14:1  Alif Lam Ra. A Book that We have revealed to you to bring out mankind, by their Lord's permission, from darknesses towards light — towards the way of the Omnipotent, the Praised One

14:2  Allah is He to Whom belongs whatever there is in the heavens and the earth. And woe, from severe punishment, unto those who suppress the Truth

14:3  Those who love the life of this world more than the Hereafter, and turn people away from Allah's Path and seek perversity in it. They are in deep delusion

14:4  And We did not send any Messenger with Our Message but in the language of his people, so that he might narrate it to them clearly. Allah then leaves whom He wills to stray away from His Path and He guides whom He wills to His Path. And He is the Omnipotent, the Wise

14:5  And We did certainly send Moses with Our signs, "Bring out your people from the darknesses towards light and remind them of the annals of Allah. Therein indeed are signs for everyone who is patient and grateful."

14:6  And when Moses said to his people, "Remember Allah's favour upon you when He delivered you from Pharaoh's people who had subjected you to severe persecution, and killed your sons and spared your women. And in this there was a great test from your Lord."

14:7  And when your Lord declared, "If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. And if you are ungrateful, My punishment is indeed severe."

14:8  And Moses said, "Even if you are ungrateful — you and those on earth all together — Allah certainly indeed can do without you being grateful to Him. HE is Self-sufficient, Praiseworthy."

14:9  Have you not heard of those before you — of the people of Noah and AAad and Thamood, and those after them? None knows them but Allah. Their Messengers came to them with clear signs. And they thrust their hands into their mouths in astonishment while witnessing those signs, but said, "We do not believe in the Message that you are sent with, and we are indeed utterly in doubt about what you invite us to."

14:10  Their Messengers said, "Is there any doubt about Allah, the Maker of the heavens and the earth? He invites you to Him so that He may forgive you your sins and give you time till an appointed term to redeem yourselves." They said, "You are but mortals like us. You wish to turn us away from what our fathers worshipped. Bring to us then some clear evidence for this."

14:11  Their Messengers said to them, "We are but mortals like you, but Allah bestows His favours upon whom He wills of His worshippers. And we cannot bring you any evidence except by Allah's permission. And in Allah then the believers should have trust."

14:12  "And what reason have we that we should have no trust in Allah, when, surely, He has guided us to our paths? And we shall certainly bear your persecution with patience. And those that trust do trust in Allah."

14:13  And those who suppressed the Truth told their Messengers, "We shall drive you out of our land, or you shall come back into our lifestyle." Their Lord then revealed to them, "We will destroy the wicked people."

14:14  "And We shall certainly settle you in the land after them. This is for him who fears standing in My presence and who fears My warnings."

14:15  And they sought victory and every obstinate tyrant was frustrated

14:16  Behind him [every obstinate tyrant] is Hell waiting to quench his thirst with fetid water

14:17  He will sip at it and it will not be easy for him to swallow it. And death will come to him from every quarter, but he shall not die. And further severe punishment shall await just behind him

14:18  Deeds of those who suppress the Truth about their Lord are like ashes on which the wind blows hard on a stormy day. They shall have no power over any thing they earn. This is far too grievous a loss of way

14:19  Do you not see that Allah created the heavens and the earth in Truth? If He wills He will take you off and bring a new creation.

14:20  And this is not at all difficult for Allah

14:21  And they shall all present themselves before Allah. Then the weak shall say to those who were proud, "We had indeed been your followers. Would you then withstand anything of Allah's punishment from us?" They would say, "If Allah had guided us, we too would have guided you. It is immaterial to us now whether we bewail or be patient. There is no place for us to escape to."

14:22  And the Satan shall say after the Judgment is pronounced, "Allah did indeed give you the true promise. And I gave you promises, but failed to keep them. And I had no authority over you except to call you to me, and you obeyed me! So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot be of any help to you now, nor can you be of any help to me. I do indeed deny that you had worshipped me, besides Allah, before." For the wicked people there shall indeed be a painful punishment

14:23  And those who believe and do good deeds shall be admitted to gardens beneath which rivers flow. They shall stay eternally therein by their Lord's leave. Their greeting therein shall be, "Peace."

14:24  Don't you see how Allah exemplifies a good word as a good tree with firm roots and with its branches spread out in the sky

14:25  Yielding its fruits every season by its Lord's leave? And Allah gives examples for the benefit of mankind so that they may ponder and remember

14:26  And the example of a bad word is a bad tree which can easily be uprooted from the earth's surface; it has no stability

14:27  Allah establishes, in the life of this world and in the Hereafter, those who believe in the firm Testament. And Allah leads the wicked persons astray, and Allah does what He wills

14:28  Have you not seen those who have changed Allah's favour by being ungrateful, and made their people eligible for the abode of ruin

14:29  Hell — they shall burn therein. And a very bad place it is to settle in

14:30  And they set up rivals to Allah that they may lead people away from His Path. Say, "Enjoy for now! Your destination then shall indeed be to the Fire."

14:31  Tell My subjects who believe that they should establish regular prayer and spend out ofh what We have given them, secretly and openly, before the coming of the day in which there shall be no trading nor any friendly give-and-take

14:32  Allah is He Who created the heavens and the earth and sent down water from the sky. Then, with it, He brought forth fruits as sustenance for you. And He made the ship subservient to you, so that it sails on the sea by His command. And He made the rivers serve your needs

14:33  And He made the sun and the moon — both pursuing their respective courses — serve your needs. And He made the night and the day serve you

14:34  And He gives you of all that you ask Him. And if you would like to know the number of times Allah favours you, you will not be able to count. Man is indeed very wicked, thankless

14:35  And when Abraham said, "My Lord! Make this a city of peace. And save me and my sons from worshipping idols."

14:36  "My Lord! They have indeed led many of mankind astray. The one, then, that follows me, is indeed of me. And as for the one that disobeys me, You indeed arc Forgiving, Merciful."

14:37  "O our Lord! I have indeed inhabited some of my offspring in an uncultivable valley near Your Sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish regular prayer there. Hence make some people come and settle near them, and provide them with fruits that they may be grateful."

14:38  "O our Lord! You do indeed know what we hide and what we do not. And nothing in the earth or in the heaven above is hidden from Allah."

14:39  "Praise to Allah, Who has given me, in old age, Ishmael and Isaac. My Lord does indeed hear the prayer."

14:40  "My Lord! Inspire me to establish regular prayer and inspire those from my offspring too. And, O our Lord, accept my prayer!"

14:41  "O our Lord! Pardon me, my parents and the believers on the Day of Accounting!"

14:42  And do not think that Allah is unaware of what the wicked people do. He does but give them respite till the day when the eyes shall get transfixed

14:43  Hurrying on in fear, their heads upraised — not glancing at themselves — and their hearts vacant

14:44  And warn people of the Day when the punishment shall come to them. Then those who were wicked will say, "O our Lord! Give us respite for a short term to enable us to respond to Your call and follow the Messengers." Did you not swear before that you shall have no downfall

14:45  And you had lived where those, who had transgressed against themselves, lived. And it was clear to you how We had dealt with them. And We had given you examples

14:46  And they did plan their plan. But their plan is with Allah, though their plan was such that the mountains could come down thereby

14:47  Think not then that Allah is one to fail in His promise to His Messengers. Allah is indeed Omnipotent and has the power to give a fitting retribution

14:48  On the Day when the earth shall be changed into a different earth — and the heavens too! And they shall present themselves before Allah, the One, the Almighty

14:49  And you will see the sinners on that day bound together in chains

14:50  Their dresses made of tar and the fire covering their faces

14:51  That Allah may repay everyone for what it earned. Allah is indeed quick in keeping accounts

14:52  This (Qur'aan) is a sufficient and eloquent exposition of the divine Message for the people that they may be warned thereby, that they may know that He is the One and Only Being worthy of being worshipped, and those endowed with insight may remember it and remind other people about it.