1. These are verses of
the Qur'an,-a book that makes
(things) clear;
2. A guide: and glad tidings for
the believers,-
3. Those who establish regular
prayers and give in regular
charity, and also have (full)
assurance of the hereafter.
4. As to those who believe not
in the Hereafter, We have made
their deeds pleasing in their
eyes; and so they wander about
in distraction.
5. Such are they for whom a
grievous Penalty is (waiting);
and in the Hereafter theirs will
be the greatest loss.
6. As to thee, the Qur'an is
bestowed upon thee from the
presence of one who is wise and
all-knowing.
7. Behold! Moses said to his
family: "I perceive a fire; soon
will I bring you from there some
information, or I will bring you
a burning brand to light our
fuel, that ye may warn
yourselves.
8. But when he came to the
(fire), a voice was heard:
"Blessed are those in the fire
and those around: and glory to
Allah, the Lord of the worlds.
9. "O Moses! verily, I am Allah,
the exalted in might, the
wise!....
10. "Now do thou throw thy rod!"
But when he saw it moving (of
its own accord)as if it had been
a snake, he turned back in
retreat, and retraced not his
steps: "O Moses!" (it was said),
"Fear not: truly, in My
presence, those called as
apostles have no fear,-
11. "But if any have done wrong
and have thereafter substituted
good to take the place of evil,
truly, I am Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.
12. "Now put thy hand into thy
bosom, and it will come forth
white without stain (or harm):
(these are) among the nine Signs
(thou wilt take) to Pharaoh and
his people: for they are a
people rebellious in
transgression."
13. But when Our Signs came to
them, that should have opened
their eyes, they said: "This is
sorcery manifest!"
14. And they rejected those
Signs in iniquity and arrogance,
though their souls were
convinced thereof: so see what
was the end of those who acted
corruptly!
15. We gave (in the past)
knowledge to David and Solomon:
And they both said: "Praise be
to Allah, Who has favoured us
above many of his servants who
believe!"
16. And Solomon was David's
heir. He said: "O ye people! We
have been taught the speech of
birds, and on us has been
bestowed (a little) of all
things: this is indeed Grace
manifest (from Allah.)"
17. And before Solomon were
marshalled his hosts,- of Jinns
and men and birds, and they were
all kept in order and ranks.
18. At length, when they came to
a (lowly) valley of ants, one of
the ants said: "O ye ants, get
into your habitations, lest
Solomon and his hosts crush you
(under foot) without knowing
it."
19. So he smiled, amused at her
speech; and he said: "O my Lord!
so order me that I may be
grateful for Thy favours, which
thou hast bestowed on me and on
my parents, and that I may work
the righteousness that will
please Thee: And admit me, by
Thy Grace, to the ranks of Thy
righteous Servants."
20. And he took a muster of the
Birds; and he said: "Why is it I
see not the Hoopoe? Or is he
among the absentees?
21. "I will certainly punish him
with a severe penalty, or
execute him, unless he bring me
a clear reason (for absence)."
22. But the Hoopoe tarried not
far: he (came up and) said: "I
have compassed (territory) which
thou hast not compassed, and I
have come to thee from Saba with
tidings true.
23. "I found (there) a woman
ruling over them and provided
with every requisite; and she
has a magnificent throne.
24. "I found her and her people
worshipping the sun besides
Allah. Satan has made their
deeds seem pleasing in their
eyes, and has kept them away
from the Path,- so they receive
no guidance,-
25. "(Kept them away from the
Path), that they should not
worship Allah, Who brings to
light what is hidden in the
heavens and the earth, and knows
what ye hide and what ye reveal.
26. "(Allah)!- there is no god
but He!- Lord of the Throne
Supreme!"
27. (Solomon) said: "Soon shall
we see whether thou hast told
the truth or lied!
28. "Go thou, with this letter
of mine, and deliver it to them:
then draw back from them, and
(wait to) see what answer they
return"...
29. (The queen) said: "Ye
chiefs! here is delivered to me
- a letter worthy of respect.
30. "It is from Solomon, and is
(as follows): 'In the name of
Allah, Most Gracious, Most
Merciful:
31. "'Be ye not arrogant against
me, but come to me in submission
(to the true Religion).'"
32. She said: "Ye chiefs! advise
me in (this) my affair: no
affair have I decided except in
your presence."
33. They said: "We are endued
with strength, and given to
vehement war: but the command is
with thee; so consider what thou
wilt command."
34. She said: "Kings, when they
enter a country, despoil it, and
make the noblest of its people
its meanest thus do they behave.
35. "But I am going to send him
a present, and (wait) to see
with what (answer) return (my)
ambassadors."
36. Now when (the embassy) came
to Solomon, he said: "Will ye
give me abundance in wealth? But
that which Allah has given me is
better than that which He has
given you! Nay it is ye who
rejoice in your gift!
37. "Go back to them, and be
sure we shall come to them with
such hosts as they will never be
able to meet: We shall expel
them from there in disgrace, and
they will feel humbled
(indeed)."
38. He said (to his own men):
"Ye chiefs! which of you can
bring me her throne before they
come to me in submission?"
39. Said an 'Ifrit, of the Jinns:
"I will bring it to thee before
thou rise from thy council:
indeed I have full strength for
the purpose, and may be
trusted."
40. Said one who had knowledge
of the Book: "I will bring it to
thee within the twinkling of an
eye!" Then when (Solomon) saw it
placed firmly before him, he
said: "This is by the Grace of
my Lord!- to test me whether I
am grateful or ungrateful! and
if any is grateful, truly his
gratitude is (a gain) for his
own soul; but if any is
ungrateful, truly my Lord is
Free of all Needs, Supreme in
Honour !"
41. He said: "Transform her
throne out of all recognition by
her: let us see whether she is
guided (to the truth) or is one
of those who receive no
guidance."
42. So when she arrived, she was
asked, "Is this thy throne?" She
said, "It was just like this;
and knowledge was bestowed on us
in advance of this, and we have
submitted to Allah (in Islam)."
43. And he diverted her from the
worship of others besides Allah.
for she was (sprung) of a people
that had no faith.
44. She was asked to enter the
lofty Palace: but when she saw
it, she thought it was a lake of
water, and she (tucked up her
skirts), uncovering her legs. He
said: "This is but a palace
paved smooth with slabs of
glass." She said: "O my Lord! I
have indeed wronged my soul: I
do (now) submit (in Islam), with
Solomon, to the Lord of the
Worlds."
45. We sent (aforetime), to the
Thamud, their brother Salih,
saying, "Serve Allah.: But
behold, they became two factions
quarrelling with each other.
46. He said: "O my people! why
ask ye to hasten on the evil in
preference to the good? If only
ye ask Allah for forgiveness, ye
may hope to receive mercy.
47. They said: "Ill omen do we
augur from thee and those that
are with thee". He said: "Your
ill omen is with Allah. yea, ye
are a people under trial."
48. There were in the city nine
men of a family, who made
mischief in the land, and would
not reform.
49. They said: "Swear a mutual
oath by Allah that we shall make
a secret night attack on him and
his people, and that we shall
then say to his heir (when he
seeks vengeance): 'We were not
present at the slaughter of his
people, and we are positively
telling the truth.'"
50. They plotted and planned,
but We too planned, even while
they perceived it not.
51. Then see what was the end of
their plot!- this, that We
destroyed them and their people,
all (of them).
52. Now such were their houses,
- in utter ruin, - because they
practised wrong- doing. Verily
in this is a Sign for people of
knowledge.
53. And We saved those who
believed and practised
righteousness.
54. (We also sent) Lut (as an
apostle): behold, He said to his
people, "Do ye do what is
shameful though ye see (its
iniquity)?
55. Would ye really approach men
in your lusts rather than women?
Nay, ye are a people (grossly)
ignorant!
56. But his people gave no other
answer but this: they said,
"Drive out the followers of Lut
from your city: these are indeed
men who want to be clean and
pure!"
57. But We saved him and his
family, except his wife; her We
destined to be of those who
lagged behind.
58. And We rained down on them a
shower (of brimstone): and evil
was the shower on those who were
admonished (but heeded not)!
59. Say: Praise be to Allah, and
Peace on his servants whom He
has chosen (for his Message).
(Who) is better?- Allah or the
false gods they associate (with
Him)?
60. Or, Who has created the
heavens and the earth, and Who
sends you down rain from the
sky? Yea, with it We cause to
grow well-planted orchards full
of beauty of delight: it is not
in your power to cause the
growth of the trees in them.
(Can there be another) god
besides Allah. Nay, they are a
people who swerve from justice.
61. Or, Who has made the earth
firm to live in; made rivers in
its midst; set thereon mountains
immovable; and made a separating
bar between the two bodies of
flowing water? (can there be
another) god besides Allah. Nay,
most of them know not.
62. Or, Who listens to the
(soul) distressed when it calls
on Him, and Who relieves its
suffering, and makes you
(mankind) inheritors of the
earth? (Can there be another)
god besides Allah. Little it is
that ye heed!
63. Or, Who guides you through
the depths of darkness on land
and sea, and Who sends the winds
as heralds of glad tidings,
going before His Mercy? (Can
there be another) god besides
Allah.- High is Allah above what
they associate with Him!
64. Or, Who originates creation,
then repeats it, and who gives
you sustenance from heaven and
earth? (Can there be another)
god besides Allah. Say, "Bring
forth your argument, if ye are
telling the truth!"
65. Say: None in the heavens or
on earth, except Allah, knows
what is hidden: nor can they
perceive when they shall be
raised up (for Judgment).
66. Still less can their
knowledge comprehend the
Hereafter: Nay, they are in
doubt and uncertainty thereanent;
nay, they are blind thereunto!
67. The Unbelievers say: "What!
when we become dust,- we and our
fathers,- shall we really be
raised (from the dead)?
68. "It is true we were promised
this,- we and our fathers before
(us): these are nothing but
tales of the ancients."
69. Say: "Go ye through the
earth and see what has been the
end of those guilty (of sin)."
70. But grieve not over them,
nor distress thyself because of
their plots.
71. They also say: "When will
this promise (come to pass)?
(Say) if ye are truthful."
72. Say: "It may be that some of
the events which ye wish to
hasten on may be (close) in your
pursuit!"
73. But verily thy Lord is full
of grace to mankind: Yet most of
them are ungrateful.
74. And verily thy Lord knoweth
all that their hearts do hide.
As well as all that they reveal.
75. Nor is there aught of the
unseen, in heaven or earth, but
is (recorded) in a clear record.
76. Verily this Qur'an doth
explain to the Children of
Israel most of the matters in
which they disagree.
77. And it certainly is a Guide
and a Mercy to those who
believe.
78. Verily thy Lord will decide
between them by His Decree: and
He is Exalted in Might,
All-Knowing.
79. So put thy trust in Allah.
for thou art on (the path of)
manifest Truth.
80. Truly thou canst not cause
the dead to listen, nor canst
thou cause the deaf to hear the
call, (especially) when they
turn back in retreat.
81. Nor canst thou be a guide to
the blind, (to prevent them)
from straying: only those wilt
thou get to listen who believe
in Our Signs, and they will bow
in Islam.
82. And when the Word is
fulfilled against them (the
unjust), we shall produce from
the earth a beast to (face)
them: He will speak to them, for
that mankind did not believe
with assurance in Our Signs.
83. One day We shall gather
together from every people a
troop of those who reject our
Signs, and they shall be kept in
ranks,-
84. Until, when they come
(before the Judgment-seat),
((Allah)) will say: "Did ye
reject My Signs, though ye
comprehended them not in
knowledge, or what was it ye
did?"
85. And the Word will be
fulfilled against them, because
of their wrong-doing, and they
will be unable to speak (in
plea).
86. See they not that We have
made the Night for them to rest
in and the Day to give them
light? Verily in this are Signs
for any people that believe!
87. And the Day that the Trumpet
will be sounded - then will be
smitten with terror those who
are in the heavens, and those
who are on earth, except such as
Allah will please (to exempt):
and all shall come to His
(Presence) as beings conscious
of their lowliness.
88. Thou seest the mountains and
thinkest them firmly fixed: but
they shall pass away as the
clouds pass away: (such is) the
artistry of Allah, who disposes
of all things in perfect order:
for he is well acquainted with
all that ye do.
89. If any do good, good will
(accrue) to them therefrom; and
they will be secure from terror
that Day.
90. And if any do evil, their
faces will be thrown headlong
into the Fire: "Do ye receive a
reward other than that which ye
have earned by your deeds?"
91. For me, I have been
commanded to serve the Lord of
this city, Him Who has
sanctified it and to Whom
(belong) all things: and I am
commanded to be of those who bow
in Islam to Allah.s Will,-
92. And to rehearse the Qur'an:
and if any accept guidance, they
do it for the good of their own
souls, and if any stray, say: "I
am only a Warner".
93. And say: "Praise be to
Allah, Who will soon show you
His Signs, so that ye shall know
them"; and thy Lord is not
unmindful of all that ye do. |