The Holy Qur'an (Maulana Muhammad Ali)/38. Sad

38. Sad
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Truthful God! By the Qur'an, possessing eminence! 

Nay, those who disbelieve are in self-exaltation and opposition. 

How many a generation We destroyed before them, then they cried when there was no longer time for escape! 

And they wonder that a warner from among themselves has come to them, and the disbelievers say: This is an enchanter, a liar. 

Makes he the gods a single God? Surely this is a strange thing. 

And the chiefs among them say: Go and steadily adhere to your gods: surely this is a thing intended. 

We never heard of this in the former faith: this is nothing but a forgery. 

Has the Reminder been revealed to him from among us? Nay, they are in doubt as to My Reminder. Nay, they have not yet tasted My chastisement. 

<section begin="38:9"/>Or, have they the treasures of the mercy of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Great Giver? <section end="38:9"/>

<section begin="38:10"/>Or is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them theirs? Then let them rise higher in means. <section end="38:10"/>

<section begin="38:11"/>What an army of the allies is here put to flight! <section end="38:11"/>

<section begin="38:12"/>The people of Noah, and 'Ad, and Pharaoh, the lord of hosts, rejected (prophets) before them, <section end="38:12"/>

<section begin="38:13"/>And Thamud and the people of Lot and the dwellers of the thicket. These were the parties (opposing Truth). <section end="38:13"/>

<section begin="38:14"/>Not one of them but rejected the messengers, so just was My retribution. <section end="38:14"/>

<section begin="38:15"/>And these wait but for one cry, wherein there is no delay. <section end="38:15"/>

<section begin="38:16"/>And they say: Our Lord, hasten on for us our portion before the day of Reckoning. <section end="38:16"/>

<section begin="38:17"/>Bear patiently what they say, and remember Our servant David, the possessor of power. He ever turned (to Allah). <section end="38:17"/>

<section begin="38:18"/>Truly We made the mountains subject to him, glorifying (Allah) at nightfall and sunrise, <section end="38:18"/>

<section begin="38:19"/>And the birds gathered together. All were obedient to him. <section end="38:19"/>

<section begin="38:20"/>And We strengthened his kingdom and We gave him wisdom and a clear judgment. <section end="38:20"/>

<section begin="38:21"/>And has the story of the adversaries come to thee? When they made an entry into the private chamber by climbing the wall -- <section end="38:21"/>

<section begin="38:22"/>When they came upon David so he was afraid of them. They said Fear not; two litigants, of whom one has wronged the other, so decide between us with justice, and act not unjustly, and guide us to the right way. <section end="38:22"/>

<section begin="38:23"/>This is my brother. He has ninety-nine ewes and I have a single ewe. Then he said, Make it over to me, and he has prevailed against me in dispute. <section end="38:23"/>

<section begin="38:24"/>He said: Surely he has wronged thee in demanding thy ewe (to add) to his own ewes. And surely many partners wrong one another save those who believe and do good, and very few are they! And David knew that We had tried him, so he asked his Lord for protection, and he fell down bowing and turned (to God). <section end="38:24"/>

<section begin="38:25"/>So We gave him this protection, and he had a nearness to Us and an excellent resort. <section end="38:25"/>

<section begin="38:26"/>O David, surely We have made thee a ruler in the land; so judge between men justly and follow not desire, lest it lead thee astray from the path of Allah. Those who go astray from the path of Allah, for them is surely a severe chastisement because they forgot the day of Reckoning. <section end="38:26"/>

<section begin="38:27"/>And We created not the heaven and the earth and what is between them in vain. That is the opinion of those who disbelieve. So woe to those who disbelieve on account of the Fire! <section end="38:27"/>

<section begin="38:28"/>Shall We treat those who believe and do good like the mischief-makers in the earth? Or shall We make the dutiful like the wicked? <section end="38:28"/>

<section begin="38:29"/>(This is) a Book that We have revealed to thee abounding in good, that they may ponder over its verses, and that the men of understanding may mind. <section end="38:29"/>

<section begin="38:30"/>And We gave to David Solomon. Most excellent the servant! Surely he ever turned (to Allah). <section end="38:30"/>

<section begin="38:31"/>When well-bred, swift (horses) were brought to him at evening -- <section end="38:31"/>

<section begin="38:32"/>So he said, I love the good things on account of the remembrance of my Lord -- until they were hidden behind the veil. <section end="38:32"/>

<section begin="38:33"/>(He said): Bring them back to me. So he began to stroke (their) legs and necks. <section end="38:33"/>

<section begin="38:34"/>And certainly we tried Solomon, and We put on his throne a (mere) body, so he turned (to Allah). <section end="38:34"/>

<section begin="38:35"/>He said My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom which is not fit for any one after me; surely Thou art the Great Giver. <section end="38:35"/>

<section begin="38:36"/>So We made the wind subservient to him it made his command to run gently wherever he desired, <section end="38:36"/>

<section begin="38:37"/>And the devils, every builder and diver, <section end="38:37"/>

<section begin="38:38"/>And others fettered in chains. <section end="38:38"/>

<section begin="38:39"/>This is Our free gift, so give freely or withhold, without reckoning. <section end="38:39"/>

<section begin="38:40"/>And surely he had a nearness to Us and an excellent resort. <section end="38:40"/>

<section begin="38:41"/>And remember Our servant Job. When he cried to his Lord: The devil has afflicted me with toil and torment. <section end="38:41"/>

<section begin="38:42"/>Urge with thy foot; here is a cool washing-place and a drink. <section end="38:42"/>

<section begin="38:43"/>And We gave him his people and the like of them with them, a mercy from Us, and a reminder for men of understanding. <section end="38:43"/>

<section begin="38:44"/>And take in thy hand few worldly goods and earn goodness therewith and incline not to falsehood. Surely We found him patient; most excellent the servant Surely he (ever) turned (to Us). <section end="38:44"/>

4) And remember Our servants Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, men of power and insight. <section begin="38:46"/>We indeed purified them by a pure quality, the keeping in mind of the (final) abode. <section end="38:46"/>

<section begin="38:47"/>And surely they were with Us, of the elect, the best. <section end="38:47"/>

<section begin="38:48"/>And remember Ishmael and Elisha and Dhu-l-Kifl; and they were all of the best. <section end="38:48"/>

<section begin="38:49"/>This is a reminder. And surely there is an excellent resort for the dutiful: <section end="38:49"/>

<section begin="38:50"/>Gardens of perpetuity -- the doors are opened for them. <section end="38:50"/>

<section begin="38:51"/>Reclining therein, calling therein for many fruits and drink. <section end="38:51"/>

<section begin="38:52"/>And with them are those modest in gaze, equals in age. <section end="38:52"/>

<section begin="38:53"/>This is what you are promised for the day of Reckoning. <section end="38:53"/>

<section begin="38:54"/>Surely this is Our sustenance it will never come to an end -- <section end="38:54"/>

<section begin="38:55"/>This (is for the good)! And surely there is an evil resort for the inordinate -- <section end="38:55"/>

<section begin="38:56"/>Hell. They will enter it. So evil is the resting-place. <section end="38:56"/>

<section begin="38:57"/>This -- so let them taste it, boiling and intensely cold (drink), <section end="38:57"/>

<section begin="38:58"/>And other similar (punishment), of various sorts. <section end="38:58"/>

<section begin="38:59"/>This is an army rushing headlong with you -- no welcome for them! Surely they will burn in fire. <section end="38:59"/>

<section begin="38:60"/>They say: Nay! you -- no welcome to you! You prepared it for us, so evil is the resting-place. <section end="38:60"/>

<section begin="38:61"/>They say: Our Lord, whoever prepared it for us, give him more, a double, punishment in the Fire. <section end="38:61"/>

<section begin="38:62"/>And they say: What is the matter with us? -- we see not men whom we used to count among the vicious. <section end="38:62"/>

<section begin="38:63"/>Did we (only) take them in scorn, or do our eyes miss them? <section end="38:63"/>

<section begin="38:64"/>That surely is the truth the contending one with another of the inmates of the Fire. <section end="38:64"/>

<section begin="38:65"/>Say: I am only a warner; and there is no God but Allah, the One, the Subduer (of all) -- <section end="38:65"/>

<section begin="38:66"/>The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, the Mighty, the Forgiving. <section end="38:66"/>

<section begin="38:67"/>Say: It is a message of importance,-- <section end="38:67"/>

<section begin="38:68"/>From which you turn away. <section end="38:68"/>

<section begin="38:69"/>I have no knowledge of the exalted chiefs when they contend. <section end="38:69"/>

<section begin="38:70"/>Only this is revealed to me that I am a plain warner. <section end="38:70"/>

<section begin="38:71"/>When thy Lord said to the angels: Surely I am going to create a mortal from dust. <section end="38:71"/>

<section begin="38:72"/>So when I have made him complete and breathed into him of My spirit, fall down submitting to him. <section end="38:72"/>

<section begin="38:73"/>And the angels submitted, all of them, <section end="38:73"/>

<section begin="38:74"/>But not Iblis. He was proud and he was one of the disbelievers. <section end="38:74"/>

<section begin="38:75"/>He said: O Iblis, what prevented thee from submitting to him whom I created with both My hands? Art thou proud or art thou of the exalted Ones? <section end="38:75"/>

<section begin="38:76"/>He said: I am better than he; Thou hast created me of fire, and him Thou didst create of dust. <section end="38:76"/>

<section begin="38:77"/>He said: Go forth from hence surely thou art driven away: <section end="38:77"/>

<section begin="38:78"/>And surely My curse is on thee to the day of Judgment. <section end="38:78"/>

<section begin="38:79"/>He said: My Lord, respite me to the day that they are raised. <section end="38:79"/>

<section begin="38:80"/>He said: Surely thou art of the respited ones. <section end="38:80"/>

<section begin="38:81"/>Till the day of the time made known. <section end="38:81"/>

<section begin="38:82"/>He said: Then, by Thy Might! I will surely lead them all astray, <section end="38:82"/>

<section begin="38:83"/>Except Thy servants from among them, the purified ones. <section end="38:83"/>

<section begin="38:84"/>He said: The Truth is, and the truth I speak -- <section end="38:84"/>

<section begin="38:85"/>That I shall fill hell with thee and with all those among them who follow thee. <section end="38:85"/>

<section begin="38:86"/>Say: I ask you no reward for it nor am I of the impostors. <section end="38:86"/>

<section begin="38:87"/>It is naught but a Reminder to the nations. <section end="38:87"/>

<section begin="38:88"/>And certainly you will come to know about it after a time. <section end="38:88"/>