Sura 43, Ornaments (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
[43:1] H. M.*
Footnote
[43:2] And the enlightening scripture.
[43:3] We have rendered it an Arabic Quran, that you may
understand.*
Footnote
[43:4] It is preserved with us in the original master, honorable
and full of wisdom.
[43:5] Should we just ignore the fact that you have transgressed
the limits?*
Footnote
The Plan for Redemption
[43:6] We have sent many a prophet to the previous generations.
[43:7] Every time a prophet went to them, they ridiculed him.
[43:8] Consequently, we annihilated people who were even more
powerful than these. We thus set the examples from the previous
communities.
[43:9] If you asked them, "Who created the heavens and the earth,"
they would say, "The Almighty, the Omniscient has created them."
[43:10] He is the One who made the earth habitable for you, and
created for you roads therein, that you may follow the right way.
[43:11] He is the One who sends down from the sky water, in exact
measure, to revive dead lands therewith. Similarly, you will be
resurrected.
[43:12] He is the One who created all kinds, in pairs (male and
female), and He created for you ships and livestock to ride.
[43:13] As you rest on top of them, you shall appreciate such a
blessing from your Lord, and say, "Glory be to the One who subdued
this for us. We could not have controlled them by ourselves.
[43:14] "We ultimately return to our Lord."
Angels As Daughters: A Blasphemy
[43:15] They even assigned for Him a share from His own creation!
Surely, the human being is profoundly unappreciative.
[43:16] Has He chosen from among His creations daughters for
Himself, while blessing you with sons?
[43:17] When one of them is given news (of a daughter) as they
claimed for the Most Gracious, his face is darkened with misery
and anger!
[43:18] (They say,) "What is good about an offspring that is
brought up to be beautiful, and cannot help in war?"
[43:19] They claimed that the angels, who are servants of the Most
Gracious, are females! Have they witnessed their creation? Their
claims are recorded, and they will be asked.
[43:20] They even said, "If the Most Gracious willed, we would not
have worshiped them." They have no basis for such a claim; they
only conjecture.*
Footnote
[43:21] Have we given them a book before this, and they are
upholding it?
Inherited Traditions Condemned
[43:22] The fact is that: they said, "We found our parents
carrying on certain practices, and we are following in their
footsteps."
[43:23] Invariably, when we sent a warner to any community, the
leaders of that community would say, "We found our parents
following certain practices, and we will continue in their
footsteps."
[43:24] (The messenger) would say, "What if I brought to you
better guidance than what you inherited from your parents?" They
would say, "We are disbelievers in the message you brought."
[43:25] Consequently, we requited them. Note the consequences for
the rejectors.
Abraham's Example
[43:26] Abraham said to his father and his people, "I disown what
you worship.
[43:27] "Only the One who initiated me can guide me."
[43:28] This example (of Abraham) was rendered an everlasting
lesson for subsequent generations; perhaps they redeem their
souls.
[43:29] Indeed, I have given these people and their ancestors
sufficient chances, then the truth came to them, and a clarifying
messenger.
[43:30] When the truth came to them, they said, "This is magic,
and we are disbelievers therein."
Muhammad Ridiculed
[43:31] They said, "If only this Quran was sent down through
another man from the two communities (Mecca or Yathrib) who is
prominent!"
[43:32] Are they the ones who assign your Lord's mercy? We have
assigned their shares in this life, raising some of them above
others in ranks, in order to let them serve one another. The mercy
from your Lord is far better than any material they may hoard.
Materials of This World: All That The Disbelievers Get
[43:33] If it were not that all the people might become one
(disbelieving) congregation, we would have granted everyone who
disbelieves in the Most Gracious mansions with silver roofs, and
stairs upon which they could climb.
[43:34] Their mansions would have impressive gates, and luxurious
furnishings.
[43:35] Also many ornaments. All these are the temporary materials
of this lowly life. The Hereafter - at your Lord - is far better
for the righteous.
Invisible, Devilish Companions*
[43:36] Anyone who disregards the message of the Most Gracious, we
appoint a devil to be his constant companion.*
Footnote
[43:37] Such companions will divert them from the path, yet make
them believe that they are guided.
[43:38] When he comes before us he will say, "Oh I wish you were
as far from me as the two easts.* What a miserable companion!"
Footnote
[43:39] It will not console you on that day, as transgressors,
that both of you will share in the retribution.
God's Messenger of the Covenant
[43:40] Can you make the deaf hear; can you make the blind see, or
those who are far astray?
[43:41] Whether we let you die before it or not, we will surely
requite them.
[43:42] Or, we may show you (the retribution) we promised for
them. We are in full control over them.
[43:43] You shall steadfastly preach what is revealed to you; you
are in the right path.*
Footnote
[43:44] This is a message for you and your people; all of you will
be questioned.
[43:45] Check the messengers we sent before you: "Have we ever
appointed any other gods - beside the Most Gracious - to be
worshiped?"
[43:46] For example, we sent Moses with our proofs to Pharaoh and
his elders, proclaiming: "I am a messenger from the Lord of the
universe."
[43:47] When he showed them our proofs, they laughed at them.
Moses and Pharaoh
[43:48] Every sign we showed them was bigger than the one before
it. We afflicted them with the plagues, perhaps they repent.
[43:49] They said, "O you magician, implore your Lord on our
behalf (to relieve this plague), since you have an agreement with
Him; we will then be guided."
[43:50] But as soon as we relieved their affliction, they
reverted.
[43:51] Pharaoh announced to his people, "O my people, do I not
possess the kingship over Egypt, and these flowing rivers belong
to me? Do you not see?
[43:52] "Which one is better; me or that one who is lowly and can
hardly speak?
[43:53] "How come he does not possess a treasure of gold; how come
the angels do not accompany him?"
[43:54] He thus fooled his people, and they obeyed him; they were
wicked people.
[43:55] When they persisted in opposing us, we punished them and
drowned them all.
[43:56] We rendered them a precedent and an example for the
others.
Jesus: Another Example
[43:57] When the son of Mary was cited as an example, your people
disregarded it.
[43:58] They said, "Is it better to worship our gods, or to
worship him?" They said this only to argue with you. Indeed, they
are people who have joined the opposition.
[43:59] He was no more than a servant whom we blessed, and we sent
him as an example for the Children of Israel.
[43:60] If we willed, we could have made you angels who colonize
and reproduce on earth.
Jesus and the End of the World*
[43:61] He is to serve as a marker for knowing the end of the
world,* so you can no longer harbor any doubt about it. You shall
follow Me; this is the right path.
Footnote
[43:62] Let not the devil repel you; he is your most ardent enemy.
[43:63] When Jesus went with the proofs, he said, "I bring to you
wisdom, and to clarify some of the matters in which you dispute.
You shall reverence GOD and obey me.
[43:64] "GOD is my Lord and your Lord, you shall worship Him
alone. This is the right path."
[43:65] The opponents disputed among themselves. Woe to those who
transgress from the retribution of a painful day.
[43:66] Are they waiting for the Hour (Day of Judgment) to come to
them suddenly when they least expect it?
[43:67] The close friends on that day will become enemies of one
another, except for the righteous.
The Righteous
[43:68] O My servants, you will have no fear on that day, nor will
you grieve.
[43:69] They are the ones who believed in our revelations, and
were submitters.
[43:70] Enter Paradise, together with your spouses, and rejoice.
[43:71] Offered to them will be golden trays and cups, and they
will find everything the hearts desire and the eyes wish for. You
live therein forever.
[43:72] Such is the Paradise that you inherit, in return for your
works.
[43:73] You will have in it all kinds of fruits, from which you
eat.
[43:74] Surely, the guilty will abide in the retribution of
Gehenna forever.
[43:75] Never will the retribution be commuted for them; they will
be confined therein.
[43:76] It is not us who wronged them; it is they who wronged
their own souls.
[43:77] They will implore: "O Maalek, let your Lord finish us
off." He will say, "You are staying forever.
They Hate The Truth
[43:78] "We have given you the truth, but most of you hate the
truth."
[43:79] Have they schemed some scheme? We too are scheming.
[43:80] Do they think that we do not hear their secrets and
conspiracies? Yes indeed; our messengers are with them, recording.
[43:81] Proclaim: "If the Most Gracious did have a son, I would
still be the foremost worshiper."
[43:82] Be He glorified; He is the Lord of the heavens and the
earth, the Lord with the great dominion, far above their claims.
[43:83] Let them blunder and play until they meet their day that
is awaiting them.
[43:84] He is the only One who is a deity in the heaven and a
deity on earth. He is the Most Wise, the Omniscient.
[43:85] Most Exalted is the One who possesses all sovereignty of
the heavens and the earth, and everything between them. With Him
is the knowledge about the Hour (end of the world), and to Him you
will be returned.
[43:86] None of those whom they idolize beside Him possess any
power to intercede, unless their intercession coincides with the
truth, and they fully know.
[43:87] If you asked them who created them, they would say, "GOD."
Why then did they deviate?
[43:88] It will be proclaimed: "O my Lord, these people do not
believe."
[43:89] You shall disregard them and say, "Peace;" they will
surely find out.
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