How is it that there has never been a city that believed, whose faith then brought it benefit, except the people of Yunus? When they believed We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in the life of this world and We let them have enjoyment for a time. (Surah Yunus, 98)

the prophet IbrahIm (as) and hIs companIons

You have an excellent example in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people, 'We wash our hands of you and all that you worship apart from Allah, and we reject you. Between us and you there will be enmity and hatred for ever unless and until you believe in Allah alone.' Except for Ibrahim's words to his father: 'I will ask forgiveness for you but I have no power to help you in any way against Allah.' 'Our Lord, we have put our trust in You and have repented to You. You are our final destination. (Surat al-Mumtahana, 4)

one of the two companIons of the prophet muhammad (saas)

If you do not help him, Allah did help him when the disbelievers drove him out and there were two of them in the Cave. He said to his companion, 'Do not be despondent, Allah is with us.' Then Allah sent down His serenity upon him and reinforced him with troops you could not see. He made the word of the disbelievers undermost. It is the word of Allah which is uppermost. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (Surat at-Tawba, 40)

the PROPHET MUSA (as) AND HIS SERVANT

Remember when Musa said to his servant, 'I will not give up until I reach the meeting-place of the two seas, even if I must press on for many years.' But when they reached their meeting-place, they forgot their fish which quickly burrowed its way into the sea. When they had gone a distance further on, he said to his servant, 'Bring us our morning meal. Truly this journey of ours has made us tired.' He said, 'Do you see what has happened? When we went to find shelter at the rock, I forgot the fish. No one made me forget to remember it except Satan. It found its way into the sea in an amazing way.' He said, 'That is the very thing that we were looking for!' So, following their footsteps, they retraced their route. (Surat al-Kahf, 60-64)

A PERSON OF KNOWLEDGE

They found a servant of Ours whom We had granted mercy from Us and whom We had also given knowledge direct from Us. Musa said to him, 'May I follow you on condition that you teach me some of the right guidance you have been taught?' He said, 'You will not be able to bear with me. How indeed could you bear with patience something you have not encompassed in your knowledge?' Musa said, 'You will find me patient, if Allah wills, and I will not disobey you in any matter.' He said, 'Then if you follow me, do not question me about anything until I myself make mention of it to you.' They continued until they boarded a boat and he scuppered it. Then Musa said, 'Did you scupper it so that its owners would be drowned? This is truly a dreadful thing that you have done!' He said, 'Did I not say that you would not be able to bear with me?' Musa said, 'Do not take me to task because I forgot. Do not demand of me something which is too difficult.' So they went on until they met a youngster whom he killed. Musa said, 'Have you killed a boy who has done no wrong, without it being in retaliation for someone else? This is truly an appalling thing that you have done!' He said, 'Did I not tell you that you would not be able to bear with me?' Musa said, 'If I ask you about anything after this, then you should no longer keep me company. I will have given you excuse enough.' So they went on until they reached the inhabitants of a town. They asked them for food but they refused them hospitality. They found there a wall about to fall down and he built it up. Musa said, 'If you had wanted, you could have taken a wage for doing that.' He said, 'This is where you and I part company. I will let you know the explanation of those things about which you were not able to restrain yourself. (Surat al-Kahf, 65-78)

the PROPHET MUSA (as) AND THE WOMEN

When he arrived at the water of Madyan, he found a crowd of people drawing water there. Standing apart from them, he found two women, holding back their sheep. He said, 'What are you two doing here?' They said, 'We cannot draw water until the shepherds have driven off their sheep. You see our father is a very old man.' So he drew water for them and then withdrew into the shade and said, 'My Lord, I am truly in need of any good You have in store for me.' One of them came walking shyly up to him and said, 'My father invites you so that he can pay you your wage for drawing water for us.' When he came to him and told him the whole story he said, 'Have no fear, you have escaped from wrongdoing people.' One of them said, 'Hire him, father. The best person to hire is someone strong and trustworthy.' He said, 'I would like to marry you to one of these two daughters of mine on condition that you work for me for eight full years. If you complete ten, that is up to you. I do not want to be hard on you. You will find me, Allah willing, to be one of the righteous.' (Surat al-Qasas, 23-27)

TALUT AND HIS PEOPLE

Their Prophet said to them, 'Allah has appointed Talut to be your king.' They said, 'How can he have kingship over us when we have much more right to kingship than he does? He has not even got much wealth!' He said, 'Allah has chosen him over you and favoured him greatly in knowledge and physical strength. Allah gives kingship to anyone He wills. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.' Their Prophet said to them, 'The sign of his kingship is that the Ark will come to you, containing serenity from your Lord and certain relics left by the families of Musa and Harun. It will be borne by angels. There is a sign for you in that if you are believers.' When Talut marched out with the army, he said, 'Allah will test you with a river. Anyone who drinks from it is not with me. But anyone who does not taste it is with me - except for him who merely scoops up a little in his hand.' But they drank from it - except for a few of them. Then when he and those who believed with him had crossed it, they said, 'We do not have the strength to face Goliath and his troops today.' But those who were sure that they were going to meet Allah said, 'How many a small force has triumphed over a much greater one by Allah's permission! Allah is with the steadfast. (Surat al-Baqara, 247-249)

GOLIATH AND HIS TROOPS

When they came out against Goliath and his troops, they said, 'Our Lord, pour down steadfastness upon us, and make our feet firm, and help us against this disbelieving people.' (Surat al-Baqara, 250)

COMPANIONS OF THE CAVE AND AR-RAQIM

Do you consider that the Companions of the Cave and Ar-Raqim were one of the most remarkable of Our Signs? When the young men took refuge in the cave and said, 'Our Lord, give us mercy directly from You and open the way for us to right guidance in our situation.' (Surat al-Kahf, 9-10)

Then We woke them up again so that we might see which of the two groups would better calculate the time they had stayed there. (Surat al-Kahf, 12)

We fortified their hearts when they stood up and said, 'Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth and We will not call on any god apart from Him. We would in that case have uttered an abomination. (Surat al-Kahf, 14)

When you have separated yourselves from them and everything they worship except Allah, take refuge in the cave and your Lord will unfold His mercy to you and open the way to the best for you in your situation.' You would have seen the sun, when it rose, inclining away from their cave towards the right, and, when it set, leaving them behind on the left, while they were lying in an open part of it. That was one of Allah's Signs. Whoever Allah guides is truly guided. But if He misguides someone, you will find no protector for them to guide them rightly. You would have supposed them to be awake whereas in fact they were asleep. We moved them to the right and to the left, and, at the entrance, their dog stretched out its paws. If you had looked down and seen them, you would have turned from them and run and have been filled with terror at the sight of them. (Surat al-Kahf, 16-18)

YAJUJ AND MAJUJ

Then he followed a path until he arrived between the two mountains where he found a people scarcely able to understand speech. They said, 'Dhu'l-Qarnayn! Yajuj and Majuj are causing corruption in the land. Can we, therefore, pay tribute to you in return for your constructing a barrier between us and them?' He said, 'The power my Lord has granted me is better than that. Just give me a strong helping hand and I will build a solid barrier between you and them. Bring me ingots of iron!' Then, when he had made it level between the two high mountain-sides, he said, 'Blow!' and when he had made it a red hot fire, he said, 'Bring me molten brass to pour over it.' They were, therefore, unable to climb over it nor were they able to make a breach in it. (Surat al-Kahf, 92-97)

When Yajuj and Majuj are let loose and rush down from every slope, (Surat al-Anbiya', 96)

THE vIneyard owners

Make an example for them of two men. To one of them We gave two gardens of grape-vines and surrounded them with date-palms, putting between them some cultivated land. Both gardens yielded their crops and did not suffer any loss, and We made a river flow right through the middle of them. He was a man of wealth and property and he said to his companion, debating with him, 'I have more wealth than you and more people under me.' He entered his garden and wronged himself by saying, 'I do not think that this will ever end. I do not think the Hour will ever come. But if I should be sent back to my Lord, I will definitely get something better in return.' His companion, with whom he was debating, said to him, 'Do you then disbelieve in Him Who created you from dust, then from a drop of sperm, and then formed you as a man? He is, however, Allah, my Lord, and I will not associate anyone with my Lord. Why, when you entered your garden, did you not say, "It is as Allah wills, there is no strength but in Allah"? Though you see me with less wealth and children than you possess, it may well be that my Lord will give me something better than your garden and send down on it a fireball from the sky so that morning finds it a shifting heap of dust, or morning finds its water drained into the earth so that you cannot get at it.' The fruits of his labour were completely destroyed and he woke up wringing his hands in grief, rueing everything that he had spent on it. It was a ruin with all its trellises fallen in. He said, 'Oh, if only I had not associated anyone with my Lord!' (Surat al-Kahf, 32-42)

THE MAN RUNNING FROM THE REMOTE
PART OF THE CITY

A man came running from the far side of the city, saying, 'My people! Follow the Messengers! Follow those who do not ask you for any wage and who have received guidance. Why indeed should I not worship Him Who brought me into being, Him to Whom you will be returned? Am I to take as gods instead of Him those whose intercession, if the All-Merciful desires harm for me, will not help me at all and cannot save me? In that case I would clearly be misguided. I believe in your Lord so listen to me!' He was told, 'Enter the Garden!' He said, 'If my people only knew how my Lord has forgiven me and placed me among the honoured ones!' (Surah Ya Sin, 20-27)

THE PROPHET YUSUF (as) AND HIS PRISON COMPANIONS

Two servants entered prison along with him. One said, 'I dreamt that I was pressing grapes.' The other said, 'I dreamt I carried bread upon my head and birds were eating it. Tell us the true meaning of these dreams. We see that you're one of the righteous.' (Surah Yusuf, 36)

He said to the one of them he knew was saved, 'Please mention me when you are with your lord,' but Satan made him forget to remind his lord, and so he stayed in prison for several years. (Surah Yusuf, 42)

The one of them who had been saved then said, remembering after a period, 'I will tell you what it signifies, so send me out.' 'O truthful Yusuf, tell us of seven fat cows which seven thin ones ate and seven green ears of wheat and seven others which were dry so that I can return to them and let them know.' (Surah Yusuf, 45-46)

the PROPHET YUSUF's (as) BROTHERS

He said, 'My son, don't tell your brothers your dream lest they devise some scheme to injure you, Satan is a clear-cut enemy to man. (Surah Yusuf, 5)

In Yusuf and his brothers there are Signs for every one of those who wants to ask. When they declared, 'Why! Yusuf and his brother are dearer to our father than we are although we constitute a powerful group. Our father is clearly making a mistake. Kill Yusuf or expel him to some land so that your father will look to you alone and then you can be people who do right.' One of them said, 'Do not take Yusuf's life but throw him to the bottom of the well, so that some travellers may discover him, if this is something that you have to do.' They said, 'Our Father! What is wrong with you that you refuse to trust us with Yusuf when in truth we only wish him well? Why don't you send him out with us tomorrow so he can enjoy himself and play about? All of us will make sure that he is safe.' He said, 'It grieves me to let him go with you I fear a wolf might come and eat him up while you are heedless, not attending him.' They said, 'If a wolf does come and eat him up when together we make up a powerful group in that case we would truly be in loss!' But when, in fact, they did go out with him and gathered all together and agreed to put him at the bottom of the well, We then revealed to him that: 'You will inform them of this deed they perpetrate at a time when they are totally unaware.' That night they came back to their father in tears, saying, 'Father, we went out to run a race and left Yusuf together with our things and then a wolf appeared and ate him up but you are never going to believe us now, not even though we really tell the truth.' They then produced his shirt with false blood on it. He said, 'It is merely that your lower selves have suggested something to you which you did; but beauty lies in showing steadfastness. It is Allah alone Who is my Help in face of the event that you describe.' (Surah Yusuf, 7-18)

The brothers of Yusuf came into his presence and he knew them but they did not know him. Then, having supplied their needs, he said to them, 'Bring me your brother, your father's youngest son. Do you not see that I dispense full measure and am the most hospitable of hosts? But if you do not bring him here to me, your measure from me then will be denied and you will not come near to me at all.' They said, 'We will request our father for him. That is something we will surely do.' He told his serving men, 'Put back their goods into their saddlebags for them to find when they arrive back to their families so that perhaps they will return again.' Then when they got back to their father's house, they said, 'Father! Our measure has been denied. Please send our brother with us so we may obtain our measure. We will take care of him.' He said, 'How will my trusting him to your care be different from entrusting his brother before? The Best of Guardians, however, is Allah. He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.' Then when they opened up their saddlebags and found their merchandise returned to them, they said, 'Our father! What more could we ask! Here is our merchandise returned to us. We can provide our families with food, and guard our brother and get an extra load. That is an easy measure to obtain.' He said, 'I will not send him out with you until you make a covenant with Allah to bring him home unless you are overwhelmed.' When they had made their covenant, he said, 'Allah is Guardian over what we say.' He said, 'My sons! You must not enter through a single gate. Go in through different gates. But I cannot save you from Allah at all, for judgement comes from no one but Allah. In Him I put my trust, and let all those who put their trust, put it in Him alone.' But when they entered as their father said, it did not save them from Allah at all, yet a need in Ya'qub's soul was satisfied. He had knowledge which We had taught him, but most of mankind simply do not know. (Surah Yusuf, 58-68)

Then when they entered into Yusuf's presence, he drew his brother close to him and said, 'I am your brother. Do not be distressed concerning all the things they used to do.' Then when he had supplied them with their needs, he put the goblet in his brother's bag. A herald called out, 'Caravan! You are thieves!' They turned to them and said, 'What are you missing?' They said, 'We're missing the goblet of the king. The man who brings it will get a camel's load. Regarding that I stand as guarantor.' They said, 'By Allah, you know we did not come to corrupt the land and that we are not thieves.' They said, 'What is the reparation for it if it in fact transpires that you are liars?' They said, 'Its reparation shall be him in the saddlebags of whom it is discovered. With us that is how wrongdoers are repaid.' He started with their bags before his brother's and then produced it from his brother's bag. In that way We devised a cunning scheme for Yusuf. He could not have held his brother according to the statutes of the King - only because Allah had willed it so. We raise the rank of anyone We will. Over everyone with knowledge is a Knower. (Surah Yusuf, 69-76)

They said, 'Your Eminence! He has an old and venerable father, so take one of us instead of him. We see without a doubt that you are of the people who do good.' He said, 'Allah forbid that we should take anyone but him with whom our goods were found. In that case we would clearly be wrongdoers.' When they despaired of him, they went apart to talk alone. The eldest of them said, 'You know full well your father had you make a covenant with Allah concerning this, and how before you failed him with Yusuf. I will not leave this land until I have permission from my father, or Allah decides about the case on my behalf. Truly He is the justest Judge of all. Return now to your father and say to him, "Your son stole, father. We can do no more than testify to what we know and we are not the guardians of the Unseen. Ask questions of the town in which we were and of the caravan in which we came for we are surely telling you the truth."' He said, 'It's merely that your lower selves suggested something to you which you did. But beauty lies in having steadfastness. Perhaps Allah will bring them all together. He is indeed All-Knowing and All-Wise.' (Surah Yusuf, 78-83)

My sons! Seek news of Yusuf and his brother. Do not despair of solace from Allah. No one despairs of solace from Allah except for people who are disbelievers.' So when they came into his presence, they said, 'Your Eminence! Hardship has hit us and our families. We bring scant merchandise, but fill the measure for us generously. Allah always rewards a generous giver.' He said, 'Are you aware of what you did to Yusuf and his brother in ignorance?' They said, 'Are you Yusuf?' He said, 'I am indeed Yusuf, and this here is my brother. Allah has acted graciously to us. As for those who fear Allah and are steadfast, Allah does not allow to go to waste the wage of any people who do good.' They said, 'By Allah, Allah has favoured you above us. Clearly we were in the wrong.' He said, 'No blame at all will fall on you. Today you have forgiveness from Allah. He is the Most Merciful of the merciful. Go with this shirt of mine and cast it on my father's face and he will see again. Then come to me with all your families.' (Surah Yusuf, 87-93)

They said, 'Our father, may we be forgiven for all the many wrongs that we have done. We were indeed greatly mistaken men.' He said, 'I will ask my Lord to pardon you. He is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.' (Surah Yusuf, 97-98)

This is news of the Unseen which We reveal to you. You were not with them when they decided what to do and devised their scheme. (Surah Yusuf, 102)

the man among the people of Pharaoh who
had concealed hIs faIth

A man among Pharaoh's people who believed, but kept his faith concealed, said, 'Are you going to kill a man for saying "My Lord is Allah" when he has brought you Clear Signs from your Lord? If he is telling a lie, be it on his own head. But if he is telling the truth, then some of what he is promising you will certainly happen to you. Allah does not guide any unbridled inveterate liar. My people! The kingdom is yours today, as masters in the land, but who will help us against Allah's violent force, if it comes upon us?' Pharoah said, 'I only show you what I see myself and I only guide you to the path of rectitude.' The man who believed said, 'My people! I fear for you a day like that of the Confederates, the same as happened to the people of Nuh and 'Ad and Thamud and those who followed after them. Allah does not want any injustice for His servants. My people! I fear for you the Day of Calling Out, the Day when you will turn your backs in flight, having no one to protect you from Allah. Whoever Allah misguides will have no guide. Yusuf brought you the Clear Signs before, but you never stopped doubting what he brought to you to the extent that when he died, you said, "Allah will never send another Messenger after him." That is how Allah misguides those who are unbridled and full of doubt.' Those who argue about the Signs of Allah without any authority coming to them do something hateful in the sight of Allah and in the sight of the people who believe. That is how Allah seals up the heart of every arrogant oppressor. Pharaoh said, 'Haman, build me a tower so that perhaps I may gain means of access, access to the heavens, so that I can look on Musa's God. Truly I think he is a liar.' That is how Pharaoh's evil actions were made attractive to him and he debarred others from the Path. Pharaoh's scheming led to nothing but ruin. The man who believed said, 'My people! Follow me and I will guide you to the path of rectitude. My people! The life of this world is only fleeting enjoyment. It is the hereafter which is the abode of permanence. Whoever does an evil act will only be repaid with its equivalent. But whoever acts rightly, male or female, being a believer, such a person will enter the Garden, provided for in it without any reckoning. My people! How is it that I call you to salvation while you call me to the Fire? You call me to reject Allah and to associate something with Him about which I have no knowledge, while I call you to the Almighty, the Endlessly Forgiving. There is no question that what you call me to has no foundation either in this world or the hereafter, that our return is to Allah, and that the profligate will be Companions of the Fire. You will remember what I say to you. I consign my affair completely to Allah. Truly Allah sees His servants.' So Allah safeguarded him from the evil things they plotted and a most evil torment engulfed Pharaoh's people. (Surah Ghafir, 28-45)

the WIves OF the PROPHET NUH (as) AND
the PROPHET LUT (as)

Allah has made an example for those who are disbelievers: the wife of Nuh and the wife of Lut. They were married to two of Our servants who were righteous but they betrayed them and were not helped at all against Allah. They were told, 'Enter the Fire along with all who enter it.' (Surah at-Tahrim, 10)

THREE MESSENGERS SENT TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE CITY

Make an example for them of the inhabitants of the city when the Messengers came to it. When We sent them two and they denied them both, so We reinforced them with a third. They said, 'Truly We have been sent to you as Messengers.' They said, 'You are nothing but human beings like ourselves. The All-Merciful has not sent down anything. You are simply lying.' They said, 'Our Lord knows we have been sent as Messengers to you. We are only responsible for clear transmission.' They said, 'We see an evil omen in you. If you do not stop we will stone you and you will suffer a painful punishment at our hands.' They said, 'Your evil omen is in yourselves. Is it not just that you have been reminded? No, you are an unbridled people!' (Surah Ya Sin, 13-19)

TWELVE LEADERS

Allah made a covenant with the tribe of Israel and We raised up twelve leaders from among them. Allah said, 'I am with you. If you perform prayer and pay the welfare tax, and believe in My Messengers and respect and support them, and make a generous loan to Allah, I will erase your wrong actions from you and admit you into Gardens with rivers flowing under them. Any of you who are disbelievers after that have gone astray from the right way.' (Surat al-Ma'ida, 12)

the PROPHET NUH's (as) son

It sailed with them through mountainous waves, and Nuh called out to his son, who had kept himself apart, 'My son! Come on board with us. Do not stay with the disbelievers!' He said, 'I will take refuge on a mountain; It will protect me from the flood.' He said, 'There is no protection from Allah's command today except for those He has mercy on.' The waves surged in between them and he was among the drowned. (Surah Hud, 42-43)

AZAR, the PROPHET IBRAHIM's (as) FATHER

Remember when Ibrahim said to his father, Azar, 'Do you take idols as gods? I see that you and your people are clearly misguided.' (Surat al-An'am, 74)

When Ibrahim said to his father and his people, 'I am free of everything you worship. (Surat az-Zukhruf, 26)

He said, 'Do you forsake my gods, Ibrahim? If you do not stop, I will stone you. Keep away from me for a good long time.' (Surah Maryam, 46)

the PROPHET MUSA's (as) MOTHER AND SISTER

Musa's mother felt a great emptiness in her heart and she almost gave him away; only We fortified her heart so that she would be one of the believers. She said to his sister, 'Go after him.' And she kept an eye on him from afar and they were not aware. And We had before forbidden foster-mothers for him,, so she said, 'Shall I show you to a household who will feed him for you and be good to him?' That is how We returned him to his mother so that she might delight her eyes and feel no grief and so that she would know that Allah's promise is true. But most of them do not know this. (Surat al-Qasas, 10-13)

the PROPHET LUT's (as) FAMILY AND WIFE

They said, 'We have been sent to a people who are evildoers -with the exception of the family of Lut, all of whom We will save, except for his wife. We have decreed her to be one of those who stay behind.' (Surat al-Hijr, 58-60)

So We rescued him and his family - except for his wife. We ordained her to be one of those who stayed behind. We rained down a rain upon them. How evil is the rain of those who are warned! (Surat an-Naml, 57-58)

He said, 'Lut is in it.' They said, 'We know very well who is in it. We are going to rescue him and his family - except for his wife. She will be one of those who stay behind.' (Surat al-'Ankabut, 32)

the PROPHET ADAM's (as) TWO SONS

Recite to them the true report of Adam's two sons when they offered a sacrifice and it was accepted from one of them but not accepted from the other. The one said, 'I shall kill you.' The other said, 'Allah only accepts from people who guard against evil. Even if you do raise your hand against me to kill me, I am not going to raise my hand against you to kill you. Truly I fear Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. I want you to take on both my wrongdoing and your wrongdoing and so become one of the Companions of the Fire. That is the repayment of the wrongdoers.' So his lower self persuaded him to kill his brother, and he killed him and became one of the lost. Then Allah sent a crow which scratched at the earth to show him how to conceal his brother's corpse. He said, 'Woe is me! Can I not even be like this crow and conceal my brother's corpse?' And he became one of those who suffer bitter remorse. (Surat al-Ma'ida, 27-31)

THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD'S (SAAS) WIVES

O Prophet, tell your wives: 'If you desire the life of this world and its finery, come and I will give you all you need and release you with kindness. But if you desire Allah and His Messenger and the abode of the hereafter, Allah has prepared an immense reward for those among you who are good-doers.' Wives of the Prophet! If any of you commits an obvious act of indecency she will receive double the punishment. That is an easy matter for Allah. But those of you who are obedient to Allah and His Messenger and act rightly will be given their reward twice over; and We have prepared generous provision for them. Wives of the Prophet, you are not like other women! If you guard against evil and do not be too soft-spoken in your speech lest someone with sickness in his heart becomes desirous. Speak correct and courteous words. Remain in your houses and do not display your beauty as it was previously displayed in the Time of Ignorance. Perform prayer and pay the welfare tax and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah desires to remove all impurity from you, People of the House, and to purify you completely. And remember the Signs of Allah and the wise words which are recited in your rooms. Allah is All-Pervading, All-Aware. (Surat al-Ahzab, 28-34)

The Prophet confided a certain matter to one of his wives, then when she divulged it Allah disclosed that to him, and he communicated part of it and withheld part of it. When he told her of it, she said, 'Who told you of this?' He said, 'The All-Knowing and All-Aware informed me of it.' If the two of you would only turn to Allah, for your hearts clearly deviated... But if you support one another against him, Allah is his Protector and so are Jibril and every right-acting man of the believers and, furthermore, the angels too will come to his support. (Surat at-Tahrim, 3-4)

THE FAMILY OF 'IMRAN

Allah chose Adam and Nuh and the family of Ibrahim and the family of 'Imran over all other beings -descendants one of the other. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. Remember when the wife of 'Imran said, 'My Lord, I have pledged to You what is in my womb, devoting it to Your service. Please accept my prayer. You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.' When she gave birth, she said, 'My Lord! I have given birth to a girl' - and Allah knew very well what she had given birth to, male and female are not the same - 'and I have named her Maryam and placed her and her children in Your safekeeping from the accursed Satan.' Her Lord accepted her with approval and made her grow in health and beauty... (Surah Al 'Imran, 33-37)

And Maryam, the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity - We breathed Our Spirit into her and she confirmed the Words of her Lord and His Book and was one of the obedient. (Surat at-Tahrim, 12)

PHARAOH AND HIS RULING CIRCLE

And then, after them, We sent Musa with Our Signs to Pharaoh and his ruling circle but they wrongfully rejected them. See the final fate of the corrupters! (Surat al-A'raf, 103)

Then after them We sent Musa and Harun with Our Signs to Pharaoh and his ruling circle, but they were arrogant and were a people of evildoers. (Surah Yunus, 75)

No one believed in Musa except for a few of his people out of fear that Pharaoh, and the elders, would persecute them. Pharaoh was high and mighty in the land. He was one of the profligate. (Surah Yunus, 83)

Then We sent Musa and his brother Harun with Our Signs and clear authority to Pharaoh and his ruling circle. But they were proud and were a haughty people. (Surat al-Mu'minun, 45-46)

THE MAGICIANS

The magicians came to Pharaoh and they asked, 'Will we receive a reward if we are the winners?' (Surat al-A'raf, 113)

The ruling circle of Pharaoh's people said, 'This is certainly a skilled magician who desires to expel you from your land, so what do you recommend?' They said, 'Detain him and his brother and send out marshals to the cities, to bring you all the skilled magicians.' (Surat al-A'raf, 109-112)

Musa said, 'Do you say to the truth when it comes to you, "This is magic"? Magicians are not successful.' (Surah Yunus, 77)

Pharaoh said, 'Bring me every knowledgeable magician.' When the magicians came, Musa said to them, 'Throw whatever you have to throw!' When they had thrown, Musa said, 'What you have brought is magic. Allah will certainly prove it false. Allah does not uphold the actions of corrupters.' (Surah Yunus, 79-81)

But he turned away with his forces, saying, 'A magician or a madman!' (Surat adh-Dhariyat, 39)

The magicians threw themselves down in prostration. They said, 'We believe in the Lord of Harun and Musa.' Pharaoh said, 'Do you believe in him before I have authorised you? He is your chief, the one who taught you magic. I will cut off your hands and feet alternately and have you crucified on palm trunks. Then you will know for certain which of us has the harsher and longer lasting punishment.' They said, 'We will never prefer you to the Clear Signs which have come to us nor to Him Who brought us into being. Decide on any judgment you like. Your jurisdiction only covers the life of this world. We have believed in our Lord so that He may forgive us for our mistakes and for the magic which you forced us to perform. Allah is better and longer lasting.' (Surah Ta Ha, 70-73)

PHARAOH AND HIS TROOPS

So We seized him and his armies and hurled them into the sea, and he was to blame. (Surat adh-Dhariyat, 40)

Pharaoh pursued them with his troops and the sea overwhelmed them utterly. Pharoah misguided his people. He was no guide. (Surah Ta Ha, 78-79)

QARUN

And Qarun and Pharaoh and Haman - Musa came with the Clear Signs to them, but they were arrogant on the earth. They could not outstrip Us. (Surat al-'Ankabut, 39)

Qarun was one of the people of Musa but he lorded it over them. We gave him treasures, the keys alone to which were a heavy weight for a party of strong men. When his people said to him, 'Do not gloat. Allah does not love people who gloat. Seek the abode of the hereafter with what Allah has given you, without forgetting your portion of this world. And do good as Allah has been good to you. And do not seek to cause corruption in the earth. Allah does not love corrupters.' he said, 'I have only been given it because of knowledge I have.' Did he not know that before him Allah had destroyed generations with far greater strength than his and far more possessions? The evildoers will not be questioned about their sins. He went out among his people in his finery. Those who desired the life of this world said, 'Oh! If only we had the same as Qarun has been given! What immense good fortune he possesses.' But those who had been given knowledge said, 'Woe to you! Allah's reward is better for those who believe and act rightly. But only the steadfast will obtain it.' We caused the earth to swallow up both him and his house. There was no group to come to his aid, besides Allah, and he was not someone who is helped. (Surat al-Qasas, 76-81)

HAMAN

We desired to show kindness to those who were oppressed in the land and to make them leaders and make them inheritors and establish them firmly in the land and to show Pharaoh and Haman and their troops the very thing that they were fearing from them. (Surat al-Qasas, 5-6)

The family of Pharaoh picked him up so that he might be an enemy and a source of grief to them. Certainly Pharaoh and Haman and their troops were in the wrong. (Surat al-Qasas, 8)

We sent Musa with Our Signs and clear authority to Pharaoh, Haman and Qarun. But they said, 'A lying magician.' (Surah Ghafir, 23-24)

Pharaoh said, 'Haman, build me a tower so that perhaps I may gain means of access, access to the heavens, so that I can look on Musa's God. Truly I think he is a liar.' That is how Pharaoh's evil actions were made attractive to him and he debarred others from the Path. Pharaoh's scheming led to nothing but ruin. (Surah Ghafir, 36-37)

Pharaoh said, 'Council, I do not know of any other god for you apart from Me. Haman, kindle a fire for me over the clay and build me a lofty tower so that perhaps I may be able to climb up to Musa's God! I consider him a blatant liar.' (Surat al-Qasas, 38)

And Qarun and Pharaoh and Haman - Musa came with the Clear Signs to them, but they were arrogant on the earth. They could not outstrip Us. (Surat al-'Ankabut, 39)

PHARAOH

We rescued the tribe of Israel from the humiliating punishment, from Pharaoh - he was haughty, one of the profligate. (Surat ad-Dukhan, 30-31)

And also in Musa when We sent him to Pharaoh with clear authority. But he turned away with his forces, saying, 'A magician or a madman!' So We seized him and his armies and hurled them into the sea, and he was to blame. (Surat adh-Dhariyat, 38-40)

We have sent you a Messenger to bear witness against you just as We sent Pharaoh a Messenger. But Pharaoh disobeyed the Messenger, so We seized him with terrible severity. (Surat al-Muzzammil, 15-16)

and Pharaoh of the Stakes. (Surat al-Fajr, 10)

We sent Musa with Our Signs and clear authority to Pharaoh and his ruling circle. They followed Pharaoh's command but Pharaoh's command was not rightly guided. He will go ahead of his people on the Day of Rising and lead them down into the Fire. What an evil watering-hole to be led to! (Surah Hud, 96-98)

Pharaoh exalted himself arrogantly in the land and divided its people into camps, oppressing one group of them by slaughtering their sons and letting their women live. He was one of the corrupters. We desired to show kindness to those who were oppressed in the land and to make them leaders and make them inheritors and establish them firmly in the land and to show Pharaoh and Haman and their troops the very thing that they were fearing from them. (Surat al-Qasas, 4-6)

PHARAOH'S PEOPLE

Warnings came to Pharaoh's people. (Surat al-Qamar, 41)

Remember when We rescued you from the people of Pharaoh. They were inflicting an evil punishment on you - slaughtering your sons and letting your women live. In that there was a terrible trial for you from your Lord. (Surat al-Baqara, 49)

As was the case with the people of Pharaoh and those before them. They denied Our Signs so Allah seized them for their wrong actions. Allah is fierce in retribution. (Surah Al 'Imran, 11)

We seized Pharaoh's people with years of drought and scarcity of fruits so that hopefully they would pay heed. (Surat al-A'raf, 130)

Remember when We rescued you from Pharaoh's people who were inflicting an evil punishment on you, killing your sons and letting your women live. In that there was a terrible trial from your Lord. (Surat al-A'raf, 141)

Such was the case with Pharaoh's people and those before them. They rejected Allah's Signs so Allah seized them for their wrong actions. Allah is Strong, Severe in Retribution. (Surat al-Anfal, 52)

Such was the case with Pharaoh's people and those before them. They denied their Lord's Signs so We destroyed them for their wrong actions. We drowned Pharaoh's people. All of them were wrongdoers. (Surat al-Anfal, 54)

THE CHIEFS OF THE TRIBE OF ISRAEL after Musa

What do you think about the council of the tribe of Israel after Musa's time when they said to one of their Prophets, 'Give us a king and we will fight in the Way of Allah!'? He said, 'Is it not possible that if fighting were prescribed for you, you would not fight?' They said, 'How could we not fight in the way of Allah when we have been driven from our homes and children?' But then when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned their backs - except for a few of them. Allah knows the wrongdoers. (Surat al-Baqara, 246)

PHARAOH's wIfe

Allah has made an example for those who believe: the wife of Pharaoh when she said, 'My Lord, build a house in the Garden for me in Your presence and rescue me from Pharaoh and his deeds and rescue me from this wrongdoing people.' (Surat at-Tahrim, 11)

The wife of Pharaoh said, 'A source of delight for me and for you; do not kill him. It may well be that he will be of use to us or perhaps we could adopt him as a son.' They were not aware. (Surat al-Qasas, 9)

ABU LAhab and hIs wIfe

Ruin to the hands of Abu Lahab and ruin to him! His wealth has not helped him nor anything he has earned. He will burn in a Flaming Fire. He will burn in a Flaming Fire. And so will his wife, the firewood-carrier, with a rope of twisted fibre round her neck. (Surat al-Masad, 1-5)

THE egyptIan GOVERNOR and hIs wIfe

The Egyptian who had bought him told his wife, 'Look after him with honour and respect. It's possible he will be of use to us or perhaps we might adopt him as a son.' And thus We established Yusuf in the land to teach him the true meaning of events. Allah is in control of His affair. However, most of mankind do not know. (Surah Yusuf, 21)

The woman whose house it was solicited him. She barred the doors and said, 'Come over here!' He said, 'Allah is my refuge! He is My lord and has been good to me with where I live. Those who do wrong will surely not succeed.' (Surah Yusuf, 23)

The King said, 'Bring him to me straight away!' but when the envoy came to him, he said, 'Go back to your master and enquire of him what happened about the women who cut their hands. My Lord has knowledge of their cunning guile.' He said, 'What was this past affair of yours when you solicited Yusuf?' Then they said 'Allah forbid! We know no bad of him.' The governor's wife then said, 'The truth has now emerged. Indeed I tried to seduce him then and he has simply told the honest truth. (Surah Yusuf, 50-51)

Those who were arrogant said, 'We reject Him in whom you believe.' (Surat al-A'raf, 76)

THE OPPRESSED - THE ARROGANT

The ruling circle of those of his people who were arrogant said to those who were oppressed - those among them who believed - 'Do you know that Salih has been sent from his Lord?' They said, 'We believe in what he has been sent with.' (Surat al-A'raf, 75)

The ruling circle of those of his people who were arrogant said, 'We will drive you out of our city, Shu'ayb, you and those who believe along with you, unless you return to our religion.' He said, 'What, even though we detest it? (Surat al-A'raf, 88)

Dhu'l-Qarnayn

They will ask you about Dhu'l-Qarnayn. Say: 'I will tell you something about him.' We gave him power and authority on the earth and granted him a way to everything. So he followed a way until he reached the setting of the sun and found it setting in a muddy spring and found a people by it. We said, 'Dhu'l-Qarnayn! You can either punish them or else you can treat them with gentleness.' He said, 'As for those who do wrong, we will punish them and then they will be returned to their Lord and He will punish them with a dreadful punishment. But as for him who believes and acts rightly, he will receive the best of rewards and we will issue a command, making things easy for him.' Then he followed a way until he reached the rising of the sun and found it rising on a people to whom We had not given any shelter from it. Our knowledge encompasses all that happened to him. Then he followed a path until he arrived between the two mountains where he found a people scarcely able to understand speech. They said, 'Dhu'l-Qarnayn! Yajuj and Majuj are causing corruption in the land. Can we, therefore, pay tribute to you in return for your constructing a barrier between us and them?' He said, 'The power my Lord has granted me is better than that. Just give me a strong helping hand and I will build a solid barrier between you and them. Bring me ingots of iron!' Then, when he had made it level between the two high mountain-sides, he said, 'Blow!' and when he had made it a red hot fire, he said, 'Bring me molten brass to pour over it.' They were, therefore, unable to climb over it nor were they able to make a breach in it. He said, 'This is a mercy from my Lord. But when my Lord's promise comes about, He will crush it flat. The promise of my Lord is surely true.' (Surat al-Kahf, 83-98)

ZAYD

When you said to him whom Allah has blessed and you yourself have greatly favoured, 'Keep your wife to yourself and have fear of Allah,' while concealing something in yourself which Allah wished to bring to light, you were fearing people when Allah has more right to your fear. Then when Zayd divorced her We married her to you so that there should be no restriction for the believers regarding the wives of their adopted sons when they have divorced them. Allah's command is always carried out. (Surat al-Ahzab, 37)

the SAMARITAN

He said, 'We tried your people after you left and the Samaritan has misguided them.' (Surah Ta Ha, 85)

He said, 'What do you think you were doing, Samaritan?' He said, 'I saw what they did not see. So I gathered up a handful from the Messenger's footprints and threw it in. That is what my inner self urged me to do.' He said, 'Go! In this world you will have to say, "Untouchable!" and you have an appointment which you will not fail to keep. Look at your god to which you devoted so much time. We will burn it up and then scatter it as dust into the sea. Your god is Allah alone, there is no god but Him. He encompasses all things in His knowledge.' (Surah Ta Ha, 95-98)

UZAYR

The Jews say, ''Uzayr is the son of Allah,' and the Christians say, 'The Messiah is the son of Allah.' That is what they say with their mouths, copying the words of those who were disbelievers before. Allah fight them! How perverted they are! (Surat at-Tawba, 30)

THE QUEEN OF SHEBA

However, it was not long delayed, and then it said, 'I have comprehended something you have not and bring you accurate intelligence from Sheba. I found a woman ruling over them who has been given everything. She possesses a mighty throne. I found both her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah. Satan has made their actions seem good to them and debarred them from the Way so they are not guided. (Surat an-Naml, 22-24)

She said, 'Council! A noble letter has been delivered to me. It is from Sulayman and says: "In the name of Allah, All-Merciful, Most Merciful. Do not rise up against me, but come to me in submission."' She said, 'Council! Give me your opinion about this matter. It is not my habit to make a final decision until I have heard what you have to say.' They said, 'We possess strength and we possess great force. But the matter is in your hands so consider what you command.' She said, 'When kings enter a city, they lay waste to it and make its mightiest inhabitants the most abased. That is what they too will do. I will send them a gift and then wait and see what the messengers bring back.' When it reached Sulayman he said, 'Would you give me wealth when what Allah has given me is better than what He has given you? No, rather it is you who delight in your gift. Return to them. We will come to them with troops they cannot face and we will expel them from it abased and humiliated.' (Surat an-Naml, 29-37)

Then when she came, she was asked, 'Is your throne like this?' She said, It is as it were the same, and we were given the knowledge before it, and we were submissive. And what she worshipped besides Allah prevented her, surely she was of an unbelieving people. She was told: 'Enter the courtyard,' but when she saw it she supposed it to be a pool and bared her legs. He said, 'It is a courtyard paved with glass.' She said, 'My Lord, I have wronged myself but I have submitted with Sulayman to the Lord of all the worlds.' (Surat an-Naml, 42-44)

THE OWNERS OF THE GARDEN

We have tried them as We tried the owners of the garden when they swore that they would harvest in the morning but did not say the redeeming words, 'If Allah wills'. So a visitation from your Lord came upon it while they slept and in the morning it was like burnt land stripped bare. In the morning they called out to one another, 'Leave early for your land if you want to pick the fruit.' So they set off, quietly saying to one another, 'Do not let any poor man into it today while you are there.' They left early, intent on carrying out their scheme. But when they saw it, they said, 'We must have lost our way. No, the truth is we are destitute!' The best of them said, 'Did I not say to you, "Why do you not glorify Allah?"' They said, 'Glory be to our Lord! Truly we have been wrongdoers.' They turned to face each other in mutual accusation. They said, 'Woe to us! We were indeed inordinate. Maybe our Lord will give us something better than it in exchange. We entreat our Lord.' (Surat al-Qalam, 17-32)