38. Suad

Sad: By the Qur’an, Full of Admonition:(This is the Truth).

But the Unbelievers (are steeped) inself-glory and Separatism.

How many generations before them did Wedestroy? In the end they cried (for mercy)- when there was no longer timefor being saved!

So they wonder that a Warner has come tothem from among themselves! and the Unbelievers say, “This is a sorcerertelling lies!

“Has he made the gods (all) into oneAllah. Truly this is a wonderful thing!”

And the leader among them go away(impatiently), (saying), “Walk ye away, and remain constant to your gods!For this is truly a thing designed (against you)!

“We never heard (the like) of this amongthe people of these latter days: this is nothing but a made-up tale!”

“What! has the Message been sent to him- (Of all persons) among us?”…but they are in doubt concerning My (Own)Message! Nay, they have not yet tasted My Punishment!

Or have they the treasures of the mercyof thy Lord,- the Exalted in Power, the Grantor of Bounties without measure?

Or have they the dominion of the heavensand the earth and all between? If so, let them mount up with the ropes andmeans (to reach that end)!

But there – will be put to flight even ahost of confederates.

Before them (were many who) rejectedapostles,- the people of Noah, and ‘Ad, and Pharaoh, the Lord of Stakes,

And Thamud, and the people of Lut, andthe Companions of the Wood; – such were the Confederates.

Not one (of them) but rejected theapostles, but My punishment came justly and inevitably (on them).

These (today) only wait for a singlemighty Blast, which (when it comes) will brook no delay.

They say: “Our Lord! hasten to us oursentence (even) before the Day of Account!”

Have patience at what they say, andremember our servant David, the man of strength: for he ever turned (toAllah..

It was We that made the hills declare,in unison with him, Our Praises, at eventide and at break of day,

And the birds gathered (in assemblies):all with him did turn (to Allah..

We strengthened his kingdom, and gavehim wisdom and sound judgment in speech and decision.

Has the Story of the Disputants reachedthee? Behold, they climbed over the wall of the private chamber;

When they entered the presence of David,and he was terrified of them, they said: “Fear not: we are two disputants,one of whom has wronged the other: Decide now between us with truth, andtreat us not with injustice, but guide us to the even Path..

“This man is my brother: He has nine andninety ewes, and I have (but) one: Yet he says, ‘commit her to my care,’ andis (moreover) harsh to me in speech.”

(David) said: “He has undoubtedlywronged thee in demanding thy (single) ewe to be added to his (flock of)ewes: truly many are the partners (in business) who wrong each other: Not sodo those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and how few arethey?”…and David gathered that We had tried him: he asked forgiveness ofhis Lord, fell down, bowing (in prostration), and turned (to Allah inrepentance).

So We forgave him this (lapse): heenjoyed, indeed, a Near Approach to Us, and a beautiful place of (Final)Return.

O David! We did indeed make thee avicegerent on earth: so judge thou between men in truth (and justice): Norfollow thou the lusts (of thy heart), for they will mislead thee from thePath of Allah. for those who wander astray from the Path of Allah, is aPenalty Grievous, for that they forget the Day of Account.

Not without purpose did We create heavenand earth and all between! that were the thought of Unbelievers! but woe tothe Unbelievers because of the Fire (of Hell)!

Shall We treat those who believe andwork deeds of righteousness, the same as those who do mischief on earth?Shall We treat those who guard against evil, the same as those who turnaside from the right?

(Here is) a Book which We have sent downunto thee, full of blessings, that they may mediate on its Signs, and thatmen of understanding may receive admonition.

To David We gave Solomon (for a son),-How excellent in Our service! Ever did he turn (to Us)!

Behold, there were brought before him,at eventide coursers of the highest breeding, and swift of foot;

And he said, “Truly do I love the loveof good, with a view to the glory of my Lord,”- until (the sun) was hiddenin the veil (of night):

“Bring them back to me.” then began heto pass his hand over (their) legs and their necks.

And We did try Solomon: We placed on histhrone a body (without life); but he did turn (to Us in true devotion):

He said, “O my Lord! Forgive me, andgrant me a kingdom which, (it may be), suits not another after me: for Thouart the Grantor of Bounties (without measure).

Then We subjected the wind to his power,to flow gently to his order, Whithersoever he willed,-

As also the evil ones, (including) everykind of builder and diver,-

As also others bound together infetters.

“Such are Our Bounties: whether thoubestow them (on others) or withhold them, no account will be asked.”

And he enjoyed, indeed, a Near Approachto Us, and a beautiful Place of (Final) Return.

Commemorate Our Servant Job. Behold hecried to his Lord: “The Evil One has afflicted me with distress andsuffering!”

(The command was given:) “Strike withthy foot: here is (water) wherein to wash, cool and refreshing, and (water)to drink.”

And We gave him (back) his people, anddoubled their number,- as a Grace from Ourselves, and a thing forcommemoration, for all who have Understanding.

“And take in thy hand a little grass,and strike therewith: and break not (thy oath).” Truly We found him full ofpatience and constancy. How excellent in Our service! ever did he turn (toUs)!

And commemorate Our Servants Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob, possessors of Power and Vision.

Verily We did choose them for a special(purpose)- proclaiming the Message of the Hereafter.

They were, in Our sight, truly, of thecompany of the Elect and the Good.

And commemorate Isma’il, Elisha, andZul-Kifl: Each of them was of the Company of the Good.

This is a Message (of admonition): andverily, for the righteous, is a beautiful Place of (Final) Return,-

Gardens of Eternity, whose doors will(ever) be open to them;

Therein will they recline (at ease):Therein can they call (at pleasure) for fruit in abundance, and (delicious)drink;

And beside them will be chaste womenrestraining their glances, (companions) of equal age.

Such is the Promise made, to you for theDay of Account!

Truly such will be Our Bounty (to you);it will never fail;-

Yea, such! but – for the wrong-doerswill be an evil place of (Final) Return!-

Hell!- they will burn therein, – an evilbed (indeed, to lie on)!-

Yea, such! – then shall they taste it,-a boiling fluid, and a fluid dark, murky, intensely cold!-

And other Penalties of a similar kind,to match them!

Here is a troop rushing headlong withyou! No welcome for them! truly, they shall burn in the Fire!

(The followers shall cry to themisleaders:) “Nay, ye (too)! No welcome for you! It is ye who have broughtthis upon us! Now evil is (this) place to stay in!”

They will say: “Our Lord! whoeverbrought this upon us,- Add to him a double Penalty in the Fire!”

And they will say: “What has happened tous that we see not men whom we used to number among the bad ones?

“Did we treat them (as such) inridicule, or have (our) eyes failed to perceive them?”

Truly that is just and fitting,- themutual recriminations of the People of the Fire!

Say: “Truly am I a Warner: no god isthere but the one Allah, Supreme and Irresistible,-

“The Lord of the heavens and the earth,and all between,- Exalted in Might, able to enforce His Will, forgivingagain and again.”

Say: “That is a Message Supreme (aboveall),-

“From which ye do turn away!

“No knowledge have I of the Chiefs onhigh, when they discuss (matters) among themselves.

“Only this has been revealed to me: thatI am to give warning plainly and publicly.”

Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: “Iam about to create man from clay:

“When I have fashioned him (in dueproportion) and breathed into him of My spirit, fall ye down in obeisanceunto him.”

So the angels prostrated themselves, allof them together:

Not so Iblis: he was haughty, and becameone of those who reject Faith.

((Allah)) said: “O Iblis! What preventsthee from prostrating thyself to one whom I have created with my hands? Artthou haughty? Or art thou one of the high (and mighty) ones?”

(Iblis) said: “I am better than he: thoucreatedst me from fire, and him thou createdst from clay.”

((Allah)) said: “Then get thee out fromhere: for thou art rejected, accursed.

“And My curse shall be on thee till theDay of Judgment.”

(Iblis) said: “O my Lord! Give me thenrespite till the Day the (dead) are raised.”

((Allah)) said: “Respite then is grantedthee-

“Till the Day of the Time Appointed.”

(Iblis) said: “Then, by Thy power, Iwill put them all in the wrong,-

“Except Thy Servants amongst them,sincere and purified (by Thy Grace).”

((Allah)) said: “Then it is just andfitting- and I say what is just and fitting-

“That I will certainly fill Hell withthee and those that follow thee,- every one.”

Say: “No reward do I ask of you for this(Qur’an), nor am I a pretender.

“This is no less than a Message to (all)the Worlds.

“And ye shall certainly know the truthof it (all) after a while.”