Juz 16 — Part 16 of 30

Qaala alam aqul laka 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 in sa altuka 'an shai'im ba'dahaa falaa tusaahibnee qad balaghta mil ladunnee 'uzraa

Said [Moses]: "If, after this, I should ever question thee, keep me not in thy company: [for by] now thou hast heard enough excuses from me."

Fantalaqaa hattaaa izaaa atayaaa ahla qaryatinis tat'amaaa ahlahaa fa abaw any yudaiyifoohumaa fawajadaa feehaa jidaarany yureedu any yanqadda fa aqaamah; qaala law shi'ta lattakhazta 'alaihi ajraa

And so the two went on, till, when they came upon some village people, they asked them for food; but those [people] refused them all hospitality. And they saw in that (village] a wall which was on the point of tumbling down, and [the sage] rebuilt it [whereupon Moses] said: "Hadst thou so wished, surely thou couldst [at least] have obtained some payment for it?"

Qaala haazaa firaaqu bainee wa bainik; sa unabi 'uka bitaaweeli maa lam tastati' 'alaihi sabraa

[The sage] replied: "This is the parting of ways between me and thee. [And now] I shall let thee know the real meaning of all [those events] that thou wert unable to bear with patience:,

Ammas safeenatu fakaanat limasaakeena ya'maloona fil bahri fa arattu an a'eebahaa wa kaana waraaa' ahum malikuny yaakhuzu kulla safeenatin ghasbaa

"As for that boat, it belonged to some needy people who toiled upon the sea -and I desired to damage it because (I knew that] behind them was a king who is wont to seize every boat by brute force.

Wa aammal ghulaamu fakaana abawaahu mu'minaini fakhasheenaaa any yurhiqa humaa tughyaananw wa kufraa

"And as for that young man, his parents were [true] believers - whereas we had every reason to fear that he would bring bitter grief upon them by [his] overweening wickedness and denial of all truth:

Faradnaa any yubdila humaa Rabbuhumaa khairam minhu zakaatanw wa aqraba ruhmaa

and so we desired that their Sustainer grant them in his stead [a child] of greater purity than him, and closer [to them] in loving tenderness.

Wa ammal jidaaru fakaana lighulaamaini yateemaini fil madeenati wa kaana tahtahoo kanzul lahumaa wa kaana aboohumaa saalihan fa araada Rabbuka any yablughaaa ashuddahumaa wa yastakhrijaa kanzahumaa rahmatam mir Rabbik; wa maa fa'altuhoo 'an amree; zaalika taaweelu maa lam tasti' 'alaihi sabra

"And as for that wall, it belonged to two orphan boys [living] in the town, and beneath it was [buried] a treasure belonging to them [by right]. Now their father had been a righteous man, and so thy Sustainer willed it that when they come of age they should bring forth their treasure by thy Sustainer's grace. "And I did not do (any of] this of my own accord: this is the real meaning of all [those events] that thou wert unable to bear with patience."

Wa yas'aloonaka 'an Zil Qarnaini qul sa atloo 'alaikum minhu zikraa

AND THEY will ask thee about the Two-Horned One. Say: "I will convey unto you something by which he ought to be remembered."

Innaa makkannaa lahoo fil ardi wa aatainaahu min kulli shai'in sababaa

Behold, We established him securely on earth, and endowed him with [the knowledge of] the right means to achieve anything [that he might set out to achieve];

Fa atba'a sababaa

and so he chose the right means [in whatever he did].

Hattaaa izaa balagha maghribash shamsi wajadahaaa taghrubu fee 'aynin hami'a tinw wa wajada 'indahaa qawmaa; qulnaa yaa Zal Qarnaini immaaa an tu'az ziba wa immaaa an tattakhiza feehim husnaa

[And he marched westwards] till, when he came to the setting of the sun, it appeared to him that it was setting in a dark, turbid sea; and nearby he found a people [given to every kind of wrongdoing]. We said: "O thou Two-Horned One! Thou mayest either cause [them] to suffer or treat them with kindness!"

Qaala amaa man zalama fasawfa nu'azzibuhoo summa yuraddu ilaa Rabbihee fa yu 'azzibuhoo azaaban nukraa

He answered: "As for him who does wrong [unto others] - him shall we, in time, cause to suffer; and thereupon he shall be referred to his Sustainer, and He will cause him to suffer with unnameable suffering.

Wa ammaa man aamana wa 'amila saalihan falahoo jazaaa'anil husnaa wa sanaqoolu lahoo min amrinaa yusraa

But as for him who believes and does righteous deeds - he will have the ultimate good [of the life to come] as his reward; and [as for us,] we shall make binding on him [only] that which is easy to fulfill."

Summa atba'a sababaa

And once again he chose the right means [to achieve a right end].

Hattaaa izaa balagha matli'ash shamsi wajdahaa tatlu'u alaa qawmil lam naj'al lahum min doonihaa sitraa

[And then he marched eastwards] till, when he came to the rising of the sun he found that it was rising on a people for whom We had provided no coverings against it:

Kazaalika wa qad ahatnaa bimaa ladaihi khubraa

thus [We had made them, and thus he left them; and We did encompass with Our knowledge all that he had in mind

Summa atba'a sababaa

And once again he chose the right means (to achieve a right end].

Hattaaa izaa balagha bainas saddaini wajada min doonihimaa qawmal laa yakaa doona yafqahoona qawlaa

[And he marched on] till, when he reached [a place] between the two mountain-barriers, he found beneath them a people who could scarcely understand a word [of his language].

Qaaloo yaa Zal qarnaini inna Yaajooja wa Maajooja mufsidoona fil ardi fahal naj'alu laka kharjan 'alaaa an taj'ala bainanaa wa bainahum saddas

They said: "O thou Two-Horned One! Behold, Gog and Magog" are spoiling this land. May we, then, pay unto thee a tribute on the understanding that thou wilt erect a barrier between us and them?"

Qaala maa makkannee feehi Rabbee khairun fa-a'eenoonee biquwwatin aj'al bainakum wa bainahum radmaa

He answered: "That wherein my Sustainer has so securely established me is better [than anything that you could give me]; hence, do but help me with [your labour's] strength, [and] I shall erect a rampart between you and them!

Aatoonee zubaral hadeed, hattaaa izaa saawaa bainas sadafaini qaalan fukhoo hattaaa izaa ja'alahoo naaran qaala aatooneee ufrigh 'alaihi qitraa

Bring me ingots of iron!" Then, after he had [piled up the iron and] filled the gap between the two mountain-sides, he said: "[Light a fire and] ply your bellows!" At length, when he had made it [glow like] fire, he commanded: "Bring me molten copper which I may pour upon it."

Famas taa'ooo any yazharoohu wa mastataa'oo lahoo naqbaa

And thus [the rampart was built, and] their enemies were unable to scale it, and neither were they able to pierce it.

Qaala haaza rahmatummir Rabbee fa izaa jaaa'a wa'du Rabbee ja'alahoo dakkaaa'a; wa kaana; wa du Rabbee haqqaa

Said [the King]: "This is a mercy from my Sustainer! Yet when the time appointed by my Sustainer shall come, He will make this [rampart] level with the ground: and my Sustainer's promise always comes true!"

Wa taraknaa ba'dahum Yawma'iziny yamooju fee ba'dinw wa nufikha fis Soori fajama'naahum jam'aa

AND ON that Day" We shall [call forth all mankind and] leave them to surge like waves [that dash] against one another; and the trumpet [of judgment] will be blown, and We shall gather them all together.

Wa 'aradnaa jahannama Yawma'izil lilkaafireena 'ardaa

And on that Day We shall place hell, for all to see, before those who denied the truth-

Allazeena kaanat a'yunuhum fee ghitaaa'in 'an zikree wa kaanoo la yastatee'oona sam'aa

those whose eyes had been veiled against any remembrance of Me because they could not bear to listen [to the voice of truth]!

Afahasibal lazeena kafarooo any yattakhizoo 'ibaadee min dooneee awliyaaa'; innaaa a'tadnaa jahannama lilkaafi reena nuzulaa

Do they who are bent on denying the truth think, perchance, that they could take [any of] My creatures for protectors against Me? Verily, We have readied hell to welcome all who [thus] deny the truth!

Qul hal nunabbi'ukum bilakhsareena a'maalaa

Say: "Shall we tell you who are the greatest losers in whatever they may do?

Allazeena dalla sa'yuhum fil hayaatid dunyaa wa hum yahsaboona annahum yuhsinoona sun'aa

"[It is] they whose labour has gone astray in [the pursuit of no more than] this world's life, and who none the less think that they are doing good works:

Ulaaa'ikal lazeena kafaroo bi aayaati Rabbihim wa liqaaa'ihee fahabitat a'maaluhum falaa nuqeemu lahum Yawmal Qiyaamati waznaa

it is they who have chosen to deny their Sustainer's messages and the truth; that they are deseined to meet Him." Hence, all their [good] deeds come to nought, and no weight shall We assign to them on Resurrection Day.

Zaalika jazaaa'uhum jahannamu bimaa kafaroo wattakhazooo Aayaatee wa Rusulee huzuwaa

That will be their recompense - [their] hell -for having denied the truth and made My messages and My apostles a target of their mockery.

Innal lazeena aamanoo wa 'amilus saalihaati kaanat lahum Jannaatul Firdawsi nuzulaa

[But,] verily, as for those who attain to faith and do righteous deeds - the gardens of paradise will be there to welcome them;

Khaalideena feeha la yabghoona 'anhaa hiwalaa

therein will they abide, [and] never will they desire any change therefrom.

Qul law kaanal bahru midaadal lik Kalimaati Rabbee lanafidal bahru qabla an tanfada Kalimaatu Rabbee wa law ji'naa bimislihee madadaa

SAY: "If all the sea were ink for my Sustainer's words, the sea would indeed be exhausted ere my Sustainer's words are exhausted! And [thus it would be] if we were to add to it sea upon sea."

Qul innamaaa ana basharum mislukum yoohaaa ilaiya annamaa ilaahukum Ilaahunw Waahid; faman kaana yarjoo liqaaa'a Rabbihee falya'mal 'amalan saalihanw wa laa yushrik bi'ibaadati Rabbiheee ahadaa

Say [O Prophet]: "I am but a mortal man like all of you. It has been revealed unto me that your God is the One and Only God. Hence, whoever looks forward [with hope and awe] to meeting his Sustainer [on Judgment Day], let him do righteous deeds, and let him not ascribe unto anyone or anything a share in the worship due to his Sustainer!"

Kaaaf-Haa-Yaa-'Ayyyn-Saaad

Kaf. Ha. Ya. `Ayn. Sad.

Zikru rahmati Rabbika 'abdahoo Zakariyya

AN ACCOUNT of the grace which thy Sustainer bestowed upon His servant Zachariah:

Iz naadaa Rabbahoo nidaaa'an khafiyyaa

When he called out to his Sustainer in the secrecy of his heart,

Qaala Rabbi innee wahanal'azmu minnee washta'alar raasu shaibanw wa lam akum bidu'aaa'ika Rabbi shaqiyyaa

he prayed: "O my Sustainer! Feeble have become my bones, and my head glistens with grey hair. But never yet, O my Lord, has my prayer unto Thee remained unanswered.

Wa innee khiftul mawaa liya minw waraaa'ee wa kaana tim ra atee 'aairan fahab lee mil ladunka waliyyaa

"Now, behold, I am afraid of [what] my kinsfolk [will do] after I am gone, for my wife has always been barren. Bestow, then, upon me, out of Thy grace, the gift of a successor

Yarisunee wa yarisu min aali Ya'qoob, waj'alhu Rabbi radiyya

who will be my heir as well as an heir [to the dignity] of the House of Jacob; and make him, O my Sustainer, well-pleasing to Thee!"

Yaa Zakariyyaaa innaa nubashshiruka bighulaami nismuhoo Yahyaa lam naj'al lahoo min qablu samiyyaa

[Thereupon the angels called out unto him: "O Zachariah! We bring thee the glad tiding of [the birth of] a son whose name shall be John. [And God says,] `Never have We given this name to anyone before him."

Qaala Rabbi annaa yakoonu lee ghulaamunw wa kaanatim ra atee aaqiranw wa qad balaghtu minal kibari 'itiyyaa

[Zachariah] exclaimed: "O my Sustainer! How can I have a son when my wife has always been barren and I have become utterly infirm through old age?"

Qaala kazaalika qaala Rabbuka huwa 'alaiya haiyinunw wa qad khalaqtuka min qablu wa lam taku shai'aa

Answered [the angel]: "Thus. it is; [but] thy 'Sustainer says, `This is easy for Me -even as I have created thee aforetime out of nothing.

Qaala Rabbij 'al leee Aayah; qaala Aayatuka allaa tukalliman naasa salaasa layaalin sawiyyaa

[Zachariah] prayed: "O my Sustainer! Appoint a sign for me!" Said [the angel]: "Thy sign shall be that for full three nights [and days] thou wilt not speak unto men.

Fakharaja 'alaa qawmihee minal mihraabi fa-awhaaa ilaihim an sabbihoo bukratanw wa 'ashiyyaa

Thereupon he came out of the sanctuary unto his people and signified to them [by gestures]: "Extol His limitless glory by day and by night!"

Yaa Yahyaa khuzil Kitaaba biquwwatinw wa aatainaahul hukma saiyyaa

[And when the son was born and grew up, he was told,] "O John! Hold fast unto the divine writ with [all thy] strength!" - for We granted him wisdom "while he was yet a little boy,

Wa hanaanam mil ladunnaa wa zakaatanw wa kaana taqiyyaa

as well as, by Our grace, [the gift of] compassion and purity; and he was [always] conscious of Us

Wa barram biwaalidayhi wa lam yakum jabbaaran 'asiyyaa

and full of piety towards his parents; and never was he haughty or rebellious.

Wa salaamun 'alaihi yawma wulida wa yawma yamootu wa yawma yub'asu haiyaa

Hence, [God's] peace was upon him on the day when he was born, and on the day of his death, and. will be [upon him] on the day when he shall be raised to life [again].

Wazkur fil Kitaabi Marya; izin tabazat min ahlihaa makaanan shariqyyaa

AND CALL to mind, through this divine writ, Mary. Lo! She withdrew from her family to an eastern place

Fattakhazat min doonihim hijaaban fa arsalnaaa ilaihaa roohanaa fatamassala lahaa basharan sawiyyaa

and kept herself in seclusion from them, whereupon We sent unto her Our angel of revelation, who appeared to her in the shape of a well-made human being.

Qaalat inneee a'oozu bir Rahmaani minka in kunta taqiyyaa

She exclaimed: "Verily, 'I seek refuge from thee with the Most Gracious! [Approach me not] if thou art conscious of Him!"

Qaala innamaa ana rasoolu Rabbiki li ahaba laki ghulaaman zakiyyaa

[The angel] answered: "I' am but a messenger of thy Sustainer, [who says,] `I shall bestow upon thee the gift of a son endowed with purity.'"

Qaalat anna yakoonu lee ghulaamunw wa lam yamsasnee bashrunw wa lam aku baghiyyaa

Said she: "How can I have a son when no man has ever touched me? - for, never have I been a loose woman!"

Qaala kazaaliki qaala Rabbuki huwa 'alaiya yaiyimunw wa linaj 'alahooo Aayatal linnaasi wa rahmatam minnaa; wa kaana amram maqdiyyaa

[The angel] answered: "Thus it is; [but] thy Sustainer says, `This is easy for Me; and [thou shalt have a son,] so that We might make him a symbol unto mankind and an act of grace from US. And it was a thing decreed [by God]:

Fahamalat hu fantabazat bihee makaanan qasiyyaa

and in time she conceived him, and then she withdrew with him to a far-off place.

Fa ajaaa 'ahal makhaadu ilaa jiz'in nakhlati qaalat yaa laitanee mittu qabla haazaa wa kuntu nasyam mansiyyaa

And [when] the throes of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree, she exclaimed: "Oh, would that I had died ere this, and had become a thing forgotten, utterly forgotten!"

Fanaadaahaa min tahtihaan allaa tahzanee qad ja'ala Rabbuki tahtaki sariyyaa

Thereupon [a voice] called out to her from beneath that [palm-tree]: "Grieve not! Thy Sustainer has provided a rivulet [running] beneath thee;

Wa huzzeee ilaiki bijiz 'in nakhlati tusaaqit 'alaiki rutaban janiyyaa

and shake the trunk of the palm-tree towards thee: it will drop fresh, ripe dates upon thee.

Fakulee washrabee wa qarree 'ainaa; fa immaa tarayinnna minal bashari ahadan faqooleee innee nazartu lir Rahmaani sawman falan ukallimal yawma insiyyaa

Eat, then, and drink, and let thine eye be gladdened! And if thou shouldst see any human being, convey this unto him: `Behold, abstinence from speech have I vowed unto the Most Gracious; hence, I may not speak today to any mortal.

Fa atat bihee qawmahaa tahmiluhoo qaaloo yaa Maryamoo laqad ji'ti shai'an fariyyaa

And in time she returned to her people, carrying the child with her. They said: "O Mary! Thou hast indeed done an amazing thing!

Yaaa ukkhta Haaroona maa kaana abokim ra-a saw'inw wa maa kaanat ummuki baghiyyaa

O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a wicked man, nor was thy mother a loose woman!"

Fa ashaarat ilaih; qaaloo kaifa nukallimu man kaana fil mahdi sabiyyaa

Thereupon she pointed to him. They exclaimed: "How can we talk to one who [as yet] is a little boy in the cradle?"

Qaala innee 'abdullaahi aataaniyal Kitaaba wa ja'alanee Nabiyyaa

[But] he said: "Behold, I am a servant of God. He has vouchsafed unto me revelation and made me a prophet,

Wa ja'alanee mubaarakan aina maa kuntu wa awsaanee bis Salaati waz Zakaati maa dumtu haiyaa

and made me blessed wherever I may be; and He has enjoined upon me prayer and charity as long as I live,

Wa barram biwaalidatee wa lam yaj'alnee jabbaaran shaqiyyaa

and [has endowed me with] piety towards my mother; and He has not made me haughty or bereft of grace.

Wassalaamu 'alaiya yawma wulittu wa yawma amootu wa yawma ub'asu baiyaa

"Hence, peace was upon me on the day when I was born, and [will be upon me] on the day of my death, and on the day when I shall be raised to life [again]!"

Zaalika 'Eesab-nu Marya; qawlal haqqil lazee feehi yamtaroon

SUCH WAS, in the words of truth, Jesus the son of Mary, about whose nature they so deeply disagree.

Maa kaana lillaahi ai yattakhiza minw waladin Subhaanah; izaa qadaaa amran fa innamaa yaqoolu lahoo kun fa yakoon

It is not conceivable that God should have taken unto Himself a son: limitless is He in His glory! When He wills a thing to be, He but says unto it "Be" -and it is!

Wa innal laaha Rabbee wa Rabbukum fa'budooh; haazaa Siraatum Mustaqeem

And [thus it was that Jesus always said]: "Verily, God is my Sustainer as well as your Sustainer; so worship [none but] Him: this (alone] is a straight way."

Fakhtalafal ahzaabu mim bainihim fawailul lillazeena kafaroo mim mashhadi Yawmin 'azeem

And yet, the sects [that follow the Bible] are at variance among themselves [about the nature of Jesus Woe, then, unto all who deny the truth when that awesome Day will appear!

Asmi' bihim wa absir Yawma yaatoonanaa laakiniz zaalimoonal yawma fee dalaalim mubeen

How well will they hear and see [the truth] on the Day when they come before Us! Today, however, these evildoers are obviously lost in error:

Wa anzirhum Yawmal hasrati iz qudiyal amr; wa hum fee ghaflatinw wa hum laa yu'minoon

hence, warn them of [the coming of] the Day of Regrets, when everything will have been decided-for as yet they are heedless, and they do not believe [in it].

Innaa NNahnu narisul arda wa man 'alaihaa wa ilainaa yurja'oon

Behold, We alone shall remain after the earth and all who live on it have passed away, and (when] unto Us all will have been brought back.

Wazkur fil Kitaabi Ibraaheem; innahoo kaana siddeeqan Nabiyyaa

AND CALL to mind, through this divine writ, Abraham. Behold, he was a man of truth, [already] a prophet

Iz qaala li abeehi yaaa abati lima ta'budu maa laa yasma'u wa laa yubsiru wa laa yughnee 'anka shai'aa

when he spoke [thus] unto his father: "O my father! Why dost thou worship something that neither hears nor sees and can be of no avail whatever to thee?

Yaaa abati innee qad jaaa'anee minal 'ilmi maa lam yaatika fattabi'neee ahdika siraatan Sawiyyaa

"O my father! Behold, there has indeed come to me [a ray] of knowledge such as has never yet come unto thee: follow me, then; I shall guide thee onto a perfect way.

Yaaa abati laa ta'budish Shaitaana innash Shaitaana kaana lir Rahmaani 'asiyyaa

"O my father! Do not worship Satan-for, verily, Satan is a rebel against the Most Gracious!

Yaaa abati innee akhaafu ai yamssaka 'azaabum minar Rahmaani fatakoona lish Shaitaani waliyyaa

O my father! I dread lest a chastisement from the Most Gracious befall thee, and then thou wilt become [aware of having been] close unto Satan!"

Qaala araaghibun anta 'an aalihatee yaaa Ibraaheemu la 'il lam tantahi la arjumannaka wahjumee maliyyaa

He answered: "Dost thou dislike my gods, O Abraham? Indeed, if thou desist not, I shall most certainly cause thee to be stoned to death! Now begone from me for good!"

Qaala salaamun 'alaika sa astaghfiru laka Rabbeee innahoo kaana bee hafiyyaa

[Abraham] replied: "Peace be upon thee! I shall ask my Sustainer to forgive thee: for, behold, He has always been kind unto me.

Wa a'tazilukum wa maa tad'oona min doonil laahi wa ad'o Rabbee 'asaaa allaaa akoona bidu'aaa'i Rabbee shaqiyyaa

But I shall withdraw from you all and from whatever you invoke instead of God, and shall invoke my Sustainer [alone]: it may well be that my prayer [for thee] will not remain unanswered by my Sustainer."

Falamma' tazalahum wa maa ya'budoona min doonil laahi wahabnaa lahoo is-haaqa wa ya'qoob, wa kullan ja'alnaa Nabiyyaa

And after he had withdrawn from them and from all that they were worshipping instead of God, We bestowed upon him Isaac and Jacob, and made each of them a prophet;

Wa wahabnaa lahum mirrahmatinaa wa ja'alnaa lahum lisaana sidqin 'aliyyaa

and We bestowed upon them [manifold] gifts out of Our grace, and granted them a lofty power to convey the truth [unto others].

Wazkur fil Kitaabi Moosaaa; innahoo kaana mukhlasanw wa kaana Rasoolan Nabiyyaa

AND CALL to mind, through this divine writ, Moses. Behold, he was a chosen one, and was an apostle [of God], a prophet.

Wa naadainaahu min jaanibit Tooril aimani wa qarrabnaahu najiyyaa

And [remember how] We called upon him from the right-hand slope of Mount Sinai and drew him near [unto Us] in mystic communion,

Wa wahabnaa lahoo mir rahmatinaaa akhaahu Haaroona Nabiyyaa

and [how], out of Our grace, We granted unto him his brother Aaron, to be a prophet [by his side].

Wazkur fil Kitaabi ismaa'eel; innahoo kaana saadiqal wa'di wa kaana Rasoolan Nabiyyaa

AND CALL to mind, through this divine writ, Ishmael. Behold, he was always true to his promise, and was an apostle [of God], a prophet,

Wa kaana yaamuru ahlahoo bis Salaati waz zakaati wa kaana 'inda Rabbihee mardiyyaa

who used to enjoin upon his people prayer and charity, and found favour in his Sustainer's sight.

Wazkur fil Kitaabi Idrees; innahoo kaana siddeeqan Nabiyyaa

AND CALL to mind, through this divine writ, Idris. Behold, he was a man of truth, a prophet,

Wa rafa'naahu makaanan 'aliyyaa

whom We exalted onto a lofty station.

Ulaaa'ikal lazeena an'amal laahu 'alaihim minan Nabiyyeena min zurriyyati Aadama wa mimman hamalnaa ma'a Noohinw wa min zurriyyati Ibraaheema wa Israaa'eela wa mimman hadainaa wajta bainaaa; izaa tutlaa 'alaihim Aayaatur Rahmaani kharroo sujjadanw wa bukiyyaa

THESE WERE some of the prophets upon whom God bestowed His blessings - [prophets] of the seed of Adam and of those whom We caused to be borne [in the ark] with Noah, and of the seed of Abraham and Israel and [all of them were] among those whom We had guided and elected; [and] whenever the messages of the Most Gracious were conveyed unto them, they would fall down [before Him], prostrating themselves and weeping.

Fakhalafa mim ba'dihim khalfun adaa'us Salaata wattaba'ush shahawaati fasawfa yalqawna ghaiyaa

Yet they were succeeded by generations [of people] who lost all [thought of] prayer and followed [but] their own lusts; and these will, in time, meet with utter disillusion.

Illaa man taaba wa aamana wa 'amila saalihan fa ulaaa'ika yadkhuloonal jannata wa laa yuzlamoona shai'aa

Excepted, however, shall be those who repent and attain to faith and do righteous deeds: for it is they who will enter paradise and will not be wronged in any way:

Jannaati 'adninil latee wa'adar Rahmaanu ibaadahoo bilghaib; innahoo kaana wa'duhoo maatiyyaa

[theirs will be the] gardens of perpetual bliss which the Most Gracious has promised unto His servants, in a realm which is beyond the reach of human perception: [and,] verily, His promise is ever sure of fulfilment!

Laa yasma'oona feehaa laghwan illaa salaamaa; wa lahum rizquhum feehaa bukratanw wa 'ashiyyaa

No empty talk will they hear there-nothing but [tidings of] inner soundness and peace; and there will they have their sustenance by day and by night:

Tilkal jannatul latee oorisu min 'ibaadinaa man kaana taqiyyaa

this is the paradise which We grant as a heritage unto such of Our servants as are conscious of Us.

Wa maa natanazzalu illaa bi amri Rabbika lahoo maa baina aideenaa wa maa khalfanaa wa maa baina zaalik; wa maa kaana Rabbuka nasiyyaa

AND [the angels say]: "We do not descend [with revelation], again and again, other than by thy Sustainer's command: unto Him belongs all that lies open before us and all that is hidden-from us and all that is in-between. And never does thy Sustainer forget [anything] –

Rabbus samaawaati wal ardi wa maa bainahumaa fa'bud hu wastabir li'ibaadatih; hal ta'lamu lahoo samiyyaa

the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them! Worship, then, Him alone, and remain steadfast in His worship! Dost thou know any whose name is worthy to be mentioned side by side with His?"

Wa yaqoolul insaanu 'aizaa maa mittu lasawfa ukhraju haiyaa

WITH ALL THIS, man [often] says, "What! Once I am dead, shall I again be brought forth alive?"

awalaa yazkurul insaanu annaa khalaqnaahu min qablu wa lam yaku shai'aa

But does man not bear in mind that We have created him aforetime out of nothing?

Fawa Rabbika lanahshu rannahum wash shayaateena summa lanuhdirannahum hawla jahannama jisiyyaa

And so, by thy Sustainer, [on Judgment Day] We shall most certainly bring them forth together with the satanic forces [which impelled them in life] and then We shall most certainly gather them, on their knees, around hell;

Summa lananzi 'anna min kulli shee'atin aiyuhum ashaddu 'alar Rahmaani 'itiyyaa

and thereupon We shall, indeed, draw forth from every group [of sinners] the ones that had been most determined in their disdainful rebellion against the Most Gracious:

Summa lanahnu a'lamu billazeena hum awlaa bihaa siliyyaa

for, indeed, We know best as to which of them is most deserving of the fires of hell.

Wa im minkum illaa waa riduhaa; kaana 'alaa Rabbika hatmam maqdiyyaa

And every one of you will come within sight of it: this is, with thy Sustainer, a decree that must be fulfilled.

Summa nunajjil lazeenat taqaw wa nazaruz zaalimeena feehaa jisiyyaa

And once again: We shall save [from hell] those who have been conscious of Us; but We shall leave in it the evildoers, on their knees.

Wa izaa tutlaa 'alaihim Aayaatunaa baiyinaatin qaalal lazeena kafaroo lillazeena aamanooo aiyul fareeqaini khairum maqaamanw wa ahsanu nadiyyaa

AS IT IS, whenever Our messages are conveyed to them in all their clarity, those who are bent on denying the truth are wont to say unto those who have attained to faith: "Which of the two kinds of man is in a stronger position and superior as a community?"

Wa kam ahlaknaa qablahum min qarnin hum ahsanu asaasanw wa ri'yaa

And yet, how many a generation have We destroyed before their time-[people] who surpassed them in material power and in outward show!

Qul man kaana fidda laalati falyamdud lahur Rahmaanu maddaa; hattaaa izaa ra aw maa yoo'adoona immal 'azaaba wa immas Saa'ata fasa ya'lamoona man huwa sharrum makaananw wa ad'afu jundaa

Say: "As for him who lives in error, may the Most Gracious lengthen the span of his life! [And let them say whatever they say until the time when they behold that [doom] of which they were forewarned-whether it be suffering [in this world] or [at the coming of] the Last Hour -: for then they will understand which [of the two kinds of man] was worse in station and weaker in resources!

Wa yazeedul laahul lazeenah tadaw hudaa; wal baaqiyaatus saalihaatu khairun 'inda Rabbika sawaabanw wa khairum maraddaa

And God endows those who avail themselves of [His] guidance with an ever-deeper consciousness of the right way; and good deeds, the fruit whereof endures forever, are, in thy Sustainer's sight, of far greater merit [than any worldly goods], and yield far better returns.

Afara'aytal lazee kafara bi Aayaatinaa wa qaala la oota yanna maalanw wa waladaa

And hast thou ever considered [the kind of man] who is bent on denying the truth of Our messages and says, "I will surely be given wealth and children"?

Attala'al ghaiba amitta khaza'indar Rahmaani 'ahdaa

Has he, perchance, attained to a realm which is beyond the reach of a created being's perception? or has he concluded a covenant with the Most Gracious?

Kallaa; sanaktubu maa yaqoolu wa namuddu lahoo minal 'azaabi maddaa

Nay! We shall record what he says, and We shall lengthen the length of his suffering [in the hereafter],

Wa narisuhoo maa yaqoolu wa yaateenaa fardaa

and divest him of all that he is [now] speaking of: for [on Judgment Day] he will appear before Us in a lonely state.

Wattakhazoo min doonil laahi aalihatal liyakoonoo lahum 'izzaa

For [such as] these have taken to worshipping deities other than God, hoping that they would be a [source of] strength for them.

Kallaa; sa yakfuroona bi'ibaadatihim wa yakoonoona 'alaihim diddaa

But nay! [On Judgment Day] these [very objects of adoration] will disavow the worship that was paid to them, and will turn against those [who had worshipped them]!

Alam tara annaaa arsalnash Shayaateena 'alal kaafireena ta'uzzuhum azzaa

ART THOU NOT aware that We have let loose all [manner of] satanic forces upon those who deny the truth - [forces] that impel them [towards sin] with strong impulsion?

Falaa ta'jal alaihim innamaa na 'uddu lahum 'addaa

Hence, be not in haste [to call down God's punishment] upon them: for We but number the number of their days.

Yawma nahshurul muttaqeena ilar Rahmaani wafdaa

On the Day when We shall gather the Godconscious unto [Us,] the Most Gracious, as honoured guests,

Wa nasooqul mujrimeena ilaa Jahannama wirdaa

and drive those who were lost in sin unto hell as a thirsty herd is driven to a well –

Laa yamlikoonash shafaa'ta illaa manittakhaza 'indar Rahmaani 'ahdaa

[on that Day] none will have [the benefit of] intercession unless he has [in his lifetime] entered into a bond with the Most Gracious.

Wa qaalut takhazar Rahmaanu waladaa

As it is, some assert, "The Most Gracious has taken unto Himself a son„!

Laqad ji'tum shai'an iddaa

Indeed, [by this assertion] you have brought forth something monstrous,

Takaadus samaawaatu yatafattarna minhu wa tanshaq qul ardu wa takhirrul jibaalu haddaa

whereat the heavens might well-nigh be rent into fragments, and the earth be split asunder, and the mountains fall down in ruins!

An da'aw lir Rahmaani waladaa

That men. should ascribe a son to the Most Gracious,

Wa maa yambaghee lir Rahmaani ai yattakhiza waladaa

although it is inconceivable that the Most Gracious should take unto Himself a son!

In kullu man fis samaawaati wal ardi illaaa aatir Rahmaani 'abdaa

Not one of all [the beings] that are in the heavens or on earth appears before the Most Gracious other than as a servant:

Laqad ahsaahum wa addahum 'addaa

indeed, He has full cognizance of them, and has numbered them with [unfailing] numbering;

Wa kulluhum aateehi Yawmal Qiyaamati fardaa

and every one of them will appear before Him on Resurrection Day in a lonely state.

Innal lazeena aamanoo wa 'amilus saalihaati sa yaj'alu lahumur Rahmaanu wuddaa

VERILY, those who attain to faith and do righteous deeds will the Most Gracious endow with love:

Fa innamaa yassarnaahu bilisaanika litubashshira bihil muttaqeena wa tunzira bihee qawmal luddaa

and only to this end have We made this [divine writ] easy to understand, in thine own tongue, [O Prophet,] so that thou might convey thereby a glad tiding to the God-conscious, and warn thereby those who are given to [futile] contention:

Wa kam ahlaknaa qabla hum min qarnin hal tuhissu minhum min ahadin aw tasma'u lahum rikzaa

for, how many a generation have We destroyed before their time - [and] canst thou perceive any one of them [now], or hear any whisper of them?

Taa-Haa

O MAN!

Maaa anzalnaa 'alaikal Qur-aana litashqaaa

We did not bestow the Qur'an on thee from on high to make thee unhappy,

Illaa tazkiratal limany yakshaa

but only as an exhortation to all who stand in awe [of God]:

Tanzeelam mimman khalaqal arda was samaawaatil 'ulaa

a revelation from Him who has created the earth and the high heavens

Ar-Rahmaanu 'alal 'Arshis tawaa

the Most Gracious, established on the throne of His almightiness?

Lahoo maa fis samaawaati wa maa fil ardi wa maa bainahumaa wa maa tahtassaraa

Unto Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth, as well as all that is between them and all that is beneath the sod.

Wa in tajhar bilqawli fainnahoo ya'lamus sirra wa akhfaa

And if thou say anything aloud, [He hears it] since, behold, He knows [even] the secret [thoughts of man] as well as all that is yet more hidden [within him].

Allaahu laaa ilasha illaa Huwa lahul Asmaaa'ul Husnaa

God-there is no deity save Him; His [alone] are the attributes of perfection!

Wa hal ataaka hadeesu Moosa

AND HAS the story of Moses ever come within thy ken?

Iz ra aa naaran faqaala li alhlihim kusooo inneee aanastu naaral la'alleee aateekum minhaa biqabasin aw ajidu 'alan naari hudaa

Lo! he saw a fire [in the desert]; and so he said to his family: "Wait here! Behold, I perceive a fire [far away]: perhaps I can bring you a brand there from, or find at the fire some guidance."

Falammaaa ataahaa noodiya yaa Moosaa

But when he came close to it, a voice called out: "O Moses!

Inneee Ana Rabbuka fakhla' na'laika innaka bilwaadil muqaddasi Tuwaa

Verily, I am thy Sustainer! Take off, then, thy sandals! Behold, thou art in the twice hallowed valley,

Wa anakhtartuka fastami' limaa yoohaa

and I have chosen thee [to be My apostle]: listen, then, to what is being revealed [unto thee].

Innaneee Anal laahu laaa ilaaha illaa Ana fa'budnee wa aqimis-salaata lizikree

"Verily, I - I alone - am God; there is no deity save Me. Hence, worship Me alone, and be constant in prayer, so as to remember Me!

Innas Saa'ata aatiyatun akaadu ukhfeehaa litujzaa kullu nafsim bimaa tas'aa

"Behold, [although] I have willed to keep it hidden, the Last Hour is bound to come, so that every human being may be recompensed in accordance with what he strove for [in life].

Falaa yasuddannnaka 'anhaa mal laa yu'minu bihaa wattaba'a hawaahu fatardaa

Hence, let not anyone who does not believe in its coming and follows [but] his own desires divert thee from [belief in] it, lest thou perish!

Wa maa tilka bi yamee nika yaa Moosaa

"Now, what is this in thy right hand, O Moses?"

Qaala hiya 'asaaya atawakka'u alaihaa wa ahushshu bihaa 'alaa ghanamee wa liya feehaa ma aaribu ukhraa

He answered: "It is my staff; I lean on it; and with it I beat down leaves for my sheep; and [many] other uses have I for it."

Qaala alqihaa yaa Moosaa

Said He: "Throw it down, O Moses!"

Fa-alqaahaa fa -izaa hiya haiyatun tas'aa

So he threw it - and lo! it was a snake, moving rapidly.

Qaala khuzhaa wa laa ta khaf sanu'eeduhaa seeratahal oolaa

Said He: "Take hold of it, and fear not: We shall restore it to its former state.

Wadmum yadaka ilaa janaahika takhruj baidaaa'a min ghairi sooo'in Aayatan ukhraa

"Now place thy hand within thy armpit: it will come forth [shining] white, without blemish, as another sign [of Our grace],

Linuriyaka min Aayaatinal Kubra

so that We might make thee aware of some of Our greatest wonders.

Izhab ilaa Fir'awna innahoo taghaa

"[And now] go thou unto Pharaoh: for, verily, he has transgressed all bounds of equity.

Qaala Rabbish rah lee sadree

Said [Moses]: "O my Sustainer! Open up my heart [to Thy light],

Wa yassir leee amree

and make my task easy for me,

Wahlul 'uqdatam milli saanee

and loosen the knot from my tongue

Yafqahoo qawlee

so that they might fully understand my speech,

Waj'al lee wazeeram min ahlee

and appoint for me, out of my kinsfolk, one who will help me to bear my burden:

Haaroona akhee

Aaron, my brother.

Ushdud biheee azree

Add Thou through him to my strength,

Wa ashrik hu feee amree

and let him share my task,

Kai nusabbihaka kaseeraa

so that [together] we might abundantly extol Thy limitless glory

Wa nazkuraka kaseeraa

and remember Thee without cease!

Innaka kunta binaa baseeraa

Verily, Thou seest all that is within us!"

Qaala qad ooteeta su'laka yaa Moosaa

Said He: "Thou art granted all that thou hast asked for, O Moses!

Wa laqad manannaa 'alaika marratan ukhraaa

"And, indeed, We bestowed Our favour upon thee at a time long since past,

Iz awhainaaa ilaaa ummika maa yoohaaa

when We inspired thy mother with this inspiration:

Aniqzifeehi fit Taabooti faqzifeehi fil yammi fal yul qihil yammu bis saahili yaakhuzhu 'aduwwul lee wa 'aduwwul lah; wa alqaitu 'alaika mahabbatam minnee wa litusna'a 'alaa 'ainee

Place him in a chest and throw it into the river, and thereupon the river will cast him ashore, [and] one who is an enemy unto Me and an enemy unto him will adopt him. "And [thus early] I spread Mine Own love over thee -and [this] in order that thou might be formed under Mine eye.

Iz tamsheee ukhtuka fataqoolu hal adullukum 'alaa mai yakfuluhoo faraja 'naaka ilaaa ummika kai taqarra 'ainuhaa wa laa tahzan; wa qatalta nafsan fanajjainaaka minal ghammi wa fatannaaka futoonaa; falabista sineena feee ahli Madyana summa ji'ta 'alaa qadariny yaa Moosa

"[And thou wert under Mine eye] when thy sister went forth and said [to Pharaoh's people], 'Shall I guide you unto [a woman] who might take charge of him?'' And so We returned thee unto thy mother, so that her eye be gladdened, and that she might not sorrow [any longer]. "And [when thou camest of age, thou didst slay a man: but We did save thee from all grief, although We tried thee with various trials. "And then thou didst sojourn for years among the people of Madyan; and now thou hast come [here] as ordained [by Me], O Moses:

Wastana' tuka linafsee

for I have chosen thee for Mine Own service.

Izhab anta wa akhooka bi Aayaatee wa laa taniyaa fee zikree

"Go forth, [then,] thou and thy brother, with My messages, and never tire of remembering Me:

Izhabaaa ilaa Fir'awna innahoo taghaa

go forth, both of you, unto Pharaoh: for, verily, he has transgressed all bounds of equity!

Faqoolaa lahoo qawlal laiyinal la allahoo yatazakkkaru 'aw yakhshaa

But speak unto him in a mild manner, so that he might bethink himself or [at least] be filled with apprehension.

Qaalaa Rabbanaaa innanaa nakhaafu ai yafruta 'alainaaa aw ai yatghaa

The two [brothers] said: "O our Sustainer! Verily, we fear lest he act hastily with regard to us, or lest he [continue to] transgress all bounds of equity."

Qaala laa takhaafaaa innanee ma'akumaa asma'u wa araa

Answered He: "Fear not! Verily, I shall be with you two, hearing and seeing [all].

Faatiyaahu faqoolaaa innaa Rasoolaa Rabbika fa arsil ma'anaa Banee Israaa'eela wa laa tu'azzibhum qad ji'naaka bi Aayatim mir Rabbika wassa laamu 'alaa manit taba'al hudaa

Go, then; you two unto him and say, `Behold, we are apostles sent by thy Sustainer: let, then, the children of Israel go with us, and cause them not to suffer [any longer]. We have now come unto thee with a message from thy Sustainer; and [know that His] peace shall be [only] on those who follow [His] guidance:

Innaa qad oohiya ilainaaa annnal 'azaaba 'alaa man kaz zaba wa tawalla

for, behold, it has been revealed to us that [in the life to come] suffering shall befall all who give the lie to the truth and turn away [from it]!"'

Qaala famar Rabbu kumaa yaa Moosa

[But when God's message was conveyed unto Pharaoh,] he said: "Who, now, is this Sustainer of you two, O Moses?"

Qaala Rabbunal lazeee a'taa kulla shai'in khalqahoo summa hadaa

He replied: "Our Sustainer is He who gives unto every thing [that exists] its true nature and form. and thereupon guides it [towards its fulfilment].

Qaala famaa baalul quroonil oolaa

Said [Pharaoh]: "And what of all the past generations?"

Qaala 'ilmuhaa 'inda Rabee fee kitaab, laa yadillu Rabbee wa laa yansaa

[Moses] answered: "Knowledge thereof rests with my Sustainer [alone, and is laid down] in His decree; my Sustainer does not err, and neither does He forget."

Allazee ja'ala lakumul arda mahdanw wa salaka lakum feehaa subulanw wa anzala minas samaaa'i maaa'an fa akhrajnaa biheee azwaajam min nabaatin shatta

HE IT IS who has made the earth a cradle for you, and has traced out for you ways [of livelihood] thereon, and [who] sends down waters from the sky: and by this means We bring forth various kinds of plants.

Kuloo war'aw an'aamakum; inna fee zaalika la Aayaatil li ulin nuhaa

Eat, [then, of this produce of the soil,] and pasture your cattle [thereon]. In all this, behold, there are messages indeed for those who are endowed with reason:

Minhaa khalaqnaakum wa feehaa nu'eedukum wa minhaa nukhrijukum taaratan ukhraa

out of this [earth] have We created you, and into it shall We return you, and out of it shall We bring you forth once again.

Wa laqad arainaahu Aayaatinaa kullahaa fakaz zaba wa abaa

AND, INDEED, We made Pharaoh aware of all Our messages-but he gave them the lie and refused [to heed them].

Qaala aji'tanaa litukhri janaa min ardinaa bisihrika yaa Moosa

He said: "Hash thou come to drive us out of our land by thy sorcery, O Moses?

Falanaatiyannaka bisihrim mislihee faj'al bainanaa wa bainaka maw'idal laa nukhlifuhoo nahnu wa laaa anta makaanan suwaa

In that case, we shall most certainly produce before thee the like thereof! Appoint, then, a tryst between us and thee - which we shall not fail to keep, nor [mayest] thou -at a suitable place!"

Qaala maw'idukum yawmuz zeenati wa ai yuhsharan naasu duhaa

Answered [Moses]: "Your tryst shall be the day of the Festival; and let the people assemble when the sun is risen high."

Fatawallaa Fir'awnu fajjama'a kaidahoo summa ataa

Thereupon Pharaoh withdrew [with his counsellors] and decided upon the scheme which he would pursue; and then he came [to the tryst].

Qaala lahum Moosaa wailakum laa taftaroo 'alal laahi kaziban fa yus hitakum bi 'azaab, wa qad khaaba manif taraa

Said Moses to them: "Woe unto you! Do not invent lies against God, lest He afflict you with most grievous suffering: for He who contrives [such] a lie is already undone!"

Fatanaaza'ooo amrahum bainahum wa asarrun najwaa

So they debated among themselves as to what to do; but they kept their counsel secret,

Qaalooo in haaazaani lasaahiraani yureedaani ai yukhrijaakum min ardikum bisihrihimaa wa yazhabaa bitareeqatikumul muslaa

saying [to one another]: "These two are surely sorcerers intent on driving you from your land by their sorcery, and on doing away with your time-honoured way of life.

Fa ajmi'oo kaidakum summma'too saffaa; wa qad aflahal yawma manis ta'laa

Hence, [O sorcerers of Egypt,] decide upon the scheme which you will pursue, and then come forward in one single body: for, indeed, he who prevails today shall prosper indeed!"

Qaaloo yaa Moosaaa immaaa an tulqiya wa immaaa an nakoona awala man alqaa

Said [the sorcerers]: "O Moses! Either thou throw (thy staff first], or we shall be the first to throw."

Qaala bal alqoo fa izaa hibaaluhum wa 'isiyyuhum yuhaiyalu ilaihi min sihrihim annahaa tas'aa

He answered: "Nay, you throw [first]." And lo! by virtue of their sorcery, their [magic] ropes and staffs seemed to him to be moving rapidly:

Fa awjasa fee nafsihee kheefatam Moosa

and in his heart Moses became apprehensive.

Qulnaa laa takhaf innaka antal a'laa

[But] We said: "Fear not! Verily, it is thou who shalt prevail!

Wa alqi maa fee yamee nika talqaf maa sana'oo; innamaa sana'oo kaidu saahir; wa laa yuflihus saahiru haisu ataa

And [now] throw that [staff] which is in thy right hand -it shall swallow up all that they have wrought: [for] they have wrought only a sorcerer's artifice, and the sorcerer can never come to any good, whatever he may aim at!"

Fa ulqiyas saharatu sujjadan qaalooo aamannaa bi Rabbi Haaroona wa Moosa

[And so it happened and down fell the sorcerers, prostrating themselves in adoration, [and] exclaimed: "We have come to believe in the Sustainer of Moses and Aaron!"

Qaala aamantum lahoo qabla an aazana lakum; innahoo lakabeerukumul lazee 'allama kumus sihra fala uqatti'anna aidiyakum wa arjulakum min khilaafinw wa la usallibannakum fee juzoo'in nakhli wa lata'lamunna aiyunaaa ashaddu 'azaabanw wa abqaa

Said [Pharaoh]: "Have you come to believe in him ere I have given you permission? Verily, he must be your master who has taught you magic! But I shall most certainly cut off your hands and feet in great numbers, because of [your] perverseness, and I shall most certainly crucify you in great numbers on trunks of palm-trees: and [I shall do this] so that you might come to know for certain as to which of us [two] can inflict a more severe chastisement, and [which] is the more abiding!"

Qaaloo lan nu'siraka 'alaa maa jaaa'anaa minal baiyinaati wallazee fataranaa faqdi maaa anta qaad; innamaa taqdee haazihil hayaatad dunyaa

They answered: "Never shall we prefer thee to all the evidence of the truth that has come unto us, nor to Him who has brought us into being! Decree, then, whatever thou art going to decree: thou canst decree only [something that pertains to] this worldly life!

Innaaa aamannaa bi Rabbinaa liyaghfira lanaa khataayaanaa wa maaa akrahtanaa 'alaihi minas sihr; wallaahu khairunw waabqaa

As for us, behold, we have come to believe in our Sustainer, [hoping] that He may forgive us our faults and all that magic unto which thou hast forced us: for God is the best [to look forward to], and the One who is truly abiding."

Innahoo mai yaati Rabbahoo mujriman fa inna lahoo Jahannama laa yamotu feehaa wa laa yahyaa

VERILY, as for him who shall appear before his Sustainer [on Judgment Day] lost in sin - his [portion], behold, shall be hell: he will neither die therein nor live;

Wa mai yaatihee mu'minan qad 'amilas saalihaati fa ulaaa'ika lahumud dara jaatul 'ulaa

whereas he who shall appear before Him as a believer who has done righteous deeds - it is such that shall have lofty stations [in the life to come]:

Jannaatu 'Adnin tajree min tahtihal anhaaru khaalideena feehaa; wa zaalika jazaaa'ua man tazakka

gardens of perpetual bliss, through which running waters flow, therein to abide: for that shall be the recompense of all who attain to purity.

Wa laqad awhainaaa ilaa Moosaaa an asri bi'ibaadee fadrib lahum tareeqan fil bahri yabasal laa takhaafu darakanw wa laa takhshaa

AND, INDEED, [a time came when] We thus inspired Moses: "Go forth with My servants by night, and strike out for them a dry path through the sea; [and] fear not of being overtaken, and dread not [the sea]."

Fa atba'ahum Fir'awnu bijunoodihee faghashiyahum minal yammmi maa ghashi yahum

And Pharaoh pursued them with his hosts: and they were overwhelmed by the sea which was destined to overwhelm them.

wa adalla fir'awnu qawmahoo wa maa hadaa

because Pharaoh had led his people astray and had not guided [them] aright.

Yaa Baneee Israaa'eela qad anjainaakum min 'aduw wikum wa wa'adnaakum jaanibat Tooril aimana wa nazzalnaa 'alaikumul Manna was Salwaa

O children of Israel! [Thus] We saved you from your enemy, and [then] We made a covenant with you on the right-hand slope of Mount Sinai, and repeatedly sent down manna and quails unto you, [saying,]

Kuloo min taiyibaati maa razaqnaakum wa laa tatghaw feehi fa yahilla 'alaikum ghadabee wa mai yahlil 'alaihi ghadabee faqad hawaa

"Partake of the good things which We have provided for you as sustenance, but do not transgress therein the bounds of equity lest My condemnation fall upon you: for, he upon whom My condemnation falls has indeed thrown himself into utter ruin!"

Wa innee la Ghaffaarul liman taaba wa aamana wa 'amila saalihan summah tadaa

Yet withal, behold, I forgive all sins unto any who repents and attains to faith and does righteous deeds, and thereafter keeps to the right path.

Wa maaa a'jalaka 'an qawmika yaa Moosa

[AND GOD SAID:] "Now what has caused thee, O Moses, to leave thy people behind in so great a haste?"

Qaala hum ulaaa'i 'alaaa asaree wa 'ajiltu ilaika Rabbi litardaa

He answered: "They are treading in my footsteps while I have hastened unto Thee, O my Sustainer, so that Thou might be well-pleased [with me]."

Qaala fa innaa qad fatannaa qawmaka mim ba'dika wa adallahumus Saamiriyy

Said He: "Then [know that], verily, in thy absence We have put thy people to a test, and the Samaritan has led them astray."

Faraja's Moosaaa ilaa qawmihee ghadbaana asifaa; qaala yaa qawmi alam ya'idkum Rabbukum wa'dan hasanaa; afataala 'alaikumul 'ahdu am arattum ai yahilla 'alaikum ghadabum mir Rabbikum fa akhlaftum maw'idee

Thereupon Moses returned to his people full of wrath and sorrow, [and] exclaimed: "O my people! Did not your Sustainer hold out [many] a goodly promise to you? bid, then, [the fulfilment of] this promise seem to you too long in coming? Or are you, perchance, determined to see your Sustainer's condemnation fall upon you, and so you broke your promise to me?"

Qaaloo maaa akhlafnaa maw'idaka bimalkinna wa laakinna hummilnaaa awzaaram min zeenatil qawmi faqazafnaahaa fakazaalika alqas Saamiriyy

They answered: "We did not break our promise to thee of our own free will, but [this is what happened:] we were loaded with the [sinful] burdens of the [Egyptian] people's ornaments, and so we threw them [into the fire], and likewise did this Samaritan cast [his into it]."

Fa akhraja lahum 'ijlan jasadal lahoo khuwaarun faqaaloo haazaaa ilaahukum wa ilaahu Moosaa fanasee

But then, [so they told Moses, the Samaritan] had produced for them [out of the molten gold] the effigy of a calf, which made a lowing sound; and thereupon they said [to one another], "This is your deity, and the deity of Moses-but he has forgotten [his past]

Afalaa yarawna allaa yarji'u ilaihim qawlanw wa laa yamliku lahum darranw wa laa naf'aa

Why-did they not see that [the thing] could not give them any response, and had no power to harm or to benefit them?

Wa laqad qaala lahum Haaroonu min qablu yaa qawmi innamaa futintum bihee wa inna Rabbakumur Rahmaanu fattabi'oonee wa atee'ooo amree

And, indeed, even before [the return of Moses] had Aaron said unto them: "O my people! You are but being tempted to evil by this [idol] -for, behold, your [only] Sustainer is the Most Gracious! Follow me, then, and obey my bidding!"

Qaaloo lan nabraha 'alaihi 'aakifeena hattaa yarji'a ilainaa Moosaa

[But] they answered: "By no means shall we cease to worship it until Moses comes back to us!"

Qaala Yaa Haaroonu maa mana 'aka iz ra aitahum dallooo

[And now that he had come back, Moses] said: "O Aaron! What has prevented thee, when thou didst see that they had gone astray,

Allaa tattabi'ani afa'asaita amree

from [abandoning them and] following me? Hast thou, then, [deliberately] disobeyed my commandment?"

Qaala yabna'umma laa taakhuz bilihyatee wa laa biraasee innee khashetu an taqoola farraqta baina Baneee Israaa'eela wa lam tarqub qawlee

Answered [Aaron]: "O my mother's son! Seize me not by my beard, nor by my head! Behold, I was afraid lest [on thy return] thou say, 'Thou hast caused a split among the children of Israel, and hast paid no heed to my bidding!"

Qaala famaa khatbuka yaa Saamiriyy

Said [Moses]: "What, then, didst thou have in view, O Samaritan?"

Qaala basurtu bimaa lam yabsuroo bihee faqabadtu qabdatam min asarir Rasooli fanabaztuhaa wa kazaalika sawwalat lee nafsee

He answered: "I have gained insight into something which they were unable to see: and so I took hold of a handful of the Apostle's teachings and cast it away: for thus has my mind prompted me [to act]."

Qaala fazhab fa inna laka fil hayaati an taqoola laa misaasa wa inna laka maw'idal lan tukhlafahoo wanzur ilaaa ilaahikal lazee zalta 'alaihi 'aakifaa; lanuharriqannnahoo summa lanansifanahoo fil yammi nasfaa

Said [Moses]; "Begone, then! And, behold, it shall be thy lot to say throughout [thy] life, `Touch me not! But, verily, [in the life to come] thou shalt be faced with a destiny from which there will be no escape! And [now] look at this deity of thine to whose worship thou hast become so devoted: we shall most certainly burn it, and then scatter [whatever remains of] it far and wide over the sea!

Innamaaa ilaahukkumul laahul lazee laa ilaaha illaa Hoo; wasi'a kulla shai'in ilmaa

Your only deity is God - He save whom there is no deity, [and whho] embraces all things within His knowledge!"

Kazaalika naqussu 'alaika min ambaaa'i maa qad sabaq; wa qad aatainaaka mil ladunnaa Zikraa

THUS DO WE relate unto thee some of the stories of what happened in the past; and [thus] have We vouchsafed unto thee, out of Our grace, a reminder.

Man a'rada 'anhu, fa innahoo yahmilu Yawmal Qiyaamati wizraa

All who shall turn away from it will, verily, bear a [heavy] burden on the Day of Resurrection:

Khaalideena feehi wa saaa'a lahum Yawmal Qiyaamati himlaa

they will abide in this [state], and grievous for them will be the weight [of that burden] on the Day of Resurrection -

Yawma yunfakhu fissoori wa nahshurul mujrimeena Yawma 'izin zurqaa

on the Day when the trumpet is blown: for on that Day We will assemble all such as had been lost in sin, their eyes dimmed [by terror],

Yatakhaafatoona bainahum il labistum illaa 'ashraa

whispering unto one another, "You have spent but ten [days on earth]

nahnu a'lamu bimaa yaqooloona iz yaqoolu amsaluhum tareeqatan illabistum illaa yawmaa

[But] We know best what they will be saying when the most perceptive of them shall say, "You have spent [there] but one day!"

Wa yas'aloonaka 'anil jibaali faqul yansifuhaa Rabbee nasfaa

AND THEY WILL ask thee about [what will happen to] the mountains [when this world comes to an end]. Say, then: "My Sustainer will scatter them far and wide,

Fa yazaruhaa qaa'an safsafaa

and leave the earths level and bare,

Laa taraa feehaa 'iwajanw wa laaa amtaa

[so that] thou wilt see no curve thereon, and no ruggedness.

Yawma iziny yattabi'oonad daa'iya laa 'iwaja lahoo wa khasha'atil aswaatu lir Rahmaani falaa tasma'u illaa hamsaa

On that Day, all will. follow the summoning Voice from which there will be no escape; and all sounds will be hushed before the Most Gracious, and thou wilt hear nothing but a faint sough in the air.

Yawma 'izil laa tanfa'ush shafaa'atu illaa man azina lahur Rahmaanu wa radiya lahoo qawlaa

On that Day, intercession shall be of no avail [to any] save him in whose case the Most Gracious will have granted leave therefor, and whose word [of faith) He will have accepted:

Ya'lamu maa bainaa aideehim wa maa khalfahum wa laa yauheetoona bihee 'ilmaa

[for] He knows all that lies open before men and all that is hidden from them, whereas they cannot encompass Him with their knowledge.

Wa 'anatil wujoohu lil Haiiyil Qaiyoomi wa qad khaaba man hamala zulmaa

And [on that Day] all faces will be humbled before the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsistent Fount of All Being; and undone shall be he who bears [a burden of] evildoing

Wa mai ya'mal minas saalihaati wa huwa mu'minun falaa yakhaafu zulmanw wa laa hadmaa

whereas anyone who will have done [whatever he could] of righteous deeds, and was a believer withal, need have no fear of being wronged or deprived [of aught of his merit].

Wa kazaalika anzalnaahu Qur-aanan 'Arabiyyanw wa sarrafnaa fee hi minal wa'eedi la'allahum yattaqoona aw yuhdisu lahum zikraa

AND THUS have We bestowed from on high this [divine writ] as a discourse in the Arabic tongue, and have given therein many facets to all manner of warnings, so that men might remain conscious of Us, or that it give rise to a new awareness in them

Fata'aalal laahul Malikul Haqq; wa laa ta'jal bil Quraani min qabli ai yuqdaaa ilaika wahyuhoo wa qur Rabbi zidnee 'ilmaa

[Know,] then, [that) God is sublimely exalted. the Ultimate Sovereign, the Ultimate Truth and [knowing this,] do not approach the Qur'an in haste, ere it has been revealed unto thee in full, but [always) say: "O my Sustainer, cause me to grow in knowledge!

Wa laqad 'ahidnaaa ilaaa Aadama min qablu fanasiya wa lam najid lahoo 'azmaa

AND, INDEED, long ago did We impose Our commandment on Adam; but he forgot it, and We found no firmness of purpose in him.

Wa iz qulnaa lilma laaa'ikatis judoo li Aadama fasajadooo illaaa Iblees; abaa

For [thus it was:] when We told the angels, "Prostrate yourselves before Adam!"- they all prostrated themselves, save Ibis, who refused [to do it];

Faqulnaa yaaa Aadamu inna haazaa 'aduwwul laka wa lizawjika falaa yukhrijan nakumaa minal Jannati fatashqaa

and thereupon We said: "O Adam! Verily, this is a foe unto thee and thy wife: so let him not drive the two of you out of this garden and render thee unhappy.

Innaa laka allaa tajoo'a feeha wa laa ta'raa

Behold, it is provided for thee that thou shalt not hunger here or feel naked,

Wa annaka laa tazma'u feehaa wa laa tadhaa

and that thou shalt not thirst here or suffer from the heat of the sun."

Fa waswasa ilaihish Shaitaanu qaala yaaa Aadamu hal adulluka 'alaa shajaratil khuldi wa mulkil laa yablaa

But Satan whispered unto him, saying: "O Adam! Shall I lead thee to the tree of life eternal; and [thus] to a kingdom that will never decay?"

Fa akalaa minhaa fabadat lahumaa saw aatuhumaa wa tafiqaa yakhsifaani 'alaihimaa minw waraqil jannah; wa 'asaaa Aadamu Rabbahoo faghawaa

And so the two ate [of the fruit] thereof: and thereupon they became conscious of their nakedness and began to cover themselves with pieced-together leaves from the garden. And [thus] did Adam disobey his Sustainer, and thus did he fall into grievous error.

Summaj tabbahu Rabbuhoo fataaba 'alaihi wa hadaa

Thereafter, [however,) his Sustainer elected him [for His grace], and accepted his repentance, and bestowed His guidance upon him,

Qaalah bita minhaa jamee'am ba'dukum liba'din 'aduww; fa immaa yaati yannakum minnee hudan famanit taba'a hudaaya falaa yadillu wa laa yashhqaa

saying: "Down with you all from this [state of innocence, and be henceforth] enemies unto one another! None the less, there shall most certainly come unto you guidance from Me: and he who follows My guidance will not go astray, and neither will he be unhappy.

Wa man a'rada 'an Zikree fa inna lahoo ma'eeshatan dankanw wa nahshuruhoo Yawmal Qiyaamati a'maa

But as for him who shall turn away from remembering Me - his shall be a life of narrow scope and on the Day of Resurrection We shall raise him up blind."

Qaala Rabbi lima hashar tanee a'maa wa qad kuntu baseeraa

[And so, on Resurrection Day, the sinner] will ask: "O my Sustainer! Why hast Thou raised me up blind, whereas [on earth] I was endowed with sight?"

Qaala kazaalika atatka Aayaatunaa fanaseetahaa wa kazaalikal Yawma tunsaa

[God] will reply: "Thus it is: there came unto thee Our messages, but thou wert oblivious of them; and thus shalt thou be today consigned to oblivion!"

Wa kazaalika najzee man asrafa wa lam yu'mim bi Aayaati Rabbih; wa la'azaabul Aakhirati ashaddu wa abqaa

For, thus shall We recompense him who wastes his own self and does not believe in his Sustainer's messages: and, indeed, the suffering [of such sinners] in the life to come shall be most severe and most enduring!

Afalam yahdi lahum kam ahlaknaa qablahum minal qurooni yamshoona fee masaakinihim; inna fee zaalika la Aayaatil li ulinnuhaa

CAN, THEN, they [who reject the truth] learn no lesson by recalling how many a generation We have destroyed before their time? - [people] in whose dwelling-places they [themselves now] walk about? In this, behold, there are messages indeed for those who are endowed with reason!

Wa law laa Kalimatun sabaqat mir Rabbika lakaana lizaamanw wa ajalum musammaa

Now were it not for a decree that has already gone forth from thy Sustainer, setting a term [for each sinner's repentance], it would inescapably follow [that all who sin must be doomed at once].

Fasbir 'alaa maa yaqooloona wa sabbih bihamdi Rabbika qabla tuloo'ish shamsi wa qabla ghuroobihaa wa min aanaaa'il laili fasbbih wa atraafan nahaari la 'allaka tardaa

Hence, bear with patience whatever they [who deny the truth] may say, and extol thy Sustainer's limitless glory and praise Him before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and extol His glory, too, during some of the hours of the night as well as during the hours of the day, so that thou might attain to happiness.

Wa laa tamuddanna 'ainaika ilaa ma matta'na biheee azwajam minhum zahratal hayaatid dunya linaftinahum feeh; wa rizqu Rabbika khairunw wa abqaa

And never turn thine, eyes [with longing] towards whatever splendour of this world's life We may have allowed so many others to enjoy in order that We might test them thereby: for the sustenance which thy Sustainer provides [for thee] is better and more enduring.

Waamur ahlaka bis Salaati wastabir 'alaihaa la nas'aluka rizqaa; nahnu narzuquk; wal 'aaqibatu littaqwaa

And bid thy people to pray, and persevere therein. [But remember:] We do not ask thee to provide sustenance [for Us]: it is We who provide sustenance for thee. And the future belongs to the God-conscious.

Wa qaaloo law laa yaateenaa bi Aayatim mmir Rabbih; awalam taatihim baiyinatu maa fis suhufil oolaa

NOW THEY [who are blind to the truth] are wont to say, "If [Muhammad] would but produce for us a miracle from his Sustainer! [But] has there not come unto them a clear evidence [of the truth of this divine writ] in what is [to be found] in the earlier scriptures?

Wa law annaaa ahlaknaahum bi'azaabim min qablihee laqaaloo Rabbanaa law laaa arsalta ilainaa Rasoolan fanattabi's Aayaatika min qabli an nazilla wa nakhzaa

For [thus it is:] had We destroyed them by means of a chastisement ere this [divine writ was revealed], they would indeed [be justified to] say [on Judgment Day]: "O our Sustainer! If only Thou hadst sent an apostle unto us, we would have followed Thy messages rather than be humiliated and disgraced [in the hereafter]!"

Qul kullum mutarabbisun fatarabbasoo fasta'lamoona man Ashaabus Siraatis Sawiyyi wa manih tadaa

Say: "Everyone is hopefully waiting [for what the future may bring]: wait, then, [for the Day of Judgment] for then you will come to know as to who has followed the even path, and who has found guidance!"