English - Chapter 37 - As-Saffat

I CALL TO witness those who stand arrayed in rows

And those who restrain by reprimanding

And those who recite the Reminder

Verily your God is One

The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them, and the Lord of the Easts

He decked the nearest heavens with ornaments of stars

Protecting them against every wayward devil

So that they are not able to listen to the angels of higher (echelons), and are pelted from all sides

And kept far away. There is perpetual punishment for them

Except those who eavesdrop and are pursued by a shooting flame

So ask them if they are more difficult to create, or the rest We have created? Indeed (man) We created from fermented clay

Yet while you are filled with wonder, they just scoff

And when they are warned they pay no heed

When they see a sign, they laugh at it

And say: "This is only magic

When we are dead and turned to dust and bones, how can we be raised again

And our fathers too

You say: "Yes; and you will be lowly made

There will only be a single jerk, and they will gape

And say: "Ah woe! This is the Day of Reckoning

(Yes,) this is the Day of Judgement you had called a lie

Gather all the wicked together and their comrades, and those they had worshipped

Other than God," (the angels will be told), "then show them the way to Hell

And detain them, for they will be questioned

What is the matter with you that you do not help each other

They will submit to questioning then

And some of them will confront the others

Saying: "It were you who imposed yourselves upon us

They will say: "No, you were the ones who would not believe

We had no power over you. In fact, you were a people rebellious

The sentence of our Lord has come true for us. We have certainly to taste (the punishment)

For we had led you astray. In fact we ourselves were astray

So, they will become partners in punishment

That is how We deal with sinners

They were those who, when it was said to them, "There is no god but God," behaved with insolence

And said: "Should we abandon our gods for the sake of an insane poet

Not in the least. He has brought the truth and confirmed the other messengers

You will indeed taste a painful punishment

And be rewarded but only for what you had done

Except the chosen creatures of God

Whose provision is predetermined

Fruits of every kind, and they will be honoured

In gardens of delight

(Sitting) on couches, face to face

With cups from a flowing stream being passed around

Clear, delicious to drink

Neither dulling the senses nor intoxicating

And with them maidens of modest look and large lustrous eyes

Like sheltered eggs in a nest

Then one turned to the other in an enquiry

Said one of the speakers: "I had a friend

Who used to say: 'Are you one of those who can testify to the truth

(Do you think) we would be paid back our due when we are dead and reduced to dust and bones

He said: 'Will you look down

He looked down and saw (his friend) in the midst of Hell

By God', he said, 'you had almost ruined me

Had it not been for the grace of my Lord I too would have been there (in Hell)

(Another will say:)"Is it true, we are not going to die

Other than our first death, and we shall not be punished

This will indeed be great happiness

For this the toilers should strive

Is this better or the tree of Zaqqum

Which We have reserved as punishment for evil-doers

It is a tree that grows at the bottom of Hell

Its spathes are like the prickly pear

They will eat and fill their bellies with it

Washing it down with boiling water

Then to Hell they will surely be returned

They had found their fathers astray

Yet they hasten to follow in their footsteps

So had many an earlier people gone astray

And We had sent admonishers to them

Look, then how was the end of those who had been warned

Other than the chosen creatures of God

Noah had verily called to Us. And how gracious was He who answered (him)

We saved him and his family from the great affliction

And made his progeny survive

And left (his name) for posterity

Peace on Noah among all men

That is how We reward those who do good

Surely he was among Our faithful creatures

Afterwards We drowned the others

And Abraham indeed was of his inducement

When he came to his Lord with a heart compliant

When he said to his father and his people: "What is this you worship

Why do you solicit false gods instead of God

What do you imagine the Lord of the worlds to be

Then he looked up at the stars (they worshipped)

And said: "I am sick (of what you worship)

But they turned their backs on him and went away

Then he turned towards their gods and said: "Why do you not eat (of these offerings)

What is wrong with you that you do not speak

Then he started striking them down with his right hand

So the people descended upon him

Why do you worship these you carve yourselves," he asked

When God has created you and what you make

Build a pyre for him and throw him into the raging fire

So they contrived a plot against him, but We made them abject

And he said: "I am going away to my Lord who will show me the way

(And he prayed:) "O Lord, grant me a righteous son

So We gave him the good news of a clement son

When he was old enough to go about with him, he said: "O my son, I dreamt that I was sacrificing you. Consider, what you think?" He replied: "Father, do as you are commanded. If God pleases you will find me firm

When they submitted to the will of God, and (Abraham) laid (his son) down prostrate on his temple

We called out: "O Abraham

You have fulfilled your dream." Thus do We reward the good

That was indeed a trying test

So We ransomed him for a great sacrifice

And left (his hallowed memory) for posterity

Peace be on Abraham

That is how We reward those who do good

He is truly among Our faithful creatures

So We gave him the good news of Isaac, apostle, who is among the righteous

And We blessed him and Isaac. Among their descendants are some who do good, but some who wrong themselves

We were indeed gracious to Moses and Aaron

And saved them and their people from great distress

And helped them, so they were victorious

We gave them the explicit Book

And showed them the straight path

And left (their remembrance) for posterity

Peace be on Moses and Aaron

That is how We reward those who do good

They are among Our faithful devotees

Verily Elias is one of the apostles

When he said to his people: "Will you not be mindful of God

Would you call on Baal and leave the best of creators

God, your Lord, and the Lord of your fathers

They denied him, and will surely be brought to punishment

Except the chosen creatures of God

And We left his (memory) for posterity

Peace be on Elias

That is how We reward those who do good

He is truly among Our faithful devotees

Verily Lot was one of the apostles

Wherefore We saved him and his entire family

Except an old woman who was one of those who stayed behind

Then We destroyed the others

You pass by (their habitations) in the morning

Or at night. Then how is it you do not understand

Verily Jonah is one of the apostles

When he fled on the laden ship

And lots were cast (when a storm overtook them), he was rejected, (and thrown overboard)

Then he was swallowed by a large fish as he was worthy of blame

Had he not been one of those who struggled hard

He would have stayed in its belly till the day the dead are raised

So We cast him, sick, on a barren shore

And We made a gourd tree grow over him

We sent him to a hundred thousand men or more

And they came to believe; so We allowed them to enjoy the good things of life for an age

Now ask them if their Lord has daughters, and they sons

Or did We make the angels females, and they witnessed it

Is it not a lie invented by them when they say

God has begotten (children)?" They are liars indeed

Does He prefer sons to daughters

What ails you that you judge in such a wise

Why do you not reflect

Or have you received some clear authority

Then bring your scripture, if what you say is true

They link Him with jinns by lineage, yet the jinns know they will be brought before Him

God is too glorious for what they ascribe to Him

Except His chosen creatures who do not

So neither you nor those you worship

Can mislead anyone away from Him

Except one who is (destined) to burn in Hell

There is not one of us who does not have his appointed place," (declare the angels)

And we are truly those who stand in rows

And we are those who sing hallelujas to Him

They used to say

If we had the account of earlier people with us

We would have been the chosen creatures of God

Yet now (that it has come) they refuse to believe in it; but they will come to know soon

Our word had already been given before to Our votaries, the apostles

That they would be helped

And that certainly Our armies will be victorious

So you ignore them for a time

And wait; they will come to know soon

Do they want to hasten Our punishment

When it comes down on their plains, it will be an evil dawn for those who had been warned

So turn away from them for a time

And watch; they will come to know soon

Too glorious is your Lord, the Lord of power, for what they ascribe to Him

So peace be on the messengers

And all praise to God, the Lord of all the worlds