INTRODUCTION:
This Surah consists of 99 verses, 654 sentences, 2,760 letters and 6 Ruku's.
Name
It takes its name from v. 80.
It is clear from its topics and style that the period of its revelation is about the same as that of Surah Ibrahim, for two things are quite prominent in its background. First, it appears from the repeated warnings in this Surah that in spite of the fact that the Holy Prophet had been propagating the Message for many years, his people in general had not shown any inclination towards its acceptance; nay, they had become more and more obdurate and stubborn in their antagonism, enmity and ridicule with the passage of time. Secondly, by that time the Holy Prophet had begun to feel a little tired of making strenuous efforts to eradicate disbelief and opposition of his people. That is why Allah has consoled and comforted him over and over again by way of encouragement.
Though the main topics of the sura are :
a. warning to those who rejected his Message opposed it tooth and nail and ridiculed him and
b. comfort and encouragement to the Holy Prophet
it does not mean that this Surah does not contain admonition and instructions. As a matter of fact, the Quran never confines itself to mere warning; rebuke and censure, but resorts to precept in every suitable place. Accordingly, this Surah contains brief arguments for Tauhid on the one hand, and admonition in the story of Adam and Satan on the other.
1. The Qur'an is a Divine Book.
2. On the Day of Judgement, the disbelievers will wish that they had become Muslims.
3. Allah Himself has taken the responsibility of preserving and safeguarding Al-Qur'an.
4. Admonition through the story of Adam's creation, prostration of the angels before him, and refusal of Shaitan to prostrate.
5. The Prophet Ibrahim was given the good news of having a son by the same two angels who were assigned to destroy the nation of Lut.
6. Al-Fatiha is also named, "seven verses worthy of oft-recitation."
7. Divine order to proclaim the commandments of Allah publicly and turn away from the mushrikin.
IMPORTANT: Please note that the Digest is based upon these outstanding translations and they have been reproduced here for the benefit of serious readers of the Quraan; the copyrights of these works are held by their respective authors/publishers from whom they can be purchased by anyone interested in acquiring them and we ardently hope that no offence will be taken by their inclusion.
THE HOLY QUR'AAN
Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi
Section 1.
15 : 1
1. Alif-lam-ra tilka ayatu alkitabi waqur-anin mubeenin
Alif-Lām-Rā. These are the verses of the Qur'aan that make clear (everything)!
15 : 2
2. Rubama yawaddu allatheena kafaroo law kanoo muslimeena
One day the disbelievers will fervently wish that they had believed!
(This would either be the day when they are breathing their last and are able to grasp from the activities around them that the situation is not going to be good for them, or the Day of Resurrection when the moment of truth stares them in the eye.
According to some commentators, every time the disbelievers see that the believers are faring better than them in any walk of life, they fervently wish that they too had done the right thing like them and had earned the favour of their Lord).
15 : 3
3. Tharhum ya/kuloo wayatamattaAAoo wayulhihimu al-amalu fasawfa yaAAlamoona
Let them eat and enjoy for a while and let them be deluded by their false hopes until they come to know!
(The verse warns all mankind that the longer they allow themselves to be preoccupied in and deluded by the luxuries of the life of this world, they make it that much harder upon themselves to be extricated from them and concentrate on ameliorating their spiritual well being)
15 : 4
4. Wama ahlakna min qaryatin illa walaha kitabun maAAloomun
Never have We annihilated a township without a clear Decree recorded (in the Book of Decrees) against it.
15 : 5
5. Ma tasbiqu min ommatin ajalaha wama yasta/khiroona
No nation can exceed its appointed term nor can it fall short of it!
(Every nation is given a pre-ordained term by Allah during which to look around them, to concentrate upon their surroundings, to glean from them what is right and what is wrong, to assess their own performance and compare it with the performance of those who came before them, to question the unconvincing, to discard the unavailing, to turn away from the unacceptable and to reject the untenable, placing the onus of reforming themselves in their own hands. But there is a deadline to meet, and once it has been crossed, there are no extensions, no reprieves, no concessions, no excuses, no respite given nor bargains entertained).
15 : 6
6. Waqaloo ya ayyuha allathee nuzzila AAalayhi alththikru innaka lamajnoonun
And they say : 'O you to whom the Qur'aan is revealed! Verily you are possessed!
(When the Prophet recited the verses of the Qur'aan revealed to him by the Archangel for the first time, it caused such a hue and cry among the idolaters of Mecca that they could not digest their complexity and style, their content and the diction in which they were arrayed, - better than anything they had ever heard before; better than the poems written by the best of their poets; better than the wisdom taught to them by the best of their sages; better than the guidance given to them by the most forthright of their guides and leaders; so, the only way in which they could explain them away was by ascribing them to mysticism and incantations rather than to Him Who revealed them, because in their book He did not exist; in their past He did not feature and in their narrow world He did not have a share. Reminiscent of the way in which Pharaoh had renounced Moses as a wizard and a magician, they too cast the Prophet in the same mould and accused him of either being an impostor or a sorcerer, inspired by jinns and taught by the devil, calling on him to produce proof or bring angels from heaven to vouchsafe for his credentials, not realizing that if the angels did come from Allah, it would be to their own detriment, for they would then get no respite, as explained in the next two verses).
15 : 7
7. Law ma ta/teena bialmala-ikati in kunta mina alssadiqeena
'Why have you not brought with you some angels for us, if you are of the truthful?'
15 : 8
8. Ma nunazzilu almala-ikata illa bialhaqqi wama kanoo ithan munthareena
We never send Our angels without a set purpose, but when they do come down, the disbelievers will get no respite!
15 : 9
9. Inna nahnu nazzalna alththikra wa-inna lahu lahafithoona
Verily We it is Who have revealed the Reminder and We it is Who will guard it!
(Thus the copyright to it was openly claimed by Him to whom it belonged; and the responsibility of guarding it against encroachments, editing, changing, abridging or diluting assumed by Him who had the sole prerogative to prevent it from happening. Thanks to that most authoritative undertaking and its meticulous implementation, time has done nothing to impair it; hostility has done nothing to discredit it; competition has done nothing to curb it! Fourteen centuries have passed away since its inculcation; generations upon generations of people have come and gone; the Torah got swallowed up into the gullets of hypocrisy and mendacity; the Gospel according to Allah has long since been replaced by the Gospel according to Paul or Matthew or Luke; the rabbis of one and the priests of the other trampled them under their feet and turned them into mere pulps; but the Qur'aan has outlived them all! Whenever a king attempted to assail it, there always came a knight in shining armour to defend its integrity; whenever dust threatened to settle on it and dim its gloss, devotion came along to blow away the dust and restore its opulence; whenever the whirlwinds of ignorance gathered pace to put out its flame, the shades of knowledge covered it from all sides and protected its glow; whenever a Salman rose to corrupt its glorious content, somewhere in the distance a 'Fatwaa' echoed and put him back in his place! Like a writing engraved in stone and like a necklace designed to perfection, it has remained in tact to this day and thus will it remain forever, - InshaAllah!)
15 : 10
10. Walaqad arsalna min qablika fee shiyaAAi al-awwaleena
And verily We did send other messengers before you to other nations!
15 : 11
11. Wama ya/teehim min rasoolin illa kanoo bihi yastahzi-oona
And never came a messenger to them whom they did not deride!
15 : 12
12. Kathalika naslukuhu fee quloobi almujrimeena
Thus do We make room for derision in the hearts of the invidious folk!
15 : 13
13. La yu/minoona bihi waqad khalat sunnatu al-awwaleena
They do not believe it although the examples of their predecessors are there for them to learn from!
15 : 14
14. Walaw fatahna AAalayhim baban mina alssama-i fathalloo feehi yaAArujoona
And even if We opened for them a doorway to heaven and they kept pouring into it -
15 : 15
15. Laqaloo innama sukkirat absaruna bal nahnu qawmun mashooroona
They would nonetheless say : 'Our vision is blurred; nay, - we have been hexed!' (R)
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHAL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
1. Alif-Lām-Rā. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur'ān, and none but Allāh (Alone) knows their meanings].
These are the Verses of the Book, and a plain Qur'ān.
2. Perhaps (often) will those who disbelieve wish that they were Muslims [those who have submitted themselves to Allāh's Will in Islām Islāmic Monotheism, this will be on the Day of Resurrection when they will see the disbelievers going to Hell and the Muslims going to Paradise].[]
3. Leave them to eat and enjoy, and let them be preoccupied with (false) hope. They will come to know!
4. And never did We destroy a township but there was a known decree for it.
5. No nation can anticipate its term, nor delay it.
6. And they say: "O you (Muhammad SAW ) to whom the Dhikr (the Qur'ān) has been sent down! Verily, you are a mad man.
7. "Why do you not bring angels to us if you are of the truthful ones?"
8. We send not the angels down except with the truth (i.e. for torment, etc.), and in that case, they (the disbelievers) would have no respite!
9. Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur'ān) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)[].
10. Indeed, We sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad SAW) amongst the sects (communities) of old.
11. And never came a Messenger to them but they did mock him.
12. Thus do We let it (polytheism and disbelief) enter into the hearts of the Mujrimūn [criminals, polytheists, pagans, etc. (because of their mockery at the Messengers)].
13. They would not believe in it (the Qur'ān), and already the example of (Allāh's punishment of) the ancients (who disbelieved) has gone forth.
14. And even if We opened to them a gate from the heaven and they were to continue ascending thereto,
15. They would surely say: "Our eyes have been (as if) dazzled. Nay, we are a people bewitched."
015.001
YUSUFALI: A. L. R.
These are the Ayats of Revelation,- of a Qur'an that makes things clear.
PICKTHAL: Alif. Lam.
Ra. These are verses of the Scripture and a plain Reading.
SHAKIR: Alif Lam Ra.
These are the verses of the Book and (of) a Quran that makes (things) clear.
015.002
YUSUFALI: Again and
again will those who disbelieve, wish that they had bowed (to Allah's will) in
Islam.
PICKTHAL: It may be
that those who disbelieve wish ardently that they were Muslims.
SHAKIR: Often will
those who disbelieve wish that they had been Muslims.
015.003
YUSUFALI: Leave them
alone, to enjoy (the good things of this life) and to please themselves: let
(false) hope amuse them: soon will knowledge (undeceive them).
PICKTHAL: Let them eat
and enjoy life, and let (false) hope beguile them. They will come to know!
SHAKIR: Leave them
that they may eat and enjoy themselves and (that) hope may beguile them, for
they will soon know.
015.004
YUSUFALI: Never did We
destroy a population that had not a term decreed and assigned beforehand.
PICKTHAL: And We
destroyed no township but there was a known decree for it.
SHAKIR: And never did
We destroy a town but it had a term made known.
015.005
YUSUFALI: Neither can
a people anticipate its term, nor delay it.
PICKTHAL: No nation
can outstrip its term nor can they lag behind.
SHAKIR: No people can
hasten on their doom nor can they postpone (it).
015.006
YUSUFALI: They say: "O
thou to whom the Message is being revealed! truly thou art mad (or possessed)!
PICKTHAL: And they
say: O thou unto whom the Reminder is revealed, lo! thou art indeed a madman!
SHAKIR: And they say:
O you to whom the Reminder has been revealed! you are most surely insane:
015.007
YUSUFALI: "Why
bringest thou not angels to us if it be that thou hast the Truth?"
PICKTHAL: Why bringest
thou not angels unto us, if thou art of the truthful?
SHAKIR: Why do you not
bring to us the angels if you are of the truthful ones?
015.008
YUSUFALI: We send not
the angels down except for just cause: if they came (to the ungodly), behold! no
respite would they have!
PICKTHAL: We send not
down the angels save with the Fact, and in that case (the disbelievers) would
not be tolerated.
SHAKIR: We do not send
the angels but with truth, and then they would not be respited.
015.009
YUSUFALI: We have,
without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from
corruption).
PICKTHAL: Lo! We, even
We, reveal the Reminder, and lo! We verily are its Guardian.
SHAKIR: Surely We have
revealed the Reminder and We will most surely be its guardian.
015.010
YUSUFALI: We did send
messengers before thee amongst the religious sects of old:
PICKTHAL: We verily
sent (messengers) before thee among the factions of the men of old.
SHAKIR: And certainly
We sent (messengers) before you among the nations of yore.
015.011
YUSUFALI: But never
came a messenger to them but they mocked him.
PICKTHAL: And never
came there unto them a messenger but they did mock him.
SHAKIR: And there
never came a messenger to them but they mocked him.
015.012
YUSUFALI: Even so do
we let it creep into the hearts of the sinners -
PICKTHAL: Thus do We
make it traverse the hearts of the guilty:
SHAKIR: Thus do We
make it to enter into the hearts of the guilty;
015.013
YUSUFALI: That they
should not believe in the (Message); but the ways of the ancients have passed
away.
PICKTHAL: They believe
not therein, though the example of the men of old hath gone before.
SHAKIR: They do not
believe in it, and indeed the example of the former people has already passed.
015.014
YUSUFALI: Even if We
opened out to them a gate from heaven, and they were to continue (all day)
ascending therein,
PICKTHAL: And even if
We opened unto them a gate of heaven and they kept mounting through it,
SHAKIR: And even if We
open to them a gateway of heaven, so that they ascend into it all the while,
015.015
YUSUFALI: They would
only say: "Our eyes have been intoxicated: Nay, we have been bewitched by
sorcery."
PICKTHAL: They would
say: Our sight is wrong - nay, but we are folk bewitched.
SHAKIR: They would
certainly say: Only our eyes have been covered over, rather we are an enchanted
people.
15 : 16
16. Walaqad jaAAalna fee alssama-i buroojan wazayyannaha lilnnathireena
And verily We have set in heavens mansions of stars and have beautified them (with galaxies) to titillate the beholder!
(If we look at the sky on a clear, cloudless and mist free night, the magnificent sight that greets us is breath-taking, to say the least! The shimmering stars, their enigmatic constellations, the distant galaxies, the astounding Milky way, the extra galactic and planetary nebulae - amazing marvels woven into marvels - reflect the Divinity of Him who created the matchless cosmos and suspended it in the sky with no boundaries and no perimeters!)
15 : 17
17. Wahafithnaha min kulli shaytanin rajeemin
And We have given them protection from every marauding devil;
15 : 18
18. Illa mani istaraqa alssamAAa faatbaAAahu shihabun mubeenun
But if some do stealthily creep in, they are chased away by the naked flame!
(The naked flame, named in the verse as 'Shahab' is the shooting star is the one that is visible to the human eye, scientifically explained as a meteor).
15 : 19
19. Waal-arda madadnaha waalqayna feeha rawasiya waanbatna feeha min kulli shay-in mawzoonin
And We have given the earth infinite proportions and have placed heavy mountains on it and rendered it copious with a balanced blend of umbrage!
15 : 20
20. WajaAAalna lakum feeha maAAayisha waman lastum lahu biraziqeena
And therein have We made provision for you and for those whom you provide not!'
(Provision for all mankind in the form of crops and grains, in addition to which there is the provision for those whom mankind does not provide, such as beasts in wilderness whom Allah has taught how to tend to themselves by hunting for their food according to the Law of the Jungle, - the strong feeding on the weak and life sustained by life - the spider feeding upon the fly; the sparrow feeding upon the spider, the eagle feeding upon the sparrow; the cheetah feeding on the gazelle; the lion feeding on the bison, the crocodile feeding on the lion and the vulture and the hyena scavenging the carrion of all dead beasts, no one ever resorting either to cannibalism or incest, except in extremities!)
15 : 21
21. Wa-in min shay-in illa AAindana khaza-inuhu wama nunazziluhu illa biqadarin maAAloomin
There is nothing of which We do not maintain treasures and there is nothing of which We do not disburse in adequate measures.
15 : 22
22. Waarsalna alrriyaha lawaqiha faanzalna mina alssama-i maan faasqaynakumoohu wama antum lahu bikhazineena
We send fertilizing winds and cause water to come down from the sky and then give it to you to drink. And it is not you who are the keepers of its stocks!
(Though Allah maintains a bounteous stock of everything of use to His creatures so that no one falls short of anything, and deploys them in enough measures as and when the need arises, we are warned in no uncertain terms that we have no ownership rights on any of His benefactions, including water, which He sends down from the sky by His choice and at His behest, and also that, should He propose to starve a community by means of droughts, no one can oppose Him; should He chooses to switch off rainfall on any land, there is no one who can force Him to switch it back on; if He is determined to punish a community with storms, tornadoes, floods, thunderbolts and blizzards, nobody has the power to altercate with Him in matters of His discretion. In between the heavens above us and the earth around us, there is so much to be given and so much to be taken, but only if our Lord wills it; if He is disposed to bless; if He is inclined to give!
Winds are referred in the verse as fertilizing because they bring the male pollen to the female ovary and fertilize the flowers so that they multiply in numbers and flourish. The wind also impregnates the clouds with rain and carries them across wide distances so that the dead earth becomes fertile and yields its produce in abundance).
15 : 23
23. Wa-inna lanahnu nuhyee wanumeetu wanahnu alwarithoona
And We ordain life and inflict death and only We shall inherit everything!
(The Omnipotent, the Omnipresent and the Ubiquitous, our Lord has the power to give life and take it away as it pleases Him! Once life is gone and all movements suspended; mother earth has evicted her bowels; mountains have turned into powder; oceans have frozen; the flames emanating from the sun have died down and everything has been wiped out, the only One remaining will be Him, the Creator of all things, the Destroyer of all things and the Inheritor of all the residues!)
15 : 24
24. Walaqad AAalimna almustaqdimeena minkum walaqad AAalimna almusta/khireena
We are aware of those who have gone before you and of those who remain behind!
(Even though a literary interpretation of the above verse can only refer to communities that came before and those that would come in the future, there is a body of opinion who claim that the revelation came in response to a specific incident. Once, when the Prophet expressed in one of his sermons the significance of being in the front row at the time of prayer, it caused such a stir that everybody rushed to take their place behind him, which left those who lived too far from the mosque at a disadvantage and caused them anguish. In order to avail the unique benediction, many of them decided to sell their houses and move closer to the mosque which caused a great deal of problems and inconvenience to families. The verse was intended to reassure them that Allah is aware of who joins the front row and who is left behind, and that they would not be discriminated against by Allah because of which row they join to offer worship, front or back, ahead or behind, - worship being more important than their location in the congregation).
15 : 25
25. Wa-inna rabbaka huwa yahshuruhum innahu hakeemun AAaleemun
Verily it is your Lord Who will gather them together, for He is Erudite and Wise! (R)
(Not only does the Lord bestow life and inflict death, He also gathers mankind together on the Day of Resurrection so that their accounts are rendered and settled according to their deserts, - some cast in hell and some entered in the Garden, - and His promise to each of these groups fulfilled to the fullest extent without shortfalls, without any cause for complaint nor any reason for dissatisfaction with His ultimate adjudication).
OTHER
TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHAL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
16. And indeed, We have put the big stars in the heaven and We beautified it for the beholders.[]
17. And We have guarded it (near heaven) from every outcast Shaitān (devil).
18. Except him (devil) that gains hearing by stealing, he is pursued by a clear flaming fire.
19. And the earth We spread out, and placed therein firm mountains, and caused to grow therein all kinds of things in due proportion.
20. And We have provided therein means of living, for you and for those whom you provide not [moving (living) creatures, cattle, beasts, and other animals].
21. And there is not a thing, but with Us are the stores thereof. And We send it not down except in a known measure.
22. And We send the winds fertilizing (to fill heavily the clouds with water), then caused the water (rain) to descend from the sky, and We gave it to you to drink, and it is not you who are the owners of its stores [i.e. to give water to whom you like or to withhold it from whom you like].
23. And certainly We! We it is Who give life, and cause death[], and We are the Inheritors.
24. And indeed, We know the first generations of you who had passed away, and indeed, We know the present generations of you (mankind), and also those who will come afterwards.
25. And verily, your Lord will gather them together. Truly, He is All-Wise, All-Knowing.
015.016
YUSUFALI: It is We Who
have set out the zodiacal signs in the heavens, and made them fair-seeming to
(all) beholders;
PICKTHAL: And verily
in the heaven we have set mansions of the stars, and We have beautified it for
beholders.
SHAKIR: And certainly
We have made strongholds in the heaven and We have made it fair seeming to the
beholders.
015.017
YUSUFALI: And
(moreover) We have guarded them from every cursed devil:
PICKTHAL: And We have
guarded it from every outcast devil,
SHAKIR: And We guard
it against every accursed Shaitan,
015.018
YUSUFALI: But any that
gains a hearing by stealth, is pursued by a flaming fire, bright (to see).
PICKTHAL: Save him who
stealeth the hearing, and them doth a clear flame pursue.
SHAKIR: But he who
steals a hearing, so there follows him a visible flame.
015.019
YUSUFALI: And the
earth We have spread out (like a carpet); set thereon mountains firm and
immovable; and produced therein all kinds of things in due balance.
PICKTHAL: And the
earth have We spread out, and placed therein firm hills, and caused each seemly
thing to grow therein.
SHAKIR: And the
earth-- We have spread it forth and made in it firm mountains and caused to grow
in it of every suitable thing.
015.020
YUSUFALI: And We have
provided therein means of subsistence,- for you and for those for whose
sustenance ye are not responsible.
PICKTHAL: And we have
given unto you livelihoods therein, and unto those for whom ye provide not.
SHAKIR: And We have
made in it means of subsistence for you and for him for whom you are not the
suppliers.
015.021
YUSUFALI: And there is
not a thing but its (sources and) treasures (inexhaustible) are with Us; but We
only send down thereof in due and ascertainable measures.
PICKTHAL: And there is
not a thing but with Us are the stores thereof. And we send it not down save in
appointed measure.
SHAKIR: And there is
not a thing but with Us are the treasures of it, and We do not send it down but
in a known measure.
015.022
YUSUFALI: And We send
the fecundating winds, then cause the rain to descend from the sky, therewith
providing you with water (in abundance), though ye are not the guardians of its
stores.
PICKTHAL: And We send
the winds fertilising, and cause water to descend from the sky, and give it you
to drink. It is not ye who are the holders of the store thereof.
SHAKIR: And We send
the winds fertilizing, then send down water from the cloud so We give it to you
to drink of, nor is it you who store it up.
015.023
YUSUFALI: And verily,
it is We Who give life, and Who give death: it is We Who remain inheritors
(after all else passes away).
PICKTHAL: Lo! and it
is We, even We, Who quicken and give death, and We are the Inheritor.
SHAKIR: And most
surely We bring to life and cause to die and We are the heirs.
015.024
YUSUFALI: To Us are
known those of you who hasten forward, and those who lag behind.
PICKTHAL: And verily
We know the eager among you and verily We know the laggards.
SHAKIR: And certainly
We know those of you who have gone before and We certainly know those who shall
come later.
015.025
YUSUFALI: Assuredly it
is thy Lord Who will gather them together: for He is perfect in Wisdom and
Knowledge.
PICKTHAL: Lo! thy Lord
will gather them together. Lo! He is Wise, Aware.
SHAKIR: And surely
your Lord will gather them together; surely He is Wise, Knowing.
15 : 26
26. Walaqad khalaqna al-insana min salsalin min hama-in masnoonin
We created man of earthen clay taken from moulded mud.
(Having dwelt at length on Creation, - the star studded heavens above and the copious earth below and all that exists in between them, the wind, the clouds, the flora and the fauna, the beasts in the wilderness, the generous provision made for all living beings, the paucity of life and the inevitability of death, the promise of reward and the warning of requital, the focus now shifts upon the Creature around whom the Creation revolves, the greatest of His marvels, His regent on earth, the bearer of His torch, the champion of His Cause, the mirror of His Glory, the keeper of His trust, the owner of the Garden, the upholder of the Truth and the courageous courier of the Qur'aan which neither the earth nor the mountains ventured to shoulder; a prodigious creature unlike any of the other creatures with faculties capable of reaching perfection! He was the one before whom the angels were commanded to prostrate in acknowledgement of his primacy over them; for whom a part of the Garden was set aside and because of whom an arrogant angel fell out of His Grace and turned into a renegade! Small wonder that events leading to his creation are repeated time and again in the Qur'aan so that the lesson which was taught to him and his spouse in retaliation for their disobedience does not fall on deaf years, and his progeny make no mistake about learning from it and avert the outcome which befell their first parents).
15 : 27
27. Waaljanna khalaqnahu min qablu min nari alssamoomi
And the Jinn We created before him from flame.
15 : 28
28. Wa-ith qala rabbuka lilmala-ikati innee khaliqun basharan min salsalin min hama-in masnoonin
And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels : 'I am going to create 'man' out of earthen clay taken from moulded mud -
15 : 29
29. Fa-itha sawwaytuhu wanafakhtu feehi min roohee faqaAAoo lahu sajideena
'When I have moulded him and breathed into him of My spirit, fall down prostrating before him!'
15 : 30
30. Fasajada almala-ikatu kulluhum ajmaAAoona
So the angels fell prostrate, all of them in a single assembly -
15 : 31
31. Illa ibleesa aba an yakoona maAAa alssajideena
Except Iblis! He did not agree to be of those who prostrated.
15 : 32
32. Qala ya ibleesu ma laka alla takoona maAAa alssajideena
He (Allah) said : 'O Iblis! What is your problem that you have not prostrated?'
15 : 33
33. Qala lam akun li-asjuda libasharin khalaqtahu min salsalin min hama-in masnoonin
He (Iblis) said : 'It befits me not to prostate before man whom you created from clay taken from moulded mud!
15 : 34
34. Qala faokhruj minha fa-innaka rajeemun
He (Allah) said : 'Then be banished from Paradise, for verily you are henceforth ostracized!
15 : 35
35. Wa-inna AAalayka allaAAnata ila yawmi alddeeni
'And thus accursed shall you remain until the Day of Judgement!'
15 : 36
36. Qala rabbi faanthirnee ila yawmi yubAAathoona
He (Iblis) said : 'O my Lord! Then reprieve me until that Day when they are raised.'
15 37
37. Qala fa-innaka mina almunthareena
He (Allah) said : 'Then verily You are of those reprieved -
15 : 38
38. Ila yawmi alwaqti almaAAloomi
'Until the term appointed!'
15 : 39
39. Qala rabbi bima aghwaytanee laozayyinanna lahum fee al-ardi walaoghwiyannahum ajmaAAeena
He (Iblis) said : 'Since you have sent me astray, I vow to make the path of error upon the earth strewn with temptations for men and send them all astray -
15 : 40
40. Illa AAibadaka minhumu almukhlaseena
'Except those of Your creatures who are Your chosen ones!'
15 : 41
41. Qala hatha siratun AAalayya mustaqeemun
He (Allah) said : 'The path of righteousness (however) will lead them straight to Me -
15 : 42
42. Inna AAibadee laysa laka AAalayhim sultanun illa mani ittabaAAaka mina alghaweena
'And you shall have no sway over any of my slaves except those who choose to follow you!
15 : 43
43. Wa-inna jahannama lamawAAiduhum ajmaAAeena
'And for such of them, the promised destination shall be hell -
15 : 44
44. Laha sabAAatu abwabin likulli babin minhum juz-on maqsoomun
'Which has seven doorways and each doorway is assigned to a portion of them!' (R)
(From the above verses it becomes clear that the challenge of Iblis would lead to the splitting up of mankind into two strands, - good and bad, - one resisting the temptations with which the devil will do his utmost to lure them, refusing to walk on the primrose path laid out by him, dedicating their hearts and minds to concentrate upon Allah's guidance, put it into practice, choose their options wisely and earn for themselves the happy Abode in the Hereafter; while the other falling an easy prey to his lures, selling their souls to him, treading upon the primrose path laid out by him, wearing blindfolds on their eyes, repudiating Allah's guidance, refuting his messengers and joining the ranks of his sycophants without any thought towards its consequences.
However, the devil will have no sway over the resolute believers in Allah, nor will he have any power to protect those who had followed him from being sucked into hell through its seven doorways, which will be thrown open for them!).
OTHER
TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHAL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
26. And indeed, We created man from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud.
27. And the jinn, We created aforetime from the smokeless flame of fire.
28. And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: "I am going to create a man (Adam) from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud.
29. "So, when I have fashioned him completely and breathed into him (Adam) the soul which I created for him, then fall (you) down prostrating yourselves unto him."
30. So, the angels prostrated themselves, all of them together.
31. Except Iblīs (Satan), - he refused to be among the prostrators.
32. (Allāh) said: "O Iblīs (Satan)! What is your reason for not being among the prostrators?"
33. [Iblīs (Satan)] said: "I am not the one to prostrate myself to a human being, whom You created from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud."
34. (Allāh) said: "Then, get out from here, for verily, you are Rajīm (an outcast or a cursed one)." [Tafsīr At-Tabarī]
35. "And verily, the curse shall be upon you till the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)."
36. [Iblīs (Satan)] said: "O my Lord! Give me then respite till the Day they (the dead) will be resurrected."
37. Allāh said: "Then, verily, you are of those reprieved,
38. "Till the Day of the time appointed."
39. [Iblīs (Satan)] said: "O my Lord! Because you misled me, I shall indeed adorn the path of error for them (mankind) on the earth, and I shall mislead them all.
40. "Except Your chosen, (guided) slaves among them."
41. (Allāh) said: "This is the Way which will lead straight to Me."
42. "Certainly, you shall have no authority over My slaves, except those who follow you of the Ghāwīn (Mushrikūn and those who go astray, criminals, polytheists, and evil-doers, etc.).
43. "And surely, Hell is the promised place for them all.
44. "It (Hell) has seven gates, for each of those gates is a (special) class (of sinners) assigned.
015.026
YUSUFALI: We created
man from sounding clay, from mud moulded into shape;
PICKTHAL: Verily We
created man of potter's clay of black mud altered,
SHAKIR: And certainly
We created man of clay that gives forth sound, of black mud fashioned in shape.
015.027
YUSUFALI: And the Jinn
race, We had created before, from the fire of a scorching wind.
PICKTHAL: And the jinn
did We create aforetime of essential fire.
SHAKIR: And the jinn
We created before, of intensely hot fire.
015.028
YUSUFALI: Behold! thy
Lord said to the angels: "I am about to create man, from sounding clay from mud
moulded into shape;
PICKTHAL: And
(remember) when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am creating a mortal out of
potter's clay of black mud altered,
SHAKIR: And when your
Lord said to the angels: Surely I am going to create a mortal of the essence of
black mud fashioned in shape.
015.029
YUSUFALI: "When I have
fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit, fall ye
down in obeisance unto him."
PICKTHAL: So, when I
have made him and have breathed into him of My Spirit, do ye fall down,
prostrating yourselves unto him.
SHAKIR: So when I have
made him complete and breathed into him of My spirit, fall down making obeisance
to him.
015.030
YUSUFALI: So the
angels prostrated themselves, all of them together:
PICKTHAL: So the
angels fell prostrate, all of them together
SHAKIR: So the angels
made obeisance, all of them together,
015.031
YUSUFALI: Not so Iblis:
he refused to be among those who prostrated themselves.
PICKTHAL: Save Iblis.
He refused to be among the prostrate.
SHAKIR: But Iblis (did
it not); he refused to be with those who made obeisance.
015.032
YUSUFALI: (Allah)
said: "O Iblis! what is your reason for not being among those who prostrated
themselves?"
PICKTHAL: He said: O
Iblis! What aileth thee that thou art not among the prostrate?
SHAKIR: He said: O
Iblis! what excuse have you that you are not with those who make obeisance?
015.033
YUSUFALI: (Iblis)
said: "I am not one to prostrate myself to man, whom Thou didst create from
sounding clay, from mud moulded into shape."
PICKTHAL: He said: I
am not one to prostrate myself unto a mortal whom Thou hast created out of
potter's clay of black mud altered!
SHAKIR: He said: I am
not such that I should make obeisance to a mortal whom Thou hast created of the
essence of black mud fashioned in shape.
015.034
YUSUFALI: (Allah)
said: "Then get thee out from here; for thou art rejected, accursed.
PICKTHAL: He said:
Then go thou forth from hence, for lo! thou art outcast.
SHAKIR: He said: Then
get out of it, for surely you are driven away:
015.035
YUSUFALI: "And the
curse shall be on thee till the day of Judgment."
PICKTHAL: And lo! the
curse shall be upon thee till the Day of Judgment.
SHAKIR: And surely on
you is curse until the day of judgment.
015.036
YUSUFALI: (Iblis)
said: "O my Lord! give me then respite till the Day the (dead) are raised."
PICKTHAL: He said: My
Lord! Reprieve me till the day when they are raised.
SHAKIR: He said: My
Lord! then respite me till the time when they are raised.
015.037
YUSUFALI: (Allah)
said: "Respite is granted thee
PICKTHAL: He said:
Then lo! thou art of those reprieved
SHAKIR: He said: So
surely you are of the respited ones
015.038
YUSUFALI: "Till the
Day of the Time appointed."
PICKTHAL: Till the Day
of appointed time.
SHAKIR: Till the
period of the time made known.
015.039
YUSUFALI: (Iblis)
said: "O my Lord! because Thou hast put me in the wrong, I will make (wrong)
fair-seeming to them on the earth, and I will put them all in the wrong,-
PICKTHAL: He said: My
Lord! Because Thou hast sent me astray, I verily shall adorn the path of error
for them in the earth, and shall mislead them every one,
SHAKIR: He said: My
Lord! because Thou hast made life evil to me, I will certainly make (evil)
fair-seeming to them on earth, and I will certainly cause them all to deviate
015.040
YUSUFALI: "Except Thy
servants among them, sincere and purified (by Thy Grace)."
PICKTHAL: Save such of
them as are Thy perfectly devoted slaves.
SHAKIR: Except Thy
servants from among them, the devoted ones.
015.041
YUSUFALI: (Allah)
said: "This (way of My sincere servants) is indeed a way that leads straight to
Me.
PICKTHAL: He said:
This is a right course incumbent upon Me:
SHAKIR: He said: This
is a right way with Me:
015.042
YUSUFALI: "For over My
servants no authority shalt thou have, except such as put themselves in the
wrong and follow thee."
PICKTHAL: Lo! as for
My slaves, thou hast no power over any of them save such of the froward as
follow thee,
SHAKIR: Surely. as
regards My servants, you have no authority ,over them except those who follow
you of the deviators.
015.043
YUSUFALI: And verily,
Hell is the promised abode for them all!
PICKTHAL: And lo! for
all such, hell will be the promised place.
SHAKIR: And surely
Hell is the promised place of them all:
015.044
YUSUFALI: To it are
seven gates: for each of those gates is a (special) class (of sinners) assigned.
PICKTHAL: It hath
seven gates, and each gate hath an appointed portion.
SHAKIR: It has seven
gates; for every gate there shall be a separate party of them.
15 : 45
45. Inna almuttaqeena fee jannatin waAAuyoonin
But the righteous shall dwell in gardens and in the midst of streams!
15 : 46
46. Odkhulooha bisalamin amineena
(And it is said to them) : 'Enter in safety and in peace!'
15 : 47
47. WanazaAAna ma fee sudoorihim min ghillin ikhwanan AAala sururin mutaqabileena
And We shall cleanse their hearts of whatever malice there was in them, - each a brethren to the other, - reclining face to face on luxurious couches!
15 : 48
48. La yamassuhum feeha nasabun wama hum minha bimukhrajeena
Suffering will never touch them therein nor will they ever be evicted from thence!
15 : 49
49. Nabbi/ AAibadee annee ana alghafooru alrraheemu
Announce it to My slaves that I am the most Magnanimous and Merciful!
15 : 50
50. Waanna AAathabee huwa alAAathabu al-aleemu
But (also that) My castigation is the most opprobrious castigation of all!'
(All the doorways of the Garden will be thrown open for those who resisted the ruse of the devil and walked aright despite his distractions, to abide in them forever, in the midst of shades and streams, in proximity to their Lord and in peace, their hearts cleansed of rancour towards one another which may have once existed, but now bound together in bonds of love, sitting face to face on raised couches and soaking in the tranquil surroundings, without the fear of being beleaguered by grief ever again nor of being thrown out of there.
The same theme of reward and punishment, deliverance and damnation, Divine mercy and Divine wrath are reflected in the examples given below of generations who passed away before them, their triumphs and their capitulations, the choices they made and the consequences they suffered on account of them, beginning with the good news delivered to Abraham about the birth of Isaac to him so that the lap which became empty after the departure of Ishmael to a far off land at Allah's behest filled up once again and that Sarah was reassured of His blessings on her, though she was made instrumental by Divine Provision in the branching off of Abraham's seed).
15 : 51
51. Wanabbi/hum AAan dayfi ibraheema
And tell them about Abraham and his guests :
15 : 52
52. Ith dakhaloo AAalayhi faqaloo salaman qala inna minkum wajiloona
How when they came to him and said : 'Peace be upon you!' he said : 'I fear you!'
15 : 53
53. Qaloo la tawjal inna nubashshiruka bighulamin AAaleemin
They said : 'Fear us not! We bring you good tidings of a son who shall possess great wisdom!'
15 : 54
54. Qala abashshartumoonee AAala an massaniya alkibaru fabima tubashshirooni
He said : 'Bring you good tidings to me of a son when I have become this old? What are these tidings that you bring me?'
15 : 55
55. Qaloo bashsharnaka bialhaqqi fala takun mina alqaniteena
They said : 'We bring you good tidings in truth, so never abandon your hopes!'
15 : 56
56. Qala waman yaqnatu min rahmati rabbihi illa alddalloona
He said : 'And who abandon hope in the mercy of their Lord except those who have gone astray!
15 : 57
57. Qala fama khatbukum ayyuha almursaloona
He (Abraham) said : 'And what might be your (subsequent) mission, O messengers of Allah?
15 : 58
58. Qaloo inna orsilna ila qawmin mujrimeena
They said : 'We have been sent to punish a fallen folk -
15 : 59
59. Illa ala lootin inna lamunajjoohum ajmaAAeena
All, save the family of Lot. We shall protect each and everyone of them -
15 : 60
60. Illa imraatahu qaddarna innaha lamina alghabireena
Except his spouse, for it has been decreed that she should be of those that are left behind!' (R)
OTHER
TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHAL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
45. "Truly! The Muttaqūn (pious and righteous persons - see V.2:2) will be amidst Gardens and water-springs (Paradise).
46. "(It will be said to them): 'Enter therein (Paradise), in peace and security.'
47. "And We shall remove from their breasts any sense of injury (that they may have), (So they will be like) brothers facing each other on thrones.
48. "No sense of fatigue shall touch them, nor shall they (ever) be asked to leave it."
49. Declare (O Muhammad SAW) unto My slaves, that truly, I am the Oft-Forgiving, the Most-Merciful.
50. And that My Torment is indeed the most painful torment.
51. And tell them about the guests (the angels) of Ibrāhim (Abraham).
52. When they entered unto him, and said: Salāman (peace)! [Ibrāhim (Abraham)] said: "Indeed! We are afraid of you."
53. They (the angels) said: "Do not be afraid! We give you glad tidings of a boy (son) possessing much knowledge and wisdom."
54. [Ibrāhim (Abraham)] said: "Do you give me glad tidings (of a son) when old age has overtaken me? Of what then is your news?"
55. They (the angels) said: "We give you glad tidings in truth. So be not of the despairing ones."
56. [Ibrāhim (Abraham)] said: "And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?"
57. [Ibrāhim (Abraham) again] said: "What then is the business on which you have come, O Messengers?"
58. They (the angels) said: "We have been sent to a people who are Mujrimūn (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners).
59. "(All) except the family of Lout (Lot). Them all we are surely going to save (from destruction).
60. "Except his wife, of whom We have decreed that she shall be of those who remain behind (i.e. she will be destroyed)."
015.045
YUSUFALI: The
righteous (will be) amid gardens and fountains (of clear-flowing water).
PICKTHAL: Lo! those
who ward off (evil) are among gardens and watersprings.
SHAKIR: Surely those
who guard (against evil) shall be in the midst of gardens and fountains:
015.046
YUSUFALI: (Their
greeting will be): "Enter ye here in peace and security."
PICKTHAL: (And it is
said unto them): Enter them in peace, secure.
SHAKIR: Enter them in
peace, secure.
015.047
YUSUFALI: And We shall
remove from their hearts any lurking sense of injury: (they will be) brothers
(joyfully) facing each other on thrones (of dignity).
PICKTHAL: And We
remove whatever rancour may be in their breasts. As brethren, face to face,
(they rest) on couches raised.
SHAKIR: And We will
root out whatever of rancor is in their breasts-- (they shall be) as brethren,
on raised couches, face to face.
015.048
YUSUFALI: There no
sense of fatigue shall touch them, nor shall they (ever) be asked to leave.
PICKTHAL: Toil cometh
not unto them there, nor will they be expelled from thence.
SHAKIR: Toil shall not
afflict them in it, nor shall they be ever ejected from it.
015.049
YUSUFALI: Tell My
servants that I am indeed the Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful;
PICKTHAL: Announce, (O
Muhammad) unto My slaves that verily I am the Forgiving, the Merciful,
SHAKIR: Inform My
servants that I am the Forgiving, the Merciful,
015.050
YUSUFALI: And that My
Penalty will be indeed the most grievous Penalty.
PICKTHAL: And that My
doom is the dolorous doom.
SHAKIR: And that My
punishment-- that is the painful punishment.
015.051
YUSUFALI: Tell them
about the guests of Abraham.
PICKTHAL: And tell
them of Abraham's guests,
SHAKIR: And inform
them of the guests of Ibrahim:
015.052
YUSUFALI: When they
entered his presence and said, "Peace!" He said, "We feel afraid of you!"
PICKTHAL: (How) when
they came in unto him, and said: Peace. He said: Lo! we are afraid of you.
SHAKIR: When they
entered upon him, they said, Peace. He said: Surely we are afraid of you.
015.053
YUSUFALI: They said:
"Fear not! We give thee glad tidings of a son endowed with wisdom."
PICKTHAL: They said:
Be not afraid! Lo! we bring thee good tidings of a boy possessing wisdom.
SHAKIR: They said: Be
not afraid, surely we give you the good news of a boy, possessing knowledge.
015.054
YUSUFALI: He said: "Do
ye give me glad tidings that old age has seized me? Of what, then, is your good
news?"
PICKTHAL: He said:
Bring ye me good tidings (of a son) when old age hath overtaken me? Of what then
can ye bring good tidings?
SHAKIR: He said: Do
you give me good news (of a son) when old age has come upon me?-- Of what then
do you give me good news!
015.055
YUSUFALI: They said:
"We give thee glad tidings in truth: be not then in despair!"
PICKTHAL: They said:
We bring thee good tidings in truth. So be not thou of the despairing.
SHAKIR: They said: We
give you good news with truth, therefore be not of the despairing.
015.056
YUSUFALI: He said:
"And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord, but such as go astray?"
PICKTHAL: He said: And
who despaireth of the mercy of his Lord save those who are astray?
SHAKIR: He said: And
who despairs of the mercy of his Lord but the erring ones?
015.057
YUSUFALI: Abraham
said: "What then is the business on which ye (have come), O ye messengers (of
Allah)?"
PICKTHAL: He said: And
afterward what is your business, O ye messengers (of Allah)?
SHAKIR: He said: What
is your business then, O messengers?
015.058
YUSUFALI: They said:
"We have been sent to a people (deep) in sin,
PICKTHAL: They said:
We have been sent unto a guilty folk,
SHAKIR: They said:
Surely we are sent towards a guilty people,
015.059
YUSUFALI: "Excepting
the adherents of Lut: them we are certainly (charged) to save (from harm),- All
-
PICKTHAL: (All) save
the family of Lot. Them we shall deliver every one,
SHAKIR: Except Lut's
followers: We will most surely deliver them all,
015.060
YUSUFALI: "Except his
wife, who, We have ascertained, will be among those who will lag behind."
PICKTHAL: Except his
wife, of whom We had decreed that she should be of those who stay behind.
SHAKIR: Except his
wife; We ordained that she shall surely be of those who remain behind.
15 : 61
61. Falamma jaa ala lootin almursaloona
And when the messengers arrived at Lot's house -
15 : 62
62. Qala innakum qawmun munkaroona
He said : 'Verily you are total strangers to me!'
15 : 63
63. Qaloo bal ji/naka bima kanoo feehi yamtaroona
They said : 'Nay, but we bring you that about which your folks are unconvinced!'
('That' meaning, the Divine castigation of which Lot had been warning his people, but of which his people were never convinced).
15 : 64
64. Waataynaka bialhaqqi wa-inna lasadiqoona
'And we bring you only the truth, for verily we are bearers of the Truth!
15 : 65
65. Faasri bi-ahlika biqitAAin mina allayli waittabiAA adbarahum wala yaltafit minkum ahadun waimdoo haythu tu/maroona
'Set out with your household during a portion of the night, walking behind them and making sure that no one turns round to look and go only where you are commanded to go!'
15 : 66
66. Waqadayna ilayhi thalika al-amra anna dabira haola-i maqtooAAun musbiheena
And We made clear to him Our decision that the roots of those who sinned would be severed by the crack of that dawn!
15 : 67
67. Wajaa ahlu almadeenati yastabshiroona
And the residents of the city came to him, rejoicing at news about the arrival of (some young and handsome men) as his guests!
(As mentioned before, when Lot's evil wife saw several good looking strangers arrive at her husband's house, she rushed into town and broadcast the news to all, knowing well that they were homosexuals and would welcome the opportunity of satisfying their lust by preying upon them).
15 : 68
68. Qala inna haola-i dayfee fala tafdahooni
He said : 'They are my guests so do not humiliate me in front of them!
15 : 69
69. Waittaqoo Allaha wala tukhzooni
'Be fearful of Allah and do not put me to shame!'
15 : 70
70. Qaloo awa lam nanhaka AAani alAAalameena
They said : 'Did we not ask you to refrain from meddling with the affairs of others?'
15 : 71
71. Qala haola-i banatee in kuntum faAAileena
He said : 'The women of this tribe are like daughters to me, if you wish to woo them instead!'
(Such was Allah's revulsion towards the abominations those men committed, - in fact, towards anyone who commits such abominations, whether then or now, - that the narrative momentarily breaks off and the following verse is addressed to the Prophet in order to emphasize it.
It should be pointed out that sexual deviations of every kind are reviled by Islam, homo-sexuality, lesbianism, sodomy or oral and anal sex, - the purpose of sex having been strictly set aside for the proliferation of progeny and not for deriving pleasure for its own sake, thereby defeating this sacred purpose).
15 : 72
72. LaAAamruka innahum lafee sakratihim yaAAmahoona
Upon your life (O Mohammed), verily they were sunk in the stupor of their lust!
15 : 73
73. Faakhathat-humu alssayhatu mushriqeena
So they were struck down at the crack of dawn by a terrifying Scream!
15 : 74
74. FajaAAalna AAaliyaha safilaha waamtarna AAalayhim hijaratan min sijjeelin
Then We turned their town upside down and showered upon their heads torrents of flints and pebbles.
15 : 75
75. Inna fee thalika laayatin lilmutawassimeena
Verily there are incontrovertible signs in these events for those who introspect!
15 : 76
76. Wa-innaha labisabeelin muqeemin
And verily the debris of that township still lies scattered alongside the road on which people pass!
15 : 77
77. Inna fee thalika laayatan lilmu/mineena
And surely there are signs in these examples for those who believe!
15 : 78
78. Wa-in kana as-habu al-aykati lathalimeena
And the dwellers of the Wood were also a wicked lot.
(The dwellers of the Wood refers to the Tribe of Midian, whose township was situated in the midst of green valleys and lush prairies, its name derived from the Arabic word al-Ayka which means woodlands, or the wilderness, to whom Prophet Sho'abe was sent because of their intransigence, briefly covered in previous Surahs and will receive further attention in Surah 26, verses 176 -191)
15 : 79
79. Faintaqamna minhum wa-innahuma labi-imamin mubeenin
So We
avenged them; the ruins of both these townships still lie scattered alongside
the turnpike in plain sight! (R)
OTHER
TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHAL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
61. Then, when the Messengers (the angels) came unto the family of Lout (Lot).
62. He said: "Verily! You are people unknown to me."
63. They said: "Nay, we have come to you with that (torment) which they have been doubting.
64. "And we have brought to you the truth (the news of the destruction of your nation) and certainly, we tell the truth.
65. "Then travel in a part of the night with your family, and you go behind them in the rear, and let no one amongst you look back, but go on to where you are ordered."
66. And We made known this decree to him, that the root of those (sinners) was to be cut off in the early morning.
67. And the inhabitants of the city came rejoicing (at the news of the young men's arrival).
68. [Lout (Lot)] said: "Verily! these are my guests, so shame me not.
69. "And fear Allāh and disgrace me not."
70. They (people of the city) said: "Did we not forbid you to entertain (or protect) any of the 'Alamīn (people, foreigners, strangers, etc. from us)?"
71. [Lout (Lot)] said: "These (the girls of the nation) are my daughters (to marry lawfully), if you must act (so)."
72. Verily, by your life (O Muhammad SAW), in their wild intoxication, they were wandering blindly.
73. So As-Saīhah (torment - awful cry, etc.) overtook them at the time of sunrise;
74. And We turned (the towns of Sodom in Palestine) upside down and rained down on them stones of baked clay.
75. Surely! In this are signs, for those who see (or understand or learn the lessons from the Signs of Allāh).
76. And verily! They (the cities) were right on the highroad (from Makkah to Syria i.e. the place where the Dead Sea is now)[].
77. Surely! Therein is indeed a sign for the believers.
78. And the dwellers in the wood [i.e. the people of Madyan (Midian) to whom Prophet Shu'aib (<><>) was sent by Allāh), were also Zālimūn (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.).
79. So, We took vengeance on them. They are both on an open highway, plain to see.
015.061
YUSUFALI: At length
when the messengers arrived among the adherents of Lut,
PICKTHAL: And when the
messengers came unto the family of Lot,
SHAKIR: So when the
messengers came to Lut's followers,
015.062
YUSUFALI: He said: "Ye
appear to be uncommon folk."
PICKTHAL: He said: Lo!
ye are folk unknown (to me).
SHAKIR: He said:
Surely you are an unknown people.
015.063
YUSUFALI: They said:
"Yea, we have come to thee to accomplish that of which they doubt.
PICKTHAL: They said:
Nay, but we bring thee that concerning which they keep disputing,
SHAKIR: They said:
Nay, we have come to you with that about which they disputed.
015.064
YUSUFALI: "We have
brought to thee that which is inevitably due, and assuredly we tell the truth.
PICKTHAL: And bring
thee the Truth, and lo! we are truth-tellers.
SHAKIR: And we have
come to you with the truth, and we are most surely truthful.
015.065
YUSUFALI: "Then travel
by night with thy household, when a portion of the night (yet remains), and do
thou bring up the rear: let no one amongst you look back, but pass on whither ye
are ordered."
PICKTHAL: So travel
with thy household in a portion of the night, and follow thou their backs. Let
none of you turn round, but go whither ye are commanded.
SHAKIR: Therefore go
forth with your followers in a part of the night and yourself follow their rear,
and let not any one of you turn round, and go forth whither you are commanded.
015.066
YUSUFALI: And We made
known this decree to him, that the last remnants of those (sinners) should be
cut off by the morning.
PICKTHAL: And We made
plain the case to him, that the root of them (who did wrong) was to be cut at
early morn.
SHAKIR: And We
revealed to him this decree, that the roots of these shall be cut off in the
morning.
015.067
YUSUFALI: The
inhabitants of the city came in (mad) joy (at news of the young men).
PICKTHAL: And the
people of the city came, rejoicing at the news (of new arrivals).
SHAKIR: And the people
of the town came rejoicing.
015.068
YUSUFALI: Lut said:
"These are my guests: disgrace me not:
PICKTHAL: He said: Lo!
they are my guests. Affront me not!
SHAKIR: He said:
Surely these are my guests, therefore do not disgrace me,
015.069
YUSUFALI: "But fear
Allah, and shame me not."
PICKTHAL: And keep
your duty to Allah, and shame me not!
SHAKIR: And guard
against (the punishment of) Allah and do not put me to shame.
015.070
YUSUFALI: They said:
"Did we not forbid thee (to speak) for all and sundry?"
PICKTHAL: They said;
Have we not forbidden you from (entertaining) anyone?
SHAKIR: They said:
Have we not forbidden you from (other) people?
015.071
YUSUFALI: He said:
"There are my daughters (to marry), if ye must act (so)."
PICKTHAL: He said:
Here are my daughters, if ye must be doing (so).
SHAKIR: He said: These
are my daughters, if you will do (aught).
015.072
YUSUFALI: Verily, by
thy life (O Prophet), in their wild intoxication, they wander in distraction, to
and fro.
PICKTHAL: By thy life
(O Muhammad) they moved blindly in the frenzy of approaching death.
SHAKIR: By your life!
they were blindly wandering on in their intoxication.
015.073
YUSUFALI: But the
(mighty) Blast overtook them before morning,
PICKTHAL: Then the
(Awful) Cry overtook them at the sunrise.
SHAKIR: So the
rumbling overtook them (while) entering upon the time of sunrise;
015.074
YUSUFALI: And We
turned (the cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as
baked clay.
PICKTHAL: And We
utterly confounded them, and We rained upon them stones of heated clay.
SHAKIR: Thus did We
turn it upside down, and rained down upon them stones of what had been decreed.
015.075
YUSUFALI: Behold! in
this are Signs for those who by tokens do understand.
PICKTHAL: Lo! therein
verily are portents for those who read the signs.
SHAKIR: Surely in this
are signs for those who examine.
015.076
YUSUFALI: And the
(cities were) right on the high-road.
PICKTHAL: And lo! it
is upon a road still uneffaced.
SHAKIR: And surely it
is on a road that still abides.
015.077
YUSUFALI: Behold! in
this is a sign for those who believed.
PICKTHAL: Lo! therein
is indeed a portent for believers.
SHAKIR: Most surely
there is a sign in this for the believers.
015.078
YUSUFALI: And the
Companions of the Wood were also wrong-doers;
PICKTHAL: And the
dwellers in the wood indeed were evil-doers.
SHAKIR: And the
dwellers of the thicket also were most surely unjust.
015.079
YUSUFALI: So We
exacted retribution from them. They were both on an open highway, plain to see.
PICKTHAL: So we took
vengeance on them; and lo! they both are on a high-road plain to see.
SHAKIR: So We
inflicted retribution on them, and they are both, indeed, on an open road
(still) pursued.
15 : 80
80. Walaqad kaththaba as-habu alhijri almursaleena
The people of the Rocky Tract also persistently discredited Our Messengers.
(The 'Rocky Tract' refers to the valley surrounding Mount Hijr, situated between Madina and the borders of Syria from where the Tribe of Thamud hailed. They refuted their Prophet Saleh because of which they fell victim to Divine wrath and were wiped out of existence, as outlined in previous Surahs and will be dealt with again in future Surahs).
15 : 81
81. Waataynahum ayatina fakanoo AAanha muAArideena
Though We sent them Our signs, their folk carried on ignoring them.
15 : 82
82. Wakanoo yanhitoona mina aljibali buyootan amineena
And they used to rive their dwellings in solid rock so that they could live inside them without fear!
15 : 83
83. Faakhathat-humu alssayhatu musbiheena
Yet the terrifying Scream struck them down at daybreak!
15 : 84
84. Fama aghna AAanhum ma kanoo yaksiboona
So whatever gains they made in life availed them not (in death)!
(Because they had acquired the special skill of riving their dwellings in solid rock, they thought they were safe; that the unimpregnable mountains would forever remain impervious to all forms of cataclysms; that no storm nor deluge nor earthquake would touch them. But when Allah's Decree comes to pass, it shatters mountains into dust; it brings down ramparts and garrisons; it penetrates the impenetrable and destroys the indestructible within the batting of an eyelid!)
15 : 85
85. Wama khalaqna alssamawati waal-arda wama baynahuma illa bialhaqqi wa-inna alssaAAata laatiyatun faisfahi alssafha aljameela
And We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them in vain! And the Hour will surely culminate! So make towards them (O Mohammed) a generous gesture of forgiveness!
(This admonition of tolerance and of forgiveness towards those who were persecuting him given to the Prophet and his fellow believers was subsequently repealed and they were asked to slay the disbelievers wherever they found them).
15 : 86
86. Inna rabbaka huwa alkhallaqu alAAaleemu
Verily your Lord is the greatest Creator of all and profoundly Erudite!
15 : 87
87. Walaqad ataynaka sabAAan mina almathanee waalqur-ana alAAatheema
We have given you seven of the oft repeated verses and the Glorious
Qur'aan!
(The seven oft repeated verses refer to the verses of the Fateha that are an integral part of Salaat and are included in all the prayers around the clock, not to mention many an occasion in Islamic way of life when they are recited. The Prophet is reminded that this one benefaction with which he has been blessed by Allah more than makes up for the few comforts in life extended to his opponents and he is exhorted not to feel envious about what they received. The special status bestowed upon the Blessed Prophet of being the Last Prophet of Allah, and the unique opportunity of giving to mankind the final Divine Revelation beyond which nothing else remains outstanding except culmination of the Hour of Reckoning surpasses everything else. The Criterion of right and wrong conveyed by him is eclectic and timeless; the Reminders and the Warnings delivered by him touch every aspect of our spiritual and temporal lives. The Qur'aan is the most reputed and eulogized document in the world and places its bearer on a pedestalthat has no match.
According to a well known Hadith, the Prophet is quoted to have said : 'He who does not feel richer than the richest by the blessings of the Qur'aan is not a believer and not one of us!')
15 : 88
88. La tamuddanna AAaynayka ila ma mattaAAna bihi azwajan minhum wala tahzan AAalayhim waikhfid janahaka lilmu/mineena
So let not your eye dwell upon certain evanescent comforts which We have bestowed on some of them, nor ever be envious of it, but take the believers within the span of your comforting wings!
15 : 89
89. Waqul innee ana alnnatheeru almubeenu
And say (to the repudiators) : 'I am only a candid warner -
15 : : 90
90. Kama anzalna AAala almuqtasimeena
Of such (castigation) as that which We visit upon those who cause divisions -
15 : 91
91. Allatheena jaAAaloo alqur-ana AAideena
And upon those who endeavour to fragment the Qur'aan!
(According to commentators, the reference in this verse is to the Jews and the Christians who accepted only that part of the Qur'aan which suited their convenience and repudiated the parts which clashed with their own ideologies, thereby attempting to fragment the new Scripture in the same way as they had split up their own, although there are others who say that the reference is to the Meccan disbelievers who inscribed certain portions of the Qur'aan on clay tablets and circulated them among pilgrims in order to deride the Prophet as a pretentious new 'Moses' claiming to clean up Judaism.
It is also a fact that, at the height of their hostility to the Prophet and the religion he preached, and in an effort to discredit him, the Meccan agnostics used to intercept the couriers sent by many well-wishers of the Prophet to find out about his well-being and force them back without seeing the Prophet claiming that he was a shrewd impostor trying to make a name for himself by shrouding sheer poetry in the garb of spiritualism. But it did not deter the couriers from completing the mission entrusted to them. See 16 : 30)
15 : 92
92. Fawarabbika lanas-alannahum ajmaAAeena
So by your Lord We surely will question each and every one of them -
15 : 93
93. AAamma kanoo yaAAmaloona
About whatever they used to do!
(Beleaguered by opposition, putting up with affronts, suffering physical persecution, watching his fellow believers targeted by his enemies and not being able to prevent it, the Prophet was reaching the end of his tether. The only things which kept him going was his resolute faith in Allah; his firm conviction that he was doing the right thing and the periodic revelations from Allah comforting him and encouraging him to hold the fort without giving up the fight. The verses above and the verses below fulfil the same purpose).
15 : 94
94. FaisdaAA bima tu/maru waaAArid AAani almushrikeena
So proclaim openly that which you are commanded and turn your focus away from the idolaters.
15 : 95
95. Inna kafaynaka almustahzi-eena
Verily We shall defend you against those who deride you -
15 : 96
96. Allatheena yajAAaloona maAAa Allahi ilahan akhara fasawfa yaAAlamoona
And against those who place other Gods in par with Allah! But they will soon find out!
(Until the revelation of verse 94, the invitation to embrace Islam was not extended in public. This verse changed the situation and the Prophet was commanded to come out into the open and proclaim the religion of Islam to be the only tenable religion which could lead mankind aright and redeem the souls of the sinful, with a guarantee that He would defend him against those who deride him and against those who assign partners to Him).
15 : 97
97. Walaqad naAAlamu annaka yadeequ sadruka bima yaqooloona
We know very well that your heart constricts because of that which they utter.
15 : 98
98. Fasabbih bihamdi rabbika wakun mina alssajideena
But hymn the Glory of your Lord and be of those who prostrate to Him!
15 : 99
99. WaoAAbud rabbaka hatta ya/tiyaka alyaqeenu
And worship your Lord until the inevitable moment catches up with you! (R)
(In moments of extreme distress when nothing seems to be going our way; when those whom we trust the most stick a knife in our backs; when those whom we love repay our love with hatred; when friends die and leave a great chasm of emptiness in our hearts; when memories of a past which would never recur wake up in our minds and drive us to the brink of tears; when fear overwhelms us and grief drains us out, the best way of finding solace is to spread the mat, rest our forehead upon it and then shut our eyes in remembrance of our Lord. He will come to us; He will assuage our wounds; He will wedge our failing courage; He will drag us out of the doldrums and put us back on our feet again!
In his own moments of stress, the Blessed Prophet also resorted to the same and asked his followers to do it).
OTHER
TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHAL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
80. And verily, the dwellers of Al-Hijr (the rocky tract) denied the Messengers.
81. And We gave them Our Signs, but they were averse to them.
82. And they used to hew out dwellings from the mountains (feeling themselves) secure.
83. But As-Saīhah (torment - awful cry etc.) overtook them in the early morning (of the fourth day of their promised punishment days).
84. And all that which they used to earn availed them not.
85. And We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them except with truth, and the Hour is surely coming, so overlook (O Muhammad SAW), their faults with gracious forgiveness. [This was before the ordainment of Jihād holy fighting in Allāh's Cause].
86. Verily, your Lord is the All-Knowing Creator.
87. And indeed, We have bestowed upon you seven of Al-Mathāni (the seven repeatedly recited Verses), (i.e. Sūrat Al-Fātiha) and the Grand Qur'ān[].
88. Look not with your eyes ambitiously at what We have bestowed on certain classes of them (the disbelievers), nor grieve over them. And lower your wings for the believers (be courteous to the fellow-believers).
89. And say: "I am indeed a plain warner."
90. As We have sent down on the dividers, (Quraish pagans or Jews and Christians).
91. Who have made the Qur'ān into parts. (i.e. believed in a part and disbelieved in the other).
92. So, by your Lord (O Muhammad SAW), We shall certainly call all of them to account.
93. For all that they used to do.
94. Therefore proclaim openly (Allāh's Message Islāmic Monotheism) that which you are commanded, and turn away from Al-Mushrikūn (polytheists, idolaters, and disbelievers, etc. - see V.2:105).
95. Truly! We will suffice you against the scoffers.
96. Who set up along with Allāh another ilāh (god), they will come to know.
97. Indeed, We know that your breast is straitened at what they say.
98. So glorify the praises of your Lord and be of those who prostrate themselves (to Him).[]
99. And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e. death).[]
015.080
YUSUFALI: The
Companions of the Rocky Tract also rejected the messengers:
PICKTHAL: And the
dwellers in Al-Hijr denied (Our) messengers.
SHAKIR: And the
dwellers of the Rock certainly rejected the messengers;
015.081
YUSUFALI: We sent them
Our Signs, but they persisted in turning away from them.
PICKTHAL: And we gave
them Our revelations, but they were averse to them.
SHAKIR: And We gave
them Our communications, but they turned aside from them;
015.082
YUSUFALI: Out of the
mountains did they hew (their) edifices, (feeling themselves) secure.
PICKTHAL: And they
used to hew out dwellings from the hills, (wherein they dwelt) secure.
SHAKIR: And they hewed
houses in the mountains in security.
015.083
YUSUFALI: But the
(mighty) Blast seized them of a morning,
PICKTHAL: But the
(Awful) Cry overtook them at the morning hour,
SHAKIR: So the
rumbling overtook them in the morning;
015.084
YUSUFALI: And of no
avail to them was all that they did (with such art and care)!
PICKTHAL: And that
which they were wont to count as gain availed them not.
SHAKIR: And what they
earned did not avail them.
015.085
YUSUFALI: We created
not the heavens, the earth, and all between them, but for just ends. And the
Hour is surely coming (when this will be manifest). So overlook (any human
faults) with gracious forgiveness.
PICKTHAL: We created
not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them save with truth, and
lo! the Hour is surely coming. So forgive, (O Muhammad), with a gracious
forgiveness.
SHAKIR: And We did not
create the heavens and the earth and what is between them two but in truth; and
the hour is most surely coming, so turn away with kindly forgiveness.
015.086
YUSUFALI: For verily
it is thy Lord who is the Master-Creator, knowing all things.
PICKTHAL: Lo! Thy
Lord! He is the All-Wise Creator.
SHAKIR: Surely your
Lord is the Creator of all things, the Knowing.
015.087
YUSUFALI: And We have
bestowed upon thee the Seven Oft-repeated (verses) and the Grand Qur'an.
PICKTHAL: We have
given thee seven of the oft-repeated (verses) and the great Qur'an.
SHAKIR: And certainly
We have given you seven of the oft-repeated (verses) and the grand Quran.
015.088
YUSUFALI: Strain not
thine eyes. (Wistfully) at what We have bestowed on certain classes of them, nor
grieve over them: but lower thy wing (in gentleness) to the believers.
PICKTHAL: Strain not
thine eyes toward that which We cause some wedded pairs among them to enjoin,
and be not grieved on their account, and lower thy wing (in tenderness) for the
believers.
SHAKIR: Do not strain
your eyes after what We have given certain classes of them to enjoy, and do not
grieve for them, and make yourself gentle to the believers.
015.089
YUSUFALI: And say: "I
am indeed he that warneth openly and without ambiguity,"-
PICKTHAL: And say: Lo!
I, even I, am a plain warner,
SHAKIR: And say:
Surely I am the plain warner.
015.090
YUSUFALI: (Of just
such wrath) as We sent down on those who divided (Scripture into arbitrary
parts),-
PICKTHAL: Such as We
send down for those who make division,
SHAKIR: Like as We
sent down on the dividers
015.091
YUSUFALI: (So also on
such) as have made Qur'an into shreds (as they please).
PICKTHAL: Those who
break the Qur'an into parts.
SHAKIR: Those who made
the Quran into shreds.
015.092
YUSUFALI: Therefore,
by the Lord, We will, of a surety, call them to account,
PICKTHAL: Them, by thy
Lord, We shall question, every one,
SHAKIR: So, by your
Lord, We would most certainly question them all,
015.093
YUSUFALI: For all
their deeds.
PICKTHAL: Of what they
used to do.
SHAKIR: As to what
they did.
015.094
YUSUFALI: Therefore
expound openly what thou art commanded, and turn away from those who join false
gods with Allah.
PICKTHAL: So proclaim
that which thou art commanded, and withdraw from the idolaters.
SHAKIR: Therefore
declare openly what you are bidden and turn aside from the polytheists.
015.095
YUSUFALI: For
sufficient are We unto thee against those who scoff,-
PICKTHAL: Lo! We
defend thee from the scoffers,
SHAKIR: Surely We will
suffice you against the scoffers
015.096
YUSUFALI: Those who
adopt, with Allah, another god: but soon will they come to know.
PICKTHAL: Who set some
other god along with Allah. But they will come to know.
SHAKIR: Those who set
up another god with Allah; so they shall soon know.
015.097
YUSUFALI: We do indeed
know how thy heart is distressed at what they say.
PICKTHAL: Well know We
that thy bosom is oppressed by what they say,
SHAKIR: And surely We
know that your breast straitens at what they say;
015.098
YUSUFALI: But
celebrate the praises of thy Lord, and be of those who prostrate themselves in
adoration.
PICKTHAL: But hymn the
praise of thy Lord, and be of those who make prostration (unto Him).
SHAKIR: Therefore
celebrate the praise of your Lord, and be of those who make obeisance.
015.099
YUSUFALI: And serve
thy Lord until there come unto thee the Hour that is Certain.
PICKTHAL: And serve
thy Lord till the Inevitable cometh unto thee.
SHAKIR: And serve your
Lord until there comes to you that which is certain.