divine guidance

لِّنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَن يُعْرِضْ عَن ذِكْرِ رَبِّهِۦ يَسْلُكْهُ عَذَابًا صَعَدًا

So We might test them therein. And whoever turns away from the remembrance of his Lord He will put into arduous punishment.

وَأَنَّهُۥ لَمَّا قَامَ عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ يَدْعُوهُ كَادُوا۟ يَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِ لِبَدًا

And that when the Servant [i.e., Prophet] of Allāh stood up supplicating Him, they almost became about him a compacted mass."

ثُمَّ نَظَرَ

Then he considered [again];

ثُمَّ عَبَسَ وَبَسَرَ

Then he frowned and scowled;

فَمَا لَهُمْ عَنِ ٱلتَّذْكِرَةِ مُعْرِضِينَ

Then what is [the matter] with them that they are, from the reminder, turning away.

كَأَنَّهُمْ حُمُرٌ مُّسْتَنفِرَةٌ

As if they were alarmed donkeys.

بَلْ يُرِيدُ كُلُّ ٱمْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُؤْتَىٰ صُحُفًا مُّنَشَّرَةً

Rather, every person among them desires that he would be given scriptures spread about.

فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ

Then whoever wills will remember it.

بَلْ يُرِيدُ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ لِيَفْجُرَ أَمَامَهُۥ

But man desires to continue in sin.

لَا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِۦ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِۦٓ

Move not your tongue with it, [O Muḥammad], to hasten with it [i.e., recitation of the Qur’ān].

إِنَّا هَدَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلسَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا

Indeed, We guided him to the way, be he grateful or be he ungrateful.

إِنَّآ أَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ سَلَـٰسِلَا۟ وَأَغْلَـٰلًا وَسَعِيرًا

Indeed, We have prepared for the disbelievers chains and shackles and a blaze.

فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تُطِعْ مِنْهُمْ ءَاثِمًا أَوْ كَفُورًا

So be patient for the decision of your Lord and do not obey from among them a sinner or ungrateful [disbeliever].

إِنَّ هَـٰذِهِۦ تَذْكِرَةٌ ۖ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ سَبِيلًا

Indeed, this is a reminder, so he who wills may take to his Lord a way.

فَٱلْمُلْقِيَـٰتِ ذِكْرًا

And those [angels] who deliver a message.

وَأَهْدِيَكَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَتَخْشَىٰ

And let me guide you to your Lord so you would fear [Him]?'"

وَءَاثَرَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا

And preferred the life of the world,

إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُنذِرُ مَن يَخْشَىٰهَا

You are only a warner for those who fear it.

أَوْ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰٓ

Or be reminded and the remembrance would benefit him?

أَمَّا مَنِ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰ

As for he who thinks himself without need,

فَأَنتَ عَنْهُ تَلَهَّىٰ

From him you are distracted.

فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ

So whoever wills may remember it.

وَإِذَا رَأَوْهُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ لَضَآلُّونَ

And when they saw them, they would say, "Indeed, those are truly lost."

وَإِذَا قُرِئَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ لَا يَسْجُدُونَ ۩

And when the Qur’ān is recited to them, they do not prostrate [to Allāh]?

إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوْلٌ فَصْلٌ

Indeed, it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is a decisive statement,

وَيَتَجَنَّبُهَا ٱلْأَشْقَى

But the wretched one will avoid it

فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌ

So remind, [O Muḥammad]; you are only a reminder.

لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُصَيْطِرٍ

You are not over them a controller.

إِلَّا مَن تَوَلَّىٰ وَكَفَرَ

However, he who turns away and disbelieves

وَهَدَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ

And have shown him the two ways?

وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ

And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass?

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّىٰهَا

He has succeeded who purifies it,

وَقَدْ خَابَ مَن دَسَّىٰهَا

And he has failed who instills it [with corruption].

فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَىٰ وَٱتَّقَىٰ

As for he who gives and fears Allāh

إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا لَلْهُدَىٰ

Indeed, [incumbent] upon Us is guidance.

وَوَجَدَكَ ضَآلًّا فَهَدَىٰ

And He found you lost and guided [you],

كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ

No! [But] indeed, man transgresses

أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ

Because he sees himself self-sufficient.

سَنَدْعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ

We will call the angels of Hell.

لَمْ يَكُنِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ مُنفَكِّينَ حَتَّىٰ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَةُ

Those who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists were not to be parted [from misbelief] until there came to them clear evidence

فِيهَا كُتُبٌ قَيِّمَةٌ

Within which are correct writings [i.e., rulings and laws].

وَمَا تَفَرَّقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَةُ

Nor did those who were given the Scripture become divided until after there had come to them clear evidence.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ فِى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمْ شَرُّ ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ

Indeed, they who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein. Those are the worst of creatures.