The Holy Qur'an (Maulana Muhammad Ali)/37. Those Ranging in Ranks
37. Those Ranging in Ranks (Al-Saffat)[edit]
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
1 By those ranging in ranks,
2 And those who restrain holding in restraint,
3 And those who recite the Reminder,
4 Surely your God is One.
5 The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, and the Lord of the eastern lands.
6 Surely We have adorned the lower heaven with an adornment, the stars,
7 And (there is) a safeguard against every rebellious devil.
8 They cannot listen to the exalted assembly and they are reproached from every side,
9 Driven off; and for them is a perpetual chastisement,
10 Except him who snatches away but once, then there follows him a brightly shining flame.
11 So ask them whether they are stronger in creation or those (others) whom We have created. Surely We created them of firm clay.
12 Nay, thou wonderest, while they mock,
13 And when they are reminded, they mind not,
14 And when they see a sign, they seek to scoff,
15 And say: This is nothing but clear enchantment.
16 When we are dead and have become dust and bones; shall we then be raised,
17 Or our fathers of yore?
18 Say: Yea, and you will be humiliated.
19 So it will be but one cry, when lo! they will see.
20 And they will say: O woe to us! This is the day of Requital.
21 This is the day of Judgment, which you called a lie.
* * *
22 Gather together those who did wrong and their associates, and what they worshipped
23 Besides Allah, then lead them to the way to hell.
24 And stop them, for they shall be questioned:
25 What is the matter with you that you help not one another?
26 Nay, on that day they will be submissive.
27 And some of them will turn to others mutually questioning --
28 Saying: Surely you used to come to us from the right side.
29 They will say: Nay, you (yourselves) were not believers.
30 And we had no authority over you, but you were an inordinate people.
31 So the word of our Lord has proved true against us: we shall surely taste.
32 We led you astray, for we ourselves were erring.
33 So, that day they will be sharers in the chastisement.
34 Thus do We deal with the guilty.
35 They indeed were arrogant, when it was said to them: There is no god but Allah;
36 And said: Shall we give up our gods for a mad poet?
37 Nay, he has brought the Truth and verifies the messengers.
38 Surely you will taste the painful chastisement.
39 And you are requited naught but for what you did --
40 Save the servants of Allah, the purified ones.
41 For them is a known sustenance:
42 Fruits. And they are honoured,
43 In Gardens of delight,
44 On thrones, facing each other.
45 A bowl of running water will be made to go round them,
46 White, delicious to those who drink.
47 It deprives not of reason, nor are they exhausted therewith.
48 And with them are those modest in gaze, having beautiful eyes,
49 As if they were eggs, carefully protected.
50 Then some of them will turn to others, questioning mutually.
51 A speaker of them will say: Surely I had a comrade,
52 Who said: Art thou indeed of those who accept?
53 When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then be requited?
54 He will say: Will you look?
55 Then he looked down and saw him in the midst of hell.
56 He will say: By Allah! thou hadst almost caused me to perish
57 And had it not been for favour of my Lord, I should have been among those brought up.
58 Are we not to die,
59 Except our previous death? And are we not to be chastised?
60 Surely this is the mighty achievement.
61 For the like of this, then, let the workers work.
62 Is this the better entertainment or the tree of Zaqqum?
63 Surely We have made it a trial for the wrongdoers.
64 It is a tree that grows in the bottom of hell --
65 Its produce is as it were the heads of serpents.
66 Then truly they will eat of it and fill (their) bellies with it.
67 Then surely they shall have after it a drink of boiling water.
68 Then their return is surety to the flaming Fire.
69 They indeed found their fathers astray,
70 So in their footsteps they are hastening on.
71 And most of the ancients surely went astray before them,
72 And indeed We sent among them warners.
73 Then see what was the end of those warned --
74 Except the servants of Allah, the purified ones.
* * *
75 And Noah certainly called upon Us, and excellent Answerer of prayers are We!
76 And We delivered him and his people from the great distress;
77 And made his offspring the survivors,
78 And left for him (praise) among the later generations,
79 Peace be to Noah among the nations!
80 Thus indeed do We reward the doers of good.
81 Surely he was of Our believing servants.
82 Then We drowned the others.
83 And surely of his party was Abraham.
84 When he came to his Lord with a secure heart.
85 When he said to his sire and his people: What is it that you worship?
86 A lie -- gods besides Allah do you desire?
87 What is then your idea about the Lord of the worlds?
88 Then he glanced a glance at the stars,
89 And said: Surely I am sick (of your deities).
90 So they turned their backs on him, going away.
91 Then he turned to their gods and said: Do you not eat?
92 What is the matter with you that you speak not?
93 So he turned upon them, smiting with the right hand.
94 Then they came to him, hastening.
95 He said: Do you worship that which you hew out?
96 And Allah has created you and what you make.
97 They said: Build for him a building, then cast him into the flaming fire.
98 And they designed a plan against him, but We brought them low.
99 And he said: Surely I flee to my Lord -- He will guide me.
100 My Lord, grant me a doer of good deeds.
101 So We gave him the good news of a forbearing son.
102 But when he became of (age to) work with him, he said: O my son, I have seen in a dream that I should sacrifice thee: so consider what thou seest. He said: O my father, do as thou art commanded; if Allah please, thou wilt find me patient.
103 So when they both submitted and he had thrown him down upon his forehead,
104 And We called out to him saying, O Abraham,
105 Thou hast indeed fulfilled the vision. Thus do We reward the doers of good.
106 Surely this is a manifest trial.
107 And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.
108 And We granted him among the later generations (the salutation),
109 Peace be to Abraham!
110 Thus do We reward the doers of good.
111 Surely he was one of Our believing servants.
112 And We gave him the good news of Isaac, a prophet, a righteous one.
113 And We blessed him and Isaac. And of their offspring some are doers of good, but some are clearly unjust to themselves.
* * *
114 And certainly We conferred a favour on Moses and Aaron.
115 And We delivered them, and their people from the mighty distress.
116 And We helped them, so they were the vanquishers.
117 And We gave them both the clear Book.
118 And We guided them on the right way.
119 And We granted them among the later generations (the salutation),
120 Peace be to Moses and Aaron!
121 Thus do We reward the doers of good.
122 Surely they were both of Our believing servants.
123 And Elias was surely of those sent.
124 When he said to his people: Will you not guard against evil?
125 Do you call upon Ba'l and forsake the Best of the creators,
126 Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore?
127 But they rejected him, so they shall be brought up,
128 But not the servants of Allah, the purified ones.
129 And We granted him among the later generations (the salutation),
130 Peace be to Elias!
131 Even thus We reward the doers of good.
132 Surely he was one of Our believing servants.
133 And Lot was surely of those sent.
134 When We delivered him and his people, all --
135 Except an old woman among those who remained behind.
136 Then We destroyed the others.
137 And surely you pass by them in the morning,
138 And at night. Do you not then understand?
* * *
139 And Jonah was surely of those sent.
140 When he fled to the laden ship,
141 So he shared with others but was of those cast away.
142 So the fish took him into its mouth while he was blamable.
143 But had he not been of those who glorify (Us),
144 He would have tarried in its belly till the day when they are raised.
145 Then We cast him on the naked shore, while he was sick.
146 And We caused a gourd to grow up for him.
147 And We sent him to a hundred thousand or more.
148 And they believed, so We gave them provision till a time.
149 Now ask them whether thy Lord has daughters and they have sons?
150 Or did We create the angels females, while they witnessed?
151 Now surely it is of their own lie that they say:
152 Allah has begotten. And truly they are liars.
153 Has He preferred daughters to sons?
154 What is the matter with you? How you judge!
155 Will you not then mind?
156 Or have you a clear authority?
157 Then bring your Book, if you are truthful.
158 And they assert a relationship between Him and the jinn. And certainly the jinn know that they will be brought up (for judgment) --
159 Glory be to Allah from what they describe! --
160 But not so the servants of Allah, the purified ones.
161 So surely you and that which you serve,
162 Not against Him can you cause (any) to fall into trial,
163 Save him who will burn in the flaming Fire.
164 And there is none of us but has an assigned place,
165 And verily we are ranged in ranks,
166 And we truly glorify (Him).
167 And surely they used to say:
168 Had we a reminder from those of yore,
169 We would have been sincere servants of Allah.
170 But (now) they disbelieve in it, so they will come to know.
171 And certainly Our word has already gone forth to Our servants, to those sent,
172 That they, surely they, will be helped,
173 And Our hosts, surely they, will be triumphant.
174 So turn away from them till a time,
175 And watch them, they too will see.
176 Would they hasten on Our chastisement?
177 So when it descends in their court, evil will be the morning of the warned ones.
178 And turn away from them till a time,
179 And watch, for they too will see.
180 Glory be to thy Lord, the Lord of Might, above what they describe
181 And peace be to those sent
182 And praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!