Juz 23 — Part 23 of 30

Wa maaa anzalnaa 'alaa qawmihee mim ba'dihee min jundim minas-samaaa'i wa maa kunnaa munzileen

And after that, no host out of heaven did We send down against his people, nor did We need to send down any:

In kaanat illaa saihatanw waahidatan fa-izaa hum khaamidoon

nothing was [needed] but one single blast [of Our punishment] - and lo! they became as still and silent as ashes.

Yaa hasratan 'alal 'ibaad; maa yaateehim mir Rasoolin illaa kaanoo bihee yastahzi 'oon

OH, THE REGRETS that [most] human beings will have to bear! Never has an apostle come to them without their deriding him!

Alam yaraw kam ahlak naa qablahum minal qurooni annahum ilaihim laa yarji'oon

Are they not aware of how many a generation We have destroyed before their time, [and] that those [that have perished] will never return to them,

Wa in kullul lammaa jamee'ul-ladainaa muhdaroon

and [that] all of them, all together, will [in the end] before Us be arraigned?

Wa Aayatul lahumul ardul maitatu ahyainaahaa wa akhrajnaa minhaa habban faminhu yaakuloon

And [yet,] they have a sign [of Our power to create and to resurrect] in the lifeless earth which We make alive, and out of which We bring forth grain, whereof they may eat;

Wa ja'alnaa feehaa jannaatim min nakheelinw wa a'naabinw wa fajjarnaa feeha minal 'uyoon

and [how] We make gardens of date-palms and vines [grow] thereon, and cause springs to gush [forth] within it,

Liyaakuloo min samarihee wa maa 'amilat-hu aideehim; afalaa yashkuroon

so that they may eat of the fruit thereof, though it was not their hands that made it. Will they not, then, be grateful?

Subhaanal lazee khalaqal azwaaja kullahaa mimmaa tumbitul ardu wa min anfusihim wa mimmaa laa ya'lamoon

Limitless in His glory is He who has created opposites in whatever the earth produces, and in men’s own selves, and in that of which [as yet] they have no knowledge.

Wa Aayatul lahumul lailu naslakhu minhun nahaara fa-izaa hum muzlimoon

And [of Our sway over all that exists] they have a sign in the night: We withdraw from it the [light of] day - and lo! they are in darkness.

Wash-shamsu tajree limustaqarril lahaa; zaalika taqdeerul 'Azeezil Aleem

And [they have a sign in] the sun: it runs in an orbit of its own [and] that is laid down by the will of the Almighty, the All-Knowing;

Walqamara qaddarnaahu manaazila hattaa 'aada kal'ur joonil qadeem

and [in] the moon, for which We have determined phases [which it must traverse] till it becomes like an old date-stalk, dried-up and curved:

Lash shamsu yambaghee lahaaa an tudrikal qamara wa lal lailu saabiqun nahaar; wa kullun fee falaki yasbahoon

[and] neither may the sun overtake the moon, nor can the night usurp the time of day, since all of them float through space [in accordance with Our laws].

Wa Aayatul lahum annaa hamalnaa zurriyatahum fil fulkil mashhoon

And [it ought to be] a sign for them that We bear their offspring [over the seas] in laden ships,

Wa khalaqnaa lahum mim-mislihee maa yarkaboon

and [that] We create for them things of a similar kind, on which they may embark [in their travels];

Wa in nashaa nughriqhum falaa sareekha lahum wa laa hum yunqazoon

and [that,] if such be Our will, We may cause them to drown, with none to respond to their cry for help: and [then] they cannot be saved,

Illaa rahmatam minnaa wa mataa'an ilaa heen

unless it be by an act of mercy from Us and a grant of life for a [further span of] time.

Wa izaa qeela lahumuttaqoo maa baina aideekum wa maa khalfakum la'allakum turhamoon

And [yet,] when they are told, “Beware of [God’s insight into] all that lies open before you and all that is hidden from you, so that you might be graced with His mercy,” [most men choose to remain deaf;]

Wa maa taateehim min aayatim min ayataati Rabbihim illaa kaanoo 'anhaa mu'rideen

and no message of their Sustainer s messages ever reaches them without their turning away from it.

Wa izaa qeela lahum anfiqoo mimmaa razaqakumul laahu qaalal lazeena kafaroo lillazeena aamanooo anut'imu mal-law yashaaa'ul laahu at'amahooo in antum illaa fee dalaalim mubeen

Thus, when they are told, “Spend on others out of what God has provided for you as sus­tenance,” those who are bent on denying the truth say unto those who believe, “Shall we feed anyone whom, if [your] God had so willed, He could have fed [Himself]? Clearly, you are but lost in error!”

Wa yaqooloona mataa haazal wa'du in kuntum saadiqeen

And they add, “When is this promise [of resurrection] to be fulfilled? [Answer this] if you are men of truth!”

Maa yanzuroona illaa saihatanw waahidatan taa khuzuhum wa hum yakhissimoon

[And they are unaware that] nothing awaits them beyond a single blast [of God’s punishment], which will overtake them while they are still arguing - [against resurrection]:

Falaa yastatee'oona taw siyatanw-wa laaa ilaaa ahlihim yarji'oon

and so [sudden will be their end that] no testament will they be able to make, - nor to their own people will they return!

Wa nufikha fis-soori faizaa hum minal ajdaasi ilaa Rabbihim yansiloon

And [then] the trumpet [of resurrection] will be blown - and lo! out of their graves towards their Sustainer will they all rush forth!

Qaaloo yaa wailanaa mam ba'asanaa mim marqadinaa; haaza maa wa'adar Rahmanu wa sadaqal mursaloon

They will say: “Oh, woe unto us! Who has roused us from our sleep [of death]?” [Whereupon they will be told:] “This is what the Most Gracious has promised! And His message-bearers spoke the truth!”

In kaanat illaa saihatanw waahidatan fa-izaa hum jamee'ul ladainaa muhdaroon

Nothing will there have been but one single blast - and lo! before Us will all of them be arraigned [and be told]:

Fal-Yawma laa tuzlamu nafsun shai'anw-wa laa tujzawna illaa maa kuntum ta'maloon

“Today, then, no human being shall be wronged in the least, nor shalt you be requited for aught but what you were doing [on earth].

Inna Ashaabal jannatil Yawma fee shughulin faakihoon

“Behold, those who are destined for paradise shall today have joy in whatever they do:

Hum wa azwaajuhum fee zilaalin 'alal araaa'iki muttaki'oon

in happiness will they and their spouses on couches recline;

Lahum feehaa faakiha tunw-wa lahum maa yadda'oon

[only] delight will there be for them, and theirs shall be all that they could ask for:

Salaamun qawlam mir Rabbir Raheem

peace and fulfillment through the word of a Sustainer who dispenses all grace.

Wamtaazul Yawma ayyuhal mujrimoon

“But stand aside today, O you who were lost in sin!

Alam a'had ilaikum yaa Baneee Aadama al-laa ta'budush Shaitaana innahoo lakum 'aduwwum mubeen

Did I not enjoin on you, O you children of Adam, that you should not worship Satan – since, verily, he is your open foe

Wa ani'budoonee; haazaa Siraatum Mustaqeem

and that you should worship Me [alone]? This would have been a straight way!

Wa laqad adalla minkum jibillan kaseeraa; afalam takoonoo ta'qiloon

And [as for Satan -] he had already led astray a great many of you: could you not, then, use your reason?

Haazihee Jahannamul latee kuntum too'adoon

“This, then, is the hell of which you were warned again and again:

Islawhal Yawma bimaa kuntum takfuroon

endure it today as an outcome of your persistent denial of the truth!”

Al-Yawma nakhtimu 'alaaa afwaahihim wa tukallimunaaa aideehim wa tashhadu arjuluhum bimaa kaanoo yaksiboon

On that Day We shall set a seal on their mouths but their hands will speak unto Us, and their feet will bear witness to whatever they have earned [in life].

Wa law nashaaa'u lata masna 'alaaa aiyunihim fasta baqus-siraata fa-annaa yubsiroon

NOW HAD IT BEEN Our will [that men should not be able to discern between right and wrong], We could surely have deprived them of their sight, so that they would stray forever from the [right] way: for how could they have had insight [into what is true]?

Wa law nashaaa'u lamasakhnaahum 'alaa makaanatihim famas-tataa'oo mudiyyanw-wa laa yarji'oon

And had it been Our will [that they should not be free to choose between right and wrong], We could surely have given them a different nature [and created them as beings rooted] in their places, so that they would not be able to move forward, and could not turn back.]

Wa man nu 'ammirhu nunakkishu fil-khalq; afalaa ya'qiloon

But [let them always remember that] if We lengthen a human being’s days, We also cause him to decline in his powers [when he grows old]: will they not, then, use their reason?

Wa maa 'allamnaahush shi'ra wa maa yambaghee lah; in huwa illaa zikrunw-wa Qur-aanum mubeen

AND [thus it is:] We have not imparted to this [Prophet the gift of] poetry, nor would [poetry] have suited this [message]: it is but a reminder and a [divine] discourse, clear in itself and clearly showing the truth,

Liyunzira man kaana haiyanw-wa yahiqqal qawlu 'alal-kaafireen

to the end that it may warn everyone who is alive [of heart], and that the word [of God] may bear witness against all who deny the truth.

Awalam yaraw annaa khalaqnaa lahum mimmaa 'amilat aideenaaa an'aaman fahum lahaa maalikoon

Are they, then, not aware that it is for them that We have created, among all the things which Our hands have wrought, the domestic animals of which they are [now] masters? –

Wa zallalnaahaa lahum faminhaa rakoobuhum wa minhaa yaakuloon

and that We have subjected them to men’s will, so that some of them they may use for riding and of some they may eat,

Wa lahum feehaa manaa fi'u wa mashaarib; afalaa yashkuroon

and may have [yet other] benefits from them, and [milk] to drink? Will they not, then, be grateful? (

Wattakhazoo min doonil laahi aalihatal la'allahum yunsaroon

But [nay,] they take to worshipping deities other than God, [hoping] to be succoured [by them, and not knowing that]

Laa yastatee'oona nasrahum wa hum lahum jundum muhdaroon

they are unable to succour their devotees, even though to them they may [appear to] be hosts drawn up [for succour].

Falaa yahzunka qawluhum; innaa na'lamu maa yusirroona wa maa yu'linoon

However, be not grieved by the sayings of those [who deny the truth]: verily, We know all that they keep secret as well as all that they bring into the open.

Awalam yaral insaanu annaa khalaqnaahu min nutfatin fa-izaa huwa khaseemum mubeen

IS MAN, then, not aware that it is We who create him out of a [mere] drop of sperm - whereupon, lo! he shows himself endowed with the power to think and to argue?

Wa daraba lanaa maslanw-wa nasiya khalqahoo qaala mai-yuhyil'izaama wa hiya rameem

And [now] he [argues about Us, and] thinks of Us in terms of comparison, and is oblivious of how he himself was created! [And so] he says, “Who could give life to bones that have crumbled to dust?”

Qul yuh yeehal lazeee ansha ahaaa awwala marrah; wa Huwa bikulli khalqin 'Aleem

Say: “He who brought them into being in the first instance will give them life [once again], seeing that He has full knowledge of every act of creation:

Allazee ja'ala lakum minash shajaril akhdari naaran fa-izaaa antum minhu tooqidoon

He who produces for you fire out of the green tree, so that, lo! you kindle [your fires] therewith.”

Awa laisal lazee khalaqas samaawaati wal arda biqaadirin 'alaaa ai-yakhluqa mislahum; balaa wa Huwal Khallaaqul 'Aleem

Is, then, He who has created the heavens and the earth not able to create [anew] the like of those [who have died]? Yea, indeed - for He alone is the all-knowing Crea­tor:

Innamaa amruhooo izaaa araada shai'an ai-yaqoola lahoo kun fa-yakoon

His Being alone is such that when He wills a thing to be, He but says unto it, “Be” — and it is.

Fa Subhaanal lazee biyadihee malakootu kulli shai-inw-wa ilaihi turja'oon

Limitless, then, in His glory is He in whose hand rests the mighty dominion over all things; and unto Him you all will be brought back!

Wassaaaffaati saffaa

CONSIDER these [messages] ranged in serried ranks,

Fazzaajiraati zajraa

and restraining [from evil] by a call to restraint,

Fattaaliyaati Zikra

and conveying [to all the world] a reminder:

Inna Illaahakum la Waahid

Verily, most surely, your God is One –

Rabbus samaawaati wal ardi wa maa bainahumaa wa Rabbul mashaariq

the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and of all that is between them, and the Sustainer of all the points of sunrise!

Innaa zaiyannas samaaa 'ad dunyaa bizeenatinil kawaakib

Behold, We have adorned the skies nearest to the earth with the beauty of stars,

Wa hifzam min kulli Shaitaanim maarid

and have made them secure against every rebellious, satanic force,

Laa yassamma 'oona ilal mala il a'alaa wa yuqzafoona min kulli jaanib

[so that] they [who seek to learn the unknowable] should not be able to overhear the host on high, but shall be repelled from all sides,

Duhooranw wa lahum 'azaabunw waasib

cast out [from all grace], with lasting suffering in store for them [in the life to come];

Illaa man khatifal khatfata fa atba'ahoo shihaabun saaqib

but if anyone does succeed in snatching a glimpse [of such knowledge], he is [henceforth] pursued by a piercing flame.

Fastaftihim ahum ashaddu khalqan am man khalaqnaa; innaa khalaqnaahum min teenil laazib

AND NOW ask those [who deny the truth] to enlight­en thee: Were they more difficult to create than all those [untold marvels] that We have created? - for, behold, them have We created out of [mere] clay commingled with water!

Bal'ajibta wa yaskharoon

Nay, but whereas thou dost marvel, they [only] scoff;

Wa izaa zukkiroo laa yazkuroon

and when they are reminded [of the truth], they refuse to take it to heart;

Wa izaa ra aw Aayatinw yastaskhiroon

and when they become aware of a [divine] message, they turn it to ridicule

Wa qaalooo in haazaa illaa sihrum mubeen

and say: “This is clearly nothing but [a mortal’s] spellbinding eloquence!

'A-izaa mitnaa wa kunnaa turaabanw wa 'izaaman 'ainnaa lamab'oosoon

Why - after we have died and become mere dust and bones, shall we, forsooth, be raised from the dead? –

Awa aabaa'unal awwaloon

and perhaps also our forebears of old?”

Qul na'am wa antum daakhiroon

Say: “Yea, indeed - and most abject will you then be!” –

Fa innamaa hiya zajra tunw waahidatun fa izaa hum yanzuroon

for that [resurrection which they deride] will be [upon them of a sudden, as if it were] but a single accusing cry - and then, lo! they will begin to see [the truth]

Qa qaaloo yaa wailanaa haazaa Yawmud-Deen

and will say: “Oh, woe unto us! This is the Day of Judgment!”

Haazaa Yawmul Faslil lazee kuntum bihee tukaziboon

[And they will be told:] “This is the Day of Distinction [between the true and the false - the Day] which you were wont to call a lie!”

Uhshurul lazeena zalamoo wa azwaajahum wa maa kaanoo ya'budoon

[And God will thus command:] “Assemble all those who were bent on evildoing, together with others of their ilk and [with] all that they were wont to worship

Min doonil laahi fahdoohum ilaa siraatil Jaheem

instead of God, and lead them all onto the way to the blazing fire,

Wa qifoohum innahum mas'ooloon

and halt them [there]!” [And then,] behold, they shall be asked,

Maa lakum laa tanaasaroon

“How is it that [now] you cannot succour one another?”

Bal humul Yawma mustaslimoon

Nay, but on that Day they would willingly surrender [to God];

Wa aqbala ba'duhum 'alaa ba'diny yatasaaa'aloon

but [since it will be too late,] they will turn upon one another, demanding of each other [to relieve them of the burden of their past sins].

Qaalooo innakum kuntum taatoonanaa 'anil yameen

Some [of them] will say: “Behold, you were wont to approach us [deceptively] from the right!”

Qaaloo bal lam takoonoo mu'mineen

[To which] the others will reply: “Nay, you yourselves were bereft of all faith!

Wa maa kaana lanaa 'alaikum min sultaanim bal kuntum qawman taagheen

Moreover, we had no power at all over you: nay, you were people filled with overweening arrogance!

Fahaqqa 'alainaa qawlu Rabbinaaa innaa lazaaa'iqoon

But now our Sustainer’s word has come true against us [as well]: verily, we are bound to taste [the fruit of our sins].

Fa aghwainaakum innaa kunnaa ghaaween

So then, [if it be true that] we have caused you to err grievously - behold, we ourselves had been lost in grievous error!”

Fa innahum Yawma'izin fil'azaabi mushtarikoon

And, verily, on that Day they all will share in their common suffering.

Innaa kazaalika naf'alu bil mujrimeen

Verily, thus shall We deal with all who were lost in sin:

Innahum kaanooo izaa qeela lahum laaa ilaaha illal laahu yastakbiroon

for, behold, whenever they were told, “There is no deity save God,” they would glory in their arrogance

Wa yaqooloona a'innaa lataarikooo aalihatinaa lishaa'irim majnoon

and would say, “Shall we, then, give up our deities at the bidding of a mad poet?”

bal jaaa'a bilhaqqi wa saddaqal mursaleen

Nay, but he [whom you call a mad poet] has brought the truth; and he confirms the truth of [what the earlier of God’s] message-bearers [have taught].

Innakum lazaaa'iqul 'azaabil aleem

Behold, you will indeed taste grievous suffering [in the life to come],

Wa maa tujzawna illaa maa kuntum ta'maloon

although you shall not be requited for aught but what you were wont to do.

Illaa 'ibaadal laahil mukhlaseen

Not so, however, God’s true servants:

Ulaaa'ika lahum rizqum ma'loom

[in the hereafter,] theirs shall be a sustenance which they will recognize

Fa waakihu wa hum mukramoon

as the fruits [of their life on earth]; and honoured shall they be

Fee jannaatin Na'eem

in gardens of bliss,

'Alaa sururim mutaqaa bileen

facing one another [in love] upon thrones of happiness.

Yutaafu 'alaihim bikaasim mim ma'een

A cup will be passed round among them [with a drink] from unsullied springs,

Baidaaa'a laz zatil lish shaaribeen

clear, delightful to those who drink it:

Laa feehaa ghawlunw wa laa hum 'anhaa yunzafoon

no headiness will be in it, and they will not get drunk thereon.

Wa 'indahum qaasiraatut tarfi 'een

And with them will be mates of modest gaze, most beautiful of eye,

Ka annahunna baidum maknoon

[as free of faults] as if they were hidden [ostrich] eggs.

Fa aqbala ba'duhum 'alaa badiny yatasaaa 'aloon

And they will all turn to one another, asking each other [about their past lives].

Qaala qaaa'ilum minhum innee kaana lee qareen

One of them speaks thus: “Behold, I had [on earth] a close companion

Yaqoolu a'innnaka laminal musaddiqeen

who was wont to ask [me], ‘Why - art thou really one of those who believe it to be true

'A-izaa mitnaa wa kunnaa turaabanw wa 'izaaman 'ainnaa lamadeenoon

[that] after we have died and become mere dust and bones we shall, forsooth, be brought to judgment?”’

Qaala hal antum muttali'oon

[And] he adds: “Would you like to look [and see him]?” –

Fattala'a fara aahu fee sawaaa'il Jaheem

and then he looks and sees that [companion of his] in the midst of the blazing fire,

Qaala tallaahi in kitta laturdeen

and says: “By God! Verily, thou hast almost destroyed me [too, O my erstwhile companion]

Wa law laa ni'matu Rabbee lakuntu minal muhdareen

for had it not been for my Sustainer’s favour, I would surely be [now] among those who are given over [to suffering]!

Afamaa nahnu bimaiyiteen

But then, [O my friends in paradise,] is it [really] so that we are not to die

Illa mawtatanal oola wa maa nahnu bimu'azzabeen

[again,] beyond our previous death, and that we shall never [again] be made to suffer?

Inna haazaa falya'ma lil'aamiloon

Verily, this - this indeed - is the triumph supreme!”

Limisli haaza falya'ma lil 'aamiloon

For the like of this, then, let them labour, those who labour [in God’s way]!

Azaalika khairun nuzulan am shajaratuz Zaqqom

Is such [a paradise] the better welcome - or the [hellish] tree of deadly fruit?

Innaa ja'alnaahaa fitnatal lizzaalimeen

Verily, We have caused it to be a trial for evildoers:

Innahaa shajaratun takhruju feee aslil Jaheem

for, behold, it is a tree that grows in the very heart of the blazing fire [of hell],

Tal'uhaa ka annahoo ru'oosush Shayaateen

its fruit [as repulsive] as satans’ heads;

Fa innahum la aakiloona minhaa famaali'oona minhal butoon

and they [who are lost in evil] are indeed bound to eat thereof, and to fill their bellies therewith.

Summa inna lahum 'alaihaa lashawbam min hameem

And, behold, above all this they will be confounded with burning des­pair!

Summa inna marji'ahum la ilal Jaheem

And once again: Verily, the blazing fire is their ultimate goal –

Innahum alfaw aabaaa'ahum daaalleen

for, behold, they found their forebears on a wrong way,

Fahum 'alaa aasaarihim yuhra'oon

and [now] they make haste to follow in their footsteps!

Wa laqad dalla qablahum aksarul awwaleen

Thus, indeed, most of the people of old went astray before them,

Wa laqad arsalnaa feehim munzireen

although, verily, We had sent warners unto them:

Fanzur kaifa kaana 'aaqibatul munzareen

and behold what happened in the end to those that had been warned [to no avail]!

Illaa 'ibaadal laahil mukhlaseen

EXCEPT for God’s true servants, [most people are apt to go astray.]

Wa laqad naadaanaa Noohun falani'mal mujeeboon

And, indeed, [it was for this reason that] Noah cried unto Us - and how excellent was Our response:

Wa jajainaahu wa ahlahoo minal karbil 'azeem

for We saved him and his household from that awesome calamity,

Wa ja'alnaa zurriyyatahoo hummul baaqeen

and caused his offspring to endure [on earth];

Wa taraknaa 'alaihi fil aakhireen

and We left him thus to be remembered among later generations:

Salaamun 'alaa Noohin fil 'aalameen

“Peace be upon Noah throughout all the worlds!”

Innaa kazaalika najzil muhsineen

Verily, thus do We reward the doers of good –

Innahoo min 'ibaadinal mu'mineen

for he was truly one of our believing servants:

Summa aghraqnal aakhareen

[and so We saved him and those who followed him] and then We caused the others to drown.

Wa ina min shee'atihee la Ibraaheem

AND, BEHOLD, of his persuasion was Abraham, too,

Iz jaaa'a Rabbahoo bi qalbin saleem

when he turned to his Sustainer with a heart free of evil,

Iz qaala li abeehi wa qawmihee maazaa ta'budoon

and [thus] spoke to his father and his people: “What is it that you worship?

A'ifkan aalihatan doonal laahi tureedoon

Do you want [to bow down before] a lie - [before] deities other than God?

Famaa zannukum bi Rabbil'aalameen

What, then, do you think of the Sustainer of all the worlds?”

Fanazara nazratan finnujoom

Then he cast a glance at the stars,

Faqaala inee saqeem

and said, “Verily, I am sick [at heart]!”

Fatawallaw 'anhu mudbireen

and at that they turned their backs on him and went away.

Faraagha ilaaa aalihatihim faqaala alaa taakuloon

Thereupon he approached their gods stealthily and said, “What! You do not eat [of the offerings placed before you]?

Maa lakum laa tantiqoon

What is amiss with you that you do not speak?”

Faraagha 'alaihim darbam bilyameen

And then he fell upon them, smiting them with his right hand.

Fa aqbalooo ilaihi yaziffoon

[But] then the others came towards him hur­riedly [and accused him of his deed].

Qaala ata'budoona maa tanhitoon

He answered: “Do you worship something that you [yourselves] have carved,

Wallaahu khalaqakum wa maa ta'maloon

the while it is God who has created you and all your handiwork?”

Qaalub noo lahoo bun yaanan fa alqoohu fil jaheem

They exclaimed: “Build a pyre for him, and cast him into the blazing fire!”

Fa araadoo bihee kaidan faja 'alnaahumul asfaleen

But whereas they sought to do evil unto him, We [frustrated their designs, and thus] brought them low?

Wa qaala innee zaahibun ilaa Rabbee sa yahdeen

And [Abraham] said: “Verily, I shall [leave this land and] go wherever my Sustainer will guide me!”

Rabbi hab lee minas saaliheen

[And he prayed:] “O my Sustainer! Bestow upon me the gift of [a son who shall be] one of the righteous!” –

Fabashsharnaahu bighulaamin haleem

whereupon We gave him the glad tiding of a boy-child gentle [like himself]?

Falamma balagha ma'a hus sa'ya qaala yaa buniya inneee araa fil manaami anneee azbahuka fanzur maazaa taraa; qaala yaaa abatif 'al maa tu'maru satajidunee in shaaa'allaahu minas saabireen

And [one day,] when [the child] had become old enough to share in his [father’s] endeavours, the latter said: “O my dear son! I have seen in a dream that I should sacrifice thee: consider, then, what would be thy view!” [Ishmael] answered: “O my father! Do as thou art bidden: thou wilt find me, if God so wills, among those who are patient in adversity!”

Falammaaa aslamaa wa tallahoo liljabeen

But as soon as the two had surrendered themselves to [what they thought to be] the will of God, and [Abraham] had laid him down on his face,

Wa naadainaahu ai yaaaa Ibraheem

We called out to him: “O Abraham,

Qad saddaqtar ru'yaa; innaa kazaalika najzil muhsineen

thou hast already fulfilled [the purpose of] that dream- vision!” Thus, verily, do We reward the doers of good:

Inna haazaa lahuwal balaaa'ul mubeen

for, behold, all this was indeed a trial, clear in itself.

Wa fadainaahu bizibhin 'azeem

And We ransomed him with a tremendous sacrifice,

Wa taraknaa 'alaihi fil aakhireen

and left him thus to be remembered among later generations:

Salaamun 'alaaa Ibraaheem

“Peace be upon Abraham!”

Kazaalika najzil muhsineen

Thus do We reward the doers of good –

Innahoo min 'ibaadinal mu'mineen

for he was truly one of our believing servants.

Wa bashsharnaahu bi Ishaaqa Nabiyayam minas saaliheen

And [in time] We gave him the glad tiding of Isaac, [who, too, would be] a prophet, one of the righteous;

Wa baaraknaa 'alaihi wa 'alaaa Ishaaq; wa min zurriyya tihimaa muhsinunw wa zaalimul linafshihee mubeen

and We blessed him and Isaac: but among the offspring of these two there were [des­tined] to be both doers of good and such as would glaringly sin against themselves.

Wa laqad mananna alaa Moosaa wa Haaroon

THUS, INDEED, did We bestow Our favour upon Moses and Aaron;

Wa najjainaahumaa wa qawmahumaa minal karbil 'azeem

and We saved them and their people from the awesome calamity [of bondage],

Wa nasarnaahum fakaanoo humul ghaalibeen

and succoured them, so that [in the end] it was they who achieved victory.

Wa aatainaahumal Kitaabal mustabeen

And We gave them the divine writ that made [right and wrong] distinct,

Wa hadainaahumus Siraatal Mustaqeem

and guided them the straight way,

Wa taraknaa 'alaihimaa fil aakhireen

and left them thus to be remem­bered among later generations:

Salaamun 'alaa Moosaa wa Haaroon

“Peace be upon Moses and Aaron!”

Innaa kazaalika najzil muhsineen

Thus do We reward the doers of good –

Innahumaa min 'ibaadinal mu'mineen

for those two were truly among Our believing ser­vants.

Wa inna Ilyaasa laminal mursaleen

AND, BEHOLD, Elijah [too] was indeed one of Our message-bearers

Iz qaala liqawmiheee alaa tattaqoon

when he spoke [thus] to his people: “Will you not remain conscious of God?

Atad'oona Ba'lanw wa tazaroona ahsanal khaaliqeen

Will you invoke Baal and forsake [God,] the best of artisans -

Allaaha Rabbakum wa Rabba aabaaa'ikumul awwaleen

God, your Sustainer and the Sustainer of your forebears of old?”

Fakazzaboohu fa inna hum lamuhdaroon

But they gave him the lie: and therefore they will most surely be arraigned [on Judgment Day],

Illaa 'ibaadal laahil mukhlaseen

excepting only [those who were] God’s true servants;

Wa taraknaa 'alaihi fil aakhireen

and him We left thus to be remem­bered among later generations:

Salaamun 'alaaa Ilyaaseen

“Peace be upon Elijah and his followers!”

Innaa kazaalika najzil muhsineen

Verily, thus do We reward the doers of good –

Innahoo min 'ibaadinal mu'mineen

for he was truly one of Our believing servants!

Wa inna Lootal laminal mursaleen

AND, BEHOLD, Lot was indeed one of Our mes­sage-bearers;

Iz najjainaahu wa ahlahooo ajma'een

[and so,] when [We decreed the doom of his sinful town,] We saved him and his household,

Illaa 'ajoozan fil ghaabireen

except an old woman who was among those that stayed behind;

Summa dammarnal aakhareen

and then We utterly destroyed the others:

Wa innakum latamurroona 'alaihim musbiheen

and, verily, [to this day] you pass by the remnants of their dwellings at morning-time

Wa billail; afalaa ta'qiloon

and by night. Will you not, then, use your reason?

Wa inna Yoonusa laminal mursaleen

AND, BEHOLD, Jonah was indeed one of Our mes­sage-bearers

Iz abaqa ilal fulkil mash hoon

when he fled like a runaway slave onto a laden ship.

Fasaahama fakaana minal mudhadeen

And then they cast lots, and he was the one who lost;

Faltaqamahul hootu wa huwa muleem

[and they cast him into the sea,] whereupon the great fish swallowed him, for he had been blameworthy.

Falaw laaa annahoo kaana minal musabbiheen

And had he not been of those who [even in the deep darkness of their distress are able to] extol God’s limitless glory,

Lalabisa fee batniheee ilaa Yawmi yub'asoon

he would indeed have remained in its belly till the Day when all shall be raised from the dead:

Fanabaznaahu bil'araaa'i wa huwa saqeem

but We caused him to be cast forth on a desert shore, sick [at heart] as he was,

Wa ambatnaa 'alaihi shajaratam mai yaqteen

and caused a creeping plant to grow over him [out of the barren soil].

Wa arsalnaahu ilaa mi'ati alfin aw yazeedoon

And [then] We sent him [once again] to [his people,] a hundred thousand [souls] or more:

Fa aamanoo famatta' naahum ilaa heen

and [this time] they believed [in him] and so We allowed them to enjoy their life during the time allotted to them?

Fastaftihim ali Rabbikal banaatu wa lahumul banoon

AND NOW ask them to enlighten thee: Has thy Sustainer daughters, whereas they would have [only] sons?

Am khalaqnal malaaa'i kata inaasanw wa hm shaahidoon

- or is it that We have created the angels female, and they [who believe them to be divine] have witnessed [that act of creation]?

Alaaa innahum min ifkihim la yaqooloon

Oh, verily, it is out of their own [inclination to] falsehood that some people assert,

Waladal laahu wa innhum lakaaziboon

“God has begotten [a son]”; and, verily, they are lying [too, when they say],

Astafal banaati 'alal baneen

“He has chosen daughters in preference to sons”!

Maa lakum kaifa tahkumoon

What is amiss with you and your judgment?

Afalaa tazakkaroon

Will you not, then, bethink yourselves?

Am lakum sultaanum mubeen

Or have you, perchance, a clear evidence [for your assertions]?

Faatoo bi Kitaabikum in kuntum saadiqeen

Produce, then, that divine writ of yours, if you are speaking the truth!

Wa ja'aloo bainahoo wa bainal jinnati nasabaa; wa laqad 'alimatil jinnatu innahum lamuhdaroon

And some people have invented a kinship between Him and all manner of invisible forces although [even] these invisible forces know well that, verily, they [who thus blaspheme against God] shall indeed be arraigned [before Him on Judgment Day: for]

Subhaanal laahi 'ammaa yasifoon

limitless is God in His glory, above anything that men may devise by way of definition!

Illaa 'ibaadal laahil mukhlaseen

Not thus, however, [behave] God’s true ser­vants:

Fa innakum wa maa ta'ubdoon

for, verily, neither you [blasphemers] nor the objects of your worship

Maaa antum 'alaihi befaaatineen

can cause anyone to fall prey to your temptation

Illaa man huwa saalil jaheem

unless it be such as rushes towards the blazing fire [of his own accord]!

Wa maa minnasa illaa lahoo maqaamum ma'loom

[All forces of nature praise God and say:] “Among us, too, there is none but has a place assigned to it [by Him];

Wa innaa llanah nus saaffoon

and, verily, we too are ranged [before Him in worship];

Wa innaa lanah nul musabbihoon

and, verily, we too extol His limitless glory!”

Wa in kaanoo la yaqooloon

AND, INDEED, they [who deny the truth] have always been wont to say,

Law anna 'indana zikram minal awwaleen

“If only we had a tradition [to this effect] from our forebears,

Lakunna 'ibaadal laahil mukhlaseen

we would certainly be true servants of God.”

Fakafaroo bihee fasawfa ya'lamoon

And yet, [now that this divine writ has been placed before them,] they refuse to acknowledge it as true! In time, however, they will come to know [what it was that they had rejected]:

Wa laqad sabaqat Kalimatunaa li'ibaadinal mursa leen

for, long ago has Our word gone forth unto Our servants, the message- bearers,

Innaa hum lahumul mansooroon

that, verily, they - they indeed - would be succoured,

Wa inna jundana lahumul ghaaliboon

and that, verily, Our hosts - they indeed - would [in the end] be victorious!

Fatawalla 'anhum hatta heen

Hence, turn thou aside for a while from those [who deny the truth],

Wa absirhum fasawfa yubsiroon

and see them [for what they are]; and in time they [too] will come to see [what they do not see now].

Afabi'azaabinaa yasta'jiloon

Do they, then, [really] wish that Our chas­tisement be hastened on?

Fa izaa nazala bisaahatihim fasaaa'a sabaahul munzareen

But then, once it alights upon them, hapless will be the awakening of those who were warned [to no avail]!

Wa tawalla 'anhum hattaa heen

Hence, turn thou aside for a while from them,

Wa absir fasawfa yubsiroon

and see [them for what they are]; and n time they [too] will come to see [what they do not see now].

Subhaana Rabbika Rabbil 'izzati 'amma yasifoon

LIMITLESS in His glory is thy Sustainer, the Lord of almightiness, [exalted] above anything that men may devise by way of definition!

Wa salaamun 'alalmursaleen

And peace be upon all His message-bearers!

Walhamdu lillaahi Rabbil 'aalameen

And all praise is due to God alone, the Sus­tainer of all the worlds!

Saaad; wal-Qur-aani ziz zikr

Sad. CONSIDER this Qur’an, endowed with all that one ought to remember!

Balil lazeena kafaroo fee 'izzatilnw wa shiqaaq

But nay - they who are bent on denying the truth are lost in [false] pride, and [hence] deeply in the wrong.

Kam ahlaknaa min qablihim min qarnin fanaadaw wa laata heena manaas

How many a generation have We destroyed before their time [for this very sin]! And [how] they called [unto Us] when it was too late to escape!

Wa 'ajibooo an jaaa'a hum munzirum minhum wa qaalal kaafiroona haazaa saahirun kazzaab

Now these [people] deem it strange that a warner should have come unto them from their own midst - and [so] the deniers of the truth are saying: “A [mere] spellbinder is he, a liar!

Aja'alal aalihata Ilaahanw Waahidan inna haazaa lashai'un 'ujaab

Does he claim that all the deities are [but] one God? Verily, a most strange thing is this!”

Wantalaqal mala-u minhum anim shoo wasbiroo 'alaaa aalihatikum innna haazaa lashai 'uny yuraad

And their leaders launch forth [thus]: “Go ahead, and hold steadfastly onto your deities: this, behold, is the only thing to do!

Maa sami'naa bihaazaa fil millatil aakhirati in haazaaa illakh tilaaq

Never did we hear of [a claim like] this in any faith of latter days! It is nothing but [a mortal man’s] invention!

'A-unzila 'alaihiz zikru mim baininaa; bal hum fee shakkim min Zikree bal lammaa yazooqoo 'azaab

What! Upon him alone from among all of us should a [divine] reminder have been bestowed from on high?” Nay, but it is My Own reminder that they distrust! Nay, they have not yet tasted the suffering which I do impose!

Am'indahum khazaaa 'inu rahmati Rabbikal 'Azeezil Wahhab

Or do they [think that they] own the treasures of thy Sustainer’s grace - [the grace] of the Almighty, the Giver of Gifts?

Am lahum mulkus samaawaati wal ardi wa maa bainahumaa falyartaqoo fil asbaab

Or [that] the dominion over the heavens and the earth and all that is between them is theirs? Why, then, let them try to ascend [to God-like power] by all [conceivable] means!

Jundum maa hunaalika mahzoomum minal Ahzaab

[But] there it is: any and all human beings, however [strongly] leagued together, are bound to suffer defeat [whenever they refuse to accept the truth].

Kazzabat qablahum qawmu Lootinw-wa 'Aadunw wa Fir'awnu zul awtaad

To the truth gave the lie aforetime Noah’s people, and [the tribe of] Ad, and Pharaoh of the [many] tent-poles,

Wa Samoodu wa qawmu Lootinw wa Ashaabul 'Aykah; ulaaa'ikal Ahzaab

and [the tribe of] Thamud, and the people of Lot, and the dwellers of the wooded dales [of Madyan]: they all were leagued together, [as it were, in their unbelief:]

In kullun illaa kazzabar Rusula fahaqqa 'iqaab

not one [was there] but gave the lie to the apostles - and thereupon My retribution fell due.

Wa maa yanzuru haaa ulaaa'i illaa saihatanw waahidatam maa lahaa min fawaaq

And they [who now deny the truth - they, too,] have but to wait for one single blast [of punishment to overtake them]: it shall not be delayed a whit.

Wa qaaloo Rabbanaa 'ajjil lanaa qittanaa qabla Yawmil Hisaab

As it is, they say [mockingly]: “O our Sus­tainer! Hasten on to us our share [of punishment even] before the Day of Reckoning!”

Isbir 'alaa maa yaqooloona wazkur 'abdanaa Daawooda zal aidi aidi innahooo awwaab

[But] bear thou with patience whatever they may say, and remember Our servant David, him who was endowed with [so much] inner strength! He, verily, would always turn unto Us:

Innaa sakhkharnal jibaala ma'ahoo yusabbihna bil'ashaiyi wal ishraaq

[and for this,] behold, We caused the mountains to join him in extolling Our limitless glory at eventide and at sun­rise,

Wattayra mahshoorah; kullul lahooo awwaab

and [likewise] the birds in their assemblies: [together] they all Would turn again and again unto Him [who had created them].

Wa shadadnaa mulkahoo wa aatainaahul Hikmata wa faslal khitaab

And We streng­thened his dominion, and bestowed upon him wisdom and sagacity in judgment.

Wa hal ataaka naba'ul khasm; iz tasawwarul mihraab

AND YET, has the story of the litigants come within thy ken - [the story of the two] who surmounted the walls of the sanctuary [in which David prayed]?

Iz dakhaloo 'alaa Daawooda fafazi'a minhum qaaloo la takhaf khasmaani baghaa ba'dunaa 'alaa ba'din fahkum bainanaaa bilhaqqi wa laa tushtit wahdinaaa ilaa Sawaaa'is Siraat

As they came upon David, and he shrank back in fear from them, they said: “Fear not! [We are but] two litigants. One of us has wronged the other: so judge thou between us with justice, and deviate not from what is right, and show [both of] us the way to rectitude.

Inna haazaaa akhee lahoo tis'unw wa tis'oona na'jatanw wa liya na'jatunw waahidah; faqaala akfilneeha wa 'azzanee filkhitaab

“Behold, this is my brother: he has ninety-nine ewes, whereas I have [only] one ewe - and yet he said, ‘Make her over to me,’ and forcibly prevailed against me in this [our] dispute.”

Qaala laqad zalamaka bisu 'aali na'jatika ilaa ni'aajihee wa inna kaseeram minal khulataaa'i la-yabghee ba'duhum 'alaa ba'din illal lazeena aamanoo wa 'amilus saalihaati wa qaleehum maa hum; wa zanna Daawoodu annamaa fatannaahu fastaghrara Rabbahoo wa kharra raaki'anw wa anaab

Said [David]: “He has certainly wronged thee by demanding that thy ewe be added to his ewes! Thus, behold, do many kinsmen wrong one another [all] save those who believe [in God] and do righteous deeds: but how few are they!” And [suddenly] David understood that We had tried him: and so he asked his Sustainer to forgive him his sin, and fell down in prostration, and turned unto Him in repentance.

Faghafarnaa lahoo zaalik; wa inna lahoo 'indanaa lazulfaa wa husna ma aab

And thereupon We forgave him that [sin]: and, verily, nearness to Us awaits him [in the life to come], and the most beauteous of all goals!

Yaa Daawoodu innaa ja'alnaaka khaleefatan fil ardi fahkum bainan naasi bilhaqqi wa laa tattabi'il hawaa fayudillaka 'an sabeelil laah; innal lazeena yadilloona 'an sabeelil laah; lahum 'azaabun shadeedum bimaa nasoo Yawmal Hisaab

[And We said:] “O David! Behold, We have made thee a [prophet and, thus, Our] vicegerent on earth: judge, then, between men with justice, and do not follow vain desire, lest it lead thee astray from the path of God: verily, for those who go astray from the path of God there is suffering severe in store for having forgotten the Day of Reckoning!”

Wa ma khalaqnas samaaa'a wal arda wa maa bainahumaa baatilaa; zaalika zannul lazeena kafaroo; fawi lul lillazeena kafaroo minan Naar

AND [thus it is:] We have not created heaven and earth and all that is between them without meaning and purpose, as is the surmise of those who are bent on denying the truth: but then, woe from the fire [of hell] unto all who are bent on denying the truth!

Am naj'alul lazeena aamanoo wa 'amilus saalihaati kalmufisdeena fil ardi am naj'alul muttaqeena kalfujjaar

[For,] would We treat those who have attained to faith and do righteous deeds in the same manner as [We shall treat] those who spread corruption on earth? Would We treat the God-conscious in the same manner as the wicked?

Kitaabun anzalnaahu ilaika mubaarakul liyaddabbarooo Aayaatihee wa liyatazakkara ulul albaab

[All this have We expounded in this] blessed divine writ which We have revealed unto thee, [O Muhammad,] so that men may ponder over its mes­sages, and that those who are endowed with insight may take them to heart.

Wa wahabnaa li Daawooda Sulaimaan; ni'mal 'abd; innahoo awwaab

AND UNTO DAVID We granted Solomon [as a son - and] how excellent a servant [of Ours he grew up to be]! Behold, he would always turn unto Us -

Iz 'urida 'alaihi bil'ashiy yis saafinaatul jiyaad

[and even] when, towards the close of day, nobly-bred, swift-footed steeds were brought before him,

Faqaala inneee ahbabtu hubbal khairi 'an zikri Rabbee hattaa tawaarat bilhijaab

he would say, “Verily, I have come to love the love of all that is good because I bear my Sustainer in mind!” [repeating these words as the steeds raced away,] until they were hidden by the veil [of distance - whereupon he would command],

Ruddoohaa 'alaiya fatafiqa masham bissooqi wal a'naaq

“Bring them back unto me!”- and would [lovingly] stroke their legs and their necks.

Wa laqad fatannaa Sulaimaana wa alqainaa 'alaa kursiyyihee jasadan summa anaab

But [ere this], indeed, We had tried Solomon by placing upon his throne a [lifeless] body; and thereupon he turned [towards Us; and]

Qaala Rabbigh fir lee wa hab lee mulkal laa yambaghee li ahadim mim ba'de inaka Antal Wahhab

he prayed: “O my Sustainer! Forgive me my sins, and bestow upon me the gift of a kingdom which may not suit anyone after me: verily, Thou alone art a giver of gifts!”

Fasakhkharnaa lahur reeha tajree bi amrihee rukhaaa'an haisu asaab

And so We made subservient to him the wind, so that it gently sped at his behest whithersoever he willed,

Wash Shayaateena kulla bannaaa'inw wa ghawwaas

as well as all the rebellious forces [that We made to work for him] - every kind of builder and diver -

Wa aakhareena muqarraneena fil asfaad

and others linked together in fetters.

Haazaa 'ataaa'unaa famnun aw amsik bighairi hisaab

[And We told him:] “This is Our gift, for thee to bestow freely on others, or to withhold, without [having to render] account!”

Wa inna lahoo 'indanaa lazulfaa wa husna ma-aab

And, verily, nearness to Us awaits him [in the life to come], and the most beauteous of all goals!

Wazkur 'abdanaaa Ayyoob; iz naada Rabbahooo annee massaniyash Shaitaanu binus binw wa 'azaab

AND CALL to mind Our servant Job, [how it was] when he cried out to his Sustainer, “Behold, Satan has afflicted me with [utter] weariness and suffering!”

Urkud birijlika haaza mughtasalum baaridunw wa sharaab

[and thereupon was told:] “Strike [the ground] with thy foot: here is cool water to wash with and to drink!”

Wa wahabnaa lahoo ahlahoo wa mislahum ma'ahum rahmatam minna wa zikraa li ulil albaab

And We bestowed upon him new offspring, doubling their number as an act of grace from Us, and as a reminder unto all who are endowed with insight.

Wa khuz biyadika dighsan fadrib bihee wa laa tahnas, innaa wajadnaahu saabiraa; ni'mal 'abd; innahooo awwaab

[And finally We told him:] “Now take in thy hand a small bunch of grass, and strike therewith, and thou wilt not break thine oath!” for, verily, We found him full of patience in adversity: how excellent a servant [of Ours], who, behold, would always turn unto Us!

Wazkur 'ibaadanaaa Ibraaheema wa Is-haaqa wa Ya'qooba ulil-aydee walabsaar

AND CALL to mind Our servants Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, [all of them] endowed with inner strength and vision:

Innaaa akhlasnaahum bi khaalisatin zikrad daar

for, verily, We purified them by means of a thought most pure: the remembrance of the life to come.

Wa innahum 'indanaa laminal mustafainal akhyaar

And, behold, in Our sight they were indeed among the elect, the truly good!

Wazkur Ismaa'eela wal Yasa'a wa Zal-Kifli wa kullum minal akhyaar

And call to mind Ishmael and Elisha, and every one who [like them] has pledged himself [unto Us]: for, each of them was of the truly good!

Haazaa zikr; wa inna lilmuttaqeena lahusna ma aab

LET [all] this be a reminder [to those who believe in God] - for, verily, the most beauteous of all goals awaits the God-conscious:

Jannaati 'adnim mufat tahatal lahumul abwaab

gardens of perpetual bliss, with gates wide-open to them,

Muttaki'eena feehaa yad'oona feehaa bifaakihatin kaseeratinw wa sharaab

wherein they will recline, [and] wherein they may [freely] call for many a fruit and drink,

Wa 'indahum qaasiraatut tarfi atraab

having beside them well-matched mates of modest gaze.”

Haaza maa too'odoona li Yawmil Hisaab

This is what you are promised for the Day of Reckoning:

Inna haazaa larizqunaa maa lahoo min nafaad

this, verily, shall be Our provision [for you], with no end to it!

Haazaa; wa inna littaagheena lasharra ma-aab

All this [for the righteous]: but, verily, the most evil of all goals awaits those who are wont to transgress the bounds of what is right:

Jahannama yaslawnahaa fai'sal mihaad

hell will they have to endure - and how vile a resting-place!

Haazaa falyazooqoohu hameemunw wa ghassaaq

This, [then, for them -] so let them taste it: burning despair and ice-cold darkness

Wa aakharu min shak liheee azwaaj

and, coupled with it, further [suffering] of a similar nature.

Haazaa fawjum muqtahimum ma'akum laa marhabam bihim; innahum saalun Naar

[And they will say to one another: “Do you see] this crowd of people who rushed headlong [into sin] with you? No welcome to them! Verily, they [too] shall have to endure the fire!”

Qaaloo bal antum laa marhabam bikum; antum qaddamtumoohu lanaa fabi'sal qaraar

[And] they [who had been seduced] will exclaim: “Nay, but it is you! No welcome to you! It is you who have prepared this for us: and how vile a state to abide in!”

Qaaloo Rabbanaa man qaddama lanaa haaza fazidhu 'azaaban di'fan fin Naar

[And] they will pray: “O our Sustainer! Who­ever has prepared this for us, double Thou his suffering in the fire!”

Wa qaaloo ma lanaa laa naraa rijaalan kunnaa na'udduhum minal ashraar

And they will add: “How is it that we do not see [here any of the] men whom we were wont to count among the wicked,

Attakhaznaahum sikh riyyan am zaaghat 'anhumul absaar

[and] whom we made the target of our derision? Or is it that [they are here, and] our eyes have missed them?”

Inna zaalika lahaqqun takhaasumu Ahlin Naar

Such, behold, will in truth be the [confusion and] mutual wrangling of the people of the fire!

Qul innamaaa ana munzirunw wa maa min ilaahim illal laahul Waahidul Qahhaar

SAY [O Muhammad]: “I am only a warner; and there is no deity whatever save God, the One, who holds absolute sway over all that exists,

Rabbus samaawaati wal ardi wa maa bainahumal 'Azeezul Ghaffaar

the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, the Almighty, the All-Forgiving!”

Qul huwa naba'un 'azeem

Say: “This is a message tremendous:

Antum 'anhu mu'ridoon

[how can] you turn away from it?”

Maa kaana liya min 'ilmim bilmala il a'laaa iz yakhtasimoon

[Say, O Muhammad:] “No knowledge would I have had of [what passed among] the host on high when they argued [against the creation of man],

Iny-yoohaaa ilaiya illaaa annnamaaa ana nazeerum mubeen

had it not been revealed unto me [by God] - to no other end than that I might convey [unto you] a plain warning.

Iz qaala Rabbuka lilmalaaa'ikati innee khaaliqum basharam min teen

[For,] lo, thy Sustainer said unto the angels: “Behold, I am about to create a human being out of clay;

Fa-iza sawwaituhoo wa nafakhtu feehi mir roohee faqa'oo lahoo saajideen

and when I have formed him fully and breathed into him of My spirit, fall you down before him in prostration!”

Fasajadal malaaa'ikatu kulluhum ajma'oon

Thereupon the angels prostrated themselves, all of them together,

Illaaa Iblees; istakbara wa kaana minal kaafireen

save Iblis: he gloried in his arrogance, and [thus] became one of those who deny the truth.

Qaala yaaa Ibleesu maa man'aka an tasjuda limaa khalaqtu biyadai; astakbarta am kunta min 'aaleen

Said He: “O Iblis! What has kept thee from prostrating thyself before that [being] which I have created with My hands? Art thou too proud [to bow down before another created being], or art thou of those who think [only] of themselves as high?”

Qaala ana khairum minah; khalaqtanee min naarinw wa khalaqtahoo min teen

Answered [Iblis]: “I am better than he: Thou hast created me out of fire, whereas him Thou hast created out of clay.”

Qaala fakhruj minhaa fainnaka rajeem

Said He: “Go forth, then, from this [angelic state] - for, behold, thou art henceforth accursed,

Wa inna 'alaika la'nateee ilaa Yawmid Deen

and My rejection shall be thy due until the Day of Judgment!”

Qaala Rabbi fa anzirneee ilaa Yawmi yub'asoon

Said [Iblis]: “Then, O my Sustainer, grant me a respite till the Day when all shall be raised from the dead!”

Qaala fa innaka minal munzareen

Answered He: “Verily, so [be it:] thou shalt be among those who are granted respite

Ilaa Yawmil waqtil ma'loom

till the Day the time whereof is known [only to Me].”

Qaala fabi'izzatika la ughwiyannahum ajma'een

[Whereupon Iblis] said: “Then [I swear] by Thy very might: I shall most certainly beguile them all into grievous error –

Illaa 'ibaadaka minhumul mukhlaseen

[all] save such of them as are truly Thy servants!”

Qaala falhaqq, walhaqqa aqool

[And God] said: “This, then, is the truth! And this truth do I state:

La amla'annna Jahannama minka wa mimman tabi'aka minhum ajma'een

Most certainly will I fill hell with thee and such of them as shall follow thee, all together!”

Qul maaa as'alukum 'alaihi min ajrinw wa maaa ana minal mutakallifeen

SAY [O Prophet]: “No reward whatever do I ask of you for this [message]; and I am not one of those who claim to be what they are not.

In huwa illaa zikrul lil'aalameen

This [divine writ], behold, is no less than a reminder to all the worlds —

Wa lata'lamunna naba ahoo ba'da heen

and you will most certainly grasp its purport after a lapse of time!”

Tanzeelul Kitaabi minal laahil 'Azeezil Hakeem

THE BESTOWAL from on high of this divine writ issues from God, the Almighty, the Wise:

Innaaa anzalnaaa ilaikal Kitaaba bilhaqqi fa'budil laaha mukhlisal lahud deen

for, behold, it is We who have bestowed this revela­tion upon thee from on high, setting forth the truth: so worship Him, sincere in thy faith in Him alone!

Alaa lillaahid deenul khaalis; wallazeenat takhazoo min dooniheee awliyaaa'a maa na'buduhum illaa liyuqar riboonaaa ilal laahi zulfaa; innal laaha yahkumu baina hum fee maa hum feehi yakhtalifoon; innal laaha laa yahdee man huwa kaazibun kaffaar

Is it not to God alone that all sincere faith is due? And yet, they who take for their protectors aught beside Him [are wont to say], “We worship them for no other reason than that they bring us nearer to God.” Behold, God will judge between them [on Resur­rection Day] with regard to all wherein they differ [from the truth]: for, verily, God does not grace with His guidance anyone who is bent on lying [to himself and is] stubbornly ingrate!

Law araadal laahu aiyattakhiza waladal lastafaa mimmaa yakhluqu maa yashaaa'; Subhaanahoo Huwal laahul Waahidul Qahhaar

Had God willed to take Unto Himself a son, He could have chosen anyone that He wanted out of whatever He has created - [but] limitless is He in His glory! He is the One God, the One who holds absolute sway over all that exists!

Khalaqas samaawaati wal arda bilhaqq; yukawwirul laila 'alan nahaari wa yukawwirun nahaara 'alaal laili wa sakhkharash shamsa walqamara kulluny yajree li ajalim musammaa; alaa Huwal 'Azeezul Ghaffaar

He it is who has created the heavens and the earth in accordance with [an inner] truth. He causes the night to flow into the day, and causes the day to flow into the night; and He has made the sun and the moon subservient [to His laws], each running its course for a term set [by Him]. Is not He the Almighty, the All-Forgiving?

Khalaqakum min nafsinw waahidatin summa ja'ala minhaa zawjahaa wa anzala lakum minal-an'aami samaani yata azwaaj; yakhuluqukum fee butooni ummahaatikum khalqam mim ba'di khalqin fee zulumaatin salaas; zaalikumul laahu Rabbukum lahul mulk; laaa ilaaha illaa Huwa fa annaa tusrafoon

He has created you [all] out of one living entity, and out of it fashioned its mate; and he has be­stowed upon you four kinds of cattle of either sex; [and] He creates you in your mothers’ wombs, one act of creation after another, in threefold depths of darkness. Thus is God, your Sustainer: unto Him belongs all dominion: there is no deity save Him: how, then, can you lose sight of the truth?

In takfuroo fa innal laaha ghaniyyun 'ankum; wa laa yardaa li'ibaadihil kufra wa in tashkuroo yardahu lakum; wa laa taziru waaziratunw wizra ukhraa; summa ilaa Rabikum marji'ukum fa-yunabbi'ukum bimaa kuntum ta'maloon; innahoo 'aleemum bizaatissudoor

If you are ingrate behold, God has no need of you; none the less, He does not approve of in­gratitude in His servants: whereas, if you show grati­tude, He approves it in you. And no bearer of burdens shall be made to bear another’s burden. In time, unto your Sustainer you all must return, and then He will make you [truly] understand all that you were doing [in life]: for, verily, He has full knowledge of what is in the hearts [of men].

Wa izaa massal insaana durrun da'aa Rabbahoo muneeban ilaihi summa izaa khawwalahoo ni'matam minhu nasiya maa kaana yad'ooo ilaihi min qablu wa ja'ala lillaahi andaadal liyudilla 'ansabeelih; qul tamatta' bikufrika qaleelan innaka min Ashaabin Naar;

NOW [thus it is:] when affliction befalls man, he is likely to cry out to his Sustainer, turning unto Him [for help]; but as soon as He has bestowed upon him a boon by His grace, he forgets Him whom he in­voked before, and claims that there are other powers that could rival God - and thus leads [others] astray from His path. Say [unto him who sins in this way]: “Enjoy thyself for a while in this thy denial of the truth; [yet,] verily, thou art of those who are destined for the fire!

Amman huwa qaanitun aanaaa'al laili saajidanw wa qaaa'imai yahzarul Aakhirata wa yarjoo rahmata Rabbih; qul hal yastawil lazeena ya'lamoona wallazeena laa ya'lamoon; innamaa yatazakkaru ulul albaab

Or [dost thou deem thyself equal to] one who devoutly worships [God] throughout the night, prostrating himself or standing [in prayer], ever- mindful of the life to come, and hoping for his Sustainer’s grace?” Say: “Can they who know and they who do not know be deemed equal?” [But] only they who are endowed with insight keep this in mind!

Qul yaa 'ibaadil lazeena aamanut taqoo Rabbakum; lillazeena ahsanoo fee haazihid dunyaa hasanah; wa ardul laahi waasi'ah; innamaa yuwaffas saabiroona ajrahum bighayri hisab

Say: “[Thus speaks God:] ‘O you servants of Mine who have attained to faith! Be conscious of your Sustainer! Ultimate good awaits those who per­severe in doing good in this world. And [remember:] wide is God’s earth, [and,] verily, they who are patient in adversity will be given their reward in full, beyond all reckoning!’”

Qul inneee umirtu an a'budal laaha mukhlisal lahud deen

Say [O Muhammad]: “Behold, I am bidden to worship God, sincere in my faith in Him alone;

Wa umirtu li an akoona awwalal muslimeen

and I am bidden to be foremost among those who surrender themselves unto God.”

Qul inneee akhaafu in 'asaitu Rabbee 'azaaba Yawmin 'azeem

Say: “Behold, I would dread, were I to rebel against my Sustainer, the suffering [which would befall me] on that awesome Day [of Judgment].”

Qulil laaha a'budu mukhlisal lahoo deenee

Say: “God alone do I worship, sincere in my faith in Him alone -

Fa'budoo maa shi'tum min doonih; qul innal khaasireenal lazeena khasirooo anfusahum wa ahleehim yawmal qiyaamah; alaa zaalika huwal khusraanul mubeen

and [it is up to you, O sinners, to] worship whatever you please instead of Him!” Say: “Behold, the [true] losers will be they who shall have lost their own selves and their kith and kin on Resurrection Day: for is not this, this, the [most] obvious loss?

Lahum min fawqihim zulalum minan Naari wa min tahtihim zulal; zaalika yukhaw wiful laahu bihee 'ibaadah; yaa 'ibaadi fattaqoon

Clouds of fire will they have above them, and [similar] clouds beneath them…” In this way does God imbue His servants with fear. O you servants of Mine! Be, then, conscious of Me -

Wallazeenaj tanabut Taaghoota ai ya'budoohaa wa anaabooo ilal laahi lahumul bushraa; fabashshir 'ibaad

seeing that for those who shun the powers of evil lest they [be tempted to] worship them, and turn unto God instead, there is the glad tiding [of happiness in the life to come]. Give, then, this glad tiding to [those of] My ser­vants

Allazeena yastami'oonal qawla fayattabi'oona ahsanah; ulaaa'ikal lazeena hadaahumul laahu wa ulaaa'ika hum ulul albaab

who listen [closely] to all that is said, and follow the best of it: [for] it is they whom God has graced with His guidance, and it is they who are [truly] endowed with insight!

Afaman haqqa 'alaihi kalimatul 'azaab; afa anta tunqizu man fin Naar

On the other hand, could one on whom [God’s] sentence of suffering has been passed [be rescued by man]? Couldst thou, perchance, save one who is [already, as it were,] in the fire?

Laakinil lazeenat taqaw Rabbahum lahum ghurafum min fawqihaa ghurafum mabniyyatun tajree min tahtihal anhaar; wa'dal laah; laa yukhliful laahul mee'aad

As against this they who of their Sustainer are conscious shall [in the life to come] have man­sions raised upon mansions high, beneath which run­ning waters flow: [this is] God’s promise - [and] never does God fail to fulfill His promise.

Alam tara annal laaha anzala minas samaaa'i maaa'an fasalakahoo yanaabee'a fil ardi summa yukhriju bihee zar'am mukhtalifan alwaanuhoo summa yaheeju fatarahu musfarran summa yaj'aluhoo hutaamaa; inna fee zaalika lazikraa li ulil albaab

ART THOU NOT aware that it is God who sends down water from the skies, and then causes it to travel through the earth in the shape of springs? And then He brings forth thereby herbage of various hues; and then it withers, and thou canst see it turn yellow; and in the end He causes it to crumble to dust. Verily, in [all] this there is indeed a reminder to those who are endowed with insight!

Afaman sharahal laahu sadrahoo lil Islaami fahuwa 'alaa noorim mir Rabbih; fa wailul lilqaasiyati quloobuhum min zikril laah; ulaaa'ika fee dalaalim mubeen

Could, then, one whose bosom God has opened wide with willingness towards self-surrender unto Him, so that he is illumined by a light [that flows] from his Sustainer, [be likened to the blind and deaf of heart]? Woe, then, unto those whose hearts are hardened against all remembrance of God! They are most obviously lost in error!

Allahu nazzala ahsanal hadeesi Kitaabam mutashaa biham masaaniy taqsha'irru minhu juloodul lazeena yakhshawna Rabbahum summa taleenu julooduhum wa quloo buhum ilaa zikril laah; zaalika hudal laahi yahdee bihee mai yashaaa'; wa mai yudlilil laahu famaa lahoo min haad

God bestows from on high the best of all teachings in the shape of a divine writ fully consistent within itself, repeating each statement [of the truth] in manifold forms [a divine writ] whereat shiver the skins of all who of their Sustainer stand in awe: [but] in the end their skins and their hearts do soften at the remembrance of [the grace of] God. Such is God’s guidance: He guides therewith him that wills [to be guided] whereas he whom God lets go astray can never find any guide

Afamai yattaqee biwaj hihee sooo'al 'azaabi Yawmal Qiyaamah; wa qeela lizzaali meena zooqoo maa kuntum taksiboon

Could, then, one who shall have nothing but is [bare] face to protect him from the awful suffering [that will befall him] on Resurrection Day [be likened to the God-conscious]? [On that Day,] the evildoers will be told: “Taste [now] what you have earned [in life]!”

Kazzabal lazeena min qablihim fa ataahumul 'azaabu min haisu laa yash'uroon

Those who lived before them did [too] give the lie to the truth - whereupon suffering befell them without their having perceived whence it came:

Fa azaaqahumul laahul khizya fil hayaatid dunyaa wa la'azaabul Aakirati akbar; law kaanoo ya'lamoon

and thus God let them taste ignominy [even] in the life of this world. Yet [how] much greater will be the [sinners’] suffering in the life to come - if they [who now deny the truth] but knew it!

Wa laqad darabnaa linnaasi fee haazal Qur-aani min kulli masalil la'allahum yatazakkaroon

THUS, INDEED, have We propounded unto men all kinds of parables in this Qur’an, so that they might bethink themselves; [and We have revealed it]

Qur-aanan 'Arabiyyan ghaira zee 'iwajil la'allahum yattaqoon

as a discourse in the Arabic tongue, free of all devious­ness, so that they might become conscious of God.

Darabal laahu masalar rajulan feehi shurakaaa'u mutashaakisoona wa rajulan salamal lirajulin hal tastawi yaani masalaa; alhamdu lillaah; bal aksaruhum laa ya'lamoon

[To this end,] God sets forth a parable: A man who has for his masters several partners, [all of them] at variance with one another, and a man depending wholly on one person: can these two be deemed equal as regards their condition? [Nay,] all praise is due to God [alone]: but most of them do not understand this.

Innaka maiyitunw wa inna hum maiyitunw wa inna hum maiyitoon

Yet, verily, thou art bound to die, [O Muhammad,] and, verily, they, too, are bound to die:

Summa innakum Yawmal Qiyaamati 'inda Rabbikum takhtasimoon

and then, behold, on the Day of Resurrection you all shall place your dispute before your Sustainer.