23:1  Indeed the Monotheistic Believers have ultimately achieved a blissful life/ or gained eternal salvation.

23:2  Who are humble in their Prayers,

23:3  Who turn away from the evil vain talk,

23:4  Who pay zakāt (the prescribed purifying alms),

23:5  Who guard their chastity

23:6  Except from their wives or those whom their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be held responsible for a fault or wrong-

23:7  But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors -

23:8  Who are extraordinarily perceptive for their trusts and their covenant,

23:9  Who observe their prayers.

23:10  Those are the inheritors,

23:11  Who will inherit the Paradise wherein they will abide.

23:12  Verily, We created man from an essence of clay.

23:13  Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging.

23:14  (23:14)

23:15  After that you will definitely die.

23:16  Then on the ‘Day of Resurrection’, you will definitely be raised up.

23:17  Verily, We have created above you seven layered heavens; and never have We been inattentive to the creation.

23:18  We send down water from the sky according to a measure, and lodged it in the earth. Indeed, We are capable of taking it away.

23:19  We brought forth for you thereby gardens of palms and vines wherein are abundant fruits for you, and of them you eat,

23:20  And a tree issuing from the ‘Mount of Sinai’ which produces oil and a relish for those who eat.

23:21  Verily, in the cattle there is a lesson for you. We give you drink from that which is in their bellies, as well as many uses there are in them for you, of them you eat,

23:22  And upon them, and on the ships, you are carried.

23:23  Verily We sent ‘Noah’ (as Our Messenger) to his people, and he said: "O’ my people, worship ( & venerate) Allâh! You have no other deity but Him. Will you not then act piously toward your Lord?”

23:24  But the chiefs of his people, who persist in disbelief ( in Allâh) , said: "This (man) is naught but a mortal like yourselves who seeks to attain superiority over you. Had Allâh willed , He would have definitely sent down ‘Angels’ (instead of him). We never heard of such a thing (as he alleged) among our forefathers.

23:25  He is naught but a man possessed with insanity, so keep an eye on him for a while."

23:26  (‘Noah’) said: "O’ my Lord! Help me (over my people) because they deny me.”

23:27  Thus We inspired him (saying): “Start building the ark under Our Eyes and through Our Inspiration. When Our Command comes and water gushes forth from the Tanūr (-oven cave in the house of ‘Noah’-), embark therein two of every kind, a pair (male and female), and your family, except for the one against whom the Word (i.e. the punishment) has already gone forth. Do not implore and pray to Me on behalf of those who were grossly unfair and morally wrong. Certainly, they are going to be drowned."

23:28  Then, when you are firmly seated, you and those with you, in the ark, say: "All the praises and gratitude belong to Allâh, Who has saved us from the people who were grossly unfair and morally wrong.”

23:29  And say: "My Lord! Cause me to land (safely) at a blessed landing place, for You are the Best of those who cause to land (safely).”

23:30  Obviously, in that are signs ( of Allâh’s power & glory), and certainly We put people to the test.

23:31  Then, after them, We brought into being another generation,

23:32  We sent to them a ‘Messenger’ from among themselves (saying): "Worship (& venerate) Allâh! You have no other deity but Him. Will not then act piously toward your Lord ?”

23:33  But the chiefs of his people, who excessively indulge in disbelief (in Allâh) and deny the Meeting (with their Lord) in the ‘Hereafter’. And on whom We had bestowed great comfort and extravagant living in this ‘worldly life’, said: “He is naught but a mortal like yourselves. He eats of that which you eat and drinks of what you drink.

23:34  If it should happen that you obey a mortal like yourselves, then you would definitely be in the grip of perdition.

23:35  What! Does he promise you that when you are dead, and become dust and bones, you will be brought back to life again?

23:36  (It is) far impossible, far impossible, that which you are promised!

23:37  There is nothing but our ‘worldly life’! We live and die! We will not be resurrected!

23:38  He is not but a man who contrives lies against Allâh. So, we are not inclined to believe him.

23:39  He said: "O’ my Lord! Help me (over my people) because they deny me.”

23:40  (Allâh) said: "After a little, they will definitely become regretful."

23:41  Thus, the (Dreadful) Cry overtook them for a just reason. And We made them look like rubbish of dead leaves. Then away with those who are grossly unfair and morally wrong.

23:42  Then, after them, We brought into being other generations.

23:43  No nation can outstrip its term, neither can they delay it.

23:44  Then sent We Our Messengers in succession. Whenever there came to a nation its ‘Messenger’, they denied him. Thus, We made them follow one another (to destruction); and We made them narrations. So away with a people who are inclined to disbelieve.

23:45  Then We sent ‘Moses’ and his brother ‘Aaron’ with Our signs (of power & glory), and with an intelligible authority,

23:46  To ‘Pharaoh’ and his ‘Chiefs’. But they behaved arrogantly since they were supercilious people.

23:47  They said: "Are we going to believe two men like ourselves while their people are submissive to our will?”

23:48  So they denied them and became of those who were destroyed.

23:49  Verily We gave ‘Moses’ the ‘Scripture’ so that they might be guided.

23:50  We made ‘the son of Mary’ (‘Jesus’) and his mother a sign; and We gave them both shelter on high ground having meadows and springs.

23:51  (23:51)

23:52  (23:52)

23:53  (23:53)

23:54  (23:54)

23:55  (23:55)

23:56  (23:56)

23:57  Certainly those who tremble in awe of their Lord,

23:58  And who believe in the ‘Revelations’ of their Lord,

23:59  And who ascribe no partners to their Lord,

23:60  And who give what they give (of the voluntary alms) while their hearts tremble in awe knowing that they will return to their Lord-

23:61  It is they who race for the righteous deeds, and they are foremost ones who succeed in achieving them.

23:62  We never task any ‘Human Self’ beyond its scope, and with Us is a Record which speaks the truth; and they will not be wronged.

23:63  Nay, but their hearts are overwhelmed with confusion over this ( 'Qur’ān'), and they have other (evil) deeds, besides disbelief , which they are doing.

23:64  But as soon as We seize the ones among them who live in great comfort and extravagant living with the chastisement, behold! They will beg (Allâh) earnestly for help!

23:65  Cry not for help today. Definitely, you will not obtain any help from Us.

23:66  My ‘Verses’ were recited to you, but you used to turn back on your heels,

23:67  Being arrogant, conversing by night, talking evil about it (the 'Qur’ān').

23:68  Then have they not ruminated on the 'Qur’ān', or has there come upon them that which had not come upon their forefathers?

23:69  Or did they fail to recognize their ‘Messenger', and so they denied him?

23:70  Or do they say: "There is madness in him?" Nay, but he brought them the truth, but most of them do loathe the truth.

23:71  But if the Truth had taken in their self-deceived beliefs for the epistemic, then the heavens, the earth and whosoever is therein would have definitely been corrupted! Nay, We have given unto them their admonition, but they take no thought of their admonition.

23:72  Or is it that you ask them a remuneration? But the remuneration of your Lord is far better, and He is the best of those who provide sustenance.

23:73  Assuredly you are inviting them to a straight path.

23:74  But those who are inclined to disbelieve in the ‘Hereafter’ are indeed drifting far astray from the path (to the true monotheistic belief & worship).

23:75  Even if We showed them mercy and removed the distress which is on them, they would continue obstinately in their transgression, wandering blindly.

23:76  Verily, We overtook them with punishment, but they capitulated not to their Lord, neither did they humbly implore (Allâh).

23:77  As soon as We open for them the gate of extreme chastisement, they will be plunged into despair therein!

23:78  He is the One Who has created for you the sense of hearing, the sight and hearts; little gratitude you show.

23:79  He is the One Who multiplied you in the earth, and to Him you are (destined) to be gathered.

23:80  He is the One Who gives life and causes death. And His is the difference of night and day. Do you not possess self- awareness that allows you to understand?

23:81  Nay, but they say things similar to what the ancients said.

23:82  They said: "What! When we are dead and become dust and bones, are we going to be resurrected indeed?

23:83  Verily, We were already promised this, we and our forefathers. Lo! This is naught but myths of ancients."

23:84  Say: "Unto whom belongs the earth and whosoever is therein, if you really know?”

23:85  They will say: “Unto Allâh!" Say: "Will you not then remember?"

23:86  Say: "Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and the Lord of the Great Throne?"

23:87  They will say: "Allâh." Say: “Will you not then act piously?”

23:88  Say: "In Whose Hand is the sovereignty of everything? He is the One Who protects while no one can be protected against His Own will, if you do have the knowledge!

23:89  They will say: "(All that belongs) unto Allâh." Say: "Then how are you deceived into going away from the established course?"

23:90  Nay, but We have brought them the truth and they are absolutely liars.

23:91  Allâh has not taken unto Himself any son, nor has there ever been with Him any god, otherwise each god would definitely have taken away what he had created, and some of them would definitely have overpowered others. Glory be to Allâh above all that of which they attribute to Him!

23:92  (He is) All-Knowing of the unseen and the seen! High Exalted is He above all that which they associate with Him!

23:93  Say, (O’ Muhammad): “My Lord! If You would show me that which they are promised!

23:94  My Lord! (If You are going to punish them), then exclude me from the ones who are grossly unfair and morally wrong."

23:95  Indeed, We are capable of showing you what We have promised them.

23:96  Fight against evil with that which is good. We are fully aware of that which they describe.

23:97  say: "My Lord, I earnestly do seek refuge with You from the evil incitements of the devils."

23:98  "And I earnestly do seek refuge with You, My Lord, lest they may approach me."

23:99  As soon as death comes to one of them, he says: "My Lord, send me back again

23:100  In order that I may do righteousness in that which I left behind." Never! It is but a word that he speaks. And there is a barrier behind them until the Day when they are resurrected.

23:101  So when the Trumpet is blown, there will be no more relationships between them that Day, nor will they ask about one another.

23:102  So as for those whose scale (of good deeds) will be heavy, they are the one who ultimately achieve a blissful life/ or gain eternal salvation.

23:103  Yes, those whose scales (of good deeds) will be light, they are ones who lost their own selves; in ‘Gehenna’ will they abide.

23:104  The Fire will scorch their faces, and therein they will grin with displaced lips.

23:105  (It will be told), "Were not My ‘Verses’ recited to you, and you were inclined to deny them?"

23:106  They will say: "Our Lord, our misery overcame us, and we were an erring people.

23:107  Our Lord, bring us out of this! And if it happens that we were to return to (evil), then we are indeed grossly unfair and morally wrong.”

23:108  He will say, " Sink into it (with ignominy)! And do not speak to Me!

23:109  Verily! There was a party of My servants, who used to say: "Our Lord, we adhere to Islamic monotheism, therefore forgive us, and grant us mercy. You are the Best of all who show mercy!"

23:110  But you took them in mockery to the extent that they caused you to forget my remembrance, and you used to laugh at them.

23:111  Verily, I have rewarded them this day for what they endured patiently. And they are indeed the triumphant.”

23:112  Allâh will ask: "How long did you stay on earth in number of years?"

23:113  They will say: "We stayed a day or part of a day. Thus, ask the ones who enumerate."

23:114  Allâh will say: "You tarried but a little, if you had only known!

23:115  "Did you think that We created you in vain, and that you would not be returned unto Us?"

23:116  So highly exalted is Allâh, the Sovereign, the Truth. There is no god but Him, Lord of the Glorious Throne.

23:117  Whoever implores any other god along with Allâh has no proof thereof. His reckoning is only with his Lord. Indeed, those who lack Faith (in Allâh) will will never achieve a blissful life/or gain eternal salvation.

23:118  Say (O’ Muhammad): "My Lord, forgive and have mercy, for You are the Best of all those who show mercy!"