Surah Al-Ahqaf

Ta'awwudh · Seeking Refuge

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytani ar-rajim. I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

The Name · Bismillah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Rahim. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

✦

The Surah · Al-Ahqaf

﴾١﴿ حمٓ

Ha Meem

Ha Meem.

﴾٢﴿ تَنزِيلُ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَكِيمِ

Tanzilu al-kitabi mina Allahi al-'Azizi al-Hakim

The sending down of the Book is from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

﴾٣﴿ مَا خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّۭى ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ عَمَّآ أُنذِرُوا۟ مُعْرِضُونَ

Ma khalaqna as-samawati wal-arda wa ma baynahuma illa bil-haqqi wa ajalin musamma, walladhina kafaru 'amma undhiru mu'ridun

We created the heavens and the earth and what is between them only in truth and for a stated term. Those who deny turn away from what they were warned about.

﴾٤﴿ قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌۭ فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ ۖ ٱئْتُونِى بِكِتَٰبٍۢ مِّن قَبْلِ هَٰذَآ أَوْ أَثَٰرَةٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمٍ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ

Qul ara'aytum ma tad'una min duni Allahi aruni madha khalaqu mina al-ardi am lahum shirkun fi as-samawat, i'tuni bikitabin min qabli hadha aw atharatin min 'ilmin in kuntum sadiqin

Say: consider what you call on besides Allah. Show me what they created of the earth, or do they have a share in the heavens. Bring me a book before this one, or a trace of knowledge, if you are truthful.

﴾٥﴿ وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدْعُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَن لَّا يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُۥٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ وَهُمْ عَن دُعَآئِهِمْ غَٰفِلُونَ

Wa man adallu mimman yad'u min duni Allahi man la yastajibu lahu ila yawmi al-qiyamati wa hum 'an du'a'ihim ghafilun

Who is further astray than one who calls on something besides Allah that will not answer him until the Day of Resurrection, and they are unaware of their calling.

﴾٦﴿ وَإِذَا حُشِرَ ٱلنَّاسُ كَانُوا۟ لَهُمْ أَعْدَآءًۭ وَكَانُوا۟ بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ كَٰفِرِينَ

Wa idha hushira an-nasu kanu lahum a'da'an wa kanu bi'ibadatihim kafirin

When people are gathered, they will be enemies to them and will reject their worship.

﴾٧﴿ وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَٰتُنَا بَيِّنَٰتٍۢ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ هَٰذَا سِحْرٌۭ مُّبِينٌ

Wa idha tutla 'alayhim ayatuna bayyinatin qala alladhina kafaru lil-haqqi lamma ja'ahum hadha sihrun mubin

When Our clear verses are recited to them, those who deny say of the truth when it comes to them: this is plain magic.

﴾٨﴿ أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۖ قُلْ إِنِ ٱفْتَرَيْتُهُۥ فَلَا تَمْلِكُونَ لِى مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ ۖ كَفَىٰ بِهِۦ شَهِيدًۢا بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

Am yaquluna iftarah, qul ini iftaraytuhu fala tamlikuna li mina Allahi shay'a, huwa a'lamu bima tufiduna fih, kafa bihi shahidan bayni wa baynakum, wa huwa al-Ghafuru ar-Rahim

Or do they say he invented it. Say: if I invented it you could do nothing for me against Allah. He knows best what you pour yourselves into about it. He is enough as a witness between me and you, and He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

﴾٩﴿ قُلْ مَا كُنتُ بِدْعًۭا مِّنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَمَآ أَدْرِى مَا يُفْعَلُ بِى وَلَا بِكُمْ ۖ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ

Qul ma kuntu bid'an mina ar-rusuli wa ma adri ma yuf'alu bi wa la bikum, in attabi'u illa ma yuha ilayya wa ma ana illa nadhirun mubin

Say: I am not something new among the messengers, and I do not know what will be done with me or with you. I follow only what is revealed to me, and I am only a clear warner.

﴾١٠﴿ قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَفَرْتُم بِهِۦ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌۭ مِّنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ مِثْلِهِۦ فَـَٔامَنَ وَٱسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Qul ara'aytum in kana min 'indi Allahi wa kafartum bihi wa shahida shahidun min bani Isra'ila 'ala mithlihi fa-amana wastakbartum, inna Allaha la yahdi al-qawma az-zalimin

Say: consider, if it is from Allah and you rejected it, and a witness from the Children of Israel testified to the like of it and believed while you were arrogant. Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.

﴾١١﴿ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَوْ كَانَ خَيْرًۭا مَّا سَبَقُونَآ إِلَيْهِ ۚ وَإِذْ لَمْ يَهْتَدُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَسَيَقُولُونَ هَٰذَآ إِفْكٌۭ قَدِيمٌۭ

Wa qala alladhina kafaru lilladhina amanu law kana khayran ma sabaquna ilayh, wa idh lam yahtadu bihi fasayaquluna hadha ifkun qadim

Those who deny say of those who believe: had it been any good they would not have reached it before us. Since they were not guided by it they will say: this is an old lie.

﴾١٢﴿ وَمِن قَبْلِهِۦ كِتَٰبُ مُوسَىٰٓ إِمَامًۭا وَرَحْمَةًۭ ۚ وَهَٰذَا كِتَٰبٌۭ مُّصَدِّقٌۭ لِّسَانًا عَرَبِيًّۭا لِّيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Wa min qablihi kitabu Musa imaman wa rahmah, wa hadha kitabun musaddiqun lisanan 'Arabiyyan liyundhira alladhina zalamu wa bushra lil-muhsinin

Before it was the Book of Musa, a leader and a mercy. This is a Book confirming it, in the Arabic tongue, to warn those who wronged and as good news for those who do good.

﴾١٣﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَقَٰمُوا۟ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

Inna alladhina qalu Rabbuna Allahu thumma istaqamu fala khawfun 'alayhim wa la hum yahzanun

Those who say our Lord is Allah and then stand firm, no fear will be upon them and they will not grieve.

﴾١٤﴿ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

Ula'ika ashabu al-jannati khalidina fiha jaza'an bima kanu ya'malun

They are the companions of the Garden, remaining in it, a reward for what they used to do.

﴾١٥﴿ وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ إِحْسَٰنًا ۖ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ كُرْهًۭا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًۭا ۖ وَحَمْلُهُۥ وَفِصَٰلُهُۥ ثَلَٰثُونَ شَهْرًا ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةًۭ قَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِىٓ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَٰلِحًۭا تَرْضَىٰهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِى فِى ذُرِّيَّتِىٓ ۖ إِنِّى تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ

Wa wassayna al-insana biwalidayhi ihsana, hamalathu ummuhu kurhan wa wada'athu kurha, wa hamluhu wa fisaluhu thalathuna shahra, hatta idha balagha ashuddahu wa balagha arba'ina sanatan qala Rabbi awzi'ni an ashkura ni'mataka allati an'amta 'alayya wa 'ala walidayya wa an a'mala salihan tardahu wa aslih li fi dhurriyyati, inni tubtu ilayka wa inni mina al-muslimin

We have enjoined upon man kindness to his parents. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his bearing and weaning are thirty months. Until, when he reaches his full strength and reaches forty years, he says: my Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You gave to me and to my parents, and to work righteousness You approve, and make righteous for me my offspring. I turn to You, and I am one of the Muslims.

﴾١٦﴿ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنْهُمْ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَنَتَجَاوَزُ عَن سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ فِىٓ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ وَعْدَ ٱلصِّدْقِ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يُوعَدُونَ

Ula'ika alladhina nataqabbalu 'anhum ahsana ma 'amilu wa natajawazu 'an sayyi'atihim fi ashabi al-jannah, wa'da as-sidqi alladhi kanu yu'adun

Those are the ones from whom We accept the best of what they did and overlook their bad deeds, among the companions of the Garden. The true promise they were given.

﴾١٧﴿ وَٱلَّذِى قَالَ لِوَٰلِدَيْهِ أُفٍّۢ لَّكُمَآ أَتَعِدَانِنِىٓ أَنْ أُخْرَجَ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ ٱلْقُرُونُ مِن قَبْلِى وَهُمَا يَسْتَغِيثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَيْلَكَ ءَامِنْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّۭ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

Walladhi qala liwalidayhi uffin lakuma ata'idanini an ukhraja wa qad khalati al-qurunu min qabli wa huma yastaghithani Allaha waylaka amin inna wa'da Allahi haqq, fayaqulu ma hadha illa asatiru al-awwalin

And the one who says to his parents: enough of you, do you promise me that I will be brought out when generations have passed away before me. And they call on Allah for help: woe to you, believe, the promise of Allah is true. He says: this is nothing but tales of the ancients.

﴾١٨﴿ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَوْلُ فِىٓ أُمَمٍۢ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ خَٰسِرِينَ

Ula'ika alladhina haqqa 'alayhimu al-qawlu fi umamin qad khalat min qablihim mina al-jinni wal-ins, innahum kanu khasirin

Those are the ones against whom the word has been realized, among nations of jinn and men that passed away before them. They were losers.

﴾١٩﴿ وَلِكُلٍّۢ دَرَجَٰتٌۭ مِّمَّا عَمِلُوا۟ ۖ وَلِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أَعْمَٰلَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ

Wa likullin darajatun mimma 'amilu wa liyuwaffiyahum a'malahum wa hum la yuzlamun

For each are degrees according to what they did, so He may pay them in full for their deeds, and they will not be wronged.

﴾٢٠﴿ وَيَوْمَ يُعْرَضُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ أَذْهَبْتُمْ طَيِّبَٰتِكُمْ فِى حَيَاتِكُمُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱسْتَمْتَعْتُم بِهَا فَٱلْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ ٱلْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَفْسُقُونَ

Wa yawma yu'radu alladhina kafaru 'ala an-nari adhhabtum tayyibatikum fi hayatikumu ad-dunya wastamta'tum biha, fal-yawma tujzawna 'adhaba al-huni bima kuntum tastakbiruna fi al-ardi bighayri al-haqqi wa bima kuntum tafsuqun

On the day those who denied are exposed to the Fire: you consumed your good things in your worldly life and took your enjoyment from them. So today you are repaid with the punishment of humiliation for your arrogance on the earth without right and for the defiance you practiced.

﴾٢١﴿ ۞ وَٱذْكُرْ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذْ أَنذَرَ قَوْمَهُۥ بِٱلْأَحْقَافِ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ ٱلنُّذُرُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦٓ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍۢ

Wadhkur akha 'Adin idh andhara qawmahu bil-Ahqafi wa qad khalati an-nudhuru min bayni yadayhi wa min khalfihi alla ta'budu illa Allaha inni akhafu 'alaykum 'adhaba yawmin 'azim

Remember the brother of Ad, when he warned his people at the sand dunes, and warners had passed before him and after him: worship none but Allah. I fear for you the punishment of a great day.

﴾٢٢﴿ قَالُوٓا۟ أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَأْفِكَنَا عَنْ ءَالِهَتِنَا فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ

Qalu aji'tana lita'fikana 'an alihatina fa'tina bima ta'iduna in kunta mina as-sadiqin

They said: have you come to turn us away from our gods. Then bring us what you promise us, if you are truthful.

﴾٢٣﴿ قَالَ إِنَّمَا ٱلْعِلْمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَأُبَلِّغُكُم مَّآ أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِۦ وَلَٰكِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰكُمْ قَوْمًۭا تَجْهَلُونَ

Qala innama al-'ilmu 'inda Allahi wa uballighukum ma ursiltu bihi wa lakinni arakum qawman tajhalun

He said: the knowledge is with Allah. I deliver to you what I was sent with, but I see you are a people who are ignorant.

﴾٢٤﴿ فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ عَارِضًۭا مُّسْتَقْبِلَ أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ هَٰذَا عَارِضٌۭ مُّمْطِرُنَا ۚ بَلْ هُوَ مَا ٱسْتَعْجَلْتُم بِهِۦ ۖ رِيحٌۭ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ

Falamma ra'awhu 'aridan mustaqbila awdiyatihim qalu hadha 'aridun mumtiruna, bal huwa masta'jaltum bihi, rihun fiha 'adhabun alim

When they saw it as a cloud coming toward their valleys they said: this is a cloud bringing us rain. Rather, it is what you were asking to be hastened, a wind carrying a painful punishment.

﴾٢٥﴿ تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَىْءٍۭ بِأَمْرِ رَبِّهَا فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ لَا يُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَسَٰكِنُهُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ

Tudammiru kulla shay'in bi-amri Rabbiha fa-asbahu la yura illa masakinuhum, kadhalika najzi al-qawma al-mujrimin

Destroying everything by the command of its Lord. By morning nothing could be seen but their dwellings. This is how We repay the criminal people.

﴾٢٦﴿ وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَّٰهُمْ فِيمَآ إِن مَّكَّنَّٰكُمْ فِيهِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ سَمْعًۭا وَأَبْصَٰرًۭا وَأَفْـِٔدَةًۭ فَمَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُمْ سَمْعُهُمْ وَلَآ أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ وَلَآ أَفْـِٔدَتُهُم مِّن شَىْءٍ إِذْ كَانُوا۟ يَجْحَدُونَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ

Wa laqad makkannahum fima in makkannakum fihi wa ja'alna lahum sam'an wa absaran wa af'idatan fama aghna 'anhum sam'uhum wa la absaruhum wa la af'idatuhum min shay'in idh kanu yajhaduna bi-ayati Allahi wa haqa bihim ma kanu bihi yastahzi'un

We had established them in a way We have not established you, and We gave them hearing, sight, and hearts. Their hearing, their sight, and their hearts availed them nothing when they rejected the signs of Allah, and what they used to mock closed in on them.

﴾٢٧﴿ وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا مَا حَوْلَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ وَصَرَّفْنَا ٱلْءَايَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

Wa laqad ahlakna ma hawlakum mina al-qura wa sarrafna al-ayati la'allahum yarji'un

We destroyed the towns around you and varied the signs, so that they might return.

﴾٢٨﴿ فَلَوْلَا نَصَرَهُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ قُرْبَانًا ءَالِهَةًۢ ۖ بَلْ ضَلُّوا۟ عَنْهُمْ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ إِفْكُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ

Falawla nasarahumu alladhina ittakhadhu min duni Allahi qurbanan alihah, bal dallu 'anhum, wa dhalika ifkuhum wa ma kanu yaftarun

Why did those they took as gods, as a means of nearness besides Allah, not help them. Rather, they went away from them. That was their lie and what they used to invent.

﴾٢٩﴿ وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَآ إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوٓا۟ أَنصِتُوا۟ ۖ فَلَمَّا قُضِىَ وَلَّوْا۟ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِم مُّنذِرِينَ

Wa idh sarafna ilayka nafaran mina al-jinni yastami'una al-Qur'ana falamma hadaruhu qalu ansitu, falamma qudiya wallaw ila qawmihim mundhirin

And when We directed to you a company of jinn, listening to the Quran. When they attended it they said: be silent. When it was finished they went back to their people as warners.

﴾٣٠﴿ قَالُوا۟ يَٰقَوْمَنَآ إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا كِتَٰبًا أُنزِلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مُوسَىٰ مُصَدِّقًۭا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ يَهْدِىٓ إِلَى ٱلْحَقِّ وَإِلَىٰ طَرِيقٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ

Qalu ya qawmana inna sami'na kitaban unzila min ba'di Musa musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi yahdi ila al-haqqi wa ila tariqin mustaqim

They said: our people, we have heard a Book sent down after Musa, confirming what came before it, guiding to the truth and to a straight road.

﴾٣١﴿ يَٰقَوْمَنَآ أَجِيبُوا۟ دَاعِىَ ٱللَّهِ وَءَامِنُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَغْفِرْ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُجِرْكُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍۢ

Ya qawmana ajibu da'iya Allahi wa aminu bihi yaghfir lakum min dhunubikum wa yujirkum min 'adhabin alim

Our people, respond to the caller of Allah and believe in him. He will forgive you your sins and protect you from a painful punishment.

﴾٣٢﴿ وَمَن لَّا يُجِبْ دَاعِىَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَيْسَ بِمُعْجِزٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَيْسَ لَهُۥ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءُ ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍ

Wa man la yujib da'iya Allahi falaysa bimu'jizin fi al-ardi wa laysa lahu min dunihi awliya', ula'ika fi dalalin mubin

Whoever does not respond to the caller of Allah cannot escape on the earth, and he has no protectors besides Him. Those are in clear error.

﴾٣٣﴿ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَلَمْ يَعْىَ بِخَلْقِهِنَّ بِقَٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحْۦِىَ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ ۚ بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ

Awalam yaraw anna Allaha alladhi khalaqa as-samawati wal-arda wa lam ya'ya bikhalqihinna biqadirin 'ala an yuhyiya al-mawta, bala innahu 'ala kulli shay'in qadir

Do they not see that Allah, who created the heavens and the earth and was not wearied by creating them, is able to give life to the dead. Yes. He is capable of all things.

﴾٣٤﴿ وَيَوْمَ يُعْرَضُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ أَلَيْسَ هَٰذَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَا ۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ

Wa yawma yu'radu alladhina kafaru 'ala an-nari alaysa hadha bil-haqq, qalu bala wa Rabbina, qala fadhuqu al-'adhaba bima kuntum takfurun

On the day those who denied are exposed to the Fire: is this not the truth. They will say: yes, by our Lord. He will say: then taste the punishment for your denial.

﴾٣٥﴿ فَٱصْبِرْ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْعَزْمِ مِنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَلَا تَسْتَعْجِل لَّهُمْ ۚ كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَ مَا يُوعَدُونَ لَمْ يَلْبَثُوٓا۟ إِلَّا سَاعَةًۭ مِّن نَّهَارٍۭ ۚ بَلَٰغٌۭ ۚ فَهَلْ يُهْلَكُ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْفَٰسِقُونَ

Fasbir kama sabara ulu al-'azmi mina ar-rusuli wa la tasta'jil lahum, ka-annahum yawma yarawna ma yu'aduna lam yalbathu illa sa'atan min nahar, balagh, fahal yuhlaku illa al-qawmu al-fasiqun

So be patient as the messengers of firm resolve were patient, and do not seek to hasten for them. On the day they see what they are promised, it will be as if they had remained only an hour of a day. A delivery. Will any be destroyed but the defiant people.

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What The Surah Means

Overview

Surah Al-Ahqaf is thirty-five verses, chapter 46, Makki. It is named after the curving sand dunes where the people of Hud lived, a place the Quran points at as a location the listeners could travel to.

Its center is the most complete passage in the Quran about a man's obligation to his parents and about what a man should be asking for when he reaches middle age. It also contains the second account of the jinn who heard the recitation, and it closes on an instruction about the kind of patience required.

When he reaches forty, he says: my Lord, enable me to be grateful, and make righteous for me my offspring.

Verses 9–14 · Say Firm, Then Stand

Say: I am not something new among the messengers, and I do not know what will be done with me or with you.

Qul ma kuntu bid'an mina ar-rusul: I am not an innovation among the messengers. The claim is continuity, not novelty. The first defense offered is that this has all happened before.

Wa ma adri ma yuf'alu bi wa la bikum: and I do not know what will be done with me or with you. In huwa illa wahyun yuha, I follow only what is revealed to me. The limits of his own knowledge are stated publicly, which is the opposite of what a man building a following would say.

Inna alladhina qalu Rabbuna Allahu thumma istaqamu fala khawfun 'alayhim wa la hum yahzanun: those who say our Lord is Allah and then stand firm, no fear will be upon them and they will not grieve. Muslim records this verse being given as the answer when a companion asked for a statement about Islam he would not have to ask anyone about after him.

The construction is the point. Say it, then hold the line. Istaqamu is the second half and it is the half that takes a life.

Say it, then stand firm. The saying takes a moment and the standing takes everything after it.

Verses 15–17 · The Parents, and Forty

We have enjoined upon man kindness to his parents. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship.

Wa wassayna al-insana biwalidayhi ihsana: kindness to parents is enjoined as a standing obligation, and the mother's carrying and bearing are named specifically, in the language of difficulty.

Wa hamluhu wa fisaluhu thalathuna shahra: his bearing and weaning are thirty months. The number is given plainly and the classical jurists used it, read together with the two years of nursing named elsewhere, to derive the minimum term of pregnancy.

Hatta idha balagha ashuddahu wa balagha arba'ina sanah: until when he reaches his full strength and reaches forty years. The Quran marks the age directly, and then gives the words a man at that stage should be saying.

Qala Rabbi awzi'ni an ashkura ni'mataka allati an'amta 'alayya wa 'ala walidayya wa an a'mala salihan tardah, wa aslih li fi dhurriyyati: enable me to be grateful for Your favor upon me and upon my parents, to work righteousness You approve, and make righteous for me my offspring. Three requests, and the third is for the generation after him.

Ula'ika alladhina nataqabbalu 'anhum ahsana ma 'amilu wa natajawazu 'an sayyi'atihim: from those We accept the best of what they did and overlook their bad deeds. Acceptance is described as taking the best of the record rather than averaging it.

Then verse 17 gives the contrast, the son who says a word of contempt to his parents and denies the promise, while they call on Allah for him.

At forty he asks for gratitude, approved work, and a righteous generation behind him. That is the whole prayer.

Verses 20–28 · Spent Already

You consumed your good things in your worldly life and enjoyed them.

Adhhabtum tayyibatikum fi hayatikumu ad-dunya wastamta'tum biha: you used up your good things in your worldly life and took your enjoyment from them. The verse describes a man arriving with the account already drawn down.

The people of Hud are then given as the case. He warned them at the dunes, and they answered, have you come to turn us away from our gods. Then when they saw a cloud coming toward their valleys they said, this is a cloud bringing us rain.

Bal huwa masta'jaltum bihi, rihun fiha 'adhabun alim: rather, it is what you were asking to be hastened, a wind carrying a painful punishment. The thing they read as mercy was the thing itself. Tudammiru kulla shay'in bi-amri Rabbiha, destroying everything by the command of its Lord.

Wa laqad makkannahum fima in makkannakum fih: We had established them in a way We have not established you. The generation being addressed is told that the destroyed people were stronger than they are.

The passage closes by asking why the gods they took as a means of nearness did not help them, and answers that they were a lie and an invention.

They saw the cloud and called it rain. It was the thing they had asked to be hurried along.

Verses 29–35 · The Listeners and the Patience

And when We directed to you a company of jinn, listening to the Quran.

Wa idh sarafna ilayka nafaran mina al-jinni yastami'una al-Qur'an: the second account of the jinn who listened, told from a different angle than Surah Al-Jinn. Falamma hadaruhu qalu ansitu. When they attended it they said to one another, be silent.

Their first act on hearing it is to command silence among themselves. That detail is worth carrying on its own.

Qalu ya qawmana inna sami'na kitaban unzila min ba'di Musa musaddiqan lima bayna yadayh: they identify it as a book sent after Musa, confirming what came before it, and they go back to their people as warners.

Ya qawmana ajibu da'iya Allahi wa aminu bih: respond to the caller of Allah and believe in him. They deliver the message they just received, immediately, without a period of consideration.

Fasbir kama sabara ulu al-'azmi mina ar-rusul wa la tasta'jil lahum: be patient as the messengers of firm resolve were patient, and do not seek to hasten for them. The patience is given a standard, and the standard is a named category of prophets who held out longest.

Ka-annahum yawma yarawna ma yu'aduna lam yalbathu illa sa'atan min nahar: on the day they see what they are promised, it will be as if they had remained only an hour of a day. The compression of the whole life into an hour is the closing image.

They heard it, told each other to be quiet, and went home as warners. And he was told to be patient like the ones with the firmest resolve.

Structural Summary

Thirty-Five Verses. Say It, Then Stand Firm.

Verses 1–8The ClaimThe heavens and earth created in truth for a stated term, and an invitation to produce any evidence for the alternative.

Verses 9–14The ContinuityNot an innovation among the messengers. Those who say our Lord is Allah and then stand firm have no fear.

Verse 15The FortyKindness to parents, thirty months of bearing and weaning, and the prayer of a man at forty.

Verses 16–20The Two SonsThe best of the record accepted for one, and the contempt of the other. Good things consumed already in this life.

Verses 21–28The DunesHud at the sand dunes, a cloud read as rain, and a people who were more firmly established than you.

Verses 29–32The ListenersJinn who commanded silence among themselves, then went home as warners.

Verses 33–35The PatienceBe patient as the messengers of firm resolve were patient. The whole stay will feel like an hour of a day.

Why This Surah Is For You

Verse 15 is the prayer for a man in the middle of his life, and the Quran attaches it to a specific age. Three requests. Gratitude for what was given to him and to his parents, work He approves, and righteousness in the generation coming after. There is nothing in it about expansion.

Verse 13 gives the two halves of a life in one sentence. Say our Lord is Allah, then stand firm. The saying is a moment. Istaqamu is the rest of it, and the reward attached is the absence of fear and grief rather than the presence of anything.

Verse 20 is a hard verse for a man who has enjoyed his success. You used up your good things in your worldly life and took your enjoyment from them. It describes arriving with the account already spent, and it is said to people who did nothing criminal.

Verse 24 is the pattern to watch. They saw a cloud and called it rain. The thing they were most pleased to see was the thing that ended them, and the misreading was reasonable at the time.

The Practice · Daily Integration

Thirty-Five Verses. Ask What He Asked.

Say the prayer in verse 15 as your own, in your own words, weekly. Gratitude, approved work, and a righteous generation behind you.

Do something for your parents this week that costs you time rather than money. The verse names the carrying and the bearing specifically.

Audit what verse 20 describes. What proportion of your good things has already been consumed and enjoyed, and what is being sent ahead.

Copy the jinn in verse 29. When the Quran is being recited, be the one who tells the room to be quiet.

Say our Lord is Allah, then stand firm. And at forty, ask for gratitude and a righteous generation.

آمِين

Prepared with discipline · Ameen

Verse-By-Verse · Test Yourself

The Quiz

Two questions per verse. Translation and a key Arabic word. Walk through it slow. The goal is comprehension, not speed.

Verse 11 / 70

The Verse

حمٓ

Ha Meem

What does verse 1 say?