The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

a
Razi suggests that this means: if the hypocrites repent, the believers should not
taunt them for what they did in the past.
The Qur
an
4: 141
64

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presumption. Even after clear revelations had come down to them,
they took the calf as an object of worship, yet We pardoned this, and
gave Moses clear authority; 
154We made the mountain tower high
above them at their pledge; We said to them, ‘Enter the gate
a
hum-
bly,’ and, ‘Do not break the Sabbath,’ and took a solemn pledge from
them.
155And so for breaking their pledge, for rejecting God’s revela-
tions, for unjustly killing their prophets, for saying ‘Our minds are
closed’
b
–
– No! God has sealed them in their disbelief, so they believe
only a little –
–
156and because they disbelieved and uttered a terrible
slander against Mary, 
157and said, ‘We have killed the Messiah, Jesus,
son of Mary, the Messenger of God.’ (They did not kill him, nor did
they crucify him, though it was made to appear like that to them;
those that disagreed about him are full of doubt, with no knowledge
to follow, only supposition: they certainly did not kill him –
–
158God
raised him up to Himself. God is almighty and wise. 
159There is not
one of the People of the Book who will not believe in [Jesus] before
his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness
against them.) 
160For the wrongdoings done by the Jews, We forbade
them certain good things that had been permitted to them before: for
having frequently debarred others from God’s path; 
161for taking
usury when they had been forbidden to do so; and for wrongfully
devouring other people’s property. For those of them that reject the
truth we have prepared an agonizing torment. 
162But those of them
who are well grounded in knowledge and have faith do believe in
what has been revealed to you [Muhammad], and in what was
revealed before you –
– those who perform the prayers, pay the pre-
scribed alms, and believe in God and the Last Day –
– to them We
shall give a great reward.
163We have sent revelation to you [Prophet] as We did to Noah and
the prophets after him, to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the
Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon –
– to David We gave
the book [of Psalms] –
–
164to other messengers We have already
mentioned to you, and also to some We have not. To Moses God
spoke directly. 
165They were messengers bearing good news and
warning, so that mankind would have no excuse before God, once
a
The gate of the town mentioned in 
2: 58; 7: 161.
b
Literally ‘our hearts are covered’, or ‘encased’. Cf. 
2: 88.
Women
65
4: 165

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the messengers had been sent: God is almighty and all wise. 
166But
God Himself bears witness to what He has sent down to you –
– He
sent it down with His full knowledge –
– the angels too bear witness,
though God is su
fficient witness. 167Those who have disbelieved and
barred others from God’s path have gone far astray; 
168God will not
forgive those who have disbelieved and do evil, nor will He guide
them to any path 
169except that of Hell, where they will remain for
ever –
– this is easy for God.
170The Messenger has come to you [people] with the truth from
your Lord, so believe –
– that is best for you –
– for even if you dis-
believe, all that is in the heavens and the earth still belongs to God,
and He is all knowing and all wise. 
171People of the Book, do not go
to excess in your religion, and do not say anything about God except
the truth: the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was nothing more than a
messenger of God, His word, directed to Mary, a spirit from Him.
So believe in God and His messengers and do not speak of a
‘Trinity’–
– stop [this], that is better for you –
– God is only one God,
He is far above having a son, everything in the heavens and earth
belongs to Him and He is the best one to trust. 
172The Messiah would
never disdain to be a servant of God, nor would the angels who are
close to Him. He will gather before Him all those who disdain His
worship and are arrogant: 
173to those who believe and do good works
He will give due rewards and more of His bounty; to those who are
disdainful and arrogant He will give an agonizing torment, and they
will
find no one besides God to protect or help them.
174People, convincing proof has come to you from your Lord and
We have sent a clear light down to you. 
175God will admit those who
believe in Him and hold fast to Him into His mercy and favour; He
will guide them towards Him on a straight path.
176They ask you [Prophet] for a ruling. Say, ‘God gives you a
ruling
a
about inheritance from someone who dies childless with no
surviving parents. If a man leaves a sister, she is entitled to half of the
inheritance; if she has no child her brother is her sole heir; if there
are two sisters, they are entitled to two-thirds of the inheritance
between them, but if there are surviving brothers and sisters, the
male is entitled to twice the share of the female. God makes this clear
to you so that you do not make mistakes: He has full knowledge of
everything.’