Chapter 21, 112 verses
Their reckoning has drawn near to men, and in heedlessness are they turning aside.
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Their reckoning draweth nigh for mankind, while they turn away in heedlessness.
There comes not to them a new reminder from their Lord but they hear it while they sport,
Never cometh there unto them a new reminder from their Lord but they listen to it while they play,
Their hearts trifling; and those who are unjust counsel together in secret: He is nothing but a mortal like yourselves; what! will you then yield to enchantment while you see?
With hearts preoccupied. And they confer in secret. The wrong - doers say: Is this other than a mortal like you ? Will ye then succumb to magic when ye see (it) ?
He said: My Lord knows what is spoken in the heaven and the earth, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
He saith: My Lord knoweth what is spoken in the heaven and the earth. He is the Hearer, the Knower.
Nay! say they: Medleys of dreams; nay! he has forged it; nay! he is a poet; so let him bring to us a sign as the former (prophets) were sent (with).
Nay, say they, (these are but) muddled dreams; nay, he hath but invented it; nay, he is but a poet. Let him bring us a portent even as those of old (who were God's messengers) were sent (with portents).
There did not believe before them any town which We destroyed, will they then believe?
Not a township believed of those which We destroyed before them (though We sent them portents): would they then believe ?
And We did not send before you any but men to whom We sent revelation, so ask the followers of the reminder if you do not
And We sent not (as Our messengers) before thee other than men, whom We inspired. Ask the followers of the Reminder if ye know not ?
And We did not make them bodies not eating the food, and they were not to abide (forever).
We gave them not bodies that would not eat food, nor were they immortals.
Then We made Our promise good to them, so We delivered them and those whom We pleased, and We destroyed the extravagant.
Then we fulfilled the promise unto them. So we delivered them and whom We would, and We destroyed the prodigals.
Certainly We have revealed to you a Book in which is your good remembrance; what! do you not then understand?
Now We have revealed unto you a Scripture wherein is your Reminder. Have ye then no sense ?
And how many a town which was iniquitous did We demolish, and We raised up after it another people!
How many a community that dealt unjustly have We shattered, and raised up after them another folk!
So when they felt Our punishment, lo! they began to fly
And, when they felt Our might, behold them fleeing from it!
Do not fly (now) and come back to what you were made to lead easy lives in and to your dwellings, haply you will be questioned.
(But it was said unto them): Flee not, but return to that (existence) which emasculated you and to your dwellings, that ye may be questioned.
They said: O woe to us! surely we were unjust.
They cried: Alas for us! we were wrong - doers.
And this ceased not to be their cry till We made them cut off, extinct.
And this their crying ceased not till We made them as reaped corn, extinct.
And We did not create the heaven and the earth and what is between them for sport.
We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in play.
Had We wished to make a diversion, We would have made it from before Ourselves: by no means would We do (it).
If We had wished to find a pastime, We could have found it in Our presence - if We ever did.
Nay! We cast the truth against the falsehood, so that it breaks its head, and lo! it vanishes; and woe to you for what you describe;
Nay, but We hurl the true against the false, and it doth break its head and lo! it vanisheth. And yours will be woe for that which ye ascribe (unto Him).
And whoever is in the heavens and the earth is His; and those who are with Him are not proud to serve Him, nor do they grow weary.
Unto Him belongeth whosoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those who dwell in His presence are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they weary;
They glorify (Him) by night and day; they are never languid.
They glorify (Him) night and day; they flag not.
Or have they taken gods from the earth who raise (the dead).
Or have they chosen gods from the earth who raise the dead ?
If there had been in them any gods except Allah, they would both have certainly been in a state of disorder; therefore glory be to Allah, the Lord of the dominion, above what they attribute (to Him).
If there were therein gods beside Allah, then verily both (the heavens and the earth) had been disordered. Glorified be Allah, the Lord of the Throne, from all that they ascribe (unto Him).
He cannot be questioned concerning what He does and they shall be questioned.
He will not be questioned as to that which He doeth, but they will be questioned.
Or, have they taken gods besides Him? Say: Bring your proof; this is the reminder of those with me and the reminder of those before me. Nay! most of them do not know the truth, so they turn aside.
Or have they chosen other gods beside Him ? say: Bring your proof (of their godhead). This is the Reminder of those with me and those before me, but most of them know not the Truth and so they are averse.
And We did not send before you any apostle but We revealed to him that there is no god but Me, therefore serve Me.
And We sent no messenger before thee but We inspired him, (saying): There is no God save Me (Allah), so worship Me.
And they say: The Beneficent Allah has taken to Himself a son. Glory be to Him. Nay! they are honored servants
And they say: The Beneficent hath taken unto Himself a son. Be He Glorified! Nay, but (those whom they call sons) are honoured slaves;
They do not precede Him in speech and (only) according to His commandment do they act.
They speak not until He hath spoken, and they act by His command.
He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they do not intercede except for him whom He approves and for fear of Him they tremble.
He knoweth what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him whom He accepteth, and they quake for awe of Him.
And whoever of them should say: Surely I am a god besides Him, such a one do We recompense with hell; thus do, We recompense the unjust.
And one of them who should say: Lo! I am a god beside Him, that one We should repay with hell. Thus We Repay wrong - doers.
Do not those who disbelieve see that the heavens and the earth were closed up, but We have opened them; and We have made of water everything living, will they not then believe?
Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were of one piece, then We parted them, and we made every living thing of water ? Will they not then believe ?
And We have made great mountains in the earth lest it might be convulsed with them, and We have made in it wide ways that they may follow a right direction.
And We have placed in the earth firm hills lest it quake with them, and We have placed therein ravines as roads that haply they may find their way.
And We have made the heaven a guarded canopy and (yet) they turn aside from its signs.
And we have made the sky a roof withheld (from them). Yet they turn away from its portents.
And He it is Who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all (orbs) travel along swiftly in their celestial spheres.
And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. They float, each in an orbit.
And We did not ordain abiding for any mortal before you. What! Then if you die, will they abide?
We appointed immortality for no mortal before thee. What! if thou diest, can they be immortal!
Every soul must taste of death and We try you by evil and good by way of probation; and to Us you shall be brought back.
Every soul must taste of death, and We try you with evil and with good, for ordeal. And unto Us ye will be returned.
And when those who disbelieve see you, they do not take you but for one to be scoffed at: Is this he who speaks of your gods? And they are deniers at the mention of the Beneficent Allah.
And when those who disbelieve behold thee, they but choose thee out for mockery, (saying): Is this he who maketh mention of your gods ? And they would deny all mention of the Beneficent.
Man is created of haste; now will I show to you My signs, therefore do not ask Me to hasten (them) on.
Man is made of haste. I shall show you My portents, but ask Me not to hasten.
And they say: When will this threat come to pass if you are truthful?
And they say: When will this promise (be fulfilled), if ye are truthful ?
Had those who disbelieve but known (of the time) when they shall not be able to ward off the fire from their faces nor from their backs, nor shall they be helped.
If those who disbelieved but knew the time when they will not be able to drive off the fire from their faces and from their backs, and they will not be helped!
Nay, it shall come on them all of a sudden and cause them to become confounded, so they shall not have the power to avert it, nor shall they be respited.
Nay, but it will come upon them unawares so that it will stupefy them, and they will be unable to repel it, neither will they be reprieved.
And certainly apostles before you were scoffed at, then there befell those of them who scoffed that at which they had scoffed.
Messengers before thee, indeed, were mocked, but that whereat they mocked surrounded those who scoffed at them.
Say: Who guards you by night and by day from the Beneficent Allah? Nay, they turn aside at the mention of their Lord.
Say: Who guardeth you in the night or in the day from the Beneficent ? Nay, but they turn away from mention of their Lord!
Or, have they gods who can defend them against Us? They shall not be able to assist themselves, nor shall they be defended from Us.
Or have they gods who can shield them from Us ? They cannot help themselves nor can they be defended from Us.
Nay, We gave provision to these and their fathers until life was prolonged to them. Do they not then see that We are visiting the land, curtailing it of its sides? Shall they then prevail?
Nay, but We gave these and their fathers ease until life grew long for them. See they not how we aim to the land, reducing it of its outlying parts ? Can they then be the victors ?
Say: I warn you only by revelation; and the deaf do not hear the call whenever they are warned.
Say (O Muhammad, unto mankind): I warn you only by the Inspiration. But the deaf hear not the call when they are warned.
And if a blast of the chastisement of your Lord were to touch them, they will certainly say: O woe to us! surely we were unjust.
And if a breath of thy Lord's punishment were to touch them, they assuredly would say: Alas for us! Lo! we were wrong - doers.
And We will set up a just balance on the day of resurrection, so no soul shall be dealt with unjustly in the least; and though there be the weight of a grain of mustard seed, (yet) will We bring it, and sufficient are We to take account.
And We set a just balance for the Day of Resurrection so that no soul is wronged in aught. Though it be of the weight of a grain of mustard seed, We bring it. And We suffice for reckoners.
And certainly We gave to Musa and Haroun the Furqan and a light and a reminder for those who would guard (against evil).
And We verily gave Moses and Aaron the Criterion (of right and wrong) and a light and a Reminder for those who keep from evil,
(For) those who fear their Lord in secret and they are fearful of the hour.
Those who fear their Lord in secret and who dread the Hour (of doom).
And this is a blessed Reminder which We have revealed; will you then deny it?
This is a blessed Reminder that we have revealed: Will ye then reject it ?
And certainly We gave to Ibrahim his rectitude before, and We knew him fully well.
And We verily gave Abraham of old his proper course, and We were Aware of him,
When he said to his father and his people: What are these images to whose worship you cleave?
When he said unto his father and his folk: What are these images unto which ye pay devotion ?
They said: We found our fathers worshipping them.
They said: We found our fathers worshippers of them.
He said: Certainly you have been, (both) you and your fathers, in manifest error.
He said: Verily ye and your fathers were in plain error.
They said: Have you brought to us the truth, or are you one of the triflers?
They said: Bringest thou unto us the truth, or art thou some jester ?
He said: Nay! your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Who brought them into existence, and I am of those who bear witness to this:
He said: Nay, but your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Who created them; and I am of those who testify unto that.
And, by Allah! I will certainly do something against your idols after you go away, turning back.
And, by Allah, I shall circumvent your idols after ye have gone away and turned your backs.
So he broke them into pieces, except the chief of them, that haply they may return to it.
Then he reduced them to fragments, all save the chief of them, that haply they might have recourse to it.
They said: Who has done this to our gods? Most surely he is one of the unjust.
They said: Who hath done this to our gods ? Surely it must be some evil - doer.
They said: We heard a youth called Ibrahim speak of them.
They said: We heard a youth make mention of them, who is called Abraham.
Said they: Then bring him before the eyes of the people, perhaps they may bear witness.
They said: Then bring him (hither) before the people's eyes that they may testify.
They said: Have you done this to our gods, O Ibrahim?
They said: Is it thou who hast done this to our gods, O Abraham ?
He said: Surely (some doer) has done it; the chief of them is this, therefore ask them, if they can speak.
He said: But this, their chief hath done it. So question them, if they can speak.
Then they turned to themselves and said: Surely you yourselves are the unjust;
Then gathered they apart and said: Lo! ye yourselves are the wrong - doers.
Then they were made to hang down their heads: Certainly you know that they do not speak.
And they were utterly confounded, and they said: Well thou knowest that these speak not.
He said: What! do you then serve besides Allah what brings you not any benefit at all, nor does it harm you?
He said: Worship ye then instead of Allah that which cannot profit you at all, nor harm you ?
Fie on you and on what you serve besides Allah; what! do you not then understand?
Fie on you and all that ye worship instead of Allah! Have ye then no sense ?
They said: Burn him and help your gods, if you are going to do (anything).
They cried: Burn him and stand by your gods, if ye will be doing.
We said: O fire! be a comfort and peace to Ibrahim;
We said: O fire, be coolness and peace for Abraham,
And they desired a war on him, but We made them the greatest losers.
And they wished to set a snare for him, but We made them the greater losers.
And We delivered him as well as Lut (removing them) to the land which We had blessed for all people.
And We rescued him and Lot (and brought them) to the land which We have blessed for (all) peoples.
And We gave him Ishaq and Yaqoub, a son's son, and We made (them) all good.
And We bestowed upon him Isaac, and Jacob as a grandson. Each of them We made righteous.
And We made them Imams who guided (people) by Our command, and We revealed to them the doing of good and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of the alms, and Us (alone) did they serve;
And We made them chiefs who guide by Our command, and We inspired in them the doing of good deeds and the right establishment of worship and the giving of alms, and they were worshippers of Us (alone).
And (as for) Lut, We gave him wisdom and knowledge, and We delivered him from the town which wrought abominations; surely they were an evil people, transgressors;
And unto Lot we gave judgment and knowledge, and We delivered him from the community that did abominations. Lo! they were folk of evil, lewd.
And We took him into Our mercy; surely he was of the good.
And We brought him in unto Our mercy. Lo! he was of the righteous.
And Nuh, when he cried aforetime, so We answered him, and delivered him and his followers from the great calamity.
And Noah, when he cried of old, We heard his prayer and saved him and his household from the great affliction.
And We helped him against the people who rejected Our communications; surely they were an evil people, so We drowned them all.
And delivered him from the people who denied Our revelations. Lo! they were folk of evil, therefor did We drown them all.
And Dawood and Sulaiman when they gave judgment concerning the field when the people's sheep pastured therein by night, and We were bearers of witness to their judgment.
And David and Solomon, when they gave judgment concerning the field, when people's sheep had strayed and browsed therein by night; and We were witnesses to their judgment.
So We made Sulaiman to understand it; and to each one We gave wisdom and knowledge; and We made the mountains, and the birds to celebrate Our praise with Dawood; and We were the doers.
And We made Solomon to understand (the case); and unto each of them We gave judgment and knowledge. And we subdued the hills and the birds to hymn (His) praise along with David. We were the doers (thereof).
And We taught him the making of coats of mail for you, that they might protect you in your wars; will you then be grateful?
And We taught him the art of making garments (of mail) to protect you in your daring. Are ye then thankful ?
And (We made subservient) to Sulaiman the wind blowing violent, pursuing its course by his command to the land which We had blessed, and We are knower of all things.
And unto Solomon (We subdued) the wind in its raging. It set by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And of everything We are Aware.
And of the rebellious people there were those who dived for him and did other work besides that, and We kept guard over them;
And of the evil ones (subdued We unto him) some who dived (for pearls) for him and did other work, and We were warders unto them.
And Ayub, when he cried to his Lord, (saying): Harm has afflicted me, and Thou art the most Merciful of the merciful.
And Job, when he cried unto his Lord, (saying): Lo! adversity afflicteth me, and Thou art Most Merciful of all who show mercy.
Therefore We responded to him and took off what harm he had, and We gave him his family and the like of them with them: a mercy from Us and a reminder to the worshippers.
Then We heard his prayer and removed that adversity from which he suffered, and We gave him his household (that he had lost) and the like thereof along with them, a mercy from Our store, and a remembrance for the worshippers;
And Ismail and Idris and Zulkifl; all were of the patient ones;
And (mention) Ishmael, and Idris, and Dhu'l - Kifl. All were of the steadfast.
And We caused them to enter into Our mercy, surely they were of the good ones.
And We brought them in unto Our mercy. Lo! they are among the righteous.
And Yunus, when he went away in wrath, so he thought that We would not straiten him, so he called out among afflictions: There is no god but Thou, glory be to Thee; surely I am of those who make themselves to suffer loss.
And (mention) Dhu'n - Nun, when he went off in anger and deemed that We had no power over him, but he cried out in the darkness, saying: There is no God save Thee. Be Thou Glorified! Lo! I have been a wrong - doer.
So We responded to him and delivered him from the grief and thus do We deliver the believers.
Then we heard his prayer and saved him from the anguish. Thus we save believers.
And Zakariya, when he cried to his Lord: O my Lord leave me not alone; and Thou art the best of inheritors.
And Zachariah, when he cried unto his Lord: My Lord! Leave me not childless, though Thou art the Best of inheritors.
So We responded to him and gave him Yahya and made his wife fit for him; surely they used to hasten, one with another In deeds of goodness and to call upon Us, hoping and fearing and they were humble before Us.
Then We heard his prayer, and bestowed upon him John, and adjusted his wife (to bear a child) for him. Lo! they used to vie one with the other in good deeds, and they cried unto Us in longing and in fear, and were submissive unto Us.
And she who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her of Our inspiration and made her and her son a sign for the nations.
And she who was chaste, therefor We breathed into her (something) of Our Spirit and made her and her son a token for (all) peoples.
Surely this Islam is your religion, one religion (only), and I am your Lord, therefore serve Me.
Lo! this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so worship Me.
And they broke their religion (into sects) between them: to Us shall all come back.
And they have broken their religion (into fragments) among them, (yet) all are returning unto Us.
Therefore whoever shall do of good deeds and he is a believer, there shall be no denying of his exertion, and surely We will write (It) down for him.
Then whoso doeth some good works and is a believer, there will be no rejection of his effort. Lo! We record (it) for him.
And it is binding on a town which We destroy that they shall not return.
And there is a ban upon any community which We have destroyed: that they shall not return.
Even when Gog and Magog are let loose and they shall break forth from every elevated place.
Until, when Gog and Magog are let loose, and they hasten out of every mound,
And the true promise shall draw nigh, then lo! the eyes of those who disbelieved shall be fixedly open: O woe to us! surely we were in a state of heedlessness as to this; nay, we were unjust.
And the True Promise draweth nigh; then behold them, staring wide (in terror), the eyes of those who disbelieve! (They say): Alas for us! We (lived) in forgetfulness of this. Ah, but we were wrong - doers!
Surely you and what you worship besides Allah are the firewood of hell; to it you shall come.
Lo! ye (idolaters) and that which ye worship beside Allah are fuel of hell. Thereunto ye will come.
Had these been gods, they would not have come to it and all shall abide therein.
If these had been gods they would not have come thither, but all will abide therein.
For them therein shall be groaning and therein they shall not hear.
Therein wailing is their portion, and therein they hear not.
Surely (as for) those for whom the good has already gone forth from Us, they shall be kept far off from it;
Lo! those unto whom kindness hath gone forth before from Us, they will be far removed from thence.
They will not hear its faintest sound, and they shall abide in that which their souls long for.
They will not hear the slightest sound thereof, while they abide in that which their souls desire.
The great fearful event shall not grieve them, and the angels shall meet them: This is your day which you were promised.
The Supreme Horror will not grieve them, and the angels will welcome them, (saying): This is your Day which ye were promised;
On the day when We will roll up heaven like the rolling up of the scroll for writings, as We originated the first creation, (so) We shall reproduce it; a promise (binding on Us); surely We will bring it about.
The Day when We shall roll up the heavens as a recorder rolleth up a written scroll. As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it. (It is) a promise (binding) upon Us. Lo! We are to perform it.
And certainly We wrote in the Book after the reminder that (as for) the land, My righteous servants shall inherit it.
And verily we have written in the Scripture, after the Reminder: My righteous slaves will inherit the earth:
Most surely in this is a message to a people who serve
Lo! there is a plain statement for folk who are devout.
And We have not sent you but as a mercy to the worlds.
We sent thee not save as a mercy for the peoples.
Say: It is only revealed to me that your Allah is one Allah; will you then submit?
Say: It is only inspired in me that your God is One God. Will ye then surrender (unto Him) ?
But if they turn back, say: I have given you warning in fairness and I do not know whether what you are threatened with is near or far;
But if they are averse, then say: I have warned you all alike, although I know not whether nigh or far is that which ye are promised.
Surely He knows what is spoken openly and He knows what you hide;
Lo! He knoweth that which is said openly, and that which ye conceal.
And I do not know if this may be a trial for you and a provision till a time.
And I know not but that this may be a trial for you, and enjoyment for a while.
He said: O my Lord! judge Thou with truth; and our Lord is the Beneficent Allah, Whose help is sought against what you ascribe (to Him).
He saith: My Lord! Judge Thou with truth. Our Lord is the Beneficent, Whose help is to be implored against that which ye ascribe (unto Him).