37. as-Saffat: The Rangers

The Meaning of the Glorious Qur'ân, by M.M. Pickthall, at sacred-texts.com

1 By those who set the ranks in battle order 2 And those who drive away (the wicked) with reproof 3 And those who read (the Word) for a reminder, 4 Lo! thy Lord is surely One; 5 Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all that is between them, and Lord of the sun's risings. 6 Lo! We have adorned the lowest heaven with an ornament, the planets; 7 With security from every froward devil. 8 They cannot listen to the Highest Chiefs for they are pelted from every side, 9 Outcast, and theirs is a perpetual torment; 10 Save him who snatcheth a fragment, and there pursueth him a piercing flame. 11 Then ask them (O Muhammad): Are they stronger as a creation, or those (others) whom we have created ? Lo! We created them of plastic clay. 12 Nay, but thou dost marvel when they mock 13 And heed not when they are reminded, 14 And seek to scoff when they behold a portent. 15 And they say: Lo! this is mere magic; 16 When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, be raised (again) ? 17 And our forefathers ? 18 Say (O Muhammad): Ye, in truth; and ye will be brought low. 19 There is but one Shout, and lo! they behold, 20 And say: Ah, woe for us! This is the Day of Judgment. 21 This is the Day of Separation, which ye used to deny. 22 (And it is said unto the angels): Assemble those who did wrong, together with their wives and what they used to worship 23 Instead of Allah, and lead them to the path to hell; 24 And stop them, for they must be questioned. 25 What aileth you that ye help not one another ? 26 Nay, but this day they make full submission. 27 And some of them draw near unto others, mutually questioning. 28 They say: Lo! ye used to come unto us, imposing, (swearing that ye spoke the truth). 29 They answer: Nay, but ye (yourselves) were not believers. 30 We had no power over you, but ye were wayward folk. 31 Now the Word of our Lord hath been fulfilled concerning us. Lo! we are about to taste (the doom). 32 Thus we misled you. Lo! we were (ourselves) astray. 33 Then lo! this day they (both) are sharers in the doom. 34 Lo! thus deal We with the guilty. 35 For when it was said unto them, There is no God save Allah, they were scornful 36 And said: Shall we forsake our gods for a mad poet ? 37 Nay, but he brought the Truth, and he confirmed those sent (before him). 38 Lo! (now) verily ye taste the painful doom - 39 Ye are requited naught save what ye did - 40 Save single-minded slaves of Allah; 41 For them there is a known provision, 42 Fruits. And they will be honoured 43 In the Gardens of delight, 44 On couches facing one another; 45 A cup from a gushing spring is brought round for them, 46 White, delicious to the drinkers, 47 Wherein there is no headache nor are they made mad thereby. 48 And with them are those of modest gaze, with lovely eyes, 49 (Pure) as they were hidden eggs (of the ostrich). 50 And some of them draw near unto others, mutually questioning. 51 A speaker of them saith: Lo! I had a comrade 52 Who used to say: Art thou in truth of those who put faith (in his words) ? 53 Can we, when we are dead and have become mere dust and bones - can we (then) verily be brought to book ? 54 He saith: Will ye look ? 55 Then looketh he and seeth him in the depth of hell. 56 He saith: By Allah, thou verily didst all but cause my ruin, 57 And had it not been for the favour of my Lord, I too had been of those haled forth (to doom). 58 Are we then not to die 59 Saving our former death, and are we not to be punished ? 60 Lo! this is the supreme triumph. 61 For the like of this, then, let the workers work. 62 Is this better as a welcome, or the tree of Zaqqum ? 63 Lo! We have appointed it a torment for wrong-doers. 64 Lo! it is a tree that springeth in the heart of hell. 65 Its crop is as it were the heads of devils 66 And lo! they verily must eat thereof, and fill (their) bellies therewith. 67 And afterward, lo! thereupon they have a drink of boiling water 68 And afterward, lo! their return is surely unto hell. 69 They indeed found their fathers astray, 70 But they make haste (to follow) in their footsteps. 71 And verily most of the men of old went astray before them, 72 And verily We sent among them warners. 73 Then see the nature of the consequence for those warned, 74 Save single-minded slaves of Allah. 75 And Noah verily prayed unto Us, and gracious was the Hearer of his prayer 76 And We saved him and his household from the great distress, 77 And made his seed the survivors, 78 And left for him among the later folk (the salutation): 79 Peace be unto Noah among the peoples! 80 Lo! thus do We reward the good. 81 Lo! he is one of Our believing slaves. 82 Then We did drown the others. 83 And lo! of his persuasion verily was Abraham 84 When he came unto his Lord with a whole heart; 85 When he said unto his father and his folk: What is it that ye worship ? 86 Is it a falsehood - gods beside Allah - that ye desire ? 87 What then is your opinion of the Lord of the Worlds ? 88 And he glanced a glance at the stars 89 Then said: Lo! I feel sick! 90 And they turned their backs and went away from him. 91 Then turned he to their gods and said: Will ye not eat ? 92 What aileth you that ye speak not ? 93 Then he attacked them, striking with his right hand. 94 And (his people) came toward him, hastening. 95 He said: Worship ye that which ye yourselves do carve 96 When Allah hath created you and what ye make ? 97 They said: Build for him a building and fling him in the red-hotfire. 98 And they designed a snare for him, but We made them the undermost. 99 And he said: Lo! I am going unto my Lord Who will guide me. 100 My Lord! Vouchsafe me of the righteous. 101 So We gave him tidings of a gentle son. 102 And when (his son) was old enough to walk with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice thee. So look, what thinkest thou ? He said: O my father! Do that which thou art commanded. Allah willing, thou shalt find me of the steadfast. 103 Then, when they had both surrendered (to Allah), and he had flung him down upon his face, 104 We called unto him: O Abraham! 105 Thou hast already fulfilled the vision. Lo! thus do We reward the good. 106 Lo! that verily was a clear test. 107 Then We ransomed him with a tremendous victim. 108 And We left for him among the later folk (the salutation): 109 Peace be unto Abraham! 110 Thus do We reward the good. 111 Lo! he is one of Our believing slaves. 112 And we gave him tidings of the birth of Isaac, a prophet of the righteous. 113 And We blessed him and Isaac. And of their seed are some who do good, and some who plainly wrong themselves. 114 And We verily gave grace unto Moses and Aaron, 115 And saved them and their people from the great distress, 116 And helped them so that they became the victors. 117 And We gave them the clear Scripture 118 And showed them the right path. 119 And We left for them among the later folk (the salutation): 120 Peace be unto Moses and Aaron! 121 Lo! thus do We reward the good. 122 Lo! they are two of Our believing slaves. 123 And lo! Elias was of those sent (to warn), 124 When he said unto his folk: Will ye not ward off (evil) ? 125 Will ye cry unto Baal and forsake the Best of creators, 126 Allah, your Lord and Lord of your forefathers ? 127 But they denied him, so they surely will be haled forth (to the doom) 128 Save single-minded slaves of Allah. 129 And we left for him among the later folk (the salutation): 130 Peace be unto Elias! 131 Lo! thus do We reward the good. 132 Lo! he is one of our believing slaves. 133 And lo! Lot verily was of those sent (to warn). 134 When We saved him and his household, every one, 135 Save an old woman among those who stayed behind; 136 Then We destroyed the others. 137 And lo! ye verily pass by (the ruin of) them in the morning 138 And at night-time; have ye then no sense ? 139 And lo! Jonah verily was of those sent (to warn) 140 When he fled unto the laden ship, 141 And then drew lots and was of those rejected; 142 And the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy; 143 And had he not been one of those who glorify (Allah) 144 He would have tarried in its belly till the day when they are raised; 145 Then We cast him on a desert shore while he was sick; 146 And We caused a tree of gourd to grow above him; 147 And We sent him to a hundred thousand (folk) or more 148 And they believed, therefor We gave them comfort for a while. 149 Now ask them (O Muhammad): Hath thy Lord daughters whereas they have sons ? 150 Or created We the angels females while they were present ? 151 Lo! it is of their falsehood that they say: 152 Allah hath begotten. Allah! verily they tell a lie. 153 (And again of their falsehood): He hath preferred daughters to sons. 154 What aileth you ? How judge ye ? 155 Will ye not then reflect ? 156 Or have ye a clear warrant ? 157 Then produce your writ, if ye are truthful. 158 And they imagine kinship between him and the jinn, whereas the jinn know well that they will be brought before (Him). 159 Glorified be Allah from that which they attribute (unto Him), 160 Save single-minded slaves of Allah. 161 Lo! verily, ye and that which ye worship, 162 Ye cannot excite (anyone) against Him. 163 Save him who is to burn in hell. 164 There is not one of us but hath his known position. 165 Lo! we, even we are they who set the ranks, 166 Lo! we, even we are they who hymn His praise 167 And indeed they used to say: 168 If we had but a reminder from the men of old 169 We would be single-minded slaves of Allah. 170 Yet (now that it is come) they disbelieve therein; but they will come to know. 171 And verily Our word went forth of old unto Our bondmen sent (to warn) 172 That they verily would be helped, 173 And that Our host, they verily would be the victors. 174 So withdraw from them (O Muhammad) awhile, 175 And watch, for they will (soon) see. 176 Would they hasten on Our doom ? 177 But when it cometh home to them, then it will be a hapless morn for those who have been warned. 178 Withdraw from them awhile 179 And watch, for they will (soon) see. 180 Glorified be thy Lord, the Lord of Majesty, from that which they attribute (unto Him) 181 And peace be unto those sent (to warn). 182 And praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds!