26. THE POETS (ash-Shu’ara’)

In the name of Allah,
the Gracious, the Merciful

1. Ta, Seen, Meem.
2. These are the Verses of the Clarifying Book.
3. Perhaps you will destroy yourself with grief,
   because they do not become believers.
4. If We will, We can send down upon them a
   sign from heaven, at which their necks will
   stay bent in humility.
5. No fresh reminder comes to them from the
   Most Merciful, but they turn their backs at it.
6. They have denied the truth, but soon will
   come to them the news of what they ridiculed.
7. Have they not seen the earth, and how
   many beautiful pairs We produced therein?
8. Surely in this is a sign, but most of them are
   not believers.
9. Most surely, your Lord is the Almighty, the
   Merciful.
10. Your Lord called to Moses, “Go to the tyrannical people.
11. The people of Pharaoh. Will they not fear?”
12. He said, “My Lord, I fear they will reject
    me.
13. And I become stressed, and my tongue is
    not fluent, so send Aaron too.
14. And they have a charge against me, so I fear
    they will kill me.”
15. He said, “No. Go, both of you, with Our
    proofs. We will be with you, listening.
16. Go to Pharaoh, and say, ‘We are the Messengers of the Lord of the Worlds.
17. Let the Children of Israel go with us.’“
18. He said, “Did we not raise you among us as
    a child, and you stayed among us for many of
    your years?
19. And you committed that deed you committed, and you were ungrateful.”
20. He said, “I did it then, when I was of those
    astray.
21. And I fled from you when I feared you; but
    my Lord gave me wisdom, and made me one
    of the messengers.
22. Is that the favor you taunt me with, although you have enslaved the Children of Israel?”
23. Pharaoh said, “And what is the Lord of the
    Worlds?”
24. He said, “The Lord of the heavens and the
    earth, and everything between them, if you
    are aware.”
25. He said to those around him, “Do you not
    hear?”
26. He said, “Your Lord and the Lord of your
    ancestors of old.”
27. He said, “This messenger of yours, who is
    sent to you, is crazy.”
28. He said, “Lord of the East and the West,
    and everything between them, if you understand.”
29. He said, “If you accept any god other than
    me, I will make you a prisoner.”
30. He said, “What if I bring you something
    convincing?”
31. He said, “Bring it, if you are being truthful.”
32. So he cast his staff; and it was a serpent,
    plain to see.
33. And he pulled his hand; and it was white,
    for all to see.
34. He said to the dignitaries around him,
    “This is a skilled magician.
35. He intends to drive you out of your land
    with his magic, so what do you recommend?”
36. They said, “Delay him and his brother, and
    send recruiters to the cities.
37. To bring you every experienced magician.”
38. So the magicians were gathered for the appointment on a specified day.
39. And it was said to the people, “Are you all
    gathered?
40. That we may follow the magicians, if they
    are the winners.”
41. When the magicians arrived, they said to
    Pharaoh, “Is there a reward for us, if we are
    the winners?”
42. He said, “Yes, and you will be among those
    favored.”
43. Moses said to them, “Present what you intend to present.”
44. So they threw their ropes and their sticks,
    and said, “By the majesty of Pharaoh, we will
    be the winners.”
45. Then Moses threw his staff, and behold, it
    began swallowing their trickery.
46. And the magicians fell down prostrating.
47. They said, “We have believed in the Lord
    of the Worlds.
48. The Lord of Moses and Aaron.”
49. He said, “Did you believe in Him before I
    have given you permission? He must be your
    chief, who taught you magic. You will soon
    know. I will cut off your hands and feet on
    opposite sides, and I will crucify you all.”
50. They said, “No problem. To our Lord we
    will return.
51. We are eager for our Lord to forgive us our
    sins, since we are the first of the believers.”
52. And We inspired Moses: “Travel with My
    servants by night. You will be followed.”
53. Pharaoh sent heralds to the cities.
54. “These are a small gang.
55. And they are enraging us.
56. But we are a vigilant multitude.”
57. So We drove them out of gardens and
    springs.
58. And treasures and noble dwellings.
59. So it was. And We made the Children of
    Israel inherit them.
60. And they pursued them at sunrise.
61. When the two groups sighted each other,
    the followers of Moses said, “We are being
    overtaken.”
62. He said, “No; my Lord is with me, He will
    guide me.”
63. We inspired Moses: “Strike the sea with
    your staff.” Whereupon it parted, and each
    part was like a huge hill.
64. And there We brought the others near.
65. And We saved Moses and those with him,
    all together.
66. Then We drowned the others.
67. In that there is a sign, but most of them are
    not believers.
68. Surely, your Lord is the Almighty, the Merciful.
69. And relate to them the story of Abraham.
70. When he said to his father and his people,
    “What do you worship?”
71. They said, “We worship idols, and we remain devoted to them.”
72. He said, “Do they hear you when you pray?
73. Or do they benefit you, or harm you?”
74. They said, “But we found our ancestors doing so.”
75. He said, “Have you considered what you
    worship.
76. You and your ancient ancestors?
77. They are enemies to me, but not so the
    Lord of the Worlds.
78. He who created me, and guides me.
79. He who feeds me, and waters me.
80. And when I get sick, He heals me.
81. He who makes me die, and then revives me.
82. He who, I hope, will forgive my sins on the
    Day of the Reckoning.”
83. “My Lord! Grant me wisdom, and include
    me with the righteous.
84. And give me a reputation of truth among
    the others.
85. And make me of the inheritors of the Garden of Bliss.
86. And forgive my father—he was one of the
    misguided.
87. And do not disgrace me on the Day they
    are resurrected.
88. The Day when neither wealth nor children
    will help.
89. Except for him who comes to Allah with a
    sound heart.”
90. And Paradise will be brought near for the
    righteous.
91. And the Blaze will be displayed to the deviators.
92. And it will be said to them, “Where are
    those you used to worship?”
93. Besides Allah? Can they help you, or help
    themselves?”
94. Then they will be toppled into it, together
    with the seducers.
95. And the soldiers of Satan, all of them.
96. They will say, as they feud in it.
97. “By Allah, We were in evident error.
98. For equating you with the Lord of the
    Worlds.
99. No one misled us except the sinners.
100. Now we have no intercessors.
101. And no sincere friend.
102. If only we could have another chance, we
     would be among the faithful.”
103. Surely in this is a sign, but most of them
     are not believers.
104. Your Lord is the Almighty, the Merciful.
105. The people of Noah disbelieved the messengers.
106. Their brother Noah said to them, “Do you
     not fear?
107. I am to you a faithful messenger.
108. So fear Allah, and obey me.
109. I ask of you no payment for this. My payment is only from the Lord of the Worlds.
110. So fear Allah, and obey me.”
111. They said, “Shall we believe in you, when
     it is the lowliest who follow you?”
112. He said, “What do I know about what they
     do?
113. Their account rests only with my Lord, if
     you have sense.
114. And I am not about to drive away the believers.
115. I am only a clear warner.”
116. They said, “If you do not refrain, O Noah,
     you will be stoned.”
117. He said, “My Lord, my people have denied
     me.
118. So judge between me and them decisively,
     and deliver me and the believers who are with
     me.
119. So We delivered him and those with him
     in the laden Ark.
120. Then We drowned the rest.
121. In that is a sign, but most of them are not
     believers.
122. Your Lord is the Almighty, the Merciful.
123. Aad disbelieved the messengers.
124. When their brother Hud said to them, “Do
     you not fear?
125. I am to you a faithful messenger.
126. So fear Allah, and obey me.
127. I ask of you no payment for this. My payment is only from the Lord of the Worlds.
128. Do you build a monument on every height
     for vanity’s sake?
129. And you set up fortresses, hoping to live
     forever?
130. And when you strike, you strike mercilessly?
131. So fear Allah, and obey me
132. And reverence Him, who supplied you
     with everything you know.
133. He supplied you with livestock and children.
134. And gardens and springs.
135. I fear for you the punishment of an awesome Day.”
136. They said, “It is the same for us, whether
     you lecture us, or do not lecture.
137. This is nothing but morals of the ancients.
138. And we will not be punished.”
139. So they denied him, and We destroyed
     them. Surely in this is a sign, but most of
     them are not believers.
140. Your Lord is the Almighty, the Merciful.
141. Thamood disbelieved the messengers.
142. When their brother Saleh said to them,
     “Do you not fear?
143. I am to you a faithful messenger.
144. So fear Allah, and obey me.
145. I ask of you no payment for it. My payment is only from the Lord of the Worlds.
146. Will you be left secure in what is here?
147. In gardens and springs?
148. And fields, and palm-trees whose fruits
     are delicious?
149. And you skillfully carve houses in the
     mountains?
150. So fear Allah, and obey me.
151. And do not obey the command of the extravagant.
152. Who spread turmoil on earth, and do not
     reform.”
153. They said, “You are surely one of the bewitched.
154. You are nothing but a man like us. So
     bring us a sign, if you are truthful.
155. He said, “This is a she-camel; she has her
     turn of drinking, and you have your turn of
     drinking—on a specified day.
156. And do not touch her with harm, lest the
     punishment of a great day seizes you.”
157. But they slaughtered her, and became full
     of remorse.
158. So the punishment overtook them. Surely
     in this is a sign, but most of them are not believers.
159. Your Lord is the Almighty, the Merciful.
160. The people of Lot disbelieved the messengers.
161. When their brother Lot said to them, “Do
     you not fear?
162. I am to you a faithful messenger.
163. So fear Allah, and obey me.
164. I ask of you no payment for it. My payment is only from the Lord of the Worlds.
165. Do you approach the males of the world?
166. And forsake the wives your Lord created
     for you? Indeed, you are intrusive people.”
167. They said, “Unless you refrain, O Lot, you
     will be expelled.”
168. He said, “I certainly deplore your conduct.”
169. “My Lord, save me and my family from
     what they do.”
170. So We saved him and his family, altogether.
171. Except for an old woman among those
     who tarried.
172. Then We destroyed the others.
173. And We rained down on them a rain.
     Dreadful is the rain of those forewarned.
174. Surely in this is a sign, but most of them
     are not believers.
175. Your Lord is the Almighty, the Merciful.
176. The People of the Woods disbelieved the
     messengers.
177. When Shuaib said to them, “Do you not
     fear?
178. I am to you a trustworthy messenger.
179. So fear Allah, and obey me.
180. I ask of you no payment for it. My payment is only from the Lord of the Worlds.
181. Give full measure, and do not cheat.
182. And weigh with accurate scales.
183. And do not defraud people of their belongings, and do not work corruption in the
     land.
184. And fear Him who created you and the
     masses of old.”
185. They said, “You are one of those bewitched.
186. And you are nothing but a man like us;
     and we think that you are a liar.
187. So bring down on us pieces from the sky,
     if you are truthful.”
188. He said, “My Lord is Well Aware of what
     you do.”
189. But they denied him. So the punishment
     of the day of gloom gripped them. It was the
     punishment of a great day.
190. Surely in this is a sign, but most of them
     are not believers.
191. Your Lord is the Almighty, the Merciful.
192. It is a revelation from the Lord of the
     Worlds.
193. The Honest Spirit came down with it.
194. Upon your heart, that you may be one of
     the warners.
195. In a clear Arabic tongue.
196. And it is in the scriptures of the ancients.
197. Is it not a sign for them that the scholars
     of the Children of Israel recognized it?
198. Had We revealed it to one of the foreigners.
199. And he had recited it to them, they still
     would not have believed in it.
200. Thus We make it pass through the hearts
     of the guilty.
201. They will not believe in it until they witness the painful punishment.
202. It will come to them suddenly, while they
     are unaware.
203. Then they will say, “Are we given any respite?”
204. Do they seek to hasten Our punishment?
205. Have you considered: if We let them enjoy
     themselves for some years.
206. Then there comes to them what they were
     promised.
207. Of what avail to them will be their past enjoyments?
208. Never did We destroy a town, but it had
     warners.
209. As a reminder—We are never unjust.
210. It was not the devils that revealed it.
211. It is not in their interests, nor in their
     power.
212. They are barred from hearing.
213. So do not pray to another god with Allah,
     else you will be of those tormented.
214. And warn your close relatives.
215. And lower your wing to those of the believers who follow you.
216. And if they disobey you, say, “I am innocent of what you do.”
217. And put your trust in the Almighty, the
     Merciful.
218. He Who sees you when you rise.
219. And your devotions amidst the worshipers.
220. He is indeed the Hearer, the Aware.
221. Shall I inform you upon whom the devils
     descend?
222. They descend upon every sinful liar.
223. They give ear, and most of them are liars.
224. And as for the poets—the deviators follow
     them.
225. Do you not see how they ramble in every
     style?
226. And how they say what they do not do?
227. Except for those who believe, and do good
     deeds, and remember Allah frequently, and
     defend themselves after they are wronged. As
     for those who do wrong, they will know by
     what overturning they will be overturned.