36. Ya-Sin

Yā, Seen.1

Ya Sin

S. YASIN! O Human being, to whom this Divine Writ is revealed

By the wise1 Qur’ān,

By the Quran, full of wisdom

The Wise Qur'an is a witness in itself that

Indeed you, [O Muḥammad], are from among the messengers,

you are indeed one of the messengers

Verily, you are one of the Messengers

On a straight path.

on a straight path

On a Straight Path

[This is] a revelation of the Exalted in Might, the Merciful,

with a revelation sent down by the Mighty One, the Merciful

It is a Revelation of the Almighty, the Merciful

That you may warn a people whose forefathers were not warned, so they are unaware.

so that you may warn a people whose fathers were not warned and so they are unaware

That you may warn a people whose ancestors were not warned, and who are, therefore, unaware of what is right and what is wrong

Already the word [i.e., decree] has come into effect upon most of them, so they do not believe.

The word has been proved true against the greater part of them: they will not believe

The Word is bound to come True that since most of them will deny the Message they will suffer the consequences

Indeed, We have put shackles on their necks, and they are to their chins, so they are with heads [kept] aloft.

We have put yokes round their necks right up to their chins, so that they cannot bow their heads

Behold, around their necks We (Our Laws) have put shackles, reaching their chins. Their heads are forced up in arrogance (like the agitated camel who keeps his head high refusing to drink the life-giving water)

And We have put before them a barrier and behind them a barrier and covered them, so they do not see.

and We have set a barrier before them and a barrier behind them, and We have covered them up so that they cannot see

And We have set a bar before them and a bar behind them, and thus have covered them that they cannot see. (They neither look to the future nor derive any lesson from history)

And it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them - they will not believe.

It makes no difference to them whether you warn them or do not warn them: they will not believe

Whether you warn them or you warn them not, it is the same for them. Their attitude bars them from attaining faith

You can only warn one who follows the message and fears the Most Merciful unseen. So give him good tidings of forgiveness and noble reward.

You can warn only those who would follow the Reminder and fear the Gracious God, unseen. Give them the good news of forgiveness and a noble reward

You can only warn him who reflects, and fears (violating the Universal Laws of) the Beneficent even in privacy. Unto such give the good news of forgiveness and a most honorable reward

Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register.

We shall surely bring the dead back to life and We record what they send ahead and what they leave behind. We have recorded everything in a clear book

Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record all they send before them and their footprints. And all things and events are recorded in a Clear Record. (What the humans do, the imprints of their actions on their "Self" and what they leave for posterity)

And present to them an example: the people of the city, when the messengers came to it -

Recount to them the example of the people to whose town Our messengers came

Make them understand in Symbolic Form: The People of the Town when Messengers came to them

When We sent to them two but they denied them, so We strengthened [them] with a third, and they said, "Indeed, we are messengers to you."

When We sent them two messengers, they rejected them both, so We strengthened them with a third. They said, "Truly, we have been sent to you [by God] as messengers

When We sent to them two Messengers, they denied them. We then strengthened them with a third and they said, "Verily, We have been sent unto you

They said, "You are not but human beings like us, and the Most Merciful has not revealed a thing. You are only telling lies."

They replied, "You are nothing but mortal men like us and the Merciful God has not revealed anything. You are surely lying

But the people said, "You are nothing but human beings like us. The Beneficent has never revealed anything. You are but lying." (

They said, "Our Lord knows that we are messengers to you,

They said, "Our Lord knows that we have been sent to you

Said the Messengers, "Our Lord knows that we have been indeed sent to you

And we are not responsible except for clear notification."

And our duty is only to convey the message to you clearly

And our duty is only to convey the Message clearly

They said, "Indeed, we consider you a bad omen. If you do not desist, we will surely stone you, and there will surely touch you, from us, a painful punishment."

but they answered, "We see an evil omen in you. If you do not stop, we shall certainly stone you, and you will suffer a painful punishment at our hands

The people said, "We consider you bad omens. Indeed, if you desist not, we will surely stone you, and grievous punishment will befall you at our hands

They said, "Your omen [i.e., fate] is with yourselves. Is it1 because you were reminded? Rather, you are a transgressing people."

They said, "Your evil augury be with you! Is it because you are admonished about the truth? Surely, you are a people transgressing all bounds

The Messengers replied, "Your destiny rests with yourselves, now that you have been reminded. (There is no such thing as a bad omen (17:13)). Nay, but you are a people who are wasting away your potentials

And there came from the farthest end of the city a man, running. He said, "O my people, follow the messengers.

Then, from the furthest part of the city, a man came running. He said, "My people, follow the messengers

At that, a man came running from the farthest end of the Town and said, "O My people! Follow these Messengers

Follow those who do not ask of you [any] payment, and they are [rightly] guided.

Follow those who ask no recompense of you and are rightly guided

Follow those who ask you no reward, and who are rightly guided

And why should I not worship He who created me and to whom you will be returned?

Why should I not worship Him who has brought me into being, and to whom you shall all be recalled

He continued, "Why should I not serve Him Who has originated me, and unto Whom you all will be returned

Should I take other than Him [false] deities [while], if the Most Merciful intends for me some adversity, their intercession will not avail me at all, nor can they save me?

Shall I take others besides Him as gods? If the Gracious God should intend me any harm, their intercession will be of no avail, nor can they deliver me

Should I take gods instead of Him? But then, if the Laws of the Beneficent harm me, their intercession cannot help me at all, nor can they save me

Indeed, I would then be in manifest error.

In that case I should indeed be in manifest error

Then, behold, I would have been lost in error manifest

Indeed, I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me."

Indeed, I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me

Verily, I have come to believe in your Lord. Listen, then, to me

It was said, "Enter Paradise."1 He said, "I wish my people could know

We said to him, "Enter paradise," and he exclaimed: "Would that my people knew

And this man was told, "You shall enter Paradise." He exclaimed, "I wish my people only knew

Of how my Lord has forgiven me and placed me among the honored."

how my Lord has forgiven me and placed me among the honoured ones

That my Lord has absolved my imperfections, and has made me among the honored ones

And We did not send down upon his people after him any soldiers from the heaven, nor would We have done so.

After him We did not send down against his people a host from heaven, nor do We send down such hosts

And after that, We did not send down any army from the sky against his people (of the Town), nor do We ever send

It was not but one shout,1 and immediately they were extinguished.

it was but one great blast and they fell down lifeless

Nothing but a single Blast (of Requital), and behold! They were ashes, still and silent

How regretful for the servants. There did not come to them any messenger except that they used to ridicule him.

Alas for human beings! They ridicule every messenger that comes to them

Ah, the anguish for the servants, they have to bear! Never has a Messenger come to them, but they did mock him

Have they not considered how many generations We destroyed before them - that they to them1 will not return?

Do they not see how many generations We have destroyed before them? Never shall they return to them

Have they not reflected how many a generation We (Our Law of Requital) annihilated before them. They turned not to their Messengers and, hence, returned not to their lost glory

And indeed, all of them will yet be brought present before Us.

All of them, gathered together, will certainly be brought before Us

All of them, all together, will be presented before Us

And a sign for them is the dead earth. We have brought it to life and brought forth from it grain, and from it they eat.

There is a sign for them in the lifeless earth. We revive it and We produce grain from it of which they eat

And yet, there is a Sign for them in the lifeless earth which We revive and We bring forth from it grain so that they eat thereof. (Divine Revelation can, likewise, revive dead nations and make them fruitful for humanity)

And We placed therein gardens of palm trees and grapevines and caused to burst forth therefrom some springs -

We have placed in it gardens of date palms and vines, and caused springs to gush [forth] from it

And We produce therein gardens of date palm and grapevines, and We cause springs to gush forth therein

That they may eat of His fruit.1 And their hands have not produced it,2 so will they not be grateful?

so that they may eat its fruit, though it was not their hands that made this. Will they not then be grateful

That they may enjoy the fruit thereof - And! Their hands made this not. Will they not then be grateful in word and action

Exalted is He who created all pairs1 - from what the earth grows and from themselves and from that which they do not know.

Holy is He who created all things in pairs; of what the earth grows, and of themselves, and other things which they do not know

Glory to Him Who has created pairs of everything that the earth grows, and of themselves, and of things they have no knowledge yet

And a sign for them is the night. We remove1 from it the [light of] day, so they are [left] in darkness.

They have a sign in the night: We withdraw from it the [light of] day -- and they are left in darkness

And a Sign for them is the night. We withdraw from it the day, and behold, they are in darkness

And the sun runs [on course] toward its stopping point. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.

The sun, too, follows its determined course laid down for it by the Almighty, the All Knowing

And the sun: it runs its appointed course. That is the measure of the Almighty, the Knower. (The sun along with its system is moving to the Solar Apex, Constellation of Hercules, at a speed 150 miles per second, according to the current science)

And the moon - We have determined for it phases, until it returns [appearing] like the old date stalk.

We have ordained phases for the moon until finally it becomes like an old date-stalk

And the moon: We have measured for it phases until it becomes (a crescent) like an old curved date-stalk

It is not allowable [i.e., possible] for the sun to reach the moon, nor does the night overtake the day, but each, in an orbit, is swimming.

The sun cannot overtake the moon, nor can the night outpace the day: each floats in [its own] orbit

It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor can the night outrun the day. All of them swim along in their orbits. (The sun cannot cause the moon to gravitate towards itself and the night and the day cannot lengthen or shorten other than the appointed measure (21:33), (22:61), (25:62), (31:29), (4)

And a sign for them is that We carried their forefathers1 in a laden ship.

Another sign for them is that We carried their offspring in the laden Ark

Another Sign for them is that We carry the Children of Adam on the loaded ship

And We created for them from the likes of it that which they ride.

We have created for them the like of it in which they ride

And We have created for them similar things to ride on. (And will create things of which you have no knowledge yet)

And if We should will, We could drown them; then no one responding to a cry would there be for them, nor would they be saved

If it were Our will, We could drown them: then there would be no helper [to hear their cry], nor could they be saved

We could down them, drown them according to Our Laws, with none to respond to their cry of help - and then they cannot be saved

Except as a mercy from Us and provision for a time.

It is only by Our mercy that they are granted provision for a time

But as a Mercy from Us, We let them enjoy life for a while

But when it is said to them, "Beware of what is before you and what is behind you;1 perhaps you will receive mercy..."2

When they are told, "guard yourselves against what is before you and what is behind you, in order that you may be shown mercy," [they turn away]

And yet, when it is said to them, "Walk aright learning from every yesterday, so that you may build a future worthy of Grace

And no sign comes to them from the signs of their Lord except that they are from it turning away.

Indeed, not one of your Lord's signs comes to them without their turning away from it

No Message of their Lord's Messages reaches them without them turning away from it

And when it is said to them, "Spend from that which Allāh has provided for you," those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Should we feed one whom, if Allāh had willed, He would have fed? You are not but in clear error."

and when they are told, "Give to others out of what God has provided for you," those who are bent on denying the truth say to the believers, "Why should we feed those whom God could feed if He wanted? You are clearly in error

And when it is said to them, "Spend on others of the provision Allah has given to you", the rejecters say to the believers, "Shall we feed anyone whom Allah could have fed if He so willed? You people are obviously lost in error." (6:149), (1)

And they say, "When is this promise, if you should be truthful?"

They say, "When will this promise be fulfilled, if you are truthful

And they (change the subject asking), "When will this warning be fulfilled, if you are men of truth?" (That our system of life, if it is wrong, will crumble)

They do not await except one blast1 which will seize them while they are disputing.

They must be waiting for but one single blast, which will overtake them while they are still disputing

Well, nothing awaits them but a single Blast of Requital that will overtake them while they keep contending

And they will not be able [to give] any instruction, nor to their people can they return.

They will have no time to make a will, nor shall they return to their own people

And they shall not even have time to utter their last wish, nor will they be able to get together with their families

And the Horn will be blown;1 and at once from the graves to their Lord they will hasten.

The trumpet will be blown and, at once, they will rise up from their graves, and hasten to their Lord

And when the Trumpet is blown, behold, out of their disintegrated states unto their Lord they will run. ('Qabr' = grave = disintegrated state)

They will say, "O woe to us! Who has raised us up from our sleeping place?" [The reply will be], "This is what the Most Merciful had promised, and the messengers told the truth."

Woe betide us!" they will say, "Who has roused us from our sleep?" This is what the Lord of Mercy promised: the messengers spoke the truth

They will exclaim, "Oh, woe unto us! Who has awakened us from our beds of sleep? This is what the Beneficent promised, and the Messengers spoke the truth." (The concept of punishment in the grave is non-Qur'anic and, hence, wrong)

It will not be but one blast, and at once they are all brought present before Us.

It will be but one blast, and they will all be brought before Us together

Nothing but a single Blast, no more, and behold, before Us all of them will be presented

So today [i.e., the Day of Judgement] no soul will be wronged at all, and you will not be recompensed except for what you used to do.

On that Day no soul shall suffer the least injustice. You shall be rewarded only according to your deeds

This Day no person will face the least injustice, nor will you be rewarded other than what you had been doing

Indeed the companions of Paradise, that Day, will be amused in [joyful] occupation -

The people of Paradise shall be happily occupied on that Day

Behold, those who merit Paradise, this Day are enjoying the new life

They and their spouses - in shade, reclining on adorned couches.

they and their wives, shall recline on couches in the shade

They and their spouses in pleasant shades, on thrones of honor reclining

For them therein is fruit, and for them is whatever they request [or wish]

They shall have fruits therein, and all that they ask for

Theirs the fruits of their good deeds, and theirs all that they will ask

[And] "Peace," a word from a Merciful Lord.

Peace!" shall be the greeting from the Merciful Lord

Greetings from a Lord Merciful, "Peace

[Then He will say], "But stand apart today, you criminals.1

[And God will say], "Separate yourselves from the righteous this Day, you criminals

But stand aside Today, you violators of human rights who thrived on others' toil

Did I not enjoin upon you, O children of Adam, that you not worship Satan - [for] indeed, he is to you a clear enemy -

Did I not enjoin you, sons of Adam, not to worship Satan -- for he is your sworn enemy

Did I not warn you O Children of Adam! That you shall not worship Satan, your desire - since verily, it is an open enemy to you

And that you worship [only] Me? This is a straight path.

but to worship Me? Surely, that is a straight path

And that you serve Me alone? This is the Straight Path

And he had already led astray from among you much of creation, so did you not use reason?

Yet he led astray a great multitude of you. Why did you not then understand

Yet he led astray a great many of you. Did you not, then, have any sense

This is the Hellfire which you were promised.

This is the Hell you were promised

This is the Hell you were warned about again and again

[Enter to] burn therein today for what you used to deny."1

Enter it this Day on account of your denial of the truth

Burn in it now for you adamantly rejected the Truth

That Day, We will seal over their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will testify about what they used to earn.

Today We shall seal up their mouths and their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will bear witness to their misdeeds

This Day We seal their mouths, but their hands speak unto Us, and their feet bear witness to what they earned

And if We willed, We could have obliterated their eyes, and they would race to [find] the path, and how could they see?1

If it had been Our will, We could have put out their eyes. They would have struggled to find the way, but how could they have seen it

Had We so Willed, We could have made them devoid of Vision that would make them unaccountable for whichever way they went. (Without free will like the Animal Kingdom)

And if We willed, We could have deformed them, [paralyzing them] in their places so they would not be able to proceed, nor could they return.1

If it had been Our will, We could have paralysed them where they stood, so that they would not be able to go forward or turn back

And had We so Willed, We could have degraded them driven by instincts, powerless to advance or retreat in their potentials

And he to whom We grant long life We reverse in creation;1 so will they not understand?

If We extend anyone's life, We reverse his development. Can they not use their reason

Such as, he whom We grant long life, We cause him to revert to weakness. Will they not then use their intellect? (That they must use their full potentials)

And We did not give him [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] knowledge of poetry, nor is it befitting for him. It is not but a message and a clear Qur’ān

We have not taught him any poetry nor would it be fitting for him. This is merely a Reminder and a clear Quran

(Know about the Prophet that) We have not taught him poetry, nor is it meet for his dignity. This is no less than a Divine Reminder and an Articulate Qur'an clear in itself and clearly showing the Way

To warn whoever is alive1 and justify the word [i.e., decree] against the disbelievers.

to warn all who are truly alive, and to justify the word [God's verdict] against the deniers

That it may warn everyone who is alive of heart and that the Word may prove True concerning the rejecters. (That violation of the Divine Laws brings Requital in both lives)

Do they not see that We have created for them from what Our hands1 have made, grazing livestock, and [then] they are their owners?

Do they not see that, among the things which Our hands have fashioned, We have created for them cattle of which they are the masters

Have they never envisioned how We must have created for them of Our Handiwork, the domestic animals of which they are now masters

And We have tamed them for them, so some of them they ride, and some of them they eat.

We have subjected these to them, so that some may be used for riding and some for food

And that We have made them submissive to humans so that some of them they use for riding and others they consume

And for them therein are [other] benefits and drinks, so will they not be grateful?

some for milk to drink and some from which other benefits may be received? Will they not be grateful

And may derive yet other benefits from them and milk to drink. Will they not, then, be grateful

But they have taken besides Allāh [false] deities that perhaps they would be helped.

They have set up other gods besides God, hoping to be helped by them

But, nay, they have chosen gods other than Allah hoping that they might be helped

They are not able to help them, and they [themselves] are for them soldiers in attendance.1

but they are not able to help them: rather they will be brought before God as their allied host

It is beyond their power to help them, and in effect such people end up guarding their false gods like committed hosts

So let not their speech grieve you. Indeed, We know what they conceal and what they declare.

Let not their words grieve you. We have knowledge of all that they conceal and all that they reveal

So let not their utterances grieve you. Behold, We know what they conceal and what they declare

Does man not consider that We created him from a [mere] sperm-drop - then at once1 he is a clear adversary?

Does not man see that We created him from a drop. Yet there he is, flagrantly contentious

Does not man realize that We created him from male and female gametes? Yet, behold, he stands forth as an open contender of Truth! ('Nutfah' = Gamete, male or female)

And he presents for Us an example1 and forgets his [own] creation. He says, "Who will give life to bones while they are disintegrated?"

producing arguments against Us, and forgetting his own creation. He asks, "Who can give life back to bones after they have rotted away

And he makes comparisons for Us and forgets the fact of his creation, saying, "Who will revive these bones when they have crumbled to dust?" (

Say, "He will give them life who produced them the first time; and He is, of all creation, Knowing."

Say, "He who brought them into being in the first instance will give them life again: He has knowledge of every type of creation

Say, "He will revive them Who brought them into being in the first instance. Yes, for He is the Knower of all acts of creation

[It is] He who made for you from the green tree, fire, and then from it you ignite.

He who produces fire for you from green trees and from this you kindle fire

(The same Creator) Who produces for you fire out of the green tree, so that, behold, you kindle from it

Is not He who created the heavens and the earth Able to create the likes of them? Yes, [it is so]; and He is the Knowing Creator.

Is He who created the heavens and earth not able to create others like these people? Of course He is! He is indeed the Supreme Creator, the All Knowing

Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth Able to create the like of them? Yes indeed - for He is the Creator, Knower of all acts of creation

His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, "Be," and it is.

when He decrees a thing, He need only say, "Be!" and it is

When He intends a thing, His only Command to it is "Be" and it is

So exalted is He in whose hand is the realm of all things, and to Him you will be returned.

So glory be to Him who has control over all things. It is to Him that you will all be brought back

Glorified is He in Whose Hand rests the Mighty Dominion over all things, and unto Him you will be brought back. (And every step of yours heads to His Law of Requital (3)