Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) in English

1. ومثل الذين ينفقون أموالهم ابتغاء مرضات الله وتثبيتا من أنفسهم كمثل جنة بربوة أصابها وابل فآتت أكلها ضعفين فإن لم يصبها وابل فطل والله بما تعملون بصير

   265

   The parable of those who spend their wealth seeking Allah’s pleasure and to confirm themselves [in their faith], is that of a garden on a hillside: the downpour strikes it, whereupon it brings forth its fruit twofold; and if it is not a downpour that strikes it, then a shower, and Allah watches what you do.

   wa-mathalu lladhīna yunfiqūna ʾamwālahumu btighāʾa marḍāti llāhi wa-tathbītan min ʾanfusihim ka-mathali jannatin bi-rabwatin ʾaṣābahā wābilun fa-ʾātat ʾukulahā ḍiʿfayni fa-ʾin lam yuṣibhā wābilun fa-ṭallun wa-llāhu bi-mā taʿmalūna baṣīrun

2. أيود أحدكم أن تكون له جنة من نخيل وأعناب تجري من تحتها الأنهار له فيها من كل الثمرات وأصابه الكبر وله ذرية ضعفاء فأصابها إعصار فيه نار فاحترقت كذلك يبين الله لكم الآيات لعلكم تتفكرون

   266

   Would any of you like to have a garden of palm trees and vines, with streams running in it, with all kinds of fruit for him therein, and old age were to strike him while he has weakly offspring; whereupon a fiery hurricane were to hit it, whereat it lies burnt? Thus does Allah clarify His signs for you so that you may reflect.

   ʾa-yawaddu ʾaḥadukum ʾan takūna lahū jannatun min nakhīlin wa-ʾaʿnābin tajrī min taḥtihā l-ʾanhāru lahū fīhā min kulli th-thamarāti wa-ʾaṣābahu l-kibaru wa-lahū dhurriyyatun ḍuʿafāʾu fa-ʾaṣābahā ʾiʿṣārun fīhi nārun fa-ḥtaraqat ka-dhālika yubayyinu llāhu lakumu l-ʾāyāti laʿallakum tatafakkarūna

3. يا أيها الذين آمنوا أنفقوا من طيبات ما كسبتم ومما أخرجنا لكم من الأرض ولا تيمموا الخبيث منه تنفقون ولستم بآخذيه إلا أن تغمضوا فيه واعلموا أن الله غني حميد

   267

   O you who have faith! Spend of the good things you have earned [through trade and the like] and of what We bring forth for you from the earth, and do not be of the mind to give the bad part of it, for you yourselves would not take it, unless you ignore. And know that Allah is all-sufficient, all-laudable.

   yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū ʾanfiqū min ṭayyibāti mā kasabtum wa-mimmā ʾakhrajnā lakum mina l-ʾarḍi wa-lā tayammamū l-khabītha minhu tunfiqūna wa-lastum bi-ʾākhidhīhi ʾillā ʾan tughmiḍū fīhi wa-ʿlamū ʾanna llāha ghaniyyun ḥamīdun-i

4. الشيطان يعدكم الفقر ويأمركم بالفحشاء والله يعدكم مغفرة منه وفضلا والله واسع عليم

   268

   Satan frightens you of poverty and prompts you to [commit] indecent acts. But Allah promises you His forgiveness and bounty, and Allah is all-bounteous, all-knowing.

   ash-shayṭānu yaʿidukumu l-faqra wa-yaʾmurukum bi-l-faḥshāʾi wa-llāhu yaʿidukum maghfiratan minhu wa-faḍlan wa-llāhu wāsiʿun ʿalīmun

5. يؤتي الحكمة من يشاء ومن يؤت الحكمة فقد أوتي خيرا كثيرا وما يذكر إلا أولو الألباب

   269

   He grants wisdom to whomever He wishes, and he, who is given wisdom, is certainly given an abundant good, and none takes admonition except those who possess intellect.

   yuʾtī l-ḥikmata man yashāʾu wa-man yuʾta l-ḥikmata fa-qad ʾūtiya khayran kathīran wa-mā yadhdhakkaru ʾillā ʾulū l-ʾalbābi