19:1  Kaf Ha Ya 'Ayn Sa

19:2  This is an account of your Lord’s grace towards His servant, Zachariah

19:3  when he called to his Lord secretly, saying

19:4  ‘Lord, my bones have weakened and my hair is ashen grey, but never, Lord, have I ever prayed to You in vain

19:5  I fear [what] my kinsmen [will do] when I am gone, for my wife is barren, so grant me a successor––a gift from You––

19:6  to be my heir and the heir of the family of Jacob. Lord, make him well pleasing [to You].’

19:7  ‘Zachariah, We bring you good news of a son whose name will be John––We have chosen this name for no one before him.’

19:8  He said, ‘Lord, how can I have a son when my wife is barren, and I am old and frail?’

19:9  He said, ‘This is what your Lord has said: “It is easy for Me: I created you, though you were nothing before.” ’

19:10  He said, ‘Give me a sign, Lord.’ He said, ‘Your sign is that you will not [be able to] speak to anyone for three full [days and] nights.’

19:11  He went out of the sanctuary to his people and signalled to them to praise God morning and evening

19:12  [We said], ‘John, hold on to the Scripture firmly.’ While he was still a boy, We granted him wisdom

19:13  tenderness from Us, and purity. He was devout

19:14  kind to his parents, not domineering or rebellious

19:15  Peace was on him the day he was born, the day he died, and it will be on him the day he is raised to life again

19:16  Mention in the Quran the story of Mary. She withdrew from her family to a place to the eas

19:17  and secluded herself away; We sent Our Spirit to appear before her in the form of a perfected man

19:18  She said, ‘I seek the Lord of Mercy’s protection against you: if you have any fear of Him [do not approach]!’

19:19  but he said, ‘I am but a Mes-senger from your Lord, [come] to announce to you the gift of a pure son.’

19:20  She said, ‘How can I have a son when no man has touched me? I have not been unchaste,’

19:21  and he said, ‘This is what your Lord said: “It is easy for Me- We shall make him a sign to all people, a blessing from Us.”’

19:22  And so it was ordained: she conceived him. She withdrew to a distant plac

19:23  and, when the pains of childbirth drove her to [cling to] the trunk of a palm tree, she exclaimed, ‘I wish I had been dead and forgotten long before all this!’

19:24  but a voice cried to her from below, ‘Do not worry: your Lord has provided a stream at your fee

19:25  and, if you shake the trunk of the palm tree towards you, it will deliver fresh ripe dates for you

19:26  so eat, drink, be glad, and say to anyone you may see: “I have vowed to the Lord of Mercy to abstain from conversation, and I will not talk to anyone today.”’

19:27  She went back to her people carrying the child, and they said, ‘Mary! You have done something terrible

19:28  Sister of Aaron! Your father was not an evil man; your mother was not unchaste!’

19:29  She pointed at him. They said, ‘How can we converse with an infant?’

19:30  [But] he said: ‘I am a servant of God. He has granted me the Scripture; made me a prophet

19:31  made me blessed wherever I may be. He commanded me to pray, to give alms as long as I live

19:32  to cherish my mother. He did not make me domineering or graceless

19:33  Peace was on me the day I was born, and will be on me the day I die and the day I am raised to life again.’

19:34  Such was Jesus, son of Mary. [This is] a statement of the Truth about which they are in doubt

19:35  it would not befit God to have a child. He is far above that: when He decrees something, He says only, ‘Be,’ and it is

19:36  ‘God is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him: that is a straight path.’

19:37  But factions have differed among themselves. What suffering will come to those who obscure the truth when a dreadful Day arrives

19:38  How sharp of hearing, how sharp of sight they will be when they come to Us, although now they are clearly off course! Warn them [Muhammad] of the Day of Remorse when the matter will be decided

19:39  for they are heedless and do not believe

19:40  It is We who will inherit the earth and all who are on it: they will all be returned to Us

19:41  Mention too, in the Quran, the story of Abraham. He was a man of truth, a prophet

19:42  He said to his father, ‘Father, why do you worship something that can neither hear nor see nor benefit you in any way

19:43  Father, knowledge that has not reached you has come to me, so follow me: I will guide you to an even path

19:44  Father, do not worship Satan- Satan has rebelled against the Lord of Mercy

19:45  Father, I fear that a punishment from the Lord of Mercy may afflict you and that you may become Satan’s companion [in Hell].’

19:46  His father answered, ‘Abraham, do you reject my gods? I will stone you if you do not stop this. Keep out of my way!’

19:47  Abraham said, ‘Peace be with you: I will beg my Lord to forgive you- He is always gracious to me

19:48  but for now I will leave you, and the idols you all pray to, and I will pray to my Lord and trust that my prayer will not be in vain.’

19:49  When he left his people and those they served beside God, We granted him Isaac and Jacob and made them both prophets

19:50  We granted Our grace to all of them, and gave them a noble reputation

19:51  Mention too, in the Quran, the story of Moses. He was specially chosen, a messenger and a prophet

19:52  We called to him from the right-hand side of the mountain and brought him close to Us in secret communion

19:53  out of Our grace We granted him his brother Aaron as a prophet

19:54  Mention too, in the Quran, the story of Ishmael. He was true to his promise, a messenger and a prophet

19:55  He commanded his household to pray and give alms, and his Lord was well pleased with him

19:56  Mention too, in the Quran, the story of Idris. He was a man of truth, a prophet

19:57  We raised him to a high position

19:58  These were the prophets God blessed- from the seed of Adam, of those We carried in the Ark with Noah, from the seed of Abraham and Israel- and those We guided and chose. When the revelations of the Lord of Mercy were recited to them, they fell to their knees and wept

19:59  but there came after them generations who neglected prayer and were driven by their own desires. These will come face to face with their evil

19:60  but those who repent, who believe, who do righteous deeds, will enter Paradise. They will not be wronged in the least

19:61  they will enter the Gardens of Lasting Bliss, promised by the Lord of Mercy to His servants- it is not yet seen but truly His promise will be fulfilled

19:62  There they will hear only peaceful talk, nothing bad; there they will be given provision morning and evening

19:63  That is the Garden We shall give as their own to those of Our servants who were devout

19:64  [Gabriel said],‘We only descend [with revelation] at your Lord’s command––everything before us, everything behind us, everything in between, all belongs to Him––your Lord is never forgetful

19:65  He is Lord of the heavens and earth and everything in between so worship Him: be steadfast in worshipping Him. Do you know of anyone equal to Him?’

19:66  Man says, ‘What? Once I am dead, will I be brought back to life?’

19:67  but does man not remember that We created him when he was nothing before

19:68  By your Lord [Prophet] We shall gather them and the devils together and set them on their knees around Hell

19:69  We shall seize out of each group those who were most disobedient towards the Lord of Mercy

19:70  We know best who most deserves to burn in Hell

19:71  but every single one of you will approach it, a decree from your Lord which must be fulfilled

19:72  We shall save the devout and leave the evildoers there on their knees

19:73  When Our revelations are recited to them in all their clarity, [all that] the disbelievers say to the believers [is], ‘Which side is better situated? Which side has the better following?’

19:74  We have destroyed many a generation before them who surpassed them in riches and outward glitter

19:75  Say [Prophet], ‘The Lord of Mercy lengthens [the lives] of the misguided, until, when they are confronted with what they have been warned about- either the punishment [in this life] or the Hour [of Judgement]- they realize who is worse situated and who has the weakest forces.’

19:76  But God gives more guidance to those who are guided, and good deeds of lasting merit are best and most rewarding in your Lord’s sight

19:77  Have you considered the man who rejects Our revelation, who says, ‘I will certainly be given wealth and children’

19:78  Has he penetrated the unknown or received a pledge to that effect from the Lord of Mercy

19:79  No! We shall certainly record what he says and prolong his punishment

19:80  We shall inherit from him all that he speaks of and he will come to Us all alone

19:81  They have taken other gods beside God to give them strength

19:82  but these gods will reject their worship and will even turn against them

19:83  Have you [Prophet] not seen how We send devils to incite the disbelievers to sin

19:84  There is no need for you to be impatient concerning them: We are counting down their [allotted] time

19:85  On the Day We gather the righteous as an honoured company before the Lord of Merc

19:86  and drive the sinful like a thirsty herd into Hell

19:87  no one will have power to intercede except for those who have permission from the Lord of Mercy

19:88  The disbelievers say, ‘The Lord of Mercy has offspring.’

19:89  How terrible is this thing you assert

19:90  it almost causes the heavens to be torn apart, the earth to split asunder, the mountains to crumble to pieces

19:91  that they attribute offspring to the Lord of Mercy

19:92  It does not befit the Lord of Mercy [to have offspring]

19:93  there is no one in the heavens or earth who will not come to the Lord of Mercy as a servant

19:94  He has counted them all: He has numbered them exactly

19:95  and they will each return to Him on the Day of Resurrection all alone

19:96  But the Lord of Mercy will give love to those who believe and do righteous deeds

19:97  We have made it easy, in your own language [Prophet], so that you may bring glad news to the righteous and warnings to a stubborn people

19:98  How many generations We have destroyed before them! Do you perceive a single one of them now, or hear as much as a whisper