Surah 43: Ornaments (Al-Zukhruf)

حم

H. M.*

*43:1 See Footnote 40:1. The frequency of occurrence of the letters "H" (Haa) and "M" (Meem) in the seven H.M.-initialed suras is 292, and 1855, respectively. This adds up to 2147, or 19x113.

وَالكِتٰبِ المُبينِ

And the enlightening scripture.

إِنّا جَعَلنٰهُ قُرءٰنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَعَلَّكُم تَعقِلونَ

We have rendered it an Arabic Quran, that you may understand.*

*43:3 Arabic is the most efficient language, especially in expressing commandments, statutes and exacting laws. Hence the revelation of the Quran in Arabic for the clear understanding of all peoples, regardless of their tongues. See Appendix 4 for the details.

وَإِنَّهُ فى أُمِّ الكِتٰبِ لَدَينا لَعَلِىٌّ حَكيمٌ

It is preserved with us in the original master, honorable and full of wisdom.

أَفَنَضرِبُ عَنكُمُ الذِّكرَ صَفحًا أَن كُنتُم قَومًا مُسرِفينَ

Should we just ignore the fact that you have transgressed the limits?*

*43:5 This refers to our original sin as detailed in the Introduction and Appendix 7.

وَكَم أَرسَلنا مِن نَبِىٍّ فِى الأَوَّلينَ

We have sent many a prophet to the previous generations.

وَما يَأتيهِم مِن نَبِىٍّ إِلّا كانوا بِهِ يَستَهزِءونَ

Every time a prophet went to them, they ridiculed him.

فَأَهلَكنا أَشَدَّ مِنهُم بَطشًا وَمَضىٰ مَثَلُ الأَوَّلينَ

Consequently, we annihilated people who were even more powerful than these. We thus set the examples from the previous communities.

وَلَئِن سَأَلتَهُم مَن خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضَ لَيَقولُنَّ خَلَقَهُنَّ العَزيزُ العَليمُ

If you asked them, "Who created the heavens and the earth," they would say, "The Almighty, the Omniscient has created them."

الَّذى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الأَرضَ مَهدًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم فيها سُبُلًا لَعَلَّكُم تَهتَدونَ

He is the One who made the earth habitable for you, and created for you roads therein, that you may follow the right way.

وَالَّذى نَزَّلَ مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً بِقَدَرٍ فَأَنشَرنا بِهِ بَلدَةً مَيتًا كَذٰلِكَ تُخرَجونَ

He is the One who sends down from the sky water, in exact measure, to revive dead lands therewith. Similarly, you will be resurrected.

وَالَّذى خَلَقَ الأَزوٰجَ كُلَّها وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِنَ الفُلكِ وَالأَنعٰمِ ما تَركَبونَ

He is the One who created all kinds, in pairs (male and female), and He created for you ships and livestock to ride.

لِتَستَوۥا عَلىٰ ظُهورِهِ ثُمَّ تَذكُروا نِعمَةَ رَبِّكُم إِذَا استَوَيتُم عَلَيهِ وَتَقولوا سُبحٰنَ الَّذى سَخَّرَ لَنا هٰذا وَما كُنّا لَهُ مُقرِنينَ

As you rest on top of them, you shall appreciate such a blessing from your Lord, and say, "Glory be to the One who subdued this for us. We could not have controlled them by ourselves.

وَإِنّا إِلىٰ رَبِّنا لَمُنقَلِبونَ

"We ultimately return to our Lord."

وَجَعَلوا لَهُ مِن عِبادِهِ جُزءًا إِنَّ الإِنسٰنَ لَكَفورٌ مُبينٌ

They even assigned for Him a share from His own creation! Surely, the human being is profoundly unappreciative.

أَمِ اتَّخَذَ مِمّا يَخلُقُ بَناتٍ وَأَصفىٰكُم بِالبَنينَ

Has He chosen from among His creations daughters for Himself, while blessing you with sons?

وَإِذا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِما ضَرَبَ لِلرَّحمٰنِ مَثَلًا ظَلَّ وَجهُهُ مُسوَدًّا وَهُوَ كَظيمٌ

When one of them is given news (of a daughter) as they claimed for the Most Gracious, his face is darkened with misery and anger!

أَوَمَن يُنَشَّؤُا۟ فِى الحِليَةِ وَهُوَ فِى الخِصامِ غَيرُ مُبينٍ

(They say,) "What is good about an offspring that is brought up to be beautiful, and cannot help in war?"

وَجَعَلُوا المَلٰئِكَةَ الَّذينَ هُم عِبٰدُ الرَّحمٰنِ إِنٰثًا أَشَهِدوا خَلقَهُم سَتُكتَبُ شَهٰدَتُهُم وَيُسـَٔلونَ

They claimed that the angels, who are servants of the Most Gracious, are females! Have they witnessed their creation? Their claims are recorded, and they will be asked.

وَقالوا لَو شاءَ الرَّحمٰنُ ما عَبَدنٰهُم ما لَهُم بِذٰلِكَ مِن عِلمٍ إِن هُم إِلّا يَخرُصونَ

They even said, "If the Most Gracious willed, we would not have worshiped them." They have no basis for such a claim; they only conjecture.*

*43:20 The idol worshipers cannot blame God for their idolatry, since we have absolute freedom of choice to worship God alone, or not.

أَم ءاتَينٰهُم كِتٰبًا مِن قَبلِهِ فَهُم بِهِ مُستَمسِكونَ

Have we given them a book before this, and they are upholding it?

بَل قالوا إِنّا وَجَدنا ءاباءَنا عَلىٰ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنّا عَلىٰ ءاثٰرِهِم مُهتَدونَ

The fact is that: they said, "We found our parents carrying on certain practices, and we are following in their footsteps."

وَكَذٰلِكَ ما أَرسَلنا مِن قَبلِكَ فى قَريَةٍ مِن نَذيرٍ إِلّا قالَ مُترَفوها إِنّا وَجَدنا ءاباءَنا عَلىٰ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنّا عَلىٰ ءاثٰرِهِم مُقتَدونَ

Invariably, when we sent a warner to any community, the leaders of that community would say, "We found our parents following certain practices, and we will continue in their footsteps."

قٰلَ أَوَلَو جِئتُكُم بِأَهدىٰ مِمّا وَجَدتُم عَلَيهِ ءاباءَكُم قالوا إِنّا بِما أُرسِلتُم بِهِ كٰفِرونَ

(The messenger) would say, "What if I brought to you better guidance than what you inherited from your parents?" They would say, "We are disbelievers in the message you brought."

فَانتَقَمنا مِنهُم فَانظُر كَيفَ كانَ عٰقِبَةُ المُكَذِّبينَ

Consequently, we requited them. Note the consequences for the rejectors.

وَإِذ قالَ إِبرٰهيمُ لِأَبيهِ وَقَومِهِ إِنَّنى بَراءٌ مِمّا تَعبُدونَ

Abraham said to his father and his people, "I disown what you worship.

إِلَّا الَّذى فَطَرَنى فَإِنَّهُ سَيَهدينِ

"Only the One who initiated me can guide me."

وَجَعَلَها كَلِمَةً باقِيَةً فى عَقِبِهِ لَعَلَّهُم يَرجِعونَ

This example (of Abraham) was rendered an everlasting lesson for subsequent generations; perhaps they redeem their souls.

بَل مَتَّعتُ هٰؤُلاءِ وَءاباءَهُم حَتّىٰ جاءَهُمُ الحَقُّ وَرَسولٌ مُبينٌ

Indeed, I have given these people and their ancestors sufficient chances, then the truth came to them, and a clarifying messenger.

وَلَمّا جاءَهُمُ الحَقُّ قالوا هٰذا سِحرٌ وَإِنّا بِهِ كٰفِرونَ

When the truth came to them, they said, "This is magic, and we are disbelievers therein."

وَقالوا لَولا نُزِّلَ هٰذَا القُرءانُ عَلىٰ رَجُلٍ مِنَ القَريَتَينِ عَظيمٍ

They said, "If only this Quran was sent down through another man from the two communities (Mecca or Yathrib) who is prominent!"

أَهُم يَقسِمونَ رَحمَتَ رَبِّكَ نَحنُ قَسَمنا بَينَهُم مَعيشَتَهُم فِى الحَيوٰةِ الدُّنيا وَرَفَعنا بَعضَهُم فَوقَ بَعضٍ دَرَجٰتٍ لِيَتَّخِذَ بَعضُهُم بَعضًا سُخرِيًّا وَرَحمَتُ رَبِّكَ خَيرٌ مِمّا يَجمَعونَ

Are they the ones who assign your Lord's mercy? We have assigned their shares in this life, raising some of them above others in ranks, in order to let them serve one another. The mercy from your Lord is far better than any material they may hoard.

وَلَولا أَن يَكونَ النّاسُ أُمَّةً وٰحِدَةً لَجَعَلنا لِمَن يَكفُرُ بِالرَّحمٰنِ لِبُيوتِهِم سُقُفًا مِن فِضَّةٍ وَمَعارِجَ عَلَيها يَظهَرونَ

If it were not that all the people might become one (disbelieving) congregation, we would have granted everyone who disbelieves in the Most Gracious mansions with silver roofs, and stairs upon which they could climb.

وَلِبُيوتِهِم أَبوٰبًا وَسُرُرًا عَلَيها يَتَّكِـٔونَ

Their mansions would have impressive gates, and luxurious furnishings.

وَزُخرُفًا وَإِن كُلُّ ذٰلِكَ لَمّا مَتٰعُ الحَيوٰةِ الدُّنيا وَالـٔاخِرَةُ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلمُتَّقينَ

Also many ornaments. All these are the temporary materials of this lowly life. The Hereafter - at your Lord - is far better for the righteous.

وَمَن يَعشُ عَن ذِكرِ الرَّحمٰنِ نُقَيِّض لَهُ شَيطٰنًا فَهُوَ لَهُ قَرينٌ

Anyone who disregards the message of the Most Gracious, we appoint a devil to be his constant companion.*

*43:36-39 Each one of us has a representative of Satan as a constant companion (Appendix 7).

وَإِنَّهُم لَيَصُدّونَهُم عَنِ السَّبيلِ وَيَحسَبونَ أَنَّهُم مُهتَدونَ

Such companions will divert them from the path, yet make them believe that they are guided.

حَتّىٰ إِذا جاءَنا قالَ يٰلَيتَ بَينى وَبَينَكَ بُعدَ المَشرِقَينِ فَبِئسَ القَرينُ

When he comes before us he will say, "Oh I wish you were as far from me as the two easts.* What a miserable companion!"

*43:38 The "easts" imply the locations of sunrise, moonrise, and the rising of heavenly bodies.

وَلَن يَنفَعَكُمُ اليَومَ إِذ ظَلَمتُم أَنَّكُم فِى العَذابِ مُشتَرِكونَ

It will not console you on that day, as transgressors, that both of you will share in the retribution.

أَفَأَنتَ تُسمِعُ الصُّمَّ أَو تَهدِى العُمىَ وَمَن كانَ فى ضَلٰلٍ مُبينٍ

Can you make the deaf hear; can you make the blind see, or those who are far astray?

فَإِمّا نَذهَبَنَّ بِكَ فَإِنّا مِنهُم مُنتَقِمونَ

Whether we let you die before it or not, we will surely requite them.

أَو نُرِيَنَّكَ الَّذى وَعَدنٰهُم فَإِنّا عَلَيهِم مُقتَدِرونَ

Or, we may show you (the retribution) we promised for them. We are in full control over them.

فَاستَمسِك بِالَّذى أوحِىَ إِلَيكَ إِنَّكَ عَلىٰ صِرٰطٍ مُستَقيمٍ

You shall steadfastly preach what is revealed to you; you are in the right path.*

*43:43 The sum of the gematrical value of "Rashad Khalifa" (1230) plus 43 is 1273, 19x67.

وَإِنَّهُ لَذِكرٌ لَكَ وَلِقَومِكَ وَسَوفَ تُسـَٔلونَ

This is a message for you and your people; all of you will be questioned.

وَسـَٔل مَن أَرسَلنا مِن قَبلِكَ مِن رُسُلِنا أَجَعَلنا مِن دونِ الرَّحمٰنِ ءالِهَةً يُعبَدونَ

Check the messengers we sent before you: "Have we ever appointed any other gods - beside the Most Gracious - to be worshiped?"

وَلَقَد أَرسَلنا موسىٰ بِـٔايٰتِنا إِلىٰ فِرعَونَ وَمَلَإِي۟هِ فَقالَ إِنّى رَسولُ رَبِّ العٰلَمينَ

For example, we sent Moses with our proofs to Pharaoh and his elders, proclaiming: "I am a messenger from the Lord of the universe."

فَلَمّا جاءَهُم بِـٔايٰتِنا إِذا هُم مِنها يَضحَكونَ

When he showed them our proofs, they laughed at them.

وَما نُريهِم مِن ءايَةٍ إِلّا هِىَ أَكبَرُ مِن أُختِها وَأَخَذنٰهُم بِالعَذابِ لَعَلَّهُم يَرجِعونَ

Every sign we showed them was bigger than the one before it. We afflicted them with the plagues, perhaps they repent.

وَقالوا يٰأَيُّهَ السّاحِرُ ادعُ لَنا رَبَّكَ بِما عَهِدَ عِندَكَ إِنَّنا لَمُهتَدونَ

They said, "O you magician, implore your Lord on our behalf, since you have an agreement with Him (to relieve this plague); we will then be guided."

فَلَمّا كَشَفنا عَنهُمُ العَذابَ إِذا هُم يَنكُثونَ

But as soon as we relieved their affliction, they reverted.

وَنادىٰ فِرعَونُ فى قَومِهِ قالَ يٰقَومِ أَلَيسَ لى مُلكُ مِصرَ وَهٰذِهِ الأَنهٰرُ تَجرى مِن تَحتى أَفَلا تُبصِرونَ

Pharaoh announced to his people, "O my people, do I not possess the kingship over Egypt, and these flowing rivers belong to me? Do you not see?

أَم أَنا۠ خَيرٌ مِن هٰذَا الَّذى هُوَ مَهينٌ وَلا يَكادُ يُبينُ

"Which one is better; me or that one who is lowly and can hardly speak?

فَلَولا أُلقِىَ عَلَيهِ أَسوِرَةٌ مِن ذَهَبٍ أَو جاءَ مَعَهُ المَلٰئِكَةُ مُقتَرِنينَ

"How come he does not possess a treasure of gold; how come the angels do not accompany him?"

فَاستَخَفَّ قَومَهُ فَأَطاعوهُ إِنَّهُم كانوا قَومًا فٰسِقينَ

He thus fooled his people, and they obeyed him; they were wicked people.

فَلَمّا ءاسَفونَا انتَقَمنا مِنهُم فَأَغرَقنٰهُم أَجمَعينَ

When they persisted in opposing us, we punished them and drowned them all.

فَجَعَلنٰهُم سَلَفًا وَمَثَلًا لِلـٔاخِرينَ

We rendered them a precedent and an example for the others.

وَلَمّا ضُرِبَ ابنُ مَريَمَ مَثَلًا إِذا قَومُكَ مِنهُ يَصِدّونَ

When the son of Mary was cited as an example, your people disregarded it.

وَقالوا ءَأٰلِهَتُنا خَيرٌ أَم هُوَ ما ضَرَبوهُ لَكَ إِلّا جَدَلًا بَل هُم قَومٌ خَصِمونَ

They said, "Is it better to worship our gods, or to worship him?" They said this only to argue with you. Indeed, they are people who have joined the opposition.

إِن هُوَ إِلّا عَبدٌ أَنعَمنا عَلَيهِ وَجَعَلنٰهُ مَثَلًا لِبَنى إِسرٰءيلَ

He was no more than a servant whom we blessed, and we sent him as an example for the Children of Israel.

وَلَو نَشاءُ لَجَعَلنا مِنكُم مَلٰئِكَةً فِى الأَرضِ يَخلُفونَ

If we willed, we could have made you angels who colonize and reproduce on earth.

وَإِنَّهُ لَعِلمٌ لِلسّاعَةِ فَلا تَمتَرُنَّ بِها وَاتَّبِعونِ هٰذا صِرٰطٌ مُستَقيمٌ

He is to serve as a marker for knowing the end of the world,* so you can no longer harbor any doubt about it. You shall follow Me; this is the right path.

*43:61 As detailed in Appendix 25, the End of the World is given in the Quran, and the birthdate of Jesus provided one of the significant signs that the calculations are correct. We learn that the world will end in the year 2280 (19x120) after the birth of Jesus (see 47:18). Additionally, both the lunar year (1710) & the solar year (2280) are divisible by 570 (19x30), the number of years from the birth of Jesus to the birth of Muhammad. Thus, the birthdate of Jesus is a marker.

وَلا يَصُدَّنَّكُمُ الشَّيطٰنُ إِنَّهُ لَكُم عَدُوٌّ مُبينٌ

Let not the devil repel you; he is your most ardent enemy.

وَلَمّا جاءَ عيسىٰ بِالبَيِّنٰتِ قالَ قَد جِئتُكُم بِالحِكمَةِ وَلِأُبَيِّنَ لَكُم بَعضَ الَّذى تَختَلِفونَ فيهِ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطيعونِ

When Jesus went with the proofs, he said, "I bring to you wisdom, and to clarify some of the matters in which you dispute. You shall reverence God and obey me.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ رَبّى وَرَبُّكُم فَاعبُدوهُ هٰذا صِرٰطٌ مُستَقيمٌ

"God is my Lord and your Lord, you shall worship Him alone. This is the right path."

فَاختَلَفَ الأَحزابُ مِن بَينِهِم فَوَيلٌ لِلَّذينَ ظَلَموا مِن عَذابِ يَومٍ أَليمٍ

The opponents disputed among themselves. Woe to those who transgress from the retribution of a painful day.

هَل يَنظُرونَ إِلَّا السّاعَةَ أَن تَأتِيَهُم بَغتَةً وَهُم لا يَشعُرونَ

Are they waiting for the Hour (Day of Judgment) to come to them suddenly when they least expect it?

الأَخِلّاءُ يَومَئِذٍ بَعضُهُم لِبَعضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا المُتَّقينَ

The close friends on that day will become enemies of one another, except for the righteous.

يٰعِبادِ لا خَوفٌ عَلَيكُمُ اليَومَ وَلا أَنتُم تَحزَنونَ

O My servants, you will have no fear on that day, nor will you grieve.

الَّذينَ ءامَنوا بِـٔايٰتِنا وَكانوا مُسلِمينَ

They are the ones who believed in our revelations, and were submitters.

ادخُلُوا الجَنَّةَ أَنتُم وَأَزوٰجُكُم تُحبَرونَ

Enter Paradise, together with your spouses, and rejoice.

يُطافُ عَلَيهِم بِصِحافٍ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَأَكوابٍ وَفيها ما تَشتَهيهِ الأَنفُسُ وَتَلَذُّ الأَعيُنُ وَأَنتُم فيها خٰلِدونَ

Offered to them will be golden trays and cups, and they will find everything the hearts desire and the eyes wish for. You live therein forever.

وَتِلكَ الجَنَّةُ الَّتى أورِثتُموها بِما كُنتُم تَعمَلونَ

Such is the Paradise that you inherit, in return for your works.

لَكُم فيها فٰكِهَةٌ كَثيرَةٌ مِنها تَأكُلونَ

You will have in it all kinds of fruits, from which you eat.

إِنَّ المُجرِمينَ فى عَذابِ جَهَنَّمَ خٰلِدونَ

Surely, the guilty will abide in the retribution of Gehenna forever.

لا يُفَتَّرُ عَنهُم وَهُم فيهِ مُبلِسونَ

Never will the retribution be commuted for them; they will be confined therein.

وَما ظَلَمنٰهُم وَلٰكِن كانوا هُمُ الظّٰلِمينَ

It is not us who wronged them; it is they who wronged their own souls.

وَنادَوا يٰمٰلِكُ لِيَقضِ عَلَينا رَبُّكَ قالَ إِنَّكُم مٰكِثونَ

They will implore: "O Malek, let your Lord finish us off." He will say, "You are staying forever.

لَقَد جِئنٰكُم بِالحَقِّ وَلٰكِنَّ أَكثَرَكُم لِلحَقِّ كٰرِهونَ

"We have given you the truth, but most of you hate the truth."

أَم أَبرَموا أَمرًا فَإِنّا مُبرِمونَ

Have they schemed some scheme? We too are scheming.

أَم يَحسَبونَ أَنّا لا نَسمَعُ سِرَّهُم وَنَجوىٰهُم بَلىٰ وَرُسُلُنا لَدَيهِم يَكتُبونَ

Do they think that we do not hear their secrets and conspiracies? Yes indeed; our messengers are with them, recording.

قُل إِن كانَ لِلرَّحمٰنِ وَلَدٌ فَأَنا۠ أَوَّلُ العٰبِدينَ

Proclaim: "If the Most Gracious did have a son, I would still be the foremost worshiper."

سُبحٰنَ رَبِّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضِ رَبِّ العَرشِ عَمّا يَصِفونَ

Be He glorified; He is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord with the great dominion, far above their claims.

فَذَرهُم يَخوضوا وَيَلعَبوا حَتّىٰ يُلٰقوا يَومَهُمُ الَّذى يوعَدونَ

Let them blunder and play until they meet their day that is awaiting them.

وَهُوَ الَّذى فِى السَّماءِ إِلٰهٌ وَفِى الأَرضِ إِلٰهٌ وَهُوَ الحَكيمُ العَليمُ

He is the only One who is a deity in the heaven and a deity on earth. He is the Most Wise, the Omniscient.

وَتَبارَكَ الَّذى لَهُ مُلكُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضِ وَما بَينَهُما وَعِندَهُ عِلمُ السّاعَةِ وَإِلَيهِ تُرجَعونَ

Most Exalted is the One who possesses all sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, and everything between them. With Him is the knowledge about the Hour (end of the world), and to Him you will be returned.

وَلا يَملِكُ الَّذينَ يَدعونَ مِن دونِهِ الشَّفٰعَةَ إِلّا مَن شَهِدَ بِالحَقِّ وَهُم يَعلَمونَ

None of those whom they idolize beside Him possess any power to intercede, unless their intercession coincides with the truth, and they fully know.

وَلَئِن سَأَلتَهُم مَن خَلَقَهُم لَيَقولُنَّ اللَّهُ فَأَنّىٰ يُؤفَكونَ

If you asked them who created them, they would say, "God." Why then did they deviate?

وَقيلِهِ يٰرَبِّ إِنَّ هٰؤُلاءِ قَومٌ لا يُؤمِنونَ

It will be proclaimed: "O my Lord, these people do not believe."

فَاصفَح عَنهُم وَقُل سَلٰمٌ فَسَوفَ يَعلَمونَ

You shall disregard them and say, "Peace;" they will surely find out.