2.241 . For divorced women a provision in kindness : a duty for those who ward off ( evil ) .

2.242 . Thus Allah expoundeth unto you His revelations so that ye may understand .

2.243 . Bethink thee ( O Muhammad ) of those of old , who went forth from their habitations in their thousands , fearing death , and Allah said unto them : Die , and then He brought them back to life . Lo! Allah is a Lord of Kindness to mankind , but most of mankind give not thanks .

2.244 . Fight in the way of Allah , and know that Allah is Nearer , Knower .

2.245 . Who is it that will lend unto Allah a goodly loan , so that He may give it increase manifold? Allah straiteneth and enlargeth . Unto Him ye will return .

2.246 . Bethink thee of the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses , how they said unto a Prophet whom they had : Set up for us a King and we will fight in Allah ' s way . He said : Would ye then refrain from fighting if fighting were prescribed for you? They said : Why should we not fight in Allah ' s way when we have been driven from our dwellings with our children? Yet , when fighting was prescribed for them , they turned away , all save a few of them . Allah is Aware of evil doers .

2.247 . Their Prophet said unto them : Lo! Allah hath raised up Saul to be a king for you . They said : How can he have kingdom over us when we are more deserving of the kingdom than he is , since he hath not been given wealth enough? He said : Lo! Allah hath chosen him above you , and hath increased him abundantly in wisdom and stature . Allah bestoweth His sovereignty on whom He will . Allah is All Embracing , All Knowing .

2.248 . And their Prophet said unto them : Lo! the token of his kingdom is that there shall come unto you the ark wherein is peace of reassurance from your Lord , and a remnant of that which the house of Moses and the house of Aaron left behind , the angels bearing it . Lo! herein shall be a token for you if ( in truth ) ye are believers .

2.249 . And when Saul set out with the army , be said : Lo! Allah will try you by ( the ordeal of ) a river . Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof he is not of me , and whosoever tasteth it not he is of me , save him who taketh ( thereof ) in the hollow of his hand . But they drank thereof , all save a few of them . And after he had crossed ( the river ) , he and those who believed with him , they said : We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts . But those who knew that they would meet their Lord exclaimed : How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah ' s leave! Allah is with the steadfast .

2.250 . And when they went into the field against Goliath and his hosts they said : Our Lord! Bestow on us endurance , make our foothold sure , and give us help against the disbelieving folk .

2.251 . So they routed them by Allah ' s leave and David slew Goliath ; and Allah gave him the kingdom and wisdom , and taught him of that which He willeth . And if Allah had not repelled some men by others the earth would have been corrupted . But Allah is a Lord of Kindness to ( His ) creatures .

2.252 . These are the portents of Allah which We recite unto thee ( Muhammad ) with truth , and Lo! thou art of the number of ( Our ) messengers ;

2.253 . Of those messengers , some of whom We have caused to excel others , and of whom there are some unto whom Allah spake , while some of them He exalted ( above others ) in degree ; and We gave Jesus , son of Mary , clear proofs ( of Allah ' s sovereignty ) and We supported him with the holy Spirit . And if Allah had so willed it , those who followed after them would not have fought one with another after the clear proofs had come unto them . But they differed , some of them believing and some disbelieving . And if Allah had so willed it , they would not have fought one with another ; but Allah doeth what He will .

2.254 . O ye who believe! Spend of that wherewith We have provided you ere a day come when there will be no trafficking , nor friendship , nor intercession . The disbelievers , they are the wrong doers .

2.255 . Allah! There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).

2.256 . There is no compulsion in religion . The right direction is henceforth distinct from error . And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm hand hold which will never break . Allah is Hearer , Knower .

2.257 . Allah is-the Protecting Friend of those who believe . He bringeth them out of darkness into light . As for those who disbelieve , their patrons are false deities . They bring them out of light into darkness . Such are rightful owners of the Fire . They will abide therein .

2.258 . Bethink thee of him who had an argument with Abraham about his Lord , because Allah had given him the kingdom ; how , when Abraham said : My Lord is He who giveth life and causeth death , he answered : I give life and cause death . Abraham said : Lo! Allah causeth the sun to rise in the East , so do thou cause it to come up from the West . Thus was the disbeliever abashed . And Allah guideth not wrong doing folk .

2.259 . Or ( bethink thee of ) the like of him who , passing by a township which had fallen into utter ruin , exclaimed : How shall Allah give this township life after its death? And Allah made him die a hundred years , then brought him back to life . He said : How long hast thou tarried? ( The man ) said : I have tarried a day or part of a day . ( He ) said : Nay , but thou hast tarried for a hundred years . Just look at thy food and drink which have rotted! Look at thine ass! And , that We may make thee a token unto mankind , look at the bones , how We adjust them and then cover them with flesh! And when ( the matter ) became clear unto him , he said : I know now that Allah is Able to do all things .

2.260 . And when Abraham said ( unto his Lord ) : My lord! Show me how Thou givest life to the dead , He said : Dost thou not believe? Abraham said : Yea , but ( I ask ) in order that my heart may be at ease . ( His Lord ) said : Take four of the birds and cause them to incline unto thee , then place a part of them on each hill , then call them , they will come to thee in haste . And know that Allah is Mighty , Wise .