Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) in English

1. حافظوا على الصلوات والصلاة الوسطى وقوموا لله قانتين

   238

   Be watchful of your prayers, and [especially] the middle prayer, and stand in obedience to Allah;

   ḥāfiẓū ʿalā ṣ-ṣalawāti wa-ṣ-ṣalāti l-wusṭā wa-qūmū li-llāhi qānitīna

2. فإن خفتم فرجالا أو ركبانا فإذا أمنتم فاذكروا الله كما علمكم ما لم تكونوا تعلمون

   239

   and should you fear [a danger], then [pray] on foot or mounted, and when you are safe remember Allah, as He taught you what you did not know.

   fa-ʾin khiftum fa-rijālan ʾaw rukbānan fa-ʾidhā ʾamintum fa-dhkurū llāha ka-mā ʿallamakum mā lam takūnū taʿlamūna

3. والذين يتوفون منكم ويذرون أزواجا وصية لأزواجهم متاعا إلى الحول غير إخراج فإن خرجن فلا جناح عليكم في ما فعلن في أنفسهن من معروف والله عزيز حكيم

   240

   Those of you who die leaving wives shall bequeath for their wives providing for a year, without turning them out; but if they leave, there is no sin upon you in respect of what they may do with themselves in accordance with honourable norms. And Allah is all-mighty, all-wise.

   wa-lladhīna yutawaffawna minkum wa-yadharūna ʾazwājan waṣiyyatan li-ʾazwājihim matāʿan ʾilā l-ḥawli ghayra ʾikhrājin fa-ʾin kharajna fa-lā junāḥa ʿalaykum fī mā faʿalna fī ʾanfusihinna min maʿrūfin wa-llāhu ʿazīzun ḥakīmun

4. وللمطلقات متاع بالمعروف حقا على المتقين

   241

   For the divorced women there shall be a provision, in accordance with honourable norms—an obligation on the Godwary.

   wa-li-l-muṭallaqāti matāʿun bi-l-maʿrūfi ḥaqqan ʿalā l-muttaqīna

5. كذلك يبين الله لكم آياته لعلكم تعقلون

   242

   Thus does Allah clarify His signs to you so that you may exercise your reason.

   ka-dhālika yubayyinu llāhu lakum ʾāyātihī laʿallakum taʿqilūna

6. ألم تر إلى الذين خرجوا من ديارهم وهم ألوف حذر الموت فقال لهم الله موتوا ثم أحياهم إن الله لذو فضل على الناس ولكن أكثر الناس لا يشكرون

   243

   Have you not regarded those who left their homes in thousands, apprehensive of death, whereupon Allah said to them, ‘Die,’ then He revived them? Indeed Allah is gracious to mankind, but most people do not give thanks.

   ʾa-lam tara ʾilā lladhīna kharajū min diyārihim wa-hum ʾulūfun ḥadhara l-mawti fa-qāla lahumu llāhu mūtū thumma ʾaḥyāhum ʾinna llāha la-dhū faḍlin ʿalā n-nāsi wa-lākinna ʾakthara n-nāsi lā yashkurūna

7. وقاتلوا في سبيل الله واعلموا أن الله سميع عليم

   244

   Fight in the way of Allah, and know that Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.

   wa-qātilū fī sabīli llāhi wa-ʿlamū ʾanna llāha samīʿun ʿalīmun

8. من ذا الذي يقرض الله قرضا حسنا فيضاعفه له أضعافا كثيرة والله يقبض ويبسط وإليه ترجعون

   245

   Who is it that will lend Allah a good loan that He may multiply it for him severalfold? Allah tightens and expands [the means of life], and to Him you shall be brought back.

   man dhā lladhī yuqriḍu llāha qarḍan ḥasanan fa-yuḍāʿifahū lahū ʾaḍʿāfan kathīratan wa-llāhu yaqbiḍu wa-yabsuṭu wa-ʾilayhi turjaʿūna