Al Zukhruf

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

1 Ha - Mim

2 By the Scripture which maketh plain,

2 By the Book that makes things clear, -

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

3 We have made it a Qur'an in Arabic, that ye may be able to understand (and learn wisdom).

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

4 And verily, it is in the Mother of the Book, in Our Presence, high (in dignity), full of wisdom.

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

5 Shall We then take away the Message from you and repel (you), for that ye are a people transgressing beyond bounds?

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

6 But how many were the prophets We sent amongst the peoples of old?

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

7 And never came there a prophet to them but they mocked him.

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

8 So We destroyed (them) - stronger in power than these; - and (thus) has passed on the Parable of the peoples of old.

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 If thou wert to question them, 'Who created the heavens and the earth?' They would be sure to reply, 'they were created by (Him), the Exalted in Power, Full of Knowledge'; -

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

10 (Yea, the same that) has made for you the earth (like a carpet) spread out, and has made for you roads (and channels) therein, in order that ye may find guidance (on the way);

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 That sends down (from time to time) rain from the sky in due measure; - and We raise to life therewith a land that is dead; even so will ye be raised (from the dead); -

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

12 That has created pairs in all things, and has made for you ships and cattle on which ye ride,

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 In order that ye may sit firm and square on their backs, and when so seated, ye may celebrate the (kind) favour of your Lord, and say, "Glory to Him Who has subjected these to our (use), for we could never have accomplished this (by ourselves),

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

14 "And to our Lord, surely, must we turn back!"

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

15 Yet they attribute to some of His servants a share with Him (in his godhead)! truly is man a blasphemous ingrate avowed!

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

16 What! has He taken daughters out of what He himself creates, and granted to you sons for choice?

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 When news is brought to one of them of (the birth of) what he sets up as a likeness to (Allah) Most Gracious, his face darkens, and he is filled with inward grief!

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

18 Is then one brought up among trinkets, and unable to give a clear account in a dispute (to be associated with 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 make into females angels who themselves serve Allah. Did they witness their creation? Their evidence will be recorded, and they will be called to account!

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 ("Ah!") they say, "If it had been the will of (Allah) Most Gracious, we should not have worshipped such (deities)!" Of that they have no knowledge! they do nothing but lie!

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

21 What! have We given them a Book before this, to which they are holding fast?

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

22 Nay! they say: "We found our fathers following a certain religion, and we do guide ourselves by their footsteps."

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 Just in the same way, whenever We sent a Warner before thee to any people, the wealthy ones among them said: "We found our fathers following a certain religion, and we will certainly follow in their footsteps."

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 He said: "What! Even if I brought you better guidance than that which ye found your fathers following?" They said: "For us, we deny that ye (prophets) are sent (on a mission at all)."

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

25 So We exacted retribution from them: now see what was the end of those who rejected (Truth)!

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

26 Behold! Abraham said to his father and his people: "I do indeed clear myself of what ye worship:

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

27 "(I worship) only Him Who made me, and He will certainly guide me."

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

28 And he left it as a Word to endure among those who came after him, that they may turn back (to Allah).

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 Yea, I have given the good things of this life to these (men) and their fathers, until the Truth has come to them, and a messenger making things clear.

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 sorcery, and we do reject it."

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

31 Also, they say: "Why is not this Qur'an sent down to some leading man in either of the two (chief) 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 Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of thy Lord? It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in the life of this world: and We raise some of them above others in ranks, so that some may command work from others. But the Mercy of thy Lord is better than the (wealth) which they amass.

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 were it not that (all) men might become of one (evil) way of life, We would provide, for everyone that blasphemes against (Allah) Most Gracious, silver roofs for their houses and (silver) stair - ways on which to go up,

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

34 And (silver) doors to their houses, and thrones (of silver) on which they could 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 also adornments of gold. But all this were nothing but conveniences of the present life: The Hereafter, in the sight of thy 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 If anyone withdraws himself from remembrance of (Allah) Most Gracious, We appoint for him an evil one, to be an intimate companion to him.

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

37 Such (evil ones) really hinder them from the Path, but they think that they are being guided aright!

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 At length, when (such a one) comes to Us, he says (to his evil companion): "Would that between me and thee were the distance of East and West!" Ah! evil is the companion (indeed)!

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

39 When ye have done wrong, it will avail you nothing, that Day, that ye shall be partners in Punishment!

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

40 Canst thou then make the deaf to hear, or give direction to the blind or to such as (wander) in manifest error?

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

41 Even if We take thee away, We shall be sure to exact retribution from them,

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

42 Or We shall show thee that (accomplished) which We have promised them: for verily We shall prevail over them.

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

43 So hold thou fast to the Revelation sent down to thee; verily thou art on a Straight Way.

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

44 The (Qur'an) is indeed the message, for thee and for thy people; and soon shall ye (all) be brought to account.

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 question thou our messengers whom We sent before thee; did We appoint any deities other than (Allah) Most Gracious, 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 We did send Moses aforetime, with Our Signs, to Pharaoh and his Chiefs: He said, "I am a messenger of the Lord of the Worlds."

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

47 But when he came to them with Our Signs, behold they ridiculed 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 We showed them Sign after Sign, each greater than its fellow, and We seized them with Punishment, in order that they might turn (to Us).

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, "O thou sorcerer! Invoke thy Lord for us according to His covenant with thee; for we shall truly accept guidance."

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

50 But when We removed the Penalty from them, behold, 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 proclaimed among his people, saying: "O my people! Does not the dominion of Egypt belong to me, (witness) these streams flowing underneath my (palace)? What! see ye not then?

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

52 "Am I not better than this (Moses), who is a contemptible wretch and can scarcely express himself clearly?

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

53 "Then why are not gold bracelets bestowed on him, or (why) come (not) with him angels accompanying him in procession?"

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

54 Thus did he make fools of his people, and they obeyed him: truly were they a people rebellious (against Allah).

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

55 When at length they provoked Us, We exacted retribution from them, and We drowned them all.

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

56 And We made them (a people) of the Past and an Example to later ages.

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

57 When (Jesus) the son of Mary is held up as an example, behold, thy people raise a clamour thereat (in ridicule)!

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 say, "Are our gods best, or he?" This they set forth to thee, only by way of disputation: yea, they are a contentious people.

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

59 He was no more than a servant: We granted Our favour to him, and We made him an example to 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 it were Our Will, We could make angels from amongst you, succeeding each other 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 (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): therefore have no doubt about the (Hour), but follow ye Me: this is a Straight Way.

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

62 Let not the Evil One hinder you: for he is to you an enemy avowed.

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 When Jesus came with Clear Signs, he said: "Now have I come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) on which ye dispute: therefore fear Allah and obey me.

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

64 "For Allah, He is my Lord and your Lord: so worship ye Him: this is a Straight Way."

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

65 But sects from among themselves fell into disagreement: then woe to the wrong - doers, from the Penalty of a Grievous Day!

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

66 Do they only wait for the Hour - that it should come on them all of a sudden, while they perceive not?

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

67 Friends on that day will be foes, one to another, - except the Righteous.

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

68 My devotees! no fear shall be on you that Day, nor shall ye grieve, -

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

69 (Being) those who have believed in Our Signs and bowed (their wills to Ours) in Islam.

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

70 Enter ye the Garden, ye and your wives, in (beauty and) rejoicing.

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 To them will be passed round, dishes and goblets of gold: there will be there all that the souls could desire, all that their eyes could delight in: and ye shall abide therein (for eye).

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

72 Such will be the Garden of which ye are made heirs for your (good) deeds (in life).

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

73 Ye shall have therein abundance of fruit, from which ye shall have satisfaction.

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

74 The sinners will be in the Punishment of Hell, to dwell therein (for aye):

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

75 Nowise will the (Punishment) be lightened for them, and in despair will they be there overwhelmed.

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

76 Nowise shall We be unjust to them: but it is they who have been unjust themselves.

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

77 They will cry: "O Malik! would that thy Lord put an end to us!" He will say, "Nay, but ye shall abide!"

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

78 Verily We have brought the Truth to you: but most of you have a hatred for Truth.

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

79 What! have they settled some plan (among themselves)? But it is We Who settle things.

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 counsels? Indeed (We do), and Our messengers are by them, to record.

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: "If (Allah) Most Gracious had a son, I would be the first to worship."

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

82 Glory to the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of the Throne (of Authority)! (He is free) from the things they attribute (to him)!

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

83 So leave them to babble and play (with vanities) until they meet that Day of theirs, which they have been promised.

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

84 It is He Who is Allah in heaven and Allah on earth; and He is full of Wisdom and Knowledge.

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 all between them: with Him is the Knowledge of the Hour (of Judgment): and to Him shall ye be brought back.

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 whom they invoke besides Allah have no power of intercession; - only he who bears witness to the Truth, and they know (him).

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

87 If thou ask them, who created them, they will certainly say, Allah: How then are they deluded away (from the Truth)?

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

88 (Allah has knowledge) of the (Prophet's) cry, "O my Lord! Truly these are people who will not believe!"

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

89 But turn away from them, and say "Peace!" But soon shall they know!