57. Al-Hadid

Whatever is in the heavens and earth exalts Allāh,1 and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

Everything in the heavens and earth glorifies God -- He is the Mighty, the Wise One

All things in the heavens and the earth are working relentlessly to fulfill the Divine Plan. And He is the Almighty, the Wise

His is the dominion of the heavens and earth. He gives life and causes death, and He is over all things competent.

He has sovereign control over the heavens and the earth. He gives life and brings death. He has power over all things

Unto Him belongs the Dominion of the heavens and the earth. His are the Laws of life and death and He has Power over all things

He is the First1 and the Last,2 the Ascendant3 and the Intimate,4 and He is, of all things, Knowing.

He is the First and the Last, the Outward and the Inward. He has knowledge of all things

He has no beginning and He has no ending. He is the Evident in His Attributes and the Hidden in His Person. And He is the Knower of all things. (Time and Space are His creation the totality of which is beyond the grasp of human intellect)

It is He who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne.1 He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein; and He is with you2 wherever you are. And Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.

It was He who created the heavens and earth in six Days [periods] and then ascended the throne. He knows what enters the earth and what comes out of it; what descends from the sky and what ascends to it. He is with you wherever you are; He sees all that you do

He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six stages, and is established on the Throne of His Almightiness of Supreme Control. (7:54), (10:3), (13:2), (20:5), (25:59), (32:4), (57:4). He knows all that enters the earth and all that comes forth from it, and all that descends from the sky, and all that ascends therein. And He is with you wherever you may be. And Allah is Seer of what you do

His is the dominion of the heavens and earth. And to Allāh are returned [all] matters.

He has sovereignty over the heavens and the earth. All affairs will return to God

Unto Him belongs the Kingdom of the Highs and the Lows, and unto Allah return all affairs. (His Laws determine the final outcome of all actions)

He causes the night to enter the day and causes the day to enter the night, and He is Knowing of that within the breasts.

He causes the night to pass into the day and the day to pass into the night. And He knows all that is in the hearts of men

He merges the night into the day, and merges the day into the night. He is Knower of all that is in the hearts

Believe in Allāh and His Messenger and spend out of that in which He has made you successive inheritors. For those who have believed among you and spent,1 there will be a great reward.

Have faith in God and His Messenger and spend in charity from that of which He has made you trustees: those of you who believe and give alms shall be richly rewarded

Believe in Allah and His Messenger. And spend of what He has made you trustees (your wealth and persons), on others. Those of you who believe and spend, theirs will be a Great Reward

And why do you not believe in Allāh while the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord and He has taken your covenant, if you should [truly] be believers?

What could be your reason for not believing in God, when the Messenger calls on you to have faith in your Lord and He has already made a covenant with you, if indeed you are true believers

And what is amiss with you that keeps you from having conviction in Allah? And the Messenger invites you to believe in your own Sustainer and has indeed taken your pledge, if you are truly believers

It is He who sends down upon His Servant [Muḥammad (ﷺ)] verses of clear evidence that He may bring you out from darknesses into the light. And indeed, Allāh is to you Kind and Merciful.

It is He who sends down to His Servant clear revelations, so that He may lead you out of darkness into light. God is indeed compassionate and merciful to you

He it is who sends down clear Revelations to His servant, to bring you out from the depths of darkness unto the splendorous Light. And behold, for you Allah is Compassionate, Merciful

And why do you not spend in the cause of Allāh while to Allāh belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth? Not equal among you are those who spent before the conquest [of Makkah] and fought [and those who did so after it]. Those are greater in degree than they who spent afterwards and fought. But to all Allāh has promised the best [reward]. And Allāh, of what you do, is Aware.

Why should you not spend for the cause of God, when God alone holds the heritage of the heavens and the earth? Those of you who spent and fought before the victory will be higher in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards. Yet God has promised you all a good reward. He is aware of all that you do

And why should you not spend in the Cause of Allah when to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth? Those who spend and fight before the victory are not at the same level as the rest of you. They have a greater rank than those who spend and fight after the victory. Unto each Allah has promised good. He is Aware of what you do. (55:)

Who is it that would loan Allāh a goodly loan so He will multiply it for him and he will have a noble reward?

Who will offer God a generous loan? He will double it for him and give him a rich reward

Who is it that will lend unto Allah a goodly loan that He may increase it manifold, and his may be a generous reward

On the Day you see the believing men and believing women, their light proceeding before them and on their right, [it will be said], "Your good tidings today are [of] gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein you will abide eternally." That is what is the great attainment.

On the Day, you [Prophet] shall see the faithful, both men and women, with their light streaming out before them and on their right hands, [and you shall hear a voice saying to them:] "Glad tidings for you today! You shall enter gardens with rivers flowing through them wherein you shall forever dwell. That is the supreme triumph

On the Day when you will see the believing men and the believing women, their lights shining forth before them, blessing them, (it will be said) "A glad news for you this Day! Gardens beneath which flow rivers, to abide therein. This, this is the Supreme Triumph

On the [same] Day the hypocrite men and hypocrite women will say to those who believed, "Wait for us that we may acquire some of your light." It will be said, "Go back behind you1 and seek light." And a wall will be placed between them with a door, its interior containing mercy, but on the outside of it is torment.

On that Day, the hypocrites, both men and women, will say to the faithful, "Wait a while for us, so that we may have some of your light." They will be told, "Turn back and look for a light elsewhere." A wall will then be raised between them. It will have a gate on the inside of which will be grace and mercy and on the outside of which will be punishment

On that Day the hypocrite men and the hypocrite women will say to the believers, "Wait, look on us. Let us borrow from your light!" It will be said, "Go back behind you and seek light." Then a barrier will be put up with a gate therein. On the inner side of it will be Grace, and on the outer side of it the doom

They [i.e., the hypocrites] will call to them [i.e., the believers], "Were we not with you?" They will say, "Yes, but you afflicted yourselves1 and awaited [misfortune for us] and doubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allāh. And the Deceiver [i.e., Satan] deceived you concerning Allāh.

The hypocrites will call out to the faithful: "Were we not on your side?" They will reply, "Yes, but you gave in to temptation, you wavered and doubted and were deceived by your wishful thinking until God's will was done; then the Deceiver [Satan] misled you about God

They will cry unto them, "Were we not with you?" The believers will answer, "Yes, verily - but you let your "Self" succumb to temptation. And you tempted one another, hesitated (watching which side was prevailing), and doubted (Allah's promise). And your fantasies misled you until there issued the Command of Allah. And indeed, the deceiver deceived you concerning Allah. (Deceiver = Desire)

So today no ransom will be taken from you or from those who disbelieved. Your refuge is the Fire. It is most worthy of you, and wretched is the destination."

So this Day no ransom can be taken from you nor from those who were bent on denying the truth. Your home is the fire; that is your companion, and a hapless journey's end

So this Day no ransom can be accepted from you, nor from the open rejecters. Your home is the Fire. That is your care taker and a miserable destination it is

Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allāh and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient.

Has the time not come for the faithful when their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of God and of the revelation of truth, so that they should not become like those who were given the Book before them, whose hearts with the passage of time became hardened and many of whom were disobedient

Is it not time for the believers that their hearts feel humble at the remembrance of Allah and the Truth which has been revealed? Become not like those who were given the Scripture before, and whose hearts were hardened with time. And so, a great many of them have drifted away from Truth

Know that Allāh gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. We have made clear to you the signs; perhaps you will understand.1

Remember that God brings the earth back to life after its death. We have made Our signs clear to you, so that you may fully understand

Know that Allah gives life to the land after it has been dead. For you We have indeed made Our Messages clear so that you might use your intellect

Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity and [they who] have loaned Allāh a goodly loan - it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward.

Alms-givers, both men and women, who give a generous loan to God, shall have it multiplied and shall have an honourable reward

Behold, the men and women who stand true to their proclamations of belief and lend a goodly loan to Allah, they will be repaid manifold. And theirs will be a generous reward

And those who have believed in Allāh and His messengers - those are [in the ranks of] the supporters of truth and the martyrs, with their Lord. For them is their reward and their light.1 But those who have disbelieved and denied Our verses - those are the companions of Hellfire.

Those who believe in God and His messengers are the truthful ones and the witnesses in the sight of their Lord. They shall have their reward and their light. But those who are bent on denying the truth and reject Our signs shall be destined for Hell

For, those who (thus) believe in Allah and His Messengers, it is they - they who are indeed true, and they who are the witnesses to (the Glory of) their Lord. For them is their reward and their light. But, those who openly reject Our Messages and those who deny them in practice - it is they who will be companions of the Insurmountable Barrier (that bars their "Self" from developing)

Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allāh and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.

Never forget that the life of this world is only a game and a passing delight, a show, and mutual boasting and trying to outrival each other in riches and children. It is like the growth of vegetation after the rain, which delights the planter, but which then withers away, turns yellow and becomes worthless stubble. In the life to come there will be a terrible punishment, or God's forgiveness and approval: the life of this world is nothing but means of deception

Know that (in comparison to Eternity) the life of this world is only play and a fleeting delight and decor and your mutual bragging, and pursuit of riches and children. Its example is that of rain - The plantation which it causes to grow, pleases the farmers. But then, it may wither and you can see it turn into yellow hay. And in the end it crumbles into dust! But in the Hereafter it is either grievous suffering or forgiveness from Allah and Approval. Again, the life of this world is nothing but a fleeting enjoyment of illusion. (Therefore, invest in the life to come for lasting rewards)

Race [i.e., compete] toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allāh and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allāh which He gives to whom He wills, and Allāh is the possessor of great bounty.

Vie with one another for your Lord's forgiveness and for a Paradise as vast as heaven and earth, which has been made ready for those who believe in God and His messengers. Such is God's grace. He bestows it upon whoever He pleases. There is no limit to God's bounty

So, be foremost in seeking absolution of your faults through the Laws of your Lord and thus a Paradise as vast as the heaven and the earth. (It transcends spatial boundaries encompassing the whole Universe (3:133)). It has been readied for those who attain belief in Allah and His Messengers. Such is the Bounty of Allah which He bestows upon him who wills it. And Allah is the Lord of a tremendous bounty

No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register1 before We bring it into being - indeed that, for Allāh, is easy -

No misfortune can affect the earth or your own selves without its first having been recorded in a book, before We bring it into being. That is easy for God to do

No disaster befalls the earth, nor yourselves but according to the Laws that We have already recorded in the Book of Decrees. Verily, all this is easy for Allah

In order that you not despair over what has eluded you and not exult [in pride] over what He has given you. And Allāh does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful -

so that you may not grieve for what has escaped you, nor be exultant over what you have gained. God loves neither the conceited nor the boastful

Thus despair not over whatever has left you, nor exult for whatever you have been given. For, Allah does not love any of those self-centered boasters

[Those] who are stingy and enjoin upon people stinginess. And whoever turns away1 - then indeed, Allāh is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.

nor those who, being miserly themselves, urge others to be miserly. He who turns his back should remember that God alone is self-sufficient and worthy of all praise

Who withhold wealth and enjoin upon people to hold back resources. And whoever turns away - verily, Allah alone is self-Sufficient, Owner of Praise

We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [their affairs] in justice. And We sent down iron, wherein is great military might and benefits for the people, and so that Allāh may make evident those who support Him and His messengers unseen. Indeed, Allāh is Powerful and Exalted in Might.

We sent Our messengers with evidence and, with them, We sent down the Book and the Scales of Justice, so that men might act in all fairness. We sent down iron with its great inherent strength and its many benefits for mankind, so that God might know who would stand up for God, though unseen, and His messengers. God is powerful, and almighty

Indeed, We sent Our Messengers with the evident Truth and revealed with them the Law and the Balance of right and wrong that mankind may deal in justice. And We have bestowed the iron in which there is awesome power and many benefits for people, and that Allah may mark out him who helps Him and His Messengers although the victory is initially unseen. Verily, Allah is Strong, Almighty

And We have already sent Noah and Abraham and placed in their descendants prophethood and scripture; and among them is he who is guided, but many of them are defiantly disobedient.

We sent forth Noah and Abraham and bestowed upon their offspring prophethood and the Book. Some of them were rightly guided, but many others were transgressors

And indeed, We sent Noah and Abraham and granted their descendants Prophethood and the Scripture. And among them there is he who goes aright, but a great many of them have drifted away

Then We sent following their footsteps [i.e., traditions] Our messengers and followed [them] with Jesus, the son of Mary, and gave him the Gospel. And We placed in the hearts of those who followed him compassion and mercy and monasticism, which they innovated; We did not prescribe it for them except [that they did so] seeking the approval of Allāh. But they did not observe it with due observance. So We gave the ones who believed among them their reward, but many of them are defiantly disobedient.

Then, in their wake, We followed them up with [others of] Our messengers and after them Jesus, son of Mary. We gave him the Gospel and imbued the hearts of those who followed him with compassion and mercy. But We did not prescribe monasticism for them: that was their own innovation by which they sought to please God. But then, they did not observe it in the way that it should have been observed. So We rewarded only those who were truly faithful, for many of them were disobedient

Then, in succession, We followed them up with (other of) Our Messengers. We caused them to be followed by Jesus son of Mary and gave him the Gospel. And We placed kindness and compassion in the hearts of those who followed him. As for monastic asceticism - We had never ordained it to them. They invented it themselves to seek Allah's Approval. But then, they did not uphold the Gospel with right observance. And so those who truly believed among them, We gave them their reward. But, a great many of them have been drifting away

O you who have believed, fear Allāh and believe in His Messenger; He will [then] give you a double portion of His mercy and make for you a light by which you will walk and forgive you; and Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

Believers, fear God and believe in His messenger. He will show you mercy in double measure and will provide a light for you to walk in. God will grant you forgiveness. He is forgiving and merciful

O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Be mindful of Allah and put faith in His Messenger. He will grant you double the reward of His Grace, here and there, and appoint for you a light wherein you shall walk, and will absolve your faults. For, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful

[This is] so that the People of the Scripture may know that they are not able [to obtain] anything from the bounty of Allāh1 and that [all] bounty is in the hand2 of Allāh; He gives it to whom He wills. And Allāh is the possessor of great bounty.

The People of the Book should know that they have no power whatsoever over God's grace. His grace is entirely in His hand and He bestows it upon whoever He wills. God is truly infinite in His bounty

And the People of the Scripture should know that they have no power whatsoever over the Bounty of Allah. All Bounty is in Allah's hand and He grants it according to His Laws. And Allah is the Lord of a tremendous bounty. (He is the Lord of the Worlds and the Lord of all mankind and discriminates not between people ()