Surah “The Poets”

as rendered by Zulfiquar Ali Bhotto — 227 verses

Ta [Healing Qur'an]. Seen [Abrogated Books]. Meem [Natural sciences].
These are verses of the obvious Book.
Perhaps, you [O Muhammad] would kill yourself that they will not be believers.
If We willed, We could send down upon them from the sky a sign so it would bend their necks in submission to it.
But any new [prophet, update] does not come to them from reminder [explanation of all things] from the Most Merciful, except they are turning away from him.
So they have already belied [past prophets], so soon there will be coming to them the news what they were therein ridiculing.
Do they not see towards the earth - how many We caused to grow therein from every noble pairs?
Indeed in that surely is a sign, but most of them did not become believers.
And indeed, your Lord - He is indeed the All-Mighty, the Most-Merciful.
And [mention] when your Lord called Moses, [saying] that, "Come up to the oppressing people,
The people of Pharaoh. Will they not fear [ Allah ]?"
He said, "My Lord, indeed I fear that they will belie me.
And that my breast tightens and my tongue is not fluent, so [add] to send there Aaron.
And they have against me a criminal charge, so I fear that they may kill me."
[Allah] said, "No such would be there [Qur'an 26:14]. Go both of you with Our signs; indeed, We are with you, listening.
So come up to Pharaoh and say, `We are the messengers of the Lord of the worlds,
[Asked to command you] that: Send with us the Children of Israel.'"
[Pharaoh] said, "Did we not raise you in us as a newborn, and you remained in us of your life many years?
And you did your deed which you did, and you were of the infidels."
[Moses] said, "I did that deed, then, while I was of the astray ones.
So I fled from your [palace, lands, tribes, reaches] when I feared your [power, favour, etc]. Then my Lord granted to me an authority and made me one of the messengers.
And is that a favour you wished upon me, that you have enslaved the Children of Israel?"
Said Pharaoh, "And what is the Lord of the worlds?"
[Moses] said, "The Lord of the heavens and earth and whatever is between them, if you all should be convinced."
[Pharaoh] said to those around him, "Are you not listening?
He said, `Your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers."'
[Pharaoh] said [further to those around him], "Indeed, your `messenger' who has been sent to you all is mad."
[Moses] said [in refutation], "Lord of the east and the west and whatever is between them, if you all are sane to reason."
[Pharaoh] said, "If you take a god other than me [O Moses], I will surely make you as of those imprisoned."
[Moses] said, "Even if I brought you [O Pharaoh] about an obvious thing?"
[Pharaoh] said, "Then bring it, if you [O Moses] are of the truthful ones."
Then [Moses] threw his staff, but actually it was a serpent manifesting [camouflaging is a natural sign from Allah].
And he drew out his hand [from argument or the opening of his garment]; thereupon it [his argument or light emitting germs, gels slathered his hand] was enlightening or whitening to the observers [Qur'an 28:32].
[Pharaoh] said to the chief leaders around him, "Indeed, this is a learned magician.
He wants to drive you out from your land [as happened before in Qur'an 26:57-59] by his magic, so what should you command?"
They said, "Postpone him and his brother and send in the towns [data] gatherers
Who will bring to you [O Pharaoh] with every learned magician."
So the magicians were assembled for the appointment of a well-known day.
And it was said to the people, "Are you all gathering
Perhaps we may follow the magicians if they are the overcomers?"
So when the magicians came, they said to Pharaoh, "Is there indeed for us a rewarding reward if we are the overcomers?"
He said, "Yes, and indeed, you will then be of those welcomed warmly."
Moses said to them, "Throw whatever you have to throw."
So they threw their ropes and their staffs and said, "By the might of Pharaoh, indeed we are indeed the overcomers."
Then Moses threw his staff, so at once it [the snake camouflaged as his staff] swallowed [the illusions] what they faked.
So the magicians fell down in prostration [to Allah].
They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the worlds,
The Lord of Moses and Aaron."
[Pharaoh] said, "You believed in him [Moses] before I gave permission to you. Indeed, he is indeed your leader who has taught you magic. So surely soon you will know. I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you altogether."
They said, "No harm. Indeed, to our Lord we will be returning.
Indeed, we aspire that our Lord will forgive for us our sins, that We were the first of the believers."
And We inspired to Moses, "To travel by night with My slaves; indeed, you [people] will be pursued."
Then Pharaoh sent in the towns [data] gatherers
[And said], "Indeed, those are just a small band,
And indeed, they are indeed enraging to us,
And indeed, we are a truly cautious society."
For We exit them [forefathers of Egyptians] out from gardens and springs
And treasures and honourable positions -
Thus [Egyptians were enraged] when We inherited those to the Children of Israel.
So they [data gatherers] pursued them [Moses and his people] at Sunrise.
So when the two groups saw each other, [one] of the companions of Moses said, "Indeed, we are being overtaken!"
[Moses] said, "No such is there. Indeed, My Lord is with me; He will guide me."
Then We inspired to Moses, "Strike with your staff the [frozen] sea," so it cracked, and each part was like a great mountain.
And we brought near there [the cracked area of the frozen sea] the others.
And We saved Musa and those who were with him, altogether.
Then We drowned the others [in the water beneath the frozen layer through the crack, Quran Qur'an 20:78].
Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them did not become believers.
And indeed, your Lord [O reader] - Indeed He is the Almighty, the All-Merciful.
And recite to them the news of Abraham,
When he said to his father and his people, "What do you worship?"
They said, "We worship idols and remain devoted to them."
He said, "Do they hear you when you supplicate?
Or do they benefit you, or do they harm?"
They said, "No but is there [they don't]! We found our forefathers doing likewise."
He said, "Then have you considered what you were worshipping,
You and your ancient forefathers?
Indeed, they [all that you worship] are enemies to me, except the Lord of the worlds,
Who created me, and He is ever guiding me,
And He is the one who feeds me and waters me,
And when I fall ill, He is ever curing me
While being the One who will cause me to die and then will bring me back to life,
And being the One who I should aspire that He will forgive my faults for me on the Day of Recompense."
[And he said], "My Lord, grant to me the authority and join me with the righteous.
And make for me a truthful mention in later generations.
And make me of the inheritors of the paradise of Bliss.
And grant forgiveness for my father. Indeed, he was of the astray ones.
And do not disgrace me on the Day they all are resurrected -
A Day when wealth will not benefit [any one] nor children
Except the one who comes to Allah with a sound heart."
And Paradise was brought near [that Day] to the righteous.
And Hellfire was shown up to the astray ones,
While being said to them, "Where are whatever you were worshiping
Other than Allah? Can they help you or help themselves?"
So they were tossed into it [Hell], they [their `partners'] and the astray ones,
And the troops of Iblees, all together.
They said while they were quarreling therein,
By Allah, we were indeed in obvious astray
For equating you [all in worship and obedience] with the Lord of the worlds.
And He [Abraham] did not misguide us but the criminals [our forefathers did, Qur'an 26:74].
So now we have no intercessors,
Nor a close friend [of Allah].
So if only we could have another chance and would be of the believers."
Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them did not become believers.
And indeed, your Lord [O reader] - He is the Almighty, the All-Merciful.
The people of Noah belied the messengers
When their brother Noah said to them, "Will you not fear [Allah]?
Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.
So fear Allah and obey me.
And I am asking you over it no payment. Left upon none my payment except upon the Lord of the worlds.
So fear Allah and obey me."
They said, "Should we believe you while the lowest ones followed you?"
He said, "And what is my knowledge about what they were working?
Left upon none their reckoning to be except upon my Lord, if you [can] perceive.
And I am not driving away the believers.
I am left to be nothing except an obvious warner."
They said, "If you do not desist [warning, Qur'an 26:115] O Noah, you will surely be of those who are stoned."
He said, "My Lord, indeed my people have denied me.
So open between me and between them an opening and save me and those with me of the believers."
So We saved him and those with him in the laden Ark.
Then We drowned thereafter the remaining ones.
Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them did not become believers.
And indeed, your Lord [O reader] - He is the Almighty, the All-Merciful.
[The people of] Aad belied the messengers
When their brother Hud said to them, "Will you not fear [Allah]?
Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.
So fear Allah and obey me.
And I am asking you over it no payment. Left upon none my payment except upon the Lord of the worlds.
Do you build on every hilltop a sign [security eye], and amuse yourselves,
And take, make military bases perhaps you may live for ever?
And when you assault, you assault like mighty cruel tyrants.
So fear Allah and obey me.
And fear the one who provided you with whatever you know,
Supplied you with livestock and children
And gardens and springs
Indeed, I fear upon you the torment of a great day."
They said, "Same upon us whether you advise or you are not of the advisers.
Left is nothing in this [preaching] except custom of the former peoples,
And we are not the ones who can be punished by."
So they denied him, then We destroyed them. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them did not become believers.
And indeed, your Lord [O reader] - He is the Almighty, the All-Merciful.
[The people of] Thamud belied the messengers
When their brother salih said to them, "Will you not not fear [Allah]?
Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.
So fear Allah and obey me.
And I am asking you over it no payment. Left upon none my payment to be except upon the Lord of the worlds.
Do you think you will always be in what is here, secure [from all insecurities],
In gardens and springs
And fields of crops and palm trees with ripe fruit?
And you carve from the mountains, houses, with skill.
So fear Allah and obey me.
And do not obey the order of extravagant people,
Who cause corruption in the land and do not reform."
They said, "You are only one of those who are bewitched.
You are what except a humankind like us. So bring us with a sign, if you should be of the truthful."
He said, "This is a she-camel. For her is a drinking right, and for you is a drinking right, on a well known day.
And do not touch her with harm, lest the punishment of a great day seize you."
Then they hamstrung her and so became regretful.
So the punishment seized them. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them did not become believers.
And indeed, your Lord [O reader] - He is the Almighty, the All-Merciful.
The people of Lot belied the messengers,
When their brother Lot said to them, "Will you not fear [Allah]?
Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.
So fear Allah and obey me.
And I am asking you over it no payment. Left upon none my payment to be except upon the Lord of the worlds.
Are you [O Men] bringing males from the worlds,
And abandoning what your Lord has created for you of spouses? No but is there [you are abandoning]! You are a people transgressing."
They said, "If you do not stop [being straight], O Lot, you will surely be of those who are outcast."
He said, "Indeed, I am, toward your work, of those who abhor.
My Lord, save me and my family for what [the punishment, Qur'an 26:172] they are working [in effect]."
So We saved him and his family, altogether,
Except an old woman in those who remained behind.
Then We destroyed the others.
And We rained upon them a rain [of stones], and the rain was evil to those who were warned.
Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them did not become believers.
And indeed, your Lord [O reader] - He is the almighty, the All-Merciful.
The companions of the wood belied the messengers
When Shu'ayb said to them, "Will you not fear [Allah]?
Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.
So fear Allah and obey me.
And I am asking you over it no payment. Left upon none my payment to be except upon the Lord of the worlds.
Give full measure and do not be of those who cause loss.
And weigh with an even balance.
And do not deprive people of their belongings and do not act wickedly in the earth, spreading corruption.
And fear the one who created you and the earlier generations."
They said, "You are only of those who were bewitched.
You are what except a humankind like ourselves, and indeed, we think you are surely of the liars.
So fall upon us fragments of the sky, if you are of the truthful."
He said, "My Lord is most knowing about what you are working."
So they denied him, then the punishment of the day of the black cloud seized them. Indeed, it was the torment of a great day.
Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them did not become believers.
And indeed, your Lord [O reader]- He is the Almighty, the All-Merciful.
And indeed, this [Qur'an] is the revelation from the Lord of the worlds.
The Trustworthy Spirit brought it down
Upon your heart, [O Muhammad] - that you may be of the warners -
In a clear Arabic language.
And indeed, it was [foretold] in the Zaboors [books] of the former peoples.
And is it not a a sign to them that it is recognized by the scholars of the Children of Israel?
And even if We had sent it down upon one of the foreigners
And he had recited it upon them, they did not become believers in it.
Thus We inserted it into the hearts of the criminals.
They will not believe in it until they see the painful torment.
And it will come to them unexpectedly while they perceive [it] not.
So they will say, "Will we be granted respite?"
So are they about Our punishment on a hurry?
Then have you [O Muhammad] considered if We gave to them enjoyment for years
And then there came to them what they were promised?
It did not avail on them whatever they were enjoying.
And We destroy no town except that to it had warners
As a reminder; and We were not oppressing.
And the devils did not bring down this [Qur'an].
It should not be for them, nor they were capable.
Indeed they are from [its] hearing removed.
So [O Muhammad] do not invoke with Allah another deity, so you be of the tormented ones.
And warn, your welcoming kindred.
And lower your wing to those who follow you of the believers.
And if they disobey you, then say, "Indeed, I am disassociated for what you are working."
And rely upon the Almighty, the All-Merciful,
The one Who sees you [O Muhammad] when you get up
And your movement within those who prostrate [before Him].
Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
Shall I inform you [people] upon whom the devils descend?
They descend upon every sinful liar.
They [those devils] give ear to hear [lies, half truth, rumor], and most of them are liars.
And [on the other hand] the poets are followed only by the deviators;
Have you [O Muhammad] not seen that they are roaming in every valley
And that they preach what they never practice? -
Except those [poets] who believed and worked righteous deeds and remembered Allah much and defended [themselves and Muslims] after whatever [oppression] they were oppressed by. Those who are oppressed will know to what return they will be returned.