Sad

sad wal-qur'āni dhī l-dhik'ri

Sad By the Quran with its reminding . . .!

bali alladhīna kafarū fī ʿizzatin washiqāqin

Yet the disbelievers are steeped in arrogance and hostility.

kam ahlaknā min qablihim min qarnin fanādaw walāta ḥīna manāṣin

How many generations We have destroyed before them! They all cried out, once it was too late, for escape.

waʿajibū an jāahum mundhirun min'hum waqāla l-kāfirūna hādhā sāḥirun kadhābun

The disbelievers think it strange that a prophet of their own people has come to warn them: they say, ‘He is just a lying sorcerer.

ajaʿala l-ālihata ilāhan wāḥidan inna hādhā lashayon ʿujābun

How can he claim that all the gods are but one God? What an astonishing thing [to claim]!’

wa-inṭalaqa l-mala-u min'hum ani im'shū wa-iṣ'birū ʿalā ālihatikum inna hādhā lashayon yurādu

Their leaders depart, saying, ‘Walk away! Stay faithful to your gods! That is what you must do.

mā samiʿ'nā bihādhā fī l-milati l-ākhirati in hādhā illā ikh'tilāqun

We did not hear any such claim in the last religion: it is all an invention.

a-unzila ʿalayhi l-dhik'ru min bayninā bal hum fī shakkin min dhik'rī bal lammā yadhūqū ʿadhābi

Was the message sent only to him out of all of us?’ In fact they doubt My warning; in fact they have not tasted My punishment yet.

am ʿindahum khazāinu raḥmati rabbika l-ʿazīzi l-wahābi

Do they possess the treasures of your Lord’s bounty, the Mighty, the All Giving?

am lahum mul'ku l-samāwāti wal-arḍi wamā baynahumā falyartaqū fī l-asbābi

Do they control the heavens and earth and everything between? Let them climb their ropes:

jundun mā hunālika mahzūmun mina l-aḥzābi

their armed alliance is weak and will be crushed.

kadhabat qablahum qawmu nūḥin waʿādun wafir'ʿawnu dhū l-awtādi

The people of Noah, Ad, and firmly-supported Pharaoh rejected their prophets before them.

wathamūdu waqawmu lūṭin wa-aṣḥābu al'aykati ulāika l-aḥzābu

Thamud, the people of Lot, and the Forest-Dwellers each formed opposition [against theirs].

in kullun illā kadhaba l-rusula faḥaqqa ʿiqābi

They all rejected the mes-sengers and they were deservedly struck by My punishment:

wamā yanẓuru hāulāi illā ṣayḥatan wāḥidatan mā lahā min fawāqin

all the disbelievers here are waiting for is a single blast that cannot be postponed.

waqālū rabbanā ʿajjil lanā qiṭṭanā qabla yawmi l-ḥisābi

They say, ‘Our Lord! Advance us our share of punishment before the Day of Reckoning!’

iṣ'bir ʿalā mā yaqūlūna wa-udh'kur ʿabdanā dāwūda dhā l-aydi innahu awwābun

Bear their words patiently [Prophet]. Remember Our servant David, a man of strength who always turned to Us:

innā sakharnā l-jibāla maʿahu yusabbiḥ'na bil-ʿashiyi wal-ish'rāqi

We made the mountains join him in glorifying Us at sunset and sunrise;

wal-ṭayra maḥshūratan kullun lahu awwābun

and the birds, too, in flocks, all echoed his praise.

washadadnā mul'kahu waātaynāhu l-ḥik'mata wafaṣla l-khiṭābi

We strengthened his kingdom; We gave him wisdom and a decisive way of speaking.

wahal atāka naba-u l-khaṣmi idh tasawwarū l-miḥ'rāba

Have you heard the story of the two litigants who climbed into his private quarters?

idh dakhalū ʿalā dāwūda fafaziʿa min'hum qālū lā takhaf khaṣmāni baghā baʿḍunā ʿalā baʿḍin fa-uḥ'kum baynanā bil-ḥaqi walā tush'ṭiṭ wa-ih'dinā ilā sawāi l-ṣirāṭi

When they reached David, he took fright, but they said, ‘Do not be afraid. We are two litigants, one of whom has wronged the other: judge between us fairly- do not be unjust- and guide us to the right path.

inna hādhā akhī lahu tis'ʿun watis'ʿūna naʿjatan waliya naʿjatun wāḥidatun faqāla akfil'nīhā waʿazzanī fī l-khiṭābi

This is my brother. He had ninety-nine ewes and I just the one, and he said, “Let me take charge of her,” and overpowered me with his words.’

qāla laqad ẓalamaka bisuāli naʿjatika ilā niʿājihi wa-inna kathīran mina l-khulaṭāi layabghī baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin illā alladhīna āmanū waʿamilū l-ṣāliḥāti waqalīlun mā hum waẓanna dāwūdu annamā fatannāhu fa-is'taghfara rabbahu wakharra rākiʿan wa-anāba

David said, ‘He has done you wrong by demanding to add your ewe to his flock. Many partners treat each other unfairly. Those who sincerely believe and do good deeds do not do this, but these are very few.’ [Then] David realized that We had been testing him, so he asked his Lord for forgiveness, fell down on his knees, and repented:

faghafarnā lahu dhālika wa-inna lahu ʿindanā lazul'fā waḥus'na maābin

We forgave him [his misdeed]. His reward will be nearness to Us, a good place to return to.

yādāwūdu innā jaʿalnāka khalīfatan fī l-arḍi fa-uḥ'kum bayna l-nāsi bil-ḥaqi walā tattabiʿi l-hawā fayuḍillaka ʿan sabīli l-lahi inna alladhīna yaḍillūna ʿan sabīli l-lahi lahum ʿadhābun shadīdun bimā nasū yawma l-ḥisābi

‘David, We have given you mastery over the land. Judge fairly between people. Do not follow your desires, lest they divert you from God’s path: those who wander from His path will have a painful torment because they ignore the Day of Reckoning.’

wamā khalaqnā l-samāa wal-arḍa wamā baynahumā bāṭilan dhālika ẓannu alladhīna kafarū fawaylun lilladhīna kafarū mina l-nāri

It was not without purpose that We created the heavens and the earth and everything in between. That may be what the disbelievers assume- how they will suffer from the Fire!-

am najʿalu alladhīna āmanū waʿamilū l-ṣāliḥāti kal-muf'sidīna fī l-arḍi am najʿalu l-mutaqīna kal-fujāri

but would We treat those who believe and do good deeds and those who spread corruption on earth as equal? Would We treat those who are aware of God and those who recklessly break all bounds in the same way?

kitābun anzalnāhu ilayka mubārakun liyaddabbarū āyātihi waliyatadhakkara ulū l-albābi

This is a blessed Scripture which We sent down to you [Muhammad], for people to think about its messages, and for those with understanding to take heed.

wawahabnā lidāwūda sulaymāna niʿ'ma l-ʿabdu innahu awwābun

We gave David Solomon. He was an excellent servant who always turned to God.

idh ʿuriḍa ʿalayhi bil-ʿashiyi l-ṣāfinātu l-jiyādu

When well-bred light-footed horses were paraded before him near the close of day,

faqāla innī aḥbabtu ḥubba l-khayri ʿan dhik'ri rabbī ḥattā tawārat bil-ḥijābi

he kept saying, ‘My love of fine things is part of my remembering my Lord!’ until [the horses] disappeared from sight-

ruddūhā ʿalayya faṭafiqa masḥan bil-sūqi wal-aʿnāqi

‘Bring them back!’ [he said] and started to stroke their legs and necks.

walaqad fatannā sulaymāna wa-alqaynā ʿalā kur'siyyihi jasadan thumma anāba

We certainly tested Solomon, reducing him to a mere skeleton on his throne.

qāla rabbi igh'fir lī wahab lī mul'kan lā yanbaghī li-aḥadin min baʿdī innaka anta l-wahābu

He turned to Us and prayed: ‘Lord forgive me! Grant me such power as no one after me will have- You are the Most Generous Provider.’

fasakharnā lahu l-rīḥa tajrī bi-amrihi rukhāan ḥaythu aṣāba

So We gave him power over the wind, which at his request ran gently wherever he willed,

wal-shayāṭīna kulla bannāin waghawwāṣin

and the jinn––every kind of builder and diver

waākharīna muqarranīna fī l-aṣfādi

and others chained in fetters.

hādhā ʿaṭāunā fa-um'nun aw amsik bighayri ḥisābin

‘This is Our gift, so give or withhold as you wish without account.’

wa-inna lahu ʿindanā lazul'fā waḥus'na maābin

His reward will be nearness to Us, and a good place to return to.

wa-udh'kur ʿabdanā ayyūba idh nādā rabbahu annī massaniya l-shayṭānu binuṣ'bin waʿadhābin

Bring to mind Our servant Job who cried to his Lord, ‘Satan has afflicted me with weariness and suffering.’

ur'kuḍ birij'lika hādhā mugh'tasalun bāridun washarābun

‘Stamp your foot! Here is cool water for you to wash in and drink,’

wawahabnā lahu ahlahu wamith'lahum maʿahum raḥmatan minnā wadhik'rā li-ulī l-albābi

and We restored his family to him, with many more like them: a sign of Our mercy and a lesson to all who understand.

wakhudh biyadika ḍigh'than fa-iḍ'rib bihi walā taḥnath innā wajadnāhu ṣābiran niʿ'ma l-ʿabdu innahu awwābun

‘Take a small bunch of grass in your hand, and strike [her] with that so as not to break your oath.’ We found him patient in adversity; an excellent servant! He, too, always turned to God.

wa-udh'kur ʿibādanā ib'rāhīma wa-is'ḥāqa wayaʿqūba ulī l-aydī wal-abṣāri

Remember Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all men of strength and vision.

innā akhlaṣnāhum bikhāliṣatin dhik'rā l-dāri

We caused them to be devoted to Us through their sincere remembrance of the Final Home:

wa-innahum ʿindanā lamina l-muṣ'ṭafayna l-akhyāri

with Us they will be among the elect, the truly good.

wa-udh'kur is'māʿīla wal-yasaʿa wadhā l-kif'li wakullun mina l-akhyāri

And remember Our servants Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhu ’l-Kifl, each of them truly good.

hādhā dhik'run wa-inna lil'muttaqīna laḥus'na maābin

This is a lesson. The devout will have a good place to return to:

jannāti ʿadnin mufattaḥatan lahumu l-abwābu

Gardens of lasting bliss with gates wide open.

muttakiīna fīhā yadʿūna fīhā bifākihatin kathīratin washarābin

They will be comfortably seated; they will call for abundant fruit and drink;

waʿindahum qāṣirātu l-ṭarfi atrābun

they will have well-matched [wives] with modest gaze.

hādhā mā tūʿadūna liyawmi l-ḥisābi

‘This is what you are promised for the Day of Reckoning:

inna hādhā lariz'qunā mā lahu min nafādin

Our provision for you will never end.’

hādhā wa-inna lilṭṭāghīna lasharra maābin

But the evildoers will have the worst place to return to:

jahannama yaṣlawnahā fabi'sa l-mihādu

Hell to burn in, an evil place to stay-

hādhā falyadhūqūhu ḥamīmun waghassāqun

all this will be theirs: let them taste it- a scalding, dark, foul fluid,

waākharu min shaklihi azwājun

and other such torments.

hādhā fawjun muq'taḥimun maʿakum lā marḥaban bihim innahum ṣālū l-nāri

[It will be said], ‘Here is another crowd of people rushing headlong to join you.’ [The response will be], ‘They are not welcome! They will burn in the Fire.’

qālū bal antum lā marḥaban bikum antum qaddamtumūhu lanā fabi'sa l-qarāru

They will say to them, ‘You are not welcome! It was you who brought this on us, an evil place to stay,’

qālū rabbanā man qaddama lanā hādhā fazid'hu ʿadhāban ḍiʿ'fan fī l-nāri

adding, ‘Our Lord, give double punishment to those who brought this upon us.’

waqālū mā lanā lā narā rijālan kunnā naʿudduhum mina l-ashrāri

They will say, ‘Why do we not see those we thought were bad

attakhadhnāhum sikh'riyyan am zāghat ʿanhumu l-abṣāru

and took as a laughing-stock? Have our eyes missed them?’

inna dhālika laḥaqqun takhāṣumu ahli l-nāri

This is how it will really be: the inhabitants of the Fire will blame one another in this way.

qul innamā anā mundhirun wamā min ilāhin illā l-lahu l-wāḥidu l-qahāru

[Prophet] say, ‘I am only here to give warning. There is no god but God the One, the All Powerful,

rabbu l-samāwāti wal-arḍi wamā baynahumā l-ʿazīzu l-ghafāru

Lord of the heavens and earth and everything between, the Almighty, the Most Forgiving.’

qul huwa naba-on ʿaẓīmun

Say, ‘This message is a mighty one,

antum ʿanhu muʿ'riḍūna

yet you ignore it.

mā kāna liya min ʿil'min bil-mala-i l-aʿlā idh yakhtaṣimūna

I have no knowledge of what those on high discuss:

in yūḥā ilayya illā annamā anā nadhīrun mubīnun

it is only revealed to me that I am here to give clear warning.’

idh qāla rabbuka lil'malāikati innī khāliqun basharan min ṭīnin

Your Lord said to the angels, ‘I will create a man from clay.

fa-idhā sawwaytuhu wanafakhtu fīhi min rūḥī faqaʿū lahu sājidīna

When I have shaped him and breathed from My Spirit into him, bow down before him.’

fasajada l-malāikatu kulluhum ajmaʿūna

The angels all bowed down together,

illā ib'līsa is'takbara wakāna mina l-kāfirīna

but not Iblis, who was too proud. He became a rebel.

qāla yāib'līsu mā manaʿaka an tasjuda limā khalaqtu biyadayya astakbarta am kunta mina l-ʿālīna

God said, ‘Iblis, what prevents you from bowing down to the man I have made with My own hands? Are you too high and mighty?’

qāla anā khayrun min'hu khalaqtanī min nārin wakhalaqtahu min ṭīnin

Iblis said, ‘I am better than him: You made me from fire, and him from clay.’

qāla fa-ukh'ruj min'hā fa-innaka rajīmun

‘Get out of here! You are rejected:

wa-inna ʿalayka laʿnatī ilā yawmi l-dīni

My rejection will follow you till the Day of Judgement!’

qāla rabbi fa-anẓir'nī ilā yawmi yub'ʿathūna

but Iblis said, ‘My Lord, grant me respite until the Day when they are raised from the dead,’

qāla fa-innaka mina l-munẓarīna

so He said, ‘You have respite

ilā yawmi l-waqti l-maʿlūmi

till the Appointed Day.’

qāla fabiʿizzatika la-ugh'wiyannahum ajmaʿīna

Iblis said, ‘I swear by Your might! I will tempt all

illā ʿibādaka min'humu l-mukh'laṣīna

but Your true servants.’

qāla fal-ḥaqu wal-ḥaqa aqūlu

God said, ‘This is the truth- I speak only the truth-

la-amla-anna jahannama minka wamimman tabiʿaka min'hum ajmaʿīna

I will fill Hell with you and all those that follow you.’

qul mā asalukum ʿalayhi min ajrin wamā anā mina l-mutakalifīna

[Prophet], say, ‘I ask no reward from you for this, nor do I claim to be what I am not:

in huwa illā dhik'run lil'ʿālamīna

this is only a warning for all people.

walataʿlamunna naba-ahu baʿda ḥīnin

In time you will certainly come to know its truth.’