Al-'Ankabut

alif-lam-meem

Alif Lam Mim

aḥasiba l-nāsu an yut'rakū an yaqūlū āmannā wahum lā yuf'tanūna

Do people think they will be left alone after saying ‘We believe’ without being put to the test?

walaqad fatannā alladhīna min qablihim falayaʿlamanna l-lahu alladhīna ṣadaqū walayaʿlamanna l-kādhibīna

We tested those who went before them: God will certainly mark out which ones are truthful and which are lying.

am ḥasiba alladhīna yaʿmalūna l-sayiāti an yasbiqūnā sāa mā yaḥkumūna

Do the evildoers think they can escape us? How ill they judge!

man kāna yarjū liqāa l-lahi fa-inna ajala l-lahi laātin wahuwa l-samīʿu l-ʿalīmu

But as for those who strive for their meeting with God, God’s appointed time is bound to come; He is the All Hearing, the All Knowing.

waman jāhada fa-innamā yujāhidu linafsihi inna l-laha laghaniyyun ʿani l-ʿālamīna

Those who exert themselves do so for their own benefit––God does not need His creatures––

wa-alladhīna āmanū waʿamilū l-ṣāliḥāti lanukaffiranna ʿanhum sayyiātihim walanajziyannahum aḥsana alladhī kānū yaʿmalūna

We shall certainly blot out the misdeeds of those who believe and do good deeds, and We shall reward them according to the best of their actions.

wawaṣṣaynā l-insāna biwālidayhi ḥus'nan wa-in jāhadāka litush'rika bī mā laysa laka bihi ʿil'mun falā tuṭiʿ'humā ilayya marjiʿukum fa-unabbi-ukum bimā kuntum taʿmalūna

We have commanded people to be good to their parents, but do not obey them if they strive to make you serve, beside Me, anything of which you have no knowledge: you will all return to Me, and I shall inform you of what you have done.

wa-alladhīna āmanū waʿamilū l-ṣāliḥāti lanud'khilannahum fī l-ṣāliḥīna

We shall be sure to admit those who believe and do good deeds to the ranks of the righteous.

wamina l-nāsi man yaqūlu āmannā bil-lahi fa-idhā ūdhiya fī l-lahi jaʿala fit'nata l-nāsi kaʿadhābi l-lahi wala-in jāa naṣrun min rabbika layaqūlunna innā kunnā maʿakum awalaysa l-lahu bi-aʿlama bimā fī ṣudūri l-ʿālamīna

There are some people who say, ‘We believe in God,’ but, when they suffer for His cause, they think that human persecution is as severe as God’s punishment––yet, if any help comes to you [Prophet] from your Lord, they will say, ‘We have always been with you’. Does God not know best what is in everyone’s hearts?

walayaʿlamanna l-lahu alladhīna āmanū walayaʿlamanna l-munāfiqīna

God will be sure to mark out which ones are the believers, and which the hypocrites.

waqāla alladhīna kafarū lilladhīna āmanū ittabiʿū sabīlanā walnaḥmil khaṭāyākum wamā hum biḥāmilīna min khaṭāyāhum min shayin innahum lakādhibūna

Those who disbelieve say to the believers, ‘Follow our path and we shall bear [the consequences for] your sins,’ yet they will not do so––they are liars.

walayaḥmilunna athqālahum wa-athqālan maʿa athqālihim walayus'alunna yawma l-qiyāmati ʿammā kānū yaftarūna

They will bear their own burdens and others besides: they will be questioned about their false assertions on the Day of Resurrection.

walaqad arsalnā nūḥan ilā qawmihi falabitha fīhim alfa sanatin illā khamsīna ʿāman fa-akhadhahumu l-ṭūfānu wahum ẓālimūna

We sent Noah out to his people. He lived among them for fifty years short of a thousand but when the Flood overwhelmed them they were still doing evil.

fa-anjaynāhu wa-aṣḥāba l-safīnati wajaʿalnāhā āyatan lil'ʿālamīna

We saved him and those with him on the Ark. We made this a sign for all people.

wa-ib'rāhīma idh qāla liqawmihi uʿ'budū l-laha wa-ittaqūhu dhālikum khayrun lakum in kuntum taʿlamūna

We also sent Abraham. He said to his people, ‘Serve God and be mindful of Him: that is better for you, if only you knew.

innamā taʿbudūna min dūni l-lahi awthānan watakhluqūna if'kan inna alladhīna taʿbudūna min dūni l-lahi lā yamlikūna lakum riz'qan fa-ib'taghū ʿinda l-lahi l-riz'qa wa-uʿ'budūhu wa-ush'kurū lahu ilayhi tur'jaʿūna

What you worship instead of God are mere idols; what you invent is nothing but falsehood. Those you serve instead of God have no power to give you provisions, so seek provisions from God, serve Him, and give Him thanks: you will all be returned to Him.

wa-in tukadhibū faqad kadhaba umamun min qablikum wamā ʿalā l-rasūli illā l-balāghu l-mubīnu

If you say this is a lie, [be warned that] other communities before you said the same. The messenger’s only duty is to give clear warning.’

awalam yaraw kayfa yub'di-u l-lahu l-khalqa thumma yuʿīduhu inna dhālika ʿalā l-lahi yasīrun

Do they not see that God brings life into being and reproduces it? Truly this is easy for God.

qul sīrū fī l-arḍi fa-unẓurū kayfa bada-a l-khalqa thumma l-lahu yunshi-u l-nashata l-ākhirata inna l-laha ʿalā kulli shayin qadīrun

Say, ‘Travel throughout the earth and see how He brings life into being: and He will bring the next life into being. God has power over all things.

yuʿadhibu man yashāu wayarḥamu man yashāu wa-ilayhi tuq'labūna

He punishes whoever He will and shows mercy to whoever He will. You will all be returned to Him.

wamā antum bimuʿ'jizīna fī l-arḍi walā fī l-samāi wamā lakum min dūni l-lahi min waliyyin walā naṣīrin

You cannot escape Him on earth or in the heavens; you will have no one to protect or help you besides God.’

wa-alladhīna kafarū biāyāti l-lahi waliqāihi ulāika ya-isū min raḥmatī wa-ulāika lahum ʿadhābun alīmun

Those who deny God’s Revelation and their meeting with Him have no hope of receiving My grace: they will have a grievous torment.

famā kāna jawāba qawmihi illā an qālū uq'tulūhu aw ḥarriqūhu fa-anjāhu l-lahu mina l-nāri inna fī dhālika laāyātin liqawmin yu'minūna

The only answer Abraham’s people gave was, ‘Kill him or burn him!’ but God saved him from the Fire: there truly are signs in this for people who believe.

waqāla innamā ittakhadhtum min dūni l-lahi awthānan mawaddata baynikum fī l-ḥayati l-dun'yā thumma yawma l-qiyāmati yakfuru baʿḍukum bibaʿḍin wayalʿanu baʿḍukum baʿḍan wamawākumu l-nāru wamā lakum min nāṣirīna

Abraham said to them, ‘You have chosen idols instead of God but your love for them will only last for the present life: on the Day of Resurrection, you will disown and reject one another. Hell will be your home and no one will help you.’

faāmana lahu lūṭun waqāla innī muhājirun ilā rabbī innahu huwa l-ʿazīzu l-ḥakīmu

Lot believed him, and said, ‘I will flee to my Lord: He is the Almighty, the All Wise.’

wawahabnā lahu is'ḥāqa wayaʿqūba wajaʿalnā fī dhurriyyatihi l-nubuwata wal-kitāba waātaynāhu ajrahu fī l-dun'yā wa-innahu fī l-ākhirati lamina l-ṣāliḥīna

We gave Isaac and Jacob to Abraham, and placed prophethood and Scripture among his offspring. We gave him his rewards in this world, and in the life to come he will be among the righteous.

walūṭan idh qāla liqawmihi innakum latatūna l-fāḥishata mā sabaqakum bihā min aḥadin mina l-ʿālamīna

And Lot: when He said to his people, ‘You practise outrageous acts that no people before you have ever committed.

a-innakum latatūna l-rijāla wataqṭaʿūna l-sabīla watatūna fī nādīkumu l-munkara famā kāna jawāba qawmihi illā an qālū i'tinā biʿadhābi l-lahi in kunta mina l-ṣādiqīna

How can you lust after men, waylay travellers, and commit evil in your gatherings?’ the only answer his people gave was, ‘Bring God’s punishment down on us, if what you say is true.’

qāla rabbi unṣur'nī ʿalā l-qawmi l-muf'sidīna

So he prayed, ‘My Lord, help me against these people who spread corruption.’

walammā jāat rusulunā ib'rāhīma bil-bush'rā qālū innā muh'likū ahli hādhihi l-qaryati inna ahlahā kānū ẓālimīna

When Our mes-sengers brought the good news [of the birth of a son] to Abraham,they told him, ‘We are about to destroy the people of that town. They are wrongdoers.’

qāla inna fīhā lūṭan qālū naḥnu aʿlamu biman fīhā lanunajjiyannahu wa-ahlahu illā im'ra-atahu kānat mina l-ghābirīna

Abraham said, ‘But Lot lives there.’ They answered, ‘We know who lives there better than you do. We shall save him and his household, except for his wife: she will be one of those who stay behind.’

walammā an jāat rusulunā lūṭan sīa bihim waḍāqa bihim dharʿan waqālū lā takhaf walā taḥzan innā munajjūka wa-ahlaka illā im'ra-ataka kānat mina l-ghābirīna

When Our messengers came to Lot, he was troubled and distressed on their account. They said, ‘Have no fear or grief: we shall certainly save you and your household, except for your wife- she will be one of those who stay behind-

innā munzilūna ʿalā ahli hādhihi l-qaryati rij'zan mina l-samāi bimā kānū yafsuqūna

and we shall send a punishment from heaven down on the people of this town because they violate [God’s order].’

walaqad taraknā min'hā āyatan bayyinatan liqawmin yaʿqilūna

We left some [of the town] there as a clear sign for those who use their reason.

wa-ilā madyana akhāhum shuʿayban faqāla yāqawmi uʿ'budū l-laha wa-ir'jū l-yawma l-ākhira walā taʿthaw fī l-arḍi muf'sidīna

To the people of Midian We sent their brother Shuayb. He said, ‘My people, serve God and think ahead to the Last Day. Do not commit evil and spread corruption in the land.’

fakadhabūhu fa-akhadhathumu l-rajfatu fa-aṣbaḥū fī dārihim jāthimīna

They rejected him and so the earthquake overtook them. When morning came, they were lying dead in their homes.

waʿādan wathamūdā waqad tabayyana lakum min masākinihim wazayyana lahumu l-shayṭānu aʿmālahum faṣaddahum ʿani l-sabīli wakānū mus'tabṣirīna

[Remember] the tribes of 'Ad and Thamud: their history is made clear to you by [what is left of] their dwelling places. Satan made their foul deeds seem alluring to them and barred them from the right way, though they were capable of seeing.

waqārūna wafir'ʿawna wahāmāna walaqad jāahum mūsā bil-bayināti fa-is'takbarū fī l-arḍi wamā kānū sābiqīna

[Remember] Qarun and Pharaoh and Haman: Moses brought them clear signs, but they behaved arrogantly on earth. They could not escape Us

fakullan akhadhnā bidhanbihi famin'hum man arsalnā ʿalayhi ḥāṣiban wamin'hum man akhadhathu l-ṣayḥatu wamin'hum man khasafnā bihi l-arḍa wamin'hum man aghraqnā wamā kāna l-lahu liyaẓlimahum walākin kānū anfusahum yaẓlimūna

and We punished each one of them for their sins: some We struck with a violent storm; some were overcome by a sudden blast; some We made the earth swallow; and some We drowned. It was not God who wronged them; they wronged themselves.

mathalu alladhīna ittakhadhū min dūni l-lahi awliyāa kamathali l-ʿankabūti ittakhadhat baytan wa-inna awhana l-buyūti labaytu l-ʿankabūti law kānū yaʿlamūna

Those who take protectors other than God can be compared to spiders building themselves houses- the spider’s is the frailest of all houses- if only they could understand.

inna l-laha yaʿlamu mā yadʿūna min dūnihi min shayin wahuwa l-ʿazīzu l-ḥakīmu

God knows what things they call upon beside Him: He is the Mighty, the Wise.

watil'ka l-amthālu naḍribuhā lilnnāsi wamā yaʿqiluhā illā l-ʿālimūna

Such are the comparisons We draw for people, though only the wise can grasp them.

khalaqa l-lahu l-samāwāti wal-arḍa bil-ḥaqi inna fī dhālika laāyatan lil'mu'minīna

God has created the heavens and earth for a true purpose. There truly is a sign in this for those who believe.

ut'lu mā ūḥiya ilayka mina l-kitābi wa-aqimi l-ṣalata inna l-ṣalata tanhā ʿani l-faḥshāi wal-munkari waladhik'ru l-lahi akbaru wal-lahu yaʿlamu mā taṣnaʿūna

[Prophet], recite what has been revealed to you of the Scripture; keep up the prayer: prayer restrains outrageous and unacceptable behaviour. Remembering God is greater: God knows everything you are doing.

walā tujādilū ahla l-kitābi illā bi-allatī hiya aḥsanu illā alladhīna ẓalamū min'hum waqūlū āmannā bi-alladhī unzila ilaynā wa-unzila ilaykum wa-ilāhunā wa-ilāhukum wāḥidun wanaḥnu lahu mus'limūna

[Believers], argue only in the best way with the People of the Book, except with those of them who act unjustly. Say, ‘We believe in what was revealed to us and in what was revealed to you; our God and your God are one [and the same]; we are devoted to Him.’

wakadhālika anzalnā ilayka l-kitāba fa-alladhīna ātaynāhumu l-kitāba yu'minūna bihi wamin hāulāi man yu'minu bihi wamā yajḥadu biāyātinā illā l-kāfirūna

This is the way We sent the Scripture to you [Muhammad]. Those to whom We had already given Scripture believe in [the Quran] and so do some of these people. No one refuses to acknowledge Our revelations but the defiant.

wamā kunta tatlū min qablihi min kitābin walā takhuṭṭuhu biyamīnika idhan la-ir'tāba l-mub'ṭilūna

You never recited any Scripture before We revealed this one to you; you never wrote one down with your hand. If you had done so, those who follow falsehood might have had cause to doubt.

bal huwa āyātun bayyinātun fī ṣudūri alladhīna ūtū l-ʿil'ma wamā yajḥadu biāyātinā illā l-ẓālimūna

But no, [this Quran] is a revelation that is clear to the hearts of those endowed with knowledge. No one refuses to acknowledge Our revelations but the evildoers.

waqālū lawlā unzila ʿalayhi āyātun min rabbihi qul innamā l-āyātu ʿinda l-lahi wa-innamā anā nadhīrun mubīnun

They say, ‘Why have no miracles been sent to him by his Lord?’ Say, ‘Miracles lie in God’s hands; I am simply here to warn you plainly.’

awalam yakfihim annā anzalnā ʿalayka l-kitāba yut'lā ʿalayhim inna fī dhālika laraḥmatan wadhik'rā liqawmin yu'minūna

Do they not think it is enough that We have sent down to you the Scripture that is recited to them? There is a mercy in this and a lesson for believing people.

qul kafā bil-lahi baynī wabaynakum shahīdan yaʿlamu mā fī l-samāwāti wal-arḍi wa-alladhīna āmanū bil-bāṭili wakafarū bil-lahi ulāika humu l-khāsirūna

Say, ‘God is sufficient witness between me and you: He knows what is in the heavens and earth. Those who believe in false deities and deny God will be the losers.’

wayastaʿjilūnaka bil-ʿadhābi walawlā ajalun musamman lajāahumu l-ʿadhābu walayatiyannahum baghtatan wahum lā yashʿurūna

They challenge you to hasten the punishment: they would already have received a punishment if God had not set a time for it, and indeed it will come to them suddenly and catch them unawares.

yastaʿjilūnaka bil-ʿadhābi wa-inna jahannama lamuḥīṭatun bil-kāfirīna

They challenge you to hasten the punishment: Hell will encompass all those who deny the truth,

yawma yaghshāhumu l-ʿadhābu min fawqihim wamin taḥti arjulihim wayaqūlu dhūqū mā kuntum taʿmalūna

on the Day when punishment overwhelms them from above and from below their very feet, and they will be told, ‘Now taste the punishment for what you used to do.’

yāʿibādiya alladhīna āmanū inna arḍī wāsiʿatun fa-iyyāya fa-uʿ'budūni

My believing servants! My earth is vast, so worship Me and Me alone.

kullu nafsin dhāiqatu l-mawti thumma ilaynā tur'jaʿūna

Every soul will taste death, then it is to Us that you will be returned.

wa-alladhīna āmanū waʿamilū l-ṣāliḥāti lanubawwi-annahum mina l-janati ghurafan tajrī min taḥtihā l-anhāru khālidīna fīhā niʿ'ma ajru l-ʿāmilīna

We shall lodge those who believed and did good deeds in lofty dwellings, in the Garden graced with flowing streams, there to remain. How excellent is the reward of those who labour,

alladhīna ṣabarū waʿalā rabbihim yatawakkalūna

those who are steadfast, those who put their trust in their Lord!

waka-ayyin min dābbatin lā taḥmilu riz'qahā l-lahu yarzuquhā wa-iyyākum wahuwa l-samīʿu l-ʿalīmu

How many are the creatures who do not store their sustenance! God sustains them and you: He alone is the All Hearing, the All Knowing.

wala-in sa-altahum man khalaqa l-samāwāti wal-arḍa wasakhara l-shamsa wal-qamara layaqūlunna l-lahu fa-annā yu'fakūna

If you ask the disbelievers who created the heavens and earth and who harnessed the sun and moon, they are sure to say, ‘God.’ Then why do they turn away from Him?

al-lahu yabsuṭu l-riz'qa liman yashāu min ʿibādihi wayaqdiru lahu inna l-laha bikulli shayin ʿalīmun

It is God who gives abundantly to whichever of His servants He will, and sparingly to whichever He will: He has full knowledge of everything.

wala-in sa-altahum man nazzala mina l-samāi māan fa-aḥyā bihi l-arḍa min baʿdi mawtihā layaqūlunna l-lahu quli l-ḥamdu lillahi bal aktharuhum lā yaʿqilūna

If you ask them, ‘Who sends water down from the sky and gives life with it to the earth after it has died?’ they are sure to say, ‘God.’ Say, ‘Praise belongs to God!’ Truly, most of them do not use their reason.

wamā hādhihi l-ḥayatu l-dun'yā illā lahwun walaʿibun wa-inna l-dāra l-ākhirata lahiya l-ḥayawānu law kānū yaʿlamūna

The life of this world is merely an amusement and a diversion; the true life is in the Hereafter, if only they knew.

fa-idhā rakibū fī l-ful'ki daʿawū l-laha mukh'liṣīna lahu l-dīna falammā najjāhum ilā l-bari idhā hum yush'rikūna

Whenever they go on board a ship they call on God, and dedicate their faith to Him alone, but once He has delivered them safely back to land, see how they ascribe partners to Him!

liyakfurū bimā ātaynāhum waliyatamattaʿū fasawfa yaʿlamūna

Let them show their ingratitude for what We have given them; let them take their enjoyment- soon they will know.

awalam yaraw annā jaʿalnā ḥaraman āminan wayutakhaṭṭafu l-nāsu min ḥawlihim afabil-bāṭili yu'minūna wabiniʿ'mati l-lahi yakfurūna

Can they not see that We have made [them] a secure sanctuary though all around them people are snatched away? Then how can they believe in what is false and deny God’s blessing?

waman aẓlamu mimmani if'tarā ʿalā l-lahi kadhiban aw kadhaba bil-ḥaqi lammā jāahu alaysa fī jahannama mathwan lil'kāfirīna

Who could be more wicked than the person who invents lies about God, or denies the truth when it comes to him? Is Hell not the home for the disbelievers?

wa-alladhīna jāhadū fīnā lanahdiyannahum subulanā wa-inna l-laha lamaʿa l-muḥ'sinīna

But We shall be sure to guide to Our ways those who strive hard for Our cause: God is with those who do good.