15. Al-Hijr

Alif, Lām, Rā.1 These are the verses of the Book and a clear Qur’ān [i.e., recitation].

Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of a clear Book, the Quran

L.R. Allah, Aleem the Knower, Raziq the Provider. These are Messages of Revelation, of a discourse clear in itself and clearly showing the Truth. This is Qur'an, a plain reading and a Revelation that explains itself

Perhaps those who disbelieve will wish1 that they had been Muslims.

A time will surely come when those who are bent on denying the truth will wish that they had surrendered themselves to God

The time is coming when the rejecters of the Truth will ardently wish that they were Muslims

Let them eat and enjoy themselves and be diverted by [false] hope, for they are going to know.

so leave them to eat and enjoy themselves and let them be beguiled by vain hopes; for soon they will realise [the truth]

Let them eat, drink, and enjoy life while hanging on to false hopes (47:12). They will come to know. (If they do not come to the Truth, the Truth will come to them, and they will see it)

And We did not destroy any city but that for it was a known decree.

We have never destroyed a township without a definite decree having been issued

And Our Law of Requital annihilated no community or township before the period of respite was over

No nation will precede its term, nor will they remain thereafter.

no people can forestall their doom, nor can they delay it

The Law of Respite has no exceptions. No nation can hasten or delay the consequence

And they say, "O you upon whom the message has been sent down, indeed you are mad.1

They say, "You to whom the Reminder [the Quran] has been sent down, you are surely possessed

And yet, they who deny the Truth, say, "O You, unto whom this Reminder has been revealed, verily you are mad

Why do you not bring us the angels, if you should be among the truthful?"

Why do you not bring down the angels upon us, if you are truthful

Why don't you bring angels to us if you are a man of truth

We do not send down the angels except with truth;1 and they [i.e., the disbelievers] would not then be reprieved.

But We send down the angels only to bring justice and then they will not be reprieved

We do not send down the angels except when the period of respite is over. And in that case the rejecters get no further reprieve

Indeed, it is We who sent down the message [i.e., the Qur’ān], and indeed, We will be its guardian.

It is We who have sent down the Reminder and We will, most surely, safeguard it

Behold, it is We Ourselves Who have sent down this Reminder, and behold, it is We Who shall truly guard it

And We had certainly sent [messengers] before you, [O Muḥammad], among the sects of the former peoples.

We sent messengers before you to the previous peoples

And indeed (O Prophet) even before your time We sent Messengers to the communities

And no messenger would come to them except that they ridiculed him.

but there was never a messenger who came to them but they mocked him

And never came there a Messenger unto them but they did mock him

Thus do We insert it [i.e., denial] into the hearts of the criminals.

thus We cause this [habit of mocking] to enter into the hearts of the sinful

Our Law turns the psyche of the guilty such that they ridicule reform since they are used to thriving on the fruit of others' toil

They will not believe in it, while there has already occurred the precedent of the former peoples.

They will not believe in it, though they have before them the example of former peoples

They accept not the Message. Such has been the way of those who went before them

And [even] if We opened to them a gate from the heaven and they continued therein to ascend,

and even if We opened to them a door from heaven, and they began ascending through it

And even if We opened to them a Gate into the Heaven, and they kept ascending through it

They would say, "Our eyes have only been dazzled. Rather, we are a people affected by magic."

they would still say, "Our eyes have been dazzled. We are bewitched

They would say, "Our eyes are intoxicated. Nay, we are a folk bewitched

And We have placed within the heaven great stars and have beautified it for the observers.

We have placed constellations in heaven and have beautified it for beholders

We have set constellations in the Sky and We have beautified it for the beholders

And We have protected it from every devil expelled [from the mercy of Allāh]

and We have guarded it from every accursed devil

And We have guarded it from every destructive force

Except one who steals a hearing and is pursued by a clear burning flame.

but if anyone eavesdrops, he is pursued by a bright flaming fire

(Allah is everywhere, not just in the skies. The Qur'an dispels all superstitions including the clairvoyants and fortunetellers spying onto His Court). The Shining Flame of Knowledge has now come to you to dispel the deceptive claims of every deceiver. (26:210-212), (37:8-9), (52:38), (6)

And the earth - We have spread it and cast therein firmly set mountains and caused to grow therein [something] of every well-balanced thing.

We have spread out the earth, and set upon it firm mountains and caused everything to grow in due proportion

And the earth, We have spread it out wide and compressed its Globe (39:5) and placed firm in it mountain ranges. And caused each seemly thing to grow in due proportion therein. (15:19-20), (31:10), (41:10), (79:28-3)

And We have made for you therein means of living and [for] those for whom you are not providers.1

We have provided therein a means of livelihood for you and for all those creatures for whom you do not provide

And We have given you means of livelihood, as well as for all whose sustenance does not depend on you

And there is not a thing but that with Us are its depositories, and We do not send it down except according to a known [i.e., specified] measure.

There is not a thing but its storehouses are with Us. But We only send down each thing in an appropriate measure

And there is not a thing but with Us are the treasures thereof. And We send it down but in precise measure

And We have sent the fertilizing winds1 and sent down water from the sky and given you drink from it. And you are not its retainers.

We let loose fertilizing winds, and bring water from the sky for you to drink; and you could not have stored it up for yourselves

And We send the winds as pollinators that fertilize plants, and cause water to come down from the height for you to drink. Who holds the stores of the Universe? You don't

And indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and We are the Inheritor.1

Truly, it is We who bring to life and We who cause death and We are the inheritor of all things

For, it is We, We alone Who control the Laws of life and death, and it is We alone Who remain the Ultimate Inheritor. (Hence, Our provision must remain accessible to all)

And We have already known the preceding [generations] among you, and We have already known the later [ones to come].

We know those who lived before you and those who will come after you

And, verily, We know those who passed on before you, and We know those who will come after you. (And We know those who advance in goodness and those who lag behind)

And indeed, your Lord will gather them; indeed, He is Wise and Knowing.

It is your Lord who will gather them. He is all wise and all knowing

And, behold, it is your Lord Who will gather all of them together. Verily, He is Wise, all-Knowing

And We did certainly create man out of clay from an altered black mud.

We created man out of dry clay, from moulded mud

And, indeed, We created man from sounding clay, out of dark inorganic matter

And the jinn We created before from scorching fire.

and the jinn We had created before from flaming fire

Before humanity became civilized, (you can say that) We created the caveman from flames, i.e. with fiery disposition in self-preservation

And [mention, O Muḥammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "I will create a human being out of clay from an altered black mud.

Your Lord said to the angels, "I am about to bring into being a man wrought from mud

Recall when your Sustainer said to the angels, "Behold, I am about to create a mortal man out of inorganic matter." (2:30-35), (7:11-22), (17:61), (19:21)

And when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My [created] soul,1 then fall down to him in prostration."

When I have formed him and breathed My spirit into him, fall down in prostration before him

And when I have perfected him in due proportion and breathed into him something of My Energy, bow before him." (That something will be the gift of free will, the ability to make decisions)

So the angels prostrated - all of them entirely,

then the angels all prostrated themselves together

Thereupon the angels bowed, all of them together. (The physical Laws in the Universe were made subservient to mankind)

Except Iblees;1 he refused to be with those who prostrated.

But Satan did not; he refused to join those who prostrated themselves

But Iblis (Satan). He refused to be among those who bowed. (The selfish desire of mankind declared rebellion against the higher control of Reason and Permanent Moral Values)

[Allāh] said, "O Iblees, what is [the matter] with you that you are not with those who prostrate?"

God asked him, "What is the matter with you, that you are not among those who have prostrated themselves

God asked, "O Iblis! Why are you not with those who bowed

He said, "Never would I prostrate to a human whom You created out of clay from an altered black mud."

He replied, "I am not one to prostrate myself to a man whom You have created out of a clay of moulded mud

He replied, "I am not one to bow to man whom You have created from sounding clay out of inorganic matter

[Allāh] said, "Then depart from it,1 for indeed, you are expelled.

God said, "Then get out of here; for you are accursed

God said, "Go forth then, from here! You are dismissed forthwith

And indeed, upon you is the curse until the Day of Recompense."

and the curse shall be on you till the Day of Judgement

My rejection shall be your due until the Day of Judgment

He said, "My Lord, then reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected."

Satan said, "O my Lord! Grant me respite till the Day of Resurrection

Said Iblis, "Then O My Sustainer! Grant me a respite till the Day when all shall be raised from the dead

[Allāh] said, "So indeed, you are of those reprieved

He said, "You are granted respite

Answered He, "Verily, so be it. You shall be among those who are granted respite

Until the Day of the time well-known."

till that Appointed Day

Till the Day known (to Me alone)

[Iblees] said, "My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them [i.e., mankind] on earth, and I will mislead them all

He said, "My Lord, since You have let me go astray. I shall make the path of error seem alluring to them on the earth and shall mislead them all

Now Iblis said, "O My Lord! Since You let me go astray, I verily shall make attractive the path of error for them in the earth. And I shall mislead them everyone

Except, among them, Your chosen servants."

except for Your chosen servants

Except those who are truly Your servants

[Allāh] said, "This is a path [of return] to Me [that is] straight.

God said, "This is the path which leads straight to Me

This is, with Me, a Straight Path," said God

Indeed, My servants - no authority will you have over them, except those who follow you of the deviators.

Surely, you shall have no power over My true servants, except those misguided ones who choose to follow you

Verily, you shall have no power over My servants, except those who put themselves in error and follow you

And indeed, Hell is the promised place for them all.

Surely, Hell is the place to which they are destined

And for all such, behold, Hell is the promised abode

It has seven gates; for every gate is of them [i.e., Satan's followers] a portion designated."

it has seven gates: and each gate has a portion of them allotted to it

With seven gates leading into it, each gate receiving its share of wrongdoers." (The Straight Path is one, while the wrong paths are numerous and each of them leads to Hell)

Indeed, the righteous will be within gardens and springs,

Truly, the God-fearing shall dwell amid gardens and fountains

Verily, those who walk aright, will find themselves amidst gardens and springs

[Having been told], "Enter it in peace, safe [and secure]."

Enter therein in peace and security

They will be told, "Enter them in peace, secure

And We will remove whatever is in their breasts of resentment,1 [so they will be] brothers, on thrones facing each other.

We shall cleanse their hearts of all traces of ill-will; they will be like brethren seated on couches facing one another

And We shall remove from their hearts any sense of jealousy, rancor, rivalry and bitterness (7:43). And they shall rest as brothers and sisters, facing one another, on thrones of happiness. (5)

No fatigue will touch them therein, nor from it will they [ever] be removed.

They will not be affected by any weariness there, and they will never be made to leave

No weariness shall ever touch them, and never shall they lose this abode of Bliss

[O Muḥammad], inform My servants that it is I who am the Forgiving, the Merciful,

Tell My servants that I alone am the Forgiving, the Merciful One

Tell My servants that I am Forgiving, Merciful

And that it is My punishment which is the painful punishment.

and that My punishment is a painful punishment

Yet, My Law of Requital dispenses a severe requital

And inform them about the guests of Abraham,

Tell them about Abraham's guests

As an example, tell them once again about Abraham's guests

When they entered upon him and said, "Peace." [Abraham] said, "Indeed, we are fearful [i.e., apprehensive] of you."

when they came to him they greeted him with: "Peace." He said,"We feel afraid of you

When they came unto him, and said, "Peace!" He said, "Behold, We are afraid of you

[The angels] said, "Fear not. Indeed, we give you good tidings of a learned boy."

They said, "Do not be afraid. We come to you with good news. You shall have a son who shall be endowed with great knowledge

Said they, "Fear not! Behold, we bring you the glad tiding of an enlightened son

He said, "Have you given me good tidings although old age has come upon me? Then of what [wonder] do you inform?"

He said, "Do you bring me such news despite my old age? What kind of good news are you bringing me

He said, "How can you give me such glad tiding even though I have been overtaken by old age

They said, "We have given you good tidings in truth, so do not be of the despairing."

They said, "We have, indeed, given you glad tidings in truth; do not therefore despair

They answered, "We have given you the glad tiding that is bound to come true. So be not of those who abandon hope

He said, "And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except for those astray?"

He said, "Who but the misguided despair of the mercy of their Lord

Abraham exclaimed, "And who, other than the one in error, despairs of the Grace of his Lord

[Abraham] said, "Then what is your business [here], O messengers?"

Then he asked, "What then is your business, O messengers

He added, "And afterward what is your mission O Messengers

They said, "Indeed, we have been sent to a people of criminals,

They said, "We have been sent forth to a guilty people

They replied, "We are sent to a guilty people (for retribution)

Except the family of Lot; indeed, we will save them all

Except for Lot's household, all of whom we shall rescue

Barring Lot's household and followers. All of whom, behold, we shall save (as Commanded)

Except his wife." We [i.e., Allāh] decreed that she is of those who remain behind.1

except his wife. We have decreed that she will be among those who remain behind [and will be lost]

Excepting his wife. Allah has decreed that she would stay behind (due to her disobedi-ence)

And when the messengers came to the family of Lot,

When the messengers came to Lot and his family

When the Messengers came to Lot's house

He said, "Indeed, you are people unknown."

he said, "You are strangers [to me]

He said, "Behold, you are people unknown

They said, "But we have come to you with that about which they were disputing,

They said, "No, but we bring you news about what they disputed

They answered, "Nay, we bring to you the decision of what they keep disputing with you

And we have come to you with truth, and indeed, we are truthful.

and we have come to you with the truth, and surely we are truthful

And we are bringing you the certainty (that the period of respite for your people is over). For, behold, we are indeed truthful

So set out with your family during a portion of the night and follow behind them and let not anyone among you look back and continue on to where you are commanded."

so leave with your family some time in the latter part of the night, and walk behind them. Let none of you look back. Go where you are commanded

Go, then, with your family and followers while it is yet night. Follow them in the rear, and let none of you look back (ever to come back to this place). But proceed where you are commanded (by your Lord)

And We conveyed to him [the decree] of that matter: that those [sinners] would be eliminated by early morning.

We communicated to him Our decree that the guilty ones would be destroyed by the morning

And We revealed to Lot this decree, "The last remnant of those shall be wiped out in the morning

And the people of the city came rejoicing.1

The people of the town came along, revelling

(As this conversation was taking place), people of the town came rejoicing in anticipation. (They thought that these Messengers would make for them permissible what Lot had been declaring non-permissible)

[Lot] said, "Indeed, these are my guests, so do not shame me.

and he told them, "These are my guests, so do not disgrace me

Lot said, "Behold, these are my guests; so do not embarrass me

And fear Allāh and do not disgrace me."

Fear God and do not shame me

Be mindful of Allah and disgrace me not

They said, "Have we not forbidden you from [protecting] people?"

They said, "Did we not forbid you to extend hospitality to strangers

They answered, "Haven't we forbidden you to entertain any kind of people (who are strangers)

[Lot] said, "These are my daughters1 - if you would be doers [of lawful marriage]."

He said, "Here are my daughters, if you must act in this way

Lot said, "Your wives, who are like my daughters, are better for you

By your life, [O Muḥammad], indeed they were, in their intoxication, wandering blindly.

By your life, they wandered on in their wild intoxication

The Messengers said to Lot, "They won't listen to you even if you preach them all your life." They were totally intoxicated, stumbling up and down

So the shriek1 seized them at sunrise.

and thereupon the blast [of Our punishment] overtook them at sunrise

The blast (of Our Requital) overtook them at the time of sunrise

And We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of hard clay.

We turned the town upside down and rained upon them stones of clay

And We turned the towns upside down and showered upon them hard heated rocks

Indeed in that are signs for those who discern.

There are certainly signs in that for those who can learn a lesson

Therein verily are lessons for those who read the signs

And indeed, they [i.e., those cities] are [situated] on an established road.

it is still there on the highway

And behold, those towns (Sodom and Gomorrah) stood by a road that still exists

Indeed in that is a sign for the believers.

surely in this there is a sign for those who believe

Verily, herein lies a message indeed for those who believe

And the companions of the thicket [i.e., the people of Madyan] were [also] wrongdoers,

The people of the Wood were also surely wrongdoers

And the dwellers in woods (of Midyan, the people of Shoaib), were also wrongdoers

So We took retribution from them, and indeed, both [cities] are on a clear highway.

So We took vengeance on them. Both are still there on the highway, plain for all to see

And so Our just Law of Requital struck them. And, behold, these both communities lived by a highway, to this day plain to see

And certainly did the companions of al-Ḥijr1 [i.e., the Thamūd] deny the messengers.

The people of al-Hijr also rejected Our messengers

And likewise indeed, the dwellers in

And We gave them Our signs, but from them they were turning away.

We gave them Our signs, but they turned away from them

And We gave them Our Messages, but they stubbornly turned away from them

And they used to carve from the mountains, houses, feeling secure.

They carved out dwellings in the mountains, and lived in security

Even as they (with power given by Us) used to carve homes in the mountains for security

But the shriek seized them at early morning,

the blast overtook them early one morning

And so the blast (of Our Requital) overtook them early in the morning

So nothing availed them [from] what they used to earn.

All that they had acquired was of no avail to them

And of no avail to them was all the power that they had acquired

And We have not created the heavens and earth and that between them except in truth. And indeed, the Hour is coming; so forgive with gracious forgiveness.

We have created the heavens and the earth and all that is between the two in accordance with the requirements of truth and wisdom. The Hour is surely coming. So overlook [their faults] with gracious forgiveness

Remember, We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, without Purpose. (Nations that do not fit themselves in the Divine Plan get wiped out. So shall happen to your people, (O Prophet), if they do not mend their ways). Behold, the Hour is surely coming (when you shall be victorious). So overlook their faults, and forgive them graciously

Indeed, your Lord - He is the Knowing Creator.

Surely your Lord is the All Knowing Creator

Verily, your Lord! He is the All Knowing Creator

And We have certainly given you, [O Muḥammad], seven of the often repeated [verses]1 and the great Qur’ān.

We have given you the seven oft-recited verses and the great Quran

We have given you several examples from history that repeats itself, and We have given you this Sublime Qur'an that defines the Laws of the rise and fall of nations

Do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [certain] categories of them [i.e., the disbelievers], and do not grieve over them. And lower your wing [i.e., show kindness] to the believers.

Do not strain your eyes towards the worldly benefits We have bestowed on some of them, nor grieve on their account. Lower your wing of mercy for the believers

So do not even look at the worldly possessions that We have given to different people (among the deniers) and grieve not that their luxuries keep them from seeing the Truth. But lower your wing of kindness to the believers

And say, "Indeed, I am the clear warner" -

and say, "I am, indeed, a plain warner

Say, "Behold, I am indeed he that warns openly and without ambiguity

Just as We had revealed [scriptures] to the separators1

such as We send down for those who are divisive

We did send down punishment upon the formulators of sects, after such warnings

Who have made the Qur’ān into portions.1

and who have broken the Scripture into fragments

Now those who cause division and sectarianism after (this Revelation), will be seen as dismembering the Qur'an

So by your Lord, We will surely question them all

by your Lord, We shall question them all

Them, by your Lord! We shall indeed call them to account, everyone and all

About what they used to do.

about whatever they had been doing

For whatever they have done

Then declare what you are commanded1 and turn away from the polytheists.2

Proclaim openly what you are commanded, and avoid the polytheists

Hence, proclaim openly all that you have been commanded and disregard those who bring forth 'authorities' parallel to Him

Indeed, We are sufficient for you against the mockers

We will, surely, suffice you against those who mock

Verily, We shall suffice you against all who deride this Message

Who make [equal] with Allāh another deity. But they are going to know.

who set up another god with God, but they shall soon learn

And set up, side by side, parallel 'authorities

And We already know that your breast is constrained by what they say.

We do indeed know how your heart is distressed at what they say

And well do We know that your heart is distressed by what they say

So exalt [Allāh] with praise of your Lord and be of those who prostrate [to Him].

But glorify your Lord with His praise, and prostrate yourself

But extol you your Sustainer. Strive in your Mission so that they see that the Giver of such magnificent Guidance is indeed Praiseworthy. Be you among the foremost to adore Him

And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty [i.e., death].

and worship your Lord until what is certain [death] comes to you

Submit entirely to your Sustainer so that you may have conviction in the success that is forthcoming