SURAH AZ-ZUKHRUF

Ḥā, Meem.[1429]

By the clear Book,

Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur’ān that you might understand.

And indeed it is, in the Mother of the Book[1430] with Us, exalted and full of wisdom.[1431]

Then should We turn the message away, disregarding you, because you are a transgressing people?

And how many a prophet We sent among the former peoples,

But there would not come to them a prophet except that they used to ridicule him.

And We destroyed greater than them[1432] in [striking] power, and the example of the former peoples has preceded.

And if you should ask them, "Who has created the heavens and the earth?" they would surely say, "They were created by the Exalted in Might, the Knowing,"

[The one] who has made for you the earth a bed and made for you upon it roads that you might be guided

And who sends down rain from the sky in measured amounts, and We revive thereby a dead land - thus will you be brought forth -

And who created the species, all of them, and has made for you of ships and animals those which you mount

That you may settle yourselves upon their backs and then remember the favor of your Lord when you have settled upon them and say, "Exalted is He who has subjected this to us, and we could not have [otherwise] subdued it.[1433]

And indeed we, to our Lord, will [surely] return."

But they have attributed to Him from His servants a portion.[1434] Indeed, man is clearly ungrateful.

Or has He taken, out of what He has created, daughters and chosen you for [having] sons?

And when one of them is given good tidings of that which he attributes to the Most Merciful in comparison [i.e., a daughter], his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief.

So is one brought up in ornaments while being during conflict unevident[1435] [attributed to Allāh]?

And they described the angels, who are servants of the Most Merciful, as females. Did they witness their creation? Their testimony will be recorded, and they will be questioned.

And they said, "If the Most Merciful had willed, we would not have worshipped them." They have of that no knowledge. They are not but misjudging.

Or have We given them a book before it [i.e., the Qur’ān] to which they are adhering?

Rather, they say, "Indeed, we found our fathers upon a religion, and we are in their footsteps [rightly] guided."

And similarly, We did not send before you any warner into a city except that its affluent said, "Indeed, we found our fathers upon a religion, and we are, in their footsteps, following."

[Each warner] said, "Even if I brought you better guidance than that [religion] upon which you found your fathers?" They said, "Indeed we, in that with which you were sent, are disbelievers."

So We took retribution from them; then see how was the end of the deniers.

And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Abraham said to his father and his people, "Indeed, I am disassociated from that which you worship

Except for He who created me; and indeed, He will guide me."

And he made it[1436] a word remaining among his descendants that they might return [to it].

However, I gave enjoyment to these [people of Makkah] and their fathers[1437] until there came to them the truth and a clear Messenger.[1438]

But when the truth came to them, they said, "This is magic, and indeed we are, concerning it, disbelievers."

And they said, "Why was this Qur’ān not sent down upon a great man from [one of] the two cities?"[1439]

Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world and have raised some of them above others in degrees [of rank] that they may make use of one another for service. But the mercy of your Lord is better than whatever they accumulate.

And if it were not that the people would become one community [of disbelievers],[1440] We would have made for those who disbelieve in the Most Merciful - for their houses - ceilings and stairways of silver upon which to mount.

And for their houses - doors and couches [of silver] upon which to recline

And gold ornament. But all that is not but the enjoyment of worldly life. And the Hereafter with your Lord is for the righteous.

And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the Most Merciful - We appoint for him a devil, and he is to him a companion.

And indeed, they [i.e., the devils] avert them from the way [of guidance] while they think that they are [rightly] guided

Until, when he comes to Us [at Judgement], he says [to his companion], "How I wish there was between me and you the distance between the east and west; and what a wretched companion."

And never will it benefit you that Day, when you have wronged, that you are [all] sharing in the punishment.

Then will you make the deaf hear, [O Muḥammad], or guide the blind or he who is in clear error?

And whether [or not] We take you away [in death], indeed, We will take retribution upon them.

Or whether [or not] We show you that which We have promised them, indeed, We are Perfect in Ability.

So adhere to that which is revealed to you. Indeed, you are on a straight path.

And indeed, it is a remembrance[1441] for you and your people, and you [all] are going to be questioned.

And ask those We sent before you of Our messengers; have We made besides the Most Merciful deities to be worshipped?

And certainly did We send Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his establishment, and he said, "Indeed, I am the messenger of the Lord of the worlds."

But when he brought them Our signs, at once they laughed at them.

And We showed them not a sign except that it was greater than its sister, and We seized them with affliction that perhaps they might return [to faith].

And they said [to Moses], "O magician, invoke for us your Lord by what He has promised you. Indeed, we will be guided."

But when We removed from them the affliction, at once they broke their word.