37
37. As-Saffat - Those who set the Ranks
| 1 | By those who range themselves in ranks, |
| 2 | And so are strong in repelling (evil), |
| 3 | And thus proclaim the Message (of Allah)! |
| 4 | Verily, verily, your Allah is one!- |
| 5 | Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all between them, and Lord of every point at the rising of the sun! |
| 6 | We have indeed decked the lower heaven with beauty (in) the stars,- |
| 7 | (For beauty) and for guard against all obstinate rebellious evil spirits, |
| 8 | (So) they should not strain their ears in the direction of the Exalted Assembly but be cast away from every side, |
| 9 | Repulsed, for they are under a perpetual penalty, |
| 10 | Except such as snatch away something by stealth, and they are pursued by a flaming fire, of piercing brightness. |
| 11 | Just ask their opinion: are they the more difficult to create, or the (other) beings We have created? Them have We created out of a sticky clay! |
| 12 | Truly dost thou marvel, while they ridicule, |
| 13 | And, when they are admonished, pay no heed,- |
| 14 | And, when they see a Sign, turn it to mockery, |
| 15 | And say, "This is nothing but evident sorcery! |
| 16 | "What! when we die, and become dust and bones, shall we (then) be raised up (again) |
| 17 | "And also our fathers of old?" |
| 18 | Say thou: "Yea, and ye shall then be humiliated (on account of your evil)." |
| 19 | Then it will be a single (compelling) cry; and behold, they will begin to see! |
| 20 | They will say, "Ah! Woe to us! This is the Day of Judgment!" |
| 21 | (A voice will say,) "This is the Day of Sorting Out, whose truth ye (once) denied!" |
| 22 | "Bring ye up", it shall be said, "The wrong-doers and their wives, and the things they worshipped- |
| 23 | "Besides Allah, and lead them to the Way to the (Fierce) Fire! |
| 24 | "But stop them, for they must be asked: |
| 25 | "'What is the matter with you that ye help not each other?'" |
| 26 | Nay, but that day they shall submit (to Judgment); |
| 27 | And they will turn to one another, and question one another. |
| 28 | They will say: "It was ye who used to come to us from the right hand (of power and authority)!" |
| 29 | They will reply: "Nay, ye yourselves had no Faith! |
| 30 | "Nor had we any authority over you. Nay, it was ye who were a people in obstinate rebellion! |
| 31 | "So now has been proved true, against us, the word of our Lord that we shall indeed (have to) taste (the punishment of our sins). |
| 32 | "We led you astray: for truly we were ourselves astray." |
| 33 | Truly, that Day, they will (all) share in the Penalty. |
| 34 | Verily that is how We shall deal with Sinners. |
| 35 | For they, when they were told that there is no god except Allah, would puff themselves up with Pride, |
| 36 | And say: "What! shall we give up our gods for the sake of a Poet possessed?" |
| 37 | Nay! he has come with the (very) Truth, and he confirms (the Message of) the messengers (before him). |
| 38 | Ye shall indeed taste of the Grievous Penalty;- |
| 39 | But it will be no more than the retribution of (the Evil) that ye have wrought;- |
| 40 | But the sincere (and devoted) Servants of Allah,- |
| 41 | For them is a Sustenance determined, |
| 42 | Fruits (Delights); and they (shall enjoy) honour and dignity, |
| 43 | In Gardens of Felicity, |
| 44 | Facing each other on Thrones (of Dignity): |
| 45 | Round will be passed to them a Cup from a clear-flowing fountain, |
| 46 | Crystal-white, of a taste delicious to those who drink (thereof), |
| 47 | Free from headiness; nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom. |
| 48 | And besides them will be chaste women, restraining their glances, with big eyes (of wonder and beauty). |
| 49 | As if they were (delicate) eggs closely guarded. |
| 50 | Then they will turn to one another and question one another. |
| 51 | One of them will start the talk and say: "I had an intimate companion (on the earth), |
| 52 | "Who used to say, 'what! art thou amongst those who bear witness to the Truth (of the Message)? |
| 53 | "'When we die and become dust and bones, shall we indeed receive rewards and punishments?'" |
| 54 | (A voice) said: "Would ye like to look down?" |
| 55 | He looked down and saw him in the midst of the Fire. |
| 56 | He said: "By Allah! thou wast little short of bringing me to perdition! |
| 57 | "Had it not been for the Grace of my Lord, I should certainly have been among those brought (there)! |
| 58 | "Is it (the case) that we shall not die, |
| 59 | "Except our first death, and that we shall not be punished?" |
| 60 | Verily this is the supreme achievement! |
| 61 | For the like of this let all strive, who wish to strive. |
| 62 | Is that the better entertainment or the Tree of Zaqqum? |
| 63 | For We have truly made it (as) a trial for the wrong-doers. |
| 64 | For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hell-Fire: |
| 65 | The shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils: |
| 66 | Truly they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith. |
| 67 | Then on top of that they will be given a mixture made of boiling water. |
| 68 | Then shall their return be to the (Blazing) Fire. |
| 69 | Truly they found their fathers on the wrong Path; |
| 70 | So they (too) were rushed down on their footsteps! |
| 71 | And truly before them, many of the ancients went astray;- |
| 72 | But We sent aforetime, among them, (messengers) to admonish them;- |
| 73 | Then see what was the end of those who were admonished (but heeded not),- |
| 74 | Except the sincere (and devoted) Servants of Allah. |
| 75 | (In the days of old), Noah cried to Us, and We are the best to hear prayer. |
| 76 | And We delivered him and his people from the Great Calamity, |
| 77 | And made his progeny to endure (on this earth); |
| 78 | And We left (this blessing) for him among generations to come in later times: |
| 79 | "Peace and salutation to Noah among the nations!" |
| 80 | Thus indeed do we reward those who do right. |
| 81 | For he was one of our believing Servants. |
| 82 | Then the rest we overwhelmed in the Flood. |
| 83 | Verily among those who followed his Way was Abraham. |
| 84 | Behold! he approached his Lord with a sound heart. |
| 85 | Behold! he said to his father and to his people, "What is that which ye worship? |
| 86 | "Is it a falsehood- gods other than Allah- that ye desire? |
| 87 | "Then what is your idea about the Lord of the worlds?" |
| 88 | Then did he cast a glance at the Stars. |
| 89 | And he said, "I am indeed sick (at heart)!" |
| 90 | So they turned away from him, and departed. |
| 91 | Then did he turn to their gods and said, "will ye not eat (of the offerings before you)?... |
| 92 | "What is the matter with you that ye speak not (intelligently)?" |
| 93 | Then did he turn upon them, striking (them) with the right hand. |
| 94 | Then came (the worshippers) with hurried steps, and faced (him). |
| 95 | He said: "Worship ye that which ye have (yourselves) carved? |
| 96 | "But Allah has created you and your handwork!" |
| 97 | They said, "Build him a furnace, and throw him into the blazing fire!" |
| 98 | (This failing), they then sought a stratagem against him, but We made them the ones most humiliated! |
| 99 | He said: "I will go to my Lord! He will surely guide me! |
| 100 | "O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!" |
| 101 | So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear. |
| 102 | Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills one practising Patience and Constancy!" |
| 103 | So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice), |
| 104 | We called out to him "O Abraham! |
| 105 | "Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" - thus indeed do We reward those who do right. |
| 106 | For this was obviously a trial- |
| 107 | And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice: |
| 108 | And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times: |
| 109 | "Peace and salutation to Abraham!" |
| 110 | Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. |
| 111 | For he was one of our believing Servants. |
| 112 | And We gave him the good news of Isaac - a prophet,- one of the Righteous. |
| 113 | We blessed him and Isaac: but of their progeny are (some) that do right, and (some) that obviously do wrong, to their own souls. |
| 114 | Again (of old) We bestowed Our favour on Moses and Aaron, |
| 115 | And We delivered them and their people from (their) Great Calamity; |
| 116 | And We helped them, so they overcame (their troubles); |
| 117 | And We gave them the Book which helps to make things clear; |
| 118 | And We guided them to the Straight Way. |
| 119 | And We left (this blessing) for them among generations (to come) in later times: |
| 120 | "Peace and salutation to Moses and Aaron!" |
| 121 | Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. |
| 122 | For they were two of our believing Servants. |
| 123 | So also was Elias among those sent (by Us). |
| 124 | Behold, he said to his people, "Will ye not fear (Allah)? |
| 125 | "Will ye call upon Baal and forsake the Best of Creators,- |
| 126 | "Allah, your Lord and Cherisher and the Lord and Cherisher of your fathers of old?" |
| 127 | But they rejected him, and they will certainly be called up (for punishment),- |
| 128 | Except the sincere and devoted Servants of Allah (among them). |
| 129 | And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times: |
| 130 | "Peace and salutation to such as Elias!" |
| 131 | Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. |
| 132 | For he was one of our believing Servants. |
| 133 | So also was Lut among those sent (by Us). |
| 134 | Behold, We delivered him and his adherents, all |
| 135 | Except an old woman who was among those who lagged behind: |
| 136 | Then We destroyed the rest. |
| 137 | Verily, ye pass by their (sites), by day- |
| 138 | And by night: will ye not understand? |
| 139 | So also was Jonah among those sent (by Us). |
| 140 | When he ran away (like a slave from captivity) to the ship (fully) laden, |
| 141 | He (agreed to) cast lots, and he was condemned: |
| 142 | Then the big Fish did swallow him, and he had done acts worthy of blame. |
| 143 | Had it not been that he (repented and) glorified Allah, |
| 144 | He would certainly have remained inside the Fish till the Day of Resurrection. |
| 145 | But We cast him forth on the naked shore in a state of sickness, |
| 146 | And We caused to grow, over him, a spreading plant of the gourd kind. |
| 147 | And We sent him (on a mission) to a hundred thousand (men) or more. |
| 148 | And they believed; so We permitted them to enjoy (their life) for a while. |
| 149 | Now ask them their opinion: Is it that thy Lord has (only) daughters, and they have sons?- |
| 150 | Or that We created the angels female, and they are witnesses (thereto)? |
| 151 | Is it not that they say, from their own invention, |
| 152 | "Allah has begotten children"? but they are liars! |
| 153 | Did He (then) choose daughters rather than sons? |
| 154 | What is the matter with you? How judge ye? |
| 155 | Will ye not then receive admonition? |
| 156 | Or have ye an authority manifest? |
| 157 | Then bring ye your Book (of authority) if ye be truthful! |
| 158 | And they have invented a blood-relationship between Him and the Jinns: but the Jinns know (quite well) that they have indeed to appear (before his Judgment-Seat)! |
| 159 | Glory to Allah! (He is free) from the things they ascribe (to Him)! |
| 160 | Not (so do) the Servants of Allah, sincere and devoted. |
| 161 | For, verily, neither ye nor those ye worship- |
| 162 | Can lead (any) into temptation concerning Allah, |
| 163 | Except such as are (themselves) going to the blazing Fire! |
| 164 | (Those ranged in ranks say): "Not one of us but has a place appointed; |
| 165 | "And we are verily ranged in ranks (for service); |
| 166 | "And we are verily those who declare (Allah's) glory!" |
| 167 | And there were those who said, |
| 168 | "If only we had had before us a Message from those of old, |
| 169 | "We should certainly have been Servants of Allah, sincere (and devoted)!" |
| 170 | But (now that the Qur'an has come), they reject it: But soon will they know! |
| 171 | Already has Our Word been passed before (this) to our Servants sent (by Us), |
| 172 | That they would certainly be assisted, |
| 173 | And that Our forces,- they surely must conquer. |
| 174 | So turn thou away from them for a little while, |
| 175 | And watch them (how they fare), and they soon shall see (how thou farest)! |
| 176 | Do they wish (indeed) to hurry on our Punishment? |
| 177 | But when it descends into the open space before them, evil will be the morning for those who were warned (and heeded not)! |
| 178 | So turn thou away from them for a little while, |
| 179 | And watch (how they fare) and they soon shall see (how thou farest)! |
| 180 | Glory to thy Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! (He is free) from what they ascribe (to Him)! |
| 181 | And Peace on the messengers! |
| 182 | And Praise to Allah, the Lord and Cherisher of the Worlds. |