English Translation Of ''THE HOLY QUR'AN''

CHAPTER 21. THE PROPHETS (al-Anbiya)

 In  the  name  of  Allah,  the  Gracious,  the  Merciful  

1. Mankind's reckoning has drawn near, but they turn away heedlessly.

2. No fresh reminder comes to them from their Lord, but they listen to it playfully.

3. Their hearts distracted, the wrongdoers confer secretly, "Is this anything but a mortal like you? Will you take to sorcery, with open eyes?"

4. He said, "My Lord knows what is said in the heaven and the earth; and He is the Hearer, the Knower."

5. And they said, "A jumble of dreams," and, "He made it up," and, "He is a poet," "let him bring us a sign, like those sent to the ancients."

6. None of the towns We destroyed before them had believed. Will they, then, believe?

7. We did not send before you except men, whom We inspired. Ask the people of knowledge, if you do not know.

8. We did not make them mere bodies that ate no food, nor were they immortal.

9. Then We fulfilled Our promise to them, and We saved them together with whomever We willed, and We destroyed the extravagant.

10. We have sent down to you a Book, containing your message. Do you not understand?

11. How many a guilty town have We crushed, and established thereafter another people?

12. Then, when they sensed Our might, they started running away from it.

13. Do not run, but come back to your luxuries, and to your homes, that you may be questioned.

14. They said, "Woe to us; we were unfair."

15. This continued to be their cry, until We made them silent ashes.

16. We did not create the sky and the earth and what is between them for amusement.

17. If We wanted amusement, We could have found it within Us, were We to do so.

18. In fact, We hurl the truth against falsehood, and it crushes it, so it vanishes. Woe unto you, for what you describe.

19. To Him belongs everyone in the heavens and the earth. Those near Him are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they waver.

20. They praise night and day, without ever tiring.

21. Or have they taken to themselves gods from the earth who resurrect?

22. If there were in them gods other than Allah, they would have gone to ruin. So glory be to Allah, Lord of the Throne, beyond what they allege.

23. He will not be questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.

24. Or have they taken, besides Him, other gods? Say, "Bring your proof. This is a message for those with me, and a message of those before me." But most of them do not know the truth, so they turn away.

25. We never sent a messenger before you without inspiring him that: "There is no god but I, so worship Me."

26. And they say, "The Most Merciful has taken to himself a son." Be He glorified; they are but honored servants.

27. They never speak before He has spoken, and they only act on His command.

28. He knows what is before them, and what is behind them; and they do not intercede except for him whom He approves; and they tremble in awe of Him.