38. SAAD (Saad)

In the name of Allah,
the Gracious, the Merciful

1. Saad. By the renowned Quran.
2. Those who disbelieve are steeped in arrogance and defiance.
3. How many generations have We destroyed
   before them? They cried out when it was too
   late to escape.
4. And they marveled that a warner has come
   to them from among them. The disbelievers
   said, “This is a lying magician.”
5. “Did he turn all the gods into one God? This
   is something strange.”
6. The notables among them announced: “Go
   on, and hold fast to your gods. This is something planned.
7. We never heard of this in the former faith.
   This is nothing but a fabrication.
8. Was the message sent down to him, out of
   all of us?” In fact, they are doubtful of My
   warning. In fact, they have not yet tasted My
   punishment.
9. Or do they possess the treasuries of the
   mercy of your Lord—the Majestic, the Giver?
10. Or do they possess the sovereignty of the
    heavens and the earth and what is between
    them? Then let them ascend the ropes.
11. An army of confederates will be defeated
    there.
12. Before them the people of Noah denied the
    truth; as did Aad, and Pharaoh of the Stakes.
13. And Thamood, and the people of Lot, and
    the dwellers of the Woods—these were the
    confederates.
14. None of them but denied the messengers,
    so My retribution was deserved.
15. These can expect only a single scream,
    from which there is no recovery.
16. And they say, “Our Lord, hasten Your writ
    upon us, before the Day of Account.”
17. Be patient in the face of what they say, and
    mention Our servant David, the resourceful.
    He was obedient.
18. We committed the mountains to glorify
    with him, in the evening and at daybreak.
19. And the birds, gathered together. All obedient to him.
20. And We strengthened his kingdom, and
    gave him wisdom and decisive speech.
21. Has the story of the two disputants reached
    you? When they scaled the sanctuary?
22. When they entered upon David, and he
    was startled by them. They said, “Do not fear.
    Two disputants; one of us has wronged the
    other; so judge between us fairly, and do not
    be biased, and guide us to the straight way.”
23. “This brother of mine has ninety nine
    ewes, and I have one ewe, and he said, ‘Entrust it to me,’ and he pressured me with
    words.”
24. He said, “He has done you wrong by asking
    your ewe in addition to his ewes. Many partners take advantage of one another, except
    those who believe and do good deeds, but
    these are so few.” David realized that We
    were testing him, so he sought forgiveness
    from his Lord, and fell down to his knees, and
    repented.
25. So We forgave him that. And for him is
    nearness to Us, and a good place of return.
26. “O David, We made you a ruler in the land,
    so judge between the people with justice, and
    do not follow desire, lest it diverts you from Allah’s path. Those who stray from Allah’s path will have a painful punishment, for having ignored the Day of Account.”
27. We did not create the heaven and the earth
    and everything between them in vain. That is
    the assumption of those who disbelieve—so
    woe to those who disbelieve because of the
    Fire.
28. Or are We to treat those who believe and
    do righteous deeds like those who make trouble on earth? Or are We to treat the pious like
    the shameless?
29. A blessed Book that We sent down to you,
    that they may ponder its Verses, and for those
    with intelligence to take heed.
30. And We granted David, Solomon, an excellent servant. He was penitent.
31. When the beautiful horses were paraded
    before him in the evening.
32. He said, “I have preferred the love of niceties to the remembrance of my Lord—until it
    disappeared behind the veil.
33. Bring them back to me.” And he began caressing their legs and necks.
34. We tested Solomon, and placed a body on
    his throne; then he repented.
35. He said, “My Lord, forgive me, and grant
    me a kingdom never to be attained by anyone
    after me. You are the Giver.”
36. So We placed the wind at his service, blowing gently by his command, wherever he directed.
37. And the demons—every builder and diver.
38. And others fettered in chains.
39. “This is Our gift; so give generously, or
    withhold; without account.”
40. For him is nearness to Us, and a beautiful
    resort.
41. And mention Our servant Job, when he
    called out to his Lord, “Satan has afflicted me
    with hardship and pain.”
42. “Stamp with your foot—here is cool water
    to wash with, and to drink.”
43. And We restored his family for him, and
    their like with them; as a mercy from Us, and
    a lesson for those who possess insight.
44. “Take with your hand a bundle, and strike
    with it, and do not break your oath.” We
    found him patient. What an excellent servant! He was obedient.
45. And mention Our servants Abraham,
    Isaac, and Jacob—endowed with ability and
    vision.
46. We distinguished them with a distinct
    quality: the remembrance of the Home.
47. To Us they are among the chosen, the outstanding.
48. And mention Ishmael, Elisha, and Ezekiel;
    all are among the outstanding.
49. This is a reminder. The devout will have a
    good place of return.
50. The Gardens of Eden, with their doors
    wide-open for them.
51. Relaxing therein, and calling for abundant
    fruit and beverage.
52. With them will be attendants with modest
    gaze, of same age.
53. This is what you are promised for the Day
    of Account.
54. Such is Our bounty, inexhaustible.
55. All This. But the transgressors will have a
    miserable return.
56. Hell; in which they will roast; what a miserable abode!
57. All this. Let them taste it—boiling and bitter cold.
58. And similar torments of diverse kinds.
59. “This is a crowd rushing headlong with
    you.” There is no welcome for them. They
    will be scorched by the Fire.
60. They will say, “But it is you! There is no
    welcome for you! It is you who brought it
    upon us! What a miserable end!”
61. They will say, “Our Lord, whoever brought
    this upon us, give him double torment in the
    Fire.”
62. And they will say, “What is it with us that
    we do not see men we used to count among
    the wicked?
63. Did we take them for mockery, or have our
    eyes swerved from them?
64. This is certainly true—the feuding of the
    people of the Fire.
65. Say, “I am only a warner, and there is no
    god except Allah—the One, the Conqueror.
66. The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and
    everything between them; the Mighty, the
    Forgiver.”
67. Say, “It is a message of great importance.
68. From which you are turning away.
69. I have no knowledge of the Highest Assembly as they dispute.
70. It is only revealed to me that I am a clear
    warner.”
71. Your Lord said to the angels, “I am creating
    a human being from clay.
72. When I have formed him, and breathed
    into him of My spirit, fall prostrate before
    him.
73. So the angels fell prostrate, all of them.
74. Except for Satan. He was too proud, and
    one of the faithless.
75. He said, “O Satan, what prevented you
    from prostrating before what I created with
    My Own hands? Are you too proud, or were
    you one of the exalted?”
76. He said, “I am better than he; You created
    me from fire, and You created him from
    clay.”
77. He said, “Then get out of here! You are an
    outcast!
78. And My curse will be upon you until the
    Day of Judgment.”
79. He said, “Lord, defer me until the Day they
    are resurrected.”
80. He said, “You are one of those deferred.
81. Until the Day of the Time Appointed.”
82. He said, “By Your majesty, I will seduce
    them all.
83. Except for your loyal servants among
    them.”
84. He said, “The truth is, and I say the truth.
85. I will fill Hell with you, and with every one
    of them who follows you.”
86. Say, “I ask of you no wage for this, and I am
    not a pretender.
87. It is but a reminder to mankind.
88. And you will know its message after a
    while.”