Ha. Meem.
By the clear and open timeless Book
It is WE Who revealed it on a blessed night. Surely, WE are ever warning.
Within [the blessed night] every command, ever wise, is distinctly defined—
A command directly from US. Surely, WE are ever sending
mercy from your Rabb. Indeed, HE is the All-Hearing, the Ever Knowing.
Rabb of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them— if you were to be truly certain.
There is no god but HE. HE gives life and HE gives death. Your Rabb and the Rabb of your foremost forefathers.
But nay, they dabble in uncertainty.
So then set your sight upon a day the sky bears visible smoke,
engulfing the people. [They will say], “This is an agonizing punishment.
O Our Lord do relieve us of this punishment. Surely, we are believers.”
How can the Reminder belong to them? An expressive messenger did come to them.
Subsequent to that, they turned away from him, and had said, “A coached man, possessed is he.”
Verily, WE are the punishment’s remover— every little. Indeed, you are ones to revert.
On a day WE will seize them with the transcendent seizing. Of certain WE are the One to exact retribution.
WE indeed had already tried the people of Pharaoh before them, and a noble messenger had come to them:
“Deliver the devotees of Allah to me. Truly, I am a trustworthy messenger unto you
And do not exalt yourselves above Allah. For certain, I come to you with evident authority.
I have taken refuge with my Rabb and the Rabb of you all; in case you pelt me with stones.
And if you believe me not, then keep away from me.”
So [with the message rejected and the warnings unheeded] he called out unto his Rabb: “Verily, these are a people, flouting divine guidance.
[It was said to him], “Then set out at night with MY devotees. For certain, you will be pursued.
And leave behind you the sea still [and parted]. For certain, they are an army set to drown.”
How many gardens and springs did they leave behind,
and how many tilled fertile fields, and a noble standing,
and a boon they took delight in.
Thus, it was. And WE bequeathed them to another people.
Whereupon the sky wept not over them, nor the earth and they were given no respite.
And WE did indeed deliver the children of Israel from the humiliating torment,
from Pharaoh. Surely, he was haughty, of the prodigals.
WE did select them [i.e., the children of Israel] over the realms, on the basis of a knowledge [imparted to them].
And WE did give them some signs, wherein was a clear test.
Verily, these people here, they do so brazenly say,
“There is naught but our first death and we are not to be raised again
Or then, bring back our forefathers, if you are truthful.”
Are they better off or the people of Tubba, or those before them? WE destroyed them. Indeed, they were flouters of divine guidance.
WE did not create the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them in mere play.
WE did not create them except in [expression of] the Truth, but most of them do not realize.
Surely, on a Day of Sorting is their tryst, all together.
A day, no associate shall avail an associate in anything, nor will they be helped—
Except one whom Allah had shown mercy. Indeed, HE is the Almighty, the ever Merciful.
Surely, the tree of Zaqqum
— food of the unrelenting sinner
Like murky oil, bubbling in the bellies
Like the [murky] bubbling of the fluid bereft of mercy [Ḥamīm].
“Seize him, then drag him in the confines of Jaḥīm.
Then pour above his head the punishment of the fluid bereft of mercy [Ḥamīm].
Partake! You were the mighty, the noble!
This here is what you were in doubt about.
Surely, the God-conscious are in secure standing—
Amidst gardens and springs.
Donning clothes of silk and brocade, engaged face to face.
Thus, it is, and WE paired them with earnest-eyed heavenly companions.
They ask [at will] therein, for every kind of delicious fruit, secure [against denial].
They will taste not death therein, save the first death. And HE did spare them the punishment of Jaḥīm.
A grace from your Rabb. That is the transcendent success.
So [to that end], WE have only made it easy in your language—to enable them to mindfully reflect.
So set your sight. They surely have their sights set.