37. Sūrat al-Ṣāffāt (2/4)

٣٧۔ سُورَةُ الصَّافات ص ٢

Those drawn up in Ranks (Meccan)

quran:37:51

A speaker among them will say, "Indeed, I had a companion ˹on earth˺  

One of them will say, ‘Indeed I had a comrade, a companion who used to reject ˹the idea of˺ resurrection,
القرآن:٣٧:٥١

قَالَ قَائِلٌ مِنْهُمْ إِنِّي كَانَ لِي قَرِينٌ  

{قال قائل منهم إني كان لي قرين} صاحب ينكر البعث.
quran:37:52

Who would say, 'Are you indeed of those who believe  

who used to say, to me in reproach, “Are you really among those who affirm as truth, the Resurrection ˹and˺,
القرآن:٣٧:٥٢

يَقُولُ أَإِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُصَدِّقِينَ  

{يقول} لي تبكيتا {أئنك لمن المصدقين} بالبعث.
quran:37:53

That when we have died and become dust and bones, we will indeed be recompensed?'"  

˹that˺ when we are dead and have become dust and bones, we shall actually be called to account?” ’, that we shall be requited and reckoned with — he rejects ˹the truth of˺ this as well (as regards all three instances of the hamzas ˹sc. a-innaka, a-idhā, and a-innā˺ what has been mentioned above ˹applies˺).
القرآن:٣٧:٥٣

أَإِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَامًا أَإِنَّا لَمَدِينُونَ  

{أئذا متنا وكنا ترابا وعظاما أئنا} في الهمزتين في الثلاثة مواضع ما تقدم {لمدينون} مجزيون ومحاسبون؟ أنكر ذلك أيضا.
quran:37:54

He will say, "Would you ˹care to˺ look?"  

He, the one speaking, says, to his brethren ˹in Paradise˺, ‘Will you have a look?’, together with me into the Fire, to see his condition — but they will say, ‘No’.
القرآن:٣٧:٥٤

قَالَ هَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُطَّلِعُونَ  

{قال} ذلك القائل لإخوانه: {هل أنتم مطلعون} معي إلى النار لننظر حاله؟ فيقولون: لا.
quran:37:55

And he will look and see him in the midst of the Hellfire.  

Then he, that speaker, will take a look, through one of the apertures in Paradise, and he will catch sight of him, that is, he will see his comrade, in the centre of Hell, in the middle of the Fire.
القرآن:٣٧:٥٥

فَاطَّلَعَ فَرَآهُ فِي سَوَاءِ الْجَحِيمِ  

{فاطلع} ذلك القائلون من بعض كوى الجنة {فرآه} أي رأى قرينه {في سواء الجحيم} في وسط النار.
quran:37:56

He will say, "By Allah, you almost ruined me.  

He will say, to him, acknowledging that he ˹the latter˺ deserves his fate: ‘By God! You very nearly destroyed me, you ˹almost˺ ruined me through your misguidance (in, this has been softened from the hardened form ˹inna˺).
القرآن:٣٧:٥٦

قَالَ تَاللَّهِ إِنْ كِدْتَ لَتُرْدِينِ  

{قال} له تشميتا {تالله إن} مخففة من الثقيلة {كدت} قاربت {لتردين} لتهلكني بإغوائك.
quran:37:57

If not for the favor of my Lord, I would have been of those brought in ˹to Hell˺.  

And had it not been for the favour of my Lord, His grace to me in giving me faith, I ˹too˺ would have been of those arraigned’, with you, in the Fire. The inhabitants of Paradise will say:
القرآن:٣٧:٥٧

وَلَوْلَا نِعْمَةُ رَبِّي لَكُنْتُ مِنَ الْمُحْضَرِينَ  

{ولو لا نعمة ربي} عليَّ بالإيمان {لكنت من المحضرين} معك في النار وتقول أهل الجنة.
quran:37:59

Except for our first death, and we will not be punished?"  

aside from our first death, that is, the one ˹which we suffered˺ in this world, and are we not to be chastised?’ — this interrogative statement is one made out of ˹sheer˺ delight and in order to speak ˹at length˺ of the graces of God, exalted be He, in ˹His˺ granting of everlasting life and refraining from inflicting any punishment.
القرآن:٣٧:٥٩

إِلَّا مَوْتَتَنَا الْأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ  

{إلا موتتنا الأولى} أي التي في الدنيا {وما نحن بمعذبين} هو استفهام تلذذ وتحدُّث بنعمة الله تعالى من تأبيد الحياة وعدم التعذيب.
quran:37:60

Indeed, this is the great attainment.  

Truly this, that has mentioned ˹as being the reward˺ for the inhabitants of Paradise, is indeed the mighty success.
القرآن:٣٧:٦٠

إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ  

{إن هذا} الذي ذكرت لأهل الجنة {لهو الفوز العظيم}.
quran:37:61

For the like of this let the workers ˹on earth˺ work.  

For the like of this let ˹all˺ the workers work — it is said that this is said to them, or it is what they say ˹themselves˺.
القرآن:٣٧:٦١

لِمِثْلِ هَٰذَا فَلْيَعْمَلِ الْعَامِلُونَ  

{لمثل هذا فليعمل العاملون} قيل يقال لهم ذلك، وقيل هم يقولونه.
quran:37:62

Is Paradise a better accommodation or the tree of zaqqum?  

Is that, which is mentioned to them, a better hospitality (nuzul, denotes what is prepared for one who is being received as a guest and so forth) or the Zaqqūm tree, that is prepared for the inhabitants of the Fire — it is the vilest and most bitter tree of the Tihāma region, which God causes to grow in the Fire, as will be stated shortly.
القرآن:٣٧:٦٢

أَذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ نُزُلًا أَمْ شَجَرَةُ الزَّقُّومِ  

{أذلك} المذكور لهم {خير نزلا} وهو ما يعدّ للنازل من ضيف وغيره {أم شجرة الزقوم} المعدة لأهل النار وهي من أخبث الشجر المرّ بتهامة ينبتها الله في الجحيم كما سيأتي.
quran:37:63

Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers.  

We have indeed made it, for that reason ˹sc. its being a tree in the Fire˺, a trial for the wrongdoers?, namely, ˹for˺ the disbelievers of Mecca, for they said, ‘Fire consumes trees so how can it make them grow forth?’
القرآن:٣٧:٦٣

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهَا فِتْنَةً لِلظَّالِمِينَ  

{إنا جعلناها} بذلك {فتنة للظالمين} أي الكافرين من أهل مكة، إذ قالوا: النار تحرق الشجر فكيف تنبته.
quran:37:64

Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire,  

Indeed it is a tree that comes forth from the very source of Hell, in other words, from the depths of Hell, with its branches extending up through all its ˹different˺ levels.
القرآن:٣٧:٦٤

إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٌ تَخْرُجُ فِي أَصْلِ الْجَحِيمِ  

{إنها شجرة تخرج في أصل الجحيم} أي قعر جهنم، وأغصانها ترتفع إلى دركاتها.
quran:37:65

Its emerging fruit as if it was heads of the devils.  

Its spathes, likened to the spathes of a date-palm, are like the heads of devils, ˹as˺ vile-looking snakes.
القرآن:٣٧:٦٥

طَلْعُهَا كَأَنَّهُ رُءُوسُ الشَّيَاطِينِ  

{طلعها} المشبه بطلع النخل {كأنه رءوس الشياطين} الحيات القبيحة المنظر.
quran:37:66

And indeed, they will eat from it and fill with it their bellies.  

And indeed they, the disbelievers, will eat of it, despite its vileness, because of the severity of their hunger, and will fill their bellies from it.
القرآن:٣٧:٦٦

فَإِنَّهُمْ لَآكِلُونَ مِنْهَا فَمَالِئُونَ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ  

{فإنهم} أي الكفار {لآكلون منها} مع قبحها لشدة جوعهم {فمالئون منها البطون}.
quran:37:67

Then indeed, they will have after it a mixture of scalding water.  

Then, lo!, on top of it they will have a brew of boiling water, which they drink and which mixes with what they have eaten and becomes a brew thereof.
القرآن:٣٧:٦٧

ثُمَّ إِنَّ لَهُمْ عَلَيْهَا لَشَوْبًا مِنْ حَمِيمٍ  

{ثم إن لهم عليها لشوبا من حميم} أي ماء حار يشربونه فيختلط بالمأكول منها فيصير شوبا له.
quran:37:68

Then indeed, their return will be to the Hellfire.  

Then indeed their return shall be to Hell-fire — this suggests that they exit from it ˹only˺ to drink the boiling water, which is located outside it.
القرآن:٣٧:٦٨

ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَرْجِعَهُمْ لَإِلَى الْجَحِيمِ  

{ثم إن مرجعهم لإلى الجحيم} يفيد أنهم يخرجون منها لشرب الحميم وأنه خارجها.
quran:37:69

Indeed they found their fathers astray.  

Lo! they found their fathers to be astray,
القرآن:٣٧:٦٩

إِنَّهُمْ أَلْفَوْا آبَاءَهُمْ ضَالِّينَ  

{إنهم ألفوْا} وجدوا {آباءهم ضالين}.
quran:37:70

So they hastened ˹to follow˺ in their footsteps.  

and so they are ˹also now˺ hurrying in their footsteps: they shall be prodded to follow them and they end up hurrying towards it ˹Hell-fire˺.
القرآن:٣٧:٧٠

فَهُمْ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ يُهْرَعُونَ  

{فهم على آثارهم يُهرعون} يزعجون إلى اتباعهم فيسرعون إليه.
quran:37:71

And there had already strayed before them most of the former peoples,  

And verily most of the ancients, of past communities, went astray before them,
القرآن:٣٧:٧١

وَلَقَدْ ضَلَّ قَبْلَهُمْ أَكْثَرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ  

{ولقد ضل قبلهم أكثر الأولين} من الأمم الماضية.
quran:37:72

And We had already sent among them warners.  

and We certainly had sent among them warners, in the way of messengers to threaten ˹them˺.
القرآن:٣٧:٧٢

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا فِيهِمْ مُنْذِرِينَ  

{ولقد أرسلنا فيهم منذرين} من الرسل مخوِّفين.
quran:37:73

Then look how was the end of those who were warned -  

So behold how was the consequence for them who were warned, namely, the disbelievers: in other words the sequel for them was ˹that they ended up in˺ the chastisement;
القرآن:٣٧:٧٣

فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُنْذَرِينَ  

{فانظر كيف كان عاقبة المنذَرين} الكافرين: أي عاقبتهم العذاب.
quran:37:74

But not the chosen servants of Allah.  

˹all˺ except God’s sincere servants, namely, the believers, who are saved from chastisement because they were sincere in their worship (mukhlisīna); or (if one reads mukhlasīna) because God has made them sincerely devoted to such ˹worship˺.
القرآن:٣٧:٧٤

إِلَّا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ الْمُخْلَصِينَ  

{إلا عباد الله المخلصين} أي المؤمنين فإنهم نجوا من العذاب لإخلاصهم في العبادة، أو لأن الله أخلصهم لها على قراءة فتح اللام.
quran:37:75

And Noah had certainly called Us, and ˹We are˺ the best of responders.  

And verily Noah called to Us, when he said, ‘My Lord: I have been overcome, so help ˹me˺ ˹Q. 54:10˺, and how excellent were the Hearers of the prayer, for him, were We: in other words he invoked Us against his people, so We destroyed them by drowning ˹them˺.
القرآن:٣٧:٧٥

وَلَقَدْ نَادَانَا نُوحٌ فَلَنِعْمَ الْمُجِيبُونَ  

(ولقد نادانا نوح) بقوله "" رب إني مغلوب فانتصر "" (فلنعم المجيبون) له نحن: أي دعانا على قومه فأهلكناهم بالغرق.
quran:37:76

And We saved him and his family from the great affliction.  

And We delivered him and his family from the great distress, which was the drowning,
القرآن:٣٧:٧٦

وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ مِنَ الْكَرْبِ الْعَظِيمِ  

{ونجيناه وأهله من الكرب العظيم} أي الغرق.
quran:37:77

And We made his descendants those remaining ˹on the earth˺  

and made his descendants the survivors, thus all human beings are descended from him, peace be upon him. He had three sons: Shem (Sām), the ancestor of the Arabs, the Persians and the Byzantines; Ham (Hām), the ancestor of the Negroes; and Japheth (Yāfith), the ancestor of the Turks, the Khazar and ˹the peoples of˺ Gog and Magog and ˹the inhabitants of˺ such regions.
القرآن:٣٧:٧٧

وَجَعَلْنَا ذُرِّيَّتَهُ هُمُ الْبَاقِينَ  

{وجعلنا ذريته هم الباقين} فالناس كلهم من نسله وكان له ثلاثة أولاد: سام وهو أبو العرب والفرس والروم، وحام وهو أبو السودان، ويافث وهو أبو الترك والخزر ويأجوج ومأجوج وما هنالك.
quran:37:78

And left for him ˹favorable mention˺ among later generations:  

And We left, We preserved, for him, fair praise, among posterity: ˹among˺ the prophets and communities ˹after him˺ until the Day of Resurrection ˹which is˺:
القرآن:٣٧:٧٨

وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِي الْآخِرِينَ  

{وتركنا} أبقينا {عليه} ثناء حسنا {في الآخرين} من الأنبياء والأمم إلى يوم القيامة.
quran:37:79

"Peace upon Noah among the worlds."  

‘Peace, from Us, be to Noah among the worlds!’
القرآن:٣٧:٧٩

سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ نُوحٍ فِي الْعَالَمِينَ  

{سلام} منا {على نوح في العالمين}.
quran:37:80

Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.  

Thus indeed, in the way that We requited them, We requite the virtuous.
القرآن:٣٧:٨٠

إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ  

{إنا كذلك} كما جزيناهم {نجزي المحسنين}.
quran:37:81

Indeed, he was of Our believing servants.  

He was indeed one of Our faithful servants.
القرآن:٣٧:٨١

إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ  

{إنه من عبادنا المؤمنين}.
quran:37:82

Then We drowned the disbelievers.  

Then We did drown the others, the disbelievers from among his folk.
القرآن:٣٧:٨٢

ثُمَّ أَغْرَقْنَا الْآخَرِينَ  

{ثم أغرقنا الآخرين} كفار قومه.
quran:37:83

And indeed, among his kind was Abraham,  

And truly of his adherents, that is, of those who agreed with him on the fundaments of religion, was Abraham, despite the fact that there was a long interval between them, 2640 years, and between them came ˹the prophets˺ Hūd and Sālih.
القرآن:٣٧:٨٣

وَإِنَّ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ لَإِبْرَاهِيمَ  

{وإن من شيعته} أي ممن تابعه في أصل الدين {لإبراهيم} وإن طال الزمان بينهما وهو ألفان وستمائة وأربعون سنة وكان بينهما هود وصالح.
quran:37:84

When he came to his Lord with a sound heart  

When he came to his Lord, in other words, he continued to follow Him upon coming to Him, with a heart that was pure, of any doubt or the like,
القرآن:٣٧:٨٤

إِذْ جَاءَ رَبَّهُ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ  

{إذ جاء ربهَّ} أي تابعه وقت مجيئه {بقلب سليم} من الشك وغيره.
quran:37:85

˹And˺ when he said to his father and his people, "What do you worship?  

when he said, ˹while still˺ in this continuous state of his, to his father and his folk, in reproach: ‘What do — what is it that — you worship?
القرآن:٣٧:٨٥

إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَاذَا تَعْبُدُونَ  

{إذ قال} في هذه الحالة المستمرة له {لأبيه وقومه} موبخا {ماذا} ما الذي {تعبدون}.
quran:37:86

Is it falsehood ˹as˺ gods other than Allah you desire?  

Is it a calumny (a-ifkan, as regards the two hamzas, the same applies as mentioned before) — gods other than God — that you desire? (ifkan is an object denoting reason; ālihatan is the direct object of turīdūna, ‘you desire’; ifk denotes the worst kind of lie). In other words: do you worship ˹any˺ other than God?
القرآن:٣٧:٨٦

أَئِفْكًا آلِهَةً دُونَ اللَّهِ تُرِيدُونَ  

{أئفكا} في همزتيه ما تقدم {آلهة دون الله تريدون} وإفكا مفعول له، وآلهة مفعول به لتريدون والإفك: أسوأ الكذب، أي أتعبدون غير الله؟.
quran:37:87

Then what is your thought about the Lord of the worlds?"  

What then is your supposition regarding the Lord of the Worlds?’, having worshipped other than Him, ˹do you think˺ that He will leave you without punishment? No! They were a people of astrologers. On one occasion, they went out to celebrate a festival of theirs and left their food behind with their idols, claiming that they were securing thereby blessings for it and that they would eat it upon their return. They had said to the lord Abraham: ‘Come out with us’.
القرآن:٣٧:٨٧

فَمَا ظَنُّكُمْ بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ  

{فما ظنكم برب العالمين} إذ عبدتم غيره أنه يترككم بلا عقاب؟ لا، وكانوا نجامين، فخرجوا إلى عيد لهم وتركوا طعامهم عند أصنامهم زعموا التبرك عليه فإذا رجعوا أكلوه، وقالوا للسيد: اخرج معنا.
quran:37:88

And he cast a look at the stars  

And he cast a glance at the stars — to delude them into thinking that he relies on them, so that they would then trust him —
القرآن:٣٧:٨٨

فَنَظَرَ نَظْرَةً فِي النُّجُومِ  

{فنظر نظرة في النجوم} إيهاما لهم أنه يعتمد عليها ليعتمدوه.
quran:37:89

And said, "Indeed, I am ˹about to be˺ ill."  

and said, ‘Indeed I feel ˹I will be˺ sick’, that is, I will fall ill.
القرآن:٣٧:٨٩

فَقَالَإِنِّي سَقِيمٌ  

{فقال إني سقيم} عليل أي سأسقم.
quran:37:90

So they turned away from him, departing.  

So they went away, to their festival, leaving him behind.
القرآن:٣٧:٩٠

فَتَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ مُدْبِرِينَ  

{فتولوا عنه} إلى عيدهم {مدبرين}.
quran:37:91

Then he turned to their gods and said, "Do you not eat?  

Then he turned, he stole away, to their gods, the idols, in front of which the food had been placed, and said, mockingly: ‘Will you not eat? — but they failed to utter ˹a word˺.
القرآن:٣٧:٩١

فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰ آلِهَتِهِمْ فَقَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ  

{فراغ} مال في خفية {إلى آلهتهم} وهي الأصنام وعندها الطعام {فقال} استهزاءً {ألا تأكلون} فلم ينطقوا.
quran:37:92

What is ˹wrong˺ with you that you do not speak?"  

He then said: What is wrong with you that you do not speak?’ — but ˹still˺ he received no response.
القرآن:٣٧:٩٢

مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَنْطِقُونَ  

فقال {ما لكم لا تنطقون} فلم يجب.
quran:37:93

And he turned upon them a blow with ˹his˺ right hand.  

He then turned on them striking ˹them˺ with his right hand, with might, smashing them. Those who saw him reported this to ˹the rest of˺ his people.
القرآن:٣٧:٩٣

فَرَاغَ عَلَيْهِمْ ضَرْبًا بِالْيَمِينِ  

{فراغ عليهم ضربا باليمين} بالقوة فكسرها فبلغ قومه ممن رآه.
quran:37:94

Then the people came toward him, hastening.  

So they came running towards him, walking hurriedly, and they said to him, ‘We worship them while you smash them?!’
القرآن:٣٧:٩٤

فَأَقْبَلُوا إِلَيْهِ يَزِفُّونَ  

{فأقبلوا إليه يزفون} أي يسرعون المشي فقالوا له: نحن نعبدها وأنت تكسرها.
quran:37:95

He said, "Do you worship that which you ˹yourselves˺ carve,  

He said, to them in reproach: ‘Do you worship what you ˹yourselves˺ have carved, out of stone and other materials, idols,
القرآن:٣٧:٩٥

قَالَ أَتَعْبُدُونَ مَا تَنْحِتُونَ  

{قال} لهم موبخا {أتعبدون ما تنحتون} من الحجارة وغيرها أصناما.
quran:37:96

While Allah created you and that which you do?"  

when God created you and whatever you make?’, ˹whether it be˺ your act of carving and that which you have carved? So worship Him alone! (the mā ˹in wa-mā ta‘malūna, ‘and whatever you make’˺ is that of the verbal noun; but it is also said to introduce a relative clause, or it is adjectivally qualified).
القرآن:٣٧:٩٦

وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ  

{والله خلقكم وما تعملون} من نحتكم ومنحوتكم فاعبدوه وحده، وما مصدرية وقيل موصولة وقيل موصوفة.
quran:37:97

They said, "Construct for him a furnace and throw him into the burning fire."  

They said, amongst themselves: ‘Build for him a structure, then fill it with firewood and set it on fire, and when it is ablaze, then cast him into the fierce fire’.
القرآن:٣٧:٩٧

قَالُوا ابْنُوا لَهُ بُنْيَانًا فَأَلْقُوهُ فِي الْجَحِيمِ  

{قالوا} بينهم {ابنوا له بنيانا} فاملئوه حطبا وأضرموه بالنار فإذا التهب {فألقوه في الجحيم} النار الشديدة.
quran:37:98

And they intended for him a plan, but We made them the most debased.  

So they sought to outwit him, by flinging him into the fire, so that it may destroy him, but We made them the lowermost, the vanquished, as he came out of the fire unharmed.
القرآن:٣٧:٩٨

فَأَرَادُوا بِهِ كَيْدًا فَجَعَلْنَاهُمُ الْأَسْفَلِينَ  

{فأرادوا به كيدا} بإلقائه في النار لتهلكه {فجعلناهم الأسفلين} المقهورين فخرج من النار سالما.
quran:37:99

And ˹then˺ he said, "Indeed, I will go to ˹where I am ordered by˺ my Lord; He will guide me.  

And he said, ‘I shall indeed depart to my Lord, I shall emigrating to Him from the abode of disbelief — He will guide me, to the place to which My Lord has commanded that I end up in, and this was Syria. When he reached the Holy Land, he said:
القرآن:٣٧:٩٩

وَقَالَ إِنِّي ذَاهِبٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ  

{وقال إني ذاهب إلى ربي} مهاجر إليه من دار الكفر {سيهدين} إلى حيث أمرني ربي بالمصير إليه وهو الشام فلما وصل إلى الأرض المقدسة قال.
quran:37:100

My Lord, grant me ˹a child˺ from among the righteous."  

My Lord! Grant me, a child, of the righteous’.
القرآن:٣٧:١٠٠

رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ  

{رب هب لي} ولدا {من الصالحين}.