Quran Audio in English: Chapter 5 The Table

Quran Chapter 5 – The Table

In the name of God, the Kind, the Caring.

1. O you who believe: keep your promises. Livestock is allowed to you, except for those specified to you, but not wild game while you're on pilgrimage. God commands whatever He wills.

2. O you who believe: don’t violate God’s sacraments, nor the Holy Month, nor the offerings, nor the garlanded, nor those heading to the Holy House seeking the blessings and happiness of their Lord. Once you have left pilgrim sanctity, you may hunt. Don’t let the hatred of people who once blocked your way to the Holy Mosque cause you to break the rules. Cooperate in kindness and righteousness, and don’t cooperate in sin and hostility. And revere God. God is severe in punishment.

3. You're forbidden to eat carrion, blood, pork, and anything slaughtered under a name other than that of God. Also, animals killed by choking, killed violently, killed by falling, gored to death, or mangled by wild animals — unless you purify them — and animals sacrificed on altars, as well as the practice of casting lots. It's a sin. Today, unbelievers have despaired of your religion, so don’t fear them, but fear Me. Today, I have completed your religion, completed My favor upon you, and approved Submission as your religion. Whoever is forced by scarcity, without intentions to do wrong, then God is Forgiving and Kind.

4. They ask you what's allowed for them. Say, “All healthy foods are allowed for you, including what trained dogs and falcons catch for you.” You train them according to what God taught you. So eat what they catch for you, say God's name on it, and be mindful of God. God is quick to settle scores.

5. Today, all good things are made lawful for you. And the food of Bible-People is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them. So are virtuous believing women, and virtuous women of Bible-People, provided you give them their allowance, and you take them in marriage, not in adultery, nor as mistresses. Whoever rejects faith, his deeds will be in vain, and in the Hereafter, he will be among the losers.

6. O you who believe, when you intend to perform the prayer, wash your faces, hands, and arms up to the elbows, and wipe your heads, and feet up to the ankles. If you had sex, clean up. If you're sick, traveling, have relieved yourselves, or touched women, and can’t find water, take clean sand and wipe your face and arms with it. God doesn’t want to impose difficulties on you, but He wants to purify you, and complete His favors upon you, so that you may be thankful.

7. Remember God’s favor upon you, and the covenant He made with you, when you said, “We listen and obey.” Be conscious of God. God knows what's in the hearts and minds.

8. O you who believe: Be committed to God, witnessing with justice. And don’t let people’s hatred prevent you from being just. Adhere to justice; because it’s closer to righteousness. And remember God. God is aware of what you do.

9. God promised the believers who do good deeds forgiveness and a great reward.

10. But the unbelievers who reject Our revelations are the inhabitants of the Inferno.

11. O you who believe, remember God's blessings on you; when some people intended to attack you, but He held them back. So revere God, and let the believers put their trust in God.

12. God received a pledge from the Israelites. And We raised twelve leaders from them. God said, “I'm with you, as long as you perform the prayer, pay the purifying charity, believe in My messengers and support them, and lend God a loan of righteousness — I'll erase your sins, and admit you to Gardens under which rivers flow. But whoever breaks the pledge after that has strayed from the right path.”

13. Because they broke their pledge, We cursed them and hardened their hearts. They distort the meaning of the Word, and they neglect parts of what they were taught. You'll always witness deception from them, except a few of them. But forgive them and forget. God loves those who benefit others.

14. We received a commitment from those who said, “We are Christians.” But they neglected parts of the teachings. So We provoked hostility and resentment among them until Resurrection Day. God will inform them of what they invented.

15. O Bible-People: Our Messenger has come to you, clarifying much of what you hid from the Scripture and overlooking much. A light and a clear book have come to you from God.

16. By this, God guides those who follow His approval to the paths of peace, and He brings them out of darkness into light, by His will, and He guides them on a straight path.

17. Those who say, “Christ the son of Mary, is God,” deny the truth.” Say, “Who can prevent God, if He wanted to, from destroying Christ son of Mary, his mother, and all life on earth?” God has control over the heavens, the earth, and everything in between. He creates whatever He wills. God is capable of anything.

18. Jews and Christians say, “We're the children of God and His beloved.” Say, “So why does He punish you for your sins?” Actually, you're humans of His creation. He forgives whom He wills, and He punishes whom He wills. God is in control of the heavens, the earth, and everything in between. To Him is the journey’s end.

19. O Bible-People: Our Messenger has come to you, to explain things to you — after a pause without messengers — so that you can’t say, “No messenger of good news and no warner has come to us.” In fact, a messenger of good news and a warner came to you. God is capable of anything.

20. When Moses said, “O my people, remember God’s favor for you; when He appointed prophets among you, and He made you sovereign, and He gave you what He never gave anyone in the world.”

21. “O my people, enter the Holy Land that God promised you, and don’t turn back, lest you become losers.”

22. They said, “O Moses, there are violent people in there. We won't enter until they're gone. When they leave, we will enter.”

23. Two blessed God-fearing men said, “Go at them through the gate. Once you pass through it, you'll be victorious. And put your trust in God; if you're believers.”

24. They said, “O Moses, we'll never enter it, as long as they remain there. Go and fight, you and your Lord; we're staying here.”

25. He said, “My Lord, I control only myself and my brother, so separate us from the rebellious people.”

26. He said, “It's forbidden to them for forty years. They'll wander in the land. So don’t grieve for the rebellious people.”

27. Give them the accurate account of Adam's two sons. When they made an offering, it was accepted from one of them, but not from the other. He said, “I’m going to kill you.” He said, “God accepts only from the righteous.”

28. “If you raise your hand to kill me, I won’t raise my hand to kill you. I fear God, the Lord of the World.”

29. “I prefer that you bear my sin and yours, and you become a prisoner of the Fire. That's the appropriate reward for wrongdoers.”

30. His passion tempted him to kill his brother, and he killed him, and he became a loser.

31. Then God sent a raven, scratching the ground, to show him how to cover his brother's corpse. He said, “Woe to me! I couldn't be like that raven and cover my brother's corpse.” So he became regretful.

32. For that reason, We decreed for the Israelites: that whoever kills a person — except for murder or corruption on earth — it’s as if he killed all humankind; and whoever saves a person, it’s as if he saved all humankind. Our messengers came to them with enlightenment, but many of them became extremists in their country.

33. The punishment for those who fight God and His Messenger and strive for corruption on earth: the death penalty, or crucifixion, or amputation of hands and feet on opposite sides, or banishment from the land. Thus, in this life, they'll be covered with disgrace. And in the Afterlife, they'll be severely punished.

34. Except those who repent before you detain them. Know that God is Forgiving and Kind.

35. O you who believe: be conscious of God, and seek ways to draw closer to Him, and strive in His path, so that you may succeed.

36. If the unbelievers owned everything on earth, and twice as much, and they offered it to redeem themselves from the suffering of Resurrection Day, it wouldn’t be accepted from them. They'll have a painful punishment.

37. They will want to get out of the Fire, but they won’t come out. They'll have a lasting punishment.

38. Whether male or female, the penalty for thieves is to cut their hands — a deterrent from God. God is Almighty, Wise.

39. But whoever repents after his crime and reforms himself, God will accept his repentance. God is Forgiving and Merciful.

40. Don’t you know that God controls everything in the heavens and on earth? He punishes whom He wills, and He forgives whom He wills. God is capable of anything.

41. O, Messenger: Don’t be saddened by those who rush into unbelief — those who say with their lips: “We believe,” but there is no faith in their hearts. And similarly, some who call themselves Jews: listeners to lies, listeners to people who never met you. They twist the words out of place, saying, “If you're given this, accept it, but if not, beware.” If God wants to try someone, you have no way to save them from God. God has no intention of purifying them. They'll suffer disgrace in this world. And they'll be severely punished in the Hereafter.

42. Listeners to lies and consumers of illicit earnings. If they come to you, judge between them, or turn away from them. If you turn away from them, they won’t harm you. But if you judge, judge justly between them. God loves the just.

43. But why do they come to you for judgment, even though they have the Torah, which holds God’s Law? But they always turn away. These are not believers.

44. We revealed the Torah, which contains guidance and light. According to it, the submissive prophets ruled over the Jews, as did the rabbis and the scholars, according to what they preserved of God’s Book, and they witnessed it. So don’t fear people, but fear Me. And don’t sell My verses at a low price. Those who don’t rule according to God’s revelations are the unbelievers.

45. We wrote for them: a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, all injuries the same for the same. But whoever gives up his right out of charity, it serves as an atonement. Those who don’t judge according to God’s revelations are the unjust.

46. Then We sent Jesus, son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps. He confirmed what was revealed before him in the Torah. And We gave him the Gospel, which held guidance and light, confirming what was in the Torah, and guidance and advice for the righteous.

47. So let the people of the Gospel rule with what God revealed in it. Those who don’t govern according to God’s revelations are the sinners.

48. We revealed the Book to you, full of truth, confirming what was previously revealed in the Book and prevailing over it. So judge between them according to what God revealed. And don’t follow their thoughts that contradict the truth that has come to you. To each, we gave a method and a way of life. If God had willed, He would have made you one community, but He tests you by what He gave you. So compete in righteousness. To God is your return, all of you — then He will inform you of your differences.

49. And judge between them according to what God revealed. And don’t follow their thoughts. And beware lest they draw you away from what God revealed to you. If they turn away, know that God intends to strike them with some of their sins. In fact, many people are corrupt.

50. Do they want the laws of the Age of Ignorance? There is no better rule than God's for steadfast believers.

51. O you who believe! Don’t take the Jews and the Christians for allies — some of them are allies of each other. Whoever allies himself with them is one of them. God doesn’t guide the wrongdoers.

52. You'll see people with sickness in their hearts rushing towards them, saying, “We fear a tragedy may happen to us.” But maybe God will bring victory or another event of His making, and they’ll regret what they hid in their hearts.

53. The believers will say, “Didn’t they swear by God, a solemn oath, that they’re with you?” Their deeds have failed, and they became losers.

54. O you who believe: Whoever goes back on his faith, God will bring people whom He loves and who love Him: kind to believers, stern with unbelievers. They strive in God’s path, and they don’t fear the comments of critics. That’s God's favor — He gives it to whomever He wills. God is Vast and All-Knowing.

55. Your allies are God, His Messenger, and the believers — those who pray regularly, give charity regularly, and they bow down.

56. Whoever allies himself with God, His Messenger, and the believers — God’s party will prevail.

57. O you who believe: don’t befriend those who treat your religion as a joke and a game — whether they're people who received the Book before you or unbelievers. And be aware of God; if you're believers.

58. When you’re called to the prayer, they consider it a joke and a game. That’s because they don’t understand.

59. Say, “O Bible-People: do you avenge yourselves on us just because we believe in God, and in what was revealed to us, and in what was revealed before, and because most of you are sinners?”

60. Say, “Should I inform you of a worse punishment from God? Those who suffer God’s curse and wrath will be like monkeys, pigs, and worshipers of false gods. These are in a worse situation, and the most stray from the right track.”

61. When they come to you, they say, “We believe.” However, they entered in disbelief and walked out in it. God knows what they hide.

62. You see many of them competing in sin and hostility and in consuming illicit earnings. What they do is wrong.

63. If only rabbis and scholars prevent them from speaking sinfully and consuming forbidden wealth! What they do is evil.

64. The Jews say, “God is tight-fisted.” In fact, they're tight-fisted, and they’re cursed for what they say. His hands are wide open; He gives as He wills. Certainly, what’s revealed to you from your Lord will cause many of them to increase in defiance and unbelief. We stirred up enmity and hatred among them, until Resurrection Day. Whenever they light the flame of war, God extinguishes it. And they strive to work corruption on earth. God doesn’t love the workers of corruption.

65. If the Scripture-People had believed and been righteous, We would have erased their sins and admitted them to the Gardens of Delight.

66. If they had observed the Torah, the Gospel, and what was revealed to them from their Lord, they would have consumed from above and beneath their feet. Some of them are moderate, but many of them misbehave.

67. O Messenger: Communicate what was revealed to you from your Lord. If you don’t, you wouldn’t have conveyed His message. And God will protect you from people. God doesn’t guide unbelievers.

68. Say, “O people of the Scripture, you have no foundation unless you observe the Torah, the Gospel, and what was revealed to you from your Lord.” But what was revealed to you from your Lord causes many of them to increase in rebellion and unbelief. So don’t grieve over the unbelievers.

69. The believers, the Jews, the Sabeans, and the Christians — whoever believes in God and the Last Day and practices righteousness — shouldn’t fear and shouldn’t be sad.

70. We made a covenant with the Israelites, and We sent them messengers. But whenever a messenger came to them with what didn’t satisfy their desires, they denied some and killed others.

71. They assumed there would be no consequences, so they turned a blind eye and a deaf ear. Then God relented towards them, but then again, many of them turned a blind eye and a deaf ear. God sees what they do.

72. Those who say, “God is Christ, the son of Mary,” have committed an act of unbelief. But Christ said, “O Israelites, worship God, my Lord and your Lord. Whoever associates anything with God, God forbids him Paradise, and his dwelling will be the Fire. The wrongdoers have no saviors.”

73. Those who say, “God is the third of a Trinity” commit an act of unbelief. There is no other god but the one God. If they don’t refrain from what they say, the unbelievers among them will suffer painfully.

74. Won't they repent to God and ask Him for His forgiveness? God is Forgiving and Merciful.

75. Christ, son of Mary, was a messenger, like many messengers before him, and his mother was a truthful woman. Both ate food. Notice how We make the communications clear to them, and notice how they ignore the truth.

76. Say, “Do you worship, instead of God, what can neither harm nor benefit you?” But God: He's the Listener, the Knower.

77. Say, “O Bible-People: don’t exaggerate in your religion beyond the truth, and don’t follow the opinions of people who went astray before, misled many, and strayed from the right path.”

78. The unbelievers among the Israelites were cursed by David and Jesus, son of Mary. That’s because they disobeyed and went beyond the limits.

79. They didn’t condemn the evils of their society. What they did is miserable.

80. You'll see many of them allying themselves with unbelievers. What their souls urge them to do is terrible. God’s wrath fell on them, and they'll continue to suffer.

81. If they had believed in God and the Prophet and in what was revealed to him, they wouldn't have befriended them. But lots of them are immoral.

82. Of all people, you’ll find that the Jews and the Pagans are the most hostile to believers. And you’ll find that the closest and most loving to believers are those who say, "We are Christians." That’s because among them are priests and pastors, and they’re not arrogant.

83. When they hear what was revealed to the Messenger, you'll see their eyes overflowing with tears; because they recognize the truth. They say, “Our Lord, we have believed, so count us among the witnesses.”

84. “And why shouldn’t we believe in God, and in the truth that has come to us; and desire that our Lord should join us with the righteous people?”

85. So God will reward them for what they say: gardens under which rivers flow, where they'll remain forever. That’s the reward of the good-doers.

86. Those who disbelieve and deny Our messages are the prisoners of the Inferno.

87. O you who believe: don’t prohibit the good things that God allowed you, and don’t commit aggression. God doesn’t like abusers.

88. Eat the good legal things that God has provided to you. And remain aware of God, in whom you believe.

89. God doesn’t hold you accountable for your unintentional oaths, but He holds you responsible for your intentional oaths. Its atonement is to feed ten needy people from the average of what you feed your families, clothe them, or free a captive. Those who can't afford it must fast for three days. That’s the atonement for breaking your oaths when you've sworn them. So keep your promises. That’s how God explains His verses to you; so that you may give thanks.

90. O you who believe: Alcohol, gambling, idolatry, and fortune-telling are abominations of Satan’s doing. Avoid them — so that you may succeed.

91. Satan wants to provoke enmity and hatred between you — through alcohol and gambling — and prevent you from remembering God and praying. Won't you give them up?

92. Obey God and obey the Messenger, and be careful. If you turn away, know that Our Messenger has to communicate clearly.

93. The righteous believers can’t be blamed for what they’ve consumed in the past, provided they’re careful, believe, do good deeds, maintain piety and faith, and remain righteous and charitable. God loves the charitable.

94. O you who believe: God will test you by bringing the animals you hunt within reach of your spears, so that God may know those who fear Him without seeing Him. Anyone who exceeds the limits will have a painful punishment.

95. O you who believe: Don’t hunt or kill animals while in the state of the sanctified pilgrim. The penalty for intentionally killing an animal is as follows: offering a livestock animal at the Kaaba considered equal by two just men, or atone by feeding the needy, or fast an equal number of days — to realize the gravity of his deed. God forgave what happened in the past. But whoever relapses: God will take revenge on him. God is Almighty and Avenger.

96. Catching fish from the sea and eating it is lawful for you — as sustenance for you and travelers. But you're prohibited from hunting on land while in the blessed state of the pilgrim. So be mindful of God — before Whom you’ll be gathered.

97. God made the Kaaba a sacred house; built for the benefit of humankind, along with the holy months and the sacrificial and garlanded animals. So that you know that God knows what’s in the heavens and on earth, and that God knows everything.

98. Know that God is severe in punishment — and that God is Forgiving and Merciful.

99. The Messenger must convey the message. God knows what you reveal and what you conceal.

100. Say, “The good and the bad aren’t alike, even though the abundance of the bad may impress you. So be conscious of God, O you who have intelligence, so that you may succeed.”

101. O you who believe: don’t ask about things: if answered would trouble you. And if you ask while the Quran is revealed: they’ll be explained to you. God was silent about them. God is Forgiving and Gentle.

102. Some people before you asked such questions, but when they received the answers, they rejected them.

103. God didn’t institute the superstitions of Bahirah, Saibah, Wasilah, or Hami. But the unbelievers invented lies about God. Most of them don't reason.

104. When they’re told, “Come to what God revealed, and to the Messenger,” they say, “What we found our ancestors practicing is enough.” Even if their ancestors knew nothing and had no guidance?

105. O you who believe: you're responsible for yourselves. Those who went astray can't harm you — if you're guided. To God is your return, all of you, and He will inform you of what you did.

106. O you who believe: when death approaches, take two just persons among you, to witness your will. If you're traveling and death approaches, take two persons from another people. Engage them after the prayer. When in doubt, have them swear by God: “We won’t sell our testimony at any price, even if a close relative is involved, and we won’t hide God’s testimony, for then we would be guilty.”

107. But if they're found guilty of perjury, ask two other witnesses among those responsible for the complaint to take their place. And ask them to swear by God: “Our testimony is truer than theirs, and we won’t be biased; in that case, we would be unjust.”

108. That makes it more likely that they’ll give true testimony, lest later oaths overturn theirs. So revere God and listen. God doesn’t guide disobedient people.

109. The Day God gathers the messengers and asks, “What response did you receive?” They'll answer, “We don’t know. You're the Knower of the unseen.”

110. Then God will say, “O Jesus, son of Mary! Remember My favors to you and your mother. How I supported you with the Holy Spirit. How you spoke to people from the crib into adulthood. How I taught you the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel. How you made birds of clay, with My permission, and you breathed into them, and they became birds with My permission. How you healed the blind and the lepers, with My permission. How you brought the dead back to life, with My permission. And remember that I protected you from the Israelites when you came to them with miracles. But the unbelievers among them said, `This is nothing but obvious magic.'”

111. “And when I inspired the disciples: `Believe in Me and My Messenger.’ They replied, `We believe, and bear witness that we've submitted.'”

112. “The disciples said, 'O Jesus, son of Mary: Can you Lord send us a feast from Heaven?' He said, 'Fear God — if you are believers.'”

113. They said, “We want to eat from it, and reassure our hearts, and know that you’ve told us the truth, and be witnesses.”

114. Jesus, son of Mary, prayed, “O God, our Lord, send down for us a table from Heaven, to be a celebration for us, for the first of us, and the last of us, and a sign from You, and provide for us, You're the Best Provider.”

115. God said, “I am sending it down for you. But whoever among you disbelieves after this; I will punish him with a penalty with which no creature was ever punished.”

116. God will say, “O Jesus, son of Mary! Did you say to the people, ‘Take my mother and me as two gods apart from God?’” He will say, “Glory be to You! How could I have said something to which I had no right? If I had said it, You would've known it. You know what’s in me, and I don't know what’s in You. You're the Knower of the unseen.

117. I told them only what You commanded me: ‘Worship God: my Lord and your Lord.’ I was a witness to them when I was among them. But when You took me back, You were the Guardian over them. You witness everything.

118. If You punish them, they're Your servants. But if You forgive them, You're the Almighty and Wise.”

119. God will say, “This is a day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness.” They'll have gardens under which rivers flow, where they'll remain forever. God is pleased with them, and they're pleased with Him. That’s the highest accomplishment.

120. To God belongs control over the heavens, the earth, and everything in them. And He's capable of everything.