As-Saaffaat

By those [angels] ranged in rows,

وَالصَّافَّاتِ صَفًّا

wal-ṣāfāti ṣaffan

who rebuke reproachfully

فَالزَّاجِرَاتِ زَجْرًا

fal-zājirāti zajran

and recite God’s word,

فَالتَّالِيَاتِ ذِكْرًا

fal-tāliyāti dhik'ran

truly your God is One,

إِنَّ إِلَـٰهَكُمْ لَوَاحِدٌ

inna ilāhakum lawāḥidun

Lord of the heavens and earth and everything between them, Lord of every sunrise.

رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَرَبُّ الْمَشَارِقِ

rabbu l-samāwāti wal-arḍi wamā baynahumā warabbu l-mashāriqi

We have adorned the lowest heaven with stars,

إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِزِينَةٍ الْكَوَاكِبِ

innā zayyannā l-samāa l-dun'yā bizīnatin l-kawākibi

and made them a safeguard against every rebellious devil:

وَحِفْظًا مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ مَارِدٍ

waḥif'ẓan min kulli shayṭānin māridin

they cannot eavesdrop on the Higher Assembly––pelted from every side,

لَا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى الْمَلَإِ الْأَعْلَىٰ وَيُقْذَفُونَ مِنْ كُلِّ جَانِبٍ

lā yassammaʿūna ilā l-mala-i l-aʿlā wayuq'dhafūna min kulli jānibin

driven away, they will have perpetual torment––

دُحُورًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ وَاصِبٌ

duḥūran walahum ʿadhābun wāṣibun

if any [of them] stealthily snatches away a fragment, he will be pursued by a piercing flame.

إِلَّا مَنْ خَطِفَ الْخَطْفَةَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ شِهَابٌ ثَاقِبٌ

illā man khaṭifa l-khaṭfata fa-atbaʿahu shihābun thāqibun

So [Prophet], ask the disbelievers: is it harder to create them than other beings We have created? We created them from sticky clay.

فَاسْتَفْتِهِمْ أَهُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا أَمْ مَنْ خَلَقْنَا ۚ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاهُمْ مِنْ طِينٍ لَازِبٍ

fa-is'taftihim ahum ashaddu khalqan am man khalaqnā innā khalaqnāhum min ṭīnin lāzibin

You marvel as they scoff,

بَلْ عَجِبْتَ وَيَسْخَرُونَ

bal ʿajib'ta wayaskharūna

take no heed when they are warned,

وَإِذَا ذُكِّرُوا لَا يَذْكُرُونَ

wa-idhā dhukkirū lā yadhkurūna

and resort to ridicule when they see a sign,

وَإِذَا رَأَوْا آيَةً يَسْتَسْخِرُونَ

wa-idhā ra-aw āyatan yastaskhirūna

saying, ‘This is no more than blatant sorcery.’

وَقَالُوا إِنْ هَـٰذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُبِينٌ

waqālū in hādhā illā siḥ'run mubīnun

‘What! After we have died and become dust and bones, shall we really be raised up again,

أَإِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَامًا أَإِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ

a-idhā mit'nā wakunnā turāban waʿiẓāman a-innā lamabʿūthūna

along with our forefathers?’

أَوَآبَاؤُنَا الْأَوَّلُونَ

awaābāunā l-awalūna

Say, ‘Yes indeed, and you will be humiliated.’

قُلْ نَعَمْ وَأَنْتُمْ دَاخِرُونَ

qul naʿam wa-antum dākhirūna

Just one blast and––lo and behold!––they will look

فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ زَجْرَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ فَإِذَا هُمْ يَنْظُرُونَ

fa-innamā hiya zajratun wāḥidatun fa-idhā hum yanẓurūna

and say, ‘Woe to us! This is the Day of Judgement.’

وَقَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا هَـٰذَا يَوْمُ الدِّينِ

waqālū yāwaylanā hādhā yawmu l-dīni

[It will be said], ‘This is the Day of Decision, which you used to deny.

هَـٰذَا يَوْمُ الْفَصْلِ الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ

hādhā yawmu l-faṣli alladhī kuntum bihi tukadhibūna

[Angels], gather together those who did wrong, and others like them, as well as whatever they worshipped

احْشُرُوا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا وَأَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ

uḥ'shurū alladhīna ẓalamū wa-azwājahum wamā kānū yaʿbudūna

beside God, lead them all to the path of Hell,

مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ فَاهْدُوهُمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِ الْجَحِيمِ

min dūni l-lahi fa-ih'dūhum ilā ṣirāṭi l-jaḥīmi

and halt them for questioning:

وَقِفُوهُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ مَسْئُولُونَ

waqifūhum innahum masūlūna

“Why do you not support each other now?” ’––

مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَنَاصَرُونَ

mā lakum lā tanāṣarūna

no indeed! They will be in complete submission on that Day––

بَلْ هُمُ الْيَوْمَ مُسْتَسْلِمُونَ

bal humu l-yawma mus'taslimūna

and they will turn on one another accusingly.

وَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ

wa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatasāalūna

They will say, ‘You came to us from a position of power.’

قَالُوا إِنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَأْتُونَنَا عَنِ الْيَمِينِ

qālū innakum kuntum tatūnanā ʿani l-yamīni

They will say, ‘No! It was you who would not believe-

قَالُوا بَلْ لَمْ تَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ

qālū bal lam takūnū mu'minīna

we had no power over you- and you were already exceeding all limits.

وَمَا كَانَ لَنَا عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ ۖ بَلْ كُنْتُمْ قَوْمًا طَاغِينَ

wamā kāna lanā ʿalaykum min sul'ṭānin bal kuntum qawman ṭāghīna

Our Lord’s sentence on us is just and we must all taste the punishment.

فَحَقَّ عَلَيْنَا قَوْلُ رَبِّنَا ۖ إِنَّا لَذَائِقُونَ

faḥaqqa ʿalaynā qawlu rabbinā innā ladhāiqūna

We led you astray as we ourselves were astray.’

فَأَغْوَيْنَاكُمْ إِنَّا كُنَّا غَاوِينَ

fa-aghwaynākum innā kunnā ghāwīna

On that Day they will all share the torment:

فَإِنَّهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ فِي الْعَذَابِ مُشْتَرِكُونَ

fa-innahum yawma-idhin fī l-ʿadhābi mush'tarikūna

this is how We deal with the guilty.

إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَفْعَلُ بِالْمُجْرِمِينَ

innā kadhālika nafʿalu bil-muj'rimīna

Whenever it was said to them, ‘There is no deity but God,’ they became arrogant,

إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ

innahum kānū idhā qīla lahum lā ilāha illā l-lahu yastakbirūna

and said, ‘Are we to forsake our gods for a mad poet?’

وَيَقُولُونَ أَئِنَّا لَتَارِكُو آلِهَتِنَا لِشَاعِرٍ مَجْنُونٍ

wayaqūlūna a-innā latārikū ālihatinā lishāʿirin majnūnin

‘No: he brought the truth and confirmed the earlier messengers;

بَلْ جَاءَ بِالْحَقِّ وَصَدَّقَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

bal jāa bil-ḥaqi waṣaddaqa l-mur'salīna

you will taste the painful torment,

إِنَّكُمْ لَذَائِقُو الْعَذَابِ الْأَلِيمِ

innakum ladhāiqū l-ʿadhābi l-alīmi

and be repaid only according to your deeds.’

وَمَا تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

wamā tuj'zawna illā mā kuntum taʿmalūna

Not so God’s true servants.

إِلَّا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ الْمُخْلَصِينَ

illā ʿibāda l-lahi l-mukh'laṣīna

They will have familiar provisions––

أُولَـٰئِكَ لَهُمْ رِزْقٌ مَعْلُومٌ

ulāika lahum riz'qun maʿlūmun

fruits- and will be honoured

فَوَاكِهُ ۖ وَهُمْ مُكْرَمُونَ

fawākihu wahum muk'ramūna

in gardens of delight;

فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ

fī jannāti l-naʿīmi

seated on couches, facing one another.

عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مُتَقَابِلِينَ

ʿalā sururin mutaqābilīna

A drink will be passed round among them from a flowing spring:

يُطَافُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِكَأْسٍ مِنْ مَعِينٍ

yuṭāfu ʿalayhim bikasin min maʿīnin

white, delicious to those who taste it,

بَيْضَاءَ لَذَّةٍ لِلشَّارِبِينَ

bayḍāa ladhatin lilshāribīna

causing no headiness or intoxication.

لَا فِيهَا غَوْلٌ وَلَا هُمْ عَنْهَا يُنْزَفُونَ

lā fīhā ghawlun walā hum ʿanhā yunzafūna

With them will be spouses- modest of gaze and beautiful of eye-

وَعِنْدَهُمْ قَاصِرَاتُ الطَّرْفِ عِينٌ

waʿindahum qāṣirātu l-ṭarfi ʿīnun

like protected eggs.

كَأَنَّهُنَّ بَيْضٌ مَكْنُونٌ

ka-annahunna bayḍun maknūnun

They will turn to one another with questions:

فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ

fa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatasāalūna

one will say, ‘I had a close companion on earth

قَالَ قَائِلٌ مِنْهُمْ إِنِّي كَانَ لِي قَرِينٌ

qāla qāilun min'hum innī kāna lī qarīnun

who used to ask me, “Do you really believe that

يَقُولُ أَإِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُصَدِّقِينَ

yaqūlu a-innaka lamina l-muṣadiqīna

after we die and become dust and bone, we shall be brought for judgement?”’

أَإِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَامًا أَإِنَّا لَمَدِينُونَ

a-idhā mit'nā wakunnā turāban waʿiẓāman a-innā lamadīnūna

Then he will say, ‘Shall we look for him?’

قَالَ هَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُطَّلِعُونَ

qāla hal antum muṭṭaliʿūna

He will look down and see him in the midst of the Fire,

فَاطَّلَعَ فَرَآهُ فِي سَوَاءِ الْجَحِيمِ

fa-iṭṭalaʿa faraāhu fī sawāi l-jaḥīmi

and say to him, ‘By God, you almost brought me to ruin!

قَالَ تَاللَّهِ إِنْ كِدْتَ لَتُرْدِينِ

qāla tal-lahi in kidtta latur'dīni

Had it not been for the grace of my Lord, I too would have been taken to Hell.’

وَلَوْلَا نِعْمَةُ رَبِّي لَكُنْتُ مِنَ الْمُحْضَرِينَ

walawlā niʿ'matu rabbī lakuntu mina l-muḥ'ḍarīna

Then he will say [to his blessed companions], ‘Are we never to die again after our earlier death?

أَفَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَيِّتِينَ

afamā naḥnu bimayyitīna

Shall we never suffer?

إِلَّا مَوْتَتَنَا الْأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ

illā mawtatanā l-ūlā wamā naḥnu bimuʿadhabīna

This truly is the supreme triumph!’

إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

inna hādhā lahuwa l-fawzu l-ʿaẓīmu

Everyone should strive to attain this.

لِمِثْلِ هَـٰذَا فَلْيَعْمَلِ الْعَامِلُونَ

limith'li hādhā falyaʿmali l-ʿāmilūna

Is this the better welcome, or the tree of Zaqqum,

أَذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ نُزُلًا أَمْ شَجَرَةُ الزَّقُّومِ

adhālika khayrun nuzulan am shajaratu l-zaqūmi

which we have made a test for the evildoers?

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهَا فِتْنَةً لِلظَّالِمِينَ

innā jaʿalnāhā fit'natan lilẓẓālimīna

This tree grows in the heart of the blazing Fire,

إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٌ تَخْرُجُ فِي أَصْلِ الْجَحِيمِ

innahā shajaratun takhruju fī aṣli l-jaḥīmi

and its fruits are like devils’ heads.

طَلْعُهَا كَأَنَّهُ رُءُوسُ الشَّيَاطِينِ

ṭalʿuhā ka-annahu ruūsu l-shayāṭīni

They will fill their bellies eating from it;

فَإِنَّهُمْ لَآكِلُونَ مِنْهَا فَمَالِئُونَ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ

fa-innahum laākilūna min'hā famāliūna min'hā l-buṭūna

then drink scalding water on top of it;

ثُمَّ إِنَّ لَهُمْ عَلَيْهَا لَشَوْبًا مِنْ حَمِيمٍ

thumma inna lahum ʿalayhā lashawban min ḥamīmin

then return to the blazing Fire.

ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَرْجِعَهُمْ لَإِلَى الْجَحِيمِ

thumma inna marjiʿahum la-ilā l-jaḥīmi

They found their forefathers astray,

إِنَّهُمْ أَلْفَوْا آبَاءَهُمْ ضَالِّينَ

innahum alfaw ābāahum ḍāllīna

and rushed to follow in their footsteps- before the disbelievers [of Mecca],

فَهُمْ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ يُهْرَعُونَ

fahum ʿalā āthārihim yuh'raʿūna

most men in the past went astray,

وَلَقَدْ ضَلَّ قَبْلَهُمْ أَكْثَرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ

walaqad ḍalla qablahum aktharu l-awalīna

even though We sent messengers to warn them.

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا فِيهِمْ مُنْذِرِينَ

walaqad arsalnā fīhim mundhirīna

See how those who were warned met their end!

فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُنْذَرِينَ

fa-unẓur kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu l-mundharīna

Not so the true servants of God.

إِلَّا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ الْمُخْلَصِينَ

illā ʿibāda l-lahi l-mukh'laṣīna

Noah cried to Us, and how excellent was Our response!

وَلَقَدْ نَادَانَا نُوحٌ فَلَنِعْمَ الْمُجِيبُونَ

walaqad nādānā nūḥun falaniʿ'ma l-mujībūna

We saved him and his people from great distress,

وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ مِنَ الْكَرْبِ الْعَظِيمِ

wanajjaynāhu wa-ahlahu mina l-karbi l-ʿaẓīmi

We let his offspring remain on the earth,

وَجَعَلْنَا ذُرِّيَّتَهُ هُمُ الْبَاقِينَ

wajaʿalnā dhurriyyatahu humu l-bāqīna

We let him be praised by later generations:

وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِي الْآخِرِينَ

wataraknā ʿalayhi fī l-ākhirīna

‘Peace be upon Noah among all the nations!’

سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ نُوحٍ فِي الْعَالَمِينَ

salāmun ʿalā nūḥin fī l-ʿālamīna

This is how We reward those who do good:

إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ

innā kadhālika najzī l-muḥ'sinīna

he was truly one of Our faithful servants.

إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

innahu min ʿibādinā l-mu'minīna

We drowned the rest.

ثُمَّ أَغْرَقْنَا الْآخَرِينَ

thumma aghraqnā l-ākharīna

Abraham was of the same faith:

وَإِنَّ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ لَإِبْرَاهِيمَ

wa-inna min shīʿatihi la-ib'rāhīma

he came to his Lord with a devoted heart.

إِذْ جَاءَ رَبَّهُ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ

idh jāa rabbahu biqalbin salīmin

He said to his father and his people, ‘What are you worshipping?

إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَاذَا تَعْبُدُونَ

idh qāla li-abīhi waqawmihi mādhā taʿbudūna

How can you choose false gods instead of the true God?

أَئِفْكًا آلِهَةً دُونَ اللَّهِ تُرِيدُونَ

a-if'kan ālihatan dūna l-lahi turīdūna

So what is your opinion about the Lord of all the Worlds?’

فَمَا ظَنُّكُمْ بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

famā ẓannukum birabbi l-ʿālamīna

then he looked up to the stars.

فَنَظَرَ نَظْرَةً فِي النُّجُومِ

fanaẓara naẓratan fī l-nujūmi

He said, ‘I am sick,’

فَقَالَ إِنِّي سَقِيمٌ

faqāla innī saqīmun

so [his people] turned away from him and left.

فَتَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ مُدْبِرِينَ

fatawallaw ʿanhu mud'birīna

He turned to their gods and said, ‘Do you not eat?

فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰ آلِهَتِهِمْ فَقَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ

farāgha ilā ālihatihim faqāla alā takulūna

Why do you not speak?’

مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَنْطِقُونَ

mā lakum lā tanṭiqūna

then he turned and struck them with his right arm.

فَرَاغَ عَلَيْهِمْ ضَرْبًا بِالْيَمِينِ

farāgha ʿalayhim ḍarban bil-yamīni

His people hurried towards him,

فَأَقْبَلُوا إِلَيْهِ يَزِفُّونَ

fa-aqbalū ilayhi yaziffūna

but he said, ‘How can you worship things you carve with your own hands,

قَالَ أَتَعْبُدُونَ مَا تَنْحِتُونَ

qāla ataʿbudūna mā tanḥitūna

when it is God who has created you and all your handiwork?’

وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

wal-lahu khalaqakum wamā taʿmalūna

They said, ‘Build a pyre and throw him into the blazing fire.’

قَالُوا ابْنُوا لَهُ بُنْيَانًا فَأَلْقُوهُ فِي الْجَحِيمِ

qālū ib'nū lahu bun'yānan fa-alqūhu fī l-jaḥīmi

They wanted to harm him, but We humiliated them.

فَأَرَادُوا بِهِ كَيْدًا فَجَعَلْنَاهُمُ الْأَسْفَلِينَ

fa-arādū bihi kaydan fajaʿalnāhumu l-asfalīna

He said, ‘I will go to my Lord: He is sure to guide me.

وَقَالَ إِنِّي ذَاهِبٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ

waqāla innī dhāhibun ilā rabbī sayahdīni

Lord, grant me a righteous son,’

رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ

rabbi hab lī mina l-ṣāliḥīna

so We gave him the good news that he would have a patient son.

فَبَشَّرْنَاهُ بِغُلَامٍ حَلِيمٍ

fabasharnāhu bighulāmin ḥalīmin

When the boy was old enough to work with his father, Abraham said, ‘My son, I have seen myself sacrificing you in a dream. What do you think?’ He said, ‘Father, do as you are commanded and, God willing, you will find me steadfast.’

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ

falammā balagha maʿahu l-saʿya qāla yābunayya innī arā fī l-manāmi annī adhbaḥuka fa-unẓur mādhā tarā qāla yāabati if'ʿal mā tu'maru satajidunī in shāa l-lahu mina l-ṣābirīna

When they had both submitted to God, and he had laid his son down on the side of his face,

فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ

falammā aslamā watallahu lil'jabīni

We called out to him, ‘Abraham,

وَنَادَيْنَاهُ أَنْ يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ

wanādaynāhu an yāib'rāhīmu

you have fulfilled the dream.’ This is how We reward those who do good-

قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَا ۚ إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ

qad ṣaddaqta l-ru'yā innā kadhālika najzī l-muḥ'sinīna

it was a test to prove [their true characters]-

إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ الْبَلَاءُ الْمُبِينُ

inna hādhā lahuwa l-balāu l-mubīnu

We ransomed his son with a momentous sacrifice,

وَفَدَيْنَاهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ

wafadaynāhu bidhib'ḥin ʿaẓīmin

and We let him be praised by succeeding generations:

وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِي الْآخِرِينَ

wataraknā ʿalayhi fī l-ākhirīna

‘Peace be upon Abraham!’

سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ

salāmun ʿalā ib'rāhīma

This is how We reward those who do good:

كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ

kadhālika najzī l-muḥ'sinīna

truly he was one of Our faithful servants.

إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

innahu min ʿibādinā l-mu'minīna

We gave Abraham the good news of Isaac- a prophet and a righteous man-

وَبَشَّرْنَاهُ بِإِسْحَاقَ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ

wabasharnāhu bi-is'ḥāqa nabiyyan mina l-ṣāliḥīna

and blessed him and Isaac too: some of their offspring were good, but some clearly wronged themselves.

وَبَارَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَىٰ إِسْحَاقَ ۚ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا مُحْسِنٌ وَظَالِمٌ لِنَفْسِهِ مُبِينٌ

wabāraknā ʿalayhi waʿalā is'ḥāqa wamin dhurriyyatihimā muḥ'sinun waẓālimun linafsihi mubīnun

We also bestowed Our favour on Moses and Aaron:

وَلَقَدْ مَنَنَّا عَلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ وَهَارُونَ

walaqad manannā ʿalā mūsā wahārūna

We saved them and their people from great distress;

وَنَجَّيْنَاهُمَا وَقَوْمَهُمَا مِنَ الْكَرْبِ الْعَظِيمِ

wanajjaynāhumā waqawmahumā mina l-karbi l-ʿaẓīmi

We helped them, so they were the ones to succeed;

وَنَصَرْنَاهُمْ فَكَانُوا هُمُ الْغَالِبِينَ

wanaṣarnāhum fakānū humu l-ghālibīna

We gave them the Scripture that makes things clear;

وَآتَيْنَاهُمَا الْكِتَابَ الْمُسْتَبِينَ

waātaynāhumā l-kitāba l-mus'tabīna

We guided them to the right path;

وَهَدَيْنَاهُمَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ

wahadaynāhumā l-ṣirāṭa l-mus'taqīma

We let them be praised by succeeding generations:

وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِمَا فِي الْآخِرِينَ

wataraknā ʿalayhimā fī l-ākhirīna

‘Peace be upon Moses and Aaron!’

سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ وَهَارُونَ

salāmun ʿalā mūsā wahārūna

This is how We reward those who do good:

إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ

innā kadhālika najzī l-muḥ'sinīna

truly they were among Our faithful servants.

إِنَّهُمَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

innahumā min ʿibādinā l-mu'minīna

Elijah too was one of the messengers.

وَإِنَّ إِلْيَاسَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

wa-inna il'yāsa lamina l-mur'salīna

He said to his people, ‘Have you no fear of God?

إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

idh qāla liqawmihi alā tattaqūna

How can you invoke Baal and forsake the Most Gracious Creator,

أَتَدْعُونَ بَعْلًا وَتَذَرُونَ أَحْسَنَ الْخَالِقِينَ

atadʿūna baʿlan watadharūna aḥsana l-khāliqīna

God, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers?’

اللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ وَرَبَّ آبَائِكُمُ الْأَوَّلِينَ

al-laha rabbakum warabba ābāikumu l-awalīna

but they rejected him. They will be brought to punishment as a consequence;

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَمُحْضَرُونَ

fakadhabūhu fa-innahum lamuḥ'ḍarūna

not so the true servants of God.

إِلَّا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ الْمُخْلَصِينَ

illā ʿibāda l-lahi l-mukh'laṣīna

We let him be praised by succeeding generations:

وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِي الْآخِرِينَ

wataraknā ʿalayhi fī l-ākhirīna

‘Peace be to Elijah!’

سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ إِلْ يَاسِينَ

salāmun ʿalā il yāsīna

This is how We reward those who do good:

إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ

innā kadhālika najzī l-muḥ'sinīna

truly he was one of Our faithful servants.

إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

innahu min ʿibādinā l-mu'minīna

Lot was also one of the messengers.

وَإِنَّ لُوطًا لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

wa-inna lūṭan lamina l-mur'salīna

We saved him and all his family-

إِذْ نَجَّيْنَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ أَجْمَعِينَ

idh najjaynāhu wa-ahlahu ajmaʿīna

except for an old woman who stayed behind-

إِلَّا عَجُوزًا فِي الْغَابِرِينَ

illā ʿajūzan fī l-ghābirīna

and We destroyed the rest.

ثُمَّ دَمَّرْنَا الْآخَرِينَ

thumma dammarnā l-ākharīna

You [people] pass by their ruins morning

وَإِنَّكُمْ لَتَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مُصْبِحِينَ

wa-innakum latamurrūna ʿalayhim muṣ'biḥīna

and night: will you not take heed?

وَبِاللَّيْلِ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

wabi-al-layli afalā taʿqilūna

Jonah too was one of the messengers.

وَإِنَّ يُونُسَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

wa-inna yūnusa lamina l-mur'salīna

He fled to the overloaded ship.

إِذْ أَبَقَ إِلَى الْفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُونِ

idh abaqa ilā l-ful'ki l-mashḥūni

They cast lots, he suffered defeat,

فَسَاهَمَ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْمُدْحَضِينَ

fasāhama fakāna mina l-mud'ḥaḍīna

and a great fish swallowed him, for he had committed blameworthy acts.

فَالْتَقَمَهُ الْحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ

fal-taqamahu l-ḥūtu wahuwa mulīmun

If he had not been one of those who glorified God,

فَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ

falawlā annahu kāna mina l-musabiḥīna

he would have stayed in its belly until the Day when all are raised up,

لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ

lalabitha fī baṭnihi ilā yawmi yub'ʿathūna

but We cast him out, sick, on to a barren shore,

فَنَبَذْنَاهُ بِالْعَرَاءِ وَهُوَ سَقِيمٌ

fanabadhnāhu bil-ʿarāi wahuwa saqīmun

and made a gourd tree grow above him.

وَأَنْبَتْنَا عَلَيْهِ شَجَرَةً مِنْ يَقْطِينٍ

wa-anbatnā ʿalayhi shajaratan min yaqṭīnin

We sent him to a hundred thousand people or more.

وَأَرْسَلْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ مِائَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ

wa-arsalnāhu ilā mi-ati alfin aw yazīdūna

They believed, so We let them live out their lives.

فَآمَنُوا فَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

faāmanū famattaʿnāhum ilā ḥīnin

Now [Muhammad], ask the disbelievers: is it true that your Lord has daughters, while they choose sons for themselves?

فَاسْتَفْتِهِمْ أَلِرَبِّكَ الْبَنَاتُ وَلَهُمُ الْبَنُونَ

fa-is'taftihim alirabbika l-banātu walahumu l-banūna

Did We create the angels as females while they were watching?

أَمْ خَلَقْنَا الْمَلَائِكَةَ إِنَاثًا وَهُمْ شَاهِدُونَ

am khalaqnā l-malāikata ināthan wahum shāhidūna

No indeed! It is one of their lies when they say,

أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ مِنْ إِفْكِهِمْ لَيَقُولُونَ

alā innahum min if'kihim layaqūlūna

‘God has begotten.’ How they lie!

وَلَدَ اللَّهُ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ

walada l-lahu wa-innahum lakādhibūna

Did He truly choose daughters in preference to sons?

أَصْطَفَى الْبَنَاتِ عَلَى الْبَنِينَ

aṣṭafā l-banāti ʿalā l-banīna

What is the matter with you? How do you form your judgements?

مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ

mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūna

Do you not reflect?

أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

afalā tadhakkarūna

Do you perhaps have clear authority?

أَمْ لَكُمْ سُلْطَانٌ مُبِينٌ

am lakum sul'ṭānun mubīnun

Bring your scriptures, if you are telling the truth.

فَأْتُوا بِكِتَابِكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

fatū bikitābikum in kuntum ṣādiqīna

They claim that He has kinship with the jinn, yet the jinn themselves know that they will be brought before Him.

وَجَعَلُوا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْجِنَّةِ نَسَبًا ۚ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمَتِ الْجِنَّةُ إِنَّهُمْ لَمُحْضَرُونَ

wajaʿalū baynahu wabayna l-jinati nasaban walaqad ʿalimati l-jinatu innahum lamuḥ'ḍarūna

God is far above what they attribute to Him-

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

sub'ḥāna l-lahi ʿammā yaṣifūna

the true servants of God do not do such things-

إِلَّا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ الْمُخْلَصِينَ

illā ʿibāda l-lahi l-mukh'laṣīna

and neither you nor what you worship

فَإِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ

fa-innakum wamā taʿbudūna

can lure away from God any

مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ بِفَاتِنِينَ

mā antum ʿalayhi bifātinīna

except those who will burn in Hell.

إِلَّا مَنْ هُوَ صَالِ الْجَحِيمِ

illā man huwa ṣāli l-jaḥīmi

[The angels say], ‘Every single one of us has his appointed place:

وَمَا مِنَّا إِلَّا لَهُ مَقَامٌ مَعْلُومٌ

wamā minnā illā lahu maqāmun maʿlūmun

we are ranged in ranks.

وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الصَّافُّونَ

wa-innā lanaḥnu l-ṣāfūna

We glorify God.’

وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْمُسَبِّحُونَ

wa-innā lanaḥnu l-musabiḥūna

[The disbelievers] used to say,

وَإِنْ كَانُوا لَيَقُولُونَ

wa-in kānū layaqūlūna

‘If only we had a scripture like previous people,

لَوْ أَنَّ عِنْدَنَا ذِكْرًا مِنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ

law anna ʿindanā dhik'ran mina l-awalīna

we would be true servants of God,’

لَكُنَّا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ الْمُخْلَصِينَ

lakunnā ʿibāda l-lahi l-mukh'laṣīna

yet now they reject [the Quran]. They will soon realize.

فَكَفَرُوا بِهِ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ

fakafarū bihi fasawfa yaʿlamūna

Our word has already been given to Our servants the messengers:

وَلَقَدْ سَبَقَتْ كَلِمَتُنَا لِعِبَادِنَا الْمُرْسَلِينَ

walaqad sabaqat kalimatunā liʿibādinā l-mur'salīna

it is they who will be helped,

إِنَّهُمْ لَهُمُ الْمَنْصُورُونَ

innahum lahumu l-manṣūrūna

and the ones who support Our cause will be the winners.

وَإِنَّ جُنْدَنَا لَهُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ

wa-inna jundanā lahumu l-ghālibūna

So [Prophet] turn away from the disbelievers for a while.

فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ

fatawalla ʿanhum ḥattā ḥīnin

Watch them: they will soon see.

وَأَبْصِرْهُمْ فَسَوْفَ يُبْصِرُونَ

wa-abṣir'hum fasawfa yub'ṣirūna

Do they really wish to hasten Our punishment?

أَفَبِعَذَابِنَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونَ

afabiʿadhābinā yastaʿjilūna

When it descends on their courtyards, how ter-rible that morning will be for those who were warned!

فَإِذَا نَزَلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ فَسَاءَ صَبَاحُ الْمُنْذَرِينَ

fa-idhā nazala bisāḥatihim fasāa ṣabāḥu l-mundharīna

[Prophet], turn away from the disbelievers for a while.

وَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ

watawalla ʿanhum ḥattā ḥīnin

Watch them: they will soon see.

وَأَبْصِرْ فَسَوْفَ يُبْصِرُونَ

wa-abṣir fasawfa yub'ṣirūna

Your Lord, the Lord of Glory, is far above what they attribute to Him.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

sub'ḥāna rabbika rabbi l-ʿizati ʿammā yaṣifūna

Peace be upon the messengers

وَسَلَامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ

wasalāmun ʿalā l-mur'salīna

and praise be to God the Lord of all the Worlds.

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

wal-ḥamdu lillahi rabbi l-ʿālamīna