Surah 14

IBRAHIM (Abraham)

In the Name of God,1 the Gracious, the Merciful 2

1 A. L. R.3 A book which we have revealed to you, in order that you might lead mankind out of the depths of darkness into light by permission of their Lord to the way of the exalted in power, worthy of all praise. 2 God, to whom belong all things in the heaven and on earth. But alas, for the unbelievers is a terrible penalty. 3 Those who love the life of this world more than the hereafter, who hinder men from the path of God and seek in it something crooked, they are astray by a long distance. 4 We sent not a messenger except in the language of his people, in order to make things clear to them. Now God leaves straying those whom he pleases, and guides whom he pleases; and he is exalted in power, full of wisdom.

5 We sent Musa4 with our signs, “Bring out your people from the depths of darkness into light, and teach them to remember the days of God. Truly in this there are signs for such as are firmly patient and constant, grateful and appreciative.” 6 Remember Musa said to his people, “Call to mind the favour of God to you when he delivered you from the people of Firaun5. They set you hard tasks and punishments, slaughtered your sons, and let your women folk live. In it was a tremendous trial from your Lord. 7 And remember, your Lord caused to be declared, ‘If you are grateful, I will add more to you; but if you show ingratitude, truly my punishment is terrible indeed.'” 8 And Musa said, “If you show ingratitude, you and all on earth together, yet God is free of all wants, worthy of all praise.”

9 Has not the story reached you, of those who were before you? Of the people of Nuh6, and Aad, and Thamud? And of those who came after them? None knows them but God. To them came messengers with clear signs. But they put their hands up to their mouths, and said, “We deny the mission on which you have been sent, and we are really in suspicious doubt as to that to which you invite us.” 10 Their messengers said, “Is there a doubt about God, the creator of the heavens and the earth? It is he who invites you, in order that he may forgive your sins and give you respite for a term appointed!” They said, “Ah! You are no more than human, like ourselves! You wish to turn us away from the gods our fathers used to worship; then bring us some clear authority.” 11 Their messengers said to them, “True, we are human like yourself, but God grants his grace to such of his servants as he pleases. It is not for us to bring you an authority except as God permits. And on God let all men of faith put their trust. 12 We have no reason to not put our trust in God. Indeed he has guided us to the ways we follow. We will certainly bear with patience all the hurt you may cause us. For those who put their trust should put their trust in God.”

13 And the unbelievers said to their messengers, “Be sure we shall drive you out of our land, or you shall return to our religion.” But their Lord inspired this message to them, “Truly we shall cause the wrongdoers to perish! 14 And truly we shall cause you to abide in the land, and succeed them. This is for those who fear the time when they shall stand before my tribunal, and who fear the punishment announced.” 15 But they sought victory and decision, and frustration was the lot of every powerful obstinate transgressor. 16 In front of such a one is hell, and he is given, for drink, boiling, foul-smelling liquid. 17 In gulps will he sip it, but never will he be near swallowing it down his throat. Death will come to him from every quarter, yet will he not die; and in front of him will be an unrelenting punishment. 18 The parable of those who reject their Lord is that their works are as ashes, on which the wind blows furiously on a tempestuous day. No power have they over anything that they have earned; that is the straying far.

19 Do you not see that in truth,

God created the heavens and the earth 7 ?

If he so wills, he can remove you and put in your place a new creation8, 20 nor is that for God any great matter. 21 They all will be marshalled before God together. Then the weak will say to those who were arrogant, “We were your followers. Can you then help us at all against the wrath of God?” They will reply, “If we had received the guidance of God, we would have given it to you. To us it makes no difference whether we rage, or bear with patience; for ourselves there is no way of escape.” 22 And Shaitan9 will say when the matter is decided, “It was God who gave you a promise of truth. I too promised, but I failed in my promise to you. I had no authority over you except to call you, but you listened to me. So don’t blame me, but blame yourselves. I cannot listen to your cries, nor can you listen to mine. I reject your former act in associating me with God. For wrongdoers there must be a grievous penalty.” 23 But those who believe and work righteousness will be admitted to gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell in them forever with the permission of their Lord. Their greeting there will be, “Peace!”

24 Do you not see how God sets forth a parable? A good word like a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches reach to the heavens. 25 It brings forth its fruit at all times, by the permission of its Lord. So God sets forth parables for men, in order that they may receive admonition. 26 And the parable of an evil word is that of an evil tree. It is torn up by the root from the surface of the earth. It has no stability. 27 God will establish in strength those who believe, with the word that stands firm, in this world and in the hereafter; but God will leave, to stray, those who do wrong. God does what he wills.

28 Have you not turned your vision to those who have changed the favour of God into blasphemy and caused their people to descend to the house of perdition, 29 into hell? They will burn in it, an evil place to stay in. 30 And they set up idols as equal to God, to mislead men from the path. Say, “Enjoy your brief power, but truly you are making straightway for hell.” 31 Speak to my servants who have believed, that they may establish regular prayers, and spend out of the sustenance we have given them, secretly and openly, before the coming of a day in which there will be neither mutual bargaining nor befriending.

32 It is God who created the heavens and the earth and sends down rain from the skies, and with it brings out fruits to feed you. It is he who has made the ships subject to you, that they may sail through the sea by his command; and the rivers has he made subject to you. 33 And he has made subject to you the sun and the moon, both diligently pursuing their courses; and the night and the day has he made subject to you. 34 And he gives you all that you ask for. But if you count the favours of God, never will you be able to number them. Truly, man is given up to injustice and ingratitude.

35 Remember Ibrahim10 said, “O my Lord, make this city one of peace and security; and preserve me and my sons from worshipping idols. 36 O my Lord, they have indeed led astray many among mankind. He then who follows my ways is with me, and he who disobeys me, but you are indeed oft-forgiving, most merciful. 37 O our Lord, I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by your sacred house; in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular prayer. So fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits, so that they may give thanks. 38 O our Lord, truly you know what we conceal, and what we reveal. For nothing whatever is hidden from God, whether on earth or in heaven. 39 Praise be to God, who has granted to me in old age Ismail11 and Ishaq12. For truly my Lord is he, the hearer of prayer. 40 O my Lord, make me one who establishes regular prayer, and also among my offspring, O our Lord! And accept my prayer. 41 O our Lord, cover me with your forgiveness, as well as my parents and believers, on the day that the reckoning will be established.”

42 Never think that God does not notice the deeds of those who do wrong. He but gives them respite against a day when the eyes will fixedly stare in horror. 43 They will run forward with necks outstretched, their heads uplifted, their gaze returning not towards them, and their hearts a void. 44 So warn mankind of the day when the wrath will reach them. Then the wrongdoers will say, “Our Lord! Give us respite for a short term. We will answer your call, and follow the messengers!” What! Were you not accustomed to swear aforetime that you should allow no decline? 45 And you lived in the dwellings of men who wronged their own souls. You were clearly shown how we dealt with them, and we put forth parables on your behalf! 46 Mighty indeed were the plots which they made, but their plots were within the sight of God, even though they were such as to shake the hills!

47 Never think that God would fail his messengers in his promise. For God is exalted in power, the Lord of retribution. 48 One day the earth will be changed to a different earth, and so will be the heavens, and men will be marshalled forth, before God, the one, the irresistible. 49 And you will see the sinners that day bound together in chains, 50 their garments made of liquid pitch, and their faces covered with fire, 51 that God may reward each soul according to what it deserves; and truly God is swift in calling to account.

52 Here is a message for mankind. Let them take warning from it, and let them know that he is one God. Let men of understanding take heed.

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  1. God, in Arabic allah, referring to the one true God, as opposed to an idol or “god.” It is the Arabic equivalent of elohim and eloah (Hebrew), alaha (Syriac), and theos (Greek), all of which accurately translate into English as “God.” This translation choice is consistent with respected English Quran translations including those of A. Yusuf Ali (original edition), S.H. Nasr (Study Quran), T.B. Irving, and T. Itani (Clear Quran). ↩︎
  2. the Gracious, the Merciful, the highlighting of God’s grace and mercy predates the Quran, coming down from the many hundreds of references in the Taurat, Zabur, and Injil. A few samples follow:
    Taurat, Exodus 34:6 — …YAHWEH, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth. 
    Zabur 145:8 — YAHWEH is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving kindness.
    Taurat, Joel 2:13 — Tear your heart, and not your garments, and turn to YAHWEH your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity.
    Taurat, Yunus 4:2 — …I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and you relent of doing harm.”
    Injil, 1 Timothy 1:2 — …Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and AL-MASIH ‘ISA our Lord.
    Injil, Hebrews 4:16 — Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace for help in time of need. ↩︎
  3. 14:1 meaning unknown. ↩︎
  4. 14:5 Musa, this Arabic name is derived from the Hebrew name Moses meaning “to pull out” or “draw out” (of water); referring to the biblical story where he was rescued from the Nile River by Firaun’s daughter. The original account of Musa‘s story begins in the Taurat, Exodus 3. ↩︎
  5. 14:6 Firaun, an Arabic term derived from the Hebrew title Pharaoh, used for the kings of ancient Egypt. ↩︎
  6. 14:9 Nuh, Arabic name derived from the Hebrew name Noah, meaning “rest.” For the original account of Nuh see the Taurat, Genesis 6. ↩︎
  7. 14:19 God created the heavens and the earth, Quoting from the first sentence of the Taurat, Genesis 1:1 which says: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” ↩︎
  8. 14:19 new creation, a certainty that God promises in the Taurat, Shaya 65:17 — “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered, nor come into mind.” The holy Injil teaches that this new creation begins now in individual lives as 2 Corinthians 5:17 states: “Therefore if anyone is in AL-MASIH, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.” ↩︎
  9. 14:22 Shaitan, is derived from the Hebrew Satan, which means “adversary” or “accuser.” ↩︎
  10. 14:35 Ibrahim, this Arabic name is derived from the Hebrew name Abraham, which means “father of many nations.” ↩︎
  11. 14:39 Ismail, derived from the Hebrew Ishmael which means “God hears.” ↩︎
  12. 14:39 Ishaq, or Isaac, derived from the Hebrew name Yitzhak, meaning “he laughs.” ↩︎