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English - Chapter 21 - Al-Anbiya

Translation by Muhammad Taqi Usmani — Permalink

Verse 1 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:1

The reckoning of the people has drawn near to them, while they are in negligence, turning away (from its signs)

Verse 2 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:2

No fresh message of advice comes to them from their Lord, but they listen to it as if they were playing

Verse 3 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:3

their hearts paying no heed. And the wrongdoers whisper in secret, .This one is nothing but a mortal like you. Would you then go along with sorcery while you can see (the reality)

Verse 4 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:4

He (the prophet) said, .My Lord knows all that is spoken in the heavens and the earth, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing

Verse 5 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:5

Further they said, .(The Qur‘an is) a mixture of jumble dreams. Rather, he (the prophet) has fabricated it. Rather, he is a poet. So, let him bring a sign to us, as the earlier ones were sent with

Verse 6 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:6

Not a single town from those whom We destroyed came to believe before them. So, will they believe

Verse 7 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:7

And We did not send before you messengers except men whom We inspired with revelation. So, ask the people (having the knowledge) of the Message, if you do not know

Verse 8 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:8

We did not make them such bodies as ate no food, nor were they immortal

Verse 9 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:9

Then We caused the promise to come true for them, so We saved them and those whom We willed, and destroyed the transgressors

Verse 10 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:10

Surely, We have sent down to you (O people of Arabia) a book having a good counsel for you. So, do you not understand

Verse 11 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:11

How many a town, that were unjust, have We crushed and raised up after them another people

Verse 12 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:12

So, as soon as they sensed Our punishment (approaching them), they started fleeing from it

Verse 13 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:13

(It was said to them,) .Do not flee, and go back to the luxuries you were made to enjoy, and to your dwellings. May be you are asked questions

Verse 14 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:14

They said, .Alas for us! We were wrongdoers indeed

Verse 15 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:15

Then, this continued to be their cry till We turned them into stubble, totally extinguished

Verse 16 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:16

We did not create the heavens and the earth and what lies between them for play

Verse 17 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:17

Had We intended to have a pastime, We would have had it from Our own, if We were ever to do so

Verse 18 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:18

Instead, We launch the truth against falsehood, which gets it smashed, and in no time it is gone. Alas to you for what you describe

Verse 19 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:19

To Him belong all those in the heavens and the earth. And those who are near to Him are not arrogant against His worship, nor are they sluggish

Verse 20 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:20

They proclaim His purity night and day, never slackening

Verse 21 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:21

Or have they adopted gods from the earth, who raise the dead

Verse 22 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:22

Had there been gods beside Allah, in the heavens and the earth, both of them would have fallen in disorder. So pure is Allah, the Lord of the Throne, from what they describe

Verse 23 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:23

He is not questioned of what He does, and they are questioned

Verse 24 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:24

Is it that they have adopted gods besides Him? Say, .Bring your proof. Here is the (book carrying) advice for those with me, and the (books carrying) advice for those before me. Yet most of them do not know the truth, and therefore they are averse

Verse 25 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:25

We did not send before you any messenger but We revealed to him that there is no god but I, so worship Me

Verse 26 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:26

They said, .The RaHman (the All-Merciful, Allah) has taken children for Himself. Pure is He (from having children). They are but (His) honored servants

Verse 27 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:27

They do not precede Him in speech, and only under His command they act

Verse 28 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:28

He knows what is in front of them and what is behind them, and they make recommendation for none but for whom He likes, and in awe of Him they are fearful

Verse 29 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:29

Should any one of them say, .I am god besides Him., We will recompense him with Jahannam (Hell). This is how We recompense the transgressors

Verse 30 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:30

Did the disbelievers not observe that the heavens and the earth were closed, then We opened them? And We created from water every living thing. Would they still not believe

Verse 31 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:31

And We created mountains on the earth, lest it should shake with them, and We have made therein paths and ways, so that they are guided

Verse 32 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:32

We made the sky a protected roof; and they are averse to its signs

Verse 33 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:33

He is the One who has created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon, each floating in an orbit

Verse 34 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:34

We did not assign immortality to any human (even) before you. So, if you die, will they live for ever

Verse 35 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:35

Every one has to taste death, and We test you through bad and good (situations) with a trial, and to Us you are to be returned

Verse 36 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:36

When disbelievers see you, they do nothing but take you in jest (saying to one another,) .Is this the one who talks of your gods?. _ while they themselves reject even talking of the RaHman (All-Merciful)

Verse 37 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:37

Man is made of haste. I shall show you My signs, so do not seek haste from Me

Verse 38 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:38

They say, .When will this promise be (fulfilled), if you are true

Verse 39 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:39

Only if the disbelievers were to know the time when they will not (be able to) keep off the fire from their faces or from their backs, nor will they be helped

Verse 40 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:40

Rather, it will come upon them suddenly and will baffle them. So they will not be able to turn it back, nor will they be given respite

Verse 41 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:41

In fact, messengers have been mocked at prior to you. So those who laughed at them were besieged by what they used to ridicule

Verse 42 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:42

Say, .Who will guard you, during night and day, against the RaHman (All-Merciful, Allah)?. Rather, to the remembrance of their Lord they are averse

Verse 43 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:43

Or do they have gods who protect them besides Us? They are not able to help even themselves, nor will they have anyone to side with them against Us

Verse 44 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:44

But We have given benefits to these and their fathers until life was prolonged for them. So do they not see that We are coming to the land narrowing it down from all its sides? Then, are they the ones to prevail

Verse 45 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:45

Say, .I warn you only by revelation, but the deaf do not listen to the call when they are warned

Verse 46 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:46

If a whiff of your Lord‘s torment were to touch them, they would certainly say, .Alas to us! We were wrongdoers indeed

Verse 47 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:47

We shall place scales to do justice on the Day of Judgment. So no one shall be wronged in the least. Even if it (a deed) is to the measure of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth, and We are enough to take account

Verse 48 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:48

And We gave Musa and Harun the Criterion, and a light and an advice for the God-fearing

Verse 49 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:49

those who have awe of their Lord without having seen Him, and are fearful of the Hour (of Judgment)

Verse 50 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:50

And this is a blessed advice We have sent down. Are you still rejecting it

Verse 51 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:51

Even earlier We had given Ibrahim his right course, and We knew him well

Verse 52 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:52

when he said to his father and his people, .What are these statues you are devoted to

Verse 53 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:53

They said, .We found our fathers worshipping them

Verse 54 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:54

He said, .Surely you and your fathers have been in open error

Verse 55 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:55

They said, .Did you come to us with truth or are you one of the triflers

Verse 56 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:56

He said, .No, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, who has created them, and I am one of those who bear witness to it

Verse 57 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:57

And I swear by Allah that I will devise something against your idols after you have gone away turning your backs

Verse 58 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:58

Then, he turned all of them into pieces, except the big one of them, so that they may come back to it

Verse 59 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:59

They said, .Who has done this to our gods? He is one of the wrongdoers indeed

Verse 60 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:60

Some of them said, .We have heard a youth talking about them. He is called Ibrahim

Verse 61 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:61

They said, .Then, bring him before the eyes of the people, so that they may see

Verse 62 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:62

They said, .Is it you O Ibrahim who has done this to our gods

Verse 63 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:63

He said, .Rather, this is done by this chief of theirs. So, ask them if they can speak

Verse 64 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:64

So they turned to one another and said, .In fact, you yourselves are the wrongdoers

Verse 65 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:65

Then, hanging their heads they reversed their position (and replied to Ibrahim,) .You already knew that they do not speak

Verse 66 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:66

He said, .Do you then worship, beside Allah, what does neither benefit you in the least nor harm you

Verse 67 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:67

Fie upon you and upon what you worship other than Allah. Do you then not understand

Verse 68 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:68

They said, .(O people) burn him and help your gods, if you are to take action

Verse 69 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:69

We said, .O fire, be cold and safe for Ibrahim

Verse 70 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:70

And they intended to harm him, but We made them the worst losers

Verse 71 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:71

And We rescued him and LuT towards the land we blessed for all the worlds

Verse 72 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:72

And We blessed him with IsHaq and Ya‘qub as gift, and each one of them We made righteous

Verse 73 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:73

And We made them the Imams who guided (people) under Our command, and We inspired them to do good deeds and to establish Salah and pay Zakah, and Us alone they worshipped

Verse 74 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:74

As for LuT, We gave him wisdom and knowledge, and We delivered him from the town that used to do dirty deeds. Indeed, they were the people of evil, the sinners

Verse 75 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:75

And We admitted him to Our mercy. Indeed, He was of the righteous

Verse 76 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:76

And (remember) NuH, when he called (for help) earlier, so We responded to him and saved him and his family from the terrible agony

Verse 77 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:77

and helped him against the people who gave the lie to Our verses. Indeed, they were the people of evil, therefore, We drowned them all

Verse 78 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:78

And (remember) Dawud (David) and Sulaiman (Solomon), when they were adjudicating about the tillage in which the goats of other people wandered at night (and trampled it), and We were witness to their judgment

Verse 79 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:79

So, We enabled Sulaiman to understand it. And to each one of them We gave wisdom and knowledge. And with Dawud We subjugated the mountains that pronounced tasbiH (Allah‘s purity), and the birds as well. And We were the One who did (it)

Verse 80 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:80

We taught him the skill of making armor as dress for you to protect you from what may harm you (in combat). So are you grateful

Verse 81 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:81

And for Sulaiman, (We subjugated) the violent wind that blew under his command to the land in which We placed Our blessings. And We were the One who knew everything

Verse 82 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:82

And from the devils, (We subjugated for him) those who dived in water for him and did jobs other than that. And We were the One who kept watch over them

Verse 83 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:83

And (remember) Ayyub (Job), when he called his Lord saying, .Here I am, afflicted by pain and You are the most merciful of all the merciful

Verse 84 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:84

So, We answered his prayer and removed whatever pain he had, and gave him (back) his family and the like thereof along with them, as a mercy from Our own Self and as a lesson for the worshippers

Verse 85 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:85

And (remember) Isma‘il and Idris and Dhul-Kifl. Each one of them was of those who observed patience

Verse 86 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:86

And We admitted them to Our mercy. Surely, they were of the righteous

Verse 87 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87

And (remember) Dhunnun (the man of the fish, namely Yunus X), when he walked away in anger and thought that We would never put him to trouble. Then, he called (Us) in depths of darkness saying, .There is no god but You. Pure are You. Indeed I was among the wrongdoers

Verse 88 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:88

So We responded to him and rescued him from the distress. And this is how We rescue the believers

Verse 89 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:89

And (remember) Zakariyya when he called his Lord, .My Lord, do not leave me alone and You are the best of inheritors

Verse 90 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:90

So, We responded to him and gave him YaHya and made his wife good for him. They used to race towards the good deeds and call Us with hope and fear; and they were humble to Us

Verse 91 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:91

And (remember) her who protected her private part (that is, Maryam). So, We blew in her (a life) through Our Spirit, and made her and her son (‘Isa X) a sign for all the worlds

Verse 92 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:92

Surely, this is the fraternity of your Faith, a single Faith, and I am your Lord; so worship Me

Verse 93 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:93

But they have separated their ways from one another. All of them have to return to Us

Verse 94 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:94

So, whoever does righteous deeds, while he is a believer, his effort will not be rejected, and We are to put it on record

Verse 95 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:95

It is banned for (the people of) a town that We destroyed that they come back

Verse 96 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:96

until when the Ya‘juj and Ma‘juj (Gog and Magog) are released, while they run down from every height

Verse 97 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:97

and the True Promise draws near, then it will so happen that the eyes of the disbelievers shall remain upraised (in terror, and they will say,) .Alas to us! We were in negligence about this; rather we were transgressors

Verse 98 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:98

Surely, you and whatever you worship other than Allah are the fuel of Jahannam. There you will have to arrive

Verse 99 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:99

Had they been gods, they would not have arrived at it, and all of them will remain there forever

Verse 100 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:100

For them, there will be screams in it and they will not hear

Verse 101 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:101

As for those for whom the good (news) from Us has come earlier, they will be kept far away from it

Verse 102 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:102

They will not hear the slightest of its sound, and they will remain forever in what their souls desire

Verse 103 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:103

They shall not be grieved by the Biggest Panic, and the angels shall receive them (saying), .This is your day that you had been promised

Verse 104 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:104

Verse 105 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:105

And We have written in Zabur (Psalms) after the advice that the land will be inherited by My righteous slaves

Verse 106 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:106

Surely, in this (Qur‘an) there is a message conveyed to a people who worship (Allah)

Verse 107 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:107

And We have not sent you but as mercy for all the worlds

Verse 108 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:108

Say, .What is revealed to me is simply that your God is One God. So do you submit

Verse 109 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:109

But, if they turn away, then say (to them), .I have warned you all alike, and I do not know whether what you have been warned of is near or far

Verse 110 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:110

Surely, He knows what is spoken openly and He knows what you conceal

Verse 111 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:111

And I do not know; perhaps it is a trial for you and an enjoyment for a while

Verse 112 — Surah Al-Anbiya 21:112

He (Our Messenger) said, .My Lord, judge with truth. And Our Lord is the RaHman (All-Merciful), the One whose help is sought against what you describe