26:1  Ta. Seen. Meem.

26:2  Those there are signs of the expressive Book.

26:3  [Would] you position yourself to grieve to death that they are not believers?

26:4  If WE had willed, WE would have sent down upon them from Heaven, a sign so their necks would remain in subordination to it.

26:5  No new reminder comes to them from Al Raḥmān, except they turn away from it dismissively.

26:6  Thus, they have already denied the truth. So, facts of what they were mocking at, will soon come to them

26:7  Do they not look at the earth: how proliferous have WE made all the noble species therein?

26:8  Verily, in that is a definite sign, while most of them are not believers.

26:9  And verily, your Rabb, HE most certainly is the almighty, the ever merciful.

26:10  And [remember] when your Rabb summoned Moses: Come to the unjust people,

26:11  the people of Pharaoh. Will they not fear Allah?

26:12  He said, “My Rabb, I do fear that they will deny me.

26:13  My courage shrinks, and my tongue does not articulate well, so direct [this mission] unto Aaron

26:14  And they hold a trespass against me, so I fear that they will kill me.”

26:15  HE said, “Not ever. Go then both of you with OUR signs. Of certain, WE are with you, ever attentive to every word.”

26:16  So, come to Pharaoh both of you, and say, “We are [as one] messenger of the Rabb of all realms

26:17  [Conveying]: ‘Send the children of Israel with us.’”

26:18  He [i.e., Pharaoh] said, “Did we not nurture you in our midst as a child? And you stayed amongst us some seasons of your life.

26:19  And you did your deed which you did. You are of the ungrateful.”

26:20  He said, “I did that when and while I was of the misguided.

26:21  And so, I fled from you all at a time when I feared you. Then my Rabb granted me judgment and made me of the Messengers.

26:22  And that is a favor you do me— that you had enslaved the children of Israel!

26:23  Said Pharaoh, “And what is the Rabb of all realms?”

26:24  He said, “The Rabb of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between the two— if you are to be entirely certain.”

26:25  He said to anyone around him, “Do you not hear!”

26:26  He [i.e., Moses] said, “Your Rabb and the Rabb of your foremost forefathers.”

26:27  [Pharaoh] said, “Surely, your messenger who has been dispatched to you is a definite madman.”

26:28  [Moses] said, “The Rabb of the East and the West and whatever is between the two—if you were to reason.”

26:29  [Pharaoh] said, “If you take a god other than me, I shall surely place you amongst the prisoners.”

26:30  [Moses] said, “Even if I were to come to you with something manifest?”

26:31  [Pharaoh] said, “Then come forth with it, if you are of the truthful.”

26:32  So, he threw his staff— there and then, it was a serpent, manifest.

26:33  And he drew out his hand—and right there and then, it was radiant white, for the onlookers to see.

26:34  [Pharaoh] said to the notables around him, “This indeed is one learned sorcerer.

26:35  He intends to bring you forth from your ground by his sorcery. So, what do you bid [we do]?”

26:36  They said, “Hold him and his brother back and activate recruiters in the cities

26:37  to bring you every learned master wizard.”

26:38  Thus, were the wizards gathered for the tryst of a known day.

26:39  And it was said to the people at large, “Would you be part of the gathering—

26:40  so, we may all follow the magicians if they be the victors?”

26:41  Then when the moment was on hand and the magicians arrived, they said to Pharaoh, “Is there to be a deserved reward for us if we are the victors?”

26:42  He said, “Yes. Indeed, you shall, in that case, be of the ones conferred proximity [to me].”

26:43  Moses said to them, “Present what you are presenters of.”

26:44  Thereupon they threw their ropes and staffs for all to see, and said, “By the might of Pharaoh, indeed We, shall be the victors.”

26:45  Then Moses threw forth his staff. Right there and then it swallowed whatever illusions they had created.

26:46  [On sight of it], the sorcerers were thrown in prostration for all to see.

26:47  They said, “We have come to believe in the Rabb of all realms—

26:48  The Rabb of Moses and Aaron.”

26:49  [Pharaoh] said, “You have believed for his sake before I allowed you to. He surely must be your senior who taught you Sorcery. So [for that complicity], you surely shall soon come to know. I shall cut your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I shall crucify you all together.

26:50  They said, “Not any lasting harm. Surely, unto our Rabb are we headed back.

26:51  We earnestly hope that our Rabb will forgive us our faults now that we are the first ones to believe.”

26:52  WE revealed unto Moses: “Set out in the night with MY devotees. For sure, you are to be pursued.”

26:53  So, Pharaoh sent recruiters to the cities:

26:54  “Surely, these are a puny band,

26:55  And indeed, they are categorically enraging us,

26:56  Whereas we surely are a robust whole, ready to preempt trouble.”

26:57  Thus, WE dislodged them from their gardens, and springs,

26:58  and treasures, and a noble status.

26:59  Thus, it was. And WE gave the children of Israel the right to inherit them.

26:60  So [in their fury], they pursued them, moving into dawn

26:61  Then, when in time, the two hosts came within sight, said the companions of Moses, “We are surely within reach.”

26:62  He said, “Not ever. Verily, with me is my Rabb. HE will show me the way.

26:63  So, WE inspired Moses: “Strike the sea with your staff.” Thereupon it divided apart— each divide like the most massive, towering mountain.

26:64  While unto there WE drew close the others [in pursuit].

26:65  And WE delivered Moses and whoever was with him— all together.

26:66  Then WE drowned the others.

26:67  Verily, a definite sign is in that, though not ever are most of them believers.

26:68  Of certain, your Rabb— only HE is the almighty, the ever merciful.

26:69  Recite unto them the episode of Abraham:

26:70  When he said to his father and his people, “What are you worshipping?”

26:71  They said, “We worship idols; we constantly attend to them.”

26:72  He said, “Do they hear you when you beseech?

26:73  Or do they benefit you, or harm?”

26:74  They said, “Nay, but we found our fathers doing just that.”

26:75  He said, “Then have you even considered what you have been worshipping—

26:76  You and your earliest forefathers?”

26:77  For they indeed all are a foe to me, except the Rabb of all realms

26:78  HE Who created me. So, it is HE who guides me

26:79  And it is HE who feeds me and slakes me

26:80  And when I am sick—HE cures me

26:81  And HE it is Who will give me death, then give me life again

26:82  And HE it is Who I earnestly count on for forgiveness of my faults on the Day of Surrender and Reckoning

26:83  O Rabb of mine, gift to me judgment and join me with the righteous.

26:84  And appoint for me [an honorable mention in any] discourse of truth, in the generations to come,

26:85  And make me of the inheritors of the garden of the eternal bliss.

26:86  And forgive my father. Verily, he was of the ones astray,

26:87  And abase me not on a day they shall be raised—

26:88  A day when neither wealth nor children shall avail,

26:89  Except he who comes to Allah with an irreproachably earnest heart

26:90  And the garden will be brought near, for the God-conscious,

26:91  And Jaḥīm will be exposed to the ones who entrapped others

26:92  It will be said to them, “Where is that which you were worshipping—

26:93  other than Allah. Are they helping you or helping themselves?

26:94  So now, toppled are they therein, they and the entrappers,

26:95  and the hordes of Ib'līs— all together

26:96  They said, while in there, assigning blame:

26:97  “By Allah we were clearly in such obvious error,

26:98  when we set you all as equals with the Rabb of all realms.

26:99  And we were led astray by none except the flouters of divine guidance.

26:100  So now there are not any interveners for us

26:101  nor an intimate friend.

26:102  So only if, there was for us another chance— [this time] we would be of the believers.”

26:103  Of certain, in that is a definite sign [for these here to heed]! Whereas not ever are most of them believers.

26:104  And of certain, your Rabb— only HE is the almighty, the ever merciful.

26:105  The people of Noah had denied the Messengers

26:106  when their brother Noah said to them, “Will you not be conscientious

26:107  Truly, I am unto you a trustworthy messenger

26:108  So be conscious of Allah and obey me

26:109  I do not ask of you for any reward for it. My reward is up to none except the Rabb of all realms.

26:110  Therefore, be conscious of Allah and obey me.”

26:111  They said, “Are we to believe in you, while [only] the most contemptible of people follow you!”

26:112  He said, “My knowledge pertains not to what they were doing?

26:113  Their reckoning is upon none except my Rabb— were you to realize.

26:114  And I am not anywise one to drive away the believers

26:115  I am nothing but a plain warner.”

26:116  They said, “If you do not desist O Noah, you shall be of the ones pelted with stones.”

26:117  He said, “My Rabb, my people have denied me.

26:118  So, open wide a breakthrough between me and them, and deliver me and whosoever from amongst the believers is with me.”

26:119  And so, WE delivered him and those with him in the laden vessel,

26:120  Further to that WE drowned thereafter the remaining ones.

26:121  Of certain, in that is a sure sign [to heed], and not ever are most of them believers.

26:122  And of certain, your Rabb— only HE is the almighty, the ever merciful.

26:123  Aad denied the Messengers

26:124  When their brother Hud said to them, “Will you not be conscious of God?

26:125  Truly, I am unto you a trustworthy messenger

26:126  So be conscious of Allah and obey me

26:127  I do not ask of you for any reward for it. My reward is up to none except the Rabb of all realms

26:128  Do you build a monument on every elevated place, serving no purpose?

26:129  And you take for yourselves laboriously crafted strongholds, so you could live forever.

26:130  And when you seize with force you seize to impose your will.

26:131  So be conscious of Allah and obey me.

26:132  Be conscious of HIM WHO extended you with what you know

26:133  HE has extended you with cattle and children

26:134  And [with] gardens and springs.

26:135  Surely, I do fear the punishment upon you of a transcendent day.”

26:136  They said, “It is the same for us whether you preach or you be not of the preachers.

26:137  This here is nothing else except the morality of the ancient ones.

26:138  And we are not anywise slated for punishment.”

26:139  Thus, they rejected him, and in consequence WE destroyed them. Of certain, in that is an instructive sign, while not ever are most of them believers.

26:140  And of certain, your Rabb—HE certainly is the almighty, the ever merciful.

26:141  Thamūd rejected the Messengers:

26:142  when their brother Salih said to them, “Will you not be conscious of God?

26:143  I am unto you a trustworthy messenger.

26:144  So be conscious of Allah and obey me

26:145  I do not ask of you for any reward for it. My reward is up to none except the Rabb of all realms

26:146  Are you to be left to remain secure in what is here and now?

26:147  In gardens and springs?

26:148  And tilled fertile fields and palm trees, with spathes bearing soft fruit?

26:149  While you skillfully hew dwellings out of the mountains?

26:150  [Not is that meant to be forever]. So be conscious of Allah and follow me

26:151  And do not obey the bidding of the prodigals—

26:152  the ones who spread discord on earth and do not seek reform.”

26:153  They responded, “You are indeed of the bewitched.

26:154  You are not but a mortal like us. So, come with a sign if you are to be of the truthful.”

26:155  He said, “This here is a she-camel. A turn to drink for her and a turn to drink for you all, by set day.

26:156  And do her no harm, lest you be seized by the punishment of a transcendent day.”

26:157  But they hamstrung her, and so in one transformative turn, they became regretful—

26:158  For the punishment seized them. Of certain, in that is an instructive sign, while not ever are most of them believers.

26:159  And of certain, your Rabb— only HE is the almighty, the ever merciful.

26:160  The people of Lot rejected the Messengers

26:161  when their brother Lot said to them, “Will you not be conscious of God?

26:162  I am unto you a trustworthy messenger

26:163  So be conscious of God and obey me.

26:164  I do not ask of you any reward for it. My reward is upon none except the Rabb of all realms.

26:165  Do you, amongst all the realms, issue [from] the coupled males?

26:166  And you forsake what your Rabb created for you, to be of your mates! In fact, you are a people beyond bounds.”

26:167  They said, “If you do not desist, O Lot, you shall be of the ones expelled.”

26:168  He said, “Surely, I am of the loathers of your practice.”

26:169  “My Rabb, deliver me and my family from what they do.”

26:170  So, WE delivered him and his family, all of them—

26:171  Except an old woman among the laggards.

26:172  Then WE annihilated the others.

26:173  And WE rained a shower upon them. [Fittingly] dreadful— a shower of the forewarned.

26:174  Of certain, in that is an instructive sign, while not ever are most of them believers.

26:175  And of certain, your Rabb— only HE is the almighty, the ever merciful.

26:176  The dwellers of the thicket rejected the Messengers

26:177  when Shuaib said to them, “Will you not be conscious of God?

26:178  Truly, I am unto you a trustworthy messenger,

26:179  So be conscious of Allah and obey me.

26:180  I do not ask of you for any reward for it. My reward is upon none except the Rabb of all realms.

26:181  Give full measure and do not be of the short changers.

26:182  And weigh with ever-sound scales

26:183  And do not diminish [the fair value] of fellow beings’ wares [and services], and do not act wickedly on earth, sowing discord.

26:184  Be conscious of HIM WHO has created you and the primordial natural laws.”

26:185  They said, “You are just one of the bewitched.

26:186  You are but a mortal like us, and we deem you to be definitely of the liars.

26:187  Or then, bring down upon us a fragment of the sky if you are of the truthful.”

26:188  He said, “My Rabb best knows about what you are doing.”

26:189  Even so, they denied him; and so, the punishment of the day of the shadow seized them. Indeed, it was the punishment of an immense day.

26:190  Of certain, in that is an instructive sign, whereas not ever are most of them believers.

26:191  And of certain, your Rabb— only HE is the almighty, the ever merciful.

26:192  And surely, it is truly a revelation of the Rabb of all realms

26:193  The Trustworthy Spirit brought it down

26:194  upon your heart, that you may be of the warners—

26:195  in expressive Arabic language.

26:196  And indeed, it is in the Scriptures [Zubur] of the preceding ones.

26:197  Is it not a sign for them that the learned of the children of Israel know it?

26:198  Had WE sent it down it upon someone of the non-Arabs

26:199  and he then had recited it to them, they would not have believed in it.

26:200  Thus, have WE passed it through the hearts of the flouters of divine guidance.

26:201  They will not believe in it until they see the painful consequence—

26:202  For it shall come upon them suddenly, while they are unawares—

26:203  then they will say, “Can we be respited?”

26:204  So now here [in this life], do they seek to hasten OUR punishment?

26:205  Have you then considered: if WE did indulge them for seasons

26:206  Then [in the end], came to them what they had been promised

26:207  whatever they were indulged with, not did it avail them.

26:208  And not have WE destroyed any town, except it had warners—

26:209  [Delivering] a reminder. And not ever are WE unjust.

26:210  And the satanic entities did not descend with it,

26:211  And it does not suit them, and neither are they able.

26:212  Surely, they are ones categorically excluded from the hearing [of the word of divine guidance].

26:213  So, do not call upon another god alongside Allah, lest you be of ones slated for punishment.

26:214  And warn your kinsfolk, the ones closest by right and proximity

26:215  And lower your wing to the believers who follow you.

26:216  Then if [the others] disobey you, say, “I am absolved of what you do.”

26:217  And place your trust in the Almighty, the Ever Merciful

26:218  WHO sees you every bit of time you stand [in Prayer]

26:219  and your cycles [of Prayers], amidst the ones who prostrate.

26:220  Verily, HE, only HE is the all-hearing, the ever knowing.

26:221  [Say], “Shall I tell you [all] upon whom the satanic entities descend?

26:222  They descend upon every sinful habitual liar

26:223  They deliver the hearsay, and most of them are liars

26:224  And [as for] the poets— the enticers follow them.”

26:225  Have you seen that they wander in every valley?

26:226  And they say what they do not do—

26:227  except the ones who have embraced Faith and have done the right deeds and remembered Allah much and often; and help each other after they are subjected to injustice. And the ones who have been unjust shall know by which toppling they will be toppled.