Quran · Surah 98 · 8 ayat
The Clear Proof
ٱلْبَيِّنَة
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Surah Al-Bayyinah ('The Clear Evidence') has 8 ayat and is listed as Medinan in the standard mushaf. It speaks of the clear sign that came in the form of a messenger reciting pure pages, and sums up the core of religion as sincere worship of Allah, prayer and charity (zakat). It contrasts the end of those who reject the message with the reward of those who believe and do good. A hadith in Bukhari and Muslim reports that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told his companion Ubayy ibn Ka'b that Allah had commanded him to recite this surah to him, and Ubayy wept.
The clear evidenceSincere worshipReward of faith and good deeds
Arabic exactly as in the Tanzil text, then a plain meaning in your language. The Arabic is never read by a machine voice; "Listen" reads only the meanings.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ لَمْ يَكُنِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ مُنفَكِّينَ حَتَّىٰ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَةُ
Those who disbelieved among the People of the Book and the idol-worshippers were not going to leave their ways until the clear evidence came to them:
Pickthall (1930): Those who disbelieve among the People of the Scripture and the idolaters could not have left off (erring) till the clear proof came unto them,
رَسُولٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ يَتْلُوا۟ صُحُفًا مُّطَهَّرَةً
a messenger from Allah, reciting pages kept pure,
Pickthall (1930): A messenger from Allah, reading purified pages
فِيهَا كُتُبٌ قَيِّمَةٌ
in which are upright and sound teachings.
Pickthall (1930): Containing correct scriptures.
وَمَا تَفَرَّقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَةُ
And those who were given the Book did not divide into groups until after the clear evidence had come to them.
Pickthall (1930): Nor were the People of the Scripture divided until after the clear proof came unto them.
وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ ٱلْقَيِّمَةِ
Yet they were commanded only to worship Allah, devoting their faith sincerely to Him alone and turning from false ways, to establish prayer and to give zakat (charity). That is the upright religion.
Pickthall (1930): And they are ordered naught else than to serve Allah, keeping religion pure for Him, as men by nature upright, and to establish worship and to pay the poor-due. That is true religion.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ فِى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمْ شَرُّ ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ
Those who disbelieved among the People of the Book and the idol-worshippers will be in the fire of Hell, remaining in it. They are the worst of creatures.
Pickthall (1930): Lo! those who disbelieve, among the People of the Scripture and the idolaters, will abide in fire of hell. They are the worst of created beings.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ
Those who believe and do good deeds are the best of creatures.
Pickthall (1930): (And) lo! those who believe and do good works are the best of created beings.
جَزَآؤُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۖ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَشِىَ رَبَّهُۥ
Their reward with their Lord is gardens of lasting stay beneath which rivers flow, where they will remain forever. Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. This is for whoever stands in awe of his Lord.
Pickthall (1930): Their reward is with their Lord: Gardens of Eden underneath which rivers flow, wherein they dwell for ever. Allah hath pleasure in them and they have pleasure in Him. This is (in store) for him who feareth his Lord.
According to ayah 5, which of these were people commanded to do?
According to ayah 2, what does the messenger recite?
What does ayah 8 say about the relationship between Allah and those who believe and do good?
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Tanzil Quran Text (Uthmani, Version 1.1), tanzil.net, CC BY 3.0, verbatim: tanzil.net. Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930), public domain; text from English Wikisource. Al-Fatiha aligned to the Hafs count (basmala as verse 1, his verses 6 and 7 joined); Quraysh: his verses 4 and 5 joined.. Plain meanings, introductions and quiz: IndiaDigital, awaiting review by an Islamic scholar.
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