بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ وَٱلصَّٰٓفَّٰتِ صَفًّۭا

CONSIDER these [messages] ranged in serried ranks,

فَٱلزَّٰجِرَٰتِ زَجْرًۭا

and restraining [from evil] by a call to restraint,

فَٱلتَّٰلِيَٰتِ ذِكْرًا

and conveying [to all the world] a reminder:

إِنَّ إِلَٰهَكُمْ لَوَٰحِدٌۭ

Verily, most surely, your God is One –

رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَرَبُّ ٱلْمَشَٰرِقِ

the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and of all that is between them, and the Sustainer of all the points of sunrise!

إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِزِينَةٍ ٱلْكَوَاكِبِ

Behold, We have adorned the skies nearest to the earth with the beauty of stars,

وَحِفْظًۭا مِّن كُلِّ شَيْطَٰنٍۢ مَّارِدٍۢ

and have made them secure against every rebellious, satanic force,

لَّا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى ٱلْمَلَإِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ وَيُقْذَفُونَ مِن كُلِّ جَانِبٍۢ

[so that] they [who seek to learn the unknowable] should not be able to overhear the host on high, but shall be repelled from all sides,

دُحُورًۭا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌۭ وَاصِبٌ

cast out [from all grace], with lasting suffering in store for them [in the life to come];

إِلَّا مَنْ خَطِفَ ٱلْخَطْفَةَ فَأَتْبَعَهُۥ شِهَابٌۭ ثَاقِبٌۭ

but if anyone does succeed in snatching a glimpse [of such knowledge], he is [henceforth] pursued by a piercing flame.

فَٱسْتَفْتِهِمْ أَهُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا أَم مَّنْ خَلَقْنَآ ۚ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَٰهُم مِّن طِينٍۢ لَّازِبٍۭ

AND NOW ask those [who deny the truth] to enlight­en thee: Were they more difficult to create than all those [untold marvels] that We have created? - for, behold, them have We created out of [mere] clay commingled with water!

بَلْ عَجِبْتَ وَيَسْخَرُونَ

Nay, but whereas thou dost marvel, they [only] scoff;

وَإِذَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ لَا يَذْكُرُونَ

and when they are reminded [of the truth], they refuse to take it to heart;

وَإِذَا رَأَوْا۟ ءَايَةًۭ يَسْتَسْخِرُونَ

and when they become aware of a [divine] message, they turn it to ridicule

وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌۭ مُّبِينٌ

and say: “This is clearly nothing but [a mortal’s] spellbinding eloquence!

أَءِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًۭا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ

Why - after we have died and become mere dust and bones, shall we, forsooth, be raised from the dead? –

أَوَءَابَآؤُنَا ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ

and perhaps also our forebears of old?”

قُلْ نَعَمْ وَأَنتُمْ دَٰخِرُونَ

Say: “Yea, indeed - and most abject will you then be!” –

فَإِنَّمَا هِىَ زَجْرَةٌۭ وَٰحِدَةٌۭ فَإِذَا هُمْ يَنظُرُونَ

for that [resurrection which they deride] will be [upon them of a sudden, as if it were] but a single accusing cry - and then, lo! they will begin to see [the truth]

وَقَالُوا۟ يَٰوَيْلَنَا هَٰذَا يَوْمُ ٱلدِّينِ

and will say: “Oh, woe unto us! This is the Day of Judgment!”

هَٰذَا يَوْمُ ٱلْفَصْلِ ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تُكَذِّبُونَ

[And they will be told:] “This is the Day of Distinction [between the true and the false - the Day] which you were wont to call a lie!”

۞ ٱحْشُرُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ وَأَزْوَٰجَهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْبُدُونَ

[And God will thus command:] “Assemble all those who were bent on evildoing, together with others of their ilk and [with] all that they were wont to worship

مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَٱهْدُوهُمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ

instead of God, and lead them all onto the way to the blazing fire,

وَقِفُوهُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُم مَّسْـُٔولُونَ

and halt them [there]!” [And then,] behold, they shall be asked,

مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَنَاصَرُونَ

“How is it that [now] you cannot succour one another?”

بَلْ هُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ مُسْتَسْلِمُونَ

Nay, but on that Day they would willingly surrender [to God];

وَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ

but [since it will be too late,] they will turn upon one another, demanding of each other [to relieve them of the burden of their past sins].

قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَأْتُونَنَا عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ

Some [of them] will say: “Behold, you were wont to approach us [deceptively] from the right!”

قَالُوا۟ بَل لَّمْ تَكُونُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ

[To which] the others will reply: “Nay, you yourselves were bereft of all faith!

وَمَا كَانَ لَنَا عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَٰنٍۭ ۖ بَلْ كُنتُمْ قَوْمًۭا طَٰغِينَ

Moreover, we had no power at all over you: nay, you were people filled with overweening arrogance!

فَحَقَّ عَلَيْنَا قَوْلُ رَبِّنَآ ۖ إِنَّا لَذَآئِقُونَ

But now our Sustainer’s word has come true against us [as well]: verily, we are bound to taste [the fruit of our sins].

فَأَغْوَيْنَٰكُمْ إِنَّا كُنَّا غَٰوِينَ

So then, [if it be true that] we have caused you to err grievously - behold, we ourselves had been lost in grievous error!”

فَإِنَّهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ مُشْتَرِكُونَ

And, verily, on that Day they all will share in their common suffering.

إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَفْعَلُ بِٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ

Verily, thus shall We deal with all who were lost in sin:

إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوٓا۟ إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ

for, behold, whenever they were told, “There is no deity save God,” they would glory in their arrogance

وَيَقُولُونَ أَئِنَّا لَتَارِكُوٓا۟ ءَالِهَتِنَا لِشَاعِرٍۢ مَّجْنُونٍۭ

and would say, “Shall we, then, give up our deities at the bidding of a mad poet?”

بَلْ جَآءَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَصَدَّقَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

Nay, but he [whom you call a mad poet] has brought the truth; and he confirms the truth of [what the earlier of God’s] message-bearers [have taught].

إِنَّكُمْ لَذَآئِقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْأَلِيمِ

Behold, you will indeed taste grievous suffering [in the life to come],

وَمَا تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

although you shall not be requited for aught but what you were wont to do.

إِلَّا عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ

Not so, however, God’s true servants:

أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ رِزْقٌۭ مَّعْلُومٌۭ

[in the hereafter,] theirs shall be a sustenance which they will recognize

فَوَٰكِهُ ۖ وَهُم مُّكْرَمُونَ

as the fruits [of their life on earth]; and honoured shall they be

فِى جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

in gardens of bliss,

عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍۢ مُّتَقَٰبِلِينَ

facing one another [in love] upon thrones of happiness.

يُطَافُ عَلَيْهِم بِكَأْسٍۢ مِّن مَّعِينٍۭ

A cup will be passed round among them [with a drink] from unsullied springs,

بَيْضَآءَ لَذَّةٍۢ لِّلشَّٰرِبِينَ

clear, delightful to those who drink it:

لَا فِيهَا غَوْلٌۭ وَلَا هُمْ عَنْهَا يُنزَفُونَ

no headiness will be in it, and they will not get drunk thereon.

وَعِندَهُمْ قَٰصِرَٰتُ ٱلطَّرْفِ عِينٌۭ

And with them will be mates of modest gaze, most beautiful of eye,

كَأَنَّهُنَّ بَيْضٌۭ مَّكْنُونٌۭ

[as free of faults] as if they were hidden [ostrich] eggs.

فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ

And they will all turn to one another, asking each other [about their past lives].

قَالَ قَآئِلٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ إِنِّى كَانَ لِى قَرِينٌۭ

One of them speaks thus: “Behold, I had [on earth] a close companion

يَقُولُ أَءِنَّكَ لَمِنَ ٱلْمُصَدِّقِينَ

who was wont to ask [me], ‘Why - art thou really one of those who believe it to be true

أَءِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًۭا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَدِينُونَ

[that] after we have died and become mere dust and bones we shall, forsooth, be brought to judgment?”’

قَالَ هَلْ أَنتُم مُّطَّلِعُونَ

[And] he adds: “Would you like to look [and see him]?” –

فَٱطَّلَعَ فَرَءَاهُ فِى سَوَآءِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ

and then he looks and sees that [companion of his] in the midst of the blazing fire,

قَالَ تَٱللَّهِ إِن كِدتَّ لَتُرْدِينِ

and says: “By God! Verily, thou hast almost destroyed me [too, O my erstwhile companion]

وَلَوْلَا نِعْمَةُ رَبِّى لَكُنتُ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْضَرِينَ

for had it not been for my Sustainer’s favour, I would surely be [now] among those who are given over [to suffering]!

أَفَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَيِّتِينَ

But then, [O my friends in paradise,] is it [really] so that we are not to die

إِلَّا مَوْتَتَنَا ٱلْأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ

[again,] beyond our previous death, and that we shall never [again] be made to suffer?

إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

Verily, this - this indeed - is the triumph supreme!”

لِمِثْلِ هَٰذَا فَلْيَعْمَلِ ٱلْعَٰمِلُونَ

For the like of this, then, let them labour, those who labour [in God’s way]!

أَذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌۭ نُّزُلًا أَمْ شَجَرَةُ ٱلزَّقُّومِ

Is such [a paradise] the better welcome - or the [hellish] tree of deadly fruit?

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَٰهَا فِتْنَةًۭ لِّلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Verily, We have caused it to be a trial for evildoers:

إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٌۭ تَخْرُجُ فِىٓ أَصْلِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ

for, behold, it is a tree that grows in the very heart of the blazing fire [of hell],

طَلْعُهَا كَأَنَّهُۥ رُءُوسُ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينِ

its fruit [as repulsive] as satans’ heads;

فَإِنَّهُمْ لَءَاكِلُونَ مِنْهَا فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنْهَا ٱلْبُطُونَ

and they [who are lost in evil] are indeed bound to eat thereof, and to fill their bellies therewith.

ثُمَّ إِنَّ لَهُمْ عَلَيْهَا لَشَوْبًۭا مِّنْ حَمِيمٍۢ

And, behold, above all this they will be confounded with burning des­pair!

ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَرْجِعَهُمْ لَإِلَى ٱلْجَحِيمِ

And once again: Verily, the blazing fire is their ultimate goal –

إِنَّهُمْ أَلْفَوْا۟ ءَابَآءَهُمْ ضَآلِّينَ

for, behold, they found their forebears on a wrong way,

فَهُمْ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِمْ يُهْرَعُونَ

and [now] they make haste to follow in their footsteps!

وَلَقَدْ ضَلَّ قَبْلَهُمْ أَكْثَرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

Thus, indeed, most of the people of old went astray before them,

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا فِيهِم مُّنذِرِينَ

although, verily, We had sent warners unto them:

فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُنذَرِينَ

and behold what happened in the end to those that had been warned [to no avail]!

إِلَّا عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ

EXCEPT for God’s true servants, [most people are apt to go astray.]

وَلَقَدْ نَادَىٰنَا نُوحٌۭ فَلَنِعْمَ ٱلْمُجِيبُونَ

And, indeed, [it was for this reason that] Noah cried unto Us - and how excellent was Our response:

وَنَجَّيْنَٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلْكَرْبِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

for We saved him and his household from that awesome calamity,

وَجَعَلْنَا ذُرِّيَّتَهُۥ هُمُ ٱلْبَاقِينَ

and caused his offspring to endure [on earth];

وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ

and We left him thus to be remembered among later generations:

سَلَٰمٌ عَلَىٰ نُوحٍۢ فِى ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

“Peace be upon Noah throughout all the worlds!”

إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Verily, thus do We reward the doers of good –

إِنَّهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

for he was truly one of our believing servants:

ثُمَّ أَغْرَقْنَا ٱلْءَاخَرِينَ

[and so We saved him and those who followed him] and then We caused the others to drown.

۞ وَإِنَّ مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ لَإِبْرَٰهِيمَ

AND, BEHOLD, of his persuasion was Abraham, too,

إِذْ جَآءَ رَبَّهُۥ بِقَلْبٍۢ سَلِيمٍ

when he turned to his Sustainer with a heart free of evil,

إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِۦ مَاذَا تَعْبُدُونَ

and [thus] spoke to his father and his people: “What is it that you worship?

أَئِفْكًا ءَالِهَةًۭ دُونَ ٱللَّهِ تُرِيدُونَ

Do you want [to bow down before] a lie - [before] deities other than God?

فَمَا ظَنُّكُم بِرَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

What, then, do you think of the Sustainer of all the worlds?”

فَنَظَرَ نَظْرَةًۭ فِى ٱلنُّجُومِ

Then he cast a glance at the stars,

فَقَالَ إِنِّى سَقِيمٌۭ

and said, “Verily, I am sick [at heart]!”

فَتَوَلَّوْا۟ عَنْهُ مُدْبِرِينَ

and at that they turned their backs on him and went away.

فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ ءَالِهَتِهِمْ فَقَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ

Thereupon he approached their gods stealthily and said, “What! You do not eat [of the offerings placed before you]?

مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَنطِقُونَ

What is amiss with you that you do not speak?”

فَرَاغَ عَلَيْهِمْ ضَرْبًۢا بِٱلْيَمِينِ

And then he fell upon them, smiting them with his right hand.

فَأَقْبَلُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ يَزِفُّونَ

[But] then the others came towards him hur­riedly [and accused him of his deed].

قَالَ أَتَعْبُدُونَ مَا تَنْحِتُونَ

He answered: “Do you worship something that you [yourselves] have carved,

وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

the while it is God who has created you and all your handiwork?”

قَالُوا۟ ٱبْنُوا۟ لَهُۥ بُنْيَٰنًۭا فَأَلْقُوهُ فِى ٱلْجَحِيمِ

They exclaimed: “Build a pyre for him, and cast him into the blazing fire!”

فَأَرَادُوا۟ بِهِۦ كَيْدًۭا فَجَعَلْنَٰهُمُ ٱلْأَسْفَلِينَ

But whereas they sought to do evil unto him, We [frustrated their designs, and thus] brought them low?

وَقَالَ إِنِّى ذَاهِبٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّى سَيَهْدِينِ

And [Abraham] said: “Verily, I shall [leave this land and] go wherever my Sustainer will guide me!”

رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

[And he prayed:] “O my Sustainer! Bestow upon me the gift of [a son who shall be] one of the righteous!” –

فَبَشَّرْنَٰهُ بِغُلَٰمٍ حَلِيمٍۢ

whereupon We gave him the glad tiding of a boy-child gentle [like himself]?

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ ٱلسَّعْىَ قَالَ يَٰبُنَىَّ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ فِى ٱلْمَنَامِ أَنِّىٓ أَذْبَحُكَ فَٱنظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ يَٰٓأَبَتِ ٱفْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ

And [one day,] when [the child] had become old enough to share in his [father’s] endeavours, the latter said: “O my dear son! I have seen in a dream that I should sacrifice thee: consider, then, what would be thy view!” [Ishmael] answered: “O my father! Do as thou art bidden: thou wilt find me, if God so wills, among those who are patient in adversity!”

فَلَمَّآ أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُۥ لِلْجَبِينِ

But as soon as the two had surrendered themselves to [what they thought to be] the will of God, and [Abraham] had laid him down on his face,

وَنَٰدَيْنَٰهُ أَن يَٰٓإِبْرَٰهِيمُ

We called out to him: “O Abraham,

قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ ٱلرُّءْيَآ ۚ إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

thou hast already fulfilled [the purpose of] that dream- vision!” Thus, verily, do We reward the doers of good:

إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ ٱلْبَلَٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلْمُبِينُ

for, behold, all this was indeed a trial, clear in itself.

وَفَدَيْنَٰهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍۢ

And We ransomed him with a tremendous sacrifice,

وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ

and left him thus to be remembered among later generations:

سَلَٰمٌ عَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ

“Peace be upon Abraham!”

كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Thus do We reward the doers of good –

إِنَّهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

for he was truly one of our believing servants.

وَبَشَّرْنَٰهُ بِإِسْحَٰقَ نَبِيًّۭا مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

And [in time] We gave him the glad tiding of Isaac, [who, too, would be] a prophet, one of the righteous;

وَبَٰرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَىٰٓ إِسْحَٰقَ ۚ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا مُحْسِنٌۭ وَظَالِمٌۭ لِّنَفْسِهِۦ مُبِينٌۭ

and We blessed him and Isaac: but among the offspring of these two there were [des­tined] to be both doers of good and such as would glaringly sin against themselves.

وَلَقَدْ مَنَنَّا عَلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ وَهَٰرُونَ

THUS, INDEED, did We bestow Our favour upon Moses and Aaron;

وَنَجَّيْنَٰهُمَا وَقَوْمَهُمَا مِنَ ٱلْكَرْبِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

and We saved them and their people from the awesome calamity [of bondage],

وَنَصَرْنَٰهُمْ فَكَانُوا۟ هُمُ ٱلْغَٰلِبِينَ

and succoured them, so that [in the end] it was they who achieved victory.

وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُمَا ٱلْكِتَٰبَ ٱلْمُسْتَبِينَ

And We gave them the divine writ that made [right and wrong] distinct,

وَهَدَيْنَٰهُمَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ

and guided them the straight way,

وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِمَا فِى ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ

and left them thus to be remem­bered among later generations:

سَلَٰمٌ عَلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ وَهَٰرُونَ

“Peace be upon Moses and Aaron!”

إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Thus do We reward the doers of good –

إِنَّهُمَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

for those two were truly among Our believing ser­vants.

وَإِنَّ إِلْيَاسَ لَمِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

AND, BEHOLD, Elijah [too] was indeed one of Our message-bearers

إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِۦٓ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

when he spoke [thus] to his people: “Will you not remain conscious of God?

أَتَدْعُونَ بَعْلًۭا وَتَذَرُونَ أَحْسَنَ ٱلْخَٰلِقِينَ

Will you invoke Baal and forsake [God,] the best of artisans -

ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ وَرَبَّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

God, your Sustainer and the Sustainer of your forebears of old?”

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَمُحْضَرُونَ

But they gave him the lie: and therefore they will most surely be arraigned [on Judgment Day],

إِلَّا عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ

excepting only [those who were] God’s true servants;

وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ

and him We left thus to be remem­bered among later generations:

سَلَٰمٌ عَلَىٰٓ إِلْ يَاسِينَ

“Peace be upon Elijah and his followers!”

إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Verily, thus do We reward the doers of good –

إِنَّهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

for he was truly one of Our believing servants!

وَإِنَّ لُوطًۭا لَّمِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

AND, BEHOLD, Lot was indeed one of Our mes­sage-bearers;

إِذْ نَجَّيْنَٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ أَجْمَعِينَ

[and so,] when [We decreed the doom of his sinful town,] We saved him and his household,

إِلَّا عَجُوزًۭا فِى ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ

except an old woman who was among those that stayed behind;

ثُمَّ دَمَّرْنَا ٱلْءَاخَرِينَ

and then We utterly destroyed the others:

وَإِنَّكُمْ لَتَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهِم مُّصْبِحِينَ

and, verily, [to this day] you pass by the remnants of their dwellings at morning-time

وَبِٱلَّيْلِ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

and by night. Will you not, then, use your reason?

وَإِنَّ يُونُسَ لَمِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

AND, BEHOLD, Jonah was indeed one of Our mes­sage-bearers

إِذْ أَبَقَ إِلَى ٱلْفُلْكِ ٱلْمَشْحُونِ

when he fled like a runaway slave onto a laden ship.

فَسَاهَمَ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُدْحَضِينَ

And then they cast lots, and he was the one who lost;

فَٱلْتَقَمَهُ ٱلْحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌۭ

[and they cast him into the sea,] whereupon the great fish swallowed him, for he had been blameworthy.

فَلَوْلَآ أَنَّهُۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُسَبِّحِينَ

And had he not been of those who [even in the deep darkness of their distress are able to] extol God’s limitless glory,

لَلَبِثَ فِى بَطْنِهِۦٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ

he would indeed have remained in its belly till the Day when all shall be raised from the dead:

۞ فَنَبَذْنَٰهُ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ سَقِيمٌۭ

but We caused him to be cast forth on a desert shore, sick [at heart] as he was,

وَأَنۢبَتْنَا عَلَيْهِ شَجَرَةًۭ مِّن يَقْطِينٍۢ

and caused a creeping plant to grow over him [out of the barren soil].

وَأَرْسَلْنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ مِا۟ئَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ

And [then] We sent him [once again] to [his people,] a hundred thousand [souls] or more:

فَـَٔامَنُوا۟ فَمَتَّعْنَٰهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍۢ

and [this time] they believed [in him] and so We allowed them to enjoy their life during the time allotted to them?

فَٱسْتَفْتِهِمْ أَلِرَبِّكَ ٱلْبَنَاتُ وَلَهُمُ ٱلْبَنُونَ

AND NOW ask them to enlighten thee: Has thy Sustainer daughters, whereas they would have [only] sons?

أَمْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةَ إِنَٰثًۭا وَهُمْ شَٰهِدُونَ

- or is it that We have created the angels female, and they [who believe them to be divine] have witnessed [that act of creation]?

أَلَآ إِنَّهُم مِّنْ إِفْكِهِمْ لَيَقُولُونَ

Oh, verily, it is out of their own [inclination to] falsehood that some people assert,

وَلَدَ ٱللَّهُ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَكَٰذِبُونَ

“God has begotten [a son]”; and, verily, they are lying [too, when they say],

أَصْطَفَى ٱلْبَنَاتِ عَلَى ٱلْبَنِينَ

“He has chosen daughters in preference to sons”!

مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ

What is amiss with you and your judgment?

أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

Will you not, then, bethink yourselves?

أَمْ لَكُمْ سُلْطَٰنٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ

Or have you, perchance, a clear evidence [for your assertions]?

فَأْتُوا۟ بِكِتَٰبِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ

Produce, then, that divine writ of yours, if you are speaking the truth!

وَجَعَلُوا۟ بَيْنَهُۥ وَبَيْنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ نَسَبًۭا ۚ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمَتِ ٱلْجِنَّةُ إِنَّهُمْ لَمُحْضَرُونَ

And some people have invented a kinship between Him and all manner of invisible forces although [even] these invisible forces know well that, verily, they [who thus blaspheme against God] shall indeed be arraigned [before Him on Judgment Day: for]

سُبْحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

limitless is God in His glory, above anything that men may devise by way of definition!

إِلَّا عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ

Not thus, however, [behave] God’s true ser­vants:

فَإِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ

for, verily, neither you [blasphemers] nor the objects of your worship

مَآ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ بِفَٰتِنِينَ

can cause anyone to fall prey to your temptation

إِلَّا مَنْ هُوَ صَالِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ

unless it be such as rushes towards the blazing fire [of his own accord]!

وَمَا مِنَّآ إِلَّا لَهُۥ مَقَامٌۭ مَّعْلُومٌۭ

[All forces of nature praise God and say:] “Among us, too, there is none but has a place assigned to it [by Him];

وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ ٱلصَّآفُّونَ

and, verily, we too are ranged [before Him in worship];

وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ ٱلْمُسَبِّحُونَ

and, verily, we too extol His limitless glory!”

وَإِن كَانُوا۟ لَيَقُولُونَ

AND, INDEED, they [who deny the truth] have always been wont to say,

لَوْ أَنَّ عِندَنَا ذِكْرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

“If only we had a tradition [to this effect] from our forebears,

لَكُنَّا عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ

we would certainly be true servants of God.”

فَكَفَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ

And yet, [now that this divine writ has been placed before them,] they refuse to acknowledge it as true! In time, however, they will come to know [what it was that they had rejected]:

وَلَقَدْ سَبَقَتْ كَلِمَتُنَا لِعِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

for, long ago has Our word gone forth unto Our servants, the message- bearers,

إِنَّهُمْ لَهُمُ ٱلْمَنصُورُونَ

that, verily, they - they indeed - would be succoured,

وَإِنَّ جُندَنَا لَهُمُ ٱلْغَٰلِبُونَ

and that, verily, Our hosts - they indeed - would [in the end] be victorious!

فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍۢ

Hence, turn thou aside for a while from those [who deny the truth],

وَأَبْصِرْهُمْ فَسَوْفَ يُبْصِرُونَ

and see them [for what they are]; and in time they [too] will come to see [what they do not see now].

أَفَبِعَذَابِنَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونَ

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

فَإِذَا نَزَلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ فَسَآءَ صَبَاحُ ٱلْمُنذَرِينَ

But then, once it alights upon them, hapless will be the awakening of those who were warned [to no avail]!

وَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍۢ

Hence, turn thou aside for a while from them,

وَأَبْصِرْ فَسَوْفَ يُبْصِرُونَ

and see [them for what they are]; and n time they [too] will come to see [what they do not see now].

سُبْحَٰنَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ ٱلْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

LIMITLESS in His glory is thy Sustainer, the Lord of almightiness, [exalted] above anything that men may devise by way of definition!

وَسَلَٰمٌ عَلَى ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

And peace be upon all His message-bearers!

وَٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

And all praise is due to God alone, the Sus­tainer of all the worlds!