By the scattering [winds] that scatter [the clouds]
by the [rain] bearing [clouds] laden [with water]
by [the ships] which move gently [on the sea]
by [the angels] who dispense [livelihood] by [His] command
indeed what you are promised is true
and indeed the retribution will surely come to pass
By the sky full of adornment [with stars]
indeed you are of different opinions
He is turned away from it who has been turned away [from the truth]
Perish the liars
who are heedless in a stupor
They ask, ‘When will be the Day of Retribution?’
It is the day when they will be tormented in the Fire
[and will be told]: ‘Taste your torment. This is what you used to hasten.’
Indeed the Godwary will be amid gardens and springs
receiving what their Lord has given them, for they had been virtuous aforetime
They used to sleep a little during the night
and at dawns they would plead for forgiveness,
and there was a share in their wealth for the beggar and the deprived
In the earth are signs for those who have conviction
and in your souls [as well]. Will you not then perceive
And in the sky is your provision and what you are promised
By the Lord of the sky and the earth, it is indeed the truth, just as [it is a fact that] you speak
Did you receive the story of Abraham’s honoured guests
When they entered into his presence, they said, ‘Peace!’ ‘Peace!’ He answered, ‘[You are] an unfamiliar folk.’
Then he retired to his family and brought a fat [roasted] calf
and put it near them. He said, ‘Will you not eat?’
Then he felt a fear of them. They said, ‘Do not be afraid!’ and they gave him the good news of a wise son
Then his wife came forward crying [with joy]. She beat her face, and said, ‘A barren old woman!’
They said, ‘So has your Lord said. Indeed He is the All-wise, the All-knowing.’
He said, ‘O messengers, what is now your errand?’
They said, ‘We have been sent toward a guilty people
that We may rain upon them stones of clay
marked with your Lord for the profligate
So We picked out those who were in it of the faithful
but We did not find there other than one house of muslims
and We have left therein a sign for those who fear a painful punishment.’
And in Moses [too there is a sign] when We sent him to Pharaoh with a manifest authority
But he turned away assured of his might, and said, ‘A magician or a crazy man!’
So We seized him and his hosts, and cast them into the sea, while he was blameworthy
And in ‘a€d when We unleashed upon them a barren wind
It left nothing that it came upon without making it like decayed bones
And in Thamud, when they were told, ‘Enjoy for a while.’
Then they defied the command of their Lord; so the thunderbolt seized them as they looked on
So they were neither able to rise up, nor to come to one another’s aid
And the people of Noah aforetime. Indeed they were a transgressing lot
We have built the sky with might, and indeed it is We who are its expanders
And the earth We have spread it out, so how excellent spreaders We have been
In all things We have created pairs so that you may take admonition
[Say,] ‘So flee toward Allah. Indeed I am a manifest warner to you from Him
Do not set up another god besides Allah. Indeed I am a manifest warner to you from Him.’
So it was that there did not come to those who were before them any apostle but they said, ‘A magician,’ or ‘A crazy man!’
Did they enjoin this upon one another?! Rather they were a rebellious lot
So turn away from them, for you will not be blameworthy
And admonish, for admonition indeed benefits the faithful
I did not create the jinn and the humans except that they may worship Me
I desire no provision from them, nor do I desire that they should feed Me
Indeed it is Allah who is the All-provider, Powerful, All-strong
Indeed the lot of those who do wrong [now] will be like the lot of their [earlier] counterparts. So let them not ask Me to hasten on [that fate]
Woe to the faithless for the day they are promised