He is the One Who sends the winds bearing good news of Hisblessings, so when they lift up heavy clouds, We drive them alongto a dead countryside and make the rain fall upon it and bringforth all kinds of fruits from the same dead land. Likewise Wewill raise the dead to life; this example is given so that youmay learn a lesson from this observation.

We send the fertilizing winds and send down water from the skyfor you to drink; it is not you who hold the storage of thiswealth.

It is Allah Who sends the winds to raise the clouds, then Hespreads them in the sky and breaks them into fragments as Hepleases, then you see raindrops falling from their midst. When Heshowers this rain upon those of His servants whom He pleases, lo!They are filled with joy,

And if We send a wind which turns their crops yellow, behold theywill become even more firm in their disbelief.

Surely, In the creation of the heavens and the earth; in thealternation of the night and the day, in the sailing of the shipsthrough the ocean for the profit of mankind; in the rain whichAllah sends down from the skies, with which He revives the earthafter its death and spreads in it all kinds of animals, in thechange of the winds and the clouds between the sky and the earththat are made subservient, there are signs for rational people.

and in the alternation of night and day, in the sustenance thatAllah sends down from heaven with which He revives the earthafter its death and in the changing of the winds, there are signsfor those who use their common sense.

They (the residents of paradise) shall be arrayed in the garmentsof fine green silk and rich brocade, and adorned with braceletsof silver, and their Rabb will give them pure wine to drink.

Their thirst will be quenched with the choicest sealed wine,

from the mischief of those who blow on knots (black magic);

Therefore, pay no heed to them, and wait as they are waiting.

So give no heed to them for a while;

you will see their downfall as they shall see your victory.

Do they wish to hurry on Our punishment?

But dreadful will be that morning, when it will descend in thecourtyards of those who have been forewarned.

So pay no heed to them for a while.

You will surely see their downfall as they shall see yourvictory.

So, O Prophet, ignore them; you are not at fault.

and profound wisdom to serve as a warning, but warnings are of nouse to these people.

Therefore, O Prophet, let them be. On the Day when the callerwill call them to a terrible event.

Let not those among you who are endowed with grace and amplitudeof means swear to withhold their help from their relatives, theindigent and those who left their homes for the cause of Allah -rather let them forgive and overlook - do you not wish that Allahshould forgive you? Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

O believers! When you deal with each other in lending for a fixedperiod of time, put it in writing. Let a scribe write it downwith justice between the parties. The scribe, who is given thegift of literacy by Allah, should not refuse to write; he isunder obligation to write. Let him who incurs the liability(debtor) dictate, fearing Allah his Rabb and not diminishinganything from the settlement. If the borrower is mentally unsoundor weak or is unable to dictate himself, let the guardian of hisinterests dictate for him with justice. Let two witnesses fromamong you bear witness to all such documents, if two men cannotbe found, then one man and two women of your choice should bearwitness, so that if one of the women forgets anything the othermay remind her. The witnesses must not refuse when they arecalled upon to do so. You must not be averse to writing (yourcontract) for a future period, whether it is a small matter orbig. This action is more just for you in the sight of Allah,because it facilitates the establishment of evidence and is thebest way to remove all doubts; but if it is a common commercialtransaction concluded on the spot among yourselves, there is noblame on you if you do not put it in writing. You should havewitnesses when you make commercial transactions. Let no harm bedone to the scribe or witnesses; and if you do so, you shall beguilty of transgression. Fear Allah; it is Allah that teaches youand Allah has knowledge of everything.

O Prophet, We have sent you as a witness, as a bearer of goodnews, and as a Warner.

O believers! When death approaches any one of you, let two justmen from among yourselves act as witnesses at the time of makingyour last will; or from the non-Muslims if you are travellingthrough the land and the calamity of death overtakes you. If youdoubt their honesty, detain them after prayer and let them bothswear by Allah: "We will not sell our testimony for any price,even to a relative, and we will not hide the testimony which wewill be giving for the sake of Allah; for we shall be sinners ifwe do so."

Then, if it becomes known that those two were guilty of the sinof perjury, then let two others better qualified witnesses fromamong those who were deprived of their right come forward andtestify upon oath, "By Allah, our testimony is truer than theirs.We have not transgressed in our testimony; for we should bewrongdoers if we did so."

By this procedure, it is more likely that they will bear truewitness or at least fear that their oaths could be contradictedby subsequent oaths. Have fear of Allah and listen; Allah doesnot guide to those who are disobedient transgressors.

We have made you a moderate Ummah (nation) so that you maytestify against mankind and that your own Rasool may testifyagainst you. We decreed your former Qiblah only to distinguishthose who are the real followers of the Rasool from those whowould back away from the faith. It was indeed a hard test exceptfor those whom Allah has guided. Allah wants not to make yourfaith fruitless. Allah is Compassionate and Merciful to mankind.

O believers! When you deal with each other in lending for a fixedperiod of time, put it in writing. Let a scribe write it downwith justice between the parties. The scribe, who is given thegift of literacy by Allah, should not refuse to write; he isunder obligation to write. Let him who incurs the liability(debtor) dictate, fearing Allah his Rabb and not diminishinganything from the settlement. If the borrower is mentally unsoundor weak or is unable to dictate himself, let the guardian of hisinterests dictate for him with justice. Let two witnesses fromamong you bear witness to all such documents, if two men cannotbe found, then one man and two women of your choice should bearwitness, so that if one of the women forgets anything the othermay remind her. The witnesses must not refuse when they arecalled upon to do so. You must not be averse to writing (yourcontract) for a future period, whether it is a small matter orbig. This action is more just for you in the sight of Allah,because it facilitates the establishment of evidence and is thebest way to remove all doubts; but if it is a common commercialtransaction concluded on the spot among yourselves, there is noblame on you if you do not put it in writing. You should havewitnesses when you make commercial transactions. Let no harm bedone to the scribe or witnesses; and if you do so, you shall beguilty of transgression. Fear Allah; it is Allah that teaches youand Allah has knowledge of everything.

Those who accuse a chaste woman of fornication and do not producefour witnesses to support their allegation, shall be flogged witheighty lashes and their testimony shall not be accepted everafter, for they are the ones who are wicked transgressors

- except those who repent thereafter and mend their conduct; forAllah is surely Forgiving, Merciful.

On the Day of Resurrection when Allah gathers the Rasools andasks: "What response were you given from your addressees?" Theywill say: "We have no knowledge, only You have all the knowledgeof the unseen."

Then Allah will ask: "O Isa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary)! Recallmy favor upon you and to your mother, how I strengthened you withthe Holy Spirit, so you could speak to the people in cradle andin old age, how I taught you the Book, Wisdom, the Taurat (Torah)and the Injeel (Gospel). How you were able to make the figure ofa bird out of a clay, by My permission, how you breathed into itand changed it into a real bird, by My permission. How you couldheal the born-blind and the lepers by My permission. How youcould bring the dead body back to life by My permission. How Iprotected you from the violence of the Children of Israel whenyou came to them with clear signs and the unbelievers among themsaid: "This is nothing but a clear sorcery."

Remember when I inspired the disciples to have faith in Me and MyRasool and they said: 'We believe and bear witness that we havebecome Muslims."

O believers! When you deal with each other in lending for a fixedperiod of time, put it in writing. Let a scribe write it downwith justice between the parties. The scribe, who is given thegift of literacy by Allah, should not refuse to write; he isunder obligation to write. Let him who incurs the liability(debtor) dictate, fearing Allah his Rabb and not diminishinganything from the settlement. If the borrower is mentally unsoundor weak or is unable to dictate himself, let the guardian of hisinterests dictate for him with justice. Let two witnesses fromamong you bear witness to all such documents, if two men cannotbe found, then one man and two women of your choice should bearwitness, so that if one of the women forgets anything the othermay remind her. The witnesses must not refuse when they arecalled upon to do so. You must not be averse to writing (yourcontract) for a future period, whether it is a small matter orbig. This action is more just for you in the sight of Allah,because it facilitates the establishment of evidence and is thebest way to remove all doubts; but if it is a common commercialtransaction concluded on the spot among yourselves, there is noblame on you if you do not put it in writing. You should havewitnesses when you make commercial transactions. Let no harm bedone to the scribe or witnesses; and if you do so, you shall beguilty of transgression. Fear Allah; it is Allah that teaches youand Allah has knowledge of everything.

This Book is revealed from Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

Those are the ones who do not bear witness to falsehood and, ifthey ever pass by futility, pass with dignity.

Surely our Rabb's Majesty is exalted: He has neither taken a wifenor a son.

Some who are foolish among us have been uttering atrocious liesabout Allah,

and we had presumed that no man or jinn could tell a lieconcerning Allah.

Men are overseers over women because Allah has given the one morestrength than other, and because men are required to spend theirwealth for the maintenance of women. Honorable women are,therefore, devoutly obedient and guard in the husband's absencewhat Allah require them to guard their husband's property andtheir own honor. As to those women from whom you feardisobedience, first admonish them, then refuse to share your bedwith them, and then, if necessary, beat them. Then if they obeyyou, take no further actions against them and do not make excusesto punish them. Allah is Supremely Great and is aware of youractions.

Those of you who die and leave widows should bequeath for them ayear's maintenance without causing them to leave their homes; butif they leave the residence on their own there is no blame on youfor what they chose for themselves in a fair way. Allah isMighty, Wise.

If you wish to marry another wife in place of the one you alreadyhave, do not take back anything of what you have given her evenif it be a heap of gold. Would you take it back through slanderand open sin (accusing her unjustly)?

And how could you take it back when you have enjoyed conjugalhappiness and she had taken from you a firm pledge of marriage?

It may well be that, if he divorce you all, his Rabb will givehim in your place better wives than yourselves, submissive,faithful, obedient, penitent, worshippers and keepers of fasting;be they previously married or virgins.

O believers! It is not lawful for you consider women as a part ofyour inheritance and retain them against their will in order thatyou may force them to give up a part of the dowry you have giventhem, unless they are guilty of proven fornication. Treat themwith kindness even if you dislike them; it is quite possible thatyou dislike something in which Allah has placed much good.

O believers! When the believing women seek refuge with you, testthem. Allah best knows their faith. If you find them truebelievers, do not send them back to the unbelievers. They are notlawful to the unbelievers, nor are the unbelievers lawful tothem. Return to their unbelieving husbands what they have spenton them. There is no blame on you if you marry such women,provided you give them their dowers. Do not hold on to yourmarriages with unbelieving women. Demand what you have spent onthem and let the unbelievers do the same. This is the order ofAllah which He has decreed between you. Allah is All-Knowing,All-Wise.

If you do not get back the demanded amount that you have spent onyour disbelieving wives from the unbelievers, and your turncomes, to pay the demanded amount of Muslim wives to theunbelievers, you can offset the amount and pay those whose wiveshave fled the equivalent of the amount they have spent on theirdisbelieving wives. Fear Allah, in Whom you believe.

O wives of the Prophet! You are not like the other women: if youfear Allah, then you should not be complaisant while talking tothe men who are not closely related to you, lest the one in whoseheart is a disease may thereby be encouraged, and speak usingsuitable good words.

Stay in your homes and do not display your finery as women usedto do in the days of ignorance (pre-Islamic days); establishSalah, pay Zakah, and obey Allah and His Rasool. O women of thehousehold of Rasool, Allah only intends to remove uncleanlinessfrom you and to purify you completely.

O believers! Surely among your wives and your children there aresome who are your enemies: so beware of them. But if you pardon,overlook and forgive their faults, then know that Allah isForgiving, Merciful.

O Prophet! Say to your wives: "If you desire the life of thisworld and its glitter, then come, I shall give you of these andlet you go in an honorable way."

But if you seek Allah and His Rasool and the home of thehereafter, then you should rest assured that Allah has prepared agreat reward for those of you who are good.

O Prophet! We have made lawful to you the wives to whom you havegiven their dowers; and those ladies whom your right handspossess (from the prisoners of war) whom Allah has assigned toyou; and the daughters of your paternal uncles and aunts, and thedaughters of your maternal uncles and aunts, who have migratedwith you; and the believing woman who gave herself to the Prophetif the Prophet desires to marry her - this permission is only foryou and not for the other believers; We know what restrictions Wehave imposed on the other believers concerning their wives andthose whom their right hands possess. We have granted you thisprivilege as an exception so that no blame may be attached toyou. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

O wives of the Prophet! If any of you were guilty of openindecency, her punishment will be increased to double and this iseasy for Allah.

Do not marry those women whom your fathers had married, - exceptwhat happened prior to this commandment. - Surely it wasshocking, disgusting, and an evil practice.

O Prophet, remember when you said to the one (Zaid, Prophet'sadopted son) whom Allah as well as you had favored: "Keep yourwife in wedlock and fear Allah". You sought to hide in your heartwhat Allah intended to reveal; you were afraid of the peoplewhereas it would have been more appropriate to fear Allah. Sowhen Zaid divorced his wife, We gave her to you in marriage, sothat there remains no hindrance for the believers to wed thewives of their adopted sons if they divorced them. And Allah'sCommand had to be carried out.

Those who renounce conjugal relationship with their wives on oathhave a limitation of four months. If they reconcile and restoretheir relationship, surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

But if they decide to divorce them, they may do so, surely Allahhears and knows everything.

Men are overseers over women because Allah has given the one morestrength than other, and because men are required to spend theirwealth for the maintenance of women. Honorable women are,therefore, devoutly obedient and guard in the husband's absencewhat Allah require them to guard their husband's property andtheir own honor. As to those women from whom you feardisobedience, first admonish them, then refuse to share your bedwith them, and then, if necessary, beat them. Then if they obeyyou, take no further actions against them and do not make excusesto punish them. Allah is Supremely Great and is aware of youractions.

It may well be that, if he divorce you all, his Rabb will givehim in your place better wives than yourselves, submissive,faithful, obedient, penitent, worshippers and keepers of fasting;be they previously married or virgins.

Men are overseers over women because Allah has given the one morestrength than other, and because men are required to spend theirwealth for the maintenance of women. Honorable women are,therefore, devoutly obedient and guard in the husband's absencewhat Allah require them to guard their husband's property andtheir own honor. As to those women from whom you feardisobedience, first admonish them, then refuse to share your bedwith them, and then, if necessary, beat them. Then if they obeyyou, take no further actions against them and do not make excusesto punish them. Allah is Supremely Great and is aware of youractions.

It may well be that, if he divorce you all, his Rabb will givehim in your place better wives than yourselves, submissive,faithful, obedient, penitent, worshippers and keepers of fasting;be they previously married or virgins.

O wives of the Prophet! If any of you were guilty of openindecency, her punishment will be increased to double and this iseasy for Allah.

JUZ (PART): 22 Those of you (O wives of the Prophet Muhammad)who obey Allah and His Rasool and practice righteousness, shallbe granted double reward, and for them We have prepared agenerous provision.

They ask you about menstruation. "Tell them: This is adiscomfort; therefore, keep away from women (do not have sexualintercourse) during their menstrual periods and do not approachthem until they are clean again. When they have cleansedthemselves then you may approach them in the manner Allah hasenjoined for you. Surely Allah loves those who turn to Him inrepentance and keep themselves clean.

Do not use Allah's name in your oaths as an excuse to prevent youfrom dealing justly, guarding against evil and making peacebetween people; Allah hears and knows everything.

You shall inherit one half of your wives' estate if they leave nochild, but if they leave behind a child then you will get onefourth of their estate, after fulfilling the terms of their lastwill and the payment of debts. Your wives shall inherit onefourth if you leave no child behind you; but if you leave achild, then they shall get one-eighth of your estate; afterfulfilling the terms of your last will and the payment of debts.If a man or a woman leaves neither ascendant nor descendants buthas left a brother or a sister, they shall each inherit onesixth, but if they are more than two, they shall share one thirdof the estate; after fulfilling the terms of the last will andthe payment of debts; without prejudice to the rights of theheirs. Thus is the commandment of Allah. Allah is Knowledgeable,Forbearing.

The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves andhis wives are as their mothers. Blood relatives have a greaterclaim on one another than the other believers and the Muhajirin(early Muslims who migrated from Makkah to Madinah) according tothe Book of Allah: although you are permitted to some good(through leaving bequests) for your friends . This has beenwritten in the Book of Allah.

When you divorce women and they have reached the end of theirwaiting period ('Iddat) either allow them to stay with honor orlet them go with kindness; but you should not retain them to harmthem or to take undue advantage; if anyone does that he wrongshis own soul. Do not take Allah's revelations as a joke. Rememberthe favors of Allah upon you and the fact that He sent down theBook and Wisdom for your guidance. Fear Allah and know that Allahhas knowledge of everything.

It will be commanded: "Gather all the wrongdoers, their spousesand those whom they used to worship

besides Allah and show them the way to hell.

When they will all be gathered and angels will start pushing themtowards hell, Allah shall say: "Stop for a while, they have to bequestioned:

"What is the matter with you today that you do not help eachother?"

Nay! On that Day they shall all be submissive.

Some of them will step forward to question one another.

The followers will say to their leaders: "It was you who used tocome at us from the right hand (right hand is a symbol ofauthority) and forced us towards the wrong way."

They will reply: "Nay! But it was you who had no faith.

we had no power over you, the fact is that you were an inordinatepeople;

true is the verdict which Our Rabb has passed upon us, we shallindeed taste the punishment of our sins:

We misled you, for we ourselves were astray."

So on that Day they shall all be partners in the punishment.

Thus, shall We deal with the criminals;

for when they were told: "There is no god except Allah," theyused to puff themselves up with pride

and say: "What! Should we give up our gods for the sake of a madpoet?"

Whereas he had come with the truth and had confirmed the messageof prior Rasools.

Then it will be said: "You are surely going to taste the painfulpunishment:

and this reward is nothing except what you had done.

Allah has indeed heard the words of the woman (Khawlah daughterof Tha'labah, who had been divorced by calling her: ''You are tome like my mother" which was acceptable practice for divorceamong pagan Arabs), who pleaded with you against her husband andmade her complaint to Allah, and Allah has heard what you said toeach other. Allah hears all and sees all.

Enjoin the believing men to lower their gaze and guard theirmodesty; that is chaster for them. Surely Allah is well aware oftheir actions.

If any of your women are guilty of fornication, ask for fourreliable witnesses from among yourselves against them; and ifthey testify and their guilt is proved, confine them to theirhouses until they die or Allah opens some other way out for them.

O believers! When the believing women seek refuge with you, testthem. Allah best knows their faith. If you find them truebelievers, do not send them back to the unbelievers. They are notlawful to the unbelievers, nor are the unbelievers lawful tothem. Return to their unbelieving husbands what they have spenton them. There is no blame on you if you marry such women,provided you give them their dowers. Do not hold on to yourmarriages with unbelieving women. Demand what you have spent onthem and let the unbelievers do the same. This is the order ofAllah which He has decreed between you. Allah is All-Knowing,All-Wise.

If you do not get back the demanded amount that you have spent onyour disbelieving wives from the unbelievers, and your turncomes, to pay the demanded amount of Muslim wives to theunbelievers, you can offset the amount and pay those whose wiveshave fled the equivalent of the amount they have spent on theirdisbelieving wives. Fear Allah, in Whom you believe.

Let those women, during their waiting period ('Iddat), live whereyou yourselves live according to your means. You shall not harassthem so as to make life intolerable for them. If they arepregnant, maintain them until their delivery: and if, after that,they suckle your offspring, compensate them and settle the matterof compensation with mutual consultation and in all fairness. Butif you cannot bear with each other then let another woman sucklethe baby for you.

Let the rich man give according to his means, and the poor mangive according to what Allah has given him. Allah does not chargea man with more than He has given him; soon Allah may bring easeafter hardship.

O believers! It is not lawful for you consider women as a part ofyour inheritance and retain them against their will in order thatyou may force them to give up a part of the dowry you have giventhem, unless they are guilty of proven fornication. Treat themwith kindness even if you dislike them; it is quite possible thatyou dislike something in which Allah has placed much good.

If you wish to marry another wife in place of the one you alreadyhave, do not take back anything of what you have given her evenif it be a heap of gold. Would you take it back through slanderand open sin (accusing her unjustly)?

And how could you take it back when you have enjoyed conjugalhappiness and she had taken from you a firm pledge of marriage?

O believers! It is not lawful for you consider women as a part ofyour inheritance and retain them against their will in order thatyou may force them to give up a part of the dowry you have giventhem, unless they are guilty of proven fornication. Treat themwith kindness even if you dislike them; it is quite possible thatyou dislike something in which Allah has placed much good.

There is no blame on you if you divorce women before the marriageis consummated or the dowry is settled. Pay them somethinganyhow, the rich man according to his means and poor according tohis, a reasonable amount in all fairness. This is an obligationon the righteous people.

And if you divorce them before the marriage is consummated butafter the fixation of a dowry, give them half of their dowryunless the woman wants to waive it or the man in whose hand isthe marriage tie is generous enough (to pay the dowry in full).It is more appropriate that the man should act generously. Do notforget to show kindness to each other. Surely Allah observes youractions.

And if you divorce them before the marriage is consummated butafter the fixation of a dowry, give them half of their dowryunless the woman wants to waive it or the man in whose hand isthe marriage tie is generous enough (to pay the dowry in full).It is more appropriate that the man should act generously. Do notforget to show kindness to each other. Surely Allah observes youractions.

If you have any doubt concerning those of your wives who haveceased menstruating, then you should know that their waitingperiod will be three months, and the same will apply to those whohave no menstruation due to young age or a disease. As for thosewho are pregnant, their waiting period will end with delivery.Allah will ease the hardship of those who fear Him.

This is the command of Allah which He has sent down to you. Hethat fears Allah, will have his sins removed and his rewardenlarged.

Let those women, during their waiting period ('Iddat), live whereyou yourselves live according to your means. You shall not harassthem so as to make life intolerable for them. If they arepregnant, maintain them until their delivery: and if, after that,they suckle your offspring, compensate them and settle the matterof compensation with mutual consultation and in all fairness. Butif you cannot bear with each other then let another woman sucklethe baby for you.

Let the rich man give according to his means, and the poor mangive according to what Allah has given him. Allah does not chargea man with more than He has given him; soon Allah may bring easeafter hardship.

O believers! When the believing women seek refuge with you, testthem. Allah best knows their faith. If you find them truebelievers, do not send them back to the unbelievers. They are notlawful to the unbelievers, nor are the unbelievers lawful tothem. Return to their unbelieving husbands what they have spenton them. There is no blame on you if you marry such women,provided you give them their dowers. Do not hold on to yourmarriages with unbelieving women. Demand what you have spent onthem and let the unbelievers do the same. This is the order ofAllah which He has decreed between you. Allah is All-Knowing,All-Wise.

If you do not get back the demanded amount that you have spent onyour disbelieving wives from the unbelievers, and your turncomes, to pay the demanded amount of Muslim wives to theunbelievers, you can offset the amount and pay those whose wiveshave fled the equivalent of the amount they have spent on theirdisbelieving wives. Fear Allah, in Whom you believe.

Likewise enjoin the believing women to lower their gaze and guardtheir modesty; not to display their beauty and ornaments exceptwhat normally appears thereof; let them draw their veils overtheir bosoms and not display their charms except to theirhusbands, their fathers, their fathers-in-law, their own sons,their stepsons, their own brothers, their nephews on eitherbrothers' or sisters' sides, their own womenfolk, their ownslaves, male attendants who lack sexual desires or small childrenwho have no carnal knowledge of women. Also enjoin them not tostrike their feet in order to draw attention to their hiddentrinkets. And O believers! Turn to Allah in repentance, all ofyou, about your past mistakes, so that you may attain salvation.

O believers! When the believing women seek refuge with you, testthem. Allah best knows their faith. If you find them truebelievers, do not send them back to the unbelievers. They are notlawful to the unbelievers, nor are the unbelievers lawful tothem. Return to their unbelieving husbands what they have spenton them. There is no blame on you if you marry such women,provided you give them their dowers. Do not hold on to yourmarriages with unbelieving women. Demand what you have spent onthem and let the unbelievers do the same. This is the order ofAllah which He has decreed between you. Allah is All-Knowing,All-Wise.

If you do not get back the demanded amount that you have spent onyour disbelieving wives from the unbelievers, and your turncomes, to pay the demanded amount of Muslim wives to theunbelievers, you can offset the amount and pay those whose wiveshave fled the equivalent of the amount they have spent on theirdisbelieving wives. Fear Allah, in Whom you believe.

The mothers shall breast-feed their offspring for two whole yearsif the father wishes the breast-feeding to be completed. Thereasonable cost of their maintenance and clothing will be theresponsibility of the child's father. No one should be chargedwith more than they can afford. Neither a mother should be madeto suffer on account of her child nor a father on account of hischild. The father's heirs are under the same obligation. But ifwith mutual agreement they both decide to wean the child there isno blame on them. If you decide to have a foster-mother for youroffspring there is no blame on you provided you pay what you havepromised to pay in an honorable manner. Fear Allah and bewarethat Allah observes your actions.

Therefore, you should know that there is no god but Allah;implore Him to forgive your sins and to forgive the believing menand believing women; for Allah knows your activities and yourresting places.

There is no blame on you if you divorce women before the marriageis consummated or the dowry is settled. Pay them somethinganyhow, the rich man according to his means and poor according tohis, a reasonable amount in all fairness. This is an obligationon the righteous people.

Likewise enjoin the believing women to lower their gaze and guardtheir modesty; not to display their beauty and ornaments exceptwhat normally appears thereof; let them draw their veils overtheir bosoms and not display their charms except to theirhusbands, their fathers, their fathers-in-law, their own sons,their stepsons, their own brothers, their nephews on eitherbrothers' or sisters' sides, their own womenfolk, their ownslaves, male attendants who lack sexual desires or small childrenwho have no carnal knowledge of women. Also enjoin them not tostrike their feet in order to draw attention to their hiddentrinkets. And O believers! Turn to Allah in repentance, all ofyou, about your past mistakes, so that you may attain salvation.

O believers! It is not lawful for you consider women as a part ofyour inheritance and retain them against their will in order thatyou may force them to give up a part of the dowry you have giventhem, unless they are guilty of proven fornication. Treat themwith kindness even if you dislike them; it is quite possible thatyou dislike something in which Allah has placed much good.

If you have any doubt concerning those of your wives who haveceased menstruating, then you should know that their waitingperiod will be three months, and the same will apply to those whohave no menstruation due to young age or a disease. As for thosewho are pregnant, their waiting period will end with delivery.Allah will ease the hardship of those who fear Him.

This is the command of Allah which He has sent down to you. Hethat fears Allah, will have his sins removed and his rewardenlarged.

O believers! If you marry believing women and divorce them beforethe marriage is consummated, you are not required to observe theIddat (waiting period) which you should count for them, so givethem some present and relieve them gracefully.

O believers! It is not lawful for you consider women as a part ofyour inheritance and retain them against their will in order thatyou may force them to give up a part of the dowry you have giventhem, unless they are guilty of proven fornication. Treat themwith kindness even if you dislike them; it is quite possible thatyou dislike something in which Allah has placed much good.

Today all good clean things have been made lawful for you; andthe food of the People of the Book is also made lawful for youand your food is made lawful for them. Likewise, marriage withchaste free believing women and also chaste women among thePeople who were given the Book before you is made lawful for you,provided that you give them their dowries and desire chastity,neither committing fornication nor taking them as mistresses.Anyone who commits Kufr with Iman (rejects faith), all his gooddeeds will be in vain and in the Hereafter he will be one of thelosers.

Likewise enjoin the believing women to lower their gaze and guardtheir modesty; not to display their beauty and ornaments exceptwhat normally appears thereof; let them draw their veils overtheir bosoms and not display their charms except to theirhusbands, their fathers, their fathers-in-law, their own sons,their stepsons, their own brothers, their nephews on eitherbrothers' or sisters' sides, their own womenfolk, their ownslaves, male attendants who lack sexual desires or small childrenwho have no carnal knowledge of women. Also enjoin them not tostrike their feet in order to draw attention to their hiddentrinkets. And O believers! Turn to Allah in repentance, all ofyou, about your past mistakes, so that you may attain salvation.

And those who annoy believing men and believing women, for nofault of theirs, shall bear the guilt of slander and an evidentsin.

O Prophet! We have made lawful to you the wives to whom you havegiven their dowers; and those ladies whom your right handspossess (from the prisoners of war) whom Allah has assigned toyou; and the daughters of your paternal uncles and aunts, and thedaughters of your maternal uncles and aunts, who have migratedwith you; and the believing woman who gave herself to the Prophetif the Prophet desires to marry her - this permission is only foryou and not for the other believers; We know what restrictions Wehave imposed on the other believers concerning their wives andthose whom their right hands possess. We have granted you thisprivilege as an exception so that no blame may be attached toyou. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Also forbidden for you are married women, except those who havefallen in your hands as prisoners of war. This is the order ofAllah relating to marriage prohibitions. All women other thanthese are lawful provided you seek them in marriage with giftsfrom your property (dowry), desiring chastity and not lust. Givethem their dowry as an obligation for the benefit you havereceived from your marriage relationship. However, there is noblame on you if you change the agreement of dowry with mutualconsent. Allah is the Knowledgeable, Wise.

Today all good clean things have been made lawful for you; andthe food of the People of the Book is also made lawful for youand your food is made lawful for them. Likewise, marriage withchaste free believing women and also chaste women among thePeople who were given the Book before you is made lawful for you,provided that you give them their dowries and desire chastity,neither committing fornication nor taking them as mistresses.Anyone who commits Kufr with Iman (rejects faith), all his gooddeeds will be in vain and in the Hereafter he will be one of thelosers.

O Prophet! Enjoin your wives, daughters and the believing womenthat they should draw their outer garments over their persons.That is more proper, so that they may be recognized and notbothered. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

There is no blame on the ladies if they appear before theirfathers, their sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, theirsisters' sons, their familiar women and those whom their righthands possess (slaves). O Ladies! Have fear of Allah: for Allahis a witness to all things.

Those who accuse a chaste woman of fornication and do not producefour witnesses to support their allegation, shall be flogged witheighty lashes and their testimony shall not be accepted everafter, for they are the ones who are wicked transgressors

- except those who repent thereafter and mend their conduct; forAllah is surely Forgiving, Merciful.

If any of your women are guilty of fornication, ask for fourreliable witnesses from among yourselves against them; and ifthey testify and their guilt is proved, confine them to theirhouses until they die or Allah opens some other way out for them.

There is no blame on such elderly women who have no interest ingetting married, if they lay aside their cloaks withoutdisplaying their adornment, but it is better for them if they donot discard. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

Those who accuse a chaste woman of fornication and do not producefour witnesses to support their allegation, shall be flogged witheighty lashes and their testimony shall not be accepted everafter, for they are the ones who are wicked transgressors

- except those who repent thereafter and mend their conduct; forAllah is surely Forgiving, Merciful.

Unclean women are for unclean men, and unclean men are forunclean women; and pure women are for pure men, and pure men arefor pure women. They are free from the slanderer's accusations;for them there shall be forgiveness and honorable provision fromAllah.

Let those women, during their waiting period ('Iddat), live whereyou yourselves live according to your means. You shall not harassthem so as to make life intolerable for them. If they arepregnant, maintain them until their delivery: and if, after that,they suckle your offspring, compensate them and settle the matterof compensation with mutual consultation and in all fairness. Butif you cannot bear with each other then let another woman sucklethe baby for you.

Let the rich man give according to his means, and the poor mangive according to what Allah has given him. Allah does not chargea man with more than He has given him; soon Allah may bring easeafter hardship.

Likewise enjoin the believing women to lower their gaze and guardtheir modesty; not to display their beauty and ornaments exceptwhat normally appears thereof; let them draw their veils overtheir bosoms and not display their charms except to theirhusbands, their fathers, their fathers-in-law, their own sons,their stepsons, their own brothers, their nephews on eitherbrothers' or sisters' sides, their own womenfolk, their ownslaves, male attendants who lack sexual desires or small childrenwho have no carnal knowledge of women. Also enjoin them not tostrike their feet in order to draw attention to their hiddentrinkets. And O believers! Turn to Allah in repentance, all ofyou, about your past mistakes, so that you may attain salvation.

Let those women, during their waiting period ('Iddat), live whereyou yourselves live according to your means. You shall not harassthem so as to make life intolerable for them. If they arepregnant, maintain them until their delivery: and if, after that,they suckle your offspring, compensate them and settle the matterof compensation with mutual consultation and in all fairness. Butif you cannot bear with each other then let another woman sucklethe baby for you.

Let the rich man give according to his means, and the poor mangive according to what Allah has given him. Allah does not chargea man with more than He has given him; soon Allah may bring easeafter hardship.

The ever approaching (the Day of Judgement) is drawing near;

none but Allah can disclose it.

Do you then wonder at this revelation,

and laugh instead of weeping?

Rather you are wasting your time,

surely this Qur'an is a decisive word,

and it is no joke.

Do they say: "He has forged a falsehood against Allah?" But ifAllah so willed, He could have sealed your heart. In fact Allahblots out falsehood and vindicates the truth by His words. SurelyHe knows everything that is hidden in your breast.

Call people to the Way of your Rabb with wisdom and best advice,and reason with them, if you have to, in the most courteousmanner: for your Rabb knows best who strays from His Way and Heknows best who is rightly guided.

This (Qur'an) is not the word of an accursed Shaitan.

Nay! I swear by all that you can see,

and all that you cannot see,

that this is the word of a noble Rasool.

is it not the word of a poet - little is it that you believe,

nor it is the word of a soothsayer - little admonition is thatyou take.

This is a revelation from the Rabb of the worlds.

Had he (Muhammad) invented false statement concerning Us,

We would certainly have seize him by his right hand

then cut off his main artery,

and none of you could prevent it!

Do they not ponder over the Word of Allah or has anything newcome to them which did not come to their forefathers?

Nay! I swear by all that you can see,

and all that you cannot see,

that this is the word of a noble Rasool.

is it not the word of a poet - little is it that you believe,

nor it is the word of a soothsayer - little admonition is thatyou take.

This is a revelation from the Rabb of the worlds.

Had he (Muhammad) invented false statement concerning Us,

We would certainly have seize him by his right hand

then cut off his main artery,

and none of you could prevent it!