The surah that speaks of the Valley of The Ants, through which the hosts of the prophet Solomon were once marching, wherein God miraculously enabled Solomon to hear one of them as she warned the other to flee into their homes before being crushed—a miracle of audition and understanding for which Solomon thanked God profusely. It takes its name from the story of Solomon and the ant (naml), mentioned in verse 18 . The surah both opens and closes by describing the Quran as joyful news for the believers and a warning for others. It gives stories of past prophets and the destruction of the communities that disbelieved in them. Illustrations are given of the nature of God’s power, contrasted with the total lack of power of the “partners” they worship beside Him, and descriptions are given of the Day of Judgement for those who deny it.
1
طس ۚ تِلكَ آياتُ القُرآنِ وَكِتابٍ مُبينٍ
ṭ-s (ṭā sīn) tilka ʾāyātu l-qurʾāni wa-kitābin mubīnin
Ṭā, Sīn. These are the signs of the Qurʾān and a manifest Book,
2
هُدًى وَبُشرىٰ لِلمُؤمِنينَ
hudan wa-bushrā li-l-muʾminīna
a guidance and good news for the faithful
3
الَّذينَ يُقيمونَ الصَّلاةَ وَيُؤتونَ الزَّكاةَ وَهُم بِالآخِرَةِ هُم يوقِنونَ
alladhīna yuqīmūna ṣ-ṣalāta wa-yuʾtūna z-zakāta wa-hum bi-l-ʾākhirati hum yūqinūna
—those who maintain the prayer and pay the zakāt, and who are certain of the Hereafter.
4
إِنَّ الَّذينَ لا يُؤمِنونَ بِالآخِرَةِ زَيَّنّا لَهُم أَعمالَهُم فَهُم يَعمَهونَ
ʾinna lladhīna lā yuʾminūna bi-l-ʾākhirati zayyannā lahum ʾaʿmālahum fa-hum yaʿmahūna
As for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, We have made their deeds seem decorous to them, and so they are bewildered.
5
أُولٰئِكَ الَّذينَ لَهُم سوءُ العَذابِ وَهُم فِي الآخِرَةِ هُمُ الأَخسَرونَ
ʾulāʾika lladhīna lahum sūʾu l-ʿadhābi wa-hum fī l-ʾākhirati humu l-ʾakhsarūna
They are the ones for whom there is a terrible punishment, and they are the ones who will be the biggest losers in the Hereafter.
6
وَإِنَّكَ لَتُلَقَّى القُرآنَ مِن لَدُن حَكيمٍ عَليمٍ
wa-ʾinnaka la-tulaqqā l-qurʾāna min ladun ḥakīmin ʿalīmin
Indeed you receive the Qurʾān from One who is all-wise, all-knowing.
7
إِذ قالَ موسىٰ لِأَهلِهِ إِنّي آنَستُ نارًا سَآتيكُم مِنها بِخَبَرٍ أَو آتيكُم بِشِهابٍ قَبَسٍ لَعَلَّكُم تَصطَلونَ
ʾidh qāla mūsā li-ʾahlihī ʾinnī ʾānastu nāran sa-ʾātīkum minhā bi-khabarin ʾaw ʾātīkum bi-shihābin qabasin laʿallakum taṣṭalūna
When Moses said to his family, ‘Indeed I descry a fire! I will bring you some news from it, or bring you a firebrand so that you may warm yourselves.’
8
فَلَمّا جاءَها نودِيَ أَن بورِكَ مَن فِي النّارِ وَمَن حَولَها وَسُبحانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ العالَمينَ
fa-lammā jāʾahā nūdiya ʾan būrika man fī n-nāri wa-man ḥawlahā wa-subḥāna llāhi rabbi l-ʿālamīna
So when he came to it, he was called: ‘Blessed is He who is in the fire and who is [as well] around it, and immaculate is Allah, the Lord of all the worlds!’
9
يا موسىٰ إِنَّهُ أَنَا اللَّهُ العَزيزُ الحَكيمُ
yā-mūsā ʾinnahū ʾana llāhu l-ʿazīzu l-ḥakīmu
‘O Moses! Indeed I am Allah, the All-mighty, the All-wise.’
10
وَأَلقِ عَصاكَ ۚ فَلَمّا رَآها تَهتَزُّ كَأَنَّها جانٌّ وَلّىٰ مُدبِرًا وَلَم يُعَقِّب ۚ يا موسىٰ لا تَخَف إِنّي لا يَخافُ لَدَيَّ المُرسَلونَ
wa-ʾalqi ʿaṣāka fa-lammā raʾāhā tahtazzu ka-ʾannahā jānnun wallā mudbiran wa-lam yuʿaqqib yā-mūsā lā takhaf ʾinnī lā yakhāfu ladayya l-mursalūna
‘Throw down your staff!’ And when he saw it wriggling, as if it were a snake, he turned his back [to flee], without looking back. ‘O Moses! ‘Do not be afraid. Indeed the apostles are not afraid before Me,
11
إِلّا مَن ظَلَمَ ثُمَّ بَدَّلَ حُسنًا بَعدَ سوءٍ فَإِنّي غَفورٌ رَحيمٌ
ʾillā man ẓalama thumma baddala ḥusnan baʿda sūʾin fa-ʾinnī ghafūrun raḥīmun
barring someone who does wrong and then makes up with goodness for [his] fault, for indeed I am all-forgiving, all-merciful.’
12
وَأَدخِل يَدَكَ في جَيبِكَ تَخرُج بَيضاءَ مِن غَيرِ سوءٍ ۖ في تِسعِ آياتٍ إِلىٰ فِرعَونَ وَقَومِهِ ۚ إِنَّهُم كانوا قَومًا فاسِقينَ
wa-ʾadkhil yadaka fī jaybika takhruj bayḍāʾa min ghayri sūʾin fī tisʿi ʾāyātin ʾilā firʿawna wa-qawmihī ʾinnahum kānū qawman fāsiqīna
‘Insert your hand into your bosom. It will emerge white, without any fault, —among nine signs for Pharaoh and his people. Indeed they are a transgressing lot.’
13
فَلَمّا جاءَتهُم آياتُنا مُبصِرَةً قالوا هٰذا سِحرٌ مُبينٌ
fa-lammā jāʾathum ʾāyātunā mubṣiratan qālū hādhā siḥrun mubīnun
But when Our signs came to them, as eye-openers, they said, ‘This is plain magic.’
14
وَجَحَدوا بِها وَاستَيقَنَتها أَنفُسُهُم ظُلمًا وَعُلُوًّا ۚ فَانظُر كَيفَ كانَ عاقِبَةُ المُفسِدينَ
wa-jaḥadū bihā wa-stayqanathā ʾanfusuhum ẓulman wa-ʿuluwwan fa-nẓur kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu l-mufsidīna
They impugned them —though they were convinced in their hearts— wrongfully and defiantly. So observe how was the fate of the agents of corruption!
15
وَلَقَد آتَينا داوودَ وَسُلَيمانَ عِلمًا ۖ وَقالَا الحَمدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذي فَضَّلَنا عَلىٰ كَثيرٍ مِن عِبادِهِ المُؤمِنينَ
wa-la-qad ʾātaynā dāwūda wa-sulaymāna ʿilman wa-qālā l-ḥamdu li-llāhi lladhī faḍḍalanā ʿalā kathīrin min ʿibādihi l-muʾminīna
Certainly We gave David and Solomon knowledge, and they said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, who granted us an advantage over many of His faithful servants.’
16
وَوَرِثَ سُلَيمانُ داوودَ ۖ وَقالَ يا أَيُّهَا النّاسُ عُلِّمنا مَنطِقَ الطَّيرِ وَأوتينا مِن كُلِّ شَيءٍ ۖ إِنَّ هٰذا لَهُوَ الفَضلُ المُبينُ
wa-waritha sulaymānu dāwūda wa-qāla yā-ʾayyuhā n-nāsu ʿullimnāmanṭiqa ṭ-ṭayri wa-ʾūtīnā min kulli shayʾin ʾinna hādhā la-huwa l-faḍlu l-mubīnu
Solomon inherited from David, and he said, ‘O people! We have been taught the speech of the birds, and we have been given out of everything. Indeed this is a manifest advantage.’
17
وَحُشِرَ لِسُلَيمانَ جُنودُهُ مِنَ الجِنِّ وَالإِنسِ وَالطَّيرِ فَهُم يوزَعونَ
wa-ḥushira li-sulaymāna junūduhū mina l-jinni wa-l-ʾinsi wa-ṭ-ṭayri fa-hum yūzaʿūna
[Once] Solomon’s hosts were marched out for him, comprising jinn, humans, and birds, and they were held in check.
18
حَتّىٰ إِذا أَتَوا عَلىٰ وادِ النَّملِ قالَت نَملَةٌ يا أَيُّهَا النَّملُ ادخُلوا مَساكِنَكُم لا يَحطِمَنَّكُم سُلَيمانُ وَجُنودُهُ وَهُم لا يَشعُرونَ
ḥattā ʾidhā ʾataw ʿalā wādi n-namli qālat namlatun yā-ʾayyuhā n-namlu dkhulū masākinakum lā yaḥṭimannakum sulaymānu wa-junūduhū wa-hum lā yashʿurūna
When they came to the Valley of Ants, an ant said, ‘O ants! Enter your dwellings, lest Solomon and his hosts should trample on you while they are unaware.’
19
فَتَبَسَّمَ ضاحِكًا مِن قَولِها وَقالَ رَبِّ أَوزِعني أَن أَشكُرَ نِعمَتَكَ الَّتي أَنعَمتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلىٰ والِدَيَّ وَأَن أَعمَلَ صالِحًا تَرضاهُ وَأَدخِلني بِرَحمَتِكَ في عِبادِكَ الصّالِحينَ
fa-tabassama ḍāḥikan min qawlihā wa-qāla rabbi ʾawziʿnī ʾan ʾashkura niʿmataka llatī ʾanʿamta ʿalayya wa-ʿalā wālidayya wa-ʾan ʾaʿmala ṣāliḥan tarḍāhu wa-ʾadkhilnī bi-raḥmatika fī ʿibādika ṣ-ṣāliḥīna
Whereat he smiled, amused at its words, and he said, ‘My Lord! Inspire me to give thanks for Your blessing with which You have blessed me and my parents, and that I may do righteous deeds which may please You, and admit me, by Your mercy, among Your righteous servants.’
20
وَتَفَقَّدَ الطَّيرَ فَقالَ ما لِيَ لا أَرَى الهُدهُدَ أَم كانَ مِنَ الغائِبينَ
wa-tafaqqada ṭ-ṭayra fa-qāla mā liya lā ʾarā l-hudhuda ʾam kāna mina l-ghāʾibīna
[One day] he reviewed the birds, and said, ‘Why do I not see the hoopoe? Or is he absent?’
21
لَأُعَذِّبَنَّهُ عَذابًا شَديدًا أَو لَأَذبَحَنَّهُ أَو لَيَأتِيَنّي بِسُلطانٍ مُبينٍ
la-ʾuʿadhdhibannahū ʿadhāban shadīdan ʾaw la-ʾadhbaḥannahū ʾaw la-yaʾtiyannī bi-sulṭānin mubīnin
‘I will surely punish him with a severe punishment, or I will surely behead him, unless he brings a clear-cut excuse.’
22
فَمَكَثَ غَيرَ بَعيدٍ فَقالَ أَحَطتُ بِما لَم تُحِط بِهِ وَجِئتُكَ مِن سَبَإٍ بِنَبَإٍ يَقينٍ
fa-makatha ghayra baʿīdin fa-qāla ʾaḥaṭtu bi-mā lam tuḥiṭ bihī wa-jiʾtuka min sabaʾin bi-nabaʾin yaqīnin
He did not stay for long [before he turned up] and said, ‘I have alighted on something which you have not alighted on, and I have brought you from Sheba a definite report.
23
إِنّي وَجَدتُ امرَأَةً تَملِكُهُم وَأوتِيَت مِن كُلِّ شَيءٍ وَلَها عَرشٌ عَظيمٌ
ʾinnī wajadtu mraʾatan tamlikuhum wa-ʾūtiyat min kulli shayʾin wa-lahā ʿarshun ʿaẓīmun
I found a woman ruling over them, and she has been given everything, and she has a great throne.
24
وَجَدتُها وَقَومَها يَسجُدونَ لِلشَّمسِ مِن دونِ اللَّهِ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيطانُ أَعمالَهُم فَصَدَّهُم عَنِ السَّبيلِ فَهُم لا يَهتَدونَ
wajadtuhā wa-qawmahā yasjudūna li-sh-shamsi min dūni llāhi wa-zayyana lahumu sh-shayṭānu ʾaʿmālahum fa-ṣaddahum ʿani s-sabīli fa-hum lā yahtadūna
I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah, and Satan has made their deeds seem decorous to them —thus he has barred them from the way [of Allah], so they are not guided—
25
أَلّا يَسجُدوا لِلَّهِ الَّذي يُخرِجُ الخَبءَ فِي السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ وَيَعلَمُ ما تُخفونَ وَما تُعلِنونَ
ʾallā yasjudū li-llāhi lladhī yukhriju l-khabʾa fī s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-yaʿlamu mā tukhfūna wa-mā tuʿlinūna
so that they do not prostrate themselves to Allah, who brings out the hidden in the heavens and the earth, and He knows whatever you hide and whatever you disclose.
26
اللَّهُ لا إِلٰهَ إِلّا هُوَ رَبُّ العَرشِ العَظيمِ ۩
allāhu lā ʾilāha ʾillā huwa rabbu l-ʿarshi l-ʿaẓīmi
Allah—there is no god except Him— is the Lord of the Great Throne.’
27
۞ قالَ سَنَنظُرُ أَصَدَقتَ أَم كُنتَ مِنَ الكاذِبينَ
qāla sa-nanẓuru ʾa-ṣadaqta ʾam kunta mina l-kādhibīna
He said, ‘We shall see whether you are truthful, or if you are one of the liars.’
28
اذهَب بِكِتابي هٰذا فَأَلقِه إِلَيهِم ثُمَّ تَوَلَّ عَنهُم فَانظُر ماذا يَرجِعونَ
idhhab bi-kitābī hādhā fa-ʾalqih ʾilayhim thumma tawalla ʿanhum fa-nẓur mādhā yarjiʿūna
Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them. Then draw away from them and observe what [response] they return.’
29
قالَت يا أَيُّهَا المَلَأُ إِنّي أُلقِيَ إِلَيَّ كِتابٌ كَريمٌ
qālat yā-ʾayyuhā l-malaʾu ʾinnī ʾulqiya ʾilayya kitābun karīmun
She said, ‘O [members of the] elite! Indeed a noble letter has been delivered to me.
30
إِنَّهُ مِن سُلَيمانَ وَإِنَّهُ بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ
ʾinnahū min sulaymāna wa-ʾinnahū bi-smi llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīmi
It is from Solomon, and it begins in the name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful.
31
أَلّا تَعلوا عَلَيَّ وَأتوني مُسلِمينَ
ʾallā taʿlū ʿalayya wa-ʾtūnī muslimīna
[It states,] “Do not defy me, and come to me in submission.” ’
32
قالَت يا أَيُّهَا المَلَأُ أَفتوني في أَمري ما كُنتُ قاطِعَةً أَمرًا حَتّىٰ تَشهَدونِ
qālat yā-ʾayyuhā l-malaʾu ʾaftūnī fī ʾamrī mā kuntu qāṭiʿatan ʾamran ḥattā tashhadūni
She said, ‘O [members of the] elite! Give me your opinion concerning my matter. I do not decide any matter until you are present.’
33
قالوا نَحنُ أُولو قُوَّةٍ وَأُولو بَأسٍ شَديدٍ وَالأَمرُ إِلَيكِ فَانظُري ماذا تَأمُرينَ
qālū naḥnu ʾulū quwwatin wa-ʾulū baʾsin shadīdin wa-l-ʾamru ʾilayki fa-nẓurī mādhā taʾmurīna
They said, ‘We are powerful and possess a great might. But it is up to you to command. So see what you will command.’
34
قالَت إِنَّ المُلوكَ إِذا دَخَلوا قَريَةً أَفسَدوها وَجَعَلوا أَعِزَّةَ أَهلِها أَذِلَّةً ۖ وَكَذٰلِكَ يَفعَلونَ
qālat ʾinna l-mulūka ʾidhā dakhalū qaryatan ʾafsadūhā wa-jaʿalū ʾaʿizzata ʾahlihā ʾadhillatan wa-ka-dhālika yafʿalūna
She said, ‘Indeed when kings enter a town, they devastate it, and reduce the mightiest of its people to the most abased. That is how they act.
35
وَإِنّي مُرسِلَةٌ إِلَيهِم بِهَدِيَّةٍ فَناظِرَةٌ بِمَ يَرجِعُ المُرسَلونَ
wa-ʾinnī mursilatun ʾilayhim bi-hadiyyatin fa-nāẓiratun bi-ma yarjiʿu l-mursalūna
I will send them a gift, and I shall see what the envoys bring back.’
36
فَلَمّا جاءَ سُلَيمانَ قالَ أَتُمِدّونَنِ بِمالٍ فَما آتانِيَ اللَّهُ خَيرٌ مِمّا آتاكُم بَل أَنتُم بِهَدِيَّتِكُم تَفرَحونَ
fa-lammā jāʾa sulaymāna qāla ʾa-tumiddūnani bi-mālin fa-mā ʾātāniya llāhu khayrun mimmā ʾātākum bal ʾantum bi-hadiyyatikum tafraḥūna
So when he1 came to Solomon, he said, ‘Are you aiding me with wealth? What Allah has given me is better than what He has given you. Rather you are exultant over your gift!That is, the envoy.
37
ارجِع إِلَيهِم فَلَنَأتِيَنَّهُم بِجُنودٍ لا قِبَلَ لَهُم بِها وَلَنُخرِجَنَّهُم مِنها أَذِلَّةً وَهُم صاغِرونَ
irjiʿ ʾilayhim fa-la-naʾtiyannahum bi-junūdin lā qibala lahum bihā wa-la-nukhrijannahum minhā ʾadhillatan wa-hum ṣāghirūna
Go back to them, for we will come at them with hosts which they cannot face, and we will expel them from it, abased, and they shall be degraded.’
38
قالَ يا أَيُّهَا المَلَأُ أَيُّكُم يَأتيني بِعَرشِها قَبلَ أَن يَأتوني مُسلِمينَ
qāla yā-ʾayyuhā l-malaʾu ʾayyukum yaʾtīnī bi-ʿarshihā qabla ʾan yaʾtūnī muslimīna
He said, ‘O [members of the] elite! Which of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?’
39
قالَ عِفريتٌ مِنَ الجِنِّ أَنا آتيكَ بِهِ قَبلَ أَن تَقومَ مِن مَقامِكَ ۖ وَإِنّي عَلَيهِ لَقَوِيٌّ أَمينٌ
qāla ʿifrītun mina l-jinni ʾana ʾātīka bihī qabla ʾan taqūma min maqāmika wa-ʾinnī ʿalayhi la-qawiyyun ʾamīnun
An afreet1 from among the jinn said, ‘I will bring it to you before you rise from your place. Indeed I have the power for it and am trustworthy.’Ifrīt (noun): devil, demon, giant, rebel; (adj.) cunning, sly, wily, smart, mischievous, rebellious, defiant.
40
قالَ الَّذي عِندَهُ عِلمٌ مِنَ الكِتابِ أَنا آتيكَ بِهِ قَبلَ أَن يَرتَدَّ إِلَيكَ طَرفُكَ ۚ فَلَمّا رَآهُ مُستَقِرًّا عِندَهُ قالَ هٰذا مِن فَضلِ رَبّي لِيَبلُوَني أَأَشكُرُ أَم أَكفُرُ ۖ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّما يَشكُرُ لِنَفسِهِ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبّي غَنِيٌّ كَريمٌ
qāla lladhī ʿindahū ʿilmun mina l-kitābi ʾana ʾātīka bihī qabla ʾan yartadda ʾilayka ṭarfuka fa-lammā raʾāhu mustaqirran ʿindahū qāla hādhā min faḍli rabbī li-yabluwanī ʾa-ʾashkuru ʾam ʾakfuru wa-man shakara fa-ʾinnamā yashkuru li-nafsihī wa-man kafara fa-ʾinna rabbī ghaniyyun karīmun
The one who had knowledge of the Book1 said, ‘I will bring it to you in the twinkling of an eye.’ So when he saw it set near him, he said, ‘This is by the grace of my Lord, to test me if I will give thanks or be ungrateful. And whoever gives thanks, gives thanks only for his own sake. And whoever is ungrateful [should know that] my Lord is indeed all-sufficient, all-generous.’He is said to have been Solomon’s vizier and successor, Āṣif ibn Barkhiyā.
41
قالَ نَكِّروا لَها عَرشَها نَنظُر أَتَهتَدي أَم تَكونُ مِنَ الَّذينَ لا يَهتَدونَ
qāla nakkirū lahā ʿarshahā nanẓur ʾa-tahtadī ʾam takūnu mina lladhīna lā yahtadūna
He said, ‘Disguise her throne for her, so that we may see whether she is discerning or if she is one of the undiscerning ones.’
42
فَلَمّا جاءَت قيلَ أَهٰكَذا عَرشُكِ ۖ قالَت كَأَنَّهُ هُوَ ۚ وَأوتينَا العِلمَ مِن قَبلِها وَكُنّا مُسلِمينَ
fa-lammā jāʾat qīla ʾa-hākadhā ʿarshuki qālat ka-ʾannahū huwa wa-ʾūtīnā l-ʿilma min qablihā wa-kunnā muslimīna
So when she came, it was said [to her], ‘Is your throne like this one?’ She said, ‘It seems to be the same, and we were informed before it,1 and we had submitted.’That is, ‘we had knowledge of Solomon’s extraordinary authority even before we saw such feats and we had submitted to him.’
43
وَصَدَّها ما كانَت تَعبُدُ مِن دونِ اللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّها كانَت مِن قَومٍ كافِرينَ
wa-ṣaddahā mā kānat taʿbudu min dūni llāhi ʾinnahā kānat min qawmin kāfirīna
She had been barred [from the way of Allah] by what she used to worship besides Allah, for she belonged to a faithless people.
44
قيلَ لَهَا ادخُلِي الصَّرحَ ۖ فَلَمّا رَأَتهُ حَسِبَتهُ لُجَّةً وَكَشَفَت عَن ساقَيها ۚ قالَ إِنَّهُ صَرحٌ مُمَرَّدٌ مِن قَواريرَ ۗ قالَت رَبِّ إِنّي ظَلَمتُ نَفسي وَأَسلَمتُ مَعَ سُلَيمانَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ العالَمينَ
qīla lahā dkhulī ṣ-ṣarḥa fa-lammā raʾathu ḥasibathu lujjatan wa-kashafat ʿan sāqayhā qāla ʾinnahū ṣarḥun mumarradun min qawārīra qālat rabbi ʾinnī ẓalamtu nafsī wa-ʾaslamtu maʿa sulaymāna li-llāhi rabbi l-ʿālamīna
It was said to her, ‘Enter the palace.’ So when she saw it, she supposed it to be a pool of water, and she bared her shanks. He said, ‘It is a palace paved with crystal.’ She said, ‘My Lord! Indeed I have wronged myself, and I submit with Solomon to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.’
45
وَلَقَد أَرسَلنا إِلىٰ ثَمودَ أَخاهُم صالِحًا أَنِ اعبُدُوا اللَّهَ فَإِذا هُم فَريقانِ يَختَصِمونَ
wa-la-qad ʾarsalnā ʾilā thamūda ʾakhāhum ṣāliḥan ʾani ʿbudū llāha fa-ʾidhā hum farīqāni yakhtaṣimūna
Certainly We sent to Thamūd Ṣāliḥ, their brother, [with the summons:] ‘Worship Allah!’ But thereat they became two groups contending with each other.
46
قالَ يا قَومِ لِمَ تَستَعجِلونَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ قَبلَ الحَسَنَةِ ۖ لَولا تَستَغفِرونَ اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُم تُرحَمونَ
qāla yā-qawmi li-ma tastaʿjilūna bi-s-sayyiʾati qabla l-ḥasanati law-lā tastaghfirūna llāha laʿallakum turḥamūna
He said, ‘O My people! Why do you press for evil sooner than for good? Why do you not plead to Allah for forgiveness so that you may receive His mercy?’
47
قالُوا اطَّيَّرنا بِكَ وَبِمَن مَعَكَ ۚ قالَ طائِرُكُم عِندَ اللَّهِ ۖ بَل أَنتُم قَومٌ تُفتَنونَ
qālū ṭṭayyarnā bika wa-bi-man maʿaka qāla ṭāʾirukum ʿinda llāhi bal ʾantum qawmun tuftanūna
They said, ‘We take for a bad omen you and those who are with you.’ He said, ‘Your bad omens are with Allah. Rather you are a people being tested.’
48
وَكانَ فِي المَدينَةِ تِسعَةُ رَهطٍ يُفسِدونَ فِي الأَرضِ وَلا يُصلِحونَ
wa-kāna fī l-madīnati tisʿatu rahṭin yufsidūna fī l-ʾarḍi wa-lā yuṣliḥūna
There were nine persons1 in the city who caused corruption in the land, and did not bring about any reform.Or ‘nine families’ (or gangs).
49
قالوا تَقاسَموا بِاللَّهِ لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُ وَأَهلَهُ ثُمَّ لَنَقولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِ ما شَهِدنا مَهلِكَ أَهلِهِ وَإِنّا لَصادِقونَ
qālū taqāsamū bi-llāhi la-nubayyitannahū wa-ʾahlahū thumma la-naqūlanna li-waliyyihī mā shahidnā mahlika ʾahlihī wa-ʾinnā la-ṣādiqūna
They said, ‘[Let us] swear together by Allah that we will attack him and his family by night. Then we will surely tell his heir that we were not present at the murder of his family and we indeed speak the truth.’
50
وَمَكَروا مَكرًا وَمَكَرنا مَكرًا وَهُم لا يَشعُرونَ
wa-makarū makran wa-makarnā makran wa-hum lā yashʿurūna
They devised a plot, and We [too] devised a plan, but they were not aware.
51
فَانظُر كَيفَ كانَ عاقِبَةُ مَكرِهِم أَنّا دَمَّرناهُم وَقَومَهُم أَجمَعينَ
fa-nẓur kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu makrihim ʾannā dammarnāhum wa-qawmahum ʾajmaʿīna
So observe how was the outcome of their plotting, as We destroyed them and all their people.
52
فَتِلكَ بُيوتُهُم خاوِيَةً بِما ظَلَموا ۗ إِنَّ في ذٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِقَومٍ يَعلَمونَ
fa-tilka buyūtuhum khāwiyatan bi-mā ẓalamū ʾinna fī dhālika la-ʾāyatan li-qawmin yaʿlamūna
So there lay their houses, fallen in ruin, because of their wrongdoing. There is indeed a sign in that for a people who have knowledge.
53
وَأَنجَينَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَكانوا يَتَّقونَ
wa-ʾanjaynā lladhīna ʾāmanū wa-kānū yattaqūna
And We delivered those who had faith and were Godwary.
54
وَلوطًا إِذ قالَ لِقَومِهِ أَتَأتونَ الفاحِشَةَ وَأَنتُم تُبصِرونَ
wa-lūṭan ʾidh qāla li-qawmihī ʾa-taʾtūna l-fāḥishata wa-ʾantum tubṣirūna
And Lot, when he said to his people, ‘What! Do you commit this indecency while you see [with your own eyes]?
55
أَئِنَّكُم لَتَأتونَ الرِّجالَ شَهوَةً مِن دونِ النِّساءِ ۚ بَل أَنتُم قَومٌ تَجهَلونَ
ʾa-ʾinnakum la-taʾtūna r-rijāla shahwatan min dūni n-nisāʾi bal ʾantum qawmun tajhalūna
Do you approach men with [sexual] desire instead of women?! Rather you are a senseless lot!’
56
۞ فَما كانَ جَوابَ قَومِهِ إِلّا أَن قالوا أَخرِجوا آلَ لوطٍ مِن قَريَتِكُم ۖ إِنَّهُم أُناسٌ يَتَطَهَّرونَ
fa-mā kāna jawāba qawmihī ʾillā ʾan qālū ʾakhrijū ʾāla lūṭin min qaryatikum ʾinnahum ʾunāsun yataṭahharūna
But the only answer of his people was that they said, ‘Expel Lot’s family from your town! They are indeed a puritanical lot.’
57
فَأَنجَيناهُ وَأَهلَهُ إِلَّا امرَأَتَهُ قَدَّرناها مِنَ الغابِرينَ
fa-ʾanjaynāhu wa-ʾahlahū ʾillā mraʾatahū qaddarnāhā mina l-ghābirīna
So We delivered him and his family, except his wife. We ordained her to be among those who remained behind.
58
وَأَمطَرنا عَلَيهِم مَطَرًا ۖ فَساءَ مَطَرُ المُنذَرينَ
wa-ʾamṭarnā ʿalayhim maṭaran fa-sāʾa maṭaru l-mundharīna
Then We poured down upon them a rain [of stones]. So evil was the rain of those who were warned!
59
قُلِ الحَمدُ لِلَّهِ وَسَلامٌ عَلىٰ عِبادِهِ الَّذينَ اصطَفىٰ ۗ آللَّهُ خَيرٌ أَمّا يُشرِكونَ
quli l-ḥamdu li-llāhi wa-salāmun ʿalā ʿibādihi lladhīna ṣṭafā ʾāllāhu khayrun ʾammā yushrikūna
Say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, and Peace be to His servants whom He has chosen.’ Is Allah better, or the partners they ascribe [to Him]?
60
أَمَّن خَلَقَ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضَ وَأَنزَلَ لَكُم مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً فَأَنبَتنا بِهِ حَدائِقَ ذاتَ بَهجَةٍ ما كانَ لَكُم أَن تُنبِتوا شَجَرَها ۗ أَإِلٰهٌ مَعَ اللَّهِ ۚ بَل هُم قَومٌ يَعدِلونَ
ʾam-man khalaqa s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍa wa-ʾanzala lakum mina s-samāʾi māʾan fa-ʾanbatnā bihī ḥadāʾiqa dhāta bahjatin mā kāna lakum ʾan tunbitū shajarahā ʾa-ʾilāhun maʿa llāhi bal hum qawmun yaʿdilūna
Is He who created the heavens and the earth, and sends down for you water from the sky, whereby We grow delightful gardens, whose trees you could never cause to grow… ?1 What! Is there a god besides Allah? Rather they are a lot who equate [others with Allah].Ellipsis. The omitted phrase here and in the following verses (61-64) is ‘better or the partners they ascribe to Him.’
61
أَمَّن جَعَلَ الأَرضَ قَرارًا وَجَعَلَ خِلالَها أَنهارًا وَجَعَلَ لَها رَواسِيَ وَجَعَلَ بَينَ البَحرَينِ حاجِزًا ۗ أَإِلٰهٌ مَعَ اللَّهِ ۚ بَل أَكثَرُهُم لا يَعلَمونَ
ʾam-man jaʿala l-ʾarḍa qarāran wa-jaʿala khilālahā ʾanhāran wa-jaʿala lahā rawāsiya wa-jaʿala bayna l-baḥrayni ḥājizan ʾa-ʾilāhun maʿa llāhi bal ʾaktharuhum lā yaʿlamūna
Is He who made the earth an abode [for you], and made rivers [flowing] through it, and set firm mountains for it, and set a barrier between the two seas… ? What! Is there a god besides Allah? Rather most of them do not know.
62
أَمَّن يُجيبُ المُضطَرَّ إِذا دَعاهُ وَيَكشِفُ السّوءَ وَيَجعَلُكُم خُلَفاءَ الأَرضِ ۗ أَإِلٰهٌ مَعَ اللَّهِ ۚ قَليلًا ما تَذَكَّرونَ
ʾam-man yujību l-muḍṭarra ʾidhā daʿāhu wa-yakshifu s-sūʾa wa-yajʿalukum khulafāʾa l-ʾarḍi ʾa-ʾilāhun maʿa llāhi qalīlan mā tadhakkarūna
Is He who answers the call of the distressed [person] when he invokes Him and removes his distress, and makes you the earth’s successors… ? What! Is there a god besides Allah? Little is the admonition that you take.
63
أَمَّن يَهديكُم في ظُلُماتِ البَرِّ وَالبَحرِ وَمَن يُرسِلُ الرِّياحَ بُشرًا بَينَ يَدَي رَحمَتِهِ ۗ أَإِلٰهٌ مَعَ اللَّهِ ۚ تَعالَى اللَّهُ عَمّا يُشرِكونَ
ʾam-man yahdīkum fī ẓulumāti l-barri wa-l-baḥri wa-man yursilu r-riyāḥa bushran bayna yaday raḥmatihī ʾa-ʾilāhun maʿa llāhi taʿālā llāhu ʿammā yushrikūna
Is He who guides you in the darkness of land and sea and who sends the winds as harbingers of His mercy… ? What! Is there a god besides Allah? Exalted is Allah above [having] any partners they ascribe [to Him].
64
أَمَّن يَبدَأُ الخَلقَ ثُمَّ يُعيدُهُ وَمَن يَرزُقُكُم مِنَ السَّماءِ وَالأَرضِ ۗ أَإِلٰهٌ مَعَ اللَّهِ ۚ قُل هاتوا بُرهانَكُم إِن كُنتُم صادِقينَ
ʾam-man yabdaʾu l-khalqa thumma yuʿīduhū wa-man yarzuqukum mina s-samāʾi wa-l-ʾarḍi ʾa-ʾilāhun maʿa llāhi qul hātū burhānakum ʾin kuntum ṣādiqīna
Is He who originates the creation, then He will bring it back, and who provides for you from the sky and the earth… ? What! Is there a god besides Allah? Say, ‘Produce your evidence, should you be truthful.’
65
قُل لا يَعلَمُ مَن فِي السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ الغَيبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۚ وَما يَشعُرونَ أَيّانَ يُبعَثونَ
qul lā yaʿlamu man fī s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi l-ghayba ʾillā llāhu wa-mā yashʿurūna ʾayyāna yubʿathūna
Say, ‘No one in the heavens or the earth knows the Unseen except Allah, and they are not aware when they will be resurrected.’
66
بَلِ ادّارَكَ عِلمُهُم فِي الآخِرَةِ ۚ بَل هُم في شَكٍّ مِنها ۖ بَل هُم مِنها عَمونَ
bali ddāraka ʿilmuhum fī l-ʾākhirati bal hum fī shakkin minhā bal hum minhā ʿamūna
Do they comprehend the knowledge of the Hereafter? No, they are in doubt about it. Rather they are blind to it.
67
وَقالَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا أَإِذا كُنّا تُرابًا وَآباؤُنا أَئِنّا لَمُخرَجونَ
wa-qāla lladhīna kafarū ʾa-ʾidhā kunnā turāban wa-ʾābāʾunā ʾa-ʾinnā la-mukhrajūna
The faithless say, ‘What! When we and our fathers have become dust shall we indeed be raised [from the dead]?
68
لَقَد وُعِدنا هٰذا نَحنُ وَآباؤُنا مِن قَبلُ إِن هٰذا إِلّا أَساطيرُ الأَوَّلينَ
la-qad wuʿidnā hādhā naḥnu wa-ʾābāʾunā min qablu ʾin hādhā ʾillā ʾasāṭīru l-ʾawwalīna
Certainly we and our fathers were promised this before. [But] these are just myths of the ancients.’
69
قُل سيروا فِي الأَرضِ فَانظُروا كَيفَ كانَ عاقِبَةُ المُجرِمينَ
qul sīrū fī l-ʾarḍi fa-nẓurū kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu l-mujrimīna
Say, ‘Travel over the land and then observe how was the fate of the guilty.’
70
وَلا تَحزَن عَلَيهِم وَلا تَكُن في ضَيقٍ مِمّا يَمكُرونَ
wa-lā taḥzan ʿalayhim wa-lā takun fī ḍayqin mimmā yamkurūna
Do not grieve for them, and do not be upset by their guile.
71
وَيَقولونَ مَتىٰ هٰذَا الوَعدُ إِن كُنتُم صادِقينَ
wa-yaqūlūna matā hādhā l-waʿdu ʾin kuntum ṣādiqīna
They say, ‘When will this promise be fulfilled, should you be truthful?’
72
قُل عَسىٰ أَن يَكونَ رَدِفَ لَكُم بَعضُ الَّذي تَستَعجِلونَ
qul ʿasā ʾan yakūna radifa lakum baʿḍu lladhī tastaʿjilūna
Say, ‘Perhaps right behind you there is some of what you seek to hasten.’
73
وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذو فَضلٍ عَلَى النّاسِ وَلٰكِنَّ أَكثَرَهُم لا يَشكُرونَ
wa-ʾinna rabbaka la-dhū faḍlin ʿalā n-nāsi wa-lākinna ʾaktharahum lā yashkurūna
Indeed your Lord is gracious to mankind, but most of them do not give thanks.
74
وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَعلَمُ ما تُكِنُّ صُدورُهُم وَما يُعلِنونَ
wa-ʾinna rabbaka la-yaʿlamu mā tukinnu ṣudūruhum wa-mā yuʿlinūna
Your Lord indeed knows whatever their breasts conceal, and whatever they disclose.
75
وَما مِن غائِبَةٍ فِي السَّماءِ وَالأَرضِ إِلّا في كِتابٍ مُبينٍ
wa-mā min ghāʾibatin fī s-samāʾi wa-l-ʾarḍi ʾillā fī kitābin mubīnin
There is no invisible thing in the heaven and the earth but it is in a manifest Book.1That is, in ‘the Guarded Tablet.’
76
إِنَّ هٰذَا القُرآنَ يَقُصُّ عَلىٰ بَني إِسرائيلَ أَكثَرَ الَّذي هُم فيهِ يَختَلِفونَ
ʾinna hādhā l-qurʾāna yaquṣṣu ʿalā banī ʾisrāʾīla ʾakthara lladhī hum fīhi yakhtalifūna
Indeed this Qurʾān recounts to the Children of Israel most of what they differ about,
77
وَإِنَّهُ لَهُدًى وَرَحمَةٌ لِلمُؤمِنينَ
wa-ʾinnahū la-hudan wa-raḥmatun li-l-muʾminīna
and it is indeed a guidance and mercy for the faithful.
78
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقضي بَينَهُم بِحُكمِهِ ۚ وَهُوَ العَزيزُ العَليمُ
ʾinna rabbaka yaqḍī baynahum bi-ḥukmihī wa-huwa l-ʿazīzu l-ʿalīmu
Indeed your Lord will decide between them by His judgement, and He is the All-mighty, the All-knowing.
79
فَتَوَكَّل عَلَى اللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَى الحَقِّ المُبينِ
fa-tawakkal ʿalā llāhi ʾinnaka ʿalā l-ḥaqqi l-mubīni
So put your trust in Allah, for you indeed stand on the manifest truth.
80
إِنَّكَ لا تُسمِعُ المَوتىٰ وَلا تُسمِعُ الصُّمَّ الدُّعاءَ إِذا وَلَّوا مُدبِرينَ
ʾinnaka lā tusmiʿu l-mawtā wa-lā tusmiʿu ṣ-ṣumma d-duʿāʾa ʾidhā wallaw mudbirīna
Indeed you cannot make the dead hear, nor can you make the deaf hear the call when they turn their backs [upon you],
81
وَما أَنتَ بِهادِي العُميِ عَن ضَلالَتِهِم ۖ إِن تُسمِعُ إِلّا مَن يُؤمِنُ بِآياتِنا فَهُم مُسلِمونَ
wa-mā ʾanta bi-hādī l-ʿumyi ʿan ḍalālatihim ʾin tusmiʿu ʾillā man yuʾminu bi-ʾāyātinā fa-hum muslimūna
nor can you lead the blind out of their error. You can make only those hear who believe in Our signs and who have submitted.
82
۞ وَإِذا وَقَعَ القَولُ عَلَيهِم أَخرَجنا لَهُم دابَّةً مِنَ الأَرضِ تُكَلِّمُهُم أَنَّ النّاسَ كانوا بِآياتِنا لا يوقِنونَ
wa-ʾidhā waqaʿa l-qawlu ʿalayhim ʾakhrajnā lahum dābbatan mina l-ʾarḍi tukallimuhum ʾanna n-nāsa kānū bi-ʾāyātinā lā yūqinūna
And when the word [of judgement] falls upon them, We shall bring out for them an Animal1 from the earth who shall speak to them that the people had no faith in Our signs.Or ‘a beast.’
83
وَيَومَ نَحشُرُ مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ فَوجًا مِمَّن يُكَذِّبُ بِآياتِنا فَهُم يوزَعونَ
wa-yawma naḥshuru min kulli ʾummatin fawjan mimman yukadhdhibu bi-ʾāyātinā fa-hum yūzaʿūna
The day We shall resurrect1 from every nation a group of those who denied Our signs, and they shall be held in check.See 20:124-125 where ḥashr is used in the sense of resurrection.
84
حَتّىٰ إِذا جاءوا قالَ أَكَذَّبتُم بِآياتي وَلَم تُحيطوا بِها عِلمًا أَمّاذا كُنتُم تَعمَلونَ
ḥattā ʾidhā jāʾū qāla ʾa-kadhdhabtum bi-ʾāyātī wa-lam tuḥīṭū bihā ʿilman ʾammādhā kuntum taʿmalūna
When they come, He will say, ‘Did you deny My signs without comprehending them in knowledge? What was it that you used to do?’
85
وَوَقَعَ القَولُ عَلَيهِم بِما ظَلَموا فَهُم لا يَنطِقونَ
wa-waqaʿa l-qawlu ʿalayhim bi-mā ẓalamū fa-hum lā yanṭiqūna
And the word [of judgement] shall fall upon them for their wrongdoing, and they will not speak.
86
أَلَم يَرَوا أَنّا جَعَلنَا اللَّيلَ لِيَسكُنوا فيهِ وَالنَّهارَ مُبصِرًا ۚ إِنَّ في ذٰلِكَ لَآياتٍ لِقَومٍ يُؤمِنونَ
ʾa-lam yaraw ʾannā jaʿalnā l-layla li-yaskunū fīhi wa-n-nahāra mubṣiran ʾinna fī dhālika la-ʾāyātin li-qawmin yuʾminūna
Do they not see that We made the night that they may rest in it, and the day to provide visibility. There are indeed signs in that for a people who have faith.
87
وَيَومَ يُنفَخُ فِي الصّورِ فَفَزِعَ مَن فِي السَّماواتِ وَمَن فِي الأَرضِ إِلّا مَن شاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ وَكُلٌّ أَتَوهُ داخِرينَ
wa-yawma yunfakhu fī ṣ-ṣūri fa-faziʿa man fī s-samāwāti wa-man fī l-ʾarḍi ʾillā man shāʾa llāhu wa-kullun ʾatawhu dākhirīna
The day when the trumpet will be blown, whoever is in the heavens will be terrified and whoever is on the earth, except whomever Allah may wish, and all will come to Him in utter humility.
88
وَتَرَى الجِبالَ تَحسَبُها جامِدَةً وَهِيَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ السَّحابِ ۚ صُنعَ اللَّهِ الَّذي أَتقَنَ كُلَّ شَيءٍ ۚ إِنَّهُ خَبيرٌ بِما تَفعَلونَ
wa-tarā l-jibāla taḥsabuhā jāmidatan wa-hiya tamurru marra s-saḥābi ṣunʿa llāhi lladhī ʾatqana kulla shayʾin ʾinnahū khabīrun bi-mā tafʿalūna
And you see the mountains, which you suppose to be stationary, while they drift like passing clouds —the handiwork of Allah who has made everything faultless. He is indeed well aware of what you do.
89
مَن جاءَ بِالحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ خَيرٌ مِنها وَهُم مِن فَزَعٍ يَومَئِذٍ آمِنونَ
man jāʾa bi-l-ḥasanati fa-lahū khayrun minhā wa-hum min fazaʿin yawmaʾidhin ʾāminūna
Whoever brings virtue shall receive [a reward] better than it; and they shall be secure from terror on that day.
90
وَمَن جاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَكُبَّت وُجوهُهُم فِي النّارِ هَل تُجزَونَ إِلّا ما كُنتُم تَعمَلونَ
wa-man jāʾa bi-s-sayyiʾati fa-kubbat wujūhuhum fī n-nāri hal tujzawna ʾillā mā kuntum taʿmalūna
And whoever brings vice —they shall be cast on their faces into the Fire [and told:] ‘Shall you be requited except with what you used to do?’
91
إِنَّما أُمِرتُ أَن أَعبُدَ رَبَّ هٰذِهِ البَلدَةِ الَّذي حَرَّمَها وَلَهُ كُلُّ شَيءٍ ۖ وَأُمِرتُ أَن أَكونَ مِنَ المُسلِمينَ
ʾinnamā ʾumirtu ʾan ʾaʿbuda rabba hādhihi l-baldati lladhī ḥarramahā wa-lahū kullu shayʾin wa-ʾumirtu ʾan ʾakūna mina l-muslimīna
‘Indeed I have been commanded to worship the Lord of this city1 who has made it inviolable2 and to whom all things belong, and I have been commanded to be among those who submit [to Allah],That is, the holy city of Makkah.Or ‘sacred.’
92
وَأَن أَتلُوَ القُرآنَ ۖ فَمَنِ اهتَدىٰ فَإِنَّما يَهتَدي لِنَفسِهِ ۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَقُل إِنَّما أَنا مِنَ المُنذِرينَ
wa-ʾan ʾatluwa l-qurʾāna fa-mani htadā fa-ʾinnamā yahtadī li-nafsihī wa-man ḍalla fa-qul ʾinnamā ʾana mina l-mundhirīna
and to recite the Qurʾān.’ So whoever is guided is guided only for his own sake, and as for him who goes astray, say, ‘I am just one of the warners.’
93
وَقُلِ الحَمدُ لِلَّهِ سَيُريكُم آياتِهِ فَتَعرِفونَها ۚ وَما رَبُّكَ بِغافِلٍ عَمّا تَعمَلونَ
wa-quli l-ḥamdu li-llāhi sa-yurīkum ʾāyātihī fa-taʿrifūnahā wa-mā rabbuka bi-ghāfilin ʿammā taʿmalūna
And say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah. Soon He will show you His signs, and you will recognize them.’ And your Lord is not oblivious of what you do.