The surah that opens with the single discrete Arabic letter Qāf. It deals predominantly with the Resurrection and the Day of Judgement. Reference is made to previous generations of disbelievers (verse 12 .), both to warn the disbelievers in Mecca and to reassure the Prophet. Creation is cited as an indication of God’s ability to bring the dead to life again (verse 3 .), and emphasis is placed on the powerlessness of man on the Day of Resurrection (verse 20). The surah both opens and closes with mention of the Quran.
1
ق ۚ وَالقُرآنِ المَجيدِ
q (qāf) wa-l-qurʾāni l-majīdi
Qāf.By the glorious Qurʾān.
2
بَل عَجِبوا أَن جاءَهُم مُنذِرٌ مِنهُم فَقالَ الكافِرونَ هٰذا شَيءٌ عَجيبٌ
bal ʿajibū ʾan jāʾahum mundhirun minhum fa-qāla l-kāfirūna hādhā shayʾun ʿajībun
Rather they consider it oddthat a warner should have come to themfrom among themselves.So the faithless say, ‘This is an odd thing.
3
أَإِذا مِتنا وَكُنّا تُرابًا ۖ ذٰلِكَ رَجعٌ بَعيدٌ
ʾa-ʾidhā mitnā wa-kunnā turāban dhālika rajʿun baʿīdun
What! When we are deadand have become dust [shall we be raised again]?That is a far-fetched return!’
4
قَد عَلِمنا ما تَنقُصُ الأَرضُ مِنهُم ۖ وَعِندَنا كِتابٌ حَفيظٌ
qad ʿalimnā mā tanquṣu l-ʾarḍu minhum wa-ʿindanā kitābun ḥafīẓun
We know what the earth diminishes from them,1and with Us is a preserving Book.That is, from their bodies when they disintegrate after death.
5
بَل كَذَّبوا بِالحَقِّ لَمّا جاءَهُم فَهُم في أَمرٍ مَريجٍ
bal kadhdhabū bi-l-ḥaqqi lammā jāʾahum fa-hum fī ʾamrin marījin
Rather they denied the truth when it came to them;so they are now in a perplexed state of affairs.
6
أَفَلَم يَنظُروا إِلَى السَّماءِ فَوقَهُم كَيفَ بَنَيناها وَزَيَّنّاها وَما لَها مِن فُروجٍ
ʾa-fa-lam yanẓurū ʾilā s-samāʾi fawqahum kayfa banaynāhā wa-zayyannāhā wa-mā lahā min furūjin
Have they not then observed the sky above them,how We have built it and adorned it,and that there are no cracks in it?
7
وَالأَرضَ مَدَدناها وَأَلقَينا فيها رَواسِيَ وَأَنبَتنا فيها مِن كُلِّ زَوجٍ بَهيجٍ
wa-l-ʾarḍa madadnāhā wa-ʾalqaynā fīhā rawāsiya wa-ʾanbatnā fīhā min kulli zawjin bahījin
And We spread out the earth,and cast in it firm mountains,and caused every delightful kind to grow in it.
8
تَبصِرَةً وَذِكرىٰ لِكُلِّ عَبدٍ مُنيبٍ
tabṣiratan wa-dhikrā li-kulli ʿabdin munībin
[In this there is] an insight and admonitionfor every penitent servant.
9
وَنَزَّلنا مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً مُبارَكًا فَأَنبَتنا بِهِ جَنّاتٍ وَحَبَّ الحَصيدِ
wa-nazzalnā mina s-samāʾi māʾan mubārakan fa-ʾanbatnā bihī jannātin wa-ḥabba l-ḥaṣīdi
And We send down from the sky salubrious water,with which We grow gardensand the grain which is harvested,
10
وَالنَّخلَ باسِقاتٍ لَها طَلعٌ نَضيدٌ
wa-n-nakhla bāsiqātin lahā ṭalʿun naḍīdun
and tall date palms with regularly set spathes,
11
رِزقًا لِلعِبادِ ۖ وَأَحيَينا بِهِ بَلدَةً مَيتًا ۚ كَذٰلِكَ الخُروجُ
rizqan li-l-ʿibādi wa-ʾaḥyaynā bihī baldatan maytan ka-dhālika l-khurūju
as a provision for servants;and with it We revive a dead country.Likewise will be the rising [from the dead].
12
كَذَّبَت قَبلَهُم قَومُ نوحٍ وَأَصحابُ الرَّسِّ وَثَمودُ
kadhdhabat qablahum qawmu nūḥin wa-ʾaṣḥābu r-rassi wa-thamūdu
The people of Noah denied before them,and [so did] the inhabitants of Rass1 and Thamūd,See 25:38.
13
وَعادٌ وَفِرعَونُ وَإِخوانُ لوطٍ
wa-ʿādun wa-firʿawnu wa-ʾikhwānu lūṭin
and ʿĀd, Pharaoh, and the brethren of Lot,
14
وَأَصحابُ الأَيكَةِ وَقَومُ تُبَّعٍ ۚ كُلٌّ كَذَّبَ الرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ وَعيدِ
wa-ʾaṣhābu l-ʾaykati wa-qawmu tubbaʿin kullun kadhdhaba r-rusula fa-ḥaqqa waʿīdi
and the inhabitants of Aykahand the people of Tubbaʿ.1Each [of them] impugned the apostles,and so My threat became due [against them].Cf. 44:37.
15
أَفَعَيينا بِالخَلقِ الأَوَّلِ ۚ بَل هُم في لَبسٍ مِن خَلقٍ جَديدٍ
ʾa-fa-ʿayīnā bi-l-khalqi l-ʾawwali bal hum fī labsin min khalqin jadīdin
Were We exhausted by the first creation?Rather they are in doubt about a new creation.
16
وَلَقَد خَلَقنَا الإِنسانَ وَنَعلَمُ ما تُوَسوِسُ بِهِ نَفسُهُ ۖ وَنَحنُ أَقرَبُ إِلَيهِ مِن حَبلِ الوَريدِ
wa-la-qad khalaqnā l-ʾinsāna wa-naʿlamu mā tuwaswisu bihī nafsuhū wa-naḥnu ʾaqrabu ʾilayhi min ḥabli l-warīdi
Certainly We have created manand We know to what his soul tempts him,and We are nearer to himthan his jugular vein.
17
إِذ يَتَلَقَّى المُتَلَقِّيانِ عَنِ اليَمينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمالِ قَعيدٌ
ʾidh yatalaqqā l-mutalaqqiyāni ʿani l-yamīni wa-ʿani sh-shimāli qaʿīdun
When the twin recorders record [his deeds],seated on the right hand and on the left:
18
ما يَلفِظُ مِن قَولٍ إِلّا لَدَيهِ رَقيبٌ عَتيدٌ
mā yalfiẓu min qawlin ʾillā ladayhi raqībun ʿatīdun
he says no wordbut that there is a ready observer beside him.
19
وَجاءَت سَكرَةُ المَوتِ بِالحَقِّ ۖ ذٰلِكَ ما كُنتَ مِنهُ تَحيدُ
wa-jāʾat sakratu l-mawti bi-l-ḥaqqi dhālika mā kunta minhu taḥīdu
Then the agony of death brings the truth:1‘This is what you used to shun!’Or ‘when the agony of death arrives with the truth.’
20
وَنُفِخَ فِي الصّورِ ۚ ذٰلِكَ يَومُ الوَعيدِ
wa-nufikha fī ṣ-ṣūri dhālika yawmu l-waʿīdi
Then the Trumpet will be blown:‘This is the promised day.’
21
وَجاءَت كُلُّ نَفسٍ مَعَها سائِقٌ وَشَهيدٌ
wa-jāʾat kullu nafsin maʿahā sāʾiqun wa-shahīdun
Then every soul will comeaccompanied by a driver and a witness:
22
لَقَد كُنتَ في غَفلَةٍ مِن هٰذا فَكَشَفنا عَنكَ غِطاءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ اليَومَ حَديدٌ
la-qad kunta fī ghaflatin min hādhā fa-kashafnā ʿanka ghiṭāʾaka fa-baṣaruka l-yawma ḥadīdun
‘You were certainly oblivious of this.We have removed your veil from you,and so your sight is acute today.’
23
وَقالَ قَرينُهُ هٰذا ما لَدَيَّ عَتيدٌ
wa-qāla qarīnuhū hādhā mā ladayya ʿatīdun
Then his companion will say,‘This is what is ready with me [of testimony].’
24
أَلقِيا في جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ كَفّارٍ عَنيدٍ
ʾalqiyā fī jahannama kulla kaffārin ʿanīdin
‘The two of you cast every obdurate ingrate into hell,
25
مَنّاعٍ لِلخَيرِ مُعتَدٍ مُريبٍ
mannāʿin li-l-khayri muʿtadin murībin-i
[every] hinderer of all good,1transgressor, and skeptic,Or ‘grudging giver.’
26
الَّذي جَعَلَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلٰهًا آخَرَ فَأَلقِياهُ فِي العَذابِ الشَّديدِ
alladhī jaʿala maʿa llāhi ʾilāhan ʾākhara fa-ʾalqiyāhu fī l-ʿadhābi sh-shadīdi
who has set up another god along with Allah!So the two of you cast himinto the severe punishment.’
27
۞ قالَ قَرينُهُ رَبَّنا ما أَطغَيتُهُ وَلٰكِن كانَ في ضَلالٍ بَعيدٍ
qāla qarīnuhū rabbanā mā ʾaṭghaytuhū wa-lākin kāna fī ḍalālin baʿīdin
His companion1 will say, ‘Our Lord!I did not make him a rebel,but he [himself] was in extreme error.’That is, Satan.
28
قالَ لا تَختَصِموا لَدَيَّ وَقَد قَدَّمتُ إِلَيكُم بِالوَعيدِ
qāla lā takhtaṣimū ladayya wa-qad qaddamtu ʾilaykum bi-l-waʿīdi
He will say, ‘Do not wrangle in My presence,for I had already warned you in advance.
29
ما يُبَدَّلُ القَولُ لَدَيَّ وَما أَنا بِظَلّامٍ لِلعَبيدِ
mā yubaddalu l-qawlu ladayya wa-mā ʾana bi-ẓallāmin li-l-ʿabīdi
The word [of judgement] is unalterable with Me,and I am not tyrannical to the servants.’
30
يَومَ نَقولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ امتَلَأتِ وَتَقولُ هَل مِن مَزيدٍ
yawma naqūlu li-jahannama hali mtalaʾti wa-taqūlu hal min mazīdin
The day when We shall say to hell,‘Are you full?’It will say, ‘Is there any more?’
31
وَأُزلِفَتِ الجَنَّةُ لِلمُتَّقينَ غَيرَ بَعيدٍ
wa-ʾuzlifati l-jannatu li-l-muttaqīna ghayra baʿīdin
And paradise will be brought near for the Godwary,not distant [any more]:
32
هٰذا ما توعَدونَ لِكُلِّ أَوّابٍ حَفيظٍ
hādhā mā tūʿadūna li-kulli ʾawwābin ḥafīẓin
‘This is what you were promised.[It is] for every penitent and dutiful [servant]
33
مَن خَشِيَ الرَّحمٰنَ بِالغَيبِ وَجاءَ بِقَلبٍ مُنيبٍ
man khashiya r-raḥmāna bi-l-ghaybi wa-jāʾa bi-qalbin munībin-i
who fears the All-beneficent in secretand comes with a penitent heart.
34
ادخُلوها بِسَلامٍ ۖ ذٰلِكَ يَومُ الخُلودِ
udkhulūhā bi-salāmin dhālika yawmu l-khulūdi
Enter it in peace!This is the day of immortality.’
35
لَهُم ما يَشاءونَ فيها وَلَدَينا مَزيدٌ
lahum mā yashāʾūna fīhā wa-ladaynā mazīdun
There they will have whatever they wish,and with Us there is yet more.
36
وَكَم أَهلَكنا قَبلَهُم مِن قَرنٍ هُم أَشَدُّ مِنهُم بَطشًا فَنَقَّبوا فِي البِلادِ هَل مِن مَحيصٍ
wa-kam ʾahlaknā qablahum min qarnin hum ʾashaddu minhum baṭshan fa-naqqabū fī l-bilādi hal min maḥīṣin
How many generations We have destroyed before them,who were stronger than these,insomuch that they ransacked the towns?!Is there any escape [from Allah’s punishment]?
37
إِنَّ في ذٰلِكَ لَذِكرىٰ لِمَن كانَ لَهُ قَلبٌ أَو أَلقَى السَّمعَ وَهُوَ شَهيدٌ
ʾinna fī dhālika la-dhikrā li-man kāna lahū qalbun ʾaw ʾalqā s-samʿa wa-huwa shahīdun
There is indeed an admonition in thatfor one who has a heart,or gives ear, being attentive.
38
وَلَقَد خَلَقنَا السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضَ وَما بَينَهُما في سِتَّةِ أَيّامٍ وَما مَسَّنا مِن لُغوبٍ
wa-la-qad khalaqnā s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍa wa-mā baynahumā fī sittati ʾayyāmin wa-mā massanā min lughūbin
Certainly We created the heavens and the earth,and whatever is between them,in six days,and any fatigue did not touch Us.
39
فَاصبِر عَلىٰ ما يَقولونَ وَسَبِّح بِحَمدِ رَبِّكَ قَبلَ طُلوعِ الشَّمسِ وَقَبلَ الغُروبِ
fa-ṣbir ʿalā mā yaqūlūna wa-sabbiḥ bi-ḥamdi rabbika qabla ṭulūʿi sh-shamsi wa-qabla l-ghurūbi
So be patient over what they say,and celebrate the praise of your Lordbefore the rising of the sunand before the sunset,
40
وَمِنَ اللَّيلِ فَسَبِّحهُ وَأَدبارَ السُّجودِ
wa-mina l-layli fa-sabbiḥhu wa-ʾadbāra s-sujūdi
and glorify Him through part of the nightand after the prostrations.
41
وَاستَمِع يَومَ يُنادِ المُنادِ مِن مَكانٍ قَريبٍ
wa-stamiʿ yawma yunādi l-munādi min makānin qarībin
And be on the alert for the daywhen the caller calls from a close quarter,
42
يَومَ يَسمَعونَ الصَّيحَةَ بِالحَقِّ ۚ ذٰلِكَ يَومُ الخُروجِ
yawma yasmaʿūna ṣ-ṣayḥata bi-l-ḥaqqi dhālika yawmu l-khurūji
the day when they hear the Cry in all truth.That is the day of rising [from the dead].
43
إِنّا نَحنُ نُحيي وَنُميتُ وَإِلَينَا المَصيرُ
ʾinnā naḥnu nuḥyī wa-numītu wa-ʾilaynā l-maṣīru
Indeed it is We who give life and bring death,and toward Us is the destination.
44
يَومَ تَشَقَّقُ الأَرضُ عَنهُم سِراعًا ۚ ذٰلِكَ حَشرٌ عَلَينا يَسيرٌ
yawma tashaqqaqu l-ʾarḍu ʿanhum sirāʿan dhālika ḥashrun ʿalaynā yasīrun
The day the earth is split open for [disentombing] them,[they will come out] hastening.That mustering1 is easy for Us [to carry out].Or ‘resurrection.’
45
نَحنُ أَعلَمُ بِما يَقولونَ ۖ وَما أَنتَ عَلَيهِم بِجَبّارٍ ۖ فَذَكِّر بِالقُرآنِ مَن يَخافُ وَعيدِ
naḥnu ʾaʿlamu bi-mā yaqūlūna wa-mā ʾanta ʿalayhim bi-jabbārin fa-dhakkir bi-l-qurʾāni man yakhāfu waʿīdi
We know best what they say,and you are not to be a tyrant over them.So admonish by the Qurʾān him who fears My threat.