62al-Jumu‘ahThe Jumu‘ah Congregationسُورَةُ الجمعة

[Continuously] all that are in the heavens and all who are on earth are extolling Allah, the Supreme Sovereign, the Holy, the Honorably Adored, the Especially Wise!

It is He who sent to the unscriptured people an apostle from among them, [vocally and practically] arranging for them His illustrations of power and raising them [in significance] and imparting to them the Scripture and wisdom — even though they had been in times past [living] in manifest incongruity —

And [the Prophet and this message shall continue this sway] upon others [in future generations] befitting them [the first generation]: for He is the Respectably Adored, the Worthily Wise.

That [type of guidance] is Allah’s bounty: He grants it to anyone who decides [to obtain it] — for unto Allah belong bounties galore.

Those who were held responsible for the Torah [and its commandments and instructions] and then did not honor/satisfy that responsibility are analogous to an ass that carries illustrative [and helpful] books [but cannot benefit from them]. Dire is the analogy of people who take issue with Allah’s illustration of power and authority — for Allah does not guide people who do injustice [to themselves].

Say, “O you who [purport to] belong to the Jewish faith! If you claim that you are indeed God’s favored to the exclusion of [other] people then yearn for death — if you are true [to what you say]!”

But they will never yearn for it because of what their hands have set forth [in this world]: and Allah is very well-versed with wrongdoing folk.

Say, “Behold, that very death from which you are fleeing is certainly going to catch up with you — and then you will be referred to He who knows the world beyond beyond and the world here and now, whereupon He will tell you [exactly] what you had been saying and doing [while you were in your worldly life].

O you who are faithfully committed [to Allah]! When the call for prayer is sounded on the day of Jumu‘ah, make an effort to go to [a congregation of] God-consciousness and part with marketplace [and financial transaction] activities: such is for your own good, if only you knew.

And when the prayer is concluded, then you may disperse freely into the [“to-ing and fro- ing” of] earth, and [in doing so] seek Allah’s bounty; but stay conscious of Allah profusely, so that you may become efficacious.

Yet [there are some who] when they ogle a business opportunity or entertainment, they decidedly scatter toward it and leave you [O Muhammad] to carry on [with your sermon]. Say, “What Allah has is better than entertainment and business opportunity! And Allah is the best of providers!”