21:1  The time of reckoning for humanity is drawing closer, yet they turn away thoughtlessly.

21:2  Whenever a new revelation from your Lord comes to them they listen to it playfully,

21:3  their hearts distracted by worldly activities. In private the evildoers say, “Isn’t he just a man like you? Are you going to follow the magic of Muhammad with your eyes open?”

21:4  The Prophet said, “My Lord knows every word spoken in the Heavens and the Earth; He is the Listener, the Knower.”

21:5  They replied, “These are just confused dreams; he’s made them up. In fact, he’s a poet, so let him bring us a miracle like the prophets of the past brought.

21:6  The communities We destroyed before them didn’t believe either, so will they now believe?

21:7  We sent Revelation to communities in the past; if you don’t know this ask the people of the Scripture.

21:8  We didn’t make their bodies to live on Earth forever, nor could they survive without food.

21:9  We fulfilled Our promise and saved those who We wanted, and destroyed those who wasted the opportunity of life.

21:10  Indeed We revealed a Book to you that mentions you too! Why do you not understand

21:11  We destroyed many towns of the sinners, and afterwards raised up other people in their place.

21:12  When they sensed our punishment coming they fled,

21:13  and We said: “Do not run away; come back to the places of your enjoyment and homes so you may be questioned.”

21:14  They said, “Suffering has come upon us; we were evildoers.”

21:15  They screamed till We made them like dried up stubble.

21:16  We didn’t create the Heavens and the Earth and what is between the two as a sport.

21:17  If We wanted a pastime then We would have found it within Us, were We to do such a frivolous thing.

21:18  Nay, We pitched the truth against falsehood, so it wiped it out; falsehood is weak. For you is Hell for the things you attributed to Allah.

21:19  Everything in the Heavens and the Earth belongs to Him; those near Him are not arrogant about worshipping Him, nor do they get tired.

21:20  They are always glorifying Him, night and day, never growing weary.

21:21  Or have they taken gods from the Earth who can resurrect

21:22  If there were gods other than Allah, then there would be devastation in the Heavens and the Earth. Glory to Allah, Lord of the Throne, He isn’t the way they describe Him.

21:23  He won’t be questioned about what He does, but they’ll be questioned!

21:24  Or have they taken gods besides Him? Say: “Bring your proof; this is a reminder for those who are with me and a reminder for those before me,” but most of them don’t know the truth, they have turned away.

21:25  Every messenger before you was inspired to say: “There is no god but Me, so worship Me.”

21:26  They said, “The Kind Lord has a child.” Glory to Him, they are honourable servants

21:27  who don’t speak before He speaks and obey His command.

21:28  Allah knows what is in front and behind them, and they will not intercede except for him who He is pleased with, since they are in fear of Him.

21:29  If any among them claimed, “I am god beside Him,” then We shall punish him in Hell; that’s how We treat the evildoers

21:30  Don’t the disbelievers know the Heavens and the Earth were joined at one time? We split them apart and made every living thing from water; won’t they believe?

21:31  We made mountains on Earth for stability, so it does not shake beneath them, and We made wide, open pathways so they can find their way.

21:32  And We made the sky a roof that gives protection, they still turn away from these marvellous signs.

21:33  He created night and day, sun and moon, each one moving in its orbit.

21:34  In the past We didn’t make any human being who lived forever, so if you should die, will they live forever?

21:35  Everyone will taste death; We shall test you all with something good and something bad, and finally you will be returned to Us

21:36  The disbelievers mock when they see you and say, “Is this the one who talks about your gods?” They fail to acknowledge the name of the most Kind Lord.

21:37  Man was made hasty and impatient; I will show you My signs, so don’t ask Me to hasten them.

21:38  They ask, “When will this promise be fulfilled if you are truthful?”

21:39  If only the disbelievers knew, a time will come when they won’t be able to stop the Fire burning their faces and backs, and they will be helpless.

21:40  It will come unexpectedly, taking them by surprise, they won’t be able to get away, nor get any relief.

21:41  Messengers were mocked before you, and the jokers were punished by the punishment they use to mock

21:42  Say: “Who can protect you at night and during the day from the Most Kind Lord?” They turn away from their Lord’s remembrance.

21:43  Or do they have gods that can protect them beside Us? They’re incapable of helping themselves, or being safe from Us.

21:44  For a long time, We allowed them and their fathers to enjoy the good things of life. Haven’t they noticed how We are gradually reducing the borders of their city? So, are they dominant?

21:45  Say: “I am warning you with the revelation.” Unfortunately, the deaf will not hear the warning call when it’s given.

21:46  If a mere puff of your Lord’s punishment strikes them they say, “It’s too bad for us; we were wrong.

21:47  On Judgement Day, We shall set up the scales of justice so that no one is misjudged. Even if there is something as little as the weight of a mustard seed, We shall bring it out; We are good in weighing

21:48  We gave Musa and Harun the standard to distinguish between right and wrong, a light and a message for the mindful people –

21:49  those who fear their Lord without seeing Him, and they are fearful of the Final Hour.

21:50  This is a sacred message We have sent down, so will you reject it

21:51  Long before that We gave Ibrahim guidance; We knew him well.

21:52  Remember when He said to his father and the community: “What are these idols you worship?”

21:53  They said, “Our forefathers were their worshippers.”

21:54  He said, “You and your forefathers are obviously wrong.”

21:55  They replied, “Have you come with the truth or are you joking?”

21:56  He said, “Your Lord is the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth Who created them, and I am one of the witnesses to this.

21:57  By Allah, I will plan something for your idols after you have turned your backs and gone away.

21:58  He smashed them to pieces except the biggest, which He left intact so they would return to it.

21:59  They said, “Who has done this to our gods? He must be evil!”

21:60  Some said, “We heard a young man called Ibrahim speak disapprovingly about them.

21:61  So they demanded: “Bring him in front of the people, so they will see him.”

21:62  They asked, “Ibrahim, did you do this to our gods?

21:63  He replied, “It was the big one who did this; ask them if they can speak.”

21:64  So they turned to themselves saying secretly, “You are the ones who are wrong.”

21:65  They shook their heads in disbelief and said, “You know they can’t speak.”

21:66  Ibrahim quipped, “So, why do you worship beside Allah something unable to benefit or harm you?

21:67  A disgrace for you and what you worship beside Allah; why don’t you understand?”

21:68  They shouted angrily: “Burn him and help your gods if you are going to do something.”

21:69  We ordered: “Fire, be cool and comforting for Ibrahim.”

21:70  They wished to harm him, so We made them the biggest losers

21:71  We rescued Ibrahim and Lut, and took them to the land We blessed for all humanity.

21:72  So We gave Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Yaqub as a grandson, and We made them righteous

21:73  and great leaders, guiding others with Our commandments, and inspired many virtues: the performance of the prayer, and the giving of Zakat. They were Our true worshippers.

21:74  We gave Lut authority and knowledge, and rescued him from a town which practised filthy acts of indecency; they were sinful people.

21:75  We were kind to Lut since he was righteous

21:76  Remember the bygone days when Nuh called for help. We answered, and rescued him and his followers from a terrible torment.

21:77  We helped him against people who denied Our revelations. They were evil; so We drowned them.

21:78  Remember when Dawud and Sulayman were making judgement regarding the cornfield where some people’s sheep had wandered off to graze. We were Witness of their judgement.

21:79  We helped Sulayman understand the problem. Each one We blessed with judgment and knowledge. We made mountains echo and the birds sing our praises together with Dawud; We did all these things.

21:80  We taught him how to make coats of armour, so that you can protect yourself from others. Will you be thankful for this?

21:81  Sulayman could command the stormy winds blowing to the land which We had blessed. We know all things.

21:82  He also controlled the jinn that dived deep in the sea for him, and would do other work for him too. We were their keepers.

21:83  And remember Ayyub when He called his Lord: “I am suffering. You are the Kindest of all.”

21:84  We answered and relieved him of the sufferings, gave back his family, even bigger than before. For the worshippers, this was a special kindness from Us and a reminder.

21:85  Ismael, Idrees and Zul-Kifl – each one was patient and steadfast.

21:86  We blessed them with prophethood. They were righteous

21:87  Remember Dhan-Nun, when he left Nineveh angrily thinking We wouldn’t restrain or question him. He prayed in the depths of darkness: “There is no god except You. Glory be to You; I was wrong.”

21:88  We saved and rescued him from distress, and that’s how We save the believers.

21:89  And remember Zakariyya, when He called to His Lord: “My Lord, do not leave me childless, you are the best of inheritors.”

21:90  We answered him, gave him Yahya and healed his wife. They were always quick to do good works, pray to Us with profound longing and fear, they were humble before Us

21:91  Mention the lady who protected her chastity; We breathed in her Our Spirit, and made her and her son a miraculous sign for all people.

21:92  This is your community, a single united community. I am your Lord, so worship Me.

21:93  Unfortunately, people tore the unity of their religion; all will be returning to Us.

21:94  Whoever does righteous deeds as a believer, the reward of their good efforts will not be denied to them, We record it for them.

21:95  The communities We destroyed just couldn’t turn away from their evil ways

21:96  When Gog and Magog are let loose – rushing down swiftly from every direction ‒

21:97  the true promise will draw near, then the disbelievers will watch in horror and say, “Woe to us, we were not aware of this; in fact, we were wrong.”

21:98  It will be said: “You and those you worshipped beside Allah are the fuel of Hell; that is where you will go.”

21:99  If these were really your gods then they wouldn’t be here. They will stay there forever,

21:100  hearing nothing but sobbing

21:101  The people We promised Heaven will be kept far away from Hell.

21:102  They won’t hear the slightest noise of Hell; they will have whatever they want forever.

21:103  They won’t be distressed by the great terror of Judgement Day. The angels will greet them saying, “This is your Day, which you were promised.”

21:104  That Day We will roll up the sky like the writer rolls up the scroll. We will recreate as We created the first time; it’s a promise We’ve undertaken and will fulfil it

21:105  In the Psalms and the previous Scriptures, We wrote: “My righteous servants will inherit the Earth.”

21:106  In this Quran is a message for the worshippers.

21:107  We sent you, Messenger, as a kindness for all the worlds.

21:108  Say: “It is revealed to me, Your Lord is one, so won’t you submit?”

21:109  If they turn away, say: “I have declared what you’ve been promised; I am not sure whether it is near or far.

21:110  He knows what you say openly and what you hide.

21:111  What do I know? This may be a test for you or a respite in the form of enjoyment for a short while.”

21:112  The messenger prayed: “My Lord, make fair judgement. Our Lord the Kind is the One Whose Help is sought against what you say.