ṣād By the Qur’an full of remembrance!

The truth is, those who ignore warning are in pride and dissension.

(How many a generation We destroyed before them! And they cried out when there was no time to escape.)

And they marvel that a warner has come to them from among them; and the false claimers of guidance say: “This is a sorcerer and a liar.

“Has he made the gods One God? This is an amazing thing.”

And the eminent ones among them went forth: “Go and be steadfast to your gods — this is a thing desired.

“We heard not of this in the latter creed; this is only a fabrication.

“Is it that the remembrance was sent down upon him from among us?” The truth is, they are in doubt about My remembrance; the truth is, they have not tasted My punishment!

If they have the treasuries of the mercy of thy Lord, the Exalted in Might, the Bestower: —

Or if they have the dominion of the heavens and the earth and what is between them: — then let them ascend into the causes!

Some force is thereupon defeated among the parties.

The people of Noah denied before them, and ʿĀd, and Pharaoh, the Lord of Stakes,

And Thamūd, and the people of Lot, and the companions of the woods — those were the parties —

Each only denied the messengers, so My retribution became binding.

And these look only for one Blast; it has no delay.

And they say: “Our Lord: hasten Thou for us our lot before the Day of Reckoning!”

Be thou patient over what they say. And remember thou Our servant David, the possessor of strength: he was one turning in repentance.

We made subject the mountains with him giving glory at evening and sunrise,

And the birds assembled, all turning in repentance to Him.

And We strengthened his dominion, and gave him wisdom and discernment of speech.

And has the report of the litigant come to thee: — when they scaled the wall of the chamber?

When they entered upon David, and he was in terror of them, they said: “Fear thou not — two litigants, one of whom has oppressed the other. So judge thou between us with justice, and transgress thou not; and guide thou us to the right way.

“This, my brother, has ninety-nine ewes, and I have one ewe; so he said: ‘Place thou her in my charge’; and he overcame me in speech.”

Said he: “He has wronged thee in asking thy ewe for his ewes; and many among acquaintances oppress one another save those who heed warning and do righteous deeds — and few are they.” And David understood that We had but subjected him to means of denial; and he asked forgiveness of his Lord, and fell down humbly and repented.

So We forgave him that; and he has nearness to Us and a good journey’s end.

“O David: We have appointed thee a successor in the earth; so judge thou between men with justice; and follow thou not vain desire lest it cause thee to stray from the path of God.” Those who stray from the path of God will have a severe punishment because they forgot the Day of Reckoning.

And We created not the heaven and the earth and what is between them to no purpose. That is the assumption of those who ignore warning. And woe to those who ignore warning from the Fire!

If We make those who heed warning and do righteous deeds like the workers of corruption in the land:. — Or if We make those of prudent fear like the licentious:.

A Writ We have sent down to thee, one blessed, that they might consider its proofs with care, and that those of insight might take heed.

And We gave David Solomon — how excellent a servant! He was one turning in repentance.

When there were presented to him in the evening standing steeds,

He said: “I have loved the love of good out of remembrance of my Lord!” — until it disappeared behind the partition: —

“Return them to me!” Then he began to rub down their legs and necks.

And We subjected Solomon to means of denial, and cast upon his throne a body; then did he repent.

He said: “My Lord: forgive Thou me, and give Thou me a dominion such as behoves no one after me; Thou art the Bestower!”

So We made subject to him the wind — running by his command gently whithersoever he directed —

And the satans, every builder and diver,

And others bound together in shackles.

“This is Our gift; so grant thou or withhold thou without reckoning!”

And he has nearness to Us, and a good journey’s end.

And remember thou Our servant Job, when he called to his Lord: “The satan has touched me with distress and punishment.”

“Stamp thou thy foot: — this is a cool bath and drink!”

And We gave him his household, and their like with them, as a mercy from Us, and as a reminder for men of understanding.

And: “Take thou in thy hand a bouquet, and strike thou therewith, and break thou not thine oath!” We found him patient. How excellent a servant! He was one turning in repentance.

And remember thou Our servants Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — possessors of strength and vision.

We purified them with a pure quality: the remembrance of the Abode.

And they are in Our sight among the chosen, the excellent.

And remember thou Ishmael, and Elisha, and Dhūl-Kifl; and all were among the excellent.

This is a remembrance. And for those of prudent fear is a good journey’s end:

Gardens of perpetual abode whose doors will be opened to them;

Reclining therein, they will call therein for plenteous fruit and drink;

And with them maidens of modest gaze, well-matched.

This is what you are promised for the Day of Reckoning.

This is Our provision; it has no depletion.

This! And for those transgressing all bounds is an evil journey’s end:

Gehenna, wherein they will burn; and evil is the resting-place.

This! So let them taste it: scalding water and purulence,

And more of like categories.

“This is a crowd rushing headlong with you!” — No welcome for them — they will burn in the Fire.

They will say: “The truth is, you — no welcome for you — you sent it ahead for us; and evil is the fixed lodging!”

They will say: “Our Lord: whoso sent this ahead for us, increase Thou for him a double punishment in the Fire.”

And they will say: “What ails us that we see not men we counted among the worst,

“Whom we took in derision — or does our sight miss them?”

That is true: — the mutual recrimination of the people of the Fire.

Say thou: “I am only a warner; and there is no god save God, the One, the Vanquishing,

“Lord of the Heavens and the Earth and what is between them, the Exalted in Might, the Forgiver.”

Say thou: “It is a tremendous report

“From which you turn away.

“I had no knowledge of the exalted assembly when they disputed,

“It is only revealed to me, that I am a clear warner.”

When thy Lord said to the angels: “I am creating a mortal from clay,

“And when I have formed him, and breathed into him of My Spirit, then fall down, to him in submission.”

Then the angels submitted, all of them together.

Not so Iblīs; he had waxed proud, and was of the false claimers of guidance.

He said: “O Iblīs: what hindered thee from submitting to that which I have created with My hands? Hast thou waxed proud? Or art thou of the exalted?”

Said he: “I am better than he; Thou createdst me of fire, and Thou createdst him of clay.”

He said: “Go thou forth from it; for thou art accursed;

“And upon thee is My curse until the Day of Judgment.”

Said he: “My Lord: grant Thou me respite until the day they are raised.”

He said: “Thou art of those granted respite

“Until the day of the known time.”

Said he: “Then by Thy power and glory will I cause them to err all together,

“Save Thy servants among them that are sincere.”

He said: “Then the truth: — and the truth do I say —

“I will fill Gehenna with thee, and whoso follows thee of them all together!”

Say thou: “I ask of you for it no reward; and I am not of those who claim things falsely.

“It is only a reminder to all mankind,

“And you will come to know its report after a time.”