Medinan, 38 verses
In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
Those who disbelieve and obstruct God’s way, He will make their works ineffective (and useless).
His servants And those who believe and do good and believe in what was sent down to Muhammad, which is the truth from their Lord, He removes their sins from them and improves their condition.
That is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood, while those who believe follow the truth from their Lord. That is how God gives the people their examples.
And when you encounter those who disbelieve (during war), then strike their necks until you have thoroughly overcome them, then fasten the ties firmly, then later (set them free) either by a favor or by a ransom until the war puts down its burdens (and comes to an end). So it is (that is God's will), and if God wants, He would take revenge from them, but (He doesn't) so that He tests some of you by the others. Those who are killed in God’s way, He never makes their works ineffective (and useless).
He is going to guide them (to paradise) and puts their condition in order,
and He admits them into the garden, which He has described it for them.
You who believe, if you help God, He helps you and firms up your steps.
And those who disbelieve, misery is for them, and He makes their works ineffective.
That is because they dislike what God has sent down, so He makes their works useless.
Have they not traveled on the earth to see what the end of those before them was? God destroyed them, and for the disbelievers will be the same as that.
That is because God is protector (and supporter) of those who believe while the disbelievers have no protector.
Indeed God admits those who believe and do good to gardens which rivers flow through them. And those who disbelieve enjoy and eat as the livestock eat, and the fire is their place.
And how many towns, which were more powerful than your town which you were driven out of, did We destroy and they had no helper?
Is someone who is on a clear evidence from his Lord like someone whose bad deed is beautified for him and follows his desires?
Example of the garden that is promised to those who are cautious (of God) is: there are rivers of unpolluted water in it, and rivers of milk that its taste does not change, and rivers of wine that is delicious (and pleasing) for the drinkers, and rivers of purified honey, and they have all kinds of fruits and forgiveness from their Lord in there. (Are they like) someone who remains in the fire forever and drinks boiling water that cuts up their intestines?
And some of them (pretend to) listen to you, until they go away from you (and leave you), then they say to those who were given the knowledge: “What did he say just now?” They are those whom God has sealed their hearts and they follow their desires.
And those who are guided, He increases their guidance and gives them their protection (against doing wrong).
So, are they waiting for anything but the Hour to come to them suddenly, whereas its signs have already come? So when it comes to them, how would their taking notice be (of any help) for them?
Know that indeed there is no god except God, and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And God knows your movements and your accommodation.
And those who believe say: “Why is not a chapter sent down (for fighting)?” Yet when a firm (and decisive) chapter is sent down and fighting is mentioned in it, you see those who have disease in their hearts look at you with the look of someone who is fainting because of death. More suitable for them (would have been)
obedience and nice word. And when the matter (of war) is decided, if they are true to God it would be better for them.
So if you take over, perhaps you would commit corruption on the earth and cut off your blood relatives (and your close relatives)!
They are those whom God has cursed them, so He made them deaf and blinded their eyes.
Do they not think about (the consequences of instructions of) Quran, or are there locks on (their) hearts?
Indeed those who turned on their backs (to their old ways) after the guidance became clear for them, Satan has seduced them and gave them false hopes.
That is because they said to those who disliked what God has sent down: “We are going to obey you in some matters.” And God knows their secrets.
So how will it (their feeling) be when the angels take their lives, hitting their faces and their backs?
That is because they followed what angered God and they disliked His pleasure, so He made their works useless.
Or do those in whose hearts is a disease think that God will never bring out (and expose) their grudges?
And if We want, We would show them to you and you would certainly know them by their appearance and you would certainly know them by tone of the words (they say). And God knows your works.
And We shall test you (believers) until We know those among you who try hard and persevere, and We examine your news.
Indeed those who disbelieve and obstruct God’s way and oppose the messenger after the guidance has become clear for them, they will never harm God a bit, and He is going to make their works useless.
You who believe, obey God and obey the messenger and do not invalidate your works.
Indeed those who disbelieve and obstruct God’s way, then die while they are disbelievers, God will never forgive them.
So do not be weak and do not plead for peace while you are superior and God is with you, and He will never cheat you out of your works.
And this world’s life is only a play and an amusement. And if you believe and be cautious (of God), He gives you your wages and He would not ask you for your possessions.
If He asks you for it (your possession) and presses you, you will be stingy and He would bring out (expose) your grudges.
Here you are, being called to spend in God’s way, but some of you are stingy, and anyone who is stingy is only stingy against himself. And God is rich (and without need) and you are poor (and needy). And if you turn away, He replaces you with people other than you, and they will not be like you.