Sheba
Saba
سَبَأ
LEARNING POINTS
Those who fail to thank Allah for His favours (like the people of Sheba) will pay the price.
One of the main goals of Shaytan is to make people ungrateful to Allah.
Both Dawood and Sulaiman were grateful servants of Allah.
The Makkan idol-worshippers are told that only faith can bring them closer to Allah, not their wealth.
The idol-worshippers are criticized for calling the Prophet crazy, and are warned of punishment in this life and the next.
The wicked will be blaming each other in Hell.
The angels are faithful servants of Allah.
It will be too late for the deniers to show faith in Allah on Judgment Day.
PRAISES TO THE ALMIGHTY
1All praise is for Allah, to Whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And praise be to Him in the Next Life. He is the Wise and fully Aware. 2He knows whatever goes into the earth and whatever comes out of it, and whatever comes down from the sky and whatever goes up into it. And He is the Merciful and Forgiving.
ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِي لَهُۥ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَهُ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ فِي ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ ٱلۡخَبِيرُ 1يَعۡلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا يَخۡرُجُ مِنۡهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا يَعۡرُجُ فِيهَاۚ وَهُوَ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ2
REJECTING THE HOUR
3The disbelievers say, “The Hour of Judgment' will never come to us.” Say, O Prophet, “Yes--by my Lord, the Knower of the unseen--it will certainly come to you!” Not 'even' an atom’s weight is hidden from Him in the heavens or the earth; or anything smaller or bigger than that, but is 'written' in a perfect Book, 4So He may reward those who believe and do good. They will have forgiveness and excellent resources. 5As for those who work hard to challenge Our revelations, they will suffer the 'worst' punishment of horrible pain. 6Those blessed with knowledge can 'clearly' see that what has been revealed to you from your Lord 'O Prophet' is the truth, and that it guides to the Path of the Almighty, the One deserving praise.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَا تَأۡتِينَا ٱلسَّاعَةُۖ قُلۡ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّي لَتَأۡتِيَنَّكُمۡ عَٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِۖ لَا يَعۡزُبُ عَنۡهُ مِثۡقَالُ ذَرَّةٖ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَآ أَصۡغَرُ مِن ذَٰلِكَ وَلَآ أَكۡبَرُ إِلَّا فِي كِتَٰبٖ مُّبِينٖ 3لِّيَجۡزِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٞ وَرِزۡقٞ كَرِيم 4وَٱلَّذِينَ سَعَوۡ فِيٓ ءَايَٰتِنَا مُعَٰجِزِينَ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٞ مِّن رِّجۡزٍ أَلِيمٞ 5وَيَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ هُوَ ٱلۡحَقَّ وَيَهۡدِيٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَمِيدِ6
WARNING TO THE DENIERS
7The disbelievers say 'mockingly to each other', 'Shall we show you a man who claims that after your bodies completely rot 'in the grave' you will be raised to life again? ' 8Has he made up a lie against Allah? Or is he crazy?' In fact, those who do not believe in the Next Life are heading for punishment and have gone far away 'from the truth'. 9Do they not then see the 'mighty' heavens and earth that surround them? If We wanted, We could make the earth swallow them up, or cause 'deadly' chunks from the sky to fall upon them.¹ Surely in this is a sign for every servant who 'always' turns 'to Allah'.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ هَلۡ نَدُلُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٖ يُنَبِّئُكُمۡ إِذَا مُزِّقۡتُمۡ كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ إِنَّكُمۡ لَفِي خَلۡقٖ جَدِيدٍ 7أَفۡتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَم بِهِۦ جِنَّةُۢۗ بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ فِي ٱلۡعَذَابِ وَٱلضَّلَٰلِ ٱلۡبَعِيدِ 8أَفَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ مَا بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَمَا خَلۡفَهُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ إِن نَّشَأۡ نَخۡسِفۡ بِهِمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ أَوۡ نُسۡقِطۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡ كِسَفٗا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَةٗ لِّكُلِّ عَبۡدٖ مُّنِيب9
ALLAH'S FAVOURS TO DAWOOD
10Surely We gave Dawood a 'great' privilege from Us, 'ordering:' 'O mountains! Echo his words of praise! And the same for the birds.' We made iron flexible for him, 11instructing: 'Make full-length armour, setting the links precisely. And do good O family of Dawood!' I surely see what you do.'
وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا دَاوُۥدَ مِنَّا فَضۡلٗاۖ يَٰجِبَالُ أَوِّبِي مَعَهُۥ وَٱلطَّيۡرَۖ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ ٱلۡحَدِيدَ 10أَنِ ٱعۡمَلۡ سَٰبِغَٰتٖ وَقَدِّرۡ فِي ٱلسَّرۡدِۖ وَٱعۡمَلُواْ صَٰلِحًاۖ إِنِّي بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِير11
ALLAH'S FAVOURS TO SULAIMAN
12And We put the wind at the service of Sulaiman: its morning trip was a month’s journey, and so was its evening trip. And We caused a stream of liquid copper to flow for him, and 'made' some jinn work for him by his Lord's permission. And whoever of them disobeyed Our orders, We made them taste the punishment of the flame. 13They made for him whatever he wanted-temples, statues, trays as large as pools, and 'huge' cooking pots fixed 'into the ground'. We ordered: 'Work gratefully, O family of Dawood!' 'Only' a few of My servants are 'truly' grateful. 14Finally, when Our order came for Sulaiman to die, those 'jinn' had no clue that he was 'actually' dead until the termites ate away his staff. So when his body collapsed, the jinn realized that if they had really' known the unknown they would not have continued such humiliating service.
وَلِسُلَيۡمَٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهۡرٞ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَهۡرٞۖ وَأَسَلۡنَا لَهُۥ عَيۡنَ ٱلۡقِطۡرِۖ وَمِنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ مَن يَعۡمَلُ بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهِۦۖ وَمَن يَزِغۡ مِنۡهُمۡ عَنۡ أَمۡرِنَا نُذِقۡهُ مِنۡ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ 12يَعۡمَلُونَ لَهُۥ مَا يَشَآءُ مِن مَّحَٰرِيبَ وَتَمَٰثِيلَ وَجِفَانٖ كَٱلۡجَوَابِ وَقُدُورٖ رَّاسِيَٰتٍۚ ٱعۡمَلُوٓاْ ءَالَ دَاوُۥدَ شُكۡرٗاۚ وَقَلِيلٞ مِّنۡ عِبَادِيَ ٱلشَّكُورُ 13فَلَمَّا قَضَيۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ مَا دَلَّهُمۡ عَلَىٰ مَوۡتِهِۦٓ إِلَّا دَآبَّةُ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ تَأۡكُلُ مِنسَأَتَهُۥۖ فَلَمَّا خَرَّ تَبَيَّنَتِ ٱلۡجِنُّ أَن لَّوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ ٱلۡغَيۡبَ مَا لَبِثُواْ فِي ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلۡمُهِينِ14
BACKGROUND STORY
Sulaiman was very grateful for Allah's blessings. Verses 15-19 below talk about a group of people who failed to thank Allah for all His favours. The people of Sheba had lived in Yemen for centuries. Allah blessed them with good land, water, and gardens. But they disbelieved in Allah and refused to give thanks to Him, so their dam burst, destroying their properties and causing them to move to different places. Some of them stayed in Madinah long before the birth of the Prophet.
SIDE STORY
In Surah 105, we read about 'Amr ibn 'Aamner, who had lived in Sheba before its dam was destroyed. One day he went up the mountain and realized that the dam was going to burst in a few days. He kept it secret and made an evil plan to sell his house and land before he left the city. He told his son, 'When we go to the city’s gathering tomorrow, I am going to ask you to pass me a glass of water. Don’t listen to me. When I ask you again, I want you to get angry and slap me!' His son refused at first, but eventually agreed to the plan. When 'Amr was slapped, he pretended to be very mad and threatened to kill his son. People begged him not to. Finally he said, 'Fine! But I'll not stay in a city where I have been humiliated by my own son.' They offered to buy his house and land. He said, 'OK, but you have to pay me today before I change my mind.' So, they paid him in gold. Then he took his family, including his son, along with all the gold and left overnight when everybody was asleep. Two days later the dam burst, destroying all of Sheba's homes and farms. (Recorded by Imam Ibn Kathir)
ALLAH'S FAVOURS TO SHEBA 1) RESOURCES
15Surely there was a sign for the tribe of Sheba in their homeland: two gardens-one to the right and the other to the left. They were told: 'Eat from the resources of your Lord and be grateful to Him. 'You have' a good land and a forgiving Lord' 16But they turned away. So We sent against them a horrible flood, and replaced their gardens with two others producing sour fruit, useless bushes, and a few spiky trees. 17This is how We paid them back for being ungrateful. Would We ever punish 'anyone in such a way except the ungrateful?
لَقَدۡ كَانَ لِسَبَإٖ فِي مَسۡكَنِهِمۡ ءَايَةٞۖ جَنَّتَانِ عَن يَمِينٖ وَشِمَالٖۖ كُلُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِ رَبِّكُمۡ وَٱشۡكُرُواْ لَهُۥۚ بَلۡدَةٞ طَيِّبَةٞ وَرَبٌّ غَفُورٞ 15فَأَعۡرَضُواْ فَأَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ سَيۡلَ ٱلۡعَرِمِ وَبَدَّلۡنَٰهُم بِجَنَّتَيۡهِمۡ جَنَّتَيۡنِ ذَوَاتَيۡ أُكُلٍ خَمۡطٖ وَأَثۡلٖ وَشَيۡءٖ مِّن سِدۡرٖ قَلِيل 16ذَٰلِكَ جَزَيۡنَٰهُم بِمَا كَفَرُواْۖ وَهَلۡ نُجَٰزِيٓ إِلَّا ٱلۡكَفُورَ17
WORDS OF WISDOM
Someone may ask, 'If Allah made their travel easy, how come they wanted it to be difficult?' The answer is that people get bored of comfortable living, so sometimes they want to spice it up with some challenges and suspense for a change. Imagine if your favourite team wins every single game for years; where is the fun in this? This is what happened with the people of Musa sh in the Quran (2:61)., They complained about the amazing food that Allah used to send them every day from the sky-quails (birds smaller than chickens) and honey-like sweets. They said, 'We are tired of this meal. Can we get some onions and garlic instead?' Similarly, there was a ruler of Muslim Spain, named Al-Mu'tamid. For years, his wife lived a fancy life in the palace. One day, she told him, 'I'm bored of walking on expensive carpets. I want to walk in the mud!' So he ordered his servants to make a pool of mud for her in the garden.
ALLAH'S FAVOURS TO SHEBA 2) SAFE TRAVEL
18We had also put between them and the cities We blessed many 'small' towns, not far from each other. And We set reasonable travel distances in between, 'saying,' 'Travel between them by day and night safely' 19But they said, 'Our Lord! Make 'the distances of our journeys longer,' and they wronged themselves. So We made them an example, and split them up everywhere. Surely in this are lessons for whoever is patient and grateful.
وَجَعَلۡنَا بَيۡنَهُمۡ وَبَيۡنَ ٱلۡقُرَى ٱلَّتِي بَٰرَكۡنَا فِيهَا قُرٗى ظَٰهِرَةٗ وَقَدَّرۡنَا فِيهَا ٱلسَّيۡرَۖ سِيرُواْ فِيهَا لَيَالِيَ وَأَيَّامًا ءَامِنِينَ 18فَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَا بَٰعِدۡ بَيۡنَ أَسۡفَارِنَا وَظَلَمُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ فَجَعَلۡنَٰهُمۡ أَحَادِيثَ وَمَزَّقۡنَٰهُمۡ كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٖ شَكُورٖ19
BACKGROUND STORY
Allah created us for a reason-to worship Him and show Him gratitude. We thank Him for wealth by donating. We thank Him for health by fasting. We thank Him for everything by offering salah, and so on. Now, when Satan was kicked out of Allah's mercy, his name became Iblis 'the one who lost hope in Allah's mercy.' He promised to misguide humans, making them ungrateful to Allah. According to 7:16-17, he argued with Allah, 'For letting me stray, I will ambush them on Your Straight Path. Then I will target them from their front and their back and from their right and their left, so You will find most of them ungrateful.' In the following passage, Allah tells us that the promise of Iblis has come true, as many people have followed his evil whispers.
SATAN'S PROMISE
20Surely Iblis' promise about them has come true, so they all follow him, except a group of 'true' believers. 21He does not have any authority over them, but Our 'goal is' only to distinguish those who believe in the Next Life from those who are in doubt about it. And your Lord is a Keeper over all things.
وَلَقَدۡ صَدَّقَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ إِبۡلِيسُ ظَنَّهُۥ فَٱتَّبَعُوهُ إِلَّا فَرِيقٗا مِّنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ 20وَمَا كَانَ لَهُۥ عَلَيۡهِم مِّن سُلۡطَٰنٍ إِلَّا لِنَعۡلَمَ مَن يُؤۡمِنُ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ مِمَّنۡ هُوَ مِنۡهَا فِي شَكّٖۗ وَرَبُّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٍ حَفِيظٞ21
HELPLESS IDOLS
22Say, 'O Prophet,' 'Call upon those 'false gods' you claim besides Allah. They do not own 'even' an atom's weight in the heavens or the earth, and they do not have any share in 'managing' them. None of them is His helper.' 23No words of defence will work with Him 'in the Next Life', except by those given permission by Him. 'At last,' when the horror 'of Judgment Day' is lifted from their hearts 'because they are allowed to speak', they will 'happily' ask 'the angels, 'What has your Lord 'just' said?' The angels will reply, 'The truth! And He is the Most High and Great.'
قُلِ ٱدۡعُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ زَعَمۡتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَمۡلِكُونَ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّةٖ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا لَهُمۡ فِيهِمَا مِن شِرۡكٖ وَمَا لَهُۥ مِنۡهُم مِّن ظَهِير 22وَلَا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا لِمَنۡ أَذِنَ لَهُۥۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلُوبِهِمۡ قَالُواْ مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمۡۖ قَالُواْ ٱلۡحَقَّۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَلِيُّ ٱلۡكَبِيرُ23
QUESTIONS TO THE IDOL-WORSHIPPERS
24Ask 'them, O Prophet,' 'Who provides for you from the heavens and the earth?' Say, 'Allah! Now, certainly one of our two groups is 'rightly' guided and the other has clearly lost the way.' 25Say, 'You will not answer for our misdeeds, and we will not answer for your deeds.' 26Say, 'Our Lord will gather us together, then He will judge between us with the truth. He is the Judge with perfect knowledge.' 27Say, 'Show me those 'false gods' you have joined with Him as partners. No! In fact, He 'alone' is Allah--the Almighty and Wise.'
قُلۡ مَن يَرۡزُقُكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ قُلِ ٱللَّهُۖ وَإِنَّآ أَوۡ إِيَّاكُمۡ لَعَلَىٰ هُدًى أَوۡ فِي ضَلَٰلٖ مُّبِين 24قُل لَّا تُسَۡٔلُونَ عَمَّآ أَجۡرَمۡنَا وَلَا نُسَۡٔلُ عَمَّا تَعۡمَلُونَ 25قُلۡ يَجۡمَعُ بَيۡنَنَا رَبُّنَا ثُمَّ يَفۡتَحُ بَيۡنَنَا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَهُوَ ٱلۡفَتَّاحُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ 26قُلۡ أَرُونِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَلۡحَقۡتُم بِهِۦ شُرَكَآءَۖ كَلَّاۚ بَلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ27
WARNING OF JUDGMENT DAY
28We have sent you 'O Prophet' only as a giver of good news and a warner to all of humanity, but most people do not know. 29And they ask 'the believers mockingly', 'When will this threat happen, if what you say is true?' 30Say, 'O Prophet,' 'A Day has 'already' been set for you, which you cannot delay or speed up by even a 'single' moment.'
وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَٰكَ إِلَّا كَآفَّةٗ لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرٗا وَنَذِيرٗا وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ 28وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ 29قُل لَّكُم مِّيعَادُ يَوۡمٖ لَّا تَسۡتَٔۡخِرُونَ عَنۡهُ سَاعَةٗ وَلَا تَسۡتَقۡدِمُونَ30
THE MISLEADERS VS. THE MISLED
31The disbelievers say, 'We will never believe in this Quran or any Book that came before it.' If only you could see when those who do wrong will be detained in front of their Lord, throwing blame at each other! The weak followers will say to the arrogant leaders, 'If it was not for you, we would certainly have been believers.' 32The arrogant will respond to the followers, 'Did we ever prevent you from guidance after it came to you? In fact, you were wicked 'on your own.' 33The followers will say to the arrogant, 'No! It was all because of your 'evil' planning day and night while you ordered us to disbelieve in Allah and make others equal to Him.' They will 'all' hide 'their' regret when they see the punishment. And We will put chains on the necks of the disbelievers. Will they be paid back except for what they used to do?
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَن نُّؤۡمِنَ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ وَلَا بِٱلَّذِي بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِۗ وَلَوۡ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ مَوۡقُوفُونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ يَرۡجِعُ بَعۡضُهُمۡ إِلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ ٱلۡقَوۡلَ يَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ لَوۡلَآ أَنتُمۡ لَكُنَّا مُؤۡمِنِينَ 31قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُوٓاْ أَنَحۡنُ صَدَدۡنَٰكُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ بَعۡدَ إِذۡ جَآءَكُمۖ بَلۡ كُنتُم مُّجۡرِمِينَ 32وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ بَلۡ مَكۡرُ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذۡ تَأۡمُرُونَنَآ أَن نَّكۡفُرَ بِٱللَّهِ وَنَجۡعَلَ لَهُۥٓ أَندَادٗاۚ وَأَسَرُّواْ ٱلنَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُاْ ٱلۡعَذَابَۚ وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱلۡأَغۡلَٰلَ فِيٓ أَعۡنَاقِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْۖ هَلۡ يُجۡزَوۡنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ33
SPOILED ELITE
34Whenever We sent a warner to a society, its spoiled elite would say, 'We truly reject what you have been sent with.' 35Adding, 'We are much better 'than the believers' in wealth and children, and we will never be punished.' 36Say, 'O Prophet,' 'Surely it is' my Lord Who' gives generous or limited resources to whoever He wants. But most people do not know.' 37It is not your wealth or children that bring you closer to Us. As for those who believe and do good, they will have a multiplied reward for what they did, and they will be secure in 'high' mansions. 38As for those who work hard against Our revelations, they will be trapped in punishment. 39Say, 'O Prophet,' 'Surely it is' my Lord Who' gives generous or limited resources to whoever He wants of His servants. And whatever you spend in charity, He will pay it back. And He is the Best Provider.'
وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا فِي قَرۡيَةٖ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتۡرَفُوهَآ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرۡسِلۡتُم بِهِۦ كَٰفِرُونَ 34وَقَالُواْ نَحۡنُ أَكۡثَرُ أَمۡوَٰلٗا وَأَوۡلَٰدٗا وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ 35قُلۡ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبۡسُطُ ٱلرِّزۡقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقۡدِرُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ 36وَمَآ أَمۡوَٰلُكُمۡ وَلَآ أَوۡلَٰدُكُم بِٱلَّتِي تُقَرِّبُكُمۡ عِندَنَا زُلۡفَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَنۡ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمۡ جَزَآءُ ٱلضِّعۡفِ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ وَهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡغُرُفَٰتِ ءَامِنُونَ 37وَٱلَّذِينَ يَسۡعَوۡنَ فِيٓ ءَايَٰتِنَا مُعَٰجِزِينَ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ فِي ٱلۡعَذَابِ مُحۡضَرُونَ 38قُلۡ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبۡسُطُ ٱلرِّزۡقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقۡدِرُ لَهُۥۚ وَمَآ أَنفَقۡتُم مِّن شَيۡءٖ فَهُوَ يُخۡلِفُهُۥۖ وَهُوَ خَيۡرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ39
THE WORSHIPPERS AND THE WORSHIPPED
40'Watch out for' the Day He will gather them all together, and then ask the angels, 'Was it you that these 'people' used to worship?' 41They will say, 'Glory be to You! We are loyal to You, not them. In fact, they 'only' followed 'evil' jinn, with most of them believing in them.' 42So Today you cannot benefit or protect each other: And We will say to those who did wrong, 'Taste the punishment of the Fire, which you used to deny.'
وَيَوۡمَ يَحۡشُرُهُمۡ جَمِيعٗا ثُمَّ يَقُولُ لِلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ أَهَٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِيَّاكُمۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡبُدُونَ 40قَالُواْ سُبۡحَٰنَكَ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا مِن دُونِهِمۖ بَلۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡبُدُونَ ٱلۡجِنَّۖ أَكۡثَرُهُم بِهِم مُّؤۡمِنُونَ 41فَٱلۡيَوۡمَ لَا يَمۡلِكُ بَعۡضُكُمۡ لِبَعۡضٖ نَّفۡعٗا وَلَا ضَرّٗا وَنَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ ذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ٱلَّتِي كُنتُم بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ42
RESPONSE OF THE IDOL-WORSHIPPERS
43When Our clear revelations are recited to them, they say, 'This is only a man who wishes to stop you from what your fathers used to worship.' They also say, 'This Quran' is just a made-up lie.' And the disbelievers say about the truth when it has come to them, 'This is nothing but pure magic.' 44'They say this even though' We had never given them any books to study, and We never sent them a warner before you O Prophet'. 45Those destroyed' before them rejected as well-and 'these Makkans' do not even have ten percent of what We gave those before them.' But 'when' they rejected My messengers, how severe was My response!
وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتُنَا بَيِّنَٰتٖ قَالُواْ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّا رَجُلٞ يُرِيدُ أَن يَصُدَّكُمۡ عَمَّا كَانَ يَعۡبُدُ ءَابَآؤُكُمۡ وَقَالُواْ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ إِفۡكٞ مُّفۡتَرٗىۚ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمۡ إِنۡ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحۡرٞ مُّبِينٞ 43وَمَآ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُم مِّن كُتُبٖ يَدۡرُسُونَهَاۖ وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡهِمۡ قَبۡلَكَ مِن نَّذِير 44وَكَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ وَمَا بَلَغُواْ مِعۡشَارَ مَآ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُمۡ فَكَذَّبُواْ رُسُلِيۖ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ45
ADVICE TO MAKKAN IDOL-WORSHIPPERS
46Say, 'O Prophet,' 'I advise you to do 'only' one thing: stand up for 'the sake of Allah-two by two or one by one-then think about it. Your fellow man' is not insane. He is only a warner to you before the coming of a severe punishment.' 47Say, 'If I ever asked you for a fee 'for this message', you can keep it. My reward is only from Allah. And He is a Witness over all things.' 48Say, 'Surely my Lord sends down the truth. 'He is' the Knower of all unseen.' 49Say, 'The truth has come, and falsehood will die out, never to return.' 50Say, 'If I am lost, the loss is only mine. And if I am guided, it is 'only' because of what my Lord reveals to me. He surely hears everything and is 'always' close.'
قُلۡ إِنَّمَآ أَعِظُكُم بِوَٰحِدَةٍۖ أَن تَقُومُواْ لِلَّهِ مَثۡنَىٰ وَفُرَٰدَىٰ ثُمَّ تَتَفَكَّرُواْۚ مَا بِصَاحِبِكُم مِّن جِنَّةٍۚ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٞ لَّكُم بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡ عَذَابٖ شَدِيدٖ 46قُلۡ مَا سَأَلۡتُكُم مِّنۡ أَجۡرٖ فَهُوَ لَكُمۡۖ إِنۡ أَجۡرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ شَهِيدٞ 47قُلۡ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَقۡذِفُ بِٱلۡحَقِّ عَلَّٰمُ ٱلۡغُيُوبِ 48قُلۡ جَآءَ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَمَا يُبۡدِئُ ٱلۡبَٰطِلُ وَمَا يُعِيدُ 49قُلۡ إِن ضَلَلۡتُ فَإِنَّمَآ أَضِلُّ عَلَىٰ نَفۡسِيۖ وَإِنِ ٱهۡتَدَيۡتُ فَبِمَا يُوحِيٓ إِلَيَّ رَبِّيٓۚ إِنَّهُۥ سَمِيعٞ قَرِيبٞ50
TOO LATE FOR THE DENIERS
51If only you could see when they will be horrified 'as they come out of the grave' with no escape! And they will be snatched away from a nearby place.¹ 52They will 'then' cry, 'We do now' believe in it 'all''. But how could they 'possibly' reach faith from a place so far away 'from the world'? 53while they had 'already' rejected it before, guessing blindly from a place 'equally' far away 'from the Next Life'? 54They will be sealed off from everything they desire, as was done to others like them before. Surely they were 'all' in disturbing doubt.
وَلَوۡ تَرَىٰٓ إِذۡ فَزِعُواْ فَلَا فَوۡتَ وَأُخِذُواْ مِن مَّكَانٖ قَرِيبٖ 51وَقَالُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ وَأَنَّىٰ لَهُمُ ٱلتَّنَاوُشُ مِن مَّكَانِۢ بَعِيدٖ 52وَقَدۡ كَفَرُواْ بِهِۦ مِن قَبۡلُۖ وَيَقۡذِفُونَ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ مِن مَّكَانِۢ بَعِيدٖ 53وَحِيلَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ وَبَيۡنَ مَا يَشۡتَهُونَ كَمَا فُعِلَ بِأَشۡيَاعِهِم مِّن قَبۡلُۚ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ فِي شَكّٖ مُّرِيبِۢ54