Sura al-Zukhruf

43:1. Ha-Mim.

حم

43:2. By the Manifest Book.

والكتاب المبين

43:3. We have made it a Qur’an in Arabic so perhaps you may understand.

إنا جعلناه قرآنا عربيا لعلكم تعقلون

43:4. It is indeed (inscribed) with Us in the Original Source of the (Divine) Books. (It is) surely highly esteemed (and) rich in wisdom.

وإنه في أم الكتاب لدينا لعلي حكيم

43:5. Shall We withhold the Reminder from you altogether because you have been a transgressing lot?

أفنضرب عنكم الذكر صفحا أن كنتم قوما مسرفين

43:6. How many prophets did We send to the ancients?

وكم أرسلنا من نبي في الأولين

43:7. Yet never a prophet came to them, but they used to mock him.

وما يأتيهم من نبي إلا كانوا به يستهزؤون

43:8. So, We destroyed those stronger than these (Meccans). And the example of (their) predecessors has passed before.

فأهلكنا أشد منهم بطشا ومضى مثل الأولين

43:9. If you ask them: ‘Who created the heavens and the earth?’ They will surely say: ‘The All-Mighty, the All-Knowing (Lord) created them.’

ولئن سألتهم من خلق السماوات والأرض ليقولن خلقهن العزيز العليم

43:10. (He is) the One Who made the earth a cradle for you and set pathways in it for you so that you may be guided (to your destinations),

الذي جعل لكم الأرض مهدا وجعل لكم فيها سبلا لعلكم تهتدون

43:11. and Who sent down water from the sky in perfect measure, and We revived with it a dead land. Thus shall you be brought forth (from the dead).

والذي نزل من السماء ماء بقدر فأنشرنا به بلدة ميتا كذلك تخرجون

43:12. And Who created all the pairs, and made for you ships and animals that you ride,

والذي خلق الأزواج كلها وجعل لكم من الفلك والأنعام ما تركبون

43:13. so that you may mount their backs and remember the blessing of your Lord, when you are settled on them, and say: ‘Glory be to Him, Who has subjected this for us, and we (on our own) were no match for it.

لتستووا على ظهوره ثم تذكروا نعمة ربكم إذا استويتم عليه وتقولوا سبحان الذي سخر لنا هذا وما كنا له مقرنين

43:14. And indeed we shall return to our Lord.’

وإنا إلى ربنا لمنقلبون

43:15. Yet they (the polytheists) assign a portion from among His servants (as His offspring) to Him. Verily, humankind is manifestly ungrateful.

وجعلوا له من عباده جزءا إن الإنسان لكفور مبين

43:16. Did He adopt (for Himself) daughters from what He created while He preferred you with sons?

أم اتخذ مما يخلق بنات وأصفاكم بالبنين

43:17. Whenever one of them is given the news of what he attributes to the Most-Compassionate (i.e. the birth of a daughter), his face blackens as he suppresses his anger.

وإذا بشر أحدهم بما ضرب للرحمن مثلا ظل وجهه مسودا وهو كظيم

43:18. What! (Do they attribute to Him that) which is reared amid ornaments and cannot articulate a clear argument.*

* The idolaters, out of their pagan mentality, regarded women as lacking intelligence and would not allow them to be heard in disputes. The Qur’an has thus rejected their claim by using their own argument against them.

أومن ينشأ في الحلية وهو في الخصام غير مبين

43:19. Still, they have classed the angels, who are the servants of the Most-Compassionate (Lord), as females. Did they witness their creation? Their testimony shall be written down, and they shall be interrogated (on the Last Day).

وجعلوا الملائكة الذين هم عباد الرحمن إناثا أشهدوا خلقهم ستكتب شهادتهم ويسألون

43:20. They (further) say: ‘Had the Most-Compassionate (Lord) wished, we would not have worshipped these (idols).’ They have no knowledge (in support) of this (claim). And they only tell lies out of fancy.

وقالوا لو شاء الرحمن ما عبدناهم ما لهم بذلك من علم إن هم إلا يخرصون

43:21. Did We give them a Book before this, so they are holding fast to it?

أم آتيناهم كتابا من قبله فهم به مستمسكون

43:22. Rather, they say: ‘We found our fathers following a creed, and we are following in their footsteps.’

بل قالوا إنا وجدنا آباءنا على أمة وإنا على آثارهم مهتدون

43:23. We did not send any warner to a town before you, but its elites said: ‘Surely, we found our fathers following a creed, and we are indeed following in their footsteps.’

وكذلك ما أرسلنا من قبلك في قرية من نذير إلا قال مترفوها إنا وجدنا آباءنا على أمة وإنا على آثارهم مقتدون

43:24. He (the messenger) would say: ‘What! Even if I bring you better guidance than what you found your fathers following?’ They would say: ‘Indeed, we disbelieve in what you have been sent with.’

قال أولو جئتكم بأهدى مما وجدتم عليه آباءكم قالوا إنا بما أرسلتم به كافرون

43:25. So We took vengeance upon them. And observe how the end of the deniers was!

فانتقمنا منهم فانظر كيف كان عاقبة المكذبين

43:26. When Ibrahim (Abraham) said to his (foster) father and his people: ‘I renounce whatever (gods) you worship,

وإذ قال إبراهيم لأبيه وقومه إنني براء مما تعبدون

43:27. except Him, Who originated me. Indeed, He will guide me.’

إلا الذي فطرني فإنه سيهدين

43:28. So he made it (i.e. the monotheistic creed) a lasting word among his posterity so they may always turn back (to Allah).

وجعلها كلمة باقية في عقبه لعلهم يرجعون

43:29. Rather, I provided for these (Arabs) and their fathers until the Truth (i.e. the Qur’an) and a Manifest Messenger (i.e. Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) came to them.

بل متعت هؤلاء وآباءهم حتى جاءهم الحق ورسول مبين

43:30. When the Truth came to them, they said: ‘This is magic, and we indeed disbelieve in it.’

ولما جاءهم الحق قالوا هذا سحر وإنا به كافرون

43:31. And they said: ‘Why was this Qur’an not sent down to some great man (like a chief or an affluent leader) of the two towns (of Ta’if and Mecca)?’

وقالوا لولا نزل هذا القرآن على رجل من القريتين عظيم

43:32. Is it they who distribute the mercy of your Lord? We have dispensed among them (the resources of) their livelihood in the present life and raised some of them above others in rank. (Did We decide this) so that some of them (i.e. the rich) should make fun of others (i.e. the poor)? And your Lord’s mercy is better than anything they accumulate.

أهم يقسمون رحمة ربك نحن قسمنا بينهم معيشتهم في الحياة الدنيا ورفعنا بعضهم فوق بعض درجات ليتخذ بعضهم بعضا سخريا ورحمت ربك خير مما يجمعون

43:33. Were it not that people might (be tempted to) become one community (of disbelievers), We would have indeed made for those who disbelieve in the Most-Compassionate (Lord) silver roofs for their houses and (silver) stairways by which they ascend;

ولولا أن يكون الناس أمة واحدة لجعلنا لمن يكفر بالرحمن لبيوتهم سقفا من فضة ومعارج عليها يظهرون

43:34. and (likewise, silver) gates for their houses and (silver) couches on which they recline;

ولبيوتهم أبوابا وسررا عليها يتكؤون

43:35. and gold ornamentation (over this silver work). Yet all that would be nothing but temporary enjoyment of the life of this world. And the Hereafter, in the presence of your Lord, is for those who are God-conscious.

وزخرفا وإن كل ذلك لما متاع الحياة الدنيا والآخرة عند ربك للمتقين

43:36. And whoever blindly turns away from the remembrance of the Most-Compassionate (Lord), We assign a Satan for him, who remains his close companion.

ومن يعش عن ذكر الرحمن نقيض له شيطانا فهو له قرين

43:37. Indeed, they bar them from the (right) path while they suppose that they are (rightly) guided.

وإنهم ليصدونهم عن السبيل ويحسبون أنهم مهتدون

43:38. But when he comes to Us, he will say: ‘I wish there had been between me and you the distance of the two easts. What an evil companion (you were)!’

حتى إذا جاءنا قال يا ليت بيني وبينك بعد المشرقين فبئس القرين

43:39. It will not benefit you on that Day. As you did wrong, so will you share in the punishment.

ولن ينفعكم اليوم إذ ظلمتم أنكم في العذاب مشتركون

43:40. Can you make the deaf hear then, or guide the blind and the one who is in manifest error?

أفأنت تسمع الصم أو تهدي العمي ومن كان في ضلال مبين

43:41. Either We shall take you away (from this world) and then take vengeance upon them,

فإما نذهبن بك فإنا منهم منتقمون

43:42. or We shall show you what We have promised them (as punishment), for indeed We have power over them.

أو نرينك الذي وعدناهم فإنا عليهم مقتدرون

43:43. So hold fast to what has been revealed to you. Indeed, you are on the straight path.

فاستمسك بالذي أوحي إليك إنك على صراط مستقيم

43:44. Surely, this (Qur’an) is a Reminder for you and your people. (O people!) You will soon be questioned (about it).

وإنه لذكر لك ولقومك وسوف تسألون

43:45. Ask (the followers of) those of Our messengers whom We had sent before you. Did We ever appoint any gods to be worshipped besides the Most-Compassionate (Lord)?

واسأل من أرسلنا من قبلك من رسلنا أجعلنا من دون الرحمن آلهة يعبدون

43:46. We indeed sent Musa (Moses) with Our signs to Pharaoh and his notable chiefs. He said: ‘I am a messenger of the Lord of all worlds.’

ولقد أرسلنا موسى بآياتنا إلى فرعون وملئه فقال إني رسول رب العالمين

43:47. But when he brought them Our signs, behold, they laughed at them.

فلما جاءهم بآياتنا إذا هم منها يضحكون

43:48. We did not show them any sign, but it was greater (in significance) than the previous one, which was similar to it. And We seized them with punishment; perhaps they might return (to the right path).

وما نريهم من آية إلا هي أكبر من أختها وأخذناهم بالعذاب لعلهم يرجعون

43:49. And they would say: ‘O magician! Invoke your Lord for us by virtue of the covenant He made with you. (Then) surely we will be guided.’

وقالوا يا أيها الساحر ادع لنا ربك بما عهد عندك إننا لمهتدون

43:50. But as soon as We removed the punishment from them (responding to Moses’ prayer), behold, they would break their pledge.

فلما كشفنا عنهم العذاب إذا هم ينكثون

43:51. Pharaoh called out among his people, saying: ‘O my people! Does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me? And these rivers that flow beneath my feet (are not mine also)? Can you not see?

ونادى فرعون في قومه قال يا قوم أليس لي ملك مصر وهذه الأنهار تجري من تحتي أفلا تبصرون

43:52. Am I not better than this humble one who can hardly express himself?

أم أنا خير من هذا الذي هو مهين ولا يكاد يبين

43:53. Why have golden bracelets (of kingship) not been cast upon him, and why have the angels not come with him as (his) attendants?’

فلولا ألقي عليه أسورة من ذهب أو جاء معه الملائكة مقترنين

43:54. So he fooled his people, and they obeyed him. Indeed, they were a transgressing people.

فاستخف قومه فأطاعوه إنهم كانوا قوما فاسقين

43:55. So when they roused Our wrath, We took vengeance upon them and drowned them all together.

فلما آسفونا انتقمنا منهم فأغرقناهم أجمعين

43:56. Thus, We made them a thing of the past and an example for those after them.

فجعلناهم سلفا ومثلا للآخرين

43:57. And when the son of Maryam (Mary) is cited as an example (in argument), behold, your people laugh at it (mockingly).

ولما ضرب ابن مريم مثلا إذا قومك منه يصدون

43:58. They say: ‘Are our gods better or he?’ They do not cite him to you but to dispute. No doubt, they are a contentious people.

وقالوا أآلهتنا خير أم هو ما ضربوه لك إلا جدلا بل هم قوم خصمون

43:59. He (Jesus) was just a servant whom We had blessed with (Our) favour. And We made him an exemplar for the Children of Israel.

إن هو إلا عبد أنعمنا عليه وجعلناه مثلا لبني إسرائيل

43:60. Had We willed, We would have made angels from you to be (your) successors upon the earth.

ولو نشاء لجعلنا منكم ملائكة في الأرض يخلفون

43:61. Indeed, he (Jesus) will be (the sign for) the knowledge of the Hour (when his second coming takes place). So do not doubt it, and follow me. This is a straight path.

وإنه لعلم للساعة فلا تمترن بها واتبعون هذا صراط مستقيم

43:62. And do not let Satan bar you (from the path of Allah). Indeed, he is your manifest enemy.

ولا يصدنكم الشيطان إنه لكم عدو مبين

43:63. And when ‘Isa (Jesus) came with clear proofs, he said: ‘I have indeed brought you wisdom, and (I have come) to make clear to you some of the things you differ about. So be God-conscious and obey me.

ولما جاء عيسى بالبينات قال قد جئتكم بالحكمة ولأبين لكم بعض الذي تختلفون فيه فاتقوا الله وأطيعون

43:64. Allah is indeed my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him (alone). This is a straight path.’

إن الله هو ربي وربكم فاعبدوه هذا صراط مستقيم

43:65. But the factions differed among themselves. So woe to the wrongdoers for the punishment of a painful day!

فاختلف الأحزاب من بينهم فويل للذين ظلموا من عذاب يوم أليم

43:66. Are they waiting for anything except that the Hour should come upon them suddenly while they are unaware?

هل ينظرون إلا الساعة أن تأتيهم بغتة وهم لا يشعرون

43:67. Friends on that Day will be one another’s enemies except for the God-conscious.

الأخلاء يومئذ بعضهم لبعض عدو إلا المتقين

43:68. (They will be told:) ‘O My servants! There is no fear for you today, nor shall you grieve.’

يا عباد لا خوف عليكم اليوم ولا أنتم تحزنون

43:69. (They are) those who believed in Our revelations and fully submitted (to Us).

الذين آمنوا بآياتنا وكانوا مسلمين

43:70. (The angels will say:) ‘Enter Paradise, you and your spouses (or close companions); you will be honoured and pleased.’

* According to the eminent exegetes like Imam al-Qurtubi, al-Jami‘ li-Ahkam al-Qur’an (16:111), Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim (4:134), and al-Shawkani, Tafsir Fath al-Qadir (4:563) the words azwaju-kum in this Verse also imply ‘intimate companions’ in addition to ‘wives’. On the basis of this authority, the word azwaj has been translated as ‘intimate companions’ instead of ‘wives’.

ادخلوا الجنة أنتم وأزواجكم تحبرون

43:71. Golden trays and bowls will be passed around them. And there will be whatever the souls desire and the eyes find pleasing. And you will remain there forever.

يطاف عليهم بصحاف من ذهب وأكواب وفيها ما تشتهيه الأنفس وتلذ الأعين وأنتم فيها خالدون

43:72. That is Paradise, which you are made to inherit for what you used to do.

وتلك الجنة التي أورثتموها بما كنتم تعملون

43:73. There will be abundant fruits for you from which you will eat.

لكم فيها فاكهة كثيرة منها تأكلون

43:74. Indeed, the guilty will remain forever in the punishment of Hell.

إن المجرمين في عذاب جهنم خالدون

43:75. It will not be lightened for them, and they will be overwhelmed in utter despair.

لا يفتر عنهم وهم فيه مبلسون

43:76. We did not wrong them, but they were the wrongdoers themselves.

وما ظلمناهم ولكن كانوا هم الظالمين

43:77. They will call out (to the guard of Hell): ‘O Malik! Let your Lord bring an end to us!’ He will say: ‘Indeed, you will stay on (forever).’

ونادوا يا مالك ليقض علينا ربك قال إنكم ماكثون

43:78. We certainly brought you the truth, but most of you were resentful of the truth.

لقد جئناكم بالحق ولكن أكثركم للحق كارهون

43:79. Have they devised any (evil) plan? Indeed, We (too) are surely planning.

أم أبرموا أمرا فإنا مبرمون

43:80. Do they think We do not hear their hidden thoughts and their secret talks? Yes, We do! And Our messenger angels are with them, writing (everything) down.

أم يحسبون أنا لا نسمع سرهم ونجواهم بلى ورسلنا لديهم يكتبون

43:81. Say: ‘If (supposing the impossible that) the Most-Compassionate (Lord) had a son, I would be the first to worship (him).’

قل إن كان للرحمن ولد فأنا أول العابدين

43:82. Glorified is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of the Throne, far above what they claim (about Him)!

سبحان رب السماوات والأرض رب العرش عما يصفون

43:83. So leave them to gossip and play until they encounter their Day which they have been promised.

فذرهم يخوضوا ويلعبوا حتى يلاقوا يومهم الذي يوعدون

43:84. It is He Who is (the only) God in the heavens and (the only) God on the earth. And He is the All-Wise, the All-Knowing.

وهو الذي في السماء إله وفي الأرض إله وهو الحكيم العليم

43:85. Blessed is He, to Whom the kingdom of the heavens and the earth belongs and whatsoever is between them. And with Him lies the knowledge of the Hour. And to Him, you will be returned.

وتبارك الذي له ملك السماوات والأرض وما بينهما وعنده علم الساعة وإليه ترجعون

43:86. Those (idols) they worship besides Him have no power of intercession, except those who testify to the truth and know (for whom to intercede).

ولا يملك الذين يدعون من دونه الشفاعة إلا من شهد بالحق وهم يعلمون

43:87. (Esteemed Prophet!) If you ask them: ‘Who created them?’ They will certainly say: ‘Allah.’ How are they then deluded (from the truth)?

ولئن سألتهم من خلقهم ليقولن الله فأنى يؤفكون

43:88. By the Messenger’s words: ‘O my Lord! Indeed, these are the people who do not believe!’

وقيله يارب إن هؤلاء قوم لا يؤمنون

43:89. So bear with them and say: ‘Peace!’ They will soon come to know (their end).

فاصفح عنهم وقل سلام فسوف يعلمون