Sura 37: The Arrangers
(Al-Sãffãt)
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

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والصافات صفا

The arrangers in columns.

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فالزاجرات زجرا

The blamers of those to be blamed.

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فالتاليات ذكرا

The reciters of the messages.

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ان الهكم لواحد

Your god is only one.

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رب السماوات والارض وما بينهما ورب المشارق

The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and everything between them, and Lord of the easts.*

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انا زينا السماء الدنيا بزينة الكواكب

We have adorned the lowest heaven with adorning planets.*

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وحفظا من كل شيطان مارد

We guarded it from every evil devil.

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لا يسمعون الى الملا الاعلى ويقذفون من كل جانب

They cannot spy on the High Society; they get bombarded from every side.

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دحورا ولهم عذاب واصب

They have been condemned; they have incurred an eternal retribution.

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الا من خطف الخطفة فاتبعه شهاب ثاقب

If any of them ventures to charge the outer limits, he gets struck with a fierce projectile.

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فاستفتهم اهم اشد خلقا ام من خلقنا انا خلقناهم من طين لازب

Ask them, “Are they more difficult to create, or the other creations?” We created them from wet mud.

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بل عجبت ويسخرون

While you are awed, they mock.

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واذا ذكروا لا يذكرون

When reminded, they take no heed.

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واذا راوا اية يستسخرون

When they see proof, they ridicule it.

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وقالوا ان هذا الا سحر مبين

They say, “This is obviously magic!

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ااذا متنا وكنا ترابا وعظاما اانا لمبعوثون

“After we die and become dust and bones, do we get resurrected?

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اواباؤنا الاولون

“Even our ancient ancestors?”

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قل نعم وانتم داخرون

Say, “Yes, you will be forcibly summoned.”

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فانما هي زجرة واحدة فاذا هم ينظرون

All it takes is one nudge, whereupon they (stand up) looking.

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وقالوا يا ويلنا هذا يوم الدين

They will say, “Woe to us; this is the Day of Judgment.”

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هذا يوم الفصل الذي كنتم به تكذبون

This is the day of decision that you used to disbelieve in.

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احشروا الذين ظلموا وازواجهم وما كانوا يعبدون

Summon the transgressors, and their spouses, and the idols they worshiped

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من دون الله فاهدوهم الى صراط الجحيم

beside GOD, and guide them to the path of Hell.

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وقفوهم انهم مسئولون

Stop them, and ask them:

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ما لكم لا تناصرون

“Why do you not help one another?”

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بل هم اليوم مستسلمون

They will be, on that day, totally submitting.

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Mutual Blaming

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واقبل بعضهم على بعض يتساءلون

They will come to each other, questioning and blaming one another.

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قالوا انكم كنتم تاتوننا عن اليمين

They will say (to their leaders), “You used to come to us from the right side.”

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قالوا بل لم تكونوا مؤمنين

They will respond, “It is you who were not believers.

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وما كان لنا عليكم من سلطان بل كنتم قوما طاغين

“We never had any power over you; it is you who were wicked.

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فحق علينا قول ربنا انا لذائقون

“We justly incurred our Lord’s judgment; now we have to suffer.

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فاغويناكم انا كنا غاوين

“We misled you, only because we were astray.”

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فانهم يومئذ في العذاب مشتركون

Thus, together they will all partake of the retribution on that day.

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انا كذلك نفعل بالمجرمين

This is how we requite the guilty.

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The First Commandment

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انهم كانوا اذا قيل لهم لا اله الا الله يستكبرون

When they were told, “Lã Elãha Ella Allãh [There is no other god beside GOD],” they turned arrogant.

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ويقولون ائنا لتاركو الهتنا لشاعر مجنون

They said, “Shall we leave our gods for the sake of a crazy poet?”

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بل جاء بالحق وصدق المرسلين

In fact, he has brought the truth, and has confirmed the messengers.

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انكم لذائقو العذاب الاليم

Most assuredly, you will taste the most painful retribution.

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وما تجزون الا ما كنتم تعملون

You are requited only for what you have done.

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الا عباد الله المخلصين

Only GOD’s servants who are absolutely devoted to Him alone (will be saved).

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اولئك لهم رزق معلوم

They have deserved provisions that are reserved specifically for them.

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فواكه وهم مكرمون

All kinds of fruits. They will be honored.

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في جنات النعيم

In the gardens of bliss.

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على سرر متقابلين

On furnishings close to one another.

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يطاف عليهم بكاس من معين

Cups of pure drinks will be offered to them.

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بيضاء لذة للشاربين

Clear and delicious for the drinkers.

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لا فيها غول ولا هم عنها ينزفون

Never polluted, and never exhausted.

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وعندهم قاصرات الطرف عين

With them will be wonderful companions.

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كانهن بيض مكنون

Protected like fragile eggs.

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The Dwellers of Heaven Visit the<br>Dwellers of Hell

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فاقبل بعضهم على بعض يتساءلون

They will come to each other, and confer with one another.

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قال قائل منهم اني كان لي قرين

One of them will say, “I used to have a friend.

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يقول اانك لمن المصدقين

“He used to mock: ‘Do you believe all this?

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ااذا متنا وكنا ترابا وعظاما اانا لمدينون

“ ‘After we die and turn into dust and bones, do we get called to account?’ ”

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قال هل انتم مطلعون

He will say, “Just take a look!”

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فاطلع فراه في سواء الجحيم

When he looks, he will see his friend in the heart of Hell.*

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قال تالله ان كدت لتردين

He (will go to him and) say, “By GOD, you almost ruined me.

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ولولا نعمة ربي لكنت من المحضرين

“If it were not for my Lord’s blessing, I would have been with you now.

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افما نحن بميتين

“(Do you still believe) that we die,

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الا موتتنا الاولى وما نحن بمعذبين

“only the first death, and we never receive any requital?”

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Redemption: The Greatest Triumph

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ان هذا لهو الفوز العظيم

Such is the greatest triumph.

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لمثل هذا فليعمل العاملون

This is what every worker should work for.

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اذلك خير نزلا ام شجرة الزقوم

Is this a better destiny, or the tree of bitterness?

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انا جعلناها فتنة للظالمين

We have rendered it a punishment for the transgressors.

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انها شجرة تخرج في اصل الجحيم

It is a tree that grows in the heart of Hell.

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طلعها كانه رءوس الشياطين

Its flowers look like the devils’ heads.

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فانهم لاكلون منها فمالئون منها البطون

They will eat from it until their bellies are filled up.

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ثم ان لهم عليها لشوبا من حميم

Then they will top it with a hellish drink.

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ثم ان مرجعهم لالى الجحيم

Then they will return to Hell.

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They Followed Their Parents Blindly

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انهم الفوا اباءهم ضالين

They found their parents astray.

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فهم على اثارهم يهرعون

And they blindly followed in their footsteps.

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ولقد ضل قبلهم اكثر الاولين

Most of the previous generations have strayed in the same manner.

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ولقد ارسلنا فيهم منذرين

We have sent to them warners.

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فانظر كيف كان عاقبة المنذرين

Note the consequences for those who have been warned.

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الا عباد الله المخلصين

Only GOD’s servants who are absolutely devoted to Him alone (are saved).

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Noah

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ولقد نادانا نوح فلنعم المجيبون

Thus, Noah called upon us, and we were the best responders.

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ونجيناه واهله من الكرب العظيم

We saved him and his family from the great disaster.

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وجعلنا ذريته هم الباقين

We made his companions the survivors.

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وتركنا عليه في الاخرين

And we preserved his history for subsequent generations.

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سلام على نوح في العالمين

Peace be upon Noah among the peoples.

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انا كذلك نجزي المحسنين

We thus reward the righteous.

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انه من عبادنا المؤمنين

He is one of our believing servants.

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ثم اغرقنا الاخرين

We drowned all the others.

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Abraham

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وان من شيعته لابراهيم

Among his followers was Abraham.

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اذ جاء ربه بقلب سليم

He came to his Lord wholeheartedly.

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اذ قال لابيه وقومه ماذا تعبدون

He said to his father and his people, “What are you worshiping?

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ائفكا الهة دون الله تريدون

“Is it these fabricated gods, instead of GOD, that you want?

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فما ظنكم برب العالمين

“What do you think of the Lord of the universe?”

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فنظر نظرة في النجوم

He looked carefully at the stars.

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فقال اني سقيم

Then he gave up and said, “I am tired of this!”

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فتولوا عنه مدبرين

They turned away from him.

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فراغ الى الهتهم فقال الا تاكلون

He then turned on their idols, saying, “Would you like to eat?

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ما لكم لا تنطقون

“Why do you not speak?”

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فراغ عليهم ضربا باليمين

He then destroyed them.

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فاقبلوا اليه يزفون

They went to him in a great rage.

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قال اتعبدون ما تنحتون

He said, “How can you worship what you carve?

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والله خلقكم وما تعملون

“When GOD has created you, and everything you make!”

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قالوا ابنوا له بنيانا فالقوه في الجحيم

They said, “Let us build a great fire, and throw him into it.”

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فارادوا به كيدا فجعلناهم الاسفلين

They schemed against him, but we made them the losers.

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وقال اني ذاهب الى ربي سيهدين

He said, “I am going to my Lord; He will guide me.”

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رب هب لي من الصالحين

“My Lord, grant me righteous children.”

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فبشرناه بغلام حليم

We gave him good news of a good child.

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Satanic Dream*

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فلما بلغ معه السعي قال يا بني اني ارى في المنام اني اذبحك فانظر ماذا ترى قال يا ابت افعل ما تؤمر ستجدني ان شاء الله من الصابرين

When he grew enough to work with him, he said, “My son, I see in a dream that I am sacrificing you. What do you think?” He said, “O my father, do what you are commanded to do. You will find me, GOD willing, patient.”

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فلما اسلما وتله للجبين

They both submitted, and he put his forehead down (to sacrifice him).

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God Intervenes<br>to Save<br>Abraham and Ismail

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وناديناه ان يا ابراهيم

We called him: “O Abraham.

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قد صدقت الرؤيا انا كذلك نجزي المحسنين

“You have believed the dream.” We thus reward the righteous.

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ان هذا لهو البلاء المبين

That was an exacting test indeed.

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وفديناه بذبح عظيم

We ransomed (Ismail) by substituting an animal sacrifice.

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وتركنا عليه في الاخرين

And we preserved his history for subsequent generations.

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سلام على ابراهيم

Peace be upon Abraham.

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كذلك نجزي المحسنين

We thus reward the righteous.

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انه من عبادنا المؤمنين

He is one of our believing servants.

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Birth of Isaac

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وبشرناه باسحاق نبيا من الصالحين

Then we gave him the good news about the birth of Isaac, to be one of the righteous prophets.

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وباركنا عليه وعلى اسحاق ومن ذريتهما محسن وظالم لنفسه مبين

We blessed him and Isaac. Among their descendants, some are righteous, and some are wicked transgressors.

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Moses and Aaron

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ولقد مننا على موسى وهارون

We also blessed Moses and Aaron.

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ونجيناهما وقومهما من الكرب العظيم

We delivered them and their people from the great disaster.

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ونصرناهم فكانوا هم الغالبين

We supported them, until they became the winners.

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واتيناهما الكتاب المستبين

We gave both of them the profound scripture.

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وهديناهما الصراط المستقيم

We guided them in the right path.

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وتركنا عليهما في الاخرين

We preserved their history for subsequent generations.

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سلام على موسى وهارون

Peace be upon Moses and Aaron.

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انا كذلك نجزي المحسنين

We thus reward the righteous.

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انهما من عبادنا المؤمنين

Both of them were among our righteous servants.

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Elias

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وان الياس لمن المرسلين

Elias was one of the messengers.

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اذ قال لقومه الا تتقون

He said to his people, “Would you not work righteousness?

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اتدعون بعلا وتذرون احسن الخالقين

“Do you worship a statue, instead of the Supreme Creator?

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الله ربكم ورب ابائكم الاولين

“GOD; your Lord, and the Lord of your forefathers!”

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فكذبوه فانهم لمحضرون

They disbelieved him. Consequently, they had to be called to account.

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الا عباد الله المخلصين

Only GOD’s servants who are absolutely devoted to Him alone (are saved).

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وتركنا عليه في الاخرين

We preserved his history for subsequent generations.

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سلام على ال ياسين

Peace be upon Elias, and all those like Elias.

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انا كذلك نجزي المحسنين

We thus reward the righteous.

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انه من عبادنا المؤمنين

He was one of our believing servants.

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Lot

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وان لوطا لمن المرسلين

Lot was one of the messengers.

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اذ نجيناه واهله اجمعين

We saved him and all his family.

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الا عجوزا في الغابرين

Only the old woman was doomed.

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ثم دمرنا الاخرين

We annihilated all the others.

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وانكم لتمرون عليهم مصبحين

You still pass by their ruins by day.

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وبالليل افلا تعقلون

And by night. Would you understand?

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Jonah

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وان يونس لمن المرسلين

Jonah was one of the messengers.

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اذ ابق الى الفلك المشحون

He escaped to the loaded ship.

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فساهم فكان من المدحضين

He rebelled and thus, he joined the losers.

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فالتقمه الحوت وهو مليم

Consequently, the fish swallowed him, and he was the one to blame.

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فلولا انه كان من المسبحين

If it were not that he resorted to meditation (on God),

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للبث في بطنه الى يوم يبعثون

he would have stayed in its belly until the Day of Resurrection.

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فنبذناه بالعراء وهو سقيم

We had him thrown up into the desert, exhausted.

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وانبتنا عليه شجرة من يقطين

We had a tree of edible fruit grown for him.

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وارسلناه الى مائة الف او يزيدون

Then we sent him to a hundred thousand,* or more.

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فامنوا فمتعناهم الى حين

They did believe, and we let them enjoy this life.

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فاستفتهم الربك البنات ولهم البنون

Ask them if your Lord has daughters, while they have sons!

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ام خلقنا الملائكة اناثا وهم شاهدون

Did we create the angels to be females? Did they witness that?

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الا انهم من افكهم ليقولون

Indeed, they grossly blaspheme when they say—

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ولد الله وانهم لكاذبون

“GOD has begotten a son.” Indeed, they are liars.

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اصطفى البنات على البنين

Did He choose the girls over the boys?

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ما لكم كيف تحكمون

What is wrong with your logic?

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Addressing the Disbelievers

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افلا تذكرون

Why do you not take heed?

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ام لكم سلطان مبين

Do you have any proof?

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فاتوا بكتابكم ان كنتم صادقين

Show us your book, if you are truthful.

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وجعلوا بينه وبين الجنة نسبا ولقد علمت الجنة انهم لمحضرون

They even invented a special relationship between Him and the jinns. The jinns themselves know that they are subservient.

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سبحان الله عما يصفون

GOD be glorified; far above their claims.

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الا عباد الله المخلصين

Only GOD’s servants who are devoted to Him alone (are saved).

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فانكم وما تعبدون

Indeed, you and what you worship.

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ما انتم عليه بفاتنين

Cannot impose anything on Him.

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الا من هو صال الجحيم

Only you will burn in Hell.

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The Angels

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وما منا الا له مقام معلوم

Each one of us has a specific job.

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وانا لنحن الصافون

We are the arrangers.

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وانا لنحن المسبحون

We have duly glorified (our Lord)

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Following The Parents Blindly

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وان كانوا ليقولون

They used to say,

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لو ان عندنا ذكرا من الاولين

“Had we received the correct instructions from our parents,

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لكنا عباد الله المخلصين

“we would have been worshipers; devoted to GOD alone.”

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فكفروا به فسوف يعلمون

But they disbelieved, and they will surely find out.

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Victory for the Messengers<br>Guaranteed

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ولقد سبقت كلمتنا لعبادنا المرسلين

Our decision is already decreed for our servants the messengers.

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انهم لهم المنصورون

They are surely the victors.

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وان جندنا لهم الغالبون

Our soldiers are the winners.

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فتول عنهم حتى حين

So disregard them for awhile.

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وابصرهم فسوف يبصرون

Watch them; they too will watch.

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افبعذابنا يستعجلون

Do they challenge our retribution?

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فاذا نزل بساحتهم فساء صباح المنذرين

When it hits them one day, it will be a miserable day; they have been sufficiently warned.

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وتول عنهم حتى حين

Disregard them for awhile.

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وابصر فسوف يبصرون

Watch them; they too will watch.

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سبحان ربك رب العزة عما يصفون

Glory be to your Lord, the great Lord; far above their claims.

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وسلام على المرسلين

Peace be upon the messengers.

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والحمد لله رب العالمين

Praise be to GOD, Lord of the universe.

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