After him We did not send any army from heaven against his people, nor were We about to

there was just one blast, and they fell down lifeless

Alas for human beings! Whenever a messenger comes to them they ridicule him

Do they not see how many generations We have destroyed before them, none of whom will ever come back to them

[Yet] all of them will be brought before Us

There is a sign for them in the lifeless earth: We give it life and We produce grain from it for them to eat

We have put gardens of date palms and grapes in the earth, and We have made springs of water gush out of it

so that they could eat its fruit. It was not their own hands that made all this. How can they not give thanks

Glory be to Him who created all the pairs of things that the earth produces, as well as themselves and other things they do not know about

The night is also a sign for them: We strip the daylight from it, and- lo and behold!- they are in darkness

The sun, too, runs its determined course laid down for it by the Almighty, the All Knowing

We have determined phases for the moon until finally it becomes like an old date-stalk

The sun cannot overtake the moon, nor can the night outrun the day: each floats in [its own] orbit

Another sign for them is that We carried their seed in the laden Ark

and We have made similar things for them to ride in

If We wished, We could drown them, and there would be no one to help them: they could not be saved

Only by Our mercy could they be reprieved to enjoy life for a while

Yet when they are told, ‘Beware of what lies before and behind you, so that you may be given mercy,’

they ignore every single sign that comes to them from their Lord

and when they are told, ‘Give to others out of what God has provided for you,’ the disbelievers say to the believers, ‘Why should we feed those that God could feed if He wanted? You must be deeply misguided.’

And they say, ‘When will this promise be fulfilled, if what you say is true?’

But all they are waiting for is a single blast that will overtake them while they are still arguing with each other

They will have no time to make bequests, nor will they have the chance to return to their own people

The Trumpet will be sounded and- lo and behold!- they will rush out to their Lord from their graves

They will say, ‘Alas for us! Who has resurrected us from our resting places?’ [They will be told], ‘This is what the Lord of Mercy promised, and the messengers told the truth.’

It was just one single blast and then- lo and behold!- they were all brought before Us

‘Today, no soul will be wronged in the least: you will only be repaid for your deeds

The people of Paradise today are happily occupied

they and their spouses- seated on couches in the shade

There they have fruit and whatever they ask for

“Peace,” a word from the Lord of Mercy

But step aside today, you guilty ones

Children of Adam, did I not command you not to serve Satan, for he was your sworn enemy

but to serve Me? This is the straight path

He has led great numbers of you astray. Did you not use your reason

So this is the Fire that you were warned against

Enter it today, because you went on ignoring [my commands].’

On that Day We shall seal up their mouths, but their hands will speak to Us, and their feet bear witness to everything they have done

If it had been Our will, We could have taken away their sight. They would have struggled to find the way, but how could they have seen it

If it had been Our will, We could have paralysed them where they stood, so that they could not move forward or backward

If We extend anyone’s life, We reverse his development. Do they not use their reason

We have not taught the Prophet poetry, nor could he everhave been a poet

This is a revelation, an illuminating Quran to warn anyone who is truly alive, so that God’s verdict may be passed against the disbelievers

Can they not see how, among the things made by Our hands, We have created livestock they control

and made them obedient, so that some can be used for riding, some for food

some for other benefits, and some for drink? Will they not give thanks

Yet they have taken other gods besides God to help them

though these could not do so even if they called a whole army of them together

So [Prophet] do not be distressed at what they say: We know what they conceal and what they reveal

Can man not see that We created him from a drop of fluid? Yet- lo and behold!- he disputes openly

producing arguments against Us, forgetting his own creation. He says, ‘Who can give life back to bones after they have decayed?’

Say, ‘He who created them in the first place will give them life again: He has full knowledge of every act of creation

It is He who produces fire for you out of the green tree- lo and behold!- and from this you kindle fire

Is He who created the heavens and earth not able to create the likes of these people? Of course He is! He is the All Knowing Creator

when He wills something to be, His way is to say, “Be”- and it is

So glory be to Him in whose Hand lies control over all things. It is to Him that you will all be brought back.’

By those [angels] ranged in rows

who rebuke reproachfully

and recite God’s word

truly your God is One

Lord of the heavens and earth and everything between them, Lord of every sunrise

We have adorned the lowest heaven with stars

and made them a safeguard against every rebellious devil

they cannot eavesdrop on the Higher Assembly––pelted from every side

driven away, they will have perpetual torment––

if any [of them] stealthily snatches away a fragment, he will be pursued by a piercing flame

So [Prophet], ask the disbelievers: is it harder to create them than other beings We have created? We created them from sticky clay

You marvel as they scoff

take no heed when they are warned

and resort to ridicule when they see a sign

saying, ‘This is no more than blatant sorcery.’

‘What! After we have died and become dust and bones, shall we really be raised up again

along with our forefathers?’

Say, ‘Yes indeed, and you will be humiliated.’

Just one blast and––lo and behold!––they will look

and say, ‘Woe to us! This is the Day of Judgement.’

[It will be said], ‘This is the Day of Decision, which you used to deny

[Angels], gather together those who did wrong, and others like them, as well as whatever they worshipped

beside God, lead them all to the path of Hell

and halt them for questioning

“Why do you not support each other now?” ’––

no indeed! They will be in complete submission on that Day––

and they will turn on one another accusingly

They will say, ‘You came to us from a position of power.’

They will say, ‘No! It was you who would not believe

we had no power over you- and you were already exceeding all limits

Our Lord’s sentence on us is just and we must all taste the punishment

We led you astray as we ourselves were astray.’

On that Day they will all share the torment

this is how We deal with the guilty

Whenever it was said to them, ‘There is no deity but God,’ they became arrogant

and said, ‘Are we to forsake our gods for a mad poet?’

‘No: he brought the truth and confirmed the earlier messengers

you will taste the painful torment

and be repaid only according to your deeds.’

Not so God’s true servants

They will have familiar provisions––

fruits- and will be honoured

in gardens of delight

seated on couches, facing one another

A drink will be passed round among them from a flowing spring

white, delicious to those who taste it

causing no headiness or intoxication

With them will be spouses- modest of gaze and beautiful of eye

like protected eggs

They will turn to one another with questions

one will say, ‘I had a close companion on earth

who used to ask me, “Do you really believe that

after we die and become dust and bone, we shall be brought for judgement?”’

Then he will say, ‘Shall we look for him?’

He will look down and see him in the midst of the Fire

and say to him, ‘By God, you almost brought me to ruin

Had it not been for the grace of my Lord, I too would have been taken to Hell.’

Then he will say [to his blessed companions], ‘Are we never to die again after our earlier death

Shall we never suffer

This truly is the supreme triumph!’

Everyone should strive to attain this

Is this the better welcome, or the tree of Zaqqum

which we have made a test for the evildoers

This tree grows in the heart of the blazing Fire

and its fruits are like devils’ heads

They will fill their bellies eating from it

then drink scalding water on top of it

then return to the blazing Fire

They found their forefathers astray

and rushed to follow in their footsteps- before the disbelievers [of Mecca]

most men in the past went astray

even though We sent messengers to warn them

See how those who were warned met their end

Not so the true servants of God

Noah cried to Us, and how excellent was Our response

We saved him and his people from great distress

We let his offspring remain on the earth

We let him be praised by later generations

‘Peace be upon Noah among all the nations!’

This is how We reward those who do good

he was truly one of Our faithful servants

We drowned the rest

Abraham was of the same faith

he came to his Lord with a devoted heart

He said to his father and his people, ‘What are you worshipping

How can you choose false gods instead of the true God

So what is your opinion about the Lord of all the Worlds?’

then he looked up to the stars

He said, ‘I am sick,’

so [his people] turned away from him and left

He turned to their gods and said

‘Do you not eat? Why do you not speak?’

then he turned and struck them with his right arm

His people hurried towards him

but he said, ‘How can you worship things you carve with your own hands

when it is God who has created you and all your handiwork?’

They said, ‘Build a pyre and throw him into the blazing fire.’

They wanted to harm him, but We humiliated them

He said, ‘I will go to my Lord: He is sure to guide me

Lord, grant me a righteous son,’

so We gave him the good news that he would have a patient son

When the boy was old enough to work with his father, Abraham said, ‘My son, I have seen myself sacrificing you in a dream. What do you think?’ He said, ‘Father, do as you are commanded and, God willing, you will find me steadfast.’

When they had both submitted to God, and he had laid his son down on the side of his face

We called out to him, ‘Abraham

you have fulfilled the dream.’ This is how We reward those who do good

it was a test to prove [their true characters]

We ransomed his son with a momentous sacrifice

and We let him be praised by succeeding generations

‘Peace be upon Abraham!’

This is how We reward those who do good

truly he was one of Our faithful servants

We gave Abraham the good news of Isaac- a prophet and a righteous man

and blessed him and Isaac too: some of their offspring were good, but some clearly wronged themselves

We also bestowed Our favour on Moses and Aaron

We saved them and their people from great distress

We helped them, so they were the ones to succeed

We gave them the Scripture that makes things clear

We guided them to the right path

We let them be praised by succeeding generations

‘Peace be upon Moses and Aaron!’

This is how We reward those who do good

truly they were among Our faithful servants

Elijah too was one of the messengers

He said to his people, ‘Have you no fear of God

How can you invoke Baal and forsake the Most Gracious Creator

God, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers?’

but they rejected him. They will be brought to punishment as a consequence

not so the true servants of God

We let him be praised by succeeding generations

‘Peace be to Elijah!’

This is how We reward those who do good

truly he was one of Our faithful servants

Lot was also one of the messengers

We saved him and all his family

except for an old woman who stayed behind

and We destroyed the rest

You [people] pass by their ruins morning

and night: will you not take heed

Jonah too was one of the messengers

He fled to the overloaded ship

They cast lots, he suffered defeat

and a great fish swallowed him, for he had committed blameworthy acts

If he had not been one of those who glorified God

he would have stayed in its belly until the Day when all are raised up

but We cast him out, sick, on to a barren shore

and made a gourd tree grow above him

We sent him to a hundred thousand people or more

They believed, so We let them live out their lives

Now [Muhammad], ask the disbelievers: is it true that your Lord has daughters, while they choose sons for themselves

Did We create the angels as females while they were watching

No indeed! It is one of their lies when they say

‘God has begotten.’ How they lie

Did He truly choose daughters in preference to sons

What is the matter with you? How do you form your judgements

Do you not reflect

Do you perhaps have clear authority

Bring your scriptures, if you are telling the truth

They claim that He has kinship with the jinn, yet the jinn themselves know that they will be brought before Him

God is far above what they attribute to Him

the true servants of God do not do such things

and neither you nor what you worship

can lure away from God any

except those who will burn in Hell

[The angels say], ‘Every single one of us has his appointed place

we are ranged in ranks

We glorify God.’

[The disbelievers] used to say

‘If only we had a scripture like previous people

we would be true servants of God,’

yet now they reject [the Quran]. They will soon realize

Our word has already been given to Our servants the messengers

it is they who will be helped

and the ones who support Our cause will be the winners

So [Prophet] turn away from the disbelievers for a while

Watch them: they will soon see

Do they really wish to hasten Our punishment

When it descends on their courtyards, how ter-rible that morning will be for those who were warned

[Prophet], turn away from the disbelievers for a while

Watch them: they will soon see

Your Lord, the Lord of Glory, is far above what they attribute to Him

Peace be upon the messengers

and praise be to God the Lord of all the Worlds

Sad By the Quran with its reminding

Yet the disbelievers are steeped in arrogance and hostility

How many generations We have destroyed before them! They all cried out, once it was too late, for escape

The disbelievers think it strange that a prophet of their own people has come to warn them: they say, ‘He is just a lying sorcerer

How can he claim that all the gods are but one God? What an astonishing thing [to claim]!’

Their leaders depart, saying, ‘Walk away! Stay faithful to your gods! That is what you must do

We did not hear any such claim in the last religion: it is all an invention

Was the message sent only to him out of all of us?’ In fact they doubt My warning; in fact they have not tasted My punishment yet

Do they possess the treasures of your Lord’s bounty, the Mighty, the All Giving

Do they control the heavens and earth and everything between? Let them climb their ropes

their armed alliance is weak and will be crushed

The people of Noah, Ad, and firmly-supported Pharaoh rejected their prophets before them

Thamud, the people of Lot, and the Forest-Dwellers each formed opposition [against theirs]

They all rejected the mes-sengers and they were deservedly struck by My punishment

all the disbelievers here are waiting for is a single blast that cannot be postponed

They say, ‘Our Lord! Advance us our share of punishment before the Day of Reckoning!’

Bear their words patiently [Prophet]. Remember Our servant David, a man of strength who always turned to Us

We made the mountains join him in glorifying Us at sunset and sunrise

and the birds, too, in flocks, all echoed his praise

We strengthened his kingdom; We gave him wisdom and a decisive way of speaking

Have you heard the story of the two litigants who climbed into his private quarters

When they reached David, he took fright, but they said, ‘Do not be afraid. We are two litigants, one of whom has wronged the other: judge between us fairly- do not be unjust- and guide us to the right path

This is my brother. He had ninety-nine ewes and I just the one, and he said, “Let me take charge of her,” and overpowered me with his words.’

David said, ‘He has done you wrong by demanding to add your ewe to his flock. Many partners treat each other unfairly. Those who sincerely believe and do good deeds do not do this, but these are very few.’ [Then] David realized that We had been testing him, so he asked his Lord for forgiveness, fell down on his knees, and repented

We forgave him [his misdeed]. His reward will be nearness to Us, a good place to return to

‘David, We have given you mastery over the land. Judge fairly between people. Do not follow your desires, lest they divert you from God’s path: those who wander from His path will have a painful torment because they ignore the Day of Reckoning.’

It was not without purpose that We created the heavens and the earth and everything in between. That may be what the disbelievers assume- how they will suffer from the Fire

but would We treat those who believe and do good deeds and those who spread corruption on earth as equal? Would We treat those who are aware of God and those who recklessly break all bounds in the same way

This is a blessed Scripture which We sent down to you [Muhammad], for people to think about its messages, and for those with understanding to take heed

We gave David Solomon. He was an excellent servant who always turned to God

When well-bred light-footed horses were paraded before him near the close of day

he kept saying, ‘My love of fine things is part of my remembering my Lord!’ until [the horses] disappeared from sight

‘Bring them back!’ [he said] and started to stroke their legs and necks

We certainly tested Solomon, reducing him to a mere skeleton on his throne

He turned to Us and prayed: ‘Lord forgive me! Grant me such power as no one after me will have- You are the Most Generous Provider.’

So We gave him power over the wind, which at his request ran gently wherever he willed

and the jinn––every kind of builder and diver

and others chained in fetters

‘This is Our gift, so give or withhold as you wish without account.’

His reward will be nearness to Us, and a good place to return to

Bring to mind Our servant Job who cried to his Lord, ‘Satan has afflicted me with weariness and suffering.’

‘Stamp your foot! Here is cool water for you to wash in and drink,’

and We restored his family to him, with many more like them: a sign of Our mercy and a lesson to all who understand

‘Take a small bunch of grass in your hand, and strike [her] with that so as not to break your oath.’ We found him patient in adversity; an excellent servant! He, too, always turned to God

Remember Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all men of strength and vision

We caused them to be devoted to Us through their sincere remembrance of the Final Home

with Us they will be among the elect, the truly good

And remember Our servants Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhu ’l-Kifl, each of them truly good

This is a lesson. The devout will have a good place to return to

Gardens of lasting bliss with gates wide open

They will be comfortably seated; they will call for abundant fruit and drink

they will have well-matched [wives] with modest gaze

‘This is what you are promised for the Day of Reckoning

Our provision for you will never end.’

But the evildoers will have the worst place to return to

Hell to burn in, an evil place to stay

all this will be theirs: let them taste it- a scalding, dark, foul fluid

and other such torments

[It will be said], ‘Here is another crowd of people rushing headlong to join you.’ [The response will be], ‘They are not welcome! They will burn in the Fire.’

They will say to them, ‘You are not welcome! It was you who brought this on us, an evil place to stay,’

adding, ‘Our Lord, give double punishment to those who brought this upon us.’

They will say, ‘Why do we not see those we thought were bad

and took as a laughing-stock? Have our eyes missed them?’

This is how it will really be: the inhabitants of the Fire will blame one another in this way

[Prophet] say, ‘I am only here to give warning. There is no god but God the One, the All Powerful

Lord of the heavens and earth and everything between, the Almighty, the Most Forgiving.’

Say, ‘This message is a mighty one

yet you ignore it

I have no knowledge of what those on high discuss

it is only revealed to me that I am here to give clear warning.’

Your Lord said to the angels, ‘I will create a man from clay

When I have shaped him and breathed from My Spirit into him, bow down before him.’

The angels all bowed down together

but not Iblis, who was too proud. He became a rebel

God said, ‘Iblis, what prevents you from bowing down to the man I have made with My own hands? Are you too high and mighty?’

Iblis said, ‘I am better than him: You made me from fire, and him from clay.’

‘Get out of here! You are rejected

My rejection will follow you till the Day of Judgement!’

but Iblis said, ‘My Lord, grant me respite until the Day when they are raised from the dead,’

so He said, ‘You have respite

till the Appointed Day.’

Iblis said, ‘I swear by Your might! I will tempt all

but Your true servants.’

God said, ‘This is the truth- I speak only the truth

I will fill Hell with you and all those that follow you.’

[Prophet], say, ‘I ask no reward from you for this, nor do I claim to be what I am not

this is only a warning for all people

In time you will certainly come to know its truth.’

This Scripture is sent down from God the Mighty, the Wise

It is We who sent down the Scripture to you [Prophet] with the Truth, so worship God with your total devotion

true devotion is due to God alone. [As for] those who choose other protectors beside Him, saying, ‘We only worship them because they bring us nearer to God,’ God Himself will judge between them regarding their differences. God does not guide any ungrateful liar

God could have chosen any of His creation He willed for offspring, but He is far above this! He is the One, the Almighty

He created the heavens and earth for a true purpose; He wraps the night around the day and the day around the night; He has subjected the sun and moon to run their courses for an appointed time; He is truly the Mighty, the Forgiving

He created you all from a single being, from which He made its mate; He gave you four kinds of livestock in pairs; He creates you in your mothers’ wombs, in one stage after another, in threefold depths of darkness. Such is God, your Lord; He holds control, there is no god but Him. How can you turn away

If you are ungrateful, remember God has no need of you, yet He is not pleased by ingrati-tude in His servants; if you are grateful, He is pleased [to see] it in you. No soul will bear another’s burden. You will return to your Lord in the end and He will inform you of what you have done: He knows well what is in the depths of [your] hearts

When man suffers some affliction, he prays to his Lord and turns to Him, but once he has been granted a favour from God, he forgets the One he had been praying to and sets up rivals to God, to make others stray from His path. Say, ‘Enjoy your ingratitude for a little while: you will be one of the inhabitants of the Fire.’

What about someone who worships devoutly during the night, bowing down, standing in prayer, ever mindful of the life to come, hoping for his Lord’s mercy? Say, ‘How can those who know be equal to those who do not know?’ Only those who have understanding will take heed

Say, ‘[God says], believing servants, be mindful of your Lord! Those who do good in this world will have a good reward- God’s earth is wide––and those who persevere patiently will be given a full and unstinting reward.’

Say, ‘I have been commanded to serve God, dedicating my worship entirely to Him

I have been commanded to be the first to submit.’

Say, ‘I fear the torment of a terrible Day if I disobey my Lord.’

Say, ‘It is God I serve, dedicating my worship entirely to Him

you may serve whatever you please beside Him.’ Say, ‘The true losers are the ones who will lose themselves and their people on the Day of Resurrection: that is the most obvious loss

They will have layers of Fire above them and below.’ This is how God puts fear into His servants: My servants, beware of Me

There is good news for those who shun the worship of false gods and turn to God, so [Prophet] give good news to My servants

who listen to what is said and follow what is best. These are the ones God has guided; these are the people of understanding

What about the one who has been sentenced to punishment? Can you [Prophet] rescue those already in the Fire

But those who are mindful of their Lord will have lofty dwellings built for them, one above the other, graced with flowing streams. This is a promise from God: God does not break His promise

Have you not considered that God sends water down from the sky, guides it along to form springs in the earth, and then, with it, brings forth vegetation of various colours, which later withers, turns yellow before your eyes, and is crumbled to dust at His command? There is truly a reminder in this for those who have understanding

What about the one whose heart God has opened in devotion to Him, so that he walks in light from his Lord? Alas for those whose hearts harden at the mention of God! They have clearly lost their way

God has sent down the most beautiful of all teachings: a Scripture that is consistent and draws comparisons; that causes the skins of those in awe of their Lord to shiver. Then their skins and their hearts soften at the mention of God: such is God’s guidance. He guides with it whoever He will; no one can guide those God leaves to stray

What about the one who will only have his bare face to protect him from his terrible suffering on the Day of Resurrection? It will be said to the evildoers, ‘Taste what you have earned.’

Others before them also disbelieved, and the punishment fell on them unawares

God gave them the punishment of disgrace in this world to taste; the punishment will be even harder in the Hereafter, if only they knew

In this Quran, We have put forward all kinds of illustration for people, so that they may take heed

an Arabic Quran, free from any distortion- so that people may be mindful

God puts forward this illustration: can a man who has for his masters several partners at odds with each other be considered equal to a man devoted wholly to one master? All praise belongs to God, though most of them do not know

You [Prophet] will certainly die, and so will they

and, on the Day of Resurrection, you will dispute with one another in the presence of your Lord