Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) in English

1. واذكروا الله في أيام معدودات فمن تعجل في يومين فلا إثم عليه ومن تأخر فلا إثم عليه لمن اتقى واتقوا الله واعلموا أنكم إليه تحشرون

   203

   Remember Allah in the appointed days. Then whoever hastens off in a couple of days, there is no sin upon him, and whoever delays, there is no sin upon him—that for one who has been Godwary—and be wary of Allah and know that toward Him you will be mustered.

   wa-dhkurū llāha fī ʾayyāmin maʿdūdātin fa-man taʿajjala fī yawmayni fa-lā ʾithma ʿalayhi wa-man taʾakhkhara fa-lā ʾithma ʿalayhi li-mani ttaqā wa-ttaqū llāha wa-ʿlamū ʾannakum ʾilayhi tuḥsharūna

2. ومن الناس من يعجبك قوله في الحياة الدنيا ويشهد الله على ما في قلبه وهو ألد الخصام

   204

   Among the people is he whose talk about worldly life impresses you, and he holds Allah witness to what is in his heart, though he is the staunchest of enemies.

   wa-mina n-nāsi man yuʿjibuka qawluhū fī l-ḥayāti d-dunyā wa-yushhidu llāha ʿalā mā fī qalbihī wa-huwa ʾaladdu l-khiṣāmi

3. وإذا تولى سعى في الأرض ليفسد فيها ويهلك الحرث والنسل والله لا يحب الفساد

   205

   If he were to wield authority, he would try to cause corruption in the land and to ruin the crop and the stock, and Allah does not like corruption.

   wa-ʾidhā tawallā saʿā fī l-ʾarḍi li-yufsida fīhā wa-yuhlika l-ḥartha wa-n-nasla wa-llāhu lā yuḥibbu l-fasāda

4. وإذا قيل له اتق الله أخذته العزة بالإثم فحسبه جهنم ولبئس المهاد

   206

   And when he is told, ‘Be wary of Allah,’ conceit seizes him sinfully; so let hell suffice him, and it is surely an evil resting place!

   wa-ʾidhā qīla lahu ttaqi llāha ʾakhadhathu l-ʿizzatu bi-l-ʾithmi fa-ḥasbuhū jahannamu wa-la-biʾsa l-mihādu

5. ومن الناس من يشري نفسه ابتغاء مرضات الله والله رءوف بالعباد

   207

   And among the people is he who sells his soul seeking the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is most kind to [His] servants.

   wa-mina n-nāsi man yashrī nafsahu btighāʾa marḍāti llāhi wa-llāhu raʾūfun bi-l-ʿibādi

6. يا أيها الذين آمنوا ادخلوا في السلم كافة ولا تتبعوا خطوات الشيطان إنه لكم عدو مبين

   208

   O you who have faith! Enter into submission, all together, and do not follow in Satan’s steps; he is indeed your manifest enemy.

   yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū dkhulū fī s-silmi kāffatan wa-lā tattabiʿū khuṭuwāti sh-shayṭāni ʾinnahū lakum ʿaduwwun mubīnun

7. فإن زللتم من بعد ما جاءتكم البينات فاعلموا أن الله عزيز حكيم

   209

   And should you stumble after the manifest proofs that have come to you, know that Allah is all-mighty, all-wise.

   fa-ʾin zalaltum min baʿdi mā jāʾatkumu l-bayyinātu fa-ʿlamū ʾanna llāha ʿazīzun ḥakīmun

8. هل ينظرون إلا أن يأتيهم الله في ظلل من الغمام والملائكة وقضي الأمر وإلى الله ترجع الأمور

   210

   Do they await anything but that Allah [’s command] should come to them in the shades of the clouds, with the angels, and the matter be decided [once for all]? To Allah all matters are returned.

   hal yanẓurūna ʾillā ʾan yaʾtiyahumu llāhu fī ẓulalin mina l-ghamāmi wa-l-malāʾikatu wa-quḍiya l-ʾamru wa-ʾilā llāhi turjaʿu l-ʾumūru