The Quran: Sūra XXI.: Anbiyāa, or The Prophets:...
The Holy Quran, tr. by Yusuf Ali, [1934]
11. Wakam qasamna min qaryatin kanat thalimatan waansha/na baAAdaha qawman akhareena
11. How many were the populations
We utterly destroyed because
Of their iniquities, setting up
In their places other peoples?
12. Falamma ahassoo ba/sana itha hum minha yarkudoona
12. Yet, when they felt
Our Punishment (coming),
Behold, they (tried to) flee
From it.
13. La tarkudoo wairjiAAoo ila ma otriftum feehi wamasakinikum laAAallakum tus-aloona
13. Flee not, but return to
The good things of this life
Which were given you,
And to your homes,
In order that ye may
Be called to account
14. Qaloo ya waylana inna kunna thalimeena
14. They said: "Ah! woe to us!
We were indeed wrong-doers!"
15. Fama zalat tilka daAAwahum hatta jaAAalnahum haseedan khamideena
15. And that cry of theirs
Ceased not, till we made
Them as a field
That is mown, as ashes
Silent and quenched.
16. Wama khalaqna alssamaa waal-arda wama baynahuma laAAibeena
16. Not for (idle) sport did We
Create the heavens and the earth
And all that is between!
17. Law aradna an nattakhitha lahwan laittakhathnahu min ladunna in kunna faAAileena
17. If it had been Our wish
To take (just) a pastime,
We should surely have taken
It from the things nearest
To Us, if We would
Do (such a thing)!
18. Bal naqthifu bialhaqqi AAala albatili fayadmaghuhu fa-itha huwa zahiqun walakumu alwaylu mimma tasifoona
18. Nay, We hurl the Truth
Against falsehood, and it knocks
Out its brain, and behold,
Falsehood doth perish!
Ah! woe be to you
For the (false) things
Ye ascribe (to Us).
19. Walahu man fee alssamawati waal-ardi waman AAindahu la yastakbiroona AAan AAibadatihi wala yastahsiroona
19. To Him belong all (creatures)
In the heavens and on earth:
Even those who are in His
(Very) Presence are not
Too proud to serve Him,
Nor are they (ever) weary
(Of His service):
20. Yusabbihoona allayla waalnnahara la yafturoona
20. They celebrate His praises
Night and day, nor do they
Ever flag or intermit.
21. Ami ittakhathoo alihatan mina al-ardi hum yunshiroona
21. Or have they taken
(For worship) gods from the earth
Who can raise (the dead)?
22. Law kana feehima alihatun illa Allahu lafasadata fasubhana Allahi rabbi alAAarshi AAamma yasifoona
22. If there were, in the heavens
And the earth, other gods
Besides God, there would
Have been confusion in both!
But glory to God,
The Lord of the Throne:
(High is He) above
What they attribute to Him!
23. La yus-alu AAamma yafAAalu wahum yus-aloona
23. He cannot be questioned
For His acts, but they
Will be questioned (for theirs).
24. Ami ittakhathoo min doonihi alihatan qul hatoo burhanakum hatha thikru man maAAiya wathikru man qablee bal aktharuhum la yaAAlamoona alhaqqa fahum muAAridoona
24. Or have they taken
For worship (other) gods
Besides him? Say, "Bring
Your convincing proof: this
Is the Message of those
With me and the Message
Of those before me."
But most of them know not
The Truth, and so turn away.
25. Wama arsalna min qablika min rasoolin illa noohee ilayhi annahu la ilaha illa ana faoAAbudooni
25. Not an apostle did We
Send before thee without
This inspiration sent by Us
To him: that there is
No god but I; therefore
Worship and serve Me.
26. Waqaloo ittakhatha alrrahmanu waladan subhanahu bal AAibadun mukramoona
26. And they say: "(God)
Most Gracious has begotten
Offspring." Glory to Him!
They are (but) servants raised
To honour.
27. La yasbiqoonahu bialqawli wahum bi-amrihi yaAAmaloona
27. They speak not before
He speaks, and they act
(In all things) by His command.
28. YaAAlamu ma bayna aydeehim wama khalfahum wala yashfaAAoona illa limani irtada wahum min khashyatihi mushfiqoona
28. He knows what is before them,
And what is behind them,
And they offer no intercession
Except for those who are
Acceptable, and they stand
In awe and reverence
Of His (glory).
29. Waman yaqul minhum innee ilahun min doonihi fathalika najzeehi jahannama kathalika najzee alththalimeena
29. If any of them should say,
"I am a god besides Him",
Such a one We should
Reward with Hell: thus
Do We reward those
Who do wrong.