037 : Those Who Set The Ranks

By those who range themselves in ranks,

 

37:2

 

And so are strong in repelling (evil),

 

37:3

 

And thus proclaim the Message (of Allah)!

 

37:4

 

Verily, verily, your Allah is one!−

 

37:5

 

Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all between them, and Lord of every point at the rising of the sun!

 

37:6

 

We have indeed decked the lower heaven with beauty (in) the stars,−

 

37:7

 

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

 

37:8

 

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

 

37:9

Repulsed, for they are under a perpetual penalty, Except such as snatch away something by stealth, and they are pursued by a flaming fire, of piercing brightness.

37:11

 

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!

 

37:12

 

Truly dost thou marvel, while they ridicule,

 

37:13

 

And, when they are admonished, pay no heed,−

 

37:14

 

And, when they see a Sign, turn it to mockery,

 

37:15

 

And say, "This is nothing but evident sorcery!

 

37:16

 

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

 

37:17

 

"And also our fathers of old?"

 

37:18

 

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

 

37:19

 

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

 

37:20

 

They will say, "Ah! Woe to us! This is the Day of Judgment!"

 

37:21

 

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

 

37:22

 

"Bring ye up", it shall be said, "The wrong−doers and their wives, and the things they worshipped−

 

37:23

 

"Besides Allah, and lead them to the Way to the (Fierce) Fire!

 

37:24

 

"But stop them, for they must be asked:

 

37:25

 

"'What is the matter with you that ye help not each other?'"

 

37:26

 

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

 

37:27

 

And they will turn to one another, and question one another.

 

37:28

 

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

 

They will reply: "Nay, ye yourselves had no Faith!

 

37:30

 

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

 

37:31

 

"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).

 

37:32

 

"We led you astray: for truly we were ourselves astray."

 

37:33

 

Truly, that Day, they will (all) share in the Penalty.

 

37:34

 

Verily that is how We shall deal with Sinners.

 

37:35

 

For they, when they were told that there is no god except Allah, would puff themselves up with Pride,

 

37:36

 

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

 

37:37

 

Nay! he has come with the (very) Truth, and he confirms (the Message of) the messengers (before him).

 

Ye shall indeed taste of the Grievous Penalty;−

 

37:39

 

But it will be no more than the retribution of (the Evil) that ye have wrought;−

 

37:40

 

But the sincere (and devoted) Servants of Allah,−

 

37:41

 

For them is a Sustenance determined,

 

37:42

 

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

 

37:43

 

In Gardens of Felicity,

 

37:44

 

Facing each other on Thrones (of Dignity):

 

37:45

 

Round will be passed to them a Cup from a clear−flowing fountain,

 

37:46

 

Crystal−white, of a taste delicious to those who drink (thereof),

 

37:47

Free from headiness; nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom. And besides them will be chaste women, restraining their glances, with big eyes (of wonder and beauty).

37:49

 

As if they were (delicate) eggs closely guarded.

 

37:50

 

Then they will turn to one another and question one another.

 

37:51

 

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

 

37:52

 

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

 

37:53

 

"'When we die and become dust and bones, shall we indeed receive rewards and punishments?'"

 

37:54

 

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

 

37:55

 

He looked down and saw him in the midst of the Fire.

 

37:56

 

He said: "By Allah! thou wast little short of bringing me to perdition!

 

37:57

 

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

 

37:58

 

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

 

37:59

 

"Except our first death, and that we shall not be punished?"

 

37:60

 

Verily this is the supreme achievement!

 

37:61

 

For the like of this let all strive, who wish to strive.

 

37:62

 

Is that the better entertainment or the Tree of Zaqqum?

 

37:63

 

For We have truly made it (as) a trial for the wrong−doers.

 

37:64

 

For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hell−Fire:

 

37:65

 

The shoots of its fruit−stalks are like the heads of devils:

 

37:66

 

Truly they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith. Then on top of that they will be given a mixture made of boiling water.

 

37:68

 

Then shall their return be to the (Blazing) Fire.

 

37:69

 

Truly they found their fathers on the wrong Path;

 

37:70

 

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

 

37:71

 

And truly before them, many of the ancients went astray;−

 

37:72

 

But We sent aforetime, among them, (messengers) to admonish them;−

 

37:73

 

Then see what was the end of those who were admonished (but heeded not),−

 

37:74

 

Except the sincere (and devoted) Servants of Allah.

 

37:75

 

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

 

37:76

 

And We delivered him and his people from the Great Calamity, And made his progeny to endure (on this earth);

 

37:78

 

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

 

37:79

 

"Peace and salutation to Noah among the nations!"

 

37:80

 

Thus indeed do we reward those who do right.

 

37:81

 

For he was one of our believing Servants.

 

37:82

 

Then the rest we overwhelmed in the Flood.

 

37:83

 

Verily among those who followed his Way was Abraham.

 

37:84

 

Behold! he approached his Lord with a sound heart.

 

37:85

 

Behold! he said to his father and to his people, "What is that which ye worship?

 

37:86

 

"Is it a falsehood− gods other than Allah− that ye desire? "Then what is your idea about the Lord of the worlds?"

 

37:88

 

Then did he cast a glance at the Stars.

 

37:89

 

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

 

37:90

 

So they turned away from him, and departed.

 

37:91

 

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

 

37:92

 

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

 

37:93

 

Then did he turn upon them, striking (them) with the right hand.

 

37:94

 

Then came (the worshippers) with hurried steps, and faced (him).

 

37:95

 

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

 

37:96

 

"But Allah has created you and your handwork!" They said, "Build him a furnace, and throw him into the blazing fire!"

 

37:98

 

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

 

37:99

 

He said: "I will go to my Lord! He will surely guide me!

 

37:100

 

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

 

37:101

 

So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear.

 

37:102

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 Allah so wills one practising Patience and Constancy!"

37:103

 

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

 

37:104

 

We called out to him "O Abraham!

 

37:105

 

"Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" − thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For this was obviously a trial−

 

37:107

 

And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice:

 

37:108

 

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

 

37:109

 

"Peace and salutation to Abraham!"

 

37:110

 

Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

 

37:111

 

For he was one of our believing Servants.

 

37:112

 

And We gave him the good news of Isaac − a prophet,− one of the Righteous.

 

37:113

 

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

 

37:114

 

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

 

37:115

 

And We delivered them and their people from (their) Great Calamity; And We helped them, so they overcame (their troubles);

 

37:117

 

And We gave them the Book which helps to make things clear;

 

37:118

 

And We guided them to the Straight Way.

 

37:119

 

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

 

37:120

 

"Peace and salutation to Moses and Aaron!"

 

37:121

 

Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

 

37:122

 

For they were two of our believing Servants.

 

37:123

 

So also was Elias among those sent (by Us).

 

37:124

 

Behold, he said to his people, "Will ye not fear (Allah)?

 

37:125

 

"Will ye call upon Baal and forsake the Best of Creators,− "Allah, your Lord and Cherisher and the Lord and Cherisher of your fathers of old?"

 

37:127

 

But they rejected him, and they will certainly be called up (for punishment),−

 

37:128

 

Except the sincere and devoted Servants of Allah (among them).

 

37:129

 

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

 

37:130

 

"Peace and salutation to such as Elias!"

 

37:131

 

Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

 

37:132

 

For he was one of our believing Servants.

 

37:133

 

So also was Lut among those sent (by Us).

 

37:134

 

Behold, We delivered him and his adherents, all

 

37:135

 

Except an old woman who was among those who lagged behind: Then We destroyed the rest.

 

37:137

 

Verily, ye pass by their (sites), by day−

 

37:138

 

And by night: will ye not understand?

 

37:139

 

So also was Jonah among those sent (by Us).

 

37:140

 

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

 

37:141

 

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

 

37:142

 

Then the big Fish did swallow him, and he had done acts worthy of blame.

 

37:143

 

Had it not been that he (repented and) glorified Allah,

 

37:144

 

He would certainly have remained inside the Fish till the Day of Resurrection.

 

37:145

 

But We cast him forth on the naked shore in a state of sickness, And We caused to grow, over him, a spreading plant of the gourd kind.

 

37:147

 

And We sent him (on a mission) to a hundred thousand (men) or more.

 

37:148

 

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

 

37:149

 

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

 

37:150