26:1  Ţā. SÄ«n. MÄ«m.

26:2  These are verses of the Book that makes things clear.

26:3  Would you, perhaps, torment yourself to death [with grief] because they would not believe?

26:4  If We will, We can send down to them from the skies a sign before which their necks will remain bent in submission.

26:5  Yet whenever any fresh reminder comes to them from the Most Merciful, they always turn their backs on it.

26:6  They have indeed denied [the truth of revelation]; and they will in time come to understand what it was they were wont to deride.

26:7  Do they not see the earth, how much of every noble kind We have caused to grow on it?

26:8  Indeed, there is in this a sure sign; yet most of them will not believe.

26:9  And indeed it is your Lord who is the Mighty One, the Merciful.

26:10  Your Lord called Moses: 'Go to the wrongdoing people,

26:11  the people of Pharaoh. Will they have no fear of God?'

26:12  He said: 'My Lord, I fear that they will charge me with falsehood,

26:13  and then my breast will be straitened and my tongue will not be fluent. So send as well for Aaron.

26:14  Moreover, they have a charge of crime against me, and I fear that they will kill me.'

26:15  Said He: 'By no means! Go forth, then, both of you, with Our signs; We are with you, listening to all.

26:16  Go, both of you, to Pharaoh, and say: 'We are messengers from the Lord of all the worlds:

26:17  Let the Children of Israel go with us.'

26:18  [Pharaoh] said [to Moses]: 'Did we not bring you up when you were an infant? And did you not stay with us many years of your life?

26:19  Yet you have done that deed of yours while being an unbeliever.'

26:20  Replied [Moses]: 'I committed it while I was still going astray;

26:21  and I fled from you because I feared you. Then my Lord granted me sound judgement and made me one of [His] messengers.

26:22  And what sort of favour is this you are taunting me with: was it not because you had enslaved the Children of Israel?'

26:23  Pharaoh said: And what is that “Lord of all the worlds”?

26:24  [Moses] answered: 'He is the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, if you want to be sure.'

26:25  [Pharaoh] said to those around him: 'Do you hear?'

26:26  [Moses] said: 'He is your Lord as well as the Lord of your forefathers of old.'

26:27  [Pharaoh] said: 'For certain, the messenger who has been sent to you is indeed a madman.'

26:28  [Moses] went on: 'He is indeed the Lord of the east and the west and of all that is between them, if you would but use your reason.'

26:29  [Pharaoh] said: 'If you ever serve a god other than me, I will most certainly have you imprisoned.'

26:30  Said [Moses]: 'Even if I bring before you a clear proof?'

26:31  [Pharaoh] said: 'Produce it, then, if you are a man of truth.'

26:32  So he threw down his staff and behold, it was a serpent, plain for all to see.

26:33  And he drew out his hand, and behold, it was white to the onlookers.

26:34  [Pharaoh] said to the noble ones around him: 'This is indeed a sorcerer of great knowledge

26:35  who wants to drive you out of your land by his sorcery. What, then, do you advise?'

26:36  They said: 'Let him and his brother wait a while, and send heralds to all cities

26:37  to bring before you every sorcerer of great skill.'

26:38  So the sorcerers were assembled at a set time on an appointed day,

26:39  and the people were asked: 'Are you all present,

26:40  so that we may follow the sorcerers if they emerge triumphant?'

26:41  When the sorcerers arrived they said to Pharaoh: Will there be a [handsome] reward for us if we are the ones to prevail?'

26:42  Said he: 'Yes, indeed! And in that case you will be among those who are close to me.'

26:43  Moses said to them: 'Throw whatever you are going to throw!'

26:44  So they threw their ropes and staffs, and said: 'By Pharaoh's might, it is we indeed who will prevail.'

26:45  Then Moses threw his staff, and it swallowed up their false devices.

26:46  The sorcerers fell down prostrating themselves,

26:47  and said: 'We believe in the Lord of all the worlds,

26:48  the Lord of Moses and Aaron.'

26:49  [Pharaoh] said: 'You believe in Him even before I have given you permission! Surely, this one must be your master who has taught you witchcraft! But in time you shall come to know. I shall most certainly have your hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, and I shall most certainly crucify you all.'

26:50  They said: 'No harm [can you cause us]. To our Lord we shall indeed return.

26:51  We certainly hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins, since we are the first who have believed.'

26:52  Then We revealed to Moses: 'Set forth with My servants by night, for you will be pursued.'

26:53  Pharaoh sent heralds to all cities,

26:54  [saying]: 'These are but a small band,

26:55  and most certainly they have enraged us;

26:56  but we are all united, and well prepared.'

26:57  Thus We drove them out of their gardens, springs,

26:58  treasures and honourable positions.

26:59  And We bequeathed it all to the Children of Israel.

26:60  And so they [i.e. Pharaoh's army] pursued them at sunrise.

26:61  When the two hosts came in sight of each other, the followers of Moses said: 'We shall certainly be overtaken.'

26:62  He replied: 'No indeed! My Lord is with me and He will guide me.'

26:63  And We revealed to Moses: 'Strike the sea with your staff.' So it divided, and each part was like a massive mountain.

26:64  And We caused the others to draw near,

26:65  and We saved Moses and all who were with him,

26:66  while We caused the others to drown.

26:67  Indeed, there is in this a sure sign; yet most of them will not believe.

26:68  And indeed it is your Lord who is the Mighty One, the Merciful.

26:69  Relate to them the story of Abraham,

26:70  when he said to his father and his people: 'What is that you worship?'

26:71  They answered: 'We worship idols, and we remain devoted to them.'

26:72  Said he: 'Do they hear you when you call on them,

26:73  or benefit you or do you harm?'

26:74  They said: 'But we found our forefathers doing the same.'

26:75  He said: 'Do you see those which you have been worshipping —

26:76  you and your forefathers of old?

26:77  They are my enemies, except for the Lord of all the worlds.

26:78  'It is He who has created me, and is the One who guides me.

26:79  He is the One who gives me to eat and to drink.

26:80  When I fall ill, He is the One who restores me to health,

26:81  and will cause me to die and then will bring me back to life.

26:82  It is He also who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the Day of Judgement.'

26:83  'My Lord! Grant me sound judgement, and join me with the righteous;

26:84  and grant me the advocacy of the truth in later generations;

26:85  place me among those who will inherit the garden of bliss!

26:86  Forgive my father; for he is among the ones who have gone astray.

26:87  Let me not suffer disgrace on the Day when all shall be raised from the dead;

26:88  the Day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit;

26:89  but only the one who comes to God with a sound heart [will be happy]

26:90  Paradise will be brought within sight of the God-fearing;

26:91  whereas the blazing fire will be placed in full view of the ones lost in error.

26:92  It shall be said to them: 'Where is now all that you used to worship

26:93  instead of God? Can they help you or even help themselves?'

26:94  They will be hurled into hell, as also those who are lost in error,

26:95  and IblÄ«s' hosts, all together.

26:96  And there, quarrelling with one another, they will say:

26:97  'By God, we were obviously in error,

26:98  when we deemed you equal to the Lord of all the worlds.

26:99  It was only the truly guilty ones who led us astray.

26:100  And now we have none to intercede for us

26:101  nor any loving friend.

26:102  Would that we had a second chance [in life], so that we could be believers.'

26:103  Indeed, there is in this a sure sign; yet most of them will not believe.

26:104  And indeed it is your Lord who is the Mighty One, the Merciful.

26:105  The people of Noah, too, denied God's messengers.

26:106  Their brother Noah said to them: 'Will you have no fear of God?

26:107  I am a Messenger [sent by Him] to you, worthy of all trust.

26:108  So, fear God and pay heed to me.

26:109  No reward whatever do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of all the worlds.

26:110  So, fear God and pay heed to me.'

26:111  They said: Are we to believe in you, even though only the lowest of the low follow you?'

26:112  Said he: 'What knowledge do I have as to what they used to do in the past?

26:113  Their reckoning rests with none other than my Lord, if you could but understand.

26:114  I am not one to drive away the believers.

26:115  I am only a plain warner.'

26:116  Said they: 'Noah! If you will not desist, you will surely be stoned to death.'

26:117  He prayed: 'My Lord! My people have denied me.

26:118  So, judge decisively between me and them, and save me and those of the believers who are with me.'

26:119  So We saved him, and those with him, in the laden ark,

26:120  and We caused the others who stayed behind to drown.

26:121  Indeed, there is in this a sure sign; yet most of them will not believe.

26:122  And indeed it is your Lord who is the Mighty One, the Merciful.

26:123  The `Ä€d, too, denied God's messengers.

26:124  Their brother HÅ«d said to them: Will you have no fear of God?

26:125  I am a Messenger [sent by Him] to you, worthy of all trust.

26:126  So, fear God and pay heed to me.

26:127  No reward whatever do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of all the worlds.

26:128  'Do you build a landmark on every high place, in a vain endeavour,

26:129  and make for yourselves strong structures, hoping to be immortal?

26:130  When you exercise your power, you do so like cruel tyrants.

26:131  So, fear God and pay heed to me.

26:132  Fear Him who has provided you with all that you know.

26:133  He has provided you with cattle and children,

26:134  and gardens and springs.

26:135  Indeed, I fear lest suffering befall you on an awesome day.'

26:136  They answered: 'It is all one to us whether you admonish us or you never give admonition.

26:137  This is none but the practice of the ancients.

26:138  Never are we going to be punished.'

26:139  Thus they denied him. So We destroyed them. Indeed, there is in this a sure sign; yet most of them will not believe.

26:140  And indeed it is your Lord who is the Mighty One, the Merciful.

26:141  The ThamÅ«d, too, denied God's messengers.

26:142  Their brother ŞāliÄ¥ said to them: Will you have no fear of God?

26:143  I am a Messenger [sent by Him] to you, worthy of all trust.

26:144  So, fear God and pay heed to me.

26:145  No reward whatever do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of all the worlds.

26:146  Will you be left secure [forever] in the midst of what you have here,

26:147  among gardens and springs

26:148  and plantations and palm-trees laden with ripe fruit?

26:149  You carve dwellings out of the mountains with great skill.

26:150  So, fear God and pay heed to me.

26:151  And pay no heed to the counsel of those who are given to excesse

26:152  — who spread corruption on earth instead of setting things to rights.'

26:153  They said: 'You are but one who has been bewitched.

26:154  You are only a human being like us. So bring us a sign if you are a man of truth.'

26:155  He said: 'Here is a she-camel: she shall have her drinking share, and you shall have your drinking share, each on an appointed day.

26:156  Do not harm her, lest suffering befall you on an awesome day.'

26:157  But they cruelly slew her; then they became regretful.

26:158  So the suffering befell them. Indeed, there is in this a sure sign; yet most of them will not believe.

26:159  And indeed it is your Lord who is the Mighty One, the Merciful.

26:160  The people of Lot, too, denied God's messengers.

26:161  Their brother Lot said to them: Will you have no fear of God?

26:162  I am a Messenger [sent by Him] to you, worthy of all trust.

26:163  So, fear God and pay heed to me.

26:164  No reward whatever do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of all the worlds.

26:165  Of all the creatures in the world, will you lustfully approach males,

26:166  and eschew the wives God has created for you? You are indeed people who transgress all bounds.'

26:167  Said they: 'Lot! If you will not desist, you will most certainly be expelled.'

26:168  He said: 'I am one who utterly abhors your doings.

26:169  My Lord! Save me and my family from what they do.'

26:170  So We saved him and all his family

26:171  except an old woman, who was among those who stayed behind.

26:172  Then We utterly destroyed the others,

26:173  and rained down upon them a [devastating] rain. Dire indeed was the rain that fell upon those who were warned [to no avail].

26:174  Indeed, there is in this a sure sign; yet most of them will not believe.

26:175  And indeed it is your Lord who is the Mighty One, the Merciful.

26:176  The dwellers of the wooded dales [of Madyan], too, denied God's messengers.

26:177  Their brother Shu`ayb said to them: 'Will you have no fear of God?

26:178  I am a Messenger [sent by Him] to you, worthy of all trust.

26:179  So, fear God and pay heed to me.

26:180  No reward whatever do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of all the worlds.

26:181  Give full measure; and be not of those who give others less [than their due];

26:182  and weigh with even scales;

26:183  and do not deprive others of what rightfully belongs to them; and do not act wickedly on earth spreading corruption;

26:184  and fear Him who has created you as well as the countless generations of old.'

26:185  They said: 'You are but one who has been bewitched.

26:186  You are only a human being like us! And, indeed, we believe that you are lying.

26:187  Cause, then, fragments of the sky to fall down on us, if you are a man of truth.'

26:188  Answered he: 'My Lord knows fully well all that you do.'

26:189  But they denied him. Thus suffering overtook them on the day of the darkening cloud. It was truly the suffering of an awesome day.

26:190  Indeed, there is in this a sure sign; yet most of them will not believe.

26:191  And indeed it is your Lord who is the Mighty One, the Merciful.

26:192  Most certainly, this [Qur'ān] has been bestowed from on high by the Lord of all the worlds.

26:193  The trustworthy Spirit has brought it down

26:194  into your heart — so that you may give warning,

26:195  in the clear Arabic tongue.

26:196  It was surely foretold in the revealed books of former peoples.

26:197  Is it not sufficient proof for them that the learned ones among the Children of Israel have recognized it [as true]?

26:198  Had We revealed it to any non- Arab,

26:199  and had he recited it to them, they would not have believed in it.

26:200  Thus have We caused it to pass through the hearts of the guilty:

26:201  they shall not believe in it until they see the grievous suffering.

26:202  It will come to them suddenly, without their being aware of it.

26:203  And then they will say: 'Could we have a respite?'

26:204  Do they, then, wish that Our punishment be hurried on?

26:205  But consider this: If We allow them to enjoy themselves for several years,

26:206  and then the promised [punishment] befalls them —

26:207  of what avail to them will be all their past enjoyment?

26:208  Never have We destroyed any community unless it had received warnings,

26:209  and reminders. Never do We wrong anyone.

26:210  No evil spirits have brought down [this Qur'ān]

26:211  It is not for them [to do so], nor can they.

26:212  Indeed they are debarred even from hearing it.

26:213  Hence, do not invoke any other deity side by side with God, lest you find yourself among those suffering punishment.

26:214  And warn your nearest kindred,

26:215  and spread the wing of your tenderness over all of the believers who follow you.

26:216  But if they disobey you, say: 'I am not accountable for what you do.'

26:217  Place your trust in the Almighty, the Compassionate

26:218  who sees you when you stand,

26:219  and [sees] your movement among those who prostrate themselves [before Him].

26:220  It is He alone who hears all and knows all.

26:221  Shall I tell you upon whom it is that the satans descend?

26:222  They descend upon every lying sinner.

26:223  They eagerly listen, but most of them are liars.

26:224  As for the poets, only those who are lost in error follow them.

26:225  Are you not aware that they roam confusedly through all valleys,

26:226  and that they say what they do not do?

26:227  Excepted are those who believe, and do righteous deeds, and remember God often, and strive to be triumphant after they have been wronged. Those who are bent on wrongdoing will in time know what an evil turn their destiny will surely take.