THE POETS, 026

[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!