سُورَةُ غَافِرٍ

حمۤ (۱)

Ha. Mim.

تَنزِیلُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡعَزِیزِ ٱلۡعَلِیمِ (۲)

THE BESTOWAL from on high of this divine writ issues from God, the Almighty, the All-Know­ing,

غَافِرِ ٱلذَّنۢبِ وَقَابِلِ ٱلتَّوۡبِ شَدِیدِ ٱلۡعِقَابِ ذِی ٱلطَّوۡلِۖ لَاۤ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ إِلَیۡهِ ٱلۡمَصِیرُ (۳)

forgiving sins and accepting repentance, severe in retribution, limitless in His bounty. There is no deity save Him: with Him is all jour­neys’ end.

مَا یُجَـٰدِلُ فِیۤ ءَایَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَلَا یَغۡرُرۡكَ تَقَلُّبُهُمۡ فِی ٱلۡبِلَـٰدِ (۴)

NONE BUT THOSE who are bent on denying the truth would call God’s messages in question. But let it not deceive thee that they seem to be able to do as they please on earth:

كَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوحࣲ وَٱلۡأَحۡزَابُ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡۖ وَهَمَّتۡ كُلُّ أُمَّةِۭ بِرَسُولِهِمۡ لِیَأۡخُذُوهُۖ وَجَـٰدَلُوا۟ بِٱلۡبَـٰطِلِ لِیُدۡحِضُوا۟ بِهِ ٱلۡحَقَّ فَأَخَذۡتُهُمۡۖ فَكَیۡفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ (۵)

to the truth gave the lie, before their time, the people of Noah and, after them, all those [others] who were leagued together [against God’s message-bearers]; and each of those com­munities schemed against the apostle sent unto them, aiming to lay hands on him; and they contended [against his message] with fallacious arguments, so as to render void the truth thereby: but then I took them to task - and how awesome was My retribution!

وَكَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ حَقَّتۡ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوۤا۟ أَنَّهُمۡ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ (۶)

And thus shall thy Sustainer’s word come true against all who are bent on denying the truth: they shall find themselves in the fire [of hell].

ٱلَّذِینَ یَحۡمِلُونَ ٱلۡعَرۡشَ وَمَنۡ حَوۡلَهُۥ یُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّهِمۡ وَیُؤۡمِنُونَ بِهِۦ وَیَسۡتَغۡفِرُونَ لِلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ۖ رَبَّنَا وَسِعۡتَ كُلَّ شَیۡءࣲ رَّحۡمَةࣰ وَعِلۡمࣰا فَٱغۡفِرۡ لِلَّذِینَ تَابُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ سَبِیلَكَ وَقِهِمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلۡجَحِیمِ (۷)

THEY WHO BEAR [within themselves the knowl­edge of] the throne of [God’s] almightiness, as well as all who are near it, extol their Sustainer’s limitless glory and praise, and have faith in Him, and ask forgiveness for all [others] who have attained to faith: “O our Sustainer! Thou embracest all things within [Thy] grace and knowledge: forgive, then, their sins unto those who repent and follow Thy path, and preserve them from suffering through the blazing fire!

رَبَّنَا وَأَدۡخِلۡهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتِ عَدۡنٍ ٱلَّتِی وَعَدتَّهُمۡ وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنۡ ءَابَاۤىِٕهِمۡ وَأَزۡوَ ٰ⁠جِهِمۡ وَذُرِّیَّـٰتِهِمۡۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَزِیزُ ٱلۡحَكِیمُ (۸)

“And, O our Sustainer, bring them into the gardens of perpetual bliss which Thou hast promised them, together with the righteous from among their forebears, and their spouses, and their offspring - for, verily, Thou alone art almighty, truly wise –

وَقِهِمُ ٱلسَّیِّـَٔاتِۚ وَمَن تَقِ ٱلسَّیِّـَٔاتِ یَوۡمَىِٕذࣲ فَقَدۡ رَحِمۡتَهُۥۚ وَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ هُوَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِیمُ (۹)

and preserve them from [doing] evil deeds: for anyone whom on that Day [of Judgment] Thou wilt have preserved from [the taint of] evil deeds, him wilt Thou have graced with Thy mercy: and that, that will be the triumph supreme!”

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوا۟ یُنَادَوۡنَ لَمَقۡتُ ٱللَّهِ أَكۡبَرُ مِن مَّقۡتِكُمۡ أَنفُسَكُمۡ إِذۡ تُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلۡإِیمَـٰنِ فَتَكۡفُرُونَ (۱۰)

[But,] behold, as for those who are bent on denying the truth - [on that same Day] a voice will call out unto them: “Indeed, greater than your [present] loathing of yourselves was God’s loathing of you [at the time] when you were called unto faith but went on denying the truth!”

قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَاۤ أَمَتَّنَا ٱثۡنَتَیۡنِ وَأَحۡیَیۡتَنَا ٱثۡنَتَیۡنِ فَٱعۡتَرَفۡنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا فَهَلۡ إِلَىٰ خُرُوجࣲ مِّن سَبِیلࣲ (۱۱)

[Whereupon] they will exclaim: “O our Sus­tainer! Twice hast Thou caused us to die, just as twice Thou hast brought us to life!

ذَ ٰ⁠لِكُم بِأَنَّهُۥۤ إِذَا دُعِیَ ٱللَّهُ وَحۡدَهُۥ كَفَرۡتُمۡ وَإِن یُشۡرَكۡ بِهِۦ تُؤۡمِنُوا۟ۚ فَٱلۡحُكۡمُ لِلَّهِ ٱلۡعَلِیِّ ٱلۡكَبِیرِ (۱۲)

[And they will be told:] “This [has befallen you] because, whenever the One God was invoked, you denied this truth; whereas, when divinity was ascribed to aught beside Him, you believed [in it]! But all judgment rests with God, the Exalted, the Great!”

هُوَ ٱلَّذِی یُرِیكُمۡ ءَایَـٰتِهِۦ وَیُنَزِّلُ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَاۤءِ رِزۡقࣰاۚ وَمَا یَتَذَكَّرُ إِلَّا مَن یُنِیبُ (۱۳)

HE IT IS who shows you His wonders [in all nature], and sends down sustenance for you from the sky: but none bethinks himself [thereof] save those who are wont to turn to God.

فَٱدۡعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِینَ لَهُ ٱلدِّینَ وَلَوۡ كَرِهَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ (۱۴)

Invoke, then, God, sincere in your faith in Him alone, however hateful this may be to those who deny the truth!

رَفِیعُ ٱلدَّرَجَـٰتِ ذُو ٱلۡعَرۡشِ یُلۡقِی ٱلرُّوحَ مِنۡ أَمۡرِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن یَشَاۤءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦ لِیُنذِرَ یَوۡمَ ٱلتَّلَاقِ (۱۵)

High above all orders [of being] is He, in almightiness enthroned. By His Own will does He bestow inspiration upon whomever He wills of His servants, so as to warn [all human beings of the coming] of the Day when they shall meet Him

یَوۡمَ هُم بَـٰرِزُونَۖ لَا یَخۡفَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مِنۡهُمۡ شَیۡءࣱۚ لِّمَنِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ ٱلۡیَوۡمَۖ لِلَّهِ ٱلۡوَ ٰ⁠حِدِ ٱلۡقَهَّارِ (۱۶)

the Day when they shall come forth [from death], with nothing of themselves hidden from God. With whom will sovereignty rest on that Day? With God, the One who holds absolute sway over all that exists!

ٱلۡیَوۡمَ تُجۡزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفۡسِۭ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡۚ لَا ظُلۡمَ ٱلۡیَوۡمَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِیعُ ٱلۡحِسَابِ (۱۷)

On that Day will every human being be requited for what he has earned: no wrong [will be done] on that Day: verily, swift in reckoning is God!

وَأَنذِرۡهُمۡ یَوۡمَ ٱلۡـَٔازِفَةِ إِذِ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ لَدَى ٱلۡحَنَاجِرِ كَـٰظِمِینَۚ مَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِینَ مِنۡ حَمِیمࣲ وَلَا شَفِیعࣲ یُطَاعُ (۱۸)

Hence, warn them of that Day which draws ever nearer, when the hearts will chokingly come up to the throats: no loving friend will the evildoers have, nor any intercessor who would be heeded:

یَعۡلَمُ خَاۤىِٕنَةَ ٱلۡأَعۡیُنِ وَمَا تُخۡفِی ٱلصُّدُورُ (۱۹)

[for] He is aware of the [most] stealthy glance, and of all that the hearts would conceal.

وَٱللَّهُ یَقۡضِی بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ وَٱلَّذِینَ یَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ لَا یَقۡضُونَ بِشَیۡءٍۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِیعُ ٱلۡبَصِیرُ (۲۰)

And God will judge in accordance with truth and justice, whereas those [beings] whom they invoke beside Him cannot judge at all: for, verily, God alone is all-hearing, all-seeing.

۞ أَوَلَمۡ یَسِیرُوا۟ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَیَنظُرُوا۟ كَیۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِینَ كَانُوا۟ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۚ كَانُوا۟ هُمۡ أَشَدَّ مِنۡهُمۡ قُوَّةࣰ وَءَاثَارࣰا فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمۡ وَمَا كَانَ لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَاقࣲ (۲۱)

Have they, then, never journeyed about the earth and beheld what happened in the end to those [deniers of the truth] who lived before their time? Greater were they in power than they are, and in the impact which they left on earth: but God took them to task for their sins, and they had none to defend them against God:

ذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ كَانَت تَّأۡتِیهِمۡ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلۡبَیِّنَـٰتِ فَكَفَرُوا۟ فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱللَّهُۚ إِنَّهُۥ قَوِیࣱّ شَدِیدُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ (۲۲)

this, because their apostles had come to them with all evidence of the truth, and yet they rejected it: and so God took them to task - for, verily, He is powerful, severe in retribution!

وَلَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مُوسَىٰ بِـَٔایَـٰتِنَا وَسُلۡطَـٰنࣲ مُّبِینٍ (۲۳)

THUS, INDEED, did We send Moses with Our mes­sages and a manifest authority [from Us]

إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَقَـٰرُونَ فَقَالُوا۟ سَـٰحِرࣱ كَذَّابࣱ (۲۴)

unto Pharaoh, and Haman, and Qarun; but they [only] said, “A spellbinder is he, a liar!”

فَلَمَّا جَاۤءَهُم بِٱلۡحَقِّ مِنۡ عِندِنَا قَالُوا۟ ٱقۡتُلُوۤا۟ أَبۡنَاۤءَ ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ وَٱسۡتَحۡیُوا۟ نِسَاۤءَهُمۡۚ وَمَا كَیۡدُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِینَ إِلَّا فِی ضَلَـٰلࣲ (۲۵)

Now [as for Pharaoh and his followers,] when he came to them, setting forth the truth from Us, they said, “Slay the sons of those who share his beliefs, and spare [only] their women!” - but the guile of those deniers of the truth could not lead to aught but failure.

وَقَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ ذَرُونِیۤ أَقۡتُلۡ مُوسَىٰ وَلۡیَدۡعُ رَبَّهُۥۤۖ إِنِّیۤ أَخَافُ أَن یُبَدِّلَ دِینَكُمۡ أَوۡ أَن یُظۡهِرَ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ٱلۡفَسَادَ (۲۶)

And Pharaoh said: “Leave it to me to slay Moses - and let him invoke his [alleged] sustainer! Behold, I fear lest he cause you to change your religion, or lest he cause corruption to prevail in the land!”

وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰۤ إِنِّی عُذۡتُ بِرَبِّی وَرَبِّكُم مِّن كُلِّ مُتَكَبِّرࣲ لَّا یُؤۡمِنُ بِیَوۡمِ ٱلۡحِسَابِ (۲۷)

But Moses said: “With [Him who is] my Sus­tainer as well as your Sustainer have I indeed found refuge from everyone who, immersed in false pride, will not believe in [the coming of] the Day of Reckon­ing!”

وَقَالَ رَجُلࣱ مُّؤۡمِنࣱ مِّنۡ ءَالِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ یَكۡتُمُ إِیمَـٰنَهُۥۤ أَتَقۡتُلُونَ رَجُلًا أَن یَقُولَ رَبِّیَ ٱللَّهُ وَقَدۡ جَاۤءَكُم بِٱلۡبَیِّنَـٰتِ مِن رَّبِّكُمۡۖ وَإِن یَكُ كَـٰذِبࣰا فَعَلَیۡهِ كَذِبُهُۥۖ وَإِن یَكُ صَادِقࣰا یُصِبۡكُم بَعۡضُ ٱلَّذِی یَعِدُكُمۡۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا یَهۡدِی مَنۡ هُوَ مُسۡرِفࣱ كَذَّابࣱ (۲۸)

At that, a believing man of Pharaoh’s family, who [until then] had concealed his faith, exclaimed: “Would you slay a man because he says, ‘God is my Sustainer’ - seeing, withal, that he has brought you all evidence of this truth from your Sustainer? Now if he be a liar, his lie will fall back on him; but if he is a man of truth, something [of the punishment] whereof he warns you is bound to befall you: for, verily, God would not grace with His guidance one who has wasted his own self by lying [about Him].

یَـٰقَوۡمِ لَكُمُ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ ٱلۡیَوۡمَ ظَـٰهِرِینَ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَمَن یَنصُرُنَا مِنۢ بَأۡسِ ٱللَّهِ إِن جَاۤءَنَاۚ قَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ مَاۤ أُرِیكُمۡ إِلَّا مَاۤ أَرَىٰ وَمَاۤ أَهۡدِیكُمۡ إِلَّا سَبِیلَ ٱلرَّشَادِ (۲۹)

“O my people! Yours is the dominion today, [and] most eminent are you on earth: but who will rescue us from God’s punishment, once it befalls us?” Said Pharaoh: “I but want to make you see what I see myself; and I would never make you follow any path but that of rectitude!”

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِیۤ ءَامَنَ یَـٰقَوۡمِ إِنِّیۤ أَخَافُ عَلَیۡكُم مِّثۡلَ یَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَحۡزَابِ (۳۰)

Thereupon exclaimed he who had attained to faith: “O my people! Verily, I fear for you the like of what one day befell those others who were leagued together [against God’s truth] –

مِثۡلَ دَأۡبِ قَوۡمِ نُوحࣲ وَعَادࣲ وَثَمُودَ وَٱلَّذِینَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡۚ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ یُرِیدُ ظُلۡمࣰا لِّلۡعِبَادِ (۳۱)

the like of what happened to Noah’s people, and to [the tribes of] Ad and Thamud and those who came after them! And, withal, God does not will any wrong for His crea­tures.

وَیَـٰقَوۡمِ إِنِّیۤ أَخَافُ عَلَیۡكُمۡ یَوۡمَ ٱلتَّنَادِ (۳۲)

“And, O my people, I fear for you [the coming of] that Day of [Judgment - the Day when you will be] calling unto one another [in distress] –

یَوۡمَ تُوَلُّونَ مُدۡبِرِینَ مَا لَكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِنۡ عَاصِمࣲۗ وَمَن یُضۡلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِنۡ هَادࣲ (۳۳)

the Day when you will [wish to] turn your backs and flee, having none to defend you against God: for he whom God lets go astray can never find any guide.

وَلَقَدۡ جَاۤءَكُمۡ یُوسُفُ مِن قَبۡلُ بِٱلۡبَیِّنَـٰتِ فَمَا زِلۡتُمۡ فِی شَكࣲّ مِّمَّا جَاۤءَكُم بِهِۦۖ حَتَّىٰۤ إِذَا هَلَكَ قُلۡتُمۡ لَن یَبۡعَثَ ٱللَّهُ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ رَسُولࣰاۚ كَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ یُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَنۡ هُوَ مُسۡرِفࣱ مُّرۡتَابٌ (۳۴)

“And [remember:] it was to you that Joseph came aforetime with all evidence of the truth; but you never ceased to throw doubt on all [the messages] that he brought you - so much so that when he died, you said, ‘Never will God send any apostle [even] after him!’ “In this way God lets go astray such as waste their own selves by throwing suspicion [on His revela­tions] –

ٱلَّذِینَ یُجَـٰدِلُونَ فِیۤ ءَایَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ بِغَیۡرِ سُلۡطَـٰنٍ أَتَىٰهُمۡۖ كَبُرَ مَقۡتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَعِندَ ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ۚ كَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ یَطۡبَعُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ قَلۡبِ مُتَكَبِّرࣲ جَبَّارࣲ (۳۵)

such as would call God’s messages in question without having any evidence therefor: [a sin] exceedingly loathsome in the sight of God and of those who have attained to faith. It is in this way that God sets a seal on every arrogant, self-exalting heart.”

وَقَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ یَـٰهَـٰمَـٰنُ ٱبۡنِ لِی صَرۡحࣰا لَّعَلِّیۤ أَبۡلُغُ ٱلۡأَسۡبَـٰبَ (۳۶)

But Pharaoh said: “O Haman! Build me a lofty tower, that haply I may attain to the [right] means

أَسۡبَـٰبَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰ⁠تِ فَأَطَّلِعَ إِلَىٰۤ إِلَـٰهِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِنِّی لَأَظُنُّهُۥ كَـٰذِبࣰاۚ وَكَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ زُیِّنَ لِفِرۡعَوۡنَ سُوۤءُ عَمَلِهِۦ وَصُدَّ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِیلِۚ وَمَا كَیۡدُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِلَّا فِی تَبَابࣲ (۳۷)

the means of approach to the heavens - and that [thus] I may have a look at the god of Moses: for, behold, I am indeed certain that he is a liar!” And thus, goodly seemed unto Pharaoh the evil of his own doings, and so he was barred from the path [of truth]: and Pharaoh’s guile did not lead to aught but ruin.

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِیۤ ءَامَنَ یَـٰقَوۡمِ ٱتَّبِعُونِ أَهۡدِكُمۡ سَبِیلَ ٱلرَّشَادِ (۳۸)

Still, the man who had attained to faith went on: “O my people! Follow me: I shall guide you onto the path of rectitude!

یَـٰقَوۡمِ إِنَّمَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلۡحَیَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡیَا مَتَـٰعࣱ وَإِنَّ ٱلۡـَٔاخِرَةَ هِیَ دَارُ ٱلۡقَرَارِ (۳۹)

“O my people! This worldly life is but a brief enjoyment, whereas, behold, the life to come is the home abiding.

مَنۡ عَمِلَ سَیِّئَةࣰ فَلَا یُجۡزَىٰۤ إِلَّا مِثۡلَهَاۖ وَمَنۡ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحࣰا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوۡ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنࣱ فَأُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ یَدۡخُلُونَ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ یُرۡزَقُونَ فِیهَا بِغَیۡرِ حِسَابࣲ (۴۰)

[There,] anyone who has done a bad deed will be requited with no more than the like thereof, whereas anyone, be it man or woman, who has done righteous deeds and is a believer withal - all such will enter paradise, wherein they shall be blest with good beyond all reckoning!

۞ وَیَـٰقَوۡمِ مَا لِیۤ أَدۡعُوكُمۡ إِلَى ٱلنَّجَوٰةِ وَتَدۡعُونَنِیۤ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ (۴۱)

“And, O my people, how is it that I summon you to salvation, the while you summon me to the fire?

تَدۡعُونَنِی لِأَكۡفُرَ بِٱللَّهِ وَأُشۡرِكَ بِهِۦ مَا لَیۡسَ لِی بِهِۦ عِلۡمࣱ وَأَنَا۠ أَدۡعُوكُمۡ إِلَى ٱلۡعَزِیزِ ٱلۡغَفَّـٰرِ (۴۲)

- [for] you call upon me to deny [the one­ness of] God and to ascribe a share in His divinity to aught of which I cannot [possibly] have any knowl­edge the while I summon you to [a cognition of] the Almighty, the All-Forgiving!

لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّمَا تَدۡعُونَنِیۤ إِلَیۡهِ لَیۡسَ لَهُۥ دَعۡوَةࣱ فِی ٱلدُّنۡیَا وَلَا فِی ٱلۡـَٔاخِرَةِ وَأَنَّ مَرَدَّنَاۤ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَأَنَّ ٱلۡمُسۡرِفِینَ هُمۡ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ (۴۳)

“There is no doubt that what you summon me to is something that has no claim to being invoked either in this world or in the life to come - as [there is no doubt] that unto God is our return, and that they who have wasted their own selves shall find them­selves in the fire:

فَسَتَذۡكُرُونَ مَاۤ أَقُولُ لَكُمۡۚ وَأُفَوِّضُ أَمۡرِیۤ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَصِیرُۢ بِٱلۡعِبَادِ (۴۴)

and at that time you will [have cause to] remember what I am telling you [now]. “But [as for me,] I commit myself unto God: for, verily, God sees all that is in [the hearts of] His servants.”

فَوَقَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ سَیِّـَٔاتِ مَا مَكَرُوا۟ۖ وَحَاقَ بِـَٔالِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ سُوۤءُ ٱلۡعَذَابِ (۴۵)

And God preserved him from the evil of their scheming, whereas suffering vile was to encompass Pharaoh’s folk:

ٱلنَّارُ یُعۡرَضُونَ عَلَیۡهَا غُدُوࣰّا وَعَشِیࣰّاۚ وَیَوۡمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ أَدۡخِلُوۤا۟ ءَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ أَشَدَّ ٱلۡعَذَابِ (۴۶)

the fire [of the hereafter - that fire] which they had been made to contemplate [in vain], morning and evening: for on the Day when the Last Hour dawns [God will say], “Make Phar­aoh’s folk enter upon suffering most severe!”

وَإِذۡ یَتَحَاۤجُّونَ فِی ٱلنَّارِ فَیَقُولُ ٱلضُّعَفَـٰۤؤُا۟ لِلَّذِینَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُوۤا۟ إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمۡ تَبَعࣰا فَهَلۡ أَنتُم مُّغۡنُونَ عَنَّا نَصِیبࣰا مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ (۴۷)

AND LO! They [who in life were wont to deny the truth] will contend with one another in the fire [of the hereafter]; and then the weak will say unto those who had gloried in their arrogance, “Behold, we were but your followers: can you, then, relieve us of some [of our] share of this fire?”

قَالَ ٱلَّذِینَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُوۤا۟ إِنَّا كُلࣱّ فِیهَاۤ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدۡ حَكَمَ بَیۡنَ ٱلۡعِبَادِ (۴۸)

[to which] they who had [once] been arrogant will reply, “Behold, we are all in it [together]! Verily, God has judged between His creatures!”

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِینَ فِی ٱلنَّارِ لِخَزَنَةِ جَهَنَّمَ ٱدۡعُوا۟ رَبَّكُمۡ یُخَفِّفۡ عَنَّا یَوۡمࣰا مِّنَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ (۴۹)

And they who are in the fire will say to the keepers of hell, “Pray unto your Sustainer that He lighten, [though it be] for one day [only], this suffering of ours!”

قَالُوۤا۟ أَوَلَمۡ تَكُ تَأۡتِیكُمۡ رُسُلُكُم بِٱلۡبَیِّنَـٰتِۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰۚ قَالُوا۟ فَٱدۡعُوا۟ۗ وَمَا دُعَـٰۤؤُا۟ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِینَ إِلَّا فِی ضَلَـٰلٍ (۵۰)

[But the keepers of hell] will ask, “Is it not [true] that your apostles came unto you with all evidence of the truth?” Those [in the fire] will reply, “Yea, indeed.” [And the keepers of hell] will say, “Pray, then!” - for the prayer of those who deny the truth cannot lead to aught but delusion.

إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فِی ٱلۡحَیَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡیَا وَیَوۡمَ یَقُومُ ٱلۡأَشۡهَـٰدُ (۵۱)

BEHOLD, We shall indeed succour Our apostles and those who have attained to faith, [both] in this world’s life and on the Day when all the witnesses shall stand up

یَوۡمَ لَا یَنفَعُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِینَ مَعۡذِرَتُهُمۡۖ وَلَهُمُ ٱللَّعۡنَةُ وَلَهُمۡ سُوۤءُ ٱلدَّارِ (۵۲)

the Day when their excuses will be of no avail to the evildoers, seeing that their lot will be rejection from all that is good, and a woeful hereafter.

وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَیۡنَا مُوسَى ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَأَوۡرَثۡنَا بَنِیۤ إِسۡرَ ٰ⁠ۤءِیلَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ (۵۳)

And, indeed, We bestowed aforetime [Our] guidance on Moses, and [thus] made the children of Israel heirs to the divine writ [revealed to him]

هُدࣰى وَذِكۡرَىٰ لِأُو۟لِی ٱلۡأَلۡبَـٰبِ (۵۴)

as a [means of] guidance and a reminder for those who were endowed with insight:

فَٱصۡبِرۡ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقࣱّ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلۡعَشِیِّ وَٱلۡإِبۡكَـٰرِ (۵۵)

hence, remain thou patient in adversity - for, verily, God’s promise always comes true - and ask forgiveness for thy sins, and extol thy Sustainer’s glory and praise by night and by day.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِینَ یُجَـٰدِلُونَ فِیۤ ءَایَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ بِغَیۡرِ سُلۡطَـٰنٍ أَتَىٰهُمۡ إِن فِی صُدُورِهِمۡ إِلَّا كِبۡرࣱ مَّا هُم بِبَـٰلِغِیهِۚ فَٱسۡتَعِذۡ بِٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِیعُ ٱلۡبَصِیرُ (۵۶)

Behold, as for those who call God’s messages in question without having any evidence therefore in their hearts is nothing but overweening self-con­ceit, which they will never be able to satisfy: seek thou, then, refuge with God - for, verily, He alone is all-hearing, all-seeing!

لَخَلۡقُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰ⁠تِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَكۡبَرُ مِنۡ خَلۡقِ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا یَعۡلَمُونَ (۵۷)

Greater indeed than the creation of man is the creation of the heavens and the earth: yet most men do not understand [what this implies].

وَمَا یَسۡتَوِی ٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ وَٱلۡبَصِیرُ وَٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَلَا ٱلۡمُسِیۤءُۚ قَلِیلࣰا مَّا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ (۵۸)

But [then,] the blind and the seeing are not equal; and neither [can] they who have attained to faith and do good works and the doers of evil [be deemed equal]. How seldom do you keep this in mind!

إِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَـَٔاتِیَةࣱ لَّا رَیۡبَ فِیهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا یُؤۡمِنُونَ (۵۹)

Verily, the Last Hour is sure to come: of this there is no doubt; yet most men will not believe it.

وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ٱدۡعُونِیۤ أَسۡتَجِبۡ لَكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِینَ یَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ عَنۡ عِبَادَتِی سَیَدۡخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِینَ (۶۰)

But your Sustainer says: “Call unto Me, [and] I shall respond to you! Verily, they who are too proud to worship Me will enter hell, abased!”

ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِی جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّیۡلَ لِتَسۡكُنُوا۟ فِیهِ وَٱلنَّهَارَ مُبۡصِرًاۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَذُو فَضۡلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا یَشۡكُرُونَ (۶۱)

IT IS GOD who has made the night for you, so that you might rest therein, and the day, to make [you] see. Behold, God is indeed limitless in His bounty unto man - but most men are ungrateful.

ذَ ٰ⁠لِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمۡ خَـٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَیۡءࣲ لَّاۤ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤۡفَكُونَ (۶۲)

Such is God, your Sustainer, the Creator of all that exists: there is no deity save Him. How perverted, then, are your minds!

كَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ یُؤۡفَكُ ٱلَّذِینَ كَانُوا۟ بِـَٔایَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ یَجۡحَدُونَ (۶۳)

[For] thus it is: perverted are the minds of those who knowingly reject God’s messages.

ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِی جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ قَرَارࣰا وَٱلسَّمَاۤءَ بِنَاۤءࣰ وَصَوَّرَكُمۡ فَأَحۡسَنَ صُوَرَكُمۡ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّیِّبَـٰتِۚ ذَ ٰ⁠لِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمۡۖ فَتَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ (۶۴)

It is God who has made the earth a resting- place for you and the sky a canopy, and has formed you - and formed you so well and provided for you sustenance out of the good things of life. Such is God, your Sustainer: hallowed, then, is God, the Sustainer of all the worlds!

هُوَ ٱلۡحَیُّ لَاۤ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَٱدۡعُوهُ مُخۡلِصِینَ لَهُ ٱلدِّینَۗ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ (۶۵)

He is the Ever-Living; there is no deity save Him: call, then, unto Him [alone], sincere in your faith in Him. All praise is due to God, the Sustainer of all the worlds!

۞ قُلۡ إِنِّی نُهِیتُ أَنۡ أَعۡبُدَ ٱلَّذِینَ تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَمَّا جَاۤءَنِیَ ٱلۡبَیِّنَـٰتُ مِن رَّبِّی وَأُمِرۡتُ أَنۡ أُسۡلِمَ لِرَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ (۶۶)

Say: “Since all evidence of the truth has come to me from my Sustainer, I am forbidden to worship [any of] those beings whom you invoke instead of God; and I am bidden to surrender myself to the Sustainer of all the worlds.”

هُوَ ٱلَّذِی خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابࣲ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطۡفَةࣲ ثُمَّ مِنۡ عَلَقَةࣲ ثُمَّ یُخۡرِجُكُمۡ طِفۡلࣰا ثُمَّ لِتَبۡلُغُوۤا۟ أَشُدَّكُمۡ ثُمَّ لِتَكُونُوا۟ شُیُوخࣰاۚ وَمِنكُم مَّن یُتَوَفَّىٰ مِن قَبۡلُۖ وَلِتَبۡلُغُوۤا۟ أَجَلࣰا مُّسَمࣰّى وَلَعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ (۶۷)

It is He who creates you out of dust, and then out of a drop of sperm, and then out of a germ-cell; and then He brings you forth as children; and then [He ordains] that you reach maturity, and then, that you grow old - though some of you [He causes to] die earlier -: and [all this He ordains] so that you might reach a term set [by Him], and that you might [learn to] use your reason.

هُوَ ٱلَّذِی یُحۡیِۦ وَیُمِیتُۖ فَإِذَا قَضَىٰۤ أَمۡرࣰا فَإِنَّمَا یَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَیَكُونُ (۶۸)

It is He who grants life and deals death; and when He wills a thing to be, He but says unto it, “Be” - and it is.

أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِینَ یُجَـٰدِلُونَ فِیۤ ءَایَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ أَنَّىٰ یُصۡرَفُونَ (۶۹)

ART THOU NOT aware of how far they who call God’s messages in question have lost sight of the truth?

ٱلَّذِینَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ وَبِمَاۤ أَرۡسَلۡنَا بِهِۦ رُسُلَنَاۖ فَسَوۡفَ یَعۡلَمُونَ (۷۰)

they who give the lie to this divine writ and [thus] to all [the messages] with which We sent forth Our apostles [of old]? But in time they will come to know [how blind they have been: they will know it on Judgment Day],

إِذِ ٱلۡأَغۡلَـٰلُ فِیۤ أَعۡنَـٰقِهِمۡ وَٱلسَّلَـٰسِلُ یُسۡحَبُونَ (۷۱)

when they shall have to carry the shackles and chains [of their own making] around their necks,

فِی ٱلۡحَمِیمِ ثُمَّ فِی ٱلنَّارِ یُسۡجَرُونَ (۷۲)

and are dragged into burning despair, and in the end become fuel for the fire [of hell].

ثُمَّ قِیلَ لَهُمۡ أَیۡنَ مَا كُنتُمۡ تُشۡرِكُونَ (۷۳)

And then they will be asked: “Where now are those [powers] to which you were wont to ascribe divinity

مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِۖ قَالُوا۟ ضَلُّوا۟ عَنَّا بَل لَّمۡ نَكُن نَّدۡعُوا۟ مِن قَبۡلُ شَیۡـࣰٔاۚ كَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ یُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِینَ (۷۴)

side by side with God?” They will answer: “They have forsaken us - or, rather, what we were wont to invoke aforetime did not exist at all!” And they will be told:] “It is thus that God lets the deniers of the truth go astray:

ذَ ٰ⁠لِكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَفۡرَحُونَ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بِغَیۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَبِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَمۡرَحُونَ (۷۵)

this is an out­come of your having arrogantly exulted on earth without any [concern for what is] right, and of your having been so full of self-conceit!

ٱدۡخُلُوۤا۟ أَبۡوَ ٰ⁠بَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِینَ فِیهَاۖ فَبِئۡسَ مَثۡوَى ٱلۡمُتَكَبِّرِینَ (۷۶)

Enter [now] the gates of hell, therein to abide: and how vile an abode for all who are given to false pride!”

فَٱصۡبِرۡ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقࣱّۚ فَإِمَّا نُرِیَنَّكَ بَعۡضَ ٱلَّذِی نَعِدُهُمۡ أَوۡ نَتَوَفَّیَنَّكَ فَإِلَیۡنَا یُرۡجَعُونَ (۷۷)

HENCE, remain thou patient in adversity - for, verily, God’s promise always comes true. And whether We show thee [in this world] something of what We hold in store for those [deniers of the truth], or whether We cause thee to die [ere that retribution takes place - know that, in the end], it is unto Us that they will be brought back.

وَلَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلࣰا مِّن قَبۡلِكَ مِنۡهُم مَّن قَصَصۡنَا عَلَیۡكَ وَمِنۡهُم مَّن لَّمۡ نَقۡصُصۡ عَلَیۡكَۗ وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن یَأۡتِیَ بِـَٔایَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِۚ فَإِذَا جَاۤءَ أَمۡرُ ٱللَّهِ قُضِیَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ ٱلۡمُبۡطِلُونَ (۷۸)

And, indeed, [O Muhammad,] We sent forth apostles before thy time; some of them We have mentioned to thee, and some of them We have not mentioned to thee. And it was not given to any apostle to bring forth a miracle other than by God’s leave. Yet when God’s will becomes manifest, judgment will [already] have been passed in all justice, and lost will be, then and there, all who tried to reduce to nothing [whatever they could not understand].

ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِی جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمَ لِتَرۡكَبُوا۟ مِنۡهَا وَمِنۡهَا تَأۡكُلُونَ (۷۹)

It is God who [at all times works wonders for you: thus, He] provides for you [all manner of] livestock, so that on some of them you may ride, and from some derive your food,

وَلَكُمۡ فِیهَا مَنَـٰفِعُ وَلِتَبۡلُغُوا۟ عَلَیۡهَا حَاجَةࣰ فِی صُدُورِكُمۡ وَعَلَیۡهَا وَعَلَى ٱلۡفُلۡكِ تُحۡمَلُونَ (۸۰)

and find [yet other] benefits in them; and that through them you may attain to the fulfillment of [many] a heartfelt need: for on them, as on ships, you are borne [through life].

وَیُرِیكُمۡ ءَایَـٰتِهِۦ فَأَیَّ ءَایَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ تُنكِرُونَ (۸۱)

And [thus] He displays His wonders before you: which, then, of God’s wonders can you still deny?

أَفَلَمۡ یَسِیرُوا۟ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَیَنظُرُوا۟ كَیۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِینَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۚ كَانُوۤا۟ أَكۡثَرَ مِنۡهُمۡ وَأَشَدَّ قُوَّةࣰ وَءَاثَارࣰا فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَمَاۤ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنۡهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ یَكۡسِبُونَ (۸۲)

HAVE THEY, then, never journeyed about the earth and beheld what happened in the end to those [deniers of the truth] who lived before their time? More numerous were they, and greater in power than they are, and in the impact which they left on earth: but all that they ever achieved was of no avail to them –

فَلَمَّا جَاۤءَتۡهُمۡ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلۡبَیِّنَـٰتِ فَرِحُوا۟ بِمَا عِندَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ یَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ (۸۳)

for when their apostles came to them with all evidence of the truth, they arrogantly exulted in whatever knowledge they [already] possessed: and [so, in the end,] they were overwhelmed by the very thing which they were wont to deride.

فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡا۟ بَأۡسَنَا قَالُوۤا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَحۡدَهُۥ وَكَفَرۡنَا بِمَا كُنَّا بِهِۦ مُشۡرِكِینَ (۸۴)

And then, when they [clearly] beheld Our punishment, they said: “We have come to believe in the One God, and we have renounced all belief in that to which we were wont to ascribe a share in His divinity!”

فَلَمۡ یَكُ یَنفَعُهُمۡ إِیمَـٰنُهُمۡ لَمَّا رَأَوۡا۟ بَأۡسَنَاۖ سُنَّتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِی قَدۡ خَلَتۡ فِی عِبَادِهِۦۖ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ (۸۵)

But their attaining to faith after they had beheld Our punishment could not possibly benefit them such being the way of God that has always obtained for His creatures -: and so, then and there, lost were they who had denied the truth.