Surah Saad

ص ۚ وَالْقُرْآنِ ذِي الذِّكْرِ

Sad: by the Qur'án, full of Admonition: (this is the Truth).

بَلِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فِي عِزَّةٍ وَشِقَاقٍ 

But the Unbelievers (are steeped) in Self-glory and Separatism.

كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ مِنْ قَرْنٍ

How many generations before them did We destroy?

فَنَادَوْا وَلَاتَ حِينَ مَنَاصٍ 

In the end they cried (for mercy) -- when there was no longer time for being saved!

وَعَجِبُوا أَنْ جَاءَهُمْ مُنْذِرٌ مِنْهُمْ ۖ

So they wonder that a Warner has come to them from among themselves!

وَقَالَ الْكَافِرُونَ هَذَا سَاحِرٌ كَذَّابٌ 

And the Unbelievers say, "This is a sorcerer telling lies!

أَجَعَلَ الْآلِهَةَ إِلَهًا وَاحِدًا ۖ إِنَّ هَذَا لَشَيْءٌ عُجَابٌ 

 "Has he made the gods (all) into one Allah? Truly this is a wonderful thing!"

وَانْطَلَقَ الْمَلَأُ مِنْهُمْ أَنِ امْشُوا وَاصْبِرُوا عَلَى آلِهَتِكُمْ ۖ

And the leaders among them go away (impatiently), (saying), "Walk ye away, and remain constant to your gods!

إِنَّ هَذَا لَشَيْءٌ يُرَادُ

For this is truly a thing designed (against you)!

مَا سَمِعْنَا بِهَذَا فِي الْمِلَّةِ الْآخِرَةِ إِنْ هَذَا إِلَّا اخْتِلَاقٌ 

"We never heard (the like) of this among the people of these latter days: this is nothing but a made-up tale!

أَأُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ الذِّكْرُ مِنْ بَيْنِنَا ۚ

 "What! Has the Message been sent to him -- (of all persons) among us?"...

بَلْ هُمْ فِي شَكٍّ مِنْ ذِكْرِي ۖ

But they are in doubt concerning My (own) Message!

بَلْ لَمَّا يَذُوقُوا عَذَابِ 

Nay, they have not yet tasted My Punishment!

أَمْ عِنْدَهُمْ خَزَائِنُ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّكَ الْعَزِيزِ الْوَهَّابِ  

Or have they the Treasures of the Mercy of thy Lord -- the Exalted in Power, the Grantor of Bounties without measure!

أَمْ لَهُمْ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ

Or have they the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all between?

 فَلْيَرْتَقُوا فِي الْأَسْبَابِ

If so, let them mount up with the ropes and means (to reach that end)!

جُنْدٌ مَا هُنَالِكَ مَهْزُومٌ مِنَ الْأَحْزَابِ 

But there -- will be put to flight even a host of confederates.

كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَعَادٌ وَفِرْعَوْنُ ذُو الْأَوْتَادِ

Before them (were many who) rejected messengers -- the People of Noah, and 'Ad, and Pharaoh the Lord of Stakes.

وَثَمُودُ وَقَوْمُ لُوطٍ وَأَصْحَابُ الْأَيْكَةِ أُولَئِكَ الْأَحْزَابُ  

And Thamud, and the People of Lut, and the Companions of the Wood; such were the Confederates.

إِنْ كُلٌّ إِلَّا كَذَّبَ الرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ عِقَابِ  

Not one (of them) but rejected the messengers, but My Punishment came justly and inevitably (on them).

وَمَا يَنْظُرُ هَؤُلَاءِ إِلَّا صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً مَا لَهَا مِنْ فَوَاقٍ

These (to-day) only wait for a single mighty Blast, which (when it comes) will brook no delay.

وَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا عَجِّلْ لَنَا قِطَّنَا قَبْلَ يَوْمِ الْحِسَابِ 

They say: "Our Lord! Hasten to us our sentence (even) before the Day of Account!"

اصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا دَاوُودَ ذَا الْأَيْدِ ۖ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ 

Have patience at what they say, and remember Our Servant David, the man of strength: for he ever turned (to Allah).

إِنَّا سَخَّرْنَا الْجِبَالَ مَعَهُ يُسَبِّحْنَ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَالْإِشْرَاقِ 

It was We that made the hills declare, in unison with him, Our Praises, at eventide and at break of day.

‏وَالطَّيْرَ مَحْشُورَةً ۖ كُلٌّ لَهُ أَوَّابٌ 

And the birds gathered (in assemblies): all with him did turn (to Allah).

وَشَدَدْنَا مُلْكَهُ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحِكْمَةَ وَفَصْلَ الْخِطَابِ  

We strengthened his kingdom, and gave him wisdom and sound judgement in speech and decision.

وَهَلْ أَتَاكَ نَبَأُ الْخَصْمِ إِذْ تَسَوَّرُوا الْمِحْرَابَ 

Has the Story of the Disputants reached thee? Behold, they climbed over the wall of the private chamber;

‏إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَى دَاوُودَ فَفَزِعَ مِنْهُمْ ۖ

When they entered the presence of David, and he was terrified of them,

 قَالُوا لَا تَخَفْ ۖ

they said: "Fear not:

خَصْمَانِ بَغَى بَعْضُنَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَنَا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تُشْطِطْ وَاهْدِنَا إِلَى سَوَاءِ الصِّرَاطِ  

We are two disputants, one of whom has wronged the other: decide now between us with truth, and treat us not with injustice, but guide us to the even Path.

إِنَّ هَذَا أَخِي لَهُ تِسْعٌ وَتِسْعُونَ نَعْجَةً وَلِيَ نَعْجَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ

"This man is my brother; he has nine and ninety ewes, and I have (but) one:

فَقَالَ أَكْفِلْنِيهَا وَعَزَّنِي فِي الْخِطَابِ  

Yet he says, 'Commit her to my care,' and is (moreover) harsh to me in speech."

قَالَ لَقَدْ ظَلَمَكَ بِسُؤَالِ نَعْجَتِكَ إِلَى نِعَاجِهِ ۖ

(David) said: "He has undoubtedly wronged thee in demanding thy (single) ewe to be added to his (flock of) ewes:

وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْخُلَطَاءِ لَيَبْغِي بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ

truly many are the Partners (in business) who wrong each other:

إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَقَلِيلٌ مَا هُمْ ۗ

not so do those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and how few are they?"...

وَظَنَّ دَاوُودُ أَنَّمَا فَتَنَّاهُ  فَاسْتَغْفَرَ رَبَّهُ وَخَرَّ رَاكِعًا وَأَنَابَ  ۩

And David gathered that We had tried him: he asked forgiveness of his Lord, fell down, bowing (in prostration), and turned (to Allah in repentance).

فَغَفَرْنَا لَهُ ذَلِكَ ۖ وَإِنَّ لَهُ عِنْدَنَا لَزُلْفَى وَحُسْنَ مَآبٍ 

So We forgave him this (lapse): he enjoyed, indeed, a Near Approach to Us, and a beautiful place of (final) Return.

يَا دَاوُودُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَى فَيُضِلَّكَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ

O David! We did indeed make thee a vicegerent on earth: so judge thou between men in truth (and justice): nor follow thou the lusts (of thy heart), for they will mislead thee from the Path of Allah:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ بِمَا نَسُوا يَوْمَ الْحِسَابِ  

for those who wander astray from the Path of Allah, is a Penalty Grievous, for that they forget the Day of Account.

وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاءَ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَاطِلًا ۚ

Not without purpose did We create heaven and earth and all between!

ذَلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ۚ

That were the thought of Unbelievers!

فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنَ النَّارِ 

But woe to the Unbelievers because of the Fire (of Hell)!

أَمْ نَجْعَلُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ كَالْمُفْسِدِينَ فِي الْأَرْضِ

Shall We treat those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, the same as those who do mischief on earth?

أَمْ نَجْعَلُ الْمُتَّقِينَ كَالْفُجَّارِ 

Shall We treat those who guard against evil, the same as those who turn aside from the right?

كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ  وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ

(Here is) a Book which We have sent down unto thee, full of blessings, that they may meditate on its Signs, and that men of understanding may receive admonition.

وَوَهَبْنَا لِدَاوُودَ سُلَيْمَانَ ۚ

To David We gave Solomon (for a son) --

نِعْمَ الْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ 

how excellent in Our service! Ever did he turn (to Us)!

إِذْ عُرِضَ عَلَيْهِ بِالْعَشِيِّ الصَّافِنَاتُ الْجِيَادُ 

Behold, there were brought before him, at eventide, coursers of the highest breeding; and swift of foot;

فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَحْبَبْتُ حُبَّ الْخَيْرِ عَنْ ذِكْرِ رَبِّي حَتَّى تَوَارَتْ بِالْحِجَابِ 

And he said, "Truly do I love the love of Good, with a view to the glory of my Lord," until (the sun) was hidden in the veil (of Night):

‏رُدُّوهَا عَلَيَّ ۖ

"Bring them back to me."

 فَطَفِقَ مَسْحًا بِالسُّوقِ وَالْأَعْنَاقِ  

Then began he to pass his hand over (their) legs and their necks.

وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا سُلَيْمَانَ وَأَلْقَيْنَا عَلَى كُرْسِيِّهِ جَسَدًا ثُمَّ أَنَابَ

And We did try Solomon: We placed on his throne a body (without life): but he did turn (to Us in true devotion):

قَالَ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَهَبْ لِي مُلْكًا لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِي ۖإِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ

He said, "O my Lord! Forgive me, and grant me a Kingdom, which, (it may be), suits not another after me: for Thou art the Grantor of Bounties (without measure)."

فَسَخَّرْنَا لَهُ الرِّيحَ تَجْرِي بِأَمْرِهِ رُخَاءً حَيْثُ أَصَابَ 

Then We subjected the Wind to his power, to flow gently to his order, whithersoever he willed --

وَالشَّيَاطِينَ كُلَّ بَنَّاءٍ وَغَوَّاصٍ 

As also the evil ones, (including) every kind of builder and diver --

وَآخَرِينَ مُقَرَّنِينَ فِي الْأَصْفَادِ 

As also others bound together in fetters.

هَذَا عَطَاؤُنَا فَامْنُنْ أَوْ أَمْسِكْ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ

"Such are Our Bounties: whether thou bestow them (on others) or withhold them, no account will be asked."

وَإِنَّ لَهُ عِنْدَنَا لَزُلْفَى وَحُسْنَ مَآبٍ 

And he enjoyed, indeed, a Near Approach to Us, and a beautiful Place of (final) Return.

وَاذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا أَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَى رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الشَّيْطَانُ بِنُصْبٍ وَعَذَابٍ 

Commemorate Our servant Job, behold he cried to his Lord: "The Evil One has afflicted me with distress and suffering"!

ارْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَ ۖ هَذَا مُغْتَسَلٌ بَارِدٌ وَشَرَابٌ  

(The command was given:) "Strike with thy foot: here is (water) wherein to wash, cool and refreshing, and (water) to drink."

وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ أَهْلَهُ وَمِثْلَهُمْ مَعَهُمْ رَحْمَةً مِنَّا وَذِكْرَى لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ 

And We gave him (back) his people, and doubled their number -- as a Grace from Ourselves, and a thing for commemoration, for all who have Understanding.

وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًا فَاضْرِبْ بِهِ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ ۗ

 "And take in thy hand a little grass, and strike therewith: and break not (thy oath)."

إِنَّا وَجَدْنَاهُ صَابِرًا ۚ

Truly We found him full of patience and constancy:

نِعْمَ الْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ 

how excellent in Our service! Ever did he turn (to Us)!

وَاذْكُرْ عِبَادَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ أُولِي الْأَيْدِي وَالْأَبْصَارِ 

And commemorate Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, possessors of Power and Vision.

إِنَّا أَخْلَصْنَاهُمْ بِخَالِصَةٍ ذِكْرَى الدَّارِ

Verily We did chose them for a special (purpose) -- proclaiming the Message of the Hereafter.

وَإِنَّهُمْ عِنْدَنَا لَمِنَ الْمُصْطَفَيْنَ الْأَخْيَارِ 

They were, in Our sight, truly, of the company of the Elect and the Good.

وَاذْكُرْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَالْيَسَعَ وَذَا الْكِفْلِ ۖ وَكُلٌّ مِنَ الْأَخْيَارِ

And commemorate Isma'il, Elisha, and Dhu al Kifl: each of them was of the company of the Good.

هَذَا ذِكْرٌ ۚ

This is a Message (of admonition):

وَإِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ لَحُسْنَ مَآبٍ

and verily, for the Righteous, is a beautiful place of (final) Return. --

جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ مُفَتَّحَةً لَهُمُ الْأَبْوَابُ 

Gardens of Eternity, whose doors will (ever) be open to them;

مُتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا يَدْعُونَ فِيهَا بِفَاكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ وَشَرَابٍ 

Therein will they recline (at ease); therein can they call (at pleasure) for fruit in abundance, and (delicious) drink;

وَعِنْدَهُمْ قَاصِرَاتُ الطَّرْفِ أَتْرَابٌ 

And beside them will be chaste women restraining their glances, (companions) of equal age.

هَذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِيَوْمِ الْحِسَابِ 

Such is the promise made to you for the Day of Account!

إِنَّ هَذَا لَرِزْقُنَا مَا لَهُ مِنْ نَفَادٍ 

Truly such will be Our Bounty (to you); it will never fail --

هَذَا ۚ وَإِنَّ لِلطَّاغِينَ لَشَرَّ مَآبٍ 

Yea, such! But -- for the wrongdoers will be an evil place of (final) Return!

جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَوْنَهَا فَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ 

Hell! -- they will burn therein -- an evil bed (indeed, to lie on)! --

هَذَا فَلْيَذُوقُوهُ حَمِيمٌ وَغَسَّاقٌ

Yea, such! -- then shall they taste it -- a boiling fluid, and a fluid dark, murky, intensely cold! --

وَآخَرُ مِنْ شَكْلِهِ أَزْوَاجٌ 

And other Penalties of a similar kind, to match them!

هَذَا فَوْجٌ مُقْتَحِمٌ مَعَكُمْ ۖ لَا مَرْحَبًا بِهِمْ ۚ

Here is a troop rushing headlong with you! No welcome for them!

إِنَّهُمْ صَالُو النَّارِ 

Truly, they shall burn in the Fire!

قَالُوا بَلْ أَنْتُمْ لَا مَرْحَبًا بِكُمْ ۖ أَنْتُمْ قَدَّمْتُمُوهُ لَنَا ۖ

(The followers shall cry to the misleaders:) "Nay, ye (too)! No welcome for you! It is ye who have brought this upon us!

فَبِئْسَ الْقَرَارُ  

Now evil is (this) place to stay in!"

قَالُوا رَبَّنَا مَنْ قَدَّمَ لَنَا هَذَا فَزِدْهُ عَذَابًا ضِعْفًا فِي النَّارِ

They will say: "Our Lord! Whoever brought this upon us, add to him a double Penalty in the fire!"

وَقَالُوا مَا لَنَا لَا نَرَى رِجَالًا كُنَّا نَعُدُّهُمْ مِنَ الْأَشْرَارِ 

And they will say: "What has happened to us that we see not men whom we used to number among the bad ones?

 أَتَّخَذْنَاهُمْ سِخْرِيًّا أَمْ زَاغَتْ عَنْهُمُ الْأَبْصَارُ 

"Did we treat them (as such) in ridicule or have (our) eyes failed to perceive them?"

إِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَحَقٌّ تَخَاصُمُ أَهْلِ النَّارِ 

Truly that is just and fitting, the mutual recriminations of the People of the Fire!

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا مُنْذِرٌ ۖ

Say: "Truly am I a Warner:

 وَمَا مِنْ إِلَهٍ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ  

no god is there but the One Allah, Supreme and Irresistible --

رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفَّارُ  

"The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all between -- Exalted in Might, Able to enforce His will, forgiving again and again."

قُلْ هُوَ نَبَأٌ عَظِيمٌ  

Say: "That is a Message supreme (above all) --

أَنْتُمْ عَنْهُ مُعْرِضُونَ

"From which ye do turn away!

مَا كَانَ لِيَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ بِالْمَلَإِ الْأَعْلَى إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ

"No knowledge have I of the Chiefs on high, when they discuss (matters) among themselves.

إِنْ يُوحَى إِلَيَّ إِلَّا أَنَّمَا أَنَا نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ 

"Only this has been revealed to me: that I am to give warning plainly and publicly."

إِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي خَالِقٌ بَشَرًا مِنْ طِينٍ 

Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I am about to create man from clay:

فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِنْ رُوحِي فَقَعُوا لَهُ سَاجِدِينَ 

"When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him."

فَسَجَدَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ 

So the angels prostrated themselves, all of them together;

إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ اسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ 

Not so Iblis: he was haughty, and became one of those who reject Faith.

قَالَ يَا إِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ ۖ

(Allah) said: "O Iblis! what prevents thee from prostrating thyself to one whom I have created with My hands?

أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الْعَالِينَ 

Art thou haughty? Or art thou one of the high (and mighty) ones?"

قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِنْهُ ۖ خَلَقْتَنِي مِنْ نَارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِنْ طِينٍ 

 said: "I am better than he: Thou createdst me from fire, and him Thou createdst from clay."

قَالَ فَاخْرُجْ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّكَ رَجِيمٌ 

(Allah) said: "Then get thee out from here: for thou art rejected, accursed.

وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ لَعْنَتِي إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ 

"And My Curse shall be on thee till the Day of Judgement."

قَالَ رَبِّ فَأَنْظِرْنِي إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ 

(Iblis) said: "O my Lord! give me then respite till the Day the (dead) are raised."

قَالَ فَإِنَّكَ مِنَ الْمُنْظَرِينَ  

(Allah) said: "Respite then is granted thee --

إِلَى يَوْمِ الْوَقْتِ الْمَعْلُومِ  

"Till the day of the Time Appointed."

قَالَ فَبِعِزَّتِكَ لَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ  

(Iblis) said: "Then, by Thy power, I will put them all in the wrong --

إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِينَ  

"Except Thy Servants amongst them, sincere and purified (by Thy grace)."

قَالَ فَالْحَقُّ وَالْحَقَّ أَقُولُ 

(Allah) said: "Then it is just and fitting -- and I say what is just and fitting --

لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنْكَ وَمِمَّنْ تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ 

"That I will certainly fill Hell with thee and those that follow thee -- every one."

قُلْ مَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُتَكَلِّفِينَ 

Say: "No reward do I ask of you for this (Qur'án), nor am I a pretender.

إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِلْعَالَمِينَ  

"This is no less than a Message to (all) the Worlds.

وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ نَبَأَهُ بَعْدَ حِينٍ  

 "And ye shall certainly know the truth of it (all) after a while."

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