Translation of the meanings Surah Al-Ahqāf - English Translation - Abdullah Hasan Yaqoub - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Al-Ahqāf

1 : 46

حمٓ

1. Ha Meem ^[1].

[1]. See footnote to Qur’an chapter2: Verse1.

2 : 46

تَنزِيلُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ

2. The revelation of the Book (this Qur’an) is from Allāh, the All-Mighty, All-Wise.

3 : 46

مَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَجَلٖ مُّسَمّٗىۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَمَّآ أُنذِرُواْ مُعۡرِضُونَ

3. We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them except for Truth (genuine purpose) and for an appointed term. But those who disbelieve (in the Truth) turn away from what they are warned of.

4 : 46

قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقُواْ مِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شِرۡكٞ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِۖ ٱئۡتُونِي بِكِتَٰبٖ مِّن قَبۡلِ هَٰذَآ أَوۡ أَثَٰرَةٖ مِّنۡ عِلۡمٍ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ

4. Say: "Have you considered what you invoke besides Allāh? Show me what they have created of the earth, or have they a share in (the creation of) the heavens? Bring me a Scripture (revealed) before this, or a (remaining) trace of knowledge ^[2], if you are truthful."

[2]. Which proves that these idols and false gods are partners to Allāh, which you cannot find any proof.

5 : 46

وَمَنۡ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدۡعُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَن لَّا يَسۡتَجِيبُ لَهُۥٓ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ وَهُمۡ عَن دُعَآئِهِمۡ غَٰفِلُونَ

5. And who is more astray than one who invokes besides Allâh, such as will not answer him till the Day of Resurrection, and who are 'even' unaware of their invocations to them?

6 : 46

وَإِذَا حُشِرَ ٱلنَّاسُ كَانُواْ لَهُمۡ أَعۡدَآءٗ وَكَانُواْ بِعِبَادَتِهِمۡ كَٰفِرِينَ

6. And when the people are gathered together, they ^[3] will be their enemies, and will be deniers at their worshiping them.

[3]. The false deities and idols who were invoked.

7 : 46

وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتُنَا بَيِّنَٰتٖ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمۡ هَٰذَا سِحۡرٞ مُّبِينٌ

7. And when Our clear verses are recited to them, those who disbelieve say about the Truth (the Qur’an) when it comes to them: "This is clear magic."

8 : 46

أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ ٱفۡتَرَىٰهُۖ قُلۡ إِنِ ٱفۡتَرَيۡتُهُۥ فَلَا تَمۡلِكُونَ لِي مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيۡـًٔاۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِۚ كَفَىٰ بِهِۦ شَهِيدَۢا بَيۡنِي وَبَيۡنَكُمۡۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

8. Or do they say: "He (Muhammad) has fabricated it (the Qur’an)." Say: "If I have fabricated it, you do not have for me any power to protect me from Allāh in anything. He knows best what you engage in it. Enough is He as a Witness between me and you. And He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful."

9 : 46

قُلۡ مَا كُنتُ بِدۡعٗا مِّنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَمَآ أَدۡرِي مَا يُفۡعَلُ بِي وَلَا بِكُمۡۖ إِنۡ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرٞ مُّبِينٞ

9. Say: "I am not something new among the messengers (of God), and I do not know what will be done with me or with you ^[4]. I only follow that which is revealed to me, and I am only a plain warner ^[5]."

[4]. I.e., I do not know the unseen except what God reveals to me.
[5]. Of a grievous Chastisement for those who turn away from the Qur’an.

10 : 46

قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِن كَانَ مِنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَفَرۡتُم بِهِۦ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٞ مِّنۢ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ مِثۡلِهِۦ فَـَٔامَنَ وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرۡتُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

10. Say: "Have you considered if it (the Qur’an) is from Allāh, and you disbelieve in it, and a witness (a scholar) ^[6] from among the children of Israel testified that the (Qur’an) is just like it (the Torah), so he believed, while you persist in your arrogance. Indeed, Allāh does not guide the unjust people.

[6]. Such as Abdullah ibn Salam.

11 : 46

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَوۡ كَانَ خَيۡرٗا مَّا سَبَقُونَآ إِلَيۡهِۚ وَإِذۡ لَمۡ يَهۡتَدُواْ بِهِۦ فَسَيَقُولُونَ هَٰذَآ إِفۡكٞ قَدِيمٞ

11. Those who disbelieve say of those who believe: "Had it (the Islamic Faith) been a good thing, they would not have preceded us to it." And when they have not let themselves be guided by it, then they will say: "This is an ancient lie."

12 : 46

وَمِن قَبۡلِهِۦ كِتَٰبُ مُوسَىٰٓ إِمَامٗا وَرَحۡمَةٗۚ وَهَٰذَا كِتَٰبٞ مُّصَدِّقٞ لِّسَانًا عَرَبِيّٗا لِّيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ وَبُشۡرَىٰ لِلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ

12. And before it, the Book of Moses was a lead and mercy. And this is a Book confirming in Arabic language, that it may warn 'of torment' those who did injustice ^[7], and as good news for the good-doers.

[7]. By worshiping others besides Allāh. 

13 : 46

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَقَٰمُواْ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ

13. Indeed, those who say, "Our Lord is Allāh," then remain firm (on the right Path of Islam), they shall have no fear, nor  shall they grieve.

14 : 46

أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ

14. These are the people of Paradise, abiding therein forever - a reward for what they used to do (of righteousness).

15 : 46

وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ إِحۡسَٰنًاۖ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُۥ كُرۡهٗا وَوَضَعَتۡهُ كُرۡهٗاۖ وَحَمۡلُهُۥ وَفِصَٰلُهُۥ ثَلَٰثُونَ شَهۡرًاۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرۡبَعِينَ سَنَةٗ قَالَ رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِيٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَيَّ وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَٰلِحٗا تَرۡضَىٰهُ وَأَصۡلِحۡ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِيٓۖ إِنِّي تُبۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ

15. We have enjoined on man to honor and be good and kind to his parents ^[8]. His mother bore him in hardship and give birth to him in hardship. And his gestation and weaning 'period' is thirty months. (He grows) until, when he attains full strength and reaches forty years, he may say: ‘My Lord 'Allāh', inspire me that I may give thanks for Your Favor which You have  bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous deeds which pleases You, and reform for me my offspring. I turn to You 'in repentance', and indeed I am a Muslim (fully submitting to God).

[8]. Your father and your mother shall be glad, that is when you are righteous and wise. Let your father and your mother be glad; do everything that may make their hearts glad, and their lives easy and comfortable in their old age; by serving them and doing to their necessities, by treading in their steps, and following their examples; by living soberly and righteously, and behaving wisely; by not only honouring them, but by seeking the honour and glory of Allāh; showing a regard to Islam, and supporting it to the utmost of your power; these are things which make the hearts of pious parents glad; and she that bare you shall rejoice; your mother particularly, who bore and brought you forth with so much pain, and brought you up with so much care and trouble.

16 : 46

أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنۡهُمۡ أَحۡسَنَ مَا عَمِلُواْ وَنَتَجَاوَزُ عَن سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمۡ فِيٓ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡجَنَّةِۖ وَعۡدَ ٱلصِّدۡقِ ٱلَّذِي كَانُواْ يُوعَدُونَ

16. These are the ones from whom We shall accept the best of what they have done, and overlook their misdeeds - (they will be) among the people of Paradise - the Promise of Truth which they were promised.

17 : 46

وَٱلَّذِي قَالَ لِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ أُفّٖ لَّكُمَآ أَتَعِدَانِنِيٓ أَنۡ أُخۡرَجَ وَقَدۡ خَلَتِ ٱلۡقُرُونُ مِن قَبۡلِي وَهُمَا يَسۡتَغِيثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَيۡلَكَ ءَامِنۡ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقّٞ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ

17. But he who says to his parents: "Fie on you! Do you threaten me that I will be resurrected while (many) generations have already passed on before me ^[9]?" While they both (the parents) call for Allah’s help (and say): Oh no, believe, the Promise of Allāh is always true. But he says: "This is not except legends of the ancients."

[9]. And none of them were resurrected. Allāh punishes severely the adult child that mocks a father and scorns to obey his parents.

18 : 46

أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ فِيٓ أُمَمٖ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ خَٰسِرِينَ

18. These are the ones against whom the Word (of torment) is justified among nations of the jinn and men that have already passed on before them. They are certainly lost.

19 : 46

وَلِكُلّٖ دَرَجَٰتٞ مِّمَّا عَمِلُواْۖ وَلِيُوَفِّيَهُمۡ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ

19. For all are degrees according to what they have done, and that He (Allāh) may pay them back fully their deeds, and they will not be dealt with unjustly.

20 : 46

وَيَوۡمَ يُعۡرَضُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ أَذۡهَبۡتُمۡ طَيِّبَٰتِكُمۡ فِي حَيَاتِكُمُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱسۡتَمۡتَعۡتُم بِهَا فَٱلۡيَوۡمَ تُجۡزَوۡنَ عَذَابَ ٱلۡهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَبِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَفۡسُقُونَ

20. And on the Day when those who disbelieve (in the Truth) are exposed to the Fire, (it will be said): "You exhausted your good things in your life of the world, and enjoyed them. So on this Day you will be recompensed with the torment of humiliation as you were arrogant in the land without any right, and because you were defiantly disobedient."

21 : 46

۞ وَٱذۡكُرۡ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذۡ أَنذَرَ قَوۡمَهُۥ بِٱلۡأَحۡقَافِ وَقَدۡ خَلَتِ ٱلنُّذُرُ مِنۢ بَيۡنِ يَدَيۡهِ وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهِۦٓ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ إِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمٖ

21. Mention (Hud) the brother of (the people of) ‘Aad, when he warned his people in Al-Ahqaf (the sandy hills) ^[10] - and the warners had already passed on before him and behind him, (saying): "Worship none but Allāh. I fear for you the torment of a terrible Day."

[10]. Of the southern part of Arabia.

22 : 46

قَالُوٓاْ أَجِئۡتَنَا لِتَأۡفِكَنَا عَنۡ ءَالِهَتِنَا فَأۡتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ

22. They said: "Have you come to us to turn us away from our gods (idols). Then bring us what you threaten us with, if you are truthful."

23 : 46

قَالَ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَأُبَلِّغُكُم مَّآ أُرۡسِلۡتُ بِهِۦ وَلَٰكِنِّيٓ أَرَىٰكُمۡ قَوۡمٗا تَجۡهَلُونَ

23. (Hud) said: "The knowledge (of its time) is only with Allāh, and I convey to you the Message with which I am sent, but I see you are a people behaving ignorantly.

24 : 46

فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ عَارِضٗا مُّسۡتَقۡبِلَ أَوۡدِيَتِهِمۡ قَالُواْ هَٰذَا عَارِضٞ مُّمۡطِرُنَاۚ بَلۡ هُوَ مَا ٱسۡتَعۡجَلۡتُم بِهِۦۖ رِيحٞ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٞ

24. So when they saw it as a cloud advancing towards their valleys, they said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain." Rather, It is what you sought to hasten on - a (blast of) wind wherein is a painful torment -

25 : 46

تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَيۡءِۭ بِأَمۡرِ رَبِّهَا فَأَصۡبَحُواْ لَا يُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَسَٰكِنُهُمۡۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ

25. Destroying everything by the command of its Lord (Allāh), so they became such that nothing could be seen except their dwellings. Thus do We recompense the wicked people.

26 : 46

وَلَقَدۡ مَكَّنَّٰهُمۡ فِيمَآ إِن مَّكَّنَّٰكُمۡ فِيهِ وَجَعَلۡنَا لَهُمۡ سَمۡعٗا وَأَبۡصَٰرٗا وَأَفۡـِٔدَةٗ فَمَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنۡهُمۡ سَمۡعُهُمۡ وَلَآ أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ وَلَآ أَفۡـِٔدَتُهُم مِّن شَيۡءٍ إِذۡ كَانُواْ يَجۡحَدُونَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ

26. We had established them in what We have not established you in, and We had given them hearing and eyesight and intellects, but neither their hearing, nor their eyes, nor their intellects availed them anything, since they denied the Signs of Allāh, and they were encompassed by what (the torment) they used to mock at.

27 : 46

وَلَقَدۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مَا حَوۡلَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ وَصَرَّفۡنَا ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ

27. And We have destroyed those (sinful) towns around you, and We varied the signs (and warnings), that they might turn back (from their evil ways).

28 : 46

فَلَوۡلَا نَصَرَهُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ قُرۡبَانًا ءَالِهَةَۢۖ بَلۡ ضَلُّواْ عَنۡهُمۡۚ وَذَٰلِكَ إِفۡكُهُمۡ وَمَا كَانُواْ يَفۡتَرُونَ

28. Then why did those whom they took as deities besides Allāh to draw them near to Him not help them? Rather, they vanished completely from them. And that is (the result of) their lie and what they were inventing.

29 : 46

وَإِذۡ صَرَفۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ نَفَرٗا مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ يَسۡتَمِعُونَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوٓاْ أَنصِتُواْۖ فَلَمَّا قُضِيَ وَلَّوۡاْ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِم مُّنذِرِينَ

29. And (mention) when We turned towards you (Muhammad) a group of jinn 'demons' listening to the Qur’an; so when they attended to it, they said: "Be silent." Then when it was over, they turned back to their people warning them.inventing.

30 : 46

قَالُواْ يَٰقَوۡمَنَآ إِنَّا سَمِعۡنَا كِتَٰبًا أُنزِلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مُوسَىٰ مُصَدِّقٗا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ يَهۡدِيٓ إِلَى ٱلۡحَقِّ وَإِلَىٰ طَرِيقٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ

30.  They said: "O our people, we have listened to (the recitation of) a Book (Qur’an) sent down after Moses, confirming what (the Scriptures) was revealed before it guiding to the Truth and to a straight Way.

31 : 46

يَٰقَوۡمَنَآ أَجِيبُواْ دَاعِيَ ٱللَّهِ وَءَامِنُواْ بِهِۦ يَغۡفِرۡ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمۡ وَيُجِرۡكُم مِّنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٖ

31. O our people, respond to Allah’s caller (the Prophet Muhammad) and believe in Him ^[11], He 'Allāh' will forgive for you of your sins and guard you from a painful torment.

[11]. I.e., believe in that which Prophet Muhammad has brought from God and follow him.

32 : 46

وَمَن لَّا يُجِبۡ دَاعِيَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَيۡسَ بِمُعۡجِزٖ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَيۡسَ لَهُۥ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوۡلِيَآءُۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ فِي ضَلَٰلٖ مُّبِينٍ

32. And whoever does not respond to Allah’s caller, he cannot escape on earth, and there will be no protectors for him besides Him. These are in manifest error.

33 : 46

أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَلَمۡ يَعۡيَ بِخَلۡقِهِنَّ بِقَٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحۡـِۧيَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰۚ بَلَىٰٓۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ

33. Have they not considered that Allāh, Who created the heavens and the earth and was not wearied by their creation ^[12], is able to give life to the dead? Yes, indeed, He is able to do all things.

[12]. Allāh in no way was He weary or fatigue or needing rest after the completion of the creation. Expressions like tired, weak, fatigue, or in need of rest are among the traits of human beings but not of Allāh Almighty.

34 : 46

وَيَوۡمَ يُعۡرَضُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ أَلَيۡسَ هَٰذَا بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَاۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُواْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡفُرُونَ

34. And on the Day when those who disbelieve (in the Truth) are exposed to the Fire (they will be asked), "Is this not real?" They will say: "Yes, by (Allāh) our Lord." He will say: "Then taste the torment, for what you used to disbelieve (in the Truth)."

35 : 46

فَٱصۡبِرۡ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡعَزۡمِ مِنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَلَا تَسۡتَعۡجِل لَّهُمۡۚ كَأَنَّهُمۡ يَوۡمَ يَرَوۡنَ مَا يُوعَدُونَ لَمۡ يَلۡبَثُوٓاْ إِلَّا سَاعَةٗ مِّن نَّهَارِۭۚ بَلَٰغٞۚ فَهَلۡ يُهۡلَكُ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡفَٰسِقُونَ

35. So be patient (Muhammad) as did the messengers of strong will ^[13], and do not seek to hasten (the torment) for them. On the Day that they will see what they are promised they will be as if they had not stayed except an hour of a day. (This is God's) Notification (and clear Message). Shall then any be perish except the rebellious people 'against God'?

[13]. I.e., Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, peace be upon them all.