Kaf. Ha. Ya. ‘Ayn. Saad.
Remember the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah.
He cried to his Lord a secret petition.
He said, “My Lord, frail indeed are my bones, and the hair of my head shines white. Nevertheless, I am never unblessed, my Lord, in my prayer to You.
“Indeed, I am concerned about my successors following me, and my wife is barren. However, grant me an heir as from You.
“[Make him] to represent me and represent the family of Jacob. Make him, my Lord, pleasing.”
“O Zechariah, indeed, We give you good news of a son. His name shall be John; on no other by that name have We already granted distinction.”
He said, “My Lord, how shall I have a son when my wife is barren, and I have grown quite feeble in my old age?”
(The angel of God) said, “Albeit. Your Lord says, ‘That is as easy for me as when I created you when you had been nothing.’”
(Zechariah) said, “My Lord, give me a sign.” He said, “Your sign will be that you cannot speak to anyone for three straight nights.”
(Zachariah) appeared to his people from his prayer chamber, and he told them by signs to glorify Allah in the morning and in the evening.
[After John’s birth:] “O John, secure the Book with valor.” We gave him wisdom even as a youth.
[We gave him] compassion as from Us, and purity. He was devout.
He was kind to his parents, and he was never arrogant or rebellious.
Peace on him the day he was born, the day that he died, and the day that he will be resurrected to life.
Recall in the Book [of Qur’an] [the story of] Mary when she withdrew from her family to a place of the East.
She screened herself from them [for the purpose of prayer and meditation]. We sent Our Spirit to her, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects.
She said, “Indeed I seek protection with the Most Gracious from you, if you fear Allah.”
He said, “I am simply a messenger from your Lord, announcing to you the gift of a holy son.”
She asked, “How shall I have a son when no man has touched me. I am not unchaste!”
He said, “Albeit. Your Lord says, ‘That is easy for Me, and to appoint him as a sign for all people and a mercy from Us is a matter decreed!’”
(Mary) conceived him, and she isolated herself with him to a remote place.
The discomfort of bearing a child drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She cried, “O, I would rather have died and been forgotten and out of sight!”
Then [a voice] came to (Mary) from beneath her, “Do not grieve. Truly, your Lord has opened a spring beneath you.
“Also, shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree, and fresh, ripe dates will fall for you.
“Eat and drink and freshen your eyes. If you see anyone, say, ‘I have vowed a fast to the Most Gracious that I will not converse with any person this day.’”
Finally (Mary) returned to her people [in Jerusalem], carrying the infant. They said, “O Mary, truly you have brought an astonishing thing!
“O sister of Aaron [in the family of priests], your father was not an evil man, and your mother was not unchaste!”
She pointed to (the baby) [as if to say, “Ask him”]. They said, “How can we talk with an infant from the cradle?”
(The baby Jesus) said, “I am indeed a servant of Allah. He has given me Scriptures and made me a prophet.
“He has made me blessed wherever I am and has instilled in me prayer and charity as long as I live.
“He has made me kind to my mother and not arrogant or rebellious.
“Peace was upon me the day I was born, and will be upon me the day that I die and the day I shall be resurrected.”
That [story of] Jesus, son of Mary, is a statement of truth about which they dispute.
It is not befitting of Allah that He would beget a son. Glory to Him! When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, “Be!” and it is.
Truly, Allah is my Lord and your Lord; therefore, serve Him; this is the Straight Way.
The sects differ among themselves. Woe to the unbelievers because of the judgment of a dreadful day!
How clearly they will see and hear on the day they will appear before Us! Today the sinners are in obvious guilt.
Warn them of the day of distress when the matter will be determined. They are negligent, and they do not believe.
Truly, We will inherit the earth and all beings upon it. To Us they will all return.
Mention Abraham in the Book. He was a man of truth –a prophet.
He said to his father, “O my father, why do you worship that which cannot hear or see and which cannot profit you anything?
“O my father, knowledge has come to me that has not come to you. Follow me; I will guide you to a way that is even and straight.
“O my father, do not serve Satan for Satan is a rebel against the Most Gracious.
O my father, I fear that a penalty may afflict you from the Most Gracious because you have befriended Satan.”
(The father) replied, “Do you hate my gods, O Abraham? If you don’t stop, I will indeed stone you. Now get away from me for a long time.”
Abraham said, “Peace to you. I will pray to my Lord for your forgiveness, for He is to me Most Gracious.
“I will ignore you and those whom you invoke besides Allah. I will call on my Lord. Perhaps, by my prayer to my Lord, I will not be unblessed.”
When he turned away from them and from those whom they worshiped besides Allah, We bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob. Each one of them We made a prophet.
We bestowed Our mercy on them. We granted them lofty honor on the tongue of truth.
Mention Moses in the Book. He was truly chosen. He was a messenger, a prophet.
We called him from the right side of the mountain. We brought him near for talking.
From Our mercy, We gave him his brother Aaron, a prophet.
Mention Ishmael in the Book. He was certainly true to what he promised. He was a messenger, a prophet.
He encouraged his people in prayer and charity. He was acceptable in the sight of his Lord.
Mention Enoch in the Book. He certainly was a man of truth, a prophet.
We raised him to a higher plane.
They were among the prophets on whom Allah bestowed his grace. [They were] from the posterity of Adam and of those We preserved with Noah. [They were] of the posterity of Abraham and Israel. We guided and chose all those. Whenever the signs of the Most Gracious were recited to them, they would fall prostrating and weeping.
After them, however, there followed a posterity who missed prayers and followed lustful desires. Soon, then, they will face destruction.
The exceptions are those who repent and believe, and perform deeds of righteousness. They will enter Paradise, and they will not be slighted in the least.
There are gardens of Eden that the Most Gracious has promised to His servants, in the unseen. Truly, His promise will come to pass.
There they will not hear any vain talk; only “Peace!” They will have in it their morning and evening sustenance.
Such is Paradise which We give as an inheritance to those of Our servants who are righteous.
[The angels say:] “We do not descend except by the command of your Lord. To Him belong what is before us and what is behind us and what is between. Your Lord never forgets.
[He is] Lord of the skies and Earth and all that is among them. Worship Him and be consistent in His worship. Do you know of anyone comparable to Him?”
People say [with doubt], “After I am dead, I will be raised back to life?”
Does humanity not recall that We created him/her before, when he/she was nothing?
As Allah is your Lord, We shall assemble them together, along with the demons, and then We will bring them to their knees, all around Hell.
We will then most certainly pull from each sect all those who were the worst in rebellion against the Most Gracious.
Certainly, We know best who are the most worthy to be set ablaze therein.
There is not a single (unrepentant sinner) who will not advance to it. This is the Lord’s inevitable decree.
We will deliver those who feared, and We will leave the sinners therein, on bent knees.
When Our clear signs are recited to them, the unbelievers say to the believers, “Which of the two sides has the better position and the more prestigious gathering?”
How many generations before them have We destroyed? They were even better in supplies and appearance.
Say, “As for whoever lives in sin, may the Most Gracious extend his/her life until the promise is seen either in punishment or in the hour [of judgment]. They will finally realize who has the worst plight and the weakest following.
“Allah advances in guidance those who seek guidance. Everlasting, righteous acts are best in the sight of your Lord, in respect to rewards and eventual returns.”
Have you seen the person who rejects Our signs, and yet says, “I will certainly be given wealth and children?”
Has he/she gazed into the unseen, or has he/she made a contract with the Most Gracious?
Nonsense! We will record what he/she says, and We will multiply his/her punishment.
We will inherit all that of which he/she boasts. He/she will appear all alone before Us.
They have accepted gods, other than Allah, that (the gods) may honor them.
Instead, (the false gods) will reject their worship and become enemies against them.
Do you not see that We have sent devils against the unbelievers to provoke them to anger?
Do not make haste against them. We only count out to them a number [of days].
One day We will gather the righteous to the Most Gracious, as an entourage.
We shall drive the sinners to Hell, thirsty.
No one will have the power of intercession except someone who has received permission from the Most Gracious.
They say, “The Most Gracious has begotten a son.”
This is indeed a monstrous thing to say.
The skies are ready to burst, the earth to split asunder, and the mountains to crash in utter ruin…
…from their invoking a son for the Most Gracious!
It is not consonant with the majesty of the Most Gracious that He should beget a son.
No one of Heaven or Earth escapes coming to the Most Gracious as a servant.
Truly, He does take account of all and has numbered them completely.
Every one of them will come to Him individually on the Day of Judgment.
Truly, on those who believe and perform deeds of righteousness, the Most Gracious will bestow affection.
We have made (the Word) accessible in your own language, so that with it you may give good news to the righteous and warning to people of conflict.
How many generations have We destroyed before them? Can you find a single one of them or hear a whisper from them?