Qaf
Closer Than the Jugular Vein
In the name of God, the All-Benevolent, the Benevolent. Qaf.
بسم ٱلله ٱلرحمن ٱلرحيم قBy the glorious Recitation! They marveled instead that a warner, one of their own, had come to them. Those who disown said: "This is a strange thing. When we are dead and become earth...? That return is far-fetched."
وٱلقرءان ٱلمجيد بل عجبوا أن جآءهم منذر منهم فقال ٱلكفرون هذا شىء عجيب أءذا متنا وكنا ترابا ذلك رجع بعيدWe know what the earth diminishes of them, and We have a record that keeps everything.
قد علمنا ما تنقص ٱلأرض منهم وعندنا كتب حفيظThey rather denied the truth when it came to them; so they are in a confused state.
بل كذبوا بٱلحق لما جآءهم فهم في أمر مريجHave they not looked at the sky above them: how We built it and adorned it, without a single crack in it?
أفلم ينظروا إلى ٱلسمآء فوقهم كيف بنينها وزينها وما لها من فروجAnd the earth, We spread it out, placed firm anchors in it, and caused every splendid pair to grow in it — a means of insight and a reminder for every obedient one ever turning back [to God].
وٱلأرض مددنها وألقينا فيها روسي وأنبتنا فيها من كل زوج بهيج تبصرة وذكرى لكل عبد منيبAnd We sent down from the sky a blessed water, by which We caused gardens to grow, and the grain of harvest, and the tall palm trees with layered clusters, as sustenance for the obedient ones.
ونزلنا من ٱلسمآء مآء مبركا فأنبتنا به جنت وحب ٱلحصيد وٱلنخل باسقت لها طلع نضيد رزقا للعبادAnd by it We gave life to a dead land.
وأحيينا به بلدة ميتاSuch will be the coming forth [from the earth].
كذلك ٱلخروجBefore them, the people of Nuh denied, as did the companions of the Well, the Depleters [Thamud], the Recidivists [Aad], Fir'awn, the brothers of Lut, the companions of the Thicket, and the people of Tubba'.
كذبت قبلهم قوم نوح وأصحب ٱلرس وثمود وعاد وفرعون وإخون لوط وأصحب ٱلأيكة وقوم تبعAll of them denied the messengers, and My threat proved true.
كل كذب ٱلرسل فحق وعيدWere We then exhausted by the first creation?
أفعيينا بٱلخلق ٱلأولThey are rather in confusion about a new creation.
بل هم في لبس من خلق جديدWe have indeed created the human being, and We know what his [own] Self whispers to him; and We are closer to him than the jugular vein.
ولقد خلقنا ٱلإنسن ونعلم ما توسوس به نفسه ونحن أقرب إليه من حبل ٱلوريدWhen the two receivers receive, one on the right, one on the left, seated.
إذ يتلقى ٱلمتلقيان عن ٱليمين وعن ٱلشمال قعيدHe does not utter a word without an observer, ready [to record], being at his side.
ما يلفظ من قول إلا لديه رقيب عتيدAnd the intoxication of death has come with the truth:
وجآءت سكرة ٱلموت بٱلحقThis is what you used to turn away from.
ذلك ما كنت منه تحيدAnd the Horn will be blown:
ونفخ في ٱلصورthis is the Day of the Threat.
ذلك يوم ٱلوعيدAnd every Self will come, accompanied by a driver and a witness.
وجآءت كل نفس معها سآئق وشهيدYou were indeed heedless of this; so We removed your veil, and your sight today is piercing.
لقد كنت في غفلة من هذا فكشفنا عنك غطآءك فبصرك ٱليوم حديدAnd his companion will say: 'Here is what I have, ready [to present].'
وقال قرينه هذا ما لدى عتيدCast into Jahannam, both of you, every [being] who persistently disowns, obstructive of good, an aggressor, a sower of doubt, who set up, alongside God, another deity — cast him then into the severe punishment.
ألقيا في جهنم كل كفار عنيد مناع للخير معتد مريب ٱلذي جعل مع ٱلله إلها ءاخر فألقياه في ٱلعذاب ٱلشديدHis companion will say: 'Our Guardian, I did not make him exceed all measure, but he was in deep error.'
قال قرينه ربنا مآ أطغيته ولكن كان في ضلل بعيدHe will say: 'Do not quarrel before Me, for I had already warned you with the threat.'
قال لا تختصموا لدى وقد قدمت إليكم بٱلوعيدThe word does not change with Me, and I am not unjust to the constrained [under compulsion] at all.
ما يبدل ٱلقول لدى ومآ أنا بظلم للعبيدThe day We will say to Jahannam: 'Are you full?' and it will say: 'Is there more?'
يوم نقول لجهنم هل ٱمتلأت وتقول هل من مزيدAnd the Garden will be brought near to those who guard themselves, not far off.
وأزلفت ٱلجنة للمتقين غير بعيدThis is what you are promised, for every [being] ever turning back [to God], watchful.
هذا ما توعدون لكل أواب حفيظWhoever feared the All-Benevolent without seeing Him and came with a core ever turning back [to God]: "Enter it in peace."
من خشي ٱلرحمن بٱلغيب وجآء بقلب منيب ٱدخلوها بسلمThis is the Day of eternity.
ذلك يوم ٱلخلودThey will have therein whatever they wish,
لهم ما يشآءون فيهاand with Us there is even more.
ولدينا مزيدHow many generations have We annihilated before them, mightier than them in strike, who had scoured the land [in every direction]!
وكم أهلكنا قبلهم من قرن هم أشد منهم بطشا فنقبوا في ٱلبلدWas there any escape?
هل من محيصThere is surely a reminder in that for whoever has a core, or lends an ear while being present [of mind].
إن في ذلك لذكرى لمن كان له قلب أو ألقى ٱلسمع وهو شهيدWe have indeed created the heavens and the earth, and what is between them, in six days, without any fatigue touching Us.
ولقد خلقنا ٱلسموت وٱلأرض وما بينهما في ستة أيام وما مسنا من لغوبSo be patient over what they say,
فٱصبر على ما يقولونand glorify, with praise, your Guardian, before the rising of the sun and before its setting,
وسبح بحمد ربك قبل طلوع ٱلشمس وقبل ٱلغروبand glorify Him during part of the night, and after the prostrations.
ومن ٱليل فسبحه وأدبر ٱلسجودAnd listen, the day the Caller will call from a near place, the day they will hear the Cry in all truth —
وٱستمع يوم يناد ٱلمناد من مكان قريب يوم يسمعون ٱلصيحة بٱلحقthis is the Day of the emergence.
ذلك يوم ٱلخروجIt is We, indeed, who give life and cause death, and to Us is the destination.
إنا نحن نحي ونميت وإلينا ٱلمصيرThe day the earth will split open from them, in haste —
يوم تشقق ٱلأرض عنهم سراعاthat is a gathering easy for Us.
ذلك حشر علينا يسيرWe know best what they say,
نحن أعلم بما يقولونand you are not a tyrant over them.
ومآ أنت عليهم بجبارSo remind, by the Recitation, whoever fears My threat.
فذكر بٱلقرءان من يخاف وعيد