the Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and the Lord of the easts.
6
Indeed We have adorned the lowest heaven with the finery of the stars,
7
and to guard from any froward devil.
8
They do not eavesdrop on the Supernal Elite but are shot at from every side,
9
to drive them away, and for them there is a constant mortification,
10
except him who snatches a snatch, whereat there pursues him a piercing flame.
11
Ask them, is their creation more prodigious or [that of other creatures] that We have created? Indeed We created them from a viscous clay.
12
Indeed you wonder, while they engage in ridicule,
13
and [even] when admonished do not take admonition,
14
and when they see a sign they make it an object of ridicule,
15
and say, ‘This is nothing but plain magic!’
16
‘What! When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we be resurrected?
17
And our forefathers too?!’
18
Say, ‘Yes! And you will be utterly humble. ’
19
It will be only a single shout and, behold, they will look on,
20
and say, ‘Woe to us! This is the Day of Retribution!’
21
‘This is the Day of Judgement that you used to deny!’
22
‘Muster the wrongdoers and their mates and what they used to worship
23
besides Allah, and show them the way to hell!
24
[But first] stop them! For they must be questioned. ’
25
‘Why is it that you do not support one another [today]?’
26
Rather today they are [meek and] submissive!
27
Some of them will turn to others, questioning each other.
28
They will say, ‘Indeed you used to accost us peremptorily. ’
29
They will answer, ‘Rather you [yourselves] had no faith.
30
We had no authority over you. Rather you [yourselves] were a rebellious lot.
31
So our Lord’s word became due against us that we shall indeed taste [the punishment].
32
So we perverted you, for we were perverse [ourselves]. ’
33
So that day they will share in the punishment.
34
Indeed that is how We deal with the guilty.
35
Indeed it was they who, when they were told, ‘There is no god except Allah,’ used to be disdainful,
36
and [they would] say, ‘Shall we abandon our gods for a crazy poet?’
37
Rather he has brought [them] the truth, and confirmed the [earlier] apostles.
38
Indeed you will taste the painful punishment,
39
and you will be requited only for what you used to do
40
—[all] except Allah’s exclusive servants.
41
For such there is a known provision
42
—fruits—and they will be held in honour,
43
in the gardens of bliss,
44
[reclining] on couches, facing one another,
45
served around with a cup from a clear fountain,
46
snow-white, delicious to the drinkers,
47
wherein there will be neither headache nor will it cause them stupefaction,
48
and with them will be maidens of restrained glances with big [beautiful] eyes,
49
as if they were hidden ostrich eggs.
50
Some of them will turn to others, questioning each other.
51
One of them will say, ‘Indeed I had a companion
52
who used to say, ‘‘Are you really among those who affirm
53
[that] when we are dead and have become dust and bones, we shall indeed be brought to retribution?’’ ’
54
He will say, ‘Will you have a look?’
55
Then he will take a look and sight him in the middle of hell.
56
He will say, ‘By Allah, you had almost ruined me!
57
And had it not been for my Lord’s blessing, I too would have been among the arraigned!’
58
‘Is it [true] that we shall not die [anymore],
59
aside from our first death, and that we shall not be punished?
60
This is indeed the great success!
61
Let all the workers work for the like of this!’
62
Is this a better hospitality, or the Zaqqūm tree?
63
Indeed We have made it a punishment for the wrongdoers.
64
Indeed it is a tree that emerges from the depths of hell.
65
Its spathes are as if they were devils’ heads.
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Indeed they will eat from it and gorge with it their bellies.
67
Indeed, on top of that they will take a solution of scalding water.
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Then indeed their retreat will be toward hell.
69
Indeed they had found their fathers astray,
70
yet they press on in their footsteps.
71
Certainly most of the ancients went astray before them,
72
and certainly We had sent warners among them.
73
So observe how was the fate of those who were warned
74
—[all] except Allah’s exclusive servants!
75
Certainly Noah called out to Us, and how well We responded!
76
We delivered him and his family from the great agony,
77
and made his descendants the survivors,
78
and left for him a good name among posterity:
79
‘Peace to Noah, throughout the nations!’
80
Thus indeed do We reward the virtuous.
81
He is indeed one of Our faithful servants.
82
Then We drowned the others.
83
Indeed Abraham was among his followers,
84
when he came to his Lord with a sound heart,
85
when he said to his father and his people, ‘What is it that you are worshiping?
86
Is it a lie, gods other than Allah, that you desire?
87
Then what is your idea about the Lord of all the worlds?’
88
Then he made an observation of the stars
89
and said, ‘Indeed I am sick!’
90
So they went away leaving him behind.
91
Then he stole away to their gods and said, ‘Will you not eat?
92
Why do you not speak?’
93
Then he attacked them, striking forcefully.
94
They came running towards him.
95
He said, ‘Do you worship what you have yourselves carved,
96
when Allah has created you and whatever you make?’
97
They said, ‘Build a structure for him and cast him into a huge fire. ’
98
So they sought to outwit him, but We made them the lowermost.
99
He said, ‘Indeed I am going toward my Lord, who will guide me. ’
100
‘My Lord! Give me [an heir], one of the righteous. ’
101
So We gave him the good news of a forbearing son.
102
When he was old enough to assist in his endeavour, he said, ‘My son! I see in a dream that I am sacrificing you. See what you think.’ He said, ‘Father! Do whatever you have been commanded. If Allah wishes, you will find me to be patient.’
103
So when they had both submitted [to Allah’s will], and he had laid him down on his forehead,
104
We called out to him, ‘O Abraham!
105
You have indeed fulfilled the vision! Thus indeed do We reward the virtuous!
106
This was indeed a manifest test. ’
107
Then We ransomed him with a great sacrifice,
108
and left for him a good name in posterity:
109
‘Peace be to Abraham!’
110
Thus do We reward the virtuous.
111
He is indeed one of Our faithful servants.
112
And We gave him the good news of [the birth of] Isaac, a prophet, one of the righteous.
113
And We blessed him and Isaac. Among their descendants [some] are virtuous, and [some] who manifestly wrong themselves.
114
Certainly We favoured Moses and Aaron,
115
and delivered them and their people from the great agony,
116
and We helped them so that they became the victors.
117
We gave them the illuminating scripture
118
and guided them to the straight path,
119
and left for them a good name in posterity.
120
‘Peace be to Moses and Aaron!’
121
Thus indeed do We reward the virtuous.
122
They are indeed among Our faithful servants.
123
And indeed Ilyās was one of the apostles,
124
when he said to his people, ‘Will you not be Godwary?
125
Do you invoke Baal and abandon the best of creators,
126
Allah, your Lord and Lord of your forefathers?’
127
But they impugned him. So they will indeed be arraigned [before Him]
128
—[all] except Allah’s exclusive servants.
129
We left for him a good name in posterity.
130
‘Peace be to Ilyās!’
131
Thus indeed do We reward the virtuous.
132
He is indeed one of Our faithful servants.
133
And indeed Lot was one of the apostles,
134
when We delivered him and all his family,
135
except an old woman among those who remained behind.
136
Then We destroyed [all] the others.
137
And indeed you pass by them at dawn
138
and at night. So do you not apply reason?
139
And indeed Jonah was one of the apostles,
140
when he absconded toward the laden ship.
141
Then he drew lots with them and he was the one to be refuted.
142
Then the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy.
143
And had he not been one of those who celebrate Allah’s glory,
144
he would have surely remained in its belly till the day they will be resurrected.
145
Then We cast him on a bare shore, and he was sick.
146
So We made a gourd plant grow above him.
147
We sent him to a [community of] hundred thousand or more,
148
and they believed [in him]. So We provided for them for a while.
149
Ask them, are daughters to be for your Lord while sons are to be for them?
150
Did We create the angels females while they were present?
151
Look! It is indeed out of their mendacity that they say,
152
‘Allah has begotten, ’ and they indeed speak a falsehood.
153
Has he preferred daughters to sons?
154
What is the matter with you? How do you judge?
155
Will you not then take admonition?
156
Do you have a manifest authority?
157
Then produce your scripture, should you be truthful.
158
And they have set up a kinship between Him and the jinn, while the jinn certainly know that they will indeed be presented [before Him].
159
Clear is Allah of whatever they allege [about Him],
160
—[all] except Allah’s exclusive servants.
161
Indeed you and what you worship
162
—you cannot mislead [anyone] about Him,
163
except someone who is bound for hell.
164
‘There is none among us but has a known place.
165
Indeed it is we who are the ranged ones.
166
Indeed it is we who are those who celebrate Allah’s glory. ’
167
Indeed they used to say,
168
‘Had we possessed a reminder from the ancients,
169
we would surely have been Allah’s exclusive servants. ’
170
But they disbelieved it [when it came to them]. Soon they will know.
171
Certainly Our decree has gone beforehand in favour of Our servants, the apostles,
172
that they will indeed receive [Allah’s] help,
173
and indeed Our hosts will be the victors.
174
So leave them alone for a while,
175
and watch them; soon they will see [the truth of the matter].
176
Do they seek to hasten Our punishment?
177
But when it descends in their courtyard it will be a dismal dawn for those who had been warned.
178
So leave them alone for a while,
179
and watch; soon they will see.
180
Clear is your Lord, the Lord of Might, of whatever they allege [concerning Him].
181
Peace be to the apostles!
182
All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.