| | Arthur John Arberry rendition of Surah The Letter Sad(Sad)
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| 38:1 | | Sad. By the Koran, containing the Remembrance - |
| 38:2 | | nay, but the unbelievers glory in their schism |
| 38:3 | | How many a generation We destroyed before them, and they called, but time was none to escape |
| 38:4 | | Now they marvel that a warner has come to them from among them; and the unbelievers say, 'This is a lying sorcerer |
| 38:5 | | What, has he made the gods One God? This is indeed a marvellous thing. |
| 38:6 | | And the Council of them depart, saying 'Go! Be steadfast to your gods; this is a thing to be desired |
| 38:7 | | We have not heard of this in the last religion; this is surely an invention |
| 38:8 | | What, has the Remembrance been sent down on him out of us all?' Nay, but they are in doubt of My Remembrance; nay, they have not yet tasted My chastisement |
| 38:9 | | Or have they the treasuries of thy Lord's mercy, the All-mighty, the All-giving |
| 38:10 | | Or is theirs the kingdom of the heavens and earth and of what between them is? Why, then let them ascend the cords |
| 38:11 | | A very host of parties is routed there |
| 38:12 | | Cried lies before them the people of Noah, and Ad, and Pharaoh, he of the tent-pegs |
| 38:13 | | and Thamood, and the people of Lot, and the men of the Thicket - those were the parties |
| 38:14 | | not one, that cried not lies to the Messengers, so My retribution was just |
| 38:15 | | These are only awaiting for a single Cry, to which there is no delay |
| 38:16 | | They say, 'Our Lord, hasten to us our share before the Day of Reckoning. |
| 38:17 | | Bear patiently what they say, and remember Our servant David, the man of might; he was a penitent |
| 38:18 | | With him We subjected the mountains to give glory at evening and sunrise |
| 38:19 | | and the birds, duly mustered, every one to him reverting |
| 38:20 | | We strengthened his kingdom, and gave him wisdom and speech decisive |
| 38:21 | | Has the tiding of the dispute come to thee? When they scaled the Sanctuary |
| 38:22 | | when they entered upon David, and he took fright at them; and they said, 'Fear not; two disputants we are -- one of us has injured the other; so judge between us justly, and transgress not, and guide us to the right path. |
| 38:23 | | 'Behold, this my brother has ninety-nine ewes, and I have one ewe. So he said, "Give her into my charge"; and he overcame me in the argument. |
| 38:24 | | Said he, 'Assuredly he has wronged thee in asking for thy ewe in addition to his sheep; and indeed many intermixers do injury one against the other, save those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness -- and how few they are!' And David thought that We had only tried him; therefore he sought forgiveness of his Lord, and he fell down, bowing, and he repented |
| 38:25 | | Accordingly We forgave him that, and he has a near place in Our presence and a fair resort |
| 38:26 | | 'David, behold, We have appointed thee a viceroy in the earth; therefore judge between men justly, and follow not caprice, lest it lead thee astray from the way of God. Surely those who go astray from the way of God -- there awaits them a terrible chastisement, for that they have forgotten the Day of Reckoning. |
| 38:27 | | We have not created the heavens and earth, and what between them is, for vanity; such is the thought of the unbelievers, wherefore woe unto the unbelievers because of the Fire |
| 38:28 | | Or shall We make those who believe and do righteous deeds as the workers of corruption in the earth, or shall We make the godfearing as the transgressors |
| 38:29 | | A Book We have sent down to thee, Blessed, that men possessed of minds may ponder its signs and so remember |
| 38:30 | | And We gave unto David Solomon; how excellent a servant he was! He was a penitent |
| 38:31 | | When in the evening were presented to him the standing steeds |
| 38:32 | | he said, 'Lo, I have loved the love of good things better than the remembrance of my Lord, until the sun was bidden behind the veil |
| 38:33 | | Return them to me!' And he began to stroke their shanks and necks |
| 38:34 | | Certainly We tried Solomon, and We cast upon his throne a mere body; then he repented |
| 38:35 | | He said, 'My Lord, forgive me, and give me a kingdom such as may not befall anyone after me; surely Thou art the All-giver. |
| 38:36 | | So We subjected to him the wind, that ran at his commandment, softly, wherever he might light on |
| 38:37 | | and the Satans, every builder and dive |
| 38:38 | | and others also, coupled in fetters |
| 38:39 | | 'This is Our gift; bestow or withhold without reckoning. |
| 38:40 | | And he had a near place in Our presence and a fair resort |
| 38:41 | | Remember also Our servant Job; when he called to his Lord, 'Behold, Satan has visited me with weariness and chastisement. |
| 38:42 | | 'Stamp thy foot! This is a laving-place cool, and a drink. |
| 38:43 | | And We gave to him his family, and the like of them with them, as a mercy from us, and a reminder unto men possessed of minds |
| 38:44 | | and, 'Take in thy hand a bundle of rushes, and strike therewith, and do not fail in thy oath.' Surely We found him a steadfast man. How excellent a servant he was! He was a penitent |
| 38:45 | | Remember also Our servants Abraham, Isaac and Jacob -- men of might they and of vision |
| 38:46 | | Assuredly We purified them with a quality most pure, the remembrance of the Abode |
| 38:47 | | and in Our sight they are of the chosen, the excellent |
| 38:48 | | Remember also Our servants Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhul Kifl; each is among the excellent |
| 38:49 | | This is a Remembrance; and for the godfearing is a fair resort |
| 38:50 | | Gardens of Eden, whereof the gates are open to them |
| 38:51 | | wherein they recline, and wherein they call for fruits abundant, and sweet potions |
| 38:52 | | and with them maidens restraining their glances of equal age |
| 38:53 | | 'This is what you were promised for the Day of Reckoning |
| 38:54 | | this is Our provision, unto which there is no end. |
| 38:55 | | All this; but for the insolent awaits an ill resort |
| 38:56 | | Gehenna, wherein they are roasted - an evil cradling |
| 38:57 | | All this; so let them taste it - boiling water and pus |
| 38:58 | | and other torments of the like kind coupled together |
| 38:59 | | 'This is a troop rushing in with you; there is no Welcome for them; they shall roast in the Fire. |
| 38:60 | | They say, 'No, it is you have no Welcome; you forwarded it for us; how evil a stablishment! |
| 38:61 | | They say, 'Our Lord, whoso forwarded this for us, give him a double chastisement in the Fire! |
| 38:62 | | They say, 'How is it with us, that we do not see men here that we counted among the wicked |
| 38:63 | | What, did we take them for a laughing-stock? Or have our eyes swerved away from them? |
| 38:64 | | Surely that is true -- the disputing of the inhabitants of the Fire |
| 38:65 | | Say: 'I am only a warner. There is not any god but God, the One, the Omnipotent |
| 38:66 | | Lord of the heavens and earth, and of what between them is, the All-mighty, the All-forgiving. |
| 38:67 | | Say: 'It is a mighty tidin |
| 38:68 | | from which you are turning away |
| 38:69 | | I had no knowledge of the High Council when they disputed |
| 38:70 | | This alone is revealed to me, that I am only a clear warner. |
| 38:71 | | When thy Lord said to the angels, 'See, I am creating a mortal of a clay |
| 38:72 | | When I have shaped him, and breathed My spirit in him, fall you down, bowing before him! |
| 38:73 | | Then the angels bowed themselves all together |
| 38:74 | | save Iblis; he waxed proud, and was one of the unbelievers |
| 38:75 | | Said He, 'Iblis, what prevented thee to bow thyself before that I created with My own hands? Hast thou waxed proud, or art thou of the lofty ones? |
| 38:76 | | Said he, 'I am better than he; Thou createdst me of tire, and him Thou createdst of clay. |
| 38:77 | | Said He, 'Then go thou forth hence; thou art accursed |
| 38:78 | | Upon thee shall rest My curse, till the Day of Doom. |
| 38:79 | | Said he, 'My Lord, respite me till the day they shall be raised. |
| 38:80 | | Said He, 'Thou art among the ones that are respite |
| 38:81 | | until the day of the known time. |
| 38:82 | | Said he, 'Now, by Thy glory, I shall pervert them all together |
| 38:83 | | excepting those Thy servants among them that are sincere. |
| 38:84 | | Said He, 'This is the truth, and the truth I say |
| 38:85 | | I shall assuredly fill Gehenna with thee, and with whosoever of them follows thee, all together. |
| 38:86 | | Say: 'I ask of you no wage for it, neither am I of those who take things upon themselves |
| 38:87 | | It is nothing but a reminder unto all beings |
| 38:88 | | and you shall surely know its tiding after a while. |
