log in
LC Geerts

LC Geerts

Website URL:

The Qur'an, 46. al-Ahqaf

46. al-Ahqaf: The Sandhills

1 Ha. Mim.
2 The revelation of the Scripture is from Allah the Mighty, the Wise.
3 We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them save with truth, and for a term appointed. But those who disbelieve turn away from that whereof they are warned.
4 Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Have ye thought on all that ye invoke beside Allah ? Show me what they have created of the earth. Or have they any portion in the heavens ? Bring me a scripture before this (Scripture), or some vestige of knowledge (in support of what ye say), if ye are truthful.
5 And who is further astray than those who, instead of Allah, pray unto such as hear not their prayer until the Day of Resurrection, and are unconscious of their prayer,
6 And when mankind are gathered (to the Judgment) will become enemies for them, and will become deniers of having been worshipped.
7 And when Our clear revelations are recited unto them, those who disbelieve say of the Truth when it reacheth them: This is mere magic.
8 Or say they: He hath invented it ? Say (O Muhammad): If I have invented it, still ye have no power to support me against Allah. He is Best Aware of what ye say among yourselves concerning it. He sufficeth for a witness between me and you. And He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
9 Say: I am no new thing among the messengers (of Allah), nor know I what will be done with me or with you. I do but follow that which is inspired in me, and I am but a plain warner.
10 Bethink you: If it is from Allah and ye disbelieve therein, and a witness of the Children of Israel hath already testified to the like thereof and hath believed, and ye are too proud (what plight is yours) ? Lo! Allah guideth not wrong-doing folk.
11 And those who disbelieve say of those who believe: If it had been (any) good, they would not have been before us in attaining it. And since they will not be guided by it, they say: This is an ancient lie;
12 When before it there was the Scripture of Moses, an example and a mercy; and this is a confirming Scripture in the Arabic language, that it may warn those who do wrong and bring good tidings for the righteous.
13 Lo! those who say: Our Lord is Allah, and thereafter walk aright, there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.
14 Such are rightful owners of the Garden, immortal therein, as a reward for what they used to do.
15 And We have commended unto man kindness toward parents. His mother beareth him with reluctance, and bringeth him forth with reluctance, and the bearing of him and the weaning of him is thirty months, till, when he attaineth full strength and reacheth forty years, he saith: My Lord! Arouse me that I may give thanks for the favour wherewith Thou hast favoured me and my parents, and that I may do right acceptable unto Thee. And be gracious unto me in the matter of my seed. Lo! I have turned unto Thee repentant, and lo! I am of those who surrender (unto Thee).
16 Those are they from whom We accept the best of what they do, and overlook their evil deeds. (They are) among the owners of the Garden. This is the true promise which they were promised (in the world).
17 And whoso saith unto his parents: Fie upon you both! Do ye threaten me that I shall be brought forth (again) when generations before me have passed away ? And they twain cry unto Allah for help (and say): Woe unto thee! Believe! Lo! the promise of Allah is true. But he saith: This is naught save fables of the men of old:
18 Such are those on whom the Word concerning nations of the jinn and mankind which have passed away before them hath effect. Lo! they are the losers.
19 And for all there will be ranks from what they do, that He may pay them for their deeds; and they will not be wronged.
20 And on the day when those who disbelieve are exposed to the Fire (it will be said): Ye squandered your good things in the life of the world and sought comfort therein. Now this day ye are rewarded with the doom of ignominy because ye were disdainful in the land without a right, and because ye used to transgress.
21 And make mention (O Muhammad) of the brother of A'ad when he warned his folk among the wind-curved sandhills - and verily warners came and went before and after him - saying: Serve none but Allah. Lo! I fear for you the doom of a tremendous Day.
22 They said: Hast come to turn us away from our gods ? Then bring upon us that wherewith thou threatenest us, if thou art of the truthful.
23 He said: The knowledge is with Allah only. I convey unto you that wherewith I have been sent, but I see you are a folk that know not.
24 Then, when they beheld it as a dense cloud coming toward their valleys, they said: Here is a cloud bringing us rain. Nay, but it is that which ye did seek to hasten, a wind wherein is painful torment,
25 Destroying all things by commandment of its Lord. And morning found them so that naught could be seen save their dwellings. Thus do We reward the guilty folk.
26 And verily We had empowered them with that wherewith We have not empowered you, and had assigned them ears and eyes and hearts; but their ears and eyes and hearts availed them naught since they denied the revelations of Allah; and what they used to mock befell them.
27 And verily We have destroyed townships round about you, and displayed (for them) Our revelation, that haply they might return.
28 Then why did those whom they had chosen for gods as a way of approach (unto Allah) not help them ? Nay, but they did fail them utterly. And (all) that was their lie, and what they used to invent.
29 And when We inclined toward thee (Muhammad) certain of the jinn, who wished to hear the Qur'an and, when they were in its presence, said: Give ear! and, when it was finished, turned back to their people, warning.
30 They said: O our people! Lo! we have heard a scripture which hath been revealed after Moses, confirming that which was before it, guiding unto the truth and a right road.
31 O our people! respond to Allah's summoner and believe in Him. He will forgive you some of your sins and guard you from a painful doom.
32 And whoso respondeth not to Allah's summoner he can nowise escape in the earth, and he hath no protecting friends instead of Him. Such are in error manifest.
33 Have they not seen that Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth and was not wearied by their creation, is Able to give life to the dead ? Aye, He verily is Able to do all things.
34 And on the day when those who disbelieve are exposed to the Fire (they will be asked): Is not this real ? They will say: Yea, by our Lord. He will say: Then taste the doom for that ye disbelieved.
35 Then have patience (O Muhammad) even as the stout of heart among the messengers (of old) had patience, and seek not to hasten on (the doom) for them. On the day when they see that which they are promised (it will seem to them) as though they had tarried but an hour of daylight. A clear message. Shall any be destroyed save evil-living folk ?

The Qur'an, 45. al-Jathiyah

45. al-Jathiyah: The Kneeling

1 Ha. Mim.
2 The revelation of the Scripture is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.
3 Lo! in the heavens and the earth are portents for believers.
4 And in your creation, and all the beasts that He scattereth in the earth, are portents for a folk whose faith is sure.
5 And the difference of night and day and the provision that Allah sendeth down from the sky and thereby quickeneth the earth after her death, and the ordering of the winds, are portents for a people who have sense.
6 These are the portents of Allah which We recite unto thee (Muhammad) with truth. Then in what fact, after Allah and His portents, will they believe ?
7 Woe unto each sinful liar,
8 Who heareth the revelations of Allah recited unto him, and then continueth in pride as though he heard them not. Give him tidings of a painful doom.
9 And when he knoweth aught of Our revelations he maketh it a jest. For such there is a shameful doom.
10 Beyond them there is hell, and that which they have earned will naught avail them, nor those whom they have chosen for protecting friends beside Allah. Theirs will be an awful doom.
11 This is guidance. And those who disbelieve the revelations of their Lord, for them there is a painful doom of wrath.
12 Allah it is Who hath made the sea of service unto you that the ships may run thereon by His command, and that ye may seek of His bounty, and that haply ye may be thankful;
13 And hath made of service unto you whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth; it is all from Him. Lo! herein verily are portents for a people who reflect.
14 Tell those who believe to forgive those who hope not for the days of Allah; in order that He may requite folk what they used to earn.
15 Whoso doeth right, it is for his soul, and whoso doeth wrong, it is against it. And afterward unto your Lord ye will be brought back.
16 And verily we gave the Children of Israel the Scripture and the Command and the Prophethood, and provided them with good things and favoured them above (all) peoples;
17 And gave them plain commandments. And they differed not until after the knowledge came unto them, through rivalry among themselves. Lo! thy Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein they used to differ.
18 And now have We set thee (O Muhammad) on a clear road of (Our) commandment; so follow it, and follow not the whims of those who know not.
19 Lo! they can avail thee naught against Allah. And lo! as for the wrong-doers, some of them are friends of others; and Allah is the Friend of those who ward off (evil).
20 This is clear indication for mankind, and a guidance and a mercy for a folk whose faith is sure.
21 Or do those who commit ill-deeds suppose that We shall make them as those who believe and do good works, the same in life and death ? Bad is their judgment!
22 And Allah hath created the heavens and the earth with truth, and that every soul may be repaid what it hath earned. And they will not be wronged.
23 Hast thou seen him who maketh his desire his god, and Allah sendeth him astray purposely, and sealeth up his hearing and his heart, and setteth on his sight a covering ? Then who will lead him after Allah (hath condemned him) ? Will ye not then heed ?
24 And they say: There is naught but our life of the world; we die and we live, and naught destroyeth us save time; when they have no knowledge whatsoever of (all) that; they do but guess.
25 And when Our clear revelations are recited unto them their only argument is that they say: Bring (back) our fathers. then, if ye are truthful.
26 Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Allah giveth life to you, then causeth you to die, then gathereth you unto the Day of Resurrection whereof there is no doubt. But most of mankind know not.
27 And unto Allah belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth; and on the day when the Hour riseth, on that day those who follow falsehood will be lost.
28 And thou wilt see each nation crouching, each nation summoned to its record. (And it will be said unto them): This day ye are requited what ye used to do.
29 This Our Book pronounceth against you with truth. Lo! We have caused (all) that ye did to be recorded.
30 Then, as for those who believed and did good works, their Lord will bring them in unto His mercy. That is the evident triumph.
31 And as for those who disbelieved (it will be said unto them): Were not Our revelations recited unto you ? But ye were scornful and became a guilty folk.
32 And when it was said: Lo! Allah's promise is the truth, and there is no doubt of the Hour's coming, ye said: We know not what the Hour is. We deem it naught but a conjecture, and we are by no means convinced.
33 And the evils of what they did will appear unto them, and that which they used to deride will befall them.
34 And it will be said: This day We forget you, even as ye forgot the meeting of this your day; and your habitation is the Fire, and there is none to help you.
35 This, forasmuch as ye made the revelations of Allah a jest, and the life of the world beguiled you. Therefor this day they come not forth from thence, nor can they make amends.
36 Then praise be to Allah, Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth, the Lord of the Worlds.
37 And unto Him (alone) belongeth Majesty in the heavens and the earth, and He is the Mighty, the Wise.

The Qur'an, 44. ad-Dukhan

44. ad-Dukhan: The Evident Smoke

1 Ha. Mim.
2 By the Scripture that maketh plain
3 Lo! We revealed it on a blessed night - Lo! We are ever warning -
4 Whereon every wise command is made clear
5 As a command from Our presence - Lo! We are ever sending -
6 A mercy from thy Lord. Lo! He, even He is the Hearer, the Knower,
7 Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, if ye would be sure.
8 There is no God save Him. He quickeneth and giveth death; your Lord and Lord of your forefathers.
9 Nay, but they play in doubt.
10 But watch thou (O Muhammad) for the day when the sky will produce visible smoke
11 That will envelop the people. This will be a painful torment.
12 (Then they will say): Our Lord relieve us of the torment. Lo! we are believers.
13 How can there be remembrance for them, when a messenger making plain (the Truth) had already come unto them,
14 And they had turned away from him and said: One taught (by others), a madman ?
15 Lo! We withdraw the torment a little. Lo! ye return (to disbelief).
16 On the day when We shall seize them with the greater seizure, (then) in truth We shall punish.
17 And verily We tried before them Pharaoh's folk, when there came unto them a noble messenger,
18 Saying: Give up to me the slaves of Allah. Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you.
19 And saying: Be not proud against Allah. Lo! I bring you a clear warrant.
20 And lo! I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord lest ye stone me to death.
21 And if ye put no faith in me, then let me go.
22 And he cried unto his Lord, (saying): These are guilty folk.
23 Then (his Lord commanded): Take away My slaves by night. Lo! ye will be followed,
24 And leave the sea behind at rest, for lo! they are a drowned host.
25 How many were the gardens and the watersprings that they left behind,
26 And the cornlands and the goodly sites
27 And pleasant things wherein they took delight!
28 Even so (it was), and We made it an inheritance for other folk;
29 And the heaven and the earth wept not for them, nor were they reprieved.
30 And We delivered the Children of Israel from the shameful doom;
31 (We delivered them) from Pharaoh. Lo! he was a tyrant of the wanton ones.
32 And We chose them, purposely, above (all) creatures.
33 And We gave them portents wherein was a clear trial.
34 Lo! these, forsooth, are saying:
35 There is naught but our first death, and we shall not be raised again.
36 Bring back our fathers, if ye speak the truth!
37 Are they better, or the folk of Tubb'a and those before them ? We destroyed them, for surely they were guilty.
38 And We created not the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, in play.
39 We created them not save with truth; but most of them know not.
40 Assuredly the Day of Decision is the term for all of them,
41 A day when friend can in naught avail friend, nor can they be helped,
42 Save him on whom Allah hath mercy. Lo! He is the Mighty, the Merciful.
43 Lo! the tree of Zaqqum,
44 The food of the sinner!
45 Like molten brass, it seetheth in their bellies
46 As the seething of boiling water.
47 (And it will be said): Take him and drag him to the midst of hell,
48 Then pour upon his head the torment of boiling water.
49 (Saying): Taste! Lo! thou wast forsooth the mighty, the noble!
50 Lo! this is that whereof ye used to doubt.
51 Lo! those who kept their duty will be in a place secured.
52 Amid gardens and watersprings,
53 Attired in silk and silk embroidery, facing one another.
54 Even so (it will be). And We shall wed them unto fair ones with wide, lovely eyes.
55 They call therein for every fruit in safety.
56 They taste not death therein, save the first death. And He hath saved them from the doom of hell,
57 A bounty from thy Lord. That is the supreme triumph.
58 And We have made (this Scripture) easy in thy language only that they may heed.
59 Wait then (O Muhammad). Lo! they (too) are waiting.

The Qur'an, 43. az-Zukhruf

43. az-Zukhruf: The Embellishment

1 Ha. Mim.
2 By the Scripture which maketh plain,
3 Lo! We have appointed it a Lecture, in Arabic that haply ye may understand.
4 And Lo! in the Source of Decrees, which We possess, it is indeed sublime, decisive.
5 Shall We utterly ignore you because ye are a wanton folk ?
6 How many a prophet did We send among the men of old!
7 And never came there unto them a prophet but they used to mock him.
8 Then We destroyed men mightier than these in prowess; and the example of the men of old hath gone (before them).
9 And if thou (Muhammad) ask them: Who created the heavens and the earth, they will surely answer: The Mighty, the Knower created them;
10 Who made the earth a resting-place for you, and placed roads for you therein, that haply ye may find your way;
11 And Who sendeth down water from the sky in (due) measure, and We revive a dead land therewith. Even so will ye be brought forth;
12 He Who created all the pairs, and appointed for you ships and cattle whereupon ye ride.
13 That ye may mount upon their backs, and may remember your Lord's favour when ye mount thereon, and may say: Glorified be He Who hath subdued these unto us, and we were not capable (of subduing them);
14 And lo! unto our Lord we surely are returning.
15 And they allot to Him a portion of His bondmen! Lo! man is verily a mere ingrate.
16 Or chooseth He daughters of all that He hath created, and honoureth He you with sons ?
17 And if one of them hath tidings of that which he likeneth to the Beneficent One, his countenance becometh black and he is full of inward rage.
18 (Liken they then to Allah) that which is bred up in outward show, and in dispute cannot make itself plain ?
19 And they make the angels, who are the slaves of the Beneficent, females. Did they witness their creation ? Their testimony will be recorded and they will be questioned.
20 And they say: If the Beneficent One had (so) willed, we should not have worshipped them. They have no knowledge whatsoever of that. They do but guess.
21 Or have We given them any scripture before (this Qur'an) so that they are holding fast thereto ?
22 Nay, for they say only: Lo! we found our fathers following a religion, and we are guided by their footprints.
23 And even so We sent not a warner before thee (Muhammad) into any township but its luxurious ones said: Lo! we found our fathers following a religion, and we are following their footprints.
24 (And the warner) said: What! Even though I bring you better guidance than that ye found your fathers following ? They answered: Lo! in what ye bring we are disbelievers.
25 So We requited them. Then see the nature of the consequence for the rejecters!
26 And when Abraham said unto his father and his folk: Lo! I am innocent of what ye worship
27 Save Him Who did create me, for He will surely guide me.
28 And he made it a word enduring among his seed, that haply they might return.
29 Nay, but I let these and their fathers enjoy life (only) till there should come unto them the Truth and a messenger making plain.
30 And now that the Truth hath come unto them they say: This is mere magic, and lo! we are disbelievers therein.
31 And they say: If only this Qur'an had been revealed to some great man of the two towns ?
32 Is it they who apportion thy Lord's mercy ? We have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of the world, and raised some of them above others in rank that some of them may take labour from others; and the mercy of thy Lord is better than (the wealth) that they amass.
33 And were it not that mankind would have become one community, We might well have appointed, for those who disbelieve in the Beneficent, roofs of silver for their houses and stairs (of silver) whereby to mount,
34 And for their houses doors (of silver) and couches of silver whereon to recline,
35 And ornaments of gold. Yet all that would have been but a provision of the life of the world. And the Hereafter with your Lord would have been for those who keep from evil.
36 And he whose sight is dim to the remembrance of the Beneficent, We assign unto him a devil who becometh his comrade;
37 And lo! they surely turn them from the way of Allah, and yet they deem that they are rightly guided;
38 Till, when he cometh unto Us, he saith (unto his comrade): Ah, would that between me and thee there were the distance of the two horizons - an evil comrade!
39 And it profiteth you not this day, because ye did wrong, that ye will be sharers in the doom.
40 Canst thou (Muhammad) make the deaf to hear, or canst thou guide the blind or him who is in error manifest ?
41 And if We take thee away, We surely shall take vengeance on them,
42 Or (if) We show thee that wherewith We threaten them; for lo! We have complete command of them.
43 So hold thou fast to that which is inspired in thee. Lo! thou art on a right path.
44 And lo! it is in truth a Reminder for thee and for thy folk; and ye will be questioned.
45 And ask those of Our messengers whom We sent before thee: Did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped beside the Beneficent ?
46 And verily We sent Moses with Our revelations unto Pharaoh and his chiefs, and he said: I am a messenger of the Lord of the Worlds.
47 But when he brought them Our tokens, behold! they laughed at them.
48 And every token that We showed them was greater than its sister (token), and We grasped them with the torment, that haply they might turn again.
49 And they said: O wizard! Entreat thy Lord for us by the pact that He hath made with thee. Lo! we verily will walk aright.
50 But when We eased them of the torment, behold! they broke their word.
51 And Pharaoh caused a proclamation to be made among his people saying: O my people! Is not mine the sovereignty of Egypt and these rivers flowing under me ? Can ye not then discern ?
52 I am surely better than this fellow, who is despicable and can hardly make (his meaning) plain!
53 Why, then, have armlets of gold not been set upon him, or angels sent along with him ?
54 Thus he persuaded his people to make light (of Moses), and they obeyed him. Lo! they were a wanton folk.
55 So, when they angered Us, We punished them and drowned them every one.
56 And We made them a thing past, and an example for those after (them).
57 And when the son of Mary is quoted as an example, behold! the folk laugh out,
58 And say: Are our gods better, or is he ? They raise not the objection save for argument. Nay! but they are a contentious folk.
59 He is nothing but a slave on whom We bestowed favour, and We made him a pattern for the Children of Israel.
60 And had We willed We could have set among you angels to be viceroys in the earth.
61 And lo! verily there is knowledge of the Hour. So doubt ye not concerning it, but follow Me. This is the right path.
62 And let not Satan turn you aside. Lo! he is an open enemy for you.
63 When Jesus came with clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty), he said: I have come unto you with wisdom, and to make plain some of that concerning which ye differ. So keep your duty to Allah, and obey me.
64 Lo! Allah, He is my Lord and your Lord. So worship Him. This is a right path.
65 But the factions among them differed. Then woe unto those who do wrong from the doom of a painful day.
66 Await they aught save the Hour, that it shall come upon them suddenly, when they know not ?
67 Friends on that day will be foes one to another, save those who kept their duty (to Allah).
68 O My slaves! For you there is no fear this day, nor is it ye who grieve;
69 (Ye) who believed Our revelations and were self-surrendered,
70 Enter the Garden, ye and your wives, to be made glad.
71 Therein are brought round for them trays of gold and goblets, and therein is all that souls desire and eyes find sweet. And ye are immortal therein.
72 This is the Garden which ye are made to inherit because of what ye used to do.
73 Therein for you is fruit in plenty whence to eat.
74 Lo! the guilty are immortal in hell's torment.
75 It is not relaxed for them, and they despair therein.
76 We wronged them not, but they it was who did the wrong.
77 And they cry: O master! Let thy Lord make an end of us. He saith: Lo! here ye must remain.
78 We verily brought the Truth unto you, but ye were, most of you, averse to the Truth.
79 Or do they determine any thing (against the Prophet) ? Lo! We (also) are determining.
80 Or deem they that We cannot hear their secret thoughts and private confidences ? Nay, but Our envoys, present with them, do record.
81 Say (O Muhammad): If the Beneficent One hath a son, then, I shall be first among the worshippers. (But there is no son).
82 Glorified be the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of the Throne, from that which they ascribe (unto Him)!
83 So let them flounder (in their talk) and play until they meet the Day which they are promised.
84 And He it is Who in the heaven is God, and in the earth God. He is the Wise, the Knower.
85 And blessed be He unto Whom belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, and with Whom is knowledge of the Hour, and unto Whom ye will be returned.
86 And those unto whom they cry instead of Him possess no power of intercession, saving him who beareth witness unto the Truth knowingly.
87 And if thou ask them who created them, they will surely say: Allah. How then are they turned away ?
88 And he saith: O my Lord! Lo! these are a folk who believe not.
89 Then bear with them (O Muhammad) and say: Peace. But they will come to know.

Subscribe to this RSS feed
twitter.com/ facebook.com/ youtube.com/ plus.google.com/

Network

Log in or create an account