Al Zukhruf

1 Ha - Mim

1 Ha, Meem.

2 By the Book that makes things clear, -

2 By the clear Book,

3 We have made it a Qur'an in Arabic, that ye may be able to understand (and learn wisdom).

3 Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand.

4 And verily, it is in the Mother of the Book, in Our Presence, high (in dignity), full of wisdom.

4 And indeed it is, in the Mother of the Book with Us, exalted and full of wisdom.

5 Shall We then take away the Message from you and repel (you), for that ye are a people transgressing beyond bounds?

5 Then should We turn the message away, disregarding you, because you are a transgressing people?

6 But how many were the prophets We sent amongst the peoples of old?

6 And how many a prophet We sent among the former peoples,

7 And never came there a prophet to them but they mocked him.

7 But there would not come to them a prophet except that they used to ridicule him.

8 So We destroyed (them) - stronger in power than these; - and (thus) has passed on the Parable of the peoples of old.

8 And We destroyed greater than them in [striking] power, and the example of the former peoples has preceded.

9 If thou wert to question them, 'Who created the heavens and the earth?' They would be sure to reply, 'they were created by (Him), the Exalted in Power, Full of Knowledge'; -

9 And if you should ask them, "Who has created the heavens and the earth?" they would surely say, "They were created by the Exalted in Might, the Knowing."

10 (Yea, the same that) has made for you the earth (like a carpet) spread out, and has made for you roads (and channels) therein, in order that ye may find guidance (on the way);

10 [The one] who has made for you the earth a bed and made for you upon it roads that you might be guided

11 That sends down (from time to time) rain from the sky in due measure; - and We raise to life therewith a land that is dead; even so will ye be raised (from the dead); -

11 And who sends down rain from the sky in measured amounts, and We revive thereby a dead land - thus will you be brought forth -

12 That has created pairs in all things, and has made for you ships and cattle on which ye ride,

12 And who created the species, all of them, and has made for you of ships and animals those which you mount.

13 In order that ye may sit firm and square on their backs, and when so seated, ye may celebrate the (kind) favour of your Lord, and say, "Glory to Him Who has subjected these to our (use), for we could never have accomplished this (by ourselves),

13 That you may settle yourselves upon their backs and then remember the favor of your Lord when you have settled upon them and say. "Exalted is He who has subjected this to us, and we could not have [otherwise] subdued it.

14 "And to our Lord, surely, must we turn back!"

14 And indeed we, to our Lord, will [surely] return."

15 Yet they attribute to some of His servants a share with Him (in his godhead)! truly is man a blasphemous ingrate avowed!

15 But they have attributed to Him from His servants a portion. Indeed, man is clearly ungrateful.

16 What! has He taken daughters out of what He himself creates, and granted to you sons for choice?

16 Or has He taken, out of what He has created, daughters and chosen you for [having] sons?

17 When news is brought to one of them of (the birth of) what he sets up as a likeness to (Allah) Most Gracious, his face darkens, and he is filled with inward grief!

17 And when one of them is given good tidings of that which he attributes to the Most Merciful in comparison, his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief.

18 Is then one brought up among trinkets, and unable to give a clear account in a dispute (to be associated with Allah)?

18 So is one brought up in ornaments while being during conflict unevident [attributed to Allah]?

19 And they make into females angels who themselves serve Allah. Did they witness their creation? Their evidence will be recorded, and they will be called to account!

19 And they have made the angels, who are servants of the Most Merciful, females. Did they witness their creation? Their testimony will be recorded, and they will be questioned.

20 ("Ah!") they say, "If it had been the will of (Allah) Most Gracious, we should not have worshipped such (deities)!" Of that they have no knowledge! they do nothing but lie!

20 And they said, "If the Most Merciful had willed, we would not have worshipped them." They have of that no knowledge. They are not but falsifying.

21 What! have We given them a Book before this, to which they are holding fast?

21 Or have We given them a book before the Qur'an to which they are adhering?

22 Nay! they say: "We found our fathers following a certain religion, and we do guide ourselves by their footsteps."

22 Rather, they say, "Indeed, we found our fathers upon a religion, and we are in their footsteps [rightly] guided."

23 Just in the same way, whenever We sent a Warner before thee to any people, the wealthy ones among them said: "We found our fathers following a certain religion, and we will certainly follow in their footsteps."

23 And similarly, We did not send before you any warner into a city except that its affluent said, "Indeed, we found our fathers upon a religion, and we are, in their footsteps, following."

24 He said: "What! Even if I brought you better guidance than that which ye found your fathers following?" They said: "For us, we deny that ye (prophets) are sent (on a mission at all)."

24 [Each warner] said, "Even if I brought you better guidance than that [religion] upon which you found your fathers?" They said, "Indeed we, in that with which you were sent, are disbelievers."

25 So We exacted retribution from them: now see what was the end of those who rejected (Truth)!

25 So we took retribution from them; then see how was the end of the deniers.

26 Behold! Abraham said to his father and his people: "I do indeed clear myself of what ye worship:

26 And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said to his father and his people, "Indeed, I am disassociated from that which you worship

27 "(I worship) only Him Who made me, and He will certainly guide me."

27 Except for He who created me; and indeed, He will guide me."

28 And he left it as a Word to endure among those who came after him, that they may turn back (to Allah).

28 And he made it a word remaining among his descendants that they might return [to it].

29 Yea, I have given the good things of this life to these (men) and their fathers, until the Truth has come to them, and a messenger making things clear.

29 However, I gave enjoyment to these [people of Makkah] and their fathers until there came to them the truth and a clear Messenger.

30 But when the Truth came to them, they said: "This is sorcery, and we do reject it."

30 But when the truth came to them, they said, "This is magic, and indeed we are, concerning it, disbelievers."

31 Also, they say: "Why is not this Qur'an sent down to some leading man in either of the two (chief) cities?"

31 And they said, "Why was this Qur'an not sent down upon a great man from [one of] the two cities?"

32 Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of thy Lord? It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in the life of this world: and We raise some of them above others in ranks, so that some may command work from others. But the Mercy of thy Lord is better than the (wealth) which they amass.

32 Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world and have raised some of them above others in degrees [of rank] that they may make use of one another for service. But the mercy of your Lord is better than whatever they accumulate.

33 And were it not that (all) men might become of one (evil) way of life, We would provide, for everyone that blasphemes against (Allah) Most Gracious, silver roofs for their houses and (silver) stair - ways on which to go up,

33 And if it were not that the people would become one community [of disbelievers], We would have made for those who disbelieve in the Most Merciful - for their houses - ceilings and stairways of silver upon which to mount

34 And (silver) doors to their houses, and thrones (of silver) on which they could recline,

34 And for their houses - doors and couches [of silver] upon which to recline

35 And also adornments of gold. But all this were nothing but conveniences of the present life: The Hereafter, in the sight of thy Lord is for the Righteous.

35 And gold ornament. But all that is not but the enjoyment of worldly life. And the Hereafter with your Lord is for the righteous.

36 If anyone withdraws himself from remembrance of (Allah) Most Gracious, We appoint for him an evil one, to be an intimate companion to him.

36 And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the Most Merciful - We appoint for him a devil, and he is to him a companion.

37 Such (evil ones) really hinder them from the Path, but they think that they are being guided aright!

37 And indeed, the devils avert them from the way [of guidance] while they think that they are [rightly] guided

38 At length, when (such a one) comes to Us, he says (to his evil companion): "Would that between me and thee were the distance of East and West!" Ah! evil is the companion (indeed)!

38 Until, when he comes to Us [at Judgement], he says [to his companion], "Oh, I wish there was between me and you the distance between the east and west - how wretched a companion."

39 When ye have done wrong, it will avail you nothing, that Day, that ye shall be partners in Punishment!

39 And never will it benefit you that Day, when you have wronged, that you are [all] sharing in the punishment.

40 Canst thou then make the deaf to hear, or give direction to the blind or to such as (wander) in manifest error?

40 Then will you make the deaf hear, [O Muhammad], or guide the blind or he who is in clear error?

41 Even if We take thee away, We shall be sure to exact retribution from them,

41 And whether [or not] We take you away [in death], indeed, We will take retribution upon them.

42 Or We shall show thee that (accomplished) which We have promised them: for verily We shall prevail over them.

42 Or whether [or not] We show you that which We have promised them, indeed, We are Perfect in Ability.

43 So hold thou fast to the Revelation sent down to thee; verily thou art on a Straight Way.

43 So adhere to that which is revealed to you. Indeed, you are on a straight path.

44 The (Qur'an) is indeed the message, for thee and for thy people; and soon shall ye (all) be brought to account.

44 And indeed, it is a remembrance for you and your people, and you [all] are going to be questioned.

45 And question thou our messengers whom We sent before thee; did We appoint any deities other than (Allah) Most Gracious, to be worshipped?

45 And ask those We sent before you of Our messengers; have We made besides the Most Merciful deities to be worshipped?

46 We did send Moses aforetime, with Our Signs, to Pharaoh and his Chiefs: He said, "I am a messenger of the Lord of the Worlds."

46 And certainly did We send Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his establishment, and he said, "Indeed, I am the messenger of the Lord of the worlds."

47 But when he came to them with Our Signs, behold they ridiculed them.

47 But when he brought them Our signs, at once they laughed at them.

48 We showed them Sign after Sign, each greater than its fellow, and We seized them with Punishment, in order that they might turn (to Us).

48 And We showed them not a sign except that it was greater than its sister, and We seized them with affliction that perhaps they might return [to faith].

49 And they said, "O thou sorcerer! Invoke thy Lord for us according to His covenant with thee; for we shall truly accept guidance."

49 And they said [to Moses], "O magician, invoke for us your Lord by what He has promised you. Indeed, we will be guided."

50 But when We removed the Penalty from them, behold, they broke their word.

50 But when We removed from them the affliction, at once they broke their word.

51 And Pharaoh proclaimed among his people, saying: "O my people! Does not the dominion of Egypt belong to me, (witness) these streams flowing underneath my (palace)? What! see ye not then?

51 And Pharaoh called out among his people; he said, "O my people, does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing beneath me; then do you not see?

52 "Am I not better than this (Moses), who is a contemptible wretch and can scarcely express himself clearly?

52 Or am I [not] better than this one who is insignificant and hardly makes himself clear?

53 "Then why are not gold bracelets bestowed on him, or (why) come (not) with him angels accompanying him in procession?"

53 Then why have there not been placed upon him bracelets of gold or come with him the angels in conjunction?"

54 Thus did he make fools of his people, and they obeyed him: truly were they a people rebellious (against Allah).

54 So he bluffed his people, and they obeyed him. Indeed, they were [themselves] a people defiantly disobedient [of Allah].

55 When at length they provoked Us, We exacted retribution from them, and We drowned them all.

55 And when they angered Us, We took retribution from them and drowned them all.

56 And We made them (a people) of the Past and an Example to later ages.

56 And We made them a precedent and an example for the later peoples.

57 When (Jesus) the son of Mary is held up as an example, behold, thy people raise a clamour thereat (in ridicule)!

57 And when the son of Mary was presented as an example, immediately your people laughed aloud.

58 And they say, "Are our gods best, or he?" This they set forth to thee, only by way of disputation: yea, they are a contentious people.

58 And they said, "Are your gods better, or is he?" They did not present the comparison except for [mere] argument. But, [in fact], they are a people prone to dispute.

59 He was no more than a servant: We granted Our favour to him, and We made him an example to the Children of Israel.

59 Jesus was not but a servant upon whom We bestowed favor, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel.

60 And if it were Our Will, We could make angels from amongst you, succeeding each other on the earth.

60 And if We willed, We could have made [instead] of you angels succeeding [one another] on the earth.

61 And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): therefore have no doubt about the (Hour), but follow ye Me: this is a Straight Way.

61 And indeed, Jesus will be [a sign for] knowledge of the Hour, so be not in doubt of it, and follow Me. This is a straight path.

62 Let not the Evil One hinder you: for he is to you an enemy avowed.

62 And never let Satan avert you. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.

63 When Jesus came with Clear Signs, he said: "Now have I come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) on which ye dispute: therefore fear Allah and obey me.

63 And when Jesus brought clear proofs, he said, "I have come to you with wisdom and to make clear to you some of that over which you differ, so fear Allah and obey me.

64 "For Allah, He is my Lord and your Lord: so worship ye Him: this is a Straight Way."

64 Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is a straight path."

65 But sects from among themselves fell into disagreement: then woe to the wrong - doers, from the Penalty of a Grievous Day!

65 But the denominations from among them differed [and separated], so woe to those who have wronged from the punishment of a painful Day.

66 Do they only wait for the Hour - that it should come on them all of a sudden, while they perceive not?

66 Are they waiting except for the Hour to come upon them suddenly while they perceive not?

67 Friends on that day will be foes, one to another, - except the Righteous.

67 Close friends, that Day, will be enemies to each other, except for the righteous

68 My devotees! no fear shall be on you that Day, nor shall ye grieve, -

68 [To whom Allah will say], "O My servants, no fear will there be concerning you this Day, nor will you grieve,

69 (Being) those who have believed in Our Signs and bowed (their wills to Ours) in Islam.

69 [You] who believed in Our verses and were Muslims.

70 Enter ye the Garden, ye and your wives, in (beauty and) rejoicing.

70 Enter Paradise, you and your kinds, delighted."

71 To them will be passed round, dishes and goblets of gold: there will be there all that the souls could desire, all that their eyes could delight in: and ye shall abide therein (for eye).

71 Circulated among them will be plates and vessels of gold. And therein is whatever the souls desire and [what] delights the eyes, and you will abide therein eternally.

72 Such will be the Garden of which ye are made heirs for your (good) deeds (in life).

72 And that is Paradise which you are made to inherit for what you used to do.

73 Ye shall have therein abundance of fruit, from which ye shall have satisfaction.

73 For you therein is much fruit from which you will eat.

74 The sinners will be in the Punishment of Hell, to dwell therein (for aye):

74 Indeed, the criminals will be in the punishment of Hell, abiding eternally.

75 Nowise will the (Punishment) be lightened for them, and in despair will they be there overwhelmed.

75 It will not be allowed to subside for them, and they, therein, are in despair.

76 Nowise shall We be unjust to them: but it is they who have been unjust themselves.

76 And We did not wrong them, but it was they who were the wrongdoers.

77 They will cry: "O Malik! would that thy Lord put an end to us!" He will say, "Nay, but ye shall abide!"

77 And they will call, "O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us!" He will say, "Indeed, you will remain."

78 Verily We have brought the Truth to you: but most of you have a hatred for Truth.

78 We had certainly brought you the truth, but most of you, to the truth, were averse.

79 What! have they settled some plan (among themselves)? But it is We Who settle things.

79 Or have they devised [some] affair? But indeed, We are devising [a plan].

80 Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private counsels? Indeed (We do), and Our messengers are by them, to record.

80 Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private conversations? Yes, [We do], and Our messengers are with them recording.

81 Say: "If (Allah) Most Gracious had a son, I would be the first to worship."

81 Say, [O Muhammad], "If the Most Merciful had a son, then I would be the first of [his] worshippers."

82 Glory to the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of the Throne (of Authority)! (He is free) from the things they attribute (to him)!

82 Exalted is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe.

83 So leave them to babble and play (with vanities) until they meet that Day of theirs, which they have been promised.

83 So leave them to converse vainly and amuse themselves until they meet their Day which they are promised.

84 It is He Who is Allah in heaven and Allah on earth; and He is full of Wisdom and Knowledge.

84 And it is Allah who is [the only] deity in the heaven, and on the earth [the only] deity. And He is the Wise, the Knowing.

85 And blessed is He to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all between them: with Him is the Knowledge of the Hour (of Judgment): and to Him shall ye be brought back.

85 And blessed is He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them and with whom is knowledge of the Hour and to whom you will be returned.

86 And those whom they invoke besides Allah have no power of intercession; - only he who bears witness to the Truth, and they know (him).

86 And those they invoke besides Him do not possess [power of] intercession; but only those who testify to the truth [can benefit], and they know.

87 If thou ask them, who created them, they will certainly say, Allah: How then are they deluded away (from the Truth)?

87 And if you asked them who created them, they would surely say, "Allah." So how are they deluded?

88 (Allah has knowledge) of the (Prophet's) cry, "O my Lord! Truly these are people who will not believe!"

88 And [Allah acknowledges] his saying, "O my Lord, indeed these are a people who do not believe."

89 But turn away from them, and say "Peace!" But soon shall they know!

89 So turn aside from them and say, "Peace." But they are going to know.