38:1  Sad By the Quran with its reminding . . .

38:2  Yet the disbelievers are steeped in arrogance and hostility

38:3  How many generations We have destroyed before them! They all cried out, once it was too late, for escape

38:4  The disbelievers think it strange that a prophet of their own people has come to warn them: they say, ‘He is just a lying sorcerer

38:5  How can he claim that all the gods are but one God? What an astonishing thing [to claim]!&rsquo

38:6  Their leaders depart, saying, ‘Walk away! Stay faithful to your gods! That is what you must do

38:7  We did not hear any such claim in the last religion: it is all an invention

38:8  Was the message sent only to him out of all of us?’ In fact they doubt My warning; in fact they have not tasted My punishment yet

38:9  Do they possess the treasures of your Lord’s bounty, the Mighty, the All Giving

38:10  Do they control the heavens and earth and everything between? Let them climb their ropes

38:11  their armed alliance is weak and will be crushed

38:12  The people of Noah, Ad, and firmly-supported Pharaoh rejected their prophets before them

38:13  Thamud, the people of Lot, and the Forest-Dwellers each formed opposition [against theirs]

38:14  They all rejected the mes-sengers and they were deservedly struck by My punishment

38:15  all the disbelievers here are waiting for is a single blast that cannot be postponed

38:16  They say, ‘Our Lord! Advance us our share of punishment before the Day of Reckoning!’

38:17  Bear their words patiently [Prophet]. Remember Our servant David, a man of strength who always turned to Us

38:18  We made the mountains join him in glorifying Us at sunset and sunrise

38:19  and the birds, too, in flocks, all echoed his praise

38:20  We strengthened his kingdom; We gave him wisdom and a decisive way of speaking

38:21  Have you heard the story of the two litigants who climbed into his private quarters

38:22  When they reached David, he took fright, but they said, ‘Do not be afraid. We are two litigants, one of whom has wronged the other: judge between us fairly- do not be unjust- and guide us to the right path

38:23  This is my brother. He had ninety-nine ewes and I just the one, and he said, “Let me take charge of her,” and overpowered me with his words.’

38:24  David said, ‘He has done you wrong by demanding to add your ewe to his flock. Many partners treat each other unfairly. Those who sincerely believe and do good deeds do not do this, but these are very few.’ [Then] David realized that We had been testing him, so he asked his Lord for forgiveness, fell down on his knees, and repented

38:25  We forgave him [his misdeed]. His reward will be nearness to Us, a good place to return to

38:26  ‘David, We have given you mastery over the land. Judge fairly between people. Do not follow your desires, lest they divert you from God’s path: those who wander from His path will have a painful torment because they ignore the Day of Reckoning.’

38:27  It was not without purpose that We created the heavens and the earth and everything in between. That may be what the disbelievers assume- how they will suffer from the Fire!

38:28  but would We treat those who believe and do good deeds and those who spread corruption on earth as equal? Would We treat those who are aware of God and those who recklessly break all bounds in the same way

38:29  This is a blessed Scripture which We sent down to you [Muhammad], for people to think about its messages, and for those with understanding to take heed

38:30  We gave David Solomon. He was an excellent servant who always turned to God

38:31  When well-bred light-footed horses were paraded before him near the close of day

38:32  he kept saying, ‘My love of fine things is part of my remembering my Lord!’ until [the horses] disappeared from sight

38:33  ‘Bring them back!’ [he said] and started to stroke their legs and necks

38:34  We certainly tested Solomon, reducing him to a mere skeleton on his throne

38:35  He turned to Us and prayed: ‘Lord forgive me! Grant me such power as no one after me will have- You are the Most Generous Provider.’

38:36  So We gave him power over the wind, which at his request ran gently wherever he willed

38:37  and the jinn––every kind of builder and dive

38:38  and others chained in fetters

38:39  ‘This is Our gift, so give or withhold as you wish without account.’

38:40  His reward will be nearness to Us, and a good place to return to

38:41  Bring to mind Our servant Job who cried to his Lord, ‘Satan has afflicted me with weariness and suffering.’

38:42  ‘Stamp your foot! Here is cool water for you to wash in and drink,’

38:43  and We restored his family to him, with many more like them: a sign of Our mercy and a lesson to all who understand

38:44  ‘Take a small bunch of grass in your hand, and strike [her] with that so as not to break your oath.’ We found him patient in adversity; an excellent servant! He, too, always turned to God

38:45  Remember Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all men of strength and vision

38:46  We caused them to be devoted to Us through their sincere remembrance of the Final Home

38:47  with Us they will be among the elect, the truly good

38:48  And remember Our servants Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhu ’l-Kifl, each of them truly good

38:49  This is a lesson. The devout will have a good place to return to

38:50  Gardens of lasting bliss with gates wide open

38:51  They will be comfortably seated; they will call for abundant fruit and drink

38:52  they will have well-matched [wives] with modest gaze

38:53  ‘This is what you are promised for the Day of Reckoning

38:54  Our provision for you will never end.’

38:55  But the evildoers will have the worst place to return to

38:56  Hell to burn in, an evil place to stay

38:57  all this will be theirs: let them taste it- a scalding, dark, foul fluid

38:58  and other such torments

38:59  [It will be said], ‘Here is another crowd of people rushing headlong to join you.’ [The response will be], ‘They are not welcome! They will burn in the Fire.’

38:60  They will say to them, ‘You are not welcome! It was you who brought this on us, an evil place to stay,’

38:61  adding, ‘Our Lord, give double punishment to those who brought this upon us.’

38:62  They will say, ‘Why do we not see those we thought were ba

38:63  and took as a laughing-stock? Have our eyes missed them?’

38:64  This is how it will really be: the inhabitants of the Fire will blame one another in this way

38:65  [Prophet] say, ‘I am only here to give warning. There is no god but God the One, the All Powerful

38:66  Lord of the heavens and earth and everything between, the Almighty, the Most Forgiving.’

38:67  Say, ‘This message is a mighty one

38:68  yet you ignore it

38:69  I have no knowledge of what those on high discuss

38:70  it is only revealed to me that I am here to give clear warning.’

38:71  Your Lord said to the angels, ‘I will create a man from clay

38:72  When I have shaped him and breathed from My Spirit into him, bow down before him.’

38:73  The angels all bowed down together

38:74  but not Iblis, who was too proud. He became a rebel

38:75  God said, ‘Iblis, what prevents you from bowing down to the man I have made with My own hands? Are you too high and mighty?’

38:76  Iblis said, ‘I am better than him: You made me from fire, and him from clay.’

38:77  ‘Get out of here! You are rejected

38:78  My rejection will follow you till the Day of Judgement!’

38:79  but Iblis said, ‘My Lord, grant me respite until the Day when they are raised from the dead,’

38:80  so He said, ‘You have respit

38:81  till the Appointed Day.’

38:82  Iblis said, ‘I swear by Your might! I will tempt al

38:83  but Your true servants.’

38:84  God said, ‘This is the truth- I speak only the truth

38:85  I will fill Hell with you and all those that follow you.’

38:86  [Prophet], say, ‘I ask no reward from you for this, nor do I claim to be what I am not

38:87  this is only a warning for all people

38:88  In time you will certainly come to know its truth.’