Those who disbelieve and bar people from the path of Allâh, He renders their works go in vain,
But as for those who bear faith and do deeds of righteousness and believe in that which is revealed to Muhammad, for it is the very Truth revealed by their Lord, He has purged them of their sins and has improved their (spiritual and temporal) condition.
That is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood while those who believe follow the Truth (revealed) from their Lord. That is how Allâh explains their condition to mankind (to make them understand).
So (believers! now that you know the will of your Lord), when you meet in (regular) battle those who disbelieve strike off their heads. After you have bound them fast in fetters (as prisoners of war), then, afterwards, (release them, a must), either by way of grace or by (accepting) ransom. (That is the law,) until war lays down its weapons (and it is over). Such is (the ordinance of Allâh). Indeed if Allâh pleased He could have punished them (in other ways). But (the ways of warfare have been resorted to) so that He may reveal your worth at the hands of one another. As of those who are slain in the cause of Allâh He will never let their works go in vain.
He will guide them (to success) and will improve their condition.
Rather He will admit them into the Garden which He has made known to them (in the Qur´ân).
O You who believe! if you help (the cause of) Allâh He will help you and make your steps firm.
As for those who disbelieve there awaits them perdition. He will make their works (to see Islam fail and come to nought) bear no fruit.
That is because they consider the revelations of Allâh a burden. That is why He has made their works all go waste.
Have they not travelled in the land and seen how (miserable) was the end to which their predecessors (who had disbelieved in the former Prophets) had come? Allâh utterly destroyed them. The same fate awaits these disbelievers.
That is because, (whereas) Allâh is a protecting friend of those who believe, the disbelievers have no protecting-friend.
Allâh will make those who believe and do deeds of righteousness enter the Gardens served with running streams (to keep them green and flourishing). As for the disbelievers they will enjoy themselves (a little in this life) and eat even as the cattle eat and the Fire will be the last resort for them.
(Prophet!) so many townships were more powerful than this your town (of Makkah) which has driven you out, but We destroyed them, and they had no helper.
Can those people who take their stand upon a clear proof from their Lord, be compared to those to whom the evils of their deeds are made to seem attractive and who follow their low desires?
(Here is) a description of the Garden promised to those who guard against evil. Therein are streams of water (which is) unstaling, and streams of milk the taste and flavour of which does not change, and streams of juice extracted from grapes, a delight to the drinkers, and streams (too) of clarified honey, and they will have in it all kinds of fruit, and (a provision of) protection from their Lord. Can (those who enjoy such blessings of this Garden) be like those who shall abide in the Fire for long and who will be given boiling water to drink so that it tears their bowels into pieces.
And there are some (hypocrites) among them who (pretend to) listen to you. Yet when they go out from your presence they say to those who have been given knowledge, `What was it he said just now?´ These are the people whose hearts Allâh has sealed and who follow their low desires.
As for those who follow true guidance He leads them far ahead in their right ways (in the light of His guidance) and grants them piety and restraints from evil suited to their condition.
These (disbelievers) only wait for the (promised) Hour (of doom) to take them unaware. Its signs have already appeared. But of what (avail) will their admonition be to them (and how will they be able to repent) when it actually comes upon them (all of a sudden).
(Believer!) know, therefore, that there is no other, cannot be and will never be One worthy of worship other than Allâh and seek His protection and forgiveness for your (human) shortcomings and (also) for believing men and believing women. Allâh knows your haunt (where you move about), and your resting-place.
Those who believe say, `Why is no Sûrah (- Qur´ânic chapter permitting us to go to war) revealed?´ But when a (definite) Sûrah of basic and categorical meaning and speaking of war was revealed you find those in whose hearts is a disease (of hypocrisy) looking at you like the looking of a person whose understanding is clouded for (fear of approaching) death. Therefore woe to them!
(More fitting and proper for them was) to obey and to say what is just and good. And when the matter (of fighting) is (once) resolved upon (and war breaks out) it is better for them if they remain true to Allâh (and fulfill the covenant they made with Him).
(Hypocrites!) it is more likely that if you are given authority and power, you will create disorder in the land and violate your ties of kinship.
Such are the people whom Allâh has deprived of His mercy, so that He has made them deaf (to hear the truth) and has made their eyes blind (so they cannot see the right way).
Is it that they do not earnestly seek to understand the Qur´ân? Rather (their) hearts are securely locked up by their own locks.
Surely, those who turned back (to apostasy) after true guidance had dawned upon them, satan has made fair-seeming to them (this action of theirs) and has held out false hopes to them.
That is because they (- the hypocrites) said (in secret) to these (Jews) who consider the revelations of Allâh as a burden, `We will obey you in some matters.´ But Allâh knows their secrets.
But how (will they fare), when the angels cause them to die, smiting them on their faces and their backs?
(They will be treated) thus, because they followed that which called forth the displeasure of Allâh and were averse to (seeking) His good pleasure. That is why He will make their deeds fruitless.
Do the people with diseased minds suppose that Allâh will never bring their malice to light?
Indeed, if We so will We could show them to you so that you would know them by their appearance, yet you shall of course recognise them from the tenor of (their) speech. (Allâh knows their empty words as) He knows your (solid) deeds.
(Muslims!) We will put you to trial until We make manifest those among you who strive their utmost (in the cause of Allâh), and those who persevere in patience, and We will (entrust you with such tasks as may) bring to light your reported mettle (and inner merits).
Those who disbelieve and hinder (people) from following the path of Allâh and oppose the Messenger after true guidance has become clear to them, can do no harm to Allâh. But He will let (such) deeds of theirs bear no fruit.
O you who believe! obey Allâh and obey the Messengers and do not let your deeds go in vain.
Allâh will never grant protection (from their sins) to those who disbelieved and hindered (people) from (following) the path of Allâh and then died while they were (still) disbelievers.
(Believers! when fighting once starts) do not be mean so as to sue for peace. You will certainly have the upper hand. Allâh is with you. He will never let you suffer a loss in (the reward) of your (good) deeds.
(Hypocrites!) the present life is only unreal and makes you ignore and forgetful (of your duties towards God). If you believe and guard against evil He will give you your reward and will not ask of you your wealth (to confiscate it from you but He wishes to repay the efforts you make with your wealth).
Should He ask you for it (- your wealth) and press you (for it), you would show stinginess and this (niggardliness) will bring to surface your malice (and hatred towards the divine Faith).
Behold! you are those who are called upon to spend in the cause of Allâh. Yet some of you are niggardly. (Remember that) whoever is niggardly is niggardly only against his own self. Otherwise Allâh is Self-sufficient (having no needs) and it is you who are the needy ones. And if you turn back (from the truth), He will replace you with another people and they will not (behave) like you.