The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

a
Razi suggests that this probably alludes to the Jews’ objections to the change of
qibla (direction of prayer) from Jerusalem to Mecca and their e
fforts to stop people
praying towards Mecca in the Prophet’s mosque in Medina (see 
2: 115 and 142).
b
Or ‘His direction’.
c
Razi suggests that this refers to the pagan Arabs (see 
16: 57) and (some of ) the
Christians and Jews (see 
9: 30).
d
This can also mean ‘who read it as it ought to be read’.
The Qur
an
2: 114
14

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125We made the House
a
a resort and a sanctuary for people,
saying, ‘Take the spot where Abraham stood as your place of
prayer.’ We commanded Abraham and Ishmael: ‘Purify My House
for those who walk round it, those who stay there, and those who
bow and prostrate themselves in worship.’
126Abraham said, ‘My
Lord, make this land secure and provide with produce those of
its people who believe in God and the Last Day.’ God said, ‘As
for those who disbelieve, I will grant them enjoyment for a short
while and then subject them to the torment of the Fire –
– an evil
destination.’
127As Abraham and Ishmael built up the foundations of the House
[they prayed], ‘Our Lord, accept [this] from us. You are the All
Hearing, the All Knowing. 
128Our Lord, make us devoted
b
to You;
make our descendants into a community devoted to You. Show us
how to worship and accept our repentance, for You are the Ever
Relenting, the Most Merciful. 
129Our Lord, make a messenger of
their own rise up from among them, to recite Your revelations to
them, teach them the Scripture and wisdom, and purify them: You
are the Mighty, the Wise.’
130Who but a fool would forsake the religion of Abraham? We have
chosen him in this world and he will rank among the righteous in
the Hereafter. 
131His Lord said to him, ‘Devote yourself to Me.’
Abraham replied, ‘I devote myself to the Lord of the Universe,’
132and commanded his sons to do the same, as did Jacob: ‘My sons,
God has chosen [your] religion for you, so make sure you devote
yourselves to Him, to your dying moment.’
133Were you [Jews] there to see when death came upon Jacob?
When he said to his sons, ‘What will you worship after I am gone?’
they replied, ‘We shall worship your God and the God of your
fathers, Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac, one single God: we devote
ourselves to Him.’
c
134That community passed away. What they
earned belongs to them, and what you earn belongs to you: you will
not be answerable for their deeds.
135They say, ‘Become Jews or Christians, and you will be rightly
a
The Ka
 ba at Mecca.
b
Aslama here means to devote oneself to the one God alone, so that Abraham will
come to his Lord with his heart totally devoted to Him: 
3: 64; 26: 89; 37: 84.
c
‘One single God’ reinforces the interpretation of islam as ‘devotion’, one meaning
of aslama (al-Mu
 jam al-Wasit).
The Cow
15
2: 135

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guided.’ Say [Prophet], ‘No, [ours is] the religion of Abraham, the
upright, who did not worship any god besides God.’
136So [you
believers], say, ‘We believe in God and in what was sent down to us
and what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the
Tribes, and what was given to Moses, Jesus, and all the prophets by
their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we
devote ourselves to Him.’
137So if they believe like you do, they will
be rightly guided. But if they turn their backs, then they will be
entrenched in opposition. God will protect you from them: He is the
All Hearing, the All Knowing. And say [believers], 
138‘[Our life]
takes its colour from God, and who gives a better colour than God?
It is Him we worship.’
139Say [Prophet] [to the Jews and Christians], ‘How can you argue
with us about God when He is our Lord and your Lord? Our deeds
belong to us, and yours to you. We devote ourselves entirely to Him.
140Or are you saying that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the
Tribes were Jews or Christians?’ [Prophet], ask them, ‘Who knows
better: you or God? Who could be more wicked than those who hide
a testimony [they received] from God? God is not unmindful of
what you do.’
141That community passed away: what they earned
belongs to them, and what you earn belongs to you. You will not be
answerable for their deeds.
142The foolish people will say, ‘What has turned them away from
the prayer direction they used to face?’
a
Say, ‘East and West belong
to God. He guides whoever He will to the right way.’
143We have
made you [believers] into a just community,
b
so that you may bear
witness [to the truth] before others and so that the Messenger may
bear witness [to it] before you. We only made the direction the one
you used to face [Prophet] in order to distinguish those who follow
the Messenger from those who turn on their heels: that test was
hard, except for those God has guided. God would never let your
faith go to waste [believers],
c
for God is most compassionate and
most merciful towards people. 
144Many a time We have seen you
[Prophet] turn your face towards Heaven, so We are turning you