38:1  ?ad. By the Quran possessed of remembrance

38:2  Nay, but those who disbelieve are in vainglory and schism

38:3  How many a generation before them have We destroyed? And they called out when the time for escape had passed

38:4  Now they marvel that a warner from among themselves has come unto them, and the disbelievers say, “This is a lying sorcerer

38:5  Has he made the gods one God? Truly this is an astounding thing!

38:6  And the notables among them set out, [saying], “Go! Be steadfast to your gods. Truly this is a thing desired

38:7  We did not hear of this in the creed of latter days. This is naught but an invention

38:8  Has the Reminder been sent down upon him among all of us?” Nay, but they are in doubt regarding My Reminder! Nay, they have not yet tasted My Punishment

38:9  Or have they the treasuries of thy Lord’s Mercy, the Mighty, the Bestower

38:10  Or have they sovereignty over the heavens and the earth and whatsoever is between them? Then let them ascend by some means

38:11  a host among the parties yonder routed

38:12  The people of Noah denied before them, as did ?Ad and Pharaoh of the tent poles

38:13  Thamud, the people of Lot, and the inhabitants of the thicket; they are the parties

38:14  Each of them did naught but deny the messengers; so My Retribution came due

38:15  They await naught but a single cry for which there is no delay

38:16  And they say, “Our Lord, hasten our share unto us before the Day of Reckoning.

38:17  Bear patiently that which they say, and remember Our servant David, possessed of might; truly he turned oft [unto God]

38:18  Truly We compelled the mountains to join him in glorifying at eventide and at the break of day

38:19  And the birds gathered, each turning oft unto Him

38:20  And We strengthened his sovereignty and gave him wisdom and decisive speech

38:21  Has the report of the dispute come unto thee, when they scaled the sanctuary

38:22  When they entered upon David, he was frightened of them. They said, “Fear not! We are two disputants: one of us has transgressed against the other; so judge between us with truth. Be not unjust, and guide us unto the right path

38:23  Behold, this, my brother, has ninety-nine ewes, and I have one ewe. Yet he has said, ‘Place her under my care,’ and has overpowered me in speech.

38:24  He said, “He has indeed wronged you in asking that your ewe be added to his ewes. Truly many associates transgress against one another, save those who believe and perform righteous deeds. Yet how few are they!” And David understood that We had tried him; so he sought forgiveness from his Lord, fell down kneeling, and repented

38:25  Thus did We forgive him that. Truly nearness unto Us shall be his, and a beautiful return

38:26  O David! Truly We have appointed thee as a vicegerent upon the earth; so judge among the people with truth and follow not caprice, lest it lead thee astray from the way of God. Truly those who stray from the way of God, theirs shall be a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Reckoning

38:27  And We did not create Heaven and earth and whatsoever is between them in vain; that is the conjecture of those who disbelieve. So woe unto those who disbelieve in the Fire

38:28  Or shall We make those who believe and perform righteous deeds like those who work corruption upon the earth? Or shall We make the reverent like the profligate

38:29  A blessed Book that We have sent down upon thee, that they may contemplate His signs and that those possessed of intellect may reflect

38:30  And We bestowed Solomon upon David; how excellent a servant! Truly he turned oft [unto God]

38:31  When at eventide noble steeds swift of foot were displayed before him

38:32  he said, “I have loved the love of good things over the remembrance of my Lord, until [the sun] was taken behind the veil

38:33  Bring them back unto me!” Then he began to stroke their legs and necks

38:34  And We did indeed try Solomon, and We cast a corpse upon his throne. He then repented

38:35  saying, “My Lord, forgive me and bestow a kingdom upon me such as shall not befit anyone after me. Truly Thou art the Bestower.

38:36  So We made the wind subservient unto him, coursing gently by his command whither he wished

38:37  as well as the satans, every builder and diver

38:38  and others, bound together in fetters

38:39  “This is Our Gift; so bestow graciously or withhold without reckoning.

38:40  Truly nearness unto Us shall be his, and a beautiful return

38:41  And remember Our servant Job, when he called upon his Lord, “Truly Satan has afflicted me with weariness and punishment.

38:42  “Strike with thy foot; this is cool water wherewith to wash and to drink.

38:43  And We bestowed upon him his family and their like along with them as a mercy from Us and a reminder for possessors of intellect

38:44  And, “Take with thy hand a bundle of rushes and strike therewith, and break not thine oath.” Truly We found him to be steadfast. What an excellent servant! Truly he turned oft [unto God]

38:45  And remember Our servants Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, possessed of strength and sight

38:46  Truly We purified them with that which is pure—remembrance of the Abode

38:47  And truly in Our Sight they are among the chosen, the elect

38:48  And remember Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhu’l-Kifl; each is among the excellent

38:49  This is a reminder. And for the reverent there will surely be a beautiful return

38:50  Gardens of Eden, the gates whereof are open unto them

38:51  reclining therein, they call therein for abundant fruit and drink

38:52  And theirs shall be maidens of modest gaze, of like age

38:53  This is that which you are promised for the Day of Reckoning

38:54  This indeed is Our provision which shall never be spent

38:55  This it shall be! Yet for the rebellious there will surely be a most evil return

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

38:57  This it shall be! So let them taste it, a boiling liquid and a cold, murky fluid

38:58  coupled with other [punishments] similar in kind

38:59  This troop rushing in with you—no greeting for them! They will surely burn in the Fire

38:60  They will say, “Nay, but no greeting for you! You have sent it forth for us. What an evil dwelling place!”

38:61  They will say, “O Lord! Whosoever has sent this forth for us, increase him twofold in punishment in the Fire.

38:62  And they will say, “How is that we do not see men here whom we had counted among the evil

38:63  Did we take them in mockery? Or have our eyes swerved away from them?

38:64  Surely that is true: the disputing of the people of the Fire

38:65  Say, “I am only a warner, and there is no god but God, the One, the Paramount

38:66  Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatsoever is between them, the Mighty, the Forgiving.

38:67  Say, “It is a great tidin

38:68  from which you turn away

38:69  I have no knowledge of the Highest Assembly, when they dispute

38:70  Naught is revealed unto me but that I am only a clear warner.

38:71  [Remember] when thy Lord said unto the angels, “Behold! I am creating a human being from clay

38:72  When I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My Spirit, fall down before him prostrating.

38:73  Then the angels prostrated, all of them together

38:74  Not so Iblis. He waxed arrogant, and was among the disbelievers

38:75  [God] said, “O Iblis! What has prevented thee from prostrating unto that which I created with My two Hands? Dost thou wax arrogant, or art thou among the exalted?

38:76  He said, “I am better than him. Thou hast created me from fire, while Thou hast created him from clay.

38:77  He said, “Go forth from it! Surely thou art outcast

38:78  And surely My Curse shall be upon thee till the Day of Judgment.

38:79  He said, “My Lord! Grant me respite till the Day they are resurrected.

38:80  He said, “Then verily thou art among those granted respit

38:81  till the Day of the Moment Known.

38:82  He said, “Then, by Thy Might, I shall cause them to err all together

38:83  save Thy sincere servants among them.

38:84  He said, “This is the truth, and the truth I speak

38:85  ‘I shall surely fill Hell with thee and with such of them as follow thee, all together.’

38:86  Say, “I ask not of you any reward for it, nor am I among the pretenders

38:87  It is naught but a reminder for the worlds

38:88  and you will certainly know its tiding after a time.