Sheba
بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Mercifulالحَمدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذى لَهُ ما فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَما فِى الأَرضِ وَلَهُ الحَمدُ فِى الءاخِرَةِ ۚ وَهُوَ الحَكيمُ الخَبيرُ
Praise be to GOD—to whom belongs everything in the heavens and the earth; all praise is also due to Him in the Hereafter. He is the Most Wise, the Cognizant.Cited in
يَعلَمُ ما يَلِجُ فِى الأَرضِ وَما يَخرُجُ مِنها وَما يَنزِلُ مِنَ السَّماءِ وَما يَعرُجُ فيها ۚ وَهُوَ الرَّحيمُ الغَفورُ
He knows everything that goes into the earth, and everything that comes out of it, and everything that comes down from the sky, and everything that climbs into it. He is the Most Merciful, the Forgiving.Cited in
Subject indexClimbForgiver, God isMerciful, God
وَقالَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا لا تَأتينَا السّاعَةُ ۖ قُل بَلىٰ وَرَبّى لَتَأتِيَنَّكُم عٰلِمِ الغَيبِ ۖ لا يَعزُبُ عَنهُ مِثقالُ ذَرَّةٍ فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَلا فِى الأَرضِ وَلا أَصغَرُ مِن ذٰلِكَ وَلا أَكبَرُ إِلّا فى كِتٰبٍ مُبينٍ
Those who disbelieve have said, "The Hour will never come to pass!" Say, "Absolutely—by my Lord—it will most certainly come to you. He is the Knower of the future. Not even the equivalent of an atom's weight is hidden from Him, be it in the heavens or the earth. Not even smaller than that, or larger (is hidden). All are in a profound record."لِيَجزِىَ الَّذينَ ءامَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ ۚ أُولٰئِكَ لَهُم مَغفِرَةٌ وَرِزقٌ كَريمٌ
Most certainly, He will reward those who believe and lead a righteous life. These have deserved forgiveness and a generous provision.Cited in
Subject indexRewards › from God
وَالَّذينَ سَعَو فى ءايٰتِنا مُعٰجِزينَ أُولٰئِكَ لَهُم عَذابٌ مِن رِجزٍ أَليمٌ
As for those who constantly challenge our revelations, they have incurred a retribution of painful humiliation.Cited in
Subject indexChallenge › revelationsHumiliation › in hereafter
وَيَرَى الَّذينَ أوتُوا العِلمَ الَّذى أُنزِلَ إِلَيكَ مِن رَبِّكَ هُوَ الحَقَّ وَيَهدى إِلىٰ صِرٰطِ العَزيزِ الحَميدِ
It is evident to those who are blessed with knowledge that this revelation from your Lord to you is the truth, and that it guides to the path of the Almighty, the Most Praiseworthy.وَقالَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا هَل نَدُلُّكُم عَلىٰ رَجُلٍ يُنَبِّئُكُم إِذا مُزِّقتُم كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ إِنَّكُم لَفى خَلقٍ جَديدٍ
Those who disbelieve have said, "Let us show you a man who tells you that after you are torn apart you will be created anew.Cited in
Subject indexRe-creation
أَفتَرىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَم بِهِ جِنَّةٌ ۗ بَلِ الَّذينَ لا يُؤمِنونَ بِالءاخِرَةِ فِى العَذابِ وَالضَّلٰلِ البَعيدِ
"Either he fabricated lies about GOD, or he is crazy." Indeed, those who disbelieve in the Hereafter have incurred the worst retribution; they have gone far astray.أَفَلَم يَرَوا إِلىٰ ما بَينَ أَيديهِم وَما خَلفَهُم مِنَ السَّماءِ وَالأَرضِ ۚ إِن نَشَأ نَخسِف بِهِمُ الأَرضَ أَو نُسقِط عَلَيهِم كِسَفًا مِنَ السَّماءِ ۚ إِنَّ فى ذٰلِكَ لَءايَةً لِكُلِّ عَبدٍ مُنيبٍ
Have they not seen all the things in front of them and behind them, in the heaven and the earth? If we willed, we could have caused the earth to swallow them, or caused masses to fall on them from the sky. This should be a sufficient proof for every obedient servant.Cited in
Subject indexMarvelsMasses › from the skyServants › devoted
David and Solomon
وَلَقَد ءاتَينا داوۥدَ مِنّا فَضلًا ۖ يٰجِبالُ أَوِّبى مَعَهُ وَالطَّيرَ ۖ وَأَلَنّا لَهُ الحَديدَ
We endowed David with blessings from us: "O mountains, submit with him, and you too, O birds." We softened the iron for him.أَنِ اعمَل سٰبِغٰتٍ وَقَدِّر فِى السَّردِ ۖ وَاعمَلوا صٰلِحًا ۖ إِنّى بِما تَعمَلونَ بَصيرٌ
"You may make shields that fit perfectly, and work righteousness. Whatever you do, I am Seer thereof."
The First Oil Field
وَلِسُلَيمٰنَ الرّيحَ غُدُوُّها شَهرٌ وَرَواحُها شَهرٌ ۖ وَأَسَلنا لَهُ عَينَ القِطرِ ۖ وَمِنَ الجِنِّ مَن يَعمَلُ بَينَ يَدَيهِ بِإِذنِ رَبِّهِ ۖ وَمَن يَزِغ مِنهُم عَن أَمرِنا نُذِقهُ مِن عَذابِ السَّعيرِ
To Solomon we committed the wind at his disposal, traveling one month coming and one month going. And we caused a spring of oil to gush out for him. Also, the jinns worked for him, by his Lord's leave. Any one of them who disregarded our commands, we subjected him to a severe retribution.يَعمَلونَ لَهُ ما يَشاءُ مِن مَحٰريبَ وَتَمٰثيلَ وَجِفانٍ كَالجَوابِ وَقُدورٍ راسِيٰتٍ ۚ اعمَلوا ءالَ داوۥدَ شُكرًا ۚ وَقَليلٌ مِن عِبادِىَ الشَّكورُ
They made for him anything he wanted—niches, statues, deep pools, and heavy cooking pots. O family of David, work (righteousness) to show your appreciation. Only a few of My servants are appreciative.
Jinns' Knowledge is Limited
فَلَمّا قَضَينا عَلَيهِ المَوتَ ما دَلَّهُم عَلىٰ مَوتِهِ إِلّا دابَّةُ الأَرضِ تَأكُلُ مِنسَأَتَهُ ۖ فَلَمّا خَرَّ تَبَيَّنَتِ الجِنُّ أَن لَو كانوا يَعلَمونَ الغَيبَ ما لَبِثوا فِى العَذابِ المُهينِ
When the appointed time for his death came, they had no clue that he had died. It was not until one of the animals tried to eat his staff, and he fell down, that the jinns realized that he was dead. They thus realized that if they really knew the unseen, they would have stopped working so hard as soon as he died.لَقَد كانَ لِسَبَإٍ فى مَسكَنِهِم ءايَةٌ ۖ جَنَّتانِ عَن يَمينٍ وَشِمالٍ ۖ كُلوا مِن رِزقِ رَبِّكُم وَاشكُروا لَهُ ۚ بَلدَةٌ طَيِّبَةٌ وَرَبٌّ غَفورٌ
Sheba's homeland used to be a marvel, with two gardens on the right and the left. Eat from your Lord's provisions, and be appreciative of Him—good land, and a forgiving Lord.Cited in
Subject indexEat › from provisionGardens › earthlyLeftSheba
فَأَعرَضوا فَأَرسَلنا عَلَيهِم سَيلَ العَرِمِ وَبَدَّلنٰهُم بِجَنَّتَيهِم جَنَّتَينِ ذَواتَى أُكُلٍ خَمطٍ وَأَثلٍ وَشَيءٍ مِن سِدرٍ قَليلٍ
They turned away and, consequently, we poured upon them a disastrous flood, and we substituted their two gardens into two gardens of bad tasting fruits, thorny plants, and a skimpy harvest.Cited in
ذٰلِكَ جَزَينٰهُم بِما كَفَروا ۖ وَهَل نُجٰزى إِلَّا الكَفورَ
We thus requited them for their disbelief. Do we not requite only the disbelievers?Cited in
Subject indexSheba
وَجَعَلنا بَينَهُم وَبَينَ القُرَى الَّتى بٰرَكنا فيها قُرًى ظٰهِرَةً وَقَدَّرنا فيهَا السَّيرَ ۖ سيروا فيها لَيالِىَ وَأَيّامًا ءامِنينَ
We placed between them and the communities that we blessed other oases, and we secured the journey between them: "Travel therein days and nights in complete security."فَقالوا رَبَّنا بٰعِد بَينَ أَسفارِنا وَظَلَموا أَنفُسَهُم فَجَعَلنٰهُم أَحاديثَ وَمَزَّقنٰهُم كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ ۚ إِنَّ فى ذٰلِكَ لَءايٰتٍ لِكُلِّ صَبّارٍ شَكورٍ
But they (turned unappreciative and) challenged: "Our Lord, we do not care if You increase the distance of our journeys (without any stations)." They thus wronged their own souls. Consequently, we made them history, and scattered them into small communities throughout the land. This should provide lessons for those who are steadfast, appreciative.
Satan Claims the Majority
وَلَقَد صَدَّقَ عَلَيهِم إِبليسُ ظَنَّهُ فَاتَّبَعوهُ إِلّا فَريقًا مِنَ المُؤمِنينَ
Satan found them readily fulfilling his expectations. They followed him, except a few believers.
The Objective: Do We Believe in the Hereafter?*
وَما كانَ لَهُ عَلَيهِم مِن سُلطٰنٍ إِلّا لِنَعلَمَ مَن يُؤمِنُ بِالءاخِرَةِ مِمَّن هُوَ مِنها فى شَكٍّ ۗ وَرَبُّكَ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَيءٍ حَفيظٌ
He never had any power over them. But we thus distinguish those who believe in the Hereafter from those who are doubtful about it.* Your Lord is in full control of all things.قُلِ ادعُوا الَّذينَ زَعَمتُم مِن دونِ اللَّهِ ۖ لا يَملِكونَ مِثقالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَلا فِى الأَرضِ وَما لَهُم فيهِما مِن شِركٍ وَما لَهُ مِنهُم مِن ظَهيرٍ
Say, "Implore the idols you have set up beside GOD. They do not possess as much as a single atom in the heavens, or the earth. They possess no partnership therein, nor does He permit them to be His assistants."Cited in
No Intercession
وَلا تَنفَعُ الشَّفٰعَةُ عِندَهُ إِلّا لِمَن أَذِنَ لَهُ ۚ حَتّىٰ إِذا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلوبِهِم قالوا ماذا قالَ رَبُّكُم ۖ قالُوا الحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ العَلِىُّ الكَبيرُ
Intercession with Him will be in vain, unless it coincides with His will. When their minds are finally settled down, and they ask, "What did your Lord say," they will say, "The truth." He is the Most High, the Most Great.Cited in
Subject indexHigh, God isIntercessionMindsVain › intercession in
قُل مَن يَرزُقُكُم مِنَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضِ ۖ قُلِ اللَّهُ ۖ وَإِنّا أَو إِيّاكُم لَعَلىٰ هُدًى أَو فى ضَلٰلٍ مُبينٍ
Say, "Who provides for you, from the heavens and the earth?" Say, "GOD," and "Either we or you are guided, or have gone far astray."Cited in
Subject indexProvisions › God controls
قُل لا تُسـَٔلونَ عَمّا أَجرَمنا وَلا نُسـَٔلُ عَمّا تَعمَلونَ
Say, "You are not responsible for our crimes, nor are we responsible for what you do."Cited in
قُل يَجمَعُ بَينَنا رَبُّنا ثُمَّ يَفتَحُ بَينَنا بِالحَقِّ وَهُوَ الفَتّاحُ العَليمُ
Say, "Our Lord will gather us all together before Him, then He will judge between us equitably. He is the Judge, the Omniscient."قُل أَرونِىَ الَّذينَ أَلحَقتُم بِهِ شُرَكاءَ ۖ كَلّا ۚ بَل هُوَ اللَّهُ العَزيزُ الحَكيمُ
Say, "Show me the idols you have set up as partners with Him!" Say, "No; He is the one GOD, the Almighty, Most Wise."Cited in
God's Messenger of the Covenant
وَما أَرسَلنٰكَ إِلّا كافَّةً لِلنّاسِ بَشيرًا وَنَذيرًا وَلٰكِنَّ أَكثَرَ النّاسِ لا يَعلَمونَ
We have sent you (O Rashad)* to all the people, a bearer of good news, as well as a warner, but most people do not know.وَيَقولونَ مَتىٰ هٰذَا الوَعدُ إِن كُنتُم صٰدِقينَ
They challenge, "When will this promise come to pass, if you are truthful?"Cited in
قُل لَكُم ميعادُ يَومٍ لا تَستَـٔخِرونَ عَنهُ ساعَةً وَلا تَستَقدِمونَ
Say, "You have a specific time, on a specific day, that you cannot delay by one hour, nor advance."وَقالَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا لَن نُؤمِنَ بِهٰذَا القُرءانِ وَلا بِالَّذى بَينَ يَدَيهِ ۗ وَلَو تَرىٰ إِذِ الظّٰلِمونَ مَوقوفونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِم يَرجِعُ بَعضُهُم إِلىٰ بَعضٍ القَولَ يَقولُ الَّذينَ استُضعِفوا لِلَّذينَ استَكبَروا لَولا أَنتُم لَكُنّا مُؤمِنينَ
Those who disbelieve have said, "We will not believe in this Quran, nor in the previous scriptures." If you could only envision these transgressors when they stand before their Lord! They will argue with one another back and forth. The followers will tell their leaders, "If it were not for you, we would have been believers."
On the Day of Resurrection
قالَ الَّذينَ استَكبَروا لِلَّذينَ استُضعِفوا أَنَحنُ صَدَدنٰكُم عَنِ الهُدىٰ بَعدَ إِذ جاءَكُم ۖ بَل كُنتُم مُجرِمينَ
The leaders will say to those who followed them, "Are we the ones who diverted you from the guidance after it came to you? No; it is you who were wicked."Cited in
Subject indexFollowers › blame leadersGuidance › lack ofGuilty
وَقالَ الَّذينَ استُضعِفوا لِلَّذينَ استَكبَروا بَل مَكرُ الَّيلِ وَالنَّهارِ إِذ تَأمُرونَنا أَن نَكفُرَ بِاللَّهِ وَنَجعَلَ لَهُ أَندادًا ۚ وَأَسَرُّوا النَّدامَةَ لَمّا رَأَوُا العَذابَ وَجَعَلنَا الأَغلٰلَ فى أَعناقِ الَّذينَ كَفَروا ۚ هَل يُجزَونَ إِلّا ما كانوا يَعمَلونَ
The followers will say to their leaders, "It was you who schemed night and day, then commanded us to be unappreciative of GOD, and to set up idols to rank with Him." They will be ridden with remorse, when they see the retribution, for we will place shackles around the necks of those who disbelieved. Are they not justly requited for what they did?Cited in
Every Time!
وَما أَرسَلنا فى قَريَةٍ مِن نَذيرٍ إِلّا قالَ مُترَفوها إِنّا بِما أُرسِلتُم بِهِ كٰفِرونَ
Every time we sent a warner to a community, the leaders of that community said, "We reject the message you are sent with."Cited in
وَقالوا نَحنُ أَكثَرُ أَموٰلًا وَأَولٰدًا وَما نَحنُ بِمُعَذَّبينَ
They also said, "We are more powerful, with more money and children, and we will not be punished."Cited in
Subject indexWealth
قُل إِنَّ رَبّى يَبسُطُ الرِّزقَ لِمَن يَشاءُ وَيَقدِرُ وَلٰكِنَّ أَكثَرَ النّاسِ لا يَعلَمونَ
Say, "My Lord is the One who controls all provisions; He grants the provisions to whomever He wills, or reduces them, but most people do not know."Cited in
Subject indexMoney › don't be impressed by
وَما أَموٰلُكُم وَلا أَولٰدُكُم بِالَّتى تُقَرِّبُكُم عِندَنا زُلفىٰ إِلّا مَن ءامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صٰلِحًا فَأُولٰئِكَ لَهُم جَزاءُ الضِّعفِ بِما عَمِلوا وَهُم فِى الغُرُفٰتِ ءامِنونَ
It is not your money or your children that bring you closer to us. Only those who believe and lead a righteous life will receive the reward for their works, multiplied manifold. In the abode of Paradise they will live in perfect peace.Cited in
Subject indexPeace › upon the believersWorks › reward
وَالَّذينَ يَسعَونَ فى ءايٰتِنا مُعٰجِزينَ أُولٰئِكَ فِى العَذابِ مُحضَرونَ
As for those who consistently challenge our revelations, they will abide in retribution.قُل إِنَّ رَبّى يَبسُطُ الرِّزقَ لِمَن يَشاءُ مِن عِبادِهِ وَيَقدِرُ لَهُ ۚ وَما أَنفَقتُم مِن شَيءٍ فَهُوَ يُخلِفُهُ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيرُ الرّٰزِقينَ
Say, "My Lord is the One who controls all provisions; He increases the provisions for whomever He chooses from among His servants, or reduces them. Anything you spend (in the cause of God), He will reward you for it; He is the Best Provider."Cited in
وَيَومَ يَحشُرُهُم جَميعًا ثُمَّ يَقولُ لِلمَلٰئِكَةِ أَهٰؤُلاءِ إِيّاكُم كانوا يَعبُدونَ
On the day when He summons them all, He will say to the angels, "Did these people worship you?"قالوا سُبحٰنَكَ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنا مِن دونِهِم ۖ بَل كانوا يَعبُدونَ الجِنَّ ۖ أَكثَرُهُم بِهِم مُؤمِنونَ
They will answer, "Be You glorified. You are our Lord and Master, not them. Instead, they were worshiping the jinns; most of them were believers therein."فَاليَومَ لا يَملِكُ بَعضُكُم لِبَعضٍ نَفعًا وَلا ضَرًّا وَنَقولُ لِلَّذينَ ظَلَموا ذوقوا عَذابَ النّارِ الَّتى كُنتُم بِها تُكَذِّبونَ
On that day, you possess no power to help or harm one another, and we will say to the transgressors, "Taste the retribution of the Hell that you used to deny."Cited in
Subject indexDay of Judgement › described
Mathematical Miracle of the Quran*
وَإِذا تُتلىٰ عَلَيهِم ءايٰتُنا بَيِّنٰتٍ قالوا ما هٰذا إِلّا رَجُلٌ يُريدُ أَن يَصُدَّكُم عَمّا كانَ يَعبُدُ ءاباؤُكُم وَقالوا ما هٰذا إِلّا إِفكٌ مُفتَرًى ۚ وَقالَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا لِلحَقِّ لَمّا جاءَهُم إِن هٰذا إِلّا سِحرٌ مُبينٌ
When our proofs were recited to them, perfectly clear, they said, "This is simply a man who wants to divert you from the way your parents are worshiping." They also said, "These are fabricated lies." Those who disbelieved also said about the truth that came to them, "This is obviously magic."Cited in
وَما ءاتَينٰهُم مِن كُتُبٍ يَدرُسونَها ۖ وَما أَرسَلنا إِلَيهِم قَبلَكَ مِن نَذيرٍ
We did not give them any other books to study, nor did we send to them before you another warner.Cited in
Subject indexBook › QuranStudy › scripture/Quran
وَكَذَّبَ الَّذينَ مِن قَبلِهِم وَما بَلَغوا مِعشارَ ما ءاتَينٰهُم فَكَذَّبوا رُسُلى ۖ فَكَيفَ كانَ نَكيرِ
Those before them disbelieved, and even though they did not see one-tenth* of (the miracle) we have given to this generation, when they disbelieved My messengers, how severe was My retribution!Cited in
Subject indexMiracles › in QuranOne-tenth
God's Messenger of the Covenant*
قُل إِنَّما أَعِظُكُم بِوٰحِدَةٍ ۖ أَن تَقوموا لِلَّهِ مَثنىٰ وَفُرٰدىٰ ثُمَّ تَتَفَكَّروا ۚ ما بِصاحِبِكُم مِن جِنَّةٍ ۚ إِن هُوَ إِلّا نَذيرٌ لَكُم بَينَ يَدَى عَذابٍ شَديدٍ
Say, "I ask you to do one thing: Devote yourselves to GOD, in pairs or as individuals, then reflect. Your friend (Rashad) is not crazy. He is a manifest warner to you, just before the advent of a terrible retribution."قُل ما سَأَلتُكُم مِن أَجرٍ فَهُوَ لَكُم ۖ إِن أَجرِىَ إِلّا عَلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَيءٍ شَهيدٌ
Say, "I do not ask you for any wage; you can keep it. My wage comes only from GOD. He witnesses all things."Cited in
Subject indexWageWitness › God as
قُل إِنَّ رَبّى يَقذِفُ بِالحَقِّ عَلّٰمُ الغُيوبِ
Say, "My Lord causes the truth to prevail. He is the Knower of all secrets."Cited in
Subject indexQuranic miracleTruth › prevails
قُل جاءَ الحَقُّ وَما يُبدِئُ البٰطِلُ وَما يُعيدُ
Say, "The truth has come; while falsehood can neither initiate anything, nor repeat it."Cited in
Subject indexFalsehood › defeatTruth › vs falsehood
قُل إِن ضَلَلتُ فَإِنَّما أَضِلُّ عَلىٰ نَفسى ۖ وَإِنِ اهتَدَيتُ فَبِما يوحى إِلَىَّ رَبّى ۚ إِنَّهُ سَميعٌ قَريبٌ
Say, "If I go astray, I go astray because of my own shortcomings. And if I am guided, it is because of my Lord's inspiration. He is Hearer, Near."Cited in
وَلَو تَرىٰ إِذ فَزِعوا فَلا فَوتَ وَأُخِذوا مِن مَكانٍ قَريبٍ
If you could only see them when the great terror strikes them; they cannot escape then, and they will be taken away forcibly.Cited in
Subject indexEscape, none from GodTerror
وَقالوا ءامَنّا بِهِ وَأَنّىٰ لَهُمُ التَّناوُشُ مِن مَكانٍ بَعيدٍ
They will then say, "We now believe in it," but it will be far too late.Cited in
Subject indexBelief › too late
وَقَد كَفَروا بِهِ مِن قَبلُ ۖ وَيَقذِفونَ بِالغَيبِ مِن مَكانٍ بَعيدٍ
They have rejected it in the past; they have decided instead to uphold conjecture and guesswork.*Cited in
Subject indexConjectureGuessing
وَحيلَ بَينَهُم وَبَينَ ما يَشتَهونَ كَما فُعِلَ بِأَشياعِهِم مِن قَبلُ ۚ إِنَّهُم كانوا فى شَكٍّ مُريبٍ
Consequently, they were deprived of everything they longed for. This is the same fate as their counterparts in the previous generations. They harbored too many doubts.Cited in
Subject indexDoubt (see also Certainty) › the truthFate