27:1  TA. SEEN. Those there are signs of the Quran and an expressive timeless book.

27:2  A guidance and divine tidings for the believers

27:3  The ones who make the [daily] Prayer a steadfast anchor and give Zakat, while they believe with certainty in the Hereafter.

27:4  Surely, the ones who do not believe in the Hereafter, WE have made their doings fair seeming to them, so they are blindly adrift.

27:5  For those very ones is the worst of the punishment. And they are the biggest losers in the Hereafter.

27:6  Surely, the Quran was disclosed to you from the domain of ONE all-wise, ever knowing.

27:7  [Recall] when Moses said to his family, “Behold! I sense a fire. I will bring you some news from it or come back with a flaming torch, so you may warm yourselves.”

27:8  But when he came to it, he was called: “Blessed is the One in the fire and the one in its vicinity. And limitless is the glory of Allah, Rabb of all realms.

27:9  O Moses, Hearken! I am Allah, the almighty, the all-wise.

27:10  Throw forth your staff.” Thereupon when he saw it writhing as if it were an apparition, he turned around in flight, and did not look back. “O Moses do not fear. Surely, in MY direct presence the Messengers are not to fear,

27:11  except one who has done wrong and has made a good change subsequent to a bad deed. For, I indeed am forgiving, ever merciful.

27:12  And put your hand through your pocket [to your heart], it will come out radiant-white without a blot— [a sign] amongst nine signs meant for Pharaoh and his people. Surely, they are an iniquitous people.”

27:13  Then when OUR eye-opening signs came to them, they said, “This is evident sorcery.”

27:14  They repudiated them, even though their souls deemed them convincing, out of a misplaced sense of the Truth and a sense of superiority. So, observe how the end-fate of the corrupt was.

27:15  WE did endow David and Solomon with knowledge, and it was said by both, “All praise belongs to Allah, WHO has consistently graced us above many of HIS believing devotees.

27:16  Solomon succeeded David, and he said, “O humankind, we have been given knowledge of the articulation of the birds, and we have been given much of all things. Indeed, this is evident Grace.”

27:17  And for Solomon [on this one occasion] his hosts from amongst Jinns and men and birds were gathered together, so they would be locked tightly in formations,

27:18  until when they came upon a valley of the ants, an ant said, “O ants enter your safe houses. Not will Solomon and his hosts [then] necessarily crush you, while they are unawares.”

27:19  Thereupon he smiled, laughing out at its directive, and said, “My Rabb, constrain me, that I am always thankful for YOUR blessings which YOU have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that my deeds are righteous, worthy of YOUR assent. And include me, by YOUR mercy amongst YOUR righteous devotees.”

27:20  While reviewing the birds, he said, “What is it with me that I do not see the hoopoe? Or is it amongst the absent?”

27:21  I will most certainly punish him with a severe punishment, or outright put him to the knife, or better he comes to me with a clear authorization.

27:22  But it stayed not long, and said, “I encompassed that which you have not encompassed. I come to you from Sheba with fully ascertained information.

27:23  I did find a woman ruling over them and she has been given much of all things and hers is a grand throne.

27:24  And I found her and her people prostrating to the sun, instead of Allah, and Satan has made their doings fair seeming to them. Thus, has he kept them away from the Path [of God], and thus are they not receptive to guidance

27:25  Given that they do not prostrate to Allah, WHO brings forth the latent in the heavens and the earth. And HE knows what you conceal and what you disclose.

27:26  Allah! There is no god except HE, the Rabb of the transcendent Throne.” ۩

27:27  [Solomon] said, “We shall see whether you spoke the truth or were of the liars.”

27:28  “Go with this letter of mine and present it to them, then turn away from them and see what comes back.”

27:29  She said, “O advisors, an eminent letter has been presented to me.

27:30  It is from Solomon, and it is: “In the name of Allah, the Source of Mercy, the merciful:”

27:31  Do not exalt yourselves above ME and come to ME willingly surrendered [i.e., as Muslims].

27:32  She said “O advisors, give me counsel on the matter in front of me. I am not one to cull out options in a matter until you give me your observations.”

27:33  They said, “We are possessors of strength, and possessors of extreme might, whereas the command is up to you. So, take a full view, [no matter] what you would command.”

27:34  She said, “When rulers enter a town, they despoil it and make the mightiest of its people its most abased. That is what they do.

27:35  I am one for sending a present to them, then duly waiting to see what the messengers return with.”

27:36  Then when [one of the messengers] came to Solomon, he said, “Are you supplying me with earthly wealth? Whereas, that which Allah has given me is better than what HE has given you. Nay! You rejoice in [this] present of yours.

27:37  Return unto them. For we shall indeed come at them with forces they have nothing to confront with, and we shall dislodge them from it, abased. And they are servile.”

27:38  He said, “O notables, which one of you can bring her throne to me, before they come to me in submission?”

27:39  Said “An exceedingly crafty one of the Jinn, I will bring it to you before your rising from your place. Indeed, I am one with the credible power over it.

27:40  Said one with whom was knowledge from the timeless Book, “I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.” Accordingly, when he saw [the throne] firmly affixed before him, he said, “This is from the grace of my Rabb, to try me as to whether I am grateful or ungrateful. Whoever has been grateful, only for his own soul is he thereby grateful and [so too] whoever has been ungrateful. For my Rabb is ever independently self-sufficient, ever generous.

27:41  He said, “Disguise her throne for her. Let us see whether she is receptive to guidance or is of the ones not receptive to guidance.”

27:42  Then when she came, she was asked, “Is your throne like this one? She said, “It is as if it was it.” “And we were given the knowledge prior to it [i.e., that which has transpired], and we were in submission.”

27:43  And she was kept barred [from the real surrender to God] by what she had worshipped besides Allah. She was of the disbelieving people.

27:44  It was said to her, “Enter the pavilion.” So, when she saw it, she deemed it to be fathomless and bared her shins. He said, “It is a pavilion faced with glass.” She said, “My Rabb, I had indeed wronged my soul. I surrender with Solomon to Allah, the Rabb of all realms.”

27:45  WE also sent to Thamūd their brother Salih [with the message]: “Worship Allah.” Thereupon they split in two factions locked in dispute.”

27:46  He said, “O my people, why do you seek to preempt the good with the ill. Would you not rather seek forgiveness from Allah, so that you may receive HIS mercy?”

27:47  They said, “We have seen the ill omen associated with you and those with you.” He said, “Your omen is with Allah. In fact, you are a people being tested.”

27:48  And there were nine clans in the wider community spreading discord in the land and not fostering reform.

27:49  They said: Be sworn by Allah unto each other that we will decisively deal with him and his household in the dark of night and then categorically tell his next of kin, we witnessed not the riddance of his household, and we are earnest truth-tellers.

27:50  And they devised a plot, and WE devised a plot, while they remained unaware.

27:51  Observe then what became the end of their plotting: WE annihilated [the plotters] and their peoples all together.

27:52  So [behold as evidence] those houses of theirs lying desolate for the wrongs they did. Verily, in that is an instructive sign, for a people who know.

27:53  And WE delivered the ones who had embraced Faith and were conscientious.

27:54  And [so it was with] Lot when he said to his people, “Do you commit the brazen indecency, while you clearly see?

27:55  Must you sexually couple with men instead of women? Nay you are a people living in moral ignorance.

27:56  To that, there was no answer of his people, except their saying: “Drive out the lineage of Lot from your community. They are humans busy keeping pure.”

27:57  So, WE delivered him and his family, except his wife. WE destined her to be of the laggards.

27:58  And WE rained a shower upon them. [Fittingly] dreadful—a shower of the forewarned.

27:59  Say, “All praise belongs to Allah, and peace be upon HIS devotees, the ones HE has chosen.” Is Allah better or what they associate as partners with HIM?

27:60  Or [is anything like the likeness of] the One WHO created the heavens and the earth, and sent down water for you from the sky? Then with it WE cause to spread orchards full of splendor. It was not for you to grow and spread its tree. Is there a god alongside Allah? Yet they are a people ascribing equals.

27:61  Or [is anything like the likeness of] the One WHO made the earth a lodgment, and released running waters in its clefts, and set anchored mountains for her, and placed between the two seas, an active shield? Is there a god alongside Allah? Yet most of them do not know.

27:62  Or [is anything like the likeness of] One WHO responds to the distressed when he calls out and removes his ailment, and WHO has made you viceregents of the earth? Is there a god alongside Allah? Little do you mindfully ponder.

27:63  Or [is anything like the likeness of] One WHO guides you through layers of darkness on the land and the sea, and One WHO dispatches the winds as tidings of the imminence of HIS mercy? Is there a god alongside Allah! Supremely exalted is Allah far above any partner they associate [in HIS sole and absolute dominion].

27:64  Or [is anything like the likeness of] One WHO originates the very creation and then recreates it, and WHO sustains you from Heaven and the earth? Is there a god alongside God? Say, “Bring your proof, if you are truthful.”

27:65  Say, “None in the heavens and the earth knows the unseeable Reality, except Allah.” And neither are they to perceive as to when they will be resurrected.

27:66  Rather, their knowledge obviates everything concerning the Hereafter. Rather, they are skeptical of it. Nay, their minds have gone blind to it.

27:67  And the disbelievers have said, “What! After we have become dust, and our forefathers— are we all destined for re-emergence!

27:68  Sure, we and our forefathers were indeed promised this before. This is nothing except fables of the earlier peoples.”

27:69  Say, “Travel the earth and see how the end-fate was of the flouters of divine guidance.”

27:70  Do not grieve over them nor be in any duress from what they are plotting.

27:71  And they say, “When is this promise [of resurrection], if you are truthful?”

27:72  Say, “It may be that some of which you ask to hasten is right behind you.”

27:73  Surely, your Rabb is the Owner-Source of grace upon humankind but most of them are ungrateful.”

27:74  And indeed, your Rabb categorically knows what their bosoms shield and what they disclose.

27:75  There is not anything hidden in the heavens and the earth, on the contrary, it is in an ever-clear indelible record.

27:76  Surely, this Quran narrates to [and about] the Children of Israel [concerning] that wherein they differ most.

27:77  And it certainly is a guide and a mercy for believers.

27:78  Of certain, your Rabb will decide between them by HIS wise judgment. HE is the almighty, the ever knowing.

27:79  So, rely upon Allah. Verily, you are on the evident Truth.

27:80  Indeed, not can you make the dead hear, nor can you make the deaf hear the call, while they turn away showing their backs.

27:81  And not are you in any way a guide of the blind, against their error. Nor can you cause any to hear except one who believes in OUR signs, for they are in submission to God.

27:82  When the Word takes effect on them, WE will bring forth for them a creature from the earth, to [effectively] speak to them that humankind was not certain of OUR signs.

27:83  And on a day, WE will gather from every [prophet’s] community, masses of those who rejected OUR signs, so they would be locked tightly in formations,

27:84  till they come [to their questioning]: HE asked, “Did you give the lie to MY signs, even while you did not encompass them in knowledge? Or exactly what were you doing?”

27:85  And the Word took effect on them for having done wrong. Thereon they will not offer any rationale.

27:86  Do they not see that WE have made the night that they may settle tranquilly in it, and the day a sight-enabler? Verily, in that are definite signs for a people who believe.

27:87  And on a day [souls] will be blown into the forms— whereupon whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will be startled, excepting whoever Allah wills. And all will come to HIM abjectly.

27:88  You see the mountains, figuring them to be immovable, while they shall pass [like] the passing of the clouds. [What you see is] the handiwork of Allah, WHO has given perfection to all things. Verily, HE is aware of all that you do.

27:89  Whoever comes with the good deed [contemplated to serve HIM, and accepted by HIM], for him in return will be better than it. And they are secure from any terror that day.

27:90  Whoever comes with the bad deed [willfully committed, not repented for, and not forgiven by HIM], their faces will be thrown [prostrated]: “Are you recompensed [for aught] except what you were doing?”

27:91  [Say O Messenger], “I have been commanded that I worship only the Rabb of this territory, WHO has made it sacred, and to HIM belong all things. And I have been commanded that I be of the ones who have surrendered to HIM.

27:92  And [I have been commanded] that I recite the Quran.” Thereupon, whoever has accepted guidance, he accepts guidance only for his own soul, and whoever has strayed, say, “I am only of the warners.”

27:93  And say, “All praise belongs to Allah.” HE will show HIS signs; you will recognize them. And your Rabb is not in any way unaware as to what you do.