Sâffât Sûresi Abul Ala Maududi Meâli

By those who range themselves in rows; ﴾ 1 ﴿
by those who reprove severely, ﴾ 2 ﴿
and those who recite the Exhortation; ﴾ 3 ﴿
surely your God is One, ﴾ 4 ﴿
the Lord of the heavens and the earth and of whatever lies between the two, the Lord of the Easts. ﴾ 5 ﴿
We have adorned the lower heaven with the adornment of the stars ﴾ 6 ﴿
and have protected it from every rebellious satan. ﴾ 7 ﴿
These satans cannot listen to what transpires in the High Council for they are pelted away from every side ﴾ 8 ﴿
and are repelled. Theirs is an unceasing chastisement. ﴾ 9 ﴿
And if any is able to snatch a fragment, he is pursued by a piercing flame. ﴾ 10 ﴿
So ask them (that is, human beings): “Were they harder to create than the objects We created?” We created them from sticky clay. ﴾ 11 ﴿
You marvel (at the wondrous creations of Allah) and they scoff at it, ﴾ 12 ﴿
and when they are admonished, they pay no heed; ﴾ 13 ﴿
and if they see any Sign, they laugh it away ﴾ 14 ﴿
and say: “This is nothing but plain sorcery. ﴾ 15 ﴿
Is it ever possible that after we die and are reduced to dust and (a skeleton of) bones, we will be raised to life? ﴾ 16 ﴿
And so also shall our forefathers of yore be raised to life?” ﴾ 17 ﴿
Tell them: “Yes; and you are utterly helpless (against Allah).” ﴾ 18 ﴿
There will be a single stern rebuff and lo, they will be observing with their own eyes (all that they had been warned against). ﴾ 19 ﴿
They will then say: “Woe for us. This is the Day of Judgement.” ﴾ 20 ﴿
“Yes, this is the Day of Final Decision that you used to deny as a lie.” ﴾ 21 ﴿
(Then will the command be given): “Muster all the wrong-doers and their spouses and the deities whom they used to serve ﴾ 22 ﴿
apart from Allah, and direct them to the path of Hell, ﴾ 23 ﴿
and detain them there; they will be called to account. ﴾ 24 ﴿
How is it that you are not helping one another? ﴾ 25 ﴿
Indeed, today they are surrendering themselves completely.” ﴾ 26 ﴿
They will then turn towards each other (and start wrangling). ﴾ 27 ﴿
(The followers will say to their leaders): “You used to come to us from the right hand.” ﴾ 28 ﴿
They will say: “Nay, you yourselves were not the ones who would believe. ﴾ 29 ﴿
We had no power over you. You were a rebellious people, ﴾ 30 ﴿
and so we became deserving of the Word of our Lord that we shall be made to suffer chastisement. ﴾ 31 ﴿
So we led you astray; we ourselves were strayed.” ﴾ 32 ﴿
On that Day, they will all share the chastisement. ﴾ 33 ﴿
Thus do We treat the culprits. ﴾ 34 ﴿
Whenever it was said to them: “There is no true deity apart from Allah,” they waxed proud ﴾ 35 ﴿
and said: “Shall we forsake our deities for the sake of a distracted poet?” ﴾ 36 ﴿
(They say so although) he brought the Truth and confirmed the veracity of the Messengers. ﴾ 37 ﴿
(They will be told): “You shall taste the grievous chastisement. ﴾ 38 ﴿
You will only be recompensed according to your deeds.” ﴾ 39 ﴿
But Allah's chosen servants (shall be spared this woeful end). ﴾ 40 ﴿
For them awaits a known provision, ﴾ 41 ﴿
a variety of delicious fruits; and they shall be honoured ﴾ 42 ﴿
in the Gardens of Bliss. ﴾ 43 ﴿
They will be seated upon couches set face to face; ﴾ 44 ﴿
a cup filled with wine from its springs, will be passed around to them; ﴾ 45 ﴿
white, sparkling (wine), a delight to the drinkers. ﴾ 46 ﴿
There will neither be any harm in it for their body nor will it intoxicate their mind. ﴾ 47 ﴿
Theirs shall be wide-eyed maidens with bashful, restrained glances, ﴾ 48 ﴿
so delicate as the hidden peel under an egg's shell. ﴾ 49 ﴿
Then some of them will turn to others, and will ask each other. ﴾ 50 ﴿
One of them will say: “I had a companion in the world ﴾ 51 ﴿
who used to say: -- Are you also one of those who confirm the Truth (of life after death)? ﴾ 52 ﴿
After we are dead and have become all dust and bones shall we still be requited?' ﴾ 53 ﴿
He will say: -- Do you wish to know where he is now?' ﴾ 54 ﴿
Then he will look downwards, and will see him in the depths of Hell. ﴾ 55 ﴿
He will say to him: -- By Allah, you almost ruined me. ﴾ 56 ﴿
But for Allah's favour, I should be one of those who have been mustered here. ﴾ 57 ﴿
So, are we not going to die, ﴾ 58 ﴿
except for our first death? And shall we suffer no chastisement?'” ﴾ 59 ﴿
Surely this is the supreme triumph. ﴾ 60 ﴿
For the like of it should the workers work. ﴾ 61 ﴿
Is this a better hospitality or the tree of al-Zaqqum? ﴾ 62 ﴿
We have made this tree a trial for the wrong-doers. ﴾ 63 ﴿
It is a tree that grows in the nethermost part of Hell. ﴾ 64 ﴿
Its spathes are like the heads of satans. ﴾ 65 ﴿
(The people of Hell) will surely eat of it, filling their bellies with it. ﴾ 66 ﴿
Then on top of it they will have a brew of boiling water. ﴾ 67 ﴿
Then their return will be to the same blazing Hell. ﴾ 68 ﴿
These are the ones who found their fathers steeped in error, ﴾ 69 ﴿
and they are running in their footsteps. ﴾ 70 ﴿
Before them a multitude of people of olden times had erred, ﴾ 71 ﴿
and We had sent among them Messengers to warn them. ﴾ 72 ﴿
Observe, then, what was the end of those that had been warned, ﴾ 73 ﴿
except for the chosen servants of Allah? ﴾ 74 ﴿
Noah had called upon Us (earlier). See, how excellent We were in answering him! ﴾ 75 ﴿
We delivered him and his household from the great calamity; ﴾ 76 ﴿
and made his offspring the only ones to survive, ﴾ 77 ﴿
and We established for him a good name among posterity. ﴾ 78 ﴿
Peace be upon Noah among all the nations. ﴾ 79 ﴿
Thus do We reward all those who do good. ﴾ 80 ﴿
Surely he was one of Our truly believing servants. ﴾ 81 ﴿
Thereafter We caused the others to be drowned. ﴾ 82 ﴿
Abraham was on the self-same way (as Noah). ﴾ 83 ﴿
When he came to his Lord with a pure heart, ﴾ 84 ﴿
and said to his father and his people: “Whom do you worship? ﴾ 85 ﴿
Is it false deities that you want to serve rather than Allah? ﴾ 86 ﴿
What do you think of the Lord of the whole Universe?” ﴾ 87 ﴿
Then he looked carefully at the stars ﴾ 88 ﴿
and said: “I am sick.” ﴾ 89 ﴿
So turning their backs, they went away from him. ﴾ 90 ﴿
Then he went quietly to the (temple of the deities) and said: “What is the matter with you, why do you not eat? ﴾ 91 ﴿
What is the matter with you, why do you not speak?” ﴾ 92 ﴿
Then he turned upon them, striking them with his right hand, ﴾ 93 ﴿
whereupon people came to him running. ﴾ 94 ﴿
Abraham said to them: “Do you worship what you yourselves have carved with your own hands ﴾ 95 ﴿
while it is Allah Who has created you and all that you make?” ﴾ 96 ﴿
They spoke among themselves: “Build him a pyre and then throw him into the furnace.” ﴾ 97 ﴿
They had contrived an evil plan against him, but We abased them all. ﴾ 98 ﴿
Abraham said: “I am going to my Lord; He will guide me. ﴾ 99 ﴿
Lord, grant me a righteous son.” ﴾ 100 ﴿
(In response to this prayer) We gave him the good news of a prudent boy; ﴾ 101 ﴿
and when he was old enough to go about and work with him, (one day) Abraham said to him: “My son, I see in my dream that I am slaughtering you. So consider (and tell me) what you think.” He said: “Do as you are bidden. You will find me, if Allah so wills, among the steadfast.” ﴾ 102 ﴿
When both surrendered (to Allah's command) and Abraham flung the son down on his forehead, ﴾ 103 ﴿
We cried out: “O Abraham, ﴾ 104 ﴿
you have indeed fulfilled your dream. Thus do We reward the good-doers.” ﴾ 105 ﴿
This was indeed a plain trial. ﴾ 106 ﴿
And We ransomed him with a mighty sacrifice, ﴾ 107 ﴿
and We preserved for him a good name among posterity. ﴾ 108 ﴿
Peace be upon Abraham. ﴾ 109 ﴿
Thus do We reward the good-doers. ﴾ 110 ﴿
Surely he was one of Our believing servants. ﴾ 111 ﴿
And We gave him the good news of Isaac, a Prophet and among the righteous ones. ﴾ 112 ﴿
And We blessed him and Isaac. Among the offspring of the two some did good and some plainly wronged themselves. ﴾ 113 ﴿
Verily We bestowed Our favours on Moses and Aaron ﴾ 114 ﴿
and We delivered both of them and their people from the great calamity. ﴾ 115 ﴿
We succoured them, and they gained the upper hand (against their enemies). ﴾ 116 ﴿
We granted them a Clear Book, ﴾ 117 ﴿
and showed them the Straight Way, ﴾ 118 ﴿
and preserved for them a good name among posterity. ﴾ 119 ﴿
Peace be upon Moses and Aaron. ﴾ 120 ﴿
Thus do We reward the good-doers. ﴾ 121 ﴿
Surely both of them were among Our believing servants. ﴾ 122 ﴿
Surely, Elias too was among the Messengers. ﴾ 123 ﴿
(Call to mind) when he said to his people: “Will you not fear Allah? ﴾ 124 ﴿
Do you call upon Baal and forsake the Best of the Creators? ﴾ 125 ﴿
Allah is your Lord and the Lord of your ancestors of yore.” ﴾ 126 ﴿
But they denounced him as a liar, so they will surely be arraigned (for punishment), ﴾ 127 ﴿
except Allah's chosen servants. ﴾ 128 ﴿
We preserved a good name for him among posterity. ﴾ 129 ﴿
Peace be upon Elias. ﴾ 130 ﴿
Thus do We reward the good-doers. ﴾ 131 ﴿
He was one of Our believing servants. ﴾ 132 ﴿
And Lot too was one of the Messengers. ﴾ 133 ﴿
(Call to mind) when We delivered him and all his kinsfolk, ﴾ 134 ﴿
except for an old woman who was among those that stayed behind. ﴾ 135 ﴿
Then We utterly destroyed the rest of them. ﴾ 136 ﴿
You pass by their desolate habitations in the morning ﴾ 137 ﴿
and at night. Do you still not understand? ﴾ 138 ﴿
And Jonah too was one of the Messengers. ﴾ 139 ﴿
Call to mind when he fled to the laden ship, ﴾ 140 ﴿
cast lots, and was among the losers. ﴾ 141 ﴿
Then a fish swallowed him, and he was blameworthy. ﴾ 142 ﴿
Had he not been one of those who glorify Allah, ﴾ 143 ﴿
he would certainly have remained in its belly till the Day of Resurrection. ﴾ 144 ﴿
But We threw him on a wide bare tract of land while he was ill; ﴾ 145 ﴿
and caused a gourd tree to grow over him, ﴾ 146 ﴿
and We sent him forth to a nation of a hundred thousand or more, ﴾ 147 ﴿
and they believed. So We let them enjoy life for a while. ﴾ 148 ﴿
So ask their opinion: “(Are you convinced) that your Lord should have daughters and you should have sons? ﴾ 149 ﴿
Did We create the angels as females the while they witnessed?” ﴾ 150 ﴿
Behold, it is one of their fabrications that they say: ﴾ 151 ﴿
“Allah has begotten.” They are liars! ﴾ 152 ﴿
Did He choose daughters rather than sons? ﴾ 153 ﴿
What is the matter with you that you make such strange judgements? ﴾ 154 ﴿
Will you then not take heed? ﴾ 155 ﴿
Do you have any clear authority for such claims? ﴾ 156 ﴿
Bring your Book, if you are truthful. ﴾ 157 ﴿
They have established a kinship between Allah and the angels; and the angels know well that these people will be arraigned (as culprits). ﴾ 158 ﴿
(They say): “Exalted be Allah above what they attribute to Him, ﴾ 159 ﴿
all of them except the chosen servants of Allah. ﴾ 160 ﴿
So you and your deities ﴾ 161 ﴿
shall not be able to tempt anyone away from Allah ﴾ 162 ﴿
except him who shall roast in the Blazing Fire. ﴾ 163 ﴿
As for us, there is none but has an appointed station. ﴾ 164 ﴿
Verily we range ourselves in rows (as humble servants) ﴾ 165 ﴿
and we are of those who glorify Allah.” ﴾ 166 ﴿
They used to say before: ﴾ 167 ﴿
“If only we had the Reminder which had been granted to the people of yore ﴾ 168 ﴿
we would surely have been Allah's chosen servants.” ﴾ 169 ﴿
But when it came to them, they rejected it. They shall soon come to know (the end of such an attitude). ﴾ 170 ﴿
We have already given Our promise to Our Messengers ﴾ 171 ﴿
that they shall certainly be succoured, ﴾ 172 ﴿
and that Our hosts shall triumph. ﴾ 173 ﴿
So, (O Prophet), leave them alone for a while, ﴾ 174 ﴿
and see, and soon they too shall see. ﴾ 175 ﴿
Do they seek to hasten Our chastisement? ﴾ 176 ﴿
When that chastisement will descend upon their courtyard, evil shall that Day be for those who had been warned. ﴾ 177 ﴿
Leave them alone for a while, ﴾ 178 ﴿
and see; and they too shall soon see. ﴾ 179 ﴿
Exalted be your Lord, the Lord of Glory, above what they attribute to Him, ﴾ 180 ﴿
and peace be upon the Messengers, ﴾ 181 ﴿
and all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Universe. ﴾ 182 ﴿