| | N J Dawood (2014) rendition of Surah The Ant, The Ants(an-Naml)
--- |
|---|
| 27:1 | | Tā‘ sīn. These are the revelations of the Koran, a veritable Book |
| 27:2 | | a guide and joyful tidings to true-believers |
| 27:3 | | who attend to their prayers and render the alms levy and firmly believe in the life to come |
| 27:4 | | As for those that deny the life to come, We make their deeds seem fair to them, so that they blindly stray from the right path |
| 27:5 | | Such are those who shall be grievously punished and in the life to come lose most |
| 27:6 | | You have surely received the Koran from Himself, from Him who is wise and all-knowing |
| 27:7 | | Tell of Moses, who said to his people: ‘I can descry a fire. I will go and bring you news and a lighted torch to warm yourselves with.&lsquo |
| 27:8 | | And when he came near, a voice called out to him: ‘Blessed be He who is in the fire and all around it! Glory to God, Lord of the Universe |
| 27:9 | | Moses, I am God, the Almighty, the Wise One |
| 27:10 | | Throw down your staff.‘ And when he saw it slithering like a serpent, he turned and fled, without a backward glance. ‘Moses, do not be afraid,‘ said He. ‘My apostles are never afraid in My presence |
| 27:11 | | As for those who sin and then do good after evil, I am forgiving and compassionate |
| 27:12 | | Put your hand into your pocket. It will come out white, although unharmed. This is but one of the nine signs for Pharaoh and his people; surely they are sinful people |
| 27:13 | | But when Our visible signs did come to them, they said: ‘This is sorcery manifest.&lsquo |
| 27:14 | | They denied them in their wickedness and their pride, although their souls knew them to be true. Consider the fate of the evil-doers |
| 27:15 | | We bestowed knowledge on David and Solomon. The two said: ‘Praise be to God who has exalted us above many of His believing servants.&lsquo |
| 27:16 | | And Solomon succeeded David. He said: ‘Know, you people, we have been taught the tongue of birds and endowed with all good things. Surely this is the signal favour.&lsquo |
| 27:17 | | His forces of jinn and men and birds were called to Solomon‘s presence, and ranged in battle array |
| 27:18 | | When they came to the Valley of the Ants, an ant said: ‘Go into your dwellings, ants, lest Solomon and his warriors should unwittingly crush you |
| 27:19 | | He smiled, laughing at her words, and said: ‘Inspire me, Lord, to render thanks for the favours with which You have favoured me and my parents, and to do good works that will please You. Admit me, through Your mercy, among Your righteous servants.&lsquo |
| 27:20 | | He inspected the birds and said: ‘Why is it that I do not see the lapwing? Is he not here |
| 27:21 | | I shall grievously punish him or even slay him if he does not offer me a veritable excuse.&lsquo |
| 27:22 | | The bird, who was not long in coming, said: ‘Things have come to my knowledge that are unknown to you. With truthful news I come to you from Sheba |
| 27:23 | | where I found a woman reigning over them. She is possessed of every virtue and has a splendid throne |
| 27:24 | | I found that she and her subjects worship the sun instead of God. Satan has seduced them and debarred them from the right path, so that they might not be guide |
| 27:25 | | to the worship of God, who brings to light all that is hidden in the heavens and the earth and knows what you conceal and what you reveal |
| 27:26 | | God; there is no god but Him, the Lord of the Glorious Throne.&lsquo |
| 27:27 | | He said: ‘We shall soon see if what you say be true or false |
| 27:28 | | Go and deliver to them this message of mine. Then turn aside and wait their answer.&lsquo |
| 27:29 | | The Queen of Sheba said: ‘Know, my nobles, that I have received a gracious message |
| 27:30 | | It is from Solomon: "In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate |
| 27:31 | | Do not exalt yourselves above me, but come to me as Muslims. |
| 27:32 | | Nobles, let me hear your counsel, for I make no decision without your consent.&lsquo |
| 27:33 | | They said: ‘We are a valiant and mighty people. It is for you to decide; so consider what you should command.&lsquo |
| 27:34 | | She said: ‘When kings invade a city they ravage it and abase the mightiest of its people. These men will do the same |
| 27:35 | | But I shall send them a present and see with what reply the envoys will return.&lsquo |
| 27:36 | | And when her envoy came to Solomon, he said: ‘Is it gold that you would give me? That which God has bestowed on me is better than all the riches He has given you. Yet you glory in your gift |
| 27:37 | | Go back to them: we will march against them with forces they cannot oppose, and drive them from their land humbled and in abject submission.&lsquo |
| 27:38 | | And to his nobles he said: ‘Which of you will bring to me her throne, before they sue for peace?&lsquo |
| 27:39 | | An ifrit from among the jinn said: ‘I will bring it to you before you rise from your seat. I am strong enough and faithful.&lsquo |
| 27:40 | | But he who was deeply-versed in the Book,¹ said: ‘I will bring it to you in a twinkling of your eye.‘ And when he saw it set before him, he said: ‘This is a bounty from my Lord with which He would test my gratitude. He that gives thanks gives them for his own soul; but he who is ungrateful . . . All-sufficient and gracious is my Lord!&lsquo |
| 27:41 | | Then he said: ‘Let her throne be altered, so that we may see whether she will recognize it or be at a loss.&lsquo |
| 27:42 | | And when she came to Solomon, she was asked: ‘Is your throne like this?‘ And she said, ‘It looks as though it were the same.‘ He said: ‘Before her we were endowed with knowledge, and were assuredly Muslims |
| 27:43 | | Her false gods have debarred her, for she comes from an unbelieving people.&lsquo |
| 27:44 | | She was bidden to enter the palace; and when she saw it she thought it was a pool of water, and bared her legs. But Solomon said: ‘It is a palace paved with glass.‘ ‘Lord,‘ she said, ‘I have sinned against my own soul. Now I submit with Solomon to God, Lord of the Universe |
| 27:45 | | And to Thamūd We sent their kin Ṣālih. He said: ‘Serve none but God.‘ But they divided themselves into two discordant factions |
| 27:46 | | ‘My people,‘ he said, ‘why do you wish to hasten evil rather than good? If you seek forgiveness of God, you may be shown mercy.&lsquo |
| 27:47 | | They said: ‘We presage evil from you and from those who are with you.‘ He said: ‘The evil you presage can come only from God; you are a people put to the proof.&lsquo |
| 27:48 | | In the town there was a band of nine men, who did evil in the land and nothing that was good |
| 27:49 | | They said: ‘Let us swear in the name of God to kill him in the night, together with all his household. And we will say to his next of kin: "We did not witness his family‘s murder. It is the truth we are telling."&lsquo |
| 27:50 | | Thus they plotted: but We too plotted, while they were unaware |
| 27:51 | | And behold the consequence of their plot! We destroyed them utterly, together with their people all |
| 27:52 | | Because they sinned, their dwellings are desolate ruins. Surely in this there is a sign for prudent people |
| 27:53 | | And We delivered the true believers and those who kept from evil |
| 27:54 | | And tell of Lot. He said to his people: ‘Do you commit lewdness with your eyes open |
| 27:55 | | lustfully seeking men instead of women? Surely you are an ignorant people.&lsquo |
| 27:56 | | Yet this was his people‘s only reply: ‘Banish the house of Lot from your city. They are people who would keep themselves chaste.&lsquo |
| 27:57 | | So We delivered him and all his household, except his wife, whom We caused to stay behind, |
| 27:58 | | and pelted the others with pouring rain; and evil was the rain which fell on those who were forewarned |
| 27:59 | | Say: ‘Praise be to God, and peace upon His servants whom He has chosen! Who is more worthy, God or the idols they serve besides Him |
| 27:60 | | He who created the heavens and the earth and sent down water from the sky for you, bringing forth gardens of delight. Try as you may, you cannot cause such trees to grow.‘ Another god besides God? Yet they make other deities His equals |
| 27:61 | | He who has established the earth and watered it with running rivers; who has set mountains upon it and placed a barrier between the two seas?¹ Another god besides God? Indeed, the greater part of them have no knowledge |
| 27:62 | | He who answers the oppressed when they cry out to Him, and relieves their affliction? He who has given you the earth to inherit? Another god besides God? How little you reflect |
| 27:63 | | He who guides you in the darkness of land and sea, and sends the winds as harbingers of His mercy? Another god besides God? Exalted be He above their idols |
| 27:64 | | He who brought the Creation into being and will then restore it; who gives you sustenance from heaven and earth? Another god besides God? Say: ‘Give us your proof, if what you say be true!&lsquo |
| 27:65 | | Say: ‘No one in the heavens or on earth has knowledge of what is hidden except God. Nor shall they ever know when they will be raised to life.&lsquo |
| 27:66 | | Have they attained a knowledge of the life to come? By no means! They are in doubt about it and their eyes are sealed |
| 27:67 | | And the unbelievers say: ‘When we and our fathers are turned to dust, shall we be raised to life? |
| 27:68 | | We were promised this once before, we and our fathers. It is but a fable of the ancients.&lsquo |
| 27:69 | | Say: ‘Roam the earth and see what was the fate of the transgressors.&lsquo |
| 27:70 | | Do not grieve for them, nor be distressed at their intrigues |
| 27:71 | | And they say: ‘When will this promise be fulfilled, if what you say be true?&lsquo |
| 27:72 | | Say: ‘A part of what you challenge may well be near at hand.&lsquo |
| 27:73 | | Surely your Lord is bountiful to mankind: yet most of them do not give thanks |
| 27:74 | | Your Lord surely knows what their bosoms hide and what they say in public |
| 27:75 | | There is no secret in heaven or earth but is recorded in a veritable book |
| 27:76 | | Surely this Koran expounds to the Israelites most of that over which they disagree |
| 27:77 | | It is surely a guide and a blessing to true believers |
| 27:78 | | Your Lord will rightly judge them. He is the Almighty, the All-knowing |
| 27:79 | | Therefore put your trust in God; yours is surely the path to the veritable Truth |
| 27:80 | | You cannot make the dead hear you, nor can you make the deaf hear your call if they turn their backs and pay no heed |
| 27:81 | | nor can you guide the blind out of their error. None shall give ear to you save those who believe in Our revelations and have become Muslims |
| 27:82 | | On the day when the Judgement smites them, We will bring out from the earth a monster that shall speak to them. Truly, people had no faith in Our revelations |
| 27:83 | | On that day We shall herd from each community a multitude of those who disbelieved Our revelations. They shall be led in separate bands |
| 27:84 | | and, when they come, He will say: ‘You denied My revelations although you knew nothing about them. What was it you were doing?&lsquo |
| 27:85 | | The Judgement will smite them in their sins, and they shall be dumbfounded |
| 27:86 | | Do they not see how We have made the night for them to rest in, and the day to give them light? Surely there are signs in this for true believers |
| 27:87 | | On that day the Trumpet shall be blown and all who dwell in the heavens and on earth shall be seized with consternation, except for those whom God will choose to spare. And all shall come to Him in utter humility |
| 27:88 | | The mountains, solid though you may think them, will pass by as the clouds pass by. Such is the handiwork of God, who has perfected all things. He surely has full knowledge of what you do |
| 27:89 | | Those that come with a good deed shall have what is better, and from the terrors of that day they shall be secure |
| 27:90 | | But those that come with a vile deed shall be hurled headlong into the Fire. Shall you not be rewarded according only to your deeds |
| 27:91 | | I am commanded to serve the Lord of this City, which He has made sacred. All things are His. And I am commanded to be a Muslim, and to proclaim the Koran |
| 27:92 | | He that takes the right path shall take it for the good of his own soul. And to him who strays from the right path, say: ‘I am only to give warning.&lsquo |
| 27:93 | | And say: ‘Praise be to God! He will show you His signs and you will recognize them. Your Lord is never heedless of what you do.&lsquo |
