Sourate Sad (38) with hamza shown

In the name of God, the All-Benevolent, the Benevolent. Sad.i 1

بسم ٱلله ٱلرحمن ٱلرحيم ص

By the Recitation charged with the Reminder, 1

وٱلقرءان ذي ٱلذكر

No! Those who deny are steeped in arrogance and division. 2

بل ٱلذين كفروا في عزة وشقاق

How many generations did We destroy before them! They cried out, but it was no longer time to escape. 3

كم أهلكنا من قبلهم من قرن فنادوا ولات حين مناص

And they marveled that a warner should come to them from among themselves, 4

وعجبوا أن جآءهم منذر منهم

and those who deny said: "This is a worker of illusion, a great liar. Has he made the gods a single God? This is indeed a strange thing!" 5

وقال ٱلكفرون هذا سحر كذاب أجعل ٱلءالهة إلها وحدا إن هذا لشىء عجاب

And the court, among them, set out, saying: "Go, and remain firm toward your gods! This is something intended. We have not heard of this in the most recent creed; this is nothing but pure invention. Was the Reminder sent down upon him, out of all of us?" 8

وٱنطلق ٱلملأ منهم أن ٱمشوا وٱصبروا على ءالهتكم إن هذا لشىء يراد ما سمعنا بهذا في ٱلملة ٱلءاخرة إن هذآ إلا ٱختلق أءنزل عليه ٱلذكر من بيننا

No, they are in doubt about My Reminder; no, they have not yet tasted My punishment. 8

بل هم في شك من ذكري بل لما يذوقوا عذاب

Or do they hold the treasures of the benevolence of your Guardian, the All-Powerful, the Great Bestower?i 9

أم عندهم خزآئن رحمة ربك ٱلعزيز ٱلوهاب

Or do they own the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them? 10

أم لهم ملك ٱلسموت وٱلأرض وما بينهما

Then let them ascend by the means [of access]! 10

فليرتقوا في ٱلأسبب

It is but an army among the coalitions, doomed to defeat. 11

جند ما هنالك مهزوم من ٱلأحزاب

Before them, the people of Nuh denied, and the Recidivists [Aad], and Fir'awn of the stakes, the Depleters [Thamud], the people of Lut, and the companions of the Thicket.i 13

كذبت قبلهم قوم نوح وعاد وفرعون ذو ٱلأوتاد وثمود وقوم لوط وأصحب ليكة

Those are the coalitions. 13

أولئك ٱلأحزاب

Each of them did nothing but deny the messengers, and so My punishment proved just. 14

إن كل إلا كذب ٱلرسل فحق عقاب

And these await nothing but a single Cry, with no respite. 15

وما ينظر هؤلآء إلا صيحة وحدة ما لها من فواق

And they said: "Our Guardian, hasten for us our share [of punishment], before the Day of Reckoning." 16

وقالوا ربنا عجل لنا قطنا قبل يوم ٱلحساب

Be patient in the face of what they say, 17

ٱصبر على ما يقولون

and remember Our obedient one Dawud, endowed with strength,i 17

وٱذكر عبدنا داود ذا ٱلأيد

he never ceased turning back [to God]. 17

إنه أواب

We subjected the mountains to glorify with him, at dusk and at dawn, and the birds gathered together: 19

إنا سخرنا ٱلجبال معه يسبحن بٱلعشي وٱلإشراق وٱلطير محشورة

each of them kept turning back. 19

كل له أواب

We strengthened his rule and gave him wisdom and decisive judgment. 20

وشددنا ملكه وءاتينه ٱلحكمة وفصل ٱلخطاب

Has the account of the dispute reached you, when they climbed over the wall into the sanctuary, when they entered upon Dawud, and he was alarmed by them? They said: "Do not be afraid;i 22

وهل أتىك نبؤا ٱلخصم إذ تسوروا ٱلمحراب إذ دخلوا على داود ففزع منهم قالوا لا تخف

we are two parties in dispute, one of us has wronged the other; so judge between us with truth, without excess, 22

خصمان بغى بعضنا على بعض فٱحكم بيننا بٱلحق ولا تشطط

and guide us to the even path." 22

وٱهدنآ إلى سوآء ٱلصرط

"This is my brother; he has ninety-nine ewes, and I have but one ewe. He said: 'Entrust her to me,' and he overpowered me in speech." 23

إن هذآ أخي له تسع وتسعون نعجة ولي نعجة وحدة فقال أكفلنيها وعزني في ٱلخطاب

He said: "He has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe to add to his own; 24

قال لقد ظلمك بسؤال نعجتك إلى نعاجه

and indeed, many partners wrong one another, except those who believe and do righteous deeds — 24

وإن كثيرا من ٱلخلطآء ليبغي بعضهم على بعض إلا ٱلذين ءامنوا وعملوا ٱلصلحت

and how few they are." 24

وقليل ما هم

And Dawud understood that We had [thus] tested him; he sought his Guardian's forgiveness, fell down bowing, and turned back [to Him].i 24

وظن داود أنما فتنه فٱستغفر ربه وخر راكعا وأناب

So We forgave him that; 25

فغفرنا له ذلك

and he has, with Us, a place of nearness and a beautiful abode [of return]. 25

وإن له عندنا لزلفى وحسن ماب

"O Dawud, We have made you a representative on earth; so judge among the people with truth, and do not follow emotion, lest it lead you astray from the path of God.i 26

يداود إنا جعلنك خليفة في ٱلأرض فٱحكم بين ٱلناس بٱلحق ولا تتبع ٱلهوى فيضلك عن سبيل ٱلله

Those who stray from the path of God will have a severe punishment, for having forgotten the Day of Reckoning." 26

إن ٱلذين يضلون عن سبيل ٱلله لهم عذاب شديد بما نسوا يوم ٱلحساب

We did not create the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in vain. 27

وما خلقنا ٱلسمآء وٱلأرض وما بينهما بطلا

Such is the assumption of those who deny; 27

ذلك ظن ٱلذين كفروا

so woe to those who deny, because of the Fire! 27

فويل للذين كفروا من ٱلنار

Should We treat those who believe and do righteous deeds like those who spread corruption on earth? 28

أم نجعل ٱلذين ءامنوا وعملوا ٱلصلحت كٱلمفسدين في ٱلأرض

Should We treat those who guard themselves like the depraved? 28

أم نجعل ٱلمتقين كٱلفجار

Here is a blessed Scripture that We sent down to you, so that they may reflect on its signs, and so that those endowed with understanding may remember.i 29

كتب أنزلنه إليك مبرك ليدبروا ءايته وليتذكر أولوا ٱلألبب

And We granted Dawud Sulayman —i 30

ووهبنا لداود سليمن

what an excellent the obedient one! 30

نعم ٱلعبد

He never ceased turning back [to God]. 30

إنه أواب

When there were displayed to him, at dusk, the standing, well-bred horses, he said: "I have preferred the love of good over the remembrance of my Guardian," until they withdrew behind the veil.i 32

إذ عرض عليه بٱلعشي ٱلصفنت ٱلجياد فقال إني أحببت حب ٱلخير عن ذكر ربي حتى توارت بٱلحجاب

"Bring them back to me!" And he began to stroke their legs and necks. 33

ردوها على فطفق مسحا بٱلسوق وٱلأعناق

And We certainly tried Sulayman: We placed upon his throne-seat a [lifeless] body; then he turned back [to Us].i 34

ولقد فتنا سليمن وألقينا على كرسيه جسدا ثم أناب

He said: "My Guardian, forgive me, and grant me a kingdom that will not befit anyone after me; 35

قال رب ٱغفر لي وهب لي ملكا لا ينبغي لأحد من بعدي

You are indeed the Great Bestower." 35

إنك أنت ٱلوهاب

So We subjected the wind to him, running at his command, gently, wherever he directed it; and the Diverters, every builder and diver, and others bound together in chains.i 38

فسخرنا له ٱلريح تجري بأمره رخآء حيث أصاب وٱلشيطين كل بنآء وغواص وءاخرين مقرنين في ٱلأصفاد

"This is Our gift: dispose of it, grant it or withhold it, without account to render." 39

هذا عطآؤنا فٱمنن أو أمسك بغير حساب

He has, with Us, a place of nearness and a beautiful abode [of return]. 40

وإن له عندنا لزلفى وحسن ماب

And remember Our obedient one Ayyub, when he called upon his Guardian: "The Diverter has touched me with hardship and suffering."i 41

وٱذكر عبدنآ أيوب إذ نادى ربه أني مسني ٱلشيطن بنصب وعذاب

"Run with your foot:i 42

ٱركض برجلك

here is cool water for washing and for drinking." 42

هذا مغتسل بارد وشراب

And We granted him back his family, and as many again with them, as a benevolence from Us, and as a reminder for those endowed with understanding. 43

ووهبنا له أهله ومثلهم معهم رحمة منا وذكرى لأولي ٱلألبب

"Take in your hand a bundle [of stalks], and strike with it, and do not break your oath." 44

وخذ بيدك ضغثا فٱضرب به ولا تحنث

We found him patient, 44

إنا وجدنه صابرا

what an excellent the obedient one! 44

نعم ٱلعبد

He never ceased turning back [to God]. 44

إنه أواب

And remember Our obedient ones Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Yaacoub, endowed with strength and insight.i 45

وٱذكر عبدنآ إبرهيم وإسحق ويعقوب أولي ٱلأيدي وٱلأبصر

We purified them with a singular purity: the remembrance of the [final] Abode. 46

إنآ أخلصنهم بخالصة ذكرى ٱلدار

And they are, with Us, among the chosen, the best. 47

وإنهم عندنا لمن ٱلمصطفين ٱلأخيار

And remember Ismail, Elisha, and Dhul-Kifl,i 48

وٱذكر إسمعيل وٱليسع وذا ٱلكفل

each among the best. 48

وكل من ٱلأخيار

This is a reminder. 49

هذا ذكر

And those who guard themselves shall indeed have a beautiful abode [of return]: 49

وإن للمتقين لحسن ماب

Gardens of Eden, whose gates will be opened for them, reclining therein, calling for abundant fruit and drink. 51

جنت عدن مفتحة لهم ٱلأبوب متكين فيها يدعون فيها بفكهة كثيرة وشراب

And beside them will be companions of reserved gaze, fertile and of shared stock. 52

وعندهم قصرت ٱلطرف أتراب

This is what you are promised for the Day of Reckoning.i 53

هذا ما توعدون ليوم ٱلحساب

This is indeed Our provision, which knows no end. 54

إن هذا لرزقنا ما له من نفاد

This is so. And the tyrannical shall have the worst of abodes [of return]: Jahannam, wherein they will burn, 56

هذا وإن للطغين لشر ماب جهنم يصلونها

what a wretched bed! 56

فبئس ٱلمهاد

This — let them taste it: scalding water, and fetid discharge, and other [torments] of the same kind, in pairs. 58

هذا فليذوقوه حميم وغساق وءاخر من شكله أزوج

"Here is a crowd rushing in with you [into the Fire]," 59

هذا فوج مقتحم معكم

[it will be said]: "No welcome for them! 59

لا مرحبا بهم

They will burn in the Fire." 59

إنهم صالوا ٱلنار

They will say: "Rather it is you! No welcome for you! It is you who went before us into this." 60

قالوا بل أنتم لا مرحبا بكم أنتم قدمتموه لنا

What a wretched dwelling! 60

فبئس ٱلقرار

They will say: "Our Guardian, whoever brought this upon us, give him double punishment in the Fire." 61

قالوا ربنا من قدم لنا هذا فزده عذابا ضعفا في ٱلنار

And they will say: "Why do we not see men we used to count among the wicked? 62

وقالوا ما لنا لا نرى رجالا كنا نعدهم من ٱلأشرار

Did we take them as objects of mockery, or has our sight simply missed them?" 63

أتخذنهم سخريا أم زاغت عنهم ٱلأبصر

This is indeed true: it is the dispute of the people of the Fire. 64

إن ذلك لحق تخاصم أهل ٱلنار

Say: "I am only a warner, 65

قل إنمآ أنا منذر

and there is no god but God, the One, the Dominant, 65

وما من إله إلا ٱلله ٱلوحد ٱلقهار

Guardian of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, 66

رب ٱلسموت وٱلأرض وما بينهما

the All-Powerful, the Great Forgiver."i 66

ٱلعزيز ٱلغفر

Say: "This is momentous news, from which you turn away: 68

قل هو نبؤا عظيم أنتم عنه معرضون

I had no knowledge of the sublime assembly when it disputed; 69

ما كان لي من علم بٱلملإ ٱلأعلى إذ يختصمون

nothing is revealed to me except that I am a clear warner." 70

إن يوحى إلى إلآ أنمآ أنا نذير مبين

[Recall] when your Guardian said to the Agents: "I am about to create a being of clay; when I have shaped him and breathed into him of My Influx, fall down before him, prostrating."i 72

إذ قال ربك للملئكة إني خلق بشرا من طين فإذا سويته ونفخت فيه من روحي فقعوا له سجدين

So the Agents prostrated, all of them together, except the Despairing One [Iblis]: he swelled with arrogance and was among those who deny-disown.i 74

فسجد ٱلملئكة كلهم أجمعون إلآ إبليس ٱستكبر وكان من ٱلكفرين

He said: "O Iblis, what prevented you from prostrating before what I created with My own two hands? Did you swell with arrogance, or were you among the exalted?"i 75

قال يإبليس ما منعك أن تسجد لما خلقت بيدى أستكبرت أم كنت من ٱلعالين

He said: "I am better than him: You created me from fire, and You created him from clay." 76

قال أنا خير منه خلقتني من نار وخلقته من طين

He said: "Then get out of here; you are indeed banished, and My curse is upon you until the Day of Retribution."i 78

قال فٱخرج منها فإنك رجيم وإن عليك لعنتي إلى يوم ٱلدين

He said: "My Guardian, grant me a delay until the day they are resurrected." 79

قال رب فأنظرني إلى يوم يبعثون

He said: "You are among those granted a delay, until the day of the known time." 81

قال فإنك من ٱلمنظرين إلى يوم ٱلوقت ٱلمعلوم

He said: "By Your might, I will lead them all astray, except Your purified obedient ones among them." 83

قال فبعزتك لأغوينهم أجمعين إلا عبادك منهم ٱلمخلصين

[God] said: "Here then is the truth — and I speak the truth:i 84

قال فٱلحق وٱلحق أقول

I will surely fill Jahannam with you and with all of those among them who follow you." 85

لأملأن جهنم منك وممن تبعك منهم أجمعين

Say: "I ask you no reward for this, and I am not one of those who pretend to be what they are not. 86

قل مآ أسلكم عليه من أجر ومآ أنا من ٱلمتكلفين

This is nothing but a reminder for all beings,i 87

إن هو إلا ذكر للعلمين

and you will surely know its truth after a time." 88

ولتعلمن نبأه بعد حين