Juz 15 — Part 15 of 30

Subhaanal lazeee asraa bi'abdihee lailam minal Masjidil Haraami ilal Masjidil Aqsal-lazee baaraknaa haw lahoo linuriyahoo min aayaatinaa;innahoo Huwas Samee'ul-Baseer

LIMITLESS in His glory is He who transported His servant by night from the Inviolable House of Worship [at Mecca] to the Remote House of Worship [, at Jerusalem] - the environs of which We had blessed -so that We might show him some of Our symbols: for, verily, He alone is all-hearing, all-seeing.

Wa aatainaa Moosal-Kitaaba wa ja'alnaahu hudal-liBaneee Israaa'eel;

And [thus, too,] We vouchsafed revelation unto Moses, and made it a [source of] guidance for the children of Israel, [commanding them:] "Do not ascribe to any but Me the power to determine your fate,

Zurriyyata man hamalnaa ma'a Nooh innahoo kaana 'abdan shakooraa

O you descendants of those whom We caused to be borne (in the ark] with Noah! Behold, he was a most grateful servant (of Ours]!"

Wa qadainaaa ilaa Baneee Israaa'eela fil Kitaabi latufsidunna fil ardi marratain; wa lata'lunna'uluwwan kabeeraa

And we made [this] known to the children of Israel through revelation: Twice, indeed, will you spread corruption on earth and will indeed become grossly overbearing!

Fa-izaa jaaa'a wa'duoolaahumaa ba'asnaaa 'alykurr 'ibaadai-lanaaa ulee baasin shadeedin fajaasoo khilaalad diyaar; wa kaana wa'dam maf'oolaa

Hence, when the prediction of the first of those two [periods of iniquity] came true, We sent against you some of Our bondmen of terrible prowess in war, and they wrought havoc throughout the land: and so the prediction was fulfilled.

Summa radadnaa lakumul karrata 'alaihim wa amdad-naakum-bi amwaalinuw wa baneen; wa ja'alnaakum aksara nafeeraa

And after a time We allowed you to prevail against them once again, and aided you with wealth and offspring, and made you more numerous [than ever].

In ahsantum ahsantum li anfusikum wa in asaatum falahaa; fa izaa jaaa'a wa'dul aakhirati liyasooo'oo wujoo hakum wa liyadkhulul masjida kamaa dakhaloohu awwala marratinw wa liyutabbiroo mass'alaw tatbeera

[And We said:] "If you persevere in doing good, you will but be doing good to yourselves; and if you do evil, it will be [done] to yourselves." And so, when the prediction of the second [period of your iniquity] came true, [We raised new enemies against you, and allowed them] to disgrace you utterly, and to enter the Temple as [their forerunners] had entered it once before, and to destroy with utter destruction all that they had conquered.

'Asaa rabbukum anyyarhamakum; wa in 'uttum 'udnaa; wa ja'alnaa jahannama lilkaafireena haseera

Your Sustainer may well show mercy unto you; but if you revert [to sinning], We shall revert [to chastising you]. And [remember this:] We have ordained that [in the hereafter] hell shall close upon all who deny the truth.

Inna haazal Quraana yahdee lillatee hiya aqwamu wa yubashshirul mu'mineenal lazeena ya'maloonas saalihaati anna lahum ajran kabeeraa

VERILY, this Qur'an shows the way to all that is most upright, and gives the believers who do good deeds the glad tiding that theirs will be a great reward;

Wa annal lazeena laa yu'minoona bil aakhirati a'tadnaa lahum 'azaaban aleemaa

and [it announces, too,] that We have readied grievous suffering for those who will not believe in the life to come.

Wa yad'ul insaanu bishsharri du'aaa 'ahoo bilkhayr; wa kaanal insaanu 'ajoola

As it is, man [often] prays for things that are bad as if he were praying for something that is good: for man is prone to be hasty [in his judgments].

Wa ja'alnal laila wannahaara Aayatayni famahawnaaa Aayatal laili wa ja'alnaaa Aayatan nahaari mubsiratal litabtaghoo fadlam mir Rabbikum wa lita'lamoo 'adadas sineena walhisaab; wa kulla shai'in fassalnaahu tafseelaa

And We have established the night and the day as two symbols; and thereupon We have effaced the symbol of night and set up [in its place] the light giving symbol of day, so that you might seek to obtain your Sustainer's bounty and be aware of the passing years and of the reckoning [that is bound to come]. For clearly, most clearly, have We spelt out everything!

Wa kulla insaanin alzamnaahu taaa'irahoo fe 'unuqihee wa nukhriji lahoo Yawmal Qiyaamati kitaabany yalqaahu manshooraa

And every human being's destiny have We tied to his neck; and on the Day of Resurrection We shall bring forth for him a record which he will find wide open;

Iqra kitaabak kafaa binafsikal Yawma 'alaika haseebaa

[and he will be told:] "Read this thy record,! Sufficient is thine own self today to make out thine account!"

Manihtadaa fa innamaa yahtadee linafsihee wa man dalla fa innamaa yadillu 'alaihaa; wa laa taziru waaziratunw wizra ukhraa; wa maa kunnaa mu'azzibeena hatta nab'asa Rasoola

Whoever chooses to follow the right path, follows it but for his own good; and whoever goes astray, goes but astray to his own hurt; and no bearer of burdens shall be made to bear another" burden. Moreover. We would never chastise [any community for the wrong they may do] ere We have sent an apostle [to them].

Wa izaaa aradnaaa an nuhlika qaryatan amarnaa mutrafeehaa fafasaqoo feehaa fahaqqa 'alaihal qawlu fadammarnaahaa tadmeeraa

But when [this has been done, and] it is Our will to destroy a community, We convey Our last warning to those of its people who have lost themselves entirely in the pursuit of pleasures; and [if] they [continue to] act sinfully, the sentence [of doom] passed on the community takes effect, and We break it to smithereens.

Wa kam ahlaknaa minal qurooni mim ba'di Nooh; wa kafaa bi Rabbika bizunoobi 'ibaadihee Khabeeram Baseeraa

And how many a generation have We [thus] destroyed after [the time of] Noah! For, none has the like of thy Sustainer's awareness and insight into His creatures' sins.

Man kaana yureedul 'aajilata 'ajjalnaa lahoo feehaa maa nashaaa'u liman nureedu summa ja'alnaa lahoo Jahannama yaslaahaa mazmoomammad hooraa

Unto him who cares for [no more than the enjoyment of] this fleeting life We readily grant thereof as much as We please, [giving] to whomever it is Our will [to give]; but in the end We consign him to [the suffering of] hell; which he will have to endure disgraced and disowned!

Wa man araadal Aakhirata wa sa'aa lahaa sa'yahaa wa huwa mu'minun fa ulaaa'ika kaana sa'yuhum mashkooraa

But as for those who care for the [good of the] life to come, and strive for it as it ought to be striven for, and are [true] believers withal -they are the ones whose striving finds favour [with God]!

Kullan numiddu haaa 'ulaaa'i wa haaa'ulaaa'i min 'ataaa'i rabbik; wa maa kaana 'ataaa'u rabbika mahzooraa

All [of them] -these as well as those -do We freely endow with some of thy Sustainer's gifts, since thy Sustainer's giving is never confined [to one kind of man].

Unzur kaifa faddalnaa ba'dahum 'alaa ba'd; wa lal Aakhiratu akbaru darajaatinw wa akbaru tafdeelaa

Behold how We bestow [on earth) more bounty on some of them than on others: but [remember that] the life to come will be far higher in degree and far greater in merit and bounty.

Laa taj'al ma'al laahi ilaahan aakhara fataq'uda mazoomam makhzoolaa

DO NOT set up any other deity side by side with God, lest thou find thyself disgraced and forsaken:

Wa qadaa Rabbuka allaa ta'budooo illaaa iyyaahu wa bilwaalidaini ihsaanaa; immaa yablughanna 'indakal kibara ahaduhumaaa aw kilaahumaa falaa taqul lahumaaa uffinw wa laa tanharhumaa wa qullahumaa qawlan kareemaa

for thy Sustainer has ordained that you shall worship none but Him. And do good unto [thy] parents. Should one of them, or both, attain to old age in thy care, never say "Ugh" to them or scold them, but [always] speak unto them with reverent speech,

Wakhfid lahumaa janaahaz zulli minar rahmati wa qur Rabbir hamhumaa kamaa rabbayaanee sagheera

and spread over them humbly the wings of thy tenderness, and say: "O my Sustainer! Bestow Thy grace upon them, even as they cherished and reared me when I was a child!"

Rabbukum a'lamu bimaa fee nufoosikum; in takoonoo saaliheena fa innahoo kaana lil awwaabeena Ghafoooraa

Your Sustainer is fully aware of what is in your hearts. If you are righteous, [He will forgive you your errors]: for, behold, He is much-forgiving to those who turn unto Him again and again.

Wa aati zal qurbaa haqqahoo walmiskeena wabnas sabeeli wa laa tubazzir tabzeeraa

And give his due to the near of kin, as well as to the needy and the wayfarer, but do not squander [thy substance] senselessly.

Innal mubazzireena kaanoo ikhwaanash shayaateeni wa kaanash shaytaanu li Rabbihee kafooraa

Behold, the squanderers are, indeed, of the ilk of the satans - inasmuch as Satan has indeed proved most ungrateful to his Sustainer.

Wa immaa turidanna 'anhumub tighaaa'a rahmatim mir rabbika tarjoohaa faqul lahum qawlam maisooraa

And if thou [must] turn aside from those [that are in want, because thou thyself art] seeking to obtain thy Sustainer's grace and hoping for it, at least speak unto them with gentle speech.

Wa laa taj'al yadaka maghloolatan il 'unuqika wa laa tabsut haa kullal basti fataq'uda maloomam mahsooraa

And neither allow thy hand to remain shackled to thy neck, nor stretch it forth to the utmost limit [of thy capacity], lest thou find thyself blamed [by thy dependants], or even destitute.

Inna Rabbaka yabsuturrizqa limai yashaaa'u wa yaqdir; innahoo kaana bi'ibaadihee Khabeeram Baseera

Behold, thy Sustainer grants abundant sustenance, or gives it in scant measure, unto whomever He wills: verily, fully aware is He of [the needs of] His creatures, and sees them all.

Wa laa taqtulooo awlaadakum khashyata imlaaq; nahnu narzuquhum wa iyyaakum; inna qatlahum kaana khitan kabeeraa

Hence, do not kill your children for fear of poverty: it is We who shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily, killing them is a great sin.

Wa laa taqrabuz zinaaa innahoo kaana faahishatanw wa saaa'a sabeelaa

And do not commit adultery -for, behold, it is an abomination and an evil way.

Wa laa taqtulun nafsal latee harramal laahu illaa bilhaqq; wa man qutila mazlooman faqad ja'alnaa liwaliyyihee sultaanan falaa yusrif fil qatli innahoo kaana mansooraa

And do not take any human being's life -[the life] which God has willed to be, sacred-otherwise than in [the pursuit of] justice. Hence, if anyone has been slain wrongfully, We have empowered the defender of his rights [to exact a just retribution]; but even so, let him not exceed the bounds of equity in [retributive] killing. [And as for him who has been slain wrongfully -] behold, he is indeed succoured [by God]!

Wa laa taqraboo maalal yateemi illaa billatee hiya ahsanu hattaa yablugha ashuddah; wa awfoo bil'ahd, innal 'ahda kaana mas'oolaa

And do not touch the substance of an orphan, save to improve it, before he comes of age. And be true to every promise - for, verily, [on Judgment Day] you will be called to account for every promise which you have made!

Wa awful kaila izaa kiltum wa zinoo bilqistaasil mustaqeem; zaalika khairunw wa ahsanu taaweelaa

And give full measure whenever you measure, and weigh with a balance that is true: this will be [for your own] good, and best in the end.

Wa laa taqfu maa laisa laka bihee 'ilm; innas sam'a walbasara walfu'aada kullu ulaaa'ika kaana 'anhu mas'oolaa

And never concern thyself with anything of which thou hast no knowledge: verily, [thy] hearing and sight and heart - all of them - will be called to account for it [on Judgment Day]!

Wa laa tamshi fil ardi marahan innaka lan takhriqal arda wa lan tablughal jibaala toola

And walk not on earth with haughty self-conceit: for, verily, thou canst never rend the earth asunder, nor canst thou ever grow as tall as the mountains!

Kullu zaalika kaana sayyi'uhoo inda Rabbika makroohaa

The evil of all this is odious in thy Sustainer's sight:

Zaalika mimmaaa awhaaa ilaika Rabbuka minal hikmah; wa laa taj'al ma'allaahi ilaahan aakhara fatulqaa fee Jahannama maloomam mad hooraa

this is part of that knowledge of right and wrong with which thy Sustainer has inspired thee. Hence, do not set up any other deity side by side with God, lest thou be cast into hell, blamed [by thyself] and rejected [by Him]!

Afa asfaakum rabbukum bilbaneena wattakhaza minal malaaa'ikati inaasaa; innakum lataqooloona qawlan 'azeema

HAS, THEN, your Sustainer distinguished you by [giving you] sons, and taken unto Himself daughters in the guise of angels? Verily, you are uttering a dreadful saying!

Wa laqad sarrafnaa fee haazal Quraani liyazzakkaroo wa maa yazeeduhum illaa nufooraa

And, indeed, many facets have We given [to Our message] in this Qur'an, so that they [who deny the truth] might take it to heart: but all this only increases their aversion.

Qul law kaana ma'ahooo aalihatun kamaa yaqooloona izal labtaghaw ilaa zil 'Arshi Sabeela

Say: "If there were-as some people assert [other] deities side by side with Him, surely [even] they would have to strive to find a way unto Him who is enthroned on His almightiness?"

Subhaanahoo wa Ta'aalaa 'ammaa yaqooloona 'uluwwan kabeeraa

Limitless is He in His glory, and sublimely, immeasurably exalted above anything that men may say [about Him]

Tusabbihu lahus samaawaatus sab'u wal ardu wa man feehinn; wa im min shai'in illaa yusabbihu bihamdihee wa laakil laa tafqahoona tasbeehahum; innahoo kaana Haleeman Ghafooraa

The seven heavens extol His limitless glory, and the earth, and all that they contain; and there is not a single thing but extols His limitless glory and praise: but you [O men] fail to grasp the manner of their glorifying Him! Verily, He is forbearing, much-forgiving!

Wa izaa qaraatal Quraana ja'alnaa bainaka wa bainal lazeena laa yu'minoona bil aakhirati hijaabam mastooraa

But [thus it is:] whenever thou recitest the Qur'an, We place an invisible barrier between thee and those who will not believe in the life to come: -

Wa ja'alnaa 'alaa quloo bihim akinnatan any yafqahoohu wa feee aazaanihim waqraa; wa izaa zakarta Rabbaka fil Quraani wahdahoo wallaw 'alaaa adbaarihim nufooraa

for, over their hearts We have laid veils which prevent them from grasping its purport, and into their ears, deafness. And so, whenever thou dost mention, while reciting the Qur'an, thy Sustainer as the one and only Divine Being, they turn their backs [upon thee] in aversion.

nahnu a'lamu bimaa yastami'oona biheee iz yastami'oona ilaika wa iz hum najwaaa iz yaqooluz zaalimoona in tattabi'oona illaa rajulam mas hooraa

We are fully aware of what they are listening for when they listen to thee: for when they are secluded among themselves, lo! these wrongdoers say [unto one another], "If you were to follow [Muhammad, you would follow] only a man bewitched!"

Unzur kaifa daraboo lakal amsaala fadalloo falaa yastatee'oona sabeelaa

See to what they liken thee, [O Prophet simply] because they have gone astray and are now unable to find a way [to the truth]!

Wa qaalooo'a izaa kunnaa 'izaamanw wa rufaatan 'a innaa lamab'oosoona khalqan jadeedaa

And [thus, too,] they say, "After we will have become bones and dust, shall we, forsooth, be raised from the dead in a new act of creation?"

Qul koonoo jijaaratan aw hadeedaa

Say: "[You will be raised from the dead even though] you be stones or iron

aw khalqam mimmaa yakburu fee sudoorikum; fasa yaqooloona mai yu'eedunaa qulil lazee fatarakum awwala marrah; fasa yunghidoona ilaika ru'oosahum wa yaqooloona mataa huwa qul 'asaaa any yakoona qareeba

or any [other] substance which, to your minds, appears yet farther removed [from life]!" And [if] thereupon they ask, "Who is it that will' bring us back [to life]?"-say thou: "He who has brought you into being in the first instance." And [if] thereupon they shake their heads at thee [in disbelief] and ask, "When shall this be?"-say thou: "It may well be soon,

Yawma yad'ookum fatastajeeboona bihamdihee wa tazunnoona il labistum illaa qaleela

on a Day when He will call you, and you will answer by praising Him, thinking all the while that you have tarried [on earth] but a little while."

Wa qul li'ibaadee yaqoolul latee hiya ahsan; innash shaitaana yanzaghu bainahum; innash shaitaana kaana lil insaani 'aduwwam mubeenaa

AND TELL My servants that they should speak in the most kindly manner [unto those who do not share their beliefs]: verily, Satan is always ready to stir up discord between men - for, verily, Satan is man's open foe!

Rabbukum a'lamu bikum iny yashaaa yarhamkum aw iny yashaa yu'azzibkum; wa maaa arsalnaaka 'alaihim wakeelaa

Your Sustainer is fully aware of what you are [and what you deserve]: if He so wills, he will bestow [His] grace upon you; and if He so wills, He will chastise you. Hence, We have not sent thee [unto men, O Prophet,] with the power to determine their fate,

Wa Rabbuka a'lamu biman fis samaawaati wal lard; wa laqad faddalnaa ba'dan Nabiyyeena 'alaa ba'dinw wa aatainaaa Daawooda Zabooraa

seeing that thy Sustainer is fully aware of [what is in the minds of] all beings that are in the heavens and on earth. But, indeed, We did endow some of the prophets more highly than others -just as We bestowed upon David a book of divine wisdom [in token of Our grace]

Qulid 'ul lazeena za'amtum min doonihee falaa yamlikoona kashfad durri'ankum wa laa tahweelaa

SAY: "Call upon those [beings] whom you imagine [to be endowed with divine powers] beside Him and [you will find that] they have it not in their power to remove any affliction from you, or to shift it [elsewhere]. "

Ulaaa'ikal lazeena yad'oona yabtaghoona ilaa Rabbihimul waseelata ayyuhum aqrabu wa yarjoona rahmatahoo wa yakhaafoona 'azaabah; inna 'azaaba rabbika kaana mahzooraa

Those [saintly beings] whom they invoke are themselves striving to obtain their Sustainer's favour - [even] those among them who are closest [to Him] - hoping for His grace and dreading His chastisement: for, verily, thy Sustainer's chastisement is something to beware of!

Wa im min qaryatin illaa Nahnu muhlikoohaa qabla Yawmil Qiyaamati aw mu'az ziboohaa 'azaaban shadeedaa; kaana zaalika fil Kitaabi mastooraa

And [bear in mind:] there is no community which We will not destroy before the Day of Resurrection, or chastise [even earlier, if it proves sinful,] with suffering severe: all this is laid down in Our decree.

Wa maa mana'anaaa an nursila bil aayaati illaaa an kazzaba bihal awwaloon; wa aatainaa Samoodan naaqata mubsiratan fazalamoo bihaa; wa maa nursilu bil aayaati illaa takhweefaa

And nothing has prevented Us from sending [this message, like the earlier ones,] with miraculous signs [in its wake], save [Our knowledge] that the people of olden times [only too often] gave the lie to them: thus, We provided for [the tribe of] Thamud the she-camel as a light-giving portent, and they sinned against it. And never did We send those signs for any other purpose than to convey a warning.

Wa iz qulnaa laka inna rabbaka ahaata binnaas; wa maa ja'alnar ru'yal lateee arainaaka illaa fitnatal linnaasi washshajaratal mal'oonata fil quraan; wa nukhaw wifuhum famaa yazeeduhum illa tughyaanan kabeeraa

And lo! We said unto thee, [O Prophet:] "Behold, thy Sustainer encompasses all mankind [within His knowledge and might]: and so We have ordained that the vision which We have shown thee -as also the tree [of hell,] cursed in this Qur'an - shall be but a trial for men. Now [by Our mentioning hell] We convey a warning to them: but [if they are bent on denying the truth,] this [warning] only increases their gross, overweening arrogance."

Wa iz qulnaa lilma laaa'ikatis judoo li Aadama fasajadooo illaaa Ibleesa qaala 'a-asjudu liman khalaqta teena

AND LO! We said unto the angels, "Prostrate yourselves before Adam"-whereupon they all prostrated themselves, save Iblis. Said he: "Shall I prostrate myself before one whom Thou hast created out of clay?"

Qaala ara'aytaka haazal lazee karramta 'alaiya la'in akhhartani ilaa Yawmil Qiyaamati la-ah tanikanna zurriyyatahooo illaa qaleelaa

[And] he added: "Tell me, is this [foolish being] the one whom Thou hast exalted above me? Indeed, if Thou wilt but allow me a respite till the Day of Resurrection, I shall most certainly cause his descendants-all but a few-to obey me blindly!

Qaalaz hab faman tabi'aka minhum fa inna Jahannama jazaaa'ukum jazaaa'am mawfooraa

[God] answered: "Go [the way thou hast chosen]! But as for such of them as shall follow thee - behold, hell will be the recompense of you (all], a recompense most ample!

Wastafziz manis tat'ta minhum bisawtika wa ajlib 'alaihim bikhailika wa rajilika wa shaarik hum fil amwaali wal awlaadi wa 'idhum; wa maa ya'iduhumush Shaitaanu illaa ghurooraa

Entice, then, with thy voice such of them as thou canst, and bear upon them with all thy horses and all thy men, and be their partner in [all sins relating to] worldly goods and children, and hold out [all manner of] promises to them: and [they will not know that] whatever Satan promises them is but meant to delude the mind.

Inna 'ibaadee laisa laka 'alaihim sultaan; wa kafaa bi Rabbika Wakeelaa

"(And yet,] behold, thou shalt have no power over [such of] My servants [as place their trust in Me]: for none is as worthy of trust as thy Sustainer."

Rabbukumul lazee yuzjee lakumul fulka fil bahri litabtaghoo min fadlih; innahoo kaana bikum Raheemaa

YOUR SUSTAINER is He who causes ships to move onward for you through the sea, so that you might go about in quest of some of His bounty: verily, a dispenser of grace is He unto you.

Wa izaa massakumuddurru fil bahri dalla man tad'oona illaaa iyyaahu falammaa najjaakum ilal barri a'radtum; wa kaanal insaanu kafooraa

And whenever danger befalls you at sea, all those (powers] that you are wont to invoke forsake you, [and nothing remains for you] save Him: but as soon as He has brought you safe ashore, you turn aside [and forget Him]-for, indeed, bereft of all gratitude is man!

Afa amintum any yakhsifa bikum jaanibal barri aw yursil 'alaikum haasiban summa laa tajidoo lakum wakeelaa

Can you, then, ever feel sure that He will not cause a tract of dry land to swallow you up, or let loose upon you a deadly storm-wind, whereupon you would find none to be your protector?

Am amintum any yu'eedakum feehi taaratan ukhraa fa yursila 'alaikum qaasifam minar reehi fa yugh riqakum bimaa kafartum summa laa tajidoo lakum 'alainaa bihee tabee'aa

Or can you, perchance, feel sure that He will not make you put back to sea once again, and then let loose upon you a raging tempest and cause you to drown in requital of your ingratitude - whereupon you would find none to uphold you against Us?

Wa laqad karramnaa Baneee aadama wa hamalnaahum fil barri walbahri wa razaqnaahum minat taiyibaati wa faddalnaahum 'alaa kaseerim mimman khalaqnaa tafdeelaa

NOW, INDEED, We have conferred dignity on the children of Adam, and borne them over land and sea, and provided for them sustenance out of the good things of life, and favoured them far above most of Our creation:

Yawma nad'oo kulla unaasim bi imaamihim faman ootiya kitaabahoo bi yameenihee fa ulaaa'ika yaqra'oona kitaabahum wa laa yuzlamoona fateelaa

[but] one Day We shall summon all human beings [and judge them] according to the conscious disposition which governed their deeds [in life]: whereupon they whose record shall be placed in their right hand -it is they who will read their record [with happiness]. Yet none shall be wronged by as much as a hair's breadth:

Wa man kaana fee haaziheee a'maa fahuwa fil aakhirati a'maa wa adallu sabeelaa

for whoever is blind [of heart] in this [world] will be blind in the life to come [as well], and still farther astray from the path [of truth].

Wa in kaadoo la yaftinoonaka 'anil lazeee awhainaaa ilaika litaftariya 'alainaaa ghairahoo wa izallat takhazooka khaleelaa

AND,. behold, they [who have gone astray] endeavour to tempt thee away from all [the truth] with which We have inspired thee, [O Prophet,] with a view to making thee invent something else in Our name - in which case they would surely have made thee their friend!

Wa law laaa an sabbatnaaka laqad kitta tarkanu ilaihim sha'an qaleela

And 'had We not made thee firm [in faith], thou might have inclined to them a. little

Izal la azaqnaaka di'falhayaati wa di'fal mamaati summa laa tajidu laka 'alainaa naseeraa

in which case We would indeed have made thee taste double [chastisement] in life and double [chastisement] after death, and thou wouldst have found none to succour thee against Us!

Wa in kaadoo la yastafizzoonaka minal ardi liyukhri jooka minhaa wa izal laa yalbasoona khilaafaka illaa qaleelaa

And [since they see that they cannot persuade thee,] they endeavour to estrange thee from the land [of thy birth] with a view to driving thee away from, it-but, then, after thou wilt have left, they themselves will not remain [in it] for more than a little while:

Sunnata man qad arsalnaa qablakamir Rusulinaa wa laa tajidu lisunnatinaa tahhweelaa

[such has been Our] way with all of Our apostles whom We sent before thy time; and no change wilt thou find in Our ways.

Aqimis Salaata liduloo kish shamsi ilaa ghasaqil laili wa quraanal Fajri inna quraa nal Fajri kaana mashhoodaa

BE CONSTANT in [thy] prayer from the time when the sun has passed its zenith till the darkness of night, and [be ever mindful of its] recitation at dawn: for, behold, the recitation [of prayer] at dawn is indeed witnessed [by all that is holy].

Wa minal laili fatahajjad bihee naafilatal laka 'asaaa any yab'asaka Rabbuka Maqaamam Mahmoodaa

And rise from thy sleep and pray during part of the night [as well], as a free offering from thee, and thy Sustainer may well raise thee to a glorious station [in the life to come].

Wa qur Rabbi adkhilnee mudkhala sidqinw wa akhrijnee mukhraja sidqinw waj'al lee milladunka sultaanan naseeraa

And say [in thy prayer]: "O my Sustainer! Cause me to enter [upon whatever I may do] in a manner. true and sincere, and cause me to leave [it] in a manner true and sincere, and grant me, out of Thy grace, sustaining strength!"

Wa qul jaaa'al haqqu wa zahaqal baatil; innal baatila kaana zahooqaa

And say: "The truth has now come [to light], and falsehood has withered away: for, behold, all falsehood is bound to wither away!"

Wa nunazzilu minal quraani maa huwa shifaaa'unw wa rahmatul lilmu;mineena wa laa yazeeduz zaalimeena illaa khasaaraa

THUS, step by step, We bestow from on high through this Qur'an all that gives health [to the spirit] and is a grace unto those who believe [in Us], the while it only adds to the ruin of evildoers:

Wa izaaa an'amnaa 'alal insaani a'rada wa na-aa bijaani bihee wa izaa massahush sharru kaana ya'oosaa

for [it often happens that] when We bestow Our blessings upon man, he turns away and arrogantly keeps aloof [from any thought of Us]; and when evil fortune touches him, he abandons all hope.

Qul kulluny ya'malu 'alaa shaakilatihee fa rabbukum a'lamu biman huwa ahdaa sabeelaa

Say: "Everyone acts in a manner peculiar to himself -and your Sustainer is fully aware as to who has chosen the best path."

Wa yas'aloonaka 'anirrooh; qulir roohu min amri rabbee wa maaa ooteetum minal 'ilmi illaa qaleelaa

AND THEY will ask thee about [the nature of] divine inspiration. Say: "This inspiration [comes] at my Sustainer's behest; and [you cannot understand its nature, O men, since] you have been granted very little of [real] knowledge."

Wa la'in shi'naa lanaz habanna billazeee awhainaaa ilaika summa laa tajidu laka bihee 'alainaa wakeelaa

And if We so willed, We could indeed take away whatever We have revealed unto thee, and in that [state of need] thou wouldst find none to plead in thy behalf before Us.

Illaa rahmatam mir Rabbik; inna fadlahoo kaana 'alaika kabeeraa

[Thou art spared] only by thy Sustainer's grace: behold, His favour towards thee is great indeed!

Qul la'inij tama'atil insu waljinnu 'alaaa any yaatoo bimisli haazal quraani laa yaatoona bimislihee wa law kaana ba'duhum liba 'din zaheeraa

Say: "If all mankind and all invisible beings would come together with a view to producing the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce its like even though they were to exert all their strength in aiding one another!"

Qa laqad sarrafnaa linnaasi fee haazal quraani min kulli masalin fa abaaa aksarun naasi illaa kufooraa

For, indeed, many facets have We given in this Qur'an to every kind of lesson [designed] for [the benefit of] mankind! However, most men are unwilling to accept anything but blasphemy

Wa qaaloo lan nu'mina laka hattaa tafjura lanaa minal ardi yamboo'aa

and so they say: "[O Muhammad,] we shall not believe thee till thou cause a spring to gush forth for us from the earth,

Aw takoona laka jannatum min nakheelinw wa 'inabin fatufajjiral anhaara khilaalahaa tafjeeraa

or thou have a garden of date-palms and vines and cause rivers to gush forth in their midst in a sudden rush,

Aw tusqitas samaaa'a kamaa za'amta 'alainaa kisafan aw taatiya billaahi walma laaa'ikati qabeelaa

or thou cause the skies to fall down upon us in smithereens, as thou hast threatened, or [till] thou bring God and the angels face to face before us,

Aw yakoona laka baitum min zukhrufin aw tarqaa fis samaaa'i wa lan nu'mina liruqiyyika hatta tunazzila 'alainaa kitaaban naqra'uh; qul Subhaana Rabbee hal kuntu illaa basharar Rasoolaa

or thou have a house [made] of gold, or thou ascend to heaven - but nay, we would not [even] believe in thy ascension unless thou bring down to us [from heaven] a writing which we [ourselves] could read! Say thou, [O Prophet:] "Limitless in His glory is my Sustainer! Am I, then, aught but a mortal man, an apostle?"

Wa maa mana'an naasa any yu'minooo iz jaaa'ahumul hudaaa illaaa an qaalooo aba'asal laahu basharar Rasoolaa

Yet whenever [God's] guidance came to them [through a prophet,] nothing has ever kept people from believing [in him] save this their objection: "Would God have sent a [mere] mortal man as His apostle?"

Qul law kaana fil ardi malaaa 'ikatuny yamshoona mutma'inneena lanazzalnaa 'alaihim minas samaaa'i malakar Rasoolaa

Say: "If angels were walking about on earth as their natural abode, We would indeed have sent down unto them an angel out of heaven as Our apostle."

Qul kafaa billaahi shaheedam bainee wa bainakum; innahoo kaana bi'ibaadihee Khabeeram Baseeraa

Say: "None can bear witness between me and you as God does: verily, fully aware is He of His creatures, and He sees all [that is in their hearts]."

Wa mai yahdil laahu fahuwal muhtad; wa mai yudlil falan tajida lahum awliyaaa'a min doonih; wa nahshuruhum Yawmal Qiyaamati 'alaa wujoohihim umyanw wa bukmanw wa summaa; maa waahum Jahannamu kullamaa khabat zidnaahum sa'eeraa

And he whom God guides, he alone has found the right way; whereas for those whom He lets go astray thou canst never find anyone to protect them from Him: and [so, when] We shall gather them together on the Day of Resurrection, [they will lie] prone upon their faces, blind and dumb and deaf, with hell as their goal; [and] every time [the fire] abates, We shall increase for them [its] blazing flame.

Zaalika jazaa'uhum biannahum kafaroo bi aayaatinaa wa qaalooo 'a izaa kunnaa 'izaamanw wa rufaatan'a innaa lamaboosoona khalqan jadeedaa

Such will be their requital for having rejected Our messages and having said, "After we will have become bones and dust, shall we, forsooth, be raised from the dead in a new act of creation?"

Awalam yaraw annal laahal lazee khalaqas samaawaati wal arda qaadirun 'alaaa any yakhluqa mislahum wa ja'ala lahum ajalal laa raiba fee; fa abaz zaalimoona illaa kufooraa

Are they, then, not aware that God, who has created the heavens and the earth, has the power to create them anew in their own likeness, having, beyond any doubt, set a term for their resurrection? However, all [such] evildoers are unwilling to accept anything but blasphemy!

Qul law antum tamlikoona khazaaa'ina rahmati Rabbeee izal la amsaktum khash yatal infaaq; wa kaanal insaanu qatooraa

Say: "If you were to own' all the treasure-houses of my Sustainer's bounty, lo! you would still try to hold on [to them] tightly for fear of spending [too much]: for man has always been avaricious [whereas God is limitless in His bounty].

Wa laqad aatainaa Moosaa tis'a Aayaatim baiyinaatin fas'al Baneee Israaa'eela iz jaaa'ahum faqaala lahoo Fir'awnu inee la azunnuka yaa Moosaa mas hooraa

AND, INDEED, We gave unto Moses nine clear messages. Ask, then, the children of Israel [to tell thee what happened] when he came unto them, [and appealed to Pharaoh,] and Pharaoh said unto him, "Verily, O Moses, I think that thou art full of sorcery!"

Qaala laqad 'alimta maaa anzala haaa'ulaaa'i illaa Rabbus samaawaati wal ardi basaaa'ira wa innee la azun nuka yaa Fir'awnu masbooraa

Answered [Moses]: "Thou knowest well that none but the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth has bestowed these [miraculous signs] from on high, as a means of insight [for thee]; and, verily, O Pharaoh, [since thou hast chosen to reject them;] I think that thou art utterly lost!"

Fa araada any yastafizzahum minal ardi fa aghraqnaahu wa mam ma'ahoo jamee'aa

And then Pharaoh resolved to wipe them off [the face of] the earth - whereupon We caused him and all who were with him to drown [in the sea].

Wa qulnaa mim ba'dihee li Baneee Israaa'eelas kunul arda faizaa jaaa'a wa'dulaakhirati ji'naa bikum lafeefaa

And after that We said unto the children of Israel: "Dwell now securely on earth - but [remember that] when the promise of the Last Day shall come to pass, We will bring you forth as [parts of] a motley crowd!

Wa bilhaqqi anzalnaahu wa bilhaqqi nazal; wa maaa arsalnaaka illaa mubash shiranw wa nazeeraa

AND AS a guide towards the truth have We bestowed this [revelation] from on high; with this [very] truth has it come down [unto thee, O Prophet]: for We have sent thee but as a herald of glad tidings and a warner,

Wa quraanan faraqnaahu litaqra ahoo 'alan naasi 'alaa muksinw wa nazzalnaahu tanzeelaa

[bearing] a discourse which We have gradually unfolded, so that thou might read it out to mankind by stages, seeing that We have bestowed it from on high step by step, as [one] revelation.

Qul aaaniminoo biheee aw laa tu'minoo; innal lazeena ootul 'ilma min qabliheee izaa yutlaa 'alaihim yakhirroona lil azqaani sujjadaa

Say: "Believe in it or do not believe." Behold, those who are already endowed with [innate] knowledge fall down upon their faces in prostration as soon as this [divine writ] is conveyed unto them,

Wa yaqooloona Subhaana Rabbinaaa in kaana wa'du Rabbinaa lamaf'oolaa

and say, "Limitless in His glory is our Sustainer! Verily, our Sustainer's promise has been fulfilled!"

Wa yakhirroona lil azqaani yabkoona wa yazeeduhum khushoo'aa

And so they fall down upon their faces, weeping, and [their consciousness of God's grace] increases their humility.

Qulid'ul laaha awid'ur Rahmaana ayyam maa tad'oo falahul asmaaa'ul Husnaa; wa laa tajhar bi Salaatika wa laa tukhaafit bihaa wabtaghi baina zaalika sabeela

Say: "Invoke God, or invoke the Most Gracious: by whichever name you invoke Him, [He is always the One-for] His are all the attributes of perfection. And [pray unto Him; yet] be not too loud in thy prayer nor speak it in too low a voice, but follow a way in-between;

Wa qulil hamdu lillaahil lazee lam yattakhiz waladanw wa lam yakul lahoo shareekun fil mulki wa lam yakul lahoo waliyyum minaz zulli wa kabbirhu takbeeraa

and say: "All praise is due to God, who begets no offspring, and has no partner in His dominion, and has no weakness, and therefore no need of any aid" -and [thus] extol His limitless greatness.

Alhamdu lillaahil lazeee anzala 'alaa 'abdihil kitaaba wa lam yaj'al lahoo 'iwajaa

ALL PRAISE is due to God, who has bestowed. this divine writ from on high upon His servant, and has not allowed any deviousness to obscure its meaning:

Qaiyimal liyunzira baasan shadeedam mil ladunhu wa yubashshiral mu'mineenal lazeena ya'maloonas saalihaati anna lahum ajran hasanaa

[a divine writ] unerringly straight, meant to warn [the godless] of a severe punishment from Him, and to give unto the believers who do good works the glad tiding that theirs shall be a goodly reward-

Maakiseena feehi abadaa

[a state of bliss] in which they. shall dwell beyond the count of time.

Wa yunziral lazeena qaalut takhazal laahu waladaa

Furthermore, [this divine writ is meant] to warn all those who assert, "God has taken unto Himself a son."

Maa lahum bihee min 'ilminw wa laa li aabaaa'ihim; kaburat kalimatan takhruju min afwaahihim; iny yaqooloona illaa kazibaa

No knowledge whatever have they of Him, and neither had their forefathers: dreadful -is this saying that comes out of their mouths, [and] nothing but falsehood do they utter!

Fala'allaka baakhi'un nafsaka 'alaaa aasaarihim illam yu;minoo bihaazal hadeesi asafaa

But wouldst thou, perhaps, torment thyself to death with grief over them if they are not willing to believe in this message?

Innaa ja'alnaa ma 'alal ardi zeenatal lahaa linabluwahum ayyuhum ahsanu 'amalaa

Behold, We have willed that all beauty on earth be a means by which We put men to a test, [showing] which of them are best in conduct;

Wa innaa lajaa 'iloona maa 'alaihaa sa'aeedan juruzaa

and, verily, [in time] We shall reduce all that is on it to barren dust!

Am hasibta anna Ashaabal Kahfi war Raqeemi kaanoo min Aayaatinaa 'ajabaa

[AND SINCE the life of this world is but a test, dost thou [really] think that [the parable of] the Men of the Cave and of [their devotion to] the scriptures could be deemed more wondrous than any [other] of Our messages?

Iz awal fityatu ilal Kahfi faqaaloo Rabbanaaa aatinaa mil ladunka rahmatanw wa haiyi' lanaa min amrinaa rashadaa

When those youths took refuge in the cave, they prayed: "O our Sustainer! Bestow on us grace from Thyself, and endow us, whatever our [outward] condition, with consciousness of what is right!"

Fadarabnaa 'alaaa aazaanihim fil Kahfi seneena 'adadaa

And thereupon We veiled their ears in the cave for many a year,

Summa ba'asnaahum lina'lama ayyul hizbaini ahsaa limaa labisooo amadaa

and then We awakened Christianity was no longer persecuted and had even become the official religion of the Roman Empire. The ancient coin (dating from the reign of Decius) with which the young man wanted to pay for his purchases immediately aroused curiosity; people began to question the stranger, and the story of the Men of the Cave and their miraculous sleep came to light. them: [and We did all this] so that We might mark out [to the world] which of the two points of view showed a better comprehension of the time-span during which they had remained in this state.

Nahnu naqussu 'alaika naba ahum bilhaqq; innahum fityatun aamanoo bi Rabbihim wa zidnaahum hudaa

[And now] We shall truly relate to thee their story: Behold, they were young men who had attained to faith in their Sustainer: and [so] We deepened their consciousness of the right way

Wa rabatnaa 'alaa quloo bihim iz qaamoo faqaaloo Rabbunaa Rabbus samaawaati wal ardi lan nad'uwa min dooniheee ilaahal laqad qulnaaa izan shatataa

and endowed their hearts with strength, so that they stood up and said [to one another]: "Our Sustainer is the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth. Never shall we invoke any deity other than Him: [if we did,] we should indeed have uttered an enormity!

Haaa'ulaaa'i qawmunat takhazoo min dooniheee aalihatal law laa yaatoona 'alaihim bisultaanim baiyin; faman azlamu mimmaniftaraa 'alal laahi kazibaa

These people of ours have taken to worshipping [other] deities instead of Him, without being able to adduce any reasonable evidence in support of their beliefs; and who could be more wicked than he who invents a lie about God?

Wa izi'tazal tumoohum wa maa ya'budoona illal laaha faawooo ilal kahfi yanshur lakum Rabbukum mir rahmatihee wa yuhaiyi' lakum min amrikum mirfaqa

Hence, now that you have withdrawn from them and from all that they worship instead of God, take refuge in that cave: God will spread His grace over you, and will endow you - whatever your [outward] condition - with all that your souls may need!

Wa tarash shamsa izaa tala'at tazaawaru 'an kahfihim zaatal yameeni wa izaa gharabat taqriduhum zaatash shimaali wa hum fee fajwatim minh; zaalika min Aayaatillaah; mai yahdil laahu fahuwal muhtad, wa mai yudlil falan tajida lahoo waliyyam murshidaa

And [for many a year] thou might have seen the sun, on its rising, incline away from their cave on the right, and, on its setting, turn aside from them on the left, while they lived on in that spacious chamber, [bearing witness to] this of God's messages: He whom God guides, he alone has found the right way; whereas for him whom He lets go astray thou canst never find any protector who would point out the right way.

Wa tahsabuhum ayqaazanw wa hum ruqood; wa nuqallibuhum zaatal yameeni wa zaatash shimaali wa kalbuhum baasitun ziraa'ayhi bilwaseed; lawit tala'ta 'alaihim la wallaita minhum firaaranw wa lamuli'ta minhum rubaa

And thou wouldst have thought that they were awake, whereas they lay asleep. And We caused them to turn over repeatedly, now to the right, now to the left; and their dog [lay] on the threshold, its forepaws outstretched. Hadst thou come upon them [unprepared], thou wouldst surely have turned away from them in flight, and wouldst surely have been filled with awe of them.

Wa kazaalika ba'asnaahum liyatasaaa'aloo bainahum; qaala qaaa'ilum minhum kam labistum qaaloo labisnaa yawman aw ba'da yawm; qaaloo Rabbukum a'almu bimaa labistum fab'asooo ahadakum biwariqikum haazihee ilal madeenati falyanzur ayyuhaaa azkaa ta'aaman falyaatikum birizqim minhu walyatalattaf wa laa yush'iranna bikum ahadaa

And so, [in the course of time,] We awakened them; and they began to ask one another [as to what had happened to them]. One of them asked: "How long have you remained thus?" [The others] answered: "We have remained thus a day, or part of a day." Said they [who were endowed with deeper insight]: "Your Sustainer knows best how long you have thus remained. Let, then, one of you go with these silver coins to the town, and let him find out what food is purest there, and bring you thereof [some] provisions. But let him behave with great care and by no means make anyone aware of you:

Innahum iny yazharoo 'alaikum yarjumookum aw yu'eedookum fee millatihim wa lan tuflihooo izan abadaa

for, behold, if they should come to know of you, they might stone you to death or force you back to their faith-in which case you would never attain to any good!"

Wa kazaalika a'sarnaa 'alaihim liya'lamooo anna wa'dal laahi haqqunw wa annas Saa'ata laa raiba feehaa iz yatanaaza'oona bainahum amrahum faqaalub noo 'alaihim bunyaanaa; Rabbuhum a'lamu bihim; qaalal lazeena ghalaboo 'alaaa amrihim lanat takhizanna 'alaihim masjidaa

AND IN THIS way have We drawn [people's] attention to their story, so that they might know - whenever they debate among themselves as to what happened to those [Men of the Cave] that God's promise [of resurrection] is true, and that there can be no doubt as to [the coming of] the Last Hour. And so, some [people] said: "Erect a building in their memory; God knows best what happened to them." Said they whose opinion prevailed in the end: "Indeed, we must surely raise a house of worship in their memory!"

Sa yaqooloona salaasatur raabi'uhum kalbuhum wa yaqooloona khamsatun saadisuhum kalbuhum rajmam bilghaib; wa yaqooloona sab'atunw wa saaminuhum kalbuhum; qur Rabbeee a'lamu bi'iddatihim maa ya'lamuhum illaa qaleel; falaa tumaari feehim illaa miraaa'an zaahiranw wa laa tastafti feehim minhum ahadaa

[And in times to come] some will say, "[They were] three, the fourth of them being their dog," while others will say, "Five, with their dog as the sixth of them" -idly guessing at something of which they can have no knowledge -and [so on, until] some will say, "[They were] seven, the eighth of them being their dog." Say: "My Sustainer knows best how many they were. None but a few have any [real] knowledge of them. Hence, do not argue about them otherwise than by way of an obvious argument, and do not ask any of those [story-tellers] to enlighten thee about them."

Wa laa taqoolanna lishai'in innee faa'ilun zaalika ghadaa

AND NEVER say about anything, "Behold, I shall do this tomorrow,"

Illaaa any yashaaa'al laah; wazkur Rabbaka izaa naseeta wa qul 'asaaa any yahdiyani Rabbee li aqraba min haazaa rashadaa

without (adding], "if God so wills." And if thou shouldst forget [thyself at the time, and become aware of it later], call thy Sustainer to mind and say: "I pray that my Sustainer guide me, even closer than this, to a consciousness of what is right!"

Wa labisoo fee kahfihim salaasa mi'atin sineena wazdaadoo tis'aa

AND [some people assert], "They remained in their cave three hundred years"; and some have added nine [to that number].

Qulil laahu a'lamu bimaa labisoo lahoo ghaibus samaawaati wal ardi absir bihee wa asmi'; maa lahum min doonihee minw waliyyinw wa laa yushriku fee hukmihee ahadaa

Say: "God knows best how long they remained [there]. His [alone] is the knowledge of the hidden reality of the heavens and the earth: how well does He see and hear! No guardian have they apart from Him, since He allots to no one a share in His rule!"

Watlu maaa oohiya ilaika min Kitaabi Rabbika laa mubaddila li Kalimaatihee wa lan tajida min doonihee multahadaa

AND CONVEY [to the world] whatever has been revealed to thee of thy Sustainer's writ. There is nothing that could alter His words; and thou canst find no refuge other than with Him.

Wasbir nafsaka ma'al lazeena yad'oona Rabbahum bilghadaati wal'ashiyyi yureedoona Wajhahoo wa laa ta'du 'aynaaka 'anhum tureedu zeenatal hayaatid dunyaa wa laa tuti' man aghfalnaa qalbahoo 'an zikrinaa wattaba'a hawaahu wa kaana amruhoo furutaa

And contain thyself in patience by the side of all who at morn and at evening invoke their Sustainer, seeking His countenance, and let not thine eyes pass beyond them in quest of the beauties of this world's life; and pay no heed to any whose heart We have rendered heedless of all remembrance of Us because he had always followed [only] his own desires, abandoning all that is good and true.

Wa qulil haqqu mir Rabbikum faman shaaa'a falyu minw wa man shaaa'a falyakfur; innaaa a'tadnaa lizzaalimeena Naaran ahaata bihim suraadiquhaa; wa iny yastagheesoo yaghaasoo bimaaa'in kalmuhli yashwil wujooh' bi'sash-sharaab; wa saaa'at murtafaqaa

And say: "The truth [has now come] from your Sustainer: let, then, him who wills, believe in it, and let him who wills, reject it." Verily, for all who sin against themselves [by rejecting Our truth] We have readied a fire whose billowing folds will encompass them from all sides; and if they beg for water, they will be given water [hot] like molten lead, which will scald their faces: how dreadful a drink, and how evil a place to rest!

Innal lazeena aamanoo wa 'amilus saalihaati innaa laa nudee'u ajra man ahsana 'amalaa

[But,] behold, as for those who attain to faith and do righteous deeds-verily, We do not fail to requite any who persevere in doing good:

Ulaaa'ika lahum Jannaatu 'Adnin tajree min tahtihimul anhaaru yuhallawna feehaa min asaawira min zahabinw wa yalbasoona siyaaban khudram min sundusinw wa istabraqim muttaki'eena feehaa 'alal araaa'ik; ni'mas sawaab; wa hasunat murtafaqaa

theirs shall be gardens of perpetual bliss - [gardens] through which running waters flow - wherein they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of silk and brocade, [and] wherein upon couches they will recline:" how excellent a recompense, and how goodly a place to rest!

Wadrib lahum masalar rajulaini ja'alnaa li ahadihimaa jannataini min a'naabinw wa hafafnaahumaa binakhilinw wa ja'alnaa bainahumaa zar'aa

AND PROPOUND unto them the parable of two men, upon one of whom We had bestowed two vinyards, and surrounded them with date-palms, and placed a field of grain in-between.

Kiltal jannataini aatat ukulahaa wa lam tazlim minhu shai'anw wa fajjarnaa khi laalahumaa naharaa

Each of the two gardens yielded its produce and never failed therein in any way, for We had caused a stream to gush forth in the midst of each of them.

Wa kaana lahoo samarun faqaala lisaahibihee wa huwa yuhaawiruhoo ana aksaru minka maalanw wa a'azzu nafaraa

And so [the man] had fruit in abundance. And [one day] he said to his friend, bandying words with him, "More wealth have I than thou, and mightier am I as regards [the number and power of my] followers!"

Wa dakhala jannatahoo wa huwa zaalimul linafsihee qaala maaa azunnu an tabeeda haaziheee abadaa

And having [thus] sinned against himself, he entered his garden, saying, "I do not think that this will ever perish!

Wa maaa azunnus Saa'ata qaaa'imatanw wa la'ir rudittu ilaa Rabbee la ajidanna khairam minhaa munqalabaa

And neither do I think that the Last Hour will ever come. But even if [it should come, and] I am brought before my Sustainer, I will surely find something even better than this as [my last] resort!"

Qaala lahoo saahibuhoo wa huwa yuhaawiruhooo akafarta billazee khalaqaka min turaabin summa min nutfatin summa sawwaaka rajulaa

And his friend answered him in the course of their argument: "Wilt thou blaspheme against Him who has created thee out of dust, and then out of a drop of sperm, and in the end has fashioned thee into a [complete] man?

Laakinaa Huwal laahu Rabbee wa laa ushriku bi Rabbeee ahadaa

But as for myself, [I. know that] He is God, my Sustainer; and I cannot attribute divine powers to any but my Sustainer."

Wa law laaa iz dakhalta jannataka qulta maa shaaa'al laahu laa quwwata illaa billaah; in tarani ana aqalla minka maalanw wa waladaa

And [he continued:] "Alas, if thou hadst but said, on entering thy garden, `Whatever God wills [shall come to pass, for] there is no power save with God!' Although, as thou seest, I have less wealth and offspring than thou,

Fa'asaa Rabeee any yu'tiyani khairam min jannatika wa yursila 'alaihaa husbaanam minas samaaa'i fatusbiha sa'eedan zalaqaa

yet it may well be that my Sustainer will give me something better than thy garden -just as He may let loose a calamity out of heaven upon this [thy garden], so that it becomes a heap of barren dust

Aw yusbiha maaa'uhaaa ghawran falan tastatee'a lahoo talabaa

or its water sinks deep into the ground, so that thou wilt never be able to find it again!"

Wa uheeta bisamarihee faasbaha yuqallibu kaffaihi 'alaa maaa anfaqa feehaa wa hiya khaawiyatun 'alaa 'urooshihaa wa yaqoolu yaalaitanee lam ushrik bi Rabbeee ahadaa

And [thus it happened:] his fruitful gardens were encompassed [by ruin], and there he was, wringing his hands over all that he had spent on that which now lay waste, with its trellises caved in; and he could but say, "Oh, would that I had not attributed divine powers to any but my Sustainer!"

Wa lam takul lahoo fi'atuny yansuroonahoo min doonil laahi wa maa kaana muntasiraa

-for now he had nought to succour him in God's stead, nor could he succour himself.

Hunaalikal walaayatu lillaahil haqq; huwa khairun sawaabanw wa khairun 'uqbaa

For thus it is: all protective power belongs to God alone, the True One. He is the best to grant recompense, and the best to determine what is to be.

Wadrib lahum masalal hayaatid dunyaa kamaaa'in anzalnaahu minas samaaa'i fakhtalata bihee nabaatul ardi fa asbaha hasheeman tazroo hur riyaah; wa kaanal laahu 'alaa kulli shai'im muqtadiraa

AND PROPOUND unto them the parable of the life of this world: [it is] like the water which We send down from the skies, and which is absorbed by the plants of the earth: but [in time] they turn into dry. stubble which the winds blow freely about. And it is God [alone] who determines all things.

Almaalu walbanoona zeenatul hayaatid dunya wal baaqiyaatus saalihaatu khairun 'inda Rabbika sawaabanw wa khairun amalaa

Wealth and children are an adornment of this, world's life: but good deeds, the fruit whereof endures forever, are of far greater merit in thy Sustainer's sight, and a far better source of hope.

Wa yawma nusaiyirul jibaala wa taral arda baariza tanw wa hasharnaahum falam nughaadir minhum ahadaa

Hence, [bear in mind] the Day, on which We shall cause the mountains to disappear and thou shalt behold the earth void and bare: for [on that Day] We will [resurrect the dead and] gather them all together, leaving out none of them.

Wa 'uridoo 'alaa Rabbika saffaa, laqad ji'tumoonaa kamaa khalaqnaakum awala marrah; bal za'amtum allannaj'ala lakum maw'idaa

And they will be lined up before thy Sustainer, [and He will say:] "Now, indeed, you have come unto Us [in a lonely state], even as We created you in the first instances - although you were wont to assert that We would never 'appoint for you a meeting [with Us]!"

Wa wudi'al kitaabu fataral mujrimeena mushfiqeena mimmaa feehi wa yaqooloona yaa wailatanaa maa lihaazal kitaabi laa yughaadiru saghee ratanw wa laa kabeeratan illaaa ahsaahaa; wa wajadoo maa 'amiloo haadiraa; wa laa yazlimu Rabbuka ahadaa

And the record [of everyone's deeds] will be laid open; and thou wilt behold the guilty filled with dread at what [they see] therein; and they will exclaim: "Oh, woe unto us! What a record is this! It leaves out nothing, be it small or great, but takes everything into account!" For they will find all that they ever wrought [now] facing them, and [will know that] thy Sustainer does not wrong anyone.

Wa iz qulnaa lilma laaa'ikatis judoo li Aadama fasajadooo illaaa Ibleesa kaana minal jinni fafasaqa 'an amri Rabbih; afatattakhizoonahoo wa zurriyatahooo awliyaaa'a min doonee wa hum lakum 'aduww; bi'sa lizzaalimeena badalaa

AND [remember that] when We told the angels, "Prostrate yourselves before Adam," they all prostrated themselves, save Iblis: he [too] was one of those invisible beings, but then he turned away from his Sustainer's command. Will you, then, take him and his cohorts for (your], masters instead of Me, although they are your foe? How vile an exchange on the evildoers' part!

Maaa ash hattuhum khalqas samaawaati wal ardi wa laa khalqa anfusihim wa maa kuntu muttakizal mudilleena 'adudaa

I did not make them witnesses of the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor of the creation of their own selves; and neither do I [have any need to] take as My helpers those [beings] that lead [men] astray.

Wa Yawma yaqoolu naadoo shurakaaa'i yal lazeena za'amtum fada'awhum falam yastajeeboo lahum wa ja'alnaa bainahum maw biqaa

Hence, [bear in mind] the Day on which He will say, "Call [now] unto those beings whom you imagined to have a share in My divinity!" - whereupon they will invoke them, but those [beings] will not respond to them: for We shall have placed between them an unbridgeable gulf.

Wa ra al mujrimoonan Naara fazannooo annahum muwaaqi'oohaa wa lam yajidoo 'anhaa masrifaa

And those who were lost in sin will behold the fire, and will know that they are bound to fall into it, and will find no way of escape therefrom.

Wa laqad sarrafnaa fee haazal quraani linnaasi mn kulli masal; wa kaanal insaanu aksara shai'in jadalaa

THUS, INDEED, have We given in this Qur'an many facets to every kind of lesson [designed] for [the benefit of] mankind. However, man is, above all else, always given to contention:

Wa maa mana'an naasa any yu'minooo iz jaaa'ahumul hudaa wa yastaghfiroo Rabbahum illaaa an taatiyahum sunnatul awwaleena aw yaatiyahumul 'azaabu qubulaa

for, what is there to keep people from attaining to faith now that guidance has come unto them, and from asking their Sustainer to forgive them their sins - unless it be [their wish] that the fate of the [sinful] people of ancient times should befall them [as well], or that the [ultimate] suffering should befall them in the hereafter?

Wa maa nursilul mursaleena illaa mubashshireena wa munzireen; wa yujaadilul lazeena kafaroo bilbaatili liyudhidoo bihil haqqa wattakhazooo Aayaatee wa maaa unziroo huzuwaa

But We send [Our] message-bearers only as heralds of glad tidings and as warners - whereas those who are bent on denying the truth contend [against them] with fallacious arguments, so as to render void the truth thereby, and to make My messages and warnings a target of their mockery.

Wa man azlamu mimman zukkira bi ayaati Rabbihee fa-a'rada 'anhaa wa nasiya maa qaddamat yadaah; innaa ja'alnaa 'alaa quloobihim akinnatan any yafqahoohu wa feee aazaanihim waqraa; wa in tad'uhum ilal hudaa falany yahtadooo izan abadaa

And who could be more wicked than he to whom his Sustainer's messages are conveyed and who thereupon turns away from them, forgetting all [the evil] that his hands may have wrought? Behold, over their hearts have We laid veils which prevent them from grasping the truth, and into their ears, deafness; and though thou call them onto the right path, they will never allow themselves to be guided.

Wa Rabbukal Ghafooru zur rahmati law yu'aakhi zuhum bimaa kasaboo la'ajala lahumul 'azaab; bal lahum maw'idul lany yajidoo min doonihee maw'ilaa

Yet, [withal,] thy Sustainer is the Truly-Forgiving One, limitless in His grace. Were He to take them [at once] to task for whatever [wrong] they commit, He would indeed bring about their speedy punishment [then and there]: but nay, they have a time-limit beyond which they shall find no redemption

Wa tkal quraaa ahlak nahum lammaa zulamoo wa ja'alnaa limahlikihim maw'idaa

as [was the case with all] those communities that We destroyed when they went on and on doing wrong: for We had set a time-limit for their destruction.

Wa iz qaalaa Moosaa lifataahu laaa abrahu hattaaa ablugha majma'al bahrayni aw amdiya huqubaa

AND LO! [In the course of his wanderings,] Moses said to his servant: "I shall not give up until I reach the junction of the two seas, even if I [have to] spend untold years [in my quest]!"

Falammaa balaghaa majma'a bainihimaa nasiyaa hootahumaa fattakhaza sabeelahoo fil bahri sarabaa

But when they reached the junction between the two [seas], they forgot all about their fish, and it took its way into the sea and disappeared from sight.

Falammaa jaawazaa qaala lifataahu aatinaa ghadaaa'anaa laqad laqeena min safarinaa haazaa nasabaa

And after the two had walked some distance, [Moses] said to his servant: "Bring us our mid-day meal; we have indeed suffered hardship on this [day of] our journey!"

Qaala ara'ayta iz awainaaa ilas sakhrati fa innee naseetul hoota wa maaa ansaaneehu illash Shaitaanu an azkurah; wattakhaza sabeelahoo fil bahri'ajabaa

Said [the servant]: "Wouldst thou believe it? When we betook ourselves to that rock for a rest, behold, I forgot about the fish-and none but Satan made me thus forget it - and it took its way into the sea! How strange!"

Qaala zaalika maa kunnaa nabgh; fartaddaa 'alaa aasaari him maa qasasaa

[Moses] exclaimed: "That [was the place] which we were seeking!, And the two turned back, retracing their footsetps,

Fa wajadaa 'abdam min 'ibaadinaaa aatainaahu Rahmatam min 'indinaa wa 'allamnaahu mil ladunnaa 'ilmaa

and found one of Our servants, on whom We had bestowed grace from Ourselves and unto whom We had imparted knowledge [issuing] from Ourselves.

Qaala lahoo Moosaa hal attabi'uka 'alaaa an tu'allimani mimmaa 'ullimta rushdaa

Moses said unto him: "May I follow thee on the understanding that thou wilt impart to me something of that consciousness of what is right which has been imparted to thee?"

Qaalaa innaka lan tastatee'a ma'iya sabraa

[The other] answered: "Behold, thou wilt never be able to have patience with me –

Wa kaifa tasbiru 'alaa maa lam tuhit bihee khubraa

for how couldst thou be patient about something that thou canst not comprehend within the compass of (thy] experience?"

Qaala satajiduneee in shaa 'al laahu saabiranw wa laaa a'see laka amraa

Replied [Moses]: "Thou wilt find me patient, if God so wills; and I shall not disobey thee in anything!"

Qaala fa init taba'tanee falaa tas'alnee 'an shai'in hattaaa uhdisa laka minhu zikraa

Said [the sage]: "Well, then, if thou art to follow me, do not question me about aught [that I may do] until I myself give thee an account thereof."

Fantalaqaa hattaaa izaa rakibaa fis safeenati kharaqahaa qaala akharaqtahaa litughriqa ahlahaa laqad ji'ta shai'an imraa

And so the two went on their way, till (they reached the seashore; and] when they disembarked from the boat [that had ferried them across], the sage made a hole in it-[whereupon Moses] exclaimed: "Hast thou made a hole in it in order to drown the people who may be [travelling] in it? Indeed, thou hast done a grievous thing!"

Qaala alam aqul innaka lan tastatee'a ma'iya sabraa

He replied: "Did I not tell thee that thou wilt never be able to have patience with me?"

Qaala laa tu'aakhiznee bimaa naseetu wa laa turhiqnee min amree 'usraa

Said [Moses]: "Take-me not to task for my having forgotten [myself], and be not hard on me on account of what I have done!"

Fantalaqaa hattaa izaa laqiyaa ghulaaman faqatalahoo qaala aqatalta nafsan zakiy yatam bighairi nafs; laqad ji'ta shai'an nukraa

And so the two went on, till, when they met a young man, [the sage] slew him -(whereupon Moses] exclaimed: "Hast thou slain an innocent human being without [his having taken] another man's life? Indeed, thou hast done a terrible thing!"