By those dutifully arrayed in columns
—by the reproachers, reproaching
—by the reciters in remembrance
Of certain, your God is categorically ONE.
The Rabb of the heavens and the earth and whatsoever is between the two, and the Rabb of the [countless] sunrises [dawning every moment on the spinning earth].
It is US—WE have adorned the earthly sky with the splendor of the celestial lights
And as protection from every defiant errant entity [shayṭān]
not attuned to the highest agencies. And they are pushed away from all sides—
kept away. And for them is a constant dire consequence
except one who has appropriated the appropriable. [Such] then is trailed by a bright flame.
So, inquire of them, are they the most intense creation or such entities WE have created? Indeed, WE have created them from gelled clay.
Nay! You are fascinated [by the all-pervading divine signs], whereas they scoff
And when they are reminded, they remember not.
And when they see a sign, they seek to scoff
And they say, “This is nothing except plain sorcery.
What! After we have died and become dust and bones— are we in fact resurrection-bound?
And our foremost forefathers as well?”
Say, “Yes, and you will be humbly compliant.”
For it is only a single reprimand, then forthrightly they will behold.
And they said, “Woe is us. This is the Day of Surrender and Reckoning.”
[It was said], “This is the day of sorting which you used to deny.”
“Gather those who did wrong along with their consorts and what they were worshipping
besides Allah, then lead them to the path of Jaḥīm.
And stop them. They do indeed owe answers.
What besets you, that you are not helping each other?”
Rather, this day they are eager to submit.
And they confronted each other, demanding answers,
They said, “You were the ones who came to us from the right of us.”
They said, “Nay! Not ever were you believers.
It was not for us to have any authority over you. On the contrary, ever were you an unrestrainedly usurping people.
So, justified upon us [all] is the word of our Rabb. We deservedly are partakers [of the punishment of our sins]—
we lured you. We were allurers.”
So, this day they are joint partners in the punishment.
Of certain, that is how WE deal with the flouters of divine guidance.
Indeed, they were arrogantly defiant, whenever it was said to them, “There is no god except Allah.”
Saying, “Are we to abandon our gods for a possessed poet?”
Nay! He came to them with the Truth and validated the messengers.
Lo! [Now] do partake, the painful punishment [of this day].
And you will not be requited, except for what you were doing.
Excepted are the purified devotees of Allah
Those have a provision, reliably available [on desire]
Joyous fruits [of every kind]. And ever honored are they
in the gardens of the eternal bliss
upon honored seats, mutually engaged.
Rounds will be made about them with a cup [filled] from a spring for eyes to see,
Radiant-white, delicious for its drinkers
No inebriant in it, nor are they to be intoxicated from it
And with them are ones attentively focused of gaze, earnest eyed.
as if they were pristine nestled eggs
Thus [situated], they engaged with one another, inquiring—
Said, one of them who verbalized the moment, “I did have a close companion,
He would say, “Are you really of the ones who vouch [for this Truth]:
Is it that once we are dead, and we have become dust and bones, we are still to be held accountable?”
Said [another], “Do you want to look for yourself?”
So, he looked and saw him in the confines of Jaḥīm.
He said, “By Allah, you almost dragged me down.
If it were not for the blessing of my Rabb, I would surely have been of the ones summoned [to Jaḥīm]
So then is it that we are not death-bound
beyond our first death? And are we not to ever suffer?
Truly, this here is precisely the transcendent success!”
For the like of this, then let the workers work.
Is that the better welcoming reception or the tree of Zaqqum—
which WE have appointed as an ordeal for the ones who persist in wrong?
Verily, it is a tree which emerges in the depth of Jaḥīm
Its spathe, as if it were the heads of satanic entities—
So [for being the partisans of Satan], they are certain to eat of it. So their bellies may get their fill of it.
Then to top it off, for them shall be a brew from water bereft of mercy [ḥamīm].
Then indeed, their defined return— directly to Jaḥīm.
Surely, they had found their fathers lost of way
Yet [without giving pause] they are hurried on their tracks!
And most certainly, before [their fathers] most of their predecessors had gone astray.
And WE had indeed sent warners in their midst.
So, observe how the end-fate was of all the ones warned
except the purified devotees of Allah.
And Noah did call out unto US— the most excellent of the responders.
WE delivered him and his adherents from the great distress
And WE placed his progeny—they were the remaining ones.
And WE have left intact for him [a blessed legacy], in the generations to come:
Peace [Salaam] forever upon Noah in all Realms.
Indeed, that is how WE requite the ones who do good in devotion to God.
He is indeed of OUR believing devotees.
Further to that, WE drowned the others.
And indeed, of his persuasion surely was Abraham
when he arrived [at the truth about] his Rabb with an irreproachably earnest heart
[Remember] when he said to his father and his people, “What is it that you are worshipping?
Is it falsehood— gods other than Allah— you want?
Then what is your concept about the Rabb of all Realms?”
So, he turned his sight across the stars
and said, “Truly, I am stricken sick.”
They then turned away from him and left without looking back.
So, he made his way to their gods. [Seeing the food offerings] he said, “Why do you not eat?
What is the matter with you that you do not articulate?
Then he stepped up to them, striking with the right
And so, they came rushing to confront him.
He said, “Do you worship what you yourselves sculpt?
Whereas Allah has given existence to you and what you do!”
They said, “Build an enclosure for him, then throw him in Jaḥīm.”
Such had they intended as a plan to do away with him, and in return WE rendered them the lowliest.
While he said, “I am out of here— unto my Rabb. HE shall guide me.”
“My Rabb, grant me a gift of the righteous.”
So then, WE give him the tiding about a forbearing boy.
Then in time when [his son] had reached the age to accompany him on his tasks, he said to him, “O my son, I do see this dream, that I am sacrificing you. So, look deep, what is it that you see?” He said, “O my papa, do what you have been directed. You will find me, if Allah wills, to be amongst the persevering.”
Thus, when both had surrendered [to do HIS will], he set him down to the forehead,
And WE called to him: “O Abraham,
You have already lived up to the vision.” Behold! Thus, do WE reward the ones who do good in selfless devotion to God.
Indeed, this categorically was the telling trial
And WE ransomed him with a great sacrifice.
And WE have left intact for him [a blessed legacy], in the generations to come:
Peace [Salaam] forever upon Abraham.
Thus do WE reward the ones who do good in selfless devotion to God.
He truly is of OUR believing devotees.
And WE gave him the tiding of Isaac, a prophet from the righteous.
And WE bestowed OUR blessings upon him and upon Isaac. And from amongst their progeny are [both], one who does good selflessly in devotion to God, and one who is openly unjust to his own soul.
And WE did confer favor upon Moses and Aaron.
WE delivered them both, and their people from the great inescapable distress.
And WE helped them, so they were the ones to prevail.
And WE gave them both the explicit timeless Book [of Scripture].
And WE guided them both to the [timelessly] straight Path.
And WE have left intact for them both [blessed legacies], in the generations to come:
Peace [Salaam] forever upon Moses and Aaron.
Thus, do we reward the ones who do good in selfless devotion to God.
Verily, they both are of OUR believing devotees.
And indeed Ilyas was one of the Messengers
when he had said to his people, “Are you not conscious of God?
Will you invoke Baʿl and forsake the best of the Creators?
[Will you forsake] Allah? Your Rabb and the Rabb of your foremost forefathers.”
But they denied him— for that they shall surely be arraigned—
except the purified devotees of Allah.
And WE have left intact for him [a blessed legacy], in the generations to come:
Peace [Salaam] forever upon Ilyas
Surely thus, do we reward those who do good in selfless devotion to God.
He is truly of OUR believing devotees.
And indeed, Lot was certainly one of the Messengers
when WE delivered him and his family— all together,
Except for an old woman among the laggards
Further to that WE annihilated the others
And indeed, you pass by [their ruins] morning-bound
and by night. Will you then not seek to understand?
And indeed, Jonah was certainly one of the Messengers
when he fled onto the packed vessel.
So [to secure a spot], he drew lots— and he was of the discards.
Thereupon, the fish swallowed him whole, while he was still blameworthy
And were it not that he was ever in prayerful awe of God,
he would have remained in its belly through to the day all will be raised again.
So, WE flung him on the naked [shore], and he was stricken sick.
And WE grew and spread over him a plant of gourd
And WE sent him unto a hundred thousand, plus they were increasing.
So [in vast numbers] they embraced Faith, and WE granted them worldly fulfilment through to a time.
Now query them [of their concept of God]: Are the daughters meant for your Rabb while the sons are meant for them?
Or did WE create the Angels female, while they stood witness?
Is it not of their own falsehood, they so assuredly say:
“Allah has begotten,” while they are categorical liars.
Has HE chosen daughters over sons?
What ails you. How do you come to conclude?
Do you not mindfully consider?
Or do you have a revealing authoritative claim?
Then come forth with your scripture if you are so full of truth.
And they set up a kinship between HIM and the Jinn, while the Jinn have categorically known that they will be mandatorily presented [for Judgment]
Limitless in HIS might and glory is Allah, far above anything they depict.
[Such unconsidered words do they all utter]— save the purified devotees of Allah.
So, [be warned], “You and that which you worship—
not can you all ever inform anyone against HIM
except one who is the fuel of Jaḥīm.”
[The angels declare]: “And there is none amongst us— except a known standing, he has.
And we surely are those who stand arrayed together,
While we ever extol HIS limitless might and glory.”
Surely, they [who are in disbelief] were always saying
“Were that there was a reminder with us from the former ones
we would surely have been Allah’s purified devotees.”
So [here they are], they have disbelieved in it. Accordingly, they shall come to know.
OUR Word has already gone forth to OUR message-bearing devotees.
Of certain, they indeed are the victorious ones
And indeed, OUR forces, they assuredly are the prevailing ones.
So, turn you away from them for a while
And just observe them, for soon they shall observe.
So is it with OUR punishment they seek haste?
For when it descends upon their courtyard— dark will be the morning of ones who were fully warned.
So, turn you away from them for a while
And just observe, for soon they will observe.
Limitless is the might and glory of your Rabb. The Rabb of almightiness, far above anything they depict.
And peace [Salaam] be upon the Messengers
And all praise is for Allah, Rabb of all the Realms.