An-Naml

tta-seen til'ka āyātu l-qur'āni wakitābin mubīnin

Ta Sin These are the verses of the Quran––a scripture that makes things clear;

hudan wabush'rā lil'mu'minīna

a guide and joyful news for the believers

alladhīna yuqīmūna l-ṣalata wayu'tūna l-zakata wahum bil-ākhirati hum yūqinūna

who keep up the prayer, pay the prescribed alms, and believe firmly in the life to come.

inna alladhīna lā yu'minūna bil-ākhirati zayyannā lahum aʿmālahum fahum yaʿmahūna

As for those who do not believe in the life to come, We have made their deeds seem alluring to them, so they wander blindly:

ulāika alladhīna lahum sūu l-ʿadhābi wahum fī l-ākhirati humu l-akhsarūna

it is they who will have the worst suffering, and will be the ones to lose most in the life to come.

wa-innaka latulaqqā l-qur'āna min ladun ḥakīmin ʿalīmin

You [Prophet] receive the Quran from One who is all wise, all knowing.

idh qāla mūsā li-ahlihi innī ānastu nāran saātīkum min'hā bikhabarin aw ātīkum bishihābin qabasin laʿallakum taṣṭalūna

Moses said to his family, ‘I have seen a fire. I will bring you news from there, or a burning stick for you to warm yourselves.’

falammā jāahā nūdiya an būrika man fī l-nāri waman ḥawlahā wasub'ḥāna l-lahi rabbi l-ʿālamīna

When he reached the fire, a voice called: ‘Blessed is the person near this fireand those around it; may God be exalted, the Lord of the Worlds.

yāmūsā innahu anā l-lahu l-ʿazīzu l-ḥakīmu

Moses, I am God, the Mighty, the Wise.

wa-alqi ʿaṣāka falammā raāhā tahtazzu ka-annahā jānnun wallā mud'biran walam yuʿaqqib yāmūsā lā takhaf innī lā yakhāfu ladayya l-mur'salūna

Throw down your staff,’ but when he saw it moving like a snake, he turned and fled. ‘Moses, do not be afraid! The messengers need have no fear in My presence,

illā man ẓalama thumma baddala ḥus'nan baʿda sūin fa-innī ghafūrun raḥīmun

I am truly most forgiving and merciful to those who do wrong,and then replace their evil with good.

wa-adkhil yadaka fī jaybika takhruj bayḍāa min ghayri sūin fī tis'ʿi āyātin ilā fir'ʿawna waqawmihi innahum kānū qawman fāsiqīna

Put your hand inside your cloak and it will come out white, but unharmed. These are among the nine signs that you will show Pharaoh and his people; they have really gone too far.’

falammā jāathum āyātunā mub'ṣiratan qālū hādhā siḥ'run mubīnun

But when Our enlightening signs came to them, they said, ‘This is clearly [just] sorcery!’

wajaḥadū bihā wa-is'tayqanathā anfusuhum ẓul'man waʿuluwwan fa-unẓur kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu l-muf'sidīna

They denied them, in their wickedness and their pride, even though their souls acknowledged them as true. See how those who spread corruption met their end!

walaqad ātaynā dāwūda wasulaymāna ʿil'man waqālā l-ḥamdu lillahi alladhī faḍḍalanā ʿalā kathīrin min ʿibādihi l-mu'minīna

We gave knowledge to David and Solomon, and they both said, ‘Praise be to God, who has favoured us over many of His believing servants.’

wawaritha sulaymānu dāwūda waqāla yāayyuhā l-nāsu ʿullim'nā manṭiqa l-ṭayri waūtīnā min kulli shayin inna hādhā lahuwa l-faḍlu l-mubīnu

Solomon succeeded David. He said, ‘People, we have been taught the speech of birds, and we have been given a share of everything: this is a clearly a great favour.’

waḥushira lisulaymāna junūduhu mina l-jini wal-insi wal-ṭayri fahum yūzaʿūna

Solomon’s hosts of jinn, men, and birds were marshalled in ordered ranks before him,

ḥattā idhā ataw ʿalā wādi l-namli qālat namlatun yāayyuhā l-namlu ud'khulū masākinakum lā yaḥṭimannakum sulaymānu wajunūduhu wahum lā yashʿurūna

and when they came to the Valley of the Ants, one ant said, ‘Ants! Go into your homes, in case Solomon and his hosts unwittingly crush you.’

fatabassama ḍāḥikan min qawlihā waqāla rabbi awziʿ'nī an ashkura niʿ'mataka allatī anʿamta ʿalayya waʿalā wālidayya wa-an aʿmala ṣāliḥan tarḍāhu wa-adkhil'nī biraḥmatika fī ʿibādika l-ṣāliḥīna

Solomon smiled broadly at her words and said, ‘Lord, inspire me to be thankful for the blessings You have granted me and my parents, and to do good deeds that please You; admit me by Your grace into the ranks of Your righteous servants.’

watafaqqada l-ṭayra faqāla mā liya lā arā l-hud'huda am kāna mina l-ghāibīna

Solomon inspected the birds and said, ‘Why do I not see the hoopoe? Is he absent?

la-uʿadhibannahu ʿadhāban shadīdan aw laādh'baḥannahu aw layatiyannī bisul'ṭānin mubīnin

I will punish him severely, or kill him, unless he brings me a convincing excuse for his absence.’

famakatha ghayra baʿīdin faqāla aḥaṭtu bimā lam tuḥiṭ bihi waji'tuka min saba-in binaba-in yaqīnin

But the hoopoe did not stay away long: he came and said, ‘I have learned something you did not know: I come to you from Sheba with firm news.

innī wajadttu im'ra-atan tamlikuhum waūtiyat min kulli shayin walahā ʿarshun ʿaẓīmun

I found a woman ruling over the people, who has been given a share of everything- she has a magnificent throne-

wajadttuhā waqawmahā yasjudūna lilshamsi min dūni l-lahi wazayyana lahumu l-shayṭānu aʿmālahum faṣaddahum ʿani l-sabīli fahum lā yahtadūna

[but] I found that she and her people worshipped the sun instead of God. Satan has made their deeds seem alluring to them, and diverted them from the right path: they cannot find the right path.

allā yasjudū lillahi alladhī yukh'riju l-khaba-a fī l-samāwāti wal-arḍi wayaʿlamu mā tukh'fūna wamā tuʿ'linūna

Should they not worship God, who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and earth and knows both what you people conceal and what you declare?

al-lahu lā ilāha illā huwa rabbu l-ʿarshi l-ʿaẓīmi

He is God, there is no god but Him, the Lord of the mighty throne.’

qāla sananẓuru aṣadaqta am kunta mina l-kādhibīna

Solomon said, ‘We shall see whether you are telling the truth or lying.

idh'hab bikitābī hādhā fa-alqih ilayhim thumma tawalla ʿanhum fa-unẓur mādhā yarjiʿūna

Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them, then withdraw and see what answer they send back.’

qālat yāayyuhā l-mala-u innī ul'qiya ilayya kitābun karīmun

The Queen of Sheba said, ‘Counsellors, a gracious letter has been delivered to me.

innahu min sulaymāna wa-innahu bis'mi l-lahi l-raḥmāni l-raḥīmi

It is from Solomon, and it says, “In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy,

allā taʿlū ʿalayya watūnī mus'limīna

do not put yourselves above me, and come to me in submission to God.”’

qālat yāayyuhā l-mala-u aftūnī fī amrī mā kuntu qāṭiʿatan amran ḥattā tashhadūni

She said, ‘Counsellors, give me your counsel in the matter I now face: I only ever decide on matters in your presence.’

qālū naḥnu ulū quwwatin wa-ulū basin shadīdin wal-amru ilayki fa-unẓurī mādhā tamurīna

They replied, ‘We possess great force and power in war, but you are in command, so consider what orders to give us.’

qālat inna l-mulūka idhā dakhalū qaryatan afsadūhā wajaʿalū aʿizzata ahlihā adhillatan wakadhālika yafʿalūna

She said, ‘Whenever kings go into a city, they ruin it and humiliate its leaders- that is what they do-

wa-innī mur'silatun ilayhim bihadiyyatin fanāẓiratun bima yarjiʿu l-mur'salūna

but I am going to send them a gift, then see what answer my envoys bring back.’

falammā jāa sulaymāna qāla atumiddūnani bimālin famā ātāniya l-lahu khayrun mimmā ātākum bal antum bihadiyyatikum tafraḥūna

When her envoy came to Solomon, Solomon said, ‘What! Are you offering me wealth? What God has given me is better than what He has given you, though you rejoice in this gift of yours.

ir'jiʿ ilayhim falanatiyannahum bijunūdin lā qibala lahum bihā walanukh'rijannahum min'hā adhillatan wahum ṣāghirūna

Go back to your people: we shall certainly come upon them with irresistible forces, and drive them, disgraced and humbled, from their land.’

qāla yāayyuhā l-mala-u ayyukum yatīnī biʿarshihā qabla an yatūnī mus'limīna

Then he said, ‘Counsellors, which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?’

qāla ʿif'rītun mina l-jini anā ātīka bihi qabla an taqūma min maqāmika wa-innī ʿalayhi laqawiyyun amīnun

A powerful and crafty jinn replied, ‘I will bring it to you before you can even rise from your place. I am strong and trustworthy enough,’

qāla alladhī ʿindahu ʿil'mun mina l-kitābi anā ātīka bihi qabla an yartadda ilayka ṭarfuka falammā raāhu mus'taqirran ʿindahu qāla hādhā min faḍli rabbī liyabluwanī a-ashkuru am akfuru waman shakara fa-innamā yashkuru linafsihi waman kafara fa-inna rabbī ghaniyyun karīmun

but one of them who had some knowledge of the Scripture said, ‘I will bring it to you in the twinkling of an eye.’ When Solomon saw it set before him, he said, ‘This is a favour from my Lord, to test whether I am grateful or not: if anyone is grateful, it is for his own good, if anyone is ungrateful, then my Lord is self-sufficient and most generous.’

qāla nakkirū lahā ʿarshahā nanẓur atahtadī am takūnu mina alladhīna lā yahtadūna

Then he said, ‘Disguise her throne, and we shall see whether or not she recognizes it.’

falammā jāat qīla ahākadhā ʿarshuki qālat ka-annahu huwa waūtīnā l-ʿil'ma min qablihā wakunnā mus'limīna

When she arrived, she was asked, ‘Is this your throne?’ She replied, ‘It looks like it.’ [Solomon said], ‘We were given knowledge before her, and we devoted ourselves to God;

waṣaddahā mā kānat taʿbudu min dūni l-lahi innahā kānat min qawmin kāfirīna

she was prevented by what she worshipped instead of God, for she came from a disbelieving people.’

qīla lahā ud'khulī l-ṣarḥa falammā ra-athu ḥasibathu lujjatan wakashafat ʿan sāqayhā qāla innahu ṣarḥun mumarradun min qawārīra qālat rabbi innī ẓalamtu nafsī wa-aslamtu maʿa sulaymāna lillahi rabbi l-ʿālamīna

Then it was said to her, ‘Enter the hall,’ but when she saw it, she thought it was a deep pool of water, and bared her legs. Solomon explained, ‘It is just a hall paved with glass,’ and she said, ‘My Lord, I have wronged myself: I devote myself, with Solomon, to God, the Lord of the Worlds.’

walaqad arsalnā ilā thamūda akhāhum ṣāliḥan ani uʿ'budū l-laha fa-idhā hum farīqāni yakhtaṣimūna

To the people of Thamud We sent their brother, Salih, saying, ‘Worship God alone,’ but they split into two rival factions.

qāla yāqawmi lima tastaʿjilūna bil-sayi-ati qabla l-ḥasanati lawlā tastaghfirūna l-laha laʿallakum tur'ḥamūna

Salih said, ‘My people, why do you rush to bring [forward] what is bad rather than good? Why do you not ask forgiveness of God, so that you may be given mercy?’

qālū iṭṭayyarnā bika wabiman maʿaka qāla ṭāirukum ʿinda l-lahi bal antum qawmun tuf'tanūna

They said, ‘We see you and your fol-lowers as an evil omen.’ He replied, ‘God will decide on any omen you may see: you people are being put to the test.’

wakāna fī l-madīnati tis'ʿatu rahṭin yuf'sidūna fī l-arḍi walā yuṣ'liḥūna

There were nine men in the city who spread corruption in the land without making amends.

qālū taqāsamū bil-lahi lanubayyitannahu wa-ahlahu thumma lanaqūlanna liwaliyyihi mā shahid'nā mahlika ahlihi wa-innā laṣādiqūna

They said, ‘Swear by God: we shall attack this man and his household in the night, then say to his next of kin, “We did not witness the destruction of his household. We are telling the truth.”’

wamakarū makran wamakarnā makran wahum lā yashʿurūna

So they devised their evil plan, but We too made a plan of which they were unaware.

fa-unẓur kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu makrihim annā dammarnāhum waqawmahum ajmaʿīna

See how their scheming ended: We destroyed them utterly, along with all their people.

fatil'ka buyūtuhum khāwiyatan bimā ẓalamū inna fī dhālika laāyatan liqawmin yaʿlamūna

As a result of their evil deeds, their homes are desolate ruins- there truly is a sign in this for those who know-

wa-anjaynā alladhīna āmanū wakānū yattaqūna

but We saved those who believed and were mindful of God.

walūṭan idh qāla liqawmihi atatūna l-fāḥishata wa-antum tub'ṣirūna

We also sent Lot to his people. He said to them, ‘How can you commit this outrage with your eyes wide open?

a-innakum latatūna l-rijāla shahwatan min dūni l-nisāi bal antum qawmun tajhalūna

How can you lust after men instead of women? What fools you are!’

famā kāna jawāba qawmihi illā an qālū akhrijū āla lūṭin min qaryatikum innahum unāsun yataṭahharūna

The only answer his people gave was to say, ‘Expel Lot’s followers from your town! These men mean to stay chaste!’

fa-anjaynāhu wa-ahlahu illā im'ra-atahu qaddarnāhā mina l-ghābirīna

We saved him and his family- except for his wife: We made her stay behind-

wa-amṭarnā ʿalayhim maṭaran fasāa maṭaru l-mundharīna

and We brought rain down on them. How dreadful that rain was for those who had been warned!

quli l-ḥamdu lillahi wasalāmun ʿalā ʿibādihi alladhīna iṣ'ṭafā āllahu khayrun ammā yush'rikūna

Say [Prophet], ‘Praise be to God and peace on the servants He has chosen. Who is better: God, or those they set up as partners with Him?

amman khalaqa l-samāwāti wal-arḍa wa-anzala lakum mina l-samāi māan fa-anbatnā bihi ḥadāiqa dhāta bahjatin mā kāna lakum an tunbitū shajarahā a-ilāhun maʿa l-lahi bal hum qawmun yaʿdilūna

Who created the heavens and earth? Who sends down water from the sky for you- with which We cause gardens of delight to grow: you have no power to make the trees grow in them- is it another god beside God? No! But they are people who take others to be equal with God.

amman jaʿala l-arḍa qarāran wajaʿala khilālahā anhāran wajaʿala lahā rawāsiya wajaʿala bayna l-baḥrayni ḥājizan a-ilāhun maʿa l-lahi bal aktharuhum lā yaʿlamūna

Who is it that made the earth a stable place to live? Who made rivers flow through it? Who set immovable mountains on it and created a barrier between the fresh and salt water? Is it another god beside God? No! But most of them do not know.

amman yujību l-muḍ'ṭara idhā daʿāhu wayakshifu l-sūa wayajʿalukum khulafāa l-arḍi a-ilāhun maʿa l-lahi qalīlan mā tadhakkarūna

Who is it that answers the distressed when they call upon Him? Who removes their suffering? Who makes you successors in the earth? Is it another god beside God? Little notice you take!

amman yahdīkum fī ẓulumāti l-bari wal-baḥri waman yur'silu l-riyāḥa bush'ran bayna yaday raḥmatihi a-ilāhun maʿa l-lahi taʿālā l-lahu ʿammā yush'rikūna

Who is it that guides you through the darkness on land and sea? Who sends the winds as heralds of good news before His mercy? Is it another god beside God? God is far above the partners they put beside him!

amman yabda-u l-khalqa thumma yuʿīduhu waman yarzuqukum mina l-samāi wal-arḍi a-ilāhun maʿa l-lahi qul hātū bur'hānakum in kuntum ṣādiqīna

Who is it that creates life and reproduces it? Who is it that gives you provision from the heavens and earth? Is it another god beside God?’ Say, ‘Show me your evidence then, if what you say is true.’

qul lā yaʿlamu man fī l-samāwāti wal-arḍi l-ghayba illā l-lahu wamā yashʿurūna ayyāna yub'ʿathūna

Say, ‘No one in the heavens or on earth knows the unseen except God.’ They do not know when they will be raised from the dead:

bali iddāraka ʿil'muhum fī l-ākhirati bal hum fī shakkin min'hā bal hum min'hā ʿamūna

their knowledge cannot comprehend the Hereafter; they are in doubt about it; they are blind to it.

waqāla alladhīna kafarū a-idhā kunnā turāban waābāunā a-innā lamukh'rajūna

So the disbelievers say, ‘What! When we and our forefathers have become dust, shall we be brought back to life again?

laqad wuʿid'nā hādhā naḥnu waābāunā min qablu in hādhā illā asāṭīru l-awalīna

We have heard such promises before, and so did our forefathers. These are just ancient fables.’

qul sīrū fī l-arḍi fa-unẓurū kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu l-muj'rimīna

[Prophet], say, ‘Travel through the earth and see how the evildoers ended up.’

walā taḥzan ʿalayhim walā takun fī ḍayqin mimmā yamkurūna

[Prophet], do not grieve over them; do not be distressed by their schemes.

wayaqūlūna matā hādhā l-waʿdu in kuntum ṣādiqīna

They also say, ‘When will this promise be fulfilled if what you say is true?’

qul ʿasā an yakūna radifa lakum baʿḍu alladhī tastaʿjilūna

Say, ‘Maybe some of what you seek to hasten is near at hand.’

wa-inna rabbaka ladhū faḍlin ʿalā l-nāsi walākinna aktharahum lā yashkurūna

Your Lord is bountiful to people, though most of them are ungrateful.

wa-inna rabbaka layaʿlamu mā tukinnu ṣudūruhum wamā yuʿ'linūna

He knows everything their hearts conceal and everything they reveal:

wamā min ghāibatin fī l-samāi wal-arḍi illā fī kitābin mubīnin

there is nothing hidden in the heavens or on earth that is not in a clear Record.

inna hādhā l-qur'āna yaquṣṣu ʿalā banī is'rāīla akthara alladhī hum fīhi yakhtalifūna

Truly, this Quran explains to the Children of Israel most of what they differ about,

wa-innahu lahudan waraḥmatun lil'mu'minīna

and it is guidance and grace for those who believe.

inna rabbaka yaqḍī baynahum biḥuk'mihi wahuwa l-ʿazīzu l-ʿalīmu

Truly, your Lord will judge between them in His wisdom- He is the Almighty, the All Knowing-

fatawakkal ʿalā l-lahi innaka ʿalā l-ḥaqi l-mubīni

so [Prophet], put your trust in God, you are on the path of clear truth.

innaka lā tus'miʿu l-mawtā walā tus'miʿu l-ṣuma l-duʿāa idhā wallaw mud'birīna

You cannot make the dead hear, you cannot make the deaf listen to your call when they turn their backs and leave,

wamā anta bihādī l-ʿum'yi ʿan ḍalālatihim in tus'miʿu illā man yu'minu biāyātinā fahum mus'limūna

you cannot guide the blind out of their error: you cannot make anyone hear you except those who believe in Our signs and submit [to Us].

wa-idhā waqaʿa l-qawlu ʿalayhim akhrajnā lahum dābbatan mina l-arḍi tukallimuhum anna l-nāsa kānū biāyātinā lā yūqinūna

When the verdict is given against them, We shall bring a creature out of the earth, which will tell them that people had no faith in Our revelations.

wayawma naḥshuru min kulli ummatin fawjan mimman yukadhibu biāyātinā fahum yūzaʿūna

The Day will come when We gather from every community a crowd of those who disbelieved in Our signs and they will be led in separate groups

ḥattā idhā jāū qāla akadhabtum biāyātī walam tuḥīṭū bihā ʿil'man ammādhā kuntum taʿmalūna

until, when they come before Him, He will say, ‘Did you deny My messages without even taking them in? Or what were you doing?’

wawaqaʿa l-qawlu ʿalayhim bimā ẓalamū fahum lā yanṭiqūna

The verdict will be given against them because of their wrongdoing: they will not speak.

alam yaraw annā jaʿalnā al-layla liyaskunū fīhi wal-nahāra mub'ṣiran inna fī dhālika laāyātin liqawmin yu'minūna

Did they not see that We gave them the night for rest, and the day for light? There truly are signs in this for those who believe.

wayawma yunfakhu fī l-ṣūri fafaziʿa man fī l-samāwāti waman fī l-arḍi illā man shāa l-lahu wakullun atawhu dākhirīna

On the Day the Trumpet sounds, everyone in heaven and on earth will be terrified- except such as God wills- and all will come to Him in utter humility.

watarā l-jibāla taḥsabuhā jāmidatan wahiya tamurru marra l-saḥābi ṣun'ʿa l-lahi alladhī atqana kulla shayin innahu khabīrun bimā tafʿalūna

You will see the mountains and think they are firmly fixed, but they will float away like clouds: this is the handiwork of God who has perfected all things. He is fully aware of what you do:

man jāa bil-ḥasanati falahu khayrun min'hā wahum min fazaʿin yawma-idhin āminūna

whoever comes with a good deed will be rewarded with something better, and be secure from the terrors of that Day,

waman jāa bil-sayi-ati fakubbat wujūhuhum fī l-nāri hal tuj'zawna illā mā kuntum taʿmalūna

but whoever comes with evil deeds will be cast face downwards into the Fire. ‘Are you rewarded for anything except what you have done?’

innamā umir'tu an aʿbuda rabba hādhihi l-baldati alladhī ḥarramahā walahu kullu shayin wa-umir'tu an akūna mina l-mus'limīna

[Say Prophet], ‘What I am commanded to do is to serve the Sustainer of this town, which He has made inviolable. Everything belongs to Him; I am commanded to be one of those devoted to Him;

wa-an atluwā l-qur'āna famani ih'tadā fa-innamā yahtadī linafsihi waman ḍalla faqul innamā anā mina l-mundhirīna

I am commanded to recite the Quran.’ Whoever chooses to follow the right path does so for his own good. Say to whoever deviates from it, ‘I am only here to warn.’

waquli l-ḥamdu lillahi sayurīkum āyātihi fataʿrifūnahā wamā rabbuka bighāfilin ʿammā taʿmalūna

Say, ‘Praise belongs to God: He will show you His signs so that you will recognize them.’ Your Lord is never unmindful of what you all do.