46. Al-Ahqaf

Ḥā, Meem.1

Ha Mim

M. Ha-Mim. Hameed Owner of all Praise, Majeed Owner of all Glory, states that

The revelation of the Book is from Allāh, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

This Book is sent down from God, the Almighty, the Wise One

The Revelation of this Book is from Allah, the Almighty, the Wise

We did not create the heavens and earth and what is between them except in truth and [for] a specified term. But those who disbelieve, from that of which they are warned, are turning away.

We created the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them purely for just ends, and for a specific term, but those who reject Faith turn away from what they have been warned of

We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them without Purpose, and for a term appointed. And yet, those who are determined to deny the Truth turn away from what they are warned against

Say, [O Muḥammad], "Have you considered that which you invoke besides Allāh? Show me what they have created of the earth; or did they have partnership in [creation of] the heavens? Bring me a scripture [revealed] before this or a [remaining] trace of knowledge, if you should be truthful."

Say, "Have you thought about those you call upon apart from God? Show me what they have created on the earth. Or do they have a share in the heavens? Bring me a Book revealed before this or some other vestige of knowledge, if you are telling the truth

Say, "Have you ever given thought to what it is that you call upon instead of Allah? Show me what they have created of the earth. Or do they have a share in the heavens? Bring me a Scripture before this one, or even some remains of knowledge if you are true in your claim

And who is more astray than he who invokes besides Allāh those who will not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection [i.e., never], and they, of their invocation, are unaware.

And who is more misguided than one who invokes, besides God, such as will not answer him until the Day of Resurrection, and who [in fact] are not even aware of his call

And who could be further astray than one who invokes, instead of Allah, such as respond not to him even until the Day of Resurrection, and, in fact, are totally unaware of their call

And when the people are gathered [that Day], they [who were invoked] will be enemies to them, and they will be deniers of their worship.

and when mankind are gathered together, they will become their enemies, and will deny their worship

And when mankind is gathered, the false deities will become enemies to those who worshiped them, and will utterly reject their worship

And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who disbelieve say of the truth when it has come to them, "This is obvious magic."

And whenever Our clear revelations are recited to them and the Truth is brought to them, those who deny the truth say, "This is plain magic

But when Our Clear Messages are conveyed to them, the rejecters say of the Truth as soon as it reaches them, "This is obviously a magical lie." ('Sihr' = Magic = Lie = Delusion = Spellbinding eloquence = Amazing = Incredible = Surprising)

Or do they say, "He has invented it"? Say, "If I have invented it, you will not possess for me [the power of protection] from Allāh at all. He is most knowing of that in which you are involved.1 Sufficient is He as Witness between me and you, and He is the Forgiving, the Merciful."

Do they mean to say that the Messenger himself has fabricated it? Say [O Muhammad], "If I have fabricated it myself, you will not be able to do anything to save me from God. He knows quite well what talk you indulge in. He is enough as a witness between me and you; and He is the Forgiving, the Merciful One

Or do they say, "He has invented all this?" Say, "If I have invented it, still you have no power to support me against Allah. He is fully Aware of your reckless flight of imagination. He suffices as a Witness between me and you. And He is the Forgiving, the Merciful." (You shall come to know what you now don't. And the Forgiving, the Merciful Allah has ordained the Law of Respite for you (37:)

Say, "I am not something original among the messengers,1 nor do I know what will be done with me or with you. I only follow that which is revealed to me, and I am not but a clear warner."

Say, "I am not the first of God's messengers, and I do not know what will be done with me or with you: I do not follow anything but what is revealed to me, and I am merely a plain warner

Say, "I am not the first of the Messengers, and I cannot predict what will encounter me and encounter you. I do but follow what is revealed unto me, and I am but a plain Warner

Say, "Have you considered: if it [i.e., the Qur’ān] was from Allāh, and you disbelieved in it while a witness from the Children of Israel has testified to something similar1 and believed while you were arrogant...?"2 Indeed, Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.

Say, "Have you thought: what if this Quran really is from God and you reject it? What if one of the Children of Israel testifies to its similarity to earlier scripture and believes in it, and yet you are too arrogant to do the same? God certainly does not guide evil-doers

Say, "What if it is from Allah and you rejected it! A witness from the Children of Israel has already borne witness to the advent of one like himself. And he has believed while you are showing arrogance. Verily, Allah does not guide people who relegate the Truth

And those who disbelieve say of those who believe, "If it had [truly] been good, they would not have preceded us to it." And when they are not guided by it, they will say, "This is an ancient falsehood."

Those who deny the truth say of the believers, "If there were any good in this Quran, they would not have believed in it before we did." And since they refuse to be guided by it, they say, "This is an ancient fabrication

And the deniers speak thus of the believers, "If this Message were any good, these people would not have accepted it before us." But since they choose not to be guided by it, they say, "This has been a fabrication since ancient times

And before it was the scripture of Moses to lead and as a mercy. And this is a confirming Book in an Arabic tongue to warn those who have wronged and as good tidings to the doers of good.

Yet the scripture of Moses was revealed before it as a guide and a blessing; and this is a Book in the Arabic language, fulfilling [previous prophecies], to forewarn those who do evil and to bring good news to those who do good

And yet, before this was the Scripture of Moses, an example and a grace. And this (Qur'an) is a Book confirming the Truth (in Torah), in the Arabic Tongue, to warn the wrongdoers, and a herald of glad tiding for the doers of good

Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allāh," and then remained on a right course - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.

Surely those who say, "Our Lord is God," and remain firm [on that path] shall feel no fear, nor shall they grieve

Behold, those who say, "Our Lord is Allah," and thereafter stand firm and walk aright, no fear will come upon them nor shall they grieve

Those are the companions of Paradise, abiding eternally therein as reward for what they used to do.

it is they who are the people of Paradise, they shall abide therein as a reward for all that they have done

Such are the rightful dwellers of the Garden, immortal therein, as a reward for all they have done

And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, "My Lord, enable me1 to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims."

We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents: his mother bore him, in pain and in pain she gave birth to him, and his bearing and weaning takes thirty months. At length, when he reaches the age of full maturity and attains forty years, he says, "O my Lord! Help me to be grateful for Your favours which You have bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and to do good deeds that will please You. Grant me righteousness in my offspring. Truly, I have turned to You and, truly, I submit to You

Now, We have enjoined upon man goodness toward his parents. In pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of the child and his total dependence on her took thirty months. And so, when he attains maturity and reaches forty years, he says, "My Lord! Enable me to be grateful for the blessings You have given me and to my parents, and that I may do works that meet Your Approval. And cause my generations to be righteous as well. Verily, unto You I turn, and truly do I submit to You." (2:233), (7)

Those are the ones from whom We will accept the best of what they did and overlook their misdeeds, [their being] among the companions of Paradise. [That is] the promise of truth which they had been promised.

We accept from such people the best of what they do and We overlook their bad deeds. They will be among the people of Paradise -- this is a true promise that has been given to them

Such are those from whom We accept the best of their deeds and We shall absolve their imperfections. They are among the dwellers of Paradise. This is the True Promise that is made to them. ('Best of their deeds' indicates Allah's Reward surpassing the best of the best)

But one who says to his parents, "Uff1 to you; do you promise me that I will be brought forth [from the earth] when generations before me have already passed on [into oblivion]?" while they call to Allāh for help [and to their son], "Woe to you! Believe! Indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth." But he says, "This is not but legends of the former peoples" -

But he who says to his parents, "Shame upon you! Do you threaten me with being taken out of the grave after death while many a generation has passed away before me and none has risen from among them?" The parents both cry for God's help and say to him, "Believe! Alas for you! God's promise is true." But he says, "These are nothing but ancient fables

And whoever says to his parents, "Shameful it is for both of you! Do you threaten me that I shall be brought forth again although so many generations have passed away before me?" And they both pray for Allah's help and say, "Alas for you! Believe! Behold, Allah's promise always comes true. But he replies, "All this is nothing but fables of the ancient

Those are the ones upon whom the word [i.e., decree] has come into effect, [who will be] among nations which had passed on before them of jinn and men. Indeed, they [all] were losers.

It is against such as these that the word of God has proved true, along with all the communities that went before them, jinns and humans: surely they are losers

Such are the ones against whom the Word came to pass among the previous generations of the rural and the urban. Verily, they will be lost

And for all there are degrees [of reward and punishment] for what they have done, and [it is] so that He may fully compensate them for their deeds, and they will not be wronged.

All will be ranked according to their deeds. We will requite them in full for their actions and they will not be wronged

And for all there will be ranks according to what they did that He may recompense their actions. And none shall be wronged

And the Day those who disbelieved are exposed to the Fire [it will be said], "You exhausted your pleasures during your worldly life and enjoyed them, so this Day you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation because you were arrogant upon the earth without right and because you were defiantly disobedient."

On the Day when those who deny the truth are brought before the Fire, it will be said to them, "You have had the good things of the life of this world, and you enjoyed them. Now this Day you shall be requited with humiliating punishment, because you were arrogant in the land without justification, and because you acted rebelliously

And on the Day when the deniers are exposed to the Fire, it will be said, "You squandered the good things in the life of the world and only sought immediate comfort. Now this Day you are rewarded with a humiliating doom for your unjust pride, and because you drifted away from humanity

And mention, [O Muḥammad], the brother of ʿAad,1 when he warned his people in [the region of] al-Aḥqāf - and warners had already passed on before him and after him - [saying], "Do not worship except Allāh. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a terrible day."2

Tell of the brother of 'Ad; when he warned his people in the sand dunes -- and indeed warners came and went before him and after him -- saying, "Worship none but God; surely I fear for you the punishment of an awful Day

And remember the brother of Aad when he warned his people in their Land of Sand-dunes. And, verily, Warners came and went before and after him, saying, "Serve none but Allah. Behold, I fear for you the retribution of a Tremendous Day

They said, "Have you come to delude us away from our gods? Then bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the truthful."

but they said, "Have you come to us to turn us away from our deities? Then bring down upon us what you threaten us with, if you are truthful

They answered, "Have you come to turn us away from our gods?" Bring, then, upon us that with which you threaten us if you are a man of truth

He said, "Knowledge [of its time] is only with Allāh, and I convey to you that with which I was sent; but I see you [to be] a people behaving ignorantly."

He said, "God alone knows when it will come, and I deliver to you the message with which I am sent, but I see you are a people who are ignorant

He said, "That knowledge is with Allah alone. I announce to you the Mission on which I have been sent. But I see that you are a people who prefer to live in the darkness of ignorance

And when they saw it as a cloud approaching their valleys, they said, "This is a cloud bringing us rain!" Rather, it is that for which you were impatient:1 a wind, within it a painful punishment,

So, when they saw it in the shape of a dense cloud approaching their valleys, they exclaimed, "This is only a heavy cloud which will bring us [welcome] rain!" [But Hud said]: "By no means! It is the very thing which you sought to hasten -- a wind bearing grievous suffering

And so, when they saw a dense cloud approaching their valleys, they said, "Here is a dense cloud bringing us the needed rain." Nay, this is the very thing you challenged to hasten - a wind wherein is painful torment

Destroying everything by command of its Lord. And they became so that nothing was seen [of them] except their dwellings. Thus do We recompense the criminal people.

which will destroy everything at its Lord's behest!" And in the morning there was nothing left to be seen save their [empty] dwellings: thus We repay the evil-doers

Bound to destroy everything by its Lord's Command. And morning found them so that nothing could be seen but their empty dwellings. Thus do We reward the exploitive people

And We had certainly established them in such as We have not established you, and We made for them hearing and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect]. But their hearing and vision and hearts availed them not from anything [of the punishment] when they were [continually] rejecting the signs of Allāh; and they were enveloped by what they used to ridicule.

We had empowered them to an extent which We have not empowered you, [O people of later times]; and We had endowed them with hearing, and sight, and hearts: but neither their hearing, nor their sight, nor their hearts were of the least avail to them, since they went on rejecting God's revelations; and they were overwhelmed by the very thing which they had been wont to deride

And verily, We had established them in the land better than We ever established you, and We had given them keen faculties of hearing, sight and intellect. But of no avail to them were there hearing and sight and intellect when they went on knowingly rejecting Allah's Messages. And so, the very thing they used to mock at surrounded them. ('Fuad', plural 'Afidah', includes the faculties of intellect, reasoning, insight and feelings)

And We have already destroyed what surrounds you of [those] cities, and We have diversified the signs [or verses] that perhaps they might return [from disbelief].

We have also destroyed other towns that once [flourished] around you, We had given them various signs so that they might return [to the right path]

Thus indeed have We annihilated many townships round about you, after We had explained Our Messages from different vantage points that they might return. (Townships and communities: Aad, Thamud, Sheba, Midyan, Sodom, Gomorrah, Ninevah, Tubba)

Then why did those they took besides Allāh as deities by which to approach [Him]1 not aid them? But they had strayed [i.e., departed] from them. And that was their falsehood and what they were inventing.

so why did their gods not help them, those they set up as gods besides God to bring them nearer to Him? No indeed! They failed them utterly: it was all a lie, a fabrication of their own making

Why did then no help come to them from those whom they idolized besides Allah, as a means of nearness (to Him)? Nay, their idols abandoned them, for that was their falsehood and fabrication

And [mention, O Muḥammad], when We directed to you a few of the jinn, listening to the Qur’ān. And when they attended it, they said, "Listen attentively." And when it was concluded, they went back to their people as warners.

Remember how We sent to you a band of jinn who wished to hear the Quran and as they listened to its recitation, they said to one another, "Be silent and listen," and, then when it was finished, they went back to their people, to give them warning

(O Messenger) Behold, We turned toward you a company of the nomads so that they might listen to the Qur'an. And as soon as they were in its presence, they said, "Listen in silence!" And when it was over, they hurried to their people as Warners

They said, "O our people, indeed we have heard a [recited] Book revealed after Moses confirming what was before it which guides to the truth and to a straight path.

They said, "O our people, we have heard a Book, which has been sent down after Moses, fulfilling the predictions existing in previous scriptures; it guides to the truth, and to the right path

They said, "O Our people! Behold, We have heard a Scripture that has been revealed after Moses, confirming the Divine Origin of what came before it. It guides to the Truth and to a Straight Road

O our people, respond to the Caller [i.e., Messenger] of Allāh1 and believe in him; He [i.e., Allāh] will forgive for you your sins and protect you from a painful punishment.

Our people, respond to the one who calls you to God. Believe in him! God will forgive you your sins and protect you from a painful punishment

O Our people! Respond to the one who invites to Allah and believe in Him. He will absolve your fault of trailing behind and guard you against an awful suffering

But he who does not respond to the Caller of Allāh will not cause failure [to Him] upon earth, and he will not have besides Him any protectors. Those are in manifest error."

But he who does not respond to God's calls can never elude [Him] on earth, nor can he have any protector against Him. Such people have clearly gone far astray

And whoever fails to respond to Allah's caller, cannot evade Him on earth, nor can he find patrons other than Him. Such people are obviously lost in error

Do they not see that Allāh, who created the heavens and earth and did not fail in their creation, is able to give life to the dead? Yes. Indeed, He is over all things competent.

Have they not seen that God, who created the heavens and the earth and was not wearied by their creation, has the power to bring the dead back to life? Yes, indeed, He has power over all things

Do they not realize that Allah Who created the heavens and the earth, and wearied not with their creation, is Able to revive the dead? Yes, indeed, He has power over all things

And the Day those who disbelieved are exposed to the Fire [it will be said], "Is this not the truth?" They will say, "Yes, by our Lord." He will say, "Then taste the punishment for what you used to deny."1

On the Day when those who deny the truth will be brought before the Fire, they shall be asked, "Is this not the truth?" They will reply, "Yes, by our Lord." He will say, "Then taste the punishment, because of your denial of the truth

And on the Day when the rejecters will be exposed to the Fire (they will be asked), "Is it not for real?" They will answer, "Yes indeed, by our Lord!" He will say, "Taste, then, this punishment as a consequence of your denial of the Truth

So be patient, [O Muḥammad], as were those of determination among the messengers and do not be impatient for them.1 It will be - on the Day they see that which they are promised - as though they had not remained [in the world] except an hour of a day. [This is] notification. And will [any] be destroyed except the defiantly disobedient people?

Have patience, then, as had the steadfast Messengers before you; and be in no haste about them. On the Day when they see what they are threatened with, it will appear to them as though they had not tarried longer than an hour of a day. [Your responsibility is] to deliver the message: and none but the disobedient shall be destroyed

And so, hold on to patience, as did the Messengers of firm resolve. And hasten not about which way they choose. On the Day when they shall see what they are promised, it will seem to them as if they had not lived in the world more than an hour of the day. A Clear Message! Shall anyone perish except those who drift away from the right path? ('What they are promised' enfolds the glad tiding if they choose to walk aright and, in that instance, they will feel that a new blissful chapter of life dawns upon them. On the other hand, 'What they are promised' enfolds grievous suffering if they persist in their denial of the Truth)