37:1  Those vanguards who set up ranks (in order to defend the Divine System)

37:2  And those officers of the state who help maintain law and order

37:3  And those believers who convey the Reminder

37:4  (Are the living witnesses that) - Verily, most surely, your God is One

37:5  He is the Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything that is between them (the intergalactic material) - And the Lord of the sunrises (and of the Light-giving Revelation)

37:6  Behold, We have beautified the lowest heaven nearest to the earth with ornaments, the stars and planets

37:7  And made them secure against every satanic force (The Revelation brings an end to the false claims of the fortune-telling astrologers (15:16-18))

37:8  Repelled faraway from the Truth, the 'occult sciences' despite their boisterous claims, can get not a hint of what Divine Revelation is

37:9  Outcast--and theirs is a lasting torment

37:10  Even if a thing of their conjecture comes to pass, they are pursued by a Flame of Brightness. (The Divine Revelation exposes the claimants to the 'occult sciences' (18:22), (26:210-212), (52:38), (67:5), (72: 8-9))

37:11  And ask them to enlighten you, "What is more difficult and stronger - their creation or the rest of Our creation in the multiform Universe? Them (the humans) We have only created out of a sticky clay

37:12  Nay, but whereas you (O Prophet) marvel at the Universe, they mock - and again you marvel at their mocking

37:13  They take not to heart the wonders of Nature when reminded

37:14  And they turn to mockery every Wonder that they see

37:15  And of the Revelation they say, "This is nothing but magical eloquence."

37:16  "What! When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then be raised again

37:17  And even our forefathers?"

37:18  Say, "Yes, indeed. And you will be brought low."

37:19  There will be a single Rebuke, and then, behold, they will begin to see

37:20  And they will say, "Oh, woe unto us! This is the Day of Judgment."

37:21  Yes - This is the Day of Decision you used to deny

37:22  "Bring you up", it will be said, "The transgressors and their companions and the leaders whom they obeyed

37:23  Instead of Allah, and lead them onto the path to the Blazing Fire. ('Azwaj' in 37:22 = Companions)

37:24  Halt them! For, they must be questioned

37:25  What is the matter with you that you help not each other

37:26  Nay, but this Day they make full submission

37:27  And they will turn to one another asking, demanding

37:28  Some will say, "You used to approach us in power."

37:29  The leaders will reply, "Nay, it were you yourself who were devoid of Faith

37:30  And we had no power at all over you. Nay, you were a people of unrestrained conduct."

37:31  But now the Word of our Lord has come to pass about all of us. Verily, we are bound to taste the fruit of our deeds

37:32  So then, if we misled you, behold, we ourselves were astray."

37:33  And on that Day, verily, they will be partners in a common doom. (14:21), (33:67), (34:32), (40:47)

37:34  Behold, this is how We deal with the guilty

37:35  For when it was said to them, "There is no god but Allah", they showed arrogance

37:36  And used to say, "Shall we give up our gods for a mad poet?"

37:37  Nay, but he brought the Truth, and he confirmed the previous Messengers

37:38  Behold, you will indeed taste the grievous suffering

37:39  And you are requited only for what you have done

37:40  But the sincere servants of Allah

37:41  Theirs shall be a sustenance known to them (2:25)

37:42  As the fruits of their labor, and they shall be honored

37:43  In the Gardens of Delight

37:44  Facing one another upon thrones of happiness

37:45  A cup from a gushing spring of Bliss brought around for them

37:46  Crystal clear, delicious to those who drink

37:47  No headache or hangover in it, nor will they get drunk. (56:19)

37:48  And in their company will be mates of modest gaze, endowed with vision

37:49  Faultless like the hidden ostrich eggs (of unblemished character)

37:50  And they will all turn to one another asking (socializing)

37:51  One of them speaks thus, "Behold, I had a close companion."

37:52  He used to ask me, "What! Are you of those who affirm

37:53  That after we have died and become mere dust and bones, we will be called to account!"

37:54  A voice will be heard, "Will you people like to look at him?"

37:55  And then he looks and finds his companion in the midst of the blazing fire

37:56  He says to the companion in the fire, "By God! You had almost ruined me too

37:57  Had I not earned the blessing of my Lord, I would surely be of those given over to punishment

37:58  Are we then never to die (O My Companions of Paradise)

37:59  After our former death, and that we will never be among the suffering

37:60  Verily, this - this indeed, is the Supreme Triumph."

37:61  For such an end should work all workers

37:62  Is this better as a welcome or the inedible cactus (the bitter tree of harming others (17:60), (44: 43-44), (56:52))

37:63  Verily, We have appointed it a torment for the oppressors

37:64  For, behold, it is a tree that springs in the heart of the blazing Fire. (Harming others, oppression and violation of human rights build one's own Hellfire. Likewise, humans earn Paradise with their own hands (7:42), (16:32), (17:9), (29:55), (40:40), (47:2))

37:65  Its growth like cobra heads. ('Shaitan' and 'Jaann' = Serpent, Cobra. (38:41-44), Harming others harms one's own 'Self' (25:43))

37:66  Verily, from it they must eat, and fill their bellies with it. (37:68)

37:67  And, behold, above all this they have a drink of burning despair

37:68  And once again, verily, the blazing Fire is their destination

37:69  For, verily, they had found their fathers on the wrong path

37:70  But they made haste to follow their footprints

37:71  This is how, indeed, most of the people of the old had gone astray before them

37:72  And verily, We had sent Warners among them

37:73  Behold, then, what happened to those who had been warned

37:74  Except for the sincere servants of Allah

37:75  And it was so when Noah cried to Us. Behold, how excellent are We as Responder

37:76  For, We saved him, his family and his followers from the great distress. ('Ahl' or the Household of a Prophet includes his followers)

37:77  And made his progeny and followers survive

37:78  And We left his remembrance for later generations

37:79  Peace and salutation to Noah in the Worlds

37:80  Verily, this is how We reward the benefactors of humanity

37:81  Behold, he was one of Our truly believing servants

37:82  And We caused the others to drown

37:83  And verily, to his group (of believers, later) belonged Abraham

37:84  When he came to his Lord with a noble heart

37:85  And thus spoke to his father and his people, "What is that you worship?"

37:86  It is a falsehood. Do you desire gods besides Allah

37:87  What do you think of the Lord of the Worlds?"

37:88  And he glanced at the stars. (6:76-78)

37:89  And said, "Behold, I am sick (of you worshiping false deities)." (60:4)

37:90  At that they turned their backs and went away from him

37:91  Then Abraham gently turned to their idols and said, "What! You do not eat

37:92  What ails you that you speak not?"

37:93  Then he turned upon them, striking them with the right hand (struck them hard)

37:94  The people came running to him

37:95  He said, "Do you worship that which you carve with your own hands

37:96  When Allah has created you and your handicraft

37:97  They said, "Build a structure for him and fling him into the blazing fire."

37:98  But as they schemed against him, We brought them low

37:99  And he said, "Behold, I am going to my Lord Who will guide me (to refuge 29:26)

37:100  (Abraham emigrated to Syria and prayed), "My Lord! Grant me the company of the righteous, and children who will be righteous."

37:101  So We gave him the good news of a clement son (Ishmael)

37:102  And when he was old enough to strive along with him, Abraham said, "O My dear son! I have a vision that I must give you to a life of test and tribulation for a Noble cause (37:107). So look, what do you think?" He said, "O My father! Do what you are commanded. God willing, you will find me of the steadfast." ('Zibh' & 'Zabh' = Sacrifice = Disregard comfort for a Noble cause. Just as 'Qatl' = Killing, fighting, humiliating, to bring low)

37:103  As both of them had surrendered themselves (to Allah), he made Ishmael prostrate on his forehead in gratitude. (Contrary to popular tradition Abraham never envisioned or intended to slaughter his son)

37:104  We called unto him, "O Abraham

37:105  You have already affirmed the vision. We - This is so - We must reward the doers of good

37:106  This was indeed a Trial, clear in itself. (Leaving the prestigious office of Chief Priesthood in Babylon and now the comfort of Syria for the wilderness of Makkah)

37:107  We exchanged his life for a Momentous Sacrifice. (Please notice here the absence of the Biblical and the traditional myth of a 'ram' sent from the heavens. Also, note that slaughtering of a sheep or goat, by no means, can be considered a Momentous Sacrifice. (14:37), (37:102)

37:108  And We left for him remembrance among the later generations

37:109  Peace and salutation to Abraham

37:110  Thus do We reward the benefactors of humanity

37:111  He was one of Our truly believing servants

37:112  Then We gave him the good news of Isaac - a Prophet, among men of quality

37:113  And We gave lasting felicity to him and Isaac. But among their generations are the doers of good, and those who, by doing wrong to others, clearly wrong their own "Self"

37:114  Yes indeed, We bestowed excellence upon Moses and Aaron

37:115  And We saved them and their people from the awesome distress (of bondage)

37:116  And helped them so that they became the victors

37:117  And We gave both of them the Scripture that helped to distinguish the right from wrong. ('Kitabal Mustabeen' = the Book that helped to distinguish = The Torah. 'Kitabil Mubin' = The Book that distinguishes = The Qur'an)

37:118  And showed both of them the Straight Path

37:119  And We left for them remembrance among the later generations

37:120  Peace and salutation to Moses and Aaron

37:121  Verily! This is how We reward the benefactors of humanity

37:122  Indeed, both of them were Our truly believing servants

37:123  And, behold, Elias (Elijah) was one of Our Messengers (6:85)

37:124  When he said to his people, "Will you not walk aright

37:125  You call upon Ba'l, and disregard the Best of creators

37:126  Allah! Your Lord, and Lord of your forefathers."

37:127  But they denied him. And they will certainly be called to account

37:128  But the sincere servants of Allah

37:129  And we left for him remembrance among the later generations

37:130  Peace and salutation to Elias

37:131  Verily, this is how we reward the benefactors of humanity

37:132  Indeed, He was among our truly believing servants

37:133  And, behold, Lot was indeed among the Messengers

37:134  When We saved him and his household, everyone

37:135  Except an old woman who was among those who stayed behind in belief

37:136  And then We destroyed the rest

37:137  And verily, you pass by their sites by day

37:138  And by night. Will you not, then, use your sense to draw lessons

37:139  And, behold, Jonah was indeed among the Messengers

37:140  When he fled like a runaway slave onto a laden ship. ('Abaqa' = Fled like a runaway slave. He migrated before Allah's Command. (21:87))

37:141  He had cast an arrow and missed the mark. (Untimely action.

37:142  Then the Fish grabbed him while he was blaming himself. (Again, usually a whale is mentioned here. But the whale is a mammal and not a fish, and the Qur'an which is never inaccurate, speaks of

37:143  And had he not been a valiant swimmer

37:144  (The fish would have eaten him up and) he would have remained in her belly disintegrated there and further until the Day of Rising

37:145  (He freed himself and swam to safety.) Then We cast him on the shore, while he was exhausted. (68:49)

37:146  We caused him to rest under a well-grown fruitful tree

37:147  And We sent him back to his people, a hundred thousand, even more

37:148  And this time they believed in him and so We let them enjoy this life

37:149  Now (O Prophet) ask them if your Lord has daughters whereas they have sons! (Do they wish to live with superstitions, such as that Jonah lived in the belly of a fish for forty days and then he got free only by reciting a verse, or that your Lord has offspring)

37:150  Or is it that We have created angels female and they witnessed it

37:151  Attention! It is out of their own invention that they say

37:152  "That Allah has begotten." And, verily, they tell a lie too

37:153  When they say, "He has chosen daughters over sons."

37:154  What is amiss with you? How do you judge

37:155  Will you not then reflect

37:156  Or have you a clear authoritative evidence

37:157  Then bring your Divine Authority if you are truthful

37:158  And they imagine relationship between the unseen forces and their Lord. But the unseen forces know their assignments and constantly remain in His servitude

37:159  Glorified is Allah from what they attribute to Him

37:160  But the sincere servants of Allah

37:161  Verily, neither you nor what you worship

37:162  Can tempt the sincere servants against Him

37:163  Only the one who rushes to the Blazing Fire

37:164  The sincere servants say, "Each one of us has an assignment

37:165  And, behold, we are soldiers in ranks

37:166  And, verily, we, yes we are they who strive to establish His Glory on earth. ('Sabh' = Swim with long and strong laps and strides. It is not the rolling of the rosary-beads or to hymn some words)

37:167  And indeed the disbelievers used to say

37:168  "If only we had a reminder from the old generations, or a Scripture as they had

37:169  We would certainly be sincere servants of Allah alone."

37:170  And yet, now they are denying the Truth. In time, they will come to know what they denied

37:171  Our Word has already gone forth to Our servants, the Messengers

37:172  That verily, they - indeed they - would be helped

37:173  And that Our soldiers - they indeed - would be the victors

37:174  So (O Prophet) withdraw from the disbelievers for a while

37:175  And see them for what they do, and soon they will see what they now don't

37:176  Do they really wish to hasten Our retribution

37:177  But when it comes upon their front-yards, it will be a dreadful awakening for those who have been sufficiently warned

37:178  Hence, turn aside from them for a while

37:179  And see them for what they do, and soon they will see what they now don't

37:180  Glory to your Lord, the Lord of Majesty, Exalted above their contriving

37:181  And Peace and salutation to all the Message-bearers

37:182  And all Praise is due to Allah, the Sustainer of the Worlds! (And to that end strive the Soldiers in Ranks)