The Opening

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds,
The Beneficent, the Merciful,
The Bender of Sords, ith righteous Word,
Oner of the !udgement "a#,
To thee alone e orship, pra#$
To thee alone for help e as%&
Sho us the straight and narro path,
The road of those in hom Thou has fa'oured$
Not the path of those ho earned (our anger,
Nor of those ho go astra#)
1
The *o
Alif) Lam) Mim)
Ta%e a moment to dell on +im,
,or here is the +ol# Writ herein
Li%e an an'il, for those ho belie'e,
There is guidance to ard off e'il, percei'e,
And pre'ent slip,
,or those ho trul# pra# and dul# orship,
A guide for the heart to do no ill,
And purif# the ill&
,or those ho belie'e hat is re'ealed
And hat as re'ealed before thee,
And for those ho belie'e hat the# cannot see)
Those ho ha'e guidance from their Lord
Shall find help in e'er# ord)
,or the disbelie'ers, arn them all or none,
There shall be nothing ne under the sun)
,or hearts that are sealed
And e#es dar% ith gloom
There shall come an aful doom)
Some thin% to beguile, and sa# the# belie'e,
(et fool none but themsel'es in hat the# percei'e)
!udgement "a# is in the soul,
When the unbelie'er sa#s that he doth %no
And treats of men as though he belie'es)
These men earn doom,
Which comest far or comest soon)
,or them Allah doth not grie'e,
(et moc%s them for their error
So that the# cannot prosper)
Neither are the# guided, these poor souls,
But are derided, deaf, dumb and blind the# rot,
And after !udgement the# returneth not)
Li%e a rainstorm from the s%#, herein is dar%ness,
Strea%s of lightning in their star%ness,
Allah, in +is guidance, the disbelie'ers encompass)
This, e'en, Allah brings,
,or, lo- Allah is able to do all things-
O man%ind- Worship th# Lord,
,or Allah has done the great or%s
2
That came before-
And made those before #ou
Who beat the "e'il&
Let +im be #our guide to ard off e'il)
+e hath created gentle rains
,or fruits to gro, and floing grains,
,rom the spanning s%#,
Appointed earth a resting place
Beneath this canop#)
So do not set up ri'als hen #ou %no,
If e'er #e see hat Allah shos)
If #e doubt, and stop, and our sla'e Muhammad,
Peace be upon him, #ou dismiss,
Then call a greater, iser itness
To hail a greater plan,
Or guard #ourself against the ,ire
Which is made of stones and men
And ,ate most dire)
,or those ho do good or%s&
There are .ardens here ri'ers flo&
,or those ho do not, the# shall ne'er %no)
,or those ho do, the# ith good companions abide,
Those ho do not must e'er hide)
Allah ma# sho similitude e'en in the smallest
To teach, be it a gnat, for +e ne'er
/nos things out of reach, and e'er
The miscreant misleads ith his misdeeds)
Thus hoso brea%s ith isdom as the choosers
Are esteemed the losers,
As the# ma%e for their %insfol% onl# users)
+ere is this golden rule to learn&
0'er#thing to +im returns-
+e is the /noer of all things
And has fashioned the hea'ens as se'en rings)
As #our mortal coil as born to rot
Surel# .od %nos hat #ou do not)
+e, onl# +e, is the /noer, the Wise
As all the angels cried, 1Be glorified-1
+e taught Adam all the Names,
So do not deride&
+e %nos hat #ou disclose and hat #ou hide)
(et ith the tolling of a bell,
When .od said, 1Prostrate #oursel'es-1
3
All the angels on their face the# fell
Without e2ception, the# did this,
02cept the one called Iblis,
Because of pride&
Therefore he as a disbelie'er
To place himself so high)
O Adam, O 0'e, li'e th# life
And eat hat fruits th# ill,
(et ne'er come #e near this tree, of shame and strife,
Lest #e should come to ill-
(et Satan shoed them another ,ate,
As unhapp# pride is the mortal3s bait,
And set them against one another,
As prideful man is the great rongdoer,
And thus the ,all, #et ith this Pro'ision&
On earth #e shall #et find habitation)
And herein is this 4e'elation truthful&
Allah is the 4elenting, the Merciful)
And for those ho belie'e&
There shall be no fear,
Neither shall #e grie'e)
(et to Israel, e'en as Adam fell,
+e said, 1I shall %eep m# *o'enant,
If #our *o'enant #ou fulfill-
I gi'e m# 4e'elations to thee, that #e belie'e therein,
So fear, and %eep #our dut# to me-1
B# the Lords of 4uth-
*onfound not truth ith falsehood,
Nor %noingl# conceal the truth)
Pa# the true 5ust due,
And, if #ou %no ho,
+umbl# to #our .od #ou bo)
0n5oin righteousness before #ou forget
If e'er #ou %no ho to practice it)
Thin% on hat #e ha'e read
And if #e ha'e sense
Be humble and ith patience, and do as #ou said)
/no that in all the dar%ness, churning,
(ou are to #our Lord returning)
The rest of #our life as lent)
O *hildren of Israel- 4emember
+o I fa'ored #ou ith fa'ors
4
And set #ou among m# preferred creatures,
6ntil there as error)
(et see% not compensation
02cept in +ol# Scriptures)
4emember the trials of #our Lord to sa'e #ou
When dread Pharaoh didst ensla'e #ou
And droned pursuing Pharaoh3s fol%,
And freed the people from his #o%e,
0'en in #our sights,
And We did appoint Moses fort# nights,
Of solitude, and here is another similitude,
That We ma# lead #ou in #our trial&
We ga'e him the Scripture of rong and right
And sa'ed him from the Nile)
This much is truthful&
Allah is the 4elenting, the Merciful)
(et sometimes it seems onl# to be half,
As the people orshipped a golden calf
And cried, 1O Moses, e don3t see #our god plain,1
(et Moses said aloud,
,rom manna3s bright hite burning cloud and rain&
14epent, be not proud- The guilt# shall be slain-
4epent, and .od forgi'e-
4epent, if #e ish to li'e-1
(et those ho could not repent
"id not see that forgi'eness is +ea'en sent,
And altered the ord found in their path
Onl# to recei'e +ea'en3s rath)
If thee can reco'er from th# di'ision,
0at store of .od3s pro'ision
Li%e ater gushed from the roc%
With Moses3 staff)
!es, *hristians, Sabaeans,
Whoe'er belie'eth in their Lord,
Shall ith +im find their 5ust reard&
/no this, or be blinded b# the sord-
O *hildren of Israel- 4emember
The *o'enant, that b# #our Lord as lent,
We made the Mount to toer abo'e,
To ard off e'il, and out of lo'e&
Those ithout lo'e to +ell are sent)
Pra# to the Lord to ma%e clear the Sacrifices
And find Admonition in the 'ices,
And, from co to man,
5
Allah shall shoeth #ou the plan,
Made for thee to understand)
Allah is not unaare of hat #e do,
Whether hearts be hard or hearts be true,
So remember hat +is miracles she
Set #ourself up abo'e Allah
And contend, and set #ourself up as #e ma#7
There are unlettered fol% ho %no .od from hearsa#-
So guard #ourself against the "a#)
Woe to those ho set themsel'es up
And sa#, 1This is from .od,1 and drin% from the rong cup)
Beare hat #our hand has ritten
,or there is no .od but .od,
And rongdoers are 5ustl# smitten,
0'en as a dog hich has bitten)
The# sa#, 1A fe da#s of punishment,1
But orse is the final !udgement
As from e'il Allah remains hidden)
4ightful oners of the ,ire are these,
Who set themsel'es up to do as the# please,
Who set themsel'es abo'e Allah,
And do not belie'e)
,or those ho do good or%s,
,or those hose hearts don3t harden,
!ustl# there shall be a .arden,
,or the e'ildoers e'il lur%s)
Be %ind to parents and to %indred
And to e'er# man and oman$
Spea% %indl# to the need#
And to e'er# lonesome orphan)
Be not greed#)
If #e hath ratified Our *o'enant,
And ere indeed a itness thereto,
What sin or transgression can harm #ou7
If Scripture #e belie'e 5ust a part of,
4emember the las of lo'e,
,or all things rene e2pression
On the "a# of 4esurrection, true,
And Allah is not unaare of hat #ou do)
The Scripture3s all report
That for those ho sin and sport
Are cursed for unbelief of all sort)
And shall ne'er find Allah3s support)
,or those ho disbelie'e,
The truth it 8uic%l# lea'e,
6
The hat is in their possession7
Nothing but the sin, the transgression)
The# ha'e sold their soul to e'il
.rudging that Allah re'eal
And ith ego hope the plan to steal)
And here e strongl# stress,
,or e confirm hat the# possess&
Those ho hear and #et re5ect, rebel,
And orship the golden calf in the ilderness,
,ind onl# their on e'il)
,or e'il is hat #ou belie'e, no less&
Put aside the cursed sord, of 'anit#,
And belie'est thou in the hol# Word, re5ect profanit#)
The Prophet, peace be upon him, as sent&
"o not re5ect the *o'enant)
And hen a messenger cometh from Allah,
And a picture of the Scripture dra,
"o not sa# that #e do not %no,
,or #e shall ala#s reap hat #e doth so,
And as e'il ould,
(ou ill earn onl# falsehood)
What causes di'ision beteen man and ife,
Is enough to curse a life,
And traffic not in false magics, but true,
,or e'il is the price, and #ou ill rue)
It ould be ala#s better
That #e be a practiced listener,
In isdom for to hear it,
As listening ill connect #ou to the Spirit)
And ne'er causeth pain&
Ne'er see% to di'ide in tain&
Allah is able to do all things,
+e is So'ereign)
See% +im as #our friend&
+e ho chooseth disbelief from faith,
*annot see the fateful end,
+as gone astra# and cannot sa#eth,
And all becomes forgotten
9Not to mention hat #e ne'er %noed:
And, losing lo'e, becomes misbegotten,
And reaps hat he soed)
The ic%ed, be the# from an# countr#,
Thin% not that Allah has merc#&
(et Allah is of infinite bount#&
+e is so'ereign of the hea'ens and earth&
7
+e sets limits, #et ne'er shos dearth)
+e stri%es those for hom +e has manifest, #et ha'e en'#)
Allah is able to do all things
And sinners to their on end brings,
,or upon #our on deeds #our on ,ate hinge)
If #e be truthful, then bring th# proof,
With a higher Word,
,or .od is close and not aloof)
Surrender #our purpose to the Lord,
And there shall come #our 5ust reard,
While the 4eligions #ield up their struggle and suffer,
Allah +imself shall correct ho the# differ)
To those ho do the greater rongs&
The Sanctuar# of the .nosis Allah forbiddeth
And onl# the pure of heart ma# approacheth)
6nto Allah belong the 0ast and West
And ithersoe'er #e turn, there is Allah3s countenance)
And the# sa#& Allah hath ta%en a son)
(et na#- All are +is, e'er# last one,
Or, at least, for those to hom the 4e'elations are sure
And not to the sinners ith ne'er a cure)
This, though !esus as pure)
We ha'e sent thee, O Muhammad,
Peace be upon #ou,
As a bringer of glad tidings and a arner,
And thou shalt not be 8uestioned
Of the hell;fires oner,
And e should ma%e peace hen #e are mentioned)
No !es nor *hristians shall be pleased ith thee,
6ntil #ou follo their on creed)
,ollo not chance)
Sa#& 1Lo- The guidance of .od +imself is guidance,1
,ollo this and #e shall find %noledge,
And #our true heart Allah shall ac%noledge)
Whosoe'er opposes isdom as the chooser,
The# shall be the loser, as a casual abuser,
Nor can e2pect compensation
When the# ha'e made this one transgression)
Those ho ha'e read the Scriptures signif#
All sorts of portents&
,ollo not- for here lies more torments)
4ather, in Allah3s portents the la dignif#,
So do not a'er for +ea'en3s fa'our,
And Allah shall bring #ou all together)
8
Allah is close, laid bare,
,or Allah is not unaare&
Turn th# face to orship3s place
And ne'er gi'e up care,
But orship to li'e in Allah3s grace,
As Allah is continuall# nearing&
/eep th# place and be .od;fearing)
4emember that #ou can ma%e it so,
0'en as remembering
What as a child #ou didn3t %no)
4e'elations causeth #ou to gro,
As isdom and Scripture teacheth it so)
Therefore, remember Me, and I shall remember thou&
Ta%e to steps toards .od
And +e approacheth someho, to the place #ou trod)
When misfortune stri%es
And the ,ire is burning,
And #e ha'e not seen it3s li%e,
Sa#& 1To Allah I am ala#s returning-1
Allah is 4esponsi'e, Merciful, Aare,
So ne'er gi'e up care)
*ircle the mountains As;safa and Al;Marah,
,or pagans ha'e the Blessings of Allah, the Lord,
If the# doeth good of their on accord,
And thus are ith Allah,
And Allah smiles on them ho amend and relent,
And manifest truth and 5ustl# repent)
.od is one .od, +e creates
The hea'ens and earth and ne'er abates,
+e ma%eth difference beteen night and da#$
+e sur'i'eth,
And sends rain don from the s%# to re'i'eth)
,or people ho ha'e sense,
These signs are to%en of .od3s omnipotence,
(et for those ho set ri'als to Allah
The penalties e2ist, se'ere, and not 5ust in Mecca,
In the da# hich the# belongeth$ .od is strongest)
,or those ho follo e'il men,
There aims collapse ith them)
So eat that hich is holesome and laful
And follo not the footsteps of the "e'il)
+e is an open enem# to #ou
If b# his signs #ou can but construe)
9
,ollo not #our fathers hen the# ere not guided,
,or the#, too, b# Allah are thus derided)
0'il is deaf, dumb and blind,
Ne'er in the dar% to find)
(et the same actions,
With neither cra'ing nor transgressing
Might still find Allah3s blessing)
Allah, is Merciful, ,orgi'ing)
(et those ho purchase error at soul3s Price,
The terror of the ,ire shall be their strife&
.od is une8ui'ocal in this,
Although unseen this isdom is)
Those in disagreement of 4e'elation
And find schism,
Should gi'e to the need#, the poor, the orphan
In their isdom,
And be patient in their tribulation)
O #e ho belie'e- 4etaliation
Is decided onl# b# alle'iation,
To be decided finall# onl# until
Their actions mend and ard off e'il)
If actions dra the e'il nearer,
Allah is the /noer, +earer-
Be gentle, and turn the other chee%&
The true 'ictors ere e'er mee%)
And for the mee%, the fearer,
The ma%er of peace,
Allah ma%eth no penalt# there in the least,
,or though the mee% are caused to suffer
At least the# ha'e their sister, brother)
If a man can afford to fast
This is handsome&
,or those ho afford and not do
There stands a ransom,
This is true)
,or the month of 4amadan
Was pro'ided to sho a criterion
Beteen right and rong, and the soul to please&
Allah desireth #our ease&
+e desireth not hardship$
(et shos the isdom of pra#er and orship)
,or those ho struggle ith the heart
To rene and cleanse and ma%e a ne start)
When +is ser'ants gather and 8uestion of +e
10
Then surel# +e is Nigh,
Though the# do not see)
.od rests ith the lo and the high)
As e2pounded in +is 4e'elation,
.od is close in pra#er and de'otion
And nothing is full# decided
6ntil the "a# of 4esurrection&n,
This should not be derided)
Li%e moons there are fi2ed seasons
,or man%ind, so obser'e #our obligations
To Allah, and stress dut#, herein lies beaut#,
And ith dut# is the coming of success&
,ight for Allah, #et ithout this transgression&
Allah does not li%e aggression)
If the disbelie'ers must fight ith #ou, then resist,
,or such is their reard, that the# desist)
This also is truthful,
,or Allah is ,orgi'ing and Merciful)
(et if the# desist hatsoe'er,
Let there be no hostilit# beteen #e and the rongdoers)
Allah is ith those ho ard off e'il,
(et onl# in moderation,
So obser'e li%e manner in retaliation)
Allah lo'eth the beneficent&
Spend #our ealth for Allah,
But be not a soldier,
To help build the good, the magnificent)
Bring not #our hands to ruin& do good,
As e'er the beneficent ould)
If not sic%, and if in safet#, ma%e,
And ne'er from another ta%e)
Obser'e #our dut#, for #our life spent,
,or Allah might also be se'ere in punishment)
(et hereafter #our on pro'ision ma%e
,or .od helps those ho help themsel'es,
As a golden rule, as the good boo%s tell)
Ma%e pilgrimage if e'er #ou can,
,or this de'otion is of Allah3s plan)
4emember this for another da#,
,or +e ho hath guided #ou, so #e not al% astra#&
.i'e remembrance to Allah as #e ma#)
(et see% not the orld as th# portion,
So that #e ma# complete th# de'otion)
*ome forard, though, ith bec%oning,
,or .od is sift ith +is rec%oning)
11
+asten from the multitude&
,or in Allah is found the gathering)
Not in the masses pulchritude)
4emember #our dut# to Allah&
If #e ere found to hasteneth,
Or e'en to dela#eth,
3Tis no sin, e2cept in pride,
So remember #our dut# to +im,
And continue to choose +is side,
Lest #our sight becomes dim)
Allah has compassion on +is bondsmen,
As compassion the# should ha'e, in isdom)
If e ait for clouds to part,
And therefore or% for naught,
Then the case be alread# 5udged,
So or% for Allah, do not begrudge)
Li%e as to the punishments,
All cases go bac% to Allah for 5udgements)
Wor% do not despise)
Allah is Might#, Wise)
When it has come before th# face,
.od3s on manifest grace,
Then alter not hat thou percei'est,
,or Allah is se'ere ith hat thou belie'est&
Beautif# the orld of the unbelie'ers,
Be of good tidings and be arners)
"o not do or spea% ill&
Allah gi'eth to those +e ill)
If in Scripture there is rath,
(et e'il ma# be turned
To the straight path)
This #ou should ha'e learned)
The multitude as%& 1What shall e spend
To reach our Paradise71
.i'e to the orphan, lend,
As e'er did the ise)
Those before #ou %ne
Affliction as an earth8ua%e&
+a'e compassion, and ne'er ta%e)
This burden is so #e groeth&
(e %no not, #et Allah %noeth)
Another hint for th# success&
"o not indulge in e2cess,
12
,or the sin is greater than the usefulness)
.i'e up that hich is superfluous,
Then Allah +is 4e'elations ma%eth)
Of the orphans in this orld, gi'e to them, let them ta%est,
3Tis best, to ma%e their orld blessed&
(our orld ill onl# impro'eth)
"o so ith #our ill,
,or a belie'ing sla'e is better than an idolater,
And to sa'e a life ala#s better than to %ill)
(et to those ho are trul# unclean
+a'e care, for cleanness Allah lo'eth
Send good deeds to omen
,or #our souls, fear Allah, obe# this author,
Brea% not thine oaths, and %noeth&
One da# #e shall meet Allah,
The Scriptures shoeth)
So be righteous, and repent)
Allah is ,orgi'ing, *lement)
Better than retribution
(e find reconciliation&
,or oman is +ea'en;sent)
Transgress them not&
Onl# if the# be sinners is di'orce lent)
Be forgi'ing, handsome,
As re'ealed b# Scripture and b# isdom&
A rule is bro%e if it be bent)
Ta%e, too, this Admonition,
0speciall# if there be children&
True de'otion is ala#s ell;meant)
If #e di'orce, then gi'e them fair pro'ision
,or creating such di'ision)
,orget not %indness among #oursel'es&
Be lo'ing, true&
Allah is Seer of hat #e do)
Be thee onl# a man,
These rules #e must understand)
"o not sin% loer)
Allah is the +earer, /noer)
Most of man%ind gi'e not than%s
That Allah is the Lord of /indness,
(et stumble ala#s in the dar%,
In their consuming blindness,
O'erloo%ing the passing %indness)
And lest in the ,ire #e burn,
13
/no that to Allah #e shall return)
Set #ourself up not as the %noers,
,or Allah is aare of e'il;doers)
So'ereignt# is here Allah ills,
As +e raised Saul among %ings,
Who suffered from their ills,
Although the# oned the mountains and hills)
When the# cried, 1+e has no ealth and no stature,1
Allah shoed hat as in his nature&
Po'ert# is not a sign of e'il&
Allah bestos %ingship on hom +e ill)
The to%en of the /ingdom is the ar%
To guide the blind man in the dar%,
A sign of the *o'enant and the 4ose of Sharon,
*ontaining the remnant of
The house of Moses and Aaron)
Listen not to decei'ers)
+ere is another to%en if #e be belie'ers&
True signs the# ala#s last
As a patent indication for the stedfast)
Listen not to those ho decei'eth,
,or e'en "a'id sle .oliath,
,or e'en to men in their blindness
Allah stands as Lord of /indness)
Some +e e2alted to some degree,
As !esus, son of Mar#, had clear proofs
Of Allah3s so'ereignt#,
And embodied +is truths)
We supported him ith the +ol# Spirit,
And there ould ha'e been no dissension
+ad .od illed it)
Prepare #ourself for the da#, that progression,
When there shalt be no intercession)
Allah- There is no .od but .od,
The Ali'e, the 0ternal,
0ncompasser of future and past
And e'er# da# infernal,
And all good things that last)
With +im nothing intercedeth,
The hea'ens +e preser'eth,
+e is Sublime, Tremendous,
"oing all ith no rest)
The right direction is distinct from error,
To a'oid the ,ire and the unhol# terror)
Allah is hearer and /noer$
14
+e is the Protecting ,riend of those ho belie'e)
,or those ho disbelie'e,
Their patrons are false deities)
Allah guided not the rongdoer)
+e is clearl# the +earer, the /noer)
Abraham said to the fool, 1The Lord gi'eth life
And causeth death,
And #e ma%e the sun come up from the West-1
Allah guideth not the rongdoer,
But ma%eth him a fool)
"o not scoff at hat fortune brings,
Lest #e #ourself needs go bac% to school)
.od can do all things)
Abraham said, 1M# Lord, can #ou gi'e life to the dead71
And, 1The birds come 8uic% to the hand,1
Was all that +e said)
"o not thin% to slight,
,or .od is ise in might)
Allah #ou can ne'er refute)
+e is *lement, Absolute)
(et +e guideth not unbelie'ing fol%)
Onl# the *o can ha'e a #o%e)
Allah is Seer of hat #ou do,
So ala#s better to remain true)
The "a# of !udgement shall be #ours at last,
As sure as the co, cheing his grass)
Should #ou see% to ha'e #our .arden,
/no that .od ma%es plain +is 4e'elation)
The de'il promises #ou destitution,
Whereas Allah is All;0mbracing
Whatsoe'er good things #e spend,
As hen to the orphan #ou lend,
(e shall be paid in full,
,or such is .od3s ill&
Be this the Admonition)
Self #e recei'eth from Allah&
02cept #our free ill #ou attained)
.i'e bac% hat #e ha'e gained,
To re5ect e'il and forbid stain)
The 5ust reard is found in +ea'en,
+erein lies the e8uit#
To sa'e #ou from ini8uit#)
Allah is teaching #ou of punishment
15
To sa'e #ou on the "a# of !udgement)
+e as%s faith in the signs of the *o'enant)
What #ou earned, #ou hath deser'eth$
+a'e faith, and ala#s belie'eth)
There is hope,
(et Allah ta%eth not a soul be#ond his scope)
+a'e faith, #et fear,
,or !udgement in the soul lies near)
16
The ,amil# of Imran
Alif) Lam) Mim)
There is no .od but +im,
The 0ternal, Ali'e,
To re'eal that to hich thou stri'e)
To sa'e #ou from e'il,
0'en as +e re'ealed the Torah, the .ospel
To ard off influences hostile)
Aforetime, to guide man%ind
+e hath re'ealed the 5ust *riterion
Beteen beha'ing right and rong)
If thou hast sinned,
"o not ma%e doubt it3s e'il tin)
*ome to peace ith it,
,or .od is Might#, Able to re8uite)
There is no .od sa'e +im,
The Almight#, the Wise,
Who does not act on him,
Who #et might forgi'e hom thou despise)
(et onl# men of understanding heed
The thread of life on hich people belie'e)
See% not irrefutabilit#
Amidst the allegorical,
,or .od has uses that are not categorical,
In +is inscrutabilit#)
To see% to e2plain our stories,
Of the different trees,
Ma# cause dissension&
Onl# Allah %noeth full# the e2planation)
All is from the Lord, profound,
So see%est thee instruction sound)
The "a# of !udgement has it3s list&
Allah shall not fail to %eep the tr#st)
"ifficult to belie'e, #et in this belie'est&
Life is not left to chance)
Otherise, there should be no ad'ance)
+ere is another stor# for thine e#es&
.od strengtheneth ith succour
And ea%eneth those +e despise
Whose sins deser'e no fa'our)
,or to armies met,
17
And one the lesser,
Who, #et, contained no unbelie'er)
.od fought off the e'il& .od strengthens hom +e ill)
Some +e sa'es, some %ill)
See% not the comfort of the orld, e3re told&
With Allah remains a happier abode)
Allah +imself is itness
That there is no .od but +im&
+e is Absolute in +is fitness,
While e oe forgi'eness for sin)
And, too, are itness, the angels and the men of learning)
"oubt not +is creation is made from 5ustice,
As those ho disbelie'eth pa# a Price, e'er earning)
The poor are +is friends,
And those ho humbl# ma%e amends,
And .od is Almight#, Wise)
It is not ala#s neccessar# to harden #our ill, and despise,
To ard off e'il men and unseen e'il,
4ather Surrender #our heart to Allah,
6ntil, the matter itself becomes still)
Trul# Surrender, and if th# foe Surrender li%eise,
Then the# are guided right
And can sur'i'e the coming "a#, and the terror in the s%ies)
And are sa'ed from blac%est night)
.od is Merciful, the Seer, Aare,
With gentleness foils the de'ils care)
(et lo- ,or those ho disbelie'e
And rongfull# the Prophets sla#, concei'e-
+e promises them the doom of the coming "a#)
+a'e #e faith,
As all the good boo%s sa#eth,
0'il men the# art decei'ed)
Sa#& 1O Allah, thou gi'est
To hom Thou ilt, and from some (e ta%est aa#-1
As a ise man ould,
In Th# hand is the good)
The unbelie'er Thou abasest
As e'er isdom should)
+ere is the hint&
.od gi'est and ta%est ithout stint,
+e bringest forth the li'ing from the dead,
And the dead from the li'ing, puts others in their stead,
Belie'est this, that #ou go on stri'ing)
,or miracles are +ea'en3s a#,
The# are all around, there is no hiding,
18
Be the# made to go or made to sta#)
Allah sa#s beare onl# of +imself,
,or 3tis the ise man ho has the ealth)
*hoose not disbelie'ers o'er those ho belie'e,
6nless to guard #oursel'es against them for #our securit#)
Whether #ou hide #our heart or re'ealeth,
Allah shall arri'e to %noeth)
.od in'ented earth and +ea'en3s rings
And is able to do all things)
While #e are among the li'ing
Lo'e Allah, and +e ill lo'e #ou
If #e repent of hat #ou do)
.od is Merciful, ,orgi'ing)
Be ise& life is found in the gi'ing)
When the ife of Imran, Mar#3s mother,
*onsecrated her offspring to Allah,
The mother of !esus, none other,
She found 'alour)
The Lord accepted her in full,
And considered her most atchful,
And ga'e Mar# as guardian <achariah,
When in the sanctuar# he found her,
With all t#pes of food all around her)
+e 8ueried of this girl from hence it arri'ed)
1,rom Allah-1 as all she replied&
.od protects the good from e'il
And gi'eth to hom +e ill)
Then goodl# <achariah pra#ed
,or goodl# offspring, as the# sa#,
And there as a son named !ohn,
Whose isdom ruled, e'er and anon,
Who as chaste and a righteous Prophet&
0'en the de'il could not stop it)
Allah is the +earer of Pra#er
As +e sits on high,
And is the final sa#er,
So pra#- That, in lo'e, +e might dra nigh)
<achariah said& 1+o can I ha'e
A son at m# age, and hen m# ife is barren71
+o are #e sa'ed7
Allah is indeed Lo'ing, *aring)
4emember the Lord much,
And praise +im in the night and morning)
The angels said, 1O Mar#, #e are such
19
As Allah has chosen thee and made #e pure
And abo'e other omen thou art preferred-
O Mar#, be obedient to th# Lord,
And bo ith those ho bo
And %eep +is Word-1
No matter ho&
These are the tidings of things that are hidden,
4e'ealed to us as it is bidden)
And remember hen the angel said& 1O Mar#, m# girl,
Th# son shall be illustrious in the hereafter and the orld
And %non to man#, the Messiah,
And one brought close unto Allah-1
She said& 1M# Lord,
I am not bedded and none hast touched me)
This is m# ord)1
(et it be b# Allah3s on decree,
,or if +e ills +e need onl# sa#& 1Be-1
The angel said, 1+e ill teach the Scripture
And isdom ithout false posture,
And pronounce the Torah and the .ospel)1
+e himself said, 1Lo, belie'e- I come to #ou b# Allah3s lea'e-
I come in +is stead, to heal the sic%,
Breathe life into cla#, and raise the dead,
4ender the ph#sic%-1
=eril#, here are true portents,
"esigned to sa'e #ou from torments)
This Prophet did not li'e 'ain
Although in the end he as slain)
=eril# there are portents
,or belief that lies dormant)
It be better if #e belie'e
(et #e need not follo me)
(et ,ear Allah, and shame me not$ obe# .od)
These at least are miracles&
That e heal the sic%, and cast out de'ils)
We en5oin thee again that
Allah is One,
With none begat,
0'en if there be religions none)
+e is m# Lord and #ours, so orship +im
To a'oid +is rath& do not sin-
This is performing the straight and narro path)
!esus cried, 1Who shall sho me fa'our
20
In the cause of Allah71
And his disciples said,
1We bare thou itness and Surrender)
We lightl# tread)1
B# the Lords of 4uth-
0nroll among those ho itness the truth)
4eligion comes and goes,
(et Allah +e fore'er %nos)
The# schemed, the disbelie'ers,
(et Allah is the best of schemers)
Allah said, 1O !esus, I am gathering thee,
And causing #ou to ascend unto Me)
I am setting #ou up abo'e those ho disbelie'e
B# m# direction,
0'en unto the "a# of 4esurrection)
And unto me all shall return,
Those ho are free and those ho suffer,
Those ho %no no and those ho ill learn,
And I shall 5udge beteen all as to ho the# differ)1
,or those ho disbelie'e good or%s
There is a hea'# chastisement in the hereafter,
And the# ill ha'e no helper, and e'il lur%s)
Those ho do good or%s shall be paid in full,
for doing the needful)
Allah lo'eth not the rongdoer)
This e recite to thee as a 4e'elation,
And a ise 4eminder,
for #our pro'ision)
+a'e faith until #ou die,
,or the curse of Allah is on those ho lie)
Miracles are man#& Allah is Might#, Wise)
Turn aa#, and Lo- Allah is Aare
Of the corrupter$ if #e do not belie'e,
The de'il3s dare,
At least be not the disrupter)
If #e den#, disputeth after %noledge
And summon, ith proper ordage,
A debate beteen #our sons and daughters,
Beteen men and omen)
To the People of the Scripture&
There is no .od but .od
To orship, so orship Allah)
"o not den# the messenger,
Bear itness and Surrender)
Allah is the Protecting ,riend
21
To heal the sic%, put rong to mend)
Abraham as not a !e, nor #et a *hristian,
(et he Surrenders,
And is not counted among the idolaters)
Those ho ha'e claim to him
Are those that follo him)
Some people of the Scripture shall lead thee false,
To go astra#,
(et do this best onl# to themsel'es, as the# callest
6ntil the !udgement "a#)
,orsooth- (e #oursel'es must
Bear itness to the truth)
Be self;effacing- Allah is All;/noing, All;0mbracing, trust-
Allah is of infinite bount#, forsooth-
+e selecteth hom +e ill for +is merc#)
Some sa#& e ha'e no dut# to the .entile)
The# lie, to sa# that .entiles are of the "e'il,
,or the chosen of Allah are those ho fulfill their pledge
And ard off e'il, though ne'er in college)
,or those ho brea% the *o'enant and oaths,
.od shall not ma%e them gro,
And in the end,
With the coming of the "a#,
+ea'en ill send,
A +ea'en the# shall not %no)
There are People of the Scripture
Who distort it ith their tongues
And shall find themsel'es unprepared ith toothless gums,
When the !udgement comes)
!udgement in the soul and heart
+a'e ala#s lain
(et in life there comes time hen the# become plain&
Ma%e a ne start-
The !udgement is indeed toda#-
So loo% th# close, don3t shir% aa#,
"o not sa#& 1This Scripture is from Allah,1
When it is not from Allah,
4ather depart for another da#&
Put #our isdom aside in store&
"o not lie concerning Allah from hat #e %no)
.od shall confirm hat #e possess&
,or behold- That hich is gi'en
Of Scripture and %noledge-
+e said to the Prophets& 1"o #ou agree to ta%e up this burden,
And confirm the *o'enant in this matter71
22
And the# said, 1We agree and bear itness and Surrender)1
+e said, 1Then bear itness, be true,
And I ill be a itness ith #ou)1
This Allah has alread# rendered,
So e ma%e no distinction beteen the Prophets,
As the# ha'e all alread# Surrendered,
And their images placed in loc%ets)
+o can one disbelie'e,
After belie'ing, and bearing itness
To the one so'ereign3s fitness7 *oncei'e-
And after man# proofs
That .od is not aloof,
(et mo'eth the 'er# truth7
"o not be decei'ed,
,or there shall not be a reprie'e&
Act on the best thou percei'e,
Lest #e die a rich man ith nothing to lea'e)
Let us spea% again of lo'e&
,or hatsoe'er #e spend
Allah is Aare thereof)
Sa#& 1Allah spea%eth truth)1
So follo the better in th# sight$
/eep compan# ith the upright)
In Mecca Abraham stood up to pra#,
And it remains a Sanctuar# unto this da#)
Whosoe'er enters this +ouse is safe,
And if #e cannot find th# a# thither
At least 'ouchsafe
Such of .od be features,
And let the disbelie'er %no&
Allah is independent of all creatures,
Be the# high or lo)
Sa#& 1O People of the Scriptures-
Wh# dri'e #e bac% from 4e'elations
When Allah +imself has guided ithout pictures
And made +is 5ust corrections71
O #e ho belie'e- (e shall suffer grief
If #e obe# a part# to the Scripture
Who ma%eth of #e a disbelie'er)
Obser'e #our dut#, remain pure,
And #our home #e shall find trul#,
,ind brothers and sisters b# +is .race,
And #e ert sa'ed from +ell and the Ab#ss)
Therefore, see% out the place of lo'e, %noing this)
But beare- As places gone and places recent
+a'e not en5oined right conduct,
23
+a'e become indecent, lost the edict,
And lost the poer of bliss)
,ind #e #our place, %noing this)
,or those ho ha'e seen the Light,
The# face in that direction,
In e'il ne'er, b# this 'er# lection,
In the merc# of Allah the# dell fore'er-
And of all Allah3s man# features
+e illeth no in5ustice to +is creatures, ne'er-
0'en as the hea'en3s churneth,
All things to .od returneth,
Be#ond the mortal3s measures)
Not all people are ali%e,
(et listen to those ho recite
To Allah in the night season,
And if #e are in sorr# state,
,all on #our face, prostrate,
If onl# for one pra#ers reason)
If #e belie'e in the Last "a#
9Which is onl# Allah3s, to trul# sa#:,
Then 'ie for others in good or%s and good pla#
,or such is considered righteous$
A'oid the heated argument, the contentious$
Be not rebellious)
O #e ho belie'e- /eep close
With #our on %ind, for those
With hatred in their mouth
+a'e more in heart and mind)
Belie'e the Scripture and the sage,
And all of those %ind,
,ind the man ho passed the tests,
,all not in ith those of rage)
Allah is Aare of that hich is hidden in their breasts)
Perse'ere, from e'il, and lo- Allah is
Surrounding that hich the# %no)
Ta%e messages of good cheer, and Allah3s bliss,
And their #e ill go$
Let #our heart be at rest,
"o not despise,
=ictor# cometh from Allah, the Might#, the Wise)
This, too, is true of the !udgement&
"oing e'il is it3s on punishment)
That #e ma# be successful
Be not greed#& be ala#s than%ful&
24
Ala#s be read# to do th# dut#&
Traffic not in usur#)
Allah lo'eth the good&
Spend hat +e hath gi'en #ou
In ad'ersit# and ease)
4emember #our dut#, then do as thou please)
.i'e than%sgi'ing, for lo- Allah is ,orgi'ing)
,or those ho repent %noing,
The rongs the# did, and do not repeat
Allah forgi'eth, so implore this plan,
,or th# groing,
If #e be but a humble man)
Who can trul# forgi'e li%e the Lord7
And for +is or%ers a bountiful reard)
If #e but tra'el in the land
Thou shalt see the conse8uence at hand,
Of those ho didst den#,
The nature of +is messengers,
Who ha'e passed ithin the s%#,
As due 4eminder,
On the a# of +ea'en3s climb
No soul can die until the appointed time,
And hoso desireth the heareafter,
This e gi'e& We shall reard the than%ful)
.od is !ust, Merciful)
Man# a Prophet had friends
Who fought beside them&
The# 8uailed not nor ea%ened
Nor ere brought lo, in the last,
(et found hat the# ere see%ing)
Allah lo'eth the stedfast)
Their cr# as onl#& 1,orgi'e us our sins, our trespass-1
So as for a true belie'er,
.od ga'e them the reard of the hereafter)
Allah is #our Protector, #our +elper)
+apless is the abode of the rongdoer)
If #e thin% of tomorro,
Be not mo'ed to sorro,
And for hat has befallen #ou)
Allah is informed of hat #e do)
Be not concerned ith 'anit#&
After grief, Allah sends don securit#)
Some ho ere an2ious on their account
Thought rongl#, in their ignorance,
25
As to hat their suffering ould amount)
But the cause to Allah belongeth holl#)
O #e ho belie'e- Belie'e thou trul#-
Some ha'e left home and ent to the field,
,ought our cause and #et ere %illed,
0'en ith 'ictor# near)
Allah gi'eth life and causeth death&
Allah is Seer,
And if #ou should be slain in Allah3s a#,
Or die therein, #e #et pass, ith #our d#ing breath,
,or 3tis better than all the ealth the rich amass&
Be not li%e them)
Allah lo'eth those ho put their trust in +im)
To hat can death amount
If #ou die on Allah3s account7
,ind forgi'eness for a fault)
And ith the ise consult)
+elp those for hom #e must&
Allah lo'eth those ho trust)
,or the "a# of 4esurrection&
(e shall find 5ust habitation)
!ustice shall be ser'ed to #ou,
As there are degrees of grace and reprobation,
And Allah is Seer of hat #e do, thus +is is the decision,
Be grateful to those ho teach
With isdom not out of reach)
,or those ho reciteth the 4e'elations
This much is truthful&
Wisdom doth #our pra#ers fulfill)
If #ou loo% into a mirror
(e shall see that #ou ere in error)
Be careful in ta%ing sides,
,or Allah %nos hat thou dost hide)
(et the good fight do not 8uit&
.od is Aare of the h#pocrite)
Sa# not of those ho fought the cause,
1The# ould not ha'e died if the# ere us)1
,orsooth& a'ert #our on death&
B# Ashtoreth-
(e on this truth,
And those ho ere slain
In the cause are not dead, are #et li'ing,
,or the Lord is 5ust and ma%es this pro'ision, forgi'ing)
"o not fear for them, not grie'e,
,or those in hom a 5ust .od belie'e&
The .arden the# shall ne'er lea'e)
26
There is 5ust reard
,or those ho ard off e'il ith the sord)
If people against #ou gather
And there is threat of danger,
Increase #our faith and sa#&
1Allah is sufficient for us- We belie'e in the "a#-
Most 02cellent is +e in hom e trust-1
,or those ho simpl# lac% the faith,
The# harm Allah not at all&
The# are free to do and sa#eth,
.i'e them free reign to sin and fall)
(et ard off e'il for #our reard,
If such men ta%e up the sord)
,or those ho hoard and do not gi'e
In no .arden should e2pect to li'e,
So see% #e to gi'e patronage,
,or Allah3s is the hea'ens heritage)
This much also is patent, true,
As indeed Allah is Informed of hat #e do&
Aid the soul3s that go to ar)
"o not sa#, 1We are rich, and Allah is poor-1
Let not be this #our song,
As the Prophet3s themsel'es died for such rong)
To the rich& dell upon this long)
+ere is another difficult lesson,
That #e find #our a# and %no the season&
Allah does not ait to separate
The ic%ed from the good,
+is sight is %een,
As the isest could,
Nor does +e ala#s re'eal the 6nseen)
(et for this, he chooses messengers
As he ill, especiall# those ho ard off e'il,
And do no ill,
And these are 4eminders,
To do onl# as #ou should)
"o not sin-
(et Allah is no oppressor of +is bondsmen)
"en# #e, though, of all
The miracles that ent before7
Need #e a miracle to Belie'e once more7
Belie'e the messenger if #e are truthful)
"en# us, hen e'en ords gi'e light7 This is rueful)
Approach the Word and gi'e up fright)
27
See% #e +ea'en7
The comfort of this orld is mere illusion)
0'er# soul shall taste of death, li%e !apheth,
6ntil the "a# of 4esurrection,
When hat #e ha'e fairl# earned
Is made separate from delusion, and hat #e learned)
(e ha'e alread# been tried and heard much rong,
And little thou hast found,
So la# hold of +ol# Scripture and e2pound)
(et see% not praise, nor self e2alt
,or onl# those ithout sin are those ith no fault)
See% not praise, and 5udge not
The good boo%s sa#
Lest #e #ourself be 5udged on !udgement "a#)
(e are not trul# safe
6ntil to Allah #e dost belongeth&
4emember our Lord- .lor# be to Thee
Who made the hea'ens and earth and didst not tire&
Preser'e us from the doom of ,ire,
*hoose for us the correct Tree)
Our Lord- Our sins forgi'e&
Sa'e us from our e'il deeds,
And ith our last breath,
That e ma# li'e-
Ma# e earn a righteous death)
And such ill be if e do not confound
What Th# messengers hath found)
/no& no good deed is missed)
Lo- .od brea%est not the tr#st,
And for those ho fought
.od3s cause and ere slain,
The# +ea'en bought,
+e forgi'es their e'ils for their pain)
Let not the seeming success
Of those ho disbelie'e, in loft# congress,
*onfuse #ou on this point, decei'e,
It is but brief comfort, then life the# lea'e)
These shall %no true .ardens ne'er,
Whereas the righteous ha'e earned the .ardens fore'er)
This is the gift of elcome from the Lord,
And a sign of hat +e has in store)
To this isdom it amount,
Allah3s sift to ta%e account)
O #e ho belie'e- 0ndure
Others ignorance, #et be read#, inured)
28
Outdo others in endurance& remain stead#)
"o #our dut# to Allah that #e succeed,
O #e ho belie'e- (e shall be freed-
29
Women
When #e claim rights o'er another, be careful)
"o not hurt each other, be truthful$
Be careful of #our dut#,
.od is the Watcher in +is bount#)
(e ere born from oman3s omb&
Mistreat them not- Or there is doom-
.i'e unto the orphan
In ealth, do not e2change the good for bad,
This ould be a great sin,
To treat so such a lad)
Life comes ith man# a Price&
Onl# marr#, and possess
If #our heart can do 5ustice)
.i'e unto the oman fair gift of marriage portion,
6nless the# remit their part thereof,
Then #e are elcome to %eep it, #et in de'otion&
.i'e up not th# part of lo'e)
.i'e up not unto the foolish, #et #our ealth maintain,
(et feed and clothe them from it, lest it drain,
And spea% %indl# unto them, repair their hem)
Be in sooth a gi'er
And especiall# maintain
If thee ha'e an orphan in charge,
And #ou are guardian&
Then deli'er up #our portion, small or large)
Allah sufficeth as a 4ec%oner)
And if much or little #our on parents lea'e
Be a helper, O #e ho belie'e-
In this ala#s do #our dut# to Allah&
Those ho de'our the ealth of orphans,
Indeed are sun%en,
And sallo fire into their bell#&
Ala#s spea% and do and belie'e 5ustl#)
4emember #our %indred ith this step,
And mindfull# deli'er up th# debt&
This is part of mone#3s function,
And from Allah another in5unction)
"o not #our close ones despise)
Allah is /noer, Wise)
If #e obe# not and distribute less,
This, too, shall lessen thine on success)
30
If a oman sin
In ignorance, the# might impro'e, and in,
So maintain for them forgi'eness, lo'e)
"o not despise, but loo% abo'e)
Allah is the /noer, Wise)
Allah is a cure for ignorance
And all +is children must need repent)
And as #e should&
"o not another3s oman ta%e,
Nor suffer 5ealous#, nor suffer hate)
+ate not here Allah hast done +is good,
"o no rong e'en if th# could)
See% not the married omen&
This is e2pressl# forbidden)
See% honest edloc%, not debaucher#,
Marr# a free oman, marr# honorabl#)
+a'e patience, turn to Allah humbl#,
Ta%e than%sgi'ing, Allah is Merciful, ,orgi'ing)
Ta%e those before #ou as an e2ample,
6pon the rights of omen ne'er trample)
Whoso doeth that through in5ustice, aggression,
+as made a grie'ous error, and transgression)
Those ho follo 'ain desires in their da#,
Again, are those ho go astra#,
So s8uander not #our hoarded ealth,
Thin%ing onl# of th#self$
Be not 'ain of desire,
,or Allah it is eas# to cast #ou to the ,ire)
*o'et not if others doth e2cel,
,or those ho belie'est
This ould be ell)
Approach not th# ife ith en'#, nor lea'est&
If she has more, than it is merc#&
As% onl# Allah of +is Bount#)
Men are in charge of omen
Because in some a#s the# e2cel)
(et omen are rearded
b# guarding the secrets,
That Allah hast guarded, and rearded ell)
And thus the# ard off e'il)
So do not hate& do not gi'e to the de'il)
Allah is e'er +igh;02alted, .reat)
If agreement beteen man and ife
31
Is difficult to reach
Then let them ha'e their arbiter, each,
To sol'e their life,
So as to heal the breach)
"o not gi'e up care)
.od is e'er /noer, Aare)
Ser'e Allah, and ascribe no partner unto +im,
Be %ind unto parents, %indred,
And those that are not of %in)
Sho %indness to th# neighbor,
Be not hindered,
To the fello;tra'eller and the a#farers
And be e'er gentle)
Be not a hinderer)
Allah lo'eth not such
As are proud and boastful$ the# ha'e to much,
"o not ha'e a'arice for others)
+ide not hat Allah bestoed,
0'en as to others #our on life3s oed$
Allah harmeth not e'en and ant, to it,
And if there is a good deed
+e shall double it, heed)
This is +is sign)
Allah is ,orgi'ing, Benign,
0rr not from the right a#,
0'en if thou disbelie'est in the !udgement "a#)
Allah #our enemies %no, to the end$
Allah is sufficient
As +elper and as ,riend)
Belie'e hat We re'eal #ou doth possess
Before We destro# their countenance$
Ala#s close are .od3s commandments)
6ntil, +e forgi'eth,
And sa'e all those +e ill from +is punishments)
Those ho distort Scripture
.od has cursed, and the# ill find no helper)
We bestoed on Abraham the Scripture and the isdom&
,or those ho disbelie'e therein,
+ell is sufficient for their burning&
All sinners are repaid)
Those ho do good or%s ha'e good companions
In .ardens and plenteous shade)
Pa# deposits for their oners,
Spend, and be loaners)
32
And if #e 5udge beteen man%ind, 5udge 5ustl#)
Lo- This Admonition from Allah is comel#)
Obe# those in true authorit#,
,orsooth, and if in an# matter thou dispute,
"efer it to Allah and the messenger
If #e are in truth a belie'er)
That is more seeml# in the end, and better
With a'ersion)
See% not ansers from false deities
In their per'ersion, but 5ust pieties,
And for the folloers of such, ab5ure them)
Whate'er their goals
(e ma# spea% plainl# of their souls&
It is a tangled eb e ea'e,
So all true messengers should be folloed
In the light of Allah3s lea'e,
And their truth is halloed)
,or all stri'ing&
Allah is Merciful, ,orgi'ing)
(et this Admonition
Beareth out onl# ith submission,
,or if .od decrees thee to go forth from th# delling,
It ould be better, and more strengthening)
But beare of ta%ing up the sord
,or it is b# Our Presence #our 5ust reard)
A'oid rath& +erein lies the straight path)
Those ho obe# Allah and the messenger
Are those to hom Allah has fa'or&
The righteous, the saint, the mart#r)
Allah is the /noer)
Ta%e #our precautions, then ad'ance
The pro'en ones, or ad'ance all together, perchance&
Allah is the "efender,
The Protecting ,riend)
Suffer not the oppressor&
Those ho do battle, to the end,
Against Allah, do battle for idols,
And indeed ea% is the "e'il)
The comfort of this orld is scant&
It ere better to ard off e'il,
But Allah shall if #ou can3t)
O man, hen ill befalleth thee it is from th#self,
(et Allah ma%e good to befalleth)
"o good in all #our fitness&
.od is a sufficient itness)
33
Li'e in 5ust obedience,
"o not do other than hat thou sa#est&
Allah recordeth thee)
+e is sufficient as Trustee)
See% not +is incongruit#&
6ltimatel# thou holdeth onl# for #ou #our on responsibilit#,
And for hat Allah brings)
Allah o'erseeth all things)
When #e are greeted, gi'e return&
Allah ta%eth count, so opportunit# should not be spurned)
(et of the h#pocrites, hat ha'e then earned7
,or those ho alloeth #ou peace,
There is no 5ust a# against them&
+old aloof, or offer grace)
The arrant to ta%e a life is onl# under se'ere oppression&
Ne'er sin% into transgression)
It is better to be a belie'ing sla'e of the *o'enant
Then into murder sin%)
Man# sa# that Scripture gi'es right)
But these are blinded in their sight)
Be careful to discriminate ith the disbelie'er
,or, e'en he is as #ou once ere)
6nto each man and oman has Allah promised good,
(et abo'e the relenting in the cause
Some riseth, as the# should)
So belie'e onl# ith pause)
So it be health, to stri'e ith #our li'es
And spend th# hard;earned ealth)
"o not 8uibble on this point, or in'ent lies, in stealth)
The earth is a spacious habitation,
So aid the poor 'ictim)
As for such, Allah ill pardon them
Who see%est refuge in the earth)
Allah is ,orgi'ing, Merciful, forsooth)
"isbelie'ers are an open enem#)
So #e ma# conceal #our orship, hiding,
Lest it gain infam#)
,or Allah is in the earth abiding)
Allah is indeed ,orgi'ing)
(ou ma# la# aside thine arms
If #ou are sic% or in alarm&
Allah alread# prepareth for the unbelie'er a shameful harm)
When #e are safe, proper orship obser'e&
Worship at fi2ed hours and do not ser'e)
.od en5oins this structure for a man
34
That meditation ma%e him part of the plan)
+ope for hat #e cannot hope
0'en as #e suffer, or cannot cope,
.od is Wise, the /noer)
,or the e'il, 3tis true&
Allah e'er surroundest hat the# do)
Those ho sin, #et see% pardon from Allah,
+a'e earned honour)
Pardon the# shall find)
Whoso sinneth ithin
*ommitteth it onl# against him)
.od is Wise, and /noer
In all a#s fore'er,
And the great Bestoer)
.od lo'es the %ind, the peace;ma%er)
,or those ho ma%e peace, a 'ast reard&
Be loathe to fight and ta%e up the sord)
,or those ho belie'e, #et ignore these a#s
Allah has prepared man# unhapp# da#s)
,or those e appoint for him to hat he e2pose&
War is +ell, as all suppose)
,or those ho belie'e in !udgement "a#&
There are no partners unto Allah& go not astra#)
Surel# the sinner alters .od3s creation&
Those ho ta%e a life the# chooseth Satan,
Looseth Allah as their sole patron
And cannot past the test
Of lo'e3s la made manifest)
Beare of anger, ignorance,
,or ho is more truthful than Allah in utterance,
Nor in ith desire3s accordance7
Allah does not see% re'enge
(et ma%est, hoe'er strange,
Sinners to find their true places)
.od is /noer& hosoe'er doeth rong
Loses +im as +elper,
0'en people of the +ol# Scripture all along,
The man and ife ho help each other are not alone,
,or Allah shall harm them not,
0'en as much as a dint on a date;stone,
But ill impro'e their lot)
Allah +imself chose Abraham as a friend,
,or he as 5ust and upright and did not bend
And did no sin in Allah3s sight)
See hat fortune brings,
Allah e'er surroundeth all things)
35
*oncerning omen, and the
Orphans, ho #ou ish to marr#,
We ha'e made 5ust decree&
Treat those around #ou 5ustl#
And humbl# gi'e of #our share&
Surel# of this Allah is made Aare)
Whate'er good #e do, lo- .od
+as helped in ma%ing it so) The Lord-
If #e see% the ill;treatment of a oman,
Or indeed desertion,
Then ma%e 5ust preparation, pro'ision)
0'en as greed is in the hearts of men)
"o not go astra# toards omen,
,ear the !udgement "a#)
,ollo this to the letter,
As, indeed, ala#s, peace is better)
If #e should be a reprobate
Ala#s see% to compensate)
Turn not aa# from #our ife
And lea'e her in suspense,
Pro'iding, 5ustl#, recompense, on #our life)
(et if these fortunes find #e separate
Allah shall pro'ide an amount
,rom +is abundance, forsooth,
,or +e is Oner of Praise, and Absolute)
If +e ill, Allah can remo'e #ou,
And put others in #our stead, so be careful hat #e do)
Allah is Able to do e'en that, as lead)
If #e desireth Allah near,
/no that the hea'ens and earth are +is)
.od is e'er +earer, Seer)
O #e ho belie'e- be staunch in 5ustice
0'en against parents and %in,
(et %no that Allah is closer to them)
(et if in passion #e lapse,
Allah is Informed of hat #e do,
And ma# set man# traps)
Whosoe'er disbelie'e in Allah
And +is messengers and the Last "a#,
+e 'eril# hath andered far astra#,
,or +e ill not guide #ou unto a a#)
Lo- The h#pocrites see% to beguile Allah,
(et the# shall be beguiled b# +im,
And this full# can be seen of men)
*hoose not the unbelie'er as a friend)
36
But change the con'ersation
Lest #e should be li%e unto them)
If #e sa# beteen this and that,
Again, Allah has a clear arrant,
Sa'e ith those ho doth repent)
,or those ho hold to religion pure,
These are among the belie'ers)
(et to those ho a'er, and are not sure
*oncerning their Lord,
To them shall come a lesser reard)
(et of this Allah is truthful&
That #e hath concern if #e are than%ful
,or +is mercies, and belie'e-
Allah is Aare, 4esponsi'e)
Allah lo'eth not harsh utterance
Of speech, 3cept thou be ronged&
Ne'er remain angr# 'er# long, or it becomes a stance)
,ore'er, Allah is the /noer, the +earer)
If #e do open good, or secret,
Or forgi'e e'il, +e is nearer,
This much is truthful)
Allah is ,orgi'ing, Poerful)
The People of Scripture as% of thee
That a boo% descend from +ea'en,
Of hich there are se'en,
A scroll of the righteous Tree)
(et of Moses in ancient times
After meeting .od on Sinai3s climb,
The# said, 1Sho us .od plain)1
,or those ho had orshipped the golden calf
Lightning sei>ed them for their ic%edness,
That in adulter# the# had lain)
And after that clear proof,
The# #et chose the calf)
(et We forga'e them e'en that-
(et for those lac%ing in such 'anit#
We shoed them Moses3 clear authorit#,
And We found ith them a *o'enant
So that their isdom should ne'er be spent)
We bade them straight& enter the gate, prostrate-
(et the *o'enant b# some ere bro%en,
Ignoring +ea'en3s to%en)
And the# ha'e a sa#ing& 1We sle !esus, son of Mar#,1
And in spea%ing against Mar# lies a penalt#,
37
And !esus as ne'er slain,
Although it appeared so unto them)
Those ho ha'e not %noledge
+a'e onl# con5ecture, ac%noledge)
So be sure for #our on help&
!esus, son of Mar#, to Allah as ta%en up)
To the orphan pa# thine alms$
And %no that Allah
+ath inspired Abraham and Ishmael,
Isaac, !acob, !esus, and !ob
And Aaron and Solomon and !onah,
And imparted to "a'id the psalms)
+e has found other messengers in their firmness,
And Allah +imself bears itness,
,rom earl# times to the present
And as itness is sufficient)
Be of good cheer&
,or happ# nes is near)
Wal% not the road to +ell, hich is man;made,
(et loo% to Prophets to be sa'ed)
It is better that #e belie'e,
But if #e should doubt& there is reprie'e&
To Allah belongs the hea'ens and earth and all in beteen,
If #e belie'est not)
Allah hath not one son&
!esus, son of Mar#, as onl# one&
It is remo'ed from +is transcendent ma5est#,
And sa# not also 1three,1 but cease,
,or there is no .od but .od,
And +e has alread# on, for #our ease,
And no man %nos here Allah trod)
Some of those ho scorn the Messiah
Will #et settle unto him, and Allah,
As ith the fa'oured angels,
And it is all the better unto them,
,or green is lo'e3s stem)
If the# but belie'e in Allah and merc#,
And do good or%s, to earn +is bount#,
And pa# their ages full,
,or .od lo'eth not the scornful)
Whomsoe'er obe#s, and is honest
6ntil, in merc# and in grace, the# might ha'e a tr#st&
The# might meet Allah face to face&
The# shall be guided b# the straight road
38
"espite bearing the hea'ier load)
To omen ala#s be faithful&
"o not earn hat the scornful bring)
Allah is /noer of all things)
39
The Table Spread
Profane not the Sacred +ouse,
The Sacred Month, the garlands
The monuments and offerings$
,ulfill #our underta%ings)
+elp not others into transgression
And sin, and do #our dut# to hat is found herein)
Be not a transgressor, for #our
4eligion I gi'e #ou Surrender)
Whoso den#eth the faith shall be the loser)
0at not the food unlaful to #ou,
,or to %eep the faith, this #ou must do)
0at onl# of the clean&
0at not hat is rongfull# %illed, beasts of burden, or carrion,
02cept in hunger, so as not to sin,
To those Allah is Merciful, ,orgi'ing&
Mention .od3s name upon it
So as to obser'e the +ol# Writ)
,or those ho eat of things un5ustl# slain
And den#eth the faith, his or% is in 'ain)
This Allah otherise ould not do
02cept so that in practice #ou remain true)
And gi'e than%s, and thus thereb#
(ou earn #our grace
And pass the tests, in +is e#e,
And before +is face)
Lo- Allah %nos hat is in their breasts)
O #e ho belie'e- Be stedfast itnesses for Allah
In e8uit#& do not 'ainl# parta%e of +is bount#,
Lest #e be dishonored)
It is laful to eat the food of 'irtuous omen
If #ou li'e not onl# in fornication)
Whoso den#eth the faith,
+is or% is in 'ain, unless #e pra#eth)
If #e are unclean, purif# #our sel'es&
Allah ould not put a burden on #ou
(et perfect +is grace,
In hat #e do)
So that in all things #e ma# gi'e than%s)
Allah %nos hat is in #our breasts)
"eal 5ustl#& that is e'er #our dut#&
40
"o not let hatred of an# people seduce #ou)
.od is informed of hat #e do,
And .od doth tell&
Whosoe'er den#eth the 4e'elations
Alread# there is a +ell$
(et, stretch out thine hands
If +e has ithheld&
.i'e to the poor a %indl# loan
,or surel# the .arden is better hich #e shall on)
(our sins shall be remitted
If thou but belie'e in hat is permitted)
"o good or%s unto the "a#
As the road to +ea'en, as all ise men sa#)
Because the tel'e chieftains of Israel
Bro%e their *o'enant
Their hearts ere made hard
And the# ould not relent,
,or their part)
The# too% ords of Scripture out of conte2t
And forgot hereb# the# ere admonished)
Thou ilt not cease to disco'er treacher#,
But bear ith them and gi'e them pardon)
Lo- Allah lo'eth the %indl#$ but do not bargain)
Those ho bro%e the *o'enant
Alread# suffer insurrection
And enmit# and hatred and ill not relent,
6nto the "a# of 4esurrection,
When, coming from the dar%,
When the people ha'e no direction,
Allah shall inform them of their handior%)
O people of the Scripture,
"en# not Our messenger,
Who, forsooth, hath forgi'en much&
*ome unto #ou from Allah the light,
Ma# #ou find such, and be guided right)
Be guided on the paths of peace,
And come forth from dar%ness b# +is decree$
Let Allah guideth thee unto the straight path
And gi'eth thee all the messenger hath)
Some sa#& lo- Allah is !esus, son of Mar#, the Messiah)
But no, for on these +e illed destruction,
As .od, as Allah, in +ea'en)
Allah is the hea'ens and the earth and all in beteen)
Allah is the So'ereign)
41
+e createth hat +e ill-
+e can do all things&
6nto +im is the 5ourne#ing)
O people of the Scripture-
/no that there lies an inter'al
In the appearance of the messengers)
Sa# not #e ha'e no tidings of good cheer nor firm arners,
,or a arner has come unto #ou)
All things Allah is Able to do)
Moses said unto his people&
14emember Allah3s fa'ours,
,or +e made #e %ings, placed #e in steeples,
And put #ou abo'e the other creatures)
.o into the +ol# Land,
Which .od has ordained ith +is 'er# hand)1
And the# said& 1No- A giant people li'e there,
So e shall not go-1
Then spa%e to of them ho feared their Lord,
And to hom Allah had been gracious&
10nter in b# the gate, and #e shall be 'ictorious&
In Allah thou shouldst put th# trust)1
The people said& 1No, the giants li'e there,
We shall not go into it-
.o ith th# Lord, but here e sit)1
Their Lord spa%e, and said& 1Then, as #ou do not dare,
This land shall surel# be forbidden,
And for fort# #ears of andering
Thou shalt be beildered, and unforgi'en,
And s8uandering)1
4ecite in truth the tale of the to sons of Adam,
One genteel, one of bedlam)
+o each offered a sacrifice,
But it as accepted from onl# one of them)
*ain said& 1I ill surel# %ill thee, to put it nice)1
(et Abel said, 1Let thou sin, as thou contemn,
,or I ouldst rather accept ,ate
Then to sin therein)
I shall not ta%e up the sord
To %ill thee, for lo- Then I sin)
Allah it is ho is Lord of the World)
I ouldst rather thou against me sin,
Then that I shouldst sin, be it a burnt offering)
,or this doom is dire,
And the punishment is of the ,ire)1
(et *ain said, 1Am I m# brother3s %eeper71
42
And sle Abel, as the chooser,
And thus became one of the losers)
If thou %illeth but one,
It shall be as %illing all man%ind,
No matter ho it is done)
Sa'e one, and thou hast sa'ed all
In %ind& this is Allah3s decree
In +is so'ereignt#, since the ,all,
,or in one man ma# be the orth
Of sa'ing man# others of the earth)
Approach unto +im, all #e ho belie'e,
And stri'e in +is a# so thou doth succeed&
,or those ho ma%e ar on .od
Shall be onl# corruption, under +is rod,
And in the orld the# shall find degradation,
Sa'e those ho repent before being o'ercome&
The# shall a'oid the aful doom)
Whosoe'er after rongdoing repent,
,ind change in their hearts and amendeth,
Allah is ,orgi'ing, *lement)
To Allah all dost belongeth&
+e punishes hom +e ill, e'en the Sent,
And hom +e ill forgi'eth)
+e hath the hea'ens in +is grasp,
And the Beast hose tail is the head of the asp,
And the fier# rings)
Lo- Allah is Able to do all things)
If some ha'e recourse to #ou of illicit gain,
!udge beteen them and see% 5urisdiction,
(et if thou 5udgest, see-
!udge onl# in thine e8uit#)
,or this much is certain, truthful&
Allah lo'eth the e8uitable)
,ear not man%ind, fear +im&
Barter not +is 4e'elations for a little gain,
If thou 5udgest not b# hat is re'ealed thou sin)
Those ho go forth in the a# of charit#,
These shall find e2piation)
!esus, son of Mar#, as caused
To follo in their footsteps, and confirm the las,
What as re'ealed in the .ospel and the Torah
And the Word of Allah,
As guidance and Admonition
To ard off e'il,
43
O people of the .ospel- Belie'ers in tradition-
To each is appointed a di'ine la, and a a#,
So be not strident in hat #e sa#,
Or be a rongdoer,
,or in the end .od ill sho thee ho #ou differ)
*leanse #our hearts toards others for this "a#&
!udge onl# b# that hich is re'ealed,
(et not b# #our desires,
,or herein, too, lies the aful ,ire,
And a ,ate that is sealed)
"o not turn aa#,
But be the gi'er,
And do not stra#,
0'en though man# of man%ind be e'il;doers)
,or here is one thing of certaint#&
3Tis better to gi'e in charit#&
This Allah 'ouchsafes unto thee,
And as commandment,
+erein lies the 'ictor#)
Then others, seeing that charit# is sent,
Might find forgi'eness in their hearts,
And thus repent)
4emember& ho is better than Allah for 5udgement7
Perhaps the charit# shall not come to nought
And the# shall repent of their secret thoughts)
O #e ho belie'e-
If one of #ou becomes a renegade
Then Allah shall bring a percei'er
Who is 5ust against the unbelie'er)
Allah does not abandon all #our stri'ing)
Allah is All;/noing, All;0mbracing)
Whosoe'er %noeth Allah as a friend
Shall be 'ictorious in the end)
0'en bo thee don in pra#er
As humilit# ards off the unbelie'er)
Ma%e not of pra#er a 5est and sport,
But be #e patient if #e understand not, ithout retort)
Belie'e not in idols,
O thee people of the Scripture-
"o not blame those ho belie'e in Allah
And are not e'il;li'ers$
There is much orse&
Those ho Allah has cursed&
Those ho ha'e abandoned the meaning of the Word
And thus ha'e lost the plainest road)
(et Allah %noeth best hat #e are hiding,
44
And is, indeed, Merciful, ,orgi'ing)
Those from man# countries
"oubt in Allah3s bounties&
"o not sa# to the belie'er
.od3s hands are fettered,
When their is great faith e'en among the unlettered)
,or Allah lo'eth not the corrupter)
If onl# the people of Scripture belie'e,
Allah shall remit their sins,
And bring them their on .ardens)
Among them man# are moderate
(et also among them are those of e'il conduct,
So #et re'eal +is message as a sign&
.od ill protect thee from man%ind)
Again, those ho belie'e,
Neither shall the# %no fear nor grie'e,
Although it is plain
That man# ere the Prophet3s slain)
Be not of those ho of spirit are blind and deaf,
,or e'en so the# shall die bereft)
So said the Messiah&
1Worship .od, orship Allah,
M# Lord and #our Lord,
6nto the end&
Ascribe not partners unto +im&
There is no .od but .od,1
As in the ilderness he trod)
,or Allah does not stop gi'ing)
+e is, indeed, Merciful) ,orgi'ing,
And the Messiah3s mother as a saintl# oman$
See ho the 4e'elations ere clear to them)
O people of the Scripture-
Truth is the religion, not 'ain 'esture)
,ollo not the desires
Of those ho erred of old,
And, see%ing truth,
Lost the plain road, and became uncouth)
See- +o the Messiah and his mother
Ate earthl# food)
.od is ,orgi'ing, .ood)
Possesseth not that hich hurt,
Or has no use,
"o not ith the ,ire flirt,
,or surel# Allah shall %noeth of the abuse,
0'en "a'id and !esus said that some ere cursed)
45
Some o'erflo ith tears
At the recognition of truth, through the #ears,
So here is a further Admonition, forsooth&
Be li%e unto mon%s and nuns in #our submission)
Surrender- Be not 'ain or proud,
Be not boisterous, be not loud)
Allah reardeth the good,
So beha'e e'en as a saintl# person should)
(et do not, 3tis true,
,orbid the good things Allah
+ath made laful unto #ou,
In +is fa'our)
Should #ou find #ourself in distress,
Once again, to Allah ma%e a itness)
Ala#s %eep oaths that are made in earnest,
And from a bro%en oath learnest)
Allah has lentest
Man# manner found of 5ust repentance)
Strong drin% and idols do not belie'e&
Put them aside that #e ma# succeed)
The dut# of Our messenger
Is but plain con'e#ance
So turneth not from the message&
"o good or%s, hate'er thou ma# ha'e eaten,
"o hat thou should&
Allah doth lo'est all the good)
And again& be of dut# grateful,
"o right and stri'e to be mindful)
Allah shall tr# #ou in this matter)
Transgresseth not&
Be a firm belie'er, and use hat #ou hath got)
,or hat happened in the past
Allah forgi'eth, if #ou pass the test)
(et feed the poor persons,
That thou ma# li'eth, do dut#, and anser the summons)
Allah is Able to re8uite,
Allah is not fettered)
+is light is ala#s lit)
It is to +im #e shall be gathered)
Appointed is the Sacred +ouse
And Sacred Month, and offerings and garlands,
"o not carouse,
So that #e %noeth .od is upon the earth
And /noer of all things, and has no dearth)
Allah ma# be se'ere in punishment
46
But also forgi'eness brings)
The e'il and the good are not ali%e,
Though such ha'e people meant,
As people ha'e tisted things, li%e a hai%)
"o not let e'il attract thee,
O men of understanding,
That #e ma# succeed, and be upstanding)
O #e ho belie'e-
(e ha'e charge of #our on souls-
So belie'e not the errors and foils)
Allah ma# inform
And to Allah #e shall all return)
"o as thou art bidden
,or onl# Allah %nos the things that are hidden)
Not mere magic are the miracles
As hen .od spo%e to the disciples
And said& 1Belie'e-1
,or the# said, 1We belie'e, and e surrender unto thee)1
And the# said, 1Bring don a table spread ith food,
So that e ma# %no the Lord is good)1
And !esus said, 1O Lord of us,
Send don a table for our sustenance-3
And Allah said, 1Lo- I send don a table, e'en so-
(ea, e'en that in the afterard
(e be of 5ust belie'ers and not beha'e froard-1
Allah %noeth hat is in #our mind,
So be ala#s 5ust and be thou %ind)
"o as thou art bidden,
,or onl# Allah %nos all that is hidden)
And !esus said, 1.lorif# the Lord
,or I did onl# as +e commandest&
Thou art Watcher o'er them)
Thou art itness o'er all things)
Thou the hea'ens and earth made 5ust&
Thou punish them, or forgi'e them,
The# art Th# sla'es-1
And Allah ne'er despise)
+e is the Might#, the Wise)
Lo- There are .ardens under hich ri'ers flo, fore'er,
Where the good shall be made secure&
In them Allah ta%est pleasure)
To Allah belongeth the earth and the hea'ens,
And +e is Able to do all things)
47
*attle
Praise be to Allah
Who has appointed the night and the da#,
Who hath created #ou out of the cla#,
And in isdom hath decreed
A certain fi2ed term for thee
That #e ma# %no it,
(et still #ou doubt it-
+e is Allah in the earth and in +ea'en,
+e %noeth #our secrets and hat #e earn,
But aa# from Allah #e turn)
(et those ho used to den#
(et accept the truth the# used to deride)
.eneration upon generation e destro#ed before thee
Who ere fi2ed more firml# than #e
,or the# ere ithout submission,
So We created another generation
With shoers from the s%#,
With a gentle canop#,
And ri'ers to flo belo them)
+ad We sent don an angel to 5udge
No time ould be made for reflection)
"o not ab5ure or begrudge&
,or the truth #ou cannot obscure)
.reater men than thou ha'e been derided before thee,
Those at hom #e scoff, #et cannot see)
O unbelie'ers- Tra'el in the land,
And see the conse8uence for the re5ecters,
That unhapp# band, the ob5ectors)
The !udgement "a# rests ith hat #e percei'e&
Open thou to lo'e that thou might belie'e)
Those ho belie'e, and #et ill sin,
Onl# in'ite their on 'er# ruin)
So dra thou nearer)
+e is the /noer, the +earer)
Before thou hath Allah as protector
,irst #e must Surrender,
And not be an idolater)
Be clear on this 4e'elation&
The soul itself contains it3s on 4etribution
And has touched thee ith affliction,
(et #e ha'e been touched b# much good fortune)
48
Allah inspires, and Allah teach)
+e is a itness beteen #ou and me
So agreement e can reach, and see)
"o #ou in sooth bear itness
That there are other gods in fitness7
.od is One, there is onl# Allah,
B# an# other name)
The disbelie'ers put their soul to ruin,
,or the# lie unto themsel'es, until the da# the# die,
And hat the# de'ised, in the end, shall onl# fail them)
.od is not a lie,
+e li'es ithin
As #our conscience,
So do not decei'e +im,
Lest, going against #ourself, #ou find the conse8uence)
+e is not a fable,
Ta%e time to or%, if thou art able)
If thou canst, start o'er
,or all 5ust men can reco'er,
,or ithout #our true submission
*omes a man;made 4etribution)
"o not hat is forbidden)
If #ou sa#, 1There is onl# the life of the orld,
We shall ne'er return,1
Ne'er better shall thou learn, and there is no Lord)
Better to belie'e in unseen things
And then see hat tomorro brings)
"o not despise-
Allah is Merciful, Wise,
And encompasseth the earth and the s%#)
"o not bear upon th# bac%s the burdens
When lo- instead of 4etribution
There ma# be gardens)
So e2piate sin,
,or the .ardens indeed doth lie ithin)
+a'e #e no sense7
"o not den# the 4e'elations&
+a'e confidence-
"o not earn the persecutions,
When the conscience %nos it3s on retributions
And there is none but Allah to alter the soul3s decisions)
Messengers We ha'e sent that reached #ou before
And o'ercame trials& remember their succour)
Bring Allah near&
Onl# those ho accept can hear)
49
Lo- Allah is able to send don a portent,
(et most men stri'e and do not %no it)
When punishment befall,
Who e2cept upon .od
*an #ou trul# call7
+e hath not rath,
And shall set #ou on the straight path)
6pon ho do #ou call7 Anser that-
On +im #e call, and sometimes +e
4emo'eth that hich befall,
And hat might befall on thee)
So in tribulation gro humble&
/eep to the straight path, do not stumble)
When e'il men forgot of hat the# ere reminded,
Lo- We struc% them don, dumbfounded)
We ha'e bent sords)
Sa#& 1Praise be to Allah, Lord of Worlds)1
"o not turn aa#,
(et see ho Our 4e'elations e displa#)
"o not disobe#)
If Allah did e'er#thing suddenl#,
Who ould perish7
Not the innocent or those +e cherished)
Those ho belie'eth and onl# do right
Shall ala#s %no da#
And ne'er the night, the truth to sa#,
And shall be gathered unto the Lord,
As +e is intercessor, in +is mere Word)
Argue not hom .od fa'oureth
And ho the than%sgi'er)
Is not Allah best aare of the rongdoer7
,or those ho belie'e, sa#eth&
1Peace unto #ou)1
,or to hom repent and does
4ight in his li'ing, earns lo'e&
Allah is Merciful, ,orgi'ing)
To the unbelie'er sa#&
1I am rel#ing
On clear proof from m# Lord hile #ou den# +im)1
And if there be derision, that person ill pa#)
In Allah is the final decision)
Allah is not a di'ider&
+e tellest the truth and is the Best of "eciders)
Allah is best aare of the rongdoer)
+e is indi'isible
And ith +im are the %e#s to the in'isible)
50
As sure as +is +ol# Word
All is noted in clear record)
+e raiseth #ou again to life,
+e %noeth hat #ou do b# da#,
And gathereth thee at night)
Sa#& 1Who deli'ereth #ou from
The dar%ness of the land and sea71
*all upon +im most humbl#& come,
Be truthful, and if deli'ered from fear,
Be than%ful that #ou a'oid the tear)
+e ma# blind #ou ith dissension,
Therefore pa# heed to +is 4e'elation)
Beare of e'ildoers in their congregation,
(et e'il the#, too, ma# repel)
4emind them, for the truth doth tell,
(et beside Allah there is no intercessor,
So be 5ust in compensation&
See% onl# the 5ust for thine companion,
And not the transgressor)
/no the hea'ens and the earth
Were created out of +is,
All +e has to sa# is& 1Be-1 forsooth,
And it is)
Sa#& 1We are ordered to Surrender,
Onl# Allah is the Best "efender,1
In anser to the rongdoer)
"o not cr# to that hich is hindrance,
(et cr# to Allah for +is 5ust guidance)
"o not fear or scare
,or Allah is the Wise, the Aare)
Abraham said& 16nless m# lord guide me in the da#
I shall be one ho goes astra#)
I fear not the idolater&
.od is the .reat "ecider)
Will thee not then remember71
Bestoed upon him ere Isaac and !acob
And each of these ere guided,
And before the ,lood)
We guided Noah, for he as a friend unto Allah,
And "a'id and Solomon,
!ob, !oseph, Moses, Aaron,
!ohn and !esus and <achariah,
And Ishmael, 0lisha, !onah, Lot,
And 0lias, all ere deemed righteous,
And some of their brethren,
51
,or, lo- We chose them and guided them&
Allah guideth of +is bondsmen)
(et if the# had not been true in orship,
This ould be 'ain, in 5udgeship$
The# had command and prophethood
So do not disbelie'e therein)
,olloeth the good)
Whom Allah guideth, it be a 4eminder&
Measure of the poer of Allah it3s true measure)
Who re'ealed the Boo%s of Moses for man%ind
When #e %ne naught$
Abandon not the isdom and it3s sign
That from Allah as brought$
Be careful in th# orship, e'en thou,
That thou ma#est arn the Mother of =illages, Mecca)
When angels stretch out their hands someho,
"eli'er up th# soul&
"o not scorn +is portents
Or ought that #e oe)
(e ere alone hen first #e ere born, and sent,
(et no #e possess a share,
And #e had intercessors,
Although no the bond is partiall# se'ered,
The more to ha'e a care)
Lo- It is Allah ho splitteth the grain of corn,
+e is the *lea'er of the "a#
And has appointed night for stillness, hen stars are born,
The sun and moon for rec%oning, I dare to sa#,
Such is +is measuring)
So do not despise,
.od is the Might#, the Wise)
+e it is ho sendeth ater from the s%#,
Brings forth buds of e'er# %ind,
The greenest blade, the clustered 'ine,
Pomegranate and oli'e
And date;palm ith the pollen therefrom +e gi'es)
Loo% upon it3s ripening&
=eril# are there portents of +im therein)
.lorified be +e, and high,
02alted abo'e all #e ascribe)
+e ta%eth care of all things&
There is no .od but .od,
So orship +im, if #e care)
Allah is Subtile, Aare)
(e shall learn hat #e ha'e learned
52
0'en as to .od #e shall return)
Of the idolaters& thou art not %eeper o'er them, forsooth&
Allah shall tell them hat the# used to do)
+obeit, that most of them are ignorant7
The# ould not belie'e, unless .od illed it,
So that the# ma# ta%e pleasure in learning,
And earn hat the# are earning,
And ta%e their pleasure)
And ho else but Allah to 5udge, ho else,
As the good boo% tells)
And ho re'ealed the Scripture7
/no hat is re'ealed in truth,
Be thou not a a'erer)
In truth and 5ustice perfected is +is Word,
To be %non and soothe)
+e is the +earer, the /noer)
Most follo onl# opinion, and guess,
So on the straight path obe#est)
Those ho are rightl# guided,
Indeed, Allah doth %noest, though multi;sided,
As such no is mentioned)
Be #e belie'ers in +is 4e'elations)
Allah is #our intercessor,
And is best Aare of the transgressor)
,orsa%e the outard and inard sin,
,or 5ust reards #e shall ala#s in)
The "e'il inspires his minions&
A'oid all such abominations)
We hath raised from the dead
Some ho al%eth among men, this Allah has said)
Thus is their conduct ell;seeming)
Ta%e unto #ou this 4e'elation&
"o not rebel&
The e'il ones plot against themsel'es)
,rom age upon age,
Allah %noeth best ith hom to place +is message)
Those hose hearts are close and narro,
Shall ne'er %no the true Surrender)
The path of the Lord is straight,
"o not be a reprobate)
Some %noest not fore'er,
Then there are some that .od shall deli'er)
/no that Allah +imself is the Lord,
And belie'est not in the a#s of the orld)
/no this truth&
53
Allah is the Lord of Merc#, and Absolute)
There shall come a happ# se8uel&
The rongdoers shall not be successful)
Ma%e hat seems fair to the children
And let the rest come to ruin)
A'oid all that is forbidden
And beare of false attribution)
Be not an idolater, and be not prodigal)
Of cattle some are for burdens,
And some for food)
0at of that hich Allah has bestoed)
,ollo not the "e'il, onl# eat of the good,
,or, lo- The "e'il is an open foe)
(et hoso is compelled, and be not lo,
Neither cra'ing nor transgressing,
(our Lord is Merciful, ,orgi'ing)
(et beare- 6ntil
Thou art sure of Allah3s ill)
(e do but guess,
,or Allah3s are the final arguments)
There is dut# from the Lord-
"o good- In thought and deed and ord)
,or some things there comes a price,
Sla# onl# in the course of 5ustice)
This +e hath ordained,
And in other places more full# e2plained)
"o not sa# that Scripture is made plain
In onl# to sects,
,or in +is merc# +e has other guidance,
This is onl# sane)
Belie'e no, for there cometh more portents,
That urge #ou to the common sense)
As for those ho sunder their religion
+a'e no concern at all, e'en be the# a contagion,
Their case shall go bac% to Allah in +is isdom)
Those ho do rong shall recei'e the li%e, and dirth$
Those ho doeth good shall recei'e ten times it3s orth$
The mee% shall inherit the earth)
Allah hath no partner, there is no .od but .od,
So Surrender& +e is Lord of all things,
And each soul earneth of their on account
And 4etribution 5ustl# brings in 5ust amount)
No one person bears anothers full load&
And though a lonel# road,
54
On this #ou shouldst full# learn,
(et Allah %nos ho e differ,
And to +im e return, slol# or sifter)
Th# Lord is sift in prosecution,
(et, lo- +e is Merciful, ,orgi'ing)
55
The +eights
Alif)Lam) Mim) Sad)
This is a Scripture re'ealed unto thee, Muhammad,
As a 4eminder to lift the hea'iness of hearts,
And be glad, and ma%e ne starts)
,ollo that hich as sent don from the Lord,
,ollo +im as a Protecting ,riend in +is Word)
Admit thou ere a rongdoer,
,or 'eril#, We shall 8uestion, all, none feer,
6nto hom Our message hath been sent,
,or 'eril#, We ere not absent&
With %noledge We thus shall relate the e'ent)
The eighing on that da# is truthful,
And if the scale be hea'# those are the successful)
Said Allah to the angels,
1,all prostrate before Adam)1
(et Iblis as not of those ho ma%e prostration,
(et Satan)
Allah said, 1In #our prostration hat hindered thee7
Are #e one ith Allah or against me71
And Iblis replied, 1I am made of fire, and Adam onl# cla#)1
Thus for pride he as degraded unto this da#)
And unto man, Allah said&
1O Adam- "ell thou and th# ife in the .arden,
And eat from hence ill #e, but be not led&
*ome not nigh the rongdoers tree)1
(et Satan said& 1Thou art not so bidden,
+e ants #ou onl# to not ha'e hat is hidden,
So that #ou not become immortal)1
Thus did he lead them on ith guile)
When the# ate of this tree their shame the# %ne,
And the# hid)
And Allah said, 1"id I not forbid7
"id I not sa# Satan is an enem# to #ou7
No from the .arden #ou must go-1
The# said& 1We ha'e ronged oursel'es at great cost,
If #ou do not sho merc# upon us, e are of the lost-1
Said Allah& 1(e are no a foe unto the other,
(et there is pro'ision&
On earth #e shall #et find habitation)
There shall #e li'e, and there #e die,
And thence shall #e be brought forth)
56
This much I gi'e, and I do not lie)1
O children of Adam- We gi'e #ou
4aiment to conceal #our shame,
And splendid 'esture, that #e restrain)
(et hat is best is restraint from e'il)
This is the 4e'elation of Allah,
That Adam3s children ma# remember)
O #e ho belie'e- If #e be a member,
Of this parable, hat do #ou concei'e7
Lo- We ha'e made de'ils as protecting friends
,or those ho do not belie'e, but are sub5ect to trends)
Sa# not& 1Our fathers did it,
Therefore for us it is fit)1
=eril#, Allah en5oineth not ledness,
And Satan seduces)
Sa#& 1M# Lord en5oineth 5ustice)1
Be upright in e'er# place of orship)
4eligion is pure onl# for +im,
As +e brought #e into being)
So shall #e return)
Ta%e of the good things, eat and drin%,
,rom th# pro'ision,
But learn,
And belie'eth for the "a# of 4esurrection)
If #e ha'e %noledge, ma%e correction)
Some indecencies are apparent,
And some ithin$
There is rongful oppression, and transparent,
And unconscious sin)
Tell Allah concerning
And do not do hat is forbidden)
Allah is Merciful, ,orgi'ing,
And there is nothing hidden)
4efrain from e'il, and amendeth,
Then neither shall #e grie'e)
On some their fate is sealed, the# are berea'ed,
(et others ma# respond to hat is re'ealed,
Though man toucheth not the concealed)
Whosoe'er in'enteth a lie against .od3s to%ens,
In The Boo% of "estin# the# ha'e limited portions,
0'en hole nations
Testif#, against each other&
The# consider not themsel'es sister and brother,
And each sa# the other one is the disbelie'er)
Thus are all dragged don and enter the ,ire)
57
Is this naught7
,or each ha'e a double torment,
Though the# %no not)
,or those ho den# Our 4e'elations,
The gates of +ea'en
Shall not be opened)
Not until the camel goeth through the needles e#e)
Thus do We re8uite the guilt#, as We sp#)
,or those ho do good or%s, are studious in their boo%s,
We ta2 not an# soul be#ond it3s scope,
(et guideth them ith good cheer and hope)
This is the .arden, for in truth
(e inherit it for hat #e used to doeth)
Beteen the good and e'il there is a 'eil,
And the dellers in the .arden,
Who hath found Allah3s pardon,
Sa# unto the dellers in the ,ire, ho fire attempted to steal&
1,orsooth- What our Lord promised us is the truth)1
To those ho ha'e not found truth,
Another 4eminder&
.od has laid a curse on the e'ildoer)
Those ho %eep men from Allah in their a#,
Are disbelie'ers in the Last "a#)
Those ho in beteen the ,ire and the .arden lie,
Should sa#, 1Peace unto #ou,1 as the# sigh,
And hat did #our pride do for #ou, and the multitude7
It ga'e #ou attitude)
Allah is forgi'ing and shall sho merc#,
And shall gi'e to #ou of +is infinite bount#)
If #e forget the meeting of this da#,
In hat to%ens shall #e find #our a#7
If thee are b# the orld beguiled
/no that religion is for the mee% and the mild)
Not a pastime or a sport)
Again, this is the Scripture3s report)
"o #e den# that #e ha'e %noledge
And ha'e been shon some merc#,
+a'e been sa'ed from the ab#ssal ledge7
Scripture is a guidance for those ho belie'e, most 'eril#)
(our Lord created the hea'ens and earth,
Then mounted to the Throne,
And made subser'ient the stars, the sun, and moon,
And that hich is shon)
=eril#, +is is the commandment and creation,
,rom creation unto creation)
58
Put don th# sords-
Blessed be Allah, the Lord of Worlds-
Wor% not confusion)
+e causeth the rain to descend,
And reneeth the dead land b# +is permission)
+e thereb# brings forth fruit of e'er# %ind, in no end)
4emember& .od is !ust, the /noer)
Thus do e recount the to%ens,
So that #e feel not forgotten)
Noah said& 1O m# people, Allah is One,
,ear +is retribution-1
1We see thee in error, and #our arguments none,1
Said the un%noing chieftains)
Noah said, 1I gi'e #ou messages from
Allah, the Lord, I am not in error,
(et +is humble messenger)1
Mind #e that there come reminder
That #e ma# %eep from e'il,
And be a 5ust decider,
And ard off the "e'il&
Allah deemed the chieftains the liar)
Be #e truthful)
4emember all the bounties of th# Lord,
That #e ma# be successful& remember +is Word)
"o not earn rath or terror)
We all must aait the coming "a#&
Be true to #our Lord and pra#)
There camest as a 5ust arner Noah,
And hat god ha'e thee to orship
Sa'e Allah7 Ser'e Allah
B# an# other name,
,or here isdom is found
4eligions ma# be all the same)
(et b# repetition We remind #ou, that #e shouldst sound,
It is no sport or game$
Messengers there ere that came before,
Belie'est them, before #ou %noc% on +ea'en3s door)
"o not ait, and do not rangle o'er names,
Before it is too late&
We all aait, some pla#ing games)
The parable of Noah shos that he as sa'ed,
Ala#s or% for the coming da#)
There is no other god sa'e +im,
On earth +e ga'e #e station)
4emember all
59
The bounties of Allah) All, since the ,all)
Wor% not #e confusion&
"o not sa# Allah3s creatures threaten&
+erein is a true religion)
"o not den# the poer of 5ust retribution)
Bear thou trial and tribulation)
"o not lie& .od heareth,
And ma# be tempted in +is rath)
None are free of Allah3s scheme,
02cept the fol%s ho perish, losing hat the# cherish,
And there are clear proofs upon the earth, and no dream,
Of Allah3s so'ereignt#)
What has disbelie'ing got7
Onl# that Allah +e heareth not)
Belie'e, rightl#, in #our co'enant)
Salih as sent to the tribe of Thamud,
And said& 1O m# people- Ser'e Allah- Ser'e .od-
Lo- This is the camel of Allah,
A to%en and a onder unto thee,
Let her in Allah3s good earth feed)
Touch her not ith hurt&
4emember Allah- (e ma%e castles in the plains,
Plough the earth,
And #e ma%e dellings in the mountains,
So remember all the bounties of Allah, the mirth,
And a'oid e'il;doings-1
Some said Salih as rongful,
(et others ere belie'ers
And refused to be scornful)
Some said& 1We refuse to belie'e
In hat e ha'e 5ust recei'ed,
O Salih-1
The# harmed the she;camel,
And said, 1+ere is no commandment,1
(et, then the# ere sei>ed b# a giant earth8ua%e,
And all ere prostrate
In their due punishment)
And Salih said, O m# people- +ere is the torment)
Thou art un5ust de'isers
And ill not listen to good ad'isers-1
6nto Midian as sent their brother, !ethro,
Who said, 1Lo- #e ha'e no other god but Allah,
A clear proof hath come unto #ou)
Ser'e Allah- Wrong not man%ind in their goods,
.i'e full measure,
60
If #e belie'e, it ould be better, and better understood)
*ome not beteen Allah3s ser'ants
Be #e not a corrupter- Be not t#rants-
"o not ma%e the path croo%ed& remember-
And remember this commandment,
0'en come cold "ecember,
+a'e patience until .od doth 5udge beteen us&
+e is the best of all ho deal in 5udgement- 0'en such-
"o not return to #our old religion,
6nless .od illeth)
In %noledge the Lord comprehendeth,
Allah has 5ust precision&
+e is best to ma%e a decision)1
0'en so the# disbelie'ed him
And the earth8ua%e sei>ed them)
The# denied !ethro,
Thin%ing the# ere the choosers,
Thus those ith pride are considered the losers)
And !ethro turned from them
And said, 1O m# people- I ga'e
(e good ad'ice and as truthful)
,or the re5ecter ho ma# I sorro71
So no We sent no Prophet to an# tonship,
(et shoed them ad'ersit#,
That the# be humble and orship)
Then the e'il as changed to good, in di'ersit#,
And the people became affluent&
This of Prophet3s should be understood)
Messengers, 'eril#,
*ome ith clear proofs of Allah3s so'ereignt#&
Thus doth Allah ma%e clear to those ho disbelie'e,
,or eternit#)
Then, after them, Moses as sent)
,or the corrupter, see the nature of the conse8uence-
Moses said& 1O Pharaoh- Lo-
I am a messenger from the Lord of Worlds, e'en so&
Let m# people go-1
Pharaoh said& 1If ith a to%en thou comest, then manifest-
+erein doeth, if truth thou spea%est-1
So as a portent
Moses flung don his staff and it as a serpent-
Pharaoh3s ad'isers said to Pharaoh&
1Put him off for ahile,
And his brother, and see-
We shall bring our best i>ards unto thee-1
61
And the i>ards also made serpents of sta'es,
(et Moses3 staff salloed them up,
And thus ere his people sa'ed from drin%ing pharaoh3s cup)
(et Pharaoh said& 10'er# one of #ou I shall crucif#-1
And the people said, 1Our Lord- Moses, let us die
As those ho ha'e surrendered unto thee-1
And Moses said unto his people&
1See% help in Allah and endure-
+e gi'eth inheritance to hom +e ill)
This much is sure)1
The# said& 1We ha'e suffered before thou camest,
And since thou comest unto us,1
And he said, 1It ma# be that the Lord
Shall destro# #our ad'ersar#, b# +is Word and as necessar#,
And o'er the earth ma%e thee 'icero#s,
To see ho #e beha'e, hen once girls and bo#s)1
And Pharaoh3s fol% ere struc% b# famine,
That the# ma# heed,
And it as from Allah,
Though the# called it Moses3 deed)
And Pharaoh3s fol% said, 1Whate'er portent thou bringest
We shall not let it beitch us)1
And besides the famine,
There as a flood and locusts and 'ermin,
And then the# cried, 1O Moses,
Pra# for us unto th# Lord&
We ere in error,
Pra# to remo'e the unhol# terror)1
(et hen the terror as remo'ed,
Behold- The# belie'ed not in hat the# ere told)
So because the# ere heedless of the 4e'elation,
The# ere droned in the sea as retribution,
And for the *hildren of Israel,
The fair ord of Allah for a time arri'ed,
(et the e'il ones of Pharaoh3s fol%
Were annihilated for hat the# contri'ed$
Still #ou 5o%e)
When Moses had completed
A time of solitude
Of fort# nights appointed b# the Lord,
+e said& 1Lord, sho me Th#self,
That I upon Thee ma# ga>e)1
And the Lord said& 1Thou ill not see me,
(et ga>e upon the mountain, to be ama>ed)1
And the mountain, hen he loo%ed,
*ame crashing don, and Moses as senseless)
62
When he ao%e, he cried& 1.lor# unto Thee,
I turn to Thee in repentance)1
And Allah said& 1+old fast that hich I ha'e gi'en,1
And upon the tablets +e rote for him,
And said, 1Ta%e the better course herein)
,or those hom m# 4e'elations den#eth
And magnif# themsel'es rongfull# in the earth,
As though fated from their birth,
The# shall not %no righteousness
And their or%s are fruitless)1
,or, #ea, after he had left them
The# found the golden calf to orship, in it3s turn,
And folloed not the a# of Moses)
=eril# e are lost unless the Lord forgi'e us)
(et here are good tidings&
Laful unto us are all good things,
,or the sa'ing of #our soul
+e prohibits onl# the foul)
Sa#, 14epentance,1
We shall forgi'e #ou #our sins,
And We shall increase th# reard
If #e hath not changed the ord)
When a communit# among them said,
1Wh# preach thee to a fol%
Whom Allah is about to punish because the# do as the# ilt71
Others said, 1That e ard off e'il, and the de'il,
And be free of guilt)1
And some ere sa'ed for the "a# of 4esurrection)
=eril# the Lord is sift in prosecution,
(et also Merciful, ,orgi'ing)
The abode of the hereafter is better
,or those ho ard off e'il and the transgressor)
+a'e #e then no sense7
/eep the Scripture, establish orship,
And consider the conse8uence)
We do not s8uander
The ages of reformers)
Sa# not that #e are unaare&
+old fast and remember,
,or as the nes comes, ta%e up ne care)
"o not do naught,
After all the Prophet3s fought,
Narrate unto others the histor#,
That hapl# the# ma# ta%e their thought)
Of those ho see not, and hear not,
63
And understand not, it is truthful&
These are the neglectful)
,or those ho do rong,
(ea, I gi'e them some rein,
,or lo- M# scheme is strong& this is not feigned)
*onsider the *reation created b# the Most +igh,
,or it ma# be thine on term draeth nigh&
But of the "a#, of the +our,
Onl# Allah %nos, in +is poer)
/noledge thereof is ith Allah onl#&
Shouldst the# 8uestion thee,
Sa#& 1I am but a bearer of good tidings,
,or those ho belie'e,
And if I could see the 6nseen, in some stealth,
I should ha'e an abundance of ealth,
And no ad'ersit#)1
,all prostrate&
+e is abo'e all that #e associate)
64
Spoils of War
The spoils of ar belong to Allah,
And to +is messenger, that is all)
Ad5ust the matter of #our difference
If #e be a true belie'er)
Those are true belie'ers hose hearts feareth,
Who trust in their Lord, and increase their faith,
And do not merel# sa#eth)
,or those ho spend hat Allah hast bestoed,
There are degrees of honour ith their Lord,
There is pardon, and pro'ision)
"ispute not the Truth after a test, in #our di'ision,
,or indeed it as the Lord made manifest,
Be not ith no isdom dri'en to death,
The Truth shall triumph b# +is ords, from +is 'er# breath)
Naught ill come of 'anit#,
+oe'er opposes the guilt#)
The disbelie'er shall come to naught,
Whereas the Lord as there
When help #ou sought) Ta%e care-
Let #our hearts be at rest& 'ictor# cometh, after the test)
+e sends ater from the s%#
That #ou ma# purif#)
Allah is Might#, Wise)
*ease from un5ust persecution,
,or if #e return to the attac%,
/no that We shall return ithout lac%,
And if #e out;number us,
/no that Allah is ith the belie'ers
In +is guidance, as the# are due percei'ers)
Be not as those ho sa#
We hear, and the# hear not)
Obe# Allah this 'er# da#&
+e %nos hat is hidden in the heart,
+e %nos #our future and %nos #our start)
"o not be se'ere in chastisement,
,or Allah is se'ere in punishment)
Obe# Allah, O true belie'er,
To +im #e shall be gathered,
This much is truthful)
+e ga'e #ou refuge and strengthened #ou,
65
So that #e ma# be than%ful)
"o not betra# #our trusts, nor be untoard)
(our possessions and #our children
Are a test, and ith Allah is immense reard)
O #e ho belie'e- Allah shall, li%e the fineness of a sord,
Sho thee discrimination
And the 5ust criterion)
If thee act humbl#,
Allah is of infinite bount#)
Allah punishes those ho punish +is ser'ants,
Or %eep them from the Place of Worship&
Ala#s sho th# merc#
To those good souls ho %eep their dut#)
There are those ho spend their ealth
In tr#ing to decei'e, and ha'e no health, but disease)
But this ill become an anguish to them,
And their ealth ill be spent,
And so the# ill lea'e,
And thus be the losers,
Placing themsel'es abo'e Allah as the choosers)
(et if the# cease,
The past shall be forgi'en them,
And the# shall stand as an e2ample to men)
This much is true&
,or Allah is Seer of hat the# do)
Allah might conclude a thing that is done,
,or in +is so'ereignt#
+e has alread# on)
0'en if #ou are under attac%)
6nto Allah all things are brought bac%)
"ispute not one ith another,
Lest #e falter, #et pass this test&
.od is ith the stedfast)
Be not boastful,
,or this ould not be truthful)
The h#pocrites ho ha'e a disease
Shall sa#, 14eligion has deluded these)1
"o not despise&
(e shall %no Allah is Might#, Wise)
/no that in #our on hands is the !udgement&
Allah is not a t#rant)
(et those, li%e Pharaoh3s fol%,
"enied Our 4e'elations,
And thus ere droned for their sins)
If #e brea% a treat#,
66
To Allah #ou fail to %eep th# dut#&
Allah lo'est not treacher#)
Those ho disbelie'e ma# see%
To foil .od3s purpose,
(et, lo- The# cannot escape- Surmise-
This ith ta%ing up of arms the# ma%e
To defend& disma# #our enem#,
Allah %noeth them)
It shall be repaid in full, be #ou one against tent#,
Whate'er #e spend,
(et incline to be a peacema%er)
Allah is the +earer, the /noer)
If the# intend to decei'e,
Lo- Allah is sufficient for thee)
,or the belie'ers, Allah hath attuned their hearts,
,or ho but Allah can ma%e such ne starts7
"o not despise&
Allah is the Might#, the Wise)
,or one hundred in submission
Ma# o'ercome one thousand
With .od3s permission)
This is an ordinance from Allah,
As e ha'e seen in that hich has gone before)
67
4epentance
,rom Allah this is a proclamation&
The disbelie'ers ith hom #e ha'e treat#
Are free from obligation)
Allah is free from the idolater, in +is bount#,
And so is +is messenger)
Tra'el freel# in the land and see hat is sent)
"o homage, and see hat Allah has granted
On the da# of the .reater Pilgrimage&
Li%e a mirage for those ho %no image)
It be better for #ou if #e repent)
Be not a'erse& do not 5est and 5ape, ith so man# sent,
,or from Allah there is no escape,
02cepting the idolaters ith hom #e ha'e treat#
And supported none against thee)
Lo- Allah lo'eth those ho %eep their dut#,
,or the# ma# repent and pa# the poor due,
Worship, and be than%ful, and not sue)
Allah is ,orgi'ing, Merciful)
And if an# idolater see%eth from #ou a protection,
+e ma# hear the ord of Allah,
So to a safe place con'e# him)
If the# are true, be true to them)
Allah lo'eth those ho %eep
Their dut# to +im, though the a# be steep)
+o can there be treat# ith the others
If the# are true to neither ritten pact nor honour,
Who satisf# ith their mouths,
(et ith their hearts refuse7
Most of them are rongdoers)
,or those ho ha'e purchased
,rom the 4e'elations of Allah a little gain,
(et cannot orship in the plain, but cease
The# debar others from +is a#, and orship pre'ent,
0'il is hat the# are ont to do, and circum'ent)
If the#, to a belie'er, obser'e neither pact nor honour,
These are the transgressors)
But if the# repent and pa# the poor;due,
Then a treat# the# ha'e made ith #ou)
If the# brea% their pledges after the treat#,
And assail #our religion, then resist, e'en if #e are loathe,
,or the# ha'e no binding oaths,
68
And must desist)
If the# attac%ed #ou first,
And ith purpose
To dri'e out the messenger,
"o not fear them, rather fear Allah-
If #e are belie'ers,
Allah, li%e a dart,
Shall remo'e the anger from their heart)
This is true& Allah is informed
Of hat #ou do)
,or the idolaters, in their 'anities, are deformed,
And shall not tend Allah3s sanctuaries)
,or those ho put up a fight
Are not e8ual in Allah3s sight)
At the In'iolable Place of Worship
Sla%e #our thirst&
Allah %nos hat is best and orst)
Those ho hath stri'en for good
With their ealth and life
Are much greater in +is sight)
These are the triumphant)
Allah is ,orgi'ing, Beneficent&
+a'e acceptance)
If #e cannot spend th# ealth,
And #our delling is superior
To Allah and +is messenger,
Then ait until Allah brings
+is command to pass$
At least be not the rongdoer, miscast)
This isdom is sent&
Afterard Allah ill relent
Toards those +e shall relent)
This much is seen&
Onl# sinners are unclean)
If #e fear po'ert#&
Allah shall besto some of +is bount#
If their be loss of merchandise)
Allah is /noer, Wise)
Some sa# 0>ra is the son of .od, of Allah,
Some sa# it is the Messiah)
The# onl# imitate those of old&
Allah +imself fights against them
,or being so bold)
There is no partner unto +im&
69
This ould be per'erse)
Allah shall perfect +is light,
+oe'er much the disbelie'er is a'erse)
It shall be said unto them,
Who hoarded ith their sords&
1+ere it is that #ou used to hoard-1
Wh# is #our heart hea'#
To its measure, hen the a# of Allah is in'o%ed,
And e spea% of the disbelie'er7
Ta%e pleasure, #et the pleasure of the orld is but a 5o%e,
*ompared to the hereafter)
"o not ait to see hat +ea'en brings)
Allah is Able to do all things)
What #ou cannot see is the cost
Wherein Allah has made belie'ers,
And made +is Word uppermost)
So in this a# stri'e)
Allah is Might#, Wise)
.i'e of #our li'es,
This much is true,
And best if #e but %ne)
See% +ea'en3s fa'our&
"o not doubt in Allah and the Last "a#,
Lest #our efforts a'er)
Those ho destro# their on souls, do not %no but sa#,
Allah %noeth the# are the liars&
See% Allah3s merc#&
"o not sit ith the sedentar#,
Or those of sloth,
6ntil the decree of Allah is made manifest)
Although the# ere loth)
+ere is the thrust&
Allah is our Protecting ,riend,
In Allah let belie'ers put their trust,
6ntil the end)
Sa#& 1Naught befalleth e2cept that
Which Allah decreed for us)1
Let not a rich mans ealth pleaseth thee,
Those ho ma%e contributions reluctantl#)
But ma%e thine on contribution,
And those a'oid the retribution)
"o not fear the unbelie'ers)
,ear Allah- ,or +e is the best of schemers)
Allah sufficeth, and shall gi'e of +is bount#)
Be content& this is more seeml#)
70
The alms are for the poor and need#$
(our on fate is coming soon)
,or those ho 'e2 the messenger of Allah
There is a painful doom)
Of this, it is the commandment,
Those 'eril# shall recei'e e2treme abasement)
Thin% #e a belie'er, and #et #e scoff7
"oom is near)
Lo- Allah is disclosing hat #e fear)
Ma%e no e2cuse, be not h#pocrites,
(e ha'e disbelie'ed, after belief #e confessed,
And so #e are guilt# along ith the rest)
The h#pocrites, these are misbegotten,
The# forget Allah, so the# +e has forgotten)
Be protecting, one to another&
"o not forget #our sister or brother)
Obe# Allah and +is messenger)
0stablish orship and pa# the poor;due
In right si>e)
Allah is Might#, Wise)
Thou art promised the ri'ers of 0den,
(et greater b# far is acceptance from Allah,
This is Triumph Supreme, e'en)
4epent- The orld itself is +ea'en;sent)
Be #e hoe'er guilt#
It ere better for #ou if #ou not turn aa#)
"o not ait for a further sign)
In hoarded ealth is nothing di'ine)
Be not a h#pocrite until #ou die)
If thee promised Allah, then do not lie-
(e ould do much good
If a little of this thou understood)
Laugh a little at th# lot,
If hoarded ealth is all #ou3'e got,
When the rightl# guided stro'e all along)
"o not be content, #et use #our li'es,
6nseal #our hearts, let there be song-
And use #our ealth to stri'e,
Then in #our true home #e shall abide,
In a .arden .reen)
This is the Triumph Supreme-
To the ea% or sic% ho sta# at home
There is no blame, on this road,
,or those ho bear a hea'ier load)
(et for the useless ealth#,
Allah ill sho them hat +e %nos)
71
Allah hath sealed their hearts,
3Tis true& and Allah %noeth
The in'isible and the 'isible, for their part,
And hat #e do)
Some shall ne'er learn&
A'oid the unclean,
,or hat the# earned)
Wor% is harder ith h#pocris#)
Wa%e up, and thou shalt see-
,rom he ho spendeth for Allah
0'il fortune shall be turned)
Be pleased ith Allah,
And +e shall be pleased ith thee&
"o not persist in h#pocris#)
If #e mi2 righteous action
With some action not so good,
This ma# ell be understood,
If #e be repenting)
Allah is Merciful, 4elenting)
Allah shall behold #our actions,
And if #e but act,
Allah shall return and ta%e #ou bac%)
If #e aait Allah3s decree,
Some +e ill punish,
And some set free)
,or all is not e8ual in +is e#es,
And Allah is the /noer, Wise)
(e ma# call #oursel'es merel# as trier,
(et, lo- Allah %noeth the liar)
Spend, that e'il be subsided)
=eril#, in that, b# Allah thou art rightl# guided)
,ulfill +is co'enant,
And do not replace it ith 5argon,
Then, 'eril#, thou hast made a good bargain)
,or Allah shall fulfill +is co'enant,
And ma%e for thee a .arden)
To those ho bo don and are repentant,
=eril#, these are the triumphant)
Those ho %eep fast to such as is ordained,
Ma%e up for the lost or% of Prophet3s slain-
And Allah shall gi'e good tidings)
The Prophet3s ere soft of heart
And long;suffering)
Allah is Aare of all things,
72
,or hearts almost turned aside,
+e is full of merc#)
+e is Merciful, and ,ull of Pit#)
O #e ho belie'e- Be careful of #our dut#,
,or, ith .od;speed,
If #e not belie'e in Allah
Then at least a good deed) 4e5oice, therefore, in faith,
And repent of disease,
Seeing the afflictions of those ho disbelie'e)
"o not turn aa#,
0'en if o'er;burdened)
There is no .od sa'e +im)
+a'e trust in hat #e on,
+e is Lord of the Tremendous Throne)
73
!onah
Alif) Lam) 4a)
These are 'erses of the ise Scripture of Allah,
As a arning to man%ind
And of good tidings
To those ho belie'e, and ha'e 'alour,
And to remind)
6nto Allah all returns,
In truth)
+e produces creation, then it turns,
Then it reproduce,
That +e ma# reard those ho belie'e,
And do good or%s ith e8uit#)
The sun and moon
On their measured stages
Were appointed for the ise to read life3s pages,
What is later and hat is soon)
And the earth itself is of portents full,
Portents, 'eril#, for fol% ho ard off e'il)
Allah ma%es it %non to me
That it should be %non to thee)
And a lifetime it ould ta%e to e2plain
!ust this much that is ordained)
+a'e #e no sense7
To ma%e a lie concerning Allah and in'ent7
The guilt# are ne'er successful&
+e is high e2alted abo'e all #e %no)
The 6nseen belongeth to the Lord,
(et e taste +is merc#, behold-
If #e rebel, or cause trouble,
It is for #oursel'es, and can be doubled)
Men thin% themsel'es master of the earth, until
Their life is altered b# an unseen ill)
Whereas once their Lord the# re5ect,
+is same las ere alread# there
When the# reflect, and ha'e a care)
+a'e #ou no sense7
If I disobe#, there is recompense)
I fear the retribution of an aful "a#)
If Allah had not illed it, and I as not smitten,
I should not ha'e ritten,
74
And #ou ould not recei'e a single 4e'elation)
I cannot change it of m# on accord,
,or there but for +e go I&
Praise the Lord- In the seet b#;and;b#)
In some ords e differ,
(et e are one communit#, though e suffer)
Others ere deli'ered& I am ith thee, and ha'e seen)
The Tree of Life is green)
We shall %no merc#
After ad'ersit#)
The life of this orld is as ater,
Where men and cattle mingle,
And the earth is embellished
With ornaments, and the good things to relish,
And people deem the# are master of her
As though it had not alread# flourished)
And #et #ou ab5ure)
Then came Our commandments,
And Allah summons us
To the abode of peace,
With isdom to remember so as to teach,
And ma# forgo +is rath)
+e leadeth hom +e ill
On the straight path,
A road that might not be hard,
,or doing good is the best reard)
,or those ho earn ill deeds&
Lo- The# ha'e no protector from Allah,
Whate'er might be their creeds)
Some are Our ascribed partner,
(et on the "a# hen We gather
All of us together,
We separate them, one from the other)
Some face the light
And some dell in dar%ness&
Allah sufficeth as a itness,
And %nos the night)
Beteen those ho should be defended,
And those in orship ho merel# pretended,
Allah %nos h#)
Of the earth and s%#,
Sight and hearing,
The dead and the li'ing,
Who bringest forth these things7
75
Who directeth the course, 'eril#7
If the people sa#& 1Allah)1
Then sa#& 1Will #ou not then, in honour,
/eep #our dut#71
Allah produces creation,
Then reproduces creation,
And raises the dead)
+o then are #e misled-
+o 5udge thee, forsooth7
It is Allah ho leadest to the truth)
And this is confirmation,
+erein there is no doubt,
That +is is the creation)
Whosoe'er doubts,
Allah is best aare of the corrupter,
Who leads men li%e sheep to the slaughter)
6nto #ou #our or%& remain true)
(e are innocent of hat the# do)
0'en as the good boo% tells,
Allah rongeth not man%ind,
The# rongeth themsel'es, let this be a sign,
Let th#self be chided,
And on the straight road rightl# guided)
4ecogni>e one another,
,or e tarr# but a da#,
And this is #our sister and brother)
0'er# nation has a messenger,
And hen the# cometh on the "a#,
The# shall not be ronged,
And the people shall not turn aa#)
Indeed be rightl# chastened&
The da# cannot be put off an hour,
Nor hastened, it is ith Allah)
Belie'e no- All #e ha'e is all #e earned,
And to Allah #e shall return)
"o the good deeds, for 'eril# it is true
Allah sees all it is that #ou do)
(e ma# #et learn&
Allah 8uic%eneth and gi'eth death,
And unto +im #e shall return)
O man%ind- There is a balm
In .ilead, for that hich is in th# breasts,
Seeter then hone# or the date;palm,
Be#ond #our hardships tests,
A merc# for belie'ers,
76
And a guidance)
Let the people re5oice-
It is better than hat is gained
With the rong choice, e'en if it abrogate pain)
(et be mindful&
What Allah has gi'en thee,
+a'e #e made it laful or unlaful7
"id #e gi'e than%s hen, as sure as the sea,
Allah is bountiful7
Nothing in the earth or s%#
0scapeth the Lord, if #ou ta%e a loo%,
And all is ritten in a clear boo%, no matter ho #ou tr#)
,or those ho belie'e,
Neither shall the# fear nor grie'e,
Nor shall the# li'e in the orld li%e a dream)
There is no changing the Words of Allah ;
That is the Triumph Supreme)
Whose'er is the spea%er,
Poer belongeth holl# to Allah)
+e is the /noer, the +earer)
Obe# this& ,or the rest,
The# do but con5ecture and guess,
And their ords come to naught,
,or the# sa# hat the# %no not)
In the Name of Allah
*ame the Prophet Noah,
And said, 1In Allah I ha'e put m# trust, and therefore
I sa# hat I must,
The rain ill come ith the opening of the door)
If Allah3s 4e'elations are an offense to #ou,
To #our on course of action be constant and true,
With #our partners all together)
I as% for no ages$ I am contrite,
Though made for the ages$ gi'e me no respite&
I am commanded to Surrender)1
But the# denied him, so We sa'ed him,
,rom the rath of the rainma%er,
And those in the ship,
Whose faith as not dim,
Those ho trul# orshipped,
And made them 'icero#s)
And see- What became of those ho denied&
The# ere not foresorn
And recei'ed the conse8uence
77
Of those ho re5ect hen the# are arned,
And belie'e not in .od3s 'engeance)
,orsooth- Afterards other messengers
Were sent ith clear proof)
(et the# said, 1,ie-1
And still the# denied)
Later, Moses and Aaron
Were sent ith Our 4e'elations,
(et an arrogant people said
Mere magic as their guidance,
The# ere better off dead,
When it came from Our Presence)
After his staff had made it plain,
Moses said, 1(e are the mere magicians,
Lo- Allah ill ma%e it 'ain-1
And hile his people ere under Pharaoh3s #o%e,
The# said, 1In Allah e put our trust)
Our Lord- Ma%e us not a lure for rongdoing fol%-1
And Moses did hat he must)
We inspired Moses, and Aaron, his brother,
And the# said, 1,ear not Pharaoh3s splendour,
Although #e hath %non the hip,
Ma%e #our houses oratories and establish orship&
This is the good nes for the belie'er)1
And Moses said, 1Our Lord-
+arden Pharaoh3s heart,
"estro# his riches, gi'e us our part,
Ma%e him belie'e not hile disaster looms,
6ntil he sees the painful doom)1
The Lord said, 1This is #our assurance&
(our pra#er is heard) /eep to the straight path,
And follo not those ithout %noledge)
The# shall feel M# rath)1
And the *hildren of Israel
*rossed the sea,
And Pharaoh as grim,
And droning o'ertoo% Pharaoh)
And he said in the last,
1I belie'e there is no .od sa'e +im,
I am a belie'er,
6nto +im I Surrender)1
No ill #ou belie'e
When #e ha'e been a rongdoer7
Pharaoh3s fol% ere droned in the torrents&
Will #e #et den# all portents7
As to the *hildren of Israel, b# Ishmael-
78
Their Lord shall 5udge beteen them
As to ho the# differ,
On the "a# hen the# are gathered all together)
Be not thou a a'erer
When e'er# to%en come unto thee,
Be not a denier)
Belie'e in the fol% of !onah,
Belie'e in Allah)
6pon those ho ha'e no sense
+e has placed uncleanness)
Allah %nos no remission,
And all fol% ouldst belie'e,
02cept that none belie'e
Sa'e b# +is permission)
Sa# 9O Muhammad:& 1O man%ind,
If #e doubt of m# religion, orship Allah, ho causeth
(ou to die& I am of the belie'ers
B# commandment and submission)
Be resolute in religion, li%e past achie'ers&
Ascribe no partners to Allah&
There is no .od sa'e +im)
If +e hast gi'en thee affliction,
None can remo'e it sa'e +im$
If +e desires good for thee,
None can repel +is bount#)
Be than%ful)
+e is the ,orgi'ing, the Merciful)
Sa#& 1O man%ind, this much is truthful&
The Truth from #our Lord has come unto #ou)
Whosoe'er is guided, is so guided for, as grateful,
The good of his soul) Whosoe'er-
Those ho err, erreth against it)
I am not o'er #ou a arder)1
79
+ud
Alif) Lam) 4a)
Ser'e none sa'e Allah-
As% pardon of #our Lord,
And turn to him repentant,
And follo +is Word)
+e causes #ou to en5o# a fair estate,
Protects #ou from #our ,ate,
6ntil the time appointed)
"o not turn aa#,
,or, lo- There ma# come the retribution
Of an aful "a#)
+e ta%eth aa#, and +e brings,
6nto Allah is #our return,
And +e is able to do all things)
"o #our best to learn)
Thou see%est to conceal th# thought,
But Allah %noeth hat is proclaimed and hat is not)
See% pardon& life is not random,
(et proceedeth from the Lord)
All is in a clear record),
And hether thou disbelie'est in #our deli'erance,
"o good or%s ith perse'erance,
(ours shall be forgi'eness)
+a'e #e no sense7
What is re'ealed in #our %noledge7
If #ou sa#, 1Allah hath not ansered m# pra#er,1
This is merel# a dodge)
Will #e #et be of those ho Surrender7
Before thou art slain,
Will #ou thin% #ourself right li%e the 'ain7
See% forgi'eness, or all #e do is fruitless)
Lo- It is the Truth from th# Lord,
Ta%e up the ploughshare,
,orsa%e the sord)
*onsider ith measure&
*lear proof is histor#,
Which stands as itness,
As an e2ample, and a merc#, for those ho belie'est,
And hoso disbelie'est therein
Is anting of forgi'eness for the sin,
,or the paths the Prophet trod,
80
And e'en ho his feet ere shod)
The curse of Allah is upon the rongdoer)
Where shalt thou be in the hereafter7
"o not lose #our soul b# #our on in'ention,
And thus become the loser,
B# #our on soul3s con'ention)
+umble th#self before the Lord&
Belie'e, and do good)
Then ilt thou on a .arden,
And dell therein)
Are the blind and the seer e8ual7
Accept this Admonition, and it3s se8uel)
Said Noah to his fol%, 1I am a plain arner,
I fear for thee the retribution)
Ser'e Allah- Allah-
Then comest thou to a solution)
Allah %noeth best hat is in #our heart)
I sa# onl#& ma%e a ne start)1
The people said, 1O Noah,
Thou hast disputed,
(et b# the senses #ou are refuted)
If #our messages, #our threats,
The signaling of our debts,
Are di'ine, then proceed to sho us a sign-1
And he said, 1Not until
Allah ill bring it upon #ou if +e ill)
If m# ords #ou despise,
What profit if I ad'ise7
If Allah3s ill is to %eep #ou astra#,
Then that is the sign)1
And the# said, 1+e hath in'ented this, it is merel# a line,
Thus is his crime)1
Noah left, ithout a sound,
02cept, 1The# shall be droned)1
+a'e patience& thou th#self do not %noest)
Blessings upon thee,
If #e accept the 6nseen)
6nto the tribe of A3ad e sent
Their brother +ud, subser'ient)
And he said& 1Ser'e Allah-
(ou ha'e no .od sa'e +im)
6nto the repentant, he shall ma%e
The earth abundant& do not ta%e,
6n%indl#, #et as% for
81
,orgi'eness and merc#& be #e poor or not poor)
"o not turn aa# guilt#)
(e do but in'ent-
(et .od #ou cannot circum'ent)
I call Allah, and #ou, to itness,
That in m# arning I ha'e fitness,
That I see% no reard,
And am innocent)
I put m# trust in Allah, for isdom +e has lent)
"oth thou not grasp7
The Lord is on a straight path, ithout lapse)1
The people said& 1There is no clear proof,
Onl# mere ords)1 This as their reproof)
And +ud said, 1People shall
Be set in place b# the Lord- Whate'er befalls-
I as gi'en this message to con'e#&
There is no .od but .od,
So do not turn aa#)1
(et such as A3ad,
That the# e2changed good ords for bad,
And denied their Lord,
And a curse folloed them in the orld)
As e ha'e seen,
To the tribe of Thamud as sent Salih)
+e said, 1O m# people, there is
No other .od sa'e +im,
The Most +igh) Be repentant-
(e ere brought forth from the earth,
And made to husband it, and search)
.od is 4esponsi'e, Nigh)
The people said, 1We are in gra'e doubt,
Wherein is our hope7 "o thee no not71
Salih said, 1This is a camel, a to%en)
If #e harm it #e earn Perdition)1
The# harmed the camel,
And delt #et onl# three da#s& their souls didst sell)
This as the penalt# for turning aa#)
Salih and those ho belie'ed ere sa'ed,
But not the guilt#)
The Lord is the Strong, the Might#)
There came to Abraham messengers,
With the nes of Isaac and !acob3s birth,
4are Prophet3s upon the roughened earth)
(et Sarah laughed,
82
Because she as an old oman, and didst not belie'e half)
And old as Abraham,
(et true as the stor#, and not 5ust b# a dram&
.od is Oner of Praise, Oner of .lor#-
Abraham as penitent, mild, imploring,
And as an old man recei'ed his children,
And blessed be his brethren)
That hich Allah lea'eth ith #ou is better,
And I am not #our %eeper)
.i'e full measure and eight in 5ustice)
See% peace$ if #ou are ell;to;do, there is a Price)
,ear the doom&
Be mild in right beha'iour, do not onl# do
,or #ourself,
With all of #our gathered ealth,
But be true, and pa# the poor due)
Better to be mild in po'ert#,
Than an e'ildoer ith much propert#)
In earning honour,
Mildness is the guide to right beha'iour)
Trust in Allah, turn to +im repentant,
Be free ith #our ealth,
,or ealth can be a prison)
4ather li'e in a tent,
"o good or%s and a'oid schism)
The Lord is Merciful, Lo'ing)
A curse follos some in the orld
6ntil the 4esurrection,
When .abriel3s trumpet is blon and banners unfurled,
So hapless are gifts that to them are gi'en)
Besides Allah there are no other gods,
And +e ronged #e not,
(e ronged #oursel'es,
In #our net #ou ere caught)
We ha'e seen something of the communities destro#ed of old&
Be a belie'er and be bold)
,or those ho do rong,
Allah3s grasp is 'er# strong)
"o not turn aa#,
In health or sic%ness)
There shall come the "a#,
That shall be itnessed)
Whereas there is gra'e doubt
*oncerning the Word,
Whereas some pout,
83
Some of us ha'e alread# heard,
Others ha'e Perdition alread# earned)
+e is Informed)
3Tis true& as thou art commanded,
Wal% the straight path in all #ou do, and this is true&
"o not 5ust do as #ou ill)
.ood deeds annul ill)
0'en if #ou are not a belie'er,
Ta%e this as a reminder)
+a'e patience& if #e be good
Allah loses not th# ages,
And #ou ha'e done as #ou should)
.enerations of old did not %no an# better
Than not to listen to a messenger, a arner)
Allah ould ha'e made man%ind one nation,
02cept for their corruption)
(et the# cease not differing
As the guilt#$ the good, in their suffering,
Were made to recei'e the Lord3s merc#)
Act- We, too, are acting)
And ait- We, too, are aiting)
Allah3s is the in'isible of the hea'ens and earth,
+e ma# be found here'er #e search)
"o- And put trust thereunto)
+e is not unaare of hat #e do)
84
!oseph
Alif) Lam) 4a)
These are 'erses of the Scripture,
Written in m# chamber)
We ha'e re'ealed it that #e ma#
6nderstand it as a lecture ritten, rather than sa#)
!oseph told his father of a dream&
10le'en planets and the sun and moon
Prostrated themsel'es unto me)1
And said his father& 1Tell no one,
Lest the# plot against thee)
Lo- Satan is an open foe-
But the Lord ill teach #ou e'ents,
And #e +e ill prefer,
As +e perfected upon th# fathers,
Abraham and Isaac) (e shall interpret portents)1
+e is Wise, the /noer)
The signs are in !oseph and his brethren,
Signs of Allah3s so'ereignt# for the en8uiring,
(et his people conspired and placed him in a pit,
That the# should remain e8ual, and ne'er hear of it)
And the# said to his father that b# a olf he as de'oured,
(et he as sa'ed b# a cara'an from 0g#pt,
And Allah as aare of hat the# did, and the# coered)
And he of 0g#pt ho purchased !oseph
Said to his ife& 1Treat him honourabl#& ma%e no mischief)
Perhaps he ma# pro'e useful,
Or be a son for hom e are than%ful)1
Thus as !oseph positioned in the land to interpret e'ents,
And became ise in signs and portents)
In +is career Allah as predominant,
Although most of man%ind %noeth not)
And he a'oided doom,
,or b# his prime he had earned good isdom)
This should be understood&
This is ho We reard the good)
+oe'er, she hose house he as in
Tempted him to commit a great sin
(et he fended off the e'il act, and led,
(et as imprisoned for his reard)
To #oung men ent to prison ith him,
And told him of their dreams, and signs)
85
One said& 1I as pressing ine)1
The other& 1I as carr#ing on m# head
A bas%et full of bread
That birds ere eating)
Tell us the meaning,
As #ou are good at interpreting)
Said !oseph& 1Nothing is partner to Allah)
Allah is almight#, the One)
(e ho orship besides +im ha'e mere names)
(our orship is mere games)
These ha'e no sanction&
With Allah alone rests the decision)
One of #ou, from ine ill drin%)
The other shall be crucified
In his stead, to thin%,
That the birds ma# eat of his bread)
Worship none sa'e Allah&
This is the right religion)1
And to him that ould be released he said,
1Mention me to m# master,1
(et the one forgot to mention,
As though a disaster)
So !oseph remained in prison)
And the %ing said& 1Lo- I sa in a dream
Se'en fat %ine
And se'en eating hich ere lean)
O ise men, can #ou e2plain m# 'ision71
The# said& 1!umbled dreams)
We do not %no the interpretation)1
And then the man ho as released from prison
4emembered, and ent to !oseph,
And said, 102pound, O truthful one,
That #e ma# be a plaintiff-1
+e said& 1(e so for se'en #ears, and reap,
(et place some aside,
,or se'en lean #ears shall then pass b#,
Then the draught shall stop,
And #e ma# then eat of #our crops)1
And the %ing said, 1Bring him unto me)1
But to the messenger !oseph said,
1What of the oman ho sought to be a decei'er71
And she said, 1The truth is out, !oseph is truthful)1
Allah guideth not the betra#er)
The Lord is ,orgi'ing, Merciful)
And !oseph to the %ing as attached, and trusted,
86
And in his presence established,
And he became a custodian,
And presented to him ere his former brethren)
+e %ne them but the# did not %no him,
As the chances ere slim)
+e ga'e them in good measure good pro'ision,
But said, if #e ant more,
Bring me #our brother)
Onl# then shall I gi'e #ou of m# store,
If #ou settle this score)
And their father said& 1!oseph, I entrusted to #ou aforetime,
No I send !acob, #ou are his arden)
In Allah I put m# trust,
And let all do the same,
To be 5ust)1
And hen !oseph met his brother,
!oseph said& 1Sorro not for hat the# did)1
And to the others said,
1I shall gi'e #ou more pro'isions and bread,
And ta%e this shirt of mine,
And la# it on m# fathers face
And he shall %no that I am not dead)1
When the glad tidings came,
!oseph3s father became a seer once more,
And remembered much lore)
+e said& 1I %no from Allah
That hich #e do not %no,
Of ho things ripen and gro)1
The# said, 1,orgi'e us our sins)
We ere sinful) We ill mind #ou and #our reign)1
+e said, 1I shall as% this of the Lord)
+e is ,orgi'ing, Merciful)1
And !oseph brought his parents into 0g#pt safe,
As Allah illed,
And he said, 1O m# father, I am not %illed)
This is m# dream of old,
The Lord hath shon me %indness,
+e too% me out of prison, hen I as in distress,
And brought #ou from the desert,
After Satan had made strife
Beteen me and m# brethren, nearl# ta%ing m# life)
O m# Lord- Thou hast gi'en me something
Of the interpretation of e'ents,
The isdom to read the portents)
Thou art m# Protecting ,riend)
87
Ma%e me to die submissi'e,
And 5oin me to the righteous,
As thou let me li'e)1
Most men are schemers&
The# do not trust the 6nseen,
But are still ma%e;belie'ers)
This stands as a reminder
To the peoples
+o much portent and truth
02ists in the hea'ens and on the earth-
And #our face #e a'ert-
Life shall come upon #ou unaare$
Be not an idolater, but sear)
Sa#& 1I call on Allah-
.lor# be to Allah& this is m# Wa#-1
,or those ho ard off e'il,
And that the# approach the tabernacle)
This is best, in #our on defense)
+a'e thee then no sense7
The# ere inspired b# Allah
When the messengers their message ga'e,
And in the end b# Allah ere sa'ed)
=eril#, this is no stor# but a histor#,
And a guidance and merc# for those ho belie'e)
88
The Thunder
Alif) Lam) Mim) 4a)
These are 'erses of the Scripture)
This is re'ealed b# the Lord of Truth,
Although most men disbelie'est, forsooth)
(et this is the report&
.od raised up the hea'ens
Without 'isible support,
And made the moon and sun,
And mounted on the Throne)
+e created the orld,
+e ordered it3s course, li%e a scroll unfurled,
That #e ma# be certain of the Lord)
+e spread out the earth ith hills and streams,
And all manner of fruit he placed therein)
Is this coincidence, or naught7
=eril# here are portents for those ho ta%e thought)
The same ater, aters it all,
,rom the mirage of the desert to the manger stall,
=ine#ards and date;palms,
With riting on their fronds,
And neighboring tracts of ploed land,
Sta'ing bac% the sand,
Some li%e and some unli%e,
But all bending toards the right)
So consider the conse8uence&
+erein 'eril# are portents for those ho ha'e sense)
(e as%, 1When e are dust,
Shall e be raised71
"o not disbelie'e in the Lord,
Wait on the Ne "a#,
And remembers +is ords)
The Lord pardons rong,
(et, lo- Th# Lord3s punishment is strong)
When messengers arri'e
People #et sa#, 1Bring me a portent to ama>e m# e#es-1
When the# hear a arner
And for e'er# fol% a guide)
(ea, Allah %noeth that in e'er# omb,
And ho the# gro,
As he %ne those no in a tomb,
And +e %nos ho things are measured)
89
+e doth %no)
+e %nos that hich is too soon
And that too late)
+e is /noer of the In'isible
And the 'isible, the stages of the moon,
+e is the +igh 02alted, the .reat)
(et +e changeth not the condition of a fol%
6ntil the# change their hearts,
And remo'e the #o%e)
And then changeth their fortune)
If #ou fear the lightning,
+ope for rain)
If Allah illeth misfortune,
There is no defender sa'e +im)
There is no .od sa'e +im)
All falleth prostrate unto +im)
The hea'ens and earth ere made from +is poers)
0'en shados fall prostrate
In the morning and the e'ening hours hen it is late)
What is good remaineth in the da#)
That hich is of no use passeth aa#)
"o not #our soul ransom&
If +e calls, anser, ith isdom,
And there shall be bliss)
Those ho ansereth not,
/no none of this,
No matter that +ell is hot,
And ill ha'e their rec%oning)
Therefore, be a man of understanding,
Be repentant,
/eep #our pact& do not brea%
The co'enant, from isdom ta%e,
Perse'ere in see%ing
The green and groing .arden)
Peace be unto those ho perse'ered,
Whose life has indeed gron,
Whose hearts are dear,
And ha'e found the seetness
Of the +ea'enl# +ome,
Before the# are in the tomb)
The# %no the best,
,or 'eril# in remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest,
!o# is for them,
And bliss the 5ourne#3s end,
hich ma# be 5ust around the bend)
90
6nto .od indeed put #our trust)
6nto +im is #our recourse)
The disbelie'ers cannot hide,
Because for them there is no guide,
And Allah is not there defender,
6nless +e the# remember)
Thus it has been re'ealed,
Thus #e form a pledge,
If instead of #our on desires, hich the heart seals,
(e follo +is right %noledge)
And to us it is gi'en
That there3s a time for e'er#
Purpose under +ea'en)
No matter ho #our burden is hea'#)
To +im offer repentance,
,or ith +im is the source of ordinance)
And the disbelie'ers sa#&
1Thou art not a messenger true)1
(et hosoe'er has %noledge of Scripture,
Allah is sufficient itness beteen me and #ou)
91
Abraham
Alif) Lam) 4a)
This is re'ealed from Allah,
That man%ind come forth from dar%ness into light
,or the rest of their da#s, as is right,
6nto the path of the Might#,
The Oner of Praise)
Those ho debar man from orship
And their comradeship,
Are those ho are far astra#)
0'er# messenger as sent
With the language of his fol%,
So that into peace the# ouldst relent)
Allah guideth hom +e ill&
"o not despise)
+e is the Might#, the Wise)
=eril# as Moses sent
To bring his people into the light,
And remind them of the da#s of Allah
,or each heart to do hat3s right)
+is people suffered Pharaoh3s affliction,
(et brought +e them forth
Li%e unto Moses3 prediction)
The Lord proclaimed& 1If thee gi'e than%s,
I gi'e #ou more,
If #e are than%less,
The opposite is in store)1
And said Moses, 1If all are than%less for all their da#s,
Allah is #et Absolute,
And Oner of Praise-1
We ha'e seen the tribes of A3ad and Thamud,
And the messengers to them of Allah, and the fol% of Noah,
And the ,lood)
Their messengers came ith clear proofs,
(et the people demanded blood)
And thrust their hands into their mouths,
And said, 1Sa# hat #e must,
We ha'e gra'e doubts of that to hich #e call us)
(ou are but mortal&
Bring some clear arrant)1
And the messengers said& 1(ou 8uarrel,
92
In Allah put th# trust, and #e shall not ant)
We are but sla'es)
Allah gi'eth grace unto those +e ill sa'e)
+o should e not trust,
When +e hath shon us our a#s)1
And the people said, 1(ou must follo our religion,
Or e shall dri'e #ou from the land)1
Then the messengers ere inspired
B# the Lord, ho lifted up +is hand,
When +is help the# sought,
And e'er# froard potentate
Was brought 'eril# to naught)
The# had no control o'er
What the# had earned)
That is the failure e2treme,
And their li'es ere li%e ashes in the ind)
Those ho do good or%s
Are made to enter .ardens,
With a goodl# tree,
It3s roots set firm, reaching e'er# soul in turn,
It3s branches reaching unto +ea'en,
.i'ing it3s fruits in e'er# season,
B# the Lord3s permission)
The e'il ha'e onl# a bad tree,
6prooted from the earth,
With no stabilit#)
+ast thou not seen those ho turned from grace
In e2change for than%lessness,
And lead their people
To the Abode of Loss7
A hapless end- At such a cost-
And the# set up ri'als
To Allah, that the# ma# mislead men)
Allah is +e ho created the hea'ens and the earth,
Night and da#,
And ma%eth the sun and moon,
*onstant in their a#)
Said Abraham, 1M# Lord-
Ma%e safe this territor#
Ma%e me and m# sons free
,rom ser'ing idols, sho me the Tree-
Thou art ,orgi'ing, Merciful)
Ma# I establish proper orship,
To ma%e other men than%ful)
93
Our Lord- Thou %noest hat
We hide and hat proclaim,
=eril# the earth and the hea'en)
Praise be to Allah ho has gi'en me
Isaac and Ishmael, and ma# the# be free-
The# ere gi'en in m# old age&
M# Lord is indeed the +earer of Pra#er, and Sage)
And in the last&
,orgi'e all belie'ers hen the account is cast)1
Thin% not Allah shall fail +is messengers,
+e is Able to re8uite the rong,
And hen the earth and hea'ens
Are changed, the# shall all come forard as one,
Allah is the Might#,
Lin%ed together in chains shall be the guilt#)
Whate'er #our creed, be arned,
There is no .od but .od,
Ta%e heed- "o not scorn-
94
Al;+i5r
Alif) Lam) 4a)
These are 'erses of the Scripture,
A plain reading to be remembered,
,or those ho ish to be of the Surrendered,
And a message of hope&
0at and en5o# life and gro,
=eril#, #e shall come to %no, hile no #e grope)
The# sa#& 1This 4eminder is from a madman,
This much is re'ealed)
This is ho he should be treated)
Send don angels as a sign to us-
If e are to be defeated-1 It as e'er thus)
(et if We did, the disbelie'ers
Would not be tolerated)
All the messengers
That ere sent ith the 4eminder
,or man%ind, %no that
We, e'en We, are it3s .aurdian, as We rest upon the Sabbat)
And ne'er came a messenger but
The# did moc% him, and cut&
Thus does the 4eminder tra'erse
The hearts of the guilt#)
The# belie'e not, although the
Men of e2ample ha'e gone pre'iousl#)
If We had opened a .ate of +ea'en
And the# passed through,
The# ould sa# their sight is rong,
Nor ould the# sing a song, here the Tree of Life gre)
=eril# are the stars li%e mansions,
.uarded from e'er# de'il outcast,
And the earth is spread out in it3s fashions
To abide to the last)
We ha'e gi'en thee li'elihood therein,
And for those hom #e pro'ideth not,
Be the# good or full of sin, hate'er the# ha'e got
Is in appointed measure,
So do We gi'e of Our treasure)
We ma%e clear ater to descend,
But these things #ou do not on in the end)
It is We, e'en We, ho bring forth death,
95
And We be the Inheritor, ith th# d#ing breath,
Be thee a laggard or be thee eager)
Lo- The Lord ill gather them together)
+e said& 1I shall ma%e a man of blac% mud altered,
Of potter3s cla#, and shall not falter,
"on on #our %nees and prostrate, pra#-1
So the angels, prostrate, obe#ed,
02cept 0blis, ho felt betra#ed)
+e said& 1Wh# should I bo
To a man of cla# altered, a mere mortal71
And Allah said& 1.o forth from hence,
Through +ea'en3s portal,
Thou art outcast, and until the "a# of !udgement
There shall follo thee a curse,
,or tr#ing to coerce)1
0blis said& 1Lord, reprie'e me,1
But the Lord said& 1Onl# for an appointed time,
,or #e decei'e)1
And 0blis said& 1=eril#,
Since thou hast sent me astra#
I shall create error and mislead,
02cept those ho are #our perfectl# de'oted sla'es)1
And the Lord said& 1(e must lea'e) (e ha'e
Poer onl# o'er those ho follo thee,
M# sla'es our free)
,or those that follo #ou,
Things shall not go ell&
Their promised place is +ell)
It hath se'en gates, each ith appointed portions,
While, lo- Those ho ard off e'il
Shall rest in .ardens, a'oid Perditions, pre'ent the de'il,
And it is said unto them&
30nter in peace, secure, belie'e in +im)
We remo'e #our rancour
In this place,
As brethren #e ma# see each other,
At last, face to face, sister to brother,
6nto M# sla'es ho are lo'ing,
Lo- I am Merciful, ,orgi'ing)1
When Abraham recei'ed messengers from Allah
The# said, 1Be not despairing)1
And he said, 1Who despaireth of the Lord, in +is merc#,
02cept those ho ha'e gone astra#71
And he said, 1Afterard hat is #our business71
And the messengers said&
96
1We ha'e been sent among the guilt#, ho shall be dead,
02cept the famil# of Lot,
Who are not of their %ind, as e see,
And no sin hath begot)
The# shall be deli'ered
02cept his ife, ho shall be a pillar of salt,
,or her fault,
Who shall be left behind,
And no man shall find)1
When the# reached Lot, the# said,
1Lea'e this ton, and follo
0ach others bac%s and do not turn around)1
And We made plain the case
That all the ic%ed shall be destro#ed in that place)
And it as a surprise,
As heated stones rained don at sunrise,
And there emitted the Aful *r#)
+erein is another portent for the belie'ers
Of the Lord3s 'engeance on e'ildoers)
The messengers ho arned ere denied,
And Our 4e'elations,
As the people ere a'erse to them,
In their per'ersions)
We sa'ed the famil# of Lot)
,or the rest,
What the# counted as gain as not)
All as created from Truth$
Be righteous& forgi'e ith gracious forgi'eness)
The Lord sent a arner)
Lo- Th# Lord- +e is the All;ise *reator)
Loer th# ing in tenderness,
And sa#& 1I accept this 4eminder)
I, e'en I, am a plain arner
I ill proclaim as commanded
And ithdra from the idolater)
We shall not be debanded)
(our bosom is oppressed b# hat e sa#,
(et praise the Lord, in prostration,
And %no #our station,
6ntil the ine'itable "a#)
97
The Bee
The commandment of Allah shall come to pass,
So see% not to hasten it if #e cr# 1Alas-1
02alted is +e abo'e all the# associate)
/eep #our dut#, do good, do not hate)
The angels, ith the Spirit)
Of +is command,
+a'e communicated ith +is bondsmen,
Sa#ing& 1Warn man%ind not to sin&
There is no .od sa'e +im)
We aait upon +is merc#,
So %eep #our better dut#)1
Allah is high abo'e, 02alted,
+e hath 'eril# created
The hea'ens and the earth&
+e made them out of Truth)
(our Lord is full of Pit#, Merciful)
+e createth that hich #ou %no not of)
+e is Abo'e)
+ad +e illed it all ould be on the straight path
In +is lo'e, and a'oid the rath)
4epent- +e causes crops to gro for #ou,
The oli'e and the date;palm
And grapes, lo- +ere is a portent-
"o not re5ect- It has been lent-
The orld is a portent for those ho reflect)
,or #ou, the sun is subser'ient,
B# +is commandments)
Indeed there are portents for those ho ha'e sense)
The earth and the sea are of ser'ice)
See% +is bount# and gi'e than%s)
The hills are firm, and so #e not go astra#
There are streams and roads,
And stars b# hich to find #our a#)
Will #e not remember7
*ount the things that are in #our fa'or,
Be than%ful, and grateful)
Allah is indeed ,orgi'ing, and Merciful)
(our .od is One .od)
Open #our hearts, be not proud)
Allah %nos hat #e proclaim
98
And hat #e %eep hidden,
+o #e are restrained
And ho #e are bidden)
"isgrace and e'il
Befall the disbelie'er)
4epent- Allah is /noer
If #e are arrogant)
The good ill enter 0den,
And ha'e hat the# ill,
Thus Allah repa#eth those ho ard off e'il)
,or those ho bro%e the commandments,
Allah ronged them not,
The# ronged themsel'es
As idolaters, ho ma# taste of +ell,
Who sa#, 1+ad Allah illed,
We ould ha'e orshipped +im,
As ell as ould our fathers)
Are the messengers
*harged ith aught sa'e gi'ing reminders71
=eril#, We ha'e raised in e'er# nation
Messengers to gi'e right proclamation)
Some ho listened b# Allah ere guided)
Others, in error, ere merel# chided)
Some sa#& 1Allah cannot raise those ho ha'e died,1
These disbelie'e because
The# belie'e those ho ha'e lied)
Belie'e this&
Allah need onl# sa#& 1Be-1 and it is)
If #e but %ne
(ou ould remain stedfast
And in Allah #ou ould put #our trust, to the last)
Be of right guidance, e are not the fe)
If #e %no not, in #our dance,
As% the folloers of the 4emembrance
What has been re'ealed to them,
That Allah ma# dra #e closer to +im)
Be secure& Allah is ,orgi'ing, Merciful)
We ha'e re'ealed the 4emembrance
That #e ma# reflect, b# destin# or chance,
And e2plain to man%ind hat the# re5ect)
See the clear proofs and ritings&
Are those ho plan ill deeds secure
,rom a gradual asting, doubting7
*an #e not see that hich is +ol#
99
,rom that hich is lol#7
,ear the Lord, and be not proud,
Lest there lur% the shado of a shroud)
What is in #our heart should not be hidden&
"o as thou art bidden)
*hoose not to gods, there is onl# Allah,
So of Me, Me onl#, be in ae)
Be a belie'er& religion is +is fore'er)
,rom Allah is the comfort #ou en5o#,
When #e ha'e misfortune, unto +im #e cr#, hoe'er-
Behold- There is no partner unto the Lord-
Whate'er #our plo#-
4epent- (e shall be as%ed of all #e in'ent)
"o not despise the hereafter&
*arr# it as a 4eminder)
"o not despise& Allah is the Might#, the Wise)
What is #our mere attitude
When Allah hath re'ealed such Similitude7
/eep to the straight path and learn,
,or e'er# man has an appointed term)
If #e ascribe to Allah
The things #e disli%e, thou art abandoned&
Belie'e in good and +e ill be #our patron)
What is re'ealed in Scripture
Ma# be e2plained to sho
!ust ho #e differ, hat #e %no)
After the earth has died
There is #et ne ater)
=eril#, here is a sign for the belie'er,
And those ho sigh,
And for those ho hear,
And #e deri'e all sorts of nourishment)
+ere is another portent,
And there is healing for man%ind,
,or those ho ha'e sense in mind)
And the Lord inspired the bee,
Sa#ing, 1*hose th# habitation in a tree,
Then eat of all fruits,
And bring forth hone#,
Wherein is healing, as the# createth, truth-
Lo- Another portent ith hich to reflect,
If #e ma# but detect)
Be than%ful)
100
Allah is /noer, Poerful)
"o not den# the grace of Allah,
In #our di'ision,
But gi'e of #our pro'ision)
Are the belie'ers all 'ain,
That the# belie'e,
And the disbelie'ers not profane7
,or those ho Surrender We come to retrie'e)
There are not similitudes to Allah,
As e are taught)
Allah %noeth, and #e %noeth not)
(et is one ho has no guide in conduct
08ual to the man ho a straight path folloeth,
And gi'es, secretl# and openl#, of his ealth7
Is one ho ould sell his soul at an# price
08ual to those ho en5oin 5ustice7
6nto Allah belongeth the 6nseen, until
The +our of "oom,
Which is nearer still-
Allah brought #e forth from the 'er# omb,
/noing nothing, that #e ma# see and hear,
And made the birds obedient in mid;air)
+e ga'e #e refuge, and shelter,
Sa'ed #ou from foolhardiness
And perfected +is fa'our, despite #our tardiness)
We ga'e thee friends&
=eril# thou shouldst ma%e amends)
(e ha'e rought some corruption)
=eril#, then, be of good submission)
There shall come a itness in e'er# nation,
As e find in the Scripture this e2position)
,orbid abomination& Allah shall tr# #ou thereb#,
And e2plain,
On the "a# of 4esurrection)
Purchase not small gain
At the price of Allah3s co'enant)
Lo- Allah is better for #e,
If #e did but %no it, and #e ma# ant
That hich #ou ha'e asteth aa#,
That hich is Allah3s is %ept for a ne da#)
"o not fear or grie'e)
Satan has no poer o'er those ho belie'e)
(et be relenting&
Man# messengers ere told
The# ere but in'enting, and to bold)
101
(et sa#& 1The +ol# Spirit
+ath re'ealed it, that #e remember)
+ere is good tidings for those ho surrender)1
If #e lose religion, at least %eep faith)
This is assuredl# the straight path)
4emember those ho ere stedfast and persecuted,
And be than%ful)
Th# Lord afterards is ,orgi'ing, Merciful)
There is pro'ision in +is merc#,
If +im #e ser'e,
Than% +im for +is bount#,
(et sa# not, then, that this is laful and that forbidden,
This should be brought forth and that hidden,
Or against Allah in'ent a lie,
02cept out of need)
Otherise #e ill not succeed,
No matter ho much #e tr#)
,or those ho do, their en5o#ment shall be brief,
,or the belie'er, untold relief)
,or those ho do e'il in ignorance,
And then amend,
Allah is still a Protecting ,riend)
The Sabbath as onl# appointed
,or those ho upon it differ)
!udge not lest #e #ourself be 5udged,
,or Allah %noeth the idolater)
0ndure thou patientl#&
Allah is ith the good, ho %eep their dut#)
The *hildren of Israel
.lorified be +e,
Whom in m# dream,
*arried me from Mecca to !erusalem)
+e is the +earer, the Seer)
We ga'e unto Moses the Scripture,
And We ga'e it as guidance
,or the *hildren of Israel, as the good boo% doth tell,
So that idolaters not suffer the conse8uence)
The# ere of Noah3s seed) (et, lo- We decreed
To his ser'ants&
(e shall or% corruption in the earth tice,
And become great t#rants)
The first time came We roused
Our sla'es against thee, though the# ere despised,
102
And the# ra'aged #our countr#)
When it as #ours to prosper again,
We aided #ou ith ealth and children,
Sa#ing& 1If #e do good it is for #our soul3s aid,
If #e do e'il, in li%e manner #e shall be repaid)
The second time the Temple as entered,
And laid aste all the as con8uered)
It ma# be the Lord shall ha'e merc#,
In +is !udgement)
But if #e repeat the crime,
+e shall repeat the punishment, e'er# time)
Lo- This ?ur3an doth guideth
To that hich is straightest,
And gi'es good tidings for those
Who do good or%s, be straight and narroest)
,or those ho do not there comest soon
The preparation of a painful doom)
0'er#thing is clearl# e2pounded&
The night is one portent, and da# oft surrounded)
But the sight;gi'ing da# shos the Lord3s bount#,
That #e ma# %no the #ears,
And the rec%oning, and %eep good council ith +is merc#,
And hold bac% #our fears)
To e'er# man there is an augur#,
And on the "a# of 4esurrection,
+e shall find his boo% ill open, unto +ea'en)
It ill be said& 14ead th# boo%)
The soul sufficeth as rec%ons
If #e ta%e a loo%,
And as a reminder, for the heart bec%ons)1
We ne'er punish until
We ha'e sent a messenger, ho the people ish to %ill)
As to the tonship that thri'es on abomination,
We annihilate it ith complete annihilation&
Since Noah, man# generations-
Allah sufficeth as a Beholder of sins)
,or those ho desire the life of this orld,
It hasteneth aa#,
And a'ails the soul naught on the "a#)
Whosoe'er stri'eth ith effort necessar#
,or the hereafter,
Their effort findeth the Lord3s fa'our)
0ach do We suppl#
,rom the Lord3s bount#)
The hereafter shall sho the degrees)
103
Let no .od but +e be ta%en,
Lest #e find #ourself repro'ed and forsa%en,
B# +is decrees)
As a further decree from th# Lord,
Spea% to #our parents ith gracious ord)
Submit through merc#,
,or th# re8uital,
As the# cared for #ou hen #ou ere little)
,orgi'eness in the Lord th# might find&
The Lord is best aare of that in #our mind)
See% forgi'eness$ s8uander not
(our ealth in antonness, unless that be #our lot)
S8uanderers ha'e de'ils as their brothers,
(et if #e turn aa# from them,
See% merc# from th# Lord,
And gi'e to them a reasonable ord)
The Lord gi'est hom +e ill pro'ision&
A'oid the sins, %eep to th# tas%s&
Of the co'enant it shall be as%ed)
Weigh ith a right balance hen #e measure,
In the end this is ala#s better)
,ollo not that hich #e %no not)
?uestions shall be as%ed
Of hearing, sight, and heart, and tas%,
Wal% not proudl#, lest #e in'o%e the ills)
Thou canst not rend the earth
Or reach the height of the hills)
Allah is hateful of all e'ils)
This is part of isdom,
(et #e #ourself be mild,
Lest #e be abandoned,
0nter +ea'en as a little child)
=eril# herein We displa# Our arnings,
And to the belie'er the appearance of good tidings)
Beare of Perdition$
If this arning onl# increases #our a'ersion,
Belie'e that it is shon&
.lorified is +e, +igh 02alted,
And Lord of the Throne)
The se'en hea'ens and earth
Singeth +is praise& repent- And search-
+e is e'er ,orgi'ing, *lement)
0'il understands it not,
,or there are secret 'eils upon the heart)
104
Allah is best aare of hat #ou sa#,
And all the deafness of the ears of e'il,
And all the manner of their secret counsel)
The# coin similitudes for thee,
But, lo- The# are astra#)
The# see% false praise, and sa#&
1When shall e be raised7 B# hom71
Then sa# #ou& 1B# the Lord, and it ma# be soon)1
Tell m# bondsmen to spea% %indlier,
Allah gi'es this as an anser,
,or there is discord)
The de'il is for man an open foe)
(et #our Lord is best aare of hat #ou do)
(e ma# cr# unto saints and angels,
When #ou ha'e misfortune,
(et it is Allah ho helps, from infinite angles,
The doom of the Lord should be shunned,
(et all tonships shall be destro#ed
0re the "a# of 4esurrection)
We send not portents sa'e to arn,
As hen We ga'e to Thamud
The camel not to harm)
We arn, #et it increases their impiet#,
Although the# ha'e %noledge
Of the Accursed Tree, the# #et 5udge-
4epent- All the angels e2cept 0blis
"idst fall prostrate, %no of this,
And punishment as his onl# pa#ment)
And to those ho disbelie'e
Because Satan ma%es them all decei'ed&
The faithful in the end shall %no no harm&
Th# Lord sufficeth as th# guardian)
When #ou ere lost upon the sea #ou cried,
(et hen found land again
(ou turned aa# from +im,
And made the angels sigh)
,eel #e secure
That the land shall not sallo #ou,
That #e ha'e a protector7 That #ou are true7
See% thou forgi'eness)
Man as e'er than%less)
=eril# We ha'e honoured the children of Adam
And ha'e gi'en to them goodl# pro'ision)
(et 5udgement as not deferred,
0'en against those ho ere preferred)
Praise the Lord unto the hereafter-
105
Those ho are blind shall be blind fore'er)
"o not see% their compromise)
Allah is ,orgi'ing, Wise)
The# indeed ha'e stro'e to beguile thee
Aa# from that to hich We inspire thee)
If the# made #ou incline to them a little
Their punishment shall be double)
Some Allah protecteth&
Thou canst not change +is method)
"o good and do not ait&
Allah ma# raise #ou to #our estate)
Sa#& 1O Lord, gi'e to me of th# Presence)1
Lo- ,alsehood shall e'er 'anish)
In healing and merc# We re'eal this ?ur3an)
It increase the e'ildoers naught sa'e in ruin)
Sa#& 10ach to his on in conduct)
M# Lord is best aare of their spirit)1
The# ill as% #e of spirit,
And sa#& 1+e could ithdra it if +e illed
Then thou ouldst ha'e no guardian in respect thereof,
As man# a Prophet is %illed)
It is naught sa'e merc# from th# Lord)1
And the# ill sa#& 1*ause ri'ers
To spring forth abundant,
Or bring Allah and +is angels, di'ers and Sent
As a arrant, as thou hast pretended)1
Sa#& 1Allah is a itness beteen me and #ou&
+e sees +is sla'es, +e doth /no)1
If #e refuse +is 4e'elations,
+o then can #e be raised up in a ne creation71
Belie'eth of the creation ought
When there can be no doubt7
If #e recei'ed all the treasures of merc#,
Would #e hold them bac% from spending7
Man as e'er grudging)
Moses We ga'e nine to%ens,
And ho did he come to Israel3s children7
Pharaoh said, 1Thou art beitched, O Moses)1
(et Moses said, 1I bring clear proofs
Of the Lord3s So'ereignt#, +is Truths)
And in truth thou %noest
It as none sa'e +e)1
(et Pharaoh as #et lost
And ould dri'e Moses out at an# cost)
106
(et here is the reminder,
We droned him and his fol%, all together)
And Allah said to the *hildren of Israel&
1In this land dell)
(et hen the "a# comes
We shall dra thee from man# nations)
With truth We sent it don,
In truth did it descend,
And We sent a messenger, to amend,
A arner ith good tidings,
Who brings these things,
In successi'e 4e'elations)
.lor# to our Lord-
The promise of the Lord shall be fulfilled)
*r# unto Allah, or the Beneficent,
Or hichsoe'er is the same&
+is are the most beautiful names)
Be not loud in orship,
Nor silent therein,
But follo the a# beteen)
+e is the Beneficent, So'ereign&
Magnif# +im)
107
The *a'e
Praise be to Allah ho re'ealed this Scripture
To +is sla'e,
To sho the straight path
And hom +e ill sa'e, from +is rath)
To the belie'ers shall be a fair reard)
Not so for those ho ta%e up the sord,
,or Allah tries men b# their conduct,
And to tr# them
All the earth is ornament,
,or #ou to onder at it3s portents)
To #oung men fled to the *a'e,
See%ing merc# and to be sa'ed,
And ere sealed ithin for a number of #ears
With no sight, nor sound in their ears)
Afterards the# ere raised
To test each as to the count of da#s)
The# stood forth, and said&
1The Lord is the Lord of +ea'en and earth-
To a'oid 'anit#, e cr# onl# to +im,
Lest e utter an enormit#)1
The# ere aa%ened in li%e manner to 8uestion,
(et there should be no outard contending
+o long the# ere placed in slumber)
The Lord is best aare of the number)
Sa# not of an#thing&
I shall do it tomorro)
Onl# if .od ills)
It is said the# tarried, in their sorro,
Three hundred #ears and nine)
Allah is best Aare&
+is is the earth and +ea'en and the di'ine)
+e is %een of +earing)
Thou ilt not find refuge e2cept in +im)
4estrain th#self see%ing +is countenance&
+e ma%eth none to share +is go'ernance)
Obe# not those ho are heedless of Our 4emembrance)
Who follo his on lust at random,
+is case has been abandoned)
(et at all cost
We suffer not the good or% to be lost)
108
To men had gardens
,ull of fruit of all manner)
(et one man said, 1With the Lord
I shall surel# find better,1
(et the other said,1+e is Allah,
M# Lord, and has no partner)
If onl# thou had said
3That hich Allah illeth,3
Then thou might see ho th# fortune runneth)1
And the first man3s fruit as beset b# destruction,
And all that he spent on it came to ruin)
Onl# pro'ided from Allah is protection,
Onl# +e is True)
In 'oice and in silence,
+is is the best reard,
And best for conse8uence)
Pa# heed to #our ealth and #our children)
Allah is able to do all things)
Wealth and children are ornament of the orld,
But good deeds endure)
=eril# #e shall come unto 6s,
When #e thought #e had no tr#st,
And the Boo% is placed)
,or the Lord nothing cannot be surmounted,
And in the end all shall be counted)
If #e but ta%e a loo%,
+e lea'est not the great nor the small from +is boo%)
I@blis said he could do his on conduct,
That he as of the !inn)
So he rebelled against the Lord3s command)
"id it earn him a protecting friend7 Those that sin)
*alamitous is the e2change for e'ildoers,
Nor doth Allah chooseth them to be +is helpers)
Naught but pride hinders #ou
,rom as%ing forgi'eness,
Naught but pride pre'ents #e from guidance)
Man as e'er contentious)
"o good& those ho disbelie'e
See% ith falsehood to refute the truth)
"o th# best& the threat of these 4e'elations
Is surel# a test)
Let #our heart understand, see% thee relations,
And #our ears hear, this is best)
109
Ala#s see% proper guidance)
Let these recitations stand as a 4emembrance)
The Lord is ,orgi'er, ,ull of Merc#)
,or hat #e earn
The Lord has +is appointed term)
And all those tonships ert
"estro#ed hen the# did rong-
Be aare of hat #ou do,
The promise of the Lord is true)
,or the disbelie'ers,
+ell shall be plain to 'ie)
Be true to the Lord&
Thine efforts goeth astra# in the life of the orld&
Those or%s are 'ain)
There is no eight for them
On the "a# of 4esurrection)
The Lord deser'es praise, and orship&
Let all #our or%s be righteous)
110
Mar#
/af) +a) (a) Ain) Sad)
This is the Scripture of Allah
That is mention of the merc#
Of the Lord unto <achariah)
In secret he cried& 1M# Lord,
M# bones are feeble and I ha'e gre# hair, but, m# Lord,
I ha'e ne'er been unblest in pra#er,
Nor ha'e been a transgressor)
Lord, m# ife is barren&
.i'e from Th# Presence a successor
Who shall inherit of me,
And is acceptable unto Thee)1
And it as said unto him,
1We ha'e tidings of a son,
The first to bear the name of !ohn)1
And <achariah said, 1+o can this be71
And the Lord saith, 1It as eas# for Me)1
And <achariah as%ed for a sign,
And as silent for three nights unto man%ind)
Then he came forth and signified&
1At brea% of da# and fall of night
(our Lord glorif#)1
And !ohn had isdom as a child,
*ompassion from Our Presence,
And he as de'out and dutiful,
Pure, and mee%, and mild)
And ma%e mention of Mar# in the Scripture,
When she ithdre
And loo%ed east from her chamber,
When Our Spirit We sent unto her)
+e said& 1Of the Lord I am onl# a messenger&
We besto a faultless son on thee)1
And she said, 1+o can this be71
The Lord saith, 3It is eas# for Me)
We ma%e of him a 4e'elation)
This is set and ordained, from *reation)1
And she concei'ed him,
!esus, son of Mar#)
And he spa%e from the cradle, sa#ing,
1I am a sla'e of Allah, and able)
111
+e hath made me blessed,
And en5oined upon me pra#er,
And alms;gi'ing, and dut#
6ntil the da# I die,
And the da# I shall be raised ali'e-1
Such as !esus, son of Mar#)
To .od be the .lor#-
As in this +e sa#eth unto it onl#& 1Be-1
And it is)
The sects among men differ&
Ser'e the Lord&
That is the right path for the belie'er)
See and hear them on the "a#
The# come to 6s)
The e'ildoers toda# in error are manifest)
Warn them of the "a# of anguish)
No the# are in a state of carelessness,
And belie'est not)
The earth We inherit,
And all thereon, in the Spirit)
6nto 6s the# shall return)
Better to be patient and learn)
And ma%e mention of Abraham)
+e said to his father&
1Wh# orship hat cannot hear or see,
Nor in aught a'ail thee7
,ollo me, I ill lead #ou on the right path)
Ser'e not the de'il,
Ser'e the Beneficent)
I fear #ou earn a punishment)1
+is father said, 1If thou cease not,
I ill surel# stone #e) "epart from me-1
And Abraham said, 1I shall as%
,orgi'eness of m# Lord for thee
And ithdra,
,rom that to hich #ou pra# besides Allah)1
In pra#er he as blest,
And he recei'ed !acob and Isaac,
Who ere both deemed a Prophet)
And ma%e mention of the Scripture of Moses,
Who as chosen,
And as called to the Mount,
And communion)
And upon him of Our merc#
Was bestoed his brother Aaron)
112
And remember the Scripture of Ishmael)
Lo- +e as a %eeper of the promise,
And a messenger,
And others held communion,
Such as 0noch, hom We raised to high station)
All orshipped the Beneficent,
Weeping and adoring)
(et generations meet deception)
Onl# those ho repent and do right
Shall enter the .arden, be in +is sight)
Be stedfast in .od3s ser'ice&
Is one greater that thou %noest7
A man sa#eth& 1Shall I be raised from the dead, forsooth71
(e ere created before& surel# We
Are best aare, in truth)
Toards the Beneficent be not stubborn,
Li%e other men ho see% rebellion)
The e'ildoers shall be left crouching there,
Not so those ho acted fair)
These are 4e'elations clear)
"o not rel# on outard seeming,
Nor thin% in Allah is mere dreaming)
In right guidance al% aright,
And this is better in the Lord3s sight)
As good begets good, as is sure,
(ou shall recei'e ample reard)
As sure as We shall record)
Seest ho de'ils are in confusion, confounded)
=eril# is the estate of .od ell;founded)
Ma%e no haste against them&
Of da#s the# are granted but a sum)
None ha'e poer of intercession
02cept b# co'enant ith the Lord&
Those ho unto Allah ha'e made submission,
And carr# onl# +is Word)
The guilt# are dri'en into +ell, a ear# herd)
The Beneficent hath no one son&
All come as sla'es
And return to one,
As befitting +is Ma5est#,
And +is numbering)
We ma%e the Scripture eas# on the tongue,
As sure as Allah sits abo'e,
,or those ho belie'e and do good or%s,
Shall ala#s be recei'ed in lo'e)
113
114
Ta +a

Ta) +a)
This is a reminder to those ho fear,
And a 4e'elation, and clear,
,rom +im ho created the earth and high hea'ens)
Whatsoe'er is in the hea'ens and on earth, and beteen,
To +im belong&
The Beneficent One, established on the Throne)
If thou spea%est aloud,
Lo- The secret thought, and hat is more hidden,
+e doth %no)
+e %nos #our pain) Allah-
There is no .od but .od)
+is are the most beautiful names)
4emember, again, the stor# of Moses&
+e sa a fire afar,
And said unto his fol%&
1I ill go and in'estigate,
To bring #ou a brand or find guidance,
So ait-1
When he reached the fire he as called b# name&
1O Moses, ta%e off #our shoes,
,or #ou are in the hol# 'alle# of Tua,
And I, e'en I, am #our Lord, Allah-
There is no .od sa'e Me)
So ser'e Me in M# guidance,
And establish orship for M# 4emembrance)
The +our shall surel# arri'e,
,or all those ho stri'e,
(et I shall %eep it hidden,
So do as thou art bidden)
All shall be rearded for hat
The# stri'e to achie'e,
Whether the# disbelie'e or the# belie'e)
,or those ho ha'e peace as their desire,
These the Lord doth cherish,
Those ho follo their on desire,
Shall surel# perish)
O Moses,cast don #our staff-1
And as a portent
The staff became a serpent)
115
The man said& 1.rasp it, and fear not-
To it3s former state We shall return it-
No #ou are fit to go,
And ta%e #our staff unto Pharaoh-1
And Moses said& 1M# Lord,
4elie'e m# mind,
0ase m# tas%, loose m# tongue,
That the# ma# understand m# sa#ing,
And remember&
Appoint for me Aaron, m# brother,
And let him share m# tas%,
That e ma# glorif# Thee much)
Thou art e'er seeing us-1
The man said& 1Thou art granted th# re8uest,
O Moses)
Indeed, another time We shoed thee fa'our,
When We inspired th# mother
To place #ou in an ar%
And thro #ou in the ri'er,
To do M# ill
And o'ercome e'il)
As thou art endued ith lo'e from Me,
I ha'e attached M#self to thee)
And after hea'# trial, and penitence,
Thou camest to me hither
B# m# pro'idence)
.o no, th# and th# brother,
6nto Pharaoh in 4emembrance,
And ith M# to%ens,
,or he has transgressed)
Spea% unto him a gentle ord
That he might heed or fear the Lord-1
The# said, 1Our Lord- +e ma# pla# the t#rant,
And e are .od;fearing-1
+e said, 1,ear not- I am ith #ou,
+earing and Seeing)
So go unto him,
And sa# e are messengers of the Lord&
Let out people go-1
(et said Pharaoh,
1Who then is the Lord of #ou tain71
And Moses said, 1Our Lord ga'e e'er#thing,
It3s nature, in +is sight,
And then guided it aright)1
And Pharaoh as%ed,
116
What is the state of generations of old71
And Moses replied, 1The %noledge thereof is ith the Lord,
In a clear record)
M# Lord neither erreth,
Nor doth +e forgetteth)
+e pro'ided the earth as a bed,
+e sent don ater from the s%#)
Thereof We created #ou, return #ou,
And bring #ou bac% a second time)1
And Pharaoh said,
1(e attempt to dri'e us out b# magic)
So ith m# magicians #e shall ha'e a tr#st)1
And said unto them Moses,
1In'ent not a lie) +e ho lieth faileth miserabl#)1
When Moses3 staff had eaten their serpents,
The# all fell prostrate, and said,
1We belie'e in th# portents-
Let us li'e-1
Pharaoh said, 1(e put faith in him
Before I gi'e thee lea'e)
I shall cut off #our hands and feet alternatel#)1
The magicians said, 1We choose +im ho created us)
"ecree hat thou ilt decree)1
And Moses as inspired, and said,
1Ma%e a dr# path through the sea,1
And Pharaoh led his fol% astra#)
O *hildren of Israel- We deli'ered #ou
,rom #our enem#, remember the *o'enant of Le'i,
And the due punishments)
"o not transgress)
Woe unto those to hom M# rath cometh)
,or the *hildren of Israel orshipped the golden calf)
And Moses said, 1Lo- There is a tr#st
Thou canst not brea%, e'en as e spea%,
=eril#, e shall destro# the calf,
We shall cut it in half,
And thro it into the sea)1
These things happened of old,
(et e remember,
,or We ga'e it from Our Presence
As a 4eminder)
Whoso turneth aa#,
+e shall bear a burden
On the "a# of 4esurrection,
117
The "a# hen the Trumpet is blon,
And the guilt# assembled
Before the Throne)
+e is the Li'ing, the 0ternal)
Those of rongdoing are indeed a failure,
Thus We ha'e re'ealed it as a Lecture,
That in #our need,
It causeth thou to ta%e proper heed)
02alted is Allah, the True /ing,
And perfected is the ?ur3an in 4e'elation)
The best in conduct sa#
(ou ha'e tarried but a da#)
Sa#& 1M# Lord ill scatter mountains to dust,
And lea'e it an empt# plain,
With neither cur'e nor ruggedness)
On that "a# no intercessor a'aileth
Sa'e unto hom the Beneficent accepteth)1
+e %noeth all that is before #e,
And all that is behind,
While rongdoers the# cannot compass it
With %noledge, or 5udge,
And he ho hath done good or%s,
+e feareth not in5ustice
Nor does he begrudge)
Thence, nor is there a price)
Sa#& 1M# Lord- Increase me in %noledge&
Whoso turneth aa# from thee
Shall be brought blind to the da# of assembl#)
So it must be)1
Among the buildings of the destro#ed #e al%,
=eril#, these are signs for those ho ta%e thought)
Without a decree from the Lord,
The !udgement ould #et be ine'itable
In this orld)
The Lord pro'ides& en5oin in orship)
The se8uel is for the righteous)
0ach is aiting$ so aait #e)
+e shall come to %no the oners
Of the path of e8uit#)
118
The Prophets
Man%ind heeds not each ne reminder)
With a heart preoccupied sa#eth the rongdoer&
1Is this other than a mortal71
The Lord is the +earer, the /noer)
1Na#,1 sa# the#, 1these are but muddled dreams,
In'ention, and mere poetr#, and schemes)
Let him bring a portent as of old,
Li%e from a messenger of .od)1
Thou We sent portents,
Not one tonship belie'ed
That We destro#ed, hile others ere recei'ed)
We sent no messengers e2cept those We inspired)
6nto man# ere promises fulfilled)
There is ala#s difference beteen bad and good,
And We deli'ered hom We ould)
+erein is #our 4eminder)
+a'e thee then no sense,
In the difference beteen recompense7
*an #ou not e'il banish7
If truth ere hurled against falsehood,
,alsehood ould 'anish)
Those ho dell in +is Presence,
Are not to proud to orship,
Nor do the# ear#&
Night and da# the Lord the# glorif#)
The# glorif# the Lord, for if +e ere not,
The hea'ens and earth ould be disordered)
1There is no .od but .od,1
As said all the messengers in +is fa'our&
Be a sla'e ith honour)
Act b# +is command)
Naught intercedes besides +im)
Those ho disbelie'e do not %no the time)
+e created the night and da#,
The sun and moon, in +is a#,
And to +im #e shall be returned)
And the# sa#, 1When ill the promise be fulfilled71
Man is made of haste)
Listen- I shall sho thee M# portents,
But as% me not to hasten)
And let #oursel'es be chastened)
119
Ma%e not a moc%er#- The end none can repel,
Nor fate dispel)
Nor shall there be reprie'e)
What ould e e2pect)
Man ould den# all mention of the Beneficent)
The# sa#, 1When shall the promise be fulfilled,
If #e be truthful71
"oubt not the "a#,
Lest #e be rueful)
If the matter be contended,
Sa#& 1Th# cannot help th#self, nor be defended)1
+ear not the deaf)
1Alas for us-1 #ou ould sa#,
If of .od3s punishment #e recei'ed a single breath)
(e are arned b# the Inspiration)
No good soul shall be ronged
On the "a# of 4esurrection)
Allah has met man# of #our needs,
Much do e ha'e to be grateful for, if #e ta%e heed)
Though it be the eight of a grain of mustard seed)
As to the rongdoer
We suffice for rec%oner)
We ha'e gi'en light and 4eminder
To Moses and Aaron&
To those ho fear the Lord,
A 5ust *riterion,
And a blessed 4eminder
,or those ho fear the "oom)
And Abraham, We ere Aare of him,
And ga'e him proper course into de'otion)
+e said& 1(our Lord is the Lord,
Of the hea'ens and the earth,
And I testif# unto that, such be it3s orth)
And, b# Allah, I shall circum'ent #ou
When #ou turn #our bac%)1
.od does not %no lac%)
The# ished to set a snare for him,
But ere split apart and made the losers,
And We rescued him and Lot,
Into a land blessed for all peoples)
We made them chiefs b# Our command,
To establish orship and the gi'ing of alms,
And the# ere orshippers of 6s alone,
In deep de'otion)
And Noah, too, didst We sa'e,
120
And his household, from great affliction)
B# Allah- The e'il fol% We droned them all)
We made Solomon to understand,
We subdued the birds for his praise to h#mn)
0'il ones ere subdued unto him,
(ea, e'en so, We ere the doer)
Of e'er#thing We are Aare)
,or !ob We heard his pra#er,
And out of merc#
4emo'ed his 'er# ad'ersit#)
And Ishmael, "hu3l;/ifl, and Idris,
All ere among the stedfast)
And We brought them to Our merc#)
The# ere among the righteous)
And !onah as in dar%ness,
And cried, 1There is no .od sa'e Allah,
I ha'e been a rongdoer-1
Then, We heard his pra#er)
*oncei'e& thus We sa'e those ho belie'e)
And We heeded <achariah)
There is no .od sa'e Allah)
And We ga'e him a child,
Li%e as ith Mar#,
Who as chaste and mild)
,or those ho do good or%s
There shall be no re5ection)
This, #our religion, is one religion)
,or those ho do good or%s,
We record it for him)
Those ho do e'il ha'e +ell as their portion)
Those ho do good or%s are rearded for de'otion)
We shall ma%e a second creation)
Lo- This is as Promise, and We shall perform it&
The mee% shall inherit)
This is a plain statement for the de'out,
(et empt# for those ho #et doubt)
+e %noeth hat #e doubt and hat conceal)
Life is a trial for #ou,
And en5o#ment but a little hile)
Our Lord is Beneficent,
Whose help is to be implored)
If #e belie'e in a hea'en,
Surrender unto the Lord)
121
The Pilgrimage
At the +our of "oom,
The good shall lose their burden,
And man%ind shall seem drun%en,
And the "oom of Allah shall be strong upon them)
,or him ho ta%es a sinful friend,
It is decreed,
That the sinful friend shall mislead)
O man%ind- If #e are in doubt,
We created #ou from dust, from smallest seed, from clot)
We bring #e forth as infant,
When #e %no not)
Then gi'e thee groth,
Then, after %noledge, thou diest,
And %noeth naught)
We send don ater on barren earth,
And ma%e the lo'el# %inds of groth&
That is because Allah, +e is the Truth)
The +our ill come, there is no doubt)
Some shall be sa'ed&
Allah shall raise them from the gra'e)
"ispute thou ith Allah and thin% it right,
When #e ha'e no %noledge
Or guidance or Scripture gi'ing light7
To be proud is a sin,
And to beguile men)
,or them is the doom of burning)
6nto him it ill be said&
1This is hat #our on to hands ha'e sent before,
And because Allah of his sla'es is no oppressor)1
If good befall e are content thereith,
But fall aa# hen e'il befalleth
With a trial, and after
This man loses the orld and the hereafter)
+e callest on those ho aren3t his friend,
But hose harm is nearer than benefit&
=eril# an e'il patron)
Allah is Lord)
The Prophet shall triumph in both orlds)
Thus We re'eal it as plain 4e'elations&
122
Allah guideth hom +e ill,
And is Witness o'er all things)
+ast thou not seen
Allah is paid adorations,
B# the hea'ens and the hills,
And man# li'ing things)
Be guided on the path of gentle speech,
Without anger or rath, so +e doth teach)
These are guided b# the .lorious One
On +is path)
Whosoe'er see%eth rongful partialit#,
Who disbelie'e, and bar men ith hostilit#
,rom the orship of Allah,
Be the# a nomad or from Mecca,
The cit# We appointed for man%ind together$
These We shall sho ho e differ)
The +ol# +ouse as for Abraham prepared,
To be pure in spirit and image,
And proclaim unto man%ind the Pilgrimage)
Let them go around the ancient house&
That is the command,
On appointed da#s to %eep their 'os,
And ma%e the poor their friend,
And fulfill their parts&
These are the de'otions of the hearts)
,ind purpose in orship and ritual,
And #our place therein)
(our .od is One .od,
Surrender unto +im)
,or those hose hearts fear, and see% merc#,
Allah is Strong, Almight#)
See% #our place to find&
It is not e#es but hearts that go blind)
,or those ho do good or%s is pro'ision,
Not so those ho stri'e to thart Our 4e'elations)
"o not despise)
Allah is /noer, Wise)
+e establishes& for, lo- The e'il are alread# in prison,
Because the# ha'e fallen into open schism,
And orship Satan in their opposition)
Those gi'en true %noledge %no
The truth is from the Lord,
And humbl# submit unto +is Word)
Those ho disbelie'e still ha'e no doubt,
And see not the disastrous da#,
123
When Allah shall 5udge beteen them,
And there is no .od sa'e +im)
Beteen good and e'il is +is decision)
=eril#, +e is Best to ma%e pro'ision)
The good shall %no the light effulgent)
Allah is 'eril# the /noer, Indulgent)
To enter the %ingdom be as a child)
=eril# Allah is ,orgi'ing, Mild)
Allah ma%eth night pass to da#,
And da# to night,
Because Allah +e is +igh, the .reat)
See ho Allah sendeth rain,
To ma%e it green on the morro)
+e is Aare, Subtile)
6nto Allah belongeth the earth and +ea'en,
=eril# +e is Oner of Praise, and Absolute)
Allah has made the earth subser'ient unto #ou,
0'en as +e sees hat thou do,
And b# +is command the ship runneth on the sea)
,or man%ind Allah is Merciful, and ,ull of Pit#)
6nto each nation We ha'e gi'en sacred rites to perform&
"ispute not of the matter,
But summon thou unto th# Lord)
If the# argue, sa#, 1Allah is best aare of hat #e do)1
Allah %noeth all in the hea'ens and earth,
It is a plain record)
Lo- That is eas# for Allah,
The Lord of the World)
If #e orship other then Allah,
And that hich no arrant is re'ealed,
Then for #ou there is no helper,
No %noledge, and #e are an e'ildoer)
On their faces is denial,
And orse than that&
,or them, the ,ire-
"o good, that hapl# #e ma# prosper&
Stri'e for Allah ith right endea'or)
+old fast- +e is #our Protecting ,riend,
And patron)
124
The Belie'ers
Successful indeed are the belie'ers,
Who are humble in their pra#ers,
Those ho shun 'ain con'ersation,
And pa# the poor due,
And are modest in their con'ersion,
And guard their modest#)
02cept toards their i'es,
,or then the# are not blameorth#)
*ra'e not be#ond this,
But be shepherds of #our co'enant and pledge,
And pa# heed to #our pra#ers,
Then ill thou be heirs,
To inherit Paradise,
=eril#, there to abide)
"o not be transgressors)
=eril#, e'er# little thing as created for #ou,
So blessed be Allah, the Best of *reators-
Then, after that, #e surel# die,
Then, lo- On the Blessed "a#
(e shall be raised on high)
Abo'e #ou are paths numbered se'en$
We are ne'er unmindful of creation)
We send don from the s%# ater in measure,
"ate;palms and grapes for #our pleasure,
And oil and relish from the tree,
That springeth forth from Mount Sinai)
We gi'e drin% from the cattle,
And let #ou eat, We bring #ou 'enison)
=eril#, in all is a lesson)
Noah said unto his fol%& 1Ser'e Allah-
(e ha'e no .od sa'e +im-1
But the chieftains said&
1.od ould ha'e brought don angels in +is stead)1
Said Noah& 1+elp me because the# den# me, O Allah-1
And the Lord said& 1Ma%e a ship from Our inspiration,
This is a doomed congregation)
Sa'e #our on household, and to of each %ind,
(et plead not for those ho ha'e done rong)
The# shall dron)1
125
Then hen #ou are in the ar%,
Sa#& 1Praise be to Allah
Who sa'ed us from rongdoing fol%-1
And sa#& 1M# Lord, b# th# hand,
Place us in a blessed land)1
=eril# herein are portents)
We e'er put man%ind to tests)
A ne messenger came forth,
With a ne messenger of their on for the earth)
And li%e the others, he said&
1There is no .od but .od,
Wilt thou then ard off the e'ils71
And the chieftains said&
1This is onl# a mortal)
There is no Lord) This is onl# our life of the orld)1
+e said& 1In a little hile the# shall become repentant)1
And a cr# o'ertoo% them in their punishment
When the# ere faced ith a might# torrent)
No nation can outstrip it3s term,
Nor #et postpone it)
We sent man# messengers ho ere denied,
With their 4eminders called a lie)
We ga'e Moses the Scripture,
That his people might go aright,
We ga'e Mar# and her son a refuge on a height)
0at of good things and do right-
I am Aare of thee)
4eligion is one religion,
So %eep dut# unto me)
(et it is the fate of man%ind
To di'ide religion into sects)
Lea'e them in error for a time)
Those ho do good things,
Those ho belie'e in 4e'elations,
Those ho ha'e fear and ae,
The# shall return to Allah)
Those ho ascribe no partner to the Lord,
Shall all be raised abo'e this orld,
To here the# belong&
Those ho belie'e shall not be ronged)
Those hose hearts are in ignorance
Are bus# ith other tas%s,
6ntil ith punishment We grasp-
These follo hat did not come
126
To their fathers of old,
And in their dar%ness ha'e not heard)
+a'e #e not pondered
The nature of the Word7
,rom the 4eminder must #e turn aa#,
And must #e sa#&
1The messenger is mad, there ill come no "a#)1
Is reason so disputed7
If the earth folloed #our desires
All ould be corrupted)
O Muhammad, pa# no heed to such di'ision)
The bount# of the Lord
Is better in ma%ing 5ust pro'ision)
+ad We for all relie'ed,
The# ould still be blind and not belie'e)
The# are not humble, nor do the# pra#)
Small than%s gi'e #e,
When +is is the difference
Beteen night and da#)
"eaf, dumb, and blind #e andered,
(et unto +im #e shall be gathered,
The# sa#& 1We shall be dead, and gone)1
If the# sa# that the earth to Allah belongs,
Then sa#& 1Will #e not then remember71
Sa#& 1Who is Lord of the Se'en +ea'ens,
And Lord of the Tremendous Throne71
The# ill sa#& 16nto Allah all belongs, in Merc#)1
Then sa#& 1Will #e not then %eep #our dut#71
Sa#& 1In hose hands is all dominion,
And ithout hom there is no protection7
Are #e then still deniers7
We ha'e brought thee the truth,
But still #e are liars)1
Allah hath not chosen a single son,
,or Allah is Lord of e'er#one)
0lse each .od ould ha'e championed
That hich he created,
And some ould ha'e o'ercome,
And earned pri'ilege)
.lorified be Allah o'er all the# allege)
Of the in'isible and 'isible +e is the /noer,
To +im is ascribed no partner)
4epel e'il ith that hich is better)
See% refuge from e'il ones ith the belie'ers)
Allah is best to sho merc#)
127
+e saith to the rongdoer,
The doer of e'il deeds,
1Begone therein, and spea% not to Me)
These are the belie'ers ho did dut# unto Me)
I reard the stedfast)
The sinner, he is last)1
Those ho %eep count ma# sa#,
1We tarried but a fe da#s)1
As% of those ho %eep count-
"eem #e then that We created #ou for naught7
(our Lord e2alt-
The Lord of the Throne of .race, the True /ing)
There is no .od sa'e +im-
See% still +is bount#&
The Lord is the best to sho merc#)
128
Light
+ere is a recitation
In hich We ha'e re'ealed plain to%ens
,or those to heed,
In thought, and ord, and deed)
,or sinners ho afterard repent and ma%e amends,
These #ou ma# ta%e as friends)
This is truthful, for Allah is ,orgi'ing, Merciful)
So do not despise)
Allah is *lement, Wise)
+ath it not been for Allah,
Thou ouldst not %no lies)
Spea% not ith #our tongues
As a itness,
That of hich #e ha'e no %noledge)
(e might thin% it small sin
That no harm brings)
(et e'er# small slight
Is great in Allah3s sight)
+e e2poundeth of +is 4e'elations,
And, too, of man# Admonitions)
,or those ho slander,
To the de'il pander)
And hat ha'e #e got7
Allah %noeth& #e %noeth not)
Allah has shon #e merc# and grace)
+e is the /noer, the +earer)
Without +is grace #e cannot gro pure)
Those of ease should gi'e to the need#,
,orgi'e e'en as Allah ould forgi'e,
In +is merc#)
"o #e not for forgi'eness #earn7
"o this unto others that #e ma# learn)
,or those ho do not there is an aful doom)
The# shall loose their dignit#,
When against them their on li'es testif#)
The good man is for the good oman,
The oman for the man)
The# are innocent of hat people sa#&
This is part of the plan)
129
All ill pa# their 5ust due, forsooth-
,or Allah is the Manifest Truth)
When #e are sinned against,
Be heedful,
And al% aa#, this is better for #ou)
Ta%e heed& turn unto Allah together,
All #e ho belie'e)
,or those ho cannot find a match,
6ntil such da# arri'es, remain chaste,
Maintain independence in +is grace)
Allah3s light is li%e a niche ith a lamp
In a glass, and the glass is a shining star,
A guide to those ho ha'e tra'elled far)
A lamp for those in need,
/indled from a blessed tree,
,rom neither 0ast nor West,
An oli'e uni8uel# blessed,
,ull of all stories,
As Allah guides b# allegories,
And Allah is the gi'er of blessings and bounties)
,or those ho disbelie'e,
A mirage in the desert is all their deeds)
The# find it bec%oning,
(et on approach find naught
But Allah, ho is sift at rec%oning)
Or their li'es are li%e a dar%some sea,
Wa'e upon a'e ith clouds abo'e)
When the# hold out their hands,
The# can scarce see them for hat is abo'e)
This is right&
,or hom Allah has not appointed light,
There is no light)
*an #ou not see Allah
In the birds in flight7
All the hea'ens gi'e +im praise, and the earth,
And the gathering clouds, the da# and night,
And hat is in beteen,
That most hidden to be seen)
And from the mountains there is hail, and it smiteth
Whom +e ill, and the lightning
Snatches sight)
Some ignore +is rath,
Others are guided on the straight path)
And the# sa#& 1We belie'e in Allah and +is messenger,
130
And e obe#,1
(et then a faction of them turn aa#)
Such are not belie'ers,
And hen the# appeal of Allah to 5udge,
Some of them obe#,
And a faction of them begrudge)
But if right had been ith them,
The# ould come illingl#)
When a matter is contentious,
/eep dut# to Allah, and sa#,
1We hear and obe#)1
And these are the 'ictorious&
Obe# to the letter,
(et sear not&
Obedience is better)
Obe#, #et if #e turn aa#,
It is onl# charged for #ou to do as #ou sa#&
The messenger has no other charge than to con'e#)
,or those ho belie'e&
Allah shall establish #our religion,
And replace fear ith safet#)
0stablish orship and pa# the poor due,
That #e ma# find merc#)
"isbelie'ers cannot escape the land)
Theirs are a hapless end)
+oe'er, there is no blame on the blind,
Nor sic%, nor lame)
Allah %noeth #our condition,
And %noeth the "a# hen #e are returned unto +im)
The *riterion of 4ight and Wrong
Blessed is +e Who hath re'ealed
4ight and rong,
6nto Whom belongeth the /ingdom,
+e Who hath no partner,
And has meted out in measure)
Other gods create not,
But are themsel'es created)
The# possess not death nor life,
And so their folloers are fated)
Those ho disbelie'e sa#&
1These are mere fables, in'entions,
To establish con'entions)1
Sa#& 1+e ho %noeth the secrets hath re'ealed them,
131
+e is Merciful, ,orgi'ing)1
And the# sa#& 1Wh# does this messenger al% in the mar%et7
Wh# does he not ha'e a paradise
,rom hich to eat71
These cannot find a road,
When Blessed is +e ho shall
Assign mansions, and .ardens,
Beneath hich ri'ers flo)
,or man%ind3s destination,
Pra# for man# destructions-
Sa#& 1Is that doom better,
Or the .arden of Immortalit#,
,or those ho ard off e'il71
Is this mere fable7
,or th# Lord it is a promise that must be fulfilled)
Some sa#& 1Wh# do e not see our Lord71
Be not scornful or proud)
+erein lies the test&
Will #ou be stedfast7
We shall turn on e'il or%s
And ma%e them scattered motes)
On this "a# the clouds ill be rent,
And the angels sent don, a grand descent)
And a hard "a# for disbelie'ers
Who do not belong&
This is the "a# of the So'ereignt#
Of the Beneficent One)
0'en so We ha'e appointed unto e'er# Prophet,
,rom among the guilt# an opponent)
(et as a guide and helper .od sufficeth)
Those ho disbelie'e sa#&
1Wh# is not the ?ur3an re'ealed all at once71
To strengthen the heart it is re'ealed thus)
Those We arned ith man# e2amples,
Pharaoh and Moses3 fol%,
And A3ad and Thamud&
0ach of them
We brought to utter ruin)
The# hope for no 4esurrection)
"o #ou deemest
That #ou ould be guardian
O'er he that follos onl# his on lust7
6nto the last battle,
The# are further astra# than cattle)
132
We send purif#ing ater,
,rom out the s%#
To re'i'e a dead land,
And gi'e life thereb#)
We ha'e gi'en thee 4eminders,
In the form of man# great endea'ors)
What is truthful7
Th# Lord is e'er Poerful)
Trust thou in the Li'ing One Who dieth not,
+#mn +is praise,
+e sufficeth as /noer of +is bondsmen3s da#s)
,rom hence the *reation7
The Beneficent, as an#one informed)
,or +e placed mansions of stars,
And our on sun and moon,
The uni'erse ith light adorned)
Lo- +ell is a retched abode and station&
If #ou ta%e a life,
Or commit adulter#,
Then #ou recei'e a certain penalt#)
Sa'e those ho repent,
And doeth righteous or%s,
,or, heed- Allah ma# change
0'il or%s to righteous deeds)
This much is truthful)
Allah is ,orgi'ing, Merciful)
Those ho do not ne'er reco'er dignit#,
But lead their li'es in hopeless 'anit#)
Those ho sa#& 1Our Lord-
Ma%e us patterns for all
Who attempt to ard off e'il-1
These in all *reation
+a'e happ# abode and station)
Welcome them ith the ord of peace,
The stedfast shall be aarded their place)
To others doth thou comfort and 'ouchsafe)
"en# the truth and there ill be 5udgement,
,or li%e comes to li%e as a punishment)
133
The Poets
Ta) Sin) Mim)
These 4e'elations of Scripture ma%eth plain)
Ne'er come a fresh reminder,
But some turn aa#,
"en#ing the truth
Whereat the# used to pla#,
And turn their heads
And scoff at those ho pra#)
Indeed this is a portent&
"o not let the unbelie'ers torment
Th#self because the# belie'e not)
4ather go ith the truth the# denied,
And lea'e them to their lot)
Lea'e the guilt#)
Allah is Merciful, the Might#)
The Lord spa%e to Moses
When his time as nearing,
And said, 1We shall be ith #ou, +earing)1
+e as appointed of the number sent
To ma%e the Pharaoh repent)
Pharaoh said, 1Who is the Lord of the World7
(e sound li%e a madman-1
And Moses replied, 1Lord of 0ast and West,
And all that is in beteen, if #e did understand)1
Moses thre his staff, and lo-
It salloed hat the i>ards did falsel# sho-
And hen pursued
The *hildren of Israel ere disma#ed,
(et Moses ith his staff made them a a#)
The sea parted, and the# ere free,
The others droned in the raging lee)
=eril# herein is a portent to concei'e,
(et most of them ill not belie'e)
Abraham said& 1What orship #e71
The# said& 1To idols e orship hen e pra#,
And in this e shall not be sa#ed)1
+e said& 1"o the# hear #ou hen #ou cr#7
Benefit or harm #ou hen #ou tr#71
The# said& 1Na#, but e found
134
Our fathers acting in this a#)1
+e said& 1See- These idols
Are not the Lord of the Worlds,
But enem# to me-
The Lord +e feedeth me,
The Lord +e guideth me,
The Lord +e healeth me,
When I sic%en,
+e causeth me to die,
Then gi'es life again,
And ho, I ardentl# hope,
Shall forgi'e me m# sin)
M# Lord- =ouchsafe me isdom-
And gi'e me good report in future generations-
Place me in the .arden of 0den,
The .arden of "elight,
Sho me the light-
And forgi'e m# father,
+e is of those ho err)
O disbelie'ers, fear not a ne start,
Allah ill sa'e those ho bring a hole heart)1
Some ill sa#, in the last,
1B# Allah, of a truth e ere in error manifest,
When e made idols
08ual to the Lord of Worlds)
It as the guilt# ho mislead us,
No e ha'e no intercessors)
Oh, that e had another turn
To be belie'ers-1
*oncei'e- +erein is another portent indeed,
(et most ill not belie'e-
This much is truthful&
The Lord is Might#, Merciful)
And the fol% of Noah7
The# denied the messenger of Allah)
+e said& 1Will #ou ard off e'il7
I am faithful unto #ou)
I as% no age,
Onl# that #ou do obe#)1
The# said& 1(our folloers are poor, and fe,
What faith shall e put in #ou71
+e said& 1What %noledge ha'e I
Of hat the# used to do)
Their rec%oning is m# Lord3s concern
135
If #e but %ne)1
The# said& 1If thou cease not
Thou shalt surel# be stoned as a penalt#)1
+e said& M# Lord, m# on fol%s den# me)
Therefore 5udge Thou beteen us
A conclusi'e 5udgement, and sa'e me
And the belie'ers from punishment)1
And those ho trul# didst orship
We sa'ed in a laden ar%,
And droned the others, in the dar%)
+erein is a portent,
(et most are not belie'ers)
In 'ain delight, do #e build
A monument on e'er# height7
See% #e strongholds that last fore'er7
Satan as e'er a decei'er)
Sei>e #e b# force, as t#rants7
/eep #our dut# onl# to Allah,
And then ha'e arrant)
/eep #our dut#
To +im ho hath brought
(ou the good things #e %no)
Listen to the messenger hen he might sho)
(e hath been aided b# daughters and sons
And atersprings and gardens)
,ear the retribution)
The people of A3ad said to +ud,
1It is all one hether thou
Preachest or not, these are but
,ables of men of old,
And e shall not be destro#ed)1 As the# ere told)
The# denied him, and ere doomed)
The# are alread# portents
That #ours ma# be soon)
Li%e unto +ud, Salih came
To the people of Thamud,
And as denied,
Sa#ing his arnings ere a lie)
+e said& 1Thin% #e secure in hat #e ha'e,
+eing dellings out of mountains,
That #e are s%illful7
Obe# not the command of the prodigal)1
The# said& 1Thou art but a mortal)
Bring proof if #e are truthful)1
136
And from Allah he brought the camel,
And the# harmed her and brought on e'il)
Lo- The Lord is Might#, Merciful)
Li%e +ud and Salih, the people of Lot
Ignored the messengers of Allah, the stor# of the pillar of salt)
+e said& 1I am a faithful messenger unto thee,
So %eep #our dut# unto Allah and obe# me)
"ost thou thin% that onl# men rule the orld7
And lea'e #our i'es7
Na#, #e fol% are froard)1
The# said& 1If thou ceasest not
In this last, O Lot,
Soon #e ill be outcast)1
+e said& 1I hate #our conduct, in truth)
M# Lord- Sa'e me, and m# household, forsooth-1
So the# ere sa'ed, and the rest, again,
Were doomed, this time to a dreadful rain)
Again, the disbelie'ers ignored the portent,
And found their doom therein)
.i'e good measure, eigh ith true balance,
.i'e full due from #our treasure)
Wrong not man%ind in their goods,
"o no e'il)
Lo- The 4e'elation it is of the Lord of Worlds,
Which as brought don b# the True Spirit
6pon th# heart,
That thou ma# hearest,
And be one of the arners,
0'en as in the Scriptures)
The doctors of the *hildren of Israel %ne
That from Arabia ouldst come one of the Prophets fe)
+ad We not, the people ould not ha'e listened
Of Allah3s bount#,
Nor ould it tra'erse the hearts of the guilt#)
Their doom comest upon them suddenl#,
When the# do not percei'e)
Then the# ill sa#&
1Are e to be reprie'ed71
We content them for long #ears,
Then cometh that hich as promised for their ears)
We ere ne'er oppressors)
Wh# didst the# ignore the 4eminders7
The de'ils did not bring it don,
137
Nor is it in their poers)
=eril#, the# are banished from hearing,
Too deaf to be .od;fearing)
Sa#& 1I am innocent of hat the# do,
And put m# trust in the Most Merciful,
Who seeth thee hen #ou stand up to pra#,
And seeth the abasement in thee)
Who ill be sa'ed but onl#
Those ho belie'e and do good or%s,
And 'indicate themsel'es)
,or the rest, the re'erse)1
138
The Ant
Ta) Sin)
These are a Scripture that ma%eth plain,
And a 4e'elation from the ?ur3an,
Of guidance and good tidings
,or the belie'er&
Those ho orship and pa# the poor due
Are sure of the hereafter)
Thin% thou ith #our fair;seeming or%s
(ou are all that #ou sa#7
The# ere gi'en b# Allah to lead false men astra#)
=eril#, the ?ur3an #e recei'est,
Is borroed from the Aare Presence)
4emember hen Moses ent to see% fire,
Seeing it from afar,
And met one ho said&
1I am Allah, #our Lord)1
When Moses as commanded to thro don his staff,
And it became a serpent,
+e as prepared to hide and flee)
The man said, 1,ear not- Lo-
The emissaries fear not in m# Presence)
Onl# those ho hath done rong,
And sitched e'il for good all along)
I am Merciful, ,orgi'ing)1
When our to%ens, plain to see in the orld
*ame to them, the# ere ac%noledged,
But onl# in spite and arrogance)
See the conse8uence-
See, Solomon as "a'id3s heir,
And he said&
1We ha'e learned
The language of birds,
And man# things fair,
And in abundance-
This surel# is e'idence-
M# Lord, thou hast fa'oured me
And m# parents-1
When he reached the =alle# of the Ants,
139
An ant arned the others to hide,
Lest Solomon3s arm# crush them li%e a tide)
Solomon laughed at her speech,
And said, 1Include me as a sla'e
Among the righteous)1
And he said of the birds,
1Wh# is the hoopoe absent7
=eril# ithout plain e2cuse&
+e shall meet punishment)1
But the hoopoe arri'ed, and said,
1In Sheba a 8ueen doth rule,
And man# things she ons,
And rules from a might# throne)
(et her people orship the sun,
And Satan ma%eth their or%s fair;seeming)
The# orship not Allah,
Who bringeth forth the hidden)
Allah) There is no .od sa'e +im)1
And Solomon said& 1We shall see if thou art
Of the liars before Allah,
So ta%e m# letter to the ?ueen of Sheba)1
And the ?ueen said, 1Lo- This letter I ha'e been thron,
Which comes rightl# from /ing Solomon,
And e'er# sentence,
Is in the name of Allah, the Beneficent)1
And she said to her chieftains&
I ill send the %ing a gift,
(et 'eril# e shall ruin e'er# tonship)1
Solomon e2claimed, 1Would #e help me ith ealth7
Allah is better than that
In hich #e e2ult)
Whosoe'er gi'est than%s,
+e does for the benefit of his on soul,
And this is truthful&
It is to his soul3s hurt
If he is ungrateful)
M# Lord is Absolute in independence, and Bountiful)1
+e said, 1"isguise her throne
To see if she gi'es notice,1
And hen she ent hither and as as%ed, she said,
1It is this)1
And Solomon said, 1We ere gi'en this %noledge,
,or e had Surrendered unto Allah,1
And hen she entered her hall,
She sa a pool, and bared her legs,
140
And Solomon said, 1It is a hall made smooth, of glass)1
She said& 1M# Lord, I ha'e the %noledge,
I ha'e ronged m#self, and ith these ords,
Surrender ith Solomon unto Allah,
The Lord of Worlds)1
And 'eril# We sent unto Thamud
Their brother Salih, and he said&
1O m# people- Wh# dost #e abandon good,
And hasten e'il71
The# said, 1We auger e'il for thee
And those ith thee)1
And he said, 1With Allah is #our auger#)
(e shall be bested, for lo-
(e are a people being tested)1
So the# plotted, and We plotted a plot,
While the# percei'ed not)
(onder are their empt# dellings,
All in ruins)
=eril# there are portents herein)
And Lot- When he said,
1Will #e commit abomination71
+is people said,
1We shall e2pel him for being clean)1
We rained a dreadful rain)
Praise be to Allah, and peace
On +is sla'es hom +e has chosen)
Allah hath no partners ascribed unto +im)
Is +e not best ho created
The earth and the hea'ens,
And sends the ater for the 5o#ous gardens,
Whose trees #e ne'er caused to gro7
Who made the earth a fi2ed abode7
And ho placed ri'ers in the folds7
Who placed barriers beteen the seas,
Made balance of cool ith hot7
Is there an# .od sa'e Allah7
Na#, but most of them %no not-
Is +e not best Who ansers the ronged one,
Ansers the cries, and ards off e'il7
Is there an# .od sa'e Allah7
The# reflect little)
Is +e not best,
Who guidest thee in dar%ness7
Who made the land and sea,
141
And sends inds as heralds
Of +is merc#7
Is +e not best, Who produceth creation,
And pro'ideth thee from earth and +ea'en7
None %noeth the unseen sa'e Allah)
Thou dost not %no hen
In +is merc# #e shall be raised again)
"oes #our %noledge reach to the hereafter7
(e are in doubt)
,or 'eril# thou canst not see it)
Are e out of dust to be made again,
Or are these fables of old in'ented b# men7
Sa# unto them& 1Tra'el in the land, and itness
The destruction of the guilt#
Who ha'e no guidance)1
When shall Allah deli'er +is promise7
Sa#& 1It ma# be that hat #e ish to hasten
Is 'eril# close behind #ou)1
The Lord %noeth hat is proclaimed and hat hidden)
But most gi'e no than%s)
It is possible for the Lord)
And, lo- It is in clear record)
We narrate unto the *hildren of Israel
6pon that hich the# differ)
It is a guidance and merc# for the belie'er)
"o not despise)
The Lord ill 5udge from +is isdom)
+e is the Might#, the Wise)
What can thou doeth7
Put th# trust in Allah,
And stand on the plain truth)
Thou canst ma%e none to hear,
02cept those ho ha'e Surrendered to Our 4e'elations clear)
The disbelie'ers shall in their ,ate be fulfilled,
When We shall bring forth a beast
To spea% of their ill)
And remind them of the "a#
That We gather from e'er# nation
Those ho denied Our 4e'elation)
The# shall be set in arra#,
6ntil the "a#, hen the# appear
Before the Lord, and +e ill sa#&
1"id #e den# M# 4e'elations for lac% in %noledge,
Or hat as it #e did, before I 5udge71
Then it on3t be for long
142
6ntil the Word shall be fulfilled
Because the# ha'e done rong)
02cept those ho merel# stumbled,
And all shall come before the Lord, humbled)
Lo- +e is informed of hat #e do,
Where'er on earth)
Whoso bringeth a good deed ill
+a'e better than it3s orth)
Whoso bringeth and ill deed,
Shall ne'er be rearded)
=eril#, in this e are commanded)
Praise be to Allah, ho shoeth #ou portents)
Surrender unto +im
And recite the ?ur3an)
143
The Stor#
Ta) Sin) Mim)
These are 4e'elations of the Scripture
That ma%eth plain,
That #e ma# concei'e
The stor# of Pharaoh and Moses again,
That #e ma# belie'e)
Pharaoh didst himself e2alt,
And made his people castes,
A tribe he oppressed,
/illing their sons and sparing the omen,
+e or%ed this corruption)
And We desired to sho the lol# fa'our
Against the oppressors,
And to ma%e them the inheritors,
To establish them, and sho Pharaoh and +aman
That hich the# feared of them)
And the mother of Moses We inspired,
To cast him into the ri'er,
And neither fear nor grie'e,
,or he ould return as a messenger
,or those ho belie'e)
And the famil# of Pharaoh
,ound him and raised him for tomorro,
6naare he as their enem# and sorro)
The ife of Pharaoh said,
1,or me he is a consolation,1
Not %noing the plot, and said,
1+e ma# be useful, %ill him not)1
Moses3 mother suffered in heart,
But made her sister trace him from afar,
And Pharaoh3s ser'ants ere not aare)
And Moses to his mother returned, forsooth-
That she might %no the promise of Allah is truth)
And hen he reached his full strength
We ga'e him isdom and %noledge
As We could&
Thus do We reard the good)
(et he entered the cit#
When to isdom the# did not gi'e heed,
And sa to men fighting,
One of his caste and one his enem#)
144
And he too% his fist and %illed the man,
Sa#ing, 1This is of the de'il3s doing)
,or he as a misleader that I sle, #et, m# Lord,
,orgi'e me hat I do-1
And the Lord forga'e him)
And he said, 1As sure as Thou hast fa'oured me,
I shall ne'er support the guilt#)1
(et he feared the ne2t da#,
That his on fate as not far aa#)
And the same ho he had sa'ed,
,ound him and cried for more done in his stead,
And Moses called him a mere hothead)
(et the man said&
1/ill me as #ou ha'e done #esterda#,
Then #ou ould be a mere t#rant in the land)
The chiefs ta%e counsel to sla# thee)
I am of those ho gi'e good ad'ice,
Therefore flee-1
And Moses said& 1M# Lord, deli'er me-1
And he turned his face toards Midian,
And said& 1Perhaps the Lord shall guide me to a safe land)1
When he came to the ater of Midian,
There ere a hole tribe of men, atering)
(et he found apart to omen
So, 1What aileth #ou71 he as%ed them)
The# said& 1We cannot gi'e our floc%s to drin%,
6ntil the shepherds return,
And, alas, our father is an old man)1
So he atered the floc%s for them)
Then Moses said& 1M# Lord- I am found need#
Of hate'er good Thou canst send me)1
And one of the to omen came near,
And said& 1Lo- It is bidden b# m# father,
That he pa# #ou that the floc% #ou atered)1
And Moses came unto him,
And told him the hole stor#,
And the old man said& 1,ear not,
(ou ha'e escaped the rongdoing fol%,
And are not guilt#)1
And one of the omen said& 1,ather, hire him,
,or he is strong and trustorth#)1
And the man said& 1As their father,
,ain ouldst I ha'e #ou marr# one of m# daughters)1
And Moses said& 1That is settled
Beteen #ou and me,
145
,or o'er hat e sa# Allah has Suret#,
So there ill be no in5ustice unto me)1
When Moses had fulfilled the fi2ed term
Of obligation to the father,
It as then that, hile tra'eling
With his house fol%
+e spied the distant fire)
In this 'alle#, on the blessed field,
+e heard the 'oice from the tree,
With these ords,
1O Moses- I, e'en I, am Allah,
Lord of the Worlds, 02alted and Most +igh,
"o not fear but dra nigh)
This is sure& #ou are of those ho are secure)
.uard #our heart from fear)1
So hen his staff became a serpent,
+e fled not, but as ad'ised of the portents)
+e said& 1Lord, I %illed a man,
And fear to be %illed in m# term)
Strengthen me ith m# more elo8uent brother Aaron,
As a helper that I he ma# confirm)1
And the Lord said& 1With portents We shall strengthen thou,
And the# brother, and gi'e #e both poer)
Those ho follo #ou shall be the inners)1
But hen Moses came ith Our clear to%ens,
The# said& 1Mere magic and in'entions-1
And Moses said& 1M# Lord is best aare
Of him ho bringeth guidance
"eri'ed from +is 'er# Presence,
To bring #ou to the +ome of Bliss)
This much is truthful&
Wrongdoers ill not be successful)1
Behold the conse8uence-
,or Pharaoh and his host,
As the# ere lost
In the sea as the cost)
4eflect- =eril# unto Moses We ga'e the Scripture,
And clear testimon#,
As a guidance and a merc#)
This and more We send,
As We gi'e messengers unto men)
Whate'er a peoples creed,
+apl# the# gi'e heed,
And though stumble, not fall,
146
As the# ere not beside the Mount to hear Our call)
If disaster from #our on hands befall,
Then, see%ing consolations,
(e cr#& 1Wh# as there no messenger ith 4e'elations71
The# sa#& 1The Scripture of Moses and the ?ur3an,
Are naught but a mere to magics)
Bring a Scripture from Allah3s Presence-
To gi'e clear guidance,
If #e are truthful,
That I ma# follo it)1
Others sa#, 10'en before the Scripture,
We ere of those ho Surrender)1
The# sa#& 1Peace unto #ou,
6nto us our or%s and to #ou #our or%s,
In +is merc#)1
And the# ithdra from the ignorant,
Who are consumed in 'anit#)
Lo- Allah guideth not hom thou lo'est,
But hom +e ill)
Of those ho are upright +e is best aare,
And those ho are e'il)
The comfort of the life of the orld,
And all it3s ornaments,
*annot a'ail thee against 5ust punishments)
+a'e thee no sense7
Be true and there is a fair promise,
0'en if thou hast ne'er orshipped)
There is no one to cr# to sa'e Allah,
If #e ha'e guidance)
If not, all things shall be dimmed)
.lorified be Allah and e2alted
Abo'e all #e associate ith +im)
Th# Lord %noeth hat th# breasts conceal,
And hat th# breast re'eal)
There is no .od but +im)
+is is all praise
In the former and the latter da#s)
+e made da# that thou might see)
Will #e not then see, in +is merc#7
+e ga'e #ou night that #e might rest)
This is clear$ ilt thou then not hear7
0'il3s in'entions ill fail them
When the# sa#& 1Bring th# proof)1
The# shall %no Allah is the Truth)
147
See% not corruption in the earth)
(et see- Be %ind to others,
As Allah has been %ind to thee)
Neglect not th# portion,
(et spend in goodl# de'otion)
Thou art gi'en %noledge&
(et isdom onl# the stedfast shall obtain&
Therein lies #our gain)
See% not in the earth oppression,
But bringeth a good deed,
And account for #our deeds
That ere ill&
The hereafter is for those ho do li%eise,
And ard off e'il)
+e ho hath gi'en thee the ?ur3an,
Again shall bring #e home)
Sa#& 1M# Lord is best aare
Of he ho bringeth guidance,
And ho is in error manifest)
"id #ou thin% that no Scripture
*ould be inspired in thee7
Ta%e merc# from the Lord,
That #e ma# belie'e,
And do not feel lac%)
There is no .od sa'e +im)
+is is the command,
And unto +im #e ill be brought bac%)
148
The Belie'er
+a) Mim)
The 4e'elation of this Scripture
Is from Allah,
The Might#, the /noer,
The Acceptor of repentance,
The Stern in punishments,
The Bountiful)
6nto +im is the 5ourne#ing)
There is no .od sa'e +im)
Of those ho disbelie'e,
Let not their fortune in the land decei'e)
And the angels shall throng,
Around the +ea'enl# Throne,
+#mning the praise of their Lord&
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World)
Li%eise, those ho did their dut#,
Are dri'en unto the .arden,
Where the gates ill open,
And the arders thereof shall sa#&
1Peace unto #ou, #e are good
In the Lord3s sight,
So enter here to dell ithin
The .arden of "elight)1
Such is the age bounteous
,or those counted among the righteous)
0ach and e'er# soul
Shall be paid in full,
And +e is best Aare of hat the# do)
As the good boo% doth tell,
The disbelie'ers are as troops
"ri'en into +ell)
The# ma# recite 4e'elations,
But the doom for disbelie'ers is fulfilled)
The# ignored the arners,
And hapless is the 5ourne#s end for scorners,
Sa'e hom Allah illeth on !udgement "a#)
The horn is blon a second time,
And behold them standing, aiting,
And the earth shinneth ith the light of her Lord,
The hole orld, and the Boo% is set up,
149
And the Prophet3s and itnesses brought,
And the# are not ronged, forsooth,
The# are 5udged beteen them ith truth)
Allah #e must ser'e,
And be among the than%ful,
The earth is +is handful,
On the "a# of 4esurrection)
The hea'ens are rolled in +is right hand)
+e is +igh 02alted abo'e
All #e ascribe to +im)
The trumpet shall be blon
And all those on earth and in the hea'ens shall soon)
Turn unto +im repentant,
And surrender unto +im)
,ollo the better guidance,
"o good before, as conse8uence,
The doom cometh before #ou could)
"o not sa#& 1If onl# I had a second chance
To be among the righteous-1
4e'elations came unto thee,
This is truthful,
(et #e denied them and ere scornful)
"o not repent too late,
,or #our e'ils ill smite #ou,
And #ou cannot escape)
=eril# these are portents&
Allah straighteneth the path
,or hom +e ill,
And enlargeth pro'idence)
See hat the hea'ens bring&
"espair not of the merc# of Allah,
Who ma# forgi'e all sins)
When a man hurt,
+e crieth unto 6s)
Afterard, hen We grant a boon,
+e sa#s he gained it b# force of %noledge$
Such is man3s lot, that it is a test,
And he %noeth not)
Those before them said We did not learn,
And naught but 'anit# is all the# earned)
O Allah- Of the hea'ens and the earth the *reator,
/noer of the unseen and the 'isible,
Independent and indi'isible,
Thou ilt 5udge beteen th# sla'es
150
As to ho the# differ, and ho the# ha'e beha'ed)
0'en if e'il possess the entire orld,
There shall come something the# did not rec%on upon
,rom their Lord)
Or choose the# intercessors other than Allah,
In the face of the portents,
When the# ha'e poer o'er nothing
And no intelligence7
6nto Allah belongeth the intercession,
And the hearts of those ho disbelie'e are repelled
To hear +is name mentioned,
As though the# ere mad)
And, behold- Those ho orship are glad-
151
The Spider
Alif) Lam) Mim)
"o #ou thin% #e shall be left at ease,
"o #ou imagine,
That because #ou belie'e,
(e shall not be tested ith affliction7
It is if #ou perse'ere
That Allah shall %no thou art sincere)
,or those ho do e'il deeds,
The# cannot hide&
0'il for them is hat the# decide)
Ala#s ith the better deed doth tr#,
And %no that Allah3s rec%oning is surel# nigh)
"o not go sloer)
+e is the +earer, the /noer)
(et in +is omnipotence
Allah ala#s has complete independence)
4emember the best #e ha'e earned,
"o good or%s for #our return)
This much is true&
+e shall tell #ou hat #e used to do)
,or the good, in +is brightness,
Allah shall enter them among the righteous)
The persecution of man%ind is not Allah3s punishment,
But the brea%ing of commandments,
In their 'anit#)
(et it is from Allah that cometh the 'ictor#-
As in all hol# rits&
Allah %noeth ho belie'e
And ho the h#pocrites)
There are those ho disbelie'e,
(et sa#& 1,ollo our religions)1
(et 'eril# are unable to bear #our sins)
The# shall be 8uestioned
On the "a# of 4esurrection)
And Noah We rescued him,
And those in the ship,
As a portent for those ho orship)
And Abraham- 4emember hen he said to his fol%&
1Ser'e Allah, and %eep #our dut# unto +im)
152
This #ou should sho&
That it is better for #ou if #e but didst %no)
(e ser'e idols and in'ent a lie)
There is no pro'ision for #ou
No matter ho #ou tr#)
.i'e than%s to the Lord,
0'en in lac%,
,rom thence thou came and to that shall come bac%)1
See thou not ho creation is produced,
And then a ne creation introduced,
In +is merc#7
Lo- ,or Allah that is eas#)
Tra'el in the land to see the origins,
=eril#, of the former creations,
And see ho the later creations Allah brings)
Allah is Able to do all things)
"o not despise&
Allah is the Might#, the Wise)
(e ha'e chosen idols other than Allah,
When +e established
Lot and Isaac and !acob
,or their stedfastness,
And ga'e them Prophethood and the Scripture,
,or 'eril# the# ere among the righteous,
And recei'ed reard in the orld and the hereafter)
When Abraham as brought the good nes
Of a child,
The# said& 1We are about to destro# the rongdoers)1
(et it is best remembered,
That the# from e'il ere deli'ered)
The messengers came unto Lot,
And said& 1,ear not, nor grie'e,
,or, sa'e #our ife, e shall deli'er thee,
And from the s%# shall come a fur#)1
Shu3e#b as sent to Midian,
And said& 1Ser'e Allah, and do no e'il,1
(et the# denied him)
The tribes of A3ad and Thamud ere li%e them)
Their deeds seemed fair
Because of Satan,
As ere Pharaoh3s and +aman3s)
When Moses came ith clear proofs
Of Allah3s so'ereignt# and truth
The# did not in,
153
As We too% each one in his sin,
Li%e a hurricane)
With other patrons than Allah
(our house is li%e a spider3s
That she gre,
And is the frailest of all houses,
If #e but %ne)
These similitudes that We de'ise,
Are onl# to be grasped b# the ise)
Be not decei'ers)
Allah created the hea'ens and earth
With truth,
Therein is portent for the belie'ers)
Worship preser'eth from ini8uit#,
And healeth hat #e do,
But 'eril# remembrance of Allah,
Is a more important fact for #ou)
Argue not ith the People of the Scripture,
02cept it be in a a# better)
Our .od and #our .od are One,
And unto him e Surrender)
"o #our dut#,
Portents are ith Allah onl#)
0arth is spacious,
Therefore ser'e Me onl#)
Allah pro'ideth, and is nearer)
+e is the /noer, the +earer)
See hat the hea'ens bring)
Allah is Aare of all things)
See ho at Mecca is appointed a sanctuar# from 'iolence7
"o the# then belie'e in falsehood and not Allah3s bount#7
,or those ho stri'e in us,
We surel# guide them&
Allah is ith the good, as proof of +im)
154
The 4omans
Alif) Lam) Mim)
The 4omans ha'e been defeated
In the land nearer,
(et ten #ears hence
Shall meet ith 'ictor#)
Such is Allah3s command in the former and the latter&
+e helpeth to 'ictor# hom +e ill)
The belie'ers ill re5oice that +e not faileth$
Whom +e ill +e helpeth)
There is no compromise&
Allah faileth not in +is promise)
(et most men %no not,
Nor remember,
And %no onl# a little of the appearances in the orld,
And are heedless of the hereafter)
Most disbelie'e their meeting ith the Lord)
+a'e the# not pondered upon themsel'es,
And hom created the hea'ens and the earth,
And an end made of destin#,
,ounded on the truth7
+a'e thee not seen the conse8uence
With those ho ha'e gone before7
The# ere stronger than those in poer,
And built and built more)
(et in their 'anit#
The# ignored the clear proofs
Of Allah3s So'ereignt#
,rom +is messengers)
Surel# Allah ronged them not,
The# ronged themsel'es)
0'il begets e'il,
,or good there is defense,
Tra'el in the land
And see the conse8uence)
In the "a# hen the +our riseth,
Those ho despair are the unrighteous)
Those ho made e8ual ith Allah
Shall re5ect their partners,
In that "a# the# ill be sundered)
Be #e not otherise lead&
155
+e bringeth forth the li'ing from the dead)
Of +is signs are this&
+e created #ou from dust,
And, lo- (ou are human beings thus)
And of +is bount#
+e appointed for thee lo'e and merc#)
+is signs are in the earth and hea'ens,
+e created for #ou the differences beteen men
+erein indeed are portents for those ho ta%e heed)
The hea'ens and the earth stand
B# +is command, and afterard
,rom the earth #e shall emerge)
+e calleth,
And hatsoe'er is in the hea'ens and the earth
To +im belongeth)
+is is the Sublime Similitude
In earth and s%#)
+e is the Might#, the Wise)
+e coineth a similitude of #oursel'es,
Ascribe +im no partners)
In upright nature #ou ere framed,
There is no altering Allah3s creation)
"o not defame)
Turn to +im onl#)
Be careful in th# dut#)
Be not of those ho split their religion
And become schismatics,
0ach sect e2ulting in it3s tenets)
When harm comes the# cr# unto their Lord,
And hen tasting merc#, behold-
Some of them attribute partners to their Lord)
If #ou disbelie'e, and sa# the orld is a mere sho,
0n5o# #oursel'es ahile,
But #e ill come to %no)
Act not the t#rant,
We ha'e re'ealed unto thee #our arrant)
Allah enlarges pro'ision and straightens the path)
+erein are portents
To reach success)
"o not onl# #our on business,
But gi'e to #our %insman,
The need#, the poor,
=eril#, if #e see% Allah3s countenance,
Then #e ill be successful)
156
That hich #e gi'e in 'anit#
+ath no increase ith Allah,
Onl# in charit#)
Allah created #ou, and then +e sustained,
+e causeth thee to die,
And then be born again)
02alted is +e abo'e hat #e associate ith +im-
Set th# purpose resolutel# for the ine'itable "a#)
Those ho disbelie'e must then
Bear the conse8uence of their disbelief,
(et if #ou do good or%s there is relief)
It is ala#s thus&
To help the belie'ers is incumbent upon 6s)
(ou ha'e the choice
To help Allah3s bondsmen, so re5oice-
4e5oice as +e ma%eth the clouds and rain from the air,
Where formerl# #ou ere in despair)
When rain fell on #our head,
See the prints of .od3s merc#&
+e 8uic%eneth the earth after it3s death)
+e is the ?uic%ener of the "ead,
And then life springs-
+e is Able to do all things)
Allah is the best defender,
(et none can hear e2cept those ho Surrender)
,rom ea%ness +e guided #ou,
And then into strength,
Then appoints again ea%ness,
In #our #ears length)
This is in +is bount#&
+e createth hat +e ill)
+e is the /noer, the Might#,
And hen the +our ariseth the guilt#
Shall sear it as onl# an hour
That the# didst tarr#) Percei'e-
Thus ere the# e'er decei'ed)
On the "a# of 4esurrection
The# ill sa#& 1We used not to %no)1
But those ith faith ill sa#&
1The truth is e tarried b# Allah3s decree)1
02cuses ill not profit thee,
When in the end,
There is no time left to ma%e amends)
157
If We shoed the disbelie'ers
More miracles than the# ha'e seen,
The# ouldst onl# e2claim&
1Mere tric%sters-1
Thus do the# harm themsel'es,
Thus doth Allah seal the hearts
Off those ho %no not, forsooth-
(et for man# the miracles
Are alread# the truth-
158
Lu8man
Alif) Lam) Mim)
These are the 4e'elations of the ise Scripture,
A guidance and merc# for the good,
On the a# to the hereafter)
Those ho pa# the poor due ha'e faith, as the# should,
And more doth Allah pa#eth,
As a sure course,
(et not for those ho merel#
Pla# a pastime out of discourse)
Nor for those ho lead others astra#,
And ma%e Allah the ob5ect of moc%er#)
Those ho hear #et turn aa# in pride,
+as deafness in his ears and cannot hide)
,or those ho do good, in a .arden the# abide)
Allah is the Might#, the Wise)
+e created the hea'ens ith supports in'isible,
+e cast the hills firm,
+e made the manners of plants,
And beasts of the field)
+e is indi'isible)
Lu8man +e ga'e isdom, sa#ing&
1Thus is Allah3s creation)
.i'e than%s to Allah
,or the good of the soul)1
And hosoe'er refuseth,
Allah is Absolute, Oner of Praise)
+e can lengthen or forshorten da#s)
Lu8man said to his son&
1To ascribe partners unto Allah
Is a tremendous rong)
O m# dear son- Though it be
The eight of a mustard;seed
In a roc%, the hea'ens, or earth
Allah ill bring it forth,
And it shall bear&
Allah is Subtile, Aare)
0stablish orship, be %ind, forbid ini8uit#,
And hate'er befall thee, perse'ere)
Be not prideful, hate'er life brings)
This is the heart of things)
159
Be modest in bearing and subdue th# 'oice&
The harsh 'oice is the 'oice of an ass)
See ho Allah has landed #ou ith fa'ours,
Both ithout and ithin)
To dispute ithout %noing Scripture
Would be a 'ain sin)
,ollo that hich Allah has re'ealed&
+e %noeth that hich #e %eep concealed)
+old #our purpose to Allah,
And surrender)
It is best thus,
If #e doth remember)
To Allah belongs the se8uel)
Let not others disbelief afflict thee,
If the deaff cannot hear nor the blind see)
If all the trees ere pens,
And in% all the seas,
The ords of Allah ould still not end&
4emember this ith th# pen)1
+e said& 1(our creation and raising from the dead
Are merel# one soul,
And eas# for Allah
,or those ho %no)
+ast thou not seen night turn to da#,
And the sun and moon
In their appointed terms,
That Allah can ta%e all the hea'enl# forms7
No is this false or is it true
That Allah is Aare of hat #e do7
It is so, for Allah is hat is true)
Lo- It is truthful,
And the portents are seen
In the hearts of the grateful)1
When #our faith is for Allah onl#,
None shall compromise, e2cept the disbelie'er,
None denieth Our signs)
O man%ind- /eep dut# to the Lord&
,or the "a# naught else shall a'ail)
Allah3s promise is the 'er# truth,
Let not the orld beguile)
Lo- Allah- With +im is %noledge of the +our,
+e sendeth don rain, %nos
What is in ombs, %nos #our sorros,
And none else %no hat comes tomorro)
160
The Prostration
Alif) Lam) Mim)
The 4e'elation of the Scripture
,rom Allah3s sight,
As a arner so that men al% aright)
+e is the Truth, #et little %non,
As +e created the hea'ens
And then sat upon +is Throne)
+e is a protecting friend and mediator)
Will #e not then remember7
An ordinance as sent from +ea'en to earth,
Our hol# treasure, in one da#,
Or a thousand of our measure)
Such is the %noer of the 'isible and in'isible,
The Might#, the Merciful)
+e began the creation of man out of cla#,
And then ga'e #e hearts and ears that hear
And e#es that see)
Small than%s gi'e #e-
And the# sa#& 1When e are lost in the earth,
+o then again shall e be in the orld71
These are disbelie'ers
In their meeting ith the Lord)
If We had illed, We could ha'e gi'en
0'er# soul it3s guidance)
But the Word from Me is that
The# learn of good or%s and right penitence)
Be careful ith hat #ou do,
,orasmuch as #e forget
The meeting of #our "a#, lo-
We forget #ou)
Onl# are those ho belie'e in Our 4e'elations
Who, hen reminded, fall don prostrate,
As though reprimanded,
And are not scornful)
This much is truthful)
Spend hat as bestoed on #ou)
What is %ept hid from #ou of 5o#7
The belie'er is not ali%e
To the e'il;li'er)
Be not in doubt of recei'ing Scripture as guidance,
0'en as the *hildren of Israel from Moses)
161
And We appoint the righteous people
,rom Our command,
If the# are stedfast)
4emember& the Lord ill 5udge
As to ho the# used to differ)
In the ruined cities are portents indeed)
Will the# then not ta%e heed7
On the da# of 'ictor#,
Of faith naught ill a'ail those ho disbelie'e,
Neither shall the# be reprie'ed)
So see the portent,
And ithdra from them,
And aait- Lo- We also ait)
162
The *lans
O Prophet- To Allah %eep th# dut#$
The disbelie'ers do not obe#,
And the h#pocrites)
Allah is /noer,
,ollo hat is inspired in thee
,rom th# Lord)
Allah is Aare of hat #e do)
Put trust in Allah, +e is sufficient as Trustee,
,or the coming of the "a#&
Allah sa#eth the truth and soeth the a#)
In Our %noledge
Of #our sons and daughters,
Proclaim their real parentage)
(our a# is but a a# of mouth&
*onsider their real heritage,
If #e are able)
To Allah this is more e8uitable)
Allah is ,orgi'ing, Merciful)
Their are not to hearts in the bod#,
And no sin in mista%es unintentional&
It is in the hearts purpose
That sin lies)
Be honest ith #our mothers and i'es)
Oners of %inship are closer
In the ordinance of Allah
0'en than the belie'ers and fugiti'es from Mecca)
02cept that #ou should do %indness to #our friends,
As in the Boo% of nature)
,rom the Prophets, from Noah
And Abraham and Moses
And the son of Mar#, !esus,
We e2acted a co'enant
Be#ond dut#)
We as% the lo#al of their lo#alt#)
The Prophet is to #ou most near,
Nearer than #oursel'es,
And Allah is e'er the Seer)
Allah is nigh-
0'en the belie'ers ere sorel# tried)
163
And the h#pocrites, in their confusion,
Said& 1Allah and +is messenger
Offer naught sa'e delusion)1
Some of them said, on battle3s e'e& 1O fol% of (athrib,
Those of #ou ho dost belie'e,
We cannot ma%e a stand, so flee-1
(et the same ouldst sta# and or% treacher#)
The# had made an oath to Allah, 'eril#,
Not to turn their bac%s on their foe,
=eril# an oath to Allah must be accounted for)
If #e flee, hat a'aileth thee
,rom death or +ell,
When onl# a little time in comfort #e dell7
Allah alread# %noeth those ho hinder,
And sa# to their brethren, 1*ome hither)1
But e2cept for Allah the# ouldst find no helper)
Such ha'e not belie'ed,
And Allah gi'es them onl# fruitless deeds)
Of the belie'ers some are the#
Who ha'e been true
To the co'enant ith Allah,
And e'en met ith death in their 'o)
None faltered, and some are still aiting,
And ha'e not altered)
Allah ma# reard true men for their truth,
The h#pocrites he punishes if +e ill,
Or relents toards them)
+e is Merciful, ,orgi'ing)
Allah repulsed the disbelie'ers in their rath,
And stopped them in their trac%s)
Of those People of the Scripture
Who sided ith the unbelie'ers,
In their hearts as panic cast)
Some +e sle, and some made capti'e,
Some died, and some ere caused to li'e)
And see hat fortune brings&
The# lost their lands and homes)
Allah is Able to do all things)
O Prophet- Sa# unto #our i'es,
If #ou desire adornment in #our li'es,
I ill content thee
And #e are released, and fairl#)
But if #e desire Allah
164
And the abode of the hereafter, then lo-
Allah has prepared an immense bount#)
*ause not di'ision,
But be submissi'e unto Allah,
And earn +is pro'ision)
(e are not li%e other omen)
"o #our dut# to Allah,
And be not contrar#)
If e'il men aspire to #ou,
6tter not soft speech,
But such as is customar#)
The Time of Ignorance endure)
Be regular ith pra#er)
/eep uncleanness aa# from #ou)
Pa# the poor due)
O People of the +ousehold-
Allah3s ish is to cleanse #ou&
Mind hat is recited in #our house,
Of Allah and isdom)
"o not 5ust do hat #e ish to,
,or omen ta%e care)
Allah is Subtile, Aare)
4emember, for men and omen ho Surrender,
Those ho belie'e, orship, and pra#,
Those ho perse'ere and are humble and gi'e alms,
And those ho guard their modest#,
Those ho are 5ust steards,
,or them is forgi'eness and 'ast reards)
Whoso is rebellious after an affair is decided,
Whoso is rebellious to Allah and +is messenger,
These are in manifest error)
That hich is hidden in #our mind
Allah can bring to light)
,ear man%ind, and fear Allah,
,or +e has better right,
Through #our life until
The commandments of Allah are fulfilled)
/eep #our dut#&
The commandments of Allah are certain destin#)
(ou cannot stop it)
Muhammad is father of no man,
But messenger of Allah and Seal of the Prophets)
See hat fortune brings)
Allah is Aare of all things)
165
,or guidance, O #e ho belie'e-
4emember Allah ith much remembrance)
(ou ma# o'ercome ,ate)
.lorif# +im earl# and late)
+e blesseth #ou, and +is angels bless #ou)
+e ma# bring #ou from dar%ness to light)
+e lo'eth not decei'ers,
And is Merciful to the belie'ers)
+e hath prepared goodl# recompense,
And for the disbelie'ers there is no defense)
The good shall ha'e bount#
B# +is permission)
To Allah #ou ma# ala#s see% petition)
Thou canst defer to hom #e ilt,
And recei'e hom thou ilt,
And not find sin)
Ma# all be pleased at hat #e gi'est them)
(et Allah %noest hat is in #our hearts, O men)
Allah is *lement, ,orgi'ing)
As to #our i'es,
Allah is Watcher o'er all things,
Whether #ou di'ulge a thing or %eep it hidden)
It is no sin for omen to con'erse freel#,
With their sons and daughters, mothers and fathers,
Sisters and brothers,
Or their on omen)
O omen- /eep #our dut# to Allah-
+e is Witness o'er all things)
Allah and +is angels shoer
Blessings on the Prophet,
And those ithout corruption,
As% blessings and salute,
With orth# salutation
Those ho malign Allah and +is messenger,
Allah hast cursed in the orld of the hereafter,
With disdain,
And those ho malign the belie'ers
Also sin)
If the h#pocrites, and those ho ha'e in their hearts disease,
Persist and do not cease,
Then the# shall meet an enem# ith honour,
And onl# a short hile be th# neighbor)
=eril#, there shall be slaughter,
As as of old,
166
Though in the message of peace,
Is Allah3s stor# told)
Men as% of the +our)
(et ho ma# this %noledge come to thee7
Better to be patient and or% hardil#
O #e ho belie'e- Be not
Of those ho slandered Moses,
,or in Allah3s sight as shon +is innocence)
O #e ho belie'e- .uard #our dut#
And spea% straight to the point)
.od ill ad5ust #our or%s for #ou,
,or to Allah is found the 'ictor#)
The h#pocrite ma# be punished,
And idolatrous men and idolatrous omen,
While the belie'er is forgi'en)
167
Saba
Praise be to Allah,
+e that %noeth hat goes don into earth,
And hat comes forth,
What ascends into +ea'en
And hat descends from +ea'en)
+e is the Merciful, the ,orgi'ing)
Those ho disbelie'e sa# the +our shall come ne'er,
(et, na#, of the 6nseen +e is the /noer)
Not an atoms eight,
Nor greater, nor lesser,
In the hea'ens and the earth,
0scapeth +is accord)
All is on clear record,
That good or%s he ma# reard,
And for those ho belie'e find pardon,
And a'oid their doom)
,or those ho stri'e against Our 4e'elations
Shall find no such pro'isions,
But the chaos of the end)
,orsooth, those ho ha'e %noledge %no
It as gi'en b# the Lord of Truth)
Those ho disbelie'e in the hereafter
Are in torment and far error)
The earth can be made to sallo them up,
Or the s%# fall on them&
There surel# is a portent herein)
,or e'er# sla'e a portent
Who turneth to Allah repentant)
And assuredl# We ga'e "a'id grace,
Sa#ing, 1O #e hills and birds
0cho his psalms of praise)1
And iron as supple unto him)
And to Solomon We ga'e the ind,
And certain of the 5inn,
That or%ed for him b# permission)
The# made for him hat he illed,
S#nagogues and statues and ells)
If #ou %ne the 6nseen,
(ou ould not continue in despised toil)
,e of M# bondsmen are than%ful)
168
What is the orld7
A fair land ith an indulgent Lord)
This much is truthful)
0at of th# pro'isions and be grateful)
We %no those ho belie'eth in the hereafter)
See hat doubt brings&
Th# Lord ta%eth note of all things)
When fear is banished from th# heart,
(ou ha'e o'ercome ,ate)
+e is the Sublime, the .reat)
Who gi'eth the pro'ision, and the Truth,
,rom the s%# and earth7
Allah) Lo- We or #ou in our tr#st
Are either rightl# guided or in error manifest)
The Lord ill bring us all together,
Then +e ill 5udge)
Allah hath no partners)
"o not despise)
+e is the All;%noing !udge,
The Might#, the Wise,
And +is Prophet onl# a arner to man%ind
And a bringer of good tidings,
When man%inds %nos not)
(ours is the promise of a "a#,
And #ou cannot postpone #our lot)
And the proud sa# to the despised,
1"id e dri'e #ou aa# hen the Truth arri'ed71
And the despised sa#& 1It as #our scheming night and da#,
When #e commanded us to disbelie'e,
That e should in,
And set up ri'als unto +im)1
And those ith ealth sa#&
1We are not the punished)1
But the# do not belie'e in 6s)
And the ealth# do not share,
When it is onl# to those ho belie'e
And do good or%s
That Allah draeth near,
But not to the rongdoers)
Whate'er good #e spend,
+e replaceth it,
And +e is the Best of Pro'iders,
And on that "a# hen +e ill gather
.ood and ill, all together,
169
+e ill sa# unto +is angels&
1"id these orship #ou71
The# ill sa#& 1Be Thou glorified)
Thou art our Protector from them)
Most of them orshipped the 5inn)1
That "a# #ou shall be free from one another)
4e8uiring neither hurt nor use,
All armies shall declare a truce)
And those ho den#, and shunned their dut#,
Shall claim Our 4e'elations all a lie,
That the# earned their bount#)
These indeed are lac%ing a Scripture,
And hath denied man# a arner&
These ha'e +ell in store,
,or isdom the# abhorred,
As man# did of old)
,or Allah3s sa%e
I e2hort #ou to one thing onl#&
That #e aa%e-
And see th# arner as a friend,
And their is no madness in #our comrade in the end)
Then sa#& 1All the reard hatsoe'er that I as%ed of #ou,
Is #ours, as the least that I can do)
M# reard is the affair of Allah onl#,
Which I did not %no in m# madness)1
O'er all things is Allah a itness)
I sa# as I am bidden,
Allah is /noer of Things +idden)
The Truth hath come from on high,
And falsehood banished)
If I err, I might still be rightl# guided)
+e is +earer, and Nigh)
No ma# #e belie'e herein7
,rom a great distance #e see% faith,
And remo'al of sin)
Belie'e in the 6nseen)
There is a gulf beteen #e,
And hat #e desire)
Ma%e #our heart right
To a'oid the ,ire)
170
The Angels
Praise be to Allah, the *reator
Of the hea'ens,
Whose angels ha'e to, three, and four ings)
+e multiplieth in creation hat +e ill)
Allah is Able to do all things)
What +e shos of merc# none can ithhold,
And hat +e ithholds none can sho)
Allah3s grace remember,
And do not den# the messenger)
Allah is ithout lac%,
6nto +im alone is all brought bac%)
So let not the orlds beguile,
O man%ind- The promise of Allah is true,
And the de'il an enem# unto #ou,
And Allah is Aare of hat #ou do-
"o not thin% #e need no correction)
Allah sendeth ind, and cloud, and rain
To re'i'e dead land&
Such is the 4esurrection)
All poer belongs to Allah)
The pious doth +e e2alt,
While for those ho plot ini8uities,
Their plotting shall come to naught)
,rom dust ere #e made,
Without fail, and from a little fluid,
Into male and female)
And no oman bringeth forth a child
Without +is %noing,
And no one groeth old,
Nor aught ta%en from him in his strife,
But is recorded in the Boo% of Life,
And ho #e did #our dut#)
,or Allah, that is eas#)
+e shos miracles of rare de'ice)
+e subdued the sun and moon to ser'ice)
The stars are counted for #ou to learn,
As the hea'ens, 'aulted, mo'e in their term)
This is appointed b# Allah, #our Lord,
In +is So'ereignt#)
171
The rest on nothing,
Of those to hom #e pra#)
If #e pra# unto them the# shall not hear$
None can inform #ou li%e
+im Who is Aare)
O man%ind- (e are the poor
In relation to Allah, in truth)
And Allah- +e is Oner of Praise, and Absolute)
If +e ill, +e can replace #ou ith a ne *reation)
No soul can bear another3s burden,
Nor can #ou redeem others ith #our merit&
Thou arnest onl# those ho fear the Lord in secret)
+e ho increases in goodness,
*annot aid ith another3s forgi'eness)
+e groeth onl# for himself,
,or unto Allah is the m#ster# of the earth)
Who doth Allah sa'e7
The blind is not e8ual ith the seer,
Nor light to dar%ness,
Nor is the shado e8ual to the sun,
The li'ing e8ual to the gra'e)
,or e'er# nation there comes a messenger,
To bring good tidings and ard off fear)
The# came ith clear proofs
Of Allah3s so'ereignt#,
+o +e re'eals in measure,
In Psalms and Scripture,
And limits infinit#)
The ater falleth
And ma%es the hills
4un ith strea%s of hite and red and blac%
And fruit of man# colors,
To ard off peoples lac%)
Are not men and beasts and cattle
Also made of di'ers hues,
In li%e manner in +is bount#7
The erudite fear Allah onl#)
+e is the ,orgi'ing, the Might#)
+a'e #e no sense7
Those ho read the Scripture of Allah,
0stablish orship, and spend,
These shall gain recompense)
What is inspired in #e of Scripture,
It confirms the truth
172
,ormerl# re'ealed)
(et some rong themsel'es,
Some are lu%earm, others aait a Sa'iour,
(et others do good deeds, and outstrip them in +is fa'our)
And the# sa#& 1Praise be to Allah,
To end our grie'ing)
+e is the Bountiful, the ,orgi'ing,
In +is So'ereignt#,
And has installed us in the mansions of eternit#)1
(our life is long enough
To reflect herein, and there came to #ou a arner&
0'ildoers ha'e no helper)
Allah %noeth hat is in #our heart,
It ma# not be too late to ma%e a ne start)
(e ere made a regent on the earth)
It is naught sa'e loss to disbelie'e)
+as a Scripture come
So that #e ma# act on clear proof therefrom7
The e'ildoers promise each other onl# to decei'e)
When a arner arri'es are #e
Inspired to repugnance7
"oth thou continue to beha'e
In th# arrogance7
Then, thou shalt recei'e the same as fol% of old
Who ould not listen hen plainl# told)
"o hat Thou ilt)
,or Allah there is no substitute)
Tra'el in the land and see the conse8uence
,or those ho ere before)
Were these mightier in poer7
Nothing escapeth Allah,
In the earth or s%ies)
+e is the Might#, the Wise)
173
(a Sin
(a) Sin)
B# the ise ?ur3an
Is this 4e'elation of those sent
On a straight path hich is truthful,
A 4e'elation of the Might#, the Merciful,
That the# ma# arn the heedless,
And o'ercome the suffering needless)
Alread# most belie'e not,
(et our ord has pro'ed true,
And here e gi'eth 4eminder
To pa# the poor due)
See% forgi'eness, from the Beneficent,
.i'e of #oursel'es, and fear in secret,
,or that "a#)
Whether #ou arn them or arn them not
Of their a#s, it is ali%e&
The# do not belie'e and ill not be sa'ed)
We it is Who bring the dead to life,
And the# shall remember
That all is %ept in a clear register)
To further re'eal something of attitude,
We ha'e coined a certain similitude,
Where if #e arn or arn not,
It is the same,
,or disbelie'ers treat it all as a game)
As hen, to messengers came
To the people of a cit#,
Sa#ing doom as nigh for their lac%ing in dut#)
Both ere denied, so We sent
Them a third, but the people said, 1(ou lie-1
The# ansered, 1The Lord %noeth
We are sent unto thee indeed,1
But the people ga'e no heed,
02cept said, 1As it stands,
If #e desist not, grie'ous torture
Shall befall #ou at our hands)1
The messengers said,
1Because #ou are reminded of the truth,
That #ou auger ill for us, forsooth-1
174
(et from the uttermost part
Of the cit# came up a man, ho cried,
1O m# people-
,ollo their plan- ,ollo those ho ha'e been sent,
And repent-
,or hat cause should I not ser'e +im
Who created me)
Shall I ta%e other gods in place of +im,
When if the Beneficent ished me harm,
No other gods could sa'e me7
I ha'e belie'ed in #our Lord,
So hear me-
0nter Paradise- Would that m# people
/ne the lord3s munificence-
The Lord hath pardoned me
And shon me honour)
We do not send don a host from +ea'en e'er)
Ah, the anguish for the false men,
,or ne'er came a messenger but the# didst moc% him)
See ho man# generations-1
(et ithout e2ceptions
The# shall be brought before 6s)
A to%en unto them is the dead earth,
Which We re'i'e, to bring forth
.rain that the# ma# eat thereof)
We ha'e made the gardens of
"ate;palms and grapes$
Will the# not then gi'e than%s7
.lor# to +im ho created
What #e %no not,
The sun runneth to it3s resting spot,
The moon has it3s mansions,
The stars their numerous e2pansions,
0nough to hear th# cries)
+e is the Might#, the Wise)
+o ma# #e %no it7
The sun does not o'erta%e the moon,
But each float in it3s orbit)
Neither can some be sa'ed, indeed,
When arners come and the# pa# no heed)
Ne'er came a to%en but the# didst turn aa#)
As a promise, feed the hungr#,
Or be in error manifest-
This is hat the Beneficent promised)
And the messengers spo%e the truth, too)
175
Them and #ou,
And in sacred trust,
With 5ust one shout
Thou shalt come before 6s)
And then happil# emplo#ed
Shall those ith merit be, in Paradise,
The# and their i'es, on that "a#,
(et a great multitude hath been led astra#)
+a'e thee then no sense7
O #e sons of Adam,
The de'il is an open foe,
And +ell is hat he promised)
This is naught else but a 4eminder, and a Lecture,
Ma%ing plain, and a Scripture,
,or the belie'ers but not the profane,
A fe ords,
That the# ma# against the disbelie'ers
Be fulfilled)
+a'e #e no sense7
We see hat is re'ealed in th# speech,
And hat #e conceal from others out of reach)
"o not despise&
The *reator is All;ise)
As it as once begun,
The *reator produced the hea'ens and earth,
,rom hence #e sprung,
And here man# are slain)
Lo- "o #ou not thin% +e can do it again7
The truth is this&
,or +is command +e sa#eth& 1Be-1 and it is)
.lor# be to Allah-
While some ha'e opinion,
All are under +is dominion)
176
Those Who Set the 4an%s
B# those ho set the battle ran%s in order,
And those ho dri'e aa# the ic%ed,
And read the Word as a 4eminder,
The Lord is surel# One,
Lord of the hea'ens and the earth
And the rising sun,
And the loest hea'ens ith the planets,
To ard off e'er# de'il,
Outcast, in torment perpetual)
(ea, as sure as the hea'ens are ornaments,
To ard off e'il,
And %eep them in perpetual torments,
02cept those as snatcheth fragments,
And those such are pursued b# a piercing flame)
These moc% hen We mar'el,
When reminded do not heed,
Scoff at portents,
And sa# mere magic is all the# see)
And the# as%, 1When e are dead
Shall e be raised71
(ea, in truth, and #e ill be brought lo)
Behold- On the "a# of 5udgement
,or some there is oe)
,or it is said unto the angels,
1Assemble those ho did rong,
What the# used to orship,
And their i'es,
And the# shall be 8uestioned of their li'es)1
This is the "a# of 4esurrection
Which #e used to den#,
When #e shall be as%ed,
1Wh# did #ou not help one another about #our tas%s71
And hate'er their admission,
This "a# the# ma%e full submission)
And hate'er the# sa#,
Those ho misled others ere also astra#,
And those ho ere arned,
(et onl# returned scorn,
+a'e their life to pa#)
177
Thus deal We ith the guilt#,
,or hen it as said unto them,
1There is no .od sa'e Allah,1
The# scorned the Prophet,
And said, 1Shall e follo some mad poet71
Thus shall their fates be grim,
,or he confirmed those sent before him)
Whereas Allah has pro'ision for +is sla'es, and all belie'ers,
Who in a .arden ill ga>e
With lo'e on those ho ere sa'ed)
And a spea%er of them sa#eth&
1I had a comrade ho used to sa#&
3Art thou in truth one ho belie'es in ords,
And has faith so as not to go astra#7
And once e are dust is there an# Boo%,
Into hich e might glimpse a loo%731
And then the spea%er sa#eth&
1There is a Boo% that #e maintain #our faith)1
And the man loo%ed and sa
+imself in the depths of +ell,
And he e2claimed& 1If not for being in fa'our ith the Lord
I should end up there as ell)
Are e then not to die,
Sa'ing our former death, and are not to be punished71
Lo- This is the Supreme Triumph&
Who shall be sa'ed
02cept Allah3s single;minded sla'es7
Such as Noah, hen he pra#ed)
Peace be unto the Noah among the peoples,
And his household,
The rest ere droned as disbelie'ers)
=eril# Abraham came to his Lord,
With a hole heart, and as good,
And as%ed of his fol%,
1What do thee orship,
A thing created from #our hands,
That also ere created, a falsehood71
The# said, 1Build him a building,
And fling him into the fire,1
Such as their ire)
And he said, 1I am going unto m# Lord,
Who ill guide me as I go-
M# Lord- =ouchsafe me of the righteous,
As good as m# ord-1
178
And he as gi'en tidings
Of a gentle son,
Who matured and al%ed beside him,
And he said, 1In a dream I as commanded
To stri%e #ou dead)1
And his son said, 1O m# father-
"o as thou art commanded, unto the last)
Allah illing, I shall be stedfast-1
!ust so the# both Surrendered to Allah,
And Abraham as flung upon his face,
And We called him and shoed him grace,
And said, 1Thou hast fulfilled
The 'ision and the test)1
Peace be unto Abraham
If this much he understood&
Thus do We reard the good)
And Moses and Aaron ere blest,
And sa'ed their people from great distress,
And helped them become the 'ictors,
And We ga'e them the clear Scriptures)
Peace be unto Moses and Aaron,
And lo- 0lias as of those sent to arn,
And said to his fol%&
1Will #e forsa%e the *reator and cr# unto Baal,
And disbelie'e in Allah71
But the# denied him, ithal)
Peace be unto 0lias, he as a belie'ing sla'e,
And thus is sa'ed)
And lo- Lot as sent to arn,
Without recompense,
(e 'eril# pass b# ruins of those destro#ed,
In the morning and at night)
+a'e thee no sense7
!onah fled unto a laden ship,
But the# dre lots and he as of those re5ected,
And as salloed b# a hale,
In our fable, because he as still blameorth#,
But as brought up onto an island,
,or Allah he did glorif#)
Will #e not reflect,
Then produce #our rit7
*reated We the angels females,
While the# ere present7
"oth Allah prefer daughters to sons7
179
What is #our arrant7
.lorified be Allah from that hich
The# attribute to +im&
+e has not begotten)
If e had but a 4eminder
,rom men of old,
We ould be sla'es of Allah,
(et no that it is come
The# disbelie'e$ but ill come to %no)
=eril# Our ord ent forth,
And thou ouldst be helped,
And Our host, the 'ictors)
=eril#, so ithdra from sinners,
And atch, for the# ill soon see
That the# hasten their doom,
And it cometh home,
,or those ho ha'e been arned)
.lorif# the Lord of Ma5est#, the Lord-
,rom that attributed to +im,
And peace unto those sent to arn)
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds-
180
Sad
B# the renoned ?ur3an,
Those ho disbelie'e are in false pride and schism)
+o man# generations
We destro#ed before them)
The disbelie'ers hail the arner as a charlatan,
As no one can ma%e the gods One .od,
And hen heard of in religion,
Is said to be mere in'ention)
Th# treasures are the merc# of the Lord,
The Might#, the Bestoer)
And the 'ision of +ell
+is constant 4eminder)
What stands on +ea'ens stair,
In beteen the hea'ens and the earth,
But the factions that are there
Who could not %no the Prophet3s orth)
And to those ho ha'e no hopes,
Is the %ingdoms of the hea'ens and the earth all theirs7
Then let them ascend b# ropes-
"efeated are those factions and those hosts,
!ust li%e Noah3s fol%s,
And the tribe of A3ad, and that of Thamud,
And Pharaoh firml# planted,
And Midian3s dellers in the ood)
And the fol% of Lot)
These all aited for but one Shout,
And there shall be no second)
The# sa#& 1+asten our fate
Before the "a# of 4ec%oning)1
Bear ith hat the# sa#, and remember
The sentence, and li%e "a'id
Be e'er turning in repentance)
Toard Allah- And remember
The stor# of the litigants,
And ho the# climbed to "a'id3s chamber)
The# said& 1One of us has ronged the other&
Sho us the fair a#-1
And one said, 1This, m# brother,
+as ninet#;nine ees,
And I had onl# one)
181
But he said, entrust me ith the other,
And con8uered me in speech,
And no m# ee is out of reach)1
"a'id said& 1+e has ronged thee
In demanding #our ee,
As man# oppress another,
Sa'e those ho do good or%s and belie'e)1
And "a'id guessed that We had tried him,
And fell don on his %nees,
And sought forgi'eness and repented,
So We forga'e him that,
+e had access to Our Presence)
And it as said unto him&
1,ollo not desire,
That it beguile
Thee from the a# of Allah)
Those ho ander from the a#,
+a'e an aful doom,
,orasmuch as the# forgot the "a#)1
We did not ma%e the hea'ens and earth in 'ain)
That is the disbelie'ers opinion)
Shall We trust those ho belie'e
As those ho spread corruption)
This Scripture is re'ealed unto thee
,ull of blessing,
That #e ma# ponder these 4e'elations,
And reflect, and be#ond guessing,
Learn ho to select)
On "a'id as Solomon bestoed,
Who e'er repented in remembrance of the Lord)
There as shon to /ing Solomon
Light;footed coursers at e'entide,
And Solomon as sorel# tried)
+e said& 1Lo- I ha'e preferred
The good things of the orld to m# Lord,1
And he fell to slashing their nec%s and legs
With his sord)
So We set a mere bod# on the throne,
6ntil said Solomon&
1M# Lord- ,orgi'e me and besto on me such so'ereignt#,
As ill not belong to an# after me)
Thou art the +earer, the Bestoer)1
And We forga'e his sins,
And made subser'ient to him the 'er# inds,
And e'er# builder We made subser'ient
182
,or his repentance)
Lo- +e has fa'our ith 6s)
Ma%e mention of Our bondsman !ob, hen he cried,
1The de'il has me in torment and distress)1
And it as said unto him,
Stri%e the ground ith th# foot,
And thus sprung a cool bath,
And refreshing drin%,
To sooth his soul and ma%e him thin%)
And We bestoed again upon him his household,
As merc# from the Lord)
And ma%e mention of our bondsmen
!acob, Isaac, and Abraham,
As We purified them
With remembrance of the +ome of the +ereafter)
And reflect, ho Ishmael,
0lisha, and "hu3l;/ifl
Are among the elect)
,or those ho ard off e'il
Is a happ# 5ourne#3s end,
The open gates of the .arden of 0den)
The good shall ala#s ha'e companions,
As is promised for the "a# of 4ec%oning)
,or e'il there is no such pro'ision)
As sure as the de'il,
An e'il 5ourne#3s end is e'il&
+ell, the torment of the to e2tremes
That do not tire)
Such is theirs ho alread# taste the ,ire)
Some ill argue there, and double their ire)
This is the truth about the dellers in the ,ire)
It is tremendous tidings)
I am onl# a arner&
There is no .od sa'e Allah,
The One, the Absolute,
The Might#, the Pardoner)
The Lord hath said unto the angels&
1I ill create a mortal out of mire)
,all prostrate hen I ha'e breathed M# spirit into him)1
This as done, e'er# angel e2cept one)
0blis as scornful and became a disbelie'er,
/non as Satan, the "ecei'er)
The lord said& 1O 0blis,
Art thou too proud or art thou high e2alted71
183
And 0blis said& 1I as made of fire, and he, cla#,
Thus is he faulted)1
The Lord said, 1Thou art reprie'ed
6ntil the "a# of !udgement,
When #ou and all #e decei'e shall %no the punishment)1
And Satan said, 1Then, b# th# might,
I shall beguile them e'er# one,
02cept the single;minded sla'es among them)1
I as% #ou no fee for this,
And I am no impostor,
I am a mere arner and this is m# reminder)
*ome bac% to lo'e,
,or #e ill come, in time,
To %no the truth thereof)
The Troops
We ha'e re'ealed unto thee the Scripture,
So orship Allah, ma%ing religion pure)
,or +im onl#, for others #e orship
Are to bring #ou nearer +is %ingship)
Allah ill 5udge ho the# differ,
And +e guideth not the liar)
If Allah had illed, +e should ha'e chosen a son,
Of that hich +e had created)
Allah is Absolute, the One)
Will #e learn7
+e made the hea'ens and earth,
And the sun and moon to run in their terms)
+e created night and da#, created #ou in the omb,
*reation after creation, in three;fold gloom)
+o then are #e turned aa#7
If #e are than%less,
Allah is Independent of #ou,
If #e are than%ful,
+e is pleased for hat #ou do)
(e shall return unto #our Lord,
And no laden soul bears another3s load)
+e createth for #ou tests,
And lo- +e %noeth hat is in th# breasts)
Turn to +im repentant,
And do not again set ri'als to Allah,
That #e beguile #ourself and others
,rom +is a#)
If #e ta%e pleasure in th# disbelief ahile,
184
Lo- Thou art part;oners of the ,ire)
Is he ho pa#eth adoration
In the night, prostrate and standing,
Of the hereafter bearing,
And for merc# hoping,
To be accounted e8ual to a disbelie'er7
Ta%e heed O m# bondmen ho belie'e-
,or those in the orld ho do good,
There is good, and Allah3s earth is spacious)
4emain among the stedfast and the righteous)
Put aa# false gods
And orship Allah onl#)
The losers ill lose themsel'es and their housefol%
On the "a# of 4esurrection)
With fire doth Allah appal,
O m# bondsmen, therefore,
,ear Me-
,or those ho orship false deities,
The# ma# #et be repentant
And be sa'ed b# the Sent,
And ha'e .ardens abiding)
Therefore, gi'e good tidings)
Those ho hear ad'ice
And follo the best thereof
Are men of understanding)
Woe unto those hose hearts are hardened
Against remembrance of Allah&
,ollo the light from #our Lord,
And Surrender)
Allah hath no re'ealed statements fair,
With promises of reard,
Paired ith the dire conse8uences
Of re5ecting #our Lord)
Thus #e ma# ta%e #our side,
(et for he hom Allah sendeth astra#,
There is no guide)
(e ma# refute, and lo-
Thou ilt die, and lo- The# ill die)
Then, on the "a# of 4esurrection,
Before th# Lord, #e shall dispute
Who against Allah telleth a lie,
And hen the truth reaches a man,
+o can he den#7
Whoso bringeth the truthful,
185
And belie'es therein,
These are the dutiful,
And those ho do their dut#,
Shall ha'e share in Allah3s bount#)
This is the reard of the good&
Allah shall remit from them the orst of hat the# did,
And the reard the best the# used to do)
Allah shall defend +is sla'e,
(et there is no guide for those +e sends astra#)
Allah is the Might#, the Strong)
+e is Able to 4e8uite the rong)
If Allah illed some hurt,
*ouldst thou restrain it7
Or if +e illed merc#,
*ouldst thou constrain it7
O m# people- Act in th# manner)
I, too, am acting)
(et a'oid thou the doom e'erlasting)
We ha'e re'ealed the truth)
Whoe'er goeth right
It is for the good of his soul,
Whosoe'er stra#eth, in'ites the de'il,
And o'er them thou art not a arder)
Allah recei'eth men3s souls
,or hich +e has for death ordained,
And the rest are dismissed for a term)
=eril#, there are portents b# hich to learn,
If thou ma# see to hat the# pertain)
Be fore;arned of that "a#,
When hearts shall cho%e in the throat,
And the rongdoer has no friends)
Allah %noeth the traitor of the e#es,
And all hich the bosom hides)
Allah 5udgeth ith the truthful,
Whereas those to hom the traitor calls,
!udge not at all)
Allah is the +earer, the Seer,
+a'e #e not tra'elled in the land,
To see the conse8uence of those ho
"isbelie'ed before them7
The# ere mightier in poer,
(et no mere traces&
"o #ou need another reminder7
Allah sei>ed them for their sins,
186
And the# had no protector,
,or the# heard clear proofs
,rom man# a messenger
Of Allah3s so'ereignt#)
(et the# disbelie'ed, and so ere sei>ed)
=eril# We sent Moses ith clear arrant,
6nto Pharaoh and +aman and /orah,
But the# said& 1A l#ing sorcerer-
Sla# the sons of those ho go ith him,
And spare the omen)1
But the plot of disbelie'ers
0'er ere naught but error)
Pharaoh said& 1Suffer me to %ill Moses,
And let him cr# unto his Lord)1
And Moses replied& 1I see% refuge in m# Lord
And #our Lord from e'er# scorner)1
And a belie'ing man of Pharaoh3s famil#,
Who hid his faith, said&
1Would #e %ill a man because he sa#eth&
3M# Lord is Allah, and in truth
I ha'e brought clear proof
,rom #our Lord73 If he lies herein,
+is lie is upon him,
If he is truthful,
Then some of hat he threatens ill stri%e #ou,
Li%e a burning fire)
Allah guideth not a man ho is prodigal, and a liar)
O m# people- (ours is the /ingdom toda#-
(e are uppermost in the land,
(et this ma# change b# Allah3s hand)
Of proofs #e ha'e been told,
,ear the fate of factions of old)
A plight li%e that of Noah3s fol%,
And those ho ould not be sa'ed,
And Allah illeth no in5ustice for +is sla'es)
O m# people- Moses is right in his rec%oning&
,ear the "a# of Summoning,
A "a# hen #e turn to flee,
+a'ing no preser'er to guideth thee)1
And 'eril# !oseph brought #ou
Of old clear proofs, #et he as
6nto his death in doubt,
*oncerning hat he brought,
When he said&
187
1Allah ill send after him no messenger)1
Thus Allah decei'est the doubter)
Those ho rangle of Allah
Without an# arrant,
Are hateful in the sight of those ho belie'e,
As the disdainful and the arrogant)
The plot of Pharaoh ended in ruin,
As he said& 1O +aman- Build me a toer,
That I might sp# on his hea'en,
Though 'eril# I thin% Moses a liar)1
Thus as the e'il he did
Made fair;seeming unto Pharaoh)
And he ho belie'ed said& 1O m# people
,ollo me) I shall sho #ou of conduct right,
As, assuredl# in +is sight,
The orld is but a passing comfort
Before the Throne,
And the hereafter the enduring home)
Those ho do ill shall be repaid in %ind,
While hoso doeth right
Ma# ha'e a calm mind)
Male of female, such be a belie'er
Shall enter the .arden
And dell there fore'er) O m# people- I call #ou unto
The Might#, the ,orgi'er)
While #e call me to disbelie'e in Allah,
And ascribe to +im partners hereof
I ha'e no %noledge at all,
With no claim in the orld of the hereafter)
Our return is to Allah
And the prodigals to the ,ire)
Allah shall remember
What I sa# unto #ou)
I confide m# cause unto Allah
To ard off the dreadful doom)1
=eril# of the belie'ers We hear their cries,
And help Our messengers,
6nto the "a# the itnesses arise)
On this "a# the rongdoers shall ha'e no e2cuse,
4ather an ill abode and a lasting curse)
=eril# We ha'e shon Our guidance
And ga'e Scripture to the people of Moses,
And the *hildren of Israel, as a 4eminder)
Therefore, ha'e patience- In hat #ou do,
,or, lo- The promise of Allah is true)
188
As% forgi'eness of th# sin,
And praise the Lord at fall of night
And earl# hours ith a h#mn)
Those ho rangle ithout arrant the 4e'elations of Allah
Attain nothing but pride,
So ta%e refuge in Allah and there abide)
+e, onl# +e, is the +earer, the Seer)
Assuredl# the creation of the earth and the hea'ens
Is greater than the creation of man%ind$
(et most men %no not,
Nor hat the# find)
The seer is not e8ual to the blind)
Nor is the belie'er
08ual to the e'il;doer)
The +our is surel# coming, there is no doubt,
(et most of man%ind belie'est not)
(our Lord has said& 1Pra# unto me
And I ill hear #our pra#er)1
Allah hath appointed night for rest
And da# for seeing, and bount#,
(et fe gi'e than%s,
That the# ma# ta%e comfort and do their dut#)
Night and da#, the hea'ens and the earth,
All has Allah created$
+o then are #e per'erted7
The earth is #our resting place,
,or a canop# the s%#)
Allah has fashioned man# perfect shapes,
And pro'ided good things that #e ma# %no the h#)
Such is Allah, #our Lord)
Blessed be the Lord of the World)
See hat the hea'ens bring&
When +e ordaineth a thing,
+e sa#s onl# this& 1Be-1 and it is)
See ho the# den# the Scriptures
That hereith We send Our messengers7
(e used to pra# before to an#thing,
And ithout arrant)
This is because #e e2ulted in the earth
And ere petulant)
To tell& e'il is the habitation of the scornful)
0nter the gates of +ell)
=eril# We sent messengers before thee,
Of some of hom We ha'e told thee,
189
Who hath not gi'en a portent e2cept b# Allah3s lea'e,
And hen a commandment cometh,
The cause is 5udged aright for all to see,
And those that are lost are the folloers of 'anit#)
Which of Allah3s portents do #e den#7
Some ho had poer in the earth
+ath no more poer,
But all the# used to earn a'ailed them not,
But hat befell them as hat the# moc%ed)
It as too late for faith to a'ail them,
As Allah3s la hath e'er ta%en course
,or +is bondsmen)
The disbelie'ers ill be in ruin)
190
,usilat
+a) Mim)
,rom the Beneficent, the Merciful, a 4e'elation,
Wherein is e2pounded the Scripture,
,or people ho ha'e %noledge,
As an Arabic Lecture)
.ood tidings, strict arnings,
But most hear not that hich
Wise men sa#,
As e'er the# dost turn aa#)
The disbelie'ers sa#& 1Our hearts are protected
,rom that unto the Prophet callest us$
In our ears there is a deafness$
Beteen us and thee there is a 'eil$
Beteen his ords there is no trail)1
Sa# unto them& 1Li%e #ou I am a mere mortal,
(et I am inspired that #our .od is one .od)
Allah A%bar- .od is .reat- Ma%e th# path straight)1
See% from +im forgi'eness&
Woe to the idolater,
Who gi'es not the poor;due$
Woe to the disbelie'er
In the hereafter)
Allah is insuring
Those ho do good or%s
+a'e a reard enduring)
Ascribe to +im no ri'als&
+e placed on the earth firm hills,
Blessed it and measured it3s sustenance,
Then turned to the hea'en hen it as smo%e,
And +e made se'en hea'ens and the earth, both)
And as another act improbable
.a'e the nether hea'ens lamps
And made it in'iolable)
This is the measuring of the Might#, the /noer)
If the# turn aa#, then sa#,
I arn #e of a thunderbolt,
As of old,
That struc% the tribes of A3ad and Thamud,
When there came man# a messenger,
Sa#ing, 1Worship none sa'e Allah)1
The people said, 1If our Lord had illed,
191
+e ould ha'e sent don angels,
So that e concei'e,
As to hereith #e ha'e been sent,
We disbelie'e-1
The# said, 1Who is mightier than us in poer71
*ould the# not see
It as their *reator, Allah7
In all their di'ersions
The# denied Our 4e'elations,
Therefore a raging ind,
And taste of the torment of disgrace,
And for the scornful,
A doom in the hereafter
0'en more painful)
And be not decei'ed,
We deli'ered those ho or%ed good
And belie'ed)
"id #ou thin% #ourself hidden
,rom th# Lord7
Perhaps this thought has ruined #ou,
02cept for hat #e no can do
At e'er# cost&
"o not find #ourself among the lost)
Let this be %non&
If the# as% for fa'our,
The# are not of those unto hom
,a'our can be shon)
(et the# had comrades in the orld
Who made past and present fair;seeming,
And the# heard the Word
Of man%ind and the 5inn,
Who passed before them,
And the fate of the nations)
=eril#, here the choosers
Are among the losers)
The# disbelie'e and sa#,
1+eed not this ?ur3an,
The hearing of it, dron)
(e ma# con8uer, hapl#)1
(et those ho disbelie'e, 'eril#,
Shall meet the aful doom
,or hat the# used to do,
,ire as their immortal home,
Pa#ment for all the 4e'elations the# den#)
192
And those ho disbelie'e ill sa#,
1Our Lord- Sho us b# hom e ere beguiled,
Of the 5inn and human%ind&
Sho us this sign,
That e shall ma%e them of the lost,
And place them belo our feet as the nethermost)1
Lo- Those ho sa#& 1Our Lord is Allah,1
And afterard are upright,
The angels shall descend into their sight, and sa#,
1(e are not among the lost)
,ear not nor grie'e, but hear good tidings,
Of the paradise #e are promised)
We are #our protecting friends,
No and fore'er,
In the orld and the hereafter)
There #e ill ha'e all #our souls desire,
And all #e pra# for and re8uire
,or th# li'ing,
A gift of elcome from the Merciful, the ,orgi'ing)1
4emember& ho is better in speech,
Than him ho pra#eth unto the Lord,
And belie'eth, and doeth right7
And sa#eth& 1I am of those ho Surrender)1
And heed& not ali%e are
The good and e'il deed)
4epel the e'il deed
With one hich is better,
Then e'en he, beteen hom and thee there as enmit#,
The enmit# ill end,
And #e ill ha'e him as a bosom friend)
(et none is granted this sa'e the stedfast,
And none granted it,
Sa'e the oner of great happiness)
And if a hisper from the de'il comes nearer,
See% refuge in Allah)
+e is the /noer, the +earer)
Of +is portents are sun and moon,
(et adore them not, but hom
*reated them, Allah, if in truth
(e orship +im, and among +is portents,
The ater sent
,or the earth3s 8uic%ening)
Li'e not in dread-
+e ho 8uic%eneth is 'eril#
?uic%ener of the "ead)
193
See hat +ea'en brings)
+e is Able to do all things)
The# are not hid,
Those ho distort Our 4e'elations)
Ta%e this 4eminder&
Are those hurled into the ,ire better,
Or he ho is secure on the "a# of 4esurrection7
"o hat #e ill) +e is Seer
Of hat #e do, and /nos)
4esurrection is ithin +is measure,
And an unassailable Scripture)
,alsehood cannot refute the "a# of "a#s)
It is a 4e'elation from the Wise, the Oner of Praise)
Naught is said e2cept as
,rom messengers before thee)
Percei'e the portents-
The Lord is oner of forgi'eness,
(et also oner of dire punishments)
Were this a lecture appointed in another tongue,
Others ould ish it3s 'erses e2pounded,
And still had got them rong)
Sa# unto them ho are disbelie'ers,
+erein is a guidance and a healing b# it3s measures)
And for those ho disbelie'e,
There is a deafness in their ears)
And We 'eril# ga'e Moses Scriptures,
But there has been dispute,
And but for a Word, there ould be no doubt,
And it ould be 5udged beteen them ho the# differ)
But lo- The# are in hopeless doubt concerning it,
And trouble in discerning it)
Whoso doeth right it is for his soul,
And for it3s defense$
Whoso doeth rong it is against
+is soul& th# Lord is not a t#rant)
No female bringeth forth ithout his %noledge,
And no one is a itness,
,or to those the# cried of old
+a'e failed them)
(ea, unto a deluge)
And the# percei'e the# ha'e no place of refuge)
If #e deem not the +our shall e'er rise,
Still to th# Lord be brought,
,or ith Allah #e are surel# better off)
194
When We sho fa'our unto man,
+e ithdraeth and turneth aside,
Thin%ing he understands)
Thin% thou to ta%e hat is from Allah
And re5ect it, forsooth,
Who is further astra# than ith Allah
To ha'e an open feud7
"oth not th# Lord suffice,
Since o'er all things +e is itness7
We shall sho #e portents
On the hori>on and ithin)
Are #ou still in doubt about the meeting7
Is not +e surrounding all things7
195
*ounsel
+a) Mim) A3in) Sin) ?af)
6nto Allah belongeth
All that is in the hea'ens
And all that is in the earth,
Throughout time)
+e is the Tremendous, the Sublime)
=eril#, almost the hea'ens be rent asunder,
B# the angels, h#mning +is praise,
And the# as% forgi'eness for those on earth,
As the# remember,
Allah is Merciful, the ,orgi'er)
,or those ho choose other than Allah
As their protecting friend,
(ou are in no ise their guardian)
Allah o'er them is arden) There are conse8uences for blame&
Some ill be in the .arden,
Some in flame)
+ad +e illed, it is a certaint#
Allah could ha'e made from the
Beginning one communit#)
But +e bringeth hom +e ill
To +is merc#)
Allah alone is Protecting ,riend)
+e 8uic%eneth the dead,
And is Able to do all things)
In hatsoe'er #e differ, the 'erdict therein
Lies ith the Lord, put #our trust in +im,
And learn, to +im doth turn,
To the *reator of earth and +ea'en)
+e hath made pairs of #oursel'es,
And the cattle also pairs,
Whereb# #e multipl#)
Naught is as +is li%eness,
Though +e is near)
+e is the +earer, the Seer)
+is are the %e#s of the hea'ens and earth)
+e ma%es pro'idence for hom +e ill,
And ma# straighten #our path still,
As the angels sing)
+e is /noer of all things)
196
+e hath ordained for #ou that religion
*ommended unto Noah, and Abraham,
And Moses, and !esus, sa#ing&
10stablish this religion,
And be not di'ided herein)1
Allah chooseth for +imself
Whom +e ill, and guideth unto
+imself ho turneth toard +im)
The# ere not di'ided until %noledge
*ame unto them)
The Word had gone out for an appointed term,
And had it not been for this,
The# surel# ould ha'e 5udged ith nothing amiss)
But the# be in hopeless doubt
*oncerning Scripture e'er since)
Therefor, be upright as thou art commanded,
And follo not their a#,
But sa#& 1I belie'e in hate'er Scripture
Allah has sent don,
And am commanded to be 5ust among #ou&
There is no argument ith hat #ou do)
Allah is our Lord and #our Lord fore'er,
And the Lord shall bring us together)1
And those ho argue after
The mention of Allah, or sleight,
Their argument hath no eight)
Allah hath re'ealed the Scripture
With Balance, ith truth and no lie)
+o canst thou %no7
It ma# be that the +our is nigh,
So ho belie'e not see% to hasten it,
While some ho belie'e are fearful of it)
Are those ho dispute, in doubt,
*oncerning the "a#,
Indeed not far astra#7
Allah is gracious unto +is sla'es&
Whoso desirest the hereafter,
We gi'e har'est there&
Whoso desirest the orld,
We gi'e him thereof)
Or ha'e the# made laful in religion
That hich Allah alloed not7
But for a decisi'e Word alread# gone forth,
It ould ha'e been 5udged beteen them)
Lo- ,or rongdoers is a painful doom)
197
Thou shall see the rongdoers
,earful of hat the# ha'e earned,
And it ill surel# befall,
While those ho ha'e good or%s,
Shall ha'e preferment o'er all)
All that is re8uired, therefore,
Is lo'ing%indness beteen %insfol%,
And the good deed to be added to this is conclusi'e)
Allah is ,orgi'ing, 4esponsi'e)
+e is aare of hat is hidden in the breasts of men,
(our Lord,
And Allah ill ipe out the lie,
And 'indicate the truth ith +is ord)
+e accepts repentance, pardons e'il deeds,
And, forsooth, +e %noeth hat #e do)
+e accepts those ho do good or%s,
And gi'es unto them of +is bount#)
+e is the +earer, the Might#)
But +e sendeth don in measure,
,or if +e enlarged for +is sla'es
The# ould surel# rebel)
(et +e spreadeth out +is merc#)
+e is the Protecting ,riend, the Praiseorth#)
Of his portents are the hea'ens and earth,
And all such beasts as +e dispersed)
(e cannot escape in the earth)
Onl# Allah is Protecting ,riend,
,or hat it3s orth)
(e ha'e no other helper)
+e sails the ships and calms the inds&
+erein are signs for e'er# heart that is grateful)
+e forgi'eth much)
But on account of hat #e earned #e perish,
And those ho argue concerning Our 4e'elations,
Ma# %no the# ha'e no refuge)
The orld is a passing comfort,
And Allah has better,
,or those ho belie'e)
Be not a sinner-
An ill deed deser'es the li%e thereof,
02cept his age is the affair of Allah,
And sent from abo'e)
,or those ho anser the call of the lord
And establish orship$
198
Whose affairs are a matter of counsel$
Who spend such as is
Bestoed upon them$
Whoso defendeth himself after he hath suffered rong,
There is no blame upon him all along)
The a# of blame is onl# against
Those ho oppress, and rongfull# rebel&
,or such there is a painful distress)
Be thou patient and forgi'ing)
That, 'eril#, is the stedfast heart of things)
Anser this call before
There cometh from Allah a doom that befall)
,or on that "a# there is no refuge,
As from a might# deluge,
A "a# to test the mortal,
And #e ha'e no poer of refusal)
,or those ho are a'erse,
(e are not their arder,
(et the message con'e#)
We cause man to taste of merc#)
If e'il stri%es #ou from #our on hands,
Then, lo- Man is an ingrate&
Beare of hat #our hands create)
6nto Allah belongeth the so'ereignt#)
+e sendeth a messenger to re'eal
B# 4e'elation or from behind a 'eil)
"o not despise)
+e is 02alted, Wise)
Thou %neest not hat the Scripture as,
Nor hat the faith,
But We made a light to guide Our bondsmen,
And, lo- There 'eril# is a right path,
The path of Allah, to Whom belongeth,
Whatsoe'er is in the hea'ens,
And hatsoe'er is in the earth,
Whatsoe'er in the past,
Whatsoe'er in the future)
"o not all things reach Allah at last7
199
Ornaments of .old
+a) Mim)
B# the Scripture that ma%eth plain,
We ha'e appointed it a Lecture
In Arabic that #e understand
As the ise man sees,
In the Source of "ecrees,
Which We possess in Our rh#me)
It is indeed decisi'e, sublime)
Shall We utterl# ignore #ou
Because #ou are not of the fold,
Because #e are a anton fol%,
As men of old7
+o man# a Prophet did We send
Who nobod# ould defend)
Then, We destro#ed man# might# men)
Who made the earth a resting place,
With roads to ma%e #our a#7
Who sendeth don ater
,rom the s%# in due measure7
And ma%e dead land a treasure7
+e Whom created all the pairs,
That #e ma# remember #our Lord3s fa'ours)
And sa#& 1.lorified is +e Who hath subdued
The hea'ens and earth
,or us, hen e are not capable of subduing)
6nto our Lord e are returning)1
+e honoureth thee ith sons,
And chooseth thee daughters&
+e is the Beneficent One)
And hen a girl;child comes,
It is li%ened to the Beneficent One,
(et the man full of rage becomes)
Li%en the# then to Allah
That hich is bred up in outard sho,
ithout plain dispute to %no7
The# ma%e the angels the females,
(et is this the situation7
"id the# itness their creation7
Their testimon# ill be recorded
And the# ill be 8uestioned)
200
And the# sa#& 1If not for the Beneficent One,
We should not ha'e orshipped&1
The# ha'e no %noledge of that,
The# do but guess)
Or ha'e We gi'en them an# Scripture before this,
That the# are holding fast7
The# sa# onl#& e are folloing
In our fathers footprints)
See the nature of conse8uence-
Abraham said unto his father&
1Of hat #e orship I am innocent,
This #ou should see,
Sa'e for +im ho did create me,
,or he ill surel# guide me)1
Thou shall en5o# life
6ntil there comest upon thee the Truth,
And a messenger ma%ing plain,
Or li%e #our fathers #e are slain)
(e sa#& 1I am a disbelie'er in hat #e bring,
,or m# father3s guidance I am folloing)1
No that the truth has come unto them,
The# sa#, 1Mere magic, this ?ur3an,1
And, 1If onl# this ?ur3an had been
4e'ealed to some great man)1
Is it the# ho their Lord3s merc# apportion7
In the life of the orld,
And raised some in ran%,
While others or% for them7
In sic%ness and in health,
The merc# of the Lord is better than
All their ealth)
+ad man for lo'e of riches
Become one communit#,
We might ha'e appointed,
,or those ho disbelie'e in the Beneficent and +is merc#,
+ouses of sil'er and ornaments of gold,
(et all ould be a pro'ision of the orld)
And the hereafter is %ept
,or those ho %eep from e'il,
And for those hose sight is dim
In remembrance of the Lord
Is assigned a de'il)
The# are surel# turned from the a# of Allah,
(et deem that the# are guided right)
201
*anst thou ma%e the deaf to hear,
Or the blind man ha'e sight,
And remo'e manifest error7
If the# are not under Our ing
We shall surel# ta%e them aa#,
And do 'engeance upon them,
And not one shall stand)
We ha'e complete command
Of hat We threaten)
So hold fast and remember
That inspired in #e, and Surrender)
A'oid .od3s rath
And thou art on the right path)
This is in truth a 4eminder)
As%, did We e'er appoint gods sa'e the Beneficent7
As% Our messengers)
We sent Moses ith Our 4e'elations,
6nto Pharaoh and his chiefs,
And he said& 1I am a messenger of the Lord of Worlds,1
And he brought them to%ens,
And, behold- The# laughed,
And ere not con'inced to be on the path,
And each to%en as greater than the last,
6ntil ith torment We grasped)
And the# gasped, 1O i>ard-
0ntreat th# Lord for the pact
That +e has ith thee)
=eril# e shall al% aright in the a# e act-1
But hen We eased the torment,
The# bro%e their ord,
And there came a proclamation from Pharaoh&
1O m# people, is it not m# so'ereignt#
O'er all 0g#pt and it3s floing ri'ers7
*anst thou not see7
Moses has no armlets of gold that shine,
Nor has brought angels di'ine1
Thus the people obe#ed Pharaoh,
And he held them in to)
So, hen the# goaded 6s to anger,
We droned them e'er# one,
And made them an e2ample
,or those after)
And hen the son of Mar#, is 8uoted as e2ample,
The fol% laugh out,
202
And sa#& 1Are our gods better or is he71
+e is nothing but a sla'e of .od,
On hom We bestoed fa'our
And made a pattern for the *hildren of Israel
Of his labour)
Argue not the intangibles)
+ad We illed We ould ha'e
Set among #ou angels)
There is %noledge of the +our&
"oubt not, but follo Allah)
+a'e no pride, and let not Satan turn #ou aside)
When !esus came ith clear proofs,
+e said, 1I ha'e come to ma%e plain
Some of hat #e differ concerning)
To Allah %eep #our dut#,
And obe# me)
Allah is m# Lord and #our Lord)1
But the factions among them differed,
"espite the isdom proferred)
Aait the# aught, sa'e the +our,
That it cometh suddenl#,
And the# %no not7
,riends shall be foes,
02cept for those ho %ept their dut#&
There is neither fear this "a#,
Nor shall the# grie'e)
Those ho self;surrender and belie'ed,
Will not be sad, but enter the .arden,
And be glad, as #our soul3s desire lies therein,
And #e are immortal)
This is the .arden hich no man gre,
02cept it be hat #e inherit,
,or hat #e used to do)
To Allah sear fealt#&
In +ell3s torment are the guilt#)
Where the# belong, as We ronged them not,
But the# did the rong)
The# cr# for the Lord to ma%e an end of them,
But +e sa#eth& 1(e must remain,
B# the Lords of 4uth-
=eril#, We brought the truth,
(et #e ere a'erse,
Or did #ou determine an#thing against the Prophet&
This, too, is a curse)
We also are determining&
We hear #our secret thoughts,
203
Which #e call learning,
And #our pri'ate confidences,
As #ou are #earning)
Our en'o#s, present ith #ou, do record
All that to be itnessed before the Lord)
Sa# 9O Muhammad:& 1The Beneficent One has no son)
Among the orshippers I am the first)
.lorified be the Lord of the hea'ens and of earth,
The Lord of the Throne,
,rom that hich the# ascribe,
When +e sits alone)
The# pla# in their tal%, and flounder&
It is +e Who in the hea'en is .od,
And in the earth .od)
+e is the Wise, the /noer, and blessed be +e,
To Whom belongeth the so'ereignt#,
Of all that is beteen
0arth and +ea'en,
And ith Whom is %noledge of the +our,
And to Whom #e shall be returned)
A'oid perdition& onl# Allah
+as poer of intercession,
Sa'ing him ho to the truth is itness&
As% Allah of forgi'eness)1
If the# are as%ed ho created them, the# sa#, 1Allah)1
+o then are the# turned aa#7
These are fol% ho belie'e not-
Bear ith them and sa#& 1Peace)1
Some ill come to %no their place)
Smo%e
+a) Mim)
B# the Scripture that ma%eth plain,
We are e'er arning,
Whereupon is made clear e'er# ise command
,rom Our Presence)
We are e'er sending
A merc# from th# Lord)
+e is the /noer, the +earer, the Seer,
Lord of the hea'ens and earth,
And all in beteen, if #e be sure)
There is no .od but .od,
Our Lord and #our Lord)
Na#, but in doubt the# pla#)
Watch for the "a#
204
When from Allah
*omes a 'isible smo%e o'er Mecca)
Then the# ill sa#& 1Our Lord relie'e us,
We are belie'ers, ta%e aa# these torments-1
(et ho can there be remembrance,
When a messenger had come unto them,
And the# said, 1One taught b# others, a madman)1
We ithdra the torment a little,
(e to disbelief return,
As though #e ne'er learn)
Because thou disbelie'e,
=eril# We shall punish,
On the "a# We trul# sei>e)
=eril# We sent to Pharaoh3s fol%,
A noble messenger, and faithful,
Sa#ing& 1.i'e up to me the sla'es of Allah-
I am truthful-
Be not proud against Allah, or a t#rant&
I bring #ou clear arrant,
With this 'er# breath,
,or lo- I ha'e sought refuge lest #e stone me to death)
Let me go, if #e ha'e no faith)1
Then the Lord commanded&
1Ta%e aa# m# sla'es b# night,
And lea'e the sea behind at rest,
Lo- The# are a droned host)1
+o man# gardens, ater;springs,
*ornlands, and goodl# sites,
And pleasant things here the# too% delight,
"id the# lea'e, but so it as,
And +ea'en and earth did not eep for them,
Neither ere the# reprie'ed,
As is in the Scriptures,
We deli'ered Israel3s children
And chose them, abo'e all creatures)
O'er man# miles
We ga'e Pharaoh3s fol% the portents of a clear trial)
These, forsooth, said,
1There is naught
Sa'e our first death,
After the pain, and e shall
Not be raised again)1
We created not the hea'ens and the earth in pla#,
But We created them in truth,
205
As should be taught,
But most of them %no not)
Assuredl# the "a# of "ecision
Is the term of all of them,
A da# hen friend can in naught a'ail friend,
Nor can the# be helped,
02cept ith Allah3s merc#)
+e is the Merciful, the Might#)
The tree of <a88um,
The tree of the sinner,
It seetheth in their bellies
Li%e boiling ater) Taste-
,orsooth be noble-
Whereof #e used to doubt,
(e shall see,
0'en so it shall be&
The belie'er sits at peace and is free,
And ma# call for an# fruit in safet#,
A bount# from their Lord)
That is the Triumph Supreme, indeed&
We ha'e made this Scripture,
In language onl# that the# ma# heed)
206
*rouching
+a) Mim)
This Scripture is from Allah, the Might#, the Wise,
As a 4e'elation&
There are portents for belie'ers
In #our creation,
As +e measures
The earth and +ea'en)
,or those hose faith is sure
There is an ordering)
The ordering of the inds,
The difference beteen night and da#,
The 8uic%ening of the earth after death,
Are all portents for those ho ha'e sense)
"o #our senses lea'e7
Then in hat fact,
After Allah and +is portents,
Will #ou belie'e7
Woe unto each sinful liar,
Who hears the 4e'elations of Allah,
Then continueth in pride)
To him the ,ire)
And after 5ust such a test,
If he turns and ma%eth it a 5est,
This is guidance,
And if #e disbelie'e in the path,
There shall come a painful rath)
"o not re5ect-
Allah has made a ser'ice unto #ou,
All that is in the hea'ens and the earth,
It is all from +im, reflect-
And tell those ho belie'e,
To forgi'e those ho belie'e not)
Ma# the# cease their toil)
Whoso doeth right, it is for their soul,
And against it those ho do rong)
Afterard #e shall be brought bac% to #our Lord,
Where #e belong)
=eril#, We ga'e the people of Israel
The *ommand, the Prophethood, the Scriptures,
207
Pro'ided them ith good things and fa'our,
And ga'e them commandments plain)
The# differed not until %noledge came to them,
Through ri'alr# among themsel'es)
The lord shall 5udge beteen them,
On the "a# of 4esurrection,
*oncerning +ea'en and hells)
If #e ha'e a clear commandment, follo it-
,ollo not those ho %no not)
The# against Allah can a'ail naught)
Of those ho ard off e'il,
Allah is a ,riend)
,or those pure of faith,
This is a guidance and merc# for man%ind)
Those ho do good and those ho do e'il are not ali%e)
"o those ho commit ill;deeds
Suppose We shall ma%e them
08ual ith those ho belie'e7
0'er# soul ill be repaid hat it earned&
The# ill not be ronged)
To the ma%er of +ea'en and earth the# return,
Those ho ma%e their desire their god
Allah sendeth astra#,
And seals his heart and e#es, indeed-
Will thee not then ta%e heed7
The# sa#& 1There is naught but the life of the orld,
We die and li'e, and nothing
"estro#s us but time,1
When the# ha'e no %noledge of that,
Or the test,
And the# do but guess)
,ollo the commandments,
6nless #e ha'e better arguments)
Allah gi'eth life to #ou,
Then causes #ou to die,
And gathers all on the "a#,
Whereof there is no doubt,
But most of men %no not)
On the "a# hen the +our riseth,
Those ho follo falsehood ill be lost,
And #e shall see each nation crouching,
Summoned to it3s record,
And Our Boo% shall pronounce
Against them ith Our Word)
208
Some shall recei'e the punishment,
Some brought to the Lord3s merc#,
This is the Triumph e'ident,
And the 5ust reards for the guilt#)
When it as said& 1Allah3s promise is the truth,
And Scripture,
And there is no doubt concerning
The coming of the +our,1
(e ere b# no means con'inced,
But thought it all con5ecture)
And it ill be said& 1This "a#
We forget #ou, as #ou forgot
(our meeting ith this "a#)
,orasmuch as Our 4e'elations
Were a 5est,
The life of the orld beguiled thee)1
Thou canst not ma%e amends,
Nor come forth from thence)
"o not despise&
6nto +im alone, Lord of the Worlds, upon +is Throne,
Belongeth the ma5est# in the hea'ens, and the earth)
"o not despise&
+e is the Might#, the Wise)
209
The Wind;cur'ed Sandhills
+a) Mim)
This is a Scripture from Allah,
The Might#, the Wise, and a 4e'elation)
We created not the earth and hea'ens,
And all that is in beteen
Sa'e ith truth, and for an appointed term&
Those ho disbelie'e turn aa#
When the# ha'e been arned)
+a'e #e thought of other
Than Allah that #ou in'o%e7
What ha'e the# created of the earth7
And of the se'en
+a'e the# an# portion of the hea'ens7
Bring me a Scripture or some 'estige
In support of hat #e sa#,
If #e are truthful and ha'e %noledge)
Pra# to #ou of something
6nconscious of #our pra#er7
Pra# to #ou of something
Which cannot hear7
When our 4e'elations are recited clear,
The# sa#, 1Mere magic,1
Or the# sa#, 1+e in'ented it)1
Allah is m# itness,
And +e sufficeth)
If I ha'e in'ented it,
Still #e ha'e no poer against Allah)
+e is the ,orgi'ing, the Merciful)
I am no ne thing among Allah3s messengers,
I %no not hat is to be done
With #ou or me&
I am but a plain arner for thee,
And follo that
Which is inspired in me)
If it is from Allah,
And a itness of the *hildren of Israel
+ath alread# as a itness testified,
And hath belie'ed, but #ou den#,
(e are too proud,
And continue to den# #our Lord)
210
Nothing could be truer&
Allah guideth not the rongdoer)
The disbelie'ers sa#& 1+ad it been good,
The# ould not ha'e disco'ered it before us)
And since the# need a guide,
This is an ancient lie)1
When before it as the Scripture of Moses,
An e2ample and a merc# to the righteous)
And this is no mere magic,
But a confirming Scripture in Arabic&
That it arn those ho do rong,
And for the true good tidings bring)
Those ho sa#& 1Our Lord is Allah,1
And thereafter al% upright and belie'e,
Shall ha'e no fear,
Neither shall the# grie'e)
"o hat is acceptable in +is sight,
And the .arden is #our right)
4emember& sa#, 1I ha'e turned to Thee repentant,
And I Surrender)1
These are hom We accept,
And o'erloo% their rong deeds,
And not re5ect, but meet their needs)
"o not sa#eth& this is naught sa'e
,ables of men of old)
Such are those on hom the Word
*oncerning man%ind, and the nations,
And the 5inn,
Which hath passed aa# before them,
+ath no effect)
Lo- The# are the losers,
The rest the elect)
There shall be ran%s from hat the# do,
So the# ma# be 5udged for their deeds&
The good shall find here the# belong,
And none shall be ronged)
On the "a# the disbelie'ers confront the ,ire,
It ill be said& 1(ou s8uandered
(our good things in the life of the orld,
When #e sought comfort therein,
No shall #e be rearded for #our disdain)1
Not the less
Because #ou ere disdainful ithout right,
And used to transgress)
211
=eril#, the brother of A3ad
When he arned his brothers,
Among the ind;cur'ed sandhills,
"idst sa#& 1Ser'e none but Allah,
I fear for #ou a tremendous "a#)1
The# said& 1(e are come to turn
6s from our gods, and ma%e us rueful,
Bring that hich thou threaten,
If #e be truthful)1
+e said& 1The %noledge is ith Allah onl#)
I con'e# that ith hich I as sent, for m# lot,
But I see #e are a people ho %noest not)1
Then the# beheld a dense cloud approaching their 'alle#)
The# said, 1+ere is a cloud bringing us rain)1
But it as a torment for the guilt#,
And all ere slain)
And 'eril# the# ere empoered
B# hearts and ears li%e #ours,
But this a'ailed them naught,
As the# denied the 4e'elations of Allah,
And in a eb of lies ere caught)
What the# befell them as hat the# used to moc%)
Wh# did their gods not lead them to Allah,
And help the guilt#7
Na#, but the# did fail them utterl#,
When the# ignored the one sent,
The rest as their lie,
And hat the# used to in'ent)
And certain of the 5inn,
Who ished to hear the ?ur3an
When the# ere in it3s presence,
Said, 1.i'e ear-1 hen it as finished)
The# said, 14espond to Allah3s summoner,
And belie'e in Allah, belie'e in +im,
And +e ill forgi'e some of #our sins)
Those ho ignore Allah3s summoner,
*an noise escape in the earth,
*an find no protecting friend,
And are in manifest error)
Allah as not earied b# the *reation)
+e is Able to gi'e life to the dead,
And do it again)
A#e, +e 'eril# is Able to do all things)
Allah is not cruel)
212
(et, e2posed to the ,ire,
The disbelie'ers ill sa#, 1Is this real71
+a'e patience, not denial)
See% not to hasten doom)
It ill seem that #e tarried but an hour of da#light,
When the# abandon hope)
Shall an# be destro#ed sa'e e'il;li'ing fol%7
213
Muhammad
Those ho disbelei'e and turn men
,rom the a# of Allah,
Their actions are in 'ain)
Those ho belie'e and do good or%s,
And belie'e in that hich Muhammad re'ealed;
And it is a truth from their Lord;
+e riddeth them of ill,
And though the# ma# ait,
+e impro'eth their estate)
That is because the# ha'e different attitudes&
Those ho disbelie'e follo falsehood,
The belie'er the truth&
Thus Allah coineth their similitudes)
Some meet in battle,
But if Allah illed +e could punish them ithout #ou)
But it is ordained,
That +e ma# tr# some of #ou b# others,
And those ho follo Allah and are slain,
+e renders not their actions 'ain)
+e ill guide them and impro'e their state,
And bring them unto the .arden,
Which is their ,ate)
O #e ho belie'e- Whate'er #our term,
If #e help Allah, +e ill ma%e #our foothold firm)
,or those ho disbelie'e,
=ain is their action,
And for them, Perdition)
Because the# are a'erse to hat Allah has re'ealed,
,ruitless is their action)
Tra'el in the land and see the conse8uence&
The# ere iped out b# the *ountenance)
Such is for the disbelie'ers for their action,
Because the# ha'e no patron,
And the ,ire is their habitation)
*ontrar# to appearance
The# had no helper-
Li%e man# a tonship stronger,
Those ho follo their on lusts,
Their e'il to them is beautified,
Whereas the Lord3s clear proof,
214
To the belie'ers cannot be denied)
Those ho ha'e been gi'en %noledge
Are as%ed, 1What as that he said 5ust no7
What is re'ealed71
Those are the# hose hearts are sealed,
And ho ha'e no trust&
Men ho follo their on lust,
Who earn their conse8uence,
While those ho al% aright,
Allah addeth to their guidance
In their action,
And gi'eth them from e'il a protection)
The beginnings of the +our hath alread# come)
When it comes upon thee,
+o do #ou ta%e th# arning7
/no there is no .od but .od)
As% forgi'eness for th# sin,
And for belie'ing men and omen)
,or those ho disbelie'e&
Woe- Allah %noeth
(our place of rest and #our place of turmoil)
.i'e obedience and a ci'il ord,
Then, hen the matter is determined,
It ill be ell if #e are lo#al to the Lord)
If #e ere gi'en command,
Would #e or% corruption in the land7
Be a spreader of lies,
Such are the# that Allah curseth,
"eafens their ears and blinds their e#es)
Lo- Those ho turn bac% after guidance hath been gi'en,
Satan hath seduced them,
And hath been gi'en the rein)
It is because the# sa# unto the haters,
What Allah hath re'ealed&
We ill obe# #ou in some matters)
Allah %noeth their secret tal%,
And hen the# meet the angered angels the# ill bal%,
Because the# folloed hat angers Allah,
And hated hat pleaseth +im,
Therefore +e hath made their actions 'ain)
"eem thee Allah shall not bring
To light their secret hates,
Their greed7 Allah %noeth #our deeds,
And 'eril# We shall tr# #ou,
215
And We shall %no ho stri'eth hard,
And the stedfast&
=eril# We shall test)
Whereas the disbelie'ers actions shall pro'e fruitless)
O #e ho belie'e- Obe# Allah,
And obe# the messenger,
4ender not #our actions 'ain)
Some men go to the .arden,
Some into +ell are slain,
Because Allah ill not pardon them)
"o not falter, O belie'ers,
But cr# out for peace,
,or hen +e 5udge,
The reard of #our actions
+e shall not grudge)
(e are called to spend in the a# of Allah,
(et among #ou are those ho hoard)
,or him ho hoardeth,
+e does so against his soul&
Allah is the rich, #e are the poor)
216
=ictor#
We ha'e gi'en thee, O Muhammad,
A signal 'ictor#,
That Allah forgi'e thee,
Of th# sin that is past,
And ill come, and ma# perfect +is fa'our unto thee,
And guide thee on the right path)
Allah it is ho sends don reassurance
Into the hearts of belie'ers,
That the# increase their faith,
And add faith unto faith)
Allah3s are the hosts of +ea'en and earth)
Surmise& Allah is e'er /noer, Wise)
There is a .arden here #e ma# abide,
Where #e ma# be sa'ed from th# e'il deeds,
In the sight of Allah this is the Triumph Supreme)
Thin% not an e'il thought of Allah,
But orship,
,or +e ma# punish the h#pocrites
And the idolaters,
And gi'e them, 5ust around the bend,
A hapless 5ourne#3s end)
We ha'e sent Our messenger,
As a itness and of good tidings a bearer,
(et also a stern arner,
That #e, man%ind, ma# belie'e in Allah,
And +is messenger, and re'ere,
And not stra#,
But glorif# +im at dan and close of da#)
Those ho sear allegiance unto Muhammad,
It ma# be said,
Sear allegiance onl# to Allah)
The +and of Allah is abo'e their hands)
Whosoe'er brea%eth his oath,
+urts onl# himself,
While hosoe'er %eepeth his co'enant ith Allah,
On him great reard We besto&
Ma%e another ne start,
Spea% not ith #our tongue
That hich is not in #our heart)
Sa#& 1Who can a'ail thee aught
217
Against Allah, if +e intends #ou profit or hurt71
Na#, but Allah is e'er Aare
Of hat #e do)
Allah3s is the so'ereignt#
Of the hea'ens and the earth&
Whom +e ill, +e forgi'eth,
And hom +e ill +e punisheth)
This much is truthful,
And Allah is e'er ,orgi'ing, Merciful)
,ain ould some change Allah3s 'erdict)
Sa#& 1(e shall not go ith us)1
Thus Allah said beforehand,
And the# ill sa#& 1(e are en'ious)1
Some ill be called to fight
Against empires of might# proess,
To fight them until the# surrender,
And shall be gi'en fair reard,
But if #e turn aa# #e turn
Aa# as #e did before)
Those ho obe# ha'e .ardens here ri'ers flo)
Allah as ell pleased
With the belie'ers,
When the# sore allegiance beneath the tree,
And hath aarded them ith a near 'ictor#)
Much boot# the# ill capture,
And ha'e been gi'en in ad'ance,
As a to%en to belie'ers, and for Mecca,
That +e might guide #ou on the right path)
When others gain hat #e cannot achie'e,
Allah ill compass it)
When #e battle those ho disbelie'e,
When the# confront the faith of the messenger,
Afterards the# ha'e no helper)
As aforetime, this is the la,
Which has ta%en it3s course,
The la of Allah)
+e has ithheld men3s hands from #ou,
And hath ithheld men3s hands from them,
In the 'alle# of Mecca)
After +e had made #ou 'ictors o'er them,
This is true)
Allah is Seer of hat #e do)
+ad it not been for belie'ing
Women and men,
218
Whom #ou %no not,
Who had incurred no guilt,
Those ho disbelie'ed
Would debar #ou from the
In'iolable Place of Worship,
And succeed)
Allah hath fulfilled the 'ision of safet#,
,or +is messenger, in 'er# Truth,
In this age of >ealotr#,
This age of Ignorance)
.od has sent +is peace of reassurance,
And gi'en the belie'er self;restraint,
And, beforehand, a near 'ictor#)
Allah suffices as a itness
That Islam ma# pre'ail, despite tra'ail)
Muhammad is the messenger of Allah,
The Merciful,
Li%e as son corn that sendeth
It3s shoot, and strengtheneth
And riseth firm from the stal%,
And as is their li%eness
,rom the .ospel and Torah)
,rom prostration the# ha'e on their forehead a mar%$
Be not froard&
Allah hath promised to those
Who belie'e and do good or%s immense reard)
219
The Pri'ate Apartments
O #e ho belie'e- Lift not #our 'oices
Abo'e the 'oice of the Prophet,
Nor shout to the messenger, hen spea%ing to him,
As shout to one another)
This pertains, lest #our or%s
Be rendered 'ain)
Those ho subdue their 'oices
In the presence of the messenger of Allah
+ath pro'en righteousness,
And unto them is forgi'eness)
Those ho call #e from behind the pri'ate apartments,
Most of them ha'e no sense)
It ere better if thou hadst patience,
Before thou comest before them)
If an e'il;li'er brings #ou tidings,
=erif# his assurance,
So as not to fall 'ictim to ignorance,
And afterard repent)
If #e obe# much of the go'ernment,
(e ould surel# be in much trouble)
If disbelief and ledness and rebellion
Are hateful unto #ou,
Then #ou are rightl# guided,
Whereas e'il is one;sided)
If to parties of belie'ers
,all into a fight,
"o hat is e8uitable in +is sight,
And ma%e peace)
Allah lo'eth the e8uitable,
And in the least,
The belie'ers are naught else than brothers)
Therefore, none are guilt#,
But must be reminded of their dut#)
Let not belie'ers defame one another,
Nor insult) Bad is the name
Of ledness after faith
,or the human race)
Whoso turneth not in repentance,
The# are the e'ildoers and ha'e a sentence)
Shun much suspicion,
220
,or some suspicion is a crime)
Sp# not, neither bac%bite one another,
0'en as #e abhor it in others
Who are guilt#)
To Allah %eep #our dut#)
This much is truthful&
Allah is 4elenting, Merciful)
O man%ind- (e are created
Male and female,
And ha'e nations and tribes that #e %no one another)
The best in conduct is noblest
In the sight of Allah)
Allah is Aare, the /noer)
Some sa#, 1We belie'e,1
But sa# unto them, 1We submit,1
As a start,
,or the faith hath not entered their heart)
(et, if #e obe# Allah and +is messenger,
0'en if #e somehat disbelie'e,
Allah shall not ithold
4eard for th# deeds
The sincere belie'ers
In Allah and +is messenger,
"oubt not, but stri'e,
With their ealth and their li'es)
Would #e teach Allah #our religion,
When +e %noeth all in the hea'ens,
And all in the earth,
And Allah is Aare of all things7
(our Surrender is not a fa'our unto +im,
But one +e doth confer,
Insofar as +e has lead #ou to ,aith,
And hath shon #ou the straight path)
If #e are earnest,
Lo- The 6nseen Allah %noest)
221
?af
?af)
B# the glorious ?ur3an)
The# mar'el a arner,
Of their on has come their a#$
And the disbelie'ers sa#&
1When e are dead and dust,
Shall e be brought bac% again7
That ould be a far return-1
We %no that hich the earth ta%eth of them,
And ith 6s is a recording Boo%)
Na#, but #e ha'e denied the truth)
Therefore are no in troubled case)
+a'e #e not obser'ed the s%#,
,elt the sun3s face,
+o it is constructed and in beaut#,
And there are no rifts therein,
And the earth We ha'e spread out,
With hills flung firm,
And ith lo'el# groths of e'er# form thereon7
A reminder for e'er# penitent sla'e,
And a 'ision)
And We send don from the s%#
Blessed ater hereb#,
We gi'e groth unto gardens and crops of grains,
And loft# date;palms ith clusters ranged,
All as pro'ision&
0'en so the 4esurrection)
The fol% of Noah denied the truth before them,
And the dellers at Ar;4ass,
And the tribes of Thamud,
And of A3ad,
And the dellers in the ood,
And the fol% of Tubb3a,
And the brethren of Lot,
And might# Pharaoh)
The# all denied M# messengers,
Therefore M# threat too% effect,
And ould not ha'e sa'e from their e'il defect)
Were We orn out b# the first *reation7
(et the# are in doubt about a ne one,
222
When We are closer to man than his 5ugular 'ein,
And We %no hat his soul hispers to him)
The agon# of death cometh in truth,
This is that hich #e are ont to shun)
The trumpet is blon)
0'er# soul cometh ith a itness)
6nto the e'ildoer is said&
1Thou ast heedless)1
No We ha'e remo'ed th# co'ering)
And his comrade sa#eth&
1I ha'e read# the testimon#)1
It is said& We hurl to +ell
Those ho rebel,
+inderer of good, transgressor, doubter,
Who setteth idols along Allah&
(e art to far gone in error)
The sentence cannot be changed,
And Allah is b# no means t#rant to +is sla'es)
Shun the h#pocrite,
And come ith a heart contrite)
0nter the .arden in peace)
Be not li%e unto those before #ou,
But multipl# and increase,
And there is more ith 6s)
Ta%e this 4eminder, and gi'eth
0ar ith full intelligence&
Thin% naught of eariness)
Praise the Lord-
Listen on the "a#,
When the crier comes from a place not far aa#)
It is the "a# of coming forth
,rom the gra'es, and the#
Shall hear an aful cr#, forsooth)
On that "a# We shall be ell met,
Thou art not a compeller, #et
Warn them ith the ?ur3an,
+im ho feareth m# threat)
223
The Winnoing Winds
B# those ho inno ith a innoing,
Those that bear the burden of the rain,
Those ho distribute blessings,
Indeed true is that ith hich #ou3re threatened,
(et #e are 'arious of opinion,
Li%e a curse)
(ou are made to turn aa# from it because #ou are a'erse)
Accursed are the con5ecturers,
Who are careless in an ab#ss)
The# as%& 1When is !udgement71
It is the "a# #ou shall meet torment,
It is hat #e sought to hasten)
Those ho %eep from e'il
Amid gardens and atersprings shall dell)
In hat do #ou care7
The beggar and the outcast in their ealth
+ad due share, and in measure)
In the earth are portents
,or those ho are sure)
And in #oursel'es& can #e then not see,
In the hea'en is a pro'idence,
And that hich #e are promised,
As in the stor# of Abraham3s honoured guests,
When the# came in unto him and said& 1Peace-1
And he ansered peace, and thought&
,ol% un%non to me)
And a fatted calf he brought,
Sa#ing, 1Will #e not eat71
But then feared them,
(et the# said& 1,ear not-
We are on the Lord3s errand,
And gi'e tidings of the birth of a ise son)1
Then his ife came forard, ma%ing moan,
And said& 1A barren old oman-1
But the# said& 10'en so, sa#eth the Lord,
In +is isdom)1
And Abraham said, 1Afterard,
What is #our errand71
The# said 1We go to a guilt# fol%,
That e ma# send them stones of cla#,
224
,or the destruction of those ho are anton)
But e found this one house
Of those Surrendered,
Therefore e came ith our reminder)1
And in Moses there is a portent,
When We sent him unto Pharaoh ith a clear arrant,
But Pharaoh ithdre in his might,
And said& 1A i>ard or a madman,
We shall destro# him, and hang him from a tree,1
So We sei>ed him and his hosts,
And flung them into the sea)
And in the tribe of A3ad there is a portent,
When against them the fated ind as sent,
That made all dust,
As onl# the Lord doeth hen +e must)
And there as a portent
When the tribe of Thamud as strictl# told,
To ta%e their ease ahile,
But the# rebelled against their Lord3s decree,
And, ama>ed, a thunderbolt o'ertoo% them,
As the# ga>ed)
And the fol% of Noah, the# ere licentious)
We ha'e built the hea'en ith might,
With 'ast e2tents thereof,
And the earth We ha'e spread out,
And ho gracious the Spreader,
And all things created in pairs,
That #e not re5ect, but hapl# #e reflect)
Therefore, flee unto Allah)
Lo- I am a plain arner)
"o not be li%e the fol%s of Noah,
And set up other gods beside Allah)
I am a plain arner
6nto #ou from +im)
0'en so there came no messenger
But the# said, 1Wi>ard or madman-1
And the# repeat this sa#ing one to another,
So ithdra from them,
,or thou art not blameorth# of a decei'er,
But arn, for arning profiteth the the belie'er)
I created human%ind and the 5inn
That #e ma# orship Me not them)
225
I see% no li'elihood, nor that #e feed me,
Onl# good that is good in M# sight)
Allah- +e that gi'eth li'elihood,
The Lord of unbrea%able might)
,or those ho do rong,
There is an e'il da# li%e those that came before,
When #our ,ate I ha'e in store,
If #e disbelie'e)
To hasten that da#, do not as% me)
226
The Mount
The doom of th# Lord
Will surel# come to pass, and the !udgement thereof,
None can ard it off)
As on a Scripture inscribed
On fine parchment unrolled,
And li%e the sea %ept filled,
It is ritten,
The "a# the +ea'en ill hea'e
And the mountains shall be smitten,
With aful mo'ement)
0'en so, the "a# of !udgement)
Then oe on that "a# unto the deniers,
Who pla# in tal% of gra'e matters)
The# shall be thrust
Into the fire of +ell ith a disdainful thrust,
And it ill be said to the guilt#&
1Is this magic, or do #ou not see7
It is all one for #ou,
(ou are being paid for hat #e used to do)1
Such is +is might,
Those ho %ept their dut#
Shall li'e in gardens of delight)
0'er# man is a pledge for that hich he earned,
A cup ithout 'anit# or sin,
And in the .arden the# go round,
Some draing near to others, 8uestioning,
Sa#ing& 1Of old, ith our families,
We ere e'er an2ious,
But Allah has been gracious)
This .arden is clear sign
Allah is the Merciful, Benign)
Therefore arn them, b# the grace of Allah,
Thou art neither soothsa#er of madman)1
The disbelie'ers sa#& 1+e is a poet, for hom
We might e2pect the accident of time)1
Sa# unto them& 102pect th# fill-
4h#me or no rh#me, I am ith the e2pectant)
"o #our minds command this71
The# sa#& 3+e hath in'ented it)1
Let them produce li%e speech,
Which is out of reach, or ought,
227
Or ere the# created out of naught7
Are the# creators7
"id the# create the hea'ens and earth7
+ardl# an#thing,
And the# are sure of nothing-
"o the# on the treasures of the Lord7
Or ha'e the# been gi'en charge thereof7
"o staira#s to +ea'en open before thee,
B# means of hich #e o'erhear decrees7
Then confess, or let #our hearer
Bring forth arrant manifest)
Are #e plunged in debt7
Or do #ou possess the 6nseen
That #ou ma# rite it7
Or see% #e to ensnare the messenger7
But those ho disbelie'e are ensnared-
+a'e #e gods sa'e Allah7
.lorified be Allah from all #e ascribe as partner-
If #e sa a fragment of +ea'en fall,
(ou ould sa#& 1A heap of clouds,1
Then let them be)
6ntil the# meet the "a#
That the# are thunderstric%en,
A da# hen their guile ill naught a'ail them)
Nor ill the# be helped,
But into the ,ire dri'en,
But most of them %no not)
So ait patientl#)
+#mn the praise of #our Lord
When #e rise, and da# calls,
And h#mn +is praise
At the setting of the stars)
228
The Star
B# the Star hen it setteth,
(our comrade is not decei'ed, nor erreth,
Nor does he spea% his on desire)
It is naught sa'e an inspiration that is inspired,
Taught b# one of the might# poers,
+e gre clear to 'ie)
Then +e came don, unconcealed,
And +e re'ealed to +is sla'e hat +e re'ealed,
In it3s ae)
The heart lied not in seeing hat it sa
Will #e dispute concerning
When, 'eril#, he sa at the utmost boundar#
A lote;tree7
Nigh unto hich is the .arden of Abode,
When that hich shroudeth did enshroud the lote;tree)
The e#e turned not aside nor as it o'erbold,
,or it as one of the greater 4e'elations of the Lord)
+a'e #e thought upon Al;Lat and Al;36>>a,
And Manat, the third, the other7
Mere names that We ha'e named,
Li%e #e and #our fathers,
02cept #e guess ith #our on desires)
No comes the Lord3s guidance&
Shall man ha'e hat he co'eteth7
6nto Allah belongeth the former and the after,
The angels gi'est lea'e)
Lo- Those ho misname angels disbelie'e)
,orsooth, a guess can ne'er ta%e the place of truth)
Withdra from those ho desire
The life of this orld)
The# ithdra themsel'es from 4emembrance of the Lord,
Such is their sum of %noledge)
.od is best aare of those ho stra#eth,
And best aare of he that goeth right,
And nothing escapes +is sight)
6nto Allah belongeth all the hea'ens,
And the earth, +e does not suffer dirth,
That +e ma# reard those ho stand aright,
And do good, and turns aa#
,rom e'il, as he should)
229
The lord is of 'ast merc#)
+e created #ou from the earth
When #ou ere hidden in #our mother3s bell#)
"o not ascribe to #oursel'es purit#,
Nor sa# #ou are from the de'il)
+e is best aare of him ho ardeth off e'il)
"idst #e obser'e the one ho turned aa#,
.a'e a little, then as grudging7
"oth he seeth the 6nseen7
+ath he not bad nes from the Boo%s of Moses,
And Abraham ho paid his debt,
That no laden one shall bear another3s load,
And those that ma%eth effort,
,or their effort their results behold)
Such is the promise of the Lord,
And, lo- The Lord is the goal)
+e Who ma%eth laugh,
+e Who ma%eth eep,
+e Who gi'eth life,
+e Who ma%est death,
+e Who male and female ma%eth,
When a drop of seed poured forth,
+e Who enricheth and contenteth,
+e Who is the Lord of Sirius,
That destro#ed the tribe of A3ad,
And spared not the tribe of Thamud,
And, trust, the fol% of Noah,
That ere more un5ust,
And the 'illages of Lot,
That pro'ed rebellious,
So that it co'ered them,
That hich co'ers,
And none but Allah can disclose it,
Whereof canst thou doubt,
Laugh and not eep for a term7
4ather prostrate #oursel'es before Allah and ser'e +im)
230
The Moon
The hour dre nigh and the moon as rent in tain,
And if the# behold a portent,
The# turn aa# in the delusion,
As to merel# sa#, 1Prolonged illusion)1
The Truth is denied,
(et e'er#thing shall come to a decision$
There a'ails not arnings,
When the people lac% effecti'e isdom)
,rom the gra'es the# shall be summoned,
With doncast e#es,
+astening toards the Summoner, and their pa#,
And the disbelie'ers sa#& 1This is a hard da#)1
The fol% of Noah denied before them, #ea,
"enied Our sla'e,
Who is liberated from all other ser'itude)
The# said& 1A madman,1 and he as repulsed,
So he cried unto his Lord,
Sa#ing& 1I am 'an8uished, so gi'e help)1
And We opened the gates of +ea'en,
Pouring ater, that met the ater of earth,
As predestined)
And he ho as re5ected We sa'ed)
But ho remembereth
+o dreadful as M# punishments)
In truth We ha'e made the ?ur3an eas# to remember)
We let loose a ind of raging calamit#,
Seeping men aa# li%e uprooted palm;trees)
The tribe of Thamud re5ected arnings,
,or the# said& 1Is it a mortal e should follo7
Then indeed e fall to madness and error)
+ath the remembrance been gi'en onl# to him among us7
+e is a rash liar)1
Lo- We are sending the she;camel as a test&
Watch them and ha'e patience,
And inform them that the ater
Is to be shared beteen her and them,
And e'er# drin%ing shall be itnessed)
But the# called their comrade and he ham;strung the camel)
Then see ho dreadful ere m# punishments,
231
After arnings of such e'il)
And this is ho it is told&
With one Shout We made them tigs,
4e5ected b# the builder of a cattle;fold)
The ?ur3an is eas# to remember,
But ho remembereth7
The fol% of Lot re5ected arnings of death)
We sent a storm of stones,
On all sa'e the famil# of Lot,
Whom We had arned,
When his people didst doubt)
The house of Pharaoh as arned,
But the 4e'elations ere denied, e'er# one)
Therefore We grasped them ith the grasp
Of the Might#, the Poerful,
This much is truthful)
Are #our disbelie'ers better than those,
Or do #ou ha'e immunit# in Scripture7
"o #ou see7
Are #ou a host 'ictorious7
The hosts ill all be routed and flee)
The +our ill be more bitter,
With #our earthl# failure)
The guilt# are in madness and in error)
We ha'e created e'er#thing in measure)
+ere is no lie&
Our commandment is but one commandment
In the tin%ling of an e#e)
=eril#, #our fellos are destro#ed,
And e'er#thing the# did is in the Scriptures,
And e'er# small and great thing made into a record&
The righteous ill dell among gardens and ri'ers,
Where clouds pass b# and birds sing,
,irml# established in the fa'our of a Might# /ing)
232
The Beneficent
The Beneficent hath made %non the ?ur3an,
And hath created man)
+e hath taught him utterance,
And remo'ed ignorance)
The stars and trees adore,
And the sun and moon are punctual)
The s%# +e uplifted, and he hath set the measure,
That #e e2ceed not the measure,
Nor fall short, and the earth
+e appointed for +is creatures,
Wherein are palm;trees and fruit,
Where camels and shepherds lie,
Which is it, of .od3s fa'our, that #e den#7
Man is li%e cla#,
And the 5inn of smo%eless fire)
The lord set the e8uino2 and the solstice in the s%#,
Which of +is fa'ours do #e den#7
Some ater is seet, some salt#) The# meet)
There cometh the coral and the pearl,
Mountains float upon the sea)
0'er#one thereon shall pass aa#,
Through ignorance)
There remains th# Lord3s Might
And .lor# in +is *ountenance)
Which of +is fa'ours do #ou den#7
+e e2erciseth uni'ersal poer e'er# da#,
The man and 5inn shall be disposed of,
In fa'or of pure lo'e)
Which of +is fa'ours do #ou den#7
If #e had poer to penetrate
The hea'ens and the earth in e'er# region,
Still #ou ould need Our sanction)
Which is it, of the fa'ours of the Lord, do #e den#7
There ill be sent flash of brass,
And heat of fire,
And the hea'en splitteth asunder,
In lightning and in thunder,
On e'er# side&
And #e can run but #e cannot hide)
The# cannot escape no matter ho the# tr#&
233
This is the +ell hich the guilt# den#)
Whoso feareth standing before the Lord,
,inds to gardens of branches spreading,
With to fountains ith ater floing,
And e'er# fruit in pairs,
And all near at hand and gentl# groing)
Therein are those of modest ga>e,
Whom neither man nor 5inn
+as e'er touched before them,
Together, not alone,
In beaut# li%e the 5ac#nth and the coral;stone)
Is the reard of goodness aught sa'e goodness7
There beside are to other gardens,
"ar% green ith foliage,
Wherein are springs abundant,
Wherein is fruit, the date;palm and pomegranate,
Wherein are found the beautiful and the good,
,air ones, close guarded in pa'ilions,
4eclining on fair carpets and green cushions)
Which is it, of the fa'ours of the Lord, do #ou den#7
"o not be spurious-
Blessed be the Name of th# Lord, Might# and .lorious)
234
The 0'ent
When !udgement is sent,
And there befalls the e'ent;
And there is no den#ing that it ill fall;
Abasing some, e2alting others,
!udging all,
When the earth is sha%en b# a shoc%,
Then turned to poder,
"ust made of roc%,
(e ill of three %inds be&
Those on the right hand, those on the left,
And those ho ill be brought nigh,
Those ho heard the cr#,
The foremost of the race,
Those ho did ell, not merel# tried,
A multitude of those of old,
And a fe of later time,
In gardens to recline,
With bols filled from a pure spring,
4elie'ed of an# aching,
The fruit that the# prefer on e'er# side,
And fair ones ith ide, lo'el# e#es,
Li%e unto pearls hidden,
,or doing hat #ou are bidden,
With no 'ain spea%ing nor recrimination,
Naught but the sa#ing& 1Peace,1
And again, 1Peace)1
On the right hand
Are those among thornless lote;trees
And clustered plantains,
,ruit of plent#,
Neither out of reach nor forbidden,
Water gushing and spreading shade,
And all made 'irgin,
And lo'ers, friends)
,or those on the right hand,
A multitude of those of old,
And here a sign& a multitude of later time)
And those on the left hand&
What of those7
235
In scalding ater and ind scorching
And smo%e blac%, and nothing refreshing)
+eretofor the# ere effete ith lu2ur#,
But therein as an aful sin,
And the# used to sa#&
Shall e be raised again7
All come together on the appointed "a#
Then the erring, the deniers,
Those alread# in +ell3s sa#,
Shall eat of the tree <a88um,
And fill their bellies,
And ill drin% boiling ater thereon,
0'en as the camel drin%eth&
This ill be their elcome on the "a# of 5udgement)
We created #ou) Will thee then admit the truth7
+a'e #e seen that hich #e emit7
Are We the *reator or did #ou create it7
We mete out death, and are not outrun,
That We ma# transfigure #ou
And ma%e #e hat #e %no not)
=eril#, #e %no the first creation)
Wh#, then, do #e not reflect7
+a'e #e seen that hich #e culti'ate7
Is it #e ho foster it7
Or are We the ,osterer7
What #e create, #e create on #our on behalf,
But We 'eril# could ma%e it chaff
While #e slept)
Then #ou ould a%e and e2claim&
1I am trul# in debt- And depri'ed-
Wh# did I not obser'e the ater I drin% ith m# e#es7
It came from the raincloud,
And I ga'e not than%s,
When I could not ma%e it if I stri'ed)1
Was it #e ho made the tree to gro,
Or ere We the groer&
As% forgi'eness)
We, e'en We, appointed it a memorial,
And a comfort for dellers in the ilderness,
Therefore praise the Name of the Lord, the Tremendous)
I sear b# the places of the stars;
And 'eril# a tremendous oath if #e but %ne;
This is a noble ?ur3an, as sure as the tree gre)
It as a boo% %ept hidden,
That none touch sa'e the purified,
236
,or it3s 4e'elation
,rom the Lord of Worlds,
And if this statement #e also scorn,
?uestion h# it as that #e ere born
(e ma%e denial of th# li'elihood,
Li%e hen the soul cometh up through the throat
Of those that are d#ing,
And #e at that moment are loo%ing,
And #our hole bod# ceases tr#ing,
And #e see not)
If #e are not in bondage to 6s
,orce it bac%, if #e are truthful&
Then #e ill be brought nigh
With the breath of life, and plent#,
And a .arden of "elight)
And if #e be on the right hand,
Then 1Peace unto thee1 from the same band)
But if #e are of the re5ecters, the erring,
Then boiling ater is #our elcome,
And the roasting of hell fire)
This is certain truth,
As sure as the Prophets ere right,
And the Lords of 4uth)
With nothing to defend us,
Praise the Name of Allah, the Tremendous)
237
Iron
All that is in the hea'ens glorifieth Allah,
And all that is in the earth)
+e is the might#, the Wise, the So'ereign,
+e is Able to do all things)
+e gi'eth life and +e gi'eth death,
+e is of the ,uture and the Past,
+e is the ,irst and the Last,
+e is of the Outard and Inard and hat the# bring&
+e is /noer of all things)
+e created the hea'ens and earth,
Then mounted the Throne)
+e %noeth all that entereth the earth,
And all therefrom,
What cometh don from the s%#,
And ascendeth therein,
And +e is ith #ou
Wheresoe'er #e ma# be,
And Allah is Seer of hat #e do)
+e has no lac%,
And all to +im come bac%)
+e causeth night to turn to da#,
And da# to night, from the start,
And +e %noeth that hich lies in the heart)
Spend aright& belie'e in Allah,
And +is messenger, and spend
That hereof +e made #e trustees)
Such as spend aright from their store
Shall ha'e great reard
What aileth #ou is that #e
Belie'e not in Allah,
When a messenger calleth #ou to #our Lord)
And +e has alread# made a co'enant,
If #e are belie'ers,
4etrie'e that hich as made&
+e sendeth clear 4e'elations to +is sla'e)
If #e al% upright,
+e ta%es #ou from dar%ness to light,
In +is bount#)
Allah is Merciful, and ,ull of Pit#)
238
What aileth #ou is #ou spend not
In the a# of #our Lord,
In #our ignorance,
When unto Allah belongeth the inheritance
Of the earth and the hea'ens)
"o not rebel&
Such as fought before #ou are not on a le'el,
But greater than thee,
6nto each has Allah promised good,
Where'er no the# be)
Lend to Allah a goodl# loan,
Without an# thought of loss or gain)
There is glad nes for #ou this 'er# da#&
.ardens beneath hich ri'ers flo,
Wherein #ou are immortal&
This is the Triumph Supreme)
The h#pocrites ill sa# unto those ho belie'e&
1Let us borro from #our light-1
It ill be said& 1.o bac% and see% aright)
There is a all herein is a gate,
Outside is doom, inside is merc# contained)1
The# ill cr#& 1Were e not ith #ou71
And the repl#& 1=eril#, but #e tempted,
+esitated, and doubted,
+ad 'ain desires,
And ere b# them beguiled,
6ntil the ordinance of Allah came to pass,
And the decei'er decei'ed #ou concerning Allah,
So this da# no ransom can be from #ou ta%en,
Nor from those ho disbelie'ed)
(our home is the ,ire& that is #our patron,
And 5ourne#3s end)1
Is not the time right to submit to Allah
With these reminders7
Become not of those in Scriptures,
Whose hearts ere hardened,
And became e'il;li'ers)
Allah 8uic%eneth the earth after death,
+erein is clear 4e'elation,
That #e hapl# understand)
Those ho gi'e loans, men and omen,
It ill be doubled for them)
Those ho belie'e in +is messenger
Are lo#al in this orld)
239
The mart#rs are ith the Lord,
The# ha'e their reard)
/no that the life of the orld
Is onl# pla#, idle tal%,
And pageantr#, and boasting, and ri'alr#)
In respect ealth and children,
As the li%eness of 'egetation,
After rain, hen the groth is pleasing to the husbandman,
It drieth up and becometh plain)
And thou seest it turning #ello,
And all #e ha'e is stra)
See% forgi'eness from Allah,
And gi'e in good measure,
See% forgi'eness of Allah,
And +is good pleasure)
"en# #our delusion,
Whereas the life of the orld is a matter of illusion)
See% merc#& Allah is of infinite bount#)
See% forgi'eness from th# Lord,
Be not a disbelie'er ith his hoard,
Or Allah has punishment in store)
+e bestoeth on hom +e ill in +is bount#)
It is a boo% before it is brought into being)
Lo- ,or Allah that is eas#)
.rie'e not for hat has escaped #ou,
Nor #et e2ult for that hich is gi'en)
This much is truthful&
Allah lo'eth not the boaster, the prideful,
Nor those ho hoard or en5oin upon the people a'arice,
And hosoe'er turneth aa#,
Still Allah is the Absolute, the Oner of Praise)
Our messengers ere ith clear proofs sent,
And re'ealed Scripture and the Balance,
That #e obser'e right measure,
That Allah ma# %no ho helpeth +im,
And ho are +is messengers,
Though some are unseen, the# are among +is bount#)
Allah is Strong, Almight#)
And 'eril# We sent don Abraham and Noah,
And placed the Prophethood and Scriptures
Among their descendants,
And among them are the# ho goeth right,
But man# of them are e'il;li'ers)
240
Then We caused Our messengers
To follo in their footsteps,
And caused !esus, Mar#3s son,
To follo, and ga'e him the .ospel
And those ho folloed him had compassion$
But We did not ordain monasticism,
And man# are e'il;li'ers)
Put faith in Allah3s messenger,
And #our dut# to Allah,
Then tofold is +is merc#,
And #e shall ha'e a light to al% b#,
And #e shall be forgi'en)
This is truthful)
Allah is ,orgi'ing, Merciful)
The People of the Scripture
*ontrol naught of Allah3s bount#,
But it is in Allah3s hand,
To gi'e to hom he ill,
And Allah is of infinite bount#)
241
She that "isputeth
We hath heard of the oman
Who disputeth ith her husband,
And to ma%e matters plain,
To Allah she complains)
If #e %ne, O man%ind,
(ou ould not shun
Neither i'es, nor mothers,
Nor an# oman)
If #e go bac% on hat #e said,
The penalt# is still the freeing of the sla'e)
If she should decide to sta#,
The man must fast for si2t# da#s)
If, b# chance, he cannot maintain this penance,
Then it be the feeding of si2t# need# ones,
,or disbelie'ers, dooms)
*anst thou not see7
Th# entire life didst not come free)
Allah is itness, +e %ept account,
Whilst thou forgot)
So as% forgi'eness
Of proper amount)
*anst thou see that Allah
/nos all in the hea'ens and earth7
There is no secret conference)
If there be three, Allah
Is the fourth, if there be si2,
Then +e is the se'enth)
Whosoe'er the# are,
+e %nos all rong;doing,
And disobedience to the messenger)
The# sa# ithin themsel'es&
1Wh# should Allah punish us for hat e sa#71
Afterard, Allah shall sho them hat the# did,
And ma%e them pa#)
+ell ill suffice them,
A hapless 5ourne#3s end-
O #e ho belie'e- *onspire not
,or disobedience against the messenger,
But righteousness as his defender,
And for piet#,
242
And to Allah %eep #our dut#)
*onspirac# is onl# of the de'il,
That he ma# 'e2 those ho belie'e,
But he can harm them not at all,
02cept b# Allah3s lea'e)
+erein is a m#ster#)
O #e ho belie'e- When it is said,
1Ma%e room-1 in assemblies, ma%e room,
When said 1.o up higher,1 go up higher)
Allah ill e2alt those ho belie'e
And follo the messenger)
O #e ho belie'e- Offer alms,
That others ma# recei'e,
But if #e cannot find the hereithal,
Allah is ,orgi'ing, Merciful)
If #e can do #et ill not,
0stablish orship, and obe#,
And ne'er ta%e a fa%e oath %noingl#)
When Allah, on that "a#,
4aises all together,
Some ill sear, fanc#ing)
The# ha'e some standing,
But the# are liars)
The de'il engrossed them to forget
4emembrance of Allah&
Those ho oppose
Allah and +is messenger
Are among the lo)
Allah hath decreed& 'eril#,
I shall con8uer, I and M# messengers)
Allah is Strong, Almight#)
,or those ho ha'e faith
Written on the hearts, hose heart
B# the Spirit has been strengthened, ho sees,
Allah is ell;pleased)
Is this much truthful&
Allah3s part# is the successful7
243
02ile
All glorifies .od, in the earth and the hea'ens)
Allah is Might#, the Wise)
O #e ho ha'e e#es-
Those of the People of the Scripture
Who left their homes, into the ild,
"uring the first e2ile,
"eemed their strongholds ould protect them from Allah,
But Allah reached them the# %no not ho,
And their homes ere ruined for their sins)
If Allah had not decreed migrations,
+e still ould ha'e punished them&
The# ere opposed to Allah and +is messenger)
=eril# Allah is stern in reprisal)
Allah gi'eth +is messenger,
Lordship o'er hom +e ill,
To ea%en the de'il,
And Allah gi'es as spoils,
To those ho orship,
In +is peoples tonships)
It is for the state,
,or near of %in and orphans,
The need# and the a#farer,
Not a commodit# of the rich,
But hat the messenger gi'es #ou)
What is forbidden, abstain,
And do #our dut#)
It is for the fugiti'es ho see% bount#&
These are the lo#al&
Prefer them e'en to #our on po'ert#)
This is truthful&
Those sa'ed from their on a'arice are the successful)
Those ho came later to the faith,
Sa#eth& 1Our Lord- ,orgi'e us,
And our brethren ho ere before)
Place not in our hearts an# rancour
Toards the belie'ers-1
The h#pocrites sa# the# ill sa'e #ou,
.o out ith #ou and protect #ou,
Nor obe# an#one against #ou)
=eril# the# are liars)
244
If #e are dri'en out the# go not out,
If #e are attac%ed the# help not,
As the# said, but rather ould the#
+a'e turned and fled)
Against each other their ad'ersit# is great$
(e thin% h#pocrites a hole,
But it is much too late)
Their hearts are di'ers,
Because the# ha'e no sense,
And the ill;effects of their conduct a painful punishment)
The h#pocrites ha'e the de'il as a li%eness)
When he telleth a man to disbelie'e,
Sa# to this man& 1I 8uit of thee)
I fear Allah, the Lord of the Worlds-1
The ,ire is the reard of e'il;doers)
O #e ho belie'e- Let e'er# soul
Loo% to that hich it sendeth on for the morro,
And obser'e #our dut# to Allah-
Those ho forget Allah forget their souls,
Such are the e'il;doers,
And not e8ual are the oners
Of the ,ire,
To the oners of the .arden,
Who are righteous,
And therefore are the 'ictorious)
Some rend the ?ur3an for fear of Allah)
There is no .od but .od,
/noer of the 'isible and in'isible,
The Beneficent, the Merciful)
,ear Allah, and shame me not)
Obe# .od, the So'ereign Lord,
The +ol# one, Peace, the /eeper of ,aith, the .uardian,
The Ma5estic, the *ompeller, the Superb,
The Lord of the Worlds)
.lorified be Allah be#ond all #e ascribe,
+e is *reator, the Shaper,
+is are the beautiful Names,
+e is the Might#, the Wise)
245
She That is to be 02amined
O #e ho belie'e- *hoose not
(our enem# and mine as friends,
6nless the# ma%e amends)
"o #e gi'e friendship hen the# disbelie'e,
When the truth of messengers is lost,
And cannot be retrie'ed7
"o #e ma%e friends ith those so bold,
As to dri'e out Allah, #our Lord7
If #e stri'e in m# a#
And see% M# good pleasure,
Sho them not friendship,
When I am best Aare,
And %no #our hearts secrets,
And ho #e stra#,
In hat #e proclaim,
And, 'eril#, hen #ou ha'e lost the right a#)
If the# ha'e the upper hand of #ou,
The# ill be #our foe,
And shall reach out
To ma%e #ou disbelie'e,
But on the "a# of 4esurrection +e ill part #ou,
And #ou ill concei'e)
Allah is Seer of hat #e do)
Our Lord- ,orgi'e us,
And sa'e us from the disbelie'ers,
Whom e do not despise, Thou, and onl# Thou,
Art the Might#, the Wise)
=eril#, #e ha'e in them a goodl# pattern,
Who loo%eth to Allah and the last da#s,
And hosoe'er shall turn aa#,
Still Allah is Absolute, and Oner of Praise)
It ma# be Allah shall ordain
Lo'e hen no there is enmit#&
Allah is ,orgi'ing, Merciful, Might#)
"eal ith %indness and 5ustness
To those ho made no ar against thee,
0'en though unbelie'ers)
Allah lo'eth the 5ust dealers)
Allah ma%es forbidden friendship
With those ho arned against thee
246
On account of religion,
And tried to dri'e #ou out)
Whosoe'er ma%eth friends ith them,
All are rongdoers,
,or ma#hap the# onl# ma%e amends
To resume being users)
,ind a better a# to spend,
When belie'ing omen become fugiti'es)
The disbelie'ers are not for them laful,
And the disbelie'ers doom is aful)
While if #e ha'e spent upon them,
Marriage to them is not forbidden,
+old not to ties ith disbelie'ing omen)
As% for the return of that hich as spent&
This is Allah3s 5udgement)
"o not despise)
Allah is /noer, Wise)
If belie'ing omen come unto thee,
With oath of allegiance,
Who neither steal nor commit adulter#,
Nor produce an# lie,
That in an# a# the# ha'e de'ised,
Then accept their allegiance,
And as% for them Allah3s forgi'eness)
247
The 4an%s
All that is in the hea'ens and the earth
.lorifieth Allah) +e is the Might#, the Wise)
O #e ho belie'e- Wh# sa# that hich #e do not7
Allah lo'eth not those ho go
Against themsel'es or lie)
Allah lo'eth those ho battle,
In ran%s for +is cause,
And in good measure,
As though the# ere a solid structure)
Best to remember,
When Moses said unto his people&
1O m# people- Wh# persecute #e me,
When ell #e %no I am Allah3s messenger7
Loo%- When #e ent astra#,
Allah sent #our hearts astra#)
This is no 5est nor 5o%e
Allah guideth not the e'il;li'ing fol%)1
When !esus Mar#3s son came forth and said&
1I am the messenger of Allah,
*onfirming that re'ealed in the Torah,
And bring good tidings of a messenger after me,
Whose name is the Praised One)
(et hen he cometh ith clear proofs,
The# sa#, 3Mere magic)3
Who doeth greater rong
Then to in'ent a lie
When summoned to Al;Islam71
,ain ould the# put out the light
Of Allah ith their mouths ith the re'erse,
But Allah shall perfect +is light,
No matter ho the# are a'erse)
Shall I sho #e a commerce
To sa'e #ou on the aful "a#7
(e should belie'e in Allah and +is messenger,
And stri'e for the cause of Allah,
With th# ealth and #our li'es,
0'en so)
That is better for #ou,
If #e but %no)
248
+e ill forgi'e #ou #our sins,
And gi'e #ou .ardens beneath hich ri'ers flo)
4eal, but li%e a dream&
This is the Triumph Supreme,
And +e ill gi'e #ou other blessings
That #e lo'e& help from Allah,
And 'ictor# from abo'e)
!esus, son of Mar#, said to his disciples,
1Who are Allah3s helpers71
The# said& 1We ser'e onl# Allah)1
And a part# of the *hildren of Israel belie'ed,
While a part# disbelie'ed)
And, lo- We strengthened those
Who belie'ed against their foe)
249
The *ongregation
All in the hea'ens and earth
.lorifieth Allah, the Wise, the Might#,
The +ol# One, the So'ereign)
+e it is Who hath gi'en
The unlettered ones a messenger of their on,
To recite to them 4e'elations and ma%e them gro,
To teach them isdom and Scripture,
Which the# had not heretofor,
Along ith others ho hath not #et 5oined them, until
The# recei'e the bount# of Allah,
Whom +e gi'eth to Whom +e ill)
Allah is the Might#, Allah is of infinite bount#)
Those ho belie'e not,
(et are entrusted ith the La of Moses,
Wretched is their li%eness)
If #e claim that #e are fa'oured of Allah,
Apart from all man%ind,
Then #e re5ect the manifest signs)
Sa# unto them& 1(our on ,ate ill surel# meet #ou,
Allah is Aare of the e'ildoer,
And afterard #e ill be returned,
6nto the /noer of the in'isible and the 'isible,
And +e ill tell #ou hat #ou used to do)1
O #e ho belie'e- When the call
Is heard for the pra#er of the da# of congregation,
+asten unto remembrance of Allah,
And cease #our trading)
This is better if #e but did %no,
And hen pra#er is ended,
See% in the land for the bount# of Allah,
And remember Allah much,
That #e be successful)
+e ill find #ou,
This much is truthful)
(et that hich Allah has
Is better than pastime and merchandise)
4emember, Allah is the best of pro'iders)
250
The +#pocrites
When the h#pocrites come unto thee and sa#,
1(e are indeed Allah3s messenger,1
=eril# the# ma%e their faith a prete2t to turn men to e'il)
That is because the# belie'ed,
Then disbelie'ed, and the# understand not,
+o that their hearts are sealed)
Their figures please thee,
To their speech thou gi'est #our ear,
But the# deem e'er# shout against them)
Beare- Allah confound them-
When it is said unto them&
1*ome- The messenger ill as% forgi'eness for thee-1
The# disdain, and turn aa#)
Whether thou as% or not,
Allah ill not forgi'e them,
Allah guideth not the e'il;li'ing)
The# it is ho sa#&
1Spend not on behalf of Allah3s messenger,
That the# ma# disperse and go aa#,
When Allah3s are the treasures,
Of the hea'ens and the earth,
But the h#pocrites comprehend not,
With hate'er the#3'e got)
The# sa#& 1Surel#, if e return to Al;Madinah the mightier,
We shall dri'e out the ea%er,1
When might belongs to Allah)
But the h#pocrites %no not)
O #e ho belie'e-
Let not #our children or ealth distract thee
,rom remembrance of Allah,
As choosers, or #e shall be among the losers)
Spend hereith We hath pro'ided,
Before death comest&
(e ma# be reprie'ed 5ust a little hile&
.i'e alms to be among the righteous)
Allah reprie'eth no soul hen it3s term cometh)
251
Mutual "isillusion
Praise unto Allah- .od is great,
+e is So'ereign, Able to do all things)
+e created #ou, but one is a disbelie'er,
And one a belie'er,
And Allah is Seer)
,orsooth, +e created the hea'ens
And the earth ith truth,
And +e made #our shapes,
+e %nos #our orship,
What #e conceal, and hat #e publish&
Allah is Aare of hat is in th# breasts)
+ath not the stor# reached #ou
Of those ho disbelie'ed and their conduct7
Allah is Oner of Praise, Absolute)
+is messengers alread# had brought
Man# clear proofs)
But the# disbelie'e, and the# still sa#,
1Shall mere mortals guide us71
And the# turned aa#, and as punishment,
,rom them Allah is independent)
The# assert that the# shall not be raised again)
Praise the Lord-
The# shall be raised and informed)
That is eas# for Allah)
So belie'e in Allah and +is messenger,
And the re'ealed light)
On the "a# of Assembl#
Shall be mutual disillusion,
As Allah forgi'es the sins of those ho did right)
That is the Supreme Triumph)
Obe# Allah and obe# +is messenger,
But if #e turn aa#,
The dut# of the messenger
Is onl# the message to con'e#)
Allah- There is no .od sa'e .od- In +im put #our trust)
O #e ho belie'e-
Among #our %insfol% are enemies&
O'erloo% and forgi'e,
And, lo- Allah is ,orgi'ing)
252
(our ealth and children
Are onl# a temptation,
So %eep #our dut# as best #e can)
Obe#, and spend, and listen&
That is better for #our souls&
With +im are immense reards)
If #e lend to Allah a goodl# loan,
+e ill double it)
Allah is 4esponsi'e, *lement)
253
"i'orce
O Prophet- When #e men put aa# omen,
"o so for a legal period,
And %eep #our on dut# to #our Lord)
Let them not go forth,
6nless the# commit immoralit#)
Whoso transgretheth Allah3s limits,
Wrongeth his soul, 'eril#)
4emember thou %noest not,
In the last,
,or Allah ma# ma%e a ne thing to pass)
When the# ha'e reached their term,
Ta%e them bac% in %indness,
In forgi'eness,
And let them go in %indness,
With 5ust to men as a itness)
Be upright in testimon#,
Belie'e in the Last "a#,
And do #our dut#&
Allah ill point out a a#)
Whosoe'er putteth trust in Allah,
+e ill suffice him)
Lo- +e bringeth +is command)
See hat +e brings)
+e has set a measure for all things)
,or omen ho despair of menstruation,
And those ith child,
/eepeth #our dut#&
Allah ill ma%e #our course eas#)
4eards shall magnif#
+arass them not, so to straighten life for them,
Spend until the# are relie'ed of their burden)
,or those ith pro'ision&
After hardship, ease)
Let those ho ha'e abundance,
Spend during this time in abundance,
As Allah hath gi'en him,
And he please,
In 5ust measure)
Allah as%eth not all #our treasure,
Onl# hat +e has gi'en)
254
This is a commandment&
"o as #ou are bidden)
+o man# re'olted against the Lord
And +is messengers7
No Allah hath sent don reminders)
O men of understanding, O #e ho belie'e-
Whoe'er doeth right shall ha'e a .arden,
Allah hath made good pro'ision)
+e created se'en hea'ens,
And the earth the li%e thereof)
The commandments cometh slol#
Allah surroundeth all things ith %noledge from abo'e)
255
Banning
O Prophet- Wh# bannest hat is laful,
See%ing to please th# i'es7
Allah hath made laful for muslims,
Absolution from oaths of such a %ind)
+e is ,orgi'ing, Wise)
When the Prophet confided a fact to one of his i'es,
She di'ulged it later,
And to him Allah apprised)
She said, 1Who hath told thee71
+e said& 1The /noer, the Aare hast told me)1
If #e tain turn to Allah repentant,
,or #our hearts desired a ban,
Then Allah, e'en +e, is #our Protecting ,riend)
If Allah di'orce #ou,
It ma# happen, 5ustl#,
That he ma# gi'e a spouse better,
Submissi'e to Allah, belie'ing,
4epentant, pious, penitent,
Widos and maids and those inclined to fasting)
4esist not Allah in hat +e has commanded #ou,
Ma%e no e2cuses for hat #ou do,
Turn to Allah in sincere repentance-
O #e ho belie'e-
It ma# be the Lord ill remit #e #our e'il deeds,
And bring #ou to a .arden,
Beneath hich ri'ers flo,
On the "a# Allah ill not abase the Prophet,
And those ho belie'e and %no)
Then light shall run on
Before them on their right hands)
The# ill sa#& 1Our lord- Thou art Able to do all things)1
Stri'e against the h#pocrites,
And be stern ith them)
+ell ill be their home,
A hapless 5ourne#3s end)
Allah ma%eth e2amples of those ho disbelie'e,
The ife of Lot and the ife of Noah,
Were under to of Our righteous sla'es,
(et their confidence betra#ed,
256
So their husbands a'ailed them naught against Allah,
And it as said unto them& 10nter the ,ire)1
And for those ho belie'e&
The ife of Pharaoh said&
1M# Lord-
Build for me a home ith thee in the .arden,
And deli'er me from Pharaoh and his or%,
And from e'il;doing fol%)1
And then, there as Mar#, daughter of Imran,
Whose bod# as chaste,
Therefore, We breathed into it something of Our Spirit,
And she had faith and as obedient)
257
The So'ereignt#
Blessed is +e
In Whose hands is the So'ereignt#,
Who created life and death,
That +e ma# tr# #ou)
Which of #ou has best conduct,
*anst thou see fault7
There are se'en hea'ens
In the Beneficent One3s *reation)
Loo% and loo% again&
Th# sight ill return ea%ened and dim)
We ha'e beautified the orld3s hea'en
With lamps,
Which We ha'e made missiles
Against the de'ils)
When the# come into the ,ire,
The# are as%ed, 1*ame unto #e no arner71
The# sa#, 1(ea, but e said Allah
+ath not re'ealed, and the Prophet,
Naught but in gra'e error)
We had no sense)
We should not be dellers in the flames)1
So the# ac%noledge their sins)
But from merc# are remo'ed&
Not so those ho fear their Lord&
Theirs ill be great reard)
/eep #our secret or proclaim it&
+e is /noer, Subtile, Aare)
+e %noeth hat is in the breasts of men,
And hat +e created)
+e hath made the earth
Subser'ient unto #ou& al% in it3s paths,
0n5o# pro'idence here'er #e are led)
6nto +im ill be the 4esurrection of the dead)
+a'e #e ta%en securit# of +e
That is in the hea'en,
That +e ill not cause the earth to sallo #ou7
It is con'ulsed,
Or +e ill let loose a hurricane,
But 'eril# #e shall %no M# arning)
+a'e thou not seen the birds,
With ings opening and closing)
258
Naught upholdeth them sa'e the Beneficent,
The Seer of all things)
The Beneficent ill be li%e as an arm#,
The disbelie'ers are in naught but illusion)
Who ill pro'ide #ou if +e ithholds +is pro'idence7
The# are set in pride and coardness)
Who assigned #ou e#es and ears and hearts7
It as +e- Small than%s gi'e #e)
+e multiplieth #ou in the earth,
And is unto Whom #e shall be gathered)
And the# sa#& 1When ill this be fulfilled71
The %noledge is ith Allah,
But hen the# see it nigh,
There 'er# faces shall seem ar#)
And it shall be said& 1Withal,
This is for hat #e used to call)1
+a'e #e thought& hether .od
*auseth me to perish or ha'e merc#,
And hether it is soon,
Who ill sa'e the disbelie'ers from a painful doom7
+e is the Beneficent)
In +im e belie'e and in +im put trust,
And #e ill soon %no ho is in error manifest)
259
The Pen
Nun)
B# the pen and that hich thou rite,
,or th# Lord3s fa'our in thee be contrite)
=eril# ill there be reard unfailing&
thou art of trememdous nature unfading)
Thou ilt see anf the# ilt see,
Which is the madman of thee)
Th# Lord is best Aare,
Of those ho are contrite,
And those ho do not al% aright)
Therefore, obe# not the re5ecters,
Who ould ha'e #e compromise,
That the# ma# do so,
Neither obe# the oath;monger,
"etractor, slanderer, hinderer,
Transgressor, malefactor,
The greed#, the intrusi'e,
The possessed of ealth,
Who calls Our 4e'elations fables
Of men of old&
The# ould not do as the# ha'e 'oed)
1If .od ills,1 thou shouldst sa#,
And ma%e no e2ception,
We ha'e tried the oners of the .arden,
While the# slept came a 'isitation,
And the# cried unto one another in the morning,
To pluc% the fruit for need# men)
But no man came,
It as Allah3s ill to test them again)
The best of them said& 1Said I not, 3glorif# the Lord,3
Is this naught71
The# said, 1.lorified be our lord,
We ha'e been rongdoers, unrighteous)
In truth e ere outrageous&
It ma# be our Lord ill gi'e us better)1
Such as the punishment,
And that of the hereafter is greater,
The guilt# are not as those
Who ha'e Surrendered)
(e 5udge so foolishl#,
260
,rom this #ou should obstain)
Or ha'e #e a Scripture,
Or a co'enant, that #ours shall be all #e ordain,
After the "a# of !udgement,
Which of #ou ill 'ouch for that7
There is no .od but .od)
Bring other gods if #e are truthful,
But hen the "a# falls in earnest,
(e are not able)
(e ha'e been summoned alread#,
On steps #e %no not of rests #our dut#)
The scheme is firm&
6nto Allah #e shall return)
Or canst thou rite of the 6nseen7
Wait thou for th# Lord3s decree,
That thou rite fair)
Be not li%e !onah, cr#ing ith despair)
+e ould ha'e been cast into the ilderness,
02cept for Allah3s fa'our,
But he as placed among the righteous,
As another 4eminder)
Those ho disbelie'e,
Would fain disconcert thee,
When the# hear, and sa# he is mad,
When this oration,
Is naught else than a 4eminder to *reation)
261
The 4ealit#
4ealit#- And hat is that7
4ealit# is that hich con'e#s
What realit# is)
The tribes of Thamud and A3ad
"isbelie'ed in the !udgement to come)
Thamud as destro#ed b# lightning,
A3ad b# the ind,
Which +e imposed on them,
,or long nights se'en)
Li%e Pharaoh, communities ere destro#ed
That brought error)
The# disobe#ed the messenger of the Lord,
And ere ta%en in a grip)
Noah3s %in We sa'ed in a ooden ship,
When the aters rose)
It has been made a memorial
In poetr# and prose,
That remembering ears might remember)
And hen the trumpet shall sound one blast,
The mountains shall be lifted,
And crushed ith one great crash)
Then the 0'ent ill befall,
,or +ea'en shall then be frail,
And ill split asunder
With lightning and ith thunder,
And the angels ill uphold
The Throne of the Lord that "a#,
And #e shall be e2posed)
Those ho ha'e their record
In their right hand, ell;composed,
Shall sa#& 1Loo%- Ta%e and read m# boo%-
With all the summoning,
I surel# %ne I ould meet m# rec%oning)1
Then he ill find bliss and a high .arden,
But those ith their boo% in their left hand
Will sa#& 1If onl# I did obe#-
If onl# m# fate ere death,
I ould ha'e pra#ed ith m# d#ing breath)
Nothing a'ails me, not m# ealth,
M# poer is gone, I am alone)1
262
It ill be said& 1Ta%e him to the hell;fire,
And insert him in a chain of se'ent# cubits)
+e used not to belie'e in Allah the Tremendous,
And urged not the feeding of the retched)
I sear b# all I see,
And #e see not,
I am no poet, but this is the messengers speech)
Little do #ou belie'e- And need a 4eminder,
This is not a di'iners speech;
Little do #ou remember)
This is a 4e'elation from the Lord of Worlds,
,or those ho ard off e'il, a arrant,
Though some of #ou den# it)
It is for the disbelie'ers an anguish)
It is absolute truth for the orld,
So glorif# the Name of th# Tremendous Lord)
The Ascending Staira#s
A 8uestioner as%ed concerning the doom to fall,
6pon the disbelie'ers, from Allah,
Lord of the Ascending Staira#s,
Where a da# is fift#;thousand #ears)
Be patient, ith patience fair to see)
(e ma# behold it from afar,
While We behold it nigh,
The "a# hen as molten copper shall become the s%#,
And all the rolling hills,
Become as though the# ere fla%es of ool)
And no friend shall as%
A 8uestion of a friend,
Though the# ill be gi'en sight of them)
The guilt# man ill see% to ransom
+imself at the price of his children,
And his spouse and his brother,
And his %in that harboured him,
And all that is in the earth,
That it might deli'er him)
But na#- It is the ,ire of +ell)
,orsooth- It calleth him ho fled from truth,
And hoarded ealth,
.rudging hen good befalleth,
Inconstant in his orship)
(et those to hose ealth
There is a right ac%noledged,
263
,or the destitute and the beggar,
Who ere not lost, #et together,
There shall not come !udgement,
Nor shall the# feel the punishment,
Although before the doom of the Lord
None ma# feel secure)
Those ho preser'e their chastit#,
Are not those as the blameorth#,
But hoso see%eth more than that,
The# are among the transgressors,
6nless the# %eepest their oaths and co'enant,
And stand b# their testimon#,
And are attenti'e to orship)
These ill dell in .ardens, honoured,
With those hose position as ell;declared)
On the left or on the right7
"oth e'er# man hope for a .arden of "elight7
Na#, 'eril#) We created them from hat the# %no,
We are Able to replace them ith better,
B# the rising and setting places of the planets,
And We are not to be outrun)
The# meet their "a# as promised,
*oming forth from their gra'es in haste,
4acing toards a goal ith e#es aghast,
Stupified b# abasement)
+e ill loose the s%# a plenteous rain)
See% to Allah for #our dignit#&
Be not outrageous,
When +e created #ou b# di'ers stages,
And se'en hea'ens in harmon#,
And placed therein a moon,
And made a lamp of the sun,
Where'er thou dost run,
And caused #ou to gro,
And +e brought #e forth again,
And afterard ma%eth #e to return thereto)
264
Noah
Noah as sent to his people to arn,
That a painful doom ould come unto them)
+e said& 1I bid thee belie'e&
I am a plain arner, ser'e Allah,
And obe# +im and me-
That +e might forgi'e #ou somehat of #our sins
And respite #ou for an appointed term,
The term of Allah, if #e but ould learn)1
And to his Lord he cried&
1I ha'e called to m# people night and da#,
But it onl# addeth to their repugnance hat I sa#)
O lord- I see% pardon on their behalf,
(et hen I arn the# hide,
And magnif# their on pride)
I ha'e called aloud,
Made public proclamation in the crod,
And in pri'ate appealed,
And ha'e said& 3See% pardon from #our Lord,
+e as e'er ,orgi'ing)3
(et the# changed not their a# of li'ing)There shall be a ne forth;bringing,
,or Allah hath made an earth of ide e2panse for #ou,
With 'alle#;a#s soft ith de)
Noah said& 1M# Lord-
The# ha'e disobe#ed me and folloed
One hose ealth and children,
Increase him in naught sa'e ruin)
And the# ha'e schemed a plot,
And said to the people& 3(our gods forsa%e not-
,orsa%e not Wadd, nor Su3a, nor (aghuth, (a3n8, and Nasr,3
And the rongdoers increase in error,
So the# ha'e no helper)1
Because of their sins the# ere droned,
And therein a ,ire the# found)
Noah said& 1Lea'e not a disbelie'er in the land)
If Thou shouldst lea'e them there,
The# shall mislead #our sla'es,
And ill beget none sa'e led ingrates)
M# Lord- ,orgi'e me and m# parents,
And those ho enter m# house belie'ing,
And belie'ing men and belie'ing omen,
265
Increase not the rongdoers in aught sa'e ruin)1
266
The !inn
It is re'ealed unto me that a compan#
Of the 5inn, belie'e in the ?ur3an,
And belie'e& Allah has ta%en neither ife nor son)
Suppose #ou that human%ind not spea%eth lies,
And indeed a foolish one7
Some ha'e in'o%ed the 5inn3s protection,
(et the# onl# increased in re'olt,
As though no one listened,
And the# supposed
That Allah ould not raise an#one from the dead&
Onl# the profane place another belief in it3s stead)
And the 5inn that listened to the ?ur3an said&
1We had sought +ea'en,
But found it filled ith arders and meteors,
And there e didst listen,
But those ho did found a flame
In ait for them in the night)
We are sects ha'ing different rules,
And e %no e cannot escape Allah,
In the earth or b# flight$
Among us are sinners and some ho do right)
We did not %no if all ere boded harm in the earth,
6ntil the ,inal "a# e heard)
We fear transgression)1
Whoso belie'eth in the lord
Suffereth not fear of loss or oppression)
Some of us ha'e Surrendered,
Most are un5ust, and do not do their dut#&
Those ho Surrender to Allah
Ta%e the right path purposefull#)
Those ho are un5ust
Are the fireood of +ell)
But We shall gi'e to the idolater fresh ater
In abundance to tell&
We ill test them thereb#,
And hoso turneth from remembrance of the Lord,
The e'er;groing torment is his reard)
I pra# unto Allah onl#,
And ascribe to +im no partner,
267
Thus do I Surrender)
I control neither hurt nor benefit for #ou)
Mine is but Allah3s truth to con'e#&
Those earn hell;fire if Allah and +is messenger are disobe#ed,
Till the "a#, hich the# ma# doubt,
But then, behold- The# ill %no
,or certain, ho is ea%er and ho is multitude)
It ma# be a time far distant,
When little shall be %non of it)
+e is the /noer of the 6nseen,
And unto none come +is secret,
Sa'e unto e'er# messenger that +e has chosen,
And then +e ma%eth a guard to go before them)
+e %eepeth count of all things)
268
The 0nshrouded one
O #e ho %eep 'igil,
*hant the ?ur3an in measure&
We charge #ou ith a ord of eight,
The 'igil of the night hen it is groing late)
Speech is more certain,
And more %een the impression&
"e'ote th#self ith complete de'otion)
4emember& there is no .od sa'e +im$
+e alone is th# defender)
Bear ith patience hat the# utter,
And ma%e fair lea'e;ta%ing)
Lea'e Me to deal ith the denier)
With 6s are hea'# fetters and a raging ,ire,
And food hich cho%eth the parta%er)
The 'er# hea'en shall be rent asunder)
This is a 4eminder)
Let him ho ill, then,
*hoose a a# unto the Lord)
+e %noeth that #e count not,
And turns toards thee in merc#)
4ecite, then, the ?ur3an that is eas#
Tra'el and search for Allah3s bount#,
And recite hat is eas# for #ou,
0stablish orship and pa# the poor due&
Thou shalt find better in recompense)
See% forgi'eness)
269
The *loa%ed One
Th# Lord magnif#-
Arise and arn-
Th# raiment purif#,
Pollution shun-
Sho not fa'our, see%ing orldl# gain)
Be patient)
The "a# ill be of anguish, not of ease,
,or those ho disbelie'e)
,or those created lonel#,
The# ha'e bestoed upon them ample means)
When life is made smooth,
Some desireth more-
Na#- ,or the# are stubborn to Our 4e'elations)
+e did consider, then he planned)
Self;destro#ed is he, ho he planned)
Again, self;destro#ed is he, ho he planned)
Then loo%ed he, froned ith displeasure,
And turned aa# in pride,
And said& 1This is naught else
Than magic from old,
And speech of mortal man)1
+im I flung into the burning)
We ha'e appointed onl# angels
As ardens of the ,ire,
In number to be as stumbling bloc%
,or those ho disbelie'e,
That those to hom the Scripture hath been gi'en
Ma# ha'e certaint#,
And belie'ers ha'e no doubt)
And those hose hearts ha'e a disease
Ma# sa#& 1What meaneth Allah b# this similitude71
Thus Allah sendeth astra#&
None %noeth +is hosts sa'e Allah)
This is naught else than a 4eminder)
Na#, b# the moon,
This is one of the greatest portents&
0'er# soul has made a pledge)
Those ho did not pra#,
Nor feed the retched,
270
Those ho den# the "a# of !udgement,
Wh# no turn aa# from the Admonishment7
Li%e fleeing from a lion)
Na#, but e'er#one desireth good things from Allah)
But fear not the hereafter)
This is an Admonishment)
The# ill not heed e2cept Allah illeth)
=eril#, +e is the fount of fear,
+e is the fount of merc#
271
The 4ising of the "ead
I sear b# the "a# of 4esurrection,
And b# the accusing soul,
This Scripture is true)
We shall assemble his 'er# bones,
But man denies hat is before him)
+e as%eth& 1When ill be this "a# of 4esurrection71
When sight is confounded,
The moon is eclipsed,
Sun and moon united)
Man ill cr#& 1Whither to flee71
6nto the Lord is the recourse of that "a#,
When man is told the tale hich he has left behind)
Oh, but man is a telling itness
Against himself,
Although he ma%es his e2cuses)
6pon us resteth
The reading, the e2planation)
Na#, but #e do lo'e the fleeting)
In the hereafter, faces ill be resplendent,
Loo%ing toards their Lord,
Others despondent)
The# shall %no some great disaster shall befall,
And hat can sa'e us no7
+e %noeth it is the parting,
,or he neither pra#ed, nor trusted,
But he denied and flouted)
Nearer and nearer is the doom)
Thin%eth man that he is left aimless7
The Lord ma%eth thee from a drop,
Which as shaped, and +e made a pair,
Male and female, man and ife)
Is +e ho doeth so Able to bring the dead to life7
272
Time
There as a time #e ere a child, no unremembered&
We ma%eth #e from a drop of fluid to test him,
Ma%e him hearing, %noing,
We ha'e shon him the a#, hether grateful or belie'ing)
Such is the soing)
The righteous shall drin% of a cup, o'er;floing,
A spring, here the sla'es of Allah drin%,
Because the# perform the 'o,
And fear the "a# hereof e'il is ide;spreading)
And the# feed the need# retch,
The prisoner and the orphan,
,or lo'e of him, sa#ing&
1We feed #ou, and ish for no reard,
We feed #ou for the sa%e of Allah, the Lord)1
Therefore Allah hath arded off e'il that da#,
And filled it ith brightness and 5o#,
And hath aarded them for hat the# endured)
"o #our dut#& he ma%eth hom +e ill enter +is merc#)
Beare +is punishment in this orld&
This is an Admonishment,
That hosoe'er ill ma# choose a a# unto his Lord)
273
0pilogue& Al;Imran
In the Name of Allah, the .racious, the Merciful
Alif) Lam) Mim)
Besides Allah there is no .od,
There is no .od sa'e +im)
+e is the Self;Sustaining, the Self;Subsisting, the Li'ing)
"o not den# the signs, see% #our station)
In this Boo% are 'erses that are decisi'e in meaning,
Sent from Allah,
(et none but Allah %nos their correct interpretation)
See% discrimination& surel# there are signs in e'er# nation,
(et none heed e2cept those gifted ith understanding)
Surel#, ith Allah is true religion&
It is Islam 9complete submission:)
Onl# ith lo'e can e read the signs,
,or in lo'e is hen e trul# find)
If #e cannot belie'e this ?ur3an,
At least use it for #our recollection,
And let Mar#, daughter of Imran, be for thine protection&
This is part of isdom)
Scripture is for #our on fulfilling)
Lo'e is the beginning and lo'e the ending&
4ead the signs& Allah is ,orgi'ing)
0'en if #our conscience has misgi'ing,
+old fast& be guided on the right path,
As sure as lo'e lasts)
+old lo'e as #our co'enant, to a'oid rath)
In'ite goodness, en5oin e8uit#,
That #e ma# prosper& forbid ini8uit#)
Thou hast concern in this matter& be admonished)
Alread# are man# ho distinguish)
,ind #our pen, and utter&
4e5oice at the fa'our&
In Allah are signs of lo'e, and 5ustice,
And if e ignore lo'e, surel#,
There a price e2ists)
"o not ith isdom barter&
Be stedfast that #e ma# prosper,
And remain among the righteous)
Of isdom, this is onl# a section&
274
(ou must find #our on direction)
(et fulfill #our pledge,
And see% after %noledge)
Belie'e onl# hat #ou can accept,
(et, remember, ithout belief there is a debt)
Stri'e for the good of #our soul&
Lo'e is the beginning and lo'e the goal)
See% mildness and humilit#,
And do not turn aa# in 'anit#)
See% lo'e that #e ill come to %no,
What is abo'e and hat belo,
,or the portents are re'ealed as hierarchies&
Loo% about and #ou ill see)
.i'e heed& Allah shall gi'e #ou hat #ou need)
Be thou a itness& en5oin 5ustice,
And ma# there come upon #ou peace)
End
275



276

277