As-Saaffaat (37) : سُورَةُ الصَّافَّاتِ

وَٱلصَّٰٓفَّٰتِ صَفًّۭا

CONSIDER these [messages] ranged in serried ranks,

فَٱلتَّٰلِيَٰتِ ذِكْرًا

and conveying [to all the world] a reminder:

رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَرَبُّ ٱلْمَشَٰرِقِ

the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and of all that is between them, and the Sustainer of all the points of sunrise!

وَحِفْظًۭا مِّن كُلِّ شَيْطَٰنٍۢ مَّارِدٍۢ

and have made them secure against every rebellious, satanic force,

دُحُورًۭا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌۭ وَاصِبٌ

cast out [from all grace], with lasting suffering in store for them [in the life to come];

فَٱسْتَفْتِهِمْ أَهُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا أَم مَّنْ خَلَقْنَآ ۚ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَٰهُم مِّن طِينٍۢ لَّازِبٍۭ

AND NOW ask those [who deny the truth] to enlight­en thee: Were they more difficult to create than all those [untold marvels] that We have created? - for, behold, them have We created out of [mere] clay commingled with water!

وَإِذَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ لَا يَذْكُرُونَ

and when they are reminded [of the truth], they refuse to take it to heart;

وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌۭ مُّبِينٌ

and say: “This is clearly nothing but [a mortal’s] spellbinding eloquence!

أَوَءَابَآؤُنَا ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ

and perhaps also our forebears of old?”

فَإِنَّمَا هِىَ زَجْرَةٌۭ وَٰحِدَةٌۭ فَإِذَا هُمْ يَنظُرُونَ

for that [resurrection which they deride] will be [upon them of a sudden, as if it were] but a single accusing cry - and then, lo! they will begin to see [the truth]

هَٰذَا يَوْمُ ٱلْفَصْلِ ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تُكَذِّبُونَ

[And they will be told:] “This is the Day of Distinction [between the true and the false - the Day] which you were wont to call a lie!”

مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَٱهْدُوهُمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ

instead of God, and lead them all onto the way to the blazing fire,

مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَنَاصَرُونَ

“How is it that [now] you cannot succour one another?”

وَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ

but [since it will be too late,] they will turn upon one another, demanding of each other [to relieve them of the burden of their past sins].

قَالُوا۟ بَل لَّمْ تَكُونُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ

[To which] the others will reply: “Nay, you yourselves were bereft of all faith!

فَحَقَّ عَلَيْنَا قَوْلُ رَبِّنَآ ۖ إِنَّا لَذَآئِقُونَ

But now our Sustainer’s word has come true against us [as well]: verily, we are bound to taste [the fruit of our sins].

فَإِنَّهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ مُشْتَرِكُونَ

And, verily, on that Day they all will share in their common suffering.

إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوٓا۟ إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ

for, behold, whenever they were told, “There is no deity save God,” they would glory in their arrogance

بَلْ جَآءَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَصَدَّقَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

Nay, but he [whom you call a mad poet] has brought the truth; and he confirms the truth of [what the earlier of God’s] message-bearers [have taught].

وَمَا تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

although you shall not be requited for aught but what you were wont to do.

أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ رِزْقٌۭ مَّعْلُومٌۭ

[in the hereafter,] theirs shall be a sustenance which they will recognize

فِى جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

in gardens of bliss,

يُطَافُ عَلَيْهِم بِكَأْسٍۢ مِّن مَّعِينٍۭ

A cup will be passed round among them [with a drink] from unsullied springs,

لَا فِيهَا غَوْلٌۭ وَلَا هُمْ عَنْهَا يُنزَفُونَ

no headiness will be in it, and they will not get drunk thereon.

كَأَنَّهُنَّ بَيْضٌۭ مَّكْنُونٌۭ

[as free of faults] as if they were hidden [ostrich] eggs.

قَالَ قَآئِلٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ إِنِّى كَانَ لِى قَرِينٌۭ

One of them speaks thus: “Behold, I had [on earth] a close companion

أَءِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًۭا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَدِينُونَ

[that] after we have died and become mere dust and bones we shall, forsooth, be brought to judgment?”’

فَٱطَّلَعَ فَرَءَاهُ فِى سَوَآءِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ

and then he looks and sees that [companion of his] in the midst of the blazing fire,

وَلَوْلَا نِعْمَةُ رَبِّى لَكُنتُ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْضَرِينَ

for had it not been for my Sustainer’s favour, I would surely be [now] among those who are given over [to suffering]!

إِلَّا مَوْتَتَنَا ٱلْأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ

[again,] beyond our previous death, and that we shall never [again] be made to suffer?

لِمِثْلِ هَٰذَا فَلْيَعْمَلِ ٱلْعَٰمِلُونَ

For the like of this, then, let them labour, those who labour [in God’s way]!

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَٰهَا فِتْنَةًۭ لِّلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Verily, We have caused it to be a trial for evildoers:

طَلْعُهَا كَأَنَّهُۥ رُءُوسُ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينِ

its fruit [as repulsive] as satans’ heads;

ثُمَّ إِنَّ لَهُمْ عَلَيْهَا لَشَوْبًۭا مِّنْ حَمِيمٍۢ

And, behold, above all this they will be confounded with burning des­pair!

إِنَّهُمْ أَلْفَوْا۟ ءَابَآءَهُمْ ضَآلِّينَ

for, behold, they found their forebears on a wrong way,

وَلَقَدْ ضَلَّ قَبْلَهُمْ أَكْثَرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

Thus, indeed, most of the people of old went astray before them,

فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُنذَرِينَ

and behold what happened in the end to those that had been warned [to no avail]!

وَلَقَدْ نَادَىٰنَا نُوحٌۭ فَلَنِعْمَ ٱلْمُجِيبُونَ

And, indeed, [it was for this reason that] Noah cried unto Us - and how excellent was Our response:

وَجَعَلْنَا ذُرِّيَّتَهُۥ هُمُ ٱلْبَاقِينَ

and caused his offspring to endure [on earth];

سَلَٰمٌ عَلَىٰ نُوحٍۢ فِى ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

“Peace be upon Noah throughout all the worlds!”

إِنَّهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

for he was truly one of our believing servants:

۞ وَإِنَّ مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ لَإِبْرَٰهِيمَ

AND, BEHOLD, of his persuasion was Abraham, too,

إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِۦ مَاذَا تَعْبُدُونَ

and [thus] spoke to his father and his people: “What is it that you worship?

فَمَا ظَنُّكُم بِرَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

What, then, do you think of the Sustainer of all the worlds?”

فَقَالَ إِنِّى سَقِيمٌۭ

and said, “Verily, I am sick [at heart]!”

فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ ءَالِهَتِهِمْ فَقَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ

Thereupon he approached their gods stealthily and said, “What! You do not eat [of the offerings placed before you]?

فَرَاغَ عَلَيْهِمْ ضَرْبًۢا بِٱلْيَمِينِ

And then he fell upon them, smiting them with his right hand.

قَالَ أَتَعْبُدُونَ مَا تَنْحِتُونَ

He answered: “Do you worship something that you [yourselves] have carved,

قَالُوا۟ ٱبْنُوا۟ لَهُۥ بُنْيَٰنًۭا فَأَلْقُوهُ فِى ٱلْجَحِيمِ

They exclaimed: “Build a pyre for him, and cast him into the blazing fire!”

وَقَالَ إِنِّى ذَاهِبٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّى سَيَهْدِينِ

And [Abraham] said: “Verily, I shall [leave this land and] go wherever my Sustainer will guide me!”

فَبَشَّرْنَٰهُ بِغُلَٰمٍ حَلِيمٍۢ

whereupon We gave him the glad tiding of a boy-child gentle [like himself]?

فَلَمَّآ أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُۥ لِلْجَبِينِ

But as soon as the two had surrendered themselves to [what they thought to be] the will of God, and [Abraham] had laid him down on his face,

قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ ٱلرُّءْيَآ ۚ إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

thou hast already fulfilled [the purpose of] that dream- vision!” Thus, verily, do We reward the doers of good:

وَفَدَيْنَٰهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍۢ

And We ransomed him with a tremendous sacrifice,

سَلَٰمٌ عَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ

“Peace be upon Abraham!”

إِنَّهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

for he was truly one of our believing servants.

وَبَٰرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَىٰٓ إِسْحَٰقَ ۚ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا مُحْسِنٌۭ وَظَالِمٌۭ لِّنَفْسِهِۦ مُبِينٌۭ

and We blessed him and Isaac: but among the offspring of these two there were [des­tined] to be both doers of good and such as would glaringly sin against themselves.

وَنَجَّيْنَٰهُمَا وَقَوْمَهُمَا مِنَ ٱلْكَرْبِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

and We saved them and their people from the awesome calamity [of bondage],

وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُمَا ٱلْكِتَٰبَ ٱلْمُسْتَبِينَ

And We gave them the divine writ that made [right and wrong] distinct,

وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِمَا فِى ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ

and left them thus to be remem­bered among later generations:

إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Thus do We reward the doers of good –

وَإِنَّ إِلْيَاسَ لَمِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

AND, BEHOLD, Elijah [too] was indeed one of Our message-bearers

أَتَدْعُونَ بَعْلًۭا وَتَذَرُونَ أَحْسَنَ ٱلْخَٰلِقِينَ

Will you invoke Baal and forsake [God,] the best of artisans -

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَمُحْضَرُونَ

But they gave him the lie: and therefore they will most surely be arraigned [on Judgment Day],

وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ

and him We left thus to be remem­bered among later generations:

إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Verily, thus do We reward the doers of good –

وَإِنَّ لُوطًۭا لَّمِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

AND, BEHOLD, Lot was indeed one of Our mes­sage-bearers;

إِلَّا عَجُوزًۭا فِى ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ

except an old woman who was among those that stayed behind;

وَإِنَّكُمْ لَتَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهِم مُّصْبِحِينَ

and, verily, [to this day] you pass by the remnants of their dwellings at morning-time

وَإِنَّ يُونُسَ لَمِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

AND, BEHOLD, Jonah was indeed one of Our mes­sage-bearers

فَسَاهَمَ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُدْحَضِينَ

And then they cast lots, and he was the one who lost;

فَلَوْلَآ أَنَّهُۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُسَبِّحِينَ

And had he not been of those who [even in the deep darkness of their distress are able to] extol God’s limitless glory,

۞ فَنَبَذْنَٰهُ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ سَقِيمٌۭ

but We caused him to be cast forth on a desert shore, sick [at heart] as he was,

وَأَرْسَلْنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ مِا۟ئَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ

And [then] We sent him [once again] to [his people,] a hundred thousand [souls] or more:

فَٱسْتَفْتِهِمْ أَلِرَبِّكَ ٱلْبَنَاتُ وَلَهُمُ ٱلْبَنُونَ

AND NOW ask them to enlighten thee: Has thy Sustainer daughters, whereas they would have [only] sons?

أَلَآ إِنَّهُم مِّنْ إِفْكِهِمْ لَيَقُولُونَ

Oh, verily, it is out of their own [inclination to] falsehood that some people assert,

أَصْطَفَى ٱلْبَنَاتِ عَلَى ٱلْبَنِينَ

“He has chosen daughters in preference to sons”!

أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

Will you not, then, bethink yourselves?

فَأْتُوا۟ بِكِتَٰبِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ

Produce, then, that divine writ of yours, if you are speaking the truth!

سُبْحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

limitless is God in His glory, above anything that men may devise by way of definition!

فَإِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ

for, verily, neither you [blasphemers] nor the objects of your worship

إِلَّا مَنْ هُوَ صَالِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ

unless it be such as rushes towards the blazing fire [of his own accord]!

وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ ٱلصَّآفُّونَ

and, verily, we too are ranged [before Him in worship];

وَإِن كَانُوا۟ لَيَقُولُونَ

AND, INDEED, they [who deny the truth] have always been wont to say,

لَكُنَّا عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ

we would certainly be true servants of God.”

وَلَقَدْ سَبَقَتْ كَلِمَتُنَا لِعِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

for, long ago has Our word gone forth unto Our servants, the message- bearers,

وَإِنَّ جُندَنَا لَهُمُ ٱلْغَٰلِبُونَ

and that, verily, Our hosts - they indeed - would [in the end] be victorious!

وَأَبْصِرْهُمْ فَسَوْفَ يُبْصِرُونَ

and see them [for what they are]; and in time they [too] will come to see [what they do not see now].

فَإِذَا نَزَلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ فَسَآءَ صَبَاحُ ٱلْمُنذَرِينَ

But then, once it alights upon them, hapless will be the awakening of those who were warned [to no avail]!

وَأَبْصِرْ فَسَوْفَ يُبْصِرُونَ

and see [them for what they are]; and n time they [too] will come to see [what they do not see now].

وَسَلَٰمٌ عَلَى ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

And peace be upon all His message-bearers!