38:1  Sad, and by the Qur´an full of exhortation

38:2  Nay, but the unbelievers are steeped in arrogance and stubborn defiance

38:3  How many a nation did We destroy before them! (When they approached their doom) they cried out (for deliverance), but the time for deliverance was already past

38:4  They wondered that a warner had come to them from among themselves, and the deniers of the Truth said: "This is a sorcerer, and a big liar

38:5  Has he made the gods one single God? This is truly astounding."

38:6  And the elders among them went forth saying: "Go ahead and be steadfast in adhering to your deities. What is being said is with a design."

38:7  We have not heard this in the religious community close to our time. This is nothing but a fabrication

38:8  Has this Exhortation been sent down among us only to him, to the exclusion of all others?" Nay, they are in doubt regarding My Exhortation, and are saying all this because they have not yet had any taste of My chastisement

38:9  Do they possess the treasures of your Lord, the Most Mighty, the Great Bestower

38:10  Or do they possess the dominion of the heavens and the earth and of all that is in between them? If so, let them ascend the heights of the realm of causation and see

38:11  This is only a small army out of the several armies that will suffer defeat here

38:12  Before them the people of Noah, Ad, and Pharaoh of the tent-pegs gave the lie (to the Messengers

38:13  and so did Thamud and the people of Lot and the people of Aykah. These were all leagued together

38:14  Each of them gave the lie to Messengers and My decree of chastisement came upon them

38:15  They are waiting for nothing except a single Cry, after which there will be no second Cry

38:16  They say: "Our Lord, hasten to us our share (of chastisement) before the Day of Reckoning."

38:17  (O Prophet), bear with patience what they say, and call to mind Our servant David, who was endowed with great strength and who constantly turned (to Allah)

38:18  With him We had subjected the mountains that they join him in celebrating Allah´s glory, evening and morning

38:19  and the birds, too, in their flocks, and turn again and again to celebrating Allah´s glory

38:20  And We strengthened his kingdom and endowed him with wisdom and decisive judgement

38:21  Has the story of the litigants reached you ? of those who entered his private chambers by climbing over the wall

38:22  As they came upon David ? and he was frightened of them ? they said: "Be not afraid. We are just two litigants: one of us has committed excess against the other. So judge rightly between us, and be not unjust; and guide us to the Right Way

38:23  Behold, this is my brother; he has ninety-nine ewes and I have only one ewe." And yet he said: "Give her into my charge," and he got the better of me in argument

38:24  David said: "He has certainly wronged you in seeking to add your ewe to his ewes; and indeed many who live together commit excesses, one to the other, except those that believe and act righteously; and they are but few." (While so saying) David realized that it is We Who have put him to test; therefore, he sought the forgiveness of his Lord, and fell down, bowing and penitently turning (to Him)

38:25  Thereupon We forgave him his shortcoming and indeed (an exalted position of) nearness awaits him, and an excellent resort

38:26  (We said to him): "O David, We have appointed you vicegerent on earth. Therefore, rule among people with justice and do not follow (your) desire lest it should lead you astray from Allah´s Path. Allah´s severe chastisement awaits those who stray away from Allah´s Path, for they had forgotten the Day of Reckoning

38:27  We did not create this heaven and earth and all that lies between them in vain. That is the fancy of those who denied the Truth. So woe from the Fire to all who deny the Truth

38:28  Shall We then treat alike those that believe and act righteously and those that create mischief on earth? Or treat alike the God-fearing and the wicked

38:29  This is the Blessed Book that We have revealed to you, (O Muhammad), that people with understanding may reflect over its verses and those with understanding derive a lesson

38:30  We bestowed upon David (an illustrious son), Solomon. How excellent a servant (of Ours he was)! Indeed he constantly turned to Us in devotion

38:31  And when one evening well-trained and running horses of noble breed were brought to hi

38:32  he said: "Lo! I have come to love this wealth on account of the remembrance of my Lord." And when the horses disappeared

38:33  (he ordered): "Bring these horses back to me," and then he began to gently stroke their shanks and necks

38:34  Surely We put Solomon to the test and cast upon his throne a mere body. Thereupon he penitently turned (to Us)

38:35  He said: "My Lord, forgive me and bestow upon me a kingdom such as none other after me will deserve. Surely You are the Bounteous Giver."

38:36  We subjected the wind to him, so that it blew gently at his bidding, wherever he directed it

38:37  and We also subjected the devils to him ? all kinds of builders and divers

38:38  and others that were bound with chains

38:39  "This is Our bestowal. So give or withhold as you wish without account."

38:40  Indeed an exalted position of nearness awaits him and an excellent resort

38:41  And remember Our servant Job: when he cried to his Lord: "Behold, Satan has afflicted me with much hardship and suffering."

38:42  (We commanded him): "Stamp your foot on earth, and here is cool water to wash with and to drink."

38:43  And We granted to him his family and also the like of them, as a mercy from Us, and as a reminder to people of understanding

38:44  (and We said to him): "Take in your hand a bundle of rushes and strike with it, and do not break your oath." Indeed We found him steadfast. How excellent a servant (of Ours) he was. Indeed he constantly turned (to his Lord)

38:45  And remember Our servants ? Abraham, Isaac and Jacob ? they were endowed with great strength and vision

38:46  Verily We exalted them in consideration of a sterling quality: their remembrance of the Abode of the Hereafter

38:47  In Our sight they are among the chosen and excellent ones

38:48  And remember Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhu al-Kifl. All were of the best

38:49  This was a remembrance. An excellent retreat awaits the God-fearin

38:50  ? everlasting Gardens with gates wide open for the

38:51  wherein they shall recline, wherein they shall ask for abundant fruit and drinks

38:52  and wherein there shall be with them well-matched, bashful mates

38:53  All this is what you are promised for the Day of Judgement

38:54  This is Our provision for you, never to end

38:55  All this (is for the God-fearing). But for the transgressors, an evil resort awaits them

38:56  Hell, where they will be roasted. An evil place to dwell

38:57  All this (is for them); so let them taste boiling water and pus

38:58  and other sufferings of the kind

38:59  (Observing their followers advancing to Hell they will say, among themselves: "This is a troop rushing in to you. There is no welcome for them. They are destined to roast in the Fire."

38:60  They will reply: "Rather, no welcome to you. (You will roast in Hell.) It is you who led us to this end. What an evil resort!"

38:61  They will say: "Our Lord, give twofold punishment in the Fire to him who has led us to this."

38:62  They will say to one another: "But why do we not see those whom we considered him among the wicked

38:63  Is it that we mistakenly made fun of them; or have they disappeared from our sight?"

38:64  Verily all this is true. This is how the inmates of the Fire will dispute among themselves

38:65  Tell them, (O Prophet): "I am nothing but a warner. There is no deity but Allah, the One, the Supreme

38:66  the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is in between them, the Most Mighty, the Most Forgiving."

38:67  Say: "This is a tiding of tremendous impor

38:68  from which you are turning away."

38:69  (Tell them): "I had no knowledge of the High Council when they were disputing

38:70  I am told (about matters) by means of revelation only because I am a clear warner."

38:71  When your Lord said to the angels: "Verily I am creating a human being from clay

38:72  After I have created him and breathed into him of My spirit, fall you down, prostrating yourselves to him."

38:73  Then the angels, all of them, prostrated themselves before Ada

38:74  except Iblis. He waxed proud and became one of the unbelievers

38:75  The Lord said: "O Iblis, what prevented you from prostrating yourself before him whom I created of My Two Hands. Are you waxing proud, or fancy yourself to be too exalted?"

38:76  He replied: "I am nobler than he. You created me from fire and created him from clay."

38:77  He said: "Get out of here; surely you are accursed

38:78  and My curse shall remain upon you till the Day of Resurrection."

38:79  Satan said: "My Lord, then grant me respite till the Day that they are raised up."

38:80  He said: "You are of those who have been granted respit

38:81  till the Day whose Hour I know."

38:82  (Iblis) said: "By Your glory, I shall mislead them al

38:83  except those of Your servants, the chosen ones from amongst them."

38:84  He (i.e. Allah) said: "This is the Truth ? and I only speak the Truth

38:85  I will certainly fill the Gehenna with you and with all those among them who follow you."

38:86  (O Prophet), tell them: "I do not ask you for any recompense for the performance of this task; nor am I given to affectation

38:87  This is nothing but an Admonition for all people the world over

38:88  You will know the truth of the matter after a while."