الزخرف

Hameem

Hā Mīm[1].

Waalkitabi almubeeni

By the clear Book,

Inna jaAAalnahu quranan AAarabiyyan laAAallakum taAAqiloona

Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur’an so that you may understand,

Wainnahu fee ommi alkitabi ladayna laAAaliyyun hakeemun

and it is in the Master Book[2] with us, highly esteemed, full of wisdom.

Afanadribu AAankumu alththikra safhan an kuntum qawman musrifeena

Should We then turn the Reminder[3] away from you simply because you are a transgressing people?

Wakam arsalna min nabiyyin fee alawwaleena

How many a prophet did We send to the earlier peoples!

Wama yateehim min nabiyyin illa kanoo bihi yastahzioona

No prophet ever came to them except that they ridiculed him.

Faahlakna ashadda minhum batshan wamada mathalu alawwaleena

So We destroyed them, although they were greater in might than these [Pagans][4], and the stories of the earlier nations have already been related[5].

Walain saaltahum man khalaqa alssamawati waalarda layaqoolunna khalaqahunna alAAazeezu alAAaleemu

If you ask them, “Who created the heavens and earth?”, they will surely say, “The All-Mighty, the All-Knowing created them.”

Allathee jaAAala lakumu alarda mahdan wajaAAala lakum feeha subulan laAAallakum tahtadoona

It is He Who spread out the earth for you, and made therein pathways for you, so that you may find your way.

Waallathee nazzala mina alssamai maan biqadarin faansharna bihi baldatan maytan kathalika tukhrajoona

And it is He Who sends down rain from the sky in due measure, by which We revive dead land. This is how you will be brought forth [from the grave].

Waallathee khalaqa alazwaja kullaha wajaAAala lakum mina alfulki waalanAAami ma tarkaboona

And it is He Who created all pair of things[6], and made for you ships and animals on which you ride,

Litastawoo AAala thuhoorihi thumma tathkuroo niAAmata rabbikum itha istawaytum AAalayhi wataqooloo subhana allathee sakhkhara lana hatha wama kunna lahu muqrineena

so that you may settle yourselves on their backs, then remember the blessings of your Lord when you have settled thereupon and say, “Glory be to Him Who has subjected this for us, for we could not have done it by ourselves[7].

Wainna ila rabbina lamunqaliboona

It is to our Lord that we will surely return.”

WajaAAaloo lahu min AAibadihi juzan inna alinsana lakafoorun mubeenun

Yet they ascribe to Him some of His slaves as offspring[8]. Indeed, man is clearly ungrateful.

Ami ittakhatha mimma yakhluqu banatin waasfakum bialbaneena

Has He taken for Himself daughters from what He has created, and favored you with sons?

Waitha bushshira ahaduhum bima daraba lilrrahmani mathalan thalla wajhuhu muswaddan wahuwa katheemun

When one of them is given tidings of [a baby girl] the like of which he ascribes to the Most Compassionate, his face darkens as he suppresses his rage.

Awaman yunashshao fee alhilyati wahuwa fee alkhisami ghayru mubeenin

Or [do they ascribe to Allah] one who is brought up in adornments and is not able to present a clear argument in disputation?

WajaAAaloo almalaikata allatheena hum AAibadu alrrahmani inathan ashahidoo khalqahum satuktabu shahadatuhum wayusaloona

They regard the angels, who are slaves of the Most Compassionate, as female. Did they witness their creation? Their testimony will be written, and they will be questioned!

Waqaloo law shaa alrrahmanu ma AAabadnahum ma lahum bithalika min AAilmin in hum illa yakhrusoona

They say, “If the Most Compassionate had willed, we would not have worshiped them.” They have no knowledge of that; they do nothing but conjecture.

Am ataynahum kitaban min qablihi fahum bihi mustamsikoona

Or have We given them a Book before this [Qur’an], to which they are holding fast?

Bal qaloo inna wajadna abaana AAala ommatin wainna AAala atharihim muhtadoona

They rather say, “We found our forefathers on a path, and we are seeking guidance in their footsteps.”

Wakathalika ma arsalna min qablika fee qaryatin min natheerin illa qala mutrafooha inna wajadna abaana AAala ommatin wainna AAala atharihim muqtadoona

Likewise, We never sent any warner to a town before you except that its affluent ones said, “We found our forefathers on a path, and we are following their footsteps.”

Qala awalaw jitukum biahda mimma wajadtum AAalayhi abaakum qaloo inna bima orsiltum bihi kafiroona

[The warner] said, “Even if I bring you a better guidance than what you have found your forefathers upon?” They said, “We totally reject what you [prophets] have been sent with.”

Faintaqamna minhum faonthur kayfa kana AAaqibatu almukaththibeena

So We took revenge on them; see what was the end of the deniers!

Waith qala ibraheemu liabeehi waqawmihi innanee baraon mimma taAAbudoona

And [remember] when Abraham said to his father and his people, “I disown all that you worship,

Illa allathee fataranee fainnahu sayahdeeni

except the One Who created me; He will surely guide me.”

WajaAAalaha kalimatan baqiyatan fee AAaqibihi laAAallahum yarjiAAoona

And he made it[9] a lasting word among his descendants, so that they may return [to Allah].

Bal mattaAAtu haolai waabaahum hatta jaahumu alhaqqu warasoolun mubeenun

However, I let these [Makkans] and their forefathers[10] enjoy their lives, until there came to them the truth and a clear messenger[11].

Walamma jaahumu alhaqqu qaloo hatha sihrun wainna bihi kafiroona

But when the truth came to them, they said, “This is magic, and we definitely reject it.”

Waqaloo lawla nuzzila hatha alquranu AAala rajulin mina alqaryatayni AAatheemun

And they said, “Why was this Qur’an not sent down to a great man from one of the two towns[12]?”

Ahum yaqsimoona rahmata rabbika nahnu qasamna baynahum maAAeeshatahum fee alhayati alddunya warafaAAna baAAdahum fawqa baAAdin darajatin liyattakhitha baAAduhum baAAdan sukhriyyan warahmatu rabbika khayrun mimma yajmaAAoona

Is it they who distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We Who have distributed their livelihood among them in the life of this world, and have raised some of them above others in ranks, so that they may serve one another. But the mercy of your Lord is better than what they accumulate.

Walawla an yakoona alnnasu ommatan wahidatan lajaAAalna liman yakfuru bialrrahmani libuyootihim suqufan min fiddatin wamaAAarija AAalayha yathharoona

Were it not that all people might become a single community [of disbelievers][13], We would have given those who disbelieve in the Most Compassionate One houses of sliver roofs and staircases to ascend,

Walibuyootihim abwaban wasururan AAalayha yattakioona

and their houses having [silver] doors and couches on which they recline,

Wazukhrufan wain kullu thalika lamma mataAAu alhayati alddunya waalakhiratu AAinda rabbika lilmuttaqeena

and [golden] ornaments. But all of these are mere enjoyments of the life of this world, and the Hereafter with your Lord is [only] for those who fear Allah.

Waman yaAAshu AAan thikri alrrahmani nuqayyid lahu shaytanan fahuwa lahu qareenun

Whoever turns away from the Reminder of the Most Compassionate [i.e., the Qur’an], We assign to him a devil to be his close associate,

Wainnahum layasuddoonahum AAani alssabeeli wayahsaboona annahum muhtadoona

who will surely avert them from the [right] way, while they think that they are rightly guided.

Hatta itha jaana qala ya layta baynee wabaynaka buAAda almashriqayni fabisa alqareenu

Then when he comes to Us, he will say [to his devil associate], “I wish you were as distant from me as the East and West. What a terrible associate [you were]!”

Walan yanfaAAakumu alyawma ith thalamtum annakum fee alAAathabi mushtarikoona

[They will be told], “As you have done wrong, it will not benefit you Today that you are sharing the punishment[14].”

Afaanta tusmiAAu alssumma aw tahdee alAAumya waman kana fee dalalin mubeenin

Can you make the deaf hear, or guide the blind or the one who is clearly misguided?

Faimma nathhabanna bika fainna minhum muntaqimoona

Either We take you away [in death], We will surely exact retribution upon them,

Aw nuriyannaka allathee waAAadnahum fainna AAalayhim muqtadiroona

or We will show you what We warned them of, for We have full power over them.

Faistamsik biallathee oohiya ilayka innaka AAala siratin mustaqeemin

So hold fast to what is revealed to you. You are indeed on a straight path.

Wainnahu lathikrun laka waliqawmika wasawfa tusaloona

This [Qur’an] is surely a glory[15] for you and your people, and you will [all] be questioned.

Waisal man arsalna min qablika min rusulina ajaAAalna min dooni alrrahmani alihatan yuAAbadoona

Ask those of Our messengers whom We sent before you: Did We appoint gods to be worshiped besides the Most Compassionate?

Walaqad arsalna moosa biayatina ila firAAawna wamalaihi faqala innee rasoolu rabbi alAAalameena

Indeed, We sent Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his courtiers, so he said: “I am a messenger of the Lord of the worlds.”

Falamma jaahum biayatina itha hum minha yadhakoona

But as soon as he came to them with Our signs, they laughed at them.

Wama nureehim min ayatin illa hiya akbaru min okhtiha waakhathnahum bialAAathabi laAAallahum yarjiAAoona

Every sign We showed them was greater than the one before it[16], and We seized them with punishment[17] so that they may turn in repentance.

Waqaloo ya ayyuha alsahiru odAAu lana rabbaka bima AAahida AAindaka innana lamuhtadoona

They said, “O magician, call upon your Lord for us, by virtue of the covenant He has made with you[18]; we will surely accept guidance.”

Falamma kashafna AAanhumu alAAathaba itha hum yankuthoona

But as soon We removed the punishment from them, they broke their promise.

Wanada firAAawnu fee qawmihi qala ya qawmi alaysa lee mulku misra wahathihi alanharu tajree min tahtee afala tubsiroona

Pharaoh proclaimed to his people, saying, “O my people, does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these streams[19] flowing at my feet? Do you not see?

Am ana khayrun min hatha allathee huwa maheenun wala yakadu yubeenu

Or am I not better than this contemptible one who can hardly express himself[20]?

Falawla olqiya AAalayhi aswiratun min thahabin aw jaa maAAahu almalaikatu muqtarineena

Then why are there not sent down upon him bracelets of gold or come with him angels to support him?”

Faistakhaffa qawmahu faataAAoohu innahum kanoo qawman fasiqeena

Thus he made a fool of his people and they obeyed him. They were indeed a wicked people.

Falamma asafoona intaqamna minhum faaghraqnahum ajmaAAeena

When they angered Us, We exacted Our retribution and drowned them all.

FajaAAalnahum salafan wamathalan lilakhireena

Thus We made them a precedent and a lesson[21] for the later generations.

Walamma duriba ibnu maryama mathalan itha qawmuka minhu yasiddoona

When the example of the son of Mary was given, your people laughed and jeered[22],

Waqaloo aalihatuna khayrun am huwa ma daraboohu laka illa jadalan bal hum qawmun khasimoona

and they said, “Are Our gods better or he[23]?” They only mentioned him to you for the sake of argument. They are indeed a contentious people.

In huwa illa AAabdun anAAamna AAalayhi wajaAAalnahu mathalan libanee israeela

He was only a slave whom We[24] favored and made him an example for the Children of Israel.

Walaw nashao lajaAAalna minkum malaikatan fee alardi yakhlufoona

If We willed, We could [destroy you all and] replace you with angels, succeeding you on earth.

Wainnahu laAAilmun lilssaAAati fala tamtarunna biha waittabiAAooni hatha siratun mustaqeemun

And he [i.e., Jesus] will be a sign of the Hour; so do not have doubt about it and follow me[25]. This is a straight path.

Wala yasuddannakumu alshshaytanu innahu lakum AAaduwwun mubeenun

Do not let Satan turn you away [from the straight path], for he is your sworn enemy.

Walamma jaa AAeesa bialbayyinati qala qad jitukum bialhikmati waliobayyina lakum baAAda allathee takhtalifoona feehi faittaqoo Allaha waateeAAooni

When Jesus came with clear signs, he said, “I have come to you with wisdom, and to clarify to you some of that concerning which you differ; so fear Allah and obey me.

Inna Allaha huwa rabbee warabbukum faoAAbudoohu hatha siratun mustaqeemun

Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord; so worship Him. This is a straight path.”

Faikhtalafa alahzabu min baynihim fawaylun lillatheena thalamoo min AAathabi yawmin aleemin

But the factions differed among themselves [about Jesus]; so woe to the wrongdoers from the punishment of a painful Day!

Hal yanthuroona illa alssaAAata an tatiyahum baghtatan wahum la yashAAuroona

Are they waiting except for the Hour to come upon them by surprise when they least expect it?

Alakhillao yawmaithin baAAduhum libaAAdin AAaduwwun illa almuttaqeena

On that Day, close friends will become enemies to one another, except the righteous,

Ya AAibadi la khawfun AAalaykumu alyawma wala antum tahzanoona

[It will be said to them], “O My slaves, there is no fear for you Today, nor will you grieve,

Allatheena amanoo biayatina wakanoo muslimeena

[those] who believed in Our verses and submitted [to Us as Muslims].

Odkhuloo aljannata antum waazwajukum tuhbaroona

Enter Paradise, you and your companions[26], rejoicing in bliss.”

Yutafu AAalayhim bisihafin min thahabin waakwabin wafeeha ma tashtaheehi alanfusu watalaththu alaAAyunu waantum feeha khalidoona

Golden trays and cups will be passed around among them; there will be all that souls desire and eyes delight in, and you will abide therein forever.

Watilka aljannatu allatee oorithtumooha bima kuntum taAAmaloona

That is Paradise which you will inherit for what you used to do.

Lakum feeha fakihatun katheeratun minha takuloona

You will have therein abundant fruit[27] to eat from.

Inna almujrimeena fee AAathabi jahannama khalidoona

Indeed, the wicked will be in the punishment of Hell forever.

La yufattaru AAanhum wahum feehi mublisoona

It will not be lightened for them, and they will remain therein in utter despair.

Wama thalamnahum walakin kanoo humu alththalimeena

We did not wrong them, but they themselves were the wrongdoers.

Wanadaw ya maliku liyaqdi AAalayna rabbuka qala innakum makithoona

They will cry out, “O Mālik[28], let your Lord put an end to us!” He will say, “You are here to stay.”

Laqad jinakum bialhaqqi walakinna aktharakum lilhaqqi karihoona

We surely brought you the truth, but most of you were averse to the truth.

Am abramoo amran fainna mubrimoona

Have they devised a plan[29]? We too have devised a plan.

Am yahsaboona anna la nasmaAAu sirrahum wanajwahum bala warusuluna ladayhim yaktuboona

Do they think that We do not hear their secret talks and private counsels? Yes indeed, and Our angel-messengers are with them recording everything.

Qul in kana lilrrahmani waladun faana awwalu alAAabideena

Say, “If the Most Compassionate truly had a son, I would be the first of [his] worshipers[30].”

Subhana rabbi alssamawati waalardi rabbi alAAarshi AAamma yasifoona

Glory be to the Lord of the heavens and earth, Lord of the Throne, far above what they ascribe [to Him].

Fatharhum yakhoodoo wayalAAaboo hatta yulaqoo yawmahumu allathee yooAAadoona

So leave them to indulge in falsehood and amuse themselves until they meet their Day that they are promised.

Wahuwa allathee fee alssamai ilahun wafee alardi ilahun wahuwa alhakeemu alAAaleemu

It is He Who is God in the heaven and God on earth, and He is the All-Wise, the All-Knowing.

Watabaraka allathee lahu mulku alssamawati waalardi wama baynahuma waAAindahu AAilmu alssaAAati wailayhi turjaAAoona

Blessed is He to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and earth and all that is between them. With Him is the knowledge of the Hour, and to Him you will be returned.

Wala yamliku allatheena yadAAoona min doonihi alshshafaAAata illa man shahida bialhaqqi wahum yaAAlamoona

Those whom they supplicate[31] besides Him have no power to intercede, except those who testify to the truth knowingly[32].

Walain saaltahum man khalaqahum layaqoolunna Allahu faanna yufakoona

If you ask them who created them[33], they will surely say, “Allah.” How are they then deluded?

Waqeelihi yarabbi inna haolai qawmun la yuminoona

And [Allah acknowledges] his saying[34], “O my Lord, these are a people who do not believe.”

Faisfah AAanhum waqul salamun fasawfa yaAAlamoona

So turn away from them and say, “Peace[35].” They will come to know.