1Sad. By the renowned Qur'an,
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Those who disbelieve are in false pride and schism. 38:2
Trivia: What angel refused to fall prostrate to the being Allah created out of mire?
1Sad. By the renowned Qur'an,
Sad. By the renowned Qur'an. [1]
2 Nay, but those who disbelieve are in false pride and schism.
Those who disbelieve are in false pride and schism.
3How many a generation We destroyed before them, and they cried out when it was no longer the time for escape!
4 And they marvel that a warner from among themselves hath come unto them, and the disbelievers say: This is a wizard, a charlatan.
5 Maketh he the gods One God? Lo! that is an astounding thing.
How many generations have we destroyed! [2]
They cried, but there was no way for them to escape.
6 The chiefs among them go about, exhorting: Go and be staunch to your gods! Lo! this is a thing designed.
7We have not heard of this in later religion. This is naught but an invention.
Their leaders say,
We haven't heard of this new religion.
It's just an invention.
8 Hath the reminder been unto him (alone) among us? Nay, but they are in doubt concerning My reminder; nay but they have not yet tasted My doom.
9 Or are theirs the treasures of the mercy of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower?
10 Or is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them theirs? Then let them ascend by ropes!
11 A defeated host are (all) the factions that are there.
So they doubt my [Allah's] reminder, eh?.
Well, they'll find out when they taste my doom!
12 The folk of Noah before them denied (their messenger) and (so did the tribe of) A'ad, and Pharaoh firmly planted,
13 And (the tribe of) Thamud, and the folk of Lot, and the dwellers in the wood: these were the factions.
The people of Noah, A'ad, Pharaoh, Thamud, Lot, and the wood dwellers -
14Not one of them but did deny the messengers, therefore My doom was justified,
They all denied the messengers, so my doom was justified.
15These wait for but one Shout, there will be no second thereto.
16 They say: Our Lord! Hasten on for us our fate before the Day of Reckoning.
They're waiting for one shout - there won't be a second one.
17 Bear with what they say, and remember Our bondman David, lord of might, Lo! he was ever turning in repentance (toward Allah).
18Lo! We subdued the hills to hymn the praises (of their Lord) with him at nightfall and sunrise,
We subdued the hills to sing with David.
19And the birds assembled; all were turning unto Him.
20 We made his kingdom strong and gave him wisdom and decisive speech.
And he gathered all the birds together.
21 And hath the story of the litigants come unto thee? How they climbed the wall into the royal chamber;
22 How they burst in upon David, and he was afraid of them. They said: Be not afraid! (We are) two litigants, one of whom hath wronged the other, therefor judge aright between us; be not unjust; and show us the fair way.
23 Lo! this my brother hath ninety and nine ewes while I had one ewe; and he said: Entrust it to me, and he conquered me in speech.
24 (David) said: He hath wronged thee in demanding thine ewe in addition to his ewes, and lo! many partners oppress one another, save such as believe and do good works, and they are few. And David guessed that We had tried him, and he sought forgiveness of his Lord, and he bowed himself and fell down prostrate and repented.
25 So We forgave him that; and lo! he had access to Our presence and a happy journey's end.
Have you heard the story about the litigants? [3]
26 (And it was said unto him): O David! Lo! We have set thee as a viceroy in the earth; therefor judge aright between mankind, and follow not desire that it beguile thee from the way of Allah. Lo! those who wander from the way of Allah have an awful doom, forasmuch as they forgot the Day of Reckoning.
Those who wander from the way of Allah have an awful doom.
27 And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in vain. That is the opinion of those who disbelieve. And woe unto those who disbelieve, from the Fire!
28 Shall We treat those who believe and do good works as those who spread corruption in the earth; or shall We treat the pious as the wicked?
29 (This is) a Scripture that We have revealed unto thee, full of blessing, that they may ponder its revelations, and that men of understanding may reflect.
Woe to the disbelievers.
They will burn in the fire.
30 And We bestowed on David, Solomon. How excellent a slave! Lo! he was ever turning in repentance (toward Allah).
Solomon was an excellent slave.
31When there were shown to him at eventide lightfooted coursers
32 And he said: Lo! I have preferred the good things (of the world) to the remembrance of my Lord; till they were taken out of sight behind the curtain.
Once some horse where shown to Solomon, and he said,
Bring them to me.
33(Then he said): Bring them back to me, and fell to slashing (with his sword their) legs and necks.
So they were brought to him.
And he began to slash their legs and necks with his sword.
34 And verily We tried Solomon, and set upon his throne a (mere) body. Then did he repent.
35 He said: My Lord! Forgive me and bestow on me sovereignty such as shall not belong to any after me. Lo! Thou art the Bestower.
We tried Solomon and he repented. [4]
36 So We made the wind subservient unto him, setting fair by his command whithersoever he intended.
We made the wind to obey Solomon.
37 And the unruly, every builder and diver (made We subservient),
Unruly builders and divers served him.
38 And others linked together in chains,
39 (Saying): This is Our gift, so bestow thou, or withhold, without reckoning.
40 And lo! he hath favour with Us, and a happy journey's end.
And he put other in chains.
41 And make mention (O Muhammad) of Our bondman Job, when he cried unto his Lord (saying): Lo! the devil doth afflict me with distress and torment.
Oh, and mention our bondman Job, Muchammad, when he said,
The devil is tormenting me.
42 (And it was said unto him): Strike the ground with thy foot. This (spring) is a cool bath and a refreshing drink.
43 And We bestowed on him (again) his household and therewith the like thereof, a mercy from Us, and a memorial for men of understanding.
Then someone said to him,
Kick the ground with your foot.
And a spring sprung up and provided him with a cool bath and a refreshing drink.
44 And (it was said unto him): Take in thine hand a branch and smite therewith, and break not thine oath. Lo! We found him steadfast, how excellent a slave! Lo! he was ever turning in repentance (to his Lord).
After that someone said to him,
Smite something with a branch [5] and don't break your oath.
We found him an excellent slave!
45 And make mention of Our bondmen, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, men of parts and vision.
46 Lo! We purified them with a pure thought, remembrance of the Home (of the Hereafter).
47 Lo! in Our sight they are verily of the elect, the excellent.
Mention our bondmen, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,
48 And make mention of Ishmael and Elisha and Dhu'l-Kifl. All are of the chosen.
49 This is a reminder. And lo! for those who ward off (evil) is a happy journey's end,
Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhu'l-Kifl. [5]
50Gardens of Eden, whereof the gates are opened for them,
51Wherein, reclining, they call for plenteous fruit and cool drink (that is) therein.
The occupants of the Gardens of Eden eat fruit and drink cool drinks,
52And with them are those of modest gaze, companions.
53This it is that ye are promised for the Day of Reckoning.
54 Lo! this in truth is Our provision, which will never waste away.
while enjoying the company of maidens with modest gaze.
55 This (is for the righteous). And lo! for the transgressors there with be an evil journey's end,
The transgressors will have an evil journey's end,
56Hell, where they will burn, an evil resting-place.
where they'll burn in hell, an evil resting place.
57Here is a boiling and an ice-cold draught, so let them taste it,
They'll drink boiling water followed by ice water.
58And other (torment) of the kind in pairs (the two extremes)!
And other similar torments in pairs of extremes.
59 Here is an army rushing blindly with you. (Those who are already in the Fire say): No word of welcome for them. Lo! they will roast at the Fire.
60 They say: Nay, but you (misleaders), for you there is no word of welcome. Ye prepared this for us (by your misleading). Now hapless is the plight.
61 They say: Our Lord! Whoever did prepare this for us, oh, give him double portion of the Fire!
62 And they say: What aileth us that we behold not men whom we were wont to count among the wicked?
63 Did we take them (wrongly) for a laughing-stock, or have our eyes missed them?
64 Lo! that is very truth: the wrangling of the dwellers in the Fire.
65 Say (unto them, O Muhammad): I am only a warner, and there is no God save Allah, the One, the Absolute,
66 Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, the Mighty, the Pardoning.
67 Say: It is tremendous tidings
68 Whence ye turn away!
69 I had no knowledge of the Highest Chiefs when they disputed;
70 It is revealed unto me only that I may be a plain warner.
Lo! they will roast at the Fire.
71 When thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to create a mortal out of mire,
Allah said to the angels,
I'm about to create a human out of mire. [7]
72 And when I have fashioned him and breathed into him of My Spirit, then fall down before him prostrate,
When I'm done with that, fall down before him prostrate.
73The angels fell down prostrate, every one,
74Saving Iblis; he was scornful and became one of the disbelievers.
And all the angels did, except for Iblis, [8]
who became a disbeliever.
75He said: O Iblis! What hindereth thee from falling prostrate before that which I have created with both My hands? Art thou too proud or art thou of the high exalted?
Allah: Why didn't you fall prostrate before that which I created with both of my hands?
76 He said: I am better than him. Thou createdst me of fire, whilst him Thou didst create of clay.
Iblis: I'm better than him. You created me from fire, while your created him from clay.
77He said: Go forth from hence, for lo! thou art outcast,
78And lo! My curse is on thee till the Day of Judgment.
Allah: Go away. You're an outcast until the day of judgment.
79 He said: My Lord! Reprieve me till the day when they are raised.
Iblis: Let me be until the day they are raised.
Allah: Okay.
82 He said: Then, by Thy might, I surely will beguile them every one,
83Save Thy single-minded slaves among them.
84 He said: The Truth is, and the Truth I speak,
Iblis said:
Great. I'll beguile them all.
Except for the single-minded slaves.
85 That I shall fill hell with thee and with such of them as follow thee, together.
86 Say (O Muhammad, unto mankind): I ask of you no fee for this, and I am no simulating.
87 Lo! it is naught else than a reminder for all peoples
88 And ye will come in time to know the truth thereof.
Allah said:
I'll fill hell with you and whoever follows you.
Notes
This surah is well named. It's pretty sad.
(But actually its title is taken from a letter in the arabic alphabet. No one knows what it means.)
Allah is proud of the strangest things!
To see the details of God's killings see Drunk with Blood: God's killings in the Bible
The nonsensical story about the litigants is supposedly about David, but it is not in the Bible.
Some say it refers to the story about David's adulterous afair with Bathsheba, since it is somewhat similar to Nathan's story condemning David for sending Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, to be killed in battle so David could have his wife. But since David is a prophet to Muslims, and Muslim prophets are perfect, that interpretation is not allowed in Islam. (See 2 Samuel 11-12.)
Like the prvious story about Solomon slashing horses, no one knows what this story means.
What did Allah tell Job to smite with the branch?
See here for an interesting interpretation of this verse.
No one knows who Dhu'l-Kifl is, though some Muslim commentators say he was Elijah, Joshua, Zachariah, or Ezekiel.