English - Chapter 37 - As-Saffat

BY THOSE who range themselves in ranks

by those who cast out demons;¹

and by those who recite an Admonition

your God is One

the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them: the Lord of the Eastern Regions

We have decked the lower heaven with constellations

guarding it against every rebellious demon

so that they may not listen in to those on high. Meteors are hurled at them from every side

then, driven away, they are consigned to an eternal scourge

Eavesdroppers are pursued by fiery comets

Ask them if they deem themselves of a nobler make than the rest of Our creation. Of coarse clay We created them

You marvel, while they scoff

When they are shown a sign they mock at it

and say: ‘This is but sorcery manifest

What! When we have died and turned to dust and bones, shall we be raised to life

we and our forefathers?‘

Say: ‘Yes. And you shall be utterly humbled.‘

One blast will sound, and they shall see it all

Woe betide us!‘ they will say. ‘This is the Day of Reckoning

this is the Judgement-day which you denied.‘

But We shall say: ‘Herd up the sinners, their spouses, and the deities they worshipped

besides God, and lead them to the path of Hell

Hold them there for questioning

What has come over you that you cannot help each other?‘

But on that day they will submit

They will reproach each other

saying: ‘You have imposed upon us!‘―

‘No! It was you who would not be believers

We had no power over you: you were sinners all

Just is the verdict Our Lord has passed upon us; we shall surely taste the scourge

We seduced you, but we ourselves have been seduced.‘

On that day they will all share in the torment

Thus shall We deal with the wrongdoers

for when they were told: ‘There is no deity but God,‘ they said with scorn

‘Are we to renounce our gods for the sake of a mad poet?‘

Surely he has brought the Truth, confirming those who were sent before

You shall all taste the grievous torment

you shall be requited only according to your deeds

But God‘s true servants

shall be well provided for

feasting on fruit, and honoured

in the Gardens of Delight

Reclining face to face upon soft couches

there shall be passed among them a goblet filled at a gushing fountain

white, and delicious to those who drink it

It will neither dull their senses nor befuddle them

They shall sit with bashful, dark-eyed virgins

as chaste as hidden pearls.¹

With questions they will approach each other

One will say: ‘I had a friend who used to say

Do you really believe

When we have died and turned to dust and bones, shall we ever be brought to judgement?"‘

And he will say: ‘Come, will you look down.‘

He will look down and see his friend in the very midst of Hell

By the Lord,‘ he will say, ‘you almost ruined me

But for the grace of my Lord I should have surely been summoned myself

Shall we never die again

having died once, and shall we never be scourged at all?‘

Surely that is the supreme triumph

To this end let everyone labour

Is this not a better welcome than the Zaqqūm tree

We have made this tree a scourge for the unjust

It grows in the nethermost part of Hell

bearing fruit like demons‘ heads

on it they shall feed, and with it they shall cram their bellies

together with draughts of scalding water

Then to Hell shall they surely return

They found their fathers erring

yet they eagerly followed in their footsteps

Most of the ancients went astray before them

though We had sent emissaries to give them warning

So consider the fate of those who had been warned

except God‘s true servants

Noah called to Us, and he was graciously answered

We delivered him, and his household, from the great calamity

and made his descendants the sole survivors

We bestowed on him the praise of later generations

Peace be on Noah among all mankind!‘

Thus do We reward the righteous

he was one of Our believing servants

The others We peremptorily drowned

Of the self-same faith was Abraham

who came to his Lord with a pure heart

He said to his father and to his people: ‘What are these that you worship

Would you serve false deities instead of God

What think you of the Lord of the Universe?‘

He lifted up his eyes to the stars

and said: ‘I am sick!‘

And his people turned their backs and went off

He stole away to their idols and said: ‘Will you not eat

Why do you not speak?‘

With that he fell upon them, striking them down with his right hand

The people came running to the scene

‘Would you worship that which you have carved with your own hands,‘ he said

‘when it was God who created you and all that you have made?‘

They said: ‘Build up a pyre and cast him into the blazing hell.‘

Thus did they scheme against him: but We abased them all

He said: ‘I will take refuge with my Lord; He will give me guidance

Lord, grant me a righteous son.‘

We gave him joyful tidings of a gentle son

And when he reached the age when he could work with him, his father said to him: ‘My son, I dreamt that I was sacrificing you. Tell me what you think.‘ He said: ‘Father, do as you are bidden. God willing, you shall find me steadfast.‘

And when they had both submitted, and he had laid him down upon his brow

We called out to him, saying: ‘Abraham

you have confirmed the vision.‘ Thus do We reward the righteous

That was indeed the veritable test

We ransomed him with a noble sacrifice

and left for him the praise of later generations

‘Peace be on Abraham!‘

Thus do We reward the righteous

He was one of Our believing servants

We gladdened him with news of Isaac, a saintly prophet

and blessed him and Isaac. Among their descendants were some who did good works and some who clearly sinned against their souls

We showed favour to Moses and to Aaron

and delivered them both, with their people, from the great calamity

We succoured them, and it was they who were the victors

We gave them the Illuminating Book

and guided them to the straight path

We left for them both the praise of later generations

Peace be on Moses and Aaron!‘

Thus do We reward the righteous

They were two of Our believing servants

Elias¹ also was one of those sent forth

He said to his people: ‘Have you no fear

Have you no fear? Would you invoke Baal and forsake the most gracious of creators

God is your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers.‘

But they rejected him, and will thus be called to account

Not so God‘s true servants

We bestowed on him the praise of later generations

Peace be on Elias!‘

Thus do We reward the righteous

He was one of Our believing servants

Lot also was one of those sent forth

We delivered him and his kindred all

except for an old woman who stayed behind

and utterly destroyed the others

You pass by their ruins in the morning

and at night: have you no sense

Jonah was also one of those sent forth

He fled to the laden ship

cast lots, and was condemned

The whale swallowed him, for he had sinned

and had he not devoutly praised the Lord

he would have stayed in its belly till the Day of Resurrection

We cast him, gravely ill, upon a desolate shore

and caused a gourd-tree to grow over him

We sent him to a hundred thousand, or even more

they believed in him, and We let them live in ease for a certain time

Ask them if it be true that your Lord has daughters, and they sons

Or did We create the angels females; and were they witnesses

Surely they lie when they assert

God has given birth.‘

Would He choose daughters, rather than sons

What has come over you that you should so judge

Will you not take thought

Have you a veritable proof

Bring us your scripture, if what you say be true

They assert kinship between Him and the jinn. But the jinn well know that they will be called up to account

Exalted be God above their imputations

Not so God‘s true servants

Neither you nor your idols

shall deceive any about God

save him who is destined to be burnt in Hell

We¹ each have our appointed place

It is we who range ourselves in ranks

and we are they that give glory

And they say

Had we received an Admonition from the ancients

we would have become God‘s true servants.‘

Yet they disbelieve; and they shall learn

Before then We promised Our servants who were sent forth

they would be helped

and Our armies would surely be the victors

So pay no heed to them awhile

you will surely see their downfall as they shall see your triumph

Do they wish to hurry on Our scourge

Evil shall be that morning when it smites them in their courtyards, forewarned though they have been

So pay no heed to them awhile

You will surely see their downfall as they shall see your triumph

Exalted be your Lord, the Lord of Glory, above their imputations

And peace be on those who were sent forth

and praise to God, Lord of the Universe