The surah that mentions the Ornaments of solid gold, and other precious commodities and appointments, which God would have granted in this life to all the unbelievers—had it not been that this would have driven humankind to unite in godlessness—for the trinkets of life are the true hearts” desire of the ungodly. Yet fleeting are all the things of this world, and far finer and everlasting the joy of Paradise for the believers; and that is their true hearts” desire. It takes its name from the word “ornaments” (zukhruf) in verse 35, and alluded to again in verse 53: in both instances God is refuting the claim of the disbelievers that a true prophet would be rich. The fact that the angels are not God’s daughters but His obedient servants is emphasized again and again (verse 15 . and verse 60). Similarly, the idea that Jesus could be the son of God is clearly denied (verse 57 .).The surah is also known as: Golden Ornaments, Luxury, Ornaments of Gold, The Gold Adornments, The Gold Ornaments.
1
حم
ḥ-m (ḥā mīm)
Ḥā, Mīm.
2
وَالكِتابِ المُبينِ
wa-l-kitābi l-mubīni
By the Manifest Book:
3
إِنّا جَعَلناهُ قُرآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَعَلَّكُم تَعقِلونَ
ʾinnā jaʿalnāhu qurʾānan ʿarabiyyan laʿallakum taʿqilūna
We have made it an Arabic Qurʾānso that you may apply reason,
4
وَإِنَّهُ في أُمِّ الكِتابِ لَدَينا لَعَلِيٌّ حَكيمٌ
wa-ʾinnahū fī ʾummi l-kitābi ladaynā la-ʿaliyyun ḥakīmun
and indeed it is with Us in the Mother Book[and it is] surely sublime and wise.
5
أَفَنَضرِبُ عَنكُمُ الذِّكرَ صَفحًا أَن كُنتُم قَومًا مُسرِفينَ
ʾa-fa-naḍribu ʿankumu dh-dhikra ṣafḥan ʾan kuntum qawman musrifīna
Shall We withhold the Reminder from youunconcernedly,because you are a profligate lot?
6
وَكَم أَرسَلنا مِن نَبِيٍّ فِي الأَوَّلينَ
wa-kam ʾarsalnā min nabiyyin fī l-ʾawwalīna
How many a prophet We have sentto the ancients!
7
وَما يَأتيهِم مِن نَبِيٍّ إِلّا كانوا بِهِ يَستَهزِئونَ
wa-mā yaʾtīhim min nabiyyin ʾillā kānū bihī yastahziʾūna
There did not come to them any prophetbut that they used to deride him.
8
فَأَهلَكنا أَشَدَّ مِنهُم بَطشًا وَمَضىٰ مَثَلُ الأَوَّلينَ
fa-ʾahlaknā ʾashadda minhum baṭshan wa-maḍā mathalu l-ʾawwalīna
So We destroyed those who were stronger than these,1and the example of the ancients has passed.That is, the Arab polytheists.
9
وَلَئِن سَأَلتَهُم مَن خَلَقَ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضَ لَيَقولُنَّ خَلَقَهُنَّ العَزيزُ العَليمُ
wa-la-ʾin saʾaltahum man khalaqa s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍa la-yaqūlunna khalaqahunna l-ʿazīzu l-ʿalīmu
If you ask them,‘Who created the heavens and the earth?’they will surely say,‘The All-mighty, the All-knowing created them.’
10
الَّذي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الأَرضَ مَهدًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم فيها سُبُلًا لَعَلَّكُم تَهتَدونَ
alladhī jaʿala lakumu l-ʾarḍa mahdan wa-jaʿala lakum fīhā subulan laʿallakum tahtadūna
He, who made the earth a cradle for youand made in it ways for you,so that you may be guided [to your destinations],
11
وَالَّذي نَزَّلَ مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً بِقَدَرٍ فَأَنشَرنا بِهِ بَلدَةً مَيتًا ۚ كَذٰلِكَ تُخرَجونَ
wa-lladhī nazzala mina s-samāʾi māʾan bi-qadarin fa-ʾansharnā bihī baldatan maytan ka-dhālika tukhrajūna
and who sent down water from the skyin a measured manner,and We revived with it a dead country.(Likewise you [too] shall be raised [from the dead].)
12
وَالَّذي خَلَقَ الأَزواجَ كُلَّها وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِنَ الفُلكِ وَالأَنعامِ ما تَركَبونَ
wa-lladhī khalaqa l-ʾazwāja kullahā wa-jaʿala lakum mina l-fulki wa-l-ʾanʿāmi mā tarkabūna
And who created all the kinds1and made for you the shipsand the cattlesuch as you ride,Or, ‘all the pairs.’
13
لِتَستَووا عَلىٰ ظُهورِهِ ثُمَّ تَذكُروا نِعمَةَ رَبِّكُم إِذَا استَوَيتُم عَلَيهِ وَتَقولوا سُبحانَ الَّذي سَخَّرَ لَنا هٰذا وَما كُنّا لَهُ مُقرِنينَ
li-tastawū ʿalā ẓuhūrihī thumma tadhkurū niʿmata rabbikum ʾidhā stawaytum ʿalayhi wa-taqūlū subḥāna lladhī sakhkhara lanā hādhā wa-mā kunnā lahū muqrinīna
that you may sit on their backs,then remember the blessing of your Lordwhen you are settled on them,and say,‘Immaculate is Hewho has disposed this for us,and we [by ourselves] were no match for it.
14
وَإِنّا إِلىٰ رَبِّنا لَمُنقَلِبونَ
wa-ʾinnā ʾilā rabbinā la-munqalibūna
Indeed we shall return to our Lord.’
15
وَجَعَلوا لَهُ مِن عِبادِهِ جُزءًا ۚ إِنَّ الإِنسانَ لَكَفورٌ مُبينٌ
wa-jaʿalū lahū min ʿibādihī juzʾan ʾinna l-ʾinsāna la-kafūrun mubīnun
They ascribe to Himoffspring1 from among His servants!Man is indeed a manifest ingrate.Lit.: ‘They assign to Him a portion from among His servants.’
16
أَمِ اتَّخَذَ مِمّا يَخلُقُ بَناتٍ وَأَصفاكُم بِالبَنينَ
ʾami ttakhadha mimmā yakhluqu banātin wa-ʾaṣfākum bi-l-banīna
Did He adopt daughters from what He createswhile He preferred you with sons?
17
وَإِذا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِما ضَرَبَ لِلرَّحمٰنِ مَثَلًا ظَلَّ وَجهُهُ مُسوَدًّا وَهُوَ كَظيمٌ
wa-ʾidhā bushshira ʾaḥaduhum bi-mā ḍaraba li-r-raḥmāni mathalan ẓalla wajhuhū muswaddan wa-huwa kaẓīmun
When one of them is brought the newsof what he ascribes to the All-beneficent,his face becomes darkened1and he chokes with suppressed agony, [and says]That is, when he is brought the news of the birth of a daughter.
18
أَوَمَن يُنَشَّأُ فِي الحِليَةِ وَهُوَ فِي الخِصامِ غَيرُ مُبينٍ
ʾa-wa-man yunashshaʾu fī l-ḥilyati wa-huwa fī l-khiṣāmi ghayru mubīnin
‘What! One who is brought up amid ornamentsand is inconspicuous in contests?’
19
وَجَعَلُوا المَلائِكَةَ الَّذينَ هُم عِبادُ الرَّحمٰنِ إِناثًا ۚ أَشَهِدوا خَلقَهُم ۚ سَتُكتَبُ شَهادَتُهُم وَيُسأَلونَ
wa-jaʿalū l-malāʾikata lladhīna hum ʿibādu r-raḥmāni ʾināthan ʾa-shahidū khalqahum sa-tuktabu shahādatuhum wa-yusʾalūna
And they have made the angels—who are servants of the All-beneficent—females.Were they witness to their creation?Their testimony will be written downand they shall be questioned.
20
وَقالوا لَو شاءَ الرَّحمٰنُ ما عَبَدناهُم ۗ ما لَهُم بِذٰلِكَ مِن عِلمٍ ۖ إِن هُم إِلّا يَخرُصونَ
wa-qālū law shāʾa r-raḥmānu mā ʿabadnāhum mā lahum bi-dhālika min ʿilmin ʾin hum ʾillā yakhruṣūna
They say, ‘Had the All-beneficent wished,we would not have worshipped them.’1They do not have any knowledge of that,and they do nothing but surmise.That is, the gods worshiped by the polytheists. Cf. 16:35.
21
أَم آتَيناهُم كِتابًا مِن قَبلِهِ فَهُم بِهِ مُستَمسِكونَ
ʾam ʾātaynāhum kitāban min qablihī fa-hum bihī mustamsikūna
Did We give them a Book before this,so that they are holding fast to it?
22
بَل قالوا إِنّا وَجَدنا آباءَنا عَلىٰ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنّا عَلىٰ آثارِهِم مُهتَدونَ
bal qālū ʾinnā wajadnā ʾābāʾanā ʿalā ʾummatin wa-ʾinnā ʿalā ʾāthārihim muhtadūna
Rather they say, ‘We found our fathersfollowing a creed,and we are indeed guided in their footsteps.’
23
وَكَذٰلِكَ ما أَرسَلنا مِن قَبلِكَ في قَريَةٍ مِن نَذيرٍ إِلّا قالَ مُترَفوها إِنّا وَجَدنا آباءَنا عَلىٰ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنّا عَلىٰ آثارِهِم مُقتَدونَ
wa-ka-dhālika mā ʾarsalnā min qablika fī qaryatin min nadhīrin ʾillā qāla mutrafūhā ʾinnā wajadnā ʾābāʾanā ʿalā ʾummatin wa-ʾinnā ʿalā ʾāthārihim muqtadūna
And so it has been that We did not sendany warner to a town before you,without its affluent ones saying,‘We found our fathers following a creedand we are indeed following in their footsteps.’
24
۞ قالَ أَوَلَو جِئتُكُم بِأَهدىٰ مِمّا وَجَدتُم عَلَيهِ آباءَكُم ۖ قالوا إِنّا بِما أُرسِلتُم بِهِ كافِرونَ
qāla ʾa-wa-law jiʾtukum bi-ʾahdā mimmā wajadtum ʿalayhi ʾābāʾakum qālū ʾinnā bi-mā ʾursiltum bihī kāfirūna
He would say, ‘What! Even if I bring youa better guidance than what you foundyour fathers following?!’They would say,‘We indeed disbelieve in what you are sent with.’
25
فَانتَقَمنا مِنهُم ۖ فَانظُر كَيفَ كانَ عاقِبَةُ المُكَذِّبينَ
fa-ntaqamnā minhum fa-nẓur kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu l-mukadhdhibīna
Thereupon We took vengeance on them;so observe how was the fate of the deniers.
26
وَإِذ قالَ إِبراهيمُ لِأَبيهِ وَقَومِهِ إِنَّني بَراءٌ مِمّا تَعبُدونَ
wa-ʾidh qāla ʾibrāhīmu li-ʾabīhi wa-qawmihī ʾinnanī barāʾun mimmā taʿbudūna
When Abraham said to his father and his people,‘I repudiate what you worship,
27
إِلَّا الَّذي فَطَرَني فَإِنَّهُ سَيَهدينِ
ʾillā lladhī faṭaranī fa-ʾinnahū sa-yahdīni
excepting Him who originated me;indeed He will guide me.’
28
وَجَعَلَها كَلِمَةً باقِيَةً في عَقِبِهِ لَعَلَّهُم يَرجِعونَ
wa-jaʿalahā kalimatan bāqiyatan fī ʿaqibihī laʿallahum yarjiʿūna
And He made it1 a lasting wordamong his posterityso that they may come back [to the right path].That is, the word of tawḥīd, ‘There is no god except Allah,’ the monotheistic creed of Abraham, or, in accordance with the traditions of the Imams Muḥammad al-Bāqir and Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq (ʿa) Abraham’s imamate (cf. 2:124; Tafsīr al-Ṣāfī, Majmaʿ al-Bayān).
29
بَل مَتَّعتُ هٰؤُلاءِ وَآباءَهُم حَتّىٰ جاءَهُمُ الحَقُّ وَرَسولٌ مُبينٌ
bal mattaʿtu hāʾulāʾi wa-ʾābāʾahum ḥattā jāʾahumu l-ḥaqqu wa-rasūlun mubīnun
Rather I provided for these1 and their fathersuntil there came to them the truthand a manifest apostle.That is, the Arabs.
30
وَلَمّا جاءَهُمُ الحَقُّ قالوا هٰذا سِحرٌ وَإِنّا بِهِ كافِرونَ
wa-lammā jāʾahumu l-ḥaqqu qālū hādhā siḥrun wa-ʾinnā bihī kāfirūna
But when the truth came to them, they said,‘This is magic, and we indeed disbelieve in it.’
31
وَقالوا لَولا نُزِّلَ هٰذَا القُرآنُ عَلىٰ رَجُلٍ مِنَ القَريَتَينِ عَظيمٍ
wa-qālū law-lā nuzzila hādhā l-qurʾānu ʿalā rajulin mina l-qaryatayni ʿaẓīmin
And they said, ‘Why was not this Qurʾān sent downto some great man from the two cities?’1That is, Makkah and Madinah, which were the two major towns of Arabia at that time.
32
أَهُم يَقسِمونَ رَحمَتَ رَبِّكَ ۚ نَحنُ قَسَمنا بَينَهُم مَعيشَتَهُم فِي الحَياةِ الدُّنيا ۚ وَرَفَعنا بَعضَهُم فَوقَ بَعضٍ دَرَجاتٍ لِيَتَّخِذَ بَعضُهُم بَعضًا سُخرِيًّا ۗ وَرَحمَتُ رَبِّكَ خَيرٌ مِمّا يَجمَعونَ
ʾa-hum yaqsimūna raḥmata rabbika naḥnu qasamnā baynahum maʿīshatahum fī l-ḥayāti d-dunyā wa-rafaʿnā baʿḍahum fawqa baʿḍin darajātin li-yattakhidha baʿḍuhum baʿḍan sukhriyyan wa-raḥmatu rabbika khayrun mimmā yajmaʿūna
Is it they who dispense the mercy of your Lord?It is We who have dispensed among themtheir livelihood in the present life,and raised some of them above others in rank,so that some may take others into service,and your Lord’s mercy is better than what they amass.
33
وَلَولا أَن يَكونَ النّاسُ أُمَّةً واحِدَةً لَجَعَلنا لِمَن يَكفُرُ بِالرَّحمٰنِ لِبُيوتِهِم سُقُفًا مِن فِضَّةٍ وَمَعارِجَ عَلَيها يَظهَرونَ
wa-law-lā ʾan yakūna n-nāsu ʾummatan wāḥidatan la-jaʿalnā li-man yakfuru bi-r-raḥmāni li-buyūtihim suqufan min fiḍḍatin wa-maʿārija ʿalayhā yaẓharūna
Were it not [for the danger] that mankind would beone community,1We would have surely madefor those who defy the All-beneficent,silver roofs for their housesand [silver] stairways by which they ascend;That is, a monolithic community of people without faith.
34
وَلِبُيوتِهِم أَبوابًا وَسُرُرًا عَلَيها يَتَّكِئونَ
wa-li-buyūtihim ʾabwāban wa-sururan ʿalayhā yattakiʾūna
and [silver] doors for their housesand [silver] couches on which they recline;
35
وَزُخرُفًا ۚ وَإِن كُلُّ ذٰلِكَ لَمّا مَتاعُ الحَياةِ الدُّنيا ۚ وَالآخِرَةُ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلمُتَّقينَ
wa-zukhrufan wa-ʾin kullu dhālika lammā matāʿu l-ḥayāti d-dunyā wa-l-ʾākhiratu ʿinda rabbika li-l-muttaqīna
and ornaments of gold;1yet all that would be nothing butthe wares of the life of this world,and the Hereafter near your Lord is for the Godwary.Or ‘houses embellished with gold.’
36
وَمَن يَعشُ عَن ذِكرِ الرَّحمٰنِ نُقَيِّض لَهُ شَيطانًا فَهُوَ لَهُ قَرينٌ
wa-man yaʿshu ʿan dhikri r-raḥmāni nuqayyiḍ lahū shayṭānan fa-huwa lahū qarīnun
Whoever turns a blind eye to1the remembrance of the All-beneficent,We assign him a devilwho remains his companion.Or ‘whoever shuns.’
37
وَإِنَّهُم لَيَصُدّونَهُم عَنِ السَّبيلِ وَيَحسَبونَ أَنَّهُم مُهتَدونَ
wa-ʾinnahum la-yaṣuddūnahum ʿani s-sabīli wa-yaḥsabūna ʾannahum muhtadūna
Indeed they1 bar them from the waywhile they suppose that they are [rightly] guided.That is, the devils.
38
حَتّىٰ إِذا جاءَنا قالَ يا لَيتَ بَيني وَبَينَكَ بُعدَ المَشرِقَينِ فَبِئسَ القَرينُ
ḥattā ʾidhā jāʾanā qāla yā-layta baynī wa-baynaka buʿda l-mashriqayni fa-biʾsa l-qarīnu
When he comes to Us, he will say,‘I wish there had been between me and youthe distance between east and west!What an evil companion [are you]!’
39
وَلَن يَنفَعَكُمُ اليَومَ إِذ ظَلَمتُم أَنَّكُم فِي العَذابِ مُشتَرِكونَ
wa-lan yanfaʿakumu l-yawma ʾidh ẓalamtum ʾannakum fī l-ʿadhābi mushtarikūna
‘Today that1 will be of no avail to you.As you did wrong,so will you share in the punishment.’That is, ‘your desire to keep away from your evil companion.’
40
أَفَأَنتَ تُسمِعُ الصُّمَّ أَو تَهدِي العُميَ وَمَن كانَ في ضَلالٍ مُبينٍ
ʾa-fa-ʾanta tusmiʿu ṣ-ṣumma ʾaw tahdī l-ʿumya wa-man kāna fī ḍalālin mubīnin
Can you, then, make the deaf hearor guide the blindand someone who is in manifest error?
41
فَإِمّا نَذهَبَنَّ بِكَ فَإِنّا مِنهُم مُنتَقِمونَ
fa-ʾimmā nadhhabanna bika fa-ʾinnā minhum muntaqimūna
Either We shall take you away—for We will indeed take vengeance on them—
42
أَو نُرِيَنَّكَ الَّذي وَعَدناهُم فَإِنّا عَلَيهِم مُقتَدِرونَ
ʾaw nuriyannaka lladhī waʿadnāhum fa-ʾinnā ʿalayhim muqtadirūna
or We shall show you what We have promised them,for indeed We hold them in Our power.
43
فَاستَمسِك بِالَّذي أوحِيَ إِلَيكَ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلىٰ صِراطٍ مُستَقيمٍ
fa-stamsik bi-lladhī ʾūḥiya ʾilayka ʾinnaka ʿalā ṣirāṭin mustaqīmin
So hold fast to what has been revealed to you.Indeed you are on a straight path.
44
وَإِنَّهُ لَذِكرٌ لَكَ وَلِقَومِكَ ۖ وَسَوفَ تُسأَلونَ
wa-ʾinnahū la-dhikrun laka wa-li-qawmika wa-sawfa tusʾalūna
Indeed it is a reminder for you and for your people,and soon you will be questioned.
45
وَاسأَل مَن أَرسَلنا مِن قَبلِكَ مِن رُسُلِنا أَجَعَلنا مِن دونِ الرَّحمٰنِ آلِهَةً يُعبَدونَ
wa-sʾal man ʾarsalnā min qablika min rusulinā ʾa-jaʿalnā min dūni r-raḥmāni ʾālihatan yuʿbadūna
Askthose of Our apostles We have sent before you:1Did We set up any gods besides the All-beneficentto be worshipped?That is, during the cosmic journey of the Prophet (see 17:1, 53:8-18).
46
وَلَقَد أَرسَلنا موسىٰ بِآياتِنا إِلىٰ فِرعَونَ وَمَلَئِهِ فَقالَ إِنّي رَسولُ رَبِّ العالَمينَ
wa-la-qad ʾarsalnā mūsā bi-ʾāyātinā ʾilā firʿawna wa-malaʾihī fa-qāla ʾinnī rasūlu rabbi l-ʿālamīna
Certainly We sent Moses with Our signsto Pharaoh and his elite.He said, ‘I am indeed an apostleof the Lord of all the worlds.’
47
فَلَمّا جاءَهُم بِآياتِنا إِذا هُم مِنها يَضحَكونَ
fa-lammā jāʾahum bi-ʾāyātinā ʾidhā hum minhā yaḍḥakūna
But when he brought them Our signs,behold, they laughed at them.
48
وَما نُريهِم مِن آيَةٍ إِلّا هِيَ أَكبَرُ مِن أُختِها ۖ وَأَخَذناهُم بِالعَذابِ لَعَلَّهُم يَرجِعونَ
wa-mā nurīhim min ʾāyatin ʾillā hiya ʾakbaru min ʾukhtihā wa-ʾakhadhnāhum bi-l-ʿadhābi laʿallahum yarjiʿūna
And We did not show them a signbut it was greater than the other,and We seized them with punishmentso that they might come back.
49
وَقالوا يا أَيُّهَ السّاحِرُ ادعُ لَنا رَبَّكَ بِما عَهِدَ عِندَكَ إِنَّنا لَمُهتَدونَ
wa-qālū yā-ʾayyuha s-sāḥiru dʿu lanā rabbaka bi-mā ʿahida ʿindaka ʾinnanā la-muhtadūna
They would say, ‘O magician!Invoke your Lord for usby the covenant He has made with you.We will indeed be guided.’
50
فَلَمّا كَشَفنا عَنهُمُ العَذابَ إِذا هُم يَنكُثونَ
fa-lammā kashafnā ʿanhumu l-ʿadhāba ʾidhā hum yankuthūna
But when We lifted the punishment from them,behold, they would break their pledge.
51
وَنادىٰ فِرعَونُ في قَومِهِ قالَ يا قَومِ أَلَيسَ لي مُلكُ مِصرَ وَهٰذِهِ الأَنهارُ تَجري مِن تَحتي ۖ أَفَلا تُبصِرونَ
wa-nādā firʿawnu fī qawmihī qāla yā-qawmi ʾa-laysa lī mulku miṣra wa-hādhihi l-ʾanhāru tajrī min taḥtī ʾa-fa-lā tubṣirūna
And Pharaoh proclaimed amongst his people.He said, ‘O my people!Does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to meand these rivers that run at my feet?Do you not perceive?
52
أَم أَنا خَيرٌ مِن هٰذَا الَّذي هُوَ مَهينٌ وَلا يَكادُ يُبينُ
ʾam ʾana khayrun min hādhā lladhī huwa mahīnun wa-lā yakādu yubīnu
Am I not better than this humble1 onewho cannot even speak clearly?Or ‘vile.’
53
فَلَولا أُلقِيَ عَلَيهِ أَسوِرَةٌ مِن ذَهَبٍ أَو جاءَ مَعَهُ المَلائِكَةُ مُقتَرِنينَ
fa-law-lā ʾulqiya ʿalayhi ʾaswiratun min dhahabin ʾaw jāʾa maʿahu l-malāʾikatu muqtarinīna
Why have no bracelets of gold been cast upon him,nor have the angels come with him as escorts?’
54
فَاستَخَفَّ قَومَهُ فَأَطاعوهُ ۚ إِنَّهُم كانوا قَومًا فاسِقينَ
fa-stakhaffa qawmahū fa-ʾaṭāʿūhu ʾinnahum kānū qawman fāsiqīna
So he misled his people and they obeyed him.Indeed they were a transgressing lot.
55
فَلَمّا آسَفونَا انتَقَمنا مِنهُم فَأَغرَقناهُم أَجمَعينَ
fa-lammā ʾāsafūnā ntaqamnā minhum fa-ʾaghraqnāhum ʾajmaʿīna
So when they roused Our wrath,We took vengeance on themand drowned them all.
56
فَجَعَلناهُم سَلَفًا وَمَثَلًا لِلآخِرينَ
fa-jaʿalnāhum salafan wa-mathalan li-l-ʾākhirīna
Thus We made them the vanguard1and an example for posterity.That is, of those who enter hell.
57
۞ وَلَمّا ضُرِبَ ابنُ مَريَمَ مَثَلًا إِذا قَومُكَ مِنهُ يَصِدّونَ
wa-lammā ḍuriba bnu maryama mathalan ʾidhā qawmuka minhu yaṣiddūna
When the Son of Mary was cited as an example,behold, your people raise an outcry.1Or ‘laughed at it.’ (Maʿānī al-akhbār, p. 220) Or ‘turn away,’ in accordance with an alternate reading (yaṣuddūn instead of yaṣiddūn) narrated from many authorities. (Muʿjam al-Qirāʾāt al-Qurʾāniyyah, vol. 6, p. 121).
58
وَقالوا أَآلِهَتُنا خَيرٌ أَم هُوَ ۚ ما ضَرَبوهُ لَكَ إِلّا جَدَلًا ۚ بَل هُم قَومٌ خَصِمونَ
wa-qālū ʾa-ʾālihatunā khayrun ʾam huwa mā ḍarabūhu laka ʾillā jadalan bal hum qawmun khaṣimūna
They say, ‘Are our gods better or he?’They only cite him to you for the sake of contention.Rather they are a contentious lot.
59
إِن هُوَ إِلّا عَبدٌ أَنعَمنا عَلَيهِ وَجَعَلناهُ مَثَلًا لِبَني إِسرائيلَ
ʾin huwa ʾillā ʿabdun ʾanʿamnā ʿalayhi wa-jaʿalnāhu mathalan li-banī ʾisrāʾīla
He was just a servant whom We had blessedand made an exemplar for the Children of Israel.
60
وَلَو نَشاءُ لَجَعَلنا مِنكُم مَلائِكَةً فِي الأَرضِ يَخلُفونَ
wa-law nashāʾu la-jaʿalnā minkum malāʾikatan fī l-ʾarḍi yakhlufūna
Had We wished We would have set in your steadangels to be [your] successors on the earth.
61
وَإِنَّهُ لَعِلمٌ لِلسّاعَةِ فَلا تَمتَرُنَّ بِها وَاتَّبِعونِ ۚ هٰذا صِراطٌ مُستَقيمٌ
wa-ʾinnahū la-ʿilmun li-s-sāʿati fa-lā tamtarunna bihā wa-ttabiʿūni hādhā ṣirāṭun mustaqīmun
Indeed he1 is a portent of the Hour;so do not doubt it and follow Me.This is a straight path.That is, Jesus (ʿa), or ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (ʿa), in accordance with traditions narrated from the Prophet (ṣ) and Imam Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq (ʿa). (Tafsīr al-Burhān).
62
وَلا يَصُدَّنَّكُمُ الشَّيطانُ ۖ إِنَّهُ لَكُم عَدُوٌّ مُبينٌ
wa-lā yaṣuddannakumu sh-shayṭānu ʾinnahū lakum ʿaduwwun mubīnun
Do not let Satan bar you [from the way of Allah].Indeed he is your manifest enemy.
63
وَلَمّا جاءَ عيسىٰ بِالبَيِّناتِ قالَ قَد جِئتُكُم بِالحِكمَةِ وَلِأُبَيِّنَ لَكُم بَعضَ الَّذي تَختَلِفونَ فيهِ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطيعونِ
wa-lammā jāʾa ʿīsā bi-l-bayyināti qāla qad jiʾtukum bi-l-ḥikmati wa-li-ʾubayyina lakum baʿḍa lladhī takhtalifūna fīhi fa-ttaqū llāha wa-ʾaṭīʿūni
When Jesus brought the manifest proofs,he said, ‘I have certainly brought you wisdom,and [I have come] to make clear to yousome of the things that you differ about.So be wary of Allah and obey me.
64
إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ رَبّي وَرَبُّكُم فَاعبُدوهُ ۚ هٰذا صِراطٌ مُستَقيمٌ
ʾinna llāha huwa rabbī wa-rabbukum fa-ʿbudūhu hādhā ṣirāṭun mustaqīmun
Indeed Allah is my Lord and your Lord;so worship Him.This is a straight path.’
65
فَاختَلَفَ الأَحزابُ مِن بَينِهِم ۖ فَوَيلٌ لِلَّذينَ ظَلَموا مِن عَذابِ يَومٍ أَليمٍ
fa-khtalafa l-ʾaḥzābu min baynihim fa-waylun li-lladhīna ẓalamū min ʿadhābi yawmin ʾalīmin
But the factions differed among themselves.So woe to the wrongdoersfor the punishment of a painful day.
66
هَل يَنظُرونَ إِلَّا السّاعَةَ أَن تَأتِيَهُم بَغتَةً وَهُم لا يَشعُرونَ
hal yanẓurūna ʾillā s-sāʿata ʾan taʾtiyahum baghtatan wa-hum lā yashʿurūna
Do they await anything but that the Hourshould overtake them suddenly,while they are unaware?
67
الأَخِلّاءُ يَومَئِذٍ بَعضُهُم لِبَعضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا المُتَّقينَ
al-ʾakhillāʾu yawmaʾidhin baʿḍuhum li-baʿḍin ʿaduwwun ʾillā l-muttaqīna
On that day, friends will be one another’s enemies,except for the Godwary.
68
يا عِبادِ لا خَوفٌ عَلَيكُمُ اليَومَ وَلا أَنتُم تَحزَنونَ
yā-ʿibādi lā khawfun ʿalaykumu l-yawma wa-lā ʾantum taḥzanūna
[They will be told,] ‘O My servants!Today you will have no fear,nor will you grieve.
69
الَّذينَ آمَنوا بِآياتِنا وَكانوا مُسلِمينَ
alladhīna ʾāmanū bi-ʾāyātinā wa-kānū muslimīna
Those who believed in Our signsand had been muslims.
70
ادخُلُوا الجَنَّةَ أَنتُم وَأَزواجُكُم تُحبَرونَ
udkhulū l-jannata ʾantum wa-ʾazwājukum tuḥbarūna
Enter paradise, you and your spouses,rejoicing’
71
يُطافُ عَلَيهِم بِصِحافٍ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَأَكوابٍ ۖ وَفيها ما تَشتَهيهِ الأَنفُسُ وَتَلَذُّ الأَعيُنُ ۖ وَأَنتُم فيها خالِدونَ
yuṭāfu ʿalayhim bi-ṣiḥāfin min dhahabin wa-ʾakwābin wa-fīhā mā tashtahīhi l-ʾanfusu wa-taladhdhu l-ʾaʿyunu wa-ʾantum fīhā khālidūna
(they will be served aroundwith golden dishes and goblets,and therein1 will be whatever the souls desireand eyes delight in)‘and you will remain in it [forever].That is, in paradise.
72
وَتِلكَ الجَنَّةُ الَّتي أورِثتُموها بِما كُنتُم تَعمَلونَ
wa-tilka l-jannatu llatī ʾūrithtumūhā bi-mā kuntum taʿmalūna
That is the paradise you have been given to inheritfor what you used to do.
73
لَكُم فيها فاكِهَةٌ كَثيرَةٌ مِنها تَأكُلونَ
lakum fīhā fākihatun kathīratun minhā taʾkulūna
Therein are abundant fruits for youfrom which you will eat.’
74
إِنَّ المُجرِمينَ في عَذابِ جَهَنَّمَ خالِدونَ
ʾinna l-mujrimīna fī ʿadhābi jahannama khālidūna
Indeed the guiltywill remain [forever] in the punishment of hell.
75
لا يُفَتَّرُ عَنهُم وَهُم فيهِ مُبلِسونَ
lā yufattaru ʿanhum wa-hum fīhi mublisūna
It will not be lightened for themand they will be despondent in it.
76
وَما ظَلَمناهُم وَلٰكِن كانوا هُمُ الظّالِمينَ
wa-mā ẓalamnāhum wa-lākin kānū humu ẓ-ẓālimīna
We did not wrong them,but they themselves were wrongdoers.
77
وَنادَوا يا مالِكُ لِيَقضِ عَلَينا رَبُّكَ ۖ قالَ إِنَّكُم ماكِثونَ
wa-nādaw yā-māliku li-yaqḍi ʿalaynā rabbuka qāla ʾinnakum mākithūna
They will call out, ‘O Mālik!1Let your Lord finish us off!’He will say, ‘Indeed you will stay on.’The name of the angel in charge of hell.
78
لَقَد جِئناكُم بِالحَقِّ وَلٰكِنَّ أَكثَرَكُم لِلحَقِّ كارِهونَ
la-qad jiʾnākum bi-l-ḥaqqi wa-lākinna ʾaktharakum li-l-ḥaqqi kārihūna
‘We certainly brought you the truth,but most of you were averse to the truth.’
79
أَم أَبرَموا أَمرًا فَإِنّا مُبرِمونَ
ʾam ʾabramū ʾamran fa-ʾinnā mubrimūna
Have they settled on some [devious] plan?Indeed We too are settling [on Our plans].
80
أَم يَحسَبونَ أَنّا لا نَسمَعُ سِرَّهُم وَنَجواهُم ۚ بَلىٰ وَرُسُلُنا لَدَيهِم يَكتُبونَ
ʾam yaḥsabūna ʾannā lā nasmaʿu sirrahum wa-najwāhum balā wa-rusulunā ladayhim yaktubūna
Do they suppose that We do not heartheir secret thoughts and their secret talks?Yes indeed!And with them are Our messengers, writing down.
81
قُل إِن كانَ لِلرَّحمٰنِ وَلَدٌ فَأَنا أَوَّلُ العابِدينَ
qul ʾin kāna li-r-raḥmāni waladun fa-ʾana ʾawwalu l-ʿābidīna
Say, ‘If the All-beneficent had a son,I would have been the first to worship [him].’
82
سُبحانَ رَبِّ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ رَبِّ العَرشِ عَمّا يَصِفونَ
subḥāna rabbi s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi rabbi l-ʿarshi ʿammā yaṣifūna
Clear is the Lord of the heavens and the earth,the Lord of the Throne,of whatever they allege [concerning Him]!
83
فَذَرهُم يَخوضوا وَيَلعَبوا حَتّىٰ يُلاقوا يَومَهُمُ الَّذي يوعَدونَ
fa-dharhum yakhūḍū wa-yalʿabū ḥattā yulāqū yawmahumu lladhī yūʿadūna
So leave them to gossip and playuntil they encounter their daywhich they are promised.
84
وَهُوَ الَّذي فِي السَّماءِ إِلٰهٌ وَفِي الأَرضِ إِلٰهٌ ۚ وَهُوَ الحَكيمُ العَليمُ
wa-huwa lladhī fī s-samāʾi ʾilāhun wa-fī l-ʾarḍi ʾilāhun wa-huwa l-ḥakīmu l-ʿalīmu
It is He who is God in the sky,and God on the earth;and He is the All-Wise, the All-Knowing.
85
وَتَبارَكَ الَّذي لَهُ مُلكُ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ وَما بَينَهُما وَعِندَهُ عِلمُ السّاعَةِ وَإِلَيهِ تُرجَعونَ
wa-tabāraka lladhī lahū mulku s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-mā baynahumā wa-ʿindahū ʿilmu s-sāʿati wa-ʾilayhi turjaʿūna
Blessed is Heto whom belongs the kingdom of the heavensand the earthand whatever is between them,and with Him is the knowledge of the Hour,and to Him you will be brought back.
86
وَلا يَملِكُ الَّذينَ يَدعونَ مِن دونِهِ الشَّفاعَةَ إِلّا مَن شَهِدَ بِالحَقِّ وَهُم يَعلَمونَ
wa-lā yamliku lladhīna yadʿūna min dūnihi sh-shafāʿata ʾillā man shahida bi-l-ḥaqqi wa-hum yaʿlamūna
Those whom they invoke besides Him have no powerof intercession,except those who are witness to the truthand who know [for whom to intercede].
87
وَلَئِن سَأَلتَهُم مَن خَلَقَهُم لَيَقولُنَّ اللَّهُ ۖ فَأَنّىٰ يُؤفَكونَ
wa-la-ʾin saʾaltahum man khalaqahum la-yaqūlunna llāhu fa-ʾannā yuʾfakūna
If you ask them,‘Who created them?’they will surely say, ‘Allah.’Then where do they stray?
88
وَقيلِهِ يا رَبِّ إِنَّ هٰؤُلاءِ قَومٌ لا يُؤمِنونَ
wa-qīlihī yā-rabbi ʾinna hāʾulāʾi qawmun lā yuʾminūna
And his1 plaint: ‘My Lord!Indeed these are a people who will not have faith!’That is, of the Apostle of Allah (ṣ).
89
فَاصفَح عَنهُم وَقُل سَلامٌ ۚ فَسَوفَ يَعلَمونَ
fa-ṣfaḥ ʿanhum wa-qul salāmun fa-sawfa yaʿlamūna
So disregard them, and say, ‘Peace!’Soon they will know.