The surah that mentions the names of sixteen of The Prophets and Mary, illustrating the unity of the divine message. Accounts of several prophets (anbiyāʾ) appear in this surah from verse 48 ., hence its name. The surah stresses that fact that Muḥammad is a man like earlier prophets, and has been given the same message to declare the unity of God. It warns the disbelievers of the approaching Judgement from which there is no escape.
1
اقتَرَبَ لِلنّاسِ حِسابُهُم وَهُم في غَفلَةٍ مُعرِضونَ
iqtaraba li-n-nāsi ḥisābuhum wa-hum fī ghaflatin muʿriḍūna
Mankind’s reckoning has drawn near to them, yet they are disregardful in [their] obliviousness.
2
ما يَأتيهِم مِن ذِكرٍ مِن رَبِّهِم مُحدَثٍ إِلَّا استَمَعوهُ وَهُم يَلعَبونَ
mā yaʾtīhim min dhikrin min rabbihim muḥdathin ʾillā stamaʿūhu wa-hum yalʿabūna
There does not come to them any new reminder from their Lord but they listen to it as they play around,
3
لاهِيَةً قُلوبُهُم ۗ وَأَسَرُّوا النَّجوَى الَّذينَ ظَلَموا هَل هٰذا إِلّا بَشَرٌ مِثلُكُم ۖ أَفَتَأتونَ السِّحرَ وَأَنتُم تُبصِرونَ
lāhiyatan qulūbuhum wa-ʾasarrū n-najwā lladhīna ẓalamū hal hādhā ʾillā basharun mithlukum ʾa-fa-taʾtūna s-siḥra wa-ʾantum tubṣirūna
their hearts set on diversions. The wrongdoers secretly whisper together, [saying], ‘Is not this [man] just a human being like yourselves? Will you give in to magic with open eyes?’
4
قالَ رَبّي يَعلَمُ القَولَ فِي السَّماءِ وَالأَرضِ ۖ وَهُوَ السَّميعُ العَليمُ
qāla rabbī yaʿlamu l-qawla fī s-samāʾi wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-huwa s-samīʿu l-ʿalīmu
He said, ‘My Lord knows every word [spoken] in the sky and the earth, and He is the All-hearing, the All-knowing.’
5
بَل قالوا أَضغاثُ أَحلامٍ بَلِ افتَراهُ بَل هُوَ شاعِرٌ فَليَأتِنا بِآيَةٍ كَما أُرسِلَ الأَوَّلونَ
bal qālū ʾaḍghāthu ʾaḥlāmin bali ftarāhu bal huwa shāʿirun fa-l-yaʾtinā bi-ʾāyatin ka-mā ʾursila l-ʾawwalūna
Rather they said, ‘[They are] confused nightmares!’ ‘Rather he has fabricated it!’ ‘Rather he is a poet!’ ‘Let him bring us a sign, like those sent to the ancients.’
6
ما آمَنَت قَبلَهُم مِن قَريَةٍ أَهلَكناها ۖ أَفَهُم يُؤمِنونَ
mā ʾāmanat qablahum min qaryatin ʾahlaknāhā ʾa-fa-hum yuʾminūna
No town that We destroyed before them believed.1 Will these then have faith [if they are sent signs]?That is, they did not believe even after miracles were shown to them.
7
وَما أَرسَلنا قَبلَكَ إِلّا رِجالًا نوحي إِلَيهِم ۖ فَاسأَلوا أَهلَ الذِّكرِ إِن كُنتُم لا تَعلَمونَ
wa-mā ʾarsalnā qablaka ʾillā rijālan nūḥī ʾilayhim fa-sʾalū ʾahla dh-dhikri ʾin kuntum lā taʿlamūna
We did not send [any apostles] before you except as men, to whom We revealed. Ask the People of the Reminder1 if you do not know.Cf. 16:43.
8
وَما جَعَلناهُم جَسَدًا لا يَأكُلونَ الطَّعامَ وَما كانوا خالِدينَ
wa-mā jaʿalnāhum jasadan lā yaʾkulūna ṭ-ṭaʿāma wa-mā kānū khālidīna
We did not make them bodies that did not eat food, and they were not immortal.
9
ثُمَّ صَدَقناهُمُ الوَعدَ فَأَنجَيناهُم وَمَن نَشاءُ وَأَهلَكنَا المُسرِفينَ
thumma ṣadaqnāhumu l-waʿda fa-ʾanjaynāhum wa-man nashāʾu wa-ʾahlaknā l-musrifīna
Then We fulfilled Our promise to them, and We delivered them and whomever We wished, and We destroyed the profligates.
10
لَقَد أَنزَلنا إِلَيكُم كِتابًا فيهِ ذِكرُكُم ۖ أَفَلا تَعقِلونَ
la-qad ʾanzalnā ʾilaykum kitāban fīhi dhikrukum ʾa-fa-lā taʿqilūna
Certainly We have sent down to you a Book in which there is an admonition for you. Do you not apply reason?
11
وَكَم قَصَمنا مِن قَريَةٍ كانَت ظالِمَةً وَأَنشَأنا بَعدَها قَومًا آخَرينَ
wa-kam qaṣamnā min qaryatin kānat ẓālimatan wa-ʾanshaʾnā baʿdahā qawman ʾākharīna
How many a town We have smashed that had been wrongdoing, and We brought forth another people after it.
12
فَلَمّا أَحَسّوا بَأسَنا إِذا هُم مِنها يَركُضونَ
fa-lammā ʾaḥassū baʾsanā ʾidhā hum minhā yarkuḍūna
So when they sighted Our punishment, behold, they ran away from it.
13
لا تَركُضوا وَارجِعوا إِلىٰ ما أُترِفتُم فيهِ وَمَساكِنِكُم لَعَلَّكُم تُسأَلونَ
lā tarkuḍū wa-rjiʿū ʾilā mā ʾutriftum fīhi wa-masākinikum laʿallakum tusʾalūna
‘Do not run away! Return to the opulence you were given to enjoy and to your dwellings so that you may be questioned!’
14
قالوا يا وَيلَنا إِنّا كُنّا ظالِمينَ
qālū yā-waylanā ʾinnā kunnā ẓālimīna
They said, ‘Woe to us! We have indeed been wrongdoers!’
15
فَما زالَت تِلكَ دَعواهُم حَتّىٰ جَعَلناهُم حَصيدًا خامِدينَ
fa-mā zālat tilka daʿwāhum ḥattā jaʿalnāhum ḥaṣīdan khāmidīna
That remained their cry until We turned them into a mown field, stilled [like burnt ashes].
16
وَما خَلَقنَا السَّماءَ وَالأَرضَ وَما بَينَهُما لاعِبينَ
wa-mā khalaqnā s-samāʾa wa-l-ʾarḍa wa-mā baynahumā lāʿibīna
We did not create the sky and the earth and whatever is between them for play.
17
لَو أَرَدنا أَن نَتَّخِذَ لَهوًا لَاتَّخَذناهُ مِن لَدُنّا إِن كُنّا فاعِلينَ
law ʾaradnā ʾan nattakhidha lahwan la-ttakhadhnāhu min ladunnā ʾin kunnā fāʿilīna
Had We desired to take up some diversion We would have surely taken it up with Ourselves, were We to do [so].
18
بَل نَقذِفُ بِالحَقِّ عَلَى الباطِلِ فَيَدمَغُهُ فَإِذا هُوَ زاهِقٌ ۚ وَلَكُمُ الوَيلُ مِمّا تَصِفونَ
bal naqdhifu bi-l-ḥaqqi ʿalā l-bāṭili fa-yadmaghuhū fa-ʾidhā huwa zāhiqun wa-lakumu l-waylu mimmā taṣifūna
Rather We hurl the truth against falsehood, and it crushes its head, and behold, falsehood vanishes! And woe to you for what you allege [about Allah].
19
وَلَهُ مَن فِي السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ ۚ وَمَن عِندَهُ لا يَستَكبِرونَ عَن عِبادَتِهِ وَلا يَستَحسِرونَ
wa-lahū man fī s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-man ʿindahū lā yastakbirūna ʿan ʿibādatihī wa-lā yastaḥsirūna
To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth, and those who are near Him do not disdain to worship Him, nor do they become weary.
20
يُسَبِّحونَ اللَّيلَ وَالنَّهارَ لا يَفتُرونَ
yusabbiḥūna l-layla wa-n-nahāra lā yafturūna
They glorify [Him] night and day, and they do not flag.
21
أَمِ اتَّخَذوا آلِهَةً مِنَ الأَرضِ هُم يُنشِرونَ
ʾami ttakhadhū ʾālihatan mina l-ʾarḍi hum yunshirūna
Have they taken gods from the earth who raise [the dead]?
22
لَو كانَ فيهِما آلِهَةٌ إِلَّا اللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتا ۚ فَسُبحانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ العَرشِ عَمّا يَصِفونَ
law kāna fīhimā ʾālihatun ʾillā llāhu la-fasadatā fa-subḥāna llāhi rabbi l-ʿarshi ʿammā yaṣifūna
Had there been gods in them1 other than Allah, they would surely have fallen apart. Clear is Allah, the Lord of the Throne, of what they allege [concerning Him].That is, in the heavens and the earth.
23
لا يُسأَلُ عَمّا يَفعَلُ وَهُم يُسأَلونَ
lā yusʾalu ʿammā yafʿalu wa-hum yusʾalūna
He is not questioned concerning what He does, but they are questioned.
24
أَمِ اتَّخَذوا مِن دونِهِ آلِهَةً ۖ قُل هاتوا بُرهانَكُم ۖ هٰذا ذِكرُ مَن مَعِيَ وَذِكرُ مَن قَبلي ۗ بَل أَكثَرُهُم لا يَعلَمونَ الحَقَّ ۖ فَهُم مُعرِضونَ
ʾami ttakhadhū min dūnihī ʾālihatan qul hātū burhānakum hādhā dhikru man maʿiya wa-dhikru man qablī bal ʾaktharuhum lā yaʿlamūna l-ḥaqqa fa-hum muʿriḍūna
Have they taken gods besides Him? Say, ‘Produce your evidence! This is a precept of those who are with me, and a precept of those [who went] before me.’ Rather most of them do not know the truth, and so they are disregardful.
25
وَما أَرسَلنا مِن قَبلِكَ مِن رَسولٍ إِلّا نوحي إِلَيهِ أَنَّهُ لا إِلٰهَ إِلّا أَنا فَاعبُدونِ
wa-mā ʾarsalnā min qablika min rasūlin ʾillā nūḥī ʾilayhi ʾannahū lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾana fa-ʿbudūni
We did not send any apostle before you but We revealed to him that ‘There is no god except Me; so worship Me.’
26
وَقالُوا اتَّخَذَ الرَّحمٰنُ وَلَدًا ۗ سُبحانَهُ ۚ بَل عِبادٌ مُكرَمونَ
wa-qālū ttakhadha r-raḥmānu waladan subḥānahū bal ʿibādun mukramūna
They say, ‘The All-beneficent has taken offsprings.’ Immaculate is He! Rather they are [His] honoured servants.
27
لا يَسبِقونَهُ بِالقَولِ وَهُم بِأَمرِهِ يَعمَلونَ
lā yasbiqūnahū bi-l-qawli wa-hum bi-ʾamrihī yaʿmalūna
They do not venture to speak ahead of Him, and they act by His command.
28
يَعلَمُ ما بَينَ أَيديهِم وَما خَلفَهُم وَلا يَشفَعونَ إِلّا لِمَنِ ارتَضىٰ وَهُم مِن خَشيَتِهِ مُشفِقونَ
yaʿlamu mā bayna ʾaydīhim wa-mā khalfahum wa-lā yashfaʿūna ʾillā li-mani rtaḍā wa-hum min khashyatihī mushfiqūna
He knows that which is before them and that which is behind them, and they do not intercede except for someone He approves of, and they are apprehensive for the fear of Him.
29
۞ وَمَن يَقُل مِنهُم إِنّي إِلٰهٌ مِن دونِهِ فَذٰلِكَ نَجزيهِ جَهَنَّمَ ۚ كَذٰلِكَ نَجزِي الظّالِمينَ
wa-man yaqul minhum ʾinnī ʾilāhun min dūnihī fa-dhālika najzīhi jahannama ka-dhālika najzī ẓ-ẓālimīna
Should any of them say, ‘I am a god besides Him,’ We will requite him with hell. Thus do We requite the wrongdoers.
30
أَوَلَم يَرَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا أَنَّ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضَ كانَتا رَتقًا فَفَتَقناهُما ۖ وَجَعَلنا مِنَ الماءِ كُلَّ شَيءٍ حَيٍّ ۖ أَفَلا يُؤمِنونَ
ʾa-wa-lam yara lladhīna kafarū ʾanna s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍa kānatā ratqan fa-fataqnāhumā wa-jaʿalnā mina l-māʾi kulla shayʾin ḥayyin ʾa-fa-lā yuʾminūna
Have the faithless not regarded that the heavens and the earth were interwoven and We unravelled them, and We made every living thing out of water? Will they not then have faith?
31
وَجَعَلنا فِي الأَرضِ رَواسِيَ أَن تَميدَ بِهِم وَجَعَلنا فيها فِجاجًا سُبُلًا لَعَلَّهُم يَهتَدونَ
wa-jaʿalnā fī l-ʾarḍi rawāsiya ʾan tamīda bihim wa-jaʿalnā fīhā fijājan subulan laʿallahum yahtadūna
We set firm mountains in the earth lest it should shake with them, and We made broad ways in them so that they may be guided [to their destinations].
32
وَجَعَلنَا السَّماءَ سَقفًا مَحفوظًا ۖ وَهُم عَن آياتِها مُعرِضونَ
wa-jaʿalnā s-samāʾa saqfan maḥfūẓan wa-hum ʿan ʾāyātihā muʿriḍūna
We made the sky a preserved roof and yet they are disregardful of its signs.
33
وَهُوَ الَّذي خَلَقَ اللَّيلَ وَالنَّهارَ وَالشَّمسَ وَالقَمَرَ ۖ كُلٌّ في فَلَكٍ يَسبَحونَ
wa-huwa lladhī khalaqa l-layla wa-n-nahāra wa-sh-shamsa wa-l-qamara kullun fī falakin yasbaḥūna
It is He who created the night and the day, the sun and the moon, each swimming in an orbit.
34
وَما جَعَلنا لِبَشَرٍ مِن قَبلِكَ الخُلدَ ۖ أَفَإِن مِتَّ فَهُمُ الخالِدونَ
wa-mā jaʿalnā li-basharin min qablika l-khulda ʾa-fa-ʾin mitta fa-humu l-khālidūna
We did not give immortality to any human before you. If you are fated to die, will they live on forever?
35
كُلُّ نَفسٍ ذائِقَةُ المَوتِ ۗ وَنَبلوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالخَيرِ فِتنَةً ۖ وَإِلَينا تُرجَعونَ
kullu nafsin dhāʾiqatu l-mawti wa-nablūkum bi-sh-sharri wa-l-khayri fitnatan wa-ʾilaynā turjaʿūna
Every soul shall taste death, and We will test you with good and ill by way of test, and to Us you will be brought back.
36
وَإِذا رَآكَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا إِن يَتَّخِذونَكَ إِلّا هُزُوًا أَهٰذَا الَّذي يَذكُرُ آلِهَتَكُم وَهُم بِذِكرِ الرَّحمٰنِ هُم كافِرونَ
wa-ʾidhā raʾāka lladhīna kafarū ʾin yattakhidhūnaka ʾillā huzuwan ʾa-hādhā lladhī yadhkuru ʾālihatakum wa-hum bi-dhikri r-raḥmāni hum kāfirūna
Whenever the faithless see you they only take you in derision: ‘Is this the one who speaks ill of your gods?’ And they defy the remembrance of the All-beneficent.
37
خُلِقَ الإِنسانُ مِن عَجَلٍ ۚ سَأُريكُم آياتي فَلا تَستَعجِلونِ
khuliqa l-ʾinsānu min ʿajalin sa-ʾurīkum ʾāyātī fa-lā tastaʿjilūni
Man is a creature of haste. Soon I will show you My signs. So do not ask Me to hasten.
38
وَيَقولونَ مَتىٰ هٰذَا الوَعدُ إِن كُنتُم صادِقينَ
wa-yaqūlūna matā hādhā l-waʿdu ʾin kuntum ṣādiqīna
And they say, ‘When will this promise be fulfilled, should you be truthful?’
39
لَو يَعلَمُ الَّذينَ كَفَروا حينَ لا يَكُفّونَ عَن وُجوهِهِمُ النّارَ وَلا عَن ظُهورِهِم وَلا هُم يُنصَرونَ
law yaʿlamu lladhīna kafarū ḥīna lā yakuffūna ʿan wujūhihimu n-nāra wa-lā ʿan ẓuhūrihim wa-lā hum yunṣarūna
If only the faithless knew of the time when they will not be able to keep the Fire off their faces and their backs, nor will they be helped!1That is, had the faithless known their state in hell, they would not ask for the punishment to be hastened.
40
بَل تَأتيهِم بَغتَةً فَتَبهَتُهُم فَلا يَستَطيعونَ رَدَّها وَلا هُم يُنظَرونَ
bal taʾtīhim baghtatan fa-tabhatuhum fa-lā yastaṭīʿūna raddahā wa-lā hum yunẓarūna
Rather it will overtake them suddenly, dumbfounding them. So neither will they be able to avert it, nor will they be granted any respite.
41
وَلَقَدِ استُهزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِن قَبلِكَ فَحاقَ بِالَّذينَ سَخِروا مِنهُم ما كانوا بِهِ يَستَهزِئونَ
wa-la-qadi stuhziʾa bi-rusulin min qablika fa-ḥāqa bi-lladhīna sakhirū minhum mā kānū bihī yastahziʾūna
Apostles were certainly derided before you; but those who ridiculed them were besieged by what they had been deriding.
42
قُل مَن يَكلَؤُكُم بِاللَّيلِ وَالنَّهارِ مِنَ الرَّحمٰنِ ۗ بَل هُم عَن ذِكرِ رَبِّهِم مُعرِضونَ
qul man yaklaʾukum bi-l-layli wa-n-nahāri mina r-raḥmāni bal hum ʿan dhikri rabbihim muʿriḍūna
Say, ‘Who can guard you, day and night, from [the punishment of] the All-beneficent?’ Rather they are disregardful of their Lord’s remembrance.
43
أَم لَهُم آلِهَةٌ تَمنَعُهُم مِن دونِنا ۚ لا يَستَطيعونَ نَصرَ أَنفُسِهِم وَلا هُم مِنّا يُصحَبونَ
ʾam lahum ʾālihatun tamnaʿuhum min dūninā lā yastaṭīʿūna naṣra ʾanfusihim wa-lā hum minnā yuṣḥabūna
Do they have gods besides Us to defend them? Neither can they help themselves, nor can they provide them with an escort against Us.
44
بَل مَتَّعنا هٰؤُلاءِ وَآباءَهُم حَتّىٰ طالَ عَلَيهِمُ العُمُرُ ۗ أَفَلا يَرَونَ أَنّا نَأتِي الأَرضَ نَنقُصُها مِن أَطرافِها ۚ أَفَهُمُ الغالِبونَ
bal mattaʿnā hāʾulāʾi wa-ʾābāʾahum ḥattā ṭāla ʿalayhimu l-ʿumuru ʾa-fa-lā yarawna ʾannā naʾtī l-ʾarḍa nanquṣuhā min ʾaṭrāfihā ʾa-fa-humu l-ghālibūna
Rather We have provided for them and their fathers until they lived on for long years. Do they not see how We visit the land diminishing it at its edges?1 Are they the ones who will prevail?Cf. 13:41.
45
قُل إِنَّما أُنذِرُكُم بِالوَحيِ ۚ وَلا يَسمَعُ الصُّمُّ الدُّعاءَ إِذا ما يُنذَرونَ
qul ʾinnamā ʾundhirukum bi-l-waḥyi wa-lā yasmaʿu ṣ-ṣummu d-duʿāʾa ʾidhā mā yundharūna
Say, ‘I indeed warn you by the means of revelation.’ But the deaf do not hear the call when they are warned.
46
وَلَئِن مَسَّتهُم نَفحَةٌ مِن عَذابِ رَبِّكَ لَيَقولُنَّ يا وَيلَنا إِنّا كُنّا ظالِمينَ
wa-la-ʾin massathum nafḥatun min ʿadhābi rabbika la-yaqūlunna yā-waylanā ʾinnā kunnā ẓālimīna
Should a whiff of your Lord’s punishment touch them, they will surely say, ‘Woe to us! We have indeed been wrongdoers!’
47
وَنَضَعُ المَوازينَ القِسطَ لِيَومِ القِيامَةِ فَلا تُظلَمُ نَفسٌ شَيئًا ۖ وَإِن كانَ مِثقالَ حَبَّةٍ مِن خَردَلٍ أَتَينا بِها ۗ وَكَفىٰ بِنا حاسِبينَ
wa-naḍaʿu l-mawāzīna l-qisṭa li-yawmi l-qiyāmati fa-lā tuẓlamu nafsun shayʾan wa-ʾin kāna mithqāla ḥabbatin min khardalin ʾataynā bihā wa-kafā binā ḥāsibīna
We shall set up the scales of justice on the Day of Resurrection, and no soul will be wronged in the least. Even if it be the weight of a mustard seed We shall produce it and We suffice as reckoners.
48
وَلَقَد آتَينا موسىٰ وَهارونَ الفُرقانَ وَضِياءً وَذِكرًا لِلمُتَّقينَ
wa-la-qad ʾātaynā mūsā wa-hārūna l-furqāna wa-ḍiyāʾan wa-dhikran li-l-muttaqīna
Certainly We gave Moses and Aaron the Criterion, a light and reminder for the Godwary.
49
الَّذينَ يَخشَونَ رَبَّهُم بِالغَيبِ وَهُم مِنَ السّاعَةِ مُشفِقونَ
alladhīna yakhshawna rabbahum bi-l-ghaybi wa-hum mina s-sāʿati mushfiqūna
Those who fear their Lord in secret, and who are apprehensive of the Hour.
50
وَهٰذا ذِكرٌ مُبارَكٌ أَنزَلناهُ ۚ أَفَأَنتُم لَهُ مُنكِرونَ
wa-hādhā dhikrun mubārakun ʾanzalnāhu ʾa-fa-ʾantum lahū munkirūna
This is a blessed reminder which We have sent down. Will you then deny it?
51
۞ وَلَقَد آتَينا إِبراهيمَ رُشدَهُ مِن قَبلُ وَكُنّا بِهِ عالِمينَ
wa-la-qad ʾātaynā ʾibrāhīma rushdahū min qablu wa-kunnā bihī ʿālimīna
Certainly We had given Abraham his rectitude before, and We knew him
52
إِذ قالَ لِأَبيهِ وَقَومِهِ ما هٰذِهِ التَّماثيلُ الَّتي أَنتُم لَها عاكِفونَ
ʾidh qāla li-ʾabīhi wa-qawmihī mā hādhihi t-tamāthīlu llatī ʾantum lahā ʿākifūna
when he said to his father and his people, ‘What are these images to which you keep on clinging?’
53
قالوا وَجَدنا آباءَنا لَها عابِدينَ
qālū wajadnā ʾābāʾanā lahā ʿābidīna
They said, ‘We found our fathers worshipping them.’
54
قالَ لَقَد كُنتُم أَنتُم وَآباؤُكُم في ضَلالٍ مُبينٍ
qāla la-qad kuntum ʾantum wa-ʾābāʾukum fī ḍalālin mubīnin
He said, ‘Certainly you and your fathers have been in manifest error.’
55
قالوا أَجِئتَنا بِالحَقِّ أَم أَنتَ مِنَ اللّاعِبينَ
qālū ʾa-jiʾtanā bi-l-ḥaqqi ʾam ʾanta mina l-lāʿibīna
They said, ‘Are you telling the truth,1 or are you [just] kidding?’Or ‘Are you speaking seriously.’
56
قالَ بَل رَبُّكُم رَبُّ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ الَّذي فَطَرَهُنَّ وَأَنا عَلىٰ ذٰلِكُم مِنَ الشّاهِدينَ
qāla bal rabbukum rabbu s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi lladhī faṭarahunna wa-ʾana ʿalā dhālikum mina sh-shāhidīna
He said, ‘Rather your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, who originated them, and I am a witness to this.
57
وَتَاللَّهِ لَأَكيدَنَّ أَصنامَكُم بَعدَ أَن تُوَلّوا مُدبِرينَ
wa-ta-llāhi la-ʾakīdanna ʾaṣnāmakum baʿda ʾan tuwallū mudbirīna
By Allah, I will devise a stratagem against your idols after you have gone away.’
58
فَجَعَلَهُم جُذاذًا إِلّا كَبيرًا لَهُم لَعَلَّهُم إِلَيهِ يَرجِعونَ
fa-jaʿalahum judhādhan ʾillā kabīran lahum laʿallahum ʾilayhi yarjiʿūna
So he broke them into pieces, —all except the biggest of them— so that they might come back to it.
59
قالوا مَن فَعَلَ هٰذا بِآلِهَتِنا إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الظّالِمينَ
qālū man faʿala hādhā bi-ʾālihatinā ʾinnahū la-mina ẓ-ẓālimīna
They said, ‘Whoever has done this to Our gods?! He is indeed a wrongdoer!’
60
قالوا سَمِعنا فَتًى يَذكُرُهُم يُقالُ لَهُ إِبراهيمُ
qālū samiʿnā fatan yadhkuruhum yuqālu lahū ʾibrāhīmu
They said, ‘We heard a young man speaking ill of them. He is called “Abraham.” ’
61
قالوا فَأتوا بِهِ عَلىٰ أَعيُنِ النّاسِ لَعَلَّهُم يَشهَدونَ
qālū fa-ʾtū bihī ʿalā ʾaʿyuni n-nāsi laʿallahum yashhadūna
They said, ‘Bring him before the people’s eyes so that they may bear witness [against him].’
62
قالوا أَأَنتَ فَعَلتَ هٰذا بِآلِهَتِنا يا إِبراهيمُ
qālū ʾa-ʾanta faʿalta hādhā bi-ʾālihatinā yā-ʾibrāhīmu
They said, ‘Was it you who did this to our gods, O Abraham?’
63
قالَ بَل فَعَلَهُ كَبيرُهُم هٰذا فَاسأَلوهُم إِن كانوا يَنطِقونَ
qāla bal faʿalahū kabīruhum hādhā fa-sʾalūhum ʾin kānū yanṭiqūna
He said, ‘Rather it was this biggest of them who did it! Ask them, if they can speak.’
64
فَرَجَعوا إِلىٰ أَنفُسِهِم فَقالوا إِنَّكُم أَنتُمُ الظّالِمونَ
fa-rajaʿū ʾilā ʾanfusihim fa-qālū ʾinnakum ʾantumu ẓ-ẓālimūna
Thereat they came to themselves and said [to one another], ‘Indeed it is you who are the wrongdoers!’
65
ثُمَّ نُكِسوا عَلىٰ رُءوسِهِم لَقَد عَلِمتَ ما هٰؤُلاءِ يَنطِقونَ
thumma nukisū ʿalā ruʾūsihim la-qad ʿalimta mā hāʾulāʾi yanṭiqūna
Then they hung their heads. [They said], ‘You certainly know that they cannot speak.’
66
قالَ أَفَتَعبُدونَ مِن دونِ اللَّهِ ما لا يَنفَعُكُم شَيئًا وَلا يَضُرُّكُم
qāla ʾa-fa-taʿbudūna min dūni llāhi mā lā yanfaʿukum shayʾan wa-lā yaḍurrukum
He said, ‘Do you then worship, besides Allah, that which cannot cause you any benefit or harm?
67
أُفٍّ لَكُم وَلِما تَعبُدونَ مِن دونِ اللَّهِ ۖ أَفَلا تَعقِلونَ
ʾuffin lakum wa-li-mā taʿbudūna min dūni llāhi ʾa-fa-lā taʿqilūna
Fie on you and what you worship besides Allah! Do you not apply reason?’
68
قالوا حَرِّقوهُ وَانصُروا آلِهَتَكُم إِن كُنتُم فاعِلينَ
qālū ḥarriqūhu wa-nṣurū ʾālihatakum ʾin kuntum fāʿilīna
They said, ‘Burn him, and help your gods, if you are to do anything!’
69
قُلنا يا نارُ كوني بَردًا وَسَلامًا عَلىٰ إِبراهيمَ
qulnā yā-nāru kūnī bardan wa-salāman ʿalā ʾibrāhīma
We said, ‘O fire! Be cool and safe for Abraham!’
70
وَأَرادوا بِهِ كَيدًا فَجَعَلناهُمُ الأَخسَرينَ
wa-ʾarādū bihī kaydan fa-jaʿalnāhumu l-ʾakhsarīna
They sought to outmaneuver him, but We made them the biggest losers.
71
وَنَجَّيناهُ وَلوطًا إِلَى الأَرضِ الَّتي بارَكنا فيها لِلعالَمينَ
wa-najjaynāhu wa-lūṭan ʾilā l-ʾarḍi llatī bāraknā fīhā li-l-ʿālamīna
We delivered him and Lot toward the land which We have blessed for all nations.1That is, Canaan.
72
وَوَهَبنا لَهُ إِسحاقَ وَيَعقوبَ نافِلَةً ۖ وَكُلًّا جَعَلنا صالِحينَ
wa-wahabnā lahū ʾisḥāqa wa-yaʿqūba nāfilatan wa-kullan jaʿalnā ṣāliḥīna
And We gave him Isaac, and Jacob as well for a grandson,1 and each of them We made righteous.In a tradition of al-Imam al-Ṣādiq (ʿa), nāfilatan here is interpreted as meaning walad al-walad nāfilatan. Cf. Maʿānī al-akhbār, p. 225.
73
وَجَعَلناهُم أَئِمَّةً يَهدونَ بِأَمرِنا وَأَوحَينا إِلَيهِم فِعلَ الخَيراتِ وَإِقامَ الصَّلاةِ وَإيتاءَ الزَّكاةِ ۖ وَكانوا لَنا عابِدينَ
wa-jaʿalnāhum ʾaʾimmatan yahdūna bi-ʾamrinā wa-ʾawḥaynā ʾilayhim fiʿla l-khayrāti wa-ʾiqāma ṣ-ṣalāti wa-ʾītāʾa z-zakāti wa-kānū lanā ʿābidīna
We made them imams, guiding by Our command, and We revealed to them the performance of good deeds, the maintenance of prayers, and the giving of zakāt, and they used to worship Us.
74
وَلوطًا آتَيناهُ حُكمًا وَعِلمًا وَنَجَّيناهُ مِنَ القَريَةِ الَّتي كانَت تَعمَلُ الخَبائِثَ ۗ إِنَّهُم كانوا قَومَ سَوءٍ فاسِقينَ
wa-lūṭan ʾātaynāhu ḥukman wa-ʿilman wa-najjaynāhu mina l-qaryati llatī kānat taʿmalu l-khabāʾitha ʾinnahum kānū qawma sawʾin fāsiqīna
We gave judgement and knowledge to Lot, and We delivered him from the town which used to commit vicious acts. Indeed they were an evil and profligate lot.
75
وَأَدخَلناهُ في رَحمَتِنا ۖ إِنَّهُ مِنَ الصّالِحينَ
wa-ʾadkhalnāhu fī raḥmatinā ʾinnahū mina ṣ-ṣāliḥīna
And We admitted him into Our mercy. Indeed he was one of the righteous.
76
وَنوحًا إِذ نادىٰ مِن قَبلُ فَاستَجَبنا لَهُ فَنَجَّيناهُ وَأَهلَهُ مِنَ الكَربِ العَظيمِ
wa-nūḥan ʾidh nādā min qablu fa-stajabnā lahū fa-najjaynāhu wa-ʾahlahū mina l-karbi l-ʿaẓīmi
And before that Noah, when he called out, We responded to him and delivered him and his family from the great agony.
77
وَنَصَرناهُ مِنَ القَومِ الَّذينَ كَذَّبوا بِآياتِنا ۚ إِنَّهُم كانوا قَومَ سَوءٍ فَأَغرَقناهُم أَجمَعينَ
wa-naṣarnāhu mina l-qawmi lladhīna kadhdhabū bi-ʾāyātinā ʾinnahum kānū qawma sawʾin fa-ʾaghraqnāhum ʾajmaʿīna
And We helped him against the people who denied Our signs. They were indeed an evil lot; so We drowned them all.
78
وَداوودَ وَسُلَيمانَ إِذ يَحكُمانِ فِي الحَرثِ إِذ نَفَشَت فيهِ غَنَمُ القَومِ وَكُنّا لِحُكمِهِم شاهِدينَ
wa-dāwūda wa-sulaymāna ʾidh yaḥkumāni fī l-ḥarthi ʾidh nafashat fīhi ghanamu l-qawmi wa-kunnā li-ḥukmihim shāhidīna
And David and Solomon when they gave judgement concerning the tillage when the sheep of some people strayed into it by night, and We were witness to their judgement.
79
فَفَهَّمناها سُلَيمانَ ۚ وَكُلًّا آتَينا حُكمًا وَعِلمًا ۚ وَسَخَّرنا مَعَ داوودَ الجِبالَ يُسَبِّحنَ وَالطَّيرَ ۚ وَكُنّا فاعِلينَ
fa-fahhamnāhā sulaymāna wa-kullan ʾātaynā ḥukman wa-ʿilman wa-sakhkharnā maʿa dāwūda l-jibāla yusabbiḥna wa-ṭ-ṭayra wa-kunnā fāʿilīna
We gave its understanding to Solomon, and to each We gave judgement and knowledge. And We disposed the mountains and the birds to glorify [Us] with David, and We have been the doer [of such things].
80
وَعَلَّمناهُ صَنعَةَ لَبوسٍ لَكُم لِتُحصِنَكُم مِن بَأسِكُم ۖ فَهَل أَنتُم شاكِرونَ
wa-ʿallamnāhu ṣanʿata labūsin lakum li-tuḥṣinakum min baʾsikum fa-hal ʾantum shākirūna
We taught him the making of coats of mail for you, to protect you from your [own] violence. Will you then be grateful?
81
وَلِسُلَيمانَ الرّيحَ عاصِفَةً تَجري بِأَمرِهِ إِلَى الأَرضِ الَّتي بارَكنا فيها ۚ وَكُنّا بِكُلِّ شَيءٍ عالِمينَ
wa-li-sulaymāna r-rīḥa ʿāṣifatan tajrī bi-ʾamrihī ʾilā l-ʾarḍi llatī bāraknā fīhā wa-kunnā bi-kulli shayʾin ʿālimīna
And for Solomon [We disposed] the tempestuous wind which blew by his command toward the land which We have blessed, and We have knowledge of all things.
82
وَمِنَ الشَّياطينِ مَن يَغوصونَ لَهُ وَيَعمَلونَ عَمَلًا دونَ ذٰلِكَ ۖ وَكُنّا لَهُم حافِظينَ
wa-mina sh-shayāṭīni man yaghūṣūna lahū wa-yaʿmalūna ʿamalan dūna dhālika wa-kunnā lahum ḥāfiẓīna
Among the devils were some who dived for him and performed tasks other than that, and We were watchful over them.
83
۞ وَأَيّوبَ إِذ نادىٰ رَبَّهُ أَنّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرحَمُ الرّاحِمينَ
wa-ʾayyūba ʾidh nādā rabbahū ʾannī massaniya ḍ-ḍurru wa-ʾanta ʾarḥamu r-rāḥimīna
And Job, when he called out to his Lord, ‘Indeed distress has befallen me, and You are the most merciful of the merciful.’
84
فَاستَجَبنا لَهُ فَكَشَفنا ما بِهِ مِن ضُرٍّ ۖ وَآتَيناهُ أَهلَهُ وَمِثلَهُم مَعَهُم رَحمَةً مِن عِندِنا وَذِكرىٰ لِلعابِدينَ
fa-stajabnā lahū fa-kashafnā mā bihī min ḍurrin wa-ʾātaynāhu ʾahlahū wa-mithlahum maʿahum raḥmatan min ʿindinā wa-dhikrā li-l-ʿābidīna
So We answered his prayer and removed his distress, and We gave him [back] his family along with others like them, as a mercy from Us, and an admonition for the devout.
85
وَإِسماعيلَ وَإِدريسَ وَذَا الكِفلِ ۖ كُلٌّ مِنَ الصّابِرينَ
wa-ʾismāʿīla wa-ʾidrīsa wa-dhā l-kifli kullun mina ṣ-ṣābirīna
And Ishmael, Idris, and Dhul-Kifl —each of them was among the patient.
86
وَأَدخَلناهُم في رَحمَتِنا ۖ إِنَّهُم مِنَ الصّالِحينَ
wa-ʾadkhalnāhum fī raḥmatinā ʾinnahum mina ṣ-ṣāliḥīna
We admitted them into Our mercy. Indeed they were among the righteous.
87
وَذَا النّونِ إِذ ذَهَبَ مُغاضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَن نَقدِرَ عَلَيهِ فَنادىٰ فِي الظُّلُماتِ أَن لا إِلٰهَ إِلّا أَنتَ سُبحانَكَ إِنّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظّالِمينَ
wa-dhā n-nūni ʾidh dhahaba mughāḍiban fa-ẓanna ʾan lan naqdira ʿalayhi fa-nādā fī ẓ-ẓulumāti ʾan lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta subḥānaka ʾinnī kuntu mina ẓ-ẓālimīna
And the Man of the Fish, when he left in a rage, thinking that We would not put him to hardship. Then he cried out in the darkness, ‘There is no god except You! You are immaculate! I have indeed been among the wrongdoers!’
88
فَاستَجَبنا لَهُ وَنَجَّيناهُ مِنَ الغَمِّ ۚ وَكَذٰلِكَ نُنجِي المُؤمِنينَ
fa-stajabnā lahū wa-najjaynāhu mina l-ghammi wa-ka-dhālika nunjī l-muʾminīna
So We answered his prayer and delivered him from the agony; and thus do We deliver the faithful.
89
وَزَكَرِيّا إِذ نادىٰ رَبَّهُ رَبِّ لا تَذَرني فَردًا وَأَنتَ خَيرُ الوارِثينَ
wa-zakariyyā ʾidh nādā rabbahū rabbi lā tadharnī fardan wa-ʾanta khayru l-wārithīna
And Zechariah, when he cried out to his Lord, ‘My Lord! Do not leave me without an heir, and You are the best of inheritors.’
90
فَاستَجَبنا لَهُ وَوَهَبنا لَهُ يَحيىٰ وَأَصلَحنا لَهُ زَوجَهُ ۚ إِنَّهُم كانوا يُسارِعونَ فِي الخَيراتِ وَيَدعونَنا رَغَبًا وَرَهَبًا ۖ وَكانوا لَنا خاشِعينَ
fa-stajabnā lahū wa-wahabnā lahū yaḥyā wa-ʾaṣlaḥnā lahū zawjahū ʾinnahum kānū yusāriʿūna fī l-khayrāti wa-yadʿūnanā raghaban wa-rahaban wa-kānū lanā khāshiʿīna
So We answered his prayer, and gave him John, and remedied his wife[’s infertility] for him. Indeed they were active in [performing] good works, and they would supplicate Us with eagerness and awe and were humble before Us.
91
وَالَّتي أَحصَنَت فَرجَها فَنَفَخنا فيها مِن روحِنا وَجَعَلناها وَابنَها آيَةً لِلعالَمينَ
wa-llatī ʾaḥṣanat farjahā fa-nafakhnā fīhā min rūḥinā wa-jaʿalnāhā wa-bnahā ʾāyatan li-l-ʿālamīna
And her who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her Our spirit,1 and made her and her son a sign for all the nations.Or ‘of Our spirit.’
92
إِنَّ هٰذِهِ أُمَّتُكُم أُمَّةً واحِدَةً وَأَنا رَبُّكُم فَاعبُدونِ
ʾinna hādhihī ʾummatukum ʾummatan wāḥidatan wa-ʾana rabbukum fa-ʿbudūni
Indeed this community of yours is one community, and I am your Lord. So worship Me.
93
وَتَقَطَّعوا أَمرَهُم بَينَهُم ۖ كُلٌّ إِلَينا راجِعونَ
wa-taqaṭṭaʿū ʾamrahum baynahum kullun ʾilaynā rājiʿūna
They1 have fragmented their religion among themselves. Everyone of them will return to Us.That is, the earlier religious communities, such as Jews and Christians. Cf. 23:53.
94
فَمَن يَعمَل مِنَ الصّالِحاتِ وَهُوَ مُؤمِنٌ فَلا كُفرانَ لِسَعيِهِ وَإِنّا لَهُ كاتِبونَ
fa-man yaʿmal mina ṣ-ṣāliḥāti wa-huwa muʾminun fa-lā kufrāna li-saʿyihī wa-ʾinnā lahū kātibūna
Whoever does righteous deeds, should he be faithful, his endeavour shall not go unappreciated, and We will indeed write it for him.
95
وَحَرامٌ عَلىٰ قَريَةٍ أَهلَكناها أَنَّهُم لا يَرجِعونَ
wa-ḥarāmun ʿalā qaryatin ʾahlaknāhā ʾannahum lā yarjiʿūna
It is forbidden for [the people of] any town that We have destroyed [to return to the world]: they shall not return.
96
حَتّىٰ إِذا فُتِحَت يَأجوجُ وَمَأجوجُ وَهُم مِن كُلِّ حَدَبٍ يَنسِلونَ
ḥattā ʾidhā futiḥat yaʾjūju wa-maʾjūju wa-hum min kulli ḥadabin yansilūna
When Gog and Magog are let loose, and they race down from every slope,1Or, according to a less familiar reading (jadath, for ḥadab), ‘they will be scrambling out of every grave.’ Cf. 36:51.
97
وَاقتَرَبَ الوَعدُ الحَقُّ فَإِذا هِيَ شاخِصَةٌ أَبصارُ الَّذينَ كَفَروا يا وَيلَنا قَد كُنّا في غَفلَةٍ مِن هٰذا بَل كُنّا ظالِمينَ
wa-qtaraba l-waʿdu l-ḥaqqu fa-ʾidhā hiya shākhiṣatun ʾabṣāru lladhīna kafarū yā-waylanā qad kunnā fī ghaflatin min hādhā bal kunnā ẓālimīna
and the true promise draws near [to its fulfillment], behold, the faithless will look on with a fixed gaze: ‘Woe to us! We have certainly been oblivious of this! Rather we have been wrongdoers!’
98
إِنَّكُم وَما تَعبُدونَ مِن دونِ اللَّهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ أَنتُم لَها وارِدونَ
ʾinnakum wa-mā taʿbudūna min dūni llāhi ḥaṣabu jahannama ʾantum lahā wāridūna
Indeed you and what you worship besides Allah shall be fuel for hell, and you will come to it
99
لَو كانَ هٰؤُلاءِ آلِهَةً ما وَرَدوها ۖ وَكُلٌّ فيها خالِدونَ
law kāna hāʾulāʾi ʾālihatan mā waradūhā wa-kullun fīhā khālidūna
—had they been gods, they would not have come to it— and they will all remain in it [forever].
100
لَهُم فيها زَفيرٌ وَهُم فيها لا يَسمَعونَ
lahum fīhā zafīrun wa-hum fīhā lā yasmaʿūna
Their lot therein will be groaning, and they will not hear anything in it.
101
إِنَّ الَّذينَ سَبَقَت لَهُم مِنَّا الحُسنىٰ أُولٰئِكَ عَنها مُبعَدونَ
ʾinna lladhīna sabaqat lahum minnā l-ḥusnā ʾulāʾika ʿanhā mubʿadūna
Indeed those to whom there has gone beforehand [the promise of] the best reward from Us will be kept away from it.
102
لا يَسمَعونَ حَسيسَها ۖ وَهُم في مَا اشتَهَت أَنفُسُهُم خالِدونَ
lā yasmaʿūna ḥasīsahā wa-hum fī mā shtahat ʾanfusuhum khālidūna
They will not hear even its faint sound and they will remain [forever] in what their souls desire.
103
لا يَحزُنُهُمُ الفَزَعُ الأَكبَرُ وَتَتَلَقّاهُمُ المَلائِكَةُ هٰذا يَومُكُمُ الَّذي كُنتُم توعَدونَ
lā yaḥzunuhumu l-fazaʿu l-ʾakbaru wa-tatalaqqāhumu l-malāʾikatu hādhā yawmukumu lladhī kuntum tūʿadūna
The Great Terror will not upset them, and the angels will receive them [saying]: ‘This is your day which you were promised.’
104
يَومَ نَطوِي السَّماءَ كَطَيِّ السِّجِلِّ لِلكُتُبِ ۚ كَما بَدَأنا أَوَّلَ خَلقٍ نُعيدُهُ ۚ وَعدًا عَلَينا ۚ إِنّا كُنّا فاعِلينَ
yawma naṭwī s-samāʾa ka-ṭayyi s-sijilli li-l-kutubi ka-mā badaʾnā ʾawwala khalqin nuʿīduhū waʿdan ʿalaynā ʾinnā kunnā fāʿilīna
The day We shall roll up the sky, like the rolling of the scrolls for writings. We will bring it back as We began the first creation —a promise [binding] on Us. [That] indeed We will do.
105
وَلَقَد كَتَبنا فِي الزَّبورِ مِن بَعدِ الذِّكرِ أَنَّ الأَرضَ يَرِثُها عِبادِيَ الصّالِحونَ
wa-la-qad katabnā fī z-zabūri min baʿdi dh-dhikri ʾanna l-ʾarḍa yarithuhā ʿibādiya ṣ-ṣāliḥūna
Certainly We wrote in the Psalms, after the Torah: ‘Indeed My righteous servants shall inherit the earth.’
106
إِنَّ في هٰذا لَبَلاغًا لِقَومٍ عابِدينَ
ʾinna fī hādhā la-balāghan li-qawmin ʿābidīna
There is indeed in this a proclamation for a devout people.
107
وَما أَرسَلناكَ إِلّا رَحمَةً لِلعالَمينَ
wa-mā ʾarsalnāka ʾillā raḥmatan li-l-ʿālamīna
We did not send you but as a mercy to all the nations.1Or ‘to all the worlds.’
108
قُل إِنَّما يوحىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّما إِلٰهُكُم إِلٰهٌ واحِدٌ ۖ فَهَل أَنتُم مُسلِمونَ
qul ʾinnamā yūḥā ʾilayya ʾannamā ʾilāhukum ʾilāhun wāḥidun fa-hal ʾantum muslimūna
Say, ‘It has been revealed to me that your God is the One God. So will you submit?’
109
فَإِن تَوَلَّوا فَقُل آذَنتُكُم عَلىٰ سَواءٍ ۖ وَإِن أَدري أَقَريبٌ أَم بَعيدٌ ما توعَدونَ
fa-ʾin tawallaw fa-qul ʾādhantukum ʿalā sawāʾin wa-ʾin ʾadrī ʾa-qarībun ʾam baʿīdun mā tūʿadūna
But if they turn away, say, ‘I have proclaimed to you all alike, and I do not know whether what you have been promised is far or near.
110
إِنَّهُ يَعلَمُ الجَهرَ مِنَ القَولِ وَيَعلَمُ ما تَكتُمونَ
ʾinnahū yaʿlamu l-jahra mina l-qawli wa-yaʿlamu mā taktumūna
Indeed He knows whatever is spoken aloud, and He knows whatever you conceal.
111
وَإِن أَدري لَعَلَّهُ فِتنَةٌ لَكُم وَمَتاعٌ إِلىٰ حينٍ
wa-ʾin ʾadrī laʿallahū fitnatun lakum wa-matāʿun ʾilā ḥīnin
I do not know —maybe it is a trial for you and an enjoyment for a while.’
112
قالَ رَبِّ احكُم بِالحَقِّ ۗ وَرَبُّنَا الرَّحمٰنُ المُستَعانُ عَلىٰ ما تَصِفونَ
qāla rabbi ḥkum bi-l-ḥaqqi wa-rabbunā r-raḥmānu l-mustaʿānu ʿalā mā taṣifūna
He said,1 ‘My Lord! Judge with justice.’ ‘Our Lord is the All-beneficent; [He is our] resort against what you allege.’Or ‘Say,’ according to an alternate reading (qul instead of qāla).