| | N J Dawood (2014) rendition of Surah Those Who Set The Ranks, Drawn up in Ranks, The Rangers(as-Saffat)
--- |
|---|
| 37:1 | | BY THOSE who range themselves in ranks |
| 37:2 | | by those who cast out demons;¹ |
| 37:3 | | and by those who recite an Admonition |
| 37:4 | | your God is One |
| 37:5 | | the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them: the Lord of the Eastern Regions |
| 37:6 | | We have decked the lower heaven with constellations |
| 37:7 | | guarding it against every rebellious demon |
| 37:8 | | so that they may not listen in to those on high. Meteors are hurled at them from every side |
| 37:9 | | then, driven away, they are consigned to an eternal scourge |
| 37:10 | | Eavesdroppers are pursued by fiery comets |
| 37:11 | | Ask them if they deem themselves of a nobler make than the rest of Our creation. Of coarse clay We created them |
| 37:12 | | You marvel, while they scoff |
| 37:13 | | When they are warned they heed no warning |
| 37:14 | | When they are shown a sign they mock at i |
| 37:15 | | and say: ‘This is but sorcery manifest |
| 37:16 | | What! When we have died and turned to dust and bones, shall we be raised to life |
| 37:17 | | we and our forefathers?&lsquo |
| 37:18 | | Say: ‘Yes. And you shall be utterly humbled.&lsquo |
| 37:19 | | One blast will sound, and they shall see it all |
| 37:20 | | Woe betide us!‘ they will say. ‘This is the Day of Reckoning |
| 37:21 | | this is the Judgement-day which you denied.&lsquo |
| 37:22 | | But We shall say: ‘Herd up the sinners, their spouses, and the deities they worshippe |
| 37:23 | | besides God, and lead them to the path of Hell |
| 37:24 | | Hold them there for questioning |
| 37:25 | | What has come over you that you cannot help each other?&lsquo |
| 37:26 | | But on that day they will submit |
| 37:27 | | They will reproach each other |
| 37:28 | | saying: ‘You have imposed upon us!‘― |
| 37:29 | | ‘No! It was you who would not be believers |
| 37:30 | | We had no power over you: you were sinners all |
| 37:31 | | Just is the verdict Our Lord has passed upon us; we shall surely taste the scourge |
| 37:32 | | We seduced you, but we ourselves have been seduced.&lsquo |
| 37:33 | | On that day they will all share in the torment |
| 37:34 | | Thus shall We deal with the wrongdoers |
| 37:35 | | for when they were told: ‘There is no deity but God,‘ they said with scorn |
| 37:36 | | ‘Are we to renounce our gods for the sake of a mad poet?&lsquo |
| 37:37 | | Surely he has brought the Truth, confirming those who were sent before |
| 37:38 | | You shall all taste the grievous torment |
| 37:39 | | you shall be requited only according to your deeds |
| 37:40 | | But God‘s true servant |
| 37:41 | | shall be well provided for |
| 37:42 | | feasting on fruit, and honoure |
| 37:43 | | in the Gardens of Delight |
| 37:44 | | Reclining face to face upon soft couches |
| 37:45 | | there shall be passed among them a goblet filled at a gushing fountain |
| 37:46 | | white, and delicious to those who drink it |
| 37:47 | | It will neither dull their senses nor befuddle them |
| 37:48 | | They shall sit with bashful, dark-eyed virgins |
| 37:49 | | as chaste as hidden pearls.¹ |
| 37:50 | | With questions they will approach each other |
| 37:51 | | One will say: ‘I had a friend who used to say |
| 37:52 | | "Do you really believe |
| 37:53 | | When we have died and turned to dust and bones, shall we ever be brought to judgement?"&lsquo |
| 37:54 | | And he will say: ‘Come, will you look down.&lsquo |
| 37:55 | | He will look down and see his friend in the very midst of Hell |
| 37:56 | | By the Lord,‘ he will say, ‘you almost ruined me |
| 37:57 | | But for the grace of my Lord I should have surely been summoned myself |
| 37:58 | | Shall we never die again |
| 37:59 | | having died once, and shall we never be scourged at all?&lsquo |
| 37:60 | | Surely that is the supreme triumph |
| 37:61 | | To this end let everyone labour |
| 37:62 | | Is this not a better welcome than the Zaqqūm tree |
| 37:63 | | We have made this tree a scourge for the unjust |
| 37:64 | | It grows in the nethermost part of Hell |
| 37:65 | | bearing fruit like demons‘ heads |
| 37:66 | | on it they shall feed, and with it they shall cram their bellies |
| 37:67 | | together with draughts of scalding water |
| 37:68 | | Then to Hell shall they surely return |
| 37:69 | | They found their fathers erring |
| 37:70 | | yet they eagerly followed in their footsteps |
| 37:71 | | Most of the ancients went astray before them |
| 37:72 | | though We had sent emissaries to give them warning |
| 37:73 | | So consider the fate of those who had been warned |
| 37:74 | | except God‘s true servants |
| 37:75 | | Noah called to Us, and he was graciously answered |
| 37:76 | | We delivered him, and his household, from the great calamity |
| 37:77 | | and made his descendants the sole survivors |
| 37:78 | | We bestowed on him the praise of later generations |
| 37:79 | | Peace be on Noah among all mankind!&lsquo |
| 37:80 | | Thus do We reward the righteous |
| 37:81 | | he was one of Our believing servants |
| 37:82 | | The others We peremptorily drowned |
| 37:83 | | Of the self-same faith was Abraham |
| 37:84 | | who came to his Lord with a pure heart |
| 37:85 | | He said to his father and to his people: ‘What are these that you worship |
| 37:86 | | Would you serve false deities instead of God |
| 37:87 | | What think you of the Lord of the Universe?&lsquo |
| 37:88 | | He lifted up his eyes to the star |
| 37:89 | | and said: ‘I am sick!&lsquo |
| 37:90 | | And his people turned their backs and went off |
| 37:91 | | He stole away to their idols and said: ‘Will you not eat |
| 37:92 | | Why do you not speak?&lsquo |
| 37:93 | | With that he fell upon them, striking them down with his right hand |
| 37:94 | | The people came running to the scene |
| 37:95 | | ‘Would you worship that which you have carved with your own hands,‘ he said |
| 37:96 | | ‘when it was God who created you and all that you have made?&lsquo |
| 37:97 | | They said: ‘Build up a pyre and cast him into the blazing hell.&lsquo |
| 37:98 | | Thus did they scheme against him: but We abased them all |
| 37:99 | | He said: ‘I will take refuge with my Lord; He will give me guidance |
| 37:100 | | Lord, grant me a righteous son.&lsquo |
| 37:101 | | We gave him joyful tidings of a gentle son |
| 37:102 | | And when he reached the age when he could work with him, his father said to him: ‘My son, I dreamt that I was sacrificing you. Tell me what you think.‘ He said: ‘Father, do as you are bidden. God willing, you shall find me steadfast.&lsquo |
| 37:103 | | And when they had both submitted, and he had laid him down upon his brow |
| 37:104 | | We called out to him, saying: ‘Abraham |
| 37:105 | | you have confirmed the vision.‘ Thus do We reward the righteous |
| 37:106 | | That was indeed the veritable test |
| 37:107 | | We ransomed him with a noble sacrific |
| 37:108 | | and left for him the praise of later generations |
| 37:109 | | ‘Peace be on Abraham!&lsquo |
| 37:110 | | Thus do We reward the righteous |
| 37:111 | | He was one of Our believing servants |
| 37:112 | | We gladdened him with news of Isaac, a saintly prophet |
| 37:113 | | and blessed him and Isaac. Among their descendants were some who did good works and some who clearly sinned against their souls |
| 37:114 | | We showed favour to Moses and to Aaro |
| 37:115 | | and delivered them both, with their people, from the great calamity |
| 37:116 | | We succoured them, and it was they who were the victors |
| 37:117 | | We gave them the Illuminating Boo |
| 37:118 | | and guided them to the straight path |
| 37:119 | | We left for them both the praise of later generations |
| 37:120 | | Peace be on Moses and Aaron!&lsquo |
| 37:121 | | Thus do We reward the righteous |
| 37:122 | | They were two of Our believing servants |
| 37:123 | | Elias¹ also was one of those sent forth |
| 37:124 | | He said to his people: ‘Have you no fear |
| 37:125 | | Have you no fear? Would you invoke Baal and forsake the most gracious of creators |
| 37:126 | | God is your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers.&lsquo |
| 37:127 | | But they rejected him, and will thus be called to account |
| 37:128 | | Not so God‘s true servants |
| 37:129 | | We bestowed on him the praise of later generations |
| 37:130 | | Peace be on Elias!&lsquo |
| 37:131 | | Thus do We reward the righteous |
| 37:132 | | He was one of Our believing servants |
| 37:133 | | Lot also was one of those sent forth |
| 37:134 | | We delivered him and his kindred all |
| 37:135 | | except for an old woman who stayed behind |
| 37:136 | | and utterly destroyed the others |
| 37:137 | | You pass by their ruins in the mornin |
| 37:138 | | and at night: have you no sense |
| 37:139 | | Jonah was also one of those sent forth |
| 37:140 | | He fled to the laden ship |
| 37:141 | | cast lots, and was condemned |
| 37:142 | | The whale swallowed him, for he had sinned |
| 37:143 | | and had he not devoutly praised the Lor |
| 37:144 | | he would have stayed in its belly till the Day of Resurrection |
| 37:145 | | We cast him, gravely ill, upon a desolate shor |
| 37:146 | | and caused a gourd-tree to grow over him |
| 37:147 | | We sent him to a hundred thousand, or even more |
| 37:148 | | they believed in him, and We let them live in ease for a certain time |
| 37:149 | | Ask them if it be true that your Lord has daughters, and they sons |
| 37:150 | | Or did We create the angels females; and were they witnesses |
| 37:151 | | Surely they lie when they assert |
| 37:152 | | God has given birth.&lsquo |
| 37:153 | | Would He choose daughters, rather than sons |
| 37:154 | | What has come over you that you should so judge |
| 37:155 | | Will you not take thought |
| 37:156 | | Have you a veritable proof |
| 37:157 | | Bring us your scripture, if what you say be true |
| 37:158 | | They assert kinship between Him and the jinn. But the jinn well know that they will be called up to account |
| 37:159 | | Exalted be God above their imputations |
| 37:160 | | Not so God‘s true servants |
| 37:161 | | Neither you nor your idol |
| 37:162 | | shall deceive any about Go |
| 37:163 | | save him who is destined to be burnt in Hell |
| 37:164 | | We¹ each have our appointed place |
| 37:165 | | It is we who range ourselves in ranks |
| 37:166 | | and we are they that give glory |
| 37:167 | | And they say |
| 37:168 | | Had we received an Admonition from the ancients |
| 37:169 | | we would have become God‘s true servants.&lsquo |
| 37:170 | | Yet they disbelieve; and they shall learn |
| 37:171 | | Before then We promised Our servants who were sent fort |
| 37:172 | | they would be helpe |
| 37:173 | | and Our armies would surely be the victors |
| 37:174 | | So pay no heed to them awhile |
| 37:175 | | you will surely see their downfall as they shall see your triumph |
| 37:176 | | Do they wish to hurry on Our scourge |
| 37:177 | | Evil shall be that morning when it smites them in their courtyards, forewarned though they have been |
| 37:178 | | So pay no heed to them awhile |
| 37:179 | | You will surely see their downfall as they shall see your triumph |
| 37:180 | | Exalted be your Lord, the Lord of Glory, above their imputations |
| 37:181 | | And peace be on those who were sent forth |
| 37:182 | | and praise to God, Lord of the Universe |
