سورة الزخرف
Surah Az-Zukhruf
The Ornaments of Gold
Surah Az-Zukhruf (The Ornaments of Gold) is the 43rd surah of the Quran. It has 89 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.
وَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ﴿٢﴾
Waalkitabi almubeeni
By the clear Book,
إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَٰهُ قُرۡءَٰنًا عَرَبِيࣰّا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ﴿٣﴾
Inna jaʿalnahu quranan ʿarabiyyan laʿallakum taʿqiloona
Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur’ān that you might understand.
وَ إِنَّهُۥ فِيٓ أُمِّ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ لَدَيۡنَا لَعَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ﴿٤﴾
Wainnahu fee ommi alkitabi ladayna laʿaliyyun hakeemun
And indeed it is, in the Mother of the Book with Us, exalted and full of wisdom.
أَفَنَضۡرِبُ عَنكُمُ ٱلذِّكۡرَ صَفۡحًا أَن كُنتُمۡ قَوۡمࣰا مُّسۡرِفِينَ﴿٥﴾
Afanadribu ʿankumu alththikra safhan an kuntum qawman musrifeena
Then should We turn the message away, disregarding you, because you are a transgressing people?
وَ كَمۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن نَّبِيࣲّ فِي ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ﴿٦﴾
Wakam arsalna min nabiyyin fee alawwaleena
And how many a prophet We sent among the former peoples,
وَ مَا يَأۡتِيهِم مِّن نَّبِيٍّ إِلَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ﴿٧﴾
Wama yateehim min nabiyyin illa kanoo bihi yastahzioona
But there would not come to them a prophet except that they used to ridicule him.
فَأَهۡلَكۡنَآ أَشَدَّ مِنۡهُم بَطۡشࣰا وَ مَضَىٰ مَثَلُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ﴿٨﴾
Faahlakna ashadda minhum batshan wamada mathalu alawwaleena
And We destroyed greater than them in [striking] power, and the example of the former peoples has preceded.
وَ لَئِن سَأَلۡتَهُم مَّنۡ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ خَلَقَهُنَّ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ﴿٩﴾
Walain saaltahum man khalaqa alssamawati waalarda layaqoolunna khalaqahunna alʿazeezu alʿaleemu
And if you should ask them, "Who has created the heavens and the earth?" they would surely say, "They were created by the Exalted in Might, the Knowing,"
ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مَهۡدࣰا وَ جَعَلَ لَكُمۡ فِيهَا سُبُلࣰا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُونَ﴿١٠﴾
Allathee jaʿala lakumu alarda mahdan wajaʿala lakum feeha subulan laʿallakum tahtadoona
[The one] who has made for you the earth a bed and made for you upon it roads that you might be guided
وَ ٱلَّذِي نَزَّلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءَۢ بِقَدَرࣲ فَأَنشَرۡنَا بِهِۦ بَلۡدَةࣰ مَّيۡتࣰا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ تُخۡرَجُونَ﴿١١﴾
Waallathee nazzala mina alssamai maan biqadarin faansharna bihi baldatan maytan kathalika tukhrajoona
And who sends down rain from the sky in measured amounts, and We revive thereby a dead land - thus will you be brought forth -
وَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلۡأَزۡوَٰجَ كُلَّهَا وَ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡفُلۡكِ وَ ٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمِ مَا تَرۡكَبُونَ﴿١٢﴾
Waallathee khalaqa alazwaja kullaha wajaʿala lakum mina alfulki waalanʿami ma tarkaboona
And who created the species, all of them, and has made for you of ships and animals those which you mount
لِتَسۡتَوُۥاْ عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِۦ ثُمَّ تَذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَةَ رَبِّكُمۡ إِذَا ٱسۡتَوَيۡتُمۡ عَلَيۡهِ وَ تَقُولُواْ سُبۡحَٰنَ ٱلَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَٰذَا وَ مَا كُنَّا لَهُۥ مُقۡرِنِينَ﴿١٣﴾
Litastawoo ʿala thuhoorihi thumma tathkuroo niʿmata rabbikum itha istawaytum ʿalayhi wataqooloo subhana allathee sakhkhara lana hatha wama kunna lahu muqrineena
That you may settle yourselves upon their backs and then remember the favor of your Lord when you have settled upon them and say, "Exalted is He who has subjected this to us, and we could not have [otherwise] subdued it.
وَ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ﴿١٤﴾
Wainna ila rabbina lamunqaliboona
And indeed we, to our Lord, will [surely] return."
وَ جَعَلُواْ لَهُۥ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦ جُزۡءًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ لَكَفُورࣱ مُّبِينٌ﴿١٥﴾
Wajaʿaloo lahu min ʿibadihi juzan inna alinsana lakafoorun mubeenun
But they have attributed to Him from His servants a portion. Indeed, man is clearly ungrateful.
أَمِ ٱتَّخَذَ مِمَّا يَخۡلُقُ بَنَاتࣲ وَ أَصۡفَىٰكُم بِٱلۡبَنِينَ﴿١٦﴾
Ami ittakhatha mimma yakhluqu banatin waasfakum bialbaneena
Or has He taken, out of what He has created, daughters and chosen you for [having] sons?
وَ إِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِمَا ضَرَبَ لِلرَّحۡمَٰنِ مَثَلࣰا ظَلَّ وَجۡهُهُۥ مُسۡوَدࣰّا وَ هُوَ كَظِيمٌ﴿١٧﴾
Waitha bushshira ahaduhum bima daraba lilrrahmani mathalan thalla wajhuhu muswaddan wahuwa katheemun
And when one of them is given good tidings of that which he attributes to the Most Merciful in comparison [i.e., a daughter], his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief.
أَوَمَن يُنَشَّؤُاْ فِي ٱلۡحِلۡيَةِ وَ هُوَ فِي ٱلۡخِصَامِ غَيۡرُ مُبِينࣲ﴿١٨﴾
Awaman yunashshao fee alhilyati wahuwa fee alkhisami ghayru mubeenin
So is one brought up in ornaments while being during conflict unevident [attributed to Allāh]?
وَ جَعَلُواْ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عِبَٰدُ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ إِنَٰثًا ۚ أَشَهِدُواْ خَلۡقَهُمۡ ۚ سَتُكۡتَبُ شَهَٰدَتُهُمۡ وَ يُسۡـَٔلُونَ﴿١٩﴾
Wajaʿaloo almalaikata allatheena hum ʿibadu alrrahmani inathan ashahidoo khalqahum satuktabu shahadatuhum wayusaloona
And they described the angels, who are servants of the Most Merciful, as females. Did they witness their creation? Their testimony will be recorded, and they will be questioned.
وَ قَالُواْ لَوۡ شَآءَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ مَا عَبَدۡنَٰهُم ۗ مَّا لَهُم بِذَٰلِكَ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ ۖ إِنۡ هُمۡ إِلَّا يَخۡرُصُونَ﴿٢٠﴾
Waqaloo law shaa alrrahmanu ma ʿabadnahum ma lahum bithalika min ʿilmin in hum illa yakhrusoona
And they said, "If the Most Merciful had willed, we would not have worshipped them." They have of that no knowledge. They are not but misjudging.
أَمۡ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُمۡ كِتَٰبࣰا مِّن قَبۡلِهِۦ فَهُم بِهِۦ مُسۡتَمۡسِكُونَ﴿٢١﴾
Am ataynahum kitaban min qablihi fahum bihi mustamsikoona
Or have We given them a book before it [i.e., the Qur’ān] to which they are adhering?
بَلۡ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا وَجَدۡنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَىٰٓ أُمَّةࣲ وَ إِنَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِم مُّهۡتَدُونَ﴿٢٢﴾
Bal qaloo inna wajadna abaana ʿala ommatin wainna ʿala atharihim muhtadoona
Rather, they say, "Indeed, we found our fathers upon a religion, and we are in their footsteps [rightly] guided."
وَ كَذَٰلِكَ مَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ فِي قَرۡيَةࣲ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتۡرَفُوهَآ إِنَّا وَجَدۡنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَىٰٓ أُمَّةࣲ وَ إِنَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِم مُّقۡتَدُونَ﴿٢٣﴾
Wakathalika ma arsalna min qablika fee qaryatin min natheerin illa qala mutrafooha inna wajadna abaana ʿala ommatin wainna ʿala atharihim muqtadoona
And similarly, We did not send before you any warner into a city except that its affluent said, "Indeed, we found our fathers upon a religion, and we are, in their footsteps, following."
قَٰلَ أَوَلَوۡ جِئۡتُكُم بِأَهۡدَىٰ مِمَّا وَجَدتُّمۡ عَلَيۡهِ ءَابَآءَكُمۡ ۖ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرۡسِلۡتُم بِهِۦ كَٰفِرُونَ﴿٢٤﴾
Qala awalaw jitukum biahda mimma wajadtum ʿalayhi abaakum qaloo inna bima orsiltum bihi kafiroona
[Each warner] said, "Even if I brought you better guidance than that [religion] upon which you found your fathers?" They said, "Indeed we, in that with which you were sent, are disbelievers."
فَٱنتَقَمۡنَا مِنۡهُمۡ ۖ فَٱنظُرۡ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ﴿٢٥﴾
Faintaqamna minhum faonthur kayfa kana ʿaqibatu almukaththibeena
So We took retribution from them; then see how was the end of the deniers.
وَ إِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٰهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ وَ قَوۡمِهِۦٓ إِنَّنِي بَرَآءࣱ مِّمَّا تَعۡبُدُونَ﴿٢٦﴾
Waith qala ibraheemu liabeehi waqawmihi innanee baraon mimma taʿbudoona
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Abraham said to his father and his people, "Indeed, I am disassociated from that which you worship
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِي فَطَرَنِي فَإِنَّهُۥ سَيَهۡدِينِ﴿٢٧﴾
Illa allathee fataranee fainnahu sayahdeeni
Except for He who created me; and indeed, He will guide me."
وَ جَعَلَهَا كَلِمَةَۢ بَاقِيَةࣰ فِي عَقِبِهِۦ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ﴿٢٨﴾
Wajaʿalaha kalimatan baqiyatan fee ʿaqibihi laʿallahum yarjiʿoona
And he made it a word remaining among his descendants that they might return [to it].
بَلۡ مَتَّعۡتُ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ وَ ءَابَآءَهُمۡ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَ رَسُولࣱ مُّبِينࣱ﴿٢٩﴾
Bal mattaʿtu haolai waabaahum hatta jaahumu alhaqqu warasoolun mubeenun
However, I gave enjoyment to these [people of Makkah] and their fathers until there came to them the truth and a clear Messenger.
وَ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡحَقُّ قَالُواْ هَٰذَا سِحۡرࣱ وَ إِنَّا بِهِۦ كَٰفِرُونَ﴿٣٠﴾
Walamma jaahumu alhaqqu qaloo hatha sihrun wainna bihi kafiroona
But when the truth came to them, they said, "This is magic, and indeed we are, concerning it, disbelievers."
وَ قَالُواْ لَوۡلَا نُزِّلَ هَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ عَلَىٰ رَجُلࣲ مِّنَ ٱلۡقَرۡيَتَيۡنِ عَظِيمٍ﴿٣١﴾
Waqaloo lawla nuzzila hatha alquranu ʿala rajulin mina alqaryatayni ʿatheemun
And they said, "Why was this Qur’ān not sent down upon a great man from [one of] the two cities?"
أَهُمۡ يَقۡسِمُونَ رَحۡمَتَ رَبِّكَ ۚ نَحۡنُ قَسَمۡنَا بَيۡنَهُم مَّعِيشَتَهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا ۚ وَ رَفَعۡنَا بَعۡضَهُمۡ فَوۡقَ بَعۡضࣲ دَرَجَٰتࣲ لِّيَتَّخِذَ بَعۡضُهُم بَعۡضࣰا سُخۡرِيࣰّا ۗ وَ رَحۡمَتُ رَبِّكَ خَيۡرࣱ مِّمَّا يَجۡمَعُونَ﴿٣٢﴾
Ahum yaqsimoona rahmata rabbika nahnu qasamna baynahum maʿeeshatahum fee alhayati alddunya warafaʿna baʿdahum fawqa baʿdin darajatin liyattakhitha baʿduhum baʿdan sukhriyyan warahmatu rabbika khayrun mimma yajmaʿoona
Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world and have raised some of them above others in degrees [of rank] that they may make use of one another for service. But the mercy of your Lord is better than whatever they accumulate.
وَ لَوۡلَآ أَن يَكُونَ ٱلنَّاسُ أُمَّةࣰ وَٰحِدَةࣰ لَّجَعَلۡنَا لِمَن يَكۡفُرُ بِٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ لِبُيُوتِهِمۡ سُقُفࣰا مِّن فِضَّةࣲ وَ مَعَارِجَ عَلَيۡهَا يَظۡهَرُونَ﴿٣٣﴾
Walawla an yakoona alnnasu ommatan wahidatan lajaʿalna liman yakfuru bialrrahmani libuyootihim suqufan min fiddatin wamaʿarija ʿalayha yathharoona
And if it were not that the people would become one community [of disbelievers], We would have made for those who disbelieve in the Most Merciful - for their houses - ceilings and stairways of silver upon which to mount.
وَ لِبُيُوتِهِمۡ أَبۡوَٰبࣰا وَ سُرُرًا عَلَيۡهَا يَتَّكِـُٔونَ﴿٣٤﴾
Walibuyootihim abwaban wasururan ʿalayha yattakioona
And for their houses - doors and couches [of silver] upon which to recline
وَ زُخۡرُفࣰا ۚ وَ إِن كُلُّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمَّا مَتَٰعُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا ۚ وَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةُ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ﴿٣٥﴾
Wazukhrufan wain kullu thalika lamma mataʿu alhayati alddunya waalakhiratu ʿinda rabbika lilmuttaqeena
And gold ornament. But all that is not but the enjoyment of worldly life. And the Hereafter with your Lord is for the righteous.
وَ مَن يَعۡشُ عَن ذِكۡرِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ نُقَيِّضۡ لَهُۥ شَيۡطَٰنࣰا فَهُوَ لَهُۥ قَرِينࣱ﴿٣٦﴾
Waman yaʿshu ʿan thikri alrrahmani nuqayyid lahu shaytanan fahuwa lahu qareenun
And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the Most Merciful - We appoint for him a devil, and he is to him a companion.
وَ إِنَّهُمۡ لَيَصُدُّونَهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَ يَحۡسَبُونَ أَنَّهُم مُّهۡتَدُونَ﴿٣٧﴾
Wainnahum layasuddoonahum ʿani alssabeeli wayahsaboona annahum muhtadoona
And indeed, they [i.e., the devils] avert them from the way [of guidance] while they think that they are [rightly] guided
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَنَا قَالَ يَٰلَيۡتَ بَيۡنِي وَ بَيۡنَكَ بُعۡدَ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقَيۡنِ فَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡقَرِينُ﴿٣٨﴾
Hatta itha jaana qala ya layta baynee wabaynaka buʿda almashriqayni fabisa alqareenu
Until, when he comes to Us [at Judgement], he says [to his companion], "How I wish there was between me and you the distance between the east and west; and what a wretched companion."
وَ لَن يَنفَعَكُمُ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ إِذ ظَّلَمۡتُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ فِي ٱلۡعَذَابِ مُشۡتَرِكُونَ﴿٣٩﴾
Walan yanfaʿakumu alyawma ith thalamtum annakum fee alʿathabi mushtarikoona
And never will it benefit you that Day, when you have wronged, that you are [all] sharing in the punishment.
أَفَأَنتَ تُسۡمِعُ ٱلصُّمَّ أَوۡ تَهۡدِي ٱلۡعُمۡيَ وَ مَن كَانَ فِي ضَلَٰلࣲ مُّبِينࣲ﴿٤٠﴾
Afaanta tusmiʿu alssumma aw tahdee alʿumya waman kana fee dalalin mubeenin
Then will you make the deaf hear, [O Muḥammad], or guide the blind or he who is in clear error?
فَإِمَّا نَذۡهَبَنَّ بِكَ فَإِنَّا مِنۡهُم مُّنتَقِمُونَ﴿٤١﴾
Faimma nathhabanna bika fainna minhum muntaqimoona
And whether [or not] We take you away [in death], indeed, We will take retribution upon them.
أَوۡ نُرِيَنَّكَ ٱلَّذِي وَعَدۡنَٰهُمۡ فَإِنَّا عَلَيۡهِم مُّقۡتَدِرُونَ﴿٤٢﴾
Aw nuriyannaka allathee waʿadnahum fainna ʿalayhim muqtadiroona
Or whether [or not] We show you that which We have promised them, indeed, We are Perfect in Ability.
فَٱسۡتَمۡسِكۡ بِٱلَّذِيٓ أُوحِيَ إِلَيۡكَ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطࣲ مُّسۡتَقِيمࣲ﴿٤٣﴾
Faistamsik biallathee oohiya ilayka innaka ʿala siratin mustaqeemin
So adhere to that which is revealed to you. Indeed, you are on a straight path.
وَ إِنَّهُۥ لَذِكۡرࣱ لَّكَ وَ لِقَوۡمِكَ ۖ وَ سَوۡفَ تُسۡـَٔلُونَ﴿٤٤﴾
Wainnahu lathikrun laka waliqawmika wasawfa tusaloona
And indeed, it is a remembrance for you and your people, and you [all] are going to be questioned.
وَسۡـَٔلۡ مَنۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ مِن رُّسُلِنَآ أَجَعَلۡنَا مِن دُونِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ءَالِهَةࣰ يُعۡبَدُونَ﴿٤٥﴾
Waisal man arsalna min qablika min rusulina ajaʿalna min dooni alrrahmani alihatan yuʿbadoona
And ask those We sent before you of Our messengers; have We made besides the Most Merciful deities to be worshipped?
وَ لَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مُوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَ مَلَإِيْهِۦ فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ﴿٤٦﴾
Walaqad arsalna moosa biayatina ila firʿawna wamalaihi faqala innee rasoolu rabbi alʿalameena
And certainly did We send Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his establishment, and he said, "Indeed, I am the messenger of the Lord of the worlds."
فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ إِذَا هُم مِّنۡهَا يَضۡحَكُونَ﴿٤٧﴾
Falamma jaahum biayatina itha hum minha yadhakoona
But when he brought them Our signs, at once they laughed at them.
وَ مَا نُرِيهِم مِّنۡ ءَايَةٍ إِلَّا هِيَ أَكۡبَرُ مِنۡ أُخۡتِهَا ۖ وَ أَخَذۡنَٰهُم بِٱلۡعَذَابِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ﴿٤٨﴾
Wama nureehim min ayatin illa hiya akbaru min okhtiha waakhathnahum bialʿathabi laʿallahum yarjiʿoona
And We showed them not a sign except that it was greater than its sister, and We seized them with affliction that perhaps they might return [to faith].
وَ قَالُواْ يَٰٓأَيُّهَ ٱلسَّاحِرُ ٱدۡعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِندَكَ إِنَّنَا لَمُهۡتَدُونَ﴿٤٩﴾
Waqaloo ya ayyuha alsahiru odʿu lana rabbaka bima ʿahida ʿindaka innana lamuhtadoona
And they said [to Moses], "O magician, invoke for us your Lord by what He has promised you. Indeed, we will be guided."
فَلَمَّا كَشَفۡنَا عَنۡهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابَ إِذَا هُمۡ يَنكُثُونَ﴿٥٠﴾
Falamma kashafna ʿanhumu alʿathaba itha hum yankuthoona
But when We removed from them the affliction, at once they broke their word.
وَ نَادَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنُ فِي قَوۡمِهِۦ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ أَلَيۡسَ لِي مُلۡكُ مِصۡرَ وَ هَٰذِهِ ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِيٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تُبۡصِرُونَ﴿٥١﴾
Wanada firʿawnu fee qawmihi qala ya qawmi alaysa lee mulku misra wahathihi alanharu tajree min tahtee afala tubsiroona
And Pharaoh called out among his people; he said, "O my people, does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing beneath me; then do you not see?
أَمۡ أَنَا۠ خَيۡرࣱ مِّنۡ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي هُوَ مَهِينࣱ وَ لَا يَكَادُ يُبِينُ﴿٥٢﴾
Am ana khayrun min hatha allathee huwa maheenun wala yakadu yubeenu
Or am I [not] better than this one [i.e., Moses] who is insignificant and hardly makes himself clear?
فَلَوۡلَآ أُلۡقِيَ عَلَيۡهِ أَسۡوِرَةࣱ مِّن ذَهَبٍ أَوۡ جَآءَ مَعَهُ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ مُقۡتَرِنِينَ﴿٥٣﴾
Falawla olqiya ʿalayhi aswiratun min thahabin aw jaa maʿahu almalaikatu muqtarineena
Then why have there not been placed upon him bracelets of gold or come with him the angels in conjunction?"
فَٱسۡتَخَفَّ قَوۡمَهُۥ فَأَطَاعُوهُ ۚ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ قَوۡمࣰا فَٰسِقِينَ﴿٥٤﴾
Faistakhaffa qawmahu faataʿoohu innahum kanoo qawman fasiqeena
So he bluffed his people, and they obeyed him. Indeed, they were [themselves] a people defiantly disobedient [of Allāh].
فَلَمَّآ ءَاسَفُونَا ٱنتَقَمۡنَا مِنۡهُمۡ فَأَغۡرَقۡنَٰهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ﴿٥٥﴾
Falamma asafoona intaqamna minhum faaghraqnahum ajmaʿeena
And when they angered Us, We took retribution from them and drowned them all.
فَجَعَلۡنَٰهُمۡ سَلَفࣰا وَ مَثَلࣰا لِّلۡأٓخِرِينَ﴿٥٦﴾
Fajaʿalnahum salafan wamathalan lilakhireena
And We made them a precedent and an example for the later peoples.
وَ لَمَّا ضُرِبَ ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ مَثَلًا إِذَا قَوۡمُكَ مِنۡهُ يَصِدُّونَ﴿٥٧﴾
Walamma duriba ibnu maryama mathalan itha qawmuka minhu yasiddoona
And when the son of Mary was presented as an example, immediately your people laughed aloud.
وَ قَالُوٓاْ ءَأَٰلِهَتُنَا خَيۡرٌ أَمۡ هُوَ ۚ مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلَّا جَدَلَۢا ۚ بَلۡ هُمۡ قَوۡمٌ خَصِمُونَ﴿٥٨﴾
Waqaloo aalihatuna khayrun am huwa ma daraboohu laka illa jadalan bal hum qawmun khasimoona
And they said, "Are our gods better, or is he?" They did not present it [i.e., the comparison] except for [mere] argument. But, [in fact], they are a people prone to dispute.
إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا عَبۡدٌ أَنۡعَمۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ وَ جَعَلۡنَٰهُ مَثَلࣰا لِّبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ﴿٥٩﴾
In huwa illa ʿabdun anʿamna ʿalayhi wajaʿalnahu mathalan libanee israeela
He [i.e., Jesus] was not but a servant upon whom We bestowed favor, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel.
وَ لَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلۡنَا مِنكُم مَّلَٰٓئِكَةࣰ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يَخۡلُفُونَ﴿٦٠﴾
Walaw nashao lajaʿalna minkum malaikatan fee alardi yakhlufoona
And if We willed, We could have made [instead] of you angels succeeding [one another] on the earth.
وَ إِنَّهُۥ لَعِلۡمࣱ لِّلسَّاعَةِ فَلَا تَمۡتَرُنَّ بِهَا وَ ٱتَّبِعُونِ ۚ هَٰذَا صِرَٰطࣱ مُّسۡتَقِيمࣱ﴿٦١﴾
Wainnahu laʿilmun lilssaʿati fala tamtarunna biha waittabiʿooni hatha siratun mustaqeemun
And indeed, he [i.e., Jesus] will be [a sign for] knowledge of the Hour, so be not in doubt of it, and follow Me. This is a straight path.
وَ لَا يَصُدَّنَّكُمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمۡ عَدُوࣱّ مُّبِينࣱ﴿٦٢﴾
Wala yasuddannakumu alshshaytanu innahu lakum ʿaduwwun mubeenun
And never let Satan avert you. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.
وَ لَمَّا جَآءَ عِيسَىٰ بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ قَالَ قَدۡ جِئۡتُكُم بِٱلۡحِكۡمَةِ وَ لِأُبَيِّنَ لَكُم بَعۡضَ ٱلَّذِي تَخۡتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ ۖ فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَ أَطِيعُونِ﴿٦٣﴾
Walamma jaa ʿeesa bialbayyinati qala qad jitukum bialhikmati waliobayyina lakum baʿda allathee takhtalifoona feehi faittaqoo Allaha waateeʿooni
And when Jesus brought clear proofs, he said, "I have come to you with wisdom [i.e., prophethood] and to make clear to you some of that over which you differ, so fear Allāh and obey me.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ رَبِّي وَ رَبُّكُمۡ فَٱعۡبُدُوهُ ۚ هَٰذَا صِرَٰطࣱ مُّسۡتَقِيمࣱ﴿٦٤﴾
Inna Allaha huwa rabbee warabbukum faoʿbudoohu hatha siratun mustaqeemun
Indeed, Allāh is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is a straight path."
فَٱخۡتَلَفَ ٱلۡأَحۡزَابُ مِنۢ بَيۡنِهِمۡ ۖ فَوَيۡلࣱ لِّلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مِنۡ عَذَابِ يَوۡمٍ أَلِيمٍ﴿٦٥﴾
Faikhtalafa alahzabu min baynihim fawaylun lillatheena thalamoo min ʿathabi yawmin aleemin
But the denominations from among them differed [and separated], so woe to those who have wronged from the punishment of a painful Day.
هَلۡ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا ٱلسَّاعَةَ أَن تَأۡتِيَهُم بَغۡتَةࣰ وَ هُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ﴿٦٦﴾
Hal yanthuroona illa alssaʿata an tatiyahum baghtatan wahum la yashʿuroona
Are they waiting except for the Hour to come upon them suddenly while they perceive not?
ٱلۡأَخِلَّآءُ يَوۡمَئِذِۭ بَعۡضُهُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ﴿٦٧﴾
Alakhillao yawmaithin baʿduhum libaʿdin ʿaduwwun illa almuttaqeena
Close friends, that Day, will be enemies to each other, except for the righteous
يَٰعِبَادِ لَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ وَ لَآ أَنتُمۡ تَحۡزَنُونَ﴿٦٨﴾
Ya ʿibadi la khawfun ʿalaykumu alyawma wala antum tahzanoona
[To whom Allāh will say], "O My servants, no fear will there be concerning you this Day, nor will you grieve,
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا وَ كَانُواْ مُسۡلِمِينَ﴿٦٩﴾
Allatheena amanoo biayatina wakanoo muslimeena
[You] who believed in Our verses and were Muslims.
ٱدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ أَنتُمۡ وَ أَزۡوَٰجُكُمۡ تُحۡبَرُونَ﴿٧٠﴾
Odkhuloo aljannata antum waazwajukum tuhbaroona
Enter Paradise, you and your kinds, delighted."
يُطَافُ عَلَيۡهِم بِصِحَافࣲ مِّن ذَهَبࣲ وَ أَكۡوَابࣲ ۖ وَ فِيهَا مَا تَشۡتَهِيهِ ٱلۡأَنفُسُ وَ تَلَذُّ ٱلۡأَعۡيُنُ ۖ وَ أَنتُمۡ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ﴿٧١﴾
Yutafu ʿalayhim bisihafin min thahabin waakwabin wafeeha ma tashtaheehi alanfusu watalaththu alaʿyunu waantum feeha khalidoona
Circulated among them will be plates and vessels of gold. And therein is whatever the souls desire and [what] delights the eyes, and you will abide therein eternally.
وَ تِلۡكَ ٱلۡجَنَّةُ ٱلَّتِيٓ أُورِثۡتُمُوهَا بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ﴿٧٢﴾
Watilka aljannatu allatee oorithtumooha bima kuntum taʿmaloona
And that is Paradise which you are made to inherit for what you used to do.
لَكُمۡ فِيهَا فَٰكِهَةࣱ كَثِيرَةࣱ مِّنۡهَا تَأۡكُلُونَ﴿٧٣﴾
Lakum feeha fakihatun katheeratun minha takuloona
For you therein is much fruit from which you will eat.
إِنَّ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ فِي عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ خَٰلِدُونَ﴿٧٤﴾
Inna almujrimeena fee ʿathabi jahannama khalidoona
Indeed, the criminals will be in the punishment of Hell, abiding eternally.
لَا يُفَتَّرُ عَنۡهُمۡ وَ هُمۡ فِيهِ مُبۡلِسُونَ﴿٧٥﴾
La yufattaru ʿanhum wahum feehi mublisoona
It will not be allowed to subside for them, and they, therein, are in despair.
وَ مَا ظَلَمۡنَٰهُمۡ وَ لَٰكِن كَانُواْ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ﴿٧٦﴾
Wama thalamnahum walakin kanoo humu alththalimeena
And We did not wrong them, but it was they who were the wrongdoers.
وَ نَادَوۡاْ يَٰمَٰلِكُ لِيَقۡضِ عَلَيۡنَا رَبُّكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنَّكُم مَّٰكِثُونَ﴿٧٧﴾
Wanadaw ya maliku liyaqdi ʿalayna rabbuka qala innakum makithoona
And they will call, "O Mālik, let your Lord put an end to us!" He will say, "Indeed, you will remain."
لَقَدۡ جِئۡنَٰكُم بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَ لَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَكُمۡ لِلۡحَقِّ كَٰرِهُونَ﴿٧٨﴾
Laqad jinakum bialhaqqi walakinna aktharakum lilhaqqi karihoona
We had certainly brought you the truth, but most of you, to the truth, were averse.
أَمۡ أَبۡرَمُوٓاْ أَمۡرࣰا فَإِنَّا مُبۡرِمُونَ﴿٧٩﴾
Am abramoo amran fainna mubrimoona
Or have they devised [some] affair? But indeed, We are devising [a plan].
أَمۡ يَحۡسَبُونَ أَنَّا لَا نَسۡمَعُ سِرَّهُمۡ وَ نَجۡوَىٰهُم ۚ بَلَىٰ وَ رُسُلُنَا لَدَيۡهِمۡ يَكۡتُبُونَ﴿٨٠﴾
Am yahsaboona anna la nasmaʿu sirrahum wanajwahum bala warusuluna ladayhim yaktuboona
Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private conversations? Yes, [We do], and Our messengers [i.e., angels] are with them recording.
قُلۡ إِن كَانَ لِلرَّحۡمَٰنِ وَلَدࣱ فَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلۡعَٰبِدِينَ﴿٨١﴾
Qul in kana lilrrahmani waladun faana awwalu alʿabideena
Say, [O Muḥammad], "If the Most Merciful had a son, then I would be the first of [his] worshippers."
سُبۡحَٰنَ رَبِّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَرۡشِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ﴿٨٢﴾
Subhana rabbi alssamawati waalardi rabbi alʿarshi ʿamma yasifoona
Exalted is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe.
فَذَرۡهُمۡ يَخُوضُواْ وَ يَلۡعَبُواْ حَتَّىٰ يُلَٰقُواْ يَوۡمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِي يُوعَدُونَ﴿٨٣﴾
Fatharhum yakhoodoo wayalʿaboo hatta yulaqoo yawmahumu allathee yooʿadoona
So leave them to converse vainly and amuse themselves until they meet their Day which they are promised.
وَ هُوَ ٱلَّذِي فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ إِلَٰهࣱ وَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَٰهࣱ ۚ وَ هُوَ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ﴿٨٤﴾
Wahuwa allathee fee alssamai ilahun wafee alardi ilahun wahuwa alhakeemu alʿaleemu
And it is He [i.e., Allāh] who is [the only] deity in the heaven, and on the earth [the only] deity. And He is the Wise, the Knowing.
وَ تَبَارَكَ ٱلَّذِي لَهُۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَ مَا بَيۡنَهُمَا وَ عِندَهُۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَ إِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ﴿٨٥﴾
Watabaraka allathee lahu mulku alssamawati waalardi wama baynahuma waʿindahu ʿilmu alssaʿati wailayhi turjaʿoona
And blessed is He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them and with whom is knowledge of the Hour and to whom you will be returned.
وَ لَا يَمۡلِكُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةَ إِلَّا مَن شَهِدَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَ هُمۡ يَعۡلَمُونَ﴿٨٦﴾
Wala yamliku allatheena yadʿoona min doonihi alshshafaʿata illa man shahida bialhaqqi wahum yaʿlamoona
And those they invoke besides Him do not possess [power of] intercession; but only those who testify to the truth [can benefit], and they know.
وَ لَئِن سَأَلۡتَهُم مَّنۡ خَلَقَهُمۡ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ يُؤۡفَكُونَ﴿٨٧﴾
Walain saaltahum man khalaqahum layaqoolunna Allahu faanna yufakoona
And if you asked them who created them, they would surely say, "Allāh." So how are they deluded?
وَ قِيلِهِۦ يَٰرَبِّ إِنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ قَوۡمࣱ لَّا يُؤۡمِنُونَ﴿٨٨﴾
Waqeelihi yarabbi inna haolai qawmun la yuminoona
And [Allāh acknowledges] his saying, "O my Lord, indeed these are a people who do not believe."
فَٱصۡفَحۡ عَنۡهُمۡ وَ قُلۡ سَلَٰمࣱ ۚ فَسَوۡفَ يَعۡلَمُونَ﴿٨٩﴾
Faisfah ʿanhum waqul salamun fasawfa yaʿlamoona
So turn aside from them and say, "Peace." But they are going to know.
Translation: Saheeh International · Transliteration
About this surah
Name
It is derived from the word zukhruf-an which occurs in verse 33 of this Surah.
Period of Revelation
It could not be known from any authentic tradition, but a study of its subject matter shows that this Surah also was sent down in the same period in which the Surahs Al-Mumin, As-Sajdah and Ash-Shura, were sent down. It appears that the revelation of this series of the Surahs began when the disbelievers of Makkah were planning to put an end to the Holy Prophet's life. Day and night they were holding consultations in their assemblies as how to eliminate him, and even an attack on his life also had been made as has been clearly referred to in vv. 79-80.
Theme and Topics
In this Surah a forceful and severe criticism has been made of the Quraish and the common Arabs creeds and superstitions of ignorance in which they persisted, and their stubbornness has been exposed in a firm and effective way, so that every member of the society, who was reasonable in some degree, should be made to consider the evils in which the community was involved and its tyrannical treatment of the person who was trying to redeem it.
The discourse starts in a way as if to say: "You, by means of your mischiefs, want that the revelation of this Book should be stopped, but Allah has never withheld the appointment of His Prophets and the revelation of His Books because of the mischief of the people, but has destroyed the wicked people, who obstructed the way of His guidance. The same He will do again. A little further in vv. 41-43 and 79-80 the same thing has been reiterated. Though the people who were plotting against his life are meant, the Holy Prophet has been addressed to the effect: "whether you remain alive or not, We will certainly punish the wicked," and the people themselves have been plainly warned to the effect: "If you have decided to take an action against Our Prophet, We too will take a decisive action."
Then, it has been told what is the reality of the religion that the people are following so devotedly and what are the arguments on whose strength they are resisting Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and Blessings).
They themselves admit that the Creator of the earth and heavens and of themselves and their deities is only Allah. They also know and admit that the blessings they are benefiting from, have been bestowed by Allah; yet they insist on making others associates of Allah in His Godhead.
They regard the servants as the children of Allah, and that too daughters, whom they regard as disgraceful for themselves.
They believe that the angels are goddesses; they have carved their images as females; they adorn them with female dresses and ornaments, and call them daughters of Allah: they worship them and invoke them for the fulfillment of their needs. How did they know that the angels were female?
When they are rebuked for these superstitions, they present the pretense of destiny and say :"Had Allah disapproved of these our practices, we could not have worshiped these images, whereas the means of finding out whether Allah had approved of something or not, are His Books and not those things which are happening in the world according to His Will. For under His Will not only idol worship but crimes like theft and adultery, robbery. murder, etc. also are being committed. Can this argument be used to justify as right and proper this commission of every crime and evil is the world?
When it is asked: Have you any other authority, apart from this wrong argument, for the polytheism of yours? They reply, "The same has been the practice since the time of our forefathers." In other words, this in their opinion is a strong enough argument for a creed's being right and true, whereas the Prophet Abraham, descent from whom is the only basis of their pride and distinction, had rejected the religion of his elders and left his home, and he had discarded every such blind imitation of his forefathers, which did not have the support of any rational argument. Then, if these people had to follow their elders only, for this also they selected their most ignorant elders and abandoned their most illustrious elders like the Prophets Abraham and Ishmael (on whom be peace).
When they are asked: "Has ever a Prophet or a Book sent down by God also given this teaching that others beside Allah too are worthy of worship? they present this practice of the Christians as an argument that they took Jesus son of Mary as son of God and worshiped him; whereas the question was not this whether the community of a Prophet had committed shirk or not, but this whether a Prophet had himself taught shirk. Jesus son of Mary had never said that he was son of God and that the people should worship him. His own was the same teaching which every other Prophet had given "My Lord as well as your Lord is Allah: so worship Him alone."
They were disinclined to believe in the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet because he was neither a rich man nor a person of high worldly position and rank. They said "Had Allah willed to appoint a prophet among us, He would have appointed one of the great men of' our two cities (Makkah and Taif). On that very basis, Pharaoh also had looked down upon the Prophet Moses and said: "If Allah, the King of the heavens, had to send a messenger to me, the king of the earth, He would have sent him with bracelets of gold and a company of angels in attendance. Where from has this mendicant appeared I am superior to him, for the kingdom of Egypt belongs to me, and the canals of the River Nile are flowing under my control. What is the status of this man as against me? He has neither wealth nor authority."
Thus, after criticizing each practice of ignorance of the disbelievers and rejecting it with rational arguments, it has been pointed out: "Neither has God any offspring, nor are there separate gods of the earth and heavens, nor is there any intercessor who may be able to protect from His punishment those who adopt deviation knowingly. Allah is far above this that He should have children. He alone is the God of the whole Universe: all others are His servants and not associates in His attributes and powers, and only such men can intercede with Him, who are themselves followers of the Truth and they also can intercede only for those who may have adopted obedience of the Truth in the world."
Source: Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Quran