Translation of the meanings of surah Ash-Shu'araa (2)

(105) (105) The people of Noah denied the messengers[1054]

[1054]- See footnote to 25:37.

(106) (106) When their brother Noah said to them, "Will you not fear Allāh?

(107) (107) Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.

(108) (108) So fear Allāh and obey me.

(109) (109) And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

(110) (110) So fear Allāh and obey me."

(111) (111) They said, "Should we believe you while you are followed by the lowest [class of people]?"

(112) (112) He said, "And what is my knowledge of what they used to do?

(113) (113) Their account is only upon my Lord, if you [could] perceive.

(114) (114) And I am not one to drive away the believers.

(115) (115) I am only a clear warner."

(116) (116) They said, "If you do not desist, O Noah, you will surely be of those who are stoned."

(117) (117) He said, "My Lord, indeed my people have denied me.

(118) (118) Then judge between me and them with decisive judgement and save me and those with me of the believers."

(119) (119) So We saved him and those with him in the laden ship.

(120) (120) Then We drowned thereafter the remaining ones.

(121) (121) Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

(122) (122) And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

(123) (123) ʿAad denied the messengers

(124) (124) When their brother Hūd said to them, "Will you not fear Allāh?

(125) (125) Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.

(126) (126) So fear Allāh and obey me.

(127) (127) And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

(128) (128) Do you construct on every elevation a sign,[1055] amusing yourselves,

[1055]- i.e., a symbol or indication of their wealth and power. They used to build lofty structures along the road to be seen by all who passed by.

(129) (129) And take for yourselves constructions [i.e., palaces and fortresses] that you might abide eternally?

(130) (130) And when you strike, you strike as tyrants.

(131) (131) So fear Allāh and obey me.

(132) (132) And fear He who provided you with that which you know,

(133) (133) Provided you with grazing livestock and children

(134) (134) And gardens and springs.

(135) (135) Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a terrible day."

(136) (136) They said, "It is all the same to us whether you advise or are not of the advisors.

(137) (137) This is not but the custom of the former peoples,

(138) (138) And we are not to be punished."

(139) (139) And they denied him, so We destroyed them. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

(140) (140) And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

(141) (141) Thamūd denied the messengers

(142) (142) When their brother Ṣāliḥ said to them, "Will you not fear Allāh?

(143) (143) Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.

(144) (144) So fear Allāh and obey me.

(145) (145) And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

(146) (146) Will you be left in what is here, secure [from death],

(147) (147) Within gardens and springs

(148) (148) And fields of crops and palm trees with softened fruit?

(149) (149) And you carve out of the mountains, homes, with skill.

(150) (150) So fear Allāh and obey me.

(151) (151) And do not obey the order of the transgressors,

(152) (152) Who cause corruption in the land and do not amend."

(153) (153) They said, "You are only of those affected by magic.

(154) (154) You are but a man like ourselves, so bring a sign, if you should be of the truthful."

(155) (155) He said, "This is a she-camel.[1056] For her is a [time of] drink, and for you is a [time of] drink, [each] on a known day.

[1056]- Miraculously sent to them as a sign by Allāh.

(156) (156) And do not touch her with harm, lest you be seized by the punishment of a terrible day."

(157) (157) But they hamstrung her and so became regretful.

(158) (158) And the punishment seized them. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

(159) (159) And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

(160) (160) The people of Lot denied the messengers

(161) (161) When their brother Lot said to them, "Will you not fear Allāh?

(162) (162) Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.

(163) (163) So fear Allāh and obey me.

(164) (164) And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

(165) (165) Do you approach males among the worlds[1057]

[1057]- i.e., Are there, out of all Allāh's creatures, any besides you who commit this unnatural act?

(166) (166) And leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you are a people transgressing."

(167) (167) They said, "If you do not desist, O Lot, you will surely be of those evicted."

(168) (168) He said, "Indeed, I am, toward your deed, of those who detest [it].

(169) (169) My Lord, save me and my family from [the consequence of] what they do."

(170) (170) So We saved him and his family, all,

(171) (171) Except an old woman[1058] among those who remained behind.

[1058]- Lot's wife, who had collaborated with the evildoers.

(172) (172) Then We destroyed the others.

(173) (173) And We rained upon them a rain [of stones], and evil was the rain of those who were warned.

(174) (174) Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

(175) (175) And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

(176) (176) The companions of the thicket [i.e., the people of Madyan] denied the messengers

(177) (177) When Shuʿayb said to them, "Will you not fear Allāh?

(178) (178) Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.

(179) (179) So fear Allāh and obey me.

(180) (180) And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

(181) (181) Give full measure and do not be of those who cause loss.

(182) (182) And weigh with an even [i.e., honest] balance.

(183) (183) And do not deprive people of their due and do not commit abuse on earth, spreading corruption.

(184) (184) And fear He who created you and the former creation."[1059]

[1059]- i.e., previous generations.

(185) (185) They said, "You are only of those affected by magic.

(186) (186) You are but a man like ourselves, and indeed, we think you are among the liars.

(187) (187) So cause to fall upon us fragments of the sky, if you should be of the truthful."

(188) (188) He said, "My Lord is most knowing of what you do."

(189) (189) And they denied him, so the punishment of the day of the black cloud seized them. Indeed, it was the punishment of a terrible day.

(190) (190) Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

(191) (191) And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

(192) (192) And indeed, it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds.

(193) (193) The Trustworthy Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] has brought it down

(194) (194) Upon your heart, [O Muḥammad] - that you may be of the warners -

(195) (195) In a clear Arabic language.

(196) (196) And indeed, it is [mentioned] in the scriptures of former peoples.

(197) (197) And has it not been a sign to them that it is recognized by the scholars of the Children of Israel?

(198) (198) And even if We had revealed it to one among the foreigners[1060]

[1060]- i.e., the non-Arabs or those who are not fluent in the Arabic language.

(199) (199) And he had recited it to them [perfectly],[1061] they would [still] not have been believers in it.

[1061]- As a miracle from Allāh.

(200) (200) Thus have We inserted it [i.e., disbelief] into the hearts of the criminals.

(201) (201) They will not believe in it until they see the painful punishment.

(202) (202) And it will come to them suddenly while they perceive [it] not.

(203) (203) And they will say, "May we be reprieved?"

(204) (204) So for Our punishment are they impatient?

(205) (205) Then have you considered if We gave them enjoyment for years

(206) (206) And then there came to them that which they were promised?

(207) (207) They would not be availed by the enjoyment with which they were provided.

(208) (208) And We did not destroy any city except that it had warners

(209) (209) As a reminder; and never have We been unjust.

(210) (210) And the devils have not brought it [i.e., the revelation] down.[1062]

[1062]- As was asserted by the disbelievers. Rather, it was brought by Gabriel, the Trustworthy Spirit.

(211) (211) It is not allowable for them, nor would they be able.

(212) (212) Indeed they, from [its] hearing, are removed.[1063]

[1063]- As mentioned in 72:9.

(213) (213) So do not invoke[1064] with Allāh another deity and [thus] be among the punished.

[1064]- Or "worship."

(214) (214) And warn, [O Muḥammad], your closest kindred.

(215) (215) And lower your wing [i.e., show kindness] to those who follow you of the believers.

(216) (216) And if they disobey you, then say, "Indeed, I am disassociated from what you are doing."

(217) (217) And rely upon the Exalted in Might, the Merciful,

(218) (218) Who sees you when you arise[1065]

[1065]- From your bed at night for prayer while you are alone.

(219) (219) And your movement among those who prostrate.[1066]

[1066]- i.e., among those who pray with you in congregation.

(220) (220) Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

(221) (221) Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend?

(222) (222) They descend upon every sinful liar.

(223) (223) They pass on what is heard,[1067] and most of them are liars.

[1067]- This was before they were prevented, as described in 72:8-9.

(224) (224) And the poets - [only] the deviators follow them;

(225) (225) Do you not see that in every valley they roam[1068]

[1068]- Speaking lies indiscriminately and praising and disparaging others according to whim.

(226) (226) And that they say what they do not do? -

(227) (227) Except those [poets] who believe and do righteous deeds and remember Allāh often and defend [the Muslims][1069] after they were wronged. And those who have wronged are going to know to what [kind of] return they will be returned.

[1069]- By replying through poetry to the attacks of hostile poets.