The Poets

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

[26:1]

Ta. Sin. Mim.

[26:2]

These are revelations of the Scripture that maketh plain.

[26:3]

It may be that thou tormentest thyself (O Muhammad) because they believe not.

[26:4]

If We will, We can send down on them from the sky a portent so that their necks would remain bowed before it.

[26:5]

Never cometh there unto them a fresh reminder from the Beneficent One, but they turn away from it.

[26:6]

Now they have denied (the Truth); but there will come unto them tidings of that whereat they used to scoff.

[26:7]

Have they not seen the earth, how much of every fruitful kind We make to grow therein ?

[26:8]

Lo! herein is indeed a portent; yet most of them are not believers.

[26:9]

And lo! thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

[26:10]

And when thy Lord called Moses, saying: Go unto the wrongdoing folk,

[26:11]

The folk of Pharaoh. Will they not ward off (evil) ?

[26:12]

He said: My Lord! Lo! I fear that they will deny me,

[26:13]

And I shall be embarrassed, and my tongue will not speak plainly, therefor send for Aaron (to help me).

[26:14]

And they have a crime against me, so I fear that they will kill me.

[26:15]

He said: Nay, verily. So go ye twain with Our tokens. Lo! We shall be with you, Hearing.

[26:16]

And come together unto Pharaoh and say: Lo! we bear a message of the Lord of the Worlds,

[26:17]

(Saying): Let the Children of Israel go with us.

[26:18]

(Pharaoh) said (unto Moses): Did we not rear thee among us as a child ? And thou didst dwell many years of thy life among us,

[26:19]

And thou didst that thy deed which thou didst, and thou wast one of the ingrates.

[26:20]

He said: I did it then, when I was of those who are astray.

[26:21]

Then I fled from you when I feared you, and my Lord vouchsafed me a command and appointed me (of the number) of those sent (by Him).

[26:22]

And this is the past favour wherewith thou reproachest me: that thou hast enslaved the Children of Israel.

[26:23]

Pharaoh said: And what is the Lord of the Worlds ?

[26:24]

(Moses) said: Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, if ye had but sure belief.

[26:25]

(Pharaoh) said unto those around him: Hear ye not ?

[26:26]

He said: Your Lord and the Lord of your fathers.

[26:27]

(Pharaoh) said: Lo! your messenger who hath been sent unto you is indeed a madman!

[26:28]

He said: Lord of the East and the West and all that is between them, if ye did but understand.

[26:29]

(Pharaoh) said: If thou choosest a god other than me, I assuredly shall place thee among the prisoners.

[26:30]

He said: Even though I show thee something plain ?

[26:31]

(Pharaoh) said: Produce it then, if thou art of the truthful!

[26:32]

Then he flung down his staff and it became a serpent manifest,

[26:33]

And he drew forth his hand and lo! it was white to the beholders.

[26:34]

(Pharaoh) said unto the chiefs about him: Lo! this is verily a knowing wizard,

[26:35]

Who would drive you out of your land by his magic. Now what counsel ye ?

[26:36]

They said: Put him off, (him) and his brother, and send into the cities summoners

[26:37]

Who shall bring unto thee every knowing wizard.

[26:38]

So the wizards were gathered together at a set time on a day appointed.

[26:39]

And it was said unto the people: Are ye (also) gathering ?

[26:40]

(They said): Aye, so that we may follow the wizards if they are the winners.

[26:41]

And when the wizards came they said unto Pharaoh: Will there surely be a reward for us if we are the winners ?

[26:42]

He said: Aye, and ye will then surely be of those brought near (to me).

[26:43]

Moses said unto them: Throw what ye are going to throw!

[26:44]

Then they threw down their cords and their staves and said: By Pharaoh’s might, lo! we verily are the winners.

[26:45]

Then Moses threw his staff and lo! it swallowed that which they did falsely show.

[26:46]

And the wizards were flung prostrate,

[26:47]

Crying: We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,

[26:48]

The Lord of Moses and Aaron.

[26:49]

(Pharaoh) said: Ye put your faith in him before I give you leave. Lo! he doubtless is your chief who taught you magic! But verily ye shall come to know. Verily I will cut off your hands and your feet alternately, and verily I will crucify you every one.

[26:50]

They said: It is no hurt, for lo! unto our Lord we shall return.

[26:51]

Lo! we ardently hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we are the first of the believers.

[26:52]

And We inspired Moses, saying: Take away My slaves by night, for ye will be pursued.

[26:53]

Then Pharaoh sent into the cities summoners,

[26:54]

(Who said): Lo! these indeed are but a little troop,

[26:55]

And lo! they are offenders against us.

[26:56]

And lo! we are a ready host.

[26:57]

Thus did We take them away from gardens and watersprings,

[26:58]

And treasures and a fair estate.

[26:59]

Thus (were those things taken from them) and We caused the Children of Israel to inherit them.

[26:60]

And they overtook them at sunrise.

[26:61]

And when the two hosts saw each other, those with Moses said: Lo! we are indeed caught.

[26:62]

He said: Nay, verily! for lo! my Lord is with me. He will guide me.

[26:63]

Then We inspired Moses, saying: Smite the sea with thy staff. And it parted, and each part was as a mountain vast.

[26:64]

Then brought We near the others to that place.

[26:65]

And We saved Moses and those with him, every one;

[26:66]

And We drowned the others.

[26:67]

Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.

[26:68]

And lo, thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

[26:69]

Recite unto them the story of Abraham:

[26:70]

When he said unto his father and his folk: What worship ye ?

[26:71]

They said: We worship idols, and are ever devoted unto them.

[26:72]

He said: Do they hear you when ye cry ?

[26:73]

Or do they benefit or harm you ?

[26:74]

They said: Nay, but we found our fathers acting on this wise.

[26:75]

He said: See now that which ye worship,

[26:76]

Ye and your forefathers!

[26:77]

Lo! they are (all) an enemy unto me, save the Lord of the Worlds,

[26:78]

Who created me, and He doth guide me,

[26:79]

And Who feedeth me and watereth me.

[26:80]

And when I sicken, then He healeth me,

[26:81]

And Who causeth me to die, then giveth me life (again),

[26:82]

And Who, I ardently hope, will forgive me my sin on the Day of Judgment.

[26:83]

My Lord! Vouchsafe me wisdom and unite me to the righteous.

[26:84]

And give unto me a good report in later generations.

[26:85]

And place me among the inheritors of the Garden of Delight,

[26:86]

And forgive my father. Lo! he is of those who err.

[26:87]

And abase me not on the day when they are raised,

[26:88]

The day when wealth and sons avail not (any man)

[26:89]

Save him who bringeth unto Allah a whole heart.

[26:90]

And the Garden will be brought nigh for those who ward off (evil).

[26:91]

And hell will appear plainly to the erring.

[26:92]

And it will be said unto them: Where is (all) that ye used to worship

[26:93]

Instead of Allah ? Can they help you or help themselves ?

[26:94]

Then will they be hurled therein, they and the seducers

[26:95]

And the hosts of Iblis, together.

[26:96]

And they will say, when they are quarrelling therein:

[26:97]

By Allah, of a truth we were in error manifest

[26:98]

When we made you equal with the Lord of the Worlds.

[26:99]

It was but the guilty who misled us.

[26:100]

Now we have no intercessors

[26:101]

Nor any loving friend.

[26:102]

Oh, that we had another turn (on earth), that we might be of the believers!

[26:103]

Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers!

[26:104]

And lo, thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

[26:105]

Noah’s folk denied the messengers (of Allah),

[26:106]

When their brother Noah said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil) ?

[26:107]

Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

[26:108]

So keep your duty to Allah, and obey me.

[26:109]

And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds.

[26:110]

So keep your duty to Allah, and obey me.

[26:111]

They said: Shall we put faith in thee, when the lowest (of the people) follow thee ?

[26:112]

He said: And what knowledge have I of what they may have been doing (in the past) ?

[26:113]

Lo! their reckoning is my Lord’s concern, if ye but knew;

[26:114]

And I am not (here) to repulse believers.

[26:115]

I am only a plain warner.

[26:116]

They said: If thou cease not, O Noah, thou wilt surely be among those stoned (to death).

[26:117]

He said: My Lord! Lo! my own folk deny me.

[26:118]

Therefor judge Thou between us, a (conclusive) judgment, and save me and those believers who are with me.

[26:119]

And We saved him and those with him in the laden ship.

[26:120]

Then afterward We drowned the others.

[26:121]

Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.

[26:122]

And lo, thy Lord, He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

[26:123]

(The tribe of) A’ad denied the messengers (of Allah).

[26:124]

When their brother Hud said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil) ?

[26:125]

Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

[26:126]

So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.

[26:127]

And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds.

[26:128]

Build ye on every high place a monument for vain delight ?

[26:129]

And seek ye out strongholds, that haply ye may last for ever ?

[26:130]

And if ye seize by force, seize ye as tyrants ?

[26:131]

Rather keep your duty to Allah, and obey me.

[26:132]

Keep your duty toward Him Who hath aided you with (the good things) that ye know,

[26:133]

Hath aided you with cattle and sons.

[26:134]

And gardens and watersprings.

[26:135]

Lo! I fear for you the retribution of an awful day.

[26:136]

They said: It is all one to us whether thou preachest or art not of those who preach;

[26:137]

This is but a fable of the men of old,

[26:138]

And we shall not be doomed.

[26:139]

And they denied him; therefor We destroyed them. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.

[26:140]

And lo! thy Lord, He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

[26:141]

(The tribe of) Thamud denied the messengers (of Allah)

[26:142]

When their brother Salih said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil) ?

[26:143]

Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

[26:144]

So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.

[26:145]

And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds.

[26:146]

Will ye be left secure in that which is here before us,

[26:147]

In gardens and watersprings.

[26:148]

And tilled fields and heavy-sheathed palm-trees,

[26:149]

Though ye hew out dwellings in the mountain, being skilful ?

[26:150]

Therefor keep your duty to Allah and obey me,

[26:151]

And obey not the command of the prodigal,

[26:152]

Who spread corruption in the earth, and reform not.

[26:153]

They said: Thou art but one of the bewitched;

[26:154]

Thou art but a mortal like us. So bring some token if thou art of the truthful.

[26:155]

He said: (Behold) this she-camel. She hath the right to drink (at the well), and ye have the right to drink, (each) on an appointed day.

[26:156]

And touch her not with ill lest there come on you the retribution of an awful day.

[26:157]

But they hamstrung her, and then were penitent.

[26:158]

So the retribution came on them. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.

[26:159]

And lo! thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

[26:160]

The folk of Lot denied the messengers (of Allah),

[26:161]

When their brother Lot said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil) ?

[26:162]

Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

[26:163]

So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.

[26:164]

And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds.

[26:165]

What! Of all creatures do ye come unto the males,

[26:166]

And leave the wives your Lord created for you ? Nay, but ye are froward folk.

[26:167]

They said: If thou cease not, O Lot, thou wilt soon be of the outcast.

[26:168]

He said: I am in truth of those who hate your conduct.

[26:169]

My Lord! Save me and my household from what they do.

[26:170]

So We saved him and his household, every one,

[26:171]

Save an old woman among those who stayed behind.

[26:172]

Then afterward We destroyed the others.

[26:173]

And We rained on them a rain. And dreadful is the rain of those who have been warned.

[26:174]

Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.

[26:175]

And lo! thy Lord, He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

[26:176]

The dwellers in the wood (of Midian) denied the messengers (of Allah),

[26:177]

When Shu’eyb said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil) ?

[26:178]

Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

[26:179]

So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.

[26:180]

And I ask of you no wage for it; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds.

[26:181]

Give full measure, and be not of those who give less (than the due).

[26:182]

And weigh with the true balance.

[26:183]

Wrong not mankind in their goods, and do not evil, making mischief, in the earth.

[26:184]

And keep your duty unto Him Who created you and the generations of the men of old.

[26:185]

They said: Thou art but one of the bewitched;

[26:186]

Thou art but a mortal like us, and lo! we deem thee of the liars.

[26:187]

Then make fragments of the heaven fall upon us, if thou art of the truthful.

[26:188]

He said: My Lord is Best Aware of what ye do.

[26:189]

But they denied him, so there came on them the retribution of the day of gloom. Lo! it was the retribution of an awful day.

[26:190]

Lo! herein is indeed a portent; yet most of them are not believers.

[26:191]

And lo! thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

[26:192]

And lo! it is a revelation of the Lord of the Worlds,

[26:193]

Which the True Spirit hath brought down

[26:194]

Upon thy heart, that thou mayst be (one) of the warners,

[26:195]

In plain Arabic speech.

[26:196]

And lo! it is in the Scriptures of the men of old.

[26:197]

Is it not a token for them that the doctors of the Children of Israel know it ?

[26:198]

And if We had revealed it unto one of any other nation than the Arabs,

[26:199]

And he had read it unto them, they would not have believed in it.

[26:200]

Thus do We make it traverse the hearts of the guilty.

[26:201]

They will not believe in it till they behold the painful doom,

[26:202]

So that it will come upon them suddenly, when they perceive not.

[26:203]

Then they will say: Are we to be reprieved ?

[26:204]

Would they (now) hasten on Our doom ?

[26:205]

Hast thou then seen, if We content them for (long) years,

[26:206]

And then cometh that which they were promised,

[26:207]

(How) that wherewith they were contented naught availeth them ?

[26:208]

And We destroyed no township but it had its warners

[26:209]

For reminder, for We never were oppressors.

[26:210]

The devils did not bring it down.

[26:211]

It is not meet for them, nor is it in their power,

[26:212]

Lo! verily they are banished from the hearing.

[26:213]

Therefor invoke not with Allah another god, lest thou be one of the doomed.

[26:214]

And warn thy tribe of near kindred,

[26:215]

And lower thy wing (in kindness) unto those believers who follow thee.

[26:216]

And if they (thy kinsfolk) disobey thee, say: Lo! I am innocent of what they do.

[26:217]

And put thy trust in the Mighty, the Merciful.

[26:218]

Who seeth thee when thou standest up (to pray)

[26:219]

And (seeth) thine abasement among those who fall prostrate (in worship).

[26:220]

Lo! He, only He, is the Hearer, the Knower.

[26:221]

Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend ?

[26:222]

They descend on every sinful, false one.

[26:223]

They listen eagerly, but most of them are liars.

[26:224]

As for poets, the erring follow them.

[26:225]

Hast thou not seen how they stray in every valley,

[26:226]

And how they say that which they do not ?

[26:227]

Save those who believe and do good works, and remember Allah much, and vindicate themselves after they have been wronged. Those who do wrong will come to know by what a (great) reverse they will be overturned!