You are forbidden to eat the meat of any animal that dies byitself (dead body), blood, the flesh of swine (pork) and that onwhich any name other than Allah has been invoked; also that whichis strangled to death , killed by a violent blow, killed by aheadlong fall and of those beaten or gored to death; and thatwhich has been partly eaten by a wild animal unless you are ableto slaughter it before its death; also that which is sacrificedon altars or is divided by raffling of arrows. All these aresinful acts. Today the unbelievers have given up all their hopeof vanquishing your religion. Have no fear of them, fear Me.Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favorupon you and approved Al-Islam as a Deen (way of life for you).Anyone who is compelled by hunger to eat what is forbidden, notintending to commit sin, will find Allah Forgiving, Merciful.

They ask you what food is lawful for them, say: All good cleanthings are lawful for you, as well as what you have taught yourhunting birds and beasts to catch, trained by you with theknowledge given to you by Allah. Eat what they catch and hold foryou, however, pronounce the name of Allah over it. Have fear ofAllah. Allah is swift in settling the accounts.

O believers! Fulfil your contract obligations. Allfour-legged animals from livestock are lawful to you other thanthose which are hereby announced. However do not violate theprohibition of hunting while you are in Ihram (Hajj dress).Indeed Allah orders whatever He pleases.

You shall certainly be tested with by means of your wealth andwith your persons; and you will certainly hear much that ishurtful from those who were given the Book before you, and fromthe mushrikin. But if you endure with patience and have fear ofAllah, this will surely be a proof of your firm determination.

Those men who accuse their own wives but have no witness exceptthemselves, each one of them shall be made to swear four times byAllah that his charge is true,

and the fifth time calling down upon himself the curse of Allahif he is lying.

As for the wife, the punishment shall be averted from her if sheswears four times by Allah that his (her husband's) charge isfalse

and the fifth time calls down the wrath of Allah on herself ifhis charge is true.

If you fear a breach of marriage between a man and his wife,appoint one arbiter from his family and another from hers; ifthey wish to reconcile, Allah will create a way of reconciliationbetween them. Allah is the Knowledgeable, Aware.

If a women fears cruelty or desertion from her husband, there isno blame if both of them agree to reconcile by means of acompromise, after all compromise is better. Human souls are proneto narrow- mindedness, but if you show generosity and fear Allahin your dealings, surely Allah is well aware of your actions.

When you divorce women and they have reached the end of theirwaiting period ('Iddat) either allow them to stay with honor orlet them go with kindness; but you should not retain them to harmthem or to take undue advantage; if anyone does that he wrongshis own soul. Do not take Allah's revelations as a joke. Rememberthe favors of Allah upon you and the fact that He sent down theBook and Wisdom for your guidance. Fear Allah and know that Allahhas knowledge of everything.

The mothers shall breast-feed their offspring for two whole yearsif the father wishes the breast-feeding to be completed. Thereasonable cost of their maintenance and clothing will be theresponsibility of the child's father. No one should be chargedwith more than they can afford. Neither a mother should be madeto suffer on account of her child nor a father on account of hischild. The father's heirs are under the same obligation. But ifwith mutual agreement they both decide to wean the child there isno blame on them. If you decide to have a foster-mother for youroffspring there is no blame on you provided you pay what you havepromised to pay in an honorable manner. Fear Allah and bewarethat Allah observes your actions.

Allah has set an example to the unbelievers in the wife of Nuh(Noah) and the wife of Lut (Lot). They were married to two of Ourrighteous servants, but they betrayed them. In no way could theirhusbands protect them from Allah. Both of them were told: "Enterthe fire, along with those who enter."

If a women fears cruelty or desertion from her husband, there isno blame if both of them agree to reconcile by means of acompromise, after all compromise is better. Human souls are proneto narrow- mindedness, but if you show generosity and fear Allahin your dealings, surely Allah is well aware of your actions.

Men are overseers over women because Allah has given the one morestrength than other, and because men are required to spend theirwealth for the maintenance of women. Honorable women are,therefore, devoutly obedient and guard in the husband's absencewhat Allah require them to guard their husband's property andtheir own honor. As to those women from whom you feardisobedience, first admonish them, then refuse to share your bedwith them, and then, if necessary, beat them. Then if they obeyyou, take no further actions against them and do not make excusesto punish them. Allah is Supremely Great and is aware of youractions.

Divorced women must keep themselves waiting for three menstrualperiods, it is not lawful for them to hide what Allah has createdin their wombs if they believe in Allah and the Last Day. In suchcases their husbands have a right to take them back in thatperiod if they desire reconciliation. Women have rights similarto those exercised against them in an equitable manner, althoughmen have a status (degree of responsibility) above them. Allah isMighty, Wise.

You shall inherit one half of your wives' estate if they leave nochild, but if they leave behind a child then you will get onefourth of their estate, after fulfilling the terms of their lastwill and the payment of debts. Your wives shall inherit onefourth if you leave no child behind you; but if you leave achild, then they shall get one-eighth of your estate; afterfulfilling the terms of your last will and the payment of debts.If a man or a woman leaves neither ascendant nor descendants buthas left a brother or a sister, they shall each inherit onesixth, but if they are more than two, they shall share one thirdof the estate; after fulfilling the terms of the last will andthe payment of debts; without prejudice to the rights of theheirs. Thus is the commandment of Allah. Allah is Knowledgeable,Forbearing.

There are some people who say: "We believe in Allah and the LastDay" yet they are not true believers.

They try to deceive Allah and the believers. However, theydeceive none except themselves yet they do not realize it.

There is a disease of deception in their heart; and Allah letstheir disease increase, and they shall have painful punishmentfor the lies they have told.

When it is said to them: "Do not make mischief on earth," theysay: "We make peace."

Be aware! They are the ones who make mischief but they do notrealize it.

When it is said to them: "Believe as the others believe" theysarcastically ask: "Should we believe like fools?" Be aware! Theythemselves are the fools, if only they could understand.

When they meet the believers they say: "We are believers," butwhen they are alone with their shaitans, they say: "We are reallywith you, we were only mocking the believers."

Allah will throw back their mockery on them and leave them alonein their trespasses; so they wander to and fro like blind.

These are the people who barter guidance for error: but theirbargain is profitless and they are not going to be guided.

Their example is that of a man who kindled a fire; when itilluminated all around him Allah took away the light (theireyesight) and left them in utter darkness: they could seenothing.

Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will never return to the Right Way.

Or another example is that of a dark storm-cloud in the skycharged with thunder and lightning. They press their fingers intotheir ears at the sound of each stunning thunderclap for fear ofdeath: Allah is encircling the unbelievers from all sides.

The lightning terrifies them as if it was going to snatch awaytheir eyesight; whenever it flashes they walk on; when it becomesdark, they stand still. And if Allah wanted He could have totallytaken away their hearing and their sight; for Allah has powerover everything.

Do you, O Believers, still hope that they will believe in whatyou say, when some of them have already heard the word of Allahand perverted it knowingly after they understood it?

When they meet the believers (Muslims) they say: "We too arebelievers," but when they (people of the Book) meet each other inprivate they say: "Would you disclose to the believers (Muslims)what Allah has revealed to you? So that they (Muslims) may use itas an argument against you in the court of your Rabb? Have you nosense?"

Do they not really know that Allah knows what they conceal andwhat they reveal?

Among them there are some illiterates who do not know their HolyBook; they follow their own desires and do nothing butconjecture.

How is it that when you are afflicted with a loss, after youyourselves had inflicted losses twice as heavy upon your enemy inthe battle of Badr, you exclaimed: "Whose fault was that?" Say tothem: "It was your own fault," Allah has power over everything.

Have you not seen those who claim that they believe in what hasbeen revealed to you and other prophets before you? Yet theydesire that the judgment (in their disputes) be made by Taghut(forces of Shaitan) though they were commanded to reject them,and Shaitan's wish is to lead them far astray into deep error.

When it is said to them: "Come to be judged by the Rasool inaccordance with what Allah has revealed, " you see that thehypocrites show their utmost hesitation in coming to you.

But see how they behave when they get into trouble as aconsequence of their own doings? They come to you swearing byAllah that they desired nothing but to promote good and bringabout a reconciliation.

Allah knows what really is in their hearts; therefore, neglecttheir attitude, admonish them, and speak to them effectual wordswhich may go deep into their hearts.

They will say: "We are at your service!" Yet when they leave you,some of them meet together secretly at night to plot against whatyou have said. Allah notes down all their plots. Therefore, leavethem alone and put your trust in Allah. Allah is your allsufficient trustee.

Announce the painful punishment to those hypocrites

He has already revealed for you in the Book that when you hearAllah's revelations being denied or ridiculed by people, you mustnot sit with them unless they change the topic of their talk,otherwise you shall be considered guilty like them. Rest assuredthat Allah is going to gather the hypocrites and the unbelieversall together in hell.

These hypocrites are the ones who wait and watch to see how thewind blows. If Allah grants you a victory, they say: "Were we notwith you?" And if the unbelievers gain success, they will say tothem: "Were we not strong enough to fight against you? Yet weprotected you from the believers (Muslims)." Allah will judgebetween you and them on the Day of Resurrection. Allah will notleave the way for the unbelievers to triumph over the believers.

Surely the hypocrites try to deceive Allah, whereas, in fact, Hehas reverted their deception to them; when they stand up forSalah they stand reluctantly, merely to be seen by people and donot remember Allah but a little

- wavering between belief and disbelief, belonging neither tothis nor to that. Whom Allah let go astray, you cannot find a Wayfor him.

Surely the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth of hellfire;and you will not find any helper for them.

However, those who repent and mend their ways, hold fast toAllah, and become sincere in their devotion to Allah - they areconsidered to be with the believers. Allah will soon grant thebelievers a mighty reward.

Ask them: "Should I tell you of those who will have even worsethan this in retribution from Allah? They are those whom Allahhas cursed; who have incurred His wrath; some of whom were turnedinto apes and pigs; who worshipped Taghut (forces of Shaitan);these are worse in rank and far more astray from the Right Way."

When they come to you they say: "We believe". But in fact,unbelievers they came and unbelievers they depart. Allah knowsfully well what they hide in their hearts.

You will see many of them try to beat each other in sin andrancor, and they consume what is unlawful. Evil indeed is whatthey do.

Why don't their Rabbis and the Jurists of laws forbid them fromuttering sinful words and eating unlawful things? Evil indeed aretheir deeds.

The hypocrite men and the hypocrite women, they are all alike.They enjoin what is evil, forbid what is just, and withhold theirhands from doing good. They have forgotten Allah; so He hasforgotten them. In fact the hypocrites are transgressors.

Allah has promised the hypocrite men, the hypocrite women, andthe unbelievers the fire of hell to live therein forever, asufficient recompense. Allah has cursed them and they shall havea lasting punishment.

Your behavior is just like those who have gone before you. Theywere mightier than you in power and more flourishing in wealthand children. They enjoyed their portion of this worldly life;thus have you enjoyed your portion as did those before you; andyou have entered into vain discourses as they did. Consequentlytheir deeds were fruitless in this world and in the Hereafter,and they are the ones who are the losers.

They swear by Allah that they said nothing when in fact theyuttered the words of unbelief and they committed Kufr afteraccepting Islam. They meditated a plot which they were unable tocarry out. They had no reason to be revengeful, except that Allahand His Rasool had enriched them through His bounty. Therefore,if they repent it will indeed be better for them; but if theyturn back (do not repent) Allah will punish them with a painfulpunishment in this life and in the Hereafter, and they shall havenone on earth to protect or help them.

There are some among them who made a covenant with Allah saying:"If He bestows on us His bounty, we will spend in charity andbecome truly of the righteous."

But when He did bestow of His bounty they became stingy, turnedback from their covenant and became evasive.

He put hypocrisy into their hearts to last till the Day whereinthey shall meet Him as a consequence of their breach of covenantwith Allah and the lies they told.

Are they not aware that Allah knows their secret thoughts andtheir secret counsels, and that Allah knows fully well all thatis hidden?

Some of the desert Arabs around you are hypocrites, and so aresome of the residents of Madinah, who are fanatical in theirhypocrisy. You do not know them, but We know them. Soon We shallgive them double punishment: then they shall be turned to themost severe chastisement.

and Allah knows what you conceal and what you reveal.

We are quite aware what they really wish to hear when they listento you, and what they say when they converse in private. Thesewrongdoers say to one another: "The man you follow is surelybewitched"

They say: "We believe in Allah and the Rasool and we obey," butno sooner do they utter these words than some of them turn theirbacks; these are no believers.

When such people are called to Allah and His Rasool that He mayjudge between them, behold! A party of them decline to come.

However, if they have the truth on their side, they come to himvoluntarily.

Is there a disease in their hearts? Either they are skeptical, orelse they fear that Allah and His Rasool will deny them justice.Nay! In fact they are the ones who are the wrongdoers.

There are some among people, who say: "We believe in Allah;" yetwhen they suffer in the cause of Allah they confuse thepersecution of people with the punishment of Allah. But whenthere comes help in the shape of a victory from your Rabb, theyare sure to say: "We have always been with you." Is not Allahfully aware of what is in the hearts of the people of the world?

Most surely Allah knows those who believe and knows those who arethe hypocrites.

All this happens so that Allah may reward the truthful for theirtruth and punish the hypocrites or accept their repentance if Hewills: for Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

(The inevitable result of bearing the burden of Allah's Trust is)that Allah will punish the hypocrite men, the hypocrite women,the mushrik men and the mushrik women, and that Allah will turnin mercy to the believing men and the believing women: for Allahis Forgiving, Merciful.

Some of them indeed listen to you but no sooner do they leaveyour presence than they ask those endowed with knowledge: "Whatwas it that he said just now?" Such are the men upon whose heartsAllah has set a seal, and who follow their own desires.

Those who turn back to unbelief after the guidance has becomeclear are seduced by Shaitan who gives them false hopes.

That is why they said to those who showed an aversion to whatAllah has revealed: "We shall obey you in some matters," andAllah knows their secret talks.

Then what will they do when the angels carry off their souls,smiting their faces and their backs?

That will happen because they followed the way that called forthe wrath of Allah and hated to adopt the way of His pleasure,therefore He made all their deeds void.

Do those in whose hearts is a disease think that Allah will notreveal their malice?

Had We so pleased, We could have pointed them out to you and youwould have recognized them promptly by their faces. But you willsurely know them by the tone of their speech. Allah knows all ofyour actions.

And that He may punish the hypocritical men and the hypocriticalwomen and the mushrik men and the mushrik women, who entertainedan evil thought about Allah. A turn of evil shall befall them,for Allah's wrath is upon them. He has laid His curse on them andprepared for them the fire of hell, which is a very evil abode.

On that Day the hypocrite men and hypocrite women will say to thetrue believers: "Wait for us, that we may borrow some of yourlight." But they will be told: "Go away! Seek your lightelsewhere." So a wall with a gate shall be set up between them.Inside there shall be mercy, and outside all along there shall bepunishment of hell.

They will call out the believers, saying: "Were we not on yourside?" "Yes," they will reply, "but you led yourselves intotemptation, you wavered, you doubted, and were deceived by yourvain desires until Allah's command came, while the arch-deceiver(shaitan) deceived you concerning Allah till the last moment."

They will be told, "Today no ransom shall be accepted from you,or from the unbelievers. Your abode is the fire: which you havejustly earned, and it is an evil refuge."

When the hypocrites come to you, they say: "We bear witness thatyou are indeed the Rasool of Allah." Allah knows that you areindeed His Rasool, and Allah bears witness that the hypocritesare liars.

They use their faith as a disguise, and thus debar others fromthe Way of Allah. Evil is indeed what they do.

This is because they believed and then renounced their faith.Their hearts are sealed, therefore, they are devoid ofunderstanding.

When you see them, their good stature pleases you; and when theyspeak, you listen to what they say. Yet they are as worthless ashollow pieces of propped up timber. Every shout they hear, theythink it to be against them. They are your enemies, so guardyourselves against them. May Allah destroy them! How perversethey are!

When it is said to them: "Come, the Rasool of Allah will pray foryour forgiveness," they shake their heads and you see themturning away with arrogance.

It is the same, whether you pray for their forgiveness or not,Allah is not going to forgive them. Surely Allah does not guidethe transgressors.

They are the same people who say: "Do not give anything to thosewho follow the Rasool of Allah until they have deserted him." ToAllah belong the treasures of the heavens and the earth; but thehypocrites cannot understand.

They say: "When we return to Madinah, the honorable ones willsoon drive out the mean ones." But the honor belongs to Allah, toHis Rasool and to the believers; but the hypocrites do not know.

When it is said to them: "Do not make mischief on earth," theysay: "We make peace."

These are the people who barter guidance for error: but theirbargain is profitless and they are not going to be guided.

Among the people there is one whose speech fascinates you in thisworldly life; he may even call upon Allah to witness what is inhis heart, yet he is your staunch opponent.

Have you not seen those who claim that they believe in what hasbeen revealed to you and other prophets before you? Yet theydesire that the judgment (in their disputes) be made by Taghut(forces of Shaitan) though they were commanded to reject them,and Shaitan's wish is to lead them far astray into deep error.

What is the matter with you, why are you divided into two groupsconcerning the hypocrites, while Allah has cast them off onaccount of their misdeeds? Do you wish to guide those whom Allahhas confounded? Whomever Allah has confounded you cannot find away for them to be guided.

Surely the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth of hellfire;and you will not find any helper for them.

The hypocrite men and the hypocrite women, they are all alike.They enjoin what is evil, forbid what is just, and withhold theirhands from doing good. They have forgotten Allah; so He hasforgotten them. In fact the hypocrites are transgressors.

Have you not observed the hypocrites? They say to their fellowunbelievers among the people of the Book: "If they drive you out,we will go with you. We will never obey anyone who seeks to harmyou. If you are attacked we will certainly help you." Allah bearswitness that they are lying.

Allah knows what really is in their hearts; therefore, neglecttheir attitude, admonish them, and speak to them effectual wordswhich may go deep into their hearts.

When it is said to them: "Come, the Rasool of Allah will pray foryour forgiveness," they shake their heads and you see themturning away with arrogance.

It is the same, whether you pray for their forgiveness or not,Allah is not going to forgive them. Surely Allah does not guidethe transgressors.

When it is said to him "Fear Allah," arrogance carries him off tosin. Hell will be the proper place for such a person, which isindeed an evil refuge.

O Rasool! Do not grieve for those who plunge headlong intounbelief; those who say with their tongues: We believe, but haveno faith in their hearts; and do not grieve for those Jews, wholisten to lies and spy for other people who had never come toyou. They tamper with the words of Allah and take them out oftheir context and say: "If you are given such and suchcommandment, accept it; but if it is other than this, reject it."If Allah intends to put anyone to trial, you have no authority inthe least to save him from Allah. Such people are those whosehearts Allah does not desire to purify; they will havehumiliation in this world and a grievous punishment in theHereafter.

That is because they listen to falsehood and eat what isforbidden. Therefore, if they come to you with their cases, youmay judge between them or refuse to do so. Even if you refuse,they will not be able to harm you the least, but if you do act asa judge, judge between them with fairness, for Allah loves thosewho judge with fairness.

They use their faith as a disguise, and thus debar others fromthe Way of Allah. Evil is indeed what they do.

When it is said to them: "Come, the Rasool of Allah will pray foryour forgiveness," they shake their heads and you see themturning away with arrogance.

It is the same, whether you pray for their forgiveness or not,Allah is not going to forgive them. Surely Allah does not guidethe transgressors.

You see that those who have the disease of hypocrisy in theirhearts move around in their camp saying: "We fear lest a turn offortune strike us." But soon when Allah gives you victory or adecision according to His will, they will regret for what theyare hiding in their hearts.

At that time the believers will say: "Are these the same peoplewho solemnly swore by Allah that they would stand beside you?" Asa result all their deeds will be voided and they will becomelosers.

Do not obey the unbelievers and the hypocrites, disregard theirannoyances and put your trust in Allah; for Allah is sufficientas a disposer of affairs.

That is because they listen to falsehood and eat what isforbidden. Therefore, if they come to you with their cases, youmay judge between them or refuse to do so. Even if you refuse,they will not be able to harm you the least, but if you do act asa judge, judge between them with fairness, for Allah loves thosewho judge with fairness.

But why do they come to you for judgement when they have theTaurat which contains Allah's commandments? Yet they turn backafter that. In fact, they are not true believers.

Their real wish is to see that you become a disbeliever, as theythemselves have disbelieved, so that you may become exactly likethem. So you should not take friends from their ranks unless theyimmigrate in the way of Allah; and if they do not, seize them andkill them wherever you find them, and do not take any of them asprotectors or helpers.

The exception to this is for those who take refuge with yourallies or come over to you because their hearts restrain themboth from fighting against you and from fighting against theirown people. If Allah had wanted, He would have given them powerover you and they might easily have fought against you;therefore, if they withdraw from you and cease their hostilityand offer you peace, in that case Allah has not granted youpermission to fight against them.

You will find other hypocrites who wish to be safe from you aswell as from their own people; but who would plunge into mischiefwhenever they get an opportunity. Therefore if they do not keepdistance from you and neither offer you peace, nor cease theirhostilities against you, you may seize them and kill themwherever you find them, against such people We give you absoluteauthority.

If the hypocrites, those in whose hearts is malice and thescandal mongers of Madinah do not desist; We shall rouse youagainst them, and their days in the city - as your neighbors -will be numbered.

They shall be cursed wherever they are found and they shall beseized and killed mercilessly.

O Prophet! Make Jihad (struggle including war) against theunbelievers and the hypocrites and deal sternly with them. Hellshall be their home, and that is an evil abode!

Allah knows what really is in their hearts; therefore, neglecttheir attitude, admonish them, and speak to them effectual wordswhich may go deep into their hearts.

They will say: "We are at your service!" Yet when they leave you,some of them meet together secretly at night to plot against whatyou have said. Allah notes down all their plots. Therefore, leavethem alone and put your trust in Allah. Allah is your allsufficient trustee.

Their real wish is to see that you become a disbeliever, as theythemselves have disbelieved, so that you may become exactly likethem. So you should not take friends from their ranks unless theyimmigrate in the way of Allah; and if they do not, seize them andkill them wherever you find them, and do not take any of them asprotectors or helpers.

The exception to this is for those who take refuge with yourallies or come over to you because their hearts restrain themboth from fighting against you and from fighting against theirown people. If Allah had wanted, He would have given them powerover you and they might easily have fought against you;therefore, if they withdraw from you and cease their hostilityand offer you peace, in that case Allah has not granted youpermission to fight against them.

Have you not observed the hypocrites? They say to their fellowunbelievers among the people of the Book: "If they drive you out,we will go with you. We will never obey anyone who seeks to harmyou. If you are attacked we will certainly help you." Allah bearswitness that they are lying.

If the People of the Book are driven out, they will never go withthem, nor, if the people of the Book are attacked, will they helpthem, and even if they help them, they will turn their backs;leaving them with no help at all.

If the hypocrites, those in whose hearts is malice and thescandal mongers of Madinah do not desist; We shall rouse youagainst them, and their days in the city - as your neighbors -will be numbered.

They shall be cursed wherever they are found and they shall beseized and killed mercilessly.

They swear by Allah that they said nothing when in fact theyuttered the words of unbelief and they committed Kufr afteraccepting Islam. They meditated a plot which they were unable tocarry out. They had no reason to be revengeful, except that Allahand His Rasool had enriched them through His bounty. Therefore,if they repent it will indeed be better for them; but if theyturn back (do not repent) Allah will punish them with a painfulpunishment in this life and in the Hereafter, and they shall havenone on earth to protect or help them.