Az-Zukhruf (الزخرف)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ حم
Haa-Meeem
Ha. Mim.
وَالْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ
Wal Kitaabil Mubeen
CONSIDER this divine writ, clear in itself and clearly showing the truth:
إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
Innaa ja'alnaahu Quraanan 'Arabiyyal la'allakum ta'qiloon
behold, We have caused it to be a discourse in the Arabic tongue, so that you might encompass it with your reason.
وَإِنَّهُ فِي أُمِّ الْكِتَابِ لَدَيْنَا لَعَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ
Wa innahoo feee Ummil Kitaabi Ladainaa la'aliyyun hakeem
And, verily, [originating as it does] in the source, with Us, of all revelation, it is indeed sublime, full of wisdom.
أَفَنَضْرِبُ عَنْكُمُ الذِّكْرَ صَفْحًا أَنْ كُنْتُمْ قَوْمًا مُسْرِفِينَ
Afanadribu 'ankumuz Zikra safhan an kuntum qawmam musrifeen
[O YOU who deny the truth!] Should We, perchance, withdraw this reminder from you altogether, seeing that you are people bent on wasting your own selves?
وَكَمْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ نَبِيٍّ فِي الْأَوَّلِينَ
Wa kam arsalnaa min Nabiyyin fil awwaleen
And how many a prophet did We send to people of olden times!
وَمَا يَأْتِيهِمْ مِنْ نَبِيٍّ إِلَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ
Wa maa yaateehim min Nabiyyin illaa kaanoo bihee yasahzi'oon
But never yet came a prophet to them without their deriding him –
فَأَهْلَكْنَا أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ بَطْشًا وَمَضَىٰ مَثَلُ الْأَوَّلِينَ
Fa ahlaknaaa ashadda minhum batshanw wa madaa masalul lawwaleen
and so, [in the end,] We destroyed them [even though they were] of greater might than these: and the [very] image of those people of old became a thing of the past.
وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ خَلَقَهُنَّ الْعَزِيزُ الْعَلِيمُ
Wa la'in sa altahum man khalaqas samaawaati wal arda la yaqoolunna khalaqa hunnal 'Azeezul 'Aleem
Yet thus it is [with most people]: if thou ask them, “Who is it that has created the heavens and the earth?” - they will surely answer, “The Almighty, the All-Knowing has created them.”
الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ مَهْدًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًا لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
Allazee ja'ala lakumul arda mahdanw wa ja'ala lakum feehaa subulal la'allakum tahtadoon
He it is who has made the earth a cradle for you, and has provided for you ways [of livelihood] thereon, so that you might follow the right path.
وَالَّذِي نَزَّلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً بِقَدَرٍ فَأَنْشَرْنَا بِهِ بَلْدَةً مَيْتًا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ تُخْرَجُونَ
Wallazee nazzala minas samaaa'i maaa'am biqadarin fa anshamaa bihee baldatam maitaa' kazaalika tukhrajoon
And He it is who sends down, again and again, waters from the sky in due measure: and [as] We raise therewith dead land to life, even thus will you be brought forth [from the dead].
وَالَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَزْوَاجَ كُلَّهَا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِنَ الْفُلْكِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ مَا تَرْكَبُونَ
Wallazee khalaqal azwaaja kullahaa wa ja'ala lakum minal fulki wal-an'aami maa tarkaboon
And He it is who has created all opposites. And He [it is who] has provided for you all those ships and animals whereon you ride,
لِتَسْتَوُوا عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِ ثُمَّ تَذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ رَبِّكُمْ إِذَا اسْتَوَيْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَتَقُولُوا سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ
Litastawoo 'alaa zuhoorihee summa tazkuroo ni'mata Rabbikum izastawaitum 'alaihi wa taqooloo Subhaanal lazee sakhkhara lana haaza wa maa kunnaa lahoo muqrineen
in order that you might gain mastery over them, and that, whenever you have mastered them, you might remember your Sustainer’s blessings and say: “Limitless in His glory is He who has made [all] this subservient to our use - since [but for Him,] we would not have been able to attain to it.
وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ
Wa innaaa ilaa Rabbinaa lamunqaliboon
Hence, verily, it is unto Him that we must always turn.”
وَجَعَلُوا لَهُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ جُزْءًا ۚ إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَكَفُورٌ مُبِينٌ
Wa ja'aloo lahoo min 'ibaadihee juz'aa; innal insaana lakafoorum mubeen
AND YET, they attribute to Him offspring from among some of the beings created by Him! Verily, most obviously bereft of all gratitude is man!
أَمِ اتَّخَذَ مِمَّا يَخْلُقُ بَنَاتٍ وَأَصْفَاكُمْ بِالْبَنِينَ
Amit takhaza mimmaa yakhluqu banaatinw wa asfaakum bilbaneen
Or [do you think], perchance, that out of all His creation He has chosen for Himself daughters, and favoured you with sons?
وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُمْ بِمَا ضَرَبَ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ مَثَلًا ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُ مُسْوَدًّا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ
Wa izaa bushshira ahaduhum bimaa daraba lir Rahmaani masalan zalla wajhuhoo muswaddanw wa hua kazeem
For [thus it is:] if any of them is given the glad tiding of [the birth of] what he so readily attributes to the Most Gracious, his face darkens, and he is filled with suppressed anger:
أَوَمَنْ يُنَشَّأُ فِي الْحِلْيَةِ وَهُوَ فِي الْخِصَامِ غَيْرُ مُبِينٍ
Awa mai yunashsha'u fil hilyati wa huwa fil khisaami ghairu mubeen
“What! [Am I to have a daughter -] one who is to be reared [only] for the sake of ornament?” and thereupon he finds himself torn by a vague inner conflict.
وَجَعَلُوا الْمَلَائِكَةَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عِبَادُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ إِنَاثًا ۚ أَشَهِدُوا خَلْقَهُمْ ۚ سَتُكْتَبُ شَهَادَتُهُمْ وَيُسْأَلُونَ
Wa ja'alul malaaa'ikatal lazeena hum 'ibaadur Rahmaani inaasaa; a shahidoo khalaqhum; satuktabu shahaa datuhum wa yus'aloon
And [yet] they claim that the angels - who in themselves are but beings created by the Most Gracious - are females: [but] did they witness their creation? This false claim of theirs will be recorded, and they will be called to account [for it on Judgment Day]!
وَقَالُوا لَوْ شَاءَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ مَا عَبَدْنَاهُمْ ۗ مَا لَهُمْ بِذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ
Wa qaaloo law shaaa'ar Rahmaanu maa 'abadnaahum; maa lahum bizaalika min 'ilmin in hum illaa yakhrusoon
Yet they say, “Had [not] the Most Gracious so willed, we would never have worshipped them!” [But] they cannot have any knowledge of [His having willed] such a thing: they do nothing but guess.
أَمْ آتَيْنَاهُمْ كِتَابًا مِنْ قَبْلِهِ فَهُمْ بِهِ مُسْتَمْسِكُونَ
Am aatainaahum Kitaabam min qablihee fahum bihee mustamsikoon
Or have We, perchance, vouchsafed them, before this one, a revelation [to the contrary,] to which they are still holding fast?
بَلْ قَالُوا إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا عَلَىٰ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ مُهْتَدُونَ
Bal qaalooo innaa wajadnaaa aabaaa'anaa 'alaaa ummatinw wa innaa 'alaaa aasaarihim muhtadoon
Nay, but they say, “Behold, We found our forefathers agreed on what to believe - and, verily, it is in their footsteps that we find our guidance!”
وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِنْ نَذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَا إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا عَلَىٰ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ مُقْتَدُونَ
Wa kazaalika maaa arsalnaa min qablika fee qaryatim min nazeerin illaa qaala mutrafoohaaa innaa wajadnaaa aabaaa'anaa 'alaaa ummatinw wa innaa 'alaaa aasaarihim muqtadoon
And thus it is: whenever We sent, before thy time, a warner to any community, those of its people who had lost themselves entirely in the pursuit of pleasures would always say, “Behold, we found our forefathers agreed on what to believe - and, verily, it is but in their footsteps that we follow!”
۞ قَالَ أَوَلَوْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِأَهْدَىٰ مِمَّا وَجَدْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا إِنَّا بِمَا أُرْسِلْتُمْ بِهِ كَافِرُونَ
Qaala awa law ji'tukum bi ahdaa mimmaa wajattum 'alaihi aabaaa'akum qaalooo innaa bimaaa ursiltum bihee kaafiroon
[Whereupon each prophet] would say, “Why, even though I bring you guidance better than that which you found your forefathers believing in?” - [to which] the others would reply, “Behold, we deny that there is any truth in [what you claim to be] your messages!”
فَانْتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ ۖ فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Fantaqamnaa minhum fanzur kaifa kaana 'aaqibatul mukazzibeen
And so We inflicted Our retribution on them: and behold what happened in the end to those who gave the lie to the truth!
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ إِنَّنِي بَرَاءٌ مِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ
Wa iz qaala Ibraaheemu liabeehi wa qawmiheee innane baraaa'um mimmaa ta'budo
AND WHEN Abraham spoke to his father and his people, [he had this very truth in mind:] “Verily, far be it from me to worship what you worship!
إِلَّا الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي فَإِنَّهُ سَيَهْدِينِ
Illal lazee fataranee innahoo sa yahdeen
None [do I worship] but Him who has brought me into being: and, behold, it is He who will guide me!”
وَجَعَلَهَا كَلِمَةً بَاقِيَةً فِي عَقِبِهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
Wa ja'alahaa Kalimatam baaqiyatan fee 'aqibihee la'al lahum yarji'oon
And he uttered this as a word destined to endure among those who would come after him, so that they might [always] return [to it].
بَلْ مَتَّعْتُ هَٰؤُلَاءِ وَآبَاءَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ جَاءَهُمُ الْحَقُّ وَرَسُولٌ مُبِينٌ
Bal matta'tu haaa'ulaaa'i wa aabaaa'ahum hattaa jaaa'a humul haqqu wa Rasoolum mubeen
Now [as for those who did come after him,] I allowed them - as [I had allowed] their forebears - to enjoy their lives freely until the truth should come unto them through an apostle who would make all things clear:
وَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمُ الْحَقُّ قَالُوا هَٰذَا سِحْرٌ وَإِنَّا بِهِ كَافِرُونَ
Wa lammaa jaaa'ahumul haqqu qaaloo haazaa sihrunw wa innaa bihee kaafiroon
but now that the truth has come to them, they say, “All this is mere spellbinding eloquence” - and, behold, we deny that there is any truth in it!”
وَقَالُوا لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنُ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْقَرْيَتَيْنِ عَظِيمٍ
Wa qaaloo law laa nuzzila haazal Quraanu 'alaa rajulim minal qaryataini 'azeem
And they say, too, “Why was not this Qur’an bestowed from on high on some great man of the two cities?”
أَهُمْ يَقْسِمُونَ رَحْمَتَ رَبِّكَ ۚ نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ مَعِيشَتَهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۚ وَرَفَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ لِيَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا سُخْرِيًّا ۗ وَرَحْمَتُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ
Ahum yaqsimoona rahmata Rabbik; Nahnu qasamnaa bainahum ma'eeshatahum fil hayaatid dunyaa wa rafa'naa ba'dahum fawqa ba'din darajaatil liyattakhiza ba'duhum ba'dan sukhriyyaa; wa rahmatu Rabbika khairum mimmaa yajma'oon
But is it they who distribute thy Sustainer’s grace? [Nay, as] it is We who distribute their means of livelihood among them in the life of this world, and raise some of them by degrees above others, to the end that they might avail themselves of one another’s help - [so, too, it is We who bestow gifts of the spirit upon whomever We will]: and this thy Sustainer’s grace is better than all [the worldly wealth] that they may amass.
وَلَوْلَا أَنْ يَكُونَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً لَجَعَلْنَا لِمَنْ يَكْفُرُ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِ لِبُيُوتِهِمْ سُقُفًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَمَعَارِجَ عَلَيْهَا يَظْهَرُونَ
Wa law laaa any yakoonan naasu ummatanw waahidatal laja'alnaa limany yakfuru bir Rahmaani libu yootihim suqufam min fiddatinw wa ma'aarija 'alaihaa yazharoon
And were it not that [with the prospect of boundless riches before them] all people would become one [evil] community, We might indeed have provided for those who [now] deny the Most Gracious roofs of silver for their houses, and [silver] stairways whereon to ascend,
وَلِبُيُوتِهِمْ أَبْوَابًا وَسُرُرًا عَلَيْهَا يَتَّكِئُونَ
Wa libu yootihim abwaabanw wa sururan 'alaihaa yattaki'oon
and [silver] doors for their houses, and [silver] couches whereon to recline,
وَزُخْرُفًا ۚ وَإِنْ كُلُّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمَّا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۚ وَالْآخِرَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
Wa zukhrufaa; wa in kullu zaalika lammaa mataa'ul hayaatid dunyaa; wal aakhiratu 'inda Rabbika lilmuttaqeen
and gold [beyond count]. Yet all this would have been nothing but a [brief] enjoyment of life in this world - whereas [happiness in] the life to come awaits the God-conscious with thy Sustainer.
وَمَنْ يَعْشُ عَنْ ذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُ شَيْطَانًا فَهُوَ لَهُ قَرِينٌ
Wa mai ya'shu 'an zikrir Rahmaani nuqaiyid lahoo Shaitaanan fahuwa lahoo qareen
But as for anyone who chooses to remain blind to the remembrance of the Most Gracious, to him We assign an [enduring] evil impulse, to become his other self:
وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيَصُدُّونَهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ مُهْتَدُونَ
Wa innahum la yasuddoo nahum 'anis sabeeli wa yahsaboona annahum muhtadoon
whereupon, behold, these [evil impulses] bar all such from the path [of truth], making them think that they are guided aright!
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَنَا قَالَ يَا لَيْتَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ بُعْدَ الْمَشْرِقَيْنِ فَبِئْسَ الْقَرِينُ
Hattaaa izaa jaaa'anaa qaala yaa laita bainee wa bainaka bu'dal mashriqaini fabi'sal qareen
But in the end, when he [who has thus sinned] appears before us [on Judgment Day], he will say [to his other self], “Would that between me and thee there had been the distance of east and west!” for, evil indeed [has proved] that other self!
وَلَنْ يَنْفَعَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ إِذْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ فِي الْعَذَابِ مُشْتَرِكُونَ
Wa lai yanfa'akumul Yawma iz zalamtum annakum fil 'azaabi mushtarikoon
On that Day it will not profit you in the least [to know] that, since you have sinned [together], you are now to share your suffering [as well].
أَفَأَنْتَ تُسْمِعُ الصُّمَّ أَوْ تَهْدِي الْعُمْيَ وَمَنْ كَانَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ
Afa anta tusmi'us summa aw tahdil 'umya wa man kaana fee dalaalim mubeen
CANST THOU, perchance, [O Muhammad,] make the deaf hear, or show the right way to the blind or to such as are obviously lost in error?
فَإِمَّا نَذْهَبَنَّ بِكَ فَإِنَّا مِنْهُمْ مُنْتَقِمُونَ
Fa immaa nazhabanna bika fa innaa minhum muntaqimoon
But whether We do [or do not] take thee away [ere thy message prevails] - verily, We shall inflict Our retribution on them;
أَوْ نُرِيَنَّكَ الَّذِي وَعَدْنَاهُمْ فَإِنَّا عَلَيْهِمْ مُقْتَدِرُونَ
Aw nuriyannakal lazee wa'adnaahum fa innaa 'alaihim muqtadiroon
and whether We show thee [or do not show thee in this world] the fulfillment of what We have promised them - verily, We have full power over them!
فَاسْتَمْسِكْ بِالَّذِي أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
Fastamsik billazeee oohi ya ilaika innaka 'alaa Siraatim Mustaqeem
So hold fast to all that has been revealed to thee: for, behold, thou art on a straight way;
وَإِنَّهُ لَذِكْرٌ لَكَ وَلِقَوْمِكَ ۖ وَسَوْفَ تُسْأَلُونَ
Wa innahoo lazikrul laka wa liqawmika wa sawfa tus'aloon
and, verily, this [revelation] shall indeed become [a source of] eminence for thee and thy people: but in time you all will be called to account [for what you have done with it].
وَاسْأَلْ مَنْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رُسُلِنَا أَجَعَلْنَا مِنْ دُونِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ آلِهَةً يُعْبَدُونَ
Was'al man arsalnaa min qablika mir Rusulinaaa aja'alnaa min doonir Rahmaani aalihatany yu badoon
Yet [above all else,] ask any of Our apostles whom We sent forth before thy time whether We have ever allowed that deities other than the Most Gracious be worshipped!
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ بِآيَاتِنَا إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Wa laqad arsalnaa Moosaa bi aayaatinaaa ilaa Fir'awna wa mala'ihee faqaala innee Rasoolu Rabbil 'aalameen
THUS, INDEED, have We sent Moses with Our messages unto Pharaoh and his great ones; and he said: “Behold, I am an apostle of the Sustainer of all the worlds!”
فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ بِآيَاتِنَا إِذَا هُمْ مِنْهَا يَضْحَكُونَ
Falammma jaaa'ahum bi aayaatinaaa izaa hum minhaa yadhakoon
But as soon as he came before them with Our [miraculous] signs, lo! they derided them,
وَمَا نُرِيهِمْ مِنْ آيَةٍ إِلَّا هِيَ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ أُخْتِهَا ۖ وَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ بِالْعَذَابِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
Wa maa nureehim min aayatin illaa hiya akbaru min ukhtihaa wa akhaznaahum bil'azaabi la'allahum yarji'oon
although each sign that We showed them was weightier than the preceding one: and [each time] We took them to task through suffering, so that they might return [to Us].
وَقَالُوا يَا أَيُّهَ السَّاحِرُ ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِنْدَكَ إِنَّنَا لَمُهْتَدُونَ
Wa qaaloo yaaa ayyuhas saahirud'u lanaa Rabbaka bimaa 'ahida 'indaka innanaa lamuhtadoon
And [every time] they exclaimed: “O thou sorcerer! Pray for us to thy Sustainer on the strength of the covenant [of prophethood] which He has made with thee: for, verily, we shall now follow the right way!”
فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابَ إِذَا هُمْ يَنْكُثُونَ
Falammaa kashafnaa 'anhumul 'azaaba izaa hum yankusoon
But whenever We removed the suffering from them, lo! they would break their word.
وَنَادَىٰ فِرْعَوْنُ فِي قَوْمِهِ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ أَلَيْسَ لِي مُلْكُ مِصْرَ وَهَٰذِهِ الْأَنْهَارُ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِي ۖ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ
Wa naadaa Fir'awnu fee qawmihee qaala yaa qawmi alaisa lee mulku Misra wa haazihil anhaaru tajree min tahtee afalaa tubsiroon
And Pharaoh issued a call to his people, saying: “O my people! Does not the dominion over Egypt belong to me, since all these running waters flow at my feet? Can you not, then, see [that I am your lord supreme]?
أَمْ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِنْ هَٰذَا الَّذِي هُوَ مَهِينٌ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُبِينُ
Am ana khairum min haazal lazee huwa maheenunw wa laa yuakaadu yubeen
Am I not better than this contemptible man who can hardly make his meaning clear?
فَلَوْلَا أُلْقِيَ عَلَيْهِ أَسْوِرَةٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ أَوْ جَاءَ مَعَهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ مُقْتَرِنِينَ
Falaw laa ulqiya 'alaihi aswiratum min zahabin awjaaa'a ma'ahul malaaa'ikatu muqtarineen
“And then - why have no golden armlets been bestowed on him? or why have no angels come together with him?”
فَاسْتَخَفَّ قَوْمَهُ فَأَطَاعُوهُ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ
Fastakhaffa qawmahoo fa ataa'ooh; innahum kaanoo qawman faasiqeen
Thus he incited his people to levity, and they obeyed him: for, behold, they were people depraved!
فَلَمَّا آسَفُونَا انْتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَأَغْرَقْنَاهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
Falammaaa aasafoonan taqamnaa minhum fa aghraqnaahum ajma'een
But when they continued to challenge Us, We inflicted Our retribution on them, and drowned them all:
فَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ سَلَفًا وَمَثَلًا لِلْآخِرِينَ
Faja'alnaahum salafanw wa masalal lil aakhireen
and so We made them a thing of the past, and an example to those who would come after them.
۞ وَلَمَّا ضُرِبَ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ مَثَلًا إِذَا قَوْمُكَ مِنْهُ يَصِدُّونَ
Wa lammaa duribab nu Maryama masalan izaa qawmu ka minhu yasidoon
NOW WHENEVER [the nature of] the son of Mary is set forth as an example, [O Muhammad,] lo! thy people raise an outcry on this score,
وَقَالُوا أَآلِهَتُنَا خَيْرٌ أَمْ هُوَ ۚ مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلَّا جَدَلًا ۚ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ
Wa qaalooo 'a-aalihatunaa khairun am hoo; maa daraboohu laka illaa jadalaa; balhum qawmun khasimoon
and say, “Which is better - our deities or he?” [But] it is only in the spirit of dispute that they put this comparison before thee: yea, they are contentious folk!
إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا عَبْدٌ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَجَعَلْنَاهُ مَثَلًا لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ
In huwa illaa 'abdun an'amnaa 'alaihi wa ja'alnaahu masalal li Baneee Israaa'eel
[As for Jesus,] he was nothing but [a human being -] a servant [of Ours] whom We had graced [with prophethood], and whom We made an example for the children of Israel.
وَلَوْ نَشَاءُ لَجَعَلْنَا مِنْكُمْ مَلَائِكَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ يَخْلُفُونَ
Wa law nashaaa'u laja'alnaa minkum malaaa'ikatan fil ardi yakhlufoon
And had We so willed, [O you who worship angels,] We could indeed have made you into angels succeeding one another on earth!
وَإِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ لِلسَّاعَةِ فَلَا تَمْتَرُنَّ بِهَا وَاتَّبِعُونِ ۚ هَٰذَا صِرَاطٌ مُسْتَقِيمٌ
Wa innahoo la'ilmul lis Saa'ati fala tamtarunna bihaa wattabi'oon; haazaa Siraatum Mustaqeem
AND, BEHOLD, this [divine writ] is indeed a means to know [that] the Last Hour [is bound to come]; hence, have no doubt whatever about it, but follow Me: this [alone] is a straight way.
وَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ ۖ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُبِينٌ
Wa laa yasuddan nakumush Shaitaanu innahoo lakum 'aduwwum mubeen
And let not Satan bars you [from it] - for, verily, he is your open foe!
وَلَمَّا جَاءَ عِيسَىٰ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالَ قَدْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَلِأُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي تَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ
Wa lammaa jaaa'a 'Eesaa bilbaiyinaati qaala qad ji'tukum bil Hikmati wa li-ubaiyina lakum ba'dal lazee takhtalifoona feehi fattaqul laaha wa atee'oon
NOW WHEN Jesus came [to his people] with all evidence of the truth, he said: “I have now come unto you with wisdom, and to make clear Unto you some of that on which you are at variance: hence, be conscious of God, and pay heed unto me.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ ۚ هَٰذَا صِرَاطٌ مُسْتَقِيمٌ
Innal laaha Huwa Rabbee wa Rabbukum fa'budooh; haaza Siraatum Mustaqeem
“Verily, God is my Sustainer as well as your Sustainer; so worship [none but] Him: this [alone] is a straight way!”
فَاخْتَلَفَ الْأَحْزَابُ مِنْ بَيْنِهِمْ ۖ فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ
Fakhtalafal ahzaabu mim bainihim fawailul lillazeena zalamoo min 'azaabi Yawmin aleem
But factions from among those [who came after Jesus] began to hold divergent views: woe, then, unto those who are bent on evildoing - [woe] for the suffering [that will befall them] on a grievous Day!
هَلْ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَّا السَّاعَةَ أَنْ تَأْتِيَهُمْ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Hal yanzuroona illas Saa'ata an taatiyahum baghtatanw wa hum laa yash'uroon
ARE THEY [who are lost in sin] but waiting for the Last Hour - [waiting] that it come upon them of a sudden, without their being aware [of its approach]?
الْأَخِلَّاءُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقِينَ
Al akhillaaa'u Yawma'izim ba'duhum liba'din 'aduwwun illal muttaqeen
On that Day, [erstwhile] friends will be foes unto one another - [all] save the God-conscious.
يَا عِبَادِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ وَلَا أَنْتُمْ تَحْزَنُونَ
Yaa 'ibaadi laa khawfun 'alaikumul Yawma wa laaa antum tahzanoon
[And God will say:] “O you servants of Mine! No fear need you have today, and neither shall you grieve –
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَكَانُوا مُسْلِمِينَ
Allazeena aamanoo bi Aayaatinaa wa kaanoo muslimeen
[O you] who have attained to faith in Our messages and have surrendered your own selves unto Us!
ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ أَنْتُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُكُمْ تُحْبَرُونَ
Udkhulul Jannata antum wa azwaajukum tuhbaroon
Enter paradise, you and your spouses, with happiness blest!”
يُطَافُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِصِحَافٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَأَكْوَابٍ ۖ وَفِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِيهِ الْأَنْفُسُ وَتَلَذُّ الْأَعْيُنُ ۖ وَأَنْتُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
Yutaafu 'alaihim bishaa fim min zahabinw wa akwaab, wa feehaa maatashtaheehil anfusu wa talazzul a'yunu wa antum feehaa khaalidoon
[And there] they will be waited upon with trays and goblets of gold; and there will be found all that the souls might desire, and [all that] the eyes might delight in. And therein shall you abide, [O you who believe:]
وَتِلْكَ الْجَنَّةُ الَّتِي أُورِثْتُمُوهَا بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
Wa tilkal jannatul lateee ooristumoohaa bimaa kuntum ta'maloon
for such will be the paradise which you shall have inherited by virtue of your past deeds:
لَكُمْ فِيهَا فَاكِهَةٌ كَثِيرَةٌ مِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ
Lakum feehaa faakihatun kaseeratum minhaa taakuloon
fruits [of those deeds] shall you have in abundance, [and] thereof shall you partake!
إِنَّ الْمُجْرِمِينَ فِي عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدُونَ
Innal mujrimeena fee 'azaabi jahannama khaalidoon
[But,] behold, they who are lost in sin shall abide in the suffering of hell:
لَا يُفَتَّرُ عَنْهُمْ وَهُمْ فِيهِ مُبْلِسُونَ
Laa yufattaru 'anhum wa hum feehi mublisoon
it will not be lightened for them; and therein they will be lost in hopeless despair.
وَمَا ظَلَمْنَاهُمْ وَلَٰكِنْ كَانُوا هُمُ الظَّالِمِينَ
Wa maa zalamnaahum wa laakin kaanoo humuz zaalimeen
And it is not We who will be doing wrong unto them, but it is they who will have wronged themselves.
وَنَادَوْا يَا مَالِكُ لِيَقْضِ عَلَيْنَا رَبُّكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ مَاكِثُونَ
Wa naadaw yaa Maaliku liyaqdi 'alainaa Rabbuka qaala innakum maakisson
And they will cry: “O thou [angel] who rulest [over hell]! Let thy Sustainer put an end to us!” - whereupon] he will reply: “Verily, you must live on [in this state]
لَقَدْ جِئْنَاكُمْ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَكُمْ لِلْحَقِّ كَارِهُونَ
Laqad ji'naakum bilhaqqi wa laakinna aksarakum lilhaqqi kaarihoon
INDEED, [O you sinners,] We have conveyed the truth unto you; but most of you abhor the truth.
أَمْ أَبْرَمُوا أَمْرًا فَإِنَّا مُبْرِمُونَ
Am abramooo amran fainnaa mubrimoon
Why - can they [who deny the truth ever] determine what [the truth] should be?
أَمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّا لَا نَسْمَعُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَاهُمْ ۚ بَلَىٰ وَرُسُلُنَا لَدَيْهِمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
Am yahsaboona annaa laa nasma'u sirrahum wa najwaahum; balaa wa Rusulunaa ladaihim yaktuboon
Or do they, perchance, think that We do not hear their hidden thoughts and their secret confabulations? Yea, indeed, [We do,] and Our heavenly forces are with them, recording [all].
قُلْ إِنْ كَانَ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ وَلَدٌ فَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْعَابِدِينَ
Qul in kaana lir Rahmaani walad; fa-ana awwalul 'aabideen
Say [O Prophet]: “If the Most Gracious [truly] had a son, I would be the first to worship him!”
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
Subhaana Rabbis samaawaati wal ardi Rabbil Arshi 'ammaa yasifoon
Utterly remote, in His glory, is the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth - the Sustainer, in almightiness enthroned from all that they may attribute to Him by way of definition!
فَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوضُوا وَيَلْعَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يُلَاقُوا يَوْمَهُمُ الَّذِي يُوعَدُونَ
Fazarhum yakhoodoo wa yal'aboo hattaa yulaaqoo Yawmahumul lazee yoo'adoon
But leave them to indulge in idle talk and play [with words] until they face that [Judgment] Day of theirs which they have been promised:
وَهُوَ الَّذِي فِي السَّمَاءِ إِلَٰهٌ وَفِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَٰهٌ ۚ وَهُوَ الْحَكِيمُ الْعَلِيمُ
Wa Huwal lazee fissamaaa'i Ilaahunw wa fil ardi Ilaah; wa Huwal Hakeemul'Aleem
for [then they will come to know that] it is He [alone] who is God in heaven and God on earth, and [that] He alone is truly wise, all-knowing.
وَتَبَارَكَ الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَعِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
Wa tabaarakal lazee lahoo mulkus samaawaati wal ardi wa maa bainahumaa wa 'indahoo 'ilmus Saa'ati wa ilaihi turja'oon
And hallowed be He unto whom the dominion over the heavens and the earth and all that is between them belongs, and with whom the knowledge of the Last Hour rests, and unto whom you all shall be brought back!
وَلَا يَمْلِكُ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ الشَّفَاعَةَ إِلَّا مَنْ شَهِدَ بِالْحَقِّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
Wa laa yamlikul lazeena yad'oona min doonihish shafaa'ata illaa man shahida bilhaqqi wa hum ya'lamoon
And those [beings] whom some invoke beside God have it not in their power to intercede [on Judgment Day] for any but such as have [in their lifetime] borne witness to the truth, and have been aware [that God is one and unique].
وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ خَلَقَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ
Wa la'in sa altahum man khalaqahum la yaqoolun nallaahu fa annaa yu'fakoon
Now if thou ask those [who worship any being other than God] as to who it is that has created them, they are sure to answer, “God.” How perverted, then, are their minds!
وَقِيلِهِ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ قَوْمٌ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Wa qeelihee yaa Rabbi inna haa'ulaaa'i qawmul laa yu'minoon
[But God has full knowledge of the true believer] and of his [despairing] cry: “O my Sustainer! Verily, these are people who will not believe!”
فَاصْفَحْ عَنْهُمْ وَقُلْ سَلَامٌ ۚ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ
Fasfah 'anhum wa qul salaam; fasawfa ya'lamoon
Yet bear thou with them, and say, “Peace [be upon you]!” - for in time they will come to know [the truth].
Meaning
The Gold Adornments
Ayas
89
Revelation
Meccan
Surah No
43
Surah Az-Zukhruf addresses themes related to the rejection of divine guidance, the fleeting nature of worldly wealth, and the importance of focusing on the Hereafter. It is a Makki Surah that highlights:
The vanity of material wealth: The Surah discusses how the disbelievers in Mecca placed great importance on material wealth and status, ignoring the more significant pursuit of the Hereafter.
The Oneness of Allah (Tawheed): It emphasizes the importance of worshiping Allah alone and rejects the notion of associating partners with Him.
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ): It references the rejection of the Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) message by the disbelievers and reminds them of the fate of previous nations who rejected their prophets.
Divine punishment and mercy: A reminder of the eventual consequences for those who reject the truth and how Allah’s mercy is always available to those who repent.
Warning against materialism: The Surah warns against prioritizing wealth and worldly pleasures over the eternal rewards of the Hereafter. It highlights that wealth is not a measure of success in Allah’s eyes.
Rejection of false idols: It refutes idol worship and emphasizes the importance of worshiping the One true God.
Lessons from past nations: The Surah recalls the fate of previous disbelieving nations to urge the Meccan Quraysh to reflect on the consequences of their own rejection.
Protection from materialism: Helps believers focus on spiritual growth rather than material wealth.
Increases faith in Tawheed: Reinforces the importance of worshiping Allah alone and rejecting any form of polytheism.
Spiritual guidance: The Surah offers clarity on the fleeting nature of worldly possessions and emphasizes the pursuit of eternal success in the Hereafter.
Encourages reflection: Inspires reflection on the transient nature of life and the ultimate value of following divine guidance.
The futility of materialism:
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “Wealth is not in having a lot of money, but wealth is the richness of the soul.” (Sahih Bukhari)
Tawheed and sincerity in worship:
The Prophet (ﷺ) emphasized the importance of pure worship: “The best of deeds is the one done sincerely for Allah’s sake.” (Sahih Muslim)
“If you find any mistakes in this, please let us know. For a more accurate translation, please refer to the English version. May Allah forgive us for any unintentional mistakes.”
