By those lined up in ranks,
and those who warn, crying warnings,
and those who recite the Reminder,
your God is One,
Lord of the heavens and the Earth and everything between them, Lord of every sunrise.
We have adorned the nearest heaven with planets
and protected them against every rebellious devil,
[So that the devils] may not listen to the highest assembly [of angels] but be repelled from every side,
driven away. For them, there is endless punishment
except for him who snatches a glimpse [of such knowledge], a piercing flame will pursue him.
Then ask those who persist in denying the truth if they were more challenging to create than those other beings We have created, for We created them from sticky clay.
No wonder you are surprised, to see them ridicule [the message],
and when they are reminded [of the Truth], they don't want to remember,
and when they see a sign, they ridicule it,
saying, "This is mere magic.
When We have died and become dust and bones, are we to be resurrected,
and our forefathers too?”
Say, “Yes, and [on that Day of Judgment] you will be humiliated."
[On that Day,] there will be only a single shout, and at once they will begin to see.
They will say, "How terrible for us! This is the Day of Judgment,"
and [They will be told], "This is the Day of separation [between the good and the bad], which you used to deny."
[The angels will be ordered], "Gather those who were unjust, all those like them, and the idols they used to worship
instead of God, and show them to the path of Hell
And stop them, for they are to be questioned:
“Why do you not help each other now?"
No, today they come in absolute submission
and they will turn on one another, questioning each other.
[Some] will say, "You used to approach us from a position of power."
The others will say, "No, you [yourselves] were not believers
and we had no authority over you, but you were exceedingly arrogant people.
Our Lord’s Word has been carried out against us, and we will all taste the punishment.
We misled you, and we were ourselves misled."
On that Day, they will share in the punishment
for that is how We deal with those who forced others to reject Our messages.
Whenever they were told, "There is no god but God," they became arrogant
and would say, “Are we to give up our gods for a mad poet?"
Rather, the Prophet has come with the Truth and confirmed the [previous] messengers.
You [who deny the truth] will taste the painful punishment
and you will be repaid only for what you used to do.
Not So for God’s devoted worshipers
they will have recognizable provision,
of fruits, and they will be honored
in Gardens of delight,
[resting] on couches and facing one another.
A cup from a flowing spring will be passed among them,
white and delicious to the drinkers,
which will neither sicken nor intoxicate them.
With them are mates of modest gaze with beautiful eyes
just like closely guarded pearls.
They will turn to one another, inquiring
One of them says," I used to have a friend [on Earth]
who used to say to me, are you of those who believe
that, when we have died and become dust and bones, we will be brought for judgment?’”
And he will add, "Shall we look for him?"
and he looks and sees [his former companion] in the midst of Hell.
He says to him, "By God, you almost ruined me.
Were it not for the grace of my Lord, I would have been with those taken [to Hell].
Then, [he says to those in paradise], “Will we really not die
except for our first death, and will we really not be punished?"
Truly, this is the ultimate success.”
This is what everyone should strive to attain.
Is Paradise a better place to be or the tree of Bitterness?
We have made [this tree] punishment for the unjust.
It is a tree that grows in the heart of Hell
. Its fruit like devils’ heads
and [the people in Hell] will eat from it and fill their bellies with it.
On top of that, they will have a boiling brew to drink.
Then they will return to Hell,
for they found their fathers misguided,
So they rushed [to follow] in their footsteps.
Most of the earlier peoples went astray before them
though We had already sent them Someone to give warning.
Look, then, at the final fate of those who were warned
except for the devout worshipers of God.
Noah called Us and how excellent was Our response.
We saved him and his family from great distress.
We made his descendants the survivors,
and left for him [favorable mention] among later generations:
"Peace upon Noah, among all people."
This is how we reward those who do good
for he was among Our believing worshipers.
We drowned the rest.
Abraham was like him.
He came to his Lord with a faultless heart
and said to his father and his people, "What are you worshiping?
Are you fooling yourselves by choosing false gods other than God?
What do you think about the Lord of the worlds?"
Then he took a look at the stars
and said, "I am sick [of you worshipping these] "
so they turned away from him and left.
Then he turned to their gods and said, "Will you not eat?
What is wrong with you that you do not speak?"
And he turned on them, striking them with his right hand.
His people came rushing back to him.
He said, "How can you worship that which you [yourselves] carve,
while God created you and everything you do?"
They said, "Construct a furnace and throw him into the burning fire."
They plotted against him, but We humiliated them.
[Abraham] said, “I will go away to my Lord. He will guide me.
My Lord, grant me a righteous Son."
So We gave him the good news of a gentle boy.
And when [the boy] was old enough to work with him, he said, "My son, I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He said, "My father, do as you are ordered. You will find me, God willing, patient."
But as soon as they had both submitted to [what they thought to be] God’s will, and [Abraham] had laid [his son] down on the side of his face,
We called to him, "Abraham,
you have fulfilled the vision." This is how we reward those who do good.
This was clearly a grave trial
and We ransomed him with a great sacrifice
and We left the later generations saying of him:
"Peace be upon Abraham."
This is how we reward those who do good
for [Abraham] was among Our believing worshipers.
Then We gave him the good news of Isaac, a prophet from among the righteous
and We blessed him and Isaac. Among their descendants are doers of good and those who clearly wrong themselves.
We indeed showed great kindness to Moses and Aaron.
We saved them and their people from a terrible predicament
and We supported them So that they prevailed
. We gave them the clarifying Book
and We guided them on the straight path
and We left the later generations saying of them:
"Peace be upon Moses and Aaron."
This is how We reward those who do good
for they were among Our believing worshipers.
Elijah was indeed one of the messengers.
When he said to his people, "Won't you be mindful of God?
Do you call upon Baal and leave the best of creators,
God, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers?"
But they denied him, so they will be brought [for punishment],
except for God’s devout worshipers.
We left the later generations saying of him:
"Peace be upon the House of Elijah."
This how We reward those who do good
for he was among Our believing worshipers.
Lot was indeed one of the messengers.
We saved him and all of his family
except an old woman who stayed behind.
Then We destroyed the others.
You pass them by morning
and night, so will you not use your reason?
Jonah was one of the messengers.
He ran away to a loaded ship,
but they cast lots, and he lost,
[so they threw him into the sea], and a wale gulped him, for He was blameworthy.
And had he not been one of those who glorify God’s limitless glory
he would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected.
But We cast him, ill, on an open shore,
and We made a gourd vine to grow over him
and We sent him to a hundred thousand people or more.
They believed, so We let them enjoy their life.
So [Prophet] inquire [of the idolaters], "Why do they think their Lord has daughters while they have Sons”?
Or, maybe they witnessed the creation of the angels as females?"
No indeed, it is out of their [invented] falsehood that they say
"God has begotten," and they are liars.
Has He chosen daughters over Sons?
What is [wrong] with you? How do you reach your judgments?
Will you not be reminded [of the warning against such thinking]?
Or do you have a clear authority [for what you allege]?
Then, produce your Book if you are truthful.
They also claimed a lineage between Him and the jinns, but the jinns know that they will be brought before Him for [judgment].
May God be exalted in His glory above all they describe
except for God’s devout worshipers [who don't make such claims].
So you [who deny the truth] and whatever you worship,
cannot tempt [anyone] away from Him
except for him who will burn in Hell.
[All of God’s creations will say], "Among us, too, there is none but has a known place.
We are ranged in ranks
and we are those who glorify God."
The unbelievers used to say
"If only we had a Reminder like ˹those of˺ earlier peoples."
we would have been faithful worshipers of God."
But they rejected the message, so they will Soon realize [the consequences].
Our word has already been given to Our worshiping Messengers
[that] they would indeed be victorious
and [that] Our Soldiers will be those who overcome.
So [Prophet], leave them for a time.
And watch them, for they will soon see.
Do they really want to hasten Our punishment?
When it descends on them, how terrible will that morning be for those who were warned?
Leave them for a time
and watch them, for they will soon see.
May your Lord, the Lord of Reverence, be exalted in His glory above all they describe.
And Peace be on the Messengers,
and praise be to God, Lord of the worlds.