ash-Shu`ara` (The Poets) at IslamAwakened.com

26:1 T. S. M. (Ta, Seen, Mim)

26:2 These (letters) constitute proofs of this clarifying scripture.

26:3 You may blame yourself that they are not believers.

26:4 If we will, we can send from the sky a sign that forces their necks to bow.

26:5 Whenever a reminder from the Most Gracious comes to them, that is new, they turn away in aversion.

26:6 Since they disbelieved, they have incurred the consequences of their heedlessness.

26:7 Have they not seen the earth, and how many kinds of beautiful plants we have grown thereon?

26:8 This should be a sufficient proof for them, but most of them are not believers.

26:9 Most assuredly, your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:10 Recall that your Lord called Moses: "Go to the transgressing people.

26:11 "Pharaoh's people; perhaps they reform."

26:12 He said, "My Lord, I fear lest they disbelieve me.

26:13 "I may lose my temper. My tongue gets tied; send for my brother Aaron.

26:14 "Also, they consider me a fugitive; I fear lest they kill me."

26:15 He said, "No, (they will not). Go with My proofs. We will be with you, listening.

26:16 "Go to Pharaoh and say, `We are messengers from the Lord of the universe.'

26:17 " `Let the Children of Israel go.' "

26:18 He said, "Did we not raise you from infancy, and you spent many years with us?

26:19 "Then you committed the crime that you committed, and you were ungrateful."

26:20 He said, "Indeed, I did it when I was astray.

26:21 "Then I fled, when I feared you, and my Lord endowed me with wisdom and made me one of the messengers.

26:22 "You are boasting that you did me a favor, while enslaving the Children of Israel!"

26:23 Pharaoh said, "What is the Lord of the universe?"

26:24 He said, "The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and everything between them. You should be certain about this."

26:25 He said to those around him, "Did you hear this?"

26:26 He said, "Your Lord and the Lord of your ancestors."

26:27 He said, "Your messenger who is sent to you is crazy."

26:28 He said, "The Lord of the east and the west, and everything between them, if you understand."

26:29 He said, "If you accept any god, other than me, I will throw you in the prison."

26:30 He said, "What if I show you something profound?"

26:31 He said, "Then produce it, if you are truthful."

26:32 He then threw his staff, whereupon it became a profound snake.

26:33 And he took out his hand, and it was white to the beholders.

26:34 He said to the elders around him, "This is an experienced magician.

26:35 "He wants to take you out of your land, with his magic. What do you suggest?"

26:36 They said, "Respite him and his brother, and send summoners to every town.

26:37 "Let them summon every experienced magician."

26:38 The magicians were gathered at the appointed time, on the appointed day.

26:39 The people were told: "Come one and all; let us gather together here.

26:40 "Maybe we will follow the magicians, if they are the winners."

26:41 When the magicians came, they said to Pharaoh, "Do we get paid, if we are the winners?"

26:42 He said, "Yes indeed; you will even be close to me."

26:43 Moses said to them "Throw what you are going to throw."

26:44 They threw their ropes and sticks, and said, "By Pharaoh's majesty, we will be the victors."

26:45 Moses threw his staff, whereupon it swallowed what they fabricated.

26:46 The magicians fell prostrate.

26:47 They said, "We believe in the Lord of the universe.

26:48 "The Lord of Moses and Aaron."

26:49 He said, "Did you believe with him before I give you permission? He must be your teacher, who taught you magic. You will surely find out. I will sever your hands and feet on alternate sides. I will crucify you all."

26:50 They said, "This will not change our decision; to our Lord we will return.

26:51 "We hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins, especially that we are the first believers."

26:52 We inspired Moses: "Travel with My servants; you will be pursued."

26:53 Pharaoh sent to the cities callers.

26:54 (Proclaiming,) "This is a small gang.

26:55 "They are now opposing us.

26:56 "Let us all beware of them."

26:57 Consequently, we deprived them of gardens and springs.

26:58 And treasures and an honorable position.

26:59 Then we made it an inheritance for the Children of Israel.

26:60 They pursued them towards the east.

26:61 When both parties saw each other, Moses' people said, "We will be caught."

26:62 He said, "No way. My Lord is with me; He will guide me."

26:63 We then inspired Moses: "Strike the sea with your staff," whereupon it parted. Each part was like a great hill.

26:64 We then delivered them all.

26:65 We thus saved Moses and all those who were with him.

26:66 And we drowned the others.

26:67 This should be a sufficient proof, but most people are not believers.

26:68 Most assuredly, your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:69 Narrate to them Abraham's history.

26:70 He said to his father and his people, "What is this you are worshiping?"

26:71 They said, "We worship statues; we are totally devoted to them."

26:72 He said, "Can they hear you when you implore?

26:73 "Can they benefit you, or harm you?"

26:74 They said, "No; but we found our parents doing this."

26:75 He said, "Do you see these idols that you worship.

26:76 "You and your ancestors.

26:77 "I am against them, for I am devoted only to the Lord of the universe.

26:78 "The One who created me, and guided me.

26:79 "The One who feeds me and waters me.

26:80 "And when I get sick, He heals me.

26:81 "The One who puts me to death, then brings me back to life.

26:82 "The One who hopefully will forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment.

26:83 "My Lord, grant me wisdom, and include me with the righteous.

26:84 "Let the example I set for the future generations be a good one.

26:85 "Make me one of the inheritors of the blissful Paradise.

26:86 "And forgive my father, for he has gone astray.

26:87 "And do not forsake me on the Day of Resurrection."

26:88 That is the day when neither money, nor children, can help.

26:89 Only those who come to GOD with their whole heart (will be saved).

26:90 Paradise will be presented to the righteous.

26:91 Hell will be set up for the strayers.

26:92 They will be asked, "Where are the idols you had worshipped

26:93 "beside GOD? Can they help you now? Can they help themselves?"

26:94 They will be thrown therein, together with the strayers.

26:95 And all of Satan's soldiers.

26:96 They will say as they feud therein,

26:97 "By GOD, we were far astray.

26:98 "How could we set you up to rank with the Lord of the universe?

26:99 "Those who misled us were wicked.

26:100 "Now we have no intercessors.

26:101 "Nor a single close friend.

26:102 "If only we could get another chance, we would then believe."

26:103 This should be a good lesson. But most people are not believers.

26:104 Your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:105 The people of Noah disbelieved the messengers.

26:106 Their brother Noah said to them, "Would you not be righteous?

26:107 "I am an honest messenger to you.

26:108 "You shall reverence GOD and obey me.

26:109 "I do not ask you for any wage. My wage comes from the Lord of the universe.

26:110 "You shall reverence GOD and obey me."

26:111 They said, "How can we believe with you, when the worst among us have followed you?"

26:112 He said, "How do I know what they did?

26:113 "Their judgment rests only with my Lord, if you could perceive.

26:114 "I will never dismiss the believers.

26:115 "I am no more than a clarifying warner."

26:116 They said, "Unless you refrain, O Noah, you will be stoned."

26:117 He said, "My Lord, my people have disbelieved me.

26:118 "Grant me victory against them, and deliver me and my company of believers."

26:119 We delivered him and those who accompanied him in the loaded ark.

26:120 Then we drowned the others.

26:121 This should be a lesson, but most people are not believers.

26:122 Most assuredly, your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:123 `Aad disbelieved the messengers.

26:124 Their brother Hood said to them, "Would you not be righteous?

26:125 "I am an honest messenger to you.

26:126 "You shall reverence GOD, and obey me.

26:127 "I do not ask you for any wage; my wage comes from the Lord of the universe.

26:128 "You build on every hill a mansion for vanity's sake.

26:129 "You set up buildings as if you last forever.

26:130 "And when you strike, you strike mercilessly.

26:131 "You shall reverence GOD and obey me.

26:132 "Reverence the One who provided you with all the things you know.

26:133 "He provided you with livestock and children.

26:134 "And gardens and springs.

26:135 "I fear for you the retribution of an awesome day."

26:136 They said, "It is the same whether you preach, or do not preach.

26:137 "That affliction was limited to our ancestors.

26:138 "No retribution will ever befall us."

26:139 They thus disbelieved and, consequently, we annihilated them. This should be a lesson, but most people are not believers.

26:140 Most assuredly, your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:141 Thamoud disbelieved the messengers.

26:142 Their brother Saaleh said to them, "Would you not be righteous?

26:143 "I am an honest messenger to you.

26:144 "You shall reverence GOD, and obey me.

26:145 "I do not ask you for any wage; my wage comes only from the Lord of the universe.

26:146 "Do you suppose you will be left forever, secure in this state?

26:147 "You enjoy gardens and springs.

26:148 "And crops and date palms with delicious fruits.

26:149 "You carve out of the mountains luxurious mansions.

26:150 "You shall reverence GOD, and obey me.

26:151 "Do not obey the transgressors.

26:152 "Who commit evil, not good works."

26:153 They said, "You are bewitched.

26:154 "You are no more than a human like us. Produce a miracle, if you are truthful."

26:155 He said, "Here is a camel that will drink only on a day that is assigned to her; a day that is different from your specified days of drinking.

26:156 "Do not touch her with any harm, lest you incur retribution on an awesome day."

26:157 They slaughtered her, and thus incurred sorrow.

26:158 The retribution overwhelmed them. This should be a lesson, but most people are not believers.

26:159 Most assuredly, your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:160 The people of Lot disbelieved the messengers.

26:161 Their brother Lot said to them, "Would you not be righteous?

26:162 "I am an honest messenger to you.

26:163 "You shall reverence GOD, and obey me.

26:164 "I do not ask you for any wage; my wage comes only from the Lord of the universe.

26:165 "Do you have sex with the males, of all the people?

26:166 "You forsake the wives that your Lord has created for you! Indeed, you are transgressing people."

26:167 They said, "Unless you refrain, O Lot, you will be banished."

26:168 He said, "I deplore your actions."

26:169 "My Lord, save me and my family from their works."

26:170 We saved him and all his family.

26:171 But not the old woman; she was doomed.

26:172 We then destroyed the others.

26:173 We showered them with a miserable shower; what a terrible shower for those who had been warned!

26:174 This should be a lesson, but most people are not believers.

26:175 Most assuredly, your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:176 The People of the Woods disbelieved the messengers.

26:177 Shu`aib said to them, "Would you not be righteous?

26:178 "I am an honest messenger to you.

26:179 "You shall reverence GOD, and obey me.

26:180 "I do not ask you for any wage; my wage comes only from the Lord of the universe.

26:181 "You shall give full measure when you trade; do not cheat.

26:182 "You shall weigh with an equitable scale.

26:183 "Do not cheat the people out of their rights, and do not roam the earth corruptingly.

26:184 "Reverence the One who created you and the previous generations."

26:185 They said, "You are bewitched.

26:186 "You are no more than a human being like us. In fact, we think you are a liar.

26:187 "Let masses from the sky fall on us, if you are truthful."

26:188 He said, "My Lord is the One who knows everything you do."

26:189 They disbelieved him and, consequently, they incurred the retribution of the Day of the Canopy. It was the retribution of an awesome day.

26:190 This should be a lesson, but most people are not believers.

26:191 Most assuredly, your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:192 This is a revelation from the Lord of the universe.

26:193 The Honest Spirit (Gabriel) came down with it.

26:194 To reveal it into your heart, that you may be one of the warners.

26:195 In a perfect Arabic tongue.

26:196 It has been prophesied in the books of previous generations.

26:197 Is it not a sufficient sign for them that it was known to the scholars among the Children of Israel?

26:198 If we revealed this to people who do not know Arabic.

26:199 And had him recite it (in Arabic), they could not possibly believe in it.

26:200 We thus render it (like a foreign language) in the hearts of the guilty.

26:201 Thus, they cannot believe in it; not until they see the painful retribution.

26:202 It will come to them suddenly, when they least expect it.

26:203 They will then say, "Can we have a respite?"

26:204 Did they not challenge our retribution?

26:205 As you see, we allowed them to enjoy for years.

26:206 Then the retribution came to them, just as promised.

26:207 Their vast resources did not help them in the least.

26:208 We never annihilate any community without sending warners.

26:209 Therefore, this is a reminder, for we are never unjust.

26:210 The devils can never reveal this.

26:211 They neither would, nor could.

26:212 For they are prevented from hearing.

26:213 Therefore, do not idolize beside GOD any other god, lest you incur the retribution.

26:214 You shall preach to the people who are closest to you.

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

26:216 If they disobey you, then say, "I disown what you do."

26:217 And put your trust in the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:218 Who sees you when you meditate during the night.

26:219 And your frequent prostrations.

26:220 He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.

26:221 Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend?

26:222 They descend upon every guilty fabricator.

26:223 They pretend to listen, but most of them are liars.

26:224 As for the poets, they are followed only by the strayers.

26:225 Do you not see that their loyalty shifts according to the situation?

26:226 And that they say what they do not do?

26:227 Exempted are those who believe, lead a righteous life, commemorate GOD frequently, and stand up for their rights. Surely, the transgressors will find out what their ultimate destiny is.