The Holy Quran

CHAPTER 37

Al-Saffat: THOSE RANGING IN RANKS

SECTION 1: Unity will prevail

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

37:1 By those ranging in ranks,

37:2 And those who restrain holding in restraint,

37:3 And those who recite the Reminder,

37:4 Surely your God is One.

37:5 The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, and the Lord of the eastern lands.

37:6 Surely We have adorned the lower heaven with an adornment, the stars,

37:7 And (there is) a safeguard against every rebellious devil.

37:8 They cannot listen to the exalted assembly and they are reproached from every side,

37:9 Driven off; and for them is a perpetual chastisement,

37:10 Except him who snatches away but once, then there follows him a brightly shining flame.

37:11 So ask them whether they are stronger in creation or those (others) whom We have created. Surely We created them of firm clay.

37:12 Nay, thou wonderest, while they mock,

37:13 And when they are reminded, they mind not,

37:14 And when they see a sign, they seek to scoff,

37:15 And say: This is nothing but clear enchantment.

37:16 When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then be raised,

37:17 Or our fathers of yore?

37:18 Say: Yea, and you will be humiliated.

37:19 So it will be but one cry, when lo! they will see.

37:20 And they will say: O woe to us! This is the day of Requital.

37:21 This is the day of Judgment, which you called a lie.

SECTION 2: The Judgment

37:22 Gather together those who did wrong and their associates, and what they worshipped

37:23 Besides Allah, then lead them to the way to hell.

37:24 And stop them, for they shall be questioned:

37:25 What is the matter with you that you help not one another?

37:26 Nay, on that day they will be submissive.

37:27 And some of them will turn to others mutually questioning --

37:28 Saying: Surely you used to come to us from the right side.

37:29 They will say: Nay, you (yourselves) were not believers.

37:30 And we had no authority over you, but you were an inordinate people.

37:31 So the word of our Lord has proved true against us: we shall surely taste.

37:32 We led you astray, for we ourselves were erring.

37:33 So, that day they will be sharers in the chastisement.

37:34 Thus do We deal with the guilty.

37:35 They indeed were arrogant, when it was said to them: There is no god but Allah;

37:36 And said: Shall we give up our gods for a mad poet?

37:37 Nay, he has brought the Truth and verifies the messengers.

37:38 Surely you will taste the painful chastisement.

37:39 And you are requited naught but for what you did --

37:40 Save the servants of Allah, the purified ones.

37:41 For them is a known sustenance:

37:42 Fruits. And they are honoured,

37:43 In Gardens of delight,

37:44 On thrones, facing each other.

37:45 A bowl of running water will be made to go round them,

37:46 White, delicious to those who drink.

37:47 It deprives not of reason, nor are they exhausted therewith.

37:48 And with them are those modest in gaze, having beautiful eyes,

37:49 As if they were eggs, carefully protected.

37:50 Then some of them will turn to others, questioning mutually.

37:51 A speaker of them will say: Surely I had a comrade,

37:52 Who said: Art thou indeed of those who accept?

37:53 When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then be requited?

37:54 He will say: Will you look?

37:55 Then he looked down and saw him in the midst of hell.

37:56 He will say: By Allah! thou hadst almost caused me to perish;

37:57 And had it not been for favour of my Lord, I should have been among those brought up.

37:58 Are we not to die,

37:59 Except our previous death? And are we not to be chastised?

37:60 Surely this is the mighty achievement.

37:61 For the like of this, then, let the workers work.

37:62 Is this the better entertainment or the tree of Zaqqum?

37:63 Surely We have made it a trial for the wrongdoers.

37:64 It is a tree that grows in the bottom of hell --

37:75 Its produce is as it were the heads of serpents.

37:66 Then truly they will eat of it and fill (their) bellies with it.

37:67 Then surely they shall have after it a drink of boiling water.

37:68 Then their return is surely to the flaming Fire.

37:69 They indeed found their fathers astray,

37:70 So in their footsteps they are hastening on.

37:71 And most of the ancients surely went astray before them,

37:72 And indeed We sent among them warners.

37:73 Then see what was the end of those warned --

37:74 Except the servants of Allah, the purified ones.

SECTION 3: Noah and Abraham

37:75 And Noah certainly called upon Us, and excellent Answerer of prayers are We!

37:76 And We delivered him and his people from the great distress;

37:77 And made his offspring the survivors,

37:78 And left for him (praise) among the later generations,

37:79 Peace be to Noah among the nations!

37:80 Thus indeed do We reward the doers of good.

37:81 Surely he was of Our believing servants.

37:82 Then We drowned the others.

37:83 And surely of his party was Abraham.

37:84 When he came to his Lord with a secure heart.

37:85 When he said to his sire and his people: What is it that you worship?

37:86 A lie -- gods besides Allah do you desire?

37:87 What is then your idea about the Lord of the worlds?

37:88 Then he glanced a glance at the stars,

37:89 And said: Surely I am sick (of your deities).

37:90 So they turned their backs on him, going away.

37:91 Then he turned to their gods and said: Do you not eat?

37:92 What is the matter with you that you speak not?

37:93 So he turned upon them, smiting with the right hand.

37:94 Then they came to him, hastening.

37:95 He said: Do you worship that which you hew out?

37:96 And Allah has created you and what you make.

37:97 They said: Build for him a building, then cast him into the flaming fire.

37:98 And they designed a plan against him, but We brought them low.

37:99 And he said: Surely I flee to my Lord -- He will guide me.

37:100 My Lord, grant me a doer of good deeds.

37:101 So We gave him the good news of a forbearing son.

37:102 But when he became of (age to) work with him, he said: O my son, I have seen in a dream that I should sacrifice thee: so consider what thou seest. He said: O my father, do as thou art commanded; if Allah please, thou wilt find me patient.

37:103 So when they both submitted and he had thrown him down upon his forehead,

37:104 And We called out to him saying, O Abraham,

37:105 Thou has indeed fulfilled the vision. Thus do We reward the doers of good.

37:106 Surely this is a manifest trial.

37:107 And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.

37:108 And We granted him among the later generations (the salutation),

37:109 Peace to be Abraham!

37:110 Thus do We reward the doers of good.

37:111 Surely he was one of Our believing servants.

37:112 And We gave him the good news of Isaac, a prophet, a righteous one.

37:113 And We blessed him and Isaac. And of their offspring some are doers of good, but some are clearly unjust to themselves.

SECTION 4: Moses, Aaron, Elias and Lot

37:114 And certainly We conferred a favour on Moses and Aaron.

37:115 And We delivered them, and their people from the mighty distress.

37:116 And We helped them, so they were the vanquishers.

37:117 And We gave them both the clear Book.

37:118 And We guided them on the right way.

37:119 And We granted them among the later generations (the salutation),

37:120 Peace be to Moses and Aaron!

37:121 Thus do We reward the doers of good.

37:122 Surely they were both of Our believing servants.

37:123 And Elias was surely of those sent.

37:124 When he said to his people: Will you not guard against evil?

37:125 Do you call upon Ba’l and forsake the Best of the creators,

37:126 Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore?

37:127 But they rejected him, so they shall be brought up,

37:128 But not the servants of Allah, the purified ones.

37:129 And We granted him among the later generations (the salutation),

37:130 Peace be to Elias!

37:131 Even thus We reward the doers of good.

37:132 Surely he was one of Our believing servants.

37:133 And Lot was surely of those sent.

37:134 When We delivered him and his people, all --

37:135 Except an old woman among those who remained behind.

37:136 Then We destroyed the others.

37:137 And surely you pass by them in the morning,

37:138 And at night. Do you not then understand?

SECTION 5: Jonah and the Prophet’s Triumph

37:139 And Jonah was surely of those sent.

37:140 When he fled to the laden ship,

37:141 So he shared with others but was of those cast away.

37:142 So the fish took him into its mouth while he was blamable.

37:143 But had he not been of those who glorify (Us),

37:144 He would have tarried in its belly till the day when they are raised.

37:145 Then We cast him on the naked shore, while he was sick.

37:146 And We caused a gourd to grow up for him.

37:147 And We sent him to a hundred thousand or more.

37:148 And they believed, so We gave them provision till a time.

37:149 Now ask them whether thy Lord has daughters and they have sons?

37:150 Or did We create the angels females, while they witnessed?

37:151 Now surely it is of their own lie that they say:

37:152 Allah has begotten. And truly they are liars.

37:153 Has He preferred daughters to sons?

37:154 What is the matter with you? How you judge!

37:155 Will you not then mind?

37:156 Or have you a clear authority?

37:157 Then bring your Book, if you are truthful.

37:158 And they assert a relationship between Him and the jinn. And certainly the jinn know that they will be brought up (for judgment) --

37:159 Glory be to Allah from what they describe! --

37:160 But not so the servants of Allah, the purified ones.

37:161 So surely you and that which you serve,

37:162 Not against Him can you cause (any) to fall into trial,

37:163 Save him who will burn in the flaming Fire.

37:164 And there is none of us but has an assigned place,

37:615 And verily we are ranged in ranks,

37:166 And we truly glorify (Him).

37:167 And surely they used to say:

37:168 Had we a reminder from those of yore,

37:169 We would have been sincere servants of Allah.

37:170 But (now) they disbelieve in it, so they will come to know.

37:171 And certainly Our word has already gone forth to Our servants, to those sent,

37:172 That they, surely they, will be helped,

37:173 And Our hosts, surely they, will be triumphant.

37:174 So turn away from them till a time,

37:175 And watch them, they too will see.

37:176 Would they hasten on Our chastisement?

37:177 So when it descends in their court, evil will be the morning of the warned ones.

37:178 And turn away from them till a time,

37:179 And watch, for they too will see.

37:180 Glory be to thy Lord, the Lord of Might, above what they describe!

37:181 And peace be to those sent!

37:182 And praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!