Al-Ankabut
The Flimsiest of Dwellings
In the name of God, the All-Benevolent, the Benevolent. Alif. Lam. Mim.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم المDo the people think that it will be enough for them to say, "We believe," without being put to the trial?
احسب الناس ان يتركوا ان يقولوا ءامنا وهم لا يفتنونWe have indeed put to the trial those who came before them,
ولقد فتنا الذين من قبلهمso that God will surely distinguish those who have spoken truly, and will surely distinguish the liars.
فليعلمن الله الذين صدقوا وليعلمن الكذبينDo those who commit evil deeds think that they will outrun Us?
ام حسب الذين يعملون السيات ان يسبقوناHow evil is what they decide!
ساء ما يحكمونWhoever hopes for the meeting with God — the term set by God will surely come;
من كان يرجوا لقاء الله فان اجل الله لءاتand it is He, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
وهو السميع العليمWhoever strives, strives only for himself,
ومن جهد فانما يجهد لنفسهfor God is surely self-sufficient, independent of all beings.
ان الله لغني عن العلمينThose who have believed and done righteous deeds — We will surely cover their bad deeds, and We will surely reward them according to the best of what they used to do.
والذين ءامنوا وعملوا الصلحت لنكفرن عنهم سياتهم ولنجزينهم احسن الذي كانوا يعملونWe have enjoined upon the human being kindness toward his two parents;
ووصينا الانسن بولديه حسناbut if they force you to associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them;
وان جهداك لتشرك بي ما ليس لك به علم فلا تطعهماto Me will be your return, and I will then inform you of what you used to do.
الى مرجعكم فانبيكم بما كنتم تعملونThose who have believed and done righteous deeds — We will surely make them enter among the righteous.
والذين ءامنوا وعملوا الصلحت لندخلنهم في الصلحينAmong the people are some who say, "We believe in God," yet when they are made to suffer for God's cause, they equate the trial inflicted by people with God's punishment.
ومن الناس من يقول ءامنا بالله فاذا اوذي في الله جعل فتنة الناس كعذاب اللهBut if help comes from your Guardian, they will surely say, "We were with you."
ولين جاء نصر من ربك ليقولن انا كنا معكمDoes God not know best what is in the chests of all beings?
اوليس الله باعلم بما في صدور العلمينGod will surely distinguish those who have believed, and will surely distinguish the hypocrites.
وليعلمن الله الذين ءامنوا وليعلمن المنفقينThose who disown said to those who believed: "Follow our way, and we will carry your faults" —
وقال الذين كفروا للذين ءامنوا اتبعوا سبيلنا ولنحمل خطيكمthough they will carry nothing of their faults;
وما هم بحملين من خطيهم من شىءthey are surely liars.
انهم لكذبونThey will surely carry their own burdens, and burdens in addition to their burdens;
وليحملن اثقالهم واثقالا مع اثقالهمand they will surely be questioned, on the Day of Appearance, about what they used to invent.
وليسلن يوم القيمة عما كانوا يفترونWe sent Nuh to his people; he remained among them a thousand years, less fifty conventional years, then the flood seized them while they were wrongdoers.
ولقد ارسلنا نوحا الى قومه فلبث فيهم الف سنة الا خمسين عاما فاخذهم الطوفان وهم ظلمونWe saved him, along with the companions of the vessel,
فانجينه واصحب السفينةand We made it a sign for all beings.
وجعلنها ءاية للعلمينAnd Ibrahim, when he said to his people: "Obey God and guard yourselves toward Him;
وابرهيم اذ قال لقومه اعبدوا الله واتقوهthat is better for you, if only you knew.
ذلكم خير لكم ان كنتم تعلمونYou obey, besides God, only idols, and you fabricate a falsehood;
انما تعبدون من دون الله اوثنا وتخلقون افكاthose you obey besides God hold no provision for you —
ان الذين تعبدون من دون الله لا يملكون لكم رزقاso seek provision with God,
فابتغوا عند الله الرزقobey Him,
واعبدوهand be thankful to Him;
واشكروا لهto Him you will be brought back.
اليه ترجعونAnd if you deny, communities before you have already denied;
وان تكذبوا فقد كذب امم من قبلكمthe messenger is charged with nothing but clear transmission."
وما على الرسول الا البلغ المبينDo they not see how God initiates creation,
اولم يروا كيف يبدي الله الخلقthen remakes it?
ثم يعيدهThat is indeed easy for God.
ان ذلك على الله يسيرSay: "Travel through the land and see how He initiated creation;
قل سيروا في الارض فانظروا كيف بدا الخلقthen God will bring into being the ultimate genesis;
ثم الله ينشي النشاة الءاخرةGod is indeed capable of all things."
ان الله على كل شىء قديرHe punishes whom He wills and shows benevolence to whom He wills;
يعذب من يشاء ويرحم من يشاءand to Him you will be turned back.
واليه تقلبونYou cannot render [Him] powerless anywhere, neither on earth nor in the sky;
وما انتم بمعجزين في الارض ولا في السماءand you have, besides God, neither protector nor helper.
وما لكم من دون الله من ولي ولا نصيرThose who disown the signs of God and the meeting with Him — those have lost hope of My benevolence,
والذين كفروا بايت الله ولقايه اوليك ييسوا من رحمتيand those will have a painful punishment.
واوليك لهم عذاب اليمThe only answer of his people was to say: "Kill him, or burn him!"
فما كان جواب قومه الا ان قالوا اقتلوه او حرقوهBut God saved him from the fire;
فانجىه الله من النارthere are surely in that signs for a people who believe.
ان في ذلك لءايت لقوم يومنونHe said: "You have taken idols, besides God, only out of mutual affection among yourselves in the present life;
وقال انما اتخذتم من دون الله اوثنا مودة بينكم في الحيوة الدنياthen, on the Day of Appearance, you will disown one another and curse one another,
ثم يوم القيمة يكفر بعضكم ببعض ويلعن بعضكم بعضاand your refuge will be the Fire, and you will have no helpers."
وماوىكم النار وما لكم من نصرينLut gave him credit,
فامن له لوطand [Ibrahim] said: "I am emigrating toward my Guardian;
وقال اني مهاجر الى ربيHe is indeed the All-Powerful, the Wise."
انه هو العزيز الحكيمWe gave him Ishaq and Yaacoub,
ووهبنا له اسحق ويعقوبand We placed in his line the prophethood and the Scripture;
وجعلنا في ذريته النبوة والكتبWe gave him his reward in the present life,
وءاتينه اجره في الدنياand in the last life, he will surely be among the righteous.
وانه في الءاخرة لمن الصلحينAnd Lut, when he said to his people: "You surely commit indecency such as no one among all beings has committed before you; do you really approach men, cut off the road [to travelers], and commit, in your gatherings, what is disavowed?"
ولوطا اذ قال لقومه انكم لتاتون الفحشة ما سبقكم بها من احد من العلمين اينكم لتاتون الرجال وتقطعون السبيل وتاتون في ناديكم المنكرThe only answer of his people was to say: "Bring us God's punishment, if you are among the truthful!"
فما كان جواب قومه الا ان قالوا ايتنا بعذاب الله ان كنت من الصدقينHe said: "My Guardian, help me against the people who spread corruption."
قال رب انصرني على القوم المفسدينWhen Our messengers came to Ibrahim with the good news, they said: "We are going to annihilate the people of this city; its people are truly wrongdoers."
ولما جاءت رسلنا ابرهيم بالبشرى قالوا انا مهلكوا اهل هذه القرية ان اهلها كانوا ظلمينHe said: "But Lut is there."
قال ان فيها لوطاThey said: "We know best who is there;
قالوا نحن اعلم بمن فيهاwe will surely save him and his household, except his wife, who will be among those who remain behind."
لننجينه واهله الا امراته كانت من الغبرينWhen Our messengers came to Lut, he was distressed for them and felt helpless on their account;
ولما ان جاءت رسلنا لوطا سيء بهم وضاق بهم ذرعاthey said: "Fear nothing and do not grieve; we will save you and your household, except your wife, who will be among those who remain behind.
وقالوا لا تخف ولا تحزن انا منجوك واهلك الا امراتك كانت من الغبرينWe will indeed bring down upon the people of this city a defilement from the sky, for their overstepping."
انا منزلون على اهل هذه القرية رجزا من السماء بما كانوا يفسقونWe left of it a clear sign, for a people who reason.
ولقد تركنا منها ءاية بينة لقوم يعقلونAnd to Madian, their brother Shu'ayb; he said: "O my people, obey God, hope for the Last Day, and do not spread disorder on the earth as corrupters."
والى مدين اخاهم شعيبا فقال يقوم اعبدوا الله وارجوا اليوم الءاخر ولا تعثوا في الارض مفسدينThey denied him; so the earthquake seized them, and they were left lifeless, face down, in their dwelling.
فكذبوه فاخذتهم الرجفة فاصبحوا في دارهم جثمينAnd the Recidivists [Aad] and the Depleters [Thamud] — this has become clear to you through their dwellings; the Diverter had embellished their deeds to them and turned them away from the path, though they had clear sight.
وعادا وثمودا وقد تبين لكم من مسكنهم وزين لهم الشيطن اعملهم فصدهم عن السبيل وكانوا مستبصرينAnd Qaroon, Fir'awn, and Haman —
وقرون وفرعون وهمنMoussa had indeed come to them with clear proofs, but they swelled with pride in the land, unable to outrun Us.
ولقد جاءهم موسى بالبينت فاستكبروا في الارض وما كانوا سبقينEach of them We seized for his offense;
فكلا اخذنا بذنبهupon some of them We sent a storm of stones,
فمنهم من ارسلنا عليه حاصباsome were seized by the Cry,
ومنهم من اخذته الصيحةsome We caused the earth to swallow,
ومنهم من خسفنا به الارضand still others We drowned.
ومنهم من اغرقناGod was not going to wrong them;
وما كان الله ليظلمهمbut it was themselves that they wronged.
ولكن كانوا انفسهم يظلمونThe example of those who take, besides God, allies, is that of the spider that builds itself a dwelling;
مثل الذين اتخذوا من دون الله اولياء كمثل العنكبوت اتخذت بيتاand the flimsiest of dwellings is surely the dwelling of the spider — if only they knew.
وان اوهن البيوت لبيت العنكبوت لو كانوا يعلمونGod knows all that they invoke apart from Him;
ان الله يعلم ما يدعون من دونه من شىءHe is the All-Powerful, the Wise.
وهو العزيز الحكيمThese are the examples We put forth for the people,
وتلك الامثل نضربها للناسbut only those with knowledge grasp them with reason.
وما يعقلها الا العلمونGod created the heavens and the earth in truth;
خلق الله السموت والارض بالحقthere is surely in that a sign for the believers.
ان في ذلك لءاية للمومنينRecite what has been revealed to you of the Scripture, and maintain the Contact;
اتل ما اوحي اليك من الكتب واقم الصلوةthe Contact turns one away from indecency and from what is disavowed;
ان الصلوة تنهى عن الفحشاء والمنكرand the remembrance of God is greater still;
ولذكر الله اكبرGod knows what you do.
والله يعلم ما تصنعونDo not argue with the People of the Writ except in the best way,
ولا تجدلوا اهل الكتب الا بالتي هي احسنexcept with those of them who commit injustice;
الا الذين ظلموا منهمand say: "We believe in what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to you; our deity and your deity is one, and to Him we are true."
وقولوا ءامنا بالذي انزل الينا وانزل اليكم والهنا والهكم وحد ونحن له مسلمونThus have We sent down the Scripture to you;
وكذلك انزلنا اليك الكتبthose to whom We gave the Scripture believe in it, and among these [others], some believe in it too;
فالذين ءاتينهم الكتب يومنون به ومن هولاء من يومن بهonly those who disown stubbornly reject Our signs.
وما يجحد بايتنا الا الكفرونYou did not recite, before it, any scripture, nor did you trace one with your right hand;
وما كنت تتلوا من قبله من كتب ولا تخطه بيمينكotherwise, those who champion falsehood would have had doubts.
اذا لارتاب المبطلونRather, it is clear signs in the chests of those to whom knowledge has been given;
بل هو ءايت بينت في صدور الذين اوتوا العلمonly the wrongdoers stubbornly reject Our signs.
وما يجحد بايتنا الا الظلمونThey said: "Why were signs not sent down to him from his Guardian?"
وقالوا لولا انزل عليه ءايت من ربهSay: "The signs are only with God; I am only a clear warner."
قل انما الءايت عند الله وانما انا نذير مبينIs it not enough for them that We have sent down to you the Scripture, which is recited to them?
اولم يكفهم انا انزلنا عليك الكتب يتلى عليهمThere is surely a benevolence and a reminder in that for a people who believe.
ان في ذلك لرحمة وذكرى لقوم يومنونSay: "God suffices as a witness between me and you;
قل كفى بالله بيني وبينكم شهيداHe knows what is in the heavens and the earth;
يعلم ما في السموت والارضand those who believe in falsehood and disown God — those are the losers."
والذين ءامنوا بالبطل وكفروا بالله اوليك هم الخسرونThey urge you to hasten the punishment;
ويستعجلونك بالعذابwere it not for an appointed term, the punishment would already have come to them — it will surely come to them suddenly, without their being aware.
ولولا اجل مسمى لجاءهم العذاب ولياتينهم بغتة وهم لا يشعرونThey urge you to hasten the punishment,
يستعجلونك بالعذابwhile Jahannam surely encompasses those who disown.
وان جهنم لمحيطة بالكفرينThe day the punishment envelops them from above and from beneath their feet, and He says: "Taste what you used to do."
يوم يغشىهم العذاب من فوقهم ومن تحت ارجلهم ويقول ذوقوا ما كنتم تعملون"O My obedient ones who have believed, My earth is vast; so obey Me, and Me alone."
يعبادي الذين ءامنوا ان ارضي وسعة فايي فاعبدونEvery Self will taste death,
كل نفس ذايقة الموتthen to Us you will be brought back.
ثم الينا ترجعونThose who have believed and done righteous deeds — We will surely settle them in lofty chambers of the Garden, beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein eternally;
والذين ءامنوا وعملوا الصلحت لنبوينهم من الجنة غرفا تجري من تحتها الانهر خلدين فيهاwhat an excellent reward for those who work,
نعم اجر العملينthose who were patient and who rely upon their Guardian.
الذين صبروا وعلى ربهم يتوكلونHow many a living being does not carry its own provision! It is God who feeds it, and you along with it;
وكاين من دابة لا تحمل رزقها الله يرزقها واياكمit is He, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
وهو السميع العليمIf you ask them who created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon, they will surely say: "God";
ولين سالتهم من خلق السموت والارض وسخر الشمس والقمر ليقولن اللهhow then are they turned away?
فانى يوفكونGod spreads out provision to whom He wills among His obedient ones, and measures it for him too;
الله يبسط الرزق لمن يشاء من عباده ويقدر لهGod is indeed All-Knowing of all things.
ان الله بكل شىء عليمAnd if you ask them who sends down water from the sky and gives life through it to the earth after its death, they will surely say: "God";
ولين سالتهم من نزل من السماء ماء فاحيا به الارض من بعد موتها ليقولن اللهsay: "Praise be to God!"
قل الحمد للهBut most of them do not reason.
بل اكثرهم لا يعقلونThis present life is nothing but distraction and play;
وما هذه الحيوة الدنيا الا لهو ولعبand the last abode, that is the true life — if only they knew.
وان الدار الءاخرة لهي الحيوان لو كانوا يعلمونWhen they board a ship, they call upon God, devoting the Law exclusively to Him;
فاذا ركبوا في الفلك دعوا الله مخلصين له الدينbut when He brings them safely to dry land, there they are, associating [others with Him], so as to disown what We have given them,
فلما نجىهم الى البر اذا هم يشركون ليكفروا بما ءاتينهمand to enjoy [life] — but they will soon know.
وليتمتعوا فسوف يعلمونDo they not see that We have established a secure sanctuary, while all around them people are being snatched away [by violence]?
اولم يروا انا جعلنا حرما ءامنا ويتخطف الناس من حولهمDo they then believe in falsehood, and disown the blessing of God?
افبالبطل يومنون وبنعمة الله يكفرونAnd who is more unjust than one who invents a lie against God, or denies the truth once it has come to him?
ومن اظلم ممن افترى على الله كذبا او كذب بالحق لما جاءهIs there not, in Jahannam, a dwelling for those who disown?
اليس في جهنم مثوى للكفرينThose who have striven for Us — We will surely guide them on Our ways;
والذين جهدوا فينا لنهدينهم سبلناand God is surely with those who do good.
وان الله لمع المحسنين