26
26. Ash-Shuara - The Poets
| 1 | TA SIN MIM. |
| 2 | These are the verses of the perspicuous Book. |
| 3 | You may perhaps wear out your heart because they do not come to belief. |
| 4 | We could send down from the heavens a sign to them if We pleased, before which their heads would remain bowed. |
| 5 | Never does a new reminder come to them from Ar-Rahman but they turn away from it. |
| 6 | Surely they have done with denying; soon will come to them the news of what they were laughing at. |
| 7 | Do they not see the earth, how We grow all kinds of noble things upon it? |
| 8 | Verily there are signs in this; yet many of them do not believe. |
| 9 | Your Lord is surely mighty and merciful. |
| 10 | When your Lord called upon Moses: "Go to the wicked people, |
| 11 | The people of Pharaoh. Will they not fear and take heed?" |
| 12 | : He said: "O Lord, I fear that they will deny me. |
| 13 | My heart is constrained, my tongue falters, so delegate Aaron; |
| 14 | And they have a charge (of murder) against me. So I fear that they will kill me." |
| 15 | (It was) said: "By no means. Go with My signs, both of you. I am verily with you and I hear. |
| 16 | Go to the Pharaoh and tell him: 'We bring a message from the Lord of all the worlds |
| 17 | That you should send the children of Israel with us.' |
| 18 | (The Pharaoh) said: "Did we not bring you up as a child? And you lived a number of years of your life with us. |
| 19 | And you commited what you did, and you are ungrateful!" |
| 20 | (Moses) replied: "I did do that and I was in the wrong, |
| 21 | So I ran away from you out of fear. But my Lord has given me wisdom, and made me an apostle. |
| 22 | But the favour you oblige me with is that you have enslaved the children of Israel." |
| 23 | The Pharaoh asked: "And what is the Lord of all the worlds?" |
| 24 | (Moses) said: "The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them, if you can believe." |
| 25 | (The Pharaoh) said to those around him: "Do you hear?" |
| 26 | (Moses continued): "Your Lord and the Lord of your fathers before you." |
| 27 | (The Pharaoh) said (to his nobles): "Your apostle who has been sent to you, is certainly mad." |
| 28 | (Moses) said: "The Lord of the East and the Lord of the West and all that lies between them, if you have sense." |
| 29 | (The Pharaoh) said: "If you took another god apart from me I will have you incarcerated." |
| 30 | (Moses) said: "Even though I have brought to you something convincing?" |
| 31 | (The Pharaoh) said: "Then bring it, if you speak the truth." |
| 32 | So (Moses) cast his staff, and lo, it turned into a living serpent. |
| 33 | And he drew forth his hand, and lo, it looked white to the beholders. |
| 34 | The Pharaoh said to the chiefs around him: "He is certainly a clever magician. |
| 35 | He wants to drive you out of your land by his magic. So, what do you bid?" |
| 36 | They said: "Put him and his brother off awhile, and send summoners to the cities to gather |
| 37 | And bring the ablest magicians to you." |
| 38 | So the magicians were assembled at a stated time and place on an appointed day. |
| 39 | And the people were also asked to assemble. |
| 40 | (They said): "We may haply follow the magicians if they are victorious." |
| 41 | When the magicians arrived, they said to the Pharaoh: "Is there a reward for us if we are victorious?" -- |
| 42 | "Yes," he replied. "You 'will be among the honoured." |
| 43 | Moses said to them: "Cast what you have to cast." |
| 44 | So they cast their ropes and rods, and said: "By the glory of Pharaoh, we shall be victorious." |
| 45 | Then Moses threw down his staff, and lo, it swallowed up their conjurations. |
| 46 | Then the magicians fell prostrating in adoration, |
| 47 | And said: "We (affirm and) believe in the Lord of all the worlds, |
| 48 | The Lord of Moses and Aaron." |
| 49 | Said (the Pharaoh): "You have come to believe in him before I gave you leave. He is surely your chief, who taught you magic. You will soon come to know: I will have your hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, and have every one of you crucified." |
| 50 | They said: "There will be no harm. We shall return to our Lord. |
| 51 | We certainly hope our Lord will forgive our sins as we are the first to believe." |
| 52 | We said to Moses: "Travel by night with My creatures. You will surely be pursued." |
| 53 | Then the Pharaoh sent announcers to the cities, |
| 54 | (Proclaiming): "Surely they are a small band (of fugitives). |
| 55 | They are always harassing us. |
| 56 | But we are a fully accounted army." |
| 57 | So We made them leave the gardens and springs of water, |
| 58 | And treasures and agreeable mansions. |
| 59 | Thus it was; and We made the children of Israel possess them. |
| 60 | But they pursued them at sunrise. |
| 61 | When the two forces drew within seeing distance of each other, the people of Moses said: "We shall certainly be overtaken." |
| 62 | Moses replied: "By no means. My Lord is with me. He will show me the way." |
| 63 | We commanded Moses: "Smite the sea with your staff." And it parted, and every parting was like a lofty mountain. |
| 64 | Then We brought the others to that place. |
| 65 | We delivered Moses and every one with him, |
| 66 | And We drowned the others. |
| 67 | Verily there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe. |
| 68 | Indeed your Lord is mighty and merciful. |
| 69 | Relate the news of Abraham to them. |
| 70 | When he asked his father and his people: "What do you worship?" |
| 71 | They replied: "We worship idols and are devoted to them." |
| 72 | (Abraham) asked: "Do they hear when you call them? |
| 73 | Or do they benefit you, or do you harm?" |
| 74 | They said: "No. But we found our fathers doing so." |
| 75 | He said: "Have you considered what you have been worshipping, |
| 76 | You and your fathers? |
| 77 | Yet they are my enemies except the Lord of all the worlds |
| 78 | Who created me and showed me the way, |
| 79 | Who gives me food and drink, |
| 80 | And heals me when I am sick, |
| 81 | Who will make me die, then give me life again, |
| 82 | And who, I hope, will condone my faults on the Day of Judgement. |
| 83 | O Lord, give me wisdom and admit me among the righteous, |
| 84 | And uphold my name with posterity, |
| 85 | And put me among the inheritors of Paradise. |
| 86 | Forgive me and my father: He was surely among those who went astray. |
| 87 | And do not disgrace me on the day when they are raised from the graves, |
| 88 | The day when neither wealth nor children will be of any avail |
| 89 | But to him who comes to God with a tranquil heart." |
| 90 | Paradise will be brought near those who take heed for themselves and follow the straight path; |
| 91 | And Hell made visible to those who had gone astray. |
| 92 | They will be asked: "Where are those you worshipped |
| 93 | Other than God? Can they save you or even save themselves?" |
| 94 | They will then be thrown into Hell with those who had gone astray |
| 95 | Together with the hordes of Iblis. |
| 96 | Disputing among themselves they will say: |
| 97 | "By God, we were plainly in error |
| 98 | In equating you with the Lord of all the worlds; |
| 99 | No one but the sinners led us astray. |
| 100 | Now we have none to intercede for us, |
| 101 | Nor any sincere friend. |
| 102 | If only we could return and be among the believers!" |
| 103 | Verily there is a sign in this, but many of them do not believe. |
| 104 | Verily your Lord is mighty and merciful. |
| 105 | The people of Noah accused the apostles of lies. |
| 106 | When their brother Noah said to them: "Will you not take heed? |
| 107 | I have been sent as a trusted messenger to you. |
| 108 | So be fearful of God and listen to me. |
| 109 | I ask no recompense of you for it. My reward is due from none but the Lord of all the worlds. |
| 110 | So fear God and follow me." |
| 111 | They said: "Should we place our trust in you when only the condemned follow you?" |
| 112 | He said: "It is not for me to know what they were doing. |
| 113 | It is for my Lord to bring them to book, if you can understand. |
| 114 | I am certainly not one to drive away the believers. |
| 115 | I am only a plain admonisher." |
| 116 | They said: "If you do not desist, O Noah, you will be stoned to death." |
| 117 | He prayed: "O Lord, verily my people accuse me of lies. |
| 118 | So adjudge between me and them conclusively, and save me and the believers who are with me." |
| 119 | So We delivered him and those with him in the loaded ark, |
| 120 | And drowned the rest of them. |
| 121 | Verily there is a sign in this, yet many of them do not believe. |
| 122 | But surely your Lord is mighty and merciful. |
| 123 | The people of 'Ad accused the messengers of lies. |
| 124 | When their brother Hud said to them: "Will you not take heed? |
| 125 | I have been sent as a trusted messenger to you. |
| 126 | So fear God and listen to me. |
| 127 | I ask no recompense of you for it. My reward is due from none but the Lord of all the worlds. |
| 128 | You construct monuments on every hill in vain, |
| 129 | Erect palaces (thinking) that you will live for ever, |
| 130 | And whenever you apply force become tyrannical. |
| 131 | So be fearful of God and follow me. |
| 132 | Fear Him who has bestowed on you what you know, |
| 133 | Gave you increase of cattle and sons, |
| 134 | And orchards and springs. |
| 135 | I fear the punishment of a terrible day for you. |
| 136 | They said: "It is the same to us if you warn us or do not warn. |
| 137 | This is just a habit of antiquated people. |
| 138 | We are not going to be damned." |
| 139 | Then they accused him of lies; so We annihilated them. Verily there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe. |
| 140 | Yet surely your Lord is mighty and merciful. |
| 141 | The Thamud accused the messengers of lies. |
| 142 | When their brother Saleh said to them: "Will you not take heed?" |
| 143 | I have been sent as a trusted messenger to you. |
| 144 | So fear God and follow me. |
| 145 | I do not ask any recompense of you for this. My reward is due from none but the Lord of all the worlds. |
| 146 | (Do you think) you will be left secure here |
| 147 | In these gardens and these springs, |
| 148 | The fields of corn and date-palm trees with soft and tender spathes, |
| 149 | And dwellings hewed out of mountains ingeniously? |
| 150 | So be mindful of God and listen to me. |
| 151 | Do not follow those who are extravagant, |
| 152 | Who corrupt the land and do not reform it." |
| 153 | They said: "Surely you are deluded. |
| 154 | You are nothing but a man like us. Bring us a token if you speak the truth." |
| 155 | (Saleh) said: "Here is a she-camel. She has a right of drinking water, and you have a right of drinking it on appointed turns. |
| 156 | Do not treat her unkindly or the punishment of a grievous day will fall on you." |
| 157 | But they hamstrung her; and on the morrow were repentant, |
| 158 | For they were seized by the torment. Verily there was a sign in this, but most of them did not believe. |
| 159 | Yet verily your Lord is mighty and merciful. |
| 160 | The people of Lot accused the messengers of lies. |
| 161 | When their brother Lot said to them: "Will you not take heed? |
| 162 | I have been sent as a trusted messenger to you. |
| 163 | So fear God and listen to me. |
| 164 | I ask no recompense of you for this. My reward is due from none but the Lord of all the worlds. |
| 165 | Why do you go for males unlike all other creatures |
| 166 | Leaving the consorts your Lord has made for you? But you are a people who exceed the bounds." |
| 167 | They said: "If you do not desist, O Lot, you will be expelled (from the city)." |
| 168 | (Lot) said: "I am disgusted with your actions," |
| 169 | (And prayed:) "O Lord, save me and my family from what they do." |
| 170 | So We saved him and his whole family |
| 171 | Except one old woman who remained behind. |
| 172 | Then We destroyed the rest of them, |
| 173 | And rained on them a shower (of Stones). How terrible was the rain (that fell) on those who had been warned! |
| 174 | Verily in this was a sign, but most of them do not believe. |
| 175 | Yet surely your Lord is mighty and powerful. |
| 176 | The people of the Wood too called the messengers liars. |
| 177 | When Shu'aib said to them: "Will you not take heed? |
| 178 | I have been sent as a trusted messenger to you. |
| 179 | So fear God and follow me. |
| 180 | I ask no recompense of you for this. My reward is due from none but the Lord of all the worlds. |
| 181 | Give full measure and do not cheat; |
| 182 | Weigh on an even balance. |
| 183 | And do not withhold from people what belongs to them, and do not corrupt the land; |
| 184 | And fear Him who created you and all the earlier people." |
| 185 | They said: "Surely you are deluded. |
| 186 | You are nothing but a man like us, and we think you are a liar. |
| 187 | But in case you are speaking the truth, then make a segment of the sky to fall upon us." |
| 188 | (Shu'aib) said: "My Lord knows well what you are doing." |
| 189 | But they denied him, and We seized them with the torment of the Day of Shadowing (when the cloud had rained down fire). It was indeed the torment of a terrible day! |
| 190 | Verily in this was a sign, but most of them do not believe. |
| 191 | Yet verily your Lord is mighty and merciful. |
| 192 | And this (Qur'an) is a revelation from the Lord of all the worlds, |
| 193 | Which the trusted spirit descended with |
| 194 | To (communicate) to your heart that you may be a warner |
| 195 | In eloquent Arabic. |
| 196 | This is (indicated) in the Books of earlier people. |
| 197 | Was it not a proof for them that the learned men of Israel knew about this? |
| 198 | Had We revealed it to a man of obscure tongue |
| 199 | And he had recited it to them, and they had not believed (it would have been different). |
| 200 | Thus do We cause (unbelief) to enter the hearts of sinners. |
| 201 | They will not believe it until they behold the painful punishment. |
| 202 | It will come upon them unawares, and they will not comprehend it. |
| 203 | Then will they say: "Can we be given respite?" |
| 204 | Do they wish Us then to hasten the punishment? |
| 205 | Just think: If We let them enjoy (the good things of life) for a few years more, |
| 206 | And then what they were promised comes upon them, |
| 207 | Of what avail shall their enjoyment be to them? |
| 208 | Never have We destroyed a habitation till We had sent admonishers to them |
| 209 | To warn. For We are never unjust. |
| 210 | The devils did not bring it down: |
| 211 | They are not worthy of it, nor have they power. |
| 212 | They have been precluded from hearing it. |
| 213 | So call on no other god but God, lest you are condemned to torment; |
| 214 | And warn your near relations, |
| 215 | And take those believers under your wing who follow you. |
| 216 | If they do not obey you, tell them: "I am not responsible for what you do." |
| 217 | Have trust in the Mighty, the Merciful, |
| 218 | Who watches you when you get up, |
| 219 | And your movements among those who bow in homage to God. |
| 220 | He is all-hearing and all-knowing. |
| 221 | Should I tell you on whom the devils descend? |
| 222 | They come down to every mendacious sinner, |
| 223 | Who listens to you (for spreading rumours); but most of them are liars. |
| 224 | As for the poets, only those who go astray follow them. |
| 225 | Have you not seen that they wander distract in every valley, |
| 226 | And they say what they do not do, |
| 227 | Except those who believe and do the right, and remember God a great deal, who retaliate only when they have been wronged. Yet the oppressors will now come to know through what reversals they will be overthrown! |