Al-Insaan

Was there not a period of time when man was nothing to speak of ?

هَلْ أَتَىٰ عَلَى الْإِنْسَانِ حِينٌ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُنْ شَيْئًا مَذْكُورًا

hal atā ʿalā l-insāni ḥīnun mina l-dahri lam yakun shayan madhkūran

We created man from a drop of mingled fluid to put him to the test; We gave him hearing and sight;

إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا

innā khalaqnā l-insāna min nuṭ'fatin amshājin nabtalīhi fajaʿalnāhu samīʿan baṣīran

We guided him to the right path, whether he was grateful or not.

إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا

innā hadaynāhu l-sabīla immā shākiran wa-immā kafūran

We have prepared chains, iron collars, and blazing Fire for the disbelievers, but

إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ سَلَاسِلَ وَأَغْلَالًا وَسَعِيرًا

innā aʿtadnā lil'kāfirīna salāsilā wa-aghlālan wasaʿīran

the righteous will have a drink mixed with kafur,

إِنَّ الْأَبْرَارَ يَشْرَبُونَ مِنْ كَأْسٍ كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا كَافُورًا

inna l-abrāra yashrabūna min kasin kāna mizājuhā kāfūran

a spring for God’s servants, which flows abundantly at their wish.

عَيْنًا يَشْرَبُ بِهَا عِبَادُ اللَّهِ يُفَجِّرُونَهَا تَفْجِيرًا

ʿaynan yashrabu bihā ʿibādu l-lahi yufajjirūnahā tafjīran

They fulfil their vows; they fear a day of widespread woes;

يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا كَانَ شَرُّهُ مُسْتَطِيرًا

yūfūna bil-nadhri wayakhāfūna yawman kāna sharruhu mus'taṭīran

they give food to the poor, the orphan, and the captive, though they love it themselves,

وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا

wayuṭ'ʿimūna l-ṭaʿāma ʿalā ḥubbihi mis'kīnan wayatīman wa-asīran

saying, ‘We feed you for the sake of God alone: We seek neither recompense nor thanks from you.

إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنْكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلَا شُكُورًا

innamā nuṭ'ʿimukum liwajhi l-lahi lā nurīdu minkum jazāan walā shukūran

We fear the Day of our Lord––a woefully grim Day.’

إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِنْ رَبِّنَا يَوْمًا عَبُوسًا قَمْطَرِيرًا

innā nakhāfu min rabbinā yawman ʿabūsan qamṭarīran

So God will save them from the woes of that Day, give them radiance and gladness,

فَوَقَاهُمُ اللَّهُ شَرَّ ذَٰلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَلَقَّاهُمْ نَضْرَةً وَسُرُورًا

fawaqāhumu l-lahu sharra dhālika l-yawmi walaqqāhum naḍratan wasurūran

and reward them, for their steadfastness, with a Garden and silken robes.

وَجَزَاهُمْ بِمَا صَبَرُوا جَنَّةً وَحَرِيرًا

wajazāhum bimā ṣabarū jannatan waḥarīran

They will sit on couches, feeling neither scorching heat nor biting cold,

مُتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ ۖ لَا يَرَوْنَ فِيهَا شَمْسًا وَلَا زَمْهَرِيرًا

muttakiīna fīhā ʿalā l-arāiki lā yarawna fīhā shamsan walā zamharīran

with shady [branches] spread above them and clusters of fruit hanging close at hand.

وَدَانِيَةً عَلَيْهِمْ ظِلَالُهَا وَذُلِّلَتْ قُطُوفُهَا تَذْلِيلًا

wadāniyatan ʿalayhim ẓilāluhā wadhullilat quṭūfuhā tadhlīlan

They will be served with silver plates

وَيُطَافُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِآنِيَةٍ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَأَكْوَابٍ كَانَتْ قَوَارِيرَا

wayuṭāfu ʿalayhim biāniyatin min fiḍḍatin wa-akwābin kānat qawārīrā

and gleaming silver goblets according to their fancy,

قَوَارِيرَ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ قَدَّرُوهَا تَقْدِيرًا

qawārīrā min fiḍḍatin qaddarūhā taqdīran

and they will be given a drink infused with ginger

وَيُسْقَوْنَ فِيهَا كَأْسًا كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا زَنْجَبِيلًا

wayus'qawna fīhā kasan kāna mizājuhā zanjabīlan

from a spring called Salsabil.

عَيْنًا فِيهَا تُسَمَّىٰ سَلْسَبِيلًا

ʿaynan fīhā tusammā salsabīlan

Everlasting youths will attend them––if you could see them, you would think they were scattered pearls––

وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُخَلَّدُونَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ حَسِبْتَهُمْ لُؤْلُؤًا مَنْثُورًا

wayaṭūfu ʿalayhim wil'dānun mukhalladūna idhā ra-aytahum ḥasib'tahum lu'lu-an manthūran

and if you were to look around, you would see bliss and great wealth:

وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ ثَمَّ رَأَيْتَ نَعِيمًا وَمُلْكًا كَبِيرًا

wa-idhā ra-ayta thamma ra-ayta naʿīman wamul'kan kabīran

they will wear garments of green silk and brocade; they will be adorned with silver bracelets; their Lord will give them a pure drink.

عَالِيَهُمْ ثِيَابُ سُنْدُسٍ خُضْرٌ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٌ ۖ وَحُلُّوا أَسَاوِرَ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَسَقَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ شَرَابًا طَهُورًا

ʿāliyahum thiyābu sundusin khuḍ'run wa-is'tabraqun waḥullū asāwira min fiḍḍatin wasaqāhum rabbuhum sharāban ṭahūran

[It will be said], ‘This is your reward. Your endeavours are appreciated.’

إِنَّ هَـٰذَا كَانَ لَكُمْ جَزَاءً وَكَانَ سَعْيُكُمْ مَشْكُورًا

inna hādhā kāna lakum jazāan wakāna saʿyukum mashkūran

We Ourself have sent down this Quran to you [Prophet] in gradual revelation.

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ تَنْزِيلًا

innā naḥnu nazzalnā ʿalayka l-qur'āna tanzīlan

Await your Lord’s Judgement with patience; do not yield to any of these sinners or disbelievers;

فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تُطِعْ مِنْهُمْ آثِمًا أَوْ كَفُورًا

fa-iṣ'bir liḥuk'mi rabbika walā tuṭiʿ min'hum āthiman aw kafūran

remember the name of your Lord at dawn and in the evening;

وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا

wa-udh'kuri is'ma rabbika buk'ratan wa-aṣīlan

bow down before Him, and glorify Him at length by night.

وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَاسْجُدْ لَهُ وَسَبِّحْهُ لَيْلًا طَوِيلًا

wamina al-layli fa-us'jud lahu wasabbiḥ'hu laylan ṭawīlan

These people love the fleeting life. They put aside [all thoughts of] a Heavy Day.

إِنَّ هَـٰؤُلَاءِ يُحِبُّونَ الْعَاجِلَةَ وَيَذَرُونَ وَرَاءَهُمْ يَوْمًا ثَقِيلًا

inna hāulāi yuḥibbūna l-ʿājilata wayadharūna warāahum yawman thaqīlan

Yet We created them; We strengthened their constitution; if We please, We can replace such people completely.

نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَاهُمْ وَشَدَدْنَا أَسْرَهُمْ ۖ وَإِذَا شِئْنَا بَدَّلْنَا أَمْثَالَهُمْ تَبْدِيلًا

naḥnu khalaqnāhum washadadnā asrahum wa-idhā shi'nā baddalnā amthālahum tabdīlan

This is a reminder. Let whoever wishes, take the way to his Lord.

إِنَّ هَـٰذِهِ تَذْكِرَةٌ ۖ فَمَنْ شَاءَ اتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِ سَبِيلًا

inna hādhihi tadhkiratun faman shāa ittakhadha ilā rabbihi sabīlan

But you will only wish to do so if God wills- God is all knowing, all wise-

وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا

wamā tashāūna illā an yashāa l-lahu inna l-laha kāna ʿalīman ḥakīman

He admits whoever He will into His Mercy and has prepared a painful torment for the disbelievers.

يُدْخِلُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ فِي رَحْمَتِهِ ۚ وَالظَّالِمِينَ أَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا

yud'khilu man yashāu fī raḥmatihi wal-ẓālimīna aʿadda lahum ʿadhāban alīman