Ash-Shu'araa

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!