بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Surah 37: The Arrangers (Al-Saffat)
الصافات
وَالصّٰفّٰتِ صَفًّا
The arrangers in columns.
فَالزّٰجِرٰتِ زَجرًا
The blamers of those to be blamed.
فَالتّٰلِيٰتِ ذِكرًا
The reciters of the messages.
إِنَّ إِلٰهَكُم لَوٰحِدٌ
Your god is only one.
رَبُّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضِ وَما بَينَهُما وَرَبُّ المَشٰرِقِ
The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and everything between them, and Lord of the easts.*
*37:5 Every heavenly body rises on the planet earth, and sets. Every rise is called "east."
إِنّا زَيَّنَّا السَّماءَ الدُّنيا بِزينَةٍ الكَواكِبِ
We have adorned the lowest heaven with adorning planets.*
*37:6 We live in the innermost and smallest universe. The jinns are confined to this universe.
وَحِفظًا مِن كُلِّ شَيطٰنٍ مارِدٍ
We guarded it from every evil devil.
لا يَسَّمَّعونَ إِلَى المَلَإِ الأَعلىٰ وَيُقذَفونَ مِن كُلِّ جانِبٍ
They cannot spy on the High Society; they get bombarded from every side.
دُحورًا وَلَهُم عَذابٌ واصِبٌ
They have been condemned; they have incurred an eternal retribution.
إِلّا مَن خَطِفَ الخَطفَةَ فَأَتبَعَهُ شِهابٌ ثاقِبٌ
If any of them ventures to charge the outer limits, he gets struck with a fierce projectile.
فَاستَفتِهِم أَهُم أَشَدُّ خَلقًا أَم مَن خَلَقنا إِنّا خَلَقنٰهُم مِن طينٍ لازِبٍ
Ask them, "Are they more difficult to create, or the other creations?" We created them from wet mud.
بَل عَجِبتَ وَيَسخَرونَ
While you are awed, they mock.
وَإِذا ذُكِّروا لا يَذكُرونَ
When reminded, they take no heed.
وَإِذا رَأَوا ءايَةً يَستَسخِرونَ
When they see proof, they ridicule it.
وَقالوا إِن هٰذا إِلّا سِحرٌ مُبينٌ
They say, "This is obviously magic!
أَءِذا مِتنا وَكُنّا تُرابًا وَعِظٰمًا أَءِنّا لَمَبعوثونَ
"After we die and become dust and bones, do we get resurrected?
أَوَءاباؤُنَا الأَوَّلونَ
"Even our ancient ancestors?"
قُل نَعَم وَأَنتُم دٰخِرونَ
Say, "Yes, you will be forcibly summoned."
فَإِنَّما هِىَ زَجرَةٌ وٰحِدَةٌ فَإِذا هُم يَنظُرونَ
All it takes is one nudge, whereupon they (stand up) looking.
وَقالوا يٰوَيلَنا هٰذا يَومُ الدّينِ
They will say, "Woe to us; this is the Day of Judgment."
هٰذا يَومُ الفَصلِ الَّذى كُنتُم بِهِ تُكَذِّبونَ
This is the day of decision that you used to disbelieve in.
احشُرُوا الَّذينَ ظَلَموا وَأَزوٰجَهُم وَما كانوا يَعبُدونَ
Summon the transgressors, and their spouses, and the idols they worshiped
مِن دونِ اللَّهِ فَاهدوهُم إِلىٰ صِرٰطِ الجَحيمِ
beside God, and guide them to the path of Hell.
وَقِفوهُم إِنَّهُم مَسـٔولونَ
Stop them, and ask them:
ما لَكُم لا تَناصَرونَ
"Why do you not help one another?"
بَل هُمُ اليَومَ مُستَسلِمونَ
They will be, on that day, totally submitting.
وَأَقبَلَ بَعضُهُم عَلىٰ بَعضٍ يَتَساءَلونَ
They will come to each other, questioning and blaming one another.
قالوا إِنَّكُم كُنتُم تَأتونَنا عَنِ اليَمينِ
They will say (to their leaders), "You used to come to us from the right side."
قالوا بَل لَم تَكونوا مُؤمِنينَ
They will respond, "It is you who were not believers.
وَما كانَ لَنا عَلَيكُم مِن سُلطٰنٍ بَل كُنتُم قَومًا طٰغينَ
"We never had any power over you; it is you who were wicked.
فَحَقَّ عَلَينا قَولُ رَبِّنا إِنّا لَذائِقونَ
"We justly incurred our Lord's judgment; now we have to suffer.
فَأَغوَينٰكُم إِنّا كُنّا غٰوينَ
"We misled you, only because we were astray."
فَإِنَّهُم يَومَئِذٍ فِى العَذابِ مُشتَرِكونَ
Thus, together they will all partake of the retribution on that day.
إِنّا كَذٰلِكَ نَفعَلُ بِالمُجرِمينَ
This is how we requite the guilty.
إِنَّهُم كانوا إِذا قيلَ لَهُم لا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ يَستَكبِرونَ
When they were told, "Lã Elãha Ella Allãh [There is no other god beside God]," they turned arrogant.
وَيَقولونَ أَئِنّا لَتارِكوا ءالِهَتِنا لِشاعِرٍ مَجنونٍ
They said, "Shall we leave our gods for the sake of a crazy poet?"
بَل جاءَ بِالحَقِّ وَصَدَّقَ المُرسَلينَ
In fact, he has brought the truth, and has confirmed the messengers.
إِنَّكُم لَذائِقُوا العَذابِ الأَليمِ
Most assuredly, you will taste the most painful retribution.
وَما تُجزَونَ إِلّا ما كُنتُم تَعمَلونَ
You are requited only for what you have done.
إِلّا عِبادَ اللَّهِ المُخلَصينَ
Only God's servants who are absolutely devoted to Him alone (will be saved).
أُولٰئِكَ لَهُم رِزقٌ مَعلومٌ
They have deserved provisions that are reserved specifically for them.
فَوٰكِهُ وَهُم مُكرَمونَ
All kinds of fruits. They will be honored.
فى جَنّٰتِ النَّعيمِ
In the gardens of bliss.
عَلىٰ سُرُرٍ مُتَقٰبِلينَ
On furnishings close to one another.
يُطافُ عَلَيهِم بِكَأسٍ مِن مَعينٍ
Cups of pure drinks will be offered to them.
بَيضاءَ لَذَّةٍ لِلشّٰرِبينَ
Clear and delicious for the drinkers.
لا فيها غَولٌ وَلا هُم عَنها يُنزَفونَ
Never polluted, and never exhausted.
وَعِندَهُم قٰصِرٰتُ الطَّرفِ عينٌ
With them will be wonderful companions.
كَأَنَّهُنَّ بَيضٌ مَكنونٌ
Protected like fragile eggs.
فَأَقبَلَ بَعضُهُم عَلىٰ بَعضٍ يَتَساءَلونَ
They will come to each other, and confer with one another.
قالَ قائِلٌ مِنهُم إِنّى كانَ لى قَرينٌ
One of them will say, "I used to have a friend.
يَقولُ أَءِنَّكَ لَمِنَ المُصَدِّقينَ
"He used to mock: `Do you believe all this?
أَءِذا مِتنا وَكُنّا تُرابًا وَعِظٰمًا أَءِنّا لَمَدينونَ
"'After we die and turn into dust and bones, do we get called to account?'"
قالَ هَل أَنتُم مُطَّلِعونَ
He will say, "Just take a look!"
فَاطَّلَعَ فَرَءاهُ فى سَواءِ الجَحيمِ
When he looks, he will see his friend in the heart of Hell.*
*37:55 People who make it to Heaven will be able to visit their relatives and friends in Hell, without adverse consequences. In the Hereafter, anyone can move downward, but not upward beyond a certain limit. The limit is decided by one's degree of growth and development (App. 5).
قالَ تَاللَّهِ إِن كِدتَ لَتُردينِ
He (will go to him and) say, "By God, you almost ruined me.
وَلَولا نِعمَةُ رَبّى لَكُنتُ مِنَ المُحضَرينَ
"If it were not for my Lord's blessing, I would have been with you now.
أَفَما نَحنُ بِمَيِّتينَ
"(Do you still believe) that we die,
إِلّا مَوتَتَنَا الأولىٰ وَما نَحنُ بِمُعَذَّبينَ
"only the first death, and we never receive any requital?"
إِنَّ هٰذا لَهُوَ الفَوزُ العَظيمُ
Such is the greatest triumph.
لِمِثلِ هٰذا فَليَعمَلِ العٰمِلونَ
This is what every worker should work for.
أَذٰلِكَ خَيرٌ نُزُلًا أَم شَجَرَةُ الزَّقّومِ
Is this a better destiny, or the tree of bitterness?
إِنّا جَعَلنٰها فِتنَةً لِلظّٰلِمينَ
We have rendered it a punishment for the transgressors.
إِنَّها شَجَرَةٌ تَخرُجُ فى أَصلِ الجَحيمِ
It is a tree that grows in the heart of Hell.
طَلعُها كَأَنَّهُ رُءوسُ الشَّيٰطينِ
Its flowers look like the devils' heads.
فَإِنَّهُم لَـٔاكِلونَ مِنها فَمالِـٔونَ مِنهَا البُطونَ
They will eat from it until their bellies are filled up.
ثُمَّ إِنَّ لَهُم عَلَيها لَشَوبًا مِن حَميمٍ
Then they will top it with a hellish drink.
ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَرجِعَهُم لَإِلَى الجَحيمِ
Then they will return to Hell.
إِنَّهُم أَلفَوا ءاباءَهُم ضالّينَ
They found their parents astray.
فَهُم عَلىٰ ءاثٰرِهِم يُهرَعونَ
And they blindly followed in their footsteps.
وَلَقَد ضَلَّ قَبلَهُم أَكثَرُ الأَوَّلينَ
Most of the previous generations have strayed in the same manner.
وَلَقَد أَرسَلنا فيهِم مُنذِرينَ
We have sent to them warners.
فَانظُر كَيفَ كانَ عٰقِبَةُ المُنذَرينَ
Note the consequences for those who have been warned.
إِلّا عِبادَ اللَّهِ المُخلَصينَ
Only God's servants who are absolutely devoted to Him alone (are saved).
وَلَقَد نادىٰنا نوحٌ فَلَنِعمَ المُجيبونَ
Thus, Noah called upon us, and we were the best responders.
وَنَجَّينٰهُ وَأَهلَهُ مِنَ الكَربِ العَظيمِ
We saved him and his family from the great disaster.
وَجَعَلنا ذُرِّيَّتَهُ هُمُ الباقينَ
We made his companions the survivors.
وَتَرَكنا عَلَيهِ فِى الـٔاخِرينَ
And we preserved his history for subsequent generations.
سَلٰمٌ عَلىٰ نوحٍ فِى العٰلَمينَ
Peace be upon Noah among the peoples.
إِنّا كَذٰلِكَ نَجزِى المُحسِنينَ
We thus reward the righteous.
إِنَّهُ مِن عِبادِنَا المُؤمِنينَ
He is one of our believing servants.
ثُمَّ أَغرَقنَا الـٔاخَرينَ
We drowned all the others.
وَإِنَّ مِن شيعَتِهِ لَإِبرٰهيمَ
Among his followers was Abraham.
إِذ جاءَ رَبَّهُ بِقَلبٍ سَليمٍ
He came to his Lord wholeheartedly.
إِذ قالَ لِأَبيهِ وَقَومِهِ ماذا تَعبُدونَ
He said to his father and his people, "What are you worshiping?
أَئِفكًا ءالِهَةً دونَ اللَّهِ تُريدونَ
"Is it these fabricated gods, instead of God, that you want?
فَما ظَنُّكُم بِرَبِّ العٰلَمينَ
"What do you think of the Lord of the universe?"
فَنَظَرَ نَظرَةً فِى النُّجومِ
He looked carefully at the stars.
فَقالَ إِنّى سَقيمٌ
Then he gave up and said, "I am tired of this!"
فَتَوَلَّوا عَنهُ مُدبِرينَ
They turned away from him.
فَراغَ إِلىٰ ءالِهَتِهِم فَقالَ أَلا تَأكُلونَ
He then turned on their idols, saying, "Would you like to eat?
ما لَكُم لا تَنطِقونَ
"Why do you not speak?"
فَراغَ عَلَيهِم ضَربًا بِاليَمينِ
He then destroyed them.
فَأَقبَلوا إِلَيهِ يَزِفّونَ
They went to him in a great rage.
قالَ أَتَعبُدونَ ما تَنحِتونَ
He said, "How can you worship what you carve?
وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُم وَما تَعمَلونَ
"When God has created you, and everything you make!"
قالُوا ابنوا لَهُ بُنيٰنًا فَأَلقوهُ فِى الجَحيمِ
They said, "Let us build a great fire, and throw him into it."
فَأَرادوا بِهِ كَيدًا فَجَعَلنٰهُمُ الأَسفَلينَ
They schemed against him, but we made them the losers.
وَقالَ إِنّى ذاهِبٌ إِلىٰ رَبّى سَيَهدينِ
He said, "I am going to my Lord; He will guide me."
رَبِّ هَب لى مِنَ الصّٰلِحينَ
"My Lord, grant me righteous children."
فَبَشَّرنٰهُ بِغُلٰمٍ حَليمٍ
We gave him good news of a good child.
فَلَمّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعىَ قالَ يٰبُنَىَّ إِنّى أَرىٰ فِى المَنامِ أَنّى أَذبَحُكَ فَانظُر ماذا تَرىٰ قالَ يٰأَبَتِ افعَل ما تُؤمَرُ سَتَجِدُنى إِن شاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصّٰبِرينَ
When he grew enough to work with him, he said, "My son, I see in a dream that I am sacrificing you. What do you think?" He said, "O my father, do what you are commanded to do. You will find me, God willing, patient."
*37:102 The Most Merciful never advocates evil (7:28). As with Job, Satan claimed that Abraham loved his son too much, and was permitted to put Abraham to that severe test.
فَلَمّا أَسلَما وَتَلَّهُ لِلجَبينِ
They both submitted, and he put his forehead down (to sacrifice him).
وَنٰدَينٰهُ أَن يٰإِبرٰهيمُ
We called him: "O Abraham.
قَد صَدَّقتَ الرُّءيا إِنّا كَذٰلِكَ نَجزِى المُحسِنينَ
"You have believed the dream." We thus reward the righteous.
إِنَّ هٰذا لَهُوَ البَلٰؤُا۟ المُبينُ
That was an exacting test indeed.
وَفَدَينٰهُ بِذِبحٍ عَظيمٍ
We ransomed (Ismail) by substituting an animal sacrifice.
وَتَرَكنا عَلَيهِ فِى الـٔاخِرينَ
And we preserved his history for subsequent generations.
سَلٰمٌ عَلىٰ إِبرٰهيمَ
Peace be upon Abraham.
كَذٰلِكَ نَجزِى المُحسِنينَ
We thus reward the righteous.
إِنَّهُ مِن عِبادِنَا المُؤمِنينَ
He is one of our believing servants.
وَبَشَّرنٰهُ بِإِسحٰقَ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الصّٰلِحينَ
Then we gave him the good news about the birth of Isaac, to be one of the righteous prophets.
وَبٰرَكنا عَلَيهِ وَعَلىٰ إِسحٰقَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِما مُحسِنٌ وَظالِمٌ لِنَفسِهِ مُبينٌ
We blessed him and Isaac. Among their descendants, some are righteous, and some are wicked transgressors.
وَلَقَد مَنَنّا عَلىٰ موسىٰ وَهٰرونَ
We also blessed Moses and Aaron.
وَنَجَّينٰهُما وَقَومَهُما مِنَ الكَربِ العَظيمِ
We delivered them and their people from the great disaster.
وَنَصَرنٰهُم فَكانوا هُمُ الغٰلِبينَ
We supported them, until they became the winners.
وَءاتَينٰهُمَا الكِتٰبَ المُستَبينَ
We gave both of them the profound scripture.
وَهَدَينٰهُمَا الصِّرٰطَ المُستَقيمَ
We guided them in the right path.
وَتَرَكنا عَلَيهِما فِى الـٔاخِرينَ
We preserved their history for subsequent generations.
سَلٰمٌ عَلىٰ موسىٰ وَهٰرونَ
Peace be upon Moses and Aaron.
إِنّا كَذٰلِكَ نَجزِى المُحسِنينَ
We thus reward the righteous.
إِنَّهُما مِن عِبادِنَا المُؤمِنينَ
Both of them were among our righteous servants.
وَإِنَّ إِلياسَ لَمِنَ المُرسَلينَ
Elias was one of the messengers.
إِذ قالَ لِقَومِهِ أَلا تَتَّقونَ
He said to his people, "Would you not work righteousness?
أَتَدعونَ بَعلًا وَتَذَرونَ أَحسَنَ الخٰلِقينَ
"Do you worship a statue, instead of the Supreme Creator?
اللَّهَ رَبَّكُم وَرَبَّ ءابائِكُمُ الأَوَّلينَ
"God; your Lord, and the Lord of your forefathers!"
فَكَذَّبوهُ فَإِنَّهُم لَمُحضَرونَ
They disbelieved him. Consequently, they had to be called to account.
إِلّا عِبادَ اللَّهِ المُخلَصينَ
Only God's servants who are absolutely devoted to Him alone (are saved).
وَتَرَكنا عَلَيهِ فِى الـٔاخِرينَ
We preserved his history for subsequent generations.
سَلٰمٌ عَلىٰ إِل ياسينَ
Peace be upon Elias, and all those like Elias.
إِنّا كَذٰلِكَ نَجزِى المُحسِنينَ
We thus reward the righteous.
إِنَّهُ مِن عِبادِنَا المُؤمِنينَ
He was one of our believing servants.
وَإِنَّ لوطًا لَمِنَ المُرسَلينَ
Lot was one of the messengers.
إِذ نَجَّينٰهُ وَأَهلَهُ أَجمَعينَ
We saved him and all his family.
إِلّا عَجوزًا فِى الغٰبِرينَ
Only the old woman was doomed.
ثُمَّ دَمَّرنَا الـٔاخَرينَ
We annihilated all the others.
وَإِنَّكُم لَتَمُرّونَ عَلَيهِم مُصبِحينَ
You still pass by their ruins by day.
وَبِالَّيلِ أَفَلا تَعقِلونَ
And by night. Would you understand?
وَإِنَّ يونُسَ لَمِنَ المُرسَلينَ
Jonah was one of the messengers.
إِذ أَبَقَ إِلَى الفُلكِ المَشحونِ
He escaped to the loaded ship.
فَساهَمَ فَكانَ مِنَ المُدحَضينَ
He rebelled and thus, he joined the losers.
فَالتَقَمَهُ الحوتُ وَهُوَ مُليمٌ
Consequently, the fish swallowed him, and he was the one to blame.
فَلَولا أَنَّهُ كانَ مِنَ المُسَبِّحينَ
If it were not that he resorted to meditation (on God),
لَلَبِثَ فى بَطنِهِ إِلىٰ يَومِ يُبعَثونَ
he would have stayed in its belly until the Day of Resurrection.
فَنَبَذنٰهُ بِالعَراءِ وَهُوَ سَقيمٌ
We had him thrown up into the desert, exhausted.
وَأَنبَتنا عَلَيهِ شَجَرَةً مِن يَقطينٍ
We had a tree of edible fruit grown for him.
وَأَرسَلنٰهُ إِلىٰ مِا۟ئَةِ أَلفٍ أَو يَزيدونَ
Then we sent him to a hundred thousand,* or more.
*37:147 The Quran mentions 30 numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 19, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 99, 100, 200, 300, 1000, 2000, 3000, 5000, 50000, and 100000. The sum of these numbers is 162146, or 19x8534 (see Appendix 1).
فَـٔامَنوا فَمَتَّعنٰهُم إِلىٰ حينٍ
They did believe, and we let them enjoy this life.
فَاستَفتِهِم أَلِرَبِّكَ البَناتُ وَلَهُمُ البَنونَ
Ask them if your Lord has daughters, while they have sons!
أَم خَلَقنَا المَلٰئِكَةَ إِنٰثًا وَهُم شٰهِدونَ
Did we create the angels to be females? Did they witness that?
أَلا إِنَّهُم مِن إِفكِهِم لَيَقولونَ
Indeed, they grossly blaspheme when they say -
وَلَدَ اللَّهُ وَإِنَّهُم لَكٰذِبونَ
"God has begotten a son." Indeed, they are liars.
أَصطَفَى البَناتِ عَلَى البَنينَ
Did He choose the girls over the boys?
ما لَكُم كَيفَ تَحكُمونَ
What is wrong with your logic?
أَفَلا تَذَكَّرونَ
Why do you not take heed?
أَم لَكُم سُلطٰنٌ مُبينٌ
Do you have any proof?
فَأتوا بِكِتٰبِكُم إِن كُنتُم صٰدِقينَ
Show us your book, if you are truthful.
وَجَعَلوا بَينَهُ وَبَينَ الجِنَّةِ نَسَبًا وَلَقَد عَلِمَتِ الجِنَّةُ إِنَّهُم لَمُحضَرونَ
They even invented a special relationship between Him and the jinns. The jinns themselves know that they are subservient.
سُبحٰنَ اللَّهِ عَمّا يَصِفونَ
God be glorified; far above their claims.
إِلّا عِبادَ اللَّهِ المُخلَصينَ
Only God's servants who are devoted to Him alone (are saved).
فَإِنَّكُم وَما تَعبُدونَ
Indeed, you and what you worship.
ما أَنتُم عَلَيهِ بِفٰتِنينَ
Cannot impose anything on Him.
إِلّا مَن هُوَ صالِ الجَحيمِ
Only you will burn in Hell.
وَما مِنّا إِلّا لَهُ مَقامٌ مَعلومٌ
Each one of us has a specific job.
وَإِنّا لَنَحنُ الصّافّونَ
We are the arrangers.
وَإِنّا لَنَحنُ المُسَبِّحونَ
We have duly glorified (our Lord).
وَإِن كانوا لَيَقولونَ
They used to say,
لَو أَنَّ عِندَنا ذِكرًا مِنَ الأَوَّلينَ
"Had we received the correct instructions from our parents,
لَكُنّا عِبادَ اللَّهِ المُخلَصينَ
"we would have been worshipers; devoted to God alone."
فَكَفَروا بِهِ فَسَوفَ يَعلَمونَ
But they disbelieved, and they will surely find out.
وَلَقَد سَبَقَت كَلِمَتُنا لِعِبادِنَا المُرسَلينَ
Our decision is already decreed for our servants the messengers.
إِنَّهُم لَهُمُ المَنصورونَ
They are surely the victors.
وَإِنَّ جُندَنا لَهُمُ الغٰلِبونَ
Our soldiers are the winners.
فَتَوَلَّ عَنهُم حَتّىٰ حينٍ
So disregard them for awhile.
وَأَبصِرهُم فَسَوفَ يُبصِرونَ
Watch them; they too will watch.
أَفَبِعَذابِنا يَستَعجِلونَ
Do they challenge our retribution?
فَإِذا نَزَلَ بِساحَتِهِم فَساءَ صَباحُ المُنذَرينَ
When it hits them one day, it will be a miserable day; they have been sufficiently warned.
وَتَوَلَّ عَنهُم حَتّىٰ حينٍ
Disregard them for awhile.
وَأَبصِر فَسَوفَ يُبصِرونَ
Watch them; they too will watch.
سُبحٰنَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ العِزَّةِ عَمّا يَصِفونَ
Glory be to your Lord, the great Lord; far above their claims.
وَسَلٰمٌ عَلَى المُرسَلينَ
Peace be upon the messengers.
وَالحَمدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ العٰلَمينَ
Praise be to God, Lord of the universe.