| | Rashad Khalifa rendition of Surah The Poets(ash-Shu`ara`)
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| 26:1 | | T. S. M. (Ta, Seen, Mim) |
| 26:2 | | These (letters) constitute proofs of this clarifying scripture. |
| 26:3 | | You may blame yourself that they are not believers. |
| 26:4 | | If we will, we can send from the sky a sign that forces their necks to bow. |
| 26:5 | | Whenever a reminder from the Most Gracious comes to them, that is new, they turn away in aversion. |
| 26:6 | | Since they disbelieved, they have incurred the consequences of their heedlessness. |
| 26:7 | | Have they not seen the earth, and how many kinds of beautiful plants we have grown thereon? |
| 26:8 | | This should be a sufficient proof for them, but most of them are not believers. |
| 26:9 | | Most assuredly, your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful. |
| 26:10 | | Recall that your Lord called Moses: "Go to the transgressing people. |
| 26:11 | | "Pharaoh's people; perhaps they reform." |
| 26:12 | | He said, "My Lord, I fear lest they disbelieve me. |
| 26:13 | | "I may lose my temper. My tongue gets tied; send for my brother Aaron. |
| 26:14 | | "Also, they consider me a fugitive; I fear lest they kill me." |
| 26:15 | | He said, "No, (they will not). Go with My proofs. We will be with you, listening. |
| 26:16 | | "Go to Pharaoh and say, `We are messengers from the Lord of the universe.' |
| 26:17 | | " `Let the Children of Israel go.' " |
| 26:18 | | He said, "Did we not raise you from infancy, and you spent many years with us? |
| 26:19 | | "Then you committed the crime that you committed, and you were ungrateful." |
| 26:20 | | He said, "Indeed, I did it when I was astray. |
| 26:21 | | "Then I fled, when I feared you, and my Lord endowed me with wisdom and made me one of the messengers. |
| 26:22 | | "You are boasting that you did me a favor, while enslaving the Children of Israel!" |
| 26:23 | | Pharaoh said, "What is the Lord of the universe?" |
| 26:24 | | He said, "The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and everything between them. You should be certain about this." |
| 26:25 | | He said to those around him, "Did you hear this?" |
| 26:26 | | He said, "Your Lord and the Lord of your ancestors." |
| 26:27 | | He said, "Your messenger who is sent to you is crazy." |
| 26:28 | | He said, "The Lord of the east and the west, and everything between them, if you understand." |
| 26:29 | | He said, "If you accept any god, other than me, I will throw you in the prison." |
| 26:30 | | He said, "What if I show you something profound?" |
| 26:31 | | He said, "Then produce it, if you are truthful." |
| 26:32 | | He then threw his staff, whereupon it became a profound snake. |
| 26:33 | | And he took out his hand, and it was white to the beholders. |
| 26:34 | | He said to the elders around him, "This is an experienced magician. |
| 26:35 | | "He wants to take you out of your land, with his magic. What do you suggest?" |
| 26:36 | | They said, "Respite him and his brother, and send summoners to every town. |
| 26:37 | | "Let them summon every experienced magician." |
| 26:38 | | The magicians were gathered at the appointed time, on the appointed day. |
| 26:39 | | The people were told: "Come one and all; let us gather together here. |
| 26:40 | | "Maybe we will follow the magicians, if they are the winners." |
| 26:41 | | When the magicians came, they said to Pharaoh, "Do we get paid, if we are the winners?" |
| 26:42 | | He said, "Yes indeed; you will even be close to me." |
| 26:43 | | Moses said to them "Throw what you are going to throw." |
| 26:44 | | They threw their ropes and sticks, and said, "By Pharaoh's majesty, we will be the victors." |
| 26:45 | | Moses threw his staff, whereupon it swallowed what they fabricated. |
| 26:46 | | The magicians fell prostrate. |
| 26:47 | | They said, "We believe in the Lord of the universe. |
| 26:48 | | "The Lord of Moses and Aaron." |
| 26:49 | | He said, "Did you believe with him before I give you permission? He must be your teacher, who taught you magic. You will surely find out. I will sever your hands and feet on alternate sides. I will crucify you all." |
| 26:50 | | They said, "This will not change our decision; to our Lord we will return. |
| 26:51 | | "We hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins, especially that we are the first believers." |
| 26:52 | | We inspired Moses: "Travel with My servants; you will be pursued." |
| 26:53 | | Pharaoh sent to the cities callers. |
| 26:54 | | (Proclaiming,) "This is a small gang. |
| 26:55 | | "They are now opposing us. |
| 26:56 | | "Let us all beware of them." |
| 26:57 | | Consequently, we deprived them of gardens and springs. |
| 26:58 | | And treasures and an honorable position. |
| 26:59 | | Then we made it an inheritance for the Children of Israel. |
| 26:60 | | They pursued them towards the east. |
| 26:61 | | When both parties saw each other, Moses' people said, "We will be caught." |
| 26:62 | | He said, "No way. My Lord is with me; He will guide me." |
| 26:63 | | We then inspired Moses: "Strike the sea with your staff," whereupon it parted. Each part was like a great hill. |
| 26:64 | | We then delivered them all. |
| 26:65 | | We thus saved Moses and all those who were with him. |
| 26:66 | | And we drowned the others. |
| 26:67 | | This should be a sufficient proof, but most people are not believers. |
| 26:68 | | Most assuredly, your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful. |
| 26:69 | | Narrate to them Abraham's history. |
| 26:70 | | He said to his father and his people, "What is this you are worshiping?" |
| 26:71 | | They said, "We worship statues; we are totally devoted to them." |
| 26:72 | | He said, "Can they hear you when you implore? |
| 26:73 | | "Can they benefit you, or harm you?" |
| 26:74 | | They said, "No; but we found our parents doing this." |
| 26:75 | | He said, "Do you see these idols that you worship. |
| 26:76 | | "You and your ancestors. |
| 26:77 | | "I am against them, for I am devoted only to the Lord of the universe. |
| 26:78 | | "The One who created me, and guided me. |
| 26:79 | | "The One who feeds me and waters me. |
| 26:80 | | "And when I get sick, He heals me. |
| 26:81 | | "The One who puts me to death, then brings me back to life. |
| 26:82 | | "The One who hopefully will forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment. |
| 26:83 | | "My Lord, grant me wisdom, and include me with the righteous. |
| 26:84 | | "Let the example I set for the future generations be a good one. |
| 26:85 | | "Make me one of the inheritors of the blissful Paradise. |
| 26:86 | | "And forgive my father, for he has gone astray. |
| 26:87 | | "And do not forsake me on the Day of Resurrection." |
| 26:88 | | That is the day when neither money, nor children, can help. |
| 26:89 | | Only those who come to GOD with their whole heart (will be saved). |
| 26:90 | | Paradise will be presented to the righteous. |
| 26:91 | | Hell will be set up for the strayers. |
| 26:92 | | They will be asked, "Where are the idols you had worshiped |
| 26:93 | | "beside GOD? Can they help you now? Can they help themselves?" |
| 26:94 | | They will be thrown therein, together with the strayers. |
| 26:95 | | And all of Satan's soldiers. |
| 26:96 | | They will say as they feud therein, |
| 26:97 | | "By GOD, we were far astray. |
| 26:98 | | "How could we set you up to rank with the Lord of the universe? |
| 26:99 | | "Those who misled us were wicked. |
| 26:100 | | "Now we have no intercessors. |
| 26:101 | | "Nor a single close friend. |
| 26:102 | | "If only we could get another chance, we would then believe." |
| 26:103 | | This should be a good lesson. But most people are not believers. |
| 26:104 | | Your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful. |
| 26:105 | | The people of Noah disbelieved the messengers. |
| 26:106 | | Their brother Noah said to them, "Would you not be righteous? |
| 26:107 | | "I am an honest messenger to you. |
| 26:108 | | "You shall reverence GOD and obey me. |
| 26:109 | | "I do not ask you for any wage. My wage comes from the Lord of the universe. |
| 26:110 | | "You shall reverence GOD and obey me." |
| 26:111 | | They said, "How can we believe with you, when the worst among us have followed you?" |
| 26:112 | | He said, "How do I know what they did? |
| 26:113 | | "Their judgment rests only with my Lord, if you could perceive. |
| 26:114 | | "I will never dismiss the believers. |
| 26:115 | | "I am no more than a clarifying warner." |
| 26:116 | | They said, "Unless you refrain, O Noah, you will be stoned." |
| 26:117 | | He said, "My Lord, my people have disbelieved me. |
| 26:118 | | "Grant me victory against them, and deliver me and my company of believers." |
| 26:119 | | We delivered him and those who accompanied him in the loaded ark. |
| 26:120 | | Then we drowned the others. |
| 26:121 | | This should be a lesson, but most people are not believers. |
| 26:122 | | Most assuredly, your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful. |
| 26:123 | | `Aad disbelieved the messengers. |
| 26:124 | | Their brother Hood said to them, "Would you not be righteous? |
| 26:125 | | "I am an honest messenger to you. |
| 26:126 | | "You shall reverence GOD, and obey me. |
| 26:127 | | "I do not ask you for any wage; my wage comes from the Lord of the universe. |
| 26:128 | | "You build on every hill a mansion for vanity's sake. |
| 26:129 | | "You set up buildings as if you last forever. |
| 26:130 | | "And when you strike, you strike mercilessly. |
| 26:131 | | "You shall reverence GOD and obey me. |
| 26:132 | | "Reverence the One who provided you with all the things you know. |
| 26:133 | | "He provided you with livestock and children. |
| 26:134 | | "And gardens and springs. |
| 26:135 | | "I fear for you the retribution of an awesome day." |
| 26:136 | | They said, "It is the same whether you preach, or do not preach. |
| 26:137 | | "That affliction was limited to our ancestors. |
| 26:138 | | "No retribution will ever befall us." |
| 26:139 | | They thus disbelieved and, consequently, we annihilated them. This should be a lesson, but most people are not believers. |
| 26:140 | | Most assuredly, your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful. |
| 26:141 | | Thamoud disbelieved the messengers. |
| 26:142 | | Their brother Saaleh said to them, "Would you not be righteous? |
| 26:143 | | "I am an honest messenger to you. |
| 26:144 | | "You shall reverence GOD, and obey me. |
| 26:145 | | "I do not ask you for any wage; my wage comes only from the Lord of the universe. |
| 26:146 | | "Do you suppose you will be left forever, secure in this state? |
| 26:147 | | "You enjoy gardens and springs. |
| 26:148 | | "And crops and date palms with delicious fruits. |
| 26:149 | | "You carve out of the mountains luxurious mansions. |
| 26:150 | | "You shall reverence GOD, and obey me. |
| 26:151 | | "Do not obey the transgressors. |
| 26:152 | | "Who commit evil, not good works." |
| 26:153 | | They said, "You are bewitched. |
| 26:154 | | "You are no more than a human like us. Produce a miracle, if you are truthful." |
| 26:155 | | He said, "Here is a camel that will drink only on a day that is assigned to her; a day that is different from your specified days of drinking. |
| 26:156 | | "Do not touch her with any harm, lest you incur retribution on an awesome day." |
| 26:157 | | They slaughtered her, and thus incurred sorrow. |
| 26:158 | | The retribution overwhelmed them. This should be a lesson, but most people are not believers. |
| 26:159 | | Most assuredly, your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful. |
| 26:160 | | The people of Lot disbelieved the messengers. |
| 26:161 | | Their brother Lot said to them, "Would you not be righteous? |
| 26:162 | | "I am an honest messenger to you. |
| 26:163 | | "You shall reverence GOD, and obey me. |
| 26:164 | | "I do not ask you for any wage; my wage comes only from the Lord of the universe. |
| 26:165 | | "Do you have sex with the males, of all the people? |
| 26:166 | | "You forsake the wives that your Lord has created for you! Indeed, you are transgressing people." |
| 26:167 | | They said, "Unless you refrain, O Lot, you will be banished." |
| 26:168 | | He said, "I deplore your actions." |
| 26:169 | | "My Lord, save me and my family from their works." |
| 26:170 | | We saved him and all his family. |
| 26:171 | | But not the old woman; she was doomed. |
| 26:172 | | We then destroyed the others. |
| 26:173 | | We showered them with a miserable shower; what a terrible shower for those who had been warned! |
| 26:174 | | This should be a lesson, but most people are not believers. |
| 26:175 | | Most assuredly, your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful. |
| 26:176 | | The People of the Woods disbelieved the messengers. |
| 26:177 | | Shu`aib said to them, "Would you not be righteous? |
| 26:178 | | "I am an honest messenger to you. |
| 26:179 | | "You shall reverence GOD, and obey me. |
| 26:180 | | "I do not ask you for any wage; my wage comes only from the Lord of the universe. |
| 26:181 | | "You shall give full measure when you trade; do not cheat. |
| 26:182 | | "You shall weigh with an equitable scale. |
| 26:183 | | "Do not cheat the people out of their rights, and do not roam the earth corruptingly. |
| 26:184 | | "Reverence the One who created you and the previous generations." |
| 26:185 | | They said, "You are bewitched. |
| 26:186 | | "You are no more than a human being like us. In fact, we think you are a liar. |
| 26:187 | | "Let masses from the sky fall on us, if you are truthful." |
| 26:188 | | He said, "My Lord is the One who knows everything you do." |
| 26:189 | | They disbelieved him and, consequently, they incurred the retribution of the Day of the Canopy. It was the retribution of an awesome day. |
| 26:190 | | This should be a lesson, but most people are not believers. |
| 26:191 | | Most assuredly, your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful. |
| 26:192 | | This is a revelation from the Lord of the universe. |
| 26:193 | | The Honest Spirit (Gabriel) came down with it. |
| 26:194 | | To reveal it into your heart, that you may be one of the warners. |
| 26:195 | | In a perfect Arabic tongue. |
| 26:196 | | It has been prophesied in the books of previous generations. |
| 26:197 | | Is it not a sufficient sign for them that it was known to the scholars among the Children of Israel? |
| 26:198 | | If we revealed this to people who do not know Arabic. |
| 26:199 | | And had him recite it (in Arabic), they could not possibly believe in it. |
| 26:200 | | We thus render it (like a foreign language) in the hearts of the guilty. |
| 26:201 | | Thus, they cannot believe in it; not until they see the painful retribution. |
| 26:202 | | It will come to them suddenly, when they least expect it. |
| 26:203 | | They will then say, "Can we have a respite?" |
| 26:204 | | Did they not challenge our retribution? |
| 26:205 | | As you see, we allowed them to enjoy for years. |
| 26:206 | | Then the retribution came to them, just as promised. |
| 26:207 | | Their vast resources did not help them in the least. |
| 26:208 | | We never annihilate any community without sending warners. |
| 26:209 | | Therefore, this is a reminder, for we are never unjust. |
| 26:210 | | The devils can never reveal this. |
| 26:211 | | They neither would, nor could. |
| 26:212 | | For they are prevented from hearing. |
| 26:213 | | Therefore, do not idolize beside GOD any other god, lest you incur the retribution. |
| 26:214 | | You shall preach to the people who are closest to you. |
| 26:215 | | And lower your wing for the believers who follow you. |
| 26:216 | | If they disobey you, then say, "I disown what you do." |
| 26:217 | | And put your trust in the Almighty, Most Merciful. |
| 26:218 | | Who sees you when you meditate during the night. |
| 26:219 | | And your frequent prostrations. |
| 26:220 | | He is the Hearer, the Omniscient. |
| 26:221 | | Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend? |
| 26:222 | | They descend upon every guilty fabricator. |
| 26:223 | | They pretend to listen, but most of them are liars. |
| 26:224 | | As for the poets, they are followed only by the strayers. |
| 26:225 | | Do you not see that their loyalty shifts according to the situation? |
| 26:226 | | And that they say what they do not do? |
| 26:227 | | Exempted are those who believe, lead a righteous life, commemorate GOD frequently, and stand up for their rights. Surely, the transgressors will find out what their ultimate destiny is. |
