72:1  Say, “It has been revealed to me that a company of spirit-beings listened [as the Qur’an was being recited]. They said, ‘Truly, we have heard a wonderful Qur’an!

72:2  “‘It gives guidance to the righteous, and we have believed in it. We will not attribute any others with our Lord.

72:3  “‘Exalted is the majesty of our Lord. He has not taken a wife and has no son.

72:4  “‘Some foolish ones among us made huge lies against Allah.

72:5  “‘We had thought, however, that humans and spirit-beings would never state lies concerning Allah.

72:6  “‘It is true that some people among humanity took refuge with individuals among the spirit-beings, but they [the spirit-beings] caused them [the misguided humans] to increase their foolishness.

72:7  “‘They began to think, as you [misguided people] think –that Allah will not raise anyone [to face the judgment].

72:8  “‘We sought to reach Heaven, but we found it surrounded with unyielding guards and flaming fires.

72:9  “‘We used to sit in hidden realms to hear, but anyone who tries to listen now will find flaming fire waiting in ambush.

72:10  “‘We do not understand whether disaster is intended for those on earth, or whether their Lord intends to guide them to proper conduct.’

72:11  “‘Among us [spirit-beings] are some who are righteous and some who are contrary. We follow divergent paths.

72:12  “‘But we think that we can by no means frustrate Allah throughout the earth, nor can we frustrate Him by flight.

72:13  “‘As for us, since we have listened to guidance, we have accepted it. Any who believes in his/her Lord fears neither injustice nor oppression.

72:14  “‘Among us are some who submit their wills and some who deviate. Those who submit their wills have sought correct conduct.

72:15  “‘But those who deviate are only fuel for Hell fire.’”

72:16  If (the idolaters) had remained on the [divine] path, We should certainly have given them plenty to drink [eg, good rain].

72:17  [That would be] so We could test them by that [blessing]. As for any who turns from the remembrance of his/her Lord, He will cause him/her to endure a severe penalty.

72:18  The places of worship are only for Allah, so do not invoke anyone else along with Allah.

72:19  Yet, when a devotee of Allah approaches in order to invoke Him, (the idolaters) crowd around him/her to intimidate him/her.

72:20  Say, “I only call upon my Lord, and I do not associate anyone with Him [as equal].”

72:21  Say, “It is certainly not within my power to cause you harm or to bring you into proper conduct.”

72:22  Say, “No one could save me from [the wrath of] Allah, and I will find no refuge without Him.

72:23  [That is] unless I convey what I receive from Allah and His messages. As for any who disobey Allah and His messenger, for them is Hell where they shall dwell eternally.”

72:24  At length, when they see that [Hell] which they are promised, then they will know who is most helpless and counts for less.

72:25  Say, “I do not know if that which you are promised is near or whether my Lord will appoint it far into the future.

72:26  “He knows the unseen, and He does not acquaint anyone with His mysteries.

72:27  “The exception is a messenger whom He has chosen, and then He appoints a guard [ie, guardian angel] to march before him and behind him.

72:28  “[That is] so that (Allah) may ensure that they [the messenger and the angel] have indeed conveyed the messages of their Lord. He encompasses what is with them, and takes account of every single thing.”