Surah Al-Hijr (The Rocky Tract)

الٓرۚ تِلۡكَ ءَايَٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ وَقُرۡءَانٖ مُّبِينٖ ١

Alif, Lām, Rā.¹ These are the verses of the Book and a clear Qur’ān [i.e., recitation].

رُّبَمَا يَوَدُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَوۡ كَانُواْ مُسۡلِمِينَ ٢

Perhaps those who disbelieve will wish¹ that they had been Muslims.

ذَرۡهُمۡ يَأۡكُلُواْ وَيَتَمَتَّعُواْ وَيُلۡهِهِمُ ٱلۡأَمَلُۖ فَسَوۡفَ يَعۡلَمُونَ ٣

Let them eat and enjoy themselves and be diverted by [false] hope, for they are going to know.

وَمَآ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مِن قَرۡيَةٍ إِلَّا وَلَهَا كِتَابٞ مَّعۡلُومٞ ٤

And We did not destroy any city but that for it was a known decree.

مَّا تَسۡبِقُ مِنۡ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا يَسۡتَـٔۡخِرُونَ ٥

No nation will precede its term, nor will they remain thereafter.

وَقَالُواْ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِي نُزِّلَ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلذِّكۡرُ إِنَّكَ لَمَجۡنُونٞ ٦

And they say, "O you upon whom the message has been sent down, indeed you are mad.¹

لَّوۡمَا تَأۡتِينَا بِٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ ٧

Why do you not bring us the angels, if you should be among the truthful?"

مَا نُنَزِّلُ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةَ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَمَا كَانُوٓاْ إِذٗا مُّنظَرِينَ ٨

We do not send down the angels except with truth;¹ and they [i.e., the disbelievers] would not then be reprieved.

إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَٰفِظُونَ ٩

Indeed, it is We who sent down the message [i.e., the Qur’ān], and indeed, We will be its guardian.

وَلَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ فِي شِيَعِ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ١٠

And We had certainly sent [messengers] before you, [O Muḥammad], among the sects of the former peoples.

وَمَا يَأۡتِيهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ ١١

And no messenger would come to them except that they ridiculed him.

كَذَٰلِكَ نَسۡلُكُهُۥ فِي قُلُوبِ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ ١٢

Thus do We insert it [i.e., denial] into the hearts of the criminals.

لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِهِۦ وَقَدۡ خَلَتۡ سُنَّةُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ١٣

They will not believe in it, while there has already occurred the precedent of the former peoples.

وَلَوۡ فَتَحۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم بَابٗا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَظَلُّواْ فِيهِ يَعۡرُجُونَ ١٤

And [even] if We opened to them a gate from the heaven and they continued therein to ascend,

لَقَالُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا سُكِّرَتۡ أَبۡصَٰرُنَا بَلۡ نَحۡنُ قَوۡمٞ مَّسۡحُورُونَ ١٥

They would say, "Our eyes have only been dazzled. Rather, we are a people affected by magic."

وَلَقَدۡ جَعَلۡنَا فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ بُرُوجٗا وَزَيَّنَّٰهَا لِلنَّٰظِرِينَ ١٦

And We have placed within the heaven great stars and have beautified it for the observers.

وَحَفِظۡنَٰهَا مِن كُلِّ شَيۡطَٰنٖ رَّجِيمٍ ١٧

And We have protected it from every devil expelled [from the mercy of Allāh]

إِلَّا مَنِ ٱسۡتَرَقَ ٱلسَّمۡعَ فَأَتۡبَعَهُۥ شِهَابٞ مُّبِينٞ ١٨

Except one who steals a hearing and is pursued by a clear burning flame.

وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ مَدَدۡنَٰهَا وَأَلۡقَيۡنَا فِيهَا رَوَٰسِيَ وَأَنۢبَتۡنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ مَّوۡزُونٖ ١٩

And the earth - We have spread it and cast therein firmly set mountains and caused to grow therein [something] of every well-balanced thing.

وَجَعَلۡنَا لَكُمۡ فِيهَا مَعَٰيِشَ وَمَن لَّسۡتُمۡ لَهُۥ بِرَٰزِقِينَ ٢٠

And We have made for you therein means of living and [for] those for whom you are not providers.¹

وَإِن مِّن شَيۡءٍ إِلَّا عِندَنَا خَزَآئِنُهُۥ وَمَا نُنَزِّلُهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِقَدَرٖ مَّعۡلُومٖ ٢١

And there is not a thing but that with Us are its depositories, and We do not send it down except according to a known [i.e., specified] measure.

وَأَرۡسَلۡنَا ٱلرِّيَٰحَ لَوَٰقِحَ فَأَنزَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ فَأَسۡقَيۡنَٰكُمُوهُ وَمَآ أَنتُمۡ لَهُۥ بِخَٰزِنِينَ ٢٢

And We have sent the fertilizing winds¹ and sent down water from the sky and given you drink from it. And you are not its retainers.

وَإِنَّا لَنَحۡنُ نُحۡيِۦ وَنُمِيتُ وَنَحۡنُ ٱلۡوَٰرِثُونَ ٢٣

And indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and We are the Inheritor.¹

وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمۡنَا ٱلۡمُسۡتَقۡدِمِينَ مِنكُمۡ وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمۡنَا ٱلۡمُسۡتَـٔۡخِرِينَ ٢٤

And We have already known the preceding [generations] among you, and We have already known the later [ones to come].

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ يَحۡشُرُهُمۡۚ إِنَّهُۥ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٞ ٢٥

And indeed, your Lord will gather them; indeed, He is Wise and Knowing.

وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِن صَلۡصَٰلٖ مِّنۡ حَمَإٖ مَّسۡنُونٖ ٢٦

And We did certainly create man out of clay from an altered black mud.

وَٱلۡجَآنَّ خَلَقۡنَٰهُ مِن قَبۡلُ مِن نَّارِ ٱلسَّمُومِ ٢٧

And the jinn We created before from scorching fire.

وَإِذۡ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّي خَٰلِقُۢ بَشَرٗا مِّن صَلۡصَٰلٖ مِّنۡ حَمَإٖ مَّسۡنُونٖ ٢٨

And [mention, O Muḥammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "I will create a human being out of clay from an altered black mud.

فَإِذَا سَوَّيۡتُهُۥ وَنَفَخۡتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِي فَقَعُواْ لَهُۥ سَٰجِدِينَ ٢٩

And when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My [created] soul,¹ then fall down to him in prostration."

فَسَجَدَ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ كُلُّهُمۡ أَجۡمَعُونَ ٣٠

So the angels prostrated - all of them entirely,

إِلَّآ إِبۡلِيسَ أَبَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونَ مَعَ ٱلسَّٰجِدِينَ ٣١

Except Iblees;¹ he refused to be with those who prostrated.

قَالَ يَٰٓإِبۡلِيسُ مَا لَكَ أَلَّا تَكُونَ مَعَ ٱلسَّٰجِدِينَ ٣٢

[Allāh] said, "O Iblees, what is [the matter] with you that you are not with those who prostrate?"

قَالَ لَمۡ أَكُن لِّأَسۡجُدَ لِبَشَرٍ خَلَقۡتَهُۥ مِن صَلۡصَٰلٖ مِّنۡ حَمَإٖ مَّسۡنُونٖ ٣٣

He said, "Never would I prostrate to a human whom You created out of clay from an altered black mud."

قَالَ فَٱخۡرُجۡ مِنۡهَا فَإِنَّكَ رَجِيمٞ ٣٤

[Allāh] said, "Then depart from it,¹ for indeed, you are expelled.

وَإِنَّ عَلَيۡكَ ٱللَّعۡنَةَ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ ٣٥

And indeed, upon you is the curse until the Day of Recompense."

قَالَ رَبِّ فَأَنظِرۡنِيٓ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ يُبۡعَثُونَ ٣٦

He said, "My Lord, then reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected."

قَالَ فَإِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُنظَرِينَ ٣٧

[Allāh] said, "So indeed, you are of those reprieved

إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡوَقۡتِ ٱلۡمَعۡلُومِ ٣٨

Until the Day of the time well-known."

قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ أَغۡوَيۡتَنِي لَأُزَيِّنَنَّ لَهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَأُغۡوِيَنَّهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ ٣٩

[Iblees] said, "My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them [i.e., mankind] on earth, and I will mislead them all

إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنۡهُمُ ٱلۡمُخۡلَصِينَ ٤٠

Except, among them, Your chosen servants."

قَالَ هَٰذَا صِرَٰطٌ عَلَيَّ مُسۡتَقِيمٌ ٤١

[Allāh] said, "This is a path [of return] to Me [that is] straight.

إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيۡسَ لَكَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ سُلۡطَٰنٌ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ ٱلۡغَاوِينَ ٤٢

Indeed, My servants - no authority will you have over them, except those who follow you of the deviators.

وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمَوۡعِدُهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ ٤٣

And indeed, Hell is the promised place for them all.

لَهَا سَبۡعَةُ أَبۡوَٰبٖ لِّكُلِّ بَابٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ جُزۡءٞ مَّقۡسُومٌ ٤٤

It has seven gates; for every gate is of them [i.e., Satan's followers] a portion designated."

إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّٰتٖ وَعُيُونٍ ٤٥

Indeed, the righteous will be within gardens and springs,

ٱدۡخُلُوهَا بِسَلَٰمٍ ءَامِنِينَ ٤٦

[Having been told], "Enter it in peace, safe [and secure]."

وَنَزَعۡنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِم مِّنۡ غِلٍّ إِخۡوَٰنًا عَلَىٰ سُرُرٖ مُّتَقَٰبِلِينَ ٤٧

And We will remove whatever is in their breasts of resentment,¹ [so they will be] brothers, on thrones facing each other.

لَا يَمَسُّهُمۡ فِيهَا نَصَبٞ وَمَا هُم مِّنۡهَا بِمُخۡرَجِينَ ٤٨

No fatigue will touch them therein, nor from it will they [ever] be removed.

۞ نَبِّئۡ عِبَادِيٓ أَنِّيٓ أَنَا ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٤٩

[O Muḥammad], inform My servants that it is I who am the Forgiving, the Merciful,

وَأَنَّ عَذَابِي هُوَ ٱلۡعَذَابُ ٱلۡأَلِيمُ ٥٠

And that it is My punishment which is the painful punishment.

وَنَبِّئۡهُمۡ عَن ضَيۡفِ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٥١

And inform them about the guests of Abraham,

إِذۡ دَخَلُواْ عَلَيۡهِ فَقَالُواْ سَلَٰمٗا قَالَ إِنَّا مِنكُمۡ وَجِلُونَ ٥٢

When they entered upon him and said, "Peace." [Abraham] said, "Indeed, we are fearful [i.e., apprehensive] of you."

قَالُواْ لَا تَوۡجَلۡ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَٰمٍ عَلِيمٖ ٥٣

[The angels] said, "Fear not. Indeed, we give you good tidings of a learned boy."

قَالَ أَبَشَّرۡتُمُونِي عَلَىٰٓ أَن مَّسَّنِيَ ٱلۡكِبَرُ فَبِمَ تُبَشِّرُونَ ٥٤

He said, "Have you given me good tidings although old age has come upon me? Then of what [wonder] do you inform?"

قَالُواْ بَشَّرۡنَٰكَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلۡقَٰنِطِينَ ٥٥

They said, "We have given you good tidings in truth, so do not be of the despairing."

قَالَ وَمَن يَقۡنَطُ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٥٦

He said, "And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except for those astray?"

قَالَ فَمَا خَطۡبُكُمۡ أَيُّهَا ٱلۡمُرۡسَلُونَ ٥٧

[Abraham] said, "Then what is your business [here], O messengers?"

قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّآ أُرۡسِلۡنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمٖ مُّجۡرِمِينَ ٥٨

They said, "Indeed, we have been sent to a people of criminals,

إِلَّآ ءَالَ لُوطٍ إِنَّا لَمُنَجُّوهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ ٥٩

Except the family of Lot; indeed, we will save them all

إِلَّا ٱمۡرَأَتَهُۥ قَدَّرۡنَآ إِنَّهَا لَمِنَ ٱلۡغَٰبِرِينَ ٦٠

Except his wife." We [i.e., Allāh] decreed that she is of those who remain behind.¹

فَلَمَّا جَآءَ ءَالَ لُوطٍ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلُونَ ٦١

And when the messengers came to the family of Lot,

قَالَ إِنَّكُمۡ قَوۡمٞ مُّنكَرُونَ ٦٢

He said, "Indeed, you are people unknown."

قَالُواْ بَلۡ جِئۡنَٰكَ بِمَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَمۡتَرُونَ ٦٣

They said, "But we have come to you with that about which they were disputing,

وَأَتَيۡنَٰكَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَإِنَّا لَصَٰدِقُونَ ٦٤

And we have come to you with truth, and indeed, we are truthful.

فَأَسۡرِ بِأَهۡلِكَ بِقِطۡعٖ مِّنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱتَّبِعۡ أَدۡبَٰرَهُمۡ وَلَا يَلۡتَفِتۡ مِنكُمۡ أَحَدٞ وَٱمۡضُواْ حَيۡثُ تُؤۡمَرُونَ ٦٥

So set out with your family during a portion of the night and follow behind them and let not anyone among you look back and continue on to where you are commanded."

وَقَضَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡهِ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡأَمۡرَ أَنَّ دَابِرَ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ مَقۡطُوعٞ مُّصۡبِحِينَ ٦٦

And We conveyed to him [the decree] of that matter: that those [sinners] would be eliminated by early morning.

وَجَآءَ أَهۡلُ ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ يَسۡتَبۡشِرُونَ ٦٧

And the people of the city came rejoicing.¹

قَالَ إِنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ ضَيۡفِي فَلَا تَفۡضَحُونِ ٦٨

[Lot] said, "Indeed, these are my guests, so do not shame me.

وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُخۡزُونِ ٦٩

And fear Allāh and do not disgrace me."

قَالُوٓاْ أَوَلَمۡ نَنۡهَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٧٠

They said, "Have we not forbidden you from [protecting] people?"

قَالَ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ بَنَاتِيٓ إِن كُنتُمۡ فَٰعِلِينَ ٧١

[Lot] said, "These are my daughters¹ - if you would be doers [of lawful marriage]."

لَعَمۡرُكَ إِنَّهُمۡ لَفِي سَكۡرَتِهِمۡ يَعۡمَهُونَ ٧٢

By your life, [O Muḥammad], indeed they were, in their intoxication, wandering blindly.

فَأَخَذَتۡهُمُ ٱلصَّيۡحَةُ مُشۡرِقِينَ ٧٣

So the shriek¹ seized them at sunrise.

فَجَعَلۡنَا عَٰلِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمۡطَرۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ حِجَارَةٗ مِّن سِجِّيلٍ ٧٤

And We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of hard clay.

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّلۡمُتَوَسِّمِينَ ٧٥

Indeed in that are signs for those who discern.

وَإِنَّهَا لَبِسَبِيلٖ مُّقِيمٍ ٧٦

And indeed, they [i.e., those cities] are [situated] on an established road.

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَةٗ لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٧٧

Indeed in that is a sign for the believers.

وَإِن كَانَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡأَيۡكَةِ لَظَٰلِمِينَ ٧٨

And the companions of the thicket [i.e., the people of Madyan] were [also] wrongdoers,

فَٱنتَقَمۡنَا مِنۡهُمۡ وَإِنَّهُمَا لَبِإِمَامٖ مُّبِينٖ ٧٩

So We took retribution from them, and indeed, both [cities] are on a clear highway.

وَلَقَدۡ كَذَّبَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡحِجۡرِ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ٨٠

And certainly did the companions of al-Ḥijr¹ [i.e., the Thamūd] deny the messengers.

وَءَاتَيۡنَٰهُمۡ ءَايَٰتِنَا فَكَانُواْ عَنۡهَا مُعۡرِضِينَ ٨١

And We gave them Our signs, but from them they were turning away.

وَكَانُواْ يَنۡحِتُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا ءَامِنِينَ ٨٢

And they used to carve from the mountains, houses, feeling secure.

فَأَخَذَتۡهُمُ ٱلصَّيۡحَةُ مُصۡبِحِينَ ٨٣

But the shriek seized them at early morning,

فَمَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنۡهُم مَّا كَانُواْ يَكۡسِبُونَ ٨٤

So nothing availed them [from] what they used to earn.

وَمَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَأٓتِيَةٞۖ فَٱصۡفَحِ ٱلصَّفۡحَ ٱلۡجَمِيلَ ٨٥

And We have not created the heavens and earth and that between them except in truth. And indeed, the Hour is coming; so forgive with gracious forgiveness.

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ ٱلۡخَلَّٰقُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٨٦

Indeed, your Lord - He is the Knowing Creator.

وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَٰكَ سَبۡعٗا مِّنَ ٱلۡمَثَانِي وَٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ ٱلۡعَظِيمَ ٨٧

And We have certainly given you, [O Muḥammad], seven of the often repeated [verses]¹ and the great Qur’ān.

لَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيۡنَيۡكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعۡنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزۡوَٰجٗا مِّنۡهُمۡ وَلَا تَحۡزَنۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَٱخۡفِضۡ جَنَاحَكَ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٨٨

Do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [certain] categories of them [i.e., the disbelievers], and do not grieve over them. And lower your wing [i.e., show kindness] to the believers.

وَقُلۡ إِنِّيٓ أَنَا ٱلنَّذِيرُ ٱلۡمُبِينُ ٨٩

And say, "Indeed, I am the clear warner" -

كَمَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡمُقۡتَسِمِينَ ٩٠

Just as We had revealed [scriptures] to the separators¹

ٱلَّذِينَ جَعَلُواْ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ عِضِينَ ٩١

Who have made the Qur’ān into portions.¹

فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَسۡـَٔلَنَّهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ ٩٢

So by your Lord, We will surely question them all

عَمَّا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٩٣

About what they used to do.

فَٱصۡدَعۡ بِمَا تُؤۡمَرُ وَأَعۡرِضۡ عَنِ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ ٩٤

Then declare what you are commanded¹ and turn away from the polytheists.²

إِنَّا كَفَيۡنَٰكَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَهۡزِءِينَ ٩٥

Indeed, We are sufficient for you against the mockers

ٱلَّذِينَ يَجۡعَلُونَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَۚ فَسَوۡفَ يَعۡلَمُونَ ٩٦

Who make [equal] with Allāh another deity. But they are going to know.

وَلَقَدۡ نَعۡلَمُ أَنَّكَ يَضِيقُ صَدۡرُكَ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ ٩٧

And We already know that your breast is constrained by what they say.

فَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلسَّٰجِدِينَ ٩٨

So exalt [Allāh] with praise of your Lord and be of those who prostrate [to Him].

وَٱعۡبُدۡ رَبَّكَ حَتَّىٰ يَأۡتِيَكَ ٱلۡيَقِينُ ٩٩

And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty [i.e., death].