37
37. As-Saffat - Those who set the Ranks
| 1 | I CALL TO witness those who stand arrayed in rows, |
| 2 | And those who restrain by reprimanding, |
| 3 | And those who recite the Reminder, |
| 4 | Verily your God is One, |
| 5 | The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them, and the Lord of the Easts. |
| 6 | He decked the nearest heavens with ornaments of stars, |
| 7 | Protecting them against every wayward devil, |
| 8 | So that they are not able to listen to the angels of higher (echelons), and are pelted from all sides |
| 9 | And kept far away. There is perpetual punishment for them, |
| 10 | Except those who eavesdrop and are pursued by a shooting flame. |
| 11 | So ask them if they are more difficult to create, or the rest We have created? Indeed (man) We created from fermented clay. |
| 12 | Yet while you are filled with wonder, they just scoff; |
| 13 | And when they are warned they pay no heed. |
| 14 | When they see a sign, they laugh at it, |
| 15 | And say: "This is only magic. |
| 16 | When we are dead and turned to dust and bones, how can we be raised again, |
| 17 | And our fathers too?" |
| 18 | You say: "Yes; and you will be lowly made." |
| 19 | There will only be a single jerk, and they will gape, |
| 20 | And say: "Ah woe! This is the Day of Reckoning." |
| 21 | "(Yes,) this is the Day of Judgement you had called a lie." |
| 22 | Gather all the wicked together and their comrades, and those they had worshipped |
| 23 | Other than God," (the angels will be told), "then show them the way to Hell, |
| 24 | And detain them, for they will be questioned." |
| 25 | "What is the matter with you that you do not help each other?" |
| 26 | They will submit to questioning then, |
| 27 | And some of them will confront the others, |
| 28 | Saying: "It were you who imposed yourselves upon us." |
| 29 | They will say: "No, you were the ones who would not believe. |
| 30 | We had no power over you. In fact, you were a people rebellious. |
| 31 | The sentence of our Lord has come true for us. We have certainly to taste (the punishment), |
| 32 | For we had led you astray. In fact we ourselves were astray." |
| 33 | So, they will become partners in punishment. |
| 34 | That is how We deal with sinners. |
| 35 | They were those who, when it was said to them, "There is no god but God," behaved with insolence, |
| 36 | And said: "Should we abandon our gods for the sake of an insane poet?" |
| 37 | Not in the least. He has brought the truth and confirmed the other messengers. |
| 38 | You will indeed taste a painful punishment, |
| 39 | And be rewarded but only for what you had done, |
| 40 | Except the chosen creatures of God, |
| 41 | Whose provision is predetermined -- |
| 42 | Fruits of every kind, and they will be honoured |
| 43 | In gardens of delight, |
| 44 | (Sitting) on couches, face to face, |
| 45 | With cups from a flowing stream being passed around, |
| 46 | Clear, delicious to drink, |
| 47 | Neither dulling the senses nor intoxicating, |
| 48 | And with them maidens of modest look and large lustrous eyes, |
| 49 | Like sheltered eggs in a nest. |
| 50 | Then one turned to the other in an enquiry. |
| 51 | Said one of the speakers: "I had a friend |
| 52 | Who used to say: 'Are you one of those who can testify to the truth? |
| 53 | (Do you think) we would be paid back our due when we are dead and reduced to dust and bones?' |
| 54 | He said: 'Will you look down?' |
| 55 | He looked down and saw (his friend) in the midst of Hell. |
| 56 | 'By God', he said, 'you had almost ruined me. |
| 57 | Had it not been for the grace of my Lord I too would have been there (in Hell). |
| 58 | (Another will say:)"Is it true, we are not going to die |
| 59 | Other than our first death, and we shall not be punished? |
| 60 | This will indeed be great happiness. |
| 61 | For this the toilers should strive." |
| 62 | Is this better or the tree of Zaqqum |
| 63 | Which We have reserved as punishment for evil-doers? |
| 64 | It is a tree that grows at the bottom of Hell. |
| 65 | Its spathes are like the prickly pear. |
| 66 | They will eat and fill their bellies with it, |
| 67 | Washing it down with boiling water. |
| 68 | Then to Hell they will surely be returned. |
| 69 | They had found their fathers astray, |
| 70 | Yet they hasten to follow in their footsteps. |
| 71 | So had many an earlier people gone astray, |
| 72 | And We had sent admonishers to them. |
| 73 | Look, then how was the end of those who had been warned, |
| 74 | Other than the chosen creatures of God. |
| 75 | Noah had verily called to Us. And how gracious was He who answered (him). |
| 76 | We saved him and his family from the great affliction, |
| 77 | And made his progeny survive, |
| 78 | And left (his name) for posterity. |
| 79 | Peace on Noah among all men. |
| 80 | That is how We reward those who do good. |
| 81 | Surely he was among Our faithful creatures. |
| 82 | Afterwards We drowned the others. |
| 83 | And Abraham indeed was of his inducement, |
| 84 | When he came to his Lord with a heart compliant, |
| 85 | When he said to his father and his people: "What is this you worship? |
| 86 | Why do you solicit false gods instead of God? |
| 87 | What do you imagine the Lord of the worlds to be?" |
| 88 | Then he looked up at the stars (they worshipped), |
| 89 | And said: "I am sick (of what you worship)!" |
| 90 | But they turned their backs on him and went away. |
| 91 | Then he turned towards their gods and said: "Why do you not eat (of these offerings)? |
| 92 | What is wrong with you that you do not speak?" |
| 93 | Then he started striking them down with his right hand. |
| 94 | So the people descended upon him. |
| 95 | "Why do you worship these you carve yourselves," he asked, |
| 96 | "When God has created you and what you make?" |
| 97 | "Build a pyre for him and throw him into the raging fire." |
| 98 | So they contrived a plot against him, but We made them abject. |
| 99 | And he said: "I am going away to my Lord who will show me the way. |
| 100 | (And he prayed:) "O Lord, grant me a righteous son." |
| 101 | So We gave him the good news of a clement son. |
| 102 | When he was old enough to go about with him, he said: "O my son, I dreamt that I was sacrificing you. Consider, what you think?" He replied: "Father, do as you are commanded. If God pleases you will find me firm." |
| 103 | When they submitted to the will of God, and (Abraham) laid (his son) down prostrate on his temple, |
| 104 | We called out: "O Abraham, |
| 105 | You have fulfilled your dream." Thus do We reward the good. |
| 106 | That was indeed a trying test. |
| 107 | So We ransomed him for a great sacrifice, |
| 108 | And left (his hallowed memory) for posterity. |
| 109 | Peace be on Abraham. |
| 110 | That is how We reward those who do good. |
| 111 | He is truly among Our faithful creatures. |
| 112 | So We gave him the good news of Isaac, apostle, who is among the righteous. |
| 113 | And We blessed him and Isaac. Among their descendants are some who do good, but some who wrong themselves. |
| 114 | We were indeed gracious to Moses and Aaron, |
| 115 | And saved them and their people from great distress, |
| 116 | And helped them, so they were victorious. |
| 117 | We gave them the explicit Book, |
| 118 | And showed them the straight path, |
| 119 | And left (their remembrance) for posterity. |
| 120 | Peace be on Moses and Aaron. |
| 121 | That is how We reward those who do good. |
| 122 | They are among Our faithful devotees. |
| 123 | Verily Elias is one of the apostles. |
| 124 | When he said to his people: "Will you not be mindful of God? |
| 125 | Would you call on Baal and leave the best of creators, |
| 126 | God, your Lord, and the Lord of your fathers?" |
| 127 | They denied him, and will surely be brought to punishment, |
| 128 | Except the chosen creatures of God. |
| 129 | And We left his (memory) for posterity. |
| 130 | Peace be on Elias. |
| 131 | That is how We reward those who do good. |
| 132 | He is truly among Our faithful devotees. |
| 133 | Verily Lot was one of the apostles, |
| 134 | Wherefore We saved him and his entire family |
| 135 | Except an old woman who was one of those who stayed behind. |
| 136 | Then We destroyed the others. |
| 137 | You pass by (their habitations) in the morning |
| 138 | Or at night. Then how is it you do not understand? |
| 139 | Verily Jonah is one of the apostles. |
| 140 | When he fled on the laden ship, |
| 141 | And lots were cast (when a storm overtook them), he was rejected, (and thrown overboard). |
| 142 | Then he was swallowed by a large fish as he was worthy of blame. |
| 143 | Had he not been one of those who struggled hard, |
| 144 | He would have stayed in its belly till the day the dead are raised. |
| 145 | So We cast him, sick, on a barren shore, |
| 146 | And We made a gourd tree grow over him. |
| 147 | We sent him to a hundred thousand men or more, |
| 148 | And they came to believe; so We allowed them to enjoy the good things of life for an age. |
| 149 | Now ask them if their Lord has daughters, and they sons? |
| 150 | Or did We make the angels females, and they witnessed it? |
| 151 | Is it not a lie invented by them when they say: |
| 152 | "God has begotten (children)?" They are liars indeed! |
| 153 | Does He prefer sons to daughters? |
| 154 | What ails you that you judge in such a wise? |
| 155 | Why do you not reflect? |
| 156 | Or have you received some clear authority? |
| 157 | Then bring your scripture, if what you say is true. |
| 158 | They link Him with jinns by lineage, yet the jinns know they will be brought before Him. |
| 159 | God is too glorious for what they ascribe to Him |
| 160 | Except His chosen creatures who do not. |
| 161 | So neither you nor those you worship |
| 162 | Can mislead anyone away from Him, |
| 163 | Except one who is (destined) to burn in Hell. |
| 164 | "There is not one of us who does not have his appointed place," (declare the angels.) |
| 165 | "And we are truly those who stand in rows, |
| 166 | And we are those who sing hallelujas to Him." |
| 167 | They used to say: |
| 168 | If we had the account of earlier people with us, |
| 169 | We would have been the chosen creatures of God." |
| 170 | Yet now (that it has come) they refuse to believe in it; but they will come to know soon. |
| 171 | Our word had already been given before to Our votaries, the apostles, -- |
| 172 | That they would be helped, |
| 173 | And that certainly Our armies will be victorious. |
| 174 | So you ignore them for a time |
| 175 | And wait; they will come to know soon. |
| 176 | Do they want to hasten Our punishment? |
| 177 | When it comes down on their plains, it will be an evil dawn for those who had been warned. |
| 178 | So turn away from them for a time |
| 179 | And watch; they will come to know soon. |
| 180 | Too glorious is your Lord, the Lord of power, for what they ascribe to Him. |
| 181 | So peace be on the messengers, |
| 182 | And all praise to God, the Lord of all the worlds. |