Al-Hijr

Alif-Laaam-Raa; tilka Aayaatul Kitaabi wa Qur-aa-nim Mubeen

Alif. Lam. Ra. THESE ARE MESSAGES of revelation -of a discourse clear in itself and clearly showing the truth.

Rubamaa yawaddul lazeena kafaroo law kaanoo muslimeen

And it will come to pass that those who are [now] bent on denying this truth will wish that they had surrendered themselves to God [in their life time].

Zarhum yaakuloo wa tatamatta'oo wa yulhihimul amalu fasawfa ya'lamoon

Leave them alone; let them eat and enjoy themselves the while the hope [of vain delights] be guiles them: for in time they will come to know [the truth].

Wa maaa ahlaknaa min qaryatin illaa wa lahaa kitaabum ma'loom

And never have We destroyed any community [for its wrongdoing] unless a divine writ had (previously] been made known to it;

Maa tasbiqu min ummatin ajalahaa wa maa yastaakhiroon

[but remember that] no community can ever forestall [the end of] its term - and neither can they delay [it].

Wa qaaloo yaaa aiyuhal lazee nuzzila 'alaihiz Zikru innaka lamajnoon

And yet, they [who deny the truth] say: "O thou unto whom this reminder has [allegedly] been bestowed from on high: verily, thou art mad!

Law maa taateenaa bil malaaa'ikati in kunta minas saadiqeen

Why dost thou not bring before us angels, if thou art a man of truth?

Maa nunazzilul malaaa'i kata illaa bilhaqqi wa maa kaanooo izam munzareen

[Yet] We never send down angels otherwise than in accordance with the [demands of] truth; and [were the angels to appear now,] lo! they [who reject this divine writ] would have no further respite!

Innaa Nahnu nazalnaz Zikra wa Innaa lahoo lahaa fizoon

Behold, it is We Ourselves who have bestowed from on high, step by step, this reminder? and, behold, it is We who shall truly guard it [from all corruption].

Wa laqad arsalnaa min qablika fee shiya'il awwaleen

AND, INDEED, [O Prophet,] even before thy time did We send [Our apostles] unto communities of old -

Wa maa yaateehim mir Rasoolin illaa kaanoo bihee yastahzi'oon

and never yet came an apostle to them without their deriding him.

kazaalika naslukuhoo fee quloobil mujrimeen

Even so do We [now] cause this [scorn of Our message] to pervade the hearts of those who are lost in sin,

Laa yu'minoona bihee wa qad khalat sunnatul awwaleen

who do not believe in it, although the way which those [evildoers] of olden times had to go has long been within their ken.

Wa law fatahnaa 'alaihim baabam minas samaaa'i fazaloo feehi ya'rujoon

Yet even had We opened to them a gateway to heaven and they had ascended, on and on, up to it,

Laqaaloo innamaa sukkirat absaarunaa bal nahnu qawmum mashooroon

they would surely have said, "It is only our eyes that are spellbound! Nay, we have been bewitched!,

Wa laqad ja'alnaa fissamaaa'i buroojanw wa zaiyannaahaa linnaazireen

AND, INDEED, We have set up in the heavens great constellations, and endowed them with beauty for all to behold;

Wa hafiznaahaa min kulli Shaitaanir rajeem

and We have made them secure against every satanic force accursed -

Illaa manis taraqas sam'a fa atba'ahoo shihaabum mubeen

so that anyone who seeks to learn [the unknowable] by stealth is pursued by a flame clear to see.

Wal arda madadnaahaa wa alqainaa feehaa rawaasiya wa ambatnaa feehaa min kulli shai'im mawzoon

And the earth -We have spread it out wide, and placed on it mountains firm, and caused [life] of every kind to grow on it in a balanced manner,

Wa ja'alnaa lakum feehaa ma'aayisha wa mal lastum lahoo biraaziqeen

and provided thereon means of livelihood for you [O men] as well as for all [living beings] whose sustenance does not depend on you.

Wa im min shai'in illaa 'indanaa khazaaa 'inuhoo wa maa nunazziluhooo illaa biqadarim ma'loom

For, no single thing exists that does not have its source with Us; and nought do We bestow from on high unless it be in accordance with a measure well-defined.

Wa arsalnar riyaaha la waaqiha fa anzalnaa minas samaaa'i maaa'an fa asqai naakumoohu wa maaa antum lahoo bikhaazineen

And We let loose the winds to fertilize [plants] and We send down water from the skies and let you drink thereof: and it is not you who dispose of its source-

Wa innnaa la nahnu nuhyee wa numeetu wa nahnul waarisoon

for, behold, it is We-We alone -who grant life and deal death, and it is We alone who shall remain after all else will have passed away!

Wa la qad 'alimnal mustaqdimeena minkum wa laqad 'alimnal mustaakhireen

And well do We know [the hearts and deeds of all human beings - both] those who lived before you and those who will come after you;

Wa inna Rabbaka Huwa yahshuruhum; innahoo Hakeem 'Aleem

and, behold, it is thy Sustainer who will gather them all together [on Judgment Day]: verily, He is wise, all-knowing!

Wa laqad khalaqnal insaana min salsaalim min hama im masnoon

AND, INDEED, We have created man out of sounding clay, out of dark-slime transmuted

Waljaaanna khalaqnaahu min qablu min naaris samoom

whereas the invisible beings We had created, [long] before that, out of the fire of scorching winds.

Wa iz qaala Rabbuka lilmalaaa' ikati innee khaaliqum basharam min salsaalim min hama im masnoon

And lo! Thy Sustainer said unto the angels: "Behold, I am about to create mortal man out of sounding clay, out of dark slime transmuted;

Fa izaa sawwaituhoo wa nafakhtu feehi mir roohee faqa'oo lahoo saajideen

and when I have formed him fully and breathed into him of My spirit, fall down before him in prostration!

Fasajadal malaaa'ikatu kulluhum ajma'oon

Thereupon the angels prostrated themselves, all of them together,

Illaaa ibleesa abaaa ai yakoona ma'as saajideen

save Iblis: he refused to be among those who prostrated themselves.

Qaala yaaa Ibleesu maa laka allaa takoona ma'as saajideen

Said He: "O Iblis! What is thy reason for not being among those who have prostrated themselves?"

Qaala lam akul li asjuda libasharin khalaqtahoo min salsaalim min hama im masnoon

[Iblis] replied: "It is not for me to prostrate myself before mortal man whom Thou hast created out of sounding clay, out of dark slime transmuted!"

Qaala fakhruj minhaa fa innaka rajeem

Said He: "Go forth, then, from this [angelic state]: for, behold, thou art [henceforth] accursed,

Wa inna 'alikal la'nata ilaa Yawmid Deen

and [My] rejection shall be thy due until the Day of Judgment!"

Qaala Rabbi fa anzirneee ilaa Yawmi yub'asoon

Said [Iblis]: "Then, O my Sustainer, grant me a respite till the Day when all shall be raised from the dead!"

Qaala fa innaka minal munzareen

Answered He: "Verily, so be it: thou shalt be among those who are granted respite

Ilaa Yawmil waqtil ma'loom

till the Day the time whereof is known [to Me alone]."

Qaala Rabbi bimaaa aghwaitanee la uzayyinaana lahum fil ardi wa la ughwiyan nahum ajma'een

[Whereupon Iblis] said: "O my Sustainer! Since Thou hast thwarted me, I shall indeed make [all that is evil] on earth seem goodly to them, and shall most certainly beguile them-into grievous error -

Illaa 'ibaadaka minhumul mukhlaseen

[all] save such of them as are truly Thy servants!"

Qaala haaza Siraatun 'alaiya Mustaqeem

Said He: "This is, with Me. a straight way:

Inna 'ibaadee laisa laka 'alaihim sultaanun illaa manittaba'aka minal ghaaween

verily, thou shalt have no power over My creatures- unless it be such as are [already] lost in grievous error and follow thee [of their own will]:

Wa inna jahannama lamaw'iduhum ajma'een

and for all such, behold, hell is the promised goal.

Lahaa sab'atu abwaab; likulli baabim minhum juz'um maqsoom

with seven gates leading into it, each gate receiving its allotted share of sinners. -

Innal muttaqeena fee Jannaatinw wa 'uyoon

VERILY, those who are conscious of God [shall find themselves in the hereafter] amidst gardens and springs,

Udkhuloohaa bisalaamin aamineen

[having been received with the greeting,] "Enter here in peace, secure!"

Wa naza'naa ma fee sudoorihim min ghillin ikhwaanan 'alaa sururim mutaqaabileen

And [by then] We shall have removed whatever unworthy thoughts or feelings may have been [lingering] in their breasts, [and they shall rest] as brethren, facing one another [in love] upon thrones of happiness.

Laa yamas suhum feehaa nasabunw wa maa hum minhaa bimukhrajeen

No weariness shall ever touch them in this [state of bliss], and never shall they have to forgo it.

Nabbi' 'ibaadeee annneee anal Ghafoorur Raheem

Tell My servants that I - I alone - am truly forgiving, a true dispenser of grace;

Wa anna 'azaabee uwal 'azaabul aleem

and [also,] that the suffering which I shall impose [on sinners] will indeed be a suffering most grievous.

Wa nabbi'hum 'an daifi Ibraaheem

AND TELL THEM [once again] about Abraham's guests -

Iz dakhaloo 'alaihi faqaaloo salaaman qaala innaa minkum wajiloon

[how,] when they presented themselves before him and bade him peace, he answered: "Behold, we are afraid of you!"

Qaaloo la tawjal innaa nubashshiruka bighulaamin 'aleem

Said they: "Fear not! Behold, we bring thee the glad tiding of [the birth of] a son who will be endowed with deep knowledge."

Qaala abashshartumoonee 'alaaa am massaniyal kibaru fabima tubashshiroon

Said he: "Do you give me this glad tiding despite the fact that old age has overtaken me? Of what [strange thing], then, are you giving me a tiding!"

Qaaloo bashsharnaaka bilhaqqi falaa takum minal qaaniteen

They answered: "We have given thee the glad tiding of something that is bound to come true. - so be not of those who abandon hope!"

Qaala wa mai yaqnatu mir rahmati Rabbiheee illad daaaloon

[Abraham] exclaimed: "And who-other than those who have utterly lost their way-could ever abandon the hope of his Sustainer's grace?"

Qaala famaa khatbukum aiyuhal mursaloon

He added: "And what [else] may you have in view, O you [heavenly] messengers?"

Qaaloo innaaa ursilnaaa ilaa qawmim mujrimeen

They answered: "We are sent to people lost in sin [who are to be destroyed],

Illaaa Aala Loot; innaa lamunajjoohum ajma'een

barring Lot's household, all of whom, behold, we shall save -

Illam ra atahoo qaddarnaaa innahaa laminal ghaabireen

excepting only his wife, [of whom God says,] `We have ordained [that], behold, she should be among those who stay behind!'

Falamma jaaa'a Aala Lootinil mursaloon

AND WHEN the messengers [of God] came to the house of Lot,

Qaala innakum qawmum munkaroon

he said: "Behold, you are people unknown [here]!"

Qaaloo bal ji'naaka bimaa kaanoo feehi yamtaroon

They answered: "Nay, but we have come unto thee with [the announcement of] something that they [who are given to evil] have always been wont to call in question,

Wa atainaaka bilhaqqi wa innaa lasaadiqoon

and we are bringing thee the certainty [of its fulfilment]: for, behold, we are speaking the truth indeed.

Fa asri bi ahlika biqit'im minal laili wattabi' adbaarahum wa laa yaltafit minkum ahadunw wamdoo haisu tu'maroon

Go, then., with thy household while it is yet night, with thyself following them in the rear; and let none of you look back, but proceed whither you are bidden."

Wa qadainaaa ilaihi zaalikal amra anna daabira haaa'ulaaa'i maqtoo'um musbiheen

And [through Our messengers] We revealed unto him this decree: "The last remnant of those [sinners] shall be wiped out" in the morn."

Wa jaaa'a ahlul madeenati yastabshiroon

And the people of the city came [unto Lot], rejoicing at the glad tiding.

Qaala inna haaa'ulaaa'i daifee falaa tafdahoon

Exclaimed [Lot]: "Behold, these are my guests: so put me not to shame,

Wattaqul laaha wa laa tukhzoon

but be conscious of God and disgrace me not!"

Qaalooo awalam nanhaka 'anil 'aalameen

They answered: "Have we not forbidden thee [to offer protection] to any kind of people?"

Qaala haaa'ulaaa'i banaateee in kuntum faa'ileen

[Lot] said: "[Take instead] these daughters of mine, if you must do [whatever you intend to do]!"

La'amruka innahum lafee sakratihim ya'mahoon

[But the angels spoke thus:] "As thou livest, [O Lot, they will not listen to thee:] behold, in their delirium [of lust] they are but blindly stumbling to and fro!"

Fa akhazat humus saihatu mushriqeen

And thereupon the blast [of Our punishment] overtook them at the time of sunrise,

Faja'alnaa 'aaliyahaa saafilahaa wa amtamaa 'alaihim hijaaratam min sjijjeel

and We turned those [sinful towns} upside down, and rained down upon them stone-hard blows of chastisement pre-ordained.

Inna fee zaalika la Aayaatil lilmutawassimeen

Verily, in all this there are messages indeed for those who can read the signs:

Wa innahaa labi sabeelim muqeem

for, behold, those [towns] stood by a road that still exists.

Inna fee zaalika la Aayatal lilmu'mineen

Verily, herein lies a message indeed for all who believe [in God].

Wa in kaana Ashaabul Aikati lazaalimeen

AND THE DWELLERS of the wooded dales [of Madyan, too,] were inveterate evildoers,

Fantaqamnaa minhum wa innahumaa labi imaamim mubeen

and so We inflicted Our retribution on them. And, behold, both these [sinful communities] lived by a highway, [to this day] plain to see

Wa laqad kazzaba ashaabul Hijril mursaleen

AND, [likewise,] indeed, the people of Al-Hijr gave the lie to [Our] message-bearers:

Wa aatainaahum Aayaatinaa fakaanoo 'anhaa mu'rideen

for We did vouchsafe them Our messages, but they obstinately turned their backs upon them-

Wa kaanoo yanhitoona minal jibaali buyootan aamineen

notwithstanding that they had been wont [to enjoy Our blessings and] to hew out dwellings from the mountains, [wherein they could live] in security

Fa akhazat humus saihatu musbiheen

and so the blast [of Our punishment] overtook them at early morn,

Famaaa aghnaa 'anhum maa kaanoo yaksiboon

and of no avail to them was all [the power] that they had acquired.

Wa maa khalaqnas samaawaati wal arda wa maa bainahumaaa illaa bilhaqq; wa innas Saa'ata la aatiyatun fasfahis safhal jameel

AND [remember:] We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them without [an inner] truth; but, behold, the Hour [when this will become clear to all] is indeed yet to come. Hence, forgive [men's failings] with fair forbearance:

Inna Rabbaka Huwal khallaaqul 'aleem

verily, thy Sustainer is the all-knowing Creator of all things!

Wa laqad aatainaaka sab'am mnal masaanee wal Qur-aanal 'azeem

AND, INDEED, We have bestowed upon thee seven of the oft repeated [verses], and [have, thus, laid open before thee] this sublime Qur'an:

Laa tamuddanna 'ainaika ilaa maa matta 'naa biheee azwaajam minhum wa laa tahzan 'alaihim wakhfid janaahaka lilmu 'mineen

[so] turn, not thine eyes [longingly] towards the worldly benefits which We have granted unto some of those [that deny the truth]. And neither grieve over those [who refuse to heed thee], but spread the wings of thy tenderness over the believers,

Wa qul inneee anan nazeerul mubeen

and say: "Behold, I am indeed the plain warner [promised by God]!

Kamaaa anzalnaa 'alal muqtasimeen

[For, thou art the bearer of a divine writ] such as We have bestowed from on high upon those who [afterwards] broke it up into parts,

Allazeena ja'alul Quraana'ideen

[and] who [now] declare this Qur'an to be [a tissue of] falsehoods!

Fawa Rabbika lanas'a lannahum ajma'een

But, by thy Sustainer! [On the Day of Judgment] We shall indeed call them to account, one and all,

'Ammaa kaanoo ya'maloon

for whatever they have done!

Fasda' bimaa tu'maru wa a'rid anil mushrikeen

Hence, proclaim openly all that thou hast been bidden [to say], and leave alone all those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God:

Innaa kafainaakal mustahzi'een

verily, We shall suffice thee against all who [now] deride [this message - all]

Allazeena yaj'aloona ma'al laahi ilaahan aakhar; fasawfa ya'lamoon

who assert that there are, side by side with God, other divine powers as well: for in time they will come to know [the truth].

Wa laqad na'lamu annak yadeequ sadruka bimaa yaqooloon

And well do We know that thy bosom is constricted by the [blasphemous] things that they say:

Fasbbih bihamdi Rabbika wa kum minas saajideen

but extol thou thy Sustainer's limitless glory and praise Him, and be of those who prostrate themselves [before Him] in adoration,

Wa'bud Rabbaka hattaa yaatiyakal yaqeen

and worship thy Sustainer till death comes to thee.