English - Chapter 38

Sad. By the Koran, containing the Remembrance

nay, but the unbelievers glory in their schism

How many a generation We destroyed before them, and they called, but time was none to escape

Now they marvel that a warner has come to them from among them; and the unbelievers say, 'This is a lying sorcerer

What, has he made the gods One God? This is indeed a marvellous thing

And the Council of them depart, saying 'Go! Be steadfast to your gods; this is a thing to be desired

We have not heard of this in the last religion; this is surely an invention

What, has the Remembrance been sent down on him out of us all?' Nay, but they are in doubt of My Remembrance; nay, they have not yet tasted My chastisement

Or have they the treasuries of thy Lord's mercy, the All-mighty, the All-giving

Or is theirs the kingdom of the heavens and earth and of what between them is? Why, then let them ascend the cords

A very host of parties is routed there

Cried lies before them the people of Noah, and Ad, and Pharaoh, he of the tent-pegs

and Thamood, and the people of Lot, and the men of the Thicket - those were the parties

not one, that cried not lies to the Messengers, so My retribution was just

These are only awaiting for a single Cry, to which there is no delay

They say, 'Our Lord, hasten to us our share before the Day of Reckoning

Bear patiently what they say, and remember Our servant David, the man of might; he was a penitent

With him We subjected the mountains to give glory at evening and sunrise

and the birds, duly mustered, every one to him reverting

We strengthened his kingdom, and gave him wisdom and speech decisive

Has the tiding of the dispute come to thee? When they scaled the Sanctuary

when they entered upon David, and he took fright at them; and they said, 'Fear not; two disputants we are -- one of us has injured the other; so judge between us justly, and transgress not, and guide us to the right path

Behold, this my brother has ninety-nine ewes, and I have one ewe. So he said, "Give her into my charge"; and he overcame me in the argument

Said he, 'Assuredly he has wronged thee in asking for thy ewe in addition to his sheep; and indeed many intermixers do injury one against the other, save those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness -- and how few they are!' And David thought that We had only tried him; therefore he sought forgiveness of his Lord, and he fell down, bowing, and he repented

Accordingly We forgave him that, and he has a near place in Our presence and a fair resort

David, behold, We have appointed thee a viceroy in the earth; therefore judge between men justly, and follow not caprice, lest it lead thee astray from the way of God. Surely those who go astray from the way of God -- there awaits them a terrible chastisement, for that they have forgotten the Day of Reckoning

We have not created the heavens and earth, and what between them is, for vanity; such is the thought of the unbelievers, wherefore woe unto the unbelievers because of the Fire

Or shall We make those who believe and do righteous deeds as the workers of corruption in the earth, or shall We make the godfearing as the transgressors

A Book We have sent down to thee, Blessed, that men possessed of minds may ponder its signs and so remember

And We gave unto David Solomon; how excellent a servant he was! He was a penitent

When in the evening were presented to him the standing steeds

he said, 'Lo, I have loved the love of good things better than the remembrance of my Lord, until the sun was bidden behind the veil

Return them to me!' And he began to stroke their shanks and necks

Certainly We tried Solomon, and We cast upon his throne a mere body; then he repented

He said, 'My Lord, forgive me, and give me a kingdom such as may not befall anyone after me; surely Thou art the All-giver

So We subjected to him the wind, that ran at his commandment, softly, wherever he might light on

and the Satans, every builder and diver

and others also, coupled in fetters

This is Our gift; bestow or withhold without reckoning

And he had a near place in Our presence and a fair resort

Remember also Our servant Job; when he called to his Lord, 'Behold, Satan has visited me with weariness and chastisement

Stamp thy foot! This is a laving-place cool, and a drink

And We gave to him his family, and the like of them with them, as a mercy from us, and a reminder unto men possessed of minds

and, 'Take in thy hand a bundle of rushes, and strike therewith, and do not fail in thy oath.' Surely We found him a steadfast man. How excellent a servant he was! He was a penitent

Remember also Our servants Abraham, Isaac and Jacob -- men of might they and of vision

Assuredly We purified them with a quality most pure, the remembrance of the Abode

and in Our sight they are of the chosen, the excellent

Remember also Our servants Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhul Kifl; each is among the excellent

This is a Remembrance; and for the godfearing is a fair resort

Gardens of Eden, whereof the gates are open to them

wherein they recline, and wherein they call for fruits abundant, and sweet potions

and with them maidens restraining their glances of equal age

This is what you were promised for the Day of Reckoning

this is Our provision, unto which there is no end

All this; but for the insolent awaits an ill resort

Gehenna, wherein they are roasted - an evil cradling

All this; so let them taste it - boiling water and pus

and other torments of the like kind coupled together

This is a troop rushing in with you; there is no Welcome for them; they shall roast in the Fire

They say, 'No, it is you have no Welcome; you forwarded it for us; how evil a stablishment

They say, 'Our Lord, whoso forwarded this for us, give him a double chastisement in the Fire

They say, 'How is it with us, that we do not see men here that we counted among the wicked

What, did we take them for a laughing-stock? Or have our eyes swerved away from them

Surely that is true -- the disputing of the inhabitants of the Fire

Say: 'I am only a warner. There is not any god but God, the One, the Omnipotent

Lord of the heavens and earth, and of what between them is, the All-mighty, the All-forgiving

Say: 'It is a mighty tiding

from which you are turning away

I had no knowledge of the High Council when they disputed

This alone is revealed to me, that I am only a clear warner

When thy Lord said to the angels, 'See, I am creating a mortal of a clay

When I have shaped him, and breathed My spirit in him, fall you down, bowing before him

Then the angels bowed themselves all together

save Iblis; he waxed proud, and was one of the unbelievers

Said He, 'Iblis, what prevented thee to bow thyself before that I created with My own hands? Hast thou waxed proud, or art thou of the lofty ones

Said he, 'I am better than he; Thou createdst me of fire, and him Thou createdst of clay

Said He, 'Then go thou forth hence; thou art accursed

Upon thee shall rest My curse, till the Day of Doom

Said he, 'My Lord, respite me till the day they shall be raised

Said He, 'Thou art among the ones that are respited

until the day of the known time

Said he, 'Now, by Thy glory, I shall pervert them all together

excepting those Thy servants among them that are sincere

Said He, 'This is the truth, and the truth I say

I shall assuredly fill Gehenna with thee, and with whosoever of them follows thee, all together

Say: 'I ask of you no wage for it, neither am I of those who take things upon themselves

It is nothing but a reminder unto all beings

and you shall surely know its tiding after a while