What does “Islam” mean? The word الإسلام [Islam] is an infinitive word derived from س ل م [silm] root in if‘al pattern and used as noun and infinitive. The word silm means “release/keeping away; and to be distant from fear, doubt, trouble, lack of peace, unhappiness, fight, war, pain, suffering, material and spiritual inconveniences, weakness and decaying, and all the negativities.” This word is also the root of salim, selam, teslim, Islam etc. The word’s “Islam” form means “strengthening” [removal from problems, worries, fear, unhappiness, fights, wars, and similar negative things]. Hence, the religion Islam means the “the religion that strengthens humans [entire range of principles that protects and secures people by putting a distance between them and problems, worries, war, weakness, spiritual illness, unhappiness, and similar things].”

1. 1
SURAH AL-MU’MINUN (THE BELIEVERS)
MECCAN PERIOD
Division: 334
1Surely, the believers have sustained/prevailed.
2They are moderate/humble in their Salat [Support financially and spiritually;
enlighten the community].
3And they turn away from vain talk.
4And they give zaqat/tax.
5-7And they guard their chastity, -except for those their wives or covenants
possess303, for which they cannot be condemned; those who wish to transcend beyond
are the transgressing ones.-
8And they are faithful to their trusts and covenants.
9And they maintain their Salat [Support financially and spiritually; establish
and maintain institutions that enlighten the community].
10,11And they are the final inheritors of the Gardens of Paradise, in which they
shall abide eternally.
(74/23; Al-Mu’minun/1-11)
Division: 335
12-16And surely, We created man from a chosen clay. Then made him a drop of
sperm in a firm lodging. Then created an embryo from that sperm. Then We
converted that embryo into a peace of flesh. Then We converted that piece of flesh
into bones. And We ultimately covered those bones with flesh. Then We assembled
him in another creation. And that is the most beautiful of all creations; how Generous
is Allah! Then you surely will die after all these. Then you surely will be resurrected
on the Day of Qiyamat [Resurrection].
(74/23; Al-Mu’minun/12-16)
Division: 336
17And surely, We created seven paths above you. And We are not unaware,
careless, apathetic of creation.

2. 2
18And We send down a measure of water from the Heavens and settled it on the
Earth. And surely, We are capable of removing it.
19Then, with that water We grew gardens of date and grapevines. Many fruits
are in there for you and you eat them.
20And on the Mount Sinai, We grew a tree species that yields oil and food for
those who eat.
21,22And there indeed is evidence for you in four-legged, split-hoofed ruminant
and herbivore beasts. We make you drink that which is yielded from their bellies.
And in them, there are other benefits for you. And you eat their meat and ride them
and travel/carry your loads aboard ships.
(74/23; Al-Mu’minun/17-22)
Division: 337
23And surely, We sent Noah to his people as messenger and he said to them: “O
my people! Worship Allah. There is no god but Him for you. Will you still not
surrender yourselves under the guardianship of Allah?”.
24,25Thereafter, the infidels; those who consciously denied the Divinity of Allah
and the fact that He is Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer] from
among his people said: “He is but a human as you are. He intends to get advantage
over you. Had Allah wished so, He would surely have sent angels down. We have
not heard about this from our ancestors. He surely is a madman. Then, wait for it in
hope for a while”.
26Noah said: “O my Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]!
Help me against their denial!”.
27-29Then We said to him: “Build your ship under Our surveillance and with
Our revelation. And when the cauldron starts to boil upon Our command embark a
pair of every species and your family, relatives and believers except for those against
whom the Word304 has been judged. Do not ask me about those who do wrong; act
against their own good by associating others with Allah. They shall surely drown;
they shall die, being suffocated in the water. And We revealed to him, when he and
his companions embark, to say: “All praise be upon Allah, Who has saved us from
the people who have been doing wrong; acting against their own good; do not praise
anyone else!”. And say: “O my Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the
Sustainer]! Disembark me to a place with blessings in abundance/bestow upon me
abundant blessings. For You are the Best of those who disembark/bestow”.
30Surely, there is evidence/signs in this. And We surely are testers.

3. 3
31Then We created another generation after them.
32Then We sent them a messenger from among them to warn them, saying:
“Worship Allah; for you there is no god but Him. Will you still not surrender
yourselves under the guardianship of Allah?”.
33-38And those from among the people of the messenger, who blasphemed;
consciously denied the Divinity of Allah and the fact that He is Rabb [Lord, the
Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer] and upon whom We had given convenience in
this worldly life said: “He is only a human as you are; he eats what you eat, he drinks
what you drink. And if you follow a human like yourselves, you surely will be losers.
Does he promise you that you will surely be resurrected after you die and turn to soil
and bones? That which you are threatened with is impossible! Only our simple
worldly life is the truth! We live and we die. And we shall not be resurrected. The
Messenger is only a man who make up lies about Allah and we do not believe in
him”.
39The Messenger said: “O my Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the
Sustainer]! Help me against their denial!”.
40Allah said: “In a very short while they shall surely repent!”.
41Then the scream seized them with the Truth. Thus, We made them stubble.
Then away with the people who did wrong; acted against their own good by
associating others with Allah.
42Then We created other generations after them.
43None of those communities with a leader can advance or postpone their fate.
44Then, We sent Our messenger consecutively. When a messenger came to a
people, they denied him and then We made some of them watch the others and We
made them parables. –Away with the people who do not believe, they shall go to
Jahannah [Hell]!-
45,46Then We sent to the Pharaoh and his chiefs Moses and his brother Aaron as
messengers with Our Ayat/evidence/signs and a manifest authority. Thereafter, they
were arrogant and acted arrogantly.
47Then they said: “Will we believe in these men who are two humans like
ourselves while their people are slaves to us?”.
48Thus they denied both of them and became the ones who were
manipulated/destroyed.

4. 4
49And surely, We gave Moses the Scripture so they might follow the righteous
path they were guided.
50And We made son of Mary and mother of Jesus evidence/sign and settled
them on a hill that had water and was suitable for living.
51O messengers! Eat from the clean, good and nutritious food and do good
deeds. Surely, I know well what you do.
52And this is your community as the One United Community. And I am your
Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]. So surrender yourselves
under my guardianship.
53Then people divided their affairs among themselves. And each group rejoiced
and bragged about what they had.
54Leave them alone with their perversion for a known term!
55,56Do they think that We bestow upon them wealth and sons so they may do
good deeds? Quite contrary, them cannot realize the truth.
(74/23; Al-Mu’minun/23-56)
Division: 338
57-61Surely, those who shake, fearing to be away from their Rabb [Lord, the
Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer] for the deep respect and love to Him; those
who believe in the Ayat of their Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the
Sustainer]; those who do not associate others with their Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher,
the Nurturer, the Sustainer]; those who aid others in awe for they shall be returned to
their Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]; they are the ones who
race each other in doing good deeds and who go ahead for doing good deeds.
(74/23; Al-Mu’minun/57-61)
Division: 339
62And We do not burden any soul above his capacity. And by Us a Scripture
that speaks the Truth and they shall not be treated unjustly.
63Quite contrary, their hearts are covered over this. And certain evil deeds
lesser than this they do.
64And when We seize those among them who live in luxury, they immediately
start to cry.

5. 5
65-67Do not cry on this day! Surely, you will not get help from Us. Surely, Our
Ayat were recited to you yet you acted arrogantly and turned away by the night,
uttering evil words.
(74/23; Al-Mu’minun/6-67)
Division: 340
68Have they not thought about the Qur’an? Or have they received something
which did not come to their ancestors in the past?
69Or did they not recognize their messenger that they denied him?
70Or, do they say: “He is a madman”? Quite contrary, their messenger has
bought them the Truth. And most of them do not like the Truth.
71And had the Truth complied with their desires; the Heavens, the Earth and
everyone living on them would have been ruined. Actually, We have brought their
glory/admonition; then they are the ones who turn away from their own
glory/admonition.
72Do you demand a tribute from them? Tribute of your Rabb [Lord, the
Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer] is better. And your Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher,
the Nurturer, the Sustainer] is the Best of those who bestow blessings.
73,74And surely, you invite them to a straight path. Those who do not believe in
Akhirat [Afterlife] are surely transgressors.
75Had we pitied them and removed their distress, they would surely have gone
blind and insisted their transgression.
76And surely, We seized them with Our punishment; yet they did not surrender
to their Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer] despite this and they
never showed their servitude to Allah.
77When We open a gate upon them wrath of which is severe, you will see them
there in despair!
78And Allah is the One Who created for you the hearing, the sight and your
hearts. O how ungrateful you are for the blessings you are given!
79And Allah is the One Who created and multiplied you on the Earth. And only
before Him you shall be gathered.

6. 6
80And Allah gives life and takes life. And only His affair is the consecutive
revolution of the night and the day. Will you still not reason?
(74/23; Al-Mu’minun/68-80)
Division: 341
81They basically said things similar to what those before them had said.
82,83They said: “Shall we be resurrected after we die and turn into soil and
bones? Surely, we and our ancestors were threatened with this before. This is nothing
but the tales of the ancients!”.
84Say: “If you know; to whom belong this world and all that is on it?”.
85They shall say: “To Allah”. Then say: “Do you not contemplate?”.
86Say: “Who is Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer] of the
seven Heavens and the great throne305?”.
87They shall say: “It belongs to Allah/It is Allah”. Then say: “So, will you not
surrender under the guardianship of Allah?”.
88Say: “If you know; who possesses the dominion over all things and who
governs all and who protects all; yet who does not require to be protected?”.
89They shall say: “It belongs to Allah/It is Allah”. Then say: “Then how are
you deluded?”.
90Then We have brought them the Truth, yet they are the liars.
(74/23; Al-Mu’minun/81-90)
Division: 342
91,92Allah has never begotten children; and there is no god besides Him.
Otherwise, each god would have gone with what they had created and been above
others. Exonerated is Allah, Who knows the unseen, the unheard, the unfelt and the
obvious, from their ascriptions. Exalted is He above those whom they associate with
Him.
(74/23; Al-Mu’minun91-92)
Division: 343

7. 7
93,94Say: “O my Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]! If you
will certainly show me that which they are threatened with, O my Rabb [Lord, the
Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]! Then do not let me be among the people who
do wrong; act against their own good by associating others with Allah”.
95And, We surely are capable of showing you with which We threaten them.
96Eliminate evil with good. We know well what they ascribe.
97,98And say: “O my Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]! I
seek refuge in You from provocation of the devils! And my Rabb [Lord, the
Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]! I seek refuge in You from their presence
beside me.”.
(74/23; Al-Mu’minun/93-98)
Division: 344
99,100And when death comes to one of them, he says: “O my Rabb [Lord, the
Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]! Send me back so I may do good deeds in that
which I have left behind”. Certainly not as he thinks! This surely is his words. There
will be an obstacle behind them until the day when they shall be resurrected.
101And when the Sûr is blown306, there will be not relation between them, and
no one will be able to ask others for anything.
102Thus, those whose scale is heavier, they shall reach the salvation.
103And those whose scale is lighter, they shall be the losers; they shall abide in
Jahannah [Hell] eternally.
104The fire will sear their faces while they stay there grinning.
105Were My Ayat recited to you? And you denied them?
106,107They shall say: “O our Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the
Sustainer]! Our transgression defeated us and we became a people in perversion. O
our Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]! Let us out of here.
Should we do the same things again, then we will be the ones who do wrong; who
act against their own good”.

8. 8
108Allah will say: “Remain there quailed! And do not talk to me. 109Surely, a
group from among my servants said: “O our Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer,
the Sustainer]! We have believed; now forgive us, show Your mercy upon us, You
are the Best of the merciful”. 110And you mocked them; and they ultimately made
you forget/abandon remembering Me/My admonition. And you laughed at them.
111Surely, on this day, I will reward them for their patience; they are the successful
ones”.
112Allah will say: “How many years have you lived on the Earth?”.
113They shall say: “One day or a fraction of a day we have lived there. Ask
those who count”.
114Allah will say: “You have lived there for a very short time; if only you
knew!”.
(74/23; Al-Mu’minun/99-114)
Division: 345
115And did you think that We created you without a purpose and you would not
be returned to Us?
116Allah, the True Owner, the Governor, is the Most Exalted of all. There is no
god but Him. He is Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer] of the
Most Prestigious, the Greatest Throne307.
117Whoever invokes others beside Allah without any evidence thereof
whatsoever, he should know that his account is surely with his Rabb [Lord, the
Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]. Surely, the infidels; those who consciously
deny the Divinity of Allah and the fact that He is Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the
Nurturer, the Sustainer] will not be able to maintain their position nor prevail.
(74/23; Al-Mu’minun/115-117)
Division: 346
18And say: “O my Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]!
Forgive and show mercy! You are the Best of the merciful”.
(74/23; Al-Mu’minun/118)
303 The phrase ma malaqat aymanuhum [those possessed under covenant] is usually
interpreted to refer to “concubines”. While there was no limitation on the number of concubines one

9. 9
can have, it was widely accepted that no official marriage is required for them. Therefore, it must be
analyzed carefully to whom the phrase ma malaqat aymanuhum [those possessed under covenant]
refers: When Islam emerged, slavery had been in existence in Arabia, as with all other regions of the
world, and it was maintained by means of purchase, heritance, abduction, enslaving of prisoners, etc.
Islam forbade taking prisoners except during hot-war and enslaving of the prisoners (Al-Anfal/62 and
Muhammad/4) and thus completely abolished slavery utilizing a gradual method. And in the 19th
Century, other nations, led by British Empire, abolished and forbade slavery. Unfortunately, Ottoman
Empire, an Islamic state, abolished slavery only in 1857 for black people and in 1909 for white
people. For detailed explanation thereof, see Al-Tabyeen al-Qur’an; vol. 2, p. 167.
During the period when slavery was in effect, in compliance with local and international
traditions, female and male slaves were given into custody of guardian families under certain
conditions and contracts and so-called guardian families would employ them and keep them under
their custody. While slaves had the freedom of religion and conscience, they were not free
economically and politically. Upon abolishment of slavery by means of heritage and taking prisoners,
female prisoners of war, who were not subjected to amendment, for whom no ransom had been given
and who had no relatives to guard them, were given into custody of anybody under aforementioned
conditions. In some cases, slaves were sent as gifts from neighboring nations, where slavery had not
been abolished.
The phrase ma malaqat aymanuhum [those possessed under covenant] refers to the “women
taken into custody under these conditions”. In order to have sexual intercourse with these women,
consent of their guardians must have been obtained and a formal marriage must have been established
upon provision of bride wealth (An-Nisa/24). Islam disapproves extramarital sexual intercourse; in
Islam, extramarital voluntary sexual activities are considered adultery and extramarital and
involuntary sexual activities are considered rape.
Mention of these women in the Ayah as a secondary group by utilizing the conjunction “or”
originates from unknown aspects of their past lives and the fact they were unequal to their legitimate
fellow citizens in terms of bride wealth. While wedlock was basically equal, there were differences in
details. The following names can be given as examples to such concubines: “Saffiyah”, one of Prophet
Muhammad’s wives, was a prisoner of war; “Maria” was given to him as a gift. Our prophet married
both of these women. These two women are mentioned in the Qur’an [in Surat At-Tahrim and Al-
Ahzab] as “wives” of Rasulullah [Messenger of Allah].
Today, slavery has been completely abolished and traditions have been replaced by local and
universal law. Under today’s conditions, the concept of slavery must be interpreted to cover women
living in concentration camps, women’s shelter and social services and protection institutions.
304 See Footnote No. 77.
305 See Footnote No. 37.
306 See Footnote No. 27.
307 See Footnote No. 37.