Az-Zukhruf
In the Footsteps of the Ancestors
In the name of God, the All-Benevolent, the Benevolent. Ḥa. Mim.
بسم ٱلله ٱلرحمن ٱلرحيم حمBy the clear Scripture! We have made it a flawless recitation, that you may reason.
وٱلكتب ٱلمبين إنا جعلنه قرءنا عربيا لعلكم تعقلونAnd it is, in the Matrix of the Scripture with Us, surely exalted, full of wisdom.
وإنه في أم ٱلكتب لدينا لعلي حكيمShall We cease to multiply for you the pages of the Reminder, because you are an excessive people?
أفنضرب عنكم ٱلذكر صفحا أن كنتم قوما مسرفينHow many a prophet did We send among the earlier peoples!
وكم أرسلنا من نبي في ٱلأولينYet no prophet came to them without their mocking him.
وما يأتيهم من نبي إلا كانوا به يستهزءونSo We annihilated [peoples] more formidable than they in might,
فأهلكنآ أشد منهم بطشاand the example of the earlier peoples has already passed.
ومضى مثل ٱلأولينAnd if you ask them: "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they will surely say: "The All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, created them."
ولئن سألتهم من خلق ٱلسموت وٱلأرض ليقولن خلقهن ٱلعزيز ٱلعليم[He] who made the earth for you a spread-out expanse, and made for you upon it pathways, that you may be guided.
ٱلذي جعل لكم ٱلأرض مهدا وجعل لكم فيها سبلا لعلكم تهتدونand who sent down from the sky water in due measure, by which We awakened a dead land —
وٱلذي نزل من ٱلسمآء مآء بقدر فأنشرنا 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."
وٱلذي خلق ٱلأزوج كلها وجعل لكم من ٱلفلك وٱلأنعم ما تركبون لتستوا على ظهوره ثم تذكروا نعمة ربكم إذا ٱستويتم عليه وتقولوا سبحن ٱلذي سخر لنا هذا وما كنا له مقرنين وإنآ إلى 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.
إن ٱلإنسن لكفور مبينWould He have taken, from what He creates, daughters, while reserving for you sons?
أم ٱتخذ مما يخلق بنات وأصفىكم بٱلبنينYet 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.
وإذا بشر أحدهم 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?
أومن ينشؤا في ٱلحلية وهو في ٱلخصام غير مبينAnd they have made the Agents, who are the obedient ones of the All-Benevolent, female beings.
وجعلوا ٱلملئكة ٱلذين هم عبد ٱلرحمن إنثاDid they witness their creation?
أشهدوا 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 شآء ٱلرحمن ما عبدنهمThey have no knowledge of that;
ما لهم بذلك من علمthey do nothing but engage in baseless guesswork.
إن هم إلا يخرصونOr have We given them a Scripture before this, to which they hold fast?
أم 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 إنا وجدنآ ءابآءنا على أمة وإنا 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 مآ أرسلنا من قبلك في قرية من نذير إلا قال مترفوهآ إنا وجدنآ ءابآءنا على أمة وإنا على ءاثرهم مقتدونHe said: "Even if I brought you [guidance] more right than what you found your ancestors upon?"
قل أولو جئتكم بأهدى مما وجدتم عليه ءابآءكمThey said: "We disown what you have been sent with."
قالوا إنا بمآ أرسلتم به كفرونSo We took vengeance upon them; observe, then, what was the end of those who denied.
فٱنتقمنا منهم فٱنظر كيف كان عقبة ٱلمكذبينAnd 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" —
وإذ قال إبرهيم لأبيه وقومه إنني برآء مما تعبدون إلا ٱلذي فطرني فإنه 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 هؤلآء وءابآءهم حتى جآءهم ٱلحق ورسول مبينAnd when the truth came to them, they said: "This is an illusion, and we disown it."
ولما جآءهم ٱلحق قالوا هذا سحر وإنا به كفرونAnd they said: "Why was this recitation not sent down upon some great man from the two cities?"
وقالوا لولا نزل هذا ٱلقرءان على رجل من ٱلقريتين عظيمIs it they who apportion the benevolence of your Guardian?
أهم 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 ٱلحيوة ٱلدنيا 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.
ولولآ أن يكون ٱلناس أمة وحدة لجعلنا لمن يكفر بٱلرحمن لبيوتهم سقفا من فضة ومعارج عليها يظهرون ولبيوتهم أبوبا وسررا عليها يتكون وزخرفاAnd all that is nothing but the enjoyment of the present life;
وإن كل ذلك لما متع ٱلحيوة ٱلدنياwhile the last life, with your Guardian, is for those who guard themselves.
وٱلءاخرة 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 ٱلرحمن نقيض له شيطنا فهو له قرينand these surely bar them from the way, while they deem themselves among those who let themselves be guided.
وإنهم ليصدونهم عن ٱلسبيل ويحسبون أنهم مهتدونuntil, when he comes to Us, he says: "Would that between me and you there were the distance of the two easts!"
حتى إذا جآءنا قال يليت بيني وبينك بعد ٱلمشرقينWhat a wretched companion!
فبئس ٱلقرينIt will not benefit you at all today, since you have done wrong, that you are partners in the punishment.
ولن ينفعكم ٱليوم إذ ظلمتم أنكم في ٱلعذاب مشتركونIs it you who will make the deaf hear, or guide the blind and whoever is in manifest error?
أفأنت تسمع ٱلصم أو تهدي ٱلعمي 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.
فإما نذهبن بك فإنا منهم منتقمون أو نرينك ٱلذي وعدنهم فإنا عليهم مقتدرونSo hold fast to what has been revealed to you;
فٱستمسك بٱلذي أوحي إليكyou are indeed upon a straight path.
إنك على صرط مستقيمAnd it is surely a Reminder for you and for your people;
وإنه لذكر لك ولقومكand you will soon be questioned.
وسوف تسلونAnd ask those of Our messengers whom We sent before you:
وسل من أرسلنا من قبلك من رسلنآdid We appoint, besides the All-Benevolent, deities to be obeyed?
أجعلنا من دون ٱلرحمن 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 أرسلنا موسى بايتنآ إلى فرعون وملإيه فقال إني رسول رب ٱلعلمينBut when he brought them Our signs, they laughed at them.
فلما جآءهم بايتنآ إذا هم منها يضحكونAnd every sign We showed them was greater than the one before it;
وما نريهم من ءاية إلا هي أكبر من أختهاand We seized them with punishment, that they might return.
وأخذنهم بٱلعذاب 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 يأيه ٱلساحر ٱدع لنا ربك بما عهد عندك إننا لمهتدونBut when We removed the punishment from them, they broke their engagement.
فلما كشفنا عنهم ٱلعذاب إذا 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 أليس لي ملك مصر وهذه ٱلأنهر تجري من تحتيDo you not see, then?
أفلا تبصرونAm I not better than this one, who is contemptible and can hardly express himself clearly?
أم أنا خير من هذا ٱلذي هو مهين ولا يكاد يبينWhy, then, were bracelets of gold not cast upon him, or the Agents not come with him in procession!"
فلولآ ألقي عليه أسورة من ذهب أو جآء معه ٱلملئكة مقترنينHe made light of his people, and they obeyed him;
فٱستخف قومه فأطاعوهthey were indeed a people of oversteppers.
إنهم 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.
فلمآ ءاسفونا ٱنتقمنا منهم فأغرقنهم أجمعين 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 ٱبن مريم مثلا إذا قومك منه يصدونand they said: "Are our deities better, or is he?"
وقالوا ءألهتنا خير أم هوThey set this example before you only out of a taste for argument.
ما ضربوه لك إلا 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;
إن هو إلا عبد أنعمنا عليه وجعلنه مثلا لبني إسرءيلand had We willed, We would have made of you Agents succeeding one another on the earth.
ولو نشآء لجعلنا منكم ملئكة في ٱلأرض يخلفونAnd this is indeed a knowledge of the Hour; so have no doubt about it,
وإنه لعلم للساعة فلا تمترن بهاand follow me: this is a straight path.
وٱتبعون هذا صرط مستقيمAnd let not the Diverter bar you;
ولا يصدنكم ٱلشيطنhe is indeed for you a manifest enemy.
إنه 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 جآء عيسى بٱلبينت قال قد جئتكم بٱلحكمة ولأبين لكم بعض ٱلذي تختلفون فيهso guard yourselves toward God, and obey me.
فٱتقوا ٱلله وأطيعونGod is indeed my Guardian and your Guardian; so obey Him:
إن ٱلله هو ربي وربكم فٱعبدوهthis is a straight path."
هذا صرط مستقيمYet the parties diverged among themselves;
فٱختلف ٱلأحزاب من بينهمso woe to those who did wrong, from the punishment of a painful day!
فويل للذين ظلموا من عذاب يوم أليمDo they await anything but the Hour, that it should come upon them suddenly, while they perceive it not?
هل ينظرون إلا ٱلساعة أن تأتيهم بغتة وهم لا يشعرونOn that Day, close friends will be, to one another, enemies, except those who guard themselves.
ٱلأخلآء يومئذ بعضهم لبعض عدو إلا ٱلمتقين"O My obedient ones, no fear shall be upon you today, nor shall you grieve,
يعباد لا خوف عليكم ٱليوم ولآ أنتم تحزنونyou who believed in Our signs and were true to God alone: enter the Garden, you and your spouses, rejoicing."
ٱلذين ءامنوا بايتنا وكانوا مسلمين ٱدخلوا ٱلجنة أنتم وأزوجكم تحبرونTrays of gold and goblets will be passed among them,
يطاف عليهم بصحاف من ذهب وأكوابand therein will be whatever the Self may desire, and whatever delights the eyes;
وفيها ما تشتهيه ٱلأنفس وتلذ ٱلأعينand you will abide therein eternally.
وأنتم فيها خلدونSuch is the Garden that you have been given as an inheritance for what you used to do.
وتلك ٱلجنة ٱلتي أورثتموها بما كنتم تعملونTherein you will have abundant fruit, from which you will eat.
لكم فيها فكهة كثيرة منها تأكلونThe severed, meanwhile, will abide eternally in the punishment of Jahannam,
إن ٱلمجرمين 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 ٱلظلمينAnd 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 إنكم مكثونWe had indeed brought you the truth,
لقد جئنكم بٱلحقbut most of you had an aversion to the truth.
ولكن أكثركم للحق كرهونOr have they settled upon some plan? We too have settled one.
أم أبرموا أمرا فإنا مبرمونOr do they think that We do not hear their secret talk and their private counsel? Yes indeed, [We do]!
أم يحسبون أنا لا نسمع سرهم ونجوىهم بلىand Our envoys, with them, are recording [it all].
ورسلنا لديهم يكتبونSay: "If the All-Benevolent had a child,
قل إن كان للرحمن ولدI would be the first to obey Him [in that quality]."
فأنا أول ٱلعبدينGlory be to the Guardian of the heavens and the earth, Guardian of the Edifice, above what they describe!
سبحن رب ٱلسموت وٱلأرض رب ٱلعرش عما يصفونSo leave them to plunge and play, until they meet their Day, the one they are promised.
فذرهم يخوضوا ويلعبوا حتى يلقوا يومهم ٱلذي يوعدونAnd it is He who is, in the heaven, Deity, and on the earth, Deity;
وهو ٱلذي في ٱلسمآء إله وفي ٱلأرض إلهand He is the Wise, the All-Knowing.
وهو ٱلحكيم ٱلعليمBlessed be He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and whatever is between them;
وتبارك ٱلذي له ملك ٱلسموت وٱلأرض وما بينهماand with Him is the knowledge of the Hour;
وعنده علم ٱلساعةand to Him you will be returned.
وإليه 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 ٱلذين يدعون من دونه ٱلشفعة إلا من شهد بٱلحق وهم يعلمونAnd if you ask them who created them, they will surely say: "God."
ولئن سألتهم من خلقهم ليقولن ٱللهHow then are they turned away?
فأنى يؤفكونAnd [He knows] his saying: "O my Guardian, these are indeed a people who do not believe."
وقيله يرب إن هؤلآء قوم لا يؤمنونSo overlook them, and say: "Peace!"
فٱصفح عنهم وقل سلمThey will soon know.
فسوف يعلمون