The Prophets
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.[21:1]
Their reckoning draweth nigh for mankind, while they turn away in
heedlessness.
[21:2]
Never cometh there unto them a new reminder from their Lord but
they listen to it while they play,
[21:3]
With hearts preoccupied. And they confer in secret. The wrong-
doers say: Is this other than a mortal like you ? Will ye then succumb to
magic when ye see (it) ?
[21:4]
He saith: My Lord knoweth what is spoken in the heaven and the
earth. He is the Hearer, the Knower.
[21:5]
Nay, say they, (these are but) muddled dreams; nay, he hath but
invented it; nay, he is but a poet. Let him bring us a portent even as
those of old (who were God’s messengers) were sent (with portents).
[21:6]
Not a township believed of those which We destroyed before them
(though We sent them portents): would they then believe ?
[21:7]
And We sent not (as Our messengers) before thee other than men,
whom We inspired. Ask the followers of the Reminder if ye know not ?
[21:8]
We gave them not bodies that would not eat food, nor were they
immortals.
[21:9]
Then we fulfilled the promise unto them. So we delivered them and
whom We would, and We destroyed the prodigals.
[21:10]
Now We have revealed unto you a Scripture wherein is your
Reminder. Have ye then no sense ?
[21:11]
How many a community that dealt unjustly have We shattered, and
raised up after them another folk!
[21:12]
And, when they felt Our might, behold them fleeing from it!
[21:13]
(But it was said unto them): Flee not, but return to that
(existence) which emasculated you and to your dwellings, that ye may be
questioned.
[21:14]
They cried: Alas for us! we were wrong-doers.
[21:15]
And this their crying ceased not till We made them as reaped corn,
extinct.
[21:16]
We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between
them in play.
[21:17]
If We had wished to find a pastime, We could have found it in Our
presence - if We ever did.
[21:18]
Nay, but We hurl the true against the false, and it doth break its
head and lo! it vanisheth. And yours will be woe for that which ye ascribe
(unto Him).
[21:19]
Unto Him belongeth whosoever is in the heavens and the earth. And
those who dwell in His presence are not too proud to worship Him, nor do
they weary;
[21:20]
They glorify (Him) night and day; they flag not.
[21:21]
Or have they chosen gods from the earth who raise the dead ?
[21:22]
If there were therein gods beside Allah, then verily both (the
heavens and the earth) had been disordered. Glorified be Allah, the Lord
of the Throne, from all that they ascribe (unto Him).
[21:23]
He will not be questioned as to that which He doeth, but they will
be questioned.
[21:24]
Or have they chosen other gods beside Him ? say: Bring your proof
(of their godhead). This is the Reminder of those with me and those before
me, but most of them know not the Truth and so they are averse.
[21:25]
And We sent no messenger before thee but We inspired him,
(saying): There is no God save Me (Allah), so worship Me.
[21:26]
And they say: The Beneficent hath taken unto Himself a son. Be He
Glorified! Nay, but (those whom they call sons) are honoured slaves;
[21:27]
They speak not until He hath spoken, and they act by His command.
[21:28]
He knoweth what is before them and what is behind them, and they
cannot intercede except for him whom He accepteth, and they quake for awe
of Him.
[21:29]
And one of them who should say: Lo! I am a god beside Him, that
one We should repay with hell. Thus We Repay wrong-doers.
[21:30]
Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth
were of one piece, then We parted them, and we made every living thing of
water ? Will they not then believe ?
[21:31]
And We have placed in the earth firm hills lest it quake with
them, and We have placed therein ravines as roads that haply they may find
their way.
[21:32]
And we have made the sky a roof withheld (from them). Yet they
turn away from its portents.
[21:33]
And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and
the moon. They float, each in an orbit.
[21:34]
We appointed immortality for no mortal before thee. What! if thou
diest, can they be immortal!
[21:35]
Every soul must taste of death, and We try you with evil and with
good, for ordeal. And unto Us ye will be returned.
[21:36]
And when those who disbelieve behold thee, they but choose thee
out for mockery, (saying): Is this he who maketh mention of your gods ?
And they would deny all mention of the Beneficent.
[21:37]
Man is made of haste. I shall show you My portents, but ask Me not
to hasten.
[21:38]
And they say: When will this promise (be fulfilled), if ye are
truthful ?
[21:39]
If those who disbelieved but knew the time when they will not be
able to drive off the fire from their faces and from their backs, and they
will not be helped!
[21:40]
Nay, but it will come upon them unawares so that it will stupefy
them, and they will be unable to repel it, neither will they be reprieved.
[21:41]
Messengers before thee, indeed, were mocked, but that whereat they
mocked surrounded those who scoffed at them.
[21:42]
Say: Who guardeth you in the night or in the day from the
Beneficent ? Nay, but they turn away from mention of their Lord!
[21:43]
Or have they gods who can shield them from Us ? They cannot help
themselves nor can they be defended from Us.
[21:44]
Nay, but We gave these and their fathers ease until life grew long
for them. See they not how we aim to the land, reducing it of its outlying
parts ? Can they then be the victors ?
[21:45]
Say (O Muhammad, unto mankind): I warn you only by the
Inspiration. But the deaf hear not the call when they are warned.
[21:46]
And if a breath of thy Lord’s punishment were to touch them, they
assuredly would say: Alas for us! Lo! we were wrong-doers.
[21:47]
And We set a just balance for the Day of Resurrection so that no
soul is wronged in aught. Though it be of the weight of a grain of mustard
seed, We bring it. And We suffice for reckoners.
[21:48]
And We verily gave Moses and Aaron the Criterion (of right and
wrong) and a light and a Reminder for those who keep from evil,
[21:49]
Those who fear their Lord in secret and who dread the Hour (of
doom).
[21:50]
This is a blessed Reminder that we have revealed: Will ye then
reject it ?
[21:51]
And We verily gave Abraham of old his proper course, and We were
Aware of him,
[21:52]
When he said unto his father and his folk: What are these images
unto which ye pay devotion ?
[21:53]
They said: We found our fathers worshippers of them.
[21:54]
He said: Verily ye and your fathers were in plain error.
[21:55]
They said: Bringest thou unto us the truth, or art thou some
jester ?
[21:56]
He said: Nay, but your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the
earth, Who created them; and I am of those who testify unto that.
[21:57]
And, by Allah, I shall circumvent your idols after ye have gone
away and turned your backs.
[21:58]
Then he reduced them to fragments, all save the chief of them,
that haply they might have recourse to it.
[21:59]
They said: Who hath done this to our gods ? Surely it must be some
evil-doer.
[21:60]
They said: We heard a youth make mention of them, who is called
Abraham.
[21:61]
They said: Then bring him (hither) before the people’s eyes that
they may testify.
[21:62]
They said: Is it thou who hast done this to our gods, O Abraham ?
[21:63]
He said: But this, their chief hath done it. So question them, if
they can speak.
[21:64]
Then gathered they apart and said: Lo! ye yourselves are the wrong-
doers.
[21:65]
And they were utterly confounded, and they said: Well thou knowest
that these speak not.
[21:66]
He said: Worship ye then instead of Allah that which cannot profit
you at all, nor harm you ?
[21:67]
Fie on you and all that ye worship instead of Allah! Have ye then
no sense ?
[21:68]
They cried: Burn him and stand by your gods, if ye will be doing.
[21:69]
We said: O fire, be coolness and peace for Abraham,
[21:70]
And they wished to set a snare for him, but We made them the
greater losers.
[21:71]
And We rescued him and Lot (and brought them) to the land which We
have blessed for (all) peoples.
[21:72]
And We bestowed upon him Isaac, and Jacob as a grandson. Each of
them We made righteous.
[21:73]
And We made them chiefs who guide by Our command, and We inspired
in them the doing of good deeds and the right establishment of worship and
the giving of alms, and they were worshippers of Us (alone).
[21:74]
And unto Lot we gave judgment and knowledge, and We delivered him
from the community that did abominations. Lo! they were folk of evil,
lewd.
[21:75]
And We brought him in unto Our mercy. Lo! he was of the righteous.
[21:76]
And Noah, when he cried of old, We heard his prayer and saved him
and his household from the great affliction.
[21:77]
And delivered him from the people who denied Our revelations. Lo!
they were folk of evil, therefor did We drown them all.
[21:78]
And David and Solomon, when they gave judgment concerning the
field, when people’s sheep had strayed and browsed therein by night; and
We were witnesses to their judgment.
[21:79]
And We made Solomon to understand (the case); and unto each of
them We gave judgment and knowledge. And we subdued the hills and the
birds to hymn (His) praise along with David. We were the doers (thereof).
[21:80]
And We taught him the art of making garments (of mail) to protect
you in your daring. Are ye then thankful ?
[21:81]
And unto Solomon (We subdued) the wind in its raging. It set by
his command toward the land which We had blessed. And of everything We are
Aware.
[21:82]
And of the evil ones (subdued We unto him) some who dived (for
pearls) for him and did other work, and We were warders unto them.
[21:83]
And Job, when he cried unto his Lord, (saying): Lo! adversity
afflicteth me, and Thou art Most Merciful of all who show mercy.
[21:84]
Then We heard his prayer and removed that adversity from which he
suffered, and We gave him his household (that he had lost) and the like
thereof along with them, a mercy from Our store, and a remembrance for the
worshippers;
[21:85]
And (mention) Ishmael, and Idris, and Dhu’l-Kifl. All were of the
steadfast.
[21:86]
And We brought them in unto Our mercy. Lo! they are among the
righteous.
[21:87]
And (mention) Dhu’n-Nun, when he went off in anger and deemed that
We had no power over him, but he cried out in the darkness, saying: There
is no God save Thee. Be Thou Glorified! Lo! I have been a wrong-doer.
[21:88]
Then we heard his prayer and saved him from the anguish. Thus we
save believers.
[21:89]
And Zachariah, when he cried unto his Lord: My Lord! Leave me not
childless, though Thou art the Best of inheritors.
[21:90]
Then We heard his prayer, and bestowed upon him John, and adjusted
his wife (to bear a child) for him. Lo! they used to vie one with the
other in good deeds, and they cried unto Us in longing and in fear, and
were submissive unto Us.
[21:91]
And she who was chaste, therefor We breathed into her (something)
of Our Spirit and made her and her son a token for (all) peoples.
[21:92]
Lo! this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so
worship Me.
[21:93]
And they have broken their religion (into fragments) among them,
(yet) all are returning unto Us.
[21:94]
Then whoso doeth some good works and is a believer, there will be
no rejection of his effort. Lo! We record (it) for him.
[21:95]
And there is a ban upon any community which We have destroyed:
that they shall not return.
[21:96]
Until, when Gog and Magog are let loose, and they hasten out of
every mound,
[21:97]
And the True Promise draweth nigh; then behold them, staring wide
(in terror), the eyes of those who disbelieve! (They say): Alas for us! We
(lived) in forgetfulness of this. Ah, but we were wrong-doers!
[21:98]
Lo! ye (idolaters) and that which ye worship beside Allah are fuel
of hell. Thereunto ye will come.
[21:99]
If these had been gods they would not have come thither, but all
will abide therein.
[21:100]
Therein wailing is their portion, and therein they hear not.
[21:101]
Lo! those unto whom kindness hath gone forth before from Us, they
will be far removed from thence.
[21:102]
TThey will not hear the slightest sound thereof, while they abide
in that which their souls desire.
[21:103]
The Supreme Horror will not grieve them, and the angels will
welcome them, (saying): This is your Day which ye were promised;
[21:104]
The Day when We shall roll up the heavens as a recorder rolleth up
a written scroll. As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it. (It
is) a promise (binding) upon Us. Lo! We are to perform it.
[21:105]
And verily we have written in the Scripture, after the Reminder:
My righteous slaves will inherit the earth:
[21:106]
Lo! there is a plain statement for folk who are devout.
[21:107]
We sent thee not save as a mercy for the peoples.
[21:108]
Say: It is only inspired in me that your God is One God. Will ye
then surrender (unto Him) ?
[21:109]
But if they are averse, then say: I have warned you all alike,
although I know not whether nigh or far is that which ye are promised.
[21:110]
Lo! He knoweth that which is said openly, and that which ye
conceal.
[21:111]
And I know not but that this may be a trial for you, and enjoyment
for a while.
[21:112]
He saith: My Lord! Judge Thou with truth. Our Lord is the
Beneficent, Whose help is to be implored against that which ye ascribe
(unto Him).