The Holy Qur'an (Maulana Muhammad Ali)/43. Gold

43. Gold (Zukhruf)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Beneficent God! 

By the Book that makes manifest! 

Surely We have made it an Arabic Qur'an that you may understand. 

And it is in the Original of the Book with Us, truly elevated, full of wisdom. 

Shall We then turn away the Reminder from you altogether because you are a prodigal people? 

And how many a prophet did We send among the ancients! 

And no prophet came to them but they mocked him. 

Then We destroyed those stronger than these in prowess, and the example of the ancients has gone before. 

<section begin="43:9"/>And if thou ask them, Who created the heavens and the earth? they would say: The Mighty, the Knowing One, has created them, <section end="43:9"/>

<section begin="43:10"/>Who made the earth a resting-place for you, and made in it ways for you that you might go aright. <section end="43:10"/>

<section begin="43:11"/>And Who sends down water from the cloud according to a measure, then We raise to life thereby a dead land; even so will you be brought forth. <section end="43:11"/>

<section begin="43:12"/>And Who created pairs of all things, and made for you ships and cattle oh which you ride, <section end="43:12"/>

<section begin="43:13"/>That you may sit firm on their backs, then remember the favour of your Lord, when you are firmly seated thereon, and say: Glory be to Him Who made this subservient to us and we were not able to do it, <section end="43:13"/>

<section begin="43:14"/>And surely to our Lord we must return. <section end="43:14"/>

<section begin="43:15"/>And they assign to Him a part of His servants. Man, to be sure, is clearly ungrateful. <section end="43:15"/>

<section begin="43:16"/>Or has He taken daughters to Himself of what He creates and chosen you to have sons? <section end="43:16"/>

<section begin="43:17"/>And when one of them is given news of that of which he sets up a likeness for the Beneficent, his face becomes black and he is full of rage. <section end="43:17"/>

<section begin="43:18"/>Is one decked with ornaments and unable to make plain speech in disputes (a partner with God)? <section end="43:18"/>

<section begin="43:19"/>And they make the angels, who are the servants of the Beneficent, females. Did they witness their creation? Their evidence will be recorded and they will be questioned. <section end="43:19"/>

<section begin="43:20"/>And they say if the Beneficent had pleased, we should not have worshipped them. They have no knowledge of this; they only lie. <section end="43:20"/>

<section begin="43:21"/>Or have We given them a Book before it so that they hold fast to it? <section end="43:21"/>

<section begin="43:22"/>Nay, they say We found our fathers on a course, and surely we are guided by their footsteps. <section end="43:22"/>

<section begin="43:23"/>And thus, We sent not before thee a warner in a town, but its wealthy ones said: Surely we found our fathers following a religion, and we follow their footsteps. <section end="43:23"/>

<section begin="43:24"/>(The warner) said And even if I bring tn you a better guide than that which you found your fathers following? They said: We surely disbelieve in that with which you are sent. <section end="43:24"/>

<section begin="43:25"/>So We exacted retribution from them, then see what was the end of the rejectors! <section end="43:25"/>

<section begin="43:26"/>And when Abraham said to his sire and his people: I am clear of what you worship, <section end="43:26"/>

<section begin="43:27"/>Save Him Who created me, for surely He will guide me. <section end="43:27"/>

<section begin="43:28"/>And he made it a word to continue in his posterity that they might return. <section end="43:28"/>

<section begin="43:29"/>Nay! I let these and their fathers enjoy till there came to them the Truth and a Messenger making manifest. <section end="43:29"/>

<section begin="43:30"/>And when the Truth came to them they said: This is enchantment, and surely we are disbelievers in it. <section end="43:30"/>

<section begin="43:31"/>And they say: Why was not this Qur'an revealed to a man of importance in the two towns? <section end="43:31"/>

<section begin="43:32"/>Do they apportion the mercy of thy Lord? We portion out among them their livelihood in the life of this world, and We exalt some of them above others in rank, that some of them may take others in service. And the mercy of thy Lord is better than that which they amass. <section end="43:32"/>

<section begin="43:33"/>And were it not that all people would become one (disbelieving) community, We would provide for those who disbelieve in the Beneficent, roofs of silver for their houses and stairs (of silver) by which they ascend, <section end="43:33"/>

<section begin="43:34"/>And (of silver) the doors of their houses and the couches on which they recline, <section end="43:34"/>

<section begin="43:35"/>And of gold. And all this is naught but a provision of this world's life; and the Hereafter is with thy Lord only for the dutiful. <section end="43:35"/>

<section begin="43:36"/>And whoever turns himself away from the remembrance of the Beneficent, We appoint for him a devil, so he is his associate. <section end="43:36"/>

<section begin="43:37"/>And surety they hinder them from the (right) path, and they think that they are guided aright. <section end="43:37"/>

<section begin="43:38"/>Until when he comes to Us, he says: O would that between me and thee there were the distance of the East and the West! so evil is the associate <section end="43:38"/>

<section begin="43:39"/>And as you did wrong, it will profit you naught this day that you are sharers in the chastisement. <section end="43:39"/>

<section begin="43:40"/>Canst thou then make the deaf to hear or guide the blind and him who is in clear error? <section end="43:40"/>

<section begin="43:41"/>So if We take thee away, still We shall exact retribution from them, <section end="43:41"/>

<section begin="43:42"/>Or We shall show thee that which We promise them surely We are Possessors of power over them. <section end="43:42"/>

<section begin="43:43"/>So hold fast to that which has been revealed to thee; surely thou art on the right path. <section end="43:43"/>

<section begin="43:44"/>And surely it is a reminder for thee and thy people, and you will be questioned. <section end="43:44"/>

<section begin="43:45"/>And ask those of Our messengers whom We sent before thee: Did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Beneficent? <section end="43:45"/>

<section begin="43:46"/>And truly We sent Moses with Our messages to Pharaoh and his chiefs, so he said: I am the messenger of the Lord of the worlds; <section end="43:46"/>

<section begin="43:47"/>But when he brought them Our signs, lo! they laughed at them. <section end="43:47"/>

<section begin="43:48"/>And We showed them not a sign but it was greater than its fellow, and We seized them with chastisement that they might turn. <section end="43:48"/>

<section begin="43:49"/>And they said: O enchanter, call on thy Lord for us, as He has made the covenant with thee; we shall surely follow guidance. <section end="43:49"/>

<section begin="43:50"/>But when We removed from them the chastisement, lo! they broke the pledge. <section end="43:50"/>

<section begin="43:51"/>And Pharaoh proclaimed amongst his people, saying: O my people, is not the kingdom of Egypt mine and these rivers flowing beneath me? Do you not see? <section end="43:51"/>

<section begin="43:52"/>Rather I am better than this (fellow) who is contemptible, and can hardly express himself clearly. <section end="43:52"/>

<section begin="43:53"/>Why, then, have bracelets of gold not been bestowed on him or angels come along with him in procession? <section end="43:53"/>

<section begin="43:54"/>So he incited his people to levity and they obeyed him. Surely they were a transgressing people <section end="43:54"/>

<section begin="43:55"/>Then when they displeased Us, We exacted retribution from them, so We drowned them all together. <section end="43:55"/>

<section begin="43:56"/>And We made them a thing past and an example for later generations. <section end="43:56"/>

<section begin="43:57"/>And when the son of Mary is mentioned as an example, lo! thy people raise a clamour thereat. <section end="43:57"/>

<section begin="43:58"/>And they say: Are our gods better, or is he? They set it forth to thee only by way of disputation. Nay, they are a contentious people. <section end="43:58"/>

<section begin="43:59"/>He was naught but a servant on whom We bestowed favour and We made him an example for the Children of Israel. <section end="43:59"/>

<section begin="43:60"/>And if We pleased, We could make among you angels to be (Our) vicegerents in the land. <section end="43:60"/>

<section begin="43:61"/>And this (revelation) is surely knowledge of the Hour, so have no doubt about it and follow me. This is the right path. <section end="43:61"/>

<section begin="43:62"/>And let not the devil hinder you; surely he is your open enemy. <section end="43:62"/>

<section begin="43:63"/>And when Jesus came with clear arguments, he said: I have come to you indeed with wisdom, and to make clear to you some of that about which you differ. So keep your duty to Allah and obey me. <section end="43:63"/>

<section begin="43:64"/>Surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him. This is the right path. <section end="43:64"/>

<section begin="43:65"/>But parties among them differed, so woe to those who did wrong for the chastisement of a painful day! <section end="43:65"/>

<section begin="43:66"/>Wait they for aught but the Hour, that it should come on them all of a sudden, while they perceive not? <section end="43:66"/>

<section begin="43:67"/>Friends on that day will be foes one to another, except those who keep their duty. <section end="43:67"/>

<section begin="43:68"/>O My servants, there is no fear for you this day, nor will you grieve <section end="43:68"/>

<section begin="43:69"/>Those who believed in Our messages and submitted (to Us), <section end="43:69"/>

<section begin="43:70"/>Enter the Garden, you and your wives, being made happy. <section end="43:70"/>

<section begin="43:71"/>Sent round to them are golden bowls and drinking-cups, and therein Is that which (their) souls yearn for and the eyes delight in, and therein you will abide. <section end="43:71"/>

ZO72 And this is the Garden, which you are made to inherit on account of what you did. <section begin="43:73"/>For you therein is abundant fruit to eat thereof. <section end="43:73"/>

<section begin="43:74"/>Surely the guilty will abide in the chastisement of hell. <section end="43:74"/>

<section begin="43:75"/>It is not abated for them and they will therein despair. <section end="43:75"/>

<section begin="43:76"/>And We wronged them not but they were themselves the wrongdoers. <section end="43:76"/>

<section begin="43:77"/>And they cry: O Malik, let thy Lord make an end of us. He will say: You shall stay (here). <section end="43:77"/>

<section begin="43:78"/>Certainly We bring the Truth to you, but most of you are averse to the Truth. <section end="43:78"/>

<section begin="43:79"/>Or have they settled an affair? But it is We Who settle (affairs). <section end="43:79"/>

<section begin="43:80"/>Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private counsels? Aye, and Our messengers with them write down. <section end="43:80"/>

<section begin="43:81"/>Say: The Beneficent has no son; so I am the foremost of those who serve (God). <section end="43:81"/>

<section begin="43:82"/>Glory to the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of the Throne of Power, from what they describe <section end="43:82"/>

<section begin="43:83"/>So let them talk and sport until they meet their day which they are promised. <section end="43:83"/>

<section begin="43:84"/>And He it is Who is God in the heavens and God in the earth. And He is the Wise, the Knowing. <section end="43:84"/>

<section begin="43:85"/>And blessed is He Whose is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and all between them; and with Him is the knowledge of the Hour, and to Him you will be returned. <section end="43:85"/>

<section begin="43:86"/>And those whom they call upon besides Him control not intercession, but he who beats witness to the Truth and they know (him). <section end="43:86"/>

<section begin="43:87"/>And if thou wert to ask them who created them, they would say: Allah. How are they then turned back? <section end="43:87"/>

<section begin="43:88"/>And his cry -- O my Lord, these are a people who believe not! <section end="43:88"/>

<section begin="43:89"/>So turn away from them and say, Peace! They will soon come to know. <section end="43:89"/>