Az-Zukhruf
In the Footsteps of the Ancestors
In the name of God, the All-Benevolent, the Benevolent. Ḥa. Mim.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم حمBy the clear Scripture! We have made it a flawless recitation, that you may reason.
والكتب المبين انا جعلنه قرءنا عربيا لعلكم تعقلونAnd it is, in the Matrix of the Scripture with Us, surely exalted, full of wisdom.
وانه في ام الكتب لدينا لعلي حكيمShall We cease to multiply for you the pages of the Reminder, because you are an excessive people?
افنضرب عنكم الذكر صفحا ان كنتم قوما مسرفينHow many a prophet did We send among the earlier peoples!
وكم ارسلنا من نبي في الاولينYet no prophet came to them without their mocking him.
وما ياتيهم من نبي الا كانوا به يستهزءونSo We annihilated [peoples] more formidable than they in might,
فاهلكنا اشد منهم بطشاand the example of the earlier peoples has already passed.
ومضى مثل الاولينAnd if you ask them: "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they will surely say: "The All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, created them."
ولين سالتهم من خلق السموت والارض ليقولن خلقهن العزيز العليم[He] who made the earth for you a spread-out expanse, and made for you upon it pathways, that you may be guided.
الذي جعل لكم الارض مهدا وجعل لكم فيها سبلا لعلكم تهتدونand who sent down from the sky water in due measure, by which We awakened a dead land —
والذي نزل من السماء ماء بقدر فانشرنا به بلدة ميتاthus will you be brought forth.
كذلك تخرجونand who created all the pairs, and gave you, among ships and cattle, that which you ride, that you may settle yourselves upon their backs, then remember the blessing of your Guardian once settled upon them, and say: "Glory to Him who has subjected this to us, for we were not capable of it by ourselves; and to our Guardian we shall surely return."
والذي خلق الازوج كلها وجعل لكم من الفلك والانعم ما تركبون لتستوا على ظهوره ثم تذكروا نعمة ربكم اذا استويتم عليه وتقولوا سبحن الذي سخر لنا هذا وما كنا له مقرنين وانا الى ربنا لمنقلبونYet they have assigned to Him, from among His obedient ones, a part [of Himself].
وجعلوا له من عباده جزءاThe human being is surely clearly given to disowning.
ان الانسن لكفور مبينWould He have taken, from what He creates, daughters, while reserving for you sons?
ام اتخذ مما يخلق بنات واصفىكم بالبنينYet when one of them is given the glad tidings of what he himself sets up as an example for the All-Benevolent, his face turns dark, and he is filled with suppressed rage.
واذا بشر احدهم بما ضرب للرحمن مثلا ظل وجهه مسودا وهو كظيم[Would one attribute to God] someone who is raised amid adornment and who, in a quarrel, lacks clarity?
اومن ينشوا في الحلية وهو في الخصام غير مبينAnd they have made the Agents, who are the obedient ones of the All-Benevolent, female beings.
وجعلوا المليكة الذين هم عبد الرحمن انثاDid they witness their creation?
اشهدوا خلقهمTheir testimony will be recorded, and they will be questioned.
ستكتب شهدتهم ويسلونAnd they say: "Had the All-Benevolent willed, we would not have obeyed them."
وقالوا لو شاء الرحمن ما عبدنهمThey have no knowledge of that;
ما لهم بذلك من علمthey do nothing but engage in baseless guesswork.
ان هم الا يخرصونOr have We given them a Scripture before this, to which they hold fast?
ام ءاتينهم كتبا من قبله فهم به مستمسكونThey say rather: "We found our ancestors upon a way, and it is in their footsteps that we let ourselves be guided."
بل قالوا انا وجدنا ءاباءنا على امة وانا على ءاثرهم مهتدونThus We never sent, before you, a warner into a city, without its affluent ones saying: "We found our ancestors upon a way, and it is in their footsteps that we walk."
وكذلك ما ارسلنا من قبلك في قرية من نذير الا قال مترفوها انا وجدنا ءاباءنا على امة وانا على ءاثرهم مقتدونHe said: "Even if I brought you [guidance] more right than what you found your ancestors upon?"
قل اولو جيتكم باهدى مما وجدتم عليه ءاباءكمThey said: "We disown what you have been sent with."
قالوا انا بما ارسلتم به كفرونSo We took vengeance upon them; observe, then, what was the end of those who denied.
فانتقمنا منهم فانظر كيف كان عقبة المكذبينAnd when Ibrahim said to his father and his people: "I disavow what you obey, except Him who originated me, for it is He who will guide me" —
واذ قال ابرهيم لابيه وقومه انني براء مما تعبدون الا الذي فطرني فانه سيهدينand he made it a lasting word among his descendants, that they might return [to it].
وجعلها كلمة باقية في عقبه لعلهم يرجعونRather, I granted enjoyment to these and to their ancestors, until truth came to them, and a clear messenger.
بل متعت هولاء وءاباءهم حتى جاءهم الحق ورسول مبينAnd when the truth came to them, they said: "This is an illusion, and we disown it."
ولما جاءهم الحق قالوا هذا سحر وانا به كفرونAnd they said: "Why was this recitation not sent down upon some great man from the two cities?"
وقالوا لولا نزل هذا القرءان على رجل من القريتين عظيمIs it they who apportion the benevolence of your Guardian?
اهم يقسمون رحمت ربكIt is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the present life, and raised some of them above others in degree, so that some of them may take others into their service;
نحن قسمنا بينهم معيشتهم في الحيوة الدنيا ورفعنا بعضهم فوق بعض درجت ليتخذ بعضهم بعضا سخرياand the benevolence of your Guardian is better than what they amass.
ورحمت ربك خير مما يجمعونAnd were it not that mankind might have [risked] becoming a single community [in evil], We would have given those who disown the All-Benevolent roofs of silver for their houses, and stairways by which they ascend, and doors for their houses, and couches upon which they recline, and ornaments.
ولولا ان يكون الناس امة وحدة لجعلنا لمن يكفر بالرحمن لبيوتهم سقفا من فضة ومعارج عليها يظهرون ولبيوتهم ابوبا وسررا عليها يتكون وزخرفاAnd all that is nothing but the enjoyment of the present life;
وان كل ذلك لما متع الحيوة الدنياwhile the last life, with your Guardian, is for those who guard themselves.
والءاخرة عند ربك للمتقينAnd whoever turns away, blinded, from the Reminder of the All-Benevolent, We assign him a Diverter who becomes an inseparable companion to him;
ومن يعش عن ذكر الرحمن نقيض له شيطنا فهو له قرينand these surely bar them from the way, while they deem themselves among those who let themselves be guided.
وانهم ليصدونهم عن السبيل ويحسبون انهم مهتدونuntil, when he comes to Us, he says: "Would that between me and you there were the distance of the two easts!"
حتى اذا جاءنا قال يليت بيني وبينك بعد المشرقينWhat a wretched companion!
فبيس القرينIt will not benefit you at all today, since you have done wrong, that you are partners in the punishment.
ولن ينفعكم اليوم اذ ظلمتم انكم في العذاب مشتركونIs it you who will make the deaf hear, or guide the blind and whoever is in manifest error?
افانت تسمع الصم او تهدي العمي ومن كان في ضلل مبينWhether We take you away — We will indeed take vengeance upon them; or whether We show you what We promised them — We have, in any case, full mastery over them.
فاما نذهبن بك فانا منهم منتقمون او نرينك الذي وعدنهم فانا عليهم مقتدرونSo hold fast to what has been revealed to you;
فاستمسك بالذي اوحي اليكyou are indeed upon a straight path.
انك على صرط مستقيمAnd it is surely a Reminder for you and for your people;
وانه لذكر لك ولقومكand you will soon be questioned.
وسوف تسلونAnd ask those of Our messengers whom We sent before you:
وسل من ارسلنا من قبلك من رسلناdid We appoint, besides the All-Benevolent, deities to be obeyed?
اجعلنا من دون الرحمن ءالهة يعبدونAnd We indeed sent Moussa with Our signs to Fir'awn and his notables; he said: "I am the messenger of the Guardian of all beings."
ولقد ارسلنا موسى بايتنا الى فرعون وملايه فقال اني رسول رب العلمينBut when he brought them Our signs, they laughed at them.
فلما جاءهم بايتنا اذا هم منها يضحكونAnd every sign We showed them was greater than the one before it;
وما نريهم من ءاية الا هي اكبر من اختهاand We seized them with punishment, that they might return.
واخذنهم بالعذاب لعلهم يرجعونAnd they said: "O worker of illusion, call upon your Guardian for us by virtue of what He has pledged to you; we shall surely let ourselves be guided."
وقالوا يايه الساحر ادع لنا ربك بما عهد عندك اننا لمهتدونBut when We removed the punishment from them, they broke their engagement.
فلما كشفنا عنهم العذاب اذا هم ينكثونAnd Fir'awn called out among his people, saying: "O my people, does not the dominion of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing beneath me?
ونادى فرعون في قومه قال يقوم اليس لي ملك مصر وهذه الانهر تجري من تحتيDo you not see, then?
افلا تبصرونAm I not better than this one, who is contemptible and can hardly express himself clearly?
ام انا خير من هذا الذي هو مهين ولا يكاد يبينWhy, then, were bracelets of gold not cast upon him, or the Agents not come with him in procession!"
فلولا القي عليه اسورة من ذهب او جاء معه المليكة مقترنينHe made light of his people, and they obeyed him;
فاستخف قومه فاطاعوهthey were indeed a people of oversteppers.
انهم كانوا قوما فسقينSo when they angered Us, We took vengeance upon them: We drowned them all, and made of them a precedent and an example for later generations.
فلما ءاسفونا انتقمنا منهم فاغرقنهم اجمعين فجعلنهم سلفا ومثلا للءاخرينAnd when the son of Maryam was set up as an example, your people turned away from it with cries [of mockery].
ولما ضرب ابن مريم مثلا اذا قومك منه يصدونand they said: "Are our deities better, or is he?"
وقالوا ءالهتنا خير ام هوThey set this example before you only out of a taste for argument.
ما ضربوه لك الا جدلاThey are rather a quarrelsome people.
بل هم قوم خصمونHe is only an obedient one whom We blessed, and whom We made an example for the Sons of Israel;
ان هو الا عبد انعمنا عليه وجعلنه مثلا لبني اسرءيلand had We willed, We would have made of you Agents succeeding one another on the earth.
ولو نشاء لجعلنا منكم مليكة في الارض يخلفونAnd this is indeed a knowledge of the Hour; so have no doubt about it,
وانه لعلم للساعة فلا تمترن بهاand follow me: this is a straight path.
واتبعون هذا صرط مستقيمAnd let not the Diverter bar you;
ولا يصدنكم الشيطنhe is indeed for you a manifest enemy.
انه لكم عدو مبينAnd when Issa came with the clear proofs, he said: "I have brought you wisdom, and to make clear to you some of that over which you differ;
ولما جاء عيسى بالبينت قال قد جيتكم بالحكمة ولابين لكم بعض الذي تختلفون فيهso guard yourselves toward God, and obey me.
فاتقوا الله واطيعونGod is indeed my Guardian and your Guardian; so obey Him:
ان الله هو ربي وربكم فاعبدوهthis is a straight path."
هذا صرط مستقيمYet the parties diverged among themselves;
فاختلف الاحزاب من بينهمso woe to those who did wrong, from the punishment of a painful day!
فويل للذين ظلموا من عذاب يوم اليمDo they await anything but the Hour, that it should come upon them suddenly, while they perceive it not?
هل ينظرون الا الساعة ان تاتيهم بغتة وهم لا يشعرونOn that Day, close friends will be, to one another, enemies, except those who guard themselves.
الاخلاء يوميذ بعضهم لبعض عدو الا المتقين"O My obedient ones, no fear shall be upon you today, nor shall you grieve,
يعباد لا خوف عليكم اليوم ولا انتم تحزنونyou who believed in Our signs and were true to God alone: enter the Garden, you and your spouses, rejoicing."
الذين ءامنوا بايتنا وكانوا مسلمين ادخلوا الجنة انتم وازوجكم تحبرونTrays of gold and goblets will be passed among them,
يطاف عليهم بصحاف من ذهب واكوابand therein will be whatever the Self may desire, and whatever delights the eyes;
وفيها ما تشتهيه الانفس وتلذ الاعينand you will abide therein eternally.
وانتم فيها خلدونSuch is the Garden that you have been given as an inheritance for what you used to do.
وتلك الجنة التي اورثتموها بما كنتم تعملونTherein you will have abundant fruit, from which you will eat.
لكم فيها فكهة كثيرة منها تاكلونThe severed, meanwhile, will abide eternally in the punishment of Jahannam,
ان المجرمين في عذاب جهنم خلدونit will not be lightened for them, and they will be therein in despair.
لا يفتر عنهم وهم فيه مبلسونWe did them no wrong,
وما ظلمنهمbut it was they who were the wrongdoers.
ولكن كانوا هم الظلمينAnd they will call out: "O Malik, let your Guardian put an end to us!"
ونادوا يملك ليقض علينا ربكHe will indeed say: "You are to remain [here]."
قال انكم مكثونWe had indeed brought you the truth,
لقد جينكم بالحقbut most of you had an aversion to the truth.
ولكن اكثركم للحق كرهونOr have they settled upon some plan? We too have settled one.
ام ابرموا امرا فانا مبرمونOr do they think that We do not hear their secret talk and their private counsel? Yes indeed, [We do]!
ام يحسبون انا لا نسمع سرهم ونجوىهم بلىand Our envoys, with them, are recording [it all].
ورسلنا لديهم يكتبونSay: "If the All-Benevolent had a child,
قل ان كان للرحمن ولدI would be the first to obey Him [in that quality]."
فانا اول العبدينGlory be to the Guardian of the heavens and the earth, Guardian of the Edifice, above what they describe!
سبحن رب السموت والارض رب العرش عما يصفونSo leave them to plunge and play, until they meet their Day, the one they are promised.
فذرهم يخوضوا ويلعبوا حتى يلقوا يومهم الذي يوعدونAnd it is He who is, in the heaven, Deity, and on the earth, Deity;
وهو الذي في السماء اله وفي الارض الهand He is the Wise, the All-Knowing.
وهو الحكيم العليمBlessed be He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and whatever is between them;
وتبارك الذي له ملك السموت والارض وما بينهماand with Him is the knowledge of the Hour;
وعنده علم الساعةand to Him you will be returned.
واليه ترجعونAnd those they invoke besides Him have no power of intercession, except those who bear witness to the truth, and who know [it].
ولا يملك الذين يدعون من دونه الشفعة الا من شهد بالحق وهم يعلمونAnd if you ask them who created them, they will surely say: "God."
ولين سالتهم من خلقهم ليقولن اللهHow then are they turned away?
فانى يوفكونAnd [He knows] his saying: "O my Guardian, these are indeed a people who do not believe."
وقيله يرب ان هولاء قوم لا يومنونSo overlook them, and say: "Peace!"
فاصفح عنهم وقل سلمThey will soon know.
فسوف يعلمون