Al Saffat

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

1 By those [angels] lined up in rows

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

2 And those who drive [the clouds]

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

3 And those who recite the message,

4 Lo! thy Lord is surely One;

4 Indeed, your God 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 Lord of the heavens and the earth and that between them and Lord of the sunrises.

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

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

7 With security from every froward devil.

7 And as protection against every rebellious devil

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

8 [So] they may not listen to the exalted assembly [of angels] and are pelted from every side,

9 Outcast, and theirs is a perpetual torment;

9 Repelled; and for them is a constant punishment,

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

10 Except one who snatches [some words] by theft, but they are pursued by a burning flame, piercing [in brightness].

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 inquire of them, [O Muhammad], "Are they a stronger [or more difficult] creation or those [others] We have created?" Indeed, We created men from sticky clay.

12 Nay, but thou dost marvel when they mock

12 But you wonder, while they mock,

13 And heed not when they are reminded,

13 And when they are reminded, they remember not.

14 And seek to scoff when they behold a portent.

14 And when they see a sign, they ridicule

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

15 And say, "This is not but obvious magic.

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

16 When we have died and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?

17 And our forefathers ?

17 And our forefathers [as well]?"

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

18 Say, "Yes, and you will be [rendered] contemptible."

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

19 It will be only one shout, and at once they will be observing.

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

20 They will say, "O woe to us! This is the Day of Recompense."

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

21 [They will be told], "This is the Day of Judgement which you used to deny."

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

22 [The angels will be ordered], "Gather those who committed wrong, their kinds, and what they used to worship

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

23 Other than Allah, and guide them to the path of Hellfire

24 And stop them, for they must be questioned.

24 And stop them; indeed, they are to be questioned."

25 What aileth you that ye help not one another ?

25 [They will be asked], "What is [wrong] with you? Why do you not help each other?"

26 Nay, but this day they make full submission.

26 But they, that Day, are in surrender.

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

27 And they will approach one another blaming each other.

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

28 They will say, "Indeed, you used to come at us from the right."

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

29 The oppressors will say, "Rather, you [yourselves] were not believers,

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

30 And we had over you no authority, but you were a transgressing people.

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

31 So the word of our Lord has come into effect upon us; indeed, we will taste [punishment].

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

32 And we led you to deviation; indeed, we were deviators."

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

33 So indeed they, that Day, will be sharing in the punishment.

34 Lo! thus deal We with the guilty.

34 Indeed, that is how We deal with the criminals.

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

35 Indeed they, when it was said to them, "There is no deity but Allah," were arrogant

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

36 And were saying, "Are we to leave our gods for a mad poet?"

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

37 Rather, the Prophet has come with the truth and confirmed the [previous] messengers.

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

38 Indeed, you [disbelievers] will be tasters of the painful punishment,

39 Ye are requited naught save what ye did -

39 And you will not be recompensed except for what you used to do -

40 Save single - minded slaves of Allah;

40 But not the chosen servants of Allah.

41 For them there is a known provision,

41 Those will have a provision determined -

42 Fruits. And they will be honoured

42 Fruits; and they will be honored

43 In the Gardens of delight,

43 In gardens of pleasure

44 On couches facing one another;

44 On thrones facing one another.

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

45 There will be circulated among them a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring,

46 White, delicious to the drinkers,

46 White and delicious to the drinkers;

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

47 No bad effect is there in it, nor from it will they be intoxicated.

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

48 And with them will be women limiting [their] glances, with large, [beautiful] eyes,

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

49 As if they were [delicate] eggs, well - protected.

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

50 And they will approach one another, inquiring of each other.

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

51 A speaker among them will say, "Indeed, I had a companion [on earth]

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

52 Who would say, 'Are you indeed of those who believe

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

53 That when we have died and become dust and bones, we will indeed be recompensed?'"

54 He saith: Will ye look ?

54 He will say, "Would you [care to] look?"

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

55 And he will look and see him in the midst of the Hellfire.

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

56 He will say, "By Allah, you almost ruined me.

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

57 If not for the favor of my Lord, I would have been of those brought in [to Hell].

58 Are we then not to die

58 Then, are we not to die

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

59 Except for our first death, and we will not be punished?"

60 Lo! this is the supreme triumph.

60 Indeed, this is the great attainment.

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

61 For the like of this let the workers [on earth] work.

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

62 Is Paradise a better accommodation or the tree of zaqqum?

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

63 Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers.

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

64 Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire,

65 Its crop is as it were the heads of devils

65 Its emerging fruit as if it was heads of the devils.

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

66 And indeed, they will eat from it and fill with it their bellies.

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

67 Then indeed, they will have after it a mixture of scalding water.

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

68 Then indeed, their return will be to the Hellfire.

69 They indeed found their fathers astray,

69 Indeed they found their fathers astray.

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

70 So they hastened [to follow] in their footsteps.

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

71 And there had already strayed before them most of the former peoples,

72 And verily We sent among them warners.

72 And We had already sent among them warners.

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

73 Then look how was the end of those who were warned -

74 Save single - minded slaves of Allah.

74 But not the chosen servants of Allah.

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

75 And Noah had certainly called Us, and [We are] the best of responders.

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

76 And We saved him and his family from the great affliction.

77 And made his seed the survivors,

77 And We made his descendants those remaining [on the earth]

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

78 And left for him [favorable mention] among later generations:

79 Peace be unto Noah among the peoples!

79 "Peace upon Noah among the worlds."

80 Lo! thus do We reward the good.

80 Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.

81 Lo! he is one of Our believing slaves.

81 Indeed, he was of Our believing servants.

82 Then We did drown the others.

82 Then We drowned the disbelievers.

83 And lo! of his persuasion verily was Abraham

83 And indeed, among his kind was Abraham,

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

84 When he came to his Lord with a sound heart

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

85 [And] when he said to his father and his people, "What do you worship?

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

86 Is it falsehood [as] gods other than Allah you desire?

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

87 Then what is your thought about the Lord of the worlds?"

88 And he glanced a glance at the stars

88 And he cast a look at the stars

89 Then said: Lo! I feel sick!

89 And said, "Indeed, I am [about to be] ill."

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

90 So they turned away from him, departing.

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

91 Then he turned to their gods and said, "Do you not eat?

92 What aileth you that ye speak not ?

92 What is [wrong] with you that you do not speak?"

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

93 And he turned upon them a blow with [his] right hand.

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

94 Then the people came toward him, hastening.

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

95 He said, "Do you worship that which you [yourselves] carve,

96 When Allah hath created you and what ye make ?

96 While Allah created you and that which you do?"

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

97 They said, "Construct for him a furnace and throw him into the burning fire."

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

98 And they intended for him a plan, but We made them the most debased.

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

99 And [then] he said, "Indeed, I will go to [where I am ordered by] my Lord; He will guide me.

100 My Lord! Vouchsafe me of the righteous.

100 My Lord, grant me [a child] from among the righteous."

101 So We gave him tidings of a gentle son.

101 So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy.

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 reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, "O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast."

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

103 And when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead,

104 We called unto him: O Abraham!

104 We called to him, "O Abraham,

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

105 You have fulfilled the vision." Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.

106 Lo! that verily was a clear test.

106 Indeed, this was the clear trial.

107 Then We ransomed him with a tremendous victim.

107 And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice,

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

108 And We left for him [favorable mention] among later generations:

109 Peace be unto Abraham!

109 "Peace upon Abraham."

110 Thus do We reward the good.

110 Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.

111 Lo! he is one of Our believing slaves.

111 Indeed, he was 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 good tidings of Isaac, a prophet from among the righteous.

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 blessed him and Isaac. But among their descendants is the doer of good and the clearly unjust to himself.

114 And We verily gave grace unto Moses and Aaron,

114 And We did certainly confer favor upon Moses and Aaron.

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

115 And We saved them and their people from the great affliction,

116 And helped them so that they became the victors.

116 And We supported them so it was they who overcame.

117 And We gave them the clear Scripture

117 And We gave them the explicit Scripture,

118 And showed them the right path.

118 And We guided them on the straight path.

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

119 And We left for them [favorable mention] among later generations:

120 Peace be unto Moses and Aaron!

120 "Peace upon Moses and Aaron."

121 Lo! thus do We reward the good.

121 Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.

122 Lo! they are two of Our believing slaves.

122 Indeed, they were of Our believing servants.

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

123 And indeed, Elias was from among the messengers,

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

124 When he said to his people, "Will you not fear Allah?

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

125 Do you call upon Ba'l and leave the best of creators -

126 Allah, your Lord and Lord of your forefathers ?

126 Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers?"

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

127 And they denied him, so indeed, they will be brought [for punishment],

128 Save single - minded slaves of Allah.

128 Except the chosen servants of Allah.

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

129 And We left for him [favorable mention] among later generations:

130 Peace be unto Elias!

130 "Peace upon Elias."

131 Lo! thus do We reward the good.

131 Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.

132 Lo! he is one of our believing slaves.

132 Indeed, he was of Our believing servants.

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

133 And indeed, Lot was among the messengers.

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

134 [So mention] when We saved him and his family, all,

135 Save an old woman among those who stayed behind;

135 Except his wife among those who remained [with the evildoers].

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 indeed, you pass by them in the morning

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

138 And at night. Then will you not use reason?

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

139 And indeed, Jonah was among the messengers.

140 When he fled unto the laden ship,

140 [Mention] when he ran away to the laden ship.

141 And then drew lots and was of those rejected;

141 And he drew lots and was among the losers.

142 And the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy;

142 Then the fish swallowed him, while he was blameworthy.

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

143 And had he not been of those who exalt Allah,

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

144 He would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected.

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

145 But We threw him onto the open shore while he was ill.

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

146 And We caused to grow over him a gourd vine.

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

147 And We sent him to [his people of] a hundred thousand or more.

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

148 And they believed, so We gave them enjoyment [of life] for a time.

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

149 So inquire of them, [O Muhammad], "Does your Lord have daughters while they have sons?

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

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

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

151 Unquestionably, it is out of their [invented] falsehood that they say,

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

152 " Allah has begotten," and indeed, they are liars.

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

153 Has He chosen daughters over sons?

154 What aileth you ? How judge ye ?

154 What is [wrong] with you? How do you make judgement?

155 Will ye not then reflect ?

155 Then will you not be reminded?

156 Or have ye a clear warrant ?

156 Or do you have a clear authority?