Juz 19 — Part 19 of 30

Wa qaalal lazeena laa yarjoona liqaaa'anaa law laaa unzila 'alainal malaaa'ikatu awnaraa Rabbanaa; laqadistakbaroo feee anfusihim wa 'ataw 'utuwwan kabeeraa

But those who do not believe that they are destined to meet Us are wont to say, “Why have no angels been sent down to us?” – or, “Why do we not see our Sustainer?” Indeed, they are far too proud of themselves, hav­ing rebelled [against God’s truth] with utter disdain!

Yawma yarawnal malaaa 'ikata laa bushraa Yawma'izil lilmujrimeena wa yaqooloona hijram mahjooraa

[Yet] on that Day - the Day on which they shall see the angels there will be no glad tiding for those who were lost in sin; and they will exclaim, “By a forbidding ban [are we from God’s grace debarred]!” –

Wa qadimnaaa ilaa maa 'amiloo min 'amalin faja'alnaahu habaaa'am mansooraa

for We shall have turned towards all the [supposedly good] deeds they ever wrought, and shall have transformed them into scattered dust –

As haabul jannati yawma'izin khairum mustaqar ranw wa ahsanu maqeela

[whereas] on that same Day those who are destined for paradise will be graced with the best of abodes and the fairest place of repose.

Wa Yawma tashaqqaqus samaaa'u bilghamaami wa nuzzilal malaaa'ikatu tanzeela

And on the Day on which the skies, together with the clouds, shall burst asunder, and the angels are made to descend in a mighty descent –

Almulku Yawma'izinil haqqu lir Rahmaan; wa kaana Yawman'alal kaafireena 'aseeraa

on that Day [it will become obvious to all that] true sover­eignty belongs to the Most Gracious [alone]: hence, a Day of distress will it be for all who deny the truth,

Wa Yawma ya'adduz zaalimu 'alaa yadaihi yaqoolu yaa laitanit takhaztu ma'ar Rasooli sabeelaa

and a Day on which the evildoer will bite his hands [in despair], exclaiming: “Oh, would that I had followed the path shown to me by the apostle!

Yaa wailataa laitanee lam attakhiz fulaanan khaleelaa

Oh, woe is me! Would that I had not taken so-and-so for a friend!

Laqad adallanee 'aniz zikri ba'da iz jaaa'anee; wa kaanash Shaitaanu lil insaani khazoolaa

Indeed, he led me astray from the remembrance [of God] after it had come unto me!” For [thus it is:] Satan is ever a betrayer of man.

Wa qaalar Rasoolu yaa Rabbi inna qawmit takhazoo haazal Qur-aana mahjooraa

AND [on that Day] the Apostle will say: “O my Sustainer! Behold, [some of] my people have come to regard this Qur’an as something [that ought to be] discarded!”

Wa kazaalika ja'alnaa likulli Nabiyyin 'aduwwam minal mujrimeen; wa kafaa bi Rabbika haadiyanw wa naseeraa

For so it is that against every prophet We have set up enemies from among those who are lost in sin: yet none can guide and give succour as thy Sustainer does!

Wa qaalal lazeena kafaroo law laa nuzzila 'alaihil Quraanu jumlatanw waahidah; kazaalika linusabbita bihee fu'aadaka wa rattalnaahu tarteelaa

Now they who are bent on denying the truth are wont to ask. “Why has not the Qur’an been bestowed on him from on high in one single re­velation?” [it has been revealed] in this manner so that We might strengthen thy heart thereby - for We have so arranged its component parts that they form one consistent whole -

Wa laa yaatoonaka bimasainn illaa ji'naaka bilhaqqi wa ahsana tafseeraa

and [that] they [who deny the truth] might never taunt thee with any deceptive half-truth without Our conveying to thee the [full] truth and [providing thee] with the best explanation.

Allazeena yuhsharoona 'alaa wujoohim ilaa jahannama ulaaa'ika sharrum makaananw wa adallu sabeelaa )section 3)

[And so, tell those who are bent on denying the truth that] they who shall be gathered unto hell upon their faces – it is they who [in the life to come] will be worst in station and still farther astray from the path [of truth]!

Wa laqad aatainaa Moosal Kitaaba wa ja'alnaa ma'ahooo akhaahu Haaroona wazeeraa

AND, INDEED, [long before Muhammad] We vouchsafed revelation unto Moses, and appointed his brother Aaron to help him to bear his burden;

Faqulnaz habaaa ilal qawmil lazeena kazzaboo bi Aayaatinaa fadammarnaahum tadmeeraa

and We said, “Go you both unto the people who have given the lie to Our messages!” - and thereupon We broke those [sinners] to smithereens.

Wa qawma Noohil lammaa kazzabur Rusula aghraqnaahum wa ja'alnaahum linnaasi Aayatanw wa a'tadnaa lizzaalimeena 'azaaban aleemaa

And [think of] the people of Noah: when they gave the lie to [one of] the apostles, We caused them to drown, and made them a symbol for all mankind: for, grievous suffering have We readied for all who [knowingly] do wrong!

Wa 'Aadanw Samooda wa As haabar Rassi wa quroonam baina zaalika kaseeraa

And [remember how We punished the tribes of] Ad and Thamud and the people of Ar-Rass, and many generations [of sinners] in-between:

Wa kullandarabnaa lahul amsaala wa kullan tabbarnaa tatbeera

and unto each of them did We proffer lessons and each of them did We destroy with utter destruction.

Wa laqad ataw 'alal qaryatil lateee umtirat mataras saw'; afalam yakoonoo yarawnahaa; bal kaanoo laa yarjoona nushooraa

And they [who now deny Our messages] must surely have come across that town which was rained upon by a rain of evil: have they, then, never beheld it [with their minds eye]? But nay, they would not believe in resurrection!

Wa izaa ra awka iny yattakhizoonaka illaa huzuwan ahaazal lazee ba'asal laahu Rasoolaa

Hence, whenever they consider thee, [O Muhammad,] they but make thee a target of their mockery, [saying:] “Is this the one whom God has sent as an apostle?

In kaada la yudillunaa 'an aalihatinaa law laaa an sabarnaa 'alaihaa; wa sawfa ya'lamoona heena yarawnal 'azaaba man adallu sabeela

Indeed, he would well-nigh have led us astray from our deities, had we not been [so] steadfastly attached to them!” But in time, when they see the suffering [that awaits them], they will come to know who it was that went farthest astray from the path [of truth]!

Ara'aita manit takhaza ilaahahoo hawaahu afa anta takoonu 'alaihi wakeelaa

Hast thou ever considered [the kind of man] who makes his own desires his deity? Couldst thou, then, [O Prophet,] be held responsible for him?

Am tahsabu annna aksarahum yasma'oona aw ya''qiloon; in hum illaa kal an'aami bal hum adallu sabeelan

Or dost thou think that most of them listen [to thy message] and use their reason? Nay, they are but like cattle - nay, they are even less conscious of the right way!

Alam tara ilaa Rabbika kaifa maddaz zilla wa law shaaa'a laja'alahoo saakinan summa ja'alnash shamsa 'alaihe daleelaa

Art thou not aware of thy Sustainer [through His works]? - how He causes the shadow to lengthen [towards the night] when, had He so willed, He could indeed have made it stand still: but then, We have made the sun its guide;

Summa qabadnaahu ilainaa qabdany yaseeraa

and then, [after having caused it to lengthen,] We draw it in towards Our­selves with a gradual drawing-in.

Wa Huwal lazee ja'ala lakumul laila libaasanw wannawma subaatanw wa ja'alan nahaara nushooraa

And He it is who makes the night a garment for you, and [your] sleep a rest, and causes every [new] day to be a resurrection.

Wa Huwal lazeee arsalar riyaaha bushram baina yadai rahmatih; wa anzalnaa minas samaaa'i maaa'an tahooraa

And He it is who sends forth the winds as a glad tiding of His coming grace; and [thus, too,] We cause pure water to descend from the skies,

Linuhyiya bihee balda tam maitanw wa nusqiyahoo mimmaa khalaqnaaa an'aa manw wa anaasiyya kaseeraa

so that We may bring dead land to life thereby, and give to drink thereof to many [beings] of Our creation, beasts as well as humans.

Wa laqad sarrafnaahu bainahum li yazzakkaroo fa abaaa aksarun naasi illaa kufooraa

And, indeed, many times have We repeated [all] this unto men, so that they might take it to heart: but most men refuse to be aught but ingrate.

Wa law shi'naa laba'asnaa fee kulli qar yatin nazeeraa

Now had We so willed. We could have [con­tinued as before and] raised up a [separate] warner in every single community:

Falaa tuti'il kaafireena wa jaahidhum bihee jihaadan kabeeraa

hence, do not defer to [the likes and dislikes of] those who deny the truth, but strive hard against them, by means of this [divine writ], with utmost striving.

Wa Huwal lazee marajal bahraini haazaa 'azbun furaatunw wa haazaa milhun ujaaj; wa ja'ala bainahumaa barzakhanw wa hijram mahjooraa

AND HE it is who has given freedom of movement to the two great bodies of water – the one sweet and thirst-allaying, and the other salty and bitter - and yet has wrought between them a barrier and a forbidding ban.

Wa Huwal lazee khalaqa minal maaa'i basharran fa ja'alahoo nasaban wa sihraa; wa kaana Rabbuka Qadeeraa

And He it is who out of this [very] water has created man, and has endowed him with [the con­sciousness of] descent and marriage-tie: for thy Sustainer is ever infinite in His power.

Wa ya'budoona min doonil laahi maa laa yanfa'uhum wa laa yadurruhum; wa kaanal kaafiru 'alaa Rabbihee zaheeraa

And yet, some people worship, instead of God, things that can neither benefit them nor harm them: thus, he who denies the truth does indeed turn his back on his Sustainer!

Wa maa arsalnaaka illaa mubashshiranw wa nazeeraa

Yet [withal, O Prophet,] We have sent thee only as a herald of glad tidings and a warner.

Qul maaa as'alukum 'alaihi min ajrin illaa man shaaa'a ai yattakhiza ilaa Rabbihee sabeelaa

Say: “For this, no reward do I ask of you [- no reward] other than that he who so wills may unto his Sustainer find a way!”

Wa tawakkal 'alal Haiyil lazee laa yamootu wa sabbih bihamdih; wa kafaa bihee bizunoobi 'ibaadihee khabeeraa

Hence, place thy trust in the Living One who dies not, and extol His limitless glory and praise: for none is as aware as His creatures’ sins as He –

Allazee khalaqas samaawaati wal arda wa maa bainahumaa fee sittati aiyaamin summmmastawaa 'alal 'Arsh; ar Rahmaanu fas'al bihee khabeeraa

He who has created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six aeons, and is established on the throne of His almightiness: the Most Gracious! Ask, then, about Him, [the] One who is [truly] aware.

Wa izaa qeela lahumus judoo lir Rahmaani qaaloo wa mar Rahmaanu anasjudu limaa taamurunaa wa zaadahum nufooraa

Yet when they [who are bent on denying the truth! are told, “Prostrate yourselves before the Most Gracious.” they are wont to ask, “And [who and] what is the Most Gracious? Are we to prostrate ourselves before whatever thou biddest us [to worship]?” - and so [thy call] but increases their aversion,

Tabaarakal lazee ja'ala fis samaaa'i buroojanw wa ja'ala feehaa siraajanw wa qamaram muneeraa

HALLOWED is He who has set up in the skies great constellations, and has placed among them a [radiant] lamp and a light-giving moon.

Wa huwal lazee ja'alal laila wannahaara khilfatal liman araada ai yazzakkara aw araadaa shookooraa

And He it is who causes the night and the day to succeed one another, [revealing Himself in His works] unto him who has the will to take thought - that is has the will to be grateful.

Wa 'ibaadur Rahmaanil lazeena yamshoona 'alal ardi hawnanw wa izaa khaata bahumul jaahiloona qaaloo salaamaa

For, [true] servants of the Most Gracious are [only] they who walk gently on earth, and who, whenever the foolish address them, reply with [words of] peace;

Wallazeena yabeetoona li Rabbihim sujjadanw wa qiyaamaa

and who remember their Sustainer far into the night, prostrating themselves and standing;

Wallazeena yaqooloona Rabbanas rif 'annnaa 'azaaba Jahannama inn 'azaabahaa kaana gharaamaa

and who pray: “O our Sustainer, avert from us the suffering of hell - for, verily, the suffering caused by it is bound to be a torment dire:

Innahaa saaa'at mustaqarranw wa muqaamaa

verily, how evil an abode and a station!” -;

Wallazeena izaaa anfaqoo lam yusrifoo wa lam yaqturoo wa kaana baina zaalika qawaamaa

and who, whenever they spend on others, are neither wasteful nor niggardly but [remember that] there is always a just mean between those [two extremes];

Wallazeena laa yad'oona ma'al laahi ilaahan aakhara wa laa yaqtuloonan nafsal latee harramal laahu illaa bilhaqqi wa laa yaznoon; wa mai yaf'al zaalika yalqa asaamaa

and who never invoke any [imaginary] deity side by side with God, and do not take any human beings life - [the life] which God has willed to be sacred - otherwise than in [the pursuit of] justice, and do not commit adultery. And [know that] he who commits aught thereof shall [not only] meet with a full requital

Yudaa'af lahul 'azaabu Yawmal Qiyaamati wa yakhlud feehee muhaanaa

[but] shall have his suffering doubled on Resurrection Day: for on that [Day] he shall abide in ignominy.

Illaa man taaba wa 'aamana wa 'amila 'amalan saalihan fa ulaaa'ika yubad dilul laahu saiyi aatihim hasanaat; wa kaanal laahu Ghafoorar Raheemaa

Excepted, however, shall be they who repent and attain to faith and do righteous deeds: for it is they whose [erstwhile] bad deeds God will transform into good ones - seeing that God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace,

Wa man taaba wa 'amila saalihan fa innnahoo yatoobu ilal laahi mataabaa

and seeing that he who repents and [thenceforth] does what is right has truly turned unto God by [this very act of] repent­ance.

Wallazeena laa yash hadoonaz zoora wa izaa marroo billaghwi marroo kiraamaa

And [know that true servants of God are only] those who never bear witness to what is false, and [who], whenever they pass by [people engaged in] frivolity, pass on with dignity;

Wallazeena izaa zukkiroo bi Aayaati Rabbihim lam yakhirroo 'alaihaa summanw wa'umyaanaa

and who, whenever they are reminded of their Sustainer’s messages, do not throw themselves upon them [as if] deaf and blind;

Wallazeena yaqooloona Rabbanaa hab lanaa min azwaajinaa wa zurriyaatinaa qurrata a'yuninw waj 'alnaa lilmuttaqeena Imaamaa

and who pray “O our Sustainer! Grant that our spouses and our offspring be a joy to our eyes, and cause us to be foremost among those who are conscious of Thee!”

Ulaaa'ika yujzawnal ghurfata bimaa sabaroo wa yulaqqawna feehaa tahiyyatanw wa salaamaa

[Such as] these will be rewarded for all their patient endurance [in life] with a high station [in paradise], and will be met therein with a greeting of welcome and peace,

Khaalideena feehaa; hasunat mustaqarranw wa muqaamaa

therein to abide: [and] how goodly an abode and [how high] a station!

Qul maa ya'ba'u bikum Rabbee law laa du'aaa'ukum faqad kazzabtum fasawfa yakoonu lizaamaa

SAY [unto those who believe]: “No weight or value would my Sustainer attach to you were it not for your faith [in Him]!” And say unto those who deny the truth:] “You have indeed given the lie [to God’s message], and in time this [sin] will cleave unto you!”

Taa-Seeen-Meeem

Ta. Sin, Mim.

Tilka Aayaatul Kitaabil Mubeen

THESE ARE MESSAGES of the divine writ, clear in itself and clearly showing the truth!

La'allaka baakhi'un nafsaka allaa yakoonoo mu'mineen

Wouldst thou, perhaps, torment thyself to death [with grief] because they [who live around thee] refuse to believe [in it]?

In nashaa nunazzil 'alaihim minas samaaa'i Aayatan fazallat a'naaquhum lahaa khaadi'een

Had We so willed, We could have sent down unto them a message from the skies, so that their necks would [be forced to] bow down before it in humility.

Wa maa yaateehim min zikrim minar Rahmaani muhdasin illaa kaanoo 'anhu mu'rideen

[But We have not willed it:] and so, whenever there comes unto them any fresh reminder from the Most Gracious, they [who are blind of heart] always - turn their backs upon it:

Faqad kazzaboo fasa yaateehim ambaaa'u maa kaanoo bihee yastahzi'oon

thus, indeed, have they given the lie (to this message as well). But [in time] they will come to understand what it was that they were wont to deride!

Awa lam yaraw ilal ardi kam ambatnaa feehaa min kulli zawjin kareem

Have they, then, never considered the earth - how much of every noble kind [of life] We have caused to grow thereon?

Inn fee zaalika la Aayah; wa maa kaana aksaruhum mu'mineen

In this, behold, there is a message [unto men], even though most of them will not believe [in it].

Wa inna Rabbaka la Huwal 'Azeezur Raheem

But, verily, thy Sustainer - He alone - is almighty, a dispenser of grace!

Wa iz naadaa Rabbuka Moosaaa ani'-til qawmaz zaalimeen

HENCE, [remember how it was] when thy Sustainer summoned Moses: “Go unto those evil doing people.

Qawma Fir'awn; alaa yattaqoon

the people of Pharaoh, who refuse to be con­scious of Me!”

Qaala Rabbi inneee akhaafu ai yukazziboon

He answered: “O my Sustainer! Behold, I fear that they will give me the lie,

Wa yadeequ sadree wa laa yantaliqu lisaanee fa arsil ilaa Haaroon

and then my breast will be straitened and my tongue will not be free: send, then, [this Thy command] to Aaron.

Wa lahum 'alaiya zambun fa akhaafu ai yaqtuloon

Moreover, they keep a grave charge [pending] against me, and I fear that they will slay me.”

Qaala kallaa fazhabaa bi Aayaatinaaa innaa ma'akum mustami'oon

Said He: “Not so, indeed! Go forth, then, both of you, with Our messages: verify, We shall be with you, listening [to your call]!

Faatiyaa Fir'awna faqoolaaa innaa Rasoolu Rabbil 'aalameen

And go, both of you, unto Pharaoh and say, ‘Behold, we bear a message from the Sustainer of all the worlds:

An arsil ma'anaa Baneee Israaa'eel

Let the children of Israel go with us!’”

Qaala alam nurabbika feenaa waleedanw wa labista feenaa min 'umurika sineen

[But when Moses had delivered his message, Pharaoh] said: “Did we not bring thee up among us when thou wert a child? And didst thou not spend among us years of thy [later] life?

Wa fa'alta fa'latakal latee fa'alta wa anta minal kaafireen

And yet thou didst commit that [heinous] deed of thine, and [hast thus shown that] thou art one of the ingrate!”

Qaala fa'altuhaaa izanw wa ana minad daaaleen

Replied [Moses]: “I committed it while I was still going astray;

Fafarartu minkum lam maa khiftukum fawahaba lee Rabbee hukmanw wa ja'alanee minal mursaleen

and I fled from you because I feared you. But [since] then my Sustainer has endowed me with the ability to judge [between right and wrong], and has made me one of [His] message-­bearers.

Wa tilka ni'matun tamun nuhaa 'alaiya an 'abbatta Baneee Israaa'eel

And [as for] that favour of which thou so tauntingly remindest me - [was it not] due to thy having enslaved the children of Israel?”

Qaala Fir'awnu wa maa Rabbul 'aalameen

Said Pharaoh: “And what [and who] is that ‘Sustainer of all the worlds’?”

Qaala Rabbus samaawaati wal ardi wa maa bainahumaa in kuntum mooqineen

[Moses] answered: “[He is] the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them: if you would but [allow yourselves to] be convinced!”

Qaala liman hawlahooo alaa tastami'oon

Said [Pharaoh] unto those around him: “Did you hear [what he said]?”

Qaala Rabbukum wa Rabbu aabaaa'ikumul awwaleen

[And Moses] continued: “[He is] your Sus­tainer, [too,] as well as the Sustainer of your fore­fathers of old!”

Qaala inna Rasoolakumul lazee ursila ilaikum lamajnoon

[Pharaoh] exclaimed: “Behold, [this] your ‘apostle’ who [claims that he] has been sent unto you is mad indeed!

Qaala Rabbul mashriqi wal maghribi wa maa baina humaa in kuntum ta'qiloon

[But Moses] went on: “[He of whom I speak is] the Sustainer of the east and the west and of all that is between the two”- as you would know] if you would but use your reason!”

Qaala la'init takhazta ilaahan ghairee la aj'alannaka minal masjooneen

Said [Pharaoh]: “Indeed, if thou choose to worship any deity other than me, I shall most cer­tainly throw thee into prison!

Qaala awalw ji'tuka bishai'im mubeen

Said he: “Even if I should bring about before thee something that clearly shows the truth?”

Qaala faati biheee in kunta minas saadiqeen

[Pharaoh] answered: “Produce it, then, if thou art a man of truth!”

Fa alqaa 'asaahu fa izaaa hiya su'baanum mubeen

Thereupon [Moses] threw down his staff - and lo! it was a serpent, plainly visible;

Wa naza'a yadahoo faizaa hiya baidaaa'u linnaa zireen

and he drew forth his hand - and lo! it appeared [shining] white to the beholders.

Qaala lilmala-i hawlahooo inna haazaa lasaahirun 'aleem

Said [pharaoh] unto the great ones around him: “Verily, this is indeed a sorcerer of great knowledge

Yureedu ai yukhrijakum min ardikum bisihrihee famaazaa taamuroon

who wants to drive you out of your land by his sorcery. What, then, do you advise?”

Qaalooo arjih wa akhaahu wab'as filmadaaa'ini haashireen

They answered: “Let him and his brother wait a while, and send unto all cities heralds

Yaatooka bikulli sah haarin 'aleem

who shall assemble before thee all sorcerers of great knowl­edge”

Fa jumi'as saharatu limeeqaati Yawmim ma'loom

And so the sorcerers were assembled at a set time on a certain day,

Wa qeela linnaasi hal antum mujtami'oon

and the people were asked: Are you all present,

La'allanaa nattabi'us saharata in kaanoo humul ghaalibeen

so that we might follow [in the footsteps of] the sorcerers if it is they who prevail?”

Falammaa jaaa'as saharatu qaaloo li Fir'awna a'inna lanaa la ajjran in kunnaa nahnul ghaalibeen

Now when the sorcerers came, they said unto Pharaoh: “Verily, we ought to have a great reward if it is we who prevail.

Qaala na'am wa innakum izal laminal muqarrabeen

Answered he: “Yea - and, verily, in that case you shall be among those who are near unto me.

Qaala lahum Moosaaa alqoo maaa antum mulqoon

[And] Moses said unto them: “Throw whatever you are going to throw!”

Fa alqaw hibaalahum wa 'isiyyahum wa qaaloo bi'izzati Fir'awna innaa lanahnul ghaaliboon

Thereupon they threw their [magic ropes and their staffs, and said: “By Pharaoh’s might, behold, it is we indeed who have prevailed!”

Fa alqaa Moosaa 'asaahu fa izaa hiya talqafu maa yaafikoon

[But] then Moses threw his staff - and lo! it swallowed up all their deceptions.

Fa ulqiyas saharatu saajideen

And down fell the sorcerers, prostrating them­selves in adoration,

Qaalooo aamannaa bi Rabbil 'aalameen

[and] exclaimed: “We have come to believe in the Sustainer of all the worlds,

Rabbi Moosaa wa Haaroon

the Sustainer of Moses and Aaron!”

Qaala aamantum lahoo qabla an aazana lakum innahoo lakabeerukumul lazee 'alla makumus sihra falasawfa ta'lamoon; la uqatti'anna aidiyakum wa arjulakum min khilaafinw wa la usallibanna kum ajma'een

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 in time you shall come to know [my revenge]: most certainly shall I cut off your hands and your feet in great numbers, because of [your] perverseness, and shall most certainly crucify you in great numbers, all together!”

Qaaloo la daira innaaa ilaa Rabbinaa munqalliboon

They answered: “No harm [canst thou do to us]: verily, unto our Sustainer do we turn!

Innaa natma'u ai yaghfira lanaa Rabbunna khataa yaanaaa an kunnaaa awwalal mu'mineen

Behold, we [but] ardently desire that our Sustainer forgive us our faults in return for our having been foremost among the believers!”

Wa awhainaaa ilaa Moosaaa an asri bi'ibaadeee innakum muttaba'oon

AND [there came a time when] We inspired Moses thus: “Go forth with My servants by night: for, behold, you will he pursued!”

Fa arsala Fir'awnu filmadaaa'ini haashireen

And Pharaoh sent heralds unto all cities,

Inna haaa'ulaaa'i lashir zimatun qaleeloon

[bidding them to call out his troops and to proclaim:] “Behold, these [children of Israel] are but a contemptible band;

Wa innahum lanaa laghaaa'izoon

but they are indeed filled with hatred of us

Wa innaa lajamee'un haaziroon

seeing that we are, verily, a nation united, fully prepared against danger –

Fa akhrajnaahum min Jannaatinw wa 'uyoon

and so we have [rightly] driven them out of [their] gardens and springs,

Wa kunoozinw wa ma qaamin kareem

and [deprived them of their erstwhile] station of honour!”

Kazaalika wa awrasnaahaa Baneee Israaa'eel

Thus it was: but [in the course of time] We were to bestow all these [things] as a heritage on the children of Israel.

Fa atba'oohum mushriqeen

And so [the Egyptians] caught up with them at sunrise;

Falammaa taraaa'al jam'aani qaala as haabu Moosaaa innaa lamudrakoon

and as soon as the two hosts came in sight of one another, the followers of Moses exclaimed: “Behold, we shall certainly be overtaken [and defeated]!”

Qaala kallaaa inna ma'iya Rabbee sa yahdeen

He replied: Nay indeed! My Sustainer is with me, [and] He will guide me!”

Fa awhainaaa ilaa Moosaaa anidrib bi'asaakal bahra fanfalaqa fakaana kullu firqin kattawdil 'azeem

Thereupon We inspired Moses thus: Strike the sea with thy staff!”- whereupon it parted, and each part appeared like a mountain vast.

Wa azlafnaa sammal aakhareen

And We caused the pursuers to draw near unto that place:

Wa anjainaa Moosaa wa mam ma'ahooo ajma'een

and We saved Moses and all who were with him,

Summa aghraqnal aakhareen

and then We caused the others to drown.

Inna fee zaalika la Aayaah; wa maa kaana aksaru hu mu'mineen

In this [story] behold, there is a message [unto all men], even though most of them will not believe [in it].

Wa inna Rabbaka la Huwal 'Azeezur Raheem

And yet, verily, thy Sustainer - He alone - is almighty, a dispenser of grace!

Watlu 'alaihim naba-a Ibraaheem

And convey unto them the story of Abraham –

Iz qaala li abeehi wa qawmihee maa ta'budoon

[how it was] when he asked his father and his people, “What is it that you worship?”

Qaaloo na'budu asnaaman fanazallu lahaa 'aakifeen

They answered: We worship idols, and we remain ever devoted to them.”

Qaala hal yasma'oona kum iz tad'oon

Said he: “Do [you really think that] they hear you when you invoke them,

Aw yanfa'oonakum aw yadurroon

or benefit you or do you harm?”

Qaaloo bal wajadnaaa aabaaa 'anaa kazaalika yaf'aloon

They exclaimed: But we found our fore­fathers doing the same!”

Qaala afara 'aitum maa kuntum ta'budoon

Said [Abraham]: “Have you, then, ever con­sidered what it is that you have been worshipping

Antum wa aabaaa'ukumul aqdamoon

you and those ancient forebears of yours?

Fa innahum 'aduwwwul leee illaa Rabbal 'aalameen

“Now [as for me, I know that,] verily, these [false deities] are my enemies, [and that none is my helper] save the Sustainer of all the worlds,

Allazee khalaqanee fa Huwa yahdeen

who has created me and is the One who guides me,

Wallazee Huwa yut'imunee wa yasqeen

and is the One who gives me to eat and to drink,

Wa izaa mardtu fahuwa yashfeen

and when I fall ill, is the One who restores me to health,

Wallazee yumeetunee summa yuhyeen

and who will cause me to die and then will bring me back to life –

Wallazeee atma'u ai yaghfira lee khateee' atee Yawmad Deen

and who, [hope, will forgive me my faults on Judgment Day!

Rabbi hab lee hukmanw wa alhiqnee bis saaliheen

“O my Sustainer! Endow me with the ability to judge [between right and wrong], and make me one with the righteous,

Waj'al lee lisaana sidqin fil aakhireen

and grant me the power to convey the truth unto those who will come after me,

Waj'alnee minw warasati Jannnatin Na'eem

and place me among those who shall inherit the garden of bliss!

Waghfir li abeee innahoo kaana mind daalleen

“And forgive my father - for, verily, he is among those who have gone astray –

Wa laa tukhzinee Yawma yub'asoon

and do not put me to shame on the Day when all shall be raised from the dead:

Yawma laa yanfa'u maalunw wa laa banoon

the Day on which neither wealth will be of any use, nor children,

Illaa man atal laaha biqalbin saleem

[and when] only he [will be happy] who comes before God with a heart free of evil!”

Wa uzlifatil Jannatu lilmuttaqeen

For, [on that Day,] paradise will be brought within sight of the God-conscious,

Wa burrizatil Jaheemu lilghaaween

whereas the blazing fire will be laid open before those who had been lost in grievous error;

Wa qeela lahum aina maa kuntum ta'budoon

and they will be asked: “Where now is all that you were wont to worship

Min doonil laahi hal yansuroonakum aw yantasiroon

instead of God? Can these [things and beings] be of any help to you or to themselves?”

Fakubkiboo feehaa hum walghaawoon

Thereupon they will be hurled into hell – they, as well as all [others] who had been lost in grievous error,

Wa junoodu Ibleesa ajma'oon

and the hosts of Iblis - all together.

Qaaloo wa hum feehaa yakkhtasimoon

And there and then, blaming one another, they [who had grievously sinned in life] will exclaim:

Tallaahi in kunnaa lafee dalaalim mubeen

“By God, we were most obviously astray

Iz nusawweekum bi Rabbil 'aalameen

when we deemed you [false deities] equal to the Sustainer of all the worlds –

Wa maaa adallanaaa illal mujrimoon

yet they who have seduced us [into believing in you] are the truly guilty ones!

Famaa lanaa min shaa fi'een

And now we have none to intercede for us,

Wa laa sadeeqin hameem

nor any loving friend.

Falaw anna lanaa karratan fanakoona minal mu'mineen

Would that we had a second chance [in life], so that we could be among the believers!”

Inna fee zaalika la Aayatanw wa maa kaana aksaruhum mu'mineen

In all this, behold, there is a message [unto men], even though most of them will not believe [in it].

Wa inna Rabbaka la Huwal 'Azeezur Raheem

But, verily, thy Sustainer - He alone - is almighty, a dispenser of grace!

Kazzabat qawmu Noohinil Mursaleen

The people of Noah [too] gave the lie to [one of God’s] message-bearers

Iz qaala lahum akhoohum Noohun alaa tattaqoon

when their brother Noah said unto them: “Will you not be conscious of God?

Innee lakum Rasoolun ameen

Behold, I am an apostle [sent by Him] to you, [and therefore] worthy of your trust:

Fattaqullaaha wa atee'oon

be, then, conscious of God, and pay heed unto me!

Wa maaa as'alukum 'alaihi min ajrin in ajriya illaa 'alaa Rabbil 'aalameen

“And no reward whatever do I ask of you for it: my reward rests with none but the Sustainer of all the worlds.

Fattaqul laaha wa atee'oon

Hence, remain conscious of God, and pay heed unto me!”

Qaalooo anu'minu laka wattaba 'akal arzaloon

They answered: “Shall we place our faith in thee, even though [only] the most abject [of people] follow thee?”

Qaala wa maa 'ilmee bimaa kaanoo ya'maloon

Said he: “And what knowledge could I have as to what they were doing [before they came to me]?

In hisaabuhum illaa 'alaa Rabbee law tash'uroon

Their reckoning rests with none but my Sus­tainer: if you could but understand [this]!

Wa maaa ana bitaaridil mu'mineen

Hence, I shall not drive away [any of] those [who profess to be] believers;

In ana illaa nazeerum mubeen

I am nothing but a plain warner.”

Qaaloo la'il lam tantahi yaa Noohu latakoonanna minal marjoomeen

Said they: “Indeed, if thou desist not, O Noah, thou wilt surely be stoned to death!”

Qaala Rabbi inna qawmee kazzaboon

[Whereupon] he prayed: “O my Sustainer! Behold, my people have given me the lie:

Faftab bainee wa bai nahum fat hanw wa najjinee wa mam ma'iya minal mu'mineen

hence, lay Thou wide open the truth between me and them, and save me and those of the believers who are with me!”

Fa anjainaahu wa mamma'ahoo fil fulkil mashhoon

And so We saved him and those [who were] with him in the fully-laden ark,

Summa aghraqnaa ba'dul baaqeen

and then We caused those who stayed behind to drown.

Inna fee zaalika la Aayaah; wa maa kaana aksaruhum mu'mineen

In this [story], behold, there is a message [unto men], even though most of them will not believe [in it].

Wa inna Rabbaka la huwal 'Azeezur Raheem

But, verily, thy Sustainer - He alone - is almighty, a dispenser of grace

Kazzabat 'Aadunil mursaleen

[AND the tribe of] Ad gave the lie to [one of God’s] message-bearers

Iz qaala lahum akhoohum Hoodun alaa tattaqoon

when their brother Hud said unto them: “Will you not be conscious of God?

Innee lakum Rasoolun ameen

Behold, I am an apostle [sent by Him] to you, [and therefore] worthy of your trust:

Fattaqullaaha wa atee'oon

be, then, con­scious of God, and pay heed unto me!

Wa maa as'alukum 'alaihi min ajrin in ajriya illaa 'alaa Rabbil 'aalameen

“And no reward whatever do I ask of you for it: my reward rests with none but the Sustainer of all the worlds.

Atabnoona bikulli ree'in aayatan ta'basoon

“Will you, in your wanton folly, build [idola­trous] altars on every height,

Wa tattakhizoona masaani'a la'allakum takhludoon

and make for yourselves mighty castles, [hoping] that you might become immortal?

Wa izaa batashtum batashtum jabbaareen

And will you [always], whenever you lay hand [on others], lay hand [on them] cruelly, without any restraint?

Fattaqul laaha wa atee'oon

“Be, then, conscious of God and pay heed unto me:

Wattaqul lazeee amad dakum bimaa ta'lamoon

and [thus] be conscious of Him who has [so] amply provided you with all [the good] that you might think of

Amaddakum bi an'aa minw wa baneen

amply provided you with flocks, and children,

Wa jannaatinw wa 'uyoon

and gardens, and springs -:

Innee akhaafu 'alaikum 'azaaba Yawmin 'azeem

for, verily, I fear lest suffering befall you on an awesome day!”

Qaaloo sawaaa'un 'alainaaa awa 'azta am lam takum minal waa'izeen

[But] they answered. “It is all one to us whether thou preachest [something new] or art not of those who [like to] preach.

In haazaaa illaa khuluqul awwaleen

This [religion of ours] is none other than that to which our forebears clung,

Wa maa nahnu bimu 'azzabeen

and we are not going to be chastised [for adhering to it]!”

Fakazzaboohu fa ahlaknaahum; inna fee zaalika la aayah; wa maa kaana aksaruhum mu'mineen

And so they gave him the lie: and thereupon We destroyed them. In this [story], behold, there is a message [unto men], even though most of them will not believe [in it].

Wa inna Rabbaka la huwal 'Azeezur Raheem

But, verily, thy Sustainer - He alone - is almighty, a dispenser of grace!

Kazzabat Samoodul mursaleen

[AND the tribe of] Thamud gave the lie to [one of God’s] message-hearers

Iz qaala lahum akhoohum Saalihun alaa tattaqoon

when their brother Salih said unto them: “Will you not be conscious of God?

Innee lakum Rasoolun ameen

Behold, I am an apostle [sent by Him] to you, [and therefore] worthy of your trust:

Fattaqul laaha wa atee'oon

be, then, conscious of God, and pay heed unto me!

Wa maaa as'alukum 'alaihi min ajrin in ajriya illaa 'alaa Rabbil 'aalameen

“And no reward whatever do I ask of you for it: my reward rests with none but the Sustainer of all the worlds.

Atutrakoona fee maa haahunnaaa aamineen

“Do you think that you will be left secure [forever] in the midst of what you have here and now?

Fee jannaatinw wa 'uyoon

amidst [these] gardens and springs

Wa zuroo inw wa nakhlin tal 'uhaa hadeem

and fields, and [these] palm-trees with slender spathes? –

Wa tanhitoona minal jibaali buyootan faariheen

and that you will [always be able to] hew dwellings out of the mountains with [the same] great skill?”

Fattaqul laaha wa atee'oon

“Be, then, conscious of God, and pay heed unto me,

Wa laa tutee'ooo amral musrifeen

and pay no heed to the counsel of those who are given to excesses –

Allazeena yufsidoona fil ardi wa laa yuslihoon

those who spread corruption on earth instead of setting things to rights!”

Qaalooo innamaa anta minal musahhareen

Said they: “Thou art but one of the be­witched!

Maaa anta illaa basharum mislunaa faati bi Aayatin in kunta minas saadiqeen

Thou art nothing but a mortal like our­selves! Come, then, forward with a token [of thy mission] if thou art a man of truth!”

Qaala haazihee naaqatul lahaa shirbunw w alakum shirbu yawmim ma'loom

Replied he: “This she-camel shall have a share of water, and you shall have a share of water, on the days appointed [therefor];

Wa laa tamassoohaa bisooo'in fa yaakhuzakum 'azaabu Yawmin 'Azeem

and do her no harm, lest suffering befall you on an awesome day!”

Fa'aqaroohaa fa asbahoo naadimeen

But they cruelly slaughtered her - and then they had cause to regret it:

Fa akhazahumul 'azaab; inna fee zaalika la Aayah; wa maa kaana aksaruhum m'mineen

for the suffering [predicted by Salih,] befell them [then and there]. In this [story], behold, there is a message [unto men], even though most of them will not believe [in it].

Wa inna Rabbaka la Huwal 'Azeezur Raheem

But, verily, thy Sustainer - He alone – is almighty, a dispenser of grace!

kazzabat qawmu Lootinil mursaleen

[AND] the people of Lot gave the lie to [one of God’s] message-bearers

Iz qaala lahum akhoohum Lootun alaa tattaqoon

when their brother Lot said unto them: “Will you not be conscious of God?

Innee lakum rasoolun ameen

Behold, I am an apostle [sent by Him] to you, [and therefore] worthy of your trust:

Fattaqul laaha wa atee'oon

be, then, conscious of God, and pay heed unto me!

Wa maaa as'alukum 'alaihi min ajrin in ajriya illaa 'alaa Rabbil 'aalameen

“And no reward whatever do I ask of you for it: my reward rests with none but the Sustainer of all the worlds.

Ataatoonaz zukraana minal 'aalameen

“Must you, of all people, [lustfully] approach men,

Wa tazaroona maa khalaqa lakum Rabbukum min azwaajikum; bal antum qawmun 'aadoon

keeping yourselves aloof from all the [lawful] spouses whom your Sustainer has created for you? Nay, but you are people who transgress all bounds of what is right!”

Qaloo la'il lam tantahi yaa Lootu latakoonanna minal mukhrajeen

Said they: “Indeed, If thou desist not, O Lot, thou wilt most certainly be expelled [from this town­ship]!”

Qaala innee li'amalikum minal qaaleen

[Lot] exclaimed: “Behold, I am one of those who utterly abhor your doings!”

Rabbi najjjinee wa ahlee mimmmaa ya'maloon

[And then he prayed:] “O my Sustainer! Save me and my household from all that they are doing!”

Fanajjainaahu wa ahlahooo ajma'een

Thereupon We saved him and all his household –

Illaa 'ajoozan filghaabireen

all but an old woman, who was among those that stayed behind;

Summa dammarnal aa khareen

and then We utterly destroyed the others,

Wa amtarnaa 'alaihim mataran fasaaa'a matarul munzareen

and rained down upon them a rain [of destruction]: and dire is such rain upon all who let themselves be warned [to no avail]!

Inna fee zaalika la Aayah; wa maa kaana aksaruhum mu'mineen

In this [story], behold, there is a message [unto men], even though most of them will not be­lieve [in it].

Wa inna Rabbaka la Huwal 'Azeezur Raheem

But, verily, thy Sustainer - He alone - is almighty, a dispenser of grace!

Kazzaba As haabul Aykatil mursaleen

[AND] the dwellers of the wooded dales [of Madyan] gave the lie to [one of God’s] message-bearers

Iz qaala lahum Shu'aybun alaa tattaqoon

when their brother Shu’ayb said unto them: “Will you not be conscious of God?

Innee lakum Rasoolun ameen

Behold, I am an apostle [sent by Him] to you, [and therefore] worthy of your trust:

Fattaqul laaha wa atee'oon

be, then, conscious of God, and pay heed unto me!

Wa maaa as'alukum 'alaihi min ajrin in ajriya illaa 'alaa Rabbil 'aalameen

“And no reward whatever do I ask of you for it: my reward rests with none but the Sustainer of all the worlds.

Awful kaila wa laa takoonoo minal mukhsireen

“[Always] give full measure, and be not among those who [unjustly] cause loss [to others];

Wa zinoo bilqistaasil mustaqeem

and [in all your dealings] weigh with a true balance,

Wa laa tabkhasun naasa ashyaaa 'ahum wa laa ta'saw fil ardi mufsideen

and do not deprive people of what is rightfully theirs; and do not act wickedly on earth by spreading corruption,

Wattaqul lazee khalaqakum waljibillatal awwaleen

but be conscious of Him who has created you, just as [He created] those countless generations of old!”

Qaalooo innamaa anta minal musahhareen

Said they: “Thou art but one of the be­witched,

Wa maaa anta illaa basharum mislunaa wa innazunnuka laminal kaazibeen

for thou art nothing but a mortal like ourselves! And, behold, we think that thou art a consummate liar!

Fa asqit 'alainaa kisafam minas samaaa'i in kunta minas saadiqeen

Cause, then, fragments of the sky to fall down upon us, if thou art a man of truth!”

Qaala Rabbeee a'lamu bimaa ta'maloon

Answered [Shu’ayb]: “My Sustainer knows fully well what you are doing.”

Fakazzaboohu fa akhazahum 'azaabu Yawmiz zullah; innahoo kaana 'azaaba Yawmin 'Azeem

But they gave him the lie. And thereupon suffering overtook them on a day dark with shadows: and, verily, it was the suffering of an awesome day!

Inna fee zaalika la Aayah; wa maa kaana aksaruhum mu'mineen

In this [story], behold, there is a message [unto men], even though most of them will not believe [in it].

Wa inna Rabbaka la huwal 'Azeezur Raheem

But, verily, thy Sustainer - He alone - is almighty, a dispenser of grace!

Wa innahoo latanzeelu Rabbil 'aalameen

Now, behold, this [divine writ] has indeed been bestowed from on high by the Sustainer of all the worlds:

Nazala bihir Roohul Ameen

trustworthy divine inspiration has alighted with it from on high

'Alaa qalbika litakoona minal munzireen

upon thy heart, [O Muhammad] so that thou mayest be among those who preach

Bilisaanin 'Arabiyyim mubeen

in the clear Arabic tongue.

Wa innahoo lafee Zuburil awwaleen

And, verily, [the essence of] this [revelation] is indeed found in the ancient books of divine wisdom [as well].

Awalam yakul lahum Aayatan ai ya'lamahoo 'ulamaaa'u Baneee Israaa'eel

Is it not evidence enough for them that [so many] learned men from among the children of Israel have recognized this [as true]?

Wa law nazzalnaahu 'alaa ba'dil a'jameen

But [even] had We bestowed it from on high upon any of the non-Arabs,

Faqara ahoo 'alaihim maa kaanoo bihee mu'mineen

and had he recited it unto them [in his own tongue], they would not have believed in it.

Kazaalika salaknaahu fee quloobil mujrimeen

Thus have We caused this [message] to pass [unheeded] through the hearts of those who are lost in sin:

Laa yu'minoona bihee hattaa yarawul 'azaabal aleem

they will not believe in it till they behold the grievous suffering

Fayaatiyahum baghtatanw wa hum laa yash'uroon

that will come upon them [on resurrection,] all of a sudden, without their being aware [of its approach];

Fa yaqooloo hal nahnu munzaroon

and then they will exclaim, “Could we have a respite?”

Aafabi 'azaabinaa yasta'jiloon

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

Aara'aita im matta'naahum sineen

But hast thou ever considered [this]: If We do allow them to enjoy [this life] for some years,

Summa jaaa'ahum maa kaanoo yoo'adoon

and thereupon that [chastisement] which they were promised befalls them –

Maaa aghnaaa 'anhum maa kaanoo yumaatoo'oon

of what avail to them will be all their past enjoyments?

Wa maaa ahlaknaa min qaryatin illaa lahaa munziroon

And withal, never have We destroyed any community unless it had been warned

Zikraa wa maa kunnaa zaalimeen

and reminded: for, never do We wrong [anyone].

Wa maa tanazzalat bihish Shayaateen

And [this divine writ is such a reminder:] no evil spirits have brought it down:

Wa maa yambaghee lahum wa maa yastatee'oon

for, neither does it suit their ends, nor is it in their power [to impart it to man]:

Innahum 'anis sam'i lama'zooloon

verily, [even] from hearing it are they utterly debarred!

Falaa tad'u ma'al laahi ilaahan aakhara fatakoona minal mu'azzabeen

Hence, [O man,] do not invoke any other deity side by side with God, lest thou find thyself among those who are made to suffer [on Judgment Day].

Wa anzir 'asheeratakal aqrabeen

And warn [whomever thou canst reach, beginning with] thy kinsfolk,

Wakhfid janaahaka limanit taba 'aka minal mu'mineen

and spread the wings of thy tenderness over all of the believers who may follow thee;

Fa in asawka faqul innee bareee'um mimmmaa ta'maloon

but if they disobey thee, say, “I am free of responsibility for aught that you may do!” –

Wa tawakkal alal 'Azeezir Raheem

and place thy trust in the Almighty, the Dispenser of Grace,

Allazee yaraaka heena taqoom

who sees thee when thou standest [alone],

Wa taqallubaka fis saajideen

and [sees] thy behaviour among those who prostrate themselves [before Him]:

Innahoo Huwas Samee'ul 'Aleem

for, verily, He alone is all-hearing, all-knowing!

Hal unabbi'ukum 'alaa man tanazzalush Shayaateen

[And] shall I tell you upon whom it is that those evil spirits descend?

Tanazzalu 'alaa kulli affaakin aseem

They descend upon all sinful self-deceivers

Yulqoonas sam'a wa aksaruhum aaziboon

who readily lend ear [to every falsehood], and most of whom lie to others as well.

Washshu 'araaa'u yattabi 'uhumul ghaawoon

And as for the poets [they, too, are prone to deceive themselves: and so, only] those who are lost in grievous error would follow them.

Alam tara annahum fee kulli waadiny yaheemoon

Art thou not aware that they roam confusedly through all the valleys [of words and thoughts],

Wa annahum yaqooloona ma laa yaf'aloon

and that they [so often] say what they do not do [or feel]?

Illal lazeena aamanoo w a'amilus saalihaati wa zakarul laaha kaseeranw wantasaroo mim ba'di maa zulimoo; wa saya'lamul lazeena zalamooo aiya munqalbiny yanqaliboon

[Most of them are of this kind] save those who have attained to faith, and do righteous deeds, and remember God unceasingly, and defend them­selves [only] after having been wronged, and [trust in God’s promise that] those who are bent on wrong­doing will in time come to know how evil a turn their destinies are bound to take!

Taa-Seeen; tilka Aayaatul Qur-aani wa Kitaabim Mubeen

Ta. Sin. THESE ARE MESSAGES of the Qur’an - a di­vine writ clear in itself and clearly showing the truth:

Hudanw wa bushraa lil mu'mineen

a guidance and a glad tiding to the believers

Allazeena yuqeemoonas Salaata wa yu'toonaz Zakaata wa hum bil Aakhirati hum yooqinoon

who are constant in prayer and spend in charity: for it is they, they who in their innermost are certain of the life to come!

Innal lazeena laa yu'mimoona bil Aakhirati zaiyannaa lahum a'maalahum fahum ya'mahoon

As for those who will not believe in the life to come - behold, goodly have We made their own doings appear unto them, and so they stumble blindly to and fro

Ulaaa'ikal lazeena lahum sooo'ul 'azaabi wa hum fil Aakhirati humul akhsaroon

It is they whom the worst of suffering awaits: for it is they, they who in the life to come shall be the greatest losers!

Wa innaka latulaqqal Qur-aana mil ladun Hakeemin 'Aleem

But [as for thee, O believer,] verily, thou hast received this Qur’an out of the grace of One who is wise, all-knowing.

Iz qaala Moosaa li ahliheee inneee aanastu naaran saaateekum minhaa bikhabarin aw aateekum bishihaabin qabasil la'allakum tastaloon

Lo! [While lost in the desert,] Moses said to his family: “Behold, I perceive a fire [far away]; I may bring you from there some tiding [as to which way we arc to pursue], or bring you [at least] a burning brand so that you might warm yourselves.”

Falammaa jaaa'ahaa noodiya am boorika man finnnnaari wa man hawlahaa wa Subhaanal laahi Rabbil 'aalameen

But when he came close to it, a call was sounded: “Blessed are all who are within [reach of] this fire, and all who are near it! And limitless in His glory is God, the Sustainer of all the worlds!”

Yaa Moosaaa innahooo Anal laahul 'Azeezul Hakeem

[And God spoke thus:] “O Moses! Verily I alone am God, the Almighty, the Wise!”

Wa alqi 'asaak; falammmaa ra aahaa tahtazzu ka annahaa jaaannunw wallaa mudbiranw wa lam yu'aqqib; yaa Moosaa laa takhaf innee laa yakhaafu ladaiyal mursaloon

[And then He said:] “Now throw down thy staff!” But when he saw it move rapidly, as if it were a serpent, he drew back [in terror], and did not [dare to] return. [And God spoke to him again:] O Moses! Fear not - for, behold, no fear need the message-bearers have in My Presence,

Illaa man zalama summa baddala husnam ba'da sooo'in fa innee Ghafoorur Raheem

and neither need anyone who has done wrong and then has replaced the wrong with good: for, verily, I am much-forgiving, a dis­penser of grace!

Wa adkhil yadaka fee jaibika takhruj baidaaa'a min ghairisooo'in feetis'i Aayaatin ilaa Fir'awna wa qawmih; innahum kaanoo qawman faasiqeen

“Now place thy hand into thy bosom: it will come forth [shining] white, without blemish!” [And thou shalt go] with nine [of My] messages unto Pharaoh and his people for, verily, they are people depraved!”

Falammaa jaaa'at hum Aayaatunaa mubsiratan qaaloo haazaa sihrum mubeen

But when Our light-giving messages came unto them, they said, “This is clearly [but] spellbinding deception!”

Wa jahadoo bihaa wastaiqanat haaa anfusuhum zulmanw-wa 'uluwwaa; fanzur kaifa kaana 'aaqibatul mufsideen

- and in their wickedness and self-exaltation they rejected them, although their minds were convinced of their truth: and behold what hap­pened in the end to those spreaders of corruption!

Wa laqad aatainaa Daawooda wa sulaimaana 'ilmaa; wa qaalal hamdu lil laahil lazee faddalanaa 'alaa kaseerim min 'ibaadihil mu'mineen

AND, INDEED, We granted [true] knowledge unto David and Solomon [as well]; and both were wont to say: All praise is due to God, who has [thus] favoured us above many of His believing servants!”

Wa warisa Sulaimaanu Daawooda wa qaala yaaa aiyuhan naasu 'ullimnaa mantiqat tairi wa ooteenaa min kulli shai'in inna haazaa lahuwal fadlul mubeen

And [in this insight] Solomon was [truly] David’s heir; and he would say: “O you people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and have been given [in abundance] of all [good] things: this, behold, is indeed a manifest favour [from God]!”

Wa hushira Sulaimaana junooduhoo minal jinni wal insi wattairi fahum yooza'oon

And [one day] there were assembled before Solomon his hosts of invisible beings, and of men, and of birds; and then they were led forth in orderly ranks,

hattaaa izaaa ataw 'alaa waadin namli qaalat namlatuny yaaa aiyuhan namlud khuloo masaakinakum laa yahtimannakum Sulaimaanu wa junooduhoo wa hum laa yash'uroon

till, when they came upon a valley [full] of ants, an ant exclaimed: “O you ants! Get into your dwellings, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you without [even] being aware [of you]!”

Fatabassama daahikam min qawlihaa wa qaala Rabbi awzi'nee an ashkura ni'mata kal lateee an'amta 'alaiya wa 'alaa waalidaiya wa an a'mala saalihan tardaahu wa adkhilnee birahmatika fee 'ibaadikas saaliheen

Thereupon [Solomon] smiled joyously at her words, and said: “O my Sustainer! Inspire me so that I may forever be grateful for those blessings of Thine with which Thou hast graced me and my parents, and that I may do what is right [in a manner] that will please Thee; and include me, by Thy grace, among Thy righteous servants!”

Wa tafaqqadat taira faqaala maa liya laaa aral hud hud, am kaana minal ghaaa'ibeen

And [one day] he looked in vain for [a parti­cular one of] the birds; and so he said: How is it that I do not see the hoopoe? Or could he be among the absent?

La-u'azzibanahoo 'azaaban shadeedan aw la azbahannahoo aw layaatiyannee bisultaanim mubeen

[If so,] I will punish him most severely or will kill him unless he bring me a convincing excuse!”

Famakasa ghaira ba'eedin faqaala ahattu bimaa lam tuhit bihee wa ji'tuka min Sabaim binaba iny-yaqeen

But [the hoopoe] tarried but a short while; and [when it came] it said: “I have encompassed [with my knowledge] something that thou hast never yet encompassed [with thine] - for I have come to thee from Sheba with a tiding sure!

Innee wajattum ra atan tamlikuhum wa ootiyat min kulli shai'inw wa lahaa 'arshun 'azeem

“Behold, I found there a woman ruling over them; and she has been given [abundance] of all [good] things, and hers is a mighty throne,

Wajattuhaa wa qawmahaa yasjudoona lishshamsi min doonil laahi wa zaiyana lahumush Shaitaanu a'maalahum fasaddahum 'anis sabeeli fahum laa yahtadoon

And I found her and her people adoring the sun instead of God; and Satan has made these doings of theirs seem goodly to them, and [thus] has barred them from the path [of God], so that they cannot find the right way:

Allaa yasjudoo lillaahil lazee yukhrijul khab'a fis samaawaati wal ardi wa ya'lamu maa tukhfoona wa maa tu'linoon

[for they have come to believe] that they ought not to adore God [although it is He] who brings forth all that is hidden in the heavens and on earth, and knows all that you would conceal as well as all that you bring into the open:

Allaahu laaa ilaaha illaa Huwa Rabbul 'Arshil Azeem

God, save whom there is no deity - the Sustainer, in awesome almightiness enthroned!”

Qaala sananzuru asadaqta am kunta minal kaazibeen

Said [Solomon]: “We shall see whether thou hast told the truth or art one of the liars!

Izhab bikitaabee haaza fa alqih ilaihim summma tawalla 'anhum fanzur maazaa yarji'oon

Go with this my letter and convey it to them; and thereafter withdraw from them and see what [answer] they return.”

Qaalat yaaa aiyuhal mala'u innee ulqiya ilaiya kitaabun kareem

[When the Queen had read Solomon’s letter,] she said: “O you nobles! A truly distinguished letter has been conveyed unto me.

Innahoo min Sulaimaana wa innahoo bismil laahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Behold, it is from Solomon, and it says, ‘In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Dispenser of Grace:

Allaa ta'loo 'alaiya waa toonee muslimeen

[God says:] Exalt not yourselves against Me, but come unto Me in willing surrender!’”

Qaalat yaaa aiyuhal mala'u aftoonee fee amree maa kuntu qaati'atan amran hattaa tashhhaddon

She added: “O you nobles! Give me your opinion on the problem with which I am now faced; I would never make a [weighty] decision unless you are present with me.”

Qaaloo nahnu uloo quwwatinw wa uloo baasin shadeed; wal amru ilaiki fanzuree maazaa taamureen

They answered: “We are endowed with power and with mighty prowess in war - but the command is thine; consider, then, what thou wouldst command.”

Qaalat innal mulooka izaa dakhaloo qaryatan afsadoohaa wa ja'alooo a'izzata ahlihaaa azillah; wa kazaalika yaf'aloon

Said she: “Verily, whenever kings enter a country they corrupt it, and turn the noblest of its people into the most abject. And this is the way they [always] behave?

Wa innee mursilatun ilaihim bihadiyyatin fanaaziratum bima yarji'ul mursaloon

Hence, behold, I am going to send a gift to those [people], and await whatever [answer] the envoys bring back.”

Falammaa jaaa'a Sulaimaana qaala atumiddoonani bimaalin famaaa aataakum bal antum bihadiy yatikum tafrahoon

Now when [the Queen’s messenger] came unto Solomon, he said: “Do you people mean to add to my wealth? But that which God has given me is [so much] better than all that He has given you! Nay, it is [only such as] you that would rejoice in this gift of yours!

Irji' ilaihim falanaatiyan nahum bijunoodil laa qibala lahum bihaa wa lanukhri jannahum minhaaa azillatanw wa hum saaghiroon

“Go thou back unto them [that have sent thee]! For, [God says:] ‘We shall most certainly come upon them with forces which they will never be able to withstand, and shall most certainly cause them to be driven from that [land of theirs], despicable and humbled!’”

Qaala yaaa aiyuhal mala'u aiyukum yaateenee bi'arshihaa qabla ai yaatoonee muslimeen

[When Solomon learned that the Queen of Sheba was coming,] he said [to his council]: “O you nobles! Which of you can bring me her throne ere she and her followers come unto me in willing surrender to God?”

Qaala 'ifreetum minal jinni ana aateeka bihee qabla an taqooma mim maqaamika wa innee 'alaihi laqawiyyun ameen

Said a bold one of the invisible beings [subject to Solomon]: “I shall bring it to thee ere thou rise from thy council-seat - for, behold, I am powerful enough to do it, [and] worthy of trust!”

Qaalal lazee indahoo 'ilmum minal Kitaabi ana aateeka bihee qabla ai yartadda ilaika tarfuk; falammaa ra aahu mustaqirran 'indahoo qaala haazaa min fadli Rabbee li yabluwaneee 'a-ashkuru am akfuru wa man shakara fa innamaa yashkuru linafsihee wa man kafara fa inna Rabbee Ghaniyyun Kareem

Answered he who was illumined by revela­tion: “[Nay,] as for me - I shall bring it to thee ere the twinkling of thy eye ceases!” And when he saw it truly before him, he exclaimed: “This is [an outcome] of my Sustainer’s bounty, to test me as to whether I am grateful or ungrateful! However, he who is grateful [to God] is but grateful for his own good; and he who is ungrate­ful [should know that], verily, my Sustainer is self-sufficient, most generous in giving!”

Qaala nakkiroo lahaa 'arshahaa nanzur atahtadeee am takoonu minal lazeena laa yahtadoon

[And] he continued: Alter her throne so that she may not know it as hers: let us see whether she allows herself to be guided [to the truth] or remains one of those who will not be guided.”

Falammaa jaaa'at qeela ahaakaza 'arshuki qaalat kaanna hoo; wa ooteenal 'ilma min qablihaa wa kunnaa muslimeen

And so, as soon as she arrived, she was asked: “Is thy throne like this?” She answered: “It is as though it were the same!” [And Solomon said to his nobles: “She has arrived at the truth without any help from us,] although it is we who have been given [divine] knowledge before her, and have [long ago] surrendered ourselves unto God!

Wa saddahaa maa kaanat ta'budu min doonil laahi innahaa kaanat min qawmin kaafireen

[And she has recognized the truth] although that which she has been wont to worship instead of God had kept her away [from the right path]: for, behold, she is descended of people who deny the truth!”

Qeela lahad khulis sarha falammaa ra at hu hasibat hu lujjatanw wa khashafat 'an saaqaihaa; qaala innahoo sarhum mumarradum min qawaareer; qaalat Rabbi innee zalamtu nafsee wa aslamtu ma'a Sulaimaana lillaahi Rabbil 'aalameen

[After a while] she was told: “Enter this court!” - but when she saw it, she thought that it was a fathomless expanse of water, and she bared her legs. Said he: “Behold, it is [but] a court smoothly paved with glass!” Cried she: “O my Sustainer! I have been sinning against myself thy worshipping aught but Thee]: but [now] I have surrendered myself, with Solomon, unto the Sustainer of all the worlds!”

Wa laqad arsalnaaa ilaa Samoda akhaahum Saalihan ani'budul lahha fa izaa hum fareeqaani yakhtasimoon

AND [likewise], indeed, We sent unto [the tribe of] Thamud their brother Salih [with this message]: “Worship God alone!” and, behold, they were [split into] two factions contending with one another.

Qaala yaa qawmi lima tasta'jiloona bissaiyi'ati qablal hasanati law laa tas taghfiroonal laaha la'allakum turhamoon

Said [Salih to the erring ones]: Why do you seek to hasten the coming upon you of evil instead of hoping for the good?” Why do you not, rather, ask God to forgive you your sins, so that you might be graced with His mercy?”

Qaalut taiyarnaa bika wa bimam ma'ak; qaala taaa'irukum 'indal laahi bal antum qawmun tuftanoon

They answered: “We augur evil from thee and those that follow thee!” Said he: “Your destiny, good or evil, rests with God yea, you are people undergoing a test!”

Wa kaana fil madeenati tis'atu rahtiny yufsidoona fil ardi wa laa yuslihoon

Now there were in the city nine men who were wont to commit deeds of depravity all over the land, and would not reform;

Qaaloo taqaasamoo billaahi lanubaiyitannahoo wa ahlahoo summaa lanaqoolana liwaliy yihee maa shahidnaa mahlika ahliee wa innaa lasaadiqoon

[and] after having bound one another by an oath in God’s name, they said: “Indeed, we shall suddenly fall upon him and his household by night [and slay them all]; and then we shall boldly say to his next of kin, ‘We did not witness the destruction of his household - and, behold, we are indeed men of truth!’”

Wa makaroo makranw wa makarnaa makranw wa hum laa yash'uroon

And so they devised an evil scheme; but We devised a subtle scheme (of Our own), and they perceived it not.

Fanzur kaifa kaana 'aaqibatu makrihim annaa dammar naahum wa qawmahum ajma'een

Behold, then, what all their scheming came to in the end: We utterly destroyed them and their people, all of them;

Fatilka buyootuhum khaa wiyatam bimaa zalamoo; inna fee zaalika la Aayatal liqaw miny-ya'lamoon

and [now] those dwellings of theirs are empty, [ruined] as an outcome of their evil deeds. In this, behold, there is a message indeed for peo­ple of [innate] knowledge –

Wa anjainal lazeena aamanoo wa kaanoo yattaqoon

seeing that We saved those who had attained to faith and were conscious of Us,

Wa lootan iz qaala liqawmiheee ataatoonal faa hishata wa antum qawmun tajjhaloon

AND [thus, too, did We save] Lot, when he said unto his people: “Would you commit this abomination with your eyes open (to its being against all nature)?

A'innakum lataatoonar rijaala shahwatam min doonin nisaaa'; bal antum qawmun tajhaloon

Must you really approach men with lust instead of women? Nay, but you are people without any awareness (of right and wrong)!”