| | Ahmed Ali rendition of Surah Those Who Set The Ranks, Drawn up in Ranks, The Rangers(as-Saffat) --- |
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| 37:1 | | I CALL TO witness those who stand arrayed in rows, |
| 37:2 | | And those who restrain by reprimanding, |
| 37:3 | | And those who recite the Reminder, |
| 37:4 | | Verily your God is One, |
| 37:5 | | The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them, and the Lord of the Easts. |
| 37:6 | | He decked the nearest heavens with ornaments of stars, |
| 37:7 | | Protecting them against every wayward devil, |
| 37:8 | | So that they are not able to listen to the angels of higher (echelons), and are pelted from all sides |
| 37:9 | | And kept far away. There is perpetual punishment for them, |
| 37:10 | | Except those who eavesdrop and are pursued by a shooting flame. |
| 37:11 | | So ask them if they are more difficult to create, or the rest We have created? Indeed (man) We created from fermented clay. |
| 37:12 | | Yet while you are filled with wonder, they just scoff; |
| 37:13 | | And when they are warned they pay no heed. |
| 37:14 | | When they see a sign, they laugh at it, |
| 37:15 | | And say: "This is only magic. |
| 37:16 | | When we are dead and turned to dust and bones, how can we be raised again, |
| 37:17 | | And our fathers too?" |
| 37:18 | | You say: "Yes; and you will be lowly made." |
| 37:19 | | There will only be a single jerk, and they will gape, |
| 37:20 | | And say: "Ah woe! This is the Day of Reckoning." |
| 37:21 | | "(Yes,) this is the Day of Judgement you had called a lie." |
| 37:22 | | Gather all the wicked together and their comrades, and those they had worshipped |
| 37:23 | | Other than God," (the angels will be told), "then show them the way to Hell, |
| 37:24 | | And detain them, for they will be questioned." |
| 37:25 | | "What is the matter with you that you do not help each other?" |
| 37:26 | | They will submit to questioning then, |
| 37:27 | | And some of them will confront the others, |
| 37:28 | | Saying: "It were you who imposed yourselves upon us." |
| 37:29 | | They will say: "No, you were the ones who would not believe. |
| 37:30 | | We had no power over you. In fact, you were a people rebellious. |
| 37:31 | | The sentence of our Lord has come true for us. We have certainly to taste (the punishment), |
| 37:32 | | For we had led you astray. In fact we ourselves were astray." |
| 37:33 | | So, they will become partners in punishment. |
| 37:34 | | That is how We deal with sinners. |
| 37:35 | | They were those who, when it was said to them, "There is no god but God," behaved with insolence, |
| 37:36 | | And said: "Should we abandon our gods for the sake of an insane poet?" |
| 37:37 | | Not in the least. He has brought the truth and confirmed the other messengers. |
| 37:38 | | You will indeed taste a painful punishment, |
| 37:39 | | And be rewarded but only for what you had done, |
| 37:40 | | Except the chosen creatures of God, |
| 37:41 | | Whose provision is predetermined -- |
| 37:42 | | Fruits of every kind, and they will be honoured |
| 37:43 | | In gardens of delight, |
| 37:44 | | (Sitting) on couches, face to face, |
| 37:45 | | With cups from a flowing stream being passed around, |
| 37:46 | | Clear, delicious to drink, |
| 37:47 | | Neither dulling the senses nor intoxicating, |
| 37:48 | | And with them maidens of modest look and large lustrous eyes, |
| 37:49 | | Like sheltered eggs in a nest. |
| 37:50 | | Then one turned to the other in an enquiry. |
| 37:51 | | Said one of the speakers: "I had a friend |
| 37:52 | | Who used to say: 'Are you one of those who can testify to the truth? |
| 37:53 | | (Do you think) we would be paid back our due when we are dead and reduced to dust and bones?' |
| 37:54 | | He said: 'Will you look down?' |
| 37:55 | | He looked down and saw (his friend) in the midst of Hell. |
| 37:56 | | 'By God', he said, 'you had almost ruined me. |
| 37:57 | | Had it not been for the grace of my Lord I too would have been there (in Hell). |
| 37:58 | | (Another will say:)"Is it true, we are not going to die |
| 37:59 | | Other than our first death, and we shall not be punished? |
| 37:60 | | This will indeed be great happiness. |
| 37:61 | | For this the toilers should strive." |
| 37:62 | | Is this better or the tree of Zaqqum |
| 37:63 | | Which We have reserved as punishment for evil-doers? |
| 37:64 | | It is a tree that grows at the bottom of Hell. |
| 37:65 | | Its spathes are like the prickly pear. |
| 37:66 | | They will eat and fill their bellies with it, |
| 37:67 | | Washing it down with boiling water. |
| 37:68 | | Then to Hell they will surely be returned. |
| 37:69 | | They had found their fathers astray, |
| 37:70 | | Yet they hasten to follow in their footsteps. |
| 37:71 | | So had many an earlier people gone astray, |
| 37:72 | | And We had sent admonishers to them. |
| 37:73 | | Look, then how was the end of those who had been warned, |
| 37:74 | | Other than the chosen creatures of God. |
| 37:75 | | Noah had verily called to Us. And how gracious was He who answered (him). |
| 37:76 | | We saved him and his family from the great affliction, |
| 37:77 | | And made his progeny survive, |
| 37:78 | | And left (his name) for posterity. |
| 37:79 | | Peace on Noah among all men. |
| 37:80 | | That is how We reward those who do good. |
| 37:81 | | Surely he was among Our faithful creatures. |
| 37:82 | | Afterwards We drowned the others. |
| 37:83 | | And Abraham indeed was of his inducement, |
| 37:84 | | When he came to his Lord with a heart compliant, |
| 37:85 | | When he said to his father and his people: "What is this you worship? |
| 37:86 | | Why do you solicit false gods instead of God? |
| 37:87 | | What do you imagine the Lord of the worlds to be?" |
| 37:88 | | Then he looked up at the stars (they worshipped), |
| 37:89 | | And said: "I am sick (of what you worship)!" |
| 37:90 | | But they turned their backs on him and went away. |
| 37:91 | | Then he turned towards their gods and said: "Why do you not eat (of these offerings)? |
| 37:92 | | What is wrong with you that you do not speak?" |
| 37:93 | | Then he started striking them down with his right hand. |
| 37:94 | | So the people descended upon him. |
| 37:95 | | "Why do you worship these you carve yourselves," he asked, |
| 37:96 | | "When God has created you and what you make?" |
| 37:97 | | "Build a pyre for him and throw him into the raging fire." |
| 37:98 | | So they contrived a plot against him, but We made them abject. |
| 37:99 | | And he said: "I am going away to my Lord who will show me the way. |
| 37:100 | | (And he prayed:) "O Lord, grant me a righteous son." |
| 37:101 | | So We gave him the good news of a clement son. |
| 37:102 | | When he was old enough to go about with him, he said: "O my son, I dreamt that I was sacrificing you. Consider, what you think?" He replied: "Father, do as you are commanded. If God pleases you will find me firm." |
| 37:103 | | When they submitted to the will of God, and (Abraham) laid (his son) down prostrate on his temple, |
| 37:104 | | We called out: "O Abraham, |
| 37:105 | | You have fulfilled your dream." Thus do We reward the good. |
| 37:106 | | That was indeed a trying test. |
| 37:107 | | So We ransomed him for a great sacrifice, |
| 37:108 | | And left (his hallowed memory) for posterity. |
| 37:109 | | Peace be on Abraham. |
| 37:110 | | That is how We reward those who do good. |
| 37:111 | | He is truly among Our faithful creatures. |
| 37:112 | | So We gave him the good news of Isaac, apostle, who is among the righteous. |
| 37:113 | | And We blessed him and Isaac. Among their descendants are some who do good, but some who wrong themselves. |
| 37:114 | | We were indeed gracious to Moses and Aaron, |
| 37:115 | | And saved them and their people from great distress, |
| 37:116 | | And helped them, so they were victorious. |
| 37:117 | | We gave them the explicit Book, |
| 37:118 | | And showed them the straight path, |
| 37:119 | | And left (their remembrance) for posterity. |
| 37:120 | | Peace be on Moses and Aaron. |
| 37:121 | | That is how We reward those who do good. |
| 37:122 | | They are among Our faithful devotees. |
| 37:123 | | Verily Elias is one of the apostles. |
| 37:124 | | When he said to his people: "Will you not be mindful of God? |
| 37:125 | | Would you call on Baal and leave the best of creators, |
| 37:126 | | God, your Lord, and the Lord of your fathers?" |
| 37:127 | | They denied him, and will surely be brought to punishment, |
| 37:128 | | Except the chosen creatures of God. |
| 37:129 | | And We left his (memory) for posterity. |
| 37:130 | | Peace be on Elias. |
| 37:131 | | That is how We reward those who do good. |
| 37:132 | | He is truly among Our faithful devotees. |
| 37:133 | | Verily Lot was one of the apostles, |
| 37:134 | | Wherefore We saved him and his entire family |
| 37:135 | | Except an old woman who was one of those who stayed behind. |
| 37:136 | | Then We destroyed the others. |
| 37:137 | | You pass by (their habitations) in the morning |
| 37:138 | | Or at night. Then how is it you do not understand? |
| 37:139 | | Verily Jonah is one of the apostles. |
| 37:140 | | When he fled on the laden ship, |
| 37:141 | | And lots were cast (when a storm overtook them), he was rejected, (and thrown overboard). |
| 37:142 | | Then he was swallowed by a large fish as he was worthy of blame. |
| 37:143 | | Had he not been one of those who struggled hard, |
| 37:144 | | He would have stayed in its belly till the day the dead are raised. |
| 37:145 | | So We cast him, sick, on a barren shore, |
| 37:146 | | And We made a gourd tree grow over him. |
| 37:147 | | We sent him to a hundred thousand men or more, |
| 37:148 | | And they came to believe; so We allowed them to enjoy the good things of life for an age. |
| 37:149 | | Now ask them if their Lord has daughters, and they sons? |
| 37:150 | | Or did We make the angels females, and they witnessed it? |
| 37:151 | | Is it not a lie invented by them when they say: |
| 37:152 | | "God has begotten (children)?" They are liars indeed! |
| 37:153 | | Does He prefer sons to daughters? |
| 37:154 | | What ails you that you judge in such a wise? |
| 37:155 | | Why do you not reflect? |
| 37:156 | | Or have you received some clear authority? |
| 37:157 | | Then bring your scripture, if what you say is true. |
| 37:158 | | They link Him with jinns by lineage, yet the jinns know they will be brought before Him. |
| 37:159 | | God is too glorious for what they ascribe to Him |
| 37:160 | | Except His chosen creatures who do not. |
| 37:161 | | So neither you nor those you worship |
| 37:162 | | Can mislead anyone away from Him, |
| 37:163 | | Except one who is (destined) to burn in Hell. |
| 37:164 | | "There is not one of us who does not have his appointed place," (declare the angels.) |
| 37:165 | | "And we are truly those who stand in rows, |
| 37:166 | | And we are those who sing hallelujas to Him." |
| 37:167 | | They used to say: |
| 37:168 | | If we had the account of earlier people with us, |
| 37:169 | | We would have been the chosen creatures of God." |
| 37:170 | | Yet now (that it has come) they refuse to believe in it; but they will come to know soon. |
| 37:171 | | Our word had already been given before to Our votaries, the apostles, -- |
| 37:172 | | That they would be helped, |
| 37:173 | | And that certainly Our armies will be victorious. |
| 37:174 | | So you ignore them for a time |
| 37:175 | | And wait; they will come to know soon. |
| 37:176 | | Do they want to hasten Our punishment? |
| 37:177 | | When it comes down on their plains, it will be an evil dawn for those who had been warned. |
| 37:178 | | So turn away from them for a time |
| 37:179 | | And watch; they will come to know soon. |
| 37:180 | | Too glorious is your Lord, the Lord of power, for what they ascribe to Him. |
| 37:181 | | So peace be on the messengers, |
| 37:182 | | And all praise to God, the Lord of all the worlds. |