SECTION 18: The Ka‘bah as the Spritual Centre
148 And everyone has a goal to which he turns (himself), so vie with one another in good works. Wherever you are, Allah will bring you all together. Surely Allah is Possessor of power over all things.
149 And from whatsoever place thou comest forth, turn thy face towards the Sacred Mosque. And surely it is the truth from thy Lord. And Allah is not heedless of what you do.
150 And from whatsoever place thou comest forth turn thy face towards the Sacred Mosque. And wherever you are turn your faces towards it, so that people may have no plea against you except such of them as are unjust — so fear them not and fear Me — and that I may complete My favour to you and that you may go aright.
151 Even as We have sent among you a Messenger from among you, who recites to you Our messages and purifies you and teaches you the Book and the Wisdom and teaches you that which you did not know.
152 Therefore glorify Me, I will make you eminent, and give thanks to Me and be not ungrateful to Me.
SECTION 19: Hard Trials necessary to establish Truth
153 O you who believe, seek assistance through patience and prayer; surely Allah is with the patient.
154 And speak not of those who are slain in Allah’s way as dead. Nay, (they are) alive, but you perceive not.
155 And We shall certainly try you with something of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits. And give good news to the patient,
156 Who, when a misfortune befalls them, say: Surely we are Allah’s, and to Him we shall return.
157 Those are they on whom are blessings and mercy from their Lord; and those are the followers of the right course.
158 The Safa and the Marwah are truly among the signs of Allah;so whoever makes a pilgrimage to the House or pays a visit (to it), there is no blame on him if he goes round them. And whoever does good spontaneously — surely Allah is Bountiful in rewarding, Knowing.
159 Those who conceal the clear proofs and the guidance that We revealed after We have made it clear in the Book for men, these it is whom Allah curses, and those who curse, curse them (too).
160 Except those who repent and amend and make manifest (the truth), these it is to whom I turn (mercifully); and I am the Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful.
161 Those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers, these it is on whom is the curse of Allah and the angels and men, of all (of them):
162 Abiding therein; their chastisement shall not be lightened nor shall they be given respite.
163 And your God is one God; there is no God but He! He is the Beneficent, the Merciful.
SECTION 20: Unity must prevail
164 In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, and the ships that run in the sea with that which profits men, and the water that Allah sends down from the sky, then gives life therewith to the earth after its death and spreads in it all (kinds of) animals, and the changing of the winds and the clouds made subservient between heaven and earth, there are surely signs for a people who understand.
165 Yet there are some men who take for themselves objects of worship besides Allah, whom they love as they should love Allah. And those who believe are stronger in (their) love for Allah. And O that the wrongdoers had seen, when they see the chastisement, that power is wholly Allah’s, and that Allah is Severe in chastising!
166 When those who were followed renounce those who followed (them), and they see the chastisement and their ties are cut asunder.
167 And those who followed will say: If we could but return, we would renounce them as they have renounced us. Thus will Allah show them their deeds to be intense regret to them, and they will not escape from the Fire.
SECTION 21: Prohibited Foods
168 O men, eat the lawful and good things from what is in the earth, and follow not the footsteps of the devil. Surely he is an open enemy to you.
169 He enjoins on you only evil and indecency, and that you speak against Allah what you know not.
170 And when it is said to them, Follow what Allah has revealed, they say: Nay, we follow that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even though their fathers had no sense at all, nor did they follow the right way.
171 And the parable of those who disbelieve is as the parable of one who calls out to that which hears no more than a call and a cry. Deaf, dumb, blind, so they have no sense.
172 O you who believe, eat of the good things that We have provided you with, and give thanks to Allah if He it is Whom you serve.
173 He has forbidden you only what dies of itself, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that over which any other (name) than (that of) Allah has been invoked. Then whoever is driven by necessity, not desiring, nor exceeding the limit, no sin is upon him. Surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
174 Those who conceal aught of the Book that Allah has revealed and take for it a small price, they eat nothing but fire into their bellies, and Allah will not speak to them on the day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them; and for them is a painful chastisement.
175 Those are they who buy error for guidance and chastisement for forgiveness; how bold they are to challenge the Fire!
176 That is because Allah has revealed the Book with truth. And surely those who disagree about the Book go far in opposition.
SECTION 22: Retaliation and Bequests
177 It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and the West, but righteous is the one who believes in Allah, and the Last Day, and the angels and the Bookand the prophets, and gives away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask and to set slaves free and keeps up prayer and pays the poor-rate; and the performers of their promise when they make a promise, and the patient in distress and affliction and in the time of conflict. These are they who are truthful; and these are they who keep their duty.
178 O you who believe, retaliation is prescribed for you in the matter of the slain: the free for the free, and the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. But if remission is made to one by his (aggrieved) brother, prosecution (for blood-wit) should be according to usage, and payment to him in a good manner. This is an alleviation from your Lord and a mercy. Whoever exceeds the limit after this, will have a painful chastisement.
179 And there is life for you in retaliation, O men of understanding, that you may guard yourselves.
180 It is prescribed for you, when death approaches one of you, if he leaves behind wealth for parents and near relatives, to make a bequest in a kindly manner; it is incumbent upon the dutiful.
181 Then whoever changes it after he has heard it, the sin of it is only upon those who change it. Surely Allah is Hearing, Knowing.
182 But if one fears a wrong or a sinful course on the part of the testator, and effects an agreement between the parties, there is no blame on him. Surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
SECTION 23: Fasting
183 O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard against evil.
184 For a certain number of days. But whoever among you is sick or on a journey, (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days. And those who find it extremely hard may effect redemption by feeding a poor man. So whoever does good spontaneously, it is better for him; and that you fast is better for you