The Poets
In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful.
1 Ta, Seen, Meem.
2 These are the Verses of the Clarifying Book.
3 Perhaps you will destroy yourself with grief, because they do not become believers.
4 If We will, We can send down upon them a sign from heaven, at which their necks will stay bent in humility.
5 No fresh reminder comes to them from the Most Merciful, but they turn their backs at it.
6 They have denied the truth, but soon will come to them the news of what they ridiculed.
7 Have they not seen the earth, and how many beautiful pairs We produced therein?
8 Surely in this is a sign, but most of them are not believers.
9 Most surely, your Lord is the Almighty, the Merciful.
10 Your Lord called to Moses, “Go to the tyrannical people.
11 The people of Pharaoh. Will they not fear?”
12 He said, “My Lord, I fear they will reject me.
13 And I become stressed, and my tongue is not fluent, so send Aaron too.
14 And they have a charge against me, so I fear they will kill me.”
15 He said, “No. Go, both of you, with Our proofs. We will be with you, listening.
16 Go to Pharaoh, and say, ‘We are the Messengers of the Lord of the Worlds.
17 Let the Children of Israel go with us.’“
18 He said, “Did we not raise you among us as a child, and you stayed among us for many of your years?
19 And you committed that deed you committed, and you were ungrateful.”
20 He said, “I did it then, when I was of those astray.
21 And I fled from you when I feared you; but my Lord gave me wisdom, and made me one of the messengers.
22 Is that the favor you taunt me with, although you have enslaved the Children of Israel?”
23 Pharaoh said, “And what is the Lord of the Worlds?”
24 He said, “The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and everything between them, if you are aware.”
25 He said to those around him, “Do you not hear?”
26 He said, “Your Lord and the Lord of your ancestors of old.”
27 He said, “This messenger of yours, who is sent to you, is crazy.”
28 He said, “Lord of the East and the West, and everything between them, if you understand.”
29 He said, “If you accept any god other than me, I will make you a prisoner.”
30 He said, “What if I bring you something convincing?”
31 He said, “Bring it, if you are being truthful.”
32 So he cast his staff; and it was a serpent, plain to see.
33 And he pulled his hand; and it was white, for all to see.
34 He said to the dignitaries around him, “This is a skilled magician.
35 He intends to drive you out of your land with his magic, so what do you recommend?”
36 They said, “Delay him and his brother, and send recruiters to the cities.
37 To bring you every experienced magician.”
38 So the magicians were gathered for the appointment on a specified day.
39 And it was said to the people, “Are you all gathered?
40 That we may follow the magicians, if they are the winners.”
41 When the magicians arrived, they said to Pharaoh, “Is there a reward for us, if we are the winners?”
42 He said, “Yes, and you will be among those favored.”
43 Moses said to them, “Present what you intend to present.”
44 So they threw their ropes and their sticks, and said, “By the majesty of Pharaoh, we will be the winners.”
45 Then Moses threw his staff, and behold, it began swallowing their trickery.
46 And the magicians fell down prostrating.
47 They said, “We have believed in the Lord of the Worlds.
48 The Lord of Moses and Aaron.”
49 He said, “Did you believe in Him before I have given you permission? He must be your chief, who taught you magic. You will soon know. I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you all.”
50 They said, “No problem. To our Lord we will return.
51 We are eager for our Lord to forgive us our sins, since we are the first of the believers.”
52 And We inspired Moses: “Travel with My servants by night. You will be followed.”
53 Pharaoh sent heralds to the cities.
54 “These are a small gang.
55 And they are enraging us.
56 But we are a vigilant multitude.”
57 So We drove them out of gardens and springs.
58 And treasures and noble dwellings.
59 So it was. And We made the Children of Israel inherit them.
60 And they pursued them at sunrise.
61 When the two groups sighted each other, the followers of Moses said, “We are being overtaken.”
62 He said, “No; my Lord is with me, He will guide me.”
63 We inspired Moses: “Strike the sea with your staff.” Whereupon it parted, and each part was like a huge hill.
64 And there We brought the others near.
65 And We saved Moses and those with him, all together.
66 Then We drowned the others.
67 In that there is a sign, but most of them are not believers.
68 Surely, your Lord is the Almighty, the Merciful.
69 And relate to them the story of Abraham.
70 When he said to his father and his people, “What do you worship?”
71 They said, “We worship idols, and we remain devoted to them.”
72 He said, “Do they hear you when you pray?
73 Or do they benefit you, or harm you?”
74 They said, “But we found our ancestors doing so.”
75 He said, “Have you considered what you worship.
76 You and your ancient ancestors?
77 They are enemies to me, but not so the Lord of the Worlds.
78 He who created me, and guides me.
79 He who feeds me, and waters me.
80 And when I get sick, He heals me.
81 He who makes me die, and then revives me.
82 He who, I hope, will forgive my sins on the Day of the Reckoning.”
83 “My Lord! Grant me wisdom, and include me with the righteous.
84 And give me a reputation of truth among the others.
85 And make me of the inheritors of the Garden of Bliss.
86 And forgive my father—he was one of the misguided.
87 And do not disgrace me on the Day they are resurrected.
88 The Day when neither wealth nor children will help.
89 Except for him who comes to God with a sound heart.”
90 And Paradise will be brought near for the righteous.
91 And the Blaze will be displayed to the deviators.
92 And it will be said to them, “Where are those you used to worship?”
93 Besides God? Can they help you, or help themselves?”
94 Then they will be toppled into it, together with the seducers.
95 And the soldiers of Satan, all of them.
96 They will say, as they feud in it.
97 “By God, We were in evident error.
98 For equating you with the Lord of the Worlds.
99 No one misled us except the sinners.
100 Now we have no intercessors.
101 And no sincere friend.
102 If only we could have another chance, we would be among the faithful.”
103 Surely in this is a sign, but most of them are not believers.
104 Your Lord is the Almighty, the Merciful.
105 The people of Noah disbelieved the messengers.
106 Their brother Noah said to them, “Do you not fear?
107 I am to you a faithful messenger.
108 So fear God, and obey me.
109 I ask of you no payment for this. My payment is only from the Lord of the Worlds.
110 So fear God, and obey me.”
111 They said, “Shall we believe in you, when it is the lowliest who follow you?”
112 He said, “What do I know about what they do?
113 Their account rests only with my Lord, if you have sense.
114 And I am not about to drive away the believers.
115 I am only a clear warner.”
116 They said, “If you do not refrain, O Noah, you will be stoned.”
117 He said, “My Lord, my people have denied me.
118 So judge between me and them decisively, and deliver me and the believers who are with me.
119 So We delivered him and those with him in the laden Ark.
120 Then We drowned the rest.
121 In that is a sign, but most of them are not believers.
122 Your Lord is the Almighty, the Merciful.
123 Aad disbelieved the messengers.
124 When their brother Hud said to them, “Do you not fear?
125 I am to you a faithful messenger.
126 So fear God, and obey me.
127 I ask of you no payment for this. My payment is only from the Lord of the Worlds.
128 Do you build a monument on every height for vanity’s sake?
129 And you set up fortresses, hoping to live forever?
130 And when you strike, you strike mercilessly?
131 So fear God, and obey me.
132 And reverence Him, who supplied you with everything you know.
133 He supplied you with livestock and children.
134 And gardens and springs.
135 I fear for you the punishment of an awesome Day.”
136 They said, “It is the same for us, whether you lecture us, or do not lecture.
137 This is nothing but morals of the ancients.
138 And we will not be punished.”
139 So they denied him, and We destroyed them. Surely in this is a sign, but most of them are not believers.
140 Your Lord is the Almighty, the Merciful.
141 Thamood disbelieved the messengers.
142 When their brother Saleh said to them, “Do you not fear?
143 I am to you a faithful messenger.
144 So fear God, and obey me.
145 I ask of you no payment for it. My payment is only from the Lord of the Worlds.
146 Will you be left secure in what is here?
147 In gardens and springs?
148 And fields, and palm-trees whose fruits are delicious?
149 And you skillfully carve houses in the mountains?
150 So fear God, and obey me.
151 And do not obey the command of the extravagant.
152 Who spread turmoil on earth, and do not reform.”
153 They said, “You are surely one of the bewitched.
154 You are nothing but a man like us. So bring us a sign, if you are truthful.
155 He said, “This is a she-camel; she has her turn of drinking, and you have your turn of drinking—on a specified day.
156 And do not touch her with harm, lest the punishment of a great day seizes you.”
157 But they slaughtered her, and became full of remorse.
158 So the punishment overtook them. Surely in this is a sign, but most of them are not believers.
159 Your Lord is the Almighty, the Merciful.
160 The people of Lot disbelieved the messengers.
161 When their brother Lot said to them, “Do you not fear?
162 I am to you a faithful messenger.
163 So fear God, and obey me.
164 I ask of you no payment for it. My payment is only from the Lord of the Worlds.
165 Do you approach the males of the world?
166 And forsake the wives your Lord created for you? Indeed, you are intrusive people.”
167 They said, “Unless you refrain, O Lot, you will be expelled.”
168 He said, “I certainly deplore your conduct.”
169 “My Lord, save me and my family from what they do.”
170 So We saved him and his family, altogether.
171 Except for an old woman among those who tarried.
172 Then We destroyed the others.
173 And We rained down on them a rain. Dreadful is the rain of those forewarned.
174 Surely in this is a sign, but most of them are not believers.
175 Your Lord is the Almighty, the Merciful.
176 The People of the Woods disbelieved the messengers.
177 When Shuaib said to them, “Do you not fear?
178 I am to you a trustworthy messenger.
179 So fear God, and obey me.
180 I ask of you no payment for it. My payment is only from the Lord of the Worlds.
181 Give full measure, and do not cheat.
182 And weigh with accurate scales.
183 And do not defraud people of their belongings, and do not work corruption in the land.
184 And fear Him who created you and the masses of old.”
185 They said, “You are one of those bewitched.
186 And you are nothing but a man like us; and we think that you are a liar.
187 So bring down on us pieces from the sky, if you are truthful.”
188 He said, “My Lord is Well Aware of what you do.”
189 But they denied him. So the punishment of the day of gloom gripped them. It was the punishment of a great day.
190 Surely in this is a sign, but most of them are not believers.
191 Your Lord is the Almighty, the Merciful.
192 It is a revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.
193 The Honest Spirit came down with it.
194 Upon your heart, that you may be one of the warners.
195 In a clear Arabic tongue.
196 And it is in the scriptures of the ancients.
197 Is it not a sign for them that the scholars of the Children of Israel recognized it?
198 Had We revealed it to one of the foreigners.
199 And he had recited it to them, they still would not have believed in it.
200 Thus We make it pass through the hearts of the guilty.
201 They will not believe in it until they witness the painful punishment.
202 It will come to them suddenly, while they are unaware.
203 Then they will say, “Are we given any respite?”
204 Do they seek to hasten Our punishment?
205 Have you considered: if We let them enjoy themselves for some years.
206 Then there comes to them what they were promised.
207 Of what avail to them will be their past enjoyments?
208 Never did We destroy a town, but it had warners.
209 As a reminder—We are never unjust.
210 It was not the devils that revealed it.
211 It is not in their interests, nor in their power.
212 They are barred from hearing.
213 So do not pray to another god with God, else you will be of those tormented.
214 And warn your close relatives.
215 And lower your wing to those of the believers who follow you.
216 And if they disobey you, say, “I am innocent of what you do.”
217 And put your trust in the Almighty, the Merciful.
218 He Who sees you when you rise.
219 And your devotions amidst the worshipers.
220 He is indeed the Hearer, the Aware.
221 Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend?
222 They descend upon every sinful liar.
223 They give ear, and most of them are liars.
224 And as for the poets—the deviators follow them.
225 Do you not see how they ramble in every style?
226 And how they say what they do not do?
227 Except for those who believe, and do good deeds, and remember God frequently, and defend themselves after they are wronged. As for those who do wrong, they will know by what overturning they will be overturned.