Hizb 50

[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 a word remaining among his descendants that they might return [to it].

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

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?"

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], 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 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.

And Pharaoh called out among his people; he said, "O my people, does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing beneath me; then do you not see?

Or am I [not] better than this one [i.e., Moses] who is insignificant and hardly makes himself clear?

Then why have there not been placed upon him bracelets of gold or come with him the angels in conjunction?"

So he bluffed his people, and they obeyed him. Indeed, they were [themselves] a people defiantly disobedient [of Allāh].

And when they angered Us, We took retribution from them and drowned them all.

And We made them a precedent and an example for the later peoples.

And when the son of Mary was presented as an example, immediately your people laughed aloud.

And they said, "Are our gods better, or is he?" They did not present it [i.e., the comparison] except for [mere] argument. But, [in fact], they are a people prone to dispute.

He [i.e., Jesus] was not but a servant upon whom We bestowed favor, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel.

And if We willed, We could have made [instead] of you angels succeeding [one another] on the earth.

And indeed, he [i.e., Jesus] will be [a sign for] knowledge of the Hour, so be not in doubt of it, and follow Me. This is a straight path.

And never let Satan avert you. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.

And when Jesus brought clear proofs, he said, "I have come to you with wisdom [i.e., prophethood] and to make clear to you some of that over which you differ, so fear Allāh and obey me.

Indeed, Allāh is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is a straight path."

But the denominations from among them differed [and separated], so woe to those who have wronged from the punishment of a painful Day.

Are they waiting except for the Hour to come upon them suddenly while they perceive not?

Close friends, that Day, will be enemies to each other, except for the righteous

[To whom Allāh will say], "O My servants, no fear will there be concerning you this Day, nor will you grieve,

[You] who believed in Our verses and were Muslims.

Enter Paradise, you and your kinds, delighted."

Circulated among them will be plates and vessels of gold. And therein is whatever the souls desire and [what] delights the eyes, and you will abide therein eternally.

And that is Paradise which you are made to inherit for what you used to do.

For you therein is much fruit from which you will eat.

Indeed, the criminals will be in the punishment of Hell, abiding eternally.

It will not be allowed to subside for them, and they, therein, are in despair.

And We did not wrong them, but it was they who were the wrongdoers.

And they will call, "O Mālik, let your Lord put an end to us!" He will say, "Indeed, you will remain."

We had certainly brought you the truth, but most of you, to the truth, were averse.

Or have they devised [some] affair? But indeed, We are devising [a plan].

Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private conversations? Yes, [We do], and Our messengers [i.e., angels] are with them recording.

Say, [O Muḥammad], "If the Most Merciful had a son, then I would be the first of [his] worshippers."

Exalted is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe.

So leave them to converse vainly and amuse themselves until they meet their Day which they are promised.

And it is He [i.e., Allāh] who is [the only] deity in the heaven, and on the earth [the only] deity. And He is the Wise, the Knowing.

And blessed is He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them and with whom is knowledge of the Hour and to whom you will be returned.

And those they invoke besides Him do not possess [power of] intercession; but only those who testify to the truth [can benefit], and they know.

And if you asked them who created them, they would surely say, "Allāh." So how are they deluded?

And [Allāh acknowledges] his saying, "O my Lord, indeed these are a people who do not believe."

So turn aside from them and say, "Peace." But they are going to know.

Ḥā, Meem.

By the clear Book,

Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind].

Therein [i.e., on that night] is made distinct every precise matter -

[Every] matter [proceeding] from Us. Indeed, We were to send [a messenger]

As mercy from your Lord. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing,

Lord of the heavens and the earth and that between them, if you would be certain.

There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death. [He is] your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers.

But they are in doubt, amusing themselves.

Then watch for the Day when the sky will bring a visible smoke

Covering the people; this is a painful torment.

[They will say], "Our Lord, remove from us the torment; indeed, we are believers."

How will there be for them a reminder [at that time]? And there had come to them a clear Messenger.

Then they turned away from him and said, "[He was] taught [and is] a madman."

Indeed, We will remove the torment for a little. Indeed, you [disbelievers] will return [to disbelief].

The Day We will strike with the greatest assault, indeed, We will take retribution.

And We had already tried before them the people of Pharaoh, and there came to them a noble messenger [i.e., Moses],

[Saying], "Render to me the servants of Allāh. Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger,"

And [saying], "Be not haughty with Allāh. Indeed, I have come to you with clear evidence.

And indeed, I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord, lest you stone me.

But if you do not believe me, then leave me alone."

And [finally] he called to his Lord that these were a criminal people.

[Allāh said], "Then set out with My servants by night. Indeed, you are to be pursued.

And leave the sea in stillness. Indeed, they are an army to be drowned."

How much they left behind of gardens and springs

And crops and noble sites

And comfort wherein they were amused.

Thus. And We caused to inherit it another people.

And the heaven and earth wept not for them, nor were they reprieved.

And We certainly saved the Children of Israel from the humiliating torment -

From Pharaoh. Indeed, he was a haughty one among the transgressors.

And We certainly chose them by knowledge over [all] the worlds.

And We gave them of signs that in which there was a clear trial.

Indeed, these [disbelievers] are saying,

"There is not but our first death, and we will not be resurrected.

Then bring [back] our forefathers, if you should be truthful."

Are they better or the people of Tubbaʿ and those before them? We destroyed them, [for] indeed, they were criminals.

And We did not create the heavens and earth and that between them in play.

We did not create them except in truth, but most of them do not know.

Indeed, the Day of Judgement is the appointed time for them all -

The Day when no relation will avail a relation at all, nor will they be helped -

Except those [believers] on whom Allāh has mercy. Indeed, He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

Indeed, the tree of zaqqūm

Is food for the sinful.

Like murky oil, it boils within bellies

Like the boiling of scalding water.

[It will be commanded], "Seize him and drag him into the midst of the Hellfire,

Then pour over his head from the torment of scalding water."

[It will be said], "Taste! Indeed, you are the honored, the noble!

Indeed, this is what you used to dispute."

Indeed, the righteous will be in a secure place:

Within gardens and springs,

Wearing [garments of] fine silk and brocade, facing each other.

Thus. And We will marry them to fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes.

They will call therein for every [kind of] fruit - safe and secure.

They will not taste death therein except the first death, and He will have protected them from the punishment of Hellfire

As bounty from your Lord. That is what is the great attainment.

And indeed, We have eased it [i.e., the Qur’ān] in your tongue that they might be reminded.

So watch, [O Muḥammad]; indeed, they are watching [for your end].

Ḥā, Meem.

The revelation of the Book is from Allāh, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

Indeed, within the heavens and earth are signs for the believers.

And in the creation of yourselves and what He disperses of moving creatures are signs for people who are certain [in faith].

And [in] the alternation of night and day and [in] what Allāh sends down from the sky of provision [i.e., rain] and gives life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and [in His] directing of the winds are signs for a people who reason.

These are the verses of Allāh which We recite to you in truth. Then in what statement after Allāh and His verses will they believe?

Woe to every sinful liar

Who hears the verses of Allāh recited to him, then persists arrogantly as if he had not heard them. So give him tidings of a painful punishment.

And when he knows anything of Our verses, he takes them in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating punishment.

Before them is Hell, and what they had earned will not avail them at all nor what they had taken besides Allāh as allies. And they will have a great punishment.

This [Qur’ān] is guidance. And those who have disbelieved in the verses of their Lord will have a painful punishment of foul nature.

It is Allāh who subjected to you the sea so that ships may sail upon it by His command and that you may seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful.

And He has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth - all from Him. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.

Say, [O Muḥammad], to those who have believed that they [should] forgive those who expect not the days of Allāh [i.e., of His retribution] so that He may recompense a people for what they used to earn.

Whoever does a good deed - it is for himself; and whoever does evil - it is against it [i.e., the self or soul]. Then to your Lord you will be returned.

And We did certainly give the Children of Israel the Scripture and judgement and prophethood, and We provided them with good things and preferred them over the worlds.

And We gave them clear proofs of the matter [of religion]. And they did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. Indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.

Then We put you, [O Muḥammad], on an ordained way concerning the matter [of religion]; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those who do not know.

Indeed, they will never avail you against Allāh at all. And indeed, the wrongdoers are allies of one another; but Allāh is the protector of the righteous.

This [Qur’ān] is enlightenment for mankind and guidance and mercy for a people who are certain [in faith].

Or do those who commit evils think We will make them like those who have believed and done righteous deeds - [make them] equal in their life and their death? Evil is that which they judge [i.e., assume].

And Allāh created the heavens and earth in truth and so that every soul may be recompensed for what it has earned, and they will not be wronged.

Have you seen he who has taken as his god his [own] desire, and Allāh has sent him astray due to knowledge and has set a seal upon his hearing and his heart and put over his vision a veil? So who will guide him after Allāh? Then will you not be reminded?

And they say, "There is not but our worldly life; we die and live, and nothing destroys us except time." And they have of that no knowledge; they are only assuming.

And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, their argument is only that they say, "Bring [back] our forefathers, if you should be truthful."

Say, "Allāh causes you to live, then causes you to die; then He will assemble you for the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt, but most of the people do not know."

And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. And the Day the Hour appears - that Day the falsifiers will lose.

And you will see every nation kneeling [from fear]. Every nation will be called to its record [and told], "Today you will be recompensed for what you used to do.

This, Our record, speaks about you in truth. Indeed, We were having transcribed whatever you used to do."

So as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, their Lord will admit them into His mercy. That is what is the clear attainment.

But as for those who disbelieved, [it will be said], "Were not Our verses recited to you, but you were arrogant and became a criminal people?

And when it was said, 'Indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth and the Hour [is coming] - no doubt about it,' you said, 'We know not what is the Hour. We assume only assumption, and we are not convinced.'"

And the evil consequences of what they did will appear to them, and they will be enveloped by what they used to ridicule.

And it will be said, "Today We will forget you as you forgot the meeting of this Day of yours, and your refuge is the Fire, and for you there are no helpers.

That is because you took the verses of Allāh in ridicule, and worldly life deluded you." So that Day they will not be removed from it, nor will they be asked to appease [Allāh].

Then, to Allāh belongs [all] praise - Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth, Lord of the worlds.

And to Him belongs [all] grandeur within the heavens and the earth, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.