Al Zukhruf

1 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Ha. Mim.

1 Ha, Meem.

2 By the Scripture which maketh plain,

2 By the clear Book,

3 Lo! We have appointed it a Lecture, in Arabic that haply ye may understand.

3 Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand.

4 And Lo! in the Source of Decrees, which We possess, it is indeed sublime, decisive.

4 And indeed it is, in the Mother of the Book with Us, exalted and full of wisdom.

5 Shall We utterly ignore you because ye are a wanton folk ?

5 Then should We turn the message away, disregarding you, because you are a transgressing people?

6 How many a prophet did We send among the men of old!

6 And how many a prophet We sent among the former peoples,

7 And never came there unto them a prophet but they used to mock him.

7 But there would not come to them a prophet except that they used to ridicule him.

8 Then We destroyed men mightier than these in prowess; and the example of the men of old hath gone (before them).

8 And We destroyed greater than them in [striking] power, and the example of the former peoples has preceded.

9 And if thou (Muhammad) ask them: Who created the heavens and the earth, they will surely answer: The Mighty, the Knower created them;

9 And if you should ask them, "Who has created the heavens and the earth?" they would surely say, "They were created by the Exalted in Might, the Knowing."

10 Who made the earth a resting - place for you, and placed roads for you therein, that haply ye may find your way;

10 [The one] who has made for you the earth a bed and made for you upon it roads that you might be guided

11 And Who sendeth down water from the sky in (due) measure, and We revive a dead land therewith. Even so will ye be brought forth;

11 And who sends down rain from the sky in measured amounts, and We revive thereby a dead land - thus will you be brought forth -

12 He Who created all the pairs, and appointed for you ships and cattle whereupon ye ride.

12 And who created the species, all of them, and has made for you of ships and animals those which you mount.

13 That ye may mount upon their backs, and may remember your Lord's favour when ye mount thereon, and may say: Glorified be He Who hath subdued these unto us, and we were not capable (of subduing them);

13 That you may settle yourselves upon their backs and then remember the favor of your Lord when you have settled upon them and say. "Exalted is He who has subjected this to us, and we could not have [otherwise] subdued it.

14 And lo! unto our Lord we surely are returning.

14 And indeed we, to our Lord, will [surely] return."

15 And they allot to Him a portion of His bondmen! Lo! man is verily a mere ingrate.

15 But they have attributed to Him from His servants a portion. Indeed, man is clearly ungrateful.

16 Or chooseth He daughters of all that He hath created, and honoureth He you with sons ?

16 Or has He taken, out of what He has created, daughters and chosen you for [having] sons?

17 And if one of them hath tidings of that which he likeneth to the Beneficent One, his countenance becometh black and he is full of inward rage.

17 And when one of them is given good tidings of that which he attributes to the Most Merciful in comparison, his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief.

18 (Liken they then to Allah) that which is bred up in outward show, and in dispute cannot make itself plain ?

18 So is one brought up in ornaments while being during conflict unevident [attributed to Allah]?

19 And they make the angels, who are the slaves of the Beneficent, females. Did they witness their creation ? Their testimony will be recorded and they will be questioned.

19 And they have made the angels, who are servants of the Most Merciful, females. Did they witness their creation? Their testimony will be recorded, and they will be questioned.

20 And they say: If the Beneficent One had (so) willed, we should not have worshipped them. They have no knowledge whatsoever of that. They do but guess.

20 And they said, "If the Most Merciful had willed, we would not have worshipped them." They have of that no knowledge. They are not but falsifying.

21 Or have We given them any scripture before (this Qur'an) so that they are holding fast thereto ?

21 Or have We given them a book before the Qur'an to which they are adhering?

22 Nay, for they say only: Lo! we found our fathers following a religion, and we are guided by their footprints.

22 Rather, they say, "Indeed, we found our fathers upon a religion, and we are in their footsteps [rightly] guided."

23 And even so We sent not a warner before thee (Muhammad) into any township but its luxurious ones said: Lo! we found our fathers following a religion, and we are following their footprints.

23 And similarly, We did not send before you any warner into a city except that its affluent said, "Indeed, we found our fathers upon a religion, and we are, in their footsteps, following."

24 (And the warner) said: What! Even though I bring you better guidance than that ye found your fathers following ? They answered: Lo! in what ye bring we are disbelievers.

24 [Each warner] said, "Even if I brought you better guidance than that [religion] upon which you found your fathers?" They said, "Indeed we, in that with which you were sent, are disbelievers."

25 So We requited them. Then see the nature of the consequence for the rejecters!

25 So we took retribution from them; then see how was the end of the deniers.

26 And when Abraham said unto his father and his folk: Lo! I am innocent of what ye worship

26 And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said to his father and his people, "Indeed, I am disassociated from that which you worship

27 Save Him Who did create me, for He will surely guide me.

27 Except for He who created me; and indeed, He will guide me."

28 And he made it a word enduring among his seed, that haply they might return.

28 And he made it a word remaining among his descendants that they might return [to it].

29 Nay, but I let these and their fathers enjoy life (only) till there should come unto them the Truth and a messenger making plain.

29 However, I gave enjoyment to these [people of Makkah] and their fathers until there came to them the truth and a clear Messenger.

30 And now that the Truth hath come unto them they say: This is mere magic, and lo! we are disbelievers therein.

30 But when the truth came to them, they said, "This is magic, and indeed we are, concerning it, disbelievers."

31 And they say: If only this Qur'an had been revealed to some great man of the two towns ?

31 And they said, "Why was this Qur'an not sent down upon a great man from [one of] the two cities?"

32 Is it they who apportion thy Lord's mercy ? We have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of the world, and raised some of them above others in rank that some of them may take labour from others; and the mercy of thy Lord is better than (the wealth) that they amass.

32 Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world and have raised some of them above others in degrees [of rank] that they may make use of one another for service. But the mercy of your Lord is better than whatever they accumulate.

33 And were it not that mankind would have become one community, We might well have appointed, for those who disbelieve in the Beneficent, roofs of silver for their houses and stairs (of silver) whereby to mount,

33 And if it were not that the people would become one community [of disbelievers], We would have made for those who disbelieve in the Most Merciful - for their houses - ceilings and stairways of silver upon which to mount

34 And for their houses doors (of silver) and couches of silver whereon to recline,

34 And for their houses - doors and couches [of silver] upon which to recline

35 And ornaments of gold. Yet all that would have been but a provision of the life of the world. And the Hereafter with your Lord would have been for those who keep from evil.

35 And gold ornament. But all that is not but the enjoyment of worldly life. And the Hereafter with your Lord is for the righteous.

36 And he whose sight is dim to the remembrance of the Beneficent, We assign unto him a devil who becometh his comrade;

36 And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the Most Merciful - We appoint for him a devil, and he is to him a companion.

37 And lo! they surely turn them from the way of Allah, and yet they deem that they are rightly guided;

37 And indeed, the devils avert them from the way [of guidance] while they think that they are [rightly] guided

38 Till, when he cometh unto Us, he saith (unto his comrade): Ah, would that between me and thee there were the distance of the two horizons - an evil comrade!

38 Until, when he comes to Us [at Judgement], he says [to his companion], "Oh, I wish there was between me and you the distance between the east and west - how wretched a companion."

39 And it profiteth you not this day, because ye did wrong, that ye will be sharers in the doom.

39 And never will it benefit you that Day, when you have wronged, that you are [all] sharing in the punishment.

40 Canst thou (Muhammad) make the deaf to hear, or canst thou guide the blind or him who is in error manifest ?

40 Then will you make the deaf hear, [O Muhammad], or guide the blind or he who is in clear error?

41 And if We take thee away, We surely shall take vengeance on them,

41 And whether [or not] We take you away [in death], indeed, We will take retribution upon them.

42 Or (if) We show thee that wherewith We threaten them; for lo! We have complete command of them.

42 Or whether [or not] We show you that which We have promised them, indeed, We are Perfect in Ability.

43 So hold thou fast to that which is inspired in thee. Lo! thou art on a right path.

43 So adhere to that which is revealed to you. Indeed, you are on a straight path.

44 And lo! it is in truth a Reminder for thee and for thy folk; and ye will be questioned.

44 And indeed, it is a remembrance for you and your people, and you [all] are going to be questioned.

45 And ask those of Our messengers whom We sent before thee: Did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped beside the Beneficent ?

45 And ask those We sent before you of Our messengers; have We made besides the Most Merciful deities to be worshipped?

46 And verily We sent Moses with Our revelations unto Pharaoh and his chiefs, and he said: I am a messenger of the Lord of the Worlds.

46 And certainly did We send Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his establishment, and he said, "Indeed, I am the messenger of the Lord of the worlds."

47 But when he brought them Our tokens, behold! they laughed at them.

47 But when he brought them Our signs, at once they laughed at them.

48 And every token that We showed them was greater than its sister (token), and We grasped them with the torment, that haply they might turn again.

48 And We showed them not a sign except that it was greater than its sister, and We seized them with affliction that perhaps they might return [to faith].

49 And they said: O wizard! Entreat thy Lord for us by the pact that He hath made with thee. Lo! we verily will walk aright.

49 And they said [to Moses], "O magician, invoke for us your Lord by what He has promised you. Indeed, we will be guided."

50 But when We eased them of the torment, behold! they broke their word.

50 But when We removed from them the affliction, at once they broke their word.

51 And Pharaoh caused a proclamation to be made among his people saying: O my people! Is not mine the sovereignty of Egypt and these rivers flowing under me ? Can ye not then discern ?

51 And Pharaoh called out among his people; he said, "O my people, does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing beneath me; then do you not see?

52 I am surely better than this fellow, who is despicable and can hardly make (his meaning) plain!

52 Or am I [not] better than this one who is insignificant and hardly makes himself clear?

53 Why, then, have armlets of gold not been set upon him, or angels sent along with him ?

53 Then why have there not been placed upon him bracelets of gold or come with him the angels in conjunction?"

54 Thus he persuaded his people to make light (of Moses), and they obeyed him. Lo! they were a wanton folk.

54 So he bluffed his people, and they obeyed him. Indeed, they were [themselves] a people defiantly disobedient [of Allah].

55 So, when they angered Us, We punished them and drowned them every one.

55 And when they angered Us, We took retribution from them and drowned them all.

56 And We made them a thing past, and an example for those after (them).

56 And We made them a precedent and an example for the later peoples.

57 And when the son of Mary is quoted as an example, behold! the folk laugh out,

57 And when the son of Mary was presented as an example, immediately your people laughed aloud.

58 And say: Are our gods better, or is he ? They raise not the objection save for argument. Nay! but they are a contentious folk.

58 And they said, "Are your gods better, or is he?" They did not present the comparison except for [mere] argument. But, [in fact], they are a people prone to dispute.

59 He is nothing but a slave on whom We bestowed favour, and We made him a pattern for the Children of Israel.

59 Jesus was not but a servant upon whom We bestowed favor, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel.

60 And had We willed We could have set among you angels to be viceroys in the earth.

60 And if We willed, We could have made [instead] of you angels succeeding [one another] on the earth.

61 And lo! verily there is knowledge of the Hour. So doubt ye not concerning it, but follow Me. This is the right path.

61 And indeed, Jesus will be [a sign for] knowledge of the Hour, so be not in doubt of it, and follow Me. This is a straight path.

62 And let not Satan turn you aside. Lo! he is an open enemy for you.

62 And never let Satan avert you. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.

63 When Jesus came with clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty), he said: I have come unto you with wisdom, and to make plain some of that concerning which ye differ. So keep your duty to Allah, and obey me.

63 And when Jesus brought clear proofs, he said, "I have come to you with wisdom and to make clear to you some of that over which you differ, so fear Allah and obey me.

64 Lo! Allah, He is my Lord and your Lord. So worship Him. This is a right path.

64 Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is a straight path."

65 But the factions among them differed. Then woe unto those who do wrong from the doom of a painful day.

65 But the denominations from among them differed [and separated], so woe to those who have wronged from the punishment of a painful Day.

66 Await they aught save the Hour, that it shall come upon them suddenly, when they know not ?

66 Are they waiting except for the Hour to come upon them suddenly while they perceive not?

67 Friends on that day will be foes one to another, save those who kept their duty (to Allah).

67 Close friends, that Day, will be enemies to each other, except for the righteous

68 O My slaves! For you there is no fear this day, nor is it ye who grieve;

68 [To whom Allah will say], "O My servants, no fear will there be concerning you this Day, nor will you grieve,

69 (Ye) who believed Our revelations and were self - surrendered,

69 [You] who believed in Our verses and were Muslims.

70 Enter the Garden, ye and your wives, to be made glad.

70 Enter Paradise, you and your kinds, delighted."

71 Therein are brought round for them trays of gold and goblets, and therein is all that souls desire and eyes find sweet. And ye are immortal therein.

71 Circulated among them will be plates and vessels of gold. And therein is whatever the souls desire and [what] delights the eyes, and you will abide therein eternally.

72 This is the Garden which ye are made to inherit because of what ye used to do.

72 And that is Paradise which you are made to inherit for what you used to do.

73 Therein for you is fruit in plenty whence to eat.

73 For you therein is much fruit from which you will eat.

74 Lo! the guilty are immortal in hell's torment.

74 Indeed, the criminals will be in the punishment of Hell, abiding eternally.

75 It is not relaxed for them, and they despair therein.

75 It will not be allowed to subside for them, and they, therein, are in despair.

76 We wronged them not, but they it was who did the wrong.

76 And We did not wrong them, but it was they who were the wrongdoers.

77 And they cry: O master! Let thy Lord make an end of us. He saith: Lo! here ye must remain.

77 And they will call, "O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us!" He will say, "Indeed, you will remain."

78 We verily brought the Truth unto you, but ye were, most of you, averse to the Truth.

78 We had certainly brought you the truth, but most of you, to the truth, were averse.

79 Or do they determine any thing (against the Prophet) ? Lo! We (also) are determining.

79 Or have they devised [some] affair? But indeed, We are devising [a plan].

80 Or deem they that We cannot hear their secret thoughts and private confidences ? Nay, but Our envoys, present with them, do record.

80 Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private conversations? Yes, [We do], and Our messengers are with them recording.

81 Say (O Muhammad): If the Beneficent One hath a son, then, I shall be first among the worshippers. (But there is no son).

81 Say, [O Muhammad], "If the Most Merciful had a son, then I would be the first of [his] worshippers."

82 Glorified be the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of the Throne, from that which they ascribe (unto Him)!

82 Exalted is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe.

83 So let them flounder (in their talk) and play until they meet the Day which they are promised.

83 So leave them to converse vainly and amuse themselves until they meet their Day which they are promised.

84 And He it is Who in the heaven is God, and in the earth God. He is the Wise, the Knower.

84 And it is Allah who is [the only] deity in the heaven, and on the earth [the only] deity. And He is the Wise, the Knowing.

85 And blessed be He unto Whom belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, and with Whom is knowledge of the Hour, and unto Whom ye will be returned.

85 And blessed is He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them and with whom is knowledge of the Hour and to whom you will be returned.

86 And those unto whom they cry instead of Him possess no power of intercession, saving him who beareth witness unto the Truth knowingly.

86 And those they invoke besides Him do not possess [power of] intercession; but only those who testify to the truth [can benefit], and they know.

87 And if thou ask them who created them, they will surely say: Allah. How then are they turned away ?

87 And if you asked them who created them, they would surely say, "Allah." So how are they deluded?

88 And he saith: O my Lord! Lo! these are a folk who believe not.

88 And [Allah acknowledges] his saying, "O my Lord, indeed these are a people who do not believe."

89 Then bear with them (O Muhammad) and say: Peace. But they will come to know.

89 So turn aside from them and say, "Peace." But they are going to know.