Al-Anbiya 21
The ProphetsHow to read the Hangul
الرَّحْمَٰنِ르r라흐마니 بِسْمِ비스밀
- Bold = the stressed syllable of the word; a little stronger.
- Overline = long vowel (madd): hold it about two beats. Length matters most in recitation.
- Tiny = no vowel in the Arabic here — just the consonant, short.
- Small Latin letter = a sound Korean lacks, on the next syllable: f upper teeth on lower lip · θ/ð tongue tip between the teeth · r rolled tongue tip (a bare ㄹ is l).
How to read the Hangul
beginning the Christ salvation
- Bold, larger (ˈ) = say it strong and a little longer — the stressed syllable.
- Faint = weak and short (a reduced vowel). Don't give every syllable equal weight.
- Tiny 으 · 트 · 스 = barely voiced. English has no vowel there — stop on the consonant.
- Whole word faint (the, of, and, to…) = light and quick in a sentence; stress the content words.
- Small f v θ ð r = sounds Korean doesn't have — f: upper teeth on the lower lip; v: the same, voiced; θ/ð: tongue tip between the teeth; r: tongue curled back, touching nothing.
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Surah
About this surah
Classed as a Meccan sura, it opens with a warning that people's reckoning has drawn near while they remain heedless, and answers those who dismiss the Prophet as a dreamer or a poet. It describes the heavens and the earth as once joined and then parted, and every living thing as made from water, and argues that if there were other gods the heavens and earth would fall into ruin. Every soul, it reminds, will taste death. At its centre is a procession of prophets: Abraham breaks the idols and is thrown into a fire that God makes cool and safe; then come Lot, Noah, David and Solomon, Job, Ishmael, Idris, Dhul-Kifl, Jonah calling out from the darkness, Zechariah, and Mary, who guarded her chastity. It declares that all these form one community, describes the day Gog and Magog are let loose and the sky is rolled up like a scroll, and says the Prophet was sent as a mercy to all the worlds.
- The reckoning draws near
- The oneness of God
- Abraham and the idols
- Prayers of the prophets
- A mercy to the worlds
The name It is called The Prophets because verses 48–91 recount a long line of prophets, from Moses and Abraham to Zechariah and Mary.
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1
The reckoning of people has drawn near to them, yet they turn away in heedlessness.
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2
No fresh reminder comes to them from their Lord but they listen to it while they play,
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3
their hearts distracted. And the wrongdoers confer in secret: “Is this [man] anything but a human being like you? Will you then go along with magic while you see [it for what it is]?”
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4
He said, “My Lord knows every word [spoken] in the heaven and the earth. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.”
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5
Rather, they say, “Jumbled dreams.” No, “He has invented it.” No, “He is a poet. So let him bring us a sign like those sent to the former [messengers].”
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6
Not a single town that We destroyed before them believed. Will they, then, believe?
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7
We sent before you none but men to whom We gave revelation. So ask the people of the Reminder if you do not know.
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8
We did not give them bodies that did not eat food, nor were they immortal.
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9
Then We fulfilled Our promise to them: We saved them and whomever We willed, and We destroyed those who went beyond all bounds.
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10
We have sent down to you a Book in which is your reminder. Will you not use your reason?
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11
How many a town that was doing wrong have We shattered, and raised up other people after it!
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12
When they sensed Our might, at once they were running away from it.
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13
“Do not run! Return to the luxury you were given and to your homes, so that you may be questioned.”
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14
They said, “Woe to us! We were indeed wrongdoers.”
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15
That cry of theirs did not cease until We made them like a harvested field, extinguished.
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16
It was not as a game that We created the sky and the earth and everything between them.
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17
Had We wanted to take up a pastime, We would have taken it from Our own presence, if We were ever to do so.
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18
Rather, We hurl the truth against falsehood, and it smashes it, and at once it vanishes. Woe to you for what you ascribe [to God]!
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19
To Him belong all who are in the heavens and the earth. Those who are with Him are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they grow weary.
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20
They glorify [Him] night and day without slackening.
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21
Or have they adopted gods from the earth that bring the dead back to life?
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22
Had there been in them gods besides God, they would both have been ruined. So glory be to God, Lord of the Throne, above what they ascribe [to Him]!
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23
None can call Him to account for what He does, but they shall be called to account.
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24
Or have they taken gods besides Him? Say, “Bring your proof. This is the reminder for those with me and the reminder for those before me.” But most of them do not know the truth, so they turn away.
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25
We sent no messenger before you without revealing to him: “There is no god but Me, so worship Me.”
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26
They say, “The Most Gracious has taken a son.” Glory be to Him! Rather, [those they speak of] are honoured servants.
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27
They do not speak before He speaks, and they act by His command.
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28
He knows what is before them and what is behind them. They do not intercede except for one whom He approves, and they are anxious out of awe of Him.
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29
Whoever of them should say, “I am a god besides Him,” We would repay him with Hell. Thus do We repay the wrongdoers.
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30
Do those who disbelieve not see that the heavens and the earth were joined together, and We split them apart, and We made from water every living thing? Will they not believe?
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31
We placed firm mountains in the earth lest it sway with them, and We made in it broad passes as paths, so that they may find their way.
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32
We set the sky above as a well-guarded roof, yet they pay no heed to the signs in it.
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33
He is the One who created night and day, and the sun and the moon, each gliding along in its own orbit.
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34
We did not grant immortality to any human being before you. So if you die, will they live forever?
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35
Every soul shall taste death. We put you to the test through hardship and blessing, and it is to Us that you will be brought back.
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36
When those who disbelieve see you, they take you only for mockery: “Is this the one who speaks of your gods?” Yet they themselves disbelieve in the mention of the Most Gracious.
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37
Man was created of haste. I will show you My signs, so do not ask Me to hasten.
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38
They say, “When will this promise be [fulfilled], if you are truthful?”
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39
If only those who disbelieve knew [of] the time when they will not be able to keep the Fire off their faces or off their backs, nor will they be helped!
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40
Rather, it will come upon them suddenly and stupefy them. They will not be able to repel it, nor will they be given respite.
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41
Messengers before you were mocked, but those who ridiculed them were engulfed by what they used to mock.
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42
Say, “Who will guard you by night and by day from the Most Gracious?” Yet they turn away from the remembrance of their Lord.
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43
Or do they have gods who can protect them from Us? They cannot even help themselves, nor will they be protected from Us.
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44
Rather, We let these people and their forefathers enjoy [life] until their lives grew long. Do they not see that We come to the land, diminishing it from its borders? Is it they who will prevail?
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45
Say, “My warning to you is nothing but revelation.” Yet when the deaf are warned, they cannot hear the call.
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46
And if a breath of your Lord's punishment touches them, they will surely say, “Woe to us! We were indeed wrongdoers.”
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47
We will set up the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be wronged in the least. Even if it be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as reckoners.
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48
We gave Moses and Aaron the Criterion, a light and a reminder for the God-fearing,
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49
who fear their Lord though unseen, and who are anxious about the Hour.
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50
This, too, is a blessed Reminder that We have revealed. Are you going to reject it, then?
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51
We gave Abraham his right guidance before, and We knew him well,
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52
when he said to his father and his people, “What are these statues to which you are so devoted?”
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53
They answered, “Our fathers before us worshipped them, and so we found them.”
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54
He said, “Then clearly you have gone astray, you and your fathers alike.”
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55
They said, “Have you brought us the truth, or are you one of those who jest?”
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56
He said, “Not so! Your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the One who brought them into being, and to this I am one who testifies.
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57
By God, I will surely devise a plan against your idols after you have turned your backs and gone away.”
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58
So he broke them into pieces, except the biggest of them, so that they might turn to it.
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59
They said, “Who has done this to our gods? He is surely one of the wrongdoers.”
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60
Some said, “We heard a youth talking about them. Abraham is his name.”
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61
They said, “Then bring him before the eyes of the people, so that they may bear witness.”
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62
They said, “Was it you who did this to our gods, Abraham?”
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63
He said, “Rather, this biggest one of them did it. So ask them, if they can speak.”
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64
So they turned to themselves and said, “It is you who are the wrongdoers.”
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65
Then they reverted to their old position: “You know well that these do not speak.”
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66
He said, “Do you then worship besides God what can neither benefit you at all nor harm you?
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67
Shame on you and on what you worship besides God! Will you not use your reason?”
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68
They said, “Burn him and stand up for your gods, if you are going to act.”
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69
We said, “Fire, be coolness and safety for Abraham.”
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70
They wanted to harm him with a scheme, but We made them the greatest losers.
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71
We rescued him, and Lot as well, [bringing them] to the land We had blessed for all peoples.
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72
And We granted him Isaac, and Jacob as an extra gift, and each of them We made righteous.
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73
We made them leaders guiding by Our command, and We revealed to them the doing of good deeds, the keeping up of the prayer, and the giving of the alms. And they were devoted worshippers of Us.
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74
And to Lot We gave judgement and knowledge, and We saved him from the town that was committing foul deeds. They were an evil, defiantly disobedient people.
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75
We admitted him into Our mercy; he was one of the righteous.
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76
And Noah, when he called out before, and We answered him and saved him and his family from the great distress.
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77
We helped him against the people who denied Our signs. They were an evil people, so We drowned them all.
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78
And David and Solomon, when they gave judgement concerning the field into which the people's sheep had strayed at night; and We were witnesses to their judgement.
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79
We gave Solomon understanding of it, and to each We gave judgement and knowledge. And We made the mountains and the birds glorify [Us] along with David. It was We who did [all this].
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80
We taught him the making of armour for you, to protect you from your [own] violence. Will you, then, be grateful?
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81
And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind, blowing strongly, flowing by his command to the land which We had blessed. And We know all things.
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82
And of the devils were some who dived for him and did other work besides that; and We were watching over them.
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83
And Job, when he called out to his Lord, “Harm has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.”
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84
So We answered him and removed the harm that was upon him, and We gave him [back] his family and as many again along with them, as a mercy from Us and a reminder for those who worship.
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85
And Ishmael, Idris and Dhul-Kifl: each was among the patient.
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86
We admitted them into Our mercy; they were among the righteous.
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87
And the Man of the Fish [Jonah], when he went off in anger and thought that We would not constrain him. Then he called out in the darknesses, “There is no god but You. Glory be to You! I have been one of the wrongdoers.”
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88
So We answered him and saved him from distress. And thus do We save the believers.
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89
And Zechariah, when he called out to his Lord, “My Lord, do not leave me alone [without heir], and You are the best of inheritors.”
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90
So We answered him and granted him John, and We made his wife fit [to bear] for him. They used to hasten to good deeds and call upon Us in hope and fear, and they were humble before Us.
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91
And she who guarded her chastity: We breathed into her of Our Spirit and made her and her son a sign for all the worlds.
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92
This community of yours is one community, and I am your Lord, so worship Me.
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93
But they split their affair among themselves into pieces. All will return to Us.
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94
Whoever does good deeds while being a believer, his effort will not be disregarded, and We are recording it for him.
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95
It is forbidden for a town that We have destroyed: they will not return,
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96
until, when Gog and Magog are let loose and they swarm down from every elevation,
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97
and the true promise draws near, then suddenly the eyes of those who disbelieved will stare in horror: “Woe to us! We were heedless of this. No, we were wrongdoers.”
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98
You and what you worship besides God are the fuel of Hell. You will come down to it.
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99
Had these been gods, they would not have come down to it. And all will abide in it forever.
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100
For them there will be groaning in it, and in it they will not hear.
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101
But those for whom the best [reward] has already gone forth from Us, they will be kept far from it.
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102
They will not hear even the slightest sound of it, and they will abide forever in what their souls desire.
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103
The greatest terror will not grieve them, and the angels will meet them, [saying,] “This is your Day which you were promised.”
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104
The Day We will roll up the heaven like a scroll rolled up for writings. As We began the first creation, so We will repeat it, a promise binding on Us. We will surely do it.
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105
We have written in the Psalms, after the Reminder, that the earth will be inherited by My righteous servants.
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106
In this is a message for people who worship.
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107
We have not sent you except as a mercy for all the worlds.
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108
Say, “It is only revealed to me that your god is One God. Will you then submit [to Him]?”
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109
But if they turn away, say, “I have warned you all equally. I do not know whether what you are promised is near or far.
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110
He knows what is said openly, and He knows what you conceal.
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111
I do not know; perhaps it is a trial for you and an enjoyment for a time.”
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112
He said, “My Lord, judge with truth. And our Lord is the Most Gracious, whose help is sought against what you ascribe.”