English - Chapter 43 - Az-Zukhruf

M

By the Clear Book

We have set up as an Arabic reading so that that you may (all) use your reason

It is [comprised] in the Mother of the Book [which exists] in Our presence, so lofty, wise

Should We quietly slip the Reminder away from you since you have been such dissipated folk

How many prophets have We sent to early men

No prophet ever came to them unless they made fun of him

We have wiped out more valiant people than they were, and the same has already occurred with early men

If you should ask them who created Heaven and Earth, they would say: "The Powerful, the Aware has created them

the One Who has placed the earth as a cradle for you, and traced highways for you on it so that you may feel guided

Who has sent down water from the sky in due measure." Just so have We raised up a dead land with it; thus you (all) will come forth too

[He is] the One Who has created all [sorts] of species, and granted you ships and livestock to ride on

so you may mount on their backs. Then once you have mounted (or boarded) them, remember your Lord´s favor and say: "Glory be to Him Who has subjected these to our [use]; we (ourselves) would never achieve it

We shall be sent home to our Lord

Still they have assigned a portion of His own servants to Him; man is so obviously thankless

Or should He adopt daughters from what He creates and single out sons for you

Whenever one of them is notified about the same as he imputes concerning the Mercy-giving, his face becomes dark with gloom and he feels like choking

Is someone who is set up just to look pretty while he is unable to discuss things clearly [worth worshipping]

They even pretend the angels who are the Mercy-giving´s servants are females! Were they present at their own creation? Their testimony will be written down and they will be questioned about it

They say: "If the Mercy-giving had so wished, we would not have worshipped them." No matter what knowledge they may have about that, they are still merely guessing

Or have We given them a book already which they try to hold on to

Moreover they say: "We found our forefathers following such a community and we are merely being guided along their tracks

Just the same We have not sent any warner into a town previous to you unless its highlivers said: "We found our forefathers with such a community, and are merely being led. along their tracks

He said: "Even if I should bring you better guidance than what you found your forefathers had?", they would say: ´We reject anything you are sent with

We have been avenged on them; see what the outcome was for those who denied [it all]

Thus Abraham told his father and his folk: "I am innocent of what you are serving

Only the One Who originated me will guide me

He left it as an enduring word with his posterity so they might return (to it)

Yet whenever Truth did come to them, they said: "This is magic! We disbelieve in it

They said: ´If this Reading were only sent down to some important man from either town

Are they dividing up your Lord´s mercy? We divide up their livelihood among them during worldly life, and raise some of them higher in rank than others so that some of them may take advantage of the labor of others. Your Lord´s mercy is better than what they are collecting

If it were not that mankind has been a single nation, We would grant anyone who disbelieves in the Mercy-giving silver roofs for their houses and staircases to climb up on

and doors for their houses and couches to recline on

and [similar] luxury! All that means nothing except enjoyment during worldly life while those who do their duty will [spend] the Hereafter with your Lord

We assign anyone who fails to remember the Mercy-giving at nightfall, a devil who will become a soulmate for him

They divert them from the [right] way while they may reckon they are guided

until when he comes up to Us, he says: "Alas, if the distance between the two Easts only lay between you and me! He´s such an awful soulmate

It will never benefit you today to have any partners in torment since you have already gone wrong

Will you make the deaf hear or guide the blind, as well as anyone else who is in obvious error

Even should We take you away, We will still be avenged on them

Or shall We show you what We have promised them? We are Competent to deal with them

Hold on to whatever has been revealed to you; you are on a Straight Road

It is a Reminder for you and your folk, and you will (all) be questioned

Question any of Our messengers We have sent before you: "Did We set up any [other] gods they should serve instead of the Mercy-giving

We sent Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his courtiers, and he said: "I am a messenger from the Lord of the Universe

When he brought them Our signs, they merely laughed at them

Yet We did not show them any sign unless it was even greater than the one that had preceded it. We afflicted them with torment so that they might return

They said: "Mr. Magician, appeal to your Lord for us concerning what He had pledged to you; we will act as if we are guided

Yet once We removed torment from them, why they broke their word

Pharaoh announced it among his people; he said: "My people, do I not hold control over Egypt and these rivers flowing by me? Do you not notice anything

Surely I am better than this wretch who can scarcely explain a thing

If he were only presented with gold bracelets or some angels came along hitched up with him!´

He sneered at his folk, yet they obeyed him; they were such immoral folk

When they provoked Us [sufficiently], We took revenge on them and let them all drown

We left them as has-beens and an example for later men

When Mary´s son is quoted as an example, why, your people resist him

They say: "Are our gods better, or is he?" They quote him to you only for the sake of argument; indeed they are such quarrelsome folk

He was only a servant whom We favored and offered as an example to the Children of Israel

If We had so wished, We might have made angels out of some of you who would replace you on earth

It will be because of knowledge about the Hour. Do not puzzle over it and follow Me; this is a Straight Road

Do not let Satan hamper you; he is an obvious enemy of yours

When Jesus came with explanations, he said: "I have brought you wisdom, so that I may explain something to you about what you have been differing over. So heed God and obey me

God is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him. This is a Straight Road

Factions have disagreed among themselves. It will be too bad for the ones who have done wrong as [they face] torment on a painful day

Are they merely waiting for the Hour to come upon them suddenly while they do not even notice it

On that day even bosom friends will become one another´s enemies, unless they have done their duty

My servants, you have no need to fear today nor should you feel saddened

[tell] those who believe in Our signs and are committed to [live in] peace

Enter the Garden rejoicing, both you and your spouses

Gold platters and cups will be passed around among them containing anything (their) souls may hanker for and (their) eyes delight in. You will live there forever

Such is the Garden which you will inherit because of what you have been doing

You will have plenty of fruit to eat in it

Yet criminals will remain in Hell´s torment

it will not be eased for them and they will feel confounded in it

Still We will not harm them but rather they have already harmed themselves

They will cry out: "Master, have your Lord put an end to us!" He will say: "You must stay on here

We brought you the Truth even though most of you detest the Truth

Or have they tried to use some scheme [against you]? Well, We will try something too

Or do they reckon that We do not hear their secrets nor how they conspire together? Of course Our messengers are writing it (all) down in their very presence

SAY: "If the Mercy-giving had a son, I would be the first to worship [him]

Glory be to the Lord of Heaven and Earth, Lord of the Throne, ahead of what they ascribe [to Him]

Leave them to speculate and play around until they face their day which they have been promised

He Alone is God in Heaven and God on Earth; He is the Wise, Aware

Blessed is He Who holds control over Heaven and Earth, and anything in between them. He has knowledge of the Hour and to Him will you be returned

The ones whom they appeal to instead of Him control no intercession except for someone who testifies concerning the Truth, and they realize it

If you should ask them Who created them, they would say: "God [Alone]"; and yet they shrug Him off

So he says: "My Lord, those are folk who do not believe

Disregard them, and say: "Peace [be on you!" instead]. They will realize it eventually