25- Al-Furqan
21  Such  as  fear  not the meeting with Us (for Judgment) say: "Why are not the angels
sent  down  to  us,  or  (why)  do  we  not  see our Lord?" Indeed they have an arrogant
conceit of themselves, and mighty is the insolence of their impiety!
22  The  Day  they  see  the  angels,-  no  joy  will  there be to the sinners that Day: The
(angels) will say: "There is a barrier forbidden (to you) altogether!"
23  And  We  shall  turn  to  whatever  deeds  they  did (in this life), and We shall make
such deeds as floating dust scattered about.
24  The  Companions of the Garden will be well, that Day, in their abode, and have the
fairest of places for repose.
25  The  Day  the  heaven  shall  be  rent  asunder  with clouds, and angels shall be sent
down, descending (in ranks),-
26  That  Day,  the  dominion  as  of  right and truth, shall be (wholly) for (Allah) Most
Merciful: it will be a Day of dire difficulty for the Misbelievers.
27  The  Day  that  the wrong-doer will bite at his hands, he will say, "Oh! would that I
had taken a (straight) path with the Messenger!
28 "Ah! woe is me! Would that I had never taken such a one for a friend!
29  "He  did  lead  me  astray  from the Message (of Allah) after it had come to me! Ah!
the Evil One is but a traitor to man!"
30  Then  the  Messenger  will  say: "O my Lord! Truly my people took this Qur'an for
just foolish nonsense."
31  Thus  have We made for every prophet an enemy among the sinners: but enough is
thy Lord to guide and to help.
32  Those  who  reject  Faith  say:  "Why  is  not the Qur'an revealed to him all at once?
Thus    (is   it  revealed),  that  We  may  strengthen  thy  heart  thereby,  and  We  have
rehearsed it to thee in slow, well-arranged stages, gradually.
33  And  no  question do they bring to thee but We reveal to thee the truth and the best
explanation (thereof).
34  Those  who  will  be  gathered to Hell (prone) on their faces,- they will be in an evil
plight, and, as to Path, most astray.
35  (Before  this,)  We  sent  Moses  The  Book,  and appointed his brother Aaron with
him as minister;
36  And  We command: "Go ye both, to the people who have rejected our Signs:" And
those (people) We destroyed with utter destruction.
37  And  the  people  of Noah,- when they rejected the messengers, We drowned them,
and    We    made    them   as  a  Sign  for  mankind;  and  We  have  prepared  for  (all)
wrong-doers a grievous Penalty;-
38  As  also 'Ad and Thamud, and the Companions of the Rass, and many a generation
between them.
39  To  each  one  We  set forth Parables and examples; and each one We broke to utter
annihilation (for their sins).
40  And  the  (Unbelievers)  must indeed have passed by the town on which was rained
a  shower  of  evil:  did  they not then see it (with their own eyes)? But they fear not the
Resurrection.
41  When  they  see  thee, they treat thee no otherwise than in mockery: "Is this the one
whom Allah has sent as a messenger?"
42  "He  indeed  would  well-nigh  have  misled  us from our gods, had it not been that
we  were  constant  to them!" - Soon will they know, when they see the Penalty, who it
is that is most misled in Path!
43  Seest  thou  such  a one as taketh for his god his own passion (or impulse)? Couldst
thou be a disposer of affairs for him?
44  Or  thinkest  thou that most of them listen or understand? They are only like cattle;-
nay, they are worse astray in Path.
45  Hast  thou  not  turned thy vision to thy Lord?- How He doth prolong the shadow!
If He willed, He could make it stationary! then do We make the sun its guide;
46 Then We draw it in towards Ourselves,- a contraction by easy stages.
47  And  He  it  is  Who  makes the Night as a Robe for you, and Sleep as Repose, and
makes the Day (as it were) a Resurrection.
48  And  He  it  is  Who  sends  the  winds  as heralds of glad tidings, going before His
mercy, and We send down pure water from the sky,-
49  That  with it We may give life to a dead land, and slake the thirst of things We have
created,- cattle and men in great numbers.
50    And  We  have  distributed  the  (water)  amongst  them,  in  order  that  they  may
celebrate (our) praises, but most men are averse (to aught) but (rank) ingratitude.
51 Had it been Our Will, We could have sent a warner to every centre of population.
52  Therefore  listen  not  to  the  Unbelievers,  but  strive  against them with the utmost
strenuousness, with the (Qur'an).
53  It  is He Who has let free the two bodies of flowing water: One palatable and sweet,
and  the  other salt and bitter; yet has He made a barrier between them, a partition that is
forbidden to be passed.
54  It  is  He  Who has created man from water: then has He established relationships of
lineage and marriage: for thy Lord has power (over all things).
55  Yet  do  they  worship,  besides  Allah, things that can neither profit them nor harm
them: and the Misbeliever is a helper (of Evil), against his own Lord!
56 But thee We only sent to give glad tidings and admonition.
57  Say:  "No  reward  do I ask of you for it but this: that each one who will may take a
(straight) Path to his Lord."
58  And  put  thy  trust  in  Him  Who  lives  and  dies not; and celebrate his praise; and
enough is He to be acquainted with the faults of His servants;-
59  He  Who  created  the heavens and the earth and all that is between, in six days, and
is  firmly  established  on  the  Throne  (of  Authority):  Allah Most Gracious: ask thou,
then, about Him of any acquainted (with such things).
60  When  it  is  said  to  them,  "Prostrate  to  (Allah)  Most Gracious!", they say, "And
what  is  (Allah)  Most  Gracious?  Shall  we  prostrate  to  that which thou commandest
us?" And it increases their flight (from the Truth).
61  Blessed  is He Who made constellations in the skies, and placed therein a Lamp and
a Moon giving light;
62  And  it  is  He  Who  made  the Night and the Day to follow each other: for such as
have the will to celebrate His praises or to show their gratitude.
63  And  the  servants  of  (Allah)  Most  Gracious  are  those  who walk on the earth in
humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, "Peace!";
64 Those who spend the night in adoration of their Lord prostrate and standing;
65  Those  who  say,  "Our  Lord!  avert  from  us  the  Wrath  of  Hell,  for its Wrath is
indeed an affliction grievous,-
66 "Evil indeed is it as an abode, and as a place to rest in";
67  Those  who,  when  they  spend,  are not extravagant and not niggardly, but hold a
just (balance) between those (extremes);
68  Those  who  invoke  not,  with Allah, any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has
made  sacred  except  for  just  cause,  nor  commit  fornication; - and any that does this
(not only) meets punishment.
69  (But)  the  Penalty  on  the  Day  of  Judgment  will be doubled to him, and he will
dwell therein in ignominy,-
70  Unless  he  repents,  believes,  and works righteous deeds, for Allah will change the
evil of such persons into good, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful,
71  And  whoever repents and does good has truly turned to Allah with an (acceptable)
conversion;-
72  Those  who  witness  no falsehood, and, if they pass by futility, they pass by it with
honourable (avoidance);
73  Those  who,  when  they  are  admonished  with  the Signs of their Lord, droop not
down at them as if they were deaf or blind;
74  And  those  who  pray,  "Our Lord! Grant unto us wives and offspring who will be
the comfort of our eyes, and give us (the grace) to lead the righteous."
75  Those  are the ones who will be rewarded with the highest place in heaven, because
of their patient constancy: therein shall they be met with salutations and peace,
76 Dwelling therein;- how beautiful an abode and place of rest!
77  Say  (to  the  Rejecters):  "My  Lord  is  not  uneasy because of you if ye call not on
Him:    But    ye    have   indeed  rejected  (Him),  and  soon  will  come  the  inevitable
(punishment)!"

26- Ash-Shuara
In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful
1 Ta. Sin. Mim.
2 These are verses of the Book that makes (things) clear.
3 It may be thou frettest thy soul with grief, that they do not become Believers.
4  If  (such)  were  Our  Will,  We  could  send  down  to  them  from the sky a Sign, to
which they would bend their necks in humility.
5  But  there comes not to them a newly-revealed Message from (Allah) Most Gracious,
but they turn away therefrom.
6  They  have indeed rejected (the Message): so they will know soon (enough) the truth
of what they mocked at!
7  Do  they  not  look  at  the  earth,-  how  many  noble  things  of  all  kinds We have
produced therein?
8 Verily, in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe.
9 And verily, thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.
10 Behold, thy Lord called Moses: "Go to the people of iniquity,-
11 "The people of the Pharaoh: will they not fear Allah?"
12 He said: "O my Lord! I do fear that they will charge me with falsehood:
13  "My  breast  will  be  straitened.  And  my  speech  may not go (smoothly): so send
unto Aaron.
14  "And  (further),  they  have  a  charge  of crime against me; and I fear they may slay
me."
15  Allah  said:  "By  no  means!  proceed  then,  both  of you, with Our Signs; We are
with you, and will listen (to your call).
16  "So  go  forth,  both  of  you,  to Pharaoh, and say: 'We have been sent by the Lord
and Cherisher of the worlds;
17 "'Send thou with us the Children of Israel.'"
18  (Pharaoh)  said:  "Did  we  not  cherish thee as a child among us, and didst thou not
stay in our midst many years of thy life?
19  "And  thou  didst  a deed of thine which (thou knowest) thou didst, and thou art an
ungrateful (wretch)!"
20 Moses said: "I did it then, when I was in error.
21  "So  I  fled  from  you (all) when I feared you; but my Lord has (since) invested me
with judgment (and wisdom) and appointed me as one of the messengers.
22  "And  this is the favour with which thou dost reproach me,- that thou hast enslaved
the Children of Israel!"
23 Pharaoh said: "And what is the 'Lord and Cherisher of the worlds'?"
24  (Moses)  said:  "The  Lord  and  Cherisher  of  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and all
between,- if ye want to be quite sure."
25 (Pharaoh) said to those around: "Did ye not listen (to what he says)?"
26 (Moses) said: "Your Lord and the Lord of your fathers from the beginning!"
27  (Pharaoh)  said:  "Truly  your  messenger  who  has  been  sent to you is a veritable
madman!"
28  (Moses)  said:  "Lord  of  the  East  and  the  West,  and  all between! if ye only had
sense!"
29  (Pharaoh)  said:  "If  thou  dost  put  forward any god other than me, I will certainly
put thee in prison!"
30 (Moses) said: "Even if I showed you something clear (and) convincing?"
31 (Pharaoh) said: "Show it then, if thou tellest the truth!"
32 So (Moses) threw his rod, and behold, it was a serpent, plain (for all to see)!
33 And he drew out his hand, and behold, it was white to all beholders!
34 (Pharaoh) said to the Chiefs around him: "This is indeed a sorcerer well-versed:
35 "His plan is to get you out of your land by his sorcery; then what is it ye counsel?"
36  They  said: "Keep him and his brother in suspense (for a while), and dispatch to the
Cities heralds to collect-
37 "And bring up to thee all (our) sorcerers well-versed."
38 So the sorcerers were got together for the appointment of a day well-known,
39 And the people were told: "Are ye (now) assembled?-
40 "That we may follow the sorcerers (in religion) if they win?"
41  So  when  the  sorcerers  arrived,  they said to Pharaoh: "Of course - shall we have a
(suitable) reward if we win?
42  He  said:  "Yea,  (and  more),- for ye shall in that case be (raised to posts) nearest (to
my person)."
43 Moses said to them: "Throw ye - that which ye are about to throw!"
44  So  they  threw  their  ropes and their rods, and said: "By the might of Pharaoh, it is
we who will certainly win!"
45  Then  Moses  threw  his  rod,  when,  behold,  it  straightway  swallows  up  all  the
falsehoods which they fake!
46 Then did the sorcerers fall down, prostrate in adoration,
47 Saying: "We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,
48 "The Lord of Moses and Aaron."
49  Said  (Pharaoh):  "Believe  ye  in  Him  before  I  give  you permission? surely he is
your  leader,  who  has  taught  you  sorcery! but soon shall ye know! Be sure I will cut
off  your  hands  and  your  feet on opposite sides, and I will cause you all to die on the
cross!"
50 They said: "No matter! for us, we shall but return to our Lord!
51  "Only,  our  desire  is  that our Lord will forgive us our faults, that we may become
foremost among the believers!"
52  By  inspiration  we  told  Moses:  "Travel  by  night with my servants; for surely ye
shall be pursued."
53 Then Pharaoh sent heralds to (all) the Cities,
54 (Saying): "These (Israelites) are but a small band,
55 "And they are raging furiously against us;
56 "But we are a multitude amply fore-warned."
57 So We expelled them from gardens, springs,
58 Treasures, and every kind of honourable position;
59 Thus it was, but We made the Children of Israel inheritors of such things.
60 So they pursued them at sunrise.
61  And  when  the  two bodies saw each other, the people of Moses said: "We are sure
to be overtaken."
62 (Moses) said: "By no means! my Lord is with me! Soon will He guide me!"
63  Then  We  told  Moses  by  inspiration: "Strike the sea with thy rod." So it divided,
and each separate part became like the huge, firm mass of a mountain.
64 And We made the other party approach thither.
65 We delivered Moses and all who were with him;
66 But We drowned the others.
67 Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe.
68 And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.
69 And rehearse to them (something of) Abraham's story.
70 Behold, he said to his father and his people: "What worship ye?"
71 They said: "We worship idols, and we remain constantly in attendance on them."
72 He said: "Do they listen to you when ye call (on them)?"
73 "Or do you good or harm?"
74 They said: "Nay, but we found our fathers doing thus (what we do)."
75 He said: "Do ye then see whom ye have been worshipping,-
76 "Ye and your fathers before you?-
77 "For they are enemies to me; not so the Lord and Cherisher of the Worlds;
78 "Who created me, and it is He Who guides me;
79 "Who gives me food and drink,
80 "And when I am ill, it is He Who cures me;
81 "Who will cause me to die, and then to life (again);
82 "And who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the day of Judgment.
83 "O my Lord! bestow wisdom on me, and join me with the righteous;
84    "Grant    me    honourable    mention  on  the  tongue  of  truth  among  the  latest
(generations);
85 "Make me one of the inheritors of the Garden of Bliss;
86 "Forgive my father, for that he is among those astray;
87 "And let me not be in disgrace on the Day when (men) will be raised up;-
88 "The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail,
89 "But only he (will prosper) that brings to Allah a sound heart;
90 "To the righteous, the Garden will be brought near,
91 "And to those straying in Evil, the Fire will be placed in full view;
92 "And it shall be said to them: 'Where are the (gods) ye worshipped-
93 "'Besides Allah? Can they help you or help themselves?'
94 "Then they will be thrown headlong into the (Fire),- they and those straying in Evil,
95 "And the whole hosts of Iblis together.
96 "They will say there in their mutual bickerings:
97 "'By Allah, we were truly in an error manifest,
98 "'When we held you as equals with the Lord of the Worlds;
99 "'And our seducers were only those who were steeped in guilt.
100 "'Now, then, we have none to intercede (for us),
101 "'Nor a single friend to feel (for us).
102 "'Now if we only had a chance of return we shall truly be of those who believe!'"
103 Verily in this is a Sign but most of them do not believe.
104 And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.
105 The people of Noah rejected the messengers.
106 Behold, their brother Noah said to them: "Will ye not fear (Allah)?
107 "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust:
108 "So fear Allah, and obey me.
109 "No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds:
110 "So fear Allah, and obey me."
111 They said: "Shall we believe in thee when it is the meanest that follow thee?"
112 He said: "And what do I know as to what they do?
113 "Their account is only with my Lord, if ye could (but) understand.
114 "I am not one to drive away those who believe.
115 "I am sent only to warn plainly in public."
116 They said: "If thou desist not, O Noah! thou shalt be stoned (to death)."
117 He said: "O my Lord! truly my people have rejected me.
118  "Judge  Thou,  then,  between  me  and  them openly, and deliver me and those of
the Believers who are with me."
119 So We delivered him and those with him, in the Ark filled (with all creatures).
120 Thereafter We drowned those who remained behind.
121 Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe.
122 And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.
123 The 'Ad (people) rejected the messengers.
124 Behold, their brother Hud said to them: "Will ye not fear (Allah)?
125 "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust:
126 "So fear Allah and obey me.
127 "No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds.
128 "Do ye build a landmark on every high place to amuse yourselves?
129  "And  do  ye  get  for  yourselves  fine  buildings in the hope of living therein (for
ever)?
130 "And when ye exert your strong hand, do ye do it like men of absolute power?
131 "Now fear Allah, and obey me.
132 "Yea, fear Him Who has bestowed on you freely all that ye know.
133 "Freely has He bestowed on you cattle and sons,-
134 "And Gardens and Springs.
135 "Truly I fear for you the Penalty of a Great Day."
136  They  said:  "It is the same to us whether thou admonish us or be not among (our)
admonishers!
137 "This is no other than a customary device of the ancients,
138 "And we are not the ones to receive Pains and Penalties!"
139  So  they  rejected  him,  and We destroyed them. Verily in this is a Sign: but most
of them do not believe.
140 And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.
141 The Thamud (people) rejected the messengers.
142 Behold, their brother Salih said to them: "Will you not fear (Allah)?
143 "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust.
144 "So fear Allah, and obey me.
145 "No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds.
146 "Will ye be left secure, in (the enjoyment of) all that ye have here?-
147 "Gardens and Springs,
148  "And  corn-fields  and  date-palms  with spathes near breaking (with the weight of
fruit)?
149 "And ye carve houses out of (rocky) mountains with great skill.
150 "But fear Allah and obey me;
151 "And follow not the bidding of those who are extravagant,-
152 "Who make mischief in the land, and mend not (their ways)."
153 They said: "Thou art only one of those bewitched!
154  "Thou  art  no  more  than  a mortal like us: then bring us a Sign, if thou tellest the
truth!"
155  He  said:  "Here  is  a she-camel: she has a right of watering, and ye have a right of
watering, (severally) on a day appointed.
156 "Touch her not with harm, lest the Penalty of a Great Day seize you."
157 But they ham-strung her: then did they become full of regrets.
158  But  the  Penalty  seized  them.  Verily  in  this  is a Sign: but most of them do not
believe.
159 And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.
160 The people of Lut rejected the messengers.
161 Behold, their brother Lut said to them: "Will ye not fear (Allah)?
162 "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust.
163 "So fear Allah and obey me.
164 "No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the lord of the Worlds.
165 "Of all the creatures in the world, will ye approach males,
166  "And  leave  those  whom Allah has created for you to be your mates? Nay, ye are
a people transgressing (all limits)!"
167 They said: "If thou desist not, O Lut! thou wilt assuredly be cast out!"
168 He said: "I do detest your doings."
169 "O my Lord! deliver me and my family from such things as they do!"
170 So We delivered him and his family,- all
171 Except an old woman who lingered behind.
172 But the rest We destroyed utterly.
173  We  rained  down  on  them  a  shower (of brimstone): and evil was the shower on
those who were admonished (but heeded not)!
174 Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe.
175 And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might Most Merciful.
176 The Companions of the Wood rejected the messengers.
177 Behold, Shu'aib said to them: "Will ye not fear (Allah)?
178 "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust.
179 "So fear Allah and obey me.
180 "No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds.
181 "Give just measure, and cause no loss (to others by fraud).
182 "And weigh with scales true and upright.
183  "And  withhold  not  things  justly  due  to  men, nor do evil in the land, working
mischief.
184 "And fear Him Who created you and (who created) the generations before (you)"
185 They said: "Thou art only one of those bewitched!
186 "Thou art no more than a mortal like us, and indeed we think thou art a liar!
187 "Now cause a piece of the sky to fall on us, if thou art truthful!"
188 He said: "My Lord knows best what ye do."
189  But  they  rejected  him.  Then  the punishment of a day of overshadowing gloom
seized them, and that was the Penalty of a Great Day.
190 Verily in that is a Sign: but most of them do not believe.
191 And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.
192 Verily this is a Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds:
193 With it came down the spirit of Faith and Truth-
194 To thy heart and mind, that thou mayest admonish.
195 In the perspicuous Arabic tongue.
196 Without doubt it is (announced) in the mystic Books of former peoples.
197 Is it not a Sign to them that the Learned of the Children of Israel knew it (as true)?
198 Had We revealed it to any of the non-Arabs,
199 And had he recited it to them, they would not have believed in it.
200 Thus have We caused it to enter the hearts of the sinners.
201 They will not believe in it until they see the grievous Penalty;
202 But the (Penalty) will come to them of a sudden, while they perceive it not;
203 Then they will say: "Shall we be respited?"
204 Do they then ask for Our Penalty to be hastened on?
205 Seest thou? If We do let them enjoy (this life) for a few years,
206 Yet there comes to them at length the (Punishment) which they were promised!
207 It will profit them not that they enjoyed (this life)!
208 Never did We destroy a population, but had its warners -
209 By way of reminder; and We never are unjust.
210 No evil ones have brought down this (Revelation):
211 It would neither suit them nor would they be able (to produce it).
212 Indeed they have been removed far from even (a chance of) hearing it.
213  So  call  not  on  any other god with Allah, or thou wilt be among those under the
Penalty.
214 And admonish thy nearest kinsmen,
215 And lower thy wing to the Believers who follow thee.
216 Then if they disobey thee, say: "I am free (of responsibility) for what ye do!"
217 And put thy trust on the Exalted in Might, the Merciful,-
218 Who seeth thee standing forth (in prayer),
219 And thy movements among those who prostrate themselves,
220 For it is He Who heareth and knoweth all things.
221 Shall I inform you, (O people!), on whom it is that the evil ones descend?
222 They descend on every lying, wicked person,
223 (Into whose ears) they pour hearsay vanities, and most of them are liars.
224 And the Poets,- It is those straying in Evil, who follow them:
225 Seest thou not that they wander distracted in every valley?-
226 And that they say what they practise not?-
227  Except  those who believe, work righteousness, engage much in the remembrance
of  Allah,  and  defend  themselves  only after they are unjustly attacked. And soon will
the unjust assailants know what vicissitudes their affairs will take!

27- An-Naml
In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful
1 These are verses of the Qur'an,-a book that makes (things) clear;
2 A guide: and glad tidings for the believers,-
3  Those  who  establish regular prayers and give in regular charity, and also have (full)
assurance of the hereafter.
4  As  to  those  who believe not in the Hereafter, We have made their deeds pleasing in
their eyes; and so they wander about in distraction.
5  Such  are  they  for  whom a grievous Penalty is (waiting); and in the Hereafter theirs
will be the greatest loss.
6  As  to  thee,  the  Qur'an is bestowed upon thee from the presence of one who is wise
and all-knowing.
7  Behold!  Moses said to his family: "I perceive a fire; soon will I bring you from there
some  information,  or  I  will  bring  you a burning brand to light our fuel, that ye may
warn yourselves.
8  But  when  he came to the (fire), a voice was heard: "Blessed are those in the fire and
those around: and glory to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.
9 "O Moses! verily, I am Allah, the exalted in might, the wise!....
10  "Now  do thou throw thy rod!" But when he saw it moving (of its own accord)as if
it  had  been  a  snake,  he  turned back in retreat, and retraced not his steps: "O Moses!"
(it was said), "Fear not: truly, in My presence, those called as messengers have no fear,-
11  "But  if any have done wrong and have thereafter substituted good to take the place
of evil, truly, I am Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
12  "Now  put  thy  hand into thy bosom, and it will come forth white without stain (or
harm):  (these  are)  among  the  nine  Signs  (thou wilt take) to Pharaoh and his people:
for they are a people rebellious in transgression."
13  But  when  Our  Signs came to them, that should have opened their eyes, they said:
"This is sorcery manifest!"
14  And  they  rejected  those  Signs  in iniquity and arrogance, though their souls were
convinced thereof: so see what was the end of those who acted corruptly!
15  We  gave  (in  the  past)  knowledge  to  David  and  Solomon: And they both said:
"Praise be to Allah, Who has favoured us above many of his servants who believe!"
16  And  Solomon  was  David's  heir. He said: "O ye people! We have been taught the
speech  of  birds,  and  on  us  has  been  bestowed  (a  little) of all things: this is indeed
Grace manifest (from Allah.)"
17  And  before  Solomon  were marshalled his hosts,- of Jinns and men and birds, and
they were all kept in order and ranks.
18  At  length,  when  they  came to a (lowly) valley of ants, one of the ants said: "O ye
ants,  get  into  your  habitations,  lest  Solomon  and  his  hosts  crush you (under foot)
without knowing it."
19  So  he  smiled,  amused  at her speech; and he said: "O my Lord! so order me that I
may  be  grateful for Thy favours, which thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents,
and  that  I  may  work  the  righteousness that will please Thee: And admit me, by Thy
Grace, to the ranks of Thy righteous Servants."
20  And  he  took  a  muster of the Birds; and he said: "Why is it I see not the Hoopoe?
Or is he among the absentees?
21  "I  will  certainly  punish him with a severe penalty, or execute him, unless he bring
me a clear reason (for absence)."
22    But  the  Hoopoe  tarried  not  far:  he  (came  up  and)  said:  "I  have  compassed
(territory)  which  thou  hast  not  compassed,  and  I have come to thee from Saba with
tidings true.
23  "I  found  (there) a woman ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and
she has a magnificent throne.
24  "I  found  her  and  her  people  worshipping the sun besides Allah: Satan has made
their  deeds  seem  pleasing  in  their  eyes,  and  has kept them away from the Path,- so
they receive no guidance,-
25  "(Kept  them away from the Path), that they should not worship Allah, Who brings
to  light  what  is  hidden  in  the  heavens  and  the  earth, and knows what ye hide and
what ye reveal.
26 "Allah!- there is no god but He!- Lord of the Throne Supreme!"
27 (Solomon) said: "Soon shall we see whether thou hast told the truth or lied!
28  "Go  thou,  with  this  letter  of  mine,  and  deliver it to them: then draw back from
them, and (wait to) see what answer they return"...
29 (The queen) said: "Ye chiefs! here is delivered to me - a letter worthy of respect.
30  "It  is  from  Solomon,  and  is  (as  follows): 'In the name of Allah, Most Gracious,
Most Merciful:
31  "'Be  ye  not  arrogant  against  me,  but  come  to  me  in  submission  (to  the  true
Religion).'"
32  She  said:  "Ye  chiefs! advise me in (this) my affair: no affair have I decided except
in your presence."
33  They  said:  "We  are  endued  with  strength,  and  given  to vehement war: but the
command is with thee; so consider what thou wilt command."
34  She  said: "Kings, when they enter a country, despoil it, and make the noblest of its
people its meanest thus do they behave.
35  "But  I  am going to send him a present, and (wait) to see with what (answer) return
(my) ambassadors."
36  Now  when  (the  embassy) came to Solomon, he said: "Will ye give me abundance
in  wealth?  But  that  which  Allah has given me is better than that which He has given
you! Nay it is ye who rejoice in your gift!
37  "Go  back  to  them, and be sure we shall come to them with such hosts as they will
never  be  able  to  meet:  We  shall expel them from there in disgrace, and they will feel
humbled (indeed)."
38  He  said  (to  his  own  men):  "Ye  chiefs!  which  of  you  can bring me her throne
before they come to me in submission?"
39  Said  an  'Ifrit, of the Jinns: "I will bring it to thee before thou rise from thy council:
indeed I have full strength for the purpose, and may be trusted."
40  Said  one  who  had  knowledge  of  the  Book:  "I  will  bring  it to thee within the
twinkling  of  an  eye!" Then when (Solomon) saw it placed firmly before him, he said:
"This  is  by the Grace of my Lord!- to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! and
if  any  is  grateful,  truly  his  gratitude  is  (a  gain)  for  his  own  soul;  but  if  any  is
ungrateful, truly my Lord is Free of all Needs, Supreme in Honour !"
41  He  said: "Transform her throne out of all recognition by her: let us see whether she
is guided (to the truth) or is one of those who receive no guidance."
42  So  when she arrived, she was asked, "Is this thy throne?" She said, "It was just like
this;  and  knowledge was bestowed on us in advance of this, and we have submitted to
Allah (in Islam)."
43    And  he  diverted  her  from  the  worship  of  others  besides  Allah:  for  she  was
(sprung) of a people that had no faith.
44  She  was  asked  to  enter the lofty Palace: but when she saw it, she thought it was a
lake  of  water,  and  she  (tucked  up  her  skirts), uncovering her legs. He said: "This is
but  a  palace  paved  smooth with slabs of glass." She said: "O my Lord! I have indeed
wronged  my  soul:  I  do  (now)  submit  (in  Islam), with Solomon, to the Lord of the
Worlds."
45  We  sent (aforetime), to the Thamud, their brother Salih, saying, "Serve Allah": But
behold, they became two factions quarrelling with each other.
46  He  said:  "O  my  people!  why  ask  ye  to  hasten  on  the evil in preference to the
good? If only ye ask Allah for forgiveness, ye may hope to receive mercy.
47  They  said:  "Ill omen do we augur from thee and those that are with thee". He said:
"Your ill omen is with Allah; yea, ye are a people under trial."
48  There  were  in  the  city  nine men of a family, who made mischief in the land, and
would not reform.
49  They  said:  "Swear  a mutual oath by Allah that we shall make a secret night attack
on    him  and  his  people,  and  that  we  shall  then  say  to  his  heir  (when  he  seeks
vengeance):  'We  were  not present at the slaughter of his people, and we are positively
telling the truth.'"
50 They plotted and planned, but We too planned, even while they perceived it not.
51  Then  see  what  was  the  end  of their plot!- this, that We destroyed them and their
people, all (of them).
52  Now  such  were their houses, - in utter ruin, - because they practised wrong-doing.
Verily in this is a Sign for people of knowledge.
53 And We saved those who believed and practised righteousness.
54  (We  also sent) Lut (as a messenger): behold, He said to his people, "Do ye do what
is shameful though ye see (its iniquity)?
55  Would  ye  really  approach  men  in  your  lusts  rather than women? Nay, ye are a
people (grossly) ignorant!