43: al-Zukhruf الزخرف

Text and Translation

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

BISMIL LAAHIR RAHMAANIR RAHEEM

In the Name of Allah, the All-merciful, the All-compassionate

حٰمٓ ‌ ۛ‌ۚ‏(1)

Ha-Mim

وَالْكِتٰبِ الْمُبِيْنِ ‌ ۛ‌ۙ‏(2)

By the Book that makes things clear,

اِنَّا جَعَلْنٰهُ قُرْءٰنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُوْنَ‌ۚ‏(3)

We have made it a Qur'an in Arabic, that ye may be able to understand (and learn wisdom).

وَاِنَّهٗ فِىْۤ اُمِّ الْكِتٰبِ لَدَيْنَا لَعَلِىٌّ حَكِيْمٌؕ‏(4)

And verily, it is in the Mother of the Book, in Our Presence, high (in dignity), full of wisdom.

اَفَنَضْرِبُ عَنْكُمُ الذِّكْرَ صَفْحًا اَنْ كُنْتُمْ قَوْمًا مُّسْرِفِيْنَ‏(5)

Shall We then take away the Message from you and repel (you), for that ye are a people transgressing beyond bounds?

وَكَمْ اَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ نَّبِىٍّ فِى الْاَوَّلِيْنَ‏(6)

But how many were the prophets We sent amongst the peoples of old?

وَمَا يَاْتِيْهِمْ مِّنْ نَّبِىٍّ اِلَّا كَانُوْا بِهٖ يَسْتَهْزِءُوْنَ‏(7)

And never came there a prophet to them but they mocked him.

فَاَهْلَكْنَاۤ اَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ بَطْشًا وَّمَضٰى مَثَلُ الْاَوَّلِيْنَ‏(8)

So We destroyed (them)- stronger in power than these;- and (thus) has passed on the Parable of the peoples of old.

وَلَئِنْ سَاَلْتَهُمْ مَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضَ لَيَقُوْلُنَّ خَلَقَهُنَّ الْعَزِيْزُ الْعَلِيْمُۙ‏(9)

If thou wert to question them, 'Who created the heavens and the earth?' They would be sure to reply, 'they were created by (Him), the Exalted in Power, Full of Knowledge';-

الَّذِىْ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْاَرْضَ مَهْدًا وَّ جَعَلَ لَكُمْ فِيْهَا سُبُلًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُوْنَ‌ۚ‏(10)

(Yea, the same that) has made for you the earth (like a carpet) spread out, and has made for you roads (and channels) therein, in order that ye may find guidance (on the way);

وَالَّذِىْ نَزَّلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءًۢ بِقَدَرٍ‌ۚ فَاَنْشَرْنَا بِهٖ بَلْدَةً مَّيْتًا‌ ۚ كَذٰلِكَ تُخْرَجُوْنَ‏(11)

That sends down (from time to time) rain from the sky in due measure;- and We raise to life therewith a land that is dead; even so will ye be raised (from the dead);-

وَالَّذِىْ خَلَقَ الْاَزْوَاجَ كُلَّهَا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِّنَ الْفُلْكِ وَالْاَنْعَامِ مَا تَرْكَبُوْنَۙ‏(12)

That has created pairs in all things, and has made for you ships and cattle on which ye ride,

لِتَسْتَوٗا عَلٰى ظُهُوْرِهٖ ثُمَّ تَذْكُرُوْا نِعْمَةَ رَبِّكُمْ اِذَا اسْتَوَيْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَتَقُوْلُوْا سُبْحٰنَ الَّذِىْ سَخَّرَ لَنَا هٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهٗ مُقْرِنِيْنَۙ‏(13)

In order that ye may sit firm and square on their backs, and when so seated, ye may celebrate the (kind) favour of your Lord, and say, “Glory to Him Who has subjected these to our (use), for we could never have accomplished this (by ourselves),

وَاِنَّاۤ اِلٰى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُوْنَ‏(14)

“And to our Lord, surely, must we turn back!”

وَجَعَلُوْا لَهٗ مِنْ عِبَادِهٖ جُزْءًا‌ ؕ اِنَّ الْاِنْسَانَ لَكَفُوْرٌ مُّبِيْنٌ ؕ‏(15)

Yet they attribute to some of His servants a share with Him (in his godhead)! truly is man a blasphemous ingrate avowed!

اَمِ اتَّخَذَ مِمَّا يَخْلُقُ بَنٰتٍ وَّاَصْفٰٮكُمْ بِالْبَنِيْنَ‏(16)

What! has He taken daughters out of what He himself creates, and granted to you sons for choice?

وَاِذَا بُشِّرَ اَحَدُهُمْ بِمَا ضَرَبَ لِلرَّحْمٰنِ مَثَلًا ظَلَّ وَجْهُهٗ مُسْوَدًّا وَّهُوَ كَظِيْمٌ‏(17)

When news is brought to one of them of (the birth of) what he sets up as a likeness to (Allah) Most Gracious, his face darkens, and he is filled with inward grief!

اَوَمَنْ يُّنَشَّؤُا فِى الْحِلْيَةِ وَهُوَ فِى الْخِصَامِ غَيْرُ مُبِيْنٍ‏(18)

Is then one brought up among trinkets, and unable to give a clear account in a dispute (to be associated with Allah)?

وَجَعَلُوا الْمَلٰٓئِكَةَ الَّذِيْنَ هُمْ عِبَادُ الرَّحْمٰنِ اِنَاثًا‌ ؕ اَشَهِدُوْا خَلْقَهُمْ‌ ؕ سَتُكْتَبُ شَهَادَتُهُمْ وَيُسْئَلُوْنَ‏(19)

And they make into females angels who themselves serve Allah. Did they witness their creation? Their evidence will be recorded, and they will be called to account!

وَقَالُوْا لَوْ شَآءَ الرَّحْمٰنُ مَا عَبَدْنٰهُمْ‌ؕ مَا لَهُمْ بِذٰلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ‌ اِنْ هُمْ اِلَّا يَخْرُصُوْنَؕ‏(20)

(“Ah!”) they say, “If it had been the will of (Allah) Most Gracious, we should not have worshipped such (deities)!” Of that they have no knowledge! they do nothing but lie!

اَمْ اٰتَيْنٰهُمْ كِتٰبًا مِّنْ قَبْلِهٖ فَهُمْ بِهٖ مُسْتَمْسِكُوْنَ‏(21)

What! have We given them a Book before this, to which they are holding fast?

بَلْ قَالُوْۤا اِنَّا وَجَدْنَاۤ اٰبَآءَنَا عَلٰٓى اُمَّةٍ وَّاِنَّا عَلٰٓى اٰثٰرِهِمْ مُّهْتَدُوْنَ‏(22)

Nay! they say: “We found our fathers following a certain religion, and we do guide ourselves by their footsteps.”

وَكَذٰلِكَ مَاۤ اَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فِىْ قَرْيَةٍ مِّنْ نَّذِيْرٍ اِلَّا قَالَ مُتْرَفُوْهَاۤ اِنَّا وَجَدْنَاۤ اٰبَآءَنَا عَلٰٓى اُمَّةٍ وَّاِنَّا عَلٰٓى اٰثٰرِهِمْ مُّقْتَدُوْنَ‏(23)

Just in the same way, whenever We sent a Warner before thee to any people, the wealthy ones among them said: “We found our fathers following a certain religion, and we will certainly follow in their footsteps.”

قٰلَ اَوَلَوْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِاَهْدٰى مِمَّا وَجَدْتُّمْ عَلَيْهِ اٰبَآءَكُمْ‌ ؕ قَالُوْۤا اِنَّا بِمَاۤ اُرْسِلْتُمْ بِهٖ كٰفِرُوْنَ‏(24)

He said: “What! Even if I brought you better guidance than that which ye found your fathers following?” They said: “For us, we deny that ye (prophets) are sent (on a mission at all).”

فَانْتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ‌ فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِيْنَ‏(25)

So We exacted retribution from them: now see what was the end of those who rejected (Truth)!

وَاِذْ قَالَ اِبْرٰهِيْمُ لِاَبِيْهِ وَقَوْمِهٖۤ اِنَّنِىْ بَرَآءٌ مِّمَّا تَعْبُدُوْنَۙ‏(26)

Behold! Abraham said to his father and his people: “I do indeed clear myself of what ye worship:

اِلَّا الَّذِىْ فَطَرَنِىْ فَاِنَّهٗ سَيَهْدِيْنِ‏(27)

“(I worship) only Him Who made me, and He will certainly guide me.”

وَ جَعَلَهَا كَلِمَةًۢ بَاقِيَةً فِىْ عَقِبِهٖ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُوْنَ‏(28)

And he left it as a Word to endure among those who came after him, that they may turn back (to Allah).

بَلْ مَتَّعْتُ هٰٓؤُلَاۤءِ وَاٰبَآءَهُمْ حَتّٰى جَآءَهُمُ الْحَقُّ وَرَسُوْلٌ مُّبِيْنٌ‏(29)

Yea, I have given the good things of this life to these (men) and their fathers, until the Truth has come to them, and a messenger making things clear.

وَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمُ الْحَقُّ قَالُوْا هٰذَا سِحْرٌ وَّاِنَّا بِهٖ كٰفِرُوْنَ‏(30)

But when the Truth came to them, they said: “This is sorcery, and we do reject it.”

وَقَالُوْا لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ هٰذَا الْقُرْاٰنُ عَلٰى رَجُلٍ مِّنَ الْقَرْيَتَيْنِ عَظِيْمٍ‏(31)

Also, they say: “Why is not this Qur'an sent down to some leading man in either of the two (chief) cities?”

اَهُمْ يَقْسِمُوْنَ رَحْمَتَ رَبِّكَ‌ ؕ نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ مَّعِيْشَتَهُمْ فِى الْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَرَفَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجٰتٍ لِّيَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا سُخْرِيًّا‌ ؕ وَرَحْمَتُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُوْنَ‏(32)

Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of thy Lord? It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in the life of this world: and We raise some of them above others in ranks, so that some may command work from others. But the Mercy of thy Lord is better than the (wealth) which they amass.

وَلَوْلَاۤ اَنْ يَّكُوْنَ النَّاسُ اُمَّةً وَّاحِدَةً لَّجَعَلْنَا لِمَنْ يَّكْفُرُ بِالرَّحْمٰنِ لِبُيُوْتِهِمْ سُقُفًا مِّنْ فِضَّةٍ وَّمَعَارِجَ عَلَيْهَا يَظْهَرُوْنَۙ‏(33)

And were it not that (all) men might become of one (evil) way of life, We would provide, for everyone that blasphemes against (Allah) Most Gracious, silver roofs for their houses and (silver) stair-ways on which to go up,

وَلِبُيُوْتِهِمْ اَبْوَابًا وَّسُرُرًا عَلَيْهَا يَتَّكِئُوْنَۙ‏(34)

And (silver) doors to their houses, and thrones (of silver) on which they could recline,

وَزُخْرُفًا‌ ؕ وَاِنْ كُلُّ ذٰ لِكَ لَمَّا مَتَاعُ الْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا‌ ؕ وَالْاٰخِرَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُتَّقِيْنَ‏(35)

And also adornments of gold. But all this were nothing but conveniences of the present life: The Hereafter, in the sight of thy Lord is for the Righteous.

وَمَنْ يَّعْشُ عَنْ ذِكْرِ الرَّحْمٰنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهٗ شَيْطٰنًا فَهُوَ لَهٗ قَرِيْنٌ‏(36)

If anyone withdraws himself from remembrance of (Allah) Most Gracious, We appoint for him an evil one, to be an intimate companion to him.

وَاِنَّهُمْ لَيَصُدُّوْنَهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِيْلِ وَيَحْسَبُوْنَ اَنَّهُمْ مُّهْتَدُوْنَ‏(37)

Such (evil ones) really hinder them from the Path, but they think that they are being guided aright!

حَتّٰٓى اِذَا جَآءَنَا قَالَ يٰلَيْتَ بَيْنِىْ وَبَيْنَكَ بُعْدَ الْمَشْرِقَيْنِ فَبِئْسَ الْقَرِيْنُ‏(38)

At length, when (such a one) comes to Us, he says (to his evil companion): “Would that between me and thee were the distance of East and West!” Ah! evil is the companion (indeed)!

وَلَنْ يَّنْفَعَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ اِذْ ظَّلَمْتُمْ اَنَّكُمْ فِى الْعَذَابِ مُشْتَرِكُوْنَ‏(39)