Sourate Ash-Shura (42) unvowelled

In the name of God, the All-Benevolent, the Benevolent. Ha. Mim. Ayn. Sin. Qaf.i 2

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم حم عسق

Thus God, the All-Powerful, the Wise, reveals to you — as He did to those before you.i 3

كذلك يوحي اليك والى الذين من قبلك الله العزيز الحكيم

To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth, 4

له ما في السموت وما في الارض

and He is the Most High, the Immense. 4

وهو العلي العظيم

The heavens are about to be rent asunder from above them,i 5

تكاد السموت يتفطرن من فوقهن

while the Agents glorify [God] in praise of their Guardian and ask forgiveness for whoever is on the earth.i 5

والمليكة يسبحون بحمد ربهم ويستغفرون لمن في الارض

Is it not true that God is the Forgiving, the Benevolent? 5

الا ان الله هو الغفور الرحيم

As for those who take protectors besides Him, God watches over them; 6

والذين اتخذوا من دونه اولياء الله حفيظ عليهم

and you are not, yourself, their agent.i 6

وما انت عليهم بوكيل

Thus have We revealed to you a flawless recitation, that you may warn the metropolis and those around it, and warn of the Day of Gathering, of which there is no doubt:i 7

وكذلك اوحينا اليك قرءانا عربيا لتنذر ام القرى ومن حولها وتنذر يوم الجمع لا ريب فيه

a group in the Garden, 7

فريق في الجنة

and a group in the Blaze. 7

وفريق في السعير

Had God willed, He would have made them a single community, 8

ولو شاء الله لجعلهم امة وحدة

but He admits whom He wills into His benevolence; 8

ولكن يدخل من يشاء في رحمته

and the wrongdoers have neither protector nor helper. 8

والظلمون ما لهم من ولي ولا نصير

Have they, then, taken protectors besides Him? 9

ام اتخذوا من دونه اولياء

Yet it is God who is the Protector, 9

فالله هو الولي

and it is He who gives life to the dead; 9

وهو يحي الموتى

and He is able to do all things. 9

وهو على كل شىء قدير

And whatever you differ about, its judgment rests with God. 10

وما اختلفتم فيه من شىء فحكمه الى الله

Such is God, my Guardian; 10

ذلكم الله ربي

upon Him I rely, 10

عليه توكلت

and to Him I return. 10

واليه انيب

Originator of the heavens and the earth, He gave you mates from among yourselves, and mates among the cattle; by this means He multiplies you. 11

فاطر السموت والارض جعل لكم من انفسكم ازوجا ومن الانعم ازوجا يذروكم فيه

Nothing resembles Him, 11

ليس كمثله شىء

and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. 11

وهو السميع البصير

To Him belong the charges of the heavens and the earth; 12

له مقاليد السموت والارض

He extends provision to whom He wills, or measures it out sparingly. 12

يبسط الرزق لمن يشاء ويقدر

He is, of all things, fully informed. 12

انه بكل شىء عليم

He has ordained for you, in the Law, what He enjoined upon Nuh, what We have revealed to you, and what We enjoined upon Ibrahim, Moussa, and Issa: "Uphold the Law, and do not become divided within it."i 13

شرع لكم من الدين ما وصى به نوحا والذي اوحينا اليك وما وصينا به ابرهيم وموسى وعيسى ان اقيموا الدين ولا تتفرقوا فيه

What you call them to weighs heavily upon the associators. 13

كبر على المشركين ما تدعوهم اليه

God draws to Himself whom He wills, and guides to Himself whoever turns back in repentance. 13

الله يجتبي اليه من يشاء ويهدي اليه من ينيب

Yet they became divided only after knowledge had come to them, 14

وما تفرقوا الا من بعد ما جاءهم العلم

out of mutual aggression among themselves. 14

بغيا بينهم

And had it not been for a word that had already gone forth from your Guardian, [fixing a term] until an appointed time, it would have been settled between them. 14

ولولا كلمة سبقت من ربك الى اجل مسمى لقضي بينهم

And those who inherited the Scripture after them are in grave, unsettling doubt about it.i 14

وان الذين اورثوا الكتب من بعدهم لفي شك منه مريب

For this, then, call and stand firm as you have been commanded, and do not follow their emotions.i 15

فلذلك فادع واستقم كما امرت ولا تتبع اهواءهم

And say: "I believe in whatever Scripture God has sent down, and I have been commanded to be just between you.i 15

وقل ءامنت بما انزل الله من كتب وامرت لاعدل بينكم

God is our Guardian and your Guardian; 15

الله ربنا وربكم

to us our deeds, and to you your deeds; 15

لنا اعملنا ولكم اعملكم

there is no argument between us and you; 15

لا حجة بيننا وبينكم

God will bring us together, 15

الله يجمع بيننا

and to Him is the journey's end." 15

واليه المصير

And those who dispute about God after He has been answered, their argument is void before their Guardian, and upon them is wrath, 16

والذين يحاجون في الله من بعد ما استجيب له حجتهم داحضة عند ربهم وعليهم غضب

and for them a severe punishment. 16

ولهم عذاب شديد

It is God who has sent down the Scripture bearing truth, and the balance.i 17

الله الذي انزل الكتب بالحق والميزان

And what would make you know? 17

وما يدريك

Perhaps the Hour is near. 17

لعل الساعة قريب

Those who do not believe in it seek to hasten it, 18

يستعجل بها الذين لا يومنون بها

while those who have believed are filled with apprehension of it and know that it is the truth. 18

والذين ءامنوا مشفقون منها ويعلمون انها الحق

Is it not true that those who dispute about the Hour are in far-reaching error? 18

الا ان الذين يمارون في الساعة لفي ضلل بعيد

God is subtly gracious toward His obedient ones; 19

الله لطيف بعباده

He provides for whom He wills, 19

يرزق من يشاء

and He is the Strong, the All-Powerful.i 19

وهو القوي العزيز

Whoever desires the harvest of the Hereafter, We increase his harvest for him; 20

من كان يريد حرث الءاخرة نزد له في حرثه

and whoever desires the harvest of the present life, We give him a portion of it, 20

ومن كان يريد حرث الدنيا نوته منها

but he will have no share in the Hereafter. 20

وما له في الءاخرة من نصيب

Do they, then, have associates who have ordained for them, in the Law, what God has not authorized? 21

ام لهم شركوا شرعوا لهم من الدين ما لم ياذن به الله

And were it not for the decisive word [already settled], it would have been decided between them; 21

ولولا كلمة الفصل لقضي بينهم

and the wrongdoers will have a painful punishment. 21

وان الظلمين لهم عذاب اليم

You will see the wrongdoers apprehensive over what they have earned, while it is about to befall them; 22

ترى الظلمين مشفقين مما كسبوا وهو واقع بهم

while those who have believed and done what is right will be in the flowering meadows of the Gardens, 22

والذين ءامنوا وعملوا الصلحت في روضات الجنات

they will have, with their Guardian, whatever they desire: 22

لهم ما يشاءون عند ربهم

that is the great favor. 22

ذلك هو الفضل الكبير

That is what God gives as glad tidings to His obedient ones who believe and do what is right. 23

ذلك الذي يبشر الله عباده الذين ءامنوا وعملوا الصلحت

Say: "I ask of you no reward for this, other than affection for one's close kin." 23

قل لا اسلكم عليه اجرا الا المودة في القربى

And whoever earns a good deed, We increase its beauty for him; 23

ومن يقترف حسنة نزد له فيها حسنا

God is Forgiving, Ever-Thankful. 23

ان الله غفور شكور

Will they say that he has forged a lie against God? 24

ام يقولون افترى على الله كذبا

Yet if God willed, He would seal your Core; 24

فان يشا الله يختم على قلبك

but God blots out falsehood and establishes truth by His words. 24

ويمح الله البطل ويحق الحق بكلمته

He knows full well what the breasts hold. 24

انه عليم بذات الصدور

It is He who accepts repentance from His obedient ones, pardons evil deeds, and knows what they do.i 25

وهو الذي يقبل التوبة عن عباده ويعفوا عن السيات ويعلم ما تفعلون

He answers those who have believed and done what is right, and increases them out of His favor; 26

ويستجيب الذين ءامنوا وعملوا الصلحت ويزيدهم من فضله

while those who deny will have a severe punishment. 26

والكفرون لهم عذاب شديد

And were God to extend provision abundantly to His obedient ones, they would transgress on the earth; 27

ولو بسط الله الرزق لعباده لبغوا في الارض

but He sends down in due measure what He wills. 27

ولكن ينزل بقدر ما يشاء

He is, toward His obedient ones, fully informed, all-seeing. 27

انه بعباده خبير بصير

It is He who sends down the rain after they have despaired, and who spreads out His benevolence; 28

وهو الذي ينزل الغيث من بعد ما قنطوا وينشر رحمته

and He is the Protector, the Praiseworthy. 28

وهو الولي الحميد

And among His signs: the creation of the heavens and the earth, and whatever living creatures He has scattered throughout them; 29

ومن ءايته خلق السموت والارض وما بث فيهما من دابة

and He is able to gather them together, whenever He wills. 29

وهو على جمعهم اذا يشاء قدير

And whatever affliction befalls you is because of what your own hands have earned — and He pardons much. 30

وما اصبكم من مصيبة فبما كسبت ايديكم ويعفوا عن كثير

You are not able to escape [Him] on the earth, 31

وما انتم بمعجزين في الارض

and you have, besides God, neither protector nor helper. 31

وما لكم من دون الله من ولي ولا نصير

And among His signs: the [ships] that run upon the sea like mountains. 32

ومن ءايته الجوار في البحر كالاعلم

If He wills, He stills the wind, and they remain motionless upon its surface — surely in that are signs for every steadfast, thankful one — or He causes them to perish because of what they have earned, while pardoning much.i 34

ان يشا يسكن الريح فيظللن رواكد على ظهره ان في ذلك لءايت لكل صبار شكور او يوبقهن بما كسبوا ويعف عن كثير

— so that those who dispute about Our signs may know that they have no escape. 35

ويعلم الذين يجدلون في ءايتنا ما لهم من محيص

Whatever you have been given is only the enjoyment of the present life; 36

فما اوتيتم من شىء فمتع الحيوة الدنيا

but what is with God is better and more lasting, for those who believe and rely upon their Guardian; 36

وما عند الله خير وابقى للذين ءامنوا وعلى ربهم يتوكلون

for those who avoid grave transgressions and indecencies, and who, when angered, forgive; 37

والذين يجتنبون كبير الاثم والفوحش واذا ما غضبوا هم يغفرون

for those who answer their Guardian, maintain the Contact, conduct their affairs by mutual consultation, and spend from what We have provided them; 38

والذين استجابوا لربهم واقاموا الصلوة وامرهم شورى بينهم ومما رزقنهم ينفقون

for those who, when aggression befalls them, defend themselves. 39

والذين اذا اصابهم البغي هم ينتصرون

The recompense of an evil is an evil equal to it; 40

وجزوا سيية سيية مثلها

but whoever pardons and reconciles, his reward is upon God — 40

فمن عفا واصلح فاجره على الله

He does not love the wrongdoers. 40

انه لا يحب الظلمين

And whoever defends himself after having suffered injustice, against such there is no course [of blame]; 41

ولمن انتصر بعد ظلمه فاوليك ما عليهم من سبيل

blame lies only upon those who wrong people and commit aggression on the earth without right. 42

انما السبيل على الذين يظلمون الناس ويبغون في الارض بغير الحق

Those will have a painful punishment. 42

اوليك لهم عذاب اليم

And whoever endures patiently and forgives, that is indeed among matters of firm resolve. 43

ولمن صبر وغفر ان ذلك لمن عزم الامور

And whoever God leaves astray has no protector after that. 44

ومن يضلل الله فما له من ولي من بعده

You will see the wrongdoers, when they see the punishment, saying: "Is there any way back?" 44

وترى الظلمين لما راوا العذاب يقولون هل الى مرد من سبيل

You will see them exposed before it, humbled, 45

وترىهم يعرضون عليها خشعين

looking with a furtive glance, out of humiliation. 45

من الذل ينظرون من طرف خفي

And those who have believed will say: "The true losers are those who have lost themselves and their families on the Day of Appearance."i 45

وقال الذين ءامنوا ان الخسرين الذين خسروا انفسهم واهليهم يوم القيمة

Is it not true that the wrongdoers are in lasting punishment? 45

الا ان الظلمين في عذاب مقيم

They will have no protectors to help them, besides God. 46

وما كان لهم من اولياء ينصرونهم من دون الله

And whoever God leaves astray has no way at all. 46

ومن يضلل الله فما له من سبيل

Answer your Guardian before there comes a Day that God will not turn back; 47

استجيبوا لربكم من قبل ان ياتي يوم لا مرد له من الله

you will have no refuge on that Day, 47

ما لكم من ملجا يوميذ

and you will have no way to deny [it]. 47

وما لكم من نكير

If they turn away, [know that] We have not sent you as a guardian over them; 48

فان اعرضوا فما ارسلنك عليهم حفيظا

upon you rests only the delivery [of the message]. 48

ان عليك الا البلغ

And when We let man taste a benevolence from Us, he rejoices in it; 48

وانا اذا اذقنا الانسن منا رحمة فرح بها

but if an evil befalls them because of what their hands have sent forth, then man is greatly given to denying. 48

وان تصبهم سيية بما قدمت ايديهم فان الانسن كفور

To God belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; 49

لله ملك السموت والارض

He creates what He wills; 49

يخلق ما يشاء

He grants, to whom He wills, daughters, and He grants, to whom He wills, sons, or He pairs them, males and females, and He renders barren whom He wills. 50

يهب لمن يشاء انثا ويهب لمن يشاء الذكور او يزوجهم ذكرانا وانثا ويجعل من يشاء عقيما

He is fully informed, capable of all things. 50

انه عليم قدير

It is not for any human being that God should speak to him, except by revelation, or from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger who reveals, by His leave, what He wills; 51

وما كان لبشر ان يكلمه الله الا وحيا او من وراي حجاب او يرسل رسولا فيوحي باذنه ما يشاء

He is the Most High, the Wise. 51

انه علي حكيم

Thus have We revealed to you an Influx from Our own command; 52

وكذلك اوحينا اليك روحا من امرنا

you did not know what the Scripture was, nor faith, but We made it a light by which We guide whom We will among Our obedient ones;i 52

ما كنت تدري ما الكتب ولا الايمن ولكن جعلنه نورا نهدي به من نشاء من عبادنا

and you indeed guide to a straight path — the path of God, to whom belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth. 53

وانك لتهدي الى صرط مستقيم صرط الله الذي له ما في السموت وما في الارض

Is it not true that to God all affairs return? 53

الا الى الله تصير الامور