English - Chapter 37 - As-Saffat

By those who line themselves in ranks

And so are strong in repelling harm

And so proclaim the message

Indeed your God is one

Lord of the heavens and of the earth, and all between them, and Lord of every point at the rising of the Sun

We have indeed decked the lower heaven with beauty in the stars

For beauty and to guard against all rebellious devils

They should not strain their ears in the direction of the exalted assembly, but shall be cast away from every side

Repulsed, for they are under a perpetual penalty

Except those that snatch away something by stealth, and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness

Just ask their opinion. Are they more difficult to create, or the other beings We have created? We have created them out of wet clay

Indeed you marvel while they ridicule

And though they are advised, they pay no heed

And when they see a sign, they turn it into mockery

And say, “This is nothing but evident deception

“What, when we die and become dust and bones, will we be raised up

“And also our ancestors?”

Say, “Yes, and you will then be humiliated.”

Then there will be a single cry, and behold, they will begin to see

They will say, “Woe to us, this is the Day of Accountability!”

This is the day of sorting out, the truth you once denied

“Bring up,” it will be said, “The wrongdoers and their partners, and the things they worshipped

“Besides God, and lead them to the way of the fire

“But stop them, for they must be asked

“What is the matter with you that you did not help each other?”

No, but that day they will submit

And they will turn to one another, and question each other

They will say, “It was you who used to come to us from the right.”

They will reply, “No, you yourselves had no faith

“Nor had we any authority over you. No, it was you who were a people in obstinate rebellion

“So now has been proved true against us, the word of our Lord, so we will indeed taste it

“We led you astray, for indeed we were ourselves astray.”

Indeed that day, they will all share in the penalty

Indeed that is how We will deal with the wrong-doers

For they, when they were told that there is no god except God, would puff themselves up with pride–

And say, “What, will we give up our gods for the sake of a poet possessed?”

No, he has come with the truth, and he confirms the messengers

You will indeed taste the terrible penalty

But it will be no more than retribution for what you did

But the sincere servants of God

For them is sustenance determined

They will enjoy fruits, and honor and dignity

In gardens of felicity

Facing each other on thrones

Round will be passed to them a cup from a clear-flowing fountain

White, of a taste delicious to those who drink of it

Free from harm, nor will they suffer intoxication from it

And with them will be companions of modest gaze and beautiful eyes

Like delicate eggs closely guarded

Then they will turn to one another and question each other

One of them will start the conversation by saying, “I had a friend

“Who used to say, ‘What, are you among those who bear witness to the truth

“When we die and become dust and bones, will we indeed receive rewards and punishments?”

A voice said, “Would you like to look down?”

He looked down and saw him in the middle of the fire

He said, “By God, you were just short of bringing me to perdition

“Had it not been for the grace of my Lord, I would certainly have been among those sent there

“Is it the case that we will not die

“Except our first death, and that we will not be punished?”

Indeed this is the greatest achievement

For the like of this let all strive who wish to strive

Is that the better entertainment or the Tree of Zaqqum

For We have truly made it a trial for the wrongdoers

For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of hellfire

The shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils

Truly they will eat of it and fill their stomachs

Then indeed on top of that they will be given a mixture made of boiling water

Then their return will be to the fire

Truly they found their parents on the wrong path

So they were rushed down on their footsteps

And truly before them, many of the ancients went astray

But We sent among them, people to advise them

Then see what was the end of those who were advised

Except the sincere servants of God

Noah called to Us, and We are the best to hear prayers

And We delivered him and his people from the Great Calamity

And made his progeny to endure

And We left for him generations to come in later times

Peace and salutation to Noah among the nations

For he was one of our believing servants

Then the rest we overwhelmed in the flood

Indeed among those who followed his way was Abraham

Behold, he approached his Lord with a pure heart

Behold, he said to his father and to his people, “What is it you worship

“Is it false gods instead of God that you desire

“Then what is your idea about the Lord of the worlds?”

Then he cast a glance at the stars

And he said, “I am indeed sick.”

So they turned away from him, and departed

Then he turned to their gods and said, “Will you not eat

“What is the matter with you that you do not speak?”

Then did he turn to them, striking them with the right hand

Then they came with hurried steps, and faced him

He said, “You worship that which you have carved

“But God has created you and that which you make.”

They said, “Build him a furnace, and throw him into the blazing fire.”

They then sought another strategy against him, but We made them the ones most humiliated

He said, “I will go to my Lord, He will surely guide me

“O my Lord, grant me one from the righteous.”

So We gave him the good news of a child ready to sacrifice and forbear

Then when he reached the age of work he said, “O my son, I see in a vision that I offer you in sacrifice. Now tell me what you see?” The son said, “O my father, do as you are asked. You will find me, God willing, one practicing patience and constancy.”

So when they both submitted their wills, and he laid him prostrate on his forehead

We called out to him “O Abraham,”

“You have already fulfilled the vision.” Indeed We reward those who do right

For this was a challenge

And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice

And We left this blessing for him among generations to come

“Peace and salutation to Abraham.”

Indeed We reward those who do right

For he was one of our believing servants

And We gave him the good news of Isaac, a prophet, one of the righteous

We blessed him and Isaac, but of their progeny are some who do right and some who do wrong, to their own souls

Again We bestowed Our favor on Moses and Aaron

And We delivered them and their people from great calamity

And We helped them, so they overcame

And We gave them the Clear Books

And We guided them to the straight way

And We left this blessing for them among generations to come

“Peace and salutation to Moses and Aaron.”

So indeed We reward those who do right

For they were two of our believing servants

Elias was also among those sent by Us

Behold, he said to his people, “Will you not be conscious

“Will you call upon Baal and abandon the Best of Creators

“Your Lord and the Lord of your ancestors?”

But they rejected him, and they will certainly be called up

Except the sincere and devoted servants of God

And We left this blessing for him among generations to come

“Peace be upon Elias.”

Then indeed do We reward those who do right

For he was one of our believing servants

Lot was also among those sent by Us

Behold, We delivered him and all his adherents

Except an old woman who was among those who lagged behind

Then We caused the rest to perish

Indeed you pass by their sites, by day–

And by night. Then will you not use reason

Jonah was also among those sent by Us

When he ran away to the ship fully stocked

He cast lots, and he was condemned

Then the fish swallowed him. He had done things worthy of blame

Had it not been that he glorified God

He would certainly have remained inside the fish until the Day of Resurrection

But We cast him up on the naked shore in a state of sickness

And We caused to grow over him a spreading plant of the gourd kind

And We sent him to a hundred thousand people or more

And they believed. So We permitted them to enjoy their time

Then ask them, do the females belong to God and the males to you

Or did you see Us create the angels female

Is it not that they say falsely

“God has children”? But they are liars

Did He choose daughters over sons

What is the matter with you? How judge you

Will you not then receive advice

Or have you an authority manifest

Then bring your book if you are truthful

And they have created a blood relationship between Him and the jinn. But the jinn know that they have indeed to appear

Glory be to God, He is free from the things they ascribe to Him

Not so the servants of God, sincere and devoted

Indeed neither you nor those you worship

Can lead any into temptation concerning God

Except those whom are themselves heading to the blazing fire

“Not us, only for him is a place known

“And indeed we are arranged in ranks

“And we are indeed those who declare God's glory.”

And there were those who said

“If only we had before us a message from those in the past

“We would certainly have been servants of God, sincere.”

So they reject it, but soon will they know

Our word has already been passed on before to Our servants sent by Us

So that they would certainly be assisted

And that Our forces surely must conquer

So turn away from them for a little while

And watch them, and they soon will see

Do they wish to rush our punishment

But when it descends into the open space before them, terrible will be the morning for those who were warned

So turn away from them for a little while

And watch and they soon will see

Glory to your Lord, the Lord of Honor and Power, free from what they ascribe to Him

And peace on the messengers

And praise God, the Guardian Evolver of all the worlds