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1Sad By the Quran with its reminding

2Yet the disbelievers are steeped in arrogance and hostility

3How many generations We have destroyed before them! They all cried out, once it was too late, for escape

4The disbelievers think it strange that a prophet of their own people has come to warn them: they say, ‘He is just a lying sorcerer

5How can he claim that all the gods are but one God? What an astonishing thing [to claim]!’

6Their leaders depart, saying, ‘Walk away! Stay faithful to your gods! That is what you must do

7We did not hear any such claim in the last religion: it is all an invention

8Was the message sent only to him out of all of us?’ In fact they doubt My warning; in fact they have not tasted My punishment yet

9Do they possess the treasures of your Lord’s bounty, the Mighty, the All Giving

10Do they control the heavens and earth and everything between? Let them climb their ropes

11their armed alliance is weak and will be crushed

12The people of Noah, Ad, and firmly-supported Pharaoh rejected their prophets before them

13Thamud, the people of Lot, and the Forest-Dwellers each formed opposition [against theirs]

14They all rejected the mes-sengers and they were deservedly struck by My punishment

15all the disbelievers here are waiting for is a single blast that cannot be postponed

16They say, ‘Our Lord! Advance us our share of punishment before the Day of Reckoning!’

17Bear their words patiently [Prophet]. Remember Our servant David, a man of strength who always turned to Us

18We made the mountains join him in glorifying Us at sunset and sunrise

19and the birds, too, in flocks, all echoed his praise

20We strengthened his kingdom; We gave him wisdom and a decisive way of speaking

21Have you heard the story of the two litigants who climbed into his private quarters

22When they reached David, he took fright, but they said, ‘Do not be afraid. We are two litigants, one of whom has wronged the other: judge between us fairly- do not be unjust- and guide us to the right path

23This is my brother. He had ninety-nine ewes and I just the one, and he said, “Let me take charge of her,” and overpowered me with his words.’

24David said, ‘He has done you wrong by demanding to add your ewe to his flock. Many partners treat each other unfairly. Those who sincerely believe and do good deeds do not do this, but these are very few.’ [Then] David realized that We had been testing him, so he asked his Lord for forgiveness, fell down on his knees, and repented

25We forgave him [his misdeed]. His reward will be nearness to Us, a good place to return to

26‘David, We have given you mastery over the land. Judge fairly between people. Do not follow your desires, lest they divert you from God’s path: those who wander from His path will have a painful torment because they ignore the Day of Reckoning.’

27It was not without purpose that We created the heavens and the earth and everything in between. That may be what the disbelievers assume- how they will suffer from the Fire

28but would We treat those who believe and do good deeds and those who spread corruption on earth as equal? Would We treat those who are aware of God and those who recklessly break all bounds in the same way

29This is a blessed Scripture which We sent down to you [Muhammad], for people to think about its messages, and for those with understanding to take heed

30We gave David Solomon. He was an excellent servant who always turned to God

31When well-bred light-footed horses were paraded before him near the close of day

32he kept saying, ‘My love of fine things is part of my remembering my Lord!’ until [the horses] disappeared from sight

33‘Bring them back!’ [he said] and started to stroke their legs and necks

34We certainly tested Solomon, reducing him to a mere skeleton on his throne

35He turned to Us and prayed: ‘Lord forgive me! Grant me such power as no one after me will have- You are the Most Generous Provider.’

36So We gave him power over the wind, which at his request ran gently wherever he willed

37and the jinn––every kind of builder and diver

38and others chained in fetters

39‘This is Our gift, so give or withhold as you wish without account.’

40His reward will be nearness to Us, and a good place to return to

41Bring to mind Our servant Job who cried to his Lord, ‘Satan has afflicted me with weariness and suffering.’

42‘Stamp your foot! Here is cool water for you to wash in and drink,’

43and We restored his family to him, with many more like them: a sign of Our mercy and a lesson to all who understand

44‘Take a small bunch of grass in your hand, and strike [her] with that so as not to break your oath.’ We found him patient in adversity; an excellent servant! He, too, always turned to God

45Remember Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all men of strength and vision

46We caused them to be devoted to Us through their sincere remembrance of the Final Home

47with Us they will be among the elect, the truly good

48And remember Our servants Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhu ’l-Kifl, each of them truly good

49This is a lesson. The devout will have a good place to return to

50Gardens of lasting bliss with gates wide open

51They will be comfortably seated; they will call for abundant fruit and drink

52they will have well-matched [wives] with modest gaze

53‘This is what you are promised for the Day of Reckoning

54Our provision for you will never end.’

55But the evildoers will have the worst place to return to

56Hell to burn in, an evil place to stay

57all this will be theirs: let them taste it- a scalding, dark, foul fluid

58and other such torments

59[It will be said], ‘Here is another crowd of people rushing headlong to join you.’ [The response will be], ‘They are not welcome! They will burn in the Fire.’

60They will say to them, ‘You are not welcome! It was you who brought this on us, an evil place to stay,’

61adding, ‘Our Lord, give double punishment to those who brought this upon us.’

62They will say, ‘Why do we not see those we thought were bad

63and took as a laughing-stock? Have our eyes missed them?’

64This is how it will really be: the inhabitants of the Fire will blame one another in this way

65[Prophet] say, ‘I am only here to give warning. There is no god but God the One, the All Powerful

66Lord of the heavens and earth and everything between, the Almighty, the Most Forgiving.’

67Say, ‘This message is a mighty one

68yet you ignore it

69I have no knowledge of what those on high discuss

70it is only revealed to me that I am here to give clear warning.’

71Your Lord said to the angels, ‘I will create a man from clay

72When I have shaped him and breathed from My Spirit into him, bow down before him.’

73The angels all bowed down together

74but not Iblis, who was too proud. He became a rebel

75God said, ‘Iblis, what prevents you from bowing down to the man I have made with My own hands? Are you too high and mighty?’

76Iblis said, ‘I am better than him: You made me from fire, and him from clay.’

77‘Get out of here! You are rejected

78My rejection will follow you till the Day of Judgement!’

79but Iblis said, ‘My Lord, grant me respite until the Day when they are raised from the dead,’

80so He said, ‘You have respite

81till the Appointed Day.’

82Iblis said, ‘I swear by Your might! I will tempt all

83but Your true servants.’

84God said, ‘This is the truth- I speak only the truth

85I will fill Hell with you and all those that follow you.’

86[Prophet], say, ‘I ask no reward from you for this, nor do I claim to be what I am not

87this is only a warning for all people

88In time you will certainly come to know its truth.’