38.The letter Saad

  1. Sad By the Quran with its reminding
  2. Yet the disbelievers are steeped in arrogance and hostility
  3. How many generations We have destroyed before them! They all cried out, once it was too late, for escape
  4. The disbelievers think it strange that a prophet of their own people has come to warn them: they say, ‘He is just a lying sorcerer
  5. How can he claim that all the gods are but one God? What an astonishing thing [to claim]!’
  6. Their leaders depart, saying, ‘Walk away! Stay faithful to your gods! That is what you must do
  7. We did not hear any such claim in the last religion: it is all an invention
  8. Was 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
  9. Do they possess the treasures of your Lord’s bounty, the Mighty, the All Giving
  10. Do they control the heavens and earth and everything between? Let them climb their ropes
  11. their armed alliance is weak and will be crushed
  12. The people of Noah, Ad, and firmly-supported Pharaoh rejected their prophets before them
  13. Thamud, the people of Lot, and the Forest-Dwellers each formed opposition [against theirs]
  14. They all rejected the mes-sengers and they were deservedly struck by My punishment
  15. all the disbelievers here are waiting for is a single blast that cannot be postponed
  16. They say, ‘Our Lord! Advance us our share of punishment before the Day of Reckoning!’
  17. Bear their words patiently [Prophet]. Remember Our servant David, a man of strength who always turned to Us
  18. We made the mountains join him in glorifying Us at sunset and sunrise
  19. and the birds, too, in flocks, all echoed his praise
  20. We strengthened his kingdom; We gave him wisdom and a decisive way of speaking
  21. Have you heard the story of the two litigants who climbed into his private quarters
  22. When 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
  23. This 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.’
  24. David 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, so he asked his Lord for forgiveness, fell down on his knees, and repented
  25. We 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.’
  27. It 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
  28. but 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
  29. This 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
  30. We gave David Solomon. He was an excellent servant who always turned to God
  31. When well-bred light-footed horses were paraded before him near the close of day
  32. he 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
  34. We certainly tested Solomon, reducing him to a mere skeleton on his throne
  35. He 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.’
  36. So We gave him power over the wind, which at his request ran gently wherever he willed
  37. and the jinn––every kind of builder and diver
  38. and others chained in fetters
  39. ‘This is Our gift, so give or withhold as you wish without account.’
  40. His reward will be nearness to Us, and a good place to return to
  41. Bring 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,’
  43. and 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.’ We found him patient in adversity; an excellent servant! He, too, always turned to God
  45. Remember Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all men of strength and vision
  46. We caused them to be devoted to Us through their sincere remembrance of the Final Home
  47. with Us they will be among the elect, the truly good
  48. And remember Our servants Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhu ’l-Kifl, each of them truly good
  49. This is a lesson. The devout will have a good place to return to
  50. Gardens of lasting bliss with gates wide open
  51. They will be comfortably seated; they will call for abundant fruit and drink
  52. they will have well-matched [wives] with modest gaze
  53. ‘This is what you are promised for the Day of Reckoning
  54. Our provision for you will never end.’
  55. But the evildoers will have the worst place to return to
  56. Hell to burn in, an evil place to stay
  57. all this will be theirs: let them taste it- a scalding, dark, foul fluid
  58. and 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.’
  60. They will say to them, ‘You are not welcome! It was you who brought this on us, an evil place to stay,’
  61. adding, ‘Our Lord, give double punishment to those who brought this upon us.’
  62. They will say, ‘Why do we not see those we thought were bad
  63. and took as a laughing-stock? Have our eyes missed them?’
  64. This 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
  66. Lord of the heavens and earth and everything between, the Almighty, the Most Forgiving.’
  67. Say, ‘This message is a mighty one
  68. yet you ignore it
  69. I have no knowledge of what those on high discuss
  70. it is only revealed to me that I am here to give clear warning.’
  71. Your Lord said to the angels, ‘I will create a man from clay
  72. When I have shaped him and breathed from My Spirit into him, bow down before him.’
  73. The angels all bowed down together
  74. but not Iblis, who was too proud. He became a rebel
  75. God said, ‘Iblis, what prevents you from bowing down to the man I have made with My own hands? Are you too high and mighty?’
  76. Iblis said, ‘I am better than him: You made me from fire, and him from clay.’
  77. ‘Get out of here! You are rejected
  78. My rejection will follow you till the Day of Judgement!’
  79. but Iblis said, ‘My Lord, grant me respite until the Day when they are raised from the dead,’
  80. so He said, ‘You have respite
  81. till the Appointed Day.’
  82. Iblis said, ‘I swear by Your might! I will tempt all
  83. but Your true servants.’
  84. God said, ‘This is the truth- I speak only the truth
  85. I 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
  87. this is only a warning for all people
  88. In time you will certainly come to know its truth.’
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