Surah Al-Hijr ( The Rocky Tract )

English Sahih International

Surah Al-Hijr ( The Rocky Tract ) - Aya count 99

الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ وَقُرْآنٍ مُّبِينٍ ( 1 )

A.L.R. Allah, Aleem the Knower, Raziq the Provider. These are Messages of Revelation, of a discourse clear in itself and clearly showing the Truth. This is Qur'an, a plain reading and a Revelation that explains itself.

رُّبَمَا يَوَدُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْ كَانُوا مُسْلِمِينَ ( 2 )

The time is coming when the rejecters of the Truth will ardently wish that they were Muslims.

ذَرْهُمْ يَأْكُلُوا وَيَتَمَتَّعُوا وَيُلْهِهِمُ الْأَمَلُ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ ( 3 )

Let them eat, drink, and enjoy life while hanging on to false hopes (47:12). They will come to know. (If they do not come to the Truth, the Truth will come to them, and they will see it (102:7)).

وَمَا أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا وَلَهَا كِتَابٌ مَّعْلُومٌ ( 4 )

And Our Law of Requital annihilated no community or township before the period of respite was over (13:38).

مَّا تَسْبِقُ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ ( 5 )

The Law of Respite has no exceptions. No nation can hasten or delay the consequence.

وَقَالُوا يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِي نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ الذِّكْرُ إِنَّكَ لَمَجْنُونٌ ( 6 )

And yet, they who deny the Truth, say, "O You, unto whom this Reminder has been revealed, verily you are mad!"

لَّوْ مَا تَأْتِينَا بِالْمَلَائِكَةِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ( 7 )

"Why don't you bring angels to us if you are a man of truth?"

مَا نُنَزِّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةَ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَمَا كَانُوا إِذًا مُّنظَرِينَ ( 8 )

We do not send down the angels except when the period of respite is over. And in that case the rejecters get no further reprieve.

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ ( 9 )

Behold, it is We Ourselves Who have sent down this Reminder, and behold, it is We Who shall truly guard it. (6:116).

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ فِي شِيَعِ الْأَوَّلِينَ ( 10 )

And indeed (O Prophet) even before your time We sent Messengers to the communities.

وَمَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ ( 11 )

And never came there a Messenger unto them but they did mock him.

كَذَٰلِكَ نَسْلُكُهُ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ ( 12 )

Our Law turns the psyche of the guilty such that they ridicule reform since they are used to thriving on the fruit of others' toil.

لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ ۖ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ سُنَّةُ الْأَوَّلِينَ ( 13 )

They accept not the Message. Such has been the way of those who went before them.

وَلَوْ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَابًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ فَظَلُّوا فِيهِ يَعْرُجُونَ ( 14 )

And even if We opened to them a Gate into the Heaven, and they kept ascending through it,

لَقَالُوا إِنَّمَا سُكِّرَتْ أَبْصَارُنَا بَلْ نَحْنُ قَوْمٌ مَّسْحُورُونَ ( 15 )

They would say, "Our eyes are intoxicated. Nay, we are a folk bewitched."

وَلَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا فِي السَّمَاءِ بُرُوجًا وَزَيَّنَّاهَا لِلنَّاظِرِينَ ( 16 )

We have set constellations in the Sky and We have beautified it for the beholders.

وَحَفِظْنَاهَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ رَّجِيمٍ ( 17 )

And We have guarded it from every destructive force.

إِلَّا مَنِ اسْتَرَقَ السَّمْعَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ شِهَابٌ مُّبِينٌ ( 18 )

(Allah is everywhere, not just in the skies. The Qur'an dispels all superstitions including the clairvoyants and fortunetellers spying onto His Court). The Shining Flame of Knowledge has now come to you to dispel the deceptive claims of every deceiver. (26:210-212), (37:8-9), (52:38), (67:5), (72:8-9).

وَالْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَاهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَّوْزُونٍ ( 19 )

And the earth, We have spread it out wide and compressed its Globe (39:5) and placed firm in it mountain ranges. And caused each seemly thing to grow in due proportion therein. (15:19-20), (31:10), (41:10), (79:28-30), (88:18-20).

وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَايِشَ وَمَن لَّسْتُمْ لَهُ بِرَازِقِينَ ( 20 )

And We have given you means of livelihood, as well as for all whose sustenance does not depend on you.

وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا عِندَنَا خَزَائِنُهُ وَمَا نُنَزِّلُهُ إِلَّا بِقَدَرٍ مَّعْلُومٍ ( 21 )

And there is not a thing but with Us are the treasures thereof. And We send it down but in precise measure.

وَأَرْسَلْنَا الرِّيَاحَ لَوَاقِحَ فَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَسْقَيْنَاكُمُوهُ وَمَا أَنتُمْ لَهُ بِخَازِنِينَ ( 22 )

And We send the winds as pollinators that fertilize plants, and cause water to come down from the height for you to drink. Who holds the stores of the Universe? You don't. (51:41).

وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ نُحْيِي وَنُمِيتُ وَنَحْنُ الْوَارِثُونَ ( 23 )

For, it is We, We alone Who control the Laws of life and death, and it is We alone Who remain the Ultimate Inheritor. (Hence, Our provision must remain accessible to all (56:63-74)).

وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ ( 24 )

And, verily, We know those who passed on before you, and We know those who will come after you. (And We know those who advance in goodness and those who lag behind).

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ ( 25 )

And, behold, it is your Lord Who will gather all of them together. Verily, He is Wise, all-Knowing.

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ ( 26 )

And, indeed, We created man from sounding clay, out of dark inorganic matter. (37:11).

وَالْجَانَّ خَلَقْنَاهُ مِن قَبْلُ مِن نَّارِ السَّمُومِ ( 27 )

Before humanity became civilized, (you can say that) We created the caveman from flames, i.e. with fiery disposition in self-preservation.

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي خَالِقٌ بَشَرًا مِّن صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ ( 28 )

Recall when your Sustainer said to the angels, "Behold, I am about to create a mortal man out of inorganic matter." (2:30-35), (7:11-22), (17:61), (19:21), (20:116-120).

فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِي فَقَعُوا لَهُ سَاجِدِينَ ( 29 )

And when I have perfected him in due proportion and breathed into him something of My Energy, bow before him." (That something will be the gift of free will, the ability to make decisions (76:3)).

فَسَجَدَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ ( 30 )

Thereupon the angels bowed, all of them together. (The physical Laws in the Universe were made subservient to mankind).

إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ أَن يَكُونَ مَعَ السَّاجِدِينَ ( 31 )

But Iblis (Satan). He refused to be among those who bowed. (The selfish desire of mankind declared rebellion against the higher control of Reason and Permanent Moral Values (2:34)).

قَالَ يَا إِبْلِيسُ مَا لَكَ أَلَّا تَكُونَ مَعَ السَّاجِدِينَ ( 32 )

God asked, "O Iblis! Why are you not with those who bowed?"

قَالَ لَمْ أَكُن لِّأَسْجُدَ لِبَشَرٍ خَلَقْتَهُ مِن صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ ( 33 )

He replied, "I am not one to bow to man whom You have created from sounding clay out of inorganic matter."

قَالَ فَاخْرُجْ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّكَ رَجِيمٌ ( 34 )

God said, "Go forth then, from here! You are dismissed forthwith."

وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ اللَّعْنَةَ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ( 35 )

"My rejection shall be your due until the Day of Judgment." (7:14-15).

قَالَ رَبِّ فَأَنظِرْنِي إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ ( 36 )

Said Iblis, "Then O My Sustainer! Grant me a respite till the Day when all shall be raised from the dead."

قَالَ فَإِنَّكَ مِنَ الْمُنظَرِينَ ( 37 )

Answered He, "Verily, so be it. You shall be among those who are granted respite."

إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْوَقْتِ الْمَعْلُومِ ( 38 )

"Till the Day known (to Me alone)".

قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأُزَيِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ( 39 )

Now Iblis said, "O My Lord! Since You let me go astray, I verily shall make attractive the path of error for them in the earth. And I shall mislead them everyone."

إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِينَ ( 40 )

"Except those who are truly Your servants."

قَالَ هَٰذَا صِرَاطٌ عَلَيَّ مُسْتَقِيمٌ ( 41 )

" This is, with Me, a Straight Path," said God.

إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانٌ إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْغَاوِينَ ( 42 )

"Verily, you shall have no power over My servants, except those who put themselves in error and follow you."

وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمَوْعِدُهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ( 43 )

"And for all such, behold, Hell is the promised abode."

لَهَا سَبْعَةُ أَبْوَابٍ لِّكُلِّ بَابٍ مِّنْهُمْ جُزْءٌ مَّقْسُومٌ ( 44 )

"With seven gates leading into it, each gate receiving its share of wrongdoers." (The Straight Path is one, while the wrong paths are numerous and each of them leads to Hell (30:30-31)).

إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ ( 45 )

Verily, those who walk aright, will find themselves amidst gardens and springs.

ادْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَامٍ آمِنِينَ ( 46 )

They will be told, "Enter them in peace, secure."

وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِم مِّنْ غِلٍّ إِخْوَانًا عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مُّتَقَابِلِينَ ( 47 )

And We shall remove from their hearts any sense of jealousy, rancor, rivalry and bitterness (7:43). And they shall rest as brothers and sisters, facing one another, on thrones of happiness. (56:15), (88:13).

لَا يَمَسُّهُمْ فِيهَا نَصَبٌ وَمَا هُم مِّنْهَا بِمُخْرَجِينَ ( 48 )

No weariness shall ever touch them, and never shall they lose this abode of Bliss.

نَبِّئْ عِبَادِي أَنِّي أَنَا الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ ( 49 )

Tell My servants that I am Forgiving, Merciful.

وَأَنَّ عَذَابِي هُوَ الْعَذَابُ الْأَلِيمُ ( 50 )

Yet, My Law of Requital dispenses a severe requital.

وَنَبِّئْهُمْ عَن ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ( 51 )

As an example, tell them once again about Abraham's guests.

إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا قَالَ إِنَّا مِنكُمْ وَجِلُونَ ( 52 )

When they came unto him, and said, "Peace!" He said, "Behold, We are afraid of you."

قَالُوا لَا تَوْجَلْ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ ( 53 )

Said they, "Fear not! Behold, we bring you the glad tiding of an enlightened son."

قَالَ أَبَشَّرْتُمُونِي عَلَىٰ أَن مَّسَّنِيَ الْكِبَرُ فَبِمَ تُبَشِّرُونَ ( 54 )

He said, "How can you give me such glad tiding even though I have been overtaken by old age?"

قَالُوا بَشَّرْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْقَانِطِينَ ( 55 )

They answered, "We have given you the glad tiding that is bound to come true. So be not of those who abandon hope!"

قَالَ وَمَن يَقْنَطُ مِن رَّحْمَةِ رَبِّهِ إِلَّا الضَّالُّونَ ( 56 )

Abraham exclaimed, "And who, other than the one in error, despairs of the Grace of his Lord?"

قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكُمْ أَيُّهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ ( 57 )

He added, "And afterward what is your mission O Messengers?"

قَالُوا إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ مُّجْرِمِينَ ( 58 )

They replied, "We are sent to a guilty people (for retribution)."

إِلَّا آلَ لُوطٍ إِنَّا لَمُنَجُّوهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ( 59 )

"Barring Lot's household and followers. All of whom, behold, we shall save (as Commanded).

إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ قَدَّرْنَا ۙ إِنَّهَا لَمِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ ( 60 )

"Excepting his wife. Allah has decreed that she would stay behind (due to her disobedi-ence)."

فَلَمَّا جَاءَ آلَ لُوطٍ الْمُرْسَلُونَ ( 61 )

When the Messengers came to Lot's house,

قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ ( 62 )

He said, "Behold, you are people unknown."

قَالُوا بَلْ جِئْنَاكَ بِمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَمْتَرُونَ ( 63 )

They answered, "Nay, we bring to you the decision of what they keep disputing with you."

وَأَتَيْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ ( 64 )

"And we are bringing you the certainty (that the period of respite for your people is over). For, behold, we are indeed truthful."

فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ وَاتَّبِعْ أَدْبَارَهُمْ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ وَامْضُوا حَيْثُ تُؤْمَرُونَ ( 65 )

"Go, then, with your family and followers while it is yet night. Follow them in the rear, and let none of you look back (ever to come back to this place). But proceed where you are commanded (by your Lord (11:81)."

وَقَضَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ ذَٰلِكَ الْأَمْرَ أَنَّ دَابِرَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ مَقْطُوعٌ مُّصْبِحِينَ ( 66 )

And We revealed to Lot this decree, "The last remnant of those shall be wiped out in the morning."

وَجَاءَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ ( 67 )

(As this conversation was taking place), people of the town came rejoicing in anticipation. (They thought that these Messengers would make for them permissible what Lot had been declaring non-permissible).

قَالَ إِنَّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ ضَيْفِي فَلَا تَفْضَحُونِ ( 68 )

Lot said, "Behold, these are my guests; so do not embarrass me."

وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ ( 69 )

"Be mindful of Allah and disgrace me not!"

قَالُوا أَوَلَمْ نَنْهَكَ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ ( 70 )

They answered, "Haven't we forbidden you to entertain any kind of people (who are strangers)?"

قَالَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ بَنَاتِي إِن كُنتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ ( 71 )

Lot said, "Your wives, who are like my daughters, are better for you."

لَعَمْرُكَ إِنَّهُمْ لَفِي سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ ( 72 )

The Messengers said to Lot, "They won't listen to you even if you preach them all your life." They were totally intoxicated, stumbling up and down.

فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ مُشْرِقِينَ ( 73 )

The blast (of Our Requital) overtook them at the time of sunrise.

فَجَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِّن سِجِّيلٍ ( 74 )

And We turned the towns upside down and showered upon them hard heated rocks.

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ ( 75 )

Therein verily are lessons for those who read the signs.

وَإِنَّهَا لَبِسَبِيلٍ مُّقِيمٍ ( 76 )

And behold, those towns (Sodom and Gomorrah) stood by a road that still exists.

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( 77 )

Verily, herein lies a message indeed for those who believe.

وَإِن كَانَ أَصْحَابُ الْأَيْكَةِ لَظَالِمِينَ ( 78 )

And the dwellers in woods (of Midyan, the people of Shoaib), were also wrongdoers.

فَانتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ وَإِنَّهُمَا لَبِإِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ ( 79 )

And so Our just Law of Requital struck them. And, behold, these both communities lived by a highway, to this day plain to see.

وَلَقَدْ كَذَّبَ أَصْحَابُ الْحِجْرِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ( 80 )

And likewise indeed, the dwellers in Al-Hijr (Thamud of Saleh) denied Our Messengers.

وَآتَيْنَاهُمْ آيَاتِنَا فَكَانُوا عَنْهَا مُعْرِضِينَ ( 81 )

And We gave them Our Messages, but they stubbornly turned away from them.

وَكَانُوا يَنْحِتُونَ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا آمِنِينَ ( 82 )

Even as they (with power given by Us) used to carve homes in the mountains for security.

فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ مُصْبِحِينَ ( 83 )

And so the blast (of Our Requital) overtook them early in the morning.

فَمَا أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ ( 84 )

And of no avail to them was all the power that they had acquired.

وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ ۗ وَإِنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَآتِيَةٌ ۖ فَاصْفَحِ الصَّفْحَ الْجَمِيلَ ( 85 )

Remember, We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, without Purpose. (Nations that do not fit themselves in the Divine Plan get wiped out. So shall happen to your people, (O Prophet), if they do not mend their ways). Behold, the Hour is surely coming (when you shall be victorious). So overlook their faults, and forgive them graciously. (73:10).

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ الْخَلَّاقُ الْعَلِيمُ ( 86 )

Verily, your Lord! He is the All Knowing Creator.

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَاكَ سَبْعًا مِّنَ الْمَثَانِي وَالْقُرْآنَ الْعَظِيمَ ( 87 )

We have given you several examples from history that repeats itself, and We have given you this Sublime Qur'an that defines the Laws of the rise and fall of nations. (39:23).

لَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَاخْفِضْ جَنَاحَكَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( 88 )

So do not even look at the worldly possessions that We have given to different people (among the deniers) and grieve not that their luxuries keep them from seeing the Truth. But lower your wing of kindness to the believers. (15:94).

وَقُلْ إِنِّي أَنَا النَّذِيرُ الْمُبِينُ ( 89 )

Say, "Behold, I am indeed he that warns openly and without ambiguity."

كَمَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَى الْمُقْتَسِمِينَ ( 90 )

We did send down punishment upon the formulators of sects, after such warnings.

الَّذِينَ جَعَلُوا الْقُرْآنَ عِضِينَ ( 91 )

Now those who cause division and sectarianism after (this Revelation), will be seen as dismembering the Qur'an.

فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَسْأَلَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ( 92 )

Them, by your Lord! We shall indeed call them to account, everyone and all.

عَمَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ( 93 )

For whatever they have done!

فَاصْدَعْ بِمَا تُؤْمَرُ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ( 94 )

Hence, proclaim openly all that you have been commanded and disregard those who bring forth 'authorities' parallel to Him.

إِنَّا كَفَيْنَاكَ الْمُسْتَهْزِئِينَ ( 95 )

Verily, We shall suffice you against all who deride this Message,

الَّذِينَ يَجْعَلُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ ۚ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ ( 96 )

And set up, side by side, parallel 'authorities.'

وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ يَضِيقُ صَدْرُكَ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ ( 97 )

And well do We know that your heart is distressed by what they say.

فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَكُن مِّنَ السَّاجِدِينَ ( 98 )

But extol you your Sustainer. Strive in your Mission so that they see that the Giver of such magnificent Guidance is indeed Praiseworthy. Be you among the foremost to adore Him.

وَاعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَكَ الْيَقِينُ ( 99 )