Al Zumar

1 The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.

1 The revelation of this Book is from Allah, the Exalted in Power, full of Wisdom.

2 Surely We have revealed to you the Book with the truth, therefore serve Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience.

2 Verily it is We Who have revealed the Book to thee in Truth: so serve Allah, offering Him sincere devotion.

3 Now, surely, sincere obedience is due to Allah (alone) and (as for) those who take guardians besides Him, (saying), We do not serve them save that they may make us nearer to Allah, surely Allah will judge between them in that in which they differ; surely Allah does not guide him aright who is a liar, ungrateful.

3 Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due? But those who take for protectors other than Allah (say): "We only serve them in order that they may bring us nearer to Allah." Truly Allah will judge between them in that wherein they differ. But Allah guides not such as are false and ungrateful.

4 If Allah desire to take a son to Himself, He will surely choose those He pleases from what He has created. Glory be to Him: He is Allah, the One, the Subduer (of all).

4 Had Allah wished to take to Himself a son, He could have chosen whom He pleased out of those whom He doth create: but Glory be to Him! (He is above such things.) He is Allah, the One, the Irresistible.

5 He has created the heavens and the earth with the truth; He makes the night cover the day and makes the day overtake the night, and He has made the sun and the moon subservient; each one runs on to an assigned term; now surely He is the Mighty, the great Forgiver.

5 He created the heavens and the earth in true (proportions): He makes the Night overlap the Day, and the Day overlap the Night: He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His law): Each one follows a course for a time appointed. Is not He the Exalted in Power - He Who forgives again and again?

6 He has created you from a single being, then made its mate of the same (kind), and He has made for you eight of the cattle in pairs. He creates you in the wombs of your mothers - - a creation after a creation - - in triple darkness; that is Allah your Lord, His is the kingdom; there is no god but He; whence are you then turned away?

6 He created you (all) from a single person: then created, of like nature, his mate; and he sent down for you eight head of cattle in pairs: He makes you, in the wombs of your mothers, in stages, one after another, in three veils of darkness. such is Allah, your Lord and Cherisher: to Him belongs (all) dominion. There is no god but He: then how are ye turned away (from your true Centre)?

7 If you are ungrateful, then surely Allah is Self - sufficient above all need of you; and He does not like ungratefulness in His servants; and if you are grateful, He likes it in you; and no bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another; then to your Lord is your return, then will He inform you of what you did; surely He is Cognizant of what is in the breasts.

7 If ye reject (Allah), Truly Allah hath no need of you; but He liketh not ingratitude from His servants: if ye are grateful, He is pleased with you. No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another. In the end, to your Lord is your Return, when He will tell you the truth of all that ye did (in this life). for He knoweth well all that is in (men's) hearts.

8 And when distress afflicts a man he calls upon his Lord turning to Him frequently; then when He makes him possess a favor from Him, he forgets that for which he called upon Him before, and sets up rivals to Allah that he may cause (men) to stray off from His path. Say: Enjoy yourself in your ungratefulness a little, surely you are of the inmates of the fire.

8 When some trouble toucheth man, he crieth unto his Lord, turning to Him in repentance: but when He bestoweth a favour upon him as from Himself, (man) doth forget what he cried and prayed for before, and he doth set up rivals unto Allah, thus misleading others from Allah's Path. Say, "Enjoy thy blasphemy for a little while: verily thou art (one) of the Companions of the Fire!"

9 What! he who is obedient during hours of the night, prostrating himself and standing, takes care of the hereafter and hopes for the mercy of his Lord! Say: Are those who know and those who do not know alike? Only the men of understanding are mindful.

9 Is one who worships devoutly during the hour of the night prostrating himself or standing (in adoration), who takes heed of the Hereafter, and who places his hope in the Mercy of his Lord - (like one who does not)? Say: "Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition.

10 Say: O my servants who believe! be careful of (your duty to) your Lord; for those who do good in this world is good, and Allah's earth is spacious; only the patient will be paid back their reward in full without measure.

10 Say: "O ye my servants who believe! Fear your Lord, good is (the reward) for those who do good in this world. Spacious is Allah's earth! those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!"

11 Say: I am commanded that I should serve Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience.

11 Say: "Verily, I am commanded to serve Allah with sincere devotion;

12 And I am commanded that I shall be the first of those who submit.

12 "And I am commanded to be the first of those who bow to Allah in Islam."

13 Say: I fear, if I disobey my Lord, the chastisement of a grievous day.

13 Say: "I would, if I disobeyed my Lord, indeed have fear of the Penalty of a Mighty Day."

14 Say: Allah (it is Whom) I serve, being sincere to Him in my obedience:

14 Say: "It is Allah I serve, with my sincere (and exclusive) devotion:

15 Serve then what you like besides Him. Say: The losers surely are those who shall have lost themselves and their families on the day of resurrection; now surely that is the clear loss.

15 "Serve ye what ye will besides him." Say: "Truly, those in loss are those who lose their own souls and their People on the Day of Judgment: Ah! that is indeed the (real and) evident Loss!

16 They shall have coverings of fire above them and coverings beneath them; with that Allah makes His servants to fear, so be careful of (your duty to) Me, O My servants!

16 They shall have Layers of Fire above them, and Layers (of Fire) below them: with this doth Allah warn off his servants: "O My Servants! then fear ye Me!"

17 And (as for) those who keep off from the worship of the idols and turn to Allah, they shall have good news, therefore give good news to My servants,

17 Those who eschew Evil, - and fall not into its worship, - and turn to Allah (in repentance), - for them is Good News: so announce the Good News to My Servants, -

18 Those who listen to the word, then follow the best of it; those are they whom Allah has guided, and those it is who are the men of understanding.

18 Those who listen to the Word, and follow the best (meaning) in it: those are the ones whom Allah has guided, and those are the ones endued with understanding.

19 What! as for him then against whom the sentence of chastisement is due: What! can you save him who is in the fire?

19 Is, then, one against whom the decree of Punishment is justly due (equal to one who eschews Evil)? Wouldst thou, then, deliver one (who is) in the Fire?

20 But (as for) those who are careful of (their duty to) their Lord, they shall have high places, above them higher places, built (for them), beneath which flow rivers; (this is) the promise of Allah: Allah will not fail in (His) promise.

20 But it is for those who fear their Lord. That lofty mansions, one above another, have been built: beneath them flow rivers (of delight): (such is) the Promise of Allah: never doth Allah fail in (His) promise.

21 Do you not see that Allah sends down water from the cloud, then makes it go along in the earth in springs, then brings forth therewith herbage of various colors, then it withers so that you see it becoming yellow, then He makes it a thing crushed and broken into pieces? Most surely there is a reminder in this for the men of understanding.

21 Seest thou not that Allah sends down rain from the sky, and leads it through springs in the earth? Then He causes to grow, therewith, produce of various colours: then it withers; thou wilt see it grow yellow; then He makes it dry up and crumble away. Truly, in this, is a Message of remembrance to men of understanding.

22 What! is he whose heart Allah has opened for Islam so that he is in a light from his Lord (like the hard - hearted)? Nay, woe to those whose hearts are hard against the remembrance of Allah; those are in clear error.

22 Is one whose heart Allah has opened to Islam, so that he has received Enlightenment from Allah, (no better than one hard - hearted)? Woe to those whose hearts are hardened against celebrating the praises of Allah! they are manifestly wandering (in error)!

23 Allah has revealed the best announcement, a book conformable in its various parts, repeating, whereat do shudder the skins of those who fear their Lord, then their skins and their hearts become pliant to the remembrance of Allah; this is Allah's guidance, He guides with it whom He pleases; and (as for) him whom Allah makes err, there is no guide for him.

23 Allah has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book, consistent with itself, (yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects): the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble thereat; then their skins and their hearts do soften to the celebration of Allah's praises. Such is the guidance of Allah: He guides therewith whom He pleases, but such as Allah leaves to stray, can have none to guide.

24 Is he then who has to guard himself with his own person against the evil chastisement on the resurrection day? And it will be said to the unjust: Taste what you earned.

24 Is, then, one who has to fear the brunt of the Penalty on the Day of Judgment (and receive it) on his face, (like one guarded therefrom)? It will be said to the wrong - doers: "Taste ye (the fruits of) what ye earned!"

25 Those before them rejected (prophets), therefore there came to them the chastisement from whence they perceived not.

25 Those before them (also) rejected (revelation), and so the Punishment came to them from directions they did not perceive.

26 So Allah made them taste the disgrace in this world's life, and certainly the punishment of the hereafter is greater; did they but know!

26 So Allah gave them a taste of humiliation in the present life, but greater is the punishment of the Hereafter, if they only knew!

27 And certainly We have set forth to men in this Quran similitudes of every sort that they may mind.

27 We have put forth for men, in this Qur'an every kind of Parable, in order that they may receive admonition.

28 An Arabic Quran without any crookedness, that they may guard (against evil).

28 (It is) a Qur'an in Arabic, without any crookedness (therein): in order that they may guard against Evil.

29 Allah sets forth an example: There is a slave in whom are (several) partners differing with one another, and there is another slave wholly owned by one man. Are the two alike in condition? (All) praise is due to Allah. Nay! most of them do not know.

29 Allah puts forth a Parable a man belonging to many partners at variance with each other, and a man belonging entirely to one master: are those two equal in comparison? Praise be to Allah! but most of them have no knowledge.

30 Surely you shall die and they (too) shall surely die.

30 Truly thou wilt die (one day), and truly they (too) will die (one day).

31 Then surely on the day of resurrection you will contend one with another before. your Lord.

31 In the end will ye (all), on the Day of Judgment, settle your disputes in the presence of your Lord.

32 Who is then more unjust than he who utters a lie against Allah and (he who) gives the lie to the truth when it comes to him; is there not in hell an abode for the unbelievers?

32 Who, then, doth more wrong than one who utters a lie concerning Allah, and rejects the Truth when it comes to him; is there not in Hell an abode for blasphemers?

33 And he who brings the truth and (he who) accepts it as the truth - - these are they that guard (against evil).

33 And he who brings the Truth and he who confirms (and supports) it - such are the men who do right.

34 They shall have with their Lord what they please; that is the reward of the doers of good;

34 They shall have all that they wish for, in the presence of their Lord: such is the reward of those who do good:

35 So that Allah will do away with the worst of what they did and give them their reward for the best of what they do.

35 So that Allah will turn off from them (even) the worst in their deeds and give them their reward according to the best of what they have done.

36 Is not Allah sufficient for His servant? And they seek to frighten you with those besides Him; and whomsoever Allah makes err, there is no guide for him.

36 Is not Allah enough for his Servant? But they try to frighten thee with other (gods) besides Him! for such as Allah leaves to stray, there can be no guide.

37 And whom Allah guides, there is none that can lead him astray; is not Allah Mighty, the Lord of retribution?

37 And such as Allah doth guide there can be none to lead astray. Is not Allah Exalted in Power, (Able to enforce His Will), Lord of Retribution?

38 And should you ask them, Who created the heavens and the earth? They would most certainly say: Allah. Say: Have you then considered that what you call upon besides Allah, would they, if Allah desire to afflict me with harm, be the removers of His harm, or (would they), if Allah desire to show me mercy, be the withholders of His mercy? Say: Allah is sufficient for me; on Him do the reliant rely.

38 If indeed thou ask them who it is that created the heavens and the earth, they would be sure to say, "Allah". Say: "See ye then? the things that ye invoke besides Allah, - can they, if Allah wills some Penalty for me, remove His Penalty? - Or if He wills some Grace for me, can they keep back his Grace?" Say: "Sufficient is Allah for me! In Him trust those who put their trust."

39 Say: O my people! work in your place, surely I am a worker, so you will come to know.

39 Say: "O my People! Do whatever ye can: I will do (my part): but soon will ye know -

40 Who it is to whom there shall come a punishment which will disgrace him and to whom will be due a lasting punishment.

40 "Who it is to whom comes a Penalty of ignominy, and on whom descends a Penalty that abides."

41 Surely We have revealed to you the Book with the truth for the sake of men; so whoever follows the right way, it is for his own soul and whoever errs, he errs only to its detriment; and you are not a custodian over them.

41 Verily We have revealed the Book to thee in Truth, for (instructing) mankind. He, then, that receives guidance benefits his own soul: but he that strays injures his own soul. Nor art thou set over them to dispose of their affairs.

42 Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep; then He withholds those on whom He has passed the decree of death and sends the others back till an appointed term; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.

42 It is Allah that takes the souls (of men) at death; and those that die not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has passed the decree of death, He keeps back (from returning to life), but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed verily in this are Signs for those who reflect.

43 Or have they taken intercessors besides Allah? Say: what! even though they did not ever have control over anything, nor do they understand.

43 What! Do they take for intercessors others besides Allah? Say: "Even if they have no power whatever and no intelligence?"

44 Say: Allah's is the intercession altogether; His is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, then to Him you shall be brought back.

44 Say: "To Allah belongs exclusively (the right to grant) intercession: to Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth: In the End, it is to Him that ye shall be brought back."

45 And when Allah alone is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the hereafter shrink, and when those besides Him are mentioned, lo! they are joyful.

45 When Allah, the One and Only, is mentioned, the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter are filled with disgust and horror; but when (gods) other than He are mentioned, behold, they are filled with joy!

46 Say: O Allah! Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen! Thou (only) judgest between Thy servants as to that wherein they differ.

46 Say: "O Allah! Creator of the heavens and the earth! Knower of all that is hidden and open! it is Thou that wilt judge between Thy Servants in those matters about which they have differed."

47 And had those who are unjust all that is in the earth and the like of it with it, they would certainly offer it as ransom (to be saved) from the evil of the punishment on the day of resurrection; and what they never thought of shall become plain to them from Allah.

47 Even if the wrong - doers had all that there is on earth, and as much more, (in vain) would they offer it for ransom from the pain of the Penalty on the Day of Judgment: but something will confront them from Allah, which they could never have counted upon!

48 And the evil (consequences) of what they wrought shall become plain to them, and the very thing they mocked at shall beset them.

48 For the evils of their Deeds will confront them, and they will be (completely) encircled by that which they used to mock at!

49 So when harm afflicts a man he calls upon Us; then, when We give him a favor from Us, he says: I have been given it only by means of knowledge. Nay, it is a trial, but most of them do not know.

49 Now, when trouble touches man, he cries to Us: But when We bestow a favour upon him as from Ourselves, he says, "This has been given to me because of a certain knowledge (I have)!" Nay, but this is but a trial, but most of them understand not!

50 Those before them did say it indeed, but what they earned availed them not.

50 Thus did the (generations) before them say! But all that they did was of no profit to them.

51 So there befell them the evil (consequences) of what they earned; and (as for) those who are unjust from among these, there shall befall them the evil (consequences) of what they earn, and they shall not escape.

51 Nay, the evil results of their Deeds overtook them. And the wrong - doers of this (generation) - the evil results of their Deeds will soon overtake them (too), and they will never be able to frustrate (Our Plan)!

52 Do they not know that Allah makes ample the means of subsistence to whom He pleases, and He straitens; most surely there are signs in this for a people who believe.

52 Know they not that Allah enlarges the provision or restricts it, for any He pleases? Verily, in this are Signs for those who believe!

53 Say: O my servants! who have acted extravagantly against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah; surely Allah forgives the faults altogether; surely He is the Forgiving the Merciful.

53 Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft - Forgiving, Most Merciful.

54 And return to your Lord time after time and submit to Him before there comes to you the punishment, then you shall not be helped.

54 "Turn ye to our Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (Will), before the Penalty comes on you: after that ye shall not be helped.

55 And follow the best that has been revealed to you from your Lord before there comes to you the punishment all of a sudden while you do not even perceive;

55 "And follow the best of (the courses) revealed to you from your Lord, before the Penalty comes on you - of a sudden while ye perceive not! -

56 Lest a soul should say: O woe to me! for what I fell short of my duty to Allah, and most surely I was of those who laughed to scorn;

56 "Lest the soul should (then) say: 'Ah! Woe is me! - In that I neglected (my duty) towards Allah, and was but among those who mocked!' -

57 Or it should say: Had Allah guided me, I would certainly have been of those who guard (against evil);

57 "Or (lest) it should say: 'If only Allah had guided me, I should certainly have been among the righteous!' -

58 Or it should say when it sees the punishment: Were there only a returning for me, I should be of the doers of good.

58 "Or (lest) it should say when it (actually) sees the penalty: 'If only I had another chance, I should certainly be among those who do good!'

59 Aye! My communications came to you, but you rejected them, and you were proud and you were one of the unbelievers.

59 "(The reply will be:) 'Nay, but there came to thee my Signs, and thou didst reject them: thou wast Haughty, and became one of those who reject faith!'"

60 And on the day of resurrection you shall see those who lied against Allah; their faces shall be blackened. Is there not in hell an abode for the proud?

60 On the Day of Judgment wilt thou see those who told lies against Allah; - their faces will be turned black; Is there not in Hell an abode for the Haughty?

61 And Allah shall deliver those who guard (against evil) with their achievement; evil shall not touch them, nor shall they grieve.

61 But Allah will deliver the righteous to their place of salvation: no evil shall touch them, nor shall they grieve.

62 Allah is the Creator of every thing and He has charge over every thing.

62 Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Guardian and Disposer of all affairs.

63 His are the treasures of the heavens and the earth; and (as for) those who disbelieve in the communications of Allah, these it is that are the losers.

63 To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth: and those who reject the Signs of Allah, - it is they who will be in loss.

64 Say: What! Do you then bid me serve others than Allah, O ignorant men?

64 Say: "Is it some one other than Allah that ye order me to worship, O ye ignorant ones?"

65 And certainly, it has been revealed to you and to those before you: Surely if you associate (with Allah), your work would certainly come to naught and you would certainly be of the losers.

65 But it has already been revealed to thee, - as it was to those before thee, - "If thou wert to join (gods with Allah), truly fruitless will be thy work (in life), and thou wilt surely be in the ranks of those who lose (all spiritual good)".

66 Nay! but serve Allah alone and be of the thankful.

66 Nay, but worship Allah, and be of those who give thanks.

67 And they have not honored Allah with the honor that is due to Him; and the whole earth shall be in His grip on the day of resurrection and the heavens rolled up in His right hand; glory be to Him, and may He be exalted above what they associate (with Him).

67 No just estimate have they made of Allah, such as is due to Him: On the Day of Judgment the whole of the earth will be but His handful, and the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand: Glory to Him! High is He above the Partners they attribute to Him!

68 And the trumpet shall be blown, so all those that are in the heavens and all those that are in the earth shall swoon, except such as Allah please; then it shall be blown again, then lo! they shall stand up awaiting.

68 The Trumpet will (just) be sounded, when all that are in the heavens and on earth will swoon, except such as it will please Allah (to exempt). Then will a second one be sounded, when, behold, they will be standing and looking on!

69 And the earth shall beam with the light of its Lord, and the Book shall be laid down, and the prophets and the witnesses shall be brought up, and judgment shall be given between them with justice, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.

69 And the Earth will shine with the Glory of its Lord: the Record (of Deeds) will be placed (open); the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forward and a just decision pronounced between them; and they will not be wronged (in the least).

70 And every soul shall be paid back fully what it has done, and He knows best what they do.

70 And to every soul will be paid in full (the fruit) of its Deeds; and (Allah) knoweth best all that they do.

71 And those who disbelieve shall be driven to hell in companies; until, when they come to it, its doors shall be opened, and the keepers of it shall say to them: Did not there come to you apostles from among you reciting to you the communications of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this day of yours? They shall say: Yea! But the sentence of punishment was due against the unbelievers.

71 The Unbelievers will be led to Hell in crowd: until, when they arrive, there, its gates will be opened. And its keepers will say, "Did not messengers come to you from among yourselves, rehearsing to you the Signs of your Lord, and warning you of the Meeting of This Day of yours?" The answer will be: "True: but the Decree of Punishment has been proved true against the Unbelievers!"

72 It shall be said: Enter the gates of hell to abide therein; so evil is the abode of the proud.

72 (To them) will be said: "Enter ye the gates of Hell, to dwell therein: and evil is (this) Abode of the Arrogant!"

73 And those who are careful of (their duty to) their Lord shall be conveyed to the garden in companies; until when they come to it, and its doors shall be opened, and the keepers of it shall say to them: Peace be on you, you shall be happy; therefore enter it to abide.

73 And those who feared their Lord will be led to the Garden in crowds: until behold, they arrive there; its gates will be opened; and its keepers will say: "Peace be upon you! well have ye done! enter ye here, to dwell therein."

74 And they shall say: (All) praise is due to Allah, Who has made good to us His promise, and He has made us inherit the land; we may abide in the garden where we please; so goodly is the reward of the workers.

74 They will say: "Praise be to Allah, Who has truly fulfilled His Promise to us, and has given us (this) land in heritage: We can dwell in the Garden as we will: how excellent a reward for those who work (righteousness)!"

75 And you shall see the angels going round about the throne glorifying the praise of their Lord; and judgment shall be given between them with justice, and it shall be said: All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

75 And thou wilt see the angels surrounding the Throne (Divine) on all sides, singing Glory and Praise to their Lord. The Decision between them (at Judgment) will be in (perfect) justice, and the cry (on all sides) will be, "Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!"