The surah that opens with the oath of the Divine One swearing by the angels arrayed before Him in devotional ranks, The Ranged Ones—thereafter, by other angels propelling the clouds, dispelling evil, and reciting God’s praise. It takes its name from verse 1, which refers to a gropu of angels as “those ranged (ṣāāt) in ranks”. The central point of this surah is the unity of God (verse 4 and verse 180 .) and the refutation of the pagan belief that the angels were daughters of God and worthy of worship. The angels themselves are quoted to refute this (verse 164 .). The prophethood of Muḥammad, is airmed, as is the Hereafter. There are two supporting sections: the scenes in the Hereafter (verse 19 .) and the stories of earlier prophets (verse 75 .).The surah is also known as: Devotional Ranks, Drawn Up In Ranks, Ranged in Order, Ranged in Rows, The Rangers, The Ranks, Those Ranged in Ranks, Those in Ranks, Who Stand Arrayed in Rows.
1
وَالصّافّاتِ صَفًّا
wa-ṣ-ṣāffāti ṣaffan
By the [angels] ranged in ranks,
2
فَالزّاجِراتِ زَجرًا
fa-z-zājirāti zajran
by the ones who drive vigorously,1Or ‘hold back forcibly,’ or ‘scold severely.’ Said to refer to angels who drive the clouds, or hold back (or drive away) the eavesdropping devils, or to angels (or verses of the Qurʾān) that restrain people from sins.
3
فَالتّالِياتِ ذِكرًا
fa-t-tāliyāti dhikran
by the ones who recite the reminder:1That is, the faithful, or the angels, who recite the Qurʾān or the scriptures.
4
إِنَّ إِلٰهَكُم لَواحِدٌ
ʾinna ʾilāhakum la-wāḥidun
indeed your God is certainly One,
5
رَبُّ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ وَما بَينَهُما وَرَبُّ المَشارِقِ
rabbu s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-mā baynahumā wa-rabbu l-mashāriqi
the Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and the Lord of the easts.1That is, the points of sunrise at the winter and summer solstices. Cf. 7:137; 55:17; 70:40.
6
إِنّا زَيَّنَّا السَّماءَ الدُّنيا بِزينَةٍ الكَواكِبِ
ʾinnā zayyannā s-samāʾa d-dunyā bi-zīnatin-i l-kawākibi
Indeed We have adorned the lowest heaven1 with the finery of the stars,2Or ‘the heaven of the earth,’ or ‘the nearest heaven.’Or ‘We have adorned the nearest heaven with an adornment, the stars.’
7
وَحِفظًا مِن كُلِّ شَيطانٍ مارِدٍ
wa-ḥifẓan min kulli shayṭānin māridin
and to guard from any froward devil.
8
لا يَسَّمَّعونَ إِلَى المَلَإِ الأَعلىٰ وَيُقذَفونَ مِن كُلِّ جانِبٍ
lā yassammaʿūna ʾilā l-malaʾi l-ʾaʿlā wa-yuqdhafūna min kulli jānibin
They do not eavesdrop on the Supernal Elite but are shot at from every side,
9
دُحورًا ۖ وَلَهُم عَذابٌ واصِبٌ
duḥūran wa-lahum ʿadhābun wāṣibun
to drive them away, and for them there is a constant mortification,
10
إِلّا مَن خَطِفَ الخَطفَةَ فَأَتبَعَهُ شِهابٌ ثاقِبٌ
ʾillā man khaṭifa l-khaṭfata fa-ʾatbaʿahū shihābun thāqibun
except him who snatches a snatch,1 whereat there pursues him a piercing flame.2That is, of celestial intelligence. See Ṭabarī for several related traditions from the Prophet (ṣ).Cf. 15:17-18.
11
فَاستَفتِهِم أَهُم أَشَدُّ خَلقًا أَم مَن خَلَقنا ۚ إِنّا خَلَقناهُم مِن طينٍ لازِبٍ
fa-staftihim ʾa-hum ʾashaddu khalqan ʾam man khalaqnā ʾinnā khalaqnāhum min ṭīnin lāzibin
Ask them, is their creation more prodigious1 or [that of other creatures] that We have created? Indeed We created them from a viscous clay.Or ‘more tough’ (or strong), or ‘more difficult.’ Cf. 79:27.
12
بَل عَجِبتَ وَيَسخَرونَ
bal ʿajibta wa-yaskharūna
Indeed you wonder, while they engage in ridicule,
13
وَإِذا ذُكِّروا لا يَذكُرونَ
wa-ʾidhā dhukkirū lā yadhkurūna
and [even] when admonished do not take admonition,
14
وَإِذا رَأَوا آيَةً يَستَسخِرونَ
wa-ʾidhā raʾaw ʾāyatan yastaskhirūna
and when they see a sign they make it an object of ridicule,
15
وَقالوا إِن هٰذا إِلّا سِحرٌ مُبينٌ
wa-qālū ʾin hādhā ʾillā siḥrun mubīnun
and say, ‘This is nothing but plain magic!’
16
أَإِذا مِتنا وَكُنّا تُرابًا وَعِظامًا أَإِنّا لَمَبعوثونَ
ʾa-ʾidhā mitnā wa-kunnā turāban wa-ʿiẓāman ʾa-ʾinnā la-mabʿūthūna
‘What! When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we be resurrected?
17
أَوَآباؤُنَا الأَوَّلونَ
ʾa-wa-ʾābāʾunā l-ʾawwalūna
And our forefathers too?!’
18
قُل نَعَم وَأَنتُم داخِرونَ
qul naʿam wa-ʾantum dākhirūna
Say, ‘Yes! And you will be utterly humble.’
19
فَإِنَّما هِيَ زَجرَةٌ واحِدَةٌ فَإِذا هُم يَنظُرونَ
fa-ʾinnamā hiya zajratun wāḥidatun fa-ʾidhā hum yanẓurūna
It will be only a single shout and, behold, they will look on,
20
وَقالوا يا وَيلَنا هٰذا يَومُ الدّينِ
wa-qālū yā-waylanā hādhā yawmu d-dīni
and say, ‘Woe to us! This is the Day of Retribution!’
21
هٰذا يَومُ الفَصلِ الَّذي كُنتُم بِهِ تُكَذِّبونَ
hādhā yawmu l-faṣli lladhī kuntum bihī tukadhdhibūna
‘This is the Day of Judgement that you used to deny!’
22
۞ احشُرُوا الَّذينَ ظَلَموا وَأَزواجَهُم وَما كانوا يَعبُدونَ
uḥshurū lladhīna ẓalamū wa-ʾazwājahum wa-mā kānū yaʿbudūna
‘Muster the wrongdoers and their mates1 and what they used to worshipOr ‘their kind,’ or ‘their counterparts.’
23
مِن دونِ اللَّهِ فَاهدوهُم إِلىٰ صِراطِ الجَحيمِ
min dūni llāhi fa-hdūhum ʾilā ṣirāṭi l-jaḥīmi
besides Allah, and show them the way to hell!
24
وَقِفوهُم ۖ إِنَّهُم مَسئولونَ
wa-qifūhum ʾinnahum masʾūlūna
[But first] stop them! For they must be questioned.’
25
ما لَكُم لا تَناصَرونَ
mā lakum lā tanāṣarūna
‘Why is it that you do not support1 one another [today]?’Or ‘help.’
26
بَل هُمُ اليَومَ مُستَسلِمونَ
bal humu l-yawma mustaslimūna
Rather today they are [meek and] submissive!
27
وَأَقبَلَ بَعضُهُم عَلىٰ بَعضٍ يَتَساءَلونَ
wa-ʾaqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatasāʾalūna
Some of them will turn to others, questioning each other.
28
قالوا إِنَّكُم كُنتُم تَأتونَنا عَنِ اليَمينِ
qālū ʾinnakum kuntum taʾtūnanā ʿani l-yamīni
They will say, ‘Indeed you used to accost us peremptorily.’1Or ‘obligingly.’
29
قالوا بَل لَم تَكونوا مُؤمِنينَ
qālū bal lam takūnū muʾminīna
They will answer, ‘Rather you [yourselves] had no faith.
30
وَما كانَ لَنا عَلَيكُم مِن سُلطانٍ ۖ بَل كُنتُم قَومًا طاغينَ
wa-mā kāna lanā ʿalaykum min sulṭānin bal kuntum qawman ṭāghīna
We had no authority over you. Rather you [yourselves] were a rebellious lot.
31
فَحَقَّ عَلَينا قَولُ رَبِّنا ۖ إِنّا لَذائِقونَ
fa-ḥaqqa ʿalaynā qawlu rabbinā ʾinnā la-dhāʾiqūna
So our Lord’s word became due against us that we shall indeed taste [the punishment].
32
فَأَغوَيناكُم إِنّا كُنّا غاوينَ
fa-ʾaghwaynākum ʾinnā kunnā ghāwīna
So we perverted you, for we were perverse [ourselves].’
33
فَإِنَّهُم يَومَئِذٍ فِي العَذابِ مُشتَرِكونَ
fa-ʾinnahum yawmaʾidhin fī l-ʿadhābi mushtarikūna
So that day they will share in the punishment.
34
إِنّا كَذٰلِكَ نَفعَلُ بِالمُجرِمينَ
ʾinnā ka-dhālika nafʿalu bi-l-mujrimīna
Indeed that is how We deal with the guilty.
35
إِنَّهُم كانوا إِذا قيلَ لَهُم لا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ يَستَكبِرونَ
ʾinnahum kānū ʾidhā qīla lahum lā ʾilāha ʾillā llāhu yastakbirūna
Indeed it was they who, when they were told, ‘There is no god except Allah,’ used to be disdainful,
36
وَيَقولونَ أَئِنّا لَتارِكو آلِهَتِنا لِشاعِرٍ مَجنونٍ
wa-yaqūlūna ʾa-ʾinnā la-tārikū ʾālihatinā li-shāʿirin majnūnin
and [they would] say, ‘Shall we abandon our gods for a crazy poet?’
37
بَل جاءَ بِالحَقِّ وَصَدَّقَ المُرسَلينَ
bal jāʾa bi-l-ḥaqqi wa-ṣaddaqa l-mursalīna
Rather he has brought [them] the truth, and confirmed the [earlier] apostles.
38
إِنَّكُم لَذائِقُو العَذابِ الأَليمِ
ʾinnakum la-dhāʾiqū l-ʿadhābi l-ʾalīmi
Indeed you will taste the painful punishment,
39
وَما تُجزَونَ إِلّا ما كُنتُم تَعمَلونَ
wa-mā tujzawna ʾillā mā kuntum taʿmalūna
and you will be requited only for what you used to do
40
إِلّا عِبادَ اللَّهِ المُخلَصينَ
ʾillā ʿibāda llāhi l-mukhlaṣīna
—[all] except Allah’s exclusive servants.
41
أُولٰئِكَ لَهُم رِزقٌ مَعلومٌ
ʾulāʾika lahum rizqun maʿlūmun
For such there is a known1 provisionThat is, distinct and special.
42
فَواكِهُ ۖ وَهُم مُكرَمونَ
fawākihu wa-hum mukramūna
—fruits—and they will be held in honour,
43
في جَنّاتِ النَّعيمِ
fī jannāti n-naʿīmi
in the gardens of bliss,
44
عَلىٰ سُرُرٍ مُتَقابِلينَ
ʿalā sururin mutaqābilīna
[reclining] on couches, facing one another,
45
يُطافُ عَلَيهِم بِكَأسٍ مِن مَعينٍ
yuṭāfu ʿalayhim bi-kaʾsin min maʿīnin
served around with a cup from a clear fountain,
46
بَيضاءَ لَذَّةٍ لِلشّارِبينَ
bayḍāʾa ladhdhatin li-sh-shāribīna
snow-white, delicious to the drinkers,
47
لا فيها غَولٌ وَلا هُم عَنها يُنزَفونَ
lā fīhā ghawlun wa-lā hum ʿanhā yunzafūna
wherein there will be neither headache nor will it cause them stupefaction,
48
وَعِندَهُم قاصِراتُ الطَّرفِ عينٌ
wa-ʿindahum qāṣirātu ṭ-ṭarfi ʿīnun
and with them will be maidens of restrained glances with big [beautiful] eyes,
49
كَأَنَّهُنَّ بَيضٌ مَكنونٌ
ka-ʾannahunna bayḍun maknūnun
as if they were hidden1 ostrich eggs.That is, well reserved.
50
فَأَقبَلَ بَعضُهُم عَلىٰ بَعضٍ يَتَساءَلونَ
fa-ʾaqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatasāʾalūna
Some of them will turn to others, questioning each other.
51
قالَ قائِلٌ مِنهُم إِنّي كانَ لي قَرينٌ
qāla qāʾilun minhum ʾinnī kāna lī qarīnun
One of them will say, ‘Indeed I had a companion
52
يَقولُ أَإِنَّكَ لَمِنَ المُصَدِّقينَ
yaqūlu ʾa-ʾinnaka la-mina l-muṣaddiqīna
who used to say, “Are you really among those who affirm
53
أَإِذا مِتنا وَكُنّا تُرابًا وَعِظامًا أَإِنّا لَمَدينونَ
ʾa-ʾidhā mitnā wa-kunnā turāban wa-ʿiẓāman ʾa-ʾinnā la-madīnūna
[that] when we are dead and have become dust and bones, we shall indeed be brought to retribution?” ’
54
قالَ هَل أَنتُم مُطَّلِعونَ
qāla hal ʾantum muṭṭaliʿūna
He1 will say, ‘Will you have a look?’That is, one of his companions in paradise.
55
فَاطَّلَعَ فَرَآهُ في سَواءِ الجَحيمِ
fa-ṭṭalaʿa fa-raʾāhu fī sawāʾi l-jaḥīmi
Then he will take a look and sight him in the middle of hell.
56
قالَ تَاللَّهِ إِن كِدتَ لَتُردينِ
qāla ta-llāhi ʾin kidta la-turdīni
He will say, ‘By Allah, you had almost ruined me!
57
وَلَولا نِعمَةُ رَبّي لَكُنتُ مِنَ المُحضَرينَ
wa-law-lā niʿmatu rabbī la-kuntu mina l-muḥḍarīna
And had it not been for my Lord’s blessing, I too would have been among the arraigned!’
58
أَفَما نَحنُ بِمَيِّتينَ
ʾa-fa-mā naḥnu bi-mayyitīna
‘Is it [true] that we shall not die [anymore],
59
إِلّا مَوتَتَنَا الأولىٰ وَما نَحنُ بِمُعَذَّبينَ
ʾillā mawtatanā l-ʾūlā wa-mā naḥnu bi-muʿadhdhabīna
aside from our first death, and that we shall not be punished?
60
إِنَّ هٰذا لَهُوَ الفَوزُ العَظيمُ
ʾinna hādhā la-huwa l-fawzu l-ʿaẓīmu
This is indeed the great success!
61
لِمِثلِ هٰذا فَليَعمَلِ العامِلونَ
li-mithli hādhā fa-l-yaʿmali l-ʿāmilūna
Let all the workers work for the like of this!’
62
أَذٰلِكَ خَيرٌ نُزُلًا أَم شَجَرَةُ الزَّقّومِ
ʾa-dhālika khayrun nuzulan ʾam shajaratu z-zaqqūmi
Is this a better hospitality, or the Zaqqūm tree?
63
إِنّا جَعَلناها فِتنَةً لِلظّالِمينَ
ʾinnā jaʿalnāhā fitnatan li-ẓ-ẓālimīna
Indeed We have made it a punishment for the wrongdoers.
64
إِنَّها شَجَرَةٌ تَخرُجُ في أَصلِ الجَحيمِ
ʾinnahā shajaratun takhruju fī ʾaṣli l-jaḥīmi
Indeed it is a tree that emerges from the depths of hell.
65
طَلعُها كَأَنَّهُ رُءوسُ الشَّياطينِ
ṭalʿuhā ka-ʾannahū ruʾūsu sh-shayāṭīni
Its spathes are as if they were devils’ heads.1‘The devil’s head’ is either a purely imaginative metaphor, or a simile that likens the spathes of the Zaqqūm tree to that of an Arabian plant by this name, or to certain rocks to be found around the city of Makkah which were called ‘the devils’ heads’ because of their hideous appearance.
66
فَإِنَّهُم لَآكِلونَ مِنها فَمالِئونَ مِنهَا البُطونَ
fa-ʾinnahum la-ʾākilūna minhā fa-māliʾūna minhā l-buṭūna
Indeed they will eat from it and gorge with it their bellies.
67
ثُمَّ إِنَّ لَهُم عَلَيها لَشَوبًا مِن حَميمٍ
thumma ʾinna lahum ʿalayhā la-shawban min ḥamīmin
Indeed, on top of that they will take a solution of scalding water.
68
ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَرجِعَهُم لَإِلَى الجَحيمِ
thumma ʾinna marjiʿahum la-ʾilā l-jaḥīmi
Then indeed their retreat will be toward hell.
69
إِنَّهُم أَلفَوا آباءَهُم ضالّينَ
ʾinnahum ʾalfaw ʾābāʾahum ḍāllīna
Indeed they had found their fathers astray,
70
فَهُم عَلىٰ آثارِهِم يُهرَعونَ
fa-hum ʿalā ʾāthārihim yuhraʿūna
yet they press on in their footsteps.
71
وَلَقَد ضَلَّ قَبلَهُم أَكثَرُ الأَوَّلينَ
wa-la-qad ḍalla qablahum ʾaktharu l-ʾawwalīna
Certainly most of the ancients went astray before them,
72
وَلَقَد أَرسَلنا فيهِم مُنذِرينَ
wa-la-qad ʾarsalnā fīhim mundhirīna
and certainly We had sent warners among them.
73
فَانظُر كَيفَ كانَ عاقِبَةُ المُنذَرينَ
fa-nẓur kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu l-mundharīna
So observe how was the fate of those who were warned
74
إِلّا عِبادَ اللَّهِ المُخلَصينَ
ʾillā ʿibāda llāhi l-mukhlaṣīna
—[all] except Allah’s exclusive servants!
75
وَلَقَد نادانا نوحٌ فَلَنِعمَ المُجيبونَ
wa-la-qad nādānā nūḥun fa-la-niʿma l-mujībūna
Certainly Noah called out to Us, and how well We responded!
76
وَنَجَّيناهُ وَأَهلَهُ مِنَ الكَربِ العَظيمِ
wa-najjaynāhu wa-ʾahlahū mina l-karbi l-ʿaẓīmi
We delivered him and his family from the great agony,
77
وَجَعَلنا ذُرِّيَّتَهُ هُمُ الباقينَ
wa-jaʿalnā dhurriyyatahū humu l-bāqīna
and made his descendants the survivors,
78
وَتَرَكنا عَلَيهِ فِي الآخِرينَ
wa-taraknā ʿalayhi fī l-ʾākhirīna
and left for him a good name among posterity:
79
سَلامٌ عَلىٰ نوحٍ فِي العالَمينَ
salāmun ʿalā nūḥin fī l-ʿālamīna
‘Peace to Noah, throughout the nations!’
80
إِنّا كَذٰلِكَ نَجزِي المُحسِنينَ
ʾinnā ka-dhālika najzī l-muḥsinīna
Thus indeed do We reward the virtuous.
81
إِنَّهُ مِن عِبادِنَا المُؤمِنينَ
ʾinnahū min ʿibādinā l-muʾminīna
He is indeed one of Our faithful servants.
82
ثُمَّ أَغرَقنَا الآخَرينَ
thumma ʾaghraqnā l-ʾākharīna
Then We drowned the others.
83
۞ وَإِنَّ مِن شيعَتِهِ لَإِبراهيمَ
wa-ʾinna min shīʿatihī la-ʾibrāhīma
Indeed Abraham was among his followers,
84
إِذ جاءَ رَبَّهُ بِقَلبٍ سَليمٍ
ʾidh jāʾa rabbahū bi-qalbin salīmin
when he came to his Lord with a sound heart,1Cf. 26:89.
85
إِذ قالَ لِأَبيهِ وَقَومِهِ ماذا تَعبُدونَ
ʾidh qāla li-ʾabīhi wa-qawmihī mādhā taʿbudūna
when he said to his father and his people, ‘What is it that you are worshiping?
86
أَئِفكًا آلِهَةً دونَ اللَّهِ تُريدونَ
ʾa-ʾifkan ʾālihatan dūna llāhi turīdūna
Is it a lie, gods other than Allah, that you desire?
87
فَما ظَنُّكُم بِرَبِّ العالَمينَ
fa-mā ẓannukum bi-rabbi l-ʿālamīna
Then what is your idea about the Lord of all the worlds?’
88
فَنَظَرَ نَظرَةً فِي النُّجومِ
fa-naẓara naẓratan fī n-nujūmi
Then he made an observation of the stars1Or ‘threw a look at the stars.’
89
فَقالَ إِنّي سَقيمٌ
fa-qāla ʾinnī saqīmun
and said, ‘Indeed I am sick!’
90
فَتَوَلَّوا عَنهُ مُدبِرينَ
fa-tawallaw ʿanhu mudbirīna
So they went away leaving him behind.
91
فَراغَ إِلىٰ آلِهَتِهِم فَقالَ أَلا تَأكُلونَ
fa-rāgha ʾilā ʾālihatihim fa-qāla ʾa-lā taʾkulūna
Then he stole away to their gods and said, ‘Will you not eat?
92
ما لَكُم لا تَنطِقونَ
mā lakum lā tanṭiqūna
Why do you not speak?’
93
فَراغَ عَلَيهِم ضَربًا بِاليَمينِ
fa-rāgha ʿalayhim ḍarban bi-l-yamīni
Then he attacked them, striking forcefully.
94
فَأَقبَلوا إِلَيهِ يَزِفّونَ
fa-ʾaqbalū ʾilayhi yaziffūna
They came running towards him.
95
قالَ أَتَعبُدونَ ما تَنحِتونَ
qāla ʾa-taʿbudūna mā tanḥitūna
He said, ‘Do you worship what you have yourselves carved,
96
وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُم وَما تَعمَلونَ
wa-llāhu khalaqakum wa-mā taʿmalūna
when Allah has created you and whatever you make?’
97
قالُوا ابنوا لَهُ بُنيانًا فَأَلقوهُ فِي الجَحيمِ
qālū bnū lahū bunyānan fa-ʾalqūhu fī l-jaḥīmi
They said, ‘Build a structure for him and cast him into a huge fire.’
98
فَأَرادوا بِهِ كَيدًا فَجَعَلناهُمُ الأَسفَلينَ
fa-ʾarādū bihī kaydan fa-jaʿalnāhumu l-ʾasfalīna
So they sought to outwit him, but We made them the lowermost.
99
وَقالَ إِنّي ذاهِبٌ إِلىٰ رَبّي سَيَهدينِ
wa-qāla ʾinnī dhāhibun ʾilā rabbī sa-yahdīni
He said, ‘Indeed I am going toward my Lord, who will guide me.’
100
رَبِّ هَب لي مِنَ الصّالِحينَ
rabbi hab lī mina ṣ-ṣāliḥīna
‘My Lord! Give me [an heir], one of the righteous.’
101
فَبَشَّرناهُ بِغُلامٍ حَليمٍ
fa-bashsharnāhu bi-ghulāmin ḥalīmin
So We gave him the good news of a forbearing son.1That is, Ishmael, who was Abraham’s first born. That it was Ishmael to whom the following episode of the sacrifice pertains is also supported by the fact that verses pertaining to the birth of Isaac follow the account of Ishmael’s sacrifice.
102
فَلَمّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعيَ قالَ يا بُنَيَّ إِنّي أَرىٰ فِي المَنامِ أَنّي أَذبَحُكَ فَانظُر ماذا تَرىٰ ۚ قالَ يا أَبَتِ افعَل ما تُؤمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُني إِن شاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصّابِرينَ
fa-lammā balagha maʿahu s-saʿya qāla yā-bunayya ʾinnī ʾarā fī l-manāmi ʾannī ʾadhbaḥuka fa-nẓur mādhā tarā qāla yā-ʾabati fʿal mā tuʾmaru sa-tajidunī ʾin shāʾa llāhu mina ṣ-ṣābirīna
When he was old enough to assist in his endeavour, he said, ‘My son! I see in a dream that I am sacrificing you. See what you think.’ He said, ‘Father! Do whatever you have been commanded. If Allah wishes, you will find me to be patient.’
103
فَلَمّا أَسلَما وَتَلَّهُ لِلجَبينِ
fa-lammā ʾaslamā wa-tallahū li-l-jabīni
So when they had both submitted [to Allah’s will], and he had laid him down on his forehead,
104
وَنادَيناهُ أَن يا إِبراهيمُ
wa-nādaynāhu ʾan yā-ʾibrāhīmu
We called out to him, ‘O Abraham!
105
قَد صَدَّقتَ الرُّؤيا ۚ إِنّا كَذٰلِكَ نَجزِي المُحسِنينَ
qad ṣaddaqta r-ruʾyā ʾinnā ka-dhālika najzī l-muḥsinīna
You have indeed fulfilled the vision!1 Thus indeed do We reward the virtuous!Or ‘dream.’
106
إِنَّ هٰذا لَهُوَ البَلاءُ المُبينُ
ʾinna hādhā la-huwa l-balāʾu l-mubīnu
This was indeed a manifest test.’
107
وَفَدَيناهُ بِذِبحٍ عَظيمٍ
wa-fadaynāhu bi-dhibḥin ʿaẓīmin
Then We ransomed him with a great sacrifice,
108
وَتَرَكنا عَلَيهِ فِي الآخِرينَ
wa-taraknā ʿalayhi fī l-ʾākhirīna
and left for him a good name in posterity:
109
سَلامٌ عَلىٰ إِبراهيمَ
salāmun ʿalā ʾibrāhīma
‘Peace be to Abraham!’
110
كَذٰلِكَ نَجزِي المُحسِنينَ
ka-dhālika najzī l-muḥsinīna
Thus do We reward the virtuous.
111
إِنَّهُ مِن عِبادِنَا المُؤمِنينَ
ʾinnahū min ʿibādinā l-muʾminīna
He is indeed one of Our faithful servants.
112
وَبَشَّرناهُ بِإِسحاقَ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الصّالِحينَ
wa-bashsharnāhu bi-ʾisḥāqa nabiyyan mina ṣ-ṣāliḥīna
And We gave him the good news of [the birth of] Isaac, a prophet, one of the righteous.
113
وَبارَكنا عَلَيهِ وَعَلىٰ إِسحاقَ ۚ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِما مُحسِنٌ وَظالِمٌ لِنَفسِهِ مُبينٌ
wa-bāraknā ʿalayhi wa-ʿalā ʾisḥāqa wa-min dhurriyyatihimā muḥsinun wa-ẓālimun li-nafsihī mubīnun
And We blessed him and Isaac. Among their descendants [some] are virtuous, and [some] who manifestly wrong themselves.
114
وَلَقَد مَنَنّا عَلىٰ موسىٰ وَهارونَ
wa-la-qad manannā ʿalā mūsā wa-hārūna
Certainly We favoured Moses and Aaron,
115
وَنَجَّيناهُما وَقَومَهُما مِنَ الكَربِ العَظيمِ
wa-najjaynāhumā wa-qawmahumā mina l-karbi l-ʿaẓīmi
and delivered them and their people from the great agony,
116
وَنَصَرناهُم فَكانوا هُمُ الغالِبينَ
wa-naṣarnāhum fa-kānū humu l-ghālibīna
and We helped them so that they became the victors.
117
وَآتَيناهُمَا الكِتابَ المُستَبينَ
wa-ʾātaynāhumā l-kitāba l-mustabīna
We gave them the illuminating scripture
118
وَهَدَيناهُمَا الصِّراطَ المُستَقيمَ
wa-hadaynāhumā ṣ-ṣirāṭa l-mustaqīma
and guided them to the straight path,
119
وَتَرَكنا عَلَيهِما فِي الآخِرينَ
wa-taraknā ʿalayhimā fī l-ʾākhirīna
and left for them a good name in posterity.
120
سَلامٌ عَلىٰ موسىٰ وَهارونَ
salāmun ʿalā mūsā wa-hārūna
‘Peace be to Moses and Aaron!’
121
إِنّا كَذٰلِكَ نَجزِي المُحسِنينَ
ʾinnā ka-dhālika najzī l-muḥsinīna
Thus indeed do We reward the virtuous.
122
إِنَّهُما مِن عِبادِنَا المُؤمِنينَ
ʾinnahumā min ʿibādinā l-muʾminīna
They are indeed among Our faithful servants.
123
وَإِنَّ إِلياسَ لَمِنَ المُرسَلينَ
wa-ʾinna ʾilyāsa la-mina l-mursalīna
And indeed Ilyās was one of the apostles,
124
إِذ قالَ لِقَومِهِ أَلا تَتَّقونَ
ʾidh qāla li-qawmihī ʾa-lā tattaqūna
when he said to his people, ‘Will you not be Godwary?
125
أَتَدعونَ بَعلًا وَتَذَرونَ أَحسَنَ الخالِقينَ
ʾa-tadʿūna baʿlan wa-tadharūna ʾaḥsana l-khāliqīna
Do you invoke Baal and abandon the best of creators,
126
اللَّهَ رَبَّكُم وَرَبَّ آبائِكُمُ الأَوَّلينَ
allāha rabbakum wa-rabba ʾābāʾikumu l-ʾawwalīna
Allah, your Lord and Lord of your forefathers?’
127
فَكَذَّبوهُ فَإِنَّهُم لَمُحضَرونَ
fa-kadhdhabūhu fa-ʾinnahum la-muḥḍarūna
But they impugned him. So they will indeed be arraigned [before Him]
128
إِلّا عِبادَ اللَّهِ المُخلَصينَ
ʾillā ʿibāda llāhi l-mukhlaṣīna
—[all] except Allah’s exclusive servants.
129
وَتَرَكنا عَلَيهِ فِي الآخِرينَ
wa-taraknā ʿalayhi fī l-ʾākhirīna
We left for him a good name in posterity.
130
سَلامٌ عَلىٰ إِل ياسينَ
salāmun ʿalā ʾil yāsīna
‘Peace be to Ilyās!’1In accordance with an alternate reading (salāmun ʿalā Āl-i Yā Sīn), narrated from Nāfiʿ, Ibn ʿĀmir, Yaʿqūb, Ruways, al-Aʿraj, Shaybah, Zayd ibn ʿAlī and others (see Muʿjam al-Qirāʾāt al-Qurʾāniyyah, vol. 5, p. 246), the translation will be ‘Peace be upon the progeny of Yā Sīn’ (i.e. the Prophet, who is referred to as Yā Sīn in 36:1). Traditions narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās (al-Durr al-Manthūr, vol. 5, p. 286), Imam Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq (Maʿānī al-Akhbār, p. 122) and Imam ʿAlī ibn Mūsā al-Riḍā (ʿUyūn Akhbār al-Riḍā, vol. 1, p.237) also support this reading.
131
إِنّا كَذٰلِكَ نَجزِي المُحسِنينَ
ʾinnā ka-dhālika najzī l-muḥsinīna
Thus indeed do We reward the virtuous.
132
إِنَّهُ مِن عِبادِنَا المُؤمِنينَ
ʾinnahū min ʿibādinā l-muʾminīna
He is indeed one of Our faithful servants.
133
وَإِنَّ لوطًا لَمِنَ المُرسَلينَ
wa-ʾinna lūṭan la-mina l-mursalīna
And indeed Lot was one of the apostles,
134
إِذ نَجَّيناهُ وَأَهلَهُ أَجمَعينَ
ʾidh najjaynāhu wa-ʾahlahū ʾajmaʿīna
when We delivered him and all his family,
135
إِلّا عَجوزًا فِي الغابِرينَ
ʾillā ʿajūzan fī l-ghābirīna
except an old woman among those who remained behind.
136
ثُمَّ دَمَّرنَا الآخَرينَ
thumma dammarnā l-ʾākharīna
Then We destroyed [all] the others.
137
وَإِنَّكُم لَتَمُرّونَ عَلَيهِم مُصبِحينَ
wa-ʾinnakum la-tamurrūna ʿalayhim muṣbiḥīna
And indeed you pass by them at dawn
138
وَبِاللَّيلِ ۗ أَفَلا تَعقِلونَ
wa-bi-l-layli ʾa-fa-lā taʿqilūna
and at night. So do you not apply reason?
139
وَإِنَّ يونُسَ لَمِنَ المُرسَلينَ
wa-ʾinna yūnusa la-mina l-mursalīna
And indeed Jonah was one of the apostles,
140
إِذ أَبَقَ إِلَى الفُلكِ المَشحونِ
ʾidh ʾabaqa ʾilā l-fulki l-mashḥūni
when he absconded toward the laden ship.
141
فَساهَمَ فَكانَ مِنَ المُدحَضينَ
fa-sāhama fa-kāna mina l-mudḥaḍīna
Then he drew lots with them and he was the one to be refuted.
142
فَالتَقَمَهُ الحوتُ وَهُوَ مُليمٌ
fa-ltaqamahu l-ḥūtu wa-huwa mulīmun
Then the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy.
143
فَلَولا أَنَّهُ كانَ مِنَ المُسَبِّحينَ
fa-law-lā ʾannahū kāna mina l-musabbiḥīna
And had he not been one of those who celebrate Allah’s glory,
144
لَلَبِثَ في بَطنِهِ إِلىٰ يَومِ يُبعَثونَ
la-labitha fī baṭnihī ʾilā yawmi yubʿathūna
he would have surely remained in its belly till the day they will be resurrected.
145
۞ فَنَبَذناهُ بِالعَراءِ وَهُوَ سَقيمٌ
fa-nabadhnāhu bi-l-ʿarāʾi wa-huwa saqīmun
Then We cast him on a bare shore, and he was sick.
146
وَأَنبَتنا عَلَيهِ شَجَرَةً مِن يَقطينٍ
wa-ʾanbatnā ʿalayhi shajaratan min yaqṭīnin
So We made a gourd plant grow above him.
147
وَأَرسَلناهُ إِلىٰ مِائَةِ أَلفٍ أَو يَزيدونَ
wa-ʾarsalnāhu ʾilā miʾati ʾalfin ʾaw yazīdūna
We sent him to a [community of] hundred thousand or more,
148
فَآمَنوا فَمَتَّعناهُم إِلىٰ حينٍ
fa-ʾāmanū fa-mattaʿnāhum ʾilā ḥīnin
and they believed [in him]. So We provided for them for a while.
149
فَاستَفتِهِم أَلِرَبِّكَ البَناتُ وَلَهُمُ البَنونَ
fa-staftihim ʾa-li-rabbika l-banātu wa-lahumu l-banūna
Ask them, are daughters to be for your Lord while sons are to be for them?1Cf. 6:100; 16:57; 17:40; 43:16; 52:39.
150
أَم خَلَقنَا المَلائِكَةَ إِناثًا وَهُم شاهِدونَ
ʾam khalaqnā l-malāʾikata ʾināthan wa-hum shāhidūna
Did We create the angels females while they were present?1Or ‘while they were witnesses.’
151
أَلا إِنَّهُم مِن إِفكِهِم لَيَقولونَ
ʾa-lā ʾinnahum min ʾifkihim la-yaqūlūna
Look! It is indeed out of their mendacity that they say,
152
وَلَدَ اللَّهُ وَإِنَّهُم لَكاذِبونَ
walada llāhu wa-ʾinnahum la-kādhibūna
‘Allah has begotten,’ and they indeed speak a falsehood.
153
أَصطَفَى البَناتِ عَلَى البَنينَ
ʾa-ṣṭafā l-banāti ʿalā l-banīna
Has he preferred daughters to sons?
154
ما لَكُم كَيفَ تَحكُمونَ
mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūna
What is the matter with you? How do you judge?
155
أَفَلا تَذَكَّرونَ
ʾa-fa-lā tadhakkarūna
Will you not then take admonition?
156
أَم لَكُم سُلطانٌ مُبينٌ
ʾam lakum sulṭānun mubīnun
Do you have a manifest authority?1That is, in support of what they assert.
157
فَأتوا بِكِتابِكُم إِن كُنتُم صادِقينَ
fa-ʾtū bi-kitābikum ʾin kuntum ṣādiqīna
Then produce your scripture, should you be truthful.
158
وَجَعَلوا بَينَهُ وَبَينَ الجِنَّةِ نَسَبًا ۚ وَلَقَد عَلِمَتِ الجِنَّةُ إِنَّهُم لَمُحضَرونَ
wa-jaʿalū baynahū wa-bayna l-jinnati nasaban wa-la-qad ʿalimati l-jinnatu ʾinnahum la-muḥḍarūna
And they have set up a kinship between Him and the jinn, while the jinn certainly know that they will indeed be presented [before Him].
159
سُبحانَ اللَّهِ عَمّا يَصِفونَ
subḥāna llāhi ʿammā yaṣifūna
Clear is Allah of whatever they allege [about Him],
160
إِلّا عِبادَ اللَّهِ المُخلَصينَ
ʾillā ʿibāda llāhi l-mukhlaṣīna
—[all] except Allah’s exclusive servants.
161
فَإِنَّكُم وَما تَعبُدونَ
fa-ʾinnakum wa-mā taʿbudūna
Indeed you and what you worship
162
ما أَنتُم عَلَيهِ بِفاتِنينَ
mā ʾantum ʿalayhi bi-fātinīna
—you cannot mislead [anyone] about Him,
163
إِلّا مَن هُوَ صالِ الجَحيمِ
ʾillā man huwa ṣāli l-jaḥīmi
except someone who is bound for hell.
164
وَما مِنّا إِلّا لَهُ مَقامٌ مَعلومٌ
wa-mā minnā ʾillā lahū maqāmun maʿlūmun
‘There is none among us but has a known place.1Verses 164-166 quote the words of the angels referred to in verse 1.
165
وَإِنّا لَنَحنُ الصّافّونَ
wa-ʾinnā la-naḥnu ṣ-ṣāffūna
Indeed it is we who are the ranged ones .
166
وَإِنّا لَنَحنُ المُسَبِّحونَ
wa-ʾinnā la-naḥnu l-musabbiḥūna
Indeed it is we who are those who celebrate Allah’s glory.’
167
وَإِن كانوا لَيَقولونَ
wa-ʾin kānū la-yaqūlūna
Indeed they1 used to say,That is, the pagans of Makkah.
168
لَو أَنَّ عِندَنا ذِكرًا مِنَ الأَوَّلينَ
law ʾanna ʿindanā dhikran mina l-ʾawwalīna
‘Had we possessed a reminder from the ancients,
169
لَكُنّا عِبادَ اللَّهِ المُخلَصينَ
la-kunnā ʿibāda llāhi l-mukhlaṣīna
we would surely have been Allah’s exclusive servants.’
170
فَكَفَروا بِهِ ۖ فَسَوفَ يَعلَمونَ
fa-kafarū bihī fa-sawfa yaʿlamūna
But they disbelieved it [when it came to them]. Soon they will know.
171
وَلَقَد سَبَقَت كَلِمَتُنا لِعِبادِنَا المُرسَلينَ
wa-la-qad sabaqat kalimatunā li-ʿibādinā l-mursalīna
Certainly Our decree has gone beforehand in favour of Our servants, the apostles,
172
إِنَّهُم لَهُمُ المَنصورونَ
ʾinnahum la-humu l-manṣūrūna
that they will indeed receive [Allah’s] help,
173
وَإِنَّ جُندَنا لَهُمُ الغالِبونَ
wa-ʾinna jundanā la-humu l-ghālibūna
and indeed Our hosts will be the victors.
174
فَتَوَلَّ عَنهُم حَتّىٰ حينٍ
fa-tawalla ʿanhum ḥattā ḥīnin
So leave them alone for a while,
175
وَأَبصِرهُم فَسَوفَ يُبصِرونَ
wa-ʾabṣirhum fa-sawfa yubṣirūna
and watch them; soon they will see [the truth of the matter].
176
أَفَبِعَذابِنا يَستَعجِلونَ
ʾa-fa-bi-ʿadhābinā yastaʿjilūna
Do they seek to hasten Our punishment?
177
فَإِذا نَزَلَ بِساحَتِهِم فَساءَ صَباحُ المُنذَرينَ
fa-ʾidhā nazala bi-sāḥatihim fa-sāʾa ṣabāḥu l-mundharīna
But when it descends in their courtyard it will be a dismal dawn for those who had been warned.
178
وَتَوَلَّ عَنهُم حَتّىٰ حينٍ
wa-tawalla ʿanhum ḥattā ḥīnin
So leave them alone for a while,
179
وَأَبصِر فَسَوفَ يُبصِرونَ
wa-ʾabṣir fa-sawfa yubṣirūna
and watch; soon they will see.
180
سُبحانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ العِزَّةِ عَمّا يَصِفونَ
subḥāna rabbika rabbi l-ʿizzati ʿammā yaṣifūna
Clear is your Lord, the Lord of Might, of whatever they allege [concerning Him].
181
وَسَلامٌ عَلَى المُرسَلينَ
wa-salāmun ʿalā l-mursalīna
Peace be to the apostles!
182
وَالحَمدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ العالَمينَ
wa-l-ḥamdu li-llāhi rabbi l-ʿālamīna
All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.