| | Linda “iLHam” Barto rendition of Surah The Spider(al-`Ankabut)
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| 29:1 | | Alif. Lam. Meem. |
| 29:2 | | Do people think that, simply because they say, “We believe,” they will not be tested? |
| 29:3 | | We tested others before them, and Allah recognizes those who are true, and He recognizes those who are false. |
| 29:4 | | Do those who practice evil think that they will defeat Us? How badly they judge! |
| 29:5 | | Whoever hopes for the meeting with Allah, the time is surely coming. Allah is the All-hearing, the All-knowing. |
| 29:6 | | Whoever strives does so for his/her own benefit, for Allah is independent from all creation. |
| 29:7 | | From those who believe and perform deeds of righteousness, We shall blot away their sins. We shall reward them according to the best of their deeds. |
| 29:8 | | We have instructed people to show kindness to parents. If (parents) try to force you to join, with Me, anything of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them [in that]. You have to return to Me, and I will tell you everything you did. |
| 29:9 | | Those who believe and live righteously will be admitted by Us into the company of the righteous. |
| 29:10 | | Among people are some who say, “We believe in Allah.” When they are persecuted for Allah, however, they treat people’s persecution as if it were the wrath of Allah. If help comes from your Lord, they are sure to say, “We have always been with you.” Doesn’t Allah know best all that is in the hearts of the worlds? |
| 29:11 | | Allah most certainly recognizes those who believe just as certainly as those who are hypocrites. |
| 29:12 | | The unbelievers say to the believers, “Follow our way, and we will take responsibility for your actions.” They will never –not in the least— take responsibility for their actions. In fact, they are liars. |
| 29:13 | | They will bear their own burdens as well as the burdens of others [whom they misled]. On the Day of Resurrection, they will be called to account for their lies. |
| 29:14 | | We certainly sent Noah to his people. He lived among them a thousand years minus fifty. The flood overcame them while they were sinners. |
| 29:15 | | We saved him and the companions of the ark. We made it a sign for all peoples. |
| 29:16 | | [Remember] Abraham who said to his people, “Worship Allah and fear Him. That would be best for you if you understand. |
| 29:17 | | You worship idols instead of Allah, and you invent pretenses. The things you worship instead of Allah have no power to give you sustenance. Seek sustenance from Allah. Serve Him and be grateful to Him. Your return will be to Him. |
| 29:18 | | If you reject, so did generations before you. The duty of the messenger is only to preach clearly. |
| 29:19 | | Do they not see how Allah originates creation and then repeats it? That is truly easy for Allah. |
| 29:20 | | Say, “Travel through the land and see how He originated creation. Allah will produce a later creation like it. Allah truly has power over everything. |
| 29:21 | | “He punishes whom He pleases and grants mercy to whom He pleases. You will be returned to Him. |
| 29:22 | | “You cannot escape [from Allah’s will] on Earth or in Heaven. You will have no one to protect or help you besides Allah.” |
| 29:23 | | As for those who reject the signs of Allah and the meeting with Him, they will despair of My mercy. They will have a horrible punishment. |
| 29:24 | | No answer was given by (Abraham’s) people, except that they said, “Kill him or burn him.” Allah saved him from the fire. Truly, in this are signs for people who believe. |
| 29:25 | | (Abraham) said, “You have chosen idols instead of Allah for worship. [You did this] out of mutual love concerning the life of this world. On the Day of Resurrection, however, you will disown each other and curse each other. Your home will be the fire. You will have no one to help.” |
| 29:26 | | Lot [Abraham’s nephew] had faith in him. He said, “I will leave for my Lord. He is truly the Victorious, the Perfectly Wise.” |
| 29:27 | | We gave Isaac and Jacob to (Abraham). We ordained the gifts of prophecy and revelation among his descendants. We granted him his reward in this life, and he truly was among the righteous in the hereafter. |
| 29:28 | | [Remember] Lot who said to his people, “You surely commit lewd acts such as no people in creation before you have committed. |
| 29:29 | | “You indeed accost men and block the roads. You practice wickedness in your assemblies.” His people gave him no answer except to say, “Bring us the wrath of Allah if you are telling the truth.” |
| 29:30 | | He said, “My Lord, help me against people who sin.” |
| 29:31 | | When Our messengers came to Abraham with the good news, they said, “We are indeed going to destroy the people of that land. Truly, they are addicted to sin.” |
| 29:32 | | He said, “But Lot is there.” They said, “We know quite well who is there. We will certainly save him and his family, except his wife. She is among those who will stay behind.” |
| 29:33 | | When Our messengers came to Lot, he was stressed because of them. He was worried and felt powerless for them. They said, “Fear not and don’t be worried. We will certainly save you and your family, except your wife. She is among those who will stay behind. |
| 29:34 | | “We are certainly going to bring punishment from the sky down upon the people of this land, because they have been rebelliously wicked.” |
| 29:35 | | We have left it as an evident sign for any people who think. |
| 29:36 | | To the Midian, their brother Jethro said, “O my people, worship Allah and await the last day. Do not commit evil on the land as corrupters.” |
| 29:37 | | They rejected him. The earthquake seized them, and they lay [dead] in their homes. |
| 29:38 | | [Remember] the Ad and the Thamud. Their [ruined] buildings will clearly show you. Satan made their deeds seem appealing to them. [He] kept them from the path, although they were gifted with intelligence and skill. |
| 29:39 | | [Remember] Korah, Pharaoh, and Haman. Moses came to them with evident signs, but they behaved arrogantly on the land; yet they could not overcome. |
| 29:40 | | We seized each one of them because of his crime. Against some, We sent a violent tornado. Some were caught by a blast. For some, We caused the earth to swallow them. Some We drowned. It was not Allah who injured them. They injured themselves. |
| 29:41 | | The parable of those who take protectors other than Allah is that of the spider who builds its house. Truly, the spider’s house is the flimsiest home, if they only could understand. |
| 29:42 | | Truly, Allah knows whatever they call upon besides Him. He is Victorious, Perfectly Wise. |
| 29:43 | | Such are the parables We present for humanity, but only those with wisdom will understand them. |
| 29:44 | | Allah created the skies and Earth in truth. Truly, in that is a sign for believers. |
| 29:45 | | Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to you. Establish ritual prayer, because prayer truly causes restraint from shameful and unjust deeds. Remembrance of Allah is surely the greatest. Allah knows all that you do. |
| 29:46 | | Do not argue with the people of the Book except with a better attitude, unless it is with those who intend harm. Say, “We believe in the revelation that has come to us and in that which has come to you. Our God and your God are the same. We submit to Him.” |
| 29:47 | | Thus We have sent down the Book to you. Those to whom we gave the Book believe in it. Among these [people here] are some who believe in it. Only unbelievers reject Our signs. |
| 29:48 | | You were unable to recite a book before this. Also, you are not able to write it with your own hand. In that case, the doubting would have intensified. |
| 29:49 | | Here are signs self-evident in the hearts of those endowed with knowledge. Only the sinners reject Our signs. |
| 29:50 | | Yet, they say, “Why are signs not sent down to him from his Lord?” Say, “The signs are only with Allah. I am only a clear warner.” |
| 29:51 | | Is it not enough for them that We have sent down to you the Book that is recited to them? Truly, in it are mercy and a reminder to the believers. |
| 29:52 | | Say, “Allah is enough for a witness between me and you. He knows what is in the skies and on Earth. Those who believe in vanities and reject Allah are those who will perish.” |
| 29:53 | | They ask you to hurry the punishment. If it had not been for an appointed term, the punishment would certainly have come to them. It will certainly come upon them suddenly when they are not expecting it. |
| 29:54 | | They ask to hurry the punishment, but truly, Hell will encompass the unbelievers. |
| 29:55 | | On the day that punishment covers them from above and below their feet, He will say, “Taste your deeds.” |
| 29:56 | | O my believing servants, truly spacious is My Earth; therefore, worship Me. |
| 29:57 | | Every soul will taste death, and then you will return to Us. |
| 29:58 | | To those who believe and perform righteous deeds, We will give a place in Paradise. [It will have] mansions and underground rivers. They will dwell there forever. It is an excellent reward for those who perform. |
| 29:59 | | [They are servants] who are patient and place their trust in their Lord! |
| 29:60 | | How many creatures do not provide their own sustenance? Allah feeds them and you. He is All-hearing, the All-knowing. |
| 29:61 | | If you ask them who has created the skies and Earth and subjected the sun and the moon, they will certainly reply, “Allah!” How are they then deluded? |
| 29:62 | | Allah enlarges the sustenance to whomever of His servants He pleases, and He grants by measure. Truly, Allah is the All-knowing over everything. |
| 29:63 | | If you ask them who it is that sends rain down from the sky and with it gives life to a dead earth, they will certainly reply, “Allah!” Say, “Praise to Allah!” Most of them, however, do not understand. |
| 29:64 | | The life of this world is only amusement and entertainment. Truly the home of the hereafter is [real] life, if they only knew. |
| 29:65 | | If they embark on a boat, they call on Allah, making their devotion exclusively to Him. Then after He has delivered them safely to shore, they allocate praise to others. |
| 29:66 | | They are ungrateful for Our gifts and yield to leisurely pursuits. Soon they will realize. |
| 29:67 | | Don’t they know that We have made a safe sanctuary and that people are being snatched from their environments? They believe in what is vain and reject the grace of Allah. |
| 29:68 | | Who does more wrong than the one who invents a lie against Allah or rejects the truth when it reaches him/her? Is there not a home in Hell for those who reject faith? |
| 29:69 | | As for those who strive in Our cause, We will certainly guide them to Our paths. Truly, Allah is with those who do right. |
