Translation of Surah Al-Isra’ in English

Surah Al-Isra'

In The Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Glorified be He Who carried His servant by night from the Inviolable Place of Worship to the Far distant place of worship the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, that We might show him of Our tokens! Lo! He, only He, is the Hearer, the Seer. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:1)

We gave unto Moses the Scripture, and We appointed it a guidance for the children of Israel, saying: Choose no guardian beside Me. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:2)

(They were) the seed of those whom We carried (in the ship) along with Noah. Lo! he was a grateful slave. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:3)

And We decreed for the Children of Israel in the Scripture: Ye verily will work corruption in the earth twice, and ye will become great tyrants. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:4)

So when the time for the first of the two came, We roused against you slaves of Ours of great might who ravaged (your) country, and it was a threat performed. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:5)

Then we gave you once again your turn against them, and We aided you with wealth and children and made you more in soldiery. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:6)

(Saying): If ye do good, ye do good for your own souls, and if ye do evil, it is for them (in like manner). So, when the time for the second (of the judgments) came (We roused against you others of Our slaves) to ravage you, and to enter the Temple even as they entered it the first time, and to lay waste all that they conquered with an utter wasting. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:7)

It may be that your Lord will have mercy on you, but if ye repeat (the crime) We shall repeat (the punishment), and We have appointed hell a dungeon for the disbelievers. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:8)

Lo! this Qur'an guideth unto that which is straightest, and giveth tidings unto the believers who do good works that theirs will be a great reward. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:9)

And that those who believe not in the Hereafter, for them We have prepared a painful doom. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:10)

Man prayeth for evil as he prayeth for good; for man was ever hasty. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:11)

And We appoint the night and the day two portents. Then We make dark the portent of the night, and We make the portent of the day sight-giving, that ye may seek bounty from your Lord, and that ye may know the computation of the years, and the reckoning; and everything have We expounded with a clear expounding. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:12)

And every man's augury have We fastened to his own neck, and We shall bring forth for him on the Day of Resurrection a book which he will find wide open. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:13)

(And it will be said unto him): Read thy Book. Thy soul sufficeth as reckoner against thee this day. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:14)

Whosoever goeth right, it is only for (the good of) his own soul that he goeth right, and whosoever erreth, erreth only to its hurt. No laden soul can bear another's load, We never punish until we have sent a messenger. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:15)

And when We would destroy a township We send commandment to its folk who live at ease, and afterward they commit abomination therein, and so the Word (of doom) hath effect for it, and we annihilate it with complete annihilation. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:16)

How many generations have We destroyed since Noah! And Allah sufficeth as Knower and Beholder of the sins of His slaves. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:17)

Whoso desireth that (life) which hasteneth away, We hasten for him therein what We will for whom We please. And afterward We have appointed for him hell; he will endure the heat thereof, condemned, rejected. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:18)

And whoso desireth the Hereafter and striveth for it with the effort necessary, being a believer; for such, their effort findeth favour (with their Lord). (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:19)

Each do We supply, both these and those, from the bounty of thy Lord. And the bounty of thy Lord can never be walled up. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:20)

See how We prefer one of them above another, and verily the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preferment. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:21)

Set not up with Allah any other god (O man) lest thou sit down reproved, forsaken. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:22)

Thy Lord hath decreed, that ye worship none save Him, and (that ye show) kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age with thee, say not "Fie" unto them nor repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:23)

And lower unto them the wing of submission through mercy, and say: My Lord! Have mercy on them both as they did care for me when I was little. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:24)

Your Lord is Best Aware of what is in your minds. If ye are righteous, then lo! He was ever Forgiving unto those who turn (unto Him). (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:25)

Give the kinsman his due, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and squander not (thy wealth) in wantonness. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:26)

Lo! the squanderers were ever brothers of the devils, and the devil was ever an ingrate to his Lord. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:27)

But if thou turn away from them, seeking mercy from thy Lord, for which thou hopest, then speak unto them a reasonable word. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:28)

And let not thy hand be chained to thy neck nor open it with a complete opening, lest thou sit down rebuked, denuded. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:29)

Lo! thy Lord enlargeth the provision for whom He will, and straiteneth (it for whom He will). Lo, He was ever Knower, Seer of His slaves. (Quran Surah Al-Isra' 17:30)

Slay not your children, fearing a fall to poverty, We shall provide for them and for you. Lo! the slaying of them is great sin. (Quran 17:31)

And come not near unto adultery. Lo! it is an abomination and an evil way. (Quran 17:32)

And slay not the life which Allah hath forbidden save with right. Whoso is slain wrongfully, We have given power unto his heir, but let him not commit excess in slaying. Lo! he will be helped. (Quran 17:33)

Come not near the wealth of the orphan save with that which is better till he come to strength; and keep the covenant. Lo! of the covenant it will be asked. (Quran 17:34)

Fill the measure when ye measure, and weigh with a right balance; that is meet, and better in the end. (Quran 17:35)

(O man), follow not that whereof thou hast no knowledge. Lo! the hearing and the sight and the heart - of each of these it will be asked. (Quran 17:36)

And walk not in the earth exultant. Lo! thou canst not rend the earth, nor canst thou stretch to the height of the hills. (Quran 17:37)

The evil of all that is hateful in the sight of thy Lord. (Quran 17:38)

This is (part) of that wisdom wherewith thy Lord hath inspired thee (O Muhammad). And set not up with Allah any other god, lest thou be cast into hell, reproved, abandoned. (Quran 17:39)

Hath your Lord then distinguished you (O men of Makka) by giving you sons, and hath chosen for Himself females from among the angels? Lo! verily ye speak an awful word! (Quran 17:40)

We verily have displayed (Our warnings) in this Qur'an that they may take heed, but it increaseth them in naught save aversion. (Quran 17:41)

Say (O Muhammad, to the disbelievers): If there were other gods along with Him, as they say, then had they sought a way against the Lord of the Throne. (Quran 17:42)

Glorified is He, and High Exalted above what they say! (Quran 17:43)

The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein praise Him, and there is not a thing but hymneth His praise; but ye understand not their praise. Lo! He is ever Clement, Forgiving. (Quran 17:44)

And when thou recitest the Qur'an we place between thee and those who believe not in the Hereafter a hidden barrier; (Quran 17:45)

And We place upon their hearts veils lest they should understand it, and in their ears a deafness; and when thou makest mention of thy Lord alone in the Qur'an, they turn their backs in aversion. (Quran 17:46)

We are Best Aware of what they wish to hear when they give ear to thee and when they take secret counsel, when the evil-doers say: Ye follow but a man bewitched. (Quran 17:47)

See what similitudes they coin for thee, and thus are all astray, and cannot find a road! (Quran 17:48)

And they say: When we are bones and fragments, shall we forsooth, be raised up as a new creation? (Quran 17:49)

Say: Be ye stones or iron (Quran 17:50)

Or some created thing that is yet greater in your thoughts! Then they will say: Who shall bring us back (to life). Say: He Who created you at the first. Then will they shake their heads at thee, and say: When will it be? Say: It will perhaps be soon; (Quran 17:51)

A day when He will call you and ye will answer with His praise, and ye will think that ye have tarried but a little while. (Quran 17:52)

Tell My bondmen to speak that which is kindlier. Lo! the devil soweth discord among them. Lo! the devil is for man an open foe. (Quran 17:53)

Your Lord is Best Aware of you. If He will, He will have mercy on you, or if He will, He will punish you. We have not sent thee (O Muhammad) as a warden over them. (Quran 17:54)

And thy Lord isBest Aware of all who are in the heavens and the earth. And we preferred some of the prophets above others, and unto David We gave the Psalms. (Quran 17:55)

Say: Cry unto those (saints and angels) whom ye assume (to be gods) beside Him, yet they have no power to rid you of misfortune nor to change. (Quran 17:56)

Those unto whom they cry seek the way of approach to their Lord, which of them shall be the nearest; they hope for His mercy and they fear His doom. Lo! the doom of thy Lord is to be shunned. (Quran 17:57)

There is not a township but We shall destroy it ere the Day of Resurrection, or punish it with dire punishment. That is set forth in the Book (of Our decrees). (Quran 17:58)

Naught hindereth Us from sending portents save that the folk of old denied them. And We gave Thamud the she-camel - a clear portent save to warn. (Quran 17:59)

And (it was a warning) when we told thee: Lo! thy Lord encompasseth mankind, and We appointed the sight which We showed thee as an ordeal for mankind, and (likewise) the Accursed Tree in the Qur'an. We warn them, but it increaseth them in naught save gross impiety. (Quran 17:60)

And when We said unto the angels: Fall down prostrate before Adam and they fell prostrate all save Iblis, he said: Shall I fall prostrate before that which Thou hast created of clay? (Quran 17:61)

He said: Seest Thou this (creature) whom Thou hast honoured above me, if Thou give me grace until the Day of Resurrection I verily will seize his seed, save but a few. (Quran 17:62)

He said: Go, and whosoever of them followeth thee - lo! hell will be your payment, ample payment. (Quran 17:63)

And excite any of them whom thou canst with thy voice, and urge thy horse and foot against them, and be a partner in their wealth and children, and promise them. Satan promiseth them only to deceive. (Quran 17:64)

Lo! My (faithful) bondmen - over them thou hast no power, and thy Lord sufficeth as (their) guardian. (Quran 17:65)

(O mankind), your Lord is He Who driveth for you the ship upon the sea that ye may seek of His bounty. Lo! He was ever Merciful toward you. (Quran 17:66)

And when harm toucheth you upon the sea, all unto whom ye cry (for succour) fail save Him (alone), but when He bringeth you safe to land, ye turn away, for man was ever thankless. (Quran 17:67)

Feel ye then secure that He will not cause a slope of the land to engulf you, or send a sand-storm upon you, and then ye will find that ye have no protector? (Quran 17:68)

Or feel ye secure that He will not return you to that (plight) a second time, and send against you a hurricane of wind and drown you for your thanklessness, and then ye will not find therein that ye have any avenger against Us? (Quran 17:69)

Verily we have honoured the Children of Adam. We carry them on the land and the sea, and have made provision of good things for them, and have preferred them above many of those whom We created with a marked preferment. (Quran 17:70)

On the day when We shall summon all men with their record, whoso is given his book in his right hand - such will read their book and they will not be wronged a shred. (Quran 17:71)

Whoso is blind here will be blind in the Hereafter, and yet further from the road. (Quran 17:72)

And they indeed strove hard to beguile thee (Muhammad) away from that wherewith We have inspired thee, that thou shouldst invent other than it against Us; and then would they have accepted thee as a friend. (Quran 17:73)

And if We had not made thee wholly firm thou mightest almost have inclined unto them a little. (Quran 17:74)

Then had we made thee taste a double (punishment) of living and a double (punishment) of dying, then hadst thou found no helper against Us. (Quran 17:75)

And they indeed wished to scare thee from the land that they might drive thee forth from thence, and then they would have stayed (there) but a little after thee. (Quran 17:76)

(Such was Our) method in the case of those whom We sent before thee (to mankind), and thou wilt not find for Our method aught of power to change. (Quran 17:77)

Establish worship at the going down of the sun until the dark of night, and (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn. Lo! (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn is ever witnessed. (Quran 17:78)

And some part of the night awake for it, a largess for thee. It may be that thy Lord will raise thee to a praised estate. (Quran 17:79)

And say: My Lord! Cause me to come in with a firm incoming and to go out with a firm outgoing. And give me from Thy presence a sustaining Power. (Quran 17:80)

And say: Truth hath come and falsehood hath vanished away. Lo! falsehood is ever bound to vanish. (Quran 17:81)

And We reveal of the Qur'an that which is a healing and a mercy for believers though it increase the evil-doers in naught save ruin. (Quran 17:82)

And when We make life pleasant unto man, he turneth away and is averse; and when ill toucheth him he is in despair. (Quran 17:83)

Say: Each one doth according to his rule of conduct, and thy Lord is Best Aware of him whose way is right. (Quran 17:84)

They are asking thee concerning the Spirit. Say: The Spirit is by command of my Lord, and of knowledge ye have been vouchsafed but little. (Quran 17:85)

And if We willed We could withdraw that which We have revealed unto thee, then wouldst thou find no guardian for thee against Us in respect thereof. (Quran 17:86)

(It is naught) save mercy from thy Lord. Lo! His kindness unto thee was ever great. (Quran 17:87)

Say: Verily, though mankind and the jinn should assemble to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof though they were helpers one of another. (Quran 17:88)

And verily We have displayed for mankind in this Qur'an all kind of similitudes, but most of mankind refuse aught save disbelief. (Quran 17:89)

And they say: We will not put faith in thee till thou cause a spring to gush forth from the earth for us; (Quran 17:90)

Or thou have a garden of date-palms and grapes, and cause rivers to gush forth therein abundantly; (Quran 17:91)

Or thou cause the heaven to fall upon us piecemeal, as thou hast pretended, or bring Allah and the angels as a warrant; (Quran 17:92)

Or thou have a house of gold; or thou ascend up into heaven, and even then we will put no faith in thine ascension till thou bring down for us a book that we can read. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord be Glorified! Am I aught save a mortal messenger? (Quran 17:93)

And naught prevented mankind from believing when the guidance came unto them save that they said: Hath Allah sent a mortal as (His) messenger? (Quran 17:94)