Translation of the meanings of surah Al-Anbiyaa (2)

(51) (51) And We had certainly given Abraham his sound judgement before,[891] and We were of him well-Knowing

[891]- i.e., before Moses. Allāh had guided him from early youth.

(52) (52) When he said to his father and his people, "What are these statues to which you are devoted?"

(53) (53) They said, "We found our fathers worshippers of them."

(54) (54) He said, "You were certainly, you and your fathers, in manifest error."

(55) (55) They said, "Have you come to us with truth, or are you of those who jest?"

(56) (56) He said, "[No], rather, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth who created them, and I, to that, am of those who testify.

(57) (57) And [I swear] by Allāh, I will surely plan against your idols after you have turned and gone away."

(58) (58) So he made them into fragments, except a large one among them, that they might return to it [and question].

(59) (59) They said, "Who has done this to our gods? Indeed, he is of the wrongdoers."

(60) (60) They said, "We heard a young man mention them who is called Abraham."

(61) (61) They said, "Then bring him before the eyes of the people that they may testify."[892]

[892]- To what they had heard him say. It may also mean "...that they may witness [what will be done to him as punishment]."

(62) (62) They said, "Have you done this to our gods, O Abraham?"

(63) (63) He said, "Rather, this - the largest of them - did it, so ask them, if they should [be able to] speak."

(64) (64) So they returned to [blaming] themselves and said [to each other], "Indeed, you are the wrongdoers."

(65) (65) Then they reversed themselves,[893] [saying], "You have already known that these do not speak!"

[893]- After first admitting their error, they were seized by pride and obstinacy.

(66) (66) He said, "Then do you worship instead of Allāh that which does not benefit you at all or harm you?

(67) (67) Uff[894] to you and to what you worship instead of Allāh. Then will you not use reason?"

[894]- An exclamation of anger and displeasure.

(68) (68) They said, "Burn him and support your gods - if you are to act."

(69) (69) We [i.e., Allāh] said, "O fire, be coolness and safety upon Abraham."

(70) (70) And they intended for him a plan [i.e., harm], but We made them the greatest losers.

(71) (71) And We delivered him and Lot to the land which We had blessed for the worlds [i.e., peoples].

(72) (72) And We gave him Isaac and Jacob in addition, and all [of them] We made righteous.

(73) (73) And We made them leaders guiding by Our command. And We inspired to them the doing of good deeds, establishment of prayer, and giving of zakāh; and they were worshippers of Us.

(74) (74) And to Lot We gave judgement and knowledge, and We saved him from the city that was committing wicked deeds. Indeed, they were a people of evil, defiantly disobedient.

(75) (75) And We admitted him into Our mercy. Indeed, he was of the righteous.

(76) (76) And [mention] Noah, when he called [to Allāh][895] before [that time], so We responded to him and saved him and his family from the great affliction [i.e., the flood].

[895]- i.e., supplicated against his people who had persisted in denial and animosity. See 71:26-28.

(77) (77) And We aided [i.e., saved] him from the people who denied Our signs. Indeed, they were a people of evil, so We drowned them, all together.

(78) (78) And [mention] David and Solomon, when they judged concerning the field - when the sheep of a people overran it [at night],[896] and We were witness to their judgement.

[896]- Eating and destroying the crops.

(79) (79) And We gave understanding of it [i.e., the case] to Solomon, and to each [of them] We gave judgement and knowledge. And We subjected the mountains to exalt [Us], along with David and [also] the birds. And We were doing [that].[897]

[897]- Meaning that Allāh has always been capable of accomplishing whatever He wills.

(80) (80) And We taught him the fashioning of coats of armor to protect you from your [enemy in] battle. So will you then be grateful?

(81) (81) And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind, blowing forcefully, proceeding by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And We are ever, of all things, Knowing.

(82) (82) And of the devils [i.e., jinn] were those who dived for him and did work other than that. And We were of them a guardian.[898]

[898]- Preventing any disobedience or deviation by them from Solomon's instructions and protecting him from being harmed by them.

(83) (83) And [mention] Job, when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the most merciful of the merciful."

(84) (84) So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him [back] his family and the like thereof with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers [of Allāh].

(85) (85) And [mention] Ishmael and Idrees and Dhul-Kifl; all were of the patient.

(86) (86) And We admitted them into Our mercy. Indeed, they were of the righteous.

(87) (87) And [mention] the man of the fish [i.e., Jonah], when he went off in anger[899] and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him.[900] And he called out within the darknesses,[901] "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."

[899]- At the disbelief of his people. [900]- Or "would not restrict him" in the belly of the fish. [901]- That of the night, of the sea, and of the fish's interior.

(88) (88) So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.

(89) (89) And [mention] Zechariah, when he called to his Lord, "My Lord, do not leave me alone [with no heir], while You are the best of inheritors."

(90) (90) So We responded to him, and We gave to him John, and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate[902] Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive.

[902]- i.e., worship.

(91) (91) And [mention] the one who guarded her chastity [i.e., Mary], so We blew into her [garment] through Our angel [i.e., Gabriel], and We made her and her son a sign for the worlds.

(92) (92) Indeed this, your religion, is one religion,[903] and I am your Lord, so worship Me.

[903]- i.e., a collective way of life or course of conduct followed by a community.

(93) (93) And [yet] they divided their affair [i.e., that of their religion] among themselves,[904] [but] all to Us will return.

[904]- Becoming sects and denominations.

(94) (94) So whoever does righteous deeds while he is a believer - no denial will there be for his effort,[905] and indeed We [i.e., Our angels], of it, are recorders.

[905]- Such a person will not be deprived of his due reward.

(95) (95) And it is prohibited to [the people of] a city which We have destroyed that they will [ever] return[906]

[906]- They cannot return to this world, nor can they repent to Allāh.

(96) (96) Until when [the dam of] Gog and Magog has been opened and they, from every elevation, descend

(97) (97) And [when] the true promise [i.e., the resurrection] has approached; then suddenly the eyes of those who disbelieved will be staring [in horror, while they say], "O woe to us; we had been unmindful of this; rather, we were wrongdoers."

(98) (98) Indeed, you [disbelievers] and what you worship other than Allāh are the firewood of Hell. You will be coming to [enter] it.

(99) (99) Had these [false deities] been [actual] gods, they would not have come to it, but all are eternal therein.

(100) (100) For them therein is heavy sighing, and they therein will not hear.

(101) (101) Indeed, those for whom the best [reward] has preceded from Us - they are from it far removed.

(102) (102) They will not hear its sound, while they are, in that which their souls desire, abiding eternally.

(103) (103) They will not be grieved by the greatest terror,[907] and the angels will meet them, [saying], "This is your Day which you have been promised" -

[907]- The events of the Last Hour or of the Resurrection.

(104) (104) The Day when We will fold the heaven like the folding of a [written] sheet for the records. As We began the first creation, We will repeat it. [That is] a promise binding upon Us. Indeed, We will do it.[908]

[908]- More literally, "Indeed, We are ever doers" of what We will.

(105) (105) And We have already written in the book [of Psalms][909] after the [previous] mention[910] that the land [of Paradise] is inherited by My righteous servants.

[909]- Az-Zabūr can also mean "scriptures" in general. [910]- i.e., the Torah. The "mention" may also refer to the original inscription with Allāh, i.e., the Preserved Slate (al-Lawḥ al-Maḥfūth).

(106) (106) Indeed, in this [Qur’ān] is notification for a worshipping people.

(107) (107) And We have not sent you, [O Muḥammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.

(108) (108) Say, "It is only revealed to me that your god is but one God; so will you be Muslims [in submission to Him]?"

(109) (109) But if they turn away, then say, "I have announced to [all of] you equally.[911] And I know not whether near or far is that which you are promised.

[911]- The Prophet (ﷺ) made this message known to all people, not concealing any of it from anyone or preferring any group over another.

(110) (110) Indeed, He knows what is declared of speech, and He knows what you conceal.

(111) (111) And I know not; perhaps it[912] is a trial for you and enjoyment for a time."

[912]- The postponement of punishment.

(112) (112) [The Prophet (ﷺ)] has said, "My Lord, judge [between us] in truth. And our Lord is the Most Merciful, the one whose help is sought against that which you describe."[913]

[913]- i.e., their lies and disbelief.