The Quran
What the Quran says about...
Most people have only ever met the Quran in fragments chosen by someone with an agenda. Here are the passages people ask about, quoted properly and with their context attached. Read them and draw your own conclusions.
🕊️ Mercy & forgiveness
Mercy is the Quran's most insistent theme: it opens 113 of 114 chapters in the name of "the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful".
“Say: O My servants who have wronged themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
Quran 39:53
Addressed specifically to people drowning in their own guilt; often called the most hopeful verse in the Quran.
“My mercy encompasses all things.”
Quran 7:156
“Those who, when they commit an indecency or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins; and who forgives sins except Allah?”
Quran 3:135
“No blame upon you today; may Allah forgive you, and He is the most merciful of the merciful.”
Quran 12:92
Joseph forgiving the brothers who sold him into slavery.
🌸 Women
Read what the text itself says, then compare it with both the stereotypes and, where they fall short, with cultural practices.
“Whoever does righteousness, male or female, while being a believer, We will surely give them a good life, and We will surely reward them according to the best of what they used to do.”
Quran 16:97
“The submitting men and submitting women, the believing men and believing women, the devout men and devout women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women... Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.”
Quran 33:35
Revealed, tradition says, after Umm Salama asked why revelation addressed men; the verse answers with ten deliberate pairings.
“O mankind, be mindful of your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate, and dispersed from both of them many men and women.”
Quran 4:1
Men and women from one soul; no derivative or secondary creation.
“And among His signs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves, that you may find tranquillity in them, and He placed between you love and mercy.”
Quran 30:21
“The believing men and believing women are allies of one another: they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and establish prayer.”
Quran 9:71
🕊 War & peace
The Quran's combat verses arose during an actual war with Makkah, and they arrive fenced with conditions. Here they are with their fences intact.
“Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress; indeed, Allah does not love transgressors.”
Quran 2:190
The rule that governs the "slay them" verse immediately following it: defensive scope, no transgression.
“But if they cease, then indeed Allah is Forgiving, Merciful... if they cease, then there is to be no aggression except against wrongdoers.”
Quran 2:192-193
“And if they incline to peace, then incline to it, and rely upon Allah.”
Quran 8:61
“Whoever kills a soul, unless for a soul or for corruption in the land, it is as if he had slain mankind entirely; and whoever saves one, it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.”
Quran 5:32
“Allah does not forbid you from being righteous and just toward those who have not fought you because of religion or expelled you from your homes. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.”
Quran 60:8
The standing rule for relations with peaceful non-Muslims.
🤝 Other faiths
The Quran talks to and about Jews and Christians constantly; it is arguably the only world scripture that legislates respect for other revealed religions by name.
“There is no compulsion in religion; the right course has become clear from error.”
Quran 2:256
“Indeed, those who believed, and those who were Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians: whoever believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness will have their reward with their Lord; no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.”
Quran 2:62
“And do not argue with the People of the Book except in a way that is best... and say: We believe in what was revealed to us and revealed to you; our God and your God is one, and to Him we submit.”
Quran 29:46
“You will surely find the nearest of them in affection to the believers those who say: We are Christians. That is because among them are priests and monks, and they are not arrogant.”
Quran 5:82
“For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.”
Quran 109:6
⚖️ Justice
Justice in the Quran is owed even against yourself, your family, and your own community; there are no exemptions for people you like.
“O you who believe, be persistent in standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if against yourselves or parents and relatives, whether rich or poor.”
Quran 4:135
“Do not let hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.”
Quran 5:8
Justice owed even to enemies.
“Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence, and giving to relatives, and forbids indecency, wrong, and oppression.”
Quran 16:90
“Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due, and when you judge between people, to judge with justice.”
Quran 4:58
🤲 Wealth & the poor
The Quran treats poverty as everyone's legal problem: the poor own a share of the wealthy's money, and hoarding is condemned in fierce terms.
“And in their wealth is a recognised right for the one who asks and the one deprived.”
Quran 70:24-25
A right, not a kindness: the foundation of zakat.
“Have you seen the one who denies the Judgement? It is he who repulses the orphan and does not encourage feeding the poor.”
Quran 107:1-3
Neglecting the poor is treated as practical atheism, whatever one claims to believe.
“The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a grain that grows seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies for whom He wills.”
Quran 2:261
“So as for the orphan, do not oppress him; and as for the one who asks, do not repel him.”
Quran 93:9-10
🌿 Nature & creation
The Quran constantly points at the natural world as a book of signs, and casts humanity as steward, not owner.
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day are signs for those of understanding: who remember Allah standing and sitting and lying down, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth.”
Quran 3:190-191
“Do the disbelievers not see that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them, and We made from water every living thing? Will they not believe?”
Quran 21:30
“There is no creature on the earth nor bird flying with its wings but that they are communities like you.”
Quran 6:38
“And the heaven He raised, and He set the balance, that you not transgress in the balance. And establish weight in justice and do not fall short in the balance.”
Quran 55:7-9
Read today as the Quran's environmental charter: a cosmic balance humans must not wreck.
🌅 Hardship & hope
The verses Muslims actually reach for on the worst days.
“Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear.”
Quran 2:286
“Indeed, with hardship comes ease. Indeed, with hardship comes ease.”
Quran 94:5-6
Repeated verbatim; scholars note the Arabic implies one hardship flanked by two eases.
“We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and loss of wealth and lives and fruits; but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say: Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we return.”
Quran 2:155-156
“And whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make for him a way out, and provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah, He is sufficient for him.”
Quran 65:2-3
“Those who believe and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah; truly, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
Quran 13:28
Want to understand whole chapters rather than verses? Start with the short surahs, explained.