English - Chapter 26 - Ash-Shuara

Ta. Sin. Mim

These are the Revelations of the Book clear in itself and clearly showing the truth

It may be that you (O Messenger) will torment yourself to death because they refuse to believe

If We will, We can send down a (compelling) sign on them from heaven, so that they are forced to bow their necks before it (in humility)

Whenever a new Revelation comes to them from the All-Merciful (to warn and enlighten them), they but turn away from it in aversion

So they have obstinately denied (this Message). But soon they will come to understand what it was that they were mocking

Have they not considered the earth, how many of every noble kind We have caused to grow therein in pairs

Surely in this there is a sign, but most of them are not believers

And surely your Lord is indeed the All-Glorious with irresistible might (able to punish whoever goes against His Glory), the All-Compassionate (especially towards His believing servants)

(Remember) when your Lord called Moses, saying: "Go to the wrongdoing people

The people of the Pharaoh. Will they not give up their way in fear of Me and take the way of piety

Moses replied: "My Lord! I fear that they will deny me

And my breast will be constricted (so that I fail to show the necessary perseverance and tolerance), and my tongue will not be free (to convey Your Message with the right fluency), so appoint Aaron as a Messenger beside me

They also have a charge of crime against me, so I fear that they will kill me (and not let me convey Your Message)

(God) said: "Not so, indeed! Go forth, then, the two of you, with Our miraculous signs (with which I have provided you). We will surely be with you all (you and them), listening attentively (to all that is to happen between you)

So go, both of you, to the Pharaoh and say: ‘We have come with a message from the Lord of the worlds (He Who has created and sustains everything)

‘Let the Children of Israel go with us!’

(When Moses delivered his message, the Pharaoh) said: "Did we not bring you up among us (in our palace) when you were a child? And you spent many years of your life among us

Then you committed that heinous deed of yours which you did, (proving thereby that) you are indeed one of the ungrateful

(Moses) said: "I committed that deed unintentionally when I did not know (it would end in the way it did)

Then I fled from you when I feared (living together with) you (any longer), but (since then) my Lord has granted to me sound, wise judgment, and has made me one of His Messengers

As for that favor you taunt me with: (it is owed to the fact) that you have enslaved the Children of Israel

(The Pharaoh) said: "What (and who) is that, ‘the Lord of the worlds’

(Moses) answered: "The Lord (Creator, Sustainer, and sole Ruler) of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, if you would but (let yourselves be) convinced

(The Pharaoh) said to those around him: "Do you not hear (what he is saying)

(Moses) continued: "Your Lord, and the Lord of your forefathers

(The Pharaoh) exclaimed: "See! This Messenger of yours who has been sent to you is assuredly a madman

(Moses) went on: "He is the Lord of the east and the west and all that is between them, if you would but reason and understand

(The Pharaoh) threatened: "If you, (O Moses,) take any deity other than me (to worship, to offer your prayer and sacrifices to, and to seek help from), I will most certainly make you one of those imprisoned

(Moses) said: "Even if I have brought you something clear (which demonstrates that I am speaking the truth)

(The Pharaoh) answered: "Then, produce it if you are truthful (in your claim)

Thereupon Moses threw down his staff, and it was manifestly a serpent

And he drew forth his (right) hand (from his armpit where he had put it), and thereupon it was shining white to those looking on

(The Pharaoh) said to the chiefs around him: "This is indeed a learned, skillful sorcerer

Who seeks to drive you out from your land by his sorcery. What, then, do you advise (me to do)

They said: "Put him and his brother off for a while, and (in the meantime) send forth heralds to all cities

To bring to your presence every learned, skillful sorcerer

So the sorcerers were assembled (to contend with Moses) at the appointed time on a day (made) well-known (to all)

And it was said to the people: "Will you not assemble (and attend also)

We are expecting that the sorcerers will triumph and we will follow them (in their religion)

So then the sorcerers came forth (for the encounter) and said to the Pharaoh: "We shall surely have a reward, if we are the victors, shall we

(The Pharaoh) answered: "Yes, indeed. And you will then be among those near-stationed to me

Moses said to them (the sorcerers): "Throw whatever you are going to throw

So they threw their ropes and staffs, saying: "By the might and glory of Pharaoh, we will surely be the victors

Thereafter, Moses threw his staff, and behold, it swallowed up their false devices

The sorcerers threw themselves down, prostrating

And they said: "We have come to believe in the Lord of the worlds

The Lord of Moses and Aaron

(The Pharaoh) said: "What! Do you believe in Him before I give you permission? For sure he is your chief who has taught you sorcery. But in time you will certainly come to know. I will most certainly have your hands and feet cut off alternately, and then I will most certainly have you crucified all together

They responded: "There is no hurt (in what you threaten us with). For surely to our (true and everlasting) Lord we are bound to return

We ardently desire that our Lord will forgive us our sins for we are the first to believe

(Events developed to the point that) We revealed to Moses: "Set forth with My servants by night: surely, you will be pursued

Then the Pharaoh sent heralds to the cities (to mobilize his troops)

(Saying:) "Those people are indeed a paltry band

And (forgetting their lack in numbers and power), they have offended against us (and so provoked our wrath)

As for us, we are assuredly a numerous host, ever on guard

Thus did We drive them out of (all that they had enjoyed of) gardens and springs

And treasures, excellent dwellings, and noble status

Things happened thus, and We made the Children of Israel survive them and inherit (the same kind of bounties)

At sunrise, the Pharaoh set off in pursuit of them. tyrant tyrannical

When the two hosts came in view of each other, the companions of Moses said: "We are certainly overtaken

He replied: "Certainly not. My Lord is surely with me; He will guide me (to deliverance)

We revealed to Moses: "Strike the sea with your staff." Thereupon the sea split, and each part became like a towering mountain

We brought the others (the Pharaoh and his host) close to the same spot

And We saved Moses and all those who were with him

Afterwards, We caused the others to drown

Surely in that (which took place between Moses and Pharaoh) there is a sign (a great, important lesson). Most of them (the Pharaoh’s people) were not believers

And surely your Lord is indeed the All-Glorious with irresistible might (able to punish whoever goes against His Glory), the All-Compassionate (especially towards His believing servants)

Now recite to them this exemplary history of Abraham

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

They said: "We worship idols; and (even though they are made of wood and stone) we are ever devoted to them (as they are our deities)

(Abraham) said: "Do they hear you when you invoke them

Or do they benefit you (when you worship them) or harm (you when you do not)

They replied: "But we found our forefathers doing the same

(Abraham) said: "So, have you considered what you have been worshipping

You and all your forefathers that have passed (before you)

I see that they (all that you worship) are enemies to me, but the Lord of the worlds is not

He Who has created me and so guides me (to whatever is to my benefit in both this world and the next)

And He it is Who gives me food and drink

And Who, when I fall ill, heals me

And Who will make me die and then will give me life again

And Who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on Judgment Day

My Lord! Grant me true, wise judgment, and join me with the righteous

And grant me a most true and virtuous renown among posterity

And make me one of the inheritors of the Garden of bounty and blessing

And forgive my father, for he is among those who have gone astray

And do not disgrace me on the Day when all people will be raised up to life

The Day when neither wealth will be of any use, nor offspring

But only he (will prosper) who comes before God with a sound heart (free of all kinds of unbelief, hypocrisy, and associating partners with God)

And Paradise (on that Day) will be brought near for the God-revering, pious

And the Blazing Flame will be laid open before those who rebelled (against God) and went astray

They will be asked: "Where are all those (idols or revered human beings, or angels, or jinn) that you used to worship

Apart from God? Can they be of any help to you, or even to themselves

Then they will be hurled into the Flame headlong, one upon another – they (the idols), and the rebellious (who worship them)

And so too the hosts of Iblis, all together

Blaming one another therein, they (the rebellious) will say (to the others)

By God, assuredly, we were lost in obvious error

When we held you as equals (in worship and obedience) to the Lord of the worlds

It is none but the criminals (the leaders in associating partners with God) who led us astray

And now we have none to intercede (on our behalf)

Nor any intimate friend

If only we had a second chance (in the world), so that we might be among the believers

Surely in that (which took place between Abraham and his people) there is a sign (a great, important lesson). Most of them were not believers

And surely your Lord is indeed the All-Glorious with irresistible might (able to punish whoever goes against His Glory), the All-Compassionate (especially towards His believing servants)

The people of Noah denied (Noah and thereby meant to deny all) the Messengers

(Recall) when their brother Noah said to them (by way of timely warning): "Will you not keep from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and seek refuge with His protection

Surely I am a Messenger to you, trustworthy

So keep form disobedience to God in reverence for Him, and obey me

I ask of you no wage for that (for conveying God’s Message); my wage is due only from the Lord of the worlds

So keep from disobedience to God in reverence for Him, and obey me

They responded: "Shall we believe in you, when the lowliest (among the people) follow you

(Noah) said: "What knowledge could I have about what they were engaged in doing (before they became believers)

Indeed their reckoning rests with none but my Lord; if only you could understand

And it is not expected of me that I should repel the believers

I am but a plain warner (responsible for no other duty than the duty to warn)

They said: "If you do not desist, O Noah, you will certainly be stoned to death in utter abjection

(After ages of struggle) he said (in supplication): "My Lord! Indeed, my people have denied me

So judge between me and them a conclusive (and everlasting) separation, and save me and the believers in my company

So We saved him and those who were with him in the laden Ark

And then, following their rescue, We caused the rest to drown

Surely in that (which took place between Noah and his people) there is a sign (a great, important lesson). Most of them were not believers

And surely your Lord is indeed the All-Glorious with irresistible might (able to punish whoever goes against His Glory), the All-Compassionate (especially towards His believing servants)

The ‘Ad denied (Hud and thereby meant to deny all) the Messengers

(Recall) when their brother Hud said to them (by way of timely warning): "Will you not keep from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and seek refuge with His protection

Surely I am a Messenger to you, trustworthy

So keep from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and obey me

I ask of you no wage for that (for conveying God’s Message); my wage is only due from the Lord of the worlds

Will you continue to build on every high spot monumental buildings for fun and show

And make for yourselves great castles (as if) hoping that you might live for ever

And when you strike and seize (others and their goods), strike and seize in the style of tyrants

So keep from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and obey me

Keep from disobedience to Him Who has amply provided you with (all that) you are well-aware of

Amply provided you with flocks and herds and children

And gardens and springs

Indeed I fear for you the punishment of an awesome Day

They responded: "It is all the same to us whether you preach or are not of those who preach

This (what we do) is the pattern of conduct of (all our) predecessors

And (so) we are not going to be subject to any punishment

So they denied him and, in consequence, We destroyed them. Surely in that (which took place between Hud and his people) there is a sign (a great, important lesson). Most of them were not believers

And surely your Lord is indeed the All-Glorious with irresistible might (able to punish whoever goes against His Glory), the All-Compassionate (especially towards His believing servants)

The Thamud denied (Salih and thereby meant to deny all) the Messengers

(Recall) when their brother Salih said to them (by way of timely warning): "Will you not keep from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and seek refuge with His protection

I am indeed a Messenger to you, trustworthy

So keep from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and obey me

I ask of you no wage for that (for conveying God’s Message); my wage is only due from the Lord of the worlds

(Do you think) you will be left secure forever in what is here before us

Cornfields and date-palms with heavy bunches (of dates)

And that you will (continue to) skillfully hew dwellings out of mountains

So keep from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and obey me

And do not follow the commands of those who are wasteful (of God-given faculties) and commit excesses

Those who cause disorder and corruption on the earth, without setting things right

They responded: "You are only one of those who are bewitched

You are but a mortal like us, so produce a sign if you are truthful (in your claim of Messengership)

(Salih) said: "This is a she-camel, one day is for her to drink and one day is for you to get water

Do not touch her with evil lest the punishment of an awesome Day should seize you

But (after a time, being unable to put up with it any longer,) they cruelly slaughtered her, and then became regretful

For the (shocking) punishment seized them. Surely in that (which took place between Salih and his people) there is a sign (a great, important lesson). Most of them were not believers

And surely your Lord is indeed the All-Glorious with irresistible might (able to punish whoever goes against His Glory), the All-Compassionate (especially towards His believing servants)

The people of Lot denied (Lot and thereby meant to deny all) the Messengers

(Recall) when their brother Lot said to them (by way of timely warning): "Will you not keep from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and seek refuge with His protection

I am indeed a Messenger to you, trustworthy

So keep from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and obey me

I ask of you no wage for that (for conveying God’s Message); my wage is only due from the Lord of the worlds

What! Do you, of all the world’s people, approach men (with lust)

And leave aside what your Lord has created (and made lawful) for you in your wives? No, indeed! you are a people exceeding all bounds (of decency)

They responded: "If you do not desist, you will most certainly be cast out (from our land)

(Lot) said: "I am indeed one who abhors your practice

(And he prayed:) "My Lord! Save me and my family from (the consequences of) what they have been doing

So We saved him and his family, all of them

Except an old woman, who was among those who stayed behind (and were destroyed)

Then We annihilated the others

We poured upon them a (destructive) rain (of stones). How evil was the rain of those who had been warned

Surely in that (which took place between Lot and his people) there is a sign (a great, important lesson). Most of them were not believers

And surely your Lord is indeed the All-Glorious with irresistible might (able to punish whoever goes against His Glory), the All-Compassionate (especially towards His believing servants)

The dwellers of al-Aykah denied (Shu‘ayb and thereby meant to deny all) the Messengers

(Recall) when Shu‘ayb said to them (by way of timely warning): "Will you not keep from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and seek refuge with His protection

I am indeed a Messenger to you, trustworthy

So keep from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and obey me

I ask of you no wage for that (for conveying God’s Message); my wage is only due from the Lord of the worlds

Give full measure (in all your dealings) and be not one of those who (by cheating and giving less) cause loss to others

And weigh with the straighta true, accurate balance

Do not wrong people by depriving them of what is rightfully theirs, and do not go about acting wickedly in the land, causing disorder and corruption

Keep from disobedience to Him in reverence for Him Who has created you and all the earlier generations

They responded: "You are only one of those who are bewitched

You are but a mortal like us, and we have become convinced that you are certainly one of the liars

So cause lumps from the sky to fall down upon us, if you are truthful in your claim (of Messengership)

(Shu‘ayb) said: "My Lord knows well all that you do." (Thus he referred their matter to God)

So they denied him and in consequence, the punishment of the Day of the Overshadowing seized them. It surely was the punishment of an awesome day

Surely in that (which took place between Shu‘ayb and his people) there is a sign (a great, important lesson). Most of them were not believers

And surely your Lord is indeed the All-Glorious with irresistible might (able to punish whoever goes against His Glory), the All-Compassionate (especially towards His believing servants)

This (Qur’an) is indeed the Book of the Lord of the worlds being sent down by Him (in parts)

The Trustworthy Spirit brings it down

On your heart, so that you may be one of the warners (entrusted with the Divine Revelation)

In clear Arabic tongue

It has certainly been (prefigured) in the previous Scriptures

Is it not an evidence enough for them that the scholars of the Children of Israel know it (to be so)

But even if We had sent it down on any of the non-Arabs

And he had recited it to them, they would still not have believed in it

Thus (because of their willful persistence in unbelief and injustices) have We caused it (the Qur’an) to pass unheeded through the hearts of the disbelieving criminals

(Despite irrefutable proofs of its truth,) they will not believe in it until they see the painful punishment

So it will come on them all of a sudden, when they are unaware (and incapable of awareness) of its coming

Then they say: "Are we to be granted some respite (so that we might reform ourselves)

(This being so,) do they still wish for Our punishment to be hastened

Have you considered that, if We let them enjoy life for many (more) years (– something they will desperately wish for when they face the punishment)

And the punishment they were promised comes upon them after that

It will be of no avail to them at all (that their lives of enjoyment were prolonged)

We have never destroyed any township except that it had warners (sent to it)

To remind and admonish them. We have never been unjust

It is not the satans who have brought down this (Book)

It is neither (permitted nor proper) for them, nor is it within their power (to do that)

Indeed they are utterly debarred even from hearing it (during its Revelation)

Hence, never take to you any other deity to invoke besides God, lest you should become of those condemned to the punishment

And (O Messenger) warn your nearest kinsfolk

Spread your wings (to provide care and shelter) over the believers who follow you (in practicing God’s commandments in their lives)

But if they disobey you (your kinsfolk by refusing your call, or those who have newly believed by not giving up their former way of life), then say (to them): "I am free of (responsibility for) what you do

And (taking no account of any earthly power in performing your mission) put your trust in the All-Glorious with irresistible might (able to do whatever He wills), the All-Compassionate (especially towards His believing servants)

He Who sees you when you rise (in the Prayer, and in readiness to carry out Our commands)

As well as your strenuous efforts in prostration among those who prostrate (to be able to fulfill your duty of servanthood and help the believer to reform their lives)

Surely, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing

(O people!) Shall I inform you upon whom the satans descend

They descend upon everyone addicted to inventing falsehoods, addicted to sinning

They (the satans) give ear eagerly (to the conversations of the angels, and whisper to every forger lost in sin as if they received something), but they (both the satans and their sinful agents) are liars in most of their words

As for poets, only the misguided follow them

Do you not see that they roam confusedly through all the valleys (of falsehoods, thoughts, and currents)

And they say what they themselves do not do

Except those who believe and do good, righteous deeds, and remember God much, and vindicate themselves when they have been wronged. The wrongdoers will come to know by what a (great) reverse they will be overturned