Chapter 21, 112 verses
Their reckoning has drawn near to men, and in heedlessness are they turning aside.
[The time of] their account has approached for the people, while they are in heedlessness turning away.
There comes not to them a new reminder from their Lord but they hear it while they sport,
No mention comes to them anew from their Lord except that they listen to it while they are at 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 their hearts distracted. And those who do wrong conceal their private conversation, [saying], "Is this [Prophet] except a human being like you? So would you approach magic while you are aware [of it]?"
He said: My Lord knows what is spoken in the heaven and the earth, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
The Prophet said, "My Lord knows whatever is said throughout the heaven and earth, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing."
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).
But they say, "[The revelation is but] a mixture of false dreams; rather, he has invented it; rather, he is a poet. So let him bring us a sign just as the previous [messengers] were sent [with miracles]."
There did not believe before them any town which We destroyed, will they then believe?
Not a [single] city which We destroyed believed before them, so will they 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 before you, [O Muhammad], except men to whom We revealed [the message], so ask the people of the message if you do not know.
And We did not make them bodies not eating the food, and they were not to abide (forever).
And We did not make the prophets forms not eating food, nor were they immortal [on earth].
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 for them the promise, and We saved them and whom We willed and destroyed the transgressors.
Certainly We have revealed to you a Book in which is your good remembrance; what! do you not then understand?
We have certainly sent down to you a Book in which is your mention. Then will you not reason?
And how many a town which was iniquitous did We demolish, and We raised up after it another people!
And how many a city which was unjust have We shattered and produced after it another people.
So when they felt Our punishment, lo! they began to fly
And when its inhabitants perceived Our punishment, at once they fled 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.
[Some angels said], "Do not flee but return to where you were given luxury and to your homes - perhaps you will be questioned."
They said: O woe to us! surely we were unjust.
They said, "O woe to us! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."
And this ceased not to be their cry till We made them cut off, extinct.
And that declaration of theirs did not cease until We made them [as] a harvest [mowed down], extinguished [like a fire].
And We did not create the heaven and the earth and what is between them for sport.
And We did not create the heaven and earth and that 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).
Had We intended to take a diversion, We could have taken it from [what is] with Us - if [indeed] We were to do so.
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;
Rather, We dash the truth upon falsehood, and it destroys it, and thereupon it departs. And for you is destruction from that which you describe.
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.
To Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those near Him are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, nor do they tire.
They glorify (Him) by night and day; they are never languid.
They exalt [Him] night and day [and] do not slacken.
Or have they taken gods from the earth who raise (the dead).
Or have men taken for themselves gods from the earth who resurrect [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).
Had there been within the heavens and earth gods besides Allah, they both would have been ruined. So exalted is Allah, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe.
He cannot be questioned concerning what He does and they shall be questioned.
He is not questioned about what He does, 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 taken gods besides Him? Say, [O Muhammad], "Produce your proof. This [Qur'an] is the message for those with me and the message of those before me." But most of them do not know the truth, so they are turning away.
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 not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, "There is no deity except Me, 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 Most Merciful has taken a son." Exalted is He! Rather, they are [but] honored servants.
They do not precede Him in speech and (only) according to His commandment do they act.
They cannot precede Him in word, 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 knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they cannot intercede except on behalf of one whom He approves. And they, from fear of Him, are apprehensive.
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 whoever of them should say, "Indeed, I am a god besides Him" - that one We would recompense with Hell. Thus do We recompense the wrongdoers.
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 those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not 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 placed within the earth firmly set mountains, lest it should shift with them, and We made therein [mountain] passes [as] roads that they might be guided.
And We have made the heaven a guarded canopy and (yet) they turn aside from its signs.
And We made the sky a protected ceiling, but they, from its signs, are turning away.
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 it is He who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all [heavenly bodies] in an orbit are swimming.
And We did not ordain abiding for any mortal before you. What! Then if you die, will they abide?
And We did not grant to any man before you eternity [on earth]; so if you die - would they be eternal?
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 will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you 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 see you, [O Muhammad], they take you not except in ridicule, [saying], "Is this the one who insults your gods?" And they are, at the mention of the Most Merciful, disbelievers.
Man is created of haste; now will I show to you My signs, therefore do not ask Me to hasten (them) on.
Man was created of haste. I will show you My signs, so do not impatiently urge Me.
And they say: When will this threat come to pass if you are truthful?
And they say, "When is this promise, if you should be 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 avert the Fire from their faces or from their backs and they will not be aided...
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.
Rather, it will come to them unexpectedly and bewilder them, and they will not be able to repel it, nor 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.
And already were messengers ridiculed before you, but those who mocked them were enveloped by what they used to ridicule.
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 can protect you at night or by day from the Most Merciful?" But they are, from the remembrance of their Lord, turning away.
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 do they have gods to defend them other than Us? They are unable [even] to help themselves, nor can they be protected 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?
But, [on the contrary], We have provided good things for these [disbelievers] and their fathers until life was prolonged for them. Then do they not see that We set upon the land, reducing it from its borders? So it is they who will overcome?
Say: I warn you only by revelation; and the deaf do not hear the call whenever they are warned.
Say, "I only warn you by revelation." But the deaf do not hear 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 [as much as] a whiff of the punishment of your Lord should touch them, they would surely say, "O woe to us! Indeed, we have been wrongdoers."
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 place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all. And if there is [even] the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as accountant.
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 had already given Moses and Aaron the criterion and a light and a reminder for the righteous
(For) those who fear their Lord in secret and they are fearful of the hour.
Who fear their Lord unseen, while they are of the Hour apprehensive.
And this is a blessed Reminder which We have revealed; will you then deny it?
And this [Qur'an] is a blessed message which We have sent down. Then are you with it unacquainted?
And certainly We gave to Ibrahim his rectitude before, and We knew him fully well.
And We had certainly given Abraham his sound judgement before, and We were of him well - Knowing
When he said to his father and his people: What are these images to whose worship you cleave?
When he said to his father and his people, "What are these statues to which you are devoted?"
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, "You were certainly, you and your fathers, in manifest error."
They said: Have you brought to us the truth, or are you one of the triflers?
They said, "Have you come to us with truth, or are you of those who jest?"
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, "[No], rather, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth who created them, and I, to that, am of those who testify.
And, by Allah! I will certainly do something against your idols after you go away, turning back.
And [I swear] by Allah, I will surely plan against your idols after you have turned and gone away."
So he broke them into pieces, except the chief of them, that haply they may return to it.
So he made them into fragments, except a large one among them, that they might return to it [and question].
They said: Who has done this to our gods? Most surely he is one of the unjust.
They said, "Who has done this to our gods? Indeed, he is of the wrongdoers."
They said: We heard a youth called Ibrahim speak of them.
They said, "We heard a young man mention 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 before the eyes of the people that they may testify."
They said: Have you done this to our gods, O Ibrahim?
They said, "Have you 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, "Rather, this - the largest of them - did it, so ask them, if they should [be able to] speak."
Then they turned to themselves and said: Surely you yourselves are the unjust;
So they returned to [blaming] themselves and said [to each other], "Indeed, you are the wrongdoers."
Then they were made to hang down their heads: Certainly you know that they do not speak.
Then they reversed themselves, [saying], "You have already known that these do not speak!"
He said: What! do you then serve besides Allah what brings you not any benefit at all, nor does it harm you?
He said, "Then do you worship instead of Allah that which does not benefit you at all or harm you?
Fie on you and on what you serve besides Allah; what! do you not then understand?
Uff to you and to what you worship instead of Allah. Then will you not use reason?"
They said: Burn him and help your gods, if you are going to do (anything).
They said, "Burn him and support your gods - if you are to act."
We said: O fire! be a comfort and peace to Ibrahim;
Allah said, "O fire, be coolness and safety upon Abraham."
And they desired a war on him, but We made them the greatest losers.
And they intended for him harm, but We made them the greatest losers.
And We delivered him as well as Lut (removing them) to the land which We had blessed for all people.
And We delivered him and Lot to the land which We had blessed for the worlds.
And We gave him Ishaq and Yaqoub, a son's son, and We made (them) all good.
And We gave him Isaac and Jacob in addition, and all [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 leaders guiding by Our command. And We inspired to them the doing of good deeds, establishment of prayer, and giving of zakah; and they were worshippers of Us.
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 to Lot We gave judgement and knowledge, and We saved him from the city that was committing wicked deeds. Indeed, they were a people of evil, defiantly disobedient.
And We took him into Our mercy; surely he was of the good.
And We admitted him into Our mercy. Indeed, 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 [mention] Noah, when he called [to Allah] before [that time], so We responded to him and saved him and his family from the great flood.
And We helped him against the people who rejected Our communications; surely they were an evil people, so We drowned them all.
And We saved him from the people who denied Our signs. Indeed, they were a people of evil, so We drowned them, all together.
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 [mention] David and Solomon, when they judged concerning the field - when the sheep of a people overran it [at night], and We were witness to their judgement.
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 gave understanding of the case to Solomon, and to each [of them] We gave judgement and knowledge. And We subjected the mountains to exalt [Us], along with David and [also] the birds. And We were doing [that].
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 fashioning of coats of armor to protect you from your [enemy in] battle. So will you then be grateful?
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 to Solomon [We subjected] the wind, blowing forcefully, proceeding by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And We are ever, of all things, Knowing.
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 devils were those who dived for him and did work other than that. And We were of them a guardian.
And Ayub, when he cried to his Lord, (saying): Harm has afflicted me, and Thou art the most Merciful of the merciful.
And [mention] Job, when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful."
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.
So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him [back] his family and the like thereof with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers [of Allah].
And Ismail and Idris and Zulkifl; all were of the patient ones;
And [mention] Ishmael and Idrees and Dhul - Kifl; all were of the patient.
And We caused them to enter into Our mercy, surely they were of the good ones.
And We admitted them into Our mercy. Indeed, they were of 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] the man of the fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."
So We responded to him and delivered him from the grief and thus do We deliver the believers.
So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.
And Zakariya, when he cried to his Lord: O my Lord leave me not alone; and Thou art the best of inheritors.
And [mention] Zechariah, when he called to his Lord, "My Lord, do not leave me alone [with no heir], while you are 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.
So We responded to him, and We gave to him John, and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive.
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 [mention] the one who guarded her chastity, so We blew into her [garment] through Our angel [Gabriel], and We made her and her son a sign for the worlds.
Surely this Islam is your religion, one religion (only), and I am your Lord, therefore serve Me.
Indeed 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 [yet] they divided their affair among themselves, [but] all to Us will return.
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.
So whoever does righteous deeds while he is a believer - no denial will there be for his effort, and indeed We, of it, are recorders.
And it is binding on a town which We destroy that they shall not return.
And there is prohibition upon [the people of] a city which We have destroyed that they will [ever] return
Even when Gog and Magog are let loose and they shall break forth from every elevated place.
Until when [the dam of] Gog and Magog has been opened and they, from every elevation, descend
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 [when] the true promise has approached; then suddenly the eyes of those who disbelieved will be staring [in horror, while they say], "O woe to us; we had been unmindful of this; rather, we were wrongdoers."
Surely you and what you worship besides Allah are the firewood of hell; to it you shall come.
Indeed, you [disbelievers] and what you worship other than Allah are the firewood of Hell. You will be coming to [enter] it.
Had these been gods, they would not have come to it and all shall abide therein.
Had these [false deities] been [actual] gods, they would not have come to it, but all are eternal therein.
For them therein shall be groaning and therein they shall not hear.
For them therein is heavy sighing, and they therein will not hear.
Surely (as for) those for whom the good has already gone forth from Us, they shall be kept far off from it;
Indeed, those for whom the best [reward] has preceded from Us - they are from it far removed.
They will not hear its faintest sound, and they shall abide in that which their souls long for.
They will not hear its sound, while they are, in that which their souls desire, abiding eternally.
The great fearful event shall not grieve them, and the angels shall meet them: This is your day which you were promised.
They will not be grieved by the greatest terror, and the angels will meet them, [saying], "This is your Day which you have been 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 will fold the heaven like the folding of a [written] sheet for the records. As We began the first creation, We will repeat it. [That is] a promise binding upon Us. Indeed, We will do it.
And certainly We wrote in the Book after the reminder that (as for) the land, My righteous servants shall inherit it.
And We have already written in the book [of Psalms] after the [previous] mention that the land [of Paradise] is inherited by My righteous servants.
Most surely in this is a message to a people who serve
Indeed, in this [Qur'an] is notification for a worshipping people.
And We have not sent you but as a mercy to the worlds.
And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.
Say: It is only revealed to me that your Allah is one Allah; will you then submit?
Say, "It is only revealed to me that your god is but one God; so will you be Muslims [in submission to 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 turn away, then say, "I have announced to [all of] you equally. And I know not whether near or far is that which you are promised.
Surely He knows what is spoken openly and He knows what you hide;
Indeed, He knows what is declared of speech, and He knows what you conceal.
And I do not know if this may be a trial for you and a provision till a time.
And I know not; perhaps it is a trial for you and enjoyment for a time."
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).
[The Prophet] has said, "My Lord, judge [between us] in truth. And our Lord is the Most Merciful, the one whose help is sought against that which you describe."