Ash-Shu’arâ' (Surah 26)
Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets)
Makki SurahIntroduction
This Meccan sûrah takes its name from the reference to poets in verses 224-226. Since the previous sûrah ends with a warning to the deniers of the truth, this sûrah recounts several cautionary tales of destroyed deniers such as Pharaoh and the peoples of Noah, Shu’aib, Lot, and Ṣâliḥ. The divine origin of the Quran is emphasized at both ends of the sûrah. The qualities of the believers mentioned in the last verse (227) are elaborated upon at the beginning of the next sûrah. In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.
Warning to the Disbelievers
1. Ṭâ-Sĩn-Mĩm. 2. These are the verses of the clear Book. 3. Perhaps you (O Prophet) will grieve yourself to death over their disbelief. 4. If We willed, We could send down upon them a (compelling) sign from the heavens, leaving their necks bent in (utter) submission to it. 5. Whatever new reminder comes to them from the Most Compassionate, they always turn away from it. 6. They have certainly denied (the truth), so they will soon face the consequences of their ridicule 7. Have they failed to look at the earth, (to see) how many types of fine plants We have caused to grow in it? 8. Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe. 9. And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 1-9
Prophet Moses
10. (Remember) when your Lord called out to Moses, “Go to the wrongdoing people— 11. the people of Pharaoh. Will they not fear (Allah)?” 12. He replied, “My Lord! I fear that they will reject me. 13. And (so) my heart will be broken and my tongue will be tied. So send Aaron along (as a messenger). 14. Also, they have a charge against me, so I fear they may kill me. 15. Allah responded, “Certainly not! So go, both of you, with Our signs. We will be with you, listening. 16. Go to Pharaoh and say, ‘We are messengers from the Lord of all worlds, 17. (commanded to say:) ‘Let the Children of Israel go with us.’’”
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 10-17
Moses vs. Pharaoh
18. Pharaoh protested, “Did we not raise you among us as a child, and you stayed several years of your life in our care? 19. Then you did what you did, being (utterly) ungrateful!” 20. Moses replied, “I did it then, lacking guidance. 21. So I fled from you when I feared you. Then my Lord granted me wisdom and made me one of the messengers. 22. How can that be a ‘favor,’ of which you remind me, when (it was only because) you (have) enslaved the Children of Israel?” 23. Pharaoh asked, “And what is ‘the Lord of all worlds’?” 24. Moses replied, “(He is) the Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything in between, if only you had sure faith.” 25. Pharaoh said to those around him, “Did you hear (what he said)?” 26. Moses added, “(He is) your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers.” 27. Pharaoh said (mockingly), “Your messenger, who has been sent to you, must be insane.” 28. Moses responded: “(He is) the Lord of the east and west, and everything in between, if only you had any sense.”
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 18-28
The Challenge
29. Pharaoh threatened, “If you take any other god besides me, I will certainly have you imprisoned.” 30. Moses responded, “Even if I bring you a clear proof?” 31. Pharaoh demanded, “Bring it then, if what you say is true.” 32. So he threw down his staff and—behold!—it became a real snake. 33. Then he drew his hand (out of his collar) and it was (shining) white for all to see. 34. Pharaoh said to the chiefs around him, “He is indeed a skilled magician, 35. who seeks to drive you from your land by his magic. So what do you propose?” 36. . They replied, “Let him and his brother wait and dispatch mobilizers to all cities 37. to bring you every skilled magician.” 38. So the magicians were assembled at the set time on the appointed day. 39. And the people were asked, “Will you join the gathering, 40. so that we may follow the magicians if they prevail?”
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 29-40
Moses and the Magicians Face off
41. When the magicians came, they asked Pharaoh, “Shall we have a (suitable) reward if we prevail?” 42. He replied, “Yes, and you will then certainly be among those closest to me.” 43. Moses said to them, “Cast whatever you wish to cast.” 44. So they cast down their ropes and staffs, saying, “By Pharaoh’s might, it is we who will surely prevail.” 45. Then Moses threw down his staff, and—behold!—it devoured the objects of their illusion!
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 41-45
Magicians Become Believers
46. So the magicians fell down, prostrating. 47. They declared, “We (now) believe in the Lord of all worlds— 48. the Lord of Moses and Aaron.” 49. Pharaoh threatened, “How dare you believe in him before I give you permission? He must be your master who taught you magic, but soon you will see. I will certainly cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, then crucify you all.” 50. They responded, “(That would be) no harm! Surely to our Lord we will (all) return. 51. We really hope that our Lord will forgive our sins, as we are the first to believe.”
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 46-51
Pharaoh Chases the Israelites
52. And We inspired Moses, (saying,) “Leave with My servants at night, for you will surely be pursued.” 53. Then Pharaoh sent mobilizers to all cities, 54. (and said,) “These (outcasts) are just a handful of people, 55. who have really enraged us, 56. but we are all on the alert.” 57. So We lured the tyrants out of (their) gardens, springs, 58. treasures, and splendid residences. 59. So it was. And We awarded it (all) to the Children of Israel.
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 52-59
The End of Pharaoh
60. And so they pursued them at sunrise 61. When the two groups came face to face, the companions of Moses cried out, “We are overtaken for sure.” 62. Moses reassured (them), “Absolutely not! My Lord is certainly with me—He will guide me.” 63. So We inspired Moses: “Strike the sea with your staff,” and the sea was split, each part was like a huge mountain. 64. We drew the pursuers to that place, 65. and delivered Moses and those with him all together. 66. Then We drowned the others. 67. Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe. 68. And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 60-68
Prophet Abraham
69. Relate to them (O Prophet) the story of Abraham, 70. when he questioned his father and his people, “What is that you worship (besides Allah)?” 71. They replied, “We worship idols, to which we are fully devoted.” 72. Abraham asked, “Can they hear you when you call upon them? 73. Or can they benefit or harm you?” 74. They replied, “No! But we found our forefathers doing the same.” 75. Abraham responded, “Have you (really) considered what you have been worshipping— 76. you and your ancestors? 77. They are (all) enemies to me, except the Lord of all worlds. 78. (He is) the One Who created me, and He (alone) guides me. 79. (He is) the One Who provides me with food and drink. 80. And He (alone) heals me when I am sick. 81. And He (is the One Who) will cause me to die, and then bring me back to life. 82. And He is (the One) Who, I hope, will forgive my flaws on Judgment Day.”
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 69-82
Abraham’s Prayer
83. “My Lord! Grant me wisdom, and join me with the righteous. 84. Bless me with honourable mention among later generations. 85. Make me one of those awarded the Garden of Bliss. 86. Forgive my father, for he is certainly one of the misguided. 87. And do not disgrace me on the Day all will be resurrected— 88. the Day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit. 89. Only those who come before Allah with a pure heart (will be saved).”
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 83-89
Judgment Day
90. (On that Day) Paradise will be brought near to the God-fearing, 91. and the Hellfire will be displayed to the deviant. 92. And it will be said to them, “Where are those you used to worship 93. besides Allah? Can they help you or even help themselves?” 94. Then the idols will be hurled headlong into Hell, along with the deviant 95. and the soldiers of Iblîs, all together. 96. There the deviant will cry while disputing with their idols, 97. “By Allah! We were clearly mistaken, 98. when we made you equal to the Lord of all worlds. 99. And none led us astray other than the wicked. 100. Now we have none to intercede for us, 101. nor a close friend. 102. If only we could have a second chance, then we would be believers.” 103. Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe. 104. And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 90-104
Prophet Noah
105. The people of Noah rejected the messengers 106. when their brother Noah said to them, “Will you not fear (Allah)? 107. I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you. 108. So fear Allah, and obey me. 109. I do not ask you for any reward for this (message). My reward is only from the Lord of all worlds. 110. So fear Allah, and obey me.” 111. They argued, “How can we believe in you, when you are followed (only) by the lowest of the low?” 112. He responded, “And what knowledge do I have of what they do? 113. Their judgment is with my Lord, if you had any sense! 114. I am not going to expel the believers. 115. I am only sent with a clear warning.”
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 105-115
Noah’s People Destroyed
116. They threatened, “If you do not desist, O Noah, you will surely be stoned (to death).” 117. Noah prayed, “My Lord! My people have truly rejected me. 118. So judge between me and them decisively, and save me and the believers with me.” 119. So We saved him and those with him in the fully loaded Ark. 120. Then afterwards We drowned the rest. 121. Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe. 122. And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 116-122
Prophet Hûd
123. The people of ’Âd rejected the messengers 124. when their brother Hûd said to them, “Will you not fear (Allah)? 125. I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you. 126. So fear Allah, and obey me. 127. I do not ask you for any reward for this (message). My reward is only from the Lord of all worlds. 128. (Why) do you build a landmark on every high place in vanity, 129. and construct castles, as if you are going to live forever, 130. and act so viciously when you attack (others)? 131. So fear Allah, and obey me. 132. Fear the One Who has provided you with (the good) things you know: 133. He provided you with cattle, and children, 134. and gardens, and springs. 135. I truly fear for you the torment of a tremendous day.”
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 123-135
Hûd’s People Destroyed
136. They responded, “It is all the same to us whether you warn (us) or not. 137. This is simply the tradition of our predecessors. 138. And we will never be punished.” 139. So they rejected him, and (so) We destroyed them. Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe. 140. And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 136-140
Prophet Ṣâliḥ
141. The people of Thamûd rejected the messengers 142. when their brother Ṣâliḥ said to them, “Will you not fear (Allah)? 143. I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you. 144. So fear Allah, and obey me. 145. I do not ask you for any reward for this (message). My reward is only from the Lord of all worlds. 146. Do you think you will be (forever) left secure in what you have here: 147. amid gardens and springs, 1 148. and (various) crops, and palm trees (loaded) with tender fruit; 149. to carve homes in the mountains with great skill? 150. So fear Allah, and obey me. 151. And do not follow the command of the transgressors, 152. who spread corruption throughout the land, never setting things right.”
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 141-152
Ṣâliḥ’s People Destroyed
153. They replied, “You are simply bewitched! 154. You are only a human being like us, so bring forth a sign if what you say is true.” 155. Ṣâliḥ said, “Here is a camel. She will have her turn to drink as you have yours, each on an appointed day. 156. And do not ever touch her with harm, or you will be overtaken by the torment of a tremendous day.” 157. But they killed her, becoming regretful. 158. So the punishment overtook them. Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe. 159. And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 153-159
Prophet Lot
160. The people of Lot rejected the messengers 161. when their brother Lot said to them, “Will you not fear (Allah)? 162. I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you. 163. So fear Allah, and obey me. 164. I do not ask you for any reward for this (message). My reward is only from the Lord of all worlds. 165. Why do you (men) lust after fellow men, 166. leaving the wives that your Lord has created for you? In fact, you are a transgressing people.”
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 160-166
Lot’s People Destroyed
167. They threatened, “If you do not desist, O Lot, you will surely be expelled.” 168. Lot responded, “I am truly one of those who despise your (shameful) practice. 169. My Lord! Save me and my family from (the consequences of) what they do.” 170. So We saved him and all of his family, 171. except an old woman, who was one of the doomed. 172. Then We utterly destroyed the rest, 173. pouring upon them a rain (of brimstone). How evil was the rain of those who had been warned! 174. Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe. 175. And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 167-175
Prophet Shu’aib
176. The residents of the Forest rejected the messengers 177. when Shu’aib said to them, “Will you not fear (Allah)? 178. I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you. 179. So fear Allah, and obey me. 180. I do not ask you for any reward for this (message). My reward is only from the Lord of all worlds. 181. Give full measure, and cause no loss (to others). 182. Weigh with an even balance, 183. and do not defraud people of their property. Nor go about spreading corruption in the land. 184. And fear the One Who created you and (all) earlier peoples.”
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 176-184
Shu’aib’s People Destroyed
185. They replied, “You are simply bewitched! 186. Also, you are only a human being like us, and we think you are indeed a liar. 187. So cause (deadly) pieces of the sky to fall upon us, if what you say is true.” 188. Shu’aib responded, “My Lord knows best whatever you do.” 189. So they rejected him, and (so) were overtaken by the torment of the day of the (deadly) cloud. That was really a torment of a tremendous day. 190. Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe. 191. And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 185-191
The Quran
192. This is certainly a revelation from the Lord of all worlds, 193. which the trustworthy spirit (Gabriel) brought down 194. into your heart (O Prophet)—so that you may be one of the warners— 195. in a clear Arabic tongue. 196. And it has indeed been (foretold) in the Scriptures of those before. 197. Was it not sufficient proof for the deniers that it has been recognized by the knowledgeable among the Children of Israel? 198. Had We revealed it to a non-Arab, 199. who would then recite it to the deniers (in fluent Arabic), still they would not have believed in it! 200. This is how We allow denial (to steep) into the hearts of the wicked. 201. They will not believe in it until they see the painful punishment, 202. which will take them by surprise when they least expect (it). 203. Then they will cry, “Can we be allowed more time?”
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 192-203
Warning to the Meccan Pagans
204. Do they (really) seek to hasten Our torment? 205. Imagine (O Prophet) if We allowed them enjoyment for years, 206. then there came to them what they had been threatened with: 207. would that enjoyment be of any benefit to them (at all)? 208. We have never destroyed a society without warners 209. to remind (them), for We would never wrong (anyone).
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 204-209
The Quran Is Allah’s Word
210. It was not the devils who brought this (Quran) down: 211. it is not for them (to do so), nor can they, 212. for they are strictly barred from (even) overhearing (it).
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 210-212
Advice to the Prophet
213. So do not ever call upon any other god besides Allah, or you will be one of the punished. 214. And warn (all, starting with) your closest relatives, 215. and be gracious to the believers who follow you. 216. But if they disobey you, say, “I am certainly free of what you do.” 217. Put your trust in the Almighty, Most Merciful, 218. Who sees you when you rise (for prayer at night), 219. as well as your movements (in prayer) along with (fellow) worshippers. 220. He (alone) is indeed the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 213-220
The Devils
221. Shall I inform you of whom the devils (actually) descend upon? 222. They descend upon every sinful liar, 223. who gives an (attentive) ear (to half-truths), mostly passing on sheer lies.
Surah 26 - Ash-Shu'arâ' (The Poets) - Verses 221-223
The Poets
224. As for poets, they are followed (merely) by deviants. 225. Do you not see how they rant in every field, 226. only saying what they never do? 227. Except those who believe, do good, remember Allah often, and (poetically) avenge (the believers) after being wrongfully slandered. The wrongdoers will come to know what (evil) end they will meet.