Al Saffat

1 I swear by those who draw themselves out in ranks

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

2 Then those who drive away with reproof,

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

3 Then those who recite, being mindful,

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

4 Most surely your Allah is One:

4 Lo! thy Lord is surely One;

5 The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, and Lord of the easts.

5 Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all that is between them, and Lord of the sun's risings.

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

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

7 And (there is) a safeguard against every rebellious Shaitan.

7 With security from every froward devil.

8 They cannot listen to the exalted assembly and they are thrown at from every side,

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

9 Being driven off, and for them is a perpetual chastisement,

9 Outcast, and theirs is a perpetual torment;

10 Except him who snatches off but once, then there follows him a brightly shining flame.

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

11 Then ask them whether they are stronger in creation or those (others) whom We have created. Surely We created them of firm clay.

11 Then ask them (O Muhammad): Are they stronger as a creation, or those (others) whom we have created ? Lo! We created them of plastic clay.

12 Nay! you wonder while they mock,

12 Nay, but thou dost marvel when they mock

13 And when they are reminded, they mind not,

13 And heed not when they are reminded,

14 And when they see a sign they incite one another to scoff,

14 And seek to scoff when they behold a portent.

15 And they say: This is nothing but clear magic:

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

16 What! when we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then certainly be raised,

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

17 Or our fathers of yore?

17 And our forefathers ?

18 Say: Aye! and you shall be abject.

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

19 So it shall only be a single cry, when lo! they shall see.

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

20 And they shall say: O woe to us! this is the day of requital.

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

21 This is the day of the judgment which you called a lie.

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

22 Gather together those who were unjust and their associates, and what they used to worship

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

23 Besides Allah, then lead them to the way to hell.

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

24 And stop them, for they shall be questioned:

24 And stop them, for they must be questioned.

25 What is the matter with you that you do not help each other?

25 What aileth you that ye help not one another ?

26 Nay! on that day they shall be submissive.

26 Nay, but this day they make full submission.

27 And some of them shall advance towards others, questioning each other.

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

28 They shall say: Surely you used to come to us from the right side.

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

29 They shall say: Nay, you (yourselves) were not believers;

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

30 And we had no authority over you, but you were an inordinate people;

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

31 So the sentence of our Lord has come to pass against us: (now) we shall surely taste;

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

32 So we led you astray, for we ourselves were erring.

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

33 So they shall on that day be sharers in the chastisement one with another.

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

34 Surely thus do We deal with the guilty.

34 Lo! thus deal We with the guilty.

35 Surely they used to behave proudly when it was said to them: There is no god but Allah;

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

36 And to say: What! shall we indeed give up our gods for the sake of a mad poet?

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

37 Nay: he has come with the truth and verified the apostles.

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

38 Most surely you will taste the painful punishment.

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

39 And you shall not be rewarded except (for) what you did.

39 Ye are requited naught save what ye did -

40 Save the servants of Allah, the purified ones.

40 Save single - minded slaves of Allah;

41 For them is a known sustenance,

41 For them there is a known provision,

42 Fruits, and they shall be highly honored,

42 Fruits. And they will be honoured

43 In gardens of pleasure,

43 In the Gardens of delight,

44 On thrones, facing each other.

44 On couches facing one another;

45 A bowl shall be made to go round them from water running out of springs,

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

46 White, delicious to those who drink.

46 White, delicious to the drinkers,

47 There shall be no trouble in it, nor shall they be exhausted therewith.

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

48 And with them shall be those who restrain the eyes, having beautiful eyes;

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

49 As if they were eggs carefully protected.

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

50 Then shall some of them advance to others, questioning each other.

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

51 A speaker from among them shall say: Surely I had a comrade of mine,

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

52 Who said: What! are you indeed of those who accept (the truth)?

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

53 What! when we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then be certainly brought to judgment?

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

54 He shall say: Will you look on?

54 He saith: Will ye look ?

55 Then he looked down and saw him in the midst of hell.

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

56 He shall say: By Allah! you had almost caused me to perish;

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

57 And had it not been for the favor of my Lord, I would certainly have been among those brought up.

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

58 Is it then that we are not going to die,

58 Are we then not to die

59 Except our previous death? And we shall not be chastised?

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

60 Most surely this is the mighty achievement.

60 Lo! this is the supreme triumph.

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

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

62 Is this better as an entertainment or the tree of Zaqqum?

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

63 Surely We have made it to be a trial to the unjust.

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

64 Surely it is a tree that - grows in the bottom of the hell;

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

65 Its produce is as it were the heads of the serpents.

65 Its crop is as it were the heads of devils

66 Then most surely they shall eat of it and fill (their) bellies with it.

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

67 Then most surely they shall have after it to drink of a mixture prepared in boiling water.

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

68 Then most surely their return shall be to hell.

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

69 Surely they found their fathers going astray,

69 They indeed found their fathers astray,

70 So in their footsteps they are being hastened on.

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

71 And certainly most of the ancients went astray before them,

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

72 And certainly We sent among them warners.

72 And verily We sent among them warners.

73 Then see how was the end of those warned,

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

74 Except the servants of Allah, the purified ones.

74 Save single - minded slaves of Allah.

75 And Nuh did certainly call upon Us, and most excellent answerer of prayer are We.

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

76 And We delivered him and his followers from the mighty distress.

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

77 And We made his offspring the survivors.

77 And made his seed the survivors,

78 And We perpetuated to him (praise) among the later generations.

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

79 Peace and salutation to Nuh among the nations.

79 Peace be unto Noah among the peoples!

80 Thus do We surely reward the doers of good.

80 Lo! thus do We reward the good.

81 Surely he was of Our believing servants.

81 Lo! he is one of Our believing slaves.

82 Then We drowned the others

82 Then We did drown the others.

83 And most surely Ibrahim followed his way.

83 And lo! of his persuasion verily was Abraham

84 When he came to his Lord with a free heart,

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

85 When he said to his father and his people: What is it that you worship?

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

86 A lie - - gods besides Allah - - do you desire?

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

87 What is then your idea about the Lord of the worlds?

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

88 Then he looked at the stars, looking up once,

88 And he glanced a glance at the stars

89 Then he said: Surely I am sick (of your worshipping these).

89 Then said: Lo! I feel sick!

90 So they went away from him, turning back.

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

91 Then he turned aside to their gods secretly and said: What! do you not eat?

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

92 What is the matter with you that you do not speak?

92 What aileth you that ye speak not ?

93 Then he turned against them secretly, smiting them with the right hand.

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

94 So they (people) advanced towards him, hastening.

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

95 Said he: What! do you worship what you hew out?

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

96 And Allah has created you and what you make.

96 When Allah hath created you and what ye make ?

97 They said: Build for him a furnace, then cast him into the burning fire.

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

98 And they desired a war against him, but We brought them low.

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

99 And he said: Surely I fly to my lord; He will guide me.

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

100 My Lord! grant me of the doers of good deeds.

100 My Lord! Vouchsafe me of the righteous.

101 So We gave him the good news of a boy, possessing forbearance.

101 So We gave him tidings of a gentle son.

102 And when he attained to working with him, he said: O my son! surely I have seen in a dream that I should sacrifice you; consider then what you see. He said: O my father! do what you are commanded; if Allah please, you will find me of the patient ones.

102 And when (his son) was old enough to walk with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice thee. So look, what thinkest thou ? He said: O my father! Do that which thou art commanded. Allah willing, thou shalt find me of the steadfast.

103 So when they both submitted and he threw him down upon his forehead,

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

104 And We called out to him saying: O Ibrahim!

104 We called unto him: O Abraham!

105 You have indeed shown the truth of the vision; surely thus do We reward the doers of good:

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

106 Most surely this is a manifest trial.

106 Lo! that verily was a clear test.

107 And We ransomed him with a Feat sacrifice.

107 Then We ransomed him with a tremendous victim.

108 And We perpetuated (praise) to him among the later generations.

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

109 Peace be on Ibrahim.

109 Peace be unto Abraham!

110 Thus do We reward the doers of good.

110 Thus do We reward the good.

111 Surely he was one of Our believing servants.

111 Lo! he is one of Our believing slaves.

112 And We gave him the good news of Ishaq, a prophet among the good ones.

112 And we gave him tidings of the birth of Isaac, a prophet of the righteous.

113 And We showered Our blessings on him and on Ishaq; and of their offspring are the doers of good, and (also) those who are clearly unjust to their own souls.

113 And We blessed him and Isaac. And of their seed are some who do good, and some who plainly wrong themselves.

114 And certainly We conferred a favor on Musa and Haroun.

114 And We verily gave grace unto Moses and Aaron,

115 And We delivered them both and their people from the mighty distress.

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

116 And We helped them, so they were the vanquishers.

116 And helped them so that they became the victors.

117 And We gave them both the Book that made (things) clear.

117 And We gave them the clear Scripture

118 And We guided them both on the right way.

118 And showed them the right path.

119 And We perpetuated (praise) to them among the later generations.

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

120 Peace be on Musa and Haroun.

120 Peace be unto Moses and Aaron!

121 Even thus do We reward the doers of good.

121 Lo! thus do We reward the good.

122 Surely they were both of Our believing servants.

122 Lo! they are two of Our believing slaves.

123 And Ilyas was most surely of the apostles.

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

124 When he said to his people: Do you not guard (against evil)?

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

125 What! do you call upon Ba'l and forsake the best of the creators,

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

126 Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore?

126 Allah, your Lord and Lord of your forefathers ?

127 But they called him a liar, therefore they shall most surely be brought up.

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

128 But not the servants of Allah, the purified ones.

128 Save single - minded slaves of Allah.

129 And We perpetuated to him (praise) among the later generations.

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

130 Peace be on Ilyas.

130 Peace be unto Elias!

131 Even thus do We reward the doers of good.

131 Lo! thus do We reward the good.

132 Surely he was one of Our believing servants.

132 Lo! he is one of our believing slaves.

133 And Lut was most surely of the apostles.

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

134 When We delivered him and his followers, all - -

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

135 Except an old woman (who was) amongst those who tarried.

135 Save an old woman among those who stayed behind;

136 Then We destroyed the others.

136 Then We destroyed the others.

137 And most surely you pass by them in the morning,

137 And lo! ye verily pass by (the ruin of) them in the morning

138 And at night; do you not then understand?

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

139 And Yunus was most surely of the apostles.

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

140 When he ran away to a ship completely laden,

140 When he fled unto the laden ship,

141 So he shared (with them), but was of those who are cast off.

141 And then drew lots and was of those rejected;

142 So the fish swallowed him while he did that for which he blamed himself

142 And the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy;

143 But had it not been that he was of those who glorify (Us),

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

144 He would certainly have tarried in its belly to the day when they are raised.

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

145 Then We cast him on to the vacant surface of the earth while he was sick.

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

146 And We caused to grow up for him a gourdplant.

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

147 And We sent him to a hundred thousand, rather they exceeded.

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

148 And they believed, so We gave them provision till a time.

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

149 Then ask them whether your Lord has daughters and they have sons.

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

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

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

151 Now surely it is of their own lie that they say:

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

152 Allah has begotten; and most surely they are liars.

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

153 Has He chosen daughters in preference to sons?

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

154 What is the matter with you, how is it that you judge?

154 What aileth you ? How judge ye ?

155 Will you not then mind?

155 Will ye not then reflect ?

156 Or have you a clear authority?