48. And for every nation there is a messenger. And when their messenger cometh (on the Day of Judgement) it will be judged between them fairly, and they will not be wronged.
49. And they say: When will this promise be fulfilled, if ye are truthful?
50. Say: I have no power to hurt or benefit myself, save that which Allah willeth. For every nation there is an appointed time. When their rime cometh, then they cannot put it off an hour, nor hasten (it).
51. Say: Have ye thought: When His doom cometh unto you as a raid by night, or in the (busy) day; what is there of it that the guilty ones desire to hasten?
52. Is it (only) then, when it hath befallen you, that ye will believe? What! (Believe) now, when (until now) ye have been hastening it on (through disbelief)?
53. Then will it be said unto those who dealt unjustly Taste the torment of eternity. Are ye requited aught save what ye used to earn?
54. And they ask thee to inform them (saying): Is it true? Say: Yea, by my Lord, verily it is true, and ye cannot escape.
55. And if each soul that doeth wrong had all that is in the earth it would seek to ransom itself therewith; and they will feel remorse within them, when they see the doom. But it hath been judged between them fairly and they are not wronged. 2i6 the glorious KORAN si^frah 56. Lo! verily all that is in the heavens and the earth is Allah’s, Lo! verily Allah’s promise is true. But most of them know not.
57. He quickeneth and giveth death, and unto Him ye will be returned.
58. O mankind! There hath come unto you an exhortation from your Lord, a balm for that which is in the breasts, a guidance and a mercy for believers.
59. Say: In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy: therein let them rejoice. It is better than what they hoard.
60. Say: hlave ye considered what provision Allah hath sent down for you, how ye have made of it lawful and unlawful? Say: Hath Allah permitted you, or do ye invent a lie concerning Allah?
61. And what think those who invent a lie concerning Allah (will be their plight) upon the Day of Resurrection? Lo! Allah truly is Bountiful toward mankind, but most of them give not thanks.
62. And thou (Muhammad) art not occupied with any business and thourecitest not a lecture' from this (Scripture), and ye (mankind) perform no act, but We are Witness of you when ye are engaged therein. And not an atom’s weight in the earth or in the sky escapeth your Lord, nor what is less than that or greater than that, but it is (written) in a clear Book.
63. Lo! verily the friends of Allah are (those) on whom fear (cometh) not, nor do they grieve?
64. Those who believe and keep their duty (to Allah), 65. Theirs are good tidings in the life of the world and in the Hereafter—There is no changing the Words of Allah— that is the Supreme Triumph.
66. And let not their speech grieve thee (O Muhammad).
' Ar. Qur’an, X JONAH 217 Lo! power belongeth wholly to Allah. He is the Hearer, the Knower.
67. Lo! is it not unto Allah that belongeth whosoever is in the heavens and whosoever is in the earth? Those who follow aught instead of Allah follow not (His) partners. They follow only a conjecture, and they do but guess.
68. He it is who hath appointed for you the night that ye should rest therein and the day giving sight. Lo! herein verily are portents for a folk that heed.
69. They say: Allah hath taken (unco Him) a son— Glorified be He! He hath no needs! His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. Ye have no warrant for this. Tell ye concerning Allah that which ye know not?
70. Say: Verily those who invent a lie concerning Allah will not succeed.
71. This world’s portion (will be theirs), then unto Us is their return. Then We make them taste a dreadful doom because they used to disbelieve. 72. Recite unto them the story of Noah, when he told his people: O my people! If my sojourn (here) and my reminding you by Allah’s revelations are an offence unto you, in Allah have I put my trust, so decide upon your course of action, you and your partners. Let not your course of action be in doubt, for you. Then have at me, give me no respite.
73. But if ye are averse I have asked of you no wage. My wage is the concern of Allah only, and I am commanded to be of those who surrender (unto Him).
74. But they denied him, so We saved him and those with him in the ship, and made them viceroys (in the earth), while We drowned chose who denied Our revelations. See then the nature of the consequence for those who had been warned.
75. Then, after him. We sent messengers unto their folk, THE GLORIOUS KORAN SURAH and they brought them clear proofs. But they were not ready to believe in that which they before denied. Thus print We on the hearts of the transgressors.
76. Then, after them, We sent Moses and Aaron unto Pharaoh and his chiefs with Our revelations, but they were arrogant and were a guilty folk, 77. And when the Truth from Our presence came unto them, they said: This is mere magic. 78. Moses said: Speak ye (so) of the Truth when it hath come unto you? Is this magic? Now magicians thrive not.
79. They said: Hast thou come unto us to pervert us from that (faith) in which we found our fathers, and that you two may own the place of greatness in the land? We will not believe you two.
80. And Pharaoh said: Bring every cunning wizard unto me.
81. And when the wizards came, Moses said unto them: Cast your cast!
82. And when they had cast, Moses said: That which ye have brought is magic. Lo! Allah will make it vain. Lo! Allah upholdeth not the work of mischief makers.
83. And Allah will vindicate the Truth by His words, however much the guilty be averse.
84. But none trusted Moses, s.ive some scions of his people, (and they were) in fear of Pharaoh and their chiefs, that they would persecute them. Lo! Pharaoh was verily a tyrant in the land, and lo! he verily was of the wanton.
85. And Moses said: O my people! If ye have believed in Allah then put trust in Him, if ye have indeed surrendered (unto Him)!
86. They said: In Allah we put trust. Our Lord! Oh, make us not a lure for the wrongdoing folk; 87. And, of Thy mercy, save us from the folk that disbelieve.
X JONAH 219 88. And We inspired Moses and his brother, (saying): Appoint houses for your people in Egypt and make your houses oratories, and establish worship. And give good news to the believers.
89. And Moses said: Our Lord! Lo! Thou hast given Pharaoh and his chiefs splendour and riches in the life of the world, Our Lord! that they may lead men astray from Thy way. Our Lord! Destroy their riches and harden their hearts so that they believe not till they see the painful doom.
90. He said: Your prayer is heard. Do ye twain keep to the straight path, and follow not the road,of those who have no knowledge.
91. And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh with his hosts pursued them in rebellion and transgression, till, when the (fate of) drowning overtook him, he exclaimed: I believe that there is no God save Him in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of those who surrender (unto Him).
92. What! Now! When hitherto thou hast rebelled and been of the wrong-doers?
93. But this day We save thee in thy body that thou mayest be a portent for those after thee. Lo! most of mankind are heedless of Our portents. 94. And We verily did allot unto the Children of Israel a fixed abode, and did provide them with good things; and they differed not until the knowledge came unto them. Lo! thy Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein they used to differ.
95. And if thou (Muhammad) art in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto thee, then question chose who read the Scripture (that was) before thee. Verily the Truth from thy Lord hath come unto thee. So be not thou of the waverers.
THE GLORIOUS KORAN StjRAH 96. And be not thou of those who deny the revelations of Allah, for then wert thou of the losers.
97. Lo! those for whom the word of thy Lord (concerning sinners) hath effect will not believe, 98. Though every token come unto them, till they see the painful doom.
99. If only there had been a community (of all those that were destroyed of old) that believed and profited by its belief as did the folk of Jonah! When they believed We drew off from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the world and gave them comfort for a while.
100. And if thy Lord willed, all who are in the earth would have believed together. Wouldst thou (Muhammad) compel men until they are believers? 101. It is not for any soul to believe save by the permission of Allah. He hath set uncleanness upon those who have no sense.
102. Say: Behold what is in the heavens and the earth! But revelations and warnings avail not folk who will not believe.
103. What expect they save the like of the days of those who passed away before them? Say: Expect then! I am with you among the expectant.
104. Then shall We save Our messengers and the believers, in like manner (as of old). It is incumbent upon Us to save believers.
105. Say (O Muhammad): O mankind! If ye are in doubt of my religion, then (know that) I worship not those whom ye worship instead of Allah, but I worship Allah who causeth you to die, and I have been commanded to be of the believers.
106. And, (O Muhammad) set thy purpose resolutely for religion, as a man by nature upright, and be not of those who ascribe partners (to Allah).
X JONAH 107. And cry not, beside Allah, unto that which cannot profit thee nor hurt thee, for if thou didst so then wert thou of the wrong-doers.
108. If Allah afHicteth thee with some hurt, there is none who can remove it save Him; and if He desireth good for thee, there is none who can repel His bounty. He striketh with it whom He will of his bondmen. He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. 109. Say: O mankind! Now hath the Truth from your Lord come unto you. So whosoever is guided, is guided only for (the good of) his soul, and whosoever erreth erreth only against it. And I am not a warder over you.
HO. And (O Muhammad) follow that which is inspired in thee, and forbear until Allah give judgement. And He is the Best of Judges.
sOrAH XI takes its name from v. 50, which begins the story of Hud, of the tribe of A'Sd, one of the prophets of Arabia who are not mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures. The Surah also contains the stories of two other Arab prophets, SMih, of the tribe of Thamud, and Shu'eyb of Midian (identified with Jethro), which, with those of Noah and Moses, are quoted as part of the history of Divine Revelation, the truth of which is here vindicated, in a manner supplementary to Surah X, A late Meccan Surah, except v. I14 f., revealed at Al-Madinah.
hOd Revealed at Mecca In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
1. Alif. Lam. Ra.’ (This is) a Scripture the revelations whereof are perfected and then expounded. (It cometh) from One Wise, Informed, 2. (Saying): Serve none but Allah. Lo! I am unto you from Him a warner and a bringer of good tidings. 3. And (bidding you): Ask pardon of your Lord and turn to Him repentant. He will cause you to enjoy a fair estate until a time appointed. He giveth His bounty unto every bountiful one. But if ye turn away, lo! (then) I fear for you the retribution of an awful Day.
4. Unto Allah is your return, and He is Able to do all things.
' See Sflr. II, v. I, footnote.
SURAH XI HOD 223 5. Lo! now they told up their breasts that they may hide (their thoughts) from Him. At the very moment when they cover themselves with their clothing, Allah knoweth that which they keep hidden and that which they proclaim, ho! He is Aware of what is in the breasts (of men).
6. And there is not a beast in the earth but the sustenance thereof dependeth on Allah. He knoweth its habitation and its repository. All is in a clear record.
7. And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days'—and His Throne was upon the water—that He might try you, which of you is best in conduct. Yet if thou (O Muhammad) sayest: Lo! ye will be raised again after death! those who disbelieve will surely say: This is naught but mere magic.
8. And if We delay f or them the doom until a reckoned time, they will surely say: What withholdeth it? Verily on the day when it cometh unto them, it cannot be averted from them, and that which they derided will surround them.
9. And if We cause man to taste some mercy from Us and afterward withdraw it from him, lo! he is despairing, thankless.
10. And if We cause him to taste grace after some misfortune that had befallen him, he saith: The ills have gone from me. Lo! he is exultant, boastful; 11. Save those who persevere and do good works. Theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward.
12. A likely thing, that thou wouldst forsake aught of that which hath been revealed unto thee, and that thy breast should be straitened for it, because they say: Why hath not a treasure been sent down for him, or an angel come with him? Thou art but a warner, and Allah is in charge of all things.
13. Or they say: He hath invented it. Say: Then bring V. XXII, 47, XXXII, 5, and LXX, 4.
sOrah 224 THE GLORIOUS KORAN ten surahs, the like thereof, invented, and call on everyone ye can beside Allah, if ye are truthful!
14. And if they answer not your prayer, then know that it is revealed only in the knowledge of Allah; and that there is no God save Him. Will ye then be (of) those who surrender?'
15. Whoso desireth the life of the world and its pomp. We shall repay them their deeds herein, and therein they will not be wronged. 16. Those are they for whom is naught in the Hereafter save the Fire. (All) that they contrive here is vain and (all) that they are wont to do is fruitless.
17. Is he (to be counted equal with them) who relieth on a clear proof from his Lord, and a witness from Him reciteth it, and before it was the Book of Moses, an example and a mercy? Such believe therein, and Whoso disbelieveth therein of the clans, the Fire is his appointed place. So be not thou in doubt concerning it. Lo! it is the Truth from thy Lord; but most of mankind believe not.
18. Who doeth greater wrong than he who inventeth a lie concerning Allah? Such will be brought before their Lord, and the witnesses will say: These are they who lied concerning their Lord. Now the curse of Allah is upon wrong-doers, 19. Who debar (men) from the way of Allah and would have it crooked, and who are disbelievers in the Hereafter.
20. Such will not escape in the earth, nor have they any protecting friends beside Allah. For them the torment will- be double. They could not bear to hear, and they used not to see.
21. Such are they who have lost their souls, and that which they used to invent hath failed them.
22. Assuredly in the Hereafter they will be the greatest losers.
• Ar. Muslimtn.
XI HUD 23. Lo! those who believe and do good works and humble themselves before their Lord; such are rightful owners of the Garden; they will abide therein.
24. The similitude ot the two parties is as the blind and the deaf and the seer and the hearer. Are they equal in similitude? Will ye not then be admonished?
25. And We sent Noah unto his folk (and he said): Lo! I am a plain warner unto you.
26. That ye serve none, save Allah. Lo! I fear for you the retribution of a painful Day.
27. The chieftains of his folk, who disbelieved, said: We see thee hut a mortal like us, and we see not that any follow thee save the most abject among us, without reflection. We behold in you no merit above us—nay, we deem you liars.
28. He said: O my people! Bethink you, if I rely on a clear proof from my Lord and there hath come unto me a mercy from His presence, and it hath been made obscure to you, can we compel you to accept it when ye are averse thereto?
29. And O my people! I ask of you no wealth therefor. My reward is the concern only of Allah, and I am not going to thrust away those who believe—Lo! they have to meet their Lord—but I see you a folk that are ignorant.
30. And, O my people! who would deliver me from Allah if I thrust them away? Will ye not then reflect? 31. I say not unto you: ‘ ‘I have the treasures of Allah’ ’ nor ”1 have knowledge of the Unseen,” nor say I: 'To! I am an angel!” Nor say I unto those whom your eyes scorn that Allah will not give them good—Allah knoweth best what is in their hearts—Lo! then indeed I should be of the wrong-doers.
32. They said: O Noah! Thou hast disputed with us and multiplied disputation with us; now bring upon us that wherewith thou threatenest us, if thou art of the truthful.
<3 SURAH 226 THE GLORIOUS KORAN 33. He said: Only Allah will bring it upon you if He will, and ye can by no means escape.
34. My counsel will not profit you if I were minded to advise you, if Allah’s will is to keep you astray. He is your Lord and unto Him ye will be brought back.
35. Or say they (again): He hath invented it? Say: If I have invented it, upon me be my crimes, but I am innocent of (all) that ye commit.
36. And it was inspired in Noah, (saying): No one of thy folk will believe save him who hath believed already. Be not distressed because of what they do.
37. Build the ship under Our eyes and by Our inspiration, and speak not unto Me on behalf of those who do wrong. Lo! they will be drowned.
38. And he was building the ship, and every time that chieftains of his people passed him, they made mock of him. He said: Though ye make mock of us, yet we mock at you even as ye mock; 39. And ye shall know to whom a punishment that will confound him cometh, and upon whom a lasting doom will fall.
40. (Thus it was) till, when Our commandment came to pass and the oven gushed forth water,’ We said: Load therein two of every kind, a pair (the male and female), ajid thy household, save him against whom the word hath gone forth already, and those who believe. And but a few were they who tielieved with him.
41. And he said: Embark therein! In the name of Allah be its course and its mooring. Lo! my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.
42. And it sailed with them amid waves like mountains, ’ This was a sign of the deluge, water gushing up from underground as well as falling from the sky.
XI HUD and Noah cried unco his son—and he was standing aloof—O my son! Come ride with us, and be not with the disbelievers.
43. He said; I shall betake me to some mountain that will save me from the water. (Noah) said: This day there is none that saveth from the commandment of Allah save him on whom He hath had mercy. And the wave came in between them, so he was among the drowned. 44. And it was said: O earth! Swallow thy water and, O sky! be cleared of clouds! And the water was made to subside. And the commandment was fulfilled. And it (the ship) came to rest upon (the mount) Al-Judi and it was said: A far removal for wrongdoing folk!
45. And Noah cried unto his Lord and said: My Lord! Lo! my son is of my household! Surely Thy promise is the Truth and Thou art the Most Just of Judges.
46. He said: O Noah! Lo! he is not of thy household; lo! he is of evil conduct, so ask not of Me that whereof thou hast no knowledge. I admonish thee lest thou be among the ignorant.
47. He said: My Lord! Lo! in Thee do I seek refuge (from the sin) that I should ask of Thee that whereof I have no knowledge. Unless Thou forgive me and have mercy on me I shall be among the lost.
48. It was said (unto him): O Noah! Go thou down (from the nyjuntain) with peace from Us and blessings upon thee and som^ations (that will spring) from those with thee. (There will be other) nations unto whom We shall give enjoyment a long while and then a painful doom from Us will overtake them, 49. This is of the tidings of the Unseen which We inspire in thee (Muhammad). Thou thyself knewest it not, nor did thy folk (know it) before this. Then have patience. Lo! the sequel is for those who ward off (evil) SURAH 228 THE GLORIOUS KORAN 50. And unto (the tribe of) A*ad (We sent) their brother, Hud. He said: O my people! Serve Allah! Ye have no other God save Him. Lo! ye do but invent!
51. O my people! I ask of you no reward for it. Lo! my reward is the concern only of Him who made me. Have ye then no sense?
52. And, O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord, then turn unto Him repentant; He will cause the sky to rain abundance on you and will add unto you strength to your strength. Turn not away, guilty!
53. They said; O Hud! Thou hast brought us no clear proof and we are not going to forsake our gods on thy (mere) saying, and we are not believers in thee.
54. We say naught save that one of our gods hath possessed thee in an evil way. He said: I call Allah to witness, and do ye (too) bear witness, that I am innocent of (all) that ye ascribe as partners (to Allah) 55. Beside Him. So (try to) circumvent me, all of you, give me no respite. 56. Lo! I have put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Not an animal but He doth grasp it by the forelock! Lo! my Lord is on a straight path.
57. And if ye turn away, still I have conveyed unto you that wherewith I was sent unto you, and my Lord will set in place of you a folk other than you. Ye cannot injure Him at all. Lo! my Lord is Guardian over all things.
58. And when Our commandment came to pass We saved Hud and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us; We saved them from a harsh doom.
59. And such were A'ad. They denied the revelations of their Lord and flouted His messengers and followed the command of every froward potentate.
60. And a curse was made to follow them in the world and on the Day of Resurrection. Lo! A'ad disbelieved in their Lord. A far removal for A‘ad, the folk of Hud!
61. And unto (the tribe of) Thamud (We sent) their brother Salih. He said: O my people! Serve Allah, Ye have no other God save Him. He brought you forth from the earth and hath made you husband it. So ask forgiveness of Him and turn unto Him repentant. Lo, my Lord is Nigh, Responsive. 62. They said: O Salih! Thou hast been among us hitherto as that wherein our hope was placed. Dost thou ask us not to worship what our fathers worshipped? Lo! we verily are in grave doubt concerning that to which thou callest us.
63. He said: O my people! Bethink you: if I am (acting) on clear proof from my Lord and there hath come unto me a mercy from Him, who will save me from Allah if I disobey Him? Ye would add to me naught save perdition.
64. O my people! This is the camel of Allah, a token unto you, so suffer her to feed in Allah’s earth, and touch her not with harm lest a near torment seize you.
65. But they hamstrung her, and then he said: Enjoy life in your dwelling-place three days! This is a threat that will not be belied.
66. So, when Our commandment came to pass, We saved SSlih, and those who believed with him, by a mercy from Us, from the ignominy of that day. Lo, thy Lord! He is the Strong, the Mighty.
67. And the (Awful) Cry overtook those who did wrong, so that morning found them prostrate in their dwellings, 68. As though they had not dwelt there. Lo! Thamud disbelieved in their Lord. A far removal for Thamud! 69. And Our messengers came unto Abraham with good news. They said: Peace! He answered: Peace! and delayed not to bring a roasted calf.
si 5 rah THE GLORIOUS KORAN 70. And when he saw their hands reached not to it, he mistrusted them and conceived a fear of them. They said: Fear not! Lo! we are sent unto the folk of Lot.
71. And his wife, standing by, laughed when We gave her good tidings (of the birch) of Isaac, and, after Isaac, of Jacob.
72. She said: Oh, woe is me! Shall I bear a child when I am an old woman, and this my husband is an old man? Lo! this is a strange thing!
73. They said: Wonderest thou at the commandment of Allah? The mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you, O people of the house! Lo! He is Owner of Praise, Owner of Glory!
74. And when the awe departed from Abraham, and the glad news reached him, he pleaded with Us on behalf of the folk of Lot.
75. Lo! Abraham was mild, imploring, penitent.
76. (It was said) O Abraham! Forsake this! Lo! thy Lord's commandment hath gone forth, and lo! there cometh unto them a doom which cannot be repelled, 77. And when Our messengers came unto Lot, he was distressed and knew not how to protect them. He said: This is a distressful day. 78. And his people came unto him, running towards him —and before then they used to commit abominations—He said: O my people! Here are my daughters! They are purer for you. Beware of Allah, and degrade me not in (the person of) my guests. Is there not among you any upright man?
79. They said: Well thou knowest that we have no right to thy daughters, and well thou knowest what we want.
80. Fie said: Would that I had strength to resist you or had some strong support (among you)!
81. (The messengers) said: O Lot! Lo! we are messengers XI HOD of thy Lord; they shall not reach thee. So travel with thy people in a part of the night, and let not one of you turn round—(all) save thy wife. Lo! that which smiteth them will smite her (also). Lo! their tryst is (for) the morning. Is not the morning nigh?
82. So when Our commandment came to pass We overthrew (that township) and rained upon it stones of clay, one after another, 83. Marked with fire in the providence of thy Lord (for the destruction of the wicked). And they are never far from the wrong-doers. 84. And unto Midian (We sent) their brother Shu'eyb. He said: O my people! Serve Allah. Ye have no other God save Him! And give not short measure and short weight. Lo! I see you well-to-do, and lo! I fear for you the doom of a besetting Day.
85. O my people! Give full measure and full weight in justice, and wrong not people in respect of their goods. And do not evil in the earth, causing corruption.
86. That which Allah leaveth with you is better for you if ye are believers; and I am not a keeper over you.
87. They said: O Shu‘eyb! Doth thy way of prayer command thee that we should forsake that which our fathers (used to) worship, or that we (should leave off) doing what we will with our own property. Lo! thou art the mild, the guide to right behaviour.
88. He said: O my people! Bethink you: if I am (acting) on a clear proof from my Lord and He sustaineth me with fair sustenance from Him (how can I concede aught to you)? I desire not to do behind your backs that which I ask you not to do. I desire naught save reform so far as I am able. My welfare is only in Allah. In Him I trust and unto Him I turn (repentant).
sOrah 232 THE GLORIOUS KORAN 89. And, O my people! Let not the schism with me cause you to sin so that there befall you that which befell the folk of Noah and the folk of Hud, and the folk of Salih; and the folk of Lot are not far off from you, 90. Ask pardon of your Lord and then turn unto Him (repentant). Lo! my Lord is Merciful, Loving.
91. They said: O Shu'eyb! We understand not much of that thou tellest, and lo! we do behold thee weak among us. But for thy family, we should have stoned thee, for thou art not strong against us.
92. He said: O my people! Is my family more to be honoured by you than Allah? And ye put Him behind you, neglected! Lo! my Lord surroundeth what ye do.
93. And, O my people! Act according to your power, lo, I (too) am acting. Ye will soon know on whom there cometh a doom that will abase him, and who it is that lieth. And watch! Lo! I am a watcher with you.
94. And when Our commandment came to pass We saved Shu‘eyb and those who believed with Him by a mercy from Us; and the (Awful) Cry seized those who did injustice, and morning found them prostrate in their dwellings, 95. As though they had not dwelt there. A far removal for Midian, even as Thamud had been removed afar!
96. And verily We sent Moses with Our revelations and a clear warrant 97. Unto Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they did follow the command of Pharaoh, and the command of Pharaoh was no right guide. 98. He will go before his people on the Dayof Resurrection and will lead them to the Fire for watering-place. Ah, hapless is the watering-place (whither they are) led.
99. A curse is made to follow them in the world and on the Day of Resurrection. Hapless is the gift (that will be) given (them).
XI 100. That is (something) of the tidings of the townships' (which were destroyed of old). We relate it unto thee (Muhammad). Some of them are standing and some (already) reaped.
101. We wronged them not, but they did wrong themselves; and their gods on whom they call beside Allah availed them naught when came thy Lord’s command; they added to them naught save ruin.
102. Even thus is the grasp of thy Lord when he graspeth the townships' while they are doing wrong. Lo! His grasp is painful, very strong.
103. Lo! herein verily there is a portent for those who fear the doom of the Hereafter. That is a day unto which mankind will be gathered, and that is a day that will be witnessed.
104. And We defer it only to a term already reckoned.
105. On the day when it cometh no soul will speak except by His permission; some among them will be wretched, (others) glad. 106. As for those who will be wretched (on that day) they will be in the Fire; sighing and wailing will be their portion therein, 107. Abiding there so long as the heavens and the earth endure save for that which thy Lord willeth. Lol thy Lord is Doer of what He will.
108. And as for those who will be glad (that day) they will be in the Garden, abiding there so long as the heavens and the earth endure save for that which thy Lord willeth: a gift unfailing.
109. So be not thou in doubt concerning that which these (folk) worship. They worship only as their fathers worshipped aforetime. Lo! We shall pay them their whole due unabated.
no. And We verily gave unto Moses the Scripture, and • Or communities.
234 the glorious KORAN surah there was strife thereupon; and had it not been for a Word that had already gone forth from thy Lord, the case would have been judged between them, and lol they are in grave doubt concerning it.
111. And lol unto each thy Lord will verily repay his works in full. Lo! He is Informed of what they do, 112. So tread thou the straight path as thou art commanded, and those who turn (unto Allah) with thee, and transgress not. Lo! He is Seer of what ye do. 113. And incline not toward those who do wrong lest the Fire touch you, and ye have no protecting friends against Allah, and afterward ye would not be helped, 114. Establish worship at the two ends of the day and in some watches of the night. Lo! good deeds annul ill deeds. This is a reminder for the mindful, 115. And have patience, (O Muhammad), for lo! Allah loseth not the wages of the good.
116. If only there had been among the generations before you men possessing a remnant (of good sense) to warn (their people) from corruption in the earth, as did a few of those whom We saved from them! The wrong-doers followed that by which they were made sapless, and were guilty.
117. In truth thy Lord destroyed not the townships tyrannously while their folk were doing right.
118. And if thy Lord had willed. He verily would have made mankind one nation, yet they cease not differing, 119. Save him on whom thy Lord hath mercy; and for that He did create them. And the Word of thy Lord hath been fulfilled: Verily I shall fill hell with the jinn and mankind together. 120. And all that We relate unto thee of the story of the messengers is in order that thereby We may make firm thy heart. And herein hath come unto thee the Truth and an exhortation and a reminder for believers.
XI HOD 235 121. And say unto those who believe not; Act according to your power. Lo! we (too) are acting.
122. And wait! Lo! we (too) are waiting.
123. And Allah's is the Invisible of the heavens and the earth, and unto Him the whole matter will be returned. So worship Him and put thy trust in Him. Lo! thy Lord is not unaware of what ye (mortals) do.
SORAH XII Yusuf takes its name from its subject which is the life-story of Joseph. It differs from all other Surahs in having only one subject. The differences from the Bible narrative are striking. Jacob is here a Prophet, who is not deceived by the story of his son's death, but is distressed because, through a suspension of his clairvoyance, he cannot see what has become of Joseph. The real importance of the narrative, its psychic burden, is emphasised throughout, and the manner of narration, though astonishing to Western readers, is vivid.
Tradition says that it was recited by the Prophet at Mecca to the first converts from Yathrib (Al-Madinah), i.e. in the second year before the Hijrah; but that, as Noldeke points out, does not mean that it was not revealed till then, but that it had been revealed by then.
A late Meccan Surah.
JOSEPH Revealed at Mecca In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful.
1. Alif. Lam. Ra.' These are verses of the Scripture that maketh plain.
2. Lo! We have revealed it, a Lecture"" in Arabic, that ye may understand.
3. We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives in that We have inspired in thee this Qur’an, though aforetime thou wast of the heedless.
4. When Joseph said unto his father: O my father! Lo! I saw in a dream eleven planets and the sun and the moon, I saw them prostrating themselves unto me.
' See footnote, Surah II, v. l.
* Ar. QuYan.
StjRAH XII JOSEPH 5. He said: O my dear son! Tell not thy brethren of thy vision, lest they plot a plot against thee. Lo! Satan is for man an open foe.
6. Thus thy Lord will prefer thee and will teach thee the interpretation of events, and will perfect his grace upon thee and upon the family of Jacob as he perfected it upon thy forefathers, Abraham and Isaac. Lo! thy Lord is Knower, Wise.
7. Verily in Joseph and his brethren are signs (of Allah’s Sovereignty) for the inquiring. 8. When they said: Verily Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we are, many though we be. Lo! our father is in plain aberration.
g. (One said:) Kill Joseph or cast him to some (other) land, so that your father’s favour may be all for you, and (that) ye may afterward be righteous folk.
10, One among them said: Kill not Joseph but, if ye must be doing, fling him into the depth of the pit; some caravan will find him.
n. They said: O our father! Why wilt thou not trust us with Joseph, when lo! we are good friends to him?
12. Send him with us to-morrow that he may enjoy himself and play. And lo! we shall take good care of him.
13. He said: Lo! in truth it saddens me that ye should take him with you, and I fear lest the wolf devour him while ye are heedless of him.
14. They said: If the wolf should devour him when we are (so strong) a band, then surely we should have already perished.
15. Then, when they led him off, and were of one mind that they should place him in the depth of the pit. We inspired in him: Thou wilt tell them of this deed of theirs when they know (thee) not.
THE GLORIOUS KORAN SURAH 16. And they came weeping to their father in the evening.
17. Saying: O our father! We went racing one with another, and left Joseph by our things, and the wolf devoured him, and thou believest not our saying even when we speak the truth. 18. And they came with false blood on his shirt. He said: Nay, but your minds have beguiled you into something. (My course is) comely patience. And Allah it is whose help is to be sought in that (predicament) which ye describe.
19. And there came a caravan, and they sent their water- drawer. He let down his pail (into the pit). He said: Good luck! Here is a youth. And they hid him as a treasure, and Allah was Aware of what they did.
20. And they sold him for a low price, a number of silver coins; and they attached no value to him.
21. And he of Egypt who purchased him said unto his wife: Receive him honourably. Perchance he may prove useful to us or we may adopt him as a son. Thus We established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah was predominant in his career, but most of mankind know not.
22. And when he reached his prime We gave him wisdom and knowledge. Thus We reward the good.
23. And she, in whose house he was, asked of him an evil act. She bolted the doors and said: Come! He said: I seek refuge in Allah! Lo! he is my lord, who hath treated me honourably. Wrong-doers never prosper.