The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

This sura refers to an uncle of the Prophet who opposed him 
fiercely, as did
his wife. He insulted the Prophet with ‘ Tabbak yadak’ (‘may your hands be
ruined’). This Meccan sura is the retort.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined! May he be ruined too!
2Neither his wealth nor his gains will help him: 3he will burn in the
Flaming Fire ––
a
4and so will his wife, the firewood-carrier,
b
5with a
palm-
fibre rope around her neck.
a
Abu Lahab means ‘Flame Man’ and this verse contains a pun on this name.
b
She used to tie bunches of thorns with ropes of twisted palm 
fibre and throw them
into the Prophet’s path.
(
443)

---

112. PURITY [OF FAITH]
This sura is unusual in having as its title a term not mentioned in the body of
the sura. Ikhlas conveys the meaning of sincerity in one’s religion and total
dedication to the One true God. Because of the importance of this theme in
Islam, the Prophet said that this sura, despite its brevity, was equal to one-third
of the Qur
an.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1Say, ‘He is God the One, 2God the eternal.
a
3He begot no one nor
was He begotten. 
4No one is comparable to Him.’
a
Samad: other commonly held interpretations include ‘self-su
fficient’ and ‘sought
by all’ (Razi).
(
444)

---

113. DAYBREAK
A Meccan sura used as an invocation against evil.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1Say [Prophet], ‘I seek refuge with the Lord of daybreak 2against the
harm in what He has created, 
3the harm in the night when darkness
gathers, 
4the harm in witches when they blow on knots,
a
5the harm
in the envier when he envies.’
a
Said to be a means of practising witchcraft and casting spells.
(
445)

---

114. PEOPLE
Another Meccan sura commonly used as an invocation against evil.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1Say, ‘I seek refuge with the Lord of people, 2the Controller
a
of people, 
3the God of people, 4against the harm of the slinking
whisperer ––
5who whispers into the hearts of people––6whether
they be jinn or people.’
a
Or ‘King’ or ‘Master’.
(
446)

---

I N D E X
Aaron (Moses’ brother)
104; blessed
288; God’s guidance 86; grace 193; as
messenger
134, 229; mission to the
Egyptians
232; Moses requests his
support from God
247; as Moses’
spokesman
197; receives the
Scriptures
205; rejection by
disbelievers
217; and the worship of
the golden calf
200
Abdul Muttalib (Muhammad’s
grandfather) x, xxxvii
Abdullah (Muhammad’s father) x, xxxvii
Abel (Adam’s son)
70
Abraha (Christian ruler of Yemen),
threatens Mecca
437, 438
Abraham xvii, 
122, 348; as an example
368–9; builds the Ka ba x, 17 n. a,
18 n. c; ceases to pray on behalf of his
disbelieving father
126; condemns
idolatry
205–6, 234, 253, 317, and is
blessed with the birth of Isaac
287;
devotion to God
14–15, 16, 292;
dialogue with God xx; as
encouragement to believers to be
mindful of God
359, 361; example
166, 209; faith 41; forbidden to plead
for Lot’s people
141; grace 193;
guests, and the destruction of Lot’s
people
343–4; monotheism 85–6;
prayers for the prosperity of Mecca
158, 160–1; questioning of the
prophecy of Isaac’s birth
163–4;
receives the same message as that given
to Muhammad
312; rite of pilgrimage
209, 211; standing before God 39
Abraham, people
212; chosen by God 37
Abraham, wife, and the prophecy of
Isaac’s birth
141, 343–4
Abu Bakr: father of