The Qur'an/Source/Suras 29 through 44

SURA 29. AL-ANKABOOT (THE SPIDER)

1. Alif. Lam. Mim.

2. Do men imagine that they will be left [at ease] because they say, We believe,

and will not be tested with affliction?

3. Lo! We tested those who were before you. Thus Allah knoweth those who aresincere, and knoweth those who feign.

4. Or do those who do ill-deeds imagine that they can outstrip Us? Evil [forthem] is that which they decide.

5. Whoso looketh forward to the meeting with Allah [let him know that] Allah'sreckoning is surely nigh, and He is the Hearer, the Knower.

6. And whosoever striveth, striveth only for himself, for lo! Allah isaltogether Independent of [His] creatures.

7. And as for those who believe and do good works, We shall remit from themtheir evil deeds and shall repay them the best that they did.

8. We have enjoined on man kindness to parents; but if they strive to make theejoin with Me that of which thou hast no knowledge, then obey them not. Unto Meis your return and I shall tell you what ye used to do.

9. And as for those who believe and do good works, We verily shall make thementer in among the righteous.

10. Of mankind is he who saith: We believe in Allah, but, if he be made tosuffer for the sake of Allah, he mistaketh the persecution of mankind forAllah's punishment; and then, if victory cometh from thy Lord, will say: Lo! wewere with you [all the while]. Is not Allah Best Aware of what is in the bosomsof [His] creatures?

11. Verily Allah knoweth those who believe, and verily He knoweth thehypocrites.

187

12. Those who disbelieve say unto those who believe: Follow our way [ofreligion] and we verily will bear your sins [for you]. They cannot bear aught oftheir sins. Lo! they verily are liars.

13. But they verily will bear their own loads and other loads beside their own,

and they verily will be questioned on the Day of Resurrection concerning thatwhich they invented.

14. And verily we sent Noah [as Our messenger] unto his folk, and he continuedwith them for a thousand years save fifty years; and the flood engulfed them,

for they were wrong-doers.

15. And We rescued him and those with him in the ship, and made of it a portentfor the peoples.

16. And Abraham! [Remember] when he said unto his folk: Serve Allah, and keepyour duty unto Him; that is better for you if ye did but know.

17. Ye serve instead of Allah only idols, and ye only invent a lie. Lo! thosewhom ye serve instead of Allah own no provision for you. So seek your provisionfrom Allah, and serve Him, and give thanks unto Him, [for] unto Him ye will bebrought back.

18. But if ye deny, then nations have denied before you. The messenger is onlyto convey [the message] plainly.

19. See they not how Allah produceth creation, then reproduceth it? Lo! forAllah that is easy.

20. Say [O Muhammad]: Travel in the land and see how He originated creation,

then Allah bringeth forth the later growth. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.

21. He punisheth whom He will and showeth mercy unto whom He will, and unto Himye will be turned.

22. Ye cannot escape [from Him] in the earth or in the sky, and beside Allahthere is for you no friend or helper.

23. Those who disbelieve in the revelations of Allah and in [their] Meeting withHim, such have no hope of My mercy. For such there is a painful doom.

24. But the answer of his folk was only that they said: "Kill him" or "Burnhim." Then Allah saved him from the Fire. Lo! herein verily are portents forfolk who believe.

25. He said: Ye have chosen only idols instead of Allah. The love between you isonly in the life of the world. Then on the Day of Resurrection ye will deny each other and curse each other, and your abode will be the Fire, and ye will have nohelpers.

26. And Lot believed him, and said: Lo! I am a fugitive unto my Lord. Lo! He,

only He, is the Mighty, the Wise.

27. And We bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob, and We established the prophethoodand the Scripture among his seed, and We gave him his reward in the world, andlo! in the Hereafter he verily is among the righteous.

28. And Lot! [Remember] when he said unto his folk: Lo! ye commit lewdness suchas no creature did before you.

29. For come ye not in unto males, and cut ye not the road [for travellers], andcommit ye not abomination in your meetings? But the answer of his folk was onlythat they said: Bring Allah's doom upon us if thou art a truthteller!

30. He said: My Lord! Give me victory over folk who work corruption.

188

31. And when Our messengers brought Abraham the good news, they said: Lo! we areabout to destroy the people of that township, for its people are wrong-doers.

32. He said: Lo! Lot is there. They said: We are best aware of who is there. Weare to deliver him and his household, all save his wife, who is of those whostay behind.

33. And when Our messengers came unto Lot, he was troubled upon their account,

for he could not protect them; but they said: Fear not, nor grieve! Lo! we areto deliver thee and thy household, [all] save thy wife, who is of those who staybehind.

34. Lo! We are about to bring down upon the folk of this township a fury fromthe sky because they are evil-livers.

35. And verily of that We have left a clear sign for people who have sense.

36. And unto Midian We sent Shu'eyb, their brother. He said: O my people! ServeAllah, and look forward to the Last Day, and do not evil, making mischief, in the earth.

37. But they denied him, and the dreadful earthquake took them, and morningfound them prostrate in their dwelling place.

38. And [the tribes of] A'ad and Thamud! [Their fate] is manifest unto you fromtheir [ruined and deserted] dwellings. Satan made their deeds seem fair untothem and so debarred them from the Way, though they were keen observers.

39. And Korah, Pharaoh and Haman! Moses came unto them with clear proofs [ofAllah's Sovereignty], but they were boastful in the land. And they were notwinners [in the race].

40. So We took each one in his sin; of them was he on whom We sent a hurricane,

and of them was he who was overtaken by the [Awful] Cry, and of them was he whomWe caused the earth to swallow, and of them was he whom We drowned. It was notfor Allah to wrong them, but they wronged themselves.

41. The likeness of those who choose other patrons than Allah is as the likenessof the spider when she taketh unto herself a house, and lo! the frailest of allhouses is the spider's house, if they but knew.

42. Lo! Allah knoweth what thing they invoke instead of Him. He is the Mighty,

the Wise.

43. As for these similitudes, We coin them for mankind, but none will grasptheir meaning save the wise.

44. Allah created the heavens and the earth with truth. Lo! therein is indeed a

portent for believers.

45. Recite that which hath been inspired in thee of the Scripture, and establishworship. Lo! worship preserveth from lewdness and iniquity, but verilyremembrance of Allah is more important. And Allah knoweth what ye do.

46. And argue not with the People of the Scripture unless it be in [a way] thatis better, save with such of them as do wrong; and say: We believe in that whichhath been revealed unto us and revealed unto you; our Allah and your Allah isOne, and unto Him we surrender.

47. In like manner We have revealed unto thee the Scripture, and those unto whomWe gave the Scripture aforetime will believe therein; and of these [also] thereare some who believe therein. And none deny Our revelations save thedisbelievers.

189

48. And thou [O Muhammad] wast not a reader of any scripture before it, nordidst thou write it with thy right hand, for then might those have doubted, whofollow falsehood.

49. But it is clear revelations in the hearts of those who have been givenknowledge, and none deny Our revelations save wrong-doers.

50. And they say: Why are not portents sent down upon him from his Lord? Say:

Portents are with Allah only, and I am but a plain warner.

51. Is it not enough for them that We have sent down unto thee the Scripturewhich is read unto them? Lo! herein verily is mercy, and a reminder for folk whobelieve.

52. Say [unto them, O Muhammad]: Allah sufficeth for witness between me and you.

He knoweth whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those who believe in

vanity and disbelieve in Allah, they it is who are the losers.

53. They bid thee hasten on the doom [of Allah]. And if a term had not beenappointed, the doom would assuredly have come unto them [ere now]. And verily itwill come upon them suddenly when they perceive not.

54. They bid thee hasten on the doom, when lo! hell verily will encompass thedisbelievers

55. On the day when the doom will overwhelm them from above them and fromunderneath their feet, and He will say: Taste what ye used to do!

56. O my bondmen who believe! Lo! My earth is spacious. Therefor serve Me only.

57. Every soul will taste of death. Then unto Us ye will be returned.

58. Those who believe and do good works, them verily We shall house in loftydwellings of the Garden underneath which rivers flow. There they will dwellsecure. How sweet the guerdon of the toilers,

59. Who persevere, and put their trust in their Lord!

60. And how many an animal there is that beareth not its own provision! Allahprovideth for it and for you. He is the Hearer, the Knower.

61. And if thou wert to ask them: Who created the heavens and the earth, andconstrained the sun and the moon [to their appointed work]? they would say:

Allah. How then are they turned away?

62. Allah maketh the provision wide for whom He will of His bondmen, andstraiteneth it for whom [He will]. Lo! Allah is Aware of all things.

63. And if thou wert to ask them: Who causeth water to come down from the sky,

and therewith reviveth the earth after its death? they verily would say: Allah.

Say: Praise be to Allah! But most of them have no sense.

64. This life of the world is but a pastime and a game. Lo! the home of theHereafter - that is Life, if they but knew.

65. And when they mount upon the ships they pray to Allah, making their faithpure for Him only, but when He bringeth them safe to land, behold! they ascribepartners [unto Him],

66. That they may disbelieve in that which We have given them, and that they maytake their ease. But they will come to know.

67. Have they not seen that We have appointed a sanctuary immune [fromviolence], while mankind are ravaged all around them? Do they then believe infalsehood and disbelieve in the bounty of Allah?

190

68. Who doeth greater wrong than he who inventeth a lie concerning Allah, ordenieth the truth when it cometh unto him? Is not there a home in hell for

disbelievers?

69. As for those who strive in Us, We surely guide them to Our paths, and lo!

Allah is with the good.

SURA 30. AR-ROOM (THE ROMANS, THE BYZANTINES)

1. Alif. Lam. Mim.

2. The Romans have been defeated

3. In the nearer land, and they, after their defeat will be victorious

4. Within ten years - Allah's is the command in the former case and in thelatter - and in that day believers will rejoice

5. In Allah's help to victory. He helpeth to victory whom He will. He is theMighty, the Merciful.

6. It is a promise of Allah. Allah faileth not His promise, but most of mankindknow not.

7. They know only some appearance of the life of the world, and are heedless of the Hereafter.

8. Have they not pondered upon themselves? Allah created not the heavens and theearth, and that which is between them, save with truth and for a destined end.

But truly many of mankind are disbelievers in the meeting with their Lord.

9. Have they not travelled in the land and seen the nature of the consequencefor those who were before them? They were stronger than these in power, and theydug the earth and built upon it more than these have built. Messengers of theirown came unto them with clear proofs [of Allah's Sovereignty]. Surely Allahwronged them not, but they did wrong themselves.

10. Then evil was the consequence to those who dealt in evil, because theydenied the revelations of Allah and made a mock of them.

11. Allah produceth creation, then He reproduceth it, then unto Him ye will bereturned.

12. And in the day when the Hour riseth the unrighteous will despair.

13. There will be none to intercede for them of those whom they made equal withAllah. And they will reject their partners [whom they ascribed unto Him].

14. In the day when the Hour cometh, in that day they will be sundered.

15. As for those who believed and did good works, they will be made happy in aGarden.

16. But as for those who disbelieved and denied Our revelations, and denied themeeting of the Hereafter, such will be brought to doom.

17. So glory be to Allah when ye enter the night and when ye enter the morning -

18. Unto Him be praise in the heavens and the earth! - and at the sun's declineand in the noonday.

19. He bringeth forth the living from the dead, and He bringeth forth the deadfrom the living, and He reviveth the earth after her death. And even so will yebe brought forth.

191

20. And of His signs is this: He created you of dust, and behold you humanbeings, ranging widely!

21. And of His signs is this: He created for you helpmeets from yourselves thatye might find rest in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy. Lo!

herein indeed are portents for folk who reflect.

22. And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and thedifference of your languages and colours. Lo! herein indeed are portents for menof knowledge.

23. And of His signs is your slumber by night and by day, and your seeking ofHis bounty. Lo! herein indeed are portents for folk who heed.

24. And of His signs is this: He showeth you the lightning for a fear and for ahope, and sendeth down water from the sky, and thereby quickeneth the earthafter her death. Lo! herein indeed are portents for folk who understand.

25. And of His signs is this: The heavens and the earth stand fast by Hiscommand, and afterward, when He calleth you, lo! from the earth ye will emerge.

26. Unto Him belongeth whosoever is in the heavens and the earth. All areobedient unto Him.

27. He it is Who produceth creation, then reproduceth it, and it is easier forHim. His is the Sublime Similitude in the heavens and the earth. He is the

Mighty, the Wise.

28. He coineth for you a similitude of yourselves. Have ye, from among thosewhom your right hands possess, partners in the wealth We have bestowed upon you,

equal with you in respect thereof, so that ye fear them as ye fear each other[that ye ascribe unto Us partners out of that which We created]? Thus We displaythe revelations for people who have sense.

29. Nay, but those who do wrong follow their own lusts without knowledge. Who isable to guide him whom Allah hath sent astray? For such there are no helpers.

30. So set thy purpose [O Muhammad] for religion as a man by nature upright -

the nature [framed] of Allah, in which He hath created man. There is no altering[the laws of] Allah's creation. That is the right religion, but most men knownot -

31. Turning unto Him [only]; and be careful of your duty unto Him and establishworship, and be not of those who ascribe partners [unto Him];

32. Of those who split up their religion and became schismatics, each sectexulting in its tenets.

33. And when harm toucheth men they cry unto their Lord, turning to Him inrepentance; then, when they have tasted of His mercy, behold! some of themattribute partners to their Lord

34. So as to disbelieve in that which We have given them. [Unto such it issaid]: Enjoy yourselves awhile, but ye will come to know.

35. Or have We revealed unto them any warrant which speaketh of that which theyassociate with Him?

36. And when We cause mankind to taste of mercy they rejoice therein; but if anevil thing befall them as the consequence of their own deeds, lo! they are indespair!

37. See they not that Allah enlargeth the provision for whom He will, andstraiteneth [it for whom He will]. Lo! herein indeed are portents for folk whobelieve.

192

38. So give to the kinsman his due, and to the needy, and to the wayfarer. Thatis best for those who seek Allah's Countenance. And such are they who aresuccessful.

39. That which ye give in usury in order that it may increase on [other]

people's property hath no increase with Allah; but that which ye give incharity, seeking Allah's Countenance, hath increase manifold.

40. Allah is He Who created you and then sustained you, then causeth you to die,

then giveth life to you again. Is there any of your [so-called] partners [ofAllah] that doeth aught of that? Praised and Exalted be He above what theyassociate [with Him]!

41. Corruption doth appear on land and sea because of [the evil] which men'shands have done, that He may make them taste a part of that which they havedone, in order that they may return.

42. Say [O Muhammad, to the disbelievers]: Travel in the land, and see thenature of the consequence for those who were before you! Most of them wereidolaters.

43. So set thy purpose resolutely for the right religion, before the inevitableday cometh from Allah. On that day mankind will be sundered-

44. Whoso disbelieveth must [then] bear the consequences of his disbelief, whilethose who do right make provision for themselves -

45. That He may reward out of His bounty those who believe and do good works.

Lo! He loveth not the disbelievers [in His guidance].

46. And of His signs is this: He sendeth herald winds to make you taste Hismercy, and that the ships may sail at His command, and that ye may seek hisfavour, and that haply ye may be thankful.

47. Verily We sent before thee [Muhammad] messengers to their own folk. Then wetook vengeance upon those who were guilty [in regard to them]. To help believersis ever incumbent upon Us.

48. Allah is He Who sendeth the winds so that they raise clouds, and spreadeththem along the sky as pleaseth Him, and causeth them to break and thou seest therain downpouring from within them. And when He maketh it to fall on whom He willof His bondmen, lo! they rejoice;

49. Though before that, even before it was sent down upon them, they were indespair.

50. Look, therefore, at the prints of Allah's mercy [in creation]: how Hequickeneth the earth after her death. Lo! He verily is the Quickener of theDead, and He is Able to do all things.

51. And if We sent a wind and they beheld it yellow, they verily would stillcontinue in their disbelief.

52. For verily thou [Muhammad] canst not make the dead to hear, nor canst thoumake the deaf to hear the call when they have turned to flee.

53. Nor canst thou guide the blind out of their error. Thou canst make none tohear save those who believe in Our revelations so that they surrender [untoHim].

54. Allah is He Who shaped you out of weakness, then appointed after weaknessstrength, then, after strength, appointed weakness and grey hair. He createthwhat He will. He is the Knower, the Mighty.

193

55. And on the day when the Hour riseth the guilty will vow that they did tarrybut an hour - thus were they ever deceived.

56. But those to whom knowledge and faith are given will say: The truth is, yehave tarried, by Allah's decree, until the Day of Resurrection. This is the Dayof Resurrection, but ye used not to know.

57. In that day their excuses will not profit those who did injustice, nor willthey be allowed to make amends.

58. Verily We have coined for mankind in this Qur'an all kinds of similitudes;

and indeed if thou camest unto them with a miracle, those who disbelieve wouldverily exclaim: Ye are but tricksters!

59. Thus doth Allah seal the hearts of those who know not.

60. So have patience [O Muhammad]! Allah's promise is the very truth, and letnot those who have no certainty make thee impatient.

SURA 31. LUQMAN (LUQMAN)

1. Alif. Lam. Mim.

2. These are revelations of the wise Scripture,

3. A guidance and a mercy for the good,

4. Those who establish worship and pay the poor-due and have sure faith in theHereafter.

5. Such have guidance from their Lord. Such are the successful.

6. And of mankind is he who payeth for mere pastime of discourse, that he maymislead from Allah's way without knowledge, and maketh it the butt of mockery.

For such there is a shameful doom.

7. And when Our revelations are recited unto him he turneth away in pride as ifhe heard them not, as if there were a deafness in his ears. So give him tidingsof a painful doom.

8. Lo! those who believe and do good works, for them are the gardens of delight,

9. Wherein they will abide. It is a promise of Allah in truth. He is the Mighty,

the Wise.

10. He hath created the heavens without supports that ye can see, and hath castinto the earth firm hills, so that it quake not with you; and He hath dispersedtherein all kinds of beasts. And We send down water from the sky and We cause[plants] of every goodly kind to grow therein.

11. This is the Creation of Allah. Now show me that which those [ye worship]

beside Him have created. Nay, but the wrong-doers are in error manifest!

12. And verily We gave Luqman wisdom, saying: Give thanks unto Allah; andwhosoever giveth thanks, he giveth thanks for [the good of] his soul. Andwhosoever refuseth - Lo! Allah is Absolute, Owner of Praise.

13. And [remember] when Luqman said unto his son, when he was exhorting him: Omy dear son! Ascribe no partners unto Allah. Lo! to ascribe partners [unto Him]

is a tremendous wrong -

14. And We have enjoined upon man concerning his partners - His mother bearethhim in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years - Give thanksunto Me and unto thy parents. Unto Me is the journeying.

194

15. But if they strive with thee to make thee ascribe unto Me as partner that ofwhich thou hast no knowledge, then obey them not. Consort with them in the worldkindly, and follow the path of him who repenteth unto Me. Then unto Me will beyour return, and I shall tell you what ye used to do -

16. O my dear son! Lo! though it be but the weight of a grain of mustard-seed,

and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, Allah will bringit forth. Lo! Allah is Subtile, Aware.

17. O my dear son! Establish worship and enjoin kindness and forbid iniquity,

and persevere whatever may befall thee. Lo! that is of the steadfast heart ofthings.

18. Turn not thy cheek in scorn toward folk, nor walk with pertness in the land.

Lo! Allah loveth not each braggart boaster.

19. Be modest in thy bearing and subdue thy voice. Lo! the harshest of allvoices is the voice of the ass.

20. See ye not how Allah hath made serviceable unto you whatsoever is in theskies and whatsoever is in the earth and hath loaded you with His favours bothwithout and within? Yet of mankind is he who disputeth concerning Allah, withoutknowledge or guidance or a scripture giving light.

21. And if it be said unto them: Follow that which Allah hath revealed, theysay: Nay, but we follow that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even though thedevil were inviting them unto the doom of flame?

22. Whosoever surrendereth his purpose to Allah while doing good, he verily hathgrasped the firm hand-hold. Unto Allah belongeth the sequel of all things.

23. And whosoever disbelieveth, let not his disbelief afflict thee [O Muhammad].

Unto Us is their return, and We shall tell them what they did. Lo! Allah isAware of what is in the breasts [of men].

24. We give them comfort for a little, and then We drive them to a heavy doom.

25. If thou shouldst ask them: Who created the heavens and the earth? they wouldanswer: Allah. Say: Praise be to Allah! But most of them know not.

26. Unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth. Lo! Allah,

He is the Absolute, the Owner of Praise.

27. And if all the trees in the earth were pens, and the sea, with seven moreseas to help it, [were ink], the words of Allah could not be exhausted. Lo!

Allah is Mighty, Wise.

28. Your creation and your raising [from the dead] are only as [the creation and the raising of] a single soul. Lo! Allah is Hearer, Knower.

29. Hast thou not seen how Allah causeth the night to pass into the day andcauseth the day to pass into the night, and hath subdued the sun and the moon[to do their work], each running unto an appointed term; and that Allah isInformed of what ye do?

30. That [is so] because Allah, He is the True, and that which they invokebeside Him is the False, and because Allah, He is the Sublime, the Great.

31. Hast thou not seen how the ships glide on the sea by Allah's grace, that Hemay show you of His wonders? Lo! therein indeed are portents for everysteadfast, grateful [heart].

32. And if a wave enshroudeth them like awnings, they cry unto Allah, makingtheir faith pure for Him only. But when He bringeth them safe to land, some ofthem compromise. None denieth Our signs save every traitor ingrate.

195

33. O mankind! Keep your duty to your Lord and fear a Day when the parent willnot be able to avail the child in aught, nor the child to avail the parent. Lo!

Allah's promise is the very truth. Let not the life of the world beguile you,

nor let the deceiver beguile you, in regard to Allah.

34. Lo! Allah! With Him is knowledge of the Hour. He sendeth down the rain, andknoweth that which is in the wombs. No soul knoweth what it will earn to-morrow,

and no soul knoweth in what land it will die. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.

SURA 32. AS-SAJDA (THE PROSTRATION,WORSHIP,

ADORATION)

1. Alif. Lam. Mim

2. The revelation of the Scripture whereof there is no doubt is from the Lord of the Worlds.

3. Or say they: He hath invented it? Nay, but it is the Truth from thy Lord,

that thou mayst warn a folk to whom no warner came before thee, that haply theymay walk aright.

4. Allah it is Who created the heavens and the earth, and that which is betweenthem, in six Days. Then He mounted the Throne. Ye have not, beside Him, aprotecting friend or mediator. Will ye not then remember?

5. He directeth the ordinance from the heaven unto the earth; then it ascendethunto Him in a Day, whereof the measure is a thousand years of that ye reckon.

6. Such is the Knower of the Invisible and the Visible, the Mighty, theMerciful,

7. Who made all things good which He created, and He began the creation of manfrom clay;

8. Then He made his seed from a draught of despised fluid;

9. Then He fashioned him and breathed into him of His Spirit; and appointed foryou hearing and sight and hearts. Small thanks give ye!

10. And they say: When we are lost in the earth, how can we then be re-created?

Nay but they are disbelievers in the meeting with their Lord.

11. Say: The angel of death, who hath charge concerning you, will gather you,

and afterward unto your Lord ye will be returned.

12. Couldst thou but see when the guilty hang their heads before their Lord,

[and say]: Our Lord! We have now seen and heard, so send us back; we will doright, now we are sure.

13. And if We had so willed, We could have given every soul its guidance, butthe word from Me concerning evildoers took effect: that I will fill hell withthe jinn and mankind together.

14. So taste [the evil of your deeds]. Forasmuch as ye forgot the meeting ofthis your day, lo! We forget you. Taste the doom of immortality because of whatye used to do.

15. Only those believe in Our revelations who, when they are reminded of them,

fall down prostrate and hymn the praise of their Lord, and they are notscornful,

196

16. Who forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hope, and spend ofthat We have bestowed on them.

17. No soul knoweth what is kept hid for them of joy, as a reward for what theyused to do.

18. Is he who is a believer like unto him who is an evil-liver? They are notalike.

19. But as for those who believe and do good works, for them are the Gardens ofRetreat - a welcome [in reward] for what they used to do.

20. And as for those who do evil, their retreat is the Fire. Whenever theydesire to issue forth from thence, they are brought back thither. Unto them itis said: Taste the torment of the Fire which ye used to deny.

21. And verily We make them taste the lower punishment before the greater, thathaply they may return.

22. And who doth greater wrong than he who is reminded of the revelations of hisLord, then turneth from them. Lo! We shall requite the guilty.

23. We verily gave Moses the Scripture; so be not ye in doubt of his receivingit; and We appointed it a guidance for the Children of Israel.

24. And when they became steadfast and believed firmly in Our revelations, Weappointed from among them leaders who guided by Our command.

25. Lo! thy Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerningthat wherein they used to differ.

26. Is it not a guidance for them [to observe] how many generations We destroyedbefore them, amid whose dwelling places they do walk? Lo! therein verily areportents! Will they not then heed?

27. Have they not seen how We lead the water to the barren land and therewithbring forth crops whereof their cattle eat, and they themselves? Will they notthen see?

28. And they say: When cometh this victory [of yours] if ye are truthful?

29. Say [unto them]: On the day of the victory the faith of those who disbelieve[and who then will believe] will not avail them, neither will they be reprieved.

30. So withdraw from them [O Muhammad], and await [the event]. Lo! they [also]

are awaiting [it].

SURA 33. AL-AHZAB (THE CLANS, THE COALITION,THE

COMBINED FORCES)

1. O Prophet! Keep thy duty to Allah and obey not the disbelievers and thehypocrites. Lo! Allah is Knower, Wise.

2. And follow that which is inspired in thee from thy Lord. Lo! Allah is Awareof what ye do.

3. And put thy trust in Allah, for Allah is sufficient as Trustee.

4. Allah hath not assigned unto any man two hearts within his body, nor hath Hemade your wives whom ye declare [to be your mothers] your mothers, nor hath Hemade those whom ye claim [to be your sons] your sons. This is but a saying ofyour mouths. But Allah saith the truth and He showeth the way.

197

5. Proclaim their real parentage. That will be more equitable in the sight ofAllah. And if ye know not their fathers, then [they are] your brethren in thefaith, and your clients. And there is no sin for you in the mistakes that yemake unintentionally, but what your hearts purpose [that will be a sin for you].

Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

6. The Prophet is closer to the believers than their selves, and his wives are[as] their mothers. And the owners of kinship are closer one to another in theordinance of Allah than [other] believers and the fugitives [who fled fromMecca], except that ye should do kindness to your friends. This is written in the Book [of nature].

7. And when We exacted a covenant from the prophets, and from thee [O Muhammad]

and from Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus son of Mary. We took from them asolemn covenant;

8. That He may ask the loyal of their loyalty. And He hath prepared a painfuldoom for the unfaithful.

9. O ye who believe! Remember Allah's favour unto you when there came againstyou hosts, and We sent against them a great wind and hosts ye could not see. AndAllah is ever Seer of what ye do.

10. When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when eyesgrew wild and hearts reached to the throats, and ye were imagining vain thoughtsconcerning Allah.

11. There were the believers sorely tried, and shaken with a mighty shock.

12. And when the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, weresaying: Allah and His messenger promised us naught but delusion.

13. And when a party of them said: O folk of Yathrib! There is no stand[possible] for you, therefor turn back. And certain of them [even] soughtpermission of the Prophet, saying: Our homes lie open [to the enemy]. And theylay not open. They but wished to flee.

14. If the enemy had entered from all sides and they had been exhorted totreachery, they would have committed it, and would have hesitated thereupon butlittle.

15. And verily they had already sworn unto Allah that they would not turn theirbacks [to the foe]. An oath to Allah must be answered for.

16. Say: Flight will not avail you if ye flee from death or killing, and then yedwell in comfort but a little while.

17. Say: Who is he who can preserve you from Allah if He intendeth harm for you,

or intendeth mercy for you. They will not find that they have any friend orhelper other than Allah.

18. Allah already knoweth those of you who hinder, and those who say unto theirbrethren: "Come ye hither unto us!" and they come not to the stress of battlesave a little,

19. Being sparing of their help to you [believers]. But when the fear cometh,

then thou [Muhammad] seest them regarding thee with rolling eyes like one whofainteth unto death. Then, when the fear departeth, they scald you with sharptongues in their greed for wealth [from the spoil]. Such have not believed.

Therefor Allah maketh their deeds fruitless. And that is easy for Allah.

20. They hold that the clans have not retired [for good]; and if the clansshould advance [again], they would fain be in the desert with the wandering

198

Arabs, asking for the news of you; and if they were among you, they would notgive battle, save a little.

21. Verily in the messenger of Allah ye have a good example for him who lookethunto Allah and the Last Day, and remembereth Allah much.

22. And when the true believers saw the clans, they said: This is that whichAllah and His messenger promised us. Allah and His messenger are true. It didbut confirm them in their faith and resignation.

23. Of the believers are men who are true to that which they covenanted withAllah. Some of them have paid their vow by death [in battle], and some of themstill are waiting; and they have not altered in the least;

24. That Allah may reward the true men for their truth, and punish thehypocrites if He will, or relent toward them [if He will]. Lo! Allah isForgiving, Merciful.

25. And Allah repulsed the disbelievers in their wrath; they gained no good.

Allah averted their attack from the believers. Allah is ever Strong, Mighty.

26. And He brought those of the People of the Scripture who supported them downfrom their strongholds, and cast panic into their hearts. Some ye slew, and yemade captive some.

27. And He caused you to inherit their land and their houses and their wealth,

and land ye have not trodden. Allah is ever Able to do all things.

28. O Prophet! Say unto thy wives: If ye desire the world's life and itsadornment, come! I will content you and will release you with a fair release.

29. But if ye desire Allah and His messenger and the abode of the Hereafter,

then lo! Allah hath prepared for the good among you an immense reward.

30. O ye wives of the Prophet! Whosoever of you committeth manifest lewdness,

the punishment for her will be doubled, and that is easy for Allah.

31. And whosoever of you is submissive unto Allah and His messenger and doethright, We shall give her her reward twice over, and We have prepared for her arich provision.

32. O ye wives of the Prophet! Ye are not like any other women. If ye keep yourduty [to Allah], then be not soft of speech, lest he in whose heart is a diseaseaspire [to you], but utter customary speech.

33. And stay in your houses. Bedizen not yourselves with the bedizenment of theTime of Ignorance. Be regular in prayer, and pay the poor-due, and obey Allahand His messenger. Allah's wish is but to remove uncleanness far from you, OFolk of the Household, and cleanse you with a thorough cleansing.

34. And bear in mind that which is recited in your houses of the revelations ofAllah and wisdom. Lo! Allah is Subtile, Aware.

35. Lo! men who surrender unto Allah, and women who surrender, and men whobelieve and women who believe, and men who obey and women who obey, and men whospeak the truth and women who speak the truth, and men who persevere [inrighteousness] and women who persevere, and men who are humble and women who arehumble, and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast andwomen who fast, and men who guard their modesty and women who guard [theirmodesty], and men who remember Allah much and women who remember - Allah hathprepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward.

36. And it becometh not a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and Hismessenger have decided an affair [for them], that they should [after that] claim

199

any say in their affair; and whoso is rebellious to Allah and His messenger, heverily goeth astray in error manifest.

37. And when thou saidst unto him on whom Allah hath conferred favour and thou

hast conferred favour: Keep thy wife to thyself, and fear Allah. And thou didsthide in thy mind that which Allah was to bring to light, and thou didst fearmankind whereas Allah hath a better right that thou shouldst fear Him. So whenZeyd had performed that necessary formality [of divorce] from her, We gave herunto thee in marriage, so that [henceforth] there may be no sin for believers inrespect of wives of their adopted sons, when the latter have performed thenecessary formality [of release] from them. The commandment of Allah must befulfilled.

38. There is no reproach for the Prophet in that which Allah maketh his due.

That was Allah's way with those who passed away of old - and the commandment ofAllah is certain destiny -

39. Who delivered the messages of Allah and feared Him, and feared none saveAllah. Allah keepeth good account.

40. Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the messenger ofAllah and the Seal of the Prophets; and Allah is ever Aware of all things.

41. O ye who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance.

42. And glorify Him early and late.

43. He it is Who blesseth you, and His angels [bless you], that He may bring youforth from darkness unto light; and He is ever Merciful to the believers.

44. Their salutation on the day when they shall meet Him will be: Peace. And Hehath prepared for them a goodly recompense.

45. O Prophet! Lo! We have sent thee as a witness and a bringer of good tidingsand a warner.

46. And as a summoner unto Allah by His permission, and as a lamp that givethlight.

47. And announce unto the believers the good tidings that they will have greatbounty from Allah.

48. And incline not to the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Disregard theirnoxious talk, and put thy trust in Allah. Allah is sufficient as Trustee.

49. O ye who believe! If ye wed believing women and divorce them before ye havetouched them, then there is no period that ye should reckon. But content themand release them handsomely.

50. O Prophet! Lo! We have made lawful unto thee thy wives unto whom thou hastpaid their dowries, and those whom thy right hand possesseth of those whom Allahhath given thee as spoils of war, and the daughters of thine uncle on thefather's side and the daughters of thine aunts on the father's side, and thedaughters of thine uncle on the mother's side and the daughters of thine auntson the mother's side who emigrated with thee, and a believing woman if she giveherself unto the Prophet and the Prophet desire to ask her in marriage - aprivilege for thee only, not for the [rest of] believers - We are Aware of thatwhich We enjoined upon them concerning their wives and those whom their righthands possess - that thou mayst be free from blame, for Allah is ever Forgiving,

Merciful.

51. Thou canst defer whom thou wilt of them and receive unto thee whom thou

wilt, and whomsoever thou desirest of those whom thou hast set aside[temporarily], it is no sin for thee [to receive her again]; that is better;

200

that they may be comforted and not grieve, and may all be pleased with what thougivest them. Allah knoweth what is in your hearts [O men], and Allah is everForgiving, Clement.

52. It is not allowed thee to take [other] women henceforth, nor that thoushouldst change them for other wives even though their beauty pleased thee, savethose whom thy right hand possesseth. And Allah is ever Watcher over all things.

53. O Ye who believe! Enter not the dwellings of the Prophet for a meal withoutwaiting for the proper time, unless permission be granted you. But if ye areinvited, enter, and, when your meal is ended, then disperse. Linger not forconversation. Lo! that would cause annoyance to the Prophet, and he would be shyof [asking] you [to go]; but Allah is not shy of the truth. And when ye ask ofthem [the wives of the Prophet] anything, ask it of them from behind a curtain.

That is purer for your hearts and for their hearts. And it is not for you tocause annoyance to the messenger of Allah, nor that ye should ever marry hiswives after him. Lo! that in Allah's sight would be an enormity.

54. Whether ye divulge a thing or keep it hidden, lo! Allah is ever Knower ofall things.

55. It is no sin for them [thy wives] to converse freely] with their fathers, ortheir sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or the sons of theirsisters or of their own women, or their slaves. O women! Keep your duty toAllah. Lo! Allah is ever Witness over all things.

56. Lo! Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe!

Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation.

57. Lo! those who malign Allah and His messenger, Allah hath cursed them in theworld and the Hereafter, and hath prepared for them the doom of the disdained.

58. And those who malign believing men and believing women undeservedly, theybear the guilt of slander and manifest sin.

59. O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believersto draw their cloaks close round them [when they go abroad]. That will bebetter, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving,

Merciful.

60. If the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and the alarmistsin the city do not cease, We verily shall urge thee on against them, then theywill be your neighbours in it but a little while.

61. Accursed, they will be seized wherever found and slain with a [fierce]

slaughter.

62. That was the way of Allah in the case of those who passed away of old; thouwilt not find for the way of Allah aught of power to change.

63. Men ask thee of the Hour. Say: The knowledge of it is with Allah only. Whatcan convey [the knowledge] unto thee? It may be that the Hour is nigh.

64. Lo! Allah hath cursed the disbelievers, and hath prepared for them a flamingfire,

65. Wherein they will abide for ever. They will find [then] no protecting friendnor helper.

66. On the day when their faces are turned over in the Fire, they say: Oh, wouldthat we had obeyed Allah and had obeyed His messenger!

67. And they say: Our Lord! Lo! we obeyed our princes and great men, and theymisled us from the Way.

201

68. Our Lord! Oh, give them double torment and curse them with a mighty curse.

69. O ye who believe! Be not as those who slandered Moses, but Allah proved hisinnocence of that which they alleged, and he was well esteemed in Allah's sight.

70. O ye who believe! Guard your duty to Allah, and speak words straight to thepoint;

71. He will adjust your works for you and will forgive you your sins. Whosoeverobeyeth Allah and His messenger, he verily hath gained a signal victory.

72. Lo! We offered the trust unto the heavens and the earth and the hills, butthey shrank from bearing it and were afraid of it. And man assumed it. Lo! hehath proved a tyrant and a fool.

73. So Allah punisheth hypocritical men and hypocritical women, and idolatrousmen and idolatrous women. But Allah pardoneth believing men and believing women,

and Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

SURA 34. SABA (SABA, SHEBA)

1. Praise be to Allah, unto Whom belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens andwhatsoever is in the earth. His is the praise in the Hereafter, and He is theWise, the Aware.

2. He knoweth that which goeth into the earth and that which cometh forth fromit, and that descendeth from the heaven and that which ascendeth into it. He isthe Merciful, the Forgiving.

3. Those who disbelieve say: The Hour will never come unto us. Say: Nay, by myLord, but it is coming unto you surely. [He is] the Knower of the Unseen. Not anatom's weight, or less than that or greater, escapeth Him in the heavens or in the earth, but it is in a clear Record,

4. That He may reward those who believe and do good works. For them is pardonand a rich provision.

5. But those who strive against Our revelations, challenging [Us], theirs willbe a painful doom of wrath.

6. Those who have been given knowledge see that what is revealed unto thee fromthy Lord is the truth and leadeth unto the path of the Mighty, the Owner ofPraise.

7. Those who disbelieve say: Shall we show you a man who will tell you [that]

when ye have become dispersed in dust with most complete dispersal still, eventhen, ye will be created anew?

8. Hath he invented a lie concerning Allah, or is there in him a madness? Nay,

but those who disbelieve in the Hereafter are in torment and far error.

9. Have they not observed what is before them and what is behind them of the skyand the earth? If We will, We can make the earth swallow them, or causeobliteration from the sky to fall on them. Lo! herein surely is a portent forevery slave who turneth [to Allah] repentant.

10. And assuredly We gave David grace from Us, [saying]: O ye hills and birds,

echo his psalms of praise! And We made the iron supple unto him,

11. Saying: Make thou long coats of mail and measure the links [thereof]. And doye right. Lo! I am Seer of what ye do.

202

12. And unto Solomon [We gave] the wind, whereof the morning course was amonth's journey and the evening course a month's journey, and We caused thefount of copper to gush forth for him, and [We gave him] certain of the jinn whoworked before him by permission of his Lord. And such of them as deviated fromOur command, them We caused to taste the punishment of flaming Fire.

13. They made for him what he willed: synagogues and statues, basins like wellsand boilers built into the ground. Give thanks, O House of David! Few of Mybondmen are thankful.

14. And when We decreed death for him, nothing showed his death to them save acreeping creature of the earth which gnawed away his staff. And when he fell thejinn saw clearly how, if they had known the Unseen, they would not havecontinued in despised toil.

15. There was indeed a sign for Sheba in their dwelling-place: Two gardens on the right hand and the left [as who should say]: Eat of the provision of yourLord and render thanks to Him. A fair land and an indulgent Lord!

16. But they were froward, so We sent on them the flood of 'Iram, and inexchange for their two gardens gave them two gardens bearing bitter fruit, thetamarisk and here and there a lote-tree.

17. This We awarded them because of their ingratitude. Punish We ever any savethe ingrates?

18. And We set, between them and the towns which We had blessed, towns easy tobe seen, and We made the stage between them easy, [saying]: Travel in themsafely both by night and day.

19. But they said: Our Lord! Make the stage between our journeys longer. Andthey wronged themselves, therefore We made them bywords [in the land] andscattered them abroad, a total scattering. Lo! herein verily are portents foreach steadfast, grateful [heart].

20. And Satan indeed found his calculation true concerning them, for they followhim, all save a group of true believers.

21. And he had no warrant whatsoever against them, save that We would know himwho believeth in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt thereof; and thy Lord [OMuhammad] taketh note of all things.

22. Say [O Muhammad]: Call upon those whom ye set up beside Allah! They possessnot an atom's weight either in the heavens or in the earth, nor have they anyshare in either, nor hath He an auxiliary among them.

23. No intercession availeth with Him save for him whom He permitteth. Yet, whenfear is banished from their hearts, they say: What was it that your Lord said?

They say: The Truth. And He is the Sublime, the Great.

24. Say: Who giveth you provision from the sky and the earth? Say: Allah, Lo! weor you assuredly are rightly guided or in error manifest.

25. Say: Ye will not be asked of what we committed, nor shall we be asked ofwhat ye do.

26. Say: Our Lord will bring us all together, then He will judge between us withtruth. He is the All-knowing Judge.

27. Say: Show me those whom ye have joined unto Him as partners. Nay [ye darenot]! For He is Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.

28. And We have not sent thee [O Muhammad] save as a bringer of good tidings anda warner unto all mankind; but most of mankind know not.

203

29. And they say: When is this promise [to be fulfilled] if ye are truthful?

30. Say [O Muhammad]: Yours is the promise of a Day which ye cannot postpone norhasten by an hour.

31. And those who disbelieve say: We believe not in this Qur'an nor in thatwhich was before it; but oh, if thou couldst see, when the wrong-doers arebrought up before their Lord, how they cast the blame one to another; how thosewho were despised [in the earth] say unto those who were proud: But for you, weshould have been believers.

32. Those who were proud say unto those who were despised: Did we drive you awayfrom the guidance after it had come unto you? Nay, but ye were guilty.

33. Those who were despised say unto those who were proud: Nay but [it was your]

scheming night and day, when ye commanded us to disbelieve in Allah and set uprivals unto Him. And they are filled with remorse when they behold the doom; andWe place carcans on the necks of those who disbelieved. Are they requited aughtsave what they used to do?

34. And We sent not unto any township a warner, but its pampered ones declared:

Lo! we are disbelievers in that wherewith ye have been sent.

35. And they say: We are more [than you] in wealth and children. We are not thepunished!

36. Say [O Muhammad]: Lo! my Lord enlargeth the provision for whom He will andnarroweth it [for whom He will]. But most of mankind know not.

37. And it is not your wealth nor your children that will bring you near untoUs, but he who believeth and doeth good [he draweth near]. As for such, theirswill be twofold reward for what they did and they will dwell secure in loftyhalls.

38. And as for those who strive against Our revelations, challenging, they willbe brought to the doom.

39. Say: Lo! my Lord enlargeth the provision for whom He will of His bondmen,

and narroweth [it] for him. And whatsoever ye spend [for good] He replaceth it.

And He is the Best of Providers.

40. And on the day when He will gather them all together, He will say unto theangels: Did these worship you?

41. They will say: Be Thou Glorified. Thou [alone] art our Guardian, not them!

Nay, but they worshipped the jinn; most of them were believers in them.

42. That day ye will possess no use nor hurt one for another. And We shall sayunto those who did wrong: Taste the doom of the Fire which ye used to deny.

43. And if Our revelations are recited unto them in plain terms, they say: Thisis naught else than a man who would turn you away from what your fathers used toworship; and they say: This is naught else than an invented lie. Those whodisbelieve say of the truth when it reacheth them: This is naught else than meremagic.

44. And We have given them no scriptures which they study, nor sent We untothem, before thee, any warner.

45. Those before them denied, and these have not attained a tithe of that whichWe bestowed on them [of old]; yet they denied My messengers. How intense thenwas My abhorrence [of them]!

46. Say [unto them, O Muhammad]: I exhort you unto one thing only: that yeawake, for Allah's sake, by twos and singly, and then reflect: There is no

204

madness in your comrade. He is naught else than a warner unto you in face of aterrific doom.

47. Say: Whatever reward I might have asked of you is yours. My reward is theaffair of Allah only. He is Witness over all things.

48. Say: Lo! my Lord hurleth the truth. [He is] the Knower of Things Hidden.

49. Say: The Truth hath come, and falsehood showeth not its face and will notreturn.

50. Say: If I err, I err only to my own loss, and if I am rightly guided it isbecause of that which my Lord hath revealed unto me. Lo! He is Hearer, Nigh.

51. Couldst thou but see when they are terrified with no escape, and are seizedfrom near at hand,

52. And say: We [now] believe therein. But how can they reach [faith] from afaroff,

53. When they disbelieved in it of yore. They aim at the unseen from afar off.

54. And a gulf is set between them and that which they desire, as was done forpeople of their kind of old. Lo! they were in hopeless doubt.

SURA 35. FATIR (THE ANGELS, ORIGNATOR)

1. Praise be to Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, Who appointeththe angels messengers having wings two, three and four. He multiplieth increation what He will. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.

2. That which Allah openeth unto mankind of mercy none can withhold it; and thatwhich He withholdeth none can release thereafter. He is the Mighty, the Wise.

3. O mankind! Remember Allah's grace toward you! Is there any creator other thanAllah who provideth for you from the sky and the earth? There is no Allah saveHim. Whither then are ye turned?

4. And if they deny thee, [O Muhammad], messengers [of Allah] were denied beforethee. Unto Allah all things are brought back.

5. O mankind! Lo! the promise of Allah is true. So let not the life of the worldbeguile you, and let not the [avowed] beguiler beguile you with regard to Allah.

6. Lo! the devil is an enemy for you, so treat him as an enemy. He onlysummoneth his faction to be owners of the flaming Fire.

7. Those who disbelieve, theirs will be an awful doom; and those who believe anddo good works, theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward.

8. Is he, the evil of whose deeds is made fairseeming unto him so that hedeemeth it good, [other than Satan's dupe]? Allah verily sendeth whom He willastray, and guideth whom He will; so let not thy soul expire in sighings forthem. Lo! Allah is Aware of what they do!

9. And Allah it is Who sendeth the winds and they raise a cloud; then We lead itunto a dead land and revive therewith the earth after its death. Such is the

Resurrection.

10. Whoso desireth power [should know that] all power belongeth to Allah. UntoHim good words ascend, and the pious deed doth He exalt; but those who plotiniquities, theirs will be an awful doom; and the plotting of such [folk] willcome to naught.

205

11. Allah created you from dust, then from a little fluid, then He made youpairs [the male and female]. No female beareth or bringeth forth save with Hisknowledge. And no-one groweth old who groweth old, nor is aught lessened of hislife, but it is recorded in a Book, Lo! that is easy for Allah.

12. And the two seas are not alike: this, fresh, sweet, good to drink, this[other] bitter, salt. And from them both ye eat fresh meat and derive theornament that ye wear. And thou seest the ship cleaving them with its prow thatye may seek of His bounty, and that haply ye may give thanks.

13. He maketh the night to pass into the day and He maketh the day to pass intothe night. He hath subdued the sun and moon to service. Each runneth unto anappointed term. Such is Allah, your Lord; His is the Sovereignty; and those untowhom ye pray instead of Him own not so much as the white spot on a date-stone.

14. If ye pray unto them they hear not your prayer, and if they heard they couldnot grant it you. On the Day of Resurrection they will disown association withyou. None can inform you like Him Who is Aware.

15. O mankind! Ye are the poor in your relation to Allah. And Allah! He is theAbsolute, the Owner of Praise.

16. If He will, He can be rid of you and bring [instead of you] some newcreation.

17. That is not a hard thing for Allah.

18. And no burdened soul can bear another's burden, and if one heavy ladencrieth for [help with] his load, naught of it will be lifted even though he[unto whom he crieth] be of kin. Thou warnest only those who fear their Lord insecret, and have established worship. He who groweth [in goodness], groweth onlyfor himself, [he cannot by his merit redeem others]. Unto Allah is thejourneying.

19. The blind man is not equal with the seer;

20. Nor is darkness [tantamount to] light;

21. Nor is the shadow equal with the sun's full heat;

22. Nor are the living equal with the dead. Lo! Allah maketh whom He will tohear. Thou canst not reach those who are in the graves.

23. Thou art but a warner.

24. Lo! We have sent thee with the Truth, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner;

and there is not a nation but a warner hath passed among them.

25. And if they deny thee, those before them also denied. Their messengers cameunto them with clear proofs [of Allah's Sovereignty], and with the Psalms and the Scripture giving light.

26. Then seized I those who disbelieved, and how intense was My abhorrence!

27. Hast thou not seen that Allah causeth water to fall from the sky, and Weproduce therewith fruit of divers hues; and among the hills are streaks whiteand red, of divers hues, and [others] raven-black;

28. And of men and beasts and cattle, in like manner, divers hues? The eruditeamong His bondmen fear Allah alone. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Forgiving.

29. Lo! those who read the Scripture of Allah, and establish worship, and spendof that which We have bestowed on them secretly and openly, they look forward toimperishable gain,

206

30. That He will pay them their wages and increase them of His grace. Lo! He isForgiving, Responsive.

31. As for that which We inspire in thee of the Scripture, it is the Truthconfirming that which was [revealed] before it. Lo! Allah is indeed Observer,

Seer of His slaves.

32. Then We gave the Scripture as inheritance unto those whom We elected of Ourbondmen. But of them are some who wrong themselves and of them are some who arelukewarm, and of them are some who outstrip [others] through good deeds, byAllah's leave. That is the great favour!

33. Gardens of Eden! They enter them wearing armlets of gold and pearl and theirraiment therein is silk.

34. And they say: Praise be to Allah Who hath put grief away from us. Lo! OurLord is Forgiving, Bountiful,

35. Who, of His grace, hath installed us in the mansion of eternity, where toiltoucheth us not nor can weariness affect us.

36. But as for those who disbelieve, for them is fire of hell; it taketh notcomplete effect upon them so that they can die, nor is its torment lightened forthem. Thus We punish every ingrate.

37. And they cry for help there, [saying]: Our Lord! Release us; we will doright, not [the wrong] that we used to do. Did not We grant you a life longenough for him who reflected to reflect therein? And the warner came unto you.

Now taste [the flavour of your deeds], for evil-doers have no helper.

38. Lo! Allah is the Knower of the Unseen of the heavens and the earth. Lo! He

is Aware of the secret of [men's] breasts.

39. He it is Who hath made you regents in the earth; so he who disbelieveth, hisdisbelief be on his own head. Their disbelief increaseth for the disbelievers,

in their Lord's sight, naught save abhorrence. Their disbelief increaseth for the disbelievers naught save loss.

40. Say: Have ye seen your partner-gods to whom ye pray beside Allah? Show mewhat they created of the earth! Or have they any portion in the heavens? Or haveWe given them a scripture so they act on clear proof therefrom? Nay, the evildoers

promise one another only to deceive.

41. Lo! Allah graspeth the heavens and the earth that they deviate not, and ifthey were to deviate there is not one that could grasp them after Him. Lo! He isever Clement, Forgiving.

42. And they swore by Allah, their most binding oath, that if a warner came untothem they would be more tractable than any of the nations; yet, when a warnercame unto them it aroused in them naught save repugnance,

43. [Shown in their] behaving arrogantly in the land and plotting evil; and theevil plot encloseth but the men who make it. Then, can they expect aught savethe treatment of the folk of old? Thou wilt not find for Allah's way oftreatment any substitute, nor wilt thou find for Allah's way of treatment aughtof power to change.

44. Have they not travelled in the land and seen the nature of the consequencefor those who were before them, and they were mightier than these in power?

Allah is not such that aught in the heavens or in the earth escapeth Him. Lo! Heis the Wise, the Mighty.

45. If Allah took mankind to task by that which they deserve, He would not leavea living creature on the surface of the earth; but He reprieveth them unto an

207

appointed term, and when their term cometh - then verily [they will know that]

Allah is ever Seer of His slaves.

SURA 36. YA-SEEN (YA-SEEN)

1. Ya Sin.

2. By the wise Qur'an,

3. Lo! thou art of those sent

4. On a straight path,

5. A revelation of the Mighty, the Merciful,

6. That thou mayst warn a folk whose fathers were not warned, so they areheedless.

7. Already hath the judgment, [for their infidelity] proved true of most ofthem, for they believe not.

8. Lo! We have put on their necks carcans reaching unto the chins, so that theyare made stiff-necked.

9. And We have set a bar before them and a bar behind them, and [thus] havecovered them so that they see not.

10. Whether thou warn them or thou warn them not, it is alike for them, for theybelieve not.

11. Thou warnest only him who followeth the Reminder and feareth the Beneficentin secret. To him bear tidings of forgiveness and a rich reward.

12. Lo! We it is Who bring the dead to life. We record that which they sendbefore [them, and their footprints. And all things We have kept in a clearRegister.

13. Coin for them a similitude: The people of the city when those sent [fromAllah] came unto them;

14. When We sent unto them twain, and they denied them both, so We reinforcedthem with a third, and they said: Lo! we have been sent unto you.

15. They said: Ye are but mortals like unto us. The Beneficent hath naughtrevealed. Ye do but lie!

16. They answered: Our Lord knoweth that we are indeed sent unto you,

17. And our duty is but plain conveyance [of the message].

18. [The people of the city] said: We augur ill of you. If ye desist not, weshall surely stone you, and grievous torture will befall you at our hands.

19. They said: Your evil augury be with you! Is it because ye are reminded [of the truth]? Nay, but ye are froward folk!

20. And there came from the uttermost part of the city a man running. He cried:

O my people! Follow those who have been sent!

21. Follow those who ask of you no fee, and who are rightly guided.

22. For what cause should I not serve Him Who hath created me, and unto Whom yewill be brought back?

23. Shall I take [other] gods in place of Him when, if the Beneficent shouldwish me any harm, their intercession will avail me naught, nor can they save?

208

24. Then truly I should be in error manifest.

25. Lo! I have believed in your Lord, so hear me!

26. It was said [unto him]: Enter paradise. He said: Would that my people knew

27. With what [munificence] my Lord hath pardoned me and made me of the honouredones!

28. We sent not down against his people after him a host from heaven, nor do Weever send.

29. It was but one Shout, and lo! they were extinct.

30. Ah, the anguish for the bondmen! Never came there unto them a messenger butthey did mock him!

31. Have they not seen how many generations We destroyed before them, whichindeed returned not unto them;

32. But all, without exception, will be brought before Us.

33. A token unto them is the dead earth. We revive it, and We bring forth fromit grain so that they eat thereof;

34. And We have placed therein gardens of the date-palm and grapes, and We havecaused springs of water to gush forth therein,

35. That they may eat of the fruit thereof, and their hands made it not. Willthey not, then, give thanks?

36. Glory be to Him Who created all the sexual pairs, of that which the earthgroweth, and of themselves, and of that which they know not!

37. A token unto them is night. We strip it of the day, and lo! they are indarkness.

38. And the sun runneth on unto a resting-place for him. That is the measuringof the Mighty, the Wise.

39. And for the moon We have appointed mansions till she return like an oldshrivelled palm-leaf.

40. It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor doth the night outstrip theday. They float each in an orbit.

41. And a token unto them is that We bear their offspring in the laden ship,

42. And have created for them of the like thereof whereon they ride.

43. And if We will, We drown them, and there is no help for them, neither canthey be saved;

44. Unless by mercy from Us and as comfort for a while.

45. When it is said unto them: Beware of that which is before you and that whichis behind you, that haply ye may find mercy [they are heedless].

46. Never came a token of the tokens of their Lord to them, but they did turnaway from it!

47. And when it is said unto them: Spend of that wherewith Allah hath providedyou, those who disbelieve say unto those who believe: Shall we feed those whomAllah, if He willed, would feed? Ye are in naught else than error manifest.

48. And they say: When will this promise be fulfilled, if ye are truthful?

49. They await but one Shout, which will surprise them while they are disputing.

209

50. Then they cannot make bequest, nor can they return to their own folk.

51. And the trumpet is blown and lo! from the graves they hie unto their Lord,

52. Crying: Woe upon us! Who hath raised us from our place of sleep? This isthat which the Beneficent did promise, and the messengers spoke truth.

53. It is but one Shout, and behold them brought together before Us!

54. This day no soul is wronged in aught; nor are ye requited aught save what yeused to do.

55. Lo! those who merit paradise this day are happily employed,

56. They and their wives, in pleasant shade, on thrones reclining;

57. Theirs the fruit [of their good deeds] and theirs [all] that they ask;

58. The word from a Merciful Lord [for them] is: Peace!

59. But avaunt ye, O ye guilty, this day!

60. Did I not charge you, O ye sons of Adam, that ye worship not the devil - Lo!

he is your open foe! -

61. But that ye worship Me? That was the right path.

62. Yet he hath led astray of you a great multitude. Had ye then no sense?

63. This is hell which ye were promised [if ye followed him].

64. Burn therein this day for that ye disbelieved.

65. This day We seal up their mouths, and their hands speak out to Us and theirfeet bear witness as to what they used to earn.

66. And had We willed, We verily could have quenched their eyesight so that theyshould struggle for the way. Then how could they have seen?

67. And had We willed, We verily could have fixed them in their place, makingthem powerless to go forward or turn back.

68. He whom we bring unto old age, We reverse him in creation [making him goback to weakness after strength]. Have ye then no sense?

69. And We have not taught him [Muhammad] poetry, nor is it meet for him. Thisis naught else than a Reminder and a Lecture making plain,

70. To warn whosoever liveth, and that the word may be fulfilled against thedisbelievers.

71. Have they not seen how We have created for them of Our handiwork the cattle,

so that they are their owners,

72. And have subdued them unto them, so that some of them they have for riding,

some for food?

73. Benefits and [divers] drinks have they from them. Will they not then givethanks?

74. And they have taken [other] gods beside Allah, in order that they may behelped.

75. It is not in their power to help them; but they [the worshippers] are untothem a host in arms.

76. So let not their speech grieve thee [O Muhammad]. Lo! We know what theyconceal and what proclaim.

210

77. Hath not man seen that We have created him from a drop of seed? Yet lo! heis an open opponent.

78. And he hath coined for Us a similitude, and hath forgotten the fact of hiscreation, saying: Who will revive these bones when they have rotted away?

79. Say: He will revive them Who produced them at the first, for He is Knower ofevery creation,

80. Who hath appointed for you fire from the green tree, and behold! ye kindlefrom it.

81. Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth Able to create the like of

them? Aye, that He is! for He is the All-Wise Creator,

82. But His command, when He intendeth a thing, is only that He saith unto it:

Be! and it is.

83. Therefor Glory be to Him in Whose hand is the dominion over all things! UntoHim ye will be brought back.

SURA 37. AS-SAAFFAT (THOSE WHO SET THE RANKS,DRAWN

UP IN RANKS)

1. By those who set the ranks in battle order

2. And those who drive away [the wicked] with reproof

3. And those who read [the Word] for a reminder,

4. Lo! thy Lord is surely One;

5. Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all that is between them, and Lordof the sun's risings.

6. Lo! We have adorned the lowest heaven with an ornament, the planets;

7. With security from every froward devil.

8. They cannot listen to the Highest Chiefs for they are pelted from every side,

9. Outcast, and theirs is a perpetual torment;

10. Save him who snatcheth a fragment, and there pursueth him a piercing flame.

11. Then ask them [O Muhammad]: Are they stronger as a creation, or those[others] whom we have created? Lo! We created them of plastic clay.

12. Nay, but thou dost marvel when they mock

13. And heed not when they are reminded,

14. And seek to scoff when they behold a portent.

15. And they say: Lo! this is mere magic;

16. When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, beraised [again]?

17. And our forefathers?

18. Say [O Muhammad]: Ye, in truth; and ye will be brought low.

19. There is but one Shout, and lo! they behold,

20. And say: Ah, woe for us! This is the Day of Judgment.

211

21. This is the Day of Separation, which ye used to deny.

22. [And it is said unto the angels]: Assemble those who did wrong, togetherwith their wives and what they used to worship

23. Instead of Allah, and lead them to the path to hell;

24. And stop them, for they must be questioned.

25. What aileth you that ye help not one another?

26. Nay, but this day they make full submission.

27. And some of them draw near unto others, mutually questioning.

28. They say: Lo! ye used to come unto us, imposing, [swearing that ye spoke thetruth].

29. They answer: Nay, but ye [yourselves] were not believers.

30. We had no power over you, but ye were wayward folk.

31. Now the Word of our Lord hath been fulfilled concerning us. Lo! we are aboutto taste [the doom].

32. Thus we misled you. Lo! we were [ourselves] astray.

33. Then lo! this day they [both] are sharers in the doom.

34. Lo! thus deal We with the guilty.

35. For when it was said unto them, There is no Allah save Allah, they werescornful

36. And said: Shall we forsake our gods for a mad poet?

37. Nay, but he brought the Truth, and he confirmed those sent [before him].

38. Lo! [now] verily ye taste the painful doom -

39. Ye are requited naught save what ye did -

40. Save single-minded slaves of Allah;

41. For them there is a known provision,

42. Fruits. And they will be honoured

43. In the Gardens of delight,

44. On couches facing one another;

45. A cup from a gushing spring is brought round for them,

46. White, delicious to the drinkers,

47. Wherein there is no headache nor are they made mad thereby.

48. And with them are those of modest gaze, with lovely eyes,

49. [Pure] as they were hidden eggs [of the ostrich].

50. And some of them draw near unto others, mutually questioning.

51. A speaker of them saith: Lo! I had a comrade

52. Who used to say: Art thou in truth of those who put faith [in his words]?

53. Can we, when we are dead and have become mere dust and bones - can we [then]

verily be brought to book?

54. He saith: Will ye look?

212

55. Then looketh he and seeth him in the depth of hell.

56. He saith: By Allah, thou verily didst all but cause my ruin,

57. And had it not been for the favour of my Lord, I too had been of those haledforth [to doom].

58. Are we then not to die

59. Saving our former death, and are we not to be punished?

60. Lo! this is the supreme triumph.

61. For the like of this, then, let the workers work.

62. Is this better as a welcome, or the tree of Zaqqum?

63. Lo! We have appointed it a torment for wrong-doers.

64. Lo! it is a tree that springeth in the heart of hell.

65. Its crop is as it were the heads of devils

66. And lo! they verily must eat thereof, and fill [their] bellies therewith.

67. And afterward, lo! thereupon they have a drink of boiling water

68. And afterward, lo! their return is surely unto hell.

69. They indeed found their fathers astray,

70. But they make haste [to follow] in their footsteps.

71. And verily most of the men of old went astray before them,

72. And verily We sent among them warners.

73. Then see the nature of the consequence for those warned,

74. Save single-minded slaves of Allah.

75. And Noah verily prayed unto Us, and gracious was the Hearer of his prayer

76. And We saved him and his household from the great distress,

77. And made his seed the survivors,

78. And left for him among the later folk [the salutation]:

79. Peace be unto Noah among the peoples!

80. Lo! thus do We reward the good.

81. Lo! he is one of Our believing slaves.

82. Then We did drown the others.

83. And lo! of his persuasion verily was Abraham

84. When he came unto his Lord with a whole heart;

85. When he said unto his father and his folk: What is it that ye worship?

86. Is it a falsehood - gods beside Allah - that ye desire?

87. What then is your opinion of the Lord of the Worlds?

88. And he glanced a glance at the stars

89. Then said: Lo! I feel sick!

90. And they turned their backs and went away from him.

91. Then turned he to their gods and said: Will ye not eat?

213

92. What aileth you that ye speak not?

93. Then he attacked them, striking with his right hand.

94. And [his people] came toward him, hastening.

95. He said: Worship ye that which ye yourselves do carve

96. When Allah hath created you and what ye make?

97. They said: Build for him a building and fling him in the red-hotfire.

98. And they designed a snare for him, but We made them the undermost.

99. And he said: Lo! I am going unto my Lord Who will guide me.

100. My Lord! Vouchsafe me of the righteous.

101. So We gave him tidings of a gentle son.

102. And when [his son] was old enough to walk with him, [Abraham] said: O mydear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice thee. So look, whatthinkest thou? He said: O my father! Do that which thou art commanded. Allahwilling, thou shalt find me of the steadfast.

103. Then, when they had both surrendered [to Allah], and he had flung him downupon his face,

104. We called unto him: O Abraham!

105. Thou hast already fulfilled the vision. Lo! thus do We reward the good.

106. Lo! that verily was a clear test.

107. Then We ransomed him with a tremendous victim.

108. And We left for him among the later folk [the salutation]:

109. Peace be unto Abraham!

110. Thus do We reward the good.

111. Lo! he is one of Our believing slaves.

112. And we gave him tidings of the birth of Isaac, a prophet of the righteous.

113. And We blessed him and Isaac. And of their seed are some who do good, andsome who plainly wrong themselves.

114. And We verily gave grace unto Moses and Aaron,

115. And saved them and their people from the great distress,

116. And helped them so that they became the victors.

117. And We gave them the clear Scripture

118. And showed them the right path.

119. And We left for them among the later folk [the salutation]:

120. Peace be unto Moses and Aaron!

121. Lo! thus do We reward the good.

122. Lo! they are two of Our believing slaves.

123. And lo! Elias was of those sent [to warn],

124. When he said unto his folk: Will ye not ward off [evil]?

125. Will ye cry unto Baal and forsake the Best of creators,

214

126. Allah, your Lord and Lord of your forefathers?

127. But they denied him, so they surely will be haled forth [to the doom]

128. Save single-minded slaves of Allah.

129. And we left for him among the later folk [the salutation]:

130. Peace be unto Elias!

131. Lo! thus do We reward the good.

132. Lo! he is one of our believing slaves.

133. And lo! Lot verily was of those sent [to warn].

134. When We saved him and his household, every one,

135. Save an old woman among those who stayed behind;

136. Then We destroyed the others.

137. And lo! ye verily pass by [the ruin of] them in the morning

138. And at night-time; have ye then no sense?

139. And lo! Jonah verily was of those sent [to warn]

140. When he fled unto the laden ship,

141. And then drew lots and was of those rejected;

142. And the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy;

143. And had he not been one of those who glorify [Allah]

144. He would have tarried in its belly till the day when they are raised;

145. Then We cast him on a desert shore while he was sick;

146. And We caused a tree of gourd to grow above him;

147. And We sent him to a hundred thousand [folk] or more

148. And they believed, therefor We gave them comfort for a while.

149. Now ask them [O Muhammad]: Hath thy Lord daughters whereas they have sons?

150. Or created We the angels females while they were present?

151. Lo! it is of their falsehood that they say:

152. Allah hath begotten. Allah! verily they tell a lie.

153. [And again of their falsehood]: He hath preferred daughters to sons.

154. What aileth you? How judge ye?

155. Will ye not then reflect?

156. Or have ye a clear warrant?

157. Then produce your writ, if ye are truthful.

158. And they imagine kinship between him and the jinn, whereas the jinn knowwell that they will be brought before [Him].

159. Glorified be Allah from that which they attribute [unto Him],

160. Save single-minded slaves of Allah.

161. Lo! verily, ye and that which ye worship,

162. Ye cannot excite [anyone] against Him.

215

163. Save him who is to burn in hell.

164. There is not one of us but hath his known position.

165. Lo! we, even we are they who set the ranks,

166. Lo! we, even we are they who hymn His praise

167. And indeed they used to say:

168. If we had but a reminder from the men of old

169. We would be single-minded slaves of Allah.

170. Yet [now that it is come] they disbelieve therein; but they will come toknow.

171. And verily Our word went forth of old unto Our bondmen sent [to warn]

172. That they verily would be helped,

173. And that Our host, they verily would be the victors.

174. So withdraw from them [O Muhammad] awhile,

175. And watch, for they will [soon] see.

176. Would they hasten on Our doom?

177. But when it cometh home to them, then it will be a hapless morn for thosewho have been warned.

178. Withdraw from them awhile

179. And watch, for they will [soon] see.

180. Glorified be thy Lord, the Lord of Majesty, from that which they attribute[unto Him]

181. And peace be unto those sent [to warn].

182. And praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds!

SURA 38. SAD (THE LETTER SAD)

1. Sad. By the renowned Qur'an,

2. Nay, but those who disbelieve are in false pride and schism.

3. How many a generation We destroyed before them, and they cried out when itwas no longer the time for escape!

4. And they marvel that a warner from among themselves hath come unto them, and the disbelievers say: This is a wizard, a charlatan.

5. Maketh he the gods One Allah? Lo! that is an astounding thing.

6. The chiefs among them go about, exhorting: Go and be staunch to your gods!

Lo! this is a thing designed.

7. We have not heard of this in later religion. This is naught but an invention.

8. Hath the reminder been unto him [alone] among us? Nay, but they are in doubtconcerning My reminder; nay but they have not yet tasted My doom.

9. Or are theirs the treasures of the mercy of thy Lord, the Mighty, theBestower?

216

10. Or is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and all that is between themtheirs? Then let them ascend by ropes!

11. A defeated host are [all] the factions that are there.

12. The folk of Noah before them denied [their messenger] and [so did the tribeof] A'ad, and Pharaoh firmly planted,

13. And [the tribe of] Thamud, and the folk of Lot, and the dwellers in thewood: these were the factions.

14. Not one of them but did deny the messengers, therefor My doom was justified,

15. These wait for but one Shout, there will be no second thereto.

16. They say: Our Lord! Hasten on for us our fate before the Day of Reckoning.

17. Bear with what they say, and remember Our bondman David, lord of might, Lo!

he was ever turning in repentance [toward Allah].

18. Lo! We subdued the hills to hymn the praises [of their Lord] with him atnightfall and sunrise,

19. And the birds assembled; all were turning unto Him.

20. We made his kingdom strong and gave him wisdom and decisive speech.

21. And hath the story of the litigants come unto thee? How they climbed thewall into the royal chamber;

22. How they burst in upon David, and he was afraid of them. They said: Be notafraid! [We are] two litigants, one of whom hath wronged the other, thereforjudge aright between us; be not unjust; and show us the fair way.

23. Lo! this my brother hath ninety and nine ewes while I had one ewe; and hesaid: Entrust it to me, and he conquered me in speech.

24. [David] said: He hath wronged thee in demanding thine ewe in addition to hisewes, and lo! many partners oppress one another, save such as believe and dogood works, and they are few. And David guessed that We had tried him, and hesought forgiveness of his Lord, and he bowed himself and fell down prostrate andrepented.

25. So We forgave him that; and lo! he had access to Our presence and a happyjourney's end.

26. [And it was said unto him]: O David! Lo! We have set thee as a viceroy in the earth; therefor judge aright between mankind, and follow not desire that itbeguile thee from the way of Allah. Lo! those who wander from the way of Allahhave an awful doom, forasmuch as they forgot the Day of Reckoning.

27. And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in

vain. That is the opinion of those who disbelieve. And woe unto those whodisbelieve, from the Fire!

28. Shall We treat those who believe and do good works as those who spreadcorruption in the earth; or shall We treat the pious as the wicked?

29. [This is] a Scripture that We have revealed unto thee, full of blessing,

that they may ponder its revelations, and that men of understanding may reflect.

30. And We bestowed on David, Solomon. How excellent a slave! Lo! he was everturning in repentance [toward Allah].

31. When there were shown to him at eventide lightfooted coursers

217

32. And he said: Lo! I have preferred the good things [of the world] to theremembrance of my Lord; till they were taken out of sight behind the curtain.

33. [Then he said]: Bring them back to me, and fell to slashing [with his swordtheir] legs and necks.

34. And verily We tried Solomon, and set upon his throne a [mere] body. Then didhe repent.

35. He said: My Lord! Forgive me and bestow on me sovereignty such as shall notbelong to any after me. Lo! Thou art the Bestower.

36. So We made the wind subservient unto him, setting fair by his commandwhithersoever he intended.

37. And the unruly, every builder and diver [made We subservient],

38. And others linked together in chains,

39. [Saying]: This is Our gift, so bestow thou, or withhold, without reckoning.

40. And lo! he hath favour with Us, and a happy journey's end.

41. And make mention [O Muhammad] of Our bondman Job, when he cried unto hisLord [saying]: Lo! the devil doth afflict me with distress and torment.

42. [And it was said unto him]: Strike the ground with thy foot. This [spring]

is a cool bath and a refreshing drink.

43. And We bestowed on him [again] his household and therewith the like thereof,

a mercy from Us, and a memorial for men of understanding.

44. And [it was said unto him]: Take in thine hand a branch and smite therewith,

and break not thine oath. Lo! We found him steadfast, how excellent a slave! Lo!

he was ever turning in repentance [to his Lord].

45. And make mention of Our bondmen, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, men of parts andvision.

46. Lo! We purified them with a pure thought, remembrance of the Home [of theHereafter].

47. Lo! in Our sight they are verily of the elect, the excellent.

48. And make mention of Ishmael and Elisha and Dhu'l-Kifl. All are of the

chosen.

49. This is a reminder. And lo! for those who ward off [evil] is a happyjourney's end,

50. Gardens of Eden, whereof the gates are opened for them,

51. Wherein, reclining, they call for plenteous fruit and cool drink [that is]

therein.

52. And with them are those of modest gaze, companions.

53. This it is that ye are promised for the Day of Reckoning.

54. Lo! this in truth is Our provision, which will never waste away.

55. This [is for the righteous]. And lo! for the transgressors there with be anevil journey's end,

56. Hell, where they will burn, an evil resting-place.

57. Here is a boiling and an ice-cold draught, so let them taste it,

58. And other [torment] of the kind in pairs [the two extremes]!

218

59. Here is an army rushing blindly with you. [Those who are already in the Firesay]: No word of welcome for them. Lo! they will roast at the Fire.

60. They say: Nay, but you [misleaders], for you there is no word of welcome. Yeprepared this for us [by your misleading]. Now hapless is the plight.

61. They say: Our Lord! Whoever did prepare this for us, oh, give him doubleportion of the Fire!

62. And they say: What aileth us that we behold not men whom we were wont tocount among the wicked?

63. Did we take them [wrongly] for a laughing-stock, or have our eyes missedthem?

64. Lo! that is very truth: the wrangling of the dwellers in the Fire.

65. Say [unto them, O Muhammad]: I am only a warner, and there is no Allah saveAllah, the One, the Absolute,

66. Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, the Mighty,

the Pardoning.

67. Say: It is tremendous tidings

68. Whence ye turn away!

69. I had no knowledge of the Highest Chiefs when they disputed;

70. It is revealed unto me only that I may be a plain warner.

71. When thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to create a mortal out ofmire,

72. And when I have fashioned him and breathed into him of My Spirit, then falldown before him prostrate,

73. The angels fell down prostrate, every one,

74. Saving Iblis; he was scornful and became one of the disbelievers.

75. He said: O Iblis! What hindereth thee from falling prostrate before thatwhich I have created with both My hands? Art thou too proud or art thou of thehigh exalted?

76. He said: I am better than him. Thou createdst me of fire, whilst him Thoudidst create of clay.

77. He said: Go forth from hence, for lo! thou art outcast,

78. And lo! My curse is on thee till the Day of Judgment.

79. He said: My Lord! Reprieve me till the day when they are raised.

80. He said: Lo! thou art of those reprieved

81. Until the day of the time appointed.

82. He said: Then, by Thy might, I surely will beguile them every one,

83. Save Thy single-minded slaves among them.

84. He said: The Truth is, and the Truth I speak,

85. That I shall fill hell with thee and with such of them as follow thee,

together.

86. Say [O Muhammad, unto mankind]: I ask of you no fee for this, and I am nosimulating.

219

87. Lo! it is naught else than a reminder for all peoples

88. And ye will come in time to know the truth thereof.

SURA 39. AZ-ZUMAR (THE TROOPS, THRONGS)

1. The revelation of the Scripture is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.

2. Lo! We have revealed the Scripture unto thee [Muhammad] with truth; soworship Allah, making religion pure for Him [only].

3. Surely pure religion is for Allah only. And those who choose protectingfriends beside Him [say]: We worship them only that they may bring us near untoAllah. Lo! Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ.

Lo! Allah guideth not him who is a liar, an ingrate.

4. If Allah had willed to choose a son, He could have chosen what He would ofthat which He hath created. Be He Glorified! He is Allah, the One, the Absolute.

5. He hath created the heavens and the earth with truth. He maketh night tosucceed day, and He maketh day to succeed night, and He constraineth the sun and the moon to give service, each running on for an appointed term. Is not He theMighty, the Forgiver?

6. He created you from one being, then from that [being] He made its mate; andHe hath provided for you of cattle eight kinds. He created you in the wombs ofyour mothers, creation after creation, in a threefold gloom. Such is Allah, yourLord. His is the Sovereignty. There is no Allah save Him. How then are ye turnedaway?

7. If ye are thankless, yet Allah is Independent of you, though He is notpleased with thanklessness for His bondmen; and if ye are thankful He is pleasedtherewith for you. No laden soul will bear another's load. Then unto your Lordis your return; and He will tell you what ye used to do. Lo! He knoweth what isin the breasts [of men].

8. And when some hurt toucheth man, he crieth unto his Lord, turning unto Him[repentant]. Then, when He granteth him a boon from Him he forgetteth that forwhich he cried unto Him before, and setteth up rivals to Allah that he maybeguile [men] from his way. Say [O Muhammad, unto such an one]: Take pleasure inthy disbelief a while. Lo! thou art of the owners of the Fire.

9. Is he who payeth adoration in the watches of the night, prostrate andstanding, bewaring of the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [to beaccounted equal with a disbeliever]? Say [unto them, O Muhammad]: Are those whoknow equal with those who know not? But only men of understanding will pay heed.

10. Say: O My bondmen who believe! Observe your duty to your Lord. For those whodo good in this world there is good, and Allah's earth is spacious. Verily thesteadfast will be paid their wages without stint.

11. Say [O Muhammad]: Lo! I am commanded to worship Allah, making religion purefor Him [only].

12. And I am commanded to be the first of those who are Muslims [surrender untoHim].

13. Say: Lo! if I should disobey my Lord, I fear the doom of a tremendous Day.

14. Say: Allah I worship, making my religion pure for Him [only].

220

15. Then worship what ye will beside Him. Say: The losers will be those who losethemselves and their housefolk on the Day of Resurrection. Ah, that will be themanifest loss!

16. They have an awning of fire above them and beneath them a dais [of fire].

With this doth Allah appal His bondmen. O My bondmen, therefor fear Me!

17. And those who put away false gods lest they should worship them and turn toAllah in repentance, for them there are glad tidings. Therefor give good tidings[O Muhammad] to My bondmen

18. Who hear advice and follow the best thereof. Such are those whom Allah

guideth, and such are men of understanding.

19. Is he on whom the word of doom is fulfilled [to be helped], and canst thou[O Muhammad] rescue him who is in the Fire?

20. But those who keep their duty to their Lord, for them are lofty halls withlofty halls above them, built [for them], beneath which rivers flow. [It is] apromise of Allah. Allah faileth not His promise.

21. Hast thou not seen how Allah hath sent down water from the sky and hathcaused it to penetrate the earth as watersprings, and afterward therebyproduceth crops of divers hues; and afterward they wither and thou seest themturn yellow; then He maketh them chaff. Lo! herein verily is a reminder for menof understanding.

22. Is he whose bosom Allah hath expanded for Al-Islam, so that he followeth alight from his Lord, [as he who disbelieveth]? Then woe unto those whose heartsare hardened against remembrance of Allah. Such are in plain error.

23. Allah hath [now] revealed the fairest of statements, a Scripture consistent,

[wherein promises of reward are] paired [with threats of punishment], whereatdoth creep the flesh of those who fear their Lord, so that their flesh and theirhearts soften to Allah's reminder. Such is Allah's guidance, wherewith Heguideth whom He will. And him whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is noguide.

24. Is he then, who will strike his face against the awful doom upon the Day ofResurrection [as he who doeth right]? And it will be said unto the wrong-doers:

Taste what ye used to earn.

25. Those before them denied, and so the doom came on them whence they knew not.

26. Thus Allah made them taste humiliation in the life of the world, and verilythe doom of the Hereafter will be greater if they did but know.

27. And verily We have coined for mankind in this Qur'an all kinds ofsimilitudes, that haply they may reflect;

28. A Lecture in Arabic, containing no crookedness, that haply they may ward off[evil].

29. Allah coineth a similitude: A man in relation to whom are several part-

owners, quarrelling, and a man belonging wholly to one man. Are the two equal insimilitude? Praise be to Allah! But most of them know not.

30. Lo! thou wilt die, and lo! they will die;

31. Then lo! on the Day of Resurrection, before your Lord ye will dispute.

32. And who doth greater wrong than he who telleth a lie against Allah, anddenieth the truth when it reacheth him? Will not the home of disbelievers be in

hell?

221

33. And whoso bringeth the truth and believeth therein - Such are the dutiful.

34. They shall have what they will of their Lord's bounty. That is the reward of the good:

35. That Allah will remit from them the worst of what they did, and will paythem for reward the best they used to do.

36. Will not Allah defend His slave? Yet they would frighten thee with thosebeside Him. He whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no guide.

37. And he whom Allah guideth, for him there can be no misleader. Is not AllahMighty, Able to Requite [the wrong]?

38. And verily, if thou shouldst ask them: Who created the heavens and theearth? they will say: Allah. Say: Bethink you then of those ye worship besideAllah, if Allah willed some hurt for me, could they remove from me His hurt; orif He willed some mercy for me, could they restrain His mercy? Say: Allah is myall. In Him do [all] the trusting put their trust.

39. Say: O my people! Act in your manner. Lo! I [too] am acting. Thus ye willcome to know

40. Who it is unto whom cometh a doom that will abase him, and on whom therefalleth everlasting doom.

41. Lo! We have revealed unto thee [Muhammad] the Scripture for mankind withtruth. Then whosoever goeth right it is for his soul, and whosoever strayeth,

strayeth only to its hurt. And thou art not a warder over them.

42. Allah receiveth [men's] souls at the time of their death, and that [soul]

which dieth not [yet] in its sleep. He keepeth that [soul] for which He hathordained death and dismisseth the rest till an appointed term. Lo! herein verilyare portents for people who take thought.

43. Or choose they intercessors other than Allah? Say: What! Even though theyhave power over nothing and have no intelligence?

44. Say: Unto Allah belongeth all intercession. His is the Sovereignty of theheavens and the earth. And afterward unto Him ye will be brought back.

45. And when Allah alone is mentioned, the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter are repelled, and when those [whom they worship] beside Him arementioned, behold! they are glad.

46. Say: O Allah! Creator of the heavens and the earth! Knower of the Invisibleand the Visible! Thou wilt judge between Thy slaves concerning that wherein theyused to differ.

47. And though those who do wrong possess all that is in the earth, andtherewith as much again, they verily will seek to ransom themselves therewith on the Day of Resurrection from the awful doom; and there will appear unto them,

from their Lord, that wherewith they never reckoned.

48. And the evils that they earned will appear unto them, and that whereat theyused to scoff will surround them.

49. Now when hurt toucheth a man he crieth unto Us, and afterward when We havegranted him a boon from Us, he saith: Only by force of knowledge I obtained it.

Nay, but it is a test. But most of them know not.

50. Those before them said it, yet [all] that they had earned availed them not;

51. But the evils that they earned smote them; and such of these as do wrong,

the evils that they earn will smite them; they cannot escape.

222

52. Know they not that Allah enlargeth providence for whom He will, andstraiteneth it [for whom He will]. Lo! herein verily are portents for people whobelieve.

53. Say: O My slaves who have been prodigal to their own hurt! Despair not of the mercy of Allah, Who forgiveth all sins. Lo! He is the Forgiving, theMerciful.

54. Turn unto your Lord repentant, and surrender unto Him, before there comeunto you the doom, when ye cannot be helped.

55. And follow the better [guidance] of that which is revealed unto you fromyour Lord, before the doom cometh on you suddenly when ye know not,

56. Lest any soul should say: Alas, my grief that I was unmindful of Allah, andI was indeed among the scoffers!

57. Or should say: If Allah had but guided me I should have been among thedutiful!

58. Or should say, when it seeth the doom: Oh, that I had but a second chancethat I might be among the righteous!

59. [But now the answer will be]: Nay, for My revelations came unto thee, butthou didst deny them and wast scornful and wast among the disbelievers.

60. And on the Day of Resurrection thou [Muhammad] seest those who liedconcerning Allah with their faces blackened. Is not the home of the scorners inhell?

61. And Allah delivereth those who ward off [evil] because of their deserts.

Evil toucheth them not, nor do they grieve.

62. Allah is Creator of all things, and He is Guardian over all things.

63. His are the keys of the heavens and the earth, and they who disbelieve therevelations of Allah - such are they who are the losers.

64. Say [O Muhammad, to the disbelievers]: Do ye bid me serve other than Allah?

O ye fools!

65. And verily it hath been revealed unto thee as unto those before thee[saying]: If thou ascribe a partner to Allah thy work will fail and thou indeedwilt be among the losers.

66. Nay, but Allah must thou serve, and be among the thankful!

67. And they esteem not Allah as He hath the right to be esteemed, when thewhole earth is His handful on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens arerolled in His right hand. Glorified is He and High Exalted from all that theyascribe as partner [unto Him].

68. And the trumpet is blown, and all who are in the heavens and all who are in the earth swoon away, save him whom Allah willeth. Then it is blown a secondtime, and behold them standing waiting!

69. And the earth shineth with the light of her Lord, and the Book is set up,

and the prophets and the witnesses are brought, and it is judged between themwith truth, and they are not wronged.

70. And each soul is paid in full for what it did. And He is Best Aware of whatthey do.

71. And those who disbelieve are driven unto hell in troops till, when theyreach it and the gates thereof are opened, and the warders thereof say untothem: Came there not unto you messengers of your own, reciting unto you the

223

revelations of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this your Day? theysay: Yea, verily. But the word of doom of disbelievers is fulfilled.

72. It is said [unto them]: Enter ye the gates of hell to dwell therein. Thushapless is the journey's end of the scorners.

73. And those who keep their duty to their Lord are driven unto the Garden introops till, when they reach it, and the gates thereof are opened, and thewarders thereof say unto them: Peace be unto you! Ye are good, so enter ye [theGarden of delight], to dwell therein;

74. They say: Praise be to Allah, Who hath fulfilled His promise unto us andhath made us inherit the land, sojourning in the Garden where we will! Sobounteous is the wage of workers.

75. And thou [O Muhammad] seest the angels thronging round the Throne, hymningthe praises of their Lord. And they are judged aright. And it is said: Praise beto Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!

SURA 40. AL-GHAFIR (THE FORGIVER (GOD) )

1. Ha. Mim.

2. The revelation of the Scripture is from Allah, the Mighty, the Knower,

3. The Forgiver of sin, the Accepter of repentance, the Stern in punishment, theBountiful. There is no Allah save Him. Unto Him is the journeying.

4. None argue concerning the revelations of Allah save those who disbelieve, solet not their turn of fortune in the land deceive thee [O Muhammad].

5. The folk of Noah and the factions after them denied [their messengers] beforethese, and every nation purposed to seize their messenger and argued falsely,

[thinking] thereby to refute the Truth. Then I seized them, and how [awful] wasMy punishment.

6. Thus was the word of thy Lord concerning those who disbelieve fulfilled: Thatthey are owners of the Fire.

7. Those who bear the Throne, and all who are round about it, hymn the praisesof their Lord and believe in Him and ask forgiveness for those who believe[saying]: Our Lord! Thou comprehendest all things in mercy and knowledge,

therefor forgive those who repent and follow Thy way. Ward off from them thepunishment of hell.

8. Our Lord! And make them enter the Gardens of Eden which thou hast promisedthem, with such of their fathers and their wives and their descendants as doright. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Mighty, the Wise.

9. And ward off from them ill-deeds; and he from whom Thou wardest off ill-deedsthat day, him verily hast Thou taken into mercy. That is the supreme triumph.

10. Lo! [on that day] those who disbelieve are informed by proclamation: VerilyAllah's abhorrence is more terrible than your abhorrence one of another, when yewere called unto the faith but did refuse.

11. They say: Our Lord! Twice hast Thou made us die, and twice hast Thou made uslive. Now we confess our sins. Is there any way to go out?

12. [It is said unto them]: This is [your plight] because, when Allah only wasinvoked, ye disbelieved, but when some partner was ascribed to Him ye werebelieving. But the command belongeth only to Allah, the Sublime, the Majestic.

224

13. He it is Who showeth you His portents, and sendeth down for you provisionfrom the sky. None payeth heed save him who turneth [unto Him] repentant.

14. Therefor [O believers] pray unto Allah, making religion pure for Him [only],

however much the disbelievers be averse -

15. The Exalter of Ranks, the Lord of the Throne. He causeth the Spirit of Hiscommand upon whom He will of His slaves, that He may warn of the Day of Meeting,

16. The day when they come forth, nothing of them being hidden from Allah. Whoseis the Sovereignty this day? It is Allah's, the One, the Almighty.

17. This day is each soul requited that which it hath earned; no wrong [is done]

this day. Lo! Allah is swift at reckoning.

18. Warn them [O Muhammad] of the Day of the approaching [doom], when the heartswill be choking the throats, [when] there will be no friend for the wrong-doers,

nor any intercessor who will be heard.

19. He knoweth the traitor of the eyes, and that which the bosoms hide.

20. Allah judgeth with truth, while those to whom they cry instead of Him judgenot at all. Lo! Allah, He is the Hearer, the Seer.

21. Have they not travelled in the land to see the nature of the consequence forthose who disbelieved before them? They were mightier than these in power and[in the] traces [which they left behind them] in the earth. Yet Allah seizedthem for their sins, and they had no protector from Allah.

22. That was because their messengers kept bringing them clear proofs [ofAllah's Sovereignty] but they disbelieved; so Allah seized them. Lo! He isStrong, severe in punishment.

23. And verily We sent Moses with Our revelations and a clear warrant

24. Unto Pharaoh and Haman and Korah, but they said: A lying sorcerer!

25. And when he brought them the Truth from Our presence, they said: Slay thesons of those who believe with him, and spare their women. But the plot ofdisbelievers is in naught but error.

26. And Pharaoh said: Suffer me to kill Moses, and let him cry unto his Lord.

Lo! I fear that he will alter your religion or that he will cause confusion in the land.

27. Moses said: Lo! I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every scornerwho believeth not in a Day of Reckoning.

28. And a believing man of Pharaoh's family, who hid his faith, said: Would yekill a man because he saith: My Lord is Allah, and hath brought you clear proofsfrom your Lord? If he is lying, then his lie is upon him; and if he is truthful,

then some of that wherewith he threateneth you will strike you. Lo! Allahguideth not one who is a prodigal, a liar.

29. O my people! Yours is the kingdom to-day, ye being uppermost in the land.

But who would save us from the wrath of Allah should it reach us? Pharaoh said:

I do but show you what I think, and I do but guide you to wise policy.

30. And he who believed said: O my people! Lo! I fear for you a fate like thatof the factions [of old];

31. A plight like that of Noah's folk, and A'ad and Thamud, and those afterthem, and Allah willeth no injustice for [His] slaves.

32. And, O my people! Lo! I fear for you a Day of Summoning,

225

33. A day when ye will turn to flee, having no preserver from Allah: and he whomAllah sendeth astray, for him there is no guide.

34. And verily Joseph brought you of old clear proofs, yet ye ceased not to bein doubt concerning what he brought you till, when he died, ye said: Allah willnot send any messenger after him. Thus Allah deceiveth him who is a prodigal, adoubter.

35. Those who wrangle concerning the revelations of Allah without any warrantthat hath come unto them, it is greatly hateful in the sight of Allah and in thesight of those who believe. Thus doth Allah print on every arrogant, disdainfulheart.

36. And Pharaoh said: O Haman! Build for me a tower that haply I may reach theroads,

37. The roads of the heavens, and may look upon the god of Moses, though verilyI think him a liar. Thus was the evil that he did made fairseeming unto Pharaoh,

and he was debarred from the [right] way. The plot of Pharaoh ended but in ruin.

38. And he who believed said: O my people! Follow me. I will show you the way ofright conduct.

39. O my people! Lo! this life of the world is but a passing comfort, and lo!

the Hereafter, that is the enduring home.

40. Whoso doeth an ill-deed, he will be repaid the like thereof, while whosodoeth right, whether male or female, and is a believer, [all] such will enterthe Garden, where they will be nourished without stint.

41. And, O my people! What aileth me that I call you unto deliverance when yecall me unto the Fire?

42. Ye call me to disbelieve in Allah and ascribe unto Him as partners thatwhereof I have no knowledge, while I call you unto the Mighty, the Forgiver.

43. Assuredly that whereunto ye call me hath no claim in the world or in theHereafter, and our return will be unto Allah, and the prodigals will be ownersof the Fire.

44. And ye will remember what I say unto you. I confide my cause unto Allah. Lo!

Allah is Seer of [His] slaves.

45. So Allah warded off from him the evils which they plotted, while a dreadfuldoom encompassed Pharaoh's folk,

46. The Fire; they are exposed to it morning and evening; and on the day whenthe Hour upriseth [it is said]: Cause Pharaoh's folk to enter the most awfuldoom.

47. And when they wrangle in the Fire, the weak say unto those who were proud:

Lo! we were a following unto you; will ye therefor rid us of a portion of theFire?

48. Those who were proud say: Lo! we are all [together] herein. Lo! Allah hathjudged between [His] slaves.

49. And those in the Fire say unto the guards of hell: Entreat your Lord that Herelieve us of a day of the torment.

50. They say: Came not your messengers unto you with clear proofs? They say:

Yea, verily. They say: Then do ye pray, although the prayer of disbelievers isin vain.

226

51. Lo! We verily do help Our messengers, and those who believe, in the life of the world and on the day when the witnesses arise,

52. The day when their excuse availeth not the evil-doers, and theirs is thecurse, and theirs the ill abode.

53. And We verily gave Moses the guidance, and We caused the Children of Israelto inherit the Scripture,

54. A guide and a reminder for men of understanding.

55. Then have patience [O Muhammad]. Lo! the promise of Allah is true. And askforgiveness of thy sin, and hymn the praise of thy Lord at fall of night and in the early hours.

56. Lo! those who wrangle concerning the revelations of Allah without a warranthaving come unto them, there is naught else in their breasts save pride whichthey will never attain. So take thou refuge in Allah. Lo! He, only He, is theHearer, the Seer.

57. Assuredly the creation of the heavens and the earth is greater than thecreation of mankind; but most of mankind know not.

58. And the blind man and the seer are not equal, neither are those who believeand do good works [equal with] the evil-doer. Little do ye reflect!

59. Lo! the Hour is surely coming, there is no doubt thereof; yet most ofmankind believe not.

60. And your Lord hath said: Pray unto Me and I will hear your prayer. Lo! thosewho scorn My service, they will enter hell, disgraced.

61. Allah it is Who hath appointed for you night that ye may rest therein, andday for seeing. Lo! Allah is a Lord of bounty for mankind, yet most of mankindgive not thanks.

62. Such is Allah, your Lord, the Creator of all things, There is no Allah saveHim. How then are ye perverted?

63. Thus are they perverted who deny the revelations of Allah.

64. Allah it is Who appointed for you the earth for a dwelling-place and the skyfor a canopy, and fashioned you and perfected your shapes, and hath provided youwith good things. Such is Allah, your Lord. Then blessed be Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!

65. He is the Living One. There is no Allah save Him. So pray unto Him, makingreligion pure for Him [only]. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!

66. Say [O Muhammad]: I am forbidden to worship those unto whom ye cry besideAllah since there have come unto me clear proofs from my Lord, and I amcommanded to surrender to the Lord of the Worlds.

67. He it is Who created you from dust, then from a drop [of seed] then from aclot, then bringeth you forth as a child, then [ordaineth] that ye attain fullstrength and afterward that ye become old men - though some among you die before

-and that ye reach an appointed term, that haply ye may understand.

68. He it is Who quickeneth and giveth death. When He ordaineth a thing, Hesaith unto it only: Be! and it is.

69. Hast thou not seen those who wrangle concerning the revelations of Allah,

how they are turned away? -

70. Those who deny the Scripture and that wherewith We send Our messengers. Butthey will come to know,

227

71. When carcans are about their necks and chains. They are dragged

72. Through boiling waters; then they are thrust into the Fire.

73. Then it is said unto them: Where are [all] that ye used to make partners [in the Sovereignty]

74. Beside Allah? They say: They have failed us; but we used not to pray toanything before. Thus doth Allah send astray the disbelievers [in His guidance].

75. [And it is said unto them]: This is because ye exulted in the earth withoutright, and because ye were petulant.

76. Enter ye the gates of hell, to dwell therein. Evil is the habitation of thescornful.

77. Then have patience [O Muhammad]. Lo! the promise of Allah is true. Andwhether we let thee see a part of that which We promise them, or [whether] Wecause thee to die, still unto Us they will be brought back.

78. Verily We sent messengers before thee, among them those of whom We have toldthee, and some of whom We have not told thee; and it was not given to anymessenger that he should bring a portent save by Allah's leave, but when Allah'scommandment cometh [the cause] is judged aright, and the followers of vanitywill then be lost.

79. Allah it is Who hath appointed for you cattle, that ye may ride on some ofthem, and eat of some -

80. [Many] benefits ye have from them - and that ye may satisfy by their means aneed that is in your breasts, and may be borne upon them as upon the ship.

81. And He showeth you His tokens. Which, then, of the tokens of Allah do yedeny?

82. Have they not travelled in the land to see the nature of the consequence forthose before them? They were more numerous than these, and mightier in power and[in the] traces [which they left behind them] in the earth. But all that theyused to earn availed them not.

83. And when their messengers brought them clear proofs [of Allah's Sovereignty]

they exulted in the knowledge they [themselves] possessed. And that which theywere wont to mock befell them.

84. Then, when they saw Our doom, they said: We believe in Allah only and reject[all] that we used to associate [with Him].

85. But their faith could not avail them when they saw Our doom. This is Allah'slaw which hath ever taken course for His bondmen. And then the disbelievers will

be ruined.

SURA 41. FUSSILAT (EXPLAINED IN DETAIL)

1. Ha. Mim.

2. A revelation from the Beneficent, the Merciful,

3. A Scripture whereof the verses are expounded, a Lecture in Arabic for peoplewho have knowledge,

4. Good tidings and a warning. But most of them turn away so that they hear not.

228

5. And they say: Our hearts are protected from that unto which thou [O Muhammad]

callest us, and in our ears there is a deafness, and between us and thee thereis a veil. Act, then. Lo! we also shall be acting.

6. Say [unto them O Muhammad]: I am only a mortal like you. It is inspired in methat your Allah is One Allah, therefor take the straight path unto Him and seekforgiveness of Him. And woe unto the idolaters,

7. Who give not the poor-due, and who are disbelievers in the Hereafter.

8. Lo! as for those who believe and do good works, for them is a rewardenduring.

9. Say [O Muhammad, unto the idolaters]: Disbelieve ye verily in Him Who createdthe earth in two Days, and ascribe ye unto Him rivals? He [and none else] is theLord of the Worlds.

10. He placed therein firm hills rising above it, and blessed it and measuredtherein its sustenance in four Days, alike for [all] who ask;

11. Then turned He to the heaven when it was smoke, and said unto it and untothe earth: Come both of you, willingly or loth. They said: We come, obedient.

12. Then He ordained them seven heavens in two Days and inspired in each heavenits mandate; and We decked the nether heaven with lamps, and rendered itinviolable. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Knower.

13. But if they turn away, then say: I warn you of a thunderbolt like thethunderbolt [which fell of old upon the tribes] of A'ad and Thamud;

14. When their messengers came unto them from before them and behind them,

saying: Worship none but Allah! they said: If our Lord had willed, He surelywould have sent down angels [unto us], so lo! we are disbelievers in thatwherewith ye have been sent.

15. As for A'ad, they were arrogant in the land without right, and they said:

Who is mightier than us in power? Could they not see that Allah Who createdthem, He was mightier than them in power? And they denied Our revelations.

16. Therefor We let loose on them a raging wind in evil days, that We might makethem taste the torment of disgrace in the life of the world. And verily the doomof the Hereafter will be more shameful, and they will not be helped.

17. And as for Thamud, We gave them guidance, but they preferred blindness to the guidance, so the bolt of the doom of humiliation overtook them because ofwhat they used to earn.

18. And We delivered those who believed and used to keep their duty to Allah.

19. And [make mention of] the day when the enemies of Allah are gathered untothe Fire, they are driven on

20. Till, when they reach it, their ears and their eyes and their skins testifyagainst them as to what they used to do.

21. And they say unto their skins: Why testify ye against us? They say: Allahhath given us speech Who giveth speech to all things, and Who created you at the first, and unto Whom ye are returned.

22. Ye did not hide yourselves lest your ears and your eyes and your skinsshould testify against you, but ye deemed that Allah knew not much of what yedid.

23. That, your thought which ye did think about your Lord, hath ruined you; andye find yourselves [this day] among the lost.

229

24. And though they are resigned, yet the Fire is still their home; and if theyask for favour, yet they are not of those unto whom favour can be shown.

25. And We assigned them comrades [in the world], who made their present andtheir past fairseeming unto them. And the Word concerning nations of the jinnand humankind who passed away before them hath effect for them. Lo! they wereever losers.

26. Those who disbelieve say: Heed not this Qur'an, and drown the hearing of it;

haply ye may conquer.

27. But verily We shall cause those who disbelieve to taste an awful doom, andverily We shall requite them the worst of what they used to do.

28. That is the reward of Allah's enemies: the Fire. Therein is their immortal

home, payment forasmuch as they denied Our revelations.

29. And those who disbelieve will say: Our Lord! Show us those who beguiled usof the jinn and humankind. We will place them underneath our feet that they maybe among the nethermost.

30. Lo! those who say: Our Lord is Allah, and afterward are upright, the angelsdescend upon them, saying: Fear not nor grieve, but hear good tidings of theparadise which ye are promised.

31. We are your protecting friends in the life of the world and in theHereafter. There ye will have [all] that your souls desire, and there ye willhave [all] for which ye pray.

32. A gift of welcome from One Forgiving, Merciful.

33. And who is better in speech than him who prayeth unto his Lord and doethright, and saith: Lo! I am of those who are Muslims [surrender unto Him].

34. The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with onewhich is better, then lo! he, between whom and thee there was enmity [willbecome] as though he was a bosom friend.

35. But none is granted it save those who are steadfast, and none is granted itsave the owner of great happiness.

36. And if a whisper from the devil reach thee [O Muhammad] then seek refuge inAllah. Lo! He is the Hearer, the Knower.

37. And of His portents are the night and the day and the sun and the moon. Donot prostrate to the sun or the moon; but prostrate to Allah Who created them,

if it is in truth Him Whom ye worship.

38. But if they are too proud - still those who are with thy Lord glorify Himnight and day, and tire not.

39. And of His portents [is this]: that thou seest the earth lowly, but when Wesend down water thereon it thrilleth and groweth. Lo! He Who quickeneth it isverily the Quickener of the Dead. Lo! He is Able to do all things.

40. Lo! those who distort Our revelations are not hid from Us. Is he who is

hurled into the Fire better, or he who cometh secure on the Day of Resurrection?

Do what ye will. Lo! He is Seer of what ye do.

41. Lo! those who disbelieve in the Reminder when it cometh unto them [areguilty], for lo! it is an unassailable Scripture.

42. Falsehood cannot come at it from before it or from behind it. [It is] arevelation from the Wise, the Owner of Praise.

230

43. Naught is said unto thee [Muhammad] save what was said unto the messengersbefore thee. Lo! thy Lord is owner of forgiveness, and owner [also] of direpunishment.

44. And if We had appointed it a Lecture in a foreign tongue they wouldassuredly have said: If only its verses were expounded [so that we mightunderstand]? What! A foreign tongue and an Arab? - Say unto them [O Muhammad]:

For those who believe it is a guidance and a healing; and as for those whodisbelieve, there is a deafness in their ears, and it is blindness for them.

Such are called to from afar.

45. And We verily gave Moses the Scripture, but there hath been disputeconcerning it; and but for a Word that had already gone forth from thy Lord, itwould ere now have been judged between them; but lo! they are in hopeless doubtconcerning it.

46. Whoso doeth right it is for his soul, and whoso doeth wrong it is againstit. And thy Lord is not at all a tyrant to His slaves.

47. Unto Him is referred [all] knowledge of the Hour. And no fruits burst forthfrom their sheaths, and no female carrieth or bringeth forth but with Hisknowledge. And on the day when He calleth unto them: Where are now My partners?

they will say: We confess unto Thee, not one of us is a witness [for them].

48. And those to whom they used to cry of old have failed them, and theyperceive they have no place of refuge.

49. Man tireth not of praying for good, and if ill toucheth him, then he isdisheartened, desperate.

50. And verily, if We cause him to taste mercy after some hurt that hath touchedhim, he will say: This is my own; and I deem not that the Hour will ever rise,

and if I am brought back to my Lord, I surely shall be better off with Him - ButWe verily shall tell those who disbelieve [all] that they did, and We verilyshall make them taste hard punishment.

51. When We show favour unto man, he withdraweth and turneth aside, but when illtoucheth him then he aboundeth in prayer.

52. Bethink you: If it is from Allah and ye reject it - Who is further astraythan one who is at open feud [with Allah]?

53. We shall show them Our portents on the horizons and within themselves untilit will be manifest unto them that it is the Truth. Doth not thy Lord suffice,

since He is Witness over all things?

54. How! Are they still in doubt about the meeting with their Lord? Lo! Is notHe surrounding all things?

SURA 42. ASH-SHURA (COUNCIL, CONSULTATION)

1. Ha. Mim.

2. A'in. Sin. Qaf.

3. Thus Allah the Mighty, the Knower inspireth thee [Muhammad] as [He inspired]

those before thee.

4. Unto Him belongeth all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth,

and He is the Sublime, the Tremendous.

231

5. Almost might the heavens above be rent asunder while the angels hymn thepraise of their Lord and ask forgiveness for those on the earth. Lo! Allah, Heis the Forgiver, the Merciful.

6. And as for those who choose protecting friends beside Him, Allah is Wardenover them, and thou art in no wise a guardian over them.

7. And thus We have inspired in thee a Lecture in Arabic, that thou mayst warnthe mother-town and those around it, and mayst warn of a day of assemblingwhereof there is no doubt. A host will be in the Garden, and a host of them in the Flame.

8. Had Allah willed, He could have made them one community, but Allah bringethwhom He will into His mercy. And the wrong-doers have no friend nor helper.

9. Or have they chosen protecting friends besides Him? But Allah, He [alone] isthe Protecting Friend. He quickeneth the dead, and He is Able to do all things.

10. And in whatsoever ye differ, the verdict therein belongeth to Allah. Such ismy Lord, in Whom I put my trust, and unto Whom I turn.

11. The Creator of the heavens and the earth. He hath made for you pairs ofyourselves, and of the cattle also pairs, whereby He multiplieth you. Naught isas His likeness; and He is the Hearer, the Seer.

12. His are the keys of the heavens and the earth. He enlargeth providence forwhom He will and straiteneth [it for whom He will]. Lo! He is Knower of allthings.

13. He hath ordained for you that religion which He commended unto Noah, andthat which We inspire in thee [Muhammad], and that which We commended untoAbraham and Moses and Jesus, saying: Establish the religion, and be not dividedtherein. Dreadful for the idolaters is that unto which thou callest them. Allah

chooseth for Himself whom He will, and guideth unto Himself him who turneth[toward Him].

14. And they were not divided until after the knowledge came unto them, throughrivalry among themselves; and had it not been for a Word that had already goneforth from thy Lord for an appointed term, it surely had been judged betweenthem. And those who were made to inherit the Scripture after them are verily inhopeless doubt concerning it.

15. Unto this, then, summon [O Muhammad]. And be thou upright as thou artcommanded, and follow not their lusts, but say: I believe in whatever scriptureAllah hath sent down, and I am commanded to be just among you. Allah is our Lordand your Lord. Unto us our works and unto you your works; no argument between usand you. Allah will bring us together, and unto Him is the journeying.

16. And those who argue concerning Allah after He hath been acknowledged, theirargument hath no weight with their Lord, and wrath is upon them and theirs willbe an awful doom.

17. Allah it is Who hath revealed the Scripture with truth, and the Balance. Howcanst thou know? It may be that the Hour is nigh.

18. Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it, while those who believe arefearful of it and know that it is the Truth. Are not they who dispute, in doubtconcerning the Hour, far astray?

19. Allah is gracious unto His slaves. He provideth for whom He will. And He isthe Strong, the Mighty.

232

20. Whoso desireth the harvest of the Hereafter, We give him increase in itsharvest. And whoso desireth the harvest of the world, We give him thereof, andhe hath no portion in the Hereafter.

21. Or have they partners [of Allah] who have made lawful for them in religionthat which Allah allowed not? And but for a decisive word [gone forth already],

it would have been judged between them. Lo! for wrong-doers is a painful doom.

22. Thou seest the wrong-doers fearful of that which they have earned, and itwill surely befall them, while those who believe and do good works [will be] inflowering meadows of the Gardens, having what they wish from their Lord. This isthe great preferment.

23. This it is which Allah announceth unto His bondmen who believe and do goodworks. Say [O Muhammad, unto mankind]: I ask of you no fee therefor, savelovingkindness among kinsfolk. And whoso scoreth a good deed We add unto itsgood for him. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Responsive.

24. Or say they: He hath invented a lie concerning Allah? If Allah willed, Hecould have sealed thy heart [against them]. And Allah will wipe out the lie andwill vindicate the truth by His words. Lo! He is Aware of what is hidden in thebreasts [of men].

25. And He it is Who accepteth repentance from His bondmen, and pardoneth theevil deeds, and knoweth what ye do,

26. And accepteth those who do good works, and giveth increase unto them of Hisbounty. And as for disbelievers, theirs will be an awful doom.

27. And if Allah were to enlarge the provision for His slaves they would surelyrebel in the earth, but He sendeth down by measure as He willeth. Lo! He isInformed, a Seer of His bondmen.

28. And He it is Who sendeth down the saving rain after they have despaired, andspreadeth out His mercy. He is the Protecting Friend, the Praiseworthy.

29. And of His portents is the creation of the heaven and the earth, and ofwhatever beasts He hath dispersed therein. And He is Able to gather them when Hewill.

30. Whatever of misfortune striketh you, it is what your right hands haveearned. And He forgiveth much.

31. Ye cannot escape in the earth, for beside Allah ye have no protecting friendnor any helper.

32. And of His portents are the ships, like banners on the sea;

33. If He will He calmeth the wind so that they keep still upon its surface -

Lo! herein verily are signs for every steadfast grateful [heart]. -

34. Or He causeth them to perish on account of that which they have earned - AndHe forgiveth much -

35. And that those who argue concerning Our revelations may know they have norefuge.

36. Now whatever ye have been given is but a passing comfort for the life of theworld, and that which Allah hath is better and more lasting for those whobelieve and put their trust in their Lord,

37. And those who shun the worst of sins and indecencies and, when they arewroth, forgive,

233

38. And those who answer the call of their Lord and establish worship, and whoseaffairs are a matter of counsel, and who spend of what We have bestowed on them,

39. And those who, when great wrong is done to them, defend themselves,

40. The guerdon of an ill-deed is an ill the like thereof. But whosoeverpardoneth and amendeth, his wage is the affair of Allah. Lo! He loveth notwrong-doers.

41. And whoso defendeth himself after he hath suffered wrong - for such, thereis no way [of blame] against them.

42. The way [of blame] is only against those who oppress mankind, and wrongfullyrebel in the earth. For such there is a painful doom.

43. And verily whoso is patient and forgiveth - lo! that, verily, is [of] thesteadfast heart of things.

44. He whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no protecting friend afterHim. And thou [Muhammad] wilt see the evil-doers when they see the doom, [how]

they say: Is there any way of return?

45. And thou wilt see them exposed to [the Fire], made humble by disgrace, andlooking with veiled eyes. And those who believe will say: Lo! the [eternal]

losers are they who lose themselves and their housefolk on the Day ofResurrection. Lo! are not the wrong-doers in perpetual torment?

46. And they will have no protecting friends to help them instead of Allah. Hewhom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no road.

47. Answer the call of your Lord before there cometh unto you from Allah a Daywhich there is no averting. Ye have no refuge on that Day, nor have a ye any[power of] refusal.

48. But if they are averse, We have not sent thee as a warder over them. Thineis only to convey [the message]. And lo! when We cause man to taste of mercyfrom Us he exulteth therefor. And if some evil striketh them because of that

which their own hands have sent before, then lo! man is an ingrate.

49. Unto Allah belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. Hecreateth what He will. He bestoweth female [offspring] upon whom He will, andbestoweth male [offspring] upon whom He will;

50. Or He mingleth them, males and females, and He maketh barren whom He will.

Lo! He is Knower, Powerful.

51. And it was not [vouchsafed] to any mortal that Allah should speak to himunless [it be] by revelation or from behind a veil, or [that] He sendeth amessenger to reveal what He will by His leave. Lo! He is Exalted, Wise.

52. And thus have We inspired in thee [Muhammad] a Spirit of Our command. Thouknewest not what the Scripture was, nor what the Faith. But We have made it alight whereby We guide whom We will of Our bondmen. And lo! thou verily dostguide unto a right path,

53. The path of Allah, unto Whom belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens andwhatsoever is in the earth. Do not all things reach Allah at last?

SURA 43. AZ-ZUKHRUF (ORNAMENTS OF GOLD, LUXURY)

1. Ha. Mim.

2. By the Scripture which maketh plain,

234

3. Lo! We have appointed it a Lecture, in Arabic that haply ye may understand.

4. And Lo! in the Source of Decrees, which We possess, it is indeed sublime,

decisive.

5. Shall We utterly ignore you because ye are a wanton folk?

6. How many a prophet did We send among the men of old!

7. And never came there unto them a prophet but they used to mock him.

8. Then We destroyed men mightier than these in prowess; and the example of themen of old hath gone [before them].

9. And if thou [Muhammad] ask them: Who created the heavens and the earth, theywill surely answer: The Mighty, the Knower created them;

10. Who made the earth a resting-place for you, and placed roads for youtherein, that haply ye may find your way;

11. And Who sendeth down water from the sky in [due] measure, and We revive adead land therewith. Even so will ye be brought forth;

12. He Who created all the pairs, and appointed for you ships and cattlewhereupon ye ride.

13. That ye may mount upon their backs, and may remember your Lord's favour whenye mount thereon, and may say: Glorified be He Who hath subdued these unto us,

and we were not capable [of subduing them];

14. And lo! unto our Lord we surely are returning.

15. And they allot to Him a portion of His bondmen! Lo! man is verily a mereingrate.

16. Or chooseth He daughters of all that He hath created, and honoureth He youwith sons?

17. And if one of them hath tidings of that which he likeneth to the BeneficentOne, his countenance becometh black and he is full of inward rage.

18. [Liken they then to Allah] that which is bred up in outward show, and indispute cannot make itself plain?

19. And they make the angels, who are the slaves of the Beneficent, females. Didthey witness their creation? Their testimony will be recorded and they will bequestioned.

20. And they say: If the Beneficent One had [so] willed, we should not haveworshipped them. They have no knowledge whatsoever of that. They do but guess.

21. Or have We given them any scripture before [this Qur'an] so that they areholding fast thereto?

22. Nay, for they say only: Lo! we found our fathers following a religion, andwe are guided by their footprints.

23. And even so We sent not a warner before thee [Muhammad] into any townshipbut its luxurious ones said: Lo! we found our fathers following a religion, andwe are following their footprints.

24. [And the warner] said: What! Even though I bring you better guidance thanthat ye found your fathers following? They answered: Lo! in what ye bring we aredisbelievers.

25. So We requited them. Then see the nature of the consequence for therejecters!

235

26. And when Abraham said unto his father and his folk: Lo! I am innocent of

what ye worship

27. Save Him Who did create me, for He will surely guide me.

28. And he made it a word enduring among his seed, that haply they might return.

29. Nay, but I let these and their fathers enjoy life [only] till there shouldcome unto them the Truth and a messenger making plain.

30. And now that the Truth hath come unto them they say: This is mere magic, andlo! we are disbelievers therein.

31. And they say: If only this Qur'an had been revealed to some great man of thetwo towns?

32. Is it they who apportion thy Lord's mercy? We have apportioned among themtheir livelihood in the life of the world, and raised some of them above othersin rank that some of them may take labour from others; and the mercy of thy Lordis better than [the wealth] that they amass.

33. And were it not that mankind would have become one community, We might wellhave appointed, for those who disbelieve in the Beneficent, roofs of silver fortheir houses and stairs [of silver] whereby to mount,

34. And for their houses doors [of silver] and couches of silver whereon torecline,

35. And ornaments of gold. Yet all that would have been but a provision of thelife of the world. And the Hereafter with your Lord would have been for thosewho keep from evil.

36. And he whose sight is dim to the remembrance of the Beneficent, We assignunto him a devil who becometh his comrade;

37. And lo! they surely turn them from the way of Allah, and yet they deem thatthey are rightly guided;

38. Till, when he cometh unto Us, he saith [unto his comrade]: Ah, would thatbetween me and thee there were the distance of the two horizons - an evil

comrade!

39. And it profiteth you not this day, because ye did wrong, that ye will besharers in the doom.

40. Canst thou [Muhammad] make the deaf to hear, or canst thou guide the blindor him who is in error manifest?

41. And if We take thee away, We surely shall take vengeance on them,

42. Or [if] We show thee that wherewith We threaten them; for lo! We havecomplete command of them.

43. So hold thou fast to that which is inspired in thee. Lo! thou art on a rightpath.

44. And lo! it is in truth a Reminder for thee and for thy folk; and ye will bequestioned.

45. And ask those of Our messengers whom We sent before thee: Did We everappoint gods to be worshipped beside the Beneficent?

46. And verily We sent Moses with Our revelations unto Pharaoh and his chiefs,

and he said: I am a messenger of the Lord of the Worlds.

47. But when he brought them Our tokens, behold! they laughed at them.

236

48. And every token that We showed them was greater than its sister [token], andWe grasped them with the torment, that haply they might turn again.

49. And they said: O wizard! Entreat thy Lord for us by the pact that He hathmade with thee. Lo! we verily will walk aright.

50. But when We eased them of the torment, behold! they broke their word.

51. And Pharaoh caused a proclamation to be made among his people saying: O mypeople! Is not mine the sovereignty of Egypt and these rivers flowing under me?

Can ye not then discern?

52. I am surely better than this fellow, who is despicable and can hardly make[his meaning] plain!

53. Why, then, have armlets of gold not been set upon him, or angels sent along with him?

54. Thus he persuaded his people to make light [of Moses], and they obeyed him.

Lo! they were a wanton folk.

55. So, when they angered Us, We punished them and drowned them every one.

56. And We made them a thing past, and an example for those after [them].

57. And when the son of Mary is quoted as an example, behold! the folk laughout,

58. And say: Are our gods better, or is he? They raise not the objection savefor argument. Nay! but they are a contentious folk.

59. He is nothing but a slave on whom We bestowed favour, and We made him apattern for the Children of Israel.

60. And had We willed We could have set among you angels to be viceroys in theearth.

61. And lo! verily there is knowledge of the Hour. So doubt ye not concerningit, but follow Me. This is the right path.

62. And let not Satan turn you aside. Lo! he is an open enemy for you.

63. When Jesus came with clear proofs [of Allah's Sovereignty], he said: I havecome unto you with wisdom, and to make plain some of that concerning which yediffer. So keep your duty to Allah, and obey me.

64. Lo! Allah, He is my Lord and your Lord. So worship Him. This is a rightpath.

65. But the factions among them differed. Then woe unto those who do wrong fromthe doom of a painful day.

66. Await they aught save the Hour, that it shall come upon them suddenly, whenthey know not?

67. Friends on that day will be foes one to another, save those who kept theirduty [to Allah].

68. O My slaves! For you there is no fear this day, nor is it ye who grieve;

69. [Ye] who believed Our revelations and were self-surrendered,

70. Enter the Garden, ye and your wives, to be made glad.

71. Therein are brought round for them trays of gold and goblets, and therein isall that souls desire and eyes find sweet. And ye are immortal therein.

237

72. This is the Garden which ye are made to inherit because of what ye used todo.

73. Therein for you is fruit in plenty whence to eat.

74. Lo! the guilty are immortal in hell's torment.

75. It is not relaxed for them, and they despair therein.

76. We wronged them not, but they it was who did the wrong.

77. And they cry: O master! Let thy Lord make an end of us. He saith: Lo! hereye must remain.

78. We verily brought the Truth unto you, but ye were, most of you, averse to the Truth.

79. Or do they determine any thing [against the Prophet]? Lo! We [also] aredetermining.

80. Or deem they that We cannot hear their secret thoughts and privateconfidences? Nay, but Our envoys, present with them, do record.

81. Say [O Muhammad]: If the Beneficent One hath a son, then, I shall be firstamong the worshippers. [But there is no son].

82. Glorified be the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of the Throne,

from that which they ascribe [unto Him]!

83. So let them flounder [in their talk] and play until they meet the Day whichthey are promised.

84. And He it is Who in the heaven is Allah, and in the earth Allah. He is theWise, the Knower.

85. And blessed be He unto Whom belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and theearth and all that is between them, and with Whom is knowledge of the Hour, andunto Whom ye will be returned.

86. And those unto whom they cry instead of Him possess no power ofintercession, saving him who beareth witness unto the Truth knowingly.

87. And if thou ask them who created them, they will surely say: Allah. How thenare they turned away?

88. And he saith: O my Lord! Lo! these are a folk who believe not.

89. Then bear with them [O Muhammad] and say: Peace. But they will come to know.

SURA 44. AD-DUKHAN (SMOKE)

1. Ha. Mim.

2. By the Scripture that maketh plain

3. Lo! We revealed it on a blessed night - Lo! We are ever warning -

4. Whereon every wise command is made clear

5. As a command from Our presence - Lo! We are ever sending -

6. A mercy from thy Lord. Lo! He, even He is the Hearer, the Knower,

7. Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, if ye wouldbe sure.

238

8. There is no Allah save Him. He quickeneth and giveth death; your Lord andLord of your forefathers.

9. Nay, but they play in doubt.

10. But watch thou [O Muhammad] for the day when the sky will produce visiblesmoke

11. That will envelop the people. This will be a painful torment.

12. [Then they will say]: Our Lord relieve us of the torment. Lo! we arebelievers.

13. How can there be remembrance for them, when a messenger making plain [theTruth] had already come unto them,

14. And they had turned away from him and said: One taught [by others], amadman?

15. Lo! We withdraw the torment a little. Lo! ye return [to disbelief].

16. On the day when We shall seize them with the greater seizure, [then] intruth We shall punish.

17. And verily We tried before them Pharaoh's folk, when there came unto them anoble messenger,

18. Saying: Give up to me the slaves of Allah. Lo! I am a faithful messengerunto you.

19. And saying: Be not proud against Allah. Lo! I bring you a clear warrant.

20. And lo! I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord lest ye stone me todeath.

21. And if ye put no faith in me, then let me go.

22. And he cried unto his Lord, [saying]: These are guilty folk.

23. Then [his Lord commanded]: Take away My slaves by night. Lo! ye will befollowed,

24. And leave the sea behind at rest, for lo! they are a drowned host.

25. How many were the gardens and the watersprings that they left behind,

26. And the cornlands and the goodly sites

27. And pleasant things wherein they took delight!

28. Even so [it was], and We made it an inheritance for other folk;

29. And the heaven and the earth wept not for them, nor were they reprieved.

30. And We delivered the Children of Israel from the shameful doom;

31. [We delivered them] from Pharaoh. Lo! he was a tyrant of the wanton ones.

32. And We chose them, purposely, above [all] creatures.

33. And We gave them portents wherein was a clear trial.

34. Lo! these, forsooth, are saying:

35. There is naught but our first death, and we shall not be raised again.

36. Bring back our fathers, if ye speak the truth!

37. Are they better, or the folk of Tubb'a and those before them? We destroyedthem, for surely they were guilty.

239

38. And We created not the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them,

in play.

39. We created them not save with truth; but most of them know not.

40. Assuredly the Day of Decision is the term for all of them,

41. A day when friend can in naught avail friend, nor can they be helped,

42. Save him on whom Allah hath mercy. Lo! He is the Mighty, the Merciful.

43. Lo! the tree of Zaqqum,

44. The food of the sinner!

45. Like molten brass, it seetheth in their bellies

46. As the seething of boiling water.

47. [And it will be said]: Take him and drag him to the midst of hell,

48. Then pour upon his head the torment of boiling water.

49. [Saying]: Taste! Lo! thou wast forsooth the mighty, the noble!

50. Lo! this is that whereof ye used to doubt.

51. Lo! those who kept their duty will be in a place secured.

52. Amid gardens and watersprings,

53. Attired in silk and silk embroidery, facing one another.

54. Even so [it will be]. And We shall wed them unto fair ones with wide, lovelyeyes.

55. They call therein for every fruit in safety.

56. They taste not death therein, save the first death. And He hath saved themfrom the doom of hell,

57. A bounty from thy Lord. That is the supreme triumph.

58. And We have made [this Scripture] easy in thy language only that they mayheed.

59. Wait then [O Muhammad]. Lo! they [too] are waiting.