21. Sūrat al-Anbiyāʾ (2/3)

٢١۔ سُورَةُ الأنبيَاء ص ٢

The Prophets (Meccan)

quran:21:51

And We had certainly given Abraham his sound judgement before, and We were of him well-Knowing  

And verily We had given Abraham his rectitude before, that is, his ˹right˺ guidance before he came of age — and We were Aware of him, in that he was deserving of such ˹guidance˺,
القرآن:٢١:٥١

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ رُشْدَهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَكُنَّا بِهِ عَالِمِينَ  

{ولقد آتينا إبراهيم رشده من قبل} أي هداه قبل بلوغه {وكنا به عالمين} بأنه أهل لذلك.
quran:21:52

When he said to his father and his people, "What are these statues to which you are devoted?"  

when he said to his father and his people, ‘What are these images, ˹these˺ idols, to which you ˹constantly˺ cleave?’, that is, which you are constantly worshipping.
القرآن:٢١:٥٢

إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَا هَٰذِهِ التَّمَاثِيلُ الَّتِي أَنْتُمْ لَهَا عَاكِفُونَ  

{إذ قال لأبيه وقومه ما هذه التماثيل} الأصنام {التي أنتم لها عاكفون} أي على عبادتها مقيمون.
quran:21:53

They said, "We found our fathers worshippers of them."  

They said, ‘We found our fathers worshipping them’, and so we followed their example.
القرآن:٢١:٥٣

قَالُوا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا لَهَا عَابِدِينَ  

{قالوا وجدنا آباءنا لها عابدين} فاقتدنيا بهم.
quran:21:54

He said, "You were certainly, you and your fathers, in manifest error."  

He said, to them, ‘Truly you and your fathers, by worshipping them, have been in manifest error’.
القرآن:٢١:٥٤

قَالَ لَقَدْ كُنْتُمْ أَنْتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمْ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ  

{قال} لهم {لقد كنتم أنتم وآباؤكم} بعبادتها {في ضلال مبين} بَيّن.
quran:21:55

They said, "Have you come to us with truth, or are you of those who jest?"  

They said, ‘Do you bring us the truth, in that which you are saying, or are you being frivolous?’, in this regard.
القرآن:٢١:٥٥

قَالُوا أَجِئْتَنَا بِالْحَقِّ أَمْ أَنْتَ مِنَ اللَّاعِبِينَ  

{قالوا أجئتنا بالحق} في قولك هذا {أم أنت من اللاعبين} فيه.
quran:21:56

He said, "˹No˺, rather, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth who created them, and I, to that, am of those who testify.  

He said, ‘Nay, but your Lord, the ˹only˺ One worthy of being worshipped, is the Lord, the Owner, of the heavens and the earth, ˹the One˺ Who originated them, ˹Who˺ created them without any precedent, and to that, which I have said, I am a witness.
القرآن:٢١:٥٦

قَالَ بَلْ رَبُّكُمْ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الَّذِي فَطَرَهُنَّ وَأَنَا عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ  

{قال بل ربكم} المستحق للعبادة {رب} مالك {السماوات والأرض الذي فطرهن} خلقهن على غير مثال سبق {وأنا على ذلكم} الذي قلته {من الشاهدين} به.
quran:21:57

And ˹I swear˺ by Allah, I will surely plan against your idols after you have turned and gone away."  

And, by God, I shall devise ˹a stratagem˺ against your idols after you have gone away, with your backs turned’.
القرآن:٢١:٥٧

وَتَاللَّهِ لَأَكِيدَنَّ أَصْنَامَكُمْ بَعْدَ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا مُدْبِرِينَ  

{وتالله لأكيدن أصنامهم بعد أن تولوا مدبرين}.
quran:21:58

So he made them into fragments, except a large one among them, that they might return to it ˹and question˺.  

And so, after they had set off to a gathering of theirs on one of their festival days, he reduced them to fragments (read judhādhan or jidhādhan, meaning ‘pieces’), ˹smashing them˺ with a hatchet, ˹all˺ except the principal one among them, around whose neck he hung the hatchet, that they might return to it, that is, to the principal one, and see what he had done to the others.
القرآن:٢١:٥٨

فَجَعَلَهُمْ جُذَاذًا إِلَّا كَبِيرًا لَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ يَرْجِعُونَ  

{فجعلهم} بعد ذهابهم إلى مجتمعهم في يوم عيد لهم {جُذاذاً} بضم الجيم وكسرها: فتاتاً بفأس {إلا كبيراً لهم} علق الفأس في عنقه {لعلهم إليه} أي إلى الكبير {يرجعون} فيرون ما فعل بغيره.
quran:21:59

They said, "Who has done this to our gods? Indeed, he is of the wrongdoers."  

They said, upon returning and seeing what had been done, ‘Who has done this to our gods? Truly he is an evildoer’, in this regard.
القرآن:٢١:٥٩

قَالُوا مَنْ فَعَلَ هَٰذَا بِآلِهَتِنَا إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ  

{قالوا} بعد رجوعهم ورؤيتهم ما فعل {من فعل هذا بآلهتنا إنه لمن الظالمين} فيه.
quran:21:60

They said, "We heard a young man mention them who is called Abraham."  

They said, one to the other: ‘We heard a young man making ˹ill˺ mention of them, deriding them — he is called Abraham’.
القرآن:٢١:٦٠

قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا فَتًى يَذْكُرُهُمْ يُقَالُ لَهُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ  

{قالوا} أي بعضهم لبعض {سمعنا فتى يذكرهم} أي يعيبهم {يقال له إبراهيم}.
quran:21:61

They said, "Then bring him before the eyes of the people that they may testify."  

They said, ‘Then bring him before the people’s eyes, that is, openly, that they may testify’, against him as being the perpetrator.
القرآن:٢١:٦١

قَالُوا فَأْتُوا بِهِ عَلَىٰ أَعْيُنِ النَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْهَدُونَ  

{قالوا فأتوا به على أعين الناس} أي ظاهراً {لعلهم يشهدون} عليه أنه الفاعل.
quran:21:62

They said, "Have you done this to our gods, O Abraham?"  

They said, to him, after he had been brought ˹before them˺: ‘So, is it you (read a-anta, ˹either˺ pronouncing fully the two hamzas; or substituting an alif for the second one, or not pronouncing it ˹the second one˺, and inserting an alif between the one not pronounced and the other one, or without ˹this insertion˺) who has done this to our gods, O Abraham?’
القرآن:٢١:٦٢

قَالُوا أَأَنْتَ فَعَلْتَ هَٰذَا بِآلِهَتِنَا يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ  

{قالوا} له بعد إتيانه {أأنت} بتحقيق الهمزتين وإبدال الثانية ألفاً وتسهيلها وإدخال ألف بين المسهلة والأخرى وتركه {فعلت هذا بآلهتنا يا إبراهيم}.
quran:21:63

He said, "Rather, this - the largest of them - did it, so ask them, if they should ˹be able to˺ speak."  

He said, concealing his deed: ‘Rather it was this principal one among them did it. So question them, about the perpetrator of this, if they can speak!’ (here the response to the conditional statement precedes ˹the conditional clause˺; in the preceding clause there is an intimation for them that an idol, acknowledged as being incapable of action, cannot be a god).
القرآن:٢١:٦٣

قَالَ بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَٰذَا فَاسْأَلُوهُمْ إِنْ كَانُوا يَنْطِقُونَ  

{قال} ساكتاً عن فعله {بل فعله كبيرهم هذا فاسألوهم} عن فاعله {إن كانوا ينطقون} فيه تقديم جواب الشرط وفيها قبله تعرض لهم بأن الصنم المعلوم عجزه عن الفعل لا يكون إلهاً.
quran:21:64

So they returned to ˹blaming˺ themselves and said ˹to each other˺, "Indeed, you are the wrongdoers."  

So they turned ˹thinking˺ to themselves, in reflection, and they said, to themselves: ‘Truly it is you who are the evildoers’, for worshipping that which cannot speak.
القرآن:٢١:٦٤

فَرَجَعُوا إِلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ فَقَالُوا إِنَّكُمْ أَنْتُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ  

{فرجعوا إلى أنفسهم} بالتفكر {فقالوا} لأنفسهم {إنكم أنتم الظالمون} بعبادتكم من لا ينطق.
quran:21:65

Then they reversed themselves, ˹saying˺, "You have already known that these do not speak!"  

Then they were turned, by God, on their heads, that is to say, they were made to return to their disbelief and said, ‘By God, you are certainly aware that these ˹idols˺ cannot speak’, in other words, how can you thus command us to question them?
القرآن:٢١:٦٥

ثُمَّ نُكِسُوا عَلَىٰ رُءُوسِهِمْ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا هَٰؤُلَاءِ يَنْطِقُونَ  

{ثم نكسوا} من الله {على رءُوسهم} أي ردوا إلى كفرهم وقالوا والله {لقد علمتَ ما هؤلاء ينطقون} أي فكيف تأمرنا بسؤالهم.
quran:21:66

He said, "Then do you worship instead of Allah that which does not benefit you at all or harm you?  

He said, ‘Do you then worship, besides God, that is, in His place, that which cannot benefit you in any way, with regard to ˹granting you˺ provision and otherwise, nor harm you?, in any way if you were not to worship it?
القرآن:٢١:٦٦

قَالَ أَفَتَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنْفَعُكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَضُرُّكُمْ  

{قال أفتعبدون من دون الله} أي بدله {ما لا ينفعكم شيئاً} من رزق وغيره {ولا يضركم} شيئاً إذا لم تعبدوه.
quran:21:67

Uff to you and to what you worship instead of Allah. Then will you not use reason?"  

Fie (read uffin or uffan, with the sense of a verbal noun, meaning ‘a putrid thing or a vile thing ˹be˺’) on you and what you worship besides God, that is, other than Him. Do you not comprehend?’, that these idols are not worthy of being worshipped and are not fit for such ˹a purpose˺ — only God, exalted be He, is worthy of it.
القرآن:٢١:٦٧

أُفٍّ لَكُمْ وَلِمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ ۖ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ  

{أف} بكسر الفاء وفتحها بمعنى مصدر أي نتناً وقبحاً {لكم ولما تعبدون من دون الله} أي غيره {أفلا تعقلون} أن هذه الأصنام لا تستحق العبادة ولا تصلح لها، وإنما يستحقها الله تعالى.
quran:21:68

They said, "Burn him and support your gods - if you are to act."  

They said, ‘Burn him, that is, ˹burn˺ Abraham, and stand by your gods, by having him burnt, if you are to do anything’, in the way of standing by them. Thus they gathered lots of firewood and lit a fire throughout it. They then tied up Abraham, placed him in a ballista and had him hurled into the fire. God, exalted be He, says:
القرآن:٢١:٦٨

قَالُوا حَرِّقُوهُ وَانْصُرُوا آلِهَتَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ  

{قالوا حرِّقوه} أي إبراهيم {وانصروا آلهتكم} أي بتحريقه {إن كنتم فاعلين} نصرتها فجمعوا له الحطب الكثير وأضرموا النار في جميعه وأوثقوا إبراهيم وجعلوه في منجنيق ورموه في النار قال تعالى:
quran:21:69

Allah said, "O fire, be coolness and safety upon Abraham."  

We said, ‘O fire! Be coolness and safety for Abraham!’, and so it only consumed the bonds ˹with which he had been tied˺. Its heat departed, but its luminosity remained. And by His words wa-salāman, ‘and safety’, Abraham was safe from (salima) death because of its coolness.
القرآن:٢١:٦٩

قُلْنَا يَا نَارُ كُونِي بَرْدًا وَسَلَامًا عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ  

(قلنا يا نار كوني برداً وسلاماً على إبراهيم) فلم تحرق منه غير وثاقه، وذهبت حرارتها وبقيت إضاءتها وبقوله "" وسلاماً "" سلم من الموت ببردها.
quran:21:70

And they intended for him harm, but We made them the greatest losers.  

And they sought to outwit him, namely, by having him burnt, but We made them the greater losers, in what they sought.
القرآن:٢١:٧٠

وَأَرَادُوا بِهِ كَيْدًا فَجَعَلْنَاهُمُ الْأَخْسَرِينَ  

{وأرادوا به كيداً} وهو التحريق {فجعلناهم الأخسرين} في مرادهم.
quran:21:71

And We delivered him and Lot to the land which We had blessed for the worlds.  

And We delivered him, as well as Lot — son of his ˹Abraham’s˺ brother Hārān — from Iraq, ˹and brought them˺ to the land which We have blessed for all peoples, ˹blessed it˺ with an abundance of rivers and trees, and this is Syria. Abraham settled in Palestine, and Lot in the Sinful City (al-mu’tafika, cf. Q. 53:53); and between the two is ˹the distance of˺ a day’s journey.
القرآن:٢١:٧١

وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ وَلُوطًا إِلَى الْأَرْضِ الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا لِلْعَالَمِينَ  

{ونجيناه ولوطاً} ابن أخيه هاران من العراق {إلى الأرض التي باركنا فيها للعالمين} بكثرة الأنهار والأشجار وهي الشام نزل إبراهيم بفلسطين ولوط بالمؤتفكة وبينهما يوم.
quran:21:72

And We gave him Isaac and Jacob in addition, and all ˹of them˺ We made righteous.  

And We gave him, namely, Abraham — for he had asked for a child, as mentioned in ˹sūrat˺ al-Sāffāt ˹Q. 37:100˺ — Isaac, and Jacob as a gift, that is, as ˹something˺ in addition to what was requested; or it means ‘a grandson’; and each of them, that is, himself and the two born of him, We made righteous, ˹We made them˺ prophets.
القرآن:٢١:٧٢

وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ نَافِلَةً ۖ وَكُلًّا جَعَلْنَا صَالِحِينَ  

{ووهبنا له} أي لإبراهيم وكان سأل ولداً كما ذكر في الصافات {إسحاق ويعقوب نافلة} أي زيادة على المسؤول أو هو ولد الولد {وكلاً} أي هو وولداه {جعلنا صالحين} أنبياء.
quran:21:73

And We made them leaders guiding by Our command. And We inspired to them the doing of good deeds, establishment of prayer, and giving of zakah; and they were worshippers of Us.  

And We made them leaders (read a-immatan pronouncing both hamzas, or substituting the second one with a yā’), whose example of good ˹conduct˺ is followed, guiding, people, by Our command, to Our religion, and We inspired in them the performance of good deeds and the maintenance of prayers and the payment of alms, that is, ˹We inspired˺ that these ˹good deeds˺ be performed, ˹prayers˺ be maintained, and ˹alms˺ be payed by them and by their followers (the ˹final˺ hā’ of iqāma has been omitted to soften ˹the reading˺), and they used to worship Us.
القرآن:٢١:٧٣

وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ وَإِقَامَ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءَ الزَّكَاةِ ۖ وَكَانُوا لَنَا عَابِدِينَ  

{وجعلناهم أئمة} بتحقيق الهمزتين وإبدال الثانية ياء يقتدى بهم في الخير {يهدون} الناس {بأمرنا} إلى ديننا {وأوحينا إليهم فعل الخيرات وإقام الصلاة وإيتاء الزكاة} أي أن تفعل وتقام وتؤتى منهم ومن أتباعهم، وحذف هاء إقامة تخفيف {وكانوا لنا عابدين}.
quran:21:74

And to Lot We gave judgement and knowledge, and We saved him from the city that was committing wicked deeds. Indeed, they were a people of evil, defiantly disobedient.  

And to Lot We gave judgement, the ability to judge decisively between opposing parties, and knowledge; and We delivered him from the town which had been committing, that is, whose inhabitants had been committing, deeds of, vileness, by way of homosexual intercourse, hazelnut-hurling and bird-games and other things. Truly they were a folk of evil ˹people˺ (saw’ is the verbal noun of sā’ahu, ‘he harmed him’, the opposite of sarrahu, ‘he delighted him’), immoral.
القرآن:٢١:٧٤

وَلُوطًا آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ تَعْمَلُ الْخَبَائِثَ ۗ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمَ سَوْءٍ فَاسِقِينَ  

{ولوطاً آتيناه حكماً} فصلاً بين الخصوم {وعلماً ونجيناه من القرية التي كانت تعمل} أي أهلها الأعمال {الخبائث} من اللواط والرمي بالبندق واللعب بالطيور وغير ذلك {إنهم كانوا قوم سوء} مصدر ساءه نقيض سرَّه {فاسقين}.
quran:21:75

And We admitted him into Our mercy. Indeed, he was of the righteous.  

And We admitted him into Our mercy, by Our saving him from his people. He was indeed one of the righteous.
القرآن:٢١:٧٥

وَأَدْخَلْنَاهُ فِي رَحْمَتِنَا ۖ إِنَّهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ  

{وأدخلناه في رحمتنا} بأن أنجيناه من قومه {إنه من الصالحين}.
quran:21:76

And ˹mention˺ Noah, when he called ˹to Allah˺ before ˹that time˺, so We responded to him and saved him and his family from the great flood.  

And, mention, Noah (what follows ˹Nūhan˺ substitutes for it) when he called, when he supplicated ˹to God˺ against his people — with the words My Lord, do not leave ˹upon the earth any inhabitant from among the disbelievers˺ … to the end ˹of the verse, Q. 71:26˺, before, that is, before ˹the time of˺ Abraham and Lot. And We responded to him, and delivered him and his people, who were in the Ark with him, from the great agony, namely, ˹from˺ drowning and his people’s denial of him.
القرآن:٢١:٧٦

وَنُوحًا إِذْ نَادَىٰ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ فَنَجَّيْنَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ مِنَ الْكَرْبِ الْعَظِيمِ  

(و) اذكر (نوحاً) وما بعده بدل منه (إذ نادى) دعا على قومه بقوله "" رب لا تذر "" إلخ (من قبل) أي قبل إبراهيم ولوط (فاستجبنا له فنجيناه وأهله) الذين في سفينته (من الكرب العظيم) أي الغرق وتكذيب قومه له.
quran:21:77

And We saved him from the people who denied Our signs. Indeed, they were a people of evil, so We drowned them, all together.  

And We helped him, We defended him, against the people who denied Our signs, the ones indicating his Mission, lest they cause him any harm. They were indeed an evil people, so We drowned them all.
القرآن:٢١:٧٧

وَنَصَرْنَاهُ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمَ سَوْءٍ فَأَغْرَقْنَاهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ  

{ونصرناه} منعناه {من القوم الذين كذبوا بآياتنا} الدالة على رسالته أن لا يصلوا إليه بسوء {إنهم كانوا قوم سوء فأغرقناهم أجمعين}.
quran:21:78

And ˹mention˺ David and Solomon, when they judged concerning the field - when the sheep of a people overran it ˹at night˺, and We were witness to their judgement.  

And, mention, David and Solomon, that is, ˹mention˺ their story (Dāwūda wa-Sulaymāna is substituted by ˹the following, idh yahkumāni …˺) when they gave judgement concerning the tillage, a field of crops or a vineyard, when the sheep of a ˹certain˺ people strayed into it, that is, ˹when these sheep˺ grazed there at night, but without a shepherd, because they had escaped; and We were witnesses to their judgement (lihukmihim shāhidīna: here the plural person is being used in the case of a dual). David decreed: to the owner of the tillage belong the head of the sheep. Solomon decreed: he shall benefit from ˹the use of˺ their milk, offspring and wool until such time as the tillage is restored to its original state at the hands of the owner ˹of the sheep˺, after which he ˹the owner of the tillage˺ should return them ˹the sheep˺ to him ˹their owner˺.
القرآن:٢١:٧٨

وَدَاوُودَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ إِذْ يَحْكُمَانِ فِي الْحَرْثِ إِذْ نَفَشَتْ فِيهِ غَنَمُ الْقَوْمِ وَكُنَّا لِحُكْمِهِمْ شَاهِدِينَ  

{و} اذكر {داود وسليمان} أي قصتهما ويبدل منهما {إذ يحكمان في الحرث} هو زرع أو كرم {إذ نفشت فيه غنم القوم} أي رعته ليلاً بلا راع بأن انفلتت {وكنا لحكمهم شاهدين} فيه استعمال ضمير الجمع لاثنين، قال داود لصاحب الحرث رقاب الغنم، وقال سليمان: ينتفع بدرها ونسلها وصوفها إلى أن يعود الحرث كما كان بإصلاح صاحبها فيردها إليه.
quran:21:79

And We gave understanding of the case to Solomon, and to each ˹of them˺ We gave judgement and knowledge. And We subjected the mountains to exalt ˹Us˺, along with David and ˹also˺ the birds. And We were doing ˹that˺.  

And We gave understanding of this, that is, the judgement, to Solomon. ˹It is said that˺ both of their decisions were ˹the result of˺ independent judgement ˹exercised by both˺, and that David consulted Solomon; but it is also said ˹that their decisions were˺ by way of inspiration ˹from God˺ — the second ˹decision˺ abrogated the first. And to each, of the twain, We gave judgement, prophethood, and knowledge, in matters of religion. And We disposed the mountains to glorify ˹God˺ with David, and the birds also, were disposed to glorify ˹God˺ with him, for he ˹David˺ had commanded such ˹glorification on their part˺, so that whenever there was a lapse ˹on his part˺, he would ˹be reminded to˺ apply himself to the task ˹of glorifying God˺ promptly. And We were ˹certainly˺ doers, of this disposing of them to glorify ˹God˺ along with him, even if it should amaze you, that they should ˹be able to˺ respond to the lord David.
القرآن:٢١:٧٩

فَفَهَّمْنَاهَا سُلَيْمَانَ ۚ وَكُلًّا آتَيْنَا حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا ۚ وَسَخَّرْنَا مَعَ دَاوُودَ الْجِبَالَ يُسَبِّحْنَ وَالطَّيْرَ ۚ وَكُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ  

{ففهمناها} أي الحكومة {سليمان} وحكمهما باجتهاد ورجع داود إلى سليمان وقيل بوحي والثاني ناسخ للأول {وكلا} منهما {آتينا} ه {حكماً} نبوة {وعلماً} بأمور الدين {وسخرنا مع داود الجبال يسبحن والطير} كذلك سخرا للتسبيح معه لأمره به إذا وجد فترة لينشط له {وكنا فاعلين} تسخير تسبيحهما معه، وإن كان عجباً عندكم: أي مجاوبته للسيد داود.
quran:21:80

And We taught him the fashioning of coats of armor to protect you from your ˹enemy in˺ battle. So will you then be grateful?  

And We taught him the art of making garments, namely, coats of mail — ˹which are called labūs˺ because they are worn (tulbas). He was the first ˹human being˺ to make them; hitherto there were ˹only˺ plates ˹of armour˺ — for you, as well as all mankind, to protect you (read nuhsinakum, ˹the subject being˺ ‘God’; or yuhsinakum, ˹the subject being˺ ‘David’; or tuhsinakum, ˹the subject being˺ ‘garments’) against your ˹mutual˺ violence, your wars against your enemies. Will you then, O people of Mecca, be thankful?, for My favours, by believing in the Messenger — in other words, be thankful to Me by ˹doing˺ this.
القرآن:٢١:٨٠

وَعَلَّمْنَاهُ صَنْعَةَ لَبُوسٍ لَكُمْ لِتُحْصِنَكُمْ مِنْ بَأْسِكُمْ ۖ فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ شَاكِرُونَ  

{وعلمناه صنعة لَبُوس} وهي الدرع لأنها تلبس، وهو أول من صنعها وكان قبلها صفائح {لكم} في جملة الناس {لنحصنكم} بالنون لله وبالتحتانية لداود وبالفوقانية للبوس {من بأسكم} حربكم مع أعدائكم {فهل أنتم} يا أهل مكة {شاكرون} نعمتي بتصديق الرسول: أي اشكروني بذلك.
quran:21:81

And to Solomon ˹We subjected˺ the wind, blowing forcefully, proceeding by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And We are ever, of all things, Knowing.  

And, We disposed, for Solomon the wind to blow strongly — in another verse it is ˹described as being˺ rukhā’an, ‘to blow softly’ ˹Q. 38:36˺; in other words, ˹it is either˺ blowing violently or gently ˹respectively˺, according to what he ˹Solomon˺ wanted — making its way, at his command, to the land which We have blessed, namely, Syria; and We have knowledge of all things, among them the fact that God, exalted be He, knew that what He gave to Solomon would prompt him to be subservient to his Lord, and so God did this in accordance with His knowledge.
القرآن:٢١:٨١

وَلِسُلَيْمَانَ الرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةً تَجْرِي بِأَمْرِهِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا ۚ وَكُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَالِمِينَ  

{و} سخرنا {لسليمان الريح عاصفة} وفي آية أخرى: رخاء، أي شديدة الهبوب وخفيفته حسب إرادته {تجري بأمره إلى الأرض التي باركنا فيها} وهي الشام {وكنا بكل شيء عالمين} من ذلك علم الله تعالى بأن ما يعطيه سليمان يدعوه إلى الخضوع لربه ففعله تعالى على مقتضى علمه.
quran:21:82

And of the devils were those who dived for him and did work other than that. And We were of them a guardian.  

And, We disposed, of the devils some that dived for him, plunging into the sea and bringing out of it jewels for Solomon, and performed tasks other than that, that is, other than diving, such as building and otherwise. And We were watchful over them, lest they should spoil what they had made, for whenever they completed a task before nightfall, they would ˹invariably˺ spoil it, unless they were occupied with some other ˹task˺.
القرآن:٢١:٨٢

وَمِنَ الشَّيَاطِينِ مَنْ يَغُوصُونَ لَهُ وَيَعْمَلُونَ عَمَلًا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَكُنَّا لَهُمْ حَافِظِينَ  

{و} سخرنا {من الشياطين من يغوصون له} يدخلون في البحر فيُخرجون منه الجواهر لسليمان {ويعلمون عملاً دون ذلك} أي سوى الغوص من البناء وغيره {وكنا لهم حافظين} من أن يُفسدوا ما عملوا، لأنهم كانوا إذا فرغوا من عمل قبل الليل أفسدوه إن لم يشتغلوا بغيره.
quran:21:83

And ˹mention˺ Job, when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful."  

And, mention, Job (Ayyūba, is substituted by ˹the following, idh nādā rabbahu …˺) when he called out to his Lord — after he had been afflicted with the loss of all of his possessions and children, the laceration of his body, his being shunned by all except his wife, for a period of thirteen, seventeen, or eighteen years, as well as ˹the affliction of enduring˺ a straitened means of livelihood — ‘Indeed (read annī because of the implicit yā’ ˹of the first person pronoun˺) harm, adversity, has befallen me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful’.
القرآن:٢١:٨٣

وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ  

{و} اذكر {أيوب} ويبدل منه {إذ نادى ربه} لما ابتلي بفقد جميع ماله وولده وتمزيق جسده وهجر جميع الناس له إلا زوجته سنين ثلاثا أو سبعاً أو ثماني عشرة وضيق عيشه {أني} بفتح الهمزة بتقدير الياء {مسنيَ الضر} أي الشدة {وأنت أرحم الراحمين}.
quran:21:84

So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him ˹back˺ his family and the like thereof with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers ˹of Allah˺.  

So We responded to him, in his call, and removed the harm that had befallen him, and We gave him ˹back˺ his family, his male and female children, by bringing them back to life — of each sex there were three or seven along with them ˹other children˺ the like of them, from his wife, for she was made younger. He had also possessed a threshing floor for wheat and another for barley, so God sent two clouds and one of them poured forth gold onto the wheat threshing floor and the other poured forth silver onto the barley threshing floor, until they overflowed; as a mercy (rahmatan, a direct object denoting reason) from Us (min ‘indinā, an adjectival phrase) and a reminder to worshippers, that they be patient and thus be rewarded ˹by God˺.
القرآن:٢١:٨٤

فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ فَكَشَفْنَا مَا بِهِ مِنْ ضُرٍّ ۖ وَآتَيْنَاهُ أَهْلَهُ وَمِثْلَهُمْ مَعَهُمْ رَحْمَةً مِنْ عِنْدِنَا وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْعَابِدِينَ  

{فاستجبنا له} نداءه {فكشفنا ما به من ضر وآتيناه أهله} أولاده الذكور والإناث بأن أحيوا له وكل من الصنفين ثلاث أو سبع {ومثلهم معهم} من زوجته وزيد في شبابها، وكان له أندر للقمح وأندر للشعير فبعث الله سحابتين أفرغت إحداهما على أندر القمح الذهب وأفرغت الأخرى على أندر الشعير الورق حتى فاض {رحمة} مفعول له {من عندنا} صفة {وذكرى للعابدين} ليصبروا فيثابوا.
quran:21:85

And ˹mention˺ Ishmael and Idrees and Dhul-Kifl; all were of the patient.  

And, mention, Ishmael and Idrīs and Dhū’l-Kifl — all were of the patient, in ˹maintaining˺ obedience to God and staying away from acts of disobedience to Him.
القرآن:٢١:٨٥

وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِدْرِيسَ وَذَا الْكِفْلِ ۖ كُلٌّ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ  

{و} اذكر {إسماعيل وإدريس وذا الكفل كل من الصابرين} على طاعة الله وعن معاصيه.
quran:21:86

And We admitted them into Our mercy. Indeed, they were of the righteous.  

And We admitted them into Our mercy, through ˹granting them˺ prophethood. Indeed they were among the worthy, of it. Dhū’l-Kifl was so called because he undertook (takaffala) to fast every day and stay up every night in prayer, and to pass judgement between people without succumbing to anger, and fulfilled this ˹undertaking˺. It is also said, however, that he was not a prophet.
القرآن:٢١:٨٦

وَأَدْخَلْنَاهُمْ فِي رَحْمَتِنَا ۖ إِنَّهُمْ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ  

{وأدخلناهم في رحمتنا} من النبوة {إنهم من الصالحين} لها وسمي ذا الكفل لأنه تكفل بصيام جميع نهاره وقيام جميع ليله وأن يقضي بين الناس ولا يغضب فوفى بذلك وقيل لم يكن نبيا.
quran:21:87

And ˹mention˺ the man of the fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree ˹anything˺ upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."  

And, mention, Dhū’l-Nūn, the one of the whale, namely, Jonah son of Amittai (Yūnus bin Mattā) when he went off enraged (˹Dhā’l-Nūn˺ is substituted by ˹the clause idh dhahaba mughādiban˺) by his people, that is, furious with them because of what he had suffered at their hands — even though he had not been granted permission ˹by God to go off as he did˺ — thinking that We had no power over him, that is, that We could ˹not˺ compel him to ˹submit to˺ Our decree in the way that We did by imprisoning him inside the stomach of the whale; or that We could ˹not˺ make circumstances difficult for him. Then he cried out in the darknesses, ˹through˺ the darkness of the night, the darkness of the sea and the darkness of the whale’s stomach, that: ‘There is no god except You! Glory be to You! I have indeed been one of the wrongdoers’, for leaving my people without ˹Your˺ permission.
القرآن:٢١:٨٧

وَذَا النُّونِ إِذْ ذَهَبَ مُغَاضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَنْ لَنْ نَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ  

{و} اذكر {ذا النون} صاحب الحوت وهو يونس بن متى ويبدل منه {إذ ذهب مغاضباً} لقومه أي غضبان عليهم مما قاسى منهم ولم يؤذن له في ذلك {فظن أن لن نقدر عليه} أي نقضي عليه بما قضيناه من حبسه في بطن الحوت، أو نضيق عليه بذلك {فنادى في الظلمات} ظلمة الليل وظلمة البحر وظلمة بطن الحوت {أن} أي بأن {لا إله إلا أنت سبحانك إني كنت من الظالمين} في ذهابي من بين قومي بلا إذن.
quran:21:88

So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.  

So We responded to him and delivered him from the distress, by ˹means of˺ those words, and thus, in the same way that We delivered him, We deliver the believers, from their anguish when they call out to Us seeking succour.
القرآن:٢١:٨٨

فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُنْجِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ  

{فاستجبنا له ونجيناه من الغم} بتلك الكلمات {وكذلك} كما نجيناه {ننجي المؤمنين} من كربهم إذا استغاثوا بنا داعين.
quran:21:89

And ˹mention˺ Zechariah, when he called to his Lord, "My Lord, do not leave me alone ˹with no heir˺, while you are the best of inheritors."  

And, mention, Zachariah (Zakariyyā, is substituted by ˹the following, idh nādā rabbahu …˺) when he cried out to his Lord, saying: ‘My Lord, do not leave me without an heir, without a son to inherit from me, and You are the best of inheritors’, the One that endures after all of your creation has perished.
القرآن:٢١:٨٩

وَزَكَرِيَّا إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِي فَرْدًا وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْوَارِثِينَ  

{و} اذكر {زكريا} ويبدل منه {إذ نادى ربه} بقوله {رب لا تذرني فرداً} أي بلا ولد يرثني {وأنت خير الوارثين} الباقي بعد فناء خلقك.
quran:21:90

So We responded to him, and We gave to him John, and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive.  

So We responded to him, in his call, and gave him John, as a son, and We restored ˹fertility to˺ his wife for him, and so she bore a child, having been barren. Truly they, those prophets that have been mentioned, would hasten to, ˹they would˺ hurry ˹to perform˺, good works, ˹namely˺ acts of obedience, and supplicate Us out of desire, for Our mercy, and in awe, of Our chastisement, and they were submissive before Us, humble in their worship.
القرآن:٢١:٩٠

فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ يَحْيَىٰ وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُ زَوْجَهُ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًا وَرَهَبًا ۖ وَكَانُوا لَنَا خَاشِعِينَ  

{فاستجبنا له} نداءه {ووهبنا له يحيى} ولداً {وأصلحنا له زوجه} فأتت بالولد بعد عقمها {إنهم} أي من ذُكر من الأنبياء {كانوا يسارعون} يبادرون {في الخيرات} الطاعات {ويدعوننا رغباً} في رحمتنا {ورهباً} من عذابنا {وكانوا لنا خاشعين} متواضعين في عبادتهم.
quran:21:91

And ˹mention˺ the one who guarded her chastity, so We blew into her ˹garment˺ through Our angel ˹Gabriel˺, and We made her and her son a sign for the worlds.  

And, mention Mary, the one who guarded her virginity, ˹the one who˺ preserved it from being taken, so We breathed into her of Our spirit, namely, Gabriel, when he breathed into the opening of her garment and she conceived Jesus. And We made her and her son a sign for all the worlds, that is, ˹for˺ mankind, jinn and angels, because she bore him without ˹having˺ a male ˹partner˺.
القرآن:٢١:٩١

وَالَّتِي أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهَا مِنْ رُوحِنَا وَجَعَلْنَاهَا وَابْنَهَا آيَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ  

{و} اذكر مريم {التي أحصنت فرجها} حفظته من أن ينال {فنفخنا فيها من روحنا} أي جبريل حيث نفخ في جيب درعها فحملت بعيسى {وجعلناها وابنها آية للعالمين} الإنس والجن والملائكة حيث ولدته من غير فحل.
quran:21:92

Indeed this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so worship Me.  

‘Truly this, creed of Islam, is your community, your religion, O you who are being addressed — in other words, you must adhere to it as, one community, ˹this being˺ a necessary state ˹of affairs˺, and I am your Lord, so worship Me’, affirm My Oneness.
القرآن:٢١:٩٢

إِنَّ هَٰذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُونِ  

{إن هذه} أي ملة الإسلام {أمتكم} دينكم أيها المخاطبون أي يجب أن تكونوا عليها {أمة واحدة} حال لازمة {وأنا ربكم فاعبدون} وحدون.
quran:21:93

And ˹yet˺ they divided their affair among themselves, ˹but˺ all to Us will return.  

But they, that is to say, some of those being addressed, fragmented their affair among themselves, that is, they became divided in the matter of their religion, and at variance over it — these are the ˹different˺ sects of the Jews and the Christians. God, exalted be He, says: All shall return to Us, and We will requite each according to his deeds.
القرآن:٢١:٩٣

وَتَقَطَّعُوا أَمْرَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ كُلٌّ إِلَيْنَا رَاجِعُونَ  

{وتَقطَّعوا} أي بعض المخاطبين {أمرهم بينهم} أي تفرقوا أمر دينهم متخالفين فيه، وهم طوائف اليهود والنصارى قال تعالى: {كل إلينا راجعون} أي فنجازيه بعمله.
quran:21:94

So whoever does righteous deeds while he is a believer - no denial will there be for his effort, and indeed We, of it, are recorders.  

And whoever performs righteous deeds, being a believer — no rejection, that is, no denial, will there be of his endeavour, and We will indeed write it down for him, by commanding the guardian angels to record it and then We requite him for it.
القرآن:٢١:٩٤

فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتِ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَا كُفْرَانَ لِسَعْيِهِ وَإِنَّا لَهُ كَاتِبُونَ  

{فمن يعمل من الصالحات وهو مؤمن فلا كفران} أي لا جحود {لسعيه وإنا له كاتبون} بأن نأمر الحفظة بكتبه فنجازيه عليه.
quran:21:95

And there is prohibition upon ˹the people of˺ a city which We have destroyed that they will ˹ever˺ return  

It is forbidden for any town, meaning ˹it is forbidden for˺ its people, which We have destroyed that they should (lā yarji‘ūna: the lā is extra) return, that is, their return to this world is prohibited.
القرآن:٢١:٩٥

وَحَرَامٌ عَلَىٰ قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَاهَا أَنَّهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ  

{وحرام على قرية أهلكناها} أريد أهلها {أنهم لا} زائدة {يرجعون} أي ممتنع رجوعهم إلى الدنيا.
quran:21:96

Until when ˹the dam of˺ Gog and Magog has been opened and they, from every elevation, descend  

Until (hattā, ˹a particle˺ expressing the end of the prohibition of their return) when Gog and Magog (read Ya’jūju wa-Ma’jūju or Yājūju wa-Mājūju, ˹these are˺ non-Arabic names of two tribes; there is an implicit genitive annexation before this clause, namely, the ˹gates of the˺ sadd, ‘the barrier’, ˹built˺ against them) are let loose (read futihat or futtihat) — and this will happen near the ˹time of the˺ Resurrection — and they slide down, they hasten, from every slope, ˹every˺ highland.
القرآن:٢١:٩٦

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا فُتِحَتْ يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ وَهُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ حَدَبٍ يَنْسِلُونَ  

{حتى} غاية لامتناع رجوعهم {إذا فتحت} بالتخفيف والتشديد {يأجوج ومأجوج} بالهمز وتركه اسمان أعجميان لقبيلتين، ويقدر قبله مضاف أي سدهما وذلك قرب القيامة {وهم من كل حدب} مرتفع من الأرض {ينسلُون} يسرعون.
quran:21:97

And ˹when˺ the true promise has approached; then suddenly the eyes of those who disbelieved will be staring ˹in horror, while they say˺, "O woe to us; we had been unmindful of this; rather, we were wrongdoers."  

And the true promise, that is, the Day of Resurrection, draws near and behold, when, the gaze of the disbelievers will be fixed, on that Day, because of its severity, saying: ‘O (yā is for exclamation) woe to us!, ˹this is˺ our destruction! Verily, in the ˹life of the˺ world, we were oblivious to this, Day. Nay, but we were doing wrong’, to our souls by our denial of the messengers.
القرآن:٢١:٩٧

وَاقْتَرَبَ الْوَعْدُ الْحَقُّ فَإِذَا هِيَ شَاخِصَةٌ أَبْصَارُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا قَدْ كُنَّا فِي غَفْلَةٍ مِنْ هَٰذَا بَلْ كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ  

{واقترب الوعد الحق} أي يوم القيامة {فإذا هي} أي القصة {شاخصة أبصار الذين كفروا} في ذلك اليوم لشدته، يقولون {يا} للتنبيه {ويلنا} هلاكنا {قد كنا} في الدنيا {في غفلة من هذا} اليوم {بل كنا ظالمين} أنفسنا بتكذيبنا للرسل.
quran:21:98

Indeed, you ˹disbelievers˺ and what you worship other than Allah are the firewood of Hell. You will be coming to ˹enter˺ it.  

‘Truly you, O people of Mecca, and what you worship besides God, that is, other than Him, in the way of graven images, shall be fuel for Hell, ˹you shall be˺ its fodder; and you shall come to it’, ˹you shall˺ enter it.
القرآن:٢١:٩٨

إِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ أَنْتُمْ لَهَا وَارِدُونَ  

{إنكم} يا أهل مكة {وما تعبدون من دون الله} أي غيره من الأوثان {حصب جهنم} وقودها {أنتم لها واردون} داخلون فيها.
quran:21:99

Had these ˹false deities˺ been ˹actual˺ gods, they would not have come to it, but all are eternal therein.  

Had these, graven images, been gods, as you claim, they would never have come to it, ˹they would never have˺ entered it, and they will all, both the worshippers and the worshipped, abide therein.
القرآن:٢١:٩٩

لَوْ كَانَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ آلِهَةً مَا وَرَدُوهَا ۖ وَكُلٌّ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ  

{لو كان هؤلاء} الأوثان {آلهة} كما زعمتم {ما وردوها} دخلوها {وكل} من العابدين والمعبودين {فيها خالدون}.
quran:21:100

For them therein is heavy sighing, and they therein will not hear.  

For them, for the worshippers, there will be groaning therein and they will not hear in it, anything, because of the ferocity with which it boils. When ˹‘Abd Allāh˺ Ibn al-Ziba‘rī said, ‘Ezra, Jesus and the angels were worshipped: they must also be in the Fire then, according to what has just been stated’, the following was revealed:
القرآن:٢١:١٠٠

لَهُمْ فِيهَا زَفِيرٌ وَهُمْ فِيهَا لَا يَسْمَعُونَ  

{لهم} للعابدين {فيها زفير وهم فيها لا يسمعون} شيئاً لشدة غليانها. ونزل لما قال ابن الزبعري عبد عزير والمسيح والملائكة فهم في النار على مقتضى ما تقدم.