And if We had so willed, We could have given every soul its guidance, but the word from Me concerning evildoers took effect: that I will fill hell with the jinn and mankind together.

So taste (the evil of your deeds). Forasmuch as ye forgot the meeting of this your day, lo! We forget you. Taste the doom of immortality because of what ye used to do.

Only those believe in Our revelations who, when they are reminded of them, fall down prostrate and hymn the praise of their Lord, and they are not scornful,

Who forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hope, and spend of that We have bestowed on them.

No soul knoweth what is kept hid for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do.

Is he who is a believer like unto him who is an evil-liver? They are not alike.

But as for those who believe and do good works, for them are the Gardens of Retreat—a welcome (in reward) for what they used to do.

And as for those who do evil, their retreat is the Fire. Whenever they desire to issue forth from thence, they are brought back thither. Unto them it is said: Taste the torment of the Fire which ye used to deny.

And verily We make them taste the lower punishment before the greater, that haply they may return.

And who doth greater wrong than he who is reminded of the revelations of his Lord, then turneth from them. Lo! We shall requite the guilty.

We verily gave Moses the Scripture; so be not ye in doubt of his receiving it; and We appointed it a guidance for the Children of Israel.

And when they became steadfast and believed firmly in Our revelations, We appointed from among them leaders who guided by Our command.

Lo! thy Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein they used to differ.

Is it not a guidance for them (to observe) how many generations We destroyed before them, amid whose dwelling places they do walk? Lo! therein verily are portents! Will they not then heed?

Have they not seen how We lead the water to the barren land and therewith bring forth crops whereof their cattle eat, and they themselves? Will they not then see?

And they say: When cometh this victory (of yours) if ye are truthful?

Say (unto them): On the day of the victory the faith of those who disbelieve (and who then will believe) will not avail them, neither will they be reprieved.

So withdraw from them (O Muḥammad), and await (the event). Lo! they (also) are awaiting (it).

33.
Al-Ahzáb: The Clans

In the name of Alláh, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

O Prophet! Keep thy duty to Alláh and obey not the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Lo! Alláh is Knower, Wise.

And follow that which is inspired in thee from thy Lord. Lo! Alláh is Aware of what ye do.

And put thy trust in Alláh, for Alláh is sufficient as Trustee.

Alláh hath not assigned unto any man two hearts within his body, nor hath He made your wives whom ye declare (to be your mothers) your mothers, nor hath He made those whom ye claim (to be your sons) your sons. This is but a saying of your mouths. But Alláh saith the truth and He showeth the way.

Proclaim their real parentage. That will be more equitable in the sight of Alláh. And if ye know not their fathers, then (they are) your brethren in the faith, and your clients. And there is no sin for you in the mistakes that ye make unintentionally, but what your hearts purpose (that will be a sin for you). Alláh is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

The Prophet is closer to the believers than their selves, and his wives are (as) their mothers. And the owners of kinship are closer one to another in the ordinance of Alláh than (other) believers and the fugitives (who fled from Mecca), except that ye should do kindness to your friends. This is written in the Book (of nature).

And when We exacted a covenant from the prophets, and from thee (O Muḥammad) and from Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus son of Mary. We took from them a solemn covenant;

That He may ask the loyal of their loyalty. And He hath prepared a painful doom for the unfaithful.

O ye who believe! Remember Alláh’s favour unto you when there came against you hosts, and We sent against them a great wind and hosts ye could not see. And Alláh is ever Seer of what ye do.

When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when eyes grew wild and hearts reached to the throats, and ye were imagining vain thoughts concerning Alláh.

There were the believers sorely tried, and shaken with a mighty shock.

And when the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, were saying: Alláh and His messenger promised us naught but delusion.

And when a party of them said: O folk of Yathrib! There is no stand (possible) for you, therefor turn back. And certain of them (even) sought permission of the Prophet, saying: Our homes lie open (to the enemy). And they lay not open. They but wished to flee.

If the enemy had entered from all sides and they had been exhorted to treachery, they would have committed it, and would have hesitated thereupon but little.

And verily they had already sworn unto Alláh that they would not turn their backs (to the foe). An oath to Alláh must be answered for.

Say: Flight will not avail you if ye flee from death or killing, and then ye dwell in comfort but a little while.

Say: Who is he who can preserve you from Alláh if He intendeth harm for you, or intendeth mercy for you. They will not find that they have any friend or helper other than Alláh.

Alláh already knoweth those of you who hinder, and those who say unto their brethren: “Come ye hither unto us!” and they come not to the stress of battle save a little,

Being sparing of their help to you (believers). But when the fear cometh, then thou (Muḥammad) seest them regarding thee with rolling eyes like one who fainteth unto death. Then, when the fear departeth, they scald you with sharp tongues in their greed for wealth (from the spoil). Such have not believed. Therefor Alláh maketh their deeds fruitless. And that is easy for Alláh.

They hold that the clans have not retired (for good); and if the clans should advance (again), they would fain be in the desert with the wandering Arabs, asking for the news of you; and if they were among you, they would not give battle, save a little.

Verily in the messenger of Alláh ye have a good example for him who looketh unto Alláh and the Last Day, and remembereth Alláh much.

And when the true believers saw the clans, they said: This is that which Alláh and His messenger promised us. Alláh and His messenger are true. It did but confirm them in their faith and resignation.

Of the believers are men who are true to that which they covenanted with Alláh. Some of them have paid their vow by death (in battle), and some of them still are waiting; and they have not altered in the least;

That Alláh may reward the true men for their truth, and punish the hypocrites if He will, or relent toward them (if He will). Lo! Alláh is Forgiving, Merciful.

And Alláh repulsed the disbelievers in their wrath; they gained no good. Alláh averted their attack from the believers. Alláh is ever Strong, Mighty.

And He brought those of the People of the Scripture who supported them down from their strongholds, and cast panic into their hearts. Some ye slew, and ye made captive some.

And He caused you to inherit their land and their houses and their wealth, and land ye have not trodden. Alláh is ever Able to do all things.

O Prophet! Say unto thy wives: If ye desire the world’s life and its adornment, come! I will content you and will release you with a fair release.

But if ye desire Alláh and His messenger and the abode of the Hereafter, then lo! Alláh hath prepared for the good among you an immense reward.

O ye wives of the Prophet! Whosoever of you committeth manifest lewdness, the punishment for her will be doubled, and that is easy for Alláh.

And whosoever of you is submissive unto Alláh and His messenger and doeth right, We shall give her her reward twice over, and We have prepared for her a rich provision.

O ye wives of the Prophet! Ye are not like any other women. If ye keep your duty (to Alláh), then be not soft of speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease aspire (to you), but utter customary speech.

And stay in your houses. Bedizen not yourselves with the bedizenment of the Time of Ignorance. Be regular in prayer, and pay the poor-due, and obey Alláh and His messenger. Alláh’s wish is but to remove uncleanness far from you, O Folk of the Household, and cleanse you with a thorough cleansing.

And bear in mind that which is recited in your houses of the revelations of Alláh and wisdom. Lo! Alláh is Subtile, Aware.

Lo! men who surrender unto Alláh, and women who surrender, and men who believe and women who believe, and men who obey and women who obey, and men who speak the truth and women who speak the truth, and men who persevere (in righteousness) and women who persevere, and men who are humble and women who are humble, and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their modesty and women who guard (their modesty), and men who remember Alláh much and women who remember—Alláh hath prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward.

And it becometh not a believing man or a believing woman, when Alláh and His messenger have decided an affair (for them), that they should (after that) claim any say in their affair; and whoso is rebellious to Alláh and His messenger, he verily goeth astray in error manifest.

And when thou saidst unto him on whom Alláh hath conferred favour and thou hast conferred favour: Keep thy wife to thyself, and fear Alláh. And thou didst hide in thy mind that which Alláh was to bring to light, and thou didst fear mankind whereas Alláh hath a better right that thou shouldst fear Him. So when Zeyd had performed that necessary formality (of divorce) from her, We gave her unto thee in marriage, so that (henceforth) there may be no sin for believers in respect of wives of their adopted sons, when the latter have performed the necessary formality (of release) from them. The commandment of Alláh must be fulfilled.

There is no reproach for the Prophet in that which Alláh maketh his due. That was Alláh’s way with those who passed away of old—and the commandment of Alláh is certain destiny—

Who delivered the messages of Alláh and feared Him, and feared none save Alláh. Alláh keepeth good account.

Muḥammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the messenger of Alláh and the Seal of the Prophets; and Alláh is ever Aware of all things.

O ye who believe! Remember Alláh with much remembrance.

And glorify Him early and late.

He it is Who blesseth you, and His angels (bless you), that He may bring you forth from darkness unto light; and He is ever Merciful to the believers.

Their salutation on the day when they shall meet Him will be: Peace. And He hath prepared for them a goodly recompense.

O Prophet! Lo! We have sent thee as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner.

And as a summoner unto Alláh by His permission, and as a lamp that giveth light.

And announce unto the believers the good tidings that they will have great bounty from Alláh.

And incline not to the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Disregard their noxious talk, and put thy trust in Alláh. Alláh is sufficient as Trustee.

O ye who believe! If ye wed believing women and divorce them before ye have touched them, then there is no period that ye should reckon. But content them and release them handsomely.

O Prophet! Lo! We have made lawful unto thee thy wives unto whom thou hast paid their dowries, and those whom thy right hand possesseth of those whom Alláh hath given thee as spoils of war, and the daughters of thine uncle on the father’s side and the daughters of thine aunts on the father’s side, and the daughters of thine uncle on the mother’s side and the daughters of thine aunts on the mother’s side who emigrated with thee, and a believing woman if she give herself unto the Prophet and the Prophet desire to ask her in marriage—a privilege for thee only, not for the (rest of) believers—We are Aware of that which We enjoined upon them concerning their wives and those whom their right hands possess—that thou mayst be free from blame, for Alláh is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

Thou canst defer whom thou wilt of them and receive unto thee whom thou wilt, and whomsoever thou desirest of those whom thou hast set aside (temporarily), it is no sin for thee (to receive her again); that is better; that they may be comforted and not grieve, and may all be pleased with what thou givest them. Alláh knoweth what is in your hearts (O men), and Alláh is ever Forgiving, Clement.

It is not allowed thee to take (other) women henceforth, nor that thou shouldst change them for other wives even though their beauty pleased thee, save those whom thy right hand possesseth. And Alláh is ever Watcher over all things.

O Ye who believe! Enter not the dwellings of the Prophet for a meal without waiting for the proper time, unless permission be granted you. But if ye are invited, enter, and, when your meal is ended, then disperse. Linger not for conversation. Lo! that would cause annoyance to the Prophet, and he would be shy of (asking) you (to go); but Alláh is not shy of the truth. And when ye ask of them (the wives of the Prophet) anything, ask it of them from behind a curtain. That is purer for your hearts and for their hearts. And it is not for you to cause annoyance to the messenger of Alláh, nor that ye should ever marry his wives after him. Lo! that in Alláh’s sight would be an enormity.

Whether ye divulge a thing or keep it hidden, lo! Alláh is ever Knower of all things.

It is no sin for them (thy wives) to converse freely) with their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their brothers’ sons, or the sons of their sisters or of their own women, or their slaves. O women! Keep your duty to Alláh. Lo! Alláh is ever Witness over all things.

Lo! Alláh and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation.

Lo! those who malign Alláh and His messenger, Alláh hath cursed them in the world and the Hereafter, and hath prepared for them the doom of the disdained.

And those who malign believing men and believing women undeservedly, they bear the guilt of slander and manifest sin.

O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Alláh is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

If the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and the alarmists in the city do not cease, We verily shall urge thee on against them, then they will be your neighbours in it but a little while.

Accursed, they will be seized wherever found and slain with a (fierce) slaughter.

That was the way of Alláh in the case of those who passed away of old; thou wilt not find for the way of Alláh aught of power to change.

Men ask thee of the Hour. Say: The knowledge of it is with Alláh only. What can convey (the knowledge) unto thee? It may be that the Hour is nigh.

Lo! Alláh hath cursed the disbelievers, and hath prepared for them a flaming fire,

Wherein they will abide for ever. They will find (then) no protecting friend nor helper.

On the day when their faces are turned over in the Fire, they say: Oh, would that we had obeyed Alláh and had obeyed His messenger!

And they say: Our Lord! Lo! we obeyed our princes and great men, and they misled us from the Way.

Our Lord! Oh, give them double torment and curse them with a mighty curse.

O ye who believe! Be not as those who slandered Moses, but Alláh proved his innocence of that which they alleged, and he was well esteemed in Alláh’s sight.

O ye who believe! Guard your duty to Alláh, and speak words straight to the point;

He will adjust your works for you and will forgive you your sins. Whosoever obeyeth Alláh and His messenger, he verily hath gained a signal victory.

Lo! We offered the trust unto the heavens and the earth and the hills, but they shrank from bearing it and were afraid of it. And man assumed it. Lo! he hath proved a tyrant and a fool.

So Alláh punisheth hypocritical men and hypocritical women, and idolatrous men and idolatrous women. But Alláh pardoneth believing men and believing women, and Alláh is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

34.
Saba’: Sheba

In the name of Alláh, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Praise be to Alláh, unto Whom belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. His is the praise in the Hereafter, and He is the Wise, the Aware.

He knoweth that which goeth into the earth and that which cometh forth from it, and that descendeth from the heaven and that which ascendeth into it. He is the Merciful, the Forgiving.

Those who disbelieve say: The Hour will never come unto us. Say: Nay, by my Lord, but it is coming unto you surely. (He is) the Knower of the Unseen. Not an atom’s weight, or less than that or greater, escapeth Him in the heavens or in the earth, but it is in a clear Record,

That He may reward those who believe and do good works. For them is pardon and a rich provision.

But those who strive against Our revelations, challenging (Us), theirs will be a painful doom of wrath.

Those who have been given knowledge see that what is revealed unto thee from thy Lord is the truth and leadeth unto the path of the Mighty, the Owner of Praise.

Those who disbelieve say: Shall we show you a man who will tell you (that) when ye have become dispersed in dust with most complete dispersal still, even then, ye will be created anew?

Hath he invented a lie concerning Alláh, or is there in him a madness? Nay, but those who disbelieve in the Hereafter are in torment and far error.

Have they not observed what is before them and what is behind them of the sky and the earth? If We will, We can make the earth swallow them, or cause obliteration from the sky to fall on them. Lo! herein surely is a portent for every slave who turneth (to Alláh) repentant.

And assuredly We gave David grace from Us, (saying): O ye hills and birds, echo his psalms of praise! And We made the iron supple unto him,

Saying: Make thou long coats of mail and measure the links (thereof). And do ye right. Lo! I am Seer of what ye do.

And unto Solomon (We gave) the wind, whereof the morning course was a month’s journey and the evening course a month’s journey, and We caused the fount of copper to gush forth for him, and (We gave him) certain of the jinn who worked before him by permission of his Lord. And such of them as deviated from Our command, them We caused to taste the punishment of flaming Fire.

They made for him what he willed: synagogues and statues, basins like wells and boilers built into the ground. Give thanks, O House of David! Few of My bondmen are thankful.

And when We decreed death for him, nothing showed his death to them save a creeping creature of the earth which gnawed away his staff. And when he fell the jinn saw clearly how, if they had known the Unseen, they would not have continued in despised toil.

There was indeed a sign for Sheba in their dwelling-place: Two gardens on the right hand and the left (as who should say): Eat of the provision of your Lord and render thanks to Him. A fair land and an indulgent Lord!

But they were froward, so We sent on them the flood of ‘Iram, and in exchange for their two gardens gave them two gardens bearing bitter fruit, the tamarisk and here and there a lote-tree.

This We awarded them because of their ingratitude. Punish We ever any save the ingrates?

And We set, between them and the towns which We had blessed, towns easy to be seen, and We made the stage between them easy, (saying): Travel in them safely both by night and day.

But they said: Our Lord! Make the stage between our journeys longer. And they wronged themselves, therefore We made them bywords (in the land) and scattered them abroad, a total scattering. Lo! herein verily are portents for each steadfast, grateful (heart).

And Satan indeed found his calculation true concerning them, for they follow him, all save a group of true believers.

And he had no warrant whatsoever against them, save that We would know him who believeth in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt thereof; and thy Lord (O Muḥammad) taketh note of all things.

Say (O Muḥammad): Call upon those whom ye set up beside Alláh! They possess not an atom’s weight either in the heavens or in the earth, nor have they any share in either, nor hath He an auxiliary among them.

No intercession availeth with Him save for him whom He permitteth. Yet, when fear is banished from their hearts, they say: What was it that your Lord said? They say: The Truth. And He is the Sublime, the Great.