He observes what they are doing.
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Say: "Anyone who resents (makes fun of) Angel Gabriel should know that [this high ranked Angel has a unique position as] he is commissioned to reveal the words of God (Qur’an) to you. Qur’an confirms the (original) Scriptures, provides guidance and gives you the good news [of the continuation of life after death in Paradise] for the believers.
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These are the same people who used to practice black magic. The Satan had convinced them that the greatness of the Solomon’s kingdom was due to such practices! Solomon, in fact, was never involved in these types of activities as he was a believer. The Satan’s army [who practiced such things], however, belonged to the camp of the disbelievers. The tatters were enchanted by the knowledge of the two Angels known as Haroot and Maroot who were sent to the Babylon. These two, however, would always teach the art of the black magic with the following warning: "The possession of this trial is only meant for your trial (to see how you will use it.)" People, instead, used their knowledge to cast a spell between husbands and wives leading to their separation. The sorcerers, naturally, could not harm anyone without the permission of God [some miseries in life is meant by God to make man stronger.] What they learned, however, did not profit them. Besides, they knew well [before selling their souls to Satan] that the sorcery will ruin their Hereafter. If they knew what price they are paying for their fascination with magic.
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The idol worshippers, as well as the Christians and the Jews alike, resent (among other things, out of jealousy) to see that something good (Qur’an) is being sent to you (and not to them) from the Lord. The choice, however, is the Lord’s; He is the One Who decides to shed his grace upon whoever He chooses (naturally based upon the merit of the recipient.)
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Why do you argue with your Prophet [instead of just obeying the Lord’s orders] the same way that Moses was being disputed (the best example being the incident of sacrificing a caw which this chapter is named after) in his time. ? The believers who follow the disbelievers’ tradition, will end up in the wrong path.
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Many followers of the Scriptures (out of envy) want to turn you (Mohammad) back to the disbelief (by involving you in lengthy discussions, arguments and disputes), in spite of the fact that they know well how truthful you are. You should be patient with them and forgive them and leave them to God for judging them in an appropriate time. Know that God is capable of doing everything.
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The Jews say: "The Christians do not know the truth. " The Christians say: “The Jews do not know the truth.” [The funny thing is that] both of them read the [same] Scripture. The others, too, make similar claims. All these dispute will be solved in the Day of Judgment when the Lord points them where they were wrong.
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Who is more unjust that those (the idol worshippers of Mecca) who prevent the believers to mention the name of God in places devoted to His worship (like in Mecca which is built by Abraham for the purpose of worshipping the Lord. ) such people do not deserve to enter there. If they enter there at all, they should not feel safe. There is nothing but misery for them in this world and an awful punishment is waiting for them in the Hereafter.
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East or West, all belongs to God. No matter where you turn your face, God is there (therefore do not engage in a dispute about why Mecca is appointed as the direction of prayer.) Know that God is present every where and is the most knowledgeable (so obey Him and say your prayers toward the oldest place designated to the worship of God, i.e. Mecca.)
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Those who are not aware [of their physical/ mental shortcomings] say: "Why God does not talk to us directly; why do we not get any revelation?" People before them, with the same kind of mentality, used to ask similar questions. The fact of the matter is, the Lord’s signs are already available to the believers (the best example of such signs is this Qur’an which is in front of you.)
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The fact of the matter is, you (Mohammad) have been chosen to relay the good news (that the death is not the end and rather the beginning of the real life) and to warn the people (that the failure in the school of life will ruin one’s real life in Hereafter. ) You will certainly not be held responsible for the behavior of those who will end up in the Fire (as your only mission is to relay the message.)
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Know that the Jews and the Christian will not be satisfied with you unless you accept their system of beliefs. let them know that: "There is only one reliable guidance: the guidance of God." If you (Mohammad or anybody) follow their way of life (after being exposed to the God pleasing way of life), then you will find no one in the entire universe to protect you from [the punishment of] the Lord.
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Recall when I made Mecca a secure city for the assembly of the believers and ordered them to worship God where Abraham was used to do so. I asked Abraham and Ishmael to keep that house of the worship pure for the pilgrims who would circle it, retire to it for the prayer and bow down and prostrate (to humble themselves toward the Lord) in worship.
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Then Abraham prayed: "O Lord, bless this city with peace and security and provide its citizens, who believe in God and the Hereafter, with every kind of fruit. " [Accepting his prayer] I said: “I will also be generous to its disbelievers in this world but I will drag them to the Hell in Hereafter; indeed a miserable place to end up in.”
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You (Mohammad/ Muslims) were not present at the death bead of Jacob when he asked his children: "Who will you worship after me? “ They replied : “We will worship none but your God; the Lord of our forefathers: Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac. He is the only God and to Whom we submit ourselves [and trust.]"
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[O Muslims, ] Say: "We believe in God and whatever He has revealed to us and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes (Patriarchs. ) We believe in what was (and unfortunately is not available in its entirety) revealed to Moses, Jesus and other Prophets. We do not discriminate among any of them. We have completely surrendered ourselves to God as Muslims (Submitters.)
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If they believe, the way you have believed, indeed they will be in the right path. If they turn away from (God pleasing way of life), then they are in opposition. Rest assured that the reliance upon God suffice for your protection against them; after all, God Hears everything [that they say] and knows everything [that they do or going to do.]
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Do you want to say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and their children were carrying the title of Jew or Christian? Ask them: "Do you want to say that you know more than God?" Come to think about it, who can be more unjust than [your theologians] who hides the words of God? Know that God is not unaware of what you are doing.
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I (God) have shown you a way to make you a justly balanced nation so that you may become a frame of references for the entire humanity. As to your frame of reference, you have your Prophet to follow. My commandment to take the direction of Jerusalem for saying your prayer was simply a trial to see who will follow the Prophet and who will disregard him. It was indeed a hard test (for the Arabs not to pray towards Mecca) but of course not for the believers who have been guided by God. Rest assured that God will not let this faith of yours being unnoticed as God is the Most King to the mankind and the Most Forgiving.
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I have seen you turning your face towards the sky in praying. Now I command you to take the direction of Mecca, that you love so much, to offer your prayers. From now on, therefore, whoever you are, turn your face towards "Masjid-Al-Haram (the oldest place devoted to the worship of God; built by Abraham & Ishmael) in Mecca while offering a prayer. Those who believe in the Scripture know that this commandment comes from the Lord. God is not unaware of what they are doing (not respecting the Lord’s commandments.)
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Even if you perform the most convincing miracle, Jews and Christians will not [obey the Lord’s commandment and] say their prayers facing Mecca. You, naturally, will not follow their direction either. As a matter of fact, they will not compromise even among themselves. Therefore, now that you have received the commandment, you are obliged to follow it. If you disobey this commandment, you have chosen to join the unjust people.
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Walking (as a show of belief) between the hills of Safa & Marwa (near Mecca) is a God sanctioned ritual (instituted by Abraham) and a part of the pilgrimage to Mecca. This ritual is not a sin (in spite of the fact that it was practiced unknowing of its origin by the pagans in the past); after all, God knows what is in your heart (that this act of yours is to please God and not to glorify the idols of the past.)
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The creation of the heavens and the earth, the difference between day and night (due to the rotation of the earth around its axle), the sailing of the [huge] ships over the waters [without sinking], the water that god sends down from the sky to give life to the dead land and to support all kind of creatures, blowing of the winds and the masses of the clouds between the earth and the sky are indeed miracles witnessing [the existence and the greatness of] God for those who [use their brain to] think.
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[In spite of all these clear signs, ] There are people who worship [things, beings and concepts] lower than God and adore them the way only God should be adored. The believers, on the contrary, worship God wholeheartedly. May the disbelievers wake up before facing their punishment in the Day of Judgment and realize that the ultimate power and authority belongs to the Lord and that God is sever in punishment.
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God hereby forbids you the consumption of the flesh of an animal which has been dead of itself (not slaughtered), blood, pork and any animal slaughtered in dedication to other "deities" except God (one cannot go around and kill the living species which belong to God without asking His permission first. ) In case of emergency, however, you may eat even these forbidden foods (as much as it is necessary for survival and not to overindulge.)
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Those who [monopolize the religion and do not share their religious knowledge with the others, ] hide the revelations of God from the public and alter the words of God [to accommodate someone’s lust] for a little bit of money should know that in the Day of Judgment God will not talk to them, will not purify them and they will get nothing but fire in their bellies as food in the Hell; awful will be their punishment.
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Turning your faces towards the east or the west [during the prayer] is not [a sign of piety or] a virtue [and does not have any importance with God. ] The virtue is the belief in God, the last day, the existence of the angles, the Book [sent by God] and the prophets [sent by God], sharing wealth with beloved ones, nearest ones, orphans, poor people, stranded travelers and the beggars [in distress], the act of freeing the slaves, worshipping the Lord on regular basis, paying the minimum charity [as imposed by God upon your income], honoring your words and pledges and patience in hardship, affliction of a disaster and in despair. Such are the sincere ones and considered as pious by God.
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The capital punishment is hereby declared as a law for you the believers. The man or the woman who has committed the murder, regardless of his/her social status, should face the death. The victim’s kin, however, may pardon the murderer. An appreciative response, in the form of blood money, will be then in order. This leniency (turning the criminal case into a civil case) indicates how merciful God is [the State, therefore, does not have any right to prosecute the murderer on criminal basis.] Once the blood money is paid, those who recourse to retaliation (the relatives, state or any interested party) should know that they are invoking God’s anger.
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You have to fast only a few days of the year. Those who become sick or have to travel [during these fasting days] should make it up later. Those for whom fasting imposes a hardship, must feed at least a poor person. The more generosity you show, the better it will be for you. Of course it is much better to observe fasting; if you only knew [how good it is for you.]
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[The Islamic month of] Ramadan is the month on which this Qur’an was revealed: a guidance for mankind, with clear signs [indicating its divine source] and as a criterion to distinguish the right from the wrong [in absence of a divine standard for judgment, there is no such thing as right or wrong as everything is justifiable. ] From now on, you must observe the fast in the month of Ramadan. Those who become sick or have to take a trip, must later make up for the lost fasting days. Let it be known that God wants to make it easy for you rather putting you through the hardship. Fasting [in the month of Ramadan] is a way of worship that God wants you to perform so that you may have the opportunity to Glorify God and to show your thanks and appreciation for His guidance.
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[Although Ramadan is an opportunity to get closer to God through forgetting the mundane necessities of life such as eating, drinking, etc. ,] I do not mind the continuation of your marital relationship with your wives after the fasting is completed at night. Your wives are like garments for you and you are like garments to your wives. Your Lord knew very well that [in spite of the fact that the sexual relations with your wives had never been prohibited,] You had developed a sinful attitude towards it; God has already forgiven you for this presumptuous attitude. Now it is clearly declared that you have the permission to have intercourse and enjoy all that God has made lawful for you. Therefore, after having broken the fast, eat, drink [and continue your normal life] until you see the white streak of dawn replacing the blackness of night. Then start fasting [and abstain from eating, drinking, sex inhaling heavy particles such as smoking] until the night fall. If you decide to confine yourselves to the Mosque [during the last ten days of Ramadan], you should abstain from having sex. The above mentioned are the lines drawn by your Lord; do not even approach the line. See how the Lord makes His Revelations clear to mankind; may man choose to respect the Lord.
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People ask you about the significance of the phases of the moon. Let them know: "They are simply a part of the natural calendar so that people [keep track of time] and prepare themselves for [the religious rituals such as] the pilgrimage to Mecca." [In this connection let them know that:] “The virtue is not [practicing a bunch of nonsense such as] entering your houses from the back [as it was practiced before the advent of Islam during the month of the pilgrimage.] The real virtue is to respect the Lord. So (do not act like the idiots and) enter your houses by their proper doors; respect the Lord so that you may be included among the successful ones.
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Face your enemies anywhere they challenge you and take back your lost lands/ homes from them. [Although killing, which is inevitable in fight is bad,] persecution is worth than killing. Do not fight with your enemies in/ around Masjid-Al-Haram (the first site of worshipping God, built by Abraham in Mecca.) But if they attack you there, you may strike back to kill; they deserve to die for their disbelief.
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Your intention in voluntary and mandatory pilgrimage to Mecca (as well as any act of worship) should be aimed to please God. If (for any reason) you fail to complete your pilgrimage, slaughter an animal as an offering to God. Do not cut your head or shave until the sacrifice is completed. If a pilgrim’s hair has to be shaved due to medical reason, he must either offer a sacrifice, fast or give to charity. Now if your problems are over (and you reach Mecca earlier), then perform (extra) voluntary rituals of the pilgrimage and offer a sacrifice. If (for some reason) you fail to sacrifice an animal, then fast three days during the pilgrimage and seven days after returning home. The above mentioned rules apply to those who live far from Mecca. Never fail to respect God (and His commandments); rest assured that the Lord is sever in punishment.
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The months during which the pilgrimage is supposed to take place are well known to all of you. Once the pilgrimage is started, abstain from all kind of sexual activities (intercourse as well as any kind of sexual talk, thought, etc.), immoralities, the slightest act of aggression (such as a harsh talk to a servant.) Remember that God counts all good deeds of yours. When leaving for the pilgrimage, take the necessary provision; of course the best provision for the pilgrimage is the piety. Respect Me (God), if you are among those who get the message.
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There is no blame on you, if you do some business while performing the pilgrimage (earning what God has assigned for you as your worldly provision. ) Then when you pour down from Mount Arafat, praise your Lord in the Sacred place (Muzdaliffa.) Remember your Lord; the One without His guidance you were lost.
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Do they (the people in doubt) expect that God Himself come down in a dense cloud accompanied with the Angles [so that they believe?] If and when this happens, the matter will already be settled (and it will be too late for the declaration of the belief. ) In any case, eventually every thing will be presented before God for the judgment.
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[The history shows that the miracles do not penetrate the heart of the stubborn people. ] Ask the children of Israel how many undeniable miracles I presented them [and then they worshiped the statue of a cow!] Rest assured that the one who disrespects the favor of the Lord (say by altering the words of God), will be severely punished by God.
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At the beginning, there was only one nation. God sent to this nation, the prophets (messengers) to give them the good news (about the meaning of their lives as well as the continuation of their lives in Hereafter.) God also sent them the book to be used in the settlement of their disputes. However, whenever a new prophet came with undeniable miracles, the jealous ones did not follow him (thus mankind divided himself into different nations.) God (of course) guided the righteous ones (who belong to the nation of submitters;) God will guide whoever He wishes to the right path.
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Do you dreaming on entering to the Paradise without passing through the trials that people before you had to go through? They faced such hardships that even their prophets and the most believers cried: "Will God’s promise ever come true?" Rest assured that the Lord’s help will arrive very soon (after all, what is a few years earthly time of hardship compared to the eternal life of the human being?)
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Fighting (for the cause of the Lord) is already imposed upon you as a duty. You may not like the idea of fighting; however, there are so many things that you resent them and they are good for you. On the contrary, there are many things that look good at first sight but are bad for you. God knows [what is good or bad for you] while you do not know.
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People ask you about fighting in the Sacred Months [during which the Arabs were supposed to perform their religious rituals such as the pilgrimage to Mecca in peace. ] Say: "Fighting during these months is a great sin. However, turning the believers from the path of God, disbelieving the Lord, not respecting the holiness of Masjid-Al-Haram (the oldest place of worshipping God) and driving people out from it are far greater sins. As a matter of fact persecution/ oppression is worse than murder. Rest assured that The disbelievers will not stop fighting you till you join them in disbelief and whoever chooses the disbelief and die as a disbeliever, has nullified all his good deeds and will end up living in Hellfire forever.
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People ask you about drinking and gambling. Say: "There are some benefits and harms in them. Their harms, however, outweighs the benefits." They also ask you how much they should contribute to the charity. Say: “Anything above your needs.” See how clearly God makes His points so that you may contemplate upon this life and Hereafter.
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They also ask you how to treat the orphans. Say: "Do sincerely what is best in their interest. If you decide to take them as your partner and mix their properties with your own, bear in mind that you have to treat them like your brothers. Indeed God knows who has a good intention and who is a wicked. If God wanted, He would have imposed the strictest orders in this domain making the life more difficult for you. [But] God [does not want to make the life difficult for you as] is Almighty, Wise.
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Do not marry the disbelieving women, if they do not choose to believe. As a matter of fact, a believing slave woman is much superior to a disbelieving woman, even though the latter charms you. For the same token, a believing woman should not marry to a disbelieving men until he choose to become a believer. A believing slave is superior to a disbelieving man, even though you fall in love with him. The latter takes you to the Hellfire while God invites you to the Paradise and promises His Mercy upon you at His will. The Lord, thus, makes His revelations clear to you so that you get it.
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People ask you about menstruation. Say: "It is nothing but an illness; avoid sexual intercourse with women during their period until they are back to normal and purify themselves. Then you may have sex in them any way which is approved by the Lord. Truly God loves those who turn to Him and care for cleanliness."
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Your wives are the bearers of your seed; so, approach them as you want. But take advantage of your life and do some good for your soul before the entertainment. Respect the Lord and bear in mind that pretty soon you have to stand in front of Him. Now give good news to mankind (that he may choose to live in Paradise forever.)
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A divorced woman should wait enough to go through three periods before marrying to another man. It is against the law of God for a woman to hide her pregnancy, if she believe in God and the Day of Judgment. The husband has the right to return back to his wife while she is waiting to go through three periods. Husbands and wives have similar marital rights & obligations. The man (as the head of the household), however, is placed a degree above woman; and above all is God, the Almighty, the Most Wise.
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A man may divorce [and re-marry his wife] only twice. Let your divorced woman to live in the same house with honor or let her leave, if she wishes. It is against the Lord’s law for husband to take back what he has already given to his ex-wife unless the woman wants to buy her freedom back by offering what her husband has offered her [the man then looses the right to take her back as she has bought back her freedom.] These are the laws of your Lord; do not take them lightly. Then one who disregards the law of his Lord is an unjust person.
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When you divorce your wife, and she finishes her (three menstruation) waiting period, let her live in your place with honor and in a God pleasing manner. Do not make the life miserable for her as this does not please the Lord. The one who commits such a cruelty is unjust to his own soul. Do not take the Lord’s laws in vain; remember the Lord’s favor in revealing this book of wisdom to you and know that He is aware of everything.
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Once your ex-wife has finished her waiting period, do not prevent her re-marrying her (ex-) husband, if they would like to live in a mutually honorable manner. This instruction is meant for those of you who believe in God and the Day of Judgment. Respecting this law purifies you and leads you to righteousness. Remember that you do not know as much as God knows.
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The divorced mother should nurse her baby until the age of two, if asked by the father. During this period, the father has the responsibility of taking care of the mother. Of course, no soul is supposed to suffer above and beyond his abilities. Neither the mother, nor the father’s life should be ruined in account of the infant. If the father dies, his heirs should assume these responsibilities. The parents may decide to bring up the child by the formula or by hiring a wet nurse, who is fairly paid for her services. Whatever you do, bear in mind that God is watching over what you are doing.
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If a man dies, his wife should not re-marry for four months and ten days (the waiting period for a pregnant woman is till her delivery. ) Once their waiting period is over, they should not be prevented to choose any God pleasing style of life. Do not forget that God is fully aware of what you are doing.
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While a widowed woman is passing through her waiting period, you may indirectly [not directly] propose to her or wait till she is over her waiting period of sorrow as God knows the innermost thoughts of yours. However, do not make any secret engagement. Whatever you intend to do, do it in an honorable manner. In any case, the formal proposal or marriage engagement must be done after the waiting period. Know that God knows even the most hidden thoughts of yours; so fear Him. Also bear in mind that God is lenient and the Most Forgiving.
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It is no sin, if you divorce a woman before having touched her or fixed a dowry (a traditional pre-agreed sum to be paid to the woman before or after divorce) for her. Pay them something anyhow; the rich man according to his wish and the poor man according to his ability. A fair compensation is due upon the righteous man.
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If you have set a dowry (divorce insurance) for your wife and you divorce her before having touched her, then pay her half of the dower unless she, or the one who has a saying in the marriage (such as the parents of the girl) give it up. Of course it is more just and closer to the righteousness to forget about the half of the dower. you should be generous and friendly among yourselves as God knows what you are doing.
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Make a will and provide at least one year financial support for your wife, if she decides to stays at your place. It is your widow’s right to stay less than a year at your household, if she decides to do something good with her life (re-marry, move with her parents, etc.) Remember that God is Almighty and the Most Wise.
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Have you ever thought about those [Israelites] who fled their [God given] homes [and refused the order of God to fight against the Philistines and earn their homes] in spite of the fact that they were thousands [and had numerical superiority over the disbelievers]? God [was so disappointed at that that] said to them: "Die" [and they lived like dead people for forty years wondering in the desert. ] Then God [out of mercy] gave them life [and appointed brave leaders such as David for them to defeat the disbelievers of Phalestines.] Indeed God showers people with His blessing but most of them do not realize it [and in consequence are not grateful.]
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Have you ever thought about the [attitude and the behavior of the] leaders of Israel after Moses? They asked their Prophet [Samuel, who had become old and not capable of fighting,] to beg the Lord to bless them with a king to lead them in fight in the cause of God. When their prophet asked about weather or not they will stick to their promise to fight they replied: "How could we refuse to fight when we are driven out of our land [by the Amalikites about 1,B.C.] and separated from our family?" However, when God gave them the permission to fight, the majority turned away. God is aware of what unjust people do.
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The Prophet of Israel said to them: "God has appointed Saul as your King. " They responded: “How can God appoint him as our king while any one of us is more qualified than him? He is not eve rich!” Their Prophet responded: “God has given him knowledge and physical power (which is more important than wealth that you use as the only criterion.) God will bless whoever He chooses; [do not question the wisdom of Almighty as] He is the Most Knowledgeable.
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Their Prophet continued: "As a sign of the Lord’s approval, under Saul’s leadership you will get back the Arc which will be carried by the angles and contains what is left from Moses and Aaron (the fragments of the tablets given to Moses in Mt. Sinai, the original copy of the Torah, a bottle of Manna and probably the staff of Moses) to pacify and secure your hearts; may this sign increase your belief.
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When Saul started to march his army he said to his troop: "There will be a river in our passage. God will try your faith by the mean of this river. Those who drink from its water, except a sip perhaps, do not deserve to be a part of my troop. Most of them, however, failed the test and drank from the river. When they faced the enemy, they said: “We surely are incapable of beating Goliath and his mighty army." The believers among them replied: “Throughout the history, many times a few believers, with the help of God, have defeated the mighty army of the disbelievers. God sides with those who are patient.”
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And God helped them to defeat the army of the disbelievers and David killed Goliath. Then God blessed David with kingship, knowledge and wisdom as He willed. If God does not help the believers in their struggle against the disbelievers, the world will be a chaotic place dominated by mischief makers. Fortunately, God loves His realm of creation.
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I have blessed My Prophets in different manners. One of them (Moses) I talked directly with. The others were elevated in ranks in other ways. I endowed Jesus, son of Mary, with undeniable miracles and supported him with the Holy Spirit. If God had wished, people would not be divided among themselves after the death of their Prophet. That is why they dispute among themselves [as a mean of test and trial so that] some choose to believe and some choose the disbelief. If God had willed, there would not be any fight among themselves but there is wisdom in the will of God.
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There is no deity beside God. He is Alive and Eternal. He never sleeps nor takes a recess. Anything that exists in the heavens and on earth belongs to Him. No body has the power of intercession in His Court except with His permission. He knows what have people done in the past and what is awaiting them. No one is as knowledgeable as God and He gives as much knowledge as He wills to whoever He decides to bless him with. His Kingship is spread all over the universe and includes the earth and the heavens. Ruling over such vast realm of existence does not bother Him a bit as He is The Most High, the Great.
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God is the Lord of those who have chosen to believe; He takes them from the darkness to the light. He is as well the Lord of those who have chosen their idols (money, women, position, etc.) as their masters: The ones who have left the light and have taken refuge in the darkness. They are those who will abide in Hellfire forever.
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Have you ever given a thought to what Abraham told to the [arrogant] one that God has blessed him with the kingship. Abraham [invited him to the faith and] said: "The Lord is the One Who gives life and takes life away." The king said: “I can do the same [freeing a prisoner and killing another one.]” Abraham put the king on his place saying: “Can you also make the sun to rise [so regularly, every day] in the east and set on the west?” God does not guide the unjust people [like the king in this story and let them slide deeper into their miserable destiny.]
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Think also [about the greatness of God by pondering] about the story of the man (probably Uzair) who passed by a ghost town and said: "How can God bring such dead people back to life?" Then the Lord took his soul for a hundred years and when He restored it back to him asked: “How long have you been sleeping?” The man replied: “A few hours or at most a day. ” God said to him: “look at your food and drink; they are not spoiled in the least in spite of the fact that you have been dead for a hundred years. I performed this miracle as an example for your peers. Now [in order to impress you the most] look how the bones of your donkey will be reassembled and the meat cover them when I bring it back to life.” When the man saw such reality with his own eyes he said: “Indeed God is capable of doing anything He wills.”
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Abraham, too, asked such a question from his Lord. God said to him "Do you doubt me?" He replied: “Not at all; I simply want to see it with my own eyes.” God said: “Take four birds and tame them with yourself. Then cut them into pieces and place a piece on each hill. Then call them and they will come running to you in one piece. Then know for sure that God is Almighty, All-Wise.”
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A believer should not spoil his charity by making a big deal of it up to the point that it hurts its receiver. Those who spend on charity in order to be seen in fact do not believe neither in God nor the Day of Resurrection. They are as barren as a rock with a little bit of soil on which looses its productive capacity once the rain washes the soil. They gain nothing from their charity as God does not guide the disbelievers.
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Those who spend on charity to sincerely please the Lord are like gardens on a high and fertile land. If heavy rains falls upon such land, it will increase its production (instead of ruining it.) Even if it does not rain heavily, light moisture suffice to keep it growing. Know that God sees what you are doing.
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Does anyone of you wishes to experience loosing his fertile garden of palm-dates and vines where the water flows abundantly to fire while he is old and has children not capable of taking care of themselves? (if not, then do not provoke the Almighty’s anger. ) See how God clearly makes His points so that you mediate upon.
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O’ you who believe; spend a part of your (God appointed) income that you have honestly earned to please God. Also give away a part of the agricultural products that your Lord has produced for you. Do not even think about giving as charity those rotten things of yours that you yourself will accept it with only closed eyes. Know that God is the wealthiest (and not in need of your charity) and the Most Praise-Worthy.
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It is not your job (O Mohammad) to make believers out of people. Only God will guide the ones who deserve to be guided. Anything you spend on charity is for your own good, if you do it to please the Lord. Whatever you spend on the cause of God will be paid back to you in full and you will not face any injustice.
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Those who charge interest for a loan are possessed by the devil that has convinced them that receiving interest is as legitimate as trade. [They do not realize that] God has forbidden charging interest [that is why Jesus, according to the Bible, attacked the money lenders in the temple] and has blessed the trade. Those who quit charging interest, after being exposed to this revelation, are God willing forgiven. Those who continue to practice charging interest, will end up living in Hellfire forever.
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When Muslims are involved in a transaction, they must write down the terms of the transaction. They may ask an impartial person to do the writing; this person may not refuse the request as, by doing so, he shows his gratefulness to the Lord who has thought him the knowledge of writing. The debtor will make the dictation and the writer has to fear God and not to cheat. If the debtor is mentally/ physically incapable, his guardians should take care of dictation. two just men should witness the transaction. If there are not two men available, one man and two women suffice for this purpose. That is because, if a woman changes her mind, the other one remind her. The witnesses may not refuse to testify, if called for later. Write down as in detail as possible and explain everything, including the time of re-payment of the debt. The above mentioned process pleases the Lord. If the transaction is on the spot, however, there is no need for being written down but it does not harm to have witnesses. It will be very wicked of you to harass a witness. God, thus, is teaching you; be mindful of the Most Knowledgeable.
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If you are traveling, and you can not find someone to write down the transaction, ask for collateral. Once the debt is paid back, the collateral must immediately be returned. Say the whole truth once asked to serve as a witness. Only those who have a disease in their heart commit the sin of not revealing the whole truth. Do not forget that God knows what you are doing.
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To God belongs everything which is in the heavens and on the earth. God will hold you responsible for what you make public or the innermost secret of your thoughts. The Lord punishes whoever He wills [and deserves to be punishment] and forgives whoever He wills [and deserves to be forgiven.] He is Almighty.
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The Prophet (Mohammad) has absolute belief in what is revealed to him. The believers also believe in the Lord’s revelations. They believe in God, His Angels and His Books. The believers do not discriminate against any Prophet of God. They say: "We heard and obey. We ask for Your forgiveness and know that to you is the end of all journeys."
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God never tries someone with a difficulty beyond his capacity. You will be rewarded for what you earned and punished for your disobediences. [Therefore ask in your prayers:] "Lord please do not punish us for our sins and shortcomings. Lord; please do not try us with more difficult trials than the ones before us. Lord please do not make us go through the difficulties that we are not capable of standing them; pardon us and forgive us. You are our Lord; then help us [your soldiers] to overcome the disbelievers."