al-Kahf ( الكهف )

110 verses • revealed at Meccan

»The surah that mentions the wondrous story of a group of youthful believers who retreated from their unbelieving people to the hills and the seclusion of The Cave wherein God caused them to sleep for three hundred and nine lunar years as a sign to their people that God shall, indeed, raise the dead—and that also mentions the narratives of other marvels beyond ordinary human conception. Its name is derived from the story of the “Companions of the Cave” (aṣḥāb al-kahf) told at its beginning. This surah also deals with two other stories: Moses’ meeting with an unidentified figure (

ff.), and the story of Dhuʾl-Qarnayn (

). A parable is put forward for the people of Mecca: the parable of the luscious gardens belonging to an arrogant and ungrateful man, which God reduces to dust. The surah opens and closes with references to the Quran itself.«

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ

Transliteration: bi-smi llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīmⁱ

Translation: In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful.

1

الحَمدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذي أَنزَلَ عَلىٰ عَبدِهِ الكِتابَ وَلَم يَجعَل لَهُ عِوَجًا ۜ

Transliteration

^al-ḥamdu li-llāhi lladhī ʾanzala ʿalā ʿabdihi l-kitāba wa-lam yajʿal lahū ʿiwajā

Translation

All praise belongs to Allah, who has sent down the Book to His servant and did not let any crookedness be in it,

2

قَيِّمًا لِيُنذِرَ بَأسًا شَديدًا مِن لَدُنهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ المُؤمِنينَ الَّذينَ يَعمَلونَ الصّالِحاتِ أَنَّ لَهُم أَجرًا حَسَنًا

Transliteration

qayyiman li-yundhira baʾsan shadīdan min ladunhu wa-yubashshira l-muʾminīna lladhīna yaʿmalūna ṣ-ṣāliḥāti ʾanna lahum ʾajran ḥasanaⁿ

Translation

[a Book] upright, to warn of a severe punishment from Him, and to give good news to the faithful who do righteous deeds, that there shall be for them a good reward,

3

ماكِثينَ فيهِ أَبَدًا

Transliteration

mākithīna fīhi ʾabadaⁿ

Translation

to abide in it forever,

4

وَيُنذِرَ الَّذينَ قالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ وَلَدًا

Transliteration

wa-yundhira lladhīna qālū ttakhadha llāhu waladaⁿ

Translation

and to warn those who say, ‘Allah has taken a son.’

5

ما لَهُم بِهِ مِن عِلمٍ وَلا لِآبائِهِم ۚ كَبُرَت كَلِمَةً تَخرُجُ مِن أَفواهِهِم ۚ إِن يَقولونَ إِلّا كَذِبًا

Transliteration

mā lahum bihī min ʿilmin wa-lā li-ʾābāʾihim kaburat kalimatan takhruju min ʾafwāhihim ʾin yaqūlūna ʾillā kadhibaⁿ

Translation

They do not have any knowledge of that, nor did their fathers. Monstrous is the utterance that comes out of their mouths, and they say nothing but a lie.

6

فَلَعَلَّكَ باخِعٌ نَفسَكَ عَلىٰ آثارِهِم إِن لَم يُؤمِنوا بِهٰذَا الحَديثِ أَسَفًا

Transliteration

fa-laʿallaka bākhiʿun nafsaka ʿalā ʾāthārihim ʾin lam yuʾminū bi-hādhā l-ḥadīthi ʾasafaⁿ

Translation

You are liable to imperil your life for their sake, if they should not believe this discourse,¹ out of grief.

• That is, the Qurʾān.

7

إِنّا جَعَلنا ما عَلَى الأَرضِ زينَةً لَها لِنَبلُوَهُم أَيُّهُم أَحسَنُ عَمَلًا

Transliteration

ʾinnā jaʿalnā mā ʿalā l-ʾarḍi zīnatan lahā li-nabluwahum ʾayyuhum ʾaḥsanu ʿamalaⁿ

Translation

Indeed We have made whatever is on the earth an adornment for it that We may test them [to see] which of them is best in conduct.

8

وَإِنّا لَجاعِلونَ ما عَلَيها صَعيدًا جُرُزًا

Transliteration

wa-ʾinnā la-jāʿilūna mā ʿalayhā ṣaʿīdan juruzaⁿ

Translation

And indeed We will turn whatever is on it into a barren plain.

9

أَم حَسِبتَ أَنَّ أَصحابَ الكَهفِ وَالرَّقيمِ كانوا مِن آياتِنا عَجَبًا

Transliteration

ʾam ḥasibta ʾanna ʾaṣḥāba l-kahfi wa-r-raqīmi kānū min ʾāyātinā ʿajabaⁿ

Translation

Do you suppose that the Companions of the Cave and the Inscription were among Our wonderful signs?

10

إِذ أَوَى الفِتيَةُ إِلَى الكَهفِ فَقالوا رَبَّنا آتِنا مِن لَدُنكَ رَحمَةً وَهَيِّئ لَنا مِن أَمرِنا رَشَدًا

Transliteration

ʾidh ʾawā l-fityatu ʾilā l-kahfi fa-qālū rabbanā ʾātinā min ladunka raḥmatan wa-hayyiʾ lanā min ʾamrinā rashadaⁿ

Translation

When the youths took refuge in the Cave, they said, ‘Our Lord! Grant us a mercy from Yourself, and help us on to rectitude in our affair.’

11

فَضَرَبنا عَلىٰ آذانِهِم فِي الكَهفِ سِنينَ عَدَدًا

Transliteration

fa-ḍarabnā ʿalā ʾādhānihim fī l-kahfi sinīna ʿadadaⁿ

Translation

So We put them to sleep¹ in the Cave for several years.

• Literally: ‘struck on their ears,’ or ‘drew a curtain (or veil) on their ears.’

12

ثُمَّ بَعَثناهُم لِنَعلَمَ أَيُّ الحِزبَينِ أَحصىٰ لِما لَبِثوا أَمَدًا

Transliteration

thumma baʿathnāhum li-naʿlama ʾayyu l-ḥizbayni ʾaḥṣā li-mā labithū ʾamadaⁿ

Translation

Then We aroused them that We might know which of the two groups better reckoned the period they had stayed.

13

نَحنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيكَ نَبَأَهُم بِالحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّهُم فِتيَةٌ آمَنوا بِرَبِّهِم وَزِدناهُم هُدًى

Transliteration

naḥnu naquṣṣu ʿalayka nabaʾahum bi-l-ḥaqqi ʾinnahum fityatun ʾāmanū bi-rabbihim wa-zidnāhum hudaⁿ

Translation

We relate to you their account in truth. They were indeed youths who had faith in their Lord, and We had enhanced them in guidance,

14

وَرَبَطنا عَلىٰ قُلوبِهِم إِذ قاموا فَقالوا رَبُّنا رَبُّ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ لَن نَدعُوَ مِن دونِهِ إِلٰهًا ۖ لَقَد قُلنا إِذًا شَطَطًا

Transliteration

wa-rabaṭnā ʿalā qulūbihim ʾidh qāmū fa-qālū rabbunā rabbu s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi lan nadʿuwa min dūnihī ʾilāhan la-qad qulnā ʾidhan shaṭaṭaⁿ

Translation

and fortified their hearts, when they stood up and said, ‘Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. We will never invoke any god besides Him, for then we shall certainly have said an atrocious lie.

15

هٰؤُلاءِ قَومُنَا اتَّخَذوا مِن دونِهِ آلِهَةً ۖ لَولا يَأتونَ عَلَيهِم بِسُلطانٍ بَيِّنٍ ۖ فَمَن أَظلَمُ مِمَّنِ افتَرىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا

Transliteration

hāʾulāʾi qawmunā ttakhadhū min dūnihī ʾālihatan law-lā yaʾtūna ʿalayhim bi-sulṭānin bayyinin fa-man ʾaẓlamu mimmani ftarā ʿalā llāhi kadhibaⁿ

Translation

These—our people— have taken gods besides Him. Why do they not bring any clear authority touching them? So who is a greater wrongdoer than he who fabricates a lie against Allah?

16

وَإِذِ اعتَزَلتُموهُم وَما يَعبُدونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ فَأووا إِلَى الكَهفِ يَنشُر لَكُم رَبُّكُم مِن رَحمَتِهِ وَيُهَيِّئ لَكُم مِن أَمرِكُم مِرفَقًا

Transliteration

wa-ʾidhi ʿtazaltumūhum wa-mā yaʿbudūna ʾillā llāha fa-ʾwū ʾilā l-kahfi yanshur lakum rabbukum min raḥmatihī wa-yuhayyiʾ lakum min ʾamrikum mirfaqaⁿ

Translation

When you have dissociated yourselves from them and from what they worship except Allah, then take refuge in the Cave. Your Lord will unfold His mercy for you, and He will help you on to ease in your affair.’

17

۞ وَتَرَى الشَّمسَ إِذا طَلَعَت تَزاوَرُ عَن كَهفِهِم ذاتَ اليَمينِ وَإِذا غَرَبَت تَقرِضُهُم ذاتَ الشِّمالِ وَهُم في فَجوَةٍ مِنهُ ۚ ذٰلِكَ مِن آياتِ اللَّهِ ۗ مَن يَهدِ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ المُهتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضلِل فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُرشِدًا

Transliteration

wa-tarā sh-shamsa ʾidhā ṭalaʿat tazāwaru ʿan kahfihim dhāta l-yamīni wa-ʾidhā gharabat taqriḍuhum dhāta sh-shimāli wa-hum fī fajwatin minhu dhālika min ʾāyāti llāhi man yahdi llāhu fa-huwa l-muhtadi wa-man yuḍlil fa-lan tajida lahū waliyyan murshidaⁿ

Translation

You may see the sun, when it rises, slanting toward the right of their cave, and, when it sets, cut across them towards the left, while they are in a cavern within it. That is one of Allah’s signs. Whomever Allah guides is rightly guided, and whomever He leads astray, you will never find for him any guardian or guide.

18

وَتَحسَبُهُم أَيقاظًا وَهُم رُقودٌ ۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُم ذاتَ اليَمينِ وَذاتَ الشِّمالِ ۖ وَكَلبُهُم باسِطٌ ذِراعَيهِ بِالوَصيدِ ۚ لَوِ اطَّلَعتَ عَلَيهِم لَوَلَّيتَ مِنهُم فِرارًا وَلَمُلِئتَ مِنهُم رُعبًا

Transliteration

wa-taḥsabuhum ʾayqāẓan wa-hum ruqūdun wa-nuqallibuhum dhāta l-yamīni wa-dhāta sh-shimāli wa-kalbuhum bāsiṭun dhirāʿayhi bi-l-waṣīdi lawi ṭṭalaʿta ʿalayhim la-wallayta minhum firāran wa-la-muliʾta minhum ruʿbaⁿ

Translation

You will suppose them to be awake, although they are asleep. We turn them to the right and to the left, and their dog [lies] stretching its forelegs at the threshold. If you come upon them, you will surely turn to flee from them, and you will surely be filled with a terror of them.

19

وَكَذٰلِكَ بَعَثناهُم لِيَتَساءَلوا بَينَهُم ۚ قالَ قائِلٌ مِنهُم كَم لَبِثتُم ۖ قالوا لَبِثنا يَومًا أَو بَعضَ يَومٍ ۚ قالوا رَبُّكُم أَعلَمُ بِما لَبِثتُم فَابعَثوا أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُم هٰذِهِ إِلَى المَدينَةِ فَليَنظُر أَيُّها أَزكىٰ طَعامًا فَليَأتِكُم بِرِزقٍ مِنهُ وَليَتَلَطَّف وَلا يُشعِرَنَّ بِكُم أَحَدًا

Transliteration

wa-ka-dhālika baʿathnāhum li-yatasāʾalū baynahum qāla qāʾilun minhum kam labithtum qālū labithnā yawman ʾaw baʿḍa yawmin qālū rabbukum ʾaʿlamu bi-mā labithtum fa-bʿathū ʾaḥadakum bi-wariqikum hādhihī ʾilā l-madīnati fa-l-yanẓur ʾayyuhā ʾazkā ṭaʿāman fa-l-yaʾtikum bi-rizqin minhu wa-l-yatalaṭṭaf wa-lā yushʿiranna bikum ʾaḥadaⁿ

Translation

So it was that We aroused them [from sleep] so that they might question one another. One of them said, ‘How long have you stayed [here]?’ They said, ‘We have stayed a day, or part of a day.’ They said, ‘Your Lord knows best how long you have stayed. Send one of you to the city with this money. Let him observe which of them has the purest food, and bring you provisions from there. Let him be attentive,¹ and let him not make anyone aware of you.

• Or ‘careful.’

20

إِنَّهُم إِن يَظهَروا عَلَيكُم يَرجُموكُم أَو يُعيدوكُم في مِلَّتِهِم وَلَن تُفلِحوا إِذًا أَبَدًا

Transliteration

ʾinnahum ʾin yaẓharū ʿalaykum yarjumūkum ʾaw yuʿīdūkum fī millatihim wa-lan tufliḥū ʾidhan ʾabadaⁿ

Translation

Indeed should they prevail over you, they will [either] stone you [to death], or force you back into their creed, and then you will never be saved.’

21

وَكَذٰلِكَ أَعثَرنا عَلَيهِم لِيَعلَموا أَنَّ وَعدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ السّاعَةَ لا رَيبَ فيها إِذ يَتَنازَعونَ بَينَهُم أَمرَهُم ۖ فَقالُوا ابنوا عَلَيهِم بُنيانًا ۖ رَبُّهُم أَعلَمُ بِهِم ۚ قالَ الَّذينَ غَلَبوا عَلىٰ أَمرِهِم لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيهِم مَسجِدًا

Transliteration

wa-ka-dhālika ʾaʿtharnā ʿalayhim li-yaʿlamū ʾanna waʿda llāhi ḥaqqun wa-ʾanna s-sāʿata lā rayba fīhā ʾidh yatanāzaʿūna baynahum ʾamrahum fa-qālū bnū ʿalayhim bunyānan rabbuhum ʾaʿlamu bihim qāla lladhīna ghalabū ʿalā ʾamrihim la-nattakhidhanna ʿalayhim masjidaⁿ

Translation

So it was that We let them come upon them,¹ that they might know that Allah’s promise is true, and that there is no doubt in the Hour. As they were disputing among themselves about their matter, they said, ‘Build a building over them. Their Lord knows them best.’ Those who had the say in their matter said, ‘We will set up a place of worship over them.’

• That is, We let the people discover the cave where the Men of the Cave were.

22

سَيَقولونَ ثَلاثَةٌ رابِعُهُم كَلبُهُم وَيَقولونَ خَمسَةٌ سادِسُهُم كَلبُهُم رَجمًا بِالغَيبِ ۖ وَيَقولونَ سَبعَةٌ وَثامِنُهُم كَلبُهُم ۚ قُل رَبّي أَعلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم ما يَعلَمُهُم إِلّا قَليلٌ ۗ فَلا تُمارِ فيهِم إِلّا مِراءً ظاهِرًا وَلا تَستَفتِ فيهِم مِنهُم أَحَدًا

Transliteration

sa-yaqūlūna thalāthatun rābiʿuhum kalbuhum wa-yaqūlūna khamsatun sādisuhum kalbuhum rajman bi-l-ghaybi wa-yaqūlūna sabʿatun wa-thāminuhum kalbuhum qul rabbī ʾaʿlamu bi-ʿiddatihim mā yaʿlamuhum ʾillā qalīlun fa-lā tumāri fīhim ʾillā mirāʾan ẓāhiran wa-lā tastafti fīhim minhum ʾaḥadaⁿ

Translation

They will say, ‘[They are] three; their dog is the fourth of them. They will say, ‘[They are] five, their dog is the sixth of them,’ taking a shot at the invisible.¹ They will say, ‘[They are] seven, their dog is the eighth of them.’ Say, ‘My Lord knows best their number, and none knows them except a few.’ So do not dispute concerning them, except for a seeming dispute, and do not question about them any of them.

• That is, making a wild guess.

23

وَلا تَقولَنَّ لِشَيءٍ إِنّي فاعِلٌ ذٰلِكَ غَدًا

Transliteration

wa-lā taqūlanna li-shayʾin ʾinnī fāʿilun dhālika ghadaⁿ

Translation

Do not say about anything, ‘I will indeed do it tomorrow,’

24

إِلّا أَن يَشاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ وَاذكُر رَبَّكَ إِذا نَسيتَ وَقُل عَسىٰ أَن يَهدِيَنِ رَبّي لِأَقرَبَ مِن هٰذا رَشَدًا

Transliteration

ʾillā ʾan yashāʾa llāhu wa-dhkur rabbaka ʾidhā nasīta wa-qul ʿasā ʾan yahdiyani rabbī li-ʾaqraba min hādhā rashadaⁿ

Translation

without [adding], ‘if Allah wishes.’ And when you forget, remember your Lord, and say, ‘Maybe my Lord will guide me to [something] more akin to rectitude than this.’

25

وَلَبِثوا في كَهفِهِم ثَلاثَ مِائَةٍ سِنينَ وَازدادوا تِسعًا

Transliteration

wa-labithū fī kahfihim thalātha miʾatin sinīna wa-zdādū tisʿaⁿ

Translation

They remained in the Cave for three hundred years, and added nine more [to that number].

26

قُلِ اللَّهُ أَعلَمُ بِما لَبِثوا ۖ لَهُ غَيبُ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ ۖ أَبصِر بِهِ وَأَسمِع ۚ ما لَهُم مِن دونِهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلا يُشرِكُ في حُكمِهِ أَحَدًا

Transliteration

quli llāhu ʾaʿlamu bi-mā labithū lahū ghaybu s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi ʾabṣir bihī wa-ʾasmiʿ mā lahum min dūnihī min waliyyin wa-lā yushriku fī ḥukmihī ʾaḥadaⁿ

Translation

Say, ‘Allah knows best how long they remained. To Him belongs the Unseen of the heavens and the earth. How well does He see! How well does He hear! They have no guardian besides Him, and none shares with Him in His judgement.’

27

وَاتلُ ما أوحِيَ إِلَيكَ مِن كِتابِ رَبِّكَ ۖ لا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِماتِهِ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دونِهِ مُلتَحَدًا

Transliteration

wa-tlu mā ʾūḥiya ʾilayka min kitābi rabbika lā mubaddila li-kalimātihī wa-lan tajida min dūnihī multaḥadaⁿ

Translation

Recite what has been revealed to you from your Lord’s Book. Nothing can change His words, and you will never find any refuge besides Him.

28

وَاصبِر نَفسَكَ مَعَ الَّذينَ يَدعونَ رَبَّهُم بِالغَداةِ وَالعَشِيِّ يُريدونَ وَجهَهُ ۖ وَلا تَعدُ عَيناكَ عَنهُم تُريدُ زينَةَ الحَياةِ الدُّنيا ۖ وَلا تُطِع مَن أَغفَلنا قَلبَهُ عَن ذِكرِنا وَاتَّبَعَ هَواهُ وَكانَ أَمرُهُ فُرُطًا

Transliteration

wa-ṣbir nafsaka maʿa lladhīna yadʿūna rabbahum bi-l-ghadāti wa-l-ʿashiyyi yurīdūna wajhahū wa-lā taʿdu ʿaynāka ʿanhum turīdu zīnata l-ḥayāti d-dunyā wa-lā tuṭiʿ man ʾaghfalnā qalbahū ʿan dhikrinā wa-ttabaʿa hawāhu wa-kāna ʾamruhū furuṭaⁿ

Translation

Content yourself with the company of those who supplicate their Lord morning and evening, desiring His Face, and do not loose sight of them, desiring the glitter of the life of this world.¹ And Do not obey him whose heart We have made oblivious to Our remembrance, and who follows his own desires, and whose conduct is [mere] profligacy.

• Cf.

• .

29

وَقُلِ الحَقُّ مِن رَبِّكُم ۖ فَمَن شاءَ فَليُؤمِن وَمَن شاءَ فَليَكفُر ۚ إِنّا أَعتَدنا لِلظّالِمينَ نارًا أَحاطَ بِهِم سُرادِقُها ۚ وَإِن يَستَغيثوا يُغاثوا بِماءٍ كَالمُهلِ يَشوِي الوُجوهَ ۚ بِئسَ الشَّرابُ وَساءَت مُرتَفَقًا

Transliteration

wa-quli l-ḥaqqu min rabbikum fa-man shāʾa fa-l-yuʾmin wa-man shāʾa fa-l-yakfur ʾinnā ʾaʿtadnā li-ẓ-ẓālimīna nāran ʾaḥāṭa bihim surādiquhā wa-ʾin yastaghīthū yughāthū bi-māʾin ka-l-muhli yashwī l-wujūha biʾsa sh-sharābu wa-sāʾat murtafaqaⁿ

Translation

And say, ‘[This is] the truth from your Lord: let anyone who wishes believe it, and let anyone who wishes disbelieve it.’ Indeed We have prepared for the wrongdoers a Fire whose curtains will surround them [on all sides]. If they cry out for help, they will be helped with a water like molten copper which will scald the faces. What an evil drink, and how ill a resting place!

30

إِنَّ الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّالِحاتِ إِنّا لا نُضيعُ أَجرَ مَن أَحسَنَ عَمَلًا

Transliteration

ʾinna lladhīna ʾāmanū wa-ʿamilū ṣ-ṣāliḥāti ʾinnā lā nuḍīʿu ʾajra man ʾaḥsana ʿamalaⁿ

Translation

As for those who have faith and do righteous deeds —indeed We do not waste the reward of those who are good in deeds.

31

أُولٰئِكَ لَهُم جَنّاتُ عَدنٍ تَجري مِن تَحتِهِمُ الأَنهارُ يُحَلَّونَ فيها مِن أَساوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلبَسونَ ثِيابًا خُضرًا مِن سُندُسٍ وَإِستَبرَقٍ مُتَّكِئينَ فيها عَلَى الأَرائِكِ ۚ نِعمَ الثَّوابُ وَحَسُنَت مُرتَفَقًا

Transliteration

ʾulāʾika lahum jannātu ʿadnin tajrī min taḥtihimu l-ʾanhāru yuḥallawna fīhā min ʾasāwira min dhahabin wa-yalbasūna thiyāban khuḍran min sundusin wa-ʾistabraqin muttakiʾīna fīhā ʿalā l-ʾarāʾiki niʿma th-thawābu wa-ḥasunat murtafaqaⁿ

Translation

For such there will be the Gardens of Eden with streams running in them. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and wear green garments of silk and brocade, reclining therein on couches. How excellent a reward, and how good a resting place!

32

۞ وَاضرِب لَهُم مَثَلًا رَجُلَينِ جَعَلنا لِأَحَدِهِما جَنَّتَينِ مِن أَعنابٍ وَحَفَفناهُما بِنَخلٍ وَجَعَلنا بَينَهُما زَرعًا

Transliteration

wa-ḍrib lahum mathalan rajulayni jaʿalnā li-ʾaḥadihimā jannatayni min ʾaʿnābin wa-ḥafafnāhumā bi-nakhlin wa-jaʿalnā baynahumā zarʿaⁿ

Translation

Draw for them the parable of two men for each of whom We had made two gardens of vines, and We had surrounded them with date palms, and placed crops between them.

33

كِلتَا الجَنَّتَينِ آتَت أُكُلَها وَلَم تَظلِم مِنهُ شَيئًا ۚ وَفَجَّرنا خِلالَهُما نَهَرًا

Transliteration

kiltā l-jannatayni ʾātat ʾukulahā wa-lam taẓlim minhu shayʾan wa-fajjarnā khilālahumā naharaⁿ

Translation

Both gardens yielded their produce without stinting anything of it. And We had set a stream gushing through them.

34

وَكانَ لَهُ ثَمَرٌ فَقالَ لِصاحِبِهِ وَهُوَ يُحاوِرُهُ أَنا أَكثَرُ مِنكَ مالًا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرًا

Transliteration

wa-kāna lahū thamarun fa-qāla li-ṣāḥibihī wa-huwa yuḥāwiruhū ʾana ʾaktharu minka mālan wa-ʾaʿazzu nafaraⁿ

Translation

He had abundant fruits, so he said to his companion, as he conversed with him: ‘I have more wealth than you, and am stronger with respect to numbers.’¹

• That is, with respect to the number of servants and attendants and the size of family and clan.

35

وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُ وَهُوَ ظالِمٌ لِنَفسِهِ قالَ ما أَظُنُّ أَن تَبيدَ هٰذِهِ أَبَدًا

Transliteration

wa-dakhala jannatahū wa-huwa ẓālimun li-nafsihī qāla mā ʾaẓunnu ʾan tabīda hādhihī ʾabadaⁿ

Translation

He entered his garden while he wronged himself. He said, ‘I do not think that this will ever perish,

36

وَما أَظُنُّ السّاعَةَ قائِمَةً وَلَئِن رُدِدتُ إِلىٰ رَبّي لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيرًا مِنها مُنقَلَبًا

Transliteration

wa-mā ʾaẓunnu s-sāʿata qāʾimatan wa-la-ʾin rudidtu ʾilā rabbī la-ʾajidanna khayran minhā munqalabaⁿ

Translation

and I do not think that the Hour will ever set in. And even if I am returned to my Lord I will surely find a resort better than this.’

37

قالَ لَهُ صاحِبُهُ وَهُوَ يُحاوِرُهُ أَكَفَرتَ بِالَّذي خَلَقَكَ مِن تُرابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُطفَةٍ ثُمَّ سَوّاكَ رَجُلًا

Transliteration

qāla lahū ṣāḥibuhū wa-huwa yuḥāwiruhū ʾa-kafarta bi-lladhī khalaqaka min turābin thumma min nuṭfatin thumma sawwāka rajulaⁿ

Translation

His companion said to him, as he conversed with him: ‘Do you disbelieve in Him who created you from dust, then from a drop of [seminal] fluid, then fashioned you as a man?

38

لٰكِنّا هُوَ اللَّهُ رَبّي وَلا أُشرِكُ بِرَبّي أَحَدًا

Transliteration

lākinna huwa llāhu rabbī wa-lā ʾushriku bi-rabbī ʾaḥadaⁿ

Translation

But I [say], “He is Allah, my Lord,” and I do not ascribe any partner to my Lord.

39

وَلَولا إِذ دَخَلتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلتَ ما شاءَ اللَّهُ لا قُوَّةَ إِلّا بِاللَّهِ ۚ إِن تَرَنِ أَنا أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مالًا وَوَلَدًا

Transliteration

wa-law-lā ʾidh dakhalta jannataka qulta mā shāʾa llāhu lā quwwata ʾillā bi-llāhi ʾin tarani ʾana ʾaqalla minka mālan wa-waladaⁿ

Translation

Why did you not say, when you entered your garden, “[This is] as Allah has wished! There is no power except by Allah!” If you see that I have lesser wealth than you and children,

40

فَعَسىٰ رَبّي أَن يُؤتِيَنِ خَيرًا مِن جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرسِلَ عَلَيها حُسبانًا مِنَ السَّماءِ فَتُصبِحَ صَعيدًا زَلَقًا

Transliteration

fa-ʿasā rabbī ʾan yuʾtiyani khayran min jannatika wa-yursila ʿalayhā ḥusbānan mina s-samāʾi fa-tuṣbiḥa ṣaʿīdan zalaqaⁿ

Translation

maybe my Lord will give me [something] better than your garden, and He will unleash upon it bolts from the sky, so that it becomes a bare plain.

41

أَو يُصبِحَ ماؤُها غَورًا فَلَن تَستَطيعَ لَهُ طَلَبًا

Transliteration

ʾaw yuṣbiḥa māʾuhā ghawran fa-lan tastaṭīʿa lahū ṭalabaⁿ

Translation

Or its water will sink down, so that you cannot obtain it.’

42

وَأُحيطَ بِثَمَرِهِ فَأَصبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيهِ عَلىٰ ما أَنفَقَ فيها وَهِيَ خاوِيَةٌ عَلىٰ عُروشِها وَيَقولُ يا لَيتَني لَم أُشرِك بِرَبّي أَحَدًا

Transliteration

wa-ʾuḥīṭa bi-thamarihī fa-ʾaṣbaḥa yuqallibu kaffayhi ʿalā mā ʾanfaqa fīhā wa-hiya khāwiyatun ʿalā ʿurūshihā wa-yaqūlu yā-laytanī lam ʾushrik bi-rabbī ʾaḥadaⁿ

Translation

And ruin closed in on his produce, and he began to wring his hands for what he had spent on it, as it lay fallen on its trellises. He was saying, ‘I wish I had not ascribed any partner to my Lord.’

43

وَلَم تَكُن لَهُ فِئَةٌ يَنصُرونَهُ مِن دونِ اللَّهِ وَما كانَ مُنتَصِرًا

Transliteration

wa-lam takun lahū fiʾatun yanṣurūnahū min dūni llāhi wa-mā kāna muntaṣiraⁿ

Translation

He had no party to help him, besides Allah, nor could he help himself.

44

هُنالِكَ الوَلايَةُ لِلَّهِ الحَقِّ ۚ هُوَ خَيرٌ ثَوابًا وَخَيرٌ عُقبًا

Transliteration

hunālika l-walāyatu li-llāhi l-ḥaqqi huwa khayrun thawāban wa-khayrun ʿuqbaⁿ

Translation

There, all authority belongs to Allah, the Real. He is best in rewarding, and best in requiting.

45

وَاضرِب لَهُم مَثَلَ الحَياةِ الدُّنيا كَماءٍ أَنزَلناهُ مِنَ السَّماءِ فَاختَلَطَ بِهِ نَباتُ الأَرضِ فَأَصبَحَ هَشيمًا تَذروهُ الرِّياحُ ۗ وَكانَ اللَّهُ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَيءٍ مُقتَدِرًا

Transliteration

wa-ḍrib lahum mathala l-ḥayāti d-dunyā ka-māʾin ʾanzalnāhu mina s-samāʾi fa-khtalaṭa bihī nabātu l-ʾarḍi fa-ʾaṣbaḥa hashīman tadhrūhu r-riyāḥu wa-kāna llāhu ʿalā kulli shayʾin muqtadira^n-i

Translation

Draw for them the parable of the life of this world: [It is] like the water We send down from the sky. Then the earth’s vegetation mingles with it. Then it becomes chaff, scattered by the wind. And Allah is omnipotent over all things.

46

المالُ وَالبَنونَ زينَةُ الحَياةِ الدُّنيا ۖ وَالباقِياتُ الصّالِحاتُ خَيرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوابًا وَخَيرٌ أَمَلًا

Transliteration

^al-mālu wa-l-banūna zīnatu l-ḥayāti d-dunyā wa-l-bāqiyātu ṣ-ṣāliḥātu khayrun ʿinda rabbika thawāban wa-khayrun ʾamalaⁿ

Translation

Wealth and children are an adornment of the life of the world, but lasting righteous deeds are better with your Lord in reward and better in hope.

47

وَيَومَ نُسَيِّرُ الجِبالَ وَتَرَى الأَرضَ بارِزَةً وَحَشَرناهُم فَلَم نُغادِر مِنهُم أَحَدًا

Transliteration

wa-yawma nusayyiru l-jibāla wa-tarā l-ʾarḍa bārizatan wa-ḥasharnāhum fa-lam nughādir minhum ʾaḥadaⁿ

Translation

The day We shall set the mountains moving and you will see the earth in full view, We shall muster them, and We will not leave out anyone of them.

48

وَعُرِضوا عَلىٰ رَبِّكَ صَفًّا لَقَد جِئتُمونا كَما خَلَقناكُم أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ۚ بَل زَعَمتُم أَلَّن نَجعَلَ لَكُم مَوعِدًا

Transliteration

wa-ʿuriḍū ʿalā rabbika ṣaffan la-qad jiʾtumūnā ka-mā khalaqnākum ʾawwala marratin bal zaʿamtum ʾal-lan najʿala lakum mawʿidaⁿ

Translation

They will be presented before your Lord in ranks: ‘Certainly you have come to Us just as We created you the first time. Rather you maintained that We shall not appoint a tryst for you.’

49

وَوُضِعَ الكِتابُ فَتَرَى المُجرِمينَ مُشفِقينَ مِمّا فيهِ وَيَقولونَ يا وَيلَتَنا مالِ هٰذَا الكِتابِ لا يُغادِرُ صَغيرَةً وَلا كَبيرَةً إِلّا أَحصاها ۚ وَوَجَدوا ما عَمِلوا حاضِرًا ۗ وَلا يَظلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا

Transliteration

wa-wuḍiʿa l-kitābu fa-tarā l-mujrimīna mushfiqīna mimmā fīhi wa-yaqūlūna yā-waylatanā mā-li hādhā l-kitābi lā yughādiru ṣaghīratan wa-lā kabīratan ʾillā ʾaḥṣāhā wa-wajadū mā ʿamilū ḥāḍiran wa-lā yaẓlimu rabbuka ʾaḥadaⁿ

Translation

The Book will be set up. Then you will see the guilty apprehensive of what is in it. They will say, ‘Woe to us! What a book is this! It omits nothing, big or small, without enumerating it.’ They will find present whatever they had done, and your Lord does not wrong anyone.

50

وَإِذ قُلنا لِلمَلائِكَةِ اسجُدوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدوا إِلّا إِبليسَ كانَ مِنَ الجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَن أَمرِ رَبِّهِ ۗ أَفَتَتَّخِذونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَولِياءَ مِن دوني وَهُم لَكُم عَدُوٌّ ۚ بِئسَ لِلظّالِمينَ بَدَلًا

Transliteration

wa-ʾidh qulnā li-l-malāʾikati sjudū li-ʾādama fa-sajadū ʾillā ʾiblīsa kāna mina l-jinni fa-fasaqa ʿan ʾamri rabbihī ʾa-fa-tattakhidhūnahū wa-dhurriyyatahū ʾawliyāʾa min dūnī wa-hum lakum ʿaduwwun biʾsa li-ẓ-ẓālimīna badalaⁿ

Translation

When We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate before Adam,’ they prostrated, but not Iblis. He was one of the jinn, so he transgressed against his Lord’s command. Will you then take him and his offspring for guardians in My stead, though they are your enemies? How evil a substitute for the wrongdoers!

51

۞ ما أَشهَدتُهُم خَلقَ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ وَلا خَلقَ أَنفُسِهِم وَما كُنتُ مُتَّخِذَ المُضِلّينَ عَضُدًا

Transliteration

mā ʾashhadtuhum khalqa s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-lā khalqa ʾanfusihim wa-mā kuntu muttakhidha l-muḍillīna ʿaḍudaⁿ

Translation

I did not make them a witness to the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor to their own creation, nor do I take those who mislead as assistants.

52

وَيَومَ يَقولُ نادوا شُرَكائِيَ الَّذينَ زَعَمتُم فَدَعَوهُم فَلَم يَستَجيبوا لَهُم وَجَعَلنا بَينَهُم مَوبِقًا

Transliteration

wa-yawma yaqūlu nādū shurakāʾiya lladhīna zaʿamtum fa-daʿawhum fa-lam yastajībū lahum wa-jaʿalnā baynahum mawbiqaⁿ

Translation

The day He will say, ‘Call those whom you maintained to be My partners,’ they will call them, but they will not respond to them, for We shall place an abyss between them.

53

وَرَأَى المُجرِمونَ النّارَ فَظَنّوا أَنَّهُم مُواقِعوها وَلَم يَجِدوا عَنها مَصرِفًا

Transliteration

wa-raʾā l-mujrimūna n-nāra fa-ẓannū ʾannahum muwāqiʿūhā wa-lam yajidū ʿanhā maṣrifaⁿ

Translation

The guilty will sight the Fire and know that they will fall into it, for they will find no means to circumvent it.

54

وَلَقَد صَرَّفنا في هٰذَا القُرآنِ لِلنّاسِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ ۚ وَكانَ الإِنسانُ أَكثَرَ شَيءٍ جَدَلًا

Transliteration

wa-la-qad ṣarrafnā fī hādhā l-qurʾāni li-n-nāsi min kulli mathalin wa-kāna l-ʾinsānu ʾakthara shayʾin jadalaⁿ

Translation

Certainly We have made this Qurʾān interspersed with every kind of parable for mankind. But man is the most disputatious of creatures.

55

وَما مَنَعَ النّاسَ أَن يُؤمِنوا إِذ جاءَهُمُ الهُدىٰ وَيَستَغفِروا رَبَّهُم إِلّا أَن تَأتِيَهُم سُنَّةُ الأَوَّلينَ أَو يَأتِيَهُمُ العَذابُ قُبُلًا

Transliteration

wa-mā manaʿa n-nāsa ʾan yuʾminū ʾidh jāʾahumu l-hudā wa-yastaghfirū rabbahum ʾillā ʾan taʾtiyahum sunnatu l-ʾawwalīna ʾaw yaʾtiyahumu l-ʿadhābu qubulaⁿ

Translation

People do not refuse to have faith when guidance comes to them and to plead to their Lord for forgiveness, without being overtaken by the precedent of the ancients, or confronting the punishment.¹

• Or, ‘being overtaken by diverse punishments.’

56

وَما نُرسِلُ المُرسَلينَ إِلّا مُبَشِّرينَ وَمُنذِرينَ ۚ وَيُجادِلُ الَّذينَ كَفَروا بِالباطِلِ لِيُدحِضوا بِهِ الحَقَّ ۖ وَاتَّخَذوا آياتي وَما أُنذِروا هُزُوًا

Transliteration

wa-mā nursilu l-mursalīna ʾillā mubashshirīna wa-mundhirīna wa-yujādilu lladhīna kafarū bi-l-bāṭili li-yudḥiḍū bihi l-ḥaqqa wa-ttakhadhū ʾāyātī wa-mā ʾundhirū huzuwaⁿ

Translation

We do not send the apostles except as bearers of good news and as warners, but those who are faithless dispute fallaciously to refute thereby the truth, having taken My signs and what they are warned of in derision.

57

وَمَن أَظلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِآياتِ رَبِّهِ فَأَعرَضَ عَنها وَنَسِيَ ما قَدَّمَت يَداهُ ۚ إِنّا جَعَلنا عَلىٰ قُلوبِهِم أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفقَهوهُ وَفي آذانِهِم وَقرًا ۖ وَإِن تَدعُهُم إِلَى الهُدىٰ فَلَن يَهتَدوا إِذًا أَبَدًا

Transliteration

wa-man ʾaẓlamu mimman dhukkira bi-ʾāyāti rabbihī fa-ʾaʿraḍa ʿanhā wa-nasiya mā qaddamat yadāhu ʾinnā jaʿalnā ʿalā qulūbihim ʾakinnatan ʾan yafqahūhu wa-fī ʾādhānihim waqran wa-ʾin tadʿuhum ʾilā l-hudā fa-lan yahtadū ʾidhan ʾabadaⁿ

Translation

Who is a greater wrongdoer than he who is reminded of the signs of his Lord, whereat he disregards them and forgets what his hands have sent ahead? Indeed We have cast veils on their hearts lest they should understand it, and a deafness into their ears; and if you invite them to guidance they will never [let themselves] be guided.

58

وَرَبُّكَ الغَفورُ ذُو الرَّحمَةِ ۖ لَو يُؤاخِذُهُم بِما كَسَبوا لَعَجَّلَ لَهُمُ العَذابَ ۚ بَل لَهُم مَوعِدٌ لَن يَجِدوا مِن دونِهِ مَوئِلًا

Transliteration

wa-rabbuka l-ghafūru dhū r-raḥmati law yuʾākhidhuhum bi-mā kasabū la-ʿajjala lahumu l-ʿadhāba bal lahum mawʿidun lan yajidū min dūnihī mawʾilaⁿ

Translation

Your Lord is the All-forgiving dispenser of mercy. Were He to take them to task because of what they have committed, He would have surely hastened their punishment. But they have a tryst, [when] they will not find a refuge besides Him.¹

• Or ‘from which they will not find any refuge.’

59

وَتِلكَ القُرىٰ أَهلَكناهُم لَمّا ظَلَموا وَجَعَلنا لِمَهلِكِهِم مَوعِدًا

Transliteration

wa-tilka l-qurā ʾahlaknāhum lammā ẓalamū wa-jaʿalnā li-mahlikihim mawʿidaⁿ

Translation

Those are the towns that We destroyed when they were wrongdoers, and We appointed a tryst for their destruction.

60

وَإِذ قالَ موسىٰ لِفَتاهُ لا أَبرَحُ حَتّىٰ أَبلُغَ مَجمَعَ البَحرَينِ أَو أَمضِيَ حُقُبًا

Transliteration

wa-ʾidh qāla mūsā li-fatāhu lā ʾabraḥu ḥattā ʾablugha majmaʿa l-baḥrayni ʾaw ʾamḍiya ḥuqubaⁿ

Translation

When Moses said to his lad, ‘I will go on [journeying] until I have reached the confluence of the two seas, or have spent a long time [travelling].’

61

فَلَمّا بَلَغا مَجمَعَ بَينِهِما نَسِيا حوتَهُما فَاتَّخَذَ سَبيلَهُ فِي البَحرِ سَرَبًا

Transliteration

fa-lammā balaghā majmaʿa baynihimā nasiyā ḥūtahumā fa-ttakhadha sabīlahū fī l-baḥri sarabaⁿ

Translation

So when they reached the confluence between them, they forgot their fish, which found its way into the sea, sneaking away.

62

فَلَمّا جاوَزا قالَ لِفَتاهُ آتِنا غَداءَنا لَقَد لَقينا مِن سَفَرِنا هٰذا نَصَبًا

Transliteration

fa-lammā jāwazā qāla li-fatāhu ʾātinā ghadāʾanā la-qad laqīnā min safarinā hādhā naṣabaⁿ

Translation

So when they had passed on, he said to his lad, ‘Bring us our meal. We have certainly encountered much fatigue on this journey of ours.’

63

قالَ أَرَأَيتَ إِذ أَوَينا إِلَى الصَّخرَةِ فَإِنّي نَسيتُ الحوتَ وَما أَنسانيهُ إِلَّا الشَّيطانُ أَن أَذكُرَهُ ۚ وَاتَّخَذَ سَبيلَهُ فِي البَحرِ عَجَبًا

Transliteration

qāla ʾa-raʾayta ʾidh ʾawaynā ʾilā ṣ-ṣakhrati fa-ʾinnī nasītu l-ḥūta wa-mā ʾansānīhu ʾillā sh-shayṭānu ʾan ʾadhkurahū wa-ttakhadha sabīlahū fī l-baḥri ʿajabaⁿ

Translation

He said, ‘Did you see?! When we took shelter at the rock, indeed I forgot about the fish —and none but Satan made me forget to mention it!— and it made its way into the sea in an amazing manner!’

64

قالَ ذٰلِكَ ما كُنّا نَبغِ ۚ فَارتَدّا عَلىٰ آثارِهِما قَصَصًا

Transliteration

qāla dhālika mā kunnā nabghi fa-rtaddā ʿalā ʾāthārihimā qaṣaṣaⁿ

Translation

He said, ‘That is what we were after!’ So they returned, retracing their footsteps.

65

فَوَجَدا عَبدًا مِن عِبادِنا آتَيناهُ رَحمَةً مِن عِندِنا وَعَلَّمناهُ مِن لَدُنّا عِلمًا

Transliteration

fa-wajadā ʿabdan min ʿibādinā ʾātaynāhu raḥmatan min ʿindinā wa-ʿallamnāhu min ladunnā ʿilmaⁿ

Translation

[There] they found one of Our servants whom We had granted a mercy from Ourselves, and taught him a knowledge from Our own.

66

قالَ لَهُ موسىٰ هَل أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلىٰ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمّا عُلِّمتَ رُشدًا

Transliteration

qāla lahū mūsā hal ʾattabiʿuka ʿalā ʾan tuʿallimani mimmā ʿullimta rushdaⁿ

Translation

Moses said to him, ‘May I follow you for the purpose that you teach me some of the probity you have been taught?’

67

قالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَستَطيعَ مَعِيَ صَبرًا

Transliteration

qāla ʾinnaka lan tastaṭīʿa maʿiya ṣabraⁿ

Translation

He said, ‘Indeed you cannot have patience with me!

68

وَكَيفَ تَصبِرُ عَلىٰ ما لَم تُحِط بِهِ خُبرًا

Transliteration

wa-kayfa taṣbiru ʿalā mā lam tuḥiṭ bihī khubraⁿ

Translation

And how can you have patience about something you are not in the know of?’

69

قالَ سَتَجِدُني إِن شاءَ اللَّهُ صابِرًا وَلا أَعصي لَكَ أَمرًا

Transliteration

qāla sa-tajidunī ʾin shāʾa llāhu ṣābiran wa-lā ʾaʿṣī laka ʾamraⁿ

Translation

He said, ‘You will find me, God willing, to be patient, and I will not disobey you in any matter.’

70

قالَ فَإِنِ اتَّبَعتَني فَلا تَسأَلني عَن شَيءٍ حَتّىٰ أُحدِثَ لَكَ مِنهُ ذِكرًا

Transliteration

qāla fa-ʾini ttabaʿtanī fa-lā tasʾalnī ʿan shayʾin ḥattā ʾuḥditha laka minhu dhikraⁿ

Translation

He said, ‘If you follow me, do not question me concerning anything until I [myself] make a mention of it to you.’

71

فَانطَلَقا حَتّىٰ إِذا رَكِبا فِي السَّفينَةِ خَرَقَها ۖ قالَ أَخَرَقتَها لِتُغرِقَ أَهلَها لَقَد جِئتَ شَيئًا إِمرًا

Transliteration

fa-nṭalaqā ḥattā ʾidhā rakibā fī s-safīnati kharaqahā qāla ʾa-kharaqtahā li-tughriqa ʾahlahā la-qad jiʾta shayʾan ʾimraⁿ

Translation

So they went on. When they boarded the boat, he made a hole in it. He said, ‘Did you make a hole in it to drown its people? You have certainly done a monstrous thing!’

72

قالَ أَلَم أَقُل إِنَّكَ لَن تَستَطيعَ مَعِيَ صَبرًا

Transliteration

qāla ʾa-lam ʾaqul ʾinnaka lan tastaṭīʿa maʿiya ṣabraⁿ

Translation

He said, ‘Did I not say, indeed you cannot have patience with me?’

73

قالَ لا تُؤاخِذني بِما نَسيتُ وَلا تُرهِقني مِن أَمري عُسرًا

Transliteration

qāla lā tuʾākhidhnī bi-mā nasītu wa-lā turhiqnī min ʾamrī ʿusraⁿ

Translation

He said, ‘Do not take me to task for my forgetting, and do not be hard upon me.’

74

فَانطَلَقا حَتّىٰ إِذا لَقِيا غُلامًا فَقَتَلَهُ قالَ أَقَتَلتَ نَفسًا زَكِيَّةً بِغَيرِ نَفسٍ لَقَد جِئتَ شَيئًا نُكرًا

Transliteration

fa-nṭalaqā ḥattā ʾidhā laqiyā ghulāman fa-qatalahū qāla ʾa-qatalta nafsan zakiyyatan bi-ghayri nafsin la-qad jiʾta shayʾan nukraⁿ

Translation

So they went on. When they encountered a boy, he slew him. He said, ‘Did you slay an innocent soul, without [his having slain] anyone? You have certainly done a dire thing!’

75

۞ قالَ أَلَم أَقُل لَكَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَستَطيعَ مَعِيَ صَبرًا

Transliteration

qāla ʾa-lam ʾaqul laka ʾinnaka lan tastaṭīʿa maʿiya ṣabraⁿ

Translation

He said, ‘Did I not tell you, indeed you cannot have patience with me?’

76

قالَ إِن سَأَلتُكَ عَن شَيءٍ بَعدَها فَلا تُصاحِبني ۖ قَد بَلَغتَ مِن لَدُنّي عُذرًا

Transliteration

qāla ʾin saʾaltuka ʿan shayʾin baʿdahā fa-lā tuṣāḥibnī qad balaghta min ladunnī ʿudhraⁿ

Translation

He said, ‘If I question you about anything after this, do not keep me in your company. You have already got sufficient excuse on my part.’

77

فَانطَلَقا حَتّىٰ إِذا أَتَيا أَهلَ قَريَةٍ استَطعَما أَهلَها فَأَبَوا أَن يُضَيِّفوهُما فَوَجَدا فيها جِدارًا يُريدُ أَن يَنقَضَّ فَأَقامَهُ ۖ قالَ لَو شِئتَ لَاتَّخَذتَ عَلَيهِ أَجرًا

Transliteration

fa-nṭalaqā ḥattā ʾidhā ʾatayā ʾahla qaryatin-i staṭʿamā ʾahlahā fa-ʾabaw ʾan yuḍayyifūhumā fa-wajadā fīhā jidāran yurīdu ʾan yanqaḍḍa fa-ʾaqāmahū qāla law shiʾta la-ttakhadhta ʿalayhi ʾajraⁿ

Translation

So they went on. When they came to the people of a town, they asked its people for food, but they refused to extend them any hospitality. There they found a wall which was about to collapse, so he erected it. He said, ‘Had you wished, you could have taken a wage for it.’

78

قالَ هٰذا فِراقُ بَيني وَبَينِكَ ۚ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأويلِ ما لَم تَستَطِع عَلَيهِ صَبرًا

Transliteration

qāla hādhā firāqu baynī wa-baynika sa-ʾunabbiʾuka bi-taʾwīli mā lam tastaṭiʿ ʿalayhi ṣabraⁿ

Translation

He said, ‘This is where you and I shall part. I will inform you about the interpretation of that over which you could not maintain patience.

79

أَمَّا السَّفينَةُ فَكانَت لِمَساكينَ يَعمَلونَ فِي البَحرِ فَأَرَدتُ أَن أَعيبَها وَكانَ وَراءَهُم مَلِكٌ يَأخُذُ كُلَّ سَفينَةٍ غَصبًا

Transliteration

ʾammā s-safīnatu fa-kānat li-masākīna yaʿmalūna fī l-baḥri fa-ʾaradtu ʾan ʾaʿībahā wa-kāna warāʾahum malikun yaʾkhudhu kulla safīnatin ghaṣbaⁿ

Translation

As for the boat, it belonged to some poor people who work on the sea. I wanted to make it defective, for behind them was a king seizing every ship usurpingly.

80

وَأَمَّا الغُلامُ فَكانَ أَبَواهُ مُؤمِنَينِ فَخَشينا أَن يُرهِقَهُما طُغيانًا وَكُفرًا

Transliteration

wa-ʾammā l-ghulāmu fa-kānā ʾabawāhu muʾminayni fa-khashīnā ʾan yurhiqahumā ṭughyānan wa-kufraⁿ

Translation

As for the boy, his parents were faithful [persons], and We feared he would overwhelm them with rebellion and unfaith.

81

فَأَرَدنا أَن يُبدِلَهُما رَبُّهُما خَيرًا مِنهُ زَكاةً وَأَقرَبَ رُحمًا

Transliteration

fa-ʾaradnā ʾan yubdilahumā rabbuhumā khayran minhu zakātan wa-ʾaqraba ruḥmaⁿ

Translation

So We desired that their Lord should give them in exchange one better than him in respect of purity and closer in mercy.

82

وَأَمَّا الجِدارُ فَكانَ لِغُلامَينِ يَتيمَينِ فِي المَدينَةِ وَكانَ تَحتَهُ كَنزٌ لَهُما وَكانَ أَبوهُما صالِحًا فَأَرادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبلُغا أَشُدَّهُما وَيَستَخرِجا كَنزَهُما رَحمَةً مِن رَبِّكَ ۚ وَما فَعَلتُهُ عَن أَمري ۚ ذٰلِكَ تَأويلُ ما لَم تَسطِع عَلَيهِ صَبرًا

Transliteration

wa-ʾammā l-jidāru fa-kāna li-ghulāmayni yatīmayni fī l-madīnati wa-kāna taḥtahū kanzun lahumā wa-kāna ʾabūhumā ṣāliḥan fa-ʾarāda rabbuka ʾan yablughā ʾashuddahumā wa-yastakhrijā kanzahumā raḥmatan min rabbika wa-mā faʿaltuhū ʿan ʾamrī dhālika taʾwīlu mā lam tasṭiʿ ʿalayhi ṣabraⁿ

Translation

As for the wall, it belonged to two boy orphans in the city. Under it there was a treasure belonging to them. Their father had been a righteous man. So your Lord desired that they should come of age and take out their treasure —as a mercy from your Lord. I did not do that out of my own accord. This is the interpretation of that over which you could not maintain patience.’

83

وَيَسأَلونَكَ عَن ذِي القَرنَينِ ۖ قُل سَأَتلو عَلَيكُم مِنهُ ذِكرًا

Transliteration

wa-yasʾalūnaka ʿan dhī l-qarnayni qul sa-ʾatlū ʿalaykum minhu dhikraⁿ

Translation

They question you concerning Dhul Qarnayn. Say, ‘I will relate to you an account of him.’

84

إِنّا مَكَّنّا لَهُ فِي الأَرضِ وَآتَيناهُ مِن كُلِّ شَيءٍ سَبَبًا

Transliteration

ʾinnā makkannā lahū fī l-ʾarḍi wa-ʾātaynāhu min kulli shayʾin sababaⁿ

Translation

Indeed We had granted him power in the land and given him the means to all things.

85

فَأَتبَعَ سَبَبًا

Transliteration

fa-ʾatbaʿa sababaⁿ

Translation

So he followed a means.

86

حَتّىٰ إِذا بَلَغَ مَغرِبَ الشَّمسِ وَجَدَها تَغرُبُ في عَينٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَوَجَدَ عِندَها قَومًا ۗ قُلنا يا ذَا القَرنَينِ إِمّا أَن تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمّا أَن تَتَّخِذَ فيهِم حُسنًا

Transliteration

ḥattā ʾidhā balagha maghriba sh-shamsi wajadahā taghrubu fī ʿaynin ḥamiʾatin wa-wajada ʿindahā qawman qulnā yā-dhā l-qarnayni ʾimmā ʾan tuʿadhdhiba wa-ʾimmā ʾan tattakhidha fīhim ḥusnaⁿ

Translation

When he reached the place where the sun sets, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and by it he found a people. We said, ‘O Dhul Qarnayn! You may either punish them, or treat them with kindness.’

87

قالَ أَمّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوفَ نُعَذِّبُهُ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلىٰ رَبِّهِ فَيُعَذِّبُهُ عَذابًا نُكرًا

Transliteration

qāla ʾammā man ẓalama fa-sawfa nuʿadhdhibuhū thumma yuraddu ʾilā rabbihī fa-yuʿadhdhibuhū ʿadhāban nukraⁿ

Translation

He said, ‘As for him who is a wrongdoer, we will punish him. Then he shall be returned to his Lord and He will punish him with a dire punishment.

88

وَأَمّا مَن آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صالِحًا فَلَهُ جَزاءً الحُسنىٰ ۖ وَسَنَقولُ لَهُ مِن أَمرِنا يُسرًا

Transliteration

wa-ʾammā man ʾāmana wa-ʿamila ṣāliḥan fa-lahū jazāʾan-i l-ḥusnā wa-sa-naqūlu lahū min ʾamrinā yusraⁿ

Translation

But as for him who has faith and acts righteously, he shall have the best reward, and we will speak to him gently of our command.’

89

ثُمَّ أَتبَعَ سَبَبًا

Transliteration

thumma ʾatbaʿa sababaⁿ

Translation

Then he followed a means.

90

حَتّىٰ إِذا بَلَغَ مَطلِعَ الشَّمسِ وَجَدَها تَطلُعُ عَلىٰ قَومٍ لَم نَجعَل لَهُم مِن دونِها سِترًا

Transliteration

ḥattā ʾidhā balagha maṭliʿa sh-shamsi wajadahā taṭluʿu ʿalā qawmin lam najʿal lahum min dūnihā sitraⁿ

Translation

When he reached the place where the sun rises, he found it rising on a people for whom We had not provided any shield against it.

91

كَذٰلِكَ وَقَد أَحَطنا بِما لَدَيهِ خُبرًا

Transliteration

ka-dhālika wa-qad ʾaḥaṭnā bi-mā ladayhi khubraⁿ

Translation

So it was, and We comprehended whatever pertained to him.

92

ثُمَّ أَتبَعَ سَبَبًا

Transliteration

thumma ʾatbaʿa sababaⁿ

Translation

Then he followed a means.

93

حَتّىٰ إِذا بَلَغَ بَينَ السَّدَّينِ وَجَدَ مِن دونِهِما قَومًا لا يَكادونَ يَفقَهونَ قَولًا

Transliteration

ḥattā ʾidhā balagha bayna s-saddayni wajada min dūnihimā qawman lā yakādūna yafqahūna qawlaⁿ

Translation

When he reached [the place] between the two barriers, he found between them a people who could hardly understand a word.

94

قالوا يا ذَا القَرنَينِ إِنَّ يَأجوجَ وَمَأجوجَ مُفسِدونَ فِي الأَرضِ فَهَل نَجعَلُ لَكَ خَرجًا عَلىٰ أَن تَجعَلَ بَينَنا وَبَينَهُم سَدًّا

Transliteration

qālū yā-dhā l-qarnayni ʾinna yaʾjūja wa-maʾjūja mufsidūna fī l-ʾarḍi fa-hal najʿalu laka kharjan ʿalā ʾan tajʿala baynanā wa-baynahum saddaⁿ

Translation

They said, ‘O Dhul Qarnayn! Indeed Gog and Magog are causing corruption in the land. Shall we pay you a tribute on condition that you build a barrier between them and us?’

95

قالَ ما مَكَّنّي فيهِ رَبّي خَيرٌ فَأَعينوني بِقُوَّةٍ أَجعَل بَينَكُم وَبَينَهُم رَدمًا

Transliteration

qāla mā makkannī fīhi rabbī khayrun fa-ʾaʿīnūnī bi-quwwatin ʾajʿal baynakum wa-baynahum radmaⁿ

Translation

He said, ‘What my Lord has furnished me is better. Yet help me with some power, and I will make a bulwark between you and them.

96

آتوني زُبَرَ الحَديدِ ۖ حَتّىٰ إِذا ساوىٰ بَينَ الصَّدَفَينِ قالَ انفُخوا ۖ حَتّىٰ إِذا جَعَلَهُ نارًا قالَ آتوني أُفرِغ عَلَيهِ قِطرًا

Transliteration

ʾātūnī zubara l-ḥadīdi ḥattā ʾidhā sāwā bayna ṣ-ṣadafayni qāla nfukhū ḥattā ʾidhā jaʿalahū nāran qāla ʾātūnī ʾufrigh ʿalayhi qiṭraⁿ

Translation

Bring me pieces of iron!’ When he had levelled up between the flanks, he said, ‘Blow!’ When he had turned it into fire, he said, ‘Bring me molten copper to pour over it.’

97

فَمَا اسطاعوا أَن يَظهَروهُ وَمَا استَطاعوا لَهُ نَقبًا

Transliteration

fa-mā sṭāʿū ʾan yaẓharūhu wa-mā staṭāʿū lahū naqbaⁿ

Translation

So they could neither scale it, nor could they make a hole in it.

98

قالَ هٰذا رَحمَةٌ مِن رَبّي ۖ فَإِذا جاءَ وَعدُ رَبّي جَعَلَهُ دَكّاءَ ۖ وَكانَ وَعدُ رَبّي حَقًّا

Transliteration

qāla hādhā raḥmatun min rabbī fa-ʾidhā jāʾa waʿdu rabbī jaʿalahū dakkāʾa wa-kāna waʿdu rabbī ḥaqqaⁿ

Translation

He said, ‘This is a mercy from my Lord. But when the promise of my Lord is fulfilled, He will level it;¹ and my Lord’s promise is true.’

• Or, ‘He will make it crumble.’

99

۞ وَتَرَكنا بَعضَهُم يَومَئِذٍ يَموجُ في بَعضٍ ۖ وَنُفِخَ فِي الصّورِ فَجَمَعناهُم جَمعًا

Transliteration

wa-taraknā baʿḍahum yawmaʾidhin yamūju fī baʿḍin wa-nufikha fī ṣ-ṣūri fa-jamaʿnāhum jamʿaⁿ

Translation

That day We shall let them surge over one another, and the Trumpet will be blown, and We shall gather them all,

100

وَعَرَضنا جَهَنَّمَ يَومَئِذٍ لِلكافِرينَ عَرضًا

Transliteration

wa-ʿaraḍnā jahannama yawmaʾidhin li-l-kāfirīna ʿarḍa^n-i

Translation

and that day We shall bring hell into view visibly for the faithless.

101

الَّذينَ كانَت أَعيُنُهُم في غِطاءٍ عَن ذِكري وَكانوا لا يَستَطيعونَ سَمعًا

Transliteration

^alladhīna kānat ʾaʿyunuhum fī ghiṭāʾin ʿan dhikrī wa-kānū lā yastaṭīʿūna samʿaⁿ

Translation

—Those whose eyes were blindfolded to My remembrance and who could not hear.

102

أَفَحَسِبَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا أَن يَتَّخِذوا عِبادي مِن دوني أَولِياءَ ۚ إِنّا أَعتَدنا جَهَنَّمَ لِلكافِرينَ نُزُلًا

Transliteration

ʾa-fa-ḥasiba lladhīna kafarū ʾan yattakhidhū ʿibādī min dūnī ʾawliyāʾa ʾinnā ʾaʿtadnā jahannama li-l-kāfirīna nuzulaⁿ

Translation

Do the faithless suppose that they have taken My servants for guardians in My stead? Indeed We have prepared hell for the hospitality of the faithless.

103

قُل هَل نُنَبِّئُكُم بِالأَخسَرينَ أَعمالًا

Transliteration

qul hal nunabbiʾukum bi-l-ʾakhsarīna ʾaʿmāla^n-i

Translation

Say, ‘Shall we inform you about the biggest losers in regard to works?

104

الَّذينَ ضَلَّ سَعيُهُم فِي الحَياةِ الدُّنيا وَهُم يَحسَبونَ أَنَّهُم يُحسِنونَ صُنعًا

Transliteration

^alladhīna ḍalla saʿyuhum fī l-ḥayāti d-dunyā wa-hum yaḥsabūna ʾannahum yuḥsinūna ṣunʿaⁿ

Translation

Those whose endeavour goes awry in the life of the world, while they suppose they are doing good.’

105

أُولٰئِكَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا بِآياتِ رَبِّهِم وَلِقائِهِ فَحَبِطَت أَعمالُهُم فَلا نُقيمُ لَهُم يَومَ القِيامَةِ وَزنًا

Transliteration

ʾulāʾika lladhīna kafarū bi-ʾāyāti rabbihim wa-liqāʾihī fa-ḥabiṭat ʾaʿmāluhum fa-lā nuqīmu lahum yawma l-qiyāmati waznaⁿ

Translation

They are the ones who deny the signs of their Lord and the encounter with Him. So their works have failed. On the Day of Resurrection We will not set for them any weight.

106

ذٰلِكَ جَزاؤُهُم جَهَنَّمُ بِما كَفَروا وَاتَّخَذوا آياتي وَرُسُلي هُزُوًا

Transliteration

dhālika jazāʾuhum jahannamu bi-mā kafarū wa-ttakhadhū ʾāyātī wa-rusulī huzuwaⁿ

Translation

That is their requital—hell— because of their faithlessness and taking My signs and My apostles in derision.

107

إِنَّ الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّالِحاتِ كانَت لَهُم جَنّاتُ الفِردَوسِ نُزُلًا

Transliteration

ʾinna lladhīna ʾāmanū wa-ʿamilū ṣ-ṣāliḥāti kānat lahum jannātu l-firdawsi nuzulaⁿ

Translation

As for those who have faith and do righteous deeds they shall have the gardens of Firdaws¹ for abode,²

• Said to be the highest and choicest part of paradise. See Ṭabarī, Baḥrānī and Qummī.
• Or ‘hospitality.’

108

خالِدينَ فيها لا يَبغونَ عَنها حِوَلًا

Transliteration

khālidīna fīhā lā yabghūna ʿanhā ḥiwalaⁿ

Translation

to remain [forever]in them, from where they will not seek to shift.

109

قُل لَو كانَ البَحرُ مِدادًا لِكَلِماتِ رَبّي لَنَفِدَ البَحرُ قَبلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِماتُ رَبّي وَلَو جِئنا بِمِثلِهِ مَدَدًا

Transliteration

qul law kāna l-baḥru midādan li-kalimāti rabbī la-nafida l-baḥru qabla ʾan tanfada kalimātu rabbī wa-law jiʾnā bi-mithlihī madadaⁿ

Translation

Say, ‘If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord, the sea would be spent before the words of my Lord are spent, though We brought another like it for replenishment.’

110

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قُل إِنَّما أَنا بَشَرٌ مِثلُكُم يوحىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّما إِلٰهُكُم إِلٰهٌ واحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كانَ يَرجو لِقاءَ رَبِّهِ فَليَعمَل عَمَلًا صالِحًا وَلا يُشرِك بِعِبادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا

Transliteration

qul ʾinnamā ʾana basharun mithlukum yūḥā ʾilayya ʾannamā ʾilāhukum ʾilāhun wāḥidun fa-man kāna yarjū liqāʾa rabbihī fa-l-yaʿmal ʿamalan ṣāliḥan wa-lā yushrik bi-ʿibādati rabbihī ʾaḥadaⁿ

Translation

Say, ‘I am just a human being like you. It has been revealed to me that your God is the One God. So whoever expects to encounter his Lord —let him act righteously, and not associate anyone with the worship of his Lord.’

Sura 18