English - Chapter 43 - Az-Zukhruf

Haa, Miim

By the Book that makes things clear

We have made it a Quran in Arabic that you may be able to understand

And indeed, it is in the mother of the Book, in Our presence, high and full of wisdom

Shall We then take away the message from you and disregard you, because you are a people transgressing beyond bounds

But how many were the messengers We sent among peoples throughout history

And there never came a messenger to them that they did not mock

So We caused them to perish. They were stronger than these in power are. And it is passed on, the parable of past peoples

If you were to ask them, “Who created the heavens and the earth?” They would be sure to reply, “They were created by Him, the Exalted in Power, Full of Knowledge.”

The same One Who has made for you the earth spread out, and has made for you roads and channels in it, in order that you may be guided

He Who sends down rain from the sky in due measure, and We raise to life with it a land that is dead, as will you be raised

He Who has created everything in pairs, and has made for you ships and livestock on which you ride

In order that you may sit firmly on them, and glorify the favor of your Lord and say, “Praise to Him Who has subjected these to our use, for we could never have done this

“And to our Lord, indeed we must return.”

Yet they attribute to some of His servants, a share with Him. Indeed human beings are clearly ungrateful

What, has He taken daughters out of what He Himself creates, and given sons to you

When news is brought to one of them of the birth of what he attributes to God, the Merciful Benefactor, his face darkens, and he is filled with inward grief

One who is to be reared to be a trophy, and finds themselves torn by inner conflict

And they created into females, angels who themselves serve God. Did they witness their creation? Their evidence will be recorded, and they will be called to account

They say, “If it had been the will of God, the Merciful Benefactor, we would not have worshipped such deities.” They have no knowledge of that, they do nothing but lie

What, have We given them a book before this, to which they hold fast

No, they say, “We found our fathers following a certain way, and we guide ourselves by their footsteps.”

In the same way that when We sent a warner before you to any people, the elite among them said, “We found our fathers following a certain way, and we will certainly follow in their footsteps.”

He said, “What, even if I brought you better guidance than that which you found your fathers following?” They said, “For us, we deny that you are sent on a mission at all.”

So We took retribution from them. Now see what the end of those who rejected it was

Behold, Abraham said to his father and his people, “I indeed clear myself of what you worship

“I worship only Him Who made me, and He will certainly guide me.”

And he left it as a word to endure among those who came after him, that they might return

Yes, I have given the good things of this life to these people and their parents, until the truth has come to them, and a messenger making things clear

But when the truth came to them they said, “This is deception, and we reject it.”

They also say, “Why is this Quran not sent down to some great person in either of the two cities?”

Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We Who distribute among them their livelihood in the life of the present, and We raise some of them above others in ranks, so that some may benefit from the work of others, but the mercy of your Lord is better than that which they amass

And were it not that all people might become one community, We would provide for everyone who rejects the Merciful Benefactor, silver roofs for their houses and silver stairways on which to climb

And silver doors to their houses, and thrones of silver on which they could recline

And adornments of gold. But all this is nothing but conveniences of the present life. The hereafter, in the sight of your Lord, is for the righteous

If anyone turns himself from remembrance of God, the Merciful Benefactor, We appoint for him a devil to be a close friend to him

They hinder them from the path, but they think that they are being guided aright

Then, when such a one comes to Us, he says to his friend, “I wish that between you and me were the distance of East and West.” How terrible this friend is

When you have done wrong, it will not benefit you that day, you will be partners in punishment

Can you then make the deaf to hear, or give direction to the blind, or to those who wander in manifest error

Even if We take you away, We will be sure to exact retribution from them

Or We will show you that which We have promised them, for indeed We will prevail over them

So hold fast to the revelation sent down to you, indeed you are on a straight way

The Quran is indeed the message for you and for your people, and soon will you be brought to account

And question those to whom we sent our messengers before you, did We appoint any deities other than God, the Merciful Benefactor, to be worshipped

We sent Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his advisors. He said, “I am a messenger of the Lord of all worlds.”

But when he came to them with Our signs, behold, they ridiculed them

We showed them sign after sign, each greater than the other, and We seized them with punishment, in order that they might turn to Us

And they said, “O sorcerer, invoke your Lord for us according to His covenant with you, for we will truly accept guidance.”

But when We removed the penalty from them behold, they broke their word

And Pharaoh proclaimed among his people saying, “O my people, does not the control of Egypt belong to me? See these streams flowing underneath me? What, do you not see

“Am I not better than this one who is seemingly insignificant and can hardly express himself clearly

“Then why are not gold bracelets bestowed on him, or why do there not come with him angels accompanying him?”

So he made fools of his people, and they followed him. Truly were they a rebellious people

So when they provoked Us, We took retribution from them, and We drowned them all

And We made them a people of history and an example in the hereafter

When the son of Mary is held up as an example behold, your people protested aloud about it

And they said, “Are our gods best, or is he?” This was presented to you only for argument. Yes, they are a contentious people

He was no more than a slave. We granted Our favor to him, and We made him an example to the Children of Israel

And if it were Our will, We could make angels from among you, succeeding each other on the earth

And this will be a sign of the Hour. Therefore have no doubt about it, but follow Me. This is a straight way

Do not let Satan hinder you, for he is to you a sworn enemy

When Jesus came with clear signs he said, “Now I come to you with wisdom, and to make clear to you some of that which you dispute. Therefore be aware of God and follow me

“For God, He is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is a straight way.”

But sects from among them fell into disagreement. Then woe to the wrongdoers, for the penalty of a terrible day

Do they only wait for the Hour, that it should come on them all of a sudden while they perceive it not

Friends on that day will be foes, one to another, except for the righteous

My devotees. No fear will be on you that day, nor will you grieve

Those who believed in Our signs and were submissive

Enter the garden, all of you and your spouses, rejoicing

To them will be passed around, gold plates and goblets of gold. There will be all that the souls could desire, all that their eyes could enjoy, and you will live therein forever

Such will be the garden of which you are made heirs because of your deeds

You will have therein abundance of fruit, from which you will have satisfaction

The wrong-doers will be in the punishment of hell, to dwell therein

The punishment will not be lightened for them, and they will be there in despair, overwhelmed

In no way will We be unjust to them, but they have been unjust to themselves

They will cry, “O Malik, have your Lord put an end to us.” He will say, “No, you must remain.”

Indeed We have brought the truth to you, but most of you have hatred for truth

What, have they settled some plan among themselves? But it is We Who settle things

Or do they think that We do not hear their secrets and their private counsels? Indeed We do, and Our messengers are by them to record

Say, “If God, the Merciful Benefactor had a son, I would be the first to worship him.”

Glory to the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of the throne. He is free from the things they attribute to Him

So leave them to converse vainly and play, until they meet that day of theirs which they have been promised

It is He Who is God in heaven and God on earth, and He is full of wisdom and knowledge

And blessed is He to Whom belongs the control of the heavens and the earth, and all between them. With Him is the knowledge of the Hour, and to Him will you be brought back

And those whom they invoke besides God have no power of intercession. Only he who bears witness to the truth, and know

If you ask them who created them, they will certainly say God. How then are they deluded away from the truth

God has knowledge of the messenger’s cry, “O my Lord, truly these are people who will not believe.”

But turn away from them, and say “Peace.” But soon they will know