| | A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018) rendition of Surah The Letter Sad(Sad)
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| 38:1 | | Saad. By the Quran, full of advice |
| 38:2 | | But the unbelievers are steeped in self-glory and separatism |
| 38:3 | | How many generations before them did We destroy? In the end they cried, when there was no longer time for being saved |
| 38:4 | | So they wonder how a warner has come to them from among themselves, and the unbelievers say, “This is a deceiver telling lies |
| 38:5 | | “Has he made the gods all into one God? Truly this is a curious thing. |
| 38:6 | | And the leader among them walks away saying, “Walk away, and remain constant to your gods, for this is truly a thing created |
| 38:7 | | “We never heard the likes of this among the people of these latter days. This is nothing but a fabrication. |
| 38:8 | | “What, has the message been sent to him, of all people?” But they are in doubt concerning My message. No, they have not yet tasted My punishment |
| 38:9 | | Or have they the treasures of the mercy of your Lord, the Exalted in Power, and the Grantor of bounties without measure |
| 38:10 | | Or have they control of the heavens and the earth and all between? If so, let them ascend by means to reach that end |
| 38:11 | | Soldiers there will be defeated among the companies |
| 38:12 | | Before them the people rejected Noah and ‘Ad. And Pharaoh the lord of stakes |
| 38:13 | | And Thamud, the people of Lot, and the Companions of the Wood, these were the confederates |
| 38:14 | | Not one of them failed to reject the messengers, so My punishment came justly and inevitably |
| 38:15 | | They must only wait for a single mighty blast, and there will be no delay |
| 38:16 | | They say, “Our Lord, hasten to us our sentence before the Day of Account. |
| 38:17 | | Have patience with what they say, and remember our servant David, the possessor of strength, for he constantly turned to God |
| 38:18 | | It was We Who made the hills declare in unison with him, Our praises in the evening and in the morning |
| 38:19 | | Then the birds gathered, and all turned with him to God |
| 38:20 | | We strengthened his kingdom, and gave him wisdom and sound judgment in speech and decision |
| 38:21 | | Has the story of the litigants reached you? Behold, they climbed over the wall of the private chamber |
| 38:22 | | Then they entered the presence of David, and he was terrified of them. They said, “Fear not, we are two litigants, one of whom has wronged the other. Now decide between us with truth, and treat us not with injustice, but guide us to the balanced way |
| 38:23 | | “This person is my brother. He has nine and ninety ewes, and I have one. Yet he says, ‘commit her to my care’, and is harsh to me in speech. |
| 38:24 | | David said, “He has undoubtedly wronged you in demanding your ewe to be added to his ewes. Truly many are the partners who wrong each other. Not so do those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, they are but a few.” Then David realized that We had tried him. He asked forgiveness of his Lord, fell down bowing, and turned to God in repentance |
| 38:25 | | So We forgave him. He indeed approached Us, and this is a beautiful place of return |
| 38:26 | | O David, We indeed made you a creation of free will on the earth. So judge between people in truth, and do not follow your desires, for they will mislead you from the path of God. Those who wander astray from the path of God is a terrible penalty, because they forget the Day of Account |
| 38:27 | | Not without purpose did We create heaven and earth, and all between. That was the thought of the unbelievers, but woe to the unbelievers, because of the fire of hell |
| 38:28 | | Shall We treat those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, the same as those who do wrong on the earth? Shall We treat those who guard against wrong, the same as those who turn away from right |
| 38:29 | | Here is a book which We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that they may think on its signs, and that people of understanding may receive the advice |
| 38:30 | | To David We gave Solomon, excellent in Our service, and he constantly turned to Us |
| 38:31 | | Behold, there were brought before him, in the evening, excellently bred horses |
| 38:32 | | And he said, “I truly love the love of excellence, with the remembrance of my Guardian Evolver.” Until they were hidden in the veil |
| 38:33 | | “Bring them back to me.” Then he began to pass his hand over their legs and their necks |
| 38:34 | | And We tried Solomon. We placed on his throne a body, but he turned to Us |
| 38:35 | | He said, “O my Lord, forgive me, and grant me a kingdom that will not suit another after me, for You are the Grantor of Bounties |
| 38:36 | | Then We subjected the wind to his power, to flow gently to his order, wherever he willed |
| 38:37 | | And the devils, every kind of builder and diver |
| 38:38 | | And others bound in chains |
| 38:39 | | “Such are Our bounties, whether you bestow them or withhold them, no account will be asked. |
| 38:40 | | And he indeed enjoyed a near approach to Us, and a beautiful place of return |
| 38:41 | | Remember Our servant Job. Behold, he cried to his Lord, “Satan has afflicted me with distress and suffering. |
| 38:42 | | “Strike here with your foot, here is water with which to wash, cool and refreshing, and to drink. |
| 38:43 | | And We gave him back to his people, and doubled their number, as a grace from Us, and a thing for commemoration, for all who have understanding |
| 38:44 | | “And take in your hand a little grass, and bend it, but do not break it.” Truly We found him full of patience and constancy, and how excellent he was in Our service, and he constantly turned to Us |
| 38:45 | | And commemorate Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all were possessors of power and vision |
| 38:46 | | Indeed We choose them for a special purpose, proclaiming the message of the hereafter |
| 38:47 | | They were, in Our sight, truly of the company of the elect, the best |
| 38:48 | | And remember Ishmael, Elisha, and Zul-Kifl. Each of them was of the company of the best |
| 38:49 | | This is indeed a reminder that indeed for the righteous, there is a beautiful place of return |
| 38:50 | | Gardens of eternity, whose doors will be open to them |
| 38:51 | | They will recline therein. Therein they can call for fruit in abundance, and drink |
| 38:52 | | And beside them will be chaste women restraining their glances, companions of equal age |
| 38:53 | | Such is the promise made to you for the Day of Account |
| 38:54 | | Truly such will be Our bounty and it will never fail |
| 38:55 | | Yes, but for the wrongdoers will be a terrible place of return |
| 38:56 | | They will burn in hell, a miserable resting place indeed |
| 38:57 | | Yes, then will they taste a boiling fluid, and a fluid dark, murky, intensely cold |
| 38:58 | | And other penalties of a similar kind to match them |
| 38:59 | | This is a company bursting in with you. No welcome is there for them. Certainly they will burn in the fire |
| 38:60 | | They say, “No welcome for you. It is you who have brought this upon us. Miserable is this place to stay in. |
| 38:61 | | They will say, “Our Lord, whoever brought this upon us, add to him a double penalty in the fire. |
| 38:62 | | And they will say, “What has happened to us that we do not see the people who we used to number among the harmful |
| 38:63 | | “Did we treat them with ridicule, or have we failed to perceive them? |
| 38:64 | | Truly that is just and fitting, the talk of people of the fire |
| 38:65 | | Say, “Truly I am a warner. No god is there but the one God, Supreme, and Irresistible |
| 38:66 | | “The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all between, Exalted in Might, able to enforce His will, forgiving again and again. |
| 38:67 | | Say, “That is a message supreme |
| 38:68 | | “From which you turn away |
| 38:69 | | “I have no knowledge of the leaders on high, when they discuss matters among themselves |
| 38:70 | | “Only this has been revealed to me, that I give warning plainly and publicly. |
| 38:71 | | Behold, your Lord said to the angels, “I am about to create the human being from mud |
| 38:72 | | “When I have fashioned him and breathed into him of My spirit, fall down to him in prostration. |
| 38:73 | | So the angels prostrated themselves, all of them together |
| 38:74 | | Except Lucifer. He was arrogant, and became one of those who reject |
| 38:75 | | God said, “O Lucifer, what prevents you from prostrating yourself to one who I have created with my two hands? Are you arrogant? Or are you one of the high and mighty ones? |
| 38:76 | | Lucifer said, “I am better than he. You created me from fire, and him you created from mud. |
| 38:77 | | God said, “Get out of here then, for you are rejected, accursed |
| 38:78 | | “And My curse will be on you until the Day of Accountability. |
| 38:79 | | Lucifer said, “O my Lord, then give me respite, until the day they are raised. |
| 38:80 | | God said, “Respite is granted you |
| 38:81 | | “Until the day of the time appointed. |
| 38:82 | | Lucifer said, “Then by Your power, I will mislead them all |
| 38:83 | | “Except Your servants among them, sincere and purified. |
| 38:84 | | God said, “Then it is just and fitting, and I say only what is just and fitting |
| 38:85 | | “That I will certainly fill hell with you and those who follow you, all of them. |
| 38:86 | | Say, “No reward do I ask of you for this, nor am I a pretender |
| 38:87 | | “This is no less than a message for all the systems of knowledge |
| 38:88 | | “And you will certainly know the truth of it all, in due time. |
