0 SAQ 37. Those who set the ranks 37

And when (his son) was old enough to walk with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice thee. So look, what thinkest thou ? He said: O my father! Do that which thou art commanded. 37:102

Trivia: What is the name of the tree that grows in the heart of hell and torments its inhabitants?

The Highest Chiefs and plastic clay
AbsurdityCrueltyContradictions 37:1-11

1 By those who set the ranks in battle order

2 And those who drive away (the wicked) with reproof

3 And those who read (the Word) for a reminder,

4 Lo! thy Lord is surely One;

Those who set the ranks in battle.... [1]

5 Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all that is between them, and Lord of the sun's risings.

6 Lo! We have adorned the lowest heaven with an ornament, the planets;

7With security from every froward devil.

8They cannot listen to the Highest Chiefs for they are pelted from every side,

9Outcast, and theirs is a perpetual torment;

10Save him who snatcheth a fragment, and there pursueth him a piercing flame.

The Lord of the sun's risings

has adorned the lowest heaven with ornaments (the planets)

that are safe from every devil.

The devils can't listen to the Highest Chiefs [2]

because they are pelted on every side,

and are outcasts, in perpetual torment -

except for a few who get to hear a bit now and then,

when they're not burning in the flame.

11 Then ask them (O Muhammad): Are they stronger as a creation, or those (others) whom we have created? Lo! We created them of plastic clay.

We created them from plastic clay. [3]

This is mere magic
Absurdity 37:12-21

12 Nay, but thou dost marvel when they mock

13 And heed not when they are reminded,

14 And seek to scoff when they behold a portent.

But don't be surpised when they mock

when they see a portent, saying,

15 And they say: Lo! this is mere magic;

This is mere magic.

16When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, be raised (again)?

17 And our forefathers?

18 Say (O Muhammad): Ye, in truth; and ye will be brought low.

When we are dead and nothing but dust and bones,

will we be made alive again?

19There is but one Shout, and lo! they behold,

20And say: Ah, woe for us! This is the Day of Judgment.

21 This is the Day of Separation, which ye used to deny.

There will be a single shout, and they'll say:

Woe for us! This is the day of judgment.

Together with their wives
WomenCrueltyInjusticeIntolerance 37:22-34

22 (And it is said unto the angels): Assemble those who did wrong, together with their wives and what they used to worship

23 Instead of Allah, and lead them to the path to hell;

24 And stop them, for they must be questioned.

25 What aileth you that ye help not one another?

26 Nay, but this day they make full submission.

27 And some of them draw near unto others, mutually questioning.

28 They say: Lo! ye used to come unto us, imposing, (swearing that ye spoke the truth).

29 They answer: Nay, but ye (yourselves) were not believers.

30 We had no power over you, but ye were wayward folk.

Then those that did wrong will go to hell,

along with their wives. [4]

31 Now the Word of our Lord hath been fulfilled concerning us. Lo! we are about to taste (the doom).

32 Thus we misled you. Lo! we were (ourselves) astray.

33 Then lo! this day they (both) are sharers in the doom.

34 Lo! thus deal We with the guilty.

Then they'll say to each other,

We are about to taste the doom.

A mad poet
AbsurdityCrueltyInjusticeIntolerance 37:35-39

35 For when it was said unto them, There is no God save Allah, they were scornful

36And said: Shall we forsake our gods for a mad poet?

37 Nay, but he brought the Truth, and he confirmed those sent (before him).

When they heard it said, "There is no god but Allah,"

they were scornful, and said,

Should we reject our gods for a mad poet?. [5]

38 Lo! (now) verily ye taste the painful doom -

39 Ye are requited naught save what ye did -

Now taste the painful doom.

With modest gaze and lovely eyes
WomenSexAbsurdity 37:40-49

40Save single-minded slaves of Allah;

41 For them there is a known provision,

But the single-minded slaved of Allah,

42 Fruits. And they will be honoured

43In the Gardens of delight,

will be honored in the gardens of delight.

44On couches facing one another;

On couches facing one another,

45A cup from a gushing spring is brought round for them,

46White, delicious to the drinkers,

47Wherein there is no headache nor are they made mad thereby.

where they'll be brought a cup of white, delicious liquid

that won't give them headaches or make them mad.

48And with them are those of modest gaze, with lovely eyes,

And with them are maidens with modest gaze and lovely eyes,

49(Pure) as they were hidden eggs (of the ostrich).

pure as the hidden eggs of an ostrich.

The tree of Zaqqum
AbsurdityCrueltyInjusticeIntolerance 37:50-74

50 And some of them draw near unto others, mutually questioning.

51 A speaker of them saith: Lo! I had a comrade

52 Who used to say: Art thou in truth of those who put faith (in his words)?

But some will say,

53 Can we, when we are dead and have become mere dust and bones - can we (then) verily be brought to book?

54 He saith: Will ye look?

When we are dead and have become just dust and bones be brought back to life?

55Then looketh he and seeth him in the depth of hell.

56 He saith: By Allah, thou verily didst all but cause my ruin,

57 And had it not been for the favour of my Lord, I too had been of those haled forth (to doom).

58 Are we then not to die

59 Saving our former death, and are we not to be punished?

60 Lo! this is the supreme triumph.

61 For the like of this, then, let the workers work.

Then he looks and sees the depth of hell.

62 Is this better as a welcome, or the tree of Zaqqum?

63Lo! We have appointed it a torment for wrong-doers.

64Lo! it is a tree that springeth in the heart of hell.

65Its crop is as it were the heads of devils.

66And lo! they verily must eat thereof, and fill (their) bellies therewith.

67And afterward, lo! thereupon they have a drink of boiling water.

68And afterward, lo! their return is surely unto hell.

69 They indeed found their fathers astray,

70 But they make haste (to follow) in their footsteps.

This is the Tree of Zaqqum. [6]

We [Allah] use it to torment wrong-doers.

It grows in the heart of hell.

Its fruits are like the heads of devils.

The inhabitants of hell are forced to eat the fruit,

and then drink boling water.

Then they return to hell.

71 And verily most of the men of old went astray before them,

72 And verily We sent among them warners.

73 Then see the nature of the consequence for those warned,

Most of the men of old went astray.

74Save single-minded slaves of Allah.

Except for the single-minded slaves of Allah.

Noah was one of our believing slaves

75And Noah verily prayed unto Us, and gracious was the Hearer of his prayer

Noah prayed to us,

76And We saved him and his household from the great distress,

77 And made his seed the survivors,

78 And left for him among the later folk (the salutation):

79 Peace be unto Noah among the peoples!

80 Lo! thus do We reward the good.

and we saved him and his family. [7]

81Lo! he is one of Our believing slaves.

82Then We did drown the others.

He was one of our believing slaves.

We drowned everyone else.

Abraham: I dreamed that I must sacrifice you
AbsurdityCrueltyInjusticeIntolerance 37:83-113,
Cf. 11:69-75

83 And lo! of his persuasion verily was Abraham

84 When he came unto his Lord with a whole heart;

Abraham said to his father and his his folk,

85 When he said unto his father and his folk: What is it that ye worship?

86 Is it a falsehood - gods beside Allah - that ye desire?

What are you worshiping?

87What then is your opinion of the Lord of the Worlds?

What's your opinion of the Lord of the Worlds?

88 And he glanced a glance at the stars

89 Then said: Lo! I feel sick!

Abraham glanced at the stars and said,

Lo! I feel sick!

90 And they turned their backs and went away from him.

91Then turned he to their gods and said: Will ye not eat?

92What aileth you that ye speak not?

Abraham turned to their gods and said,

Aren't you going to eat?

What's wrong with you? Why aren't you speaking?

93Then he attacked them, striking with his right hand.

94 And (his people) came toward him, hastening.

95 He said: Worship ye that which ye yourselves do carve

96 When Allah hath created you and what ye make?

Then Abraham attacked the gods,

striking them with his right hand.

97They said: Build for him a building and fling him in the red-hotfire.

98And they designed a snare for him, but We made them the undermost.

Abraham's father's people said,

Let's build a fire and burn Abraham on it.

But we saved him from them.

99 And he said: Lo! I am going unto my Lord Who will guide me.

100 My Lord! Vouchsafe me of the righteous.

Abraham said,

I'm going to my Lord who will guide me.

101So We gave him tidings of a gentle son.

So we gave him tidings of a gentle son. [8]

102And when (his son) was old enough to walk with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice thee. So look, what thinkest thou? He said: O my father! Do that which thou art commanded. Allah willing, thou shalt find me of the steadfast.

103Then, when they had both surrendered (to Allah), and he had flung him down upon his face,

104We called unto him: O Abraham!

105 Thou hast already fulfilled the vision. Lo! thus do We reward the good.

106Lo! that verily was a clear test.

107 Then We ransomed him with a tremendous victim.

108 And We left for him among the later folk (the salutation):

When his son was old enough to walk, Abraham said,

I had a dream that I must sacrifice you.

What do you think about that?

Abraham's (unnamed) son said,

Do what you are commanded. I won't even flinch.

So Abraham flung his son down on his face,

and we called to him, saying,

Abraham!

You passed the test.

109Peace be unto Abraham!

110Thus do We reward the good.

111Lo! he is one of Our believing slaves.

Peace be to Abraham!

That's how we reward the good.

He is one of our believing slaves.

112And we gave him tidings of the birth of Isaac, a prophet of the righteous.

113 And We blessed him and Isaac. And of their seed are some who do good, and some who plainly wrong themselves.

And we gave him tidings of the birth of Isaac.

Moses, Aaron, and Elias were our believing slaves
AbsurdityCrueltyInjusticeIntolerance 37:114-132

114 And We verily gave grace unto Moses and Aaron,

115 And saved them and their people from the great distress,

116 And helped them so that they became the victors.

117 And We gave them the clear Scripture

118 And showed them the right path.

119 And We left for them among the later folk (the salutation):

120 Peace be unto Moses and Aaron!

121 Lo! thus do We reward the good.

122Lo! they are two of Our believing slaves.

Moses and Aaron are two of our believing slaves.

123 And lo! Elias was of those sent (to warn),

124 When he said unto his folk: Will ye not ward off (evil)?

125 Will ye cry unto Baal and forsake the Best of creators,

126 Allah, your Lord and Lord of your forefathers?

Elias was sent to warn people.

127 But they denied him, so they surely will be haled forth (to the doom)

128Save single-minded slaves of Allah.

129 And we left for him among the later folk (the salutation):

But they denied him, so they'll be sent forth to the doom -

except for the single-minded slaves of Allah.

130 Peace be unto Elias!

131 Lo! thus do We reward the good.

132 Lo! he is one of our believing slaves.

Elias is one of our believing slaves.

Lot and an old woman who stayed behind

133And lo! Lot verily was of those sent (to warn).

Lot was sent to warn.

134 When We saved him and his household, every one,

135Save an old woman among those who stayed behind;

We saved him and his family,

except for an old woman who stayed behind. [9]

136Then We destroyed the others.

137 And lo! ye verily pass by (the ruin of) them in the morning

138 And at night-time; have ye then no sense?

We killed everyone else.

Jonah would have tarried in its belly
AbsurdityCrueltyInjusticeIntolerance 37:139-148

139 And lo! Jonah verily was of those sent (to warn)

140 When he fled unto the laden ship,

141 And then drew lots and was of those rejected;

142And the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy;

Jonah was swallowed by a fish.

143 And had he not been one of those who glorify (Allah)

144He would have tarried in its belly till the day when they are raised;

145 Then We cast him on a desert shore while he was sick;

146 And We caused a tree of gourd to grow above him;

147 And We sent him to a hundred thousand (folk) or more

148 And they believed, therefore We gave them comfort for a while.

If he didn't glorify Allah,

he'd still be in the fishes belly.

Allah didn't create any female angels
(And he doesn't like daughters more than sons)
AbsurdityWomen 37:149-157

149Now ask them (O Muhammad): Hath thy Lord daughters whereas they have sons?

 

150 Or created We the angels females while they were present?

Did we create any female angels?

151Lo! it is of their falsehood that they say:

No, we didn't.

152 Allah hath begotten. Allah! verily they tell a lie.

Does Allah have any children?

153(And again of their falsehood): He hath preferred daughters to sons.

No, he has no children.

And he doesn't prefer daughters to sons.

154What aileth you? How judge ye?

155 Will ye not then reflect?

156 Or have ye a clear warrant?

157 Then produce your writ, if ye are truthful.

What the heck is wrong with you, anyway?

The single-minded slaves of Allah
AbsurdityWomen 37:158-182

158 And they imagine kinship between him and the jinn, whereas the jinn know well that they will be brought before (Him).

159 Glorified be Allah from that which they attribute (unto Him),

They say Allah is related to the jinn.

But the jinn know they will be brought before him,

160Save single-minded slaves of Allah.

161 Lo! verily, ye and that which ye worship,

unlike the single-minded slaves of Allah:

162Ye cannot excite (anyone) against Him.

You can't excite anyone against him,

163Save him who is to burn in hell.

164 There is not one of us but hath his known position.

165 Lo! we, even we are they who set the ranks,

166Lo! we, even we are they who hymn His praise

167 And indeed they used to say:

except for those who will burn in hell.

168 If we had but a reminder from the men of old

169We would be single-minded slaves of Allah.

170 Yet (now that it is come) they disbelieve therein; but they will come to know.

171 And verily Our word went forth of old unto Our bondmen sent (to warn)

172 That they verily would be helped,

173 And that Our host, they verily would be the victors.

174 So withdraw from them (O Muhammad) awhile,

175 And watch, for they will (soon) see.

If we were just reminded by the men of old,

we'd be the single-minded slaves of Allah.

176Would they hasten on Our doom?

177But when it cometh home to them, then it will be a hapless morn for those who have been warned.

178Withdraw from them awhile

179And watch, for they will (soon) see.

180 Glorified be thy Lord, the Lord of Majesty, from that which they attribute (unto Him)

181 And peace be unto those sent (to warn).

The doom is coming soon enough.

It'll be a sad day for those who have been warned.

Just watch and see.

182 And praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds!

Praise Allah, the lord of the worlds.

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