سورة الأحقاف
Surah Al-Ahqaf
The Wind-Curved Sandhills
Surah Al-Ahqaf (The Wind-Curved Sandhills) is the 46th surah of the Quran. It has 35 verses and is a Meccan surah. Below is the complete Arabic text with an English translation and transliteration, verse by verse.
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
حمٓ﴿١﴾
Hameem
Ḥā, Meem.
تَنزِيلُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ﴿٢﴾
Tanzeelu alkitabi mina Allahi alʿazeezi alhakeemi
The revelation of the Book is from Allāh, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
مَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَ مَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَ أَجَلࣲ مُّسَمࣰّى ۚ وَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَمَّآ أُنذِرُواْ مُعۡرِضُونَ﴿٣﴾
Ma khalaqna alssamawati waalarda wama baynahuma illa bialhaqqi waajalin musamman waallatheena kafaroo ʿamma onthiroo muʿridoona
We did not create the heavens and earth and what is between them except in truth and [for] a specified term. But those who disbelieve, from that of which they are warned, are turning away.
قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقُواْ مِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شِرۡكࣱ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ ۖ ٱئۡتُونِي بِكِتَٰبࣲ مِّن قَبۡلِ هَٰذَآ أَوۡ أَثَٰرَةࣲ مِّنۡ عِلۡمٍ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ﴿٤﴾
Qul araaytum ma tadʿoona min dooni Allahi aroonee matha khalaqoo mina alardi am lahum shirkun fee alssamawati eetoonee bikitabin min qabli hatha aw atharatin min ʿilmin in kuntum sadiqeena
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Have you considered that which you invoke besides Allāh? Show me what they have created of the earth; or did they have partnership in [creation of] the heavens? Bring me a scripture [revealed] before this or a [remaining] trace of knowledge, if you should be truthful."
وَ مَنۡ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدۡعُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَن لَّا يَسۡتَجِيبُ لَهُۥٓ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ وَ هُمۡ عَن دُعَآئِهِمۡ غَٰفِلُونَ﴿٥﴾
Waman adallu mimman yadʿoo min dooni Allahi man la yastajeebu lahu ila yawmi alqiyamati wahum ʿan duʿaihim ghafiloona
And who is more astray than he who invokes besides Allāh those who will not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection [i.e., never], and they, of their invocation, are unaware.
وَ إِذَا حُشِرَ ٱلنَّاسُ كَانُواْ لَهُمۡ أَعۡدَآءࣰ وَ كَانُواْ بِعِبَادَتِهِمۡ كَٰفِرِينَ﴿٦﴾
Waitha hushira alnnasu kanoo lahum aʿdaan wakanoo biʿibadatihim kafireena
And when the people are gathered [that Day], they [who were invoked] will be enemies to them, and they will be deniers of their worship.
وَ إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتُنَا بَيِّنَٰتࣲ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمۡ هَٰذَا سِحۡرࣱ مُّبِينٌ﴿٧﴾
Waitha tutla ʿalayhim ayatuna bayyinatin qala allatheena kafaroo lilhaqqi lamma jaahum hatha sihrun mubeenun
And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who disbelieve say of the truth when it has come to them, "This is obvious magic."
أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ ٱفۡتَرَىٰهُ ۖ قُلۡ إِنِ ٱفۡتَرَيۡتُهُۥ فَلَا تَمۡلِكُونَ لِي مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيۡـًٔا ۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ ۚ كَفَىٰ بِهِۦ شَهِيدَۢا بَيۡنِي وَ بَيۡنَكُمۡ ۖ وَ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ﴿٨﴾
Am yaqooloona iftarahu qul ini iftaraytuhu fala tamlikoona lee mina Allahi shayan huwa aʿlamu bima tufeedoona feehi kafa bihi shaheedan baynee wabaynakum wahuwa alghafooru alrraheemu
Or do they say, "He has invented it"? Say, "If I have invented it, you will not possess for me [the power of protection] from Allāh at all. He is most knowing of that in which you are involved. Sufficient is He as Witness between me and you, and He is the Forgiving, the Merciful."
قُلۡ مَا كُنتُ بِدۡعࣰا مِّنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَ مَآ أَدۡرِي مَا يُفۡعَلُ بِي وَ لَا بِكُمۡ ۖ إِنۡ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيَّ وَ مَآ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرࣱ مُّبِينࣱ﴿٩﴾
Qul ma kuntu bidʿan mina alrrusuli wama adree ma yufʿalu bee wala bikum in attabiʿu illa ma yooha ilayya wama ana illa natheerun mubeenun
Say, "I am not something new among the messengers, nor do I know what will be done with me or with you. I only follow that which is revealed to me, and I am not but a clear warner."
قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِن كَانَ مِنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَ كَفَرۡتُم بِهِۦ وَ شَهِدَ شَاهِدࣱ مِّنۢ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ مِثۡلِهِۦ فَـَٔامَنَ وَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرۡتُمۡ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ﴿١٠﴾
Qul araaytum in kana min ʿindi Allahi wakafartum bihi washahida shahidun min banee israeela ʿala mithlihi faamana waistakbartum inna Allaha la yahdee alqawma alththalimeena
Say, "Have you considered: if it [i.e., the Qur’ān] was from Allāh, and you disbelieved in it while a witness from the Children of Israel has testified to something similar and believed while you were arrogant...?" Indeed, Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.
وَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَوۡ كَانَ خَيۡرࣰا مَّا سَبَقُونَآ إِلَيۡهِ ۚ وَ إِذۡ لَمۡ يَهۡتَدُواْ بِهِۦ فَسَيَقُولُونَ هَٰذَآ إِفۡكࣱ قَدِيمࣱ﴿١١﴾
Waqala allatheena kafaroo lillatheena amanoo law kana khayran ma sabaqoona ilayhi waith lam yahtadoo bihi fasayaqooloona hatha ifkun qadeemun
And those who disbelieve say of those who believe, "If it had [truly] been good, they would not have preceded us to it." And when they are not guided by it, they will say, "This is an ancient falsehood."
وَ مِن قَبۡلِهِۦ كِتَٰبُ مُوسَىٰٓ إِمَامࣰا وَ رَحۡمَةࣰ ۚ وَ هَٰذَا كِتَٰبࣱ مُّصَدِّقࣱ لِّسَانًا عَرَبِيࣰّا لِّيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ وَ بُشۡرَىٰ لِلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ﴿١٢﴾
Wamin qablihi kitabu moosa imaman warahmatan wahatha kitabun musaddiqun lisanan ʿarabiyyan liyunthira allatheena thalamoo wabushra lilmuhsineena
And before it was the scripture of Moses to lead and as a mercy. And this is a confirming Book in an Arabic tongue to warn those who have wronged and as good tidings to the doers of good.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَقَٰمُواْ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَ لَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ﴿١٣﴾
Inna allatheena qaloo rabbuna Allahu thumma istaqamoo fala khawfun ʿalayhim wala hum yahzanoona
Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allāh," and then remained on a right course - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ﴿١٤﴾
Olaika ashabu aljannati khalideena feeha jazaan bima kanoo yaʿmaloona
Those are the companions of Paradise, abiding eternally therein as reward for what they used to do.
وَ وَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ إِحۡسَٰنًا ۖ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُۥ كُرۡهࣰا وَ وَضَعَتۡهُ كُرۡهࣰا ۖ وَ حَمۡلُهُۥ وَ فِصَٰلُهُۥ ثَلَٰثُونَ شَهۡرًا ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ وَ بَلَغَ أَرۡبَعِينَ سَنَةࣰ قَالَ رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِيٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيَّ وَ عَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَيَّ وَ أَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَٰلِحࣰا تَرۡضَىٰهُ وَ أَصۡلِحۡ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِيٓ ۖ إِنِّي تُبۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ وَ إِنِّي مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ﴿١٥﴾
Wawassayna alinsana biwalidayhi ihsanan hamalathu ommuhu kurhan wawadaʿathu kurhan wahamluhu wafisaluhu thalathoona shahran hatta itha balagha ashuddahu wabalagha arbaʿeena sanatan qala rabbi awziʿnee an ashkura niʿmataka allatee anʿamta ʿalayya waʿala walidayya waan aʿmala salihan tardahu waaslih lee fee thurriyyatee innee tubtu ilayka wainnee mina almuslimeena
And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims."
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنۡهُمۡ أَحۡسَنَ مَا عَمِلُواْ وَ نَتَجَاوَزُ عَن سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمۡ فِيٓ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ ۖ وَعۡدَ ٱلصِّدۡقِ ٱلَّذِي كَانُواْ يُوعَدُونَ﴿١٦﴾
Olaika allatheena nataqabbalu ʿanhum ahsana ma ʿamiloo wanatajawazu ʿan sayyiatihim fee ashabi aljannati waʿda alssidqi allathee kanoo yooʿadoona
Those are the ones from whom We will accept the best of what they did and overlook their misdeeds, [their being] among the companions of Paradise. [That is] the promise of truth which they had been promised.
وَ ٱلَّذِي قَالَ لِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ أُفࣲّ لَّكُمَآ أَتَعِدَانِنِيٓ أَنۡ أُخۡرَجَ وَ قَدۡ خَلَتِ ٱلۡقُرُونُ مِن قَبۡلِي وَ هُمَا يَسۡتَغِيثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَيۡلَكَ ءَامِنۡ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقࣱّ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ﴿١٧﴾
Waallathee qala liwalidayhi offin lakuma ataʿidaninee an okhraja waqad khalati alquroonu min qablee wahuma yastagheethani Allaha waylaka amin inna waʿda Allahi haqqun fayaqoolu ma hatha illa asateeru alawwaleena
But one who says to his parents, "Uff to you; do you promise me that I will be brought forth [from the earth] when generations before me have already passed on [into oblivion]?" while they call to Allāh for help [and to their son], "Woe to you! Believe! Indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth." But he says, "This is not but legends of the former peoples" -
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ فِيٓ أُمَمࣲ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَ ٱلۡإِنسِ ۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ خَٰسِرِينَ﴿١٨﴾
Olaika allatheena haqqa ʿalayhimu alqawlu fee umamin qad khalat min qablihim mina aljinni waalinsi innahum kanoo khasireena
Those are the ones upon whom the word [i.e., decree] has come into effect, [who will be] among nations which had passed on before them of jinn and men. Indeed, they [all] were losers.
وَ لِكُلࣲّ دَرَجَٰتࣱ مِّمَّا عَمِلُواْ ۖ وَ لِيُوَفِّيَهُمۡ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ وَ هُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ﴿١٩﴾
Walikullin darajatun mimma ʿamiloo waliyuwaffiyahum aʿmalahum wahum la yuthlamoona
And for all there are degrees [of reward and punishment] for what they have done, and [it is] so that He may fully compensate them for their deeds, and they will not be wronged.
وَ يَوۡمَ يُعۡرَضُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ أَذۡهَبۡتُمۡ طَيِّبَٰتِكُمۡ فِي حَيَاتِكُمُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَ ٱسۡتَمۡتَعۡتُم بِهَا فَٱلۡيَوۡمَ تُجۡزَوۡنَ عَذَابَ ٱلۡهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَفۡسُقُونَ﴿٢٠﴾
Wayawma yuʿradu allatheena kafaroo ʿala alnnari athhabtum tayyibatikum fee hayatikumu alddunya waistamtaʿtum biha faalyawma tujzawna ʿathaba alhooni bima kuntum tastakbiroona fee alardi bighayri alhaqqi wabima kuntum tafsuqoona
And the Day those who disbelieved are exposed to the Fire [it will be said], "You exhausted your pleasures during your worldly life and enjoyed them, so this Day you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation because you were arrogant upon the earth without right and because you were defiantly disobedient."
وَ ٱذۡكُرۡ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذۡ أَنذَرَ قَوۡمَهُۥ بِٱلۡأَحۡقَافِ وَ قَدۡ خَلَتِ ٱلنُّذُرُ مِنۢ بَيۡنِ يَدَيۡهِ وَ مِنۡ خَلۡفِهِۦٓ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ إِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمࣲ﴿٢١﴾
Waothkur akha ʿadin ith anthara qawmahu bialahqafi waqad khalati alnnuthuru min bayni yadayhi wamin khalfihi alla taʿbudoo illa Allaha innee akhafu ʿalaykum ʿathaba yawmin ʿatheemin
And mention, [O Muḥammad], the brother of ʿAad, when he warned his people in [the region of] al-Aḥqāf - and warners had already passed on before him and after him - [saying], "Do not worship except Allāh. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a terrible day."
قَالُوٓاْ أَجِئۡتَنَا لِتَأۡفِكَنَا عَنۡ ءَالِهَتِنَا فَأۡتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ﴿٢٢﴾
Qaloo ajitana litafikana ʿan alihatina fatina bima taʿiduna in kunta mina alssadiqeena
They said, "Have you come to delude us away from our gods? Then bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the truthful."
قَالَ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَ أُبَلِّغُكُم مَّآ أُرۡسِلۡتُ بِهِۦ وَ لَٰكِنِّيٓ أَرَىٰكُمۡ قَوۡمࣰا تَجۡهَلُونَ﴿٢٣﴾
Qala innama alʿilmu ʿinda Allahi waoballighukum ma orsiltu bihi walakinnee arakum qawman tajhaloona
He said, "Knowledge [of its time] is only with Allāh, and I convey to you that with which I was sent; but I see you [to be] a people behaving ignorantly."
فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ عَارِضࣰا مُّسۡتَقۡبِلَ أَوۡدِيَتِهِمۡ قَالُواْ هَٰذَا عَارِضࣱ مُّمۡطِرُنَا ۚ بَلۡ هُوَ مَا ٱسۡتَعۡجَلۡتُم بِهِۦ ۖ رِيحࣱ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمࣱ﴿٢٤﴾
Falamma raawhu ʿaridan mustaqbila awdiyatihim qaloo hatha ʿaridun mumtiruna bal huwa ma istaʿjaltum bihi reehun feeha ʿathabun aleemun
And when they saw it as a cloud approaching their valleys, they said, "This is a cloud bringing us rain!" Rather, it is that for which you were impatient: a wind, within it a painful punishment,
تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَيۡءِۭ بِأَمۡرِ رَبِّهَا فَأَصۡبَحُواْ لَا يُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَسَٰكِنُهُمۡ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ﴿٢٥﴾
Tudammiru kulla shayin biamri rabbiha faasbahoo la yura illa masakinuhum kathalika najzee alqawma almujrimeena
Destroying everything by command of its Lord. And they became so that nothing was seen [of them] except their dwellings. Thus do We recompense the criminal people.
وَ لَقَدۡ مَكَّنَّٰهُمۡ فِيمَآ إِن مَّكَّنَّٰكُمۡ فِيهِ وَ جَعَلۡنَا لَهُمۡ سَمۡعࣰا وَ أَبۡصَٰرࣰا وَ أَفۡـِٔدَةࣰ فَمَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنۡهُمۡ سَمۡعُهُمۡ وَ لَآ أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ وَ لَآ أَفۡـِٔدَتُهُم مِّن شَيۡءٍ إِذۡ كَانُواْ يَجۡحَدُونَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَ حَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ﴿٢٦﴾
Walaqad makkannahum feema in makkannakum feehi wajaʿalna lahum samʿan waabsaran waafidatan fama aghna ʿanhum samʿuhum wala absaruhum wala afidatuhum min shayin ith kanoo yajhadoona biayati Allahi wahaqa bihim ma kanoo bihi yastahzioona
And We had certainly established them in such as We have not established you, and We made for them hearing and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect]. But their hearing and vision and hearts availed them not from anything [of the punishment] when they were [continually] rejecting the signs of Allāh; and they were enveloped by what they used to ridicule.
وَ لَقَدۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مَا حَوۡلَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ وَ صَرَّفۡنَا ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ﴿٢٧﴾
Walaqad ahlakna ma hawlakum mina alqura wasarrafna alayati laʿallahum yarjiʿoona
And We have already destroyed what surrounds you of [those] cities, and We have diversified the signs [or verses] that perhaps they might return [from disbelief].
فَلَوۡلَا نَصَرَهُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ قُرۡبَانًا ءَالِهَةَۢ ۖ بَلۡ ضَلُّواْ عَنۡهُمۡ ۚ وَ ذَٰلِكَ إِفۡكُهُمۡ وَ مَا كَانُواْ يَفۡتَرُونَ﴿٢٨﴾
Falawla nasarahumu allatheena ittakhathoo min dooni Allahi qurbanan alihatan bal dalloo ʿanhum wathalika ifkuhum wama kanoo yaftaroona
Then why did those they took besides Allāh as deities by which to approach [Him] not aid them? But they had strayed [i.e., departed] from them. And that was their falsehood and what they were inventing.
وَ إِذۡ صَرَفۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ نَفَرࣰا مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ يَسۡتَمِعُونَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوٓاْ أَنصِتُواْ ۖ فَلَمَّا قُضِيَ وَلَّوۡاْ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِم مُّنذِرِينَ﴿٢٩﴾
Waith sarafna ilayka nafaran mina aljinni yastamiʿoona alqurana falamma hadaroohu qaloo ansitoo falamma qudiya wallaw ila qawmihim munthireena
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when We directed to you a few of the jinn, listening to the Qur’ān. And when they attended it, they said, "Listen attentively." And when it was concluded, they went back to their people as warners.
قَالُواْ يَٰقَوۡمَنَآ إِنَّا سَمِعۡنَا كِتَٰبًا أُنزِلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مُوسَىٰ مُصَدِّقࣰا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ يَهۡدِيٓ إِلَى ٱلۡحَقِّ وَ إِلَىٰ طَرِيقࣲ مُّسۡتَقِيمࣲ﴿٣٠﴾
Qaloo ya qawmana inna samiʿna kitaban onzila min baʿdi moosa musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi yahdee ila alhaqqi waila tareeqin mustaqeemin
They said, "O our people, indeed we have heard a [recited] Book revealed after Moses confirming what was before it which guides to the truth and to a straight path.
يَٰقَوۡمَنَآ أَجِيبُواْ دَاعِيَ ٱللَّهِ وَ ءَامِنُواْ بِهِۦ يَغۡفِرۡ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمۡ وَ يُجِرۡكُم مِّنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمࣲ﴿٣١﴾
Ya qawmana ajeeboo daʿiya Allahi waaminoo bihi yaghfir lakum min thunoobikum wayujirkum min ʿathabin aleemin
O our people, respond to the Caller [i.e., Messenger] of Allāh and believe in him; He [i.e., Allāh] will forgive for you your sins and protect you from a painful punishment.
وَ مَن لَّا يُجِبۡ دَاعِيَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَيۡسَ بِمُعۡجِزࣲ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَ لَيۡسَ لَهُۥ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوۡلِيَآءُ ۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ فِي ضَلَٰلࣲ مُّبِينٍ﴿٣٢﴾
Waman la yujib daʿiya Allahi falaysa bimuʿjizin fee alardi walaysa lahu min doonihi awliyaa olaika fee dalalin mubeenin
But he who does not respond to the Caller of Allāh will not cause failure [to Him] upon earth, and he will not have besides Him any protectors. Those are in manifest error."
أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَ لَمۡ يَعۡيَ بِخَلۡقِهِنَّ بِقَٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحۡـِۧيَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ ۚ بَلَىٰٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءࣲ قَدِيرࣱ﴿٣٣﴾
Awalam yaraw anna Allaha allathee khalaqa alssamawati waalarda walam yaʿya bikhalqihinna biqadirin ʿala an yuhyiya almawta bala innahu ʿala kulli shayin qadeerun
Do they not see that Allāh, who created the heavens and earth and did not fail in their creation, is able to give life to the dead? Yes. Indeed, He is over all things competent.
وَ يَوۡمَ يُعۡرَضُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ أَلَيۡسَ هَٰذَا بِٱلۡحَقِّ ۖ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ وَ رَبِّنَا ۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُواْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡفُرُونَ﴿٣٤﴾
Wayawma yuʿradu allatheena kafaroo ʿala alnnari alaysa hatha bialhaqqi qaloo bala warabbina qala fathooqoo alʿathaba bima kuntum takfuroona
And the Day those who disbelieved are exposed to the Fire [it will be said], "Is this not the truth?" They will say, "Yes, by our Lord." He will say, "Then taste the punishment for what you used to deny."
فَٱصۡبِرۡ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡعَزۡمِ مِنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَ لَا تَسۡتَعۡجِل لَّهُمۡ ۚ كَأَنَّهُمۡ يَوۡمَ يَرَوۡنَ مَا يُوعَدُونَ لَمۡ يَلۡبَثُوٓاْ إِلَّا سَاعَةࣰ مِّن نَّهَارِۭ ۚ بَلَٰغࣱ ۚ فَهَلۡ يُهۡلَكُ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡفَٰسِقُونَ﴿٣٥﴾
Faisbir kama sabara oloo alʿazmi mina alrrusuli wala tastaʿjil lahum kaannahum yawma yarawna ma yooʿadoona lam yalbathoo illa saʿatan min naharin balaghun fahal yuhlaku illa alqawmu alfasiqoona
So be patient, [O Muḥammad], as were those of determination among the messengers and do not be impatient for them. It will be - on the Day they see that which they are promised - as though they had not remained [in the world] except an hour of a day. [This is] notification. And will [any] be destroyed except the defiantly disobedient people?
Translation: Saheeh International · Transliteration
About this surah
Name
It is derived from the sentence idh andhara qauma-hu bil Ahqaf-i of verse 21.
Period of Revelation
It is determined by an historical event that has been mentioned in vv. 29-32. This incident of the visit of the jinn and their going back after listening to the Qur'an had occurred, according to agreed traditions of the Hadith and biographical literature, at the time when the Holy Prophet had halted at Makkah during his return journey from Ta'if to Makkah. And according to all authentic historical traditions he had gone to Ta'if three years before the Hijrah ; therefore it is determined that this Surah was sent down towards the end of the 10th year or in the early part of the 11th year of the Prophethood.
Historical Background
The 10th year of the Prophethood was a year of extreme persecution and distress in the Holy prophet's life. The Quraish and the other tribes had continued their boycott of the Bani Hashim and the Muslims for three years and the Holy Prophet and the people of his family and Companions lay besieged in Shi'b Abi Talib. The Quraish had blocked up this locality from every side so that no supplies of any kind could reach the besieged people. Only during the Hajj season they were allowed to come out and buy some articles of necessity. But even at that time whenever Abu Lahab noticed any of them approaching the market place or a trading caravan he would call out to the merchants exhorting them to announce forbidding rates of their articles for them, and would pledge that he himself would buy those articles so that they did not suffer any loss. This boycott which continued uninterrupted for three years had broken the back of the Muslims and the Bani Hashim; so much so that at times they were even forced to eat grass and the leaves of trees.
At last, when the siege was lifted this year, Abu Talib, the Holy Prophet's uncle, who had been shielding him for ten long years, died, and hardly a month later his wife, Hadrat Khadijah, who had been a source of peace and consolation for him ever since the beginning of the call, also passed away. Because of these tragic incidents, which closely followed each other, the Holy Prophet used to refer to this year as the year of sorrow and grief.
After the death of Hadart Khadijah and Abu Talib the disbelievers of Makkah became even bolder against the Holy Prophet. They started treating him even more harshly. So much so that it became difficult for him to step out of his house. Of these days Ibn Hisham has related the incident that a Quraish scoundrel one day threw dust at him openly in the street.
At last, the Holy Prophet left for Ta'if with the intention that he should invite the Bani Thaqif to Islam, for even if they did not accept Islam, they might at least be persuaded to allow him to work for his mission peacefully. He did not have the facility of any conveyance at that time, and traveled all the way to Ta'if on foot. According to some traditions, he had gone there alone, but according to others, he was accompanied by Zaid bin Harithah. He stayed at Ta'if for a few days, and approached each of the chiefs and nobles of the Bani Thaqif and talked to him about his mission. But not only they refused to listen to him, but plainly gave him the notice that he should leave their city, for they feared that his preaching might "spoil" their younger generation. Thus, he was compelled to leave Ta'if. When he was leaving the city, the chiefs of Thaqif set their slaves and scoundrels behind him, who went on crying at him, abusing him and petting him with stones for a long way from either side of the road till he became broken down with wounds and his shoes were filled with blood. Wearied and exhausted he took shelter in the shade of the wall of a garden outside Ta'if, and prayed:
"O God, to Thee I complain of my weakness, little resource, and lowliness before men. O Most Merciful, Thou art the Lord of the weak, and Thou art my Lord. To whom wilt Thou confide me? To one afar who will misuse me?Or to an enemy to whom Thou hast given power over me?If Thou art not angry with me I care not. Thy favor is more wide for me. I take refuge in the light of Thy countenance by which the darkness is illumined, and the things of this world and the next are rightly ordered, lest Thy anger descend upon me or Thy wrath light upon me. It is for Thee to be satisfied until Thou art well pleased. There is no power and no might save in Thee." (Ibn Hisham:A. Guillaume's Translation, p. 193).
Grieved and heart broken when he returned and reached near Qarn al-Manazil, he felt as though the sky was overcast by clouds. He looked up and saw Gabriel in front of him, who called out:"Allah has heard the way your people have responded. He has, therefore, sent this angel in charge of the mountains. You may command him as you please." Then the angel of the mountains greeted him and submitted :"If you like I would overturn the mountains from either side upon these people." The Holy Prophet replied : "No, but I expect that Allah will create from their seed those who will worship none but Allah, the One." (Bukhari, Dhikr al Mala'ikah ; Muslim: Kitab al-Maghazi ; Nasa'i :Al-Bauth).
After this he went to stay for a few days at Makkah, perplexed as to how he would face the people of Makkah, who, he thought, would be still further emboldened against him after hearing what had happened at Ta'if. It was here that one night when he was reciting the Qur'an in the Prayer, a group of the jinn happened to pass by and listened to the Qur'an, believed in it, and returned to their people to preach Islam. Thus, Allah gave His Prophet the good news that if the men were running away from his invitation, there were many of the jinn, who had become its believers, and they were spreading his message among their own kind.
Subject Matter and Topics
Such were the conditions when this Surah was sent down. Anyone who keeps this background in view, on the one hand, and studies this Surah, on the other, will have no doubt left in his mind that this is not at all the composition of Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace), but "a Revelation from the All Mighty, All Wise Allah." For nowhere in this Surah, from the beginning to the end, does one find even a tinge of the human feelings and reactions, which are naturally produced in a man who is passing through such hard conditions. Had it been the word of Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace) whom the occurrence of personal griefs one after the other and the countless and the recent bitter experience at Ta'if had caused extreme anguish and distress, it would have reflected in some degree the state of the mind of the man who was the subject of these afflictions and griefs. Consider the prayer that we have cited above: it contains his own language its every word is saturated with the feelings that he had at the time. But this Surah which was sent down precisely in the same period and was recited even by him under the same conditions, is absolutely free from every sign or trace of the time.
The subject matter of the Surah is to warn the disbelievers of the errors in which they were involved, and also resisted arrogantly, and were condemning the man who was trying to redeem them. They regarded the world as a useless and purposeless place where they were not answerable to anyone. They thought that invitation to Tauhid was false and stuck to the belief that their own deities were actually the associates of Allah. They were not inclined to believe that the Qur'an was the Word of the Lord of the worlds. They had a strange erroneous concept of apostleship on the basis of which they were proposing strange criteria of judging the Holy Prophet's claim to it. In their estimation one great proof of Islam's not being based on the truth was that their elders and important chiefs of the tribes and so called leaders of their nation were not accepting it and only a few young men, and some poor folks and some slaves had affirmed faith in it. They thought that Resurrection and life after death and the rewards and punishments of the Hereafter were fabrications whose occurrence was absolutely out of the question.
In this Surah each of these misconceptions has been refuted in a brief but rational way, and the disbelievers have been warned that if they would reject the invitation of the Qur'an and the Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace) by prejudice and stubbornness instead of trying to understand its truth rationally, they would only be preparing for their own doom.
Source: Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Quran