43. The Embellishment

  1. Ha-Mim

  2. By the Book that makes things clear,-

  3. We have made it a Qur’an in Arabic, thatye may be able to understand (and learn wisdom).

  4. And verily, it is in the Mother of theBook, in Our Presence, high (in dignity), full of wisdom.

  5. Shall We then take away the Message fromyou and repel (you), for that ye are a people transgressing beyond bounds?

  6. But how many were the prophets We sentamongst the peoples of old?

  7. And never came there a prophet to thembut they mocked him.

  8. So We destroyed (them)- stronger inpower than these;- and (thus) has passed on the Parable of the peoples ofold.

  9. If thou wert to question them, ‘Whocreated the heavens and the earth?’ They would be sure to reply, ‘they werecreated by (Him), the Exalted in Power, Full of Knowledge’;-

  10. (Yea, the same that) has made for youthe earth (like a carpet) spread out, and has made for you roads (andchannels) therein, in order that ye may find guidance (on the way);

  11. That sends down (from time to time) rainfrom the sky in due measure;- and We raise to life therewith a land that isdead; even so will ye be raised (from the dead);-

  12. That has created pairs in all things,and has made for you ships and cattle on which ye ride,

  13. In order that ye may sit firm and squareon their backs, and when so seated, ye may celebrate the (kind) favour ofyour Lord, and say, “Glory to Him Who has subjected these to our (use), forwe could never have accomplished this (by ourselves),

  14. “And to our Lord, surely, must we turnback!”

  15. Yet they attribute to some of Hisservants a share with Him (in his godhead)! truly is man a blasphemousingrate avowed!

  16. What! has He taken daughters out of whatHe himself creates, and granted to you sons for choice?

  17. When news is brought to one of them of(the birth of) what he sets up as a likeness to ((Allah)) Most Gracious, hisface darkens, and he is filled with inward grief!

  18. Is then one brought up among trinkets,and unable to give a clear account in a dispute (to be associated withAllah.?

  19. And they make into females angels whothemselves serve Allah. Did they witness their creation? Their evidence willbe recorded, and they will be called to account!

  20. (“Ah!”) they say, “If it had been thewill of ((Allah)) Most Gracious, we should not have worshipped such(deities)!” Of that they have no knowledge! they do nothing but lie!

  21. What! have We given them a Book beforethis, to which they are holding fast?

  22. Nay! they say: “We found our fathersfollowing a certain religion, and we do guide ourselves by their footsteps.”

  23. Just in the same way, whenever We sent aWarner before thee to any people, the wealthy ones among them said: “Wefound our fathers following a certain religion, and we will certainly followin their footsteps.”

  24. He said: “What! Even if I brought youbetter guidance than that which ye found your fathers following?” They said:”For us, we deny that ye (prophets) are sent (on a mission at all).”

  25. So We exacted retribution from them: nowsee what was the end of those who rejected (Truth)!

  26. Behold! Abraham said to his father andhis people: “I do indeed clear myself of what ye worship:

  27. “(I worship) only Him Who made me, andHe will certainly guide me.”

  28. And he left it as a Word to endure amongthose who came after him, that they may turn back (to Allah..

  29. Yea, I have given the good things ofthis life to these (men) and their fathers, until the Truth has come tothem, and an apostle making things clear.

  30. But when the Truth came to them, theysaid: “This is sorcery, and we do reject it.”

  31. Also, they say: “Why is not this Qur’ansent down to some leading man in either of the two (chief) cities?”

  32. Is it they who would portion out theMercy of thy Lord? It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood inthe life of this world: and We raise some of them above others in ranks, sothat some may command work from others. But the Mercy of thy Lord is betterthan the (wealth) which they amass.

  33. And were it not that (all) men mightbecome of one (evil) way of life, We would provide, for everyone thatblasphemes against ((Allah)) Most Gracious, silver roofs for their housesand (silver) stair-ways on which to go up,

  34. And (silver) doors to their houses, andthrones (of silver) on which they could recline,

  35. And also adornments of gold. But allthis were nothing but conveniences of the present life: The Hereafter, inthe sight of thy Lord is for the Righteous.

  36. If anyone withdraws himself fromremembrance of ((Allah)) Most Gracious, We appoint for him an evil one, tobe an intimate companion to him.

  37. Such (evil ones) really hinder them fromthe Path, but they think that they are being guided aright!

  38. At length, when (such a one) comes toUs, he says (to his evil companion): “Would that between me and thee werethe distance of East and West!” Ah! evil is the companion (indeed)!

  39. When ye have done wrong, it will availyou nothing, that Day, that ye shall be partners in Punishment!

  40. Canst thou then make the deaf to hear,or give direction to the blind or to such as (wander) in manifest error?

  41. Even if We take thee away, We shall besure to exact retribution from them,

  42. Or We shall show thee that(accomplished) which We have promised them: for verily We shall prevail overthem.

  43. So hold thou fast to the Revelation sentdown to thee; verily thou art on a Straight Way.

  44. The (Qur’an) is indeed the message, forthee and for thy people; and soon shall ye (all) be brought to account.

  45. And question thou our apostles whom Wesent before thee; did We appoint any deities other than ((Allah)) MostGracious, to be worshipped?

  46. We did send Moses aforetime, with OurSigns, to Pharaoh and his Chiefs: He said, “I am an apostle of the Lord ofthe Worlds.”

  47. But when he came to them with Our Signs,behold they ridiculed them.

  48. We showed them Sign after Sign, eachgreater than its fellow, and We seized them with Punishment, in order thatthey might turn (to Us).

  49. And they said, “O thou sorcerer! Invokethy Lord for us according to His covenant with thee; for we shall trulyaccept guidance.”

  50. But when We removed the Penalty fromthem, behold, they broke their word.

  51. And Pharaoh proclaimed among his people,saying: “O my people! Does not the dominion of Egypt belong to me, (witness)these streams flowing underneath my (palace)? What! see ye not then?

  52. “Am I not better than this (Moses), whois a contemptible wretch and can scarcely express himself clearly?

  53. “Then why are not gold braceletsbestowed on him, or (why) come (not) with him angels accompanying him inprocession?”

  54. Thus did he make fools of his people,and they obeyed him: truly were they a people rebellious (against Allah..

  55. When at length they provoked Us, Weexacted retribution from them, and We drowned them all.

  56. And We made them (a people) of the Pastand an Example to later ages.

  57. When (Jesus) the son of Mary is held upas an example, behold, thy people raise a clamour thereat (in ridicule)!

  58. And they say, “Are our gods best, orhe?” This they set forth to thee, only by way of disputation: yea, they area contentious people.

  59. He was no more than a servant: Wegranted Our favour to him, and We made him an example to the Children ofIsrael.

  60. And if it were Our Will, We could makeangels from amongst you, succeeding each other on the earth.

  61. And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for thecoming of) the Hour (of Judgment): therefore have no doubt about the (Hour),but follow ye Me: this is a Straight Way.

  62. Let not the Evil One hinder you: for heis to you an enemy avowed.

  63. When Jesus came with Clear Signs, hesaid: “Now have I come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to yousome of the (points) on which ye dispute: therefore fear Allah and obey me.

  64. “For Allah, He is my Lord and your Lord:so worship ye Him: this is a Straight Way.”

  65. But sects from among themselves fellinto disagreement: then woe to the wrong-doers, from the Penalty of aGrievous Day!

  66. Do they only wait for the Hour – that itshould come on them all of a sudden, while they perceive not?

  67. Friends on that day will be foes, one toanother,- except the Righteous.

  68. My devotees! no fear shall be on youthat Day, nor shall ye grieve,-

  69. (Being) those who have believed in OurSigns and bowed (their wills to Ours) in Islam.

  70. Enter ye the Garden, ye and your wives,in (beauty and) rejoicing.

  71. To them will be passed round, dishes andgoblets of gold: there will be there all that the souls could desire, allthat their ayes could delight in: and ye shall abide therein (for eye).

  72. Such will be the Garden of which ye aremade heirs for your (good) deeds (in life).

  73. Ye shall have therein abundance offruit, from which ye shall have satisfaction.

  74. The sinners will be in the Punishment ofHell, to dwell therein (for aye):

  75. Nowise will the (Punishment) belightened for them, and in despair will they be there overwhelmed.

  76. Nowise shall We be unjust to them: butit is they who have been unjust themselves.

  77. They will cry: “O Malik! would that thyLord put an end to us!” He will say, “Nay, but ye shall abide!”

  78. Verily We have brought the Truth to you:but most of you have a hatred for Truth.

  79. What! have they settled some plan (amongthemselves)? But it is We Who settle things.

  80. Or do they think that We hear not theirsecrets and their private counsels? Indeed (We do), and Our messengers areby them, to record.

  81. Say: “If ((Allah)) Most Gracious had ason, I would be the first to worship.”

  82. Glory to the Lord of the heavens and theearth, the Lord of the Throne (of Authority)! (He is free) from the thingsthey attribute (to him)!

  83. So leave them to babble and play (withvanities) until they meet that Day of theirs, which they have been promised.

  84. It is He Who is Allah in heaven andAllah on earth; and He is full of Wisdom and Knowledge.

  85. And blessed is He to Whom belongs thedominion of the heavens and the earth, and all between them: with Him is theKnowledge of the Hour (of Judgment): and to Him shall ye be brought back.

  86. And those whom they invoke besides Allahhave no power of intercession;- only he who bears witness to the Truth, andthey know (him).

  87. If thou ask them, who created them, theywill certainly say, Allah. How then are they deluded away (from the Truth)?

  88. ((Allah) has knowledge) of the(Prophet’s) cry, “O my Lord! Truly these are people who will not believe!”

  89. But turn away from them, and say”Peace!” But soon shall they know!