Maryam
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Kaf. Ha. Ya. `Ayn. Sad. (1) (This is) a recital of the Mercy of thy Lord to His Servant Zakariya. (2) Behold! He cried to his Lord in secret (3) Praying: "O my Lord! Infirm indeed are my bones, and the hair of my head doth glisten with grey: but never am I unblest O my Lord, in my prayer to Thee! (4) "Now I fear (what) my relatives (and colleagues) (will do) after me: but my wife is barren: so give me an heir as from Thyself― (5) "(One that) will (truly) represent me, and represent the posterity of Jacob; and make him, O my Lord! one with whom Thou art well-pleased!" (6) (His prayer was answered): "O Zakariya! We give thee good news of a son: his name shall be Yahya: on none by that name have We conferred distinction before." (7) He said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son, when my wife is barren and I have grown quite decrepit from old age?" (8) He said: "So (it will be): thy Lord saith, `That is easy for Me: I did indeed create thee before, when thou hadst been nothing!' " (9) (Zakariya) said "O my Lord! Give me a Sign." "Thy Sign", was the answer "shall be that thou shalt speak to no man for three nights, although thou art not dumb." (10) So Zakariya came out to his people from his chamber: he told them by signs to celebrate Allah's praises in the morning and in the evening. (11) (To his son came the command): "O Yahya! Take hold of the Book with might": and We gave him wisdom even as a youth. (12) And pity (for all creatures) as from Us, and purity: he was devout (13) And kind to his parents, and he was not overbearing or rebellious. (14) So Peace on him the day he was born, the day that he dies, and the day that he will be raised up to life (again)! (15) Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East. (16) She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them: then We sent to her Our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. (17) She said: "I seek refuge from thee to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear Allah." (18) He said: "Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son." (19) She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?" (20) He said: "So (it will be): thy Lord saith `That is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us': it is a matter (so) decreed." (21) So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place. (22) And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: she cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! Would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" (23) But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-free): "Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; (24) "And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee. (25) "So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man say `I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being.' " (26) At length she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him (in her arms). they said: "O Mary! truly an amazing thing hast thou brought! (27) "O sister of Aaron! thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!" (28) But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?" (29) He said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet; (30) "And He hath made me Blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; (31) "(He) hath made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable; (32) "So Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)"! (33) Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about which they (vainly) dispute. (34) It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it "Be", and it is. (35) Verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord: Him therefore serve ye: this is a Way that is straight. (36) But the sects differ among themselves: and woe to the Unbelievers because of the (coming) Judgment of a momentous Day! (37) How plainly will they see and hear, the Day that they will appear before Us! but the unjust today are in error manifest! (38) But warn them of the Day of Distress, when the matter will be determined: for (behold) they are negligent and they do not believe! (39) It is We Who will inherit the earth, and all beings thereon: to Us will they all be returned. (40) Also mention in the Book (the story of) Abraham: he was a man of Truth, a prophet. (41) Behold, he said to his father: "O my father! why worship that which heareth not and seeth not, and can profit thee nothing? (42) "O my father! To me hath come knowledge which hath not reached thee: so follow me: I will guide thee to a Way that is even and straight. (43) "O my father! serve not Satan: for Satan is a rebel against (Allah) Most Gracious. (44) "O my father! I fear lest a Penalty afflict thee from (Allah) Most Gracious, so that thou become to Satan a friend." (45) (The father) replied: "Dost thou hate my gods, O Abraham? If thou forbear not, I will indeed stone thee: now get away from me for a good long while!" (46) Abraham said: "Peace be on thee: I will pray to my Lord for thy forgiveness: for He is to me Most Gracious. (47) "And I will turn away from you (all) and from those whom ye invoke besides Allah: I will call on my Lord: Perhaps, by my prayer to my Lord, I shall be not unblest." (48) When he had turned away from them and from those whom they worshipped besides Allah, We bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob, and each one of them We made a prophet. (49) And We bestowed of Our Mercy on them, and We granted them lofty honour on the tongue of truth. (50) Also mention in the Book (the story of) Moses: for he was specially chosen and he was an messenger (and) a prophet. (51) And We called him from the right side of Mount (Sinai), and made him draw near to Us, for mystic (converse). (52) And, out of Our Mercy, We gave him his brother Aaron, (also) a prophet. (53) Also mention in the Book (the story of) Ismail: he was (strictly) true to what he promised, and he was a messenger (and) a prophet. (54) He used to enjoin on his people Prayer and Charity and he was most acceptable in the sight of his Lord. (55) Also mention in the Book the case of Idris: he was a man of truth (and sincerity), (and) a prophet: (56) And We raised him to a lofty station. (57) Those were some of the prophets on whom Allah did bestow His Grace― of the posterity of Adam, and of those whom We carried (in the Ark) with Noah, and of the posterity of Abraham and Israel― of those whom We guided and chose; whenever the Signs of (Allah) Most Gracious were rehearsed to them, they would fall down in prostrate adoration and in tears. (58) But after them there followed a posterity who missed prayers and followed after lusts: soon, then will they face Destruction― (59) Except those who repent and believe, and work Righteousness: for these will enter the Garden and will not be wronged in the least (60) Gardens of Eternity, those which (Allah) Most Gracious has promised to His servants in the Unseen: for His promise must (necessarily) come to pass. (61) They will not there hear any vain discourse, but only salutations of peace: and they will have therein their sustenance, morning and evening. (62) Such is the Garden which We give as an inheritance to those of Our Servants who guard against evil. (63) (The angels say:) "We descend not but by command of thy Lord: to Him belongeth what is before us and what is behind us and what is between: and thy Lord never doth forget"― (64) "Lord of the heavens and of the earth, and of all that is between them: so worship Him, and be constant and patient in His worship: knowest thou of any who is worthy of the same Name as He?" (65) Man says: "What! when I am dead, hall I then be raised up alive?" (66) But does not man call to mind that We created him before out of nothing? (67) So by thy Lord, without doubt, We shall gather them together, and (also) the Evil Ones (with them); then shall We bring them forth on their knees round about Hell; (68) Then shall We certainly drag out from every sect all those who were worst in obstinate rebellion against (Allah) Most Gracious. (69) And certainly We know best those who are most worthy of being burned therein. (70) Not one of you but will pass over it: this is, with thy Lord, a Decree which must be accomplished. (71) But We shall save those who guarded against evil, and We shall leave the wrongdoers therein, (humbled) to their knees. (72) When Our Clear Signs are rehearsed to them, the Unbelievers say to those who believe "Which of the two sides is best in point of position? Which makes the best show in council?" (73) But how many (countless) generations before them have We destroyed, who were even better in equipment and in glitter to the eye? (74) Say: "If any men go astray, (Allah) Most Gracious extends (the rope) to them. Until, when they see the warning of Allah (being fulfilled)― either in punishment or in (the approach of) the Hour― they will at length realise who is worst in position, and (who) weakest in forces! (75) "And Allah doth advance in guidance those who seek guidance; and the things that endure. Good Deeds, are best in the sight of thy Lord, as rewards, and best in respect of (their) eventual returns." (76) Hast thou then seen the (sort of) man who rejects Our Signs, yet says: "I shall certainly be given wealth and children"? (77) Has he penetrated to the Unseen, or has he taken a promise with (Allah) Most Gracious? (78) Nay! We shall record what he says, and We Shall add and add to his punishment. (79) To Us shall return all that he talks of, and he shall appear before Us bare and alone. (80) And they have taken (for worship) gods other than Allah, to give them power and glory! (81) Instead, they shall reject their worship, and become adversaries against them. (82) Seest thou not that We have set the Evil Ones on against the Unbelievers, to incite them with fury? (83) So make no haste against them, for We but count out to them a (limited) number (of days). (84) The day We shall gather the righteous to (Allah) Most Gracious, like a band presented before a king for honours. (85) And We shall drive the sinners to Hell, like thirsty cattle driven down to water― (86) None shall have the power of intercession, but such a one as has received permission (or promise) from (Allah) Most Gracious. (87) They say: "(Allah) Most Gracious has begotten a son!" (88) Indeed ye have put forth a thing most monstrous! (89) At it the skies are ready to burst, the earth to split asunder, and the mountains to fall down in utter ruin. (90) That they should invoke a son for (Allah) Most Gracious. (91) For it is not consonant with the majesty of (Allah) Most Gracious that He should beget a son. (92) Not one of the beings in the heavens and the earth but must come to (Allah) Most Gracious as a servant. (93) He does take an account of them (all), and hath numbered them (all) exactly. (94) And every one of them will come to him singly on the Day of Judgment. (95) On those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, will (Allah) Most Gracious bestow Love. (96) So have We made the (Qur'an) easy in thine own tongue, that with it thou mayest give Glad Tidings to the righteous and warnings to people given to contention. (97) But how many (countless) generation before them have We destroyed? Canst thou find a single one of them (now) or hear (so much as) a whisper of them? (98)
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Holy Qur'an Chapter 18
Day 18
Chapter 16
Sura Al-Kahf
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Praise be to Allah Who hath sent to His Servant the Book, and hath allowed therein no Crookedness: (1) (He hath made it) Straight (and Clear), in order that He may warn (the godless) of a terrible Punishment from Him, and that He may give Glad Tidings to the Believers who work righteous deeds, that they shall have a goodly Reward. (2) Wherein they shall remain forever: (3) Further that He may warn those (also) who say "Allah hath begotten a son": (4) No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying. What they say is nothing but falsehood! (5) Thou wouldst only perchance, fret thyself to death, following after them, in grief, if they believe not in this Message. (6) That which is on earth We have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them, as to which of them are best in conduct. (7) Verily what is on earth We shall make but as dust and dry soil (without growth or herbage). (8) Or dost thou reflect that the Companions of the Cave and of the Inscription were wonders among Our Signs? (9) Behold, the youths betook themselves to the Cave: they said "Our Lord! Bestow on us Mercy from Thyself, and dispose of our affair for us in the right way! (10) Then We drew (a veil) over their ears, for a number of years, in the Cave, (so that they heard not): (11) Then We roused them, in order to test which of the two parties was best at calculating the term of years they had tarried! (12) We relate to thee their story in truth: they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We advanced them in guidance: (13) We gave strength to their hearts: behold, they stood up and said: "Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and of the earth: never shall we call upon any god other than Him: if we did; we should indeed have uttered an enormity!" (14) "These our people have taken for worship gods other than Him: why do they not bring forward an authority clear (and convincing) for what they do? Who doth more wrong than such as invent a falsehood against Allah? (15) "When ye turn away from them and the things they worship other than Allah betake yourselves to the Cave: your Lord will shower His mercies on you and dispose of your affair towards comfort and ease." (16) Thou wouldst have seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from their Cave, and when it set, turning away from them to the left while they lay in the open space in the midst of the Cave. Such are among the Signs of Allah: he whom Allah guides; but he whom Allah leaves to stray for him wilt thou find no protector to lead him to the Right Way. (17) Thou wouldst have deemed them awake, whilst they were asleep, and We turned them on their right and their left sides: their dog stretching forth his two forelegs on the threshold: if thou hadst come up on to them, thou wouldst have certainly turned back from them in flight, and wouldst certainly have been filled with terror of them. (18) Such (being their state), We raised them up (from sleep), that they might question each other. Said one of them "How long have ye stayed (here)?" They said "We have stayed (perhaps) a day or part of a day." (At length) they (all) said "Allah (alone) knows best how long ye have stayed here...Now send ye then one of you with this money of yours to the town: let him find out which is the best food (to be had) and bring some to you, that (ye may satisfy hunger therewith:) and let him behave with care and courtesy, and let him not inform anyone about you. (19) "For if thy should come upon you, they would stone you or force you to return to their cult, and in that case ye would never attain prosperity." (20) Thus did We make their case known to the people, that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that there can be no doubt about the Hour of Judgment. Behold, they dispute among themselves as to their affair. (Some) said "Construct a building over them": their Lord knows best about them: those who prevailed over their affair said "Let us surely build a place of worship over them." (21) (Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth― doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou: "My Lord knoweth best their number; it is but few that know their (real case)." Enter not, therefore, into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the Sleepers. (22) Nor say of anything, "I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow"― (23) Without adding, "So please Allah!" And call thy Lord to mind when thou forgettest, and say "I hope that my Lord will guide me ever closer (even) than this to the right road." (24) So they stayed in their Cave three hundred years, and (some) add nine (more). (25) Say: "Allah knows best how long they stayed: with Him is (the knowledge of) the secrets of the heavens and the earth: how clearly He sees, how finely He hears (everything)! They have no protector other than Him; nor does He share His Command with any person whatsoever. (26) And recite (and teach) what has been revealed to thee of the Book of thy Lord: none can change His Words, and none wilt thou find as a refuge other than Him. (27) And keep thy soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face; and let not thine eyes pass beyond them seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; nor obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds. (28) Say "The Truth is from your Lord": let him who will, believe, and let him who will, reject (it): for the wrongdoers We have prepared a Fire whose (smoke and flames), like the walls and roof of a tent will hem them in: if they implore relief they will be granted water like melted brass, that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on! (29) As to those who believe and work righteousness, verily We shall not suffer to perish the reward of any who do a (single) righteous deed. (30) For them will be Gardens of Eternity; beneath them rivers will flow; they will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade; they will recline therein on raised thrones. How good the recompense! How beautiful a couch to recline on! (31) Set forth to them the parable of two men: for one of them We provided two gardens of grapevines and surrounded them with date-palms: in between the two We placed corn-fields. (32) Each of those gardens brought forth its produce, and failed not in the least therein: in the midst of them We caused a river to flow. (33) (Abundant) was the produce this man had: he said to his companion, in the course of a mutual argument: "More wealth have I than you, and more honour and power in (my following of) men." (34) He went into his garden in a state (of mind) unjust to his soul: He said "I deem not that this will ever perish. (35) "Nor do I deem that the Hour (of Judgment) will (ever) come: even if I am brought back to my Lord I shall surely find (there) something better in exchange." (36) His companion said to him, in the course of the argument with him: "Dost thou deny Him Who created thee out of dust then out of a sperm-drop, then fashioned thee into a man? (37) "But (I think) for my part that he is Allah, my Lord, and none shall I associate with my Lord. (38) "Why didst thou not, as thou wentest into thy garden, say: `Allah's Will (be done)! There is no power but with Allah!' If thou dost see me less than thee in wealth and sons (39) "It may be that my Lord will give me something better than thy garden, and that He will send on thy garden thunderbolts (by way of reckoning) from heaven, making it (but) slippery sand!― (40) "Or the water of the garden will run off underground so that thou wilt never be able to find it." (41) So his fruits (and enjoyment) were encompassed (with ruin), and he remained twisting and turning his hands over what he had spent on his property, which had (now) tumbled to pieces to its very foundations, and he could only say "Woe is me! would I had never ascribed partners to my Lord and Cherisher!" (42) Nor had he numbers to help him against Allah, nor was he able to deliver himself. (43) There, the (only) protection comes from Allah, the True One. He is the Best to reward and the Best to give success. (44) Set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world: it is like the rain which We send down from the skies: the earth's vegetation absorbs it, But soon it becomes dry stubble, which the winds do scatter: it is (only) Allah Who prevails over all things. (45) Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of this world: but the things that endure, Good Deeds, are best in the sight of thy Lord, as rewards, and best as (the foundation for) hopes. (46) One Day We shall remove the mountains, and thou wilt see the earth as a level stretch, and We shall gather them, all together, nor shall We leave out any one of them. (47) And they will be marshalled before thy Lord in ranks (with the announcement), "Now have ye come to Us (bare) as We created you first: aye, ye thought We shall not fulfil the appointment made to you to meet (Us)!": (48) And the Book (of Deeds) will be placed (before you); and thou wilt see the sinful in great terror because of what is (recorded) therein; they will say "Ah! woe to us! what a book is this! It leaves out nothing small or great, but takes account thereof!" They will find all that they did, placed before them: and not one will thy Lord treat with injustice. (49) Behold! We said to the angels "Bow down to Adam": they bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord. Will ye then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrongdoers! (50) I called them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor (even) their own creation: nor is it for Me to take as helpers such as lead (men) astray! (51) One Day He will say "Call on those whom ye thought to be My partners" and they will call on them but they will not listen to them; and We shall make for them a place of common perdition. (52) And the Sinful shall see the Fire and apprehend that they have to fall therein; no means will they find to turn away therefrom. (53) We have explained in detail in this Qur'an, for the benefit of mankind, every kind of similitude: but man is, in most things contentious. (54) And what is there to keep back men from believing, now that guidance has come to them nor from praying for forgiveness from their Lord, but that (they ask that) the ways of the ancients be repeated with them, or the Wrath be brought to them face to face? (55) We only send the Messengers to give glad tidings and to give warnings: but the Unbelievers dispute with vain argument, in order therewith to weaken the truth, and they treat My Signs as a jest, as also the fact that they are warned! (56) And who doth more wrong than one who is reminded of the Signs of his Lord but turns away from them, forgetting the (deeds) which his hands have sent forth? Verily We have set veils over their hearts lest they should understand this, and over their ears, deafness. If thou callest them to guidance, even then will they never accept guidance. (57) But your Lord is Most Forgiving, Full of Mercy. If He were to call them (at once) to account for what they have earned, then surely He would have hastened their Punishment: but they have their appointed time, beyond which they will find no refuge. (58) Such were the populations We destroyed when they committed iniquities; but We fixed an appointed time for their destruction. (59) Behold, Moses said to his attendant "I will not give up until I reach the junction of the two seas or (until) I spend years and years in travel." (60) But when they reached the Junction, they forgot (about) their Fish, which took its course through the sea (straight) as in a tunnel. (61) When they had passed on (some distance), Moses said to his attendant: "Bring us our early meal; truly we have suffered much fatigue at this (stage of) our journey." (62) He replied: "Sawest thou (what happened) when we betook ourselves to the rock? I did indeed forget (about) the Fish: none but Satan made me forget to tell (you) about it: it took its course through the sea in a marvelous way!" (63) Moses said: "That was what we were seeking after": so they went back on their footsteps, following (the path they had come). (64) So they found one of Our servants on whom We had bestowed Mercy from Ourselves and whom We had taught knowledge from Our own presence. (65) Moses said to him: "May I follow thee, on the footing that thou teach me something of the (Higher) Truth which thou hast been taught?" (66) (The other) said: "Verily thou wilt not be able to have patience with me! (67) "And how canst thou have patience about things about which thy understanding is not complete?" (68) Moses said: "Thou wilt find me, if Allah so will (truly) patient: nor shall I disobey thee in aught." (69) The other said: "If then thou wouldst follow me, ask me no questions about anything until I myself speak to thee concerning it." (70) So they both proceeded: until, when they were in the boat, he scuttled it. Said Moses: "Hast thou scuttled it in order to drown those in it? Truly a strange thing hast thou done!" (71) He answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no patience with me?" (72) Moses said: "Rebuke me not for forgetting, nor grieve me by raising difficulties in my case." (73) Then they proceeded: until, when they met a young man, he slew him. Moses said: "Hast thou slain an innocent person who had slain none? Truly a foul (unheard-of) thing hast thou done!" (74) He answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no patience with me?" (75) (Moses) said: "If ever I ask thee about anything after this, keep me not in thy company: then wouldst thou have received (full) excuse from my side." (76) Then they proceeded: until, when they came to the inhabitants of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused them hospitality. They found there a wall on the point of falling down, but he set it up straight. (Moses) said: "If thou hadst wished, surely thou couldst have exacted some recompense for it!" (77) He answered: "This is the parting between me and thee: now will I tell thee the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience. (78) As for the boat, it belonged to certain men in dire want: they plied on the water: I but wished to render it unserviceable, for there was after them a certain king who seized on every boat by force. (79) "As for the youth his parents were people of Faith, and we feared that he would grieve them by obstinate rebellion and ingratitude (to Allah and man). (80) "So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange (a son) better in purity (of conduct) and closer in affection. (81) "As for the wall it, belonged to two youths, orphans in the Town; there was, beneath it, a buried treasure, to which they were entitled: their father had been a righteous man: so thy Lord desired that they should attain their age of full strength and get out their treasure― a mercy (and favour) from thy Lord. I did it not of my own accord. Such is the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience." (82) They ask thee concerning Dhu al Qarnayn. Say "I will rehearse to you something of his story." (83) Verily We established his power on earth, and We gave him the ways and the means to all ends. (84) One (such) way he followed, (85) Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water: near it he found a People: We said: "O Dhu al Qarnayn! (thou hast authority) either to punish them, or to treat them with, kindness." (86) He said: "Whoever doth wrong, him shall we punish; then shall he be sent back to his Lord; and He will punish him with a punishment unheard-of (before). (87) "But whoever believes, and works righteousness he shall have a goodly reward, and easy will be his task as we order it by our command." (88) Then followed he (another) way. (89) Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no covering protection against the sun. (90) (He left them) as they were: We completely understood what was before him. (91) Then followed he (another) way (92) Until, when he reached (a tract) between two mountains, he found, beneath them a people who scarcely understood a word. (93) They said: "O Dhu al Qarnayn! the Gog and Magog (people) do great mischief on earth: shall we then render thee tribute in order that thou mightest erect a barrier between us and them?" (94) He said: "(The power) in which my Lord has established me is better (than tribute): help me therefore with strength (and labour): I will erect a strong barrier between you and them: (95) "Bring me blocks of iron." At length when he had filled up the space between the two steep mountain― sides, he said "Blow (with your bellows)." Then when he had made it (red) as fire he said: "Bring me, that I may pour over it molten lead." (96) Thus were they made powerless to scale it or to dig through it. (97) He said: "This is a mercy from my Lord: but when the promise of my Lord comes to pass, He will make it into dust; and the promise of My Lord is true." (98) On that day We shall leave them to surge like waves on one another; the trumpet will be blown, and We shall collect them all together. (99) And We shall present Hell that day for Unbelievers to see, all spread out― (100) (Unbelievers) whose eyes had been under a veil from Remembrance of Me, and who had been unable even to hear. (101) Do the Unbelievers think that they can take my servants as protectors besides Me? Verily We have prepared Hell for the Unbelievers for (their) entertainment. (102) Say: "Shall we tell you of those who lose most in respect of their deeds?― (103) "Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their works?" (104) They are those who deny the Signs of their Lord and the fact of their having to meet Him (in the Hereafter): vain will be their works, nor shall We on the Day of Judgment, give them any Weight. (105) That is their reward, Hell; because they rejected Faith, and took My Signs and My Messengers by way of jest. (106) As to those who believe and work righteous deeds, they have, for their entertainment, the Gardens of Paradise (107) Wherein they shall dwell (for aye): no change will they wish for themselves. (108) Say: "If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it, for its aid." (109) Say: "I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your God is one God: whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner." (110)
Chapter 16
Sura Al-Kahf
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Praise be to Allah Who hath sent to His Servant the Book, and hath allowed therein no Crookedness: (1) (He hath made it) Straight (and Clear), in order that He may warn (the godless) of a terrible Punishment from Him, and that He may give Glad Tidings to the Believers who work righteous deeds, that they shall have a goodly Reward. (2) Wherein they shall remain forever: (3) Further that He may warn those (also) who say "Allah hath begotten a son": (4) No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying. What they say is nothing but falsehood! (5) Thou wouldst only perchance, fret thyself to death, following after them, in grief, if they believe not in this Message. (6) That which is on earth We have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them, as to which of them are best in conduct. (7) Verily what is on earth We shall make but as dust and dry soil (without growth or herbage). (8) Or dost thou reflect that the Companions of the Cave and of the Inscription were wonders among Our Signs? (9) Behold, the youths betook themselves to the Cave: they said "Our Lord! Bestow on us Mercy from Thyself, and dispose of our affair for us in the right way! (10) Then We drew (a veil) over their ears, for a number of years, in the Cave, (so that they heard not): (11) Then We roused them, in order to test which of the two parties was best at calculating the term of years they had tarried! (12) We relate to thee their story in truth: they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We advanced them in guidance: (13) We gave strength to their hearts: behold, they stood up and said: "Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and of the earth: never shall we call upon any god other than Him: if we did; we should indeed have uttered an enormity!" (14) "These our people have taken for worship gods other than Him: why do they not bring forward an authority clear (and convincing) for what they do? Who doth more wrong than such as invent a falsehood against Allah? (15) "When ye turn away from them and the things they worship other than Allah betake yourselves to the Cave: your Lord will shower His mercies on you and dispose of your affair towards comfort and ease." (16) Thou wouldst have seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from their Cave, and when it set, turning away from them to the left while they lay in the open space in the midst of the Cave. Such are among the Signs of Allah: he whom Allah guides; but he whom Allah leaves to stray for him wilt thou find no protector to lead him to the Right Way. (17) Thou wouldst have deemed them awake, whilst they were asleep, and We turned them on their right and their left sides: their dog stretching forth his two forelegs on the threshold: if thou hadst come up on to them, thou wouldst have certainly turned back from them in flight, and wouldst certainly have been filled with terror of them. (18) Such (being their state), We raised them up (from sleep), that they might question each other. Said one of them "How long have ye stayed (here)?" They said "We have stayed (perhaps) a day or part of a day." (At length) they (all) said "Allah (alone) knows best how long ye have stayed here...Now send ye then one of you with this money of yours to the town: let him find out which is the best food (to be had) and bring some to you, that (ye may satisfy hunger therewith:) and let him behave with care and courtesy, and let him not inform anyone about you. (19) "For if thy should come upon you, they would stone you or force you to return to their cult, and in that case ye would never attain prosperity." (20) Thus did We make their case known to the people, that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that there can be no doubt about the Hour of Judgment. Behold, they dispute among themselves as to their affair. (Some) said "Construct a building over them": their Lord knows best about them: those who prevailed over their affair said "Let us surely build a place of worship over them." (21) (Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth― doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou: "My Lord knoweth best their number; it is but few that know their (real case)." Enter not, therefore, into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the Sleepers. (22) Nor say of anything, "I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow"― (23) Without adding, "So please Allah!" And call thy Lord to mind when thou forgettest, and say "I hope that my Lord will guide me ever closer (even) than this to the right road." (24) So they stayed in their Cave three hundred years, and (some) add nine (more). (25) Say: "Allah knows best how long they stayed: with Him is (the knowledge of) the secrets of the heavens and the earth: how clearly He sees, how finely He hears (everything)! They have no protector other than Him; nor does He share His Command with any person whatsoever. (26) And recite (and teach) what has been revealed to thee of the Book of thy Lord: none can change His Words, and none wilt thou find as a refuge other than Him. (27) And keep thy soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face; and let not thine eyes pass beyond them seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; nor obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds. (28) Say "The Truth is from your Lord": let him who will, believe, and let him who will, reject (it): for the wrongdoers We have prepared a Fire whose (smoke and flames), like the walls and roof of a tent will hem them in: if they implore relief they will be granted water like melted brass, that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on! (29) As to those who believe and work righteousness, verily We shall not suffer to perish the reward of any who do a (single) righteous deed. (30) For them will be Gardens of Eternity; beneath them rivers will flow; they will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade; they will recline therein on raised thrones. How good the recompense! How beautiful a couch to recline on! (31) Set forth to them the parable of two men: for one of them We provided two gardens of grapevines and surrounded them with date-palms: in between the two We placed corn-fields. (32) Each of those gardens brought forth its produce, and failed not in the least therein: in the midst of them We caused a river to flow. (33) (Abundant) was the produce this man had: he said to his companion, in the course of a mutual argument: "More wealth have I than you, and more honour and power in (my following of) men." (34) He went into his garden in a state (of mind) unjust to his soul: He said "I deem not that this will ever perish. (35) "Nor do I deem that the Hour (of Judgment) will (ever) come: even if I am brought back to my Lord I shall surely find (there) something better in exchange." (36) His companion said to him, in the course of the argument with him: "Dost thou deny Him Who created thee out of dust then out of a sperm-drop, then fashioned thee into a man? (37) "But (I think) for my part that he is Allah, my Lord, and none shall I associate with my Lord. (38) "Why didst thou not, as thou wentest into thy garden, say: `Allah's Will (be done)! There is no power but with Allah!' If thou dost see me less than thee in wealth and sons (39) "It may be that my Lord will give me something better than thy garden, and that He will send on thy garden thunderbolts (by way of reckoning) from heaven, making it (but) slippery sand!― (40) "Or the water of the garden will run off underground so that thou wilt never be able to find it." (41) So his fruits (and enjoyment) were encompassed (with ruin), and he remained twisting and turning his hands over what he had spent on his property, which had (now) tumbled to pieces to its very foundations, and he could only say "Woe is me! would I had never ascribed partners to my Lord and Cherisher!" (42) Nor had he numbers to help him against Allah, nor was he able to deliver himself. (43) There, the (only) protection comes from Allah, the True One. He is the Best to reward and the Best to give success. (44) Set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world: it is like the rain which We send down from the skies: the earth's vegetation absorbs it, But soon it becomes dry stubble, which the winds do scatter: it is (only) Allah Who prevails over all things. (45) Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of this world: but the things that endure, Good Deeds, are best in the sight of thy Lord, as rewards, and best as (the foundation for) hopes. (46) One Day We shall remove the mountains, and thou wilt see the earth as a level stretch, and We shall gather them, all together, nor shall We leave out any one of them. (47) And they will be marshalled before thy Lord in ranks (with the announcement), "Now have ye come to Us (bare) as We created you first: aye, ye thought We shall not fulfil the appointment made to you to meet (Us)!": (48) And the Book (of Deeds) will be placed (before you); and thou wilt see the sinful in great terror because of what is (recorded) therein; they will say "Ah! woe to us! what a book is this! It leaves out nothing small or great, but takes account thereof!" They will find all that they did, placed before them: and not one will thy Lord treat with injustice. (49) Behold! We said to the angels "Bow down to Adam": they bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord. Will ye then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrongdoers! (50) I called them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor (even) their own creation: nor is it for Me to take as helpers such as lead (men) astray! (51) One Day He will say "Call on those whom ye thought to be My partners" and they will call on them but they will not listen to them; and We shall make for them a place of common perdition. (52) And the Sinful shall see the Fire and apprehend that they have to fall therein; no means will they find to turn away therefrom. (53) We have explained in detail in this Qur'an, for the benefit of mankind, every kind of similitude: but man is, in most things contentious. (54) And what is there to keep back men from believing, now that guidance has come to them nor from praying for forgiveness from their Lord, but that (they ask that) the ways of the ancients be repeated with them, or the Wrath be brought to them face to face? (55) We only send the Messengers to give glad tidings and to give warnings: but the Unbelievers dispute with vain argument, in order therewith to weaken the truth, and they treat My Signs as a jest, as also the fact that they are warned! (56) And who doth more wrong than one who is reminded of the Signs of his Lord but turns away from them, forgetting the (deeds) which his hands have sent forth? Verily We have set veils over their hearts lest they should understand this, and over their ears, deafness. If thou callest them to guidance, even then will they never accept guidance. (57) But your Lord is Most Forgiving, Full of Mercy. If He were to call them (at once) to account for what they have earned, then surely He would have hastened their Punishment: but they have their appointed time, beyond which they will find no refuge. (58) Such were the populations We destroyed when they committed iniquities; but We fixed an appointed time for their destruction. (59) Behold, Moses said to his attendant "I will not give up until I reach the junction of the two seas or (until) I spend years and years in travel." (60) But when they reached the Junction, they forgot (about) their Fish, which took its course through the sea (straight) as in a tunnel. (61) When they had passed on (some distance), Moses said to his attendant: "Bring us our early meal; truly we have suffered much fatigue at this (stage of) our journey." (62) He replied: "Sawest thou (what happened) when we betook ourselves to the rock? I did indeed forget (about) the Fish: none but Satan made me forget to tell (you) about it: it took its course through the sea in a marvelous way!" (63) Moses said: "That was what we were seeking after": so they went back on their footsteps, following (the path they had come). (64) So they found one of Our servants on whom We had bestowed Mercy from Ourselves and whom We had taught knowledge from Our own presence. (65) Moses said to him: "May I follow thee, on the footing that thou teach me something of the (Higher) Truth which thou hast been taught?" (66) (The other) said: "Verily thou wilt not be able to have patience with me! (67) "And how canst thou have patience about things about which thy understanding is not complete?" (68) Moses said: "Thou wilt find me, if Allah so will (truly) patient: nor shall I disobey thee in aught." (69) The other said: "If then thou wouldst follow me, ask me no questions about anything until I myself speak to thee concerning it." (70) So they both proceeded: until, when they were in the boat, he scuttled it. Said Moses: "Hast thou scuttled it in order to drown those in it? Truly a strange thing hast thou done!" (71) He answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no patience with me?" (72) Moses said: "Rebuke me not for forgetting, nor grieve me by raising difficulties in my case." (73) Then they proceeded: until, when they met a young man, he slew him. Moses said: "Hast thou slain an innocent person who had slain none? Truly a foul (unheard-of) thing hast thou done!" (74) He answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no patience with me?" (75) (Moses) said: "If ever I ask thee about anything after this, keep me not in thy company: then wouldst thou have received (full) excuse from my side." (76) Then they proceeded: until, when they came to the inhabitants of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused them hospitality. They found there a wall on the point of falling down, but he set it up straight. (Moses) said: "If thou hadst wished, surely thou couldst have exacted some recompense for it!" (77) He answered: "This is the parting between me and thee: now will I tell thee the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience. (78) As for the boat, it belonged to certain men in dire want: they plied on the water: I but wished to render it unserviceable, for there was after them a certain king who seized on every boat by force. (79) "As for the youth his parents were people of Faith, and we feared that he would grieve them by obstinate rebellion and ingratitude (to Allah and man). (80) "So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange (a son) better in purity (of conduct) and closer in affection. (81) "As for the wall it, belonged to two youths, orphans in the Town; there was, beneath it, a buried treasure, to which they were entitled: their father had been a righteous man: so thy Lord desired that they should attain their age of full strength and get out their treasure― a mercy (and favour) from thy Lord. I did it not of my own accord. Such is the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience." (82) They ask thee concerning Dhu al Qarnayn. Say "I will rehearse to you something of his story." (83) Verily We established his power on earth, and We gave him the ways and the means to all ends. (84) One (such) way he followed, (85) Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water: near it he found a People: We said: "O Dhu al Qarnayn! (thou hast authority) either to punish them, or to treat them with, kindness." (86) He said: "Whoever doth wrong, him shall we punish; then shall he be sent back to his Lord; and He will punish him with a punishment unheard-of (before). (87) "But whoever believes, and works righteousness he shall have a goodly reward, and easy will be his task as we order it by our command." (88) Then followed he (another) way. (89) Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no covering protection against the sun. (90) (He left them) as they were: We completely understood what was before him. (91) Then followed he (another) way (92) Until, when he reached (a tract) between two mountains, he found, beneath them a people who scarcely understood a word. (93) They said: "O Dhu al Qarnayn! the Gog and Magog (people) do great mischief on earth: shall we then render thee tribute in order that thou mightest erect a barrier between us and them?" (94) He said: "(The power) in which my Lord has established me is better (than tribute): help me therefore with strength (and labour): I will erect a strong barrier between you and them: (95) "Bring me blocks of iron." At length when he had filled up the space between the two steep mountain― sides, he said "Blow (with your bellows)." Then when he had made it (red) as fire he said: "Bring me, that I may pour over it molten lead." (96) Thus were they made powerless to scale it or to dig through it. (97) He said: "This is a mercy from my Lord: but when the promise of my Lord comes to pass, He will make it into dust; and the promise of My Lord is true." (98) On that day We shall leave them to surge like waves on one another; the trumpet will be blown, and We shall collect them all together. (99) And We shall present Hell that day for Unbelievers to see, all spread out― (100) (Unbelievers) whose eyes had been under a veil from Remembrance of Me, and who had been unable even to hear. (101) Do the Unbelievers think that they can take my servants as protectors besides Me? Verily We have prepared Hell for the Unbelievers for (their) entertainment. (102) Say: "Shall we tell you of those who lose most in respect of their deeds?― (103) "Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their works?" (104) They are those who deny the Signs of their Lord and the fact of their having to meet Him (in the Hereafter): vain will be their works, nor shall We on the Day of Judgment, give them any Weight. (105) That is their reward, Hell; because they rejected Faith, and took My Signs and My Messengers by way of jest. (106) As to those who believe and work righteous deeds, they have, for their entertainment, the Gardens of Paradise (107) Wherein they shall dwell (for aye): no change will they wish for themselves. (108) Say: "If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it, for its aid." (109) Say: "I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your God is one God: whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner." (110)
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