as-Saffat (Those Who Set The Ranks, Drawn up in Ranks, The Rangers) at IslamAwakened.com

37:1 I CALL TO witness those who stand arrayed in rows

37:2 And those who restrain by reprimanding

37:3 And those who recite the Reminder

37:4 Verily your God is One

37:5 The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them, and the Lord of the Easts

37:6 He decked the nearest heavens with ornaments of stars

37:7 Protecting them against every wayward devil

37:8 So that they are not able to listen to the angels of higher (echelons), and are pelted from all side

37:9 And kept far away. There is perpetual punishment for them

37:10 Except those who eavesdrop and are pursued by a shooting flame

37:11 So ask them if they are more difficult to create, or the rest We have created? Indeed (man) We created from fermented clay

37:12 Yet while you are filled with wonder, they just scoff

37:13 And when they are warned they pay no heed

37:14 When they see a sign, they laugh at it

37:15 And say: "This is only magic

37:16 When we are dead and turned to dust and bones, how can we be raised again

37:17 And our fathers too?"

37:18 You say: "Yes; and you will be lowly made."

37:19 There will only be a single jerk, and they will gape

37:20 And say: "Ah woe! This is the Day of Reckoning."

37:21 "(Yes,) this is the Day of Judgement you had called a lie."

37:22 Gather all the wicked together and their comrades, and those they had worshippe

37:23 Other than God," (the angels will be told), "then show them the way to Hell

37:24 And detain them, for they will be questioned."

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

37:26 They will submit to questioning then

37:27 And some of them will confront the others

37:28 Saying: "It were you who imposed yourselves upon us."

37:29 They will say: "No, you were the ones who would not believe

37:30 We had no power over you. In fact, you were a people rebellious

37:31 The sentence of our Lord has come true for us. We have certainly to taste (the punishment)

37:32 For we had led you astray. In fact we ourselves were astray."

37:33 So, they will become partners in punishment

37:34 That is how We deal with sinners

37:35 They were those who, when it was said to them, "There is no god but God," behaved with insolence

37:36 And said: "Should we abandon our gods for the sake of an insane poet?"

37:37 Not in the least. He has brought the truth and confirmed the other messengers

37:38 You will indeed taste a painful punishment

37:39 And be rewarded but only for what you had done

37:40 Except the chosen creatures of God

37:41 Whose provision is predetermined -

37:42 Fruits of every kind, and they will be honoure

37:43 In gardens of delight

37:44 (Sitting) on couches, face to face

37:45 With cups from a flowing stream being passed around

37:46 Clear, delicious to drink

37:47 Neither dulling the senses nor intoxicating

37:48 And with them maidens of modest look and large lustrous eyes

37:49 Like sheltered eggs in a nest

37:50 Then one turned to the other in an enquiry

37:51 Said one of the speakers: "I had a frien

37:52 Who used to say: 'Are you one of those who can testify to the truth

37:53 (Do you think) we would be paid back our due when we are dead and reduced to dust and bones?

37:54 He said: 'Will you look down?

37:55 He looked down and saw (his friend) in the midst of Hell

37:56 'By God', he said, 'you had almost ruined me

37:57 Had it not been for the grace of my Lord I too would have been there (in Hell)

37:58 (Another will say:)"Is it true, we are not going to di

37:59 Other than our first death, and we shall not be punished

37:60 This will indeed be great happiness

37:61 For this the toilers should strive."

37:62 Is this better or the tree of Zaqqu

37:63 Which We have reserved as punishment for evil-doers

37:64 It is a tree that grows at the bottom of Hell

37:65 Its spathes are like the prickly pear

37:66 They will eat and fill their bellies with it

37:67 Washing it down with boiling water

37:68 Then to Hell they will surely be returned

37:69 They had found their fathers astray

37:70 Yet they hasten to follow in their footsteps

37:71 So had many an earlier people gone astray

37:72 And We had sent admonishers to them

37:73 Look, then how was the end of those who had been warned

37:74 Other than the chosen creatures of God

37:75 Noah had verily called to Us. And how gracious was He who answered (him)

37:76 We saved him and his family from the great affliction

37:77 And made his progeny survive

37:78 And left (his name) for posterity

37:79 Peace on Noah among all men

37:80 That is how We reward those who do good

37:81 Surely he was among Our faithful creatures

37:82 Afterwards We drowned the others

37:83 And Abraham indeed was of his inducement

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

37:85 When he said to his father and his people: "What is this you worship

37:86 Why do you solicit false gods instead of God

37:87 What do you imagine the Lord of the worlds to be?"

37:88 Then he looked up at the stars (they worshipped)

37:89 And said: "I am sick (of what you worship)!"

37:90 But they turned their backs on him and went away

37:91 Then he turned towards their gods and said: "Why do you not eat (of these offerings)

37:92 What is wrong with you that you do not speak?"

37:93 Then he started striking them down with his right hand

37:94 So the people descended upon him

37:95 "Why do you worship these you carve yourselves," he asked

37:96 "When God has created you and what you make?"

37:97 "Build a pyre for him and throw him into the raging fire."

37:98 So they contrived a plot against him, but We made them abject

37:99 And he said: "I am going away to my Lord who will show me the way

37:100 (And he prayed:) "O Lord, grant me a righteous son."

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

37:102 When he was old enough to go about with him, he said: "O my son, I dreamt that I was sacrificing you. Consider, what you think?" He replied: "Father, do as you are commanded. If God pleases you will find me firm."

37:103 When they submitted to the will of God, and (Abraham) laid (his son) down prostrate on his temple

37:104 We called out: "O Abraham

37:105 You have fulfilled your dream." Thus do We reward the good

37:106 That was indeed a trying test

37:107 So We ransomed him for a great sacrifice

37:108 And left (his hallowed memory) for posterity

37:109 Peace be on Abraham

37:110 That is how We reward those who do good

37:111 He is truly among Our faithful creatures

37:112 So We gave him the good news of Isaac, apostle, who is among the righteous

37:113 And We blessed him and Isaac. Among their descendants are some who do good, but some who wrong themselves

37:114 We were indeed gracious to Moses and Aaron

37:115 And saved them and their people from great distress

37:116 And helped them, so they were victorious

37:117 We gave them the explicit Book

37:118 And showed them the straight path

37:119 And left (their remembrance) for posterity

37:120 Peace be on Moses and Aaron

37:121 That is how We reward those who do good

37:122 They are among Our faithful devotees

37:123 Verily Elias is one of the apostles

37:124 When he said to his people: "Will you not be mindful of God

37:125 Would you call on Baal and leave the best of creators

37:126 God, your Lord, and the Lord of your fathers?"

37:127 They denied him, and will surely be brought to punishment

37:128 Except the chosen creatures of God

37:129 And We left his (memory) for posterity

37:130 Peace be on Elias

37:131 That is how We reward those who do good

37:132 He is truly among Our faithful devotees

37:133 Verily Lot was one of the apostles

37:134 Wherefore We saved him and his entire famil

37:135 Except an old woman who was one of those who stayed behind

37:136 Then We destroyed the others

37:137 You pass by (their habitations) in the mornin

37:138 Or at night. Then how is it you do not understand

37:139 Verily Jonah is one of the apostles

37:140 When he fled on the laden ship

37:141 And lots were cast (when a storm overtook them), he was rejected, (and thrown overboard)

37:142 Then he was swallowed by a large fish as he was worthy of blame

37:143 Had he not been one of those who struggled hard

37:144 He would have stayed in its belly till the day the dead are raised

37:145 So We cast him, sick, on a barren shore

37:146 And We made a gourd tree grow over him

37:147 We sent him to a hundred thousand men or more

37:148 And they came to believe; so We allowed them to enjoy the good things of life for an age

37:149 Now ask them if their Lord has daughters, and they sons

37:150 Or did We make the angels females, and they witnessed it

37:151 Is it not a lie invented by them when they say

37:152 "God has begotten (children)?" They are liars indeed

37:153 Does He prefer sons to daughters

37:154 What ails you that you judge in such a wise

37:155 Why do you not reflect

37:156 Or have you received some clear authority

37:157 Then bring your scripture, if what you say is true

37:158 They link Him with jinns by lineage, yet the jinns know they will be brought before Him

37:159 God is too glorious for what they ascribe to Hi

37:160 Except His chosen creatures who do not

37:161 So neither you nor those you worshi

37:162 Can mislead anyone away from Him

37:163 Except one who is (destined) to burn in Hell

37:164 "There is not one of us who does not have his appointed place," (declare the angels.

37:165 "And we are truly those who stand in rows

37:166 And we are those who sing hallelujas to Him."

37:167 They used to say

37:168 If we had the account of earlier people with us

37:169 We would have been the chosen creatures of God."

37:170 Yet now (that it has come) they refuse to believe in it; but they will come to know soon

37:171 Our word had already been given before to Our votaries, the apostles, -

37:172 That they would be helped

37:173 And that certainly Our armies will be victorious

37:174 So you ignore them for a tim

37:175 And wait; they will come to know soon

37:176 Do they want to hasten Our punishment

37:177 When it comes down on their plains, it will be an evil dawn for those who had been warned

37:178 So turn away from them for a tim

37:179 And watch; they will come to know soon

37:180 Too glorious is your Lord, the Lord of power, for what they ascribe to Him

37:181 So peace be on the messengers

37:182 And all praise to God, the Lord of all the worlds