Chap 37: THOSE WHO SET THE RANKS, DRAWN UP IN RANKS (37:0)

By those who range themselves in ranks, (37:1)

And so are strong in repelling (evil), (37:2)

And thus proclaim the Message (of God)! (37:3)

Verily, verily, your God is one!- (37:4)

Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all between them, and Lord of every point at the rising of the sun! (37:5)

We have indeed decked the lower heaven with beauty (in) the stars,- (37:6)

(For beauty) and for guard against all obstinate rebellious evil spirits, (37:7)

(So) they should not strain their ears in the direction of the Exalted Assembly but be cast away from every side, (37:8)

Repulsed, for they are under a perpetual penalty, (37:9)

Except such as snatch away something by stealth, and they are pursued by a flaming fire, of piercing brightness (37:10)

Just ask their opinion: are they the more difficult to create, or the (other) beings We have created? Them have We created out of a sticky clay! (37:11)

Truly dost thou marvel, while they ridicule, (37:12)

And, when they are admonished, pay no heed,- (37:13)

And, when they see a Sign, turn it to mockery, (37:14)

And say, "This is nothing but evident sorcery! (37:15)

"What! when we die, and become dust and bones, shall we (then) be raised up (again) (37:16)

"And also our fathers of old?" (37:17)

Say thou: "Yea, and ye shall then be humiliated (on account of your evil)." (37:18)

Then it will be a single (compelling) cry; and behold, they will begin to see! (37:19)

They will say, "Ah! Woe to us! This is the Day of Judgment!" (37:20)

(A voice will say,) "This is the Day of Sorting Out, whose truth ye (once) denied!" (37:21)

"Bring ye up", it shall be said, "The wrong-doers and their wives, and the things they worshipped- (37:22)

"Besides God, and lead them to the Way to the (Fierce) Fire! (37:23)

"But stop them, for they must be asked: (37:24)

"'What is the matter with you that ye help not each other?'" (37:25)

Nay, but that day they shall submit (to Judgment); (37:26)

And they will turn to one another, and question one another (37:27)

They will say: "It was ye who used to come to us from the right hand (of power and authority)!" (37:28)

They will reply: "Nay, ye yourselves had no Faith! (37:29)

"Nor had we any authority over you. Nay, it was ye who were a people in obstinate rebellion! (37:30)

"So now has been proved true, against us, the word of our Lord that we shall indeed (have to) taste (the punishment of our sins) (37:31)

"We led you astray: for truly we were ourselves astray." (37:32)

Truly, that Day, they will (all) share in the Penalty (37:33)

Verily that is how We shall deal with Sinners (37:34)

For they, when they were told that there is no god except God, would puff themselves up with Pride, (37:35)

And say: "What! shall we give up our gods for the sake of a Poet possessed?" (37:36)

Nay! he has come with the (very) Truth, and he confirms (the Message of) the apostles (before him) (37:37)

Ye shall indeed taste of the Grievous Penalty;- (37:38)

But it will be no more than the retribution of (the Evil) that ye have wrought;- (37:39)

But the sincere (and devoted) Servants of God,- (37:40)

For them is a Sustenance determined, (37:41)

Fruits (Delights); and they (shall enjoy) honour and dignity, (37:42)

In Gardens of Felicity, (37:43)

Facing each other on Thrones (of Dignity): (37:44)

Round will be passed to them a Cup from a clear-flowing fountain, (37:45)

Crystal-white, of a taste delicious to those who drink (thereof), (37:46)

Free from headiness; nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom (37:47)

And besides them will be chaste women, restraining their glances, with big eyes (of wonder and beauty) (37:48)

As if they were (delicate) eggs closely guarded (37:49)

Then they will turn to one another and question one another (37:50)

One of them will start the talk and say: "I had an intimate companion (on the earth), (37:51)

"Who used to say, 'what! art thou amongst those who bear witness to the Truth (of the Message)? (37:52)

"'When we die and become dust and bones, shall we indeed receive rewards and punishments?'" (37:53)

(A voice) said: "Would ye like to look down?" (37:54)

He looked down and saw him in the midst of the Fire (37:55)

He said: "By God! thou wast little short of bringing me to perdition! (37:56)

"Had it not been for the Grace of my Lord, I should certainly have been among those brought (there)! (37:57)

"Is it (the case) that we shall not die, (37:58)

"Except our first death, and that we shall not be punished?" (37:59)

Verily this is the supreme achievement! (37:60)

For the like of this let all strive, who wish to strive (37:61)

Is that the better entertainment or the Tree of Zaqqum? (37:62)

For We have truly made it (as) a trial for the wrong-doers (37:63)

For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hell-Fire: (37:64)

The shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils: (37:65)

Truly they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith (37:66)

Then on top of that they will be given a mixture made of boiling water (37:67)

Then shall their return be to the (Blazing) Fire (37:68)

Truly they found their fathers on the wrong Path; (37:69)

So they (too) were rushed down on their footsteps! (37:70)

And truly before them, many of the ancients went astray;- (37:71)

But We sent aforetime, among them, (apostles) to admonish them;- (37:72)

Then see what was the end of those who were admonished (but heeded not),- (37:73)

Except the sincere (and devoted) Servants of God (37:74)

(In the days of old), Noah cried to Us, and We are the best to hear prayer (37:75)

And We delivered him and his people from the Great Calamity, (37:76)

And made his progeny to endure (on this earth); (37:77)

And We left (this blessing) for him among generations to come in later times: (37:78)

"Peace and salutation to Noah among the nations!" (37:79)

Thus indeed do we reward those who do right (37:80)

For he was one of our believing Servants (37:81)

Then the rest we overwhelmed in the Flood (37:82)

Verily among those who followed his Way was Abraham (37:83)

Behold! he approached his Lord with a sound heart (37:84)

Behold! he said to his father and to his people, "What is that which ye worship? (37:85)

"Is it a falsehood- gods other than God- that ye desire? (37:86)

"Then what is your idea about the Lord of the worlds?" (37:87)

Then did he cast a glance at the Stars (37:88)

And he said, "I am indeed sick (at heart)!" (37:89)

So they turned away from him, and departed (37:90)

Then did he turn to their gods and said, "will ye not eat (of the offerings before you)?.. (37:91)

"What is the matter with you that ye speak not (intelligently)?" (37:92)

Then did he turn upon them, striking (them) with the right hand (37:93)

Then came (the worshippers) with hurried steps, and faced (him) (37:94)

He said: "Worship ye that which ye have (yourselves) carved? (37:95)

"But God has created you and your handwork!" (37:96)

They said, "Build him a furnace, and throw him into the blazing fire!" (37:97)

(This failing), they then sought a stratagem against him, but We made them the ones most humiliated! (37:98)

He said: "I will go to my Lord! He will surely guide me! (37:99)

"O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!" (37:100)

So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear (37:101)

Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if God so wills one practising Patience and Constancy!" (37:102)

So when they had both submitted their wills (to God), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice), (37:103)

We called out to him "O Abraham! (37:104)

"Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" - thus indeed do We reward those who do right (37:105)

For this was obviously a trial- (37:106)

And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice: (37:107)

And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times: (37:108)

"Peace and salutation to Abraham!" (37:109)

Thus indeed do We reward those who do right (37:110)

For he was one of our believing Servants (37:111)

And We gave him the good news of Isaac - a prophet,- one of the Righteous (37:112)

We blessed him and Isaac: but of their progeny are (some) that do right, and (some) that obviously do wrong, to their own souls (37:113)

Again (of old) We bestowed Our favour on Moses and Aaron, (37:114)

And We delivered them and their people from (their) Great Calamity; (37:115)

And We helped them, so they overcame (their troubles); (37:116)

And We gave them the Book which helps to make things clear; (37:117)

And We guided them to the Straight Way (37:118)

And We left (this blessing) for them among generations (to come) in later times: (37:119)

"Peace and salutation to Moses and Aaron!" (37:120)

Thus indeed do We reward those who do right (37:121)

For they were two of our believing Servants (37:122)

So also was Elias among those sent (by Us) (37:123)

Behold, he said to his people, "Will ye not fear (God)? (37:124)

"Will ye call upon Baal and forsake the Best of Creators,- (37:125)

"God, your Lord and Cherisher and the Lord and Cherisher of your fathers of old?" (37:126)

But they rejected him, and they will certainly be called up (for punishment),- (37:127)

Except the sincere and devoted Servants of God (among them) (37:128)

And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times: (37:129)

"Peace and salutation to such as Elias!" (37:130)

Thus indeed do We reward those who do right (37:131)

For he was one of our believing Servants (37:132)

So also was Lut among those sent (by Us) (37:133)

Behold, We delivered him and his adherents, all (37:134)

Except an old woman who was among those who lagged behind: (37:135)

Then We destroyed the rest (37:136)

Verily, ye pass by their (sites), by day- (37:137)

And by night: will ye not understand? (37:138)

So also was Jonah among those sent (by Us) (37:139)

When he ran away (like a slave from captivity) to the ship (fully) laden, (37:140)

He (agreed to) cast lots, and he was condemned: (37:141)

Then the big Fish did swallow him, and he had done acts worthy of blame (37:142)

Had it not been that he (repented and) glorified God, (37:143)

He would certainly have remained inside the Fish till the Day of Resurrection (37:144)

But We cast him forth on the naked shore in a state of sickness, (37:145)

And We caused to grow, over him, a spreading plant of the gourd kind (37:146)

And We sent him (on a mission) to a hundred thousand (men) or more (37:147)

And they believed; so We permitted them to enjoy (their life) for a while (37:148)

Now ask them their opinion: Is it that thy Lord has (only) daughters, and they have sons?- (37:149)

Or that We created the angels female, and they are witnesses (thereto)? (37:150)

Is it not that they say, from their own invention, (37:151)

"God has begotten children"? but they are liars! (37:152)

Did He (then) choose daughters rather than sons? (37:153)

What is the matter with you? How judge ye? (37:154)

Will ye not then receive admonition? (37:155)

Or have ye an authority manifest? (37:156)

Then bring ye your Book (of authority) if ye be truthful! (37:157)

And they have invented a blood-relationship between Him and the Jinns: but the Jinns know (quite well) that they have indeed to appear (before his Judgment-Seat)! (37:158)

Glory to God! (He is free) from the things they ascribe (to Him)! (37:159)

Not (so do) the Servants of God, sincere and devoted (37:160)

For, verily, neither ye nor those ye worship- (37:161)

Can lead (any) into temptation concerning God, (37:162)

Except such as are (themselves) going to the blazing Fire! (37:163)

(Those ranged in ranks say): "Not one of us but has a place appointed; (37:164)

"And we are verily ranged in ranks (for service); (37:165)

"And we are verily those who declare (God's) glory!" (37:166)

And there were those who said, (37:167)

"If only we had had before us a Message from those of old, (37:168)

"We should certainly have been Servants of God, sincere (and devoted)!" (37:169)

But (now that the Qur'an has come), they reject it: But soon will they know! (37:170)

Already has Our Word been passed before (this) to our Servants sent (by Us), (37:171)

That they would certainly be assisted, (37:172)

And that Our forces,- they surely must conquer (37:173)

So turn thou away from them for a little while, (37:174)

And watch them (how they fare), and they soon shall see (how thou farest)! (37:175)

Do they wish (indeed) to hurry on our Punishment? (37:176)

But when it descends into the open space before them, evil will be the morning for those who were warned (and heeded not)! (37:177)

So turn thou away from them for a little while, (37:178)

And watch (how they fare) and they soon shall see (how thou farest)! (37:179)

Glory to thy Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! (He is free) from what they ascribe (to Him)! (37:180)

And Peace on the apostles! (37:181)

And Praise to God, the Lord and Cherisher of the Worlds (37:182)

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