This Meccan sura mentions previous prophets in support and encouragement for Muhammad, and makes a clear link between the arrogance displayed by the disbelievers of Mecca, previous generations, and Iblis, the original rebel. The first and last verses assert the truth and nobility of the Qur’an.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1Sad
By the Qur’an with its reminding . . .!a 2Yet the disbelievers are steeped in arrogance and hostility. 3How many generations We have destroyed before them! They all cried out, once it was too late, for escape. 4The disbelievers think it strange that a prophet of their own people has come to warn them: they say, ‘He is just a lying sorcerer. 5How can he claim that all the gods are but one God? What an astonishing thing [to claim]!’ 6Their leaders depart, saying, ‘Walk away! Stay faithful to your gods! That is what you must do. 7We did not hear any such claim in the last religion:b it is all an invention. 8Was the message sent only to him out of all of us?’
In fact they doubt My warning; in fact they have not tasted My punishment yet. 9Do they possess the treasures of your Lord’s bounty, the Mighty, the All Giving? 10Do they control the heavens and earth and everything between? Let them climb their ropes:c 11their armed alliance is weak and will be crushed. 12The people of Noah, ‘Ad, and firmly-supportedd Pharaoh rejected their prophets before them. 13Thamud, the people of Lot, and the Forest-Dwellers each formed opposition [against theirs]. 14They all rejected the messengers and they were deservedly struck by My punishment: 15all the disbelievers here are waiting for is a single blast that cannot be postponed. 16They say, ‘Our Lord! Advance us our share of punishment before the Day of Reckoning!’ 17Bear their words patiently [Prophet].
Remember Our servant David, a man of strength who always turned to Us: 18We made the mountains join him in glorifying Us at sunset and sunrise; 19and the birds, too, in flocks, all echoed his praise. 20We strengthened his kingdom; We gave him wisdom and a decisive way of speaking. 21Have you heard the story of the two litigants who climbed into his private quarters?22When they reached David, he took fright, but they said, ‘Do not be afraid. We are two litigants, one of whom has wronged the other: judge between us fairly—do not be unjust—and guide us to the right path. 23This is my brother. He had ninety-nine ewes and I just the one, and he said, “Let me take charge of her,” and overpowered me with his words.’ 24David said, ‘He has done you wrong by demanding to add your ewe to his flock. Many partners treat each other unfairly. Those who sincerely believe and do good deeds do not do this, but these are very few.’
[Then] David realized that We had been testing him,a so he asked his Lord for forgiveness, fell down on his knees, and repented: 25We forgave him [his misdeed]. His reward will be nearness to Us, a good place to return to. 26‘David, We have given you mastery over the land. Judge fairly between people. Do not follow your desires, lest they divert you from God’s path: those who wander from His path will have a painful torment because they ignore the Day of Reckoning.’
27It was not without purpose that We created the heavens and the earth and everything in between. That may be what the disbelievers assume—how they will suffer from the Fire!— 28but would We treat those who believe and do good deeds and those who spread corruption on earth as equal? Would We treat those who are aware of God and those who recklessly break all bounds in the same way? 29This is a blessed Scripture which We sent down to you [Muhammad], for people to think about its messages, and for those with understanding to take heed.
30We gave David Solomon. He was an excellent servant who always turned to God. 31When well-bred light-footed horses were paraded before him near the close of day, 32he kept saying, ‘My love of fine things is part of my remembering my Lord!’ until [the horses] disappeared from sight— 33‘Bring them back!’ [he said] and started to stroke their legs and necks.a 34We certainly tested Solomon, reducing him to a mere skeleton on his throne.b 35He turned to Us and prayed: ‘Lord forgive me! Grant me such power as no one after me will have—You are the Most Generous Provider.’ 36So We gave him power over the wind, which at his request ran gently wherever he willed, “and the jinnc—every kind of builder and diver 38and others chained in fetters. 39‘This is Our gift, so give or withhold as you wish without account.’ 40His reward will be nearness to Us, and a good place to return to.
41Bring to mind Our servant Job who cried to his Lord, ‘Satan has afflicted me with weariness and suffering.’ 42‘Stamp your foot! Here is cool water for you to wash in and drink,’ 43and We restored his family to him, with many more like them: a sign of Our mercy and a lesson to all who understand. 44‘Take a small bunch of grass in your hand, and strike [her] with that so as not to break your oath.’d We found him patient in adversity; an excellent servant! He, too, always turned to God.
45Remember Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all men of strength and vision. 46We caused them to be devoted to Use through their sincere remembrance of the Final Home: 47with Us they will be among the elect, the truly good. 48And remember Our servants Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhu ‘l-Kifl,f each of them truly good. 49This is a lesson.
The devout will have a good place to return to: 50Gardens of lasting bliss with gates wide open. 51They will be comfortably seated; they will call for abundant fruit and drink; 52they will have well-matched [wives] with modest gaze. 53‘This is what you are promised for the Day of Reckoning: 54Our provision for you will never end.’
55Yes, but the evildoers will have the worst place to return to: 56Hell to burn in, an evil place to stay— 57all this will be theirs: let them taste it—a scalding, dark, foul fluid, 58and other such torments. 59[It will be said], ‘Here is another crowd of people rushing headlong to join you.’ [The response will be], ‘They are not welcome! They will burn in the Fire.’ 60They will say to them, ‘You are not welcome! It was you who brought this on us, an evil place to stay,’ 61adding, ‘Our Lord, give double punishment to those who brought this upon us.’ 62They will say, ‘Why do we not see those we thought were bad 63and took as a laughing-stock? Have our eyes missed them?’ 64This is how it will really be: the inhabitants of the Fire will blame one another in this way.
65[Prophet] say, ‘I am only here to give warning. There is no god but God the One, the All Powerful, 66Lord of the heavens and earth and everything between, the Almighty, the Most Forgiving.’ 67Say, ‘This message is a mighty one, 68yet you ignore it. 69I have no knowledge of what those on high discuss:a 70it is only revealed to me that I am here to give clear warning.’
71Your Lord said to the angels, ‘I will create a man from clay. 72When I have shaped him and breathed from My Spirit into him, bow down before him.’ 73The angels all bowed down together, 74but not Iblis, who was too proud. He became a rebel. 75God said, ‘Iblis, what prevents you from bowing down to the man I have made with My own hands? Are you too high and mighty?’ 76Iblis said, ‘I am better than him: You made me from fire, and him from clay.’ 77‘Get out of here! You are rejected: 78My rejection will follow you till the Day of Judgement!’ 79but Iblis said, ‘My Lord, grant me respite until the Day when they are raised from the dead,’ 80so He said, ‘You have respite 81till the Appointed Day.’ 82Iblis said, ‘I swear by Your might! I will tempt all 83but Your true servants.’ 84God said, ‘This is the truth—I speak only the truth— 85I will fill Hell with you and all those that follow you.’
86[Prophet], say, ‘I ask no reward from you for this, nor do I claim to be what I am not: 87this is only a warning for all people. 88In time you will certainly come to know its truth.’