21. Sūrat al-Anbiyāʾ (1/3)

٢١۔ سُورَةُ الأنبيَاء ص ١

Qurʾān > Chapter 21
القرآن > كتاب ٢١

The Prophets (Meccan)

quran:21:1 – In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

˹The time of˺ their account has approached for the people, while they are in heedlessness turning away.  

Nigh has drawn for mankind, the people of Mecca, the deniers of the Resurrection, their reckoning, ˹on˺ the Day of Resurrection, yet they are heedless, of it, disregardful, of the preparation ˹required˺ for it by way of ˹embracing˺ faith.
القرآن:٢١:١ – بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

اقْتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَابُهُمْ وَهُمْ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مُعْرِضُونَ  

{اقترب} قرب {للناس} أهل مكة منكري البعث {حسابهم} يوم القيامة {وهم في غفلة} عنه {معرضون} عن التأهب له بالإيمان.
quran:21:2 –

No mention comes to them anew from their Lord except that they listen to it while they are at play  

There does not come to them any new reminder from their Lord, ˹revealed˺ gradually, in other words, ˹new˺ words of the Qur’ān, but they listen to it as they play, ˹as they˺ engage in mockery,
القرآن:٢١:٢ –

مَا يَأْتِيهِمْ مِنْ ذِكْرٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ مُحْدَثٍ إِلَّا اسْتَمَعُوهُ وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ  

{ما يأتيهم من ذكر من ربهم محدث} شيئاً فشيئاً أي لفظ قرآن {إلا استمعوه وهم يلعبون} يستهزئون.
quran:21:3 –

With their hearts distracted. And those who do wrong conceal their private conversation, ˹saying˺, "Is this ˹Prophet˺ except a human being like you? So would you approach magic while you are aware ˹of it˺?"  

with their hearts preoccupied, heedless of its meanings. And they are secret in ˹their˺ conference, ˹their˺ speech, ˹they˺ the evildoers (alladhīna zalamū, a substitution for the ˹third person plural indicator˺ wāw of wa-asarrū’l-najwā, ‘and they are secret in conference’) ‘Is this, namely, Muhammad (s), other than a ˹mortal˺ human being like yourselves?, and so what he produces is ˹mere˺ sorcery. Will you then take ˹to˺ sorcery, ˹will˺ you ˹succumb and˺ follow it, even though you are able to see?’, ˹even though˺ you know that it is sorcery?
القرآن:٢١:٣ –

لَاهِيَةً قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَأَسَرُّوا النَّجْوَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا هَلْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ ۖ أَفَتَأْتُونَ السِّحْرَ وَأَنْتُمْ تُبْصِرُونَ  

{لاهية} غافلة {قلوبهم} عن معناه {وأسَرُّوا النجوى} الكلام {الذين ظلموا} بدل من واو {وأسروا النجوى الذين ظلموا} {هلْ هذا} أي محمد {إلا بشر مثلكم} فما يأتي به سحر {أفتأتون السحر} تتبعونه {وأنتم تبصرون} تعلمون أنه سحر.
quran:21:4 –

The Prophet said, "My Lord knows whatever is said throughout the heaven and earth, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing."  

He said, to them, ‘My Lord knows the words, that are ˹spoken˺, in the heavens and the earth, and He is the Hearer, of what they keep secret, the Knower’, of it.
القرآن:٢١:٤ –

قَالَ رَبِّي يَعْلَمُ الْقَوْلَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ  

{قال} لهم {ربي يعلم القول} كائناً {في السماء والأرض وهو السميع} لما أسروه {العليم} به.
quran:21:5 –

But they say, "˹The revelation is but˺ a mixture of false dreams; rather, he has invented it; rather, he is a poet. So let him bring us a sign just as the previous ˹messengers˺ were sent ˹with miracles˺."  

Nay (bal, in the three instances ˹below˺ effects a transition from one subject to another) but they say, regarding those parts of the Qur’ān he ˹the Prophet˺ has brought ˹to them˺ are: ‘A muddle of nightmares, a confusion ˹of things˺ he has seen in ˹his˺ sleep. Nay, he has fabricated it, he has invented it; nay, he is a poet, and what he has brought is ˹merely˺ poetry! So let him bring us a sign, such as was sent to the ancients’, like the she-camel ˹Sālih˺, the staff and the ˹glowing˺ hand ˹of Moses˺. God, exalted be He, says:
القرآن:٢١:٥ –

بَلْ قَالُوا أَضْغَاثُ أَحْلَامٍ بَلِ افْتَرَاهُ بَلْ هُوَ شَاعِرٌ فَلْيَأْتِنَا بِآيَةٍ كَمَا أُرْسِلَ الْأَوَّلُونَ  

{بل} للانتقال من غرض إلى آخر في المواضع الثلاثة {قالوا} فيما أتى به من القرآن هو {أضغاث أحلام} أخلاط رآها في النوم {بل افتراه} اختلقه {بل هو شاعر} فما أتى به شعر {فليأتنا بآية كما أرسل الأولون} كالناقة والعصا واليد قال تعالى:
quran:21:6 –

Not a ˹single˺ city which We destroyed believed before them, so will they believe?  

No town before them ever believed — meaning ˹none of˺ its inhabitants — of those that We destroyed, for the denial of the signs brought to them. Would they then believe? No.
القرآن:٢١:٦ –

مَا آمَنَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَاهَا ۖ أَفَهُمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ  

{ما آمنت قبلهم من قرية} أي أهلها {أهلكناها} بتكذيبها ما أتاها من الآيات {أفهم يؤمنون} لا.
quran:21:7 –

And We sent not before you, ˹O Muhammad˺, except men to whom We revealed ˹the message˺, so ask the people of the message if you do not know.  

And We sent none before you other than men to whom We revealed (read nūhī or yūhā, ‘˹to whom˺ it is revealed’) and ˹We sent˺ not any angels. Ask the People of the Remembrance, those with knowledge of the Torah and the Gospel, if you do not know, this; for they will know it. Since you are more likely to believe them than the believers are to believing Muhammad (s).
القرآن:٢١:٧ –

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ ۖ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ  

{وما أرسلنا قبلك إلا رجالاً نوحي} وفي قراءة بالياء وفتح الحاء {إليهم} لا ملائكة {فاسألوا أهل الذكر} العلماء بالتوراة والإنجيل {إن كنتم لا تعلمون} ذلك فإنهم يعلمونه، وأنتم إلى تصديقهم أقرب من تصديق المؤمنين بمحمد.
quran:21:8 –

And We did not make the prophets forms not eating food, nor were they immortal ˹on earth˺.  

And We did not make them, namely, the messengers, bodies that did not eat food, nay, they eat it; and they were not immortal, in this world.
القرآن:٢١:٨ –

وَمَا جَعَلْنَاهُمْ جَسَدًا لَا يَأْكُلُونَ الطَّعَامَ وَمَا كَانُوا خَالِدِينَ  

{وما جعلناهم} أي الرسل {جسداً} بمعنى أجساداً {لا يأكلون الطعام} بل يأكلونه {وما كانوا خالدين} في الدنيا.
quran:21:9 –

Then We fulfilled for them the promise, and We saved them and whom We willed and destroyed the transgressors.  

Then We fulfilled to them the promise, to deliver them. So We delivered them and whomever We would, ˹of˺ those who believed in them, and We destroyed the prodigal, those who denied them.
القرآن:٢١:٩ –

ثُمَّ صَدَقْنَاهُمُ الْوَعْدَ فَأَنْجَيْنَاهُمْ وَمَنْ نَشَاءُ وَأَهْلَكْنَا الْمُسْرِفِينَ  

{ثم صدقناهم الوعد} بإنجائهم {فأنجيناهم ومن نشاء} المصدقين لهم {وأهلكنا المسرفين} المكذبين لهم.
quran:21:10 –

We have certainly sent down to you a Book in which is your mention. Then will you not reason?  

Now We have sent down ˹as revelation˺ to you, O clan of Quraysh, a Book in which there is the remembrance that is yours, for it is in your language. Will you not understand?, and so believe in it?
القرآن:٢١:١٠ –

لَقَدْ أَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكُمْ كِتَابًا فِيهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ ۖ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ  

لقد أنزلنا إليكم} يا معشر قريش {كتاباً فيه ذكركم} لأنه بلغتكم {أفلا تعقلون} فتؤمنون به.
quran:21:11 –

And how many a city which was unjust have We shattered and produced after it another people.  

And how many did We destroy of towns — meaning its inhabitants — that had been wrongdoing, disbelieving, and brought forth another people after it!
القرآن:٢١:١١ –

وَكَمْ قَصَمْنَا مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ كَانَتْ ظَالِمَةً وَأَنْشَأْنَا بَعْدَهَا قَوْمًا آخَرِينَ  

{وكم قصمنا} أهلكنا {من قرية} أي أهلها {كانت ظالمة} كافرة {وأنشأنا بعدها قوماً آخرين}.
quran:21:12 –

And when its inhabitants perceived Our punishment, at once they fled from it.  

And when they felt Our might, ˹when˺ the inhabitants of the town sensed destruction ˹to be near˺, behold, they ran away from it, they flee hastily ˹therefrom˺.
القرآن:٢١:١٢ –

فَلَمَّا أَحَسُّوا بَأْسَنَا إِذَا هُمْ مِنْهَا يَرْكُضُونَ  

{فلما أحسُّوا بأسنا} شعر أهل القرية بالإهلاك {إذا هم منها يركضون} يهربون مسرعين.
quran:21:13 –

˹Some angels said˺, "Do not flee but return to where you were given luxury and to your homes - perhaps you will be questioned."  

But the angels said to them scornfully: ‘Do not run ˹away˺! Return to the opulence, the comforts, which you were given to enjoy and your dwelling-places, that perhaps you might be asked’, for something of your worldly possessions as usual.
القرآن:٢١:١٣ –

لَا تَرْكُضُوا وَارْجِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَا أُتْرِفْتُمْ فِيهِ وَمَسَاكِنِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُسْأَلُونَ  

فقالت لهم الملائكة استهزاء {لا تركضوا وارجعوا إلى ما أترفتم} نعمتم {فيه ومساكنكم لعلكم تسألون} شيئاً من دنياكم على العادة.
quran:21:14 –

They said, "O woe to us! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."  

They said, ‘O (yā is for calling attention ˹to something˺) woe to us!, ˹this is˺ our destruction! We have indeed been doing wrong’, through ˹our˺ disbelief.
القرآن:٢١:١٤ –

قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ  

{قالوا يا} للتنبيه {ويلنا} هلاكنا {إنا كنا ظالمين} بالكفر.
quran:21:15 –

And that declaration of theirs did not cease until We made them ˹as˺ a harvest ˹mowed down˺, extinguished ˹like a fire˺.  

So that, saying, remained their cry, which they would make and repeat, until We made them as reaped ˹crops˺, as crops harvested with sickles when they were killed with the sword, stilled, dead, like the stillness of fire when it is extinguished.
القرآن:٢١:١٥ –

فَمَا زَالَتْ تِلْكَ دَعْوَاهُمْ حَتَّىٰ جَعَلْنَاهُمْ حَصِيدًا خَامِدِينَ  

{فما زالت تلك} الكلمات {دعواهم} يدعون بها ويرددونها {حتى جعلناهم حصيداً} كالزرع المحصود بالمناجل بأن قتلوا بالسيف {خامدين} ميتين كخمود النار إذا طفئت.
quran:21:16 –

And We did not create the heaven and earth and that between them in play.  

And We did not create the heaven and the earth and all that is between them, playing, being frivolous, but to indicate Our power and to benefit Our servants.
القرآن:٢١:١٦ –

وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاءَ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَاعِبِينَ  

{وما خلقنا السماء والأرض وما بينهما لاعبين} عابثين بل دالين على قدرتنا ونافعين عبادنا.
quran:21:17 –

Had We intended to take a diversion, We could have taken it from ˹what is˺ with Us - if ˹indeed˺ We were to do so.  

Had We desired to find some diversion, that which provides diversion, in the way of a partner or a child, We would have found it with Ourselves, from among the beautiful-eyed houris or angels, were We to do ˹so˺. But We did not do so, thus We never desired it.
القرآن:٢١:١٧ –

لَوْ أَرَدْنَا أَنْ نَتَّخِذَ لَهْوًا لَاتَّخَذْنَاهُ مِنْ لَدُنَّا إِنْ كُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ  

{لو أردنا أن نتخذ لهواً} ما يلهى به من زوجة أو ولد {لاتخذناه من لدنا} من عندنا من الحور العين والملائكة {إن كنا فاعلين} ذلك، لكنا لم نفعله فلم نُرده.
quran:21:18 –

Rather, We dash the truth upon falsehood, and it destroys it, and thereupon it departs. And for you is destruction from that which you describe.  

Nay, but We hurl, We cast, the truth, faith, against falsehood, disbelief, and it obliterates it, and behold, it vanishes, disappears (damaghahu, ‘it obliterates it’, actually means ‘it struck the brain with a blow’, ˹a blow˺ which is fatal). And for you, O disbelievers of Mecca, there shall be woe, severe chastisement, for what you ascribe, to God, of mate or child.
القرآن:٢١:١٨ –

بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَى الْبَاطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ ۚ وَلَكُمُ الْوَيْلُ مِمَّا تَصِفُونَ  

{بل نقذف} نرمي {بالحق} الإيمان {على الباطل} الكفر {فيدمغه} يذهبه {فإذا هو زاهق} ذاهب، ودمغه في الأصل: أصاب دماغه بالضرب وهو مقتل {ولكم} يا كفار مكة {الويْل} العذاب الشديد {مما تصفون} الله به من الزوجة أو الولد.
quran:21:19 –

To Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those near Him are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, nor do they tire.  

And to Him, exalted be He, belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth, as possessions, and those who are near Him, namely, the angels (wa-man ‘indahu, the subject, the predicate of which ˹is the following clause˺) do not disdain to worship Him, nor do they weary.
القرآن:٢١:١٩ –

وَلَهُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَلَا يَسْتَحْسِرُونَ  

{وله} تعالى {من في السماوات والأرض} ملكاً {ومن عنده} أي الملائكة مبتدأ خبره {لا يستكبرون عن عبادته ولا يستحسرون} لا يعيون.
quran:21:20 –

They exalt ˹Him˺ night and day ˹and˺ do not slacken.  

They glorify ˹Him˺ night and day, and they do not falter, in it, for it comes to them as ˹naturally as˺ breathing comes to us, ˹something˺ which we can never be distracted from.
القرآن:٢١:٢٠ –

يُسَبِّحُونَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لَا يَفْتُرُونَ  

{يسبحون الليل والنهار لا يفترون} عنه فهو منهم كالنفس منا لا يشغلنا عنه شاغل.
quran:21:21 –

Or have men taken for themselves gods from the earth who resurrect ˹the dead˺?  

Or (am, functions with the meaning of bal, ‘nay’, to effect a transition ˹in subject-matter˺; the hamza is for ˹rhetorical˺ denial) have they chosen gods, that are, from the earth, such as stones, gold or silver, who, that is, gods ˹who˺, resurrect? who bring the dead back to life? No! Indeed only one who brings the dead back to life can be God.
القرآن:٢١:٢١ –

أَمِ اتَّخَذُوا آلِهَةً مِنَ الْأَرْضِ هُمْ يُنْشِرُونَ  

{أم} بمعني بل للانتقال والهمزه للإنكار {اتخذوا آلهة} كائنة {من الأرض} كحجر وذهب وفضة {هم} أي الآلهة {ينشرون} أي يحيون الموتى؟ لا، ولا يكون إلهاً إلا من يحيي الموتى.
quran:21:22 –

Had there been within the heavens and earth gods besides Allah, they both would have been ruined. So exalted is Allah, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe.  

Had there been in ˹either of˺ them, that is, ˹in˺ the heavens and the earth, gods other than God, that is, other than Him, the two would have surely deteriorated, they ˹the heavens and the earth˺ would have deviated from their observed order, because counteractive forces would exist among such ˹gods˺, as is usually the case, when there is more than one ruler, that there is counteraction and a lack of consensus regarding something. So glory be to God — an exaltation — the Lord, the Creator, of the Throne, al-kursī, above what they ascribe, the disbelievers, to God, of His having a partner and otherwise.
القرآن:٢١:٢٢ –

لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمَا آلِهَةٌ إِلَّا اللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتَا ۚ فَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ  

{لو كان فيهما} أي السماوات والأرض {آلهة إلا الله} أي غيره {لفسدتا} أي خرجتا عن نظامهما المشاهد، لوجود التمانع بينهم على وفق العادة عند تعدد الحاكم من التمانع في الشيء وعدم الاتفاق عليه {فسبحان} تنزيه {الله رب} خالق {العرش} الكرسي {عما يصفون} الكفار الله به من الشريك له وغيره.
quran:21:23 –

He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.  

He shall not be questioned about what He does, but they shall be questioned, about their actions.
القرآن:٢١:٢٣ –

لَا يُسْأَلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْأَلُونَ  

{لا يُسأل عما يفعل وهم يسألون} عن أفعالهم.
quran:21:24 –

Or have they taken gods besides Him? Say, ˹O Muhammad˺, "Produce your proof. This ˹Qur'an˺ is the message for those with me and the message of those before me." But most of them do not know the truth, so they are turning away.  

Or have they chosen besides Him, exalted be He, other than Him, gods? (herein is an interrogative meant as a rebuke). Say: ‘Bring your proof, for this — but such a thing is impossible. This is the Remembrance of those with me, namely, my community, and that ˹Remembrance˺ is the Qur’ān, and the Remembrance of those before me, of communities, namely, the Torah and the Gospel and other Books of God, not a single one of which contains the statement that with God there exists another god, in the way that they claim — exalted be He above such a thing. Nay, but most of them do not know the truth, the affirmation of God’s Oneness, and so they are disregardful’, of that discernment that leads to ˹knowledge of˺ it.
القرآن:٢١:٢٤ –

أَمِ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ آلِهَةً ۖ قُلْ هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ ۖ هَٰذَا ذِكْرُ مَنْ مَعِيَ وَذِكْرُ مَنْ قَبْلِي ۗ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ الْحَقَّ ۖ فَهُمْ مُعْرِضُونَ  

{أم اتخذوا من دونه} تعالى أي سواه {آلهة} فيه استفهام توبيخ {قل هاتوا برهانكم} على ذلك ولا سبيل إليه {هذا ذكر من معي} أمتي وهو القرآن {وذكر من قبلي} من الأمم وهو التوراة والإنجيل وغيرهما من كتب الله ليس في واحد منها أن مع الله إلهاً مما قالوا، تعالى عن ذلك {بل أكثرهم لا يعلمون الحق} توحيد الله {فهم معرضون} عن النظر الموصل إليه.
quran:21:25 –

And We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, "There is no deity except Me, so worship Me."  

And We did not send any Messenger before you but We revealed to him (read nūhī or yūhā, ‘˹but˺ it was revealed to him’) that, ‘There is no god except Me, so worship Me’, that is, affirm My Oneness.
القرآن:٢١:٢٥ –

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ  

{وما أرسلنا من قبلك من رسول إلا نوحي} وفي قراءة بالياء وفتح الحاء {إليه أنه لا إله إلا أنا فاعبدون} أي وحدوني.
quran:21:26 –

And they say, "The Most Merciful has taken a son." Exalted is He! Rather, they are ˹but˺ honored servants.  

And they say, ‘The Compassionate One has taken a son’, from the angels. Glory be to Him! Nay, but they are ˹merely˺ servants who are honoured, in His presence; for ˹the very˺ servitude ˹of all creatures to Him˺ is inconsistent with ˹the attribution of any of them as˺ progeny ˹of His˺.
القرآن:٢١:٢٦ –

وَقَالُوا اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وَلَدًا ۗ سُبْحَانَهُ ۚ بَلْ عِبَادٌ مُكْرَمُونَ  

{وقالوا اتخذ الرحمن ولداً} من الملائكة {سبحانه بل} هم {عباد مكرمون} عنده والعبودية تنافي الولادة.
quran:21:27 –

They cannot precede Him in word, and they act by His command.  

They do not ˹venture to˺ speak before Him — they only speak after He has spoken, and they act according to His command, that is, following ˹His issuing of˺ it.
القرآن:٢١:٢٧ –

لَا يَسْبِقُونَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ وَهُمْ بِأَمْرِهِ يَعْمَلُونَ  

{لا يسبقونه بالقول} لا يأتون بقولهم إلا بعد قوله {وهم بأمره يعملون} أي بعده.
quran:21:28 –

He knows what is ˹presently˺ before them and what will be after them, and they cannot intercede except on behalf of one whom He approves. And they, from fear of Him, are apprehensive.  

He knows what is before them and what is behind them, that is, what they have done and what they will do, and they do not intercede except for him with whom He is satisfied, that he be interceded for, and they, for awe of Him, exalted be He, are apprehensive, fearful.
القرآن:٢١:٢٨ –

يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يَشْفَعُونَ إِلَّا لِمَنِ ارْتَضَىٰ وَهُمْ مِنْ خَشْيَتِهِ مُشْفِقُونَ  

{يعلم ما بين أيديهم وما خلفهم} ما عملوا وما هم عاملون {ولا يشفعون إلا لمن ارتضى} تعالى أن يشفع له {وهم من خشيته} تعالى {مشفقون} خائفون.
quran:21:29 –

And whoever of them should say, "Indeed, I am a god besides Him"- that one We would recompense with Hell. Thus do We recompense the wrongdoers.  

And should any of them say, ‘I am a god besides Him’, that is, ˹besides˺ God, in other words, ˹a god˺ other than Him — and this is Iblīs, who summoned ˹others˺ to worship his soul and commanded that it be obeyed — such a one We will requite with Hell. Thus, in the same way that We requite him, We requite wrongdoers, idolaters.
القرآن:٢١:٢٩ –

وَمَنْ يَقُلْ مِنْهُمْ إِنِّي إِلَٰهٌ مِنْ دُونِهِ فَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِيهِ جَهَنَّمَ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الظَّالِمِينَ  

{ومن يقل منهم إني إله من دونه} أي الله أي غيره، وهو إبليس دعا إلى عبادة نفسه وأمر بطاعتها {فذلك نجزيه جهنم كذلك} كما نجريه {نجزي الظالمين} المشركين.
quran:21:30 –

Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?  

Have they not (˹one may˺ read a-wa-lam or a-lam) realised, ˹have they not˺ come to know, those who disbelieve, that the heavens and the earth were closed together and then We parted them, We made seven heavens and seven earths — or ˹it is meant˺ that the heaven was parted and began to rain, when it did not use to do so, and that the earth was parted and began to produce plants, when it did not use to do so; and We made, of water, ˹the water˺ that falls from the heaven and that springs from the earth, every living thing?, in the way of plants and otherwise: in other words, water is the cause of such ˹things˺ having life. Will they not then believe?, by affirming My Oneness?
القرآن:٢١:٣٠ –

أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنَاهُمَا ۖ وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَيٍّ ۖ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ  

{أوَلم} بواو وتركها {يرَ} يعلم {الذين كفروا أن السماوات والأرض كانتا رَتقاً} سدا بمعنى مسدودة {ففتقناهما} جعلنا السماء سبعاً والأرض من سبعاً، أو فتق السماء أن كانت لا تمطر فأمطرت، وفتق الأرض أن كانت لا تنبت فأنبتت {وجعلنا من الماء} النازل من السماء والنابع من الأرض {كل شيء حي} من نبات وغيره أي فالماء سبب لحياته {أفلا يؤمنون} بتوحيدي.
quran:21:31 –

And We placed within the earth firmly set mountains, lest it should shift with them, and We made therein ˹mountain˺ passes ˹as˺ roads that they might be guided.  

And We set in the earth firm mountains lest it should shake with them, and We set in them, ˹in˺ the firm mountains, ravines, as roads (subulan substitutes ˹for fijājan, ‘ravines’, which are wide through-routes˺), that perhaps they may be guided, to their destinations during travel.
القرآن:٢١:٣١ –

وَجَعَلْنَا فِي الْأَرْضِ رَوَاسِيَ أَنْ تَمِيدَ بِهِمْ وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا فِجَاجًا سُبُلًا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ  

{وجعلنا في الأرض رواسي} جبالاً ثوابت لـ {أن} لا {تميد} تتحرك {بهم وجعلنا فيها} الرواسي {فجاجاً} مسالك {سبلاً} بدل، طرقاً نافذة واسعة {لعلهم يهتدون} إلى مقاصدهم في الأسفار.
quran:21:32 –

And We made the sky a protected ceiling, but they, from its signs, are turning away.  

And We made the heaven a roof, for the earth, ˹functioning˺ like the roof of a house, preserved, from collapsing; and yet of the signs thereof, namely, ˹the signs of this heaven such as˺ the sun, the moon and the stars, they are disregardful, failing to reflect on them and thus realise that the Creator of such ˹things˺ can have no partner.
القرآن:٢١:٣٢ –

وَجَعَلْنَا السَّمَاءَ سَقْفًا مَحْفُوظًا ۖ وَهُمْ عَنْ آيَاتِهَا مُعْرِضُونَ  

{وجلعنا السماء سقفاً} للأرض كالسقف للبيت {محفوظاً} عن الوقوع {وهم عن آياتها} من الشمس والقمر والنجوم {معرضون} لا يتفكرون فيها فيعلمون أن خالقها لا شريك له.
quran:21:33 –

And it is He who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all ˹heavenly bodies˺ in an orbit are swimming.  

And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon, each (kullun, the nunation of this ˹particle˺ stands in place of the second noun ˹of the genitive construction˺ that would have been alshams, ‘the sun’, or al-qamar, ‘the moon’, or their subsidiaries, namely, al-nujūm, ‘the stars’) in an orbit, a circular ˹one˺ like a mill in the sky, swimming, moving with speed, like a swimmer in water. In order to effect the analogy with the latter, the plural person ˹of the verb employed˺ for rational beings is used.
القرآن:٢١:٣٣ –

وَهُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ ۖ كُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ  

{وهو الذي خلق الليل والنهار والشمس والقمر كل} تنوينه عوض عن المضاف إليه من الشمس والقمر وتابعه وهو النجوم {في فلك} مستدير كالطاحونة في السماء {يسبحون} يسيرون بسرعة كالسابح في الماء، وللتشبيه به أتى بضمير جمع من يعقل.
quran:21:34 –

And We did not grant to any man before you eternity ˹on earth˺; so if you die - would they be eternal?  

When the disbelievers said that Muhammad (s) would die, the following was revealed: And We did not assign to any human being before you immortality, permanence ˹of life˺ in this world. What, if you ˹are fated to˺ die, will they be immortal?, in it? No! (The last sentence constitutes the ˹syntactical˺ locus of the interrogative of denial).
القرآن:٢١:٣٤ –

وَمَا جَعَلْنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ الْخُلْدَ ۖ أَفَإِنْ مِتَّ فَهُمُ الْخَالِدُونَ  

ونزل لما قال الكفار إنَّ محمداً سيموت: {وما جعلنا لبشر من قبلك الخلد} البقاء في الدنيا {أفإن مت فهم الخالدون} فيها؟ لا، فالجملة الأخيرة محل الاستفهام الإنكاري.
quran:21:35 –

Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned.  

Every soul shall taste death, in this world, and We will try you, We will test you, with ill and good, such as poverty and wealth, sickness and health, as an ordeal (fitnatan, an object denoting reason, in other words, for the purpose of seeing whether you will be patient and give thanks or not). And then unto Us you shall be brought back, that We may requite you.
القرآن:٢١:٣٥ –

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَنَبْلُوكُمْ بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ  

{كل نفس ذائقة الموت} في الدنيا {ونبلوكم} نختبركم {بالشر والخير} كفقر وغنى وسقم وصحة {فتنة} مفعول له، أي لننظر أتصبرون وتشكرون أم لا {وإلينا ترجعون} فنجازيكم.
quran:21:36 –

And when those who disbelieve see you, ˹O Muhammad˺, they take you not except in ridicule, ˹saying˺, "Is this the one who insults your gods?" And they are, at the mention of the Most Merciful, disbelievers.  

And whenever the disbelievers see you, they only take you in derision, that is, as one to be derided, saying: ‘Is this the one who mentions your gods?’, that is, ˹the one who˺ derides them? And yet when it comes to the mention of the Compassionate One, to them, they (hum, ˹repeated˺ for emphasis) are disbelieving, of it, saying, ‘We do not know of any such ˹individual˺’.
القرآن:٢١:٣٦ –

وَإِذَا رَآكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنْ يَتَّخِذُونَكَ إِلَّا هُزُوًا أَهَٰذَا الَّذِي يَذْكُرُ آلِهَتَكُمْ وَهُمْ بِذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ هُمْ كَافِرُونَ  

{وإذا رآك الذين كفروا إن} ما {يتخذونك إلا هزواً} أي مهزوءاً به يقولون {أهذا الذي يذكر آلهتكم} أي يعيبها {وهم بذكر الرحمن} لهم {هم} تأكيد {كافرون} به إذا قالوا ما نعرفه.
quran:21:37 –

Man was created of haste. I will show you My signs, so do not impatiently urge Me.  

The following was revealed regarding their demand that chastisement be hastened: Man was created of haste, that is to say, because he is so hasty in his affairs, it is as if he had been created out of it. Assuredly I shall show you My signs, My promises of chastisement, so do not demand that I hasten, in ˹sending˺ it. And so He ˹God˺ made them suffer death at ˹the battle of˺ Badr.
القرآن:٢١:٣٧ –

خُلِقَ الْإِنْسَانُ مِنْ عَجَلٍ ۚ سَأُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِي فَلَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونِ  

ونزل في استعجالهم العذاب {خلق الإنسان من عجل} أي أنه لكثرة عجله في أحواله كأنه خلق منه {سأريكم آياتي} مواعيدي بالعذاب {فلا تستعجلون} فيه فأراهم القتل ببدر.
quran:21:38 –

And they say, "When is this promise, if you should be truthful?"  

And they say, ‘When will this promise, of resurrection, be ˹fulfilled˺, if you are truthful?’, about it.
القرآن:٢١:٣٨ –

وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا الْوَعْدُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ  

{ويقولون متى هذا الوعد} بالقيامة {إن كنتم صادقين} فيه.
quran:21:39 –

If those who disbelieved but knew the time when they will not avert the Fire from their faces or from their backs and they will not be aided...  

˹God˺ exalted be He, says: If those who disbelieved only knew of the time when they shall not ˹be able to˺ ward off, repel, the Fire from their faces, nor from their backs, nor shall they be helped, ˹nor˺ shall they be protected from it at the Resurrection (the response to the ˹conditional particle˺ law, ‘if only’, is ˹something along the lines of˺ ‘they would not have said that’).
القرآن:٢١:٣٩ –

لَوْ يَعْلَمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا حِينَ لَا يَكُفُّونَ عَنْ وُجُوهِهِمُ النَّارَ وَلَا عَنْ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنْصَرُونَ  

قال تعالى: {لو يعلم الذين كفروا حين لا يكفون} يدفعون {عن وجوههم النار ولا عن ظهورهم ولا هم ينصرون} يمنعون منها في القيامة وجواب لو ما قالوا ذلك.
quran:21:40 –

Rather, it will come to them unexpectedly and bewilder them, and they will not be able to repel it, nor will they be reprieved.  

Nay, but it, the Resurrection, shall come upon them suddenly, dumbfounding them, confusing them, and they shall not be able to ward it off, nor shall they be granted any respite, ˹nor shall they˺ be given any ˹extra˺ time to make a repentance or offer an excuse.
القرآن:٢١:٤٠ –

بَلْ تَأْتِيهِمْ بَغْتَةً فَتَبْهَتُهُمْ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ رَدَّهَا وَلَا هُمْ يُنْظَرُونَ  

{بل تأتيهم} القيامة {بغتة فتبهتهم} تحيرهم {فلا يستطيعون ردها ولا هم ينظرون} يمهلون لتوبة أو معذرة.
quran:21:41 –

And already were messengers ridiculed before you, but those who mocked them were enveloped by what they used to ridicule.  

And verily messengers before you were derided — herein is a statement to comfort the Prophet (s) — but those who mocked them were encircled by, it was sent down ˹against them˺, that which they used to deride, namely, chastisement — likewise it shall befall those who have derided you.
القرآن:٢١:٤١ –

وَلَقَدِ اسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فَحَاقَ بِالَّذِينَ سَخِرُوا مِنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ  

{ولقد استهزئ برسل من قبلك} فيه تسلية للنبي ﷺ {فحاق} نزل {بالذين سخروا منهم ما كانوا به يستهزءون} وهو العذاب فكذا يحيق بمن استهزأ بك.
quran:21:42 –

Say, "Who can protect you at night or by day from the Most Merciful?" But they are, from the remembrance of their Lord, turning away.  

Say, to them: ‘Who can guard you, preserve you, by night and day from the Compassionate One?’, from His chastisement, if it should befall you? In other words, no one can do such a thing. Those being addressed ˹here˺ do not fear God’s chastisement because they deny ˹the truth of˺ it. Nay, but of the Remembrance of their Lord, that is, the Qur’ān, they are disregardful, failing to reflect on it.
القرآن:٢١:٤٢ –

قُلْ مَنْ يَكْلَؤُكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ مِنَ الرَّحْمَٰنِ ۗ بَلْ هُمْ عَنْ ذِكْرِ رَبِّهِمْ مُعْرِضُونَ  

{قل} لهم {من يكلؤكم} يحفظكم {بالليل والنهار من الرحمن} من عذابه إن نزل بكم، أي: لا أحد يفعل ذلك، والمخاطبون لا يخافون عذاب الله لإنكارهم له {بل هم عن ذكر ربهم} أي القرآن {معرضون} لا يتفكرون فيه.
quran:21:43 –

Or do they have gods to defend them other than Us? They are unable ˹even˺ to help themselves, nor can they be protected from Us.  

Or is it that they have (am, ‘or’, functions with the sense of a hamza used to indicate denial, that is, ˹read it as˺ a-lahum, ‘do they have’) gods to defend them, against that which might cause them harm, besides Us? In other words, do they have anyone other than Us to defend them against such ˹things˺? No! They, namely, the gods, cannot help themselves, and so they will not ˹be able to˺ help them; nor shall they, the disbelievers, be protected from Us, from Our chastisement (one may say sahibaka’Llāhu, to mean ‘May God preserve and protect you’).
القرآن:٢١:٤٣ –

أَمْ لَهُمْ آلِهَةٌ تَمْنَعُهُمْ مِنْ دُونِنَا ۚ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ نَصْرَ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ مِنَّا يُصْحَبُونَ  

{أم} فيها معنى الهمزة للإنكار: أي أ {لهم آلهة تمنعهم} مما يسوؤهم {من دوننا} أي ألَهم من يمنعهم منه غيرنا؟ لا {لا يستطيعون} أي الآلهة {نصر أنفسهم} فلا ينصرونهم {ولا هم} أي الكفار {منا} من عذابنا {يصحبون} يجارون، يقال صحبك الله: أي حفظك وأجارك.
quran:21:44 –

But, ˹on the contrary˺, We have provided good things for these ˹disbelievers˺ and their fathers until life was prolonged for them. Then do they not see that We set upon the land, reducing it from its borders? So it is they who will overcome?  

Nay, but We provided ˹comforts˺ for these and their fathers, in the way of the graces which We bestowed on them, until life lasted long for them, so that they were deluded by such ˹longevity˺. Do they not see how We visit the land, ˹how˺ We target their land, diminishing it at its edges?, by granting the Prophet victory ˹through conquest˺. Are they the ones who will prevail? No, it is rather the Prophet and his Companions ˹who will do so˺.
القرآن:٢١:٤٤ –

بَلْ مَتَّعْنَا هَٰؤُلَاءِ وَآبَاءَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ طَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعُمُرُ ۗ أَفَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَنَّا نَأْتِي الْأَرْضَ نَنْقُصُهَا مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَا ۚ أَفَهُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ  

{بل متعنا هؤلاء وآباءهم} بما أنعمنا عليهم {حتى طال عليهم العمر} فاغتروا بذلك {أفلا يرون أنا نأتي الأرض} نقصد أرضهم {ننقصها من أطرافها} بالفتح على النبي {أفهم الغالبون}؟ لا، بل النبي وأصحابه.
quran:21:45 –

Say, "I only warn you by revelation." But the deaf do not hear the call when they are warned.  

Say, to them: ‘I warn you only by the Revelation’, ˹that comes˺ from God, and not by my own prompting. But the deaf do not hear the call when (idhā, read pronouncing both hamzas fully, or omitting the second ˹hamza˺ between it and the yā’) they are warned. They are like those who are deaf, when they fail to act in accordance with the warnings they hear.
القرآن:٢١:٤٥ –

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أُنْذِرُكُمْ بِالْوَحْيِ ۚ وَلَا يَسْمَعُ الصُّمُّ الدُّعَاءَ إِذَا مَا يُنْذَرُونَ  

{قل} لهم {إنما أنذركم بالوحي} من الله لا من قبل نفسي {ولا يسمع الصم الدعاء إذا} بتحقيق الهمزتين وتسهيل الثانية بينها وبين الياء {ما ينذرون} هم لتركهم العمل بما سمعوه من الإنذار كالصم.
quran:21:46 –

And if ˹as much as˺ a whiff of the punishment of your Lord should touch them, they would surely say, "O woe to us! Indeed, we have been wrongdoers."  

And if a whiff, a slight instance, of your Lord’s chastisement were to touch them, they would indeed say, ‘O (yā, used for drawing attention ˹to something˺) woe for us!, ˹O this is˺ our destruction! Truly we were doing evil’, in ascribing partners to God and denying ˹the Mission of˺ Muhammad (s).
القرآن:٢١:٤٦ –

وَلَئِنْ مَسَّتْهُمْ نَفْحَةٌ مِنْ عَذَابِ رَبِّكَ لَيَقُولُنَّ يَا وَيْلَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ  

{ولئن مستهم نفحة} وقعة خفيفة {من عذاب ربك ليقولن يا} للتنبيه {ويلنا} هلاكنا {إنا كنا ظالمين} بالإشراك وتكذيب محمد.
quran:21:47 –

And We place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all. And if there is ˹even˺ the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as accountant.  

And We shall set up the just balances, the equitable ones, for the Day of Resurrection, that is, on it, and no soul shall be wronged in any way, neither by deducting a good deed ˹from its record˺, nor by adding ˹to it˺ an evil one; and even if it, the action, be the weight of a ˹single˺ mustard seed, We shall produce it, with its full weight, and We suffice as reckoners, to count all things.
القرآن:٢١:٤٧ –

وَنَضَعُ الْمَوَازِينَ الْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ فَلَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئًا ۖ وَإِنْ كَانَ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَيْنَا بِهَا ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِنَا حَاسِبِينَ  

{ونضع الموازين القسط} ذوات العدل {ليوم القيامة} أي فيه {فلا تظلم نفس شيئاً} من نقص حسنة أو زيادة سيئة {وإن كان} العمل {مثقال} زنة {حبة من خردل أتينا بها} بموزونها {وكفى بنا حاسبين} مُحْصين كل شيء.
quran:21:48 –

And We had already given Moses and Aaron the criterion and a light and a reminder for the righteous  

And verily We gave Moses and Aaron the Criterion, the Torah that discriminates between truth and falsehood, and ˹between˺ what is lawful and unlawful, and an illumination, by it, and remembrance, an admonition therein, for those who are wary of God,
القرآن:٢١:٤٨ –

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ وَهَارُونَ الْفُرْقَانَ وَضِيَاءً وَذِكْرًا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ  

{ولقد آتينا موسى وهارون الفرقان} أي التوراة الفارقة بين الحق والباطل والحلال والحرام {وضياءً} بها {وذكراً} عظة بها {للمتقين}.
quran:21:49 –

Who fear their Lord unseen, while they are of the Hour apprehensive.  

those who fear their Lord in concealment, from people, that is, when they are in seclusion from them, and who, on account of the Hour, that is, ˹on account of˺ its terrors, are apprehensive, fearful.
القرآن:٢١:٤٩ –

الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَيْبِ وَهُمْ مِنَ السَّاعَةِ مُشْفِقُونَ  

{الذين يخشون ربهم بالغيب} عن الناس أي في الخلاء عنهم {وهم من الساعة} أي أهوالها {مشفقون} خائفون.
quran:21:50 –

And this ˹Qur'an˺ is a blessed message which We have sent down. Then are you with it unacquainted?  

And this, namely, the Qur’ān, is a blessed Remembrance which We have revealed. Will you then deny it? (the interrogative here is intended as a rebuke).
القرآن:٢١:٥٠ –

وَهَٰذَا ذِكْرٌ مُبَارَكٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ ۚ أَفَأَنْتُمْ لَهُ مُنْكِرُونَ  

{وهذا} أي القرآن {ذكر مبارك أنزلناه أفأنتم له منكرون} الاستفهام فيه للتوبيخ.