Back to Languages

English - Chapter 40 - Ghafir

Translation by John Medows Rodwell — Permalink

Verse 1 — Surah Ghafir 40:1

Verse 2 — Surah Ghafir 40:2

The Revelation (sending down) of the Book is from God the Almighty, the All-knowing

Verse 3 — Surah Ghafir 40:3

Forgiver of sin, and receiver of penitence, - vehement in chastisement, Long-suffering! There is no God but He: to Him shall be the final gathering

Verse 4 — Surah Ghafir 40:4

None but infidels gainsay the signs of God: but let not their prosperity in the land deceive thee

Verse 5 — Surah Ghafir 40:5

The people of Noah, and the confederates after them, have brought the charge of imposture before these Meccans: each nation schemed against their apostle to lay violent hold on him, and disputed with vain words to refute the truth. Therefore did I lay violent hold on them; and how great was my chastisement

Verse 6 — Surah Ghafir 40:6

Thus is it that thy Lord's sentence, that inmates shall they be of the fire, was accomplished upon the infidels

Verse 7 — Surah Ghafir 40:7

They who bear the throne and they who encircle it, celebrate the praise of their Lord and believe in Him, and implore forgiveness for the believers: - "O our Lord! thou embracest all things in mercy and knowledge; forgive, therefore, those who turn to thee and follow thy path; keep them from the pains of hell

Verse 8 — Surah Ghafir 40:8

O our Lord! and bring them into the Gardens of Eden which thou hast promised to them, and to the righteous ones of their fathers and their wives and their children; for thou art the All-mighty, the All-wise

Verse 9 — Surah Ghafir 40:9

And keep them from evil: for on him hast thou mercy whom on that day thou shalt keep from evil;" and this will be the great felicity

Verse 10 — Surah Ghafir 40:10

But to the infidels shall a voice cry, "Surely the hatred of God is more grievous than your hatred of yourselves, when ye were called to the faith, and remained unbelievers

Verse 11 — Surah Ghafir 40:11

They shall say, "Twice, O our Lord, hast thou given us death, and twice hast thou given us life: and we acknowledge our sins: is there no way to escape

Verse 12 — Surah Ghafir 40:12

This hath befallen you, for that when One God was proclaimed to you, ye believed not: but when partners had been united with him, ye believed: But judgment belongeth unto God, the High, the Great

Verse 13 — Surah Ghafir 40:13

It is He who sheweth you his signs, and sendeth down supplies to you from Heaven: but none will receive warning save he who turneth to God

Verse 14 — Surah Ghafir 40:14

Call then on God, offering him a pure worship, though the infidels abhor it

Verse 15 — Surah Ghafir 40:15

Of exalted grade, of the throne possessed, He sendeth forth the Spirit at His own behest on whomsoever of His servants He pleaseth, that He may warn of the day of meeting

Verse 16 — Surah Ghafir 40:16

The day when they shall come forth from their graves, when nought that concerneth them shall be hidden from God. With whom shall be the power supreme on that day? With God, the One, the Almighty

Verse 17 — Surah Ghafir 40:17

On that day shall every soul be recompensed as it hath deserved: no injustice on that day! Verily, God will be swift to reckon

Verse 18 — Surah Ghafir 40:18

Warn them, then, of the approaching day, when men's hearts shall rise up, choking them, into their throats. The evil-doers shall have no friend or intercessor who shall prevail

Verse 19 — Surah Ghafir 40:19

God knoweth the deceitful of eye, and what men's breasts conceal

Verse 20 — Surah Ghafir 40:20

And everything will God decide with truth: But nothing shall those gods whom men call on beside him, decide. Verily, God! the Hearer, the Beholder, He

Verse 21 — Surah Ghafir 40:21

Have they never journeyed in this land, and seen what hath been the end of those who flourished before them? Mightier were they in strength than these Meccans, and their traces remain in the land: Yet God took them in their sins, and there was none to defend them against God

Verse 22 — Surah Ghafir 40:22

This, because their apostles had come to them with proofs of their mission, and they believed not: so God took them in hand; for He is mighty, vehement in punishing

Verse 23 — Surah Ghafir 40:23

Moreover we had sent Moses of old with our signs and with clear authority

Verse 24 — Surah Ghafir 40:24

To Pharaoh, and Haman, and Karun: and they said, "Sorcerer, impostor

Verse 25 — Surah Ghafir 40:25

And when he came to them from our presence with the truth, they said, "Slay the sons of those who believe as he doth, and save their females alive;" but the stratagem of the unbelievers issued only in failure

Verse 26 — Surah Ghafir 40:26

And Pharaoh said, "Let me alone, that I may kill Moses; and let him call upon his Lord: I fear lest he change your religion, or cause disorder to shew itself in the land

Verse 27 — Surah Ghafir 40:27

And Moses said, "I take refuge with my Lord and your Lord from every proud one who believeth not in the day of reckoning

Verse 28 — Surah Ghafir 40:28

And a man of the family of Pharaoh, who was a BELIEVER, but hid his faith, said, "Will ye slay a man because he saith my Lord is God, when he hath already come to you with proofs of his mission from your Lord? and if he be a liar, on him will be his lie: but if he be a man of truth, part at least of what he threateneth will fall upon you. Truly God guideth not him who is a transgressor, a liar

Verse 29 — Surah Ghafir 40:29

O my people! this day is the kingdom yours, the eminent of the earth! but who shall defend us from the vengeance of God if it come on us?" Pharaoh said, "I would have you see only what I see; and in a right way only will I guide you

Verse 30 — Surah Ghafir 40:30

Then said he who believed, "O my people! truly I fear for you the like of the day of the allies

Verse 31 — Surah Ghafir 40:31

The like of the state of the people of Noah and Ad and Themoud, And of those who came after them; yet God willeth not injustice to his servants

Verse 32 — Surah Ghafir 40:32

And, O my people! I indeed fear for you the day of mutual outcry

Verse 33 — Surah Ghafir 40:33

The day when ye shall be turned back from the Judgment into hell. No protector shall ye have then against God. And he whom God shall mislead no guide shall there be for him

Verse 34 — Surah Ghafir 40:34

Moreover, Joseph had come to you before with clear tokens, but ye ceased not to doubt of the message with which he came to you, until when he died, ye said, 'God will by no means raise up an apostle after him.' " Thus God misleadeth him who is the transgressor, the doubter

Verse 35 — Surah Ghafir 40:35

They who gainsay the signs of God without authority having come to them, are greatly hated by God and by those who believe. Thus God sealeth up every proud, contumacious heart

Verse 36 — Surah Ghafir 40:36

And Pharaoh said, "O Haman, Build for me a tower that I may reach the avenues

Verse 37 — Surah Ghafir 40:37

The avenues of the heavens, and may mount to the God of Moses, for I verily deem him a liar." And thus the evil of his doings was made fair-seeming to Pharaoh, and he turned away from the path of truth; but the artifice of Pharaoh ended only in his ruin

Verse 38 — Surah Ghafir 40:38

And he who believed said, "O my people! follow me: into the right way will I guide you

Verse 39 — Surah Ghafir 40:39

O my people! this present life is only a passing joy, but the life to come is the mansion that abideth

Verse 40 — Surah Ghafir 40:40

Whoso shall have wrought evil shall not be recompensed but with its like; but whoso shall have done the things that are right, whether male or female, and is a believer - these shall enter paradise: good things unreckoned shall they enjoy therein

Verse 41 — Surah Ghafir 40:41

And, O my people! how is it that I bid you to salvation, but that ye bid me to the fire

Verse 42 — Surah Ghafir 40:42

Ye invite me to deny God, and to join with him gods of whom I know nothing; but I invite you to the Mighty, the Forgiving

Verse 43 — Surah Ghafir 40:43

No doubt is there that they to whom ye invite me are not to be invoked either in this world or in the world to come: and that unto God is our return, and that the transgressors shall be the inmates of the fire

Verse 44 — Surah Ghafir 40:44

Then shall ye remember what I am saying unto you: and to God commit I my case: Verily, God beholdeth his servants

Verse 45 — Surah Ghafir 40:45

So God preserved him from the evils which they had planned, and the woe of the punishment encompassed the people of Pharaoh

Verse 46 — Surah Ghafir 40:46

It is the fire to which they shall be exposed morning and evening, and on the day when "the Hour" shall arrive - "Bring in the people of Pharaoh into the severest punishment

Verse 47 — Surah Ghafir 40:47

And when they shall wrangle together in the fire, the weak shall say to those who had borne themselves so proudly, "It is you we followed: will ye therefore relieve us from aught of the fire

Verse 48 — Surah Ghafir 40:48

And those proud ones shall say, "Verily we are all in it; for now hath God judged between his servants

Verse 49 — Surah Ghafir 40:49

And they who are in the fire shall say to the keepers of Hell, "Implore your Lord that he would give us ease but for one day from this torment

Verse 50 — Surah Ghafir 40:50

They shall say, "Came not your apostles to you with the tokens?" They shall say, "Yes." They shall say, "Cry ye then aloud for help:" but the cry of the unbelievers shall be only in vain

Verse 51 — Surah Ghafir 40:51

Assuredly, in this present life will we succour our apostles and those who shall have believed, and on the day when the witnesses shall stand forth

Verse 52 — Surah Ghafir 40:52

A day whereon the plea of the evil doers shall not avail them; but theirs shall be a curse, and theirs the woe of the abode in Hell

Verse 53 — Surah Ghafir 40:53

And of old gave we Moses the guidance, and we made the children of Israel the heritors of the Book

Verse 54 — Surah Ghafir 40:54

a guidance and warning to men endued with understanding

Verse 55 — Surah Ghafir 40:55

Therefore be steadfast thou and patient; for true is the promise of God: and seek pardon for thy fault, and celebrate the praise of thy Lord at evening and at morning

Verse 56 — Surah Ghafir 40:56

As to those who cavil at the signs of God without authority having reached them, nought is there but pride in their breasts: but they shall not succeed. Fly thou for refuge then to God, for He is the Hearer, the Beholder

Verse 57 — Surah Ghafir 40:57

Greater surely than the creation of man is the creation of the heavens and of the earth: but most men know it not

Verse 58 — Surah Ghafir 40:58

Moreover, the blind and the seeing, and the evil doer and they who believe and do the things that are right, shall not be deemed equal. How few ponder this

Verse 59 — Surah Ghafir 40:59

Aye, "the Hour" will surely come: there is no doubt of it: but most men believe it not

Verse 60 — Surah Ghafir 40:60

And your Lord saith, "Call upon me - I will hearken unto you: but they who turn in disdain from my service shall enter Hell with shame

Verse 61 — Surah Ghafir 40:61

It is God who hath ordained the night for your rest, and the day to give you light: verily God is rich in bounties to men: but most men render not the tribute of thanks

Verse 62 — Surah Ghafir 40:62

This is God your Lord, Creator of all things: no god is there but He: why then do ye turn away from Him

Verse 63 — Surah Ghafir 40:63

Yet thus are they turned aside who gainsay the signs of God

Verse 64 — Surah Ghafir 40:64

It is God who hath given you the earth as a sure foundation, and over it built up the Heaven, and formed you, and made your forms beautiful, and feedeth you with good things. This is God your Lord. Blessed then be God the Lord of the Worlds

Verse 65 — Surah Ghafir 40:65

He is the Living One. No God is there but He. Call then upon Him and offer Him a pure worship. Praise be to God the Lord of the Worlds

Verse 66 — Surah Ghafir 40:66

SAY: Verily I am forbidden to worship what ye call on beside God, after that the clear tokens have come to me from my Lord, and I am bidden to surrender myself to the Lord of the Worlds

Verse 67 — Surah Ghafir 40:67

He it is who created you of the dust, then of the germs of life, then of thick blood, then brought you forth infants: then he letteth you reach your full strength, and then become old men (but some of you die first), and reach the ordained term. And this that haply ye may understand

Verse 68 — Surah Ghafir 40:68

It is He who giveth life and death; and when He decreeth a thing, He only saith of it, "Be," and it is

Verse 69 — Surah Ghafir 40:69

Seest thou not those who cavil at the signs of God? how are they turned aside

Verse 70 — Surah Ghafir 40:70

They who treat "the Book," and the message with which we have sent our Sent Ones, as a lie, shall know the truth hereafter

Verse 71 — Surah Ghafir 40:71

When the collars shall be on their necks and the chains to drag them

Verse 72 — Surah Ghafir 40:72

into Hell: then in the fire shall they be burned

Verse 73 — Surah Ghafir 40:73

Then shall it be said to them, "Where are they whom ye made the objects of joint worship with God

Verse 74 — Surah Ghafir 40:74

They shall say, "They have vanished away from us. Yea, it was nought on which we called heretofore." Thus God leadeth the unbelievers astray

Verse 75 — Surah Ghafir 40:75

This for you, because of your unrighteous insolence and immoderate joys on earth

Verse 76 — Surah Ghafir 40:76

Enter ye the portals of Hell to abide therein for ever. And, wretched the abode of the haughty ones

Verse 77 — Surah Ghafir 40:77

Therefore be thou steadfast in patience: for the promise of God is truth: and whether we shall make thee see part of the woes with which we threatened them, or whether we cause thee first to die, unto us shall they be brought back

Verse 78 — Surah Ghafir 40:78

And we have already sent apostles before thee: of some we have told thee, and of others we have told thee nothing: but no apostle had the power to work a miracle unless by the leave of God. But when God's behest cometh, everything will be decided with truth: and then they perish who treated it as a vain thing

Verse 79 — Surah Ghafir 40:79

It is God who hath given you the cattle that on some of them ye may ride, and of some may eat

Verse 80 — Surah Ghafir 40:80

(Other advantages too do ye derive from them) - and that by them ye may effect the projects ye cherish in your breasts; for on them, and on ships are ye borne

Verse 81 — Surah Ghafir 40:81

And He sheweth you His signs: which, then, of the signs of God will ye deny

Verse 82 — Surah Ghafir 40:82

Have they not journeyed in this land, and seen what hath been the end of those who flourished before them? More were they than these in number and mightier in strength, and greater are the traces of their power remaining in the land: yet their labours availed them nothing

Verse 83 — Surah Ghafir 40:83

And when their apostles had come to them with the tokens of their mission, they exulted in what they possessed of knowledge; but that retribution at which they scoffed, encompassed them

Verse 84 — Surah Ghafir 40:84

And when they beheld our vengeance they said, "We believe in God alone, and we disbelieve in the deities we once associated with Him

Verse 85 — Surah Ghafir 40:85

But their faith, after they had witnessed our vengeance, profited them not. Such the procedure of God with regard to his servants who flourished of old. And then the unbelievers perished