Surah 34 – SABAʾ

1

الحَمدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذي لَهُ ما فِي السَّماواتِ وَما فِي الأَرضِ وَلَهُ الحَمدُ فِي الآخِرَةِ ۚ وَهُوَ الحَكيمُ الخَبيرُ

al-ḥamdu li-llāhi lladhī lahū mā fī s-samāwāti wa-mā fī l-ʾarḍi wa-lahu l-ḥamdu fī l-ʾākhirati wa-huwa l-ḥakīmu l-khabīru

All praise belongs to Allah to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. To Him belongs all praise in the Hereafter, and He is the All-wise, the All-aware.

2

يَعلَمُ ما يَلِجُ فِي الأَرضِ وَما يَخرُجُ مِنها وَما يَنزِلُ مِنَ السَّماءِ وَما يَعرُجُ فيها ۚ وَهُوَ الرَّحيمُ الغَفورُ

yaʿlamu mā yaliju fī l-ʾarḍi wa-mā yakhruju minhā wa-mā yanzilu mina s-samāʾi wa-mā yaʿruju fīhā wa-huwa r-raḥīmu l-ghafūru

He knows whatever enters into the earth and whatever emerges from it, and whatever descends from the sky and whatever ascends into it, and He is the All-merciful, the All-forgiving.

3

وَقالَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا لا تَأتينَا السّاعَةُ ۖ قُل بَلىٰ وَرَبّي لَتَأتِيَنَّكُم عالِمِ الغَيبِ ۖ لا يَعزُبُ عَنهُ مِثقالُ ذَرَّةٍ فِي السَّماواتِ وَلا فِي الأَرضِ وَلا أَصغَرُ مِن ذٰلِكَ وَلا أَكبَرُ إِلّا في كِتابٍ مُبينٍ

wa-qāla lladhīna kafarū lā taʾtīnā s-sāʿatu qul balā wa-rabbī la-taʾtiyannakum ʿālimi l-ghaybi lā yaʿzubu ʿanhu mithqālu dharratin fī s-samāwāti wa-lā fī l-ʾarḍi wa-lā ʾaṣgharu min dhālika wa-lā ʾakbaru ʾillā fī kitābin mubīnin

The faithless say, ‘The Hour will not overtake us.’ Say, ‘Yes indeed, by my Lord, it will surely come to you.’ —The Knower of the Unseen, not [even] an atom’s weight escapes Him in the heavens or in the earth, nor [is there] anything smaller than that nor bigger, but it is in a manifest Book,

4

لِيَجزِيَ الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّالِحاتِ ۚ أُولٰئِكَ لَهُم مَغفِرَةٌ وَرِزقٌ كَريمٌ

li-yajziya lladhīna ʾāmanū wa-ʿamilū ṣ-ṣāliḥāti ʾulāʾika lahum maghfiratun wa-rizqun karīmun

that He may reward those who have faith and do righteous deeds. For such there will be forgiveness and a noble provision.

5

وَالَّذينَ سَعَوا في آياتِنا مُعاجِزينَ أُولٰئِكَ لَهُم عَذابٌ مِن رِجزٍ أَليمٌ

wa-lladhīna saʿaw fī ʾāyātinā muʿājizīna ʾulāʾika lahum ʿadhābun min rijzin ʾalīmun

But those who contend with Our signs seeking to thwart [their purpose], for such is a painful punishment due to defilement.1That is, owing to their inward defilement. According to an alternate reading which makes alīm the attribute of rijz, the translation will be: ‘for such is the torment of a painful punishment.’

6

وَيَرَى الَّذينَ أوتُوا العِلمَ الَّذي أُنزِلَ إِلَيكَ مِن رَبِّكَ هُوَ الحَقَّ وَيَهدي إِلىٰ صِراطِ العَزيزِ الحَميدِ

wa-yarā lladhīna ʾūtū l-ʿilma lladhī ʾunzila ʾilayka min rabbika huwa l-ḥaqqa wa-yahdī ʾilā ṣirāṭi l-ʿazīzi l-ḥamīdi

Those who have been given knowledge see that what has been sent down to you from your Lord is the truth and [that] it guides to the path of the All-mighty, the All-laudable.

7

وَقالَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا هَل نَدُلُّكُم عَلىٰ رَجُلٍ يُنَبِّئُكُم إِذا مُزِّقتُم كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ إِنَّكُم لَفي خَلقٍ جَديدٍ

wa-qāla lladhīna kafarū hal nadullukum ʿalā rajulin yunabbiʾukum ʾidhā muzziqtum kulla mumazzaqin ʾinnakum la-fī khalqin jadīdin

The faithless say, ‘Shall we show you a man who will inform you [that] when you have been totally rent to pieces you will indeed have a new creation?

8

أَفتَرىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَم بِهِ جِنَّةٌ ۗ بَلِ الَّذينَ لا يُؤمِنونَ بِالآخِرَةِ فِي العَذابِ وَالضَّلالِ البَعيدِ

ʾa-ftarā ʿalā llāhi kadhiban ʾam bihī jinnatun bali lladhīna lā yuʾminūna bi-l-ʾākhirati fī l-ʿadhābi wa-ḍ-ḍalāli l-baʿīdi

Has he fabricated a lie against Allah, or is there a madness in him?’ Rather those who do not believe in the Hereafter languish in punishment and extreme error.

9

أَفَلَم يَرَوا إِلىٰ ما بَينَ أَيديهِم وَما خَلفَهُم مِنَ السَّماءِ وَالأَرضِ ۚ إِن نَشَأ نَخسِف بِهِمُ الأَرضَ أَو نُسقِط عَلَيهِم كِسَفًا مِنَ السَّماءِ ۚ إِنَّ في ذٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِكُلِّ عَبدٍ مُنيبٍ

ʾa-fa-lam yaraw ʾilā mā bayna ʾaydīhim wa-mā khalfahum mina s-samāʾi wa-l-ʾarḍi ʾin nashaʾ nakhsif bihimu l-ʾarḍa ʾaw nusqiṭ ʿalayhim kisafan mina s-samāʾi ʾinna fī dhālika la-ʾāyatan li-kulli ʿabdin munībin

Have they not regarded that which is before them and that which is behind them of the sky and the earth? If We like, We can make the earth swallow them, or let fall on them a fragment from the sky. There is indeed a sign in that for every penitent servant.

10

۞ وَلَقَد آتَينا داوودَ مِنّا فَضلًا ۖ يا جِبالُ أَوِّبي مَعَهُ وَالطَّيرَ ۖ وَأَلَنّا لَهُ الحَديدَ

wa-la-qad ʾātaynā dāwūda minnā faḍlan yā-jibālu ʾawwibī maʿahū wa-ṭ-ṭayra wa-ʾalannā lahu l-ḥadīda

Certainly We gave David a grace from Us: ‘O mountains and birds, chime in with him!’1 And We made iron soft for him,Cf. 38:17-19.

11

أَنِ اعمَل سابِغاتٍ وَقَدِّر فِي السَّردِ ۖ وَاعمَلوا صالِحًا ۖ إِنّي بِما تَعمَلونَ بَصيرٌ

ʾani ʿmal sābighātin wa-qaddir fī s-sardi wa-ʿmalū ṣāliḥan ʾinnī bi-mā taʿmalūna baṣīrun

saying, ‘Make easy coats of mail, and keep the measure in arranging [the links], and act righteously. Indeed I see best what you do.’

12

وَلِسُلَيمانَ الرّيحَ غُدُوُّها شَهرٌ وَرَواحُها شَهرٌ ۖ وَأَسَلنا لَهُ عَينَ القِطرِ ۖ وَمِنَ الجِنِّ مَن يَعمَلُ بَينَ يَدَيهِ بِإِذنِ رَبِّهِ ۖ وَمَن يَزِغ مِنهُم عَن أَمرِنا نُذِقهُ مِن عَذابِ السَّعيرِ

wa-li-sulaymāna r-rīḥa ghuduwwuhā shahrun wa-rawāḥuhā shahrun wa-ʾasalnā lahū ʿayna l-qiṭri wa-mina l-jinni man yaʿmalu bayna yadayhi bi-ʾidhni rabbihī wa-man yazigh minhum ʿan ʾamrinā nudhiqhu min ʿadhābi s-saʿīri

And for Solomon [We subjected] the wind: its morning course was a month’s journey and its evening course was a month’s journey. We made a fount of [molten] copper flow for him, and [We placed at his service] some of the jinn who would work for him by the permission of his Lord, and if any of them swerved from Our command, We would make him taste the punishment of the Blaze.

13

يَعمَلونَ لَهُ ما يَشاءُ مِن مَحاريبَ وَتَماثيلَ وَجِفانٍ كَالجَوابِ وَقُدورٍ راسِياتٍ ۚ اعمَلوا آلَ داوودَ شُكرًا ۚ وَقَليلٌ مِن عِبادِيَ الشَّكورُ

yaʿmalūna lahū mā yashāʾu min maḥārība wa-tamāthīla wa-jifānin ka-l-jawābi wa-qudūrin rāsiyātin-i ʿmalū ʾāla dāwūda shukran wa-qalīlun min ʿibādiya sh-shakūru

They built for him as many temples as he wished, and figures, basins like cisterns, and caldrons fixed [in the ground]. ‘O House of David, observe thanksgiving, and few of My servants are grateful.’

14

فَلَمّا قَضَينا عَلَيهِ المَوتَ ما دَلَّهُم عَلىٰ مَوتِهِ إِلّا دابَّةُ الأَرضِ تَأكُلُ مِنسَأَتَهُ ۖ فَلَمّا خَرَّ تَبَيَّنَتِ الجِنُّ أَن لَو كانوا يَعلَمونَ الغَيبَ ما لَبِثوا فِي العَذابِ المُهينِ

fa-lammā qaḍaynā ʿalayhi l-mawta mā dallahum ʿalā mawtihī ʾillā dābbatu l-ʾarḍi taʾkulu minsaʾatahū fa-lammā kharra tabayyanati l-jinnu ʾan law kānū yaʿlamūna l-ghayba mā labithū fī l-ʿadhābi l-muhīni

And when We decreed death for him, nothing apprised them of his death except a worm which gnawed away at his staff. And when he fell down the jinn realized that had they known the Unseen, they would not have remained in a humiliating torment.

15

لَقَد كانَ لِسَبَإٍ في مَسكَنِهِم آيَةٌ ۖ جَنَّتانِ عَن يَمينٍ وَشِمالٍ ۖ كُلوا مِن رِزقِ رَبِّكُم وَاشكُروا لَهُ ۚ بَلدَةٌ طَيِّبَةٌ وَرَبٌّ غَفورٌ

la-qad kāna li-sabaʾin fī maskanihim ʾāyatun jannatāni ʿan yamīnin wa-shimālin kulū min rizqi rabbikum wa-shkurū lahū baldatun ṭayyibatun wa-rabbun ghafūrun

There was certainly a sign for Sheba in their habitation: two gardens, to the right and to the left. ‘Eat of the provision of your Lord and give Him thanks: a good land and an all-forgiving Lord!’

16

فَأَعرَضوا فَأَرسَلنا عَلَيهِم سَيلَ العَرِمِ وَبَدَّلناهُم بِجَنَّتَيهِم جَنَّتَينِ ذَواتَي أُكُلٍ خَمطٍ وَأَثلٍ وَشَيءٍ مِن سِدرٍ قَليلٍ

fa-ʾaʿraḍū fa-ʾarsalnā ʿalayhim sayla l-ʿarimi wa-baddalnāhum bi-jannatayhim jannatayni dhawātay ʾukulin khamṭin wa-ʾathlin wa-shayʾin min sidrin qalīlin

But they disregarded [the path of Allah], so We unleashed upon them a violent flood and replaced their two gardens with two gardens bearing bitter fruit, tamarisk, and sparse lote trees.

17

ذٰلِكَ جَزَيناهُم بِما كَفَروا ۖ وَهَل نُجازي إِلَّا الكَفورَ

dhālika jazaynāhum bi-mā kafarū wa-hal nujāzī ʾillā l-kafūra

We requited them with that for their ingratitude. Do We requite [so] anyone except ingrates?

18

وَجَعَلنا بَينَهُم وَبَينَ القُرَى الَّتي بارَكنا فيها قُرًى ظاهِرَةً وَقَدَّرنا فيهَا السَّيرَ ۖ سيروا فيها لَيالِيَ وَأَيّامًا آمِنينَ

wa-jaʿalnā baynahum wa-bayna l-qurā llatī bāraknā fīhā quran ẓāhiratan wa-qaddarnā fīhā s-sayra sīrū fīhā layāliya wa-ʾayyāman ʾāminīna

We had placed between them and the towns which We had blessed hamlets prominent [from the main route], and We had ordained the course through them: ‘Travel through them in safety, night and day.’

19

فَقالوا رَبَّنا باعِد بَينَ أَسفارِنا وَظَلَموا أَنفُسَهُم فَجَعَلناهُم أَحاديثَ وَمَزَّقناهُم كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ ۚ إِنَّ في ذٰلِكَ لَآياتٍ لِكُلِّ صَبّارٍ شَكورٍ

fa-qālū rabbanā bāʿid bayna ʾasfārinā wa-ẓalamū ʾanfusahum fa-jaʿalnāhum ʾaḥādītha wa-mazzaqnāhum kulla mumazzaqin ʾinna fī dhālika la-ʾāyātin li-kulli ṣabbārin shakūrin

But they said, ‘Our Lord! Make the stages between our journeys far apart,’ and they wronged themselves. So We turned them into folktales and caused them to disintegrate totally. There are indeed signs in that for every patient and grateful [servant].

20

وَلَقَد صَدَّقَ عَلَيهِم إِبليسُ ظَنَّهُ فَاتَّبَعوهُ إِلّا فَريقًا مِنَ المُؤمِنينَ

wa-la-qad ṣaddaqa ʿalayhim ʾiblīsu ẓannahū fa-ttabaʿūhu ʾillā farīqan mina l-muʾminīna

Certainly Iblis had his conjecture come true about them. So they followed him —all except a part of the faithful.

21

وَما كانَ لَهُ عَلَيهِم مِن سُلطانٍ إِلّا لِنَعلَمَ مَن يُؤمِنُ بِالآخِرَةِ مِمَّن هُوَ مِنها في شَكٍّ ۗ وَرَبُّكَ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَيءٍ حَفيظٌ

wa-mā kāna lahū ʿalayhim min sulṭānin ʾillā li-naʿlama man yuʾminu bi-l-ʾākhirati mimman huwa minhā fī shakkin wa-rabbuka ʿalā kulli shayʾin ḥafīẓun

He had no authority over them, but that We may ascertain those who believe in the Hereafter from those who are in doubt about it, and your Lord is watchful over all things.

22

قُلِ ادعُوا الَّذينَ زَعَمتُم مِن دونِ اللَّهِ ۖ لا يَملِكونَ مِثقالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِي السَّماواتِ وَلا فِي الأَرضِ وَما لَهُم فيهِما مِن شِركٍ وَما لَهُ مِنهُم مِن ظَهيرٍ

quli dʿū lladhīna zaʿamtum min dūni llāhi lā yamlikūna mithqāla dharratin fī s-samāwāti wa-lā fī l-ʾarḍi wa-mā lahum fīhimā min shirkin wa-mā lahū minhum min ẓahīrin

Say, ‘Invoke them whom you claim [to be gods] besides Allah! They do not control [even] an atom’s weight in the heavens or the earth, nor have they any share in [either of] them, nor is any of them1 His supporter.’That is, the gods worshipped by the polytheists.

23

وَلا تَنفَعُ الشَّفاعَةُ عِندَهُ إِلّا لِمَن أَذِنَ لَهُ ۚ حَتّىٰ إِذا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلوبِهِم قالوا ماذا قالَ رَبُّكُم ۖ قالُوا الحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ العَلِيُّ الكَبيرُ

wa-lā tanfaʿu sh-shafāʿatu ʿindahū ʾillā li-man ʾadhina lahū ḥattā ʾidhā fuzziʿa ʿan qulūbihim qālū mādhā qāla rabbukum qālū l-ḥaqqa wa-huwa l-ʿaliyyu l-kabīru

Intercession is of no avail with Him except for those whom He permits.1 When fear is lifted from their hearts, they say, ‘What did your Lord say?’ They say, ‘The truth, and He is the All-exalted, the All-great.’See Zamakhshari and Ṭabāṭabā’ī. Or ‘except of those whom He permits.’

24

۞ قُل مَن يَرزُقُكُم مِنَ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ ۖ قُلِ اللَّهُ ۖ وَإِنّا أَو إِيّاكُم لَعَلىٰ هُدًى أَو في ضَلالٍ مُبينٍ

qul man yarzuqukum mina s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi quli llāhu wa-ʾinnā ʾaw ʾiyyākum la-ʿalā hudan ʾaw fī ḍalālin mubīnin

Say, ‘Who provides for you from the heavens and the earth?’ Say, ‘Allah! Indeed either we or you are rightly guided or in manifest error.’

25

قُل لا تُسأَلونَ عَمّا أَجرَمنا وَلا نُسأَلُ عَمّا تَعمَلونَ

qul lā tusʾalūna ʿammā ʾajramnā wa-lā nusʾalu ʿammā taʿmalūna

Say, ‘You will not be questioned about our guilt, nor shall we be questioned about what you do.’

26

قُل يَجمَعُ بَينَنا رَبُّنا ثُمَّ يَفتَحُ بَينَنا بِالحَقِّ وَهُوَ الفَتّاحُ العَليمُ

qul yajmaʿu baynanā rabbunā thumma yaftaḥu baynanā bi-l-ḥaqqi wa-huwa l-fattāḥu l-ʿalīmu

Say, ‘Our Lord will bring us together, then He will judge between us with justice, and He is the All-knowing Judge.’1Or, ‘the Judge, the All-knowing.’

27

قُل أَرونِيَ الَّذينَ أَلحَقتُم بِهِ شُرَكاءَ ۖ كَلّا ۚ بَل هُوَ اللَّهُ العَزيزُ الحَكيمُ

qul ʾarūniya lladhīna ʾalḥaqtum bihī shurakāʾa kallā bal huwa llāhu l-ʿazīzu l-ḥakīmu

Say, ‘Show me those whom you associate with Him as partners.’ No indeed! [They can never show any such partner]. Rather He is Allah, the All-mighty, the All-wise.

28

وَما أَرسَلناكَ إِلّا كافَّةً لِلنّاسِ بَشيرًا وَنَذيرًا وَلٰكِنَّ أَكثَرَ النّاسِ لا يَعلَمونَ

wa-mā ʾarsalnāka ʾillā kāffatan li-n-nāsi bashīran wa-nadhīran wa-lākinna ʾakthara n-nāsi lā yaʿlamūna

We did not send you except as a bearer of good news and warner to all mankind, but most people do not know.

29

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?’

30

قُل لَكُم ميعادُ يَومٍ لا تَستَأخِرونَ عَنهُ ساعَةً وَلا تَستَقدِمونَ

qul lakum mīʿādu yawmin lā tastaʾkhirūna ʿanhu sāʿatan wa-lā tastaqdimūna

Say, ‘Your promised hour is a day that you shall neither defer nor advance by an hour.’

31

وَقالَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا لَن نُؤمِنَ بِهٰذَا القُرآنِ وَلا بِالَّذي بَينَ يَدَيهِ ۗ وَلَو تَرىٰ إِذِ الظّالِمونَ مَوقوفونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِم يَرجِعُ بَعضُهُم إِلىٰ بَعضٍ القَولَ يَقولُ الَّذينَ استُضعِفوا لِلَّذينَ استَكبَروا لَولا أَنتُم لَكُنّا مُؤمِنينَ

wa-qāla lladhīna kafarū lan nuʾmina bi-hādhā l-qurʾāni wa-lā bi-lladhī bayna yadayhi wa-law tarā ʾidhi ẓ-ẓālimūna mawqūfūna ʿinda rabbihim yarjiʿu baʿḍuhum ʾilā baʿḍin-i l-qawla yaqūlu lladhīna stuḍʿifū li-lladhīna stakbarū law-lā ʾantum la-kunnā muʾminīna

The faithless say, ‘We will never believe in this Qurʾān, nor in what was [revealed] before it.’ But if you were to see when the wrongdoers are made to stop before their Lord casting the blame on one another. Those who were abased will say to those who were arrogant, ‘Had it not been for you, we would surely have been faithful.’

32

قالَ الَّذينَ استَكبَروا لِلَّذينَ استُضعِفوا أَنَحنُ صَدَدناكُم عَنِ الهُدىٰ بَعدَ إِذ جاءَكُم ۖ بَل كُنتُم مُجرِمينَ

qāla lladhīna stakbarū li-lladhīna stuḍʿifū ʾa-naḥnu ṣadadnākum ʿani l-hudā baʿda ʾidh jāʾakum bal kuntum mujrimīna

Those who were arrogant will say to those who were abased, ‘Did we keep you from guidance after it had come to you? No, you were guilty [yourselves].’

33

وَقالَ الَّذينَ استُضعِفوا لِلَّذينَ استَكبَروا بَل مَكرُ اللَّيلِ وَالنَّهارِ إِذ تَأمُرونَنا أَن نَكفُرَ بِاللَّهِ وَنَجعَلَ لَهُ أَندادًا ۚ وَأَسَرُّوا النَّدامَةَ لَمّا رَأَوُا العَذابَ وَجَعَلنَا الأَغلالَ في أَعناقِ الَّذينَ كَفَروا ۚ هَل يُجزَونَ إِلّا ما كانوا يَعمَلونَ

wa-qāla lladhīna stuḍʿifū li-lladhīna stakbarū bal makru l-layli wa-n-nahāri ʾidh taʾmurūnanā ʾan nakfura bi-llāhi wa-najʿala lahū ʾandādan wa-ʾasarrū n-nadāmata lammā raʾawu l-ʿadhāba wa-jaʿalnā l-ʾaghlāla fī ʾaʿnāqi lladhīna kafarū hal yujzawna ʾillā mā kānū yaʿmalūna

Those who were abased will say to those who were arrogant, ‘Rather [it was your] night and day plotting, when you prompted us to forswear Allah and to set up equals to Him.’ They will hide their remorse when they sight the punishment, and We will put iron collars around the necks of the faithless. Shall they be requited except for what they used to do?

34

وَما أَرسَلنا في قَريَةٍ مِن نَذيرٍ إِلّا قالَ مُترَفوها إِنّا بِما أُرسِلتُم بِهِ كافِرونَ

wa-mā ʾarsalnā fī qaryatin min nadhīrin ʾillā qāla mutrafūhā ʾinnā bi-mā ʾursiltum bihī kāfirūna

We did not send a warner to any town without its affluent ones saying, ‘We indeed disbelieve in what you have been sent with.’

35

وَقالوا نَحنُ أَكثَرُ أَموالًا وَأَولادًا وَما نَحنُ بِمُعَذَّبينَ

wa-qālū naḥnu ʾaktharu ʾamwālan wa-ʾawlādan wa-mā naḥnu bi-muʿadhdhabīna

And they say, ‘We have greater wealth and more children, and we will not be punished!’

36

قُل إِنَّ رَبّي يَبسُطُ الرِّزقَ لِمَن يَشاءُ وَيَقدِرُ وَلٰكِنَّ أَكثَرَ النّاسِ لا يَعلَمونَ

qul ʾinna rabbī yabsuṭu r-rizqa li-man yashāʾu wa-yaqdiru wa-lākinna ʾakthara n-nāsi lā yaʿlamūna

Say, ‘Indeed my Lord expands the provision for whomever He wishes and He tightens it, but most people do not know.’

37

وَما أَموالُكُم وَلا أَولادُكُم بِالَّتي تُقَرِّبُكُم عِندَنا زُلفىٰ إِلّا مَن آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صالِحًا فَأُولٰئِكَ لَهُم جَزاءُ الضِّعفِ بِما عَمِلوا وَهُم فِي الغُرُفاتِ آمِنونَ

wa-mā ʾamwālukum wa-lā ʾawlādukum bi-llatī tuqarribukum ʿindanā zulfā ʾillā man ʾāmana wa-ʿamila ṣāliḥan fa-ʾulāʾika lahum jazāʾu ḍ-ḍiʿfi bi-mā ʿamilū wa-hum fī l-ghurufāti ʾāminūna

It is not your wealth, nor your children, that will bring you close to Us in nearness, except those who have faith and act righteously. It is they for whom there will be a twofold reward for what they did, and they will be secure in lofty abodes.1Cf. 29:58; 39:20.

38

وَالَّذينَ يَسعَونَ في آياتِنا مُعاجِزينَ أُولٰئِكَ فِي العَذابِ مُحضَرونَ

wa-lladhīna yasʿawna fī ʾāyātinā muʿājizīna ʾulāʾika fī l-ʿadhābi muḥḍarūna

As for those who contend with Our signs seeking to thwart [their purpose], they will be brought to the punishment.

39

قُل إِنَّ رَبّي يَبسُطُ الرِّزقَ لِمَن يَشاءُ مِن عِبادِهِ وَيَقدِرُ لَهُ ۚ وَما أَنفَقتُم مِن شَيءٍ فَهُوَ يُخلِفُهُ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيرُ الرّازِقينَ

qul ʾinna rabbī yabsuṭu r-rizqa li-man yashāʾu min ʿibādihī wa-yaqdiru lahū wa-mā ʾanfaqtum min shayʾin fa-huwa yukhlifuhū wa-huwa khayru r-rāziqīna

Say, ‘Indeed my Lord expands the provision for whomever of His servants that He wishes and tightens it, and He will repay whatever you may spend, and He is the best of providers.’

40

وَيَومَ يَحشُرُهُم جَميعًا ثُمَّ يَقولُ لِلمَلائِكَةِ أَهٰؤُلاءِ إِيّاكُم كانوا يَعبُدونَ

wa-yawma yaḥshuruhum jamīʿan thumma yaqūlu li-l-malāʾikati ʾa-hāʾulāʾi ʾiyyākum kānū yaʿbudūna

On the day He will muster them all together, then He will say to the angels, ‘Was it you that these used to worship?’

41

قالوا سُبحانَكَ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنا مِن دونِهِم ۖ بَل كانوا يَعبُدونَ الجِنَّ ۖ أَكثَرُهُم بِهِم مُؤمِنونَ

qālū subḥānaka ʾanta waliyyunā min dūnihim bal kānū yaʿbudūna l-jinna ʾaktharuhum bihim muʾminūna

They will say, ‘Immaculate are You! You are our intimate, not they! Rather they used to worship the jinn; most of them had faith in them.’

42

فَاليَومَ لا يَملِكُ بَعضُكُم لِبَعضٍ نَفعًا وَلا ضَرًّا وَنَقولُ لِلَّذينَ ظَلَموا ذوقوا عَذابَ النّارِ الَّتي كُنتُم بِها تُكَذِّبونَ

fa-l-yawma lā yamliku baʿḍukum li-baʿḍin nafʿan wa-lā ḍarran wa-naqūlu li-lladhīna ẓalamū dhūqū ʿadhāba n-nāri llatī kuntum bihā tukadhdhibūna

‘Today you have no power to benefit or harm one another,’ and We shall say to those who did wrong, ‘Taste the punishment of the Fire which you used to deny.’

43

وَإِذا تُتلىٰ عَلَيهِم آياتُنا بَيِّناتٍ قالوا ما هٰذا إِلّا رَجُلٌ يُريدُ أَن يَصُدَّكُم عَمّا كانَ يَعبُدُ آباؤُكُم وَقالوا ما هٰذا إِلّا إِفكٌ مُفتَرًى ۚ وَقالَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا لِلحَقِّ لَمّا جاءَهُم إِن هٰذا إِلّا سِحرٌ مُبينٌ

wa-ʾidhā tutlā ʿalayhim ʾāyātunā bayyinātin qālū mā hādhā ʾillā rajulun yurīdu ʾan yaṣuddakum ʿammā kāna yaʿbudu ʾābāʾukum wa-qālū mā hādhā ʾillā ʾifkun muftaran wa-qāla lladhīna kafarū li-l-ḥaqqi lammā jāʾahum ʾin hādhā ʾillā siḥrun mubīnun

When Our manifest signs are recited to them, they say, ‘This is just a man who desires to keep you from what your fathers used to worship.’ And they say, ‘This is nothing but a fabricated lie.’ The faithless say of the truth when it comes to them: ‘This is nothing but plain magic.’

44

وَما آتَيناهُم مِن كُتُبٍ يَدرُسونَها ۖ وَما أَرسَلنا إِلَيهِم قَبلَكَ مِن نَذيرٍ

wa-mā ʾātaynāhum min kutubin yadrusūnahā wa-mā ʾarsalnā ʾilayhim qablaka min nadhīrin

We did not give them1 any scriptures that they might have studied, nor did We send them any warner before you.2That is, the pre-Islamic Arabs.Cf. 36:6.

45

وَكَذَّبَ الَّذينَ مِن قَبلِهِم وَما بَلَغوا مِعشارَ ما آتَيناهُم فَكَذَّبوا رُسُلي ۖ فَكَيفَ كانَ نَكيرِ

wa-kadhdhaba lladhīna min qablihim wa-mā balaghū miʿshāra mā ʾātaynāhum fa-kadhdhabū rusulī fa-kayfa kāna nakīri

Those who were before them denied [the apostles], and these have not received one-tenth1 of what We had given them. But they denied My apostles, so how was My rebuttal!2Or ‘a thousandth.’Or ‘how was my requital.’

46

۞ قُل إِنَّما أَعِظُكُم بِواحِدَةٍ ۖ أَن تَقوموا لِلَّهِ مَثنىٰ وَفُرادىٰ ثُمَّ تَتَفَكَّروا ۚ ما بِصاحِبِكُم مِن جِنَّةٍ ۚ إِن هُوَ إِلّا نَذيرٌ لَكُم بَينَ يَدَي عَذابٍ شَديدٍ

qul ʾinnamā ʾaʿiẓukum bi-wāḥidatin ʾan taqūmū li-llāhi mathnā wa-furādā thumma tatafakkarū mā bi-ṣāḥibikum min jinnatin ʾin huwa ʾillā nadhīrun lakum bayna yaday ʿadhābin shadīdin

Say, ‘I give you just a single advice: that you rise up for Allah’s sake, in twos, or individually, and then reflect: there is no madness in your companion: he is just a warner to you before [the befalling of] a severe punishment.’

47

قُل ما سَأَلتُكُم مِن أَجرٍ فَهُوَ لَكُم ۖ إِن أَجرِيَ إِلّا عَلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَيءٍ شَهيدٌ

qul mā saʾaltukum min ʾajrin fa-huwa lakum ʾin ʾajriya ʾillā ʿalā llāhi wa-huwa ʿalā kulli shayʾin shahīdun

Say, ‘Whatever reward I may have asked you is for your own good. My [true] reward lies only with Allah, and He is witness to all things.’

48

قُل إِنَّ رَبّي يَقذِفُ بِالحَقِّ عَلّامُ الغُيوبِ

qul ʾinna rabbī yaqdhifu bi-l-ḥaqqi ʿallāmu l-ghuyūbi

Say, ‘Indeed my Lord hurls1 the truth. [He is] the knower of all that is Unseen.’Cf. 17:81; 21:18. Or ‘casts the Truth;’ i.e., into the hearts of His envoys.

49

قُل جاءَ الحَقُّ وَما يُبدِئُ الباطِلُ وَما يُعيدُ

qul jāʾa l-ḥaqqu wa-mā yubdiʾu l-bāṭilu wa-mā yuʿīdu

Say, ‘The truth has come, and falsehood neither originates [anything] not does it restore [anything].’

50

قُل إِن ضَلَلتُ فَإِنَّما أَضِلُّ عَلىٰ نَفسي ۖ وَإِنِ اهتَدَيتُ فَبِما يوحي إِلَيَّ رَبّي ۚ إِنَّهُ سَميعٌ قَريبٌ

qul ʾin ḍalaltu fa-ʾinnamā ʾaḍillu ʿalā nafsī wa-ʾini htadaytu fa-bi-mā yūḥī ʾilayya rabbī ʾinnahū samīʿun qarībun

Say, ‘If I go astray, my going astray is only to my own harm, and if I am rightly guided that is because of what my Lord has revealed to me. Indeed He is all-hearing, nearmost.’

51

وَلَو تَرىٰ إِذ فَزِعوا فَلا فَوتَ وَأُخِذوا مِن مَكانٍ قَريبٍ

wa-law tarā ʾidh faziʿū fa-lā fawta wa-ʾukhidhū min makānin qarībin

Were you to see when they are stricken with terror, [and left] without an escape, and are seized from a close quarter.

52

وَقالوا آمَنّا بِهِ وَأَنّىٰ لَهُمُ التَّناوُشُ مِن مَكانٍ بَعيدٍ

wa-qālū ʾāmannā bihī wa-ʾannā lahumu t-tanāwushu min makānin baʿīdin

They will say, ‘We believe in it [now].’ But how can they reach it from a far-off place,

53

وَقَد كَفَروا بِهِ مِن قَبلُ ۖ وَيَقذِفونَ بِالغَيبِ مِن مَكانٍ بَعيدٍ

wa-qad kafarū bihī min qablu wa-yaqdhifūna bi-l-ghaybi min makānin baʿīdin

when they have already disbelieved it earlier? They shoot at the invisible from a far-off place!

54

وَحيلَ بَينَهُم وَبَينَ ما يَشتَهونَ كَما فُعِلَ بِأَشياعِهِم مِن قَبلُ ۚ إِنَّهُم كانوا في شَكٍّ مُريبٍ

wa-ḥīla baynahum wa-bayna mā yashtahūna ka-mā fuʿila bi-ʾashyāʿihim min qablu ʾinnahum kānū fī shakkin murībin

A barrier will be set up between them and what they long for, just as was done formerly with their counterparts. Indeed they used to be in grave doubt.