Al Saffat

1 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. By those who set the ranks in battle order

1 I swear by those who draw themselves out in ranks

2 And those who drive away (the wicked) with reproof

2 Then those who drive away with reproof,

3 And those who read (the Word) for a reminder,

3 Then those who recite, being mindful,

4 Lo! thy Lord is surely One;

4 Most surely your Allah is One:

5 Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all that is between them, and Lord of the sun's risings.

5 The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, and Lord of the easts.

6 Lo! We have adorned the lowest heaven with an ornament, the planets;

6 Surely We have adorned the nearest heaven with an adornment, the stars,

7 With security from every froward devil.

7 And (there is) a safeguard against every rebellious Shaitan.

8 They cannot listen to the Highest Chiefs for they are pelted from every side,

8 They cannot listen to the exalted assembly and they are thrown at from every side,

9 Outcast, and theirs is a perpetual torment;

9 Being driven off, and for them is a perpetual chastisement,

10 Save him who snatcheth a fragment, and there pursueth him a piercing flame.

10 Except him who snatches off but once, then there follows him a brightly shining flame.

11 Then ask them (O Muhammad): Are they stronger as a creation, or those (others) whom we have created ? Lo! We created them of plastic clay.

11 Then ask them whether they are stronger in creation or those (others) whom We have created. Surely We created them of firm clay.

12 Nay, but thou dost marvel when they mock

12 Nay! you wonder while they mock,

13 And heed not when they are reminded,

13 And when they are reminded, they mind not,

14 And seek to scoff when they behold a portent.

14 And when they see a sign they incite one another to scoff,

15 And they say: Lo! this is mere magic;

15 And they say: This is nothing but clear magic:

16 When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, be raised (again) ?

16 What! when we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then certainly be raised,

17 And our forefathers ?

17 Or our fathers of yore?

18 Say (O Muhammad): Ye, in truth; and ye will be brought low.

18 Say: Aye! and you shall be abject.

19 There is but one Shout, and lo! they behold,

19 So it shall only be a single cry, when lo! they shall see.

20 And say: Ah, woe for us! This is the Day of Judgment.

20 And they shall say: O woe to us! this is the day of requital.

21 This is the Day of Separation, which ye used to deny.

21 This is the day of the judgment which you called a lie.

22 (And it is said unto the angels): Assemble those who did wrong, together with their wives and what they used to worship

22 Gather together those who were unjust and their associates, and what they used to worship

23 Instead of Allah, and lead them to the path to hell;

23 Besides Allah, then lead them to the way to hell.

24 And stop them, for they must be questioned.

24 And stop them, for they shall be questioned:

25 What aileth you that ye help not one another ?

25 What is the matter with you that you do not help each other?

26 Nay, but this day they make full submission.

26 Nay! on that day they shall be submissive.

27 And some of them draw near unto others, mutually questioning.

27 And some of them shall advance towards others, questioning each other.

28 They say: Lo! ye used to come unto us, imposing, (swearing that ye spoke the truth).

28 They shall say: Surely you used to come to us from the right side.

29 They answer: Nay, but ye (yourselves) were not believers.

29 They shall say: Nay, you (yourselves) were not believers;

30 We had no power over you, but ye were wayward folk.

30 And we had no authority over you, but you were an inordinate people;

31 Now the Word of our Lord hath been fulfilled concerning us. Lo! we are about to taste (the doom).

31 So the sentence of our Lord has come to pass against us: (now) we shall surely taste;

32 Thus we misled you. Lo! we were (ourselves) astray.

32 So we led you astray, for we ourselves were erring.

33 Then lo! this day they (both) are sharers in the doom.

33 So they shall on that day be sharers in the chastisement one with another.

34 Lo! thus deal We with the guilty.

34 Surely thus do We deal with the guilty.

35 For when it was said unto them, There is no God save Allah, they were scornful

35 Surely they used to behave proudly when it was said to them: There is no god but Allah;

36 And said: Shall we forsake our gods for a mad poet ?

36 And to say: What! shall we indeed give up our gods for the sake of a mad poet?

37 Nay, but he brought the Truth, and he confirmed those sent (before him).

37 Nay: he has come with the truth and verified the apostles.

38 Lo! (now) verily ye taste the painful doom -

38 Most surely you will taste the painful punishment.

39 Ye are requited naught save what ye did -

39 And you shall not be rewarded except (for) what you did.

40 Save single - minded slaves of Allah;

40 Save the servants of Allah, the purified ones.

41 For them there is a known provision,

41 For them is a known sustenance,

42 Fruits. And they will be honoured

42 Fruits, and they shall be highly honored,

43 In the Gardens of delight,

43 In gardens of pleasure,

44 On couches facing one another;

44 On thrones, facing each other.

45 A cup from a gushing spring is brought round for them,

45 A bowl shall be made to go round them from water running out of springs,

46 White, delicious to the drinkers,

46 White, delicious to those who drink.

47 Wherein there is no headache nor are they made mad thereby.

47 There shall be no trouble in it, nor shall they be exhausted therewith.

48 And with them are those of modest gaze, with lovely eyes,

48 And with them shall be those who restrain the eyes, having beautiful eyes;

49 (Pure) as they were hidden eggs (of the ostrich).

49 As if they were eggs carefully protected.

50 And some of them draw near unto others, mutually questioning.

50 Then shall some of them advance to others, questioning each other.

51 A speaker of them saith: Lo! I had a comrade

51 A speaker from among them shall say: Surely I had a comrade of mine,

52 Who used to say: Art thou in truth of those who put faith (in his words) ?

52 Who said: What! are you indeed of those who accept (the truth)?

53 Can we, when we are dead and have become mere dust and bones - can we (then) verily be brought to book ?

53 What! when we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then be certainly brought to judgment?

54 He saith: Will ye look ?

54 He shall say: Will you look on?

55 Then looketh he and seeth him in the depth of hell.

55 Then he looked down and saw him in the midst of hell.

56 He saith: By Allah, thou verily didst all but cause my ruin,

56 He shall say: By Allah! you had almost caused me to perish;

57 And had it not been for the favour of my Lord, I too had been of those haled forth (to doom).

57 And had it not been for the favor of my Lord, I would certainly have been among those brought up.

58 Are we then not to die

58 Is it then that we are not going to die,

59 Saving our former death, and are we not to be punished ?

59 Except our previous death? And we shall not be chastised?

60 Lo! this is the supreme triumph.

60 Most surely this is the mighty achievement.

61 For the like of this, then, let the workers work.

61 For the like of this then let the workers work.

62 Is this better as a welcome, or the tree of Zaqqum ?

62 Is this better as an entertainment or the tree of Zaqqum?

63 Lo! We have appointed it a torment for wrong - doers.

63 Surely We have made it to be a trial to the unjust.

64 Lo! it is a tree that springeth in the heart of hell.

64 Surely it is a tree that - grows in the bottom of the hell;

65 Its crop is as it were the heads of devils

65 Its produce is as it were the heads of the serpents.

66 And lo! they verily must eat thereof, and fill (their) bellies therewith.

66 Then most surely they shall eat of it and fill (their) bellies with it.

67 And afterward, lo! thereupon they have a drink of boiling water

67 Then most surely they shall have after it to drink of a mixture prepared in boiling water.

68 And afterward, lo! their return is surely unto hell.

68 Then most surely their return shall be to hell.

69 They indeed found their fathers astray,

69 Surely they found their fathers going astray,

70 But they make haste (to follow) in their footsteps.

70 So in their footsteps they are being hastened on.

71 And verily most of the men of old went astray before them,

71 And certainly most of the ancients went astray before them,

72 And verily We sent among them warners.

72 And certainly We sent among them warners.

73 Then see the nature of the consequence for those warned,

73 Then see how was the end of those warned,

74 Save single - minded slaves of Allah.

74 Except the servants of Allah, the purified ones.

75 And Noah verily prayed unto Us, and gracious was the Hearer of his prayer

75 And Nuh did certainly call upon Us, and most excellent answerer of prayer are We.

76 And We saved him and his household from the great distress,

76 And We delivered him and his followers from the mighty distress.

77 And made his seed the survivors,

77 And We made his offspring the survivors.

78 And left for him among the later folk (the salutation):

78 And We perpetuated to him (praise) among the later generations.

79 Peace be unto Noah among the peoples!

79 Peace and salutation to Nuh among the nations.

80 Lo! thus do We reward the good.

80 Thus do We surely reward the doers of good.

81 Lo! he is one of Our believing slaves.

81 Surely he was of Our believing servants.

82 Then We did drown the others.

82 Then We drowned the others

83 And lo! of his persuasion verily was Abraham

83 And most surely Ibrahim followed his way.

84 When he came unto his Lord with a whole heart;

84 When he came to his Lord with a free heart,

85 When he said unto his father and his folk: What is it that ye worship ?

85 When he said to his father and his people: What is it that you worship?

86 Is it a falsehood - gods beside Allah - that ye desire ?

86 A lie - - gods besides Allah - - do you desire?

87 What then is your opinion of the Lord of the Worlds ?

87 What is then your idea about the Lord of the worlds?

88 And he glanced a glance at the stars

88 Then he looked at the stars, looking up once,

89 Then said: Lo! I feel sick!

89 Then he said: Surely I am sick (of your worshipping these).

90 And they turned their backs and went away from him.

90 So they went away from him, turning back.

91 Then turned he to their gods and said: Will ye not eat ?

91 Then he turned aside to their gods secretly and said: What! do you not eat?

92 What aileth you that ye speak not ?

92 What is the matter with you that you do not speak?

93 Then he attacked them, striking with his right hand.

93 Then he turned against them secretly, smiting them with the right hand.

94 And (his people) came toward him, hastening.

94 So they (people) advanced towards him, hastening.

95 He said: Worship ye that which ye yourselves do carve

95 Said he: What! do you worship what you hew out?

96 When Allah hath created you and what ye make ?

96 And Allah has created you and what you make.

97 They said: Build for him a building and fling him in the red - hotfire.

97 They said: Build for him a furnace, then cast him into the burning fire.

98 And they designed a snare for him, but We made them the undermost.

98 And they desired a war against him, but We brought them low.

99 And he said: Lo! I am going unto my Lord Who will guide me.

99 And he said: Surely I fly to my lord; He will guide me.

100 My Lord! Vouchsafe me of the righteous.

100 My Lord! grant me of the doers of good deeds.

101 So We gave him tidings of a gentle son.

101 So We gave him the good news of a boy, possessing forbearance.

102 And when (his son) was old enough to walk with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice thee. So look, what thinkest thou ? He said: O my father! Do that which thou art commanded. Allah willing, thou shalt find me of the steadfast.

102 And when he attained to working with him, he said: O my son! surely I have seen in a dream that I should sacrifice you; consider then what you see. He said: O my father! do what you are commanded; if Allah please, you will find me of the patient ones.

103 Then, when they had both surrendered (to Allah), and he had flung him down upon his face,

103 So when they both submitted and he threw him down upon his forehead,

104 We called unto him: O Abraham!

104 And We called out to him saying: O Ibrahim!

105 Thou hast already fulfilled the vision. Lo! thus do We reward the good.

105 You have indeed shown the truth of the vision; surely thus do We reward the doers of good:

106 Lo! that verily was a clear test.

106 Most surely this is a manifest trial.

107 Then We ransomed him with a tremendous victim.

107 And We ransomed him with a Feat sacrifice.

108 And We left for him among the later folk (the salutation):

108 And We perpetuated (praise) to him among the later generations.

109 Peace be unto Abraham!

109 Peace be on Ibrahim.

110 Thus do We reward the good.

110 Thus do We reward the doers of good.

111 Lo! he is one of Our believing slaves.

111 Surely he was one of Our believing servants.

112 And we gave him tidings of the birth of Isaac, a prophet of the righteous.

112 And We gave him the good news of Ishaq, a prophet among the good ones.

113 And We blessed him and Isaac. And of their seed are some who do good, and some who plainly wrong themselves.

113 And We showered Our blessings on him and on Ishaq; and of their offspring are the doers of good, and (also) those who are clearly unjust to their own souls.

114 And We verily gave grace unto Moses and Aaron,

114 And certainly We conferred a favor on Musa and Haroun.

115 And saved them and their people from the great distress,

115 And We delivered them both and their people from the mighty distress.

116 And helped them so that they became the victors.

116 And We helped them, so they were the vanquishers.

117 And We gave them the clear Scripture

117 And We gave them both the Book that made (things) clear.

118 And showed them the right path.

118 And We guided them both on the right way.

119 And We left for them among the later folk (the salutation):

119 And We perpetuated (praise) to them among the later generations.

120 Peace be unto Moses and Aaron!

120 Peace be on Musa and Haroun.

121 Lo! thus do We reward the good.

121 Even thus do We reward the doers of good.

122 Lo! they are two of Our believing slaves.

122 Surely they were both of Our believing servants.

123 And lo! Elias was of those sent (to warn),

123 And Ilyas was most surely of the apostles.

124 When he said unto his folk: Will ye not ward off (evil) ?

124 When he said to his people: Do you not guard (against evil)?

125 Will ye cry unto Baal and forsake the Best of creators,

125 What! do you call upon Ba'l and forsake the best of the creators,

126 Allah, your Lord and Lord of your forefathers ?

126 Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore?

127 But they denied him, so they surely will be haled forth (to the doom)

127 But they called him a liar, therefore they shall most surely be brought up.

128 Save single - minded slaves of Allah.

128 But not the servants of Allah, the purified ones.

129 And we left for him among the later folk (the salutation):

129 And We perpetuated to him (praise) among the later generations.

130 Peace be unto Elias!

130 Peace be on Ilyas.

131 Lo! thus do We reward the good.

131 Even thus do We reward the doers of good.

132 Lo! he is one of our believing slaves.

132 Surely he was one of Our believing servants.

133 And lo! Lot verily was of those sent (to warn).

133 And Lut was most surely of the apostles.

134 When We saved him and his household, every one,

134 When We delivered him and his followers, all - -

135 Save an old woman among those who stayed behind;

135 Except an old woman (who was) amongst those who tarried.

136 Then We destroyed the others.

136 Then We destroyed the others.

137 And lo! ye verily pass by (the ruin of) them in the morning

137 And most surely you pass by them in the morning,

138 And at night - time; have ye then no sense ?

138 And at night; do you not then understand?

139 And lo! Jonah verily was of those sent (to warn)

139 And Yunus was most surely of the apostles.

140 When he fled unto the laden ship,

140 When he ran away to a ship completely laden,

141 And then drew lots and was of those rejected;

141 So he shared (with them), but was of those who are cast off.

142 And the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy;

142 So the fish swallowed him while he did that for which he blamed himself

143 And had he not been one of those who glorify (Allah)

143 But had it not been that he was of those who glorify (Us),

144 He would have tarried in its belly till the day when they are raised;

144 He would certainly have tarried in its belly to the day when they are raised.

145 Then We cast him on a desert shore while he was sick;

145 Then We cast him on to the vacant surface of the earth while he was sick.

146 And We caused a tree of gourd to grow above him;

146 And We caused to grow up for him a gourdplant.

147 And We sent him to a hundred thousand (folk) or more

147 And We sent him to a hundred thousand, rather they exceeded.

148 And they believed, therefor We gave them comfort for a while.

148 And they believed, so We gave them provision till a time.

149 Now ask them (O Muhammad): Hath thy Lord daughters whereas they have sons ?

149 Then ask them whether your Lord has daughters and they have sons.

150 Or created We the angels females while they were present ?

150 Or did We create the angels females while they were witnesses?

151 Lo! it is of their falsehood that they say:

151 Now surely it is of their own lie that they say:

152 Allah hath begotten. Allah! verily they tell a lie.

152 Allah has begotten; and most surely they are liars.

153 (And again of their falsehood): He hath preferred daughters to sons.

153 Has He chosen daughters in preference to sons?

154 What aileth you ? How judge ye ?

154 What is the matter with you, how is it that you judge?

155 Will ye not then reflect ?

155 Will you not then mind?

156 Or have ye a clear warrant ?

156 Or have you a clear authority?