26:1  Ṭâ-Sĩn-Mĩm.

26:2  These are the verses of the clear Book.

26:3  Perhaps you ˹O Prophet˺ will grieve yourself to death over their disbelief.

26:4  If We willed, We could send down upon them a ˹compelling˺ sign from the heavens, leaving their necks bent in ˹utter˺ submission to it.

26:5  Whatever new reminder comes to them from the Most Compassionate, they always turn away from it.

26:6  They have certainly denied ˹the truth˺, so they will soon face the consequences of their ridicule.

26:7  Have they failed to look at the earth, ˹to see˺ how many types of fine plants We have caused to grow in it?

26:8  Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe.

26:9  And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:10  ˹Remember˺ when your Lord called out to Moses, “Go to the wrongdoing people—

26:11  the people of Pharaoh. Will they not fear ˹Allah˺?”

26:12  He replied, “My Lord! I fear that they will reject me.

26:13  And ˹so˺ my heart will be broken and my tongue will be tied. So send Aaron along ˹as a messenger˺.

26:14  Also, they have a charge against me, so I fear they may kill me.”

26:15  Allah responded, “Certainly not! So go, both of you, with Our signs. We will be with you, listening.

26:16  Go to Pharaoh and say, ‘We are messengers from the Lord of all worlds,

26:17  ˹commanded to say:˺ ‘Let the Children of Israel go with us.’’”

26:18  Pharaoh protested, “Did we not raise you among us as a child, and you stayed several years of your life in our care?

26:19  Then you did what you did, being ˹utterly˺ ungrateful!”

26:20  Moses replied, “I did it then, lacking guidance.

26:21  So I fled from you when I feared you. Then my Lord granted me wisdom and made me one of the messengers.

26:22  How can that be a ‘favour,’ of which you remind me, when ˹it was only because˺ you ˹have˺ enslaved the Children of Israel?”

26:23  Pharaoh asked, “And what is ‘the Lord of all worlds’?”

26:24  Moses replied, “˹He is˺ the Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything in between, if only you had sure faith.”

26:25  Pharaoh said to those around him, “Did you hear ˹what he said˺?”

26:26  Moses added, “˹He is˺ your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers.”

26:27  Pharaoh said ˹mockingly˺, “Your messenger, who has been sent to you, must be insane.”

26:28  Moses responded: “˹He is˺ the Lord of the east and west, and everything in between, if only you had any sense.”

26:29  Pharaoh threatened, “If you take any other god besides me, I will certainly have you imprisoned.”

26:30  Moses responded, “Even if I bring you a clear proof?”

26:31  Pharaoh demanded, “Bring it then, if what you say is true.”

26:32  So he threw down his staff and—behold!—it became a real snake.

26:33  Then he drew his hand ˹out of his collar˺ and it was ˹shining˺ white for all to see.

26:34  Pharaoh said to the chiefs around him, “He is indeed a skilled magician,

26:35  who seeks to drive you from your land by his magic. So what do you propose?”

26:36  They replied, “Let him and his brother wait and dispatch mobilizers to all cities

26:37  to bring you every skilled magician.”

26:38  So the magicians were assembled at the set time on the appointed day.

26:39  And the people were asked, “Will you join the gathering,

26:40  so that we may follow the magicians if they prevail?”

26:41  When the magicians came, they asked Pharaoh, “Shall we have a ˹suitable˺ reward if we prevail?”

26:42  He replied, “Yes, and you will then certainly be among those closest to me.”

26:43  Moses said to them, “Cast whatever you wish to cast.”

26:44  So they cast down their ropes and staffs, saying, “By Pharaoh’s might, it is we who will surely prevail.”

26:45  Then Moses threw down his staff, and—behold!—it devoured the objects of their illusion!

26:46  So the magicians fell down, prostrating.

26:47  They declared, “We ˹now˺ believe in the Lord of all worlds—

26:48  the Lord of Moses and Aaron.”

26:49  Pharaoh threatened, “How dare you believe in him before I give you permission? He must be your master who taught you magic, but soon you will see. I will certainly cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, then crucify you all.”

26:50  They responded, “˹That would be˺ no harm! Surely to our Lord we will ˹all˺ return.

26:51  We really hope that our Lord will forgive our sins, as we are the first to believe.”

26:52  And We inspired Moses, ˹saying,˺ “Leave with My servants at night, for you will surely be pursued.”

26:53  Then Pharaoh sent mobilizers to all cities,

26:54  ˹and said,˺ “These ˹outcasts˺ are just a handful of people,

26:55  who have really enraged us,

26:56  but we are all on the alert.”

26:57  So We lured the tyrants out of ˹their˺ gardens, springs,

26:58  treasures, and splendid residences.

26:59  So it was. And We awarded it ˹all˺ to the Children of Israel.

26:60  And so they pursued them at sunrise.

26:61  When the two groups came face to face, the companions of Moses cried out, “We are overtaken for sure.”

26:62  Moses reassured ˹them˺, “Absolutely not! My Lord is certainly with me—He will guide me.”

26:63  So We inspired Moses: “Strike the sea with your staff,” and the sea was split, each part was like a huge mountain.

26:64  We drew the pursuers to that place,

26:65  and delivered Moses and those with him all together.

26:66  Then We drowned the others.

26:67  Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe.

26:68  And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:69  Relate to them ˹O Prophet˺ the story of Abraham,

26:70  when he questioned his father and his people, “What is that you worship ˹besides Allah˺?”

26:71  They replied, “We worship idols, to which we are fully devoted.”

26:72  Abraham asked, “Can they hear you when you call upon them?

26:73  Or can they benefit or harm you?”

26:74  They replied, “No! But we found our forefathers doing the same.”

26:75  Abraham responded, “Have you ˹really˺ considered what you have been worshipping—

26:76  you and your ancestors?

26:77  They are ˹all˺ enemies to me, except the Lord of all worlds.

26:78  ˹He is˺ the One Who created me, and He ˹alone˺ guides me.

26:79  ˹He is˺ the One Who provides me with food and drink.

26:80  And He ˹alone˺ heals me when I am sick.

26:81  And He ˹is the One Who˺ will cause me to die, and then bring me back to life.

26:82  And He is ˹the One˺ Who, I hope, will forgive my flaws on Judgment Day.”

26:83  “My Lord! Grant me wisdom, and join me with the righteous.

26:84  Bless me with honourable mention among later generations.

26:85  Make me one of those awarded the Garden of Bliss.

26:86  Forgive my father, for he is certainly one of the misguided.

26:87  And do not disgrace me on the Day all will be resurrected—

26:88  the Day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit.

26:89  Only those who come before Allah with a pure heart ˹will be saved˺.”

26:90  ˹On that Day˺ Paradise will be brought near to the God-fearing,

26:91  and the Hellfire will be displayed to the deviant.

26:92  And it will be said to them, “Where are those you used to worship

26:93  besides Allah? Can they help you or even help themselves?”

26:94  Then the idols will be hurled headlong into Hell, along with the deviant

26:95  and the soldiers of Iblîs, all together.

26:96  There the deviant will cry while disputing with their idols,

26:97  “By Allah! We were clearly mistaken,

26:98  when we made you equal to the Lord of all worlds.

26:99  And none led us astray other than the wicked.

26:100  Now we have none to intercede for us,

26:101  nor a close friend.

26:102  If only we could have a second chance, then we would be believers.”

26:103  Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe.

26:104  And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:105  The people of Noah rejected the messengers

26:106  when their brother Noah said to them, “Will you not fear ˹Allah˺?

26:107  I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you.

26:108  So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:109  I do not ask you for any reward for this ˹message˺. My reward is only from the Lord of all worlds.

26:110  So fear Allah, and obey me.”

26:111  They argued, “How can we believe in you, when you are followed ˹only˺ by the lowest of the low?”

26:112  He responded, “And what knowledge do I have of what they do?

26:113  Their judgment is with my Lord, if you had any sense!

26:114  I am not going to expel the believers.

26:115  I am only sent with a clear warning.”

26:116  They threatened, “If you do not desist, O Noah, you will surely be stoned ˹to death˺.”

26:117  Noah prayed, “My Lord! My people have truly rejected me.

26:118  So judge between me and them decisively, and save me and the believers with me.”

26:119  So We saved him and those with him in the fully loaded Ark.

26:120  Then afterwards We drowned the rest.

26:121  Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe.

26:122  And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:123  The people of ’Âd rejected the messengers

26:124  when their brother Hûd said to them, “Will you not fear ˹Allah˺?

26:125  I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you.

26:126  So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:127  I do not ask you for any reward for this ˹message˺. My reward is only from the Lord of all worlds.

26:128  ˹Why˺ do you build a landmark on every high place in vanity,

26:129  and construct castles, as if you are going to live forever,

26:130  and act so viciously when you attack ˹others˺?

26:131  So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:132  Fear the One Who has provided you with ˹the good˺ things you know:

26:133  He provided you with cattle, and children,

26:134  and gardens, and springs.

26:135  I truly fear for you the torment of a tremendous day.”

26:136  They responded, “It is all the same to us whether you warn ˹us˺ or not.

26:137  This is simply the tradition of our predecessors.

26:138  And we will never be punished.”

26:139  So they rejected him, and ˹so˺ We destroyed them. Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe.

26:140  And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:141  The people of Thamûd rejected the messengers

26:142  when their brother Ṣâliḥ said to them, “Will you not fear ˹Allah˺?

26:143  I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you.

26:144  So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:145  I do not ask you for any reward for this ˹message˺. My reward is only from the Lord of all worlds.

26:146  Do you think you will be ˹forever˺ left secure in what you have here:

26:147  amid gardens and springs,

26:148  and ˹various˺ crops, and palm trees ˹loaded˺ with tender fruit;

26:149  to carve homes in the mountains with great skill?

26:150  So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:151  And do not follow the command of the transgressors,

26:152  who spread corruption throughout the land, never setting things right.”

26:153  They replied, “You are simply bewitched!

26:154  You are only a human being like us, so bring forth a sign if what you say is true.”

26:155  Ṣâliḥ said, “Here is a camel. She will have her turn to drink as you have yours, each on an appointed day.

26:156  And do not ever touch her with harm, or you will be overtaken by the torment of a tremendous day.”

26:157  But they killed her, becoming regretful.

26:158  So the punishment overtook them. Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe.

26:159  And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:160  The people of Lot rejected the messengers

26:161  when their brother Lot said to them, “Will you not fear ˹Allah˺?

26:162  I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you.

26:163  So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:164  I do not ask you for any reward for this ˹message˺. My reward is only from the Lord of all worlds.

26:165  Why do you ˹men˺ lust after fellow men,

26:166  leaving the wives that your Lord has created for you? In fact, you are a transgressing people.”

26:167  They threatened, “If you do not desist, O Lot, you will surely be expelled.”

26:168  Lot responded, “I am truly one of those who despise your ˹shameful˺ practice.

26:169  My Lord! Save me and my family from ˹the consequences of˺ what they do.”

26:170  So We saved him and all of his family,

26:171  except an old woman, who was one of the doomed.

26:172  Then We utterly destroyed the rest,

26:173  pouring upon them a rain ˹of brimstone˺. How evil was the rain of those who had been warned!

26:174  Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe.

26:175  And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:176  The residents of the Forest rejected the messengers

26:177  when Shu’aib said to them, “Will you not fear ˹Allah˺?

26:178  I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you.

26:179  So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:180  I do not ask you for any reward for this ˹message˺. My reward is only from the Lord of all worlds.

26:181  Give full measure, and cause no loss ˹to others˺.

26:182  Weigh with an even balance,

26:183  and do not defraud people of their property. Nor go about spreading corruption in the land.

26:184  And fear the One Who created you and ˹all˺ earlier peoples.”

26:185  They replied, “You are simply bewitched!

26:186  Also, you are only a human being like us, and we think you are indeed a liar.

26:187  So cause ˹deadly˺ pieces of the sky to fall upon us, if what you say is true.”

26:188  Shu’aib responded, “My Lord knows best whatever you do.”

26:189  So they rejected him, and ˹so˺ were overtaken by the torment of the day of the ˹deadly˺ cloud. That was really a torment of a tremendous day.

26:190  Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe.

26:191  And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.

26:192  This is certainly a revelation from the Lord of all worlds,

26:193  which the trustworthy spirit ˹Gabriel˺ brought down

26:194  into your heart ˹O Prophet˺—so that you may be one of the warners—

26:195  in a clear Arabic tongue.

26:196  And it has indeed been ˹foretold˺ in the Scriptures of those before.

26:197  Was it not sufficient proof for the deniers that it has been recognized by the knowledgeable among the Children of Israel?

26:198  Had We revealed it to a non-Arab,

26:199  who would then recite it to the deniers ˹in fluent Arabic˺, still they would not have believed in it!

26:200  This is how We allow denial ˹to steep˺ into the hearts of the wicked.

26:201  They will not believe in it until they see the painful punishment,

26:202  which will take them by surprise when they least expect ˹it˺.

26:203  Then they will cry, “Can we be allowed more time?”

26:204  Do they ˹really˺ seek to hasten Our torment?

26:205  Imagine ˹O Prophet˺ if We allowed them enjoyment for years,

26:206  then there came to them what they had been threatened with:

26:207  would that enjoyment be of any benefit to them ˹at all˺?

26:208  We have never destroyed a society without warners

26:209  to remind ˹them˺, for We would never wrong ˹anyone˺.

26:210  It was not the devils who brought this ˹Quran˺ down:

26:211  it is not for them ˹to do so˺, nor can they,

26:212  for they are strictly barred from ˹even˺ overhearing ˹it˺.

26:213  So do not ever call upon any other god besides Allah, or you will be one of the punished.

26:214  And warn ˹all, starting with˺ your closest relatives,

26:215  and be gracious to the believers who follow you.

26:216  But if they disobey you, say, “I am certainly free of what you do.”

26:217  Put your trust in the Almighty, Most Merciful,

26:218  Who sees you when you rise ˹for prayer at night˺,

26:219  as well as your movements ˹in prayer˺ along with ˹fellow˺ worshippers.

26:220  He ˹alone˺ is indeed the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

26:221  Shall I inform you of whom the devils ˹actually˺ descend upon?

26:222  They descend upon every sinful liar,

26:223  who gives an ˹attentive˺ ear ˹to half-truths˺, mostly passing on sheer lies.

26:224  As for poets, they are followed ˹merely˺ by deviants.

26:225  Do you not see how they rant in every field,

26:226  only saying what they never do?

26:227  Except those who believe, do good, remember Allah often, and ˹poetically˺ avenge ˹the believers˺ after being wrongfully slandered. The wrongdoers will come to know what ˹evil˺ end they will meet.