Our believing servants.
112And We gave him joyous news
of a son Isaac—a prophet,
one of the righteous.
113We blessed him and Isaac.
and among their progeny
were some who were good,
and some who clearly
wrong themselves.
SECTION 4
114We also bestowed Our favor
on Moses and Aaron;
115We delivered them both
and their people from great distress;
116We helped them,
so they were victorious;
117and We gave them
the illuminating Book;
118We guided them to the straight path,
119and We left them a good name
with posterity—
120“Peace be with Moses and Aaron”—
121this is how We reward
those who do good;
122they were both among
Our believing servants.
123Elijah, too, was one of the messengers.
124He said to his people,
“Will you not be mindful of God?
125“Do you call upon Baʿal
and forsake the Best of Creators—
126“the One God, your Lord,
and Lord of your forefathers?”
127But they denied him,
for which they will surely
be brought [for punishment]—
128all but the chosen servants of God.
129and We left him a good name
with posterity—
130“Peace be with Elijah”—
131this is how We reward
those who do good,
132for he was among
Our believing Servants.
133Lot also was one of the messengers.
134We delivered him and all his people,
135save an old woman with those
who lingered behind;
136then we destroyed the rest.
137You pass by their ruins, morning
138and night—will you not,
then, use reason?
SECTION 5
139Jonah, too, was one of the messengers.
140When he fled to the loaded ship,
141they cast lots, and he lost;°
142then the whale swallowed him,
for he had incurred blame.
143Had he not then glorified God,
144he should surely
have stayed in its belly
until the day of resurrection.
145But We cast him, sick,
onto a barren shore,
146and let a tree of gourd fruit
grow above him.
147We sent him [as a messenger]
to a hundred thousand or more,
148and they believed—
so We let them enjoy life
for a while.
149Prophet, ask the disbelievers,
“Does your Lord have daughters
while they have sons?”
150Did We create the angels
as females, while they looked on?
151No—and it’s one of their lies
when they say,
152“God has begotten.”
They are liars indeed.
153Did He really choose
daughters over sons?
154What is wrong with you?
How do you form your judgment?
155Will you not reflect?
156Or do you have clear authority
[for your claims]?
157Then bring your scripture,
if you are speaking the truth.
158And they assert kinship
between Him and the jinn,
yet the jinn surely know that
they will be brought [for reckoning].
159—May God be glorified, above
what they ascribe to Him—
160all but the chosen servants of God.
161And neither you
nor those you worship
162can beguile any away from [God]
163but those who will burn
in the blazing fire.
164[The angels say], “Every one of us
has an appointed place;
165“we are arrayed in ranks
166“and we are the ones
who glorify God.”
167Yet [the disbelievers] say,
168“If only we had a reminder
like former peoples,
169“we would have been
chosen servants of God.”
170Now they deny [the Quran];
but soon they shall know.
171Our Word has already
been given to Our servants,
the messengers,
172that they shall be helped,
173and that Our forces
shall be victorious.
174So, Prophet, turn away
from the disbelievers for a while,
175and see what becomes of them;
for soon they shall see.
176Do they wish to hasten
Our punishment?
177When it descends
upon their courtyards,
it will be an evil morning
for those forewarned.
178So turn away from them
for a while,
179and see what becomes of them;
for they shall soon see.
180Glory be to your Lord,
the Lord of Majesty, far above
what they ascribe to Him;
181peace be to the messengers;
182and praise be to God,
Lord of the universe.
SURA 38
Sad (Sad)
Middle Meccan, this sura is named after its first letter, not otherwise explained. Numbering 88 verses, it condemns those who had vilified Muhammad and other messengers before him. Some of the messengers (like Elisha and Dhul Kifl, v. 48) are seldom or never mentioned except here. The penultimate section concerns the story of Iblis—his creation, disobedience, and dismissal (vv. 71–85). The final directive underscores Muhammad as an authentic and selfless messenger (vv. 86–88).
In the Name of God, the All Merciful, Ever Merciful
SECTION 1
1Sad.°
By the Quran with its reminder—
2the unbelievers are steeped
in self-glory and dissent.
3How many generations
We destroyed before them.
Then they cried out for escape
when it was too late.°
4They’re bemused that
one of their own
has come to warn them;
and the unbelievers cry,
“This is a lying sorcerer.
5“Has He made all the gods
into One God? How bizarre!”
6Their leaders stride away, saying,
“Walk on, and stay steadfast to your gods,
for there’s some motive°
within this [against us].
7“We never heard the like of this
in previous religious creed.°
It’s nothing more than a fiction.
8“Out of all of us, the message
was sent to him?” Yes
—they doubt My message—
they have yet
to taste My punishment.
9Or do they possess the treasures
of the mercy of your Lord,
the Almighty, the Bestower?
10Or do they have dominion
over the heavens and the earth
and all that lies between?
Then let them ascend
by whatever means° they can
[to bring down revelation].
11The armies there,
of their allies,
shall be vanquished.
12Before them, the people of Noah,
ʿAd, and Pharaoh of the stakes°
denied [the messengers],
13as did Thamud, the people of Lot,
and the forest dwellers°—
these were the allies.
14Every one of them
denied the messengers,
so My punishment
came justly upon them.
SECTION 2
15These disbelievers but await
a single blast, which cannot be delayed.
16They taunt, “Our Lord,
hasten for us our share
of punishment—even before
the day of reckoning!”
17Bear with patience what they say,
and bear in mind Our servant David,
who was strong, ever turning to God.
18We made the hills
hymn Our glory, along with him,
at evening and at sunrise,
19as well as the birds in flocks—
all turning to Him.
20We fortified his kingdom,
gave him wisdom, and made him
decisive in discourse.
21Have you heard the story
of the two litigants, who climbed
the wall to reach his private quarters?°
22When they came upon David,
he was terrified of them.
They said, “Don’t be frightened.
We are two litigants, and one of us
has wronged the other. So, judge
between us fairly, and don’t be unjust,
but guide us to the right path.
23“This is my brother.
He has ninety-nine ewes
and I have just one. Yet he says,
‘Let me have charge of her,’
and his words overwhelmed me.”°
24David said,
“He has wronged you
in demanding that your ewe
be added to his ewes.
Many business partners
wrong each other
except those who believe
and do good deeds—
but they are few.”
Then David knew—
We were testing him.°
He begged forgiveness of his Lord;
he fell down, bowing,
and turned [to God again].
25We forgave him this [lapse],
and he will be brought close to Us,
with the best home for his return.°
26“David, We made you
a regent on the earth,
so judge between people justly,
and don’t follow your desires,
for they will lead you astray
from God’s path. Those who stray
from the path of God shall face
severe torment, for they
have forgotten the day
of reckoning.”
SECTION 3
27We did not create in vain
heaven and earth and all between
—that is what the unbelievers think—
what torment awaits them in the fire!
28Should We treat those who believe
and do good deeds as We would those
who work mischief on earth?
Or, should We treat the righteous
as We would the wicked?
29This is a blessèd Book
We have revealed to you,
that they might ponder its signs,
and people of insight
might remember.
30We gave David a son, Solomon
—an excellent servant—
he always turned to Us.
31When swift steeds, well bred,
were brought before him
near the day’s end,
32he said, “I loved fine things
rather than remembering my Lord.”
When the horses vanished,
veiled from sight,°
33[he commanded],
“Bring them back to me,”
then he began to stroke
their legs and necks.°
34And We tested Solomon:
We reduced him to a lifeless body
on his throne. Then he turned
to Us in repentance,
35saying, “My Lord, forgive me,
and bestow upon me a kingdom
such as none after me can acquire,
for You alone are the Bestower.”
36Then We subdued the wind to him,
coursing gently by his command,
wherever he directed;
37and the devils, every kind
of builder and diver,
38as well as others, bound in chains.°
39“This is Our gift,
so grant or withhold [it]
without measure.”
40and he will be brought close to Us,
an excellent home for his return.
SECTION 4
41Remember Our servant Job
who called out to his Lord,
“Satan has brought me distress
and torment.”
42[He was told,]
“Stamp the ground with your foot.
Here is cool water to bathe in,
and to drink.”
43We restored his family to him,
and more like them—a mercy from Us,
and a reminder to those with insight.
44[We told him,]
“Take a bundle of reeds in your hand
and strike [her] with it°
so as not to break your oath.”
We found him to be patient,
an excellent servant, who turned to Us.
45And remember Our servants
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
who possessed strength and vision.
46We chose them, for their fervent
remembrance of the final home.
47In Our sight, they were among
the elect, the best.
48And remember Ishmael, Elisha,
and Ezekiel°—all among the best.
49This is a reminder:
those who are mindful of God
shall have the best abode
for their final return.
50Eternal gardens, whose gates
shall always stay open to them.
51There they shall recline
and call [at their pleasure]
for fruit in abundance
and refreshing drink.
52With them will be companions
of modest glance, well matched.
53This is what you are promised
for the day of reckoning.
54This is Our provision—
that never ends.
55So it will be.
But those who transgress
shall have an evil home
for their final return—
56Hell—where they will burn—
a wretched dwelling place.
57So it will be for them:
let them taste boiling liquid
and purulent fluid
58and [face] other such torments
of various kinds.
59[The leaders of the unbelievers
shall say to one another,]
“Here is a group
bursting in to join you.
They are not welcome—
they shall burn in the fire.”
60[The followers shall reply
to their leaders,] “No, you!
You are not welcome!
You brought us to this—
a wretched home.”
61The followers will say, “Our Lord,
let those who brought this upon us
bear a doubled punishment in the fire.”
62And they will say,
“Why don’t we see those
we used to consider wicked,
63“those we ridiculed?
Or have our eyes missed them?”
64This is how things will transpire—
squabbling among people in the fire.
SECTION 5
65Say, “I am here only to warn:
there is no god
but the One God, Supreme.
66“The Lord of the heavens and earth
and all that lies between,
Almighty, Forgiving.”
67Say, “This is momentous news,
68“yet you turn away from it.
69“I know nothing of what
the highest [angels] discuss.
70“It is only revealed to me,
that I am to give clear warning.”
71Your Lord declared to the angels,
“I shall create a human from clay.
72“When I have proportioned him
and breathed My spirit into him,
bow down before him.”
73So the angels bowed down, all,
74except Iblis, who was too proud,
and became a disbeliever.
75God demanded, “Iblis,
what stops you from bowing
to what I created with My own hands?
Are you too proud, or too exalted?”
76Iblis retorted,
“I am better than him.
You
