Al-Mu'minun 23
The BelieversHow to read the Hangul
الرَّحْمَٰنِ르r라흐마니 بِسْمِ비스밀
- Bold = the stressed syllable of the word; a little stronger.
- Overline = long vowel (madd): hold it about two beats. Length matters most in recitation.
- Tiny = no vowel in the Arabic here — just the consonant, short.
- Small Latin letter = a sound Korean lacks, on the next syllable: f upper teeth on lower lip · θ/ð tongue tip between the teeth · r rolled tongue tip (a bare ㄹ is l).
How to read the Hangul
beginning the Christ salvation
- Bold, larger (ˈ) = say it strong and a little longer — the stressed syllable.
- Faint = weak and short (a reduced vowel). Don't give every syllable equal weight.
- Tiny 으 · 트 · 스 = barely voiced. English has no vowel there — stop on the consonant.
- Whole word faint (the, of, and, to…) = light and quick in a sentence; stress the content words.
- Small f v θ ð r = sounds Korean doesn't have — f: upper teeth on the lower lip; v: the same, voiced; θ/ð: tongue tip between the teeth; r: tongue curled back, touching nothing.
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Surah
About this surah
Classed as a Meccan sura, it opens by declaring that the believers have succeeded, and describes them as humble in prayer, turning from idle talk, giving alms, guarding their chastity and keeping their trusts. It then traces how a human being is formed from an extract of clay through a drop, a clot, a lump of flesh and bones, and points to rain, palms and vines, the olive tree of Mount Sinai, livestock and ships as signs. Noah, an unnamed messenger after him, Moses and Aaron, and the son of Mary and his mother follow in turn, each people rejecting its messenger as 'only a human being like us'. The deniers are asked to whom the earth and the seven heavens belong, and it says they will answer 'God'. Scenes follow of a dying man begging to be sent back and of scales heavy and light. It ends by asking whether people think they were created without purpose, and with a prayer for forgiveness and mercy.
- Qualities of the believers
- Stages of human creation
- Peoples who rejected messengers
- God's sovereignty
- Creation with a purpose
The name The name comes from verse 1, 'The believers have certainly succeeded,' and the description of the believers that follows in verses 1–11.
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1
The believers have certainly succeeded:
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those who are humble in their prayer,
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3
who turn away from idle talk,
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4
who are active in giving the alms,
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who guard their private parts,
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except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for then they are not to be blamed;
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but whoever seeks beyond that, those are the transgressors;
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8
who are faithful to their trusts and their pledges,
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9
and who carefully maintain their prayers.
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10
Those are the inheritors,
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11
who will inherit Paradise, where they will abide forever.
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12
We created man from an extract of clay,
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then We placed him as a drop of fluid in a secure resting place,
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then We made the drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump of flesh, and We made the lump into bones, and We clothed the bones with flesh; then We brought him into being as another creation. So blessed is God, the best of creators!
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15
Then after that you will surely die,
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16
then on the Day of Resurrection you will be raised up.
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We created above you seven paths, and We were never unmindful of creation.
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18
We sent down water from the sky in due measure and lodged it in the earth, and We are surely able to take it away.
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19
With it We produced for you gardens of date palms and grapevines, in which you have abundant fruits, and from which you eat,
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and a tree springing from Mount Sinai that yields oil, a relish for all who eat.
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And in livestock there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink from what is in their bellies, and you have in them many benefits, and from them you eat.
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And on them and on ships you are carried.
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We sent Noah to his people, and he said, “My people, worship God; you have no god other than Him. Will you not be mindful [of Him]?”
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24
But the leading disbelievers among his people said, “This is only a human being like you who wants to make himself superior to you. Had God willed, He would have sent down angels. We never heard of this among our forefathers of old.
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He is only a man possessed by madness, so bear with him for a while.”
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He said, “My Lord, help me, because they have denied me.”
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So We revealed to him, “Build the Ark under Our eyes and by Our revelation. Then when Our command comes and the oven gushes forth, load into it a pair of every kind, and your family, except those of them against whom the word has already gone forth. And do not address Me concerning those who have done wrong; they will be drowned.
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And when you and those with you are settled on the Ark, say, ‘Praise be to God, who has saved us from the wrongdoing people.’
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And say, ‘My Lord, let me land at a blessed landing place, for You are the best of those who bring to land.’”
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In that are signs, and We do indeed put [people] to the test.
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Then after them We brought forth another generation,
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and We sent among them a messenger from themselves, [saying,] “Worship God; you have no god other than Him. Will you not be mindful [of Him]?”
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But the leaders of his people who disbelieved and denied the meeting of the Hereafter, and whom We had given luxury in the life of this world, said, “This is only a human being like you. He eats of what you eat and drinks of what you drink.
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If you obey a human being like yourselves, you will then be losers.
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Does he promise you that when you have died and become dust and bones, you will be brought out [alive]?
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Far-fetched, far-fetched is what you are promised!
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There is nothing but our worldly life: we die and we live, and we will not be raised up.
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He is only a man who has invented a lie against God, and we will not believe him.”
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He said, “My Lord, help me, because they have denied me.”
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He said, “In a little while they will surely be regretful.”
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So the Blast seized them in truth, and We made them like rubbish carried by a flood. So away with the wrongdoing people!
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After them, We raised up further generations.
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No community can advance its term, nor can they delay it.
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Then We sent Our messengers in succession. Every time its messenger came to a community, they denied him. So We made them follow one another [to destruction], and We made them mere tales. So away with a people who do not believe!
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Next We sent Moses and Aaron his brother, bearing Our signs and manifest authority,
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to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they were arrogant and were a haughty people.
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They said, “Shall we believe two human beings like ourselves, while their people are our slaves?”
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So they denied them both and became among those destroyed.
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And We gave Moses the Book so that they might be guided.
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And We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign, and We sheltered them on high ground, a place of rest with flowing springs.
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Messengers, eat of the good things and do righteous deeds. I know well what you do.
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This community of yours is one community, and I am your Lord, so be mindful of Me.
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But they split their affair among themselves into sects, each faction rejoicing in what it has.
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So leave them in their confusion for a while.
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Do they think that the wealth and children with which We supply them
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means We are hastening to them with good things? No, they do not perceive.
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Those who are anxious out of fear of their Lord,
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who believe in the signs of their Lord,
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who do not associate partners with their Lord,
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and who give what they give with hearts trembling because they will return to their Lord,
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it is they who hasten to good deeds, and they are foremost in them.
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We do not burden any soul beyond its capacity. With Us is a record that speaks the truth, and they will not be wronged.
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But their hearts are in confusion about this, and they have deeds besides that which they are doing,
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until, when We seize those of them who live in luxury with punishment, at once they cry out for help.
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“Do not cry out today. You will not be helped against Us.
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My verses used to be recited to you, but you used to turn back on your heels,
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arrogant about it, talking nonsense [about it] by night.”
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Have they not reflected on the Word, or has there come to them what did not come to their forefathers of old?
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Or did they not recognize their Messenger, so they reject him?
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Or do they say, “There is madness in him”? No, he has brought them the truth, but most of them dislike the truth.
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Had the truth followed their desires, the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them would have been ruined. No, We have brought them their reminder, but they turn away from their reminder.
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Or are you asking them for payment? But the payment of your Lord is better, and He is the best of providers.
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You are surely calling them to a straight path,
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but those who do not believe in the Hereafter are deviating from the path.
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Even if We had mercy on them and removed the harm that afflicts them, they would persist in their transgression, wandering blindly.
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We already seized them with punishment, but they did not humble themselves before their Lord, nor do they plead [to Him],
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until, when We open upon them a gate of severe punishment, at once they are in despair in it.
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It is He who produced for you hearing, sight and hearts. Little are you grateful.
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It is He who dispersed you throughout the earth, and to Him you will be gathered.
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It is He who gives life and causes death, and His is the alternation of night and day. Will you not use your reason?
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Rather, they say what the former peoples said.
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They said, “When we have died and become dust and bones, will we really be raised up?
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This was promised to us, and to our fathers, long ago. It is no more than the tales of the people of old.”
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Say, “To whom belong the earth and whoever is in it, if you know?”
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They will say, “To God.” Say, “Will you not then take heed?”
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Say, “Who is it that is Lord over the seven heavens and over the mighty Throne?”
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They will say, “[They belong] to God.” Say, “Will you not then be mindful [of Him]?”
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Say, “In whose hand is the dominion over all things, who protects and none can protect against Him, if you know?”
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“God's,” they will reply. Say, “How, then, are you so bewitched?”
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Rather, We have brought them the truth, and they are surely liars.
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God has not taken any son, nor is there any god with Him. [If there were,] each god would have taken away what he created, and some of them would have overpowered others. Glory be to God above what they ascribe!
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He knows what is hidden and what is seen. High above is He over the partners they ascribe [to Him]!
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Say, “My Lord, if You should show me what they are promised,
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my Lord, then do not place me among the wrongdoing people.”
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We are surely able to show you what We promise them.
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Repel evil with what is best. We know best what they ascribe.
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Say, “My Lord, I take refuge with You from the goadings of the devils,
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and I take refuge with You, my Lord, from their ever being near me.”
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Until, when death comes to one of them, he says, “My Lord, send me back,
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so that I may do good in what I left behind.” No indeed! It is only a word he is saying. And behind them is a barrier until the Day they are raised up.
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Then when the Trumpet is blown, there will be no ties of kinship between them that Day, nor will they ask about one another.
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Those whose scales are heavy, it is they who will succeed.
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But those whose scales are light, it is they who have lost their own souls; in Hell they will abide forever.
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The Fire will scorch their faces, and they will grimace in it, their lips drawn back.
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105
“Were not My verses recited to you, and you used to deny them?”
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They will say, “Our Lord, our wretchedness overcame us, and we were a people astray.
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Our Lord, bring us out of it. If we ever return [to evil], then we would truly be wrongdoers.”
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He will say, “Stay in it in disgrace, and do not speak to Me.
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There was a group of My servants who used to say, ‘Our Lord, we have believed, so forgive us and have mercy on us, for You are the best of the merciful.’
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But you took them in mockery, until they made you forget My remembrance, and you used to laugh at them.
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Today I have rewarded them for their patience: it is they who are the triumphant.”
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He will say, “How many years did you stay on earth?”
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They will say, “We stayed a day or part of a day. Ask those who keep count.”
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He will say, “You stayed only a little, if only you had known.
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Did you think that We created you without purpose, and that you would not be returned to Us?”
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So exalted is God, the True King. There is no god but Him, Lord of the noble Throne.
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Whoever calls upon another god along with God, for which he has no proof, his reckoning is only with his Lord. The disbelievers will not succeed.
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Say, “My Lord, grant forgiveness and show mercy, for of all who show mercy, You are the best.”