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Text: Chapter 26: Ash-Shu'ara (The Poets)

26:1

طسم

Ṭâ-Sĩn-Mĩm.

26:2

تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ

These are the verses of the clear Book.

26:3

لَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ أَلَّا يَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ

Perhaps you ˹O Prophet˺ will grieve yourself to death over their disbelief.

26:4

إِن نَّشَأْ نُنَزِّلْ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ آيَةً فَظَلَّتْ أَعْنَاقُهُمْ لَهَا خَاضِعِينَ

If We willed, We could send down upon them a ˹compelling˺ sign from the heavens, leaving their necks bent in ˹utter˺ submission to it.

26:5

وَمَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّن ذِكْرٍ مِّنَ الرَّحْمَٰنِ مُحْدَثٍ إِلَّا كَانُوا عَنْهُ مُعْرِضِينَ

Whatever new reminder comes to them from the Most Compassionate, they always turn away from it.

26:6

فَقَدْ كَذَّبُوا فَسَيَأْتِيهِمْ أَنبَاءُ مَا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ

They have certainly denied ˹the truth˺, so they will soon face the consequences of their ridicule.

26:7

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الْأَرْضِ كَمْ أَنبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍ كَرِيمٍ

Have they failed to look at the earth, ˹to see˺ how many types of fine plants We have caused to grow in it?

26:8

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe.

26:9

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ

And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:10

وَإِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبُّكَ مُوسَىٰ أَنِ ائْتِ الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

˹Remember˺ when your Lord called out to Moses, “Go to the wrongdoing people—

26:11

قَوْمَ فِرْعَوْنَ ۚ أَلَا يَتَّقُونَ

the people of Pharaoh. Will they not fear ˹Allah˺?”

26:12

قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ

He replied, “My Lord! I fear that they will reject me.

26:13

وَيَضِيقُ صَدْرِي وَلَا يَنطَلِقُ لِسَانِي فَأَرْسِلْ إِلَىٰ هَارُونَ

And ˹so˺ my heart will be broken and my tongue will be tied. So send Aaron along ˹as a messenger˺.

26:14

وَلَهُمْ عَلَيَّ ذَنبٌ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقْتُلُونِ

Also, they have a charge against me,¹ so I fear they may kill me.”

26:15

قَالَ كَلَّا ۖ فَاذْهَبَا بِآيَاتِنَا ۖ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّسْتَمِعُونَ

Allah responded, “Certainly not! So go, both of you, with Our signs. We will be with you, listening.

26:16

فَأْتِيَا فِرْعَوْنَ فَقُولَا إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Go to Pharaoh and say, ‘We are messengers from the Lord of all worlds,

26:17

أَنْ أَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ

˹commanded to say:˺ ‘Let the Children of Israel go with us.’’”

26:18

قَالَ أَلَمْ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدًا وَلَبِثْتَ فِينَا مِنْ عُمُرِكَ سِنِينَ

Pharaoh protested, “Did we not raise you among us as a child, and you stayed several years of your life in our care?

26:19

وَفَعَلْتَ فَعْلَتَكَ الَّتِي فَعَلْتَ وَأَنتَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ

Then you did what you did,¹ being ˹utterly˺ ungrateful!”

26:20

قَالَ فَعَلْتُهَا إِذًا وَأَنَا مِنَ الضَّالِّينَ

Moses replied, “I did it then, lacking guidance.

26:21

فَفَرَرْتُ مِنكُمْ لَمَّا خِفْتُكُمْ فَوَهَبَ لِي رَبِّي حُكْمًا وَجَعَلَنِي مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

So I fled from you when I feared you. Then my Lord granted me wisdom and made me one of the messengers.

26:22

وَتِلْكَ نِعْمَةٌ تَمُنُّهَا عَلَيَّ أَنْ عَبَّدتَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ

How can that be a ‘favour,’ of which you remind me, when ˹it was only because˺ you ˹have˺ enslaved the Children of Israel?”

26:23

قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَمَا رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Pharaoh asked, “And what is ‘the Lord of all worlds’?”

26:24

قَالَ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ

Moses replied, “˹He is˺ the Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything in between, if only you had sure faith.”

26:25

قَالَ لِمَنْ حَوْلَهُ أَلَا تَسْتَمِعُونَ

Pharaoh said to those around him, “Did you hear ˹what he said˺?”

26:26

قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ وَرَبُّ آبَائِكُمُ الْأَوَّلِينَ

Moses added, “˹He is˺ your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers.”

26:27

قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَكُمُ الَّذِي أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ لَمَجْنُونٌ

Pharaoh said ˹mockingly˺, “Your messenger, who has been sent to you, must be insane.”

26:28

قَالَ رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

Moses responded: “˹He is˺ the Lord of the east and west, and everything in between, if only you had any sense.”

26:29

قَالَ لَئِنِ اتَّخَذْتَ إِلَٰهًا غَيْرِي لَأَجْعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ الْمَسْجُونِينَ

Pharaoh threatened, “If you take any other god besides me, I will certainly have you imprisoned.”

26:30

قَالَ أَوَلَوْ جِئْتُكَ بِشَيْءٍ مُّبِينٍ

Moses responded, “Even if I bring you a clear proof?”

26:31

قَالَ فَأْتِ بِهِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

Pharaoh demanded, “Bring it then, if what you say is true.”

26:32

فَأَلْقَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ ثُعْبَانٌ مُّبِينٌ

So he threw down his staff and—behold!—it became a real snake.

26:33

وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ بَيْضَاءُ لِلنَّاظِرِينَ

Then he drew his hand ˹out of his collar˺ and it was ˹shining˺ white for all to see.

26:34

قَالَ لِلْمَلَإِ حَوْلَهُ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسَاحِرٌ عَلِيمٌ

Pharaoh said to the chiefs around him, “He is indeed a skilled magician,

26:35

يُرِيدُ أَن يُخْرِجَكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِكُم بِسِحْرِهِ فَمَاذَا تَأْمُرُونَ

who seeks to drive you from your land by his magic. So what do you propose?”

26:36

قَالُوا أَرْجِهْ وَأَخَاهُ وَابْعَثْ فِي الْمَدَائِنِ حَاشِرِينَ

They replied, “Let him and his brother wait and dispatch mobilizers to all cities

26:37

يَأْتُوكَ بِكُلِّ سَحَّارٍ عَلِيمٍ

to bring you every skilled magician.”

26:38

فَجُمِعَ السَّحَرَةُ لِمِيقَاتِ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ

So the magicians were assembled at the set time on the appointed day.

26:39

وَقِيلَ لِلنَّاسِ هَلْ أَنتُم مُّجْتَمِعُونَ

And the people were asked, “Will you join the gathering,

26:40

لَعَلَّنَا نَتَّبِعُ السَّحَرَةَ إِن كَانُوا هُمُ الْغَالِبِينَ

so that we may follow the magicians if they prevail?”

26:41

فَلَمَّا جَاءَ السَّحَرَةُ قَالُوا لِفِرْعَوْنَ أَئِنَّ لَنَا لَأَجْرًا إِن كُنَّا نَحْنُ الْغَالِبِينَ

When the magicians came, they asked Pharaoh, “Shall we have a ˹suitable˺ reward if we prevail?”

26:42

قَالَ نَعَمْ وَإِنَّكُمْ إِذًا لَّمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ

He replied, “Yes, and you will then certainly be among those closest to me.”

26:43

قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰ أَلْقُوا مَا أَنتُم مُّلْقُونَ

Moses said to them, “Cast whatever you wish to cast.”

26:44

فَأَلْقَوْا حِبَالَهُمْ وَعِصِيَّهُمْ وَقَالُوا بِعِزَّةِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْغَالِبُونَ

So they cast down their ropes and staffs, saying, “By Pharaoh’s might, it is we who will surely prevail.”

26:45

فَأَلْقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَلْقَفُ مَا يَأْفِكُونَ

Then Moses threw down his staff, and—behold!—it devoured the objects of their illusion!

26:46

فَأُلْقِيَ السَّحَرَةُ سَاجِدِينَ

So the magicians fell down, prostrating.

26:47

قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

They declared, “We ˹now˺ believe in the Lord of all worlds—

26:48

رَبِّ مُوسَىٰ وَهَارُونَ

the Lord of Moses and Aaron.”

26:49

قَالَ آمَنتُمْ لَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ آذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ الَّذِي عَلَّمَكُمُ السِّحْرَ فَلَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ۚ لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَافٍ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

Pharaoh threatened, “How dare you believe in him before I give you permission? He must be your master who taught you magic, but soon you will see. I will certainly cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, then crucify you all.”

26:50

قَالُوا لَا ضَيْرَ ۖ إِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا مُنقَلِبُونَ

They responded, “˹That would be˺ no harm! Surely to our Lord we will ˹all˺ return.

26:51

إِنَّا نَطْمَعُ أَن يَغْفِرَ لَنَا رَبُّنَا خَطَايَانَا أَن كُنَّا أَوَّلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

We really hope that our Lord will forgive our sins, as we are the first to believe.”

26:52

وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِي إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ

And We inspired Moses, ˹saying,˺ “Leave with My servants at night, for you will surely be pursued.”

26:53

فَأَرْسَلَ فِرْعَوْنُ فِي الْمَدَائِنِ حَاشِرِينَ

Then Pharaoh sent mobilizers to all cities,

26:54

إِنَّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ لَشِرْذِمَةٌ قَلِيلُونَ

˹and said,˺ “These ˹outcasts˺ are just a handful of people,

26:55

وَإِنَّهُمْ لَنَا لَغَائِظُونَ

who have really enraged us,

26:56

وَإِنَّا لَجَمِيعٌ حَاذِرُونَ

but we are all on the alert.”

26:57

فَأَخْرَجْنَاهُم مِّن جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ

So We lured the tyrants¹ out of ˹their˺ gardens, springs,

26:58

وَكُنُوزٍ وَمَقَامٍ كَرِيمٍ

treasures, and splendid residences.

26:59

كَذَٰلِكَ وَأَوْرَثْنَاهَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ

So it was. And We awarded it ˹all˺ to the Children of Israel.

26:60

فَأَتْبَعُوهُم مُّشْرِقِينَ

And so they pursued them at sunrise.

26:61

فَلَمَّا تَرَاءَى الْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ أَصْحَابُ مُوسَىٰ إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ

When the two groups came face to face, the companions of Moses cried out, “We are overtaken for sure.”

26:62

قَالَ كَلَّا ۖ إِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ

Moses reassured ˹them˺, “Absolutely not! My Lord is certainly with me—He will guide me.”

26:63

فَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنِ اضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ الْبَحْرَ ۖ فَانفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍ كَالطَّوْدِ الْعَظِيمِ

So We inspired Moses: “Strike the sea with your staff,” and the sea was split, each part was like a huge mountain.

26:64

وَأَزْلَفْنَا ثَمَّ الْآخَرِينَ

We drew the pursuers to that place,

26:65

وَأَنجَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ وَمَن مَّعَهُ أَجْمَعِينَ

and delivered Moses and those with him all together.

26:66

ثُمَّ أَغْرَقْنَا الْآخَرِينَ

Then We drowned the others.

26:67

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe.

26:68

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ

And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:69

وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ

Relate to them ˹O Prophet˺ the story of Abraham,

26:70

إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ

when he questioned his father and his people, “What is that you worship ˹besides Allah˺?”

26:71

قَالُوا نَعْبُدُ أَصْنَامًا فَنَظَلُّ لَهَا عَاكِفِينَ

They replied, “We worship idols, to which we are fully devoted.”

26:72

قَالَ هَلْ يَسْمَعُونَكُمْ إِذْ تَدْعُونَ

Abraham asked, “Can they hear you when you call upon them?

26:73

أَوْ يَنفَعُونَكُمْ أَوْ يَضُرُّونَ

Or can they benefit or harm you?”

26:74

قَالُوا بَلْ وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا كَذَٰلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ

They replied, “No! But we found our forefathers doing the same.”

26:75

قَالَ أَفَرَأَيْتُم مَّا كُنتُمْ تَعْبُدُونَ

Abraham responded, “Have you ˹really˺ considered what you have been worshipping—

26:76

أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمُ الْأَقْدَمُونَ

you and your ancestors?

26:77

فَإِنَّهُمْ عَدُوٌّ لِّي إِلَّا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ

They are ˹all˺ enemies to me, except the Lord of all worlds.

26:78

الَّذِي خَلَقَنِي فَهُوَ يَهْدِينِ

˹He is˺ the One Who created me, and He ˹alone˺ guides me.

26:79

وَالَّذِي هُوَ يُطْعِمُنِي وَيَسْقِينِ

˹He is˺ the One Who provides me with food and drink.

26:80

وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ

And He ˹alone˺ heals me when I am sick.

26:81

وَالَّذِي يُمِيتُنِي ثُمَّ يُحْيِينِ

And He ˹is the One Who˺ will cause me to die, and then bring me back to life.

26:82

وَالَّذِي أَطْمَعُ أَن يَغْفِرَ لِي خَطِيئَتِي يَوْمَ الدِّينِ

And He is ˹the One˺ Who, I hope, will forgive my flaws¹ on Judgment Day.”

26:83

رَبِّ هَبْ لِي حُكْمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ

“My Lord! Grant me wisdom, and join me with the righteous.

26:84

وَاجْعَل لِّي لِسَانَ صِدْقٍ فِي الْآخِرِينَ

Bless me with honourable mention among later generations.¹

26:85

وَاجْعَلْنِي مِن وَرَثَةِ جَنَّةِ النَّعِيمِ

Make me one of those awarded the Garden of Bliss.

26:86

وَاغْفِرْ لِأَبِي إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الضَّالِّينَ

Forgive my father, for he is certainly one of the misguided.

26:87

وَلَا تُخْزِنِي يَوْمَ يُبْعَثُونَ

And do not disgrace me on the Day all will be resurrected—

26:88

يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ

the Day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit.

26:89

إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ

Only those who come before Allah with a pure heart ˹will be saved˺.”¹

26:90

وَأُزْلِفَتِ الْجَنَّةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

˹On that Day˺ Paradise will be brought near to the God-fearing,

26:91

وَبُرِّزَتِ الْجَحِيمُ لِلْغَاوِينَ

and the Hellfire will be displayed to the deviant.

26:92

وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْبُدُونَ

And it will be said to them, “Where are those you used to worship

26:93

مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ هَلْ يَنصُرُونَكُمْ أَوْ يَنتَصِرُونَ

besides Allah? Can they help you or even help themselves?”

26:94

فَكُبْكِبُوا فِيهَا هُمْ وَالْغَاوُونَ

Then the idols will be hurled headlong into Hell, along with the deviant

26:95

وَجُنُودُ إِبْلِيسَ أَجْمَعُونَ

and the soldiers of Iblîs,¹ all together.

26:96

قَالُوا وَهُمْ فِيهَا يَخْتَصِمُونَ

There the deviant will cry while disputing with their idols,

26:97

تَاللَّهِ إِن كُنَّا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ

“By Allah! We were clearly mistaken,

26:98

إِذْ نُسَوِّيكُم بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

when we made you equal to the Lord of all worlds.

26:99

وَمَا أَضَلَّنَا إِلَّا الْمُجْرِمُونَ

And none led us astray other than the wicked.

26:100

فَمَا لَنَا مِن شَافِعِينَ

Now we have none to intercede for us,

26:101

وَلَا صَدِيقٍ حَمِيمٍ

nor a close friend.

26:102

فَلَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةً فَنَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

If only we could have a second chance, then we would be believers.”

26:103

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe.

26:104

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ

And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:105

كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

The people of Noah rejected the messengers¹

26:106

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ نُوحٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

when their brother Noah said to them, “Will you not fear ˹Allah˺?

26:107

إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ

I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you.

26:108

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:109

وَمَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

I do not ask you for any reward for this ˹message˺. My reward is only from the Lord of all worlds.

26:110

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

So fear Allah, and obey me.”

26:111

قَالُوا أَنُؤْمِنُ لَكَ وَاتَّبَعَكَ الْأَرْذَلُونَ

They argued, “How can we believe in you, when you are followed ˹only˺ by the lowest of the low?”¹

26:112

قَالَ وَمَا عِلْمِي بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

He responded, “And what knowledge do I have of what they do?

26:113

إِنْ حِسَابُهُمْ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّي ۖ لَوْ تَشْعُرُونَ

Their judgment is with my Lord, if you had any sense!

26:114

وَمَا أَنَا بِطَارِدِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

I am not going to expel the believers.

26:115

إِنْ أَنَا إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ

I am only sent with a clear warning.”

26:116

قَالُوا لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهِ يَا نُوحُ لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمَرْجُومِينَ

They threatened, “If you do not desist, O Noah, you will surely be stoned ˹to death˺.”

26:117

قَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي كَذَّبُونِ

Noah prayed, “My Lord! My people have truly rejected me.

26:118

فَافْتَحْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُمْ فَتْحًا وَنَجِّنِي وَمَن مَّعِيَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

So judge between me and them decisively, and save me and the believers with me.”

26:119

فَأَنجَيْنَاهُ وَمَن مَّعَهُ فِي الْفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُونِ

So We saved him and those with him in the fully loaded Ark.

26:120

ثُمَّ أَغْرَقْنَا بَعْدُ الْبَاقِينَ

Then afterwards We drowned the rest.

26:121

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe.

26:122

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ

And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:123

كَذَّبَتْ عَادٌ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

The people of ’Âd rejected the messengers

26:124

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ هُودٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

when their brother Hûd said to them, “Will you not fear ˹Allah˺?

26:125

إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ

I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you.

26:126

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:127

وَمَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

I do not ask you for any reward for this ˹message˺. My reward is only from the Lord of all worlds.

26:128

أَتَبْنُونَ بِكُلِّ رِيعٍ آيَةً تَعْبَثُونَ

˹Why˺ do you build a landmark on every high place in vanity,

26:129

وَتَتَّخِذُونَ مَصَانِعَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَخْلُدُونَ

and construct castles, as if you are going to live forever,

26:130

وَإِذَا بَطَشْتُم بَطَشْتُمْ جَبَّارِينَ

and act so viciously when you attack ˹others˺?

26:131

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:132

وَاتَّقُوا الَّذِي أَمَدَّكُم بِمَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Fear the One Who has provided you with ˹the good˺ things you know:

26:133

أَمَدَّكُم بِأَنْعَامٍ وَبَنِينَ

He provided you with cattle, and children,

26:134

وَجَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ

and gardens, and springs.

26:135

إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

I truly fear for you the torment of a tremendous day.”

26:136

قَالُوا سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْنَا أَوَعَظْتَ أَمْ لَمْ تَكُن مِّنَ الْوَاعِظِينَ

They responded, “It is all the same to us whether you warn ˹us˺ or not.

26:137

إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا خُلُقُ الْأَوَّلِينَ

This is simply the tradition of our predecessors.

26:138

وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ

And we will never be punished.”

26:139

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

So they rejected him, and ˹so˺ We destroyed them. Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe.

26:140

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ

And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:141

كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

The people of Thamûd rejected the messengers

26:142

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ صَالِحٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

when their brother Ṣâliḥ said to them, “Will you not fear ˹Allah˺?

26:143

إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ

I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you.

26:144

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:145

وَمَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

I do not ask you for any reward for this ˹message˺. My reward is only from the Lord of all worlds.

26:146

أَتُتْرَكُونَ فِي مَا هَاهُنَا آمِنِينَ

Do you think you will be ˹forever˺ left secure in what you have here:

26:147

فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ

amid gardens and springs,

26:148

وَزُرُوعٍ وَنَخْلٍ طَلْعُهَا هَضِيمٌ

and ˹various˺ crops, and palm trees ˹loaded˺ with tender fruit;

26:149

وَتَنْحِتُونَ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا فَارِهِينَ

to carve homes in the mountains with great skill?

26:150

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:151

وَلَا تُطِيعُوا أَمْرَ الْمُسْرِفِينَ

And do not follow the command of the transgressors,

26:152

الَّذِينَ يُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ

who spread corruption throughout the land, never setting things right.”

26:153

قَالُوا إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مِنَ الْمُسَحَّرِينَ

They replied, “You are simply bewitched!

26:154

مَا أَنتَ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا فَأْتِ بِآيَةٍ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

You are only a human being like us, so bring forth a sign if what you say is true.”

26:155

قَالَ هَٰذِهِ نَاقَةٌ لَّهَا شِرْبٌ وَلَكُمْ شِرْبُ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ

Ṣâliḥ said, “Here is a camel. She will have her turn to drink as you have yours, each on an appointed day.

26:156

وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

And do not ever touch her with harm, or you will be overtaken by the torment of a tremendous day.”

26:157

فَعَقَرُوهَا فَأَصْبَحُوا نَادِمِينَ

But they killed her, becoming regretful.

26:158

فَأَخَذَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

So the punishment overtook them. Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe.

26:159

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ

And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:160

كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ لُوطٍ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

The people of Lot rejected the messengers

26:161

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ لُوطٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

when their brother Lot said to them, “Will you not fear ˹Allah˺?

26:162

إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ

I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you.

26:163

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:164

وَمَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

I do not ask you for any reward for this ˹message˺. My reward is only from the Lord of all worlds.

26:165

أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ

Why do you ˹men˺ lust after fellow men,¹

26:166

وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّنْ أَزْوَاجِكُم ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ

leaving the wives that your Lord has created for you? In fact, you are a transgressing people.”

26:167

قَالُوا لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهِ يَا لُوطُ لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُخْرَجِينَ

They threatened, “If you do not desist, O Lot, you will surely be expelled.”

26:168

قَالَ إِنِّي لِعَمَلِكُم مِّنَ الْقَالِينَ

Lot responded, “I am truly one of those who despise your ˹shameful˺ practice.

26:169

رَبِّ نَجِّنِي وَأَهْلِي مِمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ

My Lord! Save me and my family from ˹the consequences of˺ what they do.”

26:170

فَنَجَّيْنَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ أَجْمَعِينَ

So We saved him and all of his family,

26:171

إِلَّا عَجُوزًا فِي الْغَابِرِينَ

except an old woman,¹ who was one of the doomed.

26:172

ثُمَّ دَمَّرْنَا الْآخَرِينَ

Then We utterly destroyed the rest,

26:173

وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّطَرًا ۖ فَسَاءَ مَطَرُ الْمُنذَرِينَ

pouring upon them a rain ˹of brimstone˺. How evil was the rain of those who had been warned!

26:174

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe.

26:175

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ

And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:176

كَذَّبَ أَصْحَابُ الْأَيْكَةِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

The residents of the Forest rejected the messengers

26:177

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ شُعَيْبٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

when Shu’aib said to them,¹ “Will you not fear ˹Allah˺?

26:178

إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ

I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you.

26:179

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:180

وَمَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

I do not ask you for any reward for this ˹message˺. My reward is only from the Lord of all worlds.

26:181

أَوْفُوا الْكَيْلَ وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُخْسِرِينَ

Give full measure, and cause no loss ˹to others˺.

26:182

وَزِنُوا بِالْقِسْطَاسِ الْمُسْتَقِيمِ

Weigh with an even balance,

26:183

وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا النَّاسَ أَشْيَاءَهُمْ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ

and do not defraud people of their property. Nor go about spreading corruption in the land.

26:184

وَاتَّقُوا الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالْجِبِلَّةَ الْأَوَّلِينَ

And fear the One Who created you and ˹all˺ earlier peoples.”

26:185

قَالُوا إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مِنَ الْمُسَحَّرِينَ

They replied, “You are simply bewitched!

26:186

وَمَا أَنتَ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا وَإِن نَّظُنُّكَ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ

Also, you are only a human being like us, and we think you are indeed a liar.

26:187

فَأَسْقِطْ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

So cause ˹deadly˺ pieces of the sky to fall upon us, if what you say is true.”

26:188

قَالَ رَبِّي أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

Shu’aib responded, “My Lord knows best whatever you do.”

26:189

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ الظُّلَّةِ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

So they rejected him, and ˹so˺ were overtaken by the torment of the day of the ˹deadly˺ cloud.¹ That was really a torment of a tremendous day.

26:190

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe.

26:191

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ

And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:192

وَإِنَّهُ لَتَنزِيلُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

This is certainly a revelation from the Lord of all worlds,

26:193

نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ

which the trustworthy spirit ˹Gabriel˺ brought down

26:194

عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُنذِرِينَ

into your heart ˹O Prophet˺—so that you may be one of the warners—

26:195

بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِيٍّ مُّبِينٍ

in a clear Arabic tongue.

26:196

وَإِنَّهُ لَفِي زُبُرِ الْأَوَّلِينَ

And it has indeed been ˹foretold˺ in the Scriptures of those before.

26:197

أَوَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ آيَةً أَن يَعْلَمَهُ عُلَمَاءُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ

Was it not sufficient proof for the deniers that it has been recognized by the knowledgeable among the Children of Israel?¹

26:198

وَلَوْ نَزَّلْنَاهُ عَلَىٰ بَعْضِ الْأَعْجَمِينَ

Had We revealed it to a non-Arab,

26:199

فَقَرَأَهُ عَلَيْهِم مَّا كَانُوا بِهِ مُؤْمِنِينَ

who would then recite it to the deniers ˹in fluent Arabic˺, still they would not have believed in it!

26:200

كَذَٰلِكَ سَلَكْنَاهُ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ

This is how We allow denial ˹to steep˺ into the hearts of the wicked.

26:201

لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُا الْعَذَابَ الْأَلِيمَ

They will not believe in it until they see the painful punishment,

26:202

فَيَأْتِيَهُم بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

which will take them by surprise when they least expect ˹it˺.

26:203

فَيَقُولُوا هَلْ نَحْنُ مُنظَرُونَ

Then they will cry, “Can we be allowed more time?”

26:204

أَفَبِعَذَابِنَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونَ

Do they ˹really˺ seek to hasten Our torment?

26:205

أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِن مَّتَّعْنَاهُمْ سِنِينَ

Imagine ˹O Prophet˺ if We allowed them enjoyment for years,

26:206

ثُمَّ جَاءَهُم مَّا كَانُوا يُوعَدُونَ

then there came to them what they had been threatened with:

26:207

مَا أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا يُمَتَّعُونَ

would that enjoyment be of any benefit to them ˹at all˺?

26:208

وَمَا أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا لَهَا مُنذِرُونَ

We have never destroyed a society without warners

26:209

ذِكْرَىٰ وَمَا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ

to remind ˹them˺, for We would never wrong ˹anyone˺.

26:210

وَمَا تَنَزَّلَتْ بِهِ الشَّيَاطِينُ

It was not the devils who brought this ˹Quran˺ down:

26:211

وَمَا يَنبَغِي لَهُمْ وَمَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ

it is not for them ˹to do so˺, nor can they,

26:212

إِنَّهُمْ عَنِ السَّمْعِ لَمَعْزُولُونَ

for they are strictly barred from ˹even˺ overhearing ˹it˺.¹

26:213

فَلَا تَدْعُ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُعَذَّبِينَ

So do not ever call upon any other god besides Allah, or you will be one of the punished.

26:214

وَأَنذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الْأَقْرَبِينَ

And warn ˹all, starting with˺ your closest relatives,

26:215

وَاخْفِضْ جَنَاحَكَ لِمَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

and be gracious to the believers who follow you.

26:216

فَإِنْ عَصَوْكَ فَقُلْ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

But if they disobey you, say, “I am certainly free of what you do.”

26:217

وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى الْعَزِيزِ الرَّحِيمِ

Put your trust in the Almighty, Most Merciful,

26:218

الَّذِي يَرَاكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ

Who sees you when you rise ˹for prayer at night˺,

26:219

وَتَقَلُّبَكَ فِي السَّاجِدِينَ

as well as your movements ˹in prayer˺ along with ˹fellow˺ worshippers.

26:220

إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

He ˹alone˺ is indeed the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

26:221

هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ عَلَىٰ مَن تَنَزَّلُ الشَّيَاطِينُ

Shall I inform you of whom the devils ˹actually˺ descend upon?

26:222

تَنَزَّلُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ

They descend upon every sinful liar,

26:223

يُلْقُونَ السَّمْعَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ كَاذِبُونَ

who gives an ˹attentive˺ ear ˹to half-truths˺, mostly passing on sheer lies.¹

26:224

وَالشُّعَرَاءُ يَتَّبِعُهُمُ الْغَاوُونَ

As for poets, they are followed ˹merely˺ by deviants.

26:225

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّهُمْ فِي كُلِّ وَادٍ يَهِيمُونَ

Do you not see how they rant in every field,¹

26:226

وَأَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ مَا لَا يَفْعَلُونَ

only saying what they never do?

26:227

إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَانتَصَرُوا مِن بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُوا ۗ وَسَيَعْلَمُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَيَّ مُنقَلَبٍ يَنقَلِبُونَ

Except those who believe, do good, remember Allah often, and ˹poetically˺ avenge ˹the believers˺ after being wrongfully slandered. The wrongdoers will come to know what ˹evil˺ end they will meet.