سورة مريم
Surah Maryam
Mary
Surah Maryam (Mary) is the 19th surah of the Quran. It has 98 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
كٓهيعٓصٓ﴿١﴾
Kafhayaʿaynsad
Kāf, Hā, Yā, ʿAyn, Ṣād.
ذِكۡرُ رَحۡمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبۡدَهُۥ زَكَرِيَّآ﴿٢﴾
Thikru rahmati rabbika ʿabdahu zakariyya
[This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah
إِذۡ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ نِدَآءً خَفِيࣰّا﴿٣﴾
Ith nada rabbahu nidaan khafiyyan
When he called to his Lord a private call [i.e., supplication].
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَهَنَ ٱلۡعَظۡمُ مِنِّي وَ ٱشۡتَعَلَ ٱلرَّأۡسُ شَيۡبࣰا وَ لَمۡ أَكُنۢ بِدُعَآئِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيࣰّا﴿٤﴾
Qala rabbi innee wahana alʿathmu minnee waishtaʿala alrrasu shayban walam akun biduʿaika rabbi shaqiyyan
He said, "My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy [i.e., disappointed].
وَ إِنِّي خِفۡتُ ٱلۡمَوَٰلِيَ مِن وَرَآءِي وَ كَانَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتِي عَاقِرࣰا فَهَبۡ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيࣰّا﴿٥﴾
Wainnee khiftu almawaliya min waraee wakanati imraatee ʿaqiran fahab lee min ladunka waliyyan
And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir
يَرِثُنِي وَ يَرِثُ مِنۡ ءَالِ يَعۡقُوبَ ۖ وَ ٱجۡعَلۡهُ رَبِّ رَضِيࣰّا﴿٦﴾
Yarithunee wayarithu min ali yaʿqooba waijʿalhu rabbi radiyyan
Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You]."
يَٰزَكَرِيَّآ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَٰمٍ ٱسۡمُهُۥ يَحۡيَىٰ لَمۡ نَجۡعَل لَّهُۥ مِن قَبۡلُ سَمِيࣰّا﴿٧﴾
Ya zakariyya inna nubashshiruka bighulamin ismuhu yahya lam najʿal lahu min qablu samiyyan
[He was told], "O Zechariah, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be John. We have not assigned to any before [this] name."
قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَٰمࣱ وَ كَانَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتِي عَاقِرࣰا وَ قَدۡ بَلَغۡتُ مِنَ ٱلۡكِبَرِ عِتِيࣰّا﴿٨﴾
Qala rabbi anna yakoonu lee ghulamun wakanati imraatee ʿaqiran waqad balaghtu mina alkibari ʿitiyyan
He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren and I have reached extreme old age?"
قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنࣱ وَ قَدۡ خَلَقۡتُكَ مِن قَبۡلُ وَ لَمۡ تَكُ شَيۡـࣰٔا﴿٩﴾
Qala kathalika qala rabbuka huwa ʿalayya hayyinun waqad khalaqtuka min qablu walam taku shayan
[An angel] said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.'"
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجۡعَل لِّيٓ ءَايَةࣰ ۖ قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَٰثَ لَيَالࣲ سَوِيࣰّا﴿١٠﴾
Qala rabbi ijʿal lee ayatan qala ayatuka alla tukallima alnnasa thalatha layalin sawiyyan
[Zechariah] said, "My Lord, make for me a sign." He said, "Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three nights, [being] sound."
فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلۡمِحۡرَابِ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَيۡهِمۡ أَن سَبِّحُواْ بُكۡرَةࣰ وَ عَشِيࣰّا﴿١١﴾
Fakharaja ʿala qawmihi mina almihrabi faawha ilayhim an sabbihoo bukratan waʿashiyyan
So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to exalt [Allāh] in the morning and afternoon.
يَٰيَحۡيَىٰ خُذِ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ بِقُوَّةࣲ ۖ وَ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُ ٱلۡحُكۡمَ صَبِيࣰّا﴿١٢﴾
Ya yahya khuthi alkitaba biquwwatin waataynahu alhukma sabiyyan
[Allāh said], "O John, take the Scripture [i.e., adhere to it] with determination." And We gave him judgement [while yet] a boy
وَ حَنَانࣰا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَ زَكَوٰةࣰ ۖ وَ كَانَ تَقِيࣰّا﴿١٣﴾
Wahananan min ladunna wazakatan wakana taqiyyan
And affection from Us and purity, and he was fearing of Allāh
وَ بَرَّۢا بِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ وَ لَمۡ يَكُن جَبَّارًا عَصِيࣰّا﴿١٤﴾
Wabarran biwalidayhi walam yakun jabbaran ʿasiyyan
And dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant.
وَ سَلَٰمٌ عَلَيۡهِ يَوۡمَ وُلِدَ وَ يَوۡمَ يَمُوتُ وَ يَوۡمَ يُبۡعَثُ حَيࣰّا﴿١٥﴾
Wasalamun ʿalayhi yawma wulida wayawma yamootu wayawma yubʿathu hayyan
And peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive.
وَ ٱذۡكُرۡ فِي ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ مَرۡيَمَ إِذِ ٱنتَبَذَتۡ مِنۡ أَهۡلِهَا مَكَانࣰا شَرۡقِيࣰّا﴿١٦﴾
Waothkur fee alkitabi maryama ithi intabathat min ahliha makanan sharqiyyan
And mention, [O Muḥammad], in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east.
فَٱتَّخَذَتۡ مِن دُونِهِمۡ حِجَابࣰا فَأَرۡسَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرࣰا سَوِيࣰّا﴿١٧﴾
Faittakhathat min doonihim hijaban faarsalna ilayha roohana fatamaththala laha basharan sawiyyan
And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel [i.e., Gabriel], and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man.
قَالَتۡ إِنِّيٓ أَعُوذُ بِٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيࣰّا﴿١٨﴾
Qalat innee aʿoothu bialrrahmani minka in kunta taqiyyan
She said, "Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of Allāh."
قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَٰمࣰا زَكِيࣰّا﴿١٩﴾
Qala innama ana rasoolu rabbiki liahaba laki ghulaman zakiyyan
He said, "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy [i.e., son]."
قَالَتۡ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَٰمࣱ وَ لَمۡ يَمۡسَسۡنِي بَشَرࣱ وَ لَمۡ أَكُ بَغِيࣰّا﴿٢٠﴾
Qalat anna yakoonu lee ghulamun walam yamsasnee basharun walam aku baghiyyan
She said, "How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?"
قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنࣱ ۖ وَ لِنَجۡعَلَهُۥٓ ءَايَةࣰ لِّلنَّاسِ وَ رَحۡمَةࣰ مِّنَّا ۚ وَ كَانَ أَمۡرࣰا مَّقۡضِيࣰّا﴿٢١﴾
Qala kathaliki qala rabbuki huwa ʿalayya hayyinun walinajʿalahu ayatan lilnnasi warahmatan minna wakana amran maqdiyyan
He said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.'"
فَحَمَلَتۡهُ فَٱنتَبَذَتۡ بِهِۦ مَكَانࣰا قَصِيࣰّا﴿٢٢﴾
Fahamalathu faintabathat bihi makanan qasiyyan
So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place.
فَأَجَآءَهَا ٱلۡمَخَاضُ إِلَىٰ جِذۡعِ ٱلنَّخۡلَةِ قَالَتۡ يَٰلَيۡتَنِي مِتُّ قَبۡلَ هَٰذَا وَ كُنتُ نَسۡيࣰا مَّنسِيࣰّا﴿٢٣﴾
Faajaaha almakhadu ila jithʿi alnnakhlati qalat ya laytanee mittu qabla hatha wakuntu nasyan mansiyyan
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, "Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten."
فَنَادَىٰهَا مِن تَحۡتِهَآ أَلَّا تَحۡزَنِي قَدۡ جَعَلَ رَبُّكِ تَحۡتَكِ سَرِيࣰّا﴿٢٤﴾
Fanadaha min tahtiha alla tahzanee qad jaʿala rabbuki tahtaki sariyyan
But he called her from below her, "Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream.
وَ هُزِّيٓ إِلَيۡكِ بِجِذۡعِ ٱلنَّخۡلَةِ تُسَٰقِطۡ عَلَيۡكِ رُطَبࣰا جَنِيࣰّا﴿٢٥﴾
Wahuzzee ilayki bijithʿi alnnakhlati tusaqit ʿalayki rutaban janiyyan
And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates.
فَكُلِي وَ ٱشۡرَبِي وَ قَرِّي عَيۡنࣰا ۖ فَإِمَّا تَرَيِنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡبَشَرِ أَحَدࣰا فَقُولِيٓ إِنِّي نَذَرۡتُ لِلرَّحۡمَٰنِ صَوۡمࣰا فَلَنۡ أُكَلِّمَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ إِنسِيࣰّا﴿٢٦﴾
Fakulee waishrabee waqarree ʿaynan faimma tarayinna mina albashari ahadan faqoolee innee nathartu lilrrahmani sawman falan okallima alyawma insiyyan
So eat and drink and be contented. And if you see from among humanity anyone, say, 'Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention, so I will not speak today to [any] man.'"
فَأَتَتۡ بِهِۦ قَوۡمَهَا تَحۡمِلُهُۥ ۖ قَالُواْ يَٰمَرۡيَمُ لَقَدۡ جِئۡتِ شَيۡـࣰٔا فَرِيࣰّا﴿٢٧﴾
Faatat bihi qawmaha tahmiluhu qaloo ya maryamu laqad jiti shayan fariyyan
Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, "O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented.
يَٰٓأُخۡتَ هَٰرُونَ مَا كَانَ أَبُوكِ ٱمۡرَأَ سَوۡءࣲ وَ مَا كَانَتۡ أُمُّكِ بَغِيࣰّا﴿٢٨﴾
Ya okhta haroona ma kana abooki imraa sawin wama kanat ommuki baghiyyan
O sister [i.e., descendant] of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste."
فَأَشَارَتۡ إِلَيۡهِ ۖ قَالُواْ كَيۡفَ نُكَلِّمُ مَن كَانَ فِي ٱلۡمَهۡدِ صَبِيࣰّا﴿٢٩﴾
Faasharat ilayhi qaloo kayfa nukallimu man kana fee almahdi sabiyyan
So she pointed to him. They said, "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?"
قَالَ إِنِّي عَبۡدُ ٱللَّهِ ءَاتَىٰنِيَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ وَ جَعَلَنِي نَبِيࣰّا﴿٣٠﴾
Qala innee ʿabdu Allahi ataniya alkitaba wajaʿalanee nabiyyan
[Jesus] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allāh. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.
وَ جَعَلَنِي مُبَارَكًا أَيۡنَ مَا كُنتُ وَ أَوۡصَٰنِي بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةِ مَا دُمۡتُ حَيࣰّا﴿٣١﴾
Wajaʿalanee mubarakan ayna ma kuntu waawsanee bialssalati waalzzakati ma dumtu hayyan
And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakāh as long as I remain alive
وَ بَرَّۢا بِوَٰلِدَتِي وَ لَمۡ يَجۡعَلۡنِي جَبَّارࣰا شَقِيࣰّا﴿٣٢﴾
Wabarran biwalidatee walam yajʿalnee jabbaran shaqiyyan
And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant.
وَ ٱلسَّلَٰمُ عَلَيَّ يَوۡمَ وُلِدتُّ وَ يَوۡمَ أَمُوتُ وَ يَوۡمَ أُبۡعَثُ حَيࣰّا﴿٣٣﴾
Waalssalamu ʿalayya yawma wulidtu wayawma amootu wayawma obʿathu hayyan
And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive."
ذَٰلِكَ عِيسَى ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ ۖ قَوۡلَ ٱلۡحَقِّ ٱلَّذِي فِيهِ يَمۡتَرُونَ﴿٣٤﴾
Thalika ʿeesa ibnu maryama qawla alhaqqi allathee feehi yamtaroona
That is Jesus, the son of Mary - the word of truth about which they are in dispute.
مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ مِن وَلَدࣲ ۖ سُبۡحَٰنَهُۥٓ ۚ إِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمۡرࣰا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ﴿٣٥﴾
Ma kana lillahi an yattakhitha min waladin subhanahu itha qada amran fainnama yaqoolu lahu kun fayakoonu
It is not [befitting] for Allāh to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.
وَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّي وَ رَبُّكُمۡ فَٱعۡبُدُوهُ ۚ هَٰذَا صِرَٰطࣱ مُّسۡتَقِيمࣱ﴿٣٦﴾
Wainna Allaha rabbee warabbukum faoʿbudoohu hatha siratun mustaqeemun
[Jesus said], "And indeed, Allāh is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path."
فَٱخۡتَلَفَ ٱلۡأَحۡزَابُ مِنۢ بَيۡنِهِمۡ ۖ فَوَيۡلࣱ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن مَّشۡهَدِ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمٍ﴿٣٧﴾
Faikhtalafa alahzabu min baynihim fawaylun lillatheena kafaroo min mashhadi yawmin ʿatheemin
Then the factions differed [concerning Jesus] from among them, so woe to those who disbelieved - from the scene of a tremendous Day.
أَسۡمِعۡ بِهِمۡ وَ أَبۡصِرۡ يَوۡمَ يَأۡتُونَنَا لَٰكِنِ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ فِي ضَلَٰلࣲ مُّبِينࣲ﴿٣٨﴾
Asmiʿ bihim waabsir yawma yatoonana lakini alththalimoona alyawma fee dalalin mubeenin
How [clearly] they will hear and see the Day they come to Us, but the wrongdoers today are in clear error.
وَ أَنذِرۡهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡحَسۡرَةِ إِذۡ قُضِيَ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ وَ هُمۡ فِي غَفۡلَةࣲ وَ هُمۡ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ﴿٣٩﴾
Waanthirhum yawma alhasrati ith qudiya alamru wahum fee ghaflatin wahum la yuminoona
And warn them, [O Muḥammad], of the Day of Regret, when the matter will be concluded; and [yet], they are in [a state of] heedlessness, and they do not believe.
إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَرِثُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَ مَنۡ عَلَيۡهَا وَ إِلَيۡنَا يُرۡجَعُونَ﴿٤٠﴾
Inna nahnu narithu alarda waman ʿalayha wailayna yurjaʿoona
Indeed, it is We who will inherit the earth and whoever is on it, and to Us they will be returned.
وَ ٱذۡكُرۡ فِي ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ صِدِّيقࣰا نَّبِيًّا﴿٤١﴾
Waothkur fee alkitabi ibraheema innahu kana siddeeqan nabiyyan
And mention in the Book [the story of] Abraham. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet.
إِذۡ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ يَٰٓأَبَتِ لِمَ تَعۡبُدُ مَا لَا يَسۡمَعُ وَ لَا يُبۡصِرُ وَ لَا يُغۡنِي عَنكَ شَيۡـࣰٔا﴿٤٢﴾
Ith qala liabeehi ya abati lima taʿbudu ma la yasmaʿu wala yubsiru wala yughnee ʿanka shayan
[Mention] when he said to his father, "O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not benefit you at all?
يَٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّي قَدۡ جَآءَنِي مِنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ مَا لَمۡ يَأۡتِكَ فَٱتَّبِعۡنِيٓ أَهۡدِكَ صِرَٰطࣰا سَوِيࣰّا﴿٤٣﴾
Ya abati innee qad jaanee mina alʿilmi ma lam yatika faittabiʿnee ahdika siratan sawiyyan
O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you, so follow me; I will guide you to an even path.
يَٰٓأَبَتِ لَا تَعۡبُدِ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَ كَانَ لِلرَّحۡمَٰنِ عَصِيࣰّا﴿٤٤﴾
Ya abati la taʿbudi alshshaytana inna alshshaytana kana lilrrahmani ʿasiyyan
O my father, do not worship [i.e., obey] Satan. Indeed Satan has ever been, to the Most Merciful, disobedient.
يَٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ أَن يَمَسَّكَ عَذَابࣱ مِّنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ فَتَكُونَ لِلشَّيۡطَٰنِ وَلِيࣰّا﴿٤٥﴾
Ya abati innee akhafu an yamassaka ʿathabun mina alrrahmani fatakoona lilshshyatani waliyyan
O my father, indeed I fear that there will touch you a punishment from the Most Merciful so you would be to Satan a companion [in Hellfire]."
قَالَ أَرَاغِبٌ أَنتَ عَنۡ ءَالِهَتِي يَٰٓإِبۡرَٰهِيمُ ۖ لَئِن لَّمۡ تَنتَهِ لَأَرۡجُمَنَّكَ ۖ وَ ٱهۡجُرۡنِي مَلِيࣰّا﴿٤٦﴾
Qala araghibun anta ʿan alihatee ya ibraheemu lain lam tantahi laarjumannaka waohjurnee maliyyan
[His father] said, "Have you no desire for my gods, O Abraham? If you do not desist, I will surely stone you, so avoid me a prolonged time."
قَالَ سَلَٰمٌ عَلَيۡكَ ۖ سَأَسۡتَغۡفِرُ لَكَ رَبِّيٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ بِي حَفِيࣰّا﴿٤٧﴾
Qala salamun ʿalayka saastaghfiru laka rabbee innahu kana bee hafiyyan
[Abraham] said, "Peace [i.e., safety] will be upon you. I will ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Indeed, He is ever gracious to me.
وَ أَعۡتَزِلُكُمۡ وَ مَا تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَ أَدۡعُواْ رَبِّي عَسَىٰٓ أَلَّآ أَكُونَ بِدُعَآءِ رَبِّي شَقِيࣰّا﴿٤٨﴾
Waaʿtazilukum wama tadʿoona min dooni Allahi waadʿoo rabbee ʿasa alla akoona biduʿai rabbee shaqiyyan
And I will leave you and those you invoke other than Allāh and will invoke my Lord. I expect that I will not be in invocation to my Lord unhappy [i.e., disappointed]."
فَلَمَّا ٱعۡتَزَلَهُمۡ وَ مَا يَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَهَبۡنَا لَهُۥٓ إِسۡحَٰقَ وَ يَعۡقُوبَ ۖ وَ كُلࣰّا جَعَلۡنَا نَبِيࣰّا﴿٤٩﴾
Falamma iʿtazalahum wama yaʿbudoona min dooni Allahi wahabna lahu ishaqa wayaʿqooba wakullan jaʿalna nabiyyan
So when he had left them and those they worshipped other than Allāh, We gave him Isaac and Jacob, and each [of them] We made a prophet.
وَ وَهَبۡنَا لَهُم مِّن رَّحۡمَتِنَا وَ جَعَلۡنَا لَهُمۡ لِسَانَ صِدۡقٍ عَلِيࣰّا﴿٥٠﴾
Wawahabna lahum min rahmatina wajaʿalna lahum lisana sidqin ʿaliyyan
And We gave them of Our mercy, and We made for them a mention [i.e., reputation] of high honor.
وَ ٱذۡكُرۡ فِي ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ مُوسَىٰٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ مُخۡلَصࣰا وَ كَانَ رَسُولࣰا نَّبِيࣰّا﴿٥١﴾
Waothkur fee alkitabi moosa innahu kana mukhlasan wakana rasoolan nabiyyan
And mention in the Book, Moses. Indeed, he was chosen, and he was a messenger and a prophet.
وَ نَٰدَيۡنَٰهُ مِن جَانِبِ ٱلطُّورِ ٱلۡأَيۡمَنِ وَ قَرَّبۡنَٰهُ نَجِيࣰّا﴿٥٢﴾
Wanadaynahu min janibi alttoori alaymani waqarrabnahu najiyyan
And We called him from the side of the mount at [his] right and brought him near, confiding [to him].
وَ وَهَبۡنَا لَهُۥ مِن رَّحۡمَتِنَآ أَخَاهُ هَٰرُونَ نَبِيࣰّا﴿٥٣﴾
Wawahabna lahu min rahmatina akhahu haroona nabiyyan
And We gave him out of Our mercy his brother Aaron as a prophet.
وَ ٱذۡكُرۡ فِي ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ إِسۡمَٰعِيلَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ صَادِقَ ٱلۡوَعۡدِ وَ كَانَ رَسُولࣰا نَّبِيࣰّا﴿٥٤﴾
Waothkur fee alkitabi ismaʿeela innahu kana sadiqa alwaʿdi wakana rasoolan nabiyyan
And mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet.
وَ كَانَ يَأۡمُرُ أَهۡلَهُۥ بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةِ وَ كَانَ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦ مَرۡضِيࣰّا﴿٥٥﴾
Wakana yamuru ahlahu bialssalati waalzzakati wakana ʿinda rabbihi mardiyyan
And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and zakāh and was to his Lord pleasing [i.e., accepted by Him].
وَ ٱذۡكُرۡ فِي ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ إِدۡرِيسَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ صِدِّيقࣰا نَّبِيࣰّا﴿٥٦﴾
Waothkur fee alkitabi idreesa innahu kana siddeeqan nabiyyan
And mention in the Book, Idrees. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet.
وَ رَفَعۡنَٰهُ مَكَانًا عَلِيًّا﴿٥٧﴾
Warafaʿnahu makanan ʿaliyyan
And We raised him to a high station.
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مِن ذُرِّيَّةِ ءَادَمَ وَ مِمَّنۡ حَمَلۡنَا مَعَ نُوحࣲ وَ مِن ذُرِّيَّةِ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ وَ مِمَّنۡ هَدَيۡنَا وَ ٱجۡتَبَيۡنَآ ۚ إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتُ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ خَرُّواْۤ سُجَّدࣰاۤ وَ بُكِيࣰّا ۩﴿٥٨﴾
Olaika allatheena anʿama Allahu ʿalayhim mina alnnabiyyeena min thurriyyati adama wamimman hamalna maʿa noohin wamin thurriyyati ibraheema waisraeela wamimman hadayna waijtabayna itha tutla ʿalayhim ayatu alrrahmani kharroo sujjadan wabukiyyan
Those were the ones upon whom Allāh bestowed favor from among the prophets of the descendants of Adam and of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah, and of the descendants of Abraham and Israel [i.e., Jacob], and of those whom We guided and chose. When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell in prostration and weeping.
فَخَلَفَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ خَلۡفٌ أَضَاعُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَ ٱتَّبَعُواْ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ ۖ فَسَوۡفَ يَلۡقَوۡنَ غَيًّا﴿٥٩﴾
Fakhalafa min baʿdihim khalfun adaʿoo alssalata waittabaʿoo alshshahawati fasawfa yalqawna ghayyan
But there came after them successors [i.e., later generations] who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil -
إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَ ءَامَنَ وَ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحࣰا فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ يَدۡخُلُونَ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ وَ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ شَيۡـࣰٔا﴿٦٠﴾
Illa man taba waamana waʿamila salihan faolaika yadkhuloona aljannata wala yuthlamoona shayan
Except those who repent, believe and do righteousness; for those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged at all.
جَنَّٰتِ عَدۡنٍ ٱلَّتِي وَعَدَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ عِبَادَهُۥ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ وَعۡدُهُۥ مَأۡتِيࣰّا﴿٦١﴾
Jannati ʿadnin allatee waʿada alrrahmanu ʿibadahu bialghaybi innahu kana waʿduhu matiyyan
[Therein are] gardens of perpetual residence which the Most Merciful has promised His servants in the unseen. Indeed, His promise has ever been eminent.
لَّا يَسۡمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغۡوًا إِلَّا سَلَٰمࣰا ۖ وَ لَهُمۡ رِزۡقُهُمۡ فِيهَا بُكۡرَةࣰ وَ عَشِيࣰّا﴿٦٢﴾
La yasmaʿoona feeha laghwan illa salaman walahum rizquhum feeha bukratan waʿashiyyan
They will not hear therein any ill speech - only [greetings of] peace - and they will have their provision therein, morning and afternoon.
تِلۡكَ ٱلۡجَنَّةُ ٱلَّتِي نُورِثُ مِنۡ عِبَادِنَا مَن كَانَ تَقِيࣰّا﴿٦٣﴾
Tilka aljannatu allatee noorithu min ʿibadina man kana taqiyyan
That is Paradise, which We give as inheritance to those of Our servants who were fearing of Allāh.
وَ مَا نَتَنَزَّلُ إِلَّا بِأَمۡرِ رَبِّكَ ۖ لَهُۥ مَا بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِينَا وَ مَا خَلۡفَنَا وَ مَا بَيۡنَ ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَ مَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ نَسِيࣰّا﴿٦٤﴾
Wama natanazzalu illa biamri rabbika lahu ma bayna aydeena wama khalfana wama bayna thalika wama kana rabbuka nasiyyan
[Gabriel said], "And we [angels] descend not except by the order of your Lord. To Him belongs that before us and that behind us and what is in between. And never is your Lord forgetful -
رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَ مَا بَيۡنَهُمَا فَٱعۡبُدۡهُ وَ ٱصۡطَبِرۡ لِعِبَٰدَتِهِۦ ۚ هَلۡ تَعۡلَمُ لَهُۥ سَمِيࣰّا﴿٦٥﴾
Rabbu alssamawati waalardi wama baynahuma faoʿbudhu waistabir liʿibadatihi hal taʿlamu lahu samiyyan
Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them - so worship Him and have patience for His worship. Do you know of any similarity to Him?"
وَ يَقُولُ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ أَءِذَا مَا مِتُّ لَسَوۡفَ أُخۡرَجُ حَيًّا﴿٦٦﴾
Wayaqoolu alinsanu aitha ma mittu lasawfa okhraju hayyan
And man [i.e., the disbeliever] says, "When I have died, am I going to be brought forth alive?"
أَوَلَا يَذۡكُرُ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ أَنَّا خَلَقۡنَٰهُ مِن قَبۡلُ وَ لَمۡ يَكُ شَيۡـࣰٔا﴿٦٧﴾
Awala yathkuru alinsanu anna khalaqnahu min qablu walam yaku shayan
Does man not remember that We created him before, while he was nothing?
فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَحۡشُرَنَّهُمۡ وَ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ ثُمَّ لَنُحۡضِرَنَّهُمۡ حَوۡلَ جَهَنَّمَ جِثِيࣰّا﴿٦٨﴾
Fawarabbika lanahshurannahum waalshshayateena thumma lanuhdirannahum hawla jahannama jithiyyan
So by your Lord, We will surely gather them and the devils; then We will bring them to be present around Hell upon their knees.
ثُمَّ لَنَنزِعَنَّ مِن كُلِّ شِيعَةٍ أَيُّهُمۡ أَشَدُّ عَلَى ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ عِتِيࣰّا﴿٦٩﴾
Thumma lananziʿanna min kulli sheeʿatin ayyuhum ashaddu ʿala alrrahmani ʿitiyyan
Then We will surely extract from every sect those of them who were worst against the Most Merciful in insolence.
ثُمَّ لَنَحۡنُ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ أَوۡلَىٰ بِهَا صِلِيࣰّا﴿٧٠﴾
Thumma lanahnu aʿlamu biallatheena hum awla biha siliyyan
Then, surely it is We who are most knowing of those most worthy of burning therein.
وَ إِن مِّنكُمۡ إِلَّا وَارِدُهَا ۚ كَانَ عَلَىٰ رَبِّكَ حَتۡمࣰا مَّقۡضِيࣰّا﴿٧١﴾
Wain minkum illa wariduha kana ʿala rabbika hatman maqdiyyan
And there is none of you except he will come to it. This is upon your Lord an inevitability decreed.
ثُمَّ نُنَجِّي ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَواْ وَّ نَذَرُ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ فِيهَا جِثِيࣰّا﴿٧٢﴾
Thumma nunajjee allatheena ittaqaw wanatharu alththalimeena feeha jithiyyan
Then We will save those who feared Allāh and leave the wrongdoers within it, on their knees.
وَ إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتُنَا بَيِّنَٰتࣲ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَيُّ ٱلۡفَرِيقَيۡنِ خَيۡرࣱ مَّقَامࣰا وَ أَحۡسَنُ نَدِيࣰّا﴿٧٣﴾
Waitha tutla ʿalayhim ayatuna bayyinatin qala allatheena kafaroo lillatheena amanoo ayyu alfareeqayni khayrun maqaman waahsanu nadiyyan
And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Which of [our] two parties is best in position and best in association?"
وَ كَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا قَبۡلَهُم مِّن قَرۡنٍ هُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ أَثَٰثࣰا وَ رِءۡيࣰا﴿٧٤﴾
Wakam ahlakna qablahum min qarnin hum ahsanu athathan wariyan
And how many a generation have We destroyed before them who were better in possessions and [outward] appearance?
قُلۡ مَن كَانَ فِي ٱلضَّلَٰلَةِ فَلۡيَمۡدُدۡ لَهُ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ مَدًّا ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا رَأَوۡاْ مَا يُوعَدُونَ إِمَّا ٱلۡعَذَابَ وَ إِمَّا ٱلسَّاعَةَ فَسَيَعۡلَمُونَ مَنۡ هُوَ شَرࣱّ مَّكَانࣰا وَ أَضۡعَفُ جُندࣰا﴿٧٥﴾
Qul man kana fee alddalalati falyamdud lahu alrrahmanu maddan hatta itha raaw ma yooʿadoona imma alʿathaba waimma alssaʿata fasayaʿlamoona man huwa sharrun makanan waadʿafu jundan
Say, "Whoever is in error - let the Most Merciful extend for him an extension [in wealth and time] until, when they see that which they were promised - either punishment [in this world] or the Hour [of resurrection] - they will come to know who is worst in position and weaker in soldiers."
وَ يَزِيدُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱهۡتَدَوۡاْ هُدࣰى ۗ وَ ٱلۡبَٰقِيَٰتُ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ خَيۡرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابࣰا وَ خَيۡرࣱ مَّرَدًّا﴿٧٦﴾
Wayazeedu Allahu allatheena ihtadaw hudan waalbaqiyatu alssalihatu khayrun ʿinda rabbika thawaban wakhayrun maraddan
And Allāh increases those who were guided, in guidance, and the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for recourse.
أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِي كَفَرَ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا وَ قَالَ لَأُوتَيَنَّ مَالࣰا وَ وَلَدًا﴿٧٧﴾
Afaraayta allathee kafara biayatina waqala laootayanna malan wawaladan
Then, have you seen he who disbelieved in Our verses and said, "I will surely be given wealth and children [in the next life]"?
أَطَّلَعَ ٱلۡغَيۡبَ أَمِ ٱتَّخَذَ عِندَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ عَهۡدࣰا﴿٧٨﴾
Attalaʿa alghayba ami ittakhatha ʿinda alrrahmani ʿahdan
Has he looked into the unseen, or has he taken from the Most Merciful a promise?
كَلَّا ۚ سَنَكۡتُبُ مَا يَقُولُ وَ نَمُدُّ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ مَدࣰّا﴿٧٩﴾
Kalla sanaktubu ma yaqoolu wanamuddu lahu mina alʿathabi maddan
No! We will record what he says and extend [i.e., increase] for him from the punishment extensively.
وَ نَرِثُهُۥ مَا يَقُولُ وَ يَأۡتِينَا فَرۡدࣰا﴿٨٠﴾
Wanarithuhu ma yaqoolu wayateena fardan
And We will inherit him [in] what he mentions, and he will come to Us alone.
وَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ءَالِهَةࣰ لِّيَكُونُواْ لَهُمۡ عِزࣰّا﴿٨١﴾
Waittakhathoo min dooni Allahi alihatan liyakoonoo lahum ʿizzan
And they have taken besides Allāh [false] deities that they would be for them [a source of] honor.
كَلَّا ۚ سَيَكۡفُرُونَ بِعِبَادَتِهِمۡ وَ يَكُونُونَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ضِدًّا﴿٨٢﴾
Kalla sayakfuroona biʿibadatihim wayakoonoona ʿalayhim diddan
No! They [i.e., those "gods"] will deny their worship of them and will be against them opponents [on the Day of Judgement].
أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا ٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ عَلَى ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ تَؤُزُّهُمۡ أَزࣰّا﴿٨٣﴾
Alam tara anna arsalna alshshayateena ʿala alkafireena taozzuhum azzan
Do you not see that We have sent the devils upon the disbelievers, inciting them [to evil] with [constant] incitement?
فَلَا تَعۡجَلۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ۖ إِنَّمَا نَعُدُّ لَهُمۡ عَدࣰّا﴿٨٤﴾
Fala taʿjal ʿalayhim innama naʿuddu lahum ʿaddan
So be not impatient over them. We only count out [i.e., allow] to them a [limited] number.
يَوۡمَ نَحۡشُرُ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ إِلَى ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ وَفۡدࣰا﴿٨٥﴾
Yawma nahshuru almuttaqeena ila alrrahmani wafdan
On the Day We will gather the righteous to the Most Merciful as a delegation
وَ نَسُوقُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ وِرۡدࣰا﴿٨٦﴾
Wanasooqu almujrimeena ila jahannama wirdan
And will drive the criminals to Hell in thirst
لَّا يَمۡلِكُونَ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةَ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ عِندَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ عَهۡدࣰا﴿٨٧﴾
La yamlikoona alshshafaʿata illa mani ittakhatha ʿinda alrrahmani ʿahdan
None will have [power of] intercession except he who had taken from the Most Merciful a covenant.
وَ قَالُواْ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ وَلَدࣰا﴿٨٨﴾
Waqaloo ittakhatha alrrahmanu waladan
And they say, "The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son."
لَّقَدۡ جِئۡتُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِدࣰّا﴿٨٩﴾
Laqad jitum shayan iddan
You have done an atrocious thing.
تَكَادُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ يَتَفَطَّرۡنَ مِنۡهُ وَ تَنشَقُّ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَ تَخِرُّ ٱلۡجِبَالُ هَدًّا﴿٩٠﴾
Takadu alssamawatu yatafattarna minhu watanshaqqu alardu watakhirru aljibalu haddan
The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation
أَن دَعَوۡاْ لِلرَّحۡمَٰنِ وَلَدࣰا﴿٩١﴾
An daʿaw lilrrahmani waladan
That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son.
وَ مَا يَنۢبَغِي لِلرَّحۡمَٰنِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا﴿٩٢﴾
Wama yanbaghee lilrrahmani an yattakhitha waladan
And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son.
إِن كُلُّ مَن فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَّآ ءَاتِي ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ عَبۡدࣰا﴿٩٣﴾
In kullu man fee alssamawati waalardi illa atee alrrahmani ʿabdan
There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant.
لَّقَدۡ أَحۡصَىٰهُمۡ وَ عَدَّهُمۡ عَدࣰّا﴿٩٤﴾
Laqad ahsahum waʿaddahum ʿaddan
He has enumerated them and counted them a [full] counting.
وَ كُلُّهُمۡ ءَاتِيهِ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ فَرۡدًا﴿٩٥﴾
Wakulluhum ateehi yawma alqiyamati fardan
And all of them are coming to Him on the Day of Resurrection alone.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَ عَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ سَيَجۡعَلُ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ وُدࣰّا﴿٩٦﴾
Inna allatheena amanoo waʿamiloo alssalihati sayajʿalu lahumu alrrahmanu wuddan
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection.
فَإِنَّمَا يَسَّرۡنَٰهُ بِلِسَانِكَ لِتُبَشِّرَ بِهِ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ وَ تُنذِرَ بِهِۦ قَوۡمࣰا لُّدࣰّا﴿٩٧﴾
Fainnama yassarnahu bilisanika litubashshira bihi almuttaqeena watunthira bihi qawman luddan
So, [O Muḥammad], We have only made it [i.e., the Qur’ān] easy in your tongue [i.e., the Arabic language] that you may give good tidings thereby to the righteous and warn thereby a hostile people.
وَ كَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا قَبۡلَهُم مِّن قَرۡنٍ هَلۡ تُحِسُّ مِنۡهُم مِّنۡ أَحَدٍ أَوۡ تَسۡمَعُ لَهُمۡ رِكۡزَۢا﴿٩٨﴾
Wakam ahlakna qablahum min qarnin hal tuhissu minhum min ahadin aw tasmaʿu lahum rikzan
And how many have We destroyed before them of generations? Do you perceive of them anyone or hear from them a sound?
Translation: Saheeh International · Transliteration
About this surah
Name
It takes its name from v. 16.
Period of Revelation
It was revealed before the migration to Habash. We learn from authentic traditions that Hadrat Ja'afar recited vv. 1-40 of this Surah in the court of Negus when he called the migrants to his court.
Historical Background
We have already briefly referred to the conditions of that period in the introduction to Surah Al-Kahf. Here we shall give a more detailed account of the same conditions, which will be helpful in grasping the meaning of this Surah and the other Surahs of the same period. When the chiefs of the Quraish felt that they had failed to suppress the Islamic movement by ridicule, sarcasm, and by holding out promises and threats and by making false accusations, they resorted to persecution, beating and economic pressure. They would seize new Muslims of their tribes and would persecute, starve and inflict physical torture on them in order to coerce them into giving up Islam. The most pitiful victims of their persecution were the poor people and the slaves and the proteges of the Quraish. They were severely tortured, imprisoned, kept hungry and thirsty, and were dragged on the burning sands of Makkah. The people would get work from the professional laborers but would not pay them their wages. As an illustration we describe below the story of Hadrat Khabbab bin Arat, which is narrated in Bukhari and Muslim :
"I used to work as a blacksmith in Makkah. Once I did some work for As bin Wa'il. When I went to ask for my wages, he said, 'I will not pay your wages unless you disown Muhammad'."
In the same connection Hadrat Khabbab says, "One day the Holy Prophet was sitting in the shadow of the Ka'abah. I went to him and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, now persecution has gone to its extreme; why do you not pray to Allah (for relief)?' At this the Holy Prophet was greatly moved. He said, 'The believers before you were persecuted much more than you. Their bones were scraped with combs of iron and their heads were cut with saws, but still they did not give up their Faith. I assure you that Allah will fulfill this Mission, and there will come a period of such peace that one would travel from Sanna to Hadramaut, and he will have no fear from anyone, save Allah. But you people have already become impatient'." (Bukhari)
When the conditions became unbearable, the Holy Prophet, in the month of Rajab of the fifth year of Prophethood, gave advice to his Companions to this effect: "You may well migrate to Habash, for there is a king, who does not allow any kind of injustice to anyone, and there is good in his land. You should remain there till the time that Allah provides a remedy for your affliction".
Accordingly, at first, eleven men and four women left for Habash. The Quraish pursued them up to the coast but fortunately they managed to sail for Habash from the sea-port of Shu'aibah, and escape their pursuers. After a few months, other Muslims migrated to Habash and their number rose to eighty-three men and eleven women of the Quraish and seven non-Quraish. Only forty people were left with the Holy Prophet at Makkah.
There was great outrage in Makkah after the migration, as every family of the Quraish were adversely affected. There was hardly a family of the Quraish who did not lose a son, son-in-law, daughter, brother or a sister. Among the migrants were the near relatives of Abu Jahl, Abu Sufyan and other chief of the Quraish who were notorious for their persecution of the Muslims. As a result, some of them became even more bitter in their enmity towards Islam, while others who were so moved by this embraced Islam. For example, the Migration left a deep mark on Hadrat Umar. One of his relatives, Laila, daughter of Hathmah, says, "I was packing my luggage for Migration, while my husband, Amr bin Rabiy'ah, had gone out. In the meantime Umar came there and began to watch me, while I was engaged in preparation for the journey. Then he said, 'Are you also going to migrate?' I answered, 'Yes by God, you people have persecuted us much. But the wide earth of Allah is open for us. Now we are going to a place where Allah will grant us peace'. At this, I noticed such signs of emotion on the face of Umar as I had never seen before. He simply said, 'May God be with you' and went away."
After the migration, the Quraish held consultations, and decided to send Abdullah bin Abi Rabiy'ah (half brother of Abu Jahl), and Amr ibn al-As to Habash with precious gifts to persuade Negus (the Ethiopian King) to send the migrants back to Makkah. Hadrat Umm Salmah (a wife of the Holy Prophet), was among those who immigrated, later related this part of the story in detail. She says, "When these two clever statesmen of the Quraish reached Habash, they distributed the gifts among the courtiers of the King and persuaded them to recommend strongly to him to send the migrants back. Then they saw Negus himself and, presenting rich gifts to him, said, "Some headstrong brats of our city have come to your land and our chiefs have sent us to you with the request that you may kindly send them back. These brats have forsaken our faith and have not embraced your faith either, but have invented a new faith". As soon as they had finished their speech, all the courtiers recommended their case, saying, "We should send such people back to their city for their people know them better. It is not proper for us to keep them here." At this the King was annoyed and said, "I am not going to give them back without proper inquiry. As these people have put their trust in my country rather than in any other country and have come here to take shelter, I will not betray them. At first I will send for them and investigate into the allegations these people have made against them. Then I will make my final decision". Accordingly, the King sent for the Companions of the Holy Prophet and asked them to come to his court.
When the migrants received the message of the King, they assembled and held consultations as to what they should say to the King. At last they came to this unanimous decision: "We will present before the King the teachings of the Holy Prophet without adding to or withholding anything from them, and leave it to him whether he lets us remain here or turns us out of his land". When they came to the court, the King put this problem abruptly before them:"I understand that you have given up the faith of your forefathers and have neither embraced my faith nor any other existing faith. I would like to know what your new faith is." At this, Jafar bin Abi Talib, on behalf of the migrants, made an extempore speech to this effect: "O King! We were sunk deep in ignorance and had become very corrupt; then Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him) came to us as a Messenger of God, and did his best to reform us. But the Quraish began to persecute his followers, so we have come to your country in the hope that here we will be free from persecution". After his speech, the King said, "Please recite a piece of the Revelation which has been sent down by God to your Prophet". In response, Hadrat Jafar recited that portion of Surah Maryam which relates the story of Prophets John and Jesus (Allah's peace be upon them). The King listened to it and wept, so much so that his beard became wet with tears. When Hadrat Jafar finished the recital, he said:"Most surely this Revelation and the Message of Jesus have come from the same source. By God I will not give you up into the hands of these people".
Next day \`Amr bin \`As went to Negus and said, "Please send for them again and ask them concerning the creed they hold about Jesus, the son of Mary, for they say a horrible thing about him". The King again sent for the migrants, who had already learned about the scheme of Amr. They again sat together and held consultations in regard to the answer they should give to the King, if he asked about the belief they held about Prophet Jesus. Though this was a very critical situation and all of them were uneasy about it, they decided that they would say the same thing that Allah and His Messenger had taught them. Accordingly, when they went to the court, the King put them the question that had been suggested by Amr bin As. So Jafar bin Abi Talib stood up and answered without the hesitation: "He was a Servant of Allah and His Messenger. He was a Spirit and a Word of Allah which had been sent to virgin Mary." At this the King picked up a straw from the ground and said, 'Bye God, Jesus was not worth this straw more than what you have said about him." After this the King returned the gifts sent by the Quraish, saying, "I do not take any bribe". Then he said to the migrants, "You are allowed to stay here in perfect peace."
Theme and Subject
Keeping in view this historical background, it becomes quite obvious that this Surah was sent down to serve the migrants as a "provision" for their journey to Habash, as if to say, "Though you are leaving your country as persecuted emigrants to a Christian country, you should not in the least hide anything from the teachings you have received. Therefore, you should plainly say to the Christians that Prophet Jesus was not the son of God."
After relating the story of Prophets John and Jesus in v?v?\.?\s*[0-9]+\s*-\s*[0-9]+, the story of Prophet Abraham has been related (vv. 41-50) also for the benefit of the Migrants for he also had been forced like them to leave his country by the persecution of his father, his family and his country men. On the one hand, this meant to console the Emigrants that they were following the footsteps of Prophet Abraham and would attain the same good end as that Prophet did. On the other hand, it meant to warn the disbeliever, of Makkah that they should note it well that they were in the position of the cruel people who had persecuted their forefather and leader, Abraham, while the Muslim Emigrants were in the position of Prophet Abraham himself.
Then the mention of the other Prophets has been made in vv. 51-65 with a view to impress that Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him) had brought the same way of Life that had been brought by the former Prophets but their followers had become corrupt and adopted wrong ways.
In the concluding passage (vv. 66-98), a strong criticism has been made of the evil ways of the disbelievers of Makkah, while the Believers have been given the good news that they would come out successful and become the beloved of the people, in spite of the worst efforts of the enemies of the Truth.
Source: Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Quran