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1 I CALL TO witness those who stand arrayed in rows,
2 And those who restrain by reprimanding,
3 And those who recite the Reminder,
4 Verily your God is One,
5 The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them, and the Lord of the Easts.
6 He decked the nearest heavens with ornaments of stars,
7 Protecting them against every wayward devil,
8 So that they are not able to listen to the angels of higher (echelons), and are pelted from all sides
9 And kept far away. There is perpetual punishment for them,
10 Except those who eavesdrop and are pursued by a shooting flame.
11 So ask them if they are more difficult to create, or the rest We have created? Indeed (man) We created from fermented clay.
12 Yet while you are filled with wonder, they just scoff;
13 And when they are warned they pay no heed.
14 When they see a sign, they laugh at it,
15 And say: "This is only magic.
16 When we are dead and turned to dust and bones, how can we be raised again,
17 And our fathers too?"
18 You say: "Yes; and you will be lowly made."
19 There will only be a single jerk, and they will gape,
20 And say: "Ah woe! This is the Day of Reckoning."
21 "(Yes,) this is the Day of Judgement you had called a lie."
22 Gather all the wicked together and their comrades, and those they had worshipped
23 Other than God," (the angels will be told), "then show them the way to Hell,
24 And detain them, for they will be questioned."
25 "What is the matter with you that you do not help each other?"
26 They will submit to questioning then,
27 And some of them will confront the others,
28 Saying: "It were you who imposed yourselves upon us."
29 They will say: "No, you were the ones who would not believe.
30 We had no power over you. In fact, you were a people rebellious.
31 The sentence of our Lord has come true for us. We have certainly to taste (the punishment),
32 For we had led you astray. In fact we ourselves were astray."
33 So, they will become partners in punishment.
34 That is how We deal with sinners.
35 They were those who, when it was said to them, "There is no god but God," behaved with insolence,
36 And said: "Should we abandon our gods for the sake of an insane poet?"
37 Not in the least. He has brought the truth and confirmed the other messengers.
38 You will indeed taste a painful punishment,
39 And be rewarded but only for what you had done,
40 Except the chosen creatures of God,
41 Whose provision is predetermined --
42 Fruits of every kind, and they will be honoured
43 In gardens of delight,
44 (Sitting) on couches, face to face,
45 With cups from a flowing stream being passed around,
46 Clear, delicious to drink,
47 Neither dulling the senses nor intoxicating,
48 And with them maidens of modest look and large lustrous eyes,
49 Like sheltered eggs in a nest.
50 Then one turned to the other in an enquiry.
51 Said one of the speakers: "I had a friend
52 Who used to say: ´Are you one of those who can testify to the truth?
53 (Do you think) we would be paid back our due when we are dead and reduced to dust and bones?´
54 He said: ´Will you look down?´
55 He looked down and saw (his friend) in the midst of Hell.
56 ´By God´, he said, ´you had almost ruined me.
57 Had it not been for the grace of my Lord I too would have been there (in Hell).
58 (Another will say:)"Is it true, we are not going to die
59 Other than our first death, and we shall not be punished?
60 This will indeed be great happiness.
61 For this the toilers should strive."
62 Is this better or the tree of Zaqqum
63 Which We have reserved as punishment for evil-doers?
64 It is a tree that grows at the bottom of Hell.
65 Its spathes are like the prickly pear.
66 They will eat and fill their bellies with it,
67 Washing it down with boiling water.
68 Then to Hell they will surely be returned.
69 They had found their fathers astray,
70 Yet they hasten to follow in their footsteps.
71 So had many an earlier people gone astray,
72 And We had sent admonishers to them.
73 Look, then how was the end of those who had been warned,
74 Other than the chosen creatures of God.
75 Noah had verily called to Us. And how gracious was He who answered (him).
76 We saved him and his family from the great affliction,
77 And made his progeny survive,
78 And left (his name) for posterity.
79 Peace on Noah among all men.
80 That is how We reward those who do good.
81 Surely he was among Our faithful creatures.
82 Afterwards We drowned the others.
83 And Abraham indeed was of his inducement,
84 When he came to his Lord with a heart compliant,
85 When he said to his father and his people: "What is this you worship?
86 Why do you solicit false gods instead of God?
87 What do you imagine the Lord of the worlds to be?"
88 Then he looked up at the stars (they worshipped),
89 And said: "I am sick (of what you worship)!"
90 But they turned their backs on him and went away.
91 Then he turned towards their gods and said: "Why do you not eat (of these offerings)?
92 What is wrong with you that you do not speak?"
93 Then he started striking them down with his right hand.
94 So the people descended upon him.
95 "Why do you worship these you carve yourselves," he asked,
96 "When God has created you and what you make?"
97 "Build a pyre for him and throw him into the raging fire."
98 So they contrived a plot against him, but We made them abject.
99 And he said: "I am going away to my Lord who will show me the way.
100 (And he prayed:) "O Lord, grant me a righteous son."
101 So We gave him the good news of a clement son.
102 When he was old enough to go about with him, he said: "O my son, I dreamt that I was sacrificing you. Consider, what you think?" He replied: "Father, do as you are commanded. If God pleases you will find me firm."
103 When they submitted to the will of God, and (Abraham) laid (his son) down prostrate on his temple,
104 We called out: "O Abraham,
105 You have fulfilled your dream." Thus do We reward the good.
106 That was indeed a trying test.
107 So We ransomed him for a great sacrifice,
108 And left (his hallowed memory) for posterity.
109 Peace be on Abraham.
110 That is how We reward those who do good.
111 He is truly among Our faithful creatures.
112 So We gave him the good news of Isaac, apostle, who is among the righteous.
113 And We blessed him and Isaac. Among their descendants are some who do good, but some who wrong themselves.
114 We were indeed gracious to Moses and Aaron,
115 And saved them and their people from great distress,
116 And helped them, so they were victorious.
117 We gave them the explicit Book,
118 And showed them the straight path,
119 And left (their remembrance) for posterity.
120 Peace be on Moses and Aaron.
121 That is how We reward those who do good.
122 They are among Our faithful devotees.
123 Verily Elias is one of the apostles.
124 When he said to his people: "Will you not be mindful of God?
125 Would you call on Baal and leave the best of creators,
126 God, your Lord, and the Lord of your fathers?"
127 They denied him, and will surely be brought to punishment,
128 Except the chosen creatures of God.
129 And We left his (memory) for posterity.
130 Peace be on Elias.
131 That is how We reward those who do good.
132 He is truly among Our faithful devotees.
133 Verily Lot was one of the apostles,
134 Wherefore We saved him and his entire family
135 Except an old woman who was one of those who stayed behind.
136 Then We destroyed the others.
137 You pass by (their habitations) in the morning
138 Or at night. Then how is it you do not understand?
139 Verily Jonah is one of the apostles.
140 When he fled on the laden ship,
141 And lots were cast (when a storm overtook them), he was rejected, (and thrown overboard).
142 Then he was swallowed by a large fish as he was worthy of blame.
143 Had he not been one of those who struggled hard,
144 He would have stayed in its belly till the day the dead are raised.
145 So We cast him, sick, on a barren shore,
146 And We made a gourd tree grow over him.
147 We sent him to a hundred thousand men or more,
148 And they came to believe; so We allowed them to enjoy the good things of life for an age.
149 Now ask them if their Lord has daughters, and they sons?
150 Or did We make the angels females, and they witnessed it?
151 Is it not a lie invented by them when they say:
152 "God has begotten (children)?" They are liars indeed!
153 Does He prefer sons to daughters?
154 What ails you that you judge in such a wise?
155 Why do you not reflect?
156 Or have you received some clear authority?
157 Then bring your scripture, if what you say is true.
158 They link Him with jinns by lineage, yet the jinns know they will be brought before Him.
159 God is too glorious for what they ascribe to Him
160 Except His chosen creatures who do not.
161 So neither you nor those you worship
162 Can mislead anyone away from Him,
163 Except one who is (destined) to burn in Hell.
164 "There is not one of us who does not have his appointed place," (declare the angels.)
165 "And we are truly those who stand in rows,
166 And we are those who sing hallelujas to Him."
167 They used to say:
168 If we had the account of earlier people with us,
169 We would have been the chosen creatures of God."
170 Yet now (that it has come) they refuse to believe in it; but they will come to know soon.
171 Our word had already been given before to Our votaries, the apostles, --
172 That they would be helped,
173 And that certainly Our armies will be victorious.
174 So you ignore them for a time
175 And wait; they will come to know soon.
176 Do they want to hasten Our punishment?
177 When it comes down on their plains, it will be an evil dawn for those who had been warned.
178 So turn away from them for a time
179 And watch; they will come to know soon.
180 Too glorious is your Lord, the Lord of power, for what they ascribe to Him.
181 So peace be on the messengers,
182 And all praise to God, the Lord of all the worlds.