Al Kahf

1 Praise be to Allah, Who hath sent to His Servant the Book, and hath allowed therein no Crookedness:

1 (All) praise is due to Allah, Who revealed the Book to His servant and did not make in it any crookedness.

2 (He hath made it) Straight (and Clear) in order that He may warn (the godless) of a terrible Punishment from Him, and that He may give Glad Tidings to the Believers who work righteous deeds, that they shall have a goodly Reward,

2 Rightly directing, that he might give warning of severe punishment from Him and give good news to the believers who do good that they shall have a goodly reward,

3 Wherein they shall remain for ever:

3 Staying in it for ever;

4 Further, that He may warn those (also) who say, "Allah hath begotten a son":

4 And warn those who say: Allah has taken a son.

5 No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying what they say is nothing but falsehood!

5 They have no knowledge of it, nor had their fathers; a grievous word it is that comes out of their mouths; they speak nothing but a lie.

6 Thou wouldst only, perchance, fret thyself to death, following after them, in grief, if they believe not in this Message.

6 Then maybe you will kill yourself with grief, sorrowing after them, if they do not believe in this announcement.

7 That which is on earth we have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them - as to which of them are best in conduct.

7 Surely We have made whatever is on the earth an embellishment for it, so that We may try them (as to) which of them is best in works.

8 Verily what is on earth we shall make but as dust and dry soil (without growth or herbage).

8 And most surely We will make what is on it bare ground without herbage.

9 Or dost thou reflect that the Companions of the Cave and of the Inscription were wonders among Our Sign?

9 Or, do you think that the Fellows of the Cave and the Inscription were of Our wonderful signs?

10 Behold, the youths betook themselves to the Cave: they said, "Our Lord! bestow on us Mercy from Thyself, and dispose of our affair for us in the right way!"

10 When the youths sought refuge in the cave, they said: Our Lord! grant us mercy from Thee, and provide for us a right course in our affair.

11 Then We draw (a veil) over their ears, for a number of years, in the Cave, (so that they heard not):

11 So We prevented them from hearing in the cave for a number of years.

12 Then We roused them, in order to test which of the two parties was best at calculating the term of years they had tarried!

12 Then We raised them up that We might know which of the two parties was best able to compute the time for which they remained.

13 We relate to thee their story in truth: they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We advanced them in guidance:

13 We relate to you their story with the truth; surely they were youths who believed in their Lord and We increased them in guidance.

14 We gave strength to their hearts: Behold, they stood up and said: "Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and of the earth: never shall we call upon any god other than Him: if we did, we should indeed have uttered an enormity!

14 And We strengthened their hearts with patience, when they stood up and said: Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth; we will by no means call upon any god besides Him, for then indeed we should have said an extravagant thing.

15 "These our people have taken for worship gods other than Him: why do they not bring forward an authority clear (and convincing) for what they do? Who doth more wrong than such as invent a falsehood against Allah?

15 These our people have taken gods besides Him; why do they not produce any clear authority in their support? Who is then more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah?

16 "When ye turn away from them and the things they worship other than Allah, betake yourselves to the Cave: Your Lord will shower His mercies on you and disposes of your affair towards comfort and ease."

16 And when you forsake them and what they worship save Allah, betake yourselves for refuge to the cave; your Lord will extend to you largely of His mercy and provide for you a profitable course in your affair.

17 Thou wouldst have seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from their Cave, and when it set, turning away from them to the left, while they lay in the open space in the midst of the Cave. Such are among the Signs of Allah: He whom Allah, guides is rightly guided; but he whom Allah leaves to stray, - for him wilt thou find no protector to lead him to the Right Way.

17 And you might see the sun when it rose, decline from their cave towards the right hand, and when it set, leave them behind on the left while they were in a wide space thereof. This is of the signs of Allah; whomsoever Allah guides, he is the rightly guided one, and whomsoever He causes to err, you shall not find for him any friend to lead (him) aright.

18 Thou wouldst have deemed them awake, whilst they were asleep, and We turned them on their right and on their left sides: their dog stretching forth his two fore - legs on the threshold: if thou hadst come up on to them, thou wouldst have certainly turned back from them in flight, and wouldst certainly have been filled with terror of them.

18 And you might think them awake while they were asleep and We turned them about to the right and to the left, while their dog (lay) outstretching its paws at the entrance; if you looked at them you would certainly turn back from them in flight, and you would certainly be filled with awe because of them.

19 Such (being their state), we raised them up (from sleep), that they might question each other. Said one of them, "How long have ye stayed (here)?" They said, "We have stayed (perhaps) a day, or part of a day." (At length) they (all) said, "Allah (alone) knows best how long ye have stayed here.... Now send ye then one of you with this money of yours to the town: let him find out which is the best food (to be had) and bring some to you, that (ye may) satisfy your hunger therewith: And let him behave with care and courtesy, and let him not inform any one about you.

19 And thus did We rouse them that they might question each other. A speaker among them said: How long have you tarried? They said: We have tarried for a day or a part of a day. (Others) said: Your Lord knows best how long you have tarried. Now send one of you with this silver (coin) of yours to the city, then let him see which of them has purest food, so let him bring you provision from it, and let him behave with gentleness, and by no means make your case known to any one:

20 "For if they should come upon you, they would stone you or force you to return to their cult, and in that case ye would never attain prosperity."

20 For surely if they prevail against you they would stone you to death or force you back to their religion, and then you will never succeed.

21 Thus did We make their case known to the people, that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that there can be no doubt about the Hour of Judgment. Behold, they dispute among themselves as to their affair. (Some) said, "Construct a building over them": Their Lord knows best about them: those who prevailed over their affair said, "Let us surely build a place of worship over them."

21 And thus did We make (men) to get knowledge of them that they might know that Allah's promise is true and that as for the hour there is no doubt about it. When they disputed among themselves about their affair and said: Erect an edifice over them - - their Lord best knows them. Those who prevailed in their affair said: We will certainly raise a masjid over them.

22 (Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth, - doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou: "My Lord knoweth best their number; It is but few that know their (real case)." Enter not, therefore, into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the Sleepers.

22 (Some) say: (They are) three, the fourth of them being their dog; and (others) say: Five, the sixth of them being their dog, making conjectures at what is unknown; and (others yet) say: Seven, and the eighth of them is their dog. Say: My Lord best knows their number, none knows them but a few; therefore contend not in the matter of them but with an outward contention, and do not question concerning them any of them.

23 Nor say of anything, "I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow" -

23 And do not say of anything: Surely I will do it tomorrow,

24 Without adding, "So please Allah!" and call thy Lord to mind when thou forgettest, and say, "I hope that my Lord will guide me ever closer (even) than this to the right road."

24 Unless Allah pleases; and remember your Lord when you forget and say: Maybe my Lord will guide me to a nearer course to the right than this.

25 So they stayed in their Cave three hundred years, and (some) add nine (more)

25 And they remained in their cave three hundred years and (some) add (another) nine.

26 Say: "Allah knows best how long they stayed: with Him is (the knowledge of) the secrets of the heavens and the earth: how clearly He sees, how finely He hears (everything)! They have no protector other than Him; nor does He share His Command with any person whatsoever.

26 Say: Allah knows best how long they remained; to Him are (known) the unseen things of the heavens and the earth; how clear His sight and how clear His hearing! There is none to be a guardian for them besides Him, and He does not make any one His associate in His Judgment.

27 And recite (and teach) what has been revealed to thee of the Book of thy Lord: none can change His Words, and none wilt thou find as a refuge other than Him.

27 And recite what has been revealed to you of the Book of your Lord, there is none who can alter His words; and you shall not find any refuge besides Him.

28 And keep thy soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face; and let not thine eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; no obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds.

28 And withhold yourself with those who call on their Lord morning and evening desiring His goodwill, and let not your eyes pass from them, desiring the beauties of this world's life; and do not follow him whose heart We have made unmindful to Our remembrance, and he follows his low desires and his case is one in which due bounds are exceeded.

29 Say, "The truth is from your Lord": Let him who will believe, and let him who will, reject (it): for the wrong - doers We have prepared a Fire whose (smoke and flames), like the walls and roof of a tent, will hem them in: if they implore relief they will be granted water like melted brass, that will scald their faces, how dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!

29 And say: The truth is from your Lord, so let him who please believe, and let him who please disbelieve; surely We have prepared for the iniquitous a fire, the curtains of which shall encompass them about; and if they cry for water, they shall be given water like molten brass which will scald their faces; evil the drink and ill the resting - place.

30 As to those who believe and work righteousness, verily We shall not suffer to perish the reward of any who do a (single) righteous deed.

30 Surely (as for) those who believe and do good, We do not waste the reward of him who does a good work.

31 For them will be Gardens of Eternity; beneath them rivers will flow; they will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade: They will recline therein on raised thrones. How good the recompense! How beautiful a couch to recline on!

31 These it is for whom are gardens of perpetuity beneath which rivers flow, ornaments shall be given to them therein of bracelets of gold, and they shall wear green robes of fine silk and thick silk brocade interwoven with gold, reclining therein on raised couches; excellent the recompense and goodly the resting place.

32 Set forth to them the parable of two men: for one of them We provided two gardens of grape - vines and surrounded them with date palms; in between the two We placed corn - fields.

32 And set forth to them a parable of two men; for one of them We made two gardens of grape vines, and We surrounded them both with palms, and in the midst of them We made cornfields.

33 Each of those gardens brought forth its produce, and failed not in the least therein: in the midst of them We caused a river to flow.

33 Both these gardens yielded their fruits, and failed not aught thereof, and We caused a river to gush forth in their midst,

34 (Abundant) was the produce this man had: he said to his companion, in the course of a mutual argument: "more wealth have I than you, and more honour and power in (my following of) men."

34 And he possessed much wealth; so he said to his companion, while he disputed with him: I have greater wealth than you, and am mightier in followers.

35 He went into his garden in a state (of mind) unjust to his soul: He said, "I deem not that this will ever perish,

35 And he entered his garden while he was unjust to himself. He said: I do not think that this will ever perish

36 "Nor do I deem that the Hour (of Judgment) will (ever) come: Even if I am brought back to my Lord, I shall surely find (there) something better in exchange."

36 And I do not think the hour will come, and even if I am returned to my Lord I will most certainly find a returning place better than this.

37 His companion said to him, in the course of the argument with him: "Dost thou deny Him Who created thee out of dust, then out of a sperm - drop, then fashioned thee into a man?

37 His companion said to him while disputing with him: Do you disbelieve in Him Who created you from dust, then from a small seed, then He made you a perfect man?

38 "But (I think) for my part that He is Allah, My Lord, and none shall I associate with my Lord.

38 But as for me, He, Allah, is my Lord, and I do not associate anyone with my Lord.

39 "Why didst thou not, as thou wentest into thy garden, say: 'Allah's will (be done)! There is no power but with Allah!' If thou dost see me less than thee in wealth and sons,

39 And wherefore did you not say when you entered your garden: It is as Allah has pleased, there is no power save in Allah? If you consider me to be inferior to you in wealth and children,

40 "It may be that my Lord will give me something better than thy garden, and that He will send on thy garden thunderbolts (by way of reckoning) from heaven, making it (but) slippery sand! -

40 Then maybe my Lord will give me what is better than your garden, and send on it a thunderbolt from heaven so that it shall become even ground without plant,

41 "Or the water of the garden will run off underground so that thou wilt never be able to find it."

41 Or its waters should sink down into the ground so that you are unable to find it.

42 So his fruits (and enjoyment) were encompassed (with ruin), and he remained twisting and turning his hands over what he had spent on his property, which had (now) tumbled to pieces to its very foundations, and he could only say, "Woe is me! Would I had never ascribed partners to my Lord and Cherisher!"

42 And his wealth was destroyed; so he began to wring his hands for what he had spent on it, while it lay, having fallen down upon its roofs, and he said: Ah me! would that I had not associated anyone with my Lord.

43 Nor had he numbers to help him against Allah, nor was he able to deliver himself.

43 And he had no host to help him besides Allah nor could he defend himself.

44 There, the (only) protection comes from Allah, the True One. He is the Best to reward, and the Best to give success.

44 Here is protection only Allah's, the True One; He is best in (the giving of) reward and best in requiting.

45 Set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world: It is like the rain which we send down from the skies: the earth's vegetation absorbs it, but soon it becomes dry stubble, which the winds do scatter: it is (only) Allah who prevails over all things.

45 And set forth to them parable of the life of this world: like water which We send down from the cloud so the herbage of the earth becomes tangled on account of it, then it becomes dry broken into pieces which the winds scatter; and Allah is the holder of power over all things.

46 Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of this world: But the things that endure, good deeds, are best in the sight of thy Lord, as rewards, and best as (the foundation for) hopes.

46 Wealth and children are an adornment of the life of this world; and the ever - abiding, the good works, are better with your Lord in reward and better in expectation.

47 One Day We shall remove the mountains, and thou wilt see the earth as a level stretch, and We shall gather them, all together, nor shall We leave out any one of them.

47 And the day on which We will cause the mountains to pass away and you will see the earth a levelled plain and We will gather them and leave not any one of them behind.

48 And they will be marshalled before thy Lord in ranks, (with the announcement), "Now have ye come to Us (bare) as We created you first: aye, ye thought We shall not fulfil the appointment made to you to meet (Us)!":

48 And they shall be brought before your Lord, standing in ranks: Now certainly you have come to Us as We created you at first. Nay, you thought that We had not appointed to you a time of the fulfillment of the promise.

49 And the Book (of Deeds) will be placed (before you); and thou wilt see the sinful in great terror because of what is (recorded) therein; they will say, "Ah! woe to us! what a Book is this! It leaves out nothing small or great, but takes account thereof!" They will find all that they did, placed before them: And not one will thy Lord treat with injustice.

49 And the Book shall be placed, then you will see the guilty fearing from what is in it, and they will say: Ah! woe to us! what a book is this! it does not omit a small one nor a great one, but numbers them (all); and what they had done they shall find present (there); and your Lord does not deal unjustly with anyone.

50 Behold! We said to the angels, "Bow down to Adam": They bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord. Will ye then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrong - doers!

50 And when We said to the angels: Make obeisance to Adam; they made obeisance but Iblis (did it not). He was of the jinn, so he transgressed the commandment of his Lord. What! would you then take him and his offspring for friends rather than Me, and they are your enemies? Evil is (this) change for the unjust.

51 I called them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor (even) their own creation: nor is it for helpers such as Me to take as lead (men) astray!

51 I did not make them witnesses of the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor of the creation of their own souls; nor could I take those who lead (others) astray for aiders.

52 One Day He will say, "Call on those whom ye thought to be My partners," and they will call on them, but they will not listen to them; and We shall make for them a place of common perdition.

52 And on the day when He shall say: Call on those whom you considered to be My associates. So they shall call on them, but they shall not answer them, and We will cause a separation between them.

53 And the Sinful shall see the fire and apprehend that they have to fall therein: no means will they find to turn away therefrom.

53 And the guilty shall see the fire, then they shall know that they are going to fall into it, and they shall not find a place to which to turn away from it.

54 We have explained in detail in this Qur'an, for the benefit of mankind, every kind of similitude: but man is, in most things, contentious.

54 And certainly We have explained in this Quran every kind of example, and man is most of all given to contention.

55 And what is there to keep back men from believing, now that Guidance has come to them, nor from praying for forgiveness from their Lord, but that (they ask that) the ways of the ancients be repeated with them, or the Wrath be brought to them face to face?

55 And nothing prevents men from believing when the guidance comes to them, and from asking forgiveness of their Lord, except that what happened to the ancients should overtake them, or that the chastisement should come face to face with them.

56 We only send the messengers to give Glad Tidings and to give warnings: But the unbelievers dispute with vain argument, in order therewith to weaken the truth, and they treat My Signs as a jest, as also the fact that they are warned!

56 And We do not send apostles but as givers of good news and warning, and those who disbelieve make a false contention that they may render null thereby the truth, and they take My communications and that with which they are warned for a mockery.

57 And who doth more wrong than one who is reminded of the Signs of his Lord, but turns away from them, forgetting the (deeds) which his hands have sent forth? Verily We have set veils over their hearts lest they should understand this, and over their ears, deafness, if thou callest them to guidance, even then will they never accept guidance.

57 And who is more unjust than he who is reminded of the communications of his Lord, then he turns away from them and forgets what his two hands have sent before? Surely We have placed veils over their hearts lest they should understand it and a heaviness in their ears; and if you call them to the guidance, they will not ever follow the right course in that case.

58 But your Lord is Most forgiving, full of Mercy. If He were to call them (at once) to account for what they have earned, then surely He would have hastened their punishment: but they have their appointed time, beyond which they will find no refuge.

58 And your Lord is Forgiving, the Lord of Mercy; were He to punish them for what they earn, He would certainly have hastened the chastisement for them; but for them there is an appointed time from which they shall not find a refuge.

59 Such were the populations we destroyed when they committed iniquities; but we fixed an appointed time for their destruction.

59 And (as for) these towns, We destroyed them when they acted unjustly, and We have appointed a time for their destruction.

60 Behold, Moses said to his attendant, "I will not give up until I reach the junction of the two seas or (until) I spend years and years in travel."

60 And when Musa said to his servant: I will not cease until I reach the junction of the two rivers or I will go on for years.

61 But when they reached the Junction, they forgot (about) their Fish, which took its course through the sea (straight) as in a tunnel.

61 So when they had reached the junction of the two (rivers) they forgot their fish, and it took its way into the sea, going away.

62 When they had passed on (some distance), Moses said to his attendant: "Bring us our early meal; truly we have suffered much fatigue at this (stage of) our journey."

62 But when they had gone farther, he said to his servant: Bring to us our morning meal, certainly we have met with fatigue from this our journey.

63 He replied: "Sawest thou (what happened) when we betook ourselves to the rock? I did indeed forget (about) the Fish: none but Satan made me forget to tell (you) about it: it took its course through the sea in a marvellous way!"

63 He said: Did you see when we took refuge on the rock then I forgot the fish, and nothing made me forget to speak of it but the Shaitan, and it took its way into the river; what a wonder!

64 Moses said: "That was what we were seeking after:" So they went back on their footsteps, following (the path they had come).

64 He said: This is what we sought for; so they returned retracing their footsteps.

65 So they found one of Our servants, on whom We had bestowed Mercy from Ourselves and whom We had taught knowledge from Our own Presence.

65 Then they found one from among Our servants whom We had granted mercy from Us and whom We had taught knowledge from Ourselves.

66 Moses said to him: "May I follow thee, on the footing that thou teach me something of the (Higher) Truth which thou hast been taught?"

66 Musa said to him: Shall I follow you on condition that you should teach me right knowledge of what you have been taught?

67 (The other) said: "Verily thou wilt not be able to have patience with me!"

67 He said: Surely you cannot have patience with me

68 "And how canst thou have patience about things about which thy understanding is not complete?"

68 And how can you have patience in that of which you have not got a comprehensive knowledge?

69 Moses said: "Thou wilt find me, if Allah so will, (truly) patient: nor shall I disobey thee in aught."

69 He said: If Allah pleases, you will find me patient and I shall not disobey you in any matter.

70 The other said: "If then thou wouldst follow me, ask me no questions about anything until I myself speak to thee concerning it."

70 He said: If you would follow me, then do not question me about any thing until I myself speak to you about it

71 So they both proceeded: until, when they were in the boat, he scuttled it. Said Moses: "Hast thou scuttled it in order to drown those in it? Truly a strange thing hast thou done!"

71 So they went (their way) until when they embarked in the boat he made a hole in it. (Musa) said: Have you made a hole in it to drown its inmates? Certainly you have done a grievous thing.

72 He answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no patience with me?"

72 He said: Did I not say that you will not be able to have patience with me?

73 Moses said: "Rebuke me not for forgetting, nor grieve me by raising difficulties in my case."

73 He said: Blame me not for what I forgot, and do not constrain me to a difficult thing in my affair.

74 Then they proceeded: until, when they met a young man, he slew him. Moses said: "Hast thou slain an innocent person who had slain none? Truly a foul (unheard of) thing hast thou done!"

74 So they went on until, when they met a boy, he slew him. (Musa) said: Have you slain an innocent person otherwise than for manslaughter? Certainly you have done an evil thing.

75 He answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no patience with me?"

75 He said: Did I not say to you that you will not be able to have patience with me?

76 (Moses) said: "If ever I ask thee about anything after this, keep me not in thy company: then wouldst thou have received (full) excuse from my side."

76 He said: If I ask you about anything after this, keep me not in your company; indeed you shall have (then) found an excuse in my case.

77 Then they proceeded: until, when they came to the inhabitants of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused them hospitality. They found there a wall on the point of falling down, but he set it up straight. (Moses) said: "If thou hadst wished, surely thou couldst have exacted some recompense for it!"

77 So they went on until when they came to the people of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused to entertain them as guests. Then they found in it a wall which was on the point of falling, so he put it into a right state. (Musa) said: If you had pleased, you might certainly have taken a recompense for it.

78 He answered: "This is the parting between me and thee: now will I tell thee the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience.

78 He said: This shall be separation between me and you; now I will inform you of the significance of that with which you could not have patience.

79 "As for the boat, it belonged to certain men in dire want: they plied on the water: I but wished to render it unserviceable, for there was after them a certain king who seized on every boat by force.

79 As for the boat, it belonged to (some) poor men who worked on the river and I wished that I should damage it, and there was behind them a king who seized every boat by force.

80 "As for the youth, his parents were people of Faith, and we feared that he would grieve them by obstinate rebellion and ingratitude (to Allah and man).

80 And as for the boy, his parents were believers and we feared lest he should make disobedience and ingratitude to come upon them:

81 "So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange (a son) better in purity (of conduct) and closer in affection.

81 So we desired that their Lord might give them in his place one better than him in purity and nearer to having compassion.

82 "As for the wall, it belonged to two youths, orphans, in the Town; there was, beneath it, a buried treasure, to which they were entitled: their father had been a righteous man: So thy Lord desired that they should attain their age of full strength and get out their treasure - a mercy (and favour) from thy Lord. I did it not of my own accord. Such is the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience."

82 And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure belonging to them, and their father was a righteous man; so your Lord desired that they should attain their maturity and take out their treasure, a mercy from your Lord, and I did not do it of my own accord. This is the significance of that with which you could not have patience.

83 They ask thee concerning Zul - qarnain. Say, "I will rehearse to you something of his story."

83 And they ask you about Zulqarnain. Say: I will recite to you an account of him.

84 Verily We established his power on earth, and We gave him the ways and the means to all ends.

84 Surely We established him in the land and granted him means of access to every thing.

85 One (such) way he followed,

85 So he followed a course.

86 Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water: Near it he found a People: We said: "O Zul - qarnain! (thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness."

86 Until when he reached the place where the sun set, he found it going down into a black sea, and found by it a people. We said: O Zulqarnain! either give them a chastisement or do them a benefit.

87 He said: "Whoever doth wrong, him shall we punish; then shall he be sent back to his Lord; and He will punish him with a punishment unheard - of (before).

87 He said: As to him who is unjust, we will chastise him, then shall he be returned to his Lord, and He will chastise him with an exemplary chastisement:

88 "But whoever believes, and works righteousness, - he shall have a goodly reward, and easy will be his task as We order it by our Command."

88 And as for him who believes and does good, he shall have goodly reward, and We will speak to him an easy word of Our command.

89 Then followed he (another) way,

89 Then he followed (another) course.

90 Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no covering protection against the sun.

90 Until when he reached the land of the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people to whom We had given no shelter from It;

91 (He left them) as they were: We completely understood what was before him.

91 Even so! and We had a full knowledge of what he had.

92 Then followed he (another) way,

92 Then he followed (another) course.

93 Until, when he reached (a tract) between two mountains, he found, beneath them, a people who scarcely understood a word.

93 Until when he reached (a place) between the two mountains, he found on that side of them a people who could hardly understand a word.

94 They said: "O Zul - qarnain! the Gog and Magog (People) do great mischief on earth: shall we then render thee tribute in order that thou mightest erect a barrier between us and them?

94 They said: O Zulqarnain! surely Gog and Magog make mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute on condition that you should raise a barrier between us and them

95 He said: "(The power) in which my Lord has established me is better (than tribute): Help me therefore with strength (and labour): I will erect a strong barrier between you and them:

95 He said: That in which my Lord has established me is better, therefore you only help me with workers, I will make a fortified barrier between you and them;

96 "Bring me blocks of iron." At length, when he had filled up the space between the two steep mountain - sides, He said, "Blow (with your bellows)" Then, when he had made it (red) as fire, he said: "Bring me, that I may pour over it, molten lead."

96 Bring me blocks of iron; until when he had filled up the space between the two mountain sides, he said: Blow, until when he had made it (as) fire, he said: Bring me molten brass which I may pour over it.

97 Thus were they made powerless to scale it or to dig through it.

97 So they were not able to scale it nor could they make a hole in it.

98 He said: "This is a mercy from my Lord: But when the promise of my Lord comes to pass, He will make it into dust; and the promise of my Lord is true."

98 He said: This is a mercy from my Lord, but when the promise of my Lord comes to pass He will make it level with the ground, and the promise of my Lord is ever true.

99 On that day We shall leave them to surge like waves on one another: the trumpet will be blown, and We shall collect them all together.

99 And on that day We will leave a part of them in conflict with another part, and the trumpet will be blown, so We will gather them all together;

100 And We shall present Hell that day for Unbelievers to see, all spread out, -

100 And We will bring forth hell, exposed to view, on that day before the unbelievers.

101 (Unbelievers) whose eyes had been under a veil from remembrance of Me, and who had been unable even to hear.

101 They whose eyes were under a cover from My reminder and they could not even hear.

102 Do the Unbelievers think that they can take My servants as protectors besides Me? Verily We have prepared Hell for the Unbelievers for (their) entertainment.

102 What! do then those who disbelieve think that they can take My servants to be guardians besides Me? Surely We have prepared hell for the entertainment of the unbelievers.

103 Say: "Shall we tell you of those who lose most in respect of their deeds? -

103 Say: Shall We inform you of the greatest losers in (their) deeds?

104 "Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life, while they thought that they were acquiring good by their works?"

104 (These are) they whose labor is lost in this world's life and they think that they are well versed in skill of the work of hands.

105 They are those who deny the Signs of their Lord and the fact of their having to meet Him (in the Hereafter): vain will be their works, nor shall We, on the Day of Judgment, give them any weight.

105 These are they who disbelieve in the communications of their Lord and His meeting, so their deeds become null, and therefore We will not set up a balance for them on the day of resurrection.

106 That is their reward, Hell, because they rejected Faith, and took My Signs and My Messengers by way of jest.

106 Thus it is that their recompense is hell, because they disbelieved and held My communications and My apostles in mockery.

107 As to those who believe and work righteous deeds, they have, for their entertainment, the Gardens of Paradise,

107 Surely (as for) those who believe and do good deeds, their place of entertainment shall be the gardens of paradise,

108 Wherein they shall dwell (for aye): no change will they wish for from them.

108 Abiding therein; they shall not desire removal from them.

109 Say: "If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it, for its aid."

109 Say: If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord, the sea would surely be consumed before the words of my Lord are exhausted, though We were to bring the like of that (sea) to add

110 Say: "I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your Allah is one Allah: whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and, in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner.

110 Say: I am only a mortal like you; it is revealed to me that your god is one Allah, therefore whoever hopes to meet his Lord, he should do good deeds, and not join any one in the service of his Lord.