Surah Al Ahkaf

حمٓ  

Ha Meem.

(These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings).

تَنزِيلُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ

The revelation of the Book (this Quran) is from Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

مَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍ۬ مُّسَمًّ۬ى‌ۚ

We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them except with truth, and for an appointed term.

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَمَّآ أُنذِرُواْ مُعۡرِضُونَ  

But those who disbelieve turn away from that whereof they are warned.

قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ

Say (O Muhammad SAW to these pagans): "Think! All that you invoke besides Allah

أَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقُواْ مِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شِرۡكٌ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ‌ۖ

show me! What have they created of the earth?

Or have they a share in (the creation of) the heavens?

ٱئۡتُونِى بِكِتَـٰبٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلِ هَـٰذَآ أَوۡ أَثَـٰرَةٍ۬ مِّنۡ عِلۡمٍ إِن ڪُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ  

Bring me a Book (revealed before this), or some trace of knowledge (in support of your claims), if you are truthful!"

وَمَنۡ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدۡعُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَن لَّا يَسۡتَجِيبُ لَهُ ۥۤ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ

And who is more astray than one who calls (invokes) besides Allah, such as will not answer him till the Day of Resurrection,

وَهُمۡ عَن دُعَآٮِٕهِمۡ غَـٰفِلُونَ  

and who are (even) unaware of their calls (invocations) to them?

وَإِذَا حُشِرَ ٱلنَّاسُ كَانُواْ لَهُمۡ أَعۡدَآءً۬ وَكَانُواْ بِعِبَادَتِہِمۡ كَـٰفِرِينَ

And when mankind are gathered (on the Day of Resurrection), they (false deities) will become enemies for them and will deny their worshipping.

وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡہِمۡ ءَايَـٰتُنَا بَيِّنَـٰتٍ۬

And when Our Clear Verses are recited to them,

قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمۡ هَـٰذَا سِحۡرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ  

the disbelievers say of the truth (this Quran), when it reaches them: "This is plain magic!"

أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ ٱفۡتَرَٮٰهُ‌ۖ

Or say they: "He (Muhammad SAW) has fabricated it."

قُلۡ إِنِ ٱفۡتَرَيۡتُهُ ۥ فَلَا تَمۡلِكُونَ لِى مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيۡـًٔا‌ۖ

Say: "If I have fabricated it, still you have no power to support me against Allah.

هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ‌ۖ

He knows best of what you say among yourselves concerning it (i.e. this Quran)!

كَفَىٰ بِهِۦ شَہِيدَۢا بَيۡنِى وَبَيۡنَكُمۡ‌ۖ

Sufficient is He for a witness between me and you!

وَهُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ  

And He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful."

قُلۡ مَا كُنتُ بِدۡعً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَمَآ أَدۡرِى مَا يُفۡعَلُ بِى وَلَا بِكُمۡ‌ۖ

Say (O Muhammad SAW):

"I am not a new thing among the Messengers (of Allah) (i.e. I am not the first Messenger) nor do I know what will be done with me or with you.

إِنۡ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۟ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬  

I only follow that which is revealed to me, and I am but a plain warner."

قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِن كَانَ مِنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَفَرۡتُم بِهِۦ

Say: "Tell me! If this (Quran) is from Allah, and you deny it,

وَشَہِدَ شَاهِدٌ۬ مِّنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ مِثۡلِهِۦ فَـَٔامَنَ وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرۡتُمۡ‌ۖ

and a witness from among the Children of Israel (Abdullah bin Salam) testifies that this Quran is from Allah (like the Taurat (Torah)), so he believed (embraced Islam) while you are too proud (to believe)."

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَہۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

Verily! Allah guides not the people who are Zalimoon (polytheists, disbelievers and wrong-doing).

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَوۡ كَانَ خَيۡرً۬ا مَّا سَبَقُونَآ إِلَيۡهِ‌ۚ

And those who disbelieve (strong and wealthy) say of those who believe (weak and poor): "Had it (Islamic Monotheism to which Muhammad SAW is inviting mankind) been a good thing, they (weak and poor) would not have preceded us thereto!"

وَإِذۡ لَمۡ يَهۡتَدُواْ بِهِۦ فَسَيَقُولُونَ هَـٰذَآ إِفۡكٌ۬ قَدِيمٌ۬  

And when they have not let themselves be guided by it (this Quran), they say: "This is an ancient lie!"

وَمِن قَبۡلِهِۦ كِتَـٰبُ مُوسَىٰٓ إِمَامً۬ا وَرَحۡمَةً۬‌ۚ

And before this was the Scripture of Moosa (Moses) as a guide and a mercy.

وَهَـٰذَا كِتَـٰبٌ۬ مُّصَدِّقٌ۬ لِّسَانًا عَرَبِيًّ۬ا لِّيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ وَبُشۡرَىٰ لِلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ  

And this is a confirming Book (the Quran) in the Arabic language, to warn those who do wrong, and as glad tidings to the Muhsinoon (good-doers - see V.2:112).

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَقَـٰمُواْفَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ

Verily, those who say: "Our Lord is (only) Allah," and thereafter Istaqamoo (i.e. stood firm and straight on the Islamic Faith of Monotheism by abstaining from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allah has forbidden and by performing all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained), on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيہَا

Such shall be the dwellers of Paradise, abiding therein (forever),

جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ

a reward for what they used to do.

وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٲلِدَيۡهِ إِحۡسَـٰنًا‌ۖ

And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents.

حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُ ۥ كُرۡهً۬ا وَوَضَعَتۡهُ كُرۡهً۬ا‌ۖ

His mother bears him with hardship and she brings him forth with hardship,

وَحَمۡلُهُ ۥ وَفِصَـٰلُهُ ۥ ثَلَـٰثُونَ شَہۡرًا‌ۚ

and the bearing of him, and the weaning of him is thirty (30) months,

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرۡبَعِينَ سَنَةً۬ قَالَ

till when he attains full strength and reaches forty years, he says:

رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِىٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٲلِدَىَّ

"My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents,

وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا تَرۡضَٮٰهُ وَأَصۡلِحۡ لِى فِى ذُرِّيَّتِىٓ‌ۖ

and that I may do righteous good deeds, such as please You, and make my off-spring good.

إِنِّى تُبۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ وَإِنِّى مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ  

Truly, I have turned to You in repentance, and truly, I am one of the Muslims (submitting to Your Will)."

أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنۡہُمۡ أَحۡسَنَ مَا عَمِلُواْ وَنَتَجَاوَزُ عَن سَيِّـَٔاتِہِمۡ فِىٓ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ‌ۖ

They are those from whom We shall accept the best of their deeds and overlook their evil deeds. (They shall be) among the dwellers of Paradise,

وَعۡدَ ٱلصِّدۡقِ ٱلَّذِى كَانُواْ يُوعَدُونَ  

a promise of truth, which they have been promised.

وَٱلَّذِى قَالَ لِوَٲلِدَيۡهِ أُفٍّ۬ لَّكُمَآ أَتَعِدَانِنِىٓ أَنۡ أُخۡرَجَ وَقَدۡ خَلَتِ ٱلۡقُرُونُ مِن قَبۡلِى

But he who says to his parents: "Fie upon you both! Do you hold out the promise to me that I shall be raised up (again) when generations before me have passed away (without rising)?"

وَهُمَا يَسۡتَغِيثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَيۡلَكَ ءَامِنۡ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ۬

While they (father and mother) invoke Allah for help (and rebuke their son): "Woe to you! Believe! Verily, the Promise of Allah is true."

فَيَقُولُ مَا هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ  

But he says: "This is nothing but the tales of the ancient."

أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ فِىٓ أُمَمٍ۬ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِ‌ۖ

They are those against whom the Word (of torment) is justified among the previous generations of jinns and mankind that have passed away.

إِنَّہُمۡ ڪَانُواْ خَـٰسِرِينَ

Verily! They are ever the losers.

وَلِڪُلٍّ۬ دَرَجَـٰتٌ۬ مِّمَّا عَمِلُواْ‌ۖ

And for all, there will be degrees according to that which they did,

وَلِيُوَفِّيَہُمۡ أَعۡمَـٰلَهُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ  

that He (Allah) may recompense them in full for their deeds. And they will not be wronged.

وَيَوۡمَ يُعۡرَضُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ

On the Day when those who disbelieve (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) will be exposed to the Fire

أَذۡهَبۡتُمۡ طَيِّبَـٰتِكُمۡ فِى حَيَاتِكُمُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱسۡتَمۡتَعۡتُم بِہَافَٱلۡيَوۡمَ تُجۡزَوۡنَ عَذَابَ ٱلۡهُونِ

(it will be said):

"You received your good things in the life of the world, and you took your pleasure therein. Now this Day you shall be recompensed with a torment of humiliation,

بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَبِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَفۡسُقُونَ

because you were arrogant in the land without a right, and because you used to rebel and disobey (Allah).

وَٱذۡكُرۡ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذۡ أَنذَرَ قَوۡمَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡأَحۡقَافِ

And remember (Hood) the brother of Ad, when he warned his people in Al-Ahqaf (the curved sand-hills in the southern part of Arabian Peninsula).

وَقَدۡ خَلَتِ ٱلنُّذُرُ مِنۢ بَيۡنِ يَدَيۡهِ وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهِۦۤ

And surely, there have passed away warners before him and after him (saying):

أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمٍ۬  

"Worship none but Allah; truly, I fear for you the torment of a mighty Day."

قَالُوٓاْ أَجِئۡتَنَا لِتَأۡفِكَنَا عَنۡ ءَالِهَتِنَا

They said: "Have you come to turn us away from our aliha (gods)?

فَأۡتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ  

Then bring us that with which you threaten us, if you are one of the truthful!"

قَالَ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ

He said: "The knowledge (of the time of its coming) is with Allah only,

وَأُبَلِّغُكُم مَّآ أُرۡسِلۡتُ بِهِۦ

and I convey to you that wherewith I have been sent,

وَلَـٰكِنِّىٓ أَرَٮٰكُمۡ قَوۡمً۬ا تَجۡهَلُونَ  

but I see that you are a people given to ignorance!"

فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ عَارِضً۬ا مُّسۡتَقۡبِلَ أَوۡدِيَتِہِمۡ قَالُواْ هَـٰذَا عَارِضٌ۬ مُّمۡطِرُنَا‌ۚ

Then, when they saw it as a dense cloud coming towards their valleys, they said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain!"

بَلۡ هُوَ مَا ٱسۡتَعۡجَلۡتُم بِهِۦ‌ۖ

Nay, but it is that (torment) which you were asking to be hastened!

رِيحٌ۬ فِيہَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬  

a wind wherein is a painful torment!

تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَىۡءِۭ بِأَمۡرِ رَبِّہَا فَأَصۡبَحُواْ لَا يُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَسَـٰكِنُہُمۡ‌ۚ

Destroying everything by the Command of its Lord! So they became such that nothing could be seen except their dwellings!

كَذَٲلِكَ نَجۡزِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ

Thus do We recompense the people who are Mujrimoon (polytheists, disbelievers, sinners, etc.)!

وَلَقَدۡ مَكَّنَّـٰهُمۡ فِيمَآ إِن مَّكَّنَّـٰكُمۡ فِيهِ

And indeed We had firmly established them with that wherewith We have not established you (O Quraish)!

وَجَعَلۡنَا لَهُمۡ سَمۡعً۬ا وَأَبۡصَـٰرً۬ا وَأَفۡـِٔدَةً۬

And We had assigned them the (faculties of) hearing (ears), seeing (eyes), and hearts,

فَمَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنۡہُمۡ سَمۡعُهُمۡ وَلَآ أَبۡصَـٰرُهُمۡ وَلَآ أَفۡـِٔدَتُہُم مِّن شَىۡءٍإِذۡ كَانُواْ يَجۡحَدُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ

but their hearing (ears), seeing (eyes), and their hearts availed them nothing since they used to deny the Ayat (Allahs Prophets and their Prophethood, proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah,

وَحَاقَ بِہِم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَہۡزِءُونَ  

and they were completely encircled by that which they used to mock at!

وَلَقَدۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مَا حَوۡلَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ

And indeed We have destroyed towns (populations) round about you,

وَصَرَّفۡنَا ٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ

and We have (repeatedly) shown (them) the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in various ways that they might return (to the truth and believe in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism).

فَلَوۡلَا نَصَرَهُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ قُرۡبَانًا ءَالِهَةَۢ‌ۖ

Then why did those whom they had taken for aliha (gods) besides Allah, as a way of approach (to Allah) not help them?

بَلۡ ضَلُّواْ عَنۡهُمۡ‌ۚ

Nay, but they vanished completely from them (when there came the torment).

وَذَٲلِكَ إِفۡكُهُمۡ وَمَا كَانُواْ يَفۡتَرُونَ

And that was their lie, and their inventions which they had been inventing (before their destruction).

وَإِذۡ صَرَفۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ نَفَرً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ يَسۡتَمِعُونَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ

And (remember) when We sent towards you (Muhammad SAW) Nafran (three to ten persons) of the jinns, (quietly) listening to the Quran,

فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوٓاْ أَنصِتُواْ‌ۖ

when they stood in the presence thereof, they said: "Listen in silence!"

فَلَمَّا قُضِىَ وَلَّوۡاْ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِم مُّنذِرِينَ  

And when it was finished, they returned to their people, as warners.

قَالُواْ يَـٰقَوۡمَنَآ إِنَّا سَمِعۡنَا ڪِتَـٰبًا أُنزِلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مُوسَىٰ مُصَدِّقً۬ا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ

They said: "O our people! Verily! We have heard a Book (this Quran) sent down after Moosa (Moses), confirming what came before it,

يَہۡدِىٓ إِلَى ٱلۡحَقِّ وَإِلَىٰ طَرِيقٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬

it guides to the truth and to a Straight Path (i.e. Islam).

يَـٰقَوۡمَنَآ أَجِيبُواْ دَاعِىَ ٱللَّهِ وَءَامِنُواْ بِهِۦ

O our people! Respond (with obedience) to Allah's Caller (i.e. Allahs Messenger Muhammad SAW), and believe in him (i.e. believe in that which Muhammad SAW has brought from Allah and follow him).

يَغۡفِرۡ لَڪُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمۡ وَيُجِرۡكُم مِّنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ۬  

He (Allah) will forgive you of your sins, and will save you from a painful torment (i.e. Hell-fire) .

وَمَن لَّا يُجِبۡ دَاعِىَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَيۡسَ بِمُعۡجِزٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَيۡسَ لَهُ ۥ مِن دُونِهِۦۤ أَوۡلِيَآءُ‌ۚ

And whosoever does not respond to Allah's Caller, he cannot escape on earth, and there will be no Auliya (protectors) for him besides Allah (from Allah's Punishment).

أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ  

Those are in manifest error.

أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَلَمۡ يَعۡىَ بِخَلۡقِهِنَّ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحۡـِۧىَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ‌ۚ

Do they not see that Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth, and was not wearied by their creation, is Able to give life to the dead?

بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ۬

Yes, He surely is Able to do all things.

وَيَوۡمَ يُعۡرَضُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ

And on the Day when those who disbelieve will be exposed to the Fire

أَلَيۡسَ هَـٰذَا بِٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۖ

(it will be said to them): "Is this not the truth?"

قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَا‌ۚ

They will say: "Yes, By our Lord!"

قَالَ فَذُوقُواْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡفُرُونَ

He will say: "Then taste the torment, because you used to disbelieve!"

فَٱصۡبِرۡ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡعَزۡمِ مِنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَلَا تَسۡتَعۡجِل لَّهُمۡ‌ۚ

Therefore be patient (O Muhammad SAW) as did the Messengers of strong will and be in no haste about them (disbelievers).

كَأَنَّہُمۡ يَوۡمَ يَرَوۡنَ مَا يُوعَدُونَ لَمۡ يَلۡبَثُوٓاْ إِلَّا سَاعَةً۬ مِّن نَّہَارِۭ‌ۚ

On the Day when they will see that (torment) with which they are promised (i.e. threatened, it will be) as if they had not stayed more than an hour in a single day.

بَلَـٰغٌ۬‌ۚ

(O mankind! This Quran is sufficient as) a clear Message (or proclamation to save yourself from destruction).

فَهَلۡ يُهۡلَكُ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡفَـٰسِقُونَ

But shall any be destroyed except the people who are Al-Fasiqoon (the rebellious, disobedient to Allah).

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