38:1  Sad. (Only Allah and the Messenger [blessings and peace be upon him] know the real meaning.) By the Holy Qur’an, full of direction and guidance

38:2  But the disbelievers are in (the trouble of undue and unjust) conceit and arrogance, (suffering from) opposition and enmity (against Our Esteemed Prophet)

38:3  How many a community We have destroyed before them! And they started crying (on seeing the torment) when there was no time left for deliverance (and release)

38:4  And they wondered that a Warner had come to them from amongst themselves and the disbelievers said: ‘He is a magician, a great liar

38:5  Has he turned all the gods into one God? That is indeed a very strange thing!

38:6  And their chiefs (stood up terminating their meeting with the Holy Prophet [blessings and peace be upon him] at Abu Talib’s house) and walked out saying (to the rest of the people): ‘You also walk out, and be firm-footed in (worshipping) your gods. There is for sure some motive (and purpose) behind it

38:7  We have not heard of this (belief in the Oneness of God) even amongst the last community (of Christianity or the religion of the Quraysh). This is but a fabricated lie

38:8  Has this admonition (the Qur’an) been sent down to him alone out of all of us?’ To be more precise, they are (caught) in doubt about My admonition. But in truth they have not yet tasted My torment

38:9  Do they have the treasures of the mercy of your Lord, Who is the Almighty, the Most Benevolent

38:10  Or do they possess the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them? (If so,) then they should tie up ropes and climb up (to heaven)

38:11  They are just a worthless army of the armies (of the disbelievers) that is about to be badly defeated at this very place

38:12  Before them the people of Nuh (Noah) and ‘Ad and (also) Pharaoh, the powerful king (who tortured with stakes), belied and disbelieved

38:13  And Thamud and the people of Lut (Lot) and the dwellers of (the Wood) al-Ayka (i.e., the people of Shu‘ayb) too (denied). These were the large armies

38:14  Each (one of these) people rejected the Messengers and My torment became inevitable (for them)

38:15  And all of them are waiting for a single mighty blast (shout) in which there will be no deferment

38:16  And they say: ‘O our Lord, hasten to us our share even before the Day of Reckoning.

38:17  (O My Esteemed Beloved!) Continue observing patience with what they say and remember Our servant Dawud (David), who had great power. Certainly, he was ever-turning (to Us in repentance)

38:18  Indeed, We put mountains under his command which (joining him) used to glorify Me evening and morning

38:19  And the birds as well that used to flock (in his presence); each would turn towards him (seeking to obey his commands)

38:20  And We strengthened and stabilized his state and rule, and blessed him with wisdom, insight and a decisive (and distinctive) oratory

38:21  And has the news of the contenders reached you when they jumped over the wall and entered the chamber of worship (of Dawud [David])

38:22  When they came inside to Dawud (David), he felt nervous. They said: ‘Do not feel upset. We are two parties in a dispute. One of us has wronged the other. So judge between us with truth and justice, and do not exceed limits, and lead us towards the right path

38:23  Surely, he is my brother; he has ninety-nine ewes and I have only one ewe. Yet he says: ‘Give it (also) to me,’ and he suppresses me in conversation (as well)

38:24  Dawud (David) said: ‘He has done you a wrong in demanding your ewe to add to his own ewes, and it is true that most of the partners wrong one another except those who believe and do pious deeds, and such people are very few.’ And it occurred to Dawud (David) that We had put him to trial (through that dispute). So he prayed for forgiveness from his Lord and fell down prostrate and turned (to Allah) in repentance

38:25  So We granted him forgiveness, and surely he enjoys special nearness in Our presence and an exalted position (in the Hereafter)

38:26  O Dawud (David)! Verily, We have made you (Our) vicegerent in the earth. So judge between the people (or rule) with truth and justice. And do not follow your desire, for this (pursuance of desire) shall turn you away from the path of Allah. Surely, those who turn away from the path of Allah, for them is severe punishment because they forget the Day of Reckoning

38:27  And We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them without any purpose and good reason. It is the view and concept of the disbelievers (that this is a purposeless creation that came about by chance). So for the disbelievers there is torment of the Fire of Hell

38:28  Shall We make those who believe and do constructive works like those who corrupt the earth with mischief and destructive works? Or shall We make the pious like the corrupt and wicked

38:29  This is a Blessed Book that We have revealed to you so that the wise may ponder over its Verses and seek direction and guidance

38:30  And We blessed Dawud (David) with (a son) Sulayman (Solomon). How excellent a servant was he! He is indeed oft-returning to Allah in repentance

38:31  When swift horses of a fine breed were presented to him in the evening

38:32  He said (remorsefully): ‘I have cherished love for wealth (i.e., horses) more than the love for the remembrance of my Lord until (the sun) disappeared behind the veil (of night).

38:33  He said: ‘Bring them (horses) back to me.’ So he cut away their legs and necks (with a sword, and thus he slaughtered his love for nearness to Allah)

38:34  And indeed, We (also) put Sulayman (Solomon) to trial, and placed an (unusually created) body on his throne. Then he regained (the rule)

38:35  He submitted: ‘O my Lord, forgive me, and bestow on me such a reign that no one may have after me. Surely, You are Most Benevolent.

38:36  Then We caused the wind to obey him. It used to blow gently under his command wherever he would desire (it) to go

38:37  And all the jinn (and devils were also subdued to him) and every architect and diver (too)

38:38  And (also) other jinn bound in chains

38:39  (Allah said:) ‘This is Our bestowal. (Whether you) confer (it) on others or hold back (to you), no account will be asked for (in both the cases).

38:40  And surely, he enjoys exclusive nearness in Our presence and an exalted position in the Hereafter

38:41  And mention Our servant Ayyub (Job) when he cried to his Lord: ‘Satan has afflicted me with great torture and suffering.

38:42  (Allah said:) ‘Strike the ground with your foot. Here is a spring (of cool water) to bathe and drink.

38:43  And We gave him his family, and as many more (members of family) along with them, as a special mercy from Us and as advice for the wise

38:44  (O Ayyub [Job]!) Take a broom of (one hundred) twigs in your hand, and strike (your wife once) with that (to fulfil your oath), and do not break your oath. Surely, We found him steadfast. How excellent a servant was (Ayyub [Job])! Surely, he was oft-returning (to Us) in repentance

38:45  And mention Our servants Ibrahim (Abraham) and Ishaq (Isaac) and Ya‘qub (Jacob), who wielded great power and possessed vision

38:46  Surely, We chose them for an exclusive (characteristic of) the remembrance of the home in the Hereafter

38:47  And verily, in Our Sight they were of the chosen, exalted (and) most liked servants

38:48  And (also) mention Isma‘il (Ishmael) and al-Yasa‘ (Isaiah) and Dhu al-Kifl (Ezekiel). And all of them were of the chosen ones

38:49  This is the direction and guidance (which is cited in the first Verse of this Sura). And surely, for the Godfearing there is a blessed abode

38:50  (They are) the Gardens of Eden to live in forever. Their doors will be opened for them

38:51  There, reclining on cushions, they will be sitting (on couches), calling (at intervals) for plenteous fine fruits and (delicious) drinks

38:52  And beside them will be pure women (houris) with gazes lowered (i.e., chaste) and of equal age

38:53  These are the blessings which you are promised for the Day of Reckoning

38:54  Surely, this is Our provision which is never to exhaust

38:55  This (is for the believers), and surely for the defiant there is an extremely evil abode

38:56  (That is) Hell which they will enter, and that is extremely evil bedding

38:57  This (is punishment) so they should taste it: boiling water and pus

38:58  And there is also a variety of (torments of) similar nature

38:59  (The Guards of Hell or the inmates of Hell already there will say:) ‘This is an(other) army which is rushing into Hell along with you. There is no welcome for them. Surely, they (too) are about to enter Hell.

38:60  They (the arrivals) will say: ‘In fact, it is you; may there be no reception for you! It is but you who brought us this (disbelief and torment). So (this) is an evil resting place.

38:61  They will say: ‘O our Lord, the one who brought for us this (disbelief or torment), increase his torment in Hell twofold.

38:62  And they will say: ‘What is the matter with us that we do not see (those) persons (here) we used to count amongst the evil people?

38:63  Did we use to scoff at them (unjustly) or did our eyes miss (to recognize) them? (These were the sold-to-God divines like ‘Ammar, Khabab, Suhayb, Bilal and Salman, [may Allah be well pleased with all of them.]

38:64  Surely, this mutual dispute of the inmates of Hell is true

38:65  Say: ‘I am only a Warner and there is no God except Allah, the One, the All-Dominant

38:66  The Lord of the heavens and the earth and (all) what is between the two, the Almighty, Most Forgiving.

38:67  Say: ‘That (Day of Rising) is the tremendous piece of news

38:68  You have turned your faces away from it

38:69  I did not know of the Supreme Assembly (of angels on my own) when they were holding discussions (about the creation of Adam)

38:70  The only Revelation that is sent to me (from Allah) is that I am but a clear and straight Warner.

38:71  (Recall) when your Lord said to the angels: ‘I am about to create a human organism from (moist) clay

38:72  Then when I have perfected its (visible body) and blown into its (invisible) self My Own (illumining) spirit, fall down prostrate before him (in his honour).

38:73  So all the angels fell down together prostrating themselves before him

38:74  Except Iblis. He showed arrogance (against the dignity of the Prophet) and became one of the disbelievers

38:75  (Allah) said: ‘O Iblis, what has prevented you from falling down prostrate before this (exalted person) whom I have created with My Own (Benevolent) Hand? Did you show arrogance (to him), or were you (presuming yourself) high ranking?

38:76  (Comparing himself with the Prophet,) he said: ‘I am better than he. You have created me from fire and You have created him from clay.

38:77  Allah said: ‘So get out from here (for the sin of insolence against the Prophet). Surely, you are rejected

38:78  And surely, My curse is on you till the Day of Resurrection.

38:79  He said: ‘O Lord, then give me respite (to remain alive) till the Day when they are raised alive from the graves.

38:80  Allah said: ‘(Be off;) you are surely of those who are granted respite

38:81  Till the Day of the time which is appointed (and known).

38:82  He said: ‘By Your Honour, I shall certainly turn all of them away from the straight path with persistence

38:83  Except those of Your servants who are chosen and exalted ones.

38:84  Allah said: ‘So the truth is (this), and the truth I say

38:85  That I will fill Hell with you and with all those who will follow your (denigrating mindset).

38:86  Say: ‘I do not ask you for any reward for this (preaching of the truth), nor am I of those who pretend

38:87  This (Qur’an) is only direction and guidance for the whole world

38:88  And you will yourselves come to know its truth after a while.