سورة سبأ
Surah Saba
Sheba
Surah Saba (Sheba) is the 34th surah of the Quran. It has 54 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
ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِي لَهُۥ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ مَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَ لَهُ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ فِي ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ ۚ وَ هُوَ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ ٱلۡخَبِيرُ﴿١﴾
Alhamdu lillahi allathee lahu ma fee alssamawati wama fee alardi walahu alhamdu fee alakhirati wahuwa alhakeemu alkhabeeru
[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and to Him belongs [all] praise in the Hereafter. And He is the Wise, the Aware.
يَعۡلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَ مَا يَخۡرُجُ مِنۡهَا وَ مَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَ مَا يَعۡرُجُ فِيهَا ۚ وَ هُوَ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ﴿٢﴾
Yaʿlamu ma yaliju fee alardi wama yakhruju minha wama yanzilu mina alssamai wama yaʿruju feeha wahuwa alrraheemu alghafooru
He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein. And He is the Merciful, the Forgiving.
وَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَا تَأۡتِينَا ٱلسَّاعَةُ ۖ قُلۡ بَلَىٰ وَ رَبِّي لَتَأۡتِيَنَّكُمۡ عَٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ ۖ لَا يَعۡزُبُ عَنۡهُ مِثۡقَالُ ذَرَّةࣲ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ لَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَ لَآ أَصۡغَرُ مِن ذَٰلِكَ وَ لَآ أَكۡبَرُ إِلَّا فِي كِتَٰبࣲ مُّبِينࣲ﴿٣﴾
Waqala allatheena kafaroo la tateena alssaʿatu qul bala warabbee latatiyannakum ʿalimi alghaybi la yaʿzubu ʿanhu mithqalu tharratin fee alssamawati wala fee alardi wala asgharu min thalika wala akbaru illa fee kitabin mubeenin
But those who disbelieve say, "The Hour will not come to us." Say, "Yes, by my Lord, it will surely come to you. [Allāh is] the Knower of the unseen." Not absent from Him is an atom's weight within the heavens or within the earth or [what is] smaller than that or greater, except that it is in a clear register -
لِّيَجۡزِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَ عَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ ۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةࣱ وَ رِزۡقࣱ كَرِيمࣱ﴿٤﴾
Liyajziya allatheena amanoo waʿamiloo alssalihati olaika lahum maghfiratun warizqun kareemun
That He may reward those who believe and do righteous deeds. Those will have forgiveness and noble provision.
وَ ٱلَّذِينَ سَعَوۡ فِيٓ ءَايَٰتِنَا مُعَٰجِزِينَ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابࣱ مِّن رِّجۡزٍ أَلِيمࣱ﴿٥﴾
Waallatheena saʿaw fee ayatina muʿajizeena olaika lahum ʿathabun min rijzin aleemin
But those who strive against Our verses [seeking] to cause failure - for them will be a painful punishment of foul nature.
وَ يَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ هُوَ ٱلۡحَقَّ وَ يَهۡدِيٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَمِيدِ﴿٦﴾
Wayara allatheena ootoo alʿilma allathee onzila ilayka min rabbika huwa alhaqqa wayahdee ila sirati alʿazeezi alhameedi
And those who have been given knowledge see that what is revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, and it guides to the path of the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy.
وَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ هَلۡ نَدُلُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰ رَجُلࣲ يُنَبِّئُكُمۡ إِذَا مُزِّقۡتُمۡ كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ إِنَّكُمۡ لَفِي خَلۡقࣲ جَدِيدٍ﴿٧﴾
Waqala allatheena kafaroo hal nadullukum ʿala rajulin yunabbiokum itha muzziqtum kulla mumazzaqin innakum lafee khalqin jadeedin
But those who disbelieve say, "Shall we direct you to a man who will inform you [that] when you have disintegrated in complete disintegration, you will [then] be [recreated] in a new creation?
أَفۡتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَم بِهِۦ جِنَّةُۢ ۗ بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ فِي ٱلۡعَذَابِ وَ ٱلضَّلَٰلِ ٱلۡبَعِيدِ﴿٨﴾
Aftara ʿala Allahi kathiban am bihi jinnatun bali allatheena la yuminoona bialakhirati fee alʿathabi waalddalali albaʿeedi
Has he invented about Allāh a lie or is there in him madness?" Rather, they who do not believe in the Hereafter will be in the punishment and [are in] extreme error.
أَفَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ مَا بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَ مَا خَلۡفَهُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ۚ إِن نَّشَأۡ نَخۡسِفۡ بِهِمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ أَوۡ نُسۡقِطۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡ كِسَفࣰا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَةࣰ لِّكُلِّ عَبۡدࣲ مُّنِيبࣲ﴿٩﴾
Afalam yaraw ila ma bayna aydeehim wama khalfahum mina alssamai waalardi in nasha nakhsif bihimu alarda aw nusqit ʿalayhim kisafan mina alssamai inna fee thalika laayatan likulli ʿabdin muneebin
Then, do they not look at what is before them and what is behind them of the heaven and earth? If We should will, We could cause the earth to swallow them or [could] let fall upon them fragments from the sky. Indeed in that is a sign for every servant turning back [to Allāh].
وَ لَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا دَاوُۥدَ مِنَّا فَضۡلࣰا ۖ يَٰجِبَالُ أَوِّبِي مَعَهُۥ وَ ٱلطَّيۡرَ ۖ وَ أَلَنَّا لَهُ ٱلۡحَدِيدَ﴿١٠﴾
Walaqad atayna dawooda minna fadlan ya jibalu awwibee maʿahu waalttayra waalanna lahu alhadeeda
And We certainly gave David from Us bounty. [We said], "O mountains, repeat [Our] praises with him, and the birds [as well]." And We made pliable for him iron,
أَنِ ٱعۡمَلۡ سَٰبِغَٰتࣲ وَ قَدِّرۡ فِي ٱلسَّرۡدِ ۖ وَ ٱعۡمَلُواْ صَٰلِحًا ۖ إِنِّي بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِيرࣱ﴿١١﴾
Ani iʿmal sabighatin waqaddir fee alssardi waiʿmaloo salihan innee bima taʿmaloona baseerun
[Commanding him], "Make full coats of mail and calculate [precisely] the links, and work [all of you] righteousness. Indeed I, of what you do, am Seeing."
وَ لِسُلَيۡمَٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهۡرࣱ وَ رَوَاحُهَا شَهۡرࣱ ۖ وَ أَسَلۡنَا لَهُۥ عَيۡنَ ٱلۡقِطۡرِ ۖ وَ مِنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ مَن يَعۡمَلُ بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهِۦ ۖ وَ مَن يَزِغۡ مِنۡهُمۡ عَنۡ أَمۡرِنَا نُذِقۡهُ مِنۡ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ﴿١٢﴾
Walisulaymana alrreeha ghuduwwuha shahrun warawahuha shahrun waasalna lahu ʿayna alqitri wamina aljinni man yaʿmalu bayna yadayhi biithni rabbihi waman yazigh minhum ʿan amrina nuthiqhu min ʿathabi alssaʿeeri
And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind - its morning [journey was that of] a month - and its afternoon [journey was that of] a month, and We made flow for him a spring of [liquid] copper. And among the jinn were those who worked for him by the permission of his Lord. And whoever deviated among them from Our command - We will make him taste of the punishment of the Blaze.
يَعۡمَلُونَ لَهُۥ مَا يَشَآءُ مِن مَّحَٰرِيبَ وَ تَمَٰثِيلَ وَ جِفَانࣲ كَٱلۡجَوَابِ وَ قُدُورࣲ رَّاسِيَٰتٍ ۚ ٱعۡمَلُوٓاْ ءَالَ دَاوُۥدَ شُكۡرࣰا ۚ وَ قَلِيلࣱ مِّنۡ عِبَادِيَ ٱلشَّكُورُ﴿١٣﴾
Yaʿmaloona lahu ma yashao min mahareeba watamatheela wajifanin kaaljawabi waqudoorin rasiyatin iʿmaloo ala dawooda shukran waqaleelun min ʿibadiya alshshakooru
They made for him what he willed of elevated chambers, statues, bowls like reservoirs, and stationary kettles. [We said], "Work, O family of David, in gratitude." And few of My servants are grateful.
فَلَمَّا قَضَيۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ مَا دَلَّهُمۡ عَلَىٰ مَوۡتِهِۦٓ إِلَّا دَآبَّةُ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ تَأۡكُلُ مِنسَأَتَهُۥ ۖ فَلَمَّا خَرَّ تَبَيَّنَتِ ٱلۡجِنُّ أَن لَّوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ ٱلۡغَيۡبَ مَا لَبِثُواْ فِي ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلۡمُهِينِ﴿١٤﴾
Falamma qadayna ʿalayhi almawta ma dallahum ʿala mawtihi illa dabbatu alardi takulu minsaatahu falamma kharra tabayyanati aljinnu an law kanoo yaʿlamoona alghayba ma labithoo fee alʿathabi almuheeni
And when We decreed for him [i.e., Solomon] death, nothing indicated to them [i.e., the jinn] his death except a creature of the earth eating his staff. But when he fell, it became clear to the jinn that if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in humiliating punishment.
لَقَدۡ كَانَ لِسَبَإࣲ فِي مَسۡكَنِهِمۡ ءَايَةࣱ ۖ جَنَّتَانِ عَن يَمِينࣲ وَ شِمَالࣲ ۖ كُلُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِ رَبِّكُمۡ وَ ٱشۡكُرُواْ لَهُۥ ۚ بَلۡدَةࣱ طَيِّبَةࣱ وَ رَبٌّ غَفُورࣱ﴿١٥﴾
Laqad kana lisabain fee maskanihim ayatun jannatani ʿan yameenin washimalin kuloo min rizqi rabbikum waoshkuroo lahu baldatun tayyibatun warabbun ghafoorun
There was for [the tribe of] Saba’ in their dwelling place a sign: two [fields of] gardens on the right and on the left. [They were told], "Eat from the provisions of your Lord and be grateful to Him. A good land [have you], and a forgiving Lord."
فَأَعۡرَضُواْ فَأَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ سَيۡلَ ٱلۡعَرِمِ وَ بَدَّلۡنَٰهُم بِجَنَّتَيۡهِمۡ جَنَّتَيۡنِ ذَوَاتَيۡ أُكُلٍ خَمۡطࣲ وَ أَثۡلࣲ وَ شَيۡءࣲ مِّن سِدۡرࣲ قَلِيلࣲ﴿١٦﴾
Faaʿradoo faarsalna ʿalayhim sayla alʿarimi wabaddalnahum bijannatayhim jannatayni thawatay okulin khamtin waathlin washayin min sidrin qaleelin
But they turned away [refusing], so We sent upon them the flood of the dam, and We replaced their two [fields of] gardens with gardens of bitter fruit, tamarisks and something of sparse lote trees.
ذَٰلِكَ جَزَيۡنَٰهُم بِمَا كَفَرُواْ ۖ وَ هَلۡ نُجَٰزِيٓ إِلَّا ٱلۡكَفُورَ﴿١٧﴾
Thalika jazaynahum bima kafaroo wahal nujazee illa alkafoora
[By] that We repaid them because they disbelieved. And do We [thus] repay except the ungrateful?
وَ جَعَلۡنَا بَيۡنَهُمۡ وَ بَيۡنَ ٱلۡقُرَى ٱلَّتِي بَٰرَكۡنَا فِيهَا قُرࣰى ظَٰهِرَةࣰ وَ قَدَّرۡنَا فِيهَا ٱلسَّيۡرَ ۖ سِيرُواْ فِيهَا لَيَالِيَ وَ أَيَّامًا ءَامِنِينَ﴿١٨﴾
Wajaʿalna baynahum wabayna alqura allatee barakna feeha quran thahiratan waqaddarna feeha alssayra seeroo feeha layaliya waayyaman amineena
And We placed between them and the cities which We had blessed [many] visible cities. And We determined between them the [distances of] journey, [saying], "Travel between them by night or by day in safety."
فَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَا بَٰعِدۡ بَيۡنَ أَسۡفَارِنَا وَ ظَلَمُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ فَجَعَلۡنَٰهُمۡ أَحَادِيثَ وَ مَزَّقۡنَٰهُمۡ كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتࣲ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارࣲ شَكُورࣲ﴿١٩﴾
Faqaloo rabbana baʿid bayna asfarina wathalamoo anfusahum fajaʿalnahum ahadeetha wamazzaqnahum kulla mumazzaqin inna fee thalika laayatin likulli sabbarin shakoorin
But [insolently] they said, "Our Lord, lengthen the distance between our journeys," and wronged themselves, so We made them narrations and dispersed them in total dispersion. Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful.
وَ لَقَدۡ صَدَّقَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ إِبۡلِيسُ ظَنَّهُۥ فَٱتَّبَعُوهُ إِلَّا فَرِيقࣰا مِّنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ﴿٢٠﴾
Walaqad saddaqa ʿalayhim ibleesu thannahu faittabaʿoohu illa fareeqan mina almumineena
And Iblees had already confirmed through them his assumption, so they followed him, except for a party of believers.
وَ مَا كَانَ لَهُۥ عَلَيۡهِم مِّن سُلۡطَٰنٍ إِلَّا لِنَعۡلَمَ مَن يُؤۡمِنُ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ مِمَّنۡ هُوَ مِنۡهَا فِي شَكࣲّ ۗ وَ رَبُّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٍ حَفِيظࣱ﴿٢١﴾
Wama kana lahu ʿalayhim min sultanin illa linaʿlama man yuminu bialakhirati mimman huwa minha fee shakkin warabbuka ʿala kulli shayin hafeethun
And he had over them no authority except [it was decreed] that We might make evident who believes in the Hereafter from who is thereof in doubt. And your Lord, over all things, is Guardian.
قُلِ ٱدۡعُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ زَعَمۡتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَمۡلِكُونَ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّةࣲ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ لَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَ مَا لَهُمۡ فِيهِمَا مِن شِرۡكࣲ وَ مَا لَهُۥ مِنۡهُم مِّن ظَهِيرࣲ﴿٢٢﴾
Quli odʿoo allatheena zaʿamtum min dooni Allahi la yamlikoona mithqala tharratin fee alssamawati wala fee alardi wama lahum feehima min shirkin wama lahu minhum min thaheerin
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Invoke those you claim [as deities] besides Allāh." They do not possess an atom's weight [of ability] in the heavens or on the earth, and they do not have therein any partnership [with Him], nor is there for Him from among them any assistant.
وَ لَا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا لِمَنۡ أَذِنَ لَهُۥ ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلُوبِهِمۡ قَالُواْ مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمۡ ۖ قَالُواْ ٱلۡحَقَّ ۖ وَ هُوَ ٱلۡعَلِيُّ ٱلۡكَبِيرُ﴿٢٣﴾
Wala tanfaʿu alshshafaʿatu ʿindahu illa liman athina lahu hatta itha fuzziʿa ʿan quloobihim qaloo matha qala rabbukum qaloo alhaqqa wahuwa alʿaliyyu alkabeeru
And intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits. [And those wait] until, when terror is removed from their hearts, they will say [to one another], "What has your Lord said?" They will say, "The truth." And He is the Most High, the Grand.
قُلۡ مَن يَرۡزُقُكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ۖ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَ إِنَّآ أَوۡ إِيَّاكُمۡ لَعَلَىٰ هُدًى أَوۡ فِي ضَلَٰلࣲ مُّبِينࣲ﴿٢٤﴾
Qul man yarzuqukum mina alssamawati waalardi quli Allahu wainna aw iyyakum laʿala hudan aw fee dalalin mubeenin
Say, "Who provides for you from the heavens and the earth?" Say, "Allāh. And indeed, we or you are either upon guidance or in clear error."
قُل لَّا تُسۡـَٔلُونَ عَمَّآ أَجۡرَمۡنَا وَ لَا نُسۡـَٔلُ عَمَّا تَعۡمَلُونَ﴿٢٥﴾
Qul la tusaloona ʿamma ajramna wala nusalu ʿamma taʿmaloona
Say, "You will not be asked about what we committed, and we will not be asked about what you do."
قُلۡ يَجۡمَعُ بَيۡنَنَا رَبُّنَا ثُمَّ يَفۡتَحُ بَيۡنَنَا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَ هُوَ ٱلۡفَتَّاحُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ﴿٢٦﴾
Qul yajmaʿu baynana rabbuna thumma yaftahu baynana bialhaqqi wahuwa alfattahu alʿaleemu
Say, "Our Lord will bring us together; then He will judge between us in truth. And He is the Knowing Judge."
قُلۡ أَرُونِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَلۡحَقۡتُم بِهِۦ شُرَكَآءَ ۖ كَلَّا ۚ بَلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ﴿٢٧﴾
Qul arooniya allatheena alhaqtum bihi shurakaa kalla bal huwa Allahu alʿazeezu alhakeemu
Say, "Show me those whom you have attached to Him as partners. No! Rather, He [alone] is Allāh, the Exalted in Might, the Wise."
وَ مَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَٰكَ إِلَّا كَآفَّةࣰ لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرࣰا وَ نَذِيرࣰا وَ لَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ﴿٢٨﴾
Wama arsalnaka illa kaffatan lilnnasi basheeran wanatheeran walakinna akthara alnnasi la yaʿlamoona
And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. But most of the people do not know.
وَ يَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ﴿٢٩﴾
Wayaqooloona mata hatha alwaʿdu in kuntum sadiqeena
And they say, "When is this promise, if you should be truthful?"
قُل لَّكُم مِّيعَادُ يَوۡمࣲ لَّا تَسۡتَـٔۡخِرُونَ عَنۡهُ سَاعَةࣰ وَ لَا تَسۡتَقۡدِمُونَ﴿٣٠﴾
Qul lakum meeʿadu yawmin la tastakhiroona ʿanhu saʿatan wala tastaqdimoona
Say, "For you is the appointment of a Day [when] you will not remain thereafter an hour, nor will you precede [it]."
وَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَن نُّؤۡمِنَ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ وَ لَا بِٱلَّذِي بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ ۗ وَ لَوۡ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ مَوۡقُوفُونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ يَرۡجِعُ بَعۡضُهُمۡ إِلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ ٱلۡقَوۡلَ يَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ لَوۡلَآ أَنتُمۡ لَكُنَّا مُؤۡمِنِينَ﴿٣١﴾
Waqala allatheena kafaroo lan numina bihatha alqurani wala biallathee bayna yadayhi walaw tara ithi alththalimoona mawqoofoona ʿinda rabbihim yarjiʿu baʿduhum ila baʿdin alqawla yaqoolu allatheena istudʿifoo lillatheena istakbaroo lawla antum lakunna mumineena
And those who disbelieve say, "We will never believe in this Qur’ān nor in that before it." But if you could see when the wrongdoers are made to stand before their Lord, refuting each others' words... Those who were oppressed will say to those who were arrogant, "If not for you, we would have been believers."
قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُوٓاْ أَنَحۡنُ صَدَدۡنَٰكُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ بَعۡدَ إِذۡ جَآءَكُم ۖ بَلۡ كُنتُم مُّجۡرِمِينَ﴿٣٢﴾
Qala allatheena istakbaroo lillatheena istudʿifoo anahnu sadadnakum ʿani alhuda baʿda ith jaakum bal kuntum mujrimeena
Those who were arrogant will say to those who were oppressed, "Did we avert you from guidance after it had come to you? Rather, you were criminals."
وَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ بَلۡ مَكۡرُ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَ ٱلنَّهَارِ إِذۡ تَأۡمُرُونَنَآ أَن نَّكۡفُرَ بِٱللَّهِ وَ نَجۡعَلَ لَهُۥٓ أَندَادࣰا ۚ وَ أَسَرُّواْ ٱلنَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُاْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ ۚ وَ جَعَلۡنَا ٱلۡأَغۡلَٰلَ فِيٓ أَعۡنَاقِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ۖ هَلۡ يُجۡزَوۡنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ﴿٣٣﴾
Waqala allatheena istudʿifoo lillatheena istakbaroo bal makru allayli waalnnahari ith tamuroonana an nakfura biAllahi wanajʿala lahu andadan waasarroo alnnadamata lamma raawoo alʿathaba wajaʿalna alaghlala fee aʿnaqi allatheena kafaroo hal yujzawna illa ma kanoo yaʿmaloona
Those who were oppressed will say to those who were arrogant, "Rather, [it was your] conspiracy of night and day when you were ordering us to disbelieve in Allāh and attribute to Him equals." But they will [all] confide regret when they see the punishment; and We will put shackles on the necks of those who disbelieved. Will they be recompensed except for what they used to do?
وَ مَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا فِي قَرۡيَةࣲ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتۡرَفُوهَآ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرۡسِلۡتُم بِهِۦ كَٰفِرُونَ﴿٣٤﴾
Wama arsalna fee qaryatin min natheerin illa qala mutrafooha inna bima orsiltum bihi kafiroona
And We did not send into a city any warner except that its affluent said, "Indeed we, in that with which you were sent, are disbelievers."
وَ قَالُواْ نَحۡنُ أَكۡثَرُ أَمۡوَٰلࣰا وَ أَوۡلَٰدࣰا وَ مَا نَحۡنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ﴿٣٥﴾
Waqaloo nahnu aktharu amwalan waawladan wama nahnu bimuʿaththabeena
And they said, "We are more [than the believers] in wealth and children, and we are not to be punished."
قُلۡ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبۡسُطُ ٱلرِّزۡقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَ يَقۡدِرُ وَ لَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ﴿٣٦﴾
Qul inna rabbee yabsutu alrrizqa liman yashao wayaqdiru walakinna akthara alnnasi la yaʿlamoona
Say, "Indeed, my Lord extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it], but most of the people do not know."
وَ مَآ أَمۡوَٰلُكُمۡ وَ لَآ أَوۡلَٰدُكُم بِٱلَّتِي تُقَرِّبُكُمۡ عِندَنَا زُلۡفَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَنۡ ءَامَنَ وَ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحࣰا فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمۡ جَزَآءُ ٱلضِّعۡفِ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ وَ هُمۡ فِي ٱلۡغُرُفَٰتِ ءَامِنُونَ﴿٣٧﴾
Wama amwalukum wala awladukum biallatee tuqarribukum ʿindana zulfa illa man amana waʿamila salihan faolaika lahum jazao alddiʿfi bima ʿamiloo wahum fee alghurufati aminoona
And it is not your wealth or your children that bring you nearer to Us in position, but it is [by being] one who has believed and done righteousness. For them there will be the double reward for what they did, and they will be in the upper chambers [of Paradise], safe [and secure].
وَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسۡعَوۡنَ فِيٓ ءَايَٰتِنَا مُعَٰجِزِينَ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ فِي ٱلۡعَذَابِ مُحۡضَرُونَ﴿٣٨﴾
Waallatheena yasʿawna fee ayatina muʿajizeena olaika fee alʿathabi muhdaroona
And the ones who strive against Our verses to cause [them] failure - those will be brought into the punishment [to remain].
قُلۡ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبۡسُطُ ٱلرِّزۡقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦ وَ يَقۡدِرُ لَهُۥ ۚ وَ مَآ أَنفَقۡتُم مِّن شَيۡءࣲ فَهُوَ يُخۡلِفُهُۥ ۖ وَ هُوَ خَيۡرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ﴿٣٩﴾
Qul inna rabbee yabsutu alrrizqa liman yashao min ʿibadihi wayaqdiru lahu wama anfaqtum min shayin fahuwa yukhlifuhu wahuwa khayru alrraziqeena
Say, "Indeed, my Lord extends provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts [it] for him. But whatever thing you spend [in His cause] - He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers."
وَ يَوۡمَ يَحۡشُرُهُمۡ جَمِيعࣰا ثُمَّ يَقُولُ لِلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ أَهَٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِيَّاكُمۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡبُدُونَ﴿٤٠﴾
Wayawma yahshuruhum jameeʿan thumma yaqoolu lilmalaikati ahaolai iyyakum kanoo yaʿbudoona
And [mention] the Day when He will gather them all and then say to the angels, "Did these [people] used to worship you?"
قَالُواْ سُبۡحَٰنَكَ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا مِن دُونِهِم ۖ بَلۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡبُدُونَ ٱلۡجِنَّ ۖ أَكۡثَرُهُم بِهِم مُّؤۡمِنُونَ﴿٤١﴾
Qaloo subhanaka anta waliyyuna min doonihim bal kanoo yaʿbudoona aljinna aktharuhum bihim muminoona
They will say, "Exalted are You! You, [O Allāh], are our benefactor excluding [i.e., not] them. Rather, they used to worship the jinn; most of them were believers in them."
فَٱلۡيَوۡمَ لَا يَمۡلِكُ بَعۡضُكُمۡ لِبَعۡضࣲ نَّفۡعࣰا وَ لَا ضَرࣰّا وَ نَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ ذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ٱلَّتِي كُنتُم بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ﴿٤٢﴾
Faalyawma la yamliku baʿdukum libaʿdin nafʿan wala darran wanaqoolu lillatheena thalamoo thooqoo ʿathaba alnnari allatee kuntum biha tukaththiboona
But today [i.e., the Day of Judgement] you do not hold for one another [the power of] benefit or harm, and We will say to those who wronged, "Taste the punishment of the Fire, which you used to deny."
وَ إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتُنَا بَيِّنَٰتࣲ قَالُواْ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّا رَجُلࣱ يُرِيدُ أَن يَصُدَّكُمۡ عَمَّا كَانَ يَعۡبُدُ ءَابَآؤُكُمۡ وَ قَالُواْ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ إِفۡكࣱ مُّفۡتَرࣰى ۚ وَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمۡ إِنۡ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحۡرࣱ مُّبِينࣱ﴿٤٣﴾
Waitha tutla ʿalayhim ayatuna bayyinatin qaloo ma hatha illa rajulun yureedu an yasuddakum ʿamma kana yaʿbudu abaokum waqaloo ma hatha illa ifkun muftaran waqala allatheena kafaroo lilhaqqi lamma jaahum in hatha illa sihrun mubeenun
And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, they say, "This is not but a man who wishes to avert you from that which your fathers were worshipping." And they say, "This is not except a lie invented." And those who disbelieve say of the truth when it has come to them, "This is not but obvious magic."
وَ مَآ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُم مِّن كُتُبࣲ يَدۡرُسُونَهَا ۖ وَ مَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡهِمۡ قَبۡلَكَ مِن نَّذِيرࣲ﴿٤٤﴾
Wama ataynahum min kutubin yadrusoonaha wama arsalna ilayhim qablaka min natheerin
And We had not given them any scriptures which they could study, and We had not sent to them before you, [O Muḥammad], any warner.
وَ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ وَ مَا بَلَغُواْ مِعۡشَارَ مَآ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُمۡ فَكَذَّبُواْ رُسُلِي ۖ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ﴿٤٥﴾
Wakaththaba allatheena min qablihim wama balaghoo miʿshara ma ataynahum fakaththaboo rusulee fakayfa kana nakeeri
And those before them denied, and they [i.e., the people of Makkah] have not attained a tenth of what We had given them. But they [i.e., the former peoples] denied My messengers, so how [terrible] was My reproach.
قُلۡ إِنَّمَآ أَعِظُكُم بِوَٰحِدَةٍ ۖ أَن تَقُومُواْ لِلَّهِ مَثۡنَىٰ وَ فُرَٰدَىٰ ثُمَّ تَتَفَكَّرُواْ ۚ مَا بِصَاحِبِكُم مِّن جِنَّةٍ ۚ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا نَذِيرࣱ لَّكُم بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡ عَذَابࣲ شَدِيدࣲ﴿٤٦﴾
Qul innama aʿithukum biwahidatin an taqoomoo lillahi mathna wafurada thumma tatafakkaroo ma bisahibikum min jinnatin in huwa illa natheerun lakum bayna yaday ʿathabin shadeedin
Say, "I only advise you of one [thing] - that you stand for Allāh, [seeking truth] in pairs and individually, and then give thought." There is not in your companion any madness. He is only a warner to you before a severe punishment.
قُلۡ مَا سَأَلۡتُكُم مِّنۡ أَجۡرࣲ فَهُوَ لَكُمۡ ۖ إِنۡ أَجۡرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَ هُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءࣲ شَهِيدࣱ﴿٤٧﴾
Qul ma saaltukum min ajrin fahuwa lakum in ajriya illa ʿala Allahi wahuwa ʿala kulli shayin shaheedun
Say, "Whatever payment I might have asked of you - it is yours. My payment is only from Allāh, and He is, over all things, Witness."
قُلۡ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَقۡذِفُ بِٱلۡحَقِّ عَلَّٰمُ ٱلۡغُيُوبِ﴿٤٨﴾
Qul inna rabbee yaqthifu bialhaqqi ʿallamu alghuyoobi
Say, "Indeed, my Lord projects the truth, Knower of the unseen."
قُلۡ جَآءَ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَ مَا يُبۡدِئُ ٱلۡبَٰطِلُ وَ مَا يُعِيدُ﴿٤٩﴾
Qul jaa alhaqqu wama yubdio albatilu wama yuʿeedu
Say, "The truth has come, and falsehood can neither begin [anything] nor repeat [it]."
قُلۡ إِن ضَلَلۡتُ فَإِنَّمَآ أَضِلُّ عَلَىٰ نَفۡسِي ۖ وَ إِنِ ٱهۡتَدَيۡتُ فَبِمَا يُوحِيٓ إِلَيَّ رَبِّيٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ سَمِيعࣱ قَرِيبࣱ﴿٥٠﴾
Qul in dalaltu fainnama adillu ʿala nafsee waini ihtadaytu fabima yoohee ilayya rabbee innahu sameeʿun qareebun
Say, "If I should err, I would only err against myself. But if I am guided, it is by what my Lord reveals to me. Indeed, He is Hearing and near."
وَ لَوۡ تَرَىٰٓ إِذۡ فَزِعُواْ فَلَا فَوۡتَ وَ أُخِذُواْ مِن مَّكَانࣲ قَرِيبࣲ﴿٥١﴾
Walaw tara ith faziʿoo fala fawta waokhithoo min makanin qareebin
And if you could see when they are terrified but there is no escape, and they will be seized from a place nearby.
وَ قَالُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ وَ أَنَّىٰ لَهُمُ ٱلتَّنَاوُشُ مِن مَّكَانِۭ بَعِيدࣲ﴿٥٢﴾
Waqaloo amanna bihi waanna lahumu alttanawushu min makanin baʿeedin
And they will [then] say, "We believe in it!" But how for them will be the taking [of faith] from a place far away?
وَ قَدۡ كَفَرُواْ بِهِۦ مِن قَبۡلُ ۖ وَ يَقۡذِفُونَ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ مِن مَّكَانِۭ بَعِيدࣲ﴿٥٣﴾
Waqad kafaroo bihi min qablu wayaqthifoona bialghaybi min makanin baʿeedin
And they had already disbelieved in it before and would assault the unseen from a place far away.
وَ حِيلَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ وَ بَيۡنَ مَا يَشۡتَهُونَ كَمَا فُعِلَ بِأَشۡيَاعِهِم مِّن قَبۡلُ ۚ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ فِي شَكࣲّ مُّرِيبِۭ﴿٥٤﴾
Waheela baynahum wabayna ma yashtahoona kama fuʿila biashyaʿihim min qablu innahum kanoo fee shakkin mureebin
And prevention will be placed between them and what they desire, as was done with their kind before. Indeed, they were in disquieting doubt [i.e., denial].
Translation: Saheeh International · Transliteration
About this surah
Name
The Surah takes its name from verse 15 in which the word Saba has occurred, which implies that it is the Surah in which mention has been made of Saba (i. e. the Sabaeans).
Period of Revelation
The exact period of its revelation is not known from any reliable tradition. However, the style shows that it is either the middle or the early Makkan period. If it is the middle period, it was probably its initial stage when the persecution had not yet become tyrannical and the Islamic movement was being suppressed only by resort to derision and ridicule, rumor mongering, false allegations and casting of evil suggestions in the people's minds.
Theme and Subject Matter
The Surah deals with those objections of the disbelievers, which they were raising against the Holy Prophet's message of Tauhid and the Hereafter, and about his Prophethood itself, mostly in the form of absurd allegations and taunts and mockery. These objections have been answered, sometimes by citing them and sometimes without citing them, and the discourse itself shows which objection is being answered at a particular place. The answers mostly take the form of instruction and admonition and argument, but at some places the disbelievers have been warned also of the evil consequences, of their stubbornness. In this connection, the stories of the Sabaeans and the Prophets David and Solomon have been related to impress this lesson: "You have both these historical precedents before you. On the one hand, there were the Prophets David and Solomon, who had been blessed by Allah with great powers and such grandeur and glory as had been granted to hardly any people before them. In spite of this, they were not proud and arrogant, but remained grateful servants of their Lord. They were never rebellious. On the other hand, there were the people of Saba, who, when blessed by Allah, became proud, and were consequently so thoroughly destroyed and dispersed as to be remembered only in myths and legends. With these precedents in view, you may see and judge for yourselves as to which bind of the life is better: that which is built on belief in Tauhid and the Hereafter and the attitude of gratefulness to Allah, or that which is based on disbelief and shirk and denial of the Hereafter and the worship of the world."
Source: Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Quran