Az-Zukhruf

hha-meem

Ha Mim

wal-kitābi l-mubīni

By the Scripture that makes things clear,

innā jaʿalnāhu qur'ānan ʿarabiyyan laʿallakum taʿqilūna

We have made it a Quran in Arabic so that you [people] may understand.

wa-innahu fī ummi l-kitābi ladaynā laʿaliyyun ḥakīmun

It is truly exalted in the Source of Scripture kept with Us, and full of wisdom.

afanaḍribu ʿankumu l-dhik'ra ṣafḥan an kuntum qawman mus'rifīna

Should We ignore you and turn this revelation away from you because you are insolent people?

wakam arsalnā min nabiyyin fī l-awalīna

We have sent many a prophet to earlier people

wamā yatīhim min nabiyyin illā kānū bihi yastahziūna

and they mocked every one of them,

fa-ahlaknā ashadda min'hum baṭshan wamaḍā mathalu l-awalīna

so We have destroyed mightier people than [the disbelievers of Mecca] and their example has gone down in history.

wala-in sa-altahum man khalaqa l-samāwāti wal-arḍa layaqūlunna khalaqahunna l-ʿazīzu l-ʿalīmu

If you [Prophet] ask them, ‘Who created the heavens and earth?’ they are sure to say, ‘They were created by the Almighty, the All Knowing.’

alladhī jaʿala lakumu l-arḍa mahdan wajaʿala lakum fīhā subulan laʿallakum tahtadūna

It is He who smoothed out the earth for you and traced out routes on it for you to find your way,

wa-alladhī nazzala mina l-samāi māan biqadarin fa-ansharnā bihi baldatan maytan kadhālika tukh'rajūna

who sends water down from the sky in due measure––We resurrect dead land with it, and likewise you will be resurrected from the grave––

wa-alladhī khalaqa l-azwāja kullahā wajaʿala lakum mina l-ful'ki wal-anʿāmi mā tarkabūna

who created every kind of thing, who gave you ships and animals to ride on

litastawū ʿalā ẓuhūrihi thumma tadhkurū niʿ'mata rabbikum idhā is'tawaytum ʿalayhi wataqūlū sub'ḥāna alladhī sakhara lanā hādhā wamā kunnā lahu muq'rinīna

so that you may remember your Lord’s grace when you are seated on them and say, ‘Glory be to Him who has given us control over this; we could not have done it by ourselves.

wa-innā ilā rabbinā lamunqalibūna

Truly it is to our Lord that we are returning.’

wajaʿalū lahu min ʿibādihi juz'an inna l-insāna lakafūrun mubīnun

Yet they assign some of His own servants to Him as offspring!Man is clearly ungrateful!

ami ittakhadha mimmā yakhluqu banātin wa-aṣfākum bil-banīna

Has He taken daughters for Himself and favoured you with sons?

wa-idhā bushira aḥaduhum bimā ḍaraba lilrraḥmāni mathalan ẓalla wajhuhu mus'waddan wahuwa kaẓīmun

When one of them is given news of the birth of a daughter, such as he so readily ascribes to the Lord of Mercy, his face grows dark and he is filled with gloom-

awaman yunasha-u fī l-ḥil'yati wahuwa fī l-khiṣāmi ghayru mubīnin

‘Someone who is brought up amongst trinkets, who cannot put together a clear argument?’

wajaʿalū l-malāikata alladhīna hum ʿibādu l-raḥmāni ināthan ashahidū khalqahum satuk'tabu shahādatuhum wayus'alūna

They consider the angels- God’s servants- to be female. Did they witness their creation? Their claim will be put on record and they will be questioned about it.

waqālū law shāa l-raḥmānu mā ʿabadnāhum mā lahum bidhālika min ʿil'min in hum illā yakhruṣūna

They say, ‘If the Lord of Mercy had willed it, we would not have worshipped them,’ but they do not know that- they are only guessing-

am ātaynāhum kitāban min qablihi fahum bihi mus'tamsikūna

or have We perhaps given them a book before this one, to which they hold fast?

bal qālū innā wajadnā ābāanā ʿalā ummatin wa-innā ʿalā āthārihim muh'tadūna

No indeed! They say, ‘We saw our fathers following this tradition; we are guided by their footsteps.’

wakadhālika mā arsalnā min qablika fī qaryatin min nadhīrin illā qāla mut'rafūhā innā wajadnā ābāanā ʿalā ummatin wa-innā ʿalā āthārihim muq'tadūna

When-ever We sent a messenger before you to warn a township, those corrupted by wealth said, in the same way, ‘We saw our fathers following this tradition; we are only following in their footsteps.’

qāla awalaw ji'tukum bi-ahdā mimmā wajadttum ʿalayhi ābāakum qālū innā bimā ur'sil'tum bihi kāfirūna

The messenger said, ‘Even though I bring you a truer religion than what you saw your fathers following?’ and they replied, ‘But we do not believe the message you bring.’

fa-intaqamnā min'hum fa-unẓur kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu l-mukadhibīna

We punished them: think about how those who rejected the Truth met their end.

wa-idh qāla ib'rāhīmu li-abīhi waqawmihi innanī barāon mimmā taʿbudūna

Abraham said to his father and his people, ‘I renounce what you worship.

illā alladhī faṭaranī fa-innahu sayahdīni

I worship only Him who created me, and it is He who will guide me,’

wajaʿalahā kalimatan bāqiyatan fī ʿaqibihi laʿallahum yarjiʿūna

and he bequeathed these words to his descendants so that they might return [to God].

bal mattaʿtu hāulāi waābāahum ḥattā jāahumu l-ḥaqu warasūlun mubīnun

I have let these people and their fathers enjoy long lives, and now I have given them the Truth and a messenger to make things clear-

walammā jāahumu l-ḥaqu qālū hādhā siḥ'run wa-innā bihi kāfirūna

yet when the Truth came to them, they said, ‘This is sorcery. We do not believe in it,’

waqālū lawlā nuzzila hādhā l-qur'ānu ʿalā rajulin mina l-qaryatayni ʿaẓīmin

and they said, ‘Why was this Quran not sent down to a distinguished man, from either of the two cities?’

ahum yaqsimūna raḥmata rabbika naḥnu qasamnā baynahum maʿīshatahum fī l-ḥayati l-dun'yā warafaʿnā baʿḍahum fawqa baʿḍin darajātin liyattakhidha baʿḍuhum baʿḍan sukh'riyyan waraḥmatu rabbika khayrun mimmā yajmaʿūna

Are they the ones who share out your Lord’s grace? We are the ones who give them their share of livelihood in this world and We have raised some of them above others in rank, so that some may take others into service: your Lord’s grace is better than anything they accumulate.

walawlā an yakūna l-nāsu ummatan wāḥidatan lajaʿalnā liman yakfuru bil-raḥmāni libuyūtihim suqufan min fiḍḍatin wamaʿārija ʿalayhā yaẓharūna

If it were not that all mankind might have become a single nation [of disbelievers], We could have given all those who disbelieve in the Lord of Mercy houses with roofs of silver, sweeping staircases to ascend,

walibuyūtihim abwāban wasururan ʿalayhā yattakiūna

massive gates, couches to sit on,

wazukh'rufan wa-in kullu dhālika lammā matāʿu l-ḥayati l-dun'yā wal-ākhiratu ʿinda rabbika lil'muttaqīna

and golden ornaments. All of these are mere enjoyments of this life; your Lord reserves the next life for those who take heed of Him.

waman yaʿshu ʿan dhik'ri l-raḥmāni nuqayyiḍ lahu shayṭānan fahuwa lahu qarīnun

We assign an evil one as a comrade for whoever turns away from the revelations of the Lord of Mercy:

wa-innahum layaṣuddūnahum ʿani l-sabīli wayaḥsabūna annahum muh'tadūna

evil ones bar people from the right path, even though they may think they are well guided.

ḥattā idhā jāanā qāla yālayta baynī wabaynaka buʿ'da l-mashriqayni fabi'sa l-qarīnu

When such a person comes to Us, he will say [to his comrade], ‘If only you had been as far away from me as east is from west. What an evil comrade!’

walan yanfaʿakumu l-yawma idh ẓalamtum annakum fī l-ʿadhābi mush'tarikūna

[It will be said to them], ‘You have done wrong. Having partners in punishment will not console you today.’

afa-anta tus'miʿu l-ṣuma aw tahdī l-ʿum'ya waman kāna fī ḍalālin mubīnin

Can you [Prophet] make the deaf hear? Or guide either the blind or those who are in gross error?

fa-immā nadhhabanna bika fa-innā min'hum muntaqimūna

Either We shall take you away and punish them- indeed We will-

aw nuriyannaka alladhī waʿadnāhum fa-innā ʿalayhim muq'tadirūna

or We shall let you witness the punishment We threatened them with; We have full power over them.

fa-is'tamsik bi-alladhī ūḥiya ilayka innaka ʿalā ṣirāṭin mus'taqīmin

Hold fast to what has been revealed to you- you truly are on the right path-

wa-innahu ladhik'run laka waliqawmika wasawfa tus'alūna

for it is a reminder for you and your people: you will all be questioned.

wasal man arsalnā min qablika min rusulinā ajaʿalnā min dūni l-raḥmāni ālihatan yuʿ'badūna

Ask the prophets We sent before you: ‘Did We ever appoint any gods to be worshipped besides the Lord of Mercy?’

walaqad arsalnā mūsā biāyātinā ilā fir'ʿawna wamala-ihi faqāla innī rasūlu rabbi l-ʿālamīna

We sent Moses to Pharaoh and his courtiers and he said, ‘I am truly a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds,’

falammā jāahum biāyātinā idhā hum min'hā yaḍḥakūna

but when he presented Our signs to them, they laughed,

wamā nurīhim min āyatin illā hiya akbaru min ukh'tihā wa-akhadhnāhum bil-ʿadhābi laʿallahum yarjiʿūna

even though each sign We showed them was greater than the previous one. We inflicted torment on them so that they might return to the right path.

waqālū yāayyuha l-sāḥiru ud'ʿu lanā rabbaka bimā ʿahida ʿindaka innanā lamuh'tadūna

They said, ‘Sorcerer, call on your Lord for us, by virtue of His pledge to you: we shall certainly accept guidance,’

falammā kashafnā ʿanhumu l-ʿadhāba idhā hum yankuthūna

but as soon as We relieved their torment they broke their word.

wanādā fir'ʿawnu fī qawmihi qāla yāqawmi alaysa lī mul'ku miṣ'ra wahādhihi l-anhāru tajrī min taḥtī afalā tub'ṣirūna

Pharaoh proclaimed to his people, ‘My people, is the Kingdom of Egypt not mine? And these rivers that flow at my feet, are they not mine? Do you not see?

am anā khayrun min hādhā alladhī huwa mahīnun walā yakādu yubīnu

Am I not better than this contemptible wretch who can scarcely express himself?

falawlā ul'qiya ʿalayhi aswiratun min dhahabin aw jāa maʿahu l-malāikatu muq'tarinīna

Why has he not been given any gold bracelets? Why have no angels come to accompany him?’

fa-is'takhaffa qawmahu fa-aṭāʿūhu innahum kānū qawman fāsiqīna

In this way he moved his people to accept and they obeyed him- they were perverse people.

falammā āsafūnā intaqamnā min'hum fa-aghraqnāhum ajmaʿīna

When they provoked Us, We punished and drowned them all:

fajaʿalnāhum salafan wamathalan lil'ākhirīna

We made them a lesson and an example for later people.

walammā ḍuriba ub'nu maryama mathalan idhā qawmuka min'hu yaṣiddūna

When the son of Mary is cited as an example, your people [Prophet] laugh and jeer,

waqālū aālihatunā khayrun am huwa mā ḍarabūhu laka illā jadalan bal hum qawmun khaṣimūna

saying, ‘Are our gods better or him?’- they cite him only to challenge you: they are a contentious people-

in huwa illā ʿabdun anʿamnā ʿalayhi wajaʿalnāhu mathalan libanī is'rāīla

but he is only a servant We favoured and made an example for the Children of Israel:

walaw nashāu lajaʿalnā minkum malāikatan fī l-arḍi yakhlufūna

if it had been Our will, We could have made you angels, succeeding one another on earth.

wa-innahu laʿil'mun lilssāʿati falā tamtarunna bihā wa-ittabiʿūni hādhā ṣirāṭun mus'taqīmun

This [Quran] gives knowledge of the Hour: do not doubt it. Follow Me for this is the right path;

walā yaṣuddannakumu l-shayṭānu innahu lakum ʿaduwwun mubīnun

do not let Satan hinder you, for he is your sworn enemy.

walammā jāa ʿīsā bil-bayināti qāla qad ji'tukum bil-ḥik'mati wali-ubayyina lakum baʿḍa alladhī takhtalifūna fīhi fa-ittaqū l-laha wa-aṭīʿūni

When Jesus came with clear signs he said, ‘I have brought you wisdom; I have come to clear up some of your differences for you. Be mindful of God and obey me:

inna l-laha huwa rabbī warabbukum fa-uʿ'budūhu hādhā ṣirāṭun mus'taqīmun

God is my Lord and your Lord. Serve Him: this is the straight path.’

fa-ikh'talafa l-aḥzābu min baynihim fawaylun lilladhīna ẓalamū min ʿadhābi yawmin alīmin

Yet still the different factions among them disagreed- woe to the evildoers: they will suffer the torment of a grievous day!-

hal yanẓurūna illā l-sāʿata an tatiyahum baghtatan wahum lā yashʿurūna

what are they waiting for but the Hour, which will come upon them suddenly and take them unawares?

al-akhilāu yawma-idhin baʿḍuhum libaʿḍin ʿaduwwun illā l-mutaqīna

On that Day, friends will become each other’s enemies. Not so the righteous-

yāʿibādi lā khawfun ʿalaykumu l-yawma walā antum taḥzanūna

‘My servants, there is no fear for you today, nor shall you grieve’––

alladhīna āmanū biāyātinā wakānū mus'limīna

those who believed in Our revelations and devoted themselves to Us.

ud'khulū l-janata antum wa-azwājukum tuḥ'barūna

‘Enter Paradise, you and your spouses: you will be filled with joy.’

yuṭāfu ʿalayhim biṣiḥāfin min dhahabin wa-akwābin wafīhā mā tashtahīhi l-anfusu wataladhu l-aʿyunu wa-antum fīhā khālidūna

Dishes and goblets of gold will be passed around them with all that their souls desire and their eyes delight in. ‘There you will remain:

watil'ka l-janatu allatī ūrith'tumūhā bimā kuntum taʿmalūna

this is the Garden you are given as your own, because of what you used to do,

lakum fīhā fākihatun kathīratun min'hā takulūna

and there is abundant fruit in it for you to eat.’

inna l-muj'rimīna fī ʿadhābi jahannama khālidūna

But the evildoers will remain in Hell’s punishment,

lā yufattaru ʿanhum wahum fīhi mub'lisūna

from which there is no relief: they will remain in utter despair.

wamā ẓalamnāhum walākin kānū humu l-ẓālimīna

We never wronged them; they were the ones who did wrong.

wanādaw yāmāliku liyaqḍi ʿalaynā rabbuka qāla innakum mākithūna

They will cry, ‘Malik, if only your Lord would finish us off,’ but he will answer, ‘No! You are here to stay.’

laqad ji'nākum bil-ḥaqi walākinna aktharakum lil'ḥaqqi kārihūna

We have brought you the Truth but most of you despise it.

am abramū amran fa-innā mub'rimūna

Have these disbelievers thought up some scheme? We too have been scheming.

am yaḥsabūna annā lā nasmaʿu sirrahum wanajwāhum balā warusulunā ladayhim yaktubūna

Do they think We cannot hear their secret talk and their private counsel? Yes we can: Our messengers are at their sides, recording everything.

qul in kāna lilrraḥmāni waladun fa-anā awwalu l-ʿābidīna

Say [Prophet], ‘If the Lord of Mercy [truly] had offspring I would be the first to worship [them], but-

sub'ḥāna rabbi l-samāwāti wal-arḍi rabbi l-ʿarshi ʿammā yaṣifūna

exalted be the Lord of the heavens and earth, the Lord of the Throne- He is far above their false descriptions.’

fadharhum yakhūḍū wayalʿabū ḥattā yulāqū yawmahumu alladhī yūʿadūna

Leave them to wade in deeper and play about, until they face the Day they have been promised.

wahuwa alladhī fī l-samāi ilāhun wafī l-arḍi ilāhun wahuwa l-ḥakīmu l-ʿalīmu

It is He who is God in heaven and God on earth; He is the All Wise, the All Knowing;

watabāraka alladhī lahu mul'ku l-samāwāti wal-arḍi wamā baynahumā waʿindahu ʿil'mu l-sāʿati wa-ilayhi tur'jaʿūna

Exalted is He who has control of the heavens and earth and everything between them; He has knowledge of the Hour; you will all be returned to Him.

walā yamliku alladhīna yadʿūna min dūnihi l-shafāʿata illā man shahida bil-ḥaqi wahum yaʿlamūna

Those gods they invoke besides Him have no power of intercession, unlike those who bore witness to the truth and recognized it.

wala-in sa-altahum man khalaqahum layaqūlunna l-lahu fa-annā yu'fakūna

If you [Prophet] ask them who created them they are sure to say, ‘God,’ so why are they so deluded?

waqīlihi yārabbi inna hāulāi qawmun lā yu'minūna

The Prophet has said, ‘My Lord, truly these are people who do not believe,’

fa-iṣ'faḥ ʿanhum waqul salāmun fasawfa yaʿlamūna

but turn away from them and say, ‘Peace’: they will come to know.