Al Saffat

1 By those who range themselves in ranks,

1 I swear by those who draw themselves out in ranks

2 And so are strong in repelling (evil),

2 Then those who drive away with reproof,

3 And thus proclaim the Message (of Allah)!

3 Then those who recite, being mindful,

4 Verily, verily, your Allah is one! -

4 Most surely your Allah is One:

5 Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all between them, and Lord of every point at the rising of the sun!

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

6 We have indeed decked the lower heaven with beauty (in) the stars, -

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

7 (For beauty) and for guard against all obstinate rebellious evil spirits,

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

8 (So) they should not strain their ears in the direction of the Exalted Assembly but be cast away from every side,

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

9 Repulsed, for they are under a perpetual penalty,

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

10 Except such as snatch away something by stealth, and they are pursued by a flaming fire, of piercing brightness.

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

11 Just ask their opinion: are they the more difficult to create, or the (other) beings We have created? Them have We created out of a sticky clay!

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

12 Truly dost thou marvel, while they ridicule,

12 Nay! you wonder while they mock,

13 And, when they are admonished, pay no heed, -

13 And when they are reminded, they mind not,

14 And, when they see a Sign, turn it to mockery,

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

15 And say, "This is nothing but evident sorcery!

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

16 "What! when we die, and become dust and bones, shall we (then) be raised up (again)

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

17 "And also our fathers of old?"

17 Or our fathers of yore?

18 Say thou: "Yea, and ye shall then be humiliated (on account of your evil)."

18 Say: Aye! and you shall be abject.

19 Then it will be a single (compelling) cry; and behold, they will begin to see!

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

20 They will say, "Ah! Woe to us! This is the Day of Judgment!"

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

21 (A voice will say,) "This is the Day of Sorting Out, whose truth ye (once) denied!"

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

22 "Bring ye up", it shall be said, "The wrong - doers and their wives, and the things they worshipped -

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

23 "Besides Allah, and lead them to the Way to the (Fierce) Fire!

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

24 "But stop them, for they must be asked:

24 And stop them, for they shall be questioned:

25 "'What is the matter with you that ye help not each other?'"

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

26 Nay, but that day they shall submit (to Judgment);

26 Nay! on that day they shall be submissive.

27 And they will turn to one another, and question one another.

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

28 They will say: "It was ye who used to come to us from the right hand (of power and authority)!"

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

29 They will reply: "Nay, ye yourselves had no Faith!

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

30 "Nor had we any authority over you. Nay, it was ye who were a people in obstinate rebellion!

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

31 "So now has been proved true, against us, the word of our Lord that we shall indeed (have to) taste (the punishment of our sins).

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

32 "We led you astray: for truly we were ourselves astray."

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

33 Truly, that Day, they will (all) share in the Penalty.

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

34 Verily that is how We shall deal with Sinners.

34 Surely thus do We deal with the guilty.

35 For they, when they were told that there is no god except Allah, would puff themselves up with Pride,

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

36 And say: "What! shall we give up our gods for the sake of a Poet possessed?"

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

37 Nay! he has come with the (very) Truth, and he confirms (the Message of) the messengers (before him).

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

38 Ye shall indeed taste of the Grievous Penalty; -

38 Most surely you will taste the painful punishment.

39 But it will be no more than the retribution of (the Evil) that ye have wrought; -

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

40 But the sincere (and devoted) Servants of Allah, -

40 Save the servants of Allah, the purified ones.

41 For them is a Sustenance determined,

41 For them is a known sustenance,

42 Fruits (Delights); and they (shall enjoy) honour and dignity,

42 Fruits, and they shall be highly honored,

43 In Gardens of Felicity,

43 In gardens of pleasure,

44 Facing each other on Thrones (of Dignity):

44 On thrones, facing each other.

45 Round will be passed to them a Cup from a clear - flowing fountain,

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

46 Crystal - white, of a taste delicious to those who drink (thereof),

46 White, delicious to those who drink.

47 Free from headiness; nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom.

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

48 And besides them will be chaste women, restraining their glances, with big eyes (of wonder and beauty).

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

49 As if they were (delicate) eggs closely guarded.

49 As if they were eggs carefully protected.

50 Then they will turn to one another and question one another.

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

51 One of them will start the talk and say: "I had an intimate companion (on the earth),

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

52 "Who used to say, 'what! art thou amongst those who bear witness to the Truth (of the Message)?

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

53 "'When we die and become dust and bones, shall we indeed receive rewards and punishments?'"

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

54 (A voice) said: "Would ye like to look down?"

54 He shall say: Will you look on?

55 He looked down and saw him in the midst of the Fire.

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

56 He said: "By Allah! thou wast little short of bringing me to perdition!

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

57 "Had it not been for the Grace of my Lord, I should certainly have been among those brought (there)!

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

58 "Is it (the case) that we shall not die,

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

59 "Except our first death, and that we shall not be punished?"

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

60 Verily this is the supreme achievement!

60 Most surely this is the mighty achievement.

61 For the like of this let all strive, who wish to strive.

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

62 Is that the better entertainment or the Tree of Zaqqum?

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

63 For We have truly made it (as) a trial for the wrong - doers.

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

64 For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hell - Fire:

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

65 The shoots of its fruit - stalks are like the heads of devils:

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

66 Truly they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith.

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

67 Then on top of that they will be given a mixture made of boiling water.

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

68 Then shall their return be to the (Blazing) Fire.

68 Then most surely their return shall be to hell.

69 Truly they found their fathers on the wrong Path;

69 Surely they found their fathers going astray,

70 So they (too) were rushed down on their footsteps!

70 So in their footsteps they are being hastened on.

71 And truly before them, many of the ancients went astray; -

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

72 But We sent aforetime, among them, (messengers) to admonish them; -

72 And certainly We sent among them warners.

73 Then see what was the end of those who were admonished (but heeded not), -

73 Then see how was the end of those warned,

74 Except the sincere (and devoted) Servants of Allah.

74 Except the servants of Allah, the purified ones.

75 (In the days of old), Noah cried to Us, and We are the best to hear prayer.

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

76 And We delivered him and his people from the Great Calamity,

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

77 And made his progeny to endure (on this earth);

77 And We made his offspring the survivors.

78 And We left (this blessing) for him among generations to come in later times:

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

79 "Peace and salutation to Noah among the nations!"

79 Peace and salutation to Nuh among the nations.

80 Thus indeed do we reward those who do right.

80 Thus do We surely reward the doers of good.

81 For he was one of our believing Servants.

81 Surely he was of Our believing servants.

82 Then the rest we overwhelmed in the Flood.

82 Then We drowned the others

83 Verily among those who followed his Way was Abraham.

83 And most surely Ibrahim followed his way.

84 Behold! he approached his Lord with a sound heart.

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

85 Behold! he said to his father and to his people, "What is that which ye worship?

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

86 "Is it a falsehood - gods other than Allah - that ye desire?

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

87 "Then what is your idea about the Lord of the worlds?"

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

88 Then did he cast a glance at the Stars.

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

89 And he said, "I am indeed sick (at heart)!"

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

90 So they turned away from him, and departed.

90 So they went away from him, turning back.

91 Then did he turn to their gods and said, "will ye not eat (of the offerings before you)?...

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

92 "What is the matter with you that ye speak not (intelligently)?"

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

93 Then did he turn upon them, striking (them) with the right hand.

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

94 Then came (the worshippers) with hurried steps, and faced (him).

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

95 He said: "Worship ye that which ye have (yourselves) carved?

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

96 "But Allah has created you and your handwork!"

96 And Allah has created you and what you make.

97 They said, "Build him a furnace, and throw him into the blazing fire!"

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

98 (This failing), they then sought a stratagem against him, but We made them the ones most humiliated!

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

99 He said: "I will go to my Lord! He will surely guide me!

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

100 "O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!"

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

101 So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear.

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

102 Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills one practising Patience and Constancy!"

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.

103 So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice),

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

104 We called out to him "O Abraham!

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

105 "Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" - thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

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

106 For this was obviously a trial -

106 Most surely this is a manifest trial.

107 And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice:

107 And We ransomed him with a Feat sacrifice.

108 And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times:

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

109 "Peace and salutation to Abraham!"

109 Peace be on Ibrahim.

110 Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

110 Thus do We reward the doers of good.

111 For he was one of our believing Servants.

111 Surely he was one of Our believing servants.

112 And We gave him the good news of Isaac - a prophet, - one of the Righteous.

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

113 We blessed him and Isaac: but of their progeny are (some) that do right, and (some) that obviously do wrong, to their own souls.

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.

114 Again (of old) We bestowed Our favour on Moses and Aaron,

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

115 And We delivered them and their people from (their) Great Calamity;

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

116 And We helped them, so they overcame (their troubles);

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

117 And We gave them the Book which helps to make things clear;

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

118 And We guided them to the Straight Way.

118 And We guided them both on the right way.

119 And We left (this blessing) for them among generations (to come) in later times:

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

120 "Peace and salutation to Moses and Aaron!"

120 Peace be on Musa and Haroun.

121 Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

121 Even thus do We reward the doers of good.

122 For they were two of our believing Servants.

122 Surely they were both of Our believing servants.

123 So also was Elias among those sent (by Us).

123 And Ilyas was most surely of the apostles.

124 Behold, he said to his people, "Will ye not fear (Allah)?

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

125 "Will ye call upon Baal and forsake the Best of Creators, -

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

126 "Allah, your Lord and Cherisher and the Lord and Cherisher of your fathers of old?"

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

127 But they rejected him, and they will certainly be called up (for punishment), -

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

128 Except the sincere and devoted Servants of Allah (among them).

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

129 And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times:

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

130 "Peace and salutation to such as Elias!"

130 Peace be on Ilyas.

131 Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

131 Even thus do We reward the doers of good.

132 For he was one of our believing Servants.

132 Surely he was one of Our believing servants.

133 So also was Lut among those sent (by Us).

133 And Lut was most surely of the apostles.

134 Behold, We delivered him and his adherents, all

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

135 Except an old woman who was among those who lagged behind:

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

136 Then We destroyed the rest.

136 Then We destroyed the others.

137 Verily, ye pass by their (sites), by day -

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

138 And by night: will ye not understand?

138 And at night; do you not then understand?

139 So also was Jonah among those sent (by Us).

139 And Yunus was most surely of the apostles.

140 When he ran away (like a slave from captivity) to the ship (fully) laden,

140 When he ran away to a ship completely laden,

141 He (agreed to) cast lots, and he was condemned:

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

142 Then the big Fish did swallow him, and he had done acts worthy of blame.

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

143 Had it not been that he (repented and) glorified Allah,

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

144 He would certainly have remained inside the Fish till the Day of Resurrection.

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

145 But We cast him forth on the naked shore in a state of sickness,

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

146 And We caused to grow, over him, a spreading plant of the gourd kind.

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

147 And We sent him (on a mission) to a hundred thousand (men) or more.

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

148 And they believed; so We permitted them to enjoy (their life) for a while.

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

149 Now ask them their opinion: Is it that thy Lord has (only) daughters, and they have sons? -

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

150 Or that We created the angels female, and they are witnesses (thereto)?

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

151 Is it not that they say, from their own invention,

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

152 "Allah has begotten children"? but they are liars!

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

153 Did He (then) choose daughters rather than sons?

153 Has He chosen daughters in preference to sons?

154 What is the matter with you? How judge ye?

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

155 Will ye not then receive admonition?

155 Will you not then mind?

156 Or have ye an authority manifest?

156 Or have you a clear authority?