38:1  Saad, by the Qur'an, which contains all that one ought to know.

38:2  The unbelievers are full of arrogance and dissent.

38:3  How many generations have We destroyed before them (for the same sins)? They called out (to Us), but it was too late to escape.

38:4  They are surprised that one of their own has come out to warn them, so those who want to deny the truth are saying, "This is a magician and a liar.

38:5  How can he claim that the gods are [only] one God? This is a strange thing."

38:6  Their leaders went off, saying, "Walk away, and be faithful to your gods. This is what you must do.

38:7  We have not heard of this in the latest religion. This must be an invention.

38:8  How can the message be revealed to him alone out of all of us?"In fact, they are in doubt about My message. In fact, they have not yet tasted My punishment.

38:9  Or do They have the stores of your Lord's mercy, the Almighty, the Ever-Giving?

38:10  Or is theirs the dominion of the heavens, and the earth, and what is between them? Then let them ascend through any means of access.

38:11  [They are only] soldiers [who will be] defeated regardless of what alliance they have.

38:12  The people of Noah denied [My messages] before them, as did [the tribe of] Aad, Pharaoh-the owner of [many] tent-poles-

38:13  [the tribe of] Thamud, the people of Lot, the woods-dwellers: those were the parties,

38:14  each of whom rejected the messengers, so My punishment was justified.

38:15  And these, too, [who now deny the truth] are only awaiting a single blast, which will not be stopped.

38:16  And they say, "Our Lord, hasten for us our share [of the punishment] before the Day of Account

38:17  Be patient over what they say, and remember Our servant, David, the possessor of strength; he was one who repeatedly turned back [to Us].

38:18  We subjected the mountains to join him in praising Our limitless glory in the evening and daybreak,

38:19  and the birds to assemble, all repeating [praises] with him.

38:20  And We strengthened his kingdom, and gave him wisdom and keen judgment.

38:21  And has the story come to you of the disputants who climbed over the wall of [his] prayer chamber?

38:22  When they entered upon David, he was alarmed, [but] they said, "Do not be afraid. [We are] two disputants. One of us has wronged the other, so judge between us with truth, and do not be unjust, and guide us to the right way.

38:23  This is my brother. He has ninety-nine ewes, and I have one ewe, so he said, 'Entrust it to me,' and got the better of me with his words."

38:24  [David] said, "He has certainly wronged you in demanding that your ewe be added to his ewes. And many associates oppress one another, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds, and they are few." David then realized that We had been testing him, and he asked forgiveness of his Lord, and fell down bowing [in prostration], and turned [to God] in repentance,

38:25  so We forgave him, and, he has nearness to Us, and a good place in the Hereafter.

38:26  [We said], "David, We have made you a steward over this land, so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your own] whim, as it will lead you away from the way of God." Those who wander away from His path will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Account.

38:27  We have not created the heaven and the earth and all that lies between them without meaning and purpose. That is the assumption of the unbelievers. How terrible the fire will be for the unbelievers.

38:28  Would we treat those who believe and do righteous deeds like those who spread corruption on earth? Or would We treat those who are mindful of God like the wicked?

38:29  This is a blessed Book, which We have revealed to you so that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.

38:30  And to David We gave Solomon, an excellent servant. He repeatedly turned back [to Us].

38:31  When well-bred, swift horses were paraded before him at dusk,

38:32  he said, "I love to love good things out of remembrance of my Lord," [and when] the horses disappeared into the distance,

38:33  he would say, "Bring them back to me," and stroke their legs and necks.

38:34  But [previously], We had indeed tested Solomon [by] placing a lifeless body on his throne, he then turned toward us

38:35  and prayed, "My Lord, forgive me, and grant me a kingdom the like of which will not belong to anyone after me. You are the Ever Giving."

38:36  So We gave him power over the wind, to direct it to blow gently wherever he wished,

38:37  and over the devils, every kind of builder and diver

38:38  and over others bound in shackles.

38:39  [We said], "This is Our gift, [for you to] give or withhold without [rendering any] account."

38:40  He is closed to Us and [has] a good place in the Hereafter.

38:41  And remember Our servant Job, when he called to his Lord, "Satan has afflicted me with hardship and suffering."

38:42  [So he was told], "Strike [the ground] with your foot; here is a [spring for] a cool bath and a drink."

38:43  And We restored his family, and their like with them; as a mercy from Us and a reminder for those of understanding.

38:44  [We said], "And take in your hand a bunch of grass and strike with it, and do not break your oath." We found him patient, an excellent servant, one who repeatedly turned back [to Us].

38:45  And remember Our servants Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, men of true strength and vision,

38:46  for We purified them with a most pure quality-remembrance of the [Hereafter],

38:47  and [in our sight] they are among the chosen and the outstanding.

38:48  And remember Ishmael, Elisha and Dhul-Kifl, for they are all among the truly outstanding.

38:49  This is a reminder, for the mindful of God will have a good place of return,

38:50  Gardens of Eden, whose gates will open to them,

38:51  where they will recline, calling for abundant fruit and drink,

38:52  having beside them well-matched mates of modest gaze.

38:53  This is what you are promised for the Day of Account.

38:54  This is Our provision, which will never run out.

38:55  But, truly, for the transgressors is an evil place of return

38:56  Hell, where they will burn. What an evil resting place!

38:57  This! So let them taste boiling water and [foul] pus-

38:58  and other such punishments.

38:59  [Its inhabitants will say], "This is a crowd [of people] rushing in to where you are. No welcome for them. They will burn in the Fire."

38:60  They will say, "Nor you! No welcome for you. You, [our leaders], brought this upon us, what an evil place to settle!

38:61  "They will say, "Our Lord, whoever brought this upon us, double his punishment in the Fire,"

38:62  and they will wonder, "Why we do not see men whom we used to count among the worst,

38:63  whom we used to mock? Did our eyes miss them?"

38:64  This is how it will really be, the bickering of the people of the Fire.

38:65  Say [Prophet], "I am only here to give a warning, and there is no god but God, the One, the All- Conquering,

38:66  Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, the Almighty, the Ever-Forgiving."

38:67  Say, "It is tremendous news,

38:68  yet you ignore it.

38:69  I had no knowledge of what those on high bicker about,

38:70  had it not been revealed to me. However, I am but a clear warner."

38:71  [So mention] when your Lord said to the angels, " I am going to create a human being from clay,

38:72  and when I have proportioned him and breathed of My spirit into him, then prostrate yourselves to him."

38:73  The angels prostrated, all of them together,

38:74  except Iblis ; he was arrogant and became a [rebel] who denied the truth.

38:75  [God] said, "Iblis , what prevented you from prostrating yourself to what I created with My hands? Is it your arrogance, or do you think that you are so high above all others?"

38:76  He said, "I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay."

38:77  [God] said, "Then be gone, you are expelled,

38:78  and My curse will follow you until the Day of Judgment."

38:79  [Iblis ] said, "My Lord, reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected."

38:80  [God] said, "You are reprieved

38:81  until the Day of the time well-known."

38:82  [Iblis] said, "By your might, I will mislead them all,

38:83  except for Your devoted worshipers among them."

38:84  [God] said, "This is the Truth, and the Truth do I speak:

38:85  I will fill Hell with you and those of them that follow you, all of you together."

38:86  SAY : " I ask from you no reward for this [message], and I am not one of those who claim to be what they are not.

38:87  This is no less than a reminder to all the worlds,

38:88  and you will come to grasp its significance in the fullness of time!"