Those who do not fear to meet Us say, ‘Why are the angels not sent down to us?’ or ‘Why can we not see our Lord?’ They are too proud of themselves and too insolent

There will be no good news for the guilty on the Day they see the angels. The angels will say, ‘You cannot cross the forbidden barrier,’

and We shall turn to the deeds they have done and scatter them like dust

But the companions in the Garden will have a better home on that Day, and a fairer place to rest

On the Day when the sky and its clouds are split apart and the angels sent down in streams

on that Day, true authority belongs to the Lord of Mercy. It will be a grievous Day for the disbelievers

On that Day the evildoer will bite his own hand and say, ‘If only I had taken the same path as the Messenger

Woe is me! If only I had not taken so and so as a friend

he led me away from the Revelation after it reached me. Satan has always betrayed mankind.’

The Messenger has said, ‘Lord, my people treat this Quran as something to be shunned,’

but We have always appointed adversaries from the wicked, for every prophet: Your Lord is sufficient guide and helper

The disbelievers also say, ‘Why was the Quran not sent down to him all at once?’ We sent it in this way to strengthen your heart [Prophet]; We gave it to you in gradual revelation

They cannot put any argument to you without Our bringing you the truth and the best explanation

It is those driven [falling], on their faces,to Hell who will be in the worst place- they are the furthest from the right path

We gave Moses the Book and appointed his brother Aaron to help him

We said, ‘Go, both of you, to the people who have rejected Our signs.’ Later We destroyed those people utterly

The people of Noah, too: when they rejected their messengers, We drowned them and made them an example to all people. We have prepared a painful torment for the evildoers

as We did for the people of Ad, Thamud, and al-Rass, and many generations in between

To each of them We gave warnings, and each of them We destroyed completely

These disbelievers must have passed by the town that was destroyed by the terrible rain––did they not see it? Yet they do not expect to be raised from the dead

Whenever they see you [Prophet] they ridicule you: ‘Is this the one God has sent as a messenger

He might almost have led us astray from our gods if we had not stood so firmly by them.’ When they see the punishment, they will know who is furthest from the path

Think [Prophet] of the man who has taken his own passion as a god: are you to be his guardian

Do you think that most of them hear or understand? They are just like cattle- no, they are further from the path

Do you not see how your Lord lengthens the shade? If He had willed, He could have made it stand still- We made the sun its indicator

but We gradually draw it towards Us, little by little

It is He who made the night a garment for you, and sleep a rest, and made the day like a resurrection

It is He who sends the winds as heralds of good news before His Mercy. We send down pure water from the sky

so that We can revive a dead land with it, and We give it as a drink to many animals and people We have created

Many times We have repeated this to people so that they might take heed, but most persist in their ingratitude

If it had been Our will, We would have sent a warner to every town

so do not give in to the disbelievers: strive hard against them with this Quran

It is He who released the two bodies of flowing water, one sweet and fresh and the other salty and bitter, and put an insurmountable barrier between them

It is He who creates human beings from fluid, then makes them kin by blood and marriage: your Lord is all powerful

Yet instead of God they worship things that can neither benefit nor harm them: the disbeliever has always turned his back on his Lord

We sent you only to give good news and warning

Say, ‘I am not asking for any reward for it, but anyone who wishes should take a path to his Lord.’

Put your trust in the Living [God] who never dies, and celebrate His praise. He knows the sins of His servants well enough

it is He who created the heavens and earth and what is between them in six Days, and then established Himself on the throne- He is the Lord of Mercy; He is the Best Informed

Yet when they are told, ‘Bow down before the Lord of Mercy,’ they say, ‘What is the Lord of Mercy? Should we bow down before anything you command?’ and they turn even further away

Exalted is He who put constellations in the heavens, a radiant light, and an illuminating moon

it is He who made the night and day follow each other- so anyone who wishes may be mindful or show gratitude

The servants of the Lord of Mercy are those who walk humbly on the earth, and who, when the foolish address them, reply, ‘Peace’

those who spend the night bowed down or standing, worshipping their Lord

who plead, ‘Our Lord, turn away from us the suffering of Hell, for it is a dreadful torment to suffer

It is an evil home, a foul resting place!’

They are those who are neither wasteful nor niggardly when they spend, but keep to a just balance

those who never invoke any other deity beside God, nor take a life, which God has made sacred, except in the pursuit of justice, nor commit adultery. (Whoever does these things will face the penalties)

their torment will be doubled on the Day of Resurrection, and they will remain in torment, disgraced

except those who repent, believe, and do good deeds: God will change the evil deeds of such people into good ones. He is most forgiving, most merciful

People who repent and do good deeds truly return to God

[The servants of the Lord of Mercy are] those who do not give false testimony, and who, when they see some frivolity, pass by with dignity

who, when reminded of their Lord’s signs, do not turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to them

those who pray, ‘Our Lord, give us joy in our spouses and offspring. Make us good examples to those who are aware of You’

These servants will be rewarded with the highest place in Paradise for their steadfastness. There they will be met with greetings and peace

There they will stay- a happy home and resting place

[Prophet, tell the disbelievers], ‘What are you to my Lord without your supplication? But since you have written offthe truth as lies, the inevitable will happen.’

Ta Sin Mim

These are the verses of the Scripture that makes things clear

[Prophet], are you going to worry yourself to death because they will not believe

If We had wished, We could have sent them down a sign from heaven, at which their necks would stay bowed in utter humility

Whenever they are brought a new revelation from the Lord of Mercy, they turn away

they deny it, but the truth of what they scorned will soon hit them

Do they not see the earth, and what noble kinds of thing We grow in it

There truly is a sign in this, though most of them do not believe

your Lord alone is the Almighty, the Merciful

Your Lord called to Moses: ‘Go to those wrongdoers

the people of Pharaoh. Will they not take heed?’

Moses said, ‘My Lord, I fear they will call me a liar

and I will feel stressed and tongue-tied, so send Aaron too

besides, they have a chargeagainst me, and I fear they may kill me.’

God said, ‘No [they will not]. Go, both of you, with Our signs––We shall be with you, listen-ing

Go, both of you, to Pharaoh and say, “We bring a message from the Lord of the Worlds

let the Children of Israel leave with us.” ’

Pharaoh said, ‘Did we not bring you up as a child among us? Did you not stay with us for many years

And then you committed that crime of yours: you were so ungrateful.’

Moses replied, ‘I was misguided when I did it

and I fled from you in fear; later my Lord gave me wisdom and made me one of His messengers

And is this- that you have enslaved the Children of Israel- the favour with which you reproach me?’

Pharaoh asked, ‘What is this “Lord of the Worlds”?’

Moses replied, ‘He is the Lord of the heavens and earth and everything between them. If you would only have faith!’

Pharaoh said to those present, ‘Do you hear what he says?’

Moses said, ‘He is your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers.’

Pharaoh said, ‘This messenger who has been sent to you is truly possessed.’

Moses continued, ‘Lord of the East and West and everything between them. If you would only use your reason!’

But Pharaoh said [to him], ‘If you take any god other than me, I will throw you into prison,’

and Moses asked, ‘Even if I show you something convincing?’

‘Show it then,’ said Pharaoh, ‘if you are telling the truth.’

So Moses threw down his staff and- lo and behold!- it became a snake for everyone to see

Then he drew out his hand and- lo and behold!- it was white for the onlookers to see

Pharaoh said to the counsellors around him, ‘This man is a learned sorcerer

He means to use his sorcery to drive you out of your land! What do you suggest?’

They answered, ‘Delay him and his brother for a while, and send messengers to all the cities

to bring every accomplished sorcerer to you.’

The sorcerers were [to be] assembled at the appointed time on a certain day

and the people were asked

‘Are you all coming? We may follow the sorcerers if they win!’

When the sorcerers came, they said to Pharaoh, ‘Shall we be rewarded if we win?’

and he said, ‘Yes, and you will join my inner court.’

Moses said to them, ‘Throw down whatever you will.’

They threw their ropes and staffs, saying, ‘By Pharaoh’s might, we shall be victorious.’

But Moses threw his staff and- lo and behold!- it swallowed up their trickery

and the sorcerers fell down on their knees

exclaiming, ‘We believe in the Lord of the Worlds

the Lord of Moses and Aaron.’

Pharaoh said, ‘How dare you believe in him before I have given you permission? He must be the master who taught you sorcery! Soon you will see: I will cut off your alternate hands and feet and then crucify the lot of you!’

‘That will do us no harm,’ they said, ‘for we are sure to return to our Lord

We hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins, as we were the first to believe.’

Then We revealed Our will to Moses, ‘Leave with My servants by night, for you will be pursued!’

Pharaoh sent messengers into the cities, proclaiming

‘These people are a puny band––

they have enraged us

and we are a large army, on the alert.’

So it was that We made them leave their gardens and their springs

their treasures and their noble dwellings

We gave [such] things [later]to the Children of Israel

Pharaoh and his people pursued them at sunrise

and as soon as the two sides came within sight of one another, Moses’ followers said, ‘We shall definitely be caught.’

Moses said, ‘No, my Lord is with me: He will guide me,’

and We revealed to Moses: ‘Strike the sea with your staff.’ It parted- each side like a mighty mountain

and We brought the others to that place

We saved Moses and all his companions

and drowned the rest

There truly is a sign in this, though most of them do not believe

your Lord alone is the Almighty, the Merciful

Tell them the story of Abraham

when he asked his father and his people, ‘What do you worship?’

They said, ‘We worship idols, and are constantly in attendance on them.’

He asked, ‘Do they hear you when you call

Do they help or harm you?’

They replied, ‘No, but this is what we saw our fathers doing.’

Abraham said, ‘Those idols you have worshipped

you and your forefathers

are my enemies; not so the Lord of the Worlds

who created me. It is He who guides me

He who gives me food and drink

He who cures me when I am ill

He who will make me die and then give me life again

and He who will, I hope, forgive my faults on the Day of Judgement

My Lord, grant me wisdom; join me with the righteous

give me a good name among later generations

make me one of those given the Garden of Bliss

forgive my father, for he is one of those who have gone astray

and do not disgrace me on the Day when all people are resurrected

the Day when neither wealth nor children can help

when the only one who will be saved is the one who comes before God with a heart devoted to Him.’

When the Garden is brought near to the righteous

and the Fire is placed in full view of the misguided

it will be said to them, ‘Where are those you worshipped

beside God? Can they help you now, or even help themselves?’

and then they will all be hurled into Hell, together with those that misled them

and all Iblis’s supporters

There they will say to their gods, as they bicker among themselves

‘We were clearly misguided

when we made you equal with the Lord of the Worlds

It was the evildoers who led us astray

and now we have no intercessor

and no true friend

If only we could live our lives again, we would be true believers!’

There truly is a sign in this, though most of them do not believe

your Lord alone is the Almighty, the Merciful

The people of Noah, too, called the messengers liars

Their brother Noah said to them, ‘Will you not be mindful of God

I am a faithful messenger sent to you

be mindful of God and obey me

I ask no reward of you, for my only reward is with the Lord of the Worlds

be mindful of God and obey me.’

They answered, ‘Why should we believe you when the worst sort of people follow you?’

He said, ‘What knowledge do I have of what they used to do

It is for my Lord alone to bring them to account- if only you could see

I will not drive believers away

I am here only to give people a clear warning.’

So they said, ‘Noah, if you do not stop this, you will be stoned.’

He said, ‘My Lord, my people have rejected me

so make a firm judgement between me and them, and save me and my believing followers.’

So We saved him and his followers in the fully laden ship

and drowned the rest

There truly is a sign in this, though most of them do not believe

your Lord alone is the Almighty, the Merciful

The people of Ad, too, called the messengers liars

Their brother Hud said to them, ‘Will you not be mindful of God

I am a faithful messenger sent to you

be mindful of God and obey me

I ask no reward of you, for my only reward is with the Lord of the Worlds

How can you be so vain that you set up monuments on every high place

Do you build fortresses because you hope to be immortal

Why do you act like tyrants whenever you attack someone

Be mindful of God and obey me

be mindful of Him who has provided you with everything you know

He has given you livestock, sons

gardens, springs

for I truly fear that the torment of a grievous day will overtake you.’

They replied, ‘It makes no difference to us whether you warn us or not

for we only do what our forefathers used to do

we shall not be punished.’

They denounced him as a liar, and so We destroyed them. There truly is a sign in this, though most of them do not believe

your Lord alone is the Almighty, the Merciful

The people of Thamud, too, called the messengers liars

Their brother Salih said to them, ‘Will you not be mindful of God

I am a faithful messenger to you

be mindful of God and obey me

I ask no reward from you, for my only reward is with the Lord of the Worlds

[Do you think] you will be left secure for ever in what you have here

gardens, springs

fields, palm trees laden with fruit

carving your fine houses from the mountains

Be mindful of God and obey me

do not obey those who are given to excess

and who spread corruption in the land instead of doing what is right.’

They said, ‘You are bewitched

You are nothing but a man like us. Show us a sign, if you are telling the truth.’

He said, ‘Here is a camel. She should have her turn to drink and so should you, each on a specified day

so do not harm her, or the punishment of a terrible day will befall you.’

But they hamstrung her. In the morning they had cause to regret it

the punishment fell upon them. There truly is a sign in this, though most of them will not believe

your Lord alone is the Almighty, the Merciful

The people of Lot, too, called the messengers liars

Their brother Lot said to them, ‘Will you not be mindful of God

I am a faithful messenger to you

be mindful of God and obey me

I ask no reward from you, for my only reward is with the Lord of the Worlds

Must you, unlike [other] people, lust after males

and abandon the wives that God has created for you? You are exceeding all bounds,’

but they replied, ‘Lot! If you do not stop this, you will be driven away.’

So he said, ‘I loathe what you do

Lord, save me and my family from what they are doing.’

We saved him and all his family

except for an old woman who stayed behind

then We destroyed the others

and poured a rain of destruction down upon them. How dreadful that rain was for those who had been forewarned

There truly is a sign in this, though most of them will not believe

your Lord alone is the Almighty, the Merciful

The forest-dwellers, too, called the messengers liars

Shuayb said to them, ‘Will you not be mindful of God

I am a faithful messenger to you

be mindful of God and obey me

I ask no reward of you, for my only reward is with the Lord of the Worlds

Give full measure: do not sell others short

Weigh with correct scales

do not deprive people of what is theirs. Do not spread corruption on earth

Be mindful of God who created you and former generations,’

but they replied, ‘You are bewitched

You are nothing but a man like us. In fact we think you are a liar

Make bits of the heavens fall down on us, if you are telling the truth.’

He said, ‘My Lord knows best what you do.’

They called him a liar, and so the torment of the Day of Shadow came upon them- it was the torment of a terrible day

There truly is a sign in this, though most of them will not believe

your Lord alone is the Almighty, the Merciful

Truly, this Quran has been sent down by the Lord of the Worlds

the Trustworthy Spirit brought it down

to your heart [Prophet], so that you could bring warning

in a clear Arabic tongue

This was foretold in the scriptures of earlier religions

Is it not proof enough for them that the learned men of the Children of Israel have recognized it

If We had sent it down to someone who was not an Arab

and he had recited it to them, they still would not have believed in it

So We make it pass straight through the hearts of the guilty

they will not believe in it until they see the grievous torment

which will suddenly hit them when they are not expecting it

and then they will say, ‘Can we have more time?’

How can they ask that Our punishment be brought to them sooner

Think, if we let them enjoy this life for some years

and then the promised torment came upon them

what good would their past enjoyment be to them

Never have We destroyed a town without sending down messengers to warn it

as a reminder from Us: We are never unjust

It was not the jinn who brought down this Quran

it is neither in their interests nor in their power

indeed they are prevented from overhearing it

So [Prophet] do not invoke any gods beside God, or you will incur punishment

Warn your nearest kinsfolk

and lower your wing tenderly over the believers who follow you

If they disobey you, say, ‘I bear no responsibility for your actions.’

Put your trust in the Almighty, the Merciful

who sees you when you stand up [for prayer]

and sees your movements among the worshippers

He is the All Hearing, the All Knowing

Shall I tell you who the jinn come down to

They come down to every lying sinner

who readily lends an ear to them, and most of them are liars

only those who are lost in error follow the poets

Do you not see how they rove aimlessly in every valley

how they say what they do not do

Not so those [poets] who believe, do good deeds, remember God often, and defend themselves after they have been wronged. The evildoers will find out what they will return to

Ta Sin These are the verses of the Quran––a scripture that makes things clear

a guide and joyful news for the believers

who keep up the prayer, pay the prescribed alms, and believe firmly in the life to come

As for those who do not believe in the life to come, We have made their deeds seem alluring to them, so they wander blindly

it is they who will have the worst suffering, and will be the ones to lose most in the life to come

You [Prophet] receive the Quran from One who is all wise, all knowing

Moses said to his family, ‘I have seen a fire. I will bring you news from there, or a burning stick for you to warm yourselves.’

When he reached the fire, a voice called: ‘Blessed is the person near this fireand those around it; may God be exalted, the Lord of the Worlds

Moses, I am God, the Mighty, the Wise

Throw down your staff,’ but when he saw it moving like a snake, he turned and fled. ‘Moses, do not be afraid! The messengers need have no fear in My presence

I am truly most forgiving and merciful to those who do wrong,and then replace their evil with good

Put your hand inside your cloak and it will come out white, but unharmed. These are among the nine signs that you will show Pharaoh and his people; they have really gone too far.’

But when Our enlightening signs came to them, they said, ‘This is clearly [just] sorcery!’

They denied them, in their wickedness and their pride, even though their souls acknowledged them as true. See how those who spread corruption met their end

We gave knowledge to David and Solomon, and they both said, ‘Praise be to God, who has favoured us over many of His believing servants.’

Solomon succeeded David. He said, ‘People, we have been taught the speech of birds, and we have been given a share of everything: this is a clearly a great favour.’

Solomon’s hosts of jinn, men, and birds were marshalled in ordered ranks before him

and when they came to the Valley of the Ants, one ant said, ‘Ants! Go into your homes, in case Solomon and his hosts unwittingly crush you.’

Solomon smiled broadly at her words and said, ‘Lord, inspire me to be thankful for the blessings You have granted me and my parents, and to do good deeds that please You; admit me by Your grace into the ranks of Your righteous servants.’

Solomon inspected the birds and said, ‘Why do I not see the hoopoe? Is he absent

I will punish him severely, or kill him, unless he brings me a convincing excuse for his absence.’

But the hoopoe did not stay away long: he came and said, ‘I have learned something you did not know: I come to you from Sheba with firm news

I found a woman ruling over the people, who has been given a share of everything- she has a magnificent throne

[but] I found that she and her people worshipped the sun instead of God. Satan has made their deeds seem alluring to them, and diverted them from the right path: they cannot find the right path

Should they not worship God, who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and earth and knows both what you people conceal and what you declare

He is God, there is no god but Him, the Lord of the mighty throne.’

Solomon said, ‘We shall see whether you are telling the truth or lying

Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them, then withdraw and see what answer they send back.’

The Queen of Sheba said, ‘Counsellors, a gracious letter has been delivered to me

It is from Solomon, and it says, “In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy

do not put yourselves above me, and come to me in submission to God.”’

She said, ‘Counsellors, give me your counsel in the matter I now face: I only ever decide on matters in your presence.’

They replied, ‘We possess great force and power in war, but you are in command, so consider what orders to give us.’

She said, ‘Whenever kings go into a city, they ruin it and humiliate its leaders- that is what they do

but I am going to send them a gift, then see what answer my envoys bring back.’

When her envoy came to Solomon, Solomon said, ‘What! Are you offering me wealth? What God has given me is better than what He has given you, though you rejoice in this gift of yours

Go back to your people: we shall certainly come upon them with irresistible forces, and drive them, disgraced and humbled, from their land.’

Then he said, ‘Counsellors, which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?’

A powerful and crafty jinn replied, ‘I will bring it to you before you can even rise from your place. I am strong and trustworthy enough,’

but one of them who had some knowledge of the Scripture said, ‘I will bring it to you in the twinkling of an eye.’ When Solomon saw it set before him, he said, ‘This is a favour from my Lord, to test whether I am grateful or not: if anyone is grateful, it is for his own good, if anyone is ungrateful, then my Lord is self-sufficient and most generous.’

Then he said, ‘Disguise her throne, and we shall see whether or not she recognizes it.’

When she arrived, she was asked, ‘Is this your throne?’ She replied, ‘It looks like it.’ [Solomon said], ‘We were given knowledge before her, and we devoted ourselves to God

she was prevented by what she worshipped instead of God, for she came from a disbelieving people.’

Then it was said to her, ‘Enter the hall,’ but when she saw it, she thought it was a deep pool of water, and bared her legs. Solomon explained, ‘It is just a hall paved with glass,’ and she said, ‘My Lord, I have wronged myself: I devote myself, with Solomon, to God, the Lord of the Worlds.’

To the people of Thamud We sent their brother, Salih, saying, ‘Worship God alone,’ but they split into two rival factions

Salih said, ‘My people, why do you rush to bring [forward] what is bad rather than good? Why do you not ask forgiveness of God, so that you may be given mercy?’

They said, ‘We see you and your fol-lowers as an evil omen.’ He replied, ‘God will decide on any omen you may see: you people are being put to the test.’

There were nine men in the city who spread corruption in the land without making amends

They said, ‘Swear by God: we shall attack this man and his household in the night, then say to his next of kin, “We did not witness the destruction of his household. We are telling the truth.”’

So they devised their evil plan, but We too made a plan of which they were unaware

See how their scheming ended: We destroyed them utterly, along with all their people

As a result of their evil deeds, their homes are desolate ruins- there truly is a sign in this for those who know

but We saved those who believed and were mindful of God

We also sent Lot to his people. He said to them, ‘How can you commit this outrage with your eyes wide open

How can you lust after men instead of women? What fools you are!’