Sura 29: The Spider
(Al-‘Ankaboot)
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

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الم

A.L.M.*

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The Test is Mandatory

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احسب الناس ان يتركوا ان يقولوا امنا وهم لا يفتنون

Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe,” without being put to the test?

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ولقد فتنا الذين من قبلهم فليعلمن الله الذين صدقوا وليعلمن الكاذبين

We have tested those before them, for GOD must distinguish those who are truthful, and He must expose the liars.

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ام حسب الذين يعملون السيئات ان يسبقونا ساء ما يحكمون

Do those who commit sins think that they can ever fool us? Wrong indeed is their judgment.

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من كان يرجو لقاء الله فان اجل الله لات وهو السميع العليم

Anyone hoping to meet GOD, (should know that) such a meeting with GOD will most assuredly come to pass. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.

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ومن جاهد فانما يجاهد لنفسه ان الله لغني عن العالمين

Those who strive, strive for their own good. GOD is in no need of anyone.

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والذين امنوا وعملوا الصالحات لنكفرن عنهم سيئاتهم ولنجزينهم احسن الذي كانوا يعملون

Those who believe and lead a righteous life, we will certainly remit their sins, and will certainly reward them generously for their righteous works.

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You Shall Honor Your Parents

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ووصينا الانسان بوالديه حسنا وان جاهداك لتشرك بي ما ليس لك به علم فلا تطعهما الي مرجعكم فانبئكم بما كنتم تعملون

We enjoined the human being to honor his parents. But if they try to force you to set up idols beside Me, do not obey them. To Me is your ultimate return, then I will inform you of everything you had done.

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والذين امنوا وعملوا الصالحات لندخلنهم في الصالحين

Those who believe and lead a righteous life, we will certainly admit them with the righteous.

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Fair Weather Friends

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ومن الناس من يقول امنا بالله فاذا اوذي في الله جعل فتنة الناس كعذاب الله ولئن جاء نصر من ربك ليقولن انا كنا معكم اوليس الله باعلم بما في صدور العالمين

Among the people there are those who say, “We believe in GOD,” but as soon as they suffer any hardship because of GOD, they equate the people’s persecution with GOD’s retribution. But if blessings from your Lord come your way, they say, “We were with you.” Is GOD not fully aware of the people’s innermost thoughts?

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وليعلمن الله الذين امنوا وليعلمن المنافقين

GOD will most certainly distinguish those who believe, and He will most certainly expose the hypocrites.

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وقال الذين كفروا للذين امنوا اتبعوا سبيلنا ولنحمل خطاياكم وما هم بحاملين من خطاياهم من شيء انهم لكاذبون

Those who disbelieved said to those who believed, “If you follow our way, we will be responsible for your sins.” Not true; they cannot bear any of their sins. They are liars.

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وليحملن اثقالهم واثقالا مع اثقالهم وليسالن يوم القيامة عما كانوا يفترون

In fact, they will carry their own sins, in addition to loads of other people’s sins for which they were responsible. Most certainly, they will be asked on the Day of Resurrection about their false claims.

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Noah

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ولقد ارسلنا نوحا الى قومه فلبث فيهم الف سنة الا خمسين عاما فاخذهم الطوفان وهم ظالمون

We sent Noah to his people, and he stayed with them one thousand years, less fifty.* Subsequently, they incurred the flood because of their transgressions.

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فانجيناه واصحاب السفينة وجعلناها اية للعالمين

We saved him and those who accompanied him in the ark, and we set it up as a lesson for all the people.

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Abraham

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وابراهيم اذ قال لقومه اعبدوا الله واتقوه ذلكم خير لكم ان كنتم تعلمون

Abraham said to his people, “You shall worship GOD, and reverence Him. This is better for you, if you only knew.

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انما تعبدون من دون الله اوثانا وتخلقون افكا ان الذين تعبدون من دون الله لا يملكون لكم رزقا فابتغوا عند الله الرزق واعبدوه واشكروا له اليه ترجعون

“What you worship instead of GOD are powerless idols; you have invented a lie.” God: The Only Source of Provisions The idols you worship beside GOD do not possess any provisions for you. Therefore, you shall seek provisions only from GOD. You shall worship Him alone, and be appreciative of Him; to Him is your ultimate return.

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وان تكذبوا فقد كذب امم من قبلكم وما على الرسول الا البلاغ المبين

If you disbelieve, generations before you have also disbelieved. The sole function of the messenger is to deliver (the message).

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Study the Origin of Life*

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اولم يروا كيف يبدئ الله الخلق ثم يعيده ان ذلك على الله يسير

Have they not seen how GOD initiates the creation, then repeats it? This is easy for GOD to do.

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قل سيروا في الارض فانظروا كيف بدا الخلق ثم الله ينشئ النشاة الاخرة ان الله على كل شيء قدير

Say, “Roam the earth and find out the origin of life.”* For GOD will thus initiate the creation in the Hereafter. GOD is Omnipotent.

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يعذب من يشاء ويرحم من يشاء واليه تقلبون

He condemns to retribution whomever He wills, and showers His mercy upon whomever He wills. Ultimately, to Him you will be turned over.

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وما انتم بمعجزين في الارض ولا في السماء وما لكم من دون الله من ولي ولا نصير

None of you can escape from these facts, on earth or in the heaven, and you have none beside GOD as a Lord and Master.

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والذين كفروا بايات الله ولقائه اولئك يئسوا من رحمتي واولئك لهم عذاب اليم

Those who disbelieve in GOD’s revelations, and in meeting Him, have despaired from My mercy. They have incurred a painful retribution.

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Back to Abraham

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فما كان جواب قومه الا ان قالوا اقتلوه او حرقوه فانجاه الله من النار ان في ذلك لايات لقوم يؤمنون

The only response from his people was their saying, “Kill him, or burn him.” But GOD saved him from the fire. This should provide lessons for people who believe.

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Social Pressure: A Profound Disaster

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وقال انما اتخذتم من دون الله اوثانا مودة بينكم في الحياة الدنيا ثم يوم القيامة يكفر بعضكم ببعض ويلعن بعضكم بعضا وماواكم النار وما لكم من ناصرين

He said, “You worship beside GOD powerless idols due to peer pressure, just to preserve some friendship among you in this worldly life. But then, on the Day of Resurrection, you will disown one another, and curse one another. Your destiny is Hell, wherein you cannot help one another.”

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فامن له لوط وقال اني مهاجر الى ربي انه هو العزيز الحكيم

Lot believed with him and said, “I am emigrating to my Lord. He is the Almighty, the Most Wise.”

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ووهبنا له اسحاق ويعقوب وجعلنا في ذريته النبوة والكتاب واتيناه اجره في الدنيا وانه في الاخرة لمن الصالحين

We granted him Isaac and Jacob, we assigned to his descendants prophethood and the scriptures, we endowed him with his due recompense in this life, and in the Hereafter he will surely be with the righteous.

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Lot

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ولوطا اذ قال لقومه انكم لتاتون الفاحشة ما سبقكم بها من احد من العالمين

Lot said to his people, “You commit such an abomination, no one in the world has ever done it before you.

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ائنكم لتاتون الرجال وتقطعون السبيل وتاتون في ناديكم المنكر فما كان جواب قومه الا ان قالوا ائتنا بعذاب الله ان كنت من الصادقين

“You practice sex with the men, you commit highway robbery, and you allow all kinds of vice in your society.” The only response from his people was to say, “Bring to us GOD’s retribution, if you are truthful.”

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قال رب انصرني على القوم المفسدين

He said, “My Lord, grant me victory over these wicked people.”

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Angels Visit Abraham and Lot

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ولما جاءت رسلنا ابراهيم بالبشرى قالوا انا مهلكو اهل هذه القرية ان اهلها كانوا ظالمين

When our messengers went to Abraham with good news (about Isaac’s birth), they also said, “We are on our way to annihilate the people of that town (Sodom). For its people have been wicked.”

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قال ان فيها لوطا قالوا نحن اعلم بمن فيها لننجينه واهله الا امراته كانت من الغابرين

He said, “But Lot is living there They said, “We are fully aware of everyone who lives in it. We will of course save him and his family, except his wife; she is doomed.”

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ولما ان جاءت رسلنا لوطا سيء بهم وضاق بهم ذرعا وقالوا لا تخف ولا تحزن انا منجوك واهلك الا امراتك كانت من الغابرين

When our messengers arrived at Lot’s place, they were mistreated, and he was embarrassed by their presence. But they said, “Have no fear, and do not worry. We will save you and your family, except your wife; she is doomed.

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انا منزلون على اهل هذه القرية رجزا من السماء بما كانوا يفسقون

“We will pour upon the people of this town a disaster from the sky, as a consequence of their wickedness.”

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ولقد تركنا منها اية بينة لقوم يعقلون

We left standing some of their ruins, to serve as a profound lesson for people who understand.

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Shu‘aib

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والى مدين اخاهم شعيبا فقال يا قوم اعبدوا الله وارجوا اليوم الاخر ولا تعثوا في الارض مفسدين

To Midyan we sent their brother Shu‘aib. He said, “O my people, you shall worship GOD and seek the Last Day, and do not roam the earth corruptingly.”

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فكذبوه فاخذتهم الرجفة فاصبحوا في دارهم جاثمين

They disbelieved him and, consequently, the earthquake annihilated them; they were left dead in their homes by morning.

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وعادا وثمود وقد تبين لكم من مساكنهم وزين لهم الشيطان اعمالهم فصدهم عن السبيل وكانوا مستبصرين

Similarly, ‘Ãd and Thamoud (were annihilated). This is made manifest to you through their ruins. The devil had adorned their works in their eyes, and had diverted them from the path, even though they had eyes.

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God’s Immutable System

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وقارون وفرعون وهامان ولقد جاءهم موسى بالبينات فاستكبروا في الارض وما كانوا سابقين

Also Qãroon, Pharaoh, and Hãmãn; Moses went to them with clear signs. But they continued to commit tyranny on earth. Consequently, they could not evade (the retribution).

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فكلا اخذنا بذنبه فمنهم من ارسلنا عليه حاصبا ومنهم من اخذته الصيحة ومنهم من خسفنا به الارض ومنهم من اغرقنا وما كان الله ليظلمهم ولكن كانوا انفسهم يظلمون

All those disbelievers were doomed as a consequence of their sins. Some of them we annihilated by violent winds, some were annihilated by the quake, some we caused the earth to swallow, and some we drowned. GOD is not the One who wronged them; it is they who wronged their own souls.

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The Spider

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مثل الذين اتخذوا من دون الله اولياء كمثل العنكبوت اتخذت بيتا وان اوهن البيوت لبيت العنكبوت لو كانوا يعلمون

The allegory of those who accept other masters beside GOD is that of the spider and her home; the flimsiest of all homes is the home of the spider, if they only knew.*

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ان الله يعلم ما يدعون من دونه من شيء وهو العزيز الحكيم

GOD knows full well that whatever they worship beside Him are really nothing. He is the Almighty, the Most Wise.

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وتلك الامثال نضربها للناس وما يعقلها الا العالمون

We cite these examples for the people, and none appreciate them except the knowledgeable.*

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خلق الله السماوات والارض بالحق ان في ذلك لاية للمؤمنين

GOD created the heavens and the earth, truthfully. This provides a sufficient proof for the believers.

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The Contact Prayers (Salat)

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اتل ما اوحي اليك من الكتاب واقم الصلاة ان الصلاة تنهى عن الفحشاء والمنكر ولذكر الله اكبر والله يعلم ما تصنعون

You shall recite what is revealed to you of the scripture, and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), for the Contact Prayers prohibit evil and vice. But the remembrance of GOD (through Salat) is the most important objective.* GOD knows everything you do.

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One God/One Religion

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ولا تجادلوا اهل الكتاب الا بالتي هي احسن الا الذين ظلموا منهم وقولوا امنا بالذي انزل الينا وانزل اليكم والهنا والهكم واحد ونحن له مسلمون

Do not argue with the people of the scripture (Jews, Christians, & Muslims) except in the nicest possible manner—unless they transgress— and say, “We believe in what was revealed to us and in what was revealed to you, and our god and your god is one and the same; to Him we are submitters.”

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وكذلك انزلنا اليك الكتاب فالذين اتيناهم الكتاب يؤمنون به ومن هؤلاء من يؤمن به وما يجحد باياتنا الا الكافرون

We have revealed to you this scripture, and those whom we blessed with the previous scripture will believe in it. Also, some of your people will believe in it. Indeed, those who disregard our revelations are the real disbelievers.

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Quran: Muhammad’s Miracle*

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وما كنت تتلو من قبله من كتاب ولا تخطه بيمينك اذا لارتاب المبطلون

You did not read the previous scriptures, nor did you write them with your hand. In that case, the rejectors would have had reason to harbor doubts.

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بل هو ايات بينات في صدور الذين اوتوا العلم وما يجحد باياتنا الا الظالمون

In fact, these revelations are clear in the chests of those who possess knowledge. Only the wicked will disregard our revelations.

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وقالوا لولا انزل عليه ايات من ربه قل انما الايات عند الله وانما انا نذير مبين

They said, “If only miracles* could come down to him from his Lord!” Say, “All miracles come only from GOD; I am no more than a manifest warner.”

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اولم يكفهم انا انزلنا عليك الكتاب يتلى عليهم ان في ذلك لرحمة وذكرى لقوم يؤمنون

Is it not enough of a miracle* that we sent down to you this book, being recited to them? This is indeed a mercy and a reminder for people who believe.

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قل كفى بالله بيني وبينكم شهيدا يعلم ما في السماوات والارض والذين امنوا بالباطل وكفروا بالله اولئك هم الخاسرون

Say, “GOD suffices as a witness between me and you. He knows everything in the heavens and the earth. Surely, those who believe in falsehood and disbelieve in GOD are the real losers.”

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They Are in Hell

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ويستعجلونك بالعذاب ولولا اجل مسمى لجاءهم العذاب ولياتينهم بغتة وهم لا يشعرون

They challenge you to bring the retribution! If it were not for a predetermined appointment, the retribution would have come to them immediately.* Certainly, it will come to them suddenly, when they least expect it.

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يستعجلونك بالعذاب وان جهنم لمحيطة بالكافرين

They challenge you to bring retribution! Hell already surrounds the disbelievers.

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يوم يغشاهم العذاب من فوقهم ومن تحت ارجلهم ويقول ذوقوا ما كنتم تعملون

The day will come when the retribution overwhelms them, from above them and from beneath their feet; He will say, “Taste the consequences of your works.”

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Immigrate in the Cause of God

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يا عبادي الذين امنوا ان ارضي واسعة فاياي فاعبدون

O My servants who believed, My earth is spacious, so worship Me.

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كل نفس ذائقة الموت ثم الينا ترجعون

Every soul will taste death, then to us you will be ultimately returned.

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والذين امنوا وعملوا الصالحات لنبوئنهم من الجنة غرفا تجري من تحتها الانهار خالدين فيها نعم اجر العاملين

Those who believe and lead a righteous life, we will surely settle them in Paradise, with mansions and flowing streams. Eternally they abide therein. What a beautiful reward for the workers.

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الذين صبروا وعلى ربهم يتوكلون

They are the ones who steadfastly persevere, and trust in their Lord.

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وكاين من دابة لا تحمل رزقها الله يرزقها واياكم وهو السميع العليم

Many a creature that does not carry its provision, GOD provides for it, as well as for you. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.

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Most Believers Destined for Hell

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ولئن سالتهم من خلق السماوات والارض وسخر الشمس والقمر ليقولن الله فانى يؤفكون

If you ask them, “Who created the heavens and the earth, and put the sun and the moon in your service,” they will say, “GOD.” Why then did they deviate?

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الله يبسط الرزق لمن يشاء من عباده ويقدر له ان الله بكل شيء عليم

GOD is the One who increases the provision for whomever He chooses from among His creatures, and withholds it. GOD is fully aware of all things.

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ولئن سالتهم من نزل من السماء ماء فاحيا به الارض من بعد موتها ليقولن الله قل الحمد لله بل اكثرهم لا يعقلون

If you ask them, “Who sends down from the sky water, to revive dead land,” they will say, “GOD.” Say, “Praise GOD.” Most of them do not understand.

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Re-arrange Your Priorities

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وما هذه الحياة الدنيا الا لهو ولعب وان الدار الاخرة لهي الحيوان لو كانوا يعلمون

This worldly life is no more than vanity and play, while the abode of the Hereafter is the real life, if they only knew.

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فاذا ركبوا في الفلك دعوا الله مخلصين له الدين فلما نجاهم الى البر اذا هم يشركون

When they ride on a ship, they implore GOD, devoting their prayers to Him. But as soon as He saves them to the shore, they revert to idolatry.

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ليكفروا بما اتيناهم وليتمتعوا فسوف يعلمون

Let them disbelieve in what we have given them, and let them enjoy temporarily; they will surely find out.

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اولم يروا انا جعلنا حرما امنا ويتخطف الناس من حولهم افبالباطل يؤمنون وبنعمة الله يكفرون

Have they not seen that we have established a Sacred Sanctuary that we made secure, while all around them the people are in constant danger? Would they still believe in falsehood, and reject GOD’s blessings?

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ومن اظلم ممن افترى على الله كذبا او كذب بالحق لما جاءه اليس في جهنم مثوى للكافرين

Who is more evil than one who fabricates lies and attributes them to GOD, or rejects the truth when it comes to him? Is Hell not a just retribution for the disbelievers?

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والذين جاهدوا فينا لنهدينهم سبلنا وان الله لمع المحسنين

As for those who strive in our cause, we will surely guide them in our paths. Most assuredly, GOD is with the pious.

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