The Criterion, The Standard — Muhammad Asad Translation – Parallel Quran

1 A Warner for all Nations

۞ تَبَارَكَ ٱلَّذِی نَزَّلَ ٱلۡفُرۡقَانَ عَلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ لِیَكُونَ لِلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ نَذِیرًا ۝١

Hallowed is He who from on high, step by step, has bestowed upon His servant the standard by which to discern the true from the false, so that to all the world it might be a warning

tabāraka alladhī nazzala l-fur'qāna ʿalā ʿabdihi liyakūna lil'ʿālamīna nadhīra

ٱلَّذِی لَهُۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَمۡ یَتَّخِذۡ وَلَدࣰا وَلَمۡ یَكُن لَّهُۥ شَرِیكࣱ فِی ٱلۡمُلۡكِ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَیۡءࣲ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ تَقۡدِیرࣰا ۝٢

He to whom the dominion over the heavens and the earth belongs, and who begets no offspring, and has no partner in His dominion: for it is He who creates every thing and determines its nature in accordance with [His own] design

alladhī lahu mul'ku l-samāwāti wal-arḍi walam yattakhidh waladan walam yakun lahu sharīkun fī l-mul'ki wakhalaqa kulla shayin faqaddarahu taqdīra

وَٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦۤ ءَالِهَةࣰ لَّا یَخۡلُقُونَ شَیۡءࣰا وَهُمۡ یُخۡلَقُونَ وَلَا یَمۡلِكُونَ لِأَنفُسِهِمۡ ضَرࣰّا وَلَا نَفۡعࣰا وَلَا یَمۡلِكُونَ مَوۡتࣰا وَلَا حَیَوٰةࣰ وَلَا نُشُورࣰا ۝٣

And yet, some choose to worship, instead of Him, imaginary deities that cannot create anything but are themselves created, and have it not within their power to avert harm from, or bring benefit to, themselves, and have no power over death, nor over life, nor over resurrection

wa-ittakhadhū min dūnihi ālihatan lā yakhluqūna shayan wahum yukh'laqūna walā yamlikūna li-anfusihim ḍarran walā nafʿan walā yamlikūna mawtan walā ḥayatan walā nushūra

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوۤا۟ إِنۡ هَـٰذَاۤ إِلَّاۤ إِفۡكٌ ٱفۡتَرَىٰهُ وَأَعَانَهُۥ عَلَیۡهِ قَوۡمٌ ءَاخَرُونَۖ فَقَدۡ جَاۤءُو ظُلۡمࣰا وَزُورࣰا ۝٤

Moreover, those who are bent on denying the truth are wont to say, “This [Qur’an] is nothing but a lie, which he [himself] has devised with the help of other people, who thereupon have perverted the truth and brought a falsehood into being.”

waqāla alladhīna kafarū in hādhā illā if'kun if'tarāhu wa-aʿānahu ʿalayhi qawmun ākharūna faqad jāū ẓul'man wazūra

وَقَالُوۤا۟ أَسَـٰطِیرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِینَ ٱكۡتَتَبَهَا فَهِیَ تُمۡلَىٰ عَلَیۡهِ بُكۡرَةࣰ وَأَصِیلࣰا ۝٥

And they say, “Fables of ancient times which he has caused to be written down, so that they might be read out to him at morn and evening!”

waqālū asāṭīru l-awalīna ik'tatabahā fahiya tum'lā ʿalayhi buk'ratan wa-aṣīla

قُلۡ أَنزَلَهُ ٱلَّذِی یَعۡلَمُ ٱلسِّرَّ فِی ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ غَفُورࣰا رَّحِیمࣰا ۝٦

Say [O Muhammad]: “He who knows all the mysteries of the heavens and the earth has bestowed from on high this [Qur’an upon me]! Verily, He is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace!”

qul anzalahu alladhī yaʿlamu l-sira fī l-samāwāti wal-arḍi innahu kāna ghafūran raḥīma

وَقَالُوا۟ مَالِ هَـٰذَا ٱلرَّسُولِ یَأۡكُلُ ٱلطَّعَامَ وَیَمۡشِی فِی ٱلۡأَسۡوَاقِ لَوۡلَاۤ أُنزِلَ إِلَیۡهِ مَلَكࣱ فَیَكُونَ مَعَهُۥ نَذِیرًا ۝٧

Yet they say: What sort of apostle is this [man] who eats food [like all other mortals] and goes about in the market places? Why has not an angel [visibly] been sent down unto him, to act as a warner together with him?”

waqālū māli hādhā l-rasūli yakulu l-ṭaʿāma wayamshī fī l-aswāqi lawlā unzila ilayhi malakun fayakūna maʿahu nadhīra

أَوۡ یُلۡقَىٰۤ إِلَیۡهِ كَنزٌ أَوۡ تَكُونُ لَهُۥ جَنَّةࣱ یَأۡكُلُ مِنۡهَاۚ وَقَالَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا رَجُلࣰا مَّسۡحُورًا ۝٨

Or: “[Why has not] a treasure been granted to him [by God]?” Or: “He should [at least] have a [bountiful] garden, so that he could eat thereof [without effort]!” And so these evildoers say [unto one another], “If you were to follow [Muhammad, you would follow] but a man bewitched!”

aw yul'qā ilayhi kanzun aw takūnu lahu jannatun yakulu min'hā waqāla l-ẓālimūna in tattabiʿūna illā rajulan masḥūra

ٱنظُرۡ كَیۡفَ ضَرَبُوا۟ لَكَ ٱلۡأَمۡثَـٰلَ فَضَلُّوا۟ فَلَا یَسۡتَطِیعُونَ سَبِیلࣰا ۝٩

See to what they liken thee, [O Prophet, simply] because they have gone astray and are now unable to find a way to the truth]

unẓur kayfa ḍarabū laka l-amthāla faḍallū falā yastaṭīʿūna sabīla

2 Truth of Warning

تَبَارَكَ ٱلَّذِیۤ إِن شَاۤءَ جَعَلَ لَكَ خَیۡرࣰا مِّن ذَ ٰلِكَ جَنَّـٰتࣲ تَجۡرِی مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُ وَیَجۡعَل لَّكَ قُصُورَۢا ۝١٠

Hallowed is He who, if it be His will, shall give thee something better than that [whereof they speak] - gardens through which running waters flow - and shall assign to thee mansions [of bliss in the life to come]

tabāraka alladhī in shāa jaʿala laka khayran min dhālika jannātin tajrī min taḥtihā l-anhāru wayajʿal laka quṣūra

بَلۡ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِٱلسَّاعَةِۖ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لِمَن كَذَّبَ بِٱلسَّاعَةِ سَعِیرًا ۝١١

But nay! It is [the very coming of] the Last Hour to which they give the lie! However, for such as give the lie to [the announcement of] the Last Hour We have readied a blazing flame

bal kadhabū bil-sāʿati wa-aʿtadnā liman kadhaba bil-sāʿati saʿīra

إِذَا رَأَتۡهُم مِّن مَّكَانِۭ بَعِیدࣲ سَمِعُوا۟ لَهَا تَغَیُّظࣰا وَزَفِیرࣰا ۝١٢

when it shall face them from afar, they will hear its angry roar and its hiss

idhā ra-athum min makānin baʿīdin samiʿū lahā taghayyuẓan wazafīra

وَإِذَاۤ أُلۡقُوا۟ مِنۡهَا مَكَانࣰا ضَیِّقࣰا مُّقَرَّنِینَ دَعَوۡا۟ هُنَالِكَ ثُبُورࣰا ۝١٣

and when they are flung, linked [all] together, into a tight space within, they will pray for extinction there and then

wa-idhā ul'qū min'hā makānan ḍayyiqan muqarranīna daʿaw hunālika thubūra

لَّا تَدۡعُوا۟ ٱلۡیَوۡمَ ثُبُورࣰا وَ ٰحِدࣰا وَٱدۡعُوا۟ ثُبُورࣰا كَثِیرࣰا ۝١٤

[But they will be told:] “Pray not today for one single extinction, but pray for many extinctions!”

lā tadʿū l-yawma thubūran wāḥidan wa-id'ʿū thubūran kathīra

قُلۡ أَذَ ٰلِكَ خَیۡرٌ أَمۡ جَنَّةُ ٱلۡخُلۡدِ ٱلَّتِی وُعِدَ ٱلۡمُتَّقُونَۚ كَانَتۡ لَهُمۡ جَزَاۤءࣰ وَمَصِیرࣰا ۝١٥

Say: “Which is better - that, or the paradise of life abiding which has been promised to the God-conscious as their reward and their journey’s end –

qul adhālika khayrun am jannatu l-khul'di allatī wuʿida l-mutaqūna kānat lahum jazāan wamaṣīra

لَّهُمۡ فِیهَا مَا یَشَاۤءُونَ خَـٰلِدِینَۚ كَانَ عَلَىٰ رَبِّكَ وَعۡدࣰا مَّسۡءُولࣰا ۝١٦

a promise given by thy Sustainer, [always] to be prayed for?”

lahum fīhā mā yashāūna khālidīna kāna ʿalā rabbika waʿdan masūla

وَیَوۡمَ یَحۡشُرُهُمۡ وَمَا یَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَیَقُولُ ءَأَنتُمۡ أَضۡلَلۡتُمۡ عِبَادِی هَـٰۤؤُلَاۤءِ أَمۡ هُمۡ ضَلُّوا۟ ٱلسَّبِیلَ ۝١٧

BUT [as for people who are oblivious of thy Sustainer’s oneness -] one Day He will gather them together with all that they [now] worship instead of God, and will ask [those to whom divinity was falsely ascribed]: “Was it you who led these My creatures astray, or did they by themselves stray from the right path?”

wayawma yaḥshuruhum wamā yaʿbudūna min dūni l-lahi fayaqūlu a-antum aḍlaltum ʿibādī hāulāi am hum ḍallū l-sabīl

قَالُوا۟ سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ مَا كَانَ یَنۢبَغِی لَنَاۤ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ مِن دُونِكَ مِنۡ أَوۡلِیَاۤءَ وَلَـٰكِن مَّتَّعۡتَهُمۡ وَءَابَاۤءَهُمۡ حَتَّىٰ نَسُوا۟ ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَكَانُوا۟ قَوۡمَۢا بُورࣰا ۝١٨

They will answer: “Limitless art Thou in Thy glory! It was inconceivable for us to take for our masters anyone but Thyself! But [as for them -] Thou didst allow them and their forefathers to enjoy [the pleasures of] life to such an extent that they forgot all remembrance [of Thee]: for they were people devoid of all good.”

qālū sub'ḥānaka mā kāna yanbaghī lanā an nattakhidha min dūnika min awliyāa walākin mattaʿtahum waābāahum ḥattā nasū l-dhik'ra wakānū qawman būra

فَقَدۡ كَذَّبُوكُم بِمَا تَقُولُونَ فَمَا تَسۡتَطِیعُونَ صَرۡفࣰا وَلَا نَصۡرࣰاۚ وَمَن یَظۡلِم مِّنكُمۡ نُذِقۡهُ عَذَابࣰا كَبِیرࣰا ۝١٩

[Thereupon God will say:] “And now, they [whom you regarded as divine] have given the lie to all your [past] assertions, and you can neither ward off [your punishment] nor obtain any succour! For, whoever of you has committed [such] evil, him shall We cause to taste great suffering!”

faqad kadhabūkum bimā taqūlūna famā tastaṭīʿūna ṣarfan walā naṣran waman yaẓlim minkum nudhiq'hu ʿadhāban kabīra

وَمَاۤ أَرۡسَلۡنَا قَبۡلَكَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِینَ إِلَّاۤ إِنَّهُمۡ لَیَأۡكُلُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ وَیَمۡشُونَ فِی ٱلۡأَسۡوَاقِۗ وَجَعَلۡنَا بَعۡضَكُمۡ لِبَعۡضࣲ فِتۡنَةً أَتَصۡبِرُونَۗ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ بَصِیرࣰا ۝٢٠

AND [even] before thee, [O Muhammad,] We never sent as Our message-bearers any but [mortal men] who indeed ate food [like other human beings] and went about in the market places: for [it is thus that] We cause you [human beings] to be a means of testing one another. Are you able to endure [this test] with patience? For [remember, O man,] thy Sustainer is truly all-seeing

wamā arsalnā qablaka mina l-mur'salīna illā innahum layakulūna l-ṭaʿāma wayamshūna fī l-aswāqi wajaʿalnā baʿḍakum libaʿḍin fit'natan ataṣbirūna wakāna rabbuka baṣīra

3 Day of Discrimination

۞ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِینَ لَا یَرۡجُونَ لِقَاۤءَنَا لَوۡلَاۤ أُنزِلَ عَلَیۡنَا ٱلۡمَلَـٰۤىِٕكَةُ أَوۡ نَرَىٰ رَبَّنَاۗ لَقَدِ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُوا۟ فِیۤ أَنفُسِهِمۡ وَعَتَوۡ عُتُوࣰّا كَبِیرࣰا ۝٢١

But those who do not believe that they are destined to meet Us are wont to say, “Why have no angels been sent down to us?” – or, “Why do we not see our Sustainer?” Indeed, they are far too proud of themselves, having rebelled [against God’s truth] with utter disdain

waqāla alladhīna lā yarjūna liqāanā lawlā unzila ʿalaynā l-malāikatu aw narā rabbanā laqadi is'takbarū fī anfusihim waʿataw ʿutuwwan kabīra

یَوۡمَ یَرَوۡنَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰۤىِٕكَةَ لَا بُشۡرَىٰ یَوۡمَىِٕذࣲ لِّلۡمُجۡرِمِینَ وَیَقُولُونَ حِجۡرࣰا مَّحۡجُورࣰا ۝٢٢

[Yet] on that Day - the Day on which they shall see the angels there will be no glad tiding for those who were lost in sin; and they will exclaim, “By a forbidding ban [are we from God’s grace debarred]!” –

yawma yarawna l-malāikata lā bush'rā yawma-idhin lil'muj'rimīna wayaqūlūna ḥij'ran maḥjūra

وَقَدِمۡنَاۤ إِلَىٰ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ مِنۡ عَمَلࣲ فَجَعَلۡنَـٰهُ هَبَاۤءࣰ مَّنثُورًا ۝٢٣

for We shall have turned towards all the [supposedly good] deeds they ever wrought, and shall have transformed them into scattered dust –

waqadim'nā ilā mā ʿamilū min ʿamalin fajaʿalnāhu habāan manthūra

أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ یَوۡمَىِٕذٍ خَیۡرࣱ مُّسۡتَقَرࣰّا وَأَحۡسَنُ مَقِیلࣰا ۝٢٤

[whereas] on that same Day those who are destined for paradise will be graced with the best of abodes and the fairest place of repose

aṣḥābu l-janati yawma-idhin khayrun mus'taqarran wa-aḥsanu maqīla

وَیَوۡمَ تَشَقَّقُ ٱلسَّمَاۤءُ بِٱلۡغَمَـٰمِ وَنُزِّلَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰۤىِٕكَةُ تَنزِیلًا ۝٢٥

And on the Day on which the skies, together with the clouds, shall burst asunder, and the angels are made to descend in a mighty descent –

wayawma tashaqqaqu l-samāu bil-ghamāmi wanuzzila l-malāikatu tanzīla

ٱلۡمُلۡكُ یَوۡمَىِٕذٍ ٱلۡحَقُّ لِلرَّحۡمَـٰنِۚ وَكَانَ یَوۡمًا عَلَى ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِینَ عَسِیرࣰا ۝٢٦

on that Day [it will become obvious to all that] true sovereignty belongs to the Most Gracious [alone]: hence, a Day of distress will it be for all who deny the truth

al-mul'ku yawma-idhin l-ḥaqu lilrraḥmāni wakāna yawman ʿalā l-kāfirīna ʿasīra

وَیَوۡمَ یَعَضُّ ٱلظَّالِمُ عَلَىٰ یَدَیۡهِ یَقُولُ یَـٰلَیۡتَنِی ٱتَّخَذۡتُ مَعَ ٱلرَّسُولِ سَبِیلࣰا ۝٢٧

and a Day on which the evildoer will bite his hands [in despair], exclaiming: “Oh, would that I had followed the path shown to me by the apostle

wayawma yaʿaḍḍu l-ẓālimu ʿalā yadayhi yaqūlu yālaytanī ittakhadhtu maʿa l-rasūli sabīla

یَـٰوَیۡلَتَىٰ لَیۡتَنِی لَمۡ أَتَّخِذۡ فُلَانًا خَلِیلࣰا ۝٢٨

Oh, woe is me! Would that I had not taken so-and-so for a friend

yāwaylatā laytanī lam attakhidh fulānan khalīla

لَّقَدۡ أَضَلَّنِی عَنِ ٱلذِّكۡرِ بَعۡدَ إِذۡ جَاۤءَنِیۗ وَكَانَ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنُ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ خَذُولࣰا ۝٢٩

Indeed, he led me astray from the remembrance [of God] after it had come unto me!” For [thus it is:] Satan is ever a betrayer of man

laqad aḍallanī ʿani l-dhik'ri baʿda idh jāanī wakāna l-shayṭānu lil'insāni khadhūla

وَقَالَ ٱلرَّسُولُ یَـٰرَبِّ إِنَّ قَوۡمِی ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ مَهۡجُورࣰا ۝٣٠

AND [on that Day] the Apostle will say: “O my Sustainer! Behold, [some of] my people have come to regard this Qur’an as something [that ought to be] discarded!”

waqāla l-rasūlu yārabbi inna qawmī ittakhadhū hādhā l-qur'āna mahjūra

وَكَذَ ٰلِكَ جَعَلۡنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِیٍّ عَدُوࣰّا مِّنَ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِینَۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ هَادِیࣰا وَنَصِیرࣰا ۝٣١

For so it is that against every prophet We have set up enemies from among those who are lost in sin: yet none can guide and give succour as thy Sustainer does

wakadhālika jaʿalnā likulli nabiyyin ʿaduwwan mina l-muj'rimīna wakafā birabbika hādiyan wanaṣīra

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوۡلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَیۡهِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ جُمۡلَةࣰ وَ ٰحِدَةࣰۚ كَذَ ٰلِكَ لِنُثَبِّتَ بِهِۦ فُؤَادَكَۖ وَرَتَّلۡنَـٰهُ تَرۡتِیلࣰا ۝٣٢

Now they who are bent on denying the truth are wont to ask. “Why has not the Qur’an been bestowed on him from on high in one single revelation?” [it has been revealed] in this manner so that We might strengthen thy heart thereby - for We have so arranged its component parts that they form one consistent whole

waqāla alladhīna kafarū lawlā nuzzila ʿalayhi l-qur'ānu jum'latan wāḥidatan kadhālika linuthabbita bihi fuādaka warattalnāhu tartīla

وَلَا یَأۡتُونَكَ بِمَثَلٍ إِلَّا جِئۡنَـٰكَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَحۡسَنَ تَفۡسِیرًا ۝٣٣

and [that] they [who deny the truth] might never taunt thee with any deceptive half-truth without Our conveying to thee the [full] truth and [providing thee] with the best explanation

walā yatūnaka bimathalin illā ji'nāka bil-ḥaqi wa-aḥsana tafsīra

ٱلَّذِینَ یُحۡشَرُونَ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمۡ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ شَرࣱّ مَّكَانࣰا وَأَضَلُّ سَبِیلࣰا ۝٣٤

[And so, tell those who are bent on denying the truth that] they who shall be gathered unto hell upon their faces – it is they who [in the life to come] will be worst in station and still farther astray from the path [of truth]

alladhīna yuḥ'sharūna ʿalā wujūhihim ilā jahannama ulāika sharrun makānan wa-aḍallu sabīla

4 Lesson in Fate of Former People

وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَیۡنَا مُوسَى ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَجَعَلۡنَا مَعَهُۥۤ أَخَاهُ هَـٰرُونَ وَزِیرࣰا ۝٣٥

AND, INDEED, [long before Muhammad] We vouchsafed revelation unto Moses, and appointed his brother Aaron to help him to bear his burden

walaqad ātaynā mūsā l-kitāba wajaʿalnā maʿahu akhāhu hārūna wazīra

فَقُلۡنَا ٱذۡهَبَاۤ إِلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلَّذِینَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِءَایَـٰتِنَا فَدَمَّرۡنَـٰهُمۡ تَدۡمِیرࣰا ۝٣٦

and We said, “Go you both unto the people who have given the lie to Our messages!” - and thereupon We broke those [sinners] to smithereens

faqul'nā idh'habā ilā l-qawmi alladhīna kadhabū biāyātinā fadammarnāhum tadmīra

وَقَوۡمَ نُوحࣲ لَّمَّا كَذَّبُوا۟ ٱلرُّسُلَ أَغۡرَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهُمۡ لِلنَّاسِ ءَایَةࣰۖ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِینَ عَذَابًا أَلِیمࣰا ۝٣٧

And [think of] the people of Noah: when they gave the lie to [one of] the apostles, We caused them to drown, and made them a symbol for all mankind: for, grievous suffering have We readied for all who [knowingly] do wrong

waqawma nūḥin lammā kadhabū l-rusula aghraqnāhum wajaʿalnāhum lilnnāsi āyatan wa-aʿtadnā lilẓẓālimīna ʿadhāban alīma

وَعَادࣰا وَثَمُودَا۟ وَأَصۡحَـٰبَ ٱلرَّسِّ وَقُرُونَۢا بَیۡنَ ذَ ٰلِكَ كَثِیرࣰا ۝٣٨

And [remember how We punished the tribes of] Ad and Thamud and the people of Ar-Rass, and many generations [of sinners] in-between

waʿādan wathamūdā wa-aṣḥāba l-rasi waqurūnan bayna dhālika kathīra

وَكُلࣰّا ضَرَبۡنَا لَهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَـٰلَۖ وَكُلࣰّا تَبَّرۡنَا تَتۡبِیرࣰا ۝٣٩

and unto each of them did We proffer lessons and each of them did We destroy with utter destruction

wakullan ḍarabnā lahu l-amthāla wakullan tabbarnā tatbīra

وَلَقَدۡ أَتَوۡا۟ عَلَى ٱلۡقَرۡیَةِ ٱلَّتِیۤ أُمۡطِرَتۡ مَطَرَ ٱلسَّوۡءِۚ أَفَلَمۡ یَكُونُوا۟ یَرَوۡنَهَاۚ بَلۡ كَانُوا۟ لَا یَرۡجُونَ نُشُورࣰا ۝٤٠

And they [who now deny Our messages] must surely have come across that town which was rained upon by a rain of evil: have they, then, never beheld it [with their minds eye]? But nay, they would not believe in resurrection

walaqad ataw ʿalā l-qaryati allatī um'ṭirat maṭara l-sawi afalam yakūnū yarawnahā bal kānū lā yarjūna nushūra

وَإِذَا رَأَوۡكَ إِن یَتَّخِذُونَكَ إِلَّا هُزُوًا أَهَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِی بَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ رَسُولًا ۝٤١

Hence, whenever they consider thee, [O Muhammad,] they but make thee a target of their mockery, [saying:] “Is this the one whom God has sent as an apostle

wa-idhā ra-awka in yattakhidhūnaka illā huzuwan ahādhā alladhī baʿatha l-lahu rasūla

إِن كَادَ لَیُضِلُّنَا عَنۡ ءَالِهَتِنَا لَوۡلَاۤ أَن صَبَرۡنَا عَلَیۡهَاۚ وَسَوۡفَ یَعۡلَمُونَ حِینَ یَرَوۡنَ ٱلۡعَذَابَ مَنۡ أَضَلُّ سَبِیلًا ۝٤٢

Indeed, he would well-nigh have led us astray from our deities, had we not been [so] steadfastly attached to them!” But in time, when they see the suffering [that awaits them], they will come to know who it was that went farthest astray from the path [of truth]

in kāda layuḍillunā ʿan ālihatinā lawlā an ṣabarnā ʿalayhā wasawfa yaʿlamūna ḥīna yarawna l-ʿadhāba man aḍallu sabīla

أَرَءَیۡتَ مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُۥ هَوَىٰهُ أَفَأَنتَ تَكُونُ عَلَیۡهِ وَكِیلًا ۝٤٣

Hast thou ever considered [the kind of man] who makes his own desires his deity? Couldst thou, then, [O Prophet,] be held responsible for him

ara-ayta mani ittakhadha ilāhahu hawāhu afa-anta takūnu ʿalayhi wakīla

أَمۡ تَحۡسَبُ أَنَّ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ یَسۡمَعُونَ أَوۡ یَعۡقِلُونَۚ إِنۡ هُمۡ إِلَّا كَٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ بَلۡ هُمۡ أَضَلُّ سَبِیلًا ۝٤٤

Or dost thou think that most of them listen [to thy message] and use their reason? Nay, they are but like cattle - nay, they are even less conscious of the right way

am taḥsabu anna aktharahum yasmaʿūna aw yaʿqilūna in hum illā kal-anʿāmi bal hum aḍallu sabīla

5 The Transformation wrought

أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَیۡفَ مَدَّ ٱلظِّلَّ وَلَوۡ شَاۤءَ لَجَعَلَهُۥ سَاكِنࣰا ثُمَّ جَعَلۡنَا ٱلشَّمۡسَ عَلَیۡهِ دَلِیلࣰا ۝٤٥

Art thou not aware of thy Sustainer [through His works]? - how He causes the shadow to lengthen [towards the night] when, had He so willed, He could indeed have made it stand still: but then, We have made the sun its guide

alam tara ilā rabbika kayfa madda l-ẓila walaw shāa lajaʿalahu sākinan thumma jaʿalnā l-shamsa ʿalayhi dalīla

ثُمَّ قَبَضۡنَـٰهُ إِلَیۡنَا قَبۡضࣰا یَسِیرࣰا ۝٤٦

and then, [after having caused it to lengthen,] We draw it in towards Ourselves with a gradual drawing-in

thumma qabaḍnāhu ilaynā qabḍan yasīra

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِی جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّیۡلَ لِبَاسࣰا وَٱلنَّوۡمَ سُبَاتࣰا وَجَعَلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ نُشُورࣰا ۝٤٧

And He it is who makes the night a garment for you, and [your] sleep a rest, and causes every [new] day to be a resurrection

wahuwa alladhī jaʿala lakumu al-layla libāsan wal-nawma subātan wajaʿala l-nahāra nushūra

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِیۤ أَرۡسَلَ ٱلرِّیَـٰحَ بُشۡرَۢا بَیۡنَ یَدَیۡ رَحۡمَتِهِۦۚ وَأَنزَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَاۤءِ مَاۤءࣰ طَهُورࣰا ۝٤٨

And He it is who sends forth the winds as a glad tiding of His coming grace; and [thus, too,] We cause pure water to descend from the skies

wahuwa alladhī arsala l-riyāḥa bush'ran bayna yaday raḥmatihi wa-anzalnā mina l-samāi māan ṭahūra

لِّنُحۡـِۧیَ بِهِۦ بَلۡدَةࣰ مَّیۡتࣰا وَنُسۡقِیَهُۥ مِمَّا خَلَقۡنَاۤ أَنۡعَـٰمࣰا وَأَنَاسِیَّ كَثِیرࣰا ۝٤٩

so that We may bring dead land to life thereby, and give to drink thereof to many [beings] of Our creation, beasts as well as humans

linuḥ'yiya bihi baldatan maytan wanus'qiyahu mimmā khalaqnā anʿāman wa-anāsiyya kathīra

وَلَقَدۡ صَرَّفۡنَـٰهُ بَیۡنَهُمۡ لِیَذَّكَّرُوا۟ فَأَبَىٰۤ أَكۡثَرُ ٱلنَّاسِ إِلَّا كُفُورࣰا ۝٥٠

And, indeed, many times have We repeated [all] this unto men, so that they might take it to heart: but most men refuse to be aught but ingrate

walaqad ṣarrafnāhu baynahum liyadhakkarū fa-abā aktharu l-nāsi illā kufūra

وَلَوۡ شِئۡنَا لَبَعَثۡنَا فِی كُلِّ قَرۡیَةࣲ نَّذِیرࣰا ۝٥١

Now had We so willed. We could have [continued as before and] raised up a [separate] warner in every single community

walaw shi'nā labaʿathnā fī kulli qaryatin nadhīra

فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِینَ وَجَـٰهِدۡهُم بِهِۦ جِهَادࣰا كَبِیرࣰا ۝٥٢

hence, do not defer to [the likes and dislikes of] those who deny the truth, but strive hard against them, by means of this [divine writ], with utmost striving

falā tuṭiʿi l-kāfirīna wajāhid'hum bihi jihādan kabīra

۞ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِی مَرَجَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَیۡنِ هَـٰذَا عَذۡبࣱ فُرَاتࣱ وَهَـٰذَا مِلۡحٌ أُجَاجࣱ وَجَعَلَ بَیۡنَهُمَا بَرۡزَخࣰا وَحِجۡرࣰا مَّحۡجُورࣰا ۝٥٣

AND HE it is who has given freedom of movement to the two great bodies of water – the one sweet and thirst-allaying, and the other salty and bitter - and yet has wrought between them a barrier and a forbidding ban

wahuwa alladhī maraja l-baḥrayni hādhā ʿadhbun furātun wahādhā mil'ḥun ujājun wajaʿala baynahumā barzakhan waḥij'ran maḥjūra

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِی خَلَقَ مِنَ ٱلۡمَاۤءِ بَشَرࣰا فَجَعَلَهُۥ نَسَبࣰا وَصِهۡرࣰاۗ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ قَدِیرࣰا ۝٥٤

And He it is who out of this [very] water has created man, and has endowed him with [the consciousness of] descent and marriage-tie: for thy Sustainer is ever infinite in His power

wahuwa alladhī khalaqa mina l-māi basharan fajaʿalahu nasaban waṣih'ran wakāna rabbuka qadīra

وَیَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا یَنفَعُهُمۡ وَلَا یَضُرُّهُمۡۗ وَكَانَ ٱلۡكَافِرُ عَلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ ظَهِیرࣰا ۝٥٥

And yet, some people worship, instead of God, things that can neither benefit them nor harm them: thus, he who denies the truth does indeed turn his back on his Sustainer

wayaʿbudūna min dūni l-lahi mā lā yanfaʿuhum walā yaḍurruhum wakāna l-kāfiru ʿalā rabbihi ẓahīra

وَمَاۤ أَرۡسَلۡنَـٰكَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرࣰا وَنَذِیرࣰا ۝٥٦

Yet [withal, O Prophet,] We have sent thee only as a herald of glad tidings and a warner

wamā arsalnāka illā mubashiran wanadhīra

قُلۡ مَاۤ أَسۡءَلُكُمۡ عَلَیۡهِ مِنۡ أَجۡرٍ إِلَّا مَن شَاۤءَ أَن یَتَّخِذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ سَبِیلࣰا ۝٥٧

Say: “For this, no reward do I ask of you [- no reward] other than that he who so wills may unto his Sustainer find a way!”

qul mā asalukum ʿalayhi min ajrin illā man shāa an yattakhidha ilā rabbihi sabīla

وَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱلۡحَیِّ ٱلَّذِی لَا یَمُوتُ وَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِهِۦۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِهِۦ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِۦ خَبِیرًا ۝٥٨

Hence, place thy trust in the Living One who dies not, and extol His limitless glory and praise: for none is as aware as His creatures’ sins as He –

watawakkal ʿalā l-ḥayi alladhī lā yamūtu wasabbiḥ biḥamdihi wakafā bihi bidhunūbi ʿibādihi khabīra

ٱلَّذِی خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَیۡنَهُمَا فِی سِتَّةِ أَیَّامࣲ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِۖ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ فَسۡءَلۡ بِهِۦ خَبِیرࣰا ۝٥٩

He who has created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six aeons, and is established on the throne of His almightiness: the Most Gracious! Ask, then, about Him, [the] One who is [truly] aware

alladhī khalaqa l-samāwāti wal-arḍa wamā baynahumā fī sittati ayyāmin thumma is'tawā ʿalā l-ʿarshi l-raḥmānu fasal bihi khabīra

وَإِذَا قِیلَ لَهُمُ ٱ̅سۡ̅جُ̅دُ̅و̅ا۟̅ لِلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ قَالُوا۟ وَمَا ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ أَنَسۡجُدُ لِمَا تَأۡمُرُنَا وَزَادَهُمۡ نُفُورࣰا ۝٦٠ ۩

Yet when they [who are bent on denying the truth! are told, “Prostrate yourselves before the Most Gracious.” they are wont to ask, “And [who and] what is the Most Gracious? Are we to prostrate ourselves before whatever thou biddest us [to worship]?” - and so [thy call] but increases their aversion

wa-idhā qīla lahumu us'judū lilrraḥmāni qālū wamā l-raḥmānu anasjudu limā tamurunā wazādahum nufūra

6 The Transformation wrought

تَبَارَكَ ٱلَّذِی جَعَلَ فِی ٱلسَّمَاۤءِ بُرُوجࣰا وَجَعَلَ فِیهَا سِرَ ٰجࣰا وَقَمَرࣰا مُّنِیرࣰا ۝٦١

HALLOWED is He who has set up in the skies great constellations, and has placed among them a [radiant] lamp and a light-giving moon

tabāraka alladhī jaʿala fī l-samāi burūjan wajaʿala fīhā sirājan waqamaran munīra

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِی جَعَلَ ٱلَّیۡلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ خِلۡفَةࣰ لِّمَنۡ أَرَادَ أَن یَذَّكَّرَ أَوۡ أَرَادَ شُكُورࣰا ۝٦٢

And He it is who causes the night and the day to succeed one another, [revealing Himself in His works] unto him who has the will to take thought - that is has the will to be grateful

wahuwa alladhī jaʿala al-layla wal-nahāra khil'fatan liman arāda an yadhakkara aw arāda shukūra

وَعِبَادُ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلَّذِینَ یَمۡشُونَ عَلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ هَوۡنࣰا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ ٱلۡجَـٰهِلُونَ قَالُوا۟ سَلَـٰمࣰا ۝٦٣

For, [true] servants of the Most Gracious are [only] they who walk gently on earth, and who, whenever the foolish address them, reply with [words of] peace

waʿibādu l-raḥmāni alladhīna yamshūna ʿalā l-arḍi hawnan wa-idhā khāṭabahumu l-jāhilūna qālū salāma

وَٱلَّذِینَ یَبِیتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمۡ سُجَّدࣰا وَقِیَـٰمࣰا ۝٦٤

and who remember their Sustainer far into the night, prostrating themselves and standing

wa-alladhīna yabītūna lirabbihim sujjadan waqiyāma

وَٱلَّذِینَ یَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱصۡرِفۡ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَۖ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا ۝٦٥

and who pray: “O our Sustainer, avert from us the suffering of hell - for, verily, the suffering caused by it is bound to be a torment dire

wa-alladhīna yaqūlūna rabbanā iṣ'rif ʿannā ʿadhāba jahannama inna ʿadhābahā kāna gharāma

إِنَّهَا سَاۤءَتۡ مُسۡتَقَرࣰّا وَمُقَامࣰا ۝٦٦

verily, how evil an abode and a station!” -

innahā sāat mus'taqarran wamuqāma

وَٱلَّذِینَ إِذَاۤ أَنفَقُوا۟ لَمۡ یُسۡرِفُوا۟ وَلَمۡ یَقۡتُرُوا۟ وَكَانَ بَیۡنَ ذَ ٰلِكَ قَوَامࣰا ۝٦٧

and who, whenever they spend on others, are neither wasteful nor niggardly but [remember that] there is always a just mean between those [two extremes]

wa-alladhīna idhā anfaqū lam yus'rifū walam yaqturū wakāna bayna dhālika qawāma

وَٱلَّذِینَ لَا یَدۡعُونَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ وَلَا یَقۡتُلُونَ ٱلنَّفۡسَ ٱلَّتِی حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَا یَزۡنُونَۚ وَمَن یَفۡعَلۡ ذَ ٰلِكَ یَلۡقَ أَثَامࣰا ۝٦٨

and who never invoke any [imaginary] deity side by side with God, and do not take any human beings life - [the life] which God has willed to be sacred - otherwise than in [the pursuit of] justice, and do not commit adultery. And [know that] he who commits aught thereof shall [not only] meet with a full requita

wa-alladhīna lā yadʿūna maʿa l-lahi ilāhan ākhara walā yaqtulūna l-nafsa allatī ḥarrama l-lahu illā bil-ḥaqi walā yaznūna waman yafʿal dhālika yalqa athāma

یُضَـٰعَفۡ لَهُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ یَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِیَـٰمَةِ وَیَخۡلُدۡ فِیهِۦ مُهَانًا ۝٦٩

[but] shall have his suffering doubled on Resurrection Day: for on that [Day] he shall abide in ignominy

yuḍāʿaf lahu l-ʿadhābu yawma l-qiyāmati wayakhlud fīhi muhāna

إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلࣰا صَـٰلِحࣰا فَأُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ یُبَدِّلُ ٱللَّهُ سَیِّءَاتِهِمۡ حَسَنَـٰتࣲۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورࣰا رَّحِیمࣰا ۝٧٠

Excepted, however, shall be they who repent and attain to faith and do righteous deeds: for it is they whose [erstwhile] bad deeds God will transform into good ones - seeing that God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace

illā man tāba waāmana waʿamila ʿamalan ṣāliḥan fa-ulāika yubaddilu l-lahu sayyiātihim ḥasanātin wakāna l-lahu ghafūran raḥīma

وَمَن تَابَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحࣰا فَإِنَّهُۥ یَتُوبُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَتَابࣰا ۝٧١

and seeing that he who repents and [thenceforth] does what is right has truly turned unto God by [this very act of] repentance

waman tāba waʿamila ṣāliḥan fa-innahu yatūbu ilā l-lahi matāba

وَٱلَّذِینَ لَا یَشۡهَدُونَ ٱلزُّورَ وَإِذَا مَرُّوا۟ بِٱللَّغۡوِ مَرُّوا۟ كِرَامࣰا ۝٧٢

And [know that true servants of God are only] those who never bear witness to what is false, and [who], whenever they pass by [people engaged in] frivolity, pass on with dignity

wa-alladhīna lā yashhadūna l-zūra wa-idhā marrū bil-laghwi marrū kirāma

وَٱلَّذِینَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِءَایَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمۡ لَمۡ یَخِرُّوا۟ عَلَیۡهَا صُمࣰّا وَعُمۡیَانࣰا ۝٧٣

and who, whenever they are reminded of their Sustainer’s messages, do not throw themselves upon them [as if] deaf and blind

wa-alladhīna idhā dhukkirū biāyāti rabbihim lam yakhirrū ʿalayhā ṣumman waʿum'yāna

وَٱلَّذِینَ یَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَزۡوَ ٰجِنَا وَذُرِّیَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعۡیُنࣲ وَٱجۡعَلۡنَا لِلۡمُتَّقِینَ إِمَامًا ۝٧٤

and who pray “O our Sustainer! Grant that our spouses and our offspring be a joy to our eyes, and cause us to be foremost among those who are conscious of Thee!”

wa-alladhīna yaqūlūna rabbanā hab lanā min azwājinā wadhurriyyātinā qurrata aʿyunin wa-ij'ʿalnā lil'muttaqīna imāma

أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ یُجۡزَوۡنَ ٱلۡغُرۡفَةَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا۟ وَیُلَقَّوۡنَ فِیهَا تَحِیَّةࣰ وَسَلَـٰمًا ۝٧٥

[Such as] these will be rewarded for all their patient endurance [in life] with a high station [in paradise], and will be met therein with a greeting of welcome and peace

ulāika yuj'zawna l-ghur'fata bimā ṣabarū wayulaqqawna fīhā taḥiyyatan wasalāma

خَـٰلِدِینَ فِیهَاۚ حَسُنَتۡ مُسۡتَقَرࣰّا وَمُقَامࣰا ۝٧٦

therein to abide: [and] how goodly an abode and [how high] a station

khālidīna fīhā ḥasunat mus'taqarran wamuqāma

قُلۡ مَا یَعۡبَؤُا۟ بِكُمۡ رَبِّی لَوۡلَا دُعَاۤؤُكُمۡۖ فَقَدۡ كَذَّبۡتُمۡ فَسَوۡفَ یَكُونُ لِزَامَۢا ۝٧٧

SAY [unto those who believe]: “No weight or value would my Sustainer attach to you were it not for your faith [in Him]!” And say unto those who deny the truth:] “You have indeed given the lie [to God’s message], and in time this [sin] will cleave unto you!”

qul mā yaʿba-u bikum rabbī lawlā duʿāukum faqad kadhabtum fasawfa yakūnu lizāma

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