26:1  Ta. Seen. Meem.

26:2  These are the verses of the Book that clarifies.

26:3  Perhaps you are worried to death because they do not become believers.

26:4  If it were Our will, We could send down to them from Heaven a sign to which they would bow their necks in humility.

26:5  There never comes to them any new reminder from the Most Gracious without their turning away from it.

26:6  They have indeed rejected, so they will soon know the truth of what they mocked.

26:7  Do they not look at the earth and how many noble species We have produced on it?

26:8  Truly, a sign is in this, but most of them do not believe.

26:9  Truly, your Lord is He, the Victorious, the Most Merciful.

26:10  Your Lord called Moses, “Go to the sinful people.

26:11  “[They are] the people of Pharaoh. Will they have no fear?”

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

26:13  “My breast will feel tight, and my speech will not be good. Send for Aaron.

26:14  “Also, they have a criminal charge [of murder] against me, and I fear they may kill me.”

26:15  Allah said, “No [they won’t]. Both of you go with Our signs. We are truly with you and will listen.

26:16  “Both of you go to Pharaoh and say, ‘Truly, we have a message from the Lord of the Worlds.

26:17  “Send with us the Children of Israel.’”

26:18  (Pharaoh) said, “Did we not raise you as a child among us. Did you not stay with us many years of your life?

26:19  “You committed a deed which you did. You are ungrateful.”

26:20  Moses said, “I did it when I was astray.

26:21  “I fled from you when I feared you. Now my Lord has entrusted judgment in me. [He has] appointed me as one of the messengers.

26:22  “Is this a favor with which you taunt me: that you have enslaved the Children of Israel?”

26:23  Pharaoh said, “What is the Lord of the Worlds?”

26:24  (Moses) said, “The Lord of the skies and Earth and all among them, if you would be convinced.”

26:25  (Pharaoh) said to those around, “Are you not listening?”

26:26  (Moses) said, “[He is] your Lord and the Lord of your ancestors.”

26:27  (Pharaoh) said, “Truly, your messenger sent to you is a crazy person!”

26:28  (Moses) said, “[He is] Lord of the East and the West and all between, if only you could understand.”

26:29  (Pharaoh) said, “If you choose any god other than me, I will certainly put you in prison.”

26:30  (Moses) said, “Even if I show you something convincing?”

26:31  (Pharaoh) said, “Show it then if you are telling the truth!”

26:32  (Moses) threw his rod, and it became an evident serpent.

26:33  He brought his hand [from beneath his garment], and it was white for all to see.

26:34  (Pharaoh) said to the chiefs around him, “This is certainly a well-trained sorcerer.

26:35  He wants to get you out of your land by his witchcraft. What do you advise?”

26:36  They said, “Let him and his brother wait while you send recruiters to the cities to assemble…

26:37  “…and bring to you every well-trained sorcerer.”

26:38  The sorcerers were assembled for a set time on a certain day.

26:39  The people were asked, “Are you all assembled…

26:40  “…so we may follow the sorcerers if they win?”

26:41  When the sorcerers arrived, they said to Pharaoh, “Certainly we should have a reward if we win.”

26:42  He said, “Yes, certainly then you will be near [to me, in my court].

26:43  Moses said to (the sorcerers), “Throw what you are about to throw.”

26:44  They threw their ropes and their rods and said, “By the power of Pharaoh, we will certainly win.”

26:45  Then Moses threw his rod. Behold, it swallowed (the illusions) they faked.

26:46  The sorcerers fell and prostrated in adoration.

26:47  They said, “We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,…

26:48  “…the Lord of Moses and Aaron.”

26:49  (Pharaoh) said, “Do you believe in Him before I give you permission? He is certainly your leader who has taught you witchcraft. Soon you will know! For certain, I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you all.”

26:50  They said, “No matter! We will truly return to our Lord.

26:51  “Indeed, we hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we are the first believers [among the Egyptians].”

26:52  Through inspiration, We told Moses, “Travel by night with My servant, for you will certainly be pursued.”

26:53  Then Pharaoh sent recruiters into the cities.

26:54  [They said,] “These [Israelites] are certainly only a small group.

26:55  “They are certainly raging furiously against us.

26:56  “We are indeed a multitude already prepared.”

26:57  We expelled (the Egyptian troops) from gardens, springs,…

26:58  …treasures, and every kind of honorable position.

26:59  That’s how it was, but We caused the Children of Israel to inherit them.

26:60  (The Egyptians) pursued (the Israelites) at sunrise.

26:61  When the two groups saw one another, the people of Moses said, “We will certainly be overtaken.”

26:62  (Moses) said, “Certainly not! My Lord is with me. He will guide me.”

26:63  Then We told Moses through inspiration, “Strike the sea with your rod.” It divided, and each part became like a huge mountain.

26:64  We made the other group approach.

26:65  We delivered Moses and all who were with him.

26:66  We drowned the others.

26:67  Truly, in this is a sign, but most of them do not believe.

26:68  Truly your Lord is He, the Victorious, the Most Merciful.

26:69  Recite to them the story of Abraham.

26:70  He said to his father and his people, “What do you worship?”

26:71  They said, “We worship idols, and we remain loyal to them.”

26:72  He said, “Do they hear you when you pray?”

26:73  Can they benefit you or harm you?”

26:74  They said, “No, but we found our ancestors doing this.”

26:75  He said, “Do you consider what you have been worshiping…

26:76  “…–you and your ancestors?

26:77  “They are truly enemies to me. [My enemy is] not the Lord of the Worlds.

26:78  “[He is] the One who created me, and He guides me.

26:79  “He is the One who gives me food and drink.

26:80  “When I am sick, He cures me.

26:81  “[He is] the One who will cause me to die and then return to life.

26:82  “I am hopeful that He will forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment.”

26:83  [Abraham’s prayer:] “My Lord, bestow wisdom on me. Join me with the righteous.

26:84  “Grant me honorable mention among the coming generations.

26:85  “Make me one of the inheritors of the garden of bliss.

26:86  “Forgive my father as he is among those astray.

26:87  “Let me not be in disgrace on the day when people will be raised.

26:88  “[That will be] the day in which neither wealth nor children will help.

26:89  “(The only help will be) for he/she who brings to Allah a pure heart.

26:90  “Paradise will be brought near for the righteous.

26:91  “The fire will be realized for the sinners.

26:92  “It will be said to them, ‘Where are (the gods) you worshiped…

26:93  “…besides Allah? Can they help you or help themselves?’

26:94  “Then they will be thrown head-first into (the fire), along with the sinners.

26:95  “[Also thrown into the fire will be] the hosts of Iblis, all together.

26:96  “They will say, there in their mutual arguments,…

26:97  “…‘by Allah, we were truly in evident sin…

26:98  “…‘when we held you equal to the Lord of the Worlds.

26:99  “‘No one misled us except the sinners.

26:100  “‘We now have no intercessors.

26:101  “‘[We do not have] a single friend to empathize.

26:102  “‘If we only had a chance to return, we would truly be among the believers.’”

26:103  Truly, in this is a sign, but most of them do not believe.

26:104  Truly, your Lord is He, the Victorious, the Most Merciful.

26:105  The people of Noah rejected the messengers.

26:106  Their brother Noah said to them, “Will you not have fear?

26:107  “I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust.

26:108  “So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:109  “I do not ask any reward from you for it. My reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds.

26:110  “So fear Allah, and obey me.”

26:111  They said, “Should we believe in you when the worst people follow you?”

26:112  He said, “What do I know about what they do?

26:113  “Their account is only with my Lord, if you could understand.

26:114  “I am not going to send away those who believe.

26:115  “I am only a warner who is clear.”

26:116  They said, “If you don’t stop, O Noah, we will stone you.”

26:117  He said, “My Lord, truly my people have rejected me.

26:118  “Judge between me and them decisively. Deliver me and those believers who are with me.”

26:119  We delivered him and those with him in the filled ark.

26:120  We drowned those who remained behind.

26:121  Truly, in this is a sign, but most of them do not believe.

26:122  Truly, your Lord is He, the Victorious, the Most Merciful.

26:123  The Ad rejected the messengers.

26:124  Their brother Heber said to them, “Will you have no fear?

26:125  “I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust.

26:126  “So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:127  “I do not ask any reward from you for it. My reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds.

26:128  “Do you build a symbol on every high place to amuse yourselves?

26:129  “Do you get fine buildings for yourselves expecting to live there forever?

26:130  “When you seize, do you seize as tyrants?

26:131  “Fear Allah, and obey me.

26:132  “Yes, fear Him who has bestowed on you freely all that you know.

26:133  “He has bestowed freely on you cattle and children…

26:134  “…and gardens and springs.

26:135  “Truly, I fear for you the punishment of an awesome day.”

26:136  They said, “It is the same to us whether you preach or don’t preach.

26:137  “This is nothing but a custom of the former peoples.

26:138  “We are not the ones to be punished.”

26:139  So they rejected him, and We destroyed them. Truly, in this is a sign, but most of them do not believe.

26:140  Truly, your Lord is He, the Victorious, the Most Merciful.

26:141  The Thamud rejected the messengers.

26:142  Their brother Salih said to them, “Will you have no fear?

26:143  “I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust.

26:144  “So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:145  “I do not ask any reward from you for it. My reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds.

26:146  “Will you be left secure in all that you have here?

26:147  “[That includes] gardens and springs,…

26:148  “…cornfields and date palms heavy with fruit.

26:149  “You skillfully carve homes from mountains.

26:150  “But fear Allah, and obey me.

26:151  “Do not follow the leadership of those who are extravagant.

26:152  “They create evil across the land and do not make amends.”

26:153  They said, “You are only one of those bewitched.

26:154  “You are no more than a mortal like us. Bring us a sign if you are telling the truth.”

26:155  He said, “Here is a female camel. She has a right to get water, and you have a right to get water on a certain day.

26:156  “Do not touch her with harm or the penalty of a great day will seize you.”

26:157  But they butchered her, and then they became full of regret.

26:158  But the penalty seized them. Truly, in this is a sign, but most of them do not believe.

26:159  Truly, your Lord is He, the Victorious, the Most Merciful.

26:160  The people of Lot rejected the messengers.

26:161  Their brother Lot said to them, “Will you have no fear?

26:162  “I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust.

26:163  “So fear Allah and obey me.

26:164  “I do not ask any reward from you for it. My reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds.

26:165  “Will you [men] go to other men of the world [for sex]?

26:166  “[Will you] leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your mates? You are a sinful people.”

26:167  They said, “If you do not stop, O Lot, you will certainly be thrown out.”

26:168  He said, “I truly hate what you do.”

26:169  [Lot prayed,] “My Lord, deliver me and my family from such activities as that in which they engage.”

26:170  So We delivered him and all his family.

26:171  The exception was an old woman [Lot’s wife] who lingered behind.

26:172  We destroyed all the others.

26:173  We rained on them a shower [of brimstones] until it became the ruinous downpour of those warned.

26:174  Truly, in this is a sign, but most of them do not believe.

26:175  Truly, your Lord is He, the Victorious, the Most Merciful.

26:176  The companions of the wood rejected the messengers.

26:177  Jethro said to them, “Will you have no fear?

26:178  “I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust.

26:179  “So fear Allah, and obey me.

26:180  “I do not ask any reward from you for it. My reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds.

26:181  “Give honest measurements, and cause no loss [by faulty scales].

26:182  “Weigh with scales that are accurate.

26:183  “Do not cheat people of what belongs to them. Do no evil in the land, spreading wickedness.

26:184  “Fear the One who created you and the earlier generations.”

26:185  They said, “You are only one of those bewitched.

26:186  You are no more than a mortal like us. Indeed, we think you are a liar.

26:187  “Now cause pieces of the sky to fall on us, if you are telling the truth.”

26:188  He said, “My Lord knows best what you do.”

26:189  They rejected him. Then the punishment of a dark day seized them. Truly, that was the penalty of a great day.

26:190  Truly, in this is a sign, but most of them do not believe.

26:191  Truly, your Lord is He, the Victorious, the Most Merciful.

26:192  This [Qur’an] is truly from the Lord of All the Worlds.

26:193  It has descended with the Spirit of Faith…

26:194  …into your heart and mind so that you [Prophet Muhammed] can admonish…

26:195  …perfectly in the Arabic language.

26:196  Actually, it is in the previous Books [of Scriptures].

26:197  Is it not significant that [contemporary to Prophet Muhammed] many of the educated Children of Israel recognized this [Qur’an as truth]?

26:198  If (the Qur’an) had been revealed to any people besides the Arabs,…

26:199  …and had it been recited to (another people), they would have rejected it.

26:200  Thus We have inserted (disbelief) into the hearts of the guilty.

26:201  (The unbelievers) will not believe in it until they see the dreadful penalty.

26:202  But (the penalty) will come suddenly, without their awareness.

26:203  Then they will say, “May we have more time?”

26:204  Do they want Our punishment to be hurried?

26:205  Do you see? What if We do let them indulge for a few years?

26:206  When finally that which they were promised comes to them,…

26:207  …it will not profit them that they got to indulge.

26:208  We never destroyed a population without its having had warners.

26:209  [They gave] reminders, and We are never unjust.

26:210  Devils did not bring down this (Qur’an).

26:211  Not only would it not have suited their purpose, but also they would have been too incompetent.

26:212  Indeed, they have been removed far from even hearing it.

26:213  Do not call on any other god with Allah, or you will be among the convicted.

26:214  Warn your nearest relatives.

26:215  Lower your wing [of kindness] to the believers who follow you.

26:216  If they disobey you, say, “I am not responsible for what you do.”

26:217  Put your trust in the Victorious, the Most Merciful.

26:218  He sees you standing [in prayer].

26:219  [He sees] your movements among those who prostrate.

26:220  He is All-hearing, the All-knowing.

26:221  Shall I tell you on whom the demons descend?

26:222  They descend on every liar and sinner.

26:223  They repeat what [gossip] is heard, and most of them are liars.

26:224  Those who follow the poets [who chant senselessly] are misguided.

26:225  Do you not see that they wander distractedly into every dip,…

26:226  …and that they preach what they don’t practice?

26:227  The exceptions are those who believe, live righteously, engage much in the remembrance of Allah, and defend themselves only after they are unjustly attacked. Those who cause oppression will know to where [Heaven or Hell] they will return.