50. Qaf

Qāf.1 By the honored Qur’ān...2

Qaf. By the glorious Quran

QAF. Qif! Stop and think! Qadir, the Omnipotent, presents this Glorious Qur'an as a witness to itself

But they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves, and the disbelievers say, "This is an amazing thing.

Indeed, they are astonished that a warner should have come to them from among themselves. So these deniers of the truth say, "This is indeed a strange thing

But, nay, they marvel that a Warner from among their own has come unto them! And so these deniers are saying, "This is a weird thing

When we have died and have become dust, [we will return to life]? That is a distant [i.e., unlikely] return."

to come back to life after we have died and become dust? That is most improbable

What! After we have died and become dust? Such a return is a thought far-fetched indeed

We know what the earth diminishes [i.e., consumes] of them, and with Us is a retaining record.

We know very well what the earth takes away from them: We hold a book which records all things

(But) We know what the earth takes of them. (It is only their physical body that becomes dust. Their "Self" lives on). And with Us is a Guarded Book (of Laws)

But they denied the truth when it came to them, so they are in a confused condition.

But they denied the truth when it came to them, so they are in a state of confusion

Nay, but they denied the Truth as soon as it came to them. And so, they are in a state of utter confusion

Have they not looked at the heaven above them - how We structured it and adorned it and [how] it has no rifts?

Have they not observed the sky above them and marked how We have built it and adorned it, leaving no flaws in it

Do they not look at the sky above them how We have built it and beautified it, and there are no flaws therein

And the earth - We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind,

We spread out the earth and set upon it solid mountains and We brought forth from it all kinds of delightful plants

And the earth. We have spread it out, and scattered mountains firm on it, and caused it to bring forth plants on it of all beauteous kind. (This gives us a scenario of a huge ball with carpets spread out on it held in place with weights. And the mountains serve as great water reservoirs that help grow the vegetation (13:3), (15:19), (31:10), (39:5), (79:28)

Giving insight and a reminder for every servant who turns [to Allāh].

as a lesson and reminder for every human being who turns to God

A Vision and an enlightening Reminder for every servant who wishes to turn (to Allah)

And We have sent down blessed rain from the sky and made grow thereby gardens and grain from the harvest

and We have sent down from the sky blessed water with which We have brought forth gardens and grain to be harvested

And We send down from the high atmosphere blessed water whereby We cause to grow colorful gardens and fields of grains

And lofty palm trees having fruit arranged in layers -

and tall palm-trees with their thickly-clustered dates

And lofty palm-trees with their thickly clustered fruit

As provision for the servants, and We have given life thereby to a dead land. Thus is the emergence [i.e., resurrection].

as a provision for human beings; and by [all] this We bring dead land to life. Such shall be the Resurrection

A provision for My servants. And by all this We revive a dead land. Thus it is: (your) coming forth

The people of Noah denied before them,1 and the companions of the well2 and Thamūd

Before them, the people of Noah and the people of Rass denied this truth; and so did the people of Thamud

Before them denied the Message, the nation of Noah, the dwellers of the valley of Ar-Rass (25:38), and Thamud

And ʿAad and Pharaoh and the brothers [i.e., people] of Lot

And the tribe of 'Ad, and Pharaoh, and the brethren of Lot

And 'Ad, and Pharaoh, and the brothers of Lot

And the companions of the thicket and the people of Tubbaʿ. All denied the messengers, so My threat was justly fulfilled.

and the dwellers of the Wood, and the people of Tubba': every one denied their messengers, and so My warning came true

And the dwellers in the wooded dales (of Midyan), and the nation of King Tubba'. All of them denied their Messengers, so My warning came to pass

Did We fail in the first creation? But they are in confusion over a new creation.

Were We then worn out by the first creation? Yet they are in doubt about a second creation

Could, We, then, be worn out by the first creation? Nay, they are still (after such diverse examples,) lost in doubt about a new creation

And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer1 to him than [his] jugular vein.

We created man -- We know the promptings of his soul, and are closer to him than his jugular vein

Now indeed, it is We Who have created man and We know the whispering that goes on within his mind (all the intricacies of his thought process), for, We are nearer to him than his Vena cava

When the two receivers [i.e., recording angels] receive,1 seated on the right and on the left.

and the two recording angels are recording, sitting on the right and the left

And so it may happen that two conflicting demands in his mind, sitting in opposite directions, pull him apart. (His reason, and his emotions)

He [i.e., man] utters no word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].

each word he utters shall be noted down by a vigilant guardian

Not even a word can he utter but there is an ever-vigilant watcher with him. (The Law of Requital makes a meticulous record)

And the intoxication of death will bring the truth; that is what you were trying to avoid.

The trance of death will come revealing the truth: that is what you were trying to escape

And then, the twilight of death brings with it the inevitable truth. "This is the very thing you would rather evade

And the Horn will be blown. That is the Day of [carrying out] the threat.

The trumpet will be sounded. This is the Day [you were] warned of

(Then a long slumber) - And - the Trumpet is blown - This is the Day Promised

And every soul will come, with it a driver and a witness.1

Each person will arrive attended by an [angel] to drive him on and another to bear witness

And every person will come with his actions and their imprints

[It will be said], "You were certainly in unmindfulness of this, and We have removed from you your cover,1 so your sight, this Day, is sharp."

You were heedless of this, but now We have removed your veil, so your sight today is sharp

Yes, indeed, you were oblivious to this. But now We have removed your veil and sharp is your vision this Day

And his companion, [the angel], will say, "This [record] is what is with me, prepared."

His companion attendant will say, "I have here his record ready

And his other part (the imprints) will say, "Here is the record ready with me

[Allāh will say], "Throw into Hell every obstinate disbeliever,

Cast into Hell every ungrateful, rebellious one

It will be said, "Throw, throw into Hell every stubborn enemy of the Truth

Preventer of good, aggressor, and doubter,

hinderer of good, transgressor, causing others to doubt

Every withholder of charity - given to extremes - fomenter of distrust between people

Who made [as equal] with Allāh another deity; then throw him into the severe punishment."

who has set up another god besides God: cast him into severe punishment

Whoever had set up another god along with Allah. Hurl, hurl him in the strong retribution

His [devil] companion will say, "Our Lord, I did not make him transgress, but he [himself] was in extreme error."

and his associate [Satan] will say, "Lord, I did not make him transgress, he had already gone far astray himself

Man's comrade (desire) will say, "Our Lord! I did not mislead him. He himself was far astray

[Allāh] will say, "Do not dispute before Me, while I had already presented to you the threat [i.e., warning].

God will say, "Do not quarrel in My presence. I gave you the warning beforehand

Thus will respond He, "Contend not in My Presence, for I had sent forth to you warning in advance

The word [i.e., decree] will not be changed with Me, and never will I be unjust to the servants."

and My word shall not be changed, nor am I unjust to My servants

The Word changes not with Me, and I am not at all unjust to My servants

On the Day We will say to Hell, "Have you been filled?" and it will say, "Are there some more,"

On that Day, We shall ask Hell, "Are you now full?" Hell will answer, "Are there any more

On that Day We will ask Hell, "Are you filled?" And it will answer, "Is there yet more for me

And Paradise will be brought near to the righteous, not far,

Paradise will be brought near to the righteous and will no longer be far away

And the Paradise will be brought close to those who walked aright, no longer distant

[It will be said], "This is what you were promised - for every returner [to Allāh] and keeper [of His covenant].

This is what you were promised -- this is for everyone who often turned to God and kept Him in mind

This is what you were promised. It is for everyone who was turning to the Message and guarded it

Who feared the Most Merciful in the unseen and came with a heart returning [in repentance].

who fears the Compassionate One, though He is unseen, and comes to Him with a penitent heart

Everyone who feared violating the Laws of the Beneficent even in privacy and came with a heart that kept turning to Him

Enter it in peace. This is the Day of Eternity."

so enter it in peace. This is the Day of everlasting life

Enter this Paradise in Peace! This is the Day of immortality

They will have whatever they wish therein, and with Us is more.

There they shall have all that they desire, and there is even more with Us

There they have all they desire, and therein is yet more with Us

And how many a generation before them did We destroy who were greater than them in [striking] power and had explored throughout the lands. Is there any place of escape?

How many a generation, far greater in prowess, have We destroyed before them! They searched the entire land: but could they find a refuge

(All this is the Law of Requital.) And how many a generation We annihilated before them, of greater might than theirs! But, then they wandered on the face of the earth asking, "Is there a place of refuge

Indeed in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart or who listens while he is present [in mind].

There is truly a reminder in this for whoever has a heart, whoever listens attentively

Therein, behold, is a reminder for him who has a heart, that is, listens with a presence of mind. ((50:21). 'Aw' = Or = That is = So that = As it is = And so

And We did certainly create the heavens and earth and what is between them in six days, and there touched Us no weariness.

We created the heavens, the earth, and everything between them in six days [periods] nor were We ever wearied

And (who believes that) verily, We created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, in six stages, and weariness did not even touch Us

So be patient, [O Muḥammad], over what they say and exalt [Allāh] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting,

So bear with patience what they say, and glorify your Lord with His praise, before the rising and before the setting of the sun

Hence, bear with patience whatever they say, and keep doing your best from before the rising of the sun to after it sets, for establishing the Glory and Praise of your Lord

And [in part] of the night exalt Him and after prostration [i.e., prayer].

proclaim His praise in the night and at the end of every prayer

And at night too, do your best, hence, all humanity will come to adore Him. (5)

And listen on the Day when the Caller1 will call out from a place that is near -

Hearken! The Day when the caller will call from near

And the day is coming when a caller will call from close-by. (The enemy will approach you for war)

The Day they will hear the blast [of the Horn] in truth. That is the Day of Emergence [from the graves].

The Day when men will hear the fateful cry, they will rise up [from their graves]

The day on which they will hear the real battle-cry. That is the day of coming forth (along with your companions, O Prophet)

Indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and to Us is the destination

Truly, it is We who give life and cause death, and to Us shall all return

Verily, it is We Who grant life and dispense death, and unto us is the destination

On the Day the earth breaks away from them [and they emerge] rapidly; that is a gathering easy for Us.

on the Day the earth will be rent asunder over them, and from it they shall emerge in haste. To assemble them all is easy enough for Us

On that day, the earth will split asunder before them (they shall fail to advance). This assembling of the forces is easy for Us

We are most knowing of what they say, and you are not over them a tyrant.1 But remind by the Qur’ān whoever fears My threat.

We know best what those who deny the truth say. You are not there to force them: so remind, with this Quran, those who fear My warning

We know full well whatever they say, and you are, by no means, a compeller over them. Nevertheless, remind with this Qur'an, any who would fear My warning