Al Shu'araa

1 Ta Sin Mim.

1 Ta. Sin. Mim.

2 These are the verses of the Book that makes (things) clear.

2 These are verses of the Book that makes (things) clear.

3 Perhaps you will kill yourself with grief because they do not believe.

3 It may be thou frettest thy soul with grief, that they do not become Believers.

4 If We please, We should send down upon them a sign from the heaven so that their necks should stoop to it.

4 If (such) were Our Will, We could send down to them from the sky a Sign, to which they would bend their necks in humility.

5 And there does not come to them a new reminder from the Beneficent Allah but they turn aside from it.

5 But there comes not to them a newly - revealed Message from (Allah) Most Gracious, but they turn away therefrom.

6 So they have indeed rejected (the truth), therefore the news of that which they mock shall soon come to them.

6 They have indeed rejected (the Message): so they will know soon (enough) the truth of what they mocked at!

7 Do they not see the earth, how many of every noble kind We have caused to grow in it?

7 Do they not look at the earth, - how many noble things of all kinds We have produced therein?

8 Most surely there is a sign in that, but most of them will not believe.

8 Verily, in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe.

9 And most surely your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful.

9 And verily, thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.

10 And when your Lord called out to Musa, saying: Go to the unjust people,

10 Behold, thy Lord called Moses: "Go to the people of iniquity, -

11 The people of Firon: Will they not guard (against evil)?

11 "The people of the Pharaoh: will they not fear Allah?"

12 He said: O my Lord! surely I fear that they will reject me;

12 He said: "O my Lord! I do fear that they will charge me with falsehood:

13 And by breast straitens, and my tongue is not eloquent, therefore send Thou to Haroun (to help me);

13 "My breast will be straitened. And my speech may not go (smoothly): so send unto Aaron.

14 And they have a crime against me, therefore I fear that they may slay me.

14 "And (further), they have a charge of crime against me; and I fear they may slay me."

15 He said: By no means, so go you both with Our signs; surely We are with you, hearing;

15 Allah said: "By no means! proceed then, both of you, with Our Signs; We are with you, and will listen (to your call).

16 Then come to Firon and say: Surely we are the apostles of the Lord of the worlds:

16 "So go forth, both of you, to Pharaoh, and say: 'We have been sent by the Lord and Cherisher of the worlds;

17 Then send with us the children of Israel.

17 "'Send thou with us the Children of Israel.'"

18 (Firon) said: Did we not bring you up as a child among us, and you tarried among us for (many) years of your life?

18 (Pharaoh) said: "Did we not cherish thee as a child among us, and didst thou not stay in our midst many years of thy life?

19 And you did (that) deed of yours which you did, and you are one of the ungrateful.

19 "And thou didst a deed of thine which (thou knowest) thou didst, and thou art an ungrateful (wretch)!"

20 He said: I did it then while I was of those unable to see the right course;

20 Moses said: "I did it then, when I was in error.

21 So I fled from you when I feared you, then my Lord granted me wisdom and made me of the apostles;

21 "So I fled from you (all) when I feared you; but my Lord has (since) invested me with judgment (and wisdom) and appointed me as one of the messengers.

22 And is it a favor of which you remind me that you have enslaved the children of Israel?

22 "And this is the favour with which thou dost reproach me, - that thou hast enslaved the Children of Israel!"

23 Firon said: And what is the Lord of the worlds?

23 Pharaoh said: "And what is the 'Lord and Cherisher of the worlds'?"

24 He said: The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, if you would be sure.

24 (Moses) said: "The Lord and Cherisher of the heavens and the earth, and all between, - if ye want to be quite sure."

25 (Firon) said to those around him: Do you not hear?

25 (Pharaoh) said to those around: "Did ye not listen (to what he says)?"

26 He said: Your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of old.

26 (Moses) said: "Your Lord and the Lord of your fathers from the beginning!"

27 Said he: Most surely your Apostle who is sent to you is mad.

27 (Pharaoh) said: "Truly your messenger who has been sent to you is a veritable madman!"

28 He said: The Lord of the east and the west and what is between them, if you understand.

28 (Moses) said: "Lord of the East and the West, and all between! if ye only had sense!"

29 Said he: If you will take a god besides me, I will most certainly make you one of the imprisoned.

29 (Pharaoh) said: "If thou dost put forward any god other than me, I will certainly put thee in prison!"

30 He said: What! even if I bring to you something manifest?

30 (Moses) said: "Even if I showed you something clear (and) convincing?"

31 Said he: Bring it then, if you are of the truthful ones.

31 (Pharaoh) said: "Show it then, if thou tellest the truth!"

32 So he cast down his rod, and lo! it was an obvious serpent,

32 So (Moses) threw his rod, and behold, it was a serpent, plain (for all to see)!

33 And he drew forth his hand, and lo! it appeared white to the onlookers.

33 And he drew out his hand, and behold, it was white to all beholders!

34 (Firon) said to the chiefs around him: Most surely this is a skillful magician,

34 (Pharaoh) said to the Chiefs around him: "This is indeed a sorcerer well - versed:

35 Who desires to turn you out of your land with his magic; what is it then that you advise?

35 "His plan is to get you out of your land by his sorcery; then what is it ye counsel?"

36 They said: Give him and his brother respite and send heralds into the cities

36 They said: "Keep him and his brother in suspense (for a while), and dispatch to the Cities heralds to collect -

37 That they should bring to you every skillful magician.

37 "And bring up to thee all (our) sorcerers well - versed."

38 So the magicians were gathered together at the appointed time on the fixed day,

38 So the sorcerers were got together for the appointment of a day well - known,

39 And it was said to the people: Will you gather together?

39 And the people were told: "Are ye (now) assembled? -

40 Haply we may follow the magicians, if they are the vanquishers.

40 "That we may follow the sorcerers (in religion) if they win?"

41 And when the magicians came, they said to Firon: Shall we get a reward if we are the vanquishers?

41 So when the sorcerers arrived, they said to Pharaoh: "Of course - shall we have a (suitable) reward if we win?

42 He said: Yes, and surely you will then be of those who are made near.

42 He said: "Yea, (and more), - for ye shall in that case be (raised to posts) nearest (to my person)."

43 Musa said to them: Cast what you are going to cast.

43 Moses said to them: "Throw ye - that which ye are about to throw!"

44 So they cast down their cords and their rods and said: By Firon's power, we shall most surely be victorious.

44 So they threw their ropes and their rods, and said: "By the might of Pharaoh, it is we who will certainly win!"

45 Then Musa cast down his staff and lo! it swallowed up the lies they told.

45 Then Moses threw his rod, when, behold, it straightway swallows up all the falsehoods which they fake!

46 And the magicians were thrown down prostrate;

46 Then did the sorcerers fall down, prostrate in adoration,

47 They said: We believe in the Lord of the worlds:

47 Saying: "We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,

48 The Lord of Musa and Haroun.

48 "The Lord of Moses and Aaron."

49 Said he: You believe in him before I give you permission; most surely he is the chief of you who taught you the magic, so you shall know: certainly I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and certainly I will crucify you all.

49 Said (Pharaoh): "Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? surely he is your leader, who has taught you sorcery! but soon shall ye know! Be sure I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will cause you all to die on the cross!"

50 They said: No harm; surely to our Lord we go back;

50 They said: "No matter! for us, we shall but return to our Lord!

51 Surely we hope that our Lord will forgive us our wrongs because we are the first of the believers.

51 "Only, our desire is that our Lord will forgive us our faults, that we may become foremost among the believers!"

52 And We revealed to Musa, saying: Go away with My servants travelling by night, surely you will be pursued.

52 By inspiration we told Moses: "Travel by night with my servants; for surely ye shall be pursued."

53 So Firon sent heralds into the cities;

53 Then Pharaoh sent heralds to (all) the Cities,

54 Most surely these are a small company;

54 (Saying): "These (Israelites) are but a small band,

55 And most surely they have enraged us;

55 "And they are raging furiously against us;

56 And most surely we are a vigilant multitude.

56 "But we are a multitude amply fore - warned."

57 So We turned them out of gardens and springs,

57 So We expelled them from gardens, springs,

58 And treasures and goodly dwellings,

58 Treasures, and every kind of honourable position;

59 Even so. And We gave them as a heritage to the children of Israel.

59 Thus it was, but We made the Children of Israel inheritors of such things.

60 Then they pursued them at sunrise.

60 So they pursued them at sunrise.

61 So when the two hosts saw each other, the companions of Musa cried out: Most surely we are being overtaken.

61 And when the two bodies saw each other, the people of Moses said: "We are sure to be overtaken."

62 He said: By no means; surely my Lord is with me: He will show me a way out.

62 (Moses) said: "By no means! my Lord is with me! Soon will He guide me!"

63 Then We revealed to Musa: Strike the sea with your staff. So it had cloven asunder, and each part was like a huge mound.

63 Then We told Moses by inspiration: "Strike the sea with thy rod." So it divided, and each separate part became like the huge, firm mass of a mountain.

64 And We brought near, there, the others.

64 And We made the other party approach thither.

65 And We saved Musa and those with him, all of them.

65 We delivered Moses and all who were with him;

66 Then We drowned the others.

66 But We drowned the others.

67 Most surely there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe.

67 Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe.

68 And most surely your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful.

68 And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.

69 And recite to them the story of Ibrahim.

69 And rehearse to them (something of) Abraham's story.

70 When he said to his father and his people: What do you worship?

70 Behold, he said to his father and his people: "What worship ye?"

71 They said: We worship idols, so we shall be their votaries.

71 They said: "We worship idols, and we remain constantly in attendance on them."

72 He said: Do they hear you when you call?

72 He said: "Do they listen to you when ye call (on them)?"

73 Or do they profit you or cause you harm?

73 "Or do you good or harm?"

74 They said: Nay, we found our fathers doing so.

74 They said: "Nay, but we found our fathers doing thus (what we do)."

75 He said: Have you then considered what you have been worshipping:

75 He said: "Do ye then see whom ye have been worshipping, -

76 You and your ancient sires.

76 "Ye and your fathers before you? -

77 Surely they are enemies to me, but not (so) the Lord of the worlds;

77 "For they are enemies to me; not so the Lord and Cherisher of the Worlds;

78 Who created me, then He has shown me the way:

78 "Who created me, and it is He Who guides me;

79 And He Who gives me to eat and gives me to drink:

79 "Who gives me food and drink,

80 And when I am sick, then He restores me to health

80 "And when I am ill, it is He Who cures me;

81 And He Who will cause me to die, then give me life;

81 "Who will cause me to die, and then to life (again);

82 And Who, I hope, will forgive me my mistakes on the day of judgment.

82 "And who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the day of Judgment.

83 My Lord: Grant me wisdom, and join me with the good

83 "O my Lord! bestow wisdom on me, and join me with the righteous;

84 And ordain for me a goodly mention among posterity

84 "Grant me honourable mention on the tongue of truth among the latest (generations);

85 And make me of the heirs of the garden of bliss

85 "Make me one of the inheritors of the Garden of Bliss;

86 And forgive my father, for surely he is of those who have gone astray;

86 "Forgive my father, for that he is among those astray;

87 And disgrace me not on the day when they are raised

87 "And let me not be in disgrace on the Day when (men) will be raised up; -

88 The day on which property will not avail, nor sons

88 "The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail,

89 Except him who comes to Allah with a heart free (from evil).

89 "But only he (will prosper) that brings to Allah a sound heart;

90 And the garden shall be brought near for those who guard (against evil),

90 "To the righteous, the Garden will be brought near,

91 And the hell shall be made manifest to the erring ones,

91 "And to those straying in Evil, the Fire will be placed in full view;

92 And it shall be said to them: Where are those that you used to worship;

92 "And it shall be said to them: 'Where are the (gods) ye worshipped -

93 Besides Allah? Can they help you or yet help themselves?

93 "'Besides Allah? Can they help you or help themselves?'

94 So they shall be thrown down into it, they and the erring ones,

94 "Then they will be thrown headlong into the (Fire), - they and those straying in Evil,

95 And the hosts of the Shaitan, all.

95 "And the whole hosts of Iblis together.

96 They shall say while they contend therein:

96 "They will say there in their mutual bickerings:

97 By Allah! we were certainly in manifest error,

97 "'By Allah, we were truly in an error manifest,

98 When we made you equal to the Lord of the worlds;

98 "'When we held you as equals with the Lord of the Worlds;

99 And none but the guilty led us astray;

99 "'And our seducers were only those who were steeped in guilt.

100 So we have no intercessors,

100 "'Now, then, we have none to intercede (for us),

101 Nor a true friend;

101 "'Nor a single friend to feel (for us).

102 But if we could but once return, we would be of the believers.

102 "'Now if we only had a chance of return we shall truly be of those who believe!'"

103 Most surely there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe.

103 Verily in this is a Sign but most of them do not believe.

104 And most surely your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful.

104 And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.

105 The people of Nuh rejected the apostles.

105 The people of Noah rejected the messengers.

106 When their brother Nuh said to them: Will you not guard (against evil)?

106 Behold, their brother Noah said to them: "Will ye not fear (Allah)?

107 Surely I am a faithful apostle to you;

107 "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust:

108 Therefore guard against (the punishment of) Allah and obey me

108 "So fear Allah, and obey me.

109 And I do not ask you any reward for it; my reward is only with the Lord of the worlds:

109 "No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds:

110 So guard against (the punishment of) Allah and obey me.

110 "So fear Allah, and obey me."

111 They said: Shall we believe in you while the meanest follow you?

111 They said: "Shall we believe in thee when it is the meanest that follow thee?"

112 He said: And what knowledge have I of what they do?

112 He said: "And what do I know as to what they do?

113 Their account is only with my Lord, if you could perceive

113 "Their account is only with my Lord, if ye could (but) understand.

114 And I am not going to drive away the believers;

114 "I am not one to drive away those who believe.

115 I am naught but a plain warner.

115 "I am sent only to warn plainly in public."

116 They said: If you desist not, O Nuh, you shall most certainly be of those stoned to death.

116 They said: "If thou desist not, O Noah! thou shalt be stoned (to death)."

117 He said: My Lord! Surely my people give me the lie!

117 He said: "O my Lord! truly my people have rejected me.

118 Therefore judge Thou between me and them with a (just) judgment, and deliver me and those who are with me of the believers.

118 "Judge Thou, then, between me and them openly, and deliver me and those of the Believers who are with me."

119 So We delivered him and those with him in the laden ark.

119 So We delivered him and those with him, in the Ark filled (with all creatures).

120 Then We drowned the rest afterwards

120 Thereafter We drowned those who remained behind.

121 Most surely there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe.

121 Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe.

122 And most surely your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful.

122 And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.

123 Ad gave the lie to the apostles.

123 The 'Ad (people) rejected the messengers.

124 When their brother Hud said to them: Will you not guard (against evil)?

124 Behold, their brother Hud said to them: "Will ye not fear (Allah)?

125 Surely I am a faithful apostle to you;

125 "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust:

126 Therefore guard against (the punishment of) Allah and obey me:

126 "So fear Allah and obey me.

127 And I do not ask you any reward for it; surely my reward is only with the Lord of the worlds

127 "No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds.

128 Do you build on every height a monument? Vain is it that you do:

128 "Do ye build a landmark on every high place to amuse yourselves?

129 And you make strong fortresses that perhaps you may

129 "And do ye get for yourselves fine buildings in the hope of living therein (for ever)?

130 And when you lay hands (on men) you lay hands (like) tyrants;

130 "And when ye exert your strong hand, do ye do it like men of absolute power?

131 So guard against (the punishment of) Allah and obey me

131 "Now fear Allah, and obey me.

132 And be careful of (your duty to) Him Who has given you abundance of what you know.

132 "Yea, fear Him Who has bestowed on you freely all that ye know.

133 He has given you abundance of cattle and children

133 "Freely has He bestowed on you cattle and sons, -

134 And gardens and fountains;

134 "And Gardens and Springs.

135 Surely I fear for you the chastisement of a grievous day

135 "Truly I fear for you the Penalty of a Great Day."

136 They said: It is the same to us whether you admonish or are not one of the admonishers

136 They said: "It is the same to us whether thou admonish us or be not among (our) admonishers!

137 This is naught but a custom of the ancients;

137 "This is no other than a customary device of the ancients,

138 And we are not going to be punished.

138 "And we are not the ones to receive Pains and Penalties!"

139 So they gave him the lie, then We destroyed them. Most surely there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe.

139 So they rejected him, and We destroyed them. Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe.

140 And most surely your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful.

140 And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.

141 Samood gave the lie to the apostles

141 The Thamud (people) rejected the messengers.

142 When their brother Salih said to them: Will you not guard (against evil)?

142 Behold, their brother Salih said to them: "Will you not fear (Allah)?

143 Surely I am a faithful apostle to you

143 "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust.

144 Therefore guard against (the punishment of) Allah and obey me:

144 "So fear Allah, and obey me.

145 And I do not ask you any reward for it; my reward is only with the Lord of the worlds:

145 "No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds.

146 Will you be left secure in what is here;

146 "Will ye be left secure, in (the enjoyment of) all that ye have here? -

147 In gardens and fountains,

147 "Gardens and Springs,

148 And cornfields and palm - trees having fine spadices?

148 "And corn - fields and date - palms with spathes near breaking (with the weight of fruit)?

149 And you hew houses out of the mountains exultingly;

149 "And ye carve houses out of (rocky) mountains with great skill.

150 Therefore guard against (the punishment of) Allah and obey me;

150 "But fear Allah and obey me;

151 And do not obey the bidding of the extravagant,

151 "And follow not the bidding of those who are extravagant, -

152 Who make mischief in the land and do not act aright.

152 "Who make mischief in the land, and mend not (their ways)."

153 They said: You are only of the deluded ones;

153 They said: "Thou art only one of those bewitched!

154 You are naught but a mortal like ourselves; so bring a sign if you are one of the truthful.

154 "Thou art no more than a mortal like us: then bring us a Sign, if thou tellest the truth!"

155 He said: This is a she - camel; she shall have her portion of water, and you have your portion of water on an appointed time;

155 He said: "Here is a she - camel: she has a right of watering, and ye have a right of watering, (severally) on a day appointed.

156 And do not touch her with evil, lest the punishment of a grievous day should overtake you.

156 "Touch her not with harm, lest the Penalty of a Great Day seize you."

157 But they hamstrung her, then regretted;

157 But they ham - strung her: then did they become full of regrets.

158 So the punishment overtook them. Most surely there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe.

158 But the Penalty seized them. Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe.

159 And most surely your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful.

159 And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.

160 The people of Lut gave the lie to the apostles.

160 The people of Lut rejected the messengers.

161 When their brother Lut said to them: Will you not guard (against evil)?

161 Behold, their brother Lut said to them: "Will ye not fear (Allah)?

162 Surely I am a faithful apostle to you;

162 "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust.

163 Therefore guard against (the punishment of) Allah and obey me:

163 "So fear Allah and obey me.

164 And I do not ask you any reward for it; my reward is only with the Lord of the worlds;

164 "No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the lord of the Worlds.

165 What! do you come to the males from among the creatures

165 "Of all the creatures in the world, will ye approach males,

166 And leave what your Lord has created for you of your wives? Nay, you are a people exceeding limits.

166 "And leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your mates? Nay, ye are a people transgressing (all limits)!"

167 They said: If you desist not, O Lut! you shall surely be of those who are expelled.

167 They said: "If thou desist not, O Lut! thou wilt assuredly be cast out!"

168 He said: Surely I am of those who utterly abhor your doing;

168 He said: "I do detest your doings."

169 My Lord! deliver me and my followers from what they do.

169 "O my Lord! deliver me and my family from such things as they do!"

170 So We delivered him and his followers all,

170 So We delivered him and his family, - all

171 Except an old woman, among those who remained behind.

171 Except an old woman who lingered behind.

172 Then We utterly destroyed the others.

172 But the rest We destroyed utterly.

173 And We rained down upon them a rain, and evil was the rain on those warned.

173 We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): and evil was the shower on those who were admonished (but heeded not)!

174 Most surely there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe.

174 Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe.

175 And most surely your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful.

175 And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might Most Merciful.

176 The dwellers of the thicket gave the lie to the apostles.

176 The Companions of the Wood rejected the messengers.

177 When Shu'aib said to them: Will you not guard (against evil)?

177 Behold, Shu'aib said to them: "Will ye not fear (Allah)?

178 Surely I am a faithful apostle to you;

178 "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust.

179 Therefore guard against (the punishment of) Allah and obey me:

179 "So fear Allah and obey me.

180 And I do not ask you any reward for it, my reward is only with the Lord of the worlds;

180 "No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds.

181 Give a full measure and be not of those who diminish;

181 "Give just measure, and cause no loss (to others by fraud).

182 And weigh (things) with a right balance,

182 "And weigh with scales true and upright.

183 And do not wrong men of their things, and do not act corruptly in the earth, making mischief.

183 "And withhold not things justly due to men, nor do evil in the land, working mischief.

184 And guard against (the punishment of) Him who created you and the former nations.

184 "And fear Him Who created you and (who created) the generations before (you)"

185 They said: You are only of those deluded;

185 They said: "Thou art only one of those bewitched!

186 And you are naught but a mortal like ourselves, and we know you to be certainly of the liars.

186 "Thou art no more than a mortal like us, and indeed we think thou art a liar!

187 Therefore cause a portion of the heaven to come down upon us, if you are one of the truthful.

187 "Now cause a piece of the sky to fall on us, if thou art truthful!"

188 He said: My Lord knows best what you do.

188 He said: "My Lord knows best what ye do."

189 But they called him a liar, so the punishment of the day of covering overtook them; surely it was the punishment of a grievous day.

189 But they rejected him. Then the punishment of a day of overshadowing gloom seized them, and that was the Penalty of a Great Day.

190 Most surely there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe.

190 Verily in that is a Sign: but most of them do not believe.

191 And most surely your Lord is Mighty, the Merciful.

191 And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.

192 And most surely this is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.

192 Verily this is a Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds:

193 The Faithful Spirit has descended with it,

193 With it came down the spirit of Faith and Truth -

194 Upon your heart that you may be of the warners

194 To thy heart and mind, that thou mayest admonish.

195 In plain Arabic language.

195 In the perspicuous Arabic tongue.

196 And most surely the same is in the scriptures of the ancients.

196 Without doubt it is (announced) in the mystic Books of former peoples.

197 Is it not a sign to them that the learned men of the Israelites know it?

197 Is it not a Sign to them that the Learned of the Children of Israel knew it (as true)?

198 And if we had revealed it to any of the foreigners

198 Had We revealed it to any of the non - Arabs,

199 So that he should have recited it to them, they would not have believed therein.

199 And had he recited it to them, they would not have believed in it.

200 Thus have We caused it to enter into the hearts of the guilty.

200 Thus have We caused it to enter the hearts of the sinners.

201 They will not believe in it until they see the painful punishment.

201 They will not believe in it until they see the grievous Penalty;

202 And it shall come to them all of a sudden, while they shall not perceive;

202 But the (Penalty) will come to them of a sudden, while they perceive it not;

203 Then they will say: Shall we be respited?

203 Then they will say: "Shall we be respited?"

204 What! do they still seek to hasten on Our punishment?

204 Do they then ask for Our Penalty to be hastened on?

205 Have you then considered if We let them enjoy themselves for years,

205 Seest thou? If We do let them enjoy (this life) for a few years,

206 Then there comes to them that with which they are threatened,

206 Yet there comes to them at length the (Punishment) which they were promised!

207 That which they were made to enjoy shall not avail them?

207 It will profit them not that they enjoyed (this life)!

208 And We did not destroy any town but it had (its) warners,

208 Never did We destroy a population, but had its warners -

209 To remind, and We are never unjust.

209 By way of reminder; and We never are unjust.