Sura As-Saffaat

I swear by those who draw themselves out in ranks

By those who range themselves in ranks,

By those who set the ranks in battle order

Then those who drive away with reproof,

And so are strong in repelling (evil),

And those who drive away (the wicked) with reproof

Then those who recite, being mindful,

And thus proclaim the Message (of Allah)!

And those who read (the Word) for a reminder,

Most surely your Allah is One:

Verily, verily, your Allah is one!-

Lo! thy Lord is surely One;

The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, and Lord of the easts.

Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all between them, and Lord of every point at the rising of the sun!

Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all that is between them, and Lord of the sun's risings.

Surely We have adorned the nearest heaven with an adornment, the stars,

We have indeed decked the lower heaven with beauty (in) the stars,-

Lo! We have adorned the lowest heaven with an ornament, the planets;

And (there is) a safeguard against every rebellious Shaitan.

(For beauty) and for guard against all obstinate rebellious evil spirits,

With security from every froward devil.

They cannot listen to the exalted assembly and they are thrown at from every side,

(So) they should not strain their ears in the direction of the Exalted Assembly but be cast away from every side,

They cannot listen to the Highest Chiefs for they are pelted from every side,

Being driven off, and for them is a perpetual chastisement,

Repulsed, for they are under a perpetual penalty,

Outcast, and theirs is a perpetual torment;

Except him who snatches off but once, then there follows him a brightly shining flame.

Except such as snatch away something by stealth, and they are pursued by a flaming fire, of piercing brightness.

Save him who snatcheth a fragment, and there pursueth him a piercing flame.

Then ask them whether they are stronger in creation or those (others) whom We have created. Surely We created them of firm clay.

Just ask their opinion: are they the more difficult to create, or the (other) beings We have created? Them have We created out of a sticky clay!

Then ask them (O Muhammad): Are they stronger as a creation, or those (others) whom we have created? Lo! We created them of plastic clay.

Nay! you wonder while they mock,

Truly dost thou marvel, while they ridicule,

Nay, but thou dost marvel when they mock

And when they are reminded, they mind not,

And, when they are admonished, pay no heed,-

And heed not when they are reminded,

And when they see a sign they incite one another to scoff,

And, when they see a Sign, turn it to mockery,

And seek to scoff when they behold a portent.

And they say: This is nothing but clear magic:

And say, "This is nothing but evident sorcery!

And they say: Lo! this is mere magic;

What! when we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then certainly be raised,

"What! when we die, and become dust and bones, shall we (then) be raised up (again)

When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, be raised (again)?

Or our fathers of yore?

"And also our fathers of old?"

And our forefathers?

Say: Aye! and you shall be abject.

Say thou: "Yea, and ye shall then be humiliated (on account of your evil)."

Say (O Muhammad): Ye, in truth; and ye will be brought low.

So it shall only be a single cry, when lo! they shall see.

Then it will be a single (compelling) cry; and behold, they will begin to see!

There is but one Shout, and lo! they behold,

And they shall say: O woe to us! this is the day of requital.

They will say, "Ah! Woe to us! This is the Day of Judgment!"

And say: Ah, woe for us! This is the Day of Judgment.

This is the day of the judgment which you called a lie.

(A voice will say,) "This is the Day of Sorting Out, whose truth ye (once) denied!"

This is the Day of Separation, which ye used to deny.

Gather together those who were unjust and their associates, and what they used to worship

"Bring ye up", it shall be said, "The wrong-doers and their wives, and the things they worshipped-

(And it is said unto the angels): Assemble those who did wrong, together with their wives and what they used to worship

Besides Allah, then lead them to the way to hell.

"Besides Allah, and lead them to the Way to the (Fierce) Fire!

Instead of Allah, and lead them to the path to hell;

And stop them, for they shall be questioned:

"But stop them, for they must be asked:

And stop them, for they must be questioned.

What is the matter with you that you do not help each other?

"'What is the matter with you that ye help not each other?'"

What aileth you that ye help not one another?

Nay! on that day they shall be submissive.

Nay, but that day they shall submit (to Judgment);

Nay, but this day they make full submission.

And some of them shall advance towards others, questioning each other.

And they will turn to one another, and question one another.

And some of them draw near unto others, mutually questioning.

They shall say: Surely you used to come to us from the right side.

They will say: "It was ye who used to come to us from the right hand (of power and authority)!"

They say: Lo! ye used to come unto us, imposing, (swearing that ye spoke the truth).

They shall say: Nay, you (yourselves) were not believers;

They will reply: "Nay, ye yourselves had no Faith!

They answer: Nay, but ye (yourselves) were not believers.

And we had no authority over you, but you were an inordinate people;

"Nor had we any authority over you. Nay, it was ye who were a people in obstinate rebellion!

We had no power over you, but ye were wayward folk.

So the sentence of our Lord has come to pass against us: (now) we shall surely taste;

"So now has been proved true, against us, the word of our Lord that we shall indeed (have to) taste (the punishment of our sins).

Now the Word of our Lord hath been fulfilled concerning us. Lo! we are about to taste (the doom).

So we led you astray, for we ourselves were erring.

"We led you astray: for truly we were ourselves astray."

Thus we misled you. Lo! we were (ourselves) astray.

So they shall on that day be sharers in the chastisement one with another.

Truly, that Day, they will (all) share in the Penalty.

Then lo! this day they (both) are sharers in the doom.

Surely thus do We deal with the guilty.

Verily that is how We shall deal with Sinners.

Lo! thus deal We with the guilty.

Surely they used to behave proudly when it was said to them: There is no god but Allah;

For they, when they were told that there is no god except Allah, would puff themselves up with Pride,

For when it was said unto them, There is no Allah save Allah, they were scornful

And to say: What! shall we indeed give up our gods for the sake of a mad poet?

And say: "What! shall we give up our gods for the sake of a Poet possessed?"

And said: Shall we forsake our gods for a mad poet?

Nay: he has come with the truth and verified the messengers.

Nay! he has come with the (very) Truth, and he confirms (the Message of) the messengers (before him).

Nay, but he brought the Truth, and he confirmed those sent (before him).

Most surely you will taste the painful punishment.

Ye shall indeed taste of the Grievous Penalty;-

Lo! (now) verily ye taste the painful doom -

And you shall not be rewarded except (for) what you did.

But it will be no more than the retribution of (the Evil) that ye have wrought;-

Ye are requited naught save what ye did -

Save the servants of Allah, the purified ones.

But the sincere (and devoted) Servants of Allah,-

Save single-minded slaves of Allah;

For them is a known sustenance,

For them is a Sustenance determined,

For them there is a known provision,

Fruits, and they shall be highly honored,

Fruits (Delights); and they (shall enjoy) honour and dignity,

Fruits. And they will be honoured

In gardens of pleasure,

In Gardens of Felicity,

In the Gardens of delight,

On thrones, facing each other.

Facing each other on Thrones (of Dignity):

On couches facing one another;

A bowl shall be made to go round them from water running out of springs,

Round will be passed to them a Cup from a clear-flowing fountain,

A cup from a gushing spring is brought round for them,

White, delicious to those who drink.

Crystal-white, of a taste delicious to those who drink (thereof),

White, delicious to the drinkers,

There shall be no trouble in it, nor shall they be exhausted therewith.

Free from headiness; nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom.

Wherein there is no headache nor are they made mad thereby.

And with them shall be those who restrain the eyes, having beautiful eyes;

And besides them will be chaste women, restraining their glances, with big eyes (of wonder and beauty).

And with them are those of modest gaze, with lovely eyes,

As if they were eggs carefully protected.

As if they were (delicate) eggs closely guarded.

(Pure) as they were hidden eggs (of the ostrich).

Then shall some of them advance to others, questioning each other.

Then they will turn to one another and question one another.

And some of them draw near unto others, mutually questioning.

A speaker from among them shall say: Surely I had a comrade of mine,

One of them will start the talk and say: "I had an intimate companion (on the earth),

A speaker of them saith: Lo! I had a comrade

Who said: What! are you indeed of those who accept (the truth)?

"Who used to say, 'what! art thou amongst those who bear witness to the Truth (of the Message)?

Who used to say: Art thou in truth of those who put faith (in his words)?

What! when we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then be certainly brought to judgment?

"'When we die and become dust and bones, shall we indeed receive rewards and punishments?'"

Can we, when we are dead and have become mere dust and bones - can we (then) verily be brought to book?

He shall say: Will you look on?

(A voice) said: "Would ye like to look down?"

He saith: Will ye look?

Then he looked down and saw him in the midst of hell.

He looked down and saw him in the midst of the Fire.

Then looketh he and seeth him in the depth of hell.

He shall say: By Allah! you had almost caused me to perish;

He said: "By Allah! thou wast little short of bringing me to perdition!

He saith: By Allah, thou verily didst all but cause my ruin,

And had it not been for the favor of my Lord, I would certainly have been among those brought up.

"Had it not been for the Grace of my Lord, I should certainly have been among those brought (there)!

And had it not been for the favour of my Lord, I too had been of those haled forth (to doom).

Is it then that we are not going to die,

"Is it (the case) that we shall not die,

Are we then not to die

Except our previous death? And we shall not be chastised?

"Except our first death, and that we shall not be punished?"

Saving our former death, and are we not to be punished?

Most surely this is the mighty achievement.

Verily this is the supreme achievement!

Lo! this is the supreme triumph.

For the like of this then let the workers work.

For the like of this let all strive, who wish to strive.

For the like of this, then, let the workers work.

Is this better as an entertainment or the tree of Zaqqum?

Is that the better entertainment or the Tree of Zaqqum?

Is this better as a welcome, or the tree of Zaqqum?

Surely We have made it to be a trial to the unjust.

For We have truly made it (as) a trial for the wrong-doers.

Lo! We have appointed it a torment for wrong-doers.

Surely it is a tree that-grows in the bottom of the hell;

For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hell-Fire:

Lo! it is a tree that springeth in the heart of hell.

Its produce is as it were the heads of the serpents.

The shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils:

Its crop is as it were the heads of devils

Then most surely they shall eat of it and fill (their) bellies with it.

Truly they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith.

And lo! they verily must eat thereof, and fill (their) bellies therewith.

Then most surely they shall have after it to drink of a mixture prepared in boiling water.

Then on top of that they will be given a mixture made of boiling water.

And afterward, lo! thereupon they have a drink of boiling water

Then most surely their return shall be to hell.

Then shall their return be to the (Blazing) Fire.

And afterward, lo! their return is surely unto hell.

Surely they found their fathers going astray,

Truly they found their fathers on the wrong Path;

They indeed found their fathers astray,

So in their footsteps they are being hastened on.

So they (too) were rushed down on their footsteps!

But they make haste (to follow) in their footsteps.

And certainly most of the ancients went astray before them,

And truly before them, many of the ancients went astray;-

And verily most of the men of old went astray before them,

And certainly We sent among them warners.

But We sent aforetime, among them, (messengers) to admonish them;-

And verily We sent among them warners.

Then see how was the end of those warned,

Then see what was the end of those who were admonished (but heeded not),-

Then see the nature of the consequence for those warned,

Except the servants of Allah, the purified ones.

Except the sincere (and devoted) Servants of Allah.

Save single-minded slaves of Allah.

And Nuh did certainly call upon Us, and most excellent answerer of prayer are We.

(In the days of old), Noah cried to Us, and We are the best to hear prayer.

And Noah verily prayed unto Us, and gracious was the Hearer of his prayer

And We delivered him and his followers from the mighty distress.

And We delivered him and his people from the Great Calamity,

And We saved him and his household from the great distress,

And We made his offspring the survivors.

And made his progeny to endure (on this earth);

And made his seed the survivors,

And We perpetuated to him (praise) among the later generations.

And We left (this blessing) for him among generations to come in later times:

And left for him among the later folk (the salutation):

Peace and salutation to Nuh among the nations.

"Peace and salutation to Noah among the nations!"

Peace be unto Noah among the peoples!

Thus do We surely reward the doers of good.

Thus indeed do we reward those who do right.

Lo! thus do We reward the good.

Surely he was of Our believing servants.

For he was one of our believing Servants.

Lo! he is one of Our believing slaves.

Then We drowned the others

Then the rest we overwhelmed in the Flood.

Then We did drown the others.

And most surely Ibrahim followed his way.

Verily among those who followed his Way was Abraham.

And lo! of his persuasion verily was Abraham

When he came to his Lord with a free heart,

Behold! he approached his Lord with a sound heart.

When he came unto his Lord with a whole heart;

When he said to his father and his people: What is it that you worship?

Behold! he said to his father and to his people, "What is that which ye worship?

When he said unto his father and his folk: What is it that ye worship?

A lie-- gods besides Allah-- do you desire?

"Is it a falsehood- gods other than Allah- that ye desire?

Is it a falsehood - gods beside Allah - that ye desire?

What is then your idea about the Lord of the worlds?

"Then what is your idea about the Lord of the worlds?"

What then is your opinion of the Lord of the Worlds?

Then he looked at the stars, looking up once,

Then did he cast a glance at the Stars.

And he glanced a glance at the stars

Then he said: Surely I am sick (of your worshipping these).

And he said, "I am indeed sick (at heart)!"

Then said: Lo! I feel sick!

So they went away from him, turning back.

So they turned away from him, and departed.

And they turned their backs and went away from him.

Then he turned aside to their gods secretly and said: What! do you not eat?

Then did he turn to their gods and said, "will ye not eat (of the offerings before you)?...

Then turned he to their gods and said: Will ye not eat?

What is the matter with you that you do not speak?

"What is the matter with you that ye speak not (intelligently)?"

What aileth you that ye speak not?

Then he turned against them secretly, smiting them with the right hand.

Then did he turn upon them, striking (them) with the right hand.

Then he attacked them, striking with his right hand.

So they (people) advanced towards him, hastening.

Then came (the worshippers) with hurried steps, and faced (him).

And (his people) came toward him, hastening.

Said he: What! do you worship what you hew out?

He said: "Worship ye that which ye have (yourselves) carved?

He said: Worship ye that which ye yourselves do carve

And Allah has created you and what you make.

"But Allah has created you and your handwork!"

When Allah hath created you and what ye make?

They said: Build for him a furnace, then cast him into the burning fire.

They said, "Build him a furnace, and throw him into the blazing fire!"

They said: Build for him a building and fling him in the red-hotfire.

And they desired a war against him, but We brought them low.

(This failing), they then sought a stratagem against him, but We made them the ones most humiliated!

And they designed a snare for him, but We made them the undermost.

And he said: Surely I fly to my lord; He will guide me.

He said: "I will go to my Lord! He will surely guide me!

And he said: Lo! I am going unto my Lord Who will guide me.

My Lord! grant me of the doers of good deeds.

"O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!"

My Lord! Vouchsafe me of the righteous.

So We gave him the good news of a boy, possessing forbearance.

So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear.

So We gave him tidings of a gentle son.

And when he attained to working with him, he said: O my son! surely I have seen in a dream that I should sacrifice you; consider then what you see. He said: O my father! do what you are commanded; if Allah please, you will find me of the patient ones.

Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills one practising Patience and Constancy!"

And when (his son) was old enough to walk with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice thee. So look, what thinkest thou? He said: O my father! Do that which thou art commanded. Allah willing, thou shalt find me of the steadfast.

So when they both submitted and he threw him down upon his forehead,

So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice),

Then, when they had both surrendered (to Allah), and he had flung him down upon his face,

And We called out to him saying: O Ibrahim!

We called out to him "O Abraham!

We called unto him: O Abraham!

You have indeed shown the truth of the vision; surely thus do We reward the doers of good:

"Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" - thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

Thou hast already fulfilled the vision. Lo! thus do We reward the good.

Most surely this is a manifest trial.

For this was obviously a trial-

Lo! that verily was a clear test.

And We ransomed him with a Feat sacrifice.

And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice:

Then We ransomed him with a tremendous victim.

And We perpetuated (praise) to him among the later generations.

And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times:

And We left for him among the later folk (the salutation):

Peace be on Ibrahim.

"Peace and salutation to Abraham!"

Peace be unto Abraham!

Thus do We reward the doers of good.

Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

Thus do We reward the good.

Surely he was one of Our believing servants.

For he was one of our believing Servants.

Lo! he is one of Our believing slaves.

And We gave him the good news of Ishaq, a prophet among the good ones.

And We gave him the good news of Isaac - a prophet,- one of the Righteous.

And we gave him tidings of the birth of Isaac, a prophet of the righteous.

And We showered Our blessings on him and on Ishaq; and of their offspring are the doers of good, and (also) those who are clearly unjust to their own souls.

We blessed him and Isaac: but of their progeny are (some) that do right, and (some) that obviously do wrong, to their own souls.

And We blessed him and Isaac. And of their seed are some who do good, and some who plainly wrong themselves.

And certainly We conferred a favor on Musa and Haroun.

Again (of old) We bestowed Our favour on Moses and Aaron,

And We verily gave grace unto Moses and Aaron,

And We delivered them both and their people from the mighty distress.

And We delivered them and their people from (their) Great Calamity;

And saved them and their people from the great distress,

And We helped them, so they were the vanquishers.

And We helped them, so they overcame (their troubles);

And helped them so that they became the victors.

And We gave them both the Book that made (things) clear.

And We gave them the Book which helps to make things clear;

And We gave them the clear Scripture

And We guided them both on the right way.

And We guided them to the Straight Way.

And showed them the right path.

And We perpetuated (praise) to them among the later generations.

And We left (this blessing) for them among generations (to come) in later times:

And We left for them among the later folk (the salutation):

Peace be on Musa and Haroun.

"Peace and salutation to Moses and Aaron!"

Peace be unto Moses and Aaron!

Even thus do We reward the doers of good.

Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

Lo! thus do We reward the good.

Surely they were both of Our believing servants.

For they were two of our believing Servants.

Lo! they are two of Our believing slaves.

And Ilyas was most surely of the messengers.

So also was Elias among those sent (by Us).

And lo! Elias was of those sent (to warn),

When he said to his people: Do you not guard (against evil)?

Behold, he said to his people, "Will ye not fear (Allah)?

When he said unto his folk: Will ye not ward off (evil)?

What! do you call upon Ba'l and forsake the best of the creators,

"Will ye call upon Baal and forsake the Best of Creators,-

Will ye cry unto Baal and forsake the Best of creators,

Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore?

"Allah, your Lord and Cherisher and the Lord and Cherisher of your fathers of old?"

Allah, your Lord and Lord of your forefathers?

But they called him a liar, therefore they shall most surely be brought up.

But they rejected him, and they will certainly be called up (for punishment),-

But they denied him, so they surely will be haled forth (to the doom)

But not the servants of Allah, the purified ones.

Except the sincere and devoted Servants of Allah (among them).

Save single-minded slaves of Allah.

And We perpetuated to him (praise) among the later generations.

And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times:

And we left for him among the later folk (the salutation):

Peace be on Ilyas.

"Peace and salutation to such as Elias!"

Peace be unto Elias!

Even thus do We reward the doers of good.

Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

Lo! thus do We reward the good.

Surely he was one of Our believing servants.

For he was one of our believing Servants.

Lo! he is one of our believing slaves.

And Lut was most surely of the messengers.

So also was Lut among those sent (by Us).

And lo! Lot verily was of those sent (to warn).

When We delivered him and his followers, all--

Behold, We delivered him and his adherents, all

When We saved him and his household, every one,

Except an old woman (who was) amongst those who tarried.

Except an old woman who was among those who lagged behind:

Save an old woman among those who stayed behind;

Then We destroyed the others.

Then We destroyed the rest.

Then We destroyed the others.

And most surely you pass by them in the morning,

Verily, ye pass by their (sites), by day-

And lo! ye verily pass by (the ruin of) them in the morning

And at night; do you not then understand?

And by night: will ye not understand?

And at night-time; have ye then no sense?

And Yunus was most surely of the messengers.

So also was Jonah among those sent (by Us).

And lo! Jonah verily was of those sent (to warn)

When he ran away to a ship completely laden,

When he ran away (like a slave from captivity) to the ship (fully) laden,

When he fled unto the laden ship,

So he shared (with them), but was of those who are cast off.

He (agreed to) cast lots, and he was condemned:

And then drew lots and was of those rejected;

So the fish swallowed him while he did that for which he blamed himself

Then the big Fish did swallow him, and he had done acts worthy of blame.

And the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy;

But had it not been that he was of those who glorify (Us),

Had it not been that he (repented and) glorified Allah,

And had he not been one of those who glorify (Allah)

He would certainly have tarried in its belly to the day when they are raised.

He would certainly have remained inside the Fish till the Day of Resurrection.

He would have tarried in its belly till the day when they are raised;

Then We cast him on to the vacant surface of the earth while he was sick.

But We cast him forth on the naked shore in a state of sickness,

Then We cast him on a desert shore while he was sick;

And We caused to grow up for him a gourdplant.

And We caused to grow, over him, a spreading plant of the gourd kind.

And We caused a tree of gourd to grow above him;

And We sent him to a hundred thousand, rather they exceeded.

And We sent him (on a mission) to a hundred thousand (men) or more.

And We sent him to a hundred thousand (folk) or more

And they believed, so We gave them provision till a time.

And they believed; so We permitted them to enjoy (their life) for a while.

And they believed, therefor We gave them comfort for a while.

Then ask them whether your Lord has daughters and they have sons.

Now ask them their opinion: Is it that thy Lord has (only) daughters, and they have sons?-

Now ask them (O Muhammad): Hath thy Lord daughters whereas they have sons?

Or did We create the angels females while they were witnesses?

Or that We created the angels female, and they are witnesses (thereto)?

Or created We the angels females while they were present?

Now surely it is of their own lie that they say:

Is it not that they say, from their own invention,

Lo! it is of their falsehood that they say:

Allah has begotten; and most surely they are liars.

"Allah has begotten children"? but they are liars!

Allah hath begotten. Allah! verily they tell a lie.

Has He chosen daughters in preference to sons?

Did He (then) choose daughters rather than sons?

(And again of their falsehood): He hath preferred daughters to sons.

What is the matter with you, how is it that you judge?

What is the matter with you? How judge ye?

What aileth you? How judge ye?

Will you not then mind?

Will ye not then receive admonition?

Will ye not then reflect?

Or have you a clear authority?

Or have ye an authority manifest?

Or have ye a clear warrant?

Then bring your book, if you are truthful.

Then bring ye your Book (of authority) if ye be truthful!

Then produce your writ, if ye are truthful.

And they assert a relationship between Him and the jinn; and certainly the jinn do know that they shall surely be brought up;

And they have invented a blood-relationship between Him and the Jinns: but the Jinns know (quite well) that they have indeed to appear (before his Judgment-Seat)!

And they imagine kinship between him and the jinn, whereas the jinn know well that they will be brought before (Him).

Glory be to Allah (for freedom) from what they describe;

Glory to Allah! (He is free) from the things they ascribe (to Him)!

Glorified be Allah from that which they attribute (unto Him),

But not so the servants of Allah, the purified ones.

Not (so do) the Servants of Allah, sincere and devoted.

Save single-minded slaves of Allah.

So surely you and what you worship,

For, verily, neither ye nor those ye worship-

Lo! verily, ye and that which ye worship,

Not against Him can you cause (any) to fall into trial,

Can lead (any) into temptation concerning Allah,

Ye cannot excite (anyone) against Him.

Save him who will go to hell.

Except such as are (themselves) going to the blazing Fire!

Save him who is to burn in hell.

And there is none of us but has an assigned place,

(Those ranged in ranks say): "Not one of us but has a place appointed;

There is not one of us but hath his known position.

And most surely we are they who draw themselves out in ranks,

"And we are verily ranged in ranks (for service);

Lo! we, even we are they who set the ranks,

And we are most surely they who declare the glory (of Allah).

"And we are verily those who declare (Allah's) glory!"

Lo! we, even we are they who hymn His praise

And surely they used to say:

And there were those who said,

And indeed they used to say:

Had we a reminder from those of yore,

"If only we had had before us a Message from those of old,

If we had but a reminder from the men of old

We would certainly have been the servants of Allah-- the purified ones.

"We should certainly have been Servants of Allah, sincere (and devoted)!"

We would be single-minded slaves of Allah.

But (now) they disbelieve in it, so they will come to know.

But (now that the Qur'an has come), they reject it: But soon will they know!

Yet (now that it is come) they disbelieve therein; but they will come to know.

And certainly Our word has already gone forth in respect of Our servants, the messengers:

Already has Our Word been passed before (this) to our Servants sent (by Us),

And verily Our word went forth of old unto Our bondmen sent (to warn)

Most surely they shall be the assisted ones

That they would certainly be assisted,

That they verily would be helped,

And most surely Our host alone shall be the victorious ones.

And that Our forces,- they surely must conquer.

And that Our host, they verily would be the victors.

Therefore turn away from them till a time,

So turn thou away from them for a little while,

So withdraw from them (O Muhammad) awhile,

And (then) see them, so they too shall see.

And watch them (how they fare), and they soon shall see (how thou farest)!

And watch, for they will (soon) see.

What! would they then hasten on Our chastisement?

Do they wish (indeed) to hurry on our Punishment?

Would they hasten on Our doom?

But when it shall descend in their court, evil shall then be the morning of the warned ones.

But when it descends into the open space before them, evil will be the morning for those who were warned (and heeded not)!

But when it cometh home to them, then it will be a hapless morn for those who have been warned.

And turn away from them till a time

So turn thou away from them for a little while,

Withdraw from them awhile

And (then) see, for they too shall see.

And watch (how they fare) and they soon shall see (how thou farest)!

And watch, for they will (soon) see.

Glory be to your Lord, the Lord of Honor, above what they describe.

Glory to thy Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! (He is free) from what they ascribe (to Him)!

Glorified be thy Lord, the Lord of Majesty, from that which they attribute (unto Him)

And peace be on the messengers.

And Peace on the messengers!

And peace be unto those sent (to warn).

And all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

And Praise to Allah, the Lord and Cherisher of the Worlds.

And praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds!