Ash-Shu'ara

¹Ṭā, Seen, Meem.[1043]

²These are the verses of the clear Book.

³Perhaps, [O Muḥammad], you would kill yourself with grief that they will not be believers.

⁴If We willed, We could send down to them from the sky a sign for which their necks would remain humbled.[1044]

⁵And no mention [i.e., revelation] comes to them anew from the Most Merciful except that they turn away from it.

⁶For they have already denied, but there will come to them the news of that which they used to ridicule.

⁷Did they not look at the earth - how much We have produced therein from every noble kind?

⁸Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

⁹And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

¹⁰And [mention] when your Lord called Moses, [saying], "Go to the wrongdoing people -

¹¹The people of Pharaoh. Will they not fear Allāh?"

¹²He said, "My Lord, indeed I fear that they will deny me

¹³And that my breast will tighten and my tongue will not be fluent, so send for Aaron.

¹⁴And they have upon me a [claim due to] sin, so I fear that they will kill me."

¹⁵[Allāh] said, "No. Go both of you with Our signs; indeed, We are with you, listening.

¹⁶Go to Pharaoh and say, 'We are the messengers[1045] of the Lord of the worlds,

¹⁷[Commanded to say], "Send with us the Children of Israel."'"

¹⁸[Pharaoh] said, "Did we not raise you among us as a child, and you remained among us for years of your life?

¹⁹And [then] you did your deed which you did,[1046] and you were of the ungrateful."

²⁰[Moses] said, "I did it, then, while I was of those astray [i.e., ignorant].

²¹So I fled from you when I feared you. Then my Lord granted me judgement [i.e., wisdom and prophethood] and appointed me [as one] of the messengers.

²²And is this a favor of which you remind me - that you have enslaved the Children of Israel?"

²³Said Pharaoh, "And what is the Lord of the worlds?"

²⁴[Moses] said, "The Lord of the heavens and earth and that between them, if you should be convinced."

²⁵[Pharaoh] said to those around him, "Do you not hear?"

²⁶[Moses] said, "Your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers."

²⁷[Pharaoh] said,[1047] "Indeed, your 'messenger' who has been sent to you is mad."

²⁸[Moses] said, "Lord of the east and the west and that between them, if you were to reason."

²⁹[Pharaoh] said, "If you take a god other than me, I will surely place you among those imprisoned."

³⁰[Moses] said, "Even if I brought you something [i.e., proof] manifest?"

³¹[Pharaoh] said, "Then bring it, if you should be of the truthful."

³²So [Moses] threw his staff, and suddenly it was a serpent manifest.[1048]

³³And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white for the observers.

³⁴[Pharaoh] said to the eminent ones around him, "Indeed, this is a learned magician.

³⁵He wants to drive you out of your land by his magic, so what do you advise?"

³⁶They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers

³⁷Who will bring you every learned, skilled magician."

³⁸So the magicians were assembled for the appointment of a well-known day.[1049]

³⁹And it was said to the people, "Will you congregate

⁴⁰That we might follow the magicians if they are the predominant?"

⁴¹And when the magicians arrived, they said to Pharaoh, "Is there indeed for us a reward if we are the predominant?"

⁴²He said, "Yes, and indeed, you will then be of those near [to me]."

⁴³Moses said to them, "Throw whatever you will throw."

⁴⁴So they threw their ropes and their staffs and said, "By the might of Pharaoh, indeed it is we who are predominant."

⁴⁵Then Moses threw his staff, and at once it devoured what they falsified.

⁴⁶So the magicians fell down in prostration [to Allāh].

⁴⁷They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the worlds,

⁴⁸The Lord of Moses and Aaron."

⁴⁹[Pharaoh] said, "You believed him [i.e., Moses] before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic, but you are going to know. I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you all."

⁵⁰They said, "No harm. Indeed, to our Lord we will return.

⁵¹Indeed, we aspire that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we were the first of the believers."

⁵²And We inspired to Moses, "Travel by night with My servants; indeed, you will be pursued."

⁵³Then Pharaoh sent among the cities gatherers[1050]

⁵⁴[And said], "Indeed, those are but a small band,

⁵⁵And indeed, they are enraging us,

⁵⁶And indeed, we are a cautious society..."

⁵⁷So We removed them from gardens and springs

⁵⁸And treasures and honorable station[1051] -

⁵⁹Thus. And We caused to inherit it the Children of Israel.

⁶⁰So they pursued them at sunrise.

⁶¹And when the two companies saw one another, the companions of Moses said, "Indeed, we are to be overtaken!"

⁶²[Moses] said, "No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me."

⁶³Then We inspired to Moses, "Strike with your staff the sea," and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain.

⁶⁴And We advanced thereto the others [i.e., the pursuers].

⁶⁵And We saved Moses and those with him, all together.

⁶⁶Then We drowned the others.

⁶⁷Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

⁶⁸And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

⁶⁹And recite to them the news of Abraham,

⁷⁰When he said to his father and his people, "What do you worship?"

⁷¹They said, "We worship idols and remain to them devoted."

⁷²He said, "Do they hear you when you supplicate?

⁷³Or do they benefit you, or do they harm?"

⁷⁴They said, "But we found our fathers doing thus."

⁷⁵He said, "Then do you see what you have been worshipping,

⁷⁶You and your ancient forefathers?

⁷⁷Indeed, they are enemies to me, except the Lord of the worlds,[1052]

⁷⁸Who created me, and He [it is who] guides me.

⁷⁹And it is He who feeds me and gives me drink.

⁸⁰And when I am ill, it is He who cures me

⁸¹And who will cause me to die and then bring me to life

⁸²And who I aspire that He will forgive me my sin on the Day of Recompense."

⁸³[And he said], "My Lord, grant me authority and join me with the righteous.

⁸⁴And grant me a mention [i.e., reputation] of honor among later generations.

⁸⁵And place me among the inheritors of the Garden of Pleasure.

⁸⁶And forgive my father. Indeed, he has been of those astray.

⁸⁷And do not disgrace me on the Day they are [all] resurrected -

⁸⁸The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children

⁸⁹But only one who comes to Allāh with a sound heart."

⁹⁰And Paradise will be brought near [that Day] to the righteous.

⁹¹And Hellfire will be brought forth for the deviators,

⁹²And it will be said to them, "Where are those you used to worship

⁹³Other than Allāh? Can they help you or help themselves?"

⁹⁴So they will be overturned into it [i.e., Hellfire], they and the deviators

⁹⁵And the soldiers of Iblees, all together.

⁹⁶They will say while they dispute therein,

⁹⁷"By Allāh, we were indeed in manifest error

⁹⁸When we equated you with the Lord of the worlds.

⁹⁹And no one misguided us except the criminals.

¹⁰⁰So now we have no intercessors

¹⁰¹And not a devoted friend.

¹⁰²Then if we only had a return [to the world] and could be of the believers..."[1053]

¹⁰³Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

¹⁰⁴And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

¹⁰⁵The people of Noah denied the messengers[1054]

¹⁰⁶When their brother Noah said to them, "Will you not fear Allāh?

¹⁰⁷Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.

¹⁰⁸So fear Allāh and obey me.

¹⁰⁹And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

¹¹⁰So fear Allāh and obey me."

¹¹¹They said, "Should we believe you while you are followed by the lowest [class of people]?"

¹¹²He said, "And what is my knowledge of what they used to do?

¹¹³Their account is only upon my Lord, if you [could] perceive.

¹¹⁴And I am not one to drive away the believers.

¹¹⁵I am only a clear warner."

¹¹⁶They said, "If you do not desist, O Noah, you will surely be of those who are stoned."

¹¹⁷He said, "My Lord, indeed my people have denied me.

¹¹⁸Then judge between me and them with decisive judgement and save me and those with me of the believers."

¹¹⁹So We saved him and those with him in the laden ship.

¹²⁰Then We drowned thereafter the remaining ones.

¹²¹Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

¹²²And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

¹²³ʿAad denied the messengers

¹²⁴When their brother Hūd said to them, "Will you not fear Allāh?

¹²⁵Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.

¹²⁶So fear Allāh and obey me.

¹²⁷And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

¹²⁸Do you construct on every elevation a sign,[1055] amusing yourselves,

¹²⁹And take for yourselves constructions [i.e., palaces and fortresses] that you might abide eternally?

¹³⁰And when you strike, you strike as tyrants.

¹³¹So fear Allāh and obey me.

¹³²And fear He who provided you with that which you know,

¹³³Provided you with grazing livestock and children

¹³⁴And gardens and springs.

¹³⁵Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a terrible day."

¹³⁶They said, "It is all the same to us whether you advise or are not of the advisors.

¹³⁷This is not but the custom of the former peoples,

¹³⁸And we are not to be punished."

¹³⁹And they denied him, so We destroyed them. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

¹⁴⁰And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

¹⁴¹Thamūd denied the messengers

¹⁴²When their brother Ṣāliḥ said to them, "Will you not fear Allāh?

¹⁴³Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.

¹⁴⁴So fear Allāh and obey me.

¹⁴⁵And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

¹⁴⁶Will you be left in what is here, secure [from death],

¹⁴⁷Within gardens and springs

¹⁴⁸And fields of crops and palm trees with softened fruit?

¹⁴⁹And you carve out of the mountains, homes, with skill.

¹⁵⁰So fear Allāh and obey me.

¹⁵¹And do not obey the order of the transgressors,

¹⁵²Who cause corruption in the land and do not amend."

¹⁵³They said, "You are only of those affected by magic.

¹⁵⁴You are but a man like ourselves, so bring a sign, if you should be of the truthful."

¹⁵⁵He said, "This is a she-camel.[1056] For her is a [time of] drink, and for you is a [time of] drink, [each] on a known day.

¹⁵⁶And do not touch her with harm, lest you be seized by the punishment of a terrible day."

¹⁵⁷But they hamstrung her and so became regretful.

¹⁵⁸And the punishment seized them. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

¹⁵⁹And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

¹⁶⁰The people of Lot denied the messengers

¹⁶¹When their brother Lot said to them, "Will you not fear Allāh?

¹⁶²Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.

¹⁶³So fear Allāh and obey me.

¹⁶⁴And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

¹⁶⁵Do you approach males among the worlds[1057]

¹⁶⁶And leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you are a people transgressing."

¹⁶⁷They said, "If you do not desist, O Lot, you will surely be of those evicted."

¹⁶⁸He said, "Indeed, I am, toward your deed, of those who detest [it].

¹⁶⁹My Lord, save me and my family from [the consequence of] what they do."

¹⁷⁰So We saved him and his family, all,

¹⁷¹Except an old woman[1058] among those who remained behind.

¹⁷²Then We destroyed the others.

¹⁷³And We rained upon them a rain [of stones], and evil was the rain of those who were warned.

¹⁷⁴Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

¹⁷⁵And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

¹⁷⁶The companions of the thicket [i.e., the people of Madyan] denied the messengers

¹⁷⁷When Shuʿayb said to them, "Will you not fear Allāh?

¹⁷⁸Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.

¹⁷⁹So fear Allāh and obey me.

¹⁸⁰And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

¹⁸¹Give full measure and do not be of those who cause loss.

¹⁸²And weigh with an even [i.e., honest] balance.

¹⁸³And do not deprive people of their due and do not commit abuse on earth, spreading corruption.

¹⁸⁴And fear He who created you and the former creation."[1059]

¹⁸⁵They said, "You are only of those affected by magic.

¹⁸⁶You are but a man like ourselves, and indeed, we think you are among the liars.

¹⁸⁷So cause to fall upon us fragments of the sky, if you should be of the truthful."

¹⁸⁸He said, "My Lord is most knowing of what you do."

¹⁸⁹And they denied him, so the punishment of the day of the black cloud seized them. Indeed, it was the punishment of a terrible day.

¹⁹⁰Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

¹⁹¹And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

¹⁹²And indeed, it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds.

¹⁹³The Trustworthy Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] has brought it down

¹⁹⁴Upon your heart, [O Muḥammad] - that you may be of the warners

¹⁹⁵In a clear Arabic language.

¹⁹⁶And indeed, it is [mentioned] in the scriptures of former peoples.

¹⁹⁷And has it not been a sign to them that it is recognized by the scholars of the Children of Israel?

¹⁹⁸And even if We had revealed it to one among the foreigners[1060]

¹⁹⁹And he had recited it to them [perfectly],[1061] they would [still] not have been believers in it.

²⁰⁰Thus have We inserted it [i.e., disbelief] into the hearts of the criminals.

²⁰¹They will not believe in it until they see the painful punishment.

²⁰²And it will come to them suddenly while they perceive [it] not.

²⁰³And they will say, "May we be reprieved?"

²⁰⁴So for Our punishment are they impatient?

²⁰⁵Then have you considered if We gave them enjoyment for years

²⁰⁶And then there came to them that which they were promised?

²⁰⁷They would not be availed by the enjoyment with which they were provided.

²⁰⁸And We did not destroy any city except that it had warners

²⁰⁹As a reminder; and never have We been unjust.

²¹⁰And the devils have not brought it [i.e., the revelation] down.[1062]

²¹¹It is not allowable for them, nor would they be able.

²¹²Indeed they, from [its] hearing, are removed.[1063]

²¹³So do not invoke[1064] with Allāh another deity and [thus] be among the punished.

²¹⁴And warn, [O Muḥammad], your closest kindred.

²¹⁵And lower your wing [i.e., show kindness] to those who follow you of the believers.

²¹⁶And if they disobey you, then say, "Indeed, I am disassociated from what you are doing."

²¹⁷And rely upon the Exalted in Might, the Merciful,

²¹⁸Who sees you when you arise[1065]

²¹⁹And your movement among those who prostrate.[1066]

²²⁰Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

²²¹Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend?

²²²They descend upon every sinful liar.

²²³They pass on what is heard,[1067] and most of them are liars.

²²⁴And the poets - [only] the deviators follow them.

²²⁵Do you not see that in every valley they roam[1068]

²²⁶And that they say what they do not do? -

²²⁷Except those [poets] who believe and do righteous deeds and remember Allāh often and defend [the Muslims][1069] after they were wronged. And those who have wronged are going to know to what [kind of] return they will be returned.